Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 23)  President Rodrigo said that Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison fell right into his trap.

"Si Sison, pumasok talaga, he played into my hands," Duterte said in a speech during the 12th anniversary of the Eastern Mindanao Command in Davao City on Thursday.

Sison had posted on August 19 a photo of his former student attending the national conference of the Lex Talionis fraternity, and said that Duterte had gone into coma that night.

Sison pointed out the "darkness" of Duterte's face and his "unstable" walk and handshake as possible proof, and added that the report is still being verified.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque denied this on Monday.

"He's healthy. He was fine. He was in very high spirits," Roque said in a press briefing.

In his own words, Duterte said Sison's allegations were partially because of his "bastos" or crass language.

"Kamusta ka, mayor? Ah wala, may cancer ako, third stage ako. Ana man ko musulti," Duterte said in a mix of Tagalog and Bisaya.

[Translation: How are you, mayor? Oh it's nothing, I have cancer, third stage. I talk like that.]

He claimed that before he had flown to Davao City that night, he said that he was suffering from kidney failure and that his cancer had travelled down.

"Ingna I'm suffering from kidney failure tapos ang akong cancer nilatay na padulong sa g***," Duterte said.

[Translation:Tell them I'm suffering from kidney failure and that my cancer had travelled down to my privates.]

He claimed that the unusual dark marks on his skin was due to sunburn, as he refused to use sunblock when he was visiting the countryside.

"Di man ko mugamit anang sa babae nga maglanay! Lagot ko," Duterte said, pretending to wipe something on his face.

[Translation: I don't use that thing for women it melts off! It's annoying.]

This was not the first time that Duterte's health has been questioned. Duterte has claimed to suffer migraines and nausea in his past speeches. He said a spinal injury from an old motorcycle accident still causes him pain. He has also admitted to be afflicted with Buerger's disease and Barrett's esophagus.

The President, now 73 years old, has also visited the hospital on the eve of his 2018 State of the Nation Address.

The health of the President is considered a public matter. The 1987 Constitution mandates that the public be informed of the state of the President's health in case of serious illness.Photo: The Canadian Press Actor Dwayne Johnson attends the "Skyscraper" premiere in New York. George Clooney tops the 2018 Forbes' list of highest-paid actors with $239 million in pretax earnings.

George Clooney can raise a glass, even if he's not starring in any hit movies.

The 57-year-old tops the 2018 Forbes' list of highest-paid actors with $239 million in pretax earnings. Forbes credits up to $1 billion that a British conglomerate said it would pay for Casamigos Tequila, which Clooney co-founded in 2013 with two entrepreneurs. The actor's wealth also includes additional earnings from endorsements and older movies.

The rankings include on-screen and outside earnings.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson ranked second with $124 million pretax. Forbes says a huge social media following helped Johnson nearly double his 2017 earnings because he's able to negotiate an extra seven figures over his standard contract for promotion.

Robert Downey Jr. was third with $81 million, followed by Chris Hemsworth with $64.5 million and Jackie Chan's $45.5 million.Photo: The Canadian Press Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull

Australia's beleaguered prime minister was resisting pressure to quit as opponents from within his party struggled on Thursday to show that he had lost the government's support.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull demanded the names of lawmakers in the conservative Liberal Party who wanted him to go before he would allow them to choose a new prime minister at a meeting at Parliament House on Friday. The names would provide proof that a majority of his government had abandoned him.

Turnbull would then become the fourth prime minister to be dumped by his or her own party before serving a full three-year term in an extraordinary era of political instability that began in 2010. The trend is universally hated by Australians.

Turnbull's main rival in his government, former Cabinet minister Peter Dutton, has told the prime minister that a majority of Liberal Party lawmakers  at least 43  don't support his leadership. But Dutton's supporters on Thursday could not find 43 lawmakers prepared to sign their names to a petition demanding a leadership ballot.

An explanation could be that some lawmakers fear they will be punished by voters if they put their names to dumping Turnbull. The ballot to choose a prime minister is secret, so lawmakers don't have to declare which candidate they voted for. Many later lie that they backed the winner.

Support for ousting Turnbull might also have waned because he warned on Thursday he would quit politics rather than ask his party again for its support in a ballot. His resignation from Parliament would force a byelection that could cost the government its single-seat majority. The resignation could also push his successor into immediately calling general elections.

Zed Seselja, a Dutton supporter who has resigned as a Turnbull government minister, estimated 40 had signed the petition by late Thursday. Turnbull should allow the meeting to proceed on Friday without the names of his opponents, Seselja said.

Turnbull insisted that the names of those who wanted him gone needed to be made public.

"These are momentous times and it's important that people are accountable for what they're doing," he told reporters.

Turnbull had defeated Dutton 48-35 in a surprise vote on Tuesday. Turnbull initiated the ballot in the hope of ending speculation that his government had lost faith in him in the face of poor opinion polling. Several ministers have since resigned and told him that most of the government wanted a new leader.

In addition to Dutton, media reports said other lawmakers were considering running for Turnbull's job, including Treasurer Scott Morrison and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.

Opposition lawmakers reacted with outrage when the government shut down Parliament hours early so that Liberal Party lawmakers could focus on their leadership crisis.

Opposition Labor Party leader Bill Shorten told Parliament it was evidence that "Australia no longer has a functioning government."Photo: The Canadian Press People eat at a seafood bar at T&T Supermarket's newest location, in Richmond.

Cooks at T&T Supermarket's first seafood bar in Vancouver stand ready to prepare spot prawns, clams and lobsters freshly ordered by grocery shoppers, as the Asian-focused chain ups the ante for Canadian grocers increasingly looking to the "grocerant" trend to get shoppers to linger longer and spend more.

At a time of intense competition in the grocery business, chains increasingly blur the line between supermarkets and restaurants, adding take-out meals to their shelves, hot food counters where chefs make dishes to order and even full-service restaurants.

Diners at the new T&T destination receive a pair of gloves to eat  no cutlery  and sit in the seafood department, surrounded by creatures in live tanks and buckets containing orders zipping overhead.

They appear to be eating it up. There's been a roughly 60-minute wait for seating since the supermarket opened last week.

"It's a restaurant-quality experience at supermarket prices," said Tina Lee, CEO of T&T, which is owned by Loblaw Companies Ltd.

Known to industry insiders as "grocerants," such combination spaces serve a time-strapped population that values convenience at a time when grocers are feeling growing pressure from online competitors.

Loblaw is joining many rivals in the race to woo customers with innovative in-person experiences.

Ontario grocer Farm Boy's stores feature a kitchen that prepares fresh food, including sushi, and eating areas with free Wi-Fi. Rival grocer Longo's runs three bars that serve pizza, burgers and other food. Whole Foods Market locations offer areas to enjoy meals from its prepared foods department.

Supermarkets seem to be taking a page out of playbooks from shopping malls, which are facing similar pressures from consumers driven toward the convenience of e-commerce, and are working to attract customers inside with real world luxuries. Malls are dedicating more space to food services and anchor tenants, like Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue, carve out space for restaurants, cafes and food halls  a fancier take on the food court concept.

Grocerants generated 2.35 billion visits in the U.S. over the past year ending June 2018, according to data from market-research firm NPD Group  down two per cent from the same period a year ago due in part to an uptick in foodservice delivery options.

"If you serve convenience to consumers, you can increase margins," said Sylvain Charlebois, a Dalhousie University professor whose research focuses on the food industry. He identified grocerants as a major trend for this year in his annual food price report.

Canadian grocers are competing in a difficult landscape. Retailers Costco and Walmart have stolen billions of dollars worth of market share from traditional grocers over the past decade, and tech titan Amazon's recent acquisition of Whole Foods has prompted a race to implement e-commerce options among companies that had been previously slow to offer delivery services.

They also face pressure from restaurants, where consumers looking for quick dining solutions over complicated home-cooked meals spend their money.

Traditional grocers hope to set themselves apart and draw more people through their doors by adding dining options like T&T's Seafood Bar. Grocerants aim to not only make some money on the restaurant side, but also lure diners into spending money they otherwise wouldn't have in the market aisles.

"They want to welcome you. They want to make sure you spend as much time as possible," said Charlebois.

"It's very rare nowadays you go into a grocery store and there are no tables for you to eat anything."

All 11 locations of T&T, founded in 1993 and acquired by Loblaw in 2009, now offer some level of ready-made food  a concept CEO Lee scaled up significantly when she opened the 70,000 square-foot Richmond location last week.

In addition to the seafood bar, the market also boasts an Asian Street Food stall. Lee plans to continue to add in-store dining to the next three stores the chain will open over the coming 12 months.Photo: The Canadian Press Maxime Bernier

Maverick Quebec MP Maxime Bernier, whose open defiance has been a major headache for the Opposition Conservatives, is quitting the party  and he's not pulling his punches.

Bernier, who narrowly lost the Tory leadership to rival Andrew Scheer, says he feels the party has abandoned its true ideals by refusing to end corporate subsidies or abolish the supply management system for poultry and dairy products.

He made the bombshell announcement during a news conference on Parliament Hill.

"I have come to realize over the past year that this party is too intellectually and morally corrupt to be reformed," Bernier said as he read a statement that savaged both the party and its current leadership.

"The whole strategy of the party is to play identity politics, pander to various interest groups and buy votes with promises, just like the Liberals.... Andrew Scheer keeps talking about his positive Conservative vision. But nobody knows what that vision is.

"The Conservative Party has abandoned conservatives. It does not represent them anymore. And it has nothing of substance to offer Canadians looking for a political alternative."

Scheer, who is in Halifax for the start of the Conservative policy convention, has a news conference of his own scheduled for 1:30 p.m. ET.Kelowna fire inspector Rick Euper knows all too well the need for blood.

That's why he is a regular at the Canadian Blood Services Blood Donor Clinic in Kelowna.

Euper was at the Dilworth Drive clinic again Thursday morning with several other first responders for the kickoff to Sirens 4 Life.

"It's really important, said Euper as he settled into the donor chair. "And also a lot of people I know personally that needed blood, so I'm giving to them too."

Sirens 4 Life is an initiative in which the public at large can say thank you for the work firefighters, paramedics, police and sheriffs do every day.

"We've all seen fires and emergencies happening in the community, and now we are reaching out to the public saying, throughout September, it's your time to come and say thank you for everything you've done and donating," said Canadian Blood Services territory manager Gayle Voyer.

And, while there is an urgent need now as Canadians get ready for the final long weekend of the summer, Voyer says there's more to it than that.

"The biggest message people need to know is that the need for blood is constant. Blood expires after 42 days, so we just need to keep replenishing that system."

People who donate throughout the drive, which runs through the end of September, can also leave a message for first responders which will be delivered at the end of the drive.

The Blood Donor Clinic in Kelowna is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m., and every second Saturday. The next Saturday opening is Sept. 1.

Click here to learn how you can give the gift of life.A Nepalese man was arrested for allegedly smuggling drugs and police seized 28 grams of heroin worth Rs 28 lakh from his possession in Sonauli area on the Indo-Nepal border here, a senior official said today.

Devi Bahadur Adikari, who was on his way to Nepal from India, was arrested last evening during a routine security check, said Satish Singh, the in-charge of Sonauli police checkpost.

The accused was booked under relevant sections of the NDPS Act, he said.

(PTI)United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has paid tribute to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who passed away last week following a prolonged illness.

Taking to his official Twitter handle, India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Syed Akbaruddin revealed that Guterres visited the office of the Permanent Mission of India to the UN in New York and wrote his tributary message for the late Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stalwart.

"Official mourning ends...fond memories remain. @UN Secretary General @antonioguterres visits @IndiaUNNewYork to record condolences & recall fondly his association with Late Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee," Akbaruddin tweeted.Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 23)  President Rodrigo Duterte is saying no thanks to the United States' offer to sell F-16 jets to the Philippines.

Speaking at the 12th anniversary celebration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Eastern Mindanao Command in Davao City Thursday, the President said three U.S. Cabinet members wrote him a letter to make the offer.

He was referring to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Defense Secretary James Mattis.

"We hope to partner in other significant defense procurement of our mutual benefit including through the Lockheed Martin F-16 multi roll fighter platform and your attack helicopter platform among other U.S. systems," said the letter which the President read.

President Duterte declined the proposed deal, saying the military does not need F-16 jets because the Philippines is not at war with any country.

"We do not need any F-16s. It would be utterly useless to buy it, but I need attack helicopters and small planes for the counter-insurgency," he said.

However, the President said he wanted to meet with the three American officials to talk about the proposed deal and the ties between the U.S. and the Philippines.

He recalled how American lawmakers earlier opposed plans for the U.S. to sell assault rifles to the Philippines over human rights concerns in his drug war.

"I want to meet three of them. Mamili sila ng hindi ako pupunta nang Amerika. There will never be a time na pupunta akong Amerika," Duterte said.

[Translation:I want to meet the three of them. They can choose... I will not go to America. There will never be a time that I will go to America.]

Duterte added, "How sure na makuha ko yung binili ko? Kung bilhin ko yung isang dosenang F-16, madeliver kaya nila? Ni hindi nga nila madeliver yung M16."

[Translation:What the assurance that I will get what I bought. If I buy a dozen F16s, will they be able to deliver? They can't even deliver the M16s.]

The President also had a condition before the meeting could proceed  the return of the Balangiga Bells.

During his second State of the Nation Address, Duterte called on the U.S. to return the bells, which American soldiers claimed as spoils of war after they retaliated against Filipino villagers and guerrillas who attacked a U.S. garrison in Balangiga, Eastern Samar in 1901.

"Can the passage of time cure an injustice just because it was 100 years ago, so it is erased? Kung hindi nila isauli iyang Balangiga Bells, wala tayong pag-usapan," he said.

[Translation: Can the passage of time cure an injustice... just because it was 100 years ago, so it is erased? If the Balangiga Bella are not returned, there is nothing to talk about.]

President Duterte has recently been verbally attacking the U.S. for discouraging the Philippines from buying Russian submarines.

He criticized the U.S. for selling six refurbished choppers to the Philippines, three of which already crashed, killing some Filipino pilots.

He dared the U.S. to "prove to me first that you are in utter good faith."

"Mahirap 'yang sabihin mo na [That's hard when you say] 'we are friends.' We are friends but remember you made us a colony years ago. 'Wag mo sabihin na [Don't say] it was not a friendship agreed upon, mutually satisfying. It was a friendship imposed on us," he said.Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 23)  House Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Joey Salceda is confident the budget will be approved, despite the controversy surrounding a cash-based system.

The Albay representative warned on Thursday that Filipinos would be on the losing end of a possible reenacted budget, which is the alternative if the current proposal is not passed.

"How will they host the SEA Games? How will they host the national elections? How will we pay our soldiers?" Salceda told CNN Philippines' The Source. "Puwede gumamit ng contingency fund, pero hindi iyon ang purpose nun. Dapat kasi pinagplanuhan iyon."

[Translation: We could use the contingency fund, but it's not meant for that purpose. This should be planned.]

The Philippines is expected to host the Southeast Asian Games and mid-term elections next year. It is also anticipating a salary raise for soldiers and policemen, as well as fully funded tuition for state universities and colleges.

"They're okay, but I think the country will not be okay," he added, referring to executive officials' disposition to a reenacted budget.

A reenacted budget means the amount and allocations enumerated in appropriations for the current year will be repeated in the next fiscal year. Both Malacanang and Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno floated the idea after Congress suspended budget hearings.

Lawmakers did not look favorably on the Budget Department's cash-based budgeting system, which only allows funding for projects that can be completed within the year. The previous obligation-based budgeting system allowed funding valid for up to two years. As a result, the 2019 budget proposal slashed funds for infrastructure like flood control structures, classrooms, and health facilities.

RELATED: Escudero on infrastructure budget cut: What about Build, Build, Build?

The Senate leadership expressed support for the system, which is meant to cut down on underspending. Meanwhile, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the hold-up at the House cast doubt on Malacanang's allies there.

Salceda, who is also vice chairman of the House Economic Affairs Committee, supports the cash-based system, but with some tweaks. House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya has since said a hybrid form of the budget system could be approved.

"Sana huwag i-veto ni Presidente, yung infrastructure projects bigyan ng leeway," said Salceda.

"Kami naman, may power of the purse  di lagyan namin ng special provision iyon na pagdating sa ganitong items, may two-year lifespan," he added.

[Translation: I hope the President doesn't veto that we give infrastructure projects leeway... Because we have the power of the purse, we'll put a special provision that allows these items to have a two-year lifespan.]

The congressman also addressed the issue of "pork" barrel or discretionary funds in the budget. Such funds have been the subject of public scrutiny, as they have been used in scams and corruption. Senator Ping Lacson pegged there was over 130 billion in pork in the proposal.

Salceda confirmed that lawmakers would still receive funds for projects in their districts, but emphasized that it only became pork if they intervened after the allotments were made.

"There should be no post-legislative intervention," he said.Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 23)  Presidential communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson is still welcome to join the government's information campaign on federalism, despite the uproar stirred by her controversial video on the topic.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque in a press briefing on Thursday revealed Uson "has not been attending the inter-agency meetings on the dissemination [drive]."

"So if she attends, I suppose she can be one of the disseminators," Roque said.

He added the government continues to conduct "formal training" to those joining the campaign for federalism.

Uson was earlier tapped to spread awareness on the proposed shift to a federal form of government. But the idea was strongly opposed by many lawmakers, government officials and netizens after she posted an August 2 video described by many as vulgar.

The video shows blogger Drew Olivar playing with the word federalism using racy terms and gesturing towards female private parts - all to Uson's cheering.

Malacanang has said President Rodrigo Duterte was "very cool" about the video, but added the President agreed the information campaign should have a more serious tone. The Presidential Communications Operations Office later issued a memorandum reminding its officials and employees to watch their behavior on social media.

Uson, for her part, said what's important is federalism is being talked about.

"Kung napapag-usapan ngayon, masama man o mabuti, ay ipaliwanag naman po ng mga eksperto. Take this opportunity na ipaliwanag na po ang pederalismo," she told CNN Philippines.

[Translation: "If this is being talked about now, whether good or bad, experts should explain it. Take this opportunity to explain what federalism is."]

The shift to federalism was among the promises Duterte made during his 2016 presidential campaign. He believes it would pave the way for more equitable distribution of wealth and political power throughout the regions and bring lasting peace in Mindanao.

The Social Weather Stations survey for the first quarter of 2018 showed only 25 percent of Filipino adults have been aware of the federal system, while 75 percent only knew what it is upon answering the survey.The Childrens Nutrition Program of Haiti announces changes in leadership positions for the organization, which empowers families and treats malnutrition in the Leogane region of Haiti.

Dr. Anany G. Prosper, a native Haitian with more than a decades experience as executive director or chief of mission with health networks in developing countries, has accepted the role of country director in Haiti. Keith Grant, a Chattanooga attorney with the firm Robinson, Smith, and Wells, has accepted the chairmanship of the CNP board of directors, and Patricia Cyr Watlington, formerly the development director for CNP, has accepted the role of interim executive director.

Dr. Anany, as he is known to his Haitian staff in Leogane, comes to CNP with a record of building health systems in distressed areas of Haiti, managing Ebola responses in West Africa, and coordinating disaster healthcare in the aftermaths of the 2010 Haitian earthquake and Hurricane Matthew in 2016. He has earned a Doctorate of Medicine from Haitis State University and a Master of Public Health from Belgiums Institute of Tropical Medicine.

Dr. Anany Prosper is the first Haitian that weve ever had as our country director, said Dr. Mitchell L. Mutter, founder of CNP. He best understands the Haitian response to disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes, and rising fuel prices, that they keep encountering.

Our new interim executive director, Patricia Cyr Watlington, is our fearless field general, adds Dr. Mutter. As long as we have her well have enough to help those who do not have enough.

Originally from Maine, Ms. Cyr Watlington has been a resident of Chattanooga since 2009. Her background as a real estate business owner and manager, registered nurse, mother, and award-winning salesperson makes her suited to guide CNPs efforts. She has traveled the world as a goodwill ambassador through the Miss America U.S.O. tour and developed a student exchange program between her daughters school and a sister school in Beijing, China.

"The Haitian people suffer unimaginable misery, said Ms. Cyr Watlington, who has traveled to Haiti multiple times over the past two years. Yet, between 1998 and 2010, the year of the 7.0 earthquake, CNP reduced acute childhood malnutrition in the mountainous areas of Leogane from 25 percent to 3 percent. That is an amazing record to build upon.A research team that includes partners from the University of Georgia New Materials Institute and the RWDC Environmental Stewardship Foundation will develop a fully biodegradable plastic straw thanks to an award from Singapore's Temasek Foundation Ecosperity.

The $719,000 award represents the top prize in Ecosperity's inaugural Liveability Challenge and was presented to RWDC Industries in July in Singapore. UGA researchers, graduate students and a UGA alumnus, working with RWDC Foundation funding, synthesized a food contact polymer that they will now attempt to develop into a commercially viable straw, which RWDC would then bring to market.

The next step is for RWDC and the New Materials Institute to create prototypes. Then they must prove the straws can be manufactured consistently, produced at a scale to meet global demand and are fully biodegradable in soil, fresh water and marine water. Testing largely will be conducted in a New Materials Institute laboratory built with RWDC grant funding.

Few non-plastic alternatives

Currently, there are few non-plastic straw alternatives available to consumers. Many plastics branded as "biodegradable" are made from plant-based material called polylactic acid, or PLA. PLA-based plastics are compostable in limited environments, but they do not fully degrade outside of these settings.

"Plastics made from PLA only degrade in industrial compostable settings under high temperature and humidity conditions," said Jason Locklin, director of the New Materials Institute and a professor in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences department of chemistry, and the College of Engineering, who worked on the project. "Other types of plastic, which are petroleum-based, last forever. Less than 10 percent of these plastics are recycled. The 90 percent that aren't recycled will ultimately fragment over time, and as micronized plastic, can end up in our soil, rivers and oceans--forever."

The team's biodegradable straws are based on a proprietary, bio-based resin in the class of polymers called polyhydroxyalkanoates, or PHAs.

Effective environmentally-friendly straws

For the PHA-straw to be a viable product in the marketplace, it will have to perform as well as the plastic straws currently in use. It must also be cost-effective over its entire life cycle, including disposal, said Branson Ritchie, director of technology development and implementation for the New Materials Institute, and a distinguished research professor at UGA.

"The PHA-straw is an initial step toward our shared goal, with RWDC, of replacing single-use, petroleum-based plastics with plastics made from our biodegradable resins," Ritchie said. "We can tweak our formulas and expand our technology on a product-by-product basis. This keeps a manufacturer's costs down because they don't have to reinvent their processes, and this facilitates their ability to quickly produce environmentally-friendly plastic products."

Partnership

RWDC provided a substantial grant in order to quickly boost the New Materials Institute's capabilities and position it for fast-tracking development, testing and illustration of the scalability necessary to create products from the bio-based resins we have co-developed, said Daniel Carraway, a scientist, inventor and entrepreneur who co-leads RWDC Industries and its foundation. Carraway earned his doctorate in forest biotechnology from UGA in 1996.

"We have positioned the New Materials Institute to succeed in the critical step of translating these technologies beyond the laboratory scale," Carraway said. "This straw will be the first of our fruits from these endeavors and the first product from what we view as a long-term partnership."We agreed a new Metra station in this area could contribute additional transportation options to Chicago-area workers without adding to the existing traffic and congestion on Chicagos streets and expressways, Gillis said in an email. We also noted that any exploration of a potential new station would need to consider impacts on Metras existing operations and operating and maintenance costs as well as be cognizant of our limited funding. We would look to the city or others to provide or identify funding for a new station if we determined to build one.As the researchers at the lab test the technology, the science behind it will be validated for the FDA. They re-create the environment in which foodborne bacteria would survive and figure out how to kill it. Findings are published in scientific journals for the food-safety community to learn from. Meanwhile, scientists closely monitor outbreaks in the wild  like the salmonella-infected Honey Smacks  to inform their research. Outbreaks can generate more questions than can be answered with the research funding available, Brackett said.Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 23)  A senator says the chaos at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) happened because the entire situation was mismanaged.

Sixty-one uncoordinated recovery flights were mounted, Senator Nancy Binay said, but at least one concerned agency was not properly informed of this situation.

In an interview with CNN Philippines' On the Record Thursday, Binay said, "Apparently they informed CAAP (Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines) that they'll be landing, but MIAA (Manila International Airport Authority) was not informed of those 61 flights," she said.

Binay said this ahead of a Senate hearing on the runway mishap scheduled on August 29.

"Maybe this is one aspect that needs to be reviewed about the protocols when it comes to coordination with inter-agencies in government," she added.

In a statement released Wednesday, Binay said these uncoordinated flights worsened the situation at NAIA Terminal 1 and posed an added security risk to the country.

"Highly suspicious at anomalous ang malusutan tayo ng ganun karami [rules were not followed] in front of our very noses. Yes, we expect a certain amount of chaos during these kinds of extraordinary and emergency situations, and everyone expects that airport and airline personnel are well-trained to handle ang mga kasong ganito [these cases], pero ang malusutan na lang tayo eh ibang usapan na yun [bypassing our rules is another issue]. Obviously, these factors are the perfect recipes for any individual who has a criminal mind," she said in the statement.

Binay revealed the information about the uncoordinated flights came from MIAA General Manager Ed Monreal.

"Maybe Xiamen Airlines just coordinated with CAAP and not with MIAA. We need to review the protocol. How come they can only coordinate with just one agency and not the other agency, and then they get to land?" she said.

Binay said the country may not be ready for a worst-case scenario, and what happened was a "wake-up call."

Binay said she found the explanation regarding the removal of the plan "acceptable," but what she found unacceptable was the way people were managed at the airport.

"If Secretary Tugade went to the airport and did all the coordinating, maybe things could have been different," she said.

As far as accountability goes, Binay said, "I think Xiamen has to shoulder more than the P50 million that was mentioned by GM Monreal. Maybe Xiamen should reimburse the other airlines."

Meanwhile, the cockpit voice recorder of Xiamen Flight MF8667 was brought to Singapore for decoding on Thursday morning, CAAP Spokesperson Eric Apolonio said, adding it is expected to be decoded in five days.

Apolonio said it was important to decode the contents of the recorder to know the conversation between the pilot and the Manila control tower before and after the incident.

CAAP has not commented on the investigation of the incident.

First time for everything

Ambassador Francis Chua, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Emeritus, also weighed in on what happened at NAIA last week.

He said, "There's a first time for everything. And as far as we remember, we don't have this kind of mishap, luckily. This is the first time. We have to learn from this. And hopefully, next time... We are already well-prepared. We have to give benefit of the doubt."

As for who should be accountable, Chua said at the end of the day, it was admitted that the pilot said he could not see the runway.

"The issue here is, why is that this pilot could not see the runway? Is the airplane not equipped? Is there not enough provision that the pilot could not see in the rain? Or is this a feature that we have to build in our airport system that even when it rains, the pilot will be able to see clearly?" he said.

Since the Xiamen Airlines pilot admitted error, Chua said, maybe their company should be responsible.

Chua then said he believed Filipino pilots were at the top of their class.

"Let me put it this way: Filipino pilots is so far the best in the whole world...I don't believe that any other would be as better as the Filipino pilot. And we are so used to the big rain, big storm, big everything," he said.

Chua also added the country must look forward and explore alternatives to NAIA.

"Ideally, if we have enough space in Metro Manila, expansion of NAIA would be a very good project. But unfortunately, the land is already too limited," he said.

If there is no parallel runway, accidents are bound to happen, he said.

A proposed airport project in Bulacan has four runways, which could be expanded to six, he said, adding, "You would be building for the future."

Watch the full episode here.

CNN Philippines' Xianne Arcangel contributed to this report.As part of our ongoing efforts to streamline Sears Holdings operations, strengthen our capital position and focus on our best stores, this week the company informed associates at 46 unprofitable stores that we will be closing these stores in November 2018, the company said in a statement posted on its website. We continue to evaluate our network of stores, which is a critical component to our integrated retail transformation, and will make further adjustments as needed.Hooters arrived in China four years ago, first in Shanghai then in Beijing last September (there are four restaurants in China). When the Beijing branch opened, Hooters Girls from the U.S. were sent to train the Chinese women in Hooters Waitressing 101. A signed shirt from Chattanooga's Hooters Girls hangs along one wall, with messages of encouragement and congratulations.On Feb. 24, the doughnut chain (412 E. Devon Ave., Elk Grove Village, 847-472-9500, is the nearest one) will mark the opening of its 1,000th store in Kansas City, Kansas, by giving away free original glazed doughnuts to the first 1,000 customers in line. Krispy Kreme, which operates in 24 countries worldwide, will offer the doughnut deal at all of its participating locations.Chicago has this terrible place in the news cycle right now, and not a lot of the good stuff has made it out, he said. We want to bring all the people we see out there pouring at beer festivals and expose them to the good things associated with being here.From sumptuous hawker stall chili-fried crab and simple satays, to lovingly formed pork and chive dumplings and decadent seafood spreads, the movie is one giant feast for the eyes. Food is so central that heartthrob Nick Young (played by Henry Golding) begins to feel comfort in being back in his native Singapore when he sits down to a hawker stall meal, showing his girlfriend, protagonist Rachel Chu (Constance Wu), what to order and how to eat. In one of the movies most pivotal scenes, dumplings become a metaphor for the central conflict between Rachel and Eleanor Young, Nicks mother, played by the regal Michelle Yeoh. And of course, an opulent, billionaire-funded wedding banquet takes center stage, with bottles of Dom Perignon, suckling pigs, piles of caviar, an impressive seven-tier wedding cake and more.After discovering incubators in Europe, Couney built an exhibit at Coney Island in 1903 (it would remain there for decades), and was soon in Chicago, where this newspaper became particularly smitten after the doctor set up shop at the citys great amusement parks, Riverview and White City. As Raffel writes, Chicagos papers loved Couney ... the daughter of the Tribunes own editor, James Keeley, would be rushed to an incubator and saved. But long before that happened, The Tribune began hosting benefit days at both amusement parks, with proceeds from the concessions going toward helping the citys newborns. For the 1907 fete, (Couney and his wife) staged a toddler parade with their graduates dressed up as French dolls. Too cute to resist.The human cast includes Elizabeth Banks (as the onetime Happytime host turned stripper) and Joel McHale (as a jerk of an FBI agent). Detective Philips is voiced rather well by Bill Barretta, all world-weary cynicism and sardonic chuckles. Philips, we learn, was the first puppet on the LAPD force before a fatal mistake disgraced his name and made an enemy of his partner, a generic blowhard portrayed by McCarthy. Theyre reteamed, uneasily, once the serial killings of the Happytime puppets commence."For the Art on theMART opening program Ive made a short art-adventure film that mixes together live footage of wild animals living in the Chyulu hills near Mount Kilimanjaro in Kenya, said Thater, in a news release from Art on theMART. The work is not narrative and linear  it is simultaneous  with multiple images inhabiting the screen at once, all moving in different directions at the same time. The accompanying soundtrack was all recorded live in Kenya, to further the exotic but peaceful story of elephants, zebras and giraffe in their native habitat.Uh-oh! It could be you, or it could be us, but there's no page here.But ever since I read the piece  and quoted it in the obituary  it has not been sitting with me quite right. Its air of authority means that Harris gets no agency. It explains away her declining of the trappings of fame not so much as if it were a choice but a failing. It is well-meaning and clever but, when read today, exceptionally paternalistic. It feels much as if Nichols were explaining decisions made by his over-emotional daughter, in need of an adult spokesman.A: In August 1968, the Yippies arrived in Chicago. They were already known for their stunts of political theater  what they were trying to make were experiences that would attract media attention, creating a platform for some of their other messages. Looking at the options in the 1968 run for president, they thought that perhaps the country would best be served by just going forward and straight-out nominating a pig for president. Which is what they did.We were shooting over on 86th and Cottage Grove and people in the neighborhood were like: Yall know this neighborhood aint exactly a place not known for incidents. But we didnt have any incidents over there. Ninety-nine percent of the people who show up to our set say one thing: Hey man, how can I get on camera? And sometimes well go talk to them and get their number and use them as an extra. We want the city to feel welcome. We aint trying to be like, Stay away. If you go to our video village (the movable setup where the video monitors are) some of those people are involved with the show but also some of those are people from the neighborhood who just showed up: Hey man, are you really gonna use that lens?In the 60s and 70s, Chicago was a really rich place to grow up if you were going to end up being a writer, the Oak Forest native said. The way of speaking was really colorful and literary, and I used to love to eavesdrop and listen to people; theres so many accents, dialects and class indicators. When you hear someone talking in a certain way, you hear a lot about his background and aspirations and fears. Then the next person has a totally different bag of tricks.Its that book that people give to readers for a multitude of reasons, Flake said. Ive had people give it to students who were dark-skinned in hopes of helping them understand that theyre not alone and theres something beautiful about who they are. Ive had principals over the years say they keep a copy in their office so when kids are in trouble and they need to sit in the office, they give them the book, and a lot of times, theyll ask, Can I take this book with me? Ive had teachers come up to me in tears who said they had girls that really would have taken their lives, had it not been for the book. When you get those kinds of stories, then you realize the power of reading and writing.To meet the new demands, school nurses are offered extra training in mental health as well as resources from the National Association of School Nurses. They are adding relaxation rooms to the typical beds in the nurses office, and they have had to develop detailed cooperation plans with school guidance counselors and social workers, who are trained to handle such issues but, for better or worse, are not always the first stop for students seeking a nurturing response in a school building.I cringed as I watched the video recording in court Tuesday. At the same time, I wondered where we would be if police werent given some leeway in getting to the bottom of a crime. In Chicago, where hundreds of people are murdered each year, it isnt easy to criticize the police for doing whatever it takes to bring justice. Gangbangers lie, and they must be treated like the hardened criminals they are. That does not mean police shouldnt be held accountable, though.And Trump, who rode to the White House by tapping into a real, desperate and bipartisan American desire to stop illegal immigration, disfigures the debate. He exaggerates the threat of crime by those in the country illegally, making it seem as if theyre driving a violent national crime spree when statistics say otherwise.Michael Cohen, former personal lawyer to President Donald Trump, climbs into a vehicle as he leaves federal court in New York on Aug. 21, 2018. He pleaded guilty to eight charges of felony fraud and campaign finance law violations. (Craig Ruttle/AP)The man rode away west on 47th Street on his bicycle. He was described as Hispanic, 30 to 40 years old and about 5 feet 10 inches tall, the alert said.Burmila said he didnt think it would be wise to postpone the trial until December, and told the state he would set the trial date for Oct. 23 in the Maybrook courthouse. He said that if prosecutors felt they needed more time, the court would be willing to revisit the issue.But when she reached the first floor of the Leighton Criminal Court Building, before she got to a crowd of waiting reporters, she stopped and wept, letting the tears roll down her face as she doubled over and her upper body heaved with emotion.When you think about why Illinois is the way it is, youve had certain people that have been in power for a very long time. Speaker Michael Madigan is the longest serving (state) speaker of the House in U.S. history, Harold said. And my opponent has been in Springfield for the past 14 years, marching lockstep behind him. If you want change within your state, you cannot continue to send the same people there hoping that somehow they will change. And thats why we have to have redistricting reform.In 3 1/2 years, Gov. Rauner hasnt once called our senior-most senator (Democrat Dick Durbin), not once. Hes not called him once to ask for anything from the federal government for our state, he said. Think about that. By virtue of his inaction, the governor thinks the current trade policies are just fine right now. Inaction. Because thats what its been all about for him. I think hes wrong. Im going to stand up and fight back against the tariffs that are hurting farmers.Obama, Raoul recalled, said, Well you know, Ive got to take off to D.C., but Im going to have a luncheon in my office. Why dont you follow me in there and I can talk to you while Im having lunch? I said, Thats cool and everything but, isnt that my office now?  (Rick Pearson)The question about use of the federal grant program, known as Title IV, was posed by the Texas Education Agency, which wanted clarity on how it can use the grant funding, according to federal and state officials. The state's questions included whether Texas could use the funding to arm and train school marshals, who are sometimes teachers, as well as other school security measures, according to an email sent to the federal department by a Texas official.Humphrey won the nomination, but he would go on to lose the general election. Turning his back on reporters at the convention, Daley was heckled as he left the amphitheater floor. The events surrounding the convention would haunt Chicago for years, but on that final day the Tribunes reporter concluded that what transpired between the falls of the gavel made this session of the convention one of wildest since the great, gaudy shows were invented.In the security and prosperity of peace, it is now common to fault Truman for his seemingly cruel decision. But in 1945, many Americans were blaming the U.S. government for thousands of American deaths from fighting in the Pacific. Right after the war, they complained that the atomic bombs should have been used even earlier to preclude nightmares such as Okinawa.Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 23)  Malacanang expressed concern with China's planned nuclear program in the South China Sea as reported by the Pentagon.

"We're concerned about the entry of any and all nuclear weapons into the Philippine territory because our constitution provides we are a nuclear-free zone," Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press briefing Thursday.

He added that the concern extends to all nuclear-capable states.

China earlier slammed the United States' Department of Defense annual report, saying that Washington is making presumptuous and irresponsible comments on Beijing's defense development.

"China stays committed to a peaceful development path and follows a national defense policy that is defensive in nature. It is always a builder of world peace, contributor to global development and defender of international order," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang said in a statement on August 18.

Lu said Beijing's moves in the contested waters are legitimate and beyond reproach. He added the development of defense structures aims to safeguard China's national independence.

"We urge the U.S. side to abandon the outdated cold-war and zero-sum mentality, put China's strategic intention and national defense development in perspective, stop issuing such irresponsible report year after year and maintain the steady development of the bilateral relations and military-to-military ties between China and the U.S. with concrete actions," Lu added.

Beijing's nuclear outposts

The Pentagon had warned that China may bring nuclear power to its outposts in the South China Sea.

It said Beijing has completed shore-based infrastructure on four outposts in the Spratly Islands in 2016: Mabini Reef, McKennan Reef, Burgos Reefs, and Calderon Reefs.

While China has stopped its land reclamation activities in the area  which added 3,200 acres (12.94 square kilometers) of land to the seven features it occupied  the U.S. department said Beijing may look into nuclear stations to power these islands.

"China's plans to power these islands may add a nuclear element to the territorial dispute. In 2017, China indicated development plans may be underway to power islands and reefs in the typhoon-prone South China Sea with floating nuclear power stations; development reportedly is to begin prior to 2020," read the report released last week.

The outposts may be able to support military operations, but the U.S. report said no permanent large-scale air or naval presence has been observed in the islands.

It added the development of structures in these outposts could be an attempt to bolster its de facto control over the region.

"The airfields, berthing areas, and resupply facilities will allow China to maintain a more flexible and persistent coast guard and military presence in the area. This would improve China's ability to detect and challenge activities by rival claimants or third parties, widen the range of capabilities available to China, and reduce the time required to deploy them," it said.

China argues its activities throughout most of the South China Sea were backed by a historical nine-dash line claim. A ruling in a case brought by the Philippines to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 invalidated this claim, but China refused to observe the decision.

A nuclear arsenal?

The Pentagon also reported that Beijing invests resources to maintain and modernize a limited but survivable nuclear force.

"China's nuclear weapons policy prioritizes the maintenance of a nuclear force able to survive a first strike and to respond with sufficient strength to inflict unacceptable damage on an enemy," the report read.

However, China follows a "no first use (NFU)" policy, which states that it would only resort to nuclear force in response to a nuclear strike.

The NFU also states Beijing will not use nuclear forces to threaten non-nuclear-weapon states, and in nuclear-weapon-free zones.

The Philippines, along with Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia have rival claims with China over islands in the South China Sea. The four are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and are thus bound by the Southeast Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) treaty. A sixth claimant, Taiwan, is considered by China as a renegade province.

The SEANWFZ, enforced in 1997, prohibits member-states to manufacture nuclear weapons, and prevents stationing of nuclear explosive devices in the member-states' respective territories.

The treaty is open to signatures of China, the United States, and Russia, among other nuclear-weapon-capable states, but they have yet to sign.

China's military force, the Peoples' Liberation Army (PLA), has developed a "nuclear triad" among its rocket force (PLARF), Navy (PLAN) and Air Force (PLAAF), the Pentagon report added.

Beijing's DF-26 intermediate-range ballistic missile which came out in 2016 is capable of striking targets in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, as well as the South China Sea, it added.

The H-6k bomber China flew over islands in the South China Sea in March was believed to be nuclear-capable, and may have damaging effects on the entire Philippines, earlier reports said.

Malacanang previously shrugged off reports of missile structures in the West Philippine Sea outposts, saying these were not a cause for concern since the missile were not directed at the Philippines.Bring your pup for Yappy Hour from 2 to 5 p.m. on the patio at Fat Cat (4840 N. Broadway, 773-506-3100) featuring complimentary light bites, $6 Lagunitas Dog pale ale, a raffle benefiting PAWS Chicago and the chance to buy your best friend treats from the 6 Mutts food truck. RSVP at facebook.com/fatcatbarchicago to receive a gift bag for your pup.Umbrella is among the final beers in Gooses 2018 campaign of cans. The focus on canning is relatively new, and Goose Islands president told the Tribune in March that the shift comes as part of an effort to affirm we are a craft brewery in Chicago amid flagging sales at the Anheuser-Busch subsidiary.The last time Crystal Moselle brought a film to the Sundance Film Festival , she won the 2015 festival's jury prize for her stranger-than-fiction documentary study of seven cinema-obsessed, shut-in Manhattan siblings, "The Wolfpack." Back in Park City, Utah, earlier this year with her first narrative feature, Moselle has uncovered yet another inimitable group of real-life New York youngsters, this one a posse of female skateboarders who haunt Lower East Side parks under the name Skate Kitchen. And though she's given each skater a character to play and a fictional arc to play out, Moselle seems just as eager to let these young women be themselves as she was with "The Wolfpack's" Angulo brothers. "Skate Kitchen" has plenty to say about the lengths to which young women must go to clear out a little breathing room in testosterone-heavy spaces, but it is first and foremost an irresistible hangout movie, offering a thoroughly millennial, verite spin on '80s skater classics like "Thrashin.'"PHOTOS Devastating disasters to strike the US

While some places in the United States are less at-risk than others, every state is prone to some type of natural disaster. Whether it's hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, forest fires, floods, tsunamis, earthquakes or heat waves, each state in the union has dealt with a devastating natural phenomenon in the last century or so. These storms and catastrophes loom large in the memories of people who lived through them. But which weather event had the biggest impact? Between loss of life, property damage and historical impact, here are disasters that have made a major impact in each state. (Kaitlin Miller, The Active Times)Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 23)  The United Nations (UN) is urging the Philippine government to untag human rights defenders as terrorists.

Despite UN Special Rapporteur Victoria Tauli-Corpuz and three other alleged leftists being declared as nonparties in a petition to formally tag them as terrorists, the international body expressed concern over the continued naming of rights' advocates.

"Removing a few high-profile names from the list will not make us stop drawing attention to the situation of the others, whose physical safety and integrity are still under immense pressure," UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders Michel Forst, said.

Corpuz and the three others were in the Department of Justice (DOJ)'s list of known officers of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA). The department filed the petition in February, after President Rodrigo Duterte's order in December 2017 to tag the rebel groups as terrorists.

While Corpuz's name was removed due to lack of evidence pointing to her as a communist leader, the UN considered the tagging as an "act of retaliation" for comments she made about the Philippines' drug war.

"The fact that a UN mandate holder was the subject of such an unacceptable attack is a very serious cause for concern," said Dainius Puras, Chair of the Coordination Committee of Special Procedures.

Malacanang had earlier denied a witchhunt on UN rapporteurs it clashed with, but Forst claimed government's move against these rights defenders are tantamount to intimidation and harassment.

Both Forst and and Puras urged the Philippine government and the UN body to observe the Manila court ruling which removed Corpuz and the three others from the petition, as well as allow human rights advocates to continue their "legitimate work of defending rights without reprisal or fear."Since the hospital left, the old hospital site has been owned by several people and groups and has been the subject of several redevelopment plans, all of which fell apart. The building has deteriorated and has become an eyesore for the neighborhood, residents have said.Under the proposal, the company would install eight kiosks at no cost to the city. The agreement would include the city getting 25 percent of all revenue raised by selling advertising on the kiosks. In return for no upfront costs, the city would agree to a 10-year contract with Smart City.After hearing the gunshot, officers moved into the room and saw Salters holding a handgun in his right hand which he pointed in their direction while holding the nurse with his left arm around her neck and chest, the release stated.According to ISBE data obtained by the Beacon-News, East Aurora has one school identified as lowest performing by ISBE, meaning that school is required to participate in the Il-Empower program. Twelve others, out of 21 district schools, are identified as underperforming, which means they have access to providers approved under the program, according to ISBE.Bicol (CNN Philippines, August 22)  Bicol Central Academy's board of directors on Wednesday ordered the suspension of the school's administrator and owner after his order to burn the bags and belongings of students.

The school's board of directors directed Alexander James Jaucian to serve a 90-day suspension without pay.

Meanwhile, Department of Education Bicol Director Gilbert Sadsad recommended that Jaucian file a leave of absence long enough for affected senior high school students to recover from the trauma he has caused.

Jaucian was also asked by the board of directors and Sadsad to personally pay for the damaged items.

Jaucian met with the parents involved and DepEd officials in a dialogue at the BCA in Libmanan, Camarines Sur on Wednesday. During the dialogue attended by 28 parents, the school owner apologized.

Stress debriefing for the affected students, which was facilitated by DepEd guidance counselors, was also carried out after the dialogue.

At least 25 bags were allegedly collected and burned at the school's quadrangle on August 17 upon Jaucian's order when he found out that the students were not wearing the prescribed corporate attire to observe Tatsumaki Day, where the senior high students will be presented as teachers to junior students. Their use of backpacks and huge bags during the special day earned the ire of Jaucian.

Sadsad said among the personal items burned were a laptop, a cellphone, a pocket wi-fi, clothes, and P2,500 which was supposed to be used by a student to travel to Manila.

In a viral video posted by BCA alumnus Earl Vincent, Jaucian can be heard calling the students "stupid" for leaving their cellphones inside the burned bags.

Sadsad earlier said BCA could lose its permit to operate if proven guilty.

Bicol-based stringer Rosas Olarte contributed to this report.Cross Countries, a student-led service group at Oak Lawn Community High School in Oak Lawn, is raising money to go to Bolivia to work on a hospital there. Since being established in 2004, club members have raised more than $225,000 to fund mission trips overseas for compassionate students to work on rural hospitals in Kenya and Bolivia. This year, the club is attempting to raise $30,000 over the next 10 months for its trip to continue work on what will be the only Level 1 trauma center in the rural highlands of Bolivia. The clubs first fundraiser will be Bowling for Bolivia 2018, a candlelight bowl from 9 p.m. to midnight Oct. 5 at Arena Lanes of Oak Lawn, 4700 West 103rd Street, Oak Lawn. The evening will consist of dinner followed by a short program, bowling, and raffles. Other events will be scheduled through May of 2019. Simultaneously, the group hopes to raise awareness about the need for aid in Bolivia through social media and their donation website. More information is at https://www.olchs.org/activities/cross-countries-/.The one thing thats absolutely clear is that Charles Griffin didnt steal any money from the village of Ford Heights, and he never would, Turner said. In fact, if allowed to, itd show that he spent a lot of his own money, sometimes, and a lot of his time where he didnt have to in trying to help people in Ford Heights. . . . Unlike so many other people, he didnt flee from Ford Heights, he stayed there, hes always been there, raised his family there and hes always been committed to that community.The board has been working since November on the strategic plan, with the help of the Center for Governmental Studies at Northern Illinois University. The goal was to create a list of six priorities the village should address in the next three years. The priorities they came up with were economic development, financial stability, growth, intergovernmental partnerships, recreational amenities and infrastructure.That means the kids go to college and they have a good amount of money they can spend here, Zhou said, according to minutes. As parents we raise our kids, we want the best for our kids. Thats why we spend so much money for school, for everything, for their future.With the sale of the former Queen of Peace High School campus in Burbank expected to close by the end of August, I hope all goes well with the A.E.R.O. Special Education Cooperatives plans to buy the site. It was sad when Queen of Peace closed in June 2017, but its good to know that A.E.R.Os plan to centralize facilities could happen as soon as the 2019-20 school year. Hopefully, the approximately 13-acre property will provide many learning opportunities for students from A.E.R.Os 11 member districts in Stickney, Worth and Lyons townships. Having more space to deliver physical or occupational therapy sounds wonderful for A.E.R.O.s special education students. This deal does sound like a win-win so good luck to all.Barreto said the city of Elgin, and particularly its police department, has been in crisis mode for much of this year with the departure of police Chief Jeff Swoboda, the appointment of Ana Lalley as his successor and the police-involved shooting of Elgin resident Decynthia Clements. An Illinois State Police report on the circumstances of that incident and whether it was justified is being reviewed by the Cook County States Attorneys Office.Another reason Landsman said she became a rabbi was to work with senior citizens, which is what she studied in college. Landsman goes to those who are aging or dying and provides rabbinic counseling, even if they do not belong to a congregation, in addition to being the rabbi for six senior care facilities, she said.Village staff is also recommending the board approve an updated credit card payment form, which more clearly identifies the requirement to list attendees and also requires cardholders to list the reason for the event, Leonard said. If the board approves the changes, village staff will be trained on how to fill out the new form, she said.I would encourage each of you to take a stroll down Sheahan Court and take a moment to think about what a five-story building is going to do to the feel of that neighborhood, said Louise Conway. I know progress and change is inevitable. But for a development like this to abut a small neighborhood like ours, we really need to work through some of the issues in advance so we can enjoy the community going forward.This is Richardson Farms 18th corn maze and it honors Illinois bicentennial. The maze design is bordered on the west by the Mississippi River and on the east by Lake Michigan, Navy Pier and Chicago skyscrapers. The state capitol and Abraham Lincoln fill in the center, along with symbols of Illinois agriculture: a barn, silo, tractor, row crops, apple trees and pumpkins. The 28-acre maze has 10 miles of trails, several games in the maze, many entry and exit points and no dead-ends. Maps are provided and marked with checkpoints. On the two weekends nearest to a full moon  Sept. 21-22 and Oct. 26-27  guests can Maze 'til Midnight, but tickets must be purchased by 10 p.m. Other activities at the farm include a pumpkin patch, vintage carousel, train rides, bungee bouncer, jumping pillow, kids play area, pedal carts, corn bin, air cannons, giant slides, 700-foot-long zip line, Zorbing and paintball shooting gallery. New this fall are two food trucks serving tacos and wood-fired pizza.Johnson and Toney attacked the man, using their fists and feet to beat him, robbed him of his wallet, as well as dropping a heavy bag of sand on his head before leaving the scene, authorities said.I dont believe it took that long, he added. There were a lot of changes that had to be made to that contract as a result of the community service officer not being in the contract. Thats probably the main reason.We have a couple of leads on that, he said of video. Obviously, we will be able to track credit card use and other items removed from the victims. But it will take time to locate the information and find the offenders.I think its strange that the city council used our taxpayer money to buy the parking lots, and I think maybe at one time they really thought they were going to solve the parking lot situation, Naperville resident Susan Breen said. It somehow has changed focus completely to where theres going to be net zero for that 15-year parking lot list.Residency has been a priority of the district starting with OMalleys first year, when board members stressed the importance of making sure those receiving school services are residents of the village. OMalley said the district started with about 70 individuals who failed to qualify as residents in the first year, then cut that total to 35, then to 25, 10, and five.Theres some really creative and wonderful animation in the video, Vodnoy said. The overall feel of the work is really grand and inspiring, and it ranges from deeply moving to quite humorous, depending on the experience of the individual person thats talking.I think for them, just knowing this is a bigger deal than what they are a part of, Associate Director of Special Populations Lyndsey Schaap said, explaining the annual event. Her job is to help transfer and returning students, she said.She was brought with her four minor children, who are U.S. citizens, the release states. The children are in the care of the Indiana Department of Child Services, who will make any necessary determinations regarding their custody, safety and well-being, according to the release.The federal Emergency Food and Shelter Program has awarded Porter County $25,000 to support local services. The selection was made by a National Board chaired by the U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys Federal Emergency Management Agency. A Local County Board will determine how the awarded funds will be distributed. All agencies that meet the following requirements are encouraged to apply. Under the terms of the grant, local agencies must: be private voluntary nonprofits or unit of government; be eligible to receive federal funds; have an accounting system; practice nondiscrimination; have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs; and, if they are a private voluntary organization, must have a voluntary board. Interested applicants are required to attend two meetings. The first is at 3 p.m. Tuesday at United Way of Porter County, 951 Eastport Centre Drive, Valparaiso. The second meeting will be in September. Applications are due by noon Sept. 7. Applications are with United Way of Porter County at 219-464-3583 or info@unitedwaypc.org.They found the older boy unresponsive in moss nearby, and one of the fishermen pulled him out of the water, the affidavit states. Patillos friend, who had been sitting in the pickup truck, ran to the water when he heard Patillo yelling and found the younger boy, according to the affidavit."We spent more than $40 million on infrastructure improvements in the city in the past four years. I take it as a compliment when people say you're doing too much at one time,. For far too many years we piecemealed things. We said we would get it done and get it done right," Snedecor said of himself and the City Council.As soon as he was allowed to bond out of jail, McGrath did, for $1,500. His court hearing is scheduled for Aug. 29. Teeling said Innes doesnt need to be there. Ill bet she shows up. I know I would.Police said it began when a Kenilworth officer pulled a car over for speeding along Sheridan Road. Thomas, the driver, couldnt produce any identification and sped west on Kenilworth Avenue, police said. Officers did not chase after him because they feared for the safety of the child in the car.I understand and admit that my husband was wrong by bringing beer inside and that he could be a bit impulsive at times, but that does not justify at all beating up his employee. He takes advantage of his power and their vulnerability, she said. I just want this man to stop abusing his employees because my husband is not the first one. (Gutierrez Jr.) thinks that because they are in this country illegally, they need to put up with everything.2 Pueblo D60 school board spots up for grabs

A survey was sent to Pueblo D60 candidates running for two seats in the 2021 Pueblo election.The upgraded China-Chile FTA came into force on March 1, 2019. China Briefing looks at bilateral trade relations between China and Chile as well as key market opportunities for foreign investors.

Chile was the first Latin American country to establish diplomatic relations with the Peoples Republic of China, dating back to December 15, 1970. However, relations stayed stagnant for decades until 2005, when the two countries signed a free trade agreement (FTA). This was the first FTA China signed with a Latin American country.

In 2016, President Xi Jinping visited Chile and announced the initiation of negotiations on upgrading the FTA. On November 11, 2017 an agreement was reached on the FTA upgrade; it finally came into force on March 1, 2019. This is only Chinas second FTA upgrading agreement after the China-ASEAN FTA.

Previously, on May 24, 2015, China and Chile signed a double taxation avoidance agreement (DTA) and agreed to set up an RMB clearing center in Chile. This DTA was symbolic to China, as it was the 100th tax treaty that China signed with a foreign country.

With greater trade liberalization and facilitation between China and Chile, how will businesses benefit?

Upgraded China-Chile FTA: Exemption from tariffs, opening up service sectors

The upgraded China-Chile FTA will see the number of items exempt from tariffs increase to cover up to 98 percent of all items, according to Chinas Ministry of Commerce. China has also said that it will gradually eliminate tariffs on some wood products from Chile over three years.

Meanwhile, Chile will immediately eliminate tariffs on Chinese imports, such as textiles and clothing, home appliances, and sugar products. In recent years, Chile has benefited from rising Chinese demand for its agricultural exports, such as fruits and meat.

The FTA will also see the two countries open up in terms of trade in sectors. China will be opening more than 20 sectors to Chilean investors, including legal services and entertainment services and distribution. Chile, on the other hand, will open up more than 40 sectors, including express delivery, transportation, and construction.

China-Chile trade

Bilateral trade between China and Chile reached US$42.8 billion in 2018, showing an increase of about 24 percent year-on-year. This accounted for almost one-third of Chiles total foreign trade.

Chiles major exports to China are mineral and forestry products like copper, fruits, and seafood. Chinas key exports to Chile are textiles, light industrial products, electronic and machinery products.

In 2016, bilateral trade between Chile and China was at US$31.36 billion compared to only US$7 billion in 2005. This goes to show just how effectively the FTA has worked to promote trade between the two countries.

In fact, Chilean exports to China were more than double the value of its exports to the US in 2016 at US$17 billion; that year, 28 percent of Chilean exports went to China.

Trade in goods

Most of Chilean trade is in goods, as its comparative advantages in the mining and agricultural sectors have given it greater access to large markets like China.

Over half of Chilean exports are metals and minerals. Chile is heavily dependent on its copper extraction, and nearly 80 percent of its exports to China are copper, in some or other form. Chinas demand for copper is constant due to its booming construction sector.

Chiles major imports from China are manufactured goods like cars, electrical machines, and textiles. Chile does not have a big transport vehicle industry  the bilateral FTA with China facilitates tariff exemptions for vehicle imports, which benefits local Chilean consumers.

Trade in services

Chiles President Michelle Bachelet signed the Supplementary Agreement on Services Trade in 2008 during her visit to China while attending the Boao Forum for Asia.

Services amount only to 13 percent of Chiles total exports and 17 percent of its total imports. However, there exist plenty of opportunities in the services industry, which will be strengthened by the new openings facilitated by the upgraded FTA  in both China and Chile.

Currently, nearly half of the exported services are in the travel and tourism sector. In 2015, Chile implemented a visa-free policy for Chinese citizens who had previously been issued a US or Canadian visa. This policy has boosted Chinese tourism.

Tourism in Chile is also on the rise; in 2017, Chile experienced an increase of 13.3 percent in the number of people visiting the country. Further, China is the second-largest source of tourists to Antarctica and Chinese travelers often use Chilean travel companies as a gateway to Antarctica.

Market opportunities for Chilean businesses

There are considerable opportunities for Chilean businesses in Chinese markets. Opportunities are particularly strong in food segments, as the FTA allows Chile to export to China freely.

This provides great opportunities for Chilean food producers, since local Chinese production cannot meet the internal demand. With a population of about 1.4 billion, China holds nearly one-fifth of the worlds population but only has one-tenth of the worlds farmland.

As living standards in China improve, Chinese consumers seek higher quality, imported food. Chinas total food imports added up to US$58.28 billion in 2017, which was a 25 percent increase from the year before.

Over the last couple of years, China has been importing more food from Latin America, especially fruit. For example, avocado imports in 2017 reached 30,000 tons.

In addition, most Chilean exports enjoy preferential tariffs of two to 10 percent in China, except in the case of manufactured goods. Transport vehicles like cars and motorcycles attract high tariffs of up to 45 percent due to Chinas protection of its manufacturing industry, which generates the most jobs on the mainland.

Overall, China offers a huge market to be explored by Chilean companies. The growing Chinese middle class in major cities like Beijing and Shanghai is leading to an increasing demand for quality meat.

Although China has the largest pig population in the world  more than the whole of the EU combined  it cannot fulfill the local demand. On the other hand, meat is one of Chiles top 10 export items and is not subject to tariffs.

Further, the wine segment in China has received more focus as market interest is increasing. French and Spanish producers have been keen to exploit the market, and the Chileans too are slowly building their presence. In fact, Chilean wines increased their value by 30 percent to US$254 million and their volume of exports to China by 24 percent in 2017.

Challenges for Chilean investors

It is important to note that the number of Latin American companies in China is still relatively low. This can be attributed to a variety of reasons, including huge cultural differences and distance between the two regions.

Chinas regulatory environment is also quite complex and constantly changing to adapt to the countrys rapid economic growth. Yet, the scale and volume of opportunities in China are worth exploring for foreign investors.

According to Lorena Miera, International Business Advisory Associate at Dezan Shira & Associates, Chile has set a strong example for other Latin American countries: The Chile-China FTA has provided Chile with a great opportunity to find new export markets that the country has taken in its right.

Miera continued, Chile has become a successful example for other countries in the Latin American region on how to diversify commercial partners while complementing its import needs and export capabilities.

Many Latin American companies have managed to enter the Chinese market with great success, such as the Mexican Bimbo Group and the Chilean retailer Cencosud.

The key to achieving this success is to comprehensively study the market beforehand and prepare the best market entry strategy keeping in mind the size of the firm, scope of the operation, region where based, competitors in the segment, tax and regulatory rules, and incentives, among other factors.

It is advisable to seek advice when setting up operations in this market to prevent avoidable legal and financial complications.

(Editors Note: This article was originally published in August 2018 and has been updated to include new developments.)The Glory and the Dream, a 43-episode TV series starring actor Yang Shuo and actress Su Qing, is loosely based on the "Two Bombs, One Satellite" project, China's nuclear and space program.[Photo provided to China Daily]

A TV series loosely based on the "Two Bombs, One Satellite" project, China's nuclear and space program, recently began airing on Beijing Satellite TV and the video streaming site Tencent Video.

The 43-episode series, The Glory and the Dream, directed by Han Xiaojun, is about a group of friends, who go from fresh college graduates to established engineers at a rocket research center in Southwest China.

The story, spanning three decades, starts with China's successful detonation of its first atomic bomb in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region on Oct 16, 1964, goes on to depict the turbulence of the 1970s and the huge changes brought about by the reform and opening-up policies.

Tie Fo, the producer, who has been in the television industry for more than 30 years, says he first read the script in 2007.

"It was penned by Huang Jian, who previously worked in a Guizhou rocket research center," he recalls in a telephone interview with China Daily.

Tie had once worked in Sichuan province's Mianyang Science and Technology City, a national defense facility, and he identified with the story.

Recalling his days there, Tie says he sometimes met with Deng Jiaxian, who was often hailed as the "Father of China's Nuclear Program".

"But Deng's identity was top secret then, so I didn't know how important he was. He was very low-profile and easy-going," recalls Tie.To build closer ties between translators and publishers, Chinese Culture Translation and Studies Support Network (CCTSS) arranged a conference on the global transmission of Chinese books on Tuesday in Beijing.

Publishers from prestigious houses such as Rong Bao Zhai, China Renmin University Press and The Writers Publishing House met with translators and Sinologists from around the world, giving updates on China's book market and listening to readers' interests abroad.

"We have been working with publishing houses from over 30 countries," Liu Yehua from China Renmin University Press said. "In the future, we hope to cooperate with more translators and introduce contemporary Chinese books to the world."

"I'm very interested in books on traditional Chinese culture and the Belt and Road Initiative," Prabhat Kumar, assistant professor from India's Central University of Gujarat, said. "I want to help Indian readers learn about Chinese history and China's development path."

During the meeting, translators viewed a list of recent publications. They could contact the representatives of these publishing agencies directly and discuss the details of a translation project.

The anticipated International Database of Contemporary Chinese Writers and Works was also launched at the conference. Running on China's popular social platform WeChat, the software presents profiles of 100 contemporary Chinese writers in multiple languages.percent on eight items from the country.

products imported from the United States, and a tariff of 25

China decided to impose a tariff of 15 percent on 120 items of

latest unilateral move that poses a threat to global trade.

impose tariffs on up to US$60 billion of imports from China, the

U.S. President Donald Trump signed a memorandum that could

from the United States that will be subject to higher tariffs,

The list covers approximately 1,300 products imported from China.

list of Chinese goods subject to additional 25 percent tariffs.

The Office of U.S. Trade Representative published a proposed

protectionist practices, the Ministry of Commerce said.

countermeasures" if the United States continues its unilateral,

China will fight "at any cost" and take "comprehensive

Representative to consider slapping US$100 billion of additional

U.S. President Donald Trump said he has asked the U.S. Trade

measures on grain sorghum imported from the United States.

China announced that it will impose provisional anti-dumping

U.S. Department of Commerce suspended an export control

Beijing, and agreed to set up a work mechanism to keep

issues in their economic and trade consultations in

China and the United States reached agreements on some

each other.

and trade consultations, vowing not to launch a trade war against

China and the United States issued a joint statement on economic

for economic and trade consultations with the U.S. side.

Chinese Vice Premier Liu He arrived in Washington on May 17

consultations with the Chinese side on economic and trade issues.

A U.S. delegation visited China from June 2-4 to continue

items of U.S. products worth about US$50 billion.

China decided to impose additional duties of 25 percent on 659

The United States announced additional tariffs of 25 percent on

new U.S. tariffs take effect, the country's customs authority

United States will be implemented immediately after the

China's additional tariffs on some import products from the

IT and auto parts.

on July 6, targeting Chinese products from sectors like aerospace,

on Chinese products worth US$34 billion would become effective

The United States confirmed that a 25-percent additional tariff

announcement of a list of tariffs on US$200 billion of Chinese

China expressed solemn protest against the United States'

The United States said it will impose 10 percent tariffs on an

different rates on 5,207 items of imported U.S. products worth

China announced its decision to impose additional tariffs of four

Chinese goods from 10 percent to 25 percent.

Trump called for raising the proposed tariff on US$200 billion of

Aug. 7 The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced that the country will begin collecting extra tariffs on another US$16 billion in Chinese goods on Aug. 23. Investor Jim Rogers: Stop the trade war







Rule breaker





Aug. 23 The United States began to collect extra tariffs on another US$16 billion in Chinese goods.





The value of China mergers and acquisitions dropped 18 percent to $348 billion in the first six months of the year, while the volume of transactions increased slightly, according to a recent report.

The report from multinational professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers expects a further moderate decline in M&As in the second half of the year.

Between January and June, deal values fell across the four main sub-sectors of M&As: domestic strategic buyers, foreign strategic buyers, private equity deals and Chinese mainland outbound. For example, domestic strategic M&As declined 27 percent in value. Nevertheless, the deal volumes were still the second highest on record.

Waikay Eik, PwC Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong deals leader, said outbound M&As declined for four consecutive half-year periods, since the record highs of 2016. The value of these deals is still about a third higher than the levels before 2016.

PwC's findings showed that Europe displaced Asia as the primary outbound destination in terms of value. Shrinking investment into the United States accounts for a significant proportion of the overall decline in China outbound M&A from its peak in 2016, according to the report.

In the same period, strategic M&As fell 27 percent by value. The report said the slowdown to some extent reflects the Chinese government's commitment to deleveraging, which has had some impact on M&As, particularly among listed companies, the report said.

"Looking at M&A activity by industrial sector, we see that strategic buyer deals in the industrial, metal and chemicals sectors hit record highs," said Leon Qian, PwC China deals north clients & markets leader.

"The technology and finance sectors accounted for more than half the deals for financial buyers, though the $14 billion fundraising for Ant Financial had a big impact on the finance sector in this period."

The report expects a further moderate decline in M&A in the second half of the year. China outbound will continue to slow, but the other sectors (domestic strategic buyers, foreign strategic buyers, PE deals) may remain steady, it said.A Chinese mainland spokesperson Tuesday said Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration overrated itself by trying to sow discord in global community.

Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks in response to the censure from the DPP administration on the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and El Salvador on Tuesday. The Central American nation severed "diplomatic relations" with Taiwan on the same day.

The attempts by the DPP administration to cover up the truth, shift focus, intensify confrontation across the Taiwan Strait, and damage cross-Strait relations will not succeed, Ma said.

He said El Salvador made the right decision for the interests of both the country and its people, joining the overwhelming majority of the countries in the world.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Salvadorean Foreign Minister Carlos Castaneda signed a communique Tuesday in Beijing, announcing "the People's Republic of China and the Republic of El Salvador, in keeping with the interests and desires of the two peoples, have decided to recognize each other and establish diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level effective from the date of signature of this communique."

"The Government of the Republic of El Salvador recognizes that there is but one China in the world, that the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory," the communique said.

"The one-China principle is the international consensus, the general trend and common aspiration of the people," said Ma.

"We once again urge the DPP administration to stop doing anything harmful to the interests and well-being of the Taiwanese people and any efforts going against the trend will be in vain," he said.

Ma called on the DPP administration to return to the path of the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations based on the 1992 Consensus, saying it is the only right choice to make.











Fourteen international ambassadors for the promotion of giant panda culture were named in Beijing Tuesday night.

The "ambassadors," including foreign ambassadors to China, officials, giant panda experts, entrepreneurs and celebrities, will commit to promoting the cultural symbol of the giant panda around the world.

The event was held as part of the First Giant Panda International Culture Week, to be held in Beijing from Aug. 23 to 26, with the aim of celebrating China's efforts in preserving the vulnerable species and promoting the global influence of giant panda culture.

For decades, the Chinese government has sent giant pandas, regarded by Chinese as a national treasure, to other countries. They are adored worldwide as an envoy for friendship and symbol of peace.

"I visited our beloved giant panda Lin Bing and her two cubs earlier this month in Sichuan and took pictures with them. It was the happiest moment of my life," said Korn Dabbaransi, former vice prime minister of Thailand and president of Thailand-China Friendship Association, who was among the 14 ambassadors.

Lin Bing, the first giant panda born in Thailand, is the daughter of pandas Lin Hui and Chuang Chuang. The couple has lived in Chiang Mai Zoo in northern Thailand since 2003 as part of a panda research program. Lin Bing was sent to southwest China's Sichuan Province to find a mate in 2013 at the age of four.

Since her birth in 2009, Lin Bing has become one of the most popular animals in Thailand, creating an ongoing "panda mania" in the country.

"Lin Bing has attracted the attention of millions of Thai people," said Dabbaransi. "There was even a television channel showing her live feed around the clock."

He added that Lin Bing's name was chosen after a nationwide name selection contest in 2009 that attracted some 22 million postcard-votes, accounting for around 32.8 percent of the country's total population.

"When she was sent to China in 2013, many Thai people were very sad and reluctant to say goodbye," Dabbaransi recalled. "Her fans even chartered two planes to escort her back."

Five years after Lin Bing traveled to China, people in Thailand are still missing the giant panda. "When I told my people that I was going to China two weeks ago, many of them asked me to say hello to Lin Bing," said Dabbaransi.

Early this month, he paid a visit to Lin Bing, who is living in Sichuan's Wolong National Nature Reserve and gave birth to twins last year.

The name "Lin Bing" is a combination of her mother's family name and "Ping River," the name of Chiang Mai's major river, symbolizing the deep friendship between Thailand and China, Dabbaransi said.

"Pandas are always a bridge connecting Thailand and China," he said. "With this bond, the exchanges between our two countries have become deeper and more frequent."

He added that economic exchanges between Thailand and China have been booming in the past few years, with bilateral trade volume topping 74.1 million U.S. dollars last year. An increasing number of Chinese tourists have traveled to Thailand. Meanwhile, more and more Thai people have visited China, not only to see giant pandas but also to study and do business.

"Giant pandas bring happiness and connect people," said Djauhari Oratmangun, Indonesian ambassador to China and also an ambassador for the promotion of giant panda culture. "They are a symbol of the friendship between Indonesia and China."

There are currently two pandas living in Indonesia, Hu Chun and Cai Tao, a couple on a 10-year-loan from China to Indonesia's Taman Safari Zoo since last year.

"More and more Indonesians are learning about giant pandas and becoming interested in China," said Oratmangun. "More Chinese tourists will also visit Indonesia to see the pandas."

He said that people-to-people exchanges will promote cooperation between the two countries in other sectors, such as trade and investment.

The cultural symbol of the giant panda is in line with the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative because the symbol creates a friendly environment where people and countries are connected, he said.Emilie Lagneau spent her first two weeks in China repairing an ancient house in a remote mountain village in southeast China's Fujian Province.

The French archeologist joined a two-week architectural heritage preservation work camp, arriving in Jiulong Village of Nanping City on July 16, along with 16 volunteers, three from France and 13 from China.

The two-story house, with a wooden inner structure and rammed earth outer walls, was located on a mountain. The volunteers carried tiles and logs up the mountain, and dug up earth near it. Under the guidance of three local craftsmen, they built a rammed earth wall to replace a rotten wooden beam.

Lagneau said the manual labor was not a challenge for her because she had been an archeologist for 10 years.

"I'm interested in the old way of building houses with wood and mud," she said. "I wanted to have a trip in another country and to learn carpentry. Then I found this work camp online."

The work camp, co-organized by the Shanghai Ruan Yisan heritage foundation and French relics protection association Rempart, has been raising public awareness of architectural heritage conservation since 2011. For eight years, the work camp invited Chinese and French volunteers to repair heritage sites in the two countries, such as temples, former celebrity residences and city walls.

It is the first time the camp chose Jiulong, where Tucuo mud-houses have been home to locals for over 1,000 years.

Ding Feng, secretary general of Shanghai Ruan Yisan, said that the old houses showed the traditional residential architecture of northern Fujian.

"In recent years, young and middle-aged people have left the village to seek job opportunities, leaving about 90 percent of the old houses vacant and unprotected. These houses will disappear in some years unless they are preserved," she said.

Zhan Zhenfen, who taught the volunteers how to make rammed earth walls using raw materials such as earth, clay, gravel and straw, said the last time he did such work was in 1986. "Villagers used to build these houses on their own. But now, people under 50 don't know the techniques."

Since the 1980s, villagers began to move into brick or concrete houses with modern facilities, leaving many old ones abandoned. More than 120 traditional houses still exist in Jiulong, among them two were built 400 years ago, and another seven have a history of about 200 to 300 years.

Hu Xiaowen, a volunteer and interior designer, said she appreciated the way the traditional houses were built. The external walls make the houses cool in summer and warm in winter. The houses are strong, durable and eco-friendly, as they adopt local raw materials.

"There are some Chinese architects who are adapting rammed earth walls in modern construction, for the purpose of sustainability," Hu said.

Liu Chunlan, a volunteer who led the team in Jiulong, said she believes the work carries significance for locals. "Villagers used to think that their hometown was a place left behind by modern development, but our arrival and labor can provide them with an outsiders' perspective and let them see the value of the traditional architecture in their hometown."

Their labor made local villagers curious. Some even joined in the work, with many children eager to learn the techniques.

Wu Chunsheng, a local official, said the local government has been encouraging the villagers to repair their deserted houses to protect local culture.

Wu said the county was preparing to build an artist base in the village to attract painters, photographers and sculptors to create works inspired by the idyllic rural scenery, and create more jobs for the locals.Didi Chuxing, China's biggest ride-hailing company, has sued three of its drivers for lending their cars to unauthorized motorists who later caused traffic accidents, leading to passengers getting injured. All three cases have been accepted by local courts.

The three drivers allegedly lent their cars to friends who later got involved in accidents. Didi said the company had paid up to 25,000 yuan (US$3,653) in medical fees for the injured passengers in the three cases in advance.

One of the incidents happened in Beijing. The driver surnamed Li, who caused the accident, had previously applied to become a Didi driver but was turned down because of insufficient driving experience. Didi therefore had to pay for the medical expenses as well as compensation to the passenger. The company did not get the money back from the driver responsible for the accident.

All drivers who sign up with Didi must upload their IDs, driver's licenses and pictures of the cars, the company said. The person behind the wheel must be the same one who signed up with the company, it added.

In its lawsuit, Didi argued that all three drivers lent their cars out knowing it was a grave breach of contract. Didi appealed to the court to order the defendant drivers to pay the company liquidated damages and lawyer fees.

Didi claimed that drivers lending their cars to others will have their account suspended for good. They also urged passengers to double check the authenticity of the driver before hopping in their cars.A Nobel Prize winner announced the establishment of a science kindergarten in Qingdao, Shandong province, to encourage more youngsters to become engineers and scientists.

"We need more engineers and scientists as the economy develops. To affect young people and convince them to become engineers and scientists, we need to start as early as possible," Israeli scientist Daniel Shechtman, the 2011 Nobel Prize winner in chemistry, said on Saturday.

The kindergarten is believed to be the first of its kind in the city. The 77-year-old Shechtman is an advocate of early-stage education.

"If young people like science, more of them will become scientists, which is important to the development of China and the rest of the world. It's also a key to world peace," he added.

To date, Shechtman has led 60 science kindergartens in Israel, where the school system is emphasizing science. Even 5-year-olds can be seen in labs doing experiments on things they're interested in.

"We treat children like adults. They should know they will become serious scientists from a very early stage, and they should continue science study in primary schools and secondary school and later on in high school," he said.

Shechtman made his decision after visiting Qingdao International Academician Park with other scientists from around the world as part of the second Overseas Academicians' Qingdao Tour and Qingdao International Academicians Forum, which was held last week.

The three-day event aimed to help overseas academics learn more about China. It also promoted international scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation, according to organizers.

Shechtman was one of 49 academics who signed cooperation agreements with Qingdao International Academician Park, which is based in the city's Licang district. Their research is mainly centered on biomedicine, new-generation information technologies, high-end equipment manufacturing and new energy and new materials.

Many academics said they were impressed by the park's atmosphere of innovation and nice environment.

Launched in June 2016, the park aims to attract world renowned academics in high-level and cutting-edge technologies that are urgently needed to carry out scientific research and commercialization of research findings, according to Wang Xijing, Party chief of Qingdao's Licang district.

The park has promised to provide up to 100 million yuan ($14.5 million) to help academics start projects.

As of July, the park had attracted 108 academics, 81 of them from abroad. Sixteen projects have been commercialized, resulting in 25 kinds of products whose output value reached nearly 5 billion yuan.

Yuan Longping, called the "father of hybrid rice" in China, led a research and development center in the park, aiming to develop salt-resistant rice strains to provide more food. After its first experimental success last year, Yuan's team is now planting the rice on six plots of saline-alkali land in China. The team also succeeded in planting rice in Dubai's tropical desert in the United Arab Emirates over the summer.A report on human capital investment in the era of artificial intelligence (AI) was published in Beijing on Wednesday, detailing research findings and policy suggestions to cope with future challenges brought by AI development in the Chinese job market.

Jointly released by the China Development Research Foundation (CDRF) and Sequoia China, the report reviewed the development of AI technology in recent history, compared policies of the AI Industry in different countries, and analyzed the impact of AI on the job market.

The report finds that the current wave of AI development is being gradually applied with increasing efficiency to a wide range of sectors including social media, search engines, industrial automation, e-commerce platforms, transportation, logistics, medicine and education. "But without proper human capital investment, it can have negative impacts on society in the future," it warns.

"If we decide to go on a path towards a future with AI, we must emphasize human capital investment, and this must be done at an early stage," said Lu Mai, vice chairman and secretary general of CDRF, during the report's launch ceremony.

"Currently, China's early childhood parenting and preschool education lags behind global standards, and China's vocational education also needs further improvement."

All of these shortcomings will hinder China's labor market from transitioning to an AI-led future and actions should be taken as soon as possible to address these potential challenges, Lu noted.

Neil Shen, founding and managing partner of Sequoia China, agrees that while addressing the potential difficulties posed by AI development, China should embrace the AI era and reap its benefits.

"AI will greatly free human being from repetitive jobs and cultivate creative minds." He also predicts that future work will shift gradually from being "labor-centric" to an "innovation-driven" one, and urges the entire society, particularly the system of education and vocational training, to better prepare for the changeover and meet the challenges.

To embrace the new era, the report concludes that more efforts need to be put into building a wider understanding of AI and the technology should be applied first in sectors such as education, healthcare, law, and finance and other mid- to high-end service sectors.

Educational resources should be allocated to further human equity and equality, and foster a new generation in the workforce that can easily adapt to social changes; lifelong learning and high-quality vocational training systems should also be established; and the social security system should play a stronger role in providing a safety net and redistributing wealth, the report added.An accusation that Master Xuecheng, abbot of the Beijing-based Longquan Temple and former head of the Buddhist Association of China, sent female monks obscene messages is true, China's top religious affairs regulator said on Thursday.

Verification came after an accusation against Xuecheng in early August in a 95-page report of various violations, including sexual harassment of several nuns, illegally expanding the scale of the temple and embezzling donations from believers.

Investigations found Xuecheng is suspected of violating Buddhist precepts by sending female monks obscene messages, and will receive punishment according to the constitution of the Buddhist Association of China, the State Administration for Religious Affairs said in a statement.

The allegedly illegal construction of the temple was found to have no construction license, and the use of a large amount of temple funds was found to be in violation of financial management regulations. Related departments are investigating the problems, it said.

The reported sexual harassment is still under investigation by Beijing public security, according to the statement.China recently released a guideline on winning the battle against poverty in the next three years to prepare the nation for eradicating poverty by 2020.

According to the guideline, the poor population should be guaranteed food and clothing and children from poor families should be guaranteed a nine-year compulsory education. Basic medical needs and living conditions of the poor population should also be guaranteed.

People whose annual income is lower than 2,300 yuan (about 336.1 U.S. dollars) are defined as living below the poverty line in China.

Over the past five years, over 68 million people were lifted out of poverty. Another 30 million are set to be lifted in less than three years time.

However, as the work becomes harder towards the end, what exactly will the country do to achieve its goal?

AN ARDUOUS TASK

Fostering distinctive industries will continue to be emphasized.

"To become a moderately prosperous society in all respects by 2020, our biggest area of weakness lies in rural areas, especially the poor people in rural areas," Han Jun, deputy director of the office of the central agricultural work leading group, said at a press conference.

In southwest China's Zhexiang Township, Bouyei-Miao Autonomous Prefecture of Qianxinan, Guizhou Province, an area in deep poverty, a tourism park featuring distinctive Bouyei cloth making studios was established amid the local government's drive to develop the ethnic cultural industry together with rural tourism.

Since its establishment in 2016, the park has created over 200 jobs for residents and has drawn many tourists.

"Sales revenue of 'Tubu,' (a cloth with special patterns of the Bouyeu ethnic group), hit over 1.2 million yuan in only six months in 2017," said Wan Tianqin, deputy manager of a local cloth manufacturing company.

The industry not only increased the township's average income but also promoted our unique culture, said Zhou Jun, deputy Party secretary of Zhexiang.

As China proceeds with developing more distinctive industries, more attention should also be given to inspire the spirit of the poor people, according to the guideline.

MEDICAL INSURANCE

Besides fostering distinctive industries, the biggest challenge of poverty alleviation in the last three years lies in illness-caused poverty, according to Han Jun.

To tackle the problem, the country is piloting new insurance programs covering nearly all medical expenses for registered poor people.

In northwest China's Galou village, Qinghai Province, Wang Quanfu managed to spend zero yuan for his wife's ovarian cancer treatment this year.

According to Wang, his medical insurance and serious illness insurance normally covers 60 percent of the medical cost, but new health insurance piloted in his county in 2016 reimbursed the remainder of his expenses for his wife's treatment.

According to Qinghai Insurance Regulatory Bureau, 44.1 percent of the province's registered poor people are under the poverty line due to illness-related expenses. The new insurance program is aimed to expand the medical reimbursement ratio for them.

"After they are reimbursed from the medical insurance and the serious illness insurance, the government together with other commercial insurance companies will take care of the rest," said Qiu Zhijiang, an official with the insurance regulatory bureau.

The new insurance program has already started in many areas nationwide including Xining in Qinghai and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

ANTI-CORRUPTION

Anti-corruption is another priority in China's war against poverty, according to the guideline.

The country's top anti-graft body, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of the Communist Party of China, earlier this year opened a new section on its website to expose cases of corruption and misconduct in poverty alleviation.

Among the first 24 cases exposed, six were involved in the misappropriation or theft of funds intended for renovating old houses, and other violations involved embezzling job training funds and dereliction of duty.

Li Linqing, former Party chief of Caozhuang village in central China's Henan Province, was found to have reallocated more than 67,000 yuan of house renovation funds for other purposes.

Li was expelled from the Party, with his case transferred to judicial departments for further investigation.

The move is part of CCDI's three-year campaign launched to keep high alert on graft in case it interferes with the poverty relief work.

"Winning the battle against poverty is a promise that the Party has made to the people and is a political task that must be fulfilled," according to the CCDI.Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is only 28 years old. She is a New Yorker of Puerto Rican heritage, and after an upset primary vote, she will be the Democratic Party's nominee for U.S. Congress in November. Ocasio-Cortez is almost guaranteed to be elected to Congress, as the district is overwhelmingly controlled by the Democratic Party. Her victory in the primary was over Joe Crowley, a longstanding figure in New York City politics.

Ocasio-Cortez is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America and aligns herself with Bernie Sanders and other members of the Democratic Party who reject the pro-market, neoliberal economic policies long favored by the party's National Committee.

After her victory, all across U.S. media a debate about "socialism" has taken place. Among Republicans and conservatives, alarm-bells have sounded. Ocasio-Cortez is accused of wanting to "turn the USA into Venezuela." Because Ocasio-Cortez has criticized capitalism, her critics equate her to Marxist-Leninists, and invoke Cold War rhetoric against her.

Meanwhile, supporters of Ocasio-Cortez insist that "socialism" simply refers to government policies intended to deliver economic justice. TV host, Joy Behar, defended Ocasio-Cortez in a heated exchange on national TV, saying that socialism had been successful in Norway and Sweden.

The Neoliberal definition of socialism

Both sides of the new "socialism" debate seem to agree with the definition of socialism that emerged in the 1970s and 80s, as U.S. discourse became dominated by advocates of economic neoliberalism such as Milton Friedman and Ayn Rand. Both sides define socialism as government involvement in the economy.

For example, defenders of "socialism" say the U.S. already has a "socialist post office," "socialist fire department," and "socialist roads." Critics of "socialism" claim the U.S. government is too large, taxes are too high, and that the problems of U.S. society can be attributed to a lack of free market policies.

This discourse lacks the standard definition of socialism used for well over 200 years. The invention of the word "socialism" is attributed to the French utopian thinker, Henri de Saint-Simon. Simon began utilizing the term "socialisme" in aftermath of the French revolution, contrasting his vision of a highly organized and rationally planned society, with "liberalism," the philosophy of the emerging French capitalism, in which production was organized to serve the interests of individual business owners.

Long before the emergence of Marxism as a political force, "socialism" referred to the centers of economic power being controlled by the community. Marx and Engels later spoke of "workers controlling the means of production." Throughout the Cold War, "socialism" referred to societies in which the commanding heights of the economy were controlled by the state.

Even non-Marxist socialists, such as the Baathists of the Arab world, or figures like Kwame Nkrumah or Julius Nyerere in Africa, understood socialism in this way. Socialism did not refer to progressive taxation policies, or government merely providing services. It was viewed as an alternative to the rule of profits, in which the economy is planned by the state and made to function in the interest of the public overall.

Amid the height of McCarthyism in the United States, propaganda pushing the merits of the "free market" was routinely shown to U.S. school children. As a result, many Americans now believe that socialism and communism is "everyone getting the same wage, no matter how hard they work" among other confused definitions.

However, as the increase in the U.S. standard of living has slowed, millions of Americans have come to reject the neoliberal principles contending privatizations are always best and the population should be left to "pull itself up by its bootstraps." Despite being told that government activity is "socialism," a large number of Americans still want the government to be involved in providing services and regulating financial activities.

The organization that Ocasio-Cortez is affiliated with, Democratic Socialists of America, emerged during the early 1980s from the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee of Michael Harrington. The group emerged as the "New Communist Movement" of young activists inspired by Mao Zedong in China, as the Soviet-aligned Communist Party USA, declined.

Harrington recruited many former organizers of the Civil Rights and Anti-Vietnam War movement to his organization, publishing "In These Times" magazine and encouraging young activists to distance themselves from Marxism-Leninism, and put forward a "democratic" vision of socialism that was contrary to it. Harrington also encouraged his followers to be involved in the Democratic Party's election campaigns rather than street protests.

Harrington's organization has certainly evolved since the 1980s, and it seems to be increasingly influential as the Democratic Party struggles to define itself. Other than opposing Donald Trump, the Democrats are greatly confused about what they stand for. Figures like Howard Shultz, former CEO of Starbucks, are greatly disturbed by the rise of "socialists" like Bernie Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez and seek to counter it within the Democratic Party. Meanwhile, many young Americans are deeply inspired by the new socialist trend, and have become politically active in order to support it.

The conversation about socialism continues in the United States, as many Americans, on both the right and left, reject the economic policies that have defined the country for the last few decades and look for a solid alternative that can restore growth and allow living standards to keep rising.

Caleb Maupin is a journalist and political analyst who resides in New York City focusing on U.S. foreign policy and the global system of monopoly capitalism and imperialism.

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors only, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. Flash





China National Tourist Office announced Tuesday a new campaign, the "Beautiful China - Journey along the World Heritage," in Salt Lake City in the western U.S. state of Utah, aiming to attract more tourists from the United States.





The event sought to promote the 53 UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage sites in China and bring innovative new products to the outbound tourism market in the United States.





During the event, which was also attended by representatives from Utah Office of Tourism, the tourism resources from all the 53 UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage sites were unveiled to the public.





"From the iconic Great Wall, one of the first inclusions into UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage list, to Guizhou's Fanjing Mountain, the newest addition to UNESCO's World Heritage, China boasts a long list of must-see attractions," Wu Ning, director of China National Tourist Office in Los Angeles, said at the the special tourism promotion event.





"China is one of the countries having the largest number of World Heritage Sites waiting to be explored," she added.





China's UNESCO heritage list includes 36 Cultural Heritages Sites, 13 World Natural Heritage Sites and four Cultural and Natural (Mixed) Heritage Sites.





"It is a great opportunity to know more about China and it is also an effective way to expand friendship between China and the state of Utah," said Rachel Bremer, manager for Global Travel Trade and Destination Development from Utah Office of Tourism, adding that there are quite some partnership opportunities in China as Beijing will be the host city of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games.





As one of the four great ancient world civilizations, China has one of the most complete sets of heritage sites over a broad range and boasts the largest number of World Cultural and Natural Heritage Sites.





The country hosted a series of tourism promotion events in New York, San Francisco and Mexico City last year.



 Flash

The U.S. State Department said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday met with his British counterpart Jeremy Hunt to discuss the "threat" of Russia and Iran's regional influence.

According to a statement issued by State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert, Pompeo and Hunt "discussed a number of global issues, including the ongoing threat posed by Russia's dangerous and destabilizing activity and Iran's malign behavior, the defeat ISIS campaign, as well as the humanitarian situation in Yemen."

Nauert said that "as close allies, the two committed to deepening cooperation on security and foreign policy issues and welcomed the prospect of a future free trade agreement."

After their meeting, Pompeo and Hunt expressed their gratitude to U.S. diplomats expelled by Russia after the Western joint response to Russia's alleged use of a chemical weapon in an attempted murder case in Britain.

Relations between Russia and the West deteriorated over the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain earlier this year. Moscow and London have been trading accusations of involvement in the attack.

Following the incident, more than two dozens of Western countries, including the United States, expelled large numbers of Russian diplomats from their countries.

Russia denied its involvement in the case repeatedly, and expelled the equal number of foreign diplomats in response. Flash

A wreath-laying ceremony was held at UN Headquarters in New York on Wednesday to mourn the death of former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Current Secretary-General Antonio Guterres paid tribute at the ceremony and signed a condolence book for Annan.

"We are here to pay tribute to Kofi Annan, one of the best of us, a man who embodied United Nations values and made us all proud to call ourselves his colleagues," Guterres told the ceremony.

"Kofi Annan's years in office were an exciting time. He put forward new ideas. He brought new people into the United Nations family. He spoke passionately about our mission and our role. He created a renewed sense of possibility both inside and outside our organization about what the UN could do and could be for the world's people."

Annan, a Ghanaian diplomat, died on Saturday in Switzerland. He served as UN secretary-general for 10 years till the end of 2006.

In a statement issued on the day of Annan's death, Guterres described Annan as "a guiding force for good" and a good friend and mentor of his. Guterres was picked by Annan as UN High Commissioner for Refugees in 2005. Flash

U.S. President Donald Trump Wednesday accused his former long-time personal lawyer Michael Cohen of "making stories" in order to get a "deal."







"If anyone is looking for a good lawyer, I would strongly suggest that you don't retain the services of Michael Cohen!" Trump tweeted.





Cohen has pleaded guilty to eight criminal charges, including campaign-finance violations, tax evasion and bank fraud at a federal court in Manhattan, New York.





"Michael Cohen plead guilty to two counts of campaign finance violations that are not a crime," Trump said, adding "President Obama had a big campaign finance violation and it was easily settled!"





In another tweet, Trump praised his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort as "a brave man."





"I feel very badly for Paul Manafort and his wonderful family. 'Justice' took a 12 year old tax case, among other things, applied tremendous pressure on him and, unlike Michael Cohen, he refused to 'break' - make up stories in order to get a 'deal'. Such respect for a brave man!" Trump tweeted.





Manafort was found guilty of eight out of 18 criminal charges at a federal jury in Virginia on Tuesday. He has denied all the charges.





In court on Tuesday, Cohen reportedly said "in coordination and at the direction of a candidate for federal office," he kept information that would have been harmful to the candidate and the campaign from becoming public.





Cohen didn't mention Trump's name but it's widely thought his claim was a clear reference to the president.





"On or about summer 2016, in coordination and with and at the behest of the candidate, I and the CEO of a media company worked together to keep an individual with information that would be harmful to the candidate from publicly disclosing this information ... under which she received compensation of 150,000 dollars," Cohen was quoted as saying in court.





Cohen surrendered to the FBI earlier Tuesday. It remains unclear if the former Trump lawyer has committed to cooperate with the ongoing Special Counsel Robert Mueller probe over the alleged Russia meddling into the 2016 U.S. general elections.





Federal investigators raided Cohen's office, home and hotel room in New York earlier this year and seized various electronic devices and documents which reportedly include information that Cohen paid porn star Stormy Daniels so as to keep her silent about accusations of an affair with Trump.





Judge William Pauley set a sentencing date for Cohen for Dec. 12.You are here: World

 Flash

Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng on Wednesday met with foreign leaders who were in Chongqing to attend the first Smart China Expo, held from Thursday to Saturday.





During his meeting with Mongolian Deputy Prime Minister Ulziisaikhan Enkhtuvshin, Han said it was in line with the fundamental interests of the people of China and Mongolia that the two neighboring countries enhance all-round cooperation.





China has always regarded its relations with Mongolia as important in its foreign policy of neighboring countries and followed the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness in conducting neighborhood diplomacy, Han said.





The year 2019 will mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Mongolia. Han said China will implement the consensus reached by the presidents of both countries to enhance high-level exchanges, promote cooperation and expand people-to-people relations.





Enkhtuvshin said his country would stick to the one-China policy and better dovetail the Development Road Initiative of Mongolia with China's Belt and Road Initiative.





During his meeting with Lao Deputy Prime Minister Somdy Duangdy, Han expressed condolences regarding the dam collapse disaster in southern Laos last month.





Han said the development of China-Laos comprehensive strategic partnership benefited both sides and the region.





"China has always viewed Laos as its good neighbor, good friend, good comrade and good partner, and will continue to follow a friendly policy towards Laos," Han said.





He said China hoped to enhance communication and coordination with Laos to implement the consensus of both leaders and provide momentum in exchanges to build a shared future with Laos.





Somdy thanked China for providing aid after the dam collapse, and commended the deepening of bilateral relations.





During his meeting with Singapore's Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, Han said China and Singapore had embarked on a road of mutual learning and benefit.





He said China will work with Singapore to safeguard rules-based multilateral trade system and help create an open, inclusive and balanced global economy.





Goh said Singapore had always attached importance to relations with China, which continued to develop steadily.





He said Singapore opposed unilateralism and protectionism, and wanted to work with China to ensure greater interconnectivity and an open world economy. Flash

Construction of two separate terminal buildings, one for international and another for domestic flights, began at the China-assisted Pokhara international airport on Wednesday.





Pokhara, located in western Nepal, is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations.





Nepali Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Adhikari laid the foundation stone marking the start of construction of the terminal buildings which are expected to complete within a year.





The two terminal buildings will be built at an area of 14,000 square meters, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the implementing agency of the project.





During the ceremony, Adhikari said the work on the runway of the airport would also begin within a month.





"The works are moving ahead smoothly as per the set timetable and the airport will be brought into operation by July 2021 after completing the works," he said.





Stating that the project will be a game-changer for Nepal's tourism development and economic prosperity, the minister said the Nepali government would also promote the development of other tourism infrastructure projects such as hotels, restaurants, and roads, among others, citing the possible rise in foreign tourists.





This is one of the three new international airports being built in the country. Currently Nepal has only one international airport in the capital city of Kathmandu.





The CAAN, which is also the regulatory body of the aviation sector, said that the work in the project had been moving forward in a speedy way with strong support from local people. "We expect to complete 40 percent of work at the end of current fiscal year (Mid-July 2019)," Sanjeev Gautam, director general of CAAN said on Wednesday.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.

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Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349Court Gives Dayton Abortion Facility 30 Days to Close

Contact: Mark Harrington, Created Equal, 614-419-9000, Mark@CreatedEqual.org



COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug. 23, 2018 /Christian Newswire/ -- Notorious abortionist Martin Haskell's Dayton, OH area abortion facility has been ordered to close. For years, Created Equal's ProjectWeakLink has partnered with local activists to seek closure of the doors of this facility and others run by Haskell. In 2016, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) ordered Haskell to close the Dayton facility. However, Haskell entered litigation, during which Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge Mary Wiseman ruled he could stay open. That lawsuit, however, has come to an end. Judge Wiseman has ruled in favor of ODH's previous decision and has given Haskell 30 days to close or appeal.



Mark Harrington wrote, "Unlike the babies Haskell kills, the courts have continued to give him life. However, he is running out of options. Created Equal has been part of this battle for years and will continue to do so irrespective of the decisions of Judges."



For years, Martin Haskell, infamous for his popularization of the partial-birth abortion procedure, has skirted Ohio law requiring abortion facilities to have a transfer agreement with a local hospital. In 2015, Created Equal targeted Haskell's relationship with Wright State Physicians (WSP) groupdriving mobile billboards throughout Dayton, OH and mailing postcards to neighbors of WSP members enabling Haskellby which he'd received a variance to operate without the transfer agreement.



In 2016, Haskell failed to secure the needed physicians to support his variance. Thus, his facility license for the Dayton abortion facility was revoked by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH). Jennifer Branch, Haskell's attorney, credited Created Equal's ProjectWeakLink with the decision. From the Associated Press story,

The anti-abortion group Created Equal had launched a campaign aimed at calling out doctors involved in abortions, which included posters, mailers and vehicles circulating through the doctors' neighborhoods publicizing their names.



'Other ob/gyn's in the community saw what was going on and didn't want to be part of it,' Branch said.

Haskell's facility entered into an appeal following the license revocation, and Judge Wiseman ruled it could stay open during litigation. Now, Wiseman has ruled in favor of ODH's previous decision. The clinic must close within 30 days unless an appeal is filed.

Foundation for Moral Law Urges Supreme Court to Protect Religious Liberty from Transgender Activism Contact: John Eidsmoe, Foundation for Moral Law, 334-262-1245, info@morallaw.org MONTGOMERY, Ala., Aug. 23, 2018 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Foundation for Moral Law ("the Foundation") filed an amicus brief in the United States Supreme Court today urging it to protect religious liberty from transgender activism. In this case, R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes, Inc. v. EEOC, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued a funeral home, owned by Christians, that refused to allow a male funeral director to dress as a female. The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit held that Title VII's prohibition of sex discrimination applies to transgender individuals and that the funeral home owners' religious objections did not protect them from liability.



In October 2016, the Supreme Court had granted certiorari to consider whether federal regulations required public schools to allow students who claimed to be transgender to use the bathroom of their choice. However, when the Trump administration came to power in 2017, it changed positions from the Obama administration, holding that schools may segregate students based on their biological sex in bathrooms and locker rooms. The Supreme Court therefore declined to decide the issue at that time. Now, the Supreme Court is being asked to consider the transgender question in the workplace instead of in schools.



Foundation President Kayla Moore said, "Religious liberty is an unalienable right given by God. The courts cannot force the funeral home owners in this case to surrender that right."



Foundation Senior Counsel John Eidsmoe added, "By allowing a funeral director to cross-dress, the Sixth Circuit forgot about the rights of the deceased's family members, who often want a funeral to be conducted in accordance with their religious beliefs or the religious beliefs of the deceased. When saying goodbye to a loved one, family members should not have to face an additional issue that could cause tension."



Matt Clark, the Foundation attorney who submitted the brief, also said, "If the Sixth Circuit's decision is allowed to stand, then employers will probably make everyone in their workplace respect the pronoun and bathroom preferences of the transgender employees. Religious employees who have objections will then be forced to choose between their jobs and their faith. They should not be placed in such a dilemma."



The Foundation is a non-profit legal organization based in Montgomery, Alabama, devoted to the defense of religious liberty and promoting a strict interpretation of the Constitution as intended by its Framers.



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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.Fundatia Est-Europeana anunta lansarea Programului de granturi pentru sustinerea fondurilor de antreprenoriat pentru tineri, inclusiv unul in GagauziaSelect board members and some municipal staff toured the property last week.

Scarborough Leader

A bond for up to $1.9 million to renovate it will be on the Nov. 2 municipal ballot.Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili.

I once passed a night there a night I shall never forget to the day buy credits swtor of my death. The rate in May 2013 is 350,000 dong for a regular sized taxi, 380,000 for a seven seater.There are a few official looking tourist information booths inside the arrival hall that will offer rides into the city for significantly higher prices than the taxi stands outside US$25 35 per car and telling you not to take the cheaper taxis outside because of various scams.To sum things up, taking a fixed price taxi from one of the companies outside of the arrival hall is the least costly way with the least risk of surprises to get to your destination.

No longer could he do a fast twenty rounds, hammer and tongs, fight, fight, fight, from gong to gong, with fierce rally on top of fierce rally, beaten to the ropes and in turn beating his opponent to the ropes, and rallying fiercest and fastest of all in that last, twentieth round, with the house on its feet and yelling, himself rushing, striking, ducking, raining showers of blows upon showers of blows and receiving showers of blows in return, and all the time the heart faithfully pumping the surging blood through the adequate veins.

Whether a dog grieves hinges on a dynamic mix of life experiences, added King, including how they were raised and what their people or animal housemates were like.. Every day in my classes, I use technology to help teach technology. What's more, diesel engines a growing area of Saab expertise account for most of the estate sector's sales.

Sievers (2010) links the idea to developments in the 17th century Dutch Republic. Apart, stolid and silent, but interested spectators, lounged the dusky redmen, forever sucking at their pwoighun ahsin (stone pipes) and making tobacco from[Pg 84] the inner bark of red willow wands, watching and wondering.

Vervolgens confronteerde Malgus hem.. Thrilled to have reached this milestone with the Commonwealth and the City of Boston. 873 (1954), the Supreme Court ruled that the doctrine of "separate but equal," in which the black and white races were segregated in public schools and other places of public accommodation, was "inherently unequal" and denied African Americans "equal protection of the laws." The ambit of the Equal Protection Clause was later enlarged by the Supreme Court beyond racial Segregation to cover an assortment of gender discrimination claims asserted by women..

Several young men got out of the car and yelled at him. All of the houses are on Annapolis Way and Fordham Way.. "We are talking about a tiny colony that migrates over 2,000 kilometers (1,242.80 miles). The chase is on. For users trying to integrate their Gmail accounts, it may take some time: Roughly an hour after being installed on a reporter's tablet, it was not yet registering messages.

Analysts say the ECB is suspected of already buying Italian bonds and might be planning to expand that to other nations.. Vancouver: The Metro office vacancy rate decreased from 10.1 per cent in the second quarter of 2010 to 8.7 per cent in 2011. Access for readers is then free of charge, immediately on publication, and with very few restrictions on use and re use.

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Market Overview:

Giving an insight to its extensive report, Market Research Future (MRFR) states that the global algae products market is set to expand steadily during the forecast period (2017-2023). The progress can be attributed to growing end-use industries such as food & beverage, nutraceutical, personal care, and pharmaceutical. Furthermore, growing vegan population has set the market growth in motion. In addition, growing health concerns due to rising cases of diabetes and obesity drive the market growth. Also, algae products offer various health benefits such as anti-aging effects and improvement of digestive system on account of which the demand has increased among health conscious population across the globe. Owing to its increased demand, market players are innovating and developing product lines for algae products, thus further contributing to the market growth. Apart from these factors, emergence of new application areas, elevating use of microalgae in aquaculture, and growing use of algae in bio-fuel production open new avenues for various stakeholders in this market.

However, low awareness about the health benefits of algae products could potentially consolidate the market growth. But keeping in mind its high demand and extensive use in numerous industries, it is safe to say the global market is set to soar high in the coming years.

Popular trend penetrating the global market currently is using algae for production of bio-fuel, an alternative to liquid fossil fuels. Algae are used to produce large amounts of fat, which can be further converted into biodiesel which is the most common form of bio-fuel.

Get a Sample Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4730

Top Key Players:

The key players in the global algae products market are Algaetech International Sdn Bhd (Malaysia), Cyanotech Corporation (U.S.), BlueBioTech GmbH (Germany), and Parry Nutraceuticals Limited (India) among others.

Industry News:

Israeli biotechnology company Algatech has developed a new product for the treatment of fatty liver disease. The new product is based on the pigment fucoxanthin, which is found in high concentration in algae and has great efficacy in treating fatty liver. The products will be distributed via food additives companies in the United States and Japan and then will expand to other countries.

Market Segmentation:

The algae products market is segmented on the basis of source, application and distribution channel.

The source segment is sub-segmented into macro-algae, micro-algae, and others. Among these, the macro-algae segment is leading the market as they are cheap and cost less to grow. Moreover, extraction of phyto-ingredients from macro-algae is relatively simple than micro-algae. On the other hand, micro-algae products are in high demand in the nutraceuticals industry for the production of various products such as supplements and energy drinks. This factor will result in rapid growth of the segment during the forecasted period.

By application, the algae products market is segmented on the basis of food supplements, feed supplements, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, pollution control, paints and colorants and others. Among all these, the nutraceuticals has the upper hand due to rising health awareness, whereas the demand for food supplements is anticipated to rise on account of the health benefits associated with the consumption of algae products.

The distribution channels in the algae products market are store-based and non-store based. The store-based distribution channel is dominating the market due to customer demand for better experience, building of brand relationship leading to customer loyalty and no hassles of intermediaries associated with non-store distribution channels.

Access Report Details @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/algae-products-market-4730

Regional Analysis:

The global algae products market is geographically spread across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and rest of the world (RoW).

MRFR reports that Europe is leading the algae products market. Europe observes higher consumption of algae products supplements and food products on account of increasing consumer awareness. Also, high demand in pharmaceutical and nutraceuticals industry pushes the market growth further in the region.

On the other hand, Asia Pacific market is witnessing exponential growth on the back of growing consumer knowledge about algae products and massive demand for food and feed supplements from countries such as India and China. Additionally, increasing investment by market players to conduct research and development activities for pollution control has been noted in the region, which buoys the market growth in the region. Also, prevalence of chronic diseases and growing awareness regarding the health benefits of algae-based products have propelled the market growth in the region.

North America market enjoys steady growth due to increasing government funding on research and development to produce commercial bio-fuels from algae. Additionally, investments on researches to develop medicine using algae for treatment of several diseases such as Parkinson and dementia further drives the market growth in this region.Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili.

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Next up we see a "greatest hits" of free stock footage (landscapes, monuments, people taking the stairs in slow-mo) that gently fade into images of Trump and Kim addressing their citizenry. Meanwhile, the narrator informs us that out of the seven billion people in the planet, "only the very few will make decisions or take actions that renew their homeland and change the course of history." It's unclear who he's talking about (LeBron? Weird Al Yankovic?), but they sound pretty important.

As the video continues, it becomes clear that the narrator misplaced his script and began reading from a newspaper horoscope ("The past doesn't have to be the future. Out of the darkness can come the light, and the light of hope can burn bright."), and then he just started winging it. ("A new story. A new beginning. One of peace? Two men. Two leaders. One destiny.")

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The basic message seems to be that if Kim is brave enough to "shake the hand of peace," both leaders will take us into "a new world" of "friendship, respect , and goodwill." And hey, look at all these "investment" opportunities in cloudy N.K.!

We're surprised they didn't overlay a toll-free number and "CALL NOW" in golden letters.

And if the two leaders don't see eye to eye? The video shows us footage of missiles and bombers being deployed, which is always reassuring during a peace summit.

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The whole thing is so bizarre that when the video was played to journalists before a press conference with Trump and Kim, everyone assumed it was North Korean propaganda (which probably caused North Korea's actual propaganda team to quit in disgust). There's no word on what Trump thought of the trailer, but considering that he reportedly showed it to Kim on his iPad, it's fair to say that he likes it. (Or they were comparing prison camps. It's hard to say, really.)On the other hand, it's a little like using a dead friend's brain to power the GPS on your Honda Civic. In any case, the novelization shades in some of the details of this scene, and they're pretty goddamn bleak. The book adds L3's post-death inner monologue, during which she actually converses with the Falcon computer, realizing that she's a "slave inside of a ship forever" -- the droid equivalent of being buried alive.

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This is followed by an argument between the Falcon computer and L3, with the Falcon getting surprisingly harsh, telling her, "If you refuse, you die." So L3 reluctantly submits to becoming a disembodied servant, a sort of Twilight Zone-esque ironic ending for the character who fought for the liberation of droids.

And keep in mind that this all takes place before A New Hope, and the Falcon is still kicking around in the Sequel Trilogy. So this sentient being has endured over four decades of existential hell. Hopefully, Episode IX will find Rey, Poe, or hell, even Nien Nunb putting the poor thing out of her misery.

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Support your favorite Cracked writers with a visit to our Contribution Page. Please and thank you.

For more, check out Man Solves Mystery Of Puzzling Artwork (By Falling Into It) and Verizon Cut A Fire Department's Data (During A Wildfire).

Also, we'd love to know more about you and your interesting lives, dear readers. If you spend your days doing cool stuff, drop us a line at iDoCoolStuff at Cracked dot com, and maybe we can share your story with the entire internet.

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Join the Cracked Movie Club Expand your movie and TV brain--get the weekly Cracked Movie Club newsletter! SIGN ME UPWhen did the Tories stop being the party of law and order? Why did they jettison their reputation for being tough on crime?

When did the Tories stop being the party of law and order? Why did they jettison their reputation for being tough on crime?

Thirty years and more ago, Conservative conferences were dominated by the subject.

In the early Eighties, Willie Whitelaw announced his 'short, sharp, shock' policy which led to young offenders being incarcerated in secure units.

In the Nineties, another Tory Home Secretary, Michael Howard, introduced a tougher penal policy which led to a sharp increase in the prison population  and a fall in the crime rate.

But in recent years, although rank-and-file Conservative Party members are as exercised by law and order as ever, the party hierarchy has become increasingly unconcerned.

The key moment came in 2010 when, as part its well-intentioned programme of reducing an out-of-control national deficit bequeathed by Labour, the Conservative-led Coalition began to cut back police and prison officer numbers savagely.

It's true that for a time this policy appeared to have no ill-effects. Indeed, many categories of crime continued to decline in the early years of the Coalition.

Those happy days are, however, long gone. Crime is soaring. And it is dawning on many people that the political party once most trusted with law and order is presiding over an almighty mess for which it is largely responsible.

The police are increasingly ineffectual, and clear-up rates are falling. If a criminal ever gets to court, he or she may well be let off, as the Mail has revealed this week in a series of shocking cases.

And the criminal who improbably ends up in jail could be exposed to appalling violence, squalor and brutality, as recent reports of the breakdown in Birmingham prison attest.

Many jails are academies of further criminality. The chances of rehabilitation for anyone sent to one of these anarchic institutions are fractionally above zero.

Money  or rather ill-focused cuts  is a big part of the problem. But there is also plenty of evidence that almost no one in the upper echelons of government cares much about rising crime  or has any idea of what to do about it.

The key moment came in 2010 when, as part its well-intentioned programme of reducing an out-of-control national deficit bequeathed by Labour, the Conservative-led Coalition began to cut back police and prison officer numbers savagely

Nor can it have helped that we now have our sixth Secretary of State for Justice since 2010.

How can there be a properly worked out philosophy for crime and punishment if ministers responsible for our courts and prisons are too quickly shunted off to a different post?

And that brings me to another thought. In 2007, New Labour hived off the Justice ministry from the Home Office, which remained responsible for the police. It's hard to see how dividing responsibility for law and order between two departments has helped anyone apart from felons.

Let's follow the trail of dysfunctionality from crime to court to prison in order to try to understand what has gone so badly wrong, and suggest what ministers might do about it.

Why are police solving a decreasing proportion of crimes? According to official figures, last year they charged a suspect in a mere 9 per cent of reported crimes. Three years ago the figure was 15 per cent.

The chances of the police showing more than a modicum of interest if your house is burgled are practically nil. The burglary detection rate halved from a measly 6 per cent to a pathetic 3 per cent in England and Wales between 2013 and 2017. Last year, 4 per cent of robberies were solved, compared with 9 per cent four years earlier.

No doubt the cut in police numbers  14 per cent down since 2010  has something to do with this pitiful record. But the budget cuts can only explain a part of the worsening performance.

Isn't it likely that a more visible, hands-on police force could make more effective use of its reduced resources? But where is the senior government minister urging blinkered police chiefs to do so? Is the relatively new Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, on the case?

If only more politicians could grasp that burglary is a serious matter which can ruin the lives of victims. Yet the police have little or no answer to the new phenomenon of 'spree burglaries', when gangs of young men, sometimes foreign, target an area which they cruise around in high-powered cars.

Of course, those who commit burglaries and other crimes occasionally land up in court. But an audit of sentences imposed at 12 courts carried out by this newspaper suggests many offenders are getting off scot-free.

For example, one lout with 38 previous convictions, who broke an innocent man's jaw in an unprovoked street attack, was spared a custodial sentence by an accommodating judge.

Over the course of the past two weeks, judges have allowed a spate of serious offenders in the courts surveyed  including sex offenders and even kidnappers  to walk free.

As the Mail highlights today, sex offenders, violent thugs and recidivist burglars are among hundreds of thousands of criminals with more than ten convictions not jailed after committing another serious offence. Between 2012 and 2016, a staggering 625,000 of the country's most prolific offenders were spared a prison term.

In view of this mystifying indulgence of criminals, it is bizarre that the only voices emerging from the Justice Department should have been urging more leniency.

Earlier this year, Justice Secretary David Gauke urged courts only to use short sentences of under 12 months as a 'last resort' while his deputy, Rory Stewart, recently said that prison sentences of less than a year should be scrapped for all but the most serious offences.

Wouldn't justice be better served if hardened criminals feared being caught (which they usually have no reason to) as well as a stiff jail sentence (which they often need not)?

It's difficult to understand how ministers belonging to a party that once took a stern view of crime should seemingly be happy to watch while dangerous law-breakers are virtually let off.

The latest idiocy  please let this not be embraced by Messrs Gauke and Stewart  is a proposal by the chairman of the Magistrates' Association, John Bache, that more JPs with criminal records should be appointed so that those accused of crime can feel more at home. God help us.

And what happens to the criminal who is unusually caught by the police, and exceptionally sent to prison? Why, he or she may fester in a lawless, rat-infested, drug-possessed hell-hole where there is no possibility of rehabilitation.

Here one can say with confidence that government cuts to prison officer numbers (down from 29,660 in 2012 to 23,080 in 2016) were extremely ill-judged  in fact, morally contemptible during years in which the foreign aid budget was soaring by billions of pounds.

I don't believe the Tories have gone soft on crime as a result of being preoccupied with Brexit. They went soggy years ago when, embarking on a necessary period of austerity, they forgot that a few things should be sacrosanct.

The absurdity is that their errors have enabled a Corbynista Labour Party to present itself as a more dependable custodian of law and order, though I'm sure it would turn out to be even more tolerant of offenders.

There's no doubt that Tory members, and many ordinary voters, care about rising crime and shameless criminals. It's the party bigwigs who aren't listening. If they don't start doing so, they'll be punished.Trump is in trouble. Deep trouble this time. And the impact will be felt in every American state and every nation of the world.

Like a wounded animal, a wounded president can be dangerous, while a White House transfixed by legal jeopardy is a White House unable to back up friends or deter enemies.

For the first time in his presidency, Donald Trump has actually been implicated in a crime. Forget all the chatter about the dysfunction of his administration, the eye-popping stories about his personal conduct and habits, the sheer weirdness of that North Korea summit, and the possibly even weirder one-to-one meeting with Vladimir Putin.

For the first time in his presidency, Donald Trump (pictured in Washington DC in August) has actually been implicated in a crime

All of this pales into insignificance when it comes to the fact that Michael Cohen, Trumps former lawyer and fixer, told a court that he committed an offence at the behest of the man who is now the most powerful in the world.

Cohen  who once said hed take a bullet for the president, such was his devotion  did not like the look of the prison cell he was facing.

This was the man, by the way, whod teased Hillary Clinton on Twitter that when she was finally jailed over her dodgy email issues she would at least not have to pay for board and lodging. (As Secretary of State, Clinton had used a private email server rather an official government server, although she was later cleared by the FBI of criminal wrong-doing.)

Now, the boot was on the other foot. American prisons  and Ive been in a few during my years reporting for the BBC  are brutal, lawless places and Cohen was facing up to 65 years had he not pleaded guilty. When Cohen caved, no one sensible was surprised.

But it isnt just that he caved and co-operated. He has, by being so specific about the presidents connection to the main crime he himself was charged with  campaign finance fraud in relation to hush money paid to a porn star and a Playboy model  fired a shot into the heart of the Oval Office. A fatal shot? How the Democrats wish it might be so. How wonderful it would be for them if the president called it a day and shuffled off back to Trump Tower.

Vice president Mike Pence would take over, but the Republican party, having attached itself to Trump so keenly since he took office, would tear itself apart.

All those who said Trump was unfit for office would be vindicated, and at the next presidential election in 2020, a genial political healer  former Democratic vice president Joe Biden perhaps  would sweep the board.

Michael Cohen, Trumps former lawyer and fixer, told a court that he committed an offence at the behest of the man who is now the most powerful in the world

Well, it aint going to happen. Consider what we know about Donald Trump. When he gets into trouble does he compromise? Does he change course?

Hell, no. This president is a fighter, not in any organised or strategic way, but in a way that can change the national and international conversation, by triggering new crises to take the place of the old ones.

So prepare for something big in response. And here is where stakes begin to rise for all concerned. Its true that pre-election payments to women who said they had sex with Trump might, technically, be a crime because election expenses have to be declared and the money was an effort to keep them quiet. But thats not the prize here.

The real one is about Russia: the evidence that might link Donald Trump to Russian efforts to destabilise and destroy Hillary Clintons 2016 presidential bid. All the intelligence agencies believe it happened, but lack the evidence that Trump colluded with it.

Might Cohen go further now? Certainly his own lawyer is hinting very strongly that his client is prepared to share all he knows about the obvious possibility of a conspiracy to collude and corrupt the American democracy system in the 2016 election.

So could Cohen be the source of the conversations, documents and payments that provide the missing link?

If Trump thinks that is likely there is a real possibility he will reach for the nuclear button. No, not that one. The one marked Mueller.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller is the former FBI chief who has been investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election. He is the man who could bring Trump down.

If Trump is scared he may simply fire Mueller and that would turn a crisis into an emergency.

It is likely then that the Democrats would call for the Senate to be suspended until a constitutional committee could work out whether the president had acted legally.

But that would be just the beginning. What would happen to Mueller himself? To his staff? What about the files they have amassed in the course of their investigation? Could they legally pass them on or might they have to be smuggled out? Could they be prosecuted for mishandling federal property?

Out on the streets the mood would be febrile, even violent. My contacts in the Democratic Party have plans to organise demonstrations in every big U.S. city in the event of Muellers firing. I understand the plans are quite precise, even down to the timing: 5pm local time if the sacking is announced in the morning, and 9am the following day if its revealed in the afternoon.

This would be the constitutional crisis that would change America.

Of course, Trump has another alternative and it is the more politically savvy option; that is to take the fight to the Democrats in the mid-term elections in November, and whip his base supporters, those men and women with their Make America Great Again hats, into a frenzy of rage.

Tell them his presidency is on the line. Tell them that every diner in America will have to have a transgender toilet if he loses. Make it all about him and him protecting them.

Mid-term elections generally lead to the party with a president in office losing ground because its own supporters are relatively jaded and the opposition more fired up.

If the Democrats win back control of the House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress, they could begin impeachment proceedings against Trump. Now he is genuinely in legal peril, this takes on a new significance.

Millions of Left-wing Democrats are aching for the chance to bring him down. But, if Trump is able to galvanise his core vote, do they have the strength to overcome a Republican surge? Possibly not.

It is entirely possible that the mid-terms could be won by Trumps party, and with that victory would come a clear path to re-election in 2020.

An even more frightening prospect for Democrats is that they win the mid-terms and go ahead with impeachment, the House of Representatives passes the necessary articles and they are sent to the Senate for the second stage of the process  the one that leads to a president being deposed.

But the Senate (still controlled by the Republicans) says no. And the president goes on to win a stonking victory and a second term in office. That would be similar to what happened with Bill Clinton, acquitted of two charges (perjury and obstruction of justice) by the Senate in 1999. Trump knows little history, but Im guessing he knows that.

When Michael Cohen pleaded guilty on Tuesday, the U.S. attorneys office in New York tweeted that his day of reckoning serves as a reminder that we are a nation of laws, with one set of rules that applies equally to everyone.

That was directed at the president. And while they may be right about the laws, when it comes to politics, I am not sure Trump believes normal rules apply equally to him.

He is down, but not out. And his fightback could be something to behold.

Justin Webb is a former BBC North America correspondent.A yoga guru has revealed how to do a 'magical' squat in five different ways to tone the inner thighs.

Cassey Ho, 31, made a name for herself after creating her popular fitness blog entitled Blogilates. The fitness blogger from Los Angeles, California. revealed in one of her latest videos how people can give their thighs a workout in just seven minutes.

Her recommended move to hit the inner thighs is the plie squat, which involves standing with your feet slightly wider than the hips and tucking the glutes under to feel the move all through the leg muscles.

Fit: Yoga guru Cassey Ho, 31, created her fitness blog entitled Blogilates to help people workout on their own

Intense: In one of her latest YouTube videos, the fitness blogger took her followers through five plie squat variations for seven-and-a-half minutes

Burning: Two exercises involved isolating each side of the body by lifting one of the heels up and doing quick pulses

Working hard: The third exercise entails remaining in the plie squat while alternating lifting each heel up towards the ceiling

The first plie squat involves sinking down as far as you can go before straightening the legs again.

This should be repeated for the entire minute-and-a-half interval while focusing on getting used to the squat form.

'I want you to keep you chest tall,' Cassey said during the exercise. 'You do not want to be leaning forward. Shoulders are away from the ears.'

She recommends imagining that there is a glass of water on top of your head in order to keep the chest and back upright instead of dipping down towards the ground.

For the second exercise, Cassey brings her right heel up for a plie squat lift that will isolate the inner thigh on that side of the body.

'This is really gonna attack that inner thigh,' Cassey said once she started the exercise.

'I dont know if I have ever done this for a minute and a half on one side before, and I have a feeling this is going to be a mistake because it is already burning.'

Feel the burn: Cassey admits her legs are shaking halfway though the inner thigh exercise

Strong: Cassey uses her YouTube channel to promote healthy living and sculpting exercises

In shape: During her thigh workout, she admitted the exercises were hard but encouraged her followers to give it their best shot

Happy: Cassey first posted fitness videos on YouTube in 2009 and has since grown to having more than 4.3 million subscribers

How YOU can do the 'magical' squat sequence Plie Squat The plie squat entails turning your feet out to a 45-degree angle wider than the hips. While keeping the hips tucked under, bring the glutes straight down to target the inner thighs. Plie heel lift (right) Raise the right heel up and do slight pulses up and down to target that side of the body. Plie heel lift (left) Switch feet to target the other side of the body. Alternating plie heel lift With the body still in the plie squat position, alternate lifting the left and the right heel. Elevated plie pulse For the final variation, lift both heels up and gently pulse up and down. This exercise requires a tightening of the core muscles to keep you balanced. Advertisement

During the entire minute and a half, Cassey is bringing her glutes straight down into small pulses to really target the thigh muscle.

In order to target the other side of the body, the third exercise moves onto the left leg with the same quick pulses.

'Are you shaking? Im shaking so you better be shaking,' she said halfway through the exercise.

But that wasn't all she had in store to burn out the inner thighs.

Coordination and ab strength come in handy when attempting the fourth exercise because it entails balancing with the heels raised for brief periods before lowering them back down to the ground.

'This is real and takes a little bit of concentration but were going to be just fine,' the yoga guru said as she tried to push through the difficult exercise.

For the final move, the yoga guru implores her followers to press up on their toes and remain balanced in the plie for the full time interval.

Cassey recognizes how difficult the final move is after all the work because she calls it the 'pulse of death.'

She encourages her viewers to keep pushing until the reach the end of the exercise before they can shake their legs out.

'That was wild. That was hard,' she said while attempting to catch her breath after the intense workout sequence.

'If you thought you were dying, youre not crazy. I was dying, too.'A mother whose 13-year-old son was part of a gang of baby-faced killers who murdered a teenager is followed by TV cameras as she battles to have her son's conviction overturned by the Court of Appeal.

Joseph McGill was one of five teenagers jailed for the murder of Sean McHugh, 19, who was stabbed to death in a Liverpool launderette in September 2013.

McGill, just 13 at the time of the attack, was found guilty under the principle of 'joint enterprise' and sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of nine years.

Desperate to free her son, Carmell McGill launched an appeal on his behalf, arguing that while he 'did wrong' and was part of the gang that killed Sean, he did not deliver the fatal blow and so should not have been found guilty of murder.

Mrs McGill's case is one of three featured in new documentary Inside the Court of Appeal, airing tonight on ITV, which offers viewers unprecedented access to one of the highest courts in the land.

Carmell McGill (pictured) is followed by TV cameras as she battles to have her son's conviction overturned by the Court of Appeal. She appears in ITV's Inside the Court of Appeal tonight

Joseph McGill, left, was one of five teenagers jailed for the murder of Sean McHugh, 19, right, who was stabbed to death in a Liverpool launderette in September 2013. His mother fights to overturn his murder conviction in ITV documentary Inside the Court of Appeal, airing tonight

Lorraine McHugh (pictured) appears in ITV's Inside the Court of Appeal. She is the mother of Sean McHugh, 19, who was stabbed to death in a Liverpool launderette in September 2013

Joseph McGill was part of a gang of teenagers who chased Mr McHugh into this launderette. The gang later kicked the door to the back of the shop where Mr McHugh was hiding and stabbed him, as told in ITV's Inside the Court of Appeal

Cameras follow families on both sides of each case as they are brought before the court; follow the QCs as they build and present their arguments; and capture the judges as they deliver the life-changing verdicts.

While Mrs McGill is looking to have her son's conviction overturned, the family of Makayah McDermott, 10, are hoping to extend the sentence of joyrider Joshua Dobby, who was driving the car that killed Makayah and his aunt Rosie Cooper.

Meanwhile Darren Jarvis, who served two years in prison for two counts of death by dangerous driving, comes before the Court of Appeal in a bid to clear his name.

Mrs McGill, who lives in Liverpool just streets away from Mr McHugh's mother Lorraine, believes her son was wrongly convicted of murder.

'We accept he did wrong that day but he still didn't murder anybody,' she says.

Victim Mr McHugh and friend Josh Williams were walking back from a launderette when they were approached by members of a gang known as the 'Laneheads', so-called because they were from the Townsend Lane area of Anfield.

The documentary also features the family of schoolboy Makayah McDermott, 10, right, who are hoping to extend the sentence of joyrider Joshua Dobby, left, who was driving the car that killed Makayah and his aunt Rosie Cooper in a crash in south-east London in 2016

Darren Jarvis, who served two years in prison for two counts of death by dangerous driving, comes before the Court of Appeal in a bid to clear his name. Pictured, father-of-two Jacek Stawski, who was one of two men who died in the 2012 crash

The documentary hears how the gang were known to have a 'ready cache of weapons'.

The gang gave chase and as Mr Williams sought refuge inside a nearby newsagent, Mr McHugh, who was known as Shorty, was driven back into the launderette.

Ringleader Reese O'Shaughnessy, then 19, who was carrying a sword stick - a walking cane with a concealed blade - and the gang arrived a short time after and proceeded to kick down the door to the back room where Mr McHugh was hiding. He was fatally wounded and died days later in hospital.

During the trial, Liverpool Crown Court heard OShaughnessy delivered the fatal blow however this was never proven.

Andrew Hewitt (left) and Corey Hewitt who were jailed with McGill following the brutal murder of McHugh in 2013. Their case appears in ITV's Inside the Court of Appeal

The murder weapon used to kill Sean McHugh in 2013, described as a 'sword stick'. The gruesome killing is revisited this week in ITV's Inside the Court of Appeal

McGill spent eight seconds in the back room and maintains he did not stab Mr McHugh but was convicted of murder under the law of joint enterprise, which allows all members of a group to be found guilty of the same offence.

Judge Clement Goldstone told the gang, who had to be reprimanded for laughing and joking in the dock, that they had committed a 'truly wicked' act.

He also lifted the younger boys' right to anonymity to expose the shocking crime.

Mrs McGill's appeal rests on the fact that the law on joint enterprise was recently changed to take into account the intention of each individual.

Henry Blaxland QC argues McGill did not share that intent to seriously harm Mr McHugh so would not have been convicted of murder under the new law.

However Nick Johsnon QC, prosecuting, maintains all members of the group shared the same intent, saying their possession of the cache of weapons means it 'defies common sense that anyone hanging out with the gang would not have shared that intent'. He adds all of the boys played a role in the attack.

Cameras follow Henry Blaxland QC, pictured, in ITV's Inside the Court of Appeal as he argues McGill did not share the intent to seriously harm Mr McHugh so would not have been convicted of murder under the new law of joint enterprise. His bid to have the conviction overturned is ultimately unsuccessful

Mrs McGill on hearing appeal is dismissed during ITV's Inside the Court of Appeal. On hearing the news she says: 'It's definitely a miscarriage of justice. He's not guilty of murder. They should have overturned it'

Mrs McHugh also appears in the documentary and waits anxiously to see whether one of her son's killers will be allowed to walk free.

She says: 'They knew what they were doing that night, they were out to kill somebody. They're just evil. They were born evil.'

Mrs McHugh also says the appeal makes life very difficult for her. She says: 'Justice was done for Sean - but not now, with the appeals going through. The night [they] killed Sean [they] might have just killed me because I am dead inside. He was the baby and would have been 23 this year.'

After months of waiting and a two-day hearing, the verdict is delivered in a matter of seconds.

The documentary offers unprecedented access to the Court of Appeal, London, pictured, which is one of the highest courts in the land

The judges rule the original verdict was reached correctly. McGill will continue to serve a life sentence with a minumum of nine years in prison.

On the failed appeal Mrs McGill says: 'It's definitely a miscarriage of justice. He's not guilty of murder. They should have overturned it.'

Mrs McHugh adds: 'They deserve where they are today and to stay there. I know I'll never see them for years. I've got no chance of walking along the street and bumping into them... I do believe in justice now.'

Businessman who killed two fathers after losing control of his car launches appeal to clear his name The case of property developer Darren Jarvis is rare because he has already served two years in prison and is now a free man. Jarvis enlists the help of Michael Wolkind QC to bring his case to the Court of Appeal as he believes he should never have been jailed. The businessman was driving friend Lee Williams in his white turbo-charged Nissan Skyline sports car when he lost control. Cardiff Crown Court heard Jarvis spun across the road and crashed into a Citroen Xsara driven by Jacek Stawski. Darren Jarvis appears in ITV's Inside the Court of Appeal. His case is rare because he has already served two years in prison and is now a free man Mr Williams and Mr Stawksi - both married with two children - were killed 'almost instantly' in the horror smash in Cwmbach, south Wales, in August 2012. Mr Stawski's son Thomas survived in the back seat of the family car. Jarvis was found guilty of two counts of causing death by dangerous driving. Jarvis was found having a fit behind the wheel of his car after the crash. His appeal rests on using tyre marks to prove that he suffered the fit before the crash, meaning it would not be his fault that he lost control of the car. Jarvis says: 'If you're involved in an accident where people sadly die, of course your name is blackened It's inevitable. I am not a killer. I have dreamed of having this time in in the highest court in the country to clear my name. It's a big day in my life.' Mr Stawksi's partner Joanna Osinska appears in ITV's Inside the Court of Appeal this week. She cannot forgive the man involved in the crash that killed her boyfriend But Mr Stawksi's partner Joanna Osinska says she and her family cannot forgive Jarvis for causing the accident: 'I just cannot understand why he is doing this to us as a family. 'I hate him for what he done for ruining lives  mine, my children. I hate him even more now because we have to go through everything again from the beginning.' The judges side with the prosecution and throw out Jarvis' case. However the businessman says the appeal has still given him 'closure'. Darren Jarvis enlists the help of Michael Wolkind QC, pictured, to bring his case to the Court of Appeal as he believes he should never have been jailed Advertisement

Family of boy, 10, and his aunt killed by a joyrider campaign to have the driver's 12-year sentence extended

The third case focuses on the family of 10-year-old Makayah McDermott, who was killed alongside his aunt in a car crash.

Joshua Dobby, then 23, was sentenced to 12 years in prison after he admitted manslaughter following the crash in Penge, south-east London, in August 2016.

Dobby, estranged son of millionaire pet food wholesaler Mark Dobby, ploughed a Ford Focus into Makayah and his aunt Rosie Cooper, 34, as they walked to get ice cream in the park.

Dobby, estranged son of millionaire pet food wholesaler Mark Dobby, ploughed a car into Makayah, right, and his aunt Rosie Cooper, left, as they walked to get ice cream in the park as seen in ITV's Inside the Court of Appeal

Makayah's sister Yahla, then 13, was also seriously injured in the smash. Yahla's twin, Niyah, and Miss Cooper's daughter Eva Cochrane, then eight, were also involved in the crash but escaped without serious injuries. Pictured, police investigators at the scene in 2016

Makayah's sister Yahla, then 13, was also seriously injured in the smash. Yahla's twin, Niyah, and Miss Cooper's daughter Eva Cochrane, then eight, were also involved in the crash but escaped without serious injuries.

Dobby's 12-year prison sentence wasn't enough for Makayah's sisters and Yahla wrote to the Prime Minister demanding it be reviewed.

Joshua Dobby, pictured, then 23, was sentenced to 12 years in prison after he admitted manslaughter

On the documentary she says: 'I wrote a letter to the Prime Minister asking if she could increase the number of years you get for death by dangerous driving.

'I told her that my 10-year-old brother was killed and that my auntie was killed. I don't think the sentences that the man got were long enough, at all. He killed two people, he should get a sentence for each person.'

Her grandfather Martin Cooper adds it is difficult knowing Dobby could walk free in just eight years.

'I just felt so let down so bitterly disappointed,' he admits. 'You go through life thinking we've got the best justice system in the world. And you remain that way until you actually get involved in it.'

Yah request was reviewed by the Attorney General and referred to the Court of Appeal, where judges are responsible for deciding whether the original sentence was 'unduly lenient'.

Makayah's mother, Danielle Cooper, says on the documentary how she has left her son's bedroom untouched in a bid to preserve the memories.

Dobby's 12-year prison sentence wasn't enough for Makayah's sisters Niyah and Yahla who wrote to the Prime Minister demanding it be reviewed. Pictured, the twins comfort their mother Danielle Cooper as they visit their brother's grave on his birthday during ITV's Inside the Court of Appeal

Ms Cooper, pictured second from right, is seen in the victims' room at the Court of Appeal. The family were left devastated after their request to extend Dobby's sentence was dismissed, as seen in ITV's Inside the Court of Appeal

'We havent touched his bedroom so it's exactly as he left it on the day he went out,' she reveals, fighting back tears.

'All his little clothes are all over the floor. You can picture him playing and smiling and laughing... By getting rid of them, you feel you're getting rid of him... Then he really is just a memory. I want to touch him again and cuddle him and smell him.'

However the judges dismiss the appeal, concluding there is not enough evidence that it was an unduly lenient sentence.

Devastated by the ruling, Ms Cooper adds: 'Twelve years for killing two people and destroying my other daughter's life. That's the value they've put on three people... We've got to serve a life sentence now, that's never going to go away.'

Inside the Court of Appeal, airs on ITV at 9pm tonightWith the end of summer looming, thoughts are turning to our back-to-work wardrobes.

And whether you work in a stuffy office, classroom or trendy studio space, what you wear to work each day can speak volumes about your personality.

Now London-based fashion psychologist Professor Carolyn Mair has lifted the lid on the secret signals your outfits could be sending to colleagues - from confidence and ambition to your bank balance.

Professor Mair - author of The Psychology of Fashion - spoke to office specialists at printerland.co.uk who have conducted new research into office dress codes, how they affect performance or how you're seen in the workplace.

Here, she reveals the outfits that can make you look unambitious, maverick, business-savvy - and the ones that ooze spending power.

CASUAL

Professor Carolyn Mair has lifted the lid on the secret signals your outfits could be sending - and she says a casual outfit (file photo) can be a risky business as it could signal you're a maverick. This is despite 53 per cent of UK workers having no formal uniform

Some 53 per cent of UK office workers say they no longer have a formal uniform, opting instead for jeans, t-shirts and running shoes.

But according to Professor Mair, going casual can be a risk business for senior managers as it 'flattens out any organisational hierarchy'.

She said: 'It depends very much on the type of business. In the creative industries this style of clothing is typical to enhance creativity without the restriction of formal clothing.

'Leaders and managers in the creative industries are likely to wear similar clothes to their subordinates which flattens out any organisational hierarchy.

'If a manager in finance or insurance wore a t-shirt, jeans and running shoes, they would be considered inappropriately dressed, even maverick.

'Leaders in these industries are expected to lead by example and their staff are expected to follow rules. Dress down Fridays are an exception, but even on Fridays, most city workers wouldn't wear a t-shirt, jeans, and running shoes.'

Conversely, opting for casual workwear as a lower-ranking employee can be a major 'no-no' in some industries - especially for City workers.

SMART CASUAL

According to Professor Carolyn Mair, a smart casual outfit like this one (file photo) might make you seem unambitious because workers should dress for the job they aspire to

Describing her views on smart casual clothing, Professor Mair said: 'In an organisation where the management wears suits, a subordinate wearing business casual might seem less ambitious.

'If we are to believe the adage "dress for the job you want, not for the job you have", we need to dress in a style similar to those in the job we aspire to.

'We are drawn to people who are like us and what better way to appear like someone than to dress like them. Those already in the position we aspire to are likely to see us more as peers than subordinates if we appear to be like them.'

CORPORATE

Professor Carolyn Mair says a formal/ corporate outfit (file photo) signals that you're business savvy and can make the wearer appear more 'competent and professional'

'Some professionals in a range of jobs like to wear a suit and tie as it makes them feel more professional,' says Professor Mair.

'Although there aren't many studies on this, wearing a suit has been found to make the wearer appear more professional and competent.

'The power of belief is strong so if the wearer believes that the suit will make them appear more competent and professional, they may well behave in that way.'

But what about lower-ranking employees? 'This would be seen as inappropriate in creative jobs, but necessary in others,' says Professor Mair.

'In jobs where workers can choose what they wear, and managers dress casually, a subordinate wearing a suit and tie could be perceived as trying to look more senior than their role.

'There is also a risk that management might perceive them as not understanding the culture of the organisation or their role.'

DESIGNER

According to Professor Carolyn Mair, a designer outfit (file photo) will give the wearer an air of 'style and class' while signalling spending power

'A business manager or leader wearing a beautiful and well-fitting suit or appropriate fashion brand will give off an air of style and class which may set him or her apart from subordinates,' says Professor Mair. 'This may be the reason for choosing to wear such clothes.

'What we wear is part of our identity, it allows us to show who we are to others. Wearing luxury says we have spending power.

'In some situations (for example, working in social services, for a charity or NGO) this could be considered insensitive, in others (like working in the fashion industry), it would be considered exactly right.'Lauren Bush Lauren posed with her husband, David Lauren, and their young sons James and Max during a stunning seaside shoot for Hamptons magazine.

The 34-year-old FEED founder, who served as guest editor for the issue, was photographed wearing an eyelet cotton dress from her father-in-law Ralph Lauren's Polo collection for the cover, which shows her standing barefoot in the sand.

Lauren gave birth to her four-month-old son, Max, in April, and in one black and white photo, she can be seen giving her baby boy a kiss on the head while he is lying on her chest.

Stunning: Lauren Bush Lauren posed with her husband, David Lauren, and their sons James, two, and Max, four months, during a cover shoot for Hamptons magazine

Look of love: Lauren, who gave birth to Max in April, was photographed kissing her baby boy on the head

All smiles: The FEED founder wore an off-the-shoulder dress while wading in the surf

The mother-of-two's long brown hair is styled in loose beachy waves, and she is sporting a cozy Ralph Lauren sweater featuring an American flag.

In another shot, Lauren, and David, 46, are posed with both of their boys in the sand dunes on the beach.

While she is carrying little Max in her arms, David has two year-old James hanging from his shoulder.

Lauren and David have spent most of their summer in the Hamptons, and in her editor's note featured in the magazine, she opened up about the time she has spent at his family's home in Montauk.

Family ties: Lauren was photographed wearing an eyelet cotton dress from her father-in-law Ralph Lauren's Polo collection for the magazine's cover

More than a pretty face: Lauren served as a guest editor for the issue of the magazine

'I love the light in the Hamptons. I have been lucky to come out to Montauk for almost 15 years now with my husband, David,' she wrote. 'It is one of my favorite places, and some of my happiest memories were made here.

'Being in such a beautiful place with friends and family has truly recharging effect,' she added.

'I am a big believer in the fact that good idea don't always come from sitting at your desk. Some of my best have come to me while walking along the beach here.'

Lauren, who is the granddaughter of former President George H.W. Bush and the niece of former President George W. Bush, founded her company, FEED, in 2007 after tinkering with the idea of joining the Peace Corps.

Getaway: In her editor's note, Lauren said Montauk is one of her favorite places

Out of office: The philanthropist said she gets some of her best ideas for her company while walking on the beach

'Growing up in a family centered around public service, the idea that one should take what they have and give back in some way was always just part of my childhood and what I thought I would do,' she told the magazine.

The former model was traveling around the world as a student when she witnessed the issues of poverty and hunger firsthand.

FEED was born from Lauren's interest in design and her desire to 'rally my peers in the fight to end hunger.'

Each one of her company's products has a number stamped on it that signifies the amount of meals or micronutrient packets provided with its purchase.

Making memories: Lauren has been traveling to Montauk with David for the past 15 years. She is pictured on the beach with her sons last month

Home away from home: She and David (pictured with Max on the beach last month) stay at his family's home when they are in Montauk

Eye-opening: Lauren took her first FEED trip to Africa since becoming a mother last summer (pictured), and she admitted it was emotional to see moms with their children

Lauren, who celebrated the company's 10th anniversary in 2017, explained that FEED helps the hungry both abroad and in the U.S. with Feeding America as its partner. In developing countries, the company serves school meals to fight child malnutrition.

Last year, the philanthropist traveled to Africa to meet the children and families who are benefiting from the program.

'I took my first trip since becoming a mother last summer, and it was all the more emotional to see moms with their babies, who care so much about their kids and wanting the best for their kids, to have, at the very least, enough food to eat and proper nutrition and not being able to provide that,' she said.

'Even here in America, its a struggle for so many. So I think it really has hit home, the work of FEED, all the more since becoming a mom.'An IT worker has taken to Imgur complain about some of the most mind-bogglingly stupid computer 'issues' he's had to fix.

The Imgur user, who goes by Sembe, posed a series of memes on the site in which he detailed some of the 'problems' he's been asked to deal with at work.

While IT workers certainly have legitimate computer issues to fix, though, they also get called in to take care of non-issues that could be solved with just the tiniest bit of common sense.

Ugh: An Imgur user who goes by Sembe shared some of the maddeningly dumb problems he has had to solve while working in IT

Seriously? Someone who was told to disconnect her computer physically cut the cables

'The Struggle is real in IT,' Sembe wrote.

He recalled the time an angry manager called him and complained that the projector was only showing half of the computer screen in the projection.

When Sembe entered the meeting room, he immediately saw the problem  which wasn't tech-based at all.

'Moved water bottle in front of projector 5cm to the right. Silence,' he said, pointing out that the bottle was blocking the projector.

Another time, he told a trainee at his office to disconnect a PC because she was getting a replacement. Instead of unplugging the computer, 'she cut all the cables with a side cutter.'

Oh man... Even his manager didn't think to simply scroll down to view the rest of a report

Dumb dumbs: While IT workers certainly have legitimate computer issues to fix, they also get called to take care of non-issues that could be solved with just the tiniest bit of common sense

Another user complained that printer ink was leaking. When Sembe got on the scene, he saw that she had opened the toner cartridge (the ink) with a screwdriver and poured the powder inside into the printer.

One particularly behind-the-times computer user was baffled by an email from IT. Sembe had send around a message explaining that there would be an automatic software update, adding a screenshot of what the notification would look like.

The confused employee thought the screenshot in the email was the actual update, and kept the mail open for five hours waiting for installation to complete.

And ten, Sembe said, he faced issues with his own boss. The IT manager had called him into his office, complaining that his report was 'incomplete.'

Word to the wise: Don't use a screwdriver to open printer ink

Same: His post inspired similar complaints from other people who have worked in IT

Oh dear: any people don't try the simplest steps before complaining

Sembe then looked him in the eyes and simply scrolled down to show the rest of the report.

Sembe's collection of memes inspired similar complaints from commenters. Some shared their own stories.

'As a former IT guy (I like 'computer dude' better), I can't count the number of IT requests involving changing wallpaper or screen saver,' wrote one.

'As a former IT lady, I've had a coworker saying the mouse wasn't working. He had cut the cord because he wanted a cordless he heard about,' added another.

'I work IT. Above all things, it drives me crazy when users try to tell me what's wrong when they have to f***ing clue,' wrote a third.A New Zealand mother has shared a shocking social media post revealing a significant body of 'mould' lurking beneath the factory sealed compartment of her children's lunchboxes.

The mum was sending her kids to school with homemade snacks every day until she made a grim discovery behind the glued-on lid of her household cases.

Taking to Facebook, she expressed distress over her children eating lunch from mould-contaminated containers.

A New Zealand mother made a grim discovery behind the glued-on lid of her children's food containers

'This is what I found  I am absolutely appalled.'

Sharing a series of three images to accompany the text, the dismayed mum expressed her disgust at the alarming volume of mould growing inches away from her kid's daily lunches.

'I feel awful that my children have been eating lunch out of these.

'The lunchboxes have been hand washed each night and left open to dry,' she added.

The worried woman said she had been using the blue lunch box for roughly nine months while the yellow and green container had been used for about a year.

Sharing advice to other unsuspecting mothers, she urged shoppers never to buy 'any lunchboxes that you can't clean all the parts' of.

According to the mother, the retailers of the lunchboxes are Stuck On You and Lunch Box Inc. who she said are 'working to rectify the problem with manufacturers to make them water tight'.

Sharing a series of three images to accompany the text, the dismayed mum expressed her disgust at the alarming volume of mould growing inches away from her kid's daily lunches

The worried woman said she had been using the blue lunch box for roughly nine months while the yellow and green container had been used for about a year

Speaking to FEMAIL, the Director of Lunch Box Inc. expressed his shock at the condition of the brand's container.

'It's terrible that this has happened - it's complete news to us, we had no idea this was happening before this lady contacted us.

'We've made attempts to speak with the manufacturers because this is awful and we want to find a solution as quickly as possible.

'We need to determine if this is just a bad batch or whether it's a recurring fault in the production process.'

'It's terrible that this has happened - it's complete news to us, we had no idea this was happening before this lady contacted us' - Director of Lunch Box Inc.

Since the original post, the company said they have also received a number of emails from other concerned customers.

'We are also working with individual customers to rectify the problem on a personal basis.'

A Stuff.co.nz feature declares that Lunch Box Inc. containers are made from '100 per cent food grade safe materials, free from BPA, phthalates and iron and are dishwasher safe to 65 degrees'.

Daily Mail Australia has also reached out to Stuck On You lunchbox provider for comment.Australia's annual Travel Frenzy travel sale went off without a hitch on Tuesday night - with thousands of shoppers snapping up incredible deals online.

But for those who missed out the bargains - which usually only last 24 hours - shouldn't despair because they company have extended selected deals for another two days.

You could be jetting off to Fiji and staying in the luxury Outrigger Beach Resort with a nanny, butler and outdoor spa for just $1,430 per person. That's 48 per cent off the original price.

Or if you'd prefer to relax in Bali they're promoting 35 per cent off Padma Resort Legian hotel (pictured)

Or if you'd prefer to relax in Bali they're promoting 35 per cent off Padma Resort Legian hotel - with seven nights, flights, transfers, breakfast and late check out included for $1,239 per person.

In Phuket you could be lapping up eight nights in Centara Karon Resort with flights included for $1,025 per person. That roughly equates to four nights in the stunning location for free.

Keeping things closer to home is a $100 credit and half price transfers to Heron Island in Queensland for $580 per person.

What are the best Click Frenzy deals that have been extended? Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort You could be spending six nights in this fabulous beachside resort with flights, trasfers, upgrades, one dinner, bonus nanny, butler and spa for $1,430 per person. That's a saving of 48 per cent on the original price - and kids stay and eat for free. Padma Resort Legian in Bali Enjoy seven nights with flights, transfers, breakfast and a room upgrade for $1,239 per person. That's a saving of 35 per cent and $1,400 bonus value. Allianz travel insurance Some of the major brands are offering 15 per cent while others are shelling out an incredible 20 per cent saving. Mantra Hotels The astounding block - which can be found in Perth, Darwin, Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Hobart and Adelaide - and priced with a 50 per cent discount. Business class tickets Fly for a discounted rate with Royal Brunei - at 10 per cent off. Advertisement

Travel insurance has been slashed by 15 per cent, Mantra hotel stays are at 50 per cent off and there is even some business airfares with a 10 per cent discount

Travel insurance has been slashed by 15 per cent, Mantra hotel stays are at 50 per cent off and there is even some business airfares with a 10 per cent discount.

Travellers have been told to jump online today to avoid missing out on these once-a-year sales.

All the big names jumped on-board for the 2018 frenzy including Cathay Pacific, QATAR Airways, MSC Cruises, HelloWorld Travel and Luxury Escapes.

Click Frenzy works with participating retailers to centralize amazing deals and exclusive offers into one convenient place lasting just 24 hours.

Shoppers are then able to browse through the various deals, shortlist their favorites and make their purchase within the day-long window.

Australians were eager to bag a holiday bargain during the 24 hour sale

Vietnam and China was predicted by the Click Frenzy team as the most popular travel spot

Halfway through Click Frenzy Travel's 24 hour mega sale last year, the event had already surpassed the total volume of the 2016 launch with clicks to advertisers up 26 per cent.

Vietnam and China was predicted by the Click Frenzy team as the most popular travel spot.

In 2017, over 227,000 Aussies traveled outbound to Vietnam and over 433,000 to China according to Statista.Over the past few months, thousands of savvy Australian homeowners have been showing off their incredible 'hacks' and room transformations using budget friendly items from Kmart.

One frugal decorator with an eye for innovative design has shown off her clever self-made side table which she created from a broken discount chair and a terrazzo platter.

Josie Stroffolino, a 31-year-old teacher from Adelaide, shared a post to an interior design Facebook forum showcasing her brilliant hack - which costs just $21.

Josie Stroffolino, a 31-year-old teacher from Adelaide , shared a post to an interior design Facebook forum showcasing her brilliant hack - which costs just $21

Ms Stroffolino's post received a flood of comments praising her creativity, with one user calling her a 'genius'

Demonstrating her ability to see beyond the literal, Ms Stroffolino saw the potential in a broken Kmart chair sitting in the discount section.

'Bought a torn Kmart chair on clearance - $9 [down] from 39!' she said.

After realising the seat of the chair was beyond repair, Ms Stroffolino used her initiative and turned the legs into a table stand.

To finish, she placed a terrazzo platter on top which is also available from Kmart for just $12.

Ms Stroffolino's post received a flood of comments praising her creativity, with one user calling her a 'genius'.

'This is the best  so clever and effective! Well done,' another wrote.

And this is not the first foray Ms Stroffolino has made into the world of DIY decorating.

Earlier this month, she revealed an ingenious DIY ottoman which she fashioned out of two $9.50 dog beds from Kmart, a needle and some thread.

The teacher was in the middle of a routine trip to Kmart when she spotted a selection of navy velvet dog beds.

Ms Stroffolino was in the middle of a routine trip to Kmart when she spotted two $9.50 navy velvet dog beds (pictured)

She showed off her clever DIY ottoman (left) which she made using using the dog beds, a needle and some thread

'I absolutely loved the colour and the shape, as they match my home decor, but had no use for them. After some thought, I realised for the price, only $9.50 a piece, it wouldn't hurt to buy a couple and have a play with them,' Ms Stroffolino told FEMAIL.

'When I got home, I found a little nook that could easily accommodate an ottoman and then removed the black liner bottoms of each of two beds, removed the stuffing and hand sewed the two velvet ends together.'

Ms Stroffolino then left a small hole where she re-stuffed the ottoman with its original stuffing and closed the hole.

'I absolutely loved the colour and the shape, as they match my home decor, but had no use for them. After some thought, I realised for the price, only $9.50 a piece, it wouldn't hurt to buy a couple and have a play with them,' Ms Stroffolino told FEMAIL

'The beds also come with a zip, which could easily be sewn in to make it easier for the stuffing stage. Only took a few hours and the piece ended up better than I could have imagined,' she said.

'Matt Blatt are selling a similar concept for $995 - so winning!'

The ottoman is simply one of many creative projects Ms Stroffolino has engaged in using basic items from Kmart.

In the past, she has used a Kmart shelf to store her cosmetics, spent $25 creating a DIY photo board and used a Kmart cushion to create a Sleeping Beauty themed cushion.

She also revamped a $7 'baby funds' money box to suit her decor using the store's marble vinyl and chic gold paint from Bunnings.

'I do love playing around with Kmart items because even though they're quite beautiful as are, I like to have things that are a little more unique.'Book Week is a taxing time for most parents - even more so when there are six children in the house.

This is the case for South Australian mum Krechelle Carter who has six little ones under the age of seven.

In a recent post, the 27-year-old blogger said on top of the demands of running a hectic household, creating costumes for her kids almost sent her over the edge.

'On top of being a poor man's version of Betty Crocker for class parties and organising day-to-day reading and homework and lunches that are semi-nutritious and clean uniforms, I just can't do Book Week,' she said.

'So f*** you Book Week.'

Mother-of-six Krechelle Carter (pictured) left is known for her hilarious take on life with her brood

The annual event held across schools in Australia runs until August 24. Each year there is a theme and this year it's 'Find Your Treasure'.

It sounds simple enough, however, Krechelle revealed in her household, nothing is ever straightforward:

'Opens dress up box... grabs pirate and skeleton costumes for the third time,' she wrote.

'Children fight because they both want to be a pirate, then cry because they both find out I don't trust them to take even a foam sword to school. (Because I'm not an idiot),' the savvy mum added.'

The 27-year-old blogger from South Australia recently declared she 'just can't do Book Week'

Once costumes have been sorted courtesy of the family dress-up box, Krechelle suggests her kids find a book 'with said costume in it'.

'Don't get me wrong we're passionate about reading. Our house is filled with bookcases and books and we read on a regular basis,' she wrote.

'But if I ask my child one more time what he wants to be and he says 'a mine craft' which isn't even a thing by the way; it's a game, I'm going to scream.'

Recalling her own experiences of Book Week, the young mum said despite the fact her literary heroes were Jane Eyre and Sherlock Holmes she still wanted to show up to school dressed as the pop princess, Brittney Spears.

Six children under the age of seven is a handful as the busy mother revealed; Book Week is a bridge too far

'Who wants to be the poor girl left all alone and dressed in rags? No! I wanted glitter pants and blue lipstick! She said.

Krechelle said she thought the problem was parents were out to show other parents how smart their kids were with their choice of costumes.

'Now it's all 'My child chose to be Pippi Longstockings because she's read the book 14 times and she's three',' she said.

'Ummm no; no she's hasn't Susan. You love pipping long stockings and your living vicariously through your child [sic].

'And that's fine but at least just be honest about it and stop making us feel bad that our three year olds can't read anything.'

Krechelle said the literary heroes of her youth were Sherlock Holmes and Jane Eyre, however, she would turn up to Book Week dress as Brittney Spears

Sewing the costumes was also something Krechelle said posed a significant problem as she 'literally can't sew to save her life'.

'I swear there must have been a sewing class in school but I was too busy listening to Justin Timberlake's I'm bringing sexy back while drinking passion pop,' she said.

'I'm just so happy that so many books wrote about pirates because that's all they're going to be for the next six years of their tiny little lives [sic].'

I'm just so happy that so many books wrote about pirates because that's all they're going to be for the next six years of their tiny little lives,' Krechelle said

Krechelle also admitted the event is one she dreads on an annual basis.

Last year she said she kept checking her children's foreheads in the hopes they would get a 'mysterious illness'.

This year, the blogger has a business trip planned, and 'all four kids have Book Week on the same day,' she said, before wishing her husband Dave 'Good Luck'.

'It's harder than it looks,' she concluded.Always exposed to the elements, your hands give away your age more than any other body part.

And so it's no wonder that there's one hand cream that sells a tube globally every 20 seconds.

DU'IT's Tough Hands sells three tubes of its 'miracle' hand moisturiser every minute, or one every 20 seconds.

With more than 1.5 million units sold in 2017, it's a staple for men and women the world over in search of soft and nourished skin.

DU'IT's Tough Hands sells three tubes of its 'miracle' hand moisturiser every minute, or one every 20 seconds (pictured)

With more than 1.5 million units sold in 2017, it's a staple for men and women the world over in search of soft and nourished skin

The $11.95 product is 'a scientifically proven, intensive strength cream that works to seal cracks, replace lost oils, condition the skin and form a barrier to keep hands in top condition'

So what's the secret to Tough Hands?

The $11.95 formulation is 'a scientifically proven, intensive strength cream that works to seal cracks, replace lost oils, condition the skin and form a protective barrier to keep hands in top condition,' the DU'IT website reads.

'It repairs dry, rough, cracked, irritated and calloused hands.'

At home in Australia, DU'IT is number one in the hand and nail category, while internationally it is number two for hands and number one for foot care.

The cream is also beloved by the likes of ambassador, Roxy Jacenko (left and right), Sally Obermeder and more

With a five star rating, the cream is extolled for its capabilities for restoring dried out skin

The cream is also beloved by the likes of ambassador, Roxy Jacenko, Sally Obermeder and more.

With a five star rating online, the cream is extolled for its capabilities for restoring dried out skin.

'Wonderful product. Fingers were like sandpaper... now soft as after five days [sic],' one reviewer posted.

'At first glance the packaging looked kind of ugly so I wasn't expecting much. [But] it does its job for very dry hands,' another added.

The brainchild of husband and wife duo, Zina Richter and Pynith Char, DU'IT was born in 1998, and to this day, remains a family-owned, Australian-made business

The brainchild of husband and wife duo, Zina Richter and Pynith Char, DU'IT was born in 1998, and to this day, remains a family-owned, Australian-made business.

Producing larger batches keeps costs competitive and although the packaging may not be 'pretty' in the traditional sense of the word, it was designed to stand out from the beauty crowd - according to the founders.

'They wanted to scream what the product does and is in the first three-to-six seconds of a customer looking at it,' Zina and Pynith's daughter, Monique - who now works as the brand's marketing manager - said.

'It's not supposed to look pretty, but do the job.'

DU'IT is stocked in Priceline, Chemist Warehouse, independent pharmacies and Coles and Woolworths. It is also available online.A growing number of Australian universities are advertising 'female only' roles in a bid to encourage women to apply for historically male-dominated jobs.

The University of Adelaide is the latest educational institution seeking to balance the gender issue, recently advertising eight senior positions in engineering, IT and mathematical science  just for women.

Adelaide's decision follows the call out from the University of Melbourne earlier this year which sought five women for lucrative titles at associate professor and lecturer level.

The University of Adelaide is the latest educational institution seeking to balance the gender issue, recently advertising eight senior positions in engineering, IT and mathematical science  just for women

In 2015, prestigious Monash University advertised three women-only roles and continued this tack by posting a further two exclusive vacancies this year.

According to a recent article from Whimn, the move takes advantage of a legal loophole which allows organisations to exclusively recruit women in order to ensure equal opportunities for all genders and sexual orientations.

Technology, engineering and science have long been considered the realms of men, with female professionals significantly outnumbered across these industries.

The move takes advantage of a legal loophole which allows organisations to exclusively recruit women in order to ensure equal opportunities for all genders and sexual orientations

According to a study from Vic ICT 4 Women, a professional organisation for Australian females in IT, women make up just 16 per cent of information and communications technology roles.

The research also found that those working in this field experience 'rife discrimination' and receive 20 per cent less than men in terms of annual salary.

Adelaide's Deputy Dean of engineering, computing and mathematical sciences Peter Ashman told The Australian the university had struggled to recruit female talent to the faculty.

According to a study from Vic ICT 4 Women , a professional organisation for Australian females in IT, women make up just 16 per cent of information and communications technology roles

'We still don't really understand why that is we've worked to identify female applicants, but then we talk to them about shortlisting and they lose interest,' he said.

The academic said the institution was trialling the women-only ad approach to 'see how it goes', with the aim of balancing gender representation.

Mr Ashman also said he hopes the female specific vacancies will demonstrate the university's commitment to equal opportunity.A married man who loves his wife has spoken about his secret desire to see an escort.

In a letter to New Zealand-based sex and relationship columnist, Jennifer Souness, the man, who has been married for 25 years, said he'd become 'fascinated with the idea' after a trip overseas.

He said although he'd only smiled at a woman he assumed was a sex worker, the interaction between the pair 'felt like a moment of human understanding'.

'Is this so bad? I have never been unfaithful to my wife nor she to me?' He asked Ms Souness as part of her Stuff column.

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A married man who loves his wife has spoken about the struggles of wanting to visit an escort to save himself from having an emotional affair (stock image)

In the letter, the man said he'd always had an honest relationship with his wife and he'd told her about the incident - and while she wasn't impressed, nothing further came of the conversation.

Most cultures teach that the sex industry is a threat to marriage. Obviously, I beg to differ. I see it as a service that cuts a less interested partner some slack

He said what makes his situation difficult is that on the sex front, he is 'high maintenance'. However, this isn't something that isn't matched by his wife.

The man also explained while the pair is still married they don't live together and that it can sometimes be a month between sexual visits and he tended to 'fizz'.

He revealed that he had made an appointment to see an escort and because he doesn't keep secrets from his wife, he told her - something he revealed went down like a lead balloon but reignited the couples passion.

He said since then sex between the pair had continued to be infrequent but it was more intense and were both happier for it.

The man explained while the pair is still married they don't live together and that it can sometimes be a month between sexual visits (stock image)

The man said he'd never been unfaithful to his wife, however, he still considered the option of visiting an escort as a solution to ease his sexual frustration and as a way to ensure he didn't drift into an emotional affair where the 'fallout is so much worse'.

How to confront your partner if you suspect they are cheating 1. Have real evidence but respect their privacy  you cant take back the accusation once youve made it, so its best to be as sure as possible 2. Think about what youre going to say to your partner beforehand 3. Think about what you want to happen if its true and if its not true 4. Calmly confront your partner and discuss why you suspect theyre cheating 5. Calmly discuss what you should do next in your relationship Advertisement

Taking a direct approach to the man's dilemma, Ms Souness explained the concept of love-based marriages, as opposed to those based on an economic contract, were only fully introduced in the 19th century.

She said this concept is problematic in that it relies on fantasy and an idea 'that "the one" brings a guarantee of mutual love, respect and passion until death do you part'.

Fidelity is very much woven into the fabric of modern love relationships, however, the struggle to remain monogamous continues to abide for many, she said.

'Most cultures teach that the sex industry is a threat to marriage. Obviously, I beg to differ. I see it as a service that cuts a less interested partner some slack,' she wrote.

Ms Souness questioned the man's wife for wanting to enforce sexual abstinence for up to a month at a time - something that is even more pronounced given the pair don't live together.

'We humans are nothing if not predictable and your wife's renewed passion seems to confirm the old adage that there's nothing quite like competition to stoke the fading pheromones.'

Her solution, although somewhat unconventional, was to consider incorporating a fantasy (male or female) third person into their sex lives.

Ms Souness said this could be a 'non-threatening way'' to spice things up without creating jealousy as the person doesn't exist in reality.

Her advice if the man's urge to visit an escort persists was to raise the subject with his wife with the explanation this was a purely sexual interaction; one that could put paid to the possibility of him having an emotional affair.

Australian sexologist Dr Nikki Goldstein (pictured) said nothing can 'affair proof' a marriage

Speaking Daily Mail Australia previously, Australian sexologist Dr Nikki Goldstein said nothing can 'affair-proof' a marriage because each infidelity is different.

She explained it's not possible to control a partner's thoughts or actions but an open approach to relationship difficulties could pave the way for a more honest outcome.

'It's not a matter of preventing your partner from straying - it's a backward statement to keep men or women happy in the relationship,' she said.

'There's never a full-proof way to "affair-proof" your marriage but having that conversation is a start - and just be open about everything in your relationship.

'Both of you might think you don't need that conversation because neither of you believes you'd ever be in that situation.

'But you should talk about how you would both feel if one of you did find yourself in that situation because chances are, you're more at risk if you don't communicate.'



Bikinis in Australia have long been more 'conservative' in their cuts than those South America and Europe.

But last summer everything changed when a group of iconic labels like Seafolly and Jets began selling tiny briefs with their halterneck tops.

Before long our beautiful stretches of beaches were covered with body confident ladies in skimpy swimsuits - a positive sign of the times.

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Bikinis in Australia have long been more 'conservative' in their cuts than our sister suits in South America and Europe

In the event that you find yourself in one of these family BBQ predicaments, Glassons has released a $39 leopard print one-piece perfect for those moments you want to be covered up

However, at family barbecues and pool parties they're sometimes not the most comfortable of bathing suits to flaunt.

In the event that you find yourself in one of these predicaments, Glassons has released a very affordable $39 leopard print one-piece perfect for those moments you want to be more covered up.

It has a backless design to keep things sultry, but covers your chest and derriere in the event that you're having a conversation with somebodies grandparents at a family function.

The 90s style high cut of the bathers works to elongate the legs and cinch in the waist - perfect for those who are still looking for a form fitting number to rock at the beach.

Model sisters Isabelle and Olivia Mathers from Sydney wore the suit on their most recent visit to Greece, along with a selection of the swim separates which are selling for $30 a piece, and they garnered plenty of compliments online.

'This bikini is perfect for you,' one person wrote on the snap of Olivia.

Model sisters Isabelle (left) and Olivia (right) Mathers from Sydney wore the suit on their most recent visit to Greece

'I love this one piece,' another added.

It is being sold in a range of sizes - from six to 16 - and has only just landed in the online store. This means it'll be around for at least the next couple of months.

But run - don't walk - to your nearest store to snap up the stock.Advertisement

On Thursday evening, Australian department store, Myer, unveiled its highly anticipated Spring Summer 2018 collection - with not one supermodel but two storming the catwalk.

Face of Myer Jennifer Hawkins was joined by new ambassador on the block, Elyse Knowles, as well as Rachael Finch, Kris Smith and Josh Gibson, in a star-studded show filled with print, pattern and colour.

Before a glossy front row that included the likes of Jesinta Franklin, Sam Frost, Roxy Jacenko, Kate Waterhouse and even Pixie Curtis, the iconic store revealed its new season offerings.

High profile designers including Alex Perry, Maticevski, Victoria Beckham and sass & bide all featured on the runway, alongside the likes of Acler, CUE, MJ Bale and It brand of the moment, Ganni.

The Face of Myer, Jennifer Hawkins, opened proceedings in the Sydney City store, wearing a burgundy latex dress by Myer darling, Alex Perry (pictured)

Elyse Knowles (left and right) rocked a series of outfits, including a jewel blue mini dress that showcased her long legs - meanwhile, Jennifer stunned in an all-white one-shouldered number (centre)

The 25-year-old model (pictured) later wore a stunning glittery mini dress by Cue Clothing, which drew attention on the catwalk

The all-white trend showed it was going nowhere too, with Jen (pictured) as well as other models wearing it in dress form, ankle boots, pant suits and more

The Face of Myer, Jennifer Hawkins, opened proceedings in the Sydney City store, wearing a burgundy latex dress by Myer darling, Alex Perry, in the Designer Devotee Edit.

Jen paired the daring frock with her hair loose and open-toe perspex heels.

Jen was followed by 25-year-old Elyse Knowles, who has become the latest model to land a coveted spot on the Myer ambassador roster, calling it a 'dream' on her Instagram profile.

Elyse rocked a series of outfits, including a jewel blue Nicola Finetti mini dress that showcased her long legs, as well as a stunning glittery mini dress by Cue Clothing, which drew attention on the catwalk.

Meanwhile, fellow ambassador, Rachael Finch, sported baby pink and slicked back hair, wearing a pretty summer dress by Morrison.

Elyse wasn't the only newbie walking for Myer. Former AFL star Josh Gibson also stormed the catwalk, wearing looks by MJ Bale, Dom Bagnato and more.

Model mother Rachael Finch (pictured) was pretty in pink in pastel-coloured designs by the likes of Morrison (left) - she later wore a flapper-style feathered number by Bronx and Banco (right)

The ambassadors (pictured) appeared en masse in the show, with Jen wearing a $2,900 dress by Toni Maticevski

Pastel colours were big on the runway, as were patterns and prints (pictured on models left to right including Rachael Finch, centre)

A playful Elyse (pictured) caught the camera wearing a pinstripe red dress and blocky sandals

She later high fived with fellow ambassador Rachael Finch (pictured), who sported a clashing mesh ensemble

Later on in the show, Jen sported looks by other designers including an Elliatt jumpsuit that retails for $199.95.

Eventually, she closed out the show in a beautiful Toni Maticevski white dress, which retails for an eye-watering $2,900.

Standout trends from the evening included jewel hues, print and bright colours, seen in the turquoise hues at Kenzo.

The all-white trend showed it was going nowhere too, with models sashaying down the runway in all-white pantsuits, white skirts by MSGM and even ankle boots.

Many of the items featured flowers - while pastel colours seen on Rachael Finch and on models wearing Victoria Beckham very much heralded the onset of spring.

The brand has decided to take its marketing in a different direction this year, as it focuses on 'in-store experiences and theatre that drive traffic' according to a spokesperson

Jen later wore a black jumpsuit that featured cross shoulders and cut-out detailing - the jumpsuit retails for $199.95 and is by Elliatt (left), as well as outfits by countless other designers (right)

Tailoring was sharp for the men, with Josh Gibson and Kris Smith (pictured) modelling looks by the likes of MJ Bale and Dom Bagnato

Kris Smith and Josh Gibson (pictured) made their mark on the runway, sporting casual looks

In the past, Myer has made a name for itself thanks to its lavish season launches, flying in international supermodels to walk in their shows held at impressive locations

Before a glossy front row that included the likes of Jesinta Franklin (right), Sam Frost (left), Ksenija Lukich (second from right) and Nikki Phillips (second from left), the iconic store revealed its new season offerings

Cheeky cut outs were the order of the day, as seen on Elyse Knowles (pictured)

In the past, Myer has made a name for itself thanks to its lavish season launches, flying in international supermodels to walk in their shows held at impressive locations.

In one particular highlight, longtime brand ambassador Jennifer walked the runway for the Autumn Winter 16 launch in Barangaroo in Sydney in a show that involved a fake rainstorm, models on motorbikes and an exclusive dinner for 120 guests.

The brand has decided to take its marketing in a different direction this year, a Myer spokeswoman explained previously.

'We have evolved our Autumn 2018 events strategy to ensure it is customer-led and focused on in-store experiences and theatre that drive traffic,' the spokeswoman said.

Meanwhile, Jennifer, who has been the face of the retail giant for 12 years, confirmed to Instagram last Thursday that she will retire in November.

The 34-year-old, who was rumoured to have left over an alleged 'pay dispute', spoke highly of the department store - writing: 'Myer will always hold a special place in my heart'.It's just the kind of afternoon the Duke and Duchess of Sussex would enjoy: a taxi to the park to walk their dog, and drinks and lunch in the pub.

But despite appearances, the smiling, loved-up couple pictured enjoying a stroll around London in these snaps are not the real Harry and Meghan.

Actors working for Madame Tussauds in Baker Street, London, donned eerily realistic waxwork heads of the newlywed Duke and Duchess for a walk in Battersea Park in south-west London and a pub lunch in Fulham on Wednesday, that must have caused quite a few passers-by to double take.

'Harry and Meghan' - who are actually actors wearing waxwork heads that look like the real Duke and Duchess of Sussex - took a stroll in Battersea Park, London, with a beagle that looks just like Meghan's real dog, Guy

The 'live' waxwork figures started their stroll by taking a taxi to the Sands End pub in Fulham with their beagle. 'Meghan' wore an outfit typical of the Duchess: a white shirt tucked into dark blue jeans

The waxwork Meghan wore one of the real Duchess's favourite casual outfits: a French-tucked white linen shirt and dark blue high-waisted denim jeans, with her trademark long wavy dark hair let down.

It was paired with a brown leather bag the real Meghan Markle would also sport.

The fake Prince Harry meanwhile sported a typical collared blue shirt tucked into dark blue jeans with a brown belt, a broad smile etched onto the waxwork face.

They were walking a real Beagle, as the real Meghan has a hound of the same breed called Guy that lives with the happy couple in Kensington Palace.

They then proceeded to the Sands End pub in Fulham, a watering hole the royal couple have been known to frequent.

The realistic waxwork figures then had lunch in the Sands End pub in Fulham. The actors wore waxwork faces and sported wigs to look like the real Duke and Duchess of Sussex

The 'royal' couple then walked a beagle - which looks just like the real Duchess of Sussex's dog, Guy - in Battersea Park in south-west London, with their arms around each other like any newlywed couple

The two eerily likelike waxwork lookalikes enjoyed a drink in the Sands End pub in Fulham - though it's not clear if the actors posing as the royal couple could actually enjoy the beverages

The actors wearing waxwork heads were showing off Madame Tussauds' new 'live figures' feature, which allows members of the public to have realistic encounters with the royal couple.

The lifelike figures were first unveiled on Britain's Got Talent earlier this year, and this month, the Baker Street visitor attraction launched 'Meghan and Harry LIVE' to allow guests to feel as if they are really meeting the Duke and Duchess in person.

It is thought the realistic effect is achieved by two actors sporting wigs and waxwork heads they slip on over their real faces.

Pub goers didn't bat an eyelid as 'Harry and Meghan' ordered drinks from the Sands End pub in Fulham on Wednesday August 23

Live figures of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are spotted hailing a taxi after leaving their favourite watering hole, the Sands End pub in FulhamA mother-of-three has revealed how breastfeeding her two-year-old daughter while doing yoga has helped her 'connect' with her body.

Carlee Benear, 31, from Texas, described how her youngest daughter Maramaylee will walk up to her as she's holding various positions, before latching on to her breast.

She explained how she first took up yoga after the birth of her second child, having struggled with post-partum depression following her first birth.

Carlee even continued doing yoga throughout her third pregnancy, describing how it helped her morning sickness and find a greater connection to her unborn daughter.

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Carlee Benear, 31, from Texas, (pictured at home with her daughter) says breastfeeding her two-year-old daughter Maramaylee while doing yoga has helped her 'connect' with her body

Carlee breastfeeds while holding yoga poses in the park (left), as well as reading her daughter a story (right) while nursing and doing yoga

Carlee (pictured holding a yoga pose while breastfeeding Maramaylee) described how daughter Maramaylee will walk up to her while she's doing yoga, and latch on to her breast

Explaining why she breastfeeds Maramaylee while doing yoga, Carlee explained that it's helped her to enjoy breastfeeding while being in the moment.

'Holding poses and breathing while nursing helps me connect with my body and be more present,' Carlee said.

'Anything can be challenging if you let your mind get in the way. I think that's one of the things breastfeeding yoga has helped me move past and it's helped me to believe in myself again.

'Staying in poses is big in yoga as it helps you be in your body and connect with your body during the ups and downs of breastfeeding.'

Carlee (pictured breastfeeding Maramaylee at home in an Instagram snap) says while multi-tasking is great, she doesn't always breastfeed while doing yoga

Carlee sometimes wears her daughter in a sling (pictured above) so she can nurse two-year-old Maramaylee while doing yoga

She added: 'I am always aware of my daughter around me and I adjust my flow to her because she loves to sneak snacks at any time, so I need to be ready for her to pounce.

'There is good in this because it is yet another reminder to be present.

'Now, yoga helps me be the mother I always dreamed of being because I can enjoy every moment to the best of my abilities.'

Carlee explained how she took up yoga after the birth of her second child in 2013, after suffering from post-partum depression following the birth of her eldest child in 2016.

'I got into yoga after the birth of my second child because my first battle with postpartum depression was terrible,' she explained.

Carlee (pictured breastfeeding Maramaylee when she was just a baby) explained how she took up yoga after suffering from post-partum depression, following the birth of her first child

'I wanted to connect more with myself as the transition into motherhood can make you feel like you lose yourself, or that you're turning into a new person with new responsibilities.

'One of the benefits of doing yoga is the ability to slow down and enjoy life again in such a fast-paced world. We raise our kids with this pace and it's more damaging than it is helpful to them for the real world.

'Yoga showed me patience with myself and patience with my family as well as for everyone I interacted with. The practice also helps you see things differently.

'We are often so fast to react, we forget that this is not a race and we can sit and think before we take action.'

Carlee explained how she continued with yoga throughout the pregnancy of daughter Maramaylee.

Carlee (pictured at home with Maramaylee) described how doing yoga has helped her build confidence in her body, and has shown her the power of motherhood

Carlee (pictured sharing a sweet moment with daughter Maramaylee) revealed that her toddler now likes to try out yoga herself

'Yoga was the only way I survived my pregnancy. Even when I didn't feel like getting on my mat, it always made me feel better and ready to handle the day with a fresh face,' she said.

'It also helped me build confidence in my body and my ability to birth a life, while also helping me stay in tune with my needs for recovery.

'Pregnancy is such a precious time and you're never more in tune with your body, so what better time to explore how big the heart is, or how open the body is becoming? Yoga during pregnancy gave me a connection with my daughter that I'd never experienced before.'

Carlee admits that she's had a mixed reaction on her Instagram feed (@carleebyoga) about her breastfeeding yoga, but saidthat doesn't matter to her because it's become such an important part of motherhood for her.

'It really helps show the power of a mother and her ability to do great things for herself and her family at the same time,' she explained.

Carlee (pictured practicing a handstand while breastfeeding Maramaylee) said she will continue nursing her daughter as long as they both enjoy the bonding experience

'Multitasking is great, but I don't think it should be used for everything all the time. We do still enjoy sitting down and nursing while gazing into each other's eyes too.

'As far as what others say, there are good things and bad things that can be said about everything. What matters is what you think and how you feel because you live your own life, no one else can do that for you.'

Carlee said she never expected to still be breastfeeding her youngest by the time she was two years old, but she is more than happy to have reached this milestone.

'I will carry on nursing for as long as we both enjoy this bonding experience for.

'My daughter is even trying to master doing yoga and eating now, it's quite entertaining. We stop, drop and yoga through the tough times in our house. When we do yoga, its a few moments to stop, breathe and believe.

'I do yoga whenever I struggle as a mother, which is daily. It's not always picture perfect, recorded or easy, but it is necessary for me to survive and thrive.'The Danish royal family were picture perfect as they arrived on the Faroe islands for the start of their four day visit on Thursday.

Leading the way was Crown Princess Mary, 46, who, along with the rest of the family, was dressed in traditional Faroe costume in honour of her visit.

She and her two daughters, Princesses Josephine, 7, and Isabella, 11, wore the female dress of a dress and open sweater laced together using silver buttons and finished with a cape.

Meanwhile her husband Crown Prince Frederick, 50, and their two sons, Princes Christian, 12, and Vincent, 7, wore a waistcoat and felt coat with silver buttons, blue stockings and the famous floppy hat.

Crown Princess Mary was joined by family in traditional dress for a four fay visit to the Faroe islands on Thursday. Pictured, l-r: Prince Christian, Princess Isabella, Mary, Princess Josephine, Crown Prince Frederick and Prince Vincent

The family travelled form their home in Copenhagen by boat waving to the islanders as they approached the shore.

And after the long boat ride the couple's youngest daughter Josephine, 7, appeared to have become a little mischievous.

She could be seen squeezing the cheeks of her older sister Isabella, 11, as their ship came in to dock.

The family were greeted by the island's locals who had gathered in anticipation of their arrival, presenting Mary with an elegant posy as she stepped from the boat.

After a lengthy boat trip from their home in Copenhagen, seven-year-old Josephine appeared to be getting a little restless and was seen squeezing Isabella's, 11, cheeks

The two sisters joined their mother in wearing the traditional female dress of the Faroe islands, with the addition of an embroidered bonnet

Standing by their father Frederick the girls appeared to have perfected their royal wave as they approached the shore

The family is paying a four day visit to the Danish island with the couple visiting the Island's capital of Torshavn on Thursday.

There the Crown Prince Couple participate in an official greeting ceremony on the quay, where the prime minister will deliver a speech welcoming them before paying a visit to the rowing club Knrrur.

They will later visit the government buildings on the Tinganes peninsulal. They will take part in a second welcoming ceremony at the square Vagli in the city centre.

The family waved to the island's locals as they arrived in the capital of Torshavn on Thursday

They received a warm welcome from well-wishers who kindly presented Mary with a bouquet of flowers

The royals arrived on Royal Yacht Dannebrog for the four day visit to the Faroe Islands

After a lunch at the Hotel Hafnia hosted by the mayor the couple will visit a school at Argjahamri, a visit to Finsen College.

This afternoon they will make a visit to a farmhouse before travelling to the Sea Workhouse and the Womens House.

The couple's incredibly busy day will be rounded off with a banquet at the Nordic House.

The family's visit comes just two days after dozens of pilot whales and white-sided dolphins were slaughtered as part of the annual hunting season on the Faroe Islands.

The couple's four children appeared to be in high spirits as they made their way through the islands - part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Pictured: Vincent and Isabella (left) and Vincent with Christian (right)

After receiving a welcome speech from the Faroe Prime Minister the family visited the rowing club Knrrur (pictured)

Every summer, some 800 pilot and beaked whales, as well as dolphins, are killed for their meat across the Faroe Islands, a Danish archipelago located hundreds of miles off the Scottish coast between Norway and Iceland.

Whale driving on the Faroe Islands date back to the late 16th century and involve residents herding pods of whales into shallow waters.

They are then killed using a 'spinal lance' that is inserted through the animal's neck to break its spinal cord.

Locals carry out the hunts ahead of the sparse winter months, with the meat served salted or cut into steaks and the blubber sliced up and eaten raw.

The family's visit comes just two days after dozens of pilot whales and white-sided dolphins are slaughtered as part of the annual hunting season on the Faroe Islands

The local government says the hunting is not only sustainable, but ensures that the 18 islands, which has a limited opportunities for farming, are as self-sufficient as possible

The hunts have been criticised by animal rights campaigners, who say the ritual is cruel and unnecessary.

However, the local government says the hunting is not only sustainable, but ensures that the 18 islands, which has a limited opportunities for farming, are as self-sufficient as possible.

Each whale provides several hundreds of kilos of meat and blubber, food which would otherwise have to be imported from abroad to the islands at a cost to the locals and the environment.

It is estimated that the pilot whale population in the eastern North Atlantic is about 778,000 individuals, with approximately 100,000 around the Faroe Islands. The Faroese hunt on average 800 pilot whales annually.Fed up British tenants have taken to Twitter to share their horror stories as an increasing number of residents are forced to rent amid rising property prices.

In reply to a call out from campaign group Generation Rent Twitter users posted pictures of their shocking living conditions and landlord horror stories alongside the hashtag #ventyourrent.

The group made the shout out to coincide with the government's consultation on landlords offering longer tenancies coming to an end on Sunday 26th August.

One angry Brit revealed her estate agent blamed the black mould in her bedroom on her 'breathing at night', while another told how his landlord said it was her fault the flat had rats as she was 'keeping food in her cupboards'.

Elsewhere, a tenant revealed she discovered her landlord having sex in her bed, while one even tried to charge their tenants 100 each to unblock the child lock on the internet.

And many revealed that due to the sky-high rental prices they were unable to save towards buying a home, with one man tweeting that he had never lived alone with his girlfriend, and a woman revealing that she's still renting, aged 40.

Fed up British tenants have taken to Twitter to share their rental horror stories in a viral thread this week as an increasing number of residents are forced to rent amid rising property prices. Seen: A landlord blaming the rats on 'the tenant keeping food'

In a shocking case of space saving, one tenant shared a picture of her toilet next to her washing machine- revealing that it was described as an 'en suite'

Another posted a snap of her kitchen which was just a few metres wide, writing: 'The landlord turned his 1 bed flat into a 3 bed flat and charged me 740 a month for a room. This was the kitchen. Note that there is no oven, and the hob did not work. I ate only sandwiches for 3 months'.

In a shocking case of space saving, one tenant shared a picture of her toilet next to her washing machine - revealing that it was described as an 'en suite'.

Meanwhile another posted a snap of her kitchen which was just a few metres wide, writing: 'The landlord turned his 1 bed flat into a 3 bed flat and charged me 740 a month for a room.

'This was the kitchen. Note that there is no oven, and the hob did not work. I ate only sandwiches for 3 months'.

One tenant even shared a picture of a huge hole in the ceiling, writing: 'First place I rented, the living room ceiling fell down. It kept falling while I was telling the landlord. He didn't do anything about it for three days because he was at a wedding. We had to go through the living room to get to the kitchen.'

Others posted pictures of mould taking over their living spaces, with one tweeting: 'During my Masters I slept in a bedroom where one wall was entirely covered in black mould. Estate agent told me it was because I was breathing at night.

One angry resident revealed their kitchen had been left half fixed since March, sharing a snap of a room without a floor, covered with a few rugs, in the viral 'vent your rent' thread on Twitter

In another shocking image shared to the viral thread of angry renters, one woman revealed there was a hole in the living room where the ceiling had fallen down- and it was left that way for three days

One renter uploaded a picture of her badly mouldy wall, revealing that she paid rip-off prices to live without hot water for months in the viral Twitter feed online

In February figures released by Lettings network Countrywide revealed that tenants paid a record 51.6 billion last year in private sector rent  more than twice the total bill in 2007, according to estimates.

Countrywide's analysis suggests that for the past 11 years the millennial generation born between 1977 and 1995 have been paying the majority of total rent in Britain.

Johnny Morris, research director at Countrywide, said: 'The rental market grew in 2017.

More people joined the rented sector and average rents increased, meaning 2017 saw the highest total rent bill so far.'

The government is currently holding a consultation on a proposed three-year tenancy with a six month break clause, to give tenants more certainty over their rents.

On Thursday UK rent groups delivered a petition with 50,000 signatures calling for a ban on unfair evictions, and calling for the government to scrap section 21 rules which allow landlords to issue no-fault notices to force tenants out and cash in on rising property prices.

The campaigners consist of a coalition that includes the group the 'Acorn renters union', the 'London Renters Union', and 'Generation Rent', who found in a recent survey that 72% of respondents think landlords should not be allowed to raise rents faster than inflation.

As well as overbearing landlords, many came up with very creative excuses for the problems in their home, with one tenant revealing their estate agent had blamed the mold on them 'breathing at night' in the viral Twitter thread

Two angry renters held up their dilemmas in the viral Twitter thread about renting, with one admitting it was impossible to rent somewhere decent as a singleton, and another admitting her landlord suggested a hoover as a solution for bed bugs

Continuing the pattern of shocking landlords, another wrote: 'Used to have a landlord who'd let herself into my flat whenever she felt like it, without warning. One time I was in bed asleep when I heard someone coming in, just managed to get dressing gown on as she entered my bedroom. She told me off for not being up yet!'

Continuing to share horror stories, one woman explained she wasn't able to afford a flat for her and her partner of six years in London due to high rents, leaving them with no option but to share with other.

'2,250pcm for a shared flat with regular plumbing and internet access problems. 40 & still renting,' she said.

Another complained of moving in to find toenail clippings and mould on the walls.

Another wrote: 'Because London rent is so high, I've never lived alone with my partner since we met 6 years ago. 2,250pcm for a shared flat with regular plumbing and internet access problems. 40 & still renting'.

And others described their rip off fees, with one tweeting that they are charged 180 every year for signing a contract renewal, while another revealed they were charged 280 for a broken gate at their Bournemouth home, which was already damaged on moving in.

One renter even revealed they left London after being told by an estate agent that they 'should be grateful to be shown anything after complaining about viewing a studio flat with human sick and a dead rat in it' that was above their budget.

Another frustrated resident wrote: 'Since I had to leave home at age 16/17 I have calculated I have paid over 100k in rent. I'm 33 now and have exactly 0 saved for a deposit due to high rent rates.'

One admitted they were blamed for the damp in the room for 'pushing the bed too close to the wall', in the viral Twitter thread about bad rental experiencesSweden's Crown Princess Victoria proved she's a master of outfit changes as she swapped a laid-back daytime look for a polished evening ensemble.

The Scandi princess, 41, looked suitably resplendent as she stepped out in Stockholm on Thursday night for her second engagement of the day, marking a return to her busy schedule of royal duties following the summer break.

Just hours after her visit to Stockholm International Water Institute, the heir apparent to the Swedish throne stepped out for a performance at the Royal Dramatic Theatre, marking the opening of Bergman International Theatre Festival.

Glamorous in a printed A-line skirt and sheer blouse, the mother-of-two wore her hair tied back in her signature sleek bun.

Crown Princess Victoria looked laid-back in a nautical ensemble as she arrived at an engagement in Stockholm today (left); later swapping for a glamorous evening look (right)

She contrasted the pastel hues with a statement orange clutch and matching heels.

It was proof, if needed, summer is officially over for the Swedish royals after Victoria dropped her daughter Princess Estelle off on her first day of school on Tuesday.

The family are believed to have spent most of their holiday at Solliden palace in Oland.

Earlier on Thursday, the glamorous royal looked her stylish best in a nautical ensemble as she paid a visitto the Stockholm International Water Institute.

Victoria made a statement in a white pleated maxi skirt, complete with orange and blue stripes and teamed with a pair of blue stilettos.

Always a stickler for coordination the mother-of-two paired the ensemble with a navy blue silk blouse and a taupe leather tote.

Day to night: After her laid-back appearance this morning, Crown Princess Victoria was back to her glamorous best with a polished evening look at the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm

Victoria's engagement tonight serves as proof, if needed, summer is officially over for the Swedish royals after she dropped her daughter off on her first day of school on Tuesday

Back to work: Crown Princess Victoria is now back in Stockholm after spending most of the summer holiday at Solliden palace in Oland with her family

She swept her brunette tresses into a low chignon, as she is want to do during engagements and opted for a natural beauty look for her meeting today.

The heir apparent appeared to be in high spirits today as she arrived in the Swedish capital to the cheer of local well wishers.

She was received by Torgny Holmgren, SIWI's Executive Director who was to take her on a tour of the vicinity.

It has been a busy week for Victoria since returning from her summer break with her daughter Estelle, six, beginning her first day at school on Tuesday.

All smiles: There were no back-to-work blues for Crown Princess Victoria, despite her summer break coming to an end earlier this week when she dropped her daughter off at school

Guest of honour: Victoria, heir to the Swedish throne, steps out for a performance at the Royal Dramatic Theatre, marking the opening of Bergman International Theatre Festival

She and her husband Prince Daniel, 44, were among the parents waving their children off from the school gates on their first day.

The youngster is starting her learning at Campus Manilla, one of Stockholm's most exclusive educational establishments.

Children in the Scandinavian country tend to start school later in the UK, with emphasis put on allowing children time to play before they begin learning in earnest.

Campus Manilla, based on the Stockholm island of Djurgarden, was founded by property mogul Knut Pousette in 2013 with funds from private backers.

Earlier today, the mother-of-two paid a visit to the Stockholm International Water Institute where she was received by the executive director Torgny Holmgren (seen left)

The heir apparent posed for photos along side the chair of SIWI Peter Forssman (left) and Torgny Holmgren before taking a tour of the vicinity

Earlier this week Victoria and her husband Prince Daniel were seen dropping their eldest child Estelle, six, off on her first day at school (seen arriving together on Tuesday)

The school now attracts some of the capital city's most wealthiest families.

The school's outgoing principal, Maija Moller Grimakova, told the Swedish media in May that the establishment was looking forward to welcoming the young royal.

She said: 'We look forward to many fantastic school years together. All parents choose the school which is best for their children and this is no exception.'

The family had spent their summer among the other members of the Swedish royal family at Solliden Palace in Borgholm, where they typically spend their summer months.A ten-year-old boy has recorded a heartbreaking video message for his mother who is living with incurable cancer.

Ben Sandeman, from Hastings, wanted to pay tribute to mum Ann, who doesn't know how long she has left but has been told on two occasions to get her affairs in order.

Ann has endured eight bouts of chemotherapy over 10 years and has now run out of treatment options as the tumour has attached itself to the arteries around her heart - but the mother-of-three is trying to maintain 'normality' for the sake of her three children.

Seen through Ben's eyes, the video highlights how brave and strong his mum has been throughout his life.

The brave youngster praises his mum's resilience and says how 'proud' he and his two older sisters are of her.

Ben Sandeman, from Hastings (pictured with mum Ann) has recorded a poignant video message for his mother who is living with incurable cancer and doesn't know how long she has left

He says: 'She loses her hair sometimes, but us kids and other people think it makes her look strong her cancer doesn't stop her doing anything.

'She goes on holidays with us, she goes on water slides with us. All of us are helping to beat my mum's cancer. We always comfort her and give her a rest. We all are very proud of her.'

Ann, 47, has had a long and difficult journey with the disease, being diagnosed with an aggressive breast cancer whilst she was 12 weeks pregnant with Ben.

The youngster explains: 'My mum has been sick for my whole life. When my mum first had cancer I was in her womb, she was very ill. The doctor said I might have breathing problems, but I think I'm good!'

With two young children already, Ann made the decision to start treatment during her third pregnancy.

Ben Sandeman, from Hastings (pictured with mum Ann and sisters Hannah and Emma) has praised his mother's resilience in the face of incurable cancer, and says how 'proud' the family is of her. Ann was diagnosed while pregnant with Ben but doesn't know how long she has left

Ben Sandeman, from Hastings (bottom right), pictured with mum Ann (far left), sisters Hannah and Emma and family, said of his cancer stricken mother: 'She loses her hair sometimes, but us kids and other people think it makes her look strong her cancer doesn't stop her doing anything'

Ben Sandeman, from Hastings, pictured with mum Ann and sisters Hannah and Emma. Ann, 47, has had a long and difficult journey with the disease, being diagnosed with an aggressive breast cancer whilst she was 12 weeks pregnant with Ben

She had a lumpectomy at 14 weeks and chemotherapy soon after. She was warned her baby would be premature and likely to have severe breathing problems.

Despite this, baby Ben was born on his exact due date in February 2008, without any medical problems, either then or since.

However, in March 2010 Ann discovered her cancer had spread. The tumour had attached itself to the arteries around her heart, so surgery wasn't an option.

This meant that her cancer was now incurable. Manageable, but not curable. Hospitals and medical care are a backdrop to her life  she is currently undertaking her eighth and what could be her final go at chemotherapy.

Ann Sandeman, 47, from Hastings had a lumpectomy 14 weeks into her pregnancy and chemotherapy soon after. She was warned her baby would be premature and likely to have severe breathing problems but son Ben, now ten, is happy and healthy

Ben Sandeman, from Hastings, pictured with sisters Hannah and Emma was born on his exact due date in February 2008, without any medical problems, either then or since

Ben has taken part in five Race for Life events alongside his sisters, Hannah and Emma, in honour of his mum and shows incredible bravery in the face of Ann's diagnosis.

The brave youngster said: 'All of us are helping to beat my mum's cancer. We are all very proud of her.'

Ann, a former financial advisor, added: 'The very first time I took part in Race for Life I was pregnant with Ben and blissfully unaware that very soon after, I too would be diagnosed with cancer.

Ten-year-old Ben Sandeman, from Hastings, said of his cancer stricken mother: 'All of us are helping to beat my mum's cancer. We are all very proud of her'

School boy Ben Sandeman, from Hastings, has taken part in five Race for Life events alongside his sisters, Hannah and Emma, in honour of his mum and shows incredible bravery in the face of Ann's diagnosis

Ben Sandeman, from Hastings, is supporting Cancer Research UKs Race for Life in partnership with Tesco

'The kids do it every year and love it, especially Ben who always races round the course. They know they are making a difference in beating cancer, for me and all those affected by it.

'Having this video tribute from my children means the world to me, I am so very proud of them. They keep me positive and ready to take on whatever this disease has to throw at me.'

Ben, Ann and family are supporting Cancer Research UKs Race for Life in partnership with Tesco. Sign up at raceforlife.org and make a difference in beating cancer.A stunning model has announced plans to sell her virginity to the highest bidder - because she wants to make her mother 'proud'.

Mahbuba Mammadzada is one of Azerbaijan's most successful models, but says she needs to cash to pay for a house for her mum and finance her studies abroad.

The 23-year-old said: 'My mum did everything for me, now it is my turn. I want her to be proud of me.'

She is planning to auction off her virginity through the notorious Cinderella Escorts agency where young women sell sex to wealthy, often older, clients.

Azerbaijani model Mahbuba Mammadzada, pictured, is selling her virginity online to the highest bidder. She says she needs to cash to pay for a house for her mum and finance her studies abroad

Stunning Azerbaijani model Mahbuba Mammadzada, pictured on a recent trip to Dubai, is putting her virginity up for auction on Cinderella Escorts. She recently recorded a video in which she explained her plans

Azerbaijani model Mahbuba Mammadzada has announced she will sell her virginity to the highest bidder online and says she needs the cash to buy her mother a house. It is understood that Cinderella Escorts will take up to 20 percent of the money as their part of the deal

Miss Mammadzada, who registered with the agency under the pseudonym Maria, recorded a video in which she explained her plans.

She said that she hopes to sell her virginity for at least 100,000 (90,000) to buy a house for her mum, fund her university degree abroad, and travel the world.

Miss Mammadzada says she even has a certified medical note confirming her virginity.

It is understood that Cinderella Escorts will take up to 20 percent of the money as their part of the deal.

For sale: Azerbaijani model Mahbuba Mammadzada will use the cash made from selling her virginity to pay for her university studies abroad. She is planning to auction off her virginity through the notorious Cinderella Escorts agency

Up for auction: Azerbaijani model Mahbuba Mammadzada, who registered with Cinderella Escorts agency under the pseudonym Maria, recorded a video in which she explained her plans to sell off her virginity to the highest bidder. She is hoping to make 90,000

Azerbaijani model Mahbuba Mammadzada is selling her virginity. She is using an online agency where young women sell sex to wealthy, often older, client

Azerbaijani model Mahbuba Mammadzada said that she hopes to sell her virginity for at least 100,000 (90,000) to buy a house for her mum, fund her university degree abroad, and travel the world.

Azerbaijani model Mahbuba Mammadzada, who is selling her virginity online, says she even has a certified medical note confirming her virginity

Azerbaijani model Mahbuba Mammadzada hopes to buy a house for her mum, fund her university degree abroad, and travel the world. Misss Mammadzada allegedly has a certified medical note confirming her virginity

Stunning Azerbaijani model Mahbuba Mammadzada is auctioning off her innocence through the notorious Cinderella Escorts agency which specialises in mediating between beautiful young women prepared to cash in on their virginity

For sale: Azerbaijani model Mahbuba Mammadzada is selling her virginity online. Earlier this year, she walked down the same catwalk as Paris Hilton in a Turkish fashion show, called the Land of the Legends

Azerbaijani model Mahbuba Mammadzada will sell her virginity for the highest bidder, she has revealed. The model, currently based in Turkey, hopes to work with the Brave Model agency, based in the Italian city of Milan, but says she still wants to help her family back at home

Azerbaijani model Mahbuba Mammadzada is selling her virginity online. The winning bidder will be able to have a doctor check Miss Mammadzada to make sure she is still a virgin before sleeping with her at a hotel in Germany

Azerbaijani model Mahbuba Mammadzada has more than 32,000 followers on Instagram and her bio reads: 'I don't care about anything but me. I'm always doing things I can't do. Yes, I'm a model, no I eat a lot. All the time'

The winning bidder will be able to have a doctor check Miss Mammadzada to make sure she is still a virgin before sleeping with her at a hotel in Germany.

The model, currently based in Turkey, hopes to work with the Brave Model agency, based in the Italian city of Milan, but says she still wants to help her family back at home.

Earlier this year, she walked down the same catwalk as Paris Hilton in a Turkish fashion show, called the Land of the Legends.

She has more than 32,000 followers on Instagram and her bio reads: 'I don't care about anything but me. I'm always doing things I can't do. Yes, I'm a model, no I eat a lot. All the time.'Gourmet Traveller magazine has crowned Australia's number one restaurant - and they're no stranger to the top of the list.

Quay in Sydney, which recently underwent a multimillion dollar refurbishment that saw the harbourside restaurant close its doors for three months, took home the crown for the fourth time.

Celebrity chef Peter Gilmore completely redesigned the restaurant's menu complete with a $275 10 course tasting menu and a brand new dessert to replace the acclaimed 'Snow Egg' which 'retired' in April.

Gourmet Traveller magazine has crowned Australia's number one restaurant - and they're no stranger to the top of the list

Quay in Sydney, which recently underwent a multimillion dollar refurbishment that saw the harbourside restaurant close its doors for three months, took home the crown for the fourth time

'Quay 2.0 redefines luxury dining in Australia with a stunning package of rare and wild ingredients, inspired cooking, genteel service, and a sublime setting,' Gourmet Traveller said of their first choice.

The Fink Group-owned restaurant was hoping to totally shake up how Australians view fine dining - and they appear to have mastered that.

'People's expectations around fine dining are often minding your Ps and Qs, we want to boldly move into uncharted territory in Australian fine dining by thinking outside the box and considering the dining experience as a sum of its parts,' CEO John Fink said.

The Fink Group-owned restaurant was hoping to totally shake up how Australians view fine dining - and they appear to have mastered that

Described as a 'progression of rare and beautiful ingredients where texture, flavour and harmony is paramount', the menu will offer two options

Because Chef Gilmore dislikes the texture of oysters he wanted to serve an oyster with a texture he could actually enjoy himself (pictured is the final result)

Described as a 'progression of rare and beautiful ingredients where texture, flavour and harmony is paramount', the menu will offer two options - a 10 course tasting option for $275 and a $210 six course menu.

The 'experience' begins with a dish that emphasis the new direction and philosophy of the food known as 'Oyster intervention'.

Because Chef Gilmore dislikes the texture of oysters he wanted to serve an oyster with a texture he could actually enjoy himself.

The result is a hand crafted ceramic oyster shell with silky oyster cream topped with an oyster crackling made from the frill of the oyster.

The experience concludes with a brand new dessert - White Coral - which Chef Gilmore designed as a replacement to the iconic 'Snow Egg' (Chef Gilmore pictured)

There is also a 500+ wine list, 20 cocktails and four beverage matches which have been created for the guest to enjoy

The Gourmet Traveller National Restaurant Awards Winners Restaurant of the Year Quay, Sydney Chef of the Year Josh Niland - Saint Peter, Sydney, New South Wales New Restaurant of the Year Laura, Merricks, Victoria Best New Talent Ali Currey-Voumard - The Agrarian Kitchen Eatery, New Norfolk, Tasmania Regional Restaurant of the Year Brae, Birregurra, Victoria Bar of the Year Liberte, Albany, Western Australia Maitre d of the Year The team from Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Melbourne Wine List of the Year Franklin, Hobart Outstanding Contribution to HospitalityRootstock Wine Festival Linda Wiss, Matt Young, Giorgio De Maria, James Hird And Mike Bennie Sommelier of the Year Emma Farrelly - State Buildings, Perth, Western Australia Advertisement

The dish is then topped with Ossetra caviar for an added sense of luxury and intense umami note. The oyster is then eaten with a hand-crafted mother of pearl spoon.

The dish is followed by nine equally as unique creations including hand harvested seafood, sand crab, smoked pig jowl, duck and crystalised oloroso caramel.

The experience concludes with a brand new dessert - White Coral - which Chef Gilmore designed as a replacement to the iconic 'Snow Egg'.

'Lighting also plays a big role in a dining experience; when you arrive, you want to be able to read the menu. As the meal progresses so does the lighting, by the end of the night, its moody and relaxed,' Mr Fink said.

There is also a 500+ wine list, 20 cocktails and four beverage matches which have been created for the guest to enjoy.

Overlooking some of the most spectacular harbour views in Sydney, the space itself needed little amendments.

However, the Quay team were determined to renovate the area to reflect Chef Gilmore's nature inspired cuisine with a touch of added glamour.

Quay's 100 seat dining room has been reduced to 80 seats across a number of small, intimate dining spaces and while the upper and lower tower which still hold 270 views, the dining room has been reoriented to open up to the Harbour Bridge, while still offering spectacular views of the Opera House.

Nature is at every turn, with stingray patterned divides, volcanic lava stone detailing glazed with a pattern evocative of cracked bark and a series of blue carpet pools referencing the ocean.

The winner of best new restaurant of the year was Laura in Merricks, Victoria

Diners can choose from four ($120), five ($130) or six ($140) courses with the food changing regularly as produce supply dictates

The winner of best new restaurant of the year was Laura in Merricks, Victoria.

It's a glam eatery in a winery on the Mornington Peninsula and offers two types of set menus.

Diners can choose from four ($120), five ($130) or six ($140) courses with the food changing regularly as produce supply dictates.

The best bar of the year was awarded to Liberte in Albany, Western Australia.

It's a Parisian-inspired bar with 'fun Vietnamese food' inside the historic London Hotel

It's a Parisian-inspired bar with 'fun Vietnamese food' inside the historic London Hotel.

It's about five hours' drive south of Perth, so can be considered quite a regional choice, but nonetheless is worth the travel time.

The drinks menu is extensive and coupled with treats like chicken wings and dumplings, is sure to fill up any eager belly.McDonald's has denied claims they are set to start selling their famous McNuggets by the bucket load.

Rumours spread that the restaurant was planning to start selling buckets of 48 chicken nuggets, with the launch scheduled for December 1.

But unfortunately the offer was for a limited time only in Japan.

McDonald's has denied claims they are set to start selling their famous McNuggets by the bucket load

Foodbeast reported that the enormous quantity of bite sized chicken would be served in KFC-style buckets in collaboration with a Japanese pop music girl-group called NGT48.

A flood of positive commentary poured onto social media with many users expressing their joy at the prospect of the new product.

'McDonald's Japan introduced 48 piece chicken McNugget buckets further proof that Japan is the best country on the planet,' one account said.

A flood of positive commentary has poured onto social media with many users expressing their joy at the prospect of the new product

'I read that McDonalds is coming out with buckets of nuggets  I hope that's true because my life is now made,' an excited woman wrote

'When can we expect this in the States?!' Another eager nugget enthusiast asked.

'I read that McDonald's is coming out with buckets of nuggets  I hope that's true because my life is now made,' an excited woman wrote.

The world famous brand previously teamed up with the same pop group in 2015 to dish out lashings of delicious chicken to the public

This isnt the first time the fast food giant has doled out 48 nuggets at once.

The world famous brand previously teamed up with the same group in 2015 to dish out lashings of delicious chicken to the public.Fifty-nine people are feared to have died in the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Some 32 of the deaths have been confirmed as being due to the virus, which is considered one of the most lethal pathogens in existence, while the remaining 27 fatalities are 'probably' a result of Ebola.

As many as 102 are thought to be living with Ebola, which causes agonising diarrhoea and unexplained bleeding, in the DRC.

This comes after the DRC's health ministers approved four experimental treatments against the life-threatening virus yesterday in a desperate attempt to contain the outbreak in the violence-torn east, which borders Uganda.

Virologists have warned the situation is hard to control due to cases being in a conflict zone roamed by armed militias.

DRCs Ministry of Health updated the Ebola death toll in its latest bulletin, released yesterday, as a mass vaccination campaign continues.

Aid workers are battling round-the-clock to contain the outbreak, which has struck the east of the country on the border with Uganda

Health workers are dying

Since the last bulletin on August 14, 45 new confirmed Ebola cases and 18 deaths have been reported. Nine suspected incidences are being investigated.

Some 39 patients are being treated in specialist Ebola centres, 36 of which are in Mabalako and the remaining three in Beni, which is the epicentre of the outbreak in the North Kivu province.

Thirteen cases have been reported among health workers, of which one medic has died.

Since the outbreak was declared on August 1, 10 patients have recovered from the disease and are back living at home.

People in their 30s are the most affected, with 28 per cent of patients being 30-to-39, with women making up more than half of sufferers.

Free treatment to encourage patients to seek help

Last week, health authorities in the DRC started administering a treatment known as mAb114 to Ebola patients for the first time.

Ten patients have received the experimental drug so far and have experienced a 'positive evolution', according to the health ministry.

DRC's ethics committee has also approved Remdesivir, which is manufactured by the US-based Gilead Sciences. One patient has received the drug and is said to be doing well.

The other experimental drugs approved for use are: ZMapp, an IV treatment made by San Diegos Mapp Pharmaceutical; the Japanese drug Favipiravir; and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Regn3450  3471  3479.

Beni's mayor Jean Edmond Nyonyi Masumbuko Bwanakawa announced treatment for Ebola will be free in the region for three months as of Monday.

He hopes the move will remove the financial barrier that could dissuade the population from going to the health centre.

Emergency: A health worker gets ready to perform medical checks inside an Ebola Treatment Centre run by The Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA) in Beni

An Ebola patient is lead by two medical workers into CUBE, which has being constructed by The Alliance for International Medical Action in response to the Ebola outbreak

HAS THE DRC HAD AN EBOLA OUTBREAK BEFORE? DRC escaped the brutal Ebola pandemic that began in 2014, which was finally declared over in January 2016 - but it was struck by a smaller outbreak last year. Four DRC residents died from the virus in 2017. The outbreak lasted just 42 days and international aid teams were praised for their prompt responses. The new outbreak is the DRCs tenth since the discovery of Ebola in the country in 1976, named after the river. The outbreak earlier this summer was its ninth. Health experts credit an awareness of the disease among the population and local medical staff's experience treating for past successes containing its spread. DRCs vast, remote geography also gives it an advantage, as outbreaks are often localised and relatively easy to isolate. Advertisement

Fears outbreak is reminiscent of 2014 epidemic

The current Ebola outbreak is the 10th to strike the DRC since 1976, when the virus was first identified and named after a river in the north of the country.

The outbreak on the border of Uganda was announced just days after another was declared over in the north-west of the DRC at the start of this month.

Virologists feared it was 'reminiscent' of the 2014 Ebola pandemic, which decimated West Africa and killed 11,000 people.

Yet the new outbreak has already dwarfed the one earlier this summer and has stoked more fears among the medical community.

Calls to end violence

In a desperate attempt to stem the outbreak, the World Health Organization's (WHO) chief called for an end to the fighting in the DRC last week.

Dr Tedros Adhanom travelled to east DRC to examine the situation in person and told reporters in Switzerland he was 'actually more worried after the visit than before'.

He added: 'We call on the warring parties for a cessation of hostilities because the virus is dangerous to all. It doesnt choose between this group and that group.'

Professor Paul Hunter, a virologist at the University of East Anglia, last week praised an experimental vaccine being distributed in the DRC that stops the spread of Ebola.

Yet, he also raised fears that conflict in the region might make the outbreak hard to control, as those infected could be displaced to refugee camps where the virus can thrive.

Professor Hunter said: The effectiveness of any immunisation campaign depends on the ability to deliver that vaccine to the appropriate people is a timely manner.

Unfortunately the latest outbreak is in an area of armed conflict and this poses substantial difficulties for effective prevention.

Aid workers have been told they will have to navigate their response among more than 100 armed groups.

A WHO spokesperson said: 'This is an active conflict zone. The major barrier will be safely accessing the affected population.'

An Ebola patient is being checked by two medical workers after being admitted into a Biosecure Emergency care Unite (CUBE) in Beni, Democratic Republic of Congo

Unsafe burial of patient triggered the outbreak

According to the WHO, the unsafe burial of a 65-year-old Ebola sufferer triggered the latest DRC outbreak.

After she was buried, members of her family began to display symptoms of the virus 'and seven of them died'.

Genetic analysis confirmed the virus in the latest outbreak is the Zaire strain, which is the same as the one earlier this summer.

Yet, Peter Salama, WHO's deputy director for emergency preparedness and response, revealed last week the pathogen is genetically different to the virus seen before.

Officials in the African nation have confirmed nine deaths so far (pictured: Doctors Without Borders team members walk through an Ebola security zone at the entrance of a hospital in DR Congo, where a fresh outbreak of the virus was declared in the east of the country)

Vaccination programmes underway

Vaccinations began two weeks ago following the success of the jabs in Equateur province, which declared its Ebola outbreak over two weeks ago.

Some 33 people were feared to have died in that outbreak, which started in the poorly-connected regions of Ikoko-Impenge and Bikoro.

The outbreak then travelled 80 miles (130km) north to Mbandaka, a port city on the river Congo  an essential waterway with around 1.2 million inhabitants.

There was a concern it would spread to Kinshasa  364 miles (586km) south, which has an international airport and 12 million residents.

All neighbouring countries were alerted about the outbreak of Ebola before it was declared over amid fears it could spread easily.

Officials hailed the use of an experimental vaccine, known as rVSV-ZEBOV, in stemming the Ebola outbreak in north-west DRC in July.

More than 3,000 doses remain in stock in Kinshasa, allowing authorities to quickly deploy it to the affected areas near the Ugandan border.

Barthe Ndjoloko, who oversees the health ministry's Ebola response, claims officials are working to identify those who may be infected.

He revealed last week the vaccination campaign will focus on healthcare workers and those who have come into contact with confirmed cases.

The 2014 international response to the Ebola epidemic drew criticism for moving too slowly, prompting an apology from the WHO.A 34-year-old man who ate raw chicken sushi became infected with a parasite which could have sent him blind.

The Japanese man, who was otherwise healthy, developed growths in his lungs and liver because of the parasite.

He contracted the infection from eating chicken sashimi  a type of sushi in which the meat is only seared round the edges, not cooked  a report revealed.

After going to hospital complaining of having stomach pains for 10 days, doctors carried out tests on the man in order to diagnose him with toxocariasis.

The rare infection, caused by roundworm parasites and which has the potential to cause blindness, was treated with drugs and the man made a full recovery.

Chicken sashimi is a sushi dish in which slices of chicken are only seared around the edges and not cooked through but it carries a risk of transmitting parasites, as in the case of this unnamed Japanese man

The unnamed man visited doctors at the Saiseikai Fukuoka General Hospital, approximately 93 miles north-east of Nagasaki on Japan's southern Kyushu island.

He had been suffering from pain in his abdomen and said he had eaten seared chicken sashimi 'several times', according to BMJ Case Reports.

Scans revealed clumps of cells called nodules in the man's chest and his liver, while blood tests showed a high level of white blood cells, suggesting an infection.

Doctors diagnosed a rare roundworm infection

Doctors managed to diagnose the man with toxocariasis, a rare roundworm infection which humans can catch from infected animal faeces or meat.

The parasites can cause fever, abdominal pain, anorexia, and even blindness if they infect the eyes.

Fortunately the man's infection was easily treated.

The man recovered after treatment with drugs

The report authors wrote: 'After treatment with albendazole, his symptoms improved and the [lung] and liver lesions disappeared.'

Sashimi is a popular Japanese delicacy which consists of fresh meat which is served uncooked  fish is most common but other meats are also used.

Although fish can be eaten raw and rare beef steak is popular, raw chicken is usually considered to be dangerous because it is likely to contain salmonella, a bacteria which causes unpleasant and potentially life-threatening food poisoning.

As well as salmonella raw meat has the potential to contain various parasites, including the roundworm which causes toxocariasis.The Welsh Ambulance Service has the worst delays in the UK, according to official records.

One patient waited more than 62 hours for an ambulance  more than twice as long as the longest delay in any other NHS area.

And a total of four patients in Wales were left waiting for more than 50 hours  over two days  for medical help, Freedom of Information figures have shown.

The Patients Association called the delays 'extremely concerning' as it was revealed three English NHS trusts recorded waits of over 24 hours between 2017 and 2018.

Some of those waiting for more than a day for an ambulance to arrive were suffering from mental health or breathing problems.

And the number of people phoning for an ambulance rose by 15 per cent  nearly 1.5 million extra calls  between 2015 and 2017.

But NHS bosses say the 'extreme' long waits do not reflect the overall quality of ambulance services and millions of pounds are being invested in paramedic care.

Ambulances in Wales have the longest delays of any service in the UK, according to official figures uncovered by the BBC, which revealed four people waited more than 50 hours for emergency help

THE REGIONS WITH THE LONGEST AMBULANCE WAITS Wales (62 hrs 3 mins) East of England (24 hrs 54 mins) South East Coast (24 hrs 35 mins) South Central (24 hrs 19 mins) Yorkshire (23 hrs 59 mins) North East (23 hrs 55 mins) East Midlands (17 hrs 46 mins) Northern Ireland (17 hrs 39 mins) Isle of Wight (14 hrs 27 mins) London (14 hrs 26 mins) Scotland (14 hrs 17 mins) West Midlands (10 hrs 46 mins) South West (5 hrs 13 mins) North West (3 hrs 26 mins) Advertisement

An investigation found the Welsh Ambulance Service, which is controlled by the country's Labour government, has the longest delays of any NHS trust.

And ambulance trusts in the East of England, South East Coast and South Central regions of England also kept sick patients waiting more than 24 hours.

Freedom of Information requests by the BBC revealed the longest ambulance waits across the UK, with Wales bottom of the list and the North West the fastest.

But the trusts have insisted the longest delays were for 'less serious calls' that were bumped back due to ambulances responding to calls with a higher priority.

Calls for people in life-threatening or urgent conditions are prioritised, whereas those whose illness is less serious are kept waiting longer, officials say.

The new figures show that between 2015 and 2017 the total number of 999 calls for ambulances increased by 15 per cent.

In 2015, UK ambulance services received 8,892,346 calls  this number rose to 9,891,559 in 2016 and 10,242,507 in 2017.

Most trusts said they met the national target of responding to the most serious calls in an average of eight minutes or less.

Tragic grandfathers harrowing ordeal John Williams Grandfather John Williams died after waiting 23 hours for an ambulance and spent a further seven hours waiting in it before he was admitted to Morriston hospital, Swansea. His son Darren Williams 48, said his father might still be alive had he been admitted straight away after he was discovered by his wife semi-conscious after a fall in April. He was let down by the system, he said. Mr Williams, a retired antiques dealer from Gowerton, near Swansea, was admitted with a minor head injury but his condition worsened and he died on 7 April, leaving his wife, Diane, 77, two sons Darren and Leigh, and four grandchildren. Advertisement

A spokesperson for the Welsh Ambulance Service said: 'This is a case of the data not telling the full story.

'The challenges of the 2017/18 winter across the whole NHS system are well documented and we fully accept that a number of patients waited far longer than anyone would like.

'Similarly, we fully understand how distressing any wait for assistance can be.

'That said, these figures represent the extreme end of the waiting time spectrum and are neither typical nor do they explain the circumstances of these individual cases.'

The trust argues that people who were left waiting were not urgent cases and some were people simply waiting for a hospital transfer, and were being looked after while they waited.

Other waits may have been caused by bad weather but the NHS insists it does not ignore people who are calling for help.

'At the Welsh Ambulance Service, we take the care of our patients extremely seriously and have looked in detail at each of the cases to which these data refer,' the spokesperson added.

'Many of these are cases which involved hospital transfers where patients were safely in the care of medical teams.

'In other cases, extreme weather conditions had an inevitable impact on response times, but the majority of patients received support and advice from our clinical contact centre staff and clinicians in the interim.

'We continue to work hard to deliver the best possible service to our patients.

'While recognising that there is always more to do, we would like to reassure the public that cases with waits of this magnitude are highly unusual and are generally the result of a specific set of circumstances which is not always evident from the raw data.'

Patients' rights charity the Patients Association said the waits are concerning and that people are entitled to quality emergency care.

Lucy Watson, from the Patients Association, said: 'Everybody should be getting the services that they need.

'We know that demand has gone up on all health services as our population is getting older, and we need to see the level of investment increasing so our ambulances can respond in a timely way.'

An NHS spokesperson added: 'The NHS recently introduced an Ambulance Response Programme to help services continue to meet the significant increase in demand and ensure that the sickest patients receive the fastest response.

'An additional 36 million of funding recently announced will boost paramedic crews and improve the quality of NHS ambulance fleets.'

A parasitic illness that can cause strokes and heart failure is spreading across the US, doctors have warned.

Chagas disease is transmitted by an insect known as the 'kissing bug' because it tends to bite people's faces, near their mouths.

Many never shown signs that they've been infected with the disease, which is why it has earned the nickname of the 'silent killer'.

The disease has mostly been limited to Central and South America, but it has entered the States, sickening an estimated 300,000 Americans.

A statement released by the American Heart Association says that if US doctors don't become better at recognizing, diagnosing and treating Chagas disease, it could result in a devastating outbreak.

A parasitic illness that can cause strokes and heart failure has sickened 300,000 American ins 27 states and is spreading across the US, doctors have warned

Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which lives in the gut of bug that transmits the disease, the triatomine insect, which is also known as the 'kissing bug'.

However, the disease is not spread through the bug's bite, rather through its feces.

After the bugs feed on you, they tend to defecate. If the feces accidentally are rubbed into the wound or the eye, it can result in infection.

Chagas disease has two phases known as the acute phase and the chronic phase.

According to the CDC, the acute phase lasts for the first few weeks or months after the infection.

Despite a high number of parasites circulating in the blood, most symptoms are either mild or absent.

Such symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, rash, or swelling near the bite wound or where the feces were deposited or rubbed into the eye.

During this stage, there are a handful of anti-parasitic medications to treat Chagas with a 60 to 90 percent success rate, according to the AHA.

In the chronic stage, the parasites have entered the heart muscles and the digestive muscles.

About 30 percent will develop an enlarged heart, arrhythmias, or an enlarged esophagus and colon.

These can result in life-threatening complications including strokes or cardiac arrest.

Drugs won't cure Chagas during the chronic stage, but they can help slow down the disease's progression in those age 50 and under.

The CDC estimates that as many as eight million people in Mexico, Central America and South America have Chagas but are unaware of it.

But the statement from the AHA says that doctors outside of these areas are unaware of its existence or that it can lead to such fatal consequences.

They say it has become much more common in countries such as Italy, Spain, France, Japan, the UK and Australia, and that as many as 300,000 in the US are infected.

So far, 27 states, mostly in the south and the west, have reported cases, including Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Arizona and California - although cases have been spotted as far north as Pennsylvania.

The authors of the statement say that being vigilant is key to preventing a possible epidemic similar to our neighbors south of the bord

'Early detection of Chagas disease is critical, allowing prompt initiation of therapy when the evidence for cure is strong,' said co-author Dr Caryn Bern, a professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of California in San Francisco.Air pollution is shaving years off of the global life expectancy, a shocking new study has found.

Researchers found that in the US and UK, the life expectancy of someone born today would only be reduced by an average of four months, but it was far worse in other countries.

In nations plagued by air pollution, such as India and Egypt, this spiked to 1.5 years and almost two years, respectively.

Back in May, the World Health Organization singled out India's capital, New Dehli, and Egypt's capitol, Cairo, as the two worst polluted large cities in the world.

The team, from the University of Texas at Austin, says past research has focused on how many people are dying from air pollution but that this is the first time overall life expectancy has been studied.

Air pollution could be reducing our life expectancy by more than a year, a shocking new study has found. Pictured: A layer of pollution hovers above Los Angeles, October 2017

For the study, the team looked at outdoor air pollution from PM2.5, tiny particles that come from various sources including power plants, exhaust systems, airplanes, forest fires and dust storms.

Because of how small they are, PM2.5 particles stay in the air longer than heavy particles, increasing the risk of us inhaling them.

Additionally, due to their size, they can get deep into the lungs and potentially enter the circulatory system.

Studies have shown that exposure to fine particles can increase our risk of lung disease and heart disease as well as worsen chronic conditions including asthma and bronchitis.

Currently, the WHO estimates that, worldwide, seven million people die every year from exposure to such pollution with most deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries, chiefly in Africa and Asia.

The researchers used data from the Global Burden of Disease Study - which measures mortality due to diseases, injuries and risk factors - to look at PM2.5 air pollution exposure and its consequences in 185 countries.

Next, they looked at the life expectancy of each country as well as the global impact.

Findings showed that for the US and the UK, it shaved off an average of four months - but other countries saw it worse.

It cut the average Russian's life expectancy by nine months, and reduced it by one-and-a-half years in India and almost two years in Egypt.

In Egypt, the smog that appears over Cairo and surrounding cities is known as the 'black cloud', accounting for about 42 percent of the country's air pollution, according to the Egyptian Environment Ministry.

It comes from a number of factors including exhaust from cars, farmers piling and burning rice straw, and the absence of trees in the nation's capital.

In 2017, the United Nations Environment Programme issued a report stating that 40,000 people in Egypt had died from pollution.

When it came to calculating the global average, it was about a year.

'We know that air pollution kills people, weve known that for a while,' Dr Joshua Apte, an assistant professor in the department of population health at the University of Texas at Austin, told Daily Mail Online.

'The overall impact of air pollution is big and what we're doing is putting the health benefits of addressing air pollution into context.

'For example, it could lead to a life expectancy that's equivalent to or greater than curing certain import cancers like lung cancer and breast cancer.'

He added that the reason that cures of cancer have been studied more is that it is easier to quantify them.

'Identifying the impact of air pollution is difficult because you have to do large studies against a large population,' Dr Apte said.

'But a doctor can clearly see when it's cancer and identify it. It's easier to say "this person has cancer" than "this person is being sickened by air pollution".'

The upper panel shows how air pollution shortens human life expectancy around the world and the lower panel shows gains that could be made by reducing air pollution

Dr Apte added that for countries like India and China, which are more polluted, working on reducing airborne dust and smog has even greater benefits.

'In India and China, more polluted countries, if there was no air pollution today, 60-year-olds would have higher probability of living to age 85 or higher,' he said.

'That's a 15 to 20 percent chance of living longer. In more polluted countries, life expectancy is much lower and improving air pollution could help with that.'

In June, an essay by two Harvard scientists stated that environmental policy changes proposed by the Trump administration could lead to an extra 80,000 American deaths per decade.

David Cutler, a public-health economist, and Francesca Dominici, a biostatistician, wrote that rolling back the Clean Power Plan will lead to an estimated 36,000 deaths and a repeal of emission requirements for certain vehicles will lead to an estimated 14,000 deaths.

They argue that the changing policies could cause respiratory problems as well for more than one million people over a decade, many of them children.

The essay, which is not a formal-peer reviewed study, added to a growing debate about what many see as an assault by the Trump administration on policies regarding environmental health.Twitter bots and Russian trolls are fueling anti-vaccination conversations online, a new study reveals.

Most Americans recognize that vaccines are safe and critical to preventing disease outbreaks and protecting public health.

But since 2009, the proportion of so-called anti-vaxxers has increased notably in several parts of the country, and measles outbreaks are suddenly reappearing worldwide.

The debate over shots has become dramatically more heated and if social media activity were your measure, you might think that anti-vaxxers are winning.

In fact, anonymous spam bots and Russian trolls are behind an out-sized proportion of social media activity against vaccination, according to the revelatory study published today by George Washington University.

Twitter bots and Russian trolls are fueling heated online debates over vaccination as rates of shots fall and cases of once-eradicated diseases like measles rise, a new study reveals

And their automated stance on the question of vaccination may actually have little to do with beliefs about medicine. Instead, these bad actors may just be seizing on a hot topic to make money or, in the case of Russian accounts, sew discord.

Even if their intentions are divorced from medical concerns, their activity could - and may already - have dire consequences for public health.

'Social media has had a very important amplifying effect,' says Dr Peter Hotez, director of the Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine development, a vaccination advocate and father to an adult daughter with autism.

'Both Twitter and Facebook put on a lot of misinformation about these implausible scenarios in which vaccines cause autism.'

Strange things are happening in the world of infectious diseases.

In the first half of 2018 alone, there were 40,000 cases of measles in Europe - far exceeding the numbers for each full year of the last decade.

The viral infection was declared 'eradicated' in the US in 2000.

But suddenly 107 cases have cropped up since January.

'That's an absolute train wreck,' Dr Hotez says.

'And it's in keeping with the US rise of the anti-vaxxer movement.'

The 'movement' began in 1998, when now-discredited (and also now-boyfriend to actress Elle Macpherson) Dr Andrew Wakefield and his colleagues published a paper purportedly linking the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine to autism.

His research has been thoroughly and repeatedly debunked, but the fear and uproar it started has stayed in motion.

HOW HAS RUSSIA USED SOCIAL MEDIA TO INTERFERE WITH US POLITICS? Intelligence agencies have determined that Russia interfered in the 2016 elections. Fake Facebook and Twitter accounts were used to quickly spread disinformation. Bot accounts and Russian trolls posted messaging in favor of then-presidential hopeful Donald Trump during the election. Officials suspect these these accounts also stoked conversations about controversial topics in order to stoke division in the US. Yesterday, Facebook announced that it had removed 650 pages and groups that were spreading false information. Tuesday it claimed to have caught and ended Russian cyber attacks on conservative groups. A former Facebook executive has already warned that it is 'too late' to keep Russia and other malevolent parties from meddling in the 2018 elections. Advertisement

Now, it even has its own lobby, which has gained shocking traction in Texas and 17 other states where there are non-medical exemptions to state requirements for children to get the MMR vaccination.

And rates of unvaccinated children are rising in Texas, 12 other states and the country of Italy, which recently declared that the shot would no longer be mandatory.

The anti-vaxxer movement perhaps speaks loudest on social media platforms.

'Americans have a strong consensus regarding the safety and efficacy of vaccines,' based on slow but exact Pew Center polling data, says Dr David Broniatowski, lead author of the new study.

'However, if you look at social media you see a lot of anti-vaxxers, and that means that either the survey researchers aren't doing their jobs very well, or the other possibility is that the discourse on social media is being amplified'

His research points sharply at the latter.

Looking at tweets from July 2014 through September 2017, Dr Broniatowski and his team found that bots, content polluters (accounts designed to draw clicks and pull users toward malware) and Russian trolls were tweeting about vaccination, in general, far more than the average Twitter account-holder.

'So there is a large number of accounts out there tat are not representative of real people,' he explains.

'Bots and trolls mean that a small number of people can operate a large number of accounts and make it look like fringe opinions are actually mainstream,' he says.

Bots and content polluters tended to tweet mostly anti-vaccination statements, while the Russian trolls tweeted about both sides.

The Russian-backed trolls don't care so much whether or not Americans get vaccinated, Dr Hotez and Dr Broniatowski agree. They have a bigger goal in mind: sewing general discord.

'This clearly has very destabilizing effects,' says Dr Hotez.

'Who knows what the real motive is, but I would argue if the desire is to destabilize the trust in the government in the US and Europe, this would be an effective way to do it.'

But this conflict does trickle down more immediately to not only polarize groups, but dissuade them from getting vaccines.

'We have solid research that when you expose people to the vaccine debate, even though they may not necessarily agree, it does promote uncertainty and less trust in healthcare providers,' says Dr Broniatowski.

People exposed to the debate 'say they intend to get vaccinated, but they may delay, and once you have delays, it'sin that period that the population is still susceptible to disease, and that could lead to epidemics,' he adds.

'And those epidemics don't necessarily respect national boundaries.'A five-year-old girl who takes medical marijuana to treat her seizures has been allowed to attend her California school after a judge granted a temporary stay.

Brooke Adams, of Santa Rosa, suffers from a rare form of epilepsy that, when left untreated, can lead to seizures that last at least half an hour.

Her parents, Jana and Jonathan, say things began to change after she was prescribed new medication, a pill with medical cannabis oil.

But staff at Village Elementary School have refused to let her use the medication in classes despite California being one of 30 states where medical marijuana is legal, insisting state laws allow campuses to ban the substance.

Brooke Adams, five (left and right), of Santa Rosa, California, who takes medical marijuana to treat her seizures, has been allowed to attend kindergarten. She suffers from a severe, genetic form of epilepsy known as Dravet syndrome

Symptoms associated with Dravet syndrome include prolonged and frequent seizures, trouble with balance, delays in speech and language, sleeping issues and chronic infections. Pictured: Brooke

Dravet syndrome is a genetic, severe form of epilepsy that appears during the first year of life, according to the National Center for Advancing Translational Diseases.

The condition is rare, affecting one in about 15,700 children, 80 percent of whom have a mutation in their SCN1A gene.

Common symptoms associated with Dravet include prolonged and frequent seizures, trouble with balance, delays in speech and language, sleeping issues and chronic infections.

According to the Dravet Syndrome Foundation, patients face a 15 to 20 percent mortality rate due to SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy) and seizure-related incidents such as drowning, and infections.

There is no cure for Dravet, but treatments work to reduce the number of seizures with medications falling under the classification of first-line or second-line.

Brooke was diagnosed with the syndrome when she was just an infant.

Her father, Jonathan, told KGNS that her seizures would last at least half an hour and leave her parents so scared that they would call paramedics.

Doctors tried treating her with several different anti-seizure drugs, but they proved to be mostly ineffective.

When Brooke was one year old, her parents obtained a medical marijuana card and that's when they say her symptoms dramatically improved.

They say her seizures began happening less frequently and, when they did occur, were for shorter periods of time.

Currently, Brooke receives daily doses of cannabidiol (CBD) oil applied to her gums and emergency tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) oil when needed.

'With the emergency THC medicine, she pretty much just like, takes a nap, and she's back to normal,' Jonathan told NBC Bay Area.

Brooke was diagnosed with the syndrome when she was just an infant and her parents say she used to have seizures that lasted at least half an hour. Pictured: Brooke suffering a seizure

When Brooke was a year old, her parents obtained a medical marijuana card and they say both the duration and the frequency of her seizures shortened. Pictured: Brooke suffering a seizure

Currently, Brooke receives daily doses of cannabidiol (CBD) oil applied to her gums and emergency tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) oil when needed

Both THC and CBD, two of marijuana's main compounds, attach to receptors and block the transmission of pain signals; but how it works in epilepsy is not entirely understood.

Back in June, the FDA approved the use of an oral CBD solution called Epidiolex to treat Dravet syndrome and LennoxGastaut syndrome, another rare form of epilepsy, in patients age two and older.

But despite medical marijuana being legal in California, state law does not allow it within 1,000 feet of a school.

There is a bill that has been introduced in the state legislature that would allow children to take medicinal cannabis at school.

This law put the Adams family and the Rincon Valley Union School District head-to-head in a heated dispute.

'I think as a parent, you do whatever you can for your child,' Brooke's mother, Jana, told ABC 13.

'The cannabis is keeping her alive, so why wouldn't I want her to have it wherever she goes?'

The district says Brooke was not allowed to have the medication on campus citing the state law.

The attorneys representing the Adams family say this violates rules protecting disabled students.

'We absolutely want to serve this student. She's a wonderful student and a wonderful family,' Cathy Myhers, assistant superintendent at Rincon Valley Union School District told ABC 13.

'However, we have laws that dictate we can't have that medication on campus.'

But despite medical marijuana being legal in California, state law does not allow it within 1,000 feet of a school. In July, Judge Charles Marson issued a temporary stay, which allows Brooke (left and right) to attend class until he issues his final ruling

The final decision is expected to be issued in either September or October. Brooke's mother said that if the judge issues a ruling in favor of the school, she plans to appeal. Pictured: Brooke being administered the oil

Medical marijuana is legal in 30 states with Utah and Oklahoma both believed to be legalizing the drug by this November as public opinion of the drug becomes increasingly positive

In July, Judge Charles Marson issued a temporary stay, which allows Brooke to attend class until he issues his final ruling.

Under the order, a nurse is required to administer the medication if Brooke suffers a seizure in class.

The Adamses told NBC Bay Area that they've met with the nurse have taught her how to give Brooke her medication.

The final decision is expected to be issued in either September or October.

Jana told ABC 13 that if the judge issues a ruling in favor of the school, she plant sot appeal.

'It would be devastating for her to be able to start here and then have to pull her out and have her stay at home until we figure out what the next step would be,' she said.

Medical marijuana is legal in 30 states with Utah and Oklahoma both believed to be legalizing the drug by this November.

A 2017 poll from the Pew Research Center found that 61 percent of Americans support legalizing marijuana, nearly double the number from two decades ago in 2000.

Opinions of legalization differ by political party, with 70 percent of Democrats supporting it compared with 65 percent of Independents and just 43 percent of Republicans.

However, 90 percent of Americans support legalizing marijuana for medical use.We've been told a glass of red wine a week - or even a day - is harmless, if not beneficial, to our health.

But a new study by the University of Washington has found there is no safe level of alcohol - because the good sides (protecting against heart disease) are heavily outweighed by the downsides (a great swath of cancers).

Their study shows alcohol is responsible for 2.8 million deaths each year worldwide.

Knocking the figurative beers out of our hands, the researchers found that the only way to avoid alcohol-related health issues is to stop drinking altogether.

The new study by the University of Washington has found the good sides (protecting against heart disease) are heavily outweighed by the downsides (a great swath of cancers)

Globally, one in three people drink alcohol - the equivalent to 2.4 billion people, while 2.2 percent of women and 6.8 percent of men die from alcohol-related health problems each year.

Alcohol use was ranked as the seventh leading risk factor for premature death and disability worldwide in 2016, and was the leading cause for people aged 15 to 49.

In that age group it is associated with tuberculosis, road injuries, and self-harm.

For people aged 50 and older, cancers were a leading cause of alcohol-related death, constituting 27.1 percent of deaths in women and 18.9 percent of deaths in men.

Based on their analysis, researchers say there is no safe level of alcohol as beneficial effects against ischemic heart disease are outweighed by the adverse effects on other areas of health, particularly cancers.

The study, published in The Lancet, shows that alcohol is a leading risk factor for death and disease worldwide, and is associated with nearly one in 10 deaths in people aged 15 to 49.

The researchers estimated levels of alcohol use and health effects in 195 countries between 1990 and 2016.

They calculated that drinking one alcoholic drink a day for a year - such as a small glass of red wine, a can or bottle of beer, or a shot of whiskey or other spirit - increases the risk of developing one of 23 alcohol-related health problems by 0.5 percent in those aged 15 to 95, compared with not drinking at all.

The figure increased to seven per cent in people who drank two drinks a day and 37 percent in people who drank five drinks every day for a year.

Study lead author Dr Max Griswold of the University of Washington said: 'Previous studies have found a protective effect of alcohol on some conditions, but we found that the combined health risks associated with alcohol increase with any amount of alcohol.

'In particular, the strong association between alcohol consumption and the risk of cancer, injuries, and infectious diseases offset the protective effects for ischemic heart disease in women in our study.

'Although the health risks associated with alcohol starts off being small with one drink a day, they then rise rapidly as people drink more.

'Policies focusing on reducing alcohol consumption to the lowest levels will be important to improve health.

'The widely held view of the health benefits of alcohol needs revising, particularly as improved methods and analyses continue to shed light on how much alcohol contributes to global death and disability.'

The researchers used figures from 694 previous studies to estimate how common drinking alcohol is worldwide and used 592 studies including 28 million people to study the health risks associated with alcohol between 1990 to 2016 in 195 countries.

They combined alcohol sales data with the prevalence of alcohol drinking and abstinence, self-reported data on the amount of alcohol drank, tourism data to estimate the number of alcohol-drinking visitors to an area, and estimating levels of illicit trade and home brewing.

The researchers found that, on average, each day women consumed 0.73 alcoholic drinks, and men drank 1.7 drinks.

The highest number of current alcohol drinkers was in Denmark while the lowest were in Pakistan for men (0.8 percent) and Bangladesh for women (0.3 percent).

Men in Romania and women in Ukraine drank the most, 8.2 and 4.2 drinks a day respectively.

Globally, drinking alcohol was the seventh leading risk factor for premature death and disease in 2016.

The researchers found that there was only a protective effect between alcohol and ischemic heart disease, and there were possible protective effects for diabetes and ischemic stroke but they were not statistically significant.

The risk of developing all other health problems increased with the number of alcoholic drinks consumed each day.

Comparing no drinks with one drink a day the risk of developing one of the 23 alcohol-related health problems was 0.5 percent higher  meaning 914 people in 100,000 aged 15 to 95 would develop a condition if they did not drink, but 918 people in 100,000 who drank one alcoholic drink a day would develop an alcohol-related health problem in a year.

The figure increased to seven per cent in people who drank two drinks a day or 977 in 100,000, and 37 per cent in people who drank five drinks every day or 1,252 in 100,000.

Senior author Dr Emmanuela Gakidou of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation added: 'Alcohol poses dire ramifications for future population health in the absence of policy action today.

'Our results indicate that alcohol use and its harmful effects on health could become a growing challenge as countries become more developed, and enacting or maintaining strong alcohol control policies will be vital.

'Worldwide we need to revisit alcohol control policies and health programs, and to consider recommendations for abstaining from alcohol.

'These include excise taxes on alcohol, controlling the physical availability of alcohol and the hours of sale, and controlling alcohol advertising.

'Any of these policy actions would contribute to reductions in population-level consumption, a vital step toward decreasing the health loss associated with alcohol use.'

Dr Robyn Burton, of King's College London, described the study as the most comprehensive estimate of the global burden of alcohol to date.

'The conclusions of the study are clear and unambiguous: alcohol is a colossal global health issue and small reductions in health-related harms at low levels of alcohol intake are outweighed by the increased risk of other health-related harms, including cancer,' Dr Burton said.

'There is strong support here for the guideline published by the Chief Medical Officer of the UK who found that there is 'no safe level of alcohol consumption.'

'The findings have further ramifications for public health policy, and suggest that policies that operate by decreasing population-level consumption should be prioritized.

'The solutions are straightforward: increasing taxation creates income for hard-pressed health ministries, and reducing the exposure of children to alcohol marketing has no downsides.'WUTHERING HEIGHTS by Emily Bronte (Macmillan 9.99, 416 pp)

WUTHERING HEIGHTS

by Emily Bronte (Macmillan 9.99, 416 pp)

Two hundred years ago, the enigmatic Emily Bronte was born. Her only novel, everyones favourite depiction of obsessive passion, still sells in its thousands.

This gorgeous, gilt-edged pocket edition will transport you to the desolate moors of Yorkshire, where the doomed love of two wild teenagers, Cathy and Heathcliff, leads to death, disaster and the transformation of Heathcliff into a sadistic fiend.

Battle past the tricky bits written in dialect, and rhapsodic lines such as: Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same! will set your spine a-tingle. So will the ghost hand tapping on the window, and the two tormented lost souls for ever haunting the windswept moors. Chills and fever. Bliss.

FROST IN MAY by Antonia White (Virago 9.99, 224 pp)

FROST IN MAY

by Antonia White (Virago 9.99, 224 pp)

Based on Whites convent boarding school days, this deeply moving novel describes the subtle cruelty and humiliations endured by student Nanda.

Despite being a new convert and considered inferior to the schools aristocratic-born Catholic pupils, Nanda plunges avidly into the claustrophobic, all-female ethos of censored letters and books, sacred rituals and self-abasement.

She makes a vow of virginity having no idea what virginity is, her normal adolescent responses are quashed, and a penance is to sprinkle salt on her stewed fruit.

Despite the torments, Nanda surprisingly experiences moments of great happiness, but the cloying smell of beeswax and incense stays in the nostrils long after you finish reading.

THE TIME MACHINE by H. G. Wells (Legend 8.99, 112 pp)

THE TIME MACHINE

by H. G. Wells (Legend 8.99, 112 pp)

A fusty old professor, literatures first Time Traveller, invents a machine and spins into the extremely distant future  to the Thames Valley, in fact  to find beautiful, small, childlike beings surrounded by flowers, butterflies, laughter, singing and dancing.

No old people, no invalids, no sex; they eat only fruit and crowd into communal halls to sleep.

Its almost paradise  but why do they dread the dark? And who are the pallid, pink-eyed, nocturnal, ape-like creatures who scuttle down vast shafts containing throbbing machinery? Our TT concludes that the Upper-world (Eloi) and the Under-world (Morlocks) lead separate lives until  horror alert  the latter need meat. A sci-fi classic.HISTORY

SAVING MONA LISA

by Gerri Chanel (Icon 20, 400 pp)

Reading Hamlet at school, I was taught that the delaying habit is a bad one. This new book, about how the Louvres priceless treasures were protected during the German occupation of France in World War II, utterly contradicts that theory.

It was through the delaying tactics of a self-effacing civil servant called Jacques Jaujard that the precious objects we most associate with the Louvre  the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, the French crown jewels, as well as thousands of other items  were saved from destruction through bombing or damp.

He also stopped them from being spirited away by the Nazis to Hitlers hometown of Linz, where his plan was to create a massive Fuhrermuseum stocked with fabulous works of art.

Jaujard, with his slicked-back dark hair, chiselled cheeks and thoughtful face, is the hero of this fascinating story.

A new book reveals how Jacques Jaujard worked out a modus vivendi with the Nazis of civil co-existence which helped him to oversee the evacuation of Louvres treasures including the Mona Lisa (pictured being returned to Louvre in 1945) during World War II. He was able to protect thousands of cultural masterpieces from destruction

He knew the only way to deal with the Nazis was to talk to them nicely and seem to go along with what they were demanding, while taking a long time to respond to them and never quite getting round to filling in their horrible forms.

In short, he worked out a modus vivendi of civil co-existence  not to be confused with collaboration.

Thanks to careful planning, in August and September 1939, Jaujard (who was deputy director of the Musees Nationaux) managed to oversee the evacuation of the Louvres treasures out of Paris, as if they were his own precious children.

Lovingly wrapped and bundled into vans in the dead of night, they were taken to various chateaux in the south and west of France  many of them travelling on clogged roads full of terrified refugees fleeing the Nazi advance.

Some paintings were too precious to roll up. Gericaults 22ft-wide The Raft Of The Medusa contained bitumen in the paint, which never fully dries, so it had to be transported upright on a theatrical scenery trailer which crashed through the overhead trolley cables as it passed by Versailles town hall.

At its best, this is a story of the inhabitants of a humiliated country doing all in their power to preserve their nations cultural heritage.

Quietly, the Louvres curators worked day and night to protect the priceless items in their care.

Kind dukes lent their houses for the duration of the war, keeping a wing for their families to live in and giving up the other rooms to lorry-loads of treasures.

Jaujard was able to delay transporting the Louvre's treasures (pictured being returned in 1945) enough to stop the Nazi's final attempts of grabbing them in 1944

The Mona Lisa, wrapped inside its padded wooden crate, spent the war years nearly 400 miles from Paris in a sunny upstairs room in Montauban.

At any hint of danger from damp, bombing, or any suspicious Germans looking for Jews or Resistance members, artworks had to be removed to even more remote areas.

Terrified the Allies might start bombing some of the chateaux, the curators managed to get messages out to the Resistance, who passed them to the BBC. It, in turn, broadcast coded statements such as Van Dyck thanks Fragonard and The Mona Lisa is smiling, to show that the message had been received.

The black-and-white photographs in this book are worthy of an art exhibition in themselves. As well as evocative pictures of Frenchmen in berets heaving artworks about with ropes, theres one of Hermann Goring, hugely fat in a black overcoat, eyeing the artworks he lusted after.

How long would it take to see all of Louvres treasures? 100 Days it would take to see every piece in the Louvre for 30 seconds each Advertisement

They did have a thing for naked thighs, those male Nazis. Goring was particularly keen on the early 16th-century sculpture La Belle Allemande (a naked woman with long tresses by German sculptor Gregor Erhart), while Ribbentrop had his eye on Bouchers Diana Leaving Her Bath, her fleshy thighs very much to the fore.

Jaujard did all he could to prevaricate with Goring, but he was hampered by the appalling personage of Abel Bonnard, the French education minister and a collaborator more Nazi than the Nazis, who smoothed the path for their requests.

So, La Belle Allemande and a medieval altarpiece made their way to Gorings lavish Norse-style country palace in Germany, where he would receive guests dressed as an Indian maharaja or in mock-medieval hunting costume.

At the end of the war, those two treasures were found gathering damp and grime in a bunker in Germany, where they had been stashed by Goring in a hurry.

In early 1944, the Nazis tried to make a final grab for Frances most precious artworks, sensing they were losing the war. But Jaujard fussed just enough about the lack of appropriate vans to move the artworks eastwards that soon it was too late  the Allies had landed.

SAVING MONA LISA by Gerri Chanel (Icon 20, 400 pp)

But for these tactics, the Mona Lisa may also have ended up in an abandoned bunker. Instead, we have a photo of it at the end of the war, intact, being unwrapped at the Louvre. It was re-exhibited as soon as July 1945.

Of course, appalling looting and destruction of artworks did take place in France. Jewish homes were stripped of their treasures, and in 1943, the Nazis slashed and burned more than 500 masterpieces classed as degenerate, including works by Picasso and Klee.

Jaujard was powerless to stop that. But when it came to his kingdom of the Louvre, bad damage was done to only a single item. In May 1945, a German prisoner, corralled in the Louvre courtyard, heard gunshots and, in a desperate attempt to find a hiding place in its case, tore to pieces a 4,500-year-old Egyptian mummy.The proposed flotation of Saudi Aramco was billed as the centrepiece of reforming Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans modernisation programme for the oil kingdom.

Now in the midst of the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, the 1.6trillion initial public offering is on hold. There will be great gnashing of teeth on Wall Street and the City, which lead the push for this share quote.

Head of the Financial Conduct Authority Andrew Bailey twisted himself in knots to create rules allowing the shares to come to the London Stock Exchange. Prime Minister Theresa May went to Riyadh to lobby for some of the action and appointed banker Sir Ken Costa as adviser.

Aramco listing: 'Investment bankers, lawyers and other advisers dreamt of fees of up to 1billion and fabulous bonuses to follow'

Investment bankers, lawyers and other advisers dreamt of fees of up to 1billion and fabulous bonuses to follow.

It is my understanding that the more deeply the investment bankers, lawyers and auditors dug into Saudi Aramcos affairs the more agitated Saudi officials became.

Disclosure is not part of the countrys culture, and the oil company and state were too enmeshed to separate. Difficulty in getting hard numbers, particularly on the countrys enormous reserves, meant the valuation was falling short of what MBS, as the Crown Prince is called, wanted.

Instead, the Gulf power is leaning towards a domestic alliance with petrochemicals company Saudi Basic Industries which could eventually provide some kind of free float in Riyadh.

Western bankers, like the Grand Old Duke of York, have been marched to the top of the sand dune only to be brought down with a rude bump.

Spoiled fruit

The unbending boss of Persimmon, Jeff Fairburn, and his fellow fat cat executives doubtless are indulging in some backslapping having reported this week that the York-based housebuilder made 516million of profits in the first sixth months and could be guiding the company past the 1billion landmark by year-end.

If reflective, Fairburn and his claque might wonder if they are deserving of the rewards which have turned the chief executive into Yorkshires very own plutocrat.

Fairburn was the highest earing FTSE100 boss in the last year, with a 47.1million package of pay and bonuses, a down payment on his personal bonus of 75million. This was cut back from a potential eye-watering 131million after a run-in with shareholders.

As pay analyst Simon Patterson of Pearl Meyer has signalled on a model based around FTSE100 bosses pay, Fairburn, despite glorifying his own success, is poor value for money.

What is particularly disturbing about Fairburn is that he doesnt appear to recognise the shadow he has cast over the whole housing industry and the way in which he is betraying free market capitalism with obdurate behaviour. Some 60 per cent of Persimmon sales are not based on any special skill but a huge taxpayer subsidy in the shape of the Help to Buy scheme.

All that has achieved is to lift the premium of new-build homes above existing properties. It also has handed cash to buyers who dont need it rather than those first-time buyers in search of affordable homes. Most galling is that Persimmon and its overpaid executives, wallowing in some 300million of bonus wealth, arent even doing a good job except for themselves.

Some of what they build is shoddy, as HGV driver Mike Firth found when he took possession of his 220,000 new home in Castleford, West Yorkshire.

It was riddled with problems, ranging from poorly laid bricks to a leaky shower.

Some workers on Persimmon sites have been found to be on rates below the real living wage.

Persimmon also has been selling homes with escalating ground rents.

That is a means for the company to exploit hard-pressed home buyers for cash in perpetuity. Such unscrupulous behaviour by Fairburn and his cohorts is a stain on a housing industry entrusted with delivering a public good.

Debs delight

Hearty congrats to Rachel Osborne on landing the finance directors job at Debenhams with a potential pay packet of 1.4million.

As an executive who has found it hard to hang on to most of her jobs for more than a year or so, the latest roll of the dice will feel like passing Go on the Monopoly board.

Nice work.Plans for the worlds largest stock market float have been axed  dealing a major blow to the UK Government and the London Stock Exchange.

Saudi Arabia has ditched proposals to list shares in state oil giant Aramco in a deal that could have valued it at 1.6trillion.

Advisers have been disbanded with a Saudi source telling Reuters: The decision to call off the initial public offering (IPO) was taken some time ago, but no-one can disclose this, so statements are gradually going that way  first delay then calling off.

Saudi Arabia has ditched proposals to list shares in state oil giant Aramco on LSE

It is a huge disappointment for the Government, which had been desperate for the listing to take place in the UK in what would have been a major boost for post-Brexit Britain and the LSE.

London was locked in a battle with New York and Hong Kong for a slice of the business, with both Theresa May and Donald Trump joining the fight.

Prime Minister May personally lobbied Saudi oil minister Khalid al-Falih last April, while the Government also enlisted former Lazard International chairman and investment banking guru Sir Ken Costa to try and make it happen.

The Financial Conduct Authority even changed stock exchange rules to allow sovereign companies to float less than 25 per cent, triggering fury over what was seen as a blatant attempt to woo the Saudis  who only wanted to float 5 per cent  at the expense of smaller investors.

The collapse also rips away a 1billion fees bonanza for lawyers, bankers and advisers.

Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman kicked off major excitement when he announced the float in 2016, saying he hoped it could take place in late 2018. He wanted to drum up funds to make the Saudi economy less dependent on oil as part of a modernisation drive.

It kicked off a battle among stock exchanges vying for the lucrative and prestigious listing, with New York and London soon emerging as frontrunners.

President Trump made a public pitch for the business to list in New York in November last year

President Trump made a public pitch for the business in November last year, saying on Twitter: Would very much appreciate Saudi Arabia doing their IPO of Aramco with the New York Stock Exchange. Important to the United States!

London was thought to have an edge over New York because of concerns the US was more litigious and the prospect of lawsuits over the 9/11 terror attacks.

Aramco has been under government control since it was nationalised in the 1970s, but going public would give investors and regulators the chance to look under the bonnet like never before.

In April sources told Reuters that an audit of its oil reserves as part of the preparation for its IPO had found it had reserves of at least 270billion barrels - higher than the 260.8billion it had reported in 2016 review.

However, doubts started to emerge about the float, with little progress made towards the end of last year. Saudi Arabia is now shifting its attention to a proposed acquisition of a strategic stake in local petrochemicals maker Saudi Basic Industries Corp, sources last night said.

Industry experts questioned whether the 1.6trillion valuation predicted by the prince was realistic, instead hindering the process of preparing the IPO for the advisers.

One senior financial adviser said: The IPO has been called off for the foreseeable future.State-owned oil giant Saudi Aramco has denied reports it has axed plans to float 5 per cent of its business in a $1.6trillion deal.

On Wednesday, Reuters reported that Saudi Aramco had cancelled its partial flotation plans to focus on a proposed acquisition of a stake in a local petrochemicals maker.

But, Khalid al-Falih, Saudi Aramco's chairman and Saudi Arabia energy minister, said: 'The government remains committed to the initial public offering of Saudi Aramco at a time of its own choosing when conditions are optimum.'

Going ahead: State-owned oil giant Saudi Aramco has denied reports it axed plans to float 5 per cent of its business

He added: 'The timing will depend on multiple factors, including favourable market conditions, and a downstream acquisition which the company will pursue in the next few months, as directed by its board of directors.'

Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets UK, said: 'Todays news that the Saudi Aramco IPO has been put back hasnt come as too much of a surprise given the difficulties that the float has encountered in gaining an overseas listing.

'Even without the difficulties of a 5 per cent stake being below the free float requirement for London and concerns about litigation in New York, the valuation of $2trn was on the rich side given that any prospective shareholder would have absolutely no say in the corporate governance of the company.

'This IPO looks dead in the water from an international point of view, whatever the Saudis would have us believe publicly.'

The flotation was originally expected to take place in the second-half of this year, but in March, Mr al-Falih delayed the IPO to the second quarter of 2019.

Speaking out: Khalid al-Falih is Saudi Aramco's chairman and Saudi Arabia energy minister

London is among several major financial centres hoping to host the potential flotation, along with New York and Hong Kong.

City regulators had gone to great lengths to lure Saudi Aramco to London for the flotation, and courted controversy along the way.

Prime Minister Theresa May personally lobbied Saudi oil minister Khalid al-Falih last April, while the Government also enlisted former Lazard chairman and investment banking guru Sir Ken Costa to try and make it happen.

The Financial Conduct Authority went as far as to create a new category that allows sovereign-controlled companies to sidestep some of the requirements for premium listings on the London Stock Exchange.

Crucial meeting: US President Donald Trump with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

The regulator's attempt to cater to big state-owned businesses drew criticism from industry groups, including the Institute of Directors.

In the US, President Trump made a public pitch for the business in November last year, saying on Twitter: Would very much appreciate Saudi Arabia doing their IPO of Aramco with the New York Stock Exchange. Important to the United States!

But, London was thought to have an edge over New York because of concerns the US was more litigious and the prospect of lawsuits over the 9/11 terror attacks.iStock/Thinkstock(SANTA CLARA, Calif.) -- Santa Clara County Fire Chief, Anthony Bowden, said fire teams were hampered in their work battling the recent California wildfires by Verizons intentional slowdown of data, despite the fact that the fire department had an "unlimited data plan."



Bowden detailed the situation as part of the lawsuit filed by 22 states and the District of Columbia that challenges the Federal Communications Commissions repeal of net neutrality rules, which prevented internet service providers from purposely slowing the data, called "throttling," and blocking or discriminating against users, platforms or content providers.



In the declaration, Bowden said internet systems are important "in providing fire and emergency response, particularly for events like large fires which require rapid deployment and organization" of personnel, resources and equipment.



The lawsuit referred to Santa Clara County Fires testimony as evidence of the Commissions failure to consider the "serious risk" that the reversal of net neutrality poses on public safety.



"County Fire has experienced throttling by its ISP, Verizon," the declaration read, adding that the speed was reduced to 1/200th of its expected performance.



In a statement, Verizon admitted to mistakes in communicating the terms of the plan to the fire department, but also said the situation "has nothing to do with net neutrality or the current proceeding in court."



Bowden detailed how the data throttling affected their ability to provide timely responses and coordination in the midst of the massive wildfires, which included the largest ongoing wild fire in California history, the Mendocino Complex Fire. As they fought the fire, the department deployed a unit called OES Incident Support Unit 5262 to "track, organize and prioritize routing of resources from around the state and country to the sites where they are most needed," Bowden said.



In order to perform these functions, Bowden said in the declaration, the unit relies heavily on specialized software and Google documents to track and deploy resources through cloud computing over the Internet, exchanging 5 to 10 GB of data each day.



He added that incorrect or delayed deployment of resources in these situations could lead to the loss of property or even loss of life.



On top of that, the data restriction was so severe that routine and basic digital functions were "rendered useless," Captain Bill Murphy, Santa Clara County Fire public information officer, told ABC News.



"It was so slow you couldnt perform basic work or communicate through email," he said, which led some crew members to resort to using their personal devices.



When the issue started, Bowden said the department immediately reached out to Verizon, but were told that they would need to upgrade to a new data plan that's twice as expensive before the data slowdown would be lifted.



"Like all customers, fire departments choose service plans that are best for them. This customer purchased a government contract plan for a high-speed wireless data allotment at a set monthly cost. Under this plan, users get an unlimited amount of data but speeds are reduced when they exceed their allotment until the next billing cycle," according to Verizon's statement.



Although the issue was eventually resolved, Murphy said the larger concern lies in public safety.



"If the public experienced similar data throttling and is unable to access information or instructions during an emergency it could be dangerous," Murphy told ABC News. He said that's why the fire department joined the lawsuit.



Verizon did admit to a "customer service mistake" in not making an exception to allow the fire department higher speed because it was an emergency.



"Regardless of the plan emergency responders choose, we have a practice to remove data speed restrictions when contacted in emergency situations. We have done that many times, including for emergency personnel responding to these tragic fires. In this situation, we should have lifted the speed restriction when our customer reached out to us. This was a customer support mistake. We are reviewing the situation and will fix any issues going forward," the Verizon statement read.



The fire chief said the team was not able to carry out its plans as effectively as it should have been.



"Youre there to perform what is an important piece of coordination effort," and to not be able to do that was "frustrating" for everyone, Murphy said.

Copyright  2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.Ryanair has reached an agreement with pilot union Forsa following a lengthy dispute over conditions, base transfers, promotions and annual leave at the airline.

The proposed agreement will now be balloted by members with the union recommending that it is accepted.

Earlier this month, it was revealed that around 100,000 Ryanair passengers had been affected by cabin crew and pilots striking across Europe.

In a statement Forsa said: 'Following a 22-hour negotiating session, which began on Wednesday morning and concluded Thursday morning, agreement has been reached between Forsa and Ryanair in the pilots' dispute.

Agreement: Ryanair has reached an agreement with pilot union Forsa following a lengthy dispute

'The proposed agreement will now go to ballot, with a recommendation for acceptance from Forsa and its Ryanair pilot representatives.

'The union has been asked by facilitator Kieran Mulvey to make no public comment while the ballot is conducted.'

As news of the agreement broke, Ryanair's share price increased and is currently up 6.39 per cent to 13.99.

A spokesman for the airline said: 'Ryanair confirmed that overnight it had reached agreement with Forsa union and its Irish pilots' committee on behalf of Republic of Ireland-based pilots.

'Ryanair will take these proposals to its board in due course after the Irish-based pilots have voted on this signed agreement.

'The mediator, Kieran Mulvey, has asked both sides to refrain from further comment until the ballot has concluded and we will respect his wishes.'

On the up: Ryanair's share price increased over 6% in early morning trading

Twitter storm: Angry customers accused Ryanair of sending cheques which bounced

Commenting on today's proposed agreement, Neil Wilson, chief market analyst at Markets.comm, said: 'The likelihood is that remaining pilot union concerns will be resolved fairly quickly following this agreement.

'We also note that cabin crew disputes may not be as easily resolved, although the implication is that Ryanair is willing to engage with third-party mediators to square away these kind of disagreements.

'Indeed it shows a new and not inconsiderable resolve by management to end the strikes, but it does not suggest the core thesis - that unionisation will result in higher labour costs and lower margins  is fundamentally wrong. It does though remove a significant overhang for investors.

'Shares rose by around 5.5 per cent to trade at 13.88 and this end of the labour dispute could mark a bottom for the stock, which has had a torrid year falling c30 per cent, as it removes a large degree of uncertainty for investors.'

The dispute resulted in five days of strike action by about 100 of Ryanair's 350 Irish-based pilots.

Ryanair has cancelled 600 flights that were due to fly this week but says the majority of European customers are not affected.

In July, 300 Ryanair flights were cancelled when cabin crews in Belgium, Portugal and Spain went on strike for 48 hours.

Amid Ryanair's turbulent summer, angry customers took to Twitter claiming their compensation cheques from the airline had bounced.

Ryanair said the cheques had been re-issued to customers with a letter of explanation on August 15.Three people have been injured in an explosion and fire that destroyed a coffee shop in rural Georgia Friday.

Shocking video shows the moment the blast rocked the small town of Homerville, a city of about 2,500 people, shortly after noon.

Investigators determined a construction crew installing fiber optic cable had ruptured an underground gas line, causing natural gas to leak into a sewer line connected to the coffee shop, said Glenn Allen, spokesman for Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner Ralph Hudgens.

'Inside the shop gas built up in the kitchen area and there was a spark, resulting in the explosion,' Allen said late Friday.

The aftermath of the explosion that destroyed coffee shop in Homerville, Georgia Friday

Allen said the explosion and a resulting fire destroyed the small, single-story building that housed Coffee Corner.

A photograph taken by an investigator at the scene showed the building's roof had partially collapsed.

The footage captures the explosion as light fittings fall from the ceiling and roof beams collapse.

Walls were blown apart, with bricks scattered in the parking lot and piled atop two cars parked beside the shop.

Two employees and a customer were the only people inside the coffee shop when it exploded, Allen said.

The calm before the storm: Surveillance video shows three people inside the coffee shop just moments before the explosion

The three people insider were airlifted to the hospital and treated for burns and other serious injuries

They were airlifted to Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Florida, with 'burns and other serious injuries,' he said.

Homerville is located roughly 30 miles from the Georgia-Florida line. Officials used the city's Facebook page to urge residents Friday to stay away, referring only to 'issues within the downtown area.'

'First responders and all other crews need the area to be as free of traffic as possible in order to get their jobs done,' the city's Facebook post said.

Nan Mikell, Homerville's city manager, did not immediately return phone and email messages.Flight Centre has hit back at claims they 'mark up' prices to take advantage of customers.

Dozens of current and former staff alleged the Australian travel franchise encouraged them to gouge customers to increase the company profit margin, an ABC 7.30 investigation, which aired on Tuesday night revealed.

The investigation also claimed the base wage for some Flight Centre travel consultants was $33,500 before tax and commission, which has attracted the attention of the The Fair Work Ombudsman.

In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, Flight Centre strongly denied and expressed its disappointment about allegations being made public made about culture, pay and conditions; and margin/mark-ups.

'I don't want to go to work every day and look someone in the eye and lie to them,' former Flight Centre consultant Renee Olofsson (pictured)

The claims have prompted the company to move to simpler and easier-to-understand pay model which it's currently doing via an Enterprise Bargaining Agreement.

Former staff alleged they were encouraged by the company to 'mark up' travel experiences for customers to earn commission on top of their base wage.

Former Flight Centre consultant Renee Olofsson said the tactic made her 'physically sick'.

'It definitely wasn't hinted at. It was, ''this is how we operate. This is how you make money'',' the former consultant told the ABC.

'It wasn't so much the money. It was, I don't want to go to work every day and look someone in the eye and lie to them.'

Former Flight Centre employee Olivia Little (pictured) claims she earned a base wage which was $500 a week plus commission

Her claims were echoed by former consultant Olivia Little, who remains haunted by her year working at Flight Centre, where she earned a base wage which roughly was $500 a week plus commission.

'Say the flight was $1,500  they would mark-up and say 'oh the flight is $1,800'. Or if it's a huge business class flight they would mark up a couple of thousand. It's not like a secret thing. You get taught it basically,' she said.

Ms Little claimed she racked up a significant credit card debt which she's still paying off and borrowed money from her parents because she could barely live on her Flight Centre wage.

Flight Centre (pictured) has denied and hit back at allegations by current and former travel consultants that they were encouraged to gouge customers

Other staff alleged they carried the cost of the company's 'Lowest Airfares Guarantee' offer.

A former employee claimed to the ABC that the company culture was 'very culty', a term used in reviews by former employees on the employment review website Glassdoor.

The website also has reviews slamming Flight Centre's pay and conditions.

'Fun but hard work to make a decent wage,' one former employee claimed.

Many former Flight Centre employees have taken to the employment review website Glassdoor to express their frustrations. Pictured is one review posted

Another employment website, Seek has similar reviews.

'Drains the life out of you - not worth the low salary,' a former assistant manager wrote.

Flight Centre has started negotiations with staff over a new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement, which is in its early days.

The ABC obtained a video message from Flight Centre to staff about the new pay agreement.

'Very exciting that we could end up with our very own agreement that really will suit everyone much better' the video says.

'This way we can assure together with you we can design the pay and condition model that maintains our awesome culture, amazing incentives and benefits.'

In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, Flight Centre (pictured) strongly denied and expressed its disappointment about allegations being made public about its culture, pay and conditions; and margin/mark-ups, which aired on the ABC on Tuesday night

A Flight Centre spokesman told Daily Mail Australia that the company had a very strong and positive culture and strongly denied staff were paid below award levels or required to pay the cost of price beats.

'It's disappointing that these allegations have been aired publicly but it has also highlighted the need to move to simpler and easier-to-understand pay model, which is what we are doing currently via an Enterprise Bargaining Agreement,' he said.

'The EBA is reliant on us ensuring that our people are better off overall and we have already made this commitment to them.'

There are many negative reviews of Flight Centre on employment review website Glassdoor

He added the company 'strongly believes in a fair margin', which is monitored proactively.

'Our margin information is publicly available and it does not support claims that either excessive marking up is taking place or that it is happening more frequently,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

The Australian Services Union said it was 'currently in discussions with Flight Centre, where we aim to significantly improve workers pay and conditions and bring about significant change'.

It expressed concerned about the unreasonable expectations and pressure placed on workers and says it raised the issues previously with the Fair Work Ombudsman.Hawaii residents emptied store shelves Wednesday, claimed the last sheets of plywood to board up windows and drained gas pumps as Hurricane Lane churned toward the state.

The category 4 storm could slam into the islands Thursday with winds exceeding 100 mph, making it the most powerful storm to hit Hawaii since Hurricane Iniki in 1992.

The National Weather Service said a hurricane warning was issued for Maui County, the Big Island and Oahu and hurricane watch was in effect for Kauai.

U.S. Navy ships and submarines based in Hawaii have been instructed to leave port to avoid damage

The hurricane was about 305 miles south of Kailua-Kona and moving northwest toward other islands.

This image provided by NASA on Wednesday, August 22, 2018 shows Hurricane Lane as seen from the International Space Station

Empty shelves of a supermaket are seen as residents of Oahu are re-stocking their water and non-perishable food supplies as preparation for the looming threat of Hurricane Lane in Oahu, Hawaii, on Wednesday

Loren, right, and Ruby Aquino, of Honolulu, load water into their car ahead of Hurricane Lane, Wednesday, August 22, 2018 in Honolulu. Hurricane Lane has weakened as it approaches Hawaii but was still expected to pack a wallop, forecasters said Wednesday

People stand in a line waiting to fill up propane tanks at a local hardware store on Wednesday in Honolulu

Aly Klein, right, and her mother Clarice Klein walks out of a local hardware store with several buckets of hurricane supplies on Wednesday

Meteorologist Chevy Chevalier said winds slowed overnight from 160mph to 155mph, prompting a downgrade of the hurricane from a Category 5 to a Category 4.

He added it may diminish to a Category 3 by Thursday afternoon but that would still be a major hurricane.

Mr Chevalier said that by early Friday, the hurricane is forecast to be a Category 2 with winds up to 110mph and the centre located west of Hawaii Island and south of Honolulu.

'We expect it to gradually weaken as it gets closer to the islands,' he said.

'That being said, on our current forecast, as of the afternoon on Thursday, we still have it as a major hurricane.'

With winds to 130 mph, the hurricane could cause catastrophic damage.

Unlike Florida or Texas, where residents can get in their cars and drive hundreds of miles to safety, people in Hawaii are confined to the islands and can't outrun the powerful winds and driving rain.

Around 5pm Wednesday, Hurricane Lane weakened as it approached Hawaii but was still expected to pack a wallop

A handout image from NASA shows a satellite image with overlay from the GPM core satellite that passed over Hurricane Lane when it was a Category 5 hurricane in the Central Pacific Ocean, near Hawaii, on Wednesday

Instead, they must stay put and make sure they have enough supplies to outlast prolonged power outages and other potential emergencies.

'Everyone is starting to buckle down at this point,' said Christyl Nagao of Kauai. 'Our families are here. We have businesses and this and that. You just have to man your fort and hold on tight.'

Living in an isolated island state also means the possibility that essential goods can't be shipped to Hawaii if the storm shuts down ports.

'You're stuck here and resources might not get here in time,' Nagao said.

The Big Island was already starting to see Lane's first effects Wednesday, Gov. David Ige said at a news conference.

The hurricane's outer rain bands were bringing showers to some parts of the island, said Matt Foster, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

The eastern side of the island picked up nearly 3 inches (7.62 centimeters) of rain in three hours, while there was light rain in other areas, Foster said.

'Heavy rain in Hilo right now,' Hawaii County Managing Director Wil Okabe said of the east side town. But on the west side, 'nothing. It's a nice day.'

Public schools were closed for the rest of the week and local government workers were told to stay home unless they're essential employees.

A handout image made available by NASA on 22 August 2018 and taken by an Expedition 56 crew member from the International Space Station shows Hurricane Lane in the Central Pacific Ocean, near Hawaii, August 22, 2018

This satellite image provided by NOAA on Wednesday, August 22, 2018 shows Hurricane Lane south of Hawaii. The National Weather Service's Central Pacific Hurricane Center expects Lane to move very close to over Hawaii from Thursday through Saturday

Shelters were being readied to open on Oahu, Maui, Molokai and Lanai. Officials said they would open shelters on other islands when needed. Officials were also working to help Hawaii's sizeable homeless population, many of whom live near beaches and streams that could flood.

Maui County officials warned that those needing to use Molokai's shelter should get there soon because of concerns that high surf could make the main highway on the south coast of the island impassable.

Hawaii Emergency Management Agency Administrator Tom Travis said there's not enough shelter space statewide. He advised those who are not in flood zones to stay home.

Many residents were trying to reinforce older homes made with single-wall construction.

'We're planning on boarding up all our windows and sliding doors,' Napua Puaoi of Wailuku, Maui, said after buying 16 pieces of plywood from Home Depot. 'As soon as my husband comes home - he has all the power tools.'

Molokai real estate agent Pearl Hodgins said she expected the island's two stores to soon run out of bottled water and batteries.

Melanie Davis, who lives in a suburb outside Honolulu, said she was gathering canned food and baby formula.

'We're getting some bags of rice and of course, some Spam,' she said of the canned lunch meat that's popular in Hawaii.

She was organizing important documents into a folder - birth and marriage certificates, Social Security cards, insurance paperwork - and making sure her three children, all under 4, have flotation devices such as swimming vests - 'just in case.'

Meteorologist Chevy Chevalier said Lane may drop to a Category 3 by Thursday afternoon but that would still be a major hurricane.

'We expect it to gradually weaken as it gets closer to the islands,' Chevalier said. 'That being said, on our current forecast, as of the afternoon on Thursday, we still have it as a major hurricane.'

Puaoi said Home Depot opened at 6 a.m., and employees reported there was already a line around the building.

'We are fully stocked,' she said. 'We have about nine cases of water because we're having family stay with us as well, so one case per person.'

The U.S. Navy was moving its ships and submarines out of Hawaii. All vessels not currently undergoing maintenance were being positioned to help respond after the storm, if needed.

Navy aircraft will be kept in hangars or flown to other airfields to avoid the storm.

The central Pacific gets fewer hurricanes than other regions, with about only four or five named storms a year. Hawaii rarely gets hit. The last major storm to hit was Iniki in 1992. Others have come close in recent years.

Puaoi was 12 when Iniki hit Hawaii.

'When it did happen, I just remember, pandemonium, it was all out craziness,' she said.

The ABC store in the lobby of the King Kamehameha Marriot, is boarded up and secured in preparation for the approaching storm, in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii on Wednesday

People check out at a grocery story ahead of Hurricane Lane, Wednesday, August 22, 2018 in Honolulu

Traffic backs up for more than a city block as cars wait to get into a parking lot at a local hardware store Wednesday in Honolulu

City Mill hardware store sales associates Frank Miller Gascon, left, Lisa Lavilla, fill a table up with duck tape, flashlights, and other hurricane supplies on WednesdayA critically ill woman has been selling her smiles in the street in China to raise money for a kidney transplant.

Zhu Ya, 26, says on a signboard that she will smile at the pedestrians for one minute as long as they give her one yuan (11p). The former art teacher also sells stickers showing smiley faces while begging near a metro station in Chongqing.

She told MailOnline that she had no other ways to fund the operation, which is her only hope of a cure and will cost around 500,000 yuan (56,625).

Scroll down for video

Zhu Ya, who has uremia, smiles at people in exchange for one yuan (11p) in Chongqing, China

The former art teacher says life is difficult, but she would never give up hope or stop smiling

Ms Zhu, who suffers from uremia, said because she was born into a farming family, she was only entitled to a type of national health care scheme that would cover 20 to 30 per cent of the medical costs.

And that means if Ms Zhu wish to proceed with the transplant, the operation would leave her with an astronomical bill.

She added that before she fell ill, she smiled a lot; and that was why she thought of the idea in order to save herself.

Ms Zhu also enjoys drawing, having graduated from an art school in Shanghai. She is now making extra money by drawing portraits for other people at home in exchange for donations.

She said people would call her to order drawings and she would send the finished products back to them in post.

'I want to carry on living optimistically, for my mother and my husband who love me so much; and more importantly for myself,' she said. 'I won't stop smiling.'

Zhu draws portraits for people before sending the sketches to them in exchange for donations

Zhu enjoys drawing (a drawing from her on the right) and wants to raise the funds for her kidney transplant with her own hands. Despite her illness, Zhu is still smiling at life

Ms Zhu's life was changed overnight when she was diagnosed with uremia three months ago.

When someone has uremia, it means there is a build-up of urea - a toxic waste product usually found in urine - in the blood. Healthy kidneys should filter urea away.

The condition is a symptom of kidney failure, and the only hope of a cure is a kidney transplant.

A sick Ms Zhu, her husband and her mother moved to a rented flat in the city from the suburbs so that she could seek treatment at Xinqiao Hospital. They pay 1,100 yuan (124) per month to rent two rooms in a three-bedroom flat.

Her husband of two years is a farmer from Sichuan Province and the only source of income in Ms Zhu's family.

Ms Zhu said he used to make a living by picking up odd jobs, such as construction and restaurant works, but after she became sick, he had to quit all his jobs to take care of her full time.

She was previously given the treatment at the South-west Hospital in Chongqing

Zhu Ya needs to undergo peritoneal dialysis four times a day and she has dozens of empty plastic bags at home, which contained the cleansing fluid needed for each session

As the Chinese saying goes, 'prolonged illness can turn a patient into an amateur doctor'.

WHAT IS DIALYSIS? Dialysis is a way to remove wastes from a patient's blood and acts as a substitute for the normal function of the kidney. It is a vital treatment for patients who suffer from uremia. There are two types of dialysis: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. During a hemodialysis session, the patient's blood is pumped out of their body to an artificial kidney machine before being returned to their body via tubes. While in peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of a patient's belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are removed by means of a cleansing fluid called dialysate. The fluid is washed in and out of a patient's belly in cycles. It is possible for patients to carry out peritoneal dialysis at home. Source: National Kidney Foundation of America Advertisement

Ms Zhu even learnt how to give herself daily peritoneal dialysis treatment to save money - each session in hospital costs 52 yuan (5.9) and she needs it four times a day to stay alive.

Ms Zhu said she learnt the process from doctor Zhang Ling, who had treated her at the South-west Hospital in Chongqing.

Speaking to MailOnline, Dr. Zhang confirmed Ms Zhu's accounts of her illness.

'She could come to the hospital three times a week, four hours a time for hemodialysis, but considering she is young and her financial situation is poor, I've taught her how to do peritoneal dialysis so she could survive,' Dr. Zhang said.

'I hope that the public could help her,' she added.

Ms Zhu's biggest wish is to raise enough money as soon as possible so she could have a kidney transplant.

She said both Xinqiao and South-west hospitals were working with the Chinese Red Cross Society to find her a suitable donor. Ms Zhu's mother is also willing to offer Ms Zhu one of her kidneys if needed.

The strong-willed woman has raised about 80,000 yuan (9,049) through friends, relatives and kind strangers, and is looking for 420,000 yuan (47,508) more.

Zhu weeps while trying to sell her smiles near a metro station to raise money for her treatment

Faced with the difficult situation in life, once-smiley Ms Zhu is still optimistic and has never given up her hope of living.

She said she had thought about what she would do if she recovers.

'I would like to work as a volunteer to cheer for other patients and to pass on hope and smiles to them,' she said. 'I also wish to travel to Tibet with my mum and my husband.'

With the help of volunteers from Chinese crowd-funding app Shui Di Chou, Zhu Ya has set up an account on the app to raise money.A newly unearthed photo of Meghan Markle's reclusive uncle Frederick Markle shows the self-proclaimed Catholic 'bishop' dressed in religious garb for the first time.

The extravagant gold-hued regalia would give even the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who wed Frederick's niece to Prince Harry in May, a run for his money in the splendor stakes.

DailyMail.com has exclusively obtained the photo a year after we revealed that Meghan's mysterious Uncle Fred - the brother of her father Thomas Markle -prefers to go by Bishop Dismas F. Markle, and is the head of a rundown Catholic church with no parishioners in the outskirts of Sanford, Florida.

We can also reveal that he is increasingly living more like a pauper than a priest, in huge contrast to his royal niece.

This photo obtained by DailyMail.com shows Meghan Markle's reclusive uncle and self-proclaimed 'bishop,' Frederick Markle in gold religious garb. The photo is believed to have been taken in the 1980s when his Eastern Orthodox Catholic Church had at least 40 members

Frederick Markle, 76, who prefers to go by Bishop Dismas F. Markle, was photographed near his Sanford, Florida home picking up some food. Above he is pictured holding a 7-11 Big Gulp and fast food

Source said Meghan hasn't seen her uncle since she was 6. Bishop Markle rarely mentions his niece's name, let alone the fact that she's married into royalty  and was recently baptized into the Church of England in order to wed her Prince

The photo is believed to have been taken in the early 1980s when his Eastern Orthodox Catholic Church had at least 40 members.

Fred's grand white and gold robes and spectacular hat perched atop his head give the impression that he's almost as regal as the newly minted Duchess of Sussex.

But as Meghan and her new husband were reportedly gifted the stately Adelaide Lodge at Windsor by the Queen, adding to their impressive property portfolio that also includes Nottingham Cottage at Kensington plus a holiday home in the Cotswolds, Bishop Markle was photographed visiting his squalid home in Sanford, Florida.

The longtime family abode is surrounded by trash, including broken bottles, discarded paintings, and eerie broken toys.

While Bishop Markle's adult son Nicholas lives at the address, it's believed Meghan's uncle camps at his lonely, rundown church about 30 minutes outside the city.

Formerly called Our Lady Queen of the Peace Catholic church, Bishop Markle has proclaimed it an outpost of the Eastern Orthodox Catholic Church  even though it is completely closed to the public and hasn't seen a single parishioner since the 1980s.

The 76-year-old is known by neighbors as a hermit who only leaves the grounds of his church to visit Nicholas and get fast food.

Markle lives a reclusive lifestyle in Sanford. He was seen visiting his family home surrounded by trash, including broken bottles, discarded paintings, and eerie broken toys

While Bishop Markle's adult son Nicholas lives at the address, it's believed Frederick camps at his lonely, rundown church about 30 minutes outside the city

Even Fred and Thomas's other brother, Michael Markle, said the bishop has 'always' been 'a hoarder'

Brothers: Bishop Dismas (right), is the older brother of Thomas Markle (left) but both seem to share a love of fast food

He is estranged from his wife, Theresa, and their other adult son David, who lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and children.

According to friends, Bishop Markle rarely mentions his niece's name, let alone the fact that she's married into royalty  and was recently baptized into the Church of England in order to wed her Prince.

One confidante, speaking on the condition of anonymity, says Fred last saw Meghan  daughter of his brother Thomas Markle and his ex-wife Doria Ragland  when she was just six years old.

Some believe the reclusive man of the cloth isn't happy about the attention Meghan's worldwide fame is bringing to his puzzling religious enterprise.

The chapel itself isn't publicly listed, and neighbors at his suburban home 40 minutes outside of Orlando are scratching their heads over why he's gone to such lengths to keep his church concealed.

Some privately suspect it could be for tax reasons.

This is Bishop's Markle's church, formerly called Our Lady Queen of the Peace Catholic church, Bishop Markle has proclaimed it an outpost of the Eastern Orthodox Catholic Church  even though it is completely closed to the public and hasn't seen a single parishioner since the 1980s

The Catholic Diocese of Orlando had never heard of the church or Dismas Markle

In public records dating as far back as the 1980, Bishop Dismas' Eastern Orthodox Catholic Church can only be linked to his neglected Sanford residential address, and his phone number remains unlisted.

When contacted for comment, a spokesperson for the Catholic Diocese of Orlando had never heard of the church or Dismas Markle.

Neither had the Seminole Historical Society, who coincidentally was almost finished putting together an extensive exhibit on the county's many churches when DailyMail.com made its inquiries.

Even Fred and Thomas's other brother, Michael Markle, who lives two hours away in Palm Bay, Florida, has no idea why his brother would be living in and running a church with no parishioners, while letting his residential home go to ruin.

'My brother always was a hoarder,' he tells DailyMail.com.

'I heard his house was going to be condemned, so it's no surprise he's living in the church. I don't even know where it is. Last time we spoke was before Christmas.'

CHURCH OF ENGLAND History: Established 1533 by King Henry VIII after split from Pope Membership: One million weekly worshipers, millions more nominal attendees Supreme leader: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Buildings: Westminster Abbey and St Paul's Cathedral in London; Canterbury Cathedral, the seat of its most senior cleric; St George's Chapel, Windsor, where Meghan and Harry married AdvertisementThe father of two toddlers who drowned in a river has been charged with felony child neglect resulting in death.

Eric Patillo was 'acting strangely' shortly before Levi, four, and two-year-old Evan Patillo were pulled from the Kankakee River in Indiana on Tuesday.

Witnesses told police he appeared to be on drugs, lapsing in and out of consciousness, and walking in and out of the river at the time.

Eric Patillo was 'acting strangely' shortly before Levi, four, and two-year-old Evan Patillo (pictured together with Eric's wife Savannah) were pulled from the Kankakee River in Indiana

Patillo was locked up in the Lake County Jail with police awaiting formal charges from prosecutors

The 34-year-old was last year arrested for allegedly running a meth lab and charged with possession or heroin and 'visiting a common nuisance'.

Witnesses rescued the boys unresponsive from the river in southwestern Lake County but they were declared dead on arrival.

'It's a tragedy. It's unfortunate that something like this happened. It's tough,' Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez said at a press conference.

Police received two 911 calls about 15 minutes apart - the first expressing concern about Patillo's well-being, and the other about 5pm on Tuesday reporting the young boys were in the water.

'We had noticed that there was just something off about this guy and that he was definitely impaired,' witness Anthony Kyle, who made the call, told WGN9.

Witnesses rescued the boys (Levi pictured) unresponsive from the river in southwestern Lake County but they were declared dead on arrival

The 34-year-old was last year arrested for allegedly running a meth lab and charged with possession or heroin and 'visiting a common nuisance' (mugshot from then pictured)

'He was so impaired that he couldn't even get a worm on the hook. He was stabbing himself in the finger with the worm on the hook.'

He and Dylan Sherwood told investigators Patillo was going in and out of the river and they last saw his sons in waist-deep water.

A few minutes later, Sheriff Martinez said, the men saw Patillo jumping into the river and grew concerned because they could no longer see the two children.

'So they starting looking for the kids and found them in the water. One was floating on top of the water and one was underneath the water, unresponsive,' he said.

Witnesses told police Patillo (pictured with his wife) appeared to be on drugs, lapsing in and out of consciousness, and walking in and out of the river at the time

Police were looking to question Jesse Linter, 31, who was believed to be with Patillo and the children at the scene

Autopsies were scheduled to determine the cause of death of the siblings, who Sheriff Martinez said apparently drowned.

Patillo was locked up in the Lake County Jail with police awaiting formal charges from prosecutors.

He said police were looking to question Jesse Linter, 31, who was believed to be with Patillo and the children at the scene.

Results of drug and alcohol tests were pending on Patillo, whose wife, Savannah, said her husband 'would never have intentionally hurt' their sons.

'He loved them,' she told WBBM-TV.Jeremy Corbyn accused British 'Zionists' of having 'no sense of English irony' despite having 'lived in Britain all of their lives', in comments that have been slammed by Jewish groups as anti-Semitic, MailOnline can reveal.

The remarks were made in 2013, when Corbyn was giving a speech alongside prominent British extremists, at a London conference promoted by the propaganda website of terror group Hamas.

The Labour leader said: '[British Zionists] clearly have two problems. One is they don't want to study history, and secondly, having lived in this country for a very long time, probably all their lives, they don't understand English irony either.'

He added: 'They needed two lessons, which we could perhaps help them with.'

Jeremy Corbyn makes his controversial remarks. On the far right is Daud Abdullah, who called for attacks on the Royal Navy and led a boycott of Holocaust Memorial Day. In the centre is Stephen Sizer, who suggested that Israel was behind the 9/11 attack

Jeremy Corbyn speaks at the conference, left. Daud Abdullah , right, has called for attacks on the Royal Navy and led a boycott of Holocaust Memorial Day

The controversial 2013 conference advertised on the propaganda website of the Hamas military wing

Recalling a disagreement between some 'Zionists' and the Palestinian representative, Manuel Hassassian, following a speech by Hassassian in Parliament, Corbyn said:

'[Hassassian's speech] was dutifully recorded by the thankfully silent Zionists who were in the audience on that occasion, and then came up and berated him afterwards for what he'd said.'

This shows the reality of what Jeremy Corbyn thinks of Jews, somehow a breed apart from "normal" English people Stephen Pollard, Jewish Chronicle editor

Stephen Pollard, editor of the Jewish Chronicle, said: 'This shows the reality of what Jeremy Corbyn thinks of Jews, somehow a breed apart from "normal" English people.'

Pollard added that he believed the Labour leader 'used the word "Zionist" obviously to mean "Jews".'

Jonathan Sacerdoti, who was a founding trustee of the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism, and who is now an anti-racism campaigner, said: 'The idea that British Jews somehow haven't absorbed British values is outrageous.

'To doubt our Britishness because we disagree with your controversial views on Palestine, when you are the one fraternising with extremists, is deeply anti-Semitic. British Jews are right to be scared.'

Why is Labour's new code of conduct on anti-Semitism so controversial? The Labour anti-Semitism row erupted again after the party leadership refused to fully adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) definition. The party's code explicitly endorses the IHRA definition, but it omits four examples from the IHRA list: - Accusing Jewish people of being more loyal to Israel than their home country; - Claiming that Israel's existence as a state is a racist endeavour; - Requiring higher standards of behaviour from Israel than other nations; and - Comparing contemporary Israeli policies to those of the Nazis. Labour insisted that while the examples are not reproduced word-for-word, they are covered in the new code. But critics say the decision allows anti-Semitism to continue to fester. Advertisement

The Labour leader made the comments at a conference at Friends House in Euston. The event was advertised online by Hamas' Al-Qassam Brigades, which is designated a terrorist group by Britain, the EU, the United States and other countries.

In one of the speeches, made by 9/11 conspiracy theorist Alan Hart, 'Zionism' was described as a 'cancer at the heart of international affairs'. It was also called a 'monster' and compared to Nazi Germany.

The programme of speakers included a range of anti-Semites, homophobes and conspiracy theorists.

Several were connected to Hamas. One called for attacks on the Royal Navy in the past, and led a boycott of Holocaust Memorial Day.

In addition, a number have been formerly associated with the Labour leader, or supported by him.

One listed speaker was Ibrahim Hewitt, who wrote a pamphlet in 1994 branding homosexuality a 'great sin' comparable to paedophilia and incest, which should be 'severely punished'. The pamphlet was most recently reprinted in 2004.

Speaking at a pro-Palestinian event in East London in February 2013, Corbyn called him a 'very good friend'.

Another speaker, Reverend Stephen Sizer, was later banned from social media after suggesting that Israel was behind the 9/11 attack on the twin towers.

Corbyn wrote a letter defending him, saying he was 'under attack' by a pro-Israeli smear campaign.

CAMPAIGN AGAINST ANTI-SEMITISM STATEMENT Gideon Falter, chair of the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism, said: 'Jeremy Corbyns xenophobic portrayal of "Zionists" as foreign to Britain and recognisable by their ignorance and humourlessness is utterly shameful, even by his low standards. 'It is precisely this euphemistic use of the word Zionist to refer to Jews and direct smears at us which used to be the preserve of anti-Semites amongst the aristocracy. 'This shows yet again that Jeremy Corbyn just does not get Jews and the concerns of the Jewish community. 'It is plain that he is an anti-Semite, under whose leadership the once anti-racist Labour Party has become institutionally antisemitic. 'The great leaders of the Labour movement of old would be appalled to see how he has traversed their legacy.' Advertisement

Alison Weir, an American anti-Israel campaigner who has been disowned by a number of Left-wing peace groups because of her alleged links to white supremacists, also gave a speech at the event.

Other speakers included Daud Abdullah, who signed a letter saying that the Royal Navy should be attacked if it tried to help prevent weapons from being smuggled to terror groups in Gaza. In 2007, he led a boycott of Holocaust Memorial Day.

Corbyn has been pictured with Abdullah at other events, including a seminar held at Parliament six months before he was elected leader of the Labour party, which MailOnline exposed earlier this week.

Also present at the conference was Sameh Habeeb, the founder and editor of the Palestine Telegraph, who was suspended by Labour and dropped as an election candidate in April after he was accused of sharing anti-Semitic material.

Leaflets were on display at the 2013 event which appeared to advertise an organisation run by Holocaust denier Paul Eisen, another former associate of the Labour leader.

MailOnline has previously revealed how Eisen claimed that Corbyn supported him for 15 years and donated to his campaign, something the Labour leader has denied.

The explosive revelations will increase the pressure on Corbyn to resign as he struggles to contain the anti-Semitism crisis engulfing his party.

Jeremy Corbyn listens attentively to another of the speakers at the 2013 conference in London

A pamphlet by Holocaust denier Paul Eisen at the event. MailOnline previously revealed how Corbyn allegedly gave him a donation, which the Labour leader denied

Labour Friends of Israel (LFI) has demanded that Corbyn apologise for his presence at the event. Jennifer Gerber, director of the LFI, said:

'The thousands of Israelis who have family members killed by Hamas terrorism will not understand why Mr Corbyn believes these are suitable people to associate with.'

The conference was organised by the Palestine Return Centre (PRC), a controversial pressure group with close links to both Hamas and Corbyn.

In 2009, the PRC caused outrage when it invited the Hungarian fascist and Jobbik MEP Krisztina Morvai, a close ally of BNP figurehead Nick Griffin, to speak at one of its anti-Israel events.

At another PRC in 2013, Corbyn compared Israel's occupation of the West Bank to the Nazi takeover of Europe. Labour said that he was referring to all WWII occupations, not just those ordered by Hitler.

The group has also invited Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas terror chief, to attend an event in Holland, but he was barred entry by Dutch authorities.

The conference where Corbyn made his remarks was led by Manuel Hassassian, the Palestinian official who recently demanded that Labour refuse to adopt the internationally recognised definition of anti-Semitism.

Other speakers at the event included the academic Garda Kharmi, who has defended comparing Israel to the Nazis. In a lecture last year, she said:

'The Jews were not wanted in Europe. They were an unpopular, unloved people, who were off-loaded into the [Middle East].'

Also appearing was Sabagh al-Mukhtar, a lawyer who gave expert witness in support of hate preacher Abu Hamza before he was deported from Britain.

Another speaker was Majed al-Zeer, head of the PRC, who is close to the Hamas leadership. He has been pictured with its terror chief, Ismail Haniyeh, who sent him a message of congratulations when the PRC was legitimised by the UN.

Alan Hart, a further speaker, believed that Mossad was behind the 9/11 attacks, and referred to 'Zionism' as a 'monster' and a 'cancer at the heart of international affairs'.

A Labour spokesman said: 'Jeremy Corbyn 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.'The top international spot for tourists visiting Mexico suffered through what's now been known the deadliest day of the year.

A total of eight dead bodies were found on the streets of the Mexican resort city of Cancun during a 12-hour killing spree Tuesday.

Two bodies dumped at two spots and four others found shot to death individually.

The bodies of a man and a woman were found in an abandoned taxi Tuesday during the frightening wave of assassinations between rival drug cartels fighting over territory that is not near the city's beach-side hotel zone where tourists tend to flock in droves throughout the year.

A popular go-to-spot for tourists, Cancun has suffered through one of its deadliest years. As of August, 350 assassinations have been attributed to rival drug cartels.

Authorities say at least 350 have been killed this year alone.

Three assassinations have been reported in resort area over the first eight months of 2018.

A Los Angeles Times report revealed that prosecutors opened 2,599 homicide cases in July - that's about 84 per day, surpassing any month in record.

July's totals surpassed the monthly record of 2,535 set in May 2017.

Mexico's national public security agency has also attributed these investigations into illegal markets activity such as stolen fuel and cargo.

The country could very well surpass last year's crime stats with 25,316 investigations into 31, 174 deaths. Through the first seven months of 2018, there have been 16, 399 homicides investigations opened, a 14% increase during the same period in 2017.

The dismembered bodies of two men were also found in a several plastic bags at another spot in the outskirts of the Caribbean coastal town.

Also Tuesday, one man was found bound and shot to death.

The prosecutors' office for the state of Quintana Roo said another man was killed while lying in a hammock, yet another was found shot and covered in a plastic bag.

The violence stretched into Wednesday, a few minutes past midnight when a man was shot dead inside his vehicle.A single mother fatally shot her severely disabled son before attempting to kill herself but survived and is now in critical condition, cops say.

Tashina Aleine Jordan, 28, was found unconscious in the home she shared with her mother in Bend, Oregon, that she shares with her mother on Monday.

Police say her seven-year-old son Mason was found nearby and pronounced dead at the scene.

Notes discovered at the scene revealed Jordan was the shooter and had attempted to kill herself using a cocktail of pills, officers added.

Tashina Aleine Jordan, 28, was found unconscious by a relative at the Oregon home she shares with her mother on Monday after fatally shooting her seven-year-old son Mason, police say

Police say Mason was pronounced dead from a gunshot wound at the scene while Jordan was rushed to hospital after taking a cocktail of pills and is in critical condition

Jordan had been Mason's primary carer for years after the boy's father left when he began suffering severe health problems at five weeks old

Courtesy: KTVZ.com

Jordan had been Mason's primary carer for years after the boy's father left when he began suffering medical problems.

Mason was born healthy but around five weeks old stopped breathing multiple times before it was discovered there was a problem with his heart, The State reports.

During that time the boy suffered brain hemorrhages, heart failure and spent some time in a coma before reawakening.

The experience left him with cerebral palsy, water on the brain, and made him blind in his right eye.

He was non-verbal, unable to feed, dress or bathe himself, and used a wheelchair.

Despite that, The Sparrows Club, a non-profit which helped to care for Mason, described him as 'a happy little boy' with 'the greatest laugh'.

Jordan lived with her mother to make ends meet and to help care for him, said Dianna Hansen, a close family friend.

Hansen is also the executive director of the Central Oregon Disability Support Network, where Jordan was on the board of directors.

Hansen said she volunteered as much as she could to help other families with disabled children.

Mason was born healthy but began suffering heart problems and fell into a coma before reawakening. He was blind in one eye, unable to feed, dress or wash himself, and non-verbal

Investigators say notes found at the scene reveal Jordan was the shooter and that she had intended to kill herself

Those close to Jordan said she had devoted her life to caring for Mason and that there were no signs she was about to harm the boy or herself

She also homeschooled Mason after deciding that public school wasn't right for him and came up with elaborate lesson plans tailored to his abilities, she said.

'She was just an amazing, amazing mother who dedicated her whole life to him. Everything that she could possibly do for him, she did,' Hansen said.

Mason required multiple and ongoing surgeries, including two or three so far this year, but always seemed happy, Hansen said.

His mother showed no signs of depression or of feeling overwhelmed, she added.

'None of us saw it coming at all. It's a total shock.

'It's not something that's uncommon for caregivers to talk about and try to work through and share that they've had thoughts of that, but generally by the time they're talking about it, then they're less likely to do it,' said Hansen, who also has a disabled child.

'There was no talk or sign to any of us that were her friends.'

KTVZ-TV interviewed Jordan when her son was four after viewers raised $4,000 to buy the child a specialized bicycle that he could operate himself.

'I told the doctors to keep going, and shortly after that Mason came out of his coma and was able to have his heart surgery,' she told the station in 2016.

'I was told that he was never going to walk or do anything, and here we are now.'

A GoFundMe page to assist the boy's grandmother with funeral and related expenses has been set up by the Central Oregon Disability Support Network.Sen Elizabeth Warren has made up to $1.5million annually over the last 10 years, according to her newly-released tax returns.

The decision to release the federal and state returns on Wednesday came a day after the Massachusetts Democrat called for sweeping anti-corruption laws in Washington.

It's also another possible signal that Warren may be laying the groundwork for a run for president in 2020.

Senator Elizabeth Warren released her tax returns for the last 10 years on Wednesday, revealing that she has made up to $1.5million annually. The Massachusetts Democrat is pictured during an appearance at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, on Tuesday

Warren's 2017 federal returns show the former Harvard University law professor and her husband Bruce Mann, who still works as a Harvard Law School professor, reported an adjusted gross income of $913,000.

The returns listed their total tax as $268,484 and their total payments as $302,227. The couple was eligible for a refund of almost $34,000.

Although she's frequently mentioned as a possible White House contender, Warren has said she's focused on her Senate re-election campaign this year. She first won election in 2012 by defeating then incumbent Republican Sen Scott Brown.

Warren has burnished her credentials among the liberal wing of the Democratic party by frequently sparring with Republican President Donald Trump, who has refused to release his tax returns.

In addition to her salary as a senator, Warren reported $430,370 in income from her writing in 2017. Warren has written or co-written several books, most focused on financial issues. Her latest 'This Fight Is Our Fight: The Battle to Save America's Middle Class' was published last year.

The salary for a US senator is $174,000.

The returns from 2017 show that the couple also reported contributing nearly $82,000 to charity.

In 2017 Warren and her husband Bruce Mann, a professor at Harvard Law School, reported an adjusted gross income of $913,000. The first page of their return is pictured above

The couple's income has fluctuated from year to year, in part linked to Warren's outside pay.

In 2016 the couple reported an adjusted gross income of $717,000. During that year, Warren reported income of $224,000 from 'consulting, lecturing, writing, investing.'

In 2014, Warren and her husband reported a far higher adjusted gross income of more than $1.5million.

That year, Warren reported a net profit of more than $1million from consulting, lecturing, writing and investing. That was the same year Warren published the book 'A Fighting Chance' which in part detailed her decision to run for the Senate at age 62.

Their lowest reported adjusted gross income in the 10-year period was $409,000 in 2012.

The couple has lost considerable amounts on investments: $217,217 in 2008 when they sold holdings in Sentinel Investments and $91,270 the next year on the sale of Dreyfus Third Century fund. However, their tax returns list very little wealth overall in stocks, with IBM dividends growing to $3,621 by 2012 but divested by 2013.

An aide to Warren said she and her husband had an investment that they lost money on and disposed of around the financial crisis. The aide said Warren also owned one stock and sold it after she was elected to the Senate in 2012.

Warren is unopposed in the Democratic primary in Massachusetts. Three Republicans are competing in the September 4 contest for the chance to challenge Warren in November.

A bill crafted by Warren would require the IRS to release tax returns for congressional candidates from the previous two years and during each year in office.

It also would create a lifetime ban on presidents, members of Congress and other officeholders from working as lobbyists.A cheap, potent and deadly party drug known as 'monkey dust' has emerged in Australia after wreaking havoc overseas.

The drug has been linked to dozens of deaths in the United Kingdom, which causes violent and psychotic episodes.

Colloquially known as 'bath salts', experts are warning that the drug is making its way into Australia.

Experts warn that the cheap, potentially deadly drug known as 'monkey dust' (pictured) has made its way back into Australia after it was linked to the deaths of two Australian men in 2012

The drug gives people a false sense of invincibility, causing them to harm themselves. Pictured: A man on MDPV perilously standing on top of a tall building, believing he can fly

It wouldn't be the first time the drug has caused problems for Australian authorities.

In 2012, the death of two people from South Australia was linked to the use of monkey dust, with experts believing the drug had since disappeared.

With a street value of as little as $10 per dose, it could threaten the lives of hundreds of Australians.

What is 'Monkey Dust'? 'Monkey Dust' is the colloquial street term for the drug MDPV, a potent strain of methamphetamine. It's a powerful hallucinogenic which causes paranoia and a false sense of invincibility. Due to its potency, a small dose of about 2 milligrams is issued, making it incredibly cheap and easy to overdose on. It's been given a street value of about $10-$15 per hit, making it extremely deadly. Side effects of the drug include: euphoria, mood lift, elevation in heart rate, paranoia and confusion. Advertisement

The drug is a powerful derivative of methamphetamine, or ice.

Expert toxicologists say that the drug causes wild hallucinations and impressions of invincibility.

'A lot of people also report that when they take this drug they feel like Superman, so they feel like they can literally fly,' toxicologist Andrew Leibie told 7 News.

Users overseas have been filmed jumping in front of cars and standing perilously on tall buildings, because the drug makes them think they cannot be harmed.

Last December, two men were busted attempting to import the drug into Queensland.

They were caught by Queensland Police with four kilograms of monkey dust in powder form, which can be found in powder or pill form.

Four kilograms might not sound like a lot, but the cheap drug is so powerful that four kilos equates to about half a million doses.

Monkey dust (pictured) is so potent that doses as small as 2mg are distributed, making its street value extremely cheap in comparison to other drugs

Dr Chris Holmwood from Drug and Alcohol Services SA said the drug was so deadly because it was unfamiliar.

'Perhaps people think because they're paying less for it, it's not as potent a drug so that could be one reason but I guess it's lack of familiarity probably and not appreciating just how potent the drug is,' he told ABC.

The drug has existed for decades, and is a more potent form of methylamphetamine.

Confirmed attempted importation was registered last December, with fears that because the drug is commonly mistaken for methamphetamine, it could be widespread.

An emergence in Australia could be disastrous, and is comparable to the zombie-drug flakka, which wreaked havoc in Byron Bay.

Violent users of the psychedelic drug flakka were filmed snorting the drug in public, with nightly police patrols necessary to maintain any peace in the once-idyllic Byron.

In December, Australian Federal Police stopped an attempted importation of four kilograms of the monkey dust drug (pictured)TV star Deborah Hutton has been spotted exercising at Bondi Icebergs just days after her ex-boyfriend was charged with stalking and intimidation.

The glamorous presenter and former model stretched and skipped near the pool in Sydney's affluent eastern suburbs on Thursday morning.

She spoke out about the incident for the first time on her website, saying she was 'surrounded by friends and family'.

Her ex-boyfriend Robert Venour Dulhunty, 49, allegedly planted a bag of condoms and restraints inside the multimillion-dollar home they shared in Bronte.

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TV star Deborah Hutton has been spotted at Bondi Icebergs just days after her ex-boyfriend was charged with stalking and intimidation

The glamorous presenter and former model exercised near the pool in Sydney's affluent eastern suburbs on Thursday morning

She spoke out about the incident for the first time on Thursday, saying she was 'surrounded by friends and family'

In a statement posted to her Balance by Deborah Hutton website, staff said she was 'shocked and devastated by the situation as it evolved'

'We can confirm she is now safe and working with the police on resolving this matter and letting the legal process take its due course,' the statement said

Hutton's staff said she was 'surrounded by friends and family' after the incident

He allegedly made it look like a break-in to intimidate her into not ending their relationship.

He allegedly called Triple Zero claiming he confronted an attempted attacker outside the home he shared with Dutton, 56, shortly after 6am on August 8.

In a statement posted to her Balance by Deborah Hutton website, staff said she was 'shocked and devastated by the situation as it evolved'.

'We can confirm she is now safe and working with the police on resolving this matter and letting the legal process take its due course,' the statement said.

'Deborah is surrounded by friends and family, and we trust the Balance community will also support her through this difficult time.

Hutton's staff said she was working with the police on resolving the matter involving her ex-boyfriend

Hutton was pictured skipping and stretching at the popular exercise spot in Sydney's eastern suburbs

The glamorous model and TV presenter planked on a mat at Bondi Icebergs on Thursday morning

Model and media star Deborah Hutton says she was 'devastated' after her ex-boyfriend was charged with stalking and intimidating her after he left a bag of condoms outside her house

Police alleged Dulhunty called Triple Zero claiming he confronted an attempted attacker outside the home shortly after 6am on August 8 (Hutton pictured)

'As a community, we believe (every) woman, man and child has a right to feel safe in their relationships and in their home - a celebrity should be no different.

'We also acknowledge that it takes courage and resilience beyond measure to recognise and remove yourself from toxic situations. So we are sending Deborah all our love.'

Dulhunty allegedly told police the attacker left behind a number of items, with investigators later finding condoms and an apparatus used to restrain someone.

Police initially believed Hutton had been targeted by a celebrity stalker but nine days later they were led back to Dulhunty.

He was arrested at the home on Monday and taken to Waverley Police Station where he was charged with stalk or intimidate to cause fear of physical or mental health (domestic violence).

Dulhunty also faced three counts of destroy or damage property, false representation resulting in police investigation and making a false call to an emergency services number.

He told police the attacker left behind a number of items, with investigators later finding condoms and an apparatus used to restrain someone (Hutton pictured)

Court hears Robert Venour Dulhunty, 49, allegedly planted a bag of condoms and restraints inside the multimillion-dollar Bronte home they shared in Sydney's eastern suburbs (Hutton pictured)

Court documents stated police alleged Dulhunty 'did intimidate Deborah Hutton with the intention of causing...(her) to fear physical or mental harm'.

They will allege Dulhunty, a former company director, staged the event hoping it would push Hutton into staying with him for protection as they were in the midst of a break-up.

The case is due to return to court on August 30.

Court documents listed Hutton as the owner of the home, which was also listed as Dulhunty's address.

She purchased the spectacular four-bedroom abode in Bronte, which boasts an uninterrupted vista of the ocean in Sydney's eastern suburbs, in late 2015 for $3.8million.

Court documents listed Hutton as the owner of the home (pictured), which was also listed as Dulhunty's address

She purchased the spectacular four bedroom abode (pictured) in Bronte, which boasts an uninterrupted vista of the ocean in Sydney's eastern suburbs, late 2015 for $3.8million

Court documents stated police alleged Dulhunty 'did intimidate Deborah Hutton (pictured with late Harry M Miller) with the intention of causing...(her) to fear physical or mental harm'

They will allege Dulhunty (centre) staged the event hoping it would push Hutton into staying with him for protection as they were in the midst of a break-up

Hutton has been a household name in Australia for more than 40 years, having worked as a model and in the media

She graced the cover of Cosmopolitan magazine at the age of 16, was the face of Qantas for 12 years and was the editor of Women's Weekly magazine.

While in a long-term relationship with late celebrity agent Harry M Miller, she was a regular feature in newspaper social pages.

Hutton has also hosted Looking Good and Location Location on the Nine Network and was a fashion expert at Kerry Packer's old TV station almost two decades ago.

Ms Hutton (right with Megan Gale) been a household name in Australia for more than 40 years, having worked in some of the world's most competitive industries - namely modelling and TVMore than 620,000 hardened criminals with at least ten previous convictions have been spared jail despite committing new offences.

Extraordinary figures reveal that sex offenders, violent thugs and robbers are among convicts who did not serve a single day in prison after committing their latest crime.

Despite appalling criminal records, they were allowed to roam the streets because instead of locking them up judges handed them non-custodial sentences such as community sentences, cautions, suspended jail sentences and conditional discharges.

Nathan Hibberd has committed about 200 burglaries and brought untold misery to his victims

In one shocking case, a man who had previously committed around 200 burglaries was given another chance when convicted of his latest offence.

Career burglar who walked free Nathan Hibberd has committed around 200 burglaries and brought untold misery to his victims. But after the 44-year-old career criminal stole a chainsaw in a house burglary in Painswick, Gloucestershire last year, a judge let him walk free. It was the fifth time he had been convicted over burglaries since a US-style three strikes and youre out policy was introduced in 1999. It stipulates that burglars convicted of breaking into private homes three times should get a minimum of three years in jail. Hibberd, from Gloucester, admitted the Painswick burglary. But at Gloucester Crown Court last September, Judge Jamie Tabor QC instead gave him a two-year jail sentence suspended for two years. The judge could see green shoots that showed the thug  who has been involved in crime since he was 14  was making an effort to change his life. Hibberd was jailed for three-and-a-half-years in 1999 for 62 burglaries, for four years in 2001 for 54 burglaries, for four-and-a-quarter-years in 2005 for 41 burglaries, and for four-and-a-half-years in 2009 for 42 burglaries. Advertisement

It will fuel claims that the courts are going soft and handing out the punishments to save money and reduce overcrowding in jails.

But ministers insisted that under this government the most serious offenders were more likely to go to prison and for longer, helping to protect the public.

The revelations, which follow an analysis of official Ministry of Justice (MoJ) statistics, comes after an investigation by the Daily Mail yesterday exposed how judges are allowing serious offenders to walk free  despite concerns about Wild West Britain.

Many believe the lack of a deterrent is emboldening law-breakers. Violent crime surged by 21 per cent last year, with 1.3million offences recorded by police.

In the five-year period to December 2016, some 627,052 adult criminals who were given a non-custodial sentence for a new offence, including killings and violent or sexual attacks, had already racked up 11 or more convictions or cautions.

An analysis of MoJ data for the Civitas think-tank found that 19,634 offenders convicted of a violent crime avoided prison despite having been in trouble with the police at least ten times before.

And 8,705 offenders found guilty of possessing a weapon, 1,297 sex offenders and 800 robbers were also given a non-custodial sentence even though they had racked up so many previous convictions.

Incredibly, 13,328 offenders were spared jail despite having at least 76 other convictions or cautions.

The figures will raise doubts about Justice Secretary David Gaukes drive to slash short prison sentences.

Former Home Office adviser David Green, of Civitas, blamed the Government

Former Home Office adviser David Green, of Civitas, blamed the Government for attempting to force down the prison population, which last week stood at around 83,000  3,000 fewer than last year.

We have created a lawless environment in prison and ministers have dealt with this by reducing the prison population, he said. That means not imposing jail sentences or letting people out early, many of whom can be expected to commit serious crimes on release.

The Tory government was historically tough on law and order but here it is all over the place. They have completely lost sense of what is important to ordinary people.

'The most important thing for any government is to maintain public safety and it is failing in this fundamental duty.

David Spencer, research director of the Centre For Crime Prevention think-tank, said: It is frankly disgusting that so many repeat offenders are effectively getting away with their crimes thanks to Britains soft justice system.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: Under this Government the most serious offenders are more likely to go to prison, and for longer  helping protect the public and keep communities safe.

'Sentencing remains a matter for independent judges, based on the full facts of each case.

The ministry said prisoners were being given the longest sentences for at least 20 years with the average custodial term climbing to 16.9 months in the last year, up from 13.8 months in 2010 when the Tory-led Coalition came to power.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: Under this Government the most serious offenders are more likely to go to prison, and for longer'Thousands of women at risk of ovarian cancer could be spared life-changing surgery thanks to a new NHS testing regime.

Doctors are trialling a new cancer surveillance programme which can delay drastic operations for women with a faulty gene.

The BRCA gene mutation  carried by Angelina Jolie  significantly raises the risk of developing ovarian cancer and breast cancer later in life. At present women are offered an operation to remove their ovaries and fallopian tubes if they carry the BRCA mutation, to cut their cancer risk.

The BRCA gene mutation  carried by Angelina Jolie  significantly raises the risk of developing ovarian cancer and breast cancer later in life

But the NHS is now piloting a new watch and wait approach which instead involves taking a blood test every four months. They hope this will allow women to avoid surgery for as long as possible  giving them the chance to have children  while enabling doctors to operate as soon as the blood test shows signs of cancer appearing.

The trial, run by University College London Hospitals in North London, aims to test the feasibility of the approach on 2,000 women over 35 who carry the BRCA mutation.

Adam Rosenthal, consultant gynaecologist at UCLH, said: The surveillance should mean women with a faulty BRCA gene are less likely to be diagnosed with an advanced ovarian cancer.

Roughly one in 400 women have a faulty BRCA gene, which means a 70 per cent chance of developing breast cancer, up from 12 per cent for other women, and 44 per cent chance of ovarian cancer, up from 2 per cent.

Miss Jolie, 43, chose to have her breasts, ovaries and fallopian tubes removed to reduce her cancer risk, after her mother died of ovarian cancer aged just 56.

About half of women in Britain who find out they are carrying the mutation choose to have surgery  with about 4,000 a year having their ovaries removed.

The new approach relies on the ROCA blood test, which assesses changes in the level of the blood chemical CA125, which typically rises with ovarian cancer.

The NHS has already taken a similar approach to avoid breast surgery, by offering women with the BRCA mutation annual mammograms from the age of 30.

Athena Lamnisos, chief executive of the Eve Appeal cancer charity, said: This programme offers women some peace of mind and the ability to make difficult decisions about surgery in the time that suits them, their lives and their health.

THOUSANDS of women at risk of ovarian cancer could be spared life-changing surgery thanks to a new NHS testing regime.

Doctors are trialling a new cancer surveillance programme which can delay drastic operations for women with a faulty gene.

The BRCA gene mutation  carried by Angelina Jolie  significantly raises the risk of developing ovarian cancer and breast cancer later in life. At present women are offered an operation to remove their ovaries and fallopian tubes if they carry the BRCA mutation, to cut their cancer risk.

But the NHS is now piloting a new watch and wait approach which instead involves taking a blood test every four months. They hope this will allow women to avoid surgery for as long as possible  giving them the chance to have children  while enabling doctors to operate as soon as the blood test shows signs of cancer appearing.

The trial, run by University College London Hospitals in North London, aims to test the feasibility of the approach on 2,000 women over 35 who carry the BRCA mutation.

Women at risk of ovarian cancer could be sparred surgery thanks to new testing regime. Stock image of a doctor talking to a female patient

Adam Rosenthal, consultant gynaecologist at UCLH, said: The surveillance should mean women with a faulty BRCA gene are less likely to be diagnosed with an advanced ovarian cancer.

Roughly one in 400 women have a faulty BRCA gene, which means a 70 per cent chance of developing breast cancer, up from 12 per cent for other women, and 44 per cent chance of ovarian cancer, up from 2 per cent.

Miss Jolie, 43, chose to have her breasts, ovaries and fallopian tubes removed to reduce her cancer risk, after her mother died of ovarian cancer aged just 56.

About half of women in Britain who find out they are carrying the mutation choose to have surgery  with about 4,000 a year having their ovaries removed.

The new approach relies on the ROCA blood test, which assesses changes in the level of the blood chemical CA125, which typically rises with ovarian cancer.

The NHS has already taken a similar approach to avoid breast surgery, by offering women with the BRCA mutation annual mammograms from the age of 30.

Athena Lamnisos, chief executive of the Eve Appeal cancer charity, said: This programme offers women some peace of mind and the ability to make difficult decisions about surgery in the time that suits them, their lives and their health.A hooded man is at the centre of a police investigation after a 20-year-old was stabbed in the chest during a fight with a stranger.

NSW police released CCTV footage on Thursday of a man believed to be involved in the incident in Ultimo, Sydney, last week.

A fight erupted shortly after a man approached three people walking on Broadway about 7pm on August 15.

During the argument, the man stabbed a member of the group, a 20-year-old man, with a knife before fleeing, according to police.

The 20-year-old suffered stab wounds to his torso.

Witnesses rushed to his aid before he was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital by paramedics.

He has since been released.

Police are searching for a thin Caucasian man wearing a black jumper, a white t-shirt, black pants and black shoes.

He is believed to be about 175cm-180cm tall, with short dark hair.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

Police are searching for a thin Caucasian man who is seen in CCTV footage wearing a black jumper, a white t-shirt, black pants and black shoesTax officers have been told to take a 'straight-up racist' test asking them to label pictures of Aboriginal and white Australians as either 'bad' or 'good'.

With the test, the Australian Tax Office is gauging employees' unconscious bias, levels of prejudice and even what political party they vote for.

When asked how important they believed the Aboriginal heritage was to Australia, employees were told to choose between 'strongly agree, neither agree nor disagree' and 'strongly disagree'.

Tax officers have been told to take a 'straight-up racist' test asking them to label pictures of Aboriginal and white Australians as either 'bad' or 'good'

When asked how important they believed the Aboriginal heritage was to Australia, employees were told to choose between 'strongly agree, neither agree nor disagree' and 'strongly disagree' (screen shot of test)

The test also asks employees to reveal how 'bothered' they would feel if 'many Aboriginal Australians moved to my neighbourhood in a short period of time' and altered the 'ethnic composition'.

Incorporating photos of white and Aboriginal Australians, the test forces participants to make a split-second decision about whether the person is 'good' or 'bad'.

When introduced in July, ATO officers slammed the test as 'straight-up racist', The Daily Telegraph reported.

While the ATO warned employees the test could trigger 'unexpected emotional reactions' it defended the test and said it was important to build an inclusive workforce.

Employees were asked to divulge personal information about themselves including their race, their level of education and where they lived

Incorporating photos of white and Aboriginal Australians, the test forces participants to make a split-second decision about whether they are 'good' or 'bad' (screen shot of test)

A spokesman for the ATO (office pictured) said staff could opt out of the training, but were urged not to

Based on their results, employees were told whether or not they held 'unconscious bias' and were offered training accordingly.

A spokesman for the ATO said staff could opt out of the training, but were urged not to.

He denied it was racist and denied it inappropriately probed employees' political leanings.

The spokesman said the course was a step in the right direction to 'maintain a workplace free from unrecognised biases'.On Tuesday, Rivera led police to Mollie Tibbetts' body. She had been missing since July 18

Accused killer Cristhian Rivera left another girl fearing for her life after he tailed her in his car and tried to flirt with her - in a chilling echo of the Mollie Tibbetts murder.

Rivera pulled alongside the 17-year-old in his car as she walked through Brooklyn, Iowa, the same rural town where he would later be accused of following and abducting Mollie in strikingly similar fashion.

The girl's older sibling Bailey Gibson, 18, told DailyMail.com her younger sister was 'creeped' out by Rivera's advances as he told her she was pretty and tried to get her to stop.

'I know Cristhian from my sister. She thought he was a nice, well-spoken person. They hung out a few times but nothing really happened romantically,' she said.

'She told me that a little while ago he drove up to her while she was walking through Brooklyn. He told her she was really pretty and things like that.

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Bailey Gibson, 18, told DailyMail.com her younger sister was 'creeped' out by Rivera's advances as he told her she was pretty and tried to get her to stop

Rivera is shown leaving court on Wednesday in a prison jumpsuit. He appeared to be wearing a protective vest beneath it

'It was more flirty than sexual but my sister is very shy. She didnt appreciate it. Even though she knew him a little she felt unsafe and didn't want to talk to him.

'In the end she was really creeped-out by his behavior. She had to keep telling him she wasn't interested.'

Gibson said Rivera eventually left her sister alone and she didn't think anything more about it until she read how the accused killer had allegedly followed Mollie in his black Chevy Malibu while she was out jogging on July 18.

Mexican national Rivera, who authorities say is an illegal immigrant and whose employer say used a fake name and someone elses ID and Social Security number to get a job, appeared in court Wednesday charged with Mollies murder and was held on $5million bond.

Rivera said nothing other than answering yes and no to his interpreter when prompted.

If convicted, Rivera could face deportation or life imprisonment without parole. The judge on Thursday said he may also have to register as a sex offender.

It is not yet clear how Mollie died or whether she was sexually assaulted thought Rivera was told during his court appearance Tuesday that he would be placed on the sex offender registry for life if convicted of murder

Rivera's three-year-old daughter was in the public gallery along with her 25-year-old mother

Rivera's girlfriend Iris Monarrez is seen in a yearbook photos above. She was dating Rivera throughout her years at the school

Rivera, who has been in the US illegally for between four and seven years, admits he followed Mollie and got mad when she tried calling the police - but says he 'blacked out' and can't remember attacking her.

He said he found her in the trunk of his car with blood coming from her head and hid the 20-year-old's body in a field.

Rivera was identified by surveillance footage obtained in the last couple of weeks that showed him following the student in his car and Mollie running ahead of him.

It is not yet clear how Mollie died or whether she was sexually assaulted thought Rivera was told during his court appearance Tuesday that he would be placed on the sex offender registry for life if convicted of murder.

'It all clicked when we heard the news. It's so scary to think he did something similar with my sister,' added Bailey, who asked that her sibling not be named.

Monarrez (is seen above outside court today) is friends on Facebook with Mollie Tibbetts and her brothers Scott and Jake

Rivera's girlfriend Iris Monarrez was also in court Tuesday to support him, clutching the child they had together in 2015.

Monarrez is friends on Facebook with Mollie Tibbetts and her brothers Scott and Jake.

DailyMail.com can reveal she attended the same school, Brooklyn, Guernsey, and Malcom High, as Mollie but was in the year above.

She was dating Rivera throughout her years at the school, raising the possibility that Rivera knew of Mollie years before he abducted and allegedly killed her.

Iris Monarrez was on the cheerleading squad and is seen in this yearbook photo circled above

Monarrez declined to speak to reporters as she left court Tuesday. She is seen above in yearbook photos

Mollie and Iris actually appear on opposite sides of the same page in the 2015-16 edition of the Make It Count yearbook. Mollie is seen circled on the left and Iris right hand page

'Iris was very quiet, she kept to her friends. From what I can see she was a really nice person, shy but kind. She didnt stick out,' added Bailey.

'I'm sure she's as shocked as we are.'

Brooklyn, Guernsey, and Malcom High School only has around 250 pupils making it likely that Mollie and Monarrez knew one another.

Monarrez graduated in 2016, a year ahead of Mollie, and was on the schools cheerleader squad.

Mollie, meanwhile, ran track and competed on the school debate team.

The pair actually appear on opposite sides of the same page in the 2015-16 edition of the Make It Count yearbook.

Monarrez declined to speak to reporters as she left court Tuesday.

'Iris was very quiet, she kept to her friends. From what I can see she was a really nice person, shy but kind. She didnt stick out,' added Bailey (pictured)

Brooklyn, Guernsey, and Malcom High School only has around 250 pupils making it likely that Mollie and Monarrez knew one another. The school is seen aboveTraditional Christian values have long underpinned popular children's books such as The Chronicles of Narnia.

But now Richard Dawkins wants to give youngsters a different perspective with a new book  Atheism for Children.

The outspoken scientist, 77, hopes it will stop the 'religious indoctrination of children' by schools and family members.

Professor Dawkins, an atheist whose book The God Delusion was a bestseller, said Atheism for Children will 'arm' youngsters in religious debates.

He claimed it 'will be unflinching, not a storybook. Children won't beg parents to buy it for Christmas.

Richard Dawkins, 77, has produced a new book called, Atheism for Children, to stop youngsters from being indoctrinated in schools

Perhaps I can help parents arm them against indoctrination by schools, grandparents and religious books  and against taunting by religious schoolmates. Help them think on evidence, e.g. for evolution. 'What do you think?' is my continual refrain.'

Writing on Twitter, Professor Dawkins continued: 'Are there parents who'll want to buy it for their children anyway? Do you anticipate a demand?

Would you like to see a 'children's God Delusion' by me published? I really want to not indoctrinate.'

A survey last year revealed the number of Britons who are not religious had reached a record 53 per cent  up 19 per cent since 1983.

In 2011, Professor Dawkins wrote a book for teenagers and young adults, entitled The Magic of Reality.

It aimed to show that science is better than religion at explaining the natural world.Two toddlers survived alone for what could have been up to four days after their pregnant mother was killed in a car crash in south Arkansas.

Three-year-old Kylen Holliman was found on Monday morning wandering along a road in Camden, after surviving an accident that took the life of his mother, Lisa N. Holliman, 25, the Ouachita County Sheriff's Office said.

'He's a hero,' Kylen's grandfather James Holliman said, of the child who escaped the wreckage on his own.

Kylen's one-year-old brother was still strapped into his car seat, upside down, when police found him still inside the wrecked vehicle, near where his mother's lifeless body was found.

Authorities initially thought the boys had been trapped for two days when Kylen was first found on Highway 24 in Camden near Harveys Grocery.

A GoFundMe account has been set up for the Holliman family.

Video courtesy KARK

When Kylen was first found at around 7.50am on Monday, authorities posted his photo online and learned that his mother hadn't been seen for days.

Police returned to the area where Kylen was found and discovered a car wrecked in a deep ravine that wasn't visible from the road.

At the scene, authorities found the body of Kylen's mother, who had been thrown from the vehicle, and his one-year-old brother awake and alert in his car seat.

'He was somewhat turned sideways, in a position upside down,' sheriff's Detective Lt. Nathan Greeley said.

Authorities were able to climb into the car and free the younger boy, they said.

Two toddlers survived alone for four days after their mother was killed in a car crash in south Arkansas. Kylen Holliman (pictured), three, was found wandering down a road after the crash

Police returned to the area where the boy was found and discovered a car (pictured) wrecked in a deep ravine that wasn't visible from the road

Kylen, however, had to unstrap himself, climb out of the vehicle through the sunroof and traverse up a hill covered in brush to reach the roadway where he was eventually found, authorities said.

'When he climbed out of that car, seeing his mother laying there dead like she was, he tried to wake his mama up,' James said.

Arkansas State Police said the 2001 Chevrolet that Lisa was driving east on Arkansas 24 crossed the center line, struck a guardrail and overturned into a ditch.

At the scene, authorities found Kylen's one-year-old brother awake and alert in his car seat (pictured), hanging upside, and the body of the boy's mother nearby

'[The younger brother] was somewhat turned sideways, in a position upside down,' sheriff's Detective Lt. Nathan Greeley (pictured) said

Lisa was thrown from the vehicle, and was already deceased when authorities found her body on Monday.

The last person to have reported seeing Lisa is believed to have last seen her on Saturday, authorities said.

It's believed that no other vehicles were involved in the crash.

Lisa's father, James, was unaware that his daughter was four weeks pregnant until her lifeless body was taken to the hospital, he said.

'We didn't know,' James said. 'We lost two.'

Authorities said Kylen appeared to be in good health and didn't suffer any major injuries, aside from visible scrapes and bruising.

His younger brother was treated for dehydration.

A GoFundMe account has been set up for the Holliman family. It has raised more than $3,00 of its $8,500 goal.

The city of Camden, where the crash occurred, is located about 85 miles south of Little Rock.With the Government releasing the first batch of its no-deal impact assessments today, Brexit critics are gleefully anticipating dire headlines.

They have jumped on outlandish predictions for life after Brexit, from rioting and planes being grounded, to empty supermarket shelves and warnings that a no-deal Brexit would push food prices up by 12 per cent.

But whats the truth? Here, ROSS CLARK analyses claims from proponents of the new Project Fear.

A NO-DEAL Brexit would raise food prices by 12 per cent, executives from Britains leading supermarkets warned the Treasury.

Food prices could increase by 12 per cent in a no-deal Brexit, supermarket bosses have warned (file image)

REALITY: The claim is based on the assumption that the Government would adopt the same tariffs on food imports that the EU currently obliges Britain to levy on imports from outside the EU  which are as much as 44 per cent for cheese and 40 per cent for beef.

Yet after a no-deal Brexit, the UK will be able to set tariffs at whatever level it wants  including zero.

Under World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules we wouldnt be able to discriminate between countries we dont have a free-trade agreement with  we would have to levy the same tariff on food from France as we do from, say, Brazil.

But there would be nothing to stop a post-Brexit Government reducing tariffs all round  actually cutting shop prices

UK would run out of food a year from now with no-deal Brexit, NFU warns.

Fears have also spiked that the UK could run out of food entirely within a year from now (file photo)

REALITY: This headline appeared in the Remain-supporting Guardian this month, and the claim seems to be based on a figure released by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs that suggests Britain only grows 60 per cent of what we eat.

Given that August 7  when the report appeared  is 60 per cent of the way through the year, the National Farmers Union has decided that this is the date we would run out of food if all imports were suddenly cut off.

The 60 per cent figure for Britains self-sufficiency is real, but it is ridiculous to assert that all food supplies from abroad would be cut off in the event of no deal.

Why wouldnt EU farmers and food producers want to export to Britain? And even if the EU were to ban all food exports to Britain  the odds of which are negligible  we could just import more food from non-EU countries.

Some 5 per cent of our food comes from Africa, 4 per cent each from North America, South America and Asia, 2 per cent from non-EU European countries and 1 per cent from Australasia, according to Defra.

Diabetics will have to go without insulin.

Sir Michael Rawlins claimed 3.5million UK diabetics would be at risk because 'we make no insulin in the UK' (file photo)

REALITY: On July 30 Sir Michael Rawlins, chairman of the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, claimed 3.5million UK diabetics  including the Prime Minister  would be at risk because we make no insulin in the UK and what we import from the EU has to be temperature-controlled, meaning it could go off if there were delays at ports.

He had to clarify his remarks after it emerged that a factory in Wrexham produces insulin, and drugs firms that manufacture it in France and Denmark reassured diabetics contingency plans will ensure Britain will not run low.

No-deal Brexit poses serious risk to public safety, say police leaders.

It has also been suggested by police leaders that a no-deal Brexit could pose a serious risk to public safety (file photo)

REALITY: In another scaremongering Guardian headline, the paper reported on a letter to the Home Secretary from the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners cross-party Brexit working group.

Police and crime commissioners are not to be confused with the police  they are in most cases locally elected politicians.

Their claim seems to be based on a speech made by the EUs chief negotiator Michel Barnier in June in which he said British police would no longer have direct access to EU police databases or the European Arrest Warrant. Yet Mr Barnier also went to pains to say that it wouldnt mean the end of co-operation nor extradition. In any case, the European Arrest Warrant is widely criticised, not least by shadow attorney general Baroness Chakrabarti. As director of Liberty in 2014, she raised the case of Andrew Symou, who was extradited to Greece on manslaughter charges despite serious doubts about the reliability of evidence. He was acquitted after spending ten months in jail.

A disorderly Brexit will bring civil unrest.

Amazon's chief in the UK, Doug Gurr, said a disorderly Brexit could bring 'civil unrest' (file photo)

REALITY: This claim was apparently made by Doug Gurr, Amazons chief in the UK, at a private meeting with Brexit secretary Dominic Raab a month ago  although it is not clear exactly what he meant by civil unrest and what would trigger it.

Suffice to say that a decade ago Britain withstood the collapse of a bank followed by the deepest recession since the Thirties without civil unrest  so why Brexit should lead to it isnt clear.

Aeroplanes will be grounded

Chancellor Philip Hammond has suggested aeroplanes could remain grounded in the UK - but this would mean the EU ejecting the UK from an 'open-skies agreement' (file photo)

REALITY: Chancellor Philip Hammond suggested this extreme scenario while answering questions from the Commons Select Committee on Business last November. For it to occur, however, it would mean the EU ejecting the UK from its open-skies agreement  a single market for airlines allowing any majority European-owned airline to fly between EU airports  and refusing to set anything else up.

That is highly unlikely as, besides being unable to fly to Britain, European airlines would be unable to use British airspace which covers a vital area criss-crossed by many transatlantic flightpaths.

Another reason why planes would be grounded was given by Paul Everitt, chairman of ADS, a trade body for the UK aerospace industry. He claims that after a no-deal Brexit, planes with British-made parts might no longer be allowed to use EU airspace.

This is preposterous. It isnt just UK airlines that use planes with British-made components  Rolls Royce makes a large proportion of the worlds commercial jet engines and Airbus, registered in Holland, makes wings in Wales. It would mean the EU having to ban planes taking off across Europe.

M20 could be a giant lorry park for years

An impact assessment by Dover Council said if lorries are given customs checks lasting two minutes it would cause 17-mile queues

REALITY: This is based on an impact assessment by Dover Council. Port officials said that if lorries were given customs checks lasting an average of two minutes it would cause 17-mile tailbacks.

We dont know what customs arrangements will be in place after Brexit or if there will be any increase in checks. But the hysterical reporting ignores the fact that the traffic system already has to cope with substantial delays at the port.

In 2015, a stretch of the M20 was closed for 24 days as part of Operation Stack  which involved parking lorries on the motorway after a dock strike in Calais caused delays. The police now use Operation Brock, which keeps the road open by parking lorries on just one carriageway.

Even before the referendum, authorities were considering creating a permanent lorry park to cope with such delays.

Brexit has given us the slowest growing economy in the developed world.

There has also been a suggestion that Brexit gave Britain 'the slowest-growing economy in the developed world' (file photo)

REALITY: There was a blip in 2017 when the UK was the slowest-growing economy in the G7. But over the year as a whole, our economy grew by 1.8 per cent  faster than Japan (1.7 per cent) or Italy (1.6 per cent).

Last Friday, the latest GDP figures showed Britain was once more growing faster than the Eurozone  with growth of 0.4 per cent in the last quarter, compared with 0.3 per cent for the Eurozone.

Just this week, Britain recorded the lowest net borrowing for the period April to July in 16 years.

Brexit will break the NHS

Claims have also been made that there is already an exodus of NHS staff - with EU nationals leaving their roles (file photo)

REALITY: False claims have been made that there is already a Brexodus of NHS staff. While some EU nationals have left NHS jobs since the referendum, they have been more than outnumbered by EU nationals who have joined the NHS  in the first year following the Brexit vote there was a net increase of 3,000 EU nationals working in the NHS.

What has worried some Remainers is a decrease in the number of nurses from other European Union countries during that 12-month period. However, that was more likely to have been the fault of over-stringent new language tests, which in some cases even caught out native English speakers from Australia.Jacob Rees-Mogg last night called on the Prime Minister to chuck Chequers as he told grassroots Tories the UK should not fear a no-deal Brexit.

In a strongly worded letter to the chairmen of local Conservative parties, he said Theresa May should stand up to bullying from Brussels and believe in Britain.

Mr Rees-Moggs forthright message came just as Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab prepared to publish a series of papers on how Britain will cope if negotiations with the EU collapse.

Jacob Rees-Mogg (pictured) last night called on Theresa May to stand up to bullying from Brussels and believe in Britain

Mr Raab will say today that he is confident a good withdrawal deal is within our sights  while insisting ministers are ready if talks fail.

But in his letter last night, Mr Rees-Mogg, chairman of the pro-Brexit European Research Group of Tory MPs, said Britain had nothing to fear from a no deal because Brussels needs a deal more than we do.

This is because, if no deal is reached, the EU will not receive the 40billion divorce settlement Britain has promised to pay.

Mr Rees-Mogg  seen as a Tory leadership candidate if Mrs May falters  called on her to ditch the Brexit plans agreed with her Cabinet at Chequers last month, writing: It is time to face down vested interests in the establishment and put democracy first.

Yet most of all, it is time to chuck Chequers, respect the referendum, be out of Europe, take back control and believe in Britain.

On what promises to be another dramatic day for Brexit:

Mr Raab will warn the EU to be more responsible and work with Britain to plan for no deal

Among the Governments no deal plans will be a pledge to continue EU payments to poorer areas and to farmers

Britain will confirm that EU migrants will have the right to stay if an agreement is not reached.

North East Somerset MP Mr Rees-Mogg said Mrs Mays Chequers deal was the wrong deal for Britain and does not implement the will of the British people, adding: The white paper does not respect the result of the referendum and does not give us control of our borders, laws and money. Chequers will tie our economy and our future to the EU indefinitely.

He wrote: This is why the Prime Minister should chuck Chequers and instead seek a Canada style free trade agreement with the EU to make the most of the global opportunities that lie ahead.

The United Kingdom does not need to do a deal with the EU. The EU needs to do a deal with us at all costs. No deal means no divorce bill  handing a 40billion Brexit bonus to Brussels. It is time the Government realised that the EU stands to lose much from no deal being agreed and stopped being cowed by the EUs threats.

Mr Rees-Moggs letter came just as Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab (pictured) prepared to publish a series of papers on how Britain will cope if negotiations with the EU collapse

Mr Rees-Mogg concluded the letter to all Conservative Association chairmen by saying: Please feel free to circulate this letter and briefing note to members and your constituents to assure them that the Prime Minister has alternatives, and that if the bullying stance of the EU continues we can leave on 29 March 2019 with either Canada or WTO terms. We believe in Britain.

As part of its no-deal planning, the Treasury will today commit to guarantee EU funding promised to poorer regions such as Cornwall and parts of northern England, as well as scientific research.

The plan is one of the technical notices published today by Mr Raab, laying out how Britain will cope if talks with the EU collapse.

Mr Raab will also accuse Brussels of being irresponsible by refusing to work with the UK to prepare for a potential no-deal.

It is understood one of the papers will guarantee funding for scientific research under the Horizon 2020 scheme. And farm payments under the Common Agricultural Policy will also be maintained.

A source said: The Government will commit to the Northern Powerhouse by maintaining the structural fund.

Mr Raab will say the series of technical briefings will ensure the smooth, continued functioning of the UK economy in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

The Brexit Secretary will also say the Government will take unilateral action to maintain continuity if negotiations break down.

In the event of a no-deal, the UK will continue to behave as responsible European neighbours.

In a speech, Mr Raab will state: I remain confident a good deal is within our sights, and that remains our top, and overriding, priority. If the EU responds with the level of ambition and pragmatism, we will strike a strong deal that benefits both sides.

But, we must be ready to consider the alternative. We have a duty, as a responsible government, to plan for every eventuality.

These technical notices  and the ones that will follow  are a sensible, measured, and proportionate approach to minimising the impact of no-deal on British firms, citizens, charities and public bodies.

Mr Raab will say the UK, in the event of a no-deal, would diverge when we are ready, on our terms from the EU.

The Brexit Secretary will explain there have already been planning discussions between the Bank of England and the European Central Bank for no deal and called for talks to begin on data protection and between port authorities.

For our part, if the negotiations fail, we will continue to behave as responsible European neighbours, partners and allies, he will say.

Under current plans, the technical notices will be published in batches, starting today and running through September.

But Labours Brexit spokesman Sir Keir Starmer dismissed the documents as a distraction, saying a no-deal would be catastrophic.Record numbers of baby boomers are using second homes as a way of topping up their pensions or salaries, according to a study.

It found one in six 55 to 64-year-olds own a second property, contributing to an average wealth of 250,000 in this age range.

Many of these baby boomers are renting out their second homes to boost their incomes, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies.

At the same time, home-ownership among millennials has slowed significantly.

A new study found one in six 55 to 64-year-olds in the UK own a second property, contributing to an average wealth of 250,000 in this age range

They will, however, benefit from windfall inheritance packages from their parents who are likely to hand down their accrued property wealth, the IFS said.

Millennials are expected to inherit 100,000 each on average, although they will not receive the money until they are in their 60s.

Other research by the Resolution Foundation think-tank shows that overall second home ownership in the UK has risen by a third since 2000. More than 10 per cent of adults in the country  5.2million people  own another property.

The rise of second home ownership has been blamed for an increasing concentration of property wealth held within a smaller pool of well-off families.

Baby boomers, those born roughly between 1945 and 1965, are typically associated with living through an unprecedented period of economic, social and cultural improvement.

The group accounts for more than half of all the wealth tied up in secondary properties. In contrast, only 3 per cent of millennials own a second home. Home ownership in general among middle-income millennials has declined from two-thirds to one in four in 2015/16.

The research found four 30-year-olds in ten today live in privately rented flats and houses, compared with one in ten baby boomers at the same age.

Many of these baby boomers are renting out their second homes to boost their incomes, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies

The younger generation's efforts to get on the housing ladder have been hit by relatively low incomes at a time of rising property prices. In 2015/16 almost 90 per cent of 25 to 34-year-olds faced average regional house prices of at least four times their income, compared with less than half 20 years earlier.

Rowena Crawford, an associate director at the IFS and author of the latest report, said: 'Older people do not draw on their wealth much during retirement.

'The majority of homeowners do not move or access their housing wealth, and even financial wealth is drawn down only slowly.

'This means that most wealth held by retired people is likely to be bequeathed to future generations rather than spent.

'This will have implications for the level and distribution of resources among current working-age individuals, particularly those with wealthy parents and few siblings.

'Given the increased freedom people now have over how they spend their pension wealth in retirement, carefully monitoring how the use of wealth evolves in future will be important, both for the living standards of retirees and also for younger generations.'Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson is 'out of his mind' for proposing a series of 'bizarre' and outlandish ideas to bolster the UK's military, sources have claimed.

Among some of the concepts touted by Mr Williamson include fitting guns to tractors and disguising defence systems as Coca-Cola lorries, the Sun says.

Williamson is rumoured to have suggested that old commercial ferries should also be turned into beach assault crafts, just part of a string of unusual requests which have riled military chiefs.

The defence secretary has been slammed for a 'bizarre' set of measures he suggested to military chiefs including disguising missile systems as Coco-Cola lorries

His alleged proposals come in the midst of huge cuts, including a 20billion shortfall in its 179billion equipment budget.

A source said: 'The man is out of his mind. No one knows what to do.'

'We need billions and serious ideas to tackle serious problems.

'Yet Williamson is mucking about with his spider and coming up with crazy suggestions. The man is out of his mind.

'His behaviour is totally bizarre and no one knows what to do.'

The proposals have sparked anger within the ranks of the military, as they now fear his strange demands could hamper their chances of securing additional funds from Philip Hammond's Treasury.

The Defence Secretary reportedly proposed the idea of Coca-Cola missile trucks during a meeting on the threat from Russia.

A source told the Sun: 'Gavin just came out with it. He said, "Can't we buy tractors and put really expensive guns on them?"'

In June, Williamson threatened to topple Theresa May after a bitter row over military cuts.

But after he suggested old commercial ferries should be turned into beach assault craft, one source lamented their expectations had been 'misplaced'

He is said to have warned the Prime Minister that if she did not commit an extra 20billion to Defence then Tory MPs would vote down her next Budget, effectively passing a motion of no confidence in her.

I made her  and I can break her, Mr Williamson is said to have boasted to service chiefs.

When Mr Williamson said he needed his own 20 billion  a minimum of 2 billion a year extra for the next decade  to avoid damaging defence cuts, Mrs May questioned whether the UK had to be a tier one military power.

Mr Williamson hit back that after Brexit it would be even more important for the UK to sit at the top table internationally.

Mr Williamson has denied to comment.The German discount supermarket that is set to open its doors to Australian consumers is too big and poorly designed, local council claims.

Discount giant Kaufland announced at the end of 2016 that the store would enter Australia after studying the market.

The supermarket giant has secured properties in Melbourne and Adelaide and has begun to advertise employment opportunities for the stores.

Prospect Council, north of Adelaide, have released an assessment of the $35million outlet anticipated to open in the local area.

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Prospect Council, north of Adelaide, claim the German discount supermarket that is set to open in Australia is too big and poorly designed (pictured: artist impression of Prospect Kaufland store)

The council has criticised the size of the outlet which consists of 6266 square metres, three retail tenancies, loading/unloading areas and car park with 400 parking spaces (pictured)

The council has criticised the size of the outlet which consists of 6266 square metres, three retail tenancies, loading/unloading areas and car park with 400 parking spaces.

Kaufland is described as a low-price combination of Aldi, Kmart and JB Hi-Fi.

A regular sized Kaufland store stocks 60,000 different products ranging from grocery goods to electronics.

By comparison Aldi typically stocks around 1,500 per store while Coles and Woolworths can stock up to 25,000.

The report has been provided to the State Commission Assessment Panel who will rule on the proposal.

Darren Starr, Prospect development services manager, said in the report the proposed supermarket was 'inconsistent' with the developmental plans.

Mr Starr said the inconsistencies related to 'the scale of the proposed retail activity, the built form of the proposed retail building, location of buildings on-site and extent of car parking on the subject land.'

He claims the scale of retail activities are three times over what is deemed suitable.

The report also criticised the appearance of the proposed supermarket as the dominant car park would interfere with the public realm.

Discount giant Kaufland announced at the end of 2016 that the growth-oriented corporation would enter Australia after studying the market (pictured: artist impression of Prospect Kaufland store)

Darren Starr, Prospect development services manager, said in the report the proposed supermarket was 'inconsistent' with the council's development plan

There are concerns about access and traffic mobility as the location on corner of Churchill and Regency roads is located adjacent to a train station.

The Kaufland website claims the supermarket giant 'has an ambitious Australian investment and development programme.'

It encourages prospective sellers to contact the company as they 'are always looking' to purchase sites.

Kaufland is a subsidiary of the world's fourth largest retailer, Schwarz Group. The supermarket operates more than 1,230 stores across Europe and employs more than 150,000 people.

There is currently no date set for when Kaufland's first Australian store will open.

Kaufland is a subsidiary of the world's fourth largest retailer, Schwarz Group and has more than 1,230 stores across Europe (pictured: artist impression of Prospect Kaufland store)Britain will today threaten to pull the plug on the 1billion a year in foreign aid it gives the EU in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt will warn Brussels the funding will only continue if British aid groups can take part in EU-run projects.

The warning comes on the same day as ministers publish the first of a series of technical notices designed to prepare citizens and businesses for what they may need to do if a Brexit deal is not reached.

Penny Mordaunt (pictured) will warn Brussels the foreign aid funding will only continue if British aid groups can take part in EU-run projects

As part of this, Miss Mordaunt will today write to UK-based charities to explain how Britain could stop spending its aid cash through Brussels. Last year, 884million of the UKs 13.4billion foreign development budget was channelled through the EU into humanitarian projects around the globe.

British aid organisations currently run around a fifth of the European schemes. But officials in Brussels have been accused of trying to put them off bidding for future cash by warning they would lose funding if there is no Brexit deal.

Miss Mordaunt will today tell the UK-based groups that if this happens, ministers will simply stop spending its foreign aid budget through Brussels and give it directly to the charities so they do not miss out.

In the letter, seen by the Daily Mail, she points out that UK aid groups are among the best in world and it does not make sense for the European Commission to block them from working to alleviate poverty.

Miss Mordaunt writes that she understands the charities difficulties in applying for EU funding they remain legally entitled to in recent months, adding: It is in neither the EUs nor the UKs interest that organisations which are best-placed are prevented from delivering our programmes.

The UK wants to be a good development partner to the EU. We share a common goal of delivering excellent development outcomes for the worlds poorest.

The warning comes as ministers publish technical notices designed to prepare citizens and businesses for what they may need to do if a Brexit deal is not reached

Miss Mordaunt said she understood the aid groups concerns at continuing projects if the EU withdrew funding but guaranteed the UK Government will step in to help.

The European Commission currently requires UK aid organisations to prove at application stage that they are able to fund the delivery of humanitarian contracts should there be a no deal scenario.

Miss Mordaunt will warn Brussels that any future contributions are reliant on British groups being able to bid for the cash.

She said: The UK wants to work closely with the EU after we leave, including on development. However, if the UK is contributing to EU funds and projects, UK NGOs [non-governmental organisations] must have access to this funding.

I am clear that it is not tenable for the UK to choose to fund programmes through the EU without the expectation that UK organisations can compete for the chance to implement these programmes. This principle must be a key part of the productive and effective development relationship we hope to establish with the EU after exit.

As well as sending her letter to UK-based aid groups today, Miss Mordaunt is expected to write to the European Commission.Advertisement

Dramatic drone footage showing an previous unknown and uncontacted indigenous tribe living deep in the Brazilian jungle has been seen for the first time.

The video was shot from above a vast area of dense Amazon rainforest in the far west of northern Brazil.

The images show a group of 16 indigenous people from a tribe which, according to the Brazilian agency for native tribes, Funai, has never had any contact with the outside world.

A worn axe tied with vegetable fibre was found by FUNAI - a Brazilian government agency that protects indigenous culture and interests

The photos, as well as the drone footage, were taken in 2017, and has now been released. This is a picture of a horn made from tree bark used by the uncontacted tribe

The video and photographs were taken during an expedition in 2017, but have only been released now.

Some drone footage shows a tribesman walking with a bow and arrow, an ancestral long house known as a maloca, and a plantation of what is believed to be manioc.

Other members of the tribe can be seen walking through the jungle near the clearing.

The name or ethnicity of the tribe is unknown as the group has never been seen before and no contact has ever been made, according to FUNAI.

The agency said its experts trekked more than 190 miles into the 53,000-square-mile Vale do Javari reservation on the border with Colombia and Peru, after receiving reports that illegal hunters were threatening tribes.

The three-week expedition last year included travelling 112 miles along rivers before taking to motorbikes then walking for 75 miles through dense jungle.

Hidden: The indigenous tribe was found living in a reserve near the Peruvian border

The sign behind a Funai expedition team reads 'PROTECTED LAND', they found evidence of illegal hunters in the region

FUNAI said that no attempt will be made to contact this or any of Brazil's uncontacted tribes. FUNAI also found dugout canoes probably used by the uncontacted tribe on the 1,050 km Rio Jutai River

The group also found items which confirmed of the presence of uncontacted tribes in the region, including an abandoned stone axe tied together with vegetable fibre, a horn made from tree bark and dugout canoes.

The region, in the Brazilian state of Amazonas, is known to be occupied by six tribes which have been contacted.

But FUNAI believe there at at least 16 other tribes living in the forest who have never had any contact with civilisation.

Bruno Pereira, FUNAI's isolated indigenous peoples coordinator, said it is the first time Indians have been filmed using drones, which went undetected by the tribespeople during five drone flights during the expedition.

He said: 'The use of drones provided safety both for the indigenous people and for the FUNAI team.

FUNAI believe there are 113 uncontacted tribes living in the Brazilian Amazon, only 27 of which have been sighted

An ancestral long house known as a 'maloca', and a plantation of what is believed to be manioc, also known as cassava

Contacted Amazonian tribes in the area The area where the images were taken corresponds to the southern boundary of the Indigenous Land (TI) Javari Valley and north of the Mawetek Indigenous Land, which is the second largest in the country and is situated in the southwest of the Amazon. The territory is occupied by six people contacted: Matses, Matis, Marubo, Kanamari, Kulina-Pano, Korubo and Tsohom Djapa. Advertisement

'The idea is to share these scenes in order to confirm the existence of these Indians and the importance of protecting them.

'We need to strengthen our work in the region.'

The team also found evidence of illegal hunters in the region believed to be capturing exotic Amazonian species, including traps set up in tributaries of the Juruazinho river.

A number of animals were released from the traps, a spokesman said.

'These images have the power to make society and the government reflect on the importance of protecting these groups,' said Wallace Bastos, FUNAI's president.

Mr Pereira said that no attempt will be made to contact this or any of Brazil's uncontacted tribes.

He said: 'We respect their isolation. Their isolation will remain until the day they decide against it, or until an extreme situation requires the State to make contact.'

Lone survivor in Amazon, Brazil. The man, who is thought to be now in his 50s, is the last of a tribe whose name is not known

This 2011 video frame released by Brazil's National Indian Foundation and published in late July shows an uncontacted indigenous man amid the forest in Rondonia, Brazil

FUNAI believe there are 113 uncontacted tribes living in the Brazilian Amazon, only 27 of which have been sighted, which could number up to 3,000 people.

There are also said to be 15 uncontacted tribes in neighbouring Peru and others deep in the forests of Bolivia, Colombia and Ecuador.

Recently, FUNAI helped locate a man dubbed 'the loneliest man on the planet'. He was part of a tribe known as the Flecheiros, or 'People of the Arrow', but the man has lived alone in Amazon for 22 years after his tribe was slaughtered. Stunning pictures showed his face close up while video showed him swinging an axe at a tree.

A team of 30 tribal scouts and backwoodsmen - along with FUNAI - set out to find out about the Flecheiros before making the stunning discovery.

Pereira told the Associated Press these communities are aware of the cities and farms in their surroundings, but they often choose to isolate themselves due to traumatic experiences with the outside world.

External contact can often be deadly, ending in massacres or epidemics wiping out tribes. Last year, a group of illegal gold miners allegedly killed 10 people in an isolated community.

'If they wanted contact with the outside world, they would seek out ways to communicate with us,' Pereira said.Immigration is responsible for more than four fifths of the unprecedented surge in Britains population this century, a report claims today.

Some 82 per cent of the huge rise from 2001 to 2016 can be attributed to the arrival of immigrants and, subsequently, their UK-born children, according to research by the think-tank MigrationWatch.

Its study has exposed how the impact of immigration has been understated, and claims that of the 6.6million extra people added to the population during those 15 years, 5.4million were the result of mass immigration  the biggest ever wave of incomers.

Immigration is responsible for more than four fifths of unprecedented surge in Britain's population (file photo)

Because the Office for National Statistics (ONS) failed to count 2.3million children born to foreign parents as migrants  giving a lower total of 3.1million, or 47 per cent of the rise  the effect of the previous Labour governments open-door policy was not calculated correctly.

MigrationWatch, which carried out the study using official data, said it was undeniable that the huge scale of net migration had driven population growth. It said that after Labour made it easier for migrants to come to Britain, the face of the country changed as public services including schools and hospitals came under pressure and wages fell.

Lord Green of Deddington, chairman of the think-tank, which campaigns for tighter immigration controls, said the paper shone a light on this elephant in the room.

He said it demonstrated it was simply not possible to discuss the state of our public services without considering immigration as a major factor, adding: The Government have been remarkably coy about the true impact of immigration on our public services. It is almost as if officialdom preferred to avoid the issue as far as they possibly can.

This has meant that very few people realise that over 80 per cent of our population increase in recent years has been due to immigration.

The Government must get serious about reducing numbers.

Around 82 per cent of the huge rise from 2001 to 2016 can be attributed to the arrival of immigrants and their UK-born children (file photo)

Immigration on the current scale is rapidly changing the size and nature of our society.

In its most recent publication, the ONS stated that 59 per cent of a 392,000 year-on-year rise from 2016 to 2017 occurred due to net migration. It attributes the remainder to the excess of births over deaths as people live longer.

Over the period covered by the report, estimates of the number of people living in the UK went up from 59.1million to 65.7million.

Figures released today by the ONS are set to confirm the Government is missing its target to cut net migration to tens of thousands.

The ONS said that in accordance with internationally recognised definitions, children born in the UK were not counted as migrants.

A Home Office spokesman said: We are committed to bringing net migration down to sustainable levels. There is no consent in Britain for uncontrolled immigration.

After we leave the EU we will end free movement and put in place a system which works in the best interests of the whole of the UK.

We are considering options that ensure we are in control of our borders and managing migration, while continuing to attract and retain people who come here to work and bring significant benefits.A driver who was reportedly four times over the legal limit when he crashed his car has turned himself into police.

The motorist decided to drive his Holden Commodore in the middle of the night, despite polishing off an entire bottle of scotch.

The driver had been driving alone in New South Wales' Royal National Park on March 19, an area known for its natural beauty and secluded beaches.

Holden Commodore: the car reportedly driven by the offender when he crashed into a tree

At around 1.19am, he lost control of his car whilst driving westbound on McKell Avenue and crashed into a nearby tree.

Rather than attempting a getaway in the most-likely deserted park, the honest driver phoned up the local police to report what had happened.

Police arrived on the scene within 20 minutes. They reportedly found an empty bottle of scotch lying a few metres away from the car.

Back at the police station, he was given a breathalyser test. He was found to be four times over the legal limit with a whopping reading of 0.222.

The driver was left with a badly damaged car and a charge of high-range drink-driving, to which he has pleaded guilty.

However, he may avoid a prison sentence thanks to his honest act.

He could instead be ordered by the court to perform community service.From a paper delivery boy to challenging for Australia's top job, Peter Dutton has come a long way from his humble beginnings on the outskirts of Brisbane.

'We didn't have a privileged upbringing at all,' the man who could be prime minister in a matter of hours told Triple M, as he prepared to mount a second leadership challenge to Malcolm Turnbull.

Born to bricklayer Bruce Dutton and childcare worker Ailsa Leitch on November 18, 1970, Mr Dutton strived for independence from an early age.

He mowed lawns and delivered newspapers for pocket money as a child, before starting a job in a butcher shop as a 12-year-old.

Peter Dutton (pictured with his children Harry, 14, Tom, 12 and Rebecca, 16) has come a long way from his humble beginnings on Brisbane's outskirts

Mr Dutton's local butcher Terry Orreal (right)) claims it was he who sparked the Liberal leadership crisis and persuaded the former Home Affairs Minister to knife Mr Turnbull

Strangely, Mr Dutton's local butcher claims it was he who sparked the Liberal leadership crisis and persuaded the former Home Affairs Minister to knife Mr Turnbull.

'I told him, Peter, you've got to do something about Turnbull,' 72-year-old Terry Orreal, who owns Brendale Butchers in Brisbane's north, told The Australian.

'I said, ''Peter, what's the difference if you are going to lose that's what will happen unless something is done about Turnbull''.

'Peter will be a damn good leader if he gets the chance because he stands up for what he believes in and he listens to people. He certainly listens to me.'

Mr and Mrs Dutton purchased this $2.3million luxurious beach-front mansion on the Gold Coast's so-called 'Millionaires Row' in 2015

Kirilly (left) was wooed by what she says is Mr Dutton's (right) mystery and sense of humour

Mr Dutton, who earned a Bachelor of Business from the Queensland University of Technology after finishing high school, bought his first property at the age of 18.

He and wife Kirilly have built up an impressive portfolio, which includes a $2.3million luxurious beach-front mansion on the Gold Coast's so-called 'Millionaires Row'.

The couple purchased the four-bedroom home in 2015 and rent it out for a reported $1,300 per week.

They also paid $760,000 for a retail shopping centre in Townsville last year - and own two other homes - one on the Sunshine State and another in Canberra.

Mr and Mrs Dutton live on a two-hectare property in Camp Mountain in Brisbane's north-west with the couple's two young sons, Harry, 14, and Tom, 12 - as well as Mr Dutton's 16-year-old daughter Rebecca from a previous relationship.

The four-bedroom Gold Coast home (pictured) reportedly yields $1,300 per week in rent

Peter Dutton is pictured with wife Kirilly, the couple's two young sons, Harry and Tom - as well as Mr Dutton's teenage daughter Rebecca from a previous relationship

'People don't get to see your family because you try to guard your family from the public eye,' Mr Dutton told Sky News this week.

'I've got a self-deprecating sense of humour and I like a drink like anybody else.'

Mr Dutton first married at the age of 22 in 1992, but the union lasted just a few months. He later fathered Rebecca with another woman in 2002, before meeting his future wife.

'He's more romantic than me. He buys the gift baskets and the flowers,' Mrs Dutton told The Courier Mail of the prime minister hopeful.

The couple also paid $760,000 for a retail shopping centre in Townsville last year

Peter Dutton met his now wife Kirilly (right) in 2001 before marrying around two years later

'There's a perception out there that he's fairly serious and hard-line. But he loves a joke. He's got a great sense of humour.

'When he and his mother get together, they can have tears running down their faces. It can take him about 20 minutes to tell a story because he's laughing so much.'

Mrs Dutton operates and owns the Camelia Avenue Childcare Centre in Everton Hills, as well as Bald Hills Childcare Centre, both in Brisbane's north-west.

Her husband has denied he could be disqualified from Parliament for breaching constitutional law due to his business interests in the childcare centres.

PETER DUTTON'S CHILDCARE WOES WHY DOES LABOR WANT PETER DUTTON REFERRED TO THE HIGH COURT? Labor (leader Bill Shorten pictured) suggest Mr Dutton could be in breach of the constitution - Questions are being raised about whether Mr Dutton could be in breach of the constitution because his family's discretionary trust, RHT Family Trust - The trust holds an interest in two Brisbane childcare businesses, which receive government subsidies - Under new laws introduced in July, those and other childcare centres began receiving subsidies direct from the government to help parents pay their fees - However under section 44 of the constitution, members of parliament who have any direct or indirect pecuniary interest in any 'agreement' with the commonwealth are not eligible to sit in the House of Representatives or Senate - If any MP or senator is found by the High Court to be in breach of section 44, like in the recent dual citizenship fiasco, they must be disqualified from parliament - Fairfax Media reports that the two childcare centres in question have received more than $5.6 million in commonwealth funding since 2014 WHAT DOES MR DUTTON SAY? Mr Dutton (pictured on Thursday) says his legal advice shows he has not breached section 44 - Mr Dutton says the unequivocal' legal advice he received in December 2017 shows he wasn't in breach of section 44 - The advice looks at the RHT Family Trust's trustee company, RHT Investments, and the Camelia Avenue Child Care Centre and Bald Hills Child Care Centre it runs in Brisbane - Mr Dutton's wife Kirilly is RHT Investment's sole director and holds two shares - Mr Dutton stopped being a director, its secretary, and a shareholder in March 2010 - However he remains a beneficiary of the RHT Family Trust - His legal advice says direct payments were made by the government to RHT Investments 'from time to time' as part of a statutory subsidy scheme to help parents pay childcare fees - But it says as there is no 'agreement' within the meaning of section 44 in regards to RHT Investments and the government, Mr Dutton is not in breach of the constitution WHAT'S LABOR'S LEGAL ADVICE SAY? - Labor obtained advice from constitutional lawyer Brett Walker SC in April on the matter but has only released it this week - That advice found that Mr Dutton was not entitled to sit in parliament - Other constitutional experts, Professor George Williams and Professor Anne Twomey, have also said this week there is an arguable case against Mr Dutton WHAT WAS MALCOLM TURNBULL'S RESPONSE? Mr Turnbull told parliament on Wednesday Mr Dutton told him he wasn't in breach of section 44 - Mr Turnbull told parliament on Wednesday Mr Dutton told him he wasn't in breach of section 44 - However the prime minister hadn't seen the legal advice IS ANY OTHER LEGAL ADVICE BEING SOUGHT? - Late on Wednesday, Attorney-General Christian Porter said he'd seek legal advice from the solicitor-general about whether Mr Dutton is eligible to sit in parliament CAN MR DUTTON BE REFERRED TO THE HIGH COURT? - He can only be referred by parliament. Advertisement

Undeterred by the supposed dangers to his eligibility - and his defeat in Tuesday's leadership spill - Mr Dutton has launched a second challenge.

He told the prime minister on Thursday he has the support to take his job, but Mr Turnbull is refusing to bring on a meeting until Mr Dutton can prove he actually has the numbers.

'Earlier this morning, I called the prime minister to advise him that it was my judgement that the majority of the party room no longer supported his leadership,' Mr Dutton told reporters at Parliament House on Thursday morning.

'As such, I asked him to convene a meeting of the Liberal Party at which I would challenge for the leadership.'

Treasurer Scott Morrison is reportedly preparing to run against Mr Dutton to replace the prime minister

Mr Morrison declared his support for Mr Turnbull on Wednesday, but reports suggest he could now run for the top job

The former home affairs minister lost a challenge 48 votes to 35 on Tuesday but now wants to have another go at toppling his leader.

Treasurer Scott Morrison is reportedly preparing to run against Mr Dutton to replace the prime minister.

Mr Morrison declared his support for Mr Turnbull on Wednesday, but multiple media outlets report he could now run for the top job if the prime minister steps aside.Natasha Abrahart, 20, sent an email to the physics department at the University of Bristol detailing her difficulties but never heard back from support staff

A student at a university hit by a string of suspected suicides took her own life two months after warning staff she had tried to kill herself, it emerged last night.

Natasha Abrahart, 20, sent an email to the physics department at the University of Bristol detailing her difficulties but never heard back from support staff, it was reported.

Her note read: 'The past few days have been really hard. I have been having suicidal thoughts and attempted it.'

Miss Abrahart, who was also under the care of the Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust, was not contacted by a well-being adviser, her parents claimed.

The second-year student was found dead in her flat on April 30.

She is one of 11 students at the University of Bristol who have died suddenly in the past two years.

At a pre-inquest review in Flax Bourton near Bristol, her parents, Robert and Margaret, expressed concern at the 'very limited contact' Miss Abrahart had with her personal tutor.

But despite multiple suspected suicides at the university her parents told a pre-inquest review that she was not contacted by wellbeing advisers.

Their barrister, Tom Stoate, raised questions about what was being done to help Miss Abrahart when it became clear she was struggling with her studies.

She is one of 11 students at the University of Bristol who have died suddenly in the past two years (pictured The Wills Memorial Building at the University of Bristol)

Mr Stoate told the court: 'We feel the university could have and should have done something.'

The university has been widely criticised for planned changes to its support services, which it promises will provide better help for vulnerable students.

New guidelines allow staff to contact parents of at-risk students if they are thought to be struggling.

They can only do so if a student signs a form giving their permission for their condition to be discussed.

Senior students will also become peer advisors and a post graduate will take on the role of 'chief resident'.

Her note read: 'The past few days have been really hard. I have been having suicidal thoughts and attempted it.' The second-year student was found dead in her flat in April

Coroners have not established any links between the 11 recent deaths. The university is conducting its own investigations.

The establishment said that the spate of student deaths has been caused by a 'cluster effect' rather than failings in pastoral care.

A spokesman for the university told the Times: 'We offer our sincere sympathies to Natasha's family following her tragic death and will co-operate fully with the coroner to ensure any lessons learnt are built into the support we provide.

'Mental health and wellbeing is fast emerging as the single biggest public health issue affecting young people today, both here in the UK and globally.

'We are taking every step we can, to work with our students to help them build the life-skills and resilience to cope with the pressures they face, and to identify vulnerable students as early as possible so we can support them with their mental health issues.'

A full inquest will take place next year.An Alabama pastor delivered a bizarre sermon asking his congregation to pray against 'witchcraft' being used to attack President Donald Trump.

Pastor John A. Kilpatrick warned congregants on Tuesday that nefarious forces were working to harm the President and undermine the values of the United States.

'What's happening right now in America, is witchcraft's trying to take this country over,' he said. 'It's witchcraft that's trying to take America back over.'

Pastor John A. Kilpatrick warned congregants on Tuesday that nefarious forces were working to harm the President and undermine the values of the US

Kilpatrick, founder of the Church of His Presence in Daphne (pictured) in 2006, is best known for being pastor of the Brownsville Assembly in Pensacola, Florida

'What's happening right now in America, is witchcraft's trying to take this country over,' Kilpatrick said. He asked people to pray for Trump (pictured Tuesday)

Footage of the sermon, taken on Monday, has already racked up 100,000 views on social media.

During his sermon, the minister repeatedly quotes 2 Kings 9:22, which attributes witchcraft to the biblical figure Jezebel, and claims the 'Holy Spirit' spoke to him personally and warned that Trump's presidency was at risk.

'I am not being political, but I don't see how President Trump bears up under it... He is as strong as I've ever seen a man be. But here's what the Holy Spirit said to me last night and what He said for me to tell you.'

'He said, 'Tell the church that so far, Trump has been dealing with Ahab. But Jezebel's fixing to step out from the shadows.' That's what the Lord said to me.'

During his sermon, the minister repeatedly quotes 2 Kings 9:22, which attributes witchcraft to the biblical figure Jezebel

In the Old Testament, Ahab is the King of Israel and Jezebel's husband who is led away from worshiping a monotheistic god by his wife, instead turning to the deities Baal and Asherah.

'He said, 'Pray for him now,' Kilpatrick continues, 'because he said there's about to be a shift, and the Deep State is about to manifest, and it's going to be a showdown like you can't believe.' So, I'm coming to you as a prophet, as a man of God, and I'm telling you, it's time to pray for the president.'

After asking the congregation to pray for the President, the enthusiastic pastor breaks out in tongues and begins shouting out:'God make him bold, make him strong! Preserve him, Holy Spirit! Keep him, Holy Spirit! Preserve him, Holy Spirit!

'Don't let him lose his voice! Make him stronger than ever, Holy Spirit! Let no weapon be formed against him that will knock him out of power. Strengthen him, Lord! It's time to pray, church. I believe our nation is in the balances,' Kilpatrick says in between gibberish.

In 2003, Kilpatrick left Florida for nearby Alabama and set up his own Pentecostal ministry (Pictured: Exterior of the Church of His Presence)

Kilpatrick is the founder of the Church of His Presence in Daphne in 2006 and is best known for being pastor of the Brownsville Assembly in Pensacola, Florida.

Known as the 'Pensacola Outpouring,' the church attracted more than four million people to the pews between 1995-2000.

In 2003, Kilpatrick left Florida for nearby Alabama and set up his own Pentecostal ministry, according to ai.com.

Pentecostalism is a renewal movement within Protestant Christianity that places special emphasis on a direct personal experience of God through the baptism with the Holy Spirit.A pet competition shrouded in scandal has ended in tragedy with the winning pooch dying days before he could be crowned.

Bailey, a 10-year-old Groodle - a cross between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle, was named the winner of the RACQ Pet Search this week after vote rigging allegations knocked two contenders out of the runnings.

Unfortunately, before being crowned, Bailey was put down after it was discovered that a benign tumor on his heart had turned malignant.

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Bailey was named the winner after Front-runners, Miss Coconut, a two-year-old Bengal and Biggie the bulldog were disqualified when voting irregularities were found

Owners Amy Burford and Jake Solway of Brisbane, who describe Bailey as a 'goofball' with the personality of a puppy, had hoped to use the $5,000 prize money for the 10-year-old's heart surgery.

Bailey underwent immediate heart surgery to save his life when his health issues first appeared but required a second major surgery to prevent the problem from arising again, Mr Solway told the Daily Mail Australia.

Bailey was named the winner after Miss Coconut, a two-year-old Bengal, and Biggie the bulldog were deemed ineligible after voting irregularities were found in an audit.

Miss Coconut racked up almost 30,000 votes in the preliminary round, while competitors were left trailing with thousands less.

The runaway victory left many entrants scratching their heads, as the bulk of Miss Coconut's votes were said to have appeared in the dead of night.

RACQ spokesperson Kirsty Clinton said they were disappointed by the behavior of some contestants.

'Quite frankly, we've been shocked by the behavior of some people during what was designed to be a fun competition celebrating Queensland pets and raising money for a worthy cause,' she said.

Ms Clinton said the RACQ was also 'dismayed' by some supporters' online bullying and harassment.

Owners Amy Burford and Jake Solway (pictured) had hoped to use the $5,000 prize money to go towards heart surgery for Bailey

'We don't condone this type of behavior, it certainly doesn't fit with RACQ's values or conduct so it won't be tolerated,' she said.

As a result, the RACQ will be reviewing the terms and rules around the competition before next year.

Bailey will appear on the front cover of the calendar, which could be purchased from RACQ Branches for a gold coin donation from November.Michaela Coel has revealed she was sexually assaulted by strangers while taking a late-night from writing

A British actress has told of how she was sexually assaulted by strangers while taking a late-night break from writing.

Michaela Coel, 30, who is due to appear in a hotly awaited BBC show next year, yesterday (WED) revealed her horrific ordeal for the first time.

She told the Edinburgh TV Festival that the harrowing experience had been 'life changing' but writing about the episode 'therapeutic'.

The star, also a playwright and poet, delivered the James MacTaggart Memorial Lecture, the keynote speech of the festival which has been its centrepiece for more than 40 years.

Miss Coel, who wrote and starred in Channel 4 series Chewing Gum, was the first person from a black, Asian or minority ethnic (BAME) background to give the lecture.

She did not reveal details of the production company - and stressed that she was not raped within the offices of the organisation or a member of staff there.

But she revealed she had been in the office overnight to finish a piece of work and took a short break for a drink with a friend.

Many hours later, she 'emerged into consciousness' typing at her computer.

She said: 'I had a flashback. It turned out I'd been sexually assaulted by strangers.

'The first people I called after the police, before my own family, were the producers.'

Of the investigation into the assault, she said a 'family of television' had come together around her.

Miss Coel who wrote and starred in C4's Chewing Gum (pictured) told the Edinburgh TV Festival that the harrowing experience had been 'life changing' but writing about the episode was 'therapeutic'

She said: 'When there are police involved, and footage, of people carrying your sleeping writer into dangerous places, when cuts are found, when there's blood... what is your job?'.

The production company had also later offered her therapy at a private clinic, she revealed.

Miss Coel said: 'Like any other experience I've found traumatic, it's been therapeutic to write about it, and actively twist a narrative of pain into one of hope, and even humour.

'And be able to share it with you, as part of a fictional drama on television, because I think transparency helps.'

Miss Coel also opened up about the racist attacks she had been subjected to during her childhood and at drama school.

She said: 'I was called a n***** twice in drama school. The first was by a teacher during a 'walk in the space' improvisation that had nothing to do with race.

'Oi, n*****, what you got for me?'...' Miss Coel's speech came hours after the BBC confirmed that she will write and star in a new drama that will explore the issue of sexual consent.

She has appeared in Channel 4 drama Top Boy, and held leading roles at the National Theatre.

She will next feature in BBC mini-series called Black Earth Rising, opposite American actor John Goodman.Pauline Hanson has pledged her support for Peter Dutton to become prime minister and warned about 'unlimited' immigration under Labor.

The One Nation leader praised the former Home Affairs and Immigration Minister as he called a second challenge in two days to Malcolm Turnbull.

'Dutton has done a fantastic job with relation to his portfolio,' she told the Nine Network's Today show this morning.

Pauline Hanson (left) has pledged her support for Peter Dutton (right), praising the former Home Affairs Minister's tough stance on immigration as he challenged Malcolm Turnbull

With the Turnbull Coalition Government trailing Labor in 38 consecutive Newspolls, Senator Hanson warned about 'unlimited' immigration were Opposition Leader Bill Shorten to become prime minister.

'Do you think I'm going to support the Labor Party who wants to have immigration, probably 300,000 - plus unlimited? They won't even discuss that,' she said.

'They even shut down me having that debate on the floor of parliament on my private member's bill to give the people the right to have a say about the immigration numbers.'

When Labor was last in power, under Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd, net annual immigration soared above 200,000, or triple the 20th century average of 70,000 a year.

Senator Hanson warned about 'unlimited' immigration under Labor were Opposition Leader Bill Shorten to become prime minister

The high immigration numbers continued under Liberal prime ministers Tony Abbott and his successor Mr Turnbull, who deposed him in September 2015.

Mr Dutton, however, reportedly recently argued in cabinet to trim Australia's net annual immigration pace by 20,000 a year, from 190,000 to 170,000.

This level is significantly short of the 70,000 per annum level advocated by Senator Hanson, which hasn't consistently been government policy since the late 1990s.

In the first week of August, Australia's population surpassed the 25 million milestone, 24 years earlier than predicted in 2002 by the Howard government's first inter-generational report.A triple-murderer already in jail until he dies has received another life sentence for 'the cold-blooded and calculated' killing of a fellow prisoner with a sandwich press.

John Walsh, 79, pleaded guilty to murdering Frank Townsend in their Long Bay prison cell in Sydney's south-east in early January 2017.

The men were being held in the prison's aged-care unit for elderly and frail offenders.

In the NSW Supreme Court on Thursday, Justice Lucy McCallum - who previously sentenced him for murdering his wife and two grandchildren in 2008 - imposed another life sentence.

John Walsh, 79, pleaded guilty to murdering Frank Townsend in their Long Bay, New South Wales prison cell in the aged care unit for elderly and frail offenders in early January 2017

In his police interview after he killed Townsend, Walsh described stepping forward with both hands, carrying the sandwich press (pictured) in a pillow case, and 'choom, onto his face'

In the NSW Supreme Court on Thursday, Justice Lucy McCallum - who previously sentenced Walsh (pictured) for murdering his wife and two grandchildren in 2008 - imposed another life sentence

She noted his lack of remorse and the danger he still poses to others, despite being an old man.

'He is incapable of remorse,' she said.

'He describes acts of murder as if he were explaining how to change a tyre.'

In his police interview after he killed Townsend, Walsh described stepping forward with both hands, carrying the sandwich press in a pillow case, and 'choom, on to his face'.

'I don't work in anger, I work in tactical... cold rage,' he said.

In June 2008, Walsh stabbed his wife and bludgeoned her and his seven-year-old grandson with a hammer.

He drowned his five-year-old granddaughter in a bath at the Cowra home and also drowned the family dog.

Walsh's daughter came to collect the children and fought off his axe attack but suffered serious head injuries.

In June 2008, Walsh stabbed his wife and bludgeoned her and his seven-year-old grandson with a hammer

When asked what he was thinking when he hit Townsend, Walsh replied: 'I don't think I was thinking anything.'

The judge noted his lack of remorse and the danger he still poses to others, despite being an old man (Pictured: the sandwich press and pillow case)

When asked what he was thinking when he hit Townsend, Walsh replied: 'I don't think I was thinking anything.'

'All I remember is bang, bang, bang... I shut it out probably,' he told police.

'The only thing I can't shut out is, my own family ... I don't know why that's happened because there was no anger, no drugs, no booze, just that depressing silence and I went and killed my wife.

'Maybe some people shouldn't be born.'

Townsend served time behind bars for manslaughter after the death of Belinda Trad.

Ms Trad's body was found with several gunshot wounds at a house in Port Macquarie in 2010.

Townsend was released in 2016 but had breached his parole conditions and was taken into custody.Jonathan Dick is on Australia's most wanted list

A fugitive accused of murdering his brother with a samurai sword last year is on the run again after allegedly assaulting a man with a hammer.

Jonathan Dick was named one of Australia's most wanted criminals after his brother David Dick was fatally slashed across the head with a samurai sword at a shopping centre in Doncaster, Melbourne's north-east, in 2017.

Dick went on the run after his brother's death.

The 40-year-old resurfaced in Keilor, Melbourne's north-west, on Thursday.

Homicide Squad detectives have appealed for public assistance to help locate him following an assault.

A 38-year-old man was assaulted with a hammer in a driveway on Church Street shortly before 7am.

Jonathan Dick, who is accused of murdering his brother with a samurai sword, is on the run after allegedly assaulting a man with a hammer on Thursday (CCTV image from Thursday)

The man, who was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries, alleged Dick was responsible for the early morning attack.

The Homicide Squad released CCTV images of the attacker in the hope members of the public would recognise him and report his location to the police.

He is described as being Caucasian in appearance, about 176cm tall with a solid build and mousy brown hair.

He was last seen dressed in a red long-sleeved hooded top with blue jeans.

Homicide Squad detectives urged members of the public to phone police if they sighted the fugitive.

They said he was dangerous and warned people not to approach him but call triple zero.

The Homicide Squad released CCTV images of the attacker in the hope members of the public would recognise him and report his location to the policeQantas' profits soared to a record $1.6billion this year, with 27,000 of its employees pocketing a $2,500 bonus each.

Bouyed by the success of its new non-stop Perth to London service, the Australian flag carrier's profits jumped 14 per cent compared to last financial year.

'It's fair to say customers have given their stamp of approval to several important changes to International,' a Qantas statement said.

'The new Perth-London route is the highest rating service on our network.'

Qantas has soared to a record $1.6billion profit, with 27,000 employees to share in $67million worth of bonuses (stock image)

The airline has set aside $67million in bonuses to be shared among 27,000 non-executive staff.

'Ultimately our success relies on the great service and dedication to safety from our people, which is supported by continuing to invest and innovate,' Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said.

'We're very pleased to reward our people with a bonus for this fantastic result. It brings the total amount set aside for non-executive employees to over $300 million over the past four years for their part in the Group's exceptional performance.'

Mr Joyce said the company was 'delivering across the board', boosted by 'healthy demand across key sectors'.

'Our investment in free Wi-Fi and cabin improvements are delivering a better experience for customers as well as higher earnings for Qantas and Jetstar,' he said.

Mr Joyce said the record profit came despite higher oil prices - but fares could rise to recover the increased costs which are expected to continue.

Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce (pictured) said the company was 'very pleased to reward our people', with non-executive staff to each receive a $2500 bonus

'We're facing another increase to our fuel bill for FY19 and we're confident that we will substantially recover this through a range of capacity, revenue and cost efficiency measures, in addition to our hedging program,' he said.

The international division grew earnings by seven per cent, while domestic operations were up 25 per cent.

Plans to launch ultra-long haul non-stop flights from Sydney to London and New York within the next four years are now another step closer to reality.

'Work on Project Sunrise  which will unlock direct flights from the east coast of Australia to London and New York by 2022  advanced to the request for proposal stage with Airbus and Boeing,' the airline said.

The airline said it paid $4million in company tax, the first time it had contributed corporate tax since 2009.President Trump's former lawyer and 'fixer,' Michael Cohen, made a $50,000 'election-related' payment to a mysterious technology company during the 2016 election.

According to court documents release by prosecutors with the Southern District of New York, Cohen made the payments for 'tech services... during and in connection with the campaign.'

Lanny Davis, Cohen's defense lawyer, told CNN in an interview Wednesday evening that he doesn't know what the payment was for. Davis added that he has yet to talk to his client about it.

Michael Cohen, former personal lawyer to U.S. President Donald Trump, exits from federal court in New York, U.S., on Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018

Knowledge of the payment was first revealed after Cohen plead guilty to eight felony counts in a Manhattan courtroom on Tuesday, according to CNBC.

The identity of the company and the specific services rendered still remains unclear.

This latest revelation suggests that Cohen had a larger role in Trump's 2016 campaign other than paying off women alleging affairs with the President.

The way Cohen reported the $50,000 payment to the Trump Organization in January 2017 has also raised eyebrows.

Forgoing traditional channels to make the tech company payment, prosecutors say Cohen provided no paperwork for the transaction, instead jotting down a handwritten sum at the top of a bank document.

The Trump Organization, the Trump campaign nor the White House respond to requests for comment.

It is still not known when Cohen made the payment, only that it was made during the 2016 campaign, according to CNBC, adding that it remains unclear if the payment was illegal.

Cohen is not believed to have been apart of the Trump campaign's digital operation, which was run by online marketing specialist named Brad Parscale.

Parscale now holds the top digital operations job for Trump's expected 2020 campaign.

Given that Cohen never held a formal title on the campaign, let alone in the digital operations arm, the mystery as to why the New York lawyer was making payments for tech services has only deepened.

Lanny Davis (R), Cohen's defense lawyer, told CNN in an interview Wednesday evening that he doesn't know what the payment was for

Knowledge of the payment was first revealed after Cohen plead guilty to eight felony counts in a Manhattan courtroom on Tuesday

Davis said in an interview on Tuesday that his client 'is happy to tell the special counsel all that he knows, not just about the obvious possibility of a conspiracy to collude and corrupt the American democracy system in the 2016 election  but also, knowledge about the computer crime of hacking and whether or not Mr. Trump knew ahead of time about that crime and even cheered it on.'

It is worth noting that there is currently no evidence indicating that the $50,000 in services Cohen bought from the anonymous tech company were in any way related to Russia.

Cohen pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to campaign finance violations related to porn star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal as well as his former boss  and said he did so 'at the direction' of Trump.

Although he didn't mention Trump by name, Cohen spoke in open court about a $130,000 payment as well as a deal he helped negotiate with a publisher involving McDougal.

Both women claim they had affairs with Trump, and both got payments, Daniels from Cohen directly and McDougal from a publisher.

Cohen made his plea in open court within minutes of a Virginia jury convicting former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort on eight counts following his trial on tax and fraud charges.

Cohen pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to campaign finance violations related to porn star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal (pictured)Georgia school superintendent Geye Hamby (pictured) has been placed on administrative leave after a lawsuit produced what it alleges is a secret recording of him using the N-word eight times

A Georgia schools superintendent accused of using the N-word eight times and saying he wanted to kill black construction workers has been placed on administrative leave.

Superintendent Geye Hamby was placed on leave by the Buford City School District Tuesday, following the allegations that emerged as part of a federal racial discrimination lawsuit, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported.

'The [school] board anticipates further action on this matter at a specially called meeting in the next several days,' the school system said in a statement.

'The district will continue to focus on the mission of empowering our students to reach their full potential.'

The lawsuit brought by Mary Ingram, 66, alleged racial discrimination against both Hamby and the school districr, related to her being fired in 2017.

Hamby told the Atlanta-Journal Constitution by email that hed been instructed by counsel 'not to comment', saying only that 'this is a personnel and legal matter pertaining to a disgruntled employee'.

School board attorney Walt Britt says the recordings' authenticity hasn't been determined.

The recordings were revealed in Mary Ingram's (pictured) racial discrimination lawsuit, brought against Hamby and the Buford City School District related to her firing

The audio recordings emerged amid a racial discrimination lawsuit filed by Ingram, who worked for the district for nearly two decades before she was fired in 2017.

The lawsuit alleges she was discriminated against for speaking up for the black community at school board meetings.

The horrific audio begins with a voice, allegedly belonging to Hamby, discussing workers from a temp agency.

'How much are they charging us for?' he can be heard asking. 'Can you show me our general conditions, how many of these damn deadbeat n*****s'.

Ingram (pictured) worked for Buford City School District for two decades before she was fired in 2017, she says due to racial discrimination and retaliation

'They said they're from a temp service, so I guess...have you got more of these big n*****s than the ones from the temp service?'

Hamby then allegedly begins complaining about one man, who he calls a 'deadbeat n****r' that was on his cell phone.

'He said he worked for the temp service and he didn't have to do what the f**k we tell him to do. F**k that n****r,' Hamby allegedly says in the recording.

'I kill these damn - shoot that n****r - if they let me.'

He then tells the person on the other end of the line: 'Well, check out what's going on with all the n*****s down here. Thank you.'

In the second recording, the voice allegedly belonging to Hamby can once again be heard complaining about the workers and saying they have a 'damn attitude'.

'I know Phillip told two of the n*****s to get off the damn job site,' he tells someone.

'Send us a park-quality person. Don't send us a deadbeat n****r from a temp service. S**t, we can find you some kids around here that want a damn job.

'We've got young kids right here that put in the work. They can do more than the damn deadbeat n*****s  but I mean it's too late on this damn job. Find out why in the hell we still have them. Bye.'

It remains unclear when the remarks were made, who Hamby was allegedly speaking to, and where the recordings came from.

Ingram filed a federal lawsuit against Hamby and the Buford school district (a building from which is shown here) in June in US District Court in Atlanta, claiming she was the victim of racial discrimination and retaliation, that revealed the recordings

The former Buford City School District employee alleges that issues began with Hamby when she asked him why the color gold wasn't included in the district's emblem, when gold represented the city's black school district before Buford was integrated in 1969; A map of Georgia showing where Buford is located is shown here

Ingram filed her lawsuit that revealed the recordings against Hamby and the Buford school district in June in US District Court in Atlanta, claiming she was the victim of racial discrimination and retaliation.

The former city school district employee alleges that issues began with Hamby when she asked him why the color gold wasn't included in the district's emblem.

Gold represented the city's black school district before Buford was integrated in 1969.

'I was afraid we were about to lose our heritage,' Ingram said. 'I wanted them to know it was important to the community.'

Ingram presented a petition to include gold in the emblem to the school board in 2014 and brought up the issue at City Hall meetings.

Weeks after she questioned Hamby about the emblem, she said she bumped into the superintendent in a hallway.

When she asked Hamby why she hadn't heard from him, she claims he replied: 'I didn't speak to you and I don't have to and probably would never speak to you again.'

Ingram said the superintendent later called her into a meeting and said he wanted to be told in advance what she planned to say at school board and city commission meetings.

She refused, saying it was a violation of her First Amendment rights.

Following that alleged interaction, the lawsuit states, Ingram began to get written up frequently at work despite more than a decade of 'glowing evaluations' within the district.

She alleges that she was even told to stop encouraging children to smile after they got off the bus in the morning before school, according to the lawsuit.

After two years, Ingram was fired and told she was 'perceived as being disrespectful, argumentative, unfriendly, and not a good fit in a school environment'.

Ingram said she 'couldn't move' when she heard the news.

'I just froze,' she added. 'My legs felt weak. Before this happened, I looked forward every morning to getting up and going to work to do things for the children.'

But Ingram said she didn't decide to sue Hamby until she heard the audio recordings.

'This is the man who is over our children,' she said.

The district said that Ingram was 'terminated for cause and neglect of her duties', a claim that her attorney, Ed Buckley, disputes.

'She was well thought of by principals and children and very dedicated to what she did,' Buckley said.

'It's disgraceful that she would be fired because of her race and the race of her constituents for whom she stood up in public meetings during the exercise of her First Amendment rights.'

Supporters of Ingram shared messages of solidarity on social media, with some using her image and the hashtag '#IStandWithMary' as their profile photo

Burr Montana wrote: 'If Mrs.MaryJane EVER helped you cross that road , in school, on and off that bus helped give you some type of SCHOLARSHIP, monetary support, homework help, ANYTHING yall needa be BEHIND her ALL THE WAY!!! #ISTANDWITHMARY [dark-complected skin raised fist emoji] [yellow heart emoji]'

Others, like DeAndre Force, focused on the alleged actions of Hamby, calling the current news 'a slap in the face'

Supporters of Ingram shared messages of solidarity on social media, with some using her image and the hashtag '#IStandWithMary' as their profile photo.

Burr Montana wrote:

'If Mrs.MaryJane EVER helped you cross that road , in school, on and off that bus helped give you some type of SCHOLARSHIP, monetary support, homework help, ANYTHING yall needa be BEHIND her ALL THE WAY!!! #ISTANDWITHMARY [dark-complected skin raised fist emoji] [yellow heart emoji]'

Others, like DeAndre Force, focused on the alleged actions of Hamby.

''As a future educator, it angers me to read the current news concerning my Alma mater's superintendent,' Force wrote.

'It is a slap in the face to those teachers and staff that go in everyday and give 1,000 percent to their students, to parents, and to the community to be represented by such and individual!'

Walt Britt, who is representing the school board, claims it has been unable to determine the 'veracity and authenticity' of the recordings.

Britt also claims that Ingram has 'failed or refused to produce the original recordings for testing or provide any information concerning the background or foundation of the recording'.

Buckley denied Britt's claims, saying he hired an expert to analyze the audio and that the district has the recordings as they are 'embedded in the complaint'.Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton (pictured) says that their efforts against African youth violence is working, despite a house attack in Melbourne's west

Victoria's top cop has justified the police force's approach to Melbourne's African youth crime crisis, even though he says officers are repeatedly arresting the same people.

Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton stood by his approach to youth crime, even after a home invasion in Melbourne's western suburb of Tarneit last weekend, in which a woman was followed home, bashed and robbed.

The attack occurred on Friday night, in which a 34-year-old woman was stalked into her house and punched in the face.

Police say that they are searching for four youths of African appearance, one of which was wielding a machete.

They fled the scene after they stole her car, a black Hyundai sedan.

Victoria Police have established two operations in the area in the past 14 months, leading to 700 arrests.

Regardless, Tarneit has become a hotspot for African crime, with repeat offenders becoming more and more frequently noticed by police.

'They're pretty resilient, they like to reoffend,' Mr Ashton told Neil Mitchell on 3AW.

Tarneit is 25km west of Melbourne, and is notorious as a hotspot for African youth crime

Operation Wayward was started in May to target 64 offenders, with one police officer assigned to each individual.

The officers check the youths' school attendance, whereabouts in the evenings and track them when they go missing.

Even with the attack on Friday, Mr Ashton maintains that what they're doing is working, saying their tactics don't need to be reviewed.

He said crime was decreasing and police were making more arrests than ever before, but media coverage made Melbourne look like the 'Wild West'.

Operations carried out by police have reduced crime rates in the area, but their biggest problem remains repeat offenders.

'We're absolutely seeing the same offenders repeat offending, so we'll absolutely nail them,' Mr Ashton said.

Two operations have been put in place to help police manage the African youths in Tarneit (pictured)

Earlier this year, Ecoville Community Park (pictured) in Tarneit was trashed by African gangs

Gang members have sprayed graffitti all over Tarneit, with 'Menace to Society' (right) becoming prominentA man has been fined almost $35,000 for trying to smuggle 35 cartons and nine packets of cigarettes into Australia where tobacco prices are continuing to increase to record levels.

The 47-year-old flew into Perth from Bali in July 2017 when Australian Border Force (ABF) found the cigarettes in his luggage.

He declared on his incoming passenger card he did not have more than the (then) maximum amount of 50 cigarettes despite carrying 35 cartons and nine packets.

The man was caught offending by ABF a second time when he returned to Perth from Bali.

He declared he didn't have more than the adapted maximum of 25 cigarettes but ABF officers found three cartons of cigarettes.

A 47-year-old man (pictured) has been fined almost $35,000 for attempting to smuggle 35 cartons and nine packets of cigarettes into Australia in July 2017

The man declared on his incoming passenger card that he did not have more than the (then) maximum amount of 50 cigarettes despite carrying 35 cartons and nine packets (pictured)

Cigarette prices in Australia are among the most expensive in the world and expected to rise an additional $3 per pack on September 1.

Australian smokers are increasingly going to greater lengths to get cheap tobacco hits to avoid spending almost $40 on a pack of cigarettes.

The man pleaded guilty to six charges in the Perth Magistrate's Court last month and has been fined $29,000.

He was also ordered to pay an additional $5,704.

The charges include two counts of smuggling cigarettes, two counts of evading duty payable and two counts of making false or misleading statements to an officer of Customs.

Evidence from the man's mobile phone proved the man had sold and was intending to sell cigarettes.

The man pleaded guilty to six charges in the Perth Magistrate's Court last month and has been fined $29,000. He was also ordered to pay an additional $5,704

During the time of offending the man was employed as a fly-in-fly-out worker in Port Headland in Western Australia but lived in Indonesia.

Rod O'Donnell, the ABF Regional Commander for WA, said tobacco smuggling was of their operational priorities.

'The message is clear, we have the commitment and the means to detect even small amounts of smuggled cigarettes and tobacco, and the consequences for those caught can be very severe,' Commander O'Donnell said.

In 2017, the ABF found more than $356million worth of illicit tobacco at the border which included almost 240 million cigarettes and 217 tonnes of tobacco.Malcolm Turnbull has lashed out at the 'bullies' and dark forces that tore down his leadership, while requiring his challenger Peter Dutton to prove he is fit to sit in Parliament before he is willing to step down.

A calm but defiant Prime Minister said he would not contest a ballot for the leadership at midday tomorrow if the majority of the party room put their names to a petition for the second spill in a week.

Mr Turnbull also wanted to see advice from the solicitor-general that Peter Dutton was eligible to stay in Parliament amid concerns over his constitutional status.

'I cannot underline too much how important it is that anyone who seeks to be prime minister of Australia is eligible to be a member of parliament,' he said in Canberra on Thursday.

If the petition is carried as expected, Mr Turnbull will not only step aside as Prime Minister but quit Parliament entirely, prompting a crucial by-election in his Sydney seat of Wentworth.

Malcolm Turnbull will quit as Prime Minister if a partyroom meeting on Friday passes a spill motion on his leadership

Appearing calm and relaxed, Mr Turnbull said Liberal MPs first need to see the advice from the solicitor-general on the eligibility of challenger Peter Dutton to sit in the parliament

Mr Turnbull will retire from parliament if the spill motion goes ahead, but declined to endorse a successor or refer to Scott Morrison's bid for the leadership (pictured are Mr Turnbull and Mr Morrison)

The House of Representatives has been adjourned by the government amid the battle over the Liberal leadership, and will return on September 10

Mr Turnbull acknowledged politics was a tough business but slammed right-wing bullies within and outside Parliament who undermined his leadership.

'I think what we're witnessing, what we have witnessed at the moment is a very deliberate effort to pull the Liberal Party further to the right. And that's been stated by the number of people who have been involved in this,' he said.

The comment has been widely interpreted as an attack on former prime minister Tony Abbott and his acolytes, as well as elements of the Murdoch-controlled Newscorp press.

'Australians will be rightly appalled by what they're witnessing in their nation's parliament today and in the course of this week,' Mr Turnbull said in Canberra on Thursday.

The government's legal advice is expected to be ready early Friday.

Mr Turnbull said the public would be 'crying out for an election' once the dust settled.

He said a 'form of madness' had taken over those agitating for a leadership change.

Mr Turnbull will retire from parliament if the spill motion goes ahead, but declined to endorse a successor amid reports Treasurer Scott Morrison will also seek the leadership in the event of a ballot.

The Prime Minister blamed 'bullies' and an 'insurgency' for the crisis engulfing the government, and slammed his former Home Affairs Minister.

'What began as a minority has by a process of intimidation, you know, persuaded people that the only way to stop the insurgency is to give into it,' he said.

The resignation of three senior ministers effectively sounds the death knell for Mr Turnbull's leadership after days of chaos in Canberra

HOW MALCOLM TURNBULL'S LEADERSHIP UNRAVELLED THURSDAY AUGUST 16 * Peter Dutton says he will quit cabinet if he gets to a point where he can't agree with government policy. FRIDAY * Malcolm Turnbull weighs up significant changes to the National Energy Guarantee amid speculation about his leadership, including dumping the legislated emissions target. SATURDAY * Dutton tweets his support for the prime minister and the policies of the government. SUNDAY * Cabinet meets at parliament to discuss changes to energy policy. * A Fairfax/Ipsos poll shows the coalition's primary vote has dropped from 39 to 33 in a month and Labor leads the coalition 55-45 per cent on a two-party preferred basis. MONDAY * The PM drops the 26 per cent emissions cut target from NEG legislation. * Turnbull says Dutton has given 'absolute support' to him. TUESDAY * Turnbull calls a spill and is challenged by Dutton, who loses 48-35. * Dutton resigns from cabinet. * A slew of ministers offer resignations but Turnbull only accepts Concetta Fierravanti-Wells and Dutton. WEDNESDAY * Dutton refuses to rule out a second challenge, launching a media campaign calling for a royal commission into fuel and energy prices and the scrapping of the GST from electricity prices. * Turnbull, flanked by Treasurer Scott Morrison and Finance Minister Mathias Cormann, dumps corporate tax cuts after the plan was voted down in the Senate. * Turnbull also ditches plans to axe an energy supplement paid to welfare recipients. * Morrison hugs Turnbull and says he's ambitious for his leader, while also slapping down Dutton's GST idea. * Cormann says he supports the prime minister. * A petition to force a Liberal partyroom meeting is circulated. * Cormann, Communications Minister Mitch Fifield and Jobs Minister Michaelia Cash visit Turnbull to tell him he no longer has the support of the majority of the party room. * Turnbull accepts the resignation of his assistant minister James McGrath. THURSDAY * Junior minister Zed Seselja and Michael Sukkar resign from the frontbench. * Cormann, Fifield and Cash again visit the prime minister to tell him he's lost support. They urge him to call a partyroom meeting. * Dutton demands a second leadership spill after telling Turnbull he has the support to become PM. * Cormann, Fifield and Cash pull their support for Turnbull and resign from cabinet. * Turnbull says Liberal MPs need to see the advice from the solicitor-general on the eligibility of Dutton after reports he could be in breach of the constitution over his stake in two childcare centres. * If the advice gives Dutton the all clear, Turnbull will hold a partyroom meeting. He will then move a spill motion and quit parliament if it succeeds. Advertisement

'Now, I do not believe in that. I have never done that. I have never given into bullies but you can imagine the pressure it's put people under.'

Mr Turnbull's announcement came after he was deserted by his most loyal lieutenants, who tendered their resignations and urged him to step aside for the good of the country.

Scott Morrison is preparing to run in a leadership ballot against Mr Dutton, with Greg Hunt replacing him as treasurer. The former Health Minister has also been flagged as a possible deputy leader under Mr Dutton.

A member of Mr Morrison's camp claimed the Prime Minister intends to step aside to allow a two-way contest, but Mr Turnbull is yet to resign.

Mr Morrison has emerged as a potential consensus candidate, a former immigration minister like Mr Dutton who could appeal to both moderate and conservative Liberal MPs alike.

Scott Morrison (pictured, right) will run against Mr Dutton, with Greg Hunt replacing him as treasurer

TURNBULL MINISTERS WHO HAVE RESIGNED AND OFFERED TO QUIT TURNBULL MINISTERS WHO HAVE RESIGNED: * Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull urged his challenger to stay on, but ultimately accepted his resignation. * Finance Minister and conservative heavyweight Mathias Cormann. Tendered resignation on Thursday morning, effectively ending Mr Turnbull's prime ministership. * Jobs Minister Michaelia Cash. Joins Senator Cormann in announcing the withdrawal of her support for Mr Turnbull and resigning from the frontbench. * Communications Minister Mitch Fifield. Announced his resignation on Thursday beside senators Cormann and Cash. * Health Minister Greg Hunt. Announces he tendered resignation with prime minister on Thursday morning amid speculation he will run as Dutton's deputy in a leadership spill. * Human Services Minister Michael Keenan. Offered resignation, but later issued statement of support for the prime minister. Resigns with a "heavy heart" on Thursday. * Trade Minister Steve Ciobo. Offered resignation, which was not accepted. Later issued a call for unity to defeat Labor at the next election. Resignation confirmed on Thursday. * Citizenship Minister Alan Tudge. Resigns on Thursday saying there is no longer support for Turnbull. * Cybersecurity Minister Angus Taylor. Quits citing concerns about the direction of the government on Thursday. * International Development Minister Concetta Fierravanti-Wells. Believes the party has moved too far away from conservative voters. Mr Turnbull accepted her resignation. * Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister James McGrath. Resignation initially not accepted by Mr Turnbull. But the senator insisted and he stepped down on Wednesday. * Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar. Tendered resignation on Tuesday but not accepted. Resignation confirmed on Thursday. * Assistant Science, Jobs and Innovation Minister Zed Seselja. Offered on Tuesday but not accepted. Resignation confirmed on Thursday. MINISTERS WHO OFFERED TO QUIT: CABINET * Human Services Minister Michael Keenan. Offered resignation, but later issued statement of support for the prime minister. * Trade Minister Steve Ciobo. Offered resignation, which was not accepted. Later issued a call for unity to defeat Labor at the next election. * Health Minister Greg Hunt. Reportedly would have run for deputy had Mr Dutton won the challenge. His resignation was not accepted. OUTER MINISTRY * Cybersecurity Minister Angus Taylor. Resignation not accepted. * Citizenship Minister Alan Tudge. Resignation not accepted. Source: AAP Advertisement

Mr Dutton's supporters believe the Treasurer has been planning his own shot at the leadership since Monday, when he was tipped off about growing support for the former Home Affairs Minister.

In order to put himself in prime position for the top job, Mr Morrison then urged the Prime Minister to call Tuesday's spill, a senior Liberal MP told The Australian.

The House of Representatives has been adjourned by the government amid the battle over the Liberal leadership, and will return on September 10.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE LIBERAL LEADERSHIP? * Liberal partyroom meeting is needed to decide on future leadership. * The winner of the Liberal partyroom ballot will become parliamentary party leader. * Malcolm Turnbull would then tender his resignation to the Governor-General. * The Liberal leader would be recommended to the Governor-General to become Australia's 30th prime minister. * In parliament, Labor could move a 'no confidence' motion to test the government's majority. The Liberal-National coalition has a one-seat majority. But some Nationals MPs have pledged to sit on crossbench if the prime minister changes. * The government already has budget 'supply' until July 2019. * The Governor-General would issue the instrument of appointment and oath of office to the new prime minister, and most likely swear in a handful of key cabinet ministers including Treasurer. Advertisement

The government won the vote to adjourn Parliament early by 70 votes to 68, meaning there will be no Question Time this afternoon. The Senate will not be adjourned.

In a devastating blow to Mr Turnbull, senior ministers Mathias Cormann, Michaelia Cash and Mitch Fifield, who voted for the prime minister in the first spill on Tuesday, announced they had withdrawn their backing.

The resignations of Health Minister Greg Hunt, Citizenship Minister Alan Tudge and Cyber Security Minister Angus Taylor, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Steven Ciobo and Justice Minister Michael Keenan followed within hours.

The flurry of Cabinet departures effectively sounds the death knell for Mr Turnbull's leadership after days of chaos in Canberra.

A total of 13 Cabinet ministers have now tendered their resignations and are calling on the Prime Minister to hold a leadership ballot in the interests of an orderly transition.

'It's with great sadness and a heavy heart that we went to see the prime minister yesterday afternoon to advise him that in our judgment he no longer enjoyed the support of the majority of members in the Liberal Party party room,' Mr Cormann told reporters at Parliament House.

'And that it was in the best interests of the Liberal Party to help manage an orderly transition to a new leader.'

Peter Dutton demanded a new leadership spill on Thursday morning after telling Mr Turnbull he no longer had majority support.

A new ballot is likely to be held today at which point a new leader of the Liberal Party and therefore Prime Minister will be elected.

Key Cabinet ministers Mathias Cormann (pictured, right), Mitch Fifield and Michaelia Cash (pictured, left) tendered their resignations and called on the Prime Minister to hold a leadership ballot

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is desperately clinging to power despite his most loyal lieutenants tendering their resignations

'I became aware yesterday that it was very clear that the Prime Minister no longer, in my opinion, had the confidence of the party room,' Ms Cash said.

Mr Cormann said the Prime Minister had declined his resignation from the ministry on Wednesday.

'We are very conscious of the seriousness of the decision that we've made,' he said.

'In my view it would be in the interests of the Liberal Party and in the interests of the country for a partyroom meeting to be called swiftly for the issue of the leadership of the Liberal Party to be resolved.'

The Finance Minister said it was a difficult thing for him to do and praised Mr Turnbull.

'I believe that Malcolm Turnbull has been and is a great prime minister. I believe that he will go down in history as having secured amazing achievements for Australia,' he said.

Minister for Jobs Michaelia Cash (pictured, left) Finance Minister Mathias Cormann (pictured, centre) and Minister for Communications Mitch Fifield (pictured, right) depart a press conference after announcing their support for former Minister for Home Affairs Peter Dutton

Peter Dutton released the legal advice which he says makes clear he is eligible to sit in parliament

Mr Dutton lost a challenge 48 votes to 35 on Tuesday, but now believes he has the numbers required to win a second spill.

'A few minutes ago I spoke with Malcolm Turnbull to advise him I believed the majority of the party room no longer supported his leadership,' Mr Dutton tweeted on Thursday.

'Accordingly, I asked him to convene a party room meeting at which I would challenge for the leadership of the Parliamentary Liberal Party.'

The ex-Home Affairs Minister then recapped his statement while addressing reporters at Parliament House on Thursday morning.

Mr Turnbull has so far declined the request to hold the meeting.

The ex-Home Affairs Minister confirmed he had demanded a second spill while addressing reporters at Parliament House on Thursday morning

'A few minutes ago I spoke with Malcolm Turnbull to advise him I believed the majority of the party room no longer supported his leadership,' Mr Dutton tweeted on Thursday

Mr Dutton also released legal advice which he said makes clear he is eligible to sit in parliament after questions were raised over his family's business interests in two childcare centres.

Questions have been raised if Mr Dutton could be in breach of section 44 of the constitution, which bans from parliament anyone who has 'any direct or indirect pecuniary interest with the public service of the Commonwealth'.

Mr Dutton's confirmation of a second leadership challenge follows the formal resignations of two more federal government ministers in support of his bid.

Assistant ministers Michael Sukkar and Zed Seselja refused the Prime Minister's offer to stay in their positions, throwing their weight behind Mr Dutton ahead of a second leadership challenge.

The pair have followed Mr Dutton, Concetta Fierravanti-Wells and James McGrath from the front bench.

'Accordingly, I asked him [Mr Turnbull - pictured] to convene a party room meeting at which I would challenge for the leadership of the Parliamentary Liberal Party,' Mr Dutton said

Peter Dutton (pictured) said on Thursday he believed Mr Turnbull had lost majority support

Mr Dutton also released legal advice which he said makes clear he is eligible to sit in parliament

Wednesday evening was marked by planted rumours of betrayal, an ominous letter circling among MPs and accusations of aggressive tactics.

Female MPs reportedly felt intimidated by members of Mr Dutton's camp pressuring them to sign a letter forcing a partyroom meeting.

'They've been running the halls and bursting into offices and attempting to intimidate people to sign their letter of support,' a senior Turnbull government figure told The Daily Telegraph.

The letter read: 'Dear Prime Minister, we, the undersigned, request that you call a meeting of the Joint House Parliamentary Liberal Party, as soon as practicable, for the purpose of determining the leadership of the Party.'

The same government figure accused Mr Dutton's supporters of spreading false rumours about resignations of key backers of Mr Turnbull.

Peter Dutton is demanding a new leadership spill after telling the Prime Minister he has majority support

During the evening Mr Turnbull met with Foreign Minister Julie Bishop (pictured), Treasurer Scott Morrison and Mr Cormann for crisis talks

'We've got to see this off. They are just hell bent on blowing the joint up and we can't bow to that. We have to fight it, he said.

'We're trying to get a sensible outcome so that MPs do not make decisions in a panic.'

During the evening Mr Turnbull met with Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, Treasurer Scott Morrison and Mr Cormann for crisis talks.

Christopher Pyne, Craig Laundy, Christian Porter and government whip Nola Merino were also in attendance.

The moderate Liberal Party MPs discussed possible next steps should Mr Turnbull lose in a spill or decide to step down.

The rumours of Mr Cormann's defection reportedly left the Finance Minister (pictured, left) furious

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann and Jobs Minister Michaelia Cash were among those rumoured to have resigned and withdrawn support from Malcolm Turnbull (Michaelia Cash pictured)

Either of those scenarios could see one or both of Ms Bishop and Mr Morrison put their hands up for the leadership, although if both ran they would likely split the moderate and centre-right vote, with conservatives backing Mr Dutton.

PETER DUTTON'S POLICY PRIORITIES IMMIGRATION * Cut the annual permanent migration intake. * Push migrants towards Western Australia, South Australia and regional areas to reduce congestion in major cities. ENERGY * Lower power prices by removing the GST on electricity bills. * Establish a royal commission into the fuel and energy sectors. TAX * Abandon corporate tax cuts and deliver more relief to wage earners and small businesses instead. DROUGHT * Deliver more water to drought-stricken farmers. Source: AAP Advertisement

Both Ms Bishop and Mr Morrison confirmed they would not stand challenge Mr Turnbull themselves.

Mr Morrison has emerged as a contender who could unite the warring factions and steal conservative votes away from Mr Dutton, unlike Ms Bishop who is seen as too moderate by those on the right.

The Treasurer backed Tony Abbott during the 2015 leadership spill, and voted against same-sex marriage.

Mr Turnbull narrowly survived a leadership ballot from Peter Dutton in an extraordinary Liberal party room vote on Tuesday, prevailing 48 votes to 35.

Mr Dutton's team reportedly said they were confident they had the numbers to succeed if a vote were to go ahead on Wednesday night, but no spill was called.

His eligibility for the top job has been called into question, however, having been referred to the Solicitor-General over financial interest in two childcare centres that were the recipients of Commonwealth government subsidies.

Ten ministers offered their resignations to Mr Turnbull following Tuesday's leadership spill, the number later expanding to 13.

Only the resignations of Mr Dutton and International Development Minister Concetta Fierravanti-Wells were accepted by Mr Turnbull.

Mr Dutton's (pictured) eligibility for the top job has been called into question however, having been referred to the Solicitor-General over financial interest in two childcare centresPopular Foreign Minister Julie Bishop is set to throw her hat into the ring for tomorrow's looming leadership ballot, making it a three-way fight with Peter Dutton and Scott Morrison for the nation's top job.

The people's choice in the polls to take over as prime minister must overcome serious internal obstacles and scepticism if she is to replace Malcolm Turnbull, who has indicated he would step aside if the majority of the Liberal party room signed a petition for a spill.

The glamorous former corporate lawyer, who has steadfastly backed Mr Turnbull, is set to contest the party's first three-way leadership ballot since December 2009.

Were Ms Bishop to prevail, she would become Australia's second female prime minister, the first from Western Australia since 1945 and the oldest new PM since 1967.

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Foreign Minister Julie Bishop's support for gay marriage and the fact she's a childless, divorced woman may have cost her a chance to become prime minister (she is pictured with boyfriend David Panton)

The glamorous former corporate lawyer is the preferred choice of voters, in opinion polls, to take over from Malcolm Turnbull and lead the Liberal Party

A ReachTel poll of 2,430 voters, taken on Wednesday night, showed Ms Bishop had the support of 29 per cent of respondents, almost triple Mr Dutton's 10 per cent backing and Mr Morrison's 8.6 per cent support.

After 10 years as deputy Liberal leader, she also has the shortest betting odds to become the next PM, with Ladbrokes tonight putting her at $1.80 compared with Mr Dutton's $2 and Mr Morrison's $5.

Despite her poll popularity, Griffith University political scientist Dr Paul Williams said Ms Bishop was likely to get knocked out in the first round of the leadership ballot, with right-wing MPs worried about how a childless, divorced woman would come across in the outer suburbs.

'She may not resonate with the very conservative members of the party who either don't think the time's right for a woman to lead their party,' he told Daily Mail Australia today.

'They'd be wary that the news media might frame her in a harsh way, the same way Julia Gillard suffered at the hands of some sections of the news media.

'For every vote they might win because she's a woman they miss two because of other issues around gender politics.'

Australian Catholic University honorary fellow Malcolm Mackerras, who was a research officer with the Liberal Party from 1959 to 1967, said 'peculiar' conservative MPs would be disinclined to support a divorced, childless woman who last year voted for gay marriage.

Griffith University political scientist Dr Paul Williams said Ms Bishop was likely to get knocked out in the first round of the leadership ballot, with right-wing MPs worried about how a childless, divorced woman would come across in the outer suburbs

HOW A LIBERAL LEADERSHIP BALLOT WORKS If there are more than two candidates, the contender with the lowest number of votes drops out first. A second ballot of the top two contenders is then held. This happened in December 2009 when Joe Hockey gained 23 votes to Malcolm Turnbull's 26 and Tony Abbott's 35. A second ballot was held, which saw Mr Abbott prevail 42 votes to 41, to replace Mr Turnbull as Opposition Leader. Like Mr Hockey in 2009, Ms Bishop is set to split the moderate vote, this time with Mr Morrison. Mr Dutton is the choice of the socially-conservative right-faction as Mr Abbott was nine years ago. Advertisement

'They simply do not realise that the world has changed from their ideal world,' the 79-year-old election expert told Daily Mail Australia today.

'Conservatives in the Liberal Party simply do not live in the real world.

'She did alientate them by actually being a small-l liberal.'

Australia hasn't had a female prime minister since June 2013, when Labor's Julia Gillard was toppled by Kevin Rudd in a leadership challenge.

Like Ms Bishop, Ms Gillard is also childless and as PM, she was attacked on talkback radio for not being married with kids.

Since then, Queensland and New South Wales have gained childless, female premiers, including Annastacia Palaszczuk, who is twice divorced, and Glady Berejiklian, who has never married.

Mr Mackerras, who has been an election analyst for almost 60 years, said Ms Bishop would do a better job than either Peter Dutton or Scott Morrison, a consensus candidate running in a bid to bring together moderates and conservatives.

The two former immigration ministers are both social conservatives who last year campaigned against gay marriage ahead of November's postal vote survey, only to back it in Parliament in line with their electorates.

Mr Dutton, a 47-year-old former policeman and childcare director from Brisbane's outer north, would become Australia's first prime minister to have divorced and remarried while Mr Morrison, 50, a member of an evangelical Pentecostal church, would be the fifth consecutive federal Liberal leader from Sydney since early 1995.

Ms Bishop, a 62-year-old former partner with corporate law firm Clayton Utz, is more likely to be seen with celebrities or at the races than at church on a Sunday morning.

'Morrison does tick the conservative boxes. He worships at the Hillsong church and he was associated with conservative causes like stopping the boats whereas she is associated with liberal causes,' Mr Mackerras said.

Dr Williams said that unlike Mr Dutton, Ms Bishop would fail to resonate with outer suburban voters in Sydney and Brisbane concerned about criminal gangs and power bills.

'It's cultural. Who's going to be tough on migrants and criminal gangs? Bishop wouldn't present well to those demographics,' he said.

A calm but defiant Prime Minister today said he would not contest a ballot for the leadership at midday tomorrow if the majority of the party room put their names to a petition for the second spill in a week.

Mr Turnbull, 63, slammed right-wing bullies within his Liberal Party and the media, who he claimed had undermined his leadership since he took over in September 2015 after knifing first-term PM Tony Abbott.

'I think what we're witnessing, what we have witnessed at the moment is a very deliberate effort to pull the Liberal Party further to the right. And that's been stated by the number of people who have been involved in this,' he said.

A calm but defiant Prime Minister today said he would not contest a ballot for the leadership at midday tomorrow if the majority of the party room put their names to a petition for a new spill

Mr Turnbull also wanted to see advice from the solicitor-general that Peter Dutton was eligible to stay in Parliament amid concerns over his constitutional status

Mr Turnbull also wanted to see advice from the solicitor-general that Mr Dutton was eligible to stay in Parliament amid concerns over his constitutional status as the director of childcare centres that received taxpayer subsidies.

'I cannot underline too much how important it is that anyone who seeks to be prime minister of Australia is eligible to be a member of parliament,' he said in Canberra on Thursday.

If the petition is carried as expected, Mr Turnbull would not only step aside as Prime Minister but quit Parliament, prompting a crucial by-election in his wealthy, Sydney eastern suburbs seat of Wentworth.

Dr Williams said it was conceivable his seat would be lost to a progressive independent candidate, or even the Greens on preferences, which would deprive the Coalition of a majority on the floor of the House of Representatives.

In that circumstance, Labor leader Bill Shorten could become prime minister of a minority government, with the support of crossbench MPs Adam Bandt, Rebekha Sharkie and Cathy McGowan.

'Not out of the question at all,' Dr Williams said.

Were he to become Prime Minister, Peter Dutton could find himself without a majority if Malcolm Turnbull quit parliament and caused his seat to be lost to an independent or Labor

This happened in 1941, at the height of World War II, when independents Alexander Wilson and Arthur Coles, a supermarket founder, crossed the floor to make Labor's John Curtin Prime Minister, following disunity between the ruling United Australia and Country parties.

Ms Bishop's entry into the leadership race will make this the Liberal Party's first three-way contest since December 2009.

The 62-year-old former corporate lawyer is running for the Liberal Party leadership

That is when Mr Abbott rolled Mr Turnbull as Opposition Leader, over climate change policy, after Joe Hockey split the moderate vote of MPs.

Ms Bishop could have a similar effect if Mr Morrison competed with her for the support of small-l liberal MPs who would baulk at backing the right-wing Mr Dutton.

Were Mr Dutton to get up, as Mr Abbott did in December 2009 as the party's conservative candidate, he would be only the fifth Australian prime minister from Queensland since Federation in 1901.

Ms Bishop, the Perth-based member for Curtin, would become the first PM from Western Australia since 1945, when the man her electorate is named after, died in office.

The cabinet minister born in 1956 is two years younger than Mr Turnbull and at 62 is the same age Bob Hawke was in 1991, when Paul Keating deposed him as PM in a Labor leadership challenge.

The Coalition government is set to copy NSW Labor, which in December 2009 replaced then Premier Nathan Rees with Kristina Keneally, who is now a senator, only two-and-a-half years after Morris Iemma had won the election.

It was annihilated at the next state election in March 2011.

A Daily Mail Australia poll of readers this week had Ms Bishop as the most popular choice to lead Australia, with 28 per cent support compared with Mr Dutton's 21 per cent.

Mr Morrison had just three per cent support, less than half the support of the 'other' category.

Mr Turnbull was second to Ms Bishop with 27 per cent support.

Ms Bishop has been deputy Liberal leader since December 2007 through four leadership changes, after John Howard had lost his seat after almost 12 years in power.

Leadership challenger Peter Dutton (pictured) may yet topple the Prime Minister, but a new poll indicates he would be a disaster at the ballot box

Mr Dutton may yet topple the Prime Minister, but a new poll indicates he would be a disaster at the ballot box.

A Daily Mail Australia poll revealed 80 per cent of the electorate would vote against the former Home Affairs Minister.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott had 14 per cent support.

The remaining poll respondents - a total of eight per cent - refused to support any of the possible candidates and selected 'other' instead.

The results show that even if Mr Dutton is able to convince seven Liberal MPs to join his camp he would be far from the people's choice.

A Daily Mail Australia poll revealed 80 per cent of the electorate would vote against Mr Dutton (pictured are Julie Bishop, left, and Malcolm Turnbull, right)

Treasurer Scott Morrison (left) fared even more poorly than Peter Dutton (right), with 14 and three per cent respectively

He managed 35 votes to Mr Turnbull's 48 in Tuesday's leadership spill, but has admitted he plans to challenge again if he feels he has the numbers.

Mr Dutton spent Wednesday outlining his policy priorities in a series of radio interviews.

His policy platform would highlight cuts to immigration levels, a removal of the GST from power bills, abandon corporate tax cuts and deliver more water to farmers.

Ms Bishop, who was reelected unopposed as deputy leader of the Liberal Party in the spill.In his maiden speech to Parliament, Peter Dutton spoke about his time in the police force and the 'sickening behaviour' of criminals who 'barely justify their existence'.

Scott Morrison, who will likely run against the former Home Affairs Minister to take over the from Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, was far more sentimental.

'To my wife, Jenny... words are not enough. She has loved and supported me in all things and made countless sacrifices, consistent with her generous, selfless and caring nature,' said Mr Morrison, the son of a policeman.

But for Julie Bishop, the latest Liberal MP to throw her hat in the ring for the top job, things have changed vastly from the time she first entered parliament in 1998.

Since 2014 she has been rarely pictured without property tycoon partner David Panton by her side - and if her late run for the top job proves to be successful, he is set to be just the second 'first bloke' in Australian history.

The next PM and 'first bloke'? Julie Bishop (left) is reportedly ready to enter the race to become the leader of the Liberal Party. She has been dating property tycoon David Panton (right) since 2014

Then Minister for Home Affairs Peter Dutton and wife Kirilly Dutton arrive at the National Press Club in Canberra earlier this year

Jenny and Scott Morrison met at a Sydney church when they were just 12 years old, before marrying at the age of 21

Ms Bishop, the member for Curtin, married Neil Gillon in 1983 but their marriage fell apart just five years later.

It was another ten years before she entered federal parliament, stating in her first speech to the house of representatives that she regarded public office as 'one of the highest callings' in the land.

Her relationship with wealthy property developer Panton has been controversial at times, including reports she claimed $32,000 in family travel allowance for him to accompany her on a trip to New York.

The couple are understood to be deeply committed.

So too are Scott Morrison and his wife Jenny, with the devout Christians having been together since high school.

The pair first met at a Sydney church when they were just 12, before marrying at the age of 21.

But it would be nearly two decades before they conceived their first child. Mr Morrison described the birth as a God-given 'miracle' after multiple IVF treatments.

'After 14 years of bitter disappointments, God remembered [Jenny's] faithfulness and blessed us with our miracle child, Abbey Rose,' Mr Morrison said.

The couple now share two children.

Jenny was raised in the working class St George area in Sydney's south, while Mr Morrison grew up in Bronte in the city's ritzy eastern suburbs.

Ms Bishop came under fire earlier this year after it was revealed she had claimed $32,000 in family travel allowance following a trip to New York with Mr Panton

'After 14 years of bitter disappointments, God remembered [Jenny's] faithfulness and blessed us with our miracle child, Abbey Rose,' Mr Morrison said after the birth of their first child

In his maiden speech in Parliament, Scott Morrison (pictured with wife and two children) spoke of the significant influences on my life: 'My family and my faith'

As a child, Jenny would reportedly mock Scott about coming from the exclusive side of town.

The pair are evangelical Christians who worship at a Hillsong-style Pentecostal church in Sydney's south.

Mr Morrison attended the prestigious Sydney Boys High School and embarked on a short-lived career as a child actor.

He graduated from university and worked in tourism, playing roles in the '100% Pure New Zealand' and Australia's 'where the bloody hell are you?' campaigns before winning preselection in the seat of Cook in Sydney's south in 2007.

As a child, Jenny would mock Scott about coming from the exclusive side of town. The Morrisons are pictured welcoming a new dog to the family

Jenny was raised in the working class St George area in Sydney's south, while Mr Morrison grew up in Bronte in the city's ritzy eastern suburbs. The pair are pictured with their children

POTENTIAL PRIME MINISTER SCOTT MORRISON REVEALS HIS RELIGIOUS DEVOTION IN MAIDEN SPEECH IN PARLIAMENT Growing up in a Christian home, I made a commitment to my faith at an early age and have been greatly assisted by the pastoral work of many dedicated church leaders, in particular the Reverend Ray Green and pastors Brian Houston and Leigh Coleman. My personal faith in Jesus Christ is not a political agenda. As Lincoln said, our task is not to claim whether God is on our side but to pray earnestly that we are on His. For me, faith is personal, but the implications are social- as personal and social responsibility are at the heart of the Christian message. In recent times it has become fashionable to negatively stereotype those who profess their Christian faith in public life as 'extreme' and to suggest that such faith has no place in the political debate of this country. Mr Morrison spoke of his deep Christian beliefs in his maiden speech in Parliament This presents a significant challenge for those of us, like my colleague, who seek to follow the example of William Wilberforce or Desmond Tutu, to name just two. These leaders stood for the immutable truths and principles of the Christian faith. They transformed their nations and, indeed, the world in the process. More importantly, by following the convictions of their faith, they established and reinforced the principles of our liberal democracy upon which our own nation is built. Australia is not a secular country - it is a free country. This is a nation where you have the freedom to follow any belief system you choose. Secularism is just one. It has no greater claim than any other on our society. As US Senator Joe Lieberman said, the Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, not from religion. I believe the same is true in this country. Advertisement

Mr and Mrs Dutton live in Brisbane's north-west with the couple's two young sons, Harry, 14, and Tom, 12 - as well as Mr Dutton's 16-year-old daughter Rebecca from a previous relationship

Further north, Peter Dutton met his future wife Kirilly when she was working in Brisbane as a personal assistant to recruitment magnate Sarina Russo.

Working 14-hour days, Kirilly had little time to pursue the relationship - and it took time to blossom.

The pair were first introduced by one of Kirilly's friends, who was in a relationship with Ross Vasta, the current Liberal Member for Bonner.

Months later, Kirilly was finally wooed by what she says is Mr Dutton's mystery and sense of humour. The pair married in 2003.

'He's more romantic than me. He buys the gift baskets and the flowers. There's a perception out there that he's fairly serious and hard-line. But he loves a joke,' Kirilly told The Courier Mail this week.

'He's got a great sense of humour. When he and his mother get together, they can have tears running down their faces. It can take him about 20 minutes to tell a story because he's laughing so much.'

Mr and Mrs Dutton live on a two-hectare property in Camp Mountain in Brisbane's north-west with the couple's two young sons, Harry, 14, and Tom, 12 - as well as Mr Dutton's 16-year-old daughter Rebecca from a previous relationship.

Peter Dutton (pictured with his children Harry, 14, Tom, 12 and Rebecca, 16) has come a long way from his humble beginnings on Brisbane's outskirts

Kirilly worked as a part-time babysitter as a young woman and would later create and expand lucrative childcare businesses

Kirilly worked as a part-time babysitter as a young woman and would later create and expand lucrative childcare businesses.

Her friends on social media tell her she looks the same today as she did in high school: 'When do you think you might start getting wrinkles? You look the same as you did in year 12.'

Mrs Dutton now operates and owns the Camelia Avenue Childcare Centre in Everton Hills, as well as Bald Hills Childcare Centre, both in Brisbane's north-west.

Her husband has denied he could be disqualified from Parliament for breaching constitutional law due to his business interests in the childcare centres.

The prime minister said if the solicitor-general's advice cleared Mr Dutton on Friday morning, there could be a partyroom meeting and a second spill motion.

Former pharmacist Mr Panton has traveled the world with Ms Bishop since they first began dating and is her annual partner to the Mid-Winter Ball at Parliament House.

Rumours first began swirling on Thursday afternoon that Ms Bishop was set to enter the race to become Liberal leader

In 2015, Mr Panton joined Ms Bishop on the floor of the UN General Assembly in New York - sparking questions from Labor about just why he was there

In 2015, he joined Ms Bishop on the floor of the UN General Assembly in New York - sparking questions from Labor about just why he was there.

They are often seen at polo and racing events and spent the last New Year's Eve together under fireworks, posing together with happy selfies.

And they spent the last New Year's Eve together under Australian fireworks, posing for a happy series of selfies.

The couple have also enjoyed mixing with big names in Australia - such as Channel Nine star Karl Stefanovic - and internationally, including meeting US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania.

Mr Panton has three children from his previous marriage.Cohen said in court that Trump directed him to arrange payments of $130,000 to porn star Stormy Daniels and $150,000 to Karen McDougal

Trump tweeted on Wednesday that the campaign finance violations Cohen pleaded guilty to 'are not a crime.'

Cohen also has been said to be willing to tell Mueller that Trump knew in advance of the infamous 2016 meeting at Trump Tower with a Russian lawyer

'What I'm suggesting is that Mr. Cohen was an observer and was a witness to Mr. Trump's awareness of those emails before they were dropped,' Lanny Davis said

Michael Cohen's lawyer says the president's former 'fixer' has information 'on certain subjects that should be of interest' to the special prosecutor beyond his allegations made while pleading guilty Tuesday that Trump directed him to make hush-money payments to fend off damage to his White House bid.

His lawyer, Lanny Davis, on Wednesday suggested that Cohen could tell special counsel Robert Mueller that Trump knew about and encouraged Russian hacking during the 2016 campaign before it became publicly known.

'What I'm suggesting is that Mr. Cohen was an observer and was a witness to Mr. Trump's awareness of those emails before they were dropped, and it would pertain to the hacking of the email accounts,' Davis told CNN after having hedged that point in earlier television interviews.

Cohen's lawyer, Lanny Davis (R), says the president's former 'fixer' has information 'on certain subjects that should be of interest' to the special prosecutor Robert Mueller

'What I'm suggesting is that Mr. Cohen was an observer and was a witness to Mr. Trump's awareness of those emails before they were dropped,' said Davis

Cohen also has been said to be willing to tell Mueller that Trump knew in advance of a 2016 meeting at Trump Tower in which the Republican candidate's eldest son sought damaging information from a Russian lawyer about Hillary Clinton.

Cohen, who showed fierce loyalty as Trump's personal lawyer, said in court that Trump directed him to arrange payments of $130,000 to porn star Stormy Daniels and $150,000 to former Playboy model Karen McDougal to buy their silence about alleged affairs before the election. Trump denies the affairs.

Nothing made public so far from Michael Cohen's (pictured) criminal case indicates he has agreed to cooperate with prosecutors

Trump tweeted on Wednesday that the campaign finance violations Cohen pleaded guilty to 'are not a crime.' He told 'Fox & Friends' that, because the payments came from him and not the campaign, it's 'not even a campaign violation.' Both claims are wrong.

Nothing made public so far from Cohen's criminal case indicates he has agreed to cooperate with prosecutors, but Davis said that was simply a 'distinction without a difference.' Cohen is intent on telling the truth to whoever asks him and is 'more than happy' to tell Mueller all that he knows, Davis said, calling that pledge, 'the functional equivalent of cooperation.'

Cohen forged his new path amid months of scrutiny from federal investigations and a public falling-out with the president, for whom Cohen once said he would 'take a bullet.' But what compelled him to take a plea deal and potentially flip on Trump?

Cohen told confidants he was disappointed and angry that Trump and his team  namely his lawyer Rudy Giuliani  had repeatedly bashed his reputation and character.

Cohen suggested that the attacks helped pave the way for his guilty plea and possible cooperation, according to a person who has spoken to the lawyer in the last 24 hours but was not authorized to discuss private conversations and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Michael Cohen also has been said to be willing to tell Mueller that Trump knew in advance of the infamous 2016 meeting at Trump Tower with a Russian lawyer (Pictured Right: Russian President Vladimir Putin)

Cohen is intent on telling the truth to whoever asks him and is 'more than happy' to tell Mueller all that he knows, Davis said (Pictured: Special Counsel Robert Mueller)

Davis made the claim during his media tour Wednesday that Trump's deference to Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki on July 16 was a 'significant turning point' and that it galvanized Cohen's thinking that Trump was unsuitable to hold office.

But, that summit was about two weeks after Cohen made clear to ABC's George Stephanopoulos in an off-camera interview that he was putting his 'family and country first' and wouldn't be a 'punching bag as part of anyone's defense strategy.'

Working out of a Trump Tower office next to his boss, Cohen likely has vast knowledge of the innerworkings of Trump's empire, his business dealings and his campaign. Federal agents in April seized more than 4 million items from his home, hotel room and office, including recordings of Trump and others.

Investigators from New York state's tax department entered the mix on Wednesday, subpoenaing Cohen to share what he knows about the Trump Foundation, the president's embattled charitable foundation.

Cohen, who turns 52 on Saturday, wiped away tears as he gazed out a courthouse window after pleading guilty on Tuesday. He is free now and allowed some limited travel. He could get about four to five years in prison at sentencing Dec. 12.

Cohen said in court that Trump directed him to arrange payments of $130,000 to porn star Stormy Daniels (R) and $150,000 to former Playboy model Karen McDougal (L)

Believing that his arrest was imminent, Cohen turned himself in to the FBI because he wanted to spare his children the image of him being perp-walked in handcuffs, according to the person who spoke with Cohen.

Even as his legal fate approached, Cohen tried to project normalcy in recent days: he went on a family trip to Florida and he oversaw moving back into his upper East Side apartment after spending months in a nearby hotel after a water main break.

When the judge asked him if he had taken any drugs or alcohol in the past 24 hours, Cohen confessed: 'Last night at dinner, I had a glass of Glenlivet 12 on the rocks.'

It was the only moment of levity at an otherwise glum proceeding.

'Is it your custom to do that, sir?' the judge responded.

'No, your honor,' Cohen said.

Tuesday night, hours after entering his guilty pleas, Cohen took his wife out to dinner.



A 73-year-old man who allegedly murdered his wife in a Home Depot parking lot turned to a witness and told him: 'Call the cops, I just shot my wife'.

Terrance Finn, of Peterborough, Ontario, has been charged with first-degree murder.

Finn allegedly shot dead his 70-year-old wife, whose name has not been released, on Wednesday morning.

Mike Whitney was walking into the Home Depot around 8am to get contracting supplies for a job when he heard 'three pops'.

Scroll down for video

Terrance Finn, 73, (pictured) allegedly murdered his wife in a Home Depot parking lot and then turned to a witness and told him: 'Call the cops, I just shot my wife'

Finn allegedly shot dead his 70-year-old wife, whose name has not been released, on Wednesday morning. He has been charged with first-degree murder

Whitney turned his head and said he saw Finn beside a car, holding a revolver-type pistol.

'He was as calm as could be. It was surreal,' Whitney told The Star.

'We were about 15 feet away. He just started at us holding the gun.'

Finn placed the gun onto the hood of his car and then lit a cigarette before he approached Whitney and confessed he had just shot his wife.

Finn allegedly murdered his wife in this car. Witnesses said he put the gun (circled) on the hood of the car afterwards and calmly waited for police to arrive

Whitney and his employer, Derek Wing, said they could see Finn's wife in the car.

She was slouched over to one side and her face was covered in blood.

While Whitney called 911, he said Finn just stood beside the car that held his wife's bloodied body and continued to smoke.

'No one sees that. It's crazy stuff,' Whitney said.

Police arrived on the scene within minutes and the woman was airlifted to a hospital in Toronto. She later died of her injuries.

Emergency responders can be seen on the driver's side of the car, appearing to help Finn's wife, who later died of her injuries at the hospital

Witnesses said they saw Finn's wife slouched on the seat, her face completely covered in blood

Home Depot, a nearby Staples, and their shared parking lot were closed until 2pm on Wednesday.

A handgun was visible on the hood of a car at the scene of the murder and a tent was placed over the car.

A purse could also be seen lying on the ground next to the driver's side of the car.

Finn remains in custody and will appear in Ontario Court of Justice in Peterborough on Friday.Twin brothers who were part of a group of teens captured on camera insulting police officers were arrested early on Tuesday for separate robberies, according to police sources.

Rockeem and Raquan McMillian, 16, were both arrested in the Bronx in the early morning hours on Tuesday, the sources told the New York Post.

In the video several voices can be heard shouting insults and sexual profanities at officers who are walking down steps inside of an apartment building in the Bronx.

The video was posted as a livestream on a Facebook page listed under the name 'Rockeem Balla' on August 8.

The police filmed in the video were recorded while inside of a building on Westchester Avenue near East 158th Street at around 10.30am that day.

Voices can be heard in the video shouting, 'You p***y! You p***y!' and 'Suck my d**k! Suck my d**k!'

As the insults are flying, the officers do little to engage with those who are taunting them.

Twin brothers Rockeem and Raquan McMillian, 16, who police said were part of a group of teens captured on camera insulting officers, were arrested on Tuesday for separate robberies

In the video several voices can be heard shouting insults and sexual profanities, including 'You p***y! and 'Suck my d**k!' at officers who are walking down steps inside of an apartment building in the Bronx

Rockeem was the one doing the filming, and saying those specific phrases, according to the sources.

Another voice can be heard saying, 'Get the f**k out my building!'

Both of the McMillian twins were part of that group, police sources said.

Rockeem was the one doing the filming, and saying those specific phrases, the sources said

As the insults are flying, the officers do little to engage with those who are taunting them

Officers who were in the video knew the twins, the sources said, and were able to identify them following their arrests, after the video-taping incident.

Rockeem was arrested in the Bronx for a strong-arm robbery at around 2.30am on Tuesday, the sources said, adding that he allegedly admitting to being in the possession of a stolen scooter.

Raquan was also arrested at around the same time for a separate robbery, but additional details werent available, the sources said.Chinese police have opened an investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against one of the country's best-known Buddhist monks.

Xuecheng, a Communist Party member and abbot of the Beijing Longquan Monastery, is being investigated by Chinese police over claims of sexual assault, according to a statement issued by the State Religious Affairs Administration on Thursday.

It said he also faces censure from the official government-backed Buddhist Association on suspicion of 'violating Buddhist precepts.'

Xuecheng has denied the claims but earlier this month resigned as head of the Buddhist Association.

Chinese police have opened an investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against abbot Xuecheng of the Beijing Longquan Temple. He was accused of coercing nuns into having sex

In a 95-page report, two former monks of Longquan temple accused him of harassing and demanding sexual favours from nuns at the monastery in the outskirts of north-west Beijing, as well as embezzling funds.

Their accusations, including testimony from alleged victims, were posted online, prompting a public outcry and unusual coverage by state media.

A small but increasing number of academics, civil society activists and one of China's best-known television hosts have been called out for inappropriate sexual behavior amid the country's growing #MeToo movement.

In addition to heading the Buddhist Association, Xuecheng was an influential political adviser to the central government. His monastery, Longquan, is popular with educated Chinese, including many who give up high-paying jobs to devote their lives to religious study.

Abbot Xuecheng was head of the Buddhist Association of China and a member of China's top political advisory body. He is seen attending an opening session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the Great Hall of the People in China in March

His Longquan monastery in Beijing is popular with educated Chinese, including many who give up high-paying jobs to devote their lives to religious study

China has roughly 250 million Buddhists whose religion has suffered varying degrees of repression under the officially atheist Communist government. That number is likely growing fast as some young Chinese turn increasingly spiritual and retreat to temples and monasteries.

Not all is so Zen-like, however. Some leading monks have been criticised for embracing China's rampant commercialism, among them Shi Yongxin, abbot of the Shaolin Temple famed for its fighting monks.

Shi was accused by subordinates in 2015 of keeping mistresses and embezzling monastery funds while he jet-setted around the world seeking sponsorship and real estate deals for the 1,500-year-old cradle of kung fu.

The religious affairs bureau statement said Xuecheng's temple is also under investigation for putting up buildings without construction permits. Authorities are also looking into the issue of 'the whereabouts of large amount of funds,' it said.Advertisement

Crooner Perry Como once sang 'the bluest skies you've ever seen are in Seattle,' but this week the city registered its worse air quality of the past two decades.

Smoke from wildfires is filling the summer skies in western U.S. and Canadian cities so badly that weather experts are calling on officials to tackle 'smoke season' with the same urgency they use with heat waves and cold snaps.

'There's a smoke season, and it's probably going to be more frequent and longer than it has been in previous years,' said Environment and Climate Change Canada meteorologist Armel Castellan.

Smoke from wildfires is filling the summer skies so heavily that experts are calling on officials to tackle 'smoke season' with the same urgency they use with heat waves and cold snaps

Climate change is exacerbating wildfires through higher temperatures coupled with a weakening jet stream that allow for longer dry spells, said meteorologist Armel Castellan

Erik Saganic of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, which monitors air quality in the Seattle area, said cities could keep air-conditioned buildings open extra hours

Wildfires raging in the forests and mountains of British Columbia in Canada and Washington, Oregon and California in the United States have sent up such voluminous plumes of smoke that they now pollute skies over Pacific Northwest cities such as Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver

Climate change is exacerbating wildfires through higher temperatures coupled with a weakening jet stream that allow for longer dry spells, he said.

Wildfires raging in the forests and mountains of British Columbia in Canada and Washington, Oregon and California in the United States have sent up such voluminous plumes of smoke that they now pollute skies over Pacific Northwest cities such as Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver, say experts.

California alone has seen the worst start to its fire season in a decade, and officials from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration say satellite images show two-thirds of the state covered in smoke.

'Smoke is being created from all directions. It's very hard to not have smoke in your corner of the world,' Castellan told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Poor air quality from wildfire smoke can cause coughing, irritated eyes and sinuses, difficulty breathing and chest pain, especially in children, teenagers, older people, pregnant women and people with asthma.

While some air quality experts say Western cities must treat the 'smoke season' as an emergency and tackle health risks in a region such as the Pacific Northwest where most people do not have air conditioning, not everyone agrees.

'The smoke season concept - no one agrees what that is,' Heath Hokenberry, a meteorologist with the U.S. National Weather Service, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. 'It depends on the volume of fire that you get in the West.

'Where there's fire, there's smoke. It's just a matter of duration and how concentrated from the prevailing winds.'

Poor air quality from wildfire smoke can cause coughing, irritated eyes and sinuses, difficulty breathing and chest pain, especially in children, teenagers, older people, pregnant women and people with asthma

The Thomson Reuters Foundation queried city officials in Calgary, Edmonton, Portland, Seattle and Vancouver. None indicated any specific response other than warning the public about the health and safety risks of prolonged exposure to poor air.

'If we experience the same situation next summer, there might be a different answer,' said Seattle Office of Sustainability & Environment spokeswoman Sara Wysocki.

'We're doing what we can to connect the dots between climate change and what is happening,' she said. 'This is climate change, folks.'

A Vancouver spokeswoman said response plans are under consideration for the future, while a Calgary official said the Canadian city needs better air quality and extreme heat management strategies.

Thick smoke from wildfires burning in the region fills the air and blocks out the sun as a motorist travels on Hwy. 27 just after 5:30 p.m, between Vanderhoof and Fort St. James, British Columbia, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018

hick smoke from wildfires burning in the region fills the air and blocks out the sun as motorists drive on Hwy 16 just before 5 p.m Wildfires in Vanderhoof, Canada

With parks deserted and sidewalks cafes empty, residents appear to be in wait-and-see mode

'Research tells us that Calgary will experience more severe and frequent extreme weather events such as flooding, drought, storms and the effects of wildfires,' Calgary's climate change and environment manager Dick Ebersohn told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Erik Saganic of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, which monitors air quality in the Seattle area, said cities could keep air-conditioned buildings open extra hours the way they set up warming centers in winter and cooling centers during hot spells.

'It might take a bit of planning and infrastructure, but having a library stay open until 10 o'clock at night could be a really helpful avenue to keeping people safe.'

With parks deserted and sidewalks cafes empty, residents appear to be in wait-and-see mode, although those with asthma like Wysocki say they are feeling the smoke's effects.

'It feels like a constant weight is just sitting on my chest, making it impossible to take a full breath,' she said.

Despite working in an air-conditioned office and keeping her windows closed at home, 'I still can't breathe well and I suffer from a continual headache that doesn't go away,' she said.The US and China has increased tariffs on billions of goods including each other's cars and factory machinery.

It comes amid an escalating battle over Beijing's technology policy that companies worry will freeze global economic growth.

Representatives met in Washington for their first high-level talks in two months but they gave no sign of progress toward a settlement regarding complaints that Beijing steals technology and its industry development plans violate Chinese free-trade commitments.

Pictured: Visitors look at a manufacturing robot from Chinese robot maker Aubo Robotics at the World Robot Conference in Beijing, China, this month

A visitor talks on his smartphone in front of a display of manufacturing robots from Chinese robot maker Honyen at the World Robot Conference in Beijing, China, in August

The 25 per cent duties, previously announced, apply to $16billion of goods from each side including cars and metal scrap from the United States and Chinese-made factory machinery and electronic components.

In the first round of tariff hikes, President Donald Trump imposed 25 per cent duties on $34billion of Chinese imports on July 6.

Beijing responded with similar penalties on the same amount of American goods.

The Chinese government criticized Mr Trump's increase as a violation of World Trade Organization rules and said it would file a legal challenge.

A foreign ministry spokesman, Lu Kang, declined to give details of the Washington talks.

'We hope the U.S. side will get along with us to strive for a good result from the talks with a reasonable and practical attitude,' said Lu.

Ahead of the Washington talks, Chinese state TV mocked President Trump with a sarcastic video posted on the YouTube and other social media pages of its international arm, China Global Television Network

Pictured: An online video about trade tensions produced by China's state television broadcaster plays on a computer screen in Beijing, China, on Thursday

Beijing has rejected demands to scale back plans for state-led technology development that its trading partners say violate its market-opening commitments.

American officials worry they might erode the United States' industrial leadership.

With no settlement in sight, economists warn the conflict could spread and knock up to 0.5 percentage points off global economic growth through 2020.

Ahead of the Washington talks, Chinese state TV mocked President Trump with a sarcastic video posted on the YouTube and other social media pages of its international arm, China Global Television Network.

'You are great,' said a presenter on the nearly three-minute-long English-language clip, reading a letter that pays a satirical tribute to Trump.

'On behalf of doctors, thank you for pointing out the need to wean off American goods like bourbon and bacon,' the presenter says, referring to products on which China imposed retaliatory tariffs.

In this Aug. 13, 2018, photo, a man sits in front of a billboard at a restaurant in Guangzhou in southern China's Guangdong Province, stating that American customers will be charged 25 per cent extra due to ongoing trade tensions

In this July 27, 2018, photo, a worker sits at a machine at a factory producing lithium-ion batteries in Taizhou in eastern China's Jiangsu Province

The video appeared to have been removed Thursday from CGTN's social media accounts.

Trump has proposed another possible round of tariff hikes imposing 25 per cent increases on an additional $200billion of Chinese goods.

Beijing issued a $60billion list of American imports for retaliation if Washington goes ahead with that.

The smaller target list reflects the fact that Beijing is running out of American goods for retaliation due to their lopsided trade balance.

China's imports from the United States last year totaled around $130billion. That leaves about $20billion for penalties after tariffs already imposed or planned on a total of $110billion.

Chinese authorities have said they will take 'comprehensive measures,' which companies worry could mean targeting operations of American businesses in China for disruption.An apprehended violence order has been taken out against the ex-boyfriend of TV star Deborah Hutton - as his lawyer told a court he 'still cares for her'.

Robert Venour Dulhunty, 49, allegedly planted a bag of condoms and restraints inside the multimillion-dollar home they shared in Bronte.

Police have now taken out on AVO against Dulhunty on behalf of Ms Hutton.

'We still care for Ms Hutton we just want to give her some personal space,' Dulhunty's solicitor Bryan Wrench told Waverley Local Court on Thursday - a statement Magistrate Mary Ryan said was 'gratuitous'.

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An apprehended violence order has been taken out against the ex-boyfriend of TV star Deborah Hutton - as his lawyer told a court he 'still cares for her'

TV star Deborah Hutton has been spotted at Bondi Icebergs just days after her ex-boyfriend was charged with stalking and intimidation

The glamorous presenter and former model exercised near the pool in Sydney's affluent eastern suburbs on Thursday morning

She spoke out about the incident for the first time on Thursday, saying she was 'surrounded by friends and family'

In a statement posted to her Balance by Deborah Hutton website, staff said she was 'shocked and devastated by the situation as it evolved'

'We can confirm she is now safe and working with the police on resolving this matter and letting the legal process take its due course,' the statement said

Hutton's staff said she was 'surrounded by friends and family' after the incident

Mr Wrench agued his client wanted to respond to 'gratuitous' claims about the case which had been reported in the media, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Dulhunty was not present at court, as his bail conditions prevent him from being in Waverley in Sydney's east.

The glamorous presenter and former model stretched and skipped near the pool at Bondi Icebergs on Thursday morning.

She spoke out about the incident for the first time on her website, saying she was 'surrounded by friends and family'.

He allegedly made it look like a break-in to intimidate her into not ending their relationship.

He allegedly called Triple Zero claiming he confronted an attempted attacker outside the home he shared with Dutton, 56, shortly after 6am on August 8.

In a statement posted to her Balance by Deborah Hutton website, staff said she was 'shocked and devastated by the situation as it evolved'.

'We can confirm she is now safe and working with the police on resolving this matter and letting the legal process take its due course,' the statement said.

'Deborah is surrounded by friends and family, and we trust the Balance community will also support her through this difficult time.

Hutton's staff said she was working with the police on resolving the matter involving her ex-boyfriend

Hutton was pictured skipping and stretching at the popular exercise spot in Sydney's eastern suburbs

The glamorous model and TV presenter planked on a mat at Bondi Icebergs on Thursday morning

Police alleged Dulhunty called Triple Zero claiming he confronted an attempted attacker outside the home shortly after 6am on August 8 (Hutton pictured)

'As a community, we believe (every) woman, man and child has a right to feel safe in their relationships and in their home - a celebrity should be no different.

'We also acknowledge that it takes courage and resilience beyond measure to recognise and remove yourself from toxic situations. So we are sending Deborah all our love.'

Dulhunty allegedly told police the attacker left behind a number of items, with investigators later finding condoms and an apparatus used to restrain someone.

Police initially believed Hutton had been targeted by a celebrity stalker but nine days later they were led back to Dulhunty.

He was arrested at the home on Monday and taken to Waverley Police Station where he was charged with stalk or intimidate to cause fear of physical or mental health (domestic violence).

Dulhunty also faced three counts of destroy or damage property, false representation resulting in police investigation and making a false call to an emergency services number.

He told police the attacker left behind a number of items, with investigators later finding condoms and an apparatus used to restrain someone (Hutton pictured)

Court hears Robert Venour Dulhunty, 49, allegedly planted a bag of condoms and restraints inside the multimillion-dollar Bronte home they shared in Sydney's eastern suburbs (Hutton pictured)

Court documents stated police alleged Dulhunty 'did intimidate Deborah Hutton with the intention of causing...(her) to fear physical or mental harm'.

They will allege Dulhunty, a former company director, staged the event hoping it would push Hutton into staying with him for protection as they were in the midst of a break-up.

The case is due to return to court on August 30.

Court documents listed Hutton as the owner of the home, which was also listed as Dulhunty's address.

She purchased the spectacular four-bedroom abode in Bronte, which boasts an uninterrupted vista of the ocean in Sydney's eastern suburbs, in late 2015 for $3.8million.

Court documents listed Hutton as the owner of the home (pictured), which was also listed as Dulhunty's address

She purchased the spectacular four bedroom abode (pictured) in Bronte, which boasts an uninterrupted vista of the ocean in Sydney's eastern suburbs, late 2015 for $3.8million

Court documents stated police alleged Dulhunty 'did intimidate Deborah Hutton (pictured with late Harry M Miller) with the intention of causing...(her) to fear physical or mental harm'

They will allege Dulhunty (centre) staged the event hoping it would push Hutton into staying with him for protection as they were in the midst of a break-up

Hutton has been a household name in Australia for more than 40 years, having worked as a model and in the media

She graced the cover of Cosmopolitan magazine at the age of 16, was the face of Qantas for 12 years and was the editor of Women's Weekly magazine.

While in a long-term relationship with late celebrity agent Harry M Miller, she was a regular feature in newspaper social pages.

Hutton has also hosted Looking Good and Location Location on the Nine Network and was a fashion expert at Kerry Packer's old TV station almost two decades ago.

Ms Hutton (right with Megan Gale) been a household name in Australia for more than 40 years, having worked in some of the world's most competitive industries - namely modelling and TVAngry farmers have demanded that large supplies of hay being exported to China instead be diverted to help drought-stricken landowners who are crying out for the feed to save dying animals.

New South Wales is gripped by the most intense drought of the past 50 years and the harsh conditions across the state have left farmers struggling to feed their livestock, with many forced to put animals down rather than see them starve.

Farmers want the federal and NSW governments to declare a state of emergency, forcing the seizure of hay earmarked for export to China, The Australian has reported.

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While hay volumes are at critically low levels for local farmers, the supplies for commercial exporters _ supplied from states not affected by drought _ are packed.

NSW farmer Peter Saunders said the government must keep that hay in Australia.

'Charity begins at home and we need solutions now, not more heartless responses; the hundreds and thousands of tonnes of hay stored in WA sheds must be requisitioned to keep our local animals alive or, without hay, the whole NSW farming sector will collapse within six months,' Mr Saunders said.

Hay grower Greg Harvey, who typically supplies horse breeders, said farmers across NSW had been calling non-stop.

The country has had its driest July since 2002, and the driest Autumn since 1902. Farmers across the country are suffering from the intense droughts, and many are losing their livestock

After witnessing the drought first hand as he drove through the hardest-hit areas, he is now convinced it was time to stop exports.

The price of hay has skyrocketed because of the escalating demand and diminishing supply.

There were 600,000 tonnes of hay held by exporters in WA and SA. That stock was shipped in the first six months of this year, to meet pre-orders mainly from China and Japan, Australian Fodder Industry Association chief executive John McKew said.

Mr McKew said overseas shipments were only a small percentage of all hay grown in Australia and diverting export supplies to local farmers would do little to alleviate their troubles.

'We have empathy with those who feel they are missing out on hay and understand the difficulties farmers in NSW are facing with the drought, but this must be kept in perspective,' he said.Advertisement

For most of the 16-year-olds picking up their GCSE results today, it was the most important day of their lives so far.

And some of them took to social media to share their joy, confusion and despair after finding out their scores, on a day that overall GCSE pass rates rose following the biggest shake-up of the exams for a generation.

People shared memes from the likes of The Office, Friends and Anchorman as they compared results online, after one in five UK GCSE entries scored at least an A grade, or 7 under the new grading system.

Grade boundaries were released 90 minutes before the results this morning, causing further stress for thousands of teens as they nervously waited to see whether their marks would get them the top grades.

Pupils were faced with a new system this year to make exams harder, grading them 9 to 1 instead of A* to G. The politicians behind the new grading scheme have faced a fierce backlash from teachers and students.

Last night, teenagers across Britain struggled to sleep as they tossed and turned worrying about their GCSE exam results out.

Social media was awash with memes as youngsters took to Twitter and Facebook overnight to share their anxiety, preparing for their 'lives to end tomorrow' when they 'fail their exams':Advertisement

The approaching hurricane started to feel very real for Hawaii residents as emergency shelters opened, rain began to pour and cellphone alerts went out.

Hurricane Lane was forecast to continue its northwest turn into the islands Thursday, which would make it the most powerful storm to hit Hawaii since Hurricane Iniki in 1992.

'Everyone is starting to buckle down at this point,' said Christyl Nagao of Kauai. 'Our families are here. We have businesses and this and that. You just have to man your fort and hold on tight.'

Lane packed sustained winds of up to 145 miles per hour (230 km/h) and could dump as much as 20 inches of rain that could trigger flash floods and landslides, the National Weather Service said.

Officials opened shelters on the Big Island and on the islands of Maui, Molokai and Lanai on Wednesday and urged those needing to use the Molokai shelter to get there soon because of concerns the main highway on the south coast of the island could become impassable.

Wenkai He, left, waits his turn to fill up his 3 gallon water jug, while Alex Krivoulian fills three times as many at Safeway on Kapahulu in preparation for Hurricane Lane on Wednesday

People on Wednesday filled up sand bags that they planned to use to help protect their home in preparation for the hurricane

Empty shelves of a supermaket are seen as residents of Oahu are re-stocking their water and non-perishable food supplies as preparation for the looming threat of Hurricane Lane

Contractor David Meyer pushes a plywood board into place over a window in preparation of the approaching strong winds of Hurricane Lane, Wednesday, August 22, 2018, in Honolulu

City Mill hardware store sales associates Frank Miller Gascon, left, Lisa Lavilla, fill a table up with duck tape, flashlights, and other hurricane supplies yesterday in Honolulu

Pictured: Loren, right, and Ruby Aquino, of Honolulu, load water into their car ahead of Hurricane Lane

A woman fills up her car as other vehicles line up behind her for gasoline at a Costco in preparation for Hurricane Lane (pictured yesterday)

Continuous lines of vehicles find gasoline at the Texaco station on Harding Avenue as they fill up in preparation for the possible impact of Hurricane Lane on Wednesday, August 22, 2018 in Honolulu

Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion, the service added. Life threatening impacts are likely in some areas as the hurricane makes its closest approach.

On the island of Oahu, which was put on a hurricane warning late Wednesday, shelters were scheduled to open Thursday.

Officials were also working to help Hawaii's sizeable homeless population, many of whom live near beaches and streams that could flood.

President Donald Trump directed FEMA and administration officials to remain in close coordination with the state, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told reporters.

The president is deeply concerned for the well-being of all Hawaiians, she said.

US Navy ships and submarines based in Hawaii were instructed to leave port, a common practice as a hurricane approaches to avoid damage.

Meteorologist Chevy Chevalier said winds slowed overnight from 160mph to 155mph, prompting a downgrade of the hurricane from a Category 5 to a Category 4. He added it may diminish to a Category 3 by Thursday afternoon but that would still be a major hurricane.

Mr Chevalier said that by early Friday, the hurricane is forecast to be a Category 2 with winds up to 110mph and the centre located west of Hawaii Island and south of Honolulu.

'We expect it to gradually weaken as it gets closer to the islands,' he said. 'That being said, on our current forecast, as of the afternoon on Thursday, we still have it as a major hurricane.'

With winds to 130 mph, the hurricane could cause catastrophic damage.

Unlike Florida or Texas, where residents can get in their cars and drive hundreds of miles to safety, people in Hawaii are confined to the islands and can't outrun the powerful winds and driving rain.

Around 5pm Wednesday, Hurricane Lane weakened as it approached Hawaii but was still expected to pack a wallop

A handout image from NASA shows a satellite image with overlay from the GPM core satellite that passed over Hurricane Lane when it was a Category 5 hurricane in the Central Pacific Ocean, near Hawaii, on Wednesday

A lounge in Daniel K. Inouye International Airport sits mostly empty as Hurricane Lane approaches the island

With several monitors displaying hurricane information in several different languages behind them, two women sit at a desk inside a Waikiki hotel yesterday

Beach goers frolic on Waikiki Beach, Wednesday, August 22, 2018, in Honolulu. Hurricane Lane has weakened as it approaches Hawaii but was still expected to pack a wallop, forecasters said Wednesday

City Mill hardware store sales associate Thom West, left, fills up several propane tanks for Tony Cao, in Honolulu yesterday

In this photo taken Tuesday, August 21, 2018, Jodi Nishida and Sam Delovio push along plyboard they purchased at a City Mill store before the arrival of a hurricane in Honolulu

Instead, they must stay put and make sure they have enough supplies to outlast prolonged power outages and other potential emergencies.

Hawaii Emergency Management Agency Administrator Tom Travis said there's not enough shelter space statewide and advised those who are not in flood zones to stay home.

Officials warned the limited shelter space should be a 'last resort' and aren't designed to withstand winds greater than about 40 mph (64.3 kph).

'Whenever possible, the public should plan to shelter in place or stay with family or friends in homes outside of these hazard areas that were designed, built, or renovated to withstand anticipated conditions,' the city and county of Honolulu said in a news release.

Hurricanes are ranked 1 to 5 according to what is known as the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Hurricane Lane is at Category 4, which means winds from 130 to 156 mph (251 kph).

The Big Island was already starting to see Lane's first effects, Gov. David Ige said at a news conference Wednesday.

The hurricane's outer rain bands were bringing showers to some parts of the island, said Matt Foster, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

The eastern side of the island picked up nearly 3 inches (7.62 centimeters) of rain in three hours, Foster said.

Melanie Davis, who lives in a suburb outside Honolulu, said she was gathering canned food and baby formula.

'We're getting some bags of rice and of course, some Spam,' she said of the canned lunch meat that's popular in Hawaii.

She was organizing important documents into a folder - birth and marriage certificates, Social Security cards, insurance paperwork - and making sure her three children, all under 4, have flotation devices such as swimming vests - 'just in case.'

Public schools were closed for the rest of the week and local government workers were told to stay home unless they're essential employees.

The ABC store in the lobby of the King Kamehameha Marriot, is boarded up and secured in preparation for the approaching storm, in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii on Wednesday

Traffic backs up for more than a city block as cars wait to get into a parking lot at a local hardware store Wednesday in Honolulu

City Mill hardware store sales associate Lisa Lavilla, left, talks to customer Ginger McCorriston about hurricane supplies

This NASA satellite natural-color image made at at 10:45 a.m. Hawaii Standard Time (20:45 GMT) on Tuesday, August 21, 2018, shows Hurricane Lane as a powerful category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 250 kilometers (155 miles) per hour. The Big Island of Hawaii is at upper left

In this photo taken Tuesday, Augustust 21, 2018, lines form at a gas station before the arrival of a hurricane in Honolulu

This satellite image provided by NOAA on Wednesday, August 22, 2018 shows Hurricane Lane south of Hawaii. The National Weather Service's Central Pacific Hurricane Center expects Lane to move very close to over Hawaii from Thursday through Saturday. Forecasters say even if Lane doesn't make landfall, the islands could be walloped with rain and wind

This image provided by NASA on Wednesday, August 22, 2018 shows Hurricane Lane as seen from the International Space Station. The National Weather Service says the hurricane will still pack a wallop for Hawaii on Thursday before gradually slowing over the next two days. Early Wednesday, the hurricane was 320 miles (515 kilometers) south of Hilo on Hawaii Island and moving northwest toward other islands

The shelves of a downtown Honolulu Walmart were stripped of items ranging from canned tuna to dog food. Shoppers jostled with one another to get the last boxes of ramen noodles.

There's nothing in there, said one shopper leaving the store.

City residents used carts to push cases of bottled water and coolers full of ice, after warnings of possible power outages and evacuations.

Cars waited in long lines at gasoline stations in Honolulu and people could be seen pulling small boats from the water ahead of Lane's expected storm surge.

I went to Safeway last night for regular groceries, everyone was in a panic, said Thao Nguyen, 35, an employee at a Honolulu branch of Hawaiian shirt retailer Roberta Oaks.

People were buying cases of tiny water bottles.

The central Pacific gets fewer hurricanes than other regions, with about only four or five named storms a year. Hawaii rarely gets hit. The last major storm to hit was Iniki in 1992. Others have come close in recent years.

'We're planning on boarding up all our windows and sliding doors,' Napua Puaoi of Wailuku, Maui, said after buying plywood from Home Depot. 'As soon as my husband comes home - he has all the power tools.'

Puaoi was 12 when Iniki hit Hawaii.

'When it did happen, I just remember, pandemonium, it was all out craziness,' she said.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has several barges with food, water and supplies that it moved into the region ahead of Hurricane Hector, which skirted past the islands more than a week ago, according to FEMA Administrator Brock Long.

The U.S. Navy was moving its ships and submarines out of Hawaii. All vessels not currently undergoing maintenance were being positioned to help respond after the storm, if needed.

Aly Klein, right, and her mother Clarice Klein walks out of a local hardware store with several buckets of hurricane supplies on Wednesday

People check out at a grocery story ahead of Hurricane Lane, Wednesday, August 22, 2018 in Honolulu

People stand in a line waiting to fill up propane tanks at a local hardware store, Wednesday, August 22, 2018, in Honolulu

Rudy Kok, left, and Mary Kok pull their dingy out out of the harbor to secure to their sailing boat in preparation of Hurricane Lane yesterdayAdvertisement

GCSE pass rates rose this year following the biggest shake-up of the exams for a generation, it emerged today.

Overall, one in five UK GCSE entries (20.5 per cent) scored at least an A grade (or 7 under the new grading system), up 0.5 percentage points on last year, according to data published by the Joint Council for Qualifications.

And about two thirds (66.9 per cent) were awarded a C (or a 4), also up 0.5 percentage points compared with 2017. Just 732 16-year-olds in England taking at least seven new GCSEs scored a clean sweep of 9s in all subjects.

The rises come after major reforms in England started by former education secretary Michael Gove, designed to toughen up the qualifications and the introduction of a new 9-1 grading system, replacing A*-G grades.

A new grade 7 is broadly equivalent to an A and a grade 4 broadly equivalent to a C. There is also less coursework in new GCSEs and students take exams at the end of the two-year courses rather than throughout.

(From left) Joanna Milton, Amy Foster, Orlaith Kelly, Madeline Green and Alicia Lake get their results at the Mount School, York

A girl jumps for joy as students collect their GCSE results at Ark Globe Academy in South London this morning

(From left) Stella Wade, Maisie Lock Orstavik and Livi Mullen celebrate after collecting their GCSE results at Brighton College

Students celebrate as they collect their GCSE results at Brighton College in East Sussex this morning

Alicia Lake and Milly Lake (both left) collect their GCSE results in York, while Taren Ghadiali gets his in Nottingham (right)

Students at Lady Eleanor Holles School in Hampton, Middlesex, saw 92% of their exams score the equivalent of A*/A today

The vast majority of entries in England were for the new-style GCSEs this year, with 20 subjects, including the sciences, popular foreign languages, history and geography moving over to the new system.

They join English and maths - awarded numerical grades for the first time last summer. A smaller proportion of entries were awarded a grade 9 this summer - the new highest grade, compared with A* under the old system.

Pass rate up and boy-girl gap narrows: Key data in this year's GCSE results Here are the main figures from this year's GCSE results: 66.9% of entries received a C/4 grade or above , an increase of 0.6 percentage points on 2017.

of entries received a , an increase of 0.6 percentage points on 2017. The proportion of entries receiving the top grades (A/7 +) has risen to 20.5% , up 0.5 points on last year.

Just 732 16-year-olds in England taking at least seven reformed GCSEs achieved a grade 9 in all of their 9-to-1 graded subjects .

16-year-olds in England taking at least seven reformed GCSEs achieved a . The gap between girls and boys getting grade C/4 or above has narrowed since last year. 71.4% of girls got C/4 or higher, compared with 62.3% of boys, a gap of 9.1 points. Last year the gap was 9.5 points.

since last year. 71.4% of girls got C/4 or higher, compared with 62.3% of boys, a gap of 9.1 points. Last year the gap was 9.5 points. The gap between girls and boys getting grade A/7 or above has also narrowed since last year . 23.7% of girls got A/7 or higher, compared with 17.2% of boys, a gap of 6.5 points. Last year the gap was 7.3 points.

. 23.7% of girls got A/7 or higher, compared with 17.2% of boys, a gap of 6.5 points. Last year the gap was 7.3 points. The most popular subject this year was science: double award with 801,080 entries. The least popular subject was manufacturing with 143 entries.

with 801,080 entries. The with 143 entries. The overall pass rate - those entries getting G/1 or above - was 98.3% . This is down slightly on 2017.

- those entries getting G/1 or above - was . This is down slightly on 2017. In total there were 5,470,076 entries for the exams , up 12,750 on last year (a rise of 0.2%). Advertisement

This follows a deliberate move to allow more differentiation among the brightest candidates.

There are now three top grades - 7, 8 and 9, compared with two - A and A*, previously. Figures for England alone also show a rise in results.

In total, 20.3 per cent of all entries from English candidates (for both new and old-style GCSEs) scored at least an A or a 7, up from 19.8 per cent last year.

And 66.6 per cent scored at least a C or 4, up from 66.1 per cent in 2017.

Today's results also show that across the UK:

Boys are closing the gap with girls at top grades: 17.2 per cent of boys' entries scored an A or a 7, up from 16.4 per cent last year, while girls' remained static at 23.7 per cent.

UK entries for GCSE computing are up 11.8 per cent.

UK entries for modern foreign languages are holding steady, up 0.4 per cent this year.

The most popular GCSE this year was science double award, making up 14.6 per cent of entries, followed by maths, English and English literature.

Biology has seen the biggest increase in candidates, with entry numbers up 23 per cent. This was followed by the other two sciences, with chemistry entries up 18.6 per cent and physics up 17.2 per cent.

Analysis of grade boundaries shows candidates taking higher tier maths - aimed at more able students - needed to get 20 per cent to 21 per cent for a grade 4. Last year, pupils needed around 18 per cent.

A woman reacts with joy as she holds a girl's face at Solihull School while pupils receive their GCSE results today

Students hold their papers in the air as they celebrate after collecting their GCSE results at Norwich School in Norfolk today

Students collect their GCSE results at Ark Globe Academy in Elephant and Castle, South London

Three boys compare their GCSE results after collecting them this morning at Nottingham High School

Exams regulator Ofqual has said it uses statistical processes to ensure results are comparable year-on-year, and to ensure the first students to take the new-style qualifications are not disadvantaged.

Daley Thompson's son scores the highest mark in his school for PE! Olympic champion Daley Thompson's son has scored the highest mark in his school for PE in his GCSEs. Alex Clayton was celebrating receiving his results at Brighton College today and hinted at wanting to follow in his athlete father's footsteps with a sporting career. Alex Clayton celebrates with his father Olympic gold medalist Daley Thompson and mother Lisa Clayton at Brighton College The 16-year-old, who lives in the East Sussex city, also scored 9 in double science and maths, 8 in geography, 6 in English literature and language and A* in design and technology (DT). He said: 'I'm absolutely chuffed. It's amazing after putting all the work in.' The Harlequins youth team member of five years has his sights set on becoming a professional rugby player. He plans to return to Brighton College to study maths, physics and DT at A-level with hopes of studying aeronautical engineering at Loughborough University. Alex celebrates with his father Thompson at Brighton College today He added: 'I would love to play rugby professionally. That's the goal. I suppose I'm following in dad's footsteps a bit, but more rugby-focused.' His 60-year-old father, who won two gold medals in the decathlon in the 1980 and 1984 Olympic Games and broke the world record four times, joined Alex to collect his results. Thompson said: 'He's worked hard, it's a great score. He's put in the time and he got the results. In life you get what you deserve.' Advertisement

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: 'All the time and effort that has gone into reforming GCSEs, why have we done that?

'Because GCSEs were designed for an age when children were then maybe going into employment or going into the sixth form, so they were a gateway to other things.

'Now everyone has to stay in education to 18, so why have we got children doing at least 30 hours of exams, all the stress and all the time and all the money that is, when actually for employers, it's what they get at the age of 18 that's going to be important.

'That's where the real reform should be happening. And this is looking to me like a qualification that time forgot.'

He added that there should be more focus on the youngsters who score at the lower end of the grade scale.

'Under the old GCSE, if you got an F or a G, whilst you may not have felt particularly pleased with it, there wasn't a national narrative saying 'you have failed to get the standard pass, you have failed to get a strong pass', yet that is now built in.'

Young people are being 'written off', Mr Barton said, adding: 'I just think we have to rethink what our education system is trying to do.'

He went on to say: 'If we had a more global outlook, our starting point would be, like all of those competitors of ours, what do we need to do so that those 11 years of teachers help every child to have something, might not be a GCSE, but something.

'That's where the reform, I think, should have been.'

School standards minister Nick Gibb said: 'Congratulations to all the pupils getting their results today.

'All of their hard work, and that of their teachers, has paid off and I hope that this is the first step to a bright and successful future.

'Whatever they choose to do next, whether it is staying at school, going to college, or starting an apprenticeship, these qualifications will give them a solid base of knowledge and skills that they can build on.

'Thanks to our reforms and the hard work of teachers, education standards are rising in our schools and pupils have shown their abilities by achieving excellent results today, with so many pupils meeting and exceeding the standards we expect.'

It also emerged today that grade boundaries are up in English language and maths GCSEs this year - suggesting the so-called 'tougher' exams are getting easier.

Pupils required 84 per cent (201/240) to get a top level 9 grade in maths this year, compared to 79 per cent (189/240) in 2017.

And in English language, students needed 80 per cent (128/160) for a 9 grade this year, or 77 per cent (123/160) a year ago.

Grade boundaries are only set by senior examiners and assessment experts once all papers are marked, so they can find out how difficult students found the paper compared to previous years and take this into account.

(From left) Charlotte Cranfield, Katja Ruda and Amy Buck collect their GCSE results at Norwich School in Norfolk today

Amy Foster (left) and Joanna Milton smile after collecting their GCSE results at the Mount School in York this morning

Two girls look at their GCSE results at Solihull School today as pupils across the country find out their exam scores

Hannah Gardner got nine grade 9s, one grade 8 and two A*s at St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School in Bristol. But she is flying to Italy tomorrow to begin a two-year international baccalaureate at the United World College of the Adriatic, near Trieste

Alex Davis with his father Ian and mother Jo in Bedminster, Bristol. He picked up his results today from GCSE exams no one thought he'd be fit to sit after a life-changing accident that saw him kicked in the head while playing football

A boy looks at his results at Solihull School as 16-year-olds across England, Wales and Northern Ireland find out how they did

So, a higher mark required for a 9 suggests pupils are finding the papers easier this year. But English literature saw the opposite happen, with students needing 135/160 (84 per cent) for a 9 this year, compared to 141/160 (88 per cent) last year.

Twin sisters scoop nearly identical grades as they get NINETEEN 9s between them Twins Kay (left) and Hattie Baxter got top grades today Twin sisters have celebrated their impressive GCSE results success after studying identical subjects. Hattie and Kay Baxter, of Malvern, Worcestershire, studied subjects such as maths, English language and science and received nearly identical grades. Hattie got ten grade 9s, and one distinction, while Kay recieved nine grade 9s and one distinction. The girls also took a freestanding maths qualification (FSMQ), equivalent to an AS level, in which they got the highest grade possible - an A. The siblings, born two minutes apart, appear to share the brains and were ecstatic with their final results after revising for five hours a day, even during the holidays. Their mother Rebecca Baxter said: 'They have worked so unbelievably hard and they have both been so dedicated. They have not been competitive at all and have been completely supportive of each other. We will be celebrating with the grandparents today.' The Malvern St James Girls' School pupils have already completed their Duke of Edinburgh bronze and silver awards as well as becoming Scout Explorers - and will go on to study their A-Levels at the school's sixth form. Ms Baxter said: 'They have gone down different paths for their A-levels with Hattie wanting to do maths, chemistry and physics, taking after her father, and Kay as chosen English literature, history and religious studies. She takes after me.' Advertisement

As teenagers wait for GCSE results to be released at 9.30am, headteachers have raised concerns that the new grading system sends a 'demoralising message' to students who are likely to score lower results in their exams.

A 'better way' needs to be found of recognising the achievement of teenagers who score lower than a 4 - equivalent to a C under the old system - in the new, tougher, GCSE courses, school leaders said.

The comments come as 16-year-olds across England, Wales and Northern Ireland receive their GCSE results.

Last year, one in five (20 per cent) UK GCSE entries scored at least an A - or a 7 under the new system - while two thirds (66.3 per cent) scored at least C - equivalent to a 4 under the new system.

Under the biggest shake-up of exams in England for a generation, GCSEs have been toughened up, and traditional A*-G grades scrapped and replaced with a 9-1 system, with 9 the highest grade.

Because the courses are so much harder now, scores were expected to drop significantly.

However, this will be masked following Ofqual's demand for the proportions of high grades to match those of last year.

Chris McGovern, from the Campaign for Real Education, said: 'This is fraud. They are telling students they are good even if they are getting low marks. It is effectively a certificate in incompetence. It is unacceptable.

'It is a deliberate attempt to cover up the true marks. Ultimately we need the truth, and we need transparency.

'If we are to raise standards to the same level as those of other high-performing countries we cannot be fixing the grades like this.'

According to research by Cambridge Assessment, as few as 200 students could score a clean sweep of 9s in all of their GCSEs this year.

Ahead of results day, the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) said it had concerns about pupils performing at the lower end of the grading scale.

Holly Herbert (centre) celebrates with her sister Helen Herbet (right) as they collect their GCSE results at Norwich School

Lily Meakin smiles as she collects her GCSE results with her father at the Nottingham High School this morning

Amy Foster (left) and Joanna Milton (right) collect their GCSE results at the Mount School in York this morning

Hannah Goddard (left) and Gloriana Suri celebrate their GCSE results at St Mary Redcliffe Temple School in Bristol today

Students celebrate after collecting their GCSE results at Norwich School in Norfolk this morning

The Barker family pose for a photo after Jacques and Benedict Barker both received top grades at Solihull School today

'The Government's intention is that the new system provides greater differentiation between grades,' Malcolm Trobe, ASCL deputy general secretary said.

The lowdown on the new GCSE grading system GCSEs in England have undergone sweeping changes as part of education reforms that began under the coalition government. These changes are now being felt in schools and colleges across the country, with one of the biggest being a new grading system. As teenagers prepare to receive their results this week, we explain the key change and what it means for students. So, what is the new grading system? Traditional A* to G grades have been replaced with a 9 to 1 system, with 9 the highest mark.

English and maths GCSEs - core subjects taken by all teenagers - were the first to move to the new system, with numerical grades awarded for these courses for the first time last summer.

This summer another 20 subjects will have the new grades awarded for the first time, including core academic courses such as the sciences, history, geography and modern foreign languages.

This change is only happening in England. Why was the grading system changed? The move is part of a wider reform of exams which has seen a complete overhaul of the content and structure of GCSEs.

Schools and colleges have been teaching these new GCSEs for the last two to three years, and it is only now that grades are starting to be awarded.

The new courses feature much less coursework than the old GCSE qualifications, and modular courses, which saw pupils sit papers throughout their studies, have been scrapped in favour of 'linear' GCSEs in which pupils take all of their exams at the end of the two-year course.

The new grading system is meant to clearly distinguish new courses from the old qualifications. What does this mean for students? This year, in the subjects that are being awarded new grades for the first time, it is expected that broadly the same proportion of students that would have got a C or above under the old system will get at least a 4.

In general, a grade 7-9 is roughly equivalent to A-A* under the old system, while a grade 4 and above is roughly equivalent to a C and above.

Fewer students will receive a grade 9 than would have received an A* under the old grading system. This is because part of the reason for introducing a new grading system was to allow more differentiation among the brightest students.

According to one estimate by Cambridge Assessment, as few as 200 candidates could get a clean sweep of grade 9s across all of their GCSEs this year.

It also means that this year, teenagers will get a mix of lettered and numbered grades, depending on the GCSEs they take. Won't this be confusing? There have been concerns raised that the system may be confusing, for example to parents, or businesses presented with potential job candidates with different types of grades.

Different bodies, including England's exams regulator Ofqual, have been publishing materials about the change and working to publicise the reforms. What will this mean for pass rates and grade boundaries? There has been much talk about how grade boundaries could be lower this year under the new GCSEs compared with the old system.

Grade boundaries are set by exam boards after marking has taken place in order to take account of how demanding the papers were.

Last year, when grades were awarded for the first time for the new maths GCSE, students sitting the higher tier maths GCSE exam, which is aimed at higher-achieving pupils, needed to score at least 18 per cent on average to secure a grade 4, while 52 per cent was the boundary for a 7 on average, and 79 per cent was the average required for a grade 9.

Some people raised concerns at the time that these boundaries were lower than under the old system, and there have been similar suggestions recently that the same thing will happen this year as more new GCSEs are awarded for the first time.

Ofqual has said that it uses statistical processes to ensure that results are comparable year-on-year, and to ensure that students who are the first to take the new-style qualifications are not disadvantaged in any way. How have we got to this stage? Education reforms in England began in 2011, led by then-education secretary Michael Gove. A review of the national curriculum was announced first, with the overhaul of GCSEs starting in 2013.

In 2014, Mr Gove said the new tougher GCSE courses 'set higher expectations', adding 'they demand more from all students and specifically provide further challenge to those aiming to achieve top grades'. Advertisement

'For example, it replaces A* and A with three grades, 7, 8 and 9.

'Our concern, however, is over those pupils at the other end of the scale who are taking exams which are harder than their predecessors and who have been told by the Government that a grade 4 is a 'standard pass' and a grade 5 is a 'strong pass'.

'That is a very demoralising message to those who achieve grades 1, 2 and 3, and the new system does not work very well for them at all.

'These young people have completed demanding programmes of study and we need to find a better way to credit their achievements.'

There have been suggestions in recent weeks that grade boundaries could be lower this year for new GCSEs compared with the old system.

Last year, when grades were awarded for the first time for new maths GCSE, students sitting the higher tier maths course - which is aimed at higher-achieving pupils - needed to score at least 18 per cent on average to secure a grade 4, while on average, 52 per cent was needed for a 7, and 79 per cent for a grade 9.

Exams regulator Ofqual has said it uses statistical processes to ensure that results are comparable year-on-year, and to ensure that students who are the first to take the new-style qualifications are not disadvantaged in any way.

ASCL said it is right that pupils should not be disadvantaged because they are 'the first to take a set of new and more difficult examinations'.

The union also suggested that if grade boundaries need to be set very low on tiered GCSEs - such as maths - this is a sign that papers were so difficult that pupils were unable to answer many of the questions - which could increase stress and anxiety levels.

Mr Trobe said: 'We are also concerned that if grade boundaries have to be set very low, this indicates that the exam is so difficult that many candidates have been unable to answer a significant proportion of the paper.

'This inevitably increases stress and anxiety and leaves them feeling that they have done poorly.

'It is right that exam papers should be challenging but they should not be excessively difficult and exams should be designed with this in mind.'

Education Secretary Damian Hinds echoed Ofqual's assurances that pupils who had taken the tougher new exams would not be at a 'disadvantage'.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, he said: 'To make sure that pupils who take the new GCSEs are not at a disadvantage when compared to those who went before, the independent qualifications regulator Ofqual uses a statistical method called 'comparable outcomes'.

'This ensures that broadly the same proportion of pupils will pass, and reach the equivalent of an A grade as in previous years, assuming the ability profile of the pupils is the same.

'But there is greater differentiation for higher-achieving pupils, with more grades above the 'standard pass' level of grade four.

'This means not as many pupils will get the very highest grade (nine) as previously got an A*.'

Changes - including some exams being favoured instead of coursework, plus a broader spread of topics on the curriculum - were aimed at bolstering the qualifications so the UK stands alongside top performing countries in the Far East.

He also said the results would be 'fair to the young people who worked hard for their exams', and added that the reform had come in response to employers complaining that the old GCSEs did not provide young people with the skills they needed.

Grades for new-style English and maths GCSEs were awarded for the first time last summer.

This year, 20 subjects will be awarded grades under the new system - with a 7 broadly equivalent to an A, and a 4 broadly equivalent to a C.

Professor Alan Smithers, director of the Centre for Education and Employment Research at the University of Buckingham, said: 'There has been a lot of anxiety about the exams and some confusion about the new 9-1 grades, but in fact the grade level is much the same as it was.

'The percentages getting 7 and above and 4 and above are up a bit this year, which is against the trend of recent years.

'So Ofqual may have over-compensated for the fact that the people taking these exams are the first to do so and could have been disadvantaged.'

He added: 'It looks very much as though the awarding of grades has been a lot more lenient. If the exams are generally tougher, the awarding of the grades has had to be more lenient.'

What are the GCSE grade boundaries this year? Under sweeping GCSE reforms in England, traditional A* to G grades have been replaced with a 9 to 1 system, with 9 the highest mark. In general, a grade 7-9 is roughly equivalent to A-A* under the old system, while a grade 4 and above is roughly equivalent to a C and above. Grade boundaries are set by exam boards after marking has taken place, to take account of how demanding the papers were. Here are the grade boundaries for some of the main subjects in the higher tier papers this year: Under exam board Edexcel (subject, grade 4 score, grade 7 score): Mathematics , 20.8%, 57.9%

, 20.8%, 57.9% Biology , 26.5%, 56.9%

, 26.5%, 56.9% Chemistry , 26%, 56%

, 26%, 56% English language , 46.9%, 69.4%

, 46.9%, 69.4% English literature , 41.9%, 68%

, 41.9%, 68% Physics , 25.5%, 57.5%

, 25.5%, 57.5% French , 33.2%, 57.1%

, 33.2%, 57.1% German , 28.9%, 55.7%

, 28.9%, 55.7% Spanish , 30.7%, 57.1% Under exam board OCR (subject, grade 4 score, grade 7 score) English language , 41.9%, 65.6%

, 41.9%, 65.6% English literature , 34.4%, 68.8%

, 34.4%, 68.8% Mathematics , 20%, 54.6%

, 20%, 54.6% Physics A (gateway), 35%, 61.1%

(gateway), 35%, 61.1% Physics B (21st century), 26.6%, 50%

(21st century), 26.6%, 50% Religious studies , 38.5%, 61.9% Under exam board AQA (subject, grade 4 score, grade 7 score) Mathematics , 19.6%, 57.5%

, 19.6%, 57.5% Biology , 26.5%, 51%

, 26.5%, 51% Chemistry , 26%, 56%

, 26%, 56% English language , 47.5%, 67.5%

, 47.5%, 67.5% English literature , 38.1%, 66.3%

, 38.1%, 66.3% Geography , 35.3%, 57.1%

, 35.3%, 57.1% Physics , 25.5%, 51.5%

, 25.5%, 51.5% German , 37%, 65.8%

, 37%, 65.8% French , 38.3%, 63.3%

, 38.3%, 63.3% Spanish , 35.8%, 60.8%

, 35.8%, 60.8% Computer Science , 48.8%, 75% Advertisement

HOW THE AQA GRADE BOUNDARIES COMPARE FOR ENGLISH AND MATHS GCSEs - THIS YEAR COMPARED TO 2017 GRADES ENGLISH LANGUAGE ENGLISH LITERATURE

MATHEMATICS

2017 2018 2017 2018 2017 2018 100% 160 160 160 160 240 240

9 123 (77%) 128 (80%) 141 (88%) 135 (84%) 189 (79%) 201 (84%) 8 113 (71%) 118 (74%) 127 (79%) 120 (75%) 157 (65%) 169 (71%) 7 104 (65%) 108 (68%) 114 (71%) 106 (66%) 125 (52%) 138 (58%) 6 93 (58%) 97 (61%) 98 (61%) 91 (57%) 98 (41%) 107 (45%) 5 82 (51%) 86 (54%) 82 (51%) 76 (48%) 72 (30%) 77 (33%) 4 72 (45%) 76 (48%) 66 (41%) 61 (38%) 46 (19%) 47 (20%) 3 53 (33%) 56 (35%) 49 (31%) 45 (28%) 33 (14%) 32 (13%) 2 34 (21%) 36 (23%) 32 (20%) 29 (18%) - - 1 16 (10%) 16 (10%) 16 (10%) 14 (9%) - -

GSCE pass rate by region Here is the GCSE pass rate (entries awarded C/4 and above) broken down by nation and by region. The figure in brackets is the change in percentage points on 2017. England 66.6% (up 0.5)

Wales 61.6% (down 1.2)

Northern Ireland 81.1% (up 0.7)

North East England 64.5% (up 1.1)

North West England 64.6% (up 0.1)

Yorkshire & Humber 63.5% (up 0.3)

West Midlands 63.1% (down 0.4)

East Midlands 65.1% (up 1.1)

Eastern England 67.2% (up 0.7)

South West England 67.8% (up 1.2)

South East England 69.6% (up 0.9)

London 70.3% (up 0.4) Advertisement GCSE top grades by area Here are the figures for entries awarded grades A/7 and above. The figure in brackets is the change in percentage points on 2017: England 20.3% (up 0.5)

Wales 18.5% (up 0.6)

Northern Ireland 29.4% (up 0.2)

North East England 16.7% (up 0.5)

North West England 18.1% (up 0.2)

Yorkshire & Humber 17.0 (up 0.2)

West Midlands 17.5% (down 0.1)

East Midlands 17.7% (up 0.2)

Eastern England 20.4% (up 0.5)

South West England 20.3% (up 0.8)

South East England 23.5% (up 0.7)

London 25.2% (up 0.6) Advertisement

Sally Collier, Ofqual chief regulator, said: 'Today's results are the second set for reformed GCSEs and the majority of awards this summer are for new 9 to 1 qualifications.

BBC pianist scores seven 9s and 3 A*s and admits 'I didn't do much but revise... it'll be nice to get out of the house' An award-winning teenage pianist hit the high notes today after receiving top marks in her GCSE exams. Lauren Zhang, who won the BBC's Young Musician in May, has now received seven 9 grades and 3 A*s. Lauren Zhang has now received seven 9 grades and 3 A*s The pupil at King Edward VI High School in Birmingham said her results today were 'better than expected' after revising for up to five hours a day. Lauren, who took subjects such as history, geography and of course music, said: 'Winning both the award and getting the amazing results was such a big achievement. 'I didn't really do anything else but stay in and revise, as well as practicing piano every day, so it will be nice to get out of the house now everything is done. 'I did try and make a plan for revising but in the end just focused on particular areas as I went along. I always make sure I have a good night's sleep beforehand and I try not to overthink the morning before an exam.' Lauren, who one day dreams of becoming a professional pianist, will now go on to study maths, further maths, chemistry, biology and physics at A-level at the school. Advertisement

'Many years in the making, these new GCSEs are more challenging and will better prepare students for further study or employment.

'Students picking up their results today can be confident they have achieved the grades their performance deserves.

'As in previous years, we have used the tried and tested principle of comparable outcomes to ensure standards are maintained.

'Senior examiners have reviewed papers to make sure the quality of work is appropriate to the grades awarded.

'We know schools and students have been working hard to prepare for this year's exams, and today's results reflect that considerable effort. They should be congratulated on their achievements.'

A Department for Education spokesman said: 'We have raised standards throughout the education system so that all young people are better prepared for the next stage of their education and the workplace.

'However, the point of any grading system is to distinguish between different levels of attainment, and our new 9 to 1 system has been designed specifically to provide greater clarity for employers identifying pupils who have taken the new, more rigorous GCSEs.'

Meanwhile it was also suggested yesterday that confidence is a key factor in why girls do not take A-levels in subjects such as physics.

In addition, some young women may be put off by the idea of being one of the only female students in the class, according to a paper by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS).

The influential think tank said that it is not the case that fewer girls study maths and physics at A-level because they are less well-prepared.

Data shows that achievement in the two subjects at GCSE level is similar for boys and girls, the paper says.

For example, among pupils who scored an A or A* in GCSE maths in 2010, 37 per cent of girls went on to take A-level maths, compared to 51 per cent of boys.

Sophie Sargent celebrates her GCSE results with her mother at Brighton College this morning

Alice Bentley, Ellen Harris, Grace Evans and Hannah Gardner, celebrate at St Mary Redcliffe Temple School in Bristol

Arbaz Hussain, 16, from Birmingham, beams as he stands with his father after receiving his GCSE grades this morning

Two pupils react as they open their results this morning in Coventry live on Sky News

And among those who scored at least an A in GCSE physics, 13 per cent of girls studied for an A-level in the subject, compared to 39 per cent of their male classmates.

The Crown star Finn Elliot is 'stoked' with his results - and admits it was much scarier than being on TV Teenage star of The Crown TV series Finn Elliot has said getting his GCSE results is much scarier than being on television. The 16-year-old, who starred as the young Prince Philip, fought back tears as he opened his GCSE results at Portsmouth Grammar School. He gained two A*s, one A, three nines, three eights, and a seven. Finn Elliot, star of The Crown TV series, hugs his mother, Mini, after collecting his GCSE results at Portsmouth Grammar School today He said: 'I'm shaking, I really am, this is much scarier than being on TV, this is important for the rest of my life, even when I am doing drama, school has always been the priority. I'm stoked with my results, this is a massive weight off my shoulders.' Finn, who was born in Hong Kong and who lived in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, said that even when filming he made sure he focused on his schoolwork. Finn starred as the young Prince Philip in TV's The Crown He said: 'I was lucky in year 11 because I wasn't involved in anything but when I am on set I have a tutor and the school is really supportive.' Finn, from Chichester, West Sussex, said he would now go on to study A-levels including maths, politics and geography but said he wanted to carry on acting. He said: 'I really enjoy it and want to carry it on but I chose not to do drama at A-level because I want to keep it separate. I really do not know what I will do after, I will consider that after A-levels.' His mother, Mini, said: 'I feel extremely proud of him because he has worked so hard, he has fantastic results - much better than I ever did. 'He's totally proved he can juggle acting and school, he actually keeps them separate and he really focused on his studies. He's proved himself and I'm so proud, really proud.' Advertisement

The IFS said it has conducted a pilot study, involving almost 300 girls who were predicted to achieve at least a new grade seven (equivalent to an A under the old grading system) in maths, physics or science GCSEs, to look why young women may or may not choose a subject.

It found that the gender gap in take-up of maths and physics is not because girls do not find the subjects interesting, or because they do not understand or value the prospects offered by a career in Stem (science, technology engineering and maths)

'Confidence seems to be a big part of the issue, particularly when it comes to physics,' the IFS said.

'We found that, despite their high predicted grades, about half of the girls in our sample agreed or strongly agreed with the statements 'I often worry that it will be difficult for me in physics classes' or 'I worry I will get poor grades in physics'. The figures were about half that for maths.'

It adds: 'Perhaps more challenging from a policy perspective is the fact that being one of the only girls in a physics class at school or university, or indeed in a Stem job, seems to be a major factor putting off some girls.

'Two thirds of the girls we surveyed viewed Stem jobs as male dominated, and a similar proportion of teachers agreed or strongly agreed that 'these girls don't want to/feel discouraged from pursuing Stem subjects at A-level because many of their female peers do not'.'

In Northern Ireland, more students have achieved grades A*-C this year.

The proportion has risen by 0.7 percentage points to 81.1 per cent.

The number of entries achieving the A* grade is 9.9 per cent, a small increase of 0.4 percentage points on the previous year, official results data showed.

The total of GCSE entries in Northern Ireland has decreased by 0.4 per cent from 171,060 to 170,348.

There has been a slight improvement in GCSE English language and mathematics.

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects account for 43 per cent of all GCSE entries in Northern Ireland, with an increase of 2.4 per cent on the previous year.

Justin Edwards, chief executive of the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA), said: 'There are some patterns worth further analysis, such as the continued widening of the performance gap at A*-C grades between males and females.'

The proportion of girls achieving A*-C grades increased to 85.1 per cent, by 0.9 percentage points.

The proportion of entries by boys achieving A*-C grades rose by 0.5 percentage points to 76.9 per cent.

The gap between girls and boys at A*-C grades has widened from 7.8 to 8.2 percentage points.

Mr Edwards added: 'Subject choices remain stable with over 40 per cent of students here now studying a STEM qualification.

'There were positive increases in further mathematics entries.'

** Do you have a GCSE story or photos to share today? Please email: mark.duell@mailonline.co.uk **

Silence is golden: School that banned talking in corridors says it helped GCSE results soar by 10% in a year A school claims its strict rule of silence in corridors has seen its GCSE results shoot up by 10 per cent in just a year. Pupils are banned from talking to each other walking between lessons and three times a day in the playground when lining-up before classes at the Albany School in Hornchurch, Essex. The school claimed the behaviour policy introduced by headmistress Val Masson last year led to better exam results. Val Masson with her pupils Queen Yeboah, Connor Crouchman, Zi Ching Chang and Mercy Okunoren at Albany School in Hornchurch Ms Masson said the new rules have transformed the classrooms and led to a spike in results, particular in core subjects such as English and science. But she denied claims the policy was 'old-fashioned' and plans to have even stricter behaviour policies by introducing four weekly compulsory silent revision sessions. She said: 'These fantastic results showcase the impact this new behaviour policy has already started to have on our students in a very short space of time. 'We have some way to go but with our new compulsory silent revision sessions for Year 11s being introduced next year, we expect results to get even better. Students Connor Crouchman, Jade Jones and Jess Pacjard-White collect their GCSE results at Albany School in Hornchurch today 'These teaching methods have been called old fashioned but I would describe it as pure common sense. Students deserve the right to learn in a calm, quiet and academic atmosphere. The school claimed the behaviour policy introduced by headmistress Val Masson last year led to better exam results 'Education is crucially important to the life chances of young people. We have to get it right for them. These results show that we are on the right track and are giving students the chance to fulfil their potential.' Ms Masson, who took up her role in April 2017, said results for Ebacc subjects - core subjects including English, Maths and Science - went up by 10 per cent thanks to the 'academic atmosphere' created by the rules. She added Progress 8 scores - a Government measure of a pupil's progress between the start of secondary school until GCSE results - had also improved. And that the number of pupils in isolation for poor behaviour has halved since she decided to revive stricter teaching methods. High achiever Elod Bors, 17, said: 'The silent corridors really allowed me to keep focused. At first I did not know how the idea could work, but it has been so beneficial/ 'It reminded me things were serious and I needed to work hard towards my exams all year, it is a very good idea.' Jess Packard-White, 16, who also scored high grades, added: 'I was really nervous to open my results today, but we have had a lot of help from our teachers with revision and I was happy with the outcome. 'I think the silent corridors are a good idea and will have helped because they help students to concentrate better and it stops them from getting distracted in between lessons.' Advertisement

Heavily pregnant student, 36, goes into labour... immediately after opening her GCSE results

Mother-to-be Nelly Hayfron, 36, has been studying for her exams at college but fell pregnant during the course

This is the moment a heavily pregnant woman went into labour - immediately after opening her GCSE results.

Mother-to-be Nelly Hayfron, 36, has been studying for her exams at college but fell pregnant during the course.

Ms Hayfron was delighted to open her results and receive two 4s, the grade she needed to get into university - but her biggest shock was yet to come.

Seconds after opening her results, Hayfron, from Plymouth, Devon, started to have contractions and soon went into labour. She started having contractions as she was being interviewed and filmed by Plymouth Live.

Heavily pregnant Ms Hayfron struggled into City College Plymouth to collect her grades despite being in great pain.

She told Plymouth Live: 'I probably should be in hospital. I'm pregnant, I'm overdue. I wasn't expecting to get this and I'm so, so, so excited because I really needed it for my uni.

'I'm very pleased that I've passed and that I don't have to write it again. I'm quite excited today, shocked though, but good.'

Ms Hayfron said that studying whilst pregnant had been a challenge, and that studying was made difficult by needing to make multiple trips to the bathroom.

She said: 'I wasted so much time, I had to go and pee a lot of times and I was like I have not done enough to get a pass, I've not done enough. I was really panicking, so to know that I got through all that to get this.

Heavily pregnant Ms Hayfron struggled into City College Plymouth to collect her grades despite being in great pain

'I'm quite happy. I should be in hospital now but I'm here, what a result I'm very pleased. It was tough, but I had really good support from the teachers.'

Ms Hayfron, who was having contractions whilst being interviewed, hoped that the excitement of acing her exams would mean that she would go into labour.

She added: 'I am having them (contractions), they are not strong enough for labour but I think I'm about 1cm dilated and I'm hoping to go further so this is good.

'I'm hoping that this will push and make me have more contractions and have my baby quick.'

More top GCSE grades in English and maths A higher proportion of English and maths GCSEs were awarded top grades this summer. National GCSE results show that a fifth of entries for English Literature and maths scored at 7 or above, along with around one in six English entries. Boys outperformed girls for top grades in maths, but girls significantly surpassed their male classmates in the two English GCSEs. Maths and English GCSEs moved to the new numerical grading system last summer, meaning it is now possible to compare year-on-year for this group of students. Overall, 17.5 per cent of entries scored at least a grade 7 - broadly equivalent to an A grade - in GCSE English, up from 16.8 per cent in 2017. In English literature, 20 per cent of entries got a 7 or above, up from 19.1 per cent. In GCSE maths, 20.0 per cent got at least a 7, up from 19.9 per cent% last year. Advertisement

Deaf student left 'in shock' after getting a clean sweep of top GCSE grades

A profoundly deaf student who got a clean sweep of top grades in her GCSEs said her impairment pushed her to work harder and she refused to let it define her.

Lily Olliver sees herself as just an 'ordinary girl who happens to be deaf'. The 16-year-old, of Hove, achieved 10 9s and the top mark of an A hat - the equivalent of an A** - in further maths.

Lilly Oliver with her GCSE results at Brighton College today. She sees herself as just an 'ordinary girl who happens to be deaf'

Last year her sister Jessica, who is also deaf, gained eight A*s at GCSE as well as two As and a B, a 7 and a 6 at the school.

Class Dismissed: Actress who has been in Car Share celebrates results Actress Charleigh Adams is celebrating her GCSE results Young actress Charleigh Adams is celebrating her GCSE results. The 16-year-old has appeared as Jessica Bedford, a friend of Amy Barlow, in episodes of Coronation Street and has featured in Peter Kay's Car Share. Adams, who was also one of the main characters, Emily, in CBBC show Class Dismissed, is celebrating six nines and five eights in her GCSEs. Adams, who attends independent school Bolton School Girls' Division, said: 'The best things about acting are the people you meet and getting the experience of it all. Adams has featured in Peter Kay's Car Share with the comedian 'It's such a surreal but interesting career. The hardest thing is the long hours when you're filming, especially in the summer holidays - but it's worth it.' Adams hopes to study languages at university. Advertisement

Lily, who sits on the youth advisory board for the National Deaf Children's Society, said: 'I'm in shock, I'm really pleased. It's a relief. I was really worried about religious studies and additional maths.

'I don't think being deaf should stop you in anything you feel you want to do. I don't want it to define me. If anything it caused me to work a bit harder and fight a bit more.'

She plans to return to Brighton College for A-levels and is hoping to study a combination of chemistry, biology, maths, further maths and philosophy but is still deciding exactly which subjects to pick.

She said she is also exploring ideas for her career. Her parents Pam and Andy Olliver said they were so proud of their 'little girl'.

A tearful Mrs Olliver added: 'Lilly is profoundly deaf but she is pretty steely. She did really well and had to work very hard. What she's keen to say is she's just an ordinary person who happens to be deaf. It's how we raised them.'

Rosie Eggleston, who works with Lily on the youth advisory board at the National Deaf Children's Society, said: 'We couldn't be more thrilled for Lily. She's an absolute star, and is showing so clearly that with the right support there is absolutely nothing that deaf children can't achieve.'

Teen chess genius Dominic Miller, of Littlehampton, West Sussex, who secured a place at the school aged 13 when he won its first ever chess scholarship, achieved nine 9s, A*s in German and computing and an A hat in further maths.

He won the backing of one of the UK's best chess players, grandmaster Nigel Short, to take his place at the school and has hopes of becoming a grandmaster himself.

Out of the 732 students across the country who received seven grade 9s or above, 34 studied at Brighton College, the school said.

There were ten students who achieved at least nine 9s at the school with one getting the highest he possibly could in all exams - eight nines, an A hat and two A*s.

Why this 'School to Prison line' is popping up on GCSE results day across the London Underground Posters have been going up on the Tube system highlighting the bleak future faced by many young people excluded from the education system. While thousands of teenagers all over the country are anxiously collecting their GCSE results, almost all of those kicked out at a young age will never hold academic qualifications. Around 40 posters were pasted up on the Northern line featuring a satirical line called the 'School to Prison Line' - mapping the route from exclusion to prison. Posters of the 'School to Prison Line' which have been put up on the Northern line of the London Underground on GSCE results day today They read: 'Sent out of class; detention; isolation; temporary exclusion; permanent exclusion pupil referral unit; young offenders institution; prison; reoffending.' The bottom half of the design is a broken line with the words 'Line closed indefinitely: Empathy, support, success.' Next to the map, the poster says: 'Today is GCSE results day. While most pupils across the country are excitedly awaiting news about their future, thousands remain left behind. 'Every day, 35 students (a full classroom) are permanently excluded from school. Only 1 per cent of them will go on to get the five good GCSEs they need to succeed.' The data came from a report by the Institute for Public Policy Research, a left-leaning think tank, published last year. The data came from a report by the Institute for Public Policy Research, a left-leaning think tank, published last year It found 63 per cent of prisoners reported being excluded from school, and 42 per cent of this figure had been permanently excluded. 'It is the most disadvantaged children who are disproportionately punished by the system,' the poster continued. 'We deserve better. 'We are a group of South London students who believe in empathy not exclusion. We demand a more compassionate education system with a supportive approach to behaviour and discipline.' One of the students behind the campaign said they wanted to see more teachers and teaching assistants in schools tackling disruptive behaviour before it gets out of hand. The student, who wished to remain anonymous, said black boys, other ethnic minorities and children with special educational needs were the most likely to be excluded. The group want to see more emphasis on pastoral care and more awareness from school governors and the Department of Education She said: 'We want to see more funding, more teachers and more teaching assistants especially, that way there isn't a ratio of 35 students to one adult. It means if a child is distracted there's someone there to deal with it.' The group, who call themselves Education Not Exclusion, want to see more emphasis on pastoral care and more awareness from school governors and the Department of Education. The spokesman added: 'Fourteen is the average age that students are excluded and put into pupil referral. 'At 14 all you've got to go by in your world is what your parents or your teachers tell you - we don't think kids are getting the support they need. 'Schools don't have the facilities or the resources and kids are being punished for things they have no control over. You don't have control over your economic background, or your family or your mental health.' Advertisement

Gap between boys and girls is lowest for 8 years Boys are closing in on girls in terms of top grades, with the gap between the sexes the smallest it has been for eight years. However, while boys are edging towards the same success as girls, girls still massively outperform their counterparts. Almost a quarter (23.7%) of all the grades awarded to girls in the UK were at A/7, compared to 17.2% for boys. Figures published by the exams regulator Ofqual show this represents a difference of 6.5 percentage points, the narrowest since 2010, when the gap was six percentage points. The figures this year also reveal the first year-on-year fall since 2007. Girls also outperformed boys when it came to achieving a clean sweep of 9s this summer. They made up almost two thirds (62%) of the 732 16-year-olds in England taking at least seven new GCSEs who scored grade 9s in all subjects. Professor Alan Smithers, director of the Centre for Education and Employment Research at the University of Buckingham, said: 'There is further evidence that boys do better in the tougher exams - in the tougher courses with the exams at the end. 'They are still a long way behind, but they have narrowed the gap a bit.' He added: 'But the fact that girls are getting the clean sweeps still, just shows how far the boys are behind.' Advertisement GCSE French entries drop while German sees a rise Entries for GCSE French continued to decline this year, but German has seen a slight rise, national exam results show. While French continues to be the most popular modern foreign language, there were 3,759 fewer UK entries for the subject compared to last year. Entries for the language have generally been falling since the start of the century. There was a slight uptick in 2013, before numbers resumed their descent. Meanwhile, entries for German, which have also been dropping since 2000, increased this year, with 886 more taking the language. Spanish saw another increase this year, with 4,040 more entries compared to 2017. German and Spanish also saw a rise in entry numbers in 2013. The rises in these three languages five years ago is likely to have been caused by the Government's introduction of the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) which recognises teenagers who take GCSEs in English, maths, science, history or geography and a language. Students taking GCSEs in 2013 had not made their GCSE choices when the EBacc was announced, and may have picked, or been encouraged by schools to take courses that fitted with the Government measure. The latest figures also show that Chinese continues to increase in popularity, with 4,410 entries in total, up from 4,104 last year. Arabic has also seen an increase in entries, while Italian has seen a fall. Advertisement

Could YOU pass GCSE maths and science? As the nation's 16-year-olds await their results these are the questions they had to tackle

Here are 10 questions from the AQA maths papers - unlike in the real thing, there are no marks for showing your working here.

1. Which of these shapes has the most sides?

Hexagon

Octagon

Rhombus

Trapezium

The appliance of science: More students did Biology, Chemistry and Physics this year after break from combined triple and double subjects Biology has seen the biggest increase in candidates at GCSE, with entry numbers up 23 per cent on last year. This was followed by the other two sciences, with chemistry up 18.6 per cent and physics up 17.2 per cent. It comes after the new science double award in England and Wales replaced science and additional science. The total increase in entries was 83,876 - and the Joint Council for Qualifications said these are most likely to be the students who previously took the three sciences using the entry pattern of science, additional science and further additional science. These new entrants into the separate sciences are performing similarly to the usual cohort with outcomes 'very stable year on year', according to the JCQ. But officials admitted that the 'complexity of previous entry patterns and the change to what students are now studying makes year on year comparisons challenging'. In biology, there were 87,311 male entries this year compared to 70,497 last year (up 23.9 per cent), and 89,014 female entries compared to 72,843 (up 22.2 per cent) - giving an overall figure of 176,325, up from 143,340 (up 23 per cent). Advertisement

2. Nadia has 5 to buy pencils and rulers.

Prices:

Pencils - 8p each

Rulers - 30p each

She says. 'I will buy 15 pencils. Then I will buy as many rulers as possible.With my change I will buy more pencils.' How many pencils and how many rulers does she buy?

3. What is 3/2 as a decimal?

1.05

1.1

1.5

3.2

4. An exam has two papers. Anil scores

33 out of 60 on paper 1, and

75 out of 100 on paper 2

Work out his percentage score for the exam.

5. There are 720 boys and 700 girls in a school. The probability that a boy chosen at random studies French is 2/3. The probability that a girl chosen at random studies French is 3/5

(a) Work out the number of students in the school who study French.

(b) Work out the probability that a student chosen at random from the whole school does not study French.

6. 3/5 of a number is 162. Work out the number.

7. Solve the simultaneous equations.

2x + y = 18

x - y = 6

8. PRT and QRS are similar triangles. (See diagram - not drawn accurately). Which of these is equivalent to QR/PR ?

RS/ST

QS/PT

PT/QS

RT/RS

9. To make one cheese sandwich, Gina uses one bread roll and two cheese slices.

Pack of 15 bread rolls: 1.88

Pack of 20 cheese slices: 2.15

She is going to buy enough packs to have exactly twice as many cheese slices as bread rolls.

Make more than 100 cheese sandwiches.

Work out the least amount she can spend.

10. See graph. The graph shows the depth of water in a harbour for 12 hours.

d is the depth of water in the harbour in metres

t is the number of hours after 9 am

(a) For how many of the 12 hours is the depth more than 5 metres?

(b) By how much does the depth change between 12 noon and 4pm?

The questions are taken from the AQA GCSE Mathematics examinations papers for June 2017. The first five are taken from three Foundation papers, while the final five are taken from three Higher papers. Answers are below.

Now, test yourself in GCSE science with these questions from this year's OCR GCSE biology, physics and chemistry papers.

1. Which is a chemical defence of plants?

A) Antimicrobial substances

B) Cell walls

C) Leaf cuticles

D) Thorns

2. Which is the most effective treatment for HIV?

A) Antibiotics

B) Antigens

C) Antiseptics

D) Antivirals

More than two-thirds of teens are worried about the GCSE grading system More than two-thirds of teenagers are concerned about the new GCSE grading system, according to a poll. The survey also suggests nearly two-thirds do not feel the new system - which sees exams given a grade from 9-1 - will represent their grades as well as it should. The findings of the poll, commissioned by the National Citizen Service, come on the day teenagers across England, Wales and Northern Ireland receive their GCSE results. In total, 69 per cent of the 1,000 14 to 17-year-olds questioned, who are currently waiting for their GCSE results, said they are generally concerned about the new grading system. And 65 per cent of those questioned feel the new system will not represent their grades fully. The survey also found just 7 per cent expect to get a grade 4 - broadly equivalent to a C under the old system - in most of their subjects. Around one in eight (12 per cent) think they will score mainly grade 5s, while just under a fifth (19 per cent) expect to achieve mostly grade 6s - making it the most common answer. Some 18 per cent expect to get mostly 7s - broadly equivalent to an A grade, while just 4 per cent expect to get mainly 9s - the highest grade. Censuswide questioned 1,000 14 to 17-year-olds waiting for their results between August 13-20. Advertisement

3. Why is the process of meiosis important in making gametes?

A)The cells produced are diploid.

B) The cells produced are genetically identical.

C)The cells produced are much smaller in size.

D) The cells produced have half the number of chromosomes.

4. What is a genome?

A) A description of the number of chromosomes in an organism.

B) All the proteins that one organism can produce.

C) A store of seeds to preserve genetic variation.

D) The entire genetic material of an organism.

5. Which statement is true for a reversible reaction when it is at dynamic equilibrium?

A) The concentration of the products is increasing.

B) The rate of the backward reaction is greater than the rate of the forward reaction.

C) The rate of the forward reaction is equal to the rate of the backward reaction.

D) The rate of the forward reaction is greater than the rate of the backward reaction.

6. Which one of the following is an advantage of phytoextraction?

A) A high concentration of a metal can be obtained from a low grade ore.

B) Bacteria are used to dissolve metals instead of chemical solutions.

C) Better crops of plants are harvested.

D) Phytoextraction is a quick process and is not affected by poor weather.

7. Group 1 elements get more reactive down the group. Which statement explains why?

A) The outer electron is closer to the nucleus and lost more easily.

B) The outer electron is further from the nucleus and lost more easily.

C) There is less shielding from the inner electrons.

D) There is more attraction between the nucleus and the outer electron down the group.

8. An alpha particle collides with an atom to produce a positive ion. What happens to the atom for it to become a positive ion?

A) It loses an electron from inside the nucleus.

B) It loses an electron from outside the nucleus.

C) It loses a neutron from inside the nucleus.

D) It loses a proton from outside the nucleus.

9. A car accelerates from 0 to 60 mph (miles per hour) in about nine seconds. Use the relationship: 1 m/s = 2.24 mph. Estimate the acceleration for this car in m/s2.

A) 1 m/s2

B) 3 m/s2

C) 7 m/s2

D) 15 m/s2

10. Look at the diagram of white light as it passes through a prism. (See diagram). A spectrum of colours is seen. It ranges from red to violet. Why does the violet light refract more than the red light?

A) Violet light changes frequency more than red light.

B) Violet light has the largest change in speed.

C) Violet light has the smallest change in speed.

D) Violet light increases its speed in the glass prism.

MATHS ANSWERS 1. Octagon 2. 17 pencils, 12 rulers 3. 1.5 4. 67.5 or 68 5. (a) 900 (b) 520/1420 or 26/71 6. 270 7. x = 8 and y = 2 8. QS/PT 9. 40.84 10. (a) 8 (b) 3 (or -3) Advertisement SCIENCE ANSWERS 1. A Antimicrobial substances 2. D Antivirals 3. D The cells produced have half the number of chromosomes. 4. D The entire genetic material of an organism. 5. C The rate of the forward reaction is equal to the rate of the backward reaction. 6. A A high concentration of a metal can be obtained from a low grade ore. 7. B The outer electron is further from the nucleus and lost more easily. 8. B It loses an electron from outside the nucleus. 9. B 3 m/s2 10. B Violet light has the largest change in speed. Advertisement

A-levels, vocational qualifications or apprenticeships? What to do now GCSE results day is finally here It's GCSE results day and you have your grades - so what's the next step? Many teenagers will have their plans already fixed, with college or sixth-form places, or alternative training lined up. For others, be your grades good or bad, there will still be decisions to be made. A great many school leavers will be moving on to study for A-levels. But it may be that you don't want to follow the path of A-levels and then university. In this case, there are plenty of alternative options, such as vocational and technical qualifications and apprenticeships. Apprenticeships combine on-the-job training with study, meaning you get paid as you learn. There are different levels of apprenticeship; for example, intermediate is equivalent to a GCSE, and advanced is equivalent to an A-level. According to the gov.uk website - which gives information to students in England on finding an apprenticeship - you can apply for one of these training schemes while you're still at school. To start an apprenticeship, it says, you have to be at least 16 by the end of the summer holidays, living in England, and not in full-time education. There are different organisations dealing with apprenticeships in Scotland and Wales. If an apprenticeship is not for you, but you still want to take more vocational qualifications than A-levels, there are other courses out there to choose from - such as Btecs or City & Guilds qualifications. Kirstie Donnelly, managing director at City & Guilds and ILM, said: 'We need to ensure that students, parents and teachers are aware of the variety and different routes available to enter further education and employment. 'Whilst the traditional academic path through A-levels and onto university is right for many, it certainly shouldn't be seen as the only option available.' She adds: 'Recent research carried out by City & Guilds found that UK businesses face a severe - and growing - shortage of skilled talent, which is only set to be exacerbated by Brexit. 'At this time, it's more important than ever that the next generation of our workforce is aware of the full range of technical, as well as academic, options open to them, which will pave their way into successful employment within some of the UK's leading industries, from engineering, to hospitality to construction. 'Technical training routes provide young people with invaluable on-the-job experience and core skills development - both specific to their chosen industry and for the wider world of work - as well as apprenticeships, which offer the opportunity to earn and learn.' Catherine Sezen, senior policy manager at the Association of Colleges, said: 'There are many options post-16: A-levels, a vocational or technical qualification or an apprenticeship. 'I would recommend going into your local further education college, staff there will be able to give you advice on your options with the grades that you have achieved.' If you are disappointed with your grades, results day is likely to bring concern and worry. At this stage, the widely accepted advice is to stay calm, not panic, and think through your options. Are your grades below what you need to take your planned next step? If you have not scored at least a 4 in your English or maths GCSE, you will have to retake them. Malcolm Trobe, deputy general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, says students should speak to their teachers if they are concerned about their results, and stay in touch to ensure they get advice and support. 'Where it's problematic is where youngsters shoot off,' he says. 'They come in, they're disappointed with their results and they disappear. 'The advice always is that they ensure they are in communication with someone in their school or college so that we know exactly what is happening.' Staff will be on hand to give appropriate advice to students, Mr Trobe says. Advertisement

'Today I witnessed a MIRACLE!': GCSE pupils share joy, confusion and despair after getting their exam results

For most of the 16-year-olds picking up their GCSE results today, it was the most important day of their lives so far.

And some of them took to social media to share their joy, confusion and despair after finding out their scores, on a day that overall GCSE pass rates rose following the biggest shake-up of the exams for a generation.

People shared memes from the likes of The Office, Friends and Anchorman as they compared results online, after one in five UK GCSE entries scored at least an A grade, or 7 under the new grading system.

Grade boundaries were released 90 minutes before the results this morning, causing further stress for thousands of teens as they nervously waited to see whether their marks would get them the top grades.

Pupils were faced with a new system this year to make exams harder, grading them 9 to 1 instead of A* to G. The politicians behind the new grading scheme have faced a fierce backlash from teachers and students.

Last night, teenagers across Britain struggled to sleep as they tossed and turned worrying about their GCSE exam results out.

Social media was awash with memes as youngsters took to Twitter and Facebook overnight to share their anxiety, preparing for their 'lives to end tomorrow' when they 'fail their exams':Two people have been arrested after the alleged theft of more than 4,000 tins of baby formula and $215,000 in cash.

A 48-year-old woman and a 53-year-old man were arrested about 10pm on Wednesday at Carlingford, north-west Sydney.

Investigators were tipped off to the coordinated theft of baby formula and vitamins across the city in February, and after an extensive operation thousands of tins of the product were found inside two homes.

Two people have been arrested after the alleged theft of more than 4,000 tins of baby formula and $215,000 in cash

A 48-year-old woman and a 53-year-old man were arrested about 10pm on Wednesday at Carlingford, north-west Sydney

Investigators were tipped off to the coordinated theft of baby formula and vitamins across the city in February

More than $215,000 in cash was hidden throughout one of the homes, believed to be the proceeds from the alleged crime.

The New South Wales State Crime Command's robbery and serious crime squad were alerted to the alleged thefts by retailers.

A man and a woman were subsequently arrested at a carpark on Lloyd Avenue in Carlingford and taken to Ryde police station.

The woman was charged with directing activities of a criminal group, participating in a criminal group and recklessly dealing with the proceeds of crime.

She was granted strict conditional bail and is due to appear at Burwood Local Court on September 17.

The man was released pending further inquiries from Strike Force Dungv.

After an extensive operation thousands of tins of the product were found inside two homes after they were searchedTwo Rebel bikies accused of clashing with senior police officers have been given a second chance at bail after they broke initial conditions by hanging out.

Adam Hyde, 43, and Jeremy Ewan, 48, were charged after an August altercation with senior officers in central Parramatta, western Sydney.

When police approached, Hyde allegedly said 'you get your gang and I'll get my gang,' the Daily Telegraph reported.

Adam Hyde and Jeremy Ewan have been given a second chance at bail after breaking conditions by hanging out. Strike Force Raptor arrested the pair on Wednesday after they were caught together at Sydney Airport (pictured)

The pair were charged with offences related to the incident but were given bail on the condition they didn't contact each other.

They broke bail conditions on Wednesday when Strike Force Raptor caught the pair get into a car together after touching down at Sydney Airport.

Hyde and Ewan were handcuffed by officers before spending the day in custody at Surry Hills Police Station.

Barrister Malcolm Ramage QC argued police should have given Hyde and Ewan a warning for breaking bail and the arrests were a 'farcical.'

'It's a breach of the most technical nature,' Mr Ramage said.

A police prosecutor tried to prevent Hyde from getting bail a second time.

The pair were charged after an altercation with senior police on August 11. Hyde allegedly told officers 'you get your gang and I'll get my gang'

'He was very lucky to get police bail. Within 12 days he's breached it,' prosecutor Sergeant Hughes said.

Magistrate Brett Shields released Hyde and Ewan on conditional bail, despite the police prosecutors attempts.

Magistrate Shields determined their situation had not vastly changed since police gave them bail on August 10.

Hyde has been charged with four offences related to affray and intimidating a police officer while Ewan was charged with resist or hinder police in execution of duty.

They are expected to appear in court next month.It's GCSE results day and you have your grades - so what's the next step?

Many teenagers will have their plans already fixed, with college or sixth-form places, or alternative training lined up. For others, be your grades good or bad, there will still be decisions to be made.

A great many school leavers will be moving on to study for A-levels. But it may be that you don't want to follow the path of A-levels and then university.

In this case, there are plenty of alternative options, such as vocational and technical qualifications and apprenticeships. Apprenticeships combine on-the-job training with study, meaning you get paid as you learn.

There are different levels of apprenticeship; for example, intermediate is equivalent to a GCSE, and advanced is equivalent to an A-level.

According to the gov.uk website - which gives information to students in England on finding an apprenticeship - you can apply for one of these training schemes while you're still at school.

To start an apprenticeship, it says, you have to be at least 16 by the end of the summer holidays, living in England, and not in full-time education. There are different organisations dealing with apprenticeships in Scotland and Wales.

If an apprenticeship is not for you, but you still want to take more vocational qualifications than A-levels, there are other courses out there to choose from - such as Btecs or City & Guilds qualifications.

Kirstie Donnelly, managing director at City & Guilds and ILM, said: 'We need to ensure that students, parents and teachers are aware of the variety and different routes available to enter further education and employment.

'Whilst the traditional academic path through A-levels and onto university is right for many, it certainly shouldn't be seen as the only option available.'

She adds: 'Recent research carried out by City & Guilds found that UK businesses face a severe - and growing - shortage of skilled talent, which is only set to be exacerbated by Brexit.

'At this time, it's more important than ever that the next generation of our workforce is aware of the full range of technical, as well as academic, options open to them, which will pave their way into successful employment within some of the UK's leading industries, from engineering, to hospitality to construction.

'Technical training routes provide young people with invaluable on-the-job experience and core skills development - both specific to their chosen industry and for the wider world of work - as well as apprenticeships, which offer the opportunity to earn and learn.'

Catherine Sezen, senior policy manager at the Association of Colleges, said: 'There are many options post-16: A-levels, a vocational or technical qualification or an apprenticeship.

'I would recommend going into your local further education college, staff there will be able to give you advice on your options with the grades that you have achieved.'

If you are disappointed with your grades, results day is likely to bring concern and worry. At this stage, the widely accepted advice is to stay calm, not panic, and think through your options.

Are your grades below what you need to take your planned next step? If you have not scored at least a 4 in your English or maths GCSE, you will have to retake them.

Malcolm Trobe, deputy general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, says students should speak to their teachers if they are concerned about their results, and stay in touch to ensure they get advice and support.

'Where it's problematic is where youngsters shoot off,' he says. 'They come in, they're disappointed with their results and they disappear.

'The advice always is that they ensure they are in communication with someone in their school or college so that we know exactly what is happening.'

Staff will be on hand to give appropriate advice to students, Mr Trobe says.Labour descended into fresh Brexit chaos today as Keir Starmer insisted a second EU referendum should be 'on the table'.

The shadow Brexit secretary dismissed suggestions from frontbench colleague Barry Gardiner that re-running the national vote could spark civil unrest.

He suggested that the option was available if Parliament rejected any package Theresa May secures from Brussels.

Shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer (left) dismissed suggestions from frontbench colleague Barry Gardiner (right) that re-running the national vote could spark civil unrest

'It's not right to say "vote for my deal or get no deal",' Sir Keir told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

'That's not a meaningful vote.

"If that vote is to reject the Article 50 deal then Parliament must decide what happens next and, in my experience, it's best to keep your options on the table."

The hint at a policy shift comes as Remainers from across parties mount a massive push to force another vote on the terms of the final Brexit deal.

Senior Labour figures have been urging the leadership to join the drive, but Jeremy Corbyn has so far resisted.

Shadow trade secretary Barry Gardiner spoke out against the idea earlier this week, voicing fears that people would lose faith in the ballot box and turn to the extreme right if the 2016 result was not honoured.

He pointed out that both Remain and Leave campaigners informed the public two years ago that their decision would be final.

'If we then go back on that, yes, it may well be - and I certainly believe - that we will in the short and medium term be worse off economically as a result of Brexit, and certainly the way the Government is going that is what is happening,' he said in an interview on Tuesday.

'It's not about happily putting us in that position, it's saying there's more to this than simple economics.

'There is also the social, the democratic principles at play here.

'If you then say to people 'We did give you a vote and actually we, the Remainers, lost the vote, but because you were stupid enough to do what you wanted rather than what we wanted... ' that undermines the whole principle of democracy in this country.

'You never give as much succour to the extreme right as when you cut off the mechanism of democratic change.

'If people want to be able to achieve change through democratic means, if they feel that that is being denied to them, they then turn to other more socially disruptive ways of expressing their views, and that is the danger here.'

Pressed on what would happen if there was a second EU referendum, Mr Gardiner replied: 'I didn't say violence on the streets.

'What I'm saying is that in any situation, if people feel that the route to change is no longer a democratic route, then you look to social disruption, perhaps civil disobedience, in a different way.

Senior Labour figures have been urging the leadership to back a second referendum, but Jeremy Corbyn has so far insisted it is not his favoured policy

Theresa May, pictured left in Downing Street last month, is fighting to put together a Brexit deal with the EU. Tony Blair, pictured right, has backed calls for a second Brexit referendum

'This is playing with our democracy - it's playing with the foundations of our country in a way that is really, really damaging.

'We have to respect people's vote in that referendum. We told them we would, we must do it.'

Mr Gardiner faced an immediate backlash from Labour MPs for his comments earlier this week, with former minister Ben Bradshaw tweeting: 'I'm afraid Barry Gardiner in defending #Brexit whatever the cost on @BBCr4today on democratic grounds completely ignores the democratic right of the people to change their minds #BrexitShambles #PeoplesVote.'The traditional uniforms of a secretive cult have appeared for sale at exorbitant prices online.

People are bidding up to $355 on Facebook and TradeMe for dresses worn by members of the New Zealand-based Gloriavale Christian sect.

The reclusive community was known for disturbing allegations made by 11 former members of abuse, forced marriage and imprisonment.

Five female Gloriavale defectors claimed they were the victims of sexual abuse at the hands of the same alleged offender, but this hasn't stopped people from bidding on the dresses of its members.

Dresses worn by members of the New Zealand Christian sect 'Gloriavale' are up for sale online

Six dresses have emerged for sale on TradeMe and Facebook, ranging from $40 to $355

One such listing on the marketplace website TradeMe is being followed by more than 160 people.

The blue dress with white linings is up for auction, with the highest bid currently at $355.

56 bids have been placed on the dress, which went up on Thursday morning.

The seller says that they are auctioning the dress on behalf of a friend who no longer lives within the Gloriavale community, and is also selling off three other uniforms.

ALLEGATIONS MADE AGAINST THE SECT An 18-month investigation began when former Gloriavale members revealed details of life in the community. It uncovered allegations of: physical and sexual abuse, forced marriages, imprisonment, verbal abuse and denied contact with family. A police investigation was launched after 11 former members alleged wrongdoings by the Christian group. Advertisement

There are currently six dresses up for sale online, ranging from $40 to $355.

Peter Lineham, professor of history at Massey University told stuff.co.nz that people were fascinated by Gloriavale.

He doesn't anticipate the interest slowing down, saying it would only grow as more 'dramatic stories' of ex-members came out.

The pique in interest has also been reflected on the charity page for an ex-Gloriavale family's page, which jumped up by $5000 overnight.

Messages of support accompanied donations, with one person writing 'best wishes' next to a $500 offering.

Another message read: 'You've done a brave and great thing.'

In 2017, 11 ex-members who had left the group in the past five years alleged that current members were subjected to abuse and assault.

Senior members of the group were accused in 2017 of sexually and physically abusing its community (pictured) by 11 ex-members

'The women, particularly - it would be miserable to be a woman in Gloriavale,' one member told Daily Mail Australia in 2015, amidst accusations of assault (women in the community pictured)Around 300 migrants have stormed fences separating Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta from Morocco  with 116 of them making it onto European soil.

Seven policemen were burned by acid and quicklime, a skin irritant, allegedly thrown by some of the migrants as they over-ran border defences, Spanish police said.

The migrants launched their assault yesterday morning, as many Moroccan police were at a prayer ceremony marking the start of the Muslim festival Eid al-Adha.

Made it through: Some of the 116 migrants who managed to cross the border during the assault by some 300 people, celebrate after arriving at an immigration centre in Ceuta

Tools: Items used by the migrants to storm the fence are photographed after the border assault by Spanish Guardia Civil

Injuries caused: A bottle containing an unknown liquid and gloves are seen after the assault which saw seven police officers injured by corrosive substances

Television footage showed some of the 116 migrants who made it through with bloodied arms and legs, apparently caused by the razor wire that tops the border fences.

Most of them were young men, cheering as they walked towards a temporary reception centre.

'I love Spain!' shouted one. Some were draped in European Union and Spanish flags.

Five of the immigrants who got into Ceuta required hospital treatment for their injuries, Guarda civil said.

The assault came a month after just over 600 migrants got past the high, barbed-wire fences in the year's biggest assault.

Celebration: The migrants who made it through, a majority of them young men, were seen with cuts on arms and legs from climbing the razor wire fence

A police officer looks on as African migrants queue outside the Centre for Temporary Residence of Immigrants (CETI) after successfully breaching the border from Morocco

A migrant from Ghana, whose name is unknown, looks thoughtful after reaching Ceuta on his third attempt, revealing that two friends got deported by Moroccan police during the attempt

Migrants already inside the Centre for Temporary Stay of Immigrants (CETI) cheers towards newly arrived African migrants which successfully breached the border

Sub-Saharan Africans living illegally in Morocco try to enter Europe each year by scaling fences surrounding Ceuta and Melilla, Spain's other North African enclave.

More than 3,800 migrants have crossed the border into Ceuta and Melilla so far this year, according to the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR.

The route accounted for 14 per cent of the total 27,600 who arrived, mainly by sea, between January and July, a 130 per cent increase on the previous year.

The two enclaves recently received reinforcements of 60 police officers each, the Guardia Civil said.

Those who make it across head for temporary migrant accommodation centres and are eventually repatriated or released.Jeremy Corbyn at the Edinburgh Television festival today

Jeremy Corbyn's plans to fund journalism with a windfall tax on the likes of Facebook, Google and Netflix has been blasted by technology experts.

The Labour leader wants the tech giants to fund public interest journalism - and also subsidise the license fee to help fund the BBC.

But experts said he needed 'better ideas, saying they are already contributing to the Cairncross Review of press sustainability in the UK.

During a speech at the Edinburgh Television Festival, he said the fund could be paid for through a content sharing and advertising revenue agreement with Google, similar to that agreed in France and Belgium in 2013.

He said that if that is not possible, the option of a windfall tax on the companies should be looked at, he added.

Many tech giants have proved resourceful when it comes to minimising the tax they pay.

Earlier this month it was revealed Amazon UK's corporate tax bill fell by 2.8 million last year despite the company seeing pre-tax profits nearly treble.

Antony Walker, deputy chief executive at techUK, which represents more than 950 technology companies, dismissed the idea of a tax and said many of the tech giants are already contributing to the Cairncross Review of press sustainability in the UK.

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Jeremy Corbyn, alongside passionate Labour supporter, actress Maxine Peake, who was at his speech today

He said: 'It is in everyone's interest to ensure that high-quality independent journalism continues to thrive and that digital platforms support a healthy and informed public debate.

'Many tech companies are already working hard to address the misuse of platforms to seed disinformation. Tech firms are also working with traditional news media organisations to help them transform their develop business models for the digital age.

'It is good to see Mr Corbyn engaging on these issues, however we need better ideas than just another proposal to tax tech companies.

'The Cairncross Review has been set up explicitly to look into the future of high-quality journalism in the UK.

'Many techUK members are engaged in contributing detailed submissions to this review and we hope that Labour will engage constructively with the process.'

What is the Cairncross Review? The Cairncross Review was announced by Theresa May in February and will look at the sustainability of the Press in Britain. In particular it will explore what intervention might be required by the government to safeguard the future of a free and independent press. It has been prompted by industry-wide decline in print circulations and ad revenues. It will take evidence, report and publish recommendations within a year. The advisory panel is made up of 11 industry experts, including current and former editors and media chief executives. Culture Secretary Matt Hancock said: 'Our fearless and independent press plays a vital role in informing citizens and is one of the foundations on which our democracy is built. 'At a time of dramatic technological changes and with our institutions under threat from disinformation, we need this clear-eyed view of how high-quality journalism can continue to be effectively produced, distributed and consumed.' It will be chaired by Dame Frances Cairncross, once senior editor at The Economist. It is due to publish its final report in early 2019. Advertisement

Ian Murray, executive director of the Society Of Editors, said: 'The society welcomes any debate on the future of the media provided it's done with an open mind and not a political agenda.

'The devil is always in the detail. In a liberal democracy where freedom of speech is so vital, it's a delicate balancing trick to make sure the media is given the support it needs to flourish and that means looking at social media giants and that the BBC is funded.

'It's very seldom that one size fits all. We would need the media industry in discussion with any future Labour government.'

Corbyn also argued the licence fee should be modernised for the digital age and will taxing the tech giants could fund the Corporation in a 'fairer and more effective way.'

He also wants the BBC to publish 'equality data' on the social class of everyone who works for it.

The Labour leader has called for 'complete transparency' on the corporation's workforce in an attempt to boost 'diversity'.

The proposals were outlined in a speech at the Edinburgh Television Festival.

The BBC has increasingly become the subject of attacks by Corbyn supporters, accusing it of political bias.

Responding to a question about the recent ongoing media coverage of anti-Semitism in the Labour Party, Mr Corbyn said his speech was not an act of 'retribution or retaliation' to recent negative reports.

He added that he has 'spent his life opposing racism and anti-Semitism in any form.'

But Damian Collins, chairman of the Commons digital, culture, media and sport select committee, questioned the timing of Mr Corbyn's attack.

Mr Corbyn, speaking today, argued that the fee should be modernised for the digital age and will fund the Corporation in a 'fairer and more effective way'

'It is always highly questionable when senior politicians who are being investigated by media start complaining about the way the media is being run,' he said.

He warned the Labour leader's proposals for the BBC could 'politicise' the broadcaster and plunge it into 'class warfare'.

Speaking today, Corbyn described the the corporation as a 'great institution which rightly commands a special place in our national story and national life'.

He said the BBC 'should be freed of government control, democratised and made representative of the country it serves to help it do that'.

Mr Corbyn said: 'The BBC is meant to be independent, but its charter grants governments the power to appoint the chair and four directors of the board and set the level of the licence fee.

'One proposal would simultaneously reduce government political influence on the BBC while empowering its workforce and the licence fee payers who fund it. That would see the election of some BBC board members, for example of executive directors by staff and non-executive directors by licence fee payers.

The Labour leader, pictured after giving his speech today, wants firms such as Facebook, Google and Netflix to subsidise the licence fee

'To help decentralise the BBC, national and regional boards could also be expanded, with elections by BBC staff and local licence fee payers. All boards should be representative of the country, with a minimum representation for women and minority groups.'

Mr Corbyn said the TV licence fee itself is another potential area for modernisation.

He told the festival: 'In the digital age, we should consider whether a digital licence fee could be a fairer and more effective way to fund the BBC.

Corbyn: 'This isn't about retribution or retaliation' The labour leader was asked whether his proposals were an act of retaliation over the way the media has 'shone a light on anti-Semitism within the Labour party.' He replied: 'I simply say this. 'I want us to have a strong and vibrant democracy and I support journalists who want us to have a strong and vibrant democracy. 'This isn't about any retribution or retaliation to anybody. I've spent my life fighting racism, I've spent my life opposing any form of racism. 'I've spent my life opposing anti-Semitism in any form. And that is exactly what my party is determined to achieve.' Advertisement

'A digital licence fee, supplementing the existing licence fee, collected from tech giants and internet service providers, which extract huge wealth from our shared digital space, could allow a democratised and more plural BBC to compete far more effectively with the private multinational digital giants like Netflix, Amazon, Google and Facebook. This could also help reduce the cost of the licence fee for poorer households.

'With secure funding and empowered staff and audience, the BBC would be on a firm footing to move forward into the 21st century educating, informing and entertaining, and be a vehicle to drive up standards for the rest of the media.'

Under Mr Corbyn's proposals, the BBC would be forced to publish the social class, ethnic origin and other details about everyone who contributes to its programmes, whether they work for the corporation directly or for one of its suppliers.

A new independent body would set the TV licence fee, rather than the Government, and it would be slashed for the poor.

The BBC would also have many more directors, including a minimum number of women and ethnic minorities.

Mr Corbyn is also laying out plans for a shake-up of the wider media, which he believes is 'failing'.

Corbyn, pictured today, denied his plans were 'retaliation' for the way the media has reported on anti-semitism in the Labour party

He also called for a second tax on technology companies to pay for public interest journalism.

Mr Corbyn has come under mounting scrutiny from the Press in recent weeks.

The Mail exposed how he laid a wreath in a Tunis cemetery where the ringleaders of the 1972 Munich Olympics terror massacre are buried. This newspaper also revealed this week that he had welcomed Hamas-linked extremists to Parliament.

His critique of the media also comes at a time when he has been accused of letting anti-Semitism run rife in the Labour Party.

He has been rounded on by his own MPs, with Dame Margaret Hodge telling him that 'for Jewish people to vote Labour was becoming exceedingly tough'.

But questioned on whether his proposals could be an act of retaliation over the way the media has 'shone a light on anti-Semitism within the Labour party', he replied: 'I simply say this.

'I want us to have a strong and vibrant democracy and I support journalists who want us to have a strong and vibrant democracy.

'This isn't about any retribution or retaliation to anybody. I've spent my life fighting racism, I've spent my life opposing any form of racism. I've spent my life opposing anti-Semitism in any form. And that is exactly what my party is determined to achieve.'

Mr Collins described the Labour leader's proposals as 'a sort of finger pointing, putting class warfare into the organisation which I don't think would help anyone'.

The BBC is also likely to object to being forced to reveal class details of all of its contributors.

It currently publishes information about its own employees including what percentage went to private school, whether their parents worked in professional jobs and whether they were degree educated. But it routinely resists forcing its suppliers to make the same level of disclosure.

The broadcaster declined to comment on Corbyn's plans yesterday.

The pressure from Mr Corbyn comes as new research by Dr Sam Friedman, of the London School of Economics, said staffing in the TV sector is 'highly skewed towards privilege'.

Mr Corbyn yesterday refused six times to answer a question about whether Britain would be better off out of the EU.

It came during his tour of Scotland when Channel 4 News was permitted to ask one question of the Labour leader, which he repeatedly failed to do directly.A rail user's journey was cut short when he tried to get on board a regional express train in Austria with a horse.

The passenger, named in local media as Benni, made two attempts to bring his unusual travelling companion, named Frieda, into a carriage but was told the horse would have to leave.

The first train at Bad Mitterndorf station in central Austria did not let him on board, while the driver of the second refused to leave the station until the horse had exited the train.

Pictures shared on social media showed fellow passengers laughing and taking photos of the animal as the train to the city of Attnang-Puchheim waited on the platform, the newspaper OON reported.

Pictures shared on social media showed Frieda the horse inside a regional train in Austria

The country's railway company OBB shared the pictures on Twitter and Facebook, saying: 'The transport of horses on our trains is not allowed.

'In this case the tame but uninvited guest was asked to leave the train - but it was an amusing afternoon.'

'We hope this will stay a one-off,' OBB spokeswoman Julianne Pamme said, adding that horses could be dangerous, for example if the train had to break suddenly.

The company also made light of the bizarre event, joking on Twitter: 'A horse gets on the train and the conductor asks... why the long face?'

One passenger posted the pictures online saying: 'Made my day'.

The railway's guidelines stipulate that small, harmless animals in closed and secure containers, as well as dogs on leashes and wearing muzzles, can be taken on trains.Satellite photos of North Korea's nuclear test facilities appear to show that work to dismantle to controversial sites has ground to a halt.

Pictures taken on August 16 at the Sohae Satellite Launching Station, North Korea's only operational space launch facility, seem to show little effort has been made to dismantle visible structures since the start of the month - Washington think tank 38 North reports.

Launch pad structures which had been partially dismantled remain standing at several sites around the station while support bunkers also have yet to be demolished.

It also appears there are less construction vehicles on site than in previous aerial photographs.

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A satellite photo of the Sohae Satellite Launching Station shows several bunkers and test stand components remain in place

According to Washington-based think tank 38 North who released the photos - there has been little activity in August on the sites

Kim Jong-un pledged to dismantle his nuclear test facilities in return for a loosening of US sanctions at the historic summit with Donald Trump in Singapore back in June

The damning pictures emerge as the commander of U.S. forces in South Korea said Wednesday that he's cautiously optimistic nuclear diplomacy will work out with North Korea.

But he also said Seoul and Washington must continue to apply pressure so that 'there's not a reason or even an ability' for the North to back out.

Gen. Vincent Brooks told reporters that reports about continuing nuclear and missile development activities in North Korea show that Pyongyang currently lacks confidence that it can take real steps toward denuclearization and still be safe.

'While I do seek to have empathy to understand why North Korea is doing what it's doing and where it's coming from, nevertheless, this is a condition North Korea created for itself,' Brooks said at a news conference in Seoul.

'They will have to take the risk to move into the direction toward peace, given that they created the circumstances we are in.'

Lots of material from the partially deconstructed structures can be seen lying on the ground instead of having been taken away

There are also less construction vehicles visible at the facility with only seven on one launch pad compared to 12 in recent months

'The amount of progress that has been made in the relationships among countries since this time last year is perhaps not something that could have been conceived of last year and yet it has happened,' Brooks said.

'But we still have to see earnest action being taken on those matters of great concern like denuclearization. There is still a need for continued pressure so that there's not a reason or even an ability for North Korea to back up.'

Following a provocative year in weapons development, during which it tested a purported thermonuclear warhead and demonstrated potential capability to strike the U.S. mainland, the North has shifted to a diplomatic approach in 2018.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held a historic summit with President Donald Trump in June. They issued aspirations for a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula without describing when or how it would occur.

Post-summit talks aimed at mapping out a denuclearization process got off to a rocky start, with North Korea accusing a senior U.S. delegation led by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo of making unilateral demands for the country to relinquish its arsenal.

North Korea has also been demanding that the United States fast-track discussions on a declaration to formally end the Korean War, which stopped with an armistice and not a peace treaty.

Another photo shows greenhouses still standing and several vehicles parked outside a building

Kim Jong-un's 'soldier builders' in flurry of construction activity on Chinese border ahead of 70th anniversary of North Korean independence

Thousands of North Korean 'soldier-builders' in olive green uniforms and bright red hardhats are doing everything from digging ditches to putting up walls on multistory apartment blocks and government buildings in this northern city near the Chinese border.

Samjiyon is one of the main focuses of a massive nationwide construction campaign ahead of North Korea's 70th anniversary in what leader Kim Jong Un has described as a symbolic battle against anyone who would oppose his country.

The Sept. 9 anniversary is shaping up to be the biggest event since Kim assumed power in late 2011. Along with huge rallies in Pyongyang on the day itself and the revival of North Korea's trademark mass games at the stadium, Kim has deployed soldiers and ordinary citizens alike to erect buildings, improve roads and work on other infrastructure on a scale unseen in recent years.

Kim Jong-un flew into the northern city of Samjiyon to oversee construction work with his government officials

The North Korean leader has ordered a massive construction campaign to celebrate the country's 70th anniversary since independence

The construction spree is intended to improve living conditions in keeping with one of Kim's first promises to the nation, that he would bolster the economy so they would no longer need to 'tighten their belts.' But it is also a demonstration of the power of his regime in the face of U.S.-backed international sanctions intended to squeeze his economy and force him to abandon his nuclear weapons.

Kim made that political message clear during a visit to Samjiyon with his wife last week, when he was quoted by state media as saying 'the hostile forces' persistent sanctions and obstructive moves' have come as a serious setback, but added the North Korean people have risen to the challenge and are 'making a history of legendary miracles despite the most difficult conditions.'

Kim said that by 'showily' building up Samjiyon, the nation is in effect fighting a symbolic battle against those who would try to stifle its 'socialist civilization.'

Samjiyon lies at the foot of Mount Paektu, which is closely linked to the Kim family and is considered the spiritual center of the North Korean revolution.

Steamrollers and other heavy equipment are rare, so roadwork is particularly labor-intensive. Work crews spreading out nearly 20 kilometers (10 miles) from the city limits fill potholes with shovelfuls of dirt and flatten surfaces with wooden tools.

Porters deliver luggage from a plane arriving at the airport in Samjiyong in North Korea as Kim Jong-un touches down

The city of Samjiyong has become a hive of activity as the preparations for the anniversary are stepped up

The work has transformed Samjiyon from a relatively sleepy provincial center surrounded by potato farms into a buzzing hub of activity the likes of which would be hard to find anywhere else. The government says it is to be the model for future development projects nationwide. The Associated Press was allowed to view the city on the same day Kim visited, but was not allowed to shoot photos.

One important aspect of the building boom is that much of the work is being done outside of Pyongyang. Under three generations of Kim leadership, the capital has gotten the bulk of funding and is far more developed than the rest of the country, creating a glaring - and potentially destabilizing - gap between the capital and the provinces.

Along with Samjiyon, major construction projects are underway in several other cities - including 20-story high-rise apartments in the eastern port city of Chongjin and extensive infrastructure and tourism-related facilities in Wonsan, another port on the country's eastern coast. Under Kim, Wonsan has gotten a new airport that officials hope will attract international visitors in the near future. More than a dozen resort hotels are being built near its coastline.

The construction campaign is all the more ambitious considering it comes at a sensitive time for Kim, who has held a series of summits over the past several months with China, South Korea and the United States in an attempt to undermine support for sanctions and establish his position on the global stage as the head of a nuclear power.

His diplomatic gambit appears to be working in many ways.

Major construction projects are underway in several other cities across the hermit kingdom

Chinese businesspeople and tourists are once again flowing over the borders - several large tourist groups were in Samjiyon last week - and South Korean officials are seriously considering ways to help the North improve its roads and railways. But doubts are growing over whether Kim has any real intention to meet Washington's main demand and unilaterally abandon the nuclear weapons he worked so hard to develop over the past five years.

That rift with Washington could significantly complicate Kim's rapprochement with his neighbors and stifle his efforts to woo the trade and investment he needs to fund his development projects. A crucial indicator of where Kim stands will come soon after the Sept. 9 anniversary when he is scheduled to hold another summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, this time in Pyongyang.

Moon, who has been playing a middleman role between Pyongyang and Washington, is under a great deal of pressure to broker progress toward denuclearization. Without tangible progress, he will be hard-pressed to justify going against Washington's 'maximum pressure' policy and easing sanctions any further.

In any event, it appears Kim is ready to forge ahead. Though many improvements will be completed by Sept. 9, it is clear from the construction in Samjiyon that his plans go much further into the future than that. Dozens of buildings are still in the skeletal stages and will likely require several more months to finish.

In the meantime, scenes of Kim giving his on-the-spot guidance to senior officials feverishly taking down his every word in their notebooks has dominated the TV news in the North each day since his visit to Samjiyon.A photo of an odd yet ingenious DIY campervan conversion, befitting a Russell Coight adventure, has gone viral on social media.

The photo, posted on Facebook on Thursday, shows the makeshift conversion which would no doubt bring a smile to the face of the host of All Aussie Adventures, played by television comedian Glenn Robbins.

The homemade 'campervan' consists a caravan strapped down to the tray of a ute with the aid of two flimsy Bunnings straps.

It doesn't look pretty but some observers on social media have commended the owner/driver's ingenuity of this creation (pictured)

Neither the fictional bush legend nor the driver of the sorry-looking vehicle were anywhere to be seen in the picture taken on a NSW country road, which was posted on NSW Police Traffic and Highway Patrol Command Facebook page.

'#Camperfail Just the two 'bunnings straps' holding this on,' the post states.

The post sparked almost 500 reactions, 170 shares and 200 comments.

'Driver's name has to be Russell Coight from great outback Aussie adventures,' one person joked.

Russell Coight (pictured), aka Glenn Robbins, would no doubt give the DIY conversion a big thumbs up

Another questioned the use of the $18 tie-down straps, suggesting that while they might do the trick in fastening the sawn-off section of the caravan to the ute while stationary, it is unlikely the 'frankenvan' will hold together under intense winds while travelling at speed.

A more scathing poster branded the DIY chop-shop job 'dangerous' and 'sheer stupidity'.

One commentator took a more forgiving approach, pleading 'Can't a fella just move house in peace?'.

The popular All Aussie Adventures series first aired on Channel 10 between August 2001 and September 2002, and returned to screens this month for a new season following a 16-year hiatus.Ministers unveiled a raft of plans today to prevent 'no deal' Brexit causing carnage - admitting that credit card charges could rise and expats could be locked out of pensions.

There are even concerns of shortage in donated sperm as imports from Denmark might be hampered, and dramatic health warning photographs on cigarette packets will have to be replaced as the EU holds the copyright.

Danish semen made up almost half of all non-British male reproductive material imported to the UK in 2017, a paper from the Department of Health and Social Care revealed.

The potential pitfalls of failure to strike a deal with the EU were spelled out in documents that warned losing access to shared IT systems could mean millions of pounds in extra charges for online shoppers and tourists visiting the bloc.

Ex-pats could also struggle to access pensions and accounts administered by UK-based banks, while medicines could be delayed by regulatory upheaval.

Launching the first tranche of 25 'technical notes' on the consequences of no deal, Dominic Raab tried to play down the picture they painted, insisting the government was just making sure Britain was 'ready'.

The Brexit Secretary also stressed he was still 'confident' an agreement would be reached.

Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab (pictured giving his speech in Westminster today) dismissed 'doomsday' scenarios about the consequences of failing to strike a broad trade deal with the bloc

Mr Raab said there did have to be a blueprint for how to 'wind down our membership' of the EU with the minimum possible 'disruption'

Among the main points in the dump of documents issued by ministers today are:

British consumers could face 'increased costs and slower processing times' for euro transactions and 'the cost of card payments between the UK and EU will likely increase'. More VAT could be charged on parcels coming into Britain from EU firms.

An extra six weeks of medicines will be stockpiled on top of the current level of three months to avoid any disruption. Batch testing and EU certifications will also be recognised to reduce bureaucracy.

New picture warnings could be introduced on cigarette packs 'as the copyright for the existing picture library is owned by the European Commission'.

British firms are being urged to 'consider whether you will need advice from the Irish government about preparations you need to make' in case of no deal.

Organic food producers face a cliff edge of exporting to the EU only if certified by a body approved by the European Commission, with certification taking up to nine months after Brexit.

The government will commit to underwrite EU funding for aid and other projects that could be withdrawn.

In his speech, Mr Raab said the Government would not risk triggering a tit-for-tat battle with Brussels by imposing new border checks or travel restrictions.

He said: 'I remain confident a good deal is within our sights, and that remains our top, and overriding, priority. If the EU responds with the level of ambition and pragmatism, we will strike a strong deal that benefits both sides.

'But, we must be ready to consider the alternative. We have a duty, as a responsible government, to plan for every eventuality.

'These technical notices - and the ones that will follow - are a sensible, measured,and proportionate approach to minimising the impact of no deal on British firms, citizens,charities and public bodies.'

He added: 'They will provide information and guidance. Our overarching aim is to facilitate the smooth, continued, functioning of business, transport, infrastructure, research, aid programmes and funding streams.

'In some cases, it means taking unilateral action to maintain as much continuity as possible in the short term, in the event of no deal - irrespective of whether the EU reciprocates.'

Mr Raab said the UK, in the event of a no-deal, would 'diverge when we are ready, on our terms' from the European Union.

The Brexit Secretary stressed there was already planning talks between the Bank of England and the European Central Bank for a no-deal scenario and called for talks to begin on data protection and between port authorities.

Credit card charges and online shopping

One document released today considers the risks facing UK banking and payments customers if the Government fails to clinch a trade agreement that covers financial services.

In the case of a no-deal Brexit, UK-based payment service providers would lose direct access to the EU's payment infrastructure.

Customers, including businesses using providers to process payments in euros, could also 'face increased costs and slower processing times for euro transactions', the Government paper warned.

'The cost of card payments between the UK and EU will likely increase, and these cross-border payments will no longer be covered by the surcharging ban,' it added.

The ban prevents businesses from charging customers for paying by the likes of PayPal or debit or credit cards, which Treasury earlier this year characterised as 'rip-off fees'.

Consumers shopping in the EU or buying online from an EU company with a UK card, could be hit with surprise charges on their purchases, with some retailers charging more than the cost of processing payments.

Consumers shopping in the EU or buying online from an EU company with a UK card, could be hit with surprise charges on their purchases, with some retailers charging more than the cost of processing payments

The Treasury estimated that surcharging cost Britons around 166million in 2015.

The EU surcharge ban came into force in January. The Government said it is looking to align domestic law around payments with rules already set up in the EU in hopes of remaining a member of the Single Euro Payments Area.

However, that would only ensure that 'lower value euro transactions are processed in the same amount of time as they are today', meaning larger payments may still face delays.

Consumers would face another potential cost increase when online shopping, with parcels arriving in the UK no longer liable for Low Value Consignment Relief (LVCR) on VAT.

Medical supplies face checks and delays

The pharmaceutical industry should ensure they have an additional six-week supply of drugs in the event of disruption caused by a no-deal Brexit, the Health Secretary has said.

Matt Hancock has told drug companies that supply chains for products could be affected by changes to border processes and stockpiles would be needed to cope with potential delays.

Hospitals, GPs and community pharmacies in the UK do not need to stockpile additional medicines and doctors should not write longer prescriptions, he said.

Patients should also be advised that they do not need to store additional medicines at home.

Steve Bates, chief executive of the UK Bioindustry Association (BIA), said the request would be 'a massive challenge' for the industry.

In a letter to pharmaceutical companies, Mr Hancock said: 'In the unlikely event we leave the EU without a deal in March 2019, based on the current cross-Government planning scenario we will ensure the UK has an additional six weeks' supply of medicines in case imports from the EU through certain routes are affected.

'This is the current planning assumption but will of course be subject to revision in light of future developments.'

He asked companies 'to ensure they have a minimum of six weeks' additional supply in the UK, over and above their business as usual operational buffer stocks' by March 29.

Mr Hancock said the 'same risk exists in the EU' and countries such as France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands will also need to prepare for disruption.

In an open letter to NHS staff, Mr Hancock said hospitals, GPs and community pharmacies in the UK 'do not need to take any steps to stockpile additional medicines, beyond their business as usual stock levels'.

He added: 'Local stockpiling is not necessary and any incidences involving the over-ordering of medicines will be investigated and followed up with the relevant chief or responsible pharmacist directly.

'Clinicians should advise patients that the Government has plans in place to ensure a continued supply of medicines to patients from the moment we leave the EU.

Matt Hancock has told drug companies that supply chains for products could be affected by changes to border processes and stockpiles would be needed to cope with potential delays

'Patients will not need to and should not seek to store additional medicines at home.'

Mr Bates said: 'We have stressed and recognise that endeavouring to deliver on this in less than 200 days will be a massive challenge for industry and the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) alike.

'Given that over 150 BIA members are actively involved in clinical development in the UK we will pay particular attention to the implications of this work with regard to ongoing clinical trials.

'A 'no-deal' Brexit would mean the biggest dis-integration of the complex regulated medicines market in Europe in terms of regulation, cross-border movement of goods, comparative pricing and intellectual property.

'On behalf of patients we encourage all participants to be as prepared as possible for a scenario industry really does not want, but we should be under no illusions that this will be easy or smooth.'

The papers also raised the alarm about a potential sperm donor shortage and restrictions on transferring other biomaterials.

One points out that the UK imported 3,000 sperm samples from Denmark last year, along with smaller quantities from other countries in the bloc.

'UK licensed establishments working in this area, such as hospitals, stem cell laboratories, tissue banks and fertility clinics would continue to work to the same quality and safety standards as they did before exit but some would need new written agreements with relevant EU establishments,' the paper said.

Expats could lose access to pensions

UK citizens living in Europe face the possibility of losing access to their pension income and other financial services, according to technical papers on no-deal Brexit preparations.

Lending and deposit services, insurance and annuities - which people rely on for a regular pension income - are among the financial products which expats could struggle to access, according to the documents.

One said that 'in the absence of action from the EU, EEA-based customers of UK firms currently passporting into the EEA, including UK citizens living in the EEA, may lose the ability to access existing lending and deposit services, insurance contracts (such as life insurance contracts and annuities) due to UK firms losing their rights to passport into the EEA'.

Insurers said millions of customers, including pensioners overseas, could be affected.

The papers said the Government has committed to putting unilateralaction in place if necessary to resolve issues as far as possible on the UK side.

For UK-based customers who access banking, insurance, investment funds and other financial services with EEA firms currently passporting into the UK, temporary permissions will enable these firms to continue to provide these services to UK customers for up to three years after exit - allowing firms time to apply for authorisation to continue operating in the UK, the documents said.

British expats in Europe face losing access to their pension income and other financial services, according to technical papers on no-deal Brexit preparations

Banking red tape could mean EU clients lose UK-based services

The technical papers also echoed warnings from the Bank of England which earlier this summer said the EU needed to do more to prevent Brexit causing havoc in financial markets.

The Government said clients across the European Economic Area would no longer be able to use the services of UK-based investment banks, while cross-border contracts may no longer be valid.

It puts a key industry at risk, with financial services having contributed more than a quarter of the UK's services exports to the EU, accounting for 27 billion out of 90 billion in 2016.

A number of banks have made efforts to secure licences and offices in EU financial hubs to continue serving clients on the continent.

Lending and deposit services, insurance and annuities - which people rely on for a regular pension income - are among the financial products which expats could struggle to access, according to the documents.

One said that 'in the absence of action from the EU, EEA-based customers of UK firms currently passporting into the EEA, including UK citizens living in the EEA, may lose the ability to access existing lending and deposit services, insurance contracts (such as life insurance contracts and annuities) due to UK firms losing their rights to passport into the EEA'.

Insurers said millions of customers, including pensioners overseas, could be affected.

The papers said the Government has committed to putting unilateral action in place if necessary to resolve issues as far as possible on the UK side.

For UK-based customers who access banking, insurance, investment funds and other financial services with EEA firms currently passporting into the UK, temporary permissions will enable these firms to continue to provide these services to UK customers for up to three years after exit - allowing firms time to apply for authorisation to continue operating in the UK, the documents said.

This means these firms will be able to continue as before if they receive authorisation covering the full scope of services they currently provide.

The UK's savings safety net, the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), protects money held by customers of UK-authorised firms when firms go bust, including some products with EEA firms.

Regulators will consult this autumn on arrangements for coverage to continue, the documents said.

Mr Raab (pictured with Michel Barnier in Brussels this week) said he was still 'confident' there would be an agreement - but the government was taking steps to 'protect the UK'

Farming subsidies guaranteed but 'cliff edge' for organic produce

Government moved to reassure landowners they would continue to get farming subsidies, currently controlled by the EU, in the case of no-deal, until new agriculture legislation is brought in.

The funding will remain at existing levels until the end of this parliament, expected in 2022, for the whole of the UK, a technical notice on payments reiterates.

People receiving subsidies will have to conform to the same standards and rules, including on-site farm inspections, in order to receive the payments.

But organic food producers will face a cliff edge over exporting to the European Union in the event of a no-deal Brexit, farming leaders warned.

According to technical guidance published by the Government, UK businesses would only be allowed to export to the EU if they were certified by an organic certification body approved by the European Commission.

But UK organic bodies will not be able to apply for recognition until after Brexit - and approval could take up to nine months to secure.

The National Farmers Union (NFU) said the situation for organic produce served as a warning on future trade in all food and agricultural products between the UK and the EU.

On organic produce, the Government said it was exploring alternative approaches to speed up the process.

The Government expects to negotiate an arrangement which would allow free movement of organic produce between the UK and EU, because European regulations will remain in UK law.

Logos on packaging would also need to change, with the EU organic label in the shape of a green leaf of stars stripped off, though UK labels would remain.

Graphic cigarette warnings could disappear

Stark images of blackened lungs and dead bodies on cigarette packets would disappear under a no-deal Brexit.

Copyright for the current images is owned by the European Commission so the UK could no longer legally use them and new images would need to be created.

A no-deal Brexit would also mean new systems to register tobacco and e-cigarette products, according to a technical paper on labelling tobacco products.

The paper states: If theres no deal we would introduce new picture warnings for tobacco products as the copyright for the existing picture library is owned by the European Commission.

Manufacturers will need to ensure that tobacco products which include picture warnings produced from Exit Day onwards will be labelled with new picture warnings.

New regulations would be needed to give the Government power to update domestic legislation in response to emerging threats, changing safety and quality standards and technological advances.

A consultation will be held in September on labelling and notification.

The paper adds: Inevitably under a no-deal scenario, the close working relationships that exist with our European partners would not be the same.

The UK will, of course, continue to play an active role in the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Dramatic health warning photographs on cigarette packets will have to be replaced as the EU holds the copyright (file picture)

Brexit deal not likely until end of the year, says Cabinet minister Cabinet Office minister David Lidington (pictured in Edinburgh today) said he was not surprised by Michel Barnier playing down the prospects of agreement before November There is unlikely to be a Brexit deal until the end of the year, a Cabinet minister suggested today. Cabinet Office minister David Lidington said he was not surprised by Michel Barnier playing down the prospects of agreement before November. He said: 'I was Europe minister for six years, I have seen enough of these negotiations to know that these deadlines slip. 'I think there definitely will need to be an agreement by the end of 2018.' However, speaking during a briefing with reporters in Edinburgh, Mr Lidington added that he did not believe the March date for Britain's exit from Europe would be pushed back. 'Article 50 is a matter of EU law, it is not a matter of political judgment,' he said. 'I think there is a real pressure from the end of the year because, with the European Parliament going into election mode it will just become more difficult to get enough MEPs in a plenary from January onwards to have the numbers to pass the super majority that is needed. 'And you've got to get legislation through Westminster as well to implement a withdrawal agreement.' He added: 'I just don't think that seeking to extend Article 50 is going to help... the Treaty is absolutely clear that it is two years or when a withdrawal agreement is reached or ratified if that is earlier.' Advertisement

Earlier, Mr Raab told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he wanted to move on from the 'latest incarnation of Project Fear'.

'Some of those promoting the worst scare stories around no deal... are assuming that the EU will act in a vindictive way,' he said.

'I'm still confident a good deal is within our sights,' Mr Raab said.

'We have got agreement on about 80 per cent of the issues.

'We have made clear that if negotiations don't achieve the optimum outcome we will continue to be a responsible European neighbour and partner.'

Playing down the threat of shortages in hospitals, Mr Raab said a stockpile of 200 medicines already exists, thanks to longstanding arrangements with pharmaceutical companies to cope with disruptions at the border, such as strikes by French lorry drivers.

'There are potential issues around the border in the worst case scenario,' he said.

'So it's right, too, we will be working with industry around stockpiling of medicines for a working assumption of six weeks.'

Mr Raab admitted that talks remain deadlocked over the Northern Irish border, with the UK continuing to press for a bespoke customs agreement on goods and services.

'They're still asking questions and probing the proposals, but that's good,' he said.

'They are not knocking them away in principle - they are asking questions on the practical detail.

'They understand very clearly that we will not allow a customs border or any other form of border to be drawn down the Irish Sea.'

Shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer dismissed the documents as a distraction, saying a no deal would be 'catastrophic'.

He said: 'A no deal Brexit would be a complete failure by the Government to negotiate for Britain. These documents should not distract us from that.

'No deal would be catastrophic for people's jobs, the economy and for the border in Northern Ireland. It is irresponsible for anyone to casualise no deal.'

Simon Lewis, chief executive of the Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME), said: 'The consequences of a no-deal Brexit scenario could mean prolonged disruption to the smooth functioning of Europe's capital markets, which would affect investors, borrowers and savers across Europe and beyond.

'The financial services industry is keen to see both negotiating parties agree on a deal which locks in an agreement on a transition period and the future trading relationship in order to minimise the risks to financial stability.'Advertisement

Whale hunting on the Faroe Islands are a family affair, and the entire community gets involved in the driving and slaughtering of the marine animals.

These images show dozens of pilot whale carcasses laid out on the quay in Jatnavegur on the island of Vagar, on Wednesday, some marked with numbers or initials in their skin and blubber.

Every summer, some 800 pilot and beaked whales, as well as dolphins, are killed for their meat across the Faroe Islands, a Danish archipelago located hundreds of miles off the Scottish coast between Norway and Iceland.

Family business: A man and a boy walk past the whale carcasses which are being taken care of and preserved for the winter in the port of Jatnavegur on Vagar, Faroe Islands

Butchering process: Two fins lay cut off next to the carcass of a whale which has been marked with the letters L M

Fish in numbers: The cheek of one of the pilot whales bears the number 23 cut into the skin and blubber

Whale driving on the Faroe Islands date back to the late 16th century and involve residents herding pods of whales into shallow waters.

They are then killed using a 'spinal lance' that is inserted through the animal's neck to break its spinal cord.

The locals, who eat both meat and blubber as well as other body parts, carry out much of the butchering in the open, and the process can seem graphic and brutal to outsiders.

The hunts have been criticised by animal rights campaigners, who say the ritual is cruel and unnecessary.

Earlier this month, marine animal activist group Sea Shepherd observed a whale drive in the village of Hvannasund on the island of Vioy where around a dozen Atlantic white-sided dolphins, as well as more than 80 pilot whales, were killed.

Sustainable: Each part of the whale, including the meat and the blubber is either eaten fresh or preserved for the cold winter months on the Faroe Islands

A woman walks past long lines of pilot whales which have been cut up during the butchering process

One member of the Sea Shepherd crew said: 'As we waited for the pod to be driven onto the beach, local participants on the shore laid out line after line of rope with blunt hooks that would soon be used to drag pilot whales out of the water to be killed.

'The level of excitement amongst the locals was clear to see. Young children ran around playing as parents talked and laughed which seemed to be in total contradiction to the events that were about to unfold.

'As a whale was pulled from the water in front of me by multiple men that appear range from as young as 15 through to late 40s or older, the cries broke out.

'The sound of fear and panic was clear for all to hear, yet fell on deaf ears of the participants who continued to laugh and take pleasure from the brutality.

'Watching in horror as whale after whale was dragged from the water, crying and fluke kicking out to try and escape a death that appeared neither compassionate, humane or respectful.'

However, the local government says the hunting is not only sustainable, but ensures that the 18 islands, which has a limited opportunities for farming, are as self-sufficient as possible.

Defence: The local government have said that they are aware that the practice can appear brutal to the uninitiated, but that the locals have been carrying out this hunt for decades and it is done with as little suffering as possible

Tradition: Two young children run around and play by the carcasses of the whales and dolphins

Killed for meat: It is estimated that the pilot whale population around the Faroe Islands is around 100,000, with the Faroese killing on average 800 pilot whales every year

The slaughter takes place in the summer months and sees locals round up whales and drive them into a bay, where villagers kills and butcher the animals

Participants, many of them children, were seen covered in the blood of their prey during the hunt, and the entire beach turned red with blood

Each whale provides several hundreds of kilos of meat and blubber, food which would otherwise have to be imported from abroad to the islands at a cost to the locals and the environment.

It is estimated that the pilot whale population in the eastern North Atlantic is about 778,000 individuals, with approximately 100,000 around the Faroe Islands. The Faroese hunt on average 800 pilot whales annually.

'Whaling is a natural part of Faroese life and an important supplement to the livelihoods of Faroe Islanders,' a spokesperson for the Faroese government told MailOnline.

'All meat, including whale meat, involves the slaughter of animals.

'There is no doubt that the pilot whale hunts are a dramatic sight to people unfamiliar with the hunts and slaughter of mammals. The hunts are, nevertheless, well organised and fully regulated.

'Faroese animal welfare legislation, which also applies to whaling, stipulates that animals shall be killed as quickly and with as little suffering as possible.

'The methods used ensures that the whales lose consciousness and die within a few seconds. Normally, the entire pod of whales is killed in less than fifteen minutes.

'It has long since been internationally recognised that pilot whale catches in the Faroe Islands are fully sustainable.'A Labour split is now 'inevitable' amid bitter infighting over Brexit and anti-Semitism, a former Cabinet minister warned last night.

Alan Johnson delivered the grim verdict on his party after tensions escalated again between Jeremy Corbyn's hard-left allies and moderates.

Speculation has been swirling for months about the prospects for a new 'centrist' alliance, with some Lib Dems and Tories said to be involved in plotting.

Brexit has been a key dividing line, with the leadership so far resisting backing a second referendum and sticking to the vow to take the country out of the EU.

But the fury at Mr Corbyn over the wave of anti-Semitism that has wracked Labour has taken the problems to a new level.

Alan Johnson (file picture) delivered the grim verdict on his party after tensions escalated again between Jeremy Corbyn's hard-left allies and moderates

The veteran left-winger has refused to accept the international definition of anti-Semitism in full, suggesting that it would hamper criticism of the Israeli state.

But he has been condemned by MPs and Jewish groups, and hit with a slew of revelations about his links to anti-Israel extremists.

Appearing at the Edinburgh Book Festival, former home secretary Mr Johnson said the situation had now become irretrievable.

A split in the Labour Party is now inevitable, he said.

He also hit out at Momentum, the grassroots movement which backs Jeremy Corbyn.

They represent malice dressed as virtue, he said.

Mr Johnson was responding to an article in the left-wing New Statesman magazine on how some moderate MPs were considering leaving the party.

Mr Corbyn, pictured right on a visit to Glasgow yesterday, has been facing fury over the wave of anti-Semitism that has wracked Labour

In a loaded barb on Twitter, the shadow chancellor (pictured left) accused some of his party's backbenchers of conspiring for two years to split the Labour party. It comes amid reports Chuka Umunna (pictured right) and other leading moderates are thinking about breaking away and founding a new centrist party

One MP told the magazine: Theres Plan A where you say Were not going anywhere even if it takes 30 years. There is no red line, nothing that he could say or do that would mean you ever leave.

Then theres Plan B: you accept that he is not going anywhere, that the party has changed irrevocably into something else, and what do you do about that?

John McDonnell last week furiously accused Labour moderates of using the anti-Semitism crisis as cover for their secret plot to form a new party.

In a loaded barb on Twitter, the shadow chancellor accused some of his party's backbenchers of conspiring for two years to split Labour.

And he warned them that any attempt to use the anti-Semitism row as justification for their plans would be seen as 'appalling cynicism'.

Several Labour moderates, including former leadership contender Chuka Umunna and Chris Leslie, are said to be in talks to start a new centrist party.

But Mr McDonnell, one of the Labour leader's closest allies, said they are exploiting the racism row for their own political gains.

Shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer (left) dismissed suggestions from frontbench colleague Barry Gardiner (right) that re-running the national vote could spark civil unrest

He said: 'For anybody to use the issue of anti-Semitism as a cover for launching a new political party they had been planning for nearly two years would rightly be seen as an act of appalling cynicism, basely exploiting a genuine concern that people of goodwill are working hard to address.'

Len McCluskey, the powerful leader of the Unite trade union and another close Corbyn ally, has also accused 'Blairite' MPs of using the row to split Labour.

Labour descended into fresh Brexit chaos today as Keir Starmer insisted a second EU referendum should be 'on the table'.

The shadow Brexit secretary dismissed warnings from frontbench colleague Barry Gardiner that re-running the national vote could spark civil unrest.

He suggested that the option was available if Parliament rejected any package Theresa May secures from Brussels.The nose gear collapsed on an F-35A Lightning II jet worth around $94.3million after a mid-air emergency forced it to land at a Florida base.

Shortly after noon on Wednesday, the jet was left face down on the runway at Eglin Air Force Base after parking at the location between Pensacola and Panama City.

Officials say the 58th Fighter Squadron jet, which forms part of the worlds most expensive defense program, had returned to Eglin after experiencing an in-flight emergency.

An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the mishap is under way.

A photo of the incident (pictured) shows the plane sitting safely on the runway with its nose down on the ground

Fire crews responded immediately, and no injuries were reported to the pilot, who was the only person aboard.

A photo of the incident shows the plane sitting safely on the runway with its nose down on the ground.

The aircraft had already landed safely and parked when the front nose gear collapsed.

No details have currently been shared of the initial incident which required the plane to return to base early and the cost of the damage is unclear.

Pictured: An F-35A flies at the 60th Chicago Air & Water Show at North Avenue Beach, on August 18, 2018, in Chicago

It is not the first time the F-35 has faced issues with its front landing gear.

In 2017, Navy pilots using the F-35C - a model of the jet designed for operations on a carrier  complained it would move up and down on its nose gear when being launched from a catapult.

President Donald Trump and other U.S. officials have criticized the F-35 program for delays and cost overruns, but the price per jet has steadily declined in recent years as production increased.

Last month it was reported that the United States struck a preliminary deal to buy F-35 jets from supplier Lockheed Martin for around $13 billion, which hopes to bring the cost per jet down to $80million by 2020.Andrew Dean, 51, (pictured leaving Manchester Magistrates Court) admitted being drunk on an aircraft and using threatening and racist behaviour towards other passengers

A drunk man onboard a flight has been fined hundreds of pounds after using threatening and racist language towards other 'terrified' passengers.

Andrew Dean, 51, used a racial slur referring to someone from Pakistan towards one man, who was actually Polish.

He also accused two women of being lesbians while mocking their Scottish nationality during a flight.

Dean, who is a British citizen living in Germany, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to being drunk on an aircraft and using threatening and racist behaviour.

He appeared at Manchester Magistrates Court yesterday for sentencing.

The court heard how he had used the racist language towards one man, who was in fact from Poland.

He also made comments about the sexuality of two women that caused stress to another passenger called Anne Davies.

Prosecuting, Sonia Alford, said: 'The complainant, Anne Davies, said she heard the defendant call two people lesbians and referring to them being Scottish.'

She also heard him referring to a Polish man in a derogatory manner with a racial slur against someone from Pakistan.

Defending, Peter Buckley, said: 'I want to let you know that he expresses regret and is apologetic about what he did. He accepts that he drank too much and he acted in an abominable manner.

'He's not an alcoholic but he does drink to excess. His wife has arranged for him to enter a clinic in Germany.

Dean, who is a British citizen but lives and owns a business in Germany, used a racial slur and accusing two women of being lesbians while mocking their Scottish nationality during a flight

'He resides in Germany and has his own business out there. He also has two children who live out there.

'He held his hands up and said what he did was wrong.

'Although he cannot remember all of what happened, and he deserves credit for his guilty plea.

'He is willing and happy to compensate the victim and willing to apologise in person if they so wish.'

Sentencing was magistrate Wailen Matthe, who told Dean that the passengers must have been 'terrified' by his behaviour.

He said: 'I have heard what has been said on your behalf.

'It's clear you have a drinking problem and you got onto that flight while drunk. Those passengers must've been terrified.

'We are going to deal with you by a means of financial penalty.'

Dean was ordered to pay 785, including 100 in compensation to Anne Davies.

Speaking in court, Dean admitted to the magistrates that he had a drinking problem and was apologetic.

He said: 'I am just so sorry for what happened, I just want to get back to Germany and get the help I need. I have had this problem for about 20 years.'

Mr Matthe concluded by saying: 'You are 51 years of age now and you need to sort yourself out.'South Africa has hit back at 'colonial' Donald Trump, accusing him of sowing division after he promised a probe into 'farm seizures and large-scale killing of white farmers'.

Mr Trump was today accused of fuelling racial tensions after he wrote overnight: 'I have asked Secretary of State...[Mike] Pompeo to closely study the South Africa land and farm seizures and expropriations and the large scale killing of farmers.'

His tweet apparently followed a segment on conservative Fox News about Pretoria's plan to change the constitution to speed up expropriation of land without compensation to redress racial imbalances in land ownership.

Some observers said that Mr Trump was using his latest Africa comments to try to deflect attention from his controversial legal troubles at home.

'The President of the U.S. needs political distractions to turn our gaze away from his criminal cabal, and so he's attacking South Africa with the disproven racial myth of 'large scale killings of farmers',' Patrick Gaspard, a former US ambassador to South Africa, tweeted.

'This man... has no discernible Africa policy.'

Mr Trump's tweet has touched on the overwhelmingly white ownership of farmland in South Africa  one of the most sensitive issues in the country's post-apartheid history.

'South Africa totally rejects this narrow perception which only seeks to divide our nation and reminds us of our colonial past,' said the government on an official Twitter account.

President Donald Trump claimed there is a 'large scale killing of farmers' taking place alongside the South African government's land seizing project

The foreign ministry said in a statement that it would meet officials at the US embassy to challenge the 'unfortunate comments' which were 'based on false information'.

Foreign Minister Lindiwe Sisulu would also speak directly with her American opposite number, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, it added.

Mr Trump weighed in on the high-octane issue of land reform in the country after President Ramaphosa began the process of seizing white-owned farms.

Mr Ramaphosa has announced plans to change the constitution to allow his ruling ANC party to take lands from white farmers without compensating them.

Retort: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called Trump 'misinformed'

The American president wrote: 'I have asked Secretary of State @SecPompeo to closely study the South Africa land and farm seizures and expropriations and the large scale killing of farmers. 'South African Government is now seizing land from white farmers.' @TuckerCarlson @FoxNews'

South Africa's official government Twitter account hit back within hours saying 'South Africa totally rejects this narrow perception which only seeks to divide our nation and reminds us of our colonial past'.

'South Africa will speed up the pace of land reform in a careful and inclusive manner that does not divide our nation,' the government wrote in a second post.

South Africa's official government Twitter account said Trump's 'narrow perception only seeks to divide our nation and reminds us of our colonial past'

President Cyril Ramaphosa's spokesman added: 'The presidency has noted Trump's tweet, which is misinformed in our view.'

'We will take up the matter through diplomatic channels.'

But Kallie Kriel, chief executive of AfriForum  a group that advocates for its largely white membership  welcomed Mr Trump's intervention and attacked Mr Ramaphosa for pressing ahead with his plans to change the constitution.

'We need to get international support to put pressure on the South African government to hopefully make them re-visit their stance,' he told AFP.

Mr Kriel added that Mr Trump could suspend South Africa from the African Growth and Opportunity Act trade programme if property rights were not respected.

'The US has a lot of power,' he said.

The President asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to monitor 'farm seizures and the killing of white farmers' in South Africa, announcing this in an early morning tweet

However Mmusi Maimane, the leader of the main opposition Democratic Alliance party which opposes forced expropriation but backs land reform, said 'fear mongering by international leaders adds no value'.

'The injustices of land dispossession in South Africa can be addressed by our constitution in its current form. We must ensure ownership of land for all South Africans,' he tweeted.

The rand currency dropped more than 1.5 percent against the US dollar in early trade today after Trump's tweet had circulated in South Africa.

As the 2019 elections approach, Mr Ramphosa is trying to accelerate land reform 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 per cent of the population 'possess 72 per cent of farms' compared to 'only four per cent' in the hands of black people who make up four-fifths of the population, according to Mr Ramaphosa.

Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton sparked a diplomatic row with Pretoria in March after he said that Canberra should give 'special attention' to white South African farmers seeking asylum because they faced a 'horrific' situation.

Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson on Wednesday night described the land reform policy as 'literally the definition of racisim' because it 'makes it possible to steal land from people because they are the wrong skin colour.'

Land reform is in explosive issue intertwined with deep-seated racial tensions that make the country a tinderbox ready to ignite.

While many government supporters demand quicker reform, analysts fear seizing farms too quickly could lead to economic ruin and food shortages as happened in Zimbabwe.

Violent crime is a serious problem across South Africa and 47 farmers were killed in 2017-18, according to statistics from AgriSA, an association of agricultural associations. However, farm murders are at a 20-year low.

Since the end of apartheid in 1994, the ANC has followed a 'willing-seller, willing-buyer' model under which the government buys white-owned farms for redistribution to blacks.

Progress has been slow and most South Africans believe something has to be done to accelerate change, providing it does not hurt the economy or stoke unrest.

'Reforming the land distribution and ownership will be good for South Africa,' said political analyst Nic Borain.

'That there will be instability and worries about property rights is inevitable, but we don't expect that the government will act in a way that radically destabilises investor security.'

Mr Trump's tweet came days after it was announced that his wife, Melania, would travel to Africa in October for her first major solo international trip as first lady.

In January, South Africa protested to the US Embassy in Pretoria about reported remarks by Trump that some immigrants from Africa and Haiti came from 'sh**hole' countries.

Earlier this week, MailOnline reported that a luxury 10million hunting lodge was among Mr Ramphosa's targets for expropriation.

Johan Steenkamp and Arnold Cloete, co-owners of the Akkerland Boerdery hunting farm in Limpopo province, said they were ordered to hand over their land after talks to buy it at a tenth of the price broke down.

This 10million farm, the Akkerland Boerdery, is set to be seized by the government after just 10 percent of the asking price was offered

Left: Farmer Johan Steenkamp. Right: Pictures posted on the Akkerland Boerdery Facebook page show families hunting game

The hunting lodge's Facebook page shows several pictures of the farm and wild animals

Steenkamp and Cloete asked for 200million rand (10.7million) for their reserve but were only offered 20million rand (1.07million).

A letter they received earlier in the year said: 'Notice is hereby given that a terrain inspection will be held on the farms on April 5, 2018 at 10am in order to conduct an audit of the assets and a handover of the farm's keys to the state.'

The farmers have obtained an injunction, which was opposed by the government, to prevent eviction until a court rules on the case.

Mr Steenkamp said the decision to take his land was made on 'very short notice' during a public holiday and he was given notice to hand over the keys to his estate within seven days.

A claim to his land was made by the Musekwa tribe in 1996, court documents show.

Annelie Crosby, spokeswoman for the agricultural industry association AgriSA, told the Johannesburg based CityPress: 'What makes the Akkerland case unique is that they apparently were not given the opportunity to first dispute the claim in court, as the law requires.'

Government spokesman ZiZi Kodwa said: 'Over time I think the markets as well as investors will appreciate that what we are doing is creating policy certainty and creating the conditions for future investment'.Labor leader Bill Shorten could become prime minister by Christmas if Malcolm Turnbull quits Parliament and forces a by-election in his wealthy Sydney seat.

Mr Turnbull on Thursday vowed to resign from the nation's top job if a majority of Liberal MPs vote for a leadership spill in Canberra at noon on Friday.

His threat to quit as prime minister also heightens the chance he will resign from the House of Representatives, sparking a by-election in his rich, Sydney eastern suburbs electorate of Wentworth.

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Labor leader Bill Shorten could become prime minister by Christmas if Malcolm Turnbull quits Parliament and forces a by-election in his wealthy Sydney seat

The Coalition government was re-elected in July 2016 with a bare, one seat majority and the loss of Mr Turnbull's seat, with a massive anti-government swing, could spark a new political crisis.

Griffith University political scientist Dr Paul Williams said it was conceivable his seat would be lost to a progressive independent candidate, or even the Greens on preferences.

In that circumstance, Mr Shorten could become prime minister of a minority government, with the support of crossbench MPs Adam Bandt, Rebekha Sharkie and Cathy McGowan, and disgruntled Nationals, including Kevin Hogan and Darren Chester, who have threatened to leave the government.

'Not out of the question at all,' Dr Williams told Daily Mail Australia today.

Malcolm Turnbull vowed to resign from the nation's top job if a majority of Liberal MPs vote for a leadership spill in Canberra at noon on Friday

'Imminently possible, as a matter of fact more probable in 2018 than 1941 because there are more crossbenchers.'

In 1941, independents Alexander Wilson and Arthur Coles, a supermarket founder, crossed the floor to make Labor's John Curtin Australia's wartime prime minister, following disunity between the ruling United Australia and Country parties.

This caused the downfall of Arthur Fadden as prime minister after just '40 nights' in office, from August 29 to October 7 that year.

In a bizarre parallel, either Peter Dutton, Scott Morrison or Julie Bishop could also become PM during the last week of winter.

Crossbenchers Rebekha Sharkie (left) and Adam Bandt could conceiveably help Labor form government were the Liberal Party to lose the seat of Wentworth

Dr Williams said that with more crossbench MPs than 1941, whoever succeeded Mr Turnbull could find themselves at the mercy of independent and Greens MPs.

'People are quite willing to listen and validate the actions and words and deeds of the crossbenchers, they have more electoral currency,' he said.

After the July 2016 double dissolution election, the Coalition finished up with 76 seats for a one-seat majority, compared with Labor's 69.

In 1941, independents Alexander Wilson and Arthur Coles, a supermarket founder, crossed the floor to make Labor's John Curtin Australia's wartime prime minister in a hung parliament

The Shorten Opposition could conceiveably form a minority government if four disgruntled Nationals MPs left the Coalition to sit on the crossbench.

Labor would have control of the Treasury benches in the event Greens MP Adam Bandt, Centre Alliance member Rebekha Sharkie and independent Cathy McGowan teamed up with them to help Labor come to power.

Bob Katter, from far-north Queensland, declined to support Julia Gillard's minority Labor government following the 2010 election which produced a hung parliament.

While Mr Turnbull retained Wentworth in 2016 with a hefty 17.7 per cent margin, by-elections can produce double-digit swings during times of leadership instability.

This incurred in the New South Wales state seat of Penrith in June 2010, when the Liberal Party won the western Sydney electorate with a massive 25.7 per cent swing, six months after the Labor government had changed premier for the third time in just two years.

A former prime minister's seat hasn't been lost at a by-election since early 1992 when Bob Hawke quit parliament following his loss to Paul Keating in the December 1991 Labor leadership ballot.Spanish police are hunting a British tourist suspected of killing an OAP he mistook for a sex pest in the holiday resort of Fuengirola.

A Costa del Sol court has issued a European arrest warrant for the unnamed 45-year-old over the death of the pensioner who was punched in the face on a zebra crossing.

Argentinian-born dad-of-three Mario Sauco, 65, died in Malaga's Carlos Haya Hospital 10 days after the August 4 late-night street attack.

Police sources say they believe the British holidaymaker, who was photographed by a witness before he fled the scene, may have confronted Mario after following him from a bar following an alleged incident involving a teenage girl.

Spanish police released a picture of the British man accused of punching Mario Sauco on August 4

Dad-of-three Mario Sauco (pictured), 65, died in Malaga's Carlos Haya Hospital 10 days after the brutal attack

Officers have been told the dead man was asked to leave a bar moments before he was attacked after being accused of putting his arm round the youngster. There is no evidence of any wrongdoing by the assault victim.

Another witness described the alleged killer as 'tearful and guilt-ridden' when he realised he could have killed the OAP and claimed he had 'touched up' a young girl she assumed related to the British man.

Police have confirmed a British man has been made the subject of a European Arrest Warrant following Mario's death but have not made any official comment on the circumstances leading up to the street attack and declined to elaborate on what may have happened in the bar.

The bar has not been named.

Mario, who lived in an area of Fuengirola called Los Boliches with his wife and one of his three daughters, was rushed to hospital after being punched in the face just before midnight on August 4.

Witnesses say he was hit by a middle-aged man wearing a red shirt who had been following him and shouting at him as he turned round on a zebra crossing.

Sauco was punched in the face on a zebra crossing in the holiday resort of Fuengirola, Spain (pictured)

Sauco (pictured) was said to have suffered a broken skull as he fell to the ground having been punched in the head

The victim - who was just 300 feet from his home when he was assaulted - suffered a broken skull sustained when he hit his head as he fell to the ground.

He died in Carlos Haya Hospital 10 days later after failing to come out of a coma.

Investigators are understood to have put a name to the suspect after being handed the photo a witness took on a mobile phone. Police asked a court to issue a European Arrest Warrant because they believe he has left Spain and returned to the UK.

Mario's daughter Analia said in a social media appeal for information before the warrant was issued: 'On August 4 at approximately 11.40pm my father suffered a street attack in Los Boliches in Fuengirola.

'The attacker punched him and my father fell to the ground and was left in a coma and subsequently died.

'The attacker's whereabouts is unknown and this is why I am asking for information from anyone who saw him that night.

'Please call the police if yo have any information. We know that finding him won't bring my father back but we can get justice in his name.Advertisement

Two window cleaners had to be rescued after they were trapped in a dangling basket near the top of a 61-storey skyscraper in south China.

The workers were stuck 200 metres (660 feet) above the ground outside the 56th floor of the Huayuan Hua Centre in Changsha city after their gondola had broken down.

Firefighters were finally able to lift the men to safety in a dramatic three-hour rescue operation on Tuesday.

The workers were stuck at 660ft high on the side of the Huayuan Hua Centre in China after their gondola broke down

One of the two cleaners trapped in the dangling basket outside of the hotel in Changsha, Hunan is being pulled up to the top

Video footage of the terrifying ordeal in Hunan province shows the workers dangling between the 56th and 57th floor in the scaffolding unit under the scorching heat at about 1:40pm.

The wires of the platform had derailed at about noon, causing the cradle to suddenly malfunction in mid-air, according to the Hunan Fire Department in a news release on Wednesday.

'Temperatures had reached almost 36 degrees Celsius and the two men were directly under the sun,' the fire department said in their statement.

Strong winds were blowing against the platform and the workers were almost like sitting in a swing, rescuers later said

The wires of the platform had derailed at about noon, causing the cradle to malfunction in mid-air (left), according to rescuers. The two men were rescued at 3:54pm and 4:35pm respectively (right) after being trapped for four hours

'Strong winds were blowing against the basket and the workers were almost like sitting in a swing,' they added. 'It was a difficult situation.'

The team of 15 firefighters on scene transported two sets of safety harnesses as well as food and water to the workers while they discuss the safest method to rescue the men.

The window panels of the hotel were installed from the outside and could not be removed from inside the building, leaving rescuers the option of breaking the glass.

However, after considering that the falling glass shards could risk the safety of the trapped workers as well as passing pedestrians and vehicles below, the team decided to come up with a different plan.

Temperatures had reached almost 36 degrees Celsius on Tuesday afternoon and the two men were directly under the sun

Firefighters decided to employ the spare rescue hook on the support arm of the basket to set up a rescue line on the top floor

The team of 15 firefighters on scene transported two sets of safety harnesses to the workers while they discuss the safest method to rescue the men. They were finally able to pull them up outside of the building to the top floor after several hours

In the end, firefighters decided to employ the spare rescue hook on the support arm of the basket to set up a rescue line on the top floor.

After attaching the safety harnesses onto the workers, rescuers carefully hauled them up outside of the building to the top floor.

The two men were pulled to safety at 3:54pm and 4:35pm respectively after being trapped in the cradle for four hours.

It is believed that the workers were unhurt.Firefighters have rushed to the scene of a ravaging fire at an abandoned warehouse near Melbourne's CBD.

Victoria Police asked the public to stay away to from Buckhurst Street in South Melbourne as crews battled the blaze Thursday evening about 5.40.

Thick black smoke billowed from the building, which was formerly home to Carlins Automotive Auctioneers.

Firefighters have rushed to the scene of a ravaging fire at an abandoned warehouse near Melbourne 's CBD

Victoria police asked the public to stay away to from Buckhurst Street in South Melbourne as crews battled the blaze Thursday evening about 5.40

A strong smell of smoke could reportedly be detected from the Spencer and Collins Street intersection in the city.

The fire was believed to have started at an abandoned factory near the George and Kerr street intersection.

More than 20 firefighters, two aerial appliances and a HAZMAT unit were in attendance.

Authorities have warned the smoke could hang around because of a lack of wind.

Thick black smoke billowed from the building, which was formerly home to Carlins Automotive AuctioneersA 70-year-old woman is facing a hefty bill after 20 years of benefit fraud.

The Christchurch District Court heard the woman was struggling to arrange repayments which forced police to freeze her assets.

Pauline Urana Lowen pleaded guilty to five charges on Thursday - two of them are representative charges covering dozens of individual offences, stuff.co.nz reported.

She was remanded on bail by Judge David Saunders who also requested a pre-sentence report which will help him determine on whether she is suited for home detention.

Pauline Urana Lowen, 70, appeared at Christchurch Disctrict Court on Thursday and pleaded guilty to five charges

Lowen has already made $700 worth of repayments from her superannuation and if she continues at this rate she would pay off the debt by 2150

The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) prosecutor Jennifer North said Lowen was granted a domestic purposes benefit following the birth of her son in 1984.

In 2003 she produced documents to the MSD stating she had a back injury which stopped her from working. She also did not inform them of her marriage with her partner in 1997.

She then started working in 2008 and had not yet informed the MSD of her relationship status or her working conditions.

Lowen was not caught out due to using a false name and birth date.

The court heard that she submitted 49 forms over 20 years all containing false details, stuff.co.nz reported.

'She was overpaid $113,524 for the invalid's benefit, $68,454 for the accommodation supplement, and $61,207 for the domestic purposes benefit'.

Lowen has already made $700 worth of repayments from her repayments and if she continues at this rate she would pay off the debt by 2150.

The Defence counsel Richard Maze requested the sentencing be delayed to December so 'forfeiture action could be decided'.Net immigration from the EU has dropped to its lowest level in more than five years - but overall inflows to Britain are still running a nearly treble the government's target.

Amid fevered speculation over a 'Brexodus', figures showed a net 87,000 people came to the UK from the bloc over in the year to March.

The level is down from a high of 189,000 in the 12 months leading up to the EU referendum, the lowest recorded since January 2012.

But arrivals from European countries are still adding to the UK population, according to the latest information from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) - and the easing has been largely offset by an increase in those coming from elsewhere.

In total, the difference between long-term arrivals in the UK and people leaving was 270,000 during the period - down by around 10,000 on the previous quarter.

Theresa May has insisted she wants to see the figure drop below 100,000 a year.

Amid fevered speculation over a 'Brexodus', figures showed a net 87,000 people came to the UK from the bloc over in the year to March

ONS statistician Nicola Rogers said: 'Today's figures show that around 270,000 more people are coming to the UK than leaving, so net migration is continuing to add to the UK population.

'Net migration has been broadly stable since peak levels seen in 2015 and 2016.

'Looking at the underlying numbers we can see that EU net migration has fallen, as fewer EU citizens are arriving in the UK, and has now returned to the level last seen in 2012.'

Nearly three in 10 births were to foreign born mothers last year Nearly three in 10 births were to foreign-born mothers last year - the highest level on record. Some 28.4 per cent of babies in England and Wales, or around 192,000, were delivered to mothers born outside the UK. The figure was up from 28.2 per cent the previous year. The proportion has increased every year since 1990, when it was just over a 10th -11.6 per cent. It stood at 21.6 per cent a decade ago, and 25.5 per cent in 2011. Advertisement

Year-on-year, net migration was up by just under 30,000, but statisticians attributed the rise to an anomaly in previous estimates of student immigration.

In contrast to immigration from the EU, inflows from outside the bloc have been rising.

The latest figures show a net 235,000 came from non-EU countries - up from 165,000 in the year to September 2016.

The latest figures came after a report found immigration was responsible for more than four fifths of the unprecedented surge in Britain's population this century.

Some 82 per cent of the huge rise from 2001 to 2016 can be attributed to the arrival of immigrants and, subsequently, their UK-born children, according to research by the think-tank MigrationWatch.

Its study has exposed how the impact of immigration has been understated, and claims that of the 6.6million extra people added to the population during those 15 years, 5.4million were the result of mass immigration  the biggest ever wave of incomers.

Because the ONs failed to count 2.3million children born to foreign parents as migrants  giving a lower total of 3.1million, or 47 per cent of the rise  the effect of the previous Labour government's open-door policy was not calculated correctly.

MigrationWatch, which carried out the study using official data, said it was undeniable that the huge scale of net migration had driven population growth. It said that after Labour made it easier for migrants to come to Britain, the face of the country changed as public services including schools and hospitals came under pressure and wages fell.

Lord Green of Deddington, chairman of the think-tank, which campaigns for tighter immigration controls, said the paper 'shone a light on this elephant in the room'.

He said it demonstrated it was 'simply not possible to discuss the state of our public services without considering immigration as a major factor', adding: 'The Government have been remarkably coy about the true impact of immigration on our public services. It is almost as if officialdom preferred to avoid the issue as far as they possibly can.

'This has meant that very few people realise that over 80 per cent of our population increase in recent years has been due to immigration.

'The Government must get serious about reducing numbers.

Net immigration has dipped to 270,000 a year as numbers coming from the EU fall, official figures revealed today

Around 82 per cent of the huge rise from 2001 to 2016 can be attributed to the arrival of immigrants and their UK-born children (file photo)

'Immigration on the current scale is rapidly changing the size and nature of our society.'

In its most recent publication, the ONS stated that 59 per cent of a 392,000 year-on-year rise from 2016 to 2017 occurred due to net migration. It attributes the remainder to the excess of births over deaths as people live longer.

Over the period covered by the report, estimates of the number of people living in the UK went up from 59.1million to 65.7million.

A Home Office spokesman said: 'We are committed to bringing net migration down to sustainable levels. There is no consent in Britain for uncontrolled immigration.

'After we leave the EU we will end free movement and put in place a system which works in the best interests of the whole of the UK.

'We are considering options that ensure we are in control of our borders and managing migration, while continuing to attract and retain people who come here to work and bring significant benefits.'A British holidaymaker who suffered 'life-threatening' injuries after falling from a hotel room in Ibiza has been pictured for the first time as friends have raised nearly 45,000 to bring him back to the UK for treatment.

Jack Holland, 22, from south Wales, was rushed to hospital in the early hours of last Friday after plunging from the stairs at his apartment block in Ibiza Rocks Hotel in San Antonio.

Friend Charlie Arbourne wrote on a crowdfunding page that Jack had undergone brain surgery but was now 'conscious and coherent'.

The money raised so far, nearly double the original 25,000 target, will be used to bring him home in an air ambulance so he can continue his rehabilitation in the UK.

His fight for life came after at least a dozen British tourists died this year after falling off balconies in the Spanish islands and several more were badly injured.

Jack Holland (pictured), 22, from south Wales, was rushed to hospital in the early hours of last Friday after plunging from the stairs at his apartment block in Ibiza Rocks Hotel in San Antonio

Locals from Jacks home town of Ystradgynlais, on the banks of the River Tawe in southwest Powys, Wales, are also organising fundraising events.

Charlie said on the JustGiving page for Jack, set up earlier this week: 'In the early hours of last Friday morning, Jack suffered a life threatening fall whilst on holiday in Ibiza.

'Following brain surgery over the weekend, thankfully Jack is now conscious and coherent. Whilst his medical bills are taken care of, this does not include bringing him home to continue with his rehabilitation with his loved ones by his side.

'We need to raise money to get Jack home in an air ambulance ASAP.

'The ball park figure we have been given by the hospital this morning is 25,000 so please, please, guys. dig deep. We love you Jack.'

As of Thursday morning the fundraising page had raised 44,437 with more than 1,000 people donating money.

Jack Holland's friend Charlie Arbourne (pictured) wrote on a crowdfunding page that Jack had undergone brain surgery but was now 'conscious and coherent'

Jack's parents and Charlie's father have reportedly flown to Ibiza, where he is being cared for at a private hospital called Clinica Nuestra Senora del Rosario.

He was described as in serious condition when he was transported from the hotel, although one local report said he was 'critical.'

Ms Arbourne wrote on Facebook on Thursday: 'Thankfully the surgery went well and the surgeons were successful in their efforts to stop the bleeding.

'On Saturday afternoon Jack was brought out of his induced coma, a position in which he remains. His recovery is going to be a long process but all Jack wants to do is come home.'

Police also launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The British holidaymaker was said to be 'critical' after plunging from a hotel in the Ibizan party resort of San Antonio. Pictured: The scene of accident - Ibiza Rocks Hotel in San Antonio

On Sunday night, a British 40-year-old died after plunging from an apartment block in San Antonio.

The incident happened at the Tanit building, the same building a 26-year-old Brit named as Callum Marriott, from Clipstone, Notts, died at in August last year after plunging onto the floor of an inside patio from the fourth-floor.

Callum had just enjoyed his last night out on the holiday island with friends and was due to catch a plane home later the same day.

As well as a head wound, the latest plunge victim is believed to have suffered multiple body injuries.

Three Brits have died already this summer after plunging from the same building - Eden Roc - in Magaluf on the neighbouring island of Majorca.CCTV footage shows the moment astonished border guards opened the bags of a brazen drugs smuggling gang and uncovered 41million worth of cocaine.

In one of the largest drugs busts of its kind, the gang were were stopped at Hampshire's Farnborough Airport with half a tonne of the class-A drug in 15 suitcases after the men flew in on a private jet from Bogota.

Martin Neil, 49, of Poole, Dorset, Italian national Alessandro Iembo, 28, and Spaniards Victor Franco-Lorenzo, 40, and Jose Ramon Miguelez-Botas, 56, were jailed for a total of 92 years today.

Martin Neil (left) and Alessandro Iembo (right) have been convicted of drugs smuggling

Victor Franco-Lorenzo (left) and Jose Ramon Miguelez-Botas also took part in the brazen plot

Neil, Iembo and Franco-Lorenzo had made an initial trip to Colombia in December last year, telling a private jet firm they were 'leaders in the field of cryptocurrency' and would be 'meeting Bruno Mars in Colombia'.

The trio returned three days later but their luggage was not checked on this occasion.

Bruno Mars had been in the South American country at that time - but there is no suggestion he was involved in any cocaine plot or any evidence they were at his gig or met him.

A month later, the group, along with Spaniard Miguel-Botas flew out to South America for a second trip.

However, after suspicions were raised about the amount of luggage they had, they were intercepted on their flight back into Farnborough and their 15 bags were searched.

The court heard the blocks of cocaine were covered with some dirty children's and women's clothes.

The cocaine was packed in one kilogram packages, covered in women's and children's clothes

The packages were embossed with cartel signs, including Superman logos and 'Esco' tags

CCTV shows the gang checking into Chelsea hotels before the trip to Colombia

The packages were embossed with branding used by the Colombian cartels, such as the Superman emblem.

Several packages boasted an 'Esco' logo in a possible nod to Pablo Escobar, the country's most notorious cocaine kingpin.

Iembo claimed to a border officer that the blocks of cocaine were books, while Franco-Lorenzo merely said 'oh, cocaine' when the illicit drugs were discovered in his bags.

Iembo later claimed the group had been in Bogota to do charity work for One Young World, but the charity was not working in the city at the time and had no knowledge of them.

Martin Neil, Iembo and Franco-Lorenzo, received 24 years each, while Miguelez-Botas, of Valladolid in Spain, was given 20 years by Judge Philip Shorrock.

The gang hired a private jet to fly them out to Colombia and back in January this year

CCTV of the bags being unloaded in Colombia shows how many bags the men took with them

The Border Force found the drug in suitcases on the jet that arrived at Farnborough Airport

Neil's brother Stephen Neil, 53, also of Poole, was found not guilty of the same charge after the jury deliberated for more than 13 hours.

Martin Neil, who had stared at his feet as he was found guilty, celebrated as his older brother was cleared.

Sentencing the convicted men, Judge Philip Shorrock said the 'serious and commercial operation' nearly succeeded in bringing an 'enormous haul' of the class A drug into Britain.

He conceded they were not the masterminds, but they all played a 'crucial part' and hoped to succeed in walking away with a 'substantial' amount of money.

The judge told Miguelez-Botas he got a lesser sentence because his lack of participation in the earlier trip showed he played less of a role in the planning of the foiled operation.

Scans show the bags were stuff full of cocaine packages, with just a few pieces of clothing

A Border Force official based at Farnborough, higher officer Ryan Willmott had told the court the smugglers made little effort to hide the drugs during the 'ballsy' mission.

'Everyone always says to me, 'How was it concealed?' Nothing was concealed,' he said. 'There was random clothing sitting there but they didn't attempt to conceal anything at all.'

Staff took the bags into their office for a search, accompanied by Iembo - who was forced to watch as his plot quickly unravelled.

'It was audacious, the way they went about their business,' Mr McIntyre said. 'We surmise they got away with it in 2017 and thought they were on for another win.'

Colombian authorities have arrested five further suspects in connection with the conspiracy.A poll of business chiefs found a third believe a Jeremy Corbyn-led Labour government is a bigger threat to their organisations than tax or a lack of investment.

The survey, conducted by BritainThinks on behalf of business advocacy organisation London First, found that the prospect of a Labour government is a significant area of concern for executives after Brexit.

It was named by 38 per cent as being among the three greatest challenges facing their organisation in the coming months.

A poll of business chiefs found a third believe a Jeremy Corbyn-led Labour government is a bigger threat to their organisations than tax or a lack of investment

It came second behind Brexit, at 51 per cent, and ahead of high taxes, at 25 per cent and 24 per cent naming productivity.

The interviews with more than 100 chief executives, managing directors, chief financial officers and board members were carried out across the country.

Mr Corbyn has previously promised to nationalise energy companies, the rail, water and postal industries and increase corporation tax and taxes on the wealthy.

'Business has been focused on contingency planning for Brexit but a future Labour government is being added to the agenda,' Jasmine Whitbread, chief executive of London First, told The Financial Times.

The interviews with more than 100 chief executives, managing directors, chief financial officers and board members were carried out across the country

'Labour's intention to invest in housing and infrastructure is seen as a good thing by many but there's real concern that the party could scare away much-needed private sector investment.'

The poll also found that a majority of the business leaders had more confidence in a Tory government than a Labour one on matters such as Brexit, infrastructure and 'attracting investment to the UK'.

Just 24 per cent thought Labour's leadership had a 'good relationship' with British business, while 65 per cent disagreed.

But the poll also found that 32 per cent of the executives believe that Labour best understands the concerns of business.Foreign minister Julie Bishop is emerging as a clear favourite among bookmakers in the lead-up to a potential Liberal Party leadership ballot on Friday.

When looking at six of the nation's most popular betting agencies, Bishop is the odds-on favourite with all but one, BetFair.

The biggest gap between Bishop and Dutton is being provided by SportsBet who have Bishop paying $1.96 and Dutton $2.50.

Julie Bishop has firmed as the odds-on favourite among betting agencies to take out the Liberal leadership spill

Treasurer Scott Morrison has firmed as the third most favoured option among betting agencies

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is behind his three challengers in every single betting agency, with odds as far outside as $80 being offered by BetFair.

Meanwhile, Treasurer Scott Morrison has steadied as the third favoured option for betting agencies, third in all six.

Ms Bishop, a former corporate lawyer, who been a loyal supporter of Mr Turnbull, is set to contest the party's first three-way leadership ballot since December 2009.

Were she to win, she would become Australia's second female prime minister and the first from Western Australia since 1945.

Peter Dutton (pictured) is favoured by one betting agency but is the solid second choice among almost all the odds makers

A ReachTel poll of 2,430 voters, taken on Wednesday night, showed Ms Bishop had the support of 29 per cent of respondents, almost triple Mr Dutton's 10 per cent backing and Mr Morrison's 8.6 per cent support.

Despite her poll popularity, Griffith University political scientist Dr Paul Williams said Ms Bishop was likely to get knocked out in the first round of the leadership ballot.

Saying right-wing MPs worried about how a childless, divorced woman would come across in the outer suburbs.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (pictured) is behind all three of his challengers as far as betting odds are concerned

'She may not resonate with the very conservative members of the party who either don't think the time's right for a woman to lead their party,' he told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday.

'They'd be wary that the news media might frame her in a harsh way, the same way Julia Gillard suffered at the hands of some sections of the news media.

'For every vote they might win because she's a woman they miss two because of other issues around gender politics.'

Mr Turnbull on Thursday vowed to resign from the nation's top job if a majority of Liberal MPs vote for a leadership spill in Canberra at noon on Friday.Despite slugging away on their property for 14 hours a day, seven days a week, one family of fifth-generation farmers say it is not enough to keep them out of the red.

Tony and Jillian Wilson earn a whopping $500,000 a year, however their yearly expenditure to care for their livestock and cover their living expenses is greater.

In the month of August alone, the couple from the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales brought in a total of $63,640.

Tony and Jillian Wilson earn a whopping $500,000 a year, however their yearly expenditure to care for their livestock and cover their living expenses is greater

However, the cost of feed for the animals, electricity, bank payments, maintenance, vet bills and insurance landed them in the red once their pay check arrived, Mrs Wilson told news.com.au.

'Our expenditure this month is $70,950. We have a loss of $7310 per month (plus our living expenses). So our total loss this month is around $11,927.'

'Insurance was $955, our electricity is $3290, the feed is $34,000, fuel is $1496, repairs and maintenance $7354, mortgage and loans $14,995, labour is $2000. Vet bills are $500, while rates and miscellaneous expenses come to $5360,' Mrs Wilson said.

While the couple are used to regular losses, the numbers have peaked due to the severity of Australia's worst drought in recorded history.

While the couple are used to regular losses, the numbers have peaked due to the severity of Australia's worst drought in recorded history

Their 90-hour working weeks are not out of the ordinary, either.

Mr Wilson milks nearly 180 cows a day, he feeds the cows, maintains machinery and organises his herd while Mrs Wilson works the land as well, feeds the calves and manages the farm's books.

Despite the regular losses and little recognition for their efforts, the couple claim farming is in their blood.

Mr Wilson is a fifth generation farmer, and three out of his five children have followed in his footsteps.

'You don't save  you just have a debt that floats up and down. It's just different for farmers.'The illegal migrant farm worker accused of killing schoolgirl Mollie Tibbetts used a fake ID to pass background checks, his employers say.

Cristhian Rivera, 24, was working at Yarrabee Farms in Iowa when he allegedly followed Tibbetts in his car before killing her when she threatened to call police.

Dane Lang, co-owner of the farm, previously said that Rivera had worked there for four years and passed all background checks, despite police saying he had been in the US illegally the entire time.

Now Lang has revealed that Rivera used a fake ID and social security number to cheat the Social Security Administration verification system, which the farm used.

Cristhian Rivera, 24, is accused of killing schoolgirl Mollie Tibbetts while working as a farmhand at Yarrabee Farms, in Iowa, on July 18

Dane Lang, co-owner of the farm, has revealed that Rivera used a fake ID to pass background checks and that his colleagues knew him by another name

Rivera allegedly followed Mollie in a truck that he registered under a false name before killing her when she threatened to call police then dumped her body in a corn field

'What we learned within the last 24 hours is that our employee was not who he said he was,' Lang told the New York Post.

Employees did not know him as Rivera because he used a different name at work, Fox News reported.

Police also revealed that the dark-colored Chevy Malibu Rivera was seen driving in CCTV footage on the night Tibbetts vanished was also not registered in his name.

Investigators did not reveal the false identity which Rivera used.

Lang previously said Rivera had been checked using the the federal E-Verify program, though later said that had been a mistake.

Authorities insist that Rivera has been in the US illegally for between four and seven years, though his lawyers say otherwise.

During his first court appearance on Wednesday, lawyer Allan Richards insisted Rivera was in the country legally and 'has the legal documents' to prove it, though he did not produce any of those documents.

Richards also revealed that Rivera first came to America as a minor, has held a job since then and has no prior criminal record.

His client remained largely silent throughout the bail hearing, answering 'yes' or 'no' to questions which were read to him through an interpreter.

A judge ordered Rivera to be held in lieu of a $5million bond.

The news comes after President Trump used Tibbetts' case to renew his calls for a border wall between the US and Mexico.

Trump lashed out at America's 'pathetic' immigration laws for allowing an illegal immigrant to allegedly murder Tibbetts.

However, Tibbetts' aunt also spoke out to say 'evil comes in every color', as her family plead for her death not to become a political tool.

Trump posted a clip of him demanding tougher immigration rules just hours after Rivera appeared in court for the first time.

In a video he posted on Twitter on Tuesday, filmed on the White House lawn, he said that Mollie was 'an incredible young woman' had been killed by someone who 'came in from Mexico illegally.'

'We need the wall, we need our immigration laws changed, we need our border laws changed,' he said.

'We need Republicans to do it because Democrats aren't going to do it.

'This is one instance of many. We have tremendous crime trying to come though the borders.

'We have the worst laws anywhere in the world. Nobody has laws like the United States. They are strictly pathetic.'

He added that, while the wall is 'being built' he needed more funding to continue.

He also had a message for the family of Mollie Tibbets; 'All I can say is god bless you, god bless you.'

It's unlikely the family will have welcomed the appeal in Mollie's name as several family members have been outspoken in their calls for her death not to be used as a political pawn.

'Please remember, Evil comes in EVERY color,' her aunt Billie Jo Calderwood wrote on Facebook Tuesday color'; her cousin attacked conservative activist Candace Owens

On Tuesday, Rivera led police to Mollie Tibbetts' body. She had been missing since July 18

While her cousin, Samantha Lucas, attacked the conservative right for 'generaliz(ing) a whole population based on some bad individuals.'

'Stop... using my cousins death as political propaganda. Take her name out of your mouth.'

On Wednesday, Rivera made his first appearance at the Poweshiek County Courthouse flanked by sheriffs' deputies at 1pm.

He remained in the same black and white striped jumpsuit he was photographed in on Tuesday and required the services of two translators throughout the hearing.

Among those in the public gallery were the mother of his child and his three-year-old daughter.

At the beginning of the hearing, Rivera's attorney Allan Richards argued to ban the media from the trial and asked that it become private. He also submitted court records claiming Rivera was in the country legally and had been since he was a minor.

On Wednesday, Rivera's employer walked back that claim and said they used the wrong system to check his eligibility to work in the US. Rivera, they said, provided them with a different name and someone else's social security number which is what they ran through government checks.

Nonetheless, Rivera's lawyer cautioned against a desire to portray him as 'something that he is not' during Wednesday's hearing.

Despite his efforts, the judge denied his requests and increased Rivera's bond from $1million to $5million cash. Rivera said nothing other than answering yes and no to his interpreter when prompted.

If convicted, Rivera could face deportation or life imprisonment without parole. The judge on Thursday said he may also have to register as a sex offender.

He did not understand his right to waive his preliminary hearing and conferred with his attorney for a brief moment.

His privately retained lawyer said that he came to the US as a 'minor' and had been living quietly and respectably for the last several years working for a 'respectably' member of the community - the brother of a prominent Iowa GOP member.

President Trump has since jumped at the opportunity to use Rivera as an example why the US needs a border wall and stricter immigration policies - branding the current ones 'pathetic'

Several family members of Mollie have been outspoken in their calls for her death not to be used as a political pawn

Samantha Lucas, attacked the conservative right for 'generaliz(ing) a whole population based on some bad individuals'

Rivera was caught after police traced his vehicle which had been filmed on surveillance cameras following Mollie as she jogged in Brooklyn, Iowa, on July 18.

He attacked her when she refused to talk to him and threatened to call the police.

Prosecutors argued for his bond to be increased for the safety of the community.

'We think it is appropriate given the severity of the charge, what his immigration status as it's been described and the fact that what he is accused of is obviously a very heinous crime the safety of the community should be at the forefront of the court's mind,' Assistant Attorney General Scott Brown said.

Judge Johnson agreed with the prosecution at every turn.

She allowed the media to remain in the room and refused Rivera's attorney's request to make the hearing private.

In asking that bail be set at a 'reasonable' amount, Rivera's attorney said: 'Cristhian is a young man.

'He's been working for a number of years for a respectable person in this community, he has no prior history, he sits here presumed evidence and so far no evidence has been submitted.

'When he came to this country as a minor, he had the mental capacity of an eighth grader.'

After the hearing, Yarrabee Farms, where he had worked, held a press conference to say they could no longer be sure, as they once had been, that he in fact was in the country legally.

While Rivera passed their E-verification check with the information he gave them, the company now says he provided a different name. The next time he will return to court is on August 31 at 2pm.

Rivera had two interpreters - one provided by the court and one retained by his attorney

Rivera's three-year-old daughter was in the public gallery along with her 25-year-old mother

One of his relatives cried as she watched him be led away by deputies at the end of the hearing

Richards also said Rivera had been treated unfairly since he was arrested and claimed the characterization of him by police in Iowa and by ICE that he is an 'illegal alien' is inaccurate and politically motivated.

'In this case, the coverage that's out there is leaning all one way and the fact the government has weighed in at the highest levels... there's a predisposition that this young man, Cristhian, is guilty.

In this case, the coverage that's out there is leaning all one way and the fact the government has weighed in at the highest levels

'In our system he is entitled to a presumption of innocence,' he said.

He then addressed this 'politically controversy' of 'portraying Cristhian as something that he isn't.'

'It's a political payback for what's swirling around and the media is feeding in to it,' he went on.

On Tuesday, Rivera's employer said they verified his legal status when they employed him four years ago.

At the end of the 40-minute session on Thursday. The man's 25-year-old ex-girlfriend was wrought with anxiety. She held their daughter on her lap throughout.

Other people in the court were visibly emotional as he was led away.

Minutes before Rivera entered the court, they broke their silence with a statement which read: 'On behalf of Mollie's entire family, we thank all of those from around the world who have sent their thoughts and prayers for our girl.

'We know that many of you will join us as we continue to carry Mollie in our hearts forever.

'At this time, our family asks that we be allowed the time to process our devastating loss and share our grief in private.

Rivera is shown leaving court on Wednesday in a prison jumpsuit. He appeared to be wearing a protective vest beneath it

Iris is pictured leaving the court on Wednesday carrying their three-year-old daughter

MOLLIE TIBBETTS FAMILY STATEMENT ON HER MURDER Our hearts are broken. On behalf of Mollie's entire family, we thank all of those from around the world who have sent their thoughts and prayers for our girl. We know that many of you will join us as we continue to carry Mollie in our hearts forever. At this time, our family asks that we be allowed the time to process our devastating loss and share our grief in private. Again, thank you for the outpouring of love and support that has been shared in Mollie's name. Advertisement

'Again, thank you for the outpouring of love and support that has been shared in Mollie's name.'

Within minutes of the court hearing finishing on Wednesday, Rivera's employers at Yarrabee Farms said he had not, as they thought, passed an immigration background check.

What we learned in the last 24 hours is that or employee was not who he said he was.

'First when anyone applies, they must provide required government identification. In this case, the individual provided a state issued photo ID and a social security card.

They are required for us to complete an i9. Our practice is to take a second enhanced step to verify.

'We ran that information through the verification process and the information came back verified.

'That means the exact name, birth day and social security number were all cross referenced.

'What we learned in the last 24 hours is that or employee was not who he said he was.

'And just within the last four hours, we have come to learn the SSN verification service is not the same as E-verify.

'They are not the same systems and we apologize for any confusion this caused with our earlier statements,' Dane Lang said.

A Department of Homeland Security official also confirmed that there was no record of Rivera applying for legal status or being given it.A five-year-old girl who has been missing for 18 months, and was believed to have been kidnapped by her mother, has been found.

Alia Bugsy Goble went missing from the northern coast of NSW on April 14 last year, sparking a search by state and federal police.

She was recovered on Wednesday in Bunbury, Western Australia, 170km south of Perth, by Australian Federal Police, reportedly in the company of her mother.

A five-year-old girl who has been missing for 18 months and was believed to have been kidnapped by her mother has been found

Authorities believed the girl was kidnapped by her mother 44-year-old Tarryn Leigh Corlet after her fourth birthday party in the town of Kingscliff.

'Great news! Thanks to public efforts, five year old Alia Goble has been successfully recovered after a 15-month long investigation,' a statement from the AFP reads.

'Alia was reported missing after being parentally abducted in May 2017. She was found safe and well in Bunbury, Western Australia yesterday afternoon.'

Alia Bugsy Goble went missing from the northern coast of NSW on April 14 last year sparking a search by state and federal police, she was found in Western Australia on Wednesday

'The AFP has arrested a 44-year-old woman in relation to this matter.'

After her disappearance the Federal Circuit Court of Australia issued a recovery order instructing all state and federal police to return the girl to her father.

The court also made a publication order allowing details and photographs of Alia to be published in the hope the public would come forward to assist.

'I fear for her mental wellbeing because she is growing up without a father,' said Alia's father at the time.

He said Alia is as a 'very cheeky person' with a loving and fun personality.

The AFP has issued a reminder that anyone providing support to an abducting parent may themselves be committing a serious offence.Jason Leonard is pictured outside Burnley Crown Court

A convicted pervert who a court heard wants to travel to other countries to have sex with children has lost an appeal restricting his movements abroad.

Jason Leonard, 37, has been described by police bosses at a court hearing as 'one of the most dangerous' registered sex offenders in the country.

He brazenly admitted to wanting the freedom to travel to a country where the age of consent is lower so he could form a sexual relationship, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Leonard, from Haslingden, Lancashire told police in interviews that his 'ideal' partner would be aged between 12 and 14.

A judge heard that Leonard claims paedophiles in the UK are being 'persecuted' like 'homosexuals 40 years ago and the Jews in the Second World War'.

When asked what age is too young for sexual activity he replied 'if a child is old enough to talk it's old enough to have sex'.

However, after losing a court appeal, he will now only be granted permission to travel abroad if he has written permission from a police chief constable.

Leonard was jailed for 32 months in 2013 after downloading 251 indecent images of children and then sharing them on the internet.

He was given a sexual offences prevention order (SOPO) to monitor his internet use, however Lancashire Police said it was now no longer 'sufficient to manage his risk'.

Today, they were granted a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) by magistrates in April this year.

The SHPO includes additional measures preventing benefit claimant Leonard from having any unsupervised contact with a child under 16.

Leonard claimed the new order was 'completely disproportionate' and made an appeal to Burnley Crown Court to have the SHPO revoked.

Detective Constable Andrew Ashworth told the hearing that Leonard is 'one of the most dangerous offenders I have met' and that he posed an 'exceptional risk'.

Leonard (pictured in his mugshot) was jailed for 32 months in 2013 after downloading 251 indecent images of children and then sharing them on the internet

He said: 'Mr Leonard is unique. In the 10 years performing this role I have never met a sexual offender who quite openly acknowledges his paedophilic mtendencies.

'He is exceptional and has been risked as exceptional. He is very vocal and adamant about this persecution. He likens it to the persecution of homosexuals 40 years ago.

'Mr Leonard has expressed his desire to leave the country because he believes the police, judiciary and government in this country are persecuting paedophiles.

'He believes that in the fullness of time paedophilia will be accepted in the same way that homosexuality is today.

'He has talked about the Netherlands, France, Spain and Italy because he believes they have a lower age of consent in the mid to low teens.'

The appeal hearing was told that Leonard watches 'very child orientated' adult pornography with 'models dressed to look like cheerleaders or in school uniforms'.

DC Ashworth added: '[Leonard] has accepted that his mother, who he has a close connection with, is a factor in holding him back as to his sexual lifestyle.

'He has indicated that when she dies, and she is an elderly woman in her 80s, he will go abroad to seek children.

;For me the only pro-social influence in his life at the moment is his mother and that's purely because she is alive.'

Stuart Kaufman, representing Leonard, described his client as the 'Ronseal of paedophiles' and said the new SHPO restrictions were 'completely disproportionate'.

He told the court: 'Mr Leonard said he would always abide by the laws of whichever country he goes to.

'If the age of consent is say 15 in Thailand then he would abide by that law. He is the Ronseal of paedophiles. He does exactly as he says on the tin.

There's nothing on Mr Leonard's record to suggest he has [had sexual activity] with a child. The only thing he has ever done is downloaded child pornography.

'There has been no changes in Mr Leonard's conduct since the SOPO was made in 2013. The court could have made a SHPO then but they didn't.

'If his mother dies it may change but at the moment it is completely disproportionate.'

Judge Sara Dodd dismissed Leonard's appeal and said he was 'deeply disturbed' with a 'frankly alarming attitude to paedophilia'.A British mountaineer who led a historic climb to the summit of Everest has died after falling 328 feet on a slope in the Italian Dolomites.

Ian 'Ted' Atkins, who turned 60 last week, lost his footing at an altitude of more than 7,500 feet on Mount Civetta on Monday.

Alpine rescue teams and a helicopter were scrambled to the mountain range north of Venice within minutes but Mr Atkins was already dead by the time they arrived.

The father-of-one, a former RAF officer engineer who had been in the services for more than 30 years, led the first air force team to scale Mount Everest in 2001.

British mountaineer Ian 'Ted' Atkins (pictured), who turned 60 last week, died after falling 328 feet on a slope in the Italian Dolomites when he lost his footing on Monday morning

The tragedy occurred on Monday morning on a path known as the Tivan, while Mr Atkins was with climbing colleague Nev Taylor.

In 2004 Mr Atkins led another pioneering Everest trip when he took with him a prototype oxygen system using a condom and Coca Cola bottle.

Cynics said he would die and he did collapse on the ascent but he was saved by another climber and later put the prototype into use, without the condom.

Two years ago he led a team of sky divers in a world record parachute jump over the Himalayas where they all used the oxygen tanks he invented.

Originally from Nottingham where his firm was based, he also spent a lot of time in Alleghe, northern Italy, close to Mount Civetta.

Last night local mayor Sirio De Biasio paid tribute to him and said: 'He had been coming her for the last three years since he bought a house in the village.

The father-of-one (pictured), a former RAF officer engineer who had been in the services for more than 30 years, led the first air force team to scale Mount Everest in 2001

'He had a wife and daughter and they had just finished restoring the house. He was a mountain expert, I'm not sure what happened but I'm very sad about it.'

During his RAF career he was the Mountain Leader of an eighteen month Joint Services Expedition to Brabant Island, Antarctica where he made first ascents of 28 mountains.

He was invested with the Polar Medal by the Queen as a result.

Pal David Whalley, of the RAF Mountain Rescue, paid tribute and said: 'It is a real tragedy for Shona, Ted's wife, and Lewi,s his son. If there was a man who lived life to the full it was Ted.'

Describing him as a 'legend' he said: 'We have lost a true man of the mountains and the skies. A true adventurer and lover of life. We will miss him.'Orion Phoenix (pictured) claimed to have been raped in hoax calls to the Cornwall support centre

An autistic computer engineer falsely claimed to have been raped in hoax calls he made to a support centre for sexual assault victims.

Orion Phoenix, 30, of Manchester, said he'd woken up to his landlady 'going up and down on him'.

Yesterday he was handed a Community Order after asking Willow Centre workers in Cornwall what ejaculation was in a bid to appear naive.

The Masters graduate, who was orphaned at 11 years old, said he awoke to find his landlady having sex with him.

But his strange prank was exposed when the employee reported to the police.

Phoenix initially denied the allegations, saying somebody must have been using his phone, but he later admitted the offences.

He admitted two counts of breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order at Manchester Magistrates' Court, which heard he sees the world differently to others and seeks solace in computers as opposed to people.

Prosecuting, Andrew Martin, said: 'There were two offences between August 24 and 25 last year, where the defendant made hoax calls to the Willow Centre in Truro claiming to go by the name of David ONeill.

'The first call took place at around 4:30pm and got through to a woman on the other side. He said that he was a victim of rape, claiming that he woke up to his landlady going up and down on him.

'The call sounded strange and it got even stranger. He said a weird sensation occurred the assault happened. The worker on the other end of the phone asked if this was ejaculation and he asked her what that was.

'She then asked for the defendants number so she could call him back later and when she did he didnt answer.

'He called the Willow Centre back the next day and got through to the same person and said that he wanted help.

'After realising it was a hoax, she asked him politely not to call again and and just passed his information on to the police. He was arrested and interviewed.

'He originally said that he never made any calls to the Willow Centre and challenged this by saying that by it mustve been his housemate that he no longer is in contact with.

'He has 30 previous convictions for 28 offences between 2004 and 2017. The last offence was for consistently making excessive calls through a communication network and causing annoyance and anxiety. He was given a Criminal Behaviour Order on May 9 2017.'

Mitigating, Joshua Bowker, told the court that Phoenix is autistic and therefore finds it harder to fit into society than most other people.

'The defendant is entitled to credit for entering a guilty plea,' he said. 'The witness from the Willow Centre in Truro doesnt indicate that the phone calls caused her distress, although Mr Phoenix knows that wasting their time is unacceptable.

'His mother passed away when he was just eight years old and his father passed away when he was only 11.

'He went to college and university and has a Masters degree in Computer Science, and he has just started a good job where he has been doing a freelance work as a computer engineer.

'This is the start of something good for him and he sees himself in this job for a long period of time.

'He has been diagnosed with autism and he says that he sees the world in a different way to others, seeking solace in computers rather than people.

'He has been living in London but he moved up to Manchester for a fresh start, where he still lives.

'I believe a matter of a community order would be best for him. He has been in custody in the past and it had a very severe effect on him.

'It was hell on earth for him because he wasnt receiving the help that he needed in prison for his mental health.'

Phoenix was given a 12-month community order and ordered to pay a 100 fine plus court costs of 135. His Criminal Behaviour Order from his previous conviction also stands for another two years.A veteran councillor in a Welsh town has been blasted for saying he wouldn't vote for anyone who is 'English, a woman or gay.'

Geraint Thomas - who is now Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council's cabinet member for regeneration and public protection- is refusing to apologise for the message on Facebook.

The post said: 'Just call me old-fashioned, but I won't vote for anyone who doesn't live in our constituency, or English, a woman or gay!! Does that leave me with anyone to vote for lol.'

The Facebook post by Geraint Thomas (pictured) read: 'Just call me old-fashioned, but I won't vote for anyone who doesn't live in our constituency, or English, a woman or gay!! Does that leave me with anyone to vote for lol'

He made the post a year before Mr Thomas ran as an independent for a seat in the council elections for Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council - winning a seat in his Cyfarthfa ward with 1,369 votes.

The message was brought to the attention of Andrew Morgan, the Labour leader in neighbouring Rhondda Cynon Taf.

He said it was 'not really appropriate for a cabinet member and at least a public apology should have been given.'

The 62-year-old independent councillor has refused to apologise and claimed it was 'just banter'

Mr Thomas said: 'It may have been posted in jest, but it's not really the sort of thing that someone who wants to represent a community should do.'

The 62-year-old, insisted it was 'just banter' and refused to apologise - he did however appear to change his opinion.

He said: 'I hadn't got any thoughts of doing anything political at the time.

'I'd be happy to vote for a woman or someone who's gay if I thought they were the best candidate.'

He added that he wouldn't repeat his comments now that he's in public office.Lorry drivers are facing Britain's biggest diversion after it was revealed an 'integral' two-mile stretch of a busy motorway will be replaced with a 58-mile alternate route.

A two mile section of the M27, between junctions three and five, near Southampton, Hants, will be closed for three weekends over the next year as part of a 19million bridge renovation project.

While smaller vehicles will be able to use shorter routes to avoid the closure, highways chiefs are planning to set up a 58-mile diversion for truckers.

The Road Haulage Association's policy director Duncan Buchanan has slammed Highways England after it was revealed it had failed to tell them about the plans.

A two mile section of the M27, between junctions three and five (marked in red), near Southampton, will be closed for three weekends over the next year as part of a 19million bridge renovation project. The planned diversion route is shown in blue

The planned road closure will allow two bridges, which are side-by-side over the M27, that have cracks in the concrete beams to be replaced

Truckers driving from London to Southampton would usually use the M3 through Hampshire, before joining the M27.

However, the planned diversion will force them to drive as far out as Salisbury, Wilts, to avoid the works, taking the A303 past Andover, Hants, and round to Salisbury, Wilts.

The closed section of road would normally take truckers less than 10 minutes to drive - but the 'monster' diversion will now add almost two hours to their journey times.

The planned closure will allow two bridges, which are side-by-side over the M27 and have cracks in the concrete beams, to be replaced by Highways England, with the first demolition work coming between September 28 and October 1.

Hampshire county councillor Sean Woodward has revealed the highways agency is suggesting the 58-mile diversion for the 'biggest and widest' vehicles.

The plans will cause chaos for truckers, with the usual ten minute stretch of road taking them almost two hours to get around on the alternate route.

Cllr Woodward, of Fareham, Hants, said: 'In short, two bridges over the M27 need to be replaced.

'This will necessitate the total closure of the M27 in both directions between junction three and junction five from 8pm on the Friday until 6am on the Monday.

'The main diversion route for this closure is around 58 miles and takes you through Salisbury and onto the A34.

'From what I understand, this is for HGVs. It is a route for the absolute biggest, widest vehicles that use the M27. I am sure locals will know shorter routes.

'But smaller roads aren't always suitable for the larger vehicles and so this is a diversion for them.'

He added: 'It is inevitable that long queues of traffic will occur in all directions.'

Policy director for the Road Haulage Association Duncan Buchanan said the closed section of motorway is a 'major link' for trucks getting to ports on the south coast. He said: 'I am stunned by the suggested alternative route'

The closed section of the M27 would normally take truckers less than 10 minutes to drive - but the 'monster' diversion will add almost two hours to their journey times (stock traffic picture)

The large diversion has been put in place after plans were made to replace a bridge, which was built in the 1970s, over the M27, after cracks in the concrete were found.

Thousands of vehicles use the bridge over the busy motorway each day, but after 'wear and tear' led to a 26 tonne weight restriction being put in place, it will now be demolished and replaced.

After the first weekend of work this year, lorry drivers will face chaos on two further weekends - from April 26 to 29 and then again between October 18 and 21, both 2019.

Highways England project manager Merwin Mann, said: 'The existing bridge is in need of replacement and this is what we'll be doing over the next 18 months.

'We will replace the bridge in stages - each section will be built in the site compound nearby and lifted into place.'



Policy director for the Road Haulage Association, which represents lorry drivers and freight firms, Duncan Buchanan said the closed section of motorway is a 'major link' for trucks getting to ports on the south coast.

He said: 'I am stunned by the suggested alternative route for HGVs, it is truly an enormous distance.

'There are a couple of questions you need to ask when looking at a diversion. The first is whether the closure is necessary - is there an alternative to a full closure?

'Then, is the diversion safe or is it over cautious is the next question.

'It has been more difficult getting information about this planned diversion from Highways England than it really should have been.

The stretch of road will be closed for three weekends over the next year. The first closure is on September 28 and October 1 and the road will also be shut on April 26 to 29 and then again between October 18 and 21, both 2019 starting from 8pm on Friday until 6am on the Monday

'We are really disappointed that they have failed to give any serious notification of this closure to us and we are concerned about the planned diversion route through Salisbury and Andover.

'For the hauliers and freight companies going into the port this diversion is unrealistic and we do not understand why they have done this, quite frankly.

'We think of Highways England as having one job to do and that is to run the road network correctly for key users.

'It's a debacle and they are not focused on this and key road users. Even the people who supply us with information at Highways England have been blindsided.

'This is a breakdown in the process and it is not good enough. It is a monster diversion, taking lorries a zillion miles out of their way, and it worries me whether people will actually follow the route.

'We should not have to be waiting for tip offs or information from the press about a 60 mile diversion.

'This will have a huge cost for freight companies and we will now be notifying our members of this problem - but this has been a surprise to us.'

The managing director of Hampshire-based international freight company Steve Porter Transport, Malcolm Gibson, said the closed stretch of the M27 is an 'integral part' of the motorway.

He said: 'I was not aware of these plans, no one has told us about it.

'It will likely affect the bigger firms more than us as we generally stick to weekday working, but it will certainly affect some of our customers who are travelling to us.

'The section between junctions three and five is an integral part of the M27 for hauliers.'

Highways England route sponsor John Henderson said: 'Our work to replace the Romsey Road bridge over the M27 is a vital part of our work to ensure that the bridges on England's major roads remain operating safely and reliably for the millions of people who depend on them every day.

'We announced the project in July 2016 and held public information events in February this year and again in July to explain how we are taking forward the work.

'Completing these key phases of work at the weekend means that restrictions can be kept to a minimum at other, busier, times and we have chosen diversions that are the most suitable for the type and volume of traffic that usually uses the M27. The first weekend closure is scheduled for the end of September.'A man has been killed and seventeen other people injured after a rampaging bull smashed through a wooden fence and charged at audience members.

The shocking incident took place at a bullfighting festival in the city of Usiacuri in northern Colombia.

In video footage uploaded to social media, the bull is seen tossing a man around with it's horns like a rag doll. The man in the footage is not the man who was killed and survived the attack.

Dozens of people can be seen frantically running into the bullring to help the man.

The bull reportedly 'went berserk' in the ring before it began charging at the terrified spectators behind the thin, wooden fence, according to local media.

Luis Eduardo Cervantes Marquez, 62, was reportedly gored to death while trying to protect his wife from the rampaging bull.

Luis Eduardo Cervantes Marquez, 62, was trying to defend his wife, right, when he was attacked by the rampaging bull

In the second clip, the crowd are seen running as the agitated bull charges at the wooden fence to get at audience members.

The victim's wife Edith Torres said: 'We tried to escape but not everybody could get out and the bull hit me in the back. The bull hooked his front and threw him into the air twice.'

Usiacuri Mayor Ronald Padilla, pictured here, called it a 'freak accident', adding that all security protocols were in place

Cervantes Marquez was rushed to a nearby hospital but was later pronounced dead.

According to local media reports, 17 other people were injured and received treatment.

Usiacuri Mayor Ronald Padilla called it a 'freak accident', adding that all security protocols were in place but has announced that local authorities will launch an investigation to find out exactly what happened.

The bull reportedly 'went berserk' in the ring before it began charging at the terrified spectators behind the fence, according to local media

According to Deputy Interior Minister Luis Ernesto Gomez, bullfighting should be banned after decades of decline in popularity and increasing protests by animal rights advocates.

In 2015 the constitutional court ruled that bullfighting was part of Colombia's cultural heritage and would be allowed to continue.

Colombia's Constitutional Court has maintained a ban on public funding of the activity but ruled in favor of bullfighting in cities and regions where this centuries-old tradition has 'cultural roots'.President Donald Trump's Hollywood Walk of Fame star remains concealed after being demolished with a pick ax last month - and now even the covering has been replaced following acts of vandalism.

Photographs show the President's star in Hollywood, protected with a piece of cardboard which was quickly littered with graffiti and rubbish.

But now a new red cover adorns the feature which is located on Hollywood Boulevard near Highland Avenue.

Photographs show the President's star in Hollywood, protected with a piece of cardboard (left) which was quickly littered with graffiti and rubbish. But now a new red cover adorns the feature which is located on Hollywood Boulevard near Highland Avenue

Trump's star (pictured covered), which was put in place back in 2007 at the height of his Apprentice fame, has endured a fair amount of abuse in recent years surrounding his election to the nation's highest office

The first pick ax incident was at the hands of James Otis in October 2016, weeks before the election. Then just last month it was obliterated (pictured) by 24-year-old Austin Clay in a copycat crime, who was charged with one felony count of vandalism over the destruction

Mr Trump's star, which was put in place back in 2007 at the height of his Apprentice fame, has endured a fair amount of abuse in recent years surrounding his election to the nation's highest office.

Along with being covered with stickers, scribbled on with permanent marker and fake peed on by comedian George Lopez, the tile has been hacked with a pick ax not once but twice.

The first pick ax incident was at the hands of James Otis in October 2016, weeks before the election.

Then just last month it was obliterated by 24-year-old Austin Clay in a copycat crime, who was charged with one felony count of vandalism over the destruction.

Workers have already replaced the star, which was initially covered with plywood to protect it while the cement sets.

The West Hollywood city council has approved a motion calling for Donald Trump's star to be removed from the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It has been targeted by demonstrators multiple times since he took office, pictured above

Recently, the West Hollywood City Council decided to remove Mr Trump's (pictured at the Medal of Honor Ceremony) name from the Walk of Fame because of his alleged treatment of women

Mr Trump's star has been barricaded off as it is repaired following the vandalism last month

Recently, the West Hollywood City Council decided to remove Mr Trump's name from the Walk of Fame because of his alleged treatment of women.

Yet the council has no jurisdiction over the Walk of Fame in neighboring Hollywood, and voted only to urge the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which runs the attraction, to remove it.

Motivated by the destruction of the President's star and the council's recent decision, one conservative street artist, who wants to remain anonymous, printed Mr Trump's name on dozens of sheets of adhesive floor vinyl before sticking them randomly onto blank tiles along the famed sidewalk.

'Rip up the president's Walk of Fame star or try to have it removed - like you're the mayor of West Hollywood or something - and 30 more will pop up,' the artist told The Hollywood Reporter.The grandfather of two children whose father was killed by their Chinese mother has spoken of his family's horrendous ordeal trying to win custody of them from more than 5,000 miles away.

Michael Simpson, 34, was stabbed in the neck by his estranged wife Fu Weiwei, 29, when she confronted him in his Shanghai apartment in 2017.

Their children Jack, seven, and Alice, six, have been staying with their maternal grandparents in a remote town in China ever since - and have still not been told what happened to their parents.

Mr Simpson's parents, Ian and Linda, from Suffolk, are locked in a desperate custody battle with them, which Mr Simpson Sr told This Morning has caused them 'indescribable pain' and could cost them 63,000.

The grandfather-of-two, 69, told the programme today: 'No, they don't know what's happened.

'The family has told them that both their mother and father have gone abroad to work, which is not unusual in China.

'It's fairly common, they'll go somewhere that's better for work and leave the children with their grandparents. They told them that the day after it happened.

'And we know certainly up until the end of June they still didn't know what has happened - something that every counsel I have spoken to say is wrong, they should know by now.'

He added: 'How they are going to keep that secret from them, obviously in the modern day, is impossible.

'It's also, by the way, the same lie they've told their friends, their colleagues and their neighbours.'

His son Michael was working in China as head of Next's retail operations. He split up with his wife and was killed in a 'heated argument' at his flat.

In a jealous rage, Weiwei took a knife from her handbag and flew at his new partner, Rachel Lin, slashing her arms 'to the bone'.

Then, as Michael cradled Rachel in his arms, screaming for an ambulance, Weiwei plunged the blade into both sides of his neck, killing him instantly.

Weiwei, who admitted murder, was given a lifetime's prison sentence last month.

Michael Simpson, 34 (pictured with son Jack and daughter Alice) was stabbed in the neck by his estranged wife Fu Weiwei, 29, when she confronted him in his Shanghai apartment in 2017

Before she was sentenced, however, her parents demanded 63,000 from Mr and Mrs Simpson Sr so 'they could come back to China regularly' should they go back to England with them.

Mr Simpson explained that WeiWei had agreed to them having custody of the children if they granted her 'forgiveness'.

Chinese law states that if the relatives of the murder victim officially forgives them, their sentence can be reduced considerably - similar to a guilty plea in the UK.

Pictured: Ian Simpson and his wife Linda are trying to get custody of their murdered son's children Jack and Alice while they live with their killer mother's family in China

But today he revealed: 'There's a thing in China you can do which is give forgiveness, which is a legal thing.

'What that would have done is reduce her sentence from life to about 10 or 12 years.

'We said we would do that if we could have the children. She agreed.

'She agreed that in June of last year. Then what happened was the family heard about this and sacked her lawyer and said we can't do that.

'So we've had to go through it again and it came round to March this year and they got a call from the jail, with her basically freaking out saying 'where's my forgiveness?' So we've had to do it all again.'

Mr and Mrs Simpson last saw their grandchildren in March for six hours in China.

Mr Simspon (pictured) was murdered by his estranged wife Fu Weiwei, 29 (pictured with him) in a jealous rage at his apartment in Shanghai

They flew sixteen hours there and back and have not been allowed to see or call them since, despite leaving contact details.

Speaking of their pain, Mr Simpson said: 'Obviously for us the way you can sum is to lose your son puts a hole in your life.

'But when you lose the children as well, so the whole family has gone, its enormous, its not just twice as big its 10 times as big. Because you've got nothing to hang on to.'

Ian Simpson, 69, is pictured on This Morning

Asked what their legal chances of getting the children back were, he added that it has turned from a negotiation of Weiwei's sentence to a custody battle.

He said: 'Now she's been sentenced, any negotiation has gone. It's a custody case.

'We have had problems with the custody case. Some odd problems to be honest. and we've expressed them to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

'That has led to Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt raising them with the Chinese foreign minister. And I am very grateful to him for that.

'The FCO brokered a deal, but the deal was about us doing all sorts of things which were ridiculous.

'We can offer them a better life. We've already starting putting money away for university.

'We've also got a big family over here, which they haven't.'

He added: 'I think her brother, the family head, is in it to get some money, there's no doubt about that.

'The grandparents do love the children, yes, especially the grandmother. But in terms of quality of life, we can match it.'This is the incredible moment a humpback whale breaches the water next to a shocked group of tourists on a boat.

Footage captured the breath-taking scene on a whale-watching trip in Pleasant Island, Gustavus, Alaska.

The video shows the peaceful ocean in Glacier Bay, off the Gulf of Alaska, as a whale can be seen spurting water in the distance.

A humpback whale breaches the water next to a shocked group of tourists on a boat in Gustavus, Alaska

Shocked tourists screamed with delight as the whale leaped right next to their whale-watching tour boat

But suddenly a different hump back whale leaps out of the water right next to the boat causing people to gasp in shock.

The whale breaches, lifts it's whole body into the air and twirls round before crashing back into the water.

A huge wave of ocean water sprays the surprised tourists as the whale submerges itself after the incredible leap.

Shocked tourists in the boat can be seen soaking wet as the camera turns back on them after the incredible sight.

A huge wave of ocean water sprays the surprised tourists and leaves them soaking wet

Alaska is home to hundreds of humpback whales who can be spotted in their natural feeding ground

The boat can be seen rocking as people scream with delight over the once-in-a-lifetime experience they have just witnessed.

The TAZ boat trip in Alaska offers tourists the chance to see humpback whales in their natural feeding grounds.

Humpback whale is known for is acrobatic displays of groups of males around a female to attract a mate

The humpback whale is known for it's eerie song that can last for up to 20 minutes long, is repeated for hours at a time and changes gradually over the years.

This unique song as well as acrobatic displays of groups of males around a female, which include breaching and tail slapping, it thought to play an important role in mating.

Alaska is home to many marine animals including Minke whales, Orcas, Stellar sea lions, Sea otters, Dall porpoises, and Harbor porpoises.A 59-year-old man with a personality disorder says he plans to go to Switzerland to end his life at an assisted suicide clinic despite not having a terminal illness.

Anthony Hayes claims the 'unbearable' nature of his borderline personality disorder has left him with 'uncontrollable pain'.

He now hopes to travel to Dignitas, a not-for profit organisation that provides members with the option of assisted suicide.

Mr Hayes claims his mental condition, labelled as 'a disorder of mood and how a person interacts with others' by the NHS is the result of being abused as a child.

He has told his friends and family he wants to end his life and has approached Dignitas to find out whether they will accept him for euthanasia.

The assisted suicide clinic's guidelines state that a person must either have a terminal illness, an 'unendurable incapacitating disability', or be in 'unbearable and uncontrollable pain' to end their life at Dignitas.

Anthony Hayes, 59, plans to legally end his own life after years of suffering from the 'uncontrollable pain' pain of his borderline personality disorder. He claims it has made his life 'unbearable'

Mr Hayes, of Barbourne, Worcester, said: 'I'm sometimes in unbearable and uncontrollable pain.

'I have never been happy, which is common with BPD I don't know the concept of happiness. I have had long periods of depression.

'Unfortunately there is still a stigma, for me to try and form a relationship with a lady is difficult, it can scare them off.

'Euthanasia definitely should be made legal. We are far too politically correct and not liberal enough.

'You have to go to a clinic in Switzerland. They give you a tablet, which makes you go to sleep and you don't wake up.

Dignitas has a building at Pfaffikon, near Zurich, Switzerland. Mr Hayes hopes to travel to the country so he can end his life

'I feel so passionate about this and I am being penalised.

'I am having to go down this route because for me to hang myself, or throw myself in front of a train, which I have thought about, would be more trauma for my family.'

Mr Hayes believes that assisted suicide should be made legal in the UK and has been calling for change.

What are the rules on going to Dignitas for assisted suicide? The organisation, which was founded in 1998, is a not-for-profit society which strives of an 'objective of ensuring a life and a death with dignity for its members'. Among others, it's activities consist of the following: Counselling in regard to all end-of-life issues

Cooperation with physicians, clinics and other associations

Carrying out patient's instructions and patient's rights with regard to doctors and clinics

Suicide- and suicide-attempt prevention

Support in conflicts with the authorities, with the management of nursing homes and with doctors not chosen by the patient

Further legal developments in regard to questions about 'the last issues'

Accompaniment of dying patients and assistance with a self-determined end of life. Any adult can become a member of the society, even if they are not a resident in Switzerland. The organisation claims that in order to join, one needs to fill a declaration of membership and send it in. Dignitas will then confirm the acceptance of membership in writing and provide the Dignitas patient's instructions form. The rules on going there for assisted suicide The organisation does require some information before allowing people to carry out an assisted suicide. It claims that it only deals with illnesses which will lead inevitably to death, unendurable pain or an unendurable disability. In this case it can, on reasoned request and with medical proof, arrange for members to have an assisted suicide. Advertisement

He said: 'My childhood was filled with pressures most people don't have to deal with.

'My father was mentally ill and I had no brothers or sisters or grandparents.

'I had to look after my mother and father with no support.

'A lot of people are abused when growing up, it can be emotional abuse, it is quite common.'

Mr Hayes says he has received Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and has had life-long medication, but nothing has helped him.

The condition has stopped him working for an opinion poll company.

However Alistair Thompson, from the group Care Not Killing, which campaigns against assisted dying and euthanasia, said making it legal in the UK would be dangerous.

He said: 'We strongly oppose changing the law because there is a danger of a right to die becoming a duty to die.

'In the states of Washington and Oregon more than half of those choosing to end their life are doing so because they feel they are a financial burden or a care burden on their families.

'People with degenerative or terminal illnesses could feel pressured into ending their lives.

'In Belgium and Holland, there have been massive extensions to include people with dementia, psychiatric conditions, and mentally incompetent children.

'We aim to protect vulnerable people against that pressure.'

In a recent report by Belgium's federal control and evaluation committee it was confirmed that three children, one a 17-year-old boy, had been euthanized since 2016 after the practice was made legal in 2014.

Lord Carlile, co-chairman of Living and Dying Well, a parliamentary group opposed to assisted dying, said: 'The euthanasia of those children is plainly contradictory to the European Convention on Human Rights.

'No parent and public authority has the power to take away the life of a child, whoever they are.

'The Belgium government is far too relaxed about this, it is not ensuring the appropriate checks are carried out and standards maintained.'

Currently, euthanasia and assisted suicide is legal in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg, Switzerland and Canada.

For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details

A man was sentenced to death by a Shanghai court today for killing his wife and hiding her body in a freezer for more than three months.

Zhu Xiaodong, 31, was convicted of murdering his wife Yang Liping, 31, in October 2016 during an argument, a statement by the Shanghai No 2 Intermediate People's Court said.

After strangling Yang, Zhu wrapped the corpse in a bed cover and hid it in a freezer on the balcony of their home, according to media reports.

Zhu Xiaodong, 31, was convicted of murdering his wife Yang Liping, 31, in October 2016 during an argument. The picture of the couple above was taken on March 21, 2016

Zhu then hid his wife's body in a freezer on the balcony of their home (pictured)

The 31-year-old killer husband was sentenced to death by a Shanghai court today for killing Yang and hiding her body in a freezer on the balcony for more than three months

Over the next three months, Zhu used his wife's WeChat messaging account to impersonate her while communicating with her friends and relatives.

The Shanghai court convicted him of intentional homicide for strangling Yang and sentenced him to death.

Zhu also used his wife's money to fund travels as well as hotel trysts with other women, the court said.

'He spent lavishly without restraint and showed no signs of remorse,' it added.

Zhu Xiaodong, 31, was convicted of strangling his wife Yang Liping, 31, in 2016 during an argument, a statement by the Shanghai No 2 Intermediate People's Court said

The victim's mother cries during an interview about her daughter's case in early August

Over the next three months following his wife's death, Zhu used his wife's WeChat messaging account to impersonate her while communicating with her friends and relatives

But he eventually turned himself in when his father-in-law's birthday came around in and relatives were expecting his wife to attend a family gathering in February 2017.

The case has transfixed the public in Shanghai, where the victim's parents had publicly pushed for the death sentence.

Speaking to reporters outside of the the courthouse, the victim's father, Yang Ganlian, said the family is satisfied with the court's decision.

'I would like to thank our lawyers, the media, net users and everyone who supported us,' Yang said.

'I am going to head to my daughter's grave and tell her the result,' he added.

The victim's father, Yang Ganlian (pictured), said the family is satisfied with the sentencing

The victim's mother (centre) cries out after the verdict was announced in court today

Zhu's case was among the top-trending national topics on China's Twitter-like Weibo platform today, clocking up nearly 110 million reads and tens of thousands of discussions.

According to Shanghai Law Journal, defendant Zhu has already appealed against the sentence.

Zhu's defense lawyer told reporters that regardless of the outcome of the judgment, Zhu Jia would apologise to the victim's family.Sam Walker is now in custody after he twice failed to show up to court and posted apparently mocking messages to police

A fugitive who posted pictures and videos of himself travelling the world after failing to appear in court has finally been remanded in custody.

Sam Walker was charged with a number of driving and drugs offences after he was detained by police in Helsby, Cheshire, on Tuesday, Merseyside Police said.

The 35-year-old, from Liverpool, was originally arrested on July 22 after failing to attend court for a driving offence in Cheshire.

But he was released on bail and again failed to turn up to a court appearance.

Videos had been posted on his Twitter account apparently showing Walker on a trip to Sierra Leone after the initial court warrant was issued.

One video had the caption: 'Here's how to get out the UK when you need to get to Africa to fulfill a promise to the people in the slums but your wanted by UK police and no they will nick you at the airport if you attempt to leave.'

He was bailed by Chester magistrates after his arrest in July but failed to appear for the next hearing and a warrant was issued.

A doctor's note was received by the court but was not accepted by magistrates.

Walker posted videos online in which he appeared to mock police after failing to show at court

Yesterday, a spokesman for Merseyside Police said: 'Samuel Walker, of Beetham Plaza, Liverpool city centre, has been charged with a total of 13 offences in relation to incidents in Merseyside and Cheshire in August.

'He has been charged with three counts of disqualified driving, two counts of dangerous driving, two counts of having no insurance, one of failing to stop, one count of failing to report a road traffic accident, possession of a Class A drug (MDMA) and possession of a Class B drug (cannabis).

'He was also additionally charged with failing to appear in court in relation to an allegation of disqualified driving incident in Cheshire.'

Walker was remanded in custody and is due to appear at Cheshire Magistrates' Court on Thursday.President Donald Trump laced into his attorney general, Jeff Sessions, and former attorney, Michael Cohen, in a rant against the Justice Department a day after two of his former associates went down on charges on fraud.

Trump claimed in a taped interview with 'Fox & Friends' that Sessions 'never took control' of the Justice Department, and Cohen told 'lies' to get a better deal.

He also claimed that the market would crash if Congress were to impeach him, although he said he could not understand how Democrats could move to expel 'somebody who's done a great job'.

The president said that a hush-money payoff to porn actress Stormy Daniels to cover up an alleged affair that Cohen orchestrated was not crime. Trump said it couldn't be a campaign finance violation, because the payment wasn't related to his presidential bid.

'In all fairness to him, most people are going to do that, and I've seen it many times,' Trump said. 'They make up lies...They make up things and now they go from 10 years to they're a national hero. They have a statue erected in their honor. It's not a fair thing, but that's why he did it.'

Donald Trump claimed Michael Cohen 'lied' about him in an attempt to get a better deal

'Liar': Michael Cohen was seen near his New York apartment on Thursday after Trump suggested he had made up elements of his guilty plea

The president said that 'flipping,' on an associate to broker a better deal, like he claimed Cohen did to him, is 'not a fair thing, but that's what he did it,' and the Justice Department should consider making the process illegal.

Fox taped its interview with Trump on Wednesday morning, less than 24 hours after Cohen pleaded guilty to fraud charges and campaign finance violations. The very same hour, a jury convicted the president's ex-campaign manager, Paul Manafort, on eight of 18 counts of fraud in a financial crimes case.

The president adamantly claimed in the interview that he is innocent of the crimes that Cohen said in a guilty plea that he committed at the 'direction' of an unnamed presidential candidate.

'He made the deals,' said Trump of payments to two women, Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal. 'Later on I knew.'

He noted that he wasn't personally 'charged with anything' even though Cohen all but named him as a conspirator.'

Trump argued in the interview that justice has not been served appropriately and that friends of his are being chased and hit with punishments that are more severe than they would receive if they were Democrats.

'If you look at Hillary Clinton's person, you take a look at the people that work for Hillary Clinton, and look at the crimes that Clinton did with the emails and she deletes 33,000 emails after she gets a subpoena from Congress, and this Justice Department does nothing about it and all of the other crimes that they've done,' Trump accused.

Referring to Democratic powerbroker Tony Podesta, who closed up shop after the special counsel launched a review of his foreign lobbying work in conjunction with its investigation into Manafort, Trump said, 'Podesta was supposed to be Manafort on steroids. They made him close up his firm.

'He was going to be indicted the next day we heard. Never happened,' Trump said. 'Instead they go after Manafort. '

Trump also brought up the case of Imran Awan, an IT tech for Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz and other Democrats, who received a light sentence on Tuesday of three months supervision after lying to federal investigators in a bank fraud case.

Trump also claimed the attorney general has failed to 'take control' of the Justice Department

'He went to jail holding the hands of the Justice Department and the FBI. They sat there together, they were smiling and laughing, and he got nothing,' Trump said, 'and he stole money, and he had more information on the corruption of the Democrats than anybody, and they don't even have his computers and his servers.'

Interviewer Ainsley Earhardt asked Trump if he believes a 'double standard' is at work.

Trump recoiled and said: 'Double standard? I mean he was worse than anybody, in my opinion.'

The president claimed that Awan was not hit with more charges or served up more jail time, 'because the Dems are very strong in the Justice Department.'

Most of Justice's rank and file are career officials, who stay on from administration to administration, regardless of which political party holds the Oval Office.

The president has the power to hand-pick departmental leaders, like the attorney general and deputy attorney general, and nominated both Jeff Sessions and Rod Rosenstein to hold the top spots in the federal law enforcement division.

Trump called for 'flipping' to be made illegal and said Cohen was unfair to have done it in court

Trump stopped short of saying he wants to fire Sessions while making no attempt to hide his disdain for the way the Cabinet secretary has handled himself since accepting the DOJ appointment. The president told Earhardt he gave Sessions the position out 'loyalty,' because he was with the campaign, and that's 'the only reason' he tapped the Republican with a checkered political past.

'I put in an attorney general that never took control of the Justice Department, Jeff Sessions,' Trump said of the Cabinet official he's bemoaned for more than a year at one point in his remarks. 'Never took control of the Justice Department.'

Trump said he could insert himself into DOJ's investigation, 'But I will stay uninvolved and maybe that's the best thing to do.'

'There's such corruption. Before I got here, it's from before I got here. It's the Obama administration. And you look at what happened. They surveilled my campaign, it's very simple.'

He hinted that he could declassify documents used to obtain the warrant to spy on Carter Page, a one-time adviser to his campaign, at some point, going further than the redacted version that has been released by the FISA court.

The president pointed to the sagas involving fired FBI Director James Comey, ex-FBI attorney Lisa Page, fired FBI agent Peter Strzok and special counsel Robert Mueller, whom he elevated to 'Comey's best friend' and claimed he had 'a really nasty business transaction with,' despite his consideration of the ex-FBI director to do the job again.

'He wanted the FBI job that Christopher Wray has,' the president said in a nod to the interview Mueller had at the White House for the position just before he accepted the special counsel appointment. 'Now Christopher Wray was recommended by Rosenstein.'

Attorney general Jeff Sessions who has been accused by Trump of failing to handle the Justice Department

Trump has made no secret of his frustration with Sessions since the former Alabama senator recused himself the department's Russia probe.

'It's a very, very sad day. Jeff Sessions recused himself, which he shouldn't have done. Or he should have told me,' Trump on Wednesday said. 'Even my enemies say that Jeff Sessions should have told you that he was going to recuse himself and then you wouldn't have put him in. He took the job and then he said I'm going to recuse myself. I said what kind of a man is this?'

The recusal ultimately led Rosenstein to appoint Mueller special counsel and spawned investigations into two of the president's associates, Manafort and Cohen.

Both men went down on Tuesday on eight counts in unrelated cases of fraud. Manafort by a jury after a high-profile trial. Cohen copped to his crimes in a plea agreement.

Trump praised Manafort for holding strong and declining to rely on their relationship to get a better outcome in his case. The president sidestepped a question from Earhardt about the possibility of a pardon.

'I have great respect for what he's done in terms of what he's going through,' Trump said, launching into diatribe about Clinton and Podesta. 'Some of the charges they threw against him, every consultant, every lobbyist in Washington probably does,' he said of Manafort.

Of Cohen, a former lawyer for the Trump Organization, the president on Wednesday claimed that he was a bit player. Cohen worked for the president's family business for a decade, Trump admitted, yet claimed they rarely interacted.

'Not somebody that was with me that much. You know, they make it sound like I didn't live with, without him,' Trump said. 'I understood Michael Cohen very well. 'He, well, it turned out he wasn't a very good lawyer, frankly. But he was somebody that was probably with me for about 10 years and I would see him sometimes.'

The president said he had many lawyers working for him inside and outside his business, in addition to Cohen, whom, 'I always found him to be a nice guy,' and that Cohen was someone who really only worked for him part time.

'In all fairness to him they raid his office at six o'clock in the morning,' Trump said. 'And how about with Manafort, they raid his home at like five in the morning. I think on a weekend and his wife is in bed. And they go in with guns. This isn't Al Capone.'

Trump said that Cohen 'made a very good deal' for himself with prosecutors, 'a great deal,' in fact in order to escape greater charges.

'Because he was in another business, totally unrelated to me, where I guess there was fraud involved and loans and taxi cabs and all sorts of things. Nothing to do with me,' Trump said. 'Michael Cohen had I guess a taxi business and somebody reported him for some things in his taxi business and that's how this started.'

Trump said he learned from watching television that two of the 'crimes' that Cohen says he committed are 'not even crimes.'

Trump claims some of Cohen's actions were 'not even crimes' but condemned him for 'flipping' on him as an associate in court

The president said that campaign finance violations that Cohen says they committed together couldn't have been crimes, because they 'weren't even campaign related,' and Cohen only said they were 'because he makes a better deal when he uses me, like everybody else.'

Trump said Cohen made a deal with the government to wiggle out of the other, unrelated charges, that were tied to his personal business dealings.

'People make up stories,' he said, in order to shave time off their sentences. 'It's called flipping, and it almost ought to be illegal.'

Trump said the practice 'almost ought to be outlawed' because 'it's not fair' and encourages people to 'make up stories' to shave time off their prospective sentences.

The president told Earhardt that he did not know about the payoff to Daniels at the time. The claim lines up with statements he made in the past on Air Force One and tweets he sent about the hush-money scandal. The president and his attorneys have said that Trump was not aware of the payment to Daniels until after and reimbursed Cohen for the gesture much later.

He'll have more trouble getting himself out of a claim that he wasn't aware of of the 'deal' that Cohen was trying to negotiate with regards to McDougal. Trump is on tape discussing an attempt to purchase the rights to her story for $150,000 from AMI chief David Pecker.

In his interview with Fox, the president seemed to misunderstand campaign finance rules, mistakenly claiming that the payoff couldn't be a crime because he used personal and not campaign dollars  which would have been 'a little dicey' he says  to pay the women off.

If Trump had paid the women directly, himself, without a middle man, he would be correct. There are no limits on self-funding in American politics. At issue is the fact that Cohen paid Daniels to stay silent, for the stated purpose of influencing the election. He exceeded the maximum contribution to a candidate when he completed the transaction.

Cohen claimed later that money Trump paid him as a reimbursement was a retainer for work that he did in 2017, which he now admits was a lie.

Legal experts are conflicted as to whether the president is also guilty of crimes as a result of the way the payment was handled. Attorneys for Cohen and Daniels claim that Trump is a felon.

Trump insisted Wednesday that he'd done nothing wrong. Even if he and Cohen had violated campaign fiance laws, he said it wouldn't make them true criminals.

'You know, campaign violations are considered not a bit deal, frankly,' Trump told 'Fox & Friends' on Wednesday. 'But if somebody defrauded a bank and he's going to get 10 years in jail or 20 years in jail but if you can say something bad about Donald Trump and you'll go down to two years or three years, which is the deal he made.'

A legal debate has also ensued since the Daniels payment was revealed about whether a president can be charged with crimes while in office.

Trump's legal team says that a sitting executive cannot be indicted. The Constitution is very clear about how a president must be removed early from office.

For Trump to be booted, the House of Representatives would have have to introduce articles of impeachment. The U.S. Senate would deliver the verdict.

Democrats could take the extraordinary step if they pick up enough seats to take back the majority in November.

Trump said he doesn't see it happening, though, telling Fox, 'I don't know how you can impeach somebody who's done a great job.

'if I ever got impeached, I think the market would crash, I think everybody would be very poor, because without this thinking, you would see  you would see numbers that you wouldn't believe in reverse. If Hillary Clinton got elected instead of 4.1 up and each point is $3.5 trillion and 10 million jobs. '

The president with an average approval rate of 39 percent across his term, according to Gallup, gave himself the highest marks for his accomplishments in office  an A+Sami Irlam (pictured) was fined after stopping in a Crewe car park to clean up and feed four-month old son Oliver

A young mum has spoken of her anger after she was hit with a 60 parking fine - while breast-feeding and changing her baby.

Sami Irlam, 24, took the decision to pull into the car park at the Market Shopping Centre in Crewe, as her baby son Oliver had a 'nappy emergency' and was screaming to be fed.

The mother-of-three then spent around 20 minutes feeding and cleaning up four-month-old Oliver before driving off.

She was later shocked to receive a penalty charge through the post after automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology clocked her vehicle had stayed for 17 minutes beyond the 10 minute 'grace' period.

She appealed the decision but Bank Park Management has insisted 'the PCN [parking charge notice] was issued correctly'.

Sami said: 'Oliver hadn't been well that week and all of a sudden he had this accident as we were driving.

'I had all my children with me in the car and I had to stop quickly. It was one of those crazy moments.

'I didn't buy a ticket as I had a screaming baby covered head to toe, including the car seat and he needed a feed so I cleaned him up and then sat with him in the car to breastfeed him.

'To be honest I wasn't aware the car park had been taken over and had the ANPR cameras.

'On that particular car park there used to be an attendant so if he would have come by I could have explained the situation, plus the Equality Act says that it is discrimination to treat a woman unfavourably because she is breast-feeding.

'I'm not stingy about paying for a ticket and obviously if we had just parked up and gone off somewhere then fine, but I just feel in this case they should have had a little more understanding and compassion.'

Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology registered the mum-of-three's vehicle had stayed for 17 minutes beyond the 10 minute 'grace' period

Bank Parking has recently taken over the running of the car park opposite Argos but did not respond when approached for comment.

But in an email explaining the company's decision to reject Sami's appeal, they said: 'The signage at the aforementioned car park clearly states a valid Pay and Display ticket must be purchased within 10 minutes showing the entire vehicle registration mark upon entry on to this land.

'Whilst we are sympathetic with the situation provided in your correspondence, a ticket would have needed to have been purchased to cover your stay.

'An attempt at making a payment prior to leaving the car park or utilising a passenger to make a payment would have sufficed.

'The appeal has been reviewed. The ANPR and Metric data (as applicable) have all been taken into account. Having considered the content of your appeal and unfortunately the PCN was issued correctly.

'Whilst you may not have breached the Terms and Conditions of the car park intentionally, the fact remains that you were in contravention of them on the day in question.

'We regret to disappoint you but the circumstances you provided us with give us no grounds to waive the Parking Charge Notice.'

Sami must now pay 60 within 14 days or the fine will increase to 100. She is now planning to take her case to the Independent Appeals Service.Sean Rayford/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- A former National Security contractor described by a federal prosecutor as "quintessential example of an insider threat," was sentenced to five years in prison Thursday for leaking to the media classified information about a Russian hacking investigation.



Reality Leigh Winner, 26, pleaded guilty in June to one count of unlawful retention and transmission of national defense information that she took from an NSA facility in Georgia, officials said.



"The sentence rendered today is the longest received by a defendant for an unauthorized disclosure of national defense information to the media," U.S. Justice Department officials said in a statement released Thursday following Winner's sentencing in Augusta, Georgia.



"It appropriately satisfies the need for both punishment and deterrence, in light of the nature and seriousness of the offense," the Justice Department statement reads.



Following the sentencing hearing, federal prosecutor Bobby L. Christine told reporters outside the courthouse that Winner's "treachery and betrayal" was not a victimless crime.



"The intelligence report that Winner disclosed described intelligence activities directed at targets in the United States," Christine said. "When asked by the FBI, Winner stated that she knew the intelligence report revealed sources and methods used by the U.S. intelligence agency. And she knew that compromising those sources and methods could be valuable to our adversaries and damage the United States."



Winner was a contractor with top-secret clearance when she allegedly leaked a classified report about Russian election interference to the online publication The Intercept. The Department of Justice said she printed and improperly removed the classified information on May 9 and then mailed it a few days later.



At the time, Winner was working at an NSA outpost, while technically employed by a government contractor called Pluribus International Corporation.



"She was a quintessential example of an insider threat," Christine said.



"I had no intention to harm national security," Winner told a judge Thursday prior to being sentenced, according to the Associated Press. "I would like to apologize profusely for my actions. My actions were a cruel betrayal of my nations trust in me."



Winner's attorney Titus Nichols called the sentence "fair" and said he and Winner are "grateful" that the judge accepted the plea deal negotiated with the government.



"We feel this is the best resolution," Nichols said. "Of course the ultimate resolution would have been if she were able to walk away... But in light of all the facts in the case, we feel this was fair."



Winner is the first person to be jailed under the Trump administration after being accused of leaking classified information.

Copyright  2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.There is unlikely to be a Brexit deal until the end of the year, a Cabinet minister suggested today.

Cabinet Office minister David Lidington said he was not surprised by Michel Barnier playing down the prospects of agreement before November.

He said: 'I was Europe minister for six years, I have seen enough of these negotiations to know that these deadlines slip.

'I think there definitely will need to be an agreement by the end of 2018.'

Cabinet Office minister David Lidington (pictured on a visit to Scotland today) said he was not surprised by Michel Barnier playing down the prospects of agreement before November

However, speaking during a briefing with reporters in Edinburgh, Mr Lidington added that he did not believe the March date for Britain's exit from Europe would be pushed back.

'Article 50 is a matter of EU law, it is not a matter of political judgment,' he said.

'I think there is a real pressure from the end of the year because, with the European Parliament going into election mode it will just become more difficult to get enough MEPs in a plenary from January onwards to have the numbers to pass the super majority that is needed.

'And you've got to get legislation through Westminster as well to implement a withdrawal agreement.'

He added: 'I just don't think that seeking to extend Article 50 is going to help... the Treaty is absolutely clear that it is two years or when a withdrawal agreement is reached or ratified if that is earlier.'

The comments came as ministers unveiled a raft of plans to minimise 'disruption' from no deal Brexit - admitting that online shoppers and tourists visiting the EU could face millions of pounds in extra credit card charges.

The potential for higher charges was highlighted in dozens of papers spelling out how the government is preparing for the possibility negotiations with Brussels fail.

Consumers shopping in the EU or buying online from an EU company with a UK card could be hit as access to IT systems is withdrawn - with some retailers charging more than the cost of processing payments.

There is also the threat that businesses making payments in euros could face delays, and ex-pats could even struggle to access pensions and accounts administered by UK-based banks, according to the documents.

Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab (pictured giving his speech in Westminster today) dismissed 'doomsday' scenarios about the consequences of no deal with the EU

Launching the first tranche of 25 'technical notes' on the consequences of no deal, Dominic Raab insisted Britain 'must be ready'.

The Brexit Secretary said he was still 'confident' an agreement would be reached - but dismissed 'doomsday' scenarios about what would happen if the talks failed.

He ridiculed 'Project Fear' claims that there would be a 'sandwich famine' in the UK, and ruled out deploying the military to ensure food supplies.

But Mr Raab said there did have to be a blueprint for how to 'wind down our membership' of the EU with the minimum possible 'disruption'.Four sweaty construction workers have impressed the Chinese public with their extremely good manners while riding a taxi.

The workers, who had just finished a day of hard work, took off their shirts before getting into the cab - because they did not want their dirty clothes to stain the seats.

Fearing that dirt would rub off their trousers and smear onto the white seat covers, they turned their tops inside out, put them on the seat before finally sitting down.

The four men took off their shirts, turned them inside out and put them on the seats. They said they had just finished work and were sweaty, so they did not want to make the taxi dirty

The driver, Di Zhenhong, was so touched by the passengers' act he filmed the journey on his mobile phone and uploaded the clip onto social media.

The clip became widely shared by the web users, who have shown their respect to the 'humble' and 'kind-hearted' workers.

Mr Di picked up the group opposite a construction site last Thursday in Dezhou, east China's Shandong Province, reported Shandong Qilu TV.

Speaking to the station, Mr Di praised the workers' kindness and said he wouldn't mind if his seats had become dirty. He added that the workers were among the most polite passengers he had met.

The passengers' kind behaviour has been recorded by the taxi driver who was deeply touched

Driver Di Zhenhong (pictured) told Qilu TV that the workers were among his best passengers

He said when he saw the four half-naked men climbing into his cab, he was a bit concerned of their motives, but after talking to them during the journey, he was moved by their behaviour.

The driver later saw semi-wet cement on their shirts and trousers, but the seats in his cab were spotlessly clean when the group got off.

Two of the workers, Wan Bihui and Chen Xianjun, told Qilu TV that they were heading to their dormitory with their colleagues that day and their clothes had been soaked with sweat.

Apparently, they did not want their sweat to smear onto the seat, so they sat upright and did not lean back on the seat.

The two workers said they had in the past been rejected by taxi drivers on several occasions because 'we were too dirty'.

Mr Di urged other taxi drivers and the public to give more understanding to construction workers.Felicitie Marie Gillette was wading in Lake Hernando around 1am when a six-foot-long alligator grabbed her left arm and tried to drag her under the water

A homeless woman almost lost her life after wading into a Florida lake and being attacked by an alligator.

Felicitie Marie Gillette was paddling in Lake Hernando, in the central portion of the state, around 1am on Wednesday when a six-foot-long alligator grabbed her left arm and tried to drag her under.

Gillette, 24, was able to fight off the gator in the darkness and escape. She was taken to Ocala Regional Medical Center with minor injuries.

The woman was bleeding after the attack and had her arm wrapped in towel, a 911 call revealed.

The dispatcher could be heard giving her instructions on how to stop the bleeding before paramedics arrived on the scene,

Trappers have now mounted a search to look for the gator that carried out the attack.

Meanwhile, the beach around the lake has been closed until the reptile can be found.

Trappers are now searching the beach and lake for the alligator

Families who visit the lake say they've seen an alligator swim along the beach's shoreline

The beach area of the lake is now closed until further notice or until the gator is caught

Florida Fish & Wildlife officials are warning people not to swim at night in water where alligators may be present.

The lake is popular destination for swimmers, fishermen, and boaters.

Parents who spoke to FOX 13 News said they may rethink letting their kids swim in the lake.

Gillette, 24, was able to fight off the gator and escape - she then went to hospital

'I don't think I'll let them swim for a while until I know the gator is gone,' parent Brandy Dugan said.

Families who visit the lake say they've seen an alligator swim along the beach's shoreline.

'The alligator was on the hunt,' said Dennis Weis told ABC News. 'You could tell by the aggressive movements by the alligator.'

Weis says he saw the gator a few days before the attack and believes that people were feeding the alligator.

Lake Hernando Park is a known gathering site for the area's homeless.

Bathing in the lake is not uncommon; however, FWC's warnings to avoid alligator encounters include avoiding swimming or entering the water at night.

The beach area is commonly used by homeless people who like to enter the waters to bathe

There are no 'caution, alligator' signs at the lake but the county plans to install some type of warning signs next week, suggesting swimmers enter the water at their own risk.

Since 2011 state trappers have removed 34 gators from Lake Hernando.

'People have to take this stuff seriously,' FWC spokeswoman Karen Parker said. 'If there's a water body, there's probably a gator in it.'

Florida currently is undergoing an alligator harvest in which permit-holders hunt the reptile 'as a method to help manage the alligator population.'A California teacher has been accused of having sex with her 14-year-old male student on a school trip to Washington DC.

Jacqueline Nicole Muller, 26, was charged on Monday for allegedly having sex with the student in his hotel room at the Hyatt Place Washington DC on May 9, NBC reports.

She was chaperoning her class of eighth grade students from Salem Lutheran School in Glendale, California at the time.

The pair allegedly also had sex at another hotel in Virginia during the class trip.

Jacqueline Nicole Muller, 26, was charged on Monday for allegedly having sex with the student in his hotel room at the Hyatt Place Washington DC (pictured above) on May 9

The boy's parents found out after other chaperones told them their son had allegedly been alone with Muller for an hour in the hotel room late at night.

They then found text messages between the pair on their son's phone, including one that read: 'Hope you slept well my love. Missing you'.

Police said the teenager eventually told his parents about his relationship with Muller.

He told investigators that he and Muller had started messaging each other over Instagram back in March.

They allegedly kissed for the first time the following month.

The school alerted child protective services on May 14.

One of the boy's family members contacted Muller via email on May 20 pretending to be the teen.

"Whatever you do, please don't say that we've been talking. We can't see or speak to each other until this thing blows over... Hopefully after graduation but not sure," she allegedly wrote.

The school has not commented on Muller's arrest and it is not clear if she is still employed there.

She is charged with first-degree child sexual abuse.Ryan Halsey, 27, from Hull, was asked to clear spirits from a haunted family home

A clairvoyant was asked to clear spirits from a haunted family home before sexually assaulted an 18-year-old woman there while attempting to free her body of a 'demon', a court heard today.

Ryan Halsey, 27, from Hull, who also works at B&Q, allegedly told the woman he was trained at a 'Harry Potter' school and his chanting was compared to 'parseltongue', the language of serpents in the fictional JK Rowling books.

He was contacted to help the alleged victim's grandparents who for seven years had experienced 'strange things' in their home such as hearing footsteps and seeing a male figure, the jury at Hull Crown Court was told.

An 'old lady sitting in a chair' in the conservatory was also seen by the teenage granddaughter and her boyfriend.

On his first visit to the house, Halsey claimed to be involved in an 'altercation' with a spirit and was 'poked in the eye'.

He said he had seen an 'old woman' in a corner and the spirits of two orphaned children.

Halsey said he had cleared the house of a spirit and cleansed it of 'negative energy,' but was called back for a second visit in August 2016 when problems continued.

Halsey, pictured outside Hull Crown Court today, denied touching the woman's breasts or sexually assaulting her in any way during the cleansing procedure

It was then that Halsey allegedly assaulted the granddaughter during a 'spiritual cleansing ritual', said prosecutor Claire Holmes.

Halsey told the young woman she had a 'demonic attachment' and set about trying to heal her after writing a 'Do Not Enter' sign which he placed on the bedroom door, the court heard.

Miss Holmes said they were in the bedroom for two hours. The woman later told police Halsey asked her to remove her T-shirt and bra and get comfortable on the bed.

He then used a 'crystal pendulum' and said it was 'going crazy' around her back to indicate the spirit's presence.

Later, with her breasts partially covered, he allegedly 'was feeling her up and down her body' and touched her breast area over her top for about 40 minutes.

During this healing session Halsey began to chant in a language that sounded like 'parseltongue' from Harry Potter.

He chatted to the complainant and complemented her on her breasts and said the demon would go to her 'boobs' to try to 'turn her on,' said Miss Holmes.

She was said to become 'increasingly uncomfortable' and when the session finished the defendant hugged her and told her she was beautiful and attractive, the court heard.

Halsey allegedly said he was trained at a 'Harry Potter' school and his chanting was compared to 'parseltongue'. Hogwarts is pictured in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

When interviewed by police Halsey denied touching the woman's breasts or sexually assaulting her in any way during the cleansing procedure.

The 'psychic medium clairvoyant', who said he had been 'born with a gift', claimed he was later stabbed by a demon during this second visit to the haunted house.

Although he didn't charge for his services, Halsey was given 20 on both visits to the house, the jury was told.

During the first visit Halsey and a female assistant he described as his 'student' were inside the property for four hours while the family waited outside.

After he finished the family joined him and they all walked around with a white sage joss stick to 'cleanse the house of any negative energy', said Miss Holmes.

Under cross-examination he was asked about his altercation with the spirit who poked him in the eye.

Mr Halsey said: 'It was just one of those things where they can try and - they get a bit angry shall we say - and like, try and attack me unfortunately, but I'm well protected anyway so it won't harm me, but there was a few bangs, or whatever.'

'What would have caused the bangs?' Miss Holmes asked. 'Possibly the room itself,' Mr Halsey said. 'How can the room itself make a bang?' Miss Holmes asked.

Mr Halsey said: 'When you get energy to a room, any collision can possibly create a sound.' The clairvoyant said the spirit was 'a particularly nasty one.'

Halsey, of Hull, denies sexual assault. The case continues.A relative of a child abused by a perverted pastor is facing assault charges after leaping across a courtroom and attacking him.

Navy veteran Kevin Patrick Smith, 45, has been arrested on misdemeanor charges of obstructing governmental or judicial administration, fourth-degree assault and disorderly conduct following the attack.

Donald Biggs, 40, was being sentenced in US District Court in Medford Wednesday after previously admitting to taking a 14-year-old girl on a church trip to Southern California in March 2013 with the intent to film her getting out of the shower.

Authorities previously said an investigation revealed he had hidden camera recordings involving some three dozen teenage victims.

Kevin Smith (left), 45, was arrested for punching convicted sexual predator Donald Biggs (right) in the face during his sentencing in federal court in Oregon

Officials say Smith, who is a relative of one of the teenage victims, jumped over a wooden railing inside this Medford, Oregon, courthouse, and attacked Biggs

Police Lt Justin Ivens told reporters outside the courthouse that Biggs was transported to a local hospital to be checked for injuries after the beating, which left him cowering in a fetal position, reported the Mail Tribune.

Although the attack occurred in federal court, Smith will be charged in state court, Ivens said.

As of Thursday morning, Smith's name was not on the list of current inmates at the Jackson County jail, suggesting that he was released after posting $12,500 bail.

The attack came as Biggs defense attorney was telling the judge his client, a father of four sons, regretted his actions.

Before that, victims who packed the courtroom had been giving emotional impact statements about the trauma they have endured.

Shorty after Smith was taken into custody, a friend launched a GoFundMe campaign titled 'hero punches pedophile' to assist him with his legal costs.

The description of the campaign, which is seeking $5,000 in donations, characterized Smith as 'a heroic figure, a true man of justice, an outstanding man' who 'did what every person in that room wanted to.'

Smith is a US Navy veteran and a married father-of-four (pictured above with his wife and child). He now faces. misdemeanor charges of obstructing governmental or judicial administration, fourth-degree assault and disorderly conduct

As of Thursday morning, more than $2,500 has been raised.

According to his Facebook page, Smith is a US Navy veteran with a wife and four children.

Biggs pleaded guilty in February to one felony count of transporting with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.

As part of a plea deal, nine other transportation and child pornography charges were dropped.

Biggs faces up to nearly 16 years in prison. Defense attorney Terry Kolkey had been arguing for a mandatory minimum 10-year sentence when the attack occurred.

Biggs has been held in the Jackson County Jail since early 2015, after a burglary at Mtn. Church in Medford led investigators to a collection of the pastor's secret recordings, which depicted girls undressing, showering and using the bathroom at various locations.

In the wake of the courtroom beatdown, the judge halted Biggs' sentencing, but it is scheduled to resume at noon Thursday.A video of a mother painted blue and dancing beside a car to viral song Baby Shark has been viewed more than four million times.

Ashleigh Waller, 23, from Hartlepool, County Durham painted herself blue, created a fin out of her son's school letter and put on children's armbands before performing the children's song.

The challenge has seen people from across the globe dancing and singing along to the song and posting the hilarious videos on social media.

Ashleigh Waller, 23, from Hartlepool, County Durham, dressed up as a shark and filmed herself dancing to the Baby Shark song

The catering assistant was delivering pizzas when she decided to buy blue craft paint and dress up as a shark

Miss Waller, who is mother to four-year-old Travis, was in the middle of delivering pizzas when she stopped on the street to film the dance on Sunday.

The catering assistant said she spontaneously decided to film the video which shows her dancing to the music while walking alongside a car.

Miss Waller said: 'I was delivering pizzas and I went into the shop next door to get some paint. It wasn't even face paint it was craft paint.

'You can imagine how hard it was to get off. It was in my hair line for days!

The mother-of-one filmed posted the video to Facebook which has now had thousands of views

Miss Waller, who is mum to Travis, four, found her son's school leter in the glove box and folded it to make a shark fin

'I had one of the bairns school letters in the glove box so I folded that over to make a fin and I nipped home to get my son's arm bands.

'I painted my face and everything blue, then put the fin and arm bands on.

'When I returned to the pizza shop the owner, who I was covering a shift for, asked why I was blue.

'The paint came off two days later. I had to have a good few baths before it came off.'

The mother says her son was 'giggling his little head off' at the sight of her song the dance dressed as a shark

Miss Waller was encouraged by her friends and her girlfriend Jasmin Langley, 21, to carry out the challenge after viewing Facebook videos of other people completing it.

She said: 'I thought I can't just do the challenge simply, I will have to go all out.

'My son thinks I am crazy. He was in the back of the car when I was filming the video. I was looking at him and he was giggling his little head off.

'He loves a good dance and a sing-song, my little lad. He watched the Baby Shark challenge on YouTube and Facebook.

'My phone has been off the hook since Sunday. I've had people requesting to follow me and sending me messages.

She has had messages from all over the world telling her 'how great it is' and her phone has been 'off the hook'

'I have had messages from people in Australia, Africa and America saying how great it is.

'My nana rang me yesterday and said it was the best laugh she had had in years.

'I put it on as a daft video for my friends and family to laugh at and it's gone crazy! I never expected it to be viewed so many times.'

The Baby Shark song first took off in 2014 in Indonesia and has recently taken over the internet with people attempting to do the dance moves.

A builder had viewers in hysterics after he was filmed performing a dance to the song and using his saws as the shark's jaws.

Dale Carter, from Dunfermline, Fife, can be seen walking across the room and opening and closing the saws in time to the children's song.

Many are combining the dance with Drake's My Feelings challenge which sees people do jump out their moving car and dance along with the door open.A British mother jailed in Iran on spying charges has been given a three-day release from prison - and was today finally able to lift her daughter into her arms again.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 40, had an emotional reunion with her now four-year-old daughter Gabriella, who was waiting at her family's home outside the capital Tehran with freshly picked roses.

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a charity worker from London, said she broke down in tears upon hearing she would be released for the weekend, after spending two-and-a-half years behind bars.

The Free Nazanin campaign released images showing the beaming mother hugging her child and clutching a bouquet of roses.

Mother's love: Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is seen reunited with her daughter Gabriella after being released on furlough for three days

Nazanin's husband Richard Ratcliffe said: 'Gabriella had picked some flowers from the family garden, and was waiting to present them - the tradition she has seen for families waiting outside Evin prison. Gabriella has promised to show her the garden, and also her dolls house.

'She (Nazanin) was very happy on the phone, though confessed to having cried lots, particularly when seeing her grandmother, and to being still overwhelmed.'

In an unusual move, Iran's ambassador to London, Hamid Baeidinejad, posted a tweet on the release, offering a link to the image of mother and child.

'She immediately joined her four-year-old daughter, Gabriella who welcomed her mom with flowers,' he said. 'Lovely picture.'

Mrs. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been granted a three-day release from prison in Iran to reunite with her family. She immediately joined her four-year-old daughter, Gabriella who welcomed her mom with flowers. Lovely picture pic.twitter.com/aST1efpJCJ  Hamid Baeidinejad (@baeidinejad) August 23, 2018

The British-Iranian citizen had arrived in Iran in April 2016, to introduce Gabriella to her family, but was arrested and accused of spying on the Islamist regime.

She was sentenced to five years in prison, and her family have been fighting an uphill battle to see her free - a campaign hampered by several diplomatic blunders made by former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson.

Her husband Richard Ratcliffe confirmed her three-day release from Evin prison on the Free Nazanin campaign Facebook page, saying their lawyer is 'hopeful' it can be extended.

He said: 'This was a very happy surprise after a number of false dawns recently, which had been increasingly unsettling.'

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who had dual British-Iranian citizenship, was separated from her daughter upon her arrest in April 2016, when Gabriella was just 22 months old.

She was initially held in solitary confinement and was unable to see her daughter, who was left in the care of her parents.

Mr Ratcliffe said his wife been jailed for five years following a conviction on unspecified 'national security-related' offences, a sentence he described as 'a punishment without a crime'.

She was accused of spreading anti-Iran propaganda through her work for BBC Media Action and training journalists to undermine the regime in what Iran's government called an attempt at a 'soft overthrow'.

However she stopped working for BBC Media Action in 2010. No official charges against her have been made public.

Last year Mr Ratcliffe said his wife had seen a medical specialist after finding lumps on her breasts and was 'on the verge of a nervous breakdown' as well as losing her hair.

Today he said that after several weeks of bureaucracy over her possible temporary furlough, Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was told earlier on Thursday that she had ten minutes to get ready because she was being released.

She was not allowed to call her family and had to borrow a phone from someone outside the prison to call her brother, who lives in Tehran, to pick her up.

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested during a holiday with a then-toddler Gabriella in 2016, and emotional photos show the two reunited, with Gabriella presenting her mother with flowers

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who moved to the UK in 2007, then called her husband and the British embassy and travelled to join the rest of her Iranian family in Damavand.

'I cried so much. I felt so overwhelmed,' she was quoted as saying in the statement released by The Free Nazanin campaign, which is run by her husband.

'It will be just awesome for Gabriella to have mummy home finally. We can play with her dolls house, and she can show me her toys.

'The thought of brushing her hair, and giving her a bath, of being able to take her to the park, and feed her, and sleep next to her  it just kills me. It is still so hard to believe.'

'I wasn't expecting it at all when it was mentioned two weeks ago. I didn't tell Gabriella or for a long time my mum  so if it didn't happen I would be the only one to suffer.'

Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a charity worker, was sentenced to five years in prison in 2016 after being accused of spying

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been released on a 1 billion rials (18,530) bail, with her family's home in Tehran used as collateral, and has been told she must return to prison.

The two conditions of her release are that she not give any media interviews or visit the grounds of any foreign embassy.

Mr Ratcliffe wrote on the Free Nazanin Facebook page that his wife had travelled to Damavand from Evin with her father and brother to rejoin the family holiday, and see Gabriella, her grandmother and the wider family.

'Gabriella had picked some flowers from the family garden, and was waiting to present them - the tradition she has seen for families waiting outside Evin prison. Gabriella has promised to show her the garden, and also her dolls house.

'She (Nazanin) was very happy on the phone, though confessed to having cried lots, particularly when seeing her grandmother, and to being still overwhelmed. '

Gabriella has been allowed to visit her mother in Evin prison, most recently on her fourth birthday in June, but they have not been able to spend time together to the extend this three-day leave will allow.

Really good news that Nazanin has been released on furlough, credit to tireless campaigning by husband Richard and her friends. But being in prison AT ALL is gross injustice and she must be PERMANENTLY released for which every effort will continue @FreeNazanin  Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) August 23, 2018

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe with her husband Richard Ratcliffe and their daughter Gabriella as a baby

BA suspends London to Tehran flights Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's release comes as British Airways announced that it is suspending flights between London and Tehran. The airline said the flights will come to a halt next months as they are not commercially viable. The route was reinstated in the wake of a 2015 accord between western powers and Iran under which most international sanctions on Iran were lifted in return for curbs on the country's nuclear programme. Three months ago however, President Trump withdrew Washington from the deal, blasting it as flawed and reimposing sanctions to choke Iran's economy and force it to renegotiate or change direction. British Airways, which is owned by Spanish-registered IAG , said its last outbound flight from London to Tehran will be on Sept. 22 and the last inbound flight from Tehran will be on Sept. 23. 'We are suspending our London to Tehran service as the operation is currently not commercially viable,' the airline said in a statement. Advertisement

Mr Ratclifffe also thanked Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

He said: 'Our thanks to all those involved in making this possible in Tehran and London, and to the new Foreign Secretary for all his recent efforts and considerations

The Foreign Secretary took to Twitter to respond to the 'really good news', writing: 'Credit to tireless campaigning by husband Richard and her friends.

'But being in prison AT ALL is gross injustice and she must be PERMANENTLY released for which every effort will continue @FreeNazanin.'

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's leave from prison comes just days after Mr Hunt revealed that he his considering whether to grant diplomatic protection as a means of freeing her.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme earlier this week, Mr Hunt said that he had been going over the case in an 'enormous amount of detail'.

He also said he was considering a request by Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's husband to grant her diplomatic protection.

Diplomatic protection is a mechanism under international law that a state can use to help one of its nationals whose rights have been breached in another country.

The broad legal principle is that British diplomats would no longer be representing the interests of a citizen but the interests of their state.

Mr Hunt said he had not 'come to a final decision' on the issue and said there were 'pros and cons'.

Life inside: Iranian women inmates sit at their cell in the infamous Evin jail, north of Tehran

Secure: Guards stand at the gates of the jail, where Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been imprisoned since 2016

These images from 2006 shows the living conditions for the women in the prison

He added: 'This is a totally appalling situation, it should never be possible that someone can be detained like this without any due reason, for three years now Nazanin has been in prison so we have to do everything we can.

'Our priority has to be to do the right thing to get Nazanin out.'

Mr Ratcliffe's efforts to achieve diplomatic protection for his wife were hampered earlier this summer, after former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson resigned in the same week he was due to rule on the matter.

At the time, Mr Ratcliffe said: 'The resignation came at an unfortunate time for Nazanin since last week the file for the Foreign Secretary's final decision on providing Nazanin diplomatic protection had been finalised by FCO staff and put on the Foreign Secretary's desk.'

It was not the first time Johnson had faced fierce criticism over Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's case, after he wrongly told MPs that she had been in Tehran training journalists in November 2017.

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was then taken out of prison and brought back before a court, three days after Johnson's false remarks, and accused by a judge of 'spreading propaganda against the regime'.

Despite Johnson's apology, and a phone call to his Iranian counterpart, state TV cited his statement as a 'confession' that Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was a spy. Johnson then travelled to Iran in December to lobby for her release.

Richard Ratcliffe holds a family photo on the second anniversary of his wife's detention

Asked about whether the change of Foreign Secretary has made a difference with the Iranian authorities, Mr Ratcliffe told Sky News today: 'I think it's been a fresh start for us all.

NAZANIN ZAGHARI-RATCLIFFE TIMELINE April 2016: Arrested by the Revolutionary Guard in Tehran Airport after visiting her parents in Iran with her young daughter Gabriella. She was taken to prison and held in solitary confinement for 45 days before being moved to a women's wing. The mother-of-one was not given access to legal counsel or medical treatment, and the lights in her cell remained permanently switched on. As a result, Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe experienced problems walking, weight loss, and hair loss. September 2016: She was sentenced to five years in prison for spying following a trial campaigners have branded 'secret and unfair'. April 2017: Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe lost her appeal to overturn her sentence. November 2017: She is hit with fresh charges of spreading propaganda just days after Boris Johnson told British MPs she has been training journalists in Iran. Advertisement

'I think there's probably wider things that aren't personal to do with the UK and Iranian relationship.

'And one of the things that happened a few weeks back was the UK reopened the bank account for the Iranian Embassy here which would have been a good relationship-building thing.

'And also we've been going on such a long time, I think people recognise that this has gone on long enough.'

While her husband hopes that the three-day leave is the beginning to an end, the mother-of-one is facing a further hearing over an unspecified security charge.

Her family believes this will include an accusation of spreading propaganda against Tehran's Islamist regime.

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who works for the Thomson Reuters Foundation, has consistently denied all allegations, insisting she was on holiday to introduce her daughter to her family.

The mother-of-one has been used as a political pawn, according to Nobel Laureate and Iranian human rights lawyer Shirin Ebadi.

She said in June: 'Yes, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is being used as a political pawn but it is not just her.

'There are currently over 30 dual nationals that are being held in Iran, so pressure must be put on the Iranian government in that regard.'More than 50 pets have been rescued from two New Jersey homes, including dogs that were so matted their limbs that were 'rendered useless'.

Rosa Montero was arrested last month during two animal cruelty investigations that took place in Elizabeth, according to Union County Prosecutor's Office Investigations Supervisor John Esmerado.

Montero was arrested as part of the first investigation after authorities discovered the horrific living conditions of the animals.

More than 50 pets have been rescued from two New Jersey homes, including dogs (pictured) that were so matted their limbs that were 'rendered useless'

Montero was taken into custody by officers from the Elizabeth Police Department after a health inspector noticed two dogs being kept in unsanitary conditions inside crates on Montero's property.

A total of 13 dogs were recovered from the home, authorities said.

Several of the animals suffered from serious skin problems, hair loss, and matting so severe that several of the animals' limbs were rendered useless, Union County Assistant Prosecutor Patricia Cronin said.

The two dogs left outdoors in the crates were also missing several teeth, and required dozens more to be removed.

Authorities said the rescued dogs were groomed and received medical treatment and temporary shelter from Cranford-based Traveling Paws Animal Rescue, Puppy Love Pet Rescue in Roselle Park, and St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center in Madison.

Montero faces multiple charges, including three counts of third-degree failure to provide necessary care to an animal, causing it serious bodily injury and four counts of animal neglect.

A number of animals suffered from serious skin problems, hair loss, and matting so severe that several of the animals' limbs were rendered useless, Union County Assistant Prosecutor Patricia Cronin said

In the second investigation, authorities said they received tips from social media users.

As a result, a total of 39 dogs and several cats were rescued from a home on the 600 block of Chetwood Street in Elizabeth on Friday.

Many of the animals, ranging in age from newborns to seniors, had never received any veterinary services during the course of their lives, and they were placed into the care of several shelters.

The owner of the home has not been identified and charges in the case are still pending.

Anyone with information about these matters or similar incidents is urged to contact Cronin at 908-527-4169 or Prosecutor's Office Detective Vito Colacitti at 908-527-4387.A member of the Mi'kmaq tribe in Canada could serve 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to killing a lesbian couple in 1988, but the 51-year-old is allowed to maintain his innocence as part of a deal.

Anthony Barnaby was one of two people accused of murdering Charlene Ranstrom, 48, and Brenda Warner, 32, in New Hampshire 30 years ago and agreed to take the Alford plea where he is able to claim being innocent while pleading guilty on the grounds of evidence likely to count against him.

At Hillsborough County Superior Court on Wednesday, he was given 12 to 40 years behind bars for two counts of second-degree murder as one of his lawyers, Mark Sisti, said Barnaby felt 'elated'.

Anthony Barnaby returned to the Hillsborough County Superior Court in New Hampshire Wednesday, 30 years after a same-sex couple were tied up and stabbed to death in their apartment

The Canadian man was extradited from his reservation to undergo trial in the slayings where the victims were reportedly stabbed repeatedly before being tied up and abandoned.

It was the fourth trial in the case as the previous three ended without a verdict, however modern DNA techniques encouraged a new approach.

The developments brought about new witnesses which led to charges against two men in 2011. Other witnesses are either now dead or based in Canada.

David Caplin pleaded guilty in February, receiving 20 to 40 years in prison and agreeing to testify against Barnaby.

Barnaby has since spent a total of 2,700 days behind bars in his native country and the United States and is said to be pleased with the outcome as there's a possibility he'll be able to go back to Quebec, where he was extradited from, one day.

'He needed a number. He needed a resolution. He needed finality, certainty,' Sisti said. 'He had done an awful lot of time for not being convicted.'

Charlene Ranstrom, 48, (left) and Brenda Warner, 32, (right) were tied up after being repeatedly stabbed

Ranstrom (left) and Warner (right) had been part of a feud with Barnaby that concerned their sexuality and one of them planning to testify against the accused's friend

The South courtroom in Nashua heard that Barnaby had a problem with their sexual orientation and was part of an ongoing feud because one of the victims was going to testify against his friend who was accused of stealing cable services.

Barnaby is said to have avoided looking at Warner's family and opted to look straight on as photos of the women were on display, only speaking to give mainly yes and no answers.

While Ranstrom's only remaining relative passed away in 2017, Warner's loved ones were visibly emotional, crying and calling the defendant a 'monster'.

Acknowledging he may be free again, they expressed they hoped he be a better man after serving time, the length of which was unimportant to them but they were pleased they could hold the people accountable.

Barnaby (left) got 12 to 40 years while his co-defender David Caplin (right) was given 20 to 40 years in February

'It's been a long time coming,' Warner's niece, Amy Boisvert, who was eight when he aunt died, said. 'Like I said in there, time served didn't matter at this point. What mattered was the conviction and being held responsible for what they did. That is what we wanted.'

Judge Jacalyn Colburn said in court: 'Mr. Barnaby, the depravity of your actions and certainly of your co-defendant, exhibits an extreme indifference to the value of human life specifically to the lives of Charlene Ranstrom and Brenda Warner.

'Those two women did not deserve to be treated the way they were. They were threatened in the weeks and days leading up to their murders and they certainly didn't deserve to have their lives end in the fashion with which they did.'A middle school boy's 'floating head' pictures have gone viral after his mom made the hilarious mistake of dressing him in a green shirt for class photos not realizing that the photographer was going to use a green screen.

Laurel Boone Hutsell, of St Louis, said she and her son Carter took their time picking out what shirt he was going to wear for picture day at his school because they wanted to make sure the photos came out good.

What they received instead were eight photos of the child's head and arms floating in front of different backgrounds.

Carter's school pictures went viral when his mom dressed him a green shirt for class photos not realizing the photographer was going to use a green screen

As a result, Carter appears in his photos with just a floating head and arms in front of various backgrounds

Laurel Hutsell, Carter's mom, said she and her son find the photos hilarious and he earned the nickname 'green screen boy' at school

Hutsell said she and Carter spent days picking out the right shirt and thought the green one would look great

In a blog post for LoveWhatMatters.com, Hutsell wrote that she and the 7th grader settled on a a bright green shirt for picture day because it 'should look great against the gray or taupe background'.

Hutsell said she assumed the school was going to use the same colored-background it used in previous years.

The mom said she and Carter practiced how he should smile, did his hair and then sent him off to school.

It wasn't until she was emailed the photo proofs a few days later that she realized it was a bad idea to have Carter wear green for picture day because in every single picture the 7th grader's torso blends into the different backgrounds giving him the appearance of having a floating head and arms.

In the pictures, shared on Facebook Carter's torso blends into the different backgrounds

Hutsell said the photography company can add her son's shirt in the pictures, but she thinks the 'floating head and arms' pictures are funny

Hutsell said she realized what happened when the photography sent her the proofs. In all eight photos her son is left with 'floating head' photos

'I could not stop laughing. Each picture was better than the next,' she said

Hutsell shared the hilarious snaps on her Facebook page. In one picture, Carter smiles broadly as his torso disappears into an American flag.

Another photos shows his torso as a wooden fence, while in a third photo his body blends into a cement wall.

'I could not stop laughing. Each picture was better than the next,' she said.

'The flags? That autumn scene with the fence? I really couldnt believe my handsome boys head and arms were just floating there. I showed my husband and we got such a good laugh from it.'

In other photos Carter's head and arms float in front of brightly colored backgrounds. Hutsell said in a Facebook post that the school did not alert parents they would be using a green screen, but she found the humor in the situation.

Hutsell said she had sent Carter to school in a green shirt thinking the school was going to use a gray or taupe background like in previous years

The mom said the photography company was able to fix the pictures and add his green shirt back in

Hutsell, pictured with her husband, Carter (on the left) and her other son, has been 'cracking up' over the pictures

'Seriously cracking up! At least his hair and smile were on point!' she wrote, adding that the flag photo was her favorite.

Hutsell told the DailyMail.com that the photography company was able to fix the pictures and add her son's shirt in them. She also said Carter has been enjoying his newfound fame and his school has been 'hyping it up'. The middle schooler even earned the funny nickname 'green screen boy'.

Hutsell said she had spent days picking out the right shirt but her 'mom fail' taught her a valuable lesson: 'You can prepare all day long, but it might not matter in the end. LOL!'Bystanders that help the New York Police Department take a person into custody could receive $500 compensation.

A police union has suggested that those who assist officers should be offered the cash reward.

The Sergeants Benevolent Association believes the program could encourage people to help with suspects who are resisting arrest instead of filming any altercations.

The Sergeants Benevolent Association believes the program could encourage people to help with suspects who are resisting arrest instead of filming any altercations

Ed Mullins, the President of the Sergeants Benevolent Association, said the initiative will aim to increase respect for the police by giving an incentive for people to help officers.

'We are by no means asking the public to become vigilantes, but far too often we see police officers engaged in violent struggles while members of the public stand by taking videos with their cell phones,' Mr Mullins said.

We ask the public to say something if they see something, so now we are offering them a financial incentive to stay off of their phones and help officers who need their assistance.

The SBA is working with retired police officer and Brooklyn state Senator Martin Golden to draft a bill that would enhance current Good Samaritan laws.

The NYPD (pictured is a police officer for that force), however, does not support the proposal. In a statement they said: The NYPD encourages people to support their cops by calling 911'

It would work to shield bystanders from liability if they decided to help officers.

The NYPD, however, does not support the proposal.

In a statement they said: The NYPD encourages people to support their cops by calling 911.

The department doesnt want to see people put in harms way unnecessarily to collect a reward.'

The Patrolmens Benevolent Association also isnt supportive of the suggestions and instead wants to see better policies from City Hall to remove hostility, reported CBS New York.

The SBA said they strongly believe no one will get injured and that the program wouldnt encourage more vigilantes.Paul Manafort's guilty verdict has taken journalists back to the old-school ways of reporting the news.

Photos and videos have gone viral showing young interns sprinting out from the Virginia courthouse Tuesday immediately after the jury made their decision.

Cell phones are prohibited in the federal courthouse where jurors convicted President Donald Trump's former campaign manager on eight counts including tax evasion and bank fraud.

Once the verdict was in, the interns were sent on a mad-dash in their business attire, notebooks and pens in hands, to deliver the world the breaking news as it happened.

Cassie Semyon, 21, an intern for NBC News, runs from the courthouse with results of Paul Manafort's conviction

Reporters are pictured running from the courthouse after the jury reached a guilty verdict

No cell phones were allowed inside the courtroom, which meant young reporters had to break a sweat to deliver the news

The images of young journalists breaking a sweat have turned some into viral sensation.

One photo inparticular sent the internet in a frenzy.

NBC News intern Cassie Semyon, 21, is pictured in a blue dress and sandals running toward her team.

The hashtag #GoBlueDressGo quickly caught on with Twitter users commenting 'sign her up for the Olympic games!'.

'There's fast, really fast, supersonic fast, and then there is ''Cassie Seymon breaking the story of the year'' fast,' another person tweeted.

The hashtag #GoBlueDressGo quickly caught on as Semyon's photo went viral

Some Twitter users commented that the scene brought them back to the days of old-fashion journalism

Semyon identified herself on Twitter after the photo of her racing in from of the courthouse began to circulate.

'Yes, it is me, the journalist in the blue dress, running after the #ManafortTrial verdict,' she wrote.

The Temple University student then then thanked Associated Press photographer Jacquelyn Martin for snapping the picture.

NBC News reporter Andrea Mitchell tweeted that she's 'so proud.'

'Look at the form! the determination!' another man wrote. 'The lady in the blue dress is a true winner!'

An unidentified man holds a sign while a reporter runs out of the courthouse TuesdayTasha Schleicher, 41, who was dubbed one of 'the worst DUI offenders in the country' is sentenced to 24 months probation for DUI

A woman, dubbed one of 'the worst DUI offenders in the country' has been given probation after being arrested for driving under the influence multiple times.

Tasha Schleicher, 41, of New Hope, Minnesota, pleased guilty to one county of DUI on Monday and was sentenced to 24 months probation.

The mother-of-11 was arrested in April in Illinois after being found passed out behind the wheel of her car at a gas station with an open bottle of Crown Royal in the front passenger seat.

Authorities claim that she was even trying to fill her car with kerosene instead of gasoline just before she passed out behind the wheel.

'She is one of the worst DUI offenders this agency has ever arrested,' the Riverside Police Department department wrote in a tweet following her arrest.

According to police, Schleicher is wanted on six warrants in six states, including from Nebraska, Idaho and Oregon, all for DUIs.

She was charged with drunk driving, not having insurance and driving without a license, which was revoked on previous drunk driving charges.

Schleicher, of New Hope, Minnesota, was taken into custody in April after authorities said she was found passed out at the wheel of her car. When officers arrived, they saw an open bottle of Crown Royal (pictured) in the front passenger seat

Riverside police said she was 'combative' with officers 'in total disarray, not wearing shoes, and her clothes were literally falling off her' the entire time.

Schleicher reportedly lied about her name, birth date, Social Security number, and about being pregnant.

Police said Schleicher told officers she was pregnant, bleeding and having a miscarriage while she was in custory.

She was taken to a hospital where a pregnancy test determined she was lying.

Her 11 children, ranging in age from 16 to one year old, have been taken away from her because of her numerous drunk and impaired driving situations, according to police.

Last October, she was with her children in the car and allegedly nursing one child while driving drunk, according to The Post Bulletin.

According to police, Schleicher, who has 11 children, is wanted on six warrants in six states, including from Nebraska, Idaho and Oregon, all for DUIs. She's pictured (right) in a mugshot from October 2017 and (left) in a mugshot from April 2017

On May 14, 2017, New Hope Police received a call about a car with Oregon license plates that was 'running red lights, cutting other vehicles off and driving across the concrete center median,' a report said.

When officers arrived to the scene, they found Schleicher unresponsive 'due to an unknown substance'.

Three of her children had gotten out of the vehicle and were allegedly playing in the street.

A breathalyzer indicated she had an alcohol content of .16, the report says.A Russian couple were marooned in stormy seas for five days in a tiny inflatable boat before they were rescued by chance when a tanker spotted them.

Nadezhda Achapkina, 35, and her husband Mikhail Alaverdyan planned to go fishing from the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk for just half an hour.

Instead they were swept out to sea in sudden furious winds and despite their frantic efforts the pair were blown out far from shore.

Nadezhda Achapkina, 35, and her husband Mikhail Alaverdyan were marooned in the stormy Black Sea for five days in a tiny inflatable boat

The couple are helped aboard the Kriti Rock looking relieved to have survived their death-defying ordeal

After their ordeal, passing Greek-registered 28,077-ton oil tanker Kriti Rock spotted them, and the captain was named Christos Konstantinidis.

Russian media claimed divine intervention rescued the hapless anglers because the captain's first name means Christ in Russian.

'The sea was like a lake, no waves at all. We thought we would fish for half an hour and return,' Ms Achapkina said.

Their only provisions were a pack of sunflower seeds, a popular Russian snack.

'We weren't far from the shore, we could see people's faces. Misha (Mikhail) put out a line out a couple of times and the wind started blowing.

'It blew us away from the shore and was gradually getting stronger.'

They rowed frantically but made little progress towards the shore, and lost one of their paddles while waving their shorts in the air for help.

'We almost didn't talk to each other because there was nothing to say. We were simply waiting for luck,' she said of their first night at sea.

Passing Greek-registered 28,077-ton oil tanker Kriti Rock spotted them and helped them from the water

Ms Achapkina was badly sunburned in the exposed dinghy (pictured before and after her ordeal)

'It was so chilly, we were waiting for the morning so that the sun would warm us but instead we got badly sunburned.'

The couple were thrown along the Black Sea coast for several days. Vessels must have seen them but ignored them waving shorts by day and a torch at night.

'One tanker even fired a flare towards us but 30 minutes later it left for some reason.'

For three days they were hit by storms and the inflatable capsized.

'The strongest was on the third day, the waves were several metres high,' she said.

'You see your husband sleeping on the other end of the boat - at the very moment it turned upside down.'

He disappeared for some time she thought she had lost him but they eventually found each other and got back aboard the dinghy.

On day four some dolphins swam with them and they saw a submarine which offered no help.

The shore vanished completely for the first time which left them 'really terrified'.

They began hearing voices and hallucinating, and found themselves 'screaming at the water', and by day five the sun was out and they got badly burned.

The couple (centre) were swept out to sea in sudden furious winds and despite their frantic efforts the pair were blown out far from shore

The couple were thrown along the Black Sea coast for several days. Vessels must have seen them but ignored them waving shorts by day and a torch at night

A ship suddenly appeared through the mist about midday heading straight them. Usually they would scream and wave at ships but this time tried something else.

'We waited until the ship got close and intentionally fell out of the dinghy,' Ms Achapkina said.

The crew threw out life buoys and a rope ladder which Mikhail managed to climb.

'I had no power left. I couldn't climb the ladder,' she said.

They were given medical treatment and food and in the evening taken to meet the captain Christos Konstantinidis.

The deeply religious skipper chose that day not to pray before lunch, which meant he was on hand when the crew spotted the couple, giving the order to rescue them.

'The captain said that normally he prays from midday until 1pm before having a meal,' Ms Achapkina said.

'He has two icons in his cabin, one depicting Jesus Christ and the other the Holy Mother.'

The couple were dropped off in the Russian port of Taman before the Kriti Rock set sail for the Mediterranean with the captain unaware of his newfound fame.

The couple were dropped off in the Russian port of Taman before the Kriti Rock set sail for the Mediterranean

'Maybe our story will save someone's life, because the most important thing is to remain calm even in an emergency situation, not to panic, not to think about bad things happening,' Ms Achapkina said

The couple's relatives had called for a search after they disappeared but it was not known they went to sea.

Police were checking for them in Moscow thinking they went on a trip there.

'Maybe our story will save someone's life, because the most important thing is to remain calm even in an emergency situation, not to panic, not to think about bad things happening,' Ms Achapkina said.

'You need to think about what should be done to make it, not to waste your efforts being sad. This is very important.

'If even one of us panicked, we wouldn't have made it.'An elephant was freed from a mud pit after it fell in while trying to take drink as the slippery edge gave way under its weight.

Shivasankaran the tusker elephant was taken to have a bath in a rainwater tank in the town of Pathanamthitta in southern India.

The huge mammal saw a muddy pit nearby and went to drink water from it, but was too heavy for the soft ground around it.

An elephant was freed from a mud pit after it fell in while trying to take drink as the slippery edge gave way under its weight

Shivasankaran the tusker elephant was taken to have a bath in a rainwater tank in the town of Pathanamthitta in southern India but went to the pit instead

The huge mammal saw a muddy pit nearby and went to drink water from it, but was too heavy for the soft ground around it

The elephant struggled frantically to make a way out for itself but slipped back repeatedly due to its heavy weight.

Appu the dog which accompanied the beast kept barking until the mahout who looked after him came to help.

Villagers arrived with an excavator to dig Shivasankaran out but the machinery also got bogged in the muddy ground, making it useless.

Villagers arrived with an excavator to dig Shivasankaran out. The first one got bogged but a second one proved effective

They then attached several ropes to the elephant's body to pull him out once the pit was opened up

Dozens of villagers grabbed ropes they tied around the elephant in an effort to haul him out of the pit

Hundreds of others watched on as the elephant rescue became the most interesting event in the town

They eventually got a bigger excavator that could be positioned on firmer ground and finally freed the stricken elephant uninjured.

Dozens of villagers grabbed ropes they tied around the elephant in an effort to haul him out of the pit while hundreds of others watched on.

Appu never left his big companion's side as the rescue was underway, prompting villages to call Shivasankaran a 'big guy with a little friend'.

Shivasankaran was eventually freed uninjured form the pit and stood uprightSanta Clara County Fire Department is suing Verizon Wireless after the telecoms giant limited firefighters' access as they battled the largest wildfire in Californian state history.

The company throttled the department's service as they were still battling the Mendocino Complex Fire because it had reached its data limit for the month.

When the fire department called Verizon to tell them they were in the middle of dealing with a public emergency and safety issue, a customer service representative told them they should upgrade to a more expensive plan.

In the lawsuit, the fire department says the throttling was a result of the repeal of net neutrality rules.

Before they were repealed by the Federal Communications Commission in December, communications companies were required to provide equal data access to all customers.

County lawyers allege that the slowdown, called 'throttling', was caused by the FCC's action, which allows telecommunications to slow internet speed to selected customers.

The Santa Clara County Fire Department was in the midst of fighting the largest wildfire in California's history when its Verizon 'unlimited' plan's services throttled

When the SCFD contacted Verizon, they were told by the provider they needed to upgrade, despite communicating that they were in the middle of a emergency and public safety issue

The new rules allow companies to limit access to customers who have reached certain data limits.

Despite Santa Clara Fire paying for 'unlimited' data, they were hit with the issue of heavy throttling until they upgraded to a new plan that was more than twice what they were already paying in the middle of a public safety emergency, and despite communicating that with the service provider.

Verizon denies the slowdown was related to the lawsuit or the FCC's repeal of net neutrality rules, which required equal data access to all customers.

However, the firm agreed full service should have been immediately restored to the county when fire department authorities told a customer service representative it was responding to a public emergency, and the department should not have been urged to upgrade instead.

Verizon blamed a communication error and acknowledged the fire department's normal service should have been restored more quickly than it was.

'While Verizon ultimately did lift the throttling, it was only after county fire subscribed to a new, more expensive plan,' Santa Clara County Fire Chief Anthony Bowden wrote in the county's court filing.

Throttling means data was reduced to at least 0.5 per cent of normal speed or less.

'This throttling has had a significant impact on our ability to provide emergency services,' Bowden said in a statement that is part of a lawsuit filed this week in a bid to reinstate federal net neutrality rules.

'Verizon imposed these limitations despite being informed that throttling was actively impeding County Fire's ability to provide crisis-response and essential emergency services,' he added.

Bowden said the incident highlights how crucial, and life saving, reliable service is to ensure emergency responders have access to quick data that could prove lifesaving.

'In large and complex fires, resource allocation requires immediate information,' he wrote.

'Dated or stale information regarding the availability or need for resources can slow response times and render them far less effective. Resources could be deployed to the wrong fire, the wrong part of a fire, or fail to be deployed at all.

'Even small delays in response translate into devastating effects, including loss of property, and, in some cases, loss of life.'

The throttling specifically affected a fire department vehicle 'deployed to large incidents as a command and control resource' and is used to 'track, organize, and prioritize routing of resources from around the state and country to the sites where they are most needed,' Bowden wrote.

On Wednesday Verizon admitted that it had made a mistake in a statement on Wednesday.

'Regardless of the plan emergency responders choose, we have a practice to remove data speed restrictions when contacted in emergency situations,' it said.

'In this situation, we should have lifted the speed restriction when our customer reached out to us.

'This was a customer support mistake. We are reviewing the situation and will fix any issues going forward,' the statement added.

The company added that the incident had nothing to do with net neutrality.

Bowden added: 'In light of our experience, County Fire believes it is likely that Verizon will continue to use the exigent nature of public safety emergencies and catastrophic events to coerce public agencies into higher cost plans ultimately paying significantly more for mission critical service, even if that means risking harm to public safety during negotiations.'

Verizon said the customer service representative should not have forced the fire department to upgrade their services

Internet providers 'have shown every indication that they will prioritize their economic interests, even in situations that implicate public safety,' the lawsuit alleges, according to the filing

The account by Bowden is part of a larger lawsuit, filed by 22 states that are seeking to overturn the government's decision to revoke net neutrality.

The lawsuit argues the FCC failed to analyze how the end of net neutrality would impact public safety.

Internet providers 'have shown every indication that they will prioritize their economic interests, even in situations that implicate public safety,' the lawsuit alleges, according to the filing which was first posted by Ars Technica.

The Mendocino fire which began on July 27 has consumed nearly 407,000 acres, or roughly half the size of Rhode Island, and as of Wednesday it was 74 per cent contained.A man who has been linked to a shooting that left two dead in Nashville last week used one of the victim's credit cards three hours later, court documents have revealed.

Investigators say surveillance footage shows 20-year-old Demontrey Logsdon using the card at a gas station on August 17, while police were still on the scene of the shooting at a bar called The Cobra just miles away.

Logsdon and Lacory Cody Lytle, 24, men were taken into custody on Monday and are being questioned in connection with the murders of Bartley Teal and Jamie Sarratonio at The Cobra as well as the fatal shooting of Kendall Rice days earlier.

Nashville police believe the two men could be responsible for a string of 'cold-blooded murders' committed during a crime spree that terrorized the Tennessee capital last week.

Demontrey Logsdon, 20, (left) who is being questioned by police in connection with a shooting that left two dead in Nashville last week, allegedly used one of the victim's credit cards at a gas station three hours later. Logsdon and Lacory Lytle, 24, (right) are suspected of being involved in a string of armed robberies that took place last week

Neither Logsdon nor Lytle has been charged with the murders, but police has said the two men were selected as 'persons who need to be questioned based on certain surveillance images and recovered physical evidence'.

Logsdon was arrested Monday afternoon on an outstanding kidnapping warrant, and Lytle turned himself in hours later.

According to an arrest affidavit, Lytle is charged with using a surviving robbery victim's credit card after he allegedly spent $3.49 at a grocery store in Germantown.

Investigators filed a search warrant against Logsdon on Tuesday after surveillance footage allegedly showed him using a credit card that belonged to one of the Cobra victims at a North Nashville gas station at around 6.25am.

At his home they reportedly seized three phones and a hat.

Bartley Teal, 33, (left) and Jamie Sarratonio, 30, (right) were both shot and killed outside a bar called The Cobra at around 3am August 17 after being approached by two men in a dark sedan

The bar where Teal and Sarrantonio were shot dead on August 17 is pictured above

Sarrantonio, 30, and Teal, were leaving The Cobra at around 3am last Friday after a night of celebrating Teal's 33rd birthday when they were approached by two men 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.

A WEEK OF TERROR IN NASHVILLE August 8, 12.30am: Woman walking her dogs is shot after being approached by two men in a dark sedan August 12, 3.20am: A man is carjacked after stopping to check on a dog on the highway August 14, 5am: Kendall Rice is murdered while waiting to catch a bus to work August 14, 5.15am: Ryan Noble and two friends are robbed by two men near The Cobra bar August 17, 3am: Bartley Teal and Jamie Sarratonio are killed during a robbery in the parking lot of The Cobra Advertisement

It remains unclear why Sarrantonio was shot.

The suspects drove away in a dark Chevrolet sedan and dumped the victims' belongings in a nearby alley.

MNPD Spokesman Don Aaron called the random 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.

Authorities have linked the Cobra shooting to at least four other horrific crimes in the Nashville area beginning the week prior on August 8, when an unidentified woman was shot in the lower back while she was walking her dogs near her home around 12.30am.

She said they shot her after she told them to leave. The woman managed to call 911 but was left paralyzed by the bullet, which grazed her spine.

Four days later a 26-year-old man told police he was confronted by two armed robbers in a dark-colored sedan - just as the woman had described.

Police believe the two men involved in the Cobra shooting also shot and killed Kendall Rice, 31, (above) days earlier

The victim told police he had stopped on Highway 70 to check on a dog in the road at around 3.20am when the men ordered him to run and then stole his car, which was later discovered in an alley on Friday.

Two days after the robbery on the highway, 31-year-old Kendall Rice was killed around 5am while waiting 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 by two men as they walked by The Cobra - the same bar where Teal and Sarrantonio were killed three days later.

CCTV footage shows two men driving off in a dark sedan after shooting Teal and SarrantonioThe long running and intense competition between rival telco companies is set to reach a new level with the introduction of phone deals for just 10 cents a month.

TPG Telecom and Moose Mobile are introducing new business models that could shift the face of mobile phone deals in Australia, The Advertiser reported.

Moose Mobile, that uses the Optus network, has rolled out an offer of 10 cents a month as an introductory deal for new customers.

The plan is only available to those that bring their current mobile phone over to the network and only use minimal amounts of data.

The long running and intense competition between rival telco companies is set to reach a new level with the introduction of phone deals for just ten cents a month (stock image)

The two deals on offer for those customers who fit the profile are then $9 a month with 1GB of data or the $14 a month deal with 1.5GB of data.

WhistleOuts spokesman Kenny McGilvary spoke with The Advertiser and said the new offers could be one of the cheapest to ever hit Australian shores.

'Its certainly difficult to get much cheaper,' he said.

'Were now seeing a few carriers begin to follow each other with this style of promotion, which is making the marketplace even more competitive, which is a positive for consumers.'

Since introducing the new deal Moose Mobile CEO Dean Lewin said the telco had an influx of new customers, which was a positive sign.

'It's a price where customer simply feels they have nothing to loose by going with a small telco, if we dont deliver in the first 30 days they can cancel without penalty and it costs them 10 cents he said.

TPG Telecom, who recently took over iiNet, made it the second largest ISP in the country and now the company will invest a further $1.8billion to build its own mobile network.

The plan is only available to who bring their current mobile phone over to the network and only use minimal amounts of data

The acquisition also increased TPG's market share by 27 per cent, which makes it also makes it the second biggest broadband provider in Australia.

Telstra is still the leader in market share with 41 per cent, but Optus now trails behind TPG with only 14 per cent.

The moves being made by the two smaller telco companies is putting external pressure on industry giants Optus, Telstra and Vodafone.

However whispers from within the industry also point towards a possible merger between TPG and Vodafone Hutchison, which would create even more pressure on the telco giants by creating greater competition.

ACCC chairman Rod Sims said the TPG acquisition of iiNet has raised some slight concerns but the deal was still accepted.

'The ACCC has noted the growing consolidation in what will now become a relatively concentrated broadband market'he said.

'Any future merger between two of the remaining four large suppliers of fixed broadband is likely to raise serious competition concerns.'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.A third of Irish families no longer meet the definition of 'family' used by the Catholic Church, it has emerged, as the country prepares to welcome Pope Francis on Saturday.

The figures from an Irish government report show a rising number of unmarried, single and same-sex parents over the past decade.

Children's minister Katherine Zappone said 'society has changed utterly' and said it was 'out of touch' to use a traditional definition.

But Archbishop Eamon Martin said the state should be allowed to support the 'cherished' idea of married men and women with children, the Irish Independent reported.

One in three Irish families no longer meets the Catholic Church's definition of the family, new figures have shown, as the country prepares to welcome the Pope (pictured earlier this month)

The report apparently showed that there were 63,000 families with unmarried cohabiting couples and a further 90,000 with single parents.

Ms Zappone told the newspaper that it was a matter of 'regret' that some people did not feel welcome at the gathering and called for the August bank holiday weekend to be dedicated to all families.

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, drawn up under Pope John Paul II, the Vatican sees the family as 'a man and a woman united in marriage, together with their children'.

The Pope's two-day visit comes alongside a World Meeting of Families in Dublin where a pro-LGBT priest earlier said gay Catholics had been made to feel like 'lepers'.

Fr James Martin, who had faced calls from traditionalists to be removed from the list of speakers, said the church had caused 'deep hurt' against fellow Catholics.#

He said: 'Over the last few years, I have heard really sad stories from LGBT Catholics who have been made to feel unwelcome in their parishes.

Children's minister Katherine Zappone (pictured) said in response to the figures that 'society has changed utterly' and said it was 'out of touch' to use a traditional definition

'They've have often been treated like lepers in our church. Never underestimate the pain that LGBT people have experienced not only at the hands of our church but from society at large.'

But Archbishop Eamon Martin told the conference that the state should 'support the family, and especially the uniqueness of the faithful and exclusive union' between a man and woman as a 'cherished space' for bringing up children.

More than 37,000 people from 116 different countries are expected to attend for a series of events as part of the Catholic festival.

Some are planning to protest the Pope's visit by snapping up tickets for his closing mass in Phoenix Park which they do not plan to use, the Guardian reports.

Protesters reportedly claimed on Facebook that they had bought dozens or even hundreds of tickets in order to leave seats empty on Sunday.

Pope John Paul II leaves Shannon Airport during the last papal visit to Ireland, in 1979

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar criticised the plan, saying protest was legitimate but calling it 'petty and mean-spirited' to deny entry to those who would have wanted the tickets.

Health and safety restrictions for the closing papal mass by Pope Francis this year will see a maximum of 500,000 people in attendance.

The last papal visit to Ireland, in 1979, drew the biggest crowds the country had witnessed at a single event, as an estimated 2.7million people turned out to catch a glimpse of John Paul II.

It had been hoped he would visit Armagh but it was not feasible due to security concerns in Northern Ireland at the time.

Divorce, same-sex marriage and abortion were all illegal at the time but have since been legalised amid a wave of social changes in Ireland.

The Vatican has also come under fire for its response to claims of sexual abuse by priests, leading the previous Pope, Benedict XVI, to write to Irish Catholics in 2010.

Benedict said he acknowledged a 'sense of betrayal' but also pointed to secularisation and a 'loss of respect for the church', according to the New York Times.Julie Bishop has her sights firmly set on becoming Australia's next prime minister, after having reportedly vowed not to come off as second-best any more, and a new poll indicates she has the support of the Australian public.

The foreign minister is said to be full of confidence heading into Friday's leadership ballot, where it is expected she will face off against former home affairs minister Peter Dutton and Treasurer Scott Morrison for the top job.

In canvassing support - and after 10 years as the Liberals' second in command - Ms Bishop told her colleagues that she won't be 'another man's deputy,' The Australian reported.

Julie Bishop (pictured) has made no secret her eyes are firmly planted on becoming Australia's next prime minister, having vowed not to become 'another man's deputy'.

Her boyfriend, David Panton, on Thursday night backed her to claim the leadership, telling the Herald Sun 'by tomorrow at lunchtime, Julie Bishop will definitely be prime minister'.

Panton, who was attending the Myer runway series in Sydney, confirmed she was running, saying, 'You've heard it straight from the horse's mouth.'

Meanwhile, the prime minister's office confirmed a party room meeting would go ahead at about midday on Friday.

News Corp reported late Thursday night Mr Dutton had reached the 43 signatures required to call for a leadership spill.

Gold Coast-based assistant minister Karen Andrews was understood to be the 42nd, and a 43rd was expected to be signed before the meeting.

Dutton was seen dining with former finance minister Mathias Cormann at an Asian restaurant in Canberra - the both of them photographed as they were on their phones.

In the race for the deputy leader, Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg was believed to be putting himself forward, The Australian reported, and it is also understood Health Minister Greg Hunt would still run as Mr Dutton's deputy.

The publication also revealed Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has been in daily contact with Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove, but the nature of their discussions was not divulged.

Her partner, David Panton (pictured), has also backed his girlfriend to claim the top job, telling Herald Sun Thursday, 'by tomorrow at lunchtime, Julie Bishop will definitely be prime minister'

Mr Turnbull indicated on Thursday he would step aside if the majority of the Liberal party room signed a petition for a spill.

A ReachTel poll of 2,430 voters Wednesday showed 29 per cent of respondents supported Ms Bishop, almost triple Mr Dutton's 10 per cent, and far in excess of Mr Morrison's 8.6 per cent.

Despite her strong show of support in opinion polls, Griffith University political scientist Dr Paul Williams said conservative Liberal MPs would be hesitant to support a divorced, childless woman who also supported gay marriage.

'She may not resonate with the very conservative members of the party who either don't think the time's right for a woman to lead their party,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

Despite her strong show of support in opinion polls, Griffith University political scientist Dr Paul Williams said conservative Liberal MPs would be hesitant to support a divorced, childless woman who also supported gay marriage

'They'd be wary that the news media might frame her in a harsh way, the same way Julia Gillard suffered at the hands of some sections of the news media.

'For every vote they might win because she's a woman they miss two because of other issues around gender politics.'

Dr Williams said that unlike Mr Dutton, Ms Bishop would fail to resonate with outer suburban voters in Sydney and Brisbane concerned about criminal gangs and power bills.

'It's cultural. Who's going to be tough on migrants and criminal gangs? Bishop wouldn't present well to those demographics,' he said.

If victorious on Friday, Ms Bishop would become Australia's second female prime minister, the first PM from Western Australia since 1945 and the oldest national leader since 1967, following the disappearance of Harold Holt.

She has served as deputy to three leaders, watching from close proximity as Brendan Nelson, Malcolm Turnbull and Tony Abbott were knifed.

The 62-year-old former corporate lawyer was once mooted as a possible WA state Liberal leader after she joined federal politics at the 1998 election as Perth's member for Curtin.

A calm but defiant Prime Minister today said he would not contest a ballot for the leadership at midday tomorrow if the majority of the party room put their names to a petition for a new spill

Though WA is her political home-ground, Bishop was born to cherry farmers in Adelaide and attended the city's St Peter's Collegiate Girls' School.

She studied law at Adelaide University and practised as both a solicitor and a barrister before moving to WA with her husband, property developer Neil Gillion.

They later divorced but Bishop stayed put.

It was in the Howard government in 2003 that Bishop joined the frontbench as aged care minister.

Julie Bishop first became a minister in 2003, taking the aged care portfolio in the Howard government

John Howard rewarded her with the education portfolio and made her responsible for women's issues in 2006 but it was short-lived with the government falling in the November 2007 election that brought Labor's Kevin Rudd to power.

She was elected deputy Liberal leader under opposition leader Brendan Nelson after the 2007 poll and was handed the shadow employment and workplace relations role.

When Nelson's leadership imploded 11 months later she remained deputy under Malcolm Turnbull and took on the shadow treasury role.

Widely considered a failure in the portfolio, she stepped aside months later and shifted to foreign affairs - a job in which she has thrived to this day.

Incoming leader Tony Abbott kept her by his side after his one-vote party room win over Turnbull in December 2009 and she kept the portfolio after Labor scraped into minority government in 2010.

As Abbott shunted the train wreck that was federal Labor in 2013, Australia's first female foreign minister faced some tough challenges.

Peter Dutton could find himself without a majority if Malcolm Turnbull quits parliament and caused his seat to be lost to an independent or Labor

But she reaped the benefits of Labor's lobbying for a United Nations Security Council seat, making the most of it to tackle issues including Iran, Islamic State's rise in Iraq and Syria and shaming Russia over the MH17 tragedy.

The families of the Malaysian Airline disaster victims appreciated her deep and ongoing interest and sympathetic response.

She undoubtedly played a key role in healing the damage caused to relations with Indonesia by Labor's live cattle debacle, turning back boats and the Indonesian president phone tapping scandal.

At times, her profile has put her ahead of Turnbull in the popularity stakes.

In a March 2017 poll by Roy Morgan, 30 per cent of people surveyed said she was their preferred Liberal Party leader, compared to 27 per cent for Turnbull and 5 per cent for Peter Dutton.A bag of bones found during a routine sorting at an op shop in Melbourne earlier this month have been confirmed as human.

The Sacred Heart Mission op shop in Prahran discovered the bones while going through donated items.

'Everyone was very curious about the donation,' Sacred Heart op shop area coordinator Trish Williams told Fairfax.

Forensic anthropologist Dr Soren Blau conducted an examination of the bones and found them to have been used for teaching

'It caused a bit of excitement on the day for us and our op shop customers, especially when police came.'

Forensic anthropologist Dr Soren Blau conducted an examination of the bones and found them to have been used for teaching.

'It was clear as day to me that the remains were of no forensic significance,' said Dr Soren Blau, forensic anthropologist at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine.

The bones had drill holes and writing indicating they had been part of a display.

Sacred Heart Mission is a charity that helps people in poverty and it raises most of its funding through its op shops.

Sacred Heart Mission is a charity that helps people in poverty and it raises most of its funding through its op shops



Austria has rejected the asylum claim of an Iraqi who claimed he could not return home because he is gay, saying he acted too 'girlish' in his assessment interview, reports said Thursday.

The case follows that of an Afghan asylum-seeker whose claim to be gay was rejected because he did not 'act or dress' like a homosexual.

Rights group Amnesty International said earlier this week that it saw a 'structural problem' in how Austria assessed asylum claims. An Interior Ministry spokesman rejected this on Thursday.

In the most recent case to be made public, authorities in Styria state found that the Iraqi could not be believed because the 27-year-old displayed a 'stereotypical, in any case excessive 'girlish' behaviour (expressions, gestures)', which seemed fake, the Kurier daily reported.

Austria has rejected the asylum application of an Afghan claiming to be gay because he did not 'act' or 'dress' like a homosexual, according to a media report

The man, reportedly an active member of Austria's gay community, can appeal the decision.

Austrian LGBT rights groups working with the man could not immediately be reached.

Amnesty has slammed Austria's assessment of asylum claims as 'dubious', adding people in the central European country, which currently holds the EU's rotating presidency, should be able to count on 'professional and fair procedures'.

'The inhuman language in asylum claims does not conform with the requirements of a fair, rule-of-law procedure,' it said in a statement Tuesday.

Interior Ministry spokesman Christoph Poelzl rejected the accusations, saying that all officials who assess asylum claims receive training.

An official in Lower Austria state, who rejected an 18-year-old Afghan's claims that he was gay, is now no longer involved in assessing asylum applications, Poelzl added.

'The way you walk, act or dress does not show even in the slightest that you could be homosexual,' the official had written in his assessment, according to the Falter weekly newspaper.

The publication listed similar cases, including that of an Afghan whose rejection said that 'it would be questionable that the Taliban would have been interested in a stuttering, well-fed boy who had not given the impression of being able to become a good fighter'.

Austria's interior ministry said Wednesday that it could not comment on the specific case, but that it was 'not reflective of the (wider) reality'.

Austria's interior ministry said that it could not comment on the specific case, but that it was 'not reflective of the (wider) reality'. Pictured: Herbert Kickl, Austrian Minister of the Interior

Some 120,000 asylum claims have been decided on over the past two years, it added.

'Asylum-seekers must substantiate their reasons for fleeing. There are no concrete rules of proof, but the authorities must show if and why a claim was found to have been substantiated,' the ministry said in a statement, adding 'individual impressions' were significant in the interview process.

It said the government is currently working with the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR to offer further training on LGBT issues to 'ensure quality' in the asylum evaluation process.

Marty Huber of Queer Base, which currently supports about 400 asylum-seekers from the LGBT community, said she was familiar with the case. The group is also working with UNHCR on the training planned to take place from next year.

'It is very important that awareness building measures are taken... This case stands out in its intensity, but there are regularly statements, questions, ideas and assumptions how someone should be,' she told AFP.

Homosexuality is illegal in Afghanistan's conservative, highly gender-segregated society.A businessman has spoken out about how a dip in a hotel swimming pool while on holiday cost him his marriage and his career.

Stewart Vine, from Cullercoates in North Tyneside, ended up with a partially amputated foot after his toe became infected while on a luxury 2,500 week-long Caribbean break.

The 57-year-old was on the fourth day of his holiday at the Jolly Beach Resort and Spa in Antigua in September 2016 when decided to take a swim in the pool.

Mr Vine cut his foot on the pool floor and it got infected, causing his toe to turn black with sepsis.

Stewart Vine, from Cullercoates in North Tyneside, has claimed his marriage and career ended because of the stress caused after he cut his toe in Antigua in September 2016

The 57-year-old was on the fourth day of his holiday at the Jolly Beach Resort and Spa in Antigua in September 2016 when decided to take a swim in the pool

He said the eight-month recovery and stress caused by the injury has led to him splitting up with his wife, Sarah.

Mr Vine also said he had to close his courier business and give up a career as a financial sales manager.

He said: 'I felt my toe get pricked by something on the bottom of the pool like when you have an injection or stub your toe. It really hurt.

'Everything went wrong after my foot got infected and I had to have that op to remove my toe. You go on holiday to have a rest you don't expect to end up losing a body part.

'This has robbed me of my life. If I could turn back the clock and not get in that pool and have my toe back I would do it in a heartbeat.

'Before the injury I had everything and now I have nothing.'

Mr Vine said that when he got out of the swimming pool he saw a minor cut and thought nothing of it.

Mr Vine said he felt his toe (foot pictured right after the toe was removed) get 'pricked by something on the bottom of the pool' but thought nothing of it at the time. A few nights later, he woke up covered in sweat but was feeling better before his journey home

Mr Vine is now taking legal action against British Airways, who he booked the package holiday with (pictured the swimming pool at the 464-room Jolly Beach Resort and Spa in Antigua)

He put on antiseptic cream and a plaster.

A few nights later, he woke up covered in sweat but was feeling better before his journey home.

It was during the drive from Gatwick airport that he felt pain and saw his toe was going black.

His wife rushed him to Leicester Royal Infirmary, where a scan showed it was septic.

After being given some strong antibiotics he went to the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) in Newcastle.

Wife Sarah (pictured right) rushed Mr Vine to Leicester Royal Infirmary where he was given antibiotics before later having life-saving surgery in Newcastle. The couple have since split

What is Sepsis? Sepsis, known as the silent killer, strikes when an infection such as blood poisoning sparks a violent immune response in which the body attacks its own organs. It is the leading cause of avoidable death, killing at least 44,000 a year, and the Daily Mail has long campaigned for more awareness. If caught early, the infection can be controlled by antibiotics before the body goes into overdrive - ultimately leading to death within a matter of minutes. But the early symptoms of sepsis can be easily confused with more mild conditions, meaning it can be difficult to diagnose. Sepsis has similar symptoms to flu, gastroenteritis and a chest infection. These include: S lurred speech or confusion

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He was then transferred to the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle for life-saving surgery.

Describing the moment he woke up from surgery, Mr Vine said: 'I looked down and cried it looked like something out of a horror movie. It was disgusting.

'It looked like a shark had taken a large bite out of my foot and left a massive hole.'

Mr Vine is now taking legal action against British Airways, who he booked the package holiday with.

Travel lawyer James Blower, of Simpson Millar, is handling his claim.

He said: 'Unfortunately getting injuries and infections from hotel swimming pools is quite common.

'This has been a terrible ordeal for Mr Vine. It has greatly affected all aspects of his life.

'Swimming pools need to be regularly maintained and clear of obstacles and tour operators need to do more to ensure their facilities are safe.'

It is understood his action is against BA as the holiday provider he booked the trip with, which he can take under British law.

If Mr Vine wanted to sue the hotel directly, it would have to be filed in Antigua.

A spokesperson for British Airways said: 'We are very sorry to hear that Mr Vine has been so unwell.

'As the case is legally active, it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this time.'Residents unexpectedly netted the catch of the day in the flooded streets of a city in south-west China.

Heavy downpours in Yuanjiang county, Yunnan province, triggered floods in low-lying areas of the region on Wednesday.

Video footage of the spontaneous fishing expedition shows locals diving into the muddy waters and trapping their free dinner with their bare hands in the middle of the street.

Video footage of the spontaneous fishing expedition in Yunnan province on Wednesday shows locals diving into the muddy waters and trapping their free dinner with their bare hands

Free dinner: A pair of lucky locals successfully caught a fish that was nearly 60cm (24in) long

Residents are filmed laughing and grinning from ear to ear as they waded through the shallow waters amid submerged cars, scooters and bicycles.

Several traffic police officers are also seen joining in the fun while more people came rushing with nets and buckets.

A pair of lucky locals successfully caught a large fish that was nearly 60cm (24in) long, according to Beijing News.

A total of eight to nine fish were caught in the end, according to the report. It is believed that the fish were swept away from nearby markets.

Other clips filmed by witnesses show large garbage bins, scooters and shop furniture being swept away amid the heavy rain in the province.

A resident is filmed laughing and grinning from ear to ear as he pulls a fish out of the waters

A hawker owner has his entire inventory of fresh mangoes washed away amid the flood

A fruit hawker owner has his entire inventory of fresh mangoes washed away while he helplessly watches on.

Since early May, parts of south and central China have been suffering from a string of rain-triggered disasters.

Early this month, heavy downpours affects affected around 226,000 people across 15 prefectures and cities in Yunann province, according to Xinhua News.

At least six people were killed as of August 3 and 756 people had to be relocated, the report added.

Floods also damaged 12,040 hectares of crops and 1,686 houses, causing a direct economic loss of 228 million yuan (26 million).Anthony Scaramucci has made quite the on-camera confession - revealing he was a bed-wetter until 11 years old.

The former White House communications director made the embarrassing admission during a three-minute demo reel for his failed talk show The Mooch's Table.

The video obtained by the New York Post shows Scaramucci sitting at a dinner table with Stormy Daniel's attorney Michael Avenatti, rapper Saigon and radio host Karen Hunter, where he confessed: 'I did wet the bed until I was 11years old.'

'Lots of anxiety in the house and that's what happens,' he continued.

In a promotional demo reel for his failed talk show, Anthony Scaramucci admits he wet the bed until he was 11 year old

Unfortunately for the Mooch, his revelation wasn't enough to get the talk show off the ground.

'The show didn't go anywhere,' a Scaramucci spokesman said. 'It just didn't sell.'

The 54-year-old seems to be reveling in his newfound fame following his 10-day stint in the White House last year.

'One of the cool things about my fall from grace at the White House,' Scaramucci said, 'was that these sons of b****** made me quite famous.'

At one point, the failed TV personality said on the show: 'You can buy a bar of Trump soap. If you want to wash your a** with his face - no problem.'

He is now keeping himself in the public eye by promoting a new off-Broadway cabaret show inspired by Donald Trump and his family.

The 1st Annual Trump Family Special opens in New York on September 13 in New York City.

'I think they'd find this very funny,' Scaramucci said of the first family. 'They know how to take a joke.'

Though this was a failed attempt becoming a TV personality, its highly unlikely this is that last you'll be hearing of the Mooch.People trying to conceive a child could be hit by delays to foreign sperm donations under a no-deal Brexit because of additional red tape, technical papers have revealed.

Danish semen made up almost half of all non-British male reproductive material imported to the UK in 2017, the paper from the Department of Health and Social Care revealed.

Some 3,000 samples from the Scandinavian nation were brought in, alongside a small number from other EU states, plus 4,000 from the United States. It is mainly bought from commercial sperm banks.

But leaving the trade bloc without a deal would see the UK leave the EU Organ Directives and EU Tissues and Cells Directives, which cover material from human sperm, eggs and embryos to transplant organs.

Denmark boasts the largest sperm bank in the world, and semen from the country made up almost half of all non-British male reproductive material imported to the UK in 2017

The note adds that egg and embryo imports are less common than sperm, usually fewer than 500 a year, and are 'mostly from EU countries'.

The paper says: 'UK licensed establishments working in this area, such as hospitals, stem cell laboratories, tissue banks and fertility clinics, would continue to work to the same quality and safety standards as they did before exit, but some would need new written agreements with relevant EU establishments.

'UK licensed establishments that import or export tissues or cells from EEA establishments would need to make written agreements with those EEA establishments to continue importing or exporting these products post-exit.

'However, this will for the most part be a minimum burden on industry. For example, UK licensed establishments that already hold an import licence to import tissues and cells from third countries will be able to use their existing written agreements with third country organisations as a template.'

An independent UK national sperm bank was launched in 2014 but attracted just nine donors in its first year.

A collaboration between the National Gamete Donation Trust and Birmingham Women's Hospital, it ceased calling for more to join the following year, according to its website.

Denmark is one of the biggest sources of sperm donations around the world.The true scale of Russian involvement in the Syrian Civil War has been revealed for the first time.

A video released by the Russian defence ministry said more than 63,000 members of the country's armed forces had been involved in the conflict since September 2015.

According to the video, the Russian air force also flew 39,000 sorties - destroying 121,466 'terrorist targets' and killing more than 86,000 'militants'.

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A Russian Sukhoi Su-24 bomber taking off from the Hmeimim airbase in the Syrian province of Latakia

Vladimir Putin's troops have been responsible for turning the tide of the war in Syria in favour of Bashar al-Assad's government forces

According to UK-based monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 7,928 civilians and 10,069 combatants have been killed in Russian air strikes.

The figures also showes 231 different types of Russian weaponry had been tested in the embattled country - including aircraft and missile systems.

There was no mention of any Russian military or Syrian civilian casualties.

Vladimir Putin's troops have been instrumental in propping up the Syrian government forces of Bashar al-Assad for the last three years.

Assad's army has managed to hold off attacks both from ISIS militants and rebel militias because of the weight of Russian firepower backing them up.

Rebel forces have recently been routed in several provinces including the war-torn Eastern Ghouta region near Damascus.

Russian military police members stand guard at the Wafideen checkpoint on the outskirts of the Syrian capital Damascus

The Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov refueling near Spain en route to bolstering the bombing campaign against the besieged Syrian city Aleppo in 2016

Assad's troops are now zeroing in on the last remaining rebel stronghold in the north-western province of Idlib - home to two million people.

Campaigners have argued that Russian airstrikes have mostly been directed at rebels and civilians despite Moscow's insistence that they only target 'terrorists'.

UN war crimes investigators have also said that Russian and Syrian government aircraft have bombed hospitals, schools and markets, which are protected under international humanitarian law. Both militaries have denied the allegation.

A US-led multinational coalition battling the Islamic State (IS) group has said it has carried out 29,826 air strikes in Syria and neighbouring Iraq since August 2014.

The coalition has assessed that at least 1,059 civilians have been unintentionally killed in the strikes. However, an organisation that tracks allegations of civilian deaths, Airwars, says between 6,500 and 10,000 civilians are likely to have died.Connecticut crack dealer Christopher Miller, 43, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for murdering his roommate Edward Brooks and then blowing up the body. Brooks, who died aged 39, is pictured above

A Connecticut man who shot and killed his roommate during a drug feud before blowing up the body with a pipe bomb to get rid of the evidence has been slapped with a 30-year prison sentence.

Christopher Miller, 43, was convicted of murdering 39-year-old Edward Brooks on July 4, 2015, at the home where the men were running a cocaine distribution operation in West Haven, Connecticut.

Investigators say that when Miller discovered Brooks was branching out with a business of his own, the 43-year-old shot him three times.

In an attempt to cover up the murder, Miller and another man, Maurice Wearing, wrapped Brooks' body in plastic, bound it with rope, and drove it to a wooded area of Hamden, where they placed a pipe bomb Miller had made underneath it.

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Pictured: The West Haven home where Miller and Brooks were ran a drug-dealing operation

Police responding to reports of the explosion at around 11am found Brooks' body nearby. Miller and Wearing were arrested the same day.

Investigators seized 16 grams of crack cocaine, about 10.6 grams of methamphetamine and narcotics packaging material from the home, leading to the arrests of three of Miller's housemates.

In April 2017, Miller pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm and explosive device in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

He was sentenced to 360 months in prison on Wednesday.

Wearing is awaiting sentencing after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine and one count of possession of an explosive by a convicted felon.The lawyer of a California man who denies killing a gay Jewish teenager, says the suspect may have fallen in with an anti-gay and anti-Jewish crowd because he struggled with his own identity.



Samuel Woodward, 21, faces life in prison without parole if he's found guilty of hate crime in addition to the first-degree murder of 19-year-old Blaze Bernstein, but on the day of a court hearing Wednesday, Edward Munoz asked people to consider that he has a 'serious mental disorder'.

Speaking about autism spectrum disorder, Woodward's representative claimed that his association with a Nazi group that has been linked to five murders in a year, was due to living with Asperger syndrome among other things.

Samuel Woodward, 21, attended a court hearing at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach, California on Wednesday. He is charged with the murder of Blaze Bernstein

Woodward's attorney Edward Munoz says his client has a 'serious mental disorder'

Munoz added that Woodward struggled with his sexuality and has Asperger syndrome

Those affected can have difficulty with social interactions but Munoz says his client had even less of a chance because of his appearance, telling Buzzfeed News: 'He is a blonde, blue-eyed young man. Theres only going to be certain clubs hes going to be allowed into.'

Munoz didn't mention the neo-Nazi group, Atomwaffen Division, Woodward had previously been pictured with in Texas, a ProPublica reporter shared online in January.

Woodward used to dye his hair black but appeared with his natural hue showing as he appeared at the hearing, which ended up being postponed while the defense reviews evidence from the accused's mobile phone records.

Munoz said that his blond hair and blue eyes meant he could only fit into certain groups

The murder of gay UPenn sophomore Blaze Bernstein (left) will be treated as a hate crime

Munoz added that the defendant, who told police that his former high school classmate, Woodward, tried to kiss him, 'has a lot of issues, I think, around sexual orientation'.

Materials on his social media and computer also pinpointed him as someone prosecutors found to be racist, misogynistic and anti-government.

The University of Pennsylvania sophomore's body was discovered buried in a shallow grave in Lake Forest park after being stabbed 20 times in January.

Blaze, 19, was murdered in early January, after meeting up with a former high school classmate. His body was found, stabbed 20 times and buried in a shallow grave

Woodward is linked to Atomwaffen Division which has been linked to five murders in a year

Blaze's parents Jeanne Bernstein (right) and her husband Gideon (center) were not in court Wednesday but have ask people to practice kindness in their son's memory

His parents, Jeanne and Gideon Bernstein, were not in court but have urged people to do acts of kindness to remember their son who is described as a 'brilliant writer and scientist'.

Newport Beach resident, Woodward previously faced 26 years to life in prison because under California law, prosecutors can only seek the death penalty when a victim is killed because of race, religion or nationality.

Since Bernstein's death, a state bill has been proposed to change that to include sexual orientation.Investment bank Credit Suisse has fired two male employees after uncovering new evidence during an investigation into a historic sexual assault.

The banking giant terminated the contracts of the senior bankers after the former employee inspired by the #MeToo movement wrote to the company's chief executive claiming she was groped at a staff party in London in 2010.

The assault is said to have taken place when a group of staff went to a bar in Canary Wharf where the female banker claimed she was kissed and touched inappropriately by her more senior colleague.

The banking giant terminated the contracts of the senior bankers after the former employee inspired by the #MeToo movement wrote to the company's chief executive claiming she was groped at a London office party in 2010

Following the alleged assault the woman reported the incident to the police but no action was taken due to insufficient evidence.

The victim eventually left the company but, in January this year, was inspired by the #MeToo movement to send letters to Tidjane Thiam urging him to look into the case.

According to the Financial Times, which played a key role in alerting Mr Thiam to the letters after they were missed, an internal review was launched in March.

The victim eventually left the company but, in January this year, was inspired by the #MeToo movement to send letters to the company's chief executive Tidjane Thiam, urging him to look into the case

Lara Warner, the banks chief compliance and regulatory officer reviewed the evidence again and interviewed the man who is alleged to have assaulted the former employee, as well as a second who gave information about the incident at the time.

Ms Warner's investigation concluded both men withheld crucial information and terminated their contracts.

The FT says the bank has changed its anti-harassment policies and launched a global review of training practices.Federal border patrol agents have found a suspected drug tunnel leading from Mexico to the kitchen of a former KFC in Arizona.

The tunnel ran from San Luis in southern Arizona across the border into San Luis Rio Colorado, less than a mile away. It is 22 feet deep, 5 feet tall, 3 feet wide and runs for 600ft into Mexico.

Agents believe the smugglers were using ropes to pull them along. Police discovered it after arresting the owner of the old KFC during a traffic stop.

The tunnel was 22ft deep, 5ft wide and ran for 600 ft (approximately 200 yards)

Police believe smugglers used ropes to pull the drugs along the tunnel from Mexico to the US

On August 13, police in Arizona stopped Ivan Lopez and found 18 kilograms of methamphetamine, six grams of cocaine, three kilograms of fentanyl, 13 kilograms of white heroin and six kilograms of brown heroin in his truck.

The combined street value of the drugs is $1,165,800. The fentanyl alone was enough for three million doses.

The combined street value of the drugs is $1,165,800. The fentanyl alone was enough for three million doses. The building is seen from above

Lopez, who lives in Yuma, Arizona, had just driven away from the former fast food restaurant where he was seen lifting toolboxes out of the property.

The drugs were found inside the toolboxes.

He bought the abandoned property in April with cash, paying $389,000 for it.

This is the exterior of the abandoned KFC which Ivan Lopez bought in April for $389,000

It sits just a few hundred yards from the border.

Police say the construction of the tunnel would have been expensive.

'This tunnel would take this drug trafficking organization a long time to construct and would have been very expensive.

'Such an endeavor necessarily requires a combination of several individuals on both sides of the border, engaged in an intricate, risky transnational conspiracy to construct such a secretive structure,' Border Patrol Agent Scott Brown said at a press conference on Wednesday.

Lopez, who has previous arrests in Arizona for drug possession, drug dealing and traffic offenses, was taken into custody.Brer Ruthven, 54, outside Westminster Magistrate's Court today charged with assaulting Lola Tyrrell on August 5. He will stand trial in August

The middle-aged aristocratic son of former Tory minister Lord Gowrie picked-up his petite 19 year-old girlfriend and flung her from his Notting Hill flat after a row about cooking tongs, a court heard today.

Brer Ruthven, 54, - Viscount Ruthven of Canberra - from London, denies assaulting Lola Tyrrell on August 5 and will stand trial on October 4.

Brer is heir to the peerage title Baron Ruthven of Gowrie in the county of Perth.

His father, Lord Gowrie, 78, is the former Chairman of Sotheby's and the Art Council of England and was a member of Margaret Thatcher's cabinet as Minister of State for the Arts between 1983 and 1985.

Prosecutor Miss Katie Bryan told a preliminary hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court: 'At the time of this incident the complainant and defendant were in a relationship and in the process of separating.'

They met in January, last year at east London's hip Whitechapel Gallery and, according to Leeds native Ms Tyrrell, hit it off immediately, with shared interests in films, art and fashion.

The couple were at Ruthven's flat when a row over cooking tongs broke out between 9.30pm and 10.00pm.

'An argument took place over a pair of tongs the the complainant wanted to use while cooking dinner, because Mr. Ruthven said they were new.

Lola Tyrrell, 19, (pictured left) and Brer Ruthven, who is accused of assaulting her on August 5, he denies the charges

'He started shouting and and told her to use a fork and that she would have to do all the washing up.

'He went into the bedroom and started packing some of her clothes into a suitcase and told her to take it to her place because he needed the room.'

They sat down to eat, but Ms Tyrrell says Brer was still shouting at her, accusing her of having a 'shitty attitude,' the court heard.

'He continued to shout at her and and she describes him as: 'flipping out' and picking her up with one arm under her body and the other around her and taking her to the door and flinging her into the street,' added Miss Bryan.

'She was hardly dressed and had little in clothing and knocked on the kitchen window.

'She told him she was going to call the police and he told her to: 'F*** off'.'

Brer Ruthven allegedly picked up Lola Tyrrell with one arm under her body and threw her into the street

When police arrived Ruthven told the officers: 'I dragged her out of the house. I did not hurt her. We are in the process of splitting up and she can't handle it.'

Ms Terrell will give evidence behind a screen at Hendon Magistrates Court.

She told police: 'I don't know what he's capable of because he has such a short fuse. He belittles me a lot.'

Ruthven was bailed on condition he does not contact Ms Tyrrell and his lawyer.

Mr. Rory Laide told the court: 'There have been posts on social media in derogatory terms concerning Mr. Ruthven.

'He has reported them to the police.'

Brer was educated at private 39,000-per year Westminster School and is currently employed by City law firm Clyde & Co as a database developer.

He is a musician with the band Melanchodelia and recently opened his local Portobello Music Festival.Three women accused of being part of a circus school child abuse ring have been granted bail.

The women appeared at the NSW Supreme Court via video on Thursday and were told their bail application was accepted following a six-month lock up at Silverwater Women's Correctional Centre, Daily Telegraph reported.

Therese Ann Cook, 59, and her daughters Yyani Cook-Williams, 29, and Clarissa Meredith, 24, who are all part of a Blue Mountains circus group, pleaded not guilty to allegations of kidnapping, assaulting and filming sadistic rape of young boys.

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Clarissa Meredith, 24, cried when her bail was approved. She has been accused of allegedly being part of a circus school child abuse ring

Yyani-Rose Cook-Williams, 29, appeared in court on Thursday via video and was granted bail

Therese Ann Cook, 59, is also accused of being part of the alleged circus school child abuse ring

The court heard other allegations also involved 'blood rituals', 'a needle stuck in a boy's eye, a child being lifted off the ground by his genitalia, and a tongue-biting accident, The Australian reported.

The allegations occurred between 2014 and 2016 towards children under the age of eight, and even one alleged victim who was only three-years-old.

Justice Lucy McCallum said: 'My experience of the criminal justice system is bizarre allegations are often every bit as true as they are bizarre'.

The court heard other allegations also involved 'blood rituals', 'a needle stuck in a boy's eye, a child being lifted off the ground by his genitalia, and a tongue-biting accident (pictured the circus school)

The only reason their bail was approved was because they had no prior convictions.

Meredith cried when the bail was approved and the announcement was welcomed with loud cheers and clapping from the court room.

Investigations began in 2017, when boys explained what had allegedly happened, leading to the establishment of Strike Force Baillieu.

So far seven people have been charged over the allegations and will face Penrith Local Court and a childrens court on Friday.Advertising suggested consumers could find the best priced hotels on it's site

Hotel comparison site Trivago has been accused of misleading consumers by claiming to be 'objective' but really favouring businesses which pay it the most.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has taken the company to the Federal Court alleging it prioritised advertisers paying the highest per click.

ACCC chairman Rod Sims told ABC one look at Trivago's advertising suggested consumers could find the best priced hotels on it's site, which he alleged was 'deliberately designed' to be misleading.

Hotel comparison site Trivago has been accused of misleading consumers by claiming to be 'objective' but really favouring businesses which pay it the most

Mr Sims said Trivago, along with other comparison platforms, gave 'the impression they're there to help consumers when in fact they're there to help suppliers who pay them the most money'.

'We looked at Trivago algorithm and formed the view that it was misleading in terms of the way it presented options to consumers,' he said.

An investigation commenced after the ACCC received complaints from hotel operators claiming their prices were cheaper, yet not being priorities on the website.

The chairman said often the prices were misleading because they compared the cost of a 'luxury' room with a 'basic' room.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has taken the company to the Federal Court alleging it prioritised advertisers paying the highest per click

ACCC chairman Rod Sims told ABC one look at Trivago's advertising suggested consumers could find the best priced hotels on it's site

'By not making genuine room price comparisons, consumers would likely have paid more than they otherwise would have for the same hotel. Further, hotels may have lost potential business as a result of this alleged conduct,' he said.

Speaking with Sydney Morning Herald, Mr Sims said Trivago had the interest of the suppliers in mind, rather than those of consumers.

'We would allege it's all to do with Trivago making their site look more attractive to the suppliers. Not the consumers, the suppliers,' Mr Sims said.

'(The hotels were) looking at the fact that they figured they had the best price, but they could see that advertiser payments had the dominant role in the search.'

Trivago's ads ran on TV from 2013 until April this year and claimed they had the 'best price' for hotel rooms.

Mr Sims said a strike through the luxury room's price and comparing it with the standard room rate created a false impression of the savings customers could get on standard rooms

Trivago would be 'vigorously' defending itself against the allegations, and was 'disappointed by the action the ACCC had chosen to take', a spokesman told the publication.

'We agree with the ACCC's earlier public statement that 'comparator websites can assist consumers to make more informed purchasing decisions when comparing what are often quite complex products, and can promote healthy competition by assisting small or new service providers to compete more effectively.

'Our priority is to enable Australian travellers to find their ideal hotel.'A shocking video shows the moment a Canadian man was horrifically beaten with a hammer after he grabbed a woman who was 15 weeks pregnant.

Sylvain Gauthier, 36, lost his left eye after an altercation turned violent inside a Montreal convenience store in March 2017.

Surveillance video that was released by the store shows the moment Guathier approached Yan Lafreniere's then-pregnant girlfriend.

In a shocking video, Sylvain Gauthier (right), 36, is seen grabbing the collar of a pregnant woman (left)

Another man who was standing nearby is seen trying to get Guathier to release the woman, but all three end up crashing down to the ground (right)

Moments later, the woman's boyfriend, Yan Lafreniere (pictured), 26, runs up to Guathier and starts hitting him with a hammer on his back, arms and head

Guathier, who was believed to be intoxicated at the time, is then seen grabbing the woman by the collar of her blouse.

Another man who was standing nearby is seen trying to get Guathier to release the woman, but all three end up crashing down to the ground.

Moments later, Lafreniere, 26, runs up to Guathier and starts hitting him with a hammer on his back, arms and head.

That's when a store employee with a bat comes between the two men and breaks the assault up.

But that only lasted a few seconds. In the video Lafreniere is then seen issuing one final blow to Guathier's head, the blow that is believed to have damaged his eye socket.

Guathier falls to the ground as Lafreniere continues to hit him before he's pushed away by his girlfriend.

That's when a store employee with a bat comes between the two men and breaks the assault up. But that only lasted a few seconds before Lafreniere is seen issuing one final blow to Guathier's head, the blow that is believed to have damaged his eye socket

Guathier (on the ground) falls to the ground as Lafreniere (right) continues to hit him before he's pushed away by his girlfriend

Authorities said Guathier (pictured) was struck 16 times during the assault. The attack caused him to lose his left eye

Authorities said Guathier was struck 16 times during the assault.

On Tuesday, Guathier walked away from court with $150 fine for using brass knuckles during the fight that he started.

Earlier this year, Lafreniere pleaded guilty to assaulting Gauthier and was sentenced to two years in prison.Three Texas high school seniors have been arrested for allegedly plotting to attack their school using guns and explosives.

Taylor ISD superintendent Keith Brown says students at Taylor High School overheard the 17-year-old boys discussing their alleged 'detailed plans' on Wednesday, and notified administrators.

A Taylor police detective and a school resource officer who were on campus at the time arrested the three and charged each with making a terroristic threat, a misdemeanor.

Devant Davis-Brooks, 17, is pictured in tears after his arrest for allegedly planning to carry out an attack with two classmates on their Texas high school

Kadin Watson (left) and Emmanuel Pina Tejas (right), both 17, were also arrested Wednesday and charged with making a terroristic threat

Devant Davis-Brooks, Kadin Watson and Emmanuel Pina Tejas, all aged 17, were taken to the Williamson County jail. Two remained in custody on Thursday.

Brown applauded the student who came forward with information on the suspects' conversation, telling KXAN that the teen's actions on Wednesday potentially saved many lives.

Authorities have released no information on a possible motive behind the thwarted attack.

Police say none of the teens had weapons on them when they were taken into custody. School officials say no students were in danger.

Another student at Taylor High School (pictured) allegedly overheard the trio of suspects discussing their 'detailed plans' to attacks the school with guns and bombs

'I am impressed that this incident was reported by responsible Taylor High School students and taken seriously by the Taylor High School administrators,' said Taylor Police Chief Henry Fluck, according to Austin-American Statesman. 'It is important that the student suspects are being held criminally accountable for their threats and their violent plan.'

In addition to the criminal charges that Davis-Brooks, Watson and Pina Tejas are facing, the teens will also be suspended from school for three days and then temporarily sent to an alternative school.Customs and Border Protection officers found more than six pounds of cocaine in a neck pillow of a passenger coming from the Dominican Republic (file photo)

A passenger has been caught attempting to smuggle six pounds of cocaine through Newark airport in New Jersey, hidden in a neck pillow.

The man from the Dominican Republic was caught by customs officials at the airport as he was attempting to head out of the terminal.

Rafael Francisco Bautista Perdomo, 21, was one of two people arrested at the airport in after Customs and Border Protection officers found more than 6 pounds sewn inside each of their respective pillows.

Prosecutors said Perdomo, who was represented by the Federal Public Defender's Office pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler to a drug conspiracy.

He now faces a potential sentence of up to 40 years in prison and a mandatory minimum of five.

During routine baggage screening at Newark airport, pictured, CBP officers discovered the stash of cocaine sewn inside each of the neck pillows that the defendants were carrying

Perdomo and his co-defendant Brenda Mancebo were stopped at baggage screening checkpoints after arriving on a flight from Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic last October.

Mancebo also initially told federal agents she didn't recognize Perdomo, but that claim was apparently debunked by photos that investigators found on her cell phone, the court document stated.

'Law enforcement conducted a lawful search of Mancebo's phone, where law enforcement discovered multiple pictures of Perdomo that appeared to have been taken by Perdomo himself,' a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations said in court papers.

There was also a saved photo of the pair together days before the arrest, according to the compliant.

Perdomo has been held in custody since his arrest after he admitted to investigators that he had agreed to smuggle the drugs into the country after being paid $10,000.

Mancebo also pleaded guilty to the same charges and now both she and Perdomo are due to be sentenced in December.Celebrity chef Tom Colicchio's home and yard has been vandalized with hate speech and political scrawl after he displayed a sign for a Democrat running for Congress.

The 'Top Chef' host found the graffiti outside the home he shares with his wife Lori Silverbush and their two sons in Long Island, New York on Tuesday.

Colicchio said he found his wife's name, a cross and a defaced Jewish star outside his property.

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Celebrity chef Tom Colicchio's New York home was vandalized with hate speech and political scrawl on Tuesday after he displayed a sign for a Democrat running for Congress

They also found 'TRUMP' written in red paint on the mailbox, as well as 'Cuomo=Death to America' with a hammer and sickle painted on the street and grass.

The words 'Cynthia Nixon' and 'Go Home' were also painted in white.

Nixon is challenging New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary.

Colicchio said he believes the incident was in response to him putting up a sign supporting Perry Gershon, the Democrat who is running for Congress against Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin.

The 'Top Chef' host found the graffiti outside the home he shares with his wife Lori Silverbush and their two sons in Long Island, New York on Tuesday

Colicchio said he found his wife's name, a cross and a defaced Jewish star outside his property

The words 'Go Home' were repeatedly painted across his front lawn and they also found 'TRUMP' written in red paint on the mailbox

'Woke up this a.m. to a swath of hate speech painted across the property I share with @tomcolicchio and our 2 little boys,' his wife tweeted.

'Cute touch: my name & a defaced Jewish star. Wake up USA: POTUS tacitly applauds this. THIS is whats at stake in the upcoming elections. #Vote2018 #NeverAgain'

Police say they are investigating the incident.

Zeldin criticized the incident on Facebook, saying 'this coward needs to be identified and prosecuted'.

'Settle your scores at the ballot box in our great country! There is no place whatsoever for actions like this in our political discourse, he wrote.The family of Mollie Tibbetts says the have forever lost their 'sense of normalcy,' since the Iowa college student was found dead following her disappearance a month ago.

Mollie's family has spoken out for the first time since Cristhian Bahena Rivera, a 24-year-old Mexican immigrant, was accused of killing her. The Iowa college student's body was found Tuesday in a cornfield near her hometown of Brooklyn, Iowa.

On Wednesday night, her brother Jake spoke during a vigil at the University of Iowa, where she the 20-year-old would have started her sophomore year.

'From our family from our friends from the community of Brooklyn (Iowa), we thank you from the bottom of our heart,'' Jake said at the vigil.

She was incredible and we're gonna miss her dearly. We're never gonna have that sense of normalcy again.'

Mollie's family says they have forever lost their sense of normalcy since they learned of her death (shown here mother Laura Calderwood center in blue and brother Jake in blue to the left along with other family members on Tuesday during a press conference about her death)

Mollie pictured with her father Rob Tibbetts, and with her mother and two brothers. The family says they are heartbroken by their loss and thanked everyone from around the world for the support they have received

Cristhian Rivera, 24, is accused of killing schoolgirl Mollie Tibbetts while working as a farmhand at Yarrabee Farms, in Iowa, on July 18

Jake also touched upon his sister's legacy, saying 'The stories you've all heard about Mollie over the last month, they're incredible,' he said.

'To be honest, what made her so special was she was just like anyone standing here  she loved to run, she loved Harry Potter, she loved the Hawks, she loved her family, she loved her friends.'

'What made her special is she was so outgoing, so loving, so passionate,' he said.

'She wasn't a silent person in the literal sense in that when she talked, everyone in the room heard her, and also about things she cared about, things she was passionate about. She wouldn't stay silent if she felt something was wrong, and that's what's so great about her.'

Tibbetts' family also issued a statement, saying 'our hearts are broken.'

'We know that many of you will join us as we continue to carry Mollie in our hearts forever.''

Mollie's extended family, including her aunt Billie Joe Calderwood and her cousin Samantha Lucas have hit back against her death being used as a political platform for immigration reform as it has been discovered that Rivera is an illegal migrant who used a fake ID to pass background checks, according to his employer.

Rivera was working at Yarrabee Farms in Iowa when he allegedly followed Tibbetts in his car before killing her when she threatened to call police.

Dane Lang, co-owner of the farm, previously said that Rivera had worked there for four years and passed all background checks, despite police saying he had been in the US illegally the entire time.

Now Lang has revealed that Rivera used a fake ID and social security number to cheat the Social Security Administration verification system, which the farm used.

During a vigil for her sister on Wednesday night, Jake said Mollie was special, outgoing and loving. He said his family will never know normalcy again (pictured right after speaking)

Mollie Tibbetts' brother Jake comforted fellow mourners during a candle-light vigil at Iowa University where his sister would have been a sophomore this year

Rivera allegedly used a fake identification to gain his work visa in the US and was for several years before he was arrested for Mollie's murder this week

Dane Lang, co-owner of the farm, has revealed that Rivera used a fake ID to pass background checks and that his colleagues knew him by another name

'What we learned within the last 24 hours is that our employee was not who he said he was,' Lang told the New York Post.

Employees did not know him as Rivera because he used a different name at work, Fox News reported.

Police also revealed that the dark-colored Chevy Malibu Rivera was seen driving in CCTV footage on the night Tibbetts vanished was also not registered in his name.

Investigators did not reveal the false identity which Rivera used.

Lang previously said Rivera had been checked using the the federal E-Verify program, though later said that had been a mistake.

Authorities insist that Rivera has been in the US illegally for between four and seven years, though his lawyers say otherwise.

During his first court appearance on Wednesday, lawyer Allan Richards insisted Rivera was in the country legally and 'has the legal documents' to prove it, though he did not produce any of those documents.

Richards also revealed that Rivera first came to America as a minor, has held a job since then and has no prior criminal record.

His client remained largely silent throughout the bail hearing, answering 'yes' or 'no' to questions which were read to him through an interpreter.

A judge ordered Rivera to be held in lieu of a $5million bond.

Several family members of Mollie have been outspoken in their calls for her death not to be used as a political pawn

Mollie's cousin, Samantha Lucas, attacked the conservative right for 'generaliz(ing) a whole population based on some bad individuals.' She attacked conservative commentator Candace Owens telling her to 'stop being a f***ing snake'

Rivera's three-year-old daughter was in the public gallery along with her 25-year-old mother

One of his relatives cried as she watched him be led away by deputies at the end of the hearing

Rivera was caught after police traced his vehicle which had been filmed on surveillance cameras following Mollie as she jogged in Brooklyn, Iowa, on July 18.

He attacked her when she refused to talk to him and threatened to call the police.

Prosecutors argued for his bond to be increased for the safety of the community.

'We think it is appropriate given the severity of the charge, what his immigration status as it's been described and the fact that what he is accused of is obviously a very heinous crime the safety of the community should be at the forefront of the court's mind,' Assistant Attorney General Scott Brown said.

Judge Johnson agreed with the prosecution at every turn.

She allowed the media to remain in the room and refused Rivera's attorney's request to make the hearing private.

In asking that bail be set at a 'reasonable' amount, Rivera's attorney said: 'Cristhian is a young man.

'He's been working for a number of years for a respectable person in this community, he has no prior history, he sits here presumed evidence and so far no evidence has been submitted.

'When he came to this country as a minor, he had the mental capacity of an eighth grader.'

After the hearing, Yarrabee Farms, where he had worked, held a press conference to say they could no longer be sure, as they once had been, that he in fact was in the country legally.

While Rivera passed their E-verification check with the information he gave them, the company now says he provided a different name. The next time he will return to court is on August 31 at 2pm.



A Texas man who survived a shark attack earlier this month was back in hospital this week after flesh-eating bacteria was discovered in the wound on his leg.

Blaine Shelton, 42, from Alvin, was swimming alone about 200 feet away from the shore near Crystal Beach on Bolivar Peninsula on the morning of August 9 when a shark locked its jaws around his right leg.

The sea creature, believed to be a seven-foot bull shark, then swam away, leaving a half-dozen deep wounds gushing blood just above Shelton's knee, as seen in a graphic photo that was released by the Galveston County Sheriff's Office.

Blaine Shelton (left), 42, was back in the hospital on Tuesday, a week and a half after a shark attack him near Crystal Beach, Texas, and bit him on his right leg (right)

Shelton, who works construction, was able to swim to shore, where a friend ran for help.

He was taken to the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston for treatment, which had continued until his release last week.

I already saw the fin, and I knew it wasnt a porpoise, Shelton later recounted to KHOU11. So I turn around to get out of there, and thats when he grabbed me by the leg.

On Tuesday, the 42-year-old told the station that while he was recovering at home from his injuries, he began experiencing excruciating pain at the site of the bite.

He was readmitted into the hospital, where doctors were forced to cut away some of the tissue infected by the flesh-eating bacteria.

On Thursday, Shelton shared a photo on his GoFundMe page depicting him smiling in his hospital bed. He also posted an update on his condition, writing that he was in good hands.

The construction worker says he has contracted flesh-eating bacteria from the bite

Shelton launched the campaign on August 16, seeking to raise $30,000 to help cover his medical expenses, which he now says could top $100,000.

I honestly thought I'd go, get super-glued up and sent out the door, Shelton said.

As of Thursday afternoon, just over $500 has been raised on GoFundMe.

Shelton also has raised more than $1,110 through a separate Facebook fundraiser.A police investigation is under way after 'significant concerns' were raised over post-mortem examinations carried out for a coroner who recorded an 'incorrect' cause of death.

Dr Khalid Ahmed, who worked as a consultant histopathologist for Pennine Acute NHS Trust at the Royal Oldham Hospital, carried out an undisclosed number of post-mortem tests for North Manchester Coroner Joanne Kearsley.

But in May last year, Ms Kearsley's office raised concerns with Dr Ahmed's employers and a number of inquests were put on hold as an independent expert review was ordered.

Dr Khalil Ahmed worked as a consultant histopathologist for Pennine Acute NHS Trust at the Royal Oldham Hospital and carried out post-mortem tests for Coroner Joanne Kearsley

The review of a sample of 38 of Dr Ahmed's post-mortem examinations by Professor Simon Kim Suvarna, a consultant histopathologist at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, found some of the reports to be 'inadequate', with an 'incorrect' cause of death given.

Professor Suvarna said he could not comment on his report until it is heard in the coroner's court.

A hearing is scheduled next month to decide if the scheduled inquests where Dr Ahmed has provided expert evidence through his post-mortem examinations should continue.

Prof Suvarna's report found 'errors and deficiencies' in Dr Ahmed's internal tissue examinations, including that he used 'standardised descriptions' of the cardio-vascular system 'such that almost all his cases have the same acute and previous myocardial infarction - which is not borne out by the clinical history or subsequent histology'.

Prof Suvarna's report also notes the 'final summary text' is missing from most cases he reviewed, while adding: 'Dr Ahmed produced pathology reports in a manner whereby one may even have concerns that the wrong slides have been considered.'

In one case a patient's toxicology results had been 'over-interpreted', leading to the wrong cause of death, says the review, while adding that his reports lacked the kind of commentary needed by 'clinicians, nursing staff and society as a whole'.

In May 2017, Ms Kearsley's office raised concerns with Dr Ahmed's employers, Royal Oldham

'The overall failure to correctly interpret macroscopic, histological and other data has meant that the final cause of death in most cases reviewed was incorrect,' it concludes.

Collette McCartney, 35, died in May 2016 after being admitted to the Royal Oldham with a swollen elbow and knee.

Her family have still not got to the bottom of what happened, due to the current investigation into Dr Ahmed, which has seen her inquest repeatedly delayed.

Collette - described as a 'larger than life girl who was loved by thousands' - had had part of her stomach removed during a gruelling run of cancer treatment in 2015, but by March 2016 had been given the all clear by Salford Royal.

Two months later she was admitted to the Royal Oldham with severe swelling and suspected sepsis.

A couple of days after that she died, suddenly and unexpectedly. Her family say doctors told them Collette had not been resuscitated because her death was thought to be due to cancer - but a post mortem carried out by Dr Ahmed found no trace of the disease and concluded it was due to pneumonia and sepsis.

Her inquest was due to be held nearly a year ago. However the investigation into Dr Ahmed's practice has now left them in limbo and without the resources to hire a lawyer.

'It's absolutely appalling,' said Gary Cleaver, partner of Collette's sister Yvette.

'We just don't know what she died of. Two years later we are still in absolute anguish.'

Coroners often reach verdicts on the causes of death of people based on expert medical evidence presented to them after doctors carry out post-mortem examinations.

Collette McCartney, 35, died in May 2016 after being admitted to the Royal Oldham

Histopathology refers to the examination of tissue for manifestations of disease. Dr Ahmed, who qualified as a doctor in 1989 in Bangalore, India, was not available for comment.

How long Dr Ahmed has been carrying out post-mortem examinations for coroners' departments in Greater Manchester has not been disclosed. He joined Pennine Acute Trust in January 2007.

In a statement, the trust said after they were told of the coroner's concerns, an 'in-depth internal review' into Dr Ahmed's practice was carried out, which concluded in February this year.

It covered his work for the coroner and for the trust, as 'governance mechanisms' at the trust 'had also highlighted concerns regarding his NHS work for the organisation'.

However, the trust said a 'thorough and extensive investigation' of Dr Ahmed's NHS work 'provided assurance' his practice was 'within the range of a reasonable pathologist'.

Ahmed was a consultant histopathologist for Pennine Acute NHS Trust at the Royal Oldham

However, the review by Professor Suvarna revealed 'significant concerns'.

A subsequent police referral was made by the coroner and a police investigation is still ongoing.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said: 'GMP is assessing what, if any, criminal offences may have been committed in relation to findings presented to the coroner.'

A spokesman for Pennine Acute NHS Trust added: 'The wellbeing of patients and bereaved relatives remains the Trust and the Coroner's office priority, and we apologise unreservedly for any stress this may cause.'

Dr Ahmed no longer works for the trust.

North Manchester's coroner has not commented.

The General Medical Council said Dr Khalid is still licensed to practise as a histopathologist.A man has been arrested after police say he urinated on a five-year-old black girl in an alley in western Michigan and called her a racial slur.

The girl's parents called Grand Rapids police on Wednesday evening and reported that a roughly 60-year-old white man had urinated on her about 20 minutes earlier.

She was in the alley behind their house with two seven-year-olds who witnessed what happened.

The man urinated on the girl in an alley behind her home in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Wednesday at 6.30pm. An alley on the street is pictured

The children gave police a description of what the man looked like and authorities tracked him down that evening.

He has not been named but was booked into Kent County Jail on an unspecified felony charge.

The case is under investigation and police say the children involved are being offered counseling.A retired Army chief and international charity worker who once posed alongside the Queen has been jailed for repeated sex attacks on a young girl.

Lieutenant-Colonel Tom Gallagher, 66, targeted the 'vulnerable' teenager in Scotland while his wife was away in May last year.

After drinking at a local pub, he crept into her bedroom, pulled down her pyjamas and subjected her to hours of sexual acts.

The girl emailed her parents in England the next day and told them what had happened. They rang the police and she was taken to Falkirk Police Station.

Lieutenant-Colonel Tom Gallagher, 66, (pictured guarding the Queen in Germany in 1993) targeted the 'vulnerable' teenager in Scotland while his wife was away in May last year

Gallagher said he would throw himself in Loch Tay and scrawled the words 'I'm sorry' in his diary, which he left open for his wife to find, Falkirk Sheriff Court heard.

Jurors took just 28 minutes to find him guilty of sexual assault after a four-day trial.

Gallagher, of Killin, had denied the charges, claiming the girl had consented.

He was sentenced today to three years behind bars and has been placed on the sex offenders' register for life.

Gallagher, who served with the Royal Engineers, was once photographed guarding the Queen in Germany while he was still a major.

He accompanied renowned explorer John Blashford-Snell on a series of scientific expeditions to South America, visiting Ecuador, Costa Rica and Columbia.

Gallagher (left) was jailed for three years today. He served with the Royal Engineers and was once pictured alongside the Queen (right)

Gallagher helped in orphanages in Africa and was pictured on parade alongside Scouts and Guides on Remembrance Sunday while on bail for the offence.

He also played Santa clause at Killin primary school in Perthshire 2016 and at local pub The Capercaillie.

The court heard he moved to Perthshire from Somersham in Cambridgeshire after retiring from the Army.

Sentencing Gallagher, Sheriff Craig Caldwell told him that he took account of his 'service to his country' and charity work.

But he added: 'I do not know what was in your mind. This young girl was alone with you. You were aware of her vulnerability.

Lieutenant-Colonel Gallagher pictured in Ecuador in 2012

'She put her trust in you, and she was entitled to safety and your protection.

'Instead of offering her that, you deliberately and cynically took the opportunity to subject her to prolonged sexual assaults which continued, effectively, for an entire night.

'You visited her bedroom repeatedly for your own sexual gratification, notwithstanding the distress she clearly exhibited.

'You returned the next morning, when there was further evidence of distress, but still that did not deter you.

'When she told her parents you lied and tried to cover up, causing further distress.

'I take account of the fact that you have given substantial service to your country and over a very long number of years and have engaged yourself voluntarily in significant charitable work, but this is an extremely serious offence.

'One cannot imagine the effects on this girl, this child.

'These cases cause significant emotional distress, which continues for years.'

Harry Couchlin, defending Gallagher, said: 'He is a first offender but I cannot minimise these serious offences.'

After sentencing, the girl's father, a 45-year-old former prison officer, said the sheriff should have sent Gallagher to the High Court for sentence.

He said: 'Three years isn't nearly enough.

'Gallagher did charitable work round the world, predominantly in orphanages, yet he put my daughter through a three-hour sexual ordeal, and then forced her to give evidence at a trial during which she was in and out of the witness box over a period of three days.

'He begged her not to tell anyone because it would "ruin his life", but it has taken its toll on her.

'She has just got her GCE results and got all Cs when she was expected to get As and Bs, and she is having counselling.'

He called for the Royal Engineers to strip Gallagher of the right to use his title, and his 70,000 a year pension.A dedicated mother of a special needs student in Northern California makes her dutifully visit to his high school to assure herself that he receives his daily round of cannabis oil as a preventative measure for his severe seizures.

The only drawback is that after Karina Garcia drives from the family home in San Bruno, California, to the South San Francisco school, she has to remove Jojo, 19, out of the classroom.

Garcia, 38, broke down the most difficult process of her routine, making sure mother and son are exactly 1,000 feet away from school grounds just to administer a few drops of the medically prescribed marijuana into his mouth.

Karina Garcia has to drive every day to JoJo's high school to give him a dose of medical marijuana

In order for JoJo to receive his required dose of prescribed medical marijuana to combat his epilepsy, his mother had to take him away from school grounds

Although marijuana use has been legalized for personal and medicinal use in the Golden State, federal laws prohibits a student like JoJo from taking their prescribed doses on school property.

'He'd go to school and he'd seize all day and he wouldn't be able to stay there because the seizures took a lot out of him,' Garcia told Fox affiliate KTVU.

After prescription meds stopped short of doing anything to subdue the severeness that JoJo's epileptic convulsions presented, Garcia turned weed as a means to save her son, who was just a three-month-old baby when he was diagnosed with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.

JoJo, as his friends and family members affectionately call him, has been authorized a note for dosages of a cannabis oil that contains the chemical cannabidiol, or CBD. It also carries a trace amount of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. Both are extracted from the marijuana plant.

One of the four dosages of cannabis oil that a 19-year-old high school student with epilepsy is required to take during school hours

The youngster, who is set to graduate from South San Francisco High School in June 2019, has to take four doses from two types of oil - one of them during school hours - that have incredibly done its wonders on JoJo.

'It's changed our life,' Garcia said. ' it's given my son his life back.'

State Senator Jerry Hill became aware of JoJo's condition and has vowed find a solution.

The Democrat lawmaker introduced bill SB1127 that will let individual school districts decided if a child's parent can administer the drug at schools. According to the law's guidelines, the medical weed can't be smoked or vaped.

A judge in California last week ruled in favor of a five-year-old girl, who suffers from Dravet syndrome, to attend her first day of kindergarten and to have a school nurse administer medical marijuana to her gums.

Brooke Adams has battled the constant and prolonged seizures and need to have with her at all times a THC oil and cannabidiol, a marijuana compound also known as CBD, that causes her seizures to stop.

A ruling is expected by November.

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There could be a roadblock since schools receive federal educational funds and marijuana is only legalized by some state governments.

Out of 31 states and Washington, D.C, that have give the green light towards the use of medical marijuana, seven states have passed laws that allow students to use it at school facilities.

The consumption of smokeless weed products for children that have prescriptions has gotten the OK inside school property in New Jersey, Illinois, Delaware and Colorado.

'It's opening the door to safe access and that's what the movement is all about,' Garcia said. 'I think that's what the face of my son represents.'Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is weighing whether to allow states to use federal money to purchase guns for schools, officials say.

According to the New York Times, the Education Department is thinking of dipping into Student Support and Academic Enrichment grants, which are earmarked for educational enrichment.

Because the program makes no mention of prohibiting weapons purchases, the department would be able to approve any state or district plans to use the funding for firearms and firearm training.

The news that the DeVos is even considering such an action has been met with widespread outrage from educators, law enforcement and politicians on both sides of the aisle.

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is said to be looking into whether federal money could and should be used to purchase firearms for schools, according to new reports

After the plan was first reported Wednesday, an official told the Associated Press that the agency is reviewing the legislation governing the grants to see if the money could be used to buy firearms.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to discuss the issue publicly.

Sen Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Senate committee overseeing education, decried that idea as 'absurd and appalling.'

Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, accused Education Secretary Betsy DeVos of lobbying for the National Rifle Association.

Liz Hill, a spokeswoman for the Education Department, told the New York Times: 'The department is constantly considering and evaluating policy issues, particularly issues related to school safety.

'The secretary nor the department issues opinions on hypothetical scenarios.'

The Education Department is reviewing a grant program that makes no mention of prohibiting weapons purchases, which would allow DeVos to approve any state or district plans to use the funding for firearms and firearm training for teachers

The grants totaling $1billion were allocated as part of the Every Student Succeeds Act, which was passed under the Obama administration three years ago and intends to improve educational opportunities at the country's poorest schools.

The act calls for the money to be put toward three goals: providing a well-rounded education, improving school conditions for learning and improving the use of technology for digital literacy.

The Trump administration has twice moved to eliminate the grant program from its budget entirely.

Earlier this year in the wake of the Parkland shooting, Congress passed a spending bill that increased funding for the grants by $700million.

The Education Department has determined through research that the gun purchases could fall under improving school conditions.

Department officials have acknowledged that executing the proposal would mark the first time that a federal agency has authorized the purchase of weapons without a congressional mandate, the Times reported.

Carrying the plan forward could undermine the grant program's 'drug and violence prevention' pillar, which defines a safe school environment as free of weapons.Chancellor Philip Hammond last night warned up to 10 per cent could be wiped off the UK's national income under a no-deal Brexit - in an astonishing intervention that incurred the wrath of Downing Street just hours after Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab played down fears of 'doomsday'.

Triggering a major Cabinet split, the Chancellor wrote that a no-deal scenario would have 'large fiscal consequences' for Britain and could mean an extra 80billion of borrowing.

Mr Hammond said the food industry and manufacturers could be hit especially hard with Northern Ireland and north-east England the regions worst affected.

Last night Downing Street sources said the Chancellor's letter was not cleared with them before being published, with the Daily Telegraph reporting Number 10 was 'infuriated' by the intervention.

Mr Hammond published a letter to fellow Remainer Nicky Morgan, the head of the Treasury select committee, referring to a cross-Whitehall analysis on the financial impact of Brexit in the same day Mr Raab tried to play down fears over a no-deal

Members of the Treasury select committee dismissed Mr Hammond's predictions, pointing out how wrong his department had been about the immediate effects of the referendum, while Charlie Elphicke accused the Treasury of 'reheating dodgy figures'.

Mr Hammond's dire warning came just hours after his colleague Dominic Raab, the Brexit Secretary, delivered an up-beat message and dismissed 'wild' scare stories about the effect of leaving the EU without a deal.

He published a series of technical papers detailing how the Government is preparing for the prospect of failing to reach an agreement with Brussels.

Mr Raab suggested most consumers would not notice the impact of a 'no deal', and rejected suggestions people would not be able to enjoy sandwiches after Brexit.

He also warned Brussels to put 'lives and livelihoods' ahead of politics and make compromises to reach a deal with the UK.

But his words were undermined just hours later by Mr Hammond, a prominent Remain supporter, who said a no-deal scenario would hit the food and drink industry as well as manufacturing and carmakers.

The Chancellor warned that the biggest negative impacts would be felt in the North East of England and Northern Ireland.

Last night Mr Rees Mogg, said: 'The Treasury once more regurgitates its failed attempt at Project Fear.

'As a dog returneth to its vomit, so a fool returneth to its folly. The Treasury is desperate to stop Brexit. Everything the Treasury does has to be read in this light.'

The Cabinet rift opened up as:

One of the technical papers warned that millions of people could face higher credit charges if Britain leaves the EU without a deal;

Health Secretary Matt Hancock told drugs firms to stockpile six weeks' worth of medicines;

Cabinet minister David Lidington said it could take until December to reach a deal - two months beyond the official deadline of October;

Former environment secretary Owen Paterson slammed Theresa May's Chequers plan for Brexit as a 'disaster' for the fishing industry because EU rules would have to be obeyed for years.

Mr Hammond's intervention came in a letter to Nicky Morgan, the Remain-backing Tory MP and chairman of the Treasury select committee.

Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab had suggested Britain's failure to secure a working arrangement with the EU prior to its departure on March 29, 2019 'would not be doomsday'

The Chancellor pointed to disputed provisional analysis, released earlier this year, which claimed Britain's gross domestic product could be between 5 and 10 per cent lower in 15 years if there is no deal.

This also calculated that borrowing could be around 80billion a year higher by 2033/34 under a scenario in which Britain resorted to World Trade Organisation terms for trade after failing to reach agreement with the EU.

Mr Hammond noted that scenarios involving higher barriers to trade with the EU are expected to have a 'more damaging effect' on the economy and public finances.

He also mounted a defence of the Government's preferred approach, which was outlined in a white paper following a Cabinet summit at Chequers, by saying the economic and fiscal impacts of this would be 'substantially better' than no deal.

Mr Hammond wrote in his letter: 'This January provisional analysis estimated that in a no-deal/WTO scenario, GDP would be 7.7 per cent lower (range 5.0 per cent to 10.3 per cent) relative to a status quo baseline.

'This represents the potential expected static state around 15 years out from the exit point.

'The analysis did not estimate the path the economy and different sectors might take under no deal and the potential for short-term disruption.'

Mr Hammond added: 'Under a no-deal/WTO scenario, chemicals, food and drink, clothing, manufacturing, cars, and retail were estimated to be the sectors most affected negatively in the long-run, with the largest negative impacts felt in the North East and Northern Ireland.

'GDP impacts of this magnitude, were they to arise, would have large fiscal consequences.

In his letter to Nicky Morgan, Mr Hammond said: The January analysis estimated that borrowing would be around 80 billion a year higher under a no-deal/WTO scenario by 2033-34, in the absence of mitigating adjustments to spending and/or taxation, relative to a status quo baseline'

'The January analysis estimated that borrowing would be around 80billion a year higher under a no-deal/WTO scenario by 2033/34, in the absence of mitigating adjustments to spending and/or taxation, relative to a status quo baseline.

'This is because any direct financial savings are outweighed by the indirect fiscal consequences of a smaller economy.'

Mr Hammond published his letter just hours after Mr Raab insisted the 'vast majority' of consumers will not even notice the impact of a no-deal Brexit.

The Brexit Secretary said: 'I am absolutely clear that the UK will be better off outside of the EU in any scenario in the long-term but I recognise the risks in the short-term.

'I think there is good reason to think that even in a no deal scenario there would be good faith. If you look at the example of pensioners, it is hardly in the interests of Southern Spain to do harm to the UK pensioners out there.

'You would expect cooler heads prevailing. For the vast majority of consumers in this country there is not going to be much change at all, if it's noticeable.'

Mr Raab criticised scaremongering over a no-deal scenario, such as the suggestion that it could spark a 'sandwich famine' in the UK due to shortages of ingredients, or that the Army will have to deliver food supplies.

'Let me reassure you all that, contrary to one of the wilder claims, you will still be able to enjoy a BLT after Brexit,' he said.

He also warned Brussels not to be 'vindictive' in its negotiations, calling on the EU to be more 'responsible'.

'We are raising this issue with the EU, to impress upon them our joint responsibility to work together to minimise any harm to UK and European citizens and businesses,' he said.

'Those lives, those livelihoods, on both sides, should be put ahead of any narrow political interests.'

EU Commission spokesman Alexander Winterstein hit back, saying: 'We don't operate according to concepts of vindictiveness or forgiveness.

'We are working very hard continuously, from day one, for the orderly withdrawal of the UK from the European Union.'

Mr Hammond's intervention came days after it was claimed that some of the 'no deal' papers had had to be rewritten because the Treasury had made the original versions too gloomy.

Last night critics asked why the Chancellor had chosen to issue his letter on the day Mr Raab was publishing his papers.

Last night Tory MP Charlie Elphicke, a member of the Treasury select committee, hit out at Mr Hammond.

'Here we go again with dodgy figures being reheated by the Treasury on the very day the government publishes its plan for trading on global deal terms,' he said.

'In the referendum the Treasury said everyone would lose their jobs and the country would plunge into a deep recession if we voted out. Instead Britain is growing faster than the EU and we have record employment.

'It's time the Treasury started to believe in Britain and focus on the opportunities for global trade. That's why we need to Chuck Chequers and seek an advanced trade deal - first with the EU and then the world over.'

Fellow Conservative MP Simon Clarke, also a member of the Treasury committee, added: 'Before the referendum the Treasury said the economy would nosedive with GDP 3.6 to 6 per cent down. They said 500,000 to 800,000 jobs would be lost.

'They were completely wrong. Instead we have record jobs with 32.4million in work while unemployment is at a 42 year-low.

'It's unbelievable that the Treasury continue to talk down our country and our economy by conning the public with their discredited Project Fear yet again.'

Government reveals Brexit No Deal Doomsday plans: Ministers admit online shoppers and tourists visiting EU could face millions of pounds in credit card charges... and we could even run out of SPERM

James Tapfield, Political editor for MailOnline

Ministers unveiled a raft of plans today to prevent 'no deal' Brexit causing carnage - admitting that credit card charges could rise and expats could be locked out of pensions.

There are even concerns of shortage in donated sperm as imports from Denmark might be hampered, and dramatic health warning photographs on cigarette packets will have to be replaced as the EU holds the copyright.

Danish semen made up almost half of all non-British male reproductive material imported to the UK in 2017, a paper from the Department of Health and Social Care revealed.

The potential pitfalls of failure to strike a deal with the EU were spelled out in documents that warned losing access to shared IT systems could mean millions of pounds in extra charges for online shoppers and tourists visiting the bloc.

Ex-pats could also struggle to access pensions and accounts administered by UK-based banks, while medicines could be delayed by regulatory upheaval.

Launching the first tranche of 25 'technical notes' on the consequences of no deal, Dominic Raab tried to play down the picture they painted, insisting the government was just making sure Britain was 'ready'.

The Brexit Secretary also stressed he was still 'confident' an agreement would be reached.

Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab (pictured giving his speech in Westminster today) dismissed 'doomsday' scenarios about the consequences of failing to strike a broad trade deal with the bloc

Mr Raab said there did have to be a blueprint for how to 'wind down our membership' of the EU with the minimum possible 'disruption'

Among the main points in the dump of documents issued by ministers today are:

British consumers could face 'increased costs and slower processing times' for euro transactions and 'the cost of card payments between the UK and EU will likely increase'. More VAT could be charged on parcels coming into Britain from EU firms.

An extra six weeks of medicines will be stockpiled on top of the current level of three months to avoid any disruption. Batch testing and EU certifications will also be recognised to reduce bureaucracy.

New picture warnings could be introduced on cigarette packs 'as the copyright for the existing picture library is owned by the European Commission'.

British firms are being urged to 'consider whether you will need advice from the Irish government about preparations you need to make' in case of no deal.

Organic food producers face a 'cliff edge' of exporting to the EU only if certified by a body approved by the European Commission, with certification taking up to nine months after Brexit.

The government will commit to underwrite EU funding for aid and other projects that could be withdrawn.

In his speech, Mr Raab said the Government would not risk triggering a tit-for-tat battle with Brussels by imposing new border checks or travel restrictions.

He said: 'I remain confident a good deal is within our sights, and that remains our top, and overriding, priority. If the EU responds with the level of ambition and pragmatism, we will strike a strong deal that benefits both sides.

'But, we must be ready to consider the alternative. We have a duty, as a responsible government, to plan for every eventuality.

'These technical notices - and the ones that will follow - are a sensible, measured,and proportionate approach to minimising the impact of no deal on British firms, citizens,charities and public bodies.'

He added: 'They will provide information and guidance. Our overarching aim is to facilitate the smooth, continued, functioning of business, transport, infrastructure, research, aid programmes and funding streams.

'In some cases, it means taking unilateral action to maintain as much continuity as possible in the short term, in the event of no deal - irrespective of whether the EU reciprocates.'

Mr Raab said the UK, in the event of a no-deal, would 'diverge when we are ready, on our terms' from the European Union.

The Brexit Secretary stressed there was already planning talks between the Bank of England and the European Central Bank for a no-deal scenario and called for talks to begin on data protection and between port authorities.

Credit card charges and online shopping

One document released today considers the risks facing UK banking and payments customers if the Government fails to clinch a trade agreement that covers financial services.

In the case of a no-deal Brexit, UK-based payment service providers would lose direct access to the EU's payment infrastructure.

Customers, including businesses using providers to process payments in euros, could also 'face increased costs and slower processing times for euro transactions', the Government paper warned.

'The cost of card payments between the UK and EU will likely increase, and these cross-border payments will no longer be covered by the surcharging ban,' it added.

The ban prevents businesses from charging customers for paying by the likes of PayPal or debit or credit cards, which Treasury earlier this year characterised as 'rip-off fees'.

Consumers shopping in the EU or buying online from an EU company with a UK card, could be hit with surprise charges on their purchases, with some retailers charging more than the cost of processing payments.

Consumers shopping in the EU or buying online from an EU company with a UK card, could be hit with surprise charges on their purchases, with some retailers charging more than the cost of processing payments

The Treasury estimated that surcharging cost Britons around 166million in 2015.

The EU surcharge ban came into force in January. The Government said it is looking to align domestic law around payments with rules already set up in the EU in hopes of remaining a member of the Single Euro Payments Area.

However, that would only ensure that 'lower value euro transactions are processed in the same amount of time as they are today', meaning larger payments may still face delays.

Consumers would face another potential cost increase when online shopping, with parcels arriving in the UK no longer liable for Low Value Consignment Relief (LVCR) on VAT.

Medical supplies face checks and delays

The pharmaceutical industry should ensure they have an additional six-week supply of drugs in the event of disruption caused by a no-deal Brexit, the Health Secretary has said.

Matt Hancock has told drug companies that supply chains for products could be affected by changes to border processes and stockpiles would be needed to cope with potential delays.

Hospitals, GPs and community pharmacies in the UK do not need to stockpile additional medicines and doctors should not write longer prescriptions, he said.

Patients should also be advised that they do not need to store additional medicines at home.

Steve Bates, chief executive of the UK Bioindustry Association (BIA), said the request would be 'a massive challenge' for the industry.

In a letter to pharmaceutical companies, Mr Hancock said: 'In the unlikely event we leave the EU without a deal in March 2019, based on the current cross-Government planning scenario we will ensure the UK has an additional six weeks' supply of medicines in case imports from the EU through certain routes are affected.

'This is the current planning assumption but will of course be subject to revision in light of future developments.'

He asked companies 'to ensure they have a minimum of six weeks' additional supply in the UK, over and above their business as usual operational buffer stocks' by March 29.

Mr Hancock said the 'same risk exists in the EU' and countries such as France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands will also need to prepare for disruption.

In an open letter to NHS staff, Mr Hancock said hospitals, GPs and community pharmacies in the UK 'do not need to take any steps to stockpile additional medicines, beyond their business as usual stock levels'.

He added: 'Local stockpiling is not necessary and any incidences involving the over-ordering of medicines will be investigated and followed up with the relevant chief or responsible pharmacist directly.

'Clinicians should advise patients that the Government has plans in place to ensure a continued supply of medicines to patients from the moment we leave the EU.

Matt Hancock has told drug companies that supply chains for products could be affected by changes to border processes and stockpiles would be needed to cope with potential delays

'Patients will not need to and should not seek to store additional medicines at home.'

Mr Bates said: 'We have stressed and recognise that endeavouring to deliver on this in less than 200 days will be a massive challenge for industry and the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) alike.

'Given that over 150 BIA members are actively involved in clinical development in the UK we will pay particular attention to the implications of this work with regard to ongoing clinical trials.

'A 'no-deal' Brexit would mean the biggest dis-integration of the complex regulated medicines market in Europe in terms of regulation, cross-border movement of goods, comparative pricing and intellectual property.

'On behalf of patients we encourage all participants to be as prepared as possible for a scenario industry really does not want, but we should be under no illusions that this will be easy or smooth.'

The papers also raised the alarm about a potential sperm donor shortage and restrictions on transferring other biomaterials.

One points out that the UK imported 3,000 sperm samples from Denmark last year, along with smaller quantities from other countries in the bloc.

'UK licensed establishments working in this area, such as hospitals, stem cell laboratories, tissue banks and fertility clinics would continue to work to the same quality and safety standards as they did before exit but some would need new written agreements with relevant EU establishments,' the paper said.

Expats could lose access to pensions

UK citizens living in Europe face the possibility of losing access to their pension income and other financial services, according to technical papers on no-deal Brexit preparations.

Lending and deposit services, insurance and annuities - which people rely on for a regular pension income - are among the financial products which expats could struggle to access, according to the documents.

One said that 'in the absence of action from the EU, EEA-based customers of UK firms currently passporting into the EEA, including UK citizens living in the EEA, may lose the ability to access existing lending and deposit services, insurance contracts (such as life insurance contracts and annuities) due to UK firms losing their rights to passport into the EEA'.

Insurers said millions of customers, including pensioners overseas, could be affected.

The papers said the Government has committed to putting unilateralaction in place if necessary to resolve issues as far as possible on the UK side.

For UK-based customers who access banking, insurance, investment funds and other financial services with EEA firms currently passporting into the UK, temporary permissions will enable these firms to continue to provide these services to UK customers for up to three years after exit - allowing firms time to apply for authorisation to continue operating in the UK, the documents said.

British expats in Europe face losing access to their pension income and other financial services, according to technical papers on no-deal Brexit preparations

Banking red tape could mean EU clients lose UK-based services

The technical papers also echoed warnings from the Bank of England which earlier this summer said the EU needed to do more to prevent Brexit causing havoc in financial markets.

The Government said clients across the European Economic Area would no longer be able to use the services of UK-based investment banks, while cross-border contracts may no longer be valid.

It puts a key industry at risk, with financial services having contributed more than a quarter of the UK's services exports to the EU, accounting for 27 billion out of 90 billion in 2016.

A number of banks have made efforts to secure licences and offices in EU financial hubs to continue serving clients on the continent.

Lending and deposit services, insurance and annuities - which people rely on for a regular pension income - are among the financial products which expats could struggle to access, according to the documents.

One said that 'in the absence of action from the EU, EEA-based customers of UK firms currently passporting into the EEA, including UK citizens living in the EEA, may lose the ability to access existing lending and deposit services, insurance contracts (such as life insurance contracts and annuities) due to UK firms losing their rights to passport into the EEA'.

Insurers said millions of customers, including pensioners overseas, could be affected.

The papers said the Government has committed to putting unilateral action in place if necessary to resolve issues as far as possible on the UK side.

For UK-based customers who access banking, insurance, investment funds and other financial services with EEA firms currently passporting into the UK, temporary permissions will enable these firms to continue to provide these services to UK customers for up to three years after exit - allowing firms time to apply for authorisation to continue operating in the UK, the documents said.

This means these firms will be able to continue as before if they receive authorisation covering the full scope of services they currently provide.

The UK's savings safety net, the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), protects money held by customers of UK-authorised firms when firms go bust, including some products with EEA firms.

Regulators will consult this autumn on arrangements for coverage to continue, the documents said.

Mr Raab (pictured with Michel Barnier in Brussels this week) said he was still 'confident' there would be an agreement - but the government was taking steps to 'protect the UK'

Farming subsidies guaranteed but 'cliff edge' for organic produce

Government moved to reassure landowners they would continue to get farming subsidies, currently controlled by the EU, in the case of no-deal, until new agriculture legislation is brought in.

The funding will remain at existing levels until the end of this parliament, expected in 2022, for the whole of the UK, a technical notice on payments reiterates.

People receiving subsidies will have to conform to the same standards and rules, including on-site farm inspections, in order to receive the payments.

But organic food producers will face a 'cliff edge' over exporting to the European Union in the event of a no-deal Brexit, farming leaders warned.

According to technical guidance published by the Government, UK businesses would only be allowed to export to the EU if they were certified by an organic certification body approved by the European Commission.

But UK organic bodies will not be able to apply for recognition until after Brexit - and approval could take up to nine months to secure.

The National Farmers' Union (NFU) said the situation for organic produce served as a warning on future trade in all food and agricultural products between the UK and the EU.

On organic produce, the Government said it was exploring 'alternative approaches' to speed up the process.

The Government expects to negotiate an arrangement which would allow free movement of organic produce between the UK and EU, because European regulations will remain in UK law.

Logos on packaging would also need to change, with the EU organic label in the shape of a green leaf of stars stripped off, though UK labels would remain.

Graphic cigarette warnings could disappear

Stark images of blackened lungs and dead bodies on cigarette packets would disappear under a no-deal Brexit.

Copyright for the current images is owned by the European Commission so the UK could no longer legally use them and new images would need to be created.

A no-deal Brexit would also mean new systems to register tobacco and e-cigarette products, according to a technical paper on labelling tobacco products.

The paper states: 'If there's no deal we would introduce new picture warnings for tobacco products as the copyright for the existing picture library is owned by the European Commission.

'Manufacturers will need to ensure that tobacco products which include picture warnings produced from Exit Day onwards will be labelled with new picture warnings.'

New regulations would be needed to give the Government power to update domestic legislation in response to emerging threats, changing safety and quality standards and technological advances.

A consultation will be held in September on labelling and notification.

The paper adds: 'Inevitably under a no-deal scenario, the close working relationships that exist with our European partners would not be the same.

'The UK will, of course, continue to play an active role in the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.'

Dramatic health warning photographs on cigarette packets will have to be replaced as the EU holds the copyright (file picture)

Brexit deal not likely until end of the year, says Cabinet minister Cabinet Office minister David Lidington (pictured in Edinburgh today) said he was not surprised by Michel Barnier playing down the prospects of agreement before November There is unlikely to be a Brexit deal until the end of the year, a Cabinet minister suggested today. Cabinet Office minister David Lidington said he was not surprised by Michel Barnier playing down the prospects of agreement before November. He said: 'I was Europe minister for six years, I have seen enough of these negotiations to know that these deadlines slip. 'I think there definitely will need to be an agreement by the end of 2018.' However, speaking during a briefing with reporters in Edinburgh, Mr Lidington added that he did not believe the March date for Britain's exit from Europe would be pushed back. 'Article 50 is a matter of EU law, it is not a matter of political judgment,' he said. 'I think there is a real pressure from the end of the year because, with the European Parliament going into election mode it will just become more difficult to get enough MEPs in a plenary from January onwards to have the numbers to pass the super majority that is needed. 'And you've got to get legislation through Westminster as well to implement a withdrawal agreement.' He added: 'I just don't think that seeking to extend Article 50 is going to help... the Treaty is absolutely clear that it is two years or when a withdrawal agreement is reached or ratified if that is earlier.' Advertisement

Earlier, Mr Raab told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he wanted to move on from the 'latest incarnation of Project Fear'.

'Some of those promoting the worst scare stories around no deal... are assuming that the EU will act in a vindictive way,' he said.

'I'm still confident a good deal is within our sights,' Mr Raab said.

'We have got agreement on about 80 per cent of the issues.

'We have made clear that if negotiations don't achieve the optimum outcome we will continue to be a responsible European neighbour and partner.'

Playing down the threat of shortages in hospitals, Mr Raab said a stockpile of 200 medicines already exists, thanks to longstanding arrangements with pharmaceutical companies to cope with disruptions at the border, such as strikes by French lorry drivers.

'There are potential issues around the border in the worst case scenario,' he said.

'So it's right, too, we will be working with industry around stockpiling of medicines for a working assumption of six weeks.'

Mr Raab admitted that talks remain deadlocked over the Northern Irish border, with the UK continuing to press for a bespoke customs agreement on goods and services.

'They're still asking questions and probing the proposals, but that's good,' he said.

'They are not knocking them away in principle - they are asking questions on the practical detail.

'They understand very clearly that we will not allow a customs border or any other form of border to be drawn down the Irish Sea.'

Shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer dismissed the documents as a distraction, saying a no deal would be 'catastrophic'.

He said: 'A no deal Brexit would be a complete failure by the Government to negotiate for Britain. These documents should not distract us from that.

'No deal would be catastrophic for people's jobs, the economy and for the border in Northern Ireland. It is irresponsible for anyone to casualise no deal.'

Simon Lewis, chief executive of the Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME), said: 'The consequences of a no-deal Brexit scenario could mean prolonged disruption to the smooth functioning of Europe's capital markets, which would affect investors, borrowers and savers across Europe and beyond.

'The financial services industry is keen to see both negotiating parties agree on a deal which locks in an agreement on a transition period and the future trading relationship in order to minimise the risks to financial stability.'A Missouri mother has been charged with prostituting her severely disabled 14-year-old daughter with the mental capacity of a toddler in exchange for money and cocaine.

Renee Collins, 49, of Columbia, was charged on Tuesday with second-degree trafficking of a child and first-degree child endangerment.

Her boyfriend, 44-year-old William Thomas Jr, of Rocheport, was charged with first-degree rape. They are both jailed in Boone County.

Sex trafficking: Renee Collins, 49 (left), has charged with second-degree trafficking of a child and first-degree child endangerment. Her boyfriend, 44-year-old William Thomas Jr (right), has been charged with first-degree rape

Police were tipped off last year that Collins' severely disabled daughter was being left in a room at The Welcome Inn in Columbia, Missouri, with strange men for long periods of time

Court records say Collins' daughter has cerebral palsy and autism, and she is also partially deaf and uses corrective leg braces.

She was taken into protective custody in July 2017 and told authorities that her mother would 'loan' her to 'bad men,' including Thomas.

According to a probable cause affidavit cited by ABC17, law enforcement officials launched an investigation into Collins and her boyfriend after getting a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, saying that a teenage girl was being left in a room at The Welcome Inn on North Providence Road in Columbia with strange men for long periods of time.

When she was taken into protective custody, the teen said her mother (pictured) would 'loan' her to 'bad men,' including Thomas

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children learned of the suspected child sex trafficking from the regional manager of The Welcome Inn hotel, where staff had become concerned for the teenager's safety.

A witness then came forward on July 7, 2017, telling police that Collins had been offered cocaine in exchange for allowing two men to have sex with her severely impaired daughter.

Once she was taken into protective custody, the victim told investigators that at least on one occasion, 'bad men' inserted a needle into her arm and injected her with 'medicine' after sex, according to the station KOMU.

The girl, who according to a caseworker has the mental capacity of a 2- of 3-year-old child and requires constant care, also allegedly accused Thomas of sexually assaulting her.

Collins and her boyfriend were booked into the Boone County jail on Wednesday evening and their bond was set at $200,000 each.Two adorable baby pigeons who stowed away on Britain's biggest warship have been flown back ashore to be looked after at a RSPCA rescue centre.

The chicks were discovered in a hidden nest soon after the ship set sail for the US from Portsmouth Naval Base on Saturday.

The pair of motherless birds have been named F-35 and Lightning after the fighter jets which will be tested during the ship's deployment to the USA and are being cared for by the RSPCA in West Hatch near Taunton, Somerset.

The chicks were nicknamed 'carrier pigeons' by the crew of the Royal Navy aircraft carrier

The pair were discovered in a hidden nest soon after the ship left Portsmouth Naval Base

The pair are being cared for by the RSPCA. Pictured, vet David Couper and vet nurse Natalie Stahl examine F35 and Lightning

A navy spokesman said: 'The fluffy pair, estimated to be around 10-days-old, were found huddled together by a sailor who heard tweeting coming from a remote ledge high up on one of the ship's boat decks.

'A careful rescue plan was put in place and the chicks were brought into the warmth by sailors from the ship's seamanship department.

'After much research on 'what baby pigeons eat', they have been fed at regular intervals over 24 hours, with a mix of porridge and warm water, administered from a syringe provided by the ship's medical centre with the tip of a latex glove attached.

'The chicks' beaks eagerly popped through a hole in the tip, hungrily sucking the porridge out, emulating the way they feed from their parents.'

The pigeons were found huddled together by a sailor on one of the ships' boat decks

The chicks have been fed porridge and warm water through a syringe at regular intervals

The chicks were flown from the HMS Queen Elizabeth by helicopter to an animal rescue centre

The birds were then taken by a navy Merlin MK4 helicopter from 845 Naval Air Squadron.

Finally they were taken back to RNAS Yeovilton, Somerset, where they were handed over to the RSPCA.

Lieutenant Commander Lindsey Waudby said: 'While our focus for the deployment is getting the new jets onboard for the first time, we are also prepared to conduct humanitarian relief, should we be called upon to do so - we just didn't think that would be quite so soon.'

The fluffy pigeons were found huddled together by a sailor who heard tweeting coming from a remote ledge high up on one of the ships' boat decks.

They were nicknamed 'carrier pigeons' by the crew of the Royal Navy aircraft carrier.

During its trip to North America, the warship will embark two US F-35B test aircraft based at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland.Advertisement

Hurricane Lane soaked Hawaii's Big Island on Thursday, dumping a foot of rain in a matter of 12 hours as residents stocked up on supplies and tried to protect their homes ahead of the state's first hurricane since 1992.

The National Weather Service warned that some areas could see up to 30 inches of rain before the system passes. Bands of heavy downpours rain extended 350 miles from the hurricane's eye.

'Even though the eye is south of the Big Island, we are seeing excessive rainfall already affecting the islands,' weather service meteorologist Gavin Shigesato said from Honolulu.

Tropical storm conditions, with winds of 130mph, reached the Big Island, Hawaii's easternmost major island, this morning.

As of 8am local time, the hurricane was 290 miles south of Honolulu and moving northwest at 7mph.

Scroll down for video

The Big Island is being pummeled by gusty winds and torrential rains on Thursday. Pictured: rising surf generated by Hurricane Lane crashes upon the Kailua Kona coastline

A car is partially submerged in floodwaters from Hurricane Lane rainfall on the Big Island on August 23 in Hilo, Hawaii

A man takes photos of floodwaters in Hilo. Hurricane Lane has brought more than a foot of rain to some parts of the Big Island, which is under a flash flood warning

Visitors watch the rising surf generated by Hurricane Lane crash upon the Kailua Kona coastline on Thursday

Hawaii state workers clean debris and open up streams around Honolulu, in preparation for heavy rainfall and flash flooding on Oahu on August 23

This image taken from NASA shows Hurricane Lane on August 23, 2018, as it heads to the Hawaiian Islands

This satellite image from NOAA shows Hurricane Lane near Hawaii on Thursday, August 23, and the The National Weather Service warned that some areas could see up to 30 inches before the system passes

This map from NOAA show's Hurricane Lane's projected trajectory for the next five days

The storm was expected to turn to the north later Thursday and into Friday, with little change expected in forward speed. The center could move close to or over portions of the main islands on Thursday or Friday. Then the storm will likely turn to the west Saturday and Sunday and pick up speed, forecasters said.

Steve Goldstein, of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said at a news conference Thursday that Lane is expected to soak the Big Island before heading toward Maui and Oahu.

Goldstein said a direct strike is not needed to see a significant impact from such a strong hurricane.

Officials say more than 30 inches of rain is possible in some areas, which could mean flooding, dangerous surf of 20 feet, and a storm surge of up to 4feet above normal levels.

Federal officials said they were prepared to help people on the islands.

Brad Kieserman, of the Red Cross, said there were 16 emergency shelters open and 283 people across the island already in them.

US Navy ships and submarines based in Hawaii have been instructed to leave port to avoid damage.

All vessels not currently undergoing maintenance were being positioned to help respond after the storm, if needed.

Navy aircraft will be kept in hangars or flown to other airfields to avoid the storm.

Empty shelves of a supermaket are seen as residents of Oahu are re-stocking their water and non-perishable food supplies as preparation for the looming threat of Hurricane Lane in Oahu, Hawaii, on Wednesday

Loren, right, and Ruby Aquino, of Honolulu, load water into their car ahead of Hurricane Lane, Wednesday, August 22, 2018 in Honolulu. Hurricane Lane has weakened as it approaches Hawaii but was still expected to pack a wallop, forecasters said Wednesday

People stand in a line waiting to fill up propane tanks at a local hardware store on Wednesday in Honolulu

Aly Klein, right, and her mother Clarice Klein walks out of a local hardware store with several buckets of hurricane supplies on Wednesday

Unlike Florida or Texas, where residents can get in their cars and drive hundreds of miles to safety, people in Hawaii are confined to the islands and can't outrun the powerful winds and driving rain.

Instead, they must stay put and make sure they have enough supplies to outlast prolonged power outages and other potential emergencies.

'Everyone is starting to buckle down at this point,' said Christyl Nagao of Kauai. 'Our families are here. We have businesses and this and that. You just have to man your fort and hold on tight.'

Living in an isolated island state also means the possibility that essential goods can't be shipped to Hawaii if the storm shuts down ports.

'You're stuck here and resources might not get here in time,' Nagao said.

Shelters opened Wednesday on the Big Island and on the islands of Maui, Molokai and Lanai. Officials urged those needing the Molokai shelter to get there soon because of concerns that the main highway on the island's south coast could become impassable.

On the island of Oahu, which was put on a hurricane warning late Wednesday, shelters were scheduled to open Thursday. Officials were also working to help Hawaii's sizeable homeless population, many of whom live near beaches and streams that could flood.

Hawaii Emergency Management Agency Administrator Tom Travis said there's not enough shelter space statewide and advised people who were not in flood zones to stay home.

Authorities also warned that the shelters are not designed to withstand winds greater than about 40mph and that for most people they should be a last resort.

Whenever possible, the public should plan to shelter in place or stay with family or friends in homes outside of these hazard areas that were designed, built or renovated to withstand anticipated conditions, the city and county of Honolulu said in a statement.

Public schools were closed for the rest of the week and local government workers were told to stay home unless they're essential employees.

This satellite image provided by NOAA on Thursday, August 23, 2018 shows Hurricane Lane bearing down on Hawaii from the south

A handout image made available by NASA on 22 August 2018 and taken by an Expedition 56 crew member from the International Space Station shows Hurricane Lane in the Central Pacific Ocean, near Hawaii, August 22, 2018

'We're planning on boarding up all our windows and sliding doors,' Napua Puaoi of Wailuku, Maui, said after buying 16 pieces of plywood from Home Depot. 'As soon as my husband comes home - he has all the power tools.'

Molokai real estate agent Pearl Hodgins said she expected the island's two stores to soon run out of bottled water and batteries.

Melanie Davis, who lives in a suburb outside Honolulu, said she was gathering canned food and baby formula.

'We're getting some bags of rice and of course, some Spam,' she said of the canned lunch meat that's popular in Hawaii.

She was organizing important documents into a folder - birth and marriage certificates, Social Security cards, insurance paperwork - and making sure her three children, all under 4, have flotation devices such as swimming vests - 'just in case.'

Meteorologist Chevy Chevalier said Lane may drop to a Category 3 by Thursday afternoon but that would still be a major hurricane.

'We expect it to gradually weaken as it gets closer to the islands,' Chevalier said. 'That being said, on our current forecast, as of the afternoon on Thursday, we still have it as a major hurricane.'

The central Pacific gets fewer hurricanes than other regions, with about only four or five named storms a year. Hawaii rarely gets hit. The last major storm to hit was Iniki in 1992. Others have come close in recent years.

Hurricanes are ranked 1 to 5 according to what is known as the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Lane is at Category 4, with winds from 130 to 156mph.

President Donald J. Trump issued a disaster declaration Wednesday, authorizing the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate disaster-relief efforts with the state.A man has been arrested for beating his wife to death with a crowbar and severely injuring his daughter before calling local news stations to confess, Utah police have said.

Walter Brantzeg allegedly carried out the brutal attack on his estranged wife Valerie, 50, and their 13-year-old daughter on Wednesday in Salt Lake City.

The 54-year-old then reportedly placed several calls to news outlets to report what he'd done.

Walter Brantzeg allegedly used a crowbar to beat his estranged wife Valerie, 50, to death and severely injure their 13-year-old daughter before he called several local news stations to confess. The 54-year-old was arrested in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Wednesday

'When officers arrived they did find this female deceased,' Gray said of Valerie. 'She had been bludgeoned, it appears with a crowbar.

'In addition to that, a 13-year-old daughter was also injured with that same weapon.'

Court records showed Valerie had filed for temporary separation from her husband on July 31.

During the attack, the teen managed to escape the apartment and alert a neighbor, who called 911.

A news manager at Fox13 said that Brantzeg had called the station at around 9am local time and described how he'd killed his wife over a custody dispute.

He also allegedly said he'd tried to kill his 13-year-old daughter as well.

The call ended when police showed up on the scene to arrest Brantzeg.

The daughter was taken to Primary Children's Hospital and where her condition was listed as critical as of Wednesday night.Michael Cohen communicated with the chief financial officer of the Trump Organization when successfully seeking reimbursement for his $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels, his attorney revealed.

Cohen lawyer Lanny Davis mentioned the powerful Trump Organization CFO, Allen Weisselberg, in an interview on CNN Wednesday, after government charging documents revealed that two different executives had knowledge of the payments.

Cohen forwarded his first invoice in February, 2017 to a person identified only as 'Executive-1'  and who passed it on to 'Executive-2' for approval.

Davis revealed that the invoices went to the person 'who was the controller, the individual, the chief financial officer.'

CFO: Michael Cohen's lawyer Lanny Davis said invoices were submitted to the chief financial officer  position held by Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg

Interviewer Wolf Blitzer then aided Davis in his brief memory lapse by noting Allen Weisselberg is the powerful CFO who had been subpoenaed to testify before a federal grand jury.

'Weisselberg,' Davis replied  before observing that 'I always have a problem,' likely with recalling or pronouncing certain names.

Davis then backtracked: 'I'm guessing, and I don't know that the invoices were sent to Mr. Wesselberg.'

Weisselberg is the executive who runs the Trump Organization along with Trump's two adult sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump.

The Wall Street Journal reported in July that Weisselberg, an accountant and key figure who spent decades working for Trump, made payments to Cohen but did not know about Cohen's $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels, citing a source familia with his thinking.

The Trump Organization did not respond to requests Wednesday and Thursday about who Cohen's invoices were directed to.

But the process he followed was laid out in detail by the government under the section headed 'campaign finance violations' in the charging document.

Michael Cohen attorney Lanny Davis identified the Trump Organization CFO as getting the invoices, then hedged that he didn't know

Cohen paid $130,000 to porn star Stormy Daniels, then got reimbursed $420,000, making sure he wouldn't get hit with a tax bill that would apply to income. He also got a $60,000 bonus

WIRED: Daniels got $130,000 that an LLC set up by Cohen wired to her lawyer

Cohen set up an LLC and wired $130,000 to the porn star's attorney on Oct. 27, 2016.

In January 2017, Cohen sought reimbursement from the Trump Organization. He provided a bank statement reflecting the $130,000, plus a $35 wire fee, which further established what the payment was for.

He hand wrote an additional '$50,000,' according to the charging document, claiming payment for 'tech services.'

Executives then 'grossed up' the total so that Cohen wouldn't have to incur taxes, to $360,000. They also added a bonus of $60,000, for a total of $420,000.

Weisselberg is the executive who runs the Trump Organization along with Trump's two adult sons, Donald Trump Jr. (pictured) and Eric Trump. The charging documents did not identify any of the executives mentioned by name, and the Trump Organization did not respond to requests for comment

On Valentine's Day, 2017, Cohen sent 'Executive-1 his first invoice 'pursuant to a retainer agreement.'

It was for 'services rendered,' billing $35,000 for each of two months.

The exec forwarded the invoice to 'Executive-2' that same day via email. This exec sent it to another Trump employee, adding: 'Please pay from the Trust. Post to legal expenses. Put "retainer for the months of January and February 2017" in the description.'

The Trust likely refers to the Trust Donald Trump set up for his holdings after the election, which is being overseen by his two sons and Weisselberg.

The document says Cohen later sent invoices to 'one or more representatives of the Company' monthly.

However, 'in truth and in fact, there was no such retainer agreement, and the monthly invoices COHEN submitted were not in connection with any legal services he had provided in 2017.'

Cohen's guilty plea to campaign violations has raised questions about whether any other person or entity who 'coordinated' with him might get charged. Justice Department guidelines state that a sitting president can't get charged.

Another corporation involved with payments to women negotiated by Cohen, American Media Inc., may have received another form of protection. The Wall Street Journal reported that AMI's CEO David Pecker had gotten an immunity agreement. The firm said it was cooperating with prosecutors.Special counsel Robert Mueller's approval rating is higher than that of Donald Trump's and many believe he will find evidence of illegal activity on the part of the president.

A Fox News poll found 59 percent approve of Mueller's investigation of Russia's role in the 2016 election and whether Trump tried to obstruct it. The president's approval rating was 45 percent in the same poll.

The 59 percent mark for Mueller is up 11 points since Fox News asked the same question in their July poll.

59 percent approve of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation

President Trump's approval rating was 45 percent in the same Fox News poll

And 37 percent disapprove of the special counsel's work.

Additionally, 40 percent of respondents think Mueller will find evidence Trump committed a crime or an impeachable offense.

The majority of the poll was conducted before former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort was convicted of eight charges of tax and bank fraud and former Trump personal attorney Michel Cohen pleaded guilty to eight counts, including campaign finance violations.

Trump has repeatedly claimed he is the victim of a 'witch hunt.' He touted Manafort as a 'brave man' while accusing Cohen of making up stories to get a deal.

The president has a 43.5 percent approval rating in the RealClearPolitics average.

It remains to be seen what kind of political fallout the president could suffer from Tuesday's double whammy of news, particularly the guilty pleas from his former fixer.

Cohen, who served as Trump's personal attorney and worked in his Trump Organization, pleaded guilty Tuesday to eight counts that included tax fraud and campaign finance violations.

Cohen's attorney Lanny Davis says Trump ordered his client to make hush-money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal to keep them quiet about alleged affairs, which he argues makes the president similarly guilty of a felony.

Trump has denied the affairs but his lawyer Rudy Giuliani said he knew about the $130,000 payment to Daniels.

Trump was not mentioned by name in United States District Court in Manhattan on Tuesday but Cohen told a judge the payments to the two women were 'at the direction of the candidate,' and 'for the principal purpose of influencing the election' for president in 2016.

The majority of the poll was conducted before Tuesday's double whammy of Paul Manafort's convictions and Michael Cohen's plea deal

Paul Manafort faces a second trial in Washington D.C. on Sept. 17

Cohen 'caused and made the payments described herein in order to influence the 2016 presidential election,' his plea agreement with federal prosecutors reads. 'In so doing, he coordinated with one or more members of the campaign, including through meetings and phone calls, about the fact, nature, and timing of the payments.'

Daniels was paid $130,000 from Cohen directly and McDougal was paid from the publisher American Media, Inc., which owns the National Enquirer.

David Pecker, the chief executive of American Media, was granted immunity by federal prosecutors for providing information about the payments, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.

The $150,000 payment to McDougal, known as 'catch and kill,' resulted in her being paid for exclusive rights to her story, which the Enquirer then never published.

And Manafort faces a second trial in Washington D.C. on Sept. 17 on separate charges that include conspiracy, money laundering, failing to register as a foreign lobbyist and making false and misleading statements to federal agents.

The Manafort charges stem almost completely from his personal businesses but they came to light after he went to work for Trump.

The Fox News poll was conducted via live and telephone interviews with 1,009 registered voters from August 19 to 21. The poll has a margin of error of 3 percentage points.Advertisement

It's the last long weekend before the festive period, so Britons will be determined to make the most of it.

And whether you're more at home admiring a steam engine than letting off steam at a carnival, the three-day Bank Holiday weekend has attractions for everyone across the country.

The Leeds and Reading Festivals are up and running with the Notting Hill Carnival in West London set to join them tomorrow. Other festivals including Wannasee, Victorious and South West Four are also taking place.

Motoring aficionados may want to head to the Knebworth Classic Car Show, while if you'd rather have a sing-song then the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, might be more for you.

Further south, the Grand Dorset Steam Fair will provide a more sedate pace of entertainment - but the engines will at least provide much-needed warmth as a cold front sweeps the country bringing highs of just 66F (19C).

The Met Office has warned the mornings will be particularly chilly over the weekend as a cold front brings in cooler air from the Atlantic - and there may even be a touch of frost overnight in some areas.

Here, MailOnline goes through some of the best events that will help you enjoy an entertaining long weekend:

READING AND LEEDS FESTIVAL

For those prepared to risk the weather, Reading and Leeds Festival kicks off today with headline sets from Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco, Kendrick Lamar and Kings of Leon.

Excited festival-goers were pictured arriving to the two sites at Bramham Park in Leeds and Richfield Avenue in Reading yesterday towing backpacks, and even sleds, full of camping gear.

The annual festival takes place over three days, with hundreds of acts performing over eight stages.

But the event, which is often a wash-out, is also famous for its nightlife - with a fairground, DJ booths, and even a silent disco on site.

Tickets for this year's Reading Festival are sold out, but there are still plenty of day and weekend passes available for its northern sister.

Music fans arrive at Reading Festival today ahead of the event taking place at Richfield Road and featuring Kendrick Lamar

Three young women sit on the grass as rain begins to fall at Leeds Festival, held at Bramham Park in West Yorkshire today

Revellers wait for bands to perform at Leeds Festival today, where headliners will include Kings Of Leon and Fall Out Boy

GREAT DORSET STEAM FAIR

If you're looking to blow off steam in a calmer atmosphere, the Great Dorset Steam Fair will be in full swing at South Down Farm in Blandford until Monday.

The National Heritage Show , which this year celebrates its 50th anniversary, opened its doors to hundreds of railway enthusiasts today.

The four-day event boasts dozens of attractions, including a vintage tractor exhibition - and even the opportunity to see them at work.

There is also live music and variety shows, and a daily parade of classic cars to bring back memories of the 1950s and 60s.

The Great Dorset Steam Fair (pictured) will also be in full swing this Bank Holiday Weekend

The fair, at South Down Farm in Blandford, will be in place until Monday, and has an exhibition of vintage tractors

THE MURDER EXPRESS, LONDON

Masterchef finalists Billy Wright and Jack Layer are putting on a dining experience to remember with their ' The Murder Express ' show.

Visitors are invited to visit Pedley Street Station in Bethnal Green for an Agatha Christie-inspired dinner and show.

The experience, curated by the Masterchef veterans, is available until September 22.

Visitors are invited to visit Pedley Street Station in Bethnal Green for an Agatha Christie-inspired dinner and show

NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL, LONDON

Preparations are also well underway for the Notting Hill Carnival , which takes place in the neighbourhood from Friday.

The colourful street party continues until the Bank Holiday Monday, and aims to celebrate the cultural diversity of the area.

Visitors can expect a steel band music competition complete with street food and dancing at Emslie Horniman's Pleasance park on the Saturday of the carnival.

A grand finale on Monday will include the traditional Notting Hill Parade, with dancing and street performances along the way.

But plan your visit to Notting Hill well - travel to and from the carnival is expected to be extremely busy.

Properties in West London have been boarded up ahead of the Notting Hill Carnival this Bank Holiday weekend

Dancing, street performances, and steel bands are also expected to entertain visitors across the weekend in Notting Hill

ROBIN HOOD FESTIVAL, SHERWOOD FOREST

A week-long festival dedicated to everyone's favourite outlaw begins on Bank Holiday Monday, organised by the RSPB.

The Robin Hood Festival returns for its 34th year at Sherwood Forest, with storytelling, medieval music and performances throughout.

Children are also welcome at this free medieval event, and can follow a trail through the forest to find the outlaw himself.

The Robin Hood Festival returns for its 34th year at Sherwood Forest, with storytelling, medieval music and performances

EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL

Edinburgh Fringe Festival also comes to a close this weekend - but there's still plenty to keep revellers occupied over the Bank Holiday.

The festival, which began on August 3, is the largest arts festival in the world, taking place for three weeks every summer.

There are hundreds of acts to choose from, including variety shows, theatre performances, spoken word, and comedy sets.

The Edinburgh Fringe Festival comes to a close on Bank Holiday Monday - but there's still plenty to see in the last few days

There are hundreds of acts to choose from, including music, dance, spoken word, theatre, and acrobatic performers

EXTREME SAILING SERIES, CARDIFF

The Extreme Sailing Series will visit Cardiff over the weekend for the seventh year running as part of the Cardiff Harbour Festival.

The enclosed bay provides the perfect vantage point for spectators to get a good look at stadium races.

There is even the chance for daredevils to get on board the flying GC32 catamarans during racing if you purchase an exclusive VIP package.

The Extreme Sailing Series is pictured at Marina Bay in Singapore in April 2013

PRIDE CYMRU'S BIG WEEKEND, CARDIFF

Pride Cymru's Big Weekend also takes place over this Bank Holiday weekend.

Over 40,000 people are expected to attend in a technicolor celebration of equality on Cardiff's City Hall Lawns from Friday afternoon.

The event will include a huge parade from city hall and past the Principality Stadium and Cardiff Castle.

There will also be 'entertainment spots' along the extravagant parade, which will allow visitors to experience a whole host of entertainment throughout the weekend.

Pride Cymru's Big Weekend (pictured last year) will take place over the Bank Holiday weekend - drawing crowds of 40,000

Pride Cymru's Big Weekend will include a huge parade from city hall and past the Principality Stadium and Cardiff Castle

KNEBWORTH CLASSIC CAR SHOW, HERTFORDSHIRE

But if festivals aren't your thing, the Knebworth Classic Car show is also on the books for this Bank Holiday weekend.

Based at Knebworth House in Hertfordshire, the show will feature up to 1,000 classic and collectible motors each day.

The Knebworth Classic Car show (pictured) is also on the books for this weekend, taking place on Sunday and Monday

The show features thousands of classic and collectible motors in exhibitions and parades across the jam-packed weekend

SMITHFIELD 150, LONDON

You could also help celebrate Smithfield Market's birthday festival Smithfield 150 in London, which will feature fairground rides, communal feasts, dog shows, pop-up markets and even roller discos.

You could help celebrate Smithfield Market's birthday festival Smithfield 150 in London

Nadia Rose will headline Smithfield 150, which will also featured fairground rides, communal feasts and dog shows

DEPTFORD CRAFT BEER FEAST, LONDON

Over in South East London, the Deptford Craft Beer Feast is set to bring in punters who want to sample the merchandise from 22 different breweries - with free entry also likely to attract attendees.

The Deptford Craft Beer Feast is set to bring in punters who want to sample the merchandise from 22 different breweries

Free entry is likely to attract attendees to the craft beer festival being held in South East London this weekend

THE MONSTER, LONDON

And for the young-at-heart, The Monster will offer fun for four days at Alexandra Palace in North London - with its 42 obstacles, a 60ft (18m) slide and a giant adult ball pit.

The Monster will offer fun for four days at Alexandra Palace in North London this weekend

The Monster features 42 obstacles, a 60ft (18m) slide and a giant adult ball pit for the young-at-heart

FA CUP QUALIFYING, NATIONWIDE

There is also a full weekend of sporting action, with dozens of fixtures across the Premier League and Football League - but if you want something more low-key, non-league teams will be involved in the preliminary round of qualifying for the FA Cup .

It's the early stages of the FA Cup this weekend, with non-league clubs in the preliminary round. Above: 2018 winners Chelsea

INTERNATIONAL GILBERT & SULLIVAN FESTIVAL, HARROGATE

For those with a penchant for the Victorian-era works of dramatist W.S. Gilbert and composer Arthur Sullivan, they could try the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

The International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival in Harrogate is this weekend. Pictured The Pirates of Penzance in Buxton in July

Iolanthe, performed by the National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company at the Gilbert & Sullivan Festival last weekend

WANNASEE FESTIVAL PENRITH, CUMBRIA

While if you're up for a good sing-song on the other side of the country, there is the Wannasee Festival Penrith in Cumbria, featuring various tribute acts to the likes of Elvis Presley, Robbie Williams and Ed Sheeran.

If you're up for a good sing-song in the North West of England, there is the Wannasee Festival Penrith in Cumbria

The Wannasee Festival Penrith features various tribute acts to the likes of Elvis Presley, Robbie Williams and Ed Sheeran

BIG FEASTIVAL, COTSWOLDS

Foodies and music food meanwhile might fancy the Big Feastival at Alex James's farm in the Cotswolds, which features Basement Jaxx, Craig David and Paloma Faith alongside a huge variety of street food stalls.

The Big Feastival is being held at Alex James's farm in the Cotswolds. The festival is pictured above in 2016

The Big Feastival features Basement Jaxx, Craig David and Paloma Faith alongside a huge variety of street food stalls

VICTORIOUS FESTIVAL, PORTSMOUTH

Another child-friendly music festival option this weekend is Victorious in Portsmouth, which will feature the likes of The Libertines and Paul Weller.

Revellers party at the Victorious festival in Portsmouth, which is said to be a child-friendly music festival option

The Victorious festival in Portsmouth will feature the likes of The Libertines and Paul Weller this year

SOUTH WEST FOUR FESTIVAL, LONDON

Or you could head to South West Four at Clapham Common in South London, a dance music festival that will star Dizzee Rascal, Armin Van Buuren and Chase & Status.

Crowds pre-drink as they queue for the South West Four dance festival on Clapham Common last year

The dance music festival (at which Skrillex is pictured in 2012) will this year star Dizzee Rascal and Chase & Status

COUNTRY ROADS MUSIC FESTIVAL, CHESTER

But if you're more into your country and western music, it's best to head to Country Roads Music Festival in Farndon, Chester, for a weekend of dancing and family entertainment.

The Country Roads Music Festival in Farndon, Chester, will provide a weekend of dancing and family entertainment

YORKSHIRE EBOR FESTIVAL, YORK

The Sky Bet Ebor at the York Races has been going since 1840 and will provide a raceday day out tomorrow. It follows the various events happening at the Ebor Festival this week, including Ladies' Day.

A woman holds onto her hat at York Racecourse today as parts of Britain are hit by wet and windy weatherU.S. House candidate Bettina Rodriguez Aguilera may have a long list of accomplishments, but she is perhaps best known for claiming that she was abducted by space aliens as a child.

Rodriguez Aguilera is a longshot in the race for the Miami-area seat being vacated by retiring Republican Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.

Yet last weekend, the Miami Herald endorsed her for the GOP nomination in the Tuesday primary out of a field of nine candidates.

In an interview, Rodriguez Aguilera said she is grateful for the endorsement and that her tale of kidnapping by aliens does not define her.

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Bettina Rodriguez Aguilera, a GOP longshot in the race for the Miami-area seat being vacated by retiring Republican Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, was endorsed by the Miami Herald last weekend despite claims she was abducted by aliens

Rodriguez Aguileras daughter Bettina Inclan Agen worked for the RNC. They are pictured together above

'It has nothing to do with what I have done. It happened when I was 7 years old,' she said. 'I am so proud of the Herald and what they did.'

Rodriguez Aguilera says she was taken aboard a spaceship as a young girl by three blond extraterrestrials who resembled the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro.

Abducted aged seven, aliens told her her that the 'center of the world's energy is Africa' and Coral Castle, a limestone tourist attraction, is really an ancient Egyptian pyramid

She says they told her that the 'center of the world's energy is Africa' and that thousands of non-human skulls were once discovered in a cave on the Mediterranean island of Malta.

And she learned the Coral Castle, a limestone tourist attraction in Florida, is really an ancient Egyptian pyramid.

She has said she witnessed paranormal activity since then and saw a UFO at age 17. She also said she has been in touch with the aliens telepathically long after the abduction.

Even if it's hard to believe there's a starman waiting in the sky, Rodriguez Aguilera won't back down.

'I stick to my guns when I believe in something,' she said.

In its Sunday editorial, the Herald reported that two of the leading Republican candidates - former Miami-Dade commissioner Bruno Barreiro and Spanish-language television journalist Maria Elvira Salazar - did not take part in the paper's endorsement process. And beyond Rodriguez Aguilera, the editorial found the remaining candidates unprepared or unqualified.

'We realize that Rodriguez Aguilera is an unusual candidate,' the editorial noted, adding that the paper was impressed with her 'boots-on-the-ground ideas and experience.'

Rodriguez Aguilera says she was taken aboard a spaceship as a young girl by three blond extraterrestrials who resembled the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro (pictured above)

Rodriguez Aguileras son-in-law Jarrod Agen is Vice President Mike Pences deputy chief of staff and communications director. He is pictured with her daughter above

Rodriguez Aguilera is a former City Council member in the suburb of Doral who is the daughter of a Cuban political prisoner.

She previously was a social worker, ombudsman at the Miami-Dade county manager's office and now runs a business training women in other countries how to run for political office.

Rodriguez Aguileras daughter Bettina Inclan Agen worked for the RNC and her son-in-law Jarrod Agen is Vice President Mike Pences deputy chief of staff and communications director.

'The theme of my campaign is people above politics. I train people around the world about democracy,' she said. 'I have the most experience. I can go in there and start working just as I have all my life.'

Whoever emerges from the GOP field Tuesday will face one of five Democratic candidates and the seat is considered one of the party's best chances for a switch from the GOP.

Polls show the leader on the Democratic side is former Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala, who was also president of the University of Miami and University of Wisconsin.

The Herald, however, endorsed state Rep. David Richardson over Shalala.The damp weather on a summer Colorado day didn't matter to a Mexican undocumented mother-of three who had spent almost an entire year going toe-to-toe with the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The green light was in order for her to finally rejoin her family on Tuesday evening - 306 days after going into hiding.

Sandra Lopez stepped out of the Two Rivers Unitarian Universalist as the rain fell in the town of Carbondale and was greeted by a throng of supporters that had been by her side as she toughed it out with ICE over her legal status in the US ever since she took sanctuary inside the church on October 19, 2017.

Sandra Lopez claims victory upon leaving sanctuary, spending 306 in a church in Colorado

Sandra Lopez sought refuge in a church in Colorado with her daughter Areli Gonzalez-Lopez. Her son Edwin Gonzalez-Lopez lays on a mattress

'Today I finally leave this sanctuary freely,' said Lopez, who in the past months had already missed the first day of daycare of Areli Gonzalez-Lopez, her two-year-old daughter. She couldn't' send of her 14-year-old son's first day of high school



'I am very, very happy. I am going to continue working with the community and I am going to work with the People's Resolution [a group that has fought for reform].'

Lopez fled her violent home state of Chihuahua in 1998 with her husband, but a domestic incident in 2010 - one of the couple's children called 911 while they were embroiled in an argument - landed her in trouble.

Under Colorado SB90, cops suspecting of a person's legal status in the country could apprehend and turn them over to ICE.

Lopez, who is in her early 40s, got representation from a Denver-area lawyer who took $10,000 and still lost the case and within days had to leave to Mexico. She fell into a deeper hole, paying him another $3,000 for an appeal that he would eventually lose.

Luck was on her side when another lawyer was able to work out a stay of removal. ICE required a yearly check-in which scared her even more, unsure if they would change course and order her detained on the spot.

A day before she was scheduled to visit the local immigration agency, her lawyer called informing that the stay of removal had been cancelled by ICE.

Sandra Lopez and her son Edwin Gonzalez-Lopez a week after ICE informed her she was not a priority for deportation

Lopez sought refuge with her then one-year-old while her older daughter and son stood home with her husband.

'I spent 10 months and two days because ever second in the sanctuary counts,' Lopez said.

'It's very, very difficult because you leave your normal life behind, the role of that a mother is supposed to be comes to a 100% stop.'

An email from ICE last week detailed that she was no longer considered a priority for deportation. An order those exist, though, and her lawyer has filed a motion to have it completely removed.

'I was a victory for me. A small victory really because my battle continues,' Lopez argued.The Arizona dealer who admitted he sold 720 rounds of tracer ammunition to the gunman behind the deadliest mass shooting in modern history, was indicted Wednesday for making armor-piercing bullets without a license.

His attorney says he plans to 'aggressively fight' the charges.

While it's not clear if any of Douglas Haig's items were used in the devastating event which took the lives of 58 people at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival October 1, in Las Vegas, Nevada, the indictment covers the period of July 2016 until mid-October 2017.

Stephen Paddock, 64, who killed himself after carrying out the attack from his Mandalay Bay hotel room, was not specifically mentioned by prosecutors looking at Haig's activity throughout the United States.

However, the charge from prosecutors in Nevada does clarify the charges refer to his intent to sell ammunition illegally in Nevada, Texas, Virginia, Wyoming, and South Carolina.

Douglas Haig is the Arizona dealer who admitted he sold 720 rounds of tracer ammunition ammunition to the gunman behind the deadliest mass shooting in modern history

Haig's fingerprints were found on reloaded .308-caliber cartridges inside Paddock's hotel room that hadn't been fired, and they had tool marks consistent with his equipment

The 10-month investigation determined there was no evidence of conspiracy or a second gunman, but failed to find a motive behind his deadly massacre

In the interview, he claimed that he "reloads ammunition, but does not offer reloaded cartridges for sale to his customers and none of the ammunition recovered in Las Vegas crime scenes would have tool marks on them consistent with his reloading equipment'.

However Haig's fingerprints were found on reloaded .308-caliber cartridges inside Paddock's hotel room that hadn't been fired, and they had tool marks consistent with equipment in Haig's backyard workshop.

The seller's name and address were also discovered on boxes at the crime scene.

Haig is planning to 'aggressively fight' the charge according to his attorney, Marc Victor, who added that his client is 'presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving the defendants guilt beyond a reasonable doubt'.

Paddock opened fire onto the concert crowd below from the 32nd floor room of the Mandalay Bay Hotel on the Las Vegas strip, room pictured above

A view inside his room at the Mandalay Bay Hotel were he launched his attack reveals his firearms strewn on the beds and the shattered window from where he opened fire

A closer look at the broken window reveals his line of sight on the 32nd floor, from where he launched his violent attack

The legal rep added that they were 'disappointed' he didn't have the chance to provide a response before his client was formally charged, as they expect their case for manufacturing armor-piercing bullets in Arizona to be dismissed soon.

That criminal charge against Haig - who has now closed his business - included many references to Paddock.

When FBI agents searched Haig's home October 19, armor-piercing ammunition was found.

Aerospace engineer, Haig, legally sold shells as a hobby for approximately 25 years.

Only those making ammunition intended to be used by US government agencies are permitted to do so without a license according to Texas attorney Gary B. Wells, who has no relation to the Haig case.

Despite Haig saying he didn't notice anything suspicious when he sold the tracer rounds from his home to Paddock in the weeks before the shooting, he had also told investigators that the gunman put on gloves before touching the box, according to the criminal complaint records.

Haig hasn't entered a plea in the Arizona case and is due to appear in court for the Nevada case September 5.

Officials closed the investigation into the Las Vegas massacre, the deadliest mass shooting in modern history, a person pictured on ground in aftermath of the October 2017 shooting

The horrific shooting was determined to be led by 64-year-old Stephen Craig Paddock alone where he opened fire on an outdoor country music concert in Las Vegas, aftermath above

Earlier this month, police closed their investigation into the after determining there was no evidence of conspiracy or a second gunman.

However police said they could not 'definitively' determine the motive behind lone-wolf shooter killing spree.

In a final report, it's revealed that Paddock had spent a whopping $1.5million in his last two years, claimed he was sick, and his own brothers believed he was 'paranoid and delusional'.

Officials added the attack had no link to international terrorism, despite claims by The Islamic State group that they were responsible for the attack.

Paddock, of Nevada, released a hail of bullets from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort casino and hotel around 10pm that night, firing onto a country concert crowd of 22,000 people below.

Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo announced the 10-month investigation into the massacre was closing on Friday August 3 without finding a motive behind the terrorizing attack

The final investigation report revealed that Paddock believed he was sick, repeatedly complaining to his girlfriend that he was ill and doctors could not cure him.

His girlfriend Marilou Danley, 62, said his doctors diagnosed him with a 'chemical imbalance'. She added he'd get 'very bad headaches' from chemical smells, would often need to change hotel rooms, would not shake hands with people, and often wore cotton gloves.

A report says many described him as a narcissist who 'only cared about himself'.

His brother Eric told investigators he believed Paddock carried out the attack 'because he had done everything in the world he wanted to do and was bored with everything.'

He said his brother 'would have planned the attack to kill a large amount of people because he would want to be known as having the largest casualty count', according to the report.

Footage from police body cameras was released on Wednesday July 25, revealing the chaos and panic that followed the shooting at the outdoor country concert on October 1, 2017Jacob Rees-Mogg is inching closer to Downing Street after moving into a mansion formerly owned by arch-Brexiteer Lord Ashcroft.

He will settle in the 5million townhouse yards from Parliament with his wife, Helena, who was spotted directing removal men, and their six children at the end of August.

Rees-Mogg bought the lavish property from pro-Brexit tycoon Ashcroft who used it as his political HQ and bankrolled a series of polls ahead of the EU referendum.

The Conservative MP for North East Somerset heads the pro-Brexit European Research Group made up of approximately 60 Tory backbenchers.

He will use the mansion as his new power base as he leads the battle for a clean break with Brussels.

Helena Rees-Mogg (pictured in red and white skirt) directs removal men who are kitting out her new plush mansion formerly owned by key EU pollster Lord Ashcroft

An umbrella and a union flag being moved in to the new home of Conservative MP and leading Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg in London

The Conservative MP for North East Somerset inched closer to Downing Street after splashing out 5 million on the five-story townhouse next to Parliament

Mr Mogg's new digs were until recently the political HQ of Lord Ashcroft  and are just five minutes from the House of Commons

The removal men in red lugged large pot plants into the lavish property along with a range of more odd objects including a cardboard box marked 'hanging garment carrier'

Ashcroft's former home, a lavish five-storey 18th Century building in Cowley Street, is just 390 yards from the Commons - even closer than Downing Street.

It is also a mere 500 yards from Tory campaign HQ and only 100 yards from the Westminster studios of the main broadcasters.

Removal men were spotted at Mr Rees-Mogg's new home carrying in an array of furniture and fittings - including an umbrella stand with a patriotic Union Flag.

They lugged in large pot plants into the lavish property along with a range of more odd objects including a cardboard box marked 'hanging garment carrier'.

Other items carried in were a vintage-style pram, antique-looking furniture and some shrubs.

Removal men were spotted at Mr Rees-Mogg's new home carrying an array of furniture and fittings including an umbrella stand complete with a patriotic Union Flag

Former Tory chairman Lord Ashcroft, who used to live at the lavish Cowley Street mansion

Jacob Rees-Mogg new power base sits in a historic quarter of 'Old Westminster' which has been thick with plotters for centuries.

Cowley Street is where former PM John Major based his campaign in 1995, when he quit as Tory leader and invited MPs to challenge him, telling Eurosceptic opponents to 'put up or shut up'.

Michael Portillo was revealed as a plotter after he was caught installing phone lines in a secret campaign HQ in Lord North Street  a one-minute walk away  to challenge Major if the contest went to a second round.

In the 2001 Tory leadership battle, the same Lord North Street house was used by the victorious Iain Duncan Smith.

Mr Rees-Mogg's house is also just feet from the building which the Liberal Democrats used as their HQ until 2011.

Lord North Street has been described as 'reeking of political intrigue', hosting political salons since the days of Disraeli.

It is where Winston Churchill went to plot against Neville Chamberlain in 1940; and in the 1970s, former Labour Prime Minister Sir Harold Wilson claimed that his townhouse at 5 Lord North Street had been bugged by MI5.

Rees-Mogg with his wife Helena and their six children. Newborn son Sixtus is being carried by nanny Veronica Crook

Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg (pictured with wife Helena de Chair) has bought a 5m home closer to Parliament than Downing Street, fuelling rumours he wants to be party leader

Kay Burley shook 11-year-old Peter's hand before jumping back into the interview with the MP for North East Somerset

Houses and offices in Cowley Street are traditionally fitted with the division bells which summon MPs to vote.

They are near enough for MPs to reach the Commons chamber within the required eight minutes.

It means Mr Rees-Mogg will have the luxury of being able to relax at home between late-night votes.

The Somerset MP paid 5.625 million for the property earlier this year, part funded by a mortgage from the Queen's bank, Coutts & Co.

It became vacant after Lord Ashcroft, who had been renting the building to house his varied political and business operations, moved out.

Rees-Mogg, his wife Helena and their children will move in after a refurbishment has been carried out.

Local planning documents show it includes the installation of surprisingly modern touches such as 'walk-on rooflights' over his basement.

Rees-Mogg announced the birth of his sixth child - Sixtus - on his Instagram account last year.

His 11-year-old son Peter made headlines earlier this year when he gatecrashed his father's interview with Sky News presenter Kay Burley at their Somerset mansion.

The estate agent which advertised the family's new house for 6million purred about the potential for 'five bedrooms, four reception rooms, four bathrooms, and significant family kitchen'.

It concluded: 'This would make a substantial and desirable London home.'The Labour leader was recorded at the 2014 protest close to the Israeli embassy

Jeremy Corbyn accused Israel of 'genocide' in front of what appears to be a Hamas flag at an anti-Israel rally, it emerged yesterday.

The Labour leader was recorded at the 2014 protest close to the Israeli embassy in Kensington, West London, saying, 'This is an occupation, this is a genocidal attack on Palestinian people.'

The Israel Advocacy Movement tweeted a link to the footage, captioning it: 'Jeremy Corbyn stands in front of a Hamas flag at an anti-Israel rally and makes the outrageous claim of an Israeli genocide against Palestinians.'

Still from Israel Advocacy Movement youtube showing Jeremy Corbyn beside Hamas flag

Now Tory peer probed over Tunisia conference A Tory peer is to be investigated after it was revealed he had attended the same controversial conference in Tunisia as Jeremy Corbyn. Lord Shekih faces a probe over the 2014 event which two Conservative MPs claimed was addressed by anti-Semites and terrorists. Robert Halfon and Zac Goldsmith said attending it had been a breach of the partys code of conduct. Mr Corbyn insists he went to the event to remember victims of a 1985 Israeli air strike on Palestinian Liberation Organisation offices in the capital, Tunis. However, he was also pictured at a memorial for Palestinian terrorists accused of masterminding the attack on Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Tory chairman Brandon Lewis said Mr Corbyns attendance at the conference proved he was unfit for senior public office putting him under pressure to act when it emerged Lord Sheikh had also been there. Advertisement

Labour sources said Mr Corbyn was not responsible for flags waved by other people. They said he was discussing the 'asymmetrical nature' of the Israel-Palestine conflict.

The flag is believed to be that of Palestinian militant group Hamas, which is designated a terrorist organisation by Britain, the European Union, the United States, Canada, Australia and numerous other countries.

The latest revelations highlight the depth of the Labour leader's connections with the group.

He notoriously called the organisation his 'friends' in 2009, something he later said that he regretted.

It also emerged yesterday that Mr Corbyn said in 2013 that British 'Zionists' have 'no sense of English irony despite having lived here all their lives' and 'need a lesson'.

He made the comments while giving speech alongside Islamic extremists at a conference publicised by Hamas' military wing. Jewish groups said the remarks were anti-Semitic.

The comments were made when the Labour leader was giving a speech alongside prominent British extremists, at a London conference promoted by the propaganda website of Hamas.

The Labour leader said: '[British Zionists] clearly have two problems. One is they don't want to study history, and secondly, having lived in this country for a very long time, probably all their lives, they don't understand English irony either.'

He added: 'They needed two lessons, which we could perhaps help them with.'

Responding to the comments, Stephen Pollard, editor of the Jewish Chronicle, said: 'This shows the reality of what Jeremy Corbyn thinks of Jews, somehow a breed apart from 'normal' English people.'

Mr Pollard said he believed the Labour leader 'used the word 'Zionist' obviously to mean 'Jews'.'

Jeremy Corbyn stands in front of a Hamas flag at an anti-Israel rally and makes the outrageous claim of an Israeli genocide against Palestinians. pic.twitter.com/psXab3AWAi  Israel Advocacy Movement (@israel_advocacy) August 23, 2018

Jonathan Sacerdoti, a founding trustee of the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism who is now an anti-racism campaigner, added: 'The idea that British Jews somehow haven't absorbed British values is outrageous.

'To doubt our Britishness because we disagree with your controversial views on Palestine, when you are the one fraternising with extremists, is deeply anti-Semitic. British Jews are right to be scared.'

Mr Corbyn has come under fire in recent weeks after it emerged that he previously invited controversial Hamas-linked speakers to an event in Parliament in 2015.

The delegation included an Islamic leader who called for attacks on the Royal Navy and another speaker who said he wanted to be a suicide bomber.

The meeting took place in the House of Lords just six months before Mr Corbyn became Labour leader.

A picture from the event shows Mr Corbyn flanked by Daud Abdullah, who called for a boycott of Holocaust Memorial Day.

It comes after last week's revelation that Mr Corbyn met Hamas officials on a trip to Israel and the West Bank in 2010.

He faces a probe into whether he broke Parliamentary rules for not declaring the visit, which was registered by a fellow Labour MP who accompanied him.

Corbyn speaking at a rally about the Palestinian plight with a Hamas flag in the background

Labour insists that the trip was below the threshold - 660 at the time - although fellow MP Andrew Slaughter declared that his trip cost 927.

Mr Corbyn is also struggling to contain a row over his appearance at a wreath-laying ceremony in Tunis near to the graves of terrorists.

He is under fire for his response to the anti-Semitism crisis which has overshadowed what should have been a summer of campaigning for Labour.

The Labour leader is currently facing two investigations after being reported to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards over two undeclared trips.

He did not record his visit to Tunis in 2014 where he was pictured with the wreath, and he also did not declare his 2010 trip to Israel and the West Bank.

The 2010 trip was organised by Middle East Monitor (MEMO), a pro-Hamas group which was also behind the meeting in Parliament with Mr Corbyn and Hamas officials.

Earlier this week, Hamas signalled its support for Mr Corbyn, although it stopped short of calling for him to be prime minister.

In a Twitter post, Hamas wrote: 'We salute Jeremy Corbyn's supportive positions to the Palestinians.

'But the issue of him as a prime minister is an internal British issue and we respect the choice of the British people.'

A Labour spokesman said: 'Jeremy Corbyn 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.'

Mr Corbyn also says in the clip from the 2014 protest: 'Take to the streets to show our anger at the way the Palestinian people are being murdered by F16 jets and many other horrible things.'

Corbyn also encouraged people to take to the streets and show their anger at Palestinian treatment by Israel

Several thousand protesters attended the event on Kensington High Street near the Israeli Embassy on July 22, 2014.

Police closed off the High Street outside the Palace Gate private road leading to the Israeli Embassy, which is on Crown Estate land where protests are banned.

It was organised as diplomatic efforts to broker a truce in the Gaza Strip intensified as Israel continued its military operation against militants.

At the time, Israel had just launched a ground operation in Gaza following days of air strikes following rocket fire by militants into Israeli towns.

This appears to be the first known occasion when Mr Corbyn has used the word genocide in relation to Israel's actions in Palestine.

Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said: 'Even the casual observer would have to see this as clear evidence as to why Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the Labour party will never be able to deal with anti-Semitism - because he himself is an anti-Semite.'A CNN commentator who worked as Bernie Sanders' campaign spokeswoman has blamed the murder of Mollie Tibbetts on 'toxic masculinity' and not weak immigration policies.

Symone Sanders took to Twitter on Wednesday to argue the point after a suspected illegal immigrant was arrested over the Iowa college student's death.

Cristhian Rivera, a 24-year-old from Mexico, was charged on Tuesday with killing Mollie and dumping her body in a cornfield in her hometown of Brooklyn, Iowa on July 18.

Soon after news of his arrest emerged, President Donald Trump led the calls for tougher immigration.

CNN commentator Symone Sanders took to Twitter on Wednesday to argue that Mollie Tibbetts was murdered because of 'toxic masculinity' and not weak immigration policies

Sanders hit out saying that Mollie was murdered because she told a man to leave her alone while she was jogging.

'Her murderer happens to be undocumented. This isnt about border security. This is about toxic masculinity. Mollie Tibbetts lost her life because a man couldnt take her saying no,' Sanders said.

'Her murderer actually might not even be undocumented. Regardless it is problematic for people to characterize an entire community based off the actions of one person.

'The majority of mass shootings in America are carried out by white men. So are we going to round them all up? That logic is asinine, archaic and flawed.'

Cristhian Rivera, a 24-year-old from Mexico, was charged on Tuesday with killing Mollie and dumping her body in a cornfield in her hometown of Brooklyn, Iowa on July 18

Sanders went on to say she wanted a real conversation about how women's lives were in danger because some men 'do not know how to check their egos'.

'Lest we continue to defile the life of #MollieTibbets with racist garbage some folks think is politically expedient that does nothing to address the root cause of the issue. Just stop,' she said.

The Mexican national charged over Mollie's death had been living in Iowa and, according to cops and the government, had been working illegally for anywhere between four and seven years, police said on Tuesday.

He was arrested after recently recovered surveillance footage led police to his Chevy Malibu following a month-long investigation into Mollie's disappearance.



FBI search teams have swooped on the secluded farm where alleged killer Cristhian Rivera lived - just minutes after it was revealed Mollie Tibbetts's death was caused by multiple stab wounds.

Three agents with K-9 dog units were seen on Thursday afternoon showing a warrant to the occupants of the ramshackle rural property before heading inside.

DailyMail.com understands the raid is linked to the ongoing search for the weapon that caused the 'multiple sharp force injuries' to 20-year-old Mollie's body.

It was the first time the FBI had visited the house since Monday afternoon, when an agent was seen accompanying local law enforcement when Rivera was taken into custody.

An autopsy conducted on Wednesday revealed Tibbetts was killed by 'multiple sharp force injuries.'

The agents, from the FBI's Omaha, Nebraska, Evidence Response Team, arrived just after it was released by Iowa law enforcement.

K-9 search: FBI agents with dogs were involved in the hunt at the farm on Thursday

Mollie Tibbetts, whose body was found on Tuesday after a month-long search, was killed by 'multiple sharp force injuries,' an autopsy concluded. Cristhian Rivera, 24, has been charged with Mollie's murder after allegedly attacking and abducting her on July 18

Starting searching: K-9 handling agents and members of the FBI Evidence Response Team swooped on the farm where Cristhian Bahena Rivera, 24, a Mexican native and, according to authorities, an illegal immigrant, was living

Forensic involvement: Agents from the FBI's Omaha, Nebraska, field office's Evidence Response Team went to the farm minutes after Mollie Tibbetts was revealed to have suffered multiple stab wounds

Inspection: FBI agents looked around the trailer which murder suspect Cristhian Bahena Rivera shared with Iris Monarrez. She was at school with Mollie Tibbetts and is mother of his child

Search scene: FBI K-9 units arrive at the farm where Millie Tibbetts's alleged murderer lived to start a search for the murder weapon

Trailer home: Cristhian Rivera, 24, lived in the trailer to the left of the main farm before his arrest on suspicion of murdering Mollie Tibbets. He led law enforcement to her body four weeks after she went missing

Dane Lang, co-owner of Yarrabee Farms, confirmed that Rivera had lived in this trailer 'for the past couple of years' while working on their dairy farm. FBI are now searching the property for the murder weapon

There were at least four people inside the farmhouse when the FBI arrived.

They were led outside and spoken with, though two people, a man and a woman, were allowed to leave.

Two unmarked cars arrived on the property shortly afterward to assist with the search.

FBI officers could be seen examining the back of the trailer where Rivera lived.

An agent with the Evidence Response Team was then seen taking photos of the exterior of the farmhouse.

A K-9 agent then took a dog out of a car and headed inside the building, which has a large basement according to property records.

The state medical examiner announced that her death has been ruled a homicide, but no details were released about what caused the sharp force injuries. The agency says further examination may result in additional findings.

The Division of Criminal Investigation released the information Thursday, saying the autopsy also officially confirms that the body found in Iowa corn field on Tuesday was that of missing student.

Cristhian Bahena Rivera, 24, a Mexican native who is suspected of being in the US illegally, has been charged in Tibbetts's slaying.

Investigators say Rivera led police to the body on Tuesday in a cornfield outside of Brooklyn, Iowa.

When police arrested him on Friday, Rivera made a full confession and told them he had seen Mollie before. It remains unclear what his motive for chasing her down and attacking her was.

He told police in his interview that he 'blacked out' and that it was common for him to do so whenever he became upset.

Rivera's chilling confession to police included his description of how he 'came to' after attacking Mollie in the street while he was driving.

Rivera confessed on Tuesday after police found surveillance footage of him following Mollie in his car. He dumped her body in a cornfield and led police to it on Tuesday

Pictured is the dilapidated two-story home - which houses other migrants who work on the dairy farm - and the 30ft long trailer, where Rivera is believed to have lived, is pictured right

The century-old property appears neglected with peeling white walls is surrounded with trash and piles of beer cans

Refuse: Bags of soft drink containers were dumped around the front of the farm

Squalor: This was the scene outside the house where other Mexican workers had been living

Iris Monarrez, (left) Rivera's long-term partner and mother of his daughter, was pictured at his hearing on Wednesday. One of his relatives (right) cried as she watched him be led away by deputies at the end of the hearing

Monarrez (is seen above outside court today) is friends on Facebook with Mollie Tibbetts and her brothers Scott and Jake

According to the friend, the 24-year-old is a 'caring' father. He is pictured with his ex-girlfriend Iris Monarrez, who was friend with Mollie on Facebook, and their young daughter

Rivera's girlfriend Iris Monarrez is seen in a yearbook photos above. She was dating Rivera throughout her years at the school

He then remembered, he said, that she was in his trunk. When he went to retrieve her body, he noticed there was blood on the side of her head.

He then dragged her on foot before putting her over his shoulder before dumping her 20 meters into the cornfield where he hid her corpse beneath corn stalks and leaves.

It is unclear if Rivera knew Mollie personally, but social media reveals his girlfriend, Iris Monarrez was friends with Tibbetts on Facebook and went to high school with her.

For years, his employer said the young man from Mexico presented himself as a legal US resident and reliable worker at Yarrabee Farms, a dairy farm in Brooklyn, Iowa.

Dane Lang, co-owner of Yarrabee Farms, confirmed to DailyMail.com that he had lived in a trailer on the farm 'for the past couple of years.'

Dane's brother is Craig Lang, former president of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation and a 2018 Republican candidate for state secretary of agriculture.

Monarrez declined to speak to reporters as she left court Tuesday. She is seen above in yearbook photos

Iris Monarrez was on the cheerleading squad and is seen in this yearbook photo circled above

Mollie and Iris actually appear on opposite sides of the same page in the 2015-16 edition of the Make It Count yearbook. Mollie is seen circled on the left and Iris right hand page

The prominent Iowa family hires a number of migrant workers and accommodates them in a series of trailers and properties, including a tumbledown dwelling on 200th Street, Brooklyn.

Public records also linked Monarrez to a dilapidated house next to the trailer which sits on 39 acres of farmland and is a six-minute drive from the spot along 385th Avenue where Rivera allegedly dragged Mollie into his car.

But now Rivera is accused of illegally living and working in the US on fraudulent documents.

Rivera appeared in court Wednesday on a first-degree murder charge. He was ordered jailed on a $5 million cash-only bond.

The turn of events stunned the farm family that employed him the last four years. They said even after Tibbetts disappeared on July 18 while out for an evening run in the town of Brooklyn, Iowa, Rivera kept coming to work.

Mollie's grieving family broke their silence on Wednesday during a vigil at the University of Iowa where she would have entered her sophomore year this fall.

Mollie's family says they have forever lost their sense of normalcy since they learned of her death (shown here mother Laura Calderwood center in blue and brother Jake in blue to the left along with other family members on Tuesday during a press conference about her death)

'From our family from our friends from the community of Brooklyn (Iowa), we thank you from the bottom of our heart,'' her brother Jake said.

She was incredible and we're gonna miss her dearly. We're never gonna have that sense of normalcy again.'

Jake also touched upon his sister's legacy, saying 'The stories you've all heard about Mollie over the last month, they're incredible,' he said.

'To be honest, what made her so special was she was just like anyone standing here  she loved to run, she loved Harry Potter, she loved the Hawks, she loved her family, she loved her friends.'

'What made her special is she was so outgoing, so loving, so passionate,' he said.

'She wasn't a silent person in the literal sense in that when she talked, everyone in the room heard her, and also about things she cared about, things she was passionate about. She wouldn't stay silent if she felt something was wrong, and that's what's so great about her.'

Tibbetts' family also issued a statement, saying 'our hearts are broken.'

'We know that many of you will join us as we continue to carry Mollie in our hearts forever.'A two-year-old boy has been found by the police 12 hours after he was taken from a hospital.

The Queensland Police issued an urgent appeal for help to locate the boy on Friday after he was taken from a South Brisbane medical facility at 8.10pm on Thursday.

The two-year-old, who required urgent medical treatment, was located by police about 9am on Friday.

A two-year-old boy has been found 12 hours after he was taken from a hospital overnight (CCTV image shows the boy being carried into a vehicle)

CCTV footage captured a man and a woman taking the boy from the facility and putting him in a car before driving off on Thursday night

CCTV footage captured a man and a woman taking the boy from the facility and putting him in a car before driving off on Thursday night.

Due to the boy's medical condition, the police urged the woman and man to take the boy to a hospital as soon as possible.

Officers thanked members of the public for their assistance during the search.Record numbers of babies were born to foreign mothers last year, official figures showed yesterday.

A steadily growing share of births in England and Wales are to immigrant mothers.

In 2017, 28.4 per cent of births were born to mothers from outside Britain, up from 28.2 per cent in 2016. In some parts of Britain it was as high as three children in four.

It was the largest percentage since 1969, when information on parents country of birth was first collected when a new child was registered.

Campaigners said the statistics were a striking illustration of the way mass migration is changing the face of the country - and placing additional pressure on public services, including hospitals, schools and housing.

The proportion has risen every year since 1990, when the level was 11.6 per cent. This had grown to 19.5 per cent in 2004  the year Tony Blairs Labour government threw open the doors to migrants from Eastern Europe.

There were 192,651 births to foreign mothers in 2017 - down 1.8 per cent on the previous year

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said there were 192,651 births to foreign mothers in 2017 - down 1.8 per cent on the previous year.

In total, there were 679,106 babies born last year in England and Wales - a decrease of 2.5 per cent.

Poles topped the list for new mothers born outside Britain, with 20,779. This was a six-fold increase on the 3,403 children born to Polish mothers in 2005.

It was followed by Pakistan (17,099), while Romania (13,717) moved into third place for the first time, fuelled by a surge in adults from the Eastern European arriving in the UK after the employment restrictions were lifted in 2014. It overtook India, which was on 13,476.

Some 71,472 babies were born to mothers from the EU in 2017 - up from 44,022 in 2008, or 62 per cent.

Including foreign-born fathers, around 1 in 3 babies had at least one parent from overseas. Pakistan was the most common country of birth for fathers born outside the UK with 18,513, followed by Poland (15,610) and India (13,715).

Alp Mehmet, vice-chairman of think-tank MigrationWatch, which campaigns for tighter controls on migration, said: This is another factor indicating how migration is contributing huge numbers to the population.

The sound another warning bell about the impact of mass immigration. The consequences of this are increased pressure housing, schools and the NHS and the changing nature of our society.

This is indicative of the scale and speed that it is all happening and it cant be in the interests of this country and it is certainly not what the majority of people in this country want.

The Government must honour its manifesto commitment to reduce net migration to sustainable levels.

Nicola Haines, a statistician for the ONS, said: Just over a third of the babies born in England and Wales in 2017 had at least one parent who had been born outside the UK.

Office for National Statistics numbers for foreign mother births in the UK in 2017

This will include parents who moved to the UK as children and have lived here most of their lives as well as those who have recently migrated. The proportion of live births to non-UK-born parents has been growing since 1990 and is now the highest on record.

The bulletin said: The increases in births to Polish and Romanian-born mothers are driven mainly by the increasing size of the Polish and Romanian-born populations living in the UK.

The ONS said the figures showed that fertility levels were higher among foreign-born women and such women were more likely to be of childbearing age than the rest of the population.

In some parts of the UK, 75 per cent of children were born to foreign mothers in 2017. In Brent, North-West London, it was 75.7 per cent while in the East London borough of Newham, the proportion was 74.1 per cent.

Slough in Berkshire had the highest percentage outside London at 62.8 per cent followed by Luton with 59.3 per cent.

However, the ONS paper also revealed that the Total Fertility Rate - which predicts how many children a typical woman would have in their lifetime on current patterns - fell to 1.71 children per foreign-born woman, the lowest level since 2005.

Yesterday the Mail told how a new report claimed that babies born to foreign-born migrants had contributed to the unprecedented surge in Britains population this century.

Some 82 per cent of the huge rise from 2001 to 2016 could be attributed to the arrival of immigrants and, subsequently, their UK-born children, according to an analysis of ONS data by MigrationWatch.

It claimed that of the 6.6million extra people added to the population during those 15 years, 5.4million were the result of mass immigration - the biggest ever wave of incomers.

Because the ONS failed to count 2.3million children born to foreign parents as migrants - giving a lower total of 3.1million, or 47 per cent of the rise - the effect of migration policy was not calculated correctly, it said.

The ONS said that in accordance with internationally recognised definitions, children born in the UK were not counted as migrants.A pair of Texas cops came to a distraught woman's rescue and managed to save her life.

The duo had moments to act as the woman teetered on the brink of an overpass, threatening to jump into traffic below.

Just as officers, Justin Henry and Trae Cierzan pulled up to the scene, they found the woman getting out of her car only to stand up on the ledge.

Officers pulled up to the stopped vehicle on the overpass not realizing what was happening

Dash-cam shared on social media by the Fort Worth Police Department shows officers talking a suicidal woman off the ledge of an overpass

Two officers carefully and calmly approach reassuring the woman

The woman appeared to be distraught and said that people wished she was dead

'Don't do it!' both police officers yell at her.

'No!' she responds. 'Leave me alone!'

'Come on!' the officer says. 'Get down! What's your name?'

'It doesn't matter,' the woman says sobbing - hovering dangerously on the edge. 'Just take care of my dogs!'

'My name's Justin,' the officer says as he tries to reassure her and offer a friendly hand.

'I don't care! Everyone wants me dead, so I'll just die,' the woman responded through tears.

All the while, both police officers edged ever-closer to the woman.

Dash-cam footage captures video of both men walking towards her while body-cam film shows just hos close to the edge the woman was as she stood on the concrete ledge.

Body-cam footage show just how close to the edge the woman was as she said she would jump

The woman tells them how scared she is the men edge ever-closer towards her.

Finally, they decide to make a grab for her and pull her down off the barrier.

They then walk her to the squad car and tell her they're going to get her some help.

'What's your name? What's going on?' the officers ask as they place the woman in handcuffs for her own good.

They tell her that she will be taken to hospital where she will be able to speak with someone about her problems.

When they are close enough, the pair reach out and grabbed her pulling her down

The cops brought the woman back to the car so that they could get her some professional help

The woman appears to be in a truly tormented state as she tells the officers that nobody cares about her and the people want her to die.

'My name's Justin and this here, is Trae, and we don't want you to die,' says the officer. ''Whatever's going on is not worth it. We're here for you, OK?'

The footage is both terrifying and reassuring as it shows the police officers maintain their cool, calm and collected manner throughout managing to bring the woman back down to safety where she could receive some proper care and attention.Abdul Ghani-Wahhaj was buried in Atlanta on Thursday. The three-year-old died sometime between December and August 3

The family of the three-year-old disabled son of the Muslim extremist who took him to a New Mexico compound to be 'exorcised' laid him to rest in Atlanta on Thursday.

Abdul-Ghani Wahhaj, who was known to his family as AG, died sometime between December and August 3.

He was taken by his father Siraj in December last year from his home in Georgia. He went to live with him on the remote compound in Amalia along with 11 other starving children, his stepmother, his two aunts and his uncle.

Police recovered his body from the compound earlier this month.

On Thursday, his relatives in Atlanta buried him behind a mosque as his mother, Hakima Ramzi, watched in tears along with two other little boys who held hands.

His paternal grandfather, Siraj Wahhaj, gave an emotional speech which credited his mother for loving him unconditionally in spite of his health problems.

'I have met no one more loving to Abdul-Ghani than Hakima.

AG's father Siraj Ibn Wahhaj is awaiting his next court date on child abuse charges. He remains in custody in New Mexico but has not yet been charged for the toddler's death

This is the compound in rural New Mexico where the toddler's remains were found buried

'But Hakima, as much as you love Abdul-Ghani, Allah loves him more,' he said, according to The The Atlanta Journal-Constitution which attended the service.

AG had a severe disability which required him to take medication every day. It was the result of a shortage of oxygen in his brain when he was born.

Abdul's mother Hakima Ramzi had been appealing for him to come home for three months. His father told her she was taking him to the park then disappeared with him

His father, who was training the other children on the compound to use guns to carry out school shootings, according to police, believed he was possessed.

He tried to rid the toddler of what he believed were demonic spirits by placing his hand on his head and reciting passages from the Koran.

It was during one of these rituals that AG died, according to police.

On August 3, police raided the property after receiving word from someone living there that there was no food and all of the children were starving.

Wahhaj, 39, was arrested along with his wife Jany Leveille, 35, his sisters Subhanah, 35, and Huhraj, 38, and Subhanah's husband Lucas Morton.

Prosecutors say they went to the rural plot to escape non-Muslims and that they were inspired by a trip Wahhaj took to Saudi Arabia earlier in the year.

All of the adults have been charged with child abuse but none have been charged over AG's death.

They remain in custody in New Mexico awaiting their next court date.Raymond Reinke, 55, has been sentenced to 130 days in jail after pleading guilty to harassing bison in Yellowstone National Park

The Oregon man who was caught on video harassing a Yellowstone bison after guzzling eight hurricane malt liquors as his 'last hurrah' before heading to rehab, has been sentenced to jail.

Raymond Reinke, 55, pleaded guilty in federal court in Mammoth, Wyoming to four charges of misconduct in two national parks.

On Thursday Magistrate Judge Mark Carman sentenced him to a total of 130 days in jail - 60 for harassing wildlife, 60 for interfering with law enforcement, and 10 for disorderly conduct.

He was given a credit for 21 days already served.

He is also banned from Grand Teton, Yellowstone and Glacier national parks for a five-year probationary period, during which he is banned from drinking alcohol.

His planned chemical dependency treatment is now court-ordered.

Raymond Reinke, with his wrists and ankles shackled, is led out the backdoor of the Yellowstone Justice Center on August 8 following his initial hearing at Yellowstone National Park, during which he was denied bail

Reinke, of Pendleton, led a spree of outbursts dotting the Northwest as he bopped from one national park to another, in each place running into trouble for disorderly conduct or drunkenness, over the course of six days.

It all started on July 28 at Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming where he ran into trouble for drunk and disorderly conduct and spent a night in jail.

Then he had a traffic violation and harassed a bison on the road in a viral video at Yellowstone National Park on July 31.

He shot to fame for that video where Reinke is seen beating his chest and yelling at the animal, causing it to become agitated and charge towards him.

Following several wildlife harassment reports connecting the Oregon man to the harassment, a citation for a court appearance was issued for Reinke.

Finally he was tracked down and arrested on August 3 at Glacier National Park in Montana.

Reinke was seen in a Facebook video taunting a bison at Yellowstone National Park last week. He was beating his chest and roaring at the animal, causing it to get agitated and charge

The video was filmed by park goer Lindsey Jones and shared on Facebook. The footage quickly went viral, sparking an investigation

He led his streak of disorderly conduct starting at Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, then Yellowstone, then Glacier National Park in Montana over the course of six days

Raymond Reinke has described himself as 'definitely an alcoholic' who had been in treatment at least three times  and now planned on going back.

'I have completed three state and US government certified courses and then when this trip was over I was going to go in for another in-patient program,' he said. 'This was like my last hoorah.'

He was sentenced for his drunken behavior in two national parks in Wyoming, and was not cited for his drunken outburst at Glacier National Park in Montana.

He says the bison-taunting video brought him unwanted fame.

Despite a court order that he not touch booze following his first violation in Grand Teton, Reinke guzzled six-to-eight Hurricanes - a malt liquor with an alcohol content of 8 per cent - before his bison rampage, according to his travel pal Ted Wyrick.

Reinke's week-long streak is just a small part of extensive rap sheet dating back to 2013, filled with several disorderly conduct charges, pictured in old mugshots

Reinke said he had no idea his drinking would lead to federal charges as normally if he got into trouble he could move from one town to another.

'You guys at the federal level are just Johnny-on-the-spot,' he said in court.

'You have long, long arms and I just didn't think that if I had a couple of beers how fast things would complicate themselves.'

Reinke's week-long streak is just a small part of extensive rap sheet dating back to 2013, filled with several disorderly conduct charges.

Prosecutor Leland Pico told the court that park rangers had called police in Pendleton who said they had had dealings with Reinke for 19 years. They had called him 'a doper' whose drug use may have caused mental health issues.

'They described him as a volatile man who does not care about authority. He is frequently under the influence of alcohol,' said Pico.A Jewish Labour MP has attacked Jeremy Corbyn after he accused British Zionists of having 'no sense of irony' despite having 'lived in Britain all of their lives'.

The former shadow minister for public health Luciana Berger lashed out over the 2013 clip, filmed at a London conference which was promoted by the propaganda website of terror group Hamas.

Making her most outspoken attack on the Labour leader to date, she said she felt 'unwelcome' in her own party after his 'inexcusable comments'.

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Luciana Berger, the MP for Liverpool Wavertree, slammed the Labour leader for his comments from 2013 at a London conference promoted by the propaganda website of terror group Hamas

Two Labour MPs also broke ranks to show their support for the MP Liverpool Wavertree, who is a fierce critic of anti-Semitism.

MP for Newcastle North Catherine McKinnell said she was 'standing right with' Berger and MP for Sedgefield Phil Wilson tweeted 'Right beside you'.

Berger wrote on Twitter in response to the footage: 'The video released today of the leader of @UKLabour making inexcusable comments - defended by a party spokesman - makes me as a proud British Jew feel unwelcome in my own party. Ive lived in Britain all my life and I dont need any lessons in history/irony.'

Her post attracted thousands of comments, with many aggressively telling her to leave the party.

'Resign then.. good riddance if you do.. see yer,' wrote one person.

Another said: 'Oh stop with this emotive BS woman'.

Solidarity: MP for Sedgefield Phil Wilson tweeted 'Right beside you @lucianaberger'

MP for Newcastle North Catherine McKinnell said she was 'standing right with' Berger

Allegations of hostility toward Jews in the party have dogged Corbyn's leadership and Berger was one of the MPs to report abuse they received to Parliament in April.

One internet troll, 21-year-old Garron Helm, was jailed for sending Berger anti-Semitic messages in October 2014.

The controversy comes after MailOnline exclusively revealed the Labour leader said five years ago before rising to prominence: '[British Zionists] clearly have two problems. One is they don't want to study history, and secondly, having lived in this country for a very long time, probably all their lives, they don't understand English irony either.'

He added: 'They needed two lessons, which we could perhaps help them with.'

Recalling a disagreement between some 'Zionists' and the Palestinian ambassador, Manuel Hassassian, following a speech by Hassassian in Parliament, Corbyn said:

Jeremy Corbyn makes his controversial remarks. On the far right is Daud Abdullah, who called for attacks on the Royal Navy and led a boycott of Holocaust Memorial Day. In the centre is Stephen Sizer, who suggested that Israel was behind the 9/11 attack

Jeremy Corbyn speaks at the conference, left. Daud Abdullah , right, has called for attacks on the Royal Navy and led a boycott of Holocaust Memorial Day

The controversial 2013 conference advertised on the propaganda website of the Hamas military wing

'[Hassassian's speech] was dutifully recorded by the thankfully silent Zionists who were in the audience on that occasion, and then came up and berated him afterwards for what he'd said.'

This shows the reality of what Jeremy Corbyn thinks of Jews, somehow a breed apart from 'normal' English people Stephen Pollard, Jewish Chronicle editor

Stephen Pollard, editor of the Jewish Chronicle, said: 'This shows the reality of what Jeremy Corbyn thinks of Jews, somehow a breed apart from 'normal' English people.'

Pollard added that he believed the Labour leader 'used the word 'Zionist' obviously to mean 'Jews'.'

Jonathan Sacerdoti, who was a founding trustee of the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism, and who is now an anti-racism campaigner, said: 'The idea that British Jews somehow haven't absorbed British values is outrageous.

'To doubt our Britishness because we disagree with your controversial views on Palestine, when you are the one fraternising with extremists, is deeply anti-Semitic. British Jews are right to be scared.'

Why is Labour's new code of conduct on anti-Semitism so controversial? The Labour anti-Semitism row erupted again after the party leadership refused to fully adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) definition. The party's code explicitly endorses the IHRA definition, but it omits four examples from the IHRA list: - Accusing Jewish people of being more loyal to Israel than their home country; - Claiming that Israel's existence as a state is a racist endeavour; - Requiring higher standards of behaviour from Israel than other nations; and - Comparing contemporary Israeli policies to those of the Nazis. Labour insisted that while the examples are not reproduced word-for-word, they are covered in the new code. But critics say the decision allows anti-Semitism to continue to fester. Advertisement

The Labour leader made the comments at a conference at Friends House in Euston. The event was advertised online by Hamas' Al-Qassam Brigades, which is designated a terrorist group by Britain, the EU, the United States and other countries.

In one of the speeches, made by 9/11 conspiracy theorist Alan Hart, 'Zionism' was described as a 'cancer at the heart of international affairs'. It was also called a 'monster' and compared to Nazi Germany.

The programme of speakers included a range of anti-Semites, homophobes and conspiracy theorists.

Several were connected to Hamas. One called for attacks on the Royal Navy in the past, and led a boycott of Holocaust Memorial Day.

In addition, a number have been formerly associated with the Labour leader, or supported by him.

One listed speaker was Ibrahim Hewitt, who wrote a pamphlet in 1994 branding homosexuality a 'great sin' comparable to paedophilia and incest, which should be 'severely punished'. The pamphlet was most recently reprinted in 2004.

Speaking at a pro-Palestinian event in East London in February 2013, Corbyn called him a 'very good friend'.

Another speaker, Reverend Stephen Sizer, was later banned from social media after suggesting that Israel was behind the 9/11 attack on the twin towers.

Corbyn wrote a letter defending him, saying he was 'under attack' by a pro-Israeli smear campaign.

CAMPAIGN AGAINST ANTI-SEMITISM STATEMENT Gideon Falter, chair of the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism, said: 'Jeremy Corbyn's xenophobic portrayal of 'Zionists' as foreign to Britain and recognisable by their ignorance and humourlessness is utterly shameful, even by his low standards. 'It is precisely this euphemistic use of the word 'Zionist' to refer to Jews and direct smears at us which used to be the preserve of anti-Semites amongst the aristocracy. 'This shows yet again that Jeremy Corbyn just does not get Jews and the concerns of the Jewish community. 'It is plain that he is an anti-Semite, under whose leadership the once anti-racist Labour Party has become institutionally antisemitic. 'The great leaders of the Labour movement of old would be appalled to see how he has traversed their legacy.' Advertisement

Alison Weir, an American anti-Israel campaigner who has been disowned by a number of Left-wing peace groups because of her alleged links to white supremacists, also gave a speech at the event.

Other speakers included Daud Abdullah, who signed a letter saying that the Royal Navy should be attacked if it tried to help prevent weapons from being smuggled to terror groups in Gaza. In 2007, he led a boycott of Holocaust Memorial Day.

Corbyn has been pictured with Abdullah at other events, including a seminar held at Parliament six months before he was elected leader of the Labour party, which MailOnline exposed earlier this week.

Also present at the conference was Sameh Habeeb, the founder and editor of the Palestine Telegraph, who was suspended by Labour and dropped as an election candidate in April after he was accused of sharing anti-Semitic material.

Leaflets were on display at the 2013 event which appeared to advertise an organisation run by Holocaust denier Paul Eisen, another former associate of the Labour leader.

MailOnline has previously revealed how Eisen claimed that Corbyn supported him for 15 years and donated to his campaign, something the Labour leader has denied.

The explosive revelations will increase the pressure on Corbyn to resign as he struggles to contain the anti-Semitism crisis engulfing his party.

Jeremy Corbyn listens attentively to another of the speakers at the 2013 conference in London

Labour Friends of Israel (LFI) has demanded that Corbyn apologise for his presence at the event. Jennifer Gerber, director of the LFI, said:

'The thousands of Israelis who have family members killed by Hamas terrorism will not understand why Mr Corbyn believes these are suitable people to associate with.'

The conference was organised by the Palestine Return Centre (PRC), a controversial pressure group with close links to both Hamas and Corbyn.

A pamphlet by Holocaust denier Paul Eisen at the event. MailOnline previously revealed how Corbyn allegedly gave him a donation, which the Labour leader denied

In 2009, the PRC caused outrage when it invited the Hungarian fascist and Jobbik MEP Krisztina Morvai, a close ally of BNP figurehead Nick Griffin, to speak at one of its anti-Israel events.

At another PRC in 2013, Corbyn compared Israel's occupation of the West Bank to the Nazi takeover of Europe. Labour said that he was referring to all WWII occupations, not just those ordered by Hitler.

The group has also invited Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas terror chief, to attend an event in Holland, but he was barred entry by Dutch authorities.

The conference where Corbyn made his remarks was led by Manuel Hassassian, the Palestinian official who recently demanded that Labour refuse to adopt the internationally recognised definition of anti-Semitism.

Other speakers at the event included the academic Garda Kharmi, who has defended comparing Israel to the Nazis. In a lecture last year, she said:

'The Jews were not wanted in Europe. They were an unpopular, unloved people, who were off-loaded into the [Middle East].'

Also appearing was Sabagh al-Mukhtar, a lawyer who gave expert witness in support of hate preacher Abu Hamza before he was deported from Britain.

Another speaker was Majed al-Zeer, head of the PRC, who is close to the Hamas leadership. He has been pictured with its terror chief, Ismail Haniyeh, who sent him a message of congratulations when the PRC was legitimised by the UN.

Alan Hart, a further speaker, believed that Mossad was behind the 9/11 attacks, and referred to 'Zionism' as a 'monster' and a 'cancer at the heart of international affairs'.

A Labour spokesman said: 'Jeremy Corbyn 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.'The teenage daughter of a 76-year-old Mexican out-smarted a bakery thief after the family-run business inMexico City was tipped off that the person stockpiling the small shop was also stealing from it.

Raul Ramirez knew that since November/December 2017, the distributor handling the account for Bimbo, a well-known bakery product manufacturer based out of Mexico, had been snatching snacks and stuffing them inside his work attire.

Ramirez said he couldn't place an estimate on how much he lost during the time before the incident was reported to authorities a couple of weeks ago.

Raul Ramirez (back) is stationed behind the counter, perhaps unaware that the crook (right) was striking once again

The thief was identified as Ricardo 'N', an account representative for the well-known Mexican bakery product manufacturer, Bimbo

So his tech savvy daughter, Rosaura, hatched an extraordinary plan to catch the man identified as Ricardo 'N'. She took her smartphone and hid it inside a sealed bag of Doritos.

Ricardo's appetite caught up with him on the following visit when he was caught red-handed in a video that went viral on Tuesday.

Ramirez said Ricardo was only held arrested for one day and bailed out by his family.

He was charged with robbery and for harassing a minor.

Bimbo's general manager Miguel Angel Espinoza released a video statement Tuesday on the company's Facebook page apologizing for the account reps actions and announcing that the embarrassed employee was no longer with the company.Comedian Bill Maher has made a $1 million donation to Senate Democrats in an effort to help the party retake control of the upper chamber - a move that comes after he bashed liberal billionaires for being 'cheap f****' who did not contribute enough to the party.

Maher made his contribution through the Senate Majority PAC, a fundraising committee aligned with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Variety reported.

On his HBO show 'Real Time,' Maher has warned about Democrats being outspent by rich Republicans in the midterm elections this year.

Bill Maher has made a $1 million donation to Senate Democrats

Washington Post owner and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has been a target of Trump's temper

He also called out billionaire tech titans like Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and Bill Gates for barely donating to Democrats in the 2016 election.

Democrats face an uphill battle to win control of the Senate with 10 of their incumbent senators running in states Donald Trump carried in 2016.

Schumer said in a statement to Variety: 'I'm very appreciative of Bill's generosity and urge all Americans to do everything they can to take back the Senate and restore our democracy.'

Maher made a similar $1 million donation to Priorities USA Action, a super PAC backing President Barack Obama's reelection, in 2012.

The comedian has never been shy about making his political opinions known.

His ABC late-night show 'Politically Incorrect' was cancelled in 2002 after Maher made insensitive remarks about the September 11th attacks.

Others who have given to the Senate Majority PAC include a $2 million donation from actor Seth MacFarlane; $1 million from producer Haim Saban; $500,000 from Netflix's Reed Hastings; and $250,000 from studio executive Jeffrey Katzenberg.

On HBO's 'Real Time' in June, Maher pointed out the wealthy Republicans - like businessman Sheldon Adelson, who pledged as much as $100 million to help Donald Trump in the last election; and Charles and David Koch, who founded the Americans for Prosperity PAC - will give millions to help the GOP this year.

'The Koch brothers are going to give $400 million,' Maher said on his show. 'Where are the billionaire liberals? Because Sheldon Adelson and that crowd, they give in the tens and hundreds of billions.'

Maher added: 'Here's our side: Bill Gates, worth $91 billion. Jeff Bezos, worth $141 billion. [Mark] Zuckerberg, who should feel guilty for helping Russia slide Trump into the White House, he's worth $73 billion. Their contributions in 2016 were under a million.'

He then called the billionaire tech titans - Bezos founded Amazon.com, Gates founded Microsoft and Zuckerberg founded Facebook - 'cheap f****.'

Gates said Trump doesn't know the difference between two sexually transmitted diseases and that it was 'scary' how much the president knew about Gates' daughter's appearance

Mark Zuckerberg had to testify on Capitol Hill about how Facebook handled attempts by foreign agents to influence the presidential election

Bezos has been a target of Trump's temper. The president has repeatedly tweeted that The Washington Post, which Bezos owns, is 'fake news' and Trump has complained - without evidence - that Amazon gets special rates from the post office.

In May, Gates made news with his remarks on Trump, saying the president doesn't know the difference between two sexually transmitted diseases and that it was 'scary' how much Trump knew about Gates' daughter's appearance.

He talked about a December 2016 meeting where 'it was actually kind of scary how much he knew about my daughter's appearance.'

Gates also said he discussed science with Trump on two separate occasions, where he claims the president questioned him on the difference between HIV and HPV.

And Zuckerberg had to testify on Capitol Hill about how Facebook handled attempts by foreign agents to influence the presidential election.

Maher also made news in June when he said on his show that he hoped the American economy would tank as a recession would cause Trump to lose reelection.

'One way you get rid of Trump is a crashing economy. So please, bring on the recession,' he said.

Despite the outrage that followed, Maher doubled down on the comments in a later show saying: 'A recession is a survivable event. What Trump is doing to this country is not. Democracy is about to go the way of the dinosaurs because we've been taken over by a dodo bird.'

He added: 'Another recession is coming, not because I'm rooting for it, but because passed a giant tax giveaway to the rich that added trillions to the debt, and started a trade war for no reason and deliberately sabotaged the affordable care act and rolled back the rules for banks so they can once again gamble with our money.'

He concluded with: 'I just want America to say about Donald Trump what everybody in a relationship says when the hot sex wears off: 'What the f*** am I doing with this person?'Johnny Depp's 'erratic behavior' was wrongly given as the reason a controversial new film about the 1997 murder of rapper Biggie Smalls was axed, claims the director in charge of the movie.

Depp, 55, is being sued for 'maliciously and forcefully' punching Gregg 'Rocky' Brooks on set, saying he'd pay the location manager $100,000 to 'punch [him] in the face' in April 2017, according to reports.

However, the man at the helm of City of Lies, Brad Furman, insists the troubled actor did not overstep the mark during filming - and the book's author, Randall Sullivan, believes DreamWorks was 'scared off' releasing the movie because of pressure from the police.

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Johnny Depp is being sued for 'maliciously and forcefully' punching Brooks twice in his ribs before saying he'd pay the location manager $100,000 to 'punch [him] in the face' in 2017

Lawsuit: Depp has argued that any violence brought upon the man was because Johnny 'feared for his safety'; seen on set in 2017

'The Los Angeles Police Department is the most politicized police department in the country, and its relationships with financial powers and political powers in the city, and in the state, and even in the country are, I think, unprecedented,' Sullivan said to The Daily Beast.

'I saw the way they were able to marshal resources to oppose making this movieThere may have been other things, I dont think it was based mainly or entirely on political pressure, but [DreamWorks was] clearly scared by the things they were getting told, they were getting scared off this project.'

He wrote LAbyrinth, book the motion picture is based on, and plans on releasing a sequel just as riveting.

'I think Johnny is being made a scapegoat and frankly, it p***es me off,' he told the publication.

Furman added to The Daily Beast he only found out the film was axed in August, despite it officially being shelved July 19 and due for release September 7.

Voletta Wallace, could 'absolutely completely bury' the Los Angeles Police Department if Johnny Depp's movie City of Lies was released according to a story from The Daily Beast

Furthermore, the director says he asked Depp's people what they knew and found out they had not yet been told of the decision.

Several insiders believe production company Global Road were pressured by law enforcement to back out.

'I cant exactly prove this, but there are too many arrows pointing in that direction (of political intervention). Too many people have called me, too many cops Ive spoken to, that theres no way it wasnt discussed.'



The director says a law enforcement officer warned him to get a burner phone and cover the camera on his computer.

It has caused him to check his doors at night out of fear for what could happen to him.

A former FBI agent who also spoke to the publication says Biggie Smalls' mother, Voletta Wallace, could 'absolutely completely bury' the Los Angeles Police Department if Johnny Depp's movie City of Lies was released and created a buzz.

The family was seeking $400million in a 2002 wrongful death lawsuit that was dismissed 2012 but is eligible to be refiled.

Speculation about the reason for the movie being shut down continued in writing, the story states.

'Also, they were being warned, even threatened, with the consequences of releasing a film that pointed such a large and sharp finger at the LAPD, and that would put the City of Los Angeles at risk of tremendous liability,' Sullivan wrote in an email to Furman, reports The Daily Beast. 'Ive seen up close how powerful those threats can be.'

City of Lies is about the investigations into Notorious B.I.G (left) and Tupac's (right) murders

Director, David Furman, expresses how annoyed he is the lead actor was being used as reason for City of Lies getting blocked

It's what he goes into in his forthcoming book.

'I describe the frightening political machinations that prevented the federal case of LAPD involvement in the Biggie murder from being prosecuted. Truly outrageous,' he told the publication about Dead Wrong.

Depp plays a role Leonardo DiCaprio was originally taking.

However Sullivan thinks Global Road - that Variety reports could be facing bankruptcy - spent money on sci-fi film A.X.L instead.

Also starring Forest Whitaker, City of Lies is about the investigation into the killing of Biggie, aka Notorious B.I.G., which was shut down in 2005 due to lack of evidence.

It also surrounds the slaying of his rival Tupac Shakur.

Trouble: While Johnny Depp doesn't necessarily deny assaulting Gregg 'Rocky' Brooks on the City of Lies set, his actions were out of self-defense, according to The Blast; seen in 2017

Depp's attorney later shared a statement to DailyMail.com: 'Despite false media reports suggesting otherwise, Johnny Depp never touched the person suing him, as over a dozen witnesses present will attest. In a court filing we have generally denied all claims and we will fight these latest sham allegations.'

In Gregg's legal documents, the crew member slammed the Lone Ranger star over his conduct, alleging the actions were 'intentional and malicious and done for the purpose of causing plaintiff to suffer humiliation.'

Brooks also claimed Johnny's 'intoxication and temper created a hostile, abusive and unsafe work environment,' which eventually resulted in him being assaulted by Johnny during filming of the crime thriller when he tried to enforce a permit restriction during a late night of filming.

Gregg claimed he was eventually fired from the movie when he refused to sign a release waiving his right to sue over the incident.

His attorney, Arbella Azizian, said in a statement: 'My client wants to make sure Mr. Depp is held accountable for his conduct on set so that, in the future, others will not be put in the same situation.'Fake online accounts run by Russian hackers have been used to whip up the anti-vaccination debate  putting millions of Western children at risk of serious illness.

Experts in the US say countless social media accounts are bombarding parents with anti-vaccination messages.

The tactic includes setting up internet robots  or bots  to engage the public in a debate about the safety of vaccines.

Some of the accounts were linked to the shadowy St Petersburg firm the Internet Research Agency, which is said to be backed by the Russian government. It has been accused of seeking to influence the 2017 general election in favour of Jeremy Corbyn and the 2016 presidential vote that saw Donald Trump reach the White House.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R) hold a joint news conference prior to their talks at the German government's guest house in Berlin

But this is the first time such an approach has been revealed to be used to influence peoples health decisions. It comes with Europe in the grip of a measles outbreak that experts believe is linked to reluctance to have the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

The researchers at George Washington University believe that the campaign is seeking to use vaccination as a wedge issue, promoting discord in Western society.

Dr Heidi Larson, director of the Vaccine Confidence Project at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said the consequences could be dire. The danger is that this manipulation of information can create anxiety and distrust, leading to vaccine refusal and risking a serious illness or death, she said. It should wake up the public to being more critical of the comments theyre reading online.

Russian 'bot' accounts have been used to whip up the anti-vaccination debate

Tweets that the experts flagged up The more vaccines kids get, the sicker they are and the higher the infant mortality rate. Did you know vaccines caused autism? Vaccines contain mercury! Deadly poison! Dead from measles vax  not measles. A far-too-common story re: this benign disease of childhood and its dangerous vax. Chicken pox and measles are temporary, autism is forever, as far as we know. Did you know there was a secret government database of vaccine-damaged children? Pharmacy companies want to develop vaccines for cash, not to prevent deaths Vaccines can cause serious and sometimes fatal side effects Natural infection almost always causes better immunity than #vaccines Most diseases that #vaccines target are relatively harmless in many cases, thus making #vaccines unnecessary Advertisement

The researchers, whose results were published in the American Journal of Public Health, assessed 1.8million posts on Twitter and found that 3 per cent of all tweets about vaccines were posted by Russian bots. Many others were posted from Russian accounts deliberately trying to provoke debate.

Study leader David Broniatowski said most of the tweets referenced the MMR vaccine, which was shunned by parents after being linked to autism in a study later discredited. But he also discovered references to virtually every vaccine ever created - and even a few that do not exist.

Uptake remains low in European countries such as Italy  where the latest measles outbreak has been fierce.

Professor Mark Dredze, a professor of computer science and fellow team member, said of the tweets: They erode public trust in vaccination, exposing us all to the risk of infectious diseases. Viruses dont respect national boundaries.More nuns have been reported to prosecutors amid a widening police investigation into claims of abuse at a notorious orphanage.

The Mail revealed yesterday that police probing Smyllum Park in Lanark had arrested 12 people, including nuns.

A further four have now been reported to the Crown Office, some of them nuns, with ages ranging between 71 and 93.

Police Scotland also disclosed that the 12 who have been arrested and charged consisted of 11 women and one man, aged between 62 and 85.

Yesterday a force spokesman said: A further four individuals will be reported today. Inquiries are continuing. Claims of historic abuse at the home have come under scrutiny at the ongoing Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI).

Eddie McCall with his brothers were abused by nuns as a children at the Smyllum Park School for orphans. His younger brother Francis died at the home, nobody knows where he's buried

News of the arrests comes as SCAI chairman Lady Smith prepares to publish a damning report on Smyllum within days.

Last night Alan Draper of In Care Abuse Survivors said: The news today is a vindication of all those survivors who had the courage to come forward.

We look forward to a successful prosecution of all those who committed crimes with impunity, in the knowledge that they would be protected by their superiors.

Bishops and religious superiors will also have questions to answer for their failures.

It is understood that those arrested within the last few weeks include nuns and former lay members of staff at the now-closed institution.

Former residents of the home have told SCAI during hearings that nuns beat them, forced them to eat vomit and ritually humiliated them for bed-wetting.

One recalled satanic abuse and another claimed a fellow child may have died after being left naked in the rain for three hours as punishment.

Another former resident compared the Daughters of Charity, who ran the Catholic institution until it closed in 1981, to Nazi concentration camp commandants.

Smyllum Park School for orphans, in Lanark, south-east of Glasgow

A spokesman for the Daughters of Charity said: During this period we have publicly urged anyone who believes they have been the victim of a crime to contact the police.

We continue to offer our sincere and heartfelt apology to anyone who suffered any form of abuse while at our facilities.

Meanwhile, a separate police probe is under way over claims of abuse involving the Sisters of Nazareth, another Catholic order which came under investigation by the SCAI earlier this year.

The Mail has been told there is an ongoing police investigation into people associated with the order, which ran homes across Scotland where abuse has been widely reported.

Andi Lavery of abuse survivors group White Flowers Alba said: We welcome todays news of Police Scotlands arrests on behalf of the four families we represent from Smyllum Park orphanage.Alex Salmond, former First Minister of Scotland, has been accused carrying out two assaults while in office in 2013 (pictured at Scottish Parliament Septmeber 2013)

Alex Salmond is at the centre of extraordinary allegations that he sexually assaulted two staff members while he was First Minister.

Mr Salmond is accused of carrying out the assaults at his official residence in 2013 while he was still in office.

It was reported last night that the allegations, which arose from an internal Scottish Government inquiry, had been passed on to Police Scotland.

However, the force said it was 'not going to comment on whether an inquiry is ongoing'.

Mr Salmond said he now plans to take the Scottish Government to court over the allegations, which he described last night as 'patently ridiculous'.

The Scottish Government said it could not comment on the claims 'for legal reasons'.

The 63-year-old last night issued a statement denying the accusations, adding he had launched a judicial review challenging the legality of the Scottish Government's investigation.

He said: 'For many months now, and on the advice of senior counsel, I have attempted to persuade the Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government that she is behaving unlawfully in the application of a complaints procedure, introduced by her more than three years after I left office.

'This is a procedure so unjust that even now I have not been allowed to see and therefore to properly challenge the case against me. I have not been allowed to see the evidence.

'I have tried everything, including offers of conciliation, mediation and legal arbitration to resolve these matters both properly and amicably.

The 63-year-old has denied the accusations and has asked for a judicial review challenging the legality of the Scottish Government's investigation (pictured Bute House, the official residency of the first minister of Scotland)

'This would have been in everybody's interests, particularly those of the two complainants. All of these efforts have been rejected.

'The Permanent Secretary chose to deny me contact with any current civil servant, many of whom wished to give evidence on my behalf and access to documentation to allow me to properly challenge the complaints, all of which I refute and some of which were patently ridiculous.

'The procedure as put into operation by the Permanent Secretary is grossly unfair and therefore inevitably will lead to prejudicial outcomes.

'It is therefore with great reluctance that I have today launched a judicial review in the Court of Session which will decide the issue of the lawfulness of the procedure which has been used against me.

'If I lose then I will have to answer to the complaints both comprehensively and publicly. Until then I am bound to say nothing which would impinge on the court proceedings.

'In our submissions on judicial review we have asked that the complainants' identity be protected.

'If the Court of Session finds in my favour then the administration at the senior levels of the Scottish Government will have the most serious questions to answer.

'In my opinion and for whatever reason the Permanent Secretary has decided to mount a process against me using an unlawful procedure which she herself introduced.

'I will let a real court decide whether it was lawful for her to do so.'

Mr Salmond was elected First Minister in 2007 in the SNP's first ever Holyrood election victory.

He stepped down seven years later in the wake of the 2014 independence referendum defeat.The one-two punch of the conviction of Donald Trumps former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and the guilty plea of his attorney Michael Cohen suddenly have many people asking if the President will indeed be impeached.

The twin blows in the controversies around Russias alleged interference in the 2016 election and the Stormy Daniels scandal suddenly have the Trump White House grappling with the possibility of impeachment charges in the future, though nothing is certain at this point in time.

Heres everything you need to know about the U.S. Presidential impeachment process, including whether Trump himself may be impeached.

U.S. President Donald Trump spoke to reporters on August 21 following Manafort's conviction

How do you impeach a President?

In the United States at the Federal level of government, the impeachment process against a President is conducted by the United States Congress.

Impeachment charges are introduced in the House of Representatives and, should the chamber decide to impeach the President, the charges then head to the Senate for trial, which can either convict the President of the impeachment charges or dismiss them entirely by vote.

Who has the power to impeach?

In the United States at the Federal level of government, the House of Representatives has the sole power of impeachment as laid out in the United States Constitution.

The Senate, as codified in the Constitution, has the sole power to try all impeachments in the form of a trial to determine whether the impeached official is guilty of the charges and should be removed from office.

The House of Representatives can impeach a President, though the trial is held in the Senate

How many Presidents have been impeached in the United States?

Two Presidents have been impeached over the course of United States history.

The first was Andrew Johnson in 1868. Johnson, who assumed the Presidency after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln in April 1865, had a stormy relationship with the United States Congress and aimed to utilize his executive power to lead the country.

After Congress passed the Tenure of Office Act which restricted his ability to terminate Cabinet officials, he attempted to dismiss Secretary of War Edwin Stanton which ultimately led to an impeachment trial in the United States Congress. Johnson was impeached by the House of Representatives but narrowly avoided being convicted by the Senate, ultimately serving out his term until leaving office in 1869.

The second President to be impeached was Bill Clinton. In 1998, he was charged with lying under oath after engaging in a sexual relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Like Johnson, he was impeached in the House of Representatives but acquitted by the Senate, serving out his term in the White House until 2001.

Richard Nixon also faced the strong possibility of impeachment in 1974 in the wake of the infamous Watergate scandal. With the impeachment process underway and the possibility of him being removed from office likely, he instead chose to resign in August 1974.

To date, no U.S. President has been removed from office via impeachment.

How many votes does it take to impeach a President?

The rules of Presidential impeachment in the United States vary by congressional chamber.

In the House of Representatives, a resolution to impeach a President is introduced by a member of the chamber, which is subsequently referred to the House Committee on Rules and the House Committee on the Judiciary.

The Judiciary Committee will then vote by simple majority on whether the grounds for impeachment exist and, if determining they do, will then set forth the specific impeachment charges to be voted on by the entire chamber.

If the House of Representatives votes to impeach a President by a simple majority of its 435 members, the impeachment process then heads to the Senate where it continues in the form of a trial.

The Senate, composed of 100 members, requires a supermajority of at least two-thirds of its members to impeach a President by vote.

Impeachment rules in the United States Congress actually depend on the specific chamber

What do you mean by impeachment?

Impeachment is the process in which a legislative body of government officially levels charges against a high-ranking government official.

Notably, an impeachment usually doesnt mean the official is removed from office immediately. Instead, it serves as something akin to indictment under criminal law. If an individual government official is indeed impeached, they then face the possibility of conviction in the form of a legislative vote and are subsequently removed from office if found guilty.

Will Donald Trump be impeached?

At this point in time, its impossible to determine whether President Donald Trump will be impeached.

While theoretically possible, the actual practice of a successful impeachment seems less than likely.

The Republican Party currently controls both chambers of the United States Congress, meaning that impeachment charges are highly unlikely to occur at this time.

Should the Democratic Party regain control of Congress in the upcoming 2018 midterm elections, its possible that impeachment charges could be drafted against Trump in the future.

The possibility of impeachment charges against Donald Trump depend on a number of factors

However, as the impeachment trials of Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton have proved, impeaching a President can be very difficult, as the impeachment charges must pass both the House of Representatives by simple majority and later obtain the support of at least two-thirds of Senate members, something much more difficult to accomplish, especially with political polarization in Washington, D.C. running very high.

Ultimately, the odds of impeachment charges being levied against Trump largely depend on which political party controls Congress, the consequences of the Michael Cohen trial and the outcome of special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into Russias alleged interference in the 2016 election  all of which are in flux at this time.

Bill Clinton impeachment

The last U.S. President to be impeached was Bill Clinton, the husband of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who Trump defeated in the 2016 election.

The impeachment trial centered on the infamous Monica Lewinsky scandal, though its origins go back several years further when attorney Ken Starr, serving as an independent counsel, was in the process of conducting an investigation into the Whitewater controversy, in which Bill and Hillary Clinton allegedly made a series of investments in Whitewater real estate development firm that resulted in financial irregularities.

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton was impeached in 1998 but later acquitted in the U.S. Senate

Expanding his investigation into other issues, Starr uncovered an extramarital affair between Clinton and Monica Lewinsky, a former White House intern and U.S. Department of Defense employee.

Clinton, already facing a 1994 lawsuit from a woman named Paula Jones who alleged that the President had sexually harassed her while serving as Governor of Arkansas, denied in a sworn deposition in January 1998 that he had an affair with Lewinsky.

However, Clinton eventually admitted to the affair several months later, leading to the beginning of the impeachment process against him, which the charges being that he committed perjury and obstructed justice.

The House of Representatives, controlled by the Republicans, impeached Clinton in December 1998. However, during the trial in the Republican-controlled Senate, the impeachment charges against Clinton only obtained the support of 50 members in a February 1999 vote, falling short of the two-thirds majority needed to convict the President and ultimately acquitting him of all charges.Hospital worker Koffi Kouakou has become the 11th person jailed after Grenfell.

He swindled 24,572 worth of handouts when he was put up in a hotel for three months.

He told the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea that he had been living in flat 115 with Zainab Deen, which officers soon discovered was a lie.

Bangladeshi Mohammed Syed Rinku claimed he was in a gay relationship with a resident of the 20th floor of the west London block and his boyfriend had died in the blaze.

But when he was asked about his affair by the police, it became clear he had researched who had died in the fire. Officers then found heterosexual porn and dating apps on his phone.

The 46-year-old was jailed for 18 months for the fraud.

Anh Nhu Nguyen pretended his wife and 12-year-old son were killed in the blaze so he could claim charity handouts.

He pocketed 11,270 as he was put up in hotels and given clothing, laptops and cash.

But police discovered the 53-year-old had 28 convictions for 56 offences spanning more than 30 years, including theft, dishonesty offences, arson and grievous bodily harm.

Nguyen, who was born in Vietnam, even tried to apply for a passport by claiming his had been incinerated. He was jailed for 21 months in February.

Another fraudster, Anh Nhu Nguyen, met Prince Charles during his time posing as a victim

Elaine Douglas and Tommy Brooks falsely claimed they lived in Grenfell Tower to claim more than 120,000.

The illegal immigrants spent eight months living in a four-star hotel, with taxpayers footing the 400-a-night bill.

They also spent more than 20,000 on meals and clothing on pre-paid credit cards which were given to them by Kensington and Chelsea council.

The pair entered Britain illegally from Jamaica 16 years ago on separate flights and were ordered to leave by immigration officials only to vanish  reappearing in the aftermath of the Grenfell tragedy last year.

Douglas, 51, was jailed for a total of three years while Brooks, 52, received a sentence of three years and three months.

Joyce Msokeri falsely claimed to have lost her husband in the blaze so that she could claim thousands of pounds.

The conwoman travelled 14 miles from her own flat to the tower block and convinced charity workers she had survived the inferno.

She feigned trauma to obtain handouts of 19,000 in cash, food, clothing, three mobile phones and free stays at a Hilton hotel. The 47-year-old would have received 203,000 in handouts if she had not been caught.

When Msokeri, from Zimbabwe, kept giving them different numbers for her flat in the tower block, her apparent forgetfulness was put down to trauma. She was jailed for four-and-a-half years in April.

Mohammad Gamoota is pictured

Mohammad Gamoota trawled a list of the dead then told officials his father was Abdeslam Sebbar, who had died after becoming trapped in his flat.

The 31-year-old said he had survived only because he was attending midnight prayers at his mosque when the inferno took hold.

In reality, he was not related to Mr Sebbar, 77, and did not live in Grenfell Tower, but took the details from a newspaper.

Two days later, Gamoota presented himself as a bereaved relative. He was given 500 and booked into a Holiday Inn hotel where he racked up a 374 room service bill.

He tried to claim a further 5,000  but a technical issue with his bank account prevented the money being paid in. He was jailed for 18 months.

Yonatan Eyob falsely claimed 81,000 in cash and free hotel stays, as well as 11,000 towards a new permanent home.

Eyob claimed he had lived alone in a flat that actually contained a family of five who perished in Britain's worst fire for a generation.

Neighbours said he didn't and CCTV proved he had never been there.

He was later charged with dishonestly making a false representation for accommodation and subsistence between June 2017 and June 2018.

The 26-year-old pleaded guilty and was jailed for more than six years.

Council worker Jenny McDonagh blew money for victims on holidays and meals out

Jenny McDonagh stole pre-paid cash cards while working as manager of the Grenfell Fire fund at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

In total she took about 62,000 from pre-paid cash cards meant for several survivors, including Fadumo Ahmed, Sacha Salaabi and Christos Fairbairn, the court heard.

The money was spent on online gambling and foreign holidays.

She was jailed for five-and-a-half years.

Antonio Gouveia, 33, lied about escaping the inferno.

The fraudster claimed to be the flatmate of 80-year-old Hermine Harris who was living in the block of flats on the night of the tragedy which left 72 people dead in June 2017.

He has been jailed for three years.

Abdelkarim Rekaya, 28, took advantage of the governments policy of providing amnesty for illegal immigrants living in the gutted tower block in June last year.

He had been in the country since 2009 and by 2010 he had been cautioned by police for trying to steal bicycle.

Rekaya first claimed he was living in flat four when the inferno claimed the lives of 72 residents.

He later changed his story to say he was homeless and sleeping in the stairwell of the 11th and 12th floor.

Shortly after the blaze he was put up in a luxury Chelsea hotel at a cost of 60,000 for just under a year.

Judge Robin Jonathan warned him he faced a substantial custodial sentence.Michael Cohen's guilty plea to two campaign finance law violations has plunged Donald Trump into the center of what his enemies have been looking for: a potential crime.

His critics have seized on what Cohen pleaded guilty to: making an illegal campaign contribution in the form of organizing payments to Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels 'to influence the 2016 presidential election' - and then what he said under penalty of perjury, that he did it 'at the direction of' Trump.

Cohen, court papers say, was reimbursed for the payment to Stormy Daniels by the Trump Organization and given a bonus on top.

That appeared to create a simple case against Trump, as put by Cohen's attorney Lanny Davis, that if Cohen committed a crime, then clearly Trump did too, by directing him to do it.

What has Trump said in his defense so far?

The Trump defense has been less than clear-cut. He has suggested that Cohen told 'lies' in his guilty plea, saying to Fox & Friends Thursday: ''People make up stories,' he said. 'It's called flipping.'

He also suggested that the campaign finance violations that Cohen says he committed at Trump's direction couldn't have been crimes, because they 'weren't even campaign related' and that Cohen only said they were 'because he makes a better deal when he uses me, like everybody else.'

And he has also said that he personally made the payments and that they were not from campaign funds, although he did not know of them when they were made.

All that presents a complicated set of questions for either a Democratic House of Representatives seeking impeachement, or prosecutors drawing up an indictment (which is to assume that it is possible to indict a sitting president).

What crime can be prosecuted or made out for impeachment?

Campaign finance law says that all contributions made to a campaign have to be declared.

Cohen says that the payments to Stormy Daniels - by him - and Karen McDougal - by American Media Inc - were 'to influence the outcome of the election'.

They were never declared as contributions by the Trump campaign. The

Daniels payment of $130,000 also exceeded the personal limit on Cohen's contributions of $5,400.

So Trump could be accused of failing to declare a contribution made to his campaign by his own company, the ultimate paymaster of Cohen, and of knowingly accepting an illegal donation - one over the $2,700 limit.

And he could be accused of conspiracy to make an illegal contribution by directing Cohen to arrange the payments.

Trump's defense options: He didn't know it was a crime

Federal law sets a high burden of proof on campaign finance prosecutions. The Department of Justice tells prosecutors that campaign finance violations 'become potential crimes when they are committed knowingly and willfully, that is, by an offender who knew what the law forbade and violated it notwithstanding that knowledge'.

Prosecutors have to prove his state of mind 'beyond reasonable doubt'.

So Trump's first avenue of defense can simply be to say he had no idea it was a crime - which would stop the Department of Justice acting against him.

Campaign finance law is complicated and he is not an attorney he could argue - Cohen knew he was committing a crime, but Trump had no idea.

Members of Congress have no guidelines, so they could class directing that payment as a 'high crime or misdemeanor' without proving Trump's state of mind, or even if showed that he did not know it was a crime - but if they did, they would be impeaching for an offense in circumstances which the Department of Justice would never be able to secure a conviction on in court.

Trump's defense would be helped by the fact that Cohen did not say that Trump knew it was illegal when he 'directed' it.

'I didn't direct payments - I OKed them afterwards'

Trump and Cohen have differing versions of history - although Cohen gave his under penalty of perjury.

Cohen says Trump knew about the payments in advance and 'directed' them, Trump says he knew about them 'later' - i.e., after they were paid.

Trump has shifted his timeline on when he knew but in a clash of credibility with Cohen, it would be a president up against a felon - with his attorneys doing everything in their power to attack his former fixer.

'I was a sinner saving my marriage, not swinging an election'

Trump's other obvious defense can be one that was used by John Edwards in the only prosecution of presidential candidate for violating campaign finance laws through secret payments to buy a woman's silence: that it was not a donation to the campaign, so it wasn't a crime.

Edwards, a 2008 Democratic contender, was accused of running an illegal campaign donation scheme by having two wealthy donors pay his mistress Rielle Hunter, the mother of their secret daughter Quinn, hundreds of thousands of dollars to conceal their affair - and that he did so to 'influence the outcome of the election'.

In my defense: John Edwards said that payments to Rielle Hunter, the mother of their secret daughter Quinn, were evidence of his sin, not campaign crime

Edwards' attorneys advanced a simple defense: That he was a sinner who had tried to keep the truth about his mistress and love child from his desperately-ill wife, and that the money was not about the campaign, but saving his marriage.

Two former chairs of the Federal Election Commission said that they would not have classified the payments as breaches of its code, which is civil law, never mind as crimes.

The prosecution failed when the trial ended with a deadlocked jury and prosecutors decided against a retrial.

Trump could try to use the same basic point to shape a defense: He could say that he was protecting Melania from knowing about women who claimed they had sex with him - and not trying to change the outcome of the election.

Edwards played the humility card during his defense, with his attorneys saying he was a sinner, not a criminal. While Trump has hardly adopted the same tone, he could do so - or his attorneys could do it for him.

Why admitting trying to stop a kiss-and-tell is a risk for Trump

Other aspects of the Edwards case present challenges to a strategy of admitting to sin but not crime.

Firstly, Hunter was not trying to sell her story when she was paid and prosecutors never suggested that she was in any way interested in doing so - whereas Cohen organized hush money for McDougal and Daniels to stop them going public.

What would be best? Trump might admit to cracks in his marriage to defend himself - at the risk of hurting Melania publicly

Secondly, Rudy Giuliani has already linked paying Stormy Daniels for silence to the election, saying: 'Imagine if that came out on October 15th 2016 in the middle of the last debate with Hillary Clinton.'

Thirdly, the payments Edwards was prosecuted over were made at the time his mistress was pregnant, and in the long run-up to the primary election - whereas McDougal and Daniels were paid a decade after their alleged affairs and in the heat of the election campaign proper.

And prosecutors in the Edwards case never put the two people whose cash went to his mistress on the stand: one, Fred Baron, was dead in 2008, four years before the failed prosecution; the other, Bunny Mellon was 101 in 2012. The jury never heard their version of why they sent money to Edwards' mistress.

In contrast prosecutors or Democratic congress members have Cohen, and possibly AMI's CEO David Pecker, to put on the stand and testify about what happened - with Cohen already saying the intent was to 'change the outcome of the election'.

Finally it is politically tricky - Trump has never admitted to cracks in his marriage to Melania. Her reaction to it is uncertain, and so too would be the reaction of evangelical Christians who form part of his base.

'I made the payments myself - there's no limit on what I can do'

Trump's other approach could be one he has hinted at already when he said that he paid the money himself, even though he did not know about the payments until after they were made.

Trump was the one person with no limit on how much cash he gave to his campaign - the $5,400 limit did not apply to him or to Hillary Clinton helping out her campaign from her estimated $200 million family fortune.

But Cohen's court case shows that he was reimbursed for the Stormy Daniel payment via the Trump Organization, in a payment authorized by one of its executives.

Trump faces a critical difficulty with this: corporations are forbidden from making direct campaign contributions - his included.

Even though the Trump Organization, the umbrella for hundreds of companies, is essentially his property, he could not use it as a piggy bank for his run for the presidency.

This is why it was reimbursed large amounts of money from the campaign for the rental of hotel rooms, office space and equipment and even Trump Force Once.

But convincing a jury - or two-thirds of the senate - that this point of campaign finance law was knowingly broken by a man who has been essentially his own company for all his adult life is a high bar for prosecutors, and one Trump's attorneys could profitably exploit.Landlords are achieving attractive rentals yields of almost seven per cent on average in the East Midlands, new figures suggest.

It has prompted landlords in the area to stick with their property investments rather than follow the national trend of selling up, according to lender Paragon Bank.

It comes despite a number of tax and regulatory changes that has prompted some landlords to consider whether it is worthwhile continuing with their investments.

This three-bedroom house in Glenfield, Leicester, is for sale for 145k via estate agents Spectrum Residential

The survey by Paragon asked 680 landlords about their property investments and found that those in the East and West Midlands are still picking up new rental properties.

A total of 13 per cent have bought properties in the East Midlands during the past month, compares to 11 per cent who have sold.

In the West Midlands, the figures are 11 per cent and 10 per cent respectively, which also results in a positive net change.

All other regions in the country saw more landlords sell properties than purchase them, with central London seeing the biggest negative net change at 16 per cent.

This stems from two per cent of landlords buying in the capital during the past three months compared to 18 per cent who sold.

The survey also found that landlords in the East Midlands are doing particularly well with relatively lower house prices helping to generate impressive average yields of 6.7 per cent. Those in the West Midlands are achieving typical yields of 6.2 per cent.

Demand for rental properties in the Midlands remains high amid strong economic growth in the area, according to Pargagon.

It says a thriving higher education sector and the regeneration of Birmingham, which has brought in big financial firms such as Deutsche Bank and HSBC, have boosted the area.

Paragon declined to provide its exact methodology, but a basic rental yield calculation involves taking the annual rent collected and dividing this by the value of the property, before multiplying this number by 100.

It means properties with lower values can produce higher rents, and the average value of a property in the East Midlands is 217,847, compared to 309,538 for Britain, according to property website Zoopla.

This three-bedroom end of terrace house has an asking price of 165k and is available to buy via estate agents William H Brown

John Heron, of Paragon Bank, said: 'These findings highlight a big regional difference in landlord experience and buying habits.

'Some central London landlords appear to be scaling back a little while landlords in the Midlands continue to invest on the back of a positive outlook.'

It comes after it was revealed that the number of buy-to-let mortgages taken out by landlords buying a new rental property had dropped by 40 per cent since 2015.

The decline goes hand-in-hand with tax and regulatory changes for landlords that include the reduction of tax relief on mortgage interest.

The three-year decline figures are from UK Finance, which claimed that the full impact has yet to be felt and will continue to bear down on borrowing activity in the buy-to-let purchase market.

Further pressure could be put on landlords amid a consultation on long-term tenancies, which could see three-year deals as standard.

The lack of flexibility could unnerve some property investors and prompt them to also leave the industry.

It follows similar measures already introduced in Scotland.

Richard Lambert, of the National Landlords Association, said: 'The last quarter has seen the highest proportion of landlords selling properties in Scotland in any three month period since the Government first announced their tenancy reforms in 2016.

'We warned these changes would unnerve investors in private rented homes in Scotland, and it should serve as a clear sign of what to expect if similar reforms are introduced elsewhere in the UK.'A British-built laser satellite has been launched into space on a three-year mission that could revolutionise how weather forecasts are made across the globe.

The Aeolus spacecraft, named after the keeper of the winds in Greek mythology, took off on a rocket from Kourou in French Guiana 24 hours later than planned due to bad weather above the spaceport.

Floating nearly 200 miles (320km) above Earth's surface, the satellite will fire lasers into the planet's lower atmosphere to track wind speed and direction.

It is hoped the high-altitude data it collects will improve the accuracy of weather forecasts and help protect people from disasters such as floods and hurricanes.

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A British-built laser satellite has been launched into space on a three-year mission that could revolutionise how weather forecasts are made across the globe. Pictured is the European Space Agency (ESA) Vega rocket during Wednesday's launch

Aeolus launched atop a European Space Agency (ESA) Vega rocket at 10:20pm BST (5:20pm ET) on Wednesday following almost a decade of delays to the project.

Less than an hour later, the rocket delivered the 1,360-kilo (3,000lb) satellite into orbit.

It forms part of the Copernicus project, a joint initiative of the European Union and ESA to track environmental damage and aid disaster relief operations.

The satellite was built by Airbus Defence and Space in Stevenage and  equipped with a powerful laser  will be the first able to directly measure wind speeds on Earth from space.

James Cotton, a satellite winds scientist at the Met Office, said: 'The Aeolus mission aims to improve the global coverage of wind profile observations, including areas where in situ wind measurements are currently lacking, such as over the oceans, in the tropics and the Southern Hemisphere.

'Within numerical weather prediction, we expect the Aeolus winds to be particularly useful for improving our analysis of the atmospheric state in the tropics, a region where we know the model wind errors are large.'

It is hoped the data Aeolus (artist's impression) collects will improve the accuracy of weather forecasts and help protect people from disasters such as floods and hurricanes

WHAT IS THE ESA'S AEOLUS SATELLITE? The Aeolus satellite, launched by the European Space Agency on August 22, 2018, will track wind speed and direction across the globe. During its three-year mission it will fire lasers into Earth's lower atmosphere and collect the scattering of light that reflects back from dust, gas and droplets of water moving in wind. The speed at which various markers, and the winds that carry them, are moving will be revealed by changes in the wavelength of the light. Aeolus will fire lasers into Earth's lower atmosphere and collect the scattering of light that reflects back from dust, gas and droplets of water moving in wind (artist's impression) Scientists will use this data to predict the weather in the hopes of revolutionising weather forecasting methods. Aeolus will track wind speeds at altitudes between six and 18 miles (10-30 km) - a region that scientists currently struggle to measure. It will collect data from areas without ground-based weather stations, such as in remote regions on land or at sea. Advertisement

Aeolus is carrying just one large instrument, a Doppler wind lidar called Aladin.

The tool will emit short, powerful light pulses from a laser through the atmosphere and collect light that is 'backscattered' from particles of gas, dust and droplets of water moving in the wind.

Meteorologists will be able to use this information to help predict the weather at altitudes between six and 18 miles (10-30 km).

Scientists currently cannot measure wind speeds in this region using traditional ground-based weather systems.

Floating nearly 200 miles (320km) above Earth's surface, the satellite will fire lasers into the planet's lower atmosphere to track wind speed and direction

The Aeolus spacecraft, named after the keeper of the winds in Greek mythology, took off on a rocket from Kourou in French Guiana 24 hours later than planned due to bad weather above the spaceport

This is what the #Aeolus launch looked like from Kourou, kms away from the launch pad: farewell Aeolus, may the winds be ever in your favour! pic.twitter.com/7DfKqX37Cg  ESA EarthObservation (@ESA_EO) August 22, 2018

Speaking following the launch, Josef Aschbacher, ESA's director of earth observation programmes, said: 'Such pioneering technology has meant that it has been a demanding mission to develop, but thanks to all the teams involved we are thrilled that this extraordinary satellite is now in orbit.

'We look forward to it living up to expectations.'

Science minister Sam Gyimah said: 'The Aeolus mission is a great example of the potential real-world impacts that space can have on Earth.

'Its data will lead to more reliable weather forecasts that can be used by farmers, seafarers, construction workers and others to improve productivity and safety.

'Space is a key part of our modern industrial strategy and it is work like this that shows how vital our role in the European Space Agency is in bringing real benefits to UK companies.'

Aeolus launched atop a European Space Agency (ESA) Vega rocket at 10:20pm BST (5:20pm ET) on Wednesday following almost a decade of delays to the project. Less than an hour later, the rocket delivered the 1,360-kilo (3,000lb) satellite into orbitShocking images reveal the moment two Cornwall council workers found a 100-year-old 'zombie' leatherback turtle.

The enormous animal was completely disfigured and has been described as 'the size of a boat' by the stunned locals that stumbled across it.

The turtle carcass was discovered in the water of Polkerris, near Par, Cornwall.

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This shocking image reveals the moment two Cornwall council workers found a 100-year-old 'zombie' leatherback turtle. The enormous animal was completely disfigured and has been described as 'the size of a boat' by the stunned locals that stumbled across it

It is estimated the animal is 100-years-old based on is measurements, which reveal it had a 38 inch (98 cm) neck circumference and measured 7 foot 9 inches (2.36 m) from flipper tip to flipper tip.

The large animal was spotted by James Mustoe, 34, when he was on a wildlife watching trip with his children and friend, Richard Pears.

Leatherback turtles are a rare occurrence in Cornish waters and are catagorised by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) as 'critically endangered'.

They are known to weigh between 440 pounds (200kg) and 1,500 pounds (700kg) and range from four to six feet in length (1.2 metres to 1.8 metres).

Their carapace is approximately 4 cm (1.5 inches) thick and are the fastest swimmers of all turtle species.

The Marine Conservation Society say less than ten of these majestic animals are spotted in England every year.

Mr Mustoe contacted Three Bays Wildlife Group expert Robert Wells to report the sighting.

Mr Wells tagged the specimen and analysed the deceased beast in order to learn more about it.

He said: 'When we first saw this turtle we really did not know what to make of it.

'It was the size of a small boat, something Barnaby and Reuben could have both sat on and left room to spare.

'While obviously a sad sight, I hope that the information gleaned from our encounter will help people understand more about these magnificent animals and how they come to be in our waters in the future.'

Leather back turtles are the largest species of turtle in the world and are some of the longest living creatures, with an average lifespan of around 80 years.

The large animal was spotted by James Mustoe, 34, when he was on a wildlife watching trip with his children and friend, Richard Pears

Turtles are a rare occurrence in Cornish waters and Mr Mustoe contacted Three Bays Wildlife Group expert Robert Wells to report the sighting. Mr Wells tagged the specimen (pictured) and assessed the deceased beast in order to learn more about it

WHAT ARE LEATHERBACK TURTLES AND WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THEM? Leatherback turtles are named for their shell, which is leather-like rather than hard, like other turtles. They are the largest sea turtle species and also one of the most migratory, crossing both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Leatherbacks weigh between 600 and 1,500 lbs (270 to 700 kg) on average and are normally between 55 to 63 inches (140 to 160 cm) in length. Leatherback turtles (pictured) are named for their shell, which is leather-like rather than hard, like other turtles. They are the largest sea turtle species and also one of the most migratory, crossing both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans (stock) Pacific leatherbacks migrate from nesting beaches in the Coral Triangle all the way to the California coast to feed on the abundant jellyfish every summer and fall. Although their distribution is wide, numbers of leatherback turtles have seriously declined during the last century as a result of intense egg collection and fisheries bycatch. Globally, leatherback status according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, leatherbacks are listed as Vulnerable Many subpopulations - such as in the Pacific and Southwest Atlantic - are Critically Endangered. Advertisement

Mr Mustoe added: 'Encountering this colossal animal in Cornish waters in the way we did seems like a once in a life time occurrence.

'Its sheer size probably meant it was more than 100 years old, older than all of us on the boat put together.'

The animal was measured by the people who found it at, but weighing and ageing the beast was impossible without proper equipment and the sheer size of the carcass.

Mr Wells said reaching the animal was difficult due to its remote location.

'It was great teamwork,' he said.

'James rang me from Richard's boat and they waited on Polkerris beach to ferry me to the turtle on an inhospitable stretch of shore.

'They then helped with the photography and measurements before delivering me back to the beach.

'A big thank you to them, we can learn a great deal from stranded marine life.'

The turtle carcass was discovered in the water of Polkerris, near Par, Cornwall, it has been referred to as a remote location by the group who discovered the enormous animalThe world's largest shipping company is trialling a 'shortcut' trade route through the Arctic as global warming thaws open the infamous Northeast Passage.

Danish firm Maersk announced it is sending a new ship loaded with a reinforced hull and a capacity of 3,600 containers into the polar sea for the first time.

The container vessel, dubbed Venta Maersk, will travel between the cities of St Petersburg and Vladivostok over the top of Russia.

Experts say it could reduce the most commonly used East Asia-Europe route via the Suez Canal from 13,000 miles (21,000 kilometres) to 8,000 miles (12,800 kilometres), cutting transit time by 10-15 days.

Typically vessels taking this icy route have required an ice-breaker escort, but rising global temperatures are making the passage easier to traverse. It was first navigated by Finnish explorer Adolf Erik Nordenskiold in 1879.

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Danish firm Maersk announced it is sending a new ship loaded with a reinforced hull and a capacity of 3,600 containers into the polar sea for the first time. The container Vessel, dubbed Venta Maersk, will travel between St Petersburg and Vladivostok over the top of Russia

Industry experts believe Maersk's trip could mark tipping point for shipping and the Arctic.

Malte Humpert, founder and senior fellow of the Arctic Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, told NPR: 'It's not a major, dramatic shift, it's just a kind of sequential development.

'The ice is melting and more things are becoming possible in the Arctic, and with that, of course ... comes enhanced risk for the environment.'

Janina von Spalding, spokesperson for Maersk, said its new ice class container vessel would embark on a trial journey in the Arctic route over Russia next month.

It will leave Russia's Pacific port city of Vladivostok around September 1 with a cargo of frozen fish and sail to St. Petersburg where it will arrive by the end of the month.

'In today's fast-paced world, companies that want to lead must innovate,' Ms von Spalding said.

The trial 'will offer us a unique opportunity to gain operational experience in a new area and to test vessel systems, crew capabilities and the functionality of the shore based support setup,' she added.

'I think it is important to underline that this is a one-off trial designed to explore an unknown route for container shipping and to collect scientific data - and not the launch of a new product,' she said.

Janina von Spalding, spokeswoman for Maersk, said its new ice class container vessel would embark on a trial journey in the Arctic route over Russia next month. Pictured is the firm's Munkebo Maersk container ship on the River Thames in 2015

The Northern Sea Route could be a shorter route for journeys from East Asia to Europe than the Northwest Passage over Canada.

This is because it will likely be free of ice sooner due to climate change.

The transit route was coordinated with Russian authorities after careful evaluation of ice conditions.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE NORTHEAST PASSAGE The Northeast Passage was first proposed as a trade route as early as the 11th Century. Russian sailors hoped the route could provide a quick way to travel between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, but few got very far. It wasn't until 1878-79 that Finnish explorer Adolf Erik Nordenskiold made the first complete passage of the Northeast Passage. The Arctic route is laced with thick sea ice, even in the summer months, making it a treacherous place to sail even today. Even the largest of container ships need a reinforced hull to break through the region's ice, and most must be led by specialised ice-breaker vessels. But experts suggest that the effects of global warming could soften the route and make it easier for ships to pass through. Advertisement

Ice breaker assistance will be at hand throughout the route, the Copenhagen-based group said.

'Currently, we do not see the Northern Sea Route as a commercial alternative to our existing network which is defined by our customers' demand, trading patterns and population centers,' von Spalding added.

The Northeast Passage was first proposed as a trade route as early as the 11th Century.

The trial 'will offer us a unique opportunity to gain operational experience in a new area and to test vessel systems, crew capabilities and the functionality of the shore based support setup,' according to Maersk (file photo)

VENTA MAERSK SPECS Maiden voyage: September 2018 Length: 200m (650ft) Width: 36m (118 ft) Carries: 3,600 containers Built by: Maersk Designed for: Cargo journeys through ice sheets Advertisement

Russian sailors hoped the route could open up a quick way to travel between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, but few got very far.

It wasn't until 1878-79 that Finnish explorer Adolf Erik Nordenskiold made the first complete passage of the Northeast Passage.

The Arctic route is laced with thick sea ice, even in the summer months, making it a treacherous place to sail even today.

Even the largest of container ships need a reinforced hull to break through the region's ice, and most must be led by specialised ice-breaker vessels.

But experts suggest that the effects of global warming could soften the route and make it easier for ships to pass through.Onavo, Facebooks data security app that offers consumers access to a virtual private network (VPN), is due to be removed from Apples App Store at the same time that the social media site suspended more than 400 apps for harvesting users personal information.

As reported by The Wall Street Journal, the app created an encrypted VPN connection that routes internet activity through servers that are managed and secured by Facebook and the app also alerted users when sites they visit may be dangerous.

It has become public knowledge that Facebook is able to collate data about how people use their smartphones outside of the social networks services and potentially figure out information about rivals or internet trends, but what is Onavo?

Onavo, Facebook data security app offering access to VPN, has been removed from App Store

What is Onavo?

Onavo, founded in Israel in 2010 by Roi Tiger and Guy Rosen, is an analytics company that has provided products for applications, which are then influenced by the data that is collated through the companys VPN services, Onavo Extend and Onavo Protect, according to Crunchbase.

In 2013, the company was acquired by Facebook and was the seed for the launch of Facebook Israel, its platform being leveraged to monitor the performance of competitors and influence other acquisitions and business decisions.

Onavo pulled from App Store

The WSJ revealed that Facebook will be pulling the Onavo Protect VPN from Apples App Store after being informed that it violates data collection rules.

A spokeswoman for the social media site told AFP: Weve always been clear when people download Onavo about the information that is collected and how it is used.

As a developer on Apples platform we follow the rules theyve put in place.

However, Facebook did not comment about whether or not they were removing Onavo from the App Store, but the Journal quoted a source close to the matter who revealed that the VPN would be gone by the end of the day.

While Onavo has been in the App Store for a number of years, Apple recently informed Facebook that the app violated rules that ban gathering information that is not relevant to the program or that is needed to provide advertising.

Onavo Protect's description at the App Store said that it helps keep you and your data safe when you browse and share information on the web.

Versions of the app installed on iPhones will continue to work, but Facebook will no longer be able to update the program. Onavo Protect will be available on smartphones powered by Google-backed Android software.

Facebook suspension

This news comes in light of Facebook suspending more than 400 apps for harvesting users data, including the myPersonality app that was exposed after the Cambridge Analytica scandal.

It has not been revealed how many users have been affected by the other 399 apps, but Facebook said that information from the four million users that had used myPersonality had been shared.

Apps were suspended 'due to concerns around the developers who built them or how the information people chose to share with the app may have been used,' a company official said.

What is a Virtual Private Network?Advertisement

The 3,500-year-old tomb of a Minoan man surrounded by funerary possessions including an ancient wine mixing vessel has been found on the island of Crete.

The Minoan civilisation arose on the Mediterranean island of Crete in approximately 2600BC and flourished for 12 centuries until around 1400BC.

It was discovered by British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans who unearthed Knossos, The Minoan capital city, in 1900.

Knossos is believed to have been the home of the legendary King Minos, who commissioned the Labyrinth to contain the Minotaur, a terrifying hybrid born of a union between his wife and a bull.

The Late Minoan grave - which was inadvertently discovered by a local resident - was in an underground cavern sealed with clay and contained an adult's well-preserved skeleton.

It is believed it dates to the Bronze Age, some time between 1,400 and 1,200 BCE.

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The 3,500-year-old tomb of a Minoan man surrounded by funerary possessions (pictured) has been found on the island of Crete. The Minoan civilisation arose on the Mediterranean island of Crete in approximately 2600BC and flourished for 12 centuries until around 1400BC

The burial was found eight feet (2.5 metres) below the ground and contained funerary possessions such as a cup, a wine mixing vessel and fifteen amphorae containers.

The grave was found in an olive grove near the town of Ierapetra.

The tomb was discovered via a vertical channel and was divided into three chambers, according to the Greek ministry of culture.

The Minoans are perhaps best known for the myth of the Minotaur, a story that was keenly encouraged by Sir Evans.

It was said that Queen Pasiphae, the wife of King Minos, slept with a bull sent by Zeus and then gave birth to the Minotaur.

The King did not want to kill the Minotaur but he was incredibly embarrassed. He ordered the inventor Daedalus to build a labyrinth to house the monstrous half-bull, half-man.

Every year the defeated Athenians were forced to send seven boys and seven girls into the labyrinth, to be eaten by the Minotaur.

One year, King Minoss daughter Ariadne helped Theseus, son of the King of Athens, to kill the Minotaur by supplying him with a sword and a red thread, to help him retrace his footsteps.

We still know little about this ancient civilisation and the origins of the Minoan and Mycenaean peoples have puzzled archaeologists for more than 100 years.

The tomb was discovered via a vertical channel and was divided into three chambers, according to the Greek ministry of culture. The origins of the Minoan and Mycenaean peoples have puzzled archaeologists for more than 100 years

Last year it was revealed that these civilisations were descended from early Neolithic farmers who migrated from Anatolia to Greece and Crete.

Modern Greeks, in turn, are largely descendants of the Mycenaeans, the study found.

The finding could end more than a century of speculation about the origins of the two cultures, which many believed had separate roots.

An international team of researchers undertook the first genome-wide DNA sequence data on the Bronze Age inhabitants of mainland Greece, Crete, and southwestern Anatolia.

The Late Minoan grave - which was inadvertently discovered by a local resident - was intact and contained an adult's well-preserved skeleton. It is believed it dates to the Bronze Age, some time between 1,400 and 1,200 BCE

It was found eight feet (2.5 metres) below the ground and also contained funerary possessions such as a cup, a wine mixing vessel and fifteen amphorae containers. The grave was found in an olive grove near the town of Ierapetra

WHO WERE THE MINOANS? The Minoan civilisation arose on the Mediterranean island of Crete in approximately 2600BC and flourished for 12 centuries until around 1400BC. The origins of the Minoan and Mycenaean peoples have puzzled archaeologists for more than 100 years. Last year it was revealed that the Minoans and Mycenaens were descended from early Neolithic farmers who migrated from Anatolia to Greece and Crete. Modern Greeks, in turn, are largely descendants of the Mycenaeans, the study found. Experts from the University of Washington, the Harvard Medical School and the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, together with archaeologists and other collaborators in Greece and Turkey, gathered data from the region. The results showed that Minoans and Mycenaeans were genetically highly similar, but not identical. The early Neolithic farmers they descended from likely migrated thousands of years prior to the Bronze Age from Anatolia. While both Minoans and Mycenaeans had both 'first farmer' and 'eastern' genetic origins, Mycenaeans traced an additional minor component of their ancestry to ancient inhabitants of Eastern Europe and northern Eurasia. Back in 2013 it was revealed that weapons that dominated Europe for more than 3,000 years were introduced by the ancient Minoan civilisation. Swords, metal battle axes, long bladed spears, shields and possibly even armour were brought to Europe by the Minoans who ruled Crete. Since towns and palaces in Crete, the home of the mythical Minotaur, were first dug up and studied a century ago the Minoans have been widely regarded by archaeologists as an essentially peaceful people. But a reassessment of the role of warriors and weapons in Ancient Crete, which was at its peak from 1900BC to 1300BC, now concludes that the Minoans were a violent and warlike people. Advertisement

Experts from the University of Washington, the Harvard Medical School and the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, together with archaeologists and other collaborators in Greece and Turkey, gathered data from the region.

The results showed that Minoans and Mycenaeans were genetically highly similar, but not identical.

The early Neolithic farmers they descended from likely migrated thousands of years prior to the Bronze Age from Anatolia.

While both Minoans and Mycenaeans had both 'first farmer' and 'eastern' genetic origins, Mycenaeans traced an additional minor component of their ancestry to ancient inhabitants of Eastern Europe and northern Eurasia.

Pictured is the top half of a Minoan fresco commonly known as the 'Prince of the Lilies'. While both Minoans and Mycenaeans had both 'first farmer' and 'eastern' genetic origins, Mycenaeans traced an additional minor component of their ancestry to ancient inhabitants of Eastern Europe and northern Eurasia

WHAT WAS THE MINOTAUR? Knossos, which was excavated by British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans, had largely been heralded as the home of the legendary King Minos of Crete. Queen Pasiphae, the wife of King Minos, slept with a bull sent by Zeus and then gave birth to the Minotaur. The King did not want to kill the Minotaur but he was incredibly embarrassed. He ordered the inventor Daedalus to build a labyrinth to house the monstrous half-bull, half-man. Every year the defeated Athenians were forced to send seven boys and seven girls into the labyrinth, to be eaten by the Minotaur. One year, King Minoss daughter Ariadne helped Theseus, son of the King of Athens, to kill the Minotaur by supplying him with a sword and a red thread, to help him retrace his footsteps. Advertisement

This type of Ancient North Eurasian ancestry is one of the three ancestral populations of present-day Europeans and is also found in modern Greeks.

George Stamatoyannopoulos, professor of genome sciences and of medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine and the study's senior author, said: 'For over 100 years, many hotly contested theories have circulated concerning the origin of the inhabitants of Bronze Age, Classical, and modern Greece.

'This including the so-called 'Coming of the Greeks' in the late second millennium and the 'Black Athena' hypothesis of the Afroasiatic origins of Classical Greek civilisation.

'The notorious theory of the 19th century German historian Fallmerayer popularised the belief that the descendants of the ancient Greeks had vanished in early Medieval times.'

Back in 2013 it was revealed that weapons that dominated Europe for more than 3,000 years were introduced by the ancient Minoan civilisation.

Swords, metal battle axes, long bladed spears, shields and possibly even armour were brought to Europe by the Minoans who ruled Crete.

Bull-leaping shown in a Minoan fresco was a skill that would have been prized by a military elite. Swords, metal battle axes, long bladed spears, shields and possibly even armour were brought to Europe by the Minoans who ruled Crete

WHAT WIPED OUT THE MINOANS? The Minoans were believed to be wiped out by the ancient eruption of Thera. The 'cataclysmic' eruption was one of the largest in the history of the planet and decimated fledgling societies across the Mediterranean. The volcanic activity also triggered an earthquake and a tsunami in the region. Folklore claims the eruption kickstarted a wave so big it drowned an entire city, creating the mythical realm of Atlantis. It is now believed the eruption took place between 1,627 and 1,600 BCE, more than a century earlier than the 1,500 BCE date previously suggested by archaeologists. Advertisement

The finding overturns the popular perception originally put forward by archaeologists that Ancient Crete was one of the most peaceful civilisations in history.

Since towns and palaces in Crete, the home of the mythical Minotaur, were first dug up and studied a century ago the Minoans have been widely regarded by archaeologists as an essentially peaceful people.

But a reassessment of the role of warriors and weapons in Ancient Crete, which was at its peak from 1900BC to 1300BC, now concludes that the Minoans were a violent and warlike people.

Dr Barry Molloy, an archaeologist at the University of Sheffield, carried out the study and concluded that there was a staggering amount of violence in Minoan society.

Their world was uncovered just over a century ago, and was deemed to be a largely peaceful society, he said.

In time, many took this to be a paradigm of a society that was devoid of war, where warriors and violence were shunned and played no significant role.'Sony's new-and-improved Aibo robot dog is finally coming to the US.

The Japanese tech giant said Thursday a special 'First Litter Edition' will go on sale in September and packs more smarts than previous iterations, like the ability to learn custom tricks, map and navigate a room with ease and learn up to 100 faces.

It all comes at a hefty cost, however, with a price tag of $2,899 for a bundle that includes Aibo, a charging station, paw pads, a pink ball, an 'aibone' and three years of access to the Aibo cloud app.

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Sony's new-and-improved Aibo robot dog is finally coming to the US. The tech giant said a special 'First Litter Edition' will go on sale in September for the hefty price tag of $2,899

THE NEW AIBO Aibo is billed as a pet that behaves like a puppy using artificial intelligence (AI) to learn and interact with its owner and surroundings. The reborn Aibo features new actuator technology allowing it move more smoothly and naturally like a real dog. With sensing and AI technologies, Aibo can run toward its owner and detect smiles and words of praise, and can remember what actions please the owner. Its eyes are made of organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays making it capable of diverse expressions. The robot comes with an array of sensors, cameras and microphones and boasts internet connectivity, allowing owners to play with the pet remotely via smartphone. Advertisement

Aibo 2.0 is a major step up from the original robotic puppy dog first launched by Sony back in 1999.

Sony says it fitted Aibo with tons of cameras, touch sensors and microphones to make it more responsive and lifelike. The puppy's 4,000 parts and 22 actuators allow it to wag its tail, shake your hand, move its ears back and forth and kick a ball, as well as move or blink its eyes thanks to two Sony organic LED displays that can even follow its owner around.

A cloud-connected AI engine enables it to detect and analyze sounds and images, which means it can more fully interact with its owner.

Aibo responds to your touch when you scratch or pet it and can even recognize words of praise and smiles.

Sony's latest re-imagination of Aibo has also given the robo dog a personality.

Using a Wifi connection, Aibo uploads all of its day-to-day experiences to the cloud, forming a memory database that enables its unique personality to grow and evolve over time.

This makes it so that 'no Aibo is the same,' according to the firm.

'Aibo keeps on growing and changing, constantly updating its data in the cloud,' Sony explained.

'Over time, your approach to nurturing Aibo will gradually shape its personality - it could be a doting partner, a wild, fun-loving companion, or anywhere in between.

'It'll even learn new tricks through interactions with other Aibo, experiences with changing seasons and different events,' the company added.

Aibo recognizes a number of different commands, such as 'sit,' 'stay,' and 'come.' There's also a 'mimic' mode, where owners can teach it new commands using hand movements and placements.

A cloud-connected AI engine enables it to detect sounds and images, which means it can more fully interact with its owner. Its 22 actuators make it move in a more natural way

Aibo recognizes a number of different commands, like 'sit,' 'stay,' and 'come.' 'Mimic' mode lets owners can teach it new commands using hand movements and placements

It can be controlled by voice command or through the Aibo app and Sony encourages users to talk to it, tell it where to go and even personalize its eye color and gender.

Users can tell their Aibo to 'go to the kitchen' and it's able to detect and navigate obstacles, and even figure out the shortest distance to the destination.

'You'll be amazed at what your Aibo can do, but it can't do everything by itself - for some tricks to work, you'll need to interact with your Aibo or help it out a bit,' the company explained.

'Team up, tackle new tricks together, and watch your Aibo grow.'

Aibo can be controlled by voice command or through the Aibo app and Sony encourages users to talk to it, tell it where to go and even personalize its eye color and gender

Users can tell their Aibo to 'go to the kitchen' and it's able to detect and navigate obstacles, and even figure out the shortest distance to the destination

For $2,899, consumers get a bundle that includes Aibo, a charging station, paw pads, a pink ball, an 'aibone' and three years of access to the Aibo cloud app

Sony released the new version of Aibo in Japan back in January and says it has already sold 20,000 units since then.

Japanese consumers can pick up an Aibo without a cloud plan and also at a discount - the new dog is priced at $1,760 there.

However, the company admits that Aibo isn't necessarily meant to be for the average consumer.

Early adopters and robot enthusiasts are more likely to be open to paying nearly $3,000 for the next-generation robot dog.

'We believe the price we're launching at is a great value, when you look at all things included,' Sony Electronics president and COO Mike Fasulo told Engadget.

Sony released the new Aibo in Japan back in January and says it has already sold 20,000 units since then. The company admits that it isn't meant to be for the average consumer

'We're talking about the future, with AI and learning...it just gets better as the days and weeks go.'

Sony initially discontinued the original Aibo in 2006 due to financial troubles at the firm.

But Aibo diehards continued to purchase older models and even spend hundreds of dollars on maintenance costs.

Now, Sony is putting its AI expertise to work with the new Aibo and is hoping consumers will be drawn to the 'one-of-a-kind' product.

'Aibo's charming personality, dog-like behaviors and ability to intelligently interact with family members help to create a personal bond,' Fasulo said in a statement.

'Bringing aibo back to the U.S. reflects Sony's broader commitment to provide consumers with products that not only entertain them, but also enrich their lives.'Russian arms maker Kalashnikov presented its new electric car inspired by a rare 1970s model, saying the new technology will rival Elon Musk's Tesla.

The brand, best known for the AK-47 machine gun, presented the decidedly retro-looking pale blue prototype, the CV-1, at a defence expo outside Moscow.

The car looks just like a Lada car and was inspired by a Soviet hatchback model developed in the 1970s called 'Izh-Kombi,' a statement on the Kalashnikov website said.

The car has a maximum power of 500 kW with a maximum speed of 80km per hour (50mph). The company says it can go from 0 to 60pmh in six seconds.

However, reports suggest the spokesperson was unable to name any specific advantages the CV-1 had over a Tesla.

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Russian arms maker Kalashnikov presented its new electric car (pictured) inspired by a rare 1970s model, saying the new technology will rival Elon Musk's Tesla

Holding company Kalashnikov Concern said it has developed some cutting-edge elements for the 'electric supercar'.

This includes a 'revolutionary' inverter which is a device that uses the car battery to power electrical appliances.

The vehicle can travel 350km (220 miles) on one charge.

'We are developing our own concept of an electric supercar, which is based on several original systems developed by the concern,' the firm said.

'This technology will let us stand in the ranks of global electric car producers such as Tesla and be their competitor,' RIA-Novosti news agency further quoted the Kalashnikov press service as saying.

'We were inspired by the experience of global market leaders in developing our concept.'

The car is still being developed and it is not clear how much it will be or when it will be available to buy.

The car looks just like a Lada car (pictured) and was inspired by a Soviet hatchback model developed in the 1970s called 'Izh-Kombi,' a statement on the Kalashnikov website said

THE CV-1 KALASHNIKOV Vs THE TESLA MODEL 3

CV-1 KALASHNIKOV TESLA MODEL THREE Maximum power

Cruising range

Maximum speed

0 to 60pmh 500 kW

220 miles (350km)

50mph (80kmh)

6 seconds 150 kW

220 miles (350km)

140 mph (225kmh)

5.6 seconds

Kalashnikov Concern has long been trying to expand its brand, recently launching lines of clothing and other civilian merchandise ranging from umbrellas to mobile phone covers.

Its foray into electric vehicles however was met with mixed reactions from Russians.

Comments to the news on the company's official Facebook page ranged from 'cyberpunk' to 'Izh-Zombie'.

The brand, best known for the AK-47 machine gun, presented the decidedly retro-looking pale blue prototype, the CV-1, at a defence expo outside Moscow. The company said it will rival Elon Musk's Tesla

How the AK-47 became one of the world's most deadly weapons AK-47. A Russian-designed assault rifle, it was used by the country's military from 1945 and is still used by armies and rebel groups around the world The AK-47's story truly began in 1942, when Soviet soldiers seized new-style automatic rifles from German troops. Unlike traditional or semi-automatic rifles, they could fire a whole magazine of bullets simply by holding down the trigger, because the recoil from each shot ejected the previous cartridge. Entrenched in the conflict of the Second World War, the Soviets set to work straight away on copying the Nazis' designs. But their first versions were clunky, weighing more than 5kg without bullets, and the task of creating a new design fell to Mikhail Kalashnikov, who had created an unsuccessful gun prototype earlier in the war. His design mashed together the best elements of previous weapons and won a competition in 1946, going into full production the next year. Accuracy was not its strongest point but it endured for its simplicity and reliability in even the harshest of conditions - built, as it was, in the wilds of Siberia. It was not patented - opening the door for millions of 'pirate' versions - because of the culture which existed in the Communist state. All ideas were property of the government, not one individual person, and pride came from helping the great Soviet army. Source: World Guns Advertisement

'Your tanks are great, but it would be better if you stayed away from cars,' one user wrote.

Earlier this week, online users ridiculed Kalashnikov's new bipedal combat robot.

The golden-colour machine reportedly named 'Igorek', which is still in production stages, immediately became a subject of social media memes.

'Somebody had watched too much 'Robocop',' tweeted user happy-keanu, referring to the 1987 action film about a cyborg law enforcer.Advertisement

US Soldiers could soon simply call an Uber to get to the front line of a battle.

A new partnership between Uber, NASA and the Army Research Laboratory is developing 'flying taxis' that could ferry troops far more cheaply, and quietly, than military helicopters.

The project will help Uber develop better flying vehicles for its urban taxi service as well as the military applications.

Uber and the Army are developing a radical new 'dual rotor' system to power the craft, which is expected to a cruise at 1,000-2,000 feet, reach speeds of 150 to 200 mph and fly up to 60 miles on a single charge. Pictured, a concept of the passenger version of one of Uber's next generation craft

THE MILITARY TAXIS OF THE BATTLE OF THE MARNE The military has not relied on taxis to transport soldiers to the front since the First Battle of the Marne in 1914, when the French used a fleet of 600 cabs to rush about 3,000 troops in as emergency reinforcements. 'In every street in the capital,' wrote Henri Isselin in his 1966 book The Battle of the Marne, 'police had stopped taxis during working hours, turned out the passengers, and directed the vehicles towards the Military College, where they were assembled.' That battle was a success for the allies - although it is believed the cab bill would have come to around 70,012 francs. Advertisement

Earlier this month, the Army Research Laboratory kicked off the project to develop better flying vehicles alongside Uber and officials from the University of Texas at Austin with several days of planning and presentations.

Uber and the Army are developing a radical new 'dual rotor' system to power the craft, which is expected to a cruise at 1,000-2,000 feet, reach speeds of 150 to 200 mph and fly up to 60 miles on a single charge.

The VTOL aircraft will use stacked co-rotating propellers, in which two rotor systems sit on top of each other and rotate in the same direction.

Preliminary testing has shown this method is quieter, more versatile and efficient than other approaches for a flying craft.

A $1m statement of work between Uber and the Army was signed in May to develop the system.

'This agreement with Uber displays the Army utilizing innovative approaches to collaborate with an industry partner that is truly on the cutting edge,' said Dr. Jaret Riddick, director of the ARL's Vehicle Technology Directorate.

'This collaboration is an opportunity to access years of knowledge vested in subject matter experts within the lab. It will allow the Army to rapidly advance mutually beneficial technology to inform objectives for silent and efficient VTOL, or vertical takeoff and landing operation, for the next generation fleet of Army unmanned air vehicles.

This supports the Army modernization priorities for future vertical lift aircraft.'

Uber is also working with NASA on the development of unmanned traffic management concepts and aerial safety systems. Using its computer modeling and simulation expertise, NASA will assess the impact of small aircraft -- from delivery drones to VTOL passenger aircraft -- in crowded environments.

NASA will use data supplied by Uber to simulate a small passenger-carrying aircraft as it flies through airspace near Dallas Fort Worth International Airport during peak scheduled air traffic.

Analysis of these simulations will identify safety issues as these new aircraft join an already-crowded air traffic control system, NASA officials said.

A full-size model (shown) and miniature design prototype showed off to CBS News show how the electric flying taxis could fit up to four riders per vehicle, with plans to begin with piloted flights and ultimately become fully autonomous

Uber unveiled its Uber Air design models for the first time at the Elevate Summit in Los Angeles earlier this year, revealing a look at the vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) craft that could be ferrying passengers above congested cities in just two years.

A full-size model and miniature design prototype showed off to CBS News show how the electric flying taxis could fit up to four riders per vehicle, at first for piloted flights before ultimately becoming fully autonomous.

Uber plans to launch the air-taxi service in 2020, with its self-flying craft to follow in the next five to 10 years.

During the summit, Uber execs also revealed the firm has plans to take on nearly 10 times the number of daily flights than the FAA for a single city  and, it could cost riders less than $2 per mile.

The firm unveiled its Uber Air design models for the first time at the Elevate Summit in Los Angeles today, revealing a look at the vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) craft that could be ferrying passengers above congested cities in just two years. A look inside the full size model is shown on left, with the miniature prototype on right

The models in LA offer a glimpse at the helicopter-like craft that will lift off using a series of rotors. But, the electric vehicles will be far quieter than a helicopter. Passengers will be able to hail a ride using the mobile app, though these must be booked 60 minutes ahead of time

The models in LA offer a glimpse at the helicopter-like craft that will lift off using a series of rotors. But, the electric vehicles will be far quieter than a helicopter.

The plan will rely on a network of 'Skyports,' which will allow the VTOL Uber Air craft to take off and land on rooftops across the country.

At launch, according to Head of Aviation Programs Eric Allison, a trip with the system will cost about $5.73 per passenger mile.

As ridership increases, the firm plans to make it more affordable, with an ultimate goal of achieving costs of about $1.84 per mile.

During the summit, Uber execs also revealed the firm has plans to take on nearly 10 times the number of daily flights than the FAA for a single city  and, it could cost riders less than $2 per mile. The complex network of possible Uber Air trips is illustrated above

'We think cities are going to go vertical in terms of transportation and we want to make that a reality,' Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi told CBS News.

'We want to create a network around those vehicles so that regular people can take these taxis in the air for longer distances when they want to avoid traffic at affordable prices.'

A video demonstrating the firm's vision of a flying taxi network reveals what appears much like its current on the ground model.

Passengers can hail a ride using the mobile app, though these must be booked 60 minutes ahead of time.

Then, they'll head to the terminal to find their craft.

WHAT IS UBER AIR AND HOW MUCH WILL IT COST? UberAir is a network of small, electric, aircraft that enable four-person ridesharing flights in densely populated areas. Artist's impression shown UberAir is a network of small, electric, aircraft that enable four-person ridesharing flights in densely populated areas. The 'electrical vertical take-off and landing vehicles' (eVTOLs) differ from helicopters in that they are quieter, safer, more affordable, and more environmentally-friendly, Uber claims. Users will order the aircraft through the Uber app much like they would one of the firm's taxis. Once they have selected an UberAIR ride, the craft will fly to the nearest 'Skyport' - a series of launch pads spread across the city. Uber estimates that an all-electric, 200mph (320kph) ride across the skies of Los Angeles will be price-competitive with an UberX trip of the same distance. Uber predicts that trips from LAX to the Staples Centre during rush hour can be reduced from up to 1 hour 20 minutes on the ground to less than 30 minutes using UberAir. Its prediction includes UberX transfers to and from UberAir launch pads - the flight over LA itself will take around four minutes, the firm said. The plan will rely on a network of Skyports, which will allow the VTOL Uber Air craft to take off and land on rooftops across the country Advertisement

According to Stan Swaintek, Head of Operations, Aviation at Uber, the system is designed to be seamless and intuitive for the rider.

'Prior to pushing the button to get the flight, she acknowledges an in app safety briefing, and then requests the Uber Air trip,' Swaintek says of the demonstration.

'At this point, all elements of the trip are locked in: her aircraft, co-riders, Skyport pads, and even the first mile solution.

The ultimate efficiency in this system is really unlocked as a result of our Skyport Network, which as we've discussed today, is intentionally sighted to maximize rider convenience.'

At launch, according to Head of Aviation Programs Eric Allison, a trip with the system will cost about $5.73 per passenger mile. As ridership increases, the firm plans to make it more affordable, with an ultimate goal of achieving costs of about $1.84 per mile

According to the Uber exec, the ports are 'built where our riders most frequently start and end our trips.'

Passengers will be 'passively weighed' to determine the best seating for inside the craft, making for the optimal configuration for balance, Swaintek said.

And, finding your ride is simple; the Uber Air craft will use a color-matching technology similar to the firm's Beacon system that helps passengers find their Uber car.

Earlier this year, Khosrowshahi revealed the firm plans to roll out its self-flying taxis in the next five to 10 years.

The piloted airborne version of its ride-hailing app is expected to launch in 2020.Advertisement

It is a shocking image of our planet.

NASA has revealed this incredible image from its Worldview satellite showing actively burning fires around the globe.

It reveals the incredible areas covered by both wildfires and agricultural fires used to clear land, and comes as record heatwaves have triggered wildfires around the globe.

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The world is on fire: The red points overlaid on the image designate those areas that by using thermal bands detect actively burning fires.

THE HEAT RECORDS BEING BROKEN AROUND THE GLOBE So far this month, at least 118 of these all-time heat records have been set or tied across the globe, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Japan hit 106 degrees on Monday, its hottest temperature ever. Records fell in parts of Massachusetts, Maine, Wyoming, Colorado, Oregon, New Mexico and Texas. And then there's crazy heat in Europe, where normally chill Norway, Sweden and Finland all saw temperatures they have never seen before on any date, pushing past 90 degrees. Advertisement

The red points overlaid on the image designate those areas that by using thermal bands detect actively burning fires.

Africa seems to have the most concentrated fires, according to the image, which uses thermal bands to detect actively burning fires.

'This could be due to the fact that these are most likely agricultural fires,' NASA says.

'The location, widespread nature, and number of fires suggest that these fires were deliberately set to manage land.

'Farmers often use fire to return nutrients to the soil and to clear the ground of unwanted plants.'

While fire helps enhance crops and grasses for pasture, the fires also produce smoke that degrades air quality.

Elsewhere the fires, such as in North America are wildfires for the most part.

In South America, specifically Chile has had horrendous numbers of wildfires this year.

In Brazil the fires are both wildfires and man-made fires set to clear crop fields of detritus from the last growing season.

Fires are also commonly used during Brazil's dry period to deforest land and clear it for raising cattle or other agricultural or extraction purposes.

The problem with these fires is that they grow out of control quickly due to climate issues.

Hot, dry conditions coupled with wind drive fires far from their original intended burn area.

According to the Global Fire Watch site (between 8/15 and 8/22) shows: 30,964 fire alerts.

Australia is also where you tend to find large bushfires in its more remote areas.

Hotter, drier summers in Australia will mean longer fire seasons - and urban sprawl into bushland is putting more people at risk for when those fires break out.

For large areas in the north and west, bushfire season has been brought forward a whole two months to August - well into winter, which officially began 1 June.

According to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (Bom), the January to July period 2018 was the warmest in NSW since 1910.

As the climate continues to change and areas become hotter and drier, more and more extreme bushfires will break out across the entire Australian continent.

THE SUMMER THE WORLD CAUGHT FIRE A stunning interactive map reveals how record temperatures are being recorded across the globe. It pulls together data crunched by some of the world's most powerful supercomputers, including the Global Forecast System (GFS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), to generate a world map that showcases the most recent weather readings from across the planet. Users can toggle settings to show wind speeds, relative humidity, and surface temperature. The interactive map, which updates with the latest temperature readings every three hours, reveals the full extent of the warm spell that has triggered weather warnings across the globe. Advertisement

In the US, the full extent of the wildfires ravaging the West Coast of the US has been revealed by an experimental map created by the NOAA that shows the current movement of the smoke across the U.S.

The West Coast of the United States is shrouded in smoke from the 110 large fires (this does not include smaller fires within each complex of fires) that have erupted across the region during this fire season.

Scroll down for video and click here to access an interactive map

The experimental map created by the NOAA shows the current movement of the smoke across the U.S. This map (10am EDT on August 20, 2018) comes from NOAA and is an experimental model showing both upper level on near-surface smoke.

HOW THE MAP WAS MADE This map (10am EDT on August 20, 2018) comes from NOAA and is an experimental model showing both upper level on near-surface smoke. This particular iteration of the map is showing the near-surface smoke (expressed in g/m3) from the HRRR-Smoke Model. The Near-Surface Smoke overlays 10-meter wind data, expressed in knots. The colors represent the fire emitted fine particulate matter (fire smoke) concentrations at ~8 meters above the ground. The darker and redder the color the more concentration of smoke particulates are present. It is interesting to see how the smoke moves across the country traveling south as far as Texas and east as far as Quebec. When wind patterns change, of course, so does the smoke pattern. WTOP, a local radio station near Washington DC, reported that smoke from the California fires had reached the DC Metro area this past week. Advertisement

'Over 1.9 million acres are or have been ablaze, and smoke from these fires have traveled along the west to east jet stream and are bringing that smoke across the country as far as the East Coast,' NASA said.

'Six new large fires were reported in Idaho, Nevada and Oregon over the weekend and eight large fires have been contained including the Ferguson Fire near Yosemite National Park in California. '

The weather concerns in the area include warmer than average temperatures that will continue in the west with diurnal winds and marginal overnight humidity recoveries.

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.

National Preparedness Level is at the highest level of 5.

This level includes national mobilization heavily committed to fighting active fires and taking measure to support these geographic areas that are on fire.

Smoke from these fires have traveled along the west to east jet stream and are bringing that smoke across the country as far as the East Coast.

'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.

Over 1.9 million acres are or have been ablaze, and smoke from these fires have traveled along the west to east jet stream and are bringing that smoke across the country as far as the East Coast

HOW DANGEROUS IS WILDFIRE SMOKE? Smoke from any type of wildfire is dangerous, experts warn. The smoke released by any type of fire is a mixture of particles and chemicals produced by incomplete burning of carbon-containing materials. All smoke contains carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and particulate matter (PM or soot). Smoke can contain many different chemicals, including aldehydes, acid gases, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), benzene, toluene, styrene, metals and dioxins. The type and amount of particles and chemicals in smoke varies depending on what is burning, how much oxygen is available, and the burn temperature. Exposure to high levels of smoke should be avoided. Individuals are advised to limit their physical exertion if exposure to high levels of smoke cannot be avoided. Individuals with cardiovascular or respiratory conditions (e.g., asthma), fetuses, infants, young children, and the elderly may be more vulnerable to the health effects of smoke exposure. Advertisement

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.

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)

'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.Google is the latest Silicon Valley giant to find new evidence of misinformation campaigns by Iranian accounts.

The search giant said in a blog post Thursday that it removed 58 accounts with ties to Iran from YouTube and other sites.

It follows similar takedowns by Facebook and Twitter, which earlier this week removed hundreds of accounts believed to be tied to an Iranian and Russian propaganda operations.

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Google is the latest Silicon Valley giant to find new evidence of misinformation campaigns by Iranian accounts. The search giant said it took down 58 accounts with ties to Iran

Among the accounts Google deleted were 39 channels on YouTube that had 13,466 total US views, 13 Google+ accounts and six blogs on Blogger.

Google said it had identified evidence that these actors were associated with Iran's state broadcaster, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), which 'disguised their connection' to the influence operation.

The accounts are believed to have been engaging in 'politically-motivated phishing,' Kent Walker, Google's vice president for global affairs, wrote in the blog post.

'In recent months, we've detected and blocked attempts by state-sponsored actors in various countries to target political campaigns, journalists, activists, and academics located around the world,' Walker continued.

Technical data associated with the accounts was 'strongly linked' to the official IRIB IP address space, Google said.

The firm also identified that domain ownership information was tied to IRIB account information, while account metadata and subscriber information was 'strongly linked' to corresponding information associated with the IRIB, 'indicating common ownership and control.'

Google's announcement comes just days after Twitter and Facebook said they removed hundreds of accounts believed to be tied to Russian and Iranian misinformation campaigns

Earlier this week, Facebook and Twitter announced they'd removed hundreds of accounts related to Russian and Iranian misinformation campaigns.

Additionally, Microsoft said Tuesday it removed six domain addresses believed to be linked to Russian phishing attempts.

Facebook removed a total of 653 inauthentic pages, groups and accounts, while Twitter suspended 284 accounts linked to Iran.

Like Facebook, Google also partnered with cybersecurity firm FireEye to uncover the misinformation attacks.

FireEye discovered three YouTube channels, while Google's Threat Analysis Group, Trust & Safety Team and Jigsaw unit also helped identify threats.

Walker added that the IRIB-linked influence operation is likely not the only disinformation campaign being spearheaded by state-sponsored actors.

WHAT ARE THE CLAIMS ABOUT RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE ON FACEBOOK DURING THE US ELECTION? Google, Twitter and Facebook have come under fire for allowing the spread of bogus news - some of which was directed by Russia - ahead of the 2016 US election and in other countries. In a blog post in September 2017, Facebook said that more than 3,000 advertisements posted between June 2015 and May 2017 had Russian links. These ads came from a Russian company called Internet Research Agency. According to CNN, Russia-linked Facebook ads were targeted to reach people living in Michigan and Wisconsin, both of which were won narrowly by Trump. Facebook told Congress that the apparent political meddling included use of its image-sharing application Instagram. Facebook general counsel Colin Stretch told a hearing that Instagram posts by suspect Russian accounts were seen by some 20 million Americans last year. 'I've expressed how upset I am that the Russians tried to use our tools to sow mistrust,' Zuckerberg said The data on Instagram is on top of the estimated 126 million Americans exposed to Facebook posts from Russian entities seeking to create divisions during the election campaign. 'I've expressed how upset I am that the Russians tried to use our tools to sow mistrust,' Zuckerberg said. 'What they did is wrong and we are not going to stand for it.' Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg addressed criticism over allowing disinformation and manipulation during the US presidential election, just hours after the company's top lawyer faced a grilling at a Washington congressional hearing at the end of last year. 'Our community continues to grow and our business is doing well,' Zuckerberg said. 'But none of that matters if our services are used in ways that don't bring people closer together. Protecting our community is more important than maximizing our profits.' Advertisement

'The state-sponsored phishing attacks, and the actors associated with the IRIB that weve described above, are clearly not the only state-sponsored actors at work on the Internet,' he noted.

Last year, Google and others identified activity linked to Russian 'troll factory' the Internet Research Agency.

Since then, the firm says it has continued to identify and remove content from the IRA.

It recently removed 42 YouTube channels, which had 58 English-language political videos, albeit being viewed fewer than 1,800 times in the US. The firm also deleted one Blogger account.

'We continue to actively monitor our systems, take prompt action, share intelligence, and remain vigilant about these and other threats,' Walker said.The Minoan civilisation arose on the Mediterranean island of Crete in approximately 2600BC and flourished for 12 centuries until around 1400BC.

The origins of the Minoan and Mycenaean peoples have puzzled archaeologists for more than 100 years.

Last year it was revealed that the Minoans and Mycenaens were descended from early Neolithic farmers who migrated from Anatolia to Greece and Crete.

Modern Greeks, in turn, are largely descendants of the Mycenaeans, the study found.

Experts from the University of Washington, the Harvard Medical School and the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, together with archaeologists and other collaborators in Greece and Turkey, gathered data from the region.

The results showed that Minoans and Mycenaeans were genetically highly similar, but not identical.

The early Neolithic farmers they descended from likely migrated thousands of years prior to the Bronze Age from Anatolia.

While both Minoans and Mycenaeans had both 'first farmer' and 'eastern' genetic origins, Mycenaeans traced an additional minor component of their ancestry to ancient inhabitants of Eastern Europe and northern Eurasia.

Back in 2013 it was revealed that weapons that dominated Europe for more than 3,000 years were introduced by the ancient Minoan civilisation.

Swords, metal battle axes, long bladed spears, shields and possibly even armour were brought to Europe by the Minoans who ruled Crete.

Since towns and palaces in Crete, the home of the mythical Minotaur, were first dug up and studied a century ago the Minoans have been widely regarded by archaeologists as an essentially peaceful people.

But a reassessment of the role of warriors and weapons in Ancient Crete, which was at its peak from 1900BC to 1300BC, now concludes that the Minoans were a violent and warlike people.Advertisement

The ghosts of Russias past haunt the remote Solovetsky Islands, and travellers prepared to make the sometimes bumpy plane journey to the small archipelago, 100 miles below the Arctic Circle in Russias White Sea, will be rewarded with powerful memories.

Russian history and outstanding wildlife meet head-on in an eerie atmosphere that pervades the unspoilt landscape  it could be mistaken for the Scottish Highlands, until you come across a traditionally garbed orthodox monk, or a bemedalled Navy veteran reliving old Soviet glories.

Known locally as Solovki, there are six main islands and around 100 in total, but its the largest, Greater Solovetsky, with its famous medieval monastery, which draws pilgrims and tourists, from Russia and beyond, and chronicles the islands long and often brutal past.

The ghosts of Russias past haunt the remote Solovetsky Islands. This is the monastery complex that was turned into the first and cruellest Soviet gulag

The Solovetsky camp is said by historians to have had the harshest regime of all, with more than one million prisoners dying here. Pictured is the outer wall of the monastery

Known locally as Solovki, there are six main islands and around 100 in total. But its the largest, Greater Solovetsky, where the medieval monastery is, which draws pilgrims and tourists from Russia and beyond

Russian history and outstanding wildlife meet head-on in the Solovetsky Islands, which have an eerie atmosphere that pervades the unspoilt landscape  they could be mistaken for the Scottish Highlands, writes Tim

Founded by a handful of monks in 1436, Solovetsky Monastery quickly grew to become one of the most important and influential religious centres in Russia.

Looking out to sea from the ancient building, across the main village, to the smaller granite islands beyond, the natural beauty is stunning  lakes and sweeping forests of Scots pine and Norway spruce the perfect habitat for a huge colony of nesting Arctic tern and a summer nursery for the beluga whale.

But Solovetsky holds a darker fascination, from the Soviet past, for this monastery complex was the site of the first and cruellest gulag in the empire.

Created under Lenins leadership after the October Revolution, the camp was officially opened in 1923. It became a model for the gulag system that was to span the country in the years that followed.

The Solovetsky camp is said by historians to have had the harshest regime of all, with more than one million prisoners dying here. It served the double purpose of ousting the monks from their influential monastery, and providing a base for the first Soviet Special Purpose Camp, called Ston.

Anyone persecuted by the Soviet government could be sent here for imprisonment in the main building and surrounding camp and even children were detained as punishment for a variety of offences including political crimes.

Prisoners were used as cheap manpower by the government and were ordered to carry out back-breaking manual labour. Many of the wooden barrack-style huts built by convicts are still standing today with some used as accommodation by villagers.

The most tragic remnant of the regime though is found at nearby Sekirnaya Hill, a short drive from the main village up a steep mountainside providing breath-taking views across the islands.

A punishment isolation cell was built at this spot and became the site of mass torture and executions of prisoners from the gulag. Despite the beauty of its location, anyone sent here had no chance of returning home. A small 16th Century church, which also served as a lighthouse, still stands, alongside a commemoration cross later erected in memory of those who suffered unimaginable deaths.

The gulag was closed in 1939, just ahead of World War II when it became a naval cadet training camp. Its monastery function was restored in the early 1990s after the collapse of the Soviet Union. A few monks can occasionally be seen walking outside the monastery and add to the feeling that you may have stepped back in time.

In 1974, the Solovetsky Islands were designated a historical and architectural museum and a natural reserve of the Soviet Union. In 1992 Solovetsky joined the World Heritage List and renovations to the monastery continue to this day.

In 1974, the Solovetsky Islands were designated a historical and architectural museum and a natural reserve of the Soviet Union

In 1992 Solovetsky joined the World Heritage List and renovations to the monastery continue to this day

If the history of the main island becomes too much, by escaping to the smaller uninhabited islands you could really be anywhere in the world, writes Tim

Walking tours around the main Solovki village with local guides are easy to arrange and smaller islands are also reachable via a short boat ride from the main village

The gulag was closed in 1939, just ahead of World War II when it became a naval cadet training camp. Its monastery function was restored in the early 1990s after the collapse of the Soviet Union

It can be explored inside though it is the views from outside that are most impressive. Walking tours around the main Solovki village with local guides are easy to arrange and smaller islands are also reachable via a short boat ride from the main village, which itself remains relatively free from modern development.

If the history of the main island becomes too much, by escaping to the smaller uninhabited islands you could really be anywhere in the world. Organised tours include visits to smaller churches and ancient labyrinths.

There are a number of options for travel to Solovetsky, with the main island having its own airport, Solovki Airport, which offers regular flights to Archangel, from where onward flights to Moscow are frequent.

Depending on weather conditions flights between Solovetsky and Archangel can be a little unnerving and not for the fainthearted, though the views over the archipelago make it more than worthwhile.

The island lies about 100 miles south of the Arctic circle in Russia's White Sea

A motorcycle on Solovetsky speeds along a dusty road. Visitors will be rewarded with powerful memories, writes Tim

Cramped: Photographer Roger Allen took this picture on his flight to the islandVideos

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The best place in the world for travel experiences has been named by TripAdvisor as La Fortuna de San Carlos in Costa Rica.

The travel site has revealed the places  countries, and specific cities, towns and regions, grouped under destinations  that are best for local tours, activities and experiences, based on the combined average destination ratings and reviews for bookable experiences. And the Costa Rican town ranks No1 in the destination list.

The second-best destination is Kauai, Hawaii, while Tromso in Norway comes third and Rotorua in New Zealand is fourth. Ireland and Scotland, meanwhile, come fourth and fifth respectively in the country list  which Costa Rica tops, too.

The best place in the world for travel experiences has been named by TripAdvisor as La Fortuna de San Carlos (pictured) in Costa Rica

The second-best destination is Kauai, Hawaii, where the top experiences are a half-day history and ecology trek at the Makauwahi Cave Reserve, a sightseeing flight and the Koloa Zipline

Tromso, pictured, ranks third on the destinations list. There, fjord tours and reindeer feeding are popular activities

In fourth-place destination Rotorua, pictured, visitors love white water rafting, zip-lining through its forest and zooming along in jet boats

The top-rated experiences in La Fortuna  at least, thats according to booking data from TripAdvisor  are white water river rafting, guided sloth seeing tours and canyoning in the Lost Canyon.

In second-place Kauai the top experiences are a half-day history and ecology trek at the Makauwahi Cave Reserve, a sightseeing flight and the Koloa Zipline.

The best-rated experiences in third-place Tromso are apparently fjord tours, reindeer feeding and Northern Lights viewing, while in fourth-place Rotorua visitors love white water rafting, zip-lining through its forest and zooming through the Tutukau Gorge on a jet boat the best.

The rest of the top 10 destinations list is made up of Puerto Vallarta in Mexico (5th), Sedona in Arizona (6th), Queenstown in New Zealand (7th), St Petersburg in Russia (8th), Santorini in Greece (9th) and Key West in Florida (10th).

Puerto Vallarta in Mexico, pictured, comes fifth on TripAdvisor's destinations list

Sedona in Arizona, pictured, comes sixth on the list. Off-road jeep tours are popular there, according to TripAdvisor

Pictured is seventh-place Queenstown, where visitors love to bungee jump

St. Petersburg came eighth on the specific destinations list with a three-day highlights tour being one of the most popular experiences there

It's never a surprise to see Santorini on a 'best of' list. In this instance it came ninth on the destinations ranking

Key West in Florida came 10th on the destinations list. Popular activities there are kayaking and snorkeling

The rest of the best countries list comprises New Zealand (2nd), Vietnam (3rd), Australia (6th), Portugal (7th), Mexico (8th), the U.S (9th) and Iceland (10th).

TripAdvisor said that Scotlands variety of scenic experiences for travellers, like the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Tour and a four-day tour of the West Highlands and Isle of Skye, propelled the country into the list of top five countries worldwide for experiences.

Costa Rica topped the countries and destinations lists, it said, thanks to its combination of experiences amid rainforests, volcanoes and beaches.

TripAdvisor also produced a ranking of European destinations.

In this Belfast came fourth, thanks to its Troubles Historical Walking Tour and Titanic Walking Tour, and Edinburgh came ninth, with a private half-day tour of Edinburgh in a Mini one of the best-rated experiences.

Note - these lists were drawn up using TripAdvisor data - other booking sites are available. And remember, sometimes the best experience on holiday is simply watching the sun set with a cocktail to hand.British Airways is suspending its flights between London and Iran saying they are 'not commercially viable'.

The airline has announced it will stop flying between Heathrow and Tehran next month. The move follows the U.S withdrawal from a nuclear deal with Iran and foreign companies subsequently backing out of the country.

It apologised for the disruption to passengers due to travel on later flights and is offering refunds or the option to bring their itineraries forward.

British Airways is suspending its London to Tehran flights next month, saying they are not 'commercially viable'

US president Donald Trump recently reinstated financial sanctions on Iran and accused it of supporting terrorism and undermining global financial systems.

In August 2015, the British embassy in Tehran reopened after it was ransacked by a mob in 2011.

British Airways resumed London to Tehran flights after a gap of four years in September 2016. The service was suspended in October 2012 amid instability in Iran.

It currently operates five flights per week in each direction.

British Airways' last flight from London to Tehran, pictured, will be on September 22

The last outbound flight to Tehran will be on September 22, with the final inbound flight to London on the following day.

A spokesman for the carrier said: 'We are suspending our London to Tehran service as the operation is currently not commercially viable.

'We are sorry for any disruption this may cause to our customers' travel plans and we are in discussions with our partner airlines to offer customers rebooking options.

'Alternatively, they will be offered a full refund or the opportunity to bring their flights forward.'

Dutch carrier KLM announced last month that it will also suspend its Tehran flights in September due to 'negative results and financial outlook'.Council chiefs in the Ibizan party resort of San Antonio are going to war on holidaymakers who use hippy crack.

Local police can only take action against people caught selling the drug in the street under current legislation.

But town hall bosses revealed on Thursday that they want to introduce new rules that mean users can be fined if they are caught inhaling the party drug - nitrous oxide or laughing gas as it is also known - in public.

Council chiefs in the Ibizan party resort of San Antonio are going to war on holidaymakers who use hippy crack (pictured)

The proposal - with fines for offenders of 750 (674) to 1,500 euros (1,374) - will be put to a vote at a full council meeting next Wednesday.

The move follows a number of media stories about the open use of nitrous oxide on beaches in San Antonio.

Hundreds of revellers were said to have gathered in groups to use the substance near two Radio 1 raves outside the Cafe Mambo party venue earlier this month.

A paper that exposed the scenes said some users claimed to have ordered silver cannisters of the gas, which contributed to eight deaths in Britain last year, online.

Others said they had bought the drug on the beach from African migrants who also offered ecstasy pills.

Most buyers in San Antonio are Brits.

Ibizan paper Diario de Ibiza dubbed part of the San Antonio seafront promenade where African street sellers peddle capsules in broad daylight as 'the independent laughing gas republic' in an expose last month.

Ibizan paper Diario de Ibiza dubbed part of the San Antonio seafront promenade where African street sellers peddle capsules in broad daylight as 'the independent laughing gas republic' in an expose last month

A spokesman for San Antonio Council said: 'The government team in San Antonio will propose a modification to an existing by-law governing civil coexistence which will ban the consumption of nitrous oxide in public.

'Under the current rules, local police can only act against those people they catch selling the substance in the street.

'Consumers cannot be punished because laughing gas is not considered to be an illegal substance or catalogued as a drug.'

Under the proposed new rules, sellers who provide the substance to minors will also face stiffer penalties.Rapper Tekashi69 faced court in Texas for assaulting a teenage fan just hours after partying half the night in a Miami nightclub.

The 22-year-old, whose real name is Daniel Hernandez, was arrested in New York City in mid-July for allegedly choking the 16-year-old in Houston.

He arrived at Harris County Courthouse on Wednesday morning for his arraignment in the assault case wearing the same outfit he wore clubbing.

Arrival: Tekashi69 arrived in court Wednesday morning in the Texas city for his arraignment in the assault case wearing the same outfit he wore to a club in Miami just hours earlier

Party mode: The 22-year-old heavily tattooed rapper wore the nude colored sweater on Tuesday night at Mr. Jones in Miami, adding an array of diamond jewelry

The heavily tattooed rapper wore the nude colored sweater on Tuesday night at Mr Jones in Miami, adding an array of diamond jewelry.

He sported colorful braided pigtails for both the club outing and court, but took off all his jewelry except for his diamond studded earrings.

They included his large gold chain pendant, two watches, several rings and a chain bracelet which he was photographed wearing at Mr Jones.

He looked somber as he arrived with his two bodyguards although he flashed a smile after his arraignment where he was ordered to appear again on September 20.

No care in the world: Tekashi69, born Daniel Hernandez, appeared to be having a blast at the Florida nightclub

He sported colorful braided pigtails for both the club outing and court

Focused: He sported colorful braided pigtails for both the club outing and court

Here he is: However, soon after he wrapped up his partying at the Miami spot, he jetted to Houston, Texas for his court case

Tekashi69 allegedly grabbed the teenage fan after he tried to record him in January at the Galleria mall in Houston.

The teenager had 'pain' and 'small scratch marks' he alleged were caused by the rapper.

Tekashi69 was arrested six months later after he touched down in New York City following the Europe leg of his tour.

He was held at a Harris County jail and posted $5,000 bail.

The assault allegation violates his 2015 plea deal, which he took to avoid going to jail for posting lewd footage of an underage girl on the internet, Chron.com reports.

He will appear in court on October 2 for the violation of the 2015 case.

Taking it all in: He looked somber as he arrived with his two bodyguardsShe's celebrating the release of her first children's book, Leo Lion's Big Bed!

And it seems Cassandra Thorburn made a thinly-veiled reference to her ex-husband Karl Stefanovic's in her literary debut, which might prove a little embarrassing for the 44-year-old Today host.

In the book, the former journalist, 47, references a blanket called 'Bee Bee' - which is apparently what Karl calls his baby blanket, which he still carries around to this day.

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Cheeky! Cassandra Thorburn has left a thinly-veiled reference to ex-husband Karl Stefanovic in her new children's book and it may prove VERY embarrassing for the Today host

Last week, Cassandra told The Australian Women's Weekly: 'I have an ex-husband who still carries a piece of his baby blanket, "Bee Bee", in his pocket every day.'

'Despite everything that has happened in his life, he wants a piece of his childhood to always be with him.'

Cassandra's children's book, which she co-authored with Cara Campbell, centres around a lion cub who is having trouble learning to sleep in his own 'big bed'.

At the end of the book, the lion seeks comfort from his old blanket, which allows him to sleep peacefully in his new bed.

'He wants a piece of his childhood to to always be with him': In the book, the former journalist, 47, references a blanket called 'Bee Bee' - which is apparently what Karl calls his baby blanket, which he still carries around to this day. Pictured: Karl Stefanovic

Moving on: Karl announced his split with Cassandra in September 2016, after 21 years of marriage. Months later, he began dating fashion designer Jasmine Yarbrough. Pictured: Karl and Cassandra on May 1, 2011 in Melbourne

Cassandra added that she wants her three children - Jackson, River and Ava - to read her book to their own kids one day and be reminded of the bond they share with their mother.

She said: 'I want them to be reminded that I was their mother lion - the lioness who is strong and powerful, and will always fight for her cub and her pride.

'I also want them to believe it's okay to have a Bee Bee - even when you're all grown up.'

Literary debut: Pictured is Cassandra's first children's book Leo Lion's Big Bed!, which she co-authored with her friend Cara Campbell and features illustrations by Jennie Deane

Karl announced his split with Cassandra in September 2016, after 21 years of marriage.

A few months later, he met ambitious shoe designer Jasmine Yarbrough, 34, and they became engaged in January 2018 after a whirlwind romance.

In March 2018, Karl and Jasmine celebrated their relationship with a commitment ceremony.Nick 'The Honey Badger' Cummins gave youth worker Brooke Blurton the key to his Bachelor pad early on in the latest series of The Bachelor.

It was a vote of confidence for Brooke, who then bravely took the opportunity to open up to Nick, 30, about her tragic past, which included exposure to drug-fuelled violence and the suicide of her mother.

The 23-year-old told Who on Thursday that she always felt comfortable around Nick, adding: 'I knew that I had to get him to understand who I am and where I come from and I feel that it was reciprocated because he then told me about himself.'

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'I had to get Nick to understand': Bachelor hopeful Brooke Blurton (right), 23, has revealed why she opened up to Bachelor Nick Cummins (left) about her troubled past so early on in the show

After opening up about her past, Brooke and Nick shared a steamy kiss on Wednesday's episode.

Reflecting on that moment, she said: 'It definitely took me by surprise - but it also gave me an insight into how affectionate Nick can be.'

It's not the first time Brooke - who is the franchise's first ever Indigenous finalist - has spoken publicly about her traumatic upbringing.

Vote of confidence: After Nick gave Brooke (pictured) the key to his Bachelor pad, she bravely took the opportunity to open up to him about her tragic past, which included exposure to drug-fuelled violence and the suicide of her mother

Supportive: On Thursday, Brooke told Who magazine she always felt 'comfortable' around Nick (pictured), adding: 'I knew that I had to get him to understand who I am and where I come from'

'I don't have a lot of family, unfortunately,' she told OK! earlier this month.

Brooke added that the hardest thing she had been through in her life was the death of her mother and grandmother.

'Mum and Nan dying when I was younger and having to grow up without any parents [was the hardest thing],' she said.

Rosy future? Nick (pictured) gave youth worker Brooke the key to his Bachelor pad early on in the latest series of The Bachelor

After overcoming the tragic loss of her mother to suicide at age 11, Brooke spent the rest of her upbringing living in fear of drug-fuelled violence.

'I grew up in a country town in Carnarvon. I spent my childhood there up until I was about 11, when my mum unfortunately passed away - she committed suicide,' she previously told SBS program Noongar Dandjoo.

'That was a hard time, living in Carnarvon with my mum and nan, losing Mum, and then Nan actually passed away a month later.'

Tough past: After overcoming the tragic loss of her mother to suicide at age 11, Brooke (pictured) spent the rest of her upbringing living in fear of drug-fuelled violence

Brooke eventually went to live with her father, but admitted: 'To be honest, he wasn't that supportive.

'Growing up was pretty complicated. [There was] a lot of drug and alcohol violence in my childhood and I had an older sister who suffered from schizophrenia,' she said.

As a result of her circumstances, Brooke was forced to either adapt and learn, or risk falling victim to the same problems that had affected her loved ones.

However, she ultimately vowed to turn her harrowing experiences into something positive by helping others as a youth worker.

The footy enthusiast is widely believed to make it to the final four The Bachelor, but is unclear if she ultimately wins Nick's heart.

If you, or someone you know, needs support please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.auShe broke down in tears last week during an apologetic video to fans, addressing the night she was carried out of Kylie Jenner's 21st birthday in a stretcher.

But fitness model Tammy Hembrow looked anything but distressed on Thursday, as she soaked up the sun on the beach.

The 24-year-old busty blonde showed off her fit figure and pert derriere in a sporty g-string bikini.

SBottoms up! Kim Kardashian wannabe Tammy Hembrow flaunts her figure in a g-string bikini as she cheerfully twirls on the beach

Just like Kim! Throughout the clip, Tammy offered a glimpse of her cleavage and bottom as she gracefully performed a pirouette across the seashore

Twirling around as she splash in the water, the beaming mother-of-two didn't appear to have not a care in the world.

'The ocean makes me happy. I dived in right after this & it's safe to say winter is coming to an end yeyyy [sic],' she captioned the video.

'The ocean makes me happy. I dived in right after this & it's safe to say winter is coming to an end yeyyy [sic],' she captioned the video

Raunchy: Tammy left nothing to the imagination, putting her pert derriere on full display in a racy red-and-white bikini thong

Throughout the clip, Tammy offered a glimpse of her cleavage and bottom as she gracefully performed a pirouette across the seashore.

The buxom blonde appeared to be in high spirits after jetting to Bali for a holiday with her daughter Saskia, two, and three-year-old son Wolf and her three model sisters - Amy, 28, Emilee, 26, and Starlette, 18.

Living up to their reputation as Australia's wannabe Kardashians, the four genetically-blessed sisters posed in bikinis for a series of sizzling snaps on the deck of their luxury villa.

Catch you later! The buxom blonde appeared to be in high spirits after jetting to Bali for a holiday with her daughter Saskia, 2, (pictured here) and three-year-old son Wolf and her three model sisters - Amy, 28, Emilee, 26, and Starlette, 18.

Look familiar? Living up to their reputation as Australia's wannabe Kardashians, the four genetically-blessed sisters posed in bikinis for a series of sizzling snaps on the deck of their luxury villa

Tammy flew to the country in an attempt to dodge the media after her wild night at Kylie Jenner's birthday party on Thursday 9 August in West Hollywood resulted in an emergency hospital dash and global media attention.

Following the incident, she took to YouTube to post a tearful apology video.

Tammy claimed she was 'super embarrassed' by what happened, adding that she should not have drank alcohol because she was so jet-lagged.

Boasting over 8.6 million Instagram followers and 1.2 million subscribers on YouTube, Tammy began her rise to social media fame in 2014 when she started documenting her pregnancies and fitness regime.

Face down:Tammy flew to the country in an attempt to dodge the media after her wild night at Kylie Jenner's birthday party on Thursday 9 August in West Hollywood resulted in an emergency hospital dash and global media attentionLucy Hale was spotted out and about in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

The 29-year-old actress looked summer chic in a brown crop top and retro denim as she grabbed tea from a local Coffee Bean.

Hale paired her ensemble with round sunglasses and white sneakers.

Summer in the city: Lucy Hale was spotted out and about in Los Angeles on Wednesday

The Pretty Little Liars star, who was makeup free, let her short brown locks flow freely as she walked to her vehicle.

Lucy accessorized with a dainty necklace and carried her money in a tiny wallet.

This sighting comes just days after she confirmed co-star Troian Bellisario's pregnancy while talking with Us Weekly.

'I think we've all known for a bit,' she said. 'I'm really happy for her.'

Thirsty: The 29-year-old actress looked summer chic in a brown crop top and retro denim as she grabbed tea from a local Coffee Bean

Lucy has spent a good part of the year promoting three recently released movies: The Unicorn, Truth Or Dare, and Netflix's Dude.

In May, her CW TV series Life Sentence was cancelled after one season.

'Just got the sad news that Life Sentence will not be coming back for a second season,' Hale said on Instagram at the time. 'Im a little shell shocked right now, but I feel fortunate that we got to tell a really beautiful story.

'Life sentence was a show that a lot of us needed and I am beyond grateful for those who gave our show a chance.'Paris Hilton's mother Kathy said that her daughter's swamped schedule promoting her new skincare line led her to delay her wedding to her fiance, model/actor Chris Zylka.

'She's basically been traveling,' Kathy Hilton, 59, told US Weekly Tuesday at Christie's in Beverly Hills, where she was attending an auction. 'She's really been busy  she has contracts and you have to fulfill all [of] them, you know?'

The mother-of-four - to Paris, 37, Nicky, 34, Barron, 28, and Conrad, 24 - said the postponement probably wouldn't impact the pageantry or guest list.

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On the move: Paris Hilton's mother Kathy said Wednesday that her daughter's swamped schedule promoting her new skincare line led her to delay her wedding to her fiance, model/actor Chris Zylka. The duo was snapped in LA earlier this month

'I think it will be what it always was gonna be: beautiful and, hopefully, what she likes,' said Kathy, who is assisting in the planning efforts. 'She'll have her say in it.'

Fans of the hotel heiress will have to 'wait and see' what the theme of the highly-anticipated nuptials are, she said. The 37-year-old socialite and Zylka 'just get along and they support each other and care for each other.' Kathy told the magazine, adding, 'They're so sweet.'

The hotel heiress kicked off the year revealing to the public via Instagram that she accepted Zylka's marriage proposal during their Aspen holiday that winter, as he popped the question to her with a 20-carat diamond ring.

'I said Yes! So happy & excited to be engaged to the love of my life,' she wrote. 'My best friend & soulmate. Perfect for me in every way. So dedicated, loyal, loving & kindhearted.

Elegant: Kathy Hilton, 59, was snapped at the What Goes Around Comes Around party in LA Tuesday

Helping hand: Kathy said she's giving Paris assistance in the wedding planning process

Very happy: Paris said she feels like 'the luckiest girl in the world' in her romance with Chris. The couple was snapped last month at LAX

'I feel like the luckiest girl in the world! You are my dream come true! Thank you for showing me that fairytales do exist.'

Earlier this year, Paris told the publication about the steps she was taking in the wedding planning process.

'I've been focusing on having just one wedding and of course, an incredible party after,' she said in the February exchange. 'Right now we're picking out gowns. I've had so many designers sending over sketches and hotels offering up venues and wedding planners wanting to be a part of it, so it's just a matter of picking our faves.

'Not sure when it will be, but it's so fun looking at dresses and venues for now.'Love Island Australia winner Tayla Damir has spoken about the painful moment she realised she had no choice but to end her relationship with Grant Crapp.

The 21-year-old model told Who magazine on Thursday she discovered text messages on Grant's phone that proved he was still in touch with his 'secret girlfriend' Lucy Cartwright, despite him insisting they had ended things.

She recalled: 'I'd ask him, "Have you spoken to her?" and he'd say, "No", but then there were text messages proving that he was. I would see it on his phone.'

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'I knew I had to get out': Love Island winner Tayla Damir (pictured) has revealed the painful moment she discovered her boyfriend Grant Crapp was speaking with his ex

'My gut was telling me to get out, so I listened. I knew I had to get out. Everything we've seen that's come out since the break-up has really proven my gut was right,' Tayla confessed.

While on Love Island Australia, 23-year-old Grant declared his love for Tayla and repeatedly denied rumours he had a 'secret girlfriend' back home in Canberra.

But after filming the show, the electrician confessed that he was in fact dating Lucy, 21, until right before he flew to Spain - and Tayla dumped him soon afterwards.

Following the public break-up, Grant confirmed he and Lucy were back together and had 'basically picked up where they left off'.

Secrets and lies: Tayla fell for Grant during Love Island Australia, but he hasn't been entirely truthful with her about his 'secret girlfriend'

Secret love: While on Love Island Australia, Grant lied to Tayla about the fact he was dating Lucy Cartwright (pictured)

Tayla claimed that she believes Grant was always in love with Lucy - something she says is proven by the fact he never fought for her after she dumped him.

She told Who: 'All I got was one text message [after the split], so he never fought for me... He was still in love with Lucy - which is fine, if that's where his heart is, then I really do hope they work. At my expense. But what a charade!'

Meanwhile, Tayla and Grant's Love Island co-stars Eden Dally and Erin Barnett told Who they believe Grant had never broken up with Lucy at all, and that he appeared on the show to promote his clothing business.

'What a charade!' Tayla took a swipe at her ex Grant during an interview with Who this week

Erin even insists that Lucy was running Grant's business while he was away filming Love Island.

However, Tayla is now looking forward following her heartbreak, and has relocated from Perth to Sydney to pursue a career in broadcast journalism.

She told Who she may even make a surprise return to TV, and optimistically told the magazine Grant's lies to her were 'a blessing in disguise'.iStock/Thinkstock(ALEXANDRIA, Va.) -- A single juror prevented President Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort from being convicted this week on all 18 counts of tax evasion and bank fraud, according to fellow juror Paula Duncan, who offered insight into the four days of their deliberations.



In a Fox News interview Thursday, Duncan, a self-described Trump supporter, became the first from the panel to speak out since Manaforts conviction Tuesday on eight of the fraud counts, with mistrials declared on the remaining 10.



She said the holdout -- an unnamed female juror -- was stuck on reasonable doubt.



"Reasonable doubt. The person, a female juror, was -- we all tried to convince her to look at the paper trail," Duncan said. "We laid it out in front of her again and again, and she still said that she had a reasonable doubt.



"We didn't want to be hung so tried for an extended period of time to convince her. But in the end, she held out."



Manafort is facing a maximum of 80 years behind bars but the sentence is likely to be less.



The jury also agreed to throw out the testimony of the prosecution's star witness and Manafort's former business partner, Rick Gates.



During his three-day testimony, Gates described his part in shielding millions of dollars in more than a dozen offshore accounts from United States tax collectors. Gates said he did so at Manafort's direction, Gates said, also admitted to embezzling "several hundred thousand" dollars from Manafort.



Manafort's attorneys built their defense argument around Gates, painting him as the true culprit behind their client's crimes and asserting that Manafort's only mistake was "placing his trust in the wrong person," referring to Gates.



In the jury room, One of us had a problem with accepting his testimony because he took the plea and so we agreed to throw out his testimony and look at the paperwork, which his name was all over," Duncan said.



When asked whether she found him to be a credible witness, Duncan added: "No I think he would have done anything that he could to preserve himself. That's just obvious in the fact that he flipped on Manafort."



Gates pleaded guilty in February to charges of conspiracy against the United States and lying to federal authorities. Having initially been charged alongside Manafort, Gates has since cooperated with the special counsel as part of his investigation into Russian meddling during the 2016 campaign, telling the court during testimony that he has met with Mueller's team "about twenty" times. Gates has not yet been sentenced.

Copyright  2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.Vanuatu needs own university to boost human resource, Minister Nirua says during Lycee LAB Golden Jubilee inaugural. Photo: Leah LowonbuThe Kardashian clan distanced themselves from Australian Instagram model Tammy Hembrow after she was left Kylie Jenner's 21st party on a stretcher this month.

But it appears Kylie has put the scandal behind them, liking the star's Instagram photos again after some of her famous family members unfollowed the blonde.

In an apparent show of support and friendship, the American It-girl liked an upload by Tammy, in which she stated she was 'happy' following the incident.

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Friends again? Kylie Jenner (L) supports Tammy Hembrow (R) on social media after the model made headlines for leaving the Kardashian stars 21st birthday party on a stretcher

The beachside clip showed Tammy flaunting her pert derriere and taut abs in a skimpy bikini as she smiled for the camera.

Kylie's choice to 'like' the post marks the fifth time the beauty entrepreneur has interacted with Tammy's account since the incident on August 10.

Tammy blamed 'drinking' and a 'lack of sleep' for the horrifying collapse at trendy nightspot, Delilah, in West Hollywood two weeks ago in a tearful YouTube video.

All is forgiven? In an apparent show of support and friendship, the American It-girl likes an upload by Tammy which stated she was 'happy' following the incident

Still friends! Kylie's (LEFT) choice to 'heart' the post marks the fifth time the beauty entrepreneur has interacted with Tammy's account since the incident on August 10

The Queensland-based fitness blogger broke down as she explained the incident in the video, telling trolls to stop 'being nasty.'

'Firstly I want everyone to know that I'm ok... So yeah I pretty much collapsed. Honestly I'm already like super super embarrassed about it,' she said.

'I probably, definitely shouldn't have been drinking because of how jet-lagged and exhausted I was and I already wasn't feeling well.'

She continued: 'So basically what happened was I was in LA I was running off pretty much 30 hours of no sleep. I was struggling to stay awake even when I had my hair and makeup done...I could barely keep my eyes open.'

'I'm already like super super embarrassed about it': Tammy blamed 'drinking' and a 'lack of sleep' for the horrifying collapse at trendy nightspot Delilah in West Hollywood two weeks ago in a tearful YouTube video

Still on good terms: Khloe Kardashian (L) is still following Tammy (R) on social media, with the Australian star a model for her Good American denim line

Meanwhile, some of the Kardashian family have 'unfollowed' Tammy on Instagram after she was carried out of Kylie Jenner's 21st bash face down on a stretcher.

Kim, Kris, Kendall and Kourtney have unfollowed the blonde on social media platforms, while Kylie and Khloe Kardashian still follow her.

Tammy is also a model for Khloe's Good American denim line.

Earlier this month, pictures emerged of the model lying face-down on a stretcher and being put into the back of an ambulance outside of the trendy West Hollywood nightspot after she attended Kylie's 21st birthday.Mariah Carey shared a sweet #WBW snap of her fraternal twins Monroe & Moroccan taken last month during her The Butterfly Returns residency at Caesars Palace' Colosseum in Las Vegas.

'Less than ten days until I'm back in Vegas for #TheButterflyReturns!' the 49-year-old R&B diva - who boasts 45.8M followers - captioned the cute pic.

'Can't wait to see all the #lambs in the land, it's been a minute! Whos coming?'

#WBW: Mariah Carey shared a sweet snap of her fraternal twins Monroe & Moroccan taken last month during her The Butterfly Returns residency at Caesars Palace' Colosseum in Las Vegas

The 49-year-old R&B diva wrote: 'Less than ten days until I'm back in Vegas for #TheButterflyReturns! Can't wait to see all the #lambs in the land' (pictured July 5)

Mariah posted an Instagram photo Wednesday of herself apparently in a recording studio, captioning: 'Vocals night #focused #inspired'.

The five-time Grammy winner - who employs a nanny - recently revealed that her seven-year-old children have recorded a song she penned called Roc & Roe.

'No one's heard it yet. It's good. They're definitely talented. I think they're very unique kids and they're super smart,' Mimi said on the June 6 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!

'I don't know [if I'll release it]. I have to talk it over with [my ex-husband #2 Nick Cannon] and see how he feels about it. I'd be very angry if he released a song without asking me.'

Hard at work: Mariah posted an Instagram photo Wednesday of herself apparently in a recording studio, captioning: 'Vocals night #focused #inspired'

'No one's heard it yet!' The five-time Grammy winner recently revealed that her seven-year-old children have recorded a song she penned called Roc & Roe (pictured Friday)

Mimi said on the June 6 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live: 'It's good. They're definitely talented. I think they're very unique kids and they're super smart. I don't know [if I'll release it]. I have to talk it over with [my ex- husband #2 Nick Cannon] and see how he feels about it. I'd be very angry if he released a song without asking me'

'Philly!' The multi-talented 37-year-old was in Philadelphia where he spent Wednesday afternoon casting models for MTV's Wild'N Out Live show happening Thursday night at the Wells Fargo Center

Still going strong! Carey just returned from a yacht-hopping, beach-combing 'baecation' with her little ones and her on/off toyboy Bryan Tanaka (pictured Sunday)

The multi-talented 37-year-old was in Philadelphia where he spent Wednesday afternoon casting models for MTV's Wild'N Out Live show happening Thursday night at the Wells Fargo Center.

Carey's divorce from the Teen Choice Awards host was finalized in 2016, but the former couple technically separated in 2014 after six years of marriage.

The I Don't songstress just returned from a yacht-hopping, beach-combing vacation with her little ones and her on/off toyboy Bryan Tanaka.

The native New Yorker is 14 years older than her former back-up dancer, whom she first met when she hired him for her 40-date, $27.9M-grossing Adventures of Mimi Tour way back in 2006.

'About last night!' On Monday, the I Don't songstress kicked up her gold heels while recording a 'new song' for her long-awaited 15th studio album

The native New Yorker told V Magazine in March: 'I think its like a fresh start'

'Sippin!' Mariah no longer 'gives a damn' about traditional musical goals like releasing a summer song and submitting material in time for the Grammys deadline

On Monday, Mariah kicked up her gold heels while recording a 'new song' for her long-awaited 15th studio album featuring producers Jermaine Dupri, Bobby Ross Avila, John Austin, and Prince Charlez.

'I think its like a fresh start,' Carey told V Magazine in March.

'In the music business, if you care about the Grammys and submitting your stuff before a certain time frame, you want a single out in the summer, and then you want to have your record [out] before the Grammys [consideration] deadline, which has changed. Frankly, my dear, I dont give a damn.'

The Star actress continued: 'I mean, I have five Grammys. That's cute. There's people that have been doing this half the time that have twice as many [Grammys]. I won two Grammys the first year I started.'They enjoyed a late night at his son Tyrone's 35th birthday the previous evening, reuniting with the Rolling Stones rocker's ex-wife Jo Wood for a family meal.

And Ronnie Wood, 71, and his wife Sally Wood, 40, were keeping the party going the following night with a fun-filled evening at Tina: The Tina Turner Musical at The Aldwych Theatre.

The pair beamed as they mingled with the West End production's cast backstage.

Date night: Ronnie Wood, 71, and Sally Wood, 40, were keeping the party with a fun-filled evening at Tina: The Tina Turner Musical at London's The Aldwych Theatre on Wednesday evening

Ronnie cut a youthful figure in a star print shirt and a zip-up jacket as he posed alongside his theatre producer wife.

Sally was looking stylish in a sombre ensemble, set off with an eye-catching gold jacket.

The couple showed no sign of a late night after their raucous meal at Scott's restaurant.

Dressed down: Ronnie cut a youthful figure in a star print shirt and a zip-up jacket as he posed alongside his theatre producer wife

Golden girl: Sally was looking stylish in a sombre ensemble, set off with an eye-catching gold jacket

Ronnie and his ex-wife Jo Wood, 63, have remained firm friends since their divorce, and they had reunited to celebrate their son Tyrone's 35th.

The musician - whose marriage ended in 2008 when he cheated on Jo with Ukrainian cocktail waitress Ekaterina Ivanova - was naturally accompanied by his third wife Sally.

Ronnie - who raises two-year-old twins Alice and Gracie with theatre producer Sally - was looking dapper in a blue suit as he left the venue.

Thrilled: The pair beamed as they mingled with the West End production's cast backstage

Family outing: The pair were seen celebrating Ronnie's son Tyrone's 35th birthday the previous evening, in the company of Ronnie's ex-wife Jo Wood

Sally turned heads in a bright red trouser suit paired with a smart white blouse, with her suited and booted look perfectly matching her husband's.

They were followed out of the upmarket venue by Jo, who was dressed to impress in a floral embellished maxidress with lace sleeves.

She giggled as she led a red-faced Tyrone out of the restaurant, holding several birthday balloons aloft.

Having a giggle: The couple looked happier than ever as they sported their complementary red and blue suits

Birthday boy: Tyrone was celebrating his 35th birthday in style at Scott's in Mayfair

Hand-in-hand: Ronnie - who raises two-year-old twins Alice and Gracie with theatre producer Sally - was looking dapper in a blue suit as he left the venue

Bright: Sally turned heads in a bright red trouser suit paired with a smart white blouse

Close: The Rolling Stones star - whose married ended in 2008 when he cheated on Jo with Ukrainian cocktail waitress Ekaterina Ivanova - has remained firm friends with his ex-wife

All together now: The Wood clan were out in force as they marked the special occasion

Cheeky! Jo seemed jubilant to spend an evening with her darling son

Jo has grown up sons Jamie from her first marriage to clothing entrepreneur Peter Greene and Leah and Tyrone from her second to Ronnie, plus stepson Jesse, 40, who is married to TV presenter Fearne Cotton.

Despite their marriage ending on a sour note, Jo insists she isn't 'bitter' towards ex-husband Ronnie.

The blonde previously said she has nothing but well wishes for her ex and said the pair are great friends.

Feeling playful: Ronnie was playing the joker as he played around in the back of the cab

Family reunion: Jo and Tyrone departed together while Sally and Ronnie sped away into the night

Party: Jo giggled as she led a red-faced Tyrone out of the restaurant, holding several birthday balloons aloft

Boho chic: Jo was dressed to impress in a floral embellished maxidress with lace sleeves

Heading home: The star flashed a beaming smile as she sped off in the back of a taxi

Teehee: The blonde beauty was looking stylish in a black lace dress with intricate embroidery

Here he is: The blonde beauty proved there is no woes between the duo as she larked around

'Its better to be forgiving and happy. Ronnie is my friend', she previously told The Sun.

After Ekaterina he dated a Brazilian model and a blonde PR girl before starting a brand new  and sober  chapter of his life with Sally.

The couple met 14 years ago when Ronnie was hanging an exhibition of his paintings at the theatre where Sally was working.

Their romance took off in 2011 and they were married in December 2012.

Lifelong friendship: Jo previously said she has nothing but well wishes for her ex and said the pair are great friends

Loved-up: Ronnie and Sally The couple met 14 years ago when Ronnie was hanging an exhibition of his paintings at the theatre where Sally was workingFilming for season two of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel kicked off in March.

And on Wednesday the star of the 1950's period comedy-drama, Rachel Brosnahan, was spotted shooting a scene with new co-star Zachary Levi in New York's Central Park.

Levi, who plays the lead in the upcoming DC Comics movie Shazam, will have a recurring role in season two as an eclectic Manhattan doctor.

She wears it well! Rachel Brosnahan was spotted shooting a scene for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel with new co-star Zachary Levin in New York's Central Park on Wednesday

Superhero actor: Levi is set to star as a the lead in the upcoming DC Comics film Shazam

Brosnahan, who won the 2018 Golden Globe for her role as Midge Maisel, looked every bit the elegant woman from the 50's in a red, white and black skirt that hugged her lean but curvy figure.

The 27-year old actress had it paired with a matching scarf that was stylishly worn around her shoulders and a waist-high fuschia jacket.

Show stylists also added a dark grey hat, a pair of grey gloves and dark pumps to round out her outfit.

The 37-year old actor also looked the part in a classic dark 1950's two-piece suit with a white button-down dress shirt and a dark tie.

Workin' it! Brosnahan and Levi appeared to have great chemistry during their scene in NYC

Elegance at its best: The actress looked every bit the 1950's woman in a red, white and black skirt and fuschia jacket

Classy: Show stylists dressed the 37-year old actor in a classic 1950's dark suit with a white dress shirt and a black pattern tie.

The new co-stars appear to have great chemistry as they filmed most of their scene together while sitting on a park bench. They were also caught laughing and enjoying each other's company in-between takes.

The Amazon series follows a Jewish housewife in 1958 New York City who discovers she has a knack for stand-up comedy after her husband leaves her.

The first season premiered in November 2017 to favorable reviews. It went on to win two Golden Globe Awards (Best Television Series -- Muiscal or Comedy and Best Actress -- Musical or Comedy for Brosnahan). The series was renewed for a third season in May 2018, during filming for the second season.

Cooling off: Levi showed some humor as he fanned himself off in-between takes of filming

Award winning: Brosnahan won the 2018 Golden Globe for her role as Midge Maisel

Sneak peak: The 37-year old plays eclectic Manhattan doctor in season two of Maisel

The first season ended on a high note for Brosnahan's character, but that may be changing when the show returns.

'We left Midge in a pretty triumphant moment: Shes finally arrived into Mrs. Maisel, a stand-up comedienne,' Brosnahan revealed during Amazons Television Critics Association tour panel in July as reported by Variety, 'but good things cant last long.'

Most of the details of season two are being kept under wraps, but it was revealed that the relationships between Midge (Brosnahan) and Susie (Alex Borstein), as well as Midge and Joel (Michael Zegen), will continue to be the center of the show, and that the upcoming season will consist of 10 new episodes.

'Season 2 is big And we feel like weve got, for the first time in our career, the support from the brass, the actors  we have all of the pieces to go big or go home,' show co-creator Amy Sherman-Palladino has said.

No official premiere date has been released but it will likely be available before the end of the year.

Keeping it light: The pair shared laughs between takes while filming in Central Park

The low down: Season two will consist of 10 new episodes

Coming soon: Season two of Maisel is expected to premiere in late 2018They are still yet to finalize their divorce after separating over three years ago

But Jennifer Garner looked to still have Ben Affleck's best interests in mind as she swung by his house with a friend on Wednesday.

The 46-year-old actress arrived at her 46-year-old estranged husband's under-construction abode two days after he was seen receiving a Pacifico beer box that had bottles, a tall blue box and a brown paper bag inside.

Checking in: Jennifer Garner looked to still have Ben Affleck's best interests in mind as she swung by his house with a friend on Wednesday

Jennifer looked like her cool Brentwood mom self in grey jeans with a rip across one knee.

She pulled a navy sweater over a white shirt and had two books in one hand as she approached the home.

Her brunette tresses fell straight over her shoulders and she shaded her eyes with dark sunglasses.

Her friend, meanwhile, was dressed in a black-and-white patterned skirt and a black top.

Just saying hi: The 46-year-old actress arrived at her 46-year-old estranged husband's under-construction abode two days after he was seen receiving a Pacifico beer box that had bottles, a tall blue box and a brown paper bag inside

Cool mom: Jennifer looked like her cool Brentwood mom self in grey jeans with a rip across one knee

Friend trip: Her brunette tresses fell straight over her shoulders and she shaded her eyes with dark sunglasses

On Monday, Ben appeared to be showing his identification to a delivery man as he was handed a Pacifico beer box.

In December, it was reported that the Town star entered rehab to treat alcohol addiction for the third time that year and was getting help from his brother Casey.

He has since been seen frequently at rehab centers for meetings. The last time he was spotted attending a course was last week in LA when he headed to Refuge Recovery.

Picking up some mail: On Monday, Ben appeared to be showing his identification to a delivery man as he was handed a Pacifico beer box

While Ben recently stepped out with Playboy model Shauna Sexton, 22, mere days after his split from Lindsay Shookus, 38, sources told PEOPLE magazine that he doesn't want to feel 'tied down to a serious relationship.'

When it comes to estranged wife Jennifer Garner's opinion on his love life, she's 'certainly not' happy he's dating a young model.

'Her concern right now is not who he is dating,' the source said. 'What she ultimately cares about is his sobriety and whether she can rely on him to co-parent.'

'Of course she's not pleased he's dating a 22-year-old Playboy model,' another insider told US Weekly. 'But she's also not surprised. Jen has come to expect this from Ben. She's not going to get involved. She can't make decisions for him.'

Sunny day: Her friend, meanwhile, was dressed in a black-and-white patterned skirt and a black top

Hiccup: Ben and Jennifer, meanwhile, were met with a bit of a hiccup when it comes to their divorce, as they have been sent a legal warning by the court for 'dragging their feet' over their divorce

Ben and Jennifer, meanwhile, were met with a bit of a hiccup when it comes to their divorce, as they have been sent a legal warning by the court for 'dragging their feet' over their divorce.

The Los Angeles Superior Court have told the former couple that their case is not completed because the final judgement hasn't been entered and it could be dismissed in its entirety, The Blast reports.

The court is said to have told them: 'If you fail to take the appropriate steps in your case, the court may dismiss your case for delay in prosecution.'

Details: The Los Angeles Superior Court have told the former couple that their case is not completed because the final judgement hasn't been entered

Uh-oh: The case could as such be dismissed in its entirety, The Blast reports

Family people: Ben and Jen got married in 2005 and originally split up in 2015 after welcoming their three children Violet, Seraphina and SamuelShe is a renowned fashionista and a New York City icon.

And Sarah Jessica Parker was a striking sensation when she did a photo-shoot in the city on Wednesday for Italian brand Intimissimi.

The 53-year-old Sex And The City legend let her blonde hair fall free as she modeled a white, pale blue, burgundy and burnt-gold top.

Hard at work: Sarah Jessica Parker was a striking sensation when she did a photo-shoot in the city on Wednesday for Italian brand Intimissimi

Her top featured a plunging neckline that offered a generous view of her cleavage and hinted at her black bra.

She accentuated her features with makeup and smiled as she posed up a storm, sauntering across a zebra crossing.

Mrs. Matthew Broderick had slipped into a wide-set pair of gold and blue striped pants that fluttered in the breeze, resembling pajamas somewhat.

Making it happen: The 53-year-old Sex And The City legend let her blonde hair fall free as she modeled a white, pale blue, burgundy and burnt-gold top

So stylish: Her top featured a plunging neckline that offered a generous view of her cleavage and hinted at her black bra

Sarah, whose Sex And The City character Carrie Bradshaw was famed for her shoe obsession, stepped out in hot pink stilettos that matched her clutch.

She threw in a bit of dazzle with some glistening earrings and shielded her face behind a massive pair of purple-tinted sunglasses.

In the original HBO series and two films of Sex And The City, she had co-starred with Cynthia Nixon, Kim Cattrall and Kristin Davis.

Moving ahead: She accentuated her features with makeup and smiled as she posed up a storm, sauntering across a zebra crossingMarried At First Sight's Nasser Sultan has tracked down his online trolls, including a 12-year-old girl, in an upcoming video series tackling online hate.

The star, 52, previously explained he's been inundated with cruel comments and death threats online since finding fame - even involving the police at one stage.

After revealing on the Kyle & Jackie O show he has since started reaching out to his 'haters', the star defended his decision during a chat with Daily Mail Australia, claiming the 'trolls' should be made accountable.

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EXCLUSIVE: 'She started it!': MAFS' Nasser Sultan defends reporting 12 -year-old girl to school principal for sending 'disgraceful' troll messages ... but was he wrong to make the call?

'You don't leave messages on my Instagram bagging me out when you don't even know me so I rang her work. I said, "Why you doing that?" Nasser said live on KIIS FM on Thursday.

As Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson connected Nasser with a girl he called yesterday, he added: 'If you're gonna dish it out you've got to take it.'

'I tell you what, I will ring up the haters and this is the problem with this country, why should we sit down and take it?'

The Nine personality then revealed he even called up the school of a 12-year-old girl he discovered had been sending him 'disgraceful' troll messages.

Surprise: After revealing he has since started reaching out to his 'haters' on The Kyle & Jackie O Show, the star defended his decision during a chat with Daily Mail Australia

Standing up for himself: Nasser says, 'I tell you what, I will ring up the haters and this is the problem with this country, why should we sit down and take it?'

He said: 'There was a 12-year-old girl and the messages she sent to me was so disgraceful and I can't even tell you over the air because it was so disgraceful.

'I rang her school in Canberra and said, "What sort of education do you give your kids?" Im not going to take this.

'She said, "I hate you f***ing guts! Why don't you go away, you piece of s***."'

Jackie, seeming unimpressed with his actions, replied: 'Oh Nasser, you can't do that! You can't start abusing a 12-year-old.'

Defending his decision to confront his commenters and 'make them accountable,' Nasser opened up during an interview with Daily Mail Australia.

'People are calling me a stalker but it takes two mins to find out their personal details on the internet. People aren't anonymous and hidden like they think,' Nasser added

Nasser said: 'If someone goes out of their way to send me a nasty message why shouldn't I phone them up and make them accountable? They started it.

'People are calling me a stalker but it takes two minutes to find out their personal details on the internet. People aren't anonymous and hidden like they think.'

'I clicked on the profile of one person that had been sending lots of messages and it was a kid! Her page was full of pictures of her at school in her school uniform.'

'I was so shocked so I did phone the school and they should tell her parents.'

Touchy subject: After Jackie O slammed Nasser for calling up the school of one young 'hater', the star says 'he'd want to know' if it was a daughter of his writing nasty comments online

When asked if he can understand why people have reacted with outrage at his decision to confront the child's school, Nasser said he did not agree with their reactions.

'If I had a kid I'd want to know what she was doing on the internet and I'm shocked Jackie O who has kids doesn't feel the same,' he raged.

'People don't think celebrities and people off the TV are real people and that they can just comment whatever they want and it is okay and they're allowed to.'

'Us celebs have feelings too and the comments do hurt! If they go out their way to send something not nice I will go out my way to ask them why they did it.'

'I had to go to the police after MAFS ended because I had so many death threats.'Keeley Hawes has revealed she demanded to be paid the same as her co-star Richard Madden in their upcoming thriller series Bodyguard.

Speaking to The Mirror, the 42-year-old actress revealed it's definitely become easier for female actress to bargain for equal pay in recent years.

Keeley appears alongside Game Of Thrones star Richard in the BBC conspiracy thriller where she plays Home Secretary Julia Montague.

Surprising: Keeley Hawes has revealed she demanded to be paid the same as her co-star Richard Madden in their upcoming thriller series Bodyguard

Speaking about her demands for equal pay, Keeley revealed that in recent years she's found her co-stars have been more understanding in her contract negotations, agreeing they should earn the same amount.

She said: 'If it's something like Bodyguard and there are two of us,' she says, 'and you're discussing your contract, just say 'We want parity'.

'And more often than not, the actor will also say, 'Yes, we're doing the same amount of work. The same process, pay us the same'.

'And personally, that's how I go about it now and I feel empowered to do that because of brilliant people that spoke up from the beginning and people who have made a stand.'

Surprising: The 42-year-old actress told The Mirror she thinks recent developments in women landing roles have made it easier for her to bargain for the same pay as her male co-stars

She also said that progress has definitely been made in terms of women landing more lead acting roles, but there's still plenty of work to be done.

In her role as Home Secretary Montague, Keeley said she took inspiration from Amber Rudd, who was forced to resign from her role due to the Windrush scandal.

The legendary actress said the job was a welcome change from her lighter fare as Louisa Durrell in The Durrells, for which she is about to being filming for the fourth and final series.

Dynamic: In the BBC drama, Keeley stars alongside Game Of Thrones star Richard, as she plays a steely politician as he is assigned to be her bodyguard

Bodyguard also marks Keeley's reunion with Line Of Duty creator Jed Mercurio, for which she was nominated for a BAFTA playing Detective Inspector Lindsay Denton.

The drama set to begin over the Bank Holiday Weekend sees Richard Madden play the Personal Protection Officer David Budd, who is a troubled war veteran now tasked with protecting politician Montague, in a world that is faced with a potential terrorist attack.

But when Julia continues to speak about military action, David is torn between his duty protecting her and his beliefs.

Bodyguard begins on Sunday 26th August at 9pm on BBC One.With a history of dating the Bachelor before the show, Cassandra Wood has been labelled 'a desperado' and 'stage five clinger' as she pines for Nick Cummins on the series.

And after professing to experiencing 'love at first sight' with The Honey Badger, the blonde bombshell now claims they technically never called time on their fling.

Speaking to OK! Magazine on Thursday, the 23-year-old insisted: 'Nothing ever ended between us.'

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'Nothing ever ended between us': The Bachelor's 'stage-five clinger' Cassandra Wood claims she was still involved with Nick Cummins when she applied for the show and has already met his family

Cassandra, who Nick calls 'Cassie' on the dating show, has made her feelings towards the rugby star known throughout the series.

The former Home And Away extra has been open about going on a few dates with the curly-haired Lothario in the past, and claims their bond was serious.

Cassandra told OK! that Nick has also introduced her to his family members, including his brother Nathan and his uncle Mike.

Not shy about her feelings! With a history of dating the Bachelor, Cassandra has been labelled 'a desperado' and 'stage five clinger' as she pines for Nick on TV

'He took me to Uncle Mike's too!' The student, who is one of the youngest contestants on the show, says she met Nick's uncle at his Manly pizza restaurant - the same venue he took co-star Romy Poulier on a date

The student, who is one of the youngest contestants on the show, says she met Nick's uncle at his Manly pizza restaurant - the same venue he took co-star Romy Poulier on a date.

'He took me to Uncle Mike's too! It's actually pretty funny. Only Nick and I knew,' she said.

Cassie claims to have been taken there by Nick a few times in the past, but chose not to burst Romy's bubble after she returned from the date in high spirits.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Channel Ten for comment.

That's serious! Cassandra claimed to the publication that Nick has already introduced her to his family members, including his brother Nathan and his uncle Mike

On Wednesday, the over-eager starlet took her clingy nature to a new level as she penned the ex-Wallabies star a heartfelt letter, declaring that for her, it was love at first sight.

Seconds before Cassandra poured her heart out to Nick, she requested he look away to spare her more 'embarrassment'.

Despite Nick looking visibly uncomfortable during the moment, he gave Cassie another rose to keep her in the competition.

'I won't be fuelling these bulldust stories': The rugby union star denied claims by New Idea that the pair were 'intimate' during the period they briefly dated

While Cassandra has been silent on responding to questions regarding the pair's intimacy, Nick recently shut down rumours that he slept her before they were reunited on The Bachelor earlier this year.

Responding to claims by New Idea that the pair were 'intimate' during the period they briefly dated, the rugby union star said the allegations were 'bulldust'.

In a furious statement, he said: 'I won't be fuelling these bulldust stories [about sleeping with Cassandra] that the media mob creates.'

Nick has previously confirmed that he and Cassandra, 24, enjoyed 'a couple of dates' before he signed on to be Australia's sixth Bachelor.She is currently filming a new movie, Flarsky, with Seth Rogen.

And Charlize Theron was spotted leaving her hotel in in Montreal on Wednesday, as she headed to work.

The 43-year-old actress flaunted her toned arms in a sleeveless lavender blouse as she stepped out in the summer sun.

Work day: Charlize Theron was spotted leaving her hotel in in Montreal on Wednesday, as she headed to work

A denim skirt fell to just below Theron's knees as she headed to set with a beige purse in one hand.

Her blond locks were combed back and fell slightly to one side, and she shaded her eyes with dark sunglasses.

She looked dressed for summer in the airy ensemble and added an extra seasonal touch with black sandals.

Guns out: The 43-year-old actress flaunted her toned arms in a sleeveless lavender blouse as she stepped out in the summer sun

Seth Rogen was also seen wandering the streets off Montreal on Wednesday.

The 36-year-old actor was dressed in a black tuxedo without a die and looked a bit scruffy with his shaggy beard.

He paired the dinner suit with black sneakers and was carrying a small paper cup in one hand.

Canadian summer: Seth Rogen was also seen wandering the streets off Montreal on Wednesday

Flarsky finds an unemployed, down-on-his-luck, self-destructive journalist (Rogen) trying to pursue his childhood crush and baby sitter (Theron), who has become one of the most powerful and unattainable women on the planet.

The movie also stars Alexander Skarsgard, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Ravi Patel, and Bob Odenkirk.

It was directed by Jonathan Levine from a script by Dan Sterling, and is set to hit theaters June 7, 2019.Dr Chris Brown has been forced to admit his 'criminal past' after his father revealed his teenage indiscretion on Thursday's Fitzy & Wippa breakfast show.

The I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! host, 39, was left red-faced when his dad Graeme recalled his moment of recklessness as a high school student.

'All I can remember is the havoc he created after the school formal!' Mr Brown said of the embarrassing incident.

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'All I can remember is the havoc he created!' Dr Chris Brown (right) has been forced to admit his 'criminal past' after his father Graeme (left) revealed his teenage indiscretion on Thursday's Fitzy & Wippa breakfast show

Despite Chris' plea for him not to tell the story of his brush with the law, Graeme went ahead anyway.

He explained that Chris and his friends were competing to see who could touch the detachable letters on the sign above the local movie theater.

'Of course Chris being taller than everyone else, he's the only one who could do it. Unfortunately when he touched it, they fell down to the ground,' he said.

'The noise and cheering carried on so much that the owner of the movie theatre came out and saw the damage that had been created to his letters, so they took off.'

Reckless youth: Graeme explained that Chris and his friends were competing to see who could touch the detachable letters on the sign above the local movie theater. Some fell to the ground and Chris was apprehended by police. Pictured: Chris with Living Room co-host Amanda Keller

Graeme said he got a call at midnight from the local police station saying they had apprehended Chris.

He recalled the conversation with the sergeant, who explained that Chris was not going to be charged at that stage but that he had to return to the theatre to apologise to the owner and replace the damaged property.

Chris confirmed he was interviewed by the police and revealed he faced a charge of malicious damage.

'I had to defend myself!' Chris confirmed he was interviewed by the police and was facing a charge of malicious damage. Luckily for the vet, the charge was dropped

'I had to defend myself and say that, you know, I'd been studying pretty hard for the HSC and was hoping to forge a career like the old man in veterinary science,' he said.

Luckily for the aspiring vet, the malicious damage charge was dropped.

With his youthful mistakes now well and truly behind him, Dr Chris has established himself as one of Australia's most beloved TV stars.

Aside from his role on Bondi Vet, he also hosts I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! and The Living Room for Network Ten.Advertisement

Ben Affleck has been pictured heading to rehab after his estranged wife Jennifer Garner staged an intervention.

The 46-year-old agreed to seek treatment after Jennifer begged him to get help while at his Pacific Palisades home on Wednesday, TMZ reported.

Witnesses said she arrived carrying a bible and accompanied by a lawyer.

Ben appeared emotional as he left his house in a car driven by Jennifer. The actor reportedly arrived at The Canyon live-in rehab facility, in Malibu, that same evening, where he is said to check-in for an 'extended period of time.'

It is not clear if or how this will affect the pair's divorce proceedings, which have been stalled in the courts for years.

Demons: Ben Affleck has been pictured heading to rehab after his estranged wife Jennifer Garner staged an intervention

Tough: The actor is said to have fallen off the wagon 'a while ago', and has 'gotten progressively worse', according to TMZ

Two weeks ago the LA Superior Court threatened to terminate the couple's case because they have not filed the proper paperwork.

Documents obtained by The Blast say: 'If you fail to take the appropriate steps in your case, the court may dismiss your case for delay in prosecution.'

Canyon's website describes the rehab facility as a 'state-of-the-art private-pay treatment program housed on 120 beautiful acres near the Malibu coastline'.

TMZ claims Ben knew he needed help, and was open to seeking treatment.

Ben reportedly left in a car headed for rehab at around 6pm, and sources said he will be entering a facility in Los Angeles County. While on the way, they made a stop at Jack In The Box, according to the website.

The actor is said to have fallen off the wagon 'a while ago', and has 'gotten progressively worse'.

Garner is said to have 'read him the riot act' a few weeks ago, telling him that he needed to clean up for the sake of their children.

She gave him both barrels while the pair were watching a children's soccer game in front of other parents, Radar Online reported.

'She doesn't want her kids to grow up without a dad,' the source said, adding that she told him to stop acting 'selfish and childish'.

On the way to rehab, Garner and Affleck stopped at his favorite fast food joint Jack in the Box, She is pictured passing a bag of food back to her estranged husband

Affleck, who looked red in his cheeks as though he'd been crying, tucked into the fast food before his latest rehab stint

The actor reportedly arrived at The Canyon live-in rehab facility, in Malibu, (pictured) that same evening, where he is said to check-in for an 'extended period of time'

'She believes he needs to start acting more like a dad and less like a kid.'

Last year Ben revealed he had completed a stint in rehab.

He has since been seen frequently at rehab centers for meetings. The last time he was spotted attending a course was last week in LA when he headed to Refuge Recovery.

In a statement he posted to his Facebook page, the two-time Oscar winner said: 'I have completed treatment for alcohol addiction; something I've dealt with in the past and will continue to confront.'

'I want to live life to the fullest and be the best father I can be. I want my kids to know there is no shame in getting help when you need it, and to be a source of strength for anyone out there who needs help but is afraid to take the first step.'

Ben, who separated from Jennifer in 2015, thanked his 'co-parent' and his friends for standing by him.

Garner's Range Rover was seen entering Canyon - described as a 'state-of-the-art private-pay treatment program housed on 120 beautiful acres near the Malibu coastline'

Door service: The actor showed his ID to collect a crate of beer on Monday, which were delivered in a box branded with Pacifico, a Mexican beer company. It contained a tall blue box, a brown paper bag and at least four other bottles

'I'm lucky to have the love of my family and friends, including my co-parent, Jen, who has supported me and cared for our kids as I've done the work I set out to do,' he wrote.

Ben also checked into rehab in 2001 and last December, according to TMZ.

He may have checked into rehab again on Wednesday, but just a few days earlier, he was seen taking delivery of a box of bottles outside his Los Angeles home on Monday afternoon.

Ordered in: Ben Affleck took delivery of a box of bottles outside his Los Angeles home on Monday afternoon

While Affleck yet to confirm his split from SNL producer Lindsay Shookus, the past few days have seen him out and about with Sexton on a regular basis

On Sunday, the apparent couple were seen picking up Jack in the Box from a drive-thru before heading back to Affleck's home

The Oscar-winning Argo director appeared to be showing his identification as the delivery man handed him items inside a Pacifico beer box on Monday.

Inside there were bottles, a tall blue box and a brown paper bag.

It's not clear what triggered this fall from grace.

But in recent weeks, he has reportedly been dating 22-year-old Playboy model lover Shauna Sexton. Affleck was spotted seen with Sexton at Nobu in Malibu last Thursday.

On Sunday, the apparent couple were seen picking up Jack in the Box from a drive-thru before heading back to Affleck's home.

While Affleck yet to confirm his split from SNL producer Lindsay Shookus, the past few days have seen him out and about with Sexton.

While Garner helped take him to rehab, his new beau whined about the attention she has been getting recently, in a video to her 60,000Instagram followers.

Meanwhile, he has been dating 22-year-old Playboy model lover Shauna Sexton (pictured, right, with him at Nobu in May)

Sexton, pictured in a bikini on the beach in Malibu, appears to have been dating Affleck since his split from Lindsay Shookus

Jennifer was spotted enjoying a day out at the water park with son Samuel on Tuesday, before staging an intervention on Ben

The model 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

Sexton, who was spotted with the actor, 46, several times last week, on Tuesday hit out at two paparazzi photographers who she said had been following her around.

Sexton said she wanted to give the men a 'shout-out' because of the effort they had put into following her, and joked that their relationship with them was 'getting serious'.

An insider previously said that Affleck didn't want to feel 'tied down to a serious relationship after his split from Lindsay Shookus, 38, sources told PEOPLE magazine.

The 45-year-old Gone Girl actor 'likes to be free to do what he wants' when it comes to his dating life, and estranged wife Jennifer Garner 'is not surprised.'

'He is happy being able to date who he wants and not feel tied down to a serious relationship,' an insider revealed. 'Lindsay was more serious about him. He enjoyed her company but was not looking for anything permanent now.'

Garner (pictured with a a friend) were seen outside Ben Affleck's house in Brentwood on Wednesday

Garner drove her estranged husband alongside an unidentified woman

Last year Ben revealed he had completed a stint in rehab

TMZ reported Ben agreed to seek treatment after Jennifer begged him to get help while at his Pacific Palisades home on Wednesday

Ben has also checked into rehab in 2001 and last December, according to TMZ

The Argo actor sat in the backseat as Garner drove

Last year Ben wrote, 'I have completed treatment for alcohol addiction; something I've dealt with in the past and will continue to confront'

The couple - who had been dating for more than one year - reportedly called it quits just last week and hadn't been spotted together since July while he filmed The Last Thing He Wanted with Anne Hathaway in Puerto Rico.

'Ben likes a woman with brains and beauty but he also likes to be free to do what he wants,' the source said.

When it comes to estranged wife Jennifer Garner's opinion on his love life, she's 'certainly not' happy he's dating a young model.

'Her concern right now is not who he is dating,' the source said. 'What she ultimately cares about is his sobriety and whether she can rely on him to co-parent.'

'Of course she's not pleased he's dating a 22-year-old Playboy model,' another insider told US Weekly. 'But she's also not surprised. Jen has come to expect this from Ben. She's not going to get involved. She can't make decisions for him.'

Romance rumors filled the air when Ben was seen at Nobu Malibu with the blonde beauty just one day after his birthday, where Lindsay was noticeably absent from any festivities.

'It looked like maybe a first date,' a source said before adding, 'she looked very cute and he seemed interested.'

Family: Ben and Jen have yet to finalize their divorce after splitting in 2015 following 10 years of marriage. The couple co-parent their three children; Violet, 12, Seraphina, nine, and Samuel, six; seen on Monday

Ben and Jen have yet to finalize their divorce after splitting in 2015 following 10 years of marriage. The couple co-parent their three children; Violet, 12, Seraphina, nine, and Samuel, six.

Sexton still 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.

'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 in May 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.'She spent most of the summer at her lake house in Canada.

But now Cindy Crawford is getting 'back to work.'

The 52-year-old model, who wore a fuchsia blouse and white jeans, posed for a photo on Wednesday as she tapped away on her computer.

Drive: Cindy Crawford is getting 'back to work.' The 52-year-old model, who wore a fuchsia blouse and white jeans, posed for a photo on Wednesday as she tapped away on her computer

Crawford manages the modeling careers of her two childrenKaia, 16, and Presley, 19.

'They have agents, but I would say for the first year, for sure, everything was 100 percent through me,' the former supermodel told Town&Country. 'Eventually I want to empower them to be in charge of their own careers, but they're not ready for that yet.'

Cindy went on to add: 'Right now they're mostly, 'Mom, just tell me what to do.' And mom, as you might imagine, is fine with that.'

Kaia recently unveiled her clothing collaboration with Chanel's Karl Lagerfeld.

Momager: Crawford manages the modeling careers of her two childrenKaia and Presley

Cindy shares her kids with husband Rande Gerber, whom she's been happily married to since May of 1998.

The Illinois native talked briefly with the luxury lifestyle magazine about their parenting style.

'Kids don't always listen, but they are always watching what you do,' she said. 'If you're polite to people, they learn to be polite. If you make family time a priority, they don't even question spending time together.

'If I'm constantly berating myself in front of themI look old, I have more wrinkles every year, I can't have that dessert because I'll get fatthen they learn to do the same thing. You lead by example.'He is preparing to marry fiancee Jasmine Yarbrough in the coming months.

And aside from reportedly visiting a Sydney weight loss clinic earlier this year, it seems Karl Stefanovic may have also had a new dye job ahead of his big day.

The 44-year-old hosted Thursday's Today show with noticeably thicker and darker hair compared to the previous morning.

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New 'do for the big day? Karl Stefanovic displayed noticeably thicker and darker hair on Thursday's Today show (right). Pictured left: Karl with seemingly lighter, thinner hair while broadcasting from Canberra on Wednesday

Fortunately, Karl's fresh, youthful appearance did not overshadow Channel Nine's coverage of the historic Liberal leadership spill.

Meanwhile, it's not the first time the breakfast TV host has raised eyebrows with his seemingly self-rejuvenating hair.

Earlier this year, Woman's Day suggested that Karl may have had a hair transplant after he was pictured in London on May 14 sporting a noticeably fuller mane.

New do? It's not the first time the breakfast TV host has raised eyebrows with his seemingly self-rejuvenating hair. Earlier this year, Woman's Day suggested that Karl may have had a hair transplant after he was pictured in London on May 14 sporting a noticeably fuller mane

'Hairier Mop Or New Hue?' the headline screamed, followed by the bold suggestion that the father-of-three has either had 'a hair transplant or just a bad dye job'.

And back in 2017, the Sydney Morning Herald made similar claims.

The publication alleged that Karl had undergone a 'subtle hair transplant' to cover thinning at the front and top.

Wedding day makeover? Back in 2017, The Sydney Morning Herald claimed that Karl had undergone a 'subtle hair transplant' to cover thinning at the front and top. Pictured earlier this year with fiancee Jasmine Yarbrough

It follows unconfirmed reports that Karl's fiancee Jasmine, 34, has been encouraging him to 'quit bad habits' and get in shape ahead of their wedding.

In May, the Mara & Mine co-founder was even reportedly seen dropping her partner off at a Hypoxi weight-loss clinic in Sydney.

The couple are expected to tie the knot before the end of the year.It didn't take long for Cat Henesy and Sophie Tieman to clash on The Bachelor.

The singletons went head to head at the cocktail party last Wednesday when Cat, 24, confronted Sophie, 25, about her supposedly dating one of her ex-boyfriends after they broke up.

And now the drama has continued, with Cat telling OK! on Thursday that Sophie was still romantically involved with her ex until a week before filming began in March.

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'She was seeing him a WEEK before filming': The Bachelor's Cat Henesy (left) has accused rival Sophie Tieman (right) of having a secret boyfriend so what will the Honey Badger say?

'She was seeing him the week before the show started filming,' alleged Cat.

The Bali-based fashion designer also took a swipe at her love rival in the interview, doubling down on her previous remarks that she thought Sophie was a 'basic b**ch'.

'My ex told me she just was a bit boring and bland. And I was just running off what I've heard about her,' she said.

'We were never a couple!' Meanwhile, Sophie told NW magazine on Monday that while she did date Cat's former flame, it was nothing serious

Meanwhile, Sophie told NW on Monday that while she did date Cat's former flame, it was nothing serious.

'He and I were never a couple,' she insisted. 'We went on a few dates a month or two before the show and it never eventuated into anything - that's all there really is to it.'

She added: 'He's a nice guy but at the end of the day I was on The Bachelor because I hadn't met Mr. Right.'

It is unclear who the man in question is, however NW reported that both Sophie and Cat, 24, have been pictured with Brisbane hunk Tim Crooks in the past.

Rumour mill: It is unclear who the man in question is, however both Sophie (centre) and Cat have been pictured with Brisbane hunk Tim Crooks (left) in the past. The pair are pictured with a friend in Brisbane in September 2017

'Amazing weekend away!' Cat was pictured with the same guy in Melbourne in May 2016

Last week on The Bachelor, Cat was left fuming upon seeing Sophie at the first cocktail party and informed another of the contestants about their history.

'She's been seeing my ex-boyfriend. Been seeing him, like, very recently,' she said.

'He came over to Bali a few weeks ago and he told me. Yep. I hope Sophie's here for the right reasons, but it does make me question it.'

'My ex told me she just was a bit boring and bland': Cat (pictured) didn't hold back as she took another swipe at Sophie in an interview with OK! on Thursday

Cat then confronted Sophie about the sensitive subject in front of all the other girls.

'We hung out a few times and that was it. We weren't dating,' Sophie said, defending herself.

'We, like, caught up a couple of times. But that was a long time ago. Like, a really long time ago. I don't even know why that's mentioned.'

The Bachelor continues on Thursday at 7.30pm on Network TenITV bosses have confirmed that Ant McPartlin will be replaced for the forthcoming season of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! and that Declan Donnelly won't be hosting alone.

But the network are still yet to settle on a replacement co-host, with bosses looking to select an already-established talent to step in for the new series.

Ant and Dec were split up for the first time earlier this year after Ant suffered a relapse during his addiction recovery and had to take a break from his career to focus on his health.

ITV bosses have confirmed that Ant McPartlin will be replaced for the forthcoming season of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! and that Declan Donnelly won't be hosting alone

Ant, 42, announced he would be taking a break from all presenting duties until 2019 following a difficult year, leaving fans to speculate who would replace him alongside co-host Dec, 42, for the show's 18th series.

While Ant was absent for the final shows of his and Dec's series, Saturday Night Takeaway, Dec remained at the helm and hosted it by himself.

Over the summer, it was confirmed by ITV that the pair's Australian-based reality series, I'm A Celeb... would return without Ant, as he continues to recover. And fans were left wondering whether Dec would continue to present on his own.

But bosses at the broadcasting network have clarified that there will indeed be a co-host.

This leaves fans of the series wondering who it will be. On Thursday it was suggested that the host of the show's Australian incarnation - Julia Morris - would be replacing Ant on the British version of the show.

Other names thrown into the mix in the past few weeks have been Holly Willoughby and Scarlett Moffatt.

Scarlett - who won the show when she was a contestant on it in 2016 - was 'ruled out' of the job last week, The Sun claimed, seemingly leaving the position vacant.

Will this woman replace Ant McPartlin on I'm A Celebrity? Comedian Julia Morris (pictured) has emerged as a favourite to take the troubled star's role after UK viewers went wild for her one-liners on the Australian version. Pictured: Julia in November 2017 in Sydney

The replacements? Other names thrown into the mix in the past few weeks have been [L-R] Holly Willoughby and Scarlett Moffatt

On Thursday, speaking at The Edinburgh International Television Festival in Scotland, TV Director of Television Kevin Lygo said: 'Well find someone to stand by [Dec's] side. The good news is [Ant is] doing well; he's doing everything he should be doing to get better.

'We collectively thought let's give it a good enough time off because this thing is a slow procedure so that's what we've decided to do. He's not going to go to the jungle but Dec is, we'll find someone to go with Dec. He'll do it with somebody.

'I have [decided who that person is]. It's going to be Piers Morgan... no! No I don't know. It could be Jeremy Corbyn! I don't know who it is but, erm, I can't say.'

Despite the struggles to pinpoint the right person for the job, Lygo explained that he doubts a brand new face will be given the position.

Up for grabs: On Thursday at a TV event in Edinburgh, executive Kevin Lygo said 'He's not going to go to the jungle but Dec is, we'll find someone to go with Dec. He'll do it with somebody'

Going solo: While Ant was absent for the final shows of his and Dec's series, Saturday Night Takeaway, Dec remained at the helm and hosted it by himself last spring

'I don't see it as our primary function to bring on new talent and I think it can be counter-productive. If I was an agent and I had an exciting new presenter I'd be quite worried about putting them into the white heat of the spotlight of a big show on ITV.

'Frankly if you don't get above four million viewers it's not great.'

After a campaign went viral urging ITV to give 50-year-old comedienne Julia the job, she sparked speculation by 'liking' a tweet suggesting she would be an ideal candidate and admitting she would take the job 'in a heartbeat' during a breakfast TV appearance.

Julia first emerged as a possible candidate after a montage of her presenting the Aussie version of the show, alongside co-host Dr Chris Brown, went viral on Tuesday.

After racking up over one million views in just 24 hours thanks to Julia's razor sharp wit and hilarious one-liners, British fans began campaigning for her to replace Ant.

Fingers crossed: Takeaway will return in 2020, all going to plan

Open to offers? After a campaign went viral this week urging ITV to give the 50-year-old comedienne the job, Julia appeared to confirm she is in the running by 'liking' a tweet suggesting she would be an ideal candidate

And on Wednesday's Good Morning Britain, the presenter expressed her wish to join Dec in the jungle.

She said: 'Id take the job in a heartbeat, I am a huge huge fan of the show, I lived in the UK for seven years and when I came home to Australia and I heard they were doing an Australian version I was lock stock and two smoking barrels for it because it always looked like they boys were having so much fun so I was lucky enough to land it.'

Despite the Australian star being unfamiliar to the majority of British viewers, it appeared her charisma and humour quickly won them over.

One UK fan wrote on Twitter: 'Campaign for this lady to replace Ant on the British #ImACelebrity. (I think her name's Julia Morris?)'

BBC Radio One's Scott Mills and comedian James Barr also threw their support behind Julia by sharing her I'm A Celebrity Australia showreel with their followers.

Familiar with the format: Julia is no stranger to the show's format, having presented all four seasons of the Aussie version, which is filmed in South Africa. Pictured with her co-host Dr Chris Brown on November 19, 2015 in Sydney

As the campaign gained momentum across Twitter, Julia appeared to hint that she could join Dec when the UK show starts filming in Australia later this year.

Tellingly, she 'liked' a fan's tweet that read: 'Loved you when you were over in England those years ago. You fancy standing in for Ant while he has time off for our [I'm A Celebrity] this year?'

Julia is no stranger to the show's format, having presented all four seasons of the Aussie version, which is filmed in South Africa.

She is also well acquainted with the British Isles too, spending seven years living there after marrying UK comedian Dan Thomas.

During this time she had a stint presenting BBC's Liquid News show in 2002 and also appeared on QI, Not Going Out and Kathy Griffin's My Life on the D-List.

'Campaign for this lady to replace Ant': Julia first emerged as a possible candidate after a montage of her presenting the Aussie version of the show went viral on Tuesday

'Seriously, what do we have to do to get Julia Morris on British television?' BBC Radio One's Scott Mills and comedian James Barr also threw their support behind Julia by sharing her I'm A Celebrity Australia showreel with their followers

Ant announced he would temporarily step down from the show in a statement to MailOnline earlier this month.

He said: 'My recovery is going very well and for that to continue, having spoken to Dec and ITV, I have made the decision to take the rest of the year off.

'I'd like to thank both Dec and ITV for their continued support and I look forward to getting back to work in the new year.'

Lygo said at the time: 'ITV is completely supportive of Ant taking as much time as he needs in his recovery and of this mutual decision to rest Takeaway in 2019.

'Ant is clearly making good progress and we wish him all the very best and look forward to him returning to ITV next year. An announcement on I'm A Celebrity plans will be made in due course.'

'Ruled out': Scarlett - who was previously tipped to replace Ant - was 'ruled out' of the job last week, The Sun claimed, seemingly leaving the position vacant

Disaster: Ant's career break follows the collapse of his marriage to Lisa Armstrong and a four-week treatment in rehab in the wake of a drink-drive charge

Lygo backed the decision to take a year off from Saturday Night Takeaway in 2019 yet again on Thursday. He said: 'I think it was important from Ant's point of view to not worry about doing any work. They're proud of it and they want to do it perfectly, bigger and better every series.

'So they just felt they were getting constrained the time was getting a bit cramped and so we took the decision not to have it this year. And otherwise it's great. They will be back next year.'

It will return in 2020, all going to plan.

Ant's career break follows the collapse of his marriage to Lisa Armstrong and a four-week treatment in rehab in the wake of a drink-drive charge.

In April, he was fined a record breaking 86,000 ($151,000) after he was caught more than double the legal limit in a car crash.She is known for showing off her incredible figure on runways around the world.

But Romee Strijd turned London's West End into her own personal catwalk on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old Victoria's Secret Angel flaunted her famed cleavage in a lacy pink blouse outside of the Victoria Secret store on Bond Street.

Personal runway: Romee Strijd turned London's West End into her own personal catwalk on Wednesday

Romee was a chic slice of summer in a white suit with black trip that showed off her long legs.

The pleated pants were cuffed at the ankle and she added a couple inches to her 5ft 11in frame with strappy white heels.

Her long blonde locks fell free across her shoulders, framing her fame while she was indoors and blew in the wind while outside the shop.

Show off: The 23-year-old Victoria's Secret Angel flaunted her famed cleavage in a lacy pink blouse outside of the Victoria Secret store on Bond Street

Bombshell: Romee was a chic slice of summer in a white suit with black trip that showed off her long legs

Romee was at the shop to talk bra fitting with Victoria's Secret experts and was snapped as she had her bosom measured.

She also showed off a couple selections, including a pink bra and another grey one.

The model has been spending her summer jet setting around the world, she took a vacation back to her home in The Netherlands and then headed Stateside before heading to the U.K.

Measuring: The pleated pants were cuffed at the ankle and she added a couple inches to her 5ft 11in frame with strappy white heels

Gorgeous: Her long blonde locks fell free across her shoulders, framing her fame while she was indoors and blew in the wind while outside the shop

Glowing: Romee was at the shop to talk bra fitting with Victoria's Secret experts and was snapped as she had her bosom measured

At the office: Romee was at the shop to talk bra fitting with Victoria's Secret experts and was snapped as she had her bosom measured

Last week, Romee put on quite a show as she headlined a Victoria's Secret event in Dallas, Texas.

The event was to promote the brand's new Body By Victoria collection.

She was joined by social media influencer Negin Mirsalehi and the two posed for publicity photos together.

Summer travels: The model has been spending her summer jet setting around the world, she took a vacation back to her home in The Netherlands and then headed Stateside before heading to the U.K

Pond hopper: Last week, Romee put on quite a show as she headlined a Victoria's Secret event in Dallas, TexasEmma Roberts was in the spotlight Wednesday night at the premiere in Toronto for her new movie Little Italy.

The actress, 27, looked lovely in a black pinafore dress over a semi-sheer nude blouse with Peter Pan collar.

Emma added a pair of pointed toe black shoes with embellished straps that matched the decorations on her shoulder straps.

Stylish: Emma Roberts looked lovely in a black pinafore dress over a semi-sheer nude blouse with Peter Pan collar at the premiere in Toronto for her new movie Little Italy Wednesday

She wore her blonde hair sleekly styled and tucked back behind her ears.

The niece of Hollywood star Julia Roberts was made-up with black eye liner and mascara along with pink blush and glossy red lip color.

She accessorized with tiny diamond stud earrings and carried a black clutch purse.

Pretty: The actress, 27, wore her blonde hair sleekly styled and tucked back behind her ears. She was made-up with black eye liner and mascara along with pink blush and red lip color

Good genes: The niece of Hollywood star Julia Roberts accessorized with tiny diamond stud earrings and carried a black clutch purse

Emma stars in the romantic comedy opposite Hayden Christensen.

The Canadian actor, 37, joined her at the screening looking dapper in a gray two-piece suit.

He wore a white shirt and dark tie and posed for photos inside the theatre with Emma.

The two play star-crossed lovers who are caught between their families' competing pizza restaurants.

Play star-crossed lovers: Emma stars in the romantic comedy opposite Hayden Christensen. The Canadian actor, 37, joined her at the screening looking dapper in a gray two-piece suit

Jane Seymour was also on hand to help promote the film that was shot in Toronto and is being released in Canada on Friday.

The former Bond girl looked stunning in a sleeveless red frock that flashed some cleavage as she posed up a storm.

Jane, 67, showcased her fabulous figure in the number that featured a shirt slit at the front.

She wore her long hair loose and added nude peep-toe platform soled heels.

Wow factor: Jane Seymour, who also stars in the movie, looked stunning in a sleeveless red frock that flashed some cleavage as she posed up a storm

Ageless beauty: Jane, 67, showcased her fabulous figure in the number that featured a shirt slit at the front. She wore her long hair loose and added nude peep-toe platform soled heels

Other castmembers included actress Andrea Martin, 71., and veteran actor Danny Aiello, 85.

Martin opted for a colorful floral-themed frock with a bateau neckline and paired it with puce pumps.

Aiello was casual in a white knit jacket and black trousers and sported a pair of round sunglasses.

Little Italy will open in theatres in the USA on September 21.

Stalwarts: Other castmembers included actress Andrea Martin, 71, left, and veteran actor Danny Aiello, 85, right

Pals and co-stars: The two greeted each other warmly as they reunited at the premierePriyanka Chopra's mother Madhu Chopra has plenty of nice things to say about her future son-in-law, Nick Jonas.

The mother of the Quantico actress, speaking with the outlet DNA India, made it clear she's thrilled about her daughter's fiance, saying, 'What more can a mother want!'

Madhu praised the entertainer's stoic, reverential demeanor in her chat with the outlet.

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Happy: Priyanka Chopra's mother Madhu Chopra has plenty of nice things to say about her future son-in-law, Nick Jonas in a new chat. The two were snapped in NYC in May

'Nick is calm and mature,' she said. 'He's a wonderful person and everyone in the family just loves him. He's so polite and respectful towards elders.'

Madhu said she's told the Bollywood beauty that Nick's family - including parents Denise Miller-Jonas and papa Paul Kevin Jonas - are 'nice people;' and that she knows her daughter has picked a winner with the 25-year-old Dallas native.

'I always trust Priyanka's judgment; she's not impulsive,' she said. 'She gave it a lot of thought and when she decided on something, I was sure it would be good.'

The celeb couple publicly revealed their engagement earlier this week via social media, as Nick - who shot to fame with brothers Joe and Kevin in The Jonas Brothers singing group - called Priyanka, 'Future Mrs. Jonas' on social media, while Priyanka said she was 'taken.. With all my heart and soul.'

Love: Nick and Priyanka 'haven't decided on a wedding date yet,' as 'it's too soon' in the process, according to her mom

Madhu said that Nick and Priyanka 'haven't decided on a wedding date yet,' as 'it's too soon' in the process.

'Both of them have work commitments right now which they need to finish,' she said. They will take some time to decide where they want it and when they want it.'

Madhu said she was long hoping for an engagement for her daughter.

'Priyanka has always been ambitious about her career and I was just supporting her and wishing the best for her, as a mother,' she said. 'I used to pester her, but in the last two-three years, I had stopped. I had given up.'

She added that 'its all destiny,' adding that she hopes the couple has 'a traditional Indian wedding.'Advertisement

Orlando Bloom has travelled to the slums of Dhaka, Bangladesh as part of a powerful new TV special set to air on Channel Ten.

The Hollywood actor, 41, joined Sydney-based photographer Simon Lister for Canon Australia's Tales By Light as they meet poverty-stricken children working to provide for their families.

In a sneak peak of the episode, an emotional Orlando can be heard saying: 'We haven't met a child who hasn't had to work, and that's not acceptable, that's not a childhood, that's not a life'.

'It's not acceptable, it's not a life': Orlando Bloom became emotional as he met with poverty-stricken children in the slums of Bangladesh for a powerful new episode of the series, Canon Australia's Tales By Light

For a good cause: Orlando is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, and his trip to Dhaka will help raise awareness of the plight of the 1.4 million children working in Bangladesh

Orlando is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, while co-star Simon is UNICEF'S photographer, and the pair hope to raise awareness of the plight of the 1.4 million children working every day in Bangladesh.

Seeing youngsters working in the railway slums was certainly confronting for Orlando, who is a father to seven-year-old son, Flynn.

And photos from the emotional trip show the close bonds he formed with children who are around Flynn's age.

Bond: The heart-warming pictures of Orlando were taken by co-star Simon, who has been UNICEF's global photographer and videographer since 2016

Memorable: It seems Orlando was keen on taking his own snaps, whipping out his iPhone to take selfies with some of the children he met

The heart-warming pictures were taken by Simon, who has been UNICEF's global photographer and videographer since 2016.

And it seems Orlando was keen on taking his own snaps, taking out his iPhone to take selfies with some of the children he met.

Speaking in the wake of his visit to Bangladesh, the Pirates of the Caribbean actor declared : 'This film has allowed some of the vulnerable children to tell their own story and that, for me, is what's made it so memorable'.

Speaking in the wake of his visit to Bangladesh, the Pirates of the Carribean actor declared : 'This film has allowed some of the vulnerable children to tell their own story and that, for me, is what's made it so memorable'

It's personal: Orlando met many children who are the same age as his seven-year-old son, Flynn

Meanwhile Simon stated: 'I thought that child labour would have finished centuries ago... I had this tremendous opportunity to use my photographs to help make change'.

And of the forthcoming episode, CEO of UNICEF Australia, Tony Stewart, declared: 'The incredible cinematic work of Simon Lister and Canon Australia gives viewers an insight into what its like to be a child who has to work for a living. Every day millions of children around the world are forced to work to help their families survive extreme poverty, instead of going to school.'

Canon Australia's Tales By Light will also feature two additional episodes - one which examines the human impact of marine life on our oceans, and another which looks at indigenous communities in Arnhem Land.

The series premieres Sunday, August 26 on Channel Ten.

All smiles: Pirates of the Carribean star Orlando is a UNICEF Goodwell Ambassador who is working to bring awareness to the situation in BangladeshCountry

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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of ZimbabweLindy Klim has revealed she is suffering from arthritis, causing painful 'aches in her bones'.

Speaking candidly to WHO magazine, the 40-year-old Balinese princess said she can no longer wear high heels because of the pain.

The mother-of-four explained that after her four pregnancies she's been forced to to wear more comfortable shoes.

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Lindy's health struggle: Balinese Princess Klim, 40, has revealed in a candid WHO interview that she is suffering from arthritis and can't wear high heels because it 'aches her bones'

'These days I avoid really high shoes like stilettos due to the pain,' Lindy told the publication.

'I love shoes so much but I just can't wear the 12 inches any more, it just aches my bones.'

She added: 'I'm getting arthritis and after my pregnancies I just can't wear those shoes any more which is a shame because I love them.'

Woes: 'I love shoes so much but I just can't wear the 12 inches any more, it just aches my bones' she said

Flats for Lindy! 'These days I avoid really high shoes like stilettos due to the pain,' Lindy told the publication

The brunette beauty - who now goes by the last name Rama-Ellis - said that not only is she ditching the heels, but she's changing up her fashion by covering her arms a lot more.

She said she's started to feel insecure about them and doesn't want to show them off that much anymore.

Meanwhile, Lindy stuns in an accompanying photo shoot for WHO magazine, wearing a crisp white shirt and teal silk trousers, with low clear heels.

She's flawless: The brunette beauty - who now goes by the last name Rama-Ellis - said that not only is she ditching the heels, but she's changing up her fashion by covering her arms a lot more

Newlywed: Meanwhile Lindy has just celebrated her second marriage, marrying Adam Ellis in a romantic ceremony in Italy earlier this month

She also has her short locks out and over her shoulders in loose tousled curls.

Lindy has just celebrated her second marriage, tying the knot with Adam Ellis in a romantic ceremony in Italy, earlier this month.

The pair recently returned from their 'minimoon,' spending time on an Indonesian island.Advertisement

He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Wednesday.

And in honor of the career milestone, Simon Cowell hosted a special celebration dinner at AGO Restaurant in West Hollywood.

The 58-year-old TV personality, who donned a grey suit, was spotted kissing his longtime partner Lauren Silverman upon their arrival to the party.

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Lovebirds: Simon Cowell was spotted kissing his longtime partner Lauren Silverman outside of AGO Restaurant in West Hollywood on Wednesday night

Major milestone: Cowell received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Wednesday

Silverman, 41, oozed old Hollywood glamour as she donned a floor-length gold dress and a pin-up curl.

Her makeup for the evening included a deep red lipstick and she accessorized with several pieces of silver jewelry.

As for Cowell, he wore a navy t-shirt, slacks and walked in pointed dress shoes.

Private party: In honor of the career milestone, Simon Cowell hosted a special celebration dinner at the celebrity hotspot

Dressed to impress: The 58-year-old TV personality donned a grey suit, while Silverman oozed old Hollywood glamour in a floor-length gold dress

Hollywood glamour: The star flashed her ample cleavage in the showstopping gown

True love: Simon and Lauren looked happier than ever as they arrived at the dinner

Supermodel and America's Got Talent judge Heidi Klum attended the dinner with boyfriend Tom Kaulitz.

The blonde bombshell, 45, who came straight from America's Got Talent, wore a stunning two-piece ensemble that showed off her long legs and ample bossom.

Kaulitz, 28, was casually clad in a tank top and cropped pants.

Date night: Heidi Klum, 45, attended the dinner with boyfriend Tom Kaulitz, 28

Happy couple: The supermodel and her toyboy beau looked smitten as they arrived

Model figure: The blonde bombshell, who came straight from America's Got Talent, wore a stunning two-piece ensemble that showed off her long legs and ample bossom

More than friends? Mel B, better known as Scary Spice, was seen cuddling up to her hairstylist and good friend Gary Madatyan as they entered the restaurant

Shimmer: The star sweetly held hands with her beau as she strolled along

Chatty: The star proved she was down-to-earth as she chatted with a policeman

Glittering: The star certainly turned heads in her ballerina inspired holographic dress

Mel B, better known as Scary Spice, was seen cuddling up to her hairstylist and good friend Gary Madatyan as they entered the restaurant.

The UK native, 43, commanded attention in the eye-catching sheer, bedazzled dress that she paired with a nude leotard.

The eye-catching dress featured holographic tulle and a jewel embellished blush pink top, which she paired with crystal studded perspex stilettos.

Showstopper: The UK native commanded attention in the eye-catching sheer, bedazzled dress that she paired with a nude leotard

Pals: The duo looked content as they made a showstopping arrival to the bash

Wow factor: Mel flaunted her honed legs in silver sparkly heels

Puckering up: Mel leaned into smooch her pal on the cheek

Wild! Adam Lambert came to dinner dressed in a bell bottom jeans and a leopard print shirt

Glowing: Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden looked leggy in a scanty silk minidress

Toned: Amanda teased her ample cleavage in the extremely revealing number

Her caramel flecked brunette tresses were pulled into a bouncy ponytail while her pretty features were enhanced with pink shadow, fluttery lashes and gloss.

Mel looked in great spirits as she showed off her smooth visage after recently undergoing a 4,000 non-surgical facelift.

Howie Mandel, American Idol star Adam Lambert, X Factor winner Leona Lewis, Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden, boyband CNCO and Cowell's band Pretty Much were also in attendance.

Amanda, 47, left very little to the imagination as she rocked a sizzling and barely-there sheath dress in a baby pink hue, which boasted elaborate straps and dainty silver detailing.

Amanda could not stop beaming as she strutted her stuff down the street in the barely-there mini dress in which she boldly defied the cardinal legs-or-cleavage rule while also adding in a flash of her toned back.

Tanned: The actress sported a glowing Calfornian tan for the A-list dinner

Support: Tamara Ecclestone and husband Jay Rutland looked stylish as they attended the dinner

Double date: Tamara's sister Petra and her beau Sam Palmer were also in attendance

Chic: Reality star Tamara, 34, put on a busty display for the double date, clad in a plunging navy lace gown, which featured a handkerchief hem and an ivory bodice

Hot couple: The daring gown teased at her ample assets as she strolled with husband Jay

Busty: Petra, 29, also flashed her perky cleavage in a perilously plunging royal blue jumpsuit, which was adorned with glittering sequins

Eye-popping: The racy neckline flashed her braless assets while a thick black belt emphasised the mother-of-three's slender midriff

The cowl neck on the mini showed off her perky assets and even risked a wardrobe malfunction as she twisted this way and that and appeared to go braless.

She teased her blonde locks into loose waves falling from a centre parting and tumbling over her shoulders to help cover her shoulders slightly,

Her make-up was flawlessly applied with fluttering lashes and a slick of glossy lipstick to best enhance her pout and show off her dazzling smile.

Amanda accessorised with a chic silver clutch bag while also rocking staggering silver heels with an ankle strap and dainty across toe strap.

Shimmer: Her caramel flecked brunette tresses were styled in glamorous waves, parted in the middle while her pretty features were enhanced with a rich palette of make-up

Star-studded: Chris Hardwick (L) and Howie Mandel were dapper as they arrived for the dinner

Of the moment: American boyband CNCO showed off their sartorial flair at the bash

Leona, 33 wowed in a white strapless dress that she paired with gold heels.

Her blonde tresses were styled in crimped waves while her pretty features were accentuated with smoky shadow and a berry lip.

She added height to her look with gold stiletto sandals.

Guest list: Howie Mandel and Leona Lewis were also in attendance

Leggy: Leona looked positively angelic in her strapless gown with statement skirt

Waving it up: The star waved to snappers as she made her way into the dinner

Tamara and Petra Ecclestone dazzled as they attended the dinner , accompanied by their partners Jay Rutland and Sam Palmer.

Reality star Tamara, 34, put on a busty display for the double date, clad in a plunging navy lace gown, which featured a handkerchief hem and an ivory bodice.

The daring gown teased at her ample assets while also flashing her toned legs.

She added height to her look with silver stiletto sandals.

Her caramel flecked brunette tresses were styled in glamorous waves, parted in the middle while her pretty features were enhanced with a rich palette of make-up.

Floaty: The Bleeding Love hitmaker looked confident as she posed up a storm

Jay, 37, looked typically dapper in a white t-shirt, worn with a royal blue blazer and skinny jeans.

Petra, 29, also flashed her perky cleavage in a perilously plunging royal blue jumpsuit, which was adorned with glittering sequins.

The racy neckline flashed her braless assets while a thick black belt emphasised the mother-of-three's slender midriff.

The clinging jumpsuit showcased the star's slender physique, with the stylish ensemble completed with black stiletto sandals.

Her caramel tresses were slicked back into a sleek ponytail while fluttery lashes, metallic shadow and a rose gloss accentuated her pretty features.

Sam, who Petra has been dating since October 2017, after her split from ex-husband James Stunt, looked stylish in a white shirt, dover grey blazer and jeans.

Hand in hand: Heidi and Tom were the picture of love as they walked in

Last year it was announced that X Factor founder landed on the coveted list, in recognition of his TV work in the States.

Simon soared to prominence in 2001, when he sat on the judging panel of trailblazing reality show Pop Idol, which was created by Simon Fuller.

The star, worth an eye-popping 300million, later brought the Idol franchise to America in 2002, with the show running for 15 series before coming to a close in 2015, leaving X Factor US in its wake.

Boy band: PrettyMuch, a group on Simon Cowell's record label, attended the late night soiree

You're our star! Simon's ex-girlfriend Terri Seymour shared an incredibly sweet snap of her daughter Coco, Lauren's son Adam and his and Lauren's son Eric

Loved-up: Newly engaged Katharine McPhee and David Foster appear to be going from strength to strength as they attended the bash

Elegant: She teamed her suit pants with a simple navy sleeveless top, giving her outfit an elegant edge by adding a delicate silver necklace



Oscar-winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr. will be adding a few more notches to his directing belt this year.

The 50-year-old is on the lookout for talented Australian actors to join him in TV ads for Optus.

The star directed his first film - Bayou Caviar - this year.

Budding director! American actor Cuba Gooding Jr., 50, is on the hunt for talented Australian actors to appear alongside him in new TV ads for Optus

Cuba made the announcement in a very modern fashion on Thursday, by posting a Facebook video calling all actors looking for a breakthrough gig.

A whopping 20 to 30 lucky applicants will be receiving a call from the comedian, who will then conduct face-to-face meetings with successful candidates.

Last December, Cuba was in Australia for the first time in 20 years to promote Optus' new campaign centered around the launch of the Apple iPhone X.

Talent: A whopping 20 to 30 lucky applicants will be receiving a call from the comedian, who will then conduct face-to-face meetings with successful candidates

Previous to that, Cuba was last in Australia in 1994, to film iconic comedy Lightning Jack.

Upon arriving in Sydney last year, Cuba explained the reasoning behind his sudden trip.

He told The Daily Telegraph's Confidential: 'I am going to do another Optus commercial and see some sights.'

Another gig! Last December, Cuba was in Australia for the first time in 20 years to promote Optus' new campaign centered around the launch of the Apple iPhone X

The thespian stars in one of the company's humorous ad campaigns, which sees him becoming over-excited about purchasing his new phone.

'I really enjoyed working with Optus to shoot this series,' he said in a public statement.

'Optus gave me the creative freedom to really own the characters and create some fun content,' he added.She became an international star in 1973 as Bond girl Solitaire in Live And Let Die.

And on Wednesday, Jane Seymour showed off her timeless beauty as she attended the premiere of her new movie Little Italy in Toronto, Canada.

The actress, who's now 67, looked amazing in a sleeveless red frock that flashed some cleavage as she posed up a storm.

Wow factor: Jane Seymour looked stunning in a sleeveless red frock that flashed some cleavage as she posed up a storm at the Toronto premiere of her movie Little Italy Wednesday

Jane showcased her fabulous figure in the number that featured a shirt slit at the front.

She wore her long hair loose and added nude peep-toe platform soled heels.

The actress kept her make-up light wearing just a little mascara, a touch of blush and glossy red lip color.

Ageless beauty: Jane, 67, showcased her fabulous figure in the number that featured a shirt slit at the front. She wore her long hair loose and added nude peep-toe platform soled heels

Flawless: The actress kept her make-up light wearing just a little mascara, a touch of blush and glossy red lip color

Jane stars in the romantic comedy with Emma Roberts and Hayden Christensen.

Roberts and Christensen play star-crossed lovers who are caught between their families' competing pizza restaurants.

The film was shot in Toronto and opens in Canada on Friday.

Little Italy will open in theatres in the USA on September 21.

Glamorous: Jane shared this snap with her Little Italy co-star Emma Roberts from the set while making the film to her Instagram on Wednesday to celebrate the film's Canadian openingAmerica's Got Talent judge Mel B kissed her hairdresser pal Gary Madatyan, on their way insideSimon Cowell's celebratory dinner in West Hollywood on Wednesday.

The 43-year-old has been nearly inseparable from the bearded hairdresser, and they frequently raise eyebrows with their intimate public displays of affection.

The twice-divorced mother-of-three sparkled in a sheer pink-embellished ensemble, while also showcasing her enviably smooth visage, following a course of non-surgical cosmetic enhancements - including a skin tightening treatment.

Pucker up! America's Got Talent judge Mel B chastely kissed her pal on the payroll, Gary Madatyan, on their way inside Simon Cowell's celebratory dinner in West Hollywood on Wednesday night

Mel - who relies on make-up artist Alexander Echeverri - reportedly underwent a 4K non-surgical face lift called Ultracel during a recent visit to Dr. Nyla Raja's Wilmslow clinic.

Once inside Robert DeNiro's Tuscan eatery AGO Restaurant, the artist formerly known as Scary Spice greeted her colleague Heidi Klum on the smoking patio.

The biracial beauty - who boasts 2.5M social media followers - shared an Instagram video of herself cuddling with Gary captioned: 'Dinner tonight with the boss man SC.'

That same day, Mel discussed what it was like raising three daughters from three different men - Madison Belafonte, nearly 7; Phoenix Gulzar, 19; and Angel Murphy, 11.

Nearly inseparable: The British 43-year-old and the bald and bearded hairdresser frequently raise eyebrows with their intimate public displays of affection

Leggy: The twice-divorced mother-of-three sparkled in a sheer pink-embellished turtleneck tucked into an iridescent-fringed mini-skirt- and silver-toed translucent heels

Relies on make-up artist Alexander Echeverri: Mel reportedly underwent a 4K non-surgical face lift called Ultracel during a recent visit to Dr. Nyla Raja's Wilmslow clinic

Coy smile: Brown shot a cheeky glance at a police officer

Hey girl! Once inside Robert DeNiro's Tuscan eatery AGO Restaurant, the artist formerly known as Scary Spice greeted her colleague Heidi Klum on the smoking patio

The biracial beauty - who boasts 2.5M social media followers - shared an Instagram video of herself cuddling with Gary captioned: 'Dinner tonight with the boss man SC'

'Single moms, we do it all,' Brown declared to Us Weekly.

'We have to be the mom, the dad, the provider. We have to make sure they're in check and that they do their homework. Pack their lunch. Buy clothes. You have to do everything. So props to all the single parents out there...

'It just makes you very frantic! But hopefully stronger in the end.'

Catch more of the pretty presenter judging the 13th season of the NBC talent competition - airing Tuesdays and Wednesdays - alongside Howie Mandel, Klum, Cowell, and host Tyra Banks.

'Squad': Earlier, Mel discussed what it was like raising three daughters from three different men - (from L-R) Phoenix Gulzar, 19; Madison Belafonte, nearly 7; and Angel Murphy, 11

The Chicago thespian told Us: 'Single moms, we do it all. We have to be the mom, the dad, the provider. We have to make sure they're in check and that they do their homework. Pack their lunch. Buy clothes. You have to do everything. So props to all the single parents out there!'Myer ambassadors, Rachael Finch, Elyse Knowles, Josh Gibson,and Kris Smith, 39, posed for a cheerful group selfie hours before the retailer's runway show on Thursday.

However, model, Jennifer Hawkins, 34, was noticeably absent from the chummy photograph following her 'retirement' as the face of Myer.

The genetically-blessed stars put their modelling skills to good use as they beamed backstage ahead of the retail giant's spring summer collections launch.

Where's Jen? Myer ambassadors Rachael Finch (left) Elyse Knowles (middle) Josh Gibson (left) and Kris Smith (middle) beam for a group selfie after Jennifer Hawkins announced her 'retirement' as face of the retail giant

'Shenanigans overload,' Rachael, 30, captioned the Instagram image.

Before Rachael hit the runway, she gave fans an exclusive first-look at her extensive primping session.

The stunner took to her Instagram story to document her hair and make-up routine, complete with hydrating masks, glamour and an intricate top knot hairstyle.

Pre-show ritual: Meanwhile, Rachael shared a video of herself getting her hair and makeup done

Hydrating: Rachael donned a hydrating sheet mask hours before the Myer spring summer collections launch on Thursday evening

Moments before the brunette beauty hit the makeup chair, she was seen donning a soothing sheet mask.

In the next story, Rachael gave her legion of followers a behind-the-scenes glimpse at her expert makeup application.

One member of her glam squad was seen defining the beauty's eyebrows with a dusting of brown powder.

Brows On Fleek: One member of her glam squad was seen defining her eyebrows with a dusting of brown powder (applied with a small angle brush)

Top knot! Later, a male hairstylist was captured executing an incredibly tight top knot bun on the brunette ambassador

The stunner opted for a bronzed summer glow, sporting dewy skin, bold brows and a neutral lip.

During the primping session, a male hairstylist was captured executing an incredibly tight top knot bun on the brunette ambassador.

Later, Rachael gave fans a taste of what's to come in the highly-anticipated fashion show.

Gorgeous: The lithe beauty looked simply stunning in an asymmetrical powder blue number, featuring layers of textured fabric

Sharp silhouette: Meanwhile, she cut a sharp figure in a red suit jacket, white singlet and a pair of jeans

The lithe beauty looked simply stunning in an asymmetrical powder blue number, featuring layers of textured fabric.

Meanwhile she cut a sharp figure in a red suit jacket, white singlet and a pair of jeans.

However, the piece de resistance appeared to be a dressy pant suit with orange and white striped detailing.

Suit up! The piece de resistance appeared to be a dressy pant suit with orange and white striped detailing

Runway ready: The genetically-blessed brunette (pictured) showed off her model physique in the dressy pant suit

The sighting comes after Rachael paid tribute to her departing Myer colleague on Instagram this week.

Rachael shared a throwback photo of Jennifer from one of the department store's fashion shows, before praising her friend's incredible work ethic.

'Getting to work alongside this angel Jen Hawkins has been pretty surreal,' Rachael began her post.

'In the 10-ish years I've known Jen, I've been blown away at her work ethic, professionalism, kindness and loyal attitude to those close to her.'

The mother-of-two added that Jennifer's departure 'marks the end of an incredible era' for Myer.

'It definitely won't be the same without you': Myer ambassador Rachael Finch (right) paid tribute to 'beautiful' Jennifer (left) this week after she announced her 'retirement' as the face of the retail giant. Pictured together in 2016

Kind words: Rachael wrote on Instagram, 'In the 10-ish years I've known Jen, I've been blown away at her work ethic, professionalism, kindness and loyal attitude to those close to her'. Pictured: Jennifer and Rachael at a Sydney fashion event in 2009

'It definitely won't be the same without you beautiful!' Rachael wrote, adding that she will appear with Jennifer at her final promotional events in the coming weeks.

Earlier this month, it was reported that The Block winner Elyse Knowles had signed a $300,000 deal to 'replace' Jennifer, who is thought to have commanded $1million for the same role.

The Daily Telegraph quoted a source as saying: 'Myer just doesn't have the money any more, which suited Jen because she is going down the lifestyle path and steering away from fashion.'

Last week, Jennifer confirmed she would be 'retiring' from Myer in November, saying: 'I've always been very proud and extremely grateful to work with such a beautiful and iconic company'.She was dubbed 'funny, goofy and a bit of a diva' by Simon Cowell after joining the America's Got Talent judging panel last year.

And Tyra Banks proved her support for her co-judge as she attended his Hollywood Walk Of Fame ceremony on Wednesday.

The TV host, 44, turned heads as she arrived at the celebration in a glitzy gold jumpsuit, adorned with shimmering sequins all over.

Supportive: Tyra Banks proved her support for her co-judge as she attended his Hollywood Walk Of Fame ceremony on Wednesday

The former America's Next Top Model host teamed her figure-hugging one-piece with a pair of metallic stilettos, adding inches to her statuesque frame.

Tyra strutted her way into the event in typically sassy style, flicking her sleek blonde tresses as she made her way past the crowds, who had also turned out in support.

She highlighted her timeless features with a slick of taupe lipgloss and smoky shadow, offering a dramatic look.

Shimmering star: The TV host, 44, turned heads as she arrived at the celebration in a glitzy gold jumpsuit, adorned with shimmering sequins all over

Glitzy: The former America's Next Top Model host teamed her figure-hugging one-piece with a pair of metallic stilettos, adding inches to her statuesque frame

Tyra, who decide to keep her accessories to a minimum, simply styled her ensemble with a pair of oversized hooped earrings.

The Hollywood star was joined by Heidi Klum, Mel B, Howie Mandel to watch Simon unveil his prestigious Walk Of Fame star.

Looking glamorous as ever, supermodel Heidi looked incredible in a black figure-hugging midi dress with a striking white frill.

Star-studded: The Hollywood star was joined by Heidi Klum, Mel B, Howie Mandel to watch Simon unveil his prestigious Walk Of Fame star

Glam: Looking glamorous as ever, supermodel Heidi looked incredible in a black figure-hugging midi dress with a striking white frill

She complemented her demure ensemble by working her golden locks into a voluminous style while Mel B followed her fashion lead and donned a slink pink playsuit for the occasion. The foursome beamed as they posed alongside his star.

Simon, who is responsible for kick starting the careers of One Direction, Little Mix and Fifth Harmony, was also supported some of his protegees Kelly Clarkson and Leona Lewis at the star-studded event.

Taking to the podium, Grammy-winner Kelly, who won American Idol in 2002, gave a gushing introduction to the self-confessed Mr Nasty of reality television, who stood shyly at the side of the stage.

Celeb pals: Simon, who is responsible for kick starting the careers of One Direction , Little Mix and Fifth Harmony, was also supported some of his protegees Kelly Clarkson and Leona Lewis at the star-studded eventThey are billionaire heiresses who are known for their numerous A-list friends.

And Tamara and Petra Ecclestone dazzled as they attended Simon Cowell's Hollywood star celebration dinner at West Hollywood hotspot AGO restaurant on Wednesday, accompanied by their partners Jay Rutland and Sam Palmer.

Reality star Tamara, 34, put on a busty display for the double date, clad in a plunging navy lace gown, which featured a handkerchief hem and an ivory bodice.

Wow factor: Tamara Ecclestone dazzled as she attended Simon Cowell's Hollywood star celebration dinner at West Hollywood hotspot AGO restaurant on Wednesday, accompanied by her husband Jay Rutland

Double date: Tamara was joined by sister Petra and her boyfriend Sam Palmer

The daring gown, which was always worn by Michelle Keegan at the ITV Summer party in July, teased at her ample assets while also flashing her toned legs.

She added height to her look with silver stiletto sandals.

Her caramel flecked brunette tresses were styled in glamorous waves, parted in the middle while her pretty features were enhanced with a rich palette of make-up.

Jay, 37, looked typically dapper in a white t-shirt, worn with a royal blue blazer and skinny jeans.

Chic: Reality star Tamara, 34, put on a busty display for the double date, clad in a plunging navy lace gown, which featured a handkerchief hem and an ivory bodice

Hot couple: The daring gown teased at her ample assets as she strolled with husband Jay

Hunk: Jay, 37, looked typically dapper in a white t-shirt, worn with a royal blue blazer and skinny jeans

Fashion fan: Michelle Keegan sported the same glamorous dress at the ITV Summer party in July (Pictured with husband Mark Wright)

Petra, 29, also flashed her perky cleavage in a perilously plunging royal blue jumpsuit, which was adorned with glittering sequins.

The racy neckline flashed her braless assets while a thick black belt emphasised the mother-of-three's slender midriff.

The clinging jumpsuit showcased the star's slender physique, with the stylish ensemble completed with black stiletto sandals.

Her caramel tresses were slicked back into a sleek ponytail while fluttery lashes, metallic shadow and a rose gloss accentuated her pretty features.

Busty: Petra, 29, also flashed her perky cleavage in a perilously plunging royal blue jumpsuit, which was adorned with glittering sequins

Eye-popping: The racy neckline flashed her braless assets while a thick black belt emphasised the mother-of-three's slender midriff

Shimmer: Her caramel flecked brunette tresses were styled in glamorous waves, parted in the middle while her pretty features were enhanced with a rich palette of make-up

Sam, who Petra has been dating since October 2017, after her split from ex-husband James Stunt, looked stylish in a white shirt, dover grey blazer and jeans.

The quartet joined a host of celebrities at the prestigious dinner.

Simon, 58, was joined by his partner Lauren Silverman and their son four-year-old Eric as well as Lauren's son Adam, who she welcomed with former spouse Andrew Silverman, as the milestone event got underway in downtown Hollywood.

The music mogul, who is responsible for kick starting the careers of One Direction, Little Mix and Fifth Harmony, was also supported some of his protegees Kelly Clarkson and Leona Lewis at the star-studded event.

Simon's Britain's Got Talent co-stars Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden flew across the pond to celebrate his career milestone.

Family: Petra and Tamara's F1 mogul father Bernie, 87, was seen out in London with wife Fabiana as the pair visited restaurant LouLou's

Showbiz pals: The star was joined by showbiz pal Jools Holland for dinner

Last year it was announced that X Factor founder landed on the coveted list, in recognition of his TV work in the States.

Simon soared to prominence in 2001, when he sat on the judging panel of trailblazing reality show Pop Idol, which was created by Simon Fuller.

The star, worth an eye-popping 300million, later brought the Idol franchise to America in 2002, with the show running for 15 series before coming to a close in 2015, leaving X Factor US in its wake.

The selection committee's chairman, TV producer Vin Di Bona made the announcement, as he delightedly welcomed the newbies.

He said: We look forward to their big day as the Walk of Fame Class of 2018 becomes cemented one by one on the most famous sidewalk in the world.

The Walk of Fame currently boasts 2,600 brass stars embedded in pavements running along 18 of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street's roads.

Among the stars listed on the tourist attraction are musicians, directors, theatre stars, producers, actors among many more.

Nomination is open to anyone, yet the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce make the deciding vote for the star worthy of the prize.

Those sponsoring the star or the honouree themselves have to pay an eye-popping 31,500 ($40,000) for the slate, which covers the cost of building the star, installing and its upkeep.She has been on location shooting scenes for Modern Family.

Yet Sofia Vergara, 46, enjoyed a break away from acting when she made the most of her afternoon off in Los Angeles, California on Wednesday.

The Hot Pursuit star exhibited every inch of her curves in a tight black dress and her toned legs were on display thanks to the mid-length hem.

How fabulous! Sofia Vergara, 46, looked elegant in a classic black dress and heels as she enjoyed a stroll in Los Angeles, California on Wednesday

As one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood, it's no surprise the actress kept her ladylike looks by styling her locks in an iron straight fashion.

The Bent beauty brought a movie star quality to her look when she sauntered out in towering heels which gave her a real presence.

Sofia contrasted her black dress with a snow-white handbag which she used to carry all of her everyday essentials.

Gone with the wind! As one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood, it's no surprise the actress kept her ladylike looks by styling her locks in an iron straight fashion

Sofia has mastered a handful of roles across movies including Machete Kills to Happy Feet Two as well as television series.

Modern Family has won the Emmy for best comedy series five times. It was reported ABC is in talks with the cast and producers about a possible 11th season.

The series tells the hilarious story of three very different but related families who face everyday trials and tribulations.

Sensational woman: Sofia has mastered a handful of roles across movies including Machete Kills to Happy Feet Two as well as television series

Modern Family star Sofia has been starring on the sitcom for nearly a decade since it aired in September 2009.

The actress celebrated her part in the long-running series Modern Family as 'something so special' and a 'dream come true'.

Sofia told Now To Love magazine: 'It's a dream come true  it's not often an actress can say they're a part of something so special. It's really a pleasure to go to work every day.'She reportedly stormed out of a restaurant following a public row with her on/off fiance Andrew Brady earlier this month.

And Caroline Flack, 38, arrived to the first Strictly Come Dancing group rehearsal on Wednesday in London without her engagement ring once again.

The Love Island host, who is reportedly back with the Apprentice star after breaking off their engagement last month, looked in jovial spirits as she made a surprise visit to the dance studio to meet the BBC show's new recruits.

No bling: Caroline Flack, 38, arrived to the first Strictly Come Dancing group rehearsal on Wednesday in London without her engagement ring once again

Caroline, who lifted the glitterball trophy in 2014, slipped into a green floral print playsuit which highlighted her slender pins as she left the venue.

The former Xtra Factor host teamed her thigh-grazing look with a camouflage jacket with embroidered rose detail which she draped over her shoulders.

Flashing her engagement ring-free hand, Caroline held onto her leopard print clutch and phone as she teetered from the studio in a pair of patent leather ankle boots.

The TV star worked her shoulder-length tresses into a relaxed wave and completed the look with a pair of circular shades.

Stepping out: The Love Island host, who is reportedly back with the Apprentice star after breaking off their engagement last month, looked in jovial spirits as she made a surprise visit to the dance studio to meet the BBC show's new recruits

Happier times: Caroline with her on/off beau Andrew Brady after announcing their engagement in July

Her appearance comes after she reportedly stormed out of a restaurant following a public row with her on/off fiance Andrew earlier this month.

Ring-free: Caroline flashed her engagement ring-free hand during the outing

The Love Island host is said to have left diners at the Market Cafe in London Fields agog as she argued with her beau, 27, before branding him 'aggressive' and choosing to leave.

Onlookers told The Sun, that Andrew accused his fiancee of having 'never loved him' and only using him for marriage, which is said to have riled Caroline.

An eyewitness told the paper: 'Things got really intense very quickly. He told her that he thought she was using him so she could get married, but she insisted she loved him and mentioned the [make-or-break] Ibiza trip.

'He was being really argumentative and she said, "You dont need to be so aggressive," and he just kept going until she stormed out leaving him with the dog. After she left he just seemed exasperated.'

Caroline and Andrew confirmed they were back together again on Sunday as they were spotted kissing during a date at Pizza East in Shoreditch, following a make-or-break getaway to Ibiza.

Pin-credible: Caroline, who lifted the glitterball trophy in 2014, slipped into a green floral print playsuit which highlighted her slender pins as she left the venue

Print: The former Xtra Factor host teamed her thigh-grazing look with a camouflage jacket with embroidered rose detail which she draped over her shoulders

The outing marked the couple's third reconciliation since February, having called off their engagement in May amid claims Andrew was cheating and using her for fame.

The TV host is said to have given The Apprentice star another chance after they jetted abroad away from their friends and family, to work through their issues in private.

Andrew, who moved out of Caroline's house following the break up, is said to still be living elsewhere, but will likely return to help care for the puppy they share.

Despite their loved-up appearance over the last week, Caroline chose not to put her engagement ring back on during the Love Island reunion show.

All in the details: Caroline held onto her leopard print clutch and phone

Those boots were made for walking: She teetered from the studio in a pair of patent leather ankle boots

The pair first split in March after a month of romance, amid claims of Andrew's infidelity and fears that he was using the presenter for her fame.

However, they soon reconciled - with Caroline even having his initials tattooed on her inner wrist, just weeks after their first meeting.

Following a whirlwind two-month romance, the pair then became engaged in April, and confirmed the news on their Instagram pages.

Yet, things turned sour once again the following month, with Caroline announcing their second break-up in a statement on social media.Jimmy Kimmel may have just restarted another war of words with Fox host Sean Hannity, after calling him a lunatic.

The Jimmy Kimmel Live! Host described the controversial host Hannity as a lunatic who will say anything in a lengthy interview with The Daily Beast.

Yeah, well, I mean hes a lunatic. Hell say anything. That he would compare me to Harvey Weinstein, its just ridiculous, Kimmel said.

Late night host Jimmy Kimmel described Fox host Sean Hannity as a 'lunatic' in an interview

And he knows its ridiculous, but I realized somewhere along the line I wasnt going to win anybody over in that argument. His supporters are on his side, mine are on my side and thats kind of that.

In the same interview Kimmel confirmed that his show has gotten more political and serious over the years due to the rise of Trump, explaining later that hes more than willing to get involved in a political story.

Im a fighter in general. I did morning radio for years and I grew up in an Italian family, so its where Im most comfortable. When other people start something, it excites me. My wife jokes with me, Ive never seen you more happy than when you get into one of these things. The adrenaline courses through my veins.

In the last couple of years Kimmel has been involved in feuds with the likes of Donald Trump, Donald trump Jr, Ted Cruz and disgraced Republican senate candidate Roy Moore.

However, none have reached the toxicity of the feud Kimmel had with Hannity.

Back in April 2018, Kimmel made some jokes about Melania Trumps accent and said she was busy digging an escape tunnel from the White House.

Hannity took umbrage at this, saying: 'I have just had it with the utter hypocrisy, the unrelenting attacks against not only a sitting president, but his wife and his daughter and his 11-year-old son,' in a 20-minute rant.

He then dug up old clips from Kimmels time on The Man Show and accused him of being a pervert a**hole and branded him Harvey Weinstein junior.

The clips in question, included segments in which Kimmel guesses womens weight and asks another woman to feel his pants.

'Jimmy that's you being a pervert a**hole,' Hannity tweeted. 'How would you feel if that was your daughter? I bet @Disney is so proud.'

In another tweet, he wrote: 'Today's poll. So tonight will @jimmykimmel be 1- Asking 18 year old girls to touch his crotch. 2- Make fun of the First Lady reading books to children. 3- Be a racist a--hole. 4- all of the above?'

Dear @SeanHannity thx for the trip down Man Show memory lane. The idea that YOU'd call ANYONE a pervert while slobbering over Trump, Ailes, OReilly and, YES, Roy Moore  who you DID SUPPORT is, to quote a fella you love very much, Sad! #nobodyissafefromKimmelspervertedwrath  Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) April 7, 2018

Im starting to think SOMEONE has a crush on me! https://t.co/PPhSOqBeWn  Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) April 7, 2018

At the time, Kimmel replied: 'I vote for whichever one best helps you trivialize the horrors of Harvey Weinstein by comparing them to televised comedy bits in which every woman was a willing participant who gladly signed a release.'

In the August Daily Beast interview, Kimmel reiterates this, saying: Yes, Sean Hannity seems conveniently unaware of the fact that the show was on television and that everyone involved was a willing participant.

The war of words carried on for days, with Kimmel mocked Hannity, joking that he was unable to get an erection until Trump was elected. The Late Night host also pointed out that Hannity defended the multiply-alleged pedophile Roy Moore. And Im the despicable disgrace.

By April 10 it seemed Kimmel was ready to put the feud to rest, tweeting to Hannity: 'While I admit I did have fun with our back and forth, after some thought, I realize that the level of vitriol from all sides (mine and me included) does nothing good for anyone and, in fact, is harmful to our country.'

He went on to highlight the fact that his family has received death threats from Hannitys fans before adding that he would take Sean Hannity at his word that he was genuinely offended by what I believed and still believe to be a harmless and silly aside referencing our First Ladys accent.

Sean Hannity has not yet responded to Kimmels lunatic comments yet.Married At First Sight star Nasser Sultan stormed out on Honorable judge Kyle Sandilands, after failing to win $15,000 in damages to his '$100,000' brand.

The controversial reality star chucked the tantrum on Thursday's premiere of Trial By Kyle, where he appeared as the plaintiff in a case against paparazzo Jayden Seyfarth.

Nasser, 51, claimed Jayden, 21, had cost him 'thousands' in brand deals by leaking 'false' information regarding staged photos they allegedly orchestrated together.

'Does this even have internet?' Nasser Sultan [R] storms out on Trial By Kyle after he fails to win $15K in 'damages to his brand' - before Sandilands [L] awards him $1.2K to upgrade his 20-year-old Nokia

KIIS FM DJ Kyle impressed in his new role as a Judge Judy to-the-stars, with former Bachelor star Anna Heinrich serving as his legal assistant.

The case was in regards to an altercation that occurred in April, after Jayden leaked Instagram messages he claimed were from Nasser, asking him to help stage photos to sell to the media.

Nasser told the court there was no way he could have sent the messages via Instagram, because his 'phone was older than the defendant'.

Controversy: The controversial reality star took equally controversial paparazzo Jayden Seyfarth [pictured], 21, to TV court on Thursday's premiere of Trial By Kyle

The case: In April, Jayden took to Instagram to share screenshots of an Instagram message exchange he allegedly had with Nasser [pictured] in which the MAFS star asked him to help stage photos to sell to the media

Kyle's eyes lit up after Nasser fished the Nokia device out of his pocket and presented it to him for inspection.

'Does this even have internet? This is text and phone only!' Kyle said.

Nasser's case was off to a promising start, but it collapsed after he tried to insist he was being generous in only seeking $15,000 in damages.

'Does this even do Instagram?' Nasser told the court there was no way he could have sent the messages via Instagram, because his phone was older than the defendant, 21

'I reckon it's worth $100,000! My name's worth a lot of money,' he said.

When asked to provide an itemised list of media deals he lost as a result of the damaging leaks, the plaintiff could only cite a $1,500 Toyota ad, and a $2,500 magazine column.

Nasser later stormed out in a huff when Jayden claimed the reality star asked him not to take any pictures while he was riding his motor scooter, because it made him look 'too feminine'.

'Bollocks!' Nasser later stormed out in a huff when Jayden claimed he'd been asked not to take any pictures while he was riding his motor scooter, because it made him look 'too feminine'

'No, I'm not going to listen to this bollocks! he yelled, 'What is this... take photos of my scooter being feminine? F**k this, I don't need to listen to this!'

He returned to the courtroom after a brief recess to 'cool down'.

But his case was soon thrown out after Jayden produced call log from the date the photos of Nasser were taken.

He alleged the number listed on the log was Nasser's, thus proving the pair had been in contact.

Loser! His case was thrown after Jayden showed Kyle a call log from the date of the alleged staged shoot, insisting it was Nasser's number in the log. When Kyle dialled the number, Nasser's phone started ringing. Case closed

Seconds after Kyle pulled out his phone and dialled the number, Nasser's phone started ringing. Case closed.

In a moment of pity, he told the reality star: 'What I will do is award you $1,200 for a new phone.'

The smile was wiped off Jayden's face seconds later, when Kyle called him a 'sneaky little s**t' and insisted he would be getting nothing.She debuted her new periwinkle-coloured hair earlier this week as she moves on with her life following her split from husband Ant McPartlin, 42.

And Lisa Armstrong beamed as she returned to work on Strictly Come Dancing, revealing her new wrist tattoo and carrying her beauty inspiration for this series new recruits on Wednesday.

The 41-year-old, who is a make-up artist on the beloved BBC dance show, grinned from ear-to-ear as she made her way into the studio in a pair of denim hotpants.

All smiles: Lisa Armstrong beamed as she returned to work on Strictly Come Dancing, revealing her new wrist tattoo and carrying her beauty inspiration for this series new recruits on Wednesday

Lisa's frayed Daisy Dukes highlighted her slender pins as she teetered across the pavement in a pair of tan leather ankle boots.

She offset her skimpy jean shorts with an oversized charcoal wool jumper which boasted a v-neckline and teased at her decolletage.

Lisa worked her newly dyed tresses into a messy top knot which she kept in place with a red bandanna, as she joined the likes of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman at the rehearsals.

Keeping her accessories to a minimum, she draped her large Louis Vuitton tote over her forearm and sported a pair of large silver hoop earrings, one of which appeared to fallout as she left the studio later in the evening.

Inspiration: The 41-year-old, who is a make-up artist on the beloved BBC dance show, grinned from ear-to-ear as she made her way into the studio in a pair of denim hotpants

'Strength': Ready for an action-packed series ahead, Lisa carried an array of mood boards featuring hair and make-up ideas for this year's contestants while displaying her new wrist inking, which is said to represent 'strength' in Chinese script

Ready for an action-packed series ahead, Lisa carried an array of mood boards featuring hair and make-up ideas for this year's contestants while displaying her new wrist inking, which is said to represent 'strength' in Chinese script.

Lisa, who recently returned from a sun-soaked trip to Los Angeles, got the tattoo with a set of dog paws on her forearm at LA's High Voltage tattoo parlour.

Her appearance comes days after her ex Ant unveiled his own wrist tattoo as he stepped out for ice-cream in Kingston on Sunday, sporting a new tattoo on his wrist, which appeared to show the letters S and H.

Meanwhile, the make-up artist, who split from Ant, in January, took to Twitter to debut her new locks and poked fun at her 'do as she captioned the snap: 'When your hair matches the fire exit door!! #purple x.'

Mane attraction: Lisa worked her newly dyed tresses into a messy top knot which she kept in place with a red bandanna, as she joined the likes of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman at the rehearsals

Work: Keeping her accessories to a minimum, she draped her large Louis Vuitton tote over her forearm and sported a pair of large silver hoop earrings

Looking every inch the bombshell, Lisa donned an all-black ensemble and accessorised with her signature oversized earrings.

In June, the beauty unveiled her tresses peroxide blonde, just seven months after dying her locks light pink.

Shortly before experimenting with colour, Lisa wore her tresses in a sleek brunette bob.

Meanwhile, ITV bosses have confirmed that Ant will be replaced for the forthcoming season of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! and that Declan Donnelly won't be hosting alone.

Turning heads: The make-up artist, who split from Ant, in January, took to Twitter to debut her new locks and poked fun at her 'do as she captioned the snap: 'When your hair matches the fire exit door!! #purple x'

The TV duo were split up for the first time earlier this year after Ant suffered a relapse during his addiction recovery and had to take a break from his career to focus on his health.

Ant announced he would be taking a break from all presenting duties until 2019 following a difficult year, leaving fans to speculate who would replace him alongside co-host Dec, 42, for the show's 18th series.

While Ant was absent for the final shows of his and Dec's series, Saturday Night Takeaway, Dec remained at the helm and hosted it by himself.

Replaced: ITV bosses have confirmed that Ant will be replaced for the forthcoming season of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! and that Declan Donnelly won't be hosting alone

Over the summer, it was confirmed by ITV that the pair's Australian-based reality series, I'm A Celeb... would return without Ant, as he continues to recover. And fans were left wondering whether Dec would continue to present on his own.

But bosses at the broadcasting network have clarified that there will indeed be a co-host.

This leaves fans of the series wondering who it will be. On Thursday it was suggested that the host of the show's Australian incarnation - Julia Morris - would be replacing Ant on the British version of the show.

Other names thrown into the mix in the past few weeks have been Holly Willoughby and Scarlett Moffatt.

Will this woman replace on I'm A Celebrity? Comedian Julia Morris (pictured) has emerged as a favourite to take the troubled star's role after UK viewers went wild for her one-liners on the Australian version. Pictured: Julia in November 2017 in Sydney

The replacements? Other names thrown into the mix in the past few weeks have been [L-R] Holly Willoughby and Scarlett Moffatt

Scarlett - who won the show when she was a contestant on it in 2016 - was 'ruled out' of the job last week, The Sun claimed, seemingly leaving the position vacant.

But after a campaign went viral urging ITV to give comedienne Julia the job, she sparked speculation by 'liking' a tweet suggesting she would be an ideal candidate and admitting she would take the job 'in a heartbeat' during a breakfast TV appearance.

Julia first emerged as a possible candidate after a montage of her presenting the Aussie version of the show, alongside co-host Dr Chris Brown, went viral on Tuesday.

Up for grabs: Earlier this month, Ant (left) announced he would be taking a break from all presenting, leaving fans to speculate who would replace him as host of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! UK. Pictured with longtime co-host Declan (right)

After racking up over one million views in just 24 hours thanks to Julia's razor sharp wit and hilarious one-liners, British fans began campaigning for her to replace Ant.

And on Wednesday's Good Morning Britain, the presenter expressed her wish to join Dec in the jungle.

Meanwhile, Ant first sought rehab treatment in June 2017 after becoming addicted to prescription drugs and alcohol following a botched knee surgery in 2015.

Time off: Lisa's post comes after TV presenter Ant announced he's taking a one-year break from TV amid his recovery from drink and drug addiction

He entered rehab for a second time in March after he was involved in a three-car collision in Richmond and was discovered to be over the limit behind the wheel.

Ant pleaded guilty to drink-driving in April and he received a record-breaking 86,000 fine, as well as a 20-month ban from driving.

Following his statement, it was reported Ant is living in a swanky 4million mansion in London as his romance with new girlfriend Anne-Marie Corbett continues.

The star's romance with Anne-Marie, his former PA, was revealed earlier this year, after he confirmed he called it quits with wife of twelve years Lisa in January.Snoop Dogg is due to release his first ever cookbook amid the success of his and Martha Stewarts cookery series.

The book, From Crook to Cook, will be available for purchase in October, according to The Guardian. It will include a wide range of recipes from lobster thermidor to waffles and, of course, gin and juice.

Snoop Dogg, 43, said in a statement: You know its blazin up in my kitchen. Im takin the cookbook game higher with a dipped and whipped collection of my favorite recipes, ya dig?

Snoop Dogg's first ever cookbook, 'From Crook to Cook', will be available for purchase this October

According to Chronicle Books, the Sexual Eruption rappers cookbook will be full of snacks to satisfy those munchies, but all recipes are cannabis-free.

It should come to no surprise to fans that Snoop Dogg is a killer cook. Hes been appearing alongside Martha Stewart on Martha and Snoops Potluck Dinner Party since 2016.

Their series was nominated for an Emmy in 2017.

The Long Beach, California native is the latest in a long line of rappers and musicians to try their hand at writing a cookbook. 2Chainz released a 28-page cookbook called #MealTime in 2013, Kelis published My Life on a Plate, and Coolio put out a book called Cookin With Coolio.

Action Bronson has also been known to show off his knowledge and love of food. He appears ona Viceland show called F***, Thats Delicious and another food-focused show called The Untitled Action Bronson Show.

platinum recipes from the boss doggs kitchen  the first ever snoop cook book comin soon to @ChronicleBooks  preorder From Crook to Cook! https://t.co/FHgsoGFaga pic.twitter.com/NDQkYJtANl  Snoop Dogg (@SnoopDogg) August 22, 2018

Who is Snoop Dogg?

Snoop Dogg was born Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. on October 20, 1971. He hails from Long Beach, California.

He got into music at a young age, singing at his local church before getting into rapping. As a teen, Snoop Dogg spent time with cousins Nate Dogg and Lil  Dead and friend Warren G. They recorded music under the group name 213, named after the Long Beach area code.

Dr Dre heard one of Snoop Doggs freestyles and reached out. Their first project together was the theme song for the 1992 movie, Deep Cover.

After that they got to work on Dr Dres album, The Chronic, and Snoop Doggs album, Doggystyle.

Snoop Dogg has enjoyed a long career as a rapper, giving other musical stylings a shot throughout. In 2012 he ventured into reggae, releasing a song called La La La under the name Snoop Lion. He claimed at the time that hed been rechristened Snoop Lion by a Rastafarian priest in Jamaca.

That same year he tried his hand at EDM music, releasing music under the name DJ Snoopadelic.

Snoop Dogg has entered into the world or presenting, hosting shows like Martha and Snoops Potluck Dinner Party with Martha Stewart and The Jokers Wild.

Snoop Dogg wife

Snoop Dogg is married to Shante Taylor, his high school sweetheart. They tied the knot in June 1997.

The rapper filed for divorce in 2004, but the pair called it off shortly after. Snoop Dogg and Shante renewed their vows in 2008.

They have three children together: Corde, Cordell and Cori. Snoop Dogg has another son, Julian Corrie Broadus, from a previous relationship.

Snoop Dogg net worth

Snoop Doggs net worth is about $135 million (101.7m).

Snoop Dogg tour

If buying Snoop Doggs cookbook isnt enough for you, you can catch him on tour. The rappers Puff Puff Pass Tour will be hitting cities across the U.S. soon.

Tickets for the tour go on sale at 11am ET on Thursday.

Snoop Doggs tour will feature guest appearances from Too Short, Warren G, Bone Thugs N Harmony, B-Legit, Baby Bash and more.The Viswasam poster has been revealed, providing a first look at Ajith Kumars fourth film with director Siva  following hits Veeram, Vedhalam and Vivegam  and it has been scheduled for release just in time for Pongal 2019.

The poster for Sivas film, that will also star Nayanthara, presents the Tamil actor in two different ways: an older Ajith dressed in white with grey hair on the left and a much younger version of the star, with black hair on the right, as reported by The Indian Express.

This questions whether or not Ajith will be playing a double role in the film or whether the actor will play a character who moves to a different city. But the film is sure to be a hit because of the lead actors growing fan base.

The Viswasam poster has been revealed, providing a first look at Ajith Kumars fourth film with director Siva, scheduled to be released in 2019

Who is Ajith Kumar?

Born Ajith Kumar on May 1, 1971 in Hyderabad, India, best known as Ajith, he is an Indian actor who mainly starred in Tamil films but also had a brief foray in the motor racing world, competing in the MRF Racing series in Chennai in 2010.

According to Bollywood Life, Ajiths most famous roles were as a cancer sufferer in Pavithra, an evil twin in Vaali, a dancer in Varaluru, a conman in Mankatha and as a police officer in Yennai Arindhaal. He is married to Shalini, his Amarkalam co-star and has two children.

Starting out as a child actor and after his career as a motor car racer, he worked as a salesman in the garment export business. Although many think that his first movie was the 1993 film Amaravathi, he actually made his debut in a Telugu film in 1992, called Prema Pusthakam.

He then went on to star in Amaravathi, Paasamalargal and Rajavin Parvaiyile before Ajith was forced to opt out of Nerukku Ner, being replaced by Suriya. Next, he starred in Varalaru and Arrambam before he starred alongside Shahrukh Khan in Asoka.

Viswasam first look

Viswasam producers provided Ajith fans with the first look at a poster for the film, tweeting: We are excited to present to you #ViswasamFirstLook #Pongal2019.

Viswasam teaser

Viswasam release date

Viswasam is set for release in time for Pongal 2019 with the US date confirmed for January 2019. Pongal will begin on Tuesday, January 15 and end on Friday, January 18, next year.A whole galaxy of TOWIE stars are in Sardinia, Italy, filming for the latest series.

Yet Gemma Collins, 37, remained in the UK when she joined rumoured TOWIE newbie Saffron Lempriere in London on Thursday.

The TOWIE diva joked she was a 'Del Boy' as she playfully stood next to a yellow three-wheeled car, just like the vehicle on Only Fools and Horses.

'Del girls': Gemma Collins, 37, posed next to a yellow three-wheeled car, just like on Only Fools and Horses, with rumoured TOWIE newbie Saffron Lempriere in London on Thursday

Joining her blonde pal for the fun photo, Gemma posed with a retro-looking mobile phone and cigar as Saffron wore a tweed flat cap.

She captioned the fun snap with: 'Forever del girls [camera emoji] @saffronlempriere_x,' as she tagged former TOWIE co-star Mark Wright's little sister, Natalya.

Gemma and Saffron put on equally stylish displays when they headed out for a spot of lunch in the British capital.

Only Fools and Horses: The TOWIE diva joked she was a 'Del Boy' as she playfully stood next to a yellow three-wheeled car, just like the vehicle on Only Fools and Horses (David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst pictured on the show in 1996)

New on the scene! Gemma and Saffron put on equally stylish displays when they headed out for a spot of lunch in the British capital

Bust-ing out: Saffron was seen readjusting her daringly low-cut jumpsuit while she struggled to contain her overflowing bust during her outing

Gemma brought a colourful vibe to her ensemble when she waved her gigantic scarf covered in a map-inspired design.

GC sauntered out in pink flip flops which brought a pop of vibrant colour to her white trousers and pale blue top.

The Essex born beauty was showing the potential TOWIE newcomer the ropes when they headed out for their afternoon of filming.

Racy display! Sexily bending down as she got into the vehicle, the rumoured newbie gave onlookers a saucy look at her ample cleavage

Saffron was seen readjusting her daringly low-cut jumpsuit while she struggled to contain her overflowing bust during her outing.

Sexily bending down as she got into the vehicle, the rumoured newbie gave onlookers a saucy look at her ample cleavage.

Fresh from her getaway in Portugal's Algarve in July, the blonde bombshell showed off some serious skin and her tanned glow.

Glamorous as ever: The TOWIE diva and her blonde pal put on equally stylish displays when they headed out for a spot of lunch in the British capital

Vibrant: Gemma brought a colourful vibe to her ensemble when she waved her gigantic scarf covered in a map-inspired design

Comfortable chic: GC sauntered out in pink flip flops which brought a pop of vibrant colour to her white trousers and pale blue top

MailOnline has approached a TOWIE representative for further comment.

Saffron already has strong connections with the TOWIE cast as she is best friends with former The Only Way Is Essex star Kate Wright.

Billi Mucklows brother Sam is also expected to join the star-studded scene, with the hunk already filming scenes with cast members in Sardinia.

How it's done! The Essex born beauty was showing the potential TOWIE newcomer the ropes when they headed out for their afternoon of filming

Sizzling hot, hot, hot: Fresh from her getaway in Portugal's Algarve in July, the blonde bombshell showed off some serious skin and her tanned glowInstagram model Tammy Hembrow appeared to be in mummy mode after she made headlines for being stretchered out of Kylie Jenner's 21st party earlier this month.

The 24-year-old took to Instagram on Thursday, sharing a photograph of her playing doting mother to her two children, Saskia, two, and Wolf, three.

The blonde, clad in a black T-shirt dress, appeared to be in fine form as she posed with her youngsters.

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Mummy mode: Instagram model Tammy Hembrow (pictured) plays doting mother... after being carried out of Kylie Jenner's 21st party on a stretcher. Pictured with her two children, Saskia, two, and Wolf, three

Tammy showcased her perfectly gym-honed pins in a pair of combat boots.

Her children looked cute as a button in casual attire as they nestled in close to their famous mother.

Tammy recently returned to her hometown of Brisbane following a brief jaunt in Bali.

Causing a scene: Tammy was hospitalised in West Hollywood on Thursday 9 August, after being carried out of Kylie Jenner's birthday party face down on a stretcher

It is understood she flew to the Indonesian paradise with her children to escape the media glare, following a recent incident in Hollywood.

Tammy was hospitalised in West Hollywood while she attended Kylie Jenner's star-studded 21st birthday bash earlier this month.

She was transported from the Delilah nightclub face down in a stretcher after paramedics arrived just before midnight on Thursday 9 August.

She was loaded into the back of an ambulance as Kylie's father Caitlyn Jenner, 68, and rumoured girlfriend Sophia Hutchins, 21, looked on in horror.

Recovered? Just hours later, on Friday 10 August, she seemed to have recovered remarkably well and was enjoying a spot of shopping in upscale Beverly Hills

Just hours later, on Friday 10 August, she seemed to have recovered remarkably well and was enjoying a spot of shopping in upscale Beverly Hills.

Days later on Monday, 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'.Maya Hawke, daughter of Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke, has been cast in Quentin Tarantinos next film, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, after having starred as Jo March in the Little Women BBC adaptation and joining the cast of Stranger Things for season three.

The daughter of the Kill Bill actress will be joining a killer cast consisting of Leonardo DiCaprio, Lena Dunham, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Timothy Olyphant, Damian Lewis, Dakota Fanning, Al Pacino and Tim Roth, to name a few, who will join together to tell the story of Sharon Tates murder, according to Deadline.

This casting comes soon after Thurmans claim that Tarantino persuaded her to drive an unstable car to create the Kill Bill: Volume 2s opening sequence, which left her with lifelong injuries. The actress later defended him, but blamed producers, including Harvey Weinstein for the cover-up. But who is Maya Hawke?

Maya Hawke attends the Little Women FYC Reception And Panel Discussion in Hollywood

Who is Maya Thurman Hawke?

Born Maya Ray Thurman Hawke on July 8, 1998 in New York City, she is the oldest child of actors Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke, who met on the set of Gattaca, soon married but then divorced in 2005. She has a brother named Levon, who was born in 2002, according to IMDb. Maya is a descendant of the renowned playwright Tennessee Williams.

Mayas dyslexia forced her to move schools to Saint Anns School, a Brooklyn-based private school that focuses on creativity rather than grades, and in this environment she flourished and became interested in acting.

She attended Julliard for one year, but was forced to drop out because of her role as Jo March on the BBC adaptation of Little Women, as reported in The Sydney Morning Herald. Maya was also chosen to play the lead in The Little Mermaid, but Chloe Grace Moretz ending up taking the role.

In addition to her upcoming appearance in the third season of Stranger Things, she will also appear in the Sharon Tate film, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, directed by Quentin Tarantino.

Maya Hawke played Josephine Jo March in the BBC and PBS adaptation of Little Women

Little Women

Maya Hawke played Josephine Jo March in the BBC adaptation of Little Women, the second-eldest child of the family who is strong and confident in her attitude. While pursuing her career as a writer, Jo also asserts herself as an independent tomboy.

Speaking to the Radio Times, she said: Everybody wants to be Jo - its her independent spirit, her lack of self-consciousness; shes free, awkward and weird. I share her awkwardness; I can hardly walk like a regular person, I bump into everything and break things and spill and stumble. I also share her curiosity and fervor to learn.

My parents are actors and Im the oldest of my siblings  I have three younger sisters, and a brother whos my best friend. Were a close-knit, complicated family, but we spend a lot of time together, even though we live in different houses. Were a rambunctious gang!

I havent always known I wanted to act. I wanted to be a farmer, an English professor or an archaeologist. But playing one of the March women is very special because you rarely see such well-rounded female characters, who see their own faults, are introspective, and work hard to grow, change and be more generous and kind. They remind us that we have permission to reinvent ourselves, she said.

Stranger Things

The next star to join the Stranger Things cast is Maya Hawke, who plays Robin in the third season of the Netflix hit series. According to Elite Daily, she will join the older teenagers and her character will be working with Joe Keery, who plays Steve, in the ice cream shop.

According to Deadline: Hawkes character is described as an alternative girl who is equal parts sharp and playful. Bored with her mundane day job, she just wants a little excitement in her life and gets more than she bargained for when she uncovers a dark secret in Hawkins.

#StrangerThings Season 3 First Look: Say ahoy to Steve and Robin (played by new cast member, Maya Hawke) https://t.co/zLZM6Gzo6U pic.twitter.com/xE5Uq4uqeS  Netflix Queue (@netflixqueue) July 16, 2018

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Maya Hawke will be starring in Quentin Tarantinos Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, to be released on August 9, 2019 and appear alongside an all-star cast, retelling the story of actress Sharon Tates career and murder.They were pictured enjoying a romantic stroll around Rome last week.

And back on US soil Jennifer Lawrence and boyfriend Cooke Maroney appeared very loved up as they said their goodbyes at JFK airport in New York on Thursday.

The couple seemingly couldn't bear to part from each other as they spent a while hugging and kissing outside the arrivals terminal.

Having a moment: Jennifer Lawrence and boyfriend Cooke Maroney touched down in New York on Thursday after a romantic trip to Europe

Refreshed: The couple looked relaxed after their jaunt around Italy

Lawrence, who turned 28 last week, kept her look low-key in a some cropped jeans, a light t-shirt and navy jacket.

Her blonde locks were swept back in a low messy bun and she covered her eyes in some metallic rim sunglasses.

Maroney, 33, who stands several inches taller than Lawrence's 5ft 9in frame, wore casual grey pants and a dark blue sweater.

The couple stood embracing and kissing before it was time for the Joy actress to jump into her car.

The duo certainly looked content after their European getaway where they visited Paris as well as Rome where they were pictured enjoying a sunny outing last Thursday.

Loved up display: Cooke, who is the director of New Yorks Gladstone 64 gallery, wrapped his arms around the Oscar winner

Holiday over: The embraced as they prepared to go their separate ways after their romantic getaway

Low key look: Jennifer looked casual in a white t-shirt and navy jacket

Maroney is the director of New York's Gladstone 64 gallery, which represents many A-list clients including Lena Dunhams father, Carroll Dunham, Anish Kapoor, Richard Prince and Bjorks ex-boyfriend, Matthew Barney, according to The Cult.

The couple have been dating for several months after Lawrence's friend Laura Simpson helped set them up.

Maroney reportedly attended New York University where he studied art history.

Lawrence previously dated Mother! director Darren Aronofsky from November 2016 to October 2017.

One last kiss before I go: Lawrence, 28, went in for another kiss before the duo went their separate ways

Going strong: The couple have been dating for several months after Lawrence's friend Laura Simpson helped set them upThere is a category four hurricane headed for the Hawaiian Islands and it's about to ruin one Bravo star's vacation.

Jenni Pulos, of Flipping Out fame, was getting some R&R in Maui with her family until they had to hunker down and prepare for the impending Hurricane Lane.

The 45-year-old has been documenting her holiday on social media and posted a sad faced picture with her daughter after the pool at the Four Seasons Maui was closed due to the weather.

No swimming! Hurricane Lane shut down the pool on Thursday at the hotel where Jenni Pulos and her family were staying on holiday

Nap time: Jenni and her two young daughters catch some zzz's before Lane makes landfall in Maui this week

Before the storm: Until the weather changed, Jenni and her family were enjoying everything the island had to offer like a cold cup of shaved ice

Pulos, who's been designer Jeff Lewis' right hand since season one of Flipping Out in 2007, is traveling with her husband Jonathan Nassos and their two young daughters.

The family was able to enjoy a few days of fun in the sun before news of the hurricane derailed their plans.

It seems like the reality star and her family were taking advantage of everything Hawaii has to offer on their trip.

She posted photo's on Instagram with her family at the beach, in the pool and one with her daughter Alianna, 5, underwater in an Atlantis Submarine.

Aloha! Jenni, Alianna (5), Georgia (1) and Jonathan Nassos get some fun in the sun on vacation in Maui

Flower girl! Jenni and Alianna pose for a selfie at the Andaz resort in Maui just days before a category 4 hurricane is scheduled to make landfall in Hawaii

Luau time! The Pulos-Nassos family got decked out in iconic Hawaiian shirts and leis to enjoy a classic Maui tradition ... the luau!

20,000 leagues under the sea! Ok, more like 100 feet ... Jenni took her 5-year-old daughter for an epic submarine ride while on vacation

Flower power! Even Barbie got a Hawaiian flower crown to match the purple hued mommy and daughter versions

Unfortunately it looks like all that fun in the sun has come to an end. Hurricane Lane is touted as one of the worst weather threats to Hawaii in decades and the first major hurricane to make landfall in 26 years,according to CNN.

Authorities are advising residents to be prepared with two-weeks worth of food and supplies.

Let's hope the Four Seasons Maui is prepared for Jenni's sake. The mother of two is going to be entertaining her girls indoors at the resort for the foreseeable future.

The Bravo star already posted photo of one-year-old daughter Georgia in a high chair with a Maui driving map on her face.

Road trip: Hurricane Lane doesn't seem to be getting Jenni's toddler down ... she's ready to go sightseeing with a map of Maui

'Hurricane, shmurricane, Im going sightseeing,' she wrote on social media.

Hopefully Jenni will be back in her home state of California in time for the new season of her hit show.

Last season marked the end of an era for the cast of Flipping Out as Jeff Lewis' longtime housekeeper and fan-favorite Zoila Chavez departed the show.

Season 11 of Flipping Out premieres September 11 and will be the first one without Zoila but Jeff and Jenni will be up to their same old love/hate relationship together.

Season 11: Jeff and Jenni are back to bickering in the trailer for the new season of Flipping out that premieres September 11Support afterschool programs, support our future workforce Today, the Empire State Building shares a key characteristic with the streetlamps in downtown Flint. Theyve both swapped out their...

Proposal would make voting more difficult for many Michigan voters The right to vote was hard won. The League of Women Voters Flint Area is always working hard to educate...

Miller defends township clerks office Eight weeks ago, I was approached by concerned citizens to run as a candidate for the vacant clerk position in...Jennifer Hawkins has explained the simple reason it took her two weeks to break her silence over claims Myer 'replaced' her with Elyse Knowles over a pay dispute.

On Thursday, nearly two weeks after they first surfaced, the former Miss Universe labelled pay dispute claims 'hilarious' and categorically false.

The reports slowly escalated as both women remained silent, but Jen had a very simple explanation when speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald on Thursday.

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'There's more in life than being top dog': Jennifer Hawkins [R] revealed the real reason she remained silent amid escalating reports Myer 'replaced' her with Elyse Knowles [L] over a pay dispute

'People know what I'm like and I would never do that [allow speculation to intensify] intentionally, make drama with someone coming in,' she said.

'If anything, I would boost them up, particularly a young woman... but that's probably boring for the papers, so I get it.'

Jen then explained she didn't actively remain silent, because she was overseas in the Maldives the entire time and never even knew about the speculation.

'Hilarious': On Thursday, nearly two weeks after they first surfaced, the former Miss Universe labelled the pay dispute 'hilarious' and categorically false

The Australian supermodel said she understood how things escalated - it was just one of those things.

Jen said her decision to walk away from Myer after twelve lucrative years has left her with a mix of emotions, most of them overwhelmingly positive.

'There's more in life than being top dog and business and drama, it's how you treat people. It's been a beautiful chapter but it's the right time.'

Simple! The reports slowly escalated as both women remained silent, but Jen had a very simple explanation when speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald on Thursday

Her interview took place on the same day she broke her fortnight of unintentional silence in an interview with The Daily Telegraph.

'All that speculation is hilarious. It is definitely the right time [to leave Myer],' Jennifer told the paper.

'I feel like I have experienced and done everything I can do with Myer. It is nice to step forward into a new chapter.'

Out of sight, out of mind! Jen explained she didn't actively remain silent, because she was overseas in the Maldives the entire time and never even knew about the speculation

Jennifer took to Instagram last Thursday to make the announcement that she will retire from her rumoured $1million Myer ambassador role in November.

It came after word broke that Elyse, 25, reportedly inked a deal for $300,00 to replace her.

Coincidentally, The Block star was also in the Maldives as the reports of 'drama' escalated, likely explaining her silence on the matter too.Tekashi 6ix9ine is trying to distance himself from his controversies as he heads to court in Texas.

The rapper has reportedly filed paperwork asking that he be addressed as defendant, accused or his birth name, Daniel Hernandez, according to TMZ. Tekashi 6ix9ine fears his rap moniker may project derogatory and satirically unflattering labels on him.

Hes due to appear in court for arraignment in September.

Tekashi 6ix9ine has reportedly asked the he be referred to as 'defendant', 'accused' or Daniel Hernandez in court for an alleged choking incident in Houston, Texas

The 22-year-old has been accused of choking a 16-year-old at the Galleria Mall in Houston, Texas in January.

In addition to pending charges in the aforementioned incident, Tekashi 6ix9ine is facing up to three years behind bars for violating his plea deal. The deal stems from a child sex crime case, which he pled guilty to in 2015.

Tekashi 6ix9ine admitted to using a minor in a sexual performance, in this case a music video, and received a plea in exchange for his honesty. His sentencing was deferred for two years.

The Manhattan District Attorneys office sent a letter to Tekashi 6ix9ines counsel saying: Defendant has had over two years to demonstrate to this Court that the role he played in the sexual exploitation of a 13-year-old child was an aberration in his otherwise law-abiding life.

He has failed to do so.

Tekashi has had several run ins with the law since the child sex crimes incident.

In July he alleged that he was kidnapped and robbed by armed assailants. He then refused to cooperate with police in trying to track down the suspects.

Two months prior, in May, he was arrested for driving with a suspended license and was accused of assaulting a police officer, Page Six reported. The assault case was dropped to a misdemeanor.

Tekashi 6ix9ine before fame

Tekashi 6ix9ine was born Daniel Hernandez on May 8, 1996. The young rapper hails from Brooklyn, New York where he lives with his mother, father and brother.

The rappers father was murdered in 2009. Tekashi 6ix9ine, who was expelled from school in grade eight and never returned, worked various jobs in the hopes of helping his family out.

He rose to fame in 2017, after a photo of him went viral on Reddit and Twitter. He became a meme and hasnt left the spotlight since.

Tekashi 6ix9ine net worth

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Tekashi 6ix9ines net worth is about $4 million (3.1m). Hes made the majority of his fortune in the music industry.

Tekashi 6ix9ine Instagram

Tekashi 6ix9ines Instagram can be found at @6ix9ine. He has 11.2 million followers and keeps them all up to date on his music, the drama in his life and more.

His most recent Instagram post is him realizing an odd connection between his real name and his rap name.

You know what I just noticed? Right, so my government name is Daniel Hernandez. Like, thats my name. Daniel Hernandez. And my rap name is 6ix9ine, right? So follow me. Daniel has six letters in the name and Hernandez has nine letters in the name. So 6ix9ine, Daniel Hernandez  you get it?Classic rocker Ed King died at his home in Nashville, Tennessee on Wednesday, according to a Facebook post shared on his account. He was 68.

'It is with great sorrow we announce the passing of Ed King who died at his home in Nashville, Tennessee on August 22nd, 2018,' the post said. 'We thank his many friends and fans for their love and support of Ed during his life and career.'

While King reportedly battled lung cancer and had been hospitalized for the disease, a cause of death was not yet specified, according to Rolling Stone.

RIP: Classic rocker Ed King died at his home in Nashville, Tennessee on Wednesday, according to a Facebook post shared on his account. He was 68; seen in 1991

'We thank his many friends and fans for their love and support of Ed during his life and career,' a Facebook post said

Fellow Lynyrd Skynryd bandmate Gary Rossington released a statement saying he was 'shocked and saddened' by King's death.

'Ed was our brother, and a great songwriter and guitar player. I know he will be reunited with the rest of the boys in Rock and Roll Heaven. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.'

The California-native was a founding member of Strawberry Alarm Clock, the '60s band known for the song Incense and Peppermints, and offered to join Lynyrd Skynyrd after opening for the band at a Florida bar in 1968.

He later joined the famous group in 1972 as a temporary replacement for bassist Leon Wilkeson and ultimately became the groups third guitarist.

Rock stars: Ed joined Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1972; the group seen together in 1974

King recorded on the band's first three albums and most famously co-wrote Sweet Home Alabama, with his voice counting off the '1, 2, 3' in the intro.

The musician became uninterested in Skynyrd's growing propensity for drama, and after a fight with singer Ronnie Van Zant, quit the band in 1975.

'I'm the hippie from Southern California. I'm not digging the violence part,' King said in the documentary If I Leave Here Tomorrow: A Film About Lynyrd Skynyrd.

King was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006 as a member of Lynyrd Skynyrd.She is set to welcome her first child in a matter of weeks.

And Christine Lampard was cradling her blossoming baby bump on Thursday as she was seen leaving a relaxing pamper session in London's Notting Hill.

The 39-year-old TV presenter showed off her growing stomach in a tight striped vest and combat trousers as she enjoyed a manicure and pedicure at the beauty parlour.

Glowing: Christine Lampard was cradling her blossoming baby bump on Thursday as she was seen leaving a relaxing pamper session in London's Notting Hill

Christine was seen chatting on her phone as she headed back to her car in the capital, sporting the relaxed striped vest and grey trousers.

The mother-to-be teamed the low-key outfit with a navy blazer and brown Gucci sandals, carrying her essentials in a practical tanned fringe bag.

Flashing a beaming smile as she left the salon, Christine couldn't keep her hands off her bump as she edges closer to her September due date.

Happy: The 39-year-old Irish TV presenter went for a casual striped vest top and grey combat trousers, teamed with a simple navy blazer and fringed bag

Mother-to-be: Christine was seen leaving a salon in the capital after a relaxing manicure and pedicure session

Christine has recently been standing in for Lorraine Kelly on her self-titled talk show, but she is now just days away from starting her maternity leave as she prepares to welcome her little one.

The Northern Irish beauty is eagerly awaiting the arrival of her first child with husband Frank Lampard, who already father to daughters Luna, 13, and Isla 11.

The couple confirmed their pregnancy in May when Christine was already five months along.

Exciting: Christine is set to welcome her first child with husband Frank Lampard this September

Over the moon: The Loose Women star confirmed the news of her pregnancy in May when she was already five months along

Having been a step-mother to Frank's children, Christine has said her experience of parenting has helped her to prepare for her baby's arrival.

She said on Lorraine in July: 'I have had the girls since they were four and two and they are 13 and 11 so I have been through all the toddler years.

'The primary and secondary school bit and teenagers are around the corner, that is preparation, although the baby years is all new to me! So I'll take it day by day really, like every other new mum.'

The star continued: 'People are telling me, and I would like to think Im like that anyway, but do your best to relax into it and dont put too much pressure on yourself.

'Dont always be looking at everyone else and thinking, Its running perfectly for them, why isnt it for me? Give yourself a break. Ill take it hour by hour!'Gabby Allen and Dan Osborne have been under a lot of scrutiny since entering the Celebrity Big Brother house, after denying rumours they had an affair shortly before they joined the show.

But Rodrigo Alves, 35, has admitted that he doesn't believe that the pair are telling the truth, as he confined his suspicions with Natalie Nunn, 33.

In a clip set to air on Thursday night's instalment of the Channel 5 series, the pair discuss potential romances in the house, and he admits: 'As much as they say that theres nothing that has happened, Im pretty sure that something has happened.'

CBB SPOILER: Rodrigo Alves admits he thinks Gabby Allen and Dan Osborne DID have an affair

He then adds: 'I would hate him to damage his marriage that hes so proud of.'

The conversation began when Natalie claimed: 'I think the second Gabby does something with Dan and the UK sees, and if Im up against Gabby, then theyre going to vote her out.

'People arent going to like that, he has a wife, and she just had a baby, a seven-week old baby.'

Outside the house: While Dan and Gabby have put on quite the friendly display on the show, reports say that he has moved back into the family home with estranged wife Jacqueline Jossa

Convinced: In a clip set to air on Thursday night's episode, Rodrigo admitted: 'As much as they say that theres nothing that has happened, Im pretty sure that something has happened'

Concerned: Rodrigo and Natalie discussed the potential romances in the house, and Rodrigo continued: 'I would hate him to damage his marriage that hes so proud of'

She continued: 'His wife was devastated when she saw these pictures, I want to see these f***ing pictures and see what it looks like it,' she said, before adding: 'These people are all basically having affairs here.'

Natalie and Rodrigo's conversation comes a day after Dan finally discussed what is really going on with his estranged wife Jacqueline Jossa.

The former TOWIE star and the EastEnders actress split up but reports said Dan has since moved back into the family home a few days ahead of his CBB appearance.

Dan addressed his relationship status for the first time after he kept getting close to Gabby, with whom he has vehemently denied rumours of an affair.

Shocking: Their talk began when Natalie said: 'I think the second Gabby does something with Dan and the UK sees, and if Im up against Gabby, then theyre going to vote her out'

The reality star introduced himself as single to Natalie when they met for the first time in the Celebrity Big Brother compound.

Yet the hunk insisted he was married when Love Island's Gabby burst onto the scene, causing confusion among the stars.

Natalie fumed: 'I actually came into this house and was introduced to Dan as he's single. Then five seconds later Gabby comes running in and says he has a wife, he's married.'

Rodrigo and Natalie's conversation comes as Ben Jardine was seen to admit feelings for engaged Roxanne Pallett in scenes on Thursday's show.

Shock: Chemistry is sparking in unlikely places as housemate Ben Jardine is seen to admit feelings for engaged Roxanne Pallett in scenes on Thursday's show

In an uncomfortable confession, he stated he wished he had met her on Married At First Sight, where he met his estranged wife Stephanie, who spoke on the outside world about moving on from her extremely acrimonious split with the star.

After he made his shocking confession in the Diary Room, co-stars Rodrigo Alves and Natalie Nunn were having a covert conversation in the bedroom in which the Human Ken Doll warned she is at risk of upsetting her fiance Lee Walton.

Ben first his headlines on dating show Married At First Sight, when he married former policewoman Stephanie however they were plagued with reports of strife in their marriage and cheating claims - leading to him getting a mystery woman pregnant.

He became something of a villain on the show and on the outside world allegations have been rising that he impregnated his secret girlfriend while he was still married to heartbroken Stephanie - who confirmed this fact on social media.

Sad: In an uncomfortable confession, he stated he wished he had met her on Married At First Sight, where he met his estranged wife Stephanie, who spoke on the outside world about moving on from her extremely acrimonious split with the star

Roxanne became engaged to her fiance Lee Walton after just one week of dating. After becoming engaged, the enamoured actress described her beau as 'a Yorkshire lad on a normal wage doing a normal job'.

Unaware of his love woes on the outside, Ben seems to have started falling for Roxanne as he put on an enamoured display during a chat with Big Brother.

He said: 'My eyes brighten when I see her. First thing in the morning, bless her she's so caring there's something there...

'But how the hell do you click with each other on every single thing. Rocky, is my inspiration, my passion, my everything and she's got that tattooed on her left thigh.

'What's that about? Just imagine she'd walked up the aisle, we've got such a click, such a connection, I dunno my eyes light up when the girl walks in the room.'

Loved-up: Roxanne became engaged to her fiance Lee Walton after just one week of dating. After becoming engaged, the enamoured actress described her beau as 'a Yorkshire lad on a normal wage doing a normal job'

Shocking: Ben first his headlines on dating show Married At First Sight, when he married former policewoman Stephanie however they were plagued with reports of strife in their marriage and cheating claims - leading to him getting a mystery woman pregnant

On the outside world, Stephanie was hitting out at her former love as she wrote on social media: 'In the words of Dr Houseman; When Im wrong, I say Im wrong. When I first heard Ben was doing CBB I was devastated...

'I had only just put myself back together after all his nonsense before and I was finally happy and looking forward.

'But... the fact the aim of CBB was to get him to talk about us weighed heavily and I tried every angle I could to get Endemol/CBB to speak with me directly so I could confront them about what they were playing at and ask if they had any idea how much they were affecting my mental health and why they hadnt even had the decency to forewarn me.

Chatting away: Unaware of his love woes on the outside, Ben seems to have started falling for Roxanne as he put on an enamoured display during a chat with Big Brother

'I was desperate for Ben to be voted out and I took the launch night off work as I couldnt concentrate... But I was wrong to want him out. I was wrong to fear the press. I was wrong to be ashamed of speaking out.

'Because it all led me to a place where I have now heard from so many inspirational people that I no longer worry what dig hell make at me on the show. I no longer feel I should be ashamed I broke my silence...

'I no longer care what he does when hes out. Because Im protected by an army of warriors! He wants it so desperately and who am I to stand in his way? In a weird way Ive got him to thank for finding my feeling of empowerment.

The big day: On the outside world, Stephanie was hitting out at her former love as she wrote on social media: 'In the words of Dr Houseman; When Im wrong, I say Im wrong. When I first heard Ben was doing CBB I was devastated'

'So I wish him luck in the house! Im sharing these photos of me at my makeup trial when I was excited for the future, as I am again now. #indifference #free #warriors #crackonlove#overit #lookingforward.'

His co-star Rodrigo was discussing the situation, as he said: 'Roxanne and Ben, there's such a chemistry between them...

'She should distance herself otherwise her husband is gonna leave her. She doesnt need to be doing that. She's a lovely girl bless her. That's not cool.'Diane Kruger is definitely settling down quickly.

The Troy actress, who appears to be several months pregnant, was seen moving into her new $11.75M New York City love nest with actor beau Norman Reedus on Thursday.

The German-born star, 42, used a large black shirt to try to conceal her midsection as she has yet to reveal to her fans she is expecting her first child. This won't be his first time as a parent as Reedus already has an 18-year-old son named Mingus with supermodel Helena Christensen, 49.

It's serious: Diane Kruger showed off her baby bump as she moved into a New York love nest with Norman Reedus on Thursday

New digs: The moving van was located outside their new home and a man was seen carrying a king-sized bed

According to the Wall Street Journal, Kruger and Reedus paid $11.75 million for the four-story, 3,800 square foot Manhattan townhouse that was built in the 1800s. The deal closed in July. Norman reportedly makes over $550,000 an episode on The Walking Dead.

Diane appeared to be in move-in mode as she added black leggings with her black shirt and wore no makeup with her hair seemingly unbrushed.

Reedus appeared very scruffy with a hat over his tangled locks as he modeled facial stubble and worn-in clothing.

The two did not appear to do any moving themselves.

The Inglourious Basterds star talked to a man who appeared to be an assistant while Norman carried an iced coffee and two small bags.

She gave glam a day off: Diane appeared to be in move-in mode as she added black leggings with her black shirt and wore no makeup with her hair seemingly unbrushed

Move it now! The Inglourious Basterds star talked to a man who appeared to be an assistant

The moving van was located outside their new home and a man was seen carrying a king-sized bed up a flight of stairs to the dwelling.

There were also several boxes thrown into the garbage area.

The two have been dating for just over a year after meeting on the set of the 2015 film Sky.

They seem to have moved fast with their relationship.

Making sure all is good: The blonde, who used to date Joshua Jackson, made sure the move went smoothly

No smiles on this day: Move-in day can be stressful and this one didn't look to be easy

Norman is already a father to son Mingus whom he shares with ex-girlfriend, Christensen.

Diane was previously in a 10-year relationship with Joshua Jackson of Dawson's Creek and The Affair fame.

When it comes to her romantic relationships, Diane refrains from posting on social media.

He went out for drinks: Meanwhile, Norman carried an iced coffee and two small bags

See ya: The Walking Dead actor also was spotted descending the stairs, which looked to be marked PLEASE DON'T TOUCH!

Hanging out by the truck: He was also spied by a box of what seemed to be wine glasses

But on Monday, the beauty appeared to give a glimpse into her love life, when she shared a Bible verse on Instagram.

'Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.'

'Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.'It's been nothing but drama after drama when Jersey Shore's Ronnie Oritz-Magro and baby mama Jen Harley have been left alone to co-parent their four-month-old daughter Ariana Sky.

But in a welcomed change of peace and love, the latest trailer showcases the co-stars all meeting the bub for the first time.

Taking turns to hold and cuddle Ariana, Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi is seen tearing up over her beauty while men also showcase their softer side.

Scroll down for videos

Touched: Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi was seen tearing up when she met Jersey Shore: Family Reunion co-star Ronnie Magro's newborn daughter Ariana Sky in a promo video

While the cast are all still on their Vegas vacation, Jen wheels in the pram before she heads off prematurely to visit other family members.

'I'm really excited for everyone to meet the baby,' says Ronnie to camera.

'These are her Aunts and Uncles. She's going to be playing with their kids and grow up around them. We're going to be like one big giant dysfunctional family.'

The fam is meeting @RealRonnieMagros baby girl tomorrow night, and my heart cant even take it!  Dont miss the 2-hour season premiere of #JSFamilyVacation, starting at 8/7c on @MTV! pic.twitter.com/GBdTaL5H3I  Jersey Shore (@JerseyShore) August 23, 2018

Surprise visitor! While the cast are all still on their Vegas vacation, Jen wheels in the pram before she heads off prematurely to visit other family members

Excitement overload! 'These are her Aunts and Uncles. She's going to be playing with their kids and grow up around them. We're going to be like one big giant dysfunctional family'

Knowing how it's done, having had two kids of her own, Snooki is the first to pick up the bub from her pram.

'Oh my God, oh my God,' she says wiping the tears from her eyes.

'Oh my God, so seeing Ariana, she's gorgeous, my little nugget. I love her she's my niece. Good job Ron.'

Not her first time: Knowing how it's done, having had two kids of her own, Snooki is the first to pick up the bub from her pram

In love: 'Oh my God, so seeing Ariana, she's gorgeous, my little nugget. I love her she's my niece. Good job Ron'

Scared: 'Big daddy Sitch has never held a baby before,' he revealed freaking out a little

Having had her turn, Snooki is seen handing the baby over to Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino, who also says 'oh my God' for a different reason.

'Big daddy Sitch has never held a baby before,' he revealed freaking out a little.

And it wasn't long before the rest of the male co-stars showcased their softer sides, with Vinny Guadagnino confessing: 'That's it, I'm having a baby. I'm just melting'.

In his element: And it wasn't long before the rest of the male co-stars showcased their softer sides, with Vinny Guadagnino confessing: 'That's it, I'm having a baby. I'm just melting'

Protective Uncle Vinny: 'You're never allowed to go out. You're never allowed to have any boyfriends, you're not allowed to talk to anybody,' Vinny added

Gang's back together: Jersey Shore Family Vacation season two airs Thursday 23 at 8/7c

'You're never allowed to go out. You're never allowed to have any boyfriends, you're not allowed to talk to anybody,' Vinny added while gushing over Ariana alongside Ronnie, Mike and Paul 'DJ Pauly D' DelVecchio Jr.

Pauly D added: 'Actually, you're going to become a nun'.

The promo comes as the reality stars were spotted in New York at the Today Show to promote the series, which airs tonight.

Beating to her own drum: While Jenni 'JWoww' Farley, Deena Cortese and Angelina Pivarnick were all dressed in white, Snooki opted for a dark floral jumpsuit

Doting dad: Noticeably absent was Ronnie, after he revealed earlier in the week he would be taking sometime out from the press to focus on raising Ariana

Stylish: And that back of Snooki's ensemble was more interesting than the front - featuring a cape-like attachment with tassels hanging off the bottom

Noticeably absent was Ronnie, after he revealed earlier in the week he would be taking some time out from the press to focus on raising Ariana.

While Jenni 'JWoww' Farley, Deena Cortese and Angelina Pivarnick were all dressed in white, Snooki opted for a dark floral jumpsuit.

The 4'8" star flaunted her ample cleavage and had her brunette locks styled out into lose waves.

Flaunting her assets: Angelina also wasn't shy when it came to flaunting her ample cleavage and legs on Thursday

Nearly time! Jersey Shore Family Vacation season two airs Thursday 23 at 8/7c

Classy: JWoww was also a lady in white with her brunette locks slicked back and makeup radiant as ever

Her glam was radiant with a red lip and she protected her eyes from the flashes with a pair of sunglasses.

And that back of Snooki's ensemble was more interesting than the front - featuring a cape-like attachment with tassels hanging off the bottom.

Angelina also wasn't shy when it came to flaunting her ample cleavage and legs on Thursday.

Her sparkly number comes after she told People earlier in the week that she regrets the way she left the show early in seasons one and two.

'I just rewatched season two and there were a lot of things that I could have done differently,' she said.

JWoww was also a lady in white with her brunette locks slicked back and makeup radiant as ever.

The boys were all dressed in casual shirts and flattering trousers for the TV appearance.

Jersey Shore Family Vacation season two airs Thursday 23 at 8/7c.Tom Hardy has reportedly moved to the countryside with his pregnant wife Charlotte Riley after being 'distressed' by a female stalker.

A source told The Sun that the couple left their former home in south west London after being persistently contacted by a fan.

Tom and Charlotte were reported to be expecting their second child last month, and The Mail On Sunday reported they were looking for a new home to house their expanding brood.

Big move: Tom Hardy has reportedly moved to the countryside with his pregnant wife Charlotte Riley after being 'distressed' by a female stalker

The source said: 'Tom is living his new life in the country and has been seen dog-walking every morning.

'He feels it's the perfect place for him and Charlotte to bring up their new baby.'

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Tom Hardy for further comment.

New digs: A source told The Sun that the couple decided to move out of their London home after being persistently contacted by a female fan

The Mail On Sunday reported in July that Tom and wife Charlotte were expecting their second child.

The couple - who married in 2014 - welcomed their first child in October 2015, and it was previously reported the couple were looking to move away from their property in London.

Their new home comes after Tom revealed he's been thinking about retiring from acting since turning 40, telling Esquire he would rather go and find a 'f****ng beach.'

Thrilled: It was reported by The Mail On Sunday last month that Tom and wife Charlotte were expecting their second child

He said: 'Youve summited Everest. Its a miracle that youve made it anywhere near the f***ing mountain, let alone climbed it.

'Do you want to go all the way back and do it again? Or do you want to get off the mountain and go f***ing find a beach? What is it that draws you to the craft?

'At this age, I dont know anymore. Ive kind of had enough. If Im brutally honest, I want to go on with my life.'The ex-boyfriend of Teen Mom 2 star Jenelle Evans is heading to prison after pleading guilty to running meth lab in Pennsylvania.

Kieffer Delp was sentenced to 18 to 36 months in state prison as part of a plea deal with prosecutors in Allegheny County.

The 28-year old dated Evans on and off for several years and was featured in the first four seasons of Teen Mom 2.

Heading to prison: Kieffer Delp, who dated Jenelle Evans of Teen Mom 2, pleaded guilty to running a meth lab in McKees Rock, Pennsylvania on Wednersday

Delp was arrested at an apartment complex in McKees Rock, which is about 5 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, back in January.

'We received complaints there was a meth lab operated out of an apartment,' McKees Rock Police Department Chief Richard Deliman previously told Radar about the arrest.

'We obtained a search warrant and when we went to serve the warrant, Kieffer was there. There was a strong chemical smell. We saw the materials used in making meth.'

Tough times: Kelp, 28, was sentenced to 18 to 36 months in state prison after copping a plea with prosecutors following his January arrest

Rocky relationship: Jenelle and Kieffer dated on and off for years; Delp was featured in the first four seasons of Teen Mom 2

The Allegheny County District Attorney's office said Delp's deal with prosecutors included pleading guilty to operating a meth lab, possession with the intent to deliver and risking a catastrophe.

The time he has already served since his January arrest will count towards his sentence.

This isn't Delp's first run-in with the law. According to Us, he has been arrested multiple times for various drug charges, including one incident with Evans in 2010. The then-couple were arrested for breaking and entering and drug possession in North Carolina. The charges were eventually dropped.

Delp most recently appeared on Evans' special Teen Mom 2: The Ex Files that aired in December of 2017.

'Out of all my exes, I think the sweetest was Kieffer,' Jenelle said during the episode as reported by The Ashley's Reality Roundup.

'I remember having good times with her,' Kieffer said of Jenelle. 'But I remember having more bad times.'

Evans has since moved on from their rocky relationship and married fellow Teen Mom 2 star David Eason last September.

Back to the future: Delp most recently appeared on Teen Mom 2: The Ex Files that aired in December 2017He has one of the busiest schedules in show business.

And Ryan Seacrest decided to take a well-deserved break from his hectic routine as he enjoyed a romantic getaway with his girlfriend, Shayna Taylor, in Portofino, Italy, on Thursday.

The former Keeping Up With The Kardashians executive producer, 43, couldn't resist packing on the PDA with the model, 26, as they walked hand-in-hand and shared a sweet kiss during the idyllic boat ride.

Smitten: Ryan Seacrest decided to take a well-deserved break from his hectic routine as he enjoyed a romantic getaway with his girlfriend, Shayna Taylor, in Portofino, Italy, on Thursday

Ryan looked handsome in an unbuttoned light blue linen shirt, which he teamed with navy coloured shorts.

The American Idol host teamed the ensemble with a silver pendant necklace, black loafers and a pair of stylish sunglasses.

Meanwhile, his girlfriend, Shayna, showed off her toned figure in a pair of tiny denim shorts with white flowers on them.

Sweet: The former Keeping Up With The Kardashians executive producer, 43, couldn't resist packing on the PDA with the model, 26, as they shared a sweet kiss during the idyllic boat ride

Dapper: Ryan looked handsome in an unbuttoned light blue linen shirt, which he teamed with navy coloured shorts

Stylish: Meanwhile, his girlfriend, Shayna, showed off her toned figure in a pair of tiny denim shorts with white flowers on them

She teamed the item of clothing with a white plunging crop top and a pair of brown slider sandals.

Shayna accessorised her look with a collection of necklaces, bracelets and rings, as well as black sunglasses.

The model styled her honey blonde locks into a sleek low-down bun as she added a slick of make-up.

Ryan and Shayna appeared loved-up as they walked to the boat with a shopping bag.

Romantic: They couldn't resist cuddling up and kissing on the boat ride as they took in the stunning views of Portofino

Stylish: Later on in the day, the couple made a wardrobe change as they arrived in Saint-Tropez, France

Chic: Shayna wore a plunging grey and white striped maxi dress, which tied in at the waist, with a stylish white rucksack

They couldn't resist cuddling up and kissing on the boat ride as they took in the stunning views of Portofino.

Later on in the day, the couple made a wardrobe change as they arrived in Saint-Tropez, France.

Shayna wore a plunging grey and white striped maxi dress, which tied in at the waist, with a stylish white rucksack.

She styled her blonde locks into a relaxed half-back hairdo, as she added a slick of make-up.

Elegant: She styled her blonde locks into a relaxed half-back hairdo, as she added a slick of make-up

Handsome: Meanwhile, Ryan wore a pair of white chinos which he teamed with a navy blue t-shirt and matching coloured loafers

Meanwhile, Ryan wore a pair of white chinos which he teamed with a navy blue t-shirt and matching coloured loafers.

Only recently, Ryan jokingly admitted that he once found himself in Shayna's blouse during a date night.

Talking on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon earlier this month, the American Idol host revealed that his girlfriend called him out for mistakenly putting on her shirt.

The hilarious mishap was revealed as Ryan opened up about his hectic schedule of traveling back and forth between coasts for work.

Sweethearts: Ryan and Shayna rekindled their love in early 2017 after dating for a few years before taking a bit of a break

Ryan and Shayna rekindled their love in early 2017 after dating for a few years before taking a bit of a break.

They now live together in New York, but have no plans for marriage, Ryan recently told his Live With Kelly And Ryan co-host Kelly Ripa last year.

It was recently reported that Seacrest makes a cool $10million for his hosting gig with the recently revived (and renewed) American Idol.

As soon as the talent show ends on Sunday nights, the couple hops on a private jet to be back in NYC on Monday for his KIIS-FM morning radio show, On Air With Ryan Seacrest, and ABC's Live With Kelly And Ripa.She's getting ready to give birth to her third child, a daughter, any day now.

And Kate Hudson's, 39, bump has sure come a long was since her photoshoot for her new collaboration with New York & Company in May.

The denim company's new brand ambassador and soon-to-be fashion designer was seen covering up her then tiny stomach as she posed with a string of classic cars.

Where's the bump? Kate Hudson hides her baby bump as she becomes new ambassador for fashion brand New York & Company

One shot saw Kate stun in a denim on denim ensemble while leaning back on a vintage pink convertible.

She styled her look with red pumps and wore a blonde wig for the shoot.

Her makeup was kept luminous and radiant and she had a large smile on her dial.

New designer! According to CEO Greg Scott, Kate is set to create her own ready-to-wear fashion line launching in Spring 2019

So many styles: Her look was completed her tanned colored heeled booties and a plaid blazer over the top

A different look saw Kate take off her heels and add a burgundy beret.

The Almost Famous actress stared down the camera lens and brought one knee up across her body to shield her bump.

She was also seen changing up her style with a funky blouse and distressed denim skirt.

Meant to be: 'It has always been important for me to partner with companies that share my values and creative vision,' she said in a press release

Her look was completed her tanned colored heeled booties and a plaid blazer over the top.

According to CEO Greg Scott, the daughter of Goldie Hawn is set to create her own ready-to-wear fashion line launching in Spring 2019.

'It has always been important for me to partner with companies that share my values and creative vision,' she said in a press release.

Doing it together: Taking to Instagram on Thursday, the beauty gave her 9 million fans a bump update while pressing her stomach against her also pregnant best friend Angi Greene's

Bumping along nicely! Kate, who's expecting with her long-term boyfriend Danny Fujikawa, also shared a photo next to her best friend earlier in their synced pregnancy

'I Iove the quality of materials and fabrics New York + Company uses. Their size ranges and affordable price points, along with their commitment to empowering women through fashion makes New York + Company an ideal partner for me to launch my new collection.'

And although there's still some time before Spring 2019 comes around, Kate will spend the next few months soaking in motherhood with her new daughter.

Taking to Instagram on Thursday, the beauty gave her 9 million fans a bump update while pressing her stomach against her also pregnant best friend Angi Greene's.

Baby on the way This will be the blonde beauty's third child, and first for her longtime friend turned lover

'We growing humans,' she captioned adding the hashtags: '#BothNumberThree #BothFirstGirls #14YearsOfFriendship #AlmostThere'.

Kate, who's expecting with her long-term boyfriend Danny Fujikawa, also shared a photo next to her best friend earlier in their synced pregnancy.

This will be the blonde beauty's third child, and first for her longtime friend turned lover.

The LA native is also mom to sons Ryder, 14, with ex-husband Chris Robinson and Bingham, seven, with ex-boyfriend Matt Bellamy.On Tuesday, she revealed her upcoming online business venture, Truly with an off-the-shoulder snap via her Instagram.

And Holly Willoughby shared a behind-the-scenes glimpse of her photoshoot by the beach, where she posed with her team in Portugal on Thursday.

The This Morning presenter, 37, was in high spirits as she took the fun boomerang clip with her gal pals, and the short video saw her beam as one of them took her Fedora off her head.

High spirits: Holly Willoughby shared a fun behind-the-scenes clip from her Truly brand photoshoot with her 'glam squad' on Thursday

Tagging her team and calling them the 'glam squad', it was clear that Holly was exhilirated to be working with her stylist, make-up artist and hairdresser, and her sister Kelly.

Holly posed up a storm earlier this week for Truly's promotional photo, as she sat on the beach showcasing plenty of shoulder in a white knitted jumper.

In keeping with the brand's big Autumn reveal, the television host turned her face away from the camera as she showed off her platinum blonde bob.

Excited: The This Morning presenter was in high spirits as she took the snap with her gal pals, and the short video saw her beam as one of them took her Fedora off her head

Latest project: On Tuesday, she revealed her upcoming online business venture Truly with an off-the-shoulder snap via her Instagram

Holly captioned the post: 'Couldn't wait to share this with you...I've just finished shooting the Truly range in the most beautiful location with the most wonderful team. Everything is coming to you really soon.'

The lucrative project, launching in the autumn, is tipped to double Holly's fortune, which already stands at 10 million.

The new project closely mimics Goop, the website set up by Gwyneth in 2008.

Competition: Holly has set her sights on stealing Gwyneth Paltrow's crown as an online lifestyle guru with the new brand

Making her moneys: The lucrative project, launching in the autumn, is tipped to double Holly's fortune, which already stands at 10 million

Goop also has six lifestyle 'pillars' wellness, travel, food, beauty, style and work.

In addition, the Oscar-winning Hollywood actress sells her own skincare products alongside fragrances, vitamins and a fashion range.

A friend of mother-of-three Holly previously said: 'This is a big deal for Holly. She is creating a lifestyle site  a one-stop shop for all you need to lead a good life.'

On the website, which is monochrome, she posted the message: 'Truly is a new lifestyle brand for you that launches later this year.

Rivals: The new project closely mimics Goop, the website set up by Gwyneth Paltrow in 2008

It's about beautiful things that are the highest quality, surprisingly affordable and designed to make your life easier.'

Asides from her new project, Holly is reportedly the firm favourite to replace Ant McPartlin on I'm A Celebrity this year.

The presenter is said to be adored by ITV bosses, who are yet to find a replacement for Ant, 42, after he released a statement on Thursday revealing he would not be returning to TV until 2019.

According to The Mirror, there have been no official talks about Ant's replacement, but Holly is looking likely to be the main contender.

An insider told the publication: 'Holly is very close friends with Ant and Dec and both she and Phil have been backing Ant since his troubles.

'Ant and Dec both love her and I am sure they'd be thrilled if she got the job'.Noah Centineo reached a major social media milestone.

The To All the Boys Ive Loved Before actor gained one million followers in just one day. He opened up to W Magazine about his growing social media presence, telling the outlet he hopes to use it for good.

Im currently strategizing the best way for me to leverage my platform, my growing platform, my friends platforms, to help fight a various group of social injustices, he said.

Noah Centineo now has more than 2 million Instagram followers and counting, but the 22-year-old knows theres more to life than follower counts

Currently, Im not really able to discuss it because its still in the developing process.

Although hes now got more than two million Instagram followers and counting, the 22-year-old knows theres more to life than follower counts.

He said: It hasnt really affected me yet. Whatever the numbers are, its just a device, you know? Its not like all of a sudden, I have 2.4 million people with me all the time. Nothings really changed in my day to day.

In fact, Noah makes it a habit to unplug on the regular, so dont expect dozens of updates a day from this young actor.

Asked how he feels about going without his phone, Noah told W: I love it! Like, at the gym I dont touch my phone. When I got on a hike, I leave my phone in the car. If Im eating, Ill leave my phone places and dont touch it for a few hours, daily. Its super important! Meditate.

Want to know more about Hollywoods latest heartthrob, Noah Centineo? Heres the scoop.

Who is Noah Centineo?

Noah Centineo was born on May 9, 1996 in Miami, Florida. Hes a young actor, known best for his appearances in The Fosters, How to Build a Better Boy and To All the Boys Ive Loved Before.

Hes also had small roles in Disney Channels Austin & Ally and Shake It Up.

Noah is due to appear in another upcoming Netflix film called Sierra Burgess is a Loser. The films set to come out in September. Hes also starring in The Stand-In.

Noah Centineo girlfriend

Noah Centineo, dubbed the internets boyfriend, said in a recent Instagram Live video that hes single. Unfortunately, he added: Im not really looking for anything though.

Im very happy being single. Very happy on my own, doing that whole thing. Sometimes youve just gotta be by yourself.

He was previously linked to Angeline Appel, whos now dating Peyton Meyer.

Noah Centineo and Camila Cabello

In addition to being a film actor, Noah Centineo has appeared in music videos. Earlier this week it was revealed that Noah appeared in Camila Cabellos Havana music video.

Asked about the role, Noah told Vulture: My manager calls me one day, like, Hey man, weve got this opportunity for you to be in a music video. I dont know if youre going to want to do it

Im like, Well, who is the artist? He said Camila Cabello, Havana. I was like, Dude, you dont even know. My sister just showed me this song like a week ago, I love this song, I am in 100 per cent.

Noah can be seen in the video dancing with Camila before kissing her in an alleyway.

Cast of To All the Boys Ive Loved Before

To All the Boys Ive Loved Before is a Netflix teen romance film starring Noah Centineo as Peter Kavinsky; Lana Condor as Lara Jean; Janel Parris as Margot; Anna Cathcart as Kitty; Andrew Bachelor as Greg; Trezzo Mahoro as Lucas; Madeline Arthur as Chris; Emilija Baranac as Gen and more.

The film is about a teen girls secret love letters being exposed, causing chaos in her love life. Its currently streaming on Netflix.Lane Garrison, best known for his role on Prison Break, is a proud new daddy.

The 38-year old announced on social media that he and fiancee Mary Kaitlin welcomed their first child, a beautiful baby girl named Linden Rose Garrison, on July 28.

'Linden Rose decided to come 4 weeks early and is here!' Garrison wrote along with a photo of mama and baby shortly after the birth. 'I have never felt so much love in my life and @marykaitlin0614 was a warrior. Both momma and baby are doing great. #blessed #fatherhood'

Proud parents: Lane Garrison and fiancee Mary Kaitlin welcomed a baby girl July 28

Welcome to the world: 'Linden Rose Garrison 7/28/18 at 12:46 pm 5 lbs 4 oz mommy and daddy couldn't love you more,' Kaitlin wrote along with a Instagram photo

Kaitlin also took to Instagram and shared the adorable pic of her cuddling her bundle of joy.

'Linden Rose Garrison 7/28/18 at 12:46 pm 5 lbs 4 oz mommy and daddy couldn't love you more,' she wrote in the caption.

In another photo she wrote, 'This little face, I'm literally obsessed with our beautiful girl. @thelanegarrison'

The happy couple have since shared several more pictures of baby Linden Rose, as well as a video montage.

'What a beautiful ride the last 3 weeks have been. @marykaitlin0614,' Garrison wrote in the caption.

And then there was three: Linden Rose is the first child for the happy couple

Daddy's girl: The 38 year old actor shared this picture with a one word caption: '#perfection'

What's in the name? 'We chose Linden Rose for multiple reasons. For one, most everyone on my side of the family is an LG,' the Prison Break alum revealed to People

'Every day with this bundle of light, melts our hearts and it truly is a dream come true for the both of us,' Garrison told People exclusively.

The actor, who is also known for starring alongside Kristen Stewart in the 2014 film Camp X-Ray, also revealed what inspired their daughter's name.

'We chose Linden Rose for multiple reasons,' he said. 'For one, most everyone on my side of the family is an LG. My mother was Lisa, my father Lee and of course, Im Lane, he explained. We thought Linden was original and unique and Rose her middle name was for Mary Kaitlins great-grandmother. So really the influence was all about our families.'

Garrison and Kaitlin were engaged on the Fourth of July. So far there's been no official word on when they will tie-the-knot.She always manages to look effortlessly chic.

So it was no surprise to see Elizabeth Hurley was a vision of beauty as she headed out in London on Thursday after her holiday in Greece.

Boasting a fresh tan and bearing a dazzling smile, the 53-year-old model turned heads as she ran errands.

Chic: She always manages to look effortlessly chic. So it was no surprise to see Elizabeth Hurley was a vision of beauty as she headed out in London on Thursday

Highlighting her sensational figure, the mother-of-one opted for a printed purple shirt with a low-cut neckline and blouson sleeves.

She teamed the garment with super-skinny jeans that clung to her toned pins, whilst she boosted her frame with a pair of nude heeled sandals.

The brunette beauty finished off the look with a pair of purple-tinted sunglasses whilst she toted an oversized tan handbag.

Dazzling: Highlighting her sensational figure, the mother-of-one opted for a printed purple shirt with a low-cut neckline and blouson sleeves

Elizabeth's outing in London came after her recent holiday in Greece, where she caused controversy by sharing a video of herself swimming topless on Wednesday.

She previously revealed her teenage son takes several of her saucy bikini snaps. So fans were wondering who was behind her raunchy clip as she slipped off her bikini top to perform the breaststroke in the swimming pool.

She then flipped around and jumped out of the water, cupping her assets just in time to conceal her bare breasts.

Taking the plunge: Elizabeth's outing in London came after her recent holiday in Greece, where she caused controversy by sharing a video of herself swimming topless on Wednesday

She captioned the clip: 'Attempting to swim off the calories #holiday #greece @elizabethhurleybeach'.

Yet fans were left baffled by who had filmed the clip, posting: 'Gorgeous. But I do do hope thats not your son having to film that. #therapy'; 'Does your son watch you swin topless?

'Hopefully someone else other than your son took this video...'; 'Your son is slowly becoming a great photographer and video director'; 'Did her son shoot this also'; 'Who is filming you all the time your son?'

Baring all: Taking to Instagram, the 53-year-old actress risked baring all as she slipped off her bikini top to perform the breaststroke in the swimming pool

Elizabeth previously dismissed claims that her only son, 16, was 'embarrassed' by his mother and 'wanted her to cover up a bit more.'

She told Stella Magazine: 'Absolute rubbish! He choose clothes for me, he's my stylist.'

The beauty added that Damien was keen to photograph her, saying: 'My son happens to be a very good photographer.'

Risque: In the video, Elizabeth then flipped around and jumped out of the water, cupping her assets just in time to conceal her bare breasts

Who did it? Fans were left baffled by who had filmed the clip, asking if her son Damian was behind the camera

Elizabeth previously spoke about Damian's eye for photography, revealing she uses his talents to be her very own swimwear snapper.

The bikini designer told The Sun: '[Damian] definitely takes some, but I do have other friends that I can torture for some too.'

She went on to explain on Watch What Happens Live: 'When were on holiday together, sure hell take some pictures. And you know, hes got a really good eye and hes studying photography and its ridiculous.'

Burning calories: Elizabeth captioned the clip 'Attempting to swim off the calories #holiday #greece @elizabethhurleybeach'

However, the teenager was reportedly embarrassed after getting teased by his friends.

A source previously told Heat magazine: 'Damian's starting to get a lot of ribbing from friends.

'He's at the age where everything his mum does is embarrassing, and he just can't understand why she can't cover up a bit more.

'But Liz is extremely proud of her youthful looks and she told him there's nothing wrong with a woman her age being sexy.'Molly Sims has taken an 'awesome' summer vacation.

And the Vegas actress appears to be enjoying her time away from Los Angeles as she was seen dancing on a yacht with her friends on Thursday.

The 45-year-old beauty also looked half her age in a tiny string bikini. The former model was seen holding a cup of rose wine as she captioned the image, 'Momma might still have it.'

Still a hot thing: Molly Sims has taken an extended vacation in Italy this summer. And the Vegas actress appears to be enjoying her time in the European country as she was seen dancing on a yacht with her friends on Thursday

She looks 25, not 45: The beauty also looked half her age in a tiny string bikini

Rock out: The former model was seen holding a cup of rose wine as she captioned the image, 'Momma might still have it'

The swimsuit was very stylist with a black-and-white check print and ruffles in the front.

The briefs tied on the bottom, looking very flirty.

And the Old Navy model added aviator sunglasses while appearing to have no or little makeup on.

The star has been on the trip with her husband, movie producer Scott Stuber who has worked with Jennifer Aniston on several films and whose next project is with Sandra Bullock.

You glow, girl: The swimsuit was very stylist with a black-and-white check print and ruffles in the front. The briefs tied on the bottom, looking very flirty

No paint needed: And the Old Navy model added aviator sunglasses while appearing to have no or little makeup on

Dance again: The star has been on the trip with her husband, movie producer Scott Stuber who has worked with Jennifer Aniston on several films and whose next project is with Sandra Bullock

Going for it: The TV star seen here on a diving board before going into the sea

Girl bonding time: The cover girl said she was having 'the best time ever' as she posed with actress Ali Larter

Molly has been sharing photos from her trip, even modeling clothes.

On Wednesday she shared an image of herself on the beach in a red dress. 'Girly, flirty & thriving! I picked out some of my favorite printed, wrap and feminine dresses that every woman needs! Plus, Im sharing how to style them for any occasion today on mollysims.com,' she captioned the image.'

In the post before that she posed in her pajamas while on the back of a yacht.

She said, 'This view, cup of coffee, morning office and piece of quiet makes me feel pretty awesome!'

She also plugged a charity: 'For every post using #TheAwesomeChallenge @RocketsofAwesome will donate back-to-school clothing to a @Baby2Baby child in need.'She's gearing up to tie the knot later this year.

And Rhian Sugden looked smitten with fiance Oliver Mellor as they headed to the Spice Girls exhibition at The G Mex in Manchester on Thursday.

Hand-in-hand as they headed to the show, the pair seemed incredibly loved-up on the outing.

Cute couple: Rhian Sugden looked smitten with fiance Oliver Mellor as they headed to the Spice Girls exhibition at The G Mex in Manchester on Thursday

Showing her support for the Spice Girls, Rhian donned a zig a zig ah T-shirt, in reference to their hit song, Wannabe.

She teamed the garment with a pair of skinny black jeans, and swapped her typical heels for a pair of black canvas shoes.

Rhian finished off the look with a denim jacket, whilst she wore her glossy golden locks in loose waves that framed her pretty features.

Cosy couple: Hand-in-hand as they headed to the show, the pair seemed incredibly loved-up on the outing

Rhian and former Coronation Street actor Oliver are due to tie the knot later this year, after he proposed at a sold-out Manchester theatre in 2014.

Speaking at the time about the proposal, she told The Sun: 'I started blubbing like a baby.

'Hes definitely the one for me, even if he did get a ring the size of a hula hoop.'

Spice up your wardrobe! Showing her support for the Spice Girls, Rhian donned a zig a zig ah T-shirt, in reference to their hit song, Wannabe

Before she met Oliver, Rhian was involved in a scandal with Vernon Kay, with the starlet first coming to the forefront when she went public with several racy messages sent by the married TV presenter in 2010.

The 43-year-old was famously forced to make an apology to his wife Tess Daly on BBC Radio 1 following the sexting scandal.

Vernon went on to promise live on air that he would no longer contact Rhian or the four other women he had been caught messaging at the time.

Leggy lady! She teamed the slogan T-shirt with a pair of skinny black jeans, and swapped her typical heels for a pair of black canvas shoes

It was then revealed the pair had got back in touch in 2015, with Vernon sending hundreds of texts asking to 'reconnect' with the model.

After a break of six years, the busty blonde admitted that it felt like an 'old friendship coming back'.

The blonde beauty recently claimed however that she had been treated as 'the villain' in the light of the sexting scandal, while the radio host has had a career boost.He's known for being one of Hollywood's ultimate hardmen.

Yet Dolph Lundgren showed off his softer side as he hugged daughter Ida at the Bergman International Theatre Festival in Stockholm on Thursday.

Looking every inch the doting father, the 60-year-old actor seemed in excellent spirits on the night as they posed together on the red carpet.

Doting daddy: t Dolph Lundgren showed off his softer side as he hugged daughter Ida at the Bergman International Theatre Festival in Stockholm on Thursday

Ida, 22, was a vision of beauty for the event, looking chic in a lace trimmed black top that she teamed with oversized grey striped trousers.

The pretty blonde slung a leather jacket over her arm and toted a small bejewelled clutch bag, whilst her golden locks framed her stunning features.

Meanwhile, Dolph looked as dapper as ever in a navy suit teamed with a crisp blue shirt that she wore unbuttoned to give a glimpse at her muscular chest.

Blonde bombshell: Ida, 22, was a vision of beauty for the event, looking chic in a lace trimmed black top that she teamed with oversized grey striped trousers

Dolph shares daughters Ida and Greta, 16, with ex-wife Anette Qviberg, who he split with in 2011 after 17 years of marriage

He is currently dating girlfriend Jenny Sandersson, with the pair recently moving into a lavish West Hollywood mansion together.

However, the actor's most famous relationship was with avant-garde model and performer Grace Jones, whom he struck up a romance after working as her bodyguard in the early eighties.

It was the Jamaican-American actress who convinced Dolph - who moved to Boston after landing a Fulbright scholarship to MIT - to leave the university and move to New York City to be with her and begin acting, with the star later carving a successful career in action movies.

His breakthrough came in 1985 when he starred alongside Sylvester Stallone in successful franchise Rocky IV as the imposing Soviet boxer Ivan Drago.

Despite his reputation as a hard man, Dolph previously said that he is in touch with his softer side, telling The Guardian: 'I cry a lot. It makes me feel good. I had a bit of a cry this morning, in fact. It was the feeling of loss and not being around my family that set me off.'

The actor - who was educated as a chemical engineer - also said he is more intellectual than some give him credit for, adding: 'I am a beefcake in some ways: I like to work out and I'm fairly simple, but I'm also analytical, contemplative and sensitive  people don't see that.'Australian world no.24 Daria Gavrilova has battled back from a second-set match point before going down in a tough loss at the Connecticut Open.

In a stern test ahead of next week's US Open, Gavrilova fell to 25th-ranked Aryna Sabalenka 6-3 6-7 (6-8) 7-5 in a seesawing second-round clash at the New Haven WTA event on Wednesday.

The ninth-seeded Gavrilova recovered after facing a second-set match point and was 0-4 down in the third before drawing level at 4-all, but dropped serve for a ninth time to ruin her chances of a great comeback win.The government has moved to officially rubber stamp Australia's commitment to the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact.

Trade Minister Steve Ciobo introduced the bill to the lower house on Thursday, saying it would give Australian businesses the opportunity to link with 500 million consumers and a long-term competitive advantage over countries outside of the agreement.

The TPP-11 agreement is between Australia, Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Brunei, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, Peru and Chile, with the US pulling out of the deal when Donald Trump became president.Victoria's Court of Appeal has knocked back a bid to increase the jail term of a Victorian Rebels bikie who shot his girlfriend dead with what he thought was an unloaded gun.

Brandon Osborn was last year jailed for more than nine years after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of Karen Belej during an argument at the couple's home near Mildura.

Prosecutors argued the sentence was too short and while two-out-of-three Court of Appeal justices on Thursday conceded the sentence was "somewhat lenient", they said it was not "manifestly inadequate".

Osborn was initially charged with murder but insisted he did not know there was a round in the gun's chamber when he pulled the trigger.

At the time, Osborn was a patched member of the Rebels Outlaw Motorcycle Club, Mildura chapter.

On the day of her killing, Ms Belej and Osborn argued briefly before Obsorn entered the kitchen, loaded one round in the gun and asked Ms Belej: "Will this make you happy?"

He checked the chamber and put the gun to his own head before pulling the trigger.

He then cocked the hammer and aimed the gun at her forehead, checked the chamber again and pulled the trigger, firing the fatal shot.

Osborn was jailed in September for nine years and two months, with a non-parole period of six years, which the Director of Public Prosecutions argued was inadequate.

In a Court of Appeal ruling on Thursday, Justices David Beach and Mark Weinberg said "they are not the sentences that we, ourselves, may have imposed".

"That said, they do not, in our view, meet the high threshold of being manifestly inadequate."

However, Justice Stephen McLeish would have increased Osborn's jail time to 12 years, with a non-parole period of eight years.Peter Dutton has never been so popular on social media - and we're not talking about Australia's likely new prime minister.

A 30-year-old African American who shares the same name as the former home affairs minister has been inundated with messages - both supportive and hateful - on Twitter since the leadership move against Malcolm Turnbull began.

"I wish the people of Australia would look at my profile and realize I'm a 30 yr old black man before sending me tweets and DMs," @PeterDutton5 posted on Thursday morning.

Mr Dutton from Austin, Texas, was subsequently inundated with support from Australians.

"You'd get my vote! Just watch your citizenship when you get elected ... that's a whole different drama. #vote1dutton," one person tweeted.

"Make this guy our next prime minister!" another posted.

The 30-year-old told AAP he was "enjoying" his new-found fame and that Australians had been "more than pleasant" after they realised he wasn't running for the Liberal leadership.

"Pretty sure my last tweet has made me the leading candidate for PM of Australia," he wrote.

"Packing my bags!"A Melbourne restaurant operator has been fined $31,320 for underpaying more than two dozen workers at its three eateries.

The Fair Work Ombudsman successfully took Meatball and Wine Bar Pty Ltd to court for underpaying 26 workers, including 11 visa holders, a total of $14,149 between July 4 and October 2 in 2016.

The workers, all but four aged in their 20s, were employed at the restaurants in Richmond, Collingwood and the CBD.

The wait staff or kitchen hands were paid flat hourly rates between $17.31 and $21.69, before the underpayments were rectified in June last year.

The Federal Circuit Court imposed the fine on Tuesday after the company admitted the underpayments.A man has been arrested after allegedly illegally disposing of 17,000 tonnes of asbestos but enforcement agencies have no idea where the potentially deadly waste has been dumped.

NSW Police late last week arrested a 48-year-old waste disposal company director at Sydney Airport as he tried to flee the country.

They allege his company removed approximately 600 truckloads of asbestos-contaminated building waste from the Green Square redevelopment from mid-2016.

The subcontractor for the City of Sydney project initially provided documents showing it had correctly disposed of the asbestos but anomalies were uncovered after almost a year of work, NSW Police say.

Specialist police squads on Thursday raided four properties connected to the director and his business including a rural property at Kemps Creek in Sydney's west.

AAP understands some suspected waste was found at the property which will be subjected to testing.

However, it accounts for only a fraction of the 17,000 tonnes of potentially cancer-causing waste, AAP believes.

Police and the NSW Environment Protection Authority are unable to say if people have been exposed to any waste and are urging anyone with information to come forward.

The man will face court on Friday charged with multiple serious fraud offences.An unvaccinated baby has contracted measles after arriving in Sydney, prompting pleas from the health department for people to get the jab.

The infant, which was travelling from South East Asia, came down with the potentially deadly infection last week shortly after arriving in Sydney.

The child visited major tourist attractions including Circular Quay, Taronga Zoo and Chinatown as well as Canberra, Jindabyne and Perisher between August 17 and 19.

NSW Health's communicable diseases director Vicky Sheppeard urged people to ensure they were fully vaccinated and be wary of symptoms if they visited the same places as the infected child.

"The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is safe and highly effective protection against measles, and is available for free for those aged one to 52 from your GP," she said in a statement on Thursday.

"If you are unsure whether you have had two doses, it is quite safe to have another dose."

More than 94 per cent of five year olds in NSW are vaccinated, the highest levels ever, NSW Health said.

But the disease is highly contagious and spreads through the air when infected people sneeze or cough.

"Vaccination is your best protection against this extremely contagious disease," Dr Sheppeard said.A man on bail has been charged after allegedly kidnapping a person he knew and forcing him to hand over a car at a factory in Melbourne's northeast.

The victim was taken from a Wantirna home after midnight on Thursday to a smash repairs factory in Lilydale, where police say the offenders demanded he give them a car under repair.

A Yarra Junction man has been charged with kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, common law assault and commit offence whilst on bail.

Police say the man has been remanded in custody to appear at a Melbourne court on Friday.

The investigation is still ongoing but those involved are believed to be known to each other, police say.Today's birthday: Celebrated Australian author David Ireland (1927 - )

Australian author David Ireland scored the best apprenticeship for his future career - a variety of jobs, a variety of homes and work amongst a variety of people.

The future three-time Miles Franklin Award winner was reportedly born on a kitchen table on August 24, 1927 in Lakemba in southwest Sydney.

He tried his hand as a greenskeeper, a factory hand and as a worker in an oil refinery. It was these roles - and a childhood in working class Lakemba - that went on to shape his writing, which portrayed the lives of Australia's working class males.

Ireland's first forays into the world of literature were poetry and drama offerings - but he found his feet as a novelist in 1968.

The year saw him burst onto the literary scene with his debut novel The Chantic Bird.

Other novels followed, including The Unknown Industrial Prisoner (1971), The Glass Canoe (1976), A Woman of the Future (1979) and Archimedes and the Seagle (1984).

Archimedes and the Seagle earned Ireland the Australian Literature Society Gold Medal - but it wasn't his first round of recognition - having already won the Miles Franklin Award three times in 1971, 1976 and 1979.

Ireland is only one of four Australian writers to have won the award more than twice.

The veteran author was also made a member of the Order of Australia in 1981.

But after publishing The Chosen in 1997, Ireland disappeared from the writing scene for almost two decades. It was an absence many attribute to the diminishing popularity of his subject matter - with working class males no longer a celebrated topic.

But Ireland returned, at the age of 88 with a bang, delivering The World Repair Video Game in 2016. It's a philosophical tale about a self-exiled son of a rich family who retreats to a small town where he regenerates a coastal property, murders drifters and uses their bodies as fertiliser.

The Australian once counted Ireland as one of the "most consequential Australian literary figures of the 1970s and 80s".

Ireland turns 91 today.Australian schools who send students to volunteer at overseas orphanages will want to think twice about fuelling the demand for orphans thanks to a new curriculum toolkit.

Aid agency Save the Children Australia and school adventure travel provider World Challenge will launch a suite of resources on Thursday to help teachers educate students about the harms of orphanage tourism.

The toolkit, to be unveiled at the one-day orphanage tourism conference in Melbourne, includes a self-assessment tool for schools to ensure they aren't doing more harm than good by sending students overseas to take part in charitable acts.

"We know children around the world are being exploited and removed from their families to fuel the rising demand for orphanage tourism and we need to do everything we can to protect these children," Save the Children child protection advocate Karen Flanagan said.

"One of the best ways to do this is by raising awareness and reducing this demand.

"Most of the students and schools involved with orphanage tourism are well-meaning and that is why we need a comprehensive approach to our awareness campaign on this issue."

More than eight million children live in institutions across the globe yet 80 per cent have a family who could care for them given the right support, the agency says.

World Challenge national sales manager Aaron Pittaway said the organisation was committed to running ethical and quality community engagement programs.

"Exactly what constitutes ethical student travel is changing rapidly and all student travel organisations should be evolving to reflect this," Mr Pittaway said.

The resource is the first of its kind in Australia, the agency says.

Senator Linda Reynolds is expected to deliver a keynote speech on the Modern Slavery Act at the conference.Police and environmental authorities are searching for 17,000 tonnes of asbestos-contaminated waste dumped by an allegedly fraudulent NSW company.

The man said to be behind one of the biggest illegal asbestos dumps in the state is preparing to face court.

Police late last week arrested the 48-year-old company director at Sydney Airport as he tried to flee the country.

They allege his trucks removed approximately 600 loads of asbestos-contaminated waste from the Green Square redevelopment from mid-2016.

The subcontractor for the City of Sydney project was denied bail and his properties were raided but the location of the dumped material is still not known.

Police and the NSW Environment Protection Authority are unable to say if anyone has been exposed to any waste and are urging people with information to come forward.

The man is expected before a Sydney court on Friday for fraud offences.Adam Scott and Cameron Smith have left shot themselves into contention midway through the opening round of the US PGA Tour's Northern Trust in New Jersey.

The Queensland duo each posted a two-under-par 69 at Ridgewood Country Club to sit just three shots back of clubhouse leaders Kevin Tway and Jamie Lovemark (66) on Thursday.

One shot back in a share of third is a logjam of players including world No.1 Dustin Johnson, US Open champion Brooks Koepka and Japanese star Hideki Matsuyama (all 67).

Teeing off in the afternoon wave on day one at the FedEx Cup play-offs opener is 2015 champion Jason Day, who will draw on his astonishing record at the event to try to top the leaderboard of the star-studded, 125-player field.

In 10 previous appearances, Day has a victory and a runner-up among five top-10 results.

Former world No.1 Day is grouped with English star Justin Rose and two-time Masters winner Bubba Watson.

Marc Leishman rounds out the Australian contingent in New Jersey but struggled while playing with 14-time major winner Tiger Woods and Tommy Fleetwood.

Leishman carded a two-over 73 and sits seven shots off the pace.

Woods scrapped it around Ridgewood CC, which challenges players with narrow fairways and thick rough, during an even par 71.

The Northern Trust is the first of four events which comprise the $US67 million ($A92 million) FedEx Cup play-offs.Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.A man has been charged following the fatal stabbing of Queensland father of five Benjamin Suttie in a park south of Brisbane.

Mr Suttie, 37, died on Tuesday, three days after being allegedly stabbed in the neck while walking through Prince Park, Woodridge, at about 11pm on Saturday.

He had been returning from a night out with his adult son and his son's girlfriend at the Logan Diggers Services when the group allegedly became involved in an altercation with a group of three men and two children, believed to be aged under 10.

He was transported to Princess Alexandra Hospital in a critical condition, but he died on Tuesday night.

Police arrested a 29-year-old Woodridge man at an address in Woodridge on Thursday.

He was charged with one count of murder and two counts of going armed so as to cause fear.

He is due to appear in the Beenleigh Magistrates Court later on Friday.WHO IS SCOTT MORRISON?

* Born May 13, 1968 in Sydney

* Married to Jenny and has two daughters

* Often referred to as ScoMo

* Studied an economics and geography degree at the University of NSW

* General Manager of Tourism Council between 1996-1998, then Director of the New Zealand Office of Tourism and Sport 1998-2000.

* State Director of the NSW Liberal Party 2000-2004

* As director of Tourism Australia 2004-2006 he presided over the campaign featuring the slogan "Where The Bloody Hell Are You?

* Elected as the Federal Member for Cook in 2007 after first losing the preselection to Michael Towke, who was disendorsed over reported branch stacking

* Appointed to the front bench by federal Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull in 2008

* Took on shadow minister for immigration and citizenship in 2009 following Tony Abbott's leadership spill

* Appointed by Tony Abbott as Minister for Immigration and Border Protection from September 2013, then Minister for Social Services from December 2014

* After Malcolm Turnbull replaced Tony Abbott as prime minister he was made Treasurer from September 2015

* Holds the safe seat of Cook in southern Sydney with a margin of 15.4 per cent.As the hard-nosed enforcer behind some of the federal government's toughest policies, Scott Morrison has always liked to talk about dolling out tough love.

And Morrison may need to dish it out in spades if he emerges as Australia's next prime minister.

Morrison was painted as a Father Christmas figure before this year's budget, with the treasurer promising sweeping tax cuts and sweeteners for older Australians.

But it wasn't always beer and skittles the evangelical Cronulla Sharks NRL fan was dispensing.

Morrison rose to prominence by spearheading the "stop the boats" approach to border protection as immigration minister to Tony Abbott.

His stance toward asylum seekers bewildered some observes, given his devout Christian beliefs.

But he professed a deep belief in the righteousness of crushing the people-smuggling trade and preserving the safety of those onboard rickety boats.

Morrison was elected to parliament in 2007. His electorate of Cook in the Sutherland Shire marks the point of arrival of the First Fleet in Botany Bay.

During a nine-month stint as social services minister, Morrison was also forced to sell the Abbott government's deeply unpopular 2014 budget, which was laced with a cocktail of deep welfare cuts.

Morrison has been far more pragmatic in the role of treasurer, performing back-flips on a range of unpopular government policies.

Deeply unpopular measures including a Medicare levy hike, superannuation changes and big business tax cuts were each eventually cast aside like water off a duck's back.

He also avoided falling into the trap of immediate predecessors of making outlandish promises about surpluses.

Morrison has always held aspirations to lead the Liberal Party, although he remains largely unknown by ordinary voters.

Prior to entering parliament, Morrison worked as a marketeer in the property and tourism sectors, before a successful stint as state director of the NSW Liberal Party.

He will need to harness the full bag-grab of skills honed in these two trades if he claims victory in an upcoming Liberal leadership ballot.

Morrison is going into the bitter contest as a "consensus candidate" who many hope will bridge a divide between the party's warring moderate and conservative wings.

He is likely to split the vote of the party's right faction and eat away at rival Peter Dutton's support.

Whatever the outcome of the leadership spill, Liberal MPs will limp away from the ugly insurrection battered and bruised.

Losers will retreat to the back benches as up-and-comers clamber over corpses for cabinet posts.

Enemies will be baying for blood and recrimination plans quickly hatched.

It will be up to Morrison to repair the dented egos, broken hearts and despondent souls of Liberal colleagues left to rebuild a party reduced to rubble.WHO IS JULIE BISHOP?

* Born July 17, 1956 in Lobethal, South Australia

* Divorced, but in long term relationship with David Panton. No children

* Often referred to as JBish

* Known for her sharp style, steely stare and fitness, taking daily runs even when travelling overseas

* Also renowned as a great campaigner and fundraiser within the Liberal party

* Well-regarded on the world stage and took a major role after the MH17 atrocity

* Studied law at Adelaide University

* Did the advanced management program at Harvard Business School

* Managing partner at Clayton Utz law firm in Perth, 1994-98

* Elected as the federal member for Curtin in 1998

* First appointed to the frontbench by John Howard in 2003 when made minister for ageing.

* Served as Education, Science and Training Minister (2006-2007)

* Foreign Affairs Minister since 2013

* Deputy Liberal leader since November 29, 2007, serving alongside Brendan Nelson, Malcolm Turnbull, Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull

* Deputy Opposition Leader 2007-2013

* Holds the very safe Perth-based seat of Curtin with a margin of 18.2 per cent.Asia Argento, who shot into the headlines for accusing disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein of rape, paid Jimmy Bennett hush money after he claimed that she sexually assaulted him in a California hotel room in 2013

The US actor who accuses Asia Argento of sexually assaulting him as a teenager said Wednesday that he had been too "ashamed and afraid" to speak publicly against the Italian actress and abuse campaigner.

Argento, who shot into the headlines for accusing disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein of rape, paid Jimmy Bennett hush money after he claimed that she sexually assaulted him in a California hotel room in 2013.

"I did not initially speak out about my story because I chose to handle it in private with the person who wronged me," Bennett said in a statement posted on his Instagram account Wednesday, his first public remarks on the matter.

"My trauma resurfaced as she came out as a victim herself," he added, saying he had not spoken publicly until now because he was "ashamed and afraid to be part of the public narrative."

The actor and rock musician was 17-years-old at the time of the alleged assault. The legal age of consent in California is 18. Argento was 37.

The New York Times reported on Sunday that Argento paid Bennett $380,000 after his lawyers launched legal action, a month after Argento's accusations against Weinstein were made public.

On Wednesday, Bennet said he "tried to seek justice in a way that made sense to me at the time," on the grounds that he was "not ready to deal with the ramifications of my story becoming public."

"I didn't think that people would understand the event that took place from the eyes of a teenage boy," he said.

On Tuesday, Argento denied having a sexual relationship with Bennett, said the allegations were part of "a long-standing persecution" and that she was linked to Bennett "by friendship only."

Argento and Bennett acted together in the 2004 film "The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things," in which the Italian plays his troubled mother.

She became a powerful voice for the #MeToo movement after accusing Weinstein of raping her when she was 21 in his hotel room in 1997.

Bennett's lawyers characterized the 2013 California encounter as "sexual battery" that traumatized the former child actor, threatening his mental health and income, according to the Times.Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's grip on power is tenuous despite surviving a snap ballot on his leadership on Tuesday

Defiant Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull vowed not to "give in to bullies" Thursday in the face of a new leadership challenge, but said he will quit politics if his party no longer supports him.

Former home affairs minister Peter Dutton, an ex-police officer and right-wing conservative, said he was confident he now had the numbers to unseat Turnbull, considered a moderate.

And with senior ministers defecting, Turnbull's near three-year grip on power is tenuous despite surviving a snap ballot on his leadership on Tuesday, winning the vote 48-35.

He said Dutton had yet to prove he has majority backing from the Liberal Party -- a requirement for him to force another meeting to have a second crack at the top job ahead of national elections due by the middle of next year.

If the petition arrives showing this, the meeting will be held at midday on Friday and Turnbull will not stand as a candidate and leave parliament.

Turnbull accused Dutton and his supporters of intimidation with the crisis snowballing quickly since it began unfolding on Monday after months of poor opinion polls and a revolt by fellow Liberal politicians over plans to embed carbon emissions targets in law.

Malcolm Turnbull

"What began as a minority has by a process of intimidation persuaded people that the only way to stop the insurgency is to give in to it," he said.

"I do not believe in that. I have never done that. I have never given in to bullies, but you can imagine the pressure it's put people under."

He added that what Australia was witnessing was "a very deliberate effort to pull the Liberal Party further to the right".

Dutton earlier told reporters he had advised Turnbull by phone that "it was my judgement that the majority of the party room no longer supported his leadership".

"As such, I asked him to convene a meeting of the Liberal Party at which I would challenge for the leadership of the parliamentary Liberal Party," he added.

In a major blow, Turnbull's influential Finance Minister Mathias Cormann, along with the employment and education ministers, then said he no longer had their backing.

They joined at least 10 other ministers who have either resigned or offered to.

"It is in the best interests of the Liberal Party to help manage an orderly transition to a new leader," said Cormann, who used to be a trusted ally.

- 'Absolute crap' -

In a twist to the plot, ABC and Sky News reported that Treasurer Scott Morrison, Turnbull's right-hand man, may also stand if there was a ballot in a bid to derail Dutton's power grab.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (L) is facing a fresh challenge from his home affairs minister Peter Dutton (C) but Treasurer Scott Morrison (R) may stand if there is a new ballot in a bid to derail Dutton's power grab

Complicating matters, it has emerged that Dutton has financial interests in childcare centres that get government subsidies -- possibly breaching constitutional rules -- and Turnbull suggested he may not be eligible to sit in parliament, let alone be prime minister.

"This issue of eligibility is critically important," he said, with the solicitor-general looking into it.

Dutton, described by supporters as a pragmatic legislator who gets things done and by detractors as a racist who demonises refugees, has said he has legal advice that he is in the clear.

He quit his cabinet position after his first failed leadership bid on Tuesday and has said that if he became prime minister, he would focus on cutting immigration to ease population pressures and boosting water investment to help drought-stricken farmers.

Australia's prime ministers

Dutton and his camp, including former prime minister Tony Abbott who once described climate change as "absolute crap", have also made clear keeping power prices down was more important than meeting Canberra's commitment to slash carbon emissions by 26 percent by 2030.

The unrest is the latest chapter in a turbulent decade for Australian politics, with no leader managing to serve out a full term since John Howard lost the 2007 election.

And it has played into the hands of the Labor opposition, which has been making the most of it.

"Another day and another one of chaos from this government -- a government that has effectively stopped governing because it's too busy fighting itself," said deputy opposition leader Tanya Plibersek.Firefighters try to control a back burn as the Carr fire continues to spread towards the towns of Douglas City and Lewiston near Redding, California on July 31, 2018

A US mobile network has come under criticism after severely limiting service to firefighters battling the biggest wildfire in California's history.

Santa Clara County Fire Department Chief Tony Bowden said Verizon Wireless had hindered the work of firefighters trying to put out the Mendocino Complex Fire by throttling data during the crisis.

The throttling meant data connection was reduced to 1/200 -- 0.50 percent -- of normal speed or less.

"This throttling has had a significant impact on our ability to provide emergency services," Bowden said in a statement that is part of a lawsuit filed this week in a bid to reinstate federal net neutrality rules.

"Verizon imposed these limitations despite being informed that throttling was actively impeding County Fire's ability to provide crisis-response and essential emergency services," he added.

Bowden said that when the fire department reached out to Verizon to inform the company of the throttling, a representative said the department had exceeded its data usage limit and suggested it subscribe to a new, more expensive plan.

The fire chief said the incident with Verizon highlighted the importance of ensuring emergency responders have access to quick data that could prove lifesaving.

"In large and complex fires, resource allocation requires immediate information," he wrote.

"Dated or stale information regarding the availability or need for resources can slow response times and render them far less effective. Resources could be deployed to the wrong fire, the wrong part of a fire, or fail to be deployed at all.

"Even small delays in response translate into devastating effects, including loss of property, and, in some cases, loss of life."

In a statement, Verizon on Wednesday admitted that it had made a mistake and that it normally lifts limits on data usage in emergencies. It added that the incident had nothing to do with net neutrality.

"Regardless of the plan emergency responders choose, we have a practice to remove data speed restrictions when contacted in emergency situations," it said. "In this situation, we should have lifted the speed restriction when our customer reached out to us.

"This was a customer support mistake. We are reviewing the situation and will fix any issues going forward," the statement added.

Bowden's declaration was submitted in an addendum to a lawsuit filed by 22 states and the District of Columbia to challenge the Federal Communications Commission's decision to do away with net neutrality rules that requires internet providers to treat all traffic equally.

The Mendocino fire which began on July 27 has consumed nearly 407,000 acres and as of Wednesday was 74 percent contained.An artist paints on a canvas in the Yarmuk Palestinian refugee camp on the southern outskirts of Damascus on August 15, 2018

Not far from his destroyed home in Syria's Yarmuk camp for Palestinian refugees, 21-year-old Abdallah al-Harith dabs bright red paint onto a canvas standing amid the grey ruins.

Last week, he was among 12 young artists to set up their easels in the once-crowded camp turned Damascus suburb, now largely abandoned after seven years of civil war.

Equipped with paint brushes and pencils, they set out to translate suffering into art in a neighbourhood ravaged by years of bombardment and siege.

"We're bringing back life to a dark place," said Harith, who fled Yarmuk several years ago, but returned after the regime ousted Islamic State group jihadists in May.

"I had such a lump in my throat when I first came back to the camp. At first I couldn't draw anything," said the fine arts student.

Artist Hinaya Kibabi works on a painting during a visit to the Yarmuk Palestinian refugee camp on the southern outskirts of Damascus on August 15, 2018

"But then I realised that any glimpse of life amid all this death was a victory," he said, gesturing towards the battered buildings around him.

He and his peers stood sweeping paint across their canvases while the gentle melody of an oud -- a Middle Eastern lute -- was broadcast across the smashed concrete.

Harith painted an image of a small boy emerging from the ground, holding a bright red apple.

"It's supposed to represent new life," Harith said.

"I actually saw something like this once: children with apples playing again on what had been fighting ground."

Before the war, Yarmuk was home to around 160,000 people, the United Nations says.

Artists paint in the Yarmuk Palestinian refugee camp on the southern outskirts of the capital Damascus on August 15, 2018

Set up in 1957 to house Palestinian refugees, over the decades it became a crowded district that was eventually swallowed up by Damascus.

But today it lies almost abandoned.

Around 140,000 residents fled clashes between the regime and rebels in 2012, leaving the rest to face severe food shortages under government encirclement.

In 2014, a harrowing photograph of gaunt-looking residents massing between ravaged buildings to receive handouts caused global outrage.

- 'Colour, not rubble' -

Artist Abdallah al-Harith, 21, works on a picture in the Yarmuk Palestinian refugee camp on August 15, 2018

Earlier this year, fighting between loyalists and jihadists displaced most of the remaining residents, according to the United Nations' agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA.

President Bashar al-Assad's troops retook control in May, ousting IS fighters from their last urban stronghold on the outskirts of the capital.

In late May, UNRWA said an immediate return of residents was unlikely due to extensive damage to key infrastructure such as the water and power networks.

Visiting the camp last month, UNRWA commissioner-general Pierre Krahenbuhl said he had rarely seen such damage.

"The scale of the destruction in Yarmuk compares to very little else that I have seen in many years of humanitarian work in conflict zones," he said.

On Saturday, the work of the young artists was displayed at the entrance of the Yarmuk camp, with a small crowd making the trip to see it.

Painter Hinaya Kebabi depicted a young boy with a missing eye, holding up a drawing of another eye to conceal his wound, the 22-year-old explained.

"One day, I hope people will come back here to colour, not rubble," she said.

One painting depicted streams of red running down a dark building.

In another, an emaciated man was curled up naked in the foetal position.

After the images were shared online, several internet users slammed the project as provocative.

"The camp is neither romantic nor a place for drawing," 28-year-old Abeer Abassiyeh said, as most former residents remain unable to return to their homes.

But Mohammed Jalbout, one of the organisers who hails from the Palestinian camp, defended the project.

"We all have homes here. I haven't been back to mine or been able to inspect it," he said.

But, he said, "at least through art, we're trying to breathe a little life back into this place."Kevin Spacey, here at the 2017 Tony awards, is facing a new sex abuse allegation

The Los Angeles district attorney's office has received a second sexual assault complaint against Oscar-winner Kevin Spacey, whose acting career has nosedived following allegations by more than a dozen men in the United States and Britain.

"A case of sexual assault was filed yesterday (21/8) in our office by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, involving Kevin Spacey, and is under review," Greg Risling with the prosecutors' office told AFP Wednesday.

A separate investigation was opened back in April for a complaint about an alleged assault in 1992 involving a man.

Risling did not specify details about this new complaint, or the status of the previous one.

The two-time Academy Award-winner has seen allegations against him pile up on the heels of the #MeToo movement, which began with the fall of Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein.

Spacey also has open investigations in London, where he directed The Old Vic Theater between 2004 and 2015, and in Nantucket, an island resort near Boston.

The first report that was made public was that of actor Anthony Rapp, 46, who claimed that the actor sexually abused him at age 14, back in 1986.

Spacey apologized to Rapp, claiming not to remember the incident, but remained silent as accusations against him mushroomed.

One actor anonymously told the Vulture portal that Spacey tried to rape him in 1984, when he was 14 years old.

And eight members of the production team of his popular Netflix series "House of Cards" who also denounced "predatory" behavior by Spacey.

After first accusations of abuse against him, Spacey was fired in November from the political series. Then he was dumped from his scenes in Ridley Scott's latest film, "All the Money in the World," where was replaced by Christopher Plummer.President Donald Trump has pushed aggressive trade actions to lower the US trade deficit that he equates with stealing from Americans

The United States slapped steep tariffs on another $16 billion in Chinese goods on Thursday, triggering a swift tit-for-tat retaliation from Beijing, even as negotiators from both sides seek to soothe trade tensions.

The latest action completes the first round of $50 billion in Chinese products that President Donald Trump targeted with Beijing striking back at American products dollar-for-dollar at each step.

China "firmly opposes the tariffs and has no choice but to continue to make the necessary counter-attacks", the commerce ministry said in a statement.

Beijing hit back with tariffs on an equal amount of US goods, targeting iconic products such as Harley-Davidson motorcycles, dump trucks and asphalt, among hundreds of others.

China's commerce ministry said the US tariffs were "clearly suspected" of violating World Trade Organization and noted it would file a lawsuit against them under the WTO's dispute resolution mechanism.

The escalation came as the world's two largest economies hold their first formal discussions since June on the spiralling trade war.

Trump has pushed aggressive trade actions to lower the US trade deficit, which he equates with theft from Americans. But US trading partners have retaliated aggressively, which is hurting American farmers, manufacturers and consumers.

US businesses have become increasingly concerned about the tariffs, which are raising prices for manufacturers and could hurt the economy, although the prospect of a negotiated solution buoyed world markets this week.

However, Federal Reserve officials have warned that "an escalation in international trade disputes was a potentially consequential downside risk for real activity", according to the minutes of its July 31-August 1 policy meeting.

A large-scale and prolonged dispute likely would adversely impact business sentiment, investment spending and employment, the officials warned, and boost prices, which would "reduce the purchasing power of US households".

- Next round -

Chart showing the 2017 value of sectors that will be hit by President Donald Trump's tariffs on Chinese goods, with the second round taking effect Thursday.

Still pending is the possibility of new duties on another $200 billion in Chinese goods, which are the subject of public hearings this week, as well as Trump's proposed 25 percent taxes on all auto imports to protect the US car industry.

China has responded by threatening to impose new tariffs on $60 billion worth of US goods, while Beijing could also target the local operations of US corporations with inspections and boycotts as it has done in past disputes with South Korea and Japan.

China's state media has taken aim at Apple in recent weeks, accusing the US titan of allowing illegal apps to proliferate on its platform.

US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said China will not be able to continue to retaliate at the same pace as the United States.

"Naturally they'll retaliate a little bit. But at the end of the day, we have many more bullets than they do. They know it," Ross said on CNBC. "We have a much stronger economy than they have, they know that too."

Trump has threatened to target all $500 billion in goods the US imports from China, noting that Beijing cannot continue to retaliate in kind since it imports less than $200 billion a year in American goods.

- Talks continue -

US Treasury's David Malpass, undersecretary for international affairs, is leading two days of talks with China's Vice Commerce Minister Wang Shouwen and Vice Finance Minister Liao Min that began Wednesday.

The talks were to continue Thursday, but the Treasury has not specified what topics are being discussed.

In Beijing, China's foreign ministry declined to provide details on the progress of the negotiations.

"We hope the US can make concerted efforts with China and follow a rational and practical attitude to earnestly seek good results in the talks," foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a regular news briefing.

Trump said earlier this week that he was not expecting much from the dialogue.

A graphic showing the major trading partners of the United States in 2017

"We are a country that has been ripped off by anybody and we are not going to be ripped off anymore," he said at a campaign rally in West Virginia on Tuesday.

Thousands of large and small companies and industry groups have urged the Trump administration to reconsider the tariffs, which some say could put them out of business.

The administration has already been forced to announce a $12 billion aid programme for farmers hurt by the trade row, as US agricultural products, like soybeans, were an easy target for China and others.Singapore's Olympic swim champion Joseph Schooling shrugged off a horror turnaround Thursday to top the heats for the 50 metres butterfly at the Asian Games after a fitful night's sleep.

The 23-year-old, who stunned Michael Phelps in the 100m fly in Rio two years ago to win Singapore's first-ever Olympic title in any sport, got less than five hours of shut-eye after retaining his Asian title in Jakarta on Wednesday evening.

After becoming the first swimmer to deny China or Japan a gold medal at the six-day meet, Schooling admitted to staying up late -- and to drinking a few too many coffees.

"It was rough," he winced, after clocking 23.84 seconds to edge out China's Wang Peng for top spot.

"I went to bed at 1am and woke up at 5:57 -- that's a shitty turnaround but that's what you've got to do sometimes.

"I took a lot of caffeine last night. I had about four cups of coffee, so it was hard to go to bed.

"But it's normal to feel tired. It just means you've got to grind through it. You've got to be a man, step it up and not complain."

Jordan's Khader Baqlah turned heads by posting the joint-quickest time in qualifying for the men's 100m freestyle, swimming's blue riband event.

The 19-year-old, who finished just outside the medals in fourth in the 200m free final earlier this week, clocked 49.30 with China's Yu Hexin -- winner of the 50m free in Jakarta.

- Usual suspects -

Japan's Shinri Shioura, silver medallist at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, was just two-hundredths slower.

"I was kind of frustrated with the 200m," admitted Baqlah. "That was my fastest morning swim ever today but I'm probably going to have to go mid-48 to win."

The usual suspects were lurking in the men's 200m backstroke with China's Xu Jiayu second quickest as he looks to complete an Asian Games treble in the discipline.

Xu, who could potentially finish with five gold medals in Jakarta, touched in 2:00.53 behind countryman Li Guangyuan 1:59.87.

Japan's Satomi Suzuki topped the heats of the women's 50m breaststroke as she looks to retain her title and complete a 50-100m double.

Japan's golden girl Rikako Ikee could equal countrywoman Yoshimi Nishigawa's five swim titles at a single Asian Games when she goes in the 4x100m medley relay later on Thursday.

The 18-year-old, who has emerged as Japan's brightest swimming hope for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in her home city, has already won gold in the 50 fly, 100 fly, 100 free and the 4x100m free, plus two silvers.

A medal of any colour will also see Ikee match countryman Kosuke Hagino's haul of seven, including four gold, at a breakout 2014 Asian Games.

Nishigawa won five gold medals in freestyle and individual medley at the 1970 and 1974 Asian Games.Xuecheng stepped down earlier this month after a report by fellow monks accused him of sexual and financial improprieties

The former head of China's government-run Buddhist association is under criminal investigation for alleged sexual assault, the country's top religious authority said Thursday.

Xuecheng, a Communist Party member and abbot of Beijing's Longquan Monastery, is one of the most prominent figures to face accusations in China's growing #MeToo movement.

He stepped down earlier this month after a report by fellow monks accused him of sexual and financial improprieties.

In the 95-page report that circulated online late last month, two monks accused Xuecheng of sending explicit text messages to at least six women, threatening or cajoling them to have sex with him, claiming it was a part of their Buddhist studies.

The National Religious Affairs Authority said it had confirmed Xuecheng had sent "harassing messages", adding that authorities had begun a criminal investigation into the report's charges of sexual assault.

Investigators had also uncovered evidence that the Longquan Monastery had violated national financial regulations, it added in a statement on its web site.

Xuecheng, 51, stepped down at a meeting of the Buddhist Association of China earlier this month following the allegations.

The abbot is also a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, a top advisory board.

A prominent personality in Chinese Buddhist life with a social media following of millions, Xuecheng's Weibo account has been silent since August 1, when he posted a statement rejecting allegations of sexual misconduct.

In their report, the two monks, who are no longer members of the monastery, said four women gave in to Xuecheng's demands.

One of the authors said on social media that he was compelled to speak out after the victims were ignored by authorities who said they could not investigate the matter.

There is no legal definition of sexual harassment in China and no national regulations on how to handle sexual assault cases in schools and workplaces.

The report and posts about it have been taken down or censored on social media.

Both men were also asked to leave the monastery after news of the report broke.

Located on the outskirts of Beijing, Longquan Monastery has made headlines for combining Buddhism with modern technology, launching last year a two-foot high robot monk that dispenses mantras and karmic advice.

The #MeToo movement ignited in China earlier this year with more women starting to open up about sexual assaults, especially on university campuses.

Unlike in the West, where #MeToo has forced resignations and sparked widespread public debate, authorities in China have sought to control the discussion, sometimes allowing and at other times censoring social media commentary.China's People's Liberation Army fired 470,000 shells at Kinmen and nearby islets in 1958

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen called for unity and vowed not to bow to pressure from Beijing on Thursday as the island marked the 60th anniversary of a deadly Chinese artillery attack.

The anniversary of the assault on tiny Kinmen island, known as the "823 bombardment", comes as China steps up pressure on self-ruling Taiwan, which it sees as part of its territory to be reunified.

China's People's Liberation Army fired 470,000 shells at Kinmen and nearby islets in 1958, killing 618 servicemen and civilians in an attack that lasted 44 days.

Tensions with Beijing have worsened under Tsai because she refuses to acknowledge that Taiwan is part of 'one China'

Kinmen is part of Taiwan, but lies less than two miles off mainland China, at the narrowest part of the Taiwan Strait.

"When we remember the '823 bombardment' 60 years later, we will not forget the spirit of solidarity," Tsai said on her Facebook page.

"When we face diplomatic suppression we will not forget how strong our country can be when we are united," she added, saying that while Taiwanese people cherished peace they would not take national security for granted.

Hundreds of soldiers, relatives and veterans, some in their 80s and 90s, gathered at a Kinmen cemetery where victims of the 1958 bombardment were buried

Tensions with Beijing have worsened under Tsai because she refuses to acknowledge that Taiwan is part of "one China".

In response, China has ramped up military drills and poached Taiwan's official diplomatic allies -- El Salvador became the third this year to switch ties from Taipei to Beijing on Tuesday.

At an anniversary ceremony held in a former army bunker and combat centre in Kinmen, Taiwan's Defence Minister Yen De-fa said today's troops in Taiwan must again make "combat preparations" in the face of what he described as a growing military threat from China.

Taiwan's Defence Minister Yen De-fa said troops in Taiwan must again make 'combat preparations' in the face of what he described as a growing military threat from China

Hundreds of soldiers, relatives and veterans, some in their 80s and 90s, gathered at a Kinmen cemetery where victims of the 1958 bombardment were buried.

Lai Jen-hsien, 83, remembered the attack.

"We were joking it was firecrackers, but then all of a sudden it was a rain of them (artillery)," said Lai, who was in the combat engineer battalion in Kinmen at the time.

He told AFP he did not think history would repeat itself on Kinmen.

China has sought to bring Taiwan back into the fold since nationalist troops fled to the island after their defeat by communist forces on the mainland in 1949

"Peace is priceless. War is ruthless. We should try our best to peacefully handle the fate of people from both sides of the (Taiwan) Strait," Lai said.

China has sought to bring Taiwan back into the fold since nationalist troops fled to the island after their defeat by communist forces on the mainland in 1949.

Kinmen historically often found itself on the frontline, although now the island is a popular tourist attraction for both mainland Chinese and Taiwanese visitors.

Its most famous souvenirs are kitchen knives made from the remnants of artillery shells.India has a record of refusing foreign aid after disasters

Leaders of flood-stricken Kerala state angrily hit out at India's national government Thursday for rejecting a $100-million aid offer from the United Arab Emirates as more people entered relief camps to escape the devastation.

More than 1.3 million people have now packed into temporary camps even though the floods, which have left at least 420 dead and missing, are fast receding.

The New Delhi government infuriated the Kerala administration by rejecting the wealthy Gulf state's offer.

Kerala's Finance Minister Thomas Isaac accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government of adopting a "dog-in-the-manger" policy by refusing the money.

The communist minister added in a Twitter attack that if the right-wing national government takes a "negative stance" on the UAE offer, "they should compensate Kerala".

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan called for "high level" talks with the national government on the dispute.

There are an estimated three million Indians in the UAE, with many from Kerala which has a large Muslim population.

India's foreign ministry announced Wednesday that the government would stick to its policy of "meeting the requirements for relief and rehabilitation through domestic efforts" and not accept money from foreign governments.

New Delhi has a record of refusing foreign aid after disasters, turning down help after the 2004 tsunami, which killed thousands in India. Experts say Indian governments want to prove they can handle any emergency themselves.

- Uninhabitable homes -

The UAE offer was higher than the $97 million so far given by the central government to handle the floods, which state authorities estimate have caused damage worth more than $3 billion.

The Kerala floods have caused damage worth more than $3 billion, according to estimates by state authorities

They say 10,000 kilometres (6,000 miles) of roads have been destroyed or damaged, while estimates of the number of houses to be rebuilt vary from 20,000 to 50,000.

Many of the new arrivals in relief camps are people who have returned to their homes to find them uninhabitable.

One 68-year-old man committed suicide Wednesday after seeing the state of his home at Kothad in Ernakulam district. A 19-year-old boy took his own life earlier this week because his school certificates were destroyed by the floods, police said.

Vijayan said there were now 1.34 million people in 3,300 relief camps, up 300,000 in two days.

In another sign of the extent of the chaos, the reopening of the state's main airport in Kochi has been put back three days to August 29.

The state government said it would enlist 50,000 volunteers to start an operation to clean up homes and public places that have been filled with dirt and sand left by the floods.

At Cheruthoni, in Idukki district, people have started returning to find nearly all houses at least half covered by sand and silt. Earth movers have been sent in a bid to clear roads.

But Tom Jose, the state's top civil servant, told AFP the situation across the state had improved with only isolated pockets of water remaining.

"If it does not rain in the coming days then we can start getting back on track soon," he told AFP after an aerial tour of flood-ravaged areas.

"Rescue operations are almost complete. Our priority now is to provide relief and rebuild the damaged infrastructure."South Korea's Kim Hyeok said he was frustrated at missing out in murky circumstances ahead of the last Asian Games and had considered quitting

A South Korean athlete who was left out of the Asian Games squad four years ago to make way for the horse-riding daughter of the country's "Rasputin" bagged bronze in the individual dressage on Thursday.

Kim Hyeok told AFP that his brush with Chung Yoo-ra, the child of a woman jailed alongside former president Park Geun-hye in a massive corruption scandal, had made him tougher at this year's Asiad in Jakarta.

"It was difficult four years ago because I trained a lot," Kim, 23, said.

"But I didn't think about those events today. I am better than four years ago and those events have made me stronger."

Electronics giant Samsung paid for some 3.65 billion won ($3.25 million) worth of horses and equestrian training for Chung, now 21, in what prosecutors said was an attempt to bribe her powerful mother Choi Soon-sil, a close confidante of the then-president.

The revelations were part of an influence-peddling scandal that rocked the country and toppled ex-president Park.

In qualifiers for the 2014 Asian Games, Chung was selected for the regional Olympics held in her home country but Kim finished in fifth place -- and missed out.

Chung made mistakes during qualification but South Korean media reported these were deliberately overlooked.

Chung, known for her lavish lifestyle in Europe, went on to win a gold medal in the team dressage, but did not make the podium in the individual event.

Kim, frustrated at missing out in such murky circumstances, considered quitting.

"I stopped for a month but then I restarted and I have been training very hard since then," he said after clocking a score of 75.705.

He secured third spot behind Malaysia's Mahamad Fathil Mohd Qabil Ambak, in silver position with 76.620, and Hong Kong's Jacqueline Wing Ying Siu, who topped the podium with 77.045.

Kim also picked up a silver medal in the team dressage earlier this week.

Choi -- nicknamed "Rasputin" for her influence over the then-president -- was found guilty of abuse of power, bribery and interfering in government business earlier this year.

Chung, who herself became caught up in the scandal and was extradited from Denmark, has said she had no knowledge of the "special treatment" she allegedly received.Conditions in Thet Kel Pyin camp suggest a dire need for food, education, jobs and medical services

Abdurahim worries the lack of food, medicine and free movement is doing lasting damage to his four young children, who are among more than 129,000 Rohingya Muslims trapped in squalid camps inside Myanmar's Rakhine state.

In the grimy, rubbish-strewn alleyways of Thet Kel Pyin camp, near the state capital Sittwe, children gather around a slaughtered cow, a rare chance to eat meat on the second day of the Eid al-Adha festival.

Most of the camp's residents were forced from their homes in 2012, victims of ethnic and religious hatreds that have simmered for decades.

Cut off from outside contact, their plight is rarely reported.

Abdurahim, 46, fears that everyday life in the camp -- split communities, restricted movement for the Rohingya and dependency on relief handouts -- will shape his children forever.

Aged between eight and 17, their formative years have been spent in Thet Kel Pyin, where the family arrived six years ago.

Most of the camp's residents were forced from their homes in 2012

"What kind of memory comes into their head? They think only one ethnicity lives like this," Abdurahim -- whose Myanmar name is Shwe Hla -- told AFP.

"Their vision is becoming like this."

His family's struggle is overshadowed by the vast scale of the Rohingya refugee exodus into neighbouring Bangladesh that began one year ago.

An army crackdown last August saw 700,000 of the persecuted minority flee over the border to one of the world's largest refugee camps in violence the UN and US have likened to ethnic cleansing.

- Grim reality -

Conditions in Thet Kel Pyin, witnessed during a brief visit late Wednesday on a government-steered press trip, suggested a dire need for food, education, jobs and medical services.

But it is probably among the better camps in Rakhine, where government minders are willing to take media and visiting dignitaries.

The movement of Rohingya in the camp is restricted

The first step to improving the grim reality of internally displaced Rohingya is "freedom of movement", Abdurahim, once a prosperous owner of a construction business in Sittwe, said.

Myanmar says it is ready and willing to repatriate the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya who have fled to Bangladesh since last year.

But it has complicated the process with bureaucracy while the refugees refuse to return without guarantees of safety, security and compensation.

The UN has said conditions in Myanmar are not ripe for a safe and voluntary repatriation, especially given the desperate conditions in camps such as Thet Kel Pyin, established after previous rounds of violence.

To head off criticism, Myanmar says it will close nearly 20 of the camps in coming months.

The UN has said conditions in Myanmar are not ripe for a safe and voluntary repatriation

State media on Tuesday said one camp had been closed at Ni Din in the Kyauktaw area of Rakhine, following recommendations by the late United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan released last year.

Kaman Muslims live alongside the Rohingya in the camps, where many struggle with deteriorating health.

"After six years here, our health is worsening," said Thin Mya, a 64-year-old Kaman Muslim mother of four. "The rooms are so close to each other so... the health problem is getting bigger."

Myanmar's government denies allegations of ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya, yet labels them "Bengalis" non-native to the Buddhist-majority country.

it is probably among the better camps in Rakhine, where government minders are willing to take media and visiting dignitaries

It insists that any Rohingya who return from Bangladesh should take up a National Verification Card, a form of ID that falls short of citizenship and denies them full rights.

"Why do we need to hold this National Verification Card?" said Abdurahim. "We have lived here for generations."First Lieutenant Misa Matsushima was inspired by the hit film Top Gun

Japan will shortly have its first female fighter pilot, the military said Thursday, with the "Top Gun" inspired officer vowing to blaze a trail in the sky for other women.

First Lieutenant Misa Matsushima, 26, of Japan Air Self Defence Force, finished her training Wednesday to fly F-15s and will officially be named a fighter pilot on Friday, the ministry said in a brief statement.

"Ever since I saw the movie 'Top Gun' when I was in primary school, I have always admired fighter jet pilots," she told local media.

"I wish to continue to work hard to fulfil my duty (not just for myself but) also for women who will follow this path in the future," she said.

The air force decided in 1993 to open all positions to women, except for pilots of fighter jets and reconnaissance aircraft.

But the limit was lifted in 2015, opening the way for Matsushima to join the elite group of fighter pilots, with three other women now going through training.

Women account for a mere 6.4 percent of Japan's 228,000 troops.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has called on the nation's corporate world to open leadership positions to women but with little visible success.South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa has promised to intervene to accelerate land reform

South Africa accused US President Donald Trump of fuelling racial tensions on Thursday after he said farmers were being forced off their land and many of them killed.

Trump's tweet touched on the overwhelmingly white ownership of farmland in South Africa -- one of the most sensitive issues in the country's post-apartheid history.

"South Africa totally rejects this narrow perception which only seeks to divide our nation and reminds us of our colonial past," said the government on an official Twitter account.

The foreign ministry said in a statement it had met US embassy officials and warned them over the "alarmist, false, inaccurate and misinformed, as well as - in some cases - politically-motivated statements," on the issue.

Foreign Minister Lindiwe Sisulu will also speak directly with her American opposite number, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, it said earlier.

Trump wrote overnight: "I have asked Secretary of State... Pompeo to closely study the South Africa land and farm seizures and expropriations and the large scale killing of farmers."

Trump wrote overnight: "I have asked Secretary of State... Pompeo to closely study the South Africa land and farm seizures and expropriations and the large scale killing of farmers."

His tweet apparently followed a segment on conservative Fox News about Pretoria's plan to change the constitution to speed up expropriation of land without compensation to redress racial imbalances in land ownership.

"'South African Government is now seizing land from white farmers'," said Trump's post, which tagged the show's host, Tucker Carlson, as well as the channel.

In the clip, Carlson painted an apocalyptic picture of the situation accompanied by on-screen graphics warning of the "threat of violence and economic collapse".

President Cyril Ramaphosa, who faces elections in 2019, has claimed expropriating farms without compensating their owners would "undo a grave historical injustice" against the black majority during colonialism and the apartheid era.

- 'Fear mongering by international leaders' -

Even though apartheid ended in 1994, 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, Ramaphosa said.

The stark inequality stems from purchases and seizures during the colonial era that were then enshrined in law during apartheid.

But plans to change the constitution have yet to be approved by parliament, and there is a vigorous debate in South Africa about how land redistribution would work -- and whether seizures could be economically damaging as they were in post-independence Zimbabwe.

Even though apartheid ended in 1994, 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

Mmusi Maimane, the leader of the main opposition Democratic Alliance party which opposes forced expropriation but backs land reform, said "fear mongering by international leaders adds no value".

"The injustices of land dispossession in South Africa can be addressed by our constitution in its current form. We must ensure ownership of land for all South Africans," he tweeted.

Later on Thursday, US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert called for "a peaceful and transparent public debate".

However she added that on "the expropriation of land without compensation, our position is that that would risk sending South Africa down the wrong path".

Earlier this year, Australian immigration minister Peter Dutton sparked a diplomatic row after he said that Canberra should give "special attention" to white South African farmers seeking asylum.

The level of violence against farmers and farm workers is hotly contested but the police's latest figures show there were 74 farm murders in 2016-17, according to the Africa Check fact-checking site.

South Africa's leading farming lobby group AgriSA on Thursday praised the government's "commitment to agriculture".

"As a country it's important that we find solutions together -- we did this pre-1994 and we can do it again," AgriSA chief executive Omri van Zyl told the SABC broadcaster.

- 'The US has a lot of power' -

Van Zyl was speaking at a conference on the land issue also attended by Deputy President David Mabuza who warned against "spreading falsehoods".

"We would like to discourage those who are using this sensitive and emotive issue of land to divide us," he said.

But Kallie Kriel, chief executive of AfriForum -- a group that advocates for its largely white membership -- welcomed Trump's intervention and attacked Ramaphosa for pressing ahead with the policy.

The level of violence against farmers and farm workers is hotly contested but the police's latest figures show there were 74 farm murders in 2016-17, according to the Africa Check fact-checking site.

"We need to get international support to put pressure on the South African government to hopefully make them re-visit their stance," he told AFP.

Kriel added that Trump could suspend South Africa from the African Growth and Opportunity Act trade programme if property rights were not respected.

"The US has a lot of power," he said.

South Africa's rand currency dropped as much as 1.9 percent against the US dollar following Trump's tweet, according to the Bloomberg news agency, ending four days of gains against the greenback.

Julius Malema, the leader of the radical opposition Economic Freedom Fighters party, called Trump a "pathological liar" and told him to "stay out of South Africa's domestic affairs".At the Family Drive-in in Stephens City, Virginia, two films cost eight dollars, with half-price entrance for kids

Once the quintessential spot for young love, the drive-in movie theater has by and large gone the way of the record player, a vestige of retro nostalgia.

But despite the popularity of "Netflix and chill" at-home streaming sessions, some film-goers say the romance is far from dead: at one rural spot in Virginia, movie-goers looking for a trip down memory lane can get their fill of popcorn while enjoying a double feature under the stars.

Patrons can view the big screen from the privacy of their cars -- perfect for the yawn-and-stretch move -- or outside for a "tailgate" party of the sorts that sees adults chit-chatting over snacks as kids romp on the playground.

A night at the drive-in was a classic first date in mid-century America

The Family Drive-In Theater in Stephens City -- 84 miles (135 miles) west of Washington -- is one of just 300 drive-ins still in operation stateside, down from 4,000 such cinemas in the 1960s when the concept peaked, becoming intrinsic to the fabric of classic Americana.

Two films cost eight dollars and kids get in half-price at the dog-friendly venue, which opened in 1956 and is now the only drive-in left in the region.

"This is very financially beneficial for us as a family," said Debbie Williams, who came to the show with a pack of kids.

There are just 300 drive-in theaters still oeprating in the US, down from 4,000 in the 1960s

"Plus it's different," she said. "It's being outdoors, it's the fresh air, looking at the stars and not being in a crowded place."

Owner Jim Kopp says he's added contemporary features like FM stereo sound and digital projection to bring his Virginia drive-in in step with the times.

Traditionally a mainstay of the countryside, drive-ins have also started carving out a niche in urban areas.

Movie screenings at Union Market in Washington feature waitresses on rollers skates serving concessions

Once a month Washington's Union Market caters to those looking to scratch a nostalgic itch, screening films for people with cars as well as viewers with picnic blankets.

The shows even feature waitresses on roller skates who glide through the crowds serving concessions.

For teenager Josephine Crittenden, the drive-in was a relic she had only seen in mid-century films like Grease, which includes a classic date between the main characters that goes awry when Danny gets fresh with Sandy.

Perched on her family's 1968 Bronco truck for a showing of "Black Panther," Crittenden says heading to the drive-in "seems like a special occasion."

For her, the experience is all about the charm: "It kind of makes me feel like it's the old days."Benjamin Netanyahu is the first Israeli leader to visit Lithuania

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Lithuania on Thursday for a Baltic summit saying he hoped to deepen ties with eastern EU nations as Brussels blasted Israel's plans for fresh settlements in the West Bank.

Netanyahu, who has Lithuanian roots, was greeted by the Baltic country's foreign minister at Vilnius airport.

"I want to achieve a balance in the European Union's not always friendly relations with Israel in order to maintain fairer relations," Netanyahu said before boarding his plane for the first-ever visit by an Israeli premier to Lithuania.

"I am doing it through contacts with blocs of European Union countries, eastern European countries, and now with Baltic countries and other countries, of course."

But EU spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic said the bloc was "strongly opposed" to Israel's "illegal" settlement policy, calling it "an obstacle to peace".

The planned settlements "would further jeopardise the prospect of a contiguous and viable future Palestinian state," she added in a statement Thursday.

Netanyahu will meet the leaders of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia together in Vilnius during his visit which is set to last until Sunday.

He will also pay tribute to Lithuania's once vibrant Jewish culture and its tragic end during the Holocaust.

Lithuania has traditionally been one of Israel's better friends in the European Union.

The Baltic nation was behind Netanyahu's invitation to meet with EU foreign ministers in Brussels last December, irking some EU officials.

"Lithuania and the other Baltic states are probably regarded by Netanyahu as voices that could play the role of Israel's advocates inside the EU," Vilnius University professor Ramunas Vilpisauskas told AFP.

Netanyahu has regularly sought sympathetic ears within the EU, particularly among countries that can serve as a counterweight to the critical treatment Israel often receives from western European nations over its policies in the Palestinian territories it occupies.

Netanyahu has also been eager to convince European countries to exert more pressure on Iran after the United States pulled out of the nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers and reimposed sanctions -- something Israel had advocated.

The EU was one of the signatories to the Iran nuclear deal, which it has sought to salvage after the US withdrawal.

The European countries say the deal is working as intended, keeping Israel's arch-enemy Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons for now.

- Jewish heritage -

Lithuania in turn is seeking to expand defence cooperation, notably in cyber security, and wants Israel to take a tougher stance towards Russia, which the Baltic states see as their greatest security threat.

"We need to better understand each other's security challenges because security is indivisible," Deividas Matulionis, an advisor to the Lithuanian prime minister, told AFP.

Many Israelis have origins in Lithuania, including Netanyahu's grandmother, who was born in the northern town of Seduva.

His grandfather hailed from Kreva in what is now Belarus, according to Lithuanian Jewish community spokeswoman Monika Antanaityte.

Netanyahu will meet with members of the Jewish community in Lithuania and visit a memorial to Jewish Holocaust victims there.

He will also award a Lithuanian family the title of Righteous among the Nations for having saved their Jewish neighbours from the Nazis.

"We are greatly honoured that Netanyahu will pay so much attention to the Lithuanian Jewish community," community leader Faina Kukliansky told AFP.

Lithuania was once a hub of Jewish learning and home to more than 200,000 Jews before World War II.

Over 90 percent of Lithuania's Jews died during the 1941-1944 German occupation at the hands of Nazis and local collaborators.

The country's 2.9 million population today includes around 3,000 Jews.

burs-vab-amj/mas/bocThe Saudi public prosecutor is seeking the death penalty against five human rights activists, including, for the first time a woman, after charging them with incitement for documenting protests in mainly Shiite areas in the kingdom's oil-rich east

Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor is seeking the death penalty against five human rights activists, including, for the first time a woman, campaigners say.

The five stand accused of inciting mass protests in mainly Shiite areas of the Sunni-ruled kingdom's oil-rich Eastern Province and human rights groups charged that the execution threat was a calculated bid to stifle dissent.

It comes as Saudi Arabia takes an increasingly combative approach to international criticism of its human rights record, imposing a raft of sanctions against Canada after it spoke out earlier this month.

Female activist, Israa al-Ghomgham, who has documented the protests in Eastern Province since they began in 2011, would be the first woman activist to face the death sentence for rights-related work.

She was arrested at her home along with her husband in December 2015, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said in separate statements this week.

"Israa al-Ghomgham and four other individuals are now facing the most appalling possible punishment simply for their involvement in anti-government protests," said Samah Hadid, Amnesty International's Middle East director of campaigns.

"We are urging the Saudi Arabian authorities to drop these plans immediately."

Saudi officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

HRW said Ghomgham, her husband and the three other defendants face charges that "do not resemble recognisable crimes".

"Any execution is appalling, but seeking the death penalty for activists like Israa al-Ghomgham, who are not even accused of violent behaviour, is monstrous," its Middle East director Sarah Leah Whitson said.

- 'Horrifying message' -

Amnesty said the unprecedented call for a death sentence against Ghomgham was a clear attempt to scare other dissidents into silence.

"Sentencing Israa al-Ghomgham to death would send a horrifying message that other activists could be targeted in the same way for their peaceful protest and human rights activism," Hadid said.

Amnesty says at least 12 other leading activists, including eight women, have been arrested in the kingdom since May -- just before the authorities ended their decades-long ban on women driving.

Many of them had opposed both the driving ban and the wider system of statutory male "guardians" for women -- fathers, husbands or other relatives, whose permission is required to travel or get married.

Earlier this month, Canada sparked fury in Riyadh by calling for the "immediate release" of the detained activists, including award-winning women's rights campaigner Samar Badawi.

Saudi Arabia froze all new trade and investments, moved to pull out thousands of Saudi students from Canadian universities and pledged to stop all medical treatment programmes in Canada. State airline Saudia also suspended flights to Toronto.

The ultra-conservative kingdom has one of the world's highest rates of execution, with suspects convicted of terrorism, homicide, rape, armed robbery and drug trafficking facing the death penalty.

Human rights groups have repeatedly raised concerns about the fairness of trials in the kingdom, an absolute monarchy governed under a strict form of Islamic law. The government says the death penalty is an effective deterrent against serious crime.US President Donald Trump steps off Air Force One upon arrival at Yeager Airport in Charleston, West Virginia, on August 21, 2018

President Donald Trump said in an interview aired Thursday that the US economy would collapse if he were impeached.

"I will tell you what, if I ever got impeached, I think the market would crash. I think everybody would be very poor, because without this thinking, you would see -- you would see numbers that you wouldn't believe in reverse," Trump told the program Fox and Friends.

Trump was responding to a question on his mounting legal woes after his former attorney Michael Cohen said under oath that Trump instructed him to commit a felony by breaking US campaign finance laws.

The US president then launched into a rambling statement on job creation and other economic progress he said had been made during his presidency and insisted Americans would be much worse off if Hillary Clinton had won the 2016 election.

"I don't know how you can impeach somebody who has done a great job," Trump said.A member of the Libyan security forces points to a trail of blood at the site of an attack on a checkpoint in the city of Zliten, east of the capital Tripoli

An attack on a checkpoint between the Libyan capital and the town of Zliten killed six soldiers of the UN-backed unity government on Thursday, an interior ministry source said.

"The attack was carried out with grenades and light weapons at 7:45 am (0545 GMT)," Mayor Moftah Ahmadi earlier told AFP, giving a lower death toll of four.

But an interior ministry source, asking not to be named, said two others were seriously wounded and had also died, raising the number killed to six, all of them soldiers.

A building beside the checkpoint was left riddled with bullet holes and streaked with trails of blood on the ground, while the mangled remains of a car stood outside.

According to Libyan media, most of the soldiers were killed inside the building used as a rest quarters for the troops at the checkpoint in Zliten, which lies 170 kilometres (105 miles) from the capital in an area of western Libya under the control of the beleaguered Tripoli-based government.

Libyans gather at the site of an attack on a checkpoint in the city of Zliten, east of the capital Tripoli

The mayor said the checkpoint was manned by special forces from the interior ministry, on the main highway along the Mediterranean coast.

"According to preliminary reports, there were three attackers and one of them was killed in the exchange of fire," Ahmadi said, adding that the two others had escaped.

"A security perimeter has been set up in the zone around the town," the ministry source said, to hunt down the perpetrators.

Zliten security chief Mohammed Abu Hajar told Libya's Al-Nabaa television that the attack was the work of the Islamic State group, although there was no immediate claim of responsibility from the jihadists.

IS took advantage of the anarchy that reigned in Libya after the NATO-backed overthrow and killing of longtime dictator Moamer al-Kadhafi in 2011 to establish footholds in several parts of the country.

In June 2015, they seized control of Kadhafi's hometown of Sirte, only ceding it in December of the following year in the face of an offensive by the Tripoli-based government's forces and allied militias.

Libyan security patrol near the site of a deadly attack on a checkpoint in the city of Zliten, east of the capital Tripoli

The jihadists have continued the fight from rural areas of western Libya, including around Zliten, and in April the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord launched a campaign to flush them out.

The GNA has struggled to assert its authority outside western Libya since its formation in 2015.

The east, including second city Benghazi, is largely in the hands of the self-styled Libyan National Army of military strongman Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar.The epicentre of the outbreak is in North Kivu, a province where militia violence presents a major hurdle for containing the disease

Sixty-one people have died in the latest outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the authorities said, adding that four novel drugs had been added to the roster of treatments.

The health ministry's General Directorate for Combatting Disease said 103 cases of Ebola had been recorded in the eastern DRC as of August 22, 76 of which had been confirmed by laboratory tests.

Of the 103 cases, there were 61 deaths, 34 of which been confirmed by lab tests, while 27 others were considered "probable" cases of Ebola.

The outbreak began on August 1 in Mangina in North Kivu province, and cases have been reported in neighbouring Ituri province.

It is the 10th outbreak to strike the DRC since 1976, when Ebola was first identified and named after a river in the north of the country.

The health ministry added that "four additional experimental therapeutic molecules" had been approved by its ethics committee for treating infected patients.

Their laboratory names are ZMapp; Remdesivir; Favipiravir; and Regn3450 - 3471 - 3479.

The drugs -- which have not been licensed but undergone safety trials -- add to a prototype treatment called mAb114, whose use was announced on August 14.

The first therapeutic drug against the virus to be used in an active Ebola epidemic in the DRC, mAB114, has so far been given to 10 patients "who are responding positively," the ministry said.

Developed in the United States, the prototype drug is a so-called single monoclonal antibody -- a protein that binds on to a specific target of the virus and triggers the body's immune system to destroy the invader.

The experimental treatments are being used alongside an unlicensed vaccine called rVSV-ZEBOV, which was shown to be safe and effective in previous trials in an Ebola epidemic in West Africa.

Immunisation with rVSV-ZEBOV has been given to 2,179 front-line health workers, the ministry said.

The WHO has expressed concern that the violence in the province Kivu -- entailing militias who often fight for control of resources, including a notorious Ugandan rebel force called the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) -- could hamper the fight against rolling back the disease.

The outbreak in eastern DRC was declared a week after WHO and the government hailed the end of a flareup in northwestern Equateur province, at the other end of the vast country, which killed 33 people.

The government has earmarked $43 million (37 million euros) to fight the latest scare.

Ebola is a highly contagious haemorrhagic fever caused by a virus which is believed to have a natural home in species of tropical bats.

It causes serious illness including vomiting, diarrhoea and in some cases internal and external bleeding. It is often fatal.

In the worst Ebola epidemic, the disease struck the West African states of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone in 2013-15, killing more than 11,300 people.Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mngangagwa succeeded long-time ruler Robert Mugabe who was ousted in November 2017 following a brief military takeover

Zimbabwe police on Thursday dropped charges against a man who allegedly insulted President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Robert Mugabe's successor, in a Facebook post, lawyers said.

Munyaradzi Shoko, a well-known critic of Mnangagwa, was held after he posted statements on Facebook saying the president's name was "generally associated with evil and devilish deeds."

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights spokesman Kumbirai Mafunda said Shoko was detained at Harare central police station on Wednesday and charged with criminal nuisance.

Shoko, who heads the pressure group Children of Zimbabwe War Veterans Association, was also charged with public violence for allegedly taking part in protests by opposition supporters after July 30 elections.

At least six people were killed after soldiers opened fire at the protests.

"At court today they dropped the criminal nuisance and public violence charges," Mafunda said, alleging Shoko was assaulted by police while detained.

The police were not immediately available to comment.

Mngangagwa won the presidential election, though the results are being challenged in court.

The government and security forces have been accused of a violent crackdown on MDC opposition supporters since the vote.

Mngangagwa succeeded long-time ruler Mugabe who was ousted in November 2017 following a brief military takeover.As Washington grapples with the latest upheaval in Trump's stormy presidency, the brash leader appears adamant on riding it out

US President Donald Trump warned Thursday the US economy would collapse if he were impeached, as legal chaos roiling the White House has experts saying his presidency is under threat.

Days after Trump's former fixer Michael Cohen told a federal judge he made illegal campaign contributions at the president's request -- to silence women alleging affairs with Trump -- the Republican leader told Fox News that an impeachment would only cause more turmoil.

"I will tell you what, if I ever got impeached, I think the market would crash. I think everybody would be very poor," Trump said on "Fox and Friends." "You would see -- you would see numbers that you wouldn't believe in reverse."

The US president then launched into a rambling statement on job creation and other economic progress he said had been made during his presidency.

"I don't know how you can impeach somebody who has done a great job," Trump said.

Trump was dealt severe back-to-back blows on Tuesday when Cohen pled guilty to illegal campaign finance violations and former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort was convicted of tax and bank fraud within minutes of each other.

The Manafort conviction was the first case sent to trial by the special prosecutor probing Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

But an unchastened Trump appears intent on riding out the storm as Washington grapples with the latest upheaval in his tumultuous presidency.

The president has insisted he did nothing wrong after Cohen, his longtime private lawyer and fixer, implicated him in the illicit hush payments made before the 2016 election to two women who claimed to have had affairs with the Republican presidential candidate.

Although Cohen did not name them, the women were believed to be porn star Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal.

Because the hush payments were intended to influence the outcome of the elections, they violated US laws governing campaign contributions.

In entering a guilty plea, Cohen said the payments were made "in coordination with and at the direction of a candidate for federal office," in clear reference to Trump.

Trump was evasive when asked in the Fox News interview if he had instructed Cohen to make the payments, saying that his former lawyer "made the deals," and insisted that Cohen's actions were "not a crime."

"Campaign violations are considered not a big deal, frankly," he said.

Trump then said the hush payments were financed with his own money -- to which Cohen had access -- and that while he had no knowledge of them at the time, he had since been fully transparent.

- Presidential pardon? -

Despite Trump's defiant tone, Washington-based campaign finance expert Kate Belinski, of the Nossaman law firm, said to expect legal consequences for both Trump and his campaign -- most likely in the form of a civil complaint before the Federal Election Commission.

In addition to the two counts of violating campaign finance laws, Cohen also has pled guilty to six counts of fraud.

In the sit-down with Fox, Trump slammed his once close associate for "flipping," saying it "almost ought to be outlawed."

Trump conversely praised Manafort for going to trial -- where the president's former campaign chief was found guilty of eight counts of financial fraud.

The US president lauded the 69-year-old Manafort for leaving his fate to a jury rather than striking a plea deal -- a move that has sparked speculation Manafort hopes for a pardon.

Asked if he was considering such a move, Trump said only that he has "great respect for what he has done, in terms of what he has gone through."

"One of the reasons I respect Paul Manafort so much is he went through that trial," Trump said.US Jesuit priest James Martin speaks at the World Meeting of Families in Dublin on August 23, 2018

Gay people in the Catholic Church are sometimes "treated like dirt", according to a priest invited by the Vatican to address a conference on families in Dublin on Thursday ahead of a visit by Pope Francis.

US Jesuit priest James Martin preaches openness towards gay Roman Catholics -- in the face of some traditionalists who have tried to shut him down.

He spoke at the 2018 World Meeting of Families (WMOF) in Dublin, a global Catholic gathering that takes place every three years, which opened on Tuesday.

"The inclusion of a talk called 'Showing Respect and Welcome in Our Parishes to LGBT Catholics and their Families' is a huge step forward," Martin told AFP.

"It is a sign to all Catholics that the Vatican considers LGBT Catholics part of the Church," said the author of a bestselling book which reaches out to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Christians.

Pope Francis closes the WMF on Saturday and Sunday.

The gathering has featured talks and speeches, including that given by Martin, who runs the Jesuit magazine entitled America.

However, several groups, including the Global Network of Rainbow Catholics, which brings together LGBT associations from around the world, said they have been denied a platform.

Meanwhile, the Irish branch of a traditionalist US Catholic movement had called for the Archbishop of Dublin to cancel Martin's visit.

"What kind of Jesuit would I be if I let online hatred prevent me from speaking about compassion?" said the priest, who has also been targeted with a boycott in the United States.

- Insulted from the pulpit -

US Jesuit priest James Martin saod gay people in the Catholic Church are sometimes 'treated like dirt'

The pope's visit to Ireland to celebrate families inevitably revived the debate on homosexuality and the Church, especially given that Ireland voted to legalise same-sex marriage in 2015.

Pope Francis sticks with Church tradition on marriage: the union of a man and a woman to procreate.

"Today -- it hurts to say this -- we talk about 'diversified' families: different types of families... But the human family as an image of God, man and woman, is only one," he said in June.

But in 2013, just months after assuming the papacy, he said: "If someone is gay and is searching for the Lord and has good will, then who am I to judge him?", signifying a softer tone.

Martin deplores the Church's treatment of homosexuals in certain countries as "pariahs" in their own parishes.

"I've heard the most incredible stories of LGBT people being treated like dirt," he said.

"They are often insulted: both publicly, from the pulpit, and privately, in one-on-one conversations."

He added: "I'm not challenging any of the church teachings on homosexuality. But we do have to ponder why so many LGBT Catholics have set aside church teaching."

- Change of tone -

Martin said Francis is the first pope to use the word 'gay'

Martin said Pope Francis's stance on homosexual relationships was the same as that of his predecessors.

"What has changed is the tone, approach and language," he said.

"His five most famous words may be 'Who am I to judge?,' which were first said in response to a question about gay priests, and were later expanded to include all gays.

"Francis is the first pope, for that matter, to even use the word 'gay'."

Martin continued: "I would not categorise him as a 'progressive' but simply as a compassionate man.

"Pope Francis is trying to reach out to those on the margins both in society -- refugees, migrants, the poor -- and in the Church.

"And in the Church there is no one more marginalised than the LGBT person."

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, who is openly gay, was a strong backer of legalising same-sex marriage in the country's 2015 referendum.

He has pledged to press the cause of gay and single-parent families with Pope Francis when he meets the pontiff on Saturday.Surfers ride southshore swells generated by Lane on Waikiki Beach, Hawaii

Torrential rain continued to pound Hawaii from Tropical Storm Lane, as officials warned Saturday that a foot or more of precipitation was still possible and cautioned that "we are not out of the woods yet."

The storm, which was earlier downgraded from a hurricane, was sitting nearly stationary about 130 miles (210 kilometers) south-southwest of capital city Honolulu, with maximum sustained winds of 65 miles per hour, just short of hurricane force.

It was expected to pass south of the islands of Kauai and Niihau later Saturday as it moves gradually to the west and away from Hawaii, according to the Pacific Hurricane Center.

The storm's outer bands continued to dump enough rain to trigger landslides -- several of which blocked the main island's Highway 19, a major thoroughfare -- and causing severe flooding in many areas.

Officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency said in a telephone briefing Saturday that even after Lane passes, wet conditions will continue through much of next week, bringing up to 10 inches (25 centimeters) of additional rain in already saturated lower areas and twice that much at higher elevations.

So while emergency planners pointed on Saturday to some positive metrics -- anticipated large-scale power outages had not materialized, food and water supplies remained sufficient, and the number of people staying in emergency shelters had declined overnight -- they urged Hawaiians to remain cautious.

"Today's message to the citizens of Hawaii is, don't let your guard down," said FEMA Administrator Brock Long.

Another top FEMA official, Jeffrey Byard, echoed that, saying, "We are not out of the woods yet, far from it."

Heavy rain from the slow-moving storm "will continue to impact the Hawaiian islands into the weekend, leading to catastrophic and life-threatening flash flooding and landslides," the National Weather Center said.

Brad Kieserman with the American Red Cross told reporters on a conference call that 1,100 people had sheltered overnight in 45 evacuation centers. That was down from 2,000 the night before.

He had feared worse, and he called the decline a positive sign.

But Vice Admiral Daniel Abel of the US Coast Guard warned that, with widespread flooding and surf up to 14 feet, conditions remain hazardous.

"Any time you encounter the water it's going to be dangerous," he said. "Stay away from the water, stay away from trouble."

- 'Whiteout' conditions -

People look for storm swells generated by the approaching Hurricane Lane in Waikiki Beach, Honolulu

Almost 25 inches (60 centimeters) of rain fell on the iconic Waikiki Beach in the last 36 hours, forcing its closure as hoteliers and store owners piled sandbags outside their businesses.

The mainly rural Big Island -- home to the still-erupting Kilauea Volcano -- has taken the worst hit so far, with more than 30 inches of rain in about 24 hours.

Experts warned of "whiteout conditions" -- steam loaded with particles and toxic gases produced when cool moisture hits lava -- as the storm passes.

Lane should have little effect on the eruption "aside from minor rockfalls at the summit and increased steaming" from two vents, the US Geological Survey said.

However "whiteout conditions could occur... due to steam produced by heavy rain falling on still-hot lava flows."

The different parts and structure of a hurricane

- Flight cancellations -

United, Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines have canceled some or all international and domestic flights.

The last major storm to strike Hawaii was nearly three decades ago, when Hurricane Iniki hit the island of Kauai, leaving six dead and causing billions of dollars in damage.

Federal officials have worked with Hawaiian utility managers to monitor the power grid, a major vulnerability in Puerto Rico last year when it was hit by Hurricane Maria, a powerful Category Four hurricane.

Hurricane-related deaths in Puerto Rico have been estimated at as many as 4,600 people, largely because prolonged and widespread power outages and washed out roads prevented access to health care, US researchers said.

But FEMA's Byard said that as Tropical Storm Lane passes Hawaii, "we're not seeing large power outages."The headquarters of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in Washington

The Democratic Party said Thursday that a reported attempt to hack its voter database using a fake website ahead of the November mid-term election was an unauthorized test by a third party.

DNC Chief Security Officer Bob Lord said in a statement that the party and its security partners "now believe it was built by a third party as part of a simulated phishing test on VoteBuilder," the party's crucial computerized files on voters.

"The test, which mimicked several attributes of actual attacks on the Democratic party's voter file, was not authorized by the DNC, VoteBuilder nor any of our vendors," Lord said.

The phishing website, which if real could have helped attackers siphon off data, steal passwords and insert malware, revived the specter of Russia's hugely consequential cyber-theft of party communications in the 2016 presidential election.

US intelligence bodies say that in 2016 hackers from Russia's GRU intelligence agency broke into Democratic Party networks, stealing documents and communications that were later leaked out to embarrass Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

Lord said the DNC in any case took quick action to protect its systems once the phishing website was reported.

"There are constant attempts to hack the DNC and our Democratic infrastructure," he said.

"While we are extremely relieved that this wasn't an attempted intrusion by a foreign adversary, this incident is further proof that we need to continue to be vigilant in light of potential attacks."Japan's Rikako Ikee won her fifth gold medal of the Asian Games.

Japan's golden girl Rikako Ikee created a slice of history while Singapore's Olympic swim champion Joseph Schooling edged a nail-biter in the 50m butterfly at the Asian Games on Thursday.

The irrepressible Ikee propelled Japan to victory in the women's 4x100m medley relay in Jakarta to equal countrywoman Yoshimi Nishigawa's five gold medals at the regional multi-sport event in both 1970 and 1974.

"I feel a bit broken and my body aches," said Ikee, who can win a record sixth gold in Friday's 50m freestyle. "But the joy I get from winning blows all those thoughts away.

"I'm proud to be an Asian champion, but I want to achieve more," she added. "I don't feel pressure -- I thrive on it."

Japanese swimmers finished the evening with 17 gold medals, one ahead of China as the fierce rivals head into the final day like a pair of punch-drunk boxers unable to land the killer blow.

Ikee, who has emerged as one of Japan's brightest hopes for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, crushed the third leg, the butterfly, as the favourites stormed to gold in a new Games record of 3:54.73.

Drama followed as China were disqualified for an illegal changeover, while South Korea were also thrown out, gifting silver and bronze to Hong Kong and Singapore.

But once again the magic came from Ikee, who has also scooped gold in the 50m fly, 100m fly, 100m free and the 4x100m free in a sparkling week.

Also pocketing two silver medals, the 18-year-old matched countryman Kosuke Hagino's haul of seven at a breakout 2014 Asian Games.

"It's been a real battle with China," said Ikee. "I just want to end on a high note tomorrow."

- Fingertip win -

Schooling, who shocked Michael Phelps in the 100m fly in Rio two years ago to capture Singapore's first Olympic title in any sport, beat China's Wang Peng by a fingertip to win the one-lap final in 23.61.

"It was very, very, very close," said the 23-year-old, who retained his Asian 100m title earlier in the week with a little more to spare.

"I didn't know who won until the end. I had to look up at the board -- I almost couldn't believe it actually. It feels great, it was another huge week."

China's Xu Jiayu completed the backstroke treble, thrashing Ryosuke Irie in the 200m final for his fourth gold medal of the meet.

"My first target was the backstroke treble -- job done," said Xu, who clocked 1:53.99.

"Now I'll try to make it five out of five in the medley relay."

Japan's Shinri Shioura won the men's 100m freestyle in 48.71, pipping countryman Katsumi Nakamura to go one better than at the 2014 Asian Games.

China's Yu Hexin, winner of the 50m free, faded badly to finish with bronze.

Japan's Satomi Suzuki retained her title in the women's 50m breaststroke in a Games record 30.83 to complete the 50-100m double, with Singapore's Ho Ru En Roanne a distant second.

Wang Jianjiahe smashed the women's 800m freestyle final in 8:18.55 -- almost 10 seconds clear of close friend Li Bingjie in a battle of Chinese 16-year-olds with bright futures in the sport.Mark Wilson/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who has endured a rocky relationship with Donald Trump for months, has issued his strongest pushback yet against the president, saying in a statement Thursday that the Department of Justice "will not be improperly influenced by political considerations."



When asked whether he will "fire Sessions" in an interview that aired on Fox News Thursday morning, Trump took aim at his attorney general, with whom he has waged both open and low-level warfare since Sessions recused himself from the Russia probe early last year.



"I said 'What kind of a man is this?'" Trump said during the interview. The president also said Sessions failed to take control of the DOJ.



"The only reason I gave him the job -- I felt loyalty."



Sessions was scheduled to be at an early afternoon White House meeting with Trump and senior adviser Jared Kushner on prison reform.



A top Republican senator came to Sessions' defense Thursday afternoon.



I think those of us whove worked with Jeff Sessions for the last 15 years or more know him to be an honorable man, somebody whos dedicated not only to rule of law, but also to the Department of Justice," Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, said, according to his office.



"Hes a quintessential Boy Scout in that respect. And I know this is a difficult position for him to be in but I think it would be bad for the country, it would be bad for the president, it would be bad for the Department of Justice for him to be forced out under these circumstances. So I hope he stays the course and I hope cooler heads prevail, Cornyn said, according to his office.



Trump this week has taken several shots at the Justice Department under Sessions, who was one of Trump's earliest supporters during the 2016 campaign, even putting quotation marks around the word "Justice" in a tweet.



In the statement from Sessions, the attorney general said that he "took control of the Department of Justice the day I was sworn in, which is why we have had unprecedented success at effectuating the Presidents agenda."



"While I am Attorney General, the actions of the Department of Justice will not be improperly influenced by political considerations," the statement read. "I demand the highest standards, and where they are not met, I take action."



Thursday's statement from Sessions was his most forceful and direct pushback against the president since March, when Trump rebuked Sessions for referring Republican accusations of government surveillance abuses to the Justice Department's inspector general, rather than having the broader Justice Department investigate the matter.



"Why is A.G. Jeff Sessions asking the Inspector General to investigate potentially massive FISA abuse. Will take forever, has no prosecutorial power and already late with reports on Comey etc. Isn't the I.G. an Obama guy? Why not use Justice Department lawyers? DISGRACEFUL!" Trump tweeted at the time.



In response, Sessions issued a statement saying, "As long as I am the Attorney General, I will continue to discharge my duties with integrity and honor, and this Department will continue to do its work in a fair and impartial manner according to the law and Constitution."

Copyright  2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.File picture of Teodorin Obiang Nguema -- son of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema and the country's vice president -- at a distribution of gifts to disadvantaged children in 2014

Equatorial Guinea's lawmakers have been banned from foreign travel unless authorised by Vice President Teodorin Nguema Obiang, the president's son, according to a note from the presidency obtained by AFP on Thursday.

"On the grounds of national interest," lawmakers must submit a request to travel abroad to the head of the National Assembly or the Senate "with the agreement of the vice president," said the note dated July 27.

Some lawmakers in Malabo confirmed the information to AFP.

In June, the country's civil servants were hit with a similar ban.

According to sources, the move is linked to an attempted coup that took place in December, the details of which were announced by the Equatorial Guinean government in January.

The authorities say the operation involved a group of men from Chad, the Central African Republic (CAR) and Sudan, but some of the ringleaders were civil servants who had travelled to Europe in late 2017.

Several foreign nationals have also been accused of fomenting the thwarted coup.

It was followed by the arrests of scores of opposition activists and the banning of their party, the Citizens for Innovation (CI), purportedly over scuffles that took place before legislative elections last November.

The CI has been calling for the release of its jailed members, saying the president had failed to uphold a promise of amnesty announced in July which was supposed to smooth the way for a "national dialogue".

President Teodoro Obiang Nguema has ruled the small, oil-rich state with an iron fist since August 1979.

His son Teodorin, aged 49, was handed a three-year suspended prison term by a French court last year and fined 30 million euros ($35 million) for money laundering, corruption and abuse of public assets.

He was found to have embezzled 150 million euros to fund his lavish lifestyle, which included a six-storey mansion on the upscale Avenue Foch in Paris.Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, with her husband Richard and daughter Gabriella has been in an Iranian prison for more than two years

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian woman who has been in prison in Tehran for more than two years on sedition charges, has been released for three days, her husband said Thursday.

"Nazanin was released from Evin prison on furlough this morning. Initially the release is for three days -- her lawyer is hopeful this can be extended," Richard Ratcliffe said in a statement.

Ratcliffe said his wife was currently with her parents and their four-year-old daughter Gabriella in Damavand, a resort near Tehran.

"This was a very happy surprise after a number of false dawns recently, which had been increasingly unsettling," he said.

"Our thanks to all those involved in making this possible in Tehran and London, and to the new Foreign Secretary (Jeremy Hunt) for all his recent efforts and considerations."

Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who works for the Thomson Reuters Foundation -- the media organisation's philanthropic arm -- was arrested at Tehran airport in April 2016.

She is serving a five-year jail sentence for alleged sedition -- a charge she has always denied.

Campaigners have staged protests to demand the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe

Ratcliffe and his supporters have held multiple protests and vigils in London to ask for her release in the past two years.

The Free Nazanin campaign said that after several weeks of bureaucracy over her possible temporary furlough, Zaghari-Ratcliffe was told earlier on Thursday that she had 10 minutes to get ready because she was being released.

She was not allowed to call her family and had to borrow a phone from someone outside the prison to call her brother, who lives in Tehran, to pick her up.

She then called her husband and the British embassy and travelled to join the rest of her Iranian family in Damavand.

"I cried so much. I felt so overwhelmed," she was quoted as saying in the statement released by The Free Nazanin campaign, which is run by her husband.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe was told she must return to prison on Sunday and the two conditions of her release are that she not give any media interviews or visit the grounds of any foreign embassy.

Bail for her temporary release was set at 1 billion rials ($23,840, 20,590 euros), with her family's home in Tehran used as collateral, according to the campaign.Air France, which had run connections to Tehran via its low-cost operator Joon, said it would axe the route on September 18 due to "poor commercial viability"

Air France and British Airways announced Thursday that they will halt flights to Tehran next month, citing low profitability as the US reimposes sanctions on Iran.

Air France, which had run connections to the Iranian capital via its low-cost operator Joon, said it would axe the route on September 18, blaming "poor commercial viability".

The French carrier had already cut down on its Paris to Tehran connections from three a week to just one earlier this month, its communications service said.

British Airways had announced shortly earlier that it was axeing its London to Tehran service as it was "currently not commercially viable".

The last outbound flight to Tehran will be on September 22, and the last inbound flight from Tehran will be on September 23, the British flag-carrier added.

"We are suspending our London to Tehran service as the operation is currently not commercially viable," British Airways said

British Airways said its decision was unrelated to US President Donald Trump's imposition of new sanctions on Iran, which has affected foreign businesses operating in the country, with many pulling out altogether.

Dutch carrier KLM said last month that it was also suspending Tehran flights due to "negative results and financial outlook".

The airline said it was in discussions with partner airlines to offer customers rebooking options, or would offer full refunds.

burs-kjl/rlUS Secretary of State Mike Pompeo calls on new Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to act on "terrorists" inside his country

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pressed new Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan in a phone call to take "decisive action" against "terrorists" operating in Pakistan, the State Department said Thursday.

Pompeo wished Khan success in the wake of his being sworn in as prime minister in Islamabad Saturday following victory in July 25's elections, said State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert.

"Secretary Pompeo expressed his willingness to work with the new government towards a productive bilateral relationship," Nauert said in a statement.

He also "raised the importance of Pakistan taking decisive action against all terrorists operating in Pakistan and its vital role in promoting the Afghan peace process."

Pakistan's Foreign Office Spokesman Mohammad Faisal denied in a tweet that the issue of terrorism had been discussed at all.

"Pakistan takes exception to the factually incorrect statement issued by US State Dept on today's phone call btwn PM Khan & Sec Pompeo," he wrote.

"There was no mention at all in the conversation about terrorists operating in Pakistan."

But Nauert later stuck by her original statement.

Washington has pressured Pakistan for years to crack down on the branches of the Taliban and the notorious Haqqani network operating in the country, both of which have been designated as terror groups by the United States.

Ties with the US cooled in January when President Donald Trump accused Pakistan of "lies" and "duplicity" in the war on terror, suspending military assistance worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Khan has raised concerns that he will remain tolerant of the groups, willing to hold talks with the militants and having sought support in the election from religious hardliners.

Before the election he repeatedly blamed Pakistan's participation in the US-led anti-terror campaign for the surge in terrorism on home soil over the last decade.An official in a protective suit gestures towards migrants as they sit on the deck of the Italian coastguard vessel "Diciotti" in the Sicilian port of Catania

Libya has refused to take in a group of 177 migrants stranded on an Italian coastguard boat off a Sicilian port after Rome insisted they would not be allowed to disembark.

Italy's Interior Minister Matteo Salvini threatened earlier this week to return the migrants to the North African country unless other European governments offered to take some of them in.

But Mohamed Siala, foreign minister of the UN-backed Libyan unity government, said that "Libya does not accept this unjust and illegal measure because it already has more than 700,000 migrants" on its territory.

In a statement late Wednesday, he called on the international community "to put pressure on the countries of departure to repatriate their nationals", adding that Libya had only served as a transit point.

The Italian boat "Diciotti" arrived on Monday night off the Sicilian port of Catania.

Plunged into chaos following the fall and killing of longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi in a 2011 NATO-backed uprising, Libya has become a prime transit point for sub-Saharan African migrants making dangerous clandestine bids to reach Europe.

The country takes in migrants whose boats are intercepted in its waters by the Libyan coastguard, but it has repeatedly rejected those rescued by foreign navies or by humanitarian organisations off its coast.The migrants were rescued by the Diciotti vessel overnight on August 15 in a new drama that has sparked a political row within Italy while also prompting Salvini to renew accusations that fellow EU states were shirking their responsibilities

A week after the Italian coastguard rescued nearly 200 migrants, Interior Minister Matteo Salvini on Thursday restated his refusal to let them land in Italy and accused EU partners of inaction.

"No one will land in Italy without my authorisation," Salvini, of the far-right League party, said in a radio interview.

The migrants were rescued by the Diciotti vessel overnight on August 15 in a new drama that has drawn sharp criticism from the left, with former Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni of the centre-left Democratic Party branding Salvini's handling of the situation a "national disgrace".

Salvini meanwhile has renewed accusations that fellow EU states are shirking their responsibilities.

In a Facebook post he accused several European countries, including Germany and Spain, of reneging on an agreement to take migrants who were allowed to land in the Sicilian port of Pozzallo in July.

"Why should we trust them this time? Before asking for the disembarkation of the Diciotti, Europe should give us explanations. I'm not backing down."

Thirteen of the some 190 migrants were allowed off for health reasons on the island of Lampedusa before the vessel carried on to the Sicilian port of Catania.

Thirteen of the some 190 migrants were allowed off for health reasons on the island of Lampedusa before the vessel carried on to the Sicilian port of Catania

Late Wednesday, Salvini agreed to allow 27 unaccompanied minors off the boat but the rest remain trapped on board, despite calls from the UNHCR and aid agencies for them to be allowed off.

Salvini insists those who remain on board are "illegal immigrants" and do not have the right to humanitarian protection accorded to refugees.

The nationalities of those still on board is not clear but according to Save the Children almost all of the children who were allowed off on Wednesday are from Eritrea, whose regime of compulsory military service has been likened to slavery by the UN.

A psychologist from Medecin Sans Frontieres (MSF), Nathalie Leiba, who treated some of the minors allowed off the boat, said many of them were "exhausted and confused".

"One of them couldn't see well, he had dilated pupils, he told me that he had been detained (in Libya) in the dark for a year," she said.

Aid workers from Save The Children have been allowed access on to the boat, as well as monitors from a public body which safeguards detainees' rights.

Prosecutors in the Sicilian city of Agrigento have opened an inquiry into "abduction" over the Diciotti case and according to Italian media reports President Sergio Mattarella has privately expressed concerns that the row could damage Italy's image abroad.

- 'Unfair and illegal' -

But Salvini has thrived on the controversy and the opportunity to present himself as in tune with public opinion.

"There is an inquiry under way, we will see," he said. "I have broad shoulders. I think the majority of Italians agree with me."

Opinion polls suggest that his stance is benefiting the League, whose approval rating has risen to around 30 percent -- 10 points up from its showing in March elections -- and is now level with the populist Five Star Movement (M5S) with which it has formed a government.

The European Commission said it wanted "a swift resolution so that the people on board can be safely disembarked as soon as possible"

For its part the European Commission said Thursday it wanted "a swift resolution so that the people on board can be safely disembarked as soon as possible".

"We are stepping up our pro-active work to find a long-term, durable, European solution," Commission spokesman Alexander Winterstein told reporters.

He added that a meeting of high-level representatives from around a dozen member states would be held on Friday to discuss the issue.

If no European solution to the Diciotti case is found, Salvini has repeatedly threatened to send the migrants back to Libya.

"Either Europe begins to seriously defend its borders and shares the relocation of immigrants, or we will start taking them back to the port that they left," he tweeted on Tuesday.

Mohamad Siala, foreign minister in Libya's UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), shot back late on Wednesday that such a move would be "unfair and illegal" given that Libya already has "more than 700,000 migrants" on its territory.

According to the interior ministry, migrant arrivals are more than 80 per cent down on the same period last year, with 19,526 arriving up to August 23, as opposed to 98,076 in 2017.The US has a $25 million bounty on the head of IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi

The US-led coalition said Thursday the leadership of the Islamic State group was now "irrelevant" after IS issued an audio message it said was by its chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Coalition spokesman Colonel Sean Ryan's statement came after Baghdadi called on Muslims to wage "jihad" in the purported recording released late Wednesday.

"He's been rendered useless and ineffective, so we're not too concerned by any comments coming from ISIS leadership," Ryan said, using another acronym for the jihadist group.

Baghdadi has been pronounced dead on several occasions, but an Iraqi intelligence official said in May that he remains alive in Syrian territory by the Iraqi border.

His last purported message was released in September 2017, shortly after forces backed by the US-led coalition expelled IS from its de facto capital of Raqa.

"We believe his leadership is irrelevant," Ryan told journalists in a conference call.

"We're focused on defeating the last remnants of ISIS, so whether he is around or not doesn't really matter."

Originally from Iraq, Baghdadi has been dubbed the "most wanted man on the planet" and the United States is offering a $25 million reward for his capture.

IS overran large swathes of Syria and neighbouring Iraq in 2014 and proclaimed a "caliphate" in territory it controlled, but has since lost most of it to various offensives.

In Syria, IS fighters still hold a pocket of territory in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor, and are present in the vast desert stretching from Damascus to the Iraqi border.

In Deir Ezzor, Russia-backed regime forces have pushed back the jihadists to the west of the Euphrates River, while the Syrian Democratic Forces, a Kurdish-Arab alliance backed by the coalition, have fought them on its eastern banks.

Ryan said the SDF were now preparing to expel the jihadists from their Deir Ezzor holdout, though no ground offensive had yet started.

"We have our mission and that is to defeat them in the lower Euphrates River Valley and that is what we're going to do," he said.

The SDF have for months been trying to expel the jihadists from the pocket, which includes the town of Hajeen.

"It has taken a while because ISIS has left behind hundreds of improvised explosive devices, which slows progress," said Ryan.

Other priorities included properly preparing fighters and "making sure that the civilians can get out without being harmed", he said.

In Wednesday's recording, Baghdadi threatened the United States and Russia with "horrors", and said that "IS is not confined to Hajeen".

Despite setbacks on the battlefield, IS has retained its ability to carry out large-scale attacks, including one last month in the southern province of Sweida that killed more than 250 people.

But Ryan said the group was "down to their last fighters".

"They're looking for spectacular attacks that make themselves seem relevant when really they're militarily defeated almost, except for the area that we're about to go into," Ryan said.Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, pictured with her husband Richard and daughter Gabriella, has been in an Iranian prison for more than two years

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian woman who has been in prison in Tehran for more than two years following a conviction for sedition, was freed for three days on Thursday.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe was reunited with members of her family including her young daughter outside the Iranian capital after her surprise release.

"Nazanin was released from Evin prison on furlough this morning. Initially the release is for three days -- her lawyer is hopeful this can be extended," her husband Richard Ratcliffe said in a statement.

Ratcliffe said his wife, who has denied all charges filed against her in Iran, was currently with her parents and their four-year-old daughter Gabriella in Damavand, a mountain resort near Tehran.

"I cried so much. I felt so overwhelmed," she said of the reunion, according to a statement released by The Free Nazanin campaign, which is run by her husband.

Her husband voiced thanks to those in Tehran and London involved in making the release happen, including Britain's new Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

"This was a very happy surprise after a number of false dawns recently, which had been increasingly unsettling," her husband said.

Hunt, who met Ratcliffe in London earlier this month after he was appointed as Britain's top diplomat in July, called her temporary release "really good news" and paid tribute to the "tireless campaigning by husband Richard and her friends".

"But being in prison AT ALL is gross injustice and she must be PERMANENTLY released for which every effort will continue," he wrote on Twitter.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who works for the Thomson Reuters Foundation -- the media organisation's philanthropic arm -- was arrested at Tehran airport in April 2016.

She is serving a five-year jail sentence for sedition -- a charge she has always contested.

Hunt's predecessor Boris Johnson came under heavy criticism after appearing to jeopardise her defence last year by saying she was training journalists during her visit -- something her employer and family strongly deny.

Johnson later clarified his remarks, saying it was clear that she was only on holiday.

Campaigners have staged protests to demand the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe

Ratcliffe and his supporters have held multiple protests and vigils in London to seek her release, attracting celebrity support from the likes of Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson.

- 'Had to borrow a phone' -

The Free Nazanin campaign said she was told on Thursday she had just 10 minutes to get ready because she was being released.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe was not allowed to call her family and had to borrow a phone from someone outside the prison to call her brother, who lives in Tehran, to pick her up.

She then called her husband and the British embassy and travelled to join the rest of her Iranian family, including her grandmother and daughter, in Damavand.

"I wasn't expecting it at all when it was mentioned two weeks ago," she was quoted as saying by the campaign.

"I didn't tell Gabriella or for a long time my mum -- so if it didn't happen I would be the only one to suffer."

Zaghari-Ratcliffe was told she must return to prison on Sunday and the two conditions of her release are that she not give any media interviews or visit the grounds of any foreign embassy.

Bail for her temporary release was set at one billion rials ($23,800, 20,600 euros), with her family's home in Tehran used as collateral, the campaign said.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe's lawyers will on Saturday ask the authorities to extend her furlough, it added.

"Nazanin has a number of cellmates who were released initially for three days, but who are still on furlough over a month later," the campaign statement said.Experts tracking the Islamic State group cannot agree on how many active members it still has, not least because much of its former territory remains an inaccessible warzone

Dramatically weakened on the ground, the Islamic State group faces military defeat in its one-time "caliphate" -- but experts say it is almost impossible to know how many members it still has.

Online, IS propaganda claims it is undefeated in what's left of its territory -- a small patch of eastern Syria -- which is a fraction of the land it once controlled spanning the war-wracked country and neighbouring Iraq.

Claims of responsibility for deadly attacks in Syria as well as disparate acts of violence, such as Thursday's stabbings near Paris, are intended to keep the organisation in the news.

But experts tracking the jihadist group's every move cannot agree on how many active members it still has, not least because much of its former territory remains an inaccessible warzone.

The Soufan Group, a security consultancy, noted that in December the US-led coalition had estimated the number of IS fighters across Iraq and Syria at 1,000.

Last week, in contrast, the US Defense Department estimated there could be up to 17,000 left in Iraq and 14,000 in Syria.

United Nations observers gave yet another estimate in a recent report -- somewhere between 20,000 and 30,000 between Iraq and Syria.

"The wild swings in estimates have been a hallmark of the anti-IS campaign since its inception in 2014," the Soufan Group said.

Spawned from Islamist movements present in Iraq for years, IS' ranks were quickly swelled by volunteer fighters, arriving first from around the Middle East and then the world.

Since the foreign fighters arrived via clandestine border crossings, international intelligence agencies have always had to make do with estimates.

- Bodies under the rubble -

A picture of an Islamic State (IS) group flag (L) and an Iraqi national flag in the northern Iraqi town of Sharqat

"Today, the main pitfall in reaching a trustworthy figure is that we do not know how many among their ranks have been killed in coalition operations, Russian operations, Iraqi or Turkish operations," said French terror expert Jean-Charles Brisard.

"The bodies of jihadists killed in these air raids are in many cases still under the rubble -- no one will find them," said Brisard, head of the Center for the Analysis of Terrorism (CAT).

"So, until we know for sure that they have been killed, they're considered to be still alive. Some are even still taken to court in absentia."

Tore Hamming, an expert on Islamic extremism at the European University Institute, an academic centre in Italy, believes the UN estimate is much too generous to the jihadists.

"I don't believe the numbers, but I also think it is impossible to assess," he said.

"First you need to define what an IS fighter or member is.... back in 2015 some spoke of IS being a 200,000-strong force because they included people working in the IS administration," he added.

"The new number, does that only cover people with a gun, or everybody working for the cause of IS? Nobody knows."

Another factor in the uncertainty, Brisard said, is that the border between Turkey and Syria remains porous.

Turkey has reinforced its borders since the Syrian war began in 2011, but IS continues to use local smugglers to help fighters to cross it.

"Many jihadists have crossed illegally into Turkey and are still there, waiting to be able to go to another area where (IS) is operating," Brisard said.

"The precise numbers will remain uncertain. All that we know is that there are redeployments towards other places -- Pakistan, Afghanistan, the Philippines."

As IS shifts towards a strategy of encouraging lone-wolf attacks, the Soufan Group said it had "slipped from a proto-state back to an insurgent group".

Yet it added: "It remains among the most powerful terrorist groups in history, with no shortage of weapons or willing recruits."The latest Sony robot dog "Aibo," seen in Tokyo in January, is coming to the United States later this year with artificial intelligence and internet connectivity, at a price of $2,899

Sony on Thursday announced that its Aibo robotic dogs infused with artificial intelligence will be unleashed on the US market by the year-end holiday season, with a price tag of $2,899.

The sixth-generation mechanical pup combines robotics with image sensors and artificial intelligence, enabling it to learn behaviors and recognize faces, according to the Japanese consumer electronics giant.

Aibo robot personalities develop based on interactions with people, giving each a unique character depending on its human companions, Sony said.

"This is truly a one-of-a-kind product designed to connect with its owners on an emotional level," Sony Electronics North America president Mike Fasulo said in a release.

Similar to real-life dogs, Aibo can learn tricks and will seek out owners, reacting to words of praise or scratches on the head, according to Sony. Aibo will also play with toys, which Sony will sell you.

Unlike real-life dogs, Aibo has an application owners can use to adjust system settings or add new tricks, and can connect to the internet cloud to store memories.

Aibo owners will also be able to check on internet-linked canine companions while away from home, glimpsing life through their robotic eyes, according to Sony.

Sony will begin taking US orders for "First Litter Edition" Aibo next month, with deliveries promised by the holiday season.

Aibo became available in Japan early this year, more than a decade after it culled earlier models from its product line.The US has tightened rules that President Donald Trump says will keep American technolgy from being stolen

President Donald Trump on Thursday hailed recent reforms toughening Washington's powers to prevent foreign investments that could threaten national security or allow the theft of American technology.

Trump's remarks on the legislation, which was enacted earlier this month and does not target specific countries, coincided with a visit by trade negotiators from China -- a country he accuses of rampant industrial espionage and forced transfers of intellectual property.

"I think not enough focus has been put on China and that's been for a long time," Trump told reporters at the White House.

The accusations are at the center of a trade war between Washington and Beijing, which Trump launched earlier this year, and which escalated Thursday with each country hitting another $16 billion in goods with steep new tariffs.

"This weakens our economy when they steal, destroys our jobs and threatens the security of our country," Trump said.

"We now have a right to stop it. They won't be stealing our companies anymore, especially companies that are quite complex."

The reforms adopted this month as part of a defense spending bill updated 30-year-old statutes giving the president broad powers to block foreign investments in sensitive industries or those deemed harmful to US national security.

- Expanded powers -

Senior administration officials told reporters Thursday that the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act was not aimed at any one country -- but reiterated calls on China to end what Washington describes as predatory trade practices.

Passed with broad bipartisan support among lawmakers, the legislation expands the powers of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), allowing it to cover both land concessions and real estate purchases as well as minority investments in companies that could allow technology and sensitive private data to be transferred outside the United States.

Prior to the changes, "if someone bought a vacant piece of land and later put a business on it, we couldn't review that," one official said.

Washington accuses Beijing of founding its aspirations for global industrial dominance on unfair state intervention in markets, state-sponsored corporate acquisitions, forcing foreign companies to divulge commercial secrets and hacking.

Officials from the US Treasury and Trade Representative's office were holding a second day of talks Thursday with their Chinese counterparts to resolve the impasse which has seen tariffs slapped on $100 billion in goods exchanged in both directions.As Washington grapples with the latest upheaval in Trump's stormy presidency, the brash leader appears adamant on riding it out

US President Donald Trump has warned stock markets could 'crash' if he were removed from office, playing his best card -- the economy -- to quell talk of impeachment as investigators dug deeper Thursday into claims he ordered illegal hush payments.

But Attorney General Jeff Sessions -- once again the target of Trump's ire after back-to-back court debacles for the president this week -- issued a blunt warning that the US Justice Department would not be "improperly influenced by political considerations."

The row with Sessions was the latest hiccup in a fraught week for the Republican leader -- one that saw his former campaign chairman convicted of financial crimes, and his former lawyer implicate him in campaign finance violations.

Trump fought back, using his stewardship of the world's biggest economy -- a rare bright spot for an administration mired in scandal after scandal, bleeding staff as it goes -- to try to head off the swirling crises.

"I will tell you what, if I ever got impeached, I think the market would crash, I think everybody would be very poor," Trump said in an interview aired Thursday on "Fox and Friends."

"You would see -- you would see numbers that you wouldn't believe in reverse," he said.

"I don't know how you can impeach somebody who has done a great job."

Since Trump came to office in early 2017, US economic growth has leapt from two percent to a very solid four percent last quarter.

US Attorney General Jeff Sessions was one of Trump's earliest supporters, but their relationship quickly soured when Trump took office

In the interview, Trump also lashed out at Sessions over the federal probe into Russian election meddling that has expanded into questions of collusion and obstruction of justice as well as the financial dealings of Trump associates.

"I put in an attorney general that never took control of the Justice Department. Jeff Sessions never took control of the Justice Department and it's a sort of an incredible thing," Trump said.

But Sessions did not stay silent for long, answering: "I demand the highest standards, and where they are not met, I take action."

- Hush payments 'not a crime'? -

In the toughest blow yet to Trump's presidency, his ex-lawyer Michael Cohen implicated him in pleading guilty this week to making hush payments during the 2016 campaign to two women who said they had had affairs with the Republican candidate.

Although Cohen did not name them, the women were believed to be porn star Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal.

Because the hush payments were intended to influence the outcome of the elections, they violated US laws governing campaign contributions, putting Trump in legal jeopardy as an unindicted co-conspirator.

The Wall Street Journal and other US media reported Thursday that the CEO of tabloid publisher American Media, David Pecker, has been given immunity by prosecutors investigating the payments, opening a new area of vulnerability for Trump.

Pecker's company publishes the National Enquirer.

US President Donald Trump was dealt back-to-back blows in the cases of his former lawyer Michael Cohen (L) and former campaign chairman Paul Manafort (R)

At almost the same time as the Cohen guilty plea, Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort was convicted of tax and bank fraud.

While unrelated to the Russia probe, it was the first case brought to trial by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

The president's story about Cohen's payments has changed multiple times over the past year, and in the Fox interview, he tried several ways of defusing the allegations.

Trump claimed his former lawyer "made the deals," and insisted that Cohen's actions were "not a crime," while going on to claim that "campaign violations are considered not a big deal, frankly."

Trump then said the hush payments were financed with his own money -- to which Cohen had access -- and that while he had no knowledge of them at the time, he had since been fully transparent.

In entering a guilty plea, Cohen said under oath that the payments were made "in coordination with and at the direction of a candidate for federal office" -- a clear reference to Trump.

- Cooperating 'almost ought to be outlawed' -

In addition to the two counts of violating campaign finance laws, Cohen also has pleaded guilty to six counts of fraud.

In the sit-down with Fox, Trump slammed his once close associate for "flipping," saying it "almost ought to be outlawed."

Trump conversely praised Manafort for going to trial -- where the president's former campaign chief was found guilty of eight counts of financial fraud.

The US president lauded the 69-year-old Manafort for leaving his fate to a jury rather than striking a plea deal -- a move that has sparked speculation Manafort hopes for a pardon.

Asked if he was considering such a move, Trump said only that he has "great respect for what he has done, in terms of what he has gone through."

"One of the reasons I respect Paul Manafort so much is he went through that trial," Trump said.

On Thursday, Trump ignored questions from the press on the issue.No caption

A former contractor for the US National Security Agency who leaked information on Russian hacking of election systems to journalists was sentenced Thursday to more than five years in prison.

The 63-month sentence that a federal judge in Augusta, Georgia handed Reality Winner in exchange for her guilty plea was the stiffest ever for a single charge of leaking classified information to the media, according to her lawyers.

It came despite the same information she leaked later being divulged officially by Washington after US states demanded it.

"The defendant schemed to take and disclose classified information she had sworn to protect -- and then did so almost as soon as she had the chance," said Assistant Attorney General John Demers in a statement.

The former Air Force linguist was arrested in June 2017 hours before The Intercept, an online publication that frequently breaks national security-related stories, published a story based on documents she took.

They discussed in detail attempts by hackers from Russian military intelligence to penetrate a company that sells voter registration software, as well as the computers of local election officials.

Three months after Winner's arrest, under pressure from state election officials, the Department of Homeland Security revealed that Russians tried to hack systems in 21 of the 50 states in 2016.

Prior to the decision Thursday, Winner's lawyers told the court that the proposed sentence was well over previous sentences in leak cases.

"There is no allegation or evidence of actual spying or treason" against her, they said.

"This was not a WikiLeaks-like 'dump' of massive amounts of sensitive data, nor was it a disclosure of military secrets," they added.

That was a reference to the case of Chelsea Manning -- at the time known as Bradley Manning -- who as an army intelligence analyst in 2010 leaked a massive amount of highly secret defense and diplomacy documents to the transparency group.

Manning was ultimately sentenced in February 2013 to 35 years in prison on 17 counts that included espionage and other charges.

In January 2017 President Barack Obama commuted her sentence as having been disproportionate and she was freed.

Winner's case was one of a string of breaches at the National Security Agency, the powerful signals intelligence body still smarting from Edward Snowden's 2013 disclosures of its global surveillance programs.

The sentence appeared to reflect in part the Trump administrations pledge to crack down on leaks of classified information.

Media activists criticized it as excessive.

"Reality Winner is a whistleblower who alerted the public about a critical threat to election security," said Freedom of the Press Foundation Executive Director Trevor Timm.

"Winner performed a public service by alerting the public and state officials to dangerous vulnerabilities in election infrastructure, and it's shameful the Justice Department would seek any prison time for her doing so --let alone the longest sentence for such an act in history."A picture taken December 21, 2014 shows tents at a camp hosting displaced Iraqis from the Yazidi community set up on Mount Sinjar, 160 kms west of Mosul, once the main Islamic State jihadist group stronghold in Iraq

A UN team of investigators has begun work in Iraq aimed at collecting evidence on the massacres of the Yazidi minority and other atrocities committed by the Islamic State group, according to a letter released Thursday.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the Security Council in the letter sent August 17 that the investigators led by British human rights lawyer Karim Asad Ahmad Khan would begin work on August 20.

The council last year unanimously adopted a resolution setting up the probe to help bring perpetrators of IS crimes to justice -- a cause championed by international human rights lawyer Amal Clooney.

The Lebanese-British lawyer represents Yazidi women who were taken hostage and used as sex slaves by IS as it swept into Iraqs Sinjar region in August 2014.

The United Nations has described the massacres of the Yazidis as possible genocide and Clooney has made high-profile appearances before the world body to demand action.

Tens of thousands of Yazidis fled the August 2014 massacre in Sinjar, and UN rights investigations have documented horrific accounts of abuse suffered by women and girls.

Guterres told the council that Khan, who was appointed in February, had made a first mission to Iraq from August 6 to 14.

The investigators will gather evidence on war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide for use in Iraqi courts that will hold trials for IS militants, according to the resolution.US Attorney General Jeff Sessions

US Attorney General Jeff Sessions lashed back Thursday at increasing pressure from President Donald Trump, declaring the Department of Justice would not bow to politics.

"While I am Attorney General, the actions of the Department of Justice will not be improperly influenced by political considerations. I demand the highest standards, and where they are not met, I take action," he said in a terse statement.

The words came after Justice Department prosecutors won convictions of two former top Trump aides, Paul Manafort and Michael Cohen, in high-profile cases that raised fresh questions over Trump's behavior before he was elected in November 2016.

In an interview with Fox News that aired early Thursday Trump condemned both cases and blasted Sessions for his oversight.

"I put in an attorney general that never took control of the Justice Department. Jeff Sessions never took control of the Justice Department and it's a sort of an incredible thing," Trump said.

Trump has increasingly attacked Sessions -- whom he handpicked as the nation's top law enforcement official -- as the investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller into collusion between the Trump campaign and Russians, and alleged obstruction by the president, closes in on the White House.

He has pressed Sessions to find a way to shut down the probe, even though the former Alabama senator recused himself early on from any role in the investigation.

Amid rising calls for impeachment, Trump's future was further darkened on Tuesday when Manafort, who was chairman of Trump's presidential campaign in 2016, was convicted by a jury of tax and bank fraud.

On the same day Cohen, Trump's former personal lawyer, pleaded guilty to on charges of tax evasion and campaign finance violations, stating that Trump himself directed illegal payments made just before the 2016 election to silence two women who alleged they had affairs with the then-Republican candidate.

In his statement Thursday, Session made no direct comment on those cases.

But, he said defiantly, "No nation has a more talented, more dedicated group of law enforcement investigators and prosecutors than the United States."

"I am proud to serve with them and proud of the work we have done in successfully advancing the rule of law."Benjamin Netanyahu is the first Israeli leader to visit Lithuania

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began a groundbreaking visit in Lithuania on Thursday, saying he hoped to deepen ties with eastern EU nations as Brussels blasted Israel's plans for fresh settlements in the West Bank.

Dozens of Pro-Palestinian activists waved Palestinian flags and chanted that Netanyahu was "not welcome" while railing against Lithuania's warm ties with Israel outside government buildings in the capital Vilnius, where he held talks with his Lithuanian counterpart Saulius Skvernelis.

Netanyahu thanked Skvernelis for the "strong position you've taken in forums of the EU on behalf of truth, on behalf of Israel, on behalf of decency".

"Israel is often mistreated by the EU in Brussels, there are many distortions that are levelled at us, and it is refreshing to see that you take a stand of clarity, of truth and of courage, and we discussed how that can be expanded," Netanyahu added.

Israel approved plans for more than 1,000 settlement homes in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, prompting EU spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic to say that the bloc was "strongly opposed" to Israel's "illegal" settlement policy, calling it "an obstacle to peace".

The settlements "would further jeopardise the prospect of a contiguous and viable future Palestinian state," she said on Thursday.

Netanyahu said he wanted "to achieve a balance in the European Union's not always friendly relations with Israel" before boarding his plane for the first-ever visit by an Israeli premier to Lithuania.

He will meet the leaders of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia in Vilnius on Friday during the visit, which is set to last until Sunday.

He will also pay tribute to Lithuania's once vibrant Jewish culture and its tragic end during the Holocaust.

- Advocates in EU -

Lithuania has traditionally been one of Israel's better friends in the European Union, a result in part of the Holocaust's legacy and close alignment with the US.

The Baltic nation was behind Netanyahu's invitation to meet with EU foreign ministers in Brussels last December, irking some EU officials.

"Lithuania and the other Baltic states are probably regarded by Netanyahu as voices that could play the role of Israel's advocates inside the EU," Vilnius University professor Ramunas Vilpisauskas told AFP.

Netanyahu has regularly sought sympathetic ears within the EU, particularly among countries that can serve as a counterweight to the critical treatment Israel often receives from western European nations over its policies in the Palestinian territories it occupies.

Netanyahu has also been eager to convince European countries to exert more pressure on Iran after the United States pulled out of the nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers and reimposed sanctions -- something Israel had advocated.

The EU was one of the signatories to the Iran nuclear deal, which it has sought to salvage after the US withdrawal.

The European countries say the deal is working as intended, keeping Israel's arch-enemy Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons for now.

Netanyahu also praised the "good" decision of Air France and British Airways to halt flights to Tehran next month, a move the carriers said they were taking due to low profitability amid the renewed US sanctions.

- Jewish heritage -

Many Israelis have origins in Lithuania, including Netanyahu's grandmother, who was born in the northern town of Seduva.

"Lithuania was my ancestor's home for many generations. The story of Lithuania's Jews is both one of great triumph and great tragedy," Netanyahu said.

"You have taken great steps to commemorate the victims of Holocaust, to speak openly about this horrible crime that must never be repeated," he added, also thanking Skvernelis for his efforts to fight anti-Semitism.

Netanyahu will meet with members of the Jewish community in Lithuania and visit a memorial to Jewish Holocaust victims there.

He will also award a Lithuanian family the title of Righteous among the Nations for having saved their Jewish neighbours from the Nazis.

Lithuania was once a hub of Jewish learning and home to more than 200,000 Jews before World War II.

Over 90 percent of Lithuania's Jews died during the 1941-1944 German occupation at the hands of Nazis and local collaborators.

The country's 2.9 million population today includes around 3,000 Jew.Reality Winner -- shown here exiting a Georgia courthouse in June 2017 after her arrest for leaking top secret National Security Agency documents to the media -- has been sentenced to more than five years in prison

A former contractor for the US National Security Agency who leaked information on Russian hacking of election systems to journalists was sentenced Thursday to more than five years in prison.

The 63-month sentence that a federal judge in Augusta, Georgia handed to Reality Winner in exchange for her guilty plea was the stiffest ever for a single charge of leaking classified information to the media.

It came as the Trump administration ramps up pressure to deter the leaks of classified materials to journalists that have plagued it since last year.

But Winner's case dealt with materials that had been kept from US states that were the targets of the hacking, and was officially divulged only months after her arrest.

"The defendant schemed to take and disclose classified information she had sworn to protect -- and then did so almost as soon as she had the chance," said Assistant Attorney General John Demers in a statement.

The former Air Force linguist was arrested in June 2017 hours before The Intercept, an online publication that frequently breaks national security-related stories, published a story based on documents she took.

The documents detailed attempts by hackers from Russian military intelligence to penetrate a company that sells voter registration software, as well as the computers of local election officials.

That was apparently news to the states in question.

After the leak, as The Intercept later documented, the US Election Assistance Commission, which helps states conduct elections, issued a new alert on cybersecurity, and tweeted about the alert by referring to Winner and the Intercept story.

State officials themselves exchanged emails on how to deal with the systems that were targeted.

Three months after Winner's arrest, under pressure from state officials, the Department of Homeland Security officially revealed that Russians tried to hack systems in 21 of the 50 states in 2016.

- Leak crackdown -

The sentence appeared to reflect the Trump administration's campaign against leakers. Winner's lawyers told the court last week that the proposed sentence far exceeded those in other prominent leak cases.

"There is no allegation or evidence of actual spying or treason" against her, they said.

"This was not a WikiLeaks-like 'dump' of massive amounts of sensitive data, nor was it a disclosure of military secrets," they added.

That was a reference to the case of Chelsea Manning -- at the time known as Bradley Manning -- who as an army intelligence analyst in 2010 leaked a massive amount of highly secret defense and diplomacy documents to the transparency group.

Manning was ultimately sentenced in February 2013 to 35 years in prison on 17 counts that included espionage and other charges.

Four years later, then president Barack Obama commuted her sentence as having been disproportionate, and she was freed.

Media activists criticized Winner's sentence as excessive.

"Reality Winner is a whistleblower who alerted the public about a critical threat to election security," said the executive director of the Freedom of the Press Foundation, Trevor Timm, who helped raise money for Winner's defense.

"Winner performed a public service by alerting the public and state officials to dangerous vulnerabilities in election infrastructure, and it's shameful the Justice Department would seek any prison time for her doing so -- let alone the longest sentence for such an act in history."UN Security Council sanctions against North Korea

Russia will oppose a US request to the UN Security Council to blacklist two Russian shipping firms and six Russian-flagged vessels over their dealings with sanctions-hit North Korea, the Russian ambassador said Thursday.

The United States presented a request to a UN sanctions committee on Wednesday -- its third bid in two months to seek UN action and turn up the pressure on North Korea to dismantle its nuclear and missile programs.

The request was put forward a day after Washington slapped unilateral sanctions on the two Russian companies -- Primorye Maritime Logistics and Gudzon Shipping -- and the six vessels for supplying oil to North Korea in violation of UN sanctions.

Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told AFP that the US sanctions were "illegal" and that the evidence put forward by the United States to justify action against the Russian firms was "unconvincing."

"Of course we will oppose it," said Nebenzia of the US request to the sanctions committee. "It's obvious."

The United States was seeking a global assets freeze on the two Russian firms, according to UN diplomats.

The shippers own a tanker, the M/V Patriot, which conducted ship-to-ship transfers of oil to North Korean tankers twice earlier this year, according to US officials.

The five other vessels cited in the US request are owned by Gudzon, which along with Primorye Maritime Logistics operate out of the Russian port city of Vladivostok.

The UN sanctions committee has until August 29 to formally consider the US request, but Russia made clear it would not be approved.

- US wants "maximum pressure" -

Russia and China this month blocked a US bid to add a Russian bank, a North Korean official and two entities to the UN sanctions blacklist. In July, they delayed a US request to cut off fuel deliveries to North Korea.

The two countries have called on the Security Council to consider easing sanctions to reward North Korea for opening up dialogue with the United States and halting missile tests.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo earlier announced he will be making his fourth trip to North Korea next week, this time with the new US envoy for North Korea, Stephen Biegun.

The United States has called for maintaining "maximum pressure" from sanctions until North Korea has fully dismantled its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

A report by a UN panel of experts this month warned that Pyongyang was circumventing sanctions through a "massive increase" of ship-to-ship transfers of oil products in international waters.

The Security Council last year adopted three rafts of sanctions that banned exports of North Korea's raw commodities and other goods, and severely restricted imports including crucial deliveries of oil.

The sanctions are aimed at cutting off sources of revenue for North Korea's military programs.Malian opposition leader Soumaila Cisse has slammed the August 12 presidential run-off vote as marred by fraud

The main opposition candidate in Mali's contested election said on Thursday that he "categorically rejects" the results of the presidential run-off that handed a second term to Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

Former minister Soumaila Cisse, 68, who has slammed the August 12 vote as marred by fraud, picked up 32.84 percent of the vote according to the official count, compared to 67.16 percent for Keita.

"I categorically and unequivocally reject the results proclaimed by the Constitutional Court. Therefore I do not recognise the president that it declared," Cisse said at a news conference in his first public reaction to the declaration of the final results on Monday.

Keita, 73, who will begin his second five-year term on September 4, called for Cisse to accept the result.

"It would be appropriate and desirable that here and now my young brother Soumaila Cisse takes the hand I extend to him and accept reality and not delusion," Keita said in Mauritania's capital Nouakchott, his first trip since his re-election.

"IBK did not forced the hand of Malians, did not stuff ballot boxes as it is said," he added, referring to himself by his initials, as his is universally known.

He was re-elected despite fierce criticism of failures to tackle jihadist violence and ethnic tensions that have rocked the impoverished Sahel state.

Cisse, whose supporters have gathered in their hundreds to protest the result in recent days, has claimed a wide range of electoral fraud was used in Keita's favour.

But the Constitutional Court rejected his petition against the result as being inadmissible or unsupported by evidence.

"This institution has discredited itself as a voluntary prisoner of an autocratic regime," Cisse said Thursday, calling for "peaceful" demonstrations in Bamako and other cities in Mali and beyond on Saturday.

Observer missions sent by the European Union and the African Union (AU) have said the election was not badly impaired.Mexico's Secretary of Economy Ildefonso Guajardo speaks to reporters outside the Office of the US Trade Representative during a day of meetings on the NAFTA treaty on August 23, 2018 in Washington, DC

US and Mexican negotiators are making progress on revamping the North American Free Trade Agreement but will need to continue the discussions next week, Mexico's Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo said Thursday.

The negotiations "are well advanced," he told reporters, but "we are not there yet."

Canada needs to reengage in the talks before the NAFTA rewrite can completed and "the only way that can happen is if we continue through the weekend and into next week," he added.

Guajardo and Mexico's Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray have been shuttling back and forth to Washington for more than a month for meetings with US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to try to iron out the bilateral issues, such as rules for the auto market, before the end of August.

Officials last week indicated they expected a breakthrough this week but "negotiations are highly complex," Guajardo said on his way into yet another meeting.

He has cautioned that some of the hardest issues were still on the table, including the US demand for a five-year "sunset clause," which would oblige the three countries to renew the pact regularly.

"There's been no indication of flexibility from the US on this issue," a senior Canadian official told AFP on Thursday.

Canada's top diplomat and chief NAFTA negotiator, Chrystia Freeland, said Wednesday she was encouraged by the progress and would rejoin the talks once Washington and Mexico City finish their bilateral discussions.

The three countries have been negotiating for a year to salvage the trade pact that President Donald Trump says has been a "disaster" for the United States.WASHINGTON (AP) - After his longtime fixer, Michael Cohen, pleaded guilty to several felony charges, President Donald Trump is shrugging off the two campaign finance charges as "not a crime."

The reality? The crimes are real, and Cohen faces time in a very real prison.

Here's a breakdown of the legal questions around the case involving the president's former personal attorney.

Michael Cohen, center, leaves Federal court, Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018, in New York. Cohen, has pleaded guilty to charges including campaign finance fraud stemming from hush money payments to porn actress Stormy Daniels and ex-Playboy model Karen McDougal. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

___

HOW DID COHEN BREAK THE LAW?

It's not a crime to pay someone to keep quiet. But the Justice Department says the hush money payments arranged by Cohen to conceal allegations of Trump's extramarital affairs were actually unreported campaign contributions meant to influence the outcome of the election.

That's a critical assertion because it makes the payments subject to the country's campaign finance laws, which restrict how much people can donate to a campaign and bar corporations from making direct contributions.

Though some campaign finance experts suggested before the guilty plea that the payments to two women who say they had sex with Trump could have been arranged for other purposes, such as protecting Trump's personal reputation, Cohen himself acknowledged that the goal was to affect the election and protect Trump's candidacy.

The $150,000 payment to former Playboy model Karen McDougal by National Enquirer publisher American Media Inc. and the $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels far exceeded permissible campaign contribution limits.

Individual contributions to campaigns were capped at $2,700 per election in 2016. That means Cohen could have only lawfully contributed $5,400 directly to Trump's campaign during primary and general elections.

___

WHAT ARE THE PENALTIES?

Cohen is charged with "causing an unlawful corporate contribution" and making an excessive campaign contribution.

Since both charges involve large dollar amounts above $25,000, they are felonies that each carry a maximum prison sentence of five years. Cohen also faces a maximum of three years supervised release and a potential fine of $250,000 on each count.

As part of his plea agreement, Cohen's estimated sentence under federal guidelines on all the charges against him is 46 to 63 months in prison.

___

WHAT DOES THE GOVERNMENT HAVE TO PROVE IN A CRIMINAL CAMPAIGN FINANCE CASE?

For a criminal prosecution, the Justice Department must prove that a defendant knowingly violated campaign finance laws.

That can be a tall task and is a much more rigorous standard than the one used by the Federal Election Commission, which has civil rather than criminal enforcement authority and imposes fines in cases where the violation wasn't on purpose.

It likely would have been difficult for Cohen to have tried to argue that his campaign violations weren't willful given the allegations that he tried to conceal the purpose of the payments as legitimate legal expenses and used shell companies for the transactions.

In court Tuesday, Cohen told the judge, under penalty of perjury, that he knew he was committing a crime by making the payments. He said he did so "at the direction" of Trump - identified as "Individual-1" in court papers - "for the principal purpose of influencing the election."

___

WHAT DOES THE PRESIDENT SAY?

Trump's strategy so far is to downplay the charges - and attack the credibility of his former fixer.

In a series of morning tweets, Trump suggested Cohen was a bad lawyer, accused him of making up "stories in order to get a 'deal,'" and said he had pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations "that are not a crime."

He also suggested that President Barack Obama's campaign did the same thing, saying, "President Obama had a big campaign finance violation and it was easily settled!"

___

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE OBAMA VIOLATIONS AND COHEN'S CASE?

There's a big difference.

The FEC found during an audit that the 2008 Obama campaign failed to file 48-hour contribution reports in a timely manner for more than 1,200 donations totaling $1.9 million. Such reports have to be filed on donations of $1,000 or more in the last 20 days of an election cycle. The FEC also found the campaign was late refunding some contributions that exceeded the legal limits, and discovered some other reporting errors regarding contribution dates.

The commission fined the campaign $375,000 for the violations, one of the largest fines against a presidential campaign at the time. The campaign was not found to have willfully violated the law.

In Cohen's case, he admitted he knew he was breaking the law by making the payments. Unlike the Obama case, where the issue was timely reporting, the hush money payments were never disclosed at all on Trump's campaign filings.

Andrew Herman, a lawyer specializing in campaign finance at law firm Miller & Chevalier, said the two cases are "completely different species."

"One is a paperwork error. And the other is a conscious attempt to obscure payments made to affect an election," he said.

___

Associated Press writer Brian Slodysko contributed to this report.MONTEZUMA, Iowa (AP) - The systems offered by the U.S. government to check the legal status of workers like the Mexican man now suspected of killing an Iowa college student can be easily exploited through identity fraud and gaps in government systems, experts say.

In the case of Cristhian Bahena Rivera, the 24-year-old now charged with murder in the death of Mollie Tibbetts, Rivera's ex-employer said Wednesday he provided an out-of-state ID card and Social Security number. He worked at Yarrabee Farms for almost four years under a false name, said Dane Lang, part of the family that owns the dairy.

Yarrabee Farms did not use the federal E-Verify program, Lang said Wednesday, correcting information he had given a day earlier. Instead, the company used the Social Security Administration's verification service. The family is now looking into adopting E-Verify, he said.

Cristhian Bahena Rivera speaks with his attorney during his initial court appearance, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, at the Poweshiek County Courthouse in Montezuma, Iowa. Rivera is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Mollie Tibbetts, who disappeared July 18 from Brooklyn, Iowa. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette via AP, Pool)

Both E-Verify and the Social Security Administration's program, immigration experts say, can be beaten with a state ID and a Social Security number belonging to someone else.

There is a thriving black market for forged or stolen identity documents. And while employers are supposed to check those documents, they are barred by federal law from refusing to accept an ID card that meets legal requirements for employment. They are required to reject documents that do not "reasonably appear to be genuine," but those can be hard to catch.

E-Verify provides employers with photos for passports and other federal documents that they can compare with what an employee has given them, but not state-issued driver's licenses or IDs. An employer in Iowa presented with an unfamiliar out-of-state driver's license may not be able to spot a fake.

"There is rampant fraud," said Bill Riley, a former U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent who is now a senior managing director at the consulting firm Guidepost Solutions. "Even experts like myself, we can say with fairly reasonable certainty - but not 100 percent - whether a document is fake or not."

Authorities say Rivera is in the U.S. illegally. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said that it had no record of Rivera having "any lawful immigration status." Rivera's attorney, Allan M. Richards, said Wednesday that his client "has the legal documents" to work in the United States.

E-Verify has been offered by both Republicans and Democrats as a solution to curbing illegal immigration. More recently, President Donald Trump has proposed making it mandatory for employers nationwide to check hires in the system.

All federal contractors are currently required to use E-Verify, and 21 states have passed laws requiring some or all employers to use it, according to the Migration Policy Institute. Iowa has not.

RJ Hauman, government relations director at the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which supports restrictive immigration measures, said that no program is fool-proof "when there are people willing to break the law," but that E-Verify had helped many employers catch unauthorized workers and could have helped Yarrabee Farms.

"Yarrabee Farms owes the Tibbetts family an explanation of why it did not use E-Verify," he said in an email.

Dane Lang and his father, Craig, a prominent Republican Party donor and former candidate for office, said they were cooperating with authorities and reviewing their own practices.

"There will be plenty of time to discuss immigration," Craig Lang said. "However, now is not the time. Now is a time to grieve and remember Mollie and her family."

___

Merchant reported from Houston.LOS ANGELES (AP) - Los Angeles County prosecutors are investigating allegations of a 2016 sexual assault by Kevin Spacey for possible criminal charges.

Spokesman Greg Risling said Wednesday that a district attorney's task force on sexual misconduct had received the case.

Sheriff's spokeswoman Nicole Nishida said detectives in the department's Malibu-area station started the investigation in May. Nishida says the allegations stem from an October 2016 incident.

FILE - In this Oct. 27, 2017 photo, Kevin Spacey presents the award for excellence in television at the BAFTA Los Angeles Britannia Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. Los Angeles County prosecutors are investigating allegations of a 2016 sexual assault by Spacey for possible criminal charges. Spokesman Greg Risling said Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, that a district attorney's task force on sexual misconduct had received the case. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)

It's the second Spacey case the task force is considering. The first dates to 1992 and could prove impossible to prosecute because of statutes of limitations.

Spacey spokeswoman Laura Johnson did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

The Academy Award-winning actor has lost several roles since he was first publicly accused of sexual misconduct in October.

He's also under investigation in six cases in London.SAMJIYON, North Korea (AP) - Thousands of North Korean "soldier-builders" in olive green uniforms and bright red hardhats are doing everything from digging ditches to putting up walls on multistory apartment blocks and government buildings in this northern city near the Chinese border.

Samjiyon is one of the main focuses of a massive nationwide construction campaign ahead of North Korea's 70th anniversary in what leader Kim Jong Un has described as a symbolic battle against anyone who would oppose his country.

The Sept. 9 anniversary is shaping up to be the biggest event since Kim assumed power in late 2011. Along with huge rallies in Pyongyang on the day itself and the revival of North Korea's trademark mass games at the stadium, Kim has deployed soldiers and ordinary citizens alike to erect buildings, improve roads and work on other infrastructure on a scale unseen in recent years.

In this undated photo, provided on Aug. 19, 2018, by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, visits a construction site during a visit to the city of Samjiyon, a remote northern city near the Chinese border. North Korea is speeding up the pace of a massive nationwide construction campaign ahead of its 70th anniversary in what leader Kim has described as a symbolic battle against anyone who would oppose his country. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

The construction spree is intended to improve living conditions in keeping with one of Kim's first promises to the nation, that he would bolster the economy so they would no longer need to "tighten their belts." But it is also a demonstration of the power of his regime in the face of U.S.-backed international sanctions intended to squeeze his economy and force him to abandon his nuclear weapons.

Kim made that political message clear during a visit to Samjiyon with his wife last week, when he was quoted by state media as saying "the hostile forces' persistent sanctions and obstructive moves" have come as a serious setback, but added the North Korean people have risen to the challenge and are "making a history of legendary miracles despite the most difficult conditions."

Kim said that by "showily" building up Samjiyon, the nation is in effect fighting a symbolic battle against those who would try to stifle its "socialist civilization."

Samjiyon lies at the foot of Mount Paektu, which is closely linked to the Kim family and is considered the spiritual center of the North Korean revolution.

Steamrollers and other heavy equipment are rare, so roadwork is particularly labor-intensive. Work crews spreading out nearly 20 kilometers (10 miles) from the city limits fill potholes with shovelfuls of dirt and flatten surfaces with wooden tools.

The work has transformed Samjiyon from a relatively sleepy provincial center surrounded by potato farms into a buzzing hub of activity the likes of which would be hard to find anywhere else. The government says it is to be the model for future development projects nationwide. The Associated Press was allowed to view the city on the same day Kim visited, but was not allowed to shoot photos.

One important aspect of the building boom is that much of the work is being done outside of Pyongyang. Under three generations of Kim leadership, the capital has gotten the bulk of funding and is far more developed than the rest of the country, creating a glaring - and potentially destabilizing - gap between the capital and the provinces.

Along with Samjiyon, major construction projects are underway in several other cities - including 20-story high-rise apartments in the eastern port city of Chongjin and extensive infrastructure and tourism-related facilities in Wonsan, another port on the country's eastern coast. Under Kim, Wonsan has gotten a new airport that officials hope will attract international visitors in the near future. More than a dozen resort hotels are being built near its coastline.

The construction campaign is all the more ambitious considering it comes at a sensitive time for Kim, who has held a series of summits over the past several months with China, South Korea and the United States in an attempt to undermine support for sanctions and establish his position on the global stage as the head of a nuclear power.

His diplomatic gambit appears to be working in many ways.

Chinese businesspeople and tourists are once again flowing over the borders - several large tourist groups were in Samjiyon last week - and South Korean officials are seriously considering ways to help the North improve its roads and railways. But doubts are growing over whether Kim has any real intention to meet Washington's main demand and unilaterally abandon the nuclear weapons he worked so hard to develop over the past five years.

That rift with Washington could significantly complicate Kim's rapprochement with his neighbors and stifle his efforts to woo the trade and investment he needs to fund his development projects. A crucial indicator of where Kim stands will come soon after the Sept. 9 anniversary when he is scheduled to hold another summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, this time in Pyongyang.

Moon, who has been playing a middleman role between Pyongyang and Washington, is under a great deal of pressure to broker progress toward denuclearization. Without tangible progress, he will be hard-pressed to justify going against Washington's "maximum pressure" policy and easing sanctions any further.

In any event, it appears Kim is ready to forge ahead. Though many improvements will be completed by Sept. 9, it is clear from the construction in Samjiyon that his plans go much further into the future than that. Dozens of buildings are still in the skeletal stages and will likely require several more months to finish.

In the meantime, scenes of Kim giving his on-the-spot guidance to senior officials feverishly taking down his every word in their notebooks has dominated the TV news in the North each day since his visit to Samjiyon.

Denuclearization, however, is rarely mentioned in news broadcasts.

___

Talmadge is the AP's Pyongyang bureau chief. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram: @EricTalmadge

In this Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, photo, Chinese tourists take in the sight from a viewing platform overlooking the caldera of Mount Paektu near Samjiyon in North Korea. Chinese businesspeople and tourists are once again flowing over the borders - several large tourist groups were in Samjiyon last week - and South Korean officials are seriously considering ways to help the North improve its roads and railways. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

In this Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, photo, a North Korean guide gives a tour of Samjiyon Great Monument in Samjiyon in North Korea. Samjiyon is one of the main focuses of a massive nationwide construction campaign ahead of North Korea's 70th anniversary in what leader Kim Jong Un has described as a symbolic battle against anyone who would oppose his country. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

In this undated photo, provided on Aug. 19, 2018, by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, visits a construction site during a visit to the city of Samjiyon, a remote northern city near the Chinese border. North Korea is speeding up the pace of a massive nationwide construction campaign ahead of its 70th anniversary in what leader Kim has described as a symbolic battle against anyone who would oppose his country. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

In this undated photo, provided on Aug. 19, 2018, by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, visits a construction site during a visit to the city of Samjiyon, a remote northern city near the Chinese border. North Korea is speeding up the pace of a massive nationwide construction campaign ahead of its 70th anniversary in what leader Kim has described as a symbolic battle against anyone who would oppose his country. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

In this Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, photo, a North Korean waitress prepares to serve dinner to Chinese tourists at the Pegaebong hotel in Samjiyong in North Korea. Chinese businesspeople and tourists are once again flowing over the borders - several large tourist groups were in Samjiyon last week - and South Korean officials are seriously considering ways to help the North improve its roads and railways. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

In this Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, photo, Chinese tourists arrive at the Pegaebong hotel lobby which displays a giant photo of the caldera on Mount Paektu in the town of Samjiyong in North Korea. Chinese businesspeople and tourists are once again flowing over the borders - several large tourist groups were in Samjiyon last week - and South Korean officials are seriously considering ways to help the North improve its roads and railways. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

In this Monday, Aug. 20, 2018, photo, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is seen giving his on-the-spot guidance in Samjiyon to senior officials feverishly taking down his every word in their notebooks on state television broadcast at a hotel dining room on Chilbo mountain in northeastern North Korea. Samjiyon is one of the main focuses of a massive nationwide construction campaign ahead of North Korea's 70th anniversary in what leader Kim Jong Un has described as a symbolic battle against anyone who would oppose his country. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

In this Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, photo, porters deliver luggage from a plane arriving at the airport in Samjiyong in North Korea. Samjiyon is one of the main focuses of a massive nationwide construction campaign ahead of North Korea's 70th anniversary in what leader Kim Jong Un has described as a symbolic battle against anyone who would oppose his country. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)UKHIYA, Bangladesh (AP) - The little boy emerges into view amid a chorus of panicked shouts and the thunder of feet from the horde sweeping past us. He is slumped over the shoulder of a man, his skinny arms flopping around like a marionette's. And though we cannot see his face, we know from his limp body that he is in danger.

My translator, Habi, and I are walking along a dirt road through Bangladesh's refugee camps, where 700,000 Rohingya people have fled since the military launched a violent campaign in neighboring Myanmar last August. Listening to the shouts from the crowd, Habi works out what has happened: The boy fell into one of the fetid waterways that snake through the camps. He is in urgent need of help.

It is Friday, a weekly holiday in Bangladesh. The medical tents in this part of the camp are unstaffed. The closest help is at an emergency clinic, several kilometers away.

In this Tuesday, June 26, 2018, photo, Rohingya refugees walk on a muddy road in the rain through Jamtoli refugee camp in Bangladesh. For the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya children living in Bangladesh's refugee camps, dangers lurk everywhere: from malnutrition and disease to human traffickers to flooding and landslides. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

Ahead of us, the crowd has descended upon a few slow-moving rickshaws, the only transport available to them. "They will never make it in time," Habi says, shaking his head.

We reach our van. "What if we took him?" I ask.

Habi looks at me in surprise. "Can we?"

His question is understandable. As journalists in a crisis zone, we are expected to be observers, not participants.

But a dying child renders such distinctions meaningless. My response is immediate: Yes.

Habi quickly ushers a shirtless teenager carrying the boy into the front seat of our van. The teen is the boy's cousin.

Our driver revs the engine, but the van is swarmed by the frantic crowd. "MOVE!" I shout at them. "MOVE, MOVE, MOVE!" Habi repeats the plea in the Rohingya dialect and we bang against the windows. The crowd parts and the van lurches forward.

The boy is draped across his cousin's lap. His tiny frame suggests he is just a toddler. Only the whites of his eyes are visible, but they are flickering. He is still alive.

I tell his cousin to turn him on his side to let water drain from his mouth and keep his airway open. But with every bone-jarring bump in the road, the boy is jolted backward, squashing his face up against his cousin's stomach.

The cousin tells us what little he knows: The boy's father was at the mosque and his mother immersed in afternoon prayers. At some point, the boy left his family's shelter and wound up in the water. When he was finally fished out, his belly was bloated and water gushed from his mouth.

No one knows how long he had been floating there.

The road is a nightmare. It is pockmarked with craters and waterlogged in places from the rains. It is jammed with cows and goats, trucks and rickshaws. Our driver leans on the horn and dodges left and right, pushing the van with its broken door to the limit.

We come to a halt before a narrow bridge. A truck is sitting on it, playing a game of chicken with another truck that wants to cross in the opposite direction. Neither will budge. Habi hurries over to reason with the drivers.

The boy's lips are turning blue. I press my forehead against the seat in front of me and briefly close my eyes. "We're not going to make it," I murmur.

___

Though no one knows how the boy ended up in the water, it was not surprising that he had.

More than half of the Rohingya refugees living in these camps are children. Many clamber over crumbling hillsides to reach aid distribution points, and trek into the mountains in search of firewood. They cross rushing creeks barefoot while balancing piles of tree roots bigger than their bodies atop their heads. And they play in excrement-riddled waterways, which have swelled with the monsoon rains.

That these children have managed to survive what the United Nations calls textbook ethnic cleansing in Myanmar and nearly a year in the chaos of the camps feels like a miracle. Some parents say they watched helplessly as members of Myanmar's security forces bashed their babies against trees, threw them into fires, stomped on them with their boots. The children who survived walked for days across mountains and squeezed into rickety boats to cross a river into Bangladesh.

Here in the camps, the children face other dangers: Malnutrition and disease. Human traffickers. Flooding and landslides. And violence.

One evening, we heard about a community leader stabbed to death along the main road running through the camps. Another day, a woman's screams sent us running toward her bamboo shelter, which was shaking from the beating she was suffering from her husband. By the time we reached their hut, the woman had escaped, sobbing as she ran by. Her husband fled in the other direction.

The death toll in these camps is unknown, because many die far away from clinics. But the cemeteries that now dot the hills make clear that Bangladesh is hardly a safe haven for Rohingya children.

Relief groups have tried to help youngsters. Save the Children runs safe spaces where they are free to play. UNICEF runs treatment centers for the malnourished.

Yet there is only so much that can be done to protect a child in this environment, particularly with limited resources. A global appeal by the U.N. and other agencies for around $1 billion in humanitarian aid has raised just a third of that.

During my reporting trip to the camps last year, many Rohingya expressed hope that the world would hear their pleas and help them safely return home. Now, nearly a year into the crisis, much of that hope has given way to fears that the world has forgotten them.

One day, I ran into a woman I met last year as part of an investigation into the military's mass rapes of the Rohingya. She had been pregnant when soldiers gang-raped her and killed her 3-year-old daughter.

The woman cradled her baby as she asked what had happened after the story was published. I told her that many people had been moved by the rape survivors' accounts.

She stared at me. But no one has helped us, she said. We are still waiting for justice.

The cost of languishing in limbo was clear. We saw it in the two emaciated girls scrounging through the muck for discarded bananas, shoving the rotten fruit into their mouths with bony hands. We heard it in the weeping of the woman who was too distraught to notice the army of rats scurrying around her shelter.

Sitting and waiting in the van, I silently will this not to become another tragedy for the Rohingya.

____

Finally, mercifully, the trucks begin to move. We cross the bridge.

By the time we reach the clinic, 20 minutes have passed. The guards at the gate take one look at the boy and let us through. We race toward the medical tent.

"This boy needs help!" I shout. "He fell in the water!"

Everyone freezes and stares.

"He fell in the water?" one doctor repeats. "YES!" I scream.

A doctor grabs the boy and dashes into an adjacent tent. Then he begins to frantically pump the boy's chest.

Why hadn't I thought to pump his chest?

Another doctor rushes in with a ventilator. The first doctor keeps pumping his chest.

The curtain to the tent is drawn shut. I pace outside, running the events of the drive over and over in my head. In my tunnel vision to get to the clinic, it hadn't occurred to me to try CPR.

About 10 minutes later, a doctor emerges.

"Is he OK?" I venture, knowing the answer, hoping I'm wrong.

Her response is blunt. "No."

I would later learn that the boy was dead by the time we made it to the clinic. I would also learn that he was not a toddler, but a malnourished 6-year-old. Around 40 percent of Rohingya children in the camps are stunted, according to UNICEF. After almost a year of subsisting on little more than donated rice and lentils, thousands are shadows of who they should be.

I walk back to the van. Habi and our driver look at me expectantly. I shake my head. Their faces fall.

We had failed him. Looking out at the suffering that stretched in every direction, it felt like the world had failed all the Rohingya.

Habi is quiet for a minute. When he speaks, his words are the final knife twist:

"He was an only child."

___________

HOW TO HELP: If you are interested in donating to the relief effort supporting the Rohingya refugees, here is a link to Charity Watch, which rates the various aid groups working in the field:

https://www.charitywatch.org/charitywatch-hot-topic/rohingya-refugee-crisis/82WASHINGTON (AP) - The Russia probe. His former lawyer's records - and memory. Two women with lawsuits. A third with tapes.

President Donald Trump is facing real political threats following one electrifying hour Tuesday that brought a plea deal by his onetime lawyer, Michael Cohen, and the conviction of Paul Manafort, the former chairman of the his 2016 presidential campaign.

Much of the potential hazard comes from digging by special counsel Robert Mueller, New York prosecutors and lawyers for the women suing him. Other threats come from Cohen, who implicated the president in campaign finance crimes and made clear he's happy to keep talking.

President Donald Trump arrives to award the Medal of Honor posthumously to Air Force Tech. Sgt. John A. Chapman, for conspicuous gallantry during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Trump has called the developments part of a "witch hunt" and "fake news."

Hovering over everything are the November midterm elections, when Americans will deliver another kind of verdict on Republican control of the presidency and Congress.

What's known: The president who demands loyalty from his allies can't depend on them for it. What's not: from whom, and where in the Trumpian landscape, another bolt might strike.

A look at the threats facing the president, his family and the Republicans defending their congressional majorities:

BOOM

The legal system dumped two political hazards this week on Trump. Cohen pleaded guilty and said he and Trump arranged payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal to keep them silent about their alleged affairs with him. And Manafort, Trump's campaign chairman during a key stretch of the 2016 race, was convicted by a jury of eight counts of bank and tax fraud.

The combination set up a world of uncertainty for everyone allied with the president.

MUELLER

The special counsel is still investigating Russia's attempts to sway voters in the 2016 election. The probe includes the hacking of Democrats' emails, whether the Trump campaign may have cooperated with Russia and if the president obstructed justice. Key to Mueller's investigation is a 2016 meeting in Trump Tower in New York between Donald Trump Jr., Manafort, the president's son-in-law Jared Kushner and people with ties to Russia. Trump calls the probe a "witch hunt" and has not said whether he will sit for an interview with Mueller.

A final report from Mueller could go to Congress - a move that would become more significant if Democrats win control in this year's elections.

COHEN

Through his lawyer, Lanny Davis, Cohen has made clear he's happy to keep talking - to Mueller and even to Congress, should lawmakers call him to testify. Already, the Republican and Democratic members of the Senate Intelligence Committee have said they've "recently re-engaged" with Cohen on the Trump Tower meeting.

Cohen, 51, once said he'd take a bullet for Trump. On Tuesday he pleaded guilty to eight felony counts, including tax evasion. He could get about four to five years in prison at sentencing Dec. 12. Cohen initially denied making the payments to McDougal and Daniels ahead of the 2016 elections to buy their silence about their alleged 2006 affairs with Trump. But in his plea deal, Cohen explicitly says he did so at Trump's direction with the intention of influencing the 2016 election. The payments could be regarded as an illegal campaign expenditure.

"There's going to be a little pushback in terms of Mr. Cohen's credibility," said Sen. John Kennedy, R-La. "I don't think the full story's been written yet."

MANAFORT

His criminal convictions do not intersect with the Trump campaign or White House, but they almost certainly mean years of prison time for him. He faces a trial later this year in Washington on federal charges of conspiracy and witness tampering. The verdicts Tuesday raised immediate questions of whether the president would seek to pardon Manafort. The president has not revealed his thinking but spoke sympathetically throughout the trial, and on Wednesday he called Manafort "brave" while accusing Cohen of making up "stories in order to get a 'deal'" from prosecutors.

FLYNN

Also Tuesday, prosecutors and defense attorneys for former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn agreed to postpone his sentencing after he pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with a Russian official. It was a sign that Flynn's cooperation was still needed - and possible - in the Mueller probe. Trump fired Flynn for lying to Vice President Mike Pence about his conversations with Russian officials; Flynn later pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI.

STONE

A grand jury is hearing testimony about Roger Stone, Trump's longtime on-again-off-again adviser, in the investigation into Russian hacking of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign and the Democratic National Committee. Stone is believed to be the Trump-connected person Russian military intelligence officers contacted in August 2016 with an offer of campaign help. The contact was revealed in an indictment last month against 12 Russians, accusing them of releasing thousands of private communications in a sweeping Kremlin-orchestrated conspiracy to interfere in the 2016 U.S. election.

Stone, through his attorney, has acknowledged having a "24-word exchange with someone on Twitter claiming to be Guccifer 2.0" - the online persona used by Russian hackers.

DANIELS AND MCDOUGAL

The two women who say they were Trump's onetime paramours are suing to invalidate agreements designed to silence them. Testimony or discovery could yield more information on how Trump operates.

OMAROSA

Trump's onetime protege and presidential adviser has a stash of video, emails, text messages and documentation supporting claims in her tell-all book about her time in the Trump White House. Manigault Newman has made clear she intends to continue releasing the pieces of evidence if Trump continues to attack her credibility. He's called her "that dog." She's dribbled out audio and video recordings.

SWAMPY

Not helping Trump's "drain the swamp" claim, or the GOP's defense of the House: The indictments on corruption charges of the first two House Republicans to endorse Trump in the Republican presidential primaries. On Tuesday, Rep. Duncan Hunter of California was indicted on charges that include spending more than $250,000 in campaign funds for personal expenses. Rep. Chris Collins of New York was indicted earlier this month on insider trading charges. Both have proclaimed their innocence.

Michael Cohen, former personal lawyer to President Donald Trump, leaves federal court after reaching a plea agreement in New York, Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)Residents in a Venezuela's second largest city are lining up to buy spoiled meat as refrigerators fail amid nine months of rolling power outages.

People in Maracaibo fall ill eating the rotten beef, but at bargain prices, it's the only way they can afford protein during the country's economic crisis.

Venezuelans are enduring the worst economic downfall in the oil-rich country's history, and basic services like running water and electricity have become luxuries.

Socialist President Nicolas Maduro refuses to take responsibility for the crisis, and is blaming it on 'economic war' which he claims is being waged by the United States and other capitalist powers.

Desperate: A customer smells a piece of spoiled meat at a market in Maracaibo, where locals are lining up to buy rotten beef despite the health risk

Maracaibo once served as a hub of Venezuela's oil production, producing roughly half of the nation's crude that was shipped around the world.

It has been hit hard by the recession, and once-posh shopping centers have fallen into ruin and the international businesses have packed up and left.

For the last nine months Maracaibo's residents have endured rolling blackouts, but things turned dire two weeks ago, when a fire destroyed a main powerline supplying the city of 1.5 million people.

Refrigeration units fell idle and meat began turning. At least four butcher shops have been selling spoiled meat in Las Pulgas, Maracaibo's central market.

Butcher Johel Prieto said the outage turned an entire side of beef rotten. He ground up much of it and mixed it with a fresh, red meat in an attempt to mask the spoilage.

Butcher Johel Prieto places spoiled meat on a tray to sell. Prieto said the ongoing power outages turned an entire side of beef rotten in his shop. Determined to turn a profit, he ground up the putrid bits and mixed them with a little fresh red meat

Acustomer inspects spoiled meat at a market in Maracaibo, Venezuela,

For months Maracaibo's residents have endured rolling blackouts, but things turned dire on August 10 when a fire destroyed a main power line supplying the city of 1.5 million people

'Not my fault': President Nicolas Maduro is refusing to take the blame for the crisis

A pungent tray of the ground meat and other graying cuts on display one day at his counter collected flies - and a steady flow of customers.

Some feed it to their dogs, said Prieto, yet others cook it for their families.

'Of course they eat the meat - thanks to Maduro,' Prieto said.

'The food of the poor is rotten food.'

Across the way in another stall, a butcher - shirtless and smoking a cigarette - offers up trays of blackened cuts.

'People are buying it,' said Jose Aguirre who was unloading spoiled chicken.

Pollution: A boy is reflected in a puddle of crude spilling from a well in Cabimas on the outskirts of Maracaibo, Venezuela

Mireya Marquez uses candlelight to cook her dinner of boiled 'cassava,' also known as yuca and manioc, during a blackout in Maracaibo, Venezuela

Shine lost: Customers leave a mall without electricity in Maracaibo, once known as the 'Saudi Arabia' of Venezuela thanks to the oil production

Broken down: Power lines stand alongside broken-down oil pumps on Maracaibo Lake, off Maracaibo, Venezuela

Afamily plays with their son after they collected drinking water in a plastic drum from a public fountain, in Cabimas, Venezuela

Afisherman collects water contaminated with oil from Maracaibo Lake, which he will use to clean fish

'It smells a little foul, but you rinse it with a little vinegar and lemon,' said Yeudis Luna, a father of three boys buying darkened cuts at a butcher shop.

Luna, a 55-year-old parking lot watchman, took a kilogram of cuts home knowing they were bad, but doing what he could to make the meat edible.

His wife last year left for Colombia, abandoning him and their boys aged 6, 9 and 10. He said she couldn't stand the hunger anymore. He hasn't heard from her since.

Preparing the meat, Luna says he first rinsed it with water and then let it soak overnight in vinegar. He squeezed two lemons and let it simmer with a tomato and a half-onion.

Luna and his boys ate it.

'I was afraid that they would get sick because they are small,' he said. 'But only the little one got diarrhea and threw up.'RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Three Confederate monuments on the North Carolina Capitol grounds will feature signs with historical context about slavery and civil rights, following a decision by a state historical panel that said a monument honoring African-Americans also should be added

The state Historical Commission decided Wednesday against moving the monuments, despite Gov. Roy Cooper's request to do so. Members said even if they supported relocating the monuments, a state law means they must stay in place.

The commission voted 10-1 to reinterpret the three monuments with adjacent signs about "the consequences of slavery" and the "subsequent oppressive subjugation of African American people." It urged construction of a memorial to black citizens, which has been discussed for years, as soon as possible. The group of academics, amateur historians and preservationists also acknowledged that the monuments erected decades after the Civil War near the old 1840 Capitol are imbalanced toward the Civil War and the Confederacy.

FILE - This Sept. 19, 2017, file photo, shows a Confederate monument honoring Henry Lawson Wyatt at the state Capitol in Raleigh, N.C. A North Carolina historical commission decided Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, that this Confederate monument and two others should remain on the state Capitol grounds with newly added context about slavery, weighing in less than two days after another rebel statue was torn down by protesters at the state's flagship university. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)

After the decision, Cooper decried a 2015 law passed by the GOP-controlled state legislature that sharply restricts where state and local government officials can relocate such memorials and all but bars their permanent removal. He also said the toppling of the Confederate statue known as "Silent Sam" on Monday night at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was an example of what happens when people feel their leaders won't act on their concerns.

"The actions that toppled Silent Sam bear witness to the strong feelings many North Carolinians have about Confederate monuments. I don't agree with or condone the way that monument came down, but protesters concluded that their leaders would not - could not - act on the frustration and pain it caused," Cooper said.

Commission member Samuel Dixon, part of a five-member committee that recommended the added context, said the 2015 law limited what the commission could do.

"I believe the monuments need to tell the truth and based upon the law that we have today I do not think we can move them," said Dixon, an Edenton lawyer. "But I think we can ... tell a better story and tell a full and inclusive story." Dixon voted with the majority.

But commission member and Bennett College professor Valerie Johnson, who is black, said removal would be appropriate because of the monuments' links to the Jim Crow era.

"The monuments represent the commitment of North Carolina to uphold the Confederacy. These monuments are a continual visual presence of the ideology of white supremacy," said Johnson, who voted against portions of the commission resolution. "Removal is not erasure. It is creating a space that reflects all North Carolinians and their contributions to our state."

The commission's vote came about 36 hours after the "Silent Sam" statue was toppled. The bronze figure of an anonymous soldier was pulled down from its stone pedestal by protesters who used banners to mask their action.

The statue had been under constant, costly police surveillance after being vandalized in recent months. Many students, faculty and alumni argued that "Silent Sam" symbolized racism and asked officials to take it down.

Republican legislative leaders praised the committee's recommendations and its civil discourse in contrast to what Senate leader Phil Berger called "mob rule" in Chapel Hill.

The 2015 law "provides for collaborative solutions to use our state's history to unite, rather than divide, our citizens," House Speaker Tim Moore said in a release.

One woman who interrupted Wednesday's meeting by shouting was led out and put in a police car. Police kept a heavy presence around the building and the monuments.

Frank Powell with the Sons of Confederate Veterans in North Carolina couldn't say whether the group would support the "contextualizing" of the monuments, saying he had concerns about the possible wording. Commissioners repeatedly emphasized that slavery caused the Civil War, but Powell said that oversimplifies what were its many causes.

Still, Powell said, the commission's decision was "the best outcome we could have hoped for under the circumstances." The commission and a state department will decide on the re-interpretation language.

The monuments on the Capitol grounds include the Capitol Confederate Monument, dedicated in May 1895; the Henry Lawson Wyatt Monument, dedicated in June 1912; and the North Carolina Confederacy Monument, dedicated in June 1914.

Cooper asked last September that they be moved to the Bentonville Battlefield site about 45 miles (72 kilometers) away. His request followed a violent white nationalist rally over a Confederate statue in Charlottesville, Virginia, and the toppling of a Confederate statue outside a Durham County government building by demonstrators.

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FILE - This Sept. 19, 2017, file photo shows a monument recognizing the North Carolina women of the Confederacy at the state Capitol in Raleigh, N.C. A North Carolina historical commission decided Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, that this Confederate monument and two others should remain on the state Capitol grounds with newly added context about slavery, weighing in less than two days after another rebel statue was torn down by protesters at the state's flagship university. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)

FILE - This Sept. 19, 2017, file photo shows a monument honoring the Confederate dead at the state Capitol in Raleigh, N.C. A North Carolina historical commission decided Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, that this Confederate monument and two others should remain on the state Capitol grounds with newly added context about slavery, weighing in less than two days after another rebel statue was torn down by protesters at the state's flagship university. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)

Police stand guard after the confederate statue known as Silent Sam was toppled by protesters on campus at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., Monday, Aug. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

People gather near the remaining monument following a Monday night rally where the Confederate statue known as Silent Sam was toppled from it's pedestal by protesters at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018. The bronze figure of a Southern soldier atop a tall stone pedestal was erected by the United Daughters of the Confederacy in 1913. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

People gather around the remaining monument following a Monday night rally where the Confederate statue known as Silent Sam was toppled from it's pedestal by protesters at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018. The bronze figure of a Southern soldier atop a tall stone pedestal was erected by the United Daughters of the Confederacy in 1913.(AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

Protester Ashley Popio, center, is removed from a N.C. Historical Commission meeting at the N.C. State Archives in Raleigh after she made an outburst while commission members were making recommendations on what to do with three Confederate monuments at the N.C. State Capitol grounds Wednesday, August 22, 2018. (Travis Long/The News & Observer via AP)PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Thursday that he is considering a "huge amnesty" for prisoners so that those released will have a chance to correct their mistakes.

Hun Sen's comments come amid an apparent softening of the government's harsh stance toward critics. Four land rights activists were pardoned and released from prison on Monday, and two journalists who formerly worked for U.S.-funded Radio Free Asia were released Tuesday on bail as they await trial on espionage charges. A jailed politician was reported to have received a pardon Thursday night after Hun Sen spoke.

Hun Sen cracked down on critics and opponents last year in what was seen as an effort to ensure his party would win elections held this year. His party did, though the vote was widely seen as lacking credibility.

A prominent leader of Cambodia's land rights activist Tep Vanny, upon arrival at her home in Boeung Kak, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Monday, Aug. 20, 2018. A prominent leader of Cambodia's land rights movement and three women activists who were sent to prison with her were freed Monday under a royal pardon. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

Hun Sen has led the country for more than three decades and has said he intends to remain at the helm for at least 10 more years.

Hun Sen insisted Thursday in a speech to garment factory workers that the pardons were not because of international pressure, but to show mercy.

He did not identify which prisoners might receive the amnesty, but his reference to 12 of them may refer to 12 opposition party members convicted a few years ago of social unrest.

Hun Sen said the amnesty could coincide with an important festival or national dates in coming months.

After he spoke, the pardon of Sourn Serey Ratha, the president of the former Khmer Power Party, was reported by local media. He was arrested in August 2017 and sentenced to five years' imprisonment for posting a comment on his Facebook page that the government said incited soldiers to disobey orders.

He had criticized the deployment of troops to the border with Laos during a brief but tense territorial standoff. He said a conflict would harm only regular troops, while generals could safely enjoy their good life with "money" and "girls."

FILE - In this file photo dated Monday, Feb. 27, 2017, detained Boeng Kak lake land activist Tep Vanny sits in a van as she arrives at the Supreme Court, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Vanny led protests against evictions from the capital's Boeng Kak lake shore community, where the government granted a land concession to a Cambodian tycoon and a Chinese company to develop a luxury residential and commercial community, but King Norodom Sihamoni has pardoned Vanny Monday Aug. 20, 2018, just after the second anniversary of Tep Vanny's imprisonment on a charge of aggravated intentional violence. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith, FILE)TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Democrats horrified by the thought that provocative conservative Kris Kobach could be Kansas' next governor are attacking a Kansas City-area businessman whose independent candidacy could thwart their ambitions and help elect the Republican.

Their reaction to Greg Orman, the 49-year-old founder of a private equity fund, contrasts sharply with Democrats' embrace of Orman during a U.S. Senate run in 2014 that garnered national attention. This time Democrats launched a legal challenge aimed at removing Orman from the November ballot, though they lost the first round Thursday when a state board reviewed their claims.

Orman expects to tap discontent with the two major parties to become his red state's first independent governor, and supporters contend political scientists and partisan activists greatly underestimate voters' disgust with the hyper-partisanship in U.S. politics. He's also willing to spend his own funds, dropping $650,000 in July, a large sum in low-cost Kansas.

Greg Orman, independent candidate for Kansas governor, answers questions from reporters while a state board considers a legal challenge to his candidacy, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, in Topeka, Kan. The board has rejected most of the claims in a challenge filed by a Democrat, allowing Orman to stay on the ballot. (AP Photo/John Hanna)

But outside his camp, Orman is seen as a spoiler battling for the same votes the Democratic nominee needs from GOP moderates and unaffiliated voters alienated by Kobach's in-your-face conservatism and ties to President Donald Trump .

"Let's say he picks up 15, 16 percent, and Kobach wins with less than 45 percent," said Chris Reeves, a Kansas City-area activist who represents Kansas on the Democratic National Committee. "Greg Orman better be prepared to be run out of town on a rail."

A top Democrat's aide filed a formal objection with the state this week questioning the validity of petitions signed by registered voters that Orman submitted to the state to gain his ballot spot. A three-member, all-Republican elections board - led by Kobach's top deputy - brushed aside almost all of the issues raised in the petition as less important than preserving another choice for voters.

The Democrat's attorney said a lawsuit is possible and Orman's campaign manager said he would be shocked if one wasn't filed.

"We aren't going to be deterred by these tactics," Orman told reporters Thursday.

Kobach, 52, the Kansas secretary of state, defeated Gov. Jeff Colyer in the Republican primary after being tweet-endorsed by Trump. Kobach promises to slash taxes, push for tough state laws against illegal immigration and sustain strong anti-abortion laws. An advocate of strict voter ID laws, he was vice chairman of a now-disbanded Trump commission on voter fraud.

The Democratic nominee, state Sen. Laura Kelly, 68, of Topeka, sees Kobach's brand of conservatism as a threat to public schools and government services. She supports abortion rights.

Kobach lumps Kelly and Orman together as fellow liberals. Kelly contends disaffected GOP moderates and unaffiliated voters will support her instead of Orman.

"I don't think that they're going to waste their vote," she said.

Orman calls for steps to improve the state's business climate, promises progress on bipartisan goals such as promoting green energy and has outlined government transparency proposals. He described himself in 2014 as "pro-choice" on abortion but now avoids labels and says he would work to decrease unwanted pregnancies.

The U.S. has only one independent governor, Bill Walker of Alaska, and two independent U.S. senators, Angus King of Maine, and Bernie Sanders of Vermont, now the patriarch of democratic socialism. Orman is the most serious independent candidate for Kansas governor since the 1930s.

"An Orman victory, I think, would elevate the quality of independent candidates everywhere in the country," said Charles Wheelan, a Dartmouth University senior economics lecturer and co-chairman of Unite America, a centrist group backing Orman and other independents.

Orman, a Princeton graduate, established an energy-efficient lighting company and was a Kansas City Power & Light Co. executive after the utility bought it in 1996. He helped found the Denali Partners equity fund in 2004. He takes on stakes in outside firms and has an active management role in them.

Republicans hashed over Orman's business dealings in 2014, and Kobach resurrected some criticisms recently. But Democrats also are chiming in.

Kansas Senate Democratic Leader Anthony Hensley - whose chief of staff filed the legal challenge to Orman's candidacy - derided Orman as a "vulture capitalist." Orman said his approach is to hold businesses and grow them.

Orman's relationship with prominent Democrats was less contentious four years ago as he ran as an independent against veteran Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts.

The Democratic nominee dropped out after Orman did well in early polling, and the party fought successfully in court against efforts - by Kobach - to force it to name a replacement candidate.

"This was the very same person who the Democrats found so acceptable and so loveable as a candidate that they got their guy off the ballot," Kobach told reporters Thursday.

Roberts won after the GOP brought in big stars like Sarah Palin and made his race about regaining control of the U.S. Senate.

Afterward, Orman wrote a book, "A Declaration of Independents," about breaking the "two-party stranglehold" on American politics. He concedes that independents can't get elected if disaffected voters don't see them as having a solid chance of winning.

The Kansas GOP began a clean sweep of statewide and congressional races in 2010, and 44 percent of the state's 1.8 million registered voters are Republicans. Yet over the past 50 years, the state has alternately elected GOP and Democratic governors as Democrats exploited rifts between conservative and moderate Republicans.

Unaffiliated voters outnumber registered Democrats by about 122,000; some 31 percent of voters are unaffiliated and 24 percent are Democrats. Orman said his "core challenge" is exciting unaffiliated voters enough to get them to the polls.

"So often, they look at the choices they're presented as two bad options," he said. "You know, they're being forced to choose between the shingles and the flu, and they don't want either."

___

Also contributing was Associated Press writer Roxana Hegeman in Wichita.

___

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___

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Kansas Secretary of Kris Kobach talks to reporters while a state board considers a challenge to independent gubernatorial candidate Greg Orman's spot on the ballot, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, in Topeka, Kan. Kobach is the Republican nominee for governor and his top deputy served as the elections board's chairman. (AP Photo/John Hanna)

Will Lawrence, an attorney and aide to the Kansas Senate's top Democrat, testifies during a hearing on his legal challenge to independent candidate Greg Orman's right to be on the ballot in the governor's race, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, in Topeka, Kan. The board hearing the challenge ultimately rejected most of Lawrence's issues, allowing Orman to remain on the ballot. (AP Photo/John Hanna)BROOKLYN, Iowa (AP) - The Iowa college student who was allegedly abducted by a stranger while running last month in a small town was stabbed to death, investigators announced Thursday.

Preliminary autopsy results from the state medical examiner's office determined that 20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts was the victim of a homicide who died from "multiple sharp force injuries," the Division of Criminal Investigation announced in a news release.

State medical examiner Dennis Klein said in an interview that the finding means a sharp-edged or pointed object such as a knife was used to attack Tibbetts. He declined comment on the details of her injuries, and said that his office would hire consultants, including forensic anthropologists, to analyze her remains further and make additional findings.

Cristhian Bahena Rivera is escorted into the Poweshiek County Courthouse for his initial court appearance, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, in Montezuma, Iowa. Rivera is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Mollie Tibbetts, who disappeared July 18 from Brooklyn, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

The man charged with first-degree murder in Tibbetts' death, Cristhian Bahena Rivera, allegedly led investigators to her body early Tuesday in a cornfield outside of Brooklyn, Iowa, the town where the University of Iowa psychology major was last seen one month prior. While investigators were confident then that the body was that of Tibbetts, the autopsy definitively confirmed her identity.

Prosecutors allege that Rivera abducted Tibbetts while she was out for an evening run in Brooklyn on July 18, killed her and disposed of her body in the secluded location.

A criminal complaint alleges that Rivera confessed during a lengthy interrogation that began Monday to following Tibbetts in his car, getting out on foot and chasing after her. Rivera told investigators that he panicked after Tibbetts threatened to call police on her cellphone, he blacked out and later came to when he was unloading her bloody body from the trunk of a car, it says.

Rivera worked for the last four years at a dairy farm a few miles from where Tibbetts was last seen. He and Tibbetts have no known connections other than that Rivera allegedly told investigators that he saw her running previously. Investigators zeroed in on him as the suspect after obtaining footage from surveillance cameras showing a vehicle connected to him circling the area of Tibbetts' running route.

Earlier this week, investigators said they were uncertain how Tibbetts was killed or whether she was sexually assaulted. They've made no mention of recovering a knife or other weapon linked to the death.

Rivera, a native of Mexico who is suspected of being in the U.S. illegally, made his initial court appearance Wednesday and is being jailed on a $5 million cash-only bond. He faces life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted.

Within hours of the arrest, President Donald Trump seized on the news that Rivera was allegedly in the country illegally to call for stricter immigration laws. And in an interview that aired Thursday, he said on "Fox & Friends" that Tibbetts was a "beautiful young girl" killed by a "horrible person that came in from Mexico, illegally here."

Trump has claimed that people living in the U.S. illegally often commit crimes, but studies by social scientists and the libertarian Cato Institute reject that assertion. The studies show that states with higher shares of people living in the country illegally have lower violent crime rates.

The president also said the suspect was "found by" agents from Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, an agency that some liberals have called for abolishing because of tactics they view as overly harsh. An ICE spokesman said Thursday that its agents worked with state and local investigators in "identifying, locating and interviewing the suspect."

Division of Criminal Investigation spokesman Mitch Mortvedt agreed that ICE played a "significant role" in the case, particularly in helping confirm Rivera's identity and immigration status.

Rivera's defense attorney, Allan Richards, has denounced Trump for prejudging his client's guilt, saying the president's comments would make it hard for Rivera to get a fair trial.

"Let's let the process go," he said Thursday. "The process is about truth-finding in a rational, peaceful and efficient manner. We're only at the very preliminary stages."

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Cristhian Bahena Rivera speaks with his attorney during his initial court appearance, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, at the Poweshiek County Courthouse in Montezuma, Iowa. Rivera is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Mollie Tibbetts, who disappeared July 18 from Brooklyn, Iowa. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette via AP, Pool)

Cristhian Bahena Rivera is escorted into the Poweshiek County Courthouse for his initial court appearance, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, in Montezuma, Iowa. Rivera is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Mollie Tibbetts, who disappeared July 18 from Brooklyn, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Cristhian Bahena Rivera is lead into the courtroom for his initial court appearance, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, at the Poweshiek County Courthouse in Montezuma, Iowa. Rivera is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Mollie Tibbetts, who disappeared July 18 from Brooklyn, Iowa. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette via AP, Pool)

People in the courtroom reacts after Cristhian Bahena Rivera's initial court appearance, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, at the Poweshiek County Courthouse in Montezuma, Iowa. Rivera is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Mollie Tibbetts, who disappeared July 18 from Brooklyn, Iowa. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette via AP, Pool)ROME (AP) - An American costume maker living in Rome has created a dressmaking cooperative around migrant tailors, an example of initiatives cropping up in Italy to help new arrivals assimilate and make a living while they wait for decisions on their asylum requests.

Lydia Witt, 35, said she was inspired to open the Sewing Cooperative while volunteering at refugee centers, where she met many people who had worked as tailors in their home countries. She said one strong motivation was to challenge misconceptions on refugee resettlement in Europe, while helping skilled refugees get jobs and create dialogue with local residents. Before moving to Rome, Witt worked for a decade as a dressmaker for the New York City Ballet and Broadway productions.

The Sewing Cooperative - currently hosted by the Sala Uno center for contemporary arts - works with five migrants, mostly from West Africa, to make dresses on commission for clients. They use mostly colorful fabrics and create clothing according to their customers' requests, basing the shapes on a "look book." The pieces cost anything between 45 and 120 euros (between $51 and $137).

From left, Bakary Bamba, 26, from Ivory Coast, Lydia Witt, 35, from Ohio, Daouda Doumbia, 26, from Ivory Coast and Lassina Coulibaly, 19, from Mali work at The Sewing Cooperative nonprofit organization, in Rome, Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. After a decade working as a dressmaker for the New York City Ballet and Broadway productions, Lydia Witt moved to Rome to channel her passion in a new direction. Last year she started a small organization to employ skilled migrant tailors, mainly from West African countries. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Similar tailoring initiatives involving migrants have emerged in recent years, such as Florence-based "Crune Lab," and multicultural clothing brand Waxmore, which launched a campaign last year to fund a training course for four asylum-seeking tailors.

On a recent August day at Witt's studio in Rome, 26-year-old Daouda Doumbia from Ivory Coast was carefully sewing the hem on a brightly colored skirt for an American client.

Doumbia said he fled ethnic tensions in Ivory Coast only to realize that the countries to which he had fled - Mali, Algeria and then Libya - were also dangerous. He undertook the risky sea crossing in a rubber dinghy, arriving in Italy in 2016. He received papers allowing him to work while he awaits a response on his asylum request.

Bakary Bamba was also born and raised in Ivory Coast, where he had a tailoring business. He escaped his native country, leaving his wife and two children behind, after his shop burned down and the family of a victim in the fire threatened to kill him for revenge. Similarly to Doumbia, he had a harrowing journey through several African nations before paying a smuggler to get him to Europe.

"I feel important, I feel good today," said Bamba, explaining he's happy to be safe after all he's been through. "I work, I earn some money with the activities we do."

Witt said she wants to show that migrants arrive in Europe with "gifts and talents they're ready to use."

One of the misconceptions she faces is that she's teaching the already-expert tailors how to sew.

"It's more about creating opportunities and opening doors," she said. "We're learning from each other every day."

Issa Diallo, 36, from Burkina Faso, shows goods that were manufactured and are on sale at the The Sewing Cooperative nonprofit organization, in Rome, Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. After a decade working as a dressmaker for the New York City Ballet and Broadway productions, 35-year-old Ohio born Lydia Witt moved to Rome to channel her passion in a new direction. Last year she started a small organization to employ skilled migrant tailors, mainly from West African countries. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

From left, Daouda Doumbia, 26, from Ivory Coast, reflected in a mirror, Lassina Coulibaly, 19, from Mali, and Bakary Bamba, 26, from Ivory Coast, work at The Sewing Cooperative nonprofit organization, in Rome, Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. After a decade working as a dressmaker for the New York City Ballet and Broadway productions, 35-year-old Ohio born Lydia Witt moved to Rome to channel her passion in a new direction. Last year she started a small organization to employ skilled migrant tailors, mainly from West African countries. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Jasmine Randan, from Florida, United States, second from left, is advised by Lassina Coulibaly, 19, from Mali, left, and Issa Diallo, 36, from Burkina Faso, as she chooses cloths to a dress tailored, in Rome's ethnic Piazza Vittorio market, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. After a decade working as a dressmaker for the New York City Ballet and Broadway productions, 35-year-old Ohio born dressmaker Lydia Witt moved to Rome to channel her passion in a new direction. Last year she started a small organization to employ skilled migrant tailors, mainly from West African countries. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Lassina Coulibaly, 19, from Mali, left, and Daouda Doumbia, 26, from Ivory Coast, work at The Sewing Cooperative nonprofit organization, in Rome, Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. After a decade working as a dressmaker for the New York City Ballet and Broadway productions, 35-year-old Ohio born Lydia Witt moved to Rome to channel her passion in a new direction. Last year she started a small organization to employ skilled migrant tailors, mainly from West African countries. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Daouda Doumbia, 26, from Ivory Coast, is reflected in a mirror as he works at The Sewing Cooperative nonprofit organization, in Rome, Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. After a decade working as a dressmaker for the New York City Ballet and Broadway productions, 35-year-old Ohio born Lydia Witt moved to Rome to channel her passion in a new direction. Last year she started a small organization to employ skilled migrant tailors, mainly from West African countries. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Jasmine Randan, from Florida, United States, right, is advised by Issa Diallo, 36, from Burkina Faso, as she chooses fabrics to have a dress tailored, in Rome's ethnic Piazza Vittorio market, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. After a decade working as a dressmaker for the New York City Ballet and Broadway productions, 35-year-old Ohio born dressmaker Lydia Witt moved to Rome to channel her passion in a new direction. Last year she started a small organization to employ skilled migrant tailors, mainly from West African countries. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Lydia Witt, 35, from Ohio, founder of The Sewing Cooperative nonprofit organization, left, talks with tailors Bakary Bamba, 26, from Ivory Coast, center, and Daouda Doumbia, 26, from Ivory Coast Coast, in Rome, Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. After a decade working as a dressmaker for the New York City Ballet and Broadway productions, Lydia Witt moved to Rome to channel her passion in a new direction. Last year she started a small organization to employ skilled migrant tailors, mainly from West African countries. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Lydia Witt, 35, from Ohio, founder of The Sewing Cooperative nonprofit organization looks at outfits, in Rome, Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. After a decade working as a dressmaker for the New York City Ballet and Broadway productions, Lydia Witt moved to Rome to channel her passion in a new direction. Last year she started a small organization to employ skilled migrant tailors, mainly from West African countries. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Lassina Coulibaly, 19, from Mali, left, advises client Katherine Krizek, of the US, as she tries a dress at The Sewing Cooperative nonprofit organization, in Rome, Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. After a decade working as a dressmaker for the New York City Ballet and Broadway productions, Lydia Witt moved to Rome to channel her passion in a new direction. Last year she started a small organization to employ skilled migrant tailors, mainly from West African countries. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Amelie Grieco, 17, from Rome, second from right, is advised by Bakary Bamba, 26, from Ivory Coast, left, Daouda Doumbia, 26, from Ivory Coast, second from left, and Lassina Coulibaly, 19, from Mali, right, as she chooses cloths to have a dress tailored, in Rome's ethnic Piazza Vittorio market, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. After a decade working as a dressmaker for the New York City Ballet and Broadway productions, 35-year-old Ohio born dressmaker Lydia Witt moved to Rome to channel her passion in a new direction. Last year she started a small organization to employ skilled migrant tailors, mainly from West African countries. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Daouda Doumbia, 26, from Ivory Coast, reflected in a mirror, advises client Desiree Marie Townley as she tries a skirt, at The Sewing Cooperative nonprofit organization, in Rome, Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. After a decade working as a dressmaker for the New York City Ballet and Broadway productions, 35-year-old Ohio born Lydia Witt moved to Rome to channel her passion in a new direction. Last year she started a small organization to employ skilled migrant tailors, mainly from West African countries. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Daouda Doumbia, 26, from Ivory Coast, works at The Sewing Cooperative nonprofit organization, in Rome, Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. After a decade working as a dressmaker for the New York City Ballet and Broadway productions, 35-year-old Ohio born Lydia Witt moved to Rome to channel her passion in a new direction. Last year she started a small organization to employ skilled migrant tailors, mainly from West African countries. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - Rights groups are warning that a female Shiite activist detained in Saudi Arabia since December 2015 may be beheaded along with other activists.

Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and other groups have said that Israa al-Ghomgham and at least four other activists face execution for participating in 2011 Arab Spring protests in eastern Saudi Arabia's Shiite heartland.

Human Rights Watch says al-Ghomgham is the "first female activist to possibly face the death penalty for her human rights-related work, which sets a dangerous precedent for other women activists currently behind bars."

The U.S. State Department said Wednesday it was aware of al-Ghomgham's case and remains "deeply concerned by the detention of activists in Saudi Arabia."

Saudi officials didn't respond to a request for comment on Thursday amid the Eid al-Adha holiday.NEW DELHI (AP) - A political battle is brewing in flood-ravaged south India, with the ruling party in Kerala state protesting the central government's refusal to accept $100 million in relief offered by foreign governments.

"It is only natural for nations to help each other," said Kerala's top elected official, Pinyari Vijayan, as residents waded into the immense cleanup effort after floods killed more than 200 people and drove more than 800,000 into relief shelters.

The state finance minister said the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi must either accept a $100 million aid offer from the United Arab Emirates, or compensate Kerala by that amount.

A girl who has left her flood affected home rests on her baggage at a relief camp set up inside a school in Kochi, in the southern Indian state of Kerala, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. A political battle is brewing in flood-ravaged south India, with the ruling party in Kerala state protesting the central government's refusal to accept more than $100 million in foreign relief. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

Trying to shed its longtime image as a poverty-wracked nation, India has refused to accept aid from foreign governments since a 2004 tsunami, when New Delhi told potential government donors that India would contact them if it needed financial aid.

India is "is committed to meeting the requirements for relief and rehabilitation through domestic efforts," foreign ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar said in a statement Wednesday night.

"The government of India deeply appreciates offers from several countries, including from foreign governments, to assist in relief and rehabilitation efforts after the tragic floods in Kerala," he continued.

India has said individuals and foundations are welcome to send donations.

The torrential rains which began Aug. 8 in Kerala slowed early this week and floodwaters have been receding. But vast swaths of the tropical state, known for its idyllic villages and beautiful beaches, remain coated with mud, and many people have no clean drinking water or electricity.

The Kerala state government, run by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), expressed disappointment after Modi offered the state 6 billion rupees, roughly $85 million, or about one-fourth of the 22 billion rupees it requested.

Isaac said the state government had made no requests for foreign assistance, but the UAE offered 7 billion rupees, about $100 million.

"It is below our dignity to accept foreign aid," he said in a tweet, mimicking and ridiculing the central government.

Qatar has offered India $5 million aid, and Indian media reports say the Maldives and Thailand have also said they could provide financial support.

The UAE has a large population of expatriate Indian workers, many of them from Kerala.

While individuals and foundations in the UAE have pledged millions of dollars in aid, its central government has not acknowledged making any direct donation offers. Emirati officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday during the Eid al-Adha holiday.

___

Associated Press writer Jon Gambrell in Dubai contributed to this report.

Flood affected people receive food at a relief camp set up inside a school in Kochi, in the southern state of Kerala, India, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. A political battle is brewing in flood-ravaged south India, with the ruling party in Kerala state protesting the central government's refusal to accept more than $100 million in foreign relief. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

Flood affected victims stand in a queue for food at a relief camp set up inside a school in Kochi, in the southern Indian state of Kerala, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. A political battle is brewing in flood-ravaged south India, with the ruling party in Kerala state protesting the central government's refusal to accept more than $100 million in foreign relief. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)RABAT, Gozo (AP) - The streets and quaint lanes of Rabat on the island of Gozo in the Maltese archipelago come to life during the annual religious feast day of the Assumption of Mary.

The holiday is the peak of the summer season of religious village feasts and is celebrated in seven towns and villages, including Rabat.

During the week of the feast day, many Maltese and local residents congregate to Gozo's capital, Rabat, for preparation, marches and traditional activities leading up to the festival.

In this photo taken on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018, nuns watch the statue of the Virgin Mary being carried through the streets of Rabat on the island of Gozo in the Maltese archipelago, during the feast day of the Assumption of Mary. The streets and quaint lanes of Rabat come to life during the annual religious feast day of the Assumption of Mary. The holiday is the peak of the summer season of religious village feasts and is celebrated in seven towns and villages, including Rabat. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

On Aug. 15, traditional activities include a series of processions with local bands marching through the streets with boisterous traditional music emanating from their trumpets, flutes and drums.

The decorated streets are dotted with local food and ice cream trucks and drinks begin to flow from the morning. Residents throw paper confetti from ornamental balconies onto the marching bands and their followers.

The feast day of the Assumption of Mary coincides with another important event in Maltese history. During World War II, the SS Ohio tanker made it to Maltese shores to provide much-needed supplies on Aug. 15, 1942.

As the sun sets over the hill opposite the Old Citadella, the majestic statue of Our Lady is lifted from the Gozo Cathedral and perched up on a fortified hill. The procession begins with an emotional scene - a local band performs and devotees and spectators throw blessings and kisses and gaze in admiration as the statue is lifted through the crowds.

The statue of Our Lady is also led by a delegation of priests, holding religious paraphernalia. They wear bright purple garments, decorated with traditional Gozitan handmade lace, and adorned with intricate Maltese cross pendants.

The evening continues with celebration as residents eagerly await the finale - a vibrant firework show, lighting up the skyline behind the Old Citadel.

Malta's archipelago has a predominantly Roman Catholic population of just over 400,000 people.

In this photo taken on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018, priests participate in the procession of the Virgin Mary in Rabat on the island of Gozo in the Maltese archipelago. The streets and quaint lanes of Rabat come to life during the annual religious feast day of the Assumption of Mary. The holiday is the peak of the summer season of religious village feasts and is celebrated in seven towns and villages, including Rabat.(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

In this photo taken on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018, a priest wears a Maltese cross while he participates in the feast day of the Assumption of Mary in Rabat on the island of Gozo in the Maltese archipelago. The holiday is the peak of the summer season of religious village feasts and is celebrated in seven towns and villages, including Rabat.(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

In this photo taken on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018, local women blow kisses and look at the statue of the Virgin Mary during a procession on the feast of the Assumption of Our Lady in Rabat on the island of Gozo in the Maltese archipelago. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

In this photo taken on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018, the Statue of the Virgin Mary is taken out from Gozo Cathedral in the old Citadel in Rabat on the island of Gozo in the Maltese archipelago during the feast day of the Assumption of Mary. The streets and quaint lanes of Rabat come to life during the annual religious feast day of the Assumption of Mary. The holiday is the peak of the summer season of religious village feasts and is celebrated in seven towns and villages, including Rabat. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

In this photo taken on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018, priests hold religious icons as they lead a procession during the feast day of the Assumption of Mary in Rabat on the island of Gozo in the Maltese archipelago. The holiday is the peak of the summer season of religious village feasts and is celebrated in seven towns and villages, including Rabat. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

In this photo taken on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018, a man from a local band club plays as he participates in the feast day of the Assumption of Mary in Rabat on the island of Gozo in the Maltese archipelago. The streets and quaint lanes of Rabat come to life during the annual religious feast day of the Assumption of Mary. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

In this photo taken on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018, young children play with paper confetti during the feast day of the Assumption of Mary in Rabat on the island of Gozo in the Maltese archipelago. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

In this photo taken on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018, priests carry a statue of the Virgin Mary during a procession on the feast day of the Assumption of Mary in Rabat on the island of Gozo in the Maltese archipelago. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

In this photo taken on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018, a nun watches the statue of the Virgin Mary being carried through the streets of Rabat on the island of Gozo in the Maltese archipelago, during the feast day of the Assumption of Mary. The streets and quaint lanes of Rabat come to life during the annual religious feast day of the Assumption of Mary. The holiday is the peak of the summer season of religious village feasts and is celebrated in seven towns and villages, including Rabat. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

In this photo taken on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018, devotees carry a statue of the Virgin Mary through the streets of Rabat on the island of Gozo in the Maltese archipelago, during the feast day of the Assumption of Mary. The streets and quaint lanes of Rabat come to life during the annual religious feast day of the Assumption of Mary. The holiday is the peak of the summer season of religious village feasts and is celebrated in seven towns and villages, including Rabat. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

In this photo taken on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018, nuns offer a prayer as the statue of the Virgin Mary being carried through the streets of Rabat on the island of Gozo in the Maltese archipelago, during the feast day of the Assumption of Mary. The streets and quaint lanes of Rabat come to life during the annual religious feast day of the Assumption of Mary. The holiday is the peak of the summer season of religious village feasts and is celebrated in seven towns and villages, including Rabat. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

In this photo taken on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018, residents throw confetti on the statue of the Virgin Mary as it is carried through the streets of Rabat on the island of Gozo in the Maltese archipelago, during the feast day of the Assumption of Mary. The streets and quaint lanes of Rabat come to life during the annual religious feast day of the Assumption of Mary. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

In this photo taken on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018, local band club participate in a procession through the streets of Rabat on the island of Gozo in the Maltese archipelago, during the feast day of the Assumption of Mary. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)TRAPPES, France (AP) - A man with severe psychiatric problems killed his mother and sister and seriously injured another woman in a knife attack Thursday in a town near Paris, officials said.

French police shot and killed the man soon afterward.

The Islamic State group, which has a history of opportunistic claims, swiftly claimed responsibility for the attack.

French hooded police officers guard the area with other police officers after a knife attack Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018 in Trappes, west of Paris. A man flagged by French authorities as a suspected radical killed his mother and sister and seriously injured another woman in a knife attack Thursday that was quickly claimed by the Islamic State group. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

French authorities weren't currently treating the morning knife attack in Trappes, west of Paris, as a terrorism case, Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said after visiting the scene. He noted the attacker suffered from serious mental health issues although he had also been flagged for glorifying terrorism.

However, officials were not ruling out a terrorism link in the early stage of the investigation. The prosecutor's office in Versailles, handling the case, said in a statement Thursday evening that motive for the killings "remains uncertain."

Interior Ministry spokesman Frederic de Lanouvelle said until the investigation advances it won't be clear "100 percent" whether the attack at the family home was strictly a family drama or was linked to terrorism.

Collomb said the man killed his mother at her home and stabbed the other women outside. Still wielding the knife, he then ignored police warnings and was shot and killed, the minister said.

He described the man as "unstable, rather than someone who was engaged, someone who could respond, for example, to orders and instructions from a terrorist organization, in particular from Daesh (Islamic State)."

Said Segreg, a long-time friend of the attacker named him as Kamel Salhi, 36. He said Salhi had no obvious problems, didn't abuse drugs or alcohol and wasn't fervently religious.

A government official confirmed Salhi's name and age, speaking on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to discuss such details publicly.

Salhi was divorced and living with his mother, said Adama Traore, another acquaintance in Trappes.

Investigators remained at the scene hours after the slayings, taking a bag and satchels from the home.

"It seems, but I can't confirm 100 percent because the investigation is continuing ... that this affair is more a family drama than a terrorist attack," spokesman de Lanouvelle said on the C-News television station.

He said the attacker at one point cried "Allahu akbar (God is great)" and had lost his job as a bus driver for the RATP public transport authority several years ago for speaking incoherently and "in a troubling way" about Allah.

However, there also was evidence of family tensions, the spokesman said, noting the attacker had filed a complaint against his two sisters last year over an inheritance. The complaint was dismissed.

The prosecutor's office said another complaint against the attacker, for defending terrorism, also was dismissed, in 2016, for insufficient evidence.

The Islamic State group, via its Aamaq news agency, claimed responsibility for the attack Thursday. It said the attack was motivated by calls from the IS leadership to attack civilians in countries at war with the extremist group. Hours earlier, IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi urged followers to attack enemies everywhere.

The Islamic State group, which has lost most of the territories it once controlled in Iraq and Syria, has been known to make opportunistic claims, even when there was no established link between an attacker and the extremist group.

___

John Leicester reported from Paris. Associated Press writer Lori Hinnant contributed to this report from Paris.

French hooded police officers guard the area after a knife attack Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018 in Trappes, west of Paris. A man flagged by French authorities as a suspected radical killed his mother and sister and seriously injured another woman in a knife attack Thursday that was quickly claimed by the Islamic State group. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Police officers stand guard after a knife attack Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018 in Trappes, west of Paris. A man flagged by French authorities as a suspected radical killed his mother and sister and seriously injured another woman in a knife attack Thursday that was quickly claimed by the Islamic State group. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

A French police officer stands guard after a knife attack Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018 in Trappes, west of Paris. A man flagged by French authorities as a suspected radical killed his mother and sister and seriously injured another woman in a knife attack Thursday that was quickly claimed by the Islamic State group. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb, center, answers reporters after a knife attack Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018 in Trappes, west of Paris. A man flagged by French authorities as a suspected radical killed his mother and sister and seriously injured another woman in a knife attack Thursday that was quickly claimed by the Islamic State group. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)A former National Security Agency contractor who pleaded guilty to leaking classified government documents to a media agency arrived to court on Thursday grinning and clutching what appears to be a book about the New Testament.

Reality Winner, 26, was sentenced to more than five years on Thursday as part of a deal with prosecutors, who called it the longest sentence ever imposed for a federal crime involving leaks to the media.

Winner pleaded guilty in June to a single count of transmitting national security information.

The former Air Force translator worked as a contractor at a National Security Agency's office in Augusta, Georgia, when she printed a classified report and left the building with it tucked into her pantyhose.

Winner told the FBI she mailed the document to an online news outlet.

The former linguist arrived to court wearing an orange prison jumpsuit and her shackled hands clutching the New Testament from the Bible. Winner smiled as she made her way inside.

Reality Winner, the former National Security Agency contractor who pleaded guilty to leaking classified documents to the media, was sentenced to five years in prison during a hearing on Thursday

Winner smiled as she arrived at a courthouse on Thursday for sentencing, after she pleaded guilty in June to copying a classified U.S. report and leaving work with it

Winner spent a year in jail before reaching a plea agreement with prosecutors. She arrived for her sentencing holding the New Testament

The hearing lasted less than 45 minutes, according to NBC. Winner's attorneys told the judge that she was a good person and had had an otherwise clean record. The former government employee, her attorney said, suffered from depression and bulimia.

Winner apologized during the hearing and acknowledged that what she did was wrong.

As she was leaving court, she again flashed a smile and gave the peace sign.

Authorities never identified the news organization she leaked the document to. But the Justice Department announced Winner's June 2017 arrest the same day The Intercept reported on a secret NSA document. It detailed Russian government efforts to penetrate a Florida-based supplier of voting software and the accounts of election officials ahead of the 2016 presidential election. The NSA report was dated May 5, the same as the document Winner had leaked.

U.S. intelligence agencies later confirmed Russian meddling.

The judge's sentence was in line with a plea agreement between Winner's defense team and prosecutors, who recommended she serve five years and three months behind bars. Prosecutors said in a court filing that punishment would amount to 'the longest sentence served by a federal defendant for an unauthorized disclosure to the media.'

As she was leaving court, the 26-year-old smiled again and gave the peace sign to photographers

Her attorneys said Winner suffers from depression and bulimia and otherwise has a clean record

Among other leak cases cited by prosecutors in court documents, the stiffest prior sentence was three years and seven months in prison given to former FBI explosives expert Donald Sachtleben. Secret information he leaked included intelligence he gave to The Associated Press for a story about a U.S. operation in Yemen in 2012.

Winner spent a year in jail before reaching a plea agreement with prosecutors. Her attorneys had argued for Winner to be released on bond, noting she had no criminal record and had served honorably in the military.

It's believed the document she leaked was about Russian government efforts to penetrate a Florida-based supplier of voting software

The judge sided with prosecutors who said Winner posed a potential flight risk and may have stolen other classified documents.

Prosecutors also used Winner's own words against her, including a Facebook chat in which Winner once wrote to her sister: 'Look, I only say I hate America like 3 times a day.'

Winner's social media postings also included some scathing opinions on President Donald Trump. Three months before her arrest, Winner posted on Facebook that climate change was a more important issue than health care 'since not poisoning an entire population seems to be more in line with 'health' care, and not the disease care system that people voted for a soulless ginger orangutan to 'fix.''

Despite prosecutors' warnings that Winner may have stolen other U.S. secrets, she was never charged with any additional crimes.

Winner grew up in Kingsville, Texas, and enlisted in the Air Force after graduating from high school. In a June interview with the DailyMail.com, Winner's stepfather Gary Davis explained how she got her unusual name saying that the woman's late father picked it out because he always wanted 'to have a 'Real Winner''.

'So he named her Reality Leigh Winner. It's just a beautiful name. The plan was to call her Leigh because Reality is kind of a strange name but everyone who knew her just loved the name Reality and it stuck with her,' he said. 'I forget sometimes that she has ever been called Leigh  she's always been Reality.'

Winner worked a linguist for the NSA translating documents from Farsi to English

Her parents have said she became a linguist, speaking Arabic and Farsi, and spent four years assigned to the NSA at Fort Mead, Maryland. During that time, Winner provided real-time translation to Americans conducting field missions.

After leaving the military, Winner moved to Augusta to become a civilian contractor for the NSA, which has operated a $286 million complex in the Georgia city since 2012. Court records say Winner translated documents from Farsi to English for the agency.

Winner confessed to leaking the classified report when FBI agents questioned her at her home in June 2017. Winner said she was frustrated at work and had filed complaints 'about them having Fox News on.'

Prosecutors later made the 77-page transcript of Winner's FBI interview part of the court file in her case. Any details about the document she leaked and the organization she mailed it to were redacted. But the rest of her confession to FBI agents became public.

'Yeah, I screwed up royally,' Winner told the agents before she was arrested.The war against dumb conventional wisdom, often bolstered by self-serving propaganda, will never end. Francisco Toro gave it a try at thea couple days ago in regard to the agony in Venezuela, No, Venezuela Doesn't Prove That Socialism Will Bring About A Zombie Apocalypse , later prudently retitled "No, Venezuela Doesn't Prove Anything About Socialism." Toro, raised in Caracas and schooled in the U.S. is a journalist, political scientist and blogger. "Venezuela is clearly having its moment in the American conservative mediasphere," he wrote. "The countrys catastrophic collapse is, were told, all we need to know about the terrifying dangers of socialism." He recognizes a convenient right-wing narrative when he sees one.

Don't be fooled. All Venezuela demonstrates is that if you leave implementation to the very worst, most anti-intellectual, callous, authoritarian and criminal people in society, socialism can have genuinely horrendous consequences. But couldn't the same be said of every ideology?

...Look, I get it. When U.S. conservatives bring up "Venezuela," they're not talking about the place I grew up in. They're using the word as a rhetorical club, a verbal firebomb you throw at the the opposing ideological barricade. Their goal isn't to enlighten; it's to delegitimize vast sectors of the left. After all, if you convince people that every left-wing government is on a slippery slope to Venezuela, the entire left becomes toxic. Which is very much the point.

Ive spent two decades chronicling every agonizing twist and turn in the decay of Venezuelas democracy, economy and society. Youd think Id be on board with these takes. Think again. Im revulsed. Its appalling to see my countrys suffering leveraged for cheap partisan point-scoring.

Off on the fringes, its a popular theme, too: Remember that the priceless Infowars gotcha video with the worlds most unflappable sailor girl turned on the killer line: You know Venezuela? The majority of the country is now eating rats.

First there was Meghan McCain turning Venezuela into Exhibit A in her screed against socialism on ABCs The View . On Fox Business Network, Stuart Varney used Venezuelas latest bout of instability as a teaching moment for Americans tempted by pie-in-the-sky socialism.

Is the Trump Regime proving that capitalism is a zombie apocalypse? Not necessarily. But currently, both the U.S. and Venezuela are-- pure and simple-- kakistocracies. Funny, when you google the phrase a photo of Trump, Eric Trump, Ivanka Trump, Betsy DeVos and Dr. Ben comes up. Wikipedia defines kakistocracy as "a system of government which is run by the worst, least qualified, or most unscrupulous citizens." The page ends with this suggestion:

Writing for, Ryan Cooper also took on a major right wing narrative been pushed so strongly to the lazy corporate media that it's becoming more false conventional wisdom-- that Medicare-For-All costs more than the current system. It doesn't . But that doesn't stop right-wing media to endlessly parrot the bullshit . Cooper wrote that the question of what Medicare-for-All would cost is "tying fact checkers in knots." Maybe they should follow Ro Khanna on Twitter:

Here's the background. Bernie Sanders has a Medicare-for-all bill that he put out last year. It would fold all Americans into an upgraded Medicare system over four years, which would now cover dental, vision, and hearing with no cost-sharing. Prescription drugs would be covered with small cost-sharing, capped at $250 per year. It would be paid for with new taxes, but offset by zeroing out insurance premiums and almost all cost-sharing.













When it comes to overall spending, this would have three effects pulling in different directions. First, there would be higher utilization and thus more spending, as people who were prevented from seeking treatment due to cost could now go to the doctor. But second, medical providers would be paid somewhat less, because Medicare reimbursement rates are 40 percent lower than those of private insurance-- though they are higher than Medicaid (the largest insurer in the country) and much higher than that of uninsured people who simply can't pay for the emergency treatment that hospitals are legally required to provide.





Third, because they would now only have to deal with one billing system, providers would be able to dramatically streamline their administrative apparatus. A Health Affairs study of eight rich countries, for instance, found U.S. hospitals spent by far the highest faction of their budgets on administration, at 25.3 percent-- while those of the Netherlands spent 19.8 percent, the U.K. spent 15.5 percent, and Canada spent 12.4 percent.





Therefore, figuring out what Sanders' Medicare-for-all bill might cost overall depends on two estimates and one fact: 1. how much utilization will increase, 2. how much can be saved on administration, and 3. what the provider reimbursement rates are. The first two are necessarily uncertain, but the third is simply whatever is stipulated in the Medicare-for-all legislation.





Charles Blahous of the Mercatus Center did an elementary study of Sanders' Medicare bill whose main purpose was pretty obviously to find a really big number for new public spending, and then get that headline figure blasted out in the media.





But buried in the tables there was also an estimate of total national health expenditures (that is, all public and private spending) of the status quo compared to the Sanders plan. Here is the table-- look at "Currently projected national health expenditures (NHE)" versus "NHE under M4A," which I have underlined:













Mysteriously, Blahous chose not to display the summed total figures for those rows, but if you do the arithmetic, you find he estimates status quo NHE at $59.7 trillion over 10 years, while he estimates NHE under the Sanders plan at $57.6 trillion over the same time frame-- for a savings of $2.1 trillion.





Perhaps not satisfied with this result, Blahous then put forward an alternative plan of his own in which provider payments would not be cut as much, with total NHE spending somewhat higher. Importantly, this plan has nothing at all to do with the Sanders bill. It's just something he made up.





He also heavily emphasized that Medicare reimbursement rates are 40 percent lower than private insurance, but did not outline how much the Sanders plan specifically would cut. However, if you go into his tables and reverse-engineer the figures, it must be something like 11 percent.





That brings me to the epic fact checker faceplant. Sanders trumpeted the Mercatus finding, because it was hilarious and a good demonstration of how America could be getting universal Medicare while spending less overall-- even given no doubt slanted libertarian assumptions. Glenn Kessler of the Washington Post was first on the attack, giving Sanders 3 out for 4 "Pinocchios" for a supposedly "cherry-picked" $2 trillion figure. He asserted that Blahous' alternative Medicare plan was more realistic, as did Robert Farley of FactCheck.org and AP's Ricardo Alonso-Zalvidar. PolitiFact rated Sanders' claim as "half true" because he didn't mention the Blahous plan. CNN's Jake Tapper put out a video chiding him and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for relying on the $2 trillion figure. "A reminder to all you politicians out there, you're perfectly entitled to your own opinions, but not your own facts," tut-tutted Tapper.





This point is wildly misleading, and indeed has nothing to do with facts as such at all. The fact checker brigade is saying that provider payments will be hard to cut, and therefore Sanders might end up passing something different than his Medicare bill. Therefore he is a liar. But Blahous's study absolutely, positively does say that the Sanders plan as written will save the American people $2 trillion. Sanders didn't mention the more expensive Mercatus plan because it is not his plan. Vague speculation about future political negotiations has nothing whatsoever to do with the facts of the Sanders proposal, nor the empirical contents of the Mercatus study.





But that's not even the worst part.





As part of its PR rollout of the paper, Mercatus bought buying ads for Facebook in D.C. promoting a Wall Street Journal op-ed in which Blahous baldly misrepresents his own paper, writing that the Sanders bill would "immediately and dramatically cut provider payment rates by roughly 40 percent."





As noted above, this is absolutely false, because only about half of people are on private insurance. Medicare payments would stay the same, while Medicaid and uninsured payments would go up. But Kessler, after talking to Blahous, initially swallowed this characterization, writing in his first article that providers "would face an immediate cut of 40 percent in their payments."





He was forced to correct that article (for that and several other factual errors)-- though a video which is still up on the Washington Post at the time of writing contains the same false claim, asserting the plan "generously assumes providers would be paid roughly 40 percent less than they are now." Unbelievably, even after correcting his first article, Kessler wrote another article making the false claim again, writing "the Sanders plan would slash payments to providers by 40 percent." That one is still uncorrected at the time of writing.





This 40 percent talking point is not just wrong, it is preposterous. One way of seeing why is by looking at how much Blahous estimates Sanders will save with provider cuts in the table above. On the right-hand column, we find the sum total of "Applying Medicare payment rates" from 2022-31 is $5.3 trillion in spending cuts. If that is a 40 percent cut, then that implies that the total volume of provider payments in the Sanders plan must be only about $8.0 trillion ((5.3/0.4)*0.6 = 7.96)-- over a period in which national health expenditures are $57.6 trillion. Less than a seventh of medical spending going to providers in a Medicare system doesn't pass the laugh test-- in 2015 existing Medicare provider payments accounted for at least 77 percent of spending, with another 14 percent going to prescription drugs-- and again, the true cut to providers in the paper itself must be about 11 percent.





Finally, this study should be seen as the absolute worst-case scenario for universal Medicare, not a fair estimate of what it might cost. The fact that even the Mercatus Center couldn't make it look that bad is a very good sign. Fact checkers need to get a grip.TOKYO (AP) - President Donald Trump's tariff policies reflect a serious misunderstanding of the importance of free trade and Japanese companies' contributions to the U.S. economy, Japan's trade minister said.

Hiroshige Seko, the minister of economy, trade and industry, warned in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press that Tokyo might take action if the U.S. fulfills threats to levy a 25 percent tariff on Japanese auto imports. He gave no details but didn't rule out retaliatory tariffs.

"Japanese automakers are a major contributor to the American economy," Seko said in the interview Thursday at his ministry office in Tokyo. "If the Japanese auto industry is weakened, it will not be able to invest in the U.S."

Japan's Trade Minister Hiroshige Seko speaks during an exclusive interview with The Associated Press at his office in Tokyo Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. Seko criticized President Donald Trump's tariff policies as based on a serious misunderstanding about the importance of free trade and the contributions of Japanese companies to the U.S. economy. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Seko also expressed worries about the escalating trade dispute between the U.S. and China, and said such moves threatened the entire global economy. Both sides imposed additional tariffs on billions of dollars of each other's automobiles, factory machinery and other goods Thursday.

"This works as absolutely no plus for the world economy, and Japanese companies are shipping parts to China to finish them as products there that are exported to the U.S., and the effects are already being felt," he said. "Ultimately, it will hurt the U.S. and Chinese economies."

Seko said he empathized with Trump's "feelings" of worry over the ballooning U.S. trade deficit. But he said Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and other Japanese officials have been patiently trying to persuade Trump that Japanese do not products pose a security threat to the U.S.

The annual U.S. trade deficit with Japan totaled more than $68 billion last year. The U.S. deficit with China was nearly $376 billion.

Trump should not blame Japan, Seko said, because the U.S. deficit with Japan today reflects years of effort by Japan to create thousands of jobs in the U.S., many of them lucrative in the auto industry, and become a major investor in the U.S.

Seko said tariffs imposed on Japanese exports of steel and aluminum, which have already kicked in, are expected to have a minimal impact on Japan because its steel mills specialize in high-end products difficult to replace that have been exempted from the tariff hikes.

Auto tariffs are another matter, said Seko, who appeared relaxed in his spacious office filled with books, exotic-looking vases, a Pikachu doll and a photo of him handing over a huge trophy to a sumo wrestler.

The auto industry helps drive Japan's economy, with exports of vehicles and parts to the U.S. accounting for 1 percent of its GDP.

Toyota Motor Corp. estimates the auto tariffs would add an average $6,000 to the cost of each car exported to the U.S. from Japan. At current levels, that amounts to $4.2 billion a year.

American automakers such as General Motors Co. and Ford Motor Co. are among companies protesting that the tariffs would harm the U.S. industry.

Seko said Japan has changed its ways since the height of the "Japan-bashing" days of the 1980s.

Japanese companies make 3.8 million cars annually in the United States, more than double the number of vehicles shipped there from Japan, according to the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association.

"Things are totally different," he said.

Seko said that during a recent trip to the U.S., which included Detroit, he met many people who agreed with his views.

Some trade experts note the setup of global production has changed so much over the years that a Trump-style "zero sum" approach to looking at trade may be misleading: The Apple iPhone, for instance, might be made in China, but it's an American product using parts from other nations, including Japan.

For that reason, a growing deficit might just reflect a booming U.S. economy. Tariffs will merely raise prices for American consumers, Seko said.

The U.S. pushback against imports has left Japan in the position of championing free trade.

"We have to keep trying to explain our message," Seko said. "We have been working to open our markets to avoid such misunderstandings, especially in the bilateral trade with the U.S."

Japan recently signed a wide-spanning trade deal with Europe that had been under discussion for years. It has helped lead talks on a regional trade pact, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, while Trump withdrew the U.S. soon after taking office.

Japan is also leading a move toward a regional economic partnership that groups Southeast Asian nations, China, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and India with Japan.

Seko, 55, was graduated from Tokyo's prestigious Waseda University and earned a master's degree at Boston University. He worked for the phone company, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp., before becoming a member of the upper house of parliament in 1998.

Like many Japanese lawmakers, Seko has politics in the blood: His grandfather and an uncle were prominent Japanese politicians. His wife is also a politician - although from the opposition party.

"At home, I'm the opposition," he laughed.

___

Follow Yuri Kageyama on Twitter at https://twitter.com/yurikageyama

Her work can be found at https://www.apnews.com/search/yuri%20kageyama

Japan's Trade Minister Hiroshige Seko speaks during an exclusive interview with The Associated Press at his office in Tokyo Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. Seko criticized President Donald Trump's tariff policies as based on a serious misunderstanding about the importance of free trade and the contributions of Japanese companies to the U.S. economy. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Japan's Trade Minister Hiroshige Seko speaks during an exclusive interview with The Associated Press at his office in Tokyo Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. Seko criticized President Donald Trump's tariff policies as based on a serious misunderstanding about the importance of free trade and the contributions of Japanese companies to the U.S. economy. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Japan's Trade Minister Hiroshige Seko speaks during an exclusive interview with The Associated Press at his office in Tokyo Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. Seko criticized President Donald Trump's tariff policies as based on a serious misunderstanding about the importance of free trade and the contributions of Japanese companies to the U.S. economy. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

In this Jan. 2017 photo, cars are parked waiting to be exported at Yokohama port near Tokyo. Japan's Trade Minister Hiroshige Seko criticized President Donald Trump's tariff policies as based on a serious misunderstanding about the importance of free trade and the contributions of Japanese companies to the U.S. economy. (Kyodo News via AP)BEIJING (AP) - China has turned down a Tibetan language rights activist's appeal of his five-year prison sentence on the charge of inciting separatism, monitoring groups said Thursday.

Tashi Wangchuk was detained in 2016 and sentenced in May based on a New York Times documentary in which he talked about the erosion of his culture and language in the tightly secured region.

The International Tibet Network said his appeal was turned down on Aug. 13.

FILE - In this Jan. 8, 2018, file photo, an exile Tibetan wearing a mask in the likeness of 32-year-old Tashi Wangchuk, stands next to a screen projecting a New York Times video during a street protest demanding his release, in Dharamsala, India. A monitoring group says China has turned down a Tibetan language rights activist's appeal of his five-year sentence on the charge of inciting separatism. Tashi Wangchuk was detained in 2016 and sentenced in May based on his comments in a New York Times documentary in which the man talked about the erosion of his culture and language in the tightly secured region. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia, File)

"China's rejection of Tashi Wangchuk's appeal is a travesty of justice and shows a disdain for the international concern that the case has raised," the network's Tenzin Jigdal said. Activists "vow to continue pushing for his immediate and unconditional release," he said.

With time served, Tashi Wangchuk should be released in 2021, although Chinese political prisoners are frequently subject to additional restrictions, including house arrest, after being released.

Tashi Wangchuk's case highlights the authoritarian government's extreme sensitivity to issues involving ethnic minorities - especially Tibetans and Uighur Muslims from the northwestern region of Xinjiang - as well as the risks Chinese citizens run when criticizing government policies to foreign media.

The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in Geneva discussed his case earlier this month, during which the Chinese representative denied he had been arrested for his comments on protecting minority languages.WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on President Donald Trump (all times local):

10:45 p.m.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions is declaring that the Justice Department "will not be improperly influenced by political considerations" as he pushes back against President Donald Trump's latest jabs.

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions speaks during a news conference regarding the country's opioid epidemic, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Sessions' response came after Trump, appearing increasingly vulnerable to long-running investigations, accused the attorney general of failing to take control of his department.

Trump's anger with Sessions boiled over in an interview with Fox News in which the president also expressed frustration with the plea agreement his onetime legal "fixer" Michael Cohen cut with prosecutors, including implicating Trump in a crime that Cohen admitted.

Trump said it might be better if "flipping" - cooperating with prosecutors in exchange for more favorable treatment- were illegal because people cooperating with the government "just make up lies."

__

1:35 p.m.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions says his Justice Department won't be "improperly influenced by political considerations."

His comments - in a statement Thursday - seem to push back against the latest round of criticism by his boss, President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly railed against the department and the FBI.

Trump told "Fox & Friends" in an interview that aired earlier Thursday that Sessions "never took control of the Justice Department and it's a sort of an incredible thing."

The president was angered when Sessions stepped aside from overseeing the federal investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. Trump has called the special counsel's probe a "witch hunt."

Sessions says there's no other nation with more talented and dedicated law enforcement investigators and prosecutors. Sessions says he's "proud of the work we have done in successfully advancing the rule of law."

___

1:30 p.m.

The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee says his staffers have reached out to Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former lawyer, about what information he might have - and they're awaiting a response.

GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa says no decision has been made about Cohen appearing before the committee.

Cohen pleaded guilty this week in federal court to campaign-finance violations and other charges. He says he and then-candidate Trump arranged the payment of hush money to influence the election.

Committee spokesman Taylor Foy says the committee originally scheduled an interview with Cohen in May. But he withdrew, citing criminal proceedings.

Cohen's attorney, Lanny Davis, has indicated he may be willing to testify to Congress.

The Senate intelligence committee is also interested in talking to Cohen.

___

11 a.m.

President Donald Trump prizes loyalty, and he says that's the only reason he made Jeff Sessions attorney general.

Session, an Alabama Republican, was the first senator to endorse Trump's bid for president, and he was rewarded with a spot in Trump's Cabinet as the nation's top law enforcement officer.

But Trump was angered when Sessions stepped aside from overseeing the federal investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, and the president has taken issue with his own Justice Department.

Trump tells "Fox & Friends" that Sessions "took the job and then he said, 'I'm going to recuse myself.' I said what kind of a man is this?"

Trump says in the interview, "You know, the only reason I gave him the job (was) because I felt loyalty, he was an original supporter."

___

10:40 a.m.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says it's time for Republicans to stand up to President Donald Trump after his former personal lawyer implicated him in a crime.

The Democrat says Republicans have become complicit in bringing down the character of the nation. He says they've shirked their duty in exchange for a corporate tax cut and stacking the federal courts.

The GOP, he says, is "becoming a co-conspirator in the culture of corruption that surrounds this president."

He called on GOP leaders to pass legislation to protect special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of Russia's actions in the 2016 elections, to hold hearings on the power of the president to pardon and pass legislation to bolster election security.

Schumer says it is time for Republicans to "speak truth to power."

7:40 a.m.

President Donald Trump says he believes the economy would tank if he were to be impeached.

Trump was asked in an interview with "Fox & Friends" if he believes Democrats will launch impeachment proceedings if they win the House this fall, as many suspect.

He says, "If I ever got impeached, I think the market would crash. I think everybody would be very poor."

Trump says Americans would see economic "numbers that you wouldn't believe in reverse."

But Trump is also expressing doubt that that would ever happen.

He says, "I don't know how you can impeach somebody who's done a great job."

___

7 a.m.

President Donald Trump is suggesting that it should be illegal for people facing prosecution to cooperate with the government in exchange for a reduced sentence.

Trump is reacting to the guilty plea entered by his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, to a range of charges.

Trump - in an interview with "Fox & Friends" - is accusing Cohen of implicating him to get a better deal with prosecutors. Trump says Cohen "makes a better deal when he uses me."

Trump claims people who decide to cooperate with the government "make up stories" and "just make up lies"

Here's what the president says: "It's called flipping and it almost ought to be illegal." He says "it's not a fair thing."

___

6:50 a.m.

President Donald Trump is distancing himself from his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, in the wake of Cohen's guilty plea to eight charges, including campaign finance violations that Cohen says he carried out in coordination with Trump.

Trump - in an interview with "Fox & Friends" - describes Cohen as a "part-time attorney." And Trump also suggests that Cohen's legal trouble stemmed from his other businesses, including involvement with the New York City taxi cab industry.

Trump claims that Cohen decided to offer "lies" about Trump to reduce Cohen's own legal exposure.

___

12:15 a.m.

President Donald Trump is digging in to his denials of wrongdoing as his White House struggles to manage the fallout from allegations he orchestrated a campaign cover-up to buy the silence of two women who say they had affairs with him.

In pre-dawn tweeting, Trump says "NO COLLUSION - RIGGED WITCH HUNT!" That's a reference to special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

And the president is accusing his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, of "making up stories" in order to get a "great deal" from prosecutors.JOHANNESBURG (AP) - South Africa's government lashed out at President Donald Trump on Thursday after he tweeted that his administration would be looking into alleged seizures of white-owned farms and the "large scale killing of farmers" in the country, an assertion it said was false and "only seeks to divide our nation and remind us of our colonial past."

South Africa is in the throes of a racially charged national debate over land reform, a lawful process that seeks to correct the legacy of decades of white minority rule that stripped blacks of their land. Today, nearly a quarter-century after the first democratic elections, black South Africans comprise 80 percent of the population but own just 4 percent of the country's land, according to the government.

Though the ruling African National Congress has pledged to close that gap, progress has been slow. In July, President Cyril Ramaphosa said his party would amend the constitution so the state could expropriate land without compensation to speed up the land reform process, but that has not yet happened and no land has been seized.

FILE - In this file photo dated Monday, Oct 30 2017, a bumper sign calls for the end of farm killings in South Africa, during a blockade of a freeway in Midvaal, South Africa. U.S. President Donald Trump has tweeted that he has asked the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to "closely study the South African land and farm seizures and expropriations and the large scale killing of farmers." Trump added, "South African Government is now seizing land from white farmers." (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)

Trump's tweet followed a segment on Fox News on Wednesday in which host Tucker Carlson claimed Ramaphosa had already started "seizing land from his own citizens without compensation because they are the wrong skin color," calling the alleged seizures "immoral."

The government said Trump's tweet was based on "false information" and reflected a "narrow perception which only seeks to divide our nation and reminds us of our colonial past." It called a meeting with officials at the U.S. Embassy as it sought to clarify Trump's remarks.

Though no land seizures have occurred, the prospect has sent panic through some white farming communities who worry the policy will strip them of their land, cause land prices to plummet or make them the target of potentially violent land seizures.

For years, a small but vocal group of white South Africans have claimed white farmers are the target of violent, racially motivated farm attacks.

Experts say the attacks reflect the country's generally high crime rate and that there is no evidence connecting them to the victims' race.

Farm murders have been declining since their peak in 2001, according to research by Agri SA, an umbrella group of South African agricultural associations. In 2016-17, there were 74 murders during farm attacks, according to Africa Check , compared to 19,000 murders across the country in the same period.

"People are not being targeted because of their race, but because they are vulnerable and isolated on the farms," said Gareth Newham, head of the crime and justice program at the Institute for Security Studies in the capital, Pretoria.

"There is no white genocide in South Africa," Julius Malema, leader of the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters party, told reporters. "There is black genocide in the USA; black people are killed every day. There is a black genocide here in South Africa; just recently a farmer was convicted for the murder of a black farmer."

Trump's tweet did find some supporters.

AfriForum, a group that represents some white South African interests, welcomed his comments. In May, its leaders went to the U.S. to lobby officials and institutions about Ramaphosa's proposal to expropriate land and the alleged targeting of white farmers.

Earlier this month the group posted a list of farms it said were earmarked for expropriation, a list the government said is fake.

"Everyone in South Africa should ... hope that the pressure from the USA will lead to the (ruling party) reconsidering the disastrous route that they want to take South Africa on," AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel said in a statement Thursday.

AfriForum and other critics say the government's proposal to expropriate land without compensation could lead to economic disaster, pointing to the collapse of the agricultural sector in neighboring Zimbabwe after the government of former President Robert Mugabe began seizing white-owned farms, sometimes violently, in 2000.

"We are going to take back the land and we'll do it by any means necessary," said Lindsay Maasdorp, national spokesman for Black First Land First, a group that condones land seizures in South Africa.

Proponents of South Africa's policy, including Ramaphosa, say it is necessary to address historic injustices and can be done in a way that is lawful and will not compromise the beleaguered economy or food security.

"It is absolutely unbelievable that a head of state at that level can be so disrespectful to issues of dispossession that South Africa is painfully trying to address in a democratic way," Vuyo Mahlati, president of the African Farmers' Association of South Africa, said of Trump.

Later on Thursday in Washington, the State Department toned down Trump's language suggesting that massive land seizures were underway. Spokeswoman Heather Nauert said expropriating land without compensation "would risk sending South Africa down the wrong path," but she did not repeat the president's suggestion that large numbers of white South African farmers had been killed.

In parliament on Wednesday, Ramaphosa said land expropriation could make more land available for cultivation, and that the process would begin by seizing state-owned land, not privately held land.

"This is our South Africa, this is our land, this is where we live," Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane told South Africa's public broadcaster SABC. "Only solutions of land reform that are South African will work in South Africa."

Trump has never experienced apartheid and doesn't know its legacy of inequality in which the majority of South Africans own nothing, Zizi Kodwa, a member of the ruling party's national executive committee, told The Associated Press.

"He is part of the right-wing lynch mob using the fear factor in order for us to maintain the status quo," Kodwa said. "Donald Trump is a weapon of mass destruction."

___

Associated Press writer Matthew Lee in Washington contributed.

___

Follow Africa news at https://twitter.com/AP_Africa

In this photo taken Oct. 30, 2017 people place white crosses, symbolically representing farmers killed in the country, at a ceremony at the Vorrtrekker Monument in Pretoria, South Africa. U.S. President Donald Trump has tweeted that he has asked the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to "closely study the South African land and farm seizures and expropriations and the large scale killing of farmers." Trump added, "South African Government is now seizing land from white farmers." (AP Photo)MADRID (AP) - Spanish police have shut down what they believe to be Europe's biggest illegal turtle farm, selling endangered species worth 10,000 euros ($11,500) each.

Police in Mallorca seized around 1,100 turtles and 750 eggs, including specimens of 14 of the 50 most endangered species in the world, Europol, the European law enforcement agency, said Thursday.

Some of the protected species came from the United States, Canada and Mexico, it said.

In this image released by the Spanish Guardia Civil on Thursday Aug. 23, 2018, a Guardia Civil officer shows a turtle seized in Mallorca, Spain. The European law enforcement agency says Spanish police have shut down what they believe to be Europe's biggest illegal turtle farm, selling endangered species worth 10,000 euros ($11,500) each. Europol says Thursday that police in Mallorca seized around 1,100 turtles and 750 eggs, including specimens of 14 of the 50 most endangered species in the world. (Guardia Civil via AP)

Europol says the operation began 18 months ago when authorities seized an illegal shipment of turtles at Mallorca airport. That discovery led them to the farm.

A pet shop in Barcelona specializing in exotic animals was used to smuggle the turtles out of Spain.

Europol says it coordinated information on the operation from other EU countries, including Austria, France, Germany and Italy.WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) - A Muslim school is suing the Delaware city where several children were asked to leave a public pool because of their cotton garments.

The News Journal reports the Darul Amaanah Academy says in the lawsuit filed Wednesday that city staff harassed and discriminated against seven children because of their religion.

Then-pool manager Glenda Pinkett said policy prohibits cotton in the pool, but Mayor Mike Purzycki later said no such restriction exists. The complaint said that despite discussion with city officials, the students were asked to leave the pool on several more occasions. After Purczycki issued an apology, the school says staffers closed the pool before students could go in.

The city has since reassigned Pinkett and pledged to establish clearer policies, but didn't respond to the newspaper's request for comment.

___

Information from: The News Journal of Wilmington, Del., http://www.delawareonline.comCAIRO (AP) - A former Egyptian diplomat who called for a referendum on President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi's government and threatened to organize a gathering in Cairo's Tahrir Square was arrested on Thursday.

Security forces searched Masoum Marzouk's home before taking him away, his daughter, Maisara, said. An Egyptian security official said he faces charges of belonging to an outlawed group that aims to overthrow the government and disrupt the constitution. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media.

Marzouk, who served in the Egyptian army's special forces, is a veteran of the 1973 war against Israel. He later held several diplomatic posts throughout his career, including as ambassador to Finland, Estonia and Uganda, and assistant to the foreign minister for African affairs.

Earlier this month, Marzouk had called for a referendum and proposed a political roadmap if Egyptians voted against the government. The transition would have included the suspension of the constitution, the termination of the current presidential term and the dissolution of parliament, which is packed with el-Sissi supporters. Marzouk said if the government rejected his proposal he would hold a "popular conference" in Tahrir Square - epicenter of the 2011 uprising - on Aug. 31.

El-Sissi was re-elected for a second four-year term in March after all serious challengers were either arrested or pressured into leaving the race. He led the 2013 military ouster of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi following mass protests against his divisive yearlong rule.

Authorities have waged a sweeping crackdown on dissent in recent years, jailing thousands of dissidents and rolling back freedoms won in the 2011 uprising. The government has banned unauthorized protests, heavily restricted civil society groups and blocked hundreds of websites.

Khaled Ali, a prominent human rights lawyer who is representing Marzouk, said other critics of the government were also arrested Thursday, including Yehia al-Qazzaz, a geology professor, and Raied Salama, an economist. Ali had planned to run against el-Sissi in this year's election but withdrew, saying the climate was not conducive to campaigning.

Austerity measures aimed at rebuilding the economy after years of unrest have meanwhile taken a heavy toll on poor and middle-class Egyptians. With virtually all other avenues of dissent shut down, Egyptians have taken to social media to vent their criticism of the government, with a popular hashtag calling on el-Sissi to resign.

El-Sissi recently said he was "upset" over the online calls for him to step down.BENGHAZI, Libya (AP) - A Libyan official says militants suspected of links to the extremist Islamic State group have killed at least four people, including security forces, at a checkpoint in western Libya.

Miftah Hamadi, mayor of the town of Zliten, said the attack that took place Thursday outside of town left four others wounded, at least two of them critical. It wasn't immediately clear if the casualties included civilians.

Hamadi said one of the militants who fled the scene after the attack was later killed.

Islamic extremists expanded their reach in Libya after the 2011 uprising plunged the country into chaos and toppled and later killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

IS was driven from its main stronghold in the country, the coastal city of Sirte, in 2016 and fled into the Libyan interior.ISTANBUL (AP) - Tourists have returned in droves to Turkey, helped this summer by the sharp fall in the value of the Turkish lira following economic uncertainty and a rift with the United States.

The evidence is abundant. A British firm, for example, managed to book 200 people - up from 15 last year - for a swim between Turkey's European and Asian shores. And many Turks have traveled to hometowns and resorts this week, an Islamic holiday.

Turkey's plunging currency and the dispute with the United States have, for sure, fed fears of economic hardship. The tourism sector, though, battered by mass casualties in bombings and an attempted coup in 2016, is again a bright spot - and source of vital foreign currency - for the troubled economy.

In this Monday, Aug. 20, 2018 photo, boats offering fish delicacies are docked by the Golden Horn, leading to the Bosporus Strait, in Istanbul. Tourists have returned in droves to Turkey according to the government figures, helped this summer by the sharp fall in the value of the Turkish lira following economic uncertainty and a rift with the United States. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

Nearly 19 million people - 16 million of them foreigners and the rest Turks living abroad - visited Turkey in the first six months of this year, a 29 percent increase over the same period in 2017, according to the government. Tourism revenue rose by a similar percentage to more than $11 billion.

This week, Turkey's culture and tourism minister tweeted photos of his visit to coastal Antalya.

"We had the chance to chat with foreign visitors who have chosen our heavenly country," said the minister, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy.

There was always a lot to seduce the tourist in Turkey: sun and sand, archaeological treasures, cuisine, shopping. Now violence and political turmoil have ebbed, and the lira, which hit record lows against the U.S. dollar, is giving foreigners more value for their money.

SwimTrek, has signed up its maximum of 200 swimmers for the 4.5-kilometer (2.8-mile) Hellespont race in Turkey's Dardanelles strait on Aug. 30. Hundreds of others are expected to participate.

Swimmers view the race as a "bucket list" event and currency considerations aren't "necessarily" at the top of their thoughts, said Georgie Oliver, marketing manager at SwimTrek.

A calmer security backdrop is enticing the tourists back and it's a boon for Turkey.

Summer is the high tourist season, and many hotels on the Aegean and Mediterranean seas are reporting full occupancy, thanks partly to Turks vacationing during Eid al-Adha, or "Feast of Sacrifice."

Even if Turks are unnerved by their currency crisis, many bookings were paid long ago, when the lira was stronger. Some chose to take a local holiday rather than spend more abroad.

Zaytung, a satirical website in Turkey, posted a piece lampooning the masses of city-dwellers who flock to the coastal resort town of Bodrum at this time of year.

It quipped that people seeking to shed urban stress in Bodrum will only end up bumping into each other in the street "as they are used to," wait for at least one hour for a table at restaurants, fight for sunbeds and pretend to have fun while taking selfies before returning to the city in droves at the weekend.

And Hurriyet, a Turkish newspaper, posted photos of former French president Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife, singer Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, on a pleasure boat in the Bodrum area.

Another prominent visitor to Turkey was Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who took time out during an official trip in July to tour Istanbul's Topkapi Palace, once home to Ottoman sultans.

All this positive news coming from the tourism sector contrasts sharply with the state of the wider economy.

Turkey's president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, says the economy is under attack, a reference to U.S. economic penalties, including tariffs, imposed during a dispute over an American pastor facing terror-related charges in Turkey. Many economists attribute Turkey's problems to excessive reliance on loans for fast growth, and say interest rates should be increased to get inflation under control.

The Turkish government has introduced charter flight subsidies and credit guarantee funds to help tourism, and is starting to tap into the Chinese market. Mideast residents are also visiting; some rushed to luxury goods stores for bargains after the lira freefall this month.

The biggest number of foreigners have come from Russia, reflecting better ties since Turkey shot down a Russian military aircraft near the Turkish-Syrian border in 2015. Germans are also arriving in bigger numbers after tension over human rights in Turkey, where Erdogan has amassed more power as president.

Turkey's tourism sector would be wise not to get too complacent though.

Security remains a concern. Shots were fired from a moving car at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, the capital, on Monday. There were no casualties and two men with criminal records were arrested.

In a June advisory, the U.S. State Department said American citizens should "reconsider travel to Turkey due to terrorism and arbitrary detentions."

Some hoteliers are relieved that tourism is picking up, but still wary about the possible impact of the war in neighboring Syria, a conflict in Turkey with Kurdish rebels and a continuing government crackdown following the attempted coup.

"We just don't know what will happen," said one hotelier who didn't want to be named because of concerns about government scrutiny.

Still, in one big boost for Turkish tourism, Colombian singer Shakira gave a concert in Istanbul in July, her first in the city in more than a decade. Several thousand foreigners flew to Turkey for the event, according to tourism officials.

"It's been too long," Shakira told the cheering audience. "It's nice to be back."

___

Follow Christopher Torchia on Twitter at www.twitter.com/torchiachris

An aeroplane flies over a mosque's minarets after it took off from Istanbul's Ataturk International Airport, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018. Tourists have returned in droves to Turkey according to the government figures, helped this summer by the sharp fall in the value of the Turkish lira following economic uncertainty and a rift with the United States. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, File)

In this Monday, Aug. 20, 2018 photo, phone cases are offered for sale near the historic Sultanahmet district of Istanbul, one of the city's main tourist attractions. Tourists have returned in droves to Turkey according to the government figures, helped this summer by the sharp fall in the value of the Turkish lira following economic uncertainty and a rift with the United States. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

FILE-In this Friday, Aug. 17, 2018 file photo, a shop owner waits for customers at Istanbul's Grand Bazaar, one of the city's main tourist attractions. Tourists have returned in droves to Turkey according to the government figures, helped this summer by the sharp fall in the value of the Turkish lira following economic uncertainty and a rift with the United States. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, File)

FILE-In this Friday, Aug. 17, 2018 file photo, visitors walk towards the Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia, one of Istanbul's main tourist attractions, in the historic Sultanahmet district of Istanbul. Tourists have returned in droves to Turkey according to the government figures, helped this summer by the sharp fall in the value of the Turkish lira following economic uncertainty and a rift with the United States. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, File)

In this Monday, Aug. 20, 2018 photo, people walk in a covered market in Istanbul. Tourists have returned in droves to Turkey according to the government figures, helped this summer by the sharp fall in the value of the Turkish lira following economic uncertainty and a rift with the United States. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

FILE-In this Monday, Aug. 20, 2018 photo, backdropped by the Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia, one of Istanbul's main tourist attractions, tourists enjoy the plaza in the historic Sultanahmet district of Istanbul. Tourists have returned in droves to Turkey according to the government figures, helped this summer by the sharp fall in the value of the Turkish lira following economic uncertainty and a rift with the United States. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

A vendor sells corn and chestnuts near the Golden Horn, leading to the Bosporus Strait in Istanbul, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018. Tourists have returned in droves to Turkey according to the government figures, helped this summer by the sharp fall in the value of the Turkish lira following economic uncertainty and a rift with the United States. (AP Photo/Mucahid Yapici)

FILE-In this Saturday, July 21, 2018 file photo, tourists visit the streets of Buyukada, the largest and most popular of the Princes' Islands in the Sea of Marmara near Istanbul. Tourists have returned in droves to Turkey according to the government figures, helped this summer by the sharp fall in the value of the Turkish lira following economic uncertainty and a rift with the United States. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

In this Monday, Aug. 20, 2018 photo, tourists take pictures by the Golden Horn, leading to the Bosporus Strait, in Istanbul. Tourists have returned in droves to Turkey, helped this summer by the sharp fall in the value of the Turkish lira following economic uncertainty and a rift with the United States.(AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

FILE-In this Friday, Aug. 17, 2018 file photo, backdropped by the Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia, one of Istanbul's main tourist attractions, tourists enjoy the plaza in the historic Sultanahmet district of Istanbul. Tourists have returned in droves to Turkey, helped this summer by the sharp fall in the value of the Turkish lira following economic uncertainty and a rift with the United States. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, File)

In this Monday, Aug. 20, 2018 photo, people walk in a covered market in Istanbul. Tourists have returned in droves to Turkey, helped this summer by the sharp fall in the value of the Turkish lira following economic uncertainty and a rift with the United States. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)HONOLULU (AP) - The Latest on Hurricane Lane (all times local):

5:20 p.m.

Meteorologists are downgrading the Big Island of Hawaii to a tropical storm warning as Hurricane Lane edges northward toward Honolulu.

This satellite image provided by NOAA shows Hurricane Lane near Hawaii on Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. Hurricane Lane soaked Hawaii's Big Island on Thursday, and the The National Weather Service warned that some areas could see up to 30 inches before the system passes. (NOAA via AP)

That means the National Weather Service expects sustained winds of 39 mph to 73 mph on the island instead of stronger hurricane force winds.

A hurricane warning remains in effect for Oahu and Maui County.

Emergency workers rescued five people from a flooded house on the Big Island.

The National Weather Service says Lane had maximum sustained speeds of 120 mph (195 kph) on Thursday, making it a Category 3 hurricane.

Meteorologists predict Lane's center will move over or get dangerously close to the islands Thursday night and Friday.

It's expected to weaken over the next two days but remain a hurricane.

___

5 p.m.

Emergency workers rescued five people from a flooded house on Hawaii's Big Island as Hurricane Lane dumped heavy rains on the island.

Hawaii County Managing Director Wil Okabe says water gushed into the Hilo home Thursday after a nearby gulch overflowed.

He says they were not injured and were taken to a shelter.

Okabe says the county used a helicopter to rescue two campers who were trapped overnight in Waipio Valley.

The campers were not injured.

__

4 p.m.

Big Island newcomer Jessica Henricks said Hurricane Lane will test how her Hilo house holds up.

"The rain is on and off, torrential downpours," she said. "The wind has not been an issue at all. We're more concerned about the water."

Having moved from Colorado in June, the storm is showing Henricks that her new neighbors are very adaptable.

"The people of the Big Island seem to be very resilient," she said. "They're familiar with nature being intense."

People stood at a bridge to marvel at a raging Wailuku River, she said. An island in the river people hang out on that has a tree on it was completely covered.

She heard reports of flooding in downtown Hilo but she didn't want to drive there to see for herself. "I have a small car, I don't want to get stuck in water somewhere," she said. "I have two children."

___

3:40 p.m.

Some airlines are canceling flights as Hurricane Lane approaches Hawaii.

United Airlines is calling off its flights to and from Maui on Friday. The airline added two additional flights from Honolulu to San Francisco on Thursday to help transport people off the islands.

Hawaiian Airlines is canceling all Friday flights by its commuter carrier, Ohana by Hawaiian, on Friday. It canceled Ohana flights to Kapalua and Lanai airports Thursday.

United is also taking steps to secure its hangar at Daniel K. Inouye Airport in Honolulu.

Hurricane Lane is currently a Category 3 storm, which means it has winds from 111 to 129 mph (178 kph to 207 kph).

___

3:20 p.m.

Tourists were still swimming in the ocean and hanging on the beach as Hurricane Lane approached Thursday.

Hotel staff at the Marriott Resort Waikiki Beach began removing lounge chairs from around the pool as winds picked up.

Guests at the Marriott in Honolulu received advisories tucked under their doors with updates on the hurricane's condition and path. The report advised of possible "heavy rains, flooding, high winds and high surf."

The National Weather Service downgraded Hurricane Lane to a Category 3 storm, which means winds from 111 to 129 mph.

The Marriott Resort has designated a ballroom as a shelter for guests.

___

2:20 p.m.

The National Weather Service says Hurricane Lane in Hawaii has been downgraded to a Category 3 storm.

Such hurricanes include winds from 111 to 129 mph and can cause major damage.

Forecasters say the storm previously shifted course Thursday and is now moving closer to Hawaii.

National Weather Service meteorologist Melissa Dye said some parts of the Big Island have received 20 inches of rain in the past 24 hours.

___

1:10 p.m.

Tourist Elisabeth Brinson says she will ride out the wind and rain on the ninth floor of the Hawaiian Hilton Village in Waikiki, where she was watching surfers and powerful waves from her balcony.

She said Thursday she was not too concerned with flooding, and hotel staff had left notices in English, Japanese and Korean that the rooms would have water and phone service.

She says a backup generator is expected to power an elevator.

The native of the United Kingdom, who now lives in Denver, said many shops were closed or filled with frantic people buying food, water and beer to take back to their rooms.

She said she knew the hurricane was coming and had crammed in as many activities as she could in the past few days.

___

12:30 p.m.

Forecasters say Hurricane Lane has shifted course and is now moving closer to Hawaii.

National Weather Service meteorologist Melissa Dye said Thursday the shift will put the Big Island and Maui "in the thick" of the hurricane.

She said some parts of the Big Island already have received 20 inches of rain in the past 24 hours.

However, she says the hurricane will weaken due to some possible terrain interaction and other factors that will begin to destroy its core. The timing of the decay was uncertain.

The hurricane is about 275 miles (445 kilometers) south of Honolulu.

___

10:20 a.m.

Authorities say two campers are trapped in a Hawaii valley that has been hit by heavy rain from an approaching hurricane.

Hawaii County Managing Director Wil Okabe says the campers called to report they were trapped Wednesday in Waipio Valley on the Big Island's northern coast.

He says emergency workers haven't been able to contact them since then because of poor cellphone reception.

He says it's not safe for emergency crews to search for them because of landslides and rivers of rain blocking roads.

Okabe says the south shore of the Big Island is seeing 31-foot swells as Hurricane Lane approaches.

Dangerous, heavy rains and flooding are occurring in east Hawaii as Lane slows down.

Okabe says there are also reports of boulders falling in a Hilo park.

___

8:50 a.m.

The administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency says the government had positioned generators and other aid in Hawaii well before the anticipated arrival of Hurricane Lane.

FEMA administrator Brock Long said Thursday the supplies arrived in Hawaii after a volcano began oozing lava into neighborhoods in May and in preparation for a recent hurricane that bypassed the islands.

After Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico last year, a FEMA report noted that one of its main issues was not having enough generators and other emergency aid on the island before the storm.

In response, officials stockpiled such items in hard-to-reach areas such as Hawaii and Alaska.

FEMA says the agency has been talking with grocers to make sure food sources are stocked.

Long says he doesn't anticipate the Jones Act will to be an issue for Hawaii. The federal law requires goods to bypass the state on their way to the mainland before being shipped to Hawaii.

____

8 a.m.

Federal official say Hurricane Lane remains a powerful, category 4 storm that will have a major impact on the Hawaiian islands.

Steve Goldstein of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said at a news conference Thursday that Lane had winds up to 130 mph.

It was about 300 miles south of Honolulu and expected to soak the Big Island before heading toward Maui and Oahu.

Goldstein said a direct strike is not needed to see a significant impact from such a strong hurricane.

Officials say more than 30 inches of rain is possible in some areas, which could mean flooding, dangerous surf of 20 feet, and a storm surge of up to 4 feet above normal levels.

Federal officials said they were prepared to help people on the islands.

Brad Kieserman of the Red Cross said there were 16 emergency shelters open and 283 people across the island already in them.

___

5:15 a.m.

Torrential downpours from Hurricane Lane are soaking Hawaii's Big Island as the storm approaches the island.

National Weather Service meteorologist Gavin Shigesato says rain gauges near Hilo had recorded 12 inches (30.5 centimeters) of rain in 12 hours as of 4 a.m. Thursday.

Parts of Maui County also seeing rain as bands of rain extended 350 miles (566 kilometers) from the hurricane's center.

Hurricane Lane continues to move northwest and tropical storm conditions were expected to reach the Big Island later Thursday morning with hurricane conditions by nightfall.

Shigesato says the hurricane's speed on Wednesday slowed from 9 mph to 7mph (15 kph to 11 mph).

He says the more stationary hurricane increases the threat of flash floods and landslides because of prolonged, increased rainfall.

___

3 a.m.

President Donald J. Trump has issued a disaster declaration for Hawaii as residents prepare to deal with Hurricane Lane.

Trump issued the declaration on Wednesday. It authorizes the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate disaster relief efforts with the state.

Hurricane Lane was forecast to continue its northwest turn into the islands Thursday. That would make it the most powerful storm to hit Hawaii since Hurricane Iniki in 1992.

Officials opened shelters on the Big Island and the islands of Maui, Molokai and Lanai on Wednesday. They urged those needing to use the Molokai shelter to get there soon because of concerns the main highway could become impassable.

Three inches of rain fell in three hours on the Big Island on Wednesday.

___

12 a.m.

As emergency shelters opened, rain began to pour and cellphone alerts went out, the approaching hurricane started to feel real for Hawaii residents.

Hurricane Lane was forecast to continue its northwest turn into the islands Thursday, which would make it the most powerful storm to hit Hawaii since Hurricane Iniki in 1992.

Those who lived in Hawaii when Iniki hit said they remember the "pandemonium" and were boarding up their houses and stockpiling water.

Officials opened shelters on the Big Island and the islands of Maui, Molokai and Lanai on Wednesday. They urged those needing to use the Molokai shelter to get there soon because of concerns the main highway could become impassable.

Three inches of rain fell in three hours on the Big Island on Wednesday.

A man stands along the beach as waves crash on shore before Hurricane Lane, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, in Honolulu, Hawaii. A powerful hurricane unleashed torrents of rain and landslides Thursday that blocked roads on the rural Big Island but didn't scare tourists away from surfing and swimming at popular Honolulu beaches still preparing get pummeled by the erratic storm. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Hotel employees fill sandbags along the beach in preparation for Hurricane Lane, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, in Honolulu. Hurricane Lane continues to move northwest and tropical storm conditions were expected to reach the Big Island later Thursday morning with hurricane conditions by nightfall. (AP Photo/John Locher)

This photo provided by Jessica Henricks shows flooding Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, Wailuku River near Hilo, Hawaii. Hurricane Lane brought torrential rains to Hawaii's Big Island and Maui before the storm was expected to hit Oahu. A powerful hurricane unleashed torrents of rain and landslides Thursday that blocked roads on the rural Big Island but didn't scare tourists away from surfing and swimming at popular Honolulu beaches still preparing get pummeled by the erratic storm. (Jessica Henricks via AP)

People stand outside of a partially boarded up McDonalds in preparation for Hurricane Lane, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, in Honolulu, Hawaii. The powerful hurricane unleashed torrents of rain and landslides Thursday that blocked roads on the rural Big Island but didn't scare tourists away from surfing and swimming at popular Honolulu beaches still preparing get pummeled by the erratic storm. (AP Photo/John Locher)

A woman walks out of a partially boarded up McDonalds in preparation for Hurricane Lane, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, in Honolulu, Hawaii. The powerful hurricane unleashed torrents of rain and landslides Thursday that blocked roads on the rural Big Island but didn't scare tourists away from surfing and swimming at popular Honolulu beaches still preparing get pummeled by the erratic storm. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Workers board up an ABC Store near the beach in preparation for Hurricane Lane, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, in Honolulu, Hawaii. The powerful hurricane unleashed torrents of rain and landslides Thursday that blocked roads on the rural Big Island but didn't scare tourists away from surfing and swimming at popular Honolulu beaches still preparing get pummeled by the erratic storm. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Kevin Pak, right, boards up an ABC Store near the beach in preparation for Hurricane Lane, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, in Honolulu, Hawaii. A powerful hurricane unleashed torrents of rain and landslides Thursday that blocked roads on the rural Big Island but didn't scare tourists away from surfing and swimming at popular Honolulu beaches still preparing get pummeled by the erratic storm. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Park fields are flooded from heavy rains Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, in Hilo, Hawaii. Hurricane Lane soaked Hawaii's Big Island on Thursday, dumping nearly 20 inches of rain in nearly 24 hours as residents stocked up on supplies and tried to protect their homes ahead of the state's first hurricane since 1992. (Hollyn Johnson/Hawaii Tribune-Herald via AP)

A landslide from heavy rains blocks the Hilo bound lane at the Honolii bridge on Highway 19 Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, in Hilo, Hawaii. Hurricane Lane soaked Hawaii's Big Island on Thursday, dumping nearly 20 inches of rain in nearly 24 hours as residents stocked up on supplies and tried to protect their homes ahead of the state's first hurricane since 1992. (Hollyn Johnson/Hawaii Tribune-Herald via AP)

People stand near flood waters from Hurricane Lane making the intersection of Kamehameha Avenue and Pauahi Street impassable Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, in Hilo, Hawaii. Hurricane Lane soaked Hawaii's Big Island on Thursday, dumping nearly 20 inches of rain in nearly 24 hours as residents stocked up on supplies and tried to protect their homes ahead of the state's first hurricane since 1992. (Hollyn Johnson/Hawaii Tribune-Herald via AP)

Austin Seawright, right, stacks sandbags in front of a closed store in preparation for Hurricane Lane, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, in Honolulu. Forecasters say Hurricane Lane has shifted course and is now moving closer to Hawaii. National Weather Service meteorologist Melissa Dye said Thursday the shift will put the Big Island and Maui "in the thick" of the hurricane. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Workers stack sandbags in front of a closed store in preparation for Hurricane Lane, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, in Honolulu, Hawaii. (AP Photo/John Locher) .    Google.      BloggerBEIJING (AP) - The United States and China went ahead with tariff hikes on billions of dollars of each other's automobiles, factory machinery and other goods Thursday in an escalation of a battle over Beijing's technology policy that companies worry will chill global economic growth.

The increases came as envoys met in Washington for their first high-level talks in two months. They gave no sign of progress toward a settlement of U.S. complaints that Beijing steals technology and its industry development plans violate Chinese free-trade commitments.

The 25 percent duties, previously announced, apply to $16 billion of goods from each side including automobiles and metal scrap from the United States and Chinese-made factory machinery and electronic components.

In this Aug. 15, 2018, photo, a visitor talks on his smartphone in front of a display of manufacturing robots from Chinese robot maker Honyen at the World Robot Conference in Beijing, China. The United States and China imposed more tariff hikes on billions of dollars of each other's automobiles, factory machinery and other goods Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, in an escalation of a battle over Beijing's technology policy that companies worry will chill global economic growth. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

In the first round of tariff hikes, U.S. President Donald Trump imposed 25 percent duties on $34 billion of Chinese imports on July 6. Beijing responded with similar penalties on the same amount of American goods.

The Chinese government criticized Thursday's U.S. increase as a violation of World Trade Organization rules and said it would file a legal challenge.

A foreign ministry spokesman, Lu Kang, declined to give details of the Washington talks.

"We hope the U.S. side will get along with us to strive for a good result from the talks with a reasonable and practical attitude," Lu said.

Beijing has rejected U.S. demands to scale back plans for state-led technology development that its trading partners say violate its market-opening commitments. American officials worry they might erode the United States' industrial leadership.

With no settlement in sight, economists warn the conflict could spread and knock up to 0.5 percentage points off global economic growth through 2020.

The pressure on Chinese export industries that support millions of jobs adds to challenges for Communist leaders who are trying to shore up slowing economic growth.

Factory output, consumer spending and other indicators were weaker than expected in July. Beijing has responded by pumping money into financial markets and announcing plans for higher spending on public works construction.

Chinese leaders have promised to help struggling exporters and ordered banks to lend more freely to them. But they have avoided full-scale economic stimulus that would set back efforts to rein in surging debt and nurture self-sustaining growth supported by consumer spending.

Forecasters say the impact of U.S. tariffs on China's economy is small and manageable for now. Credit Suisse said this month that if Trump goes ahead with all threatened U.S. increases, the "worst case" outlook would cut China's economic growth by 0.2 percentage points this year and 1.3 percent in 2019.

The International Monetary Fund's growth forecast for China this year is 6.5 percent, down from last year's 6.8 percent and more than double the U.S. forecast of 2.9 percent.

Ahead of the Washington talks, Chinese state TV mocked Trump with a sarcastic video posted on the YouTube and other social media pages of its international arm, China Global Television Network.

"You are great," says a presenter on the nearly three-minute English-language clip, reading a letter that pays a satirical tribute to Trump.

"On behalf of doctors, thank you for pointing out the need to wean off American goods like bourbon and bacon," the presenter says, referring to products on which China imposed retaliatory tariffs.

The video appeared to have been removed Thursday from CGTN's social media accounts.

Trump has proposed another possible round of tariff hikes involving 25 percent increases on an additional $200 billion of Chinese goods. Beijing issued a $60 billion list of American products for retaliation if Washington goes ahead with that.

That smaller target list reflects the fact that Beijing is running out of American goods for retaliation due to their lopsided trade balance.

China's imports from the United States last year totaled about $130 billion. That leaves about $20 billion for penalties after tariffs already imposed or planned on a total of $110 billion.

Chinese authorities have said they will take "comprehensive measures," which companies worry could mean targeting operations of American businesses in China for disruption.

An online video about U.S.-China trade tensions produced by China's state television broadcaster plays on a computer screen in Beijing, China, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. The United States and China imposed more tariff hikes on billions of dollars of each other's automobiles, factory machinery and other goods Thursday. Ahead of trade talks in Washington, Chinese state TV mocked President Donald Trump with a sarcastic video posted on the YouTube and other social media pages of its international arm, China Global Television Network. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

In this Aug. 15, 2018, photo, visitors look at a manufacturing robot from Chinese robot maker Aubo Robotics at the World Robot Conference in Beijing, China. The United States and China imposed more tariff hikes on billions of dollars of each other's automobiles, factory machinery and other goods Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, in an escalation of a battle over Beijing's technology policy that companies worry will chill global economic growth. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

An online video about U.S.-China trade tensions produced by China's state television broadcaster plays on a computer screen in Beijing, China, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. The United States and China imposed more tariff hikes on billions of dollars of each other's automobiles, factory machinery and other goods Thursday. Ahead of trade talks in Washington, Chinese state TV mocked President Donald Trump with a sarcastic video posted on the YouTube and other social media pages of its international arm, China Global Television Network. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

In this Aug. 13, 2018, photo, a man sits in front of a billboard stating that American customers will be charged 25% extra due to ongoing China-U.S. trade tensions at a restaurant in Guangzhou in southern China's Guangdong Province. The United States and China imposed more tariff hikes on billions of dollars of each other's automobiles, factory machinery and other goods Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, in an escalation of a battle over Beijing's technology policy that companies worry will chill global economic growth. (Chinatopix via AP)MATTITUCK, N.Y. (AP) - Police are investigating after political and religious symbols were painted on "Top Chef" producer and restaurateur Tom Colicchio's home and lawn on Long Island.

Colicchio and his wife, Lori Silverbush, tweeted they discovered the graffiti on Tuesday.

Police say "TRUMP" was painted in red on the mailbox. "Cuomo=Death to America" with a hammer and sickle was painted on the street and grass. "Cynthia Nixon, Go Home, Silverbush and Padhma" and a star appeared in white.

FILE - In this April 5, 2016, file photo, Tom Colicchio attends the Food & Wine 2016 Best New Chefs Party at Event Block in New York. Police are investigating after political and religious symbols were painted on "Top Chef" producer and restaurateur Colicchio's home and lawn on Long Island. Colicchio and his wife, Lori Silverbush, tweeted they discovered the graffiti on Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP, File)

Nixon is challenging New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary. Padma Lakshmi is host of "Top Chef."

Colicchio tweeted he believes the incident was in response to his displaying a sign supporting Perry Gershon, a Democrat running for Congress against Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin.

Both Zeldin and Gershon criticized the incident on Facebook .WASHINGTON (AP) - A juror in Paul Manafort's financial fraud trial says a lone holdout prevented the jury from convicting the onetime Trump campaign chairman on all 18 counts.

Jurors repeatedly tried to persuade the holdout to "look at the paper trail" but she insisted there was reasonable doubt, juror Paula Duncan told Fox News.

"We didn't want it to be hung, so we tried for an extended period of time to convince her," Duncan said, adding that the four days of deliberations were so heated that there were "tears" among the 12 jurors. "But in the end, she held out and that's why we have 10 counts that did not get a verdict."

This courtroom sketch shows Paul Manafort listening to U.S. District court Judge T.S. Ellis III at federal court in Alexandria, Va., Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018. Manafort, the longtime political operative who for months led Donald Trump's winning presidential campaign, was found guilty of eight financial crimes in the first trial victory of the special counsel investigation into the president's associates. A judge declared a mistrial on 10 other counts the jury could not agree on. (Dana Verkouteren via AP)

The federal jury on Tuesday found Manafort guilty on eight counts; the judge declared a mistrial on 10 counts the jury was deadlocked on. The jury verdict form , which was made public Thursday, confirmed Duncan's account.

The form also showed that jurors at one point appeared to have been unanimous on convicting Manafort of two additional charges of failing to report foreign bank accounts but scratched out the check marks over guilty. They then wrote in that it was 11-1, with "no consensus" on those counts.

Duncan, a self-described Trump supporter who was photographed for the Fox report in a red "Make America Great Again" hat, said she and 10 other jurors were prepared to find Manafort guilty of each count in the indictment. Duncan said she considered the charges brought by special counsel Robert Mueller's team to be legitimate and considered the evidence "overwhelming."

"I did not want Paul Manafort to be guilty, but he was," Duncan said. "And no one is above the law."

She said neither positive nor negative sentiments about Trump influenced the decision.

"I think we all went in there like we were supposed to and assumed that Mr. Manafort was innocent. We did due diligence," Duncan said. "We applied the evidence, our notes, the witnesses, and we came up with the guilty verdicts on the eight counts."

She said the president's administration did come up during deliberations because of testimony that Manafort had tried to secure a White House position for a banker who authorized millions of dollars in loans for him and had lobbied Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner.

"The charges were legitimate but the prosecution tried to make the case about the Russian collusion right from the beginning and, of course, the judge shut them down on that," Duncan said. "We did waste a bit of time with that shenanigan."

Duncan also said she would have liked to have heard more from Manafort's defense. Manafort did not testify at trial and his lawyers conducted mostly limited questioning of the government's witnesses.

She also said the jury "agreed to throw out the testimony" of Manafort protege Rick Gates, who pleaded guilty in Mueller's investigation and agreed to cooperate with investigators, and focus instead on the documents.

Duncan's comments in the interview Wednesday came the same day that the trial judge unsealed several transcripts of closed bench conferences. One transcript showed that the defense had privately sought a mistrial because of comments a juror was quoted as making about the weakness of Manafort's defense.

The disclosure by one juror of another juror's remarks on the ninth day of Manafort's trial prompted U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III to question jurors about whether the comment would affect their ability to make a fair and impartial verdict. Juror names are blacked out in the transcripts.

Ellis denied Manafort's motion, saying that after considering the circumstances carefully and questioning each juror about their ability to be impartial, a mistrial wasn't warranted.

Defense lawyers did not press the issue in public, and after the jury's verdict, Manafort lawyer Kevin Downing took care to praise Ellis for a fair trial and the jury "for their very long and hard-fought deliberations."

___

Read the verdict form: http://apne.ws/EfMm1yhBLESSINGTON, Ireland (AP) - When St. John Paul II visited Ireland in 1979, the Catholic Church wielded such power that homosexuality, divorce, abortion and contraception were barely spoken of, much less condoned. Catholic bishops had advised the authors of Ireland's constitution, and still held sway.

Today, as Pope Francis prepares to visit, the Catholic Church enjoys no such influence.

As once-isolated Ireland experienced a tide of secularism and economic boom that opened it to the world, the church largely lost its centrality in Irish life.

A newly unveiled wax work of Pope Francis is carried at the National Wax Museum Plus where they also unveiled a newly refurbished original 1979 Pope Mobile ahead of Pope Francis' visit to Ireland, in Dublin, Thursday Aug. 23, 2018. (Brian Lawless/ PA via AP)

Then the church - while still maintaining a stronghold on education and health care in Ireland - lost its moral credibility following revelations of the widespread sexual abuse of children in its churches, the physical torture of youngsters in its schools and the humiliation of women in its workhouses.

If that weren't enough, an amateur Irish historian researching the deaths of some 800 youngsters discovered a mass grave in a sewage area at a church-run orphanage where the children had been sent. Their sin for being exiled to the home and buried in an unmarked grave? The shame of having been born to an unwed mother.

Francis will be confronted with that haunting past when he visits Ireland this weekend to close out the Vatican's big Catholic family rally. The event, scheduled three years ago, had been aimed at boosting the church's visibility and voice, but a fresh wave of scandal across the Atlantic has overshadowed the visit.

"I have no trouble nailing my colors to the mast that I am a practicing Catholic," said Carmel Dillon, principal of St. Mary's junior school in the picturesque town of Blessington, southwest of Dublin. "However, it is becoming more difficult in circles to state that you are a Catholic."

Ahead of the visit, a "Say Nope to the Pope" campaign has attracted a strong following and peaceful protests have been planned. Posters were put up around Dublin featuring an upside-down Holy See flag to "depict the lifelong suffering and anguish that clerical sexual abuse has left."

Vatican spokesman Greg Burke said Francis knows well that "any trip to Ireland was not only going to be about the family." But he said family life would still be the focus, even if Francis will be meeting with abuse victims during his 36-hour visit.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Irish-born, U.S.-raised official in charge of Catholic families at the Vatican, said he expected that Francis would speak out about all kinds of abuses suffered by the Irish, including families who lost children during "the troubles," Northern Ireland's decades-long bloody sectarian conflict.

"I do not think that these wounds are easily healed," Farrell told the AP. "I do think, though, that it's time for the church once again to make itself known, in a new image of the church. An image that's more open, more caring, more understanding of the reality of the lives of people today."

That is not the Catholic Church of Ireland's past.

Over the last 10 years, a series of government-initiated investigations have uncovered the horrific secrets that the Irish church had long sought to bury, like the remains of children at the Bon Secours mother and baby home in Tuam, County Galway.

The reports have detailed how tens of thousands of children suffered wide-ranging abuses in church-run workhouse-style institutions, how Irish bishops shuttled known pedophiles around the country and to unwitting parishes in the U.S. and Australia, and how Dublin bishops didn't tell police of any crimes by clerics until forced to by lawsuits in the mid-1990s.

The Irish church eventually unveiled a policy requiring the mandatory reporting of all suspected sex crimes to police, but the policy was rejected by the Vatican in 1997. That position, combined with the Vatican's refusal to cooperate in the fact-finding probes, prompted one of the inquiries to find the Vatican itself culpable in promoting a culture of cover-up.

In response, Ireland's then-Prime Minister Enda Kenny issued a blistering attack on the Vatican in Parliament in 2011, accusing it of downplaying the rape of children to protect its own power and reputation.

Kenny's speech, in which he denounced "the dysfunction, disconnection, elitism ... the narcissism that dominate the culture of the Vatican to this day," led to a diplomatic standoff that only really ended when Ireland re-opened the Vatican embassy in 2014 after closing it for nearly three years.

Irish academics see Kenny's speech as the final nail in the coffin of the once-symbiotic relationship of church and state that had so characterized Irish life.

It was "a moment that encapsulated the fall from grace of an institution which had hitherto been culturally indistinguishable from Ireland as a nation," according to the 2017 book "Tracing the Cultural Legacy of Irish Catholicism: From Galway to Cloyne and Beyond."

In the years since Kenny's speech, Irish voters have overturned the country's constitutional ban on abortion and legalized same-sex marriage. And in the years after John Paul's 1979 visit, Ireland decriminalized homosexuality and legalized contraception and divorce.

And while Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has won plaudits from sex abuse survivors for spearheading the cleanup of the Irish church, survivors want Francis now to atone for the Vatican's sins in the cover-up.

Francis needs to "admit and acknowledge and own the fact that the Roman Catholic Church at the global level, directed by the Vatican, has covered up the crimes of priests," said Colm O'Gorman, an abuse survivor who is leading a rally Sunday with other victims and supporters.

But sex abuse survivors are not the only ones demanding accountability - or at the very least a word of regret - from the pope.

Catherine Corless, whose research into the deaths of some 800 children at the Tuam orphanage pointed to the mass grave, is seeking an apology for the survivors and their families, many of whom are still church-going Catholics.

"They're not asking for much," she told the AP. "It would mean so much for the church to say 'What happened was wrong.'"

Ever since her discovery was corroborated by a survey of the grounds last year, Corless, former Tuam residents and the families of Tuam victims have been petitioning church and state officials to unearth the grave and give its children a proper church burial.

"Who puts babies in a sewage area? Just the thought of it," she said, trailing off. "That's how little they thought of these poor little things."

___

Winfield reported from Rome. Leo Enright contributed from Blessington.

People photograph a newly unveiled wax work of Pope Francis, centre and the waxwork of Pope John Paul II at the National Wax Museum Plus, ahead of Pope Francis' visit to Ireland, in Dublin, Thursday Aug. 23, 2018. (Brian Lawless/ PA via AP)

A newly unveiled wax work of Pope Francis aboard a newly refurbished original 1979 Pope Mobile belonging to the National Wax Museum Plus crosses O'Connell Bridge ahead of Pope Francis' visit to Ireland, in Dublin, Thursday Aug. 23, 2018. (Brian Lawless/ PA via AP)

Tourists pose for photos with a newly unveiled wax work of Pope Francis ahead of Pope Francis' visit to Ireland, in Dublin, Thursday Aug. 23, 2018. (Brian Lawless/ PA via AP)

FILE - In this Monday, April 21, 2014 file photo, nuns look up at Pope Francis delivering his blessing during the Regina Coeli prayer he celebrated from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican. Advocates of women's ordination as Roman Catholic priests are citing the church's unfolding sex abuse scandals in mid-2018 as powerful arguments for their cause, while acknowledging, as they do so, the high unlikelihood of achieving their goal any time soon. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Limited edition Pope dolls for sale during the World Meeting of Families at the RDS in Dublin, Ireland, Wednesday Aug. 22, 2018. Pope Francis will visit Ireland for a two-day trip on Aug. 25-26. (Brian Lawless/PA via AP)

Limited edition Pope dolls for sale during the World Meeting of Families at the RDS in Dublin, Ireland, Wednesday Aug. 22, 2018. Pope Francis will visit Ireland for a two-day trip on Aug. 25-26. (Brian Lawless/PA via AP)

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin and President of the World Meeting of Families 2018, during a press conference in Dublin, Ireland, Wednesday Aug. 22, 2018. Some thousands of people are expected to attend the World Meeting of Families starting in Dublin Wednesday and culminating in an open-air Mass celebrated by Pope Francis on Sunday. (Brian Lawless/PA via AP)ISLAMABAD (AP) - Pakistan says a roadside bomb has killed one soldier and wounded another three in the northwest along the Afghan border.

A military statement says the remotely detonated bomb targeted a team of explosives experts on Thursday near Dand Kalay in North Waziristan. The team was on routine search and clearance operation as part of ongoing military offensive.

North Waziristan has long been a sanctuary for the Pakistani Taliban and other militant groups. Pakistan has carried out a number of military operations there in recent years and claims to have eliminated militant safe havens, but attacks are still common.

Afghanistan and the United States have long called on Pakistan to do more to combat militants along the porous border.HONOLULU (AP) - Hurricane Lane unleashed torrents of rain and landslides that blocked roads on Hawaii's mostly rural Big Island on Thursday as residents and tourists in the state's biggest city braced for the dangerous storm to come their way.

Emergency workers rescued five people from a flooded house in Hilo after a nearby gulch overflowed, said Hawaii County Managing Director Wil Okabe. They weren't injured and were taken to a shelter, he said.

On the state's most populated island, which is about 200 miles (320 kilometers) north of the Big Island, employees of the Sheraton Waikiki resort filled sandbags to protect the Oahu oceanfront hotel from surging surf. Stores along Waikiki's glitzy Kalakaua Avenue stacked sandbags along the bottom of their glass windows to prepare for heavy rain and flash flooding.

This photo provided by Jessica Henricks shows flooding Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, Wailuku River near Hilo, Hawaii. Hurricane Lane brought torrential rains to Hawaii's Big Island and Maui before the storm was expected to hit Oahu. A powerful hurricane unleashed torrents of rain and landslides Thursday that blocked roads on the rural Big Island but didn't scare tourists away from surfing and swimming at popular Honolulu beaches still preparing get pummeled by the erratic storm. (Jessica Henricks via AP)

Hurricane Lane, which was still offshore, already lashed the Big Island with nearly 20 inches (50 centimeters) of rain in nearly 24 hours and was moving closer, putting it and Maui "in the thick" of the storm, National Weather Service meteorologist Melissa Dye said. The agency says the storm has weakened to a Category 3 but can still cause major damage.

The hurricane, which was packing maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (193 kph), was expected to move close to or over portions of the main islands later Thursday or Friday, bringing dangerous surf of 20 feet (6 meters), forecasters said.

Lane was not projected to make a direct hit on the islands, but officials warned that even a lesser blow could do significant harm. Some areas could see up to 30 inches (about 80 centimeters) of rain.

"Rain has been nonstop for the last half hour or so, and winds are just starting to pick up," said Pablo Akira Beimler, who lives on the coast in Honokaa on the Big Island. "Our usually quiet stream is raging right now."

Beimler, who posted videos of trees being blown sideways, said staying put is about the only choice he has. The road to Hilo was cut off due to landslides, he said.

United Airlines cancelled its Friday flights to and from Maui. The airline added two additional flights from Honolulu to San Francisco on Thursday to help transport people off the islands.

Hawaiian Airlines cancelled all Friday flights by its commuter carrier, Ohana by Hawaiian.

On Oahu, an island of nearly 1 million people, Elisabeth Brinson watching surfers earlier in the day from her balcony on the ninth floor of the Hawaiian Hilton Village in Waikiki. Later Thursday, police on loudspeakers in Waikiki told surfers and swimmers to get out of the water. They said the beach would be closed until further notice.

Hotel staff left a notice that the rooms will still have water and phone service, and a backup generator will power one elevator per building.

Brinson, a native of the United Kingdom now living in Denver, said many shops were closed, and those still open were frantic with people buying food, beer and water to take back to their rooms.

"We knew it was coming, so I tried to just cram as much as I could into the last few days in anticipation so we could cross things off of our list," said Brinson, who is accustomed to hurricanes after living in Florida.

Hawaii's biggest hotels are confident they can keep their guests safe as long as they stay inside, said Mufi Hannemann, CEO of Hawaii Tourism and Lodging Association.

Members of his association, which include the state's major hotels, are shifting into high gear with their emergency management plans, he said.

The Marriott Resort Waikiki Beach in Honolulu designated a ballroom on the third floor as a shelter for guests and began removing lounge chairs from around the pool and bar area.

The Queen Kapiolani Hotel brought construction equipment inside from a pool deck that's under renovation. The hotel will encourage guests to stay in their rooms if the weather worsens and evacuate to hallways if it becomes necessary to avoid windows.

"The only concern is those that venture outside of the properties, that would like to hike on a day like this or who would like to still go into the ocean and see what it's like to take a swim or surf in these kind of waters," Hannemann said.

Honolulu shopping malls and office buildings closed early on Thursday and planned to shut their doors Friday.

Shelters were open throughout the islands, with 350 people in them in Oahu. Aid agencies were also working to help Hawaii's sizable homeless population, many of whom live near beaches and streams that could flood.

Because there's not enough shelter space statewide, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency Administrator Tom Travis urged people who were not in flood zones to stay home.

The National Weather Service downgraded the Big Island to a tropical storm warning, meaning it expects sustained winds of 39 mph (62 kph) to 73 mph (117 kph) to reach the island instead of stronger hurricane force winds.

But a hurricane warning remains in effect for Oahu and Maui County.

The central Pacific gets fewer hurricanes than other regions, with about only four or five named storms a year. Hawaii rarely gets hit. The last major storm to hit was Iniki in 1992. Others have come close in recent years.

Because people in Hawaii are confined to the islands, they have to make sure they have enough supplies to outlast power outages and other potential emergencies.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency moved several barges packed with food, water, generators and other supplies into the region ahead of Hurricane Hector, which skirted past the islands more than a week ago, FEMA Administrator Brock Long said.

___

Associated Press writers Brian Skoloff and Audrey McAvoy in Honolulu, Mark Thiessen and Dan Joling in Anchorage, Alaska, Seth Borenstein in Washington and Annika Wolters in Phoenix contributed to this report.

Employees of the Sheraton Waikiki fill sandbags along the beach in preparation for Hurricane Lane, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, in Honolulu. Hurricane Lane continues to move northwest and tropical storm conditions were expected to reach the Big Island later Thursday morning with hurricane conditions by nightfall. (AP Photo/John Locher)

People shield themselves from the wind in front of a store with stacked sandbags in preparation for Hurricane Lane, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, in Honolulu. The National Weather Service warned that Lane will get "perilously close" to Hawaii and that some areas could see up to 30 inches (about 80 centimeters) before the system passes. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Austin Seawright, right, stacks sandbags in front of a closed store in preparation for Hurricane Lane, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, in Honolulu. Forecasters say Hurricane Lane has shifted course and is now moving closer to Hawaii. National Weather Service meteorologist Melissa Dye said Thursday the shift will put the Big Island and Maui "in the thick" of the hurricane. (AP Photo/John Locher)

People stand near flood waters from Hurricane Lane making the intersection of Kamehameha Avenue and Pauahi Street impassable Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, in Hilo, Hawaii. Hurricane Lane soaked Hawaii's Big Island on Thursday, dumping nearly 20 inches of rain in nearly 24 hours as residents stocked up on supplies and tried to protect their homes ahead of the state's first hurricane since 1992. (Hollyn Johnson/Hawaii Tribune-Herald via AP)

A woman tapes up a sign letting people know a store with stacked sandbags will close soon in preparation for Hurricane Lane, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Hotel employees fill sandbags along the beach in preparation for Hurricane Lane, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, in Honolulu. Hurricane Lane continues to move northwest and tropical storm conditions were expected to reach the Big Island later Thursday morning with hurricane conditions by nightfall. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Employees of the Sheraton Waikiki fill sandbags along the beach in preparation for Hurricane Lane, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, in Honolulu. Hurricane Lane continues to move northwest and tropical storm conditions were expected to reach the Big Island later Thursday morning with hurricane conditions by nightfall. (AP Photo/John Locher)

This satellite image provided by NOAA shows Hurricane Lane near Hawaii on Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. Hurricane Lane soaked Hawaii's Big Island on Thursday, and the The National Weather Service warned that some areas could see up to 30 inches before the system passes. (NOAA via AP)LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - Residents are defending a Louisiana public library's plan to host fraternity brothers who are going to read to young children while dressed as drag queens.

All but one of the 20-plus citizens who spoke at Tuesday's Lafayette City-Parish Council meeting said they support the Oct. 6 "Drag Queen Story Time," The Advertiser reported . The event is being planned by a provisional chapter of the Delta Lambda Phi fraternity at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

The fraternity was founded by gay men and embraces bisexual, transgender and progressive men.

"It's important for young kids to understand this is normal behavior, even if it may be different to some," Brad Parfait, a sophomore at UL-Lafayette told The Advocate . "It's not something you should be bullied over."

Similar events have been held in Atlanta, New York City and Orlando, Florida. In July, the Association for Library Service to Children promoted such events on its blog, calling those who've done it "library pioneers." The organization is a division of the American Library Association.

In Louisiana, Tuesday's meeting came hours after Lafayette Mayor-President Joel Robideaux indicated he may look to cancel the event. Robideaux said he wants to know how the event was approved.

"Our parish libraries are public spaces, with venues that any group or individual can reserve, on a non-discriminatory basis, as required by law," Robideaux said in a statement. "We have to be certain, however, that our internally approved programming is both appropriate and serves the needs of Lafayette Parish."

The event, which is recommended for 3- to-6-year-olds and their families, has drawn praise and criticism online since it was announced over the weekend. Supporters have said it represents inclusion and openness. Opponents have said it is inappropriate for young children or a public venue.

The library system's director, Teresa Elberson, says she has no plans to cancel the event, unless the library governing board instructs otherwise.

"These individuals aren't talking about sex or gender or anything to do with that at all," Elberson said, referring to the fraternity members. "We are trying to use an individual wearing a dress to open the conversation about being different. That's it."NORFOLK, Va. (AP) - A U.S. Navy airman is charged with attempting to kill his wife in a murder-for-hire plot.

The Virginian-Pilot reports Seaman Uriel Gerardo Olivas appeared at Wednesday's hearing to determine if there's probable cause to take the case to court martial, but declined to make a statement. Navy prosecutor Lt. Jennifer Schwartau says he offered $500 to an undercover officer, intending to pay off the remaining $9,500 with his wife's life insurance.

Olivas is also accused of threatening to kill another sailor and asking a sailor to kidnap another in February. It's unclear if the two February charges are related.

The USS George H.W. Bush fuel handler is also accused of pointing a gun at his neighbor in May, in addition to marijuana use and stealing basic housing allowance charges.

___

Information from: The Virginian-Pilot, http://pilotonline.comGENEVA (AP) - President Donald Trump's national security adviser, John Bolton, says the United States will cut funding for the office of the U.N. human rights chief, the administration's latest blow against the United Nations.

Bolton announced the move against the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, which would lose one of its largest donors. The United States is the U.N.'s largest single donor, providing about 22 percent of its budget.

In an interview Thursday, Bolton said U.S. officials would calculate how much of the U.S. annual budget goes to the rights office and the Human Rights Council, a 47-nation U.N.-backed assembly of nations, and reduce its outlay by that amount.

US national security adviser John Bolton, speaks during an interview about the meeting with his Russian counterpart Nikolai Patrushev, at the American embassy in Geneva, Switzerland, Thursday, August 23, 2018. (Martial Trezzini/Keystone via AP)

Ex-Chilean President Michelle Bachelet is set to replace Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein as the High Commissioner for Human Rights next month.SAO PAULO (AP) - A leading right-wing presidential candidate in Brazil appeared to backtrack Thursday on his initial decision to skip all seven remaining debates before the Oct. 7 election, saying that he may participate in three.

Earlier, an attorney for Congressman Jair Bolsonaro said the candidate would not attend the remaining debates because they did not add to the race.

But after a campaign event in Sao Paulo state, the congressman later said he could not "lose contact with the people."

National Social Liberal Party presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro, center, leaves the cemetery after attending the burial of soldier Fabiano de Oliveira dos Santos in Japeri, Brazil, Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018. At least 11 suspects and two soldiers died during shootouts with military personnel and police in greater Rio de Janeiro on Monday as violence erupted in several areas of the city that hosted the Summer Olympics two years ago. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

"I can't be in a studio, there are 40 days to the election," Bolsonaro told journalists. He said he wouldn't attend all the debates, but his "idea" was to make an appearance at some.

The public vacillation comes after a poll showed a spike in the number of Brazilians who wouldn't vote for Bolsonaro under any circumstances following two recent TV debates.

Bolsonaro's performances were loved by hardcore fans, but were criticized by moderate politicians and voters who he needs to win over.

The congressman was only mildly targeted on both occasions by seven opponents.

A Datafolha poll published Wednesday shows jailed former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva with support among 39 percent of those surveyed, but he is likely to be barred from seeking office because of a corruption conviction. He denies any wrongdoing and was not allowed to participate in the debates despite leading the polls.

Bolsonaro is running second at 19 percent, which is far ahead of former Sao Paulo Mayor Fernando Haddad, who is da Silva's likely replacement and choice for vice president.

The same Datafolha poll said 39 percent of voters would never choose Bolsonaro. It also showed that 43 percent of women wouldn't support him, a major concern for the congressman in a country where females comprise 52 percent of the electorate.

The Datafolha poll, which has margin of error of 2 percentage points, was based on interviews with 8,433 people between Aug. 20 and 21.

Carlos Melo, a political science professor at Insper university, said his strategy makes sense only if Bolsonaro sees his position as consolidated in the race.

"Other leading candidates have skipped debates before, and Bolsonaro might believe he hit his ceiling for the first vote. If that is the case, the debates don't help him," Melo told The Associated Press. "But his advantage is not too big, and adversaries will ask why the former army captain that speaks so loud doesn't want to debate. He might backtrack, but rivals will talk about that a lot."

Regardless of Bolsonaro's decision to bow out of the debates, right-leaning Geraldo Alckmin said Wednesday that all candidates want to face the congressman in a runoff.

The Datafolha poll showed Bolsonaro could lose a likely runoff on Oct. 28 to centrist Marina Silva, left-leaning Ciro Gomes and Alckmin, who is polling at less than 10 percent.KURSK, Russia (AP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday attended ceremonies marking the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Kursk, in which the Red Army routed the Nazis.

The July-August 1943 battle marked the failure of the last major Nazi offensive on the Eastern Front called Operation Citadel and decisively turned the tide of war in favor of the Soviet Union.

It has been described as the largest tank battle in history, involving thousands of tanks on both sides. The Nazis suffered major losses, from which they never recovered.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, arrives to attend a laying ceremony in Kursk, 426 kilometers (266 miles) south of Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. Putin attends a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the battle of Kursk in which the Soviet army routed Nazi troops. It is described by historians as the largest tank battle in history involving thousands of tanks. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, Pool)

Putin laid flowers Thursday at the Unknown Soldier's Tomb in Kursk, about 450 kilometers (280 miles) southwest of Moscow, and talked to war veterans.

The Russian leader also visited the battle's memorial, which features historic Soviet weapons, including the T-34 tank and Katyusha rocket launcher.

Putin told veterans the victory in the battle played a key role in Russia's history.

"It was a definitive turning point in WW II," Putin said.

He also praised activists who help find and identify the remains of the fallen Soviet soldiers.

"We still know the names of only half of soldiers who died," he said. "We need to do a lot more to preserve the memory of our WWII heroes."

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, greets a WWII veteran as he arrives to attend a laying ceremony in Kursk, 426 kilometers (266 miles) south of Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. Putin attends a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the battle of Kursk in which the Soviet army routed Nazi troops. It is described by historians as the largest tank battle in history involving thousands of tanks.(Alexei Druzhinin, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a laying ceremony in Kursk, 426 kilometers (266 miles) south of Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. Putin attended a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the battle of Kursk in which the Soviet army routed Nazi troops. It is described by historians as the largest tank battle in history involving thousands of tanks. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, Pool)

Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, stands among Russian WWII veterans during a laying ceremony in Kursk, 426 kilometers (266 miles) south of Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. Putin attends a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the battle of Kursk in which the Soviet army routed Nazi troops. It is described by historians as the largest tank battle in history involving thousands of tanks. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, Pool)

Russian President Vladimir Putin, foreground left, attends a laying ceremony in Kursk, 426 kilometers (266 miles) south of Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. Putin attends a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the battle of Kursk in which the Soviet army routed Nazi troops. It is described by historians as the largest tank battle in history involving thousands of tanks. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, Pool)

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a laying ceremony in Kursk, 426 kilometers (266 miles) south of Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. Putin attended a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the battle of Kursk in which the Soviet army routed Nazi troops. It is described by historians as the largest tank battle in history involving thousands of tanks. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, Pool)

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a laying ceremony in Kursk, 426 kilometers (266 miles) south of Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. Putin attended a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the battle of Kursk in which the Soviet army routed Nazi troops. It is described by historians as the largest tank battle in history involving thousands of tanks. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, Pool)

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with WWII veterans activists the Kursk Battle memorial museum in Kursk, 426 kilometers (266 miles) south of Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. Putin attends a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the battle of Kursk in which the Soviet army routed Nazi troops. It is described by historians as the largest tank battle in history involving thousands of tanks.(Alexei Druzhinin, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, attends a meeting with WWII veterans activists at the Kursk Battle memorial museum in Kursk, 426 kilometers (266 miles) south of Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. Putin attended a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the battle of Kursk in which the Soviet army routed Nazi troops. It is described by historians as the largest tank battle in history involving thousands of tanks. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, Pool)

Russian President Vladimir Putin, second right, speaks to WWII veterans as he arrives to attend a laying ceremony in Kursk, 426 kilometers (266 miles) south of Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. Putin attends a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the battle of Kursk in which the Soviet army routed Nazi troops. It is described by historians as the largest tank battle in history involving thousands of tanks. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, Pool)

Russian President Vladimir Putin, foreground right, arrives to attend a laying ceremony in Kursk, 426 kilometers (266 miles) south of Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. Putin attends a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the battle of Kursk in which the Soviet army routed Nazi troops. It is described by historians as the largest tank battle in history involving thousands of tanks. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, Pool)

Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, attends a meeting with WWII veterans activists the Kursk Battle memorial museum in Kursk, 426 kilometers (266 miles) south of Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. Putin attends a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the battle of Kursk in which the Soviet army routed Nazi troops. It is described by historians as the largest tank battle in history involving thousands of tanks. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, Pool)

WWII veterans wait to Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend a laying ceremony in Kursk, 426 kilometers (266 miles) south of Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. Putin attends a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the battle of Kursk in which the Soviet army routed Nazi troops. It is described by historians as the largest tank battle in history involving thousands of tanks. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, Pool)

Local people gather to see Russian President Vladimir Putin's arrival to attend a meeting with WWII veterans activists the Kursk Battle memorial museum in Kursk, 426 kilometers (266 miles) south of Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. Putin attends a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the battle of Kursk in which the Soviet army routed Nazi troops. It is described by historians as the largest tank battle in history involving thousands of tanks. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, Pool)JOHANNESBURG (AP) - By now, many Africans cringe whenever "Trump" and their continent are mentioned together.

It's happened again. In a tweet containing inaccurate comments, President Donald Trump said he had instructed his secretary of state to "closely study" alleged land seizures from white farmers in South Africa. The issue is racially divisive almost a quarter-century after the end of apartheid, the system of white minority rule.

Trump rarely turns his attention to Africa - the tweet was his first since he became president to mention the continent by name - but when he does it often backfires.

President Donald Trump speaks during a roundtable on the "Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act" in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

The most shocking example came earlier this year when Trump reportedly used vulgar language to compare African nations to a filthy toilet. Outraged countries swiftly summoned U.S. ambassadors to explain the comment - much as South Africa on Thursday was reaching out to the U.S. Embassy to clarify the latest remarks.

Many South Africans were stunned. "A racist bigot," the morning host of one of the country's most popular talk radio stations, Eusebius McKaiser, told listeners before opening the airwaves to lively debate about Trump's comments.

Trump's tweet appeared just days after first lady Melania Trump took a very different approach to Africa, announcing she would be visiting several countries on the continent in October in her first big solo international trip. She said she looked forward to learning about the issues children face and appreciating Africa's history and culture.

It was the latest hint that the first lady might be subtly separating herself from her husband and his controversial views.

The last time Trump referred to Africa on Twitter was in early 2015, before his presidential ambitions were taken seriously by much of the public.

Again, it was about South Africa. He made clear he was no fan of the country's security situation, tweeting: "As I have long been saying, South Africa is a total - and very dangerous - mess." It echoed a tweet from 2013: "I really like Nelson Mandela but South Africa is a crime ridden mess that is just waiting to explode-not a good situation for the people!"

Since becoming president, Trump has largely left Africa to drift, meeting only a handful of African heads of state and leaving key diplomatic positions - the ambassador to South Africa, for one - unfilled. It took a year and a half to name the top Africa diplomat in the State Department.

Trump also fired his previous secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, hours after Tillerson ended a multi-country Africa visit earlier this year in an effort to mend badly frayed ties.

Now some observers say Trump is using his latest Africa comments to try to deflect attention from his sprawling legal troubles at home.

"The President of the U.S. needs political distractions to turn our gaze away from his criminal cabal, and so he's attacking South Africa with the disproven racial myth of 'large scale killings of farmers,'" Patrick Gaspard, a former U.S. ambassador to South Africa, tweeted on Thursday. "This man ... has no discernible Africa policy."

On Monday, Trump faces another chance to address the continent when he welcomes just the second African head of state to a White House meeting, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.

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This version corrects to say the last time Trump referred to Africa on Twitter was in 2015.

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Follow Africa news at https://twitter.com/AP_AfricaINDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Layoffs came in waves at Westin Automotive's Minnesota plant as production shifted to low-wage factories in Asia, ultimately pushing more than 200 U.S. workers - many over age 50 - out of once-reliable jobs.

Despite the move a decade ago, Westin remains a chief supplier of auto parts sold under a brand trademarked by Indiana Senate candidate Mike Braun. Those ties put the Republican in a delicate spot as President Donald Trump vilifies China and other foreign competitors, riling up the GOP base.

Trump's election in 2016 shifted the political dynamic for Republican business people like Braun seeking public office. Many used to actively downplay the effects of outsourcing or even embrace it, even as socially conservative blue-collar workers in Indiana and other manufacturing-heavy states flocked to the party.

FILE - This May 8, 2018, file photo Republican Senate candidate Mike Braun thanks supporters after winning the republican primary in Whitestown, Ind. One of the chief suppliers for a line of trademarked auto parts sold by Indiana Senate candidate Mike Braun laid off more than 200 American workers and shipped their jobs to Asia. Braun has ignored outsourcing questions. Instead, he attacks his rival, Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly, for once owning stock in a family business that has a factory in Mexico. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)

Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson, who ran a plastics manufacturing company, proclaimed in 2014 that outsourcing was "quite beneficial" to America. Georgia Sen. David Perdue, who ran aggressively as a job creator, said he was "proud" to have spent much of his career outsourcing. And GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney, who invested in companies that offshored jobs, said his business record is what qualified him for the presidency.

Braun, however, is taking a different approach.

Until recently, the multimillionaire ignored outsourcing questions related to his Promaxx parts brand. Instead he ran ads stating his business empire was "made in America" while attacking his Democratic rival, Sen. Joe Donnelly, for once owning stock in a family business, run by Donnelly's brother, that operates a factory in Mexico and sources some goods from China.

While Braun's campaign won't say how much of his parts line is made abroad, spokesman Josh Kelley acknowledged in an interview Thursday that Braun uses foreign-made products to stay competitive.

"He's seen suppliers that used to make 100 percent of their products here in the U.S. and, thanks to unfair trade deals coming down from politicians in D.C., we've seen these jobs and products being forced overseas," Kelley said.

It's a justification they are unwilling to extend to Donnelly, who Braun accuses of being complicit in sending "jobs to Mexico and China."

Yet earlier this month, the AP reported that much of Braun's Promaxx brand is made in China.

Records reviewed since then show that Braun has a particularly close relationship with Westin Automotive, which outsourced work formerly done at its St. James, Minnesota, plant, to China and Taiwan between 2007 and 2008.

Braun has worked with Westin since at least 2008, the same year he launched Promaxx. That year, an auto parts distribution company he owns, Meyer Distributing, featured Westin in its catalog.

Since then, Westin - a major supplier of Promaxx-brand running boards, bumpers, brush guards and truck racks - has received more than 700 shipments of the same kind of products from China, including several shipments delivered directly to one of Braun's warehouses, records show.

They've also teamed up to host jet ski and truck give-away competitions , while CEO Bob West has given the $2,700 maximum contribution to Braun's campaign, Federal Election Commission records show.

Meanwhile, the Department of Labor found the laid-off workers in Minnesota - many of whom did not have easily adapted skills - faced dire circumstances.

"A significant number of workers at the firm are age 50 or over and possess skills that are not easily transferable," a federal investigator concluded . "Competitive conditions within the industry are adverse."

While Republicans running for office, particularly business people, have sometimes struggled with outsourcing questions, it appeared that the GOP cracked the code this year with Donnelly.

That came after it was revealed that Donnelly, a longtime outsourcing critic, abruptly sold his stock in the family company amid news reports on its Mexican factory.

Republicans hammered Donnelly and even hired a mariachi band to troll him at his re-election kickoff. Then Braun surged in May's GOP primary, beating Reps. Luke Messer and Todd Rokita, muddying what had been a clean line of attack.

Kelley argued that Braun's business doesn't actually make the parts sold under his brand, whereas Donnelly's brother's company does.

"He could have easily addressed (the factory) at the family dinner table with his brother, but instead he waited until he was exposed by the press as a hypocrite," Kelley said.

But as recently as 2015, Braun belonged to an economic development group that sought to "increase the public's understanding of the positive impact of global trade."

In Indiana, the issue has been particularly resonant.

During the 2016 campaign, Trump made the plight of Carrier Corp. factory workers in Indianapolis a cause celebre after company officials were captured in a viral video telling employees the plant would shut down and shift production to Mexico.

That secured Trump votes from many factory workers on his way to a 19-point victory in the state, said Chuck Jones, the recently retired president of United Steel Workers Local 1999. In Braun, Jones says he sees someone like Trump who is "just telling people what they want to hear."

"People were looking for somebody who might give them a ray of hope," said Jones, who is a Democrat. "Some of these politicians, even though they were free-traders, like Mike Braun, they said, 'Huh, it worked for Donald Trump, maybe it will work for me?'"FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) - Louva Dahozy sat in the front of a crowded casino ballroom listening to a record number of candidates for Navajo Nation president outline plans for economic development, services for the elderly and veterans, government reform and infrastructure.

"Same old thing every four years, nothing changed," said the 90-year-old Navajo woman.

Still, she sees opportunity to reinvigorate Navajo culture and language, bring more gas stations and clothing stores to the country's largest American Indian reservation, and ensure money isn't lost to towns that border it in New Mexico, Arizona and Utah.

In this photo provided by Dine College, candidates for Navajo Nation president speak at a forum Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2018 at Dine College in Tsaile, Ariz. Navajo voters have a record 18 candidates to choose from in the Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018 presidential primary. The top two vote-getters move on to the November general election. (Ed McCombs/Dine College via AP)

"The people out there need all they can," she said.

Voters will have a record number of candidates to choose from in Tuesday's presidential primary election. The race drew 18 candidates, including current President Russell Begaye, Vice President Jonathan Nez and others who have held elected office. Three women are in the field, which includes some political newcomers. The top two vote-getters move on to the general election and pick their own running mates in the non-partisan race.

More than 93,000 Navajos are registered to vote, down almost 18,000 from the last presidential primary. Turnout then was nearly 47 percent.

The tribe's election office generally removes voters from the rolls in odd years if they don't cast ballots in two consecutive elections. The purge took place earlier this year because it hadn't been done as scheduled, election officials said. Not all those removed re-registered.

The candidates must cater to what generally is the largest voting block of elderly Navajos who speak Navajo fluently and maintain traditional lifestyles, and younger Navajos who have spent time off the reservation.

After a recent presidential forum at the tribe's casino east of Flagstaff, 17-year-old Ednei Yabeny quizzed the candidates with a list of his own questions. He wanted their thoughts on a broader social movement on violence against Native women, and on scholarship requirements tied to the Navajo language.

Candidates have been booed and cheered when they don't speak in Navajo at the handful of presidential forums. Tribal lawmakers shifted the burden of determining fluency to voters, rather than the courts, after the last presidential election when it became a central issue.

"I think we need to move on, not forget our language," Yabeny said. "They encourage youth to come back to the reservation but because of the language barriers, I don't feel like I can come back."

Jerry Williams, president of the tribe's LeChee Chapter on the Arizona-Utah border, said his community often turns away businesses because it doesn't have the infrastructure to support them. The community will be among the hardest hit if the coal-fired Navajo Generating Station closes at the end of 2019, and the tribe will lose about one-fifth of its revenue.

"That's my deciding vote, who is going to say 'we will help you help yourself,'" he said.

Candidates must travel the vast 27,000 square-mile reservation for rallies and community meetings to campaign. To reach voters many use a mix of radio and newspaper advertising, billboards, signs and social media.

Begaye, who served four years as a tribal lawmaker before winning the presidency against Joe Shirley Jr., has done little of that in his bid for re-election.

"I'm busy running the nation," he said in a statement.

Nez distanced himself from Begaye months ago. The former tribal lawmaker and Navajo County supervisor made healthy living a focus in his time as vice president. He's been organizing 5k races and walks to raise funds for his presidential campaign.

Shirley, a former two-term president, and his colleague on the Apache County Board of Supervisors, Alton Joe Shepherd of Ganado, Arizona, tout experience. Others who have held elected office are former Navajo Vice President Rex Lee Jim of Rock Point, Arizona; tribal lawmaker Tom Chee of Shiprock, New Mexico; and former lawmaker Hope MacDonald LoneTree of Tuba City, Arizona.

The other candidates from Arizona are Benny Bahe of Houck; Norman Patrick Brown, an activist from Chinle; Kevin Cody of Pinon; Trudie Jackson, a doctoral student at the University of New Mexico from Teec Nos Pos; Calvin Lee Jr., an attorney from Greasewood Springs; Shawn Redd, a businessman from Dilkon; Nick Taylor, a finance associate from Klagetoh; Tom Tso, a former Navajo chief justice from Teec Nos Pos; and Vincent Yazzie, an activist from Tolani Lake.

The other candidates from New Mexico are Emily Ellison, a job development officer for the University of New Mexico from Chilchitah, and Dineh Benally of Shiprock, who worked as a civil engineer for the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs and was Shirley's running mate in the last election.

FILE - In this April 21. 2015, file photo, Navajo Nation presidential candidate Joe Shirley Jr. thanks his supporters after losing the special election to Russell Begaye at Nakai Hall in Window Rock, Ariz. Navajo voters have a record number of candidates to choose from in the Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018 presidential primary election. The race has drawn 18 candidates with the top two vote-getters moving on to the November general election. (Jon Austria/The Daily Times via AP, file)

FILE - In this May 12, 2015, file photo, Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye gives his inaugural speech at Fighting Scouts Events Center in Fort Defiance, Ariz. Navajo voters have a record number of candidates to choose from in the Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018 presidential primary election. The race has drawn 18 candidates with the top two vote-getters moving on to the November general election. (Alexa Rogals/The Daily Times via AP, file)

This undated photo provided by the Navajo Nation Council Office of the Speaker shows Tom Chee, a candidate for Navajo tribal president. Navajo voters have a record 18 candidates to choose from in Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018 presidential primary. The top two vote-getters move on to the November general election. (Larry Thompson/Navajo Nation Council Office of the Speaker via AP)

FILE - In this Dec. 15, 2014, file photo, Native American Navajo Nation Vice president, Rex Lee Jim, poses for the media outside of the Drouot's auction house prior to the contested auction of Native American Navajo tribe masks in Paris. Navajo voters have a record number of candidates to choose from in the Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018 presidential primary election. The race has drawn 18 candidates with the top two vote-getters moving on to the November general election. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, file )

FILE - In this Dec. 4, 2017, file photo, Navajo Nation Vice President Jonathan Nez speaks during during a news conference in Salt Lake City. Navajo voters have a record number of candidates to choose from in the Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018 presidential primary election. The race has drawn 18 candidates with the top two vote-getters moving on to the November general election. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, file)KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) - The Ugandan government filed a charge of treason Thursday against a pop star-turned-lawmaker who has emerged as a major critic of the long-serving president and whose jailing drew outrage from top musicians around the world.

Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, was visibly weak and struggled to walk into court from what his lawyer said was a severe beating while in custody. The government denied it.

It was the first time Ssentamu had been seen in public since his detention, and he clenched his fists as he greeted supporters. A colleague wrapped a scarf in the colors of Uganda's national flag around his shoulders.

Ugandan pop star-turned-lawmaker Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine, center, arrives at a magistrate's court in Gulu, northern Uganda Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. Bobi Wine, who opposes the longtime president Yoweri Museveni, was charged with treason in the civilian court in Gulu on Thursday, minutes after a military court dropped weapons charges. (AP Photo)

The 36-year-old Ssentamu was arrested with other lawmakers while campaigning for a candidate Aug. 13. He was charged with illegal possession of firearms for his alleged role in an incident in which the motorcade of President Yoweri Museveni was pelted with stones.

The arrest sparked protests in the capital, Kampala, and elsewhere demanding his release, with scores of people detained as security forces cracked down on demonstrators. Dozens of top musicians, including Angelique Kidjo, Chris Martin, Chrissie Hynde and Brian Eno, signed a letter demanding Ssentamu's release, and a social media campaign to #FreeBobiWine was launched.

In Kampala's Kisekka Market area on Thursday, protesters held posters of Ssentamu, praising him as the "People's Voice." Demonstrations also occurred in Nairobi, the capital of neighboring Kenya, and in London.

A military court in the northern town of Gulu dropped the weapons charges, but he was quickly re-arrested, taken to a magistrate's court and charged with treason, which carries the death penalty.

He needed help to walk into court and appeared to cry at one point. He sat in the dock in magistrate's court, with his lawyers saying he was unable to stand on his own.

Ssentamu was arrested with four other opposition lawmakers, three of whom also face treason charges. A fifth legislator has been hospitalized with injuries allegedly sustained during detention.

The magistrate ruled Ssentamu should be allowed to see his own doctors, and he was remanded into custody until Aug. 30.

Medical treatment abroad is desirable, but first he needs to go to a private Ugandan health facility, said one of Ssentamu's attorneys, Medard Sseggona.

"As to whether they can do it is a different matter," he said.

Other opposition figures expressed concern about being targeted by security forces as Museveni's government has come under pressure in the Ssentamu case.

"Every way out of my home is barricaded since very early today," tweeted Kizza Besigye, a four-time presidential challenger who has been jailed many times.

Police spokesman Emilian Kayima later said Besigye was arrested when he tried to force his way out. The spokesman said forces also were deployed at the homes of certain Ugandans after receiving intelligence that some "wanted to engage in criminal activities."

Ssentamu, who was elected to parliament last year, has emerged as an influential critic of Museveni, especially among many educated youth who cannot find work in Uganda, where hospitals often lack basic medicines, and main roads are dangerously potholed.

In his music video "Freedom," he sings from behind bars: "We are fed up with those who oppress our lives."

He has protested an unpopular social media tax as well as a change to the constitution that removed the presidential age limit of 75. That provision allows the 74-year-old Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, to seek re-election in 2021.

Ssentamu's arrest came after he was campaigning for a lawmaker in the northwestern town of Arua. Museveni also was in Arua at the time, campaigning for a rival candidate who eventually lost.

While the president was departing, authorities said, his motorcade was pelted with stones by people associated with Ssentamu and the candidate he backed, Kassiano Wadri.

Ssentamu's driver was shot and killed, allegedly by security forces.

In a statement late Wednesday, Museveni accused "unprincipled politicians" of luring youth into rioting. Addressing calls on social media to free Ssentamu, he said he had no power to do so.

"Let us therefore wait for the courts and see what they decide," Museveni said.

Museveni, a U.S. ally on regional security, has been elected five times. Although he has campaigned on a record of establishing peace and stability, some worry that those gains are being eroded the longer he stays in power.

___

Follow Africa news at https://twitter.com/AP_Africa

Ugandan pop star-turned-lawmaker Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine, center, is assisted walking on crutches as he is led out of the magistrate's court towards a prison van, in Gulu, northern Uganda Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. Bobi Wine, who opposes the longtime president Yoweri Museveni, was charged with treason in a civilian court in Gulu on Thursday, minutes after a military court dropped weapons charges. (AP Photo)

Kenyan activists and civil society groups protest in solidarity with Ugandan pop star-turned-lawmaker Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine, in a march to the Ugandan embassy in Nairobi, Kenya Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. Bobi Wine, who opposes Uganda's longtime president Yoweri Museveni, was charged with treason in a civilian court in Gulu, Uganda on Thursday, minutes after a military court dropped weapons charges. (AP Photo/Khalil Senosi)

Kenyan activists and civil society groups protest in solidarity with Ugandan pop star-turned-lawmaker Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine, in a march to the Ugandan embassy in Nairobi, Kenya Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. Bobi Wine, who opposes Uganda's longtime president Yoweri Museveni, was charged with treason in a civilian court in Gulu, Uganda on Thursday, minutes after a military court dropped weapons charges. (AP Photo/Khalil Senosi)

Supporters of pop star-turned-lawmaker Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine, hold a poster of him as they gather in the Kisekka Market area of Kampala, Uganda Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. Bobi Wine, who opposes the longtime president Yoweri Museveni, was charged with treason in a civilian court in Gulu on Thursday, minutes after a military court dropped weapons charges. (AP Photo/Ronald Kabuubi)

Ugandan military police, one wearing a balaclava with a skull painted on, patrol where supporters of pop star-turned-lawmaker Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine gather, in the Kisekka Market area of Kampala, Uganda Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. Bobi Wine, who opposes the longtime president Yoweri Museveni, was charged with treason in a civilian court in Gulu on Thursday, minutes after a military court dropped weapons charges. (AP Photo/Ronald Kabuubi)

Kenyan activists and civil society groups protest in solidarity with Ugandan pop star-turned-lawmaker Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine, in a march to the Ugandan embassy in Nairobi, Kenya Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. Bobi Wine, who opposes Uganda's longtime president Yoweri Museveni, was charged with treason in a civilian court in Gulu, Uganda on Thursday, minutes after a military court dropped weapons charges. (AP Photo/Khalil Senosi)

Kenyan activists and civil society groups protest in solidarity with Ugandan pop star-turned-lawmaker Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine, in a march to the Ugandan embassy in Nairobi, Kenya Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. Bobi Wine, who opposes Uganda's longtime president Yoweri Museveni, was charged with treason in a civilian court in Gulu, Uganda on Thursday, minutes after a military court dropped weapons charges. (AP Photo/Khalil Senosi)

Kenyan activists and civil society groups protest in solidarity with Ugandan pop star-turned-lawmaker Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine, in a march to the Ugandan embassy in Nairobi, Kenya Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. Bobi Wine, who opposes Uganda's longtime president Yoweri Museveni, was charged with treason in a civilian court in Gulu, Uganda on Thursday, minutes after a military court dropped weapons charges. (AP Photo/Khalil Senosi)

Kenyan activists and civil society groups protest in solidarity with Ugandan pop star-turned-lawmaker Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine, in a march to the Ugandan embassy in Nairobi, Kenya Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. Bobi Wine, who opposes Uganda's longtime president Yoweri Museveni, was charged with treason in a civilian court in Gulu, Uganda on Thursday, minutes after a military court dropped weapons charges. (AP Photo/Khalil Senosi)

Supporters of pop star-turned-lawmaker Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine, gather in the Kisekka Market area of Kampala, Uganda Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. Bobi Wine, who opposes the longtime president Yoweri Museveni, was charged with treason in a civilian court in Gulu on Thursday, minutes after a military court dropped weapons charges. (AP Photo/Ronald Kabuubi)

Ugandan military police, one wearing a balaclava with a skull painted on, patrol where supporters of pop star-turned-lawmaker Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine, had gathered in the Kisekka Market area of Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. Bobi Wine, who opposes the longtime president Yoweri Museveni, was charged with treason in a civilian court in Gulu on Thursday, minutes after a military court dropped weapons charges. (AP Photo/Ronald Kabuubi)

FILE - In this Tuesday, July 11, 2017 file photo, Ugandan pop star Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, better known as Bobi Wine, centre, leaves shortly after being sworn in as a member of parliament in Kampala, Uganda. On Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018 Ugandan military prosecutors withdrew weapons charges against the jailed pop star and lawmaker who opposes the longtime president. (AP Photo/Ronald Kabuubi, File)

Ugandans living in Britain protest outside Uganda House in Trafalgar Square, London, after Ugandan pop star-turned-politician, Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine, who opposes the longtime president was charged with treason in a civilian court, minutes after a military court dropped weapons charges, in London, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. The 36-year-old Ssentamu had been charged last week with illegal possession of firearms for his alleged role in an incident in which Museveni's motorcade was pelted with stones. After the military court freed him on Thursday he was re-arrested by police and taken to a magistrate's court. (Kirsty O'Connor/PA via AP)GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Newly-arrived Puerto Ricans are suing to have 32 Florida counties print ballots and other election materials in Spanish ahead of November's vote.

The lawsuit filed earlier this month in federal court argues the new Floridians won't be able to exercise their right to vote without the Spanish-language ballots and voter guides.

The counties named in the lawsuit are along Florida's Space Coast, Treasure Coast, the Jacksonville area, the Sarasota area, the Panhandle and a swath of counties northwest of Orlando.

English is the official language of Florida, as written in the state's constitution, but more than a dozen counties are required to offer Spanish-language ballots under federal law.

Tens of thousands of Puerto Ricans moved to Florida after the island was devastated by Hurricane Maria last year.Retired Indianapolis fertility doctor Donald Cline (pictured) was banned Thursday from ever applying for a license in Indiana again

A retired Indianapolis fertility doctor who lied about using his own sperm to impregnate possibly dozens of women surrendered his medical license Thursday to a state board that also barred him from ever seeking its reinstatement.

After an attorney for Dr. Donald Cline surrendered his expired license to the Indiana Medical Licensing Board, the panel voted to prohibit 79-year-old Cline from ever applying for a license in Indiana again.

Indiana's supervising deputy attorney general, Laura Iosue, asked the seven-member board before that vote to consider the impact of Cline's actions.

'It's particularly egregious. The important thing is that Dr. Cline doesn't practice anymore,' she said.

Cline, who retired from practice in 2009, was given a one-year suspended sentence in December after pleading guilty to two counts of obstruction of justice.

He'd used his own sperm to impregnate as possibly dozens of women after telling them the donors were anonymous.

No other charges were filed against Cline because Indiana law doesn't specifically prohibit fertility doctors from using their own sperm.

Cline, who retired in 2009, lied about using his own sperm to impregnate possibly dozens of women

Cline was charged after lying to investigators, and he had faced up to three years in prison on each count.

The charges stemmed from two confirmed cases of paternity, but children of women treated by Cline have said DNA tests show he's likely the biological father of as many as 20 of them.

Cline apologized 'for the pain my actions have caused' during his December sentencing, although he didn't specify how often he used his own sperm in procedures.

But court documents state that he told one of his biological daughters, Jacoba Ballard, that he had done so about 50 times in the 1970s and 1980s.

Ballard said at Thursday's hearing that Cline's actions have 'affected me in every possible way'.

Liz White (above) was just one of the women who were said to be impregnated with Cline's sperm

Liz White and her son, Matt White, are shown above in this undated photo

Jacoba Ballard, Matt White and Julie Harmon (left to right) were among those linked through DNA tests, which they say proves ex-fertility doctor Donald Cline is their biological father

'He's portrayed as this man that's remorseful,' she said.

A total of 10 people who believe Cline is their biological father attended Thursday's hearing with their mothers.

Many of Cline's former patients and their children are now focusing on persuading Indiana lawmakers to pass a measure that would deem a fertility doctor's use of his own sperm as a crime.

Matt White, who learned as an adult that the 'anonymous' sperm donor who impregnated his mother was actually Cline, called the surrender of Cline's already expired license 'a slap on the wrist.'

But he said he appreciated the board barring Cline from ever seeking to seek reinstatement of his license.

'That was a small victory,' he said.WARSAW, Poland (AP) - Dozens of people have rallied in front of the Interior Ministry in Warsaw to protest the deportation and ban of a Ukrainian activist from the Europe's 26-nation Schengen area on a Polish request.

Lyudmyla Kozlovska, 33, who has a lived in Poland for 10 years and has a Polish husband, was detained at Brussel's airport Aug. 13 and returned to Ukraine.

A Polish counterintelligence unit said it had "serious doubts" about the financing of a foundation Kozlovska runs and members of the ruling party have accused her of working for Russian interests. Kozlovska says she believes her ban is political punishment for the anti-government activism of her and her husband.

People rally in support of Lyudmyla Kozlovska, a Ukrainian activist who was banned last week from the entire Schengen zone due to a Polish request, in Warsaw, Poland, on Thursday Aug. 23, 2018. The protesters demanded that Kozlovska be removed from the Schengen Information System, the database that Poland put her in. Poland's Internal Security Agency said its counterintelligence department had "serious doubts" about the financing of a foundation Kozlovska runs and members of the ruling party have accused her of working for Russian interests. Kozlovska denies that and says she is a victim of a massive disinformation campaign. The posters read in Polish "no to political deportation". (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

People at the protest Thursday held up signs with Kozlovska's image and the words: "no to political deportations."

People rally in support of Lyudmyla Kozlovska, a Ukrainian activist who was banned last week from the entire Schengen zone due to a Polish request, in Warsaw, Poland, on Thursday Aug. 23, 2018. The protesters demanded that Kozlovska be removed from the Schengen Information System, the database that Poland put her in. Poland's Internal Security Agency said its counterintelligence department had "serious doubts" about the financing of a foundation Kozlovska runs and members of the ruling party have accused her of working for Russian interests. Kozlovska denies that and says she is a victim of a massive disinformation campaign. The posters read in Polish "no to political deportation". (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

People rally in support of Lyudmyla Kozlovska, a Ukrainian activist who was banned last week from the entire Schengen zone due to a Polish request, in Warsaw, Poland, on Thursday Aug. 23, 2018. The protesters demanded that Kozlovska be removed from the Schengen Information System, the database that Poland put her in. Poland's Internal Security Agency said its counterintelligence department had "serious doubts" about the financing of a foundation Kozlovska runs and members of the ruling party have accused her of working for Russian interests. Kozlovska denies that and says she is a victim of a massive disinformation campaign. The posters read in Polish "no to political deportation". (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)DEL RIO, Texas (AP) - A fatal plane crash involving a flight instructor last year in Texas was caused by a total hydraulic failure of the jet's engine, the U.S. Air Force said.

Investigative documents were released Wednesday about the November crash that killed Capt. Paul J. Barbour, The San Antonio Express-News reported .

The twin-jet, two-seat T-38 Talon jet was based out of Laughlin Air Force Base near Del Rio, Texas. It was flying a routine training mission when it crashed near Amistad Reservoir between two subdivisions, about 14 miles (23 kilometers) northwest of the base.

"I don't know what the pilot was thinking," Val Verde County Sheriff Joe Frank Martinez said at the time. "But it could have been a lot worse had it gone into either one of these two subdivisions."

Capt. Joshua Hammervold, an instructor pilot, was able to eject. He was injured but survived.

The ejection system also should have propelled Barbour from the cockpit, said Marilyn Holliday, spokeswoman for the San Antonio-based Air Education and Training Command. But the 32-year-old flight instructor failed to arm his ejection seat during a preflight checklist and was trapped in the plane during the crash, the report said. Barbour was from Van Nuys, California.

Flight operations at the base were suspended following the crash but resumed a week later.

Laughlin, which is home to 3,000 airmen and civilians, is one of four of the Air Education and Training Command's undergraduate pilot training bases.

___

This story has been corrected to show that Capt. Paul J. Barbour died in the crash.

___

Information from: San Antonio Express-News, http://www.mysanantonio.comNEW YORK (AP) - A New York man who was arrested for falsely claiming he was owed half-ownership of Facebook but then fled the country has been captured in Ecuador, authorities said Thursday.

Prosecutors notified a judge presiding over his case in Manhattan federal court that Paul Ceglia was arrested in the morning. They said he'll appear in a court in Quito, Ecuador's capital, within a day.

Robert Ross Fogg, Ceglia's defense lawyer, said he was surprised at news of his client's capture, but "mostly relieved that he was located without incident and hope the family has maintained good health."

"Look forward to his return and resuming our vigorous defense of his case," Fogg said in an email.

Nikki Credic-Barrett, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Marshals Service, said the agency had no information on the matter because Ceglia was in the custody of Ecuadorian law enforcement authorities.

Ceglia, 45, was arrested on fraud charges in October 2012.

While under house arrest in Wellsville, New York, in March 2015 he disappeared with his wife and two young sons and the family's dog. Authorities said he sliced off his electronic monitoring device and created a crude contraption to make it seem he was moving around his home.

Prosecutors told U.S. District Judge Vernon Broderick they would update him on the status of extradition attempts.

Ceglia claimed in a lawsuit that he gave Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg $1,000 in startup money in exchange for 50 percent of the future company in 2003 as part of a software development contract.

Facebook lawyers said Ceglia and Zuckerberg did have a contract but references to Facebook were slipped in for purposes of the lawsuit.

The lawsuit was tossed out by a judge in Buffalo, New York, in 2014. Prosecutors then filed fraud charges after a forensic analysis of Ceglia's computers and Harvard's email archive determined he had altered an unrelated contract and falsified emails to make it seem Zuckerberg had promised him a half-share.

Ceglia maintained he was not guilty before he vanished. Mail and wire fraud charges against him carry a potential maximum sentence of 40 years in prison if he is convicted.BURNHAM, Maine (AP) - Officials say a U.S. Customs and Border Protection airplane crashed close to an airport in Maine, injuring both crew members.

The single-engine Cessna 206 crashed late Wednesday while making an emergency landing near the Pittsfield Municipal Airport.

State Police spokesman Steve McCausland says one of the two crew members called 911 to report their location after the crash. He said both managed to walk away but were taken to a hospital. One of them remained hospitalized Thursday afternoon.

This photo provided by the Maine State Police shows a U.S. Customs and Border Protection airplane after it crash-landed late Wednesday in Burnham, Maine, near the Pittsfield Municipal Airport. Officials say the two crew members, who were conducting border security operations, were injured but were able to walk away from the crash. (Maine State Police via AP)

The Federal Aviation Administration says the plane had taken off from Bangor International Airport. It came to rest in woods along the Sebasticook River.

Customs and Border Protection says the plane was conducting "border security operations" when the pilot encountered a suspected engine failure.

Officials didn't identify the crew members.MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Abortion rights opponents who challenged the University of Minnesota's use of aborted fetal tissue for medical research have lost an appeal.

The ruling issued Monday by the state Court of Appeals says the lawsuit filed in 2016 by Pro-Life Action Ministries is moot because the Legislature clarified the law, allowing the research, while the case was pending

The lawsuit argued that the university was violating a decades-old law that said using aborted fetal remains was restricted to tests necessary for the health of a woman, her future children or a criminal investigation.

The court noted that a 2017 law allows fetal tissue research as long as it's approved by the Fetal Tissue Research committee, a university oversight panel, the Star Tribune reported. Under the law, a university researcher who wants to use aborted fetal tissue must provide a written explanation to the FTR justifying the use.

The university's fetal tissue research was called into question in 2016 when a university spokesman denied it was occurring on campus but later acknowledged it was.

Among other things, researchers use fetal tissue in pursuit of treatments for HIV, diabetes, dementia and spinal-cord injuries.

The university is committed to conducting critical research in an "ethical, respectful and lawful manner," said university spokesman Chuck Tombarge.

"We appreciate the court's guidance at this important intersection of medical research and law," he said.

An attorney for the anti-abortion group didn't immediately respond to the newspaper's request for comment.

___

This story has been corrected to show the appeals court ruling was issued Monday, not Wednesday.

___

Information from: Star Tribune, http://www.startribune.comTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - The Latest on businessman Greg Orman's independent bid for Kansas governor (all times local):

5 p.m.

Independent candidate Greg Orman's campaign manager says he expects Democrats to file a lawsuit to remove Orman from the ballot in the Kansas governor's race.

FILE - This combination of file photos shows Kansas gubernatorial candidates from left: Republican Secretary of State Kris Kobach; Democratic state Sen. Laura Kelly; and Independent candidate, businessmen Greg Orman, who are running in the November 2018 election. Democrats horrified by the thought that provocative conservative Kobach could be Kansas' next governor are attacking Orman, a Kansas City-area businessman running as an independent. (Thad Allton/The Topeka Capital-Journal via AP, File)

Campaign manager Tim Phillips said Thursday he would be shocked if a lawsuit wasn't filed after a state board rejected most claims in an objection to Orman's candidacy filed by a Democratic legislative leader's chief of staff.

The board's decision Thursday means Orman remains on the ballot.

Attorney Pedro Irigonegary represented the legislative aide and said a lawsuit is possible but a decision has not been made.

The objection questioned how Orman's campaign collected at least 4,000 signatures on petitions for his spot on the Nov. 6 ballot. He needed 5,000 from registered voters, and the secretary of state's office validated more than 7,700.

___

3:55 p.m.

A state board in Kansas is keeping independent candidate Greg Orman on the ballot in the governor's race.

The State Objections Board on Thursday rejected a challenge filed by a Democratic legislative leader's aide.

The Democrat had argued that questions about how Orman gathered the signatures of registered voters were grave enough to warrant removing him from the Nov. 6 ballot.

Orman needed the signatures of 5,000 registered voters, and counties validated about 7,700. The objection raised questions about how at least 4,000 were collected.

The board was made up of representatives of the secretary of state, the attorney general and the lieutenant governor. All are Republicans and Secretary of State Kris Kobach is the GOP nominee for governor.

Many Democrats fear Orman's bid will help Kobach.

___

6:30 a.m.

Democrats horrified by the thought that provocative conservative Kris Kobach could be Kansas' next governor are attacking a Kansas City-area businessman whose independent candidacy could thwart their ambitions and help elect the Republican.

Their reaction to Greg Orman, the 49-year-old founder of a private equity fund, contrasts sharply with Democrats' embrace of Orman during a U.S. Senate run in 2014 that garnered national attention. This time, Democrats have launched a legal challenge aimed at removing Orman from the November ballot, and a state board plans to consider it Thursday.

Orman expects to tap discontent with the two major parties to become his red state's first independent governor, and supporters contend political scientists and partisan activists greatly underestimate voters' disgust with the hyper-partisanship in U.S. politics. He's also willing to spend his own funds, dropping $650,000 in July, a large sum in low-cost Kansas.Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds campaign launched an ad critical of Democratic opponent Fred Hubbell's management of a once-popular Iowa department store chain called Younkers.

Hubbell is a wealthy businessman who hails from one of the state's best-known families. He's hoping to unseat Reynolds, who is seeking a four-year term after succeeding former Gov. Terry Branstad when he became ambassador to China under President Donald Trump. Reynolds, who has a modest background and as a teenager waitressed at a Des Moines Younkers, has said she will highlight Hubbell's affluence as a campaign strategy.

In Reynold's TV ad, launched last month, multiple narrators talk about the impact Younkers store closures had on three different Iowa cities.

FILE - In this June 5, 2018 file photo, Iowa Democratic gubernatorial candidate Fred Hubbell speaks during an Iowa Primary night rally with supporters in Des Moines, Iowa. Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds campaign launched an ad critical of Hubbell's management of a once-popular Iowa department store chain called Younkers. In Reynold's TV ad, launched last month, multiple narrators talk about the impact Younkers store closures had on three different Iowa cities. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall File)

A look at the Reynolds' campaign claim:

REYNOLDS CAMPAIGN: "Younkers was the heart of our town, 'til Fred Hubbell shut it down and fired everyone. Small towns were a drain on Hubbell's profits -- that's what they told us. So he closed stores in Spencer, Ottumwa and Newton." -- narrators in the TV ad.

THE FACTS: It's true that those three Younkers stores closed while Hubbell was in charge of the companies that owned them.

In 1984, Younkers __ a now-defunct retail chain owned by Hubbell's family business, Equitable of Iowa, and founded in the state more than a century ago __ operated nearly 30 department stores, mostly in Iowa and Nebraska.

By December of that year, however, The Associated Press reported the company's then-president planned to close a store in Ottumwa, a city of roughly 27,000 people at the time that faced economic troubles during the farm crisis.

The next week, in January 1985, Equitable dismissed Younkers' president and put Hubbell in charge of the department stores on an interim basis. Prior to that, Hubbell worked as Vice President of Equitable.

The three-level Ottumwa store, which employed 25 people, officially shut down while Hubbell was in command on January 31, 1985, according to newspaper archives.

By 1990, Hubbell had become president for Equitable, his campaign confirmed. Equitable had life insurance and retail business segments __ remaining the parent company of Younkers while Hubbell was president. A campaign spokesman for Hubbell said he was not involved in the "day to day" decision-making at the department chain store.

Younkers President Tom Gould held a press conference in December of 1990, announcing plans to close three "marginally profitable" stores, eliminating 60 jobs, in Nebraska and Iowa, according to AP archives. Gould said Younkers would shift to larger markets. The Iowa stores in Spencer and Newtown, both cities of less than 15,000 people, closed the following month.

In a campaign ad released last week, Hubbell lists himself as chairman of Younkers from 1985 to 1992 and acknowledges some stores were closed during that time.

"When I went into Younkers in 1985, Iowa was in the midst of a farm crisis," Hubbell says in the ad. "We kept as many people employed as possible because we knew the importance of every hour worked to help people make ends meet."

___

Associated Press news researcher Rhonda Shafner in New York contributed to this report.

___

Find AP Fact Checks at http://apne.ws/2kbx8bd

Follow @APFactCheck on Twitter: https://twitter.com/APFactCheck

___

Sign up for "Politics in Focus," a weekly newsletter showcasing the AP's best political reporting from around the country leading up to the midterm elections: https://bit.ly/2ICEr3DRALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Activists who tore down a century-old Confederate statue this week at North Carolina's flagship public university took campus officials by surprise, the school's top administrator said Thursday.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill expected about 100 people to peacefully protest the earlier arrest of an activist demanding removal of the memorial nicknamed "Silent Sam," Chancellor Carol Folt said during a conference call. Instead, a larger crowd gathered Monday night, dispersed and then returned to yank down the statue as banners hid their actions from police.

"I will tell you absolutely that we had no anticipation of any plans to tear down the statute," Folt said while taking questions from reporters.

Police stand guard after the confederate statue known as Silent Sam was toppled by protesters on campus at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., Monday, Aug. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

The bronze statue erected in 1913 is in temporary storage. Its future is unclear.

Folt emphasized that there have been dozens of campus protests in her five years on campus.

"They've all been handled in the way that people thought was appropriate, given the information they had coming prior to the event. We're in the process of trying to understand what happened, how did it happen and what were the responses," Folt said. "We have not completed our review of those events."

Folt said she wasn't ready to explain the non-confrontational response of campus police as activists gathered around the stone base on which the statue stood. At a similar protest a year ago, campus police in riot gear used metal barricades to keep activists from getting near the statue. The school was criticized by some for heavy-handed tactics.

The portable barriers weren't used Monday, and officers didn't keep protesters away from the statue.

North Carolina is one of the Southern states with the most Confederate monuments, and has been a focal point in the national debate over them following a deadly white nationalist protest a year ago in Charlottesville, Virginia.

"Silent Sam", erected by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, had been under constant, costly police surveillance after being vandalized in recent months. Many students, faculty and alumni argued the Confederate memorial symbolized racism and asked officials to take it down. But a 2015 law passed by the Republican-led General Assembly made it nearly impossible to remove the Confederate statue permanently unless the legislature passed another law doing so.

"That Confederate monument has been a flashpoint and a divisive symbol for decades, and especially since Charlottesville has been the focus of increasing frustration, anxiety and pain for people," Folt said. "I can't speed up the process of laws. And I understand that for people that could be frustrating. But we can't change the law."

____

Follow Emery P. Dalesio on Twitter at http://twitter.com/emerydalesio. His work can be found at https://apnews.com/search/emery%20dalesio.

Police stand guard after the confederate statue known as Silent Sam was toppled by protesters on campus at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., Monday, Aug. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

Police stand guard after the confederate statue known as Silent Sam was toppled by protesters on campus at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., Monday, Aug. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

Banners are used to cover the statue known as Silent Sam as people gather during a rally to remove the confederate statue from campus at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., Monday, Aug. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

Police try to take a banner from protesters as people gather during a rally to remove the confederate statue known as Silent Sam from campus at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., Monday, Aug. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

A protester covers his face as people gather during a rally to remove the confederate statue known as Silent Sam from campus at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., Monday, Aug. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

Police remove a protester during a rally to remove the confederate statue known as Silent Sam from campus at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., Monday, Aug. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

Police remove a protester during a rally to remove the confederate statue known as Silent Sam from campus at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., Monday, Aug. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

Police and protesters react to a smoke bomb as some protesters are removed during a rally to remove the confederate statue known as Silent Sam from campus at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., Monday, Aug. 20, 2018. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - The Latest on an Oregon man being sentenced for drunken behavior in national parks (all times local):

3:05 p.m.

An Oregon man who was sentenced for drunken behavior in two national parks in Wyoming said he and his buddy were on a "last hurrah" tour before he entered alcohol treatment.

Raymond Reinke's crimes drew national attention when at least one Yellowstone National Park visitor captured a video of him harassing a bison that had stopped traffic.

Reinke, of Pendleton, Oregon, pleaded guilty Thursday during a federal court appearance in Mammoth, Wyoming. He was sentenced to 130 days in jail - 60 days for harassing wildlife, 60 days for interfering with law enforcement and 10 days for disorderly conduct. He was given credit for 21 days served.

Reinke, 55, is banned from Grand Teton, Yellowstone and Glacier national parks for a five-year probationary period, during which he is not allowed to drink alcohol. His planned chemical dependency treatment is now court-ordered.

12:45 p.m.

A 55-year-old Oregon man has been sentenced to 130 days in jail after pleading guilty to misconduct in two national parks, including harassing a bison in that had stopped traffic in Yellowstone National Park.

Raymond Reinke's crimes drew national attention when at least one Yellowstone visitor caught his interaction with a bison on video.

Reinke, of Pendleton, Oregon, pleaded guilty Thursday during a federal court appearance in Mammoth, Wyoming.

ABC Fox Montana reports Magistrate Judge Mark Carman sentenced him to 60 days in jail for harassing wildlife, 60 days for interfering with law enforcement and 10 days for disorderly conduct. He was given credit for 21 days served.

Reinke was arrested Aug. 3 in Glacier National Park after being cited for misconduct in Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks.WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on the National Enquirer's cozy relationship with Donald Trump (all times local):

6:30 p.m.

The Associated Press has learned the National Enquirer kept a safe for documents on hush money payments and other damaging stories it killed amid its cozy relationship with Donald Trump before the 2016 presidential election.

In this Jan. 31, 2014 photo, David Pecker, Chairman and CEO of American Media, poses with his wife, Karen Pecker, at the Shape & Men's Fitness Super Bowl Party in New York. The Aug. 21, 2018 plea deal reached by Donald Trump's former attorney Michael Cohen has laid bare a relationship between the president and Pecker, whose company publishes the National Enquirer. Besides detailing tabloid's involvement in payoffs to porn star Stormy Daniels and Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal to keep quiet about alleged affairs with Trump, court papers showed how David Pecker, a longtime friend of the president, offered to help Trump stave off negative stories during the 2016 campaign. (Marion Curtis via AP)

The detail came from people familiar with the arrangement as media outlets reported Thursday federal prosecutors had granted immunity to Enquirer chief David Pecker, potentially laying bare his efforts to protect his longtime friend Trump.

Trump's ex-lawyer Michael Cohen has pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations alleging he, Trump and the tabloid were involved in buying the silence of a porn actress and a Playboy model who alleged affairs with Trump.

Trump's account of his knowledge of the payments has shifted.

Enquirer parent company American Media hasn't commented. It previously rebuffed any suggestion it had leverage over Trump because of its practices.

___

2:50 p.m.

Media outlets are reporting that federal prosecutors have granted immunity to the executive in charge of the National Enquirer amid an investigation into hush-money payments made on behalf of President Donald Trump.

Vanity Fair and The Wall Street Journal, citing anonymous sources, on Thursday were first to report the development involving David Pecker, CEO of the tabloid's publisher, American Media Inc., and a longtime friend of the president.

Court papers connected to ex-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen's guilty plea Tuesday say Pecker offered to help Trump squash negative stories during the 2016 campaign.

The Journal said Pecker shared details with prosecutors about payments Cohen says Trump directed to buy the silence of two women alleging affairs with him.

Trump's account has shifted. He said recently he knew about payments "later on."Two in five GPs have personal experience of mental health problems, a survey has found.

Around 40% of almost 1,000 doctors questioned said they had dealt with issues such as depression, anxiety, bipolar or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Mental health charity Mind, which carried out the research, said GPs are working in stressful environments and should be given greater support.

Vicki Nash, head of policy and campaigns at Mind, said: These figures are really concerning.

We knew from talking to primary care staff that many of them were experiencing poor mental health but hadnt realised just how prevalent mental health problems were among GPs.

Many healthcare professionals appeared uncomfortable talking about mental health issues with their peers, she added.

The survey found less than half of GPs (48%) would turn to their colleagues for support if they experienced a mental health problem in the future.

Almost nine out of 10 (86%) said they would get support from families and friends, while 79% would go to their personal doctor.

The charity welcomed existing initiatives such as a confidential NHS support service for GPs, but called on the Government and NHS England to do more to help those affected.

Mind says doctors need more support for their own health in the workplace (Anthony Devlin/PA)

Ms Nash said: Primary care staff do a stressful job day in, day out, but too often arent getting the support they need.

When they feel well and supported, they can provide the best possible care for their patients.

Working in healthcare doesnt make it any easier to talk about your mental health at work. In fact, concerns over fitness to practice can make it harder.

It needs to be okay for health care staff to talk about their mental health.

Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs, said: GPs, indeed most healthcare professionals, are renowned for putting their patients health before their own.

And given the intense pressures currently facing general practice, this very high proportion of GPs living with mental health problems is deeply concerning, but not a total surprise.

Its a terrible irony that GPs, the gatekeepers of the NHS who spend their lives caring for others, are often suffering in silence about their mental health and dont feel as though theyre able to reach out and ask for help.

More needs to be done to solve the root cause of the untenable workload and pressures that GPs are dealing with, and that means more resources, and more doctors and practice team members working in UK general practice.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokeswoman said: GPs are a vital part of the NHS and we recognise the pressures they face every day  thats why were increasing investment by 2.4 billion a year by 2021 and recruiting 5,000 new doctors into general practice.

The GP Health Service, launched in 2017, is a free and confidential mental health service for GPs, so they can get the help and support they need.Australias beleaguered prime minister warned he would quit Parliament on Friday if his disgruntled party continues to try to oust him.

Malcolm Turnbull is under mounting pressure from supporters of his rival, former Cabinet minister Peter Dutton, to hold a leadership ballot of politicians in their conservative Liberal Party on Thursday.

Mr Turnbull bought himself time by announcing he would hold a party meeting on Friday, but only if a majority of at least 43 politicians in the party signed a petition requesting a meeting.

If that meeting wanted a leadership ballot, Mr Turnbull said he would not contest his job and would not stay in Parliament.

What we have witnessed at the moment is a very deliberate effort to pull the Liberal Party further to the right, he told reporters.

A minority has by a process of intimidation  persuaded people that the only way to stop the insurgency is to give in to it.  I have never given in to bullies.

Australian former Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton (AP Photo/Rod McGuirk)

Senior ministers Mathias Cormann, Michaelia Cash and Mitch Fifield had earlier told Mr Turnbull that he had lost his governments support and must hold a ballot quickly. It was a major blow to Mr Turnbulls chances of staying in office.

Mr Turnbull had defeated Mr Dutton 48-35 in a surprise vote on Tuesday. Mr Turnbull initiated the ballot in the hope of ending speculation that his government had lost faith in him in the face of poor opinion polling.

Mr Cormann, the finance minister, had publicly stated his support for Mr Turnbull on Wednesday, but on Thursday said Mr Dutton should lead the government.

I was wanting to continue to support Malcolm Turnbull for years to come as leader of the Liberal Party. But I cant ignore reality, he told reporters.

When I have five Cabinet colleagues telling me that they supported Malcolm on Tuesday  but they have changed their position, that is not something that I can ignore, he added.

Media reports said other politicians were considering running for Mr Turnbulls job, including Treasurer Scott Morrison.

On Wednesday, Mr Duttons supporters circulated a petition among Liberal Party politicians in a bid to force Mr Turnbull to hold a ballot. But they failed to get the minimum 43 signatures that were required.

The opposition narrowly lost a vote in Parliament that would have sent Mr Dutton to court to determine whether he is eligible to be a prime minister. The vote to refer Mr Dutton to the High Court was defeated 69-68 in the House of Representatives before it adjourned.

Mr Dutton has released legal advice that his familys ownership of two child-care centres that received federal funding does not breach a constitutional ban on politicians having a pecuniary interest in an agreement with the public service. Some constitutional lawyers say there are areas of doubt.

Such a pending court case could scare politicians away from supporting Mr Dutton in a leadership ballot. Government lawyers are investigating his case to see if there are issues for the High Court to determine.

Mr Turnbull said he wanted the governments legal advice on Mr Duttons eligibility presented to Fridays meeting.

No Australian prime minister has lasted a full three-year term since prime minister John Howard lost power in 2007 after more than 11 years in office. They have all been thrown out of power by their own parties amid poor opinion polling in a trend of political instability that divides parties and angers voters.The approach of Hurricane Lane has started to feel more real for Hawaiian residents, as emergency shelters opened, rain began to pour and mobile phone alerts were sent.

The hurricane is forecast to continue its north-west turn into the islands on Thursday, which would make it the most powerful storm to hit Hawaii since Hurricane Iniki in 1992.

Everyone is starting to buckle down at this point, said Christyl Nagao of Kauai. Our families are here. We have businesses  You just have to man your fort and hold on tight.

Here is some Hurricane Safety Information for residents of Hawaii... where to get the latest info concerning Lane and how to form an evacuation plan if needed. You can find more info at https://t.co/9AQCtnhnV0#Hawaii #HurricaneLane pic.twitter.com/dnvTyNiAcm  National Weather Service (@NWS) August 22, 2018

Officials opened shelters on the Big Island and on the islands of Maui, Molokai and Lanai on Wednesday.

They urged those needing to use the Molokai shelter to get there soon because of concerns the main road on the south coast of the island could become impassable.

On the island of Oahu, which was put on a hurricane warning late on Wednesday, shelters are scheduled to open on Thursday.

Residents fill up sand bags that will be used to help protect their home in preparation for Hurricane Lane (AP)

Officials were also working to help Hawaiis sizeable homeless population, many of whom live near beaches and streams that could flood.

Hawaii Emergency Management Agency administrator Tom Travis said there is not enough shelter space across the state and advised those who are not in flood zones to stay at home.

Officials warned the limited shelter space should be a last resort and are not designed to withstand winds greater than about 40mph.

Whenever possible, the public should plan to shelter in place or stay with family or friends in homes outside of these hazard areas that were designed, built, or renovated to withstand anticipated conditions, the city and county of Honolulu said in a news release.

Here's an amazing look at Hurricane Lane from the International Space Station. The latest forecast and information on Lane can be found at https://t.co/bQbOETTbV6 https://t.co/gNf2UjwRjx  NWS Twin Cities (@NWSTwinCities) August 22, 2018

Hurricanes are ranked 1 to 5 according to what is known as the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Hurricane Lane is at category 4, which means winds from 130 to 156mph.

Governor David Ige said the Big Island is already starting to see Lanes first effects.

The hurricanes outer rain bands were bringing showers to some parts of the island, said Matt Foster, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

The eastern side of the island picked up nearly 3 inches (7.62 centimeters) of rain in three hours, Foster said.

Residents have been urged to prepare for the storm as best they can (AP)

Public schools were closed for the rest of the week and local government workers were told to stay home unless they are essential employees.

Meteorologist Chevy Chevalier said Lane may drop to a Category 3 by Thursday afternoon but that would still be a major hurricane.

The central Pacific gets fewer hurricanes than other regions, with about only four or five named storms a year. Hawaii rarely gets hit.

Here is the latest look at Major Hurricane Lane via visible satellite imagery, as it approaches ever so close to the Hawaiian Islands. The time of this imagery was exactly when the Central Pacific Hurricane Center was issuing the latest advisory with Lane. #HurricaneLane https://t.co/P6WoALKbVO  National Weather Service (@NWS) August 22, 2018

The last major storm to hit was Iniki in 1992, though others have come close in recent years.

Unlike Florida or Texas, where residents can get in their cars and drive hundreds of miles to safety, people in Hawaii are confined to the islands.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has several barges carrying food, water and supplies which it moved into the region ahead of Hurricane Hector, which skirted past the islands more than a week ago.Troubles for Donald Trump, concerns over rising cases of diabetes and calls from Jeremy Corbyn to reform the media make the front pages on Thursday.

The Daily Mail leads on a report that warns Britains diabetes epidemic is set to claim tens of thousands more lives every year, with unhealthy lifestyles triggering a rise in heart attacks and strokes.

The same story makes the front of the Daily Mirror, which reports that rising obesity is creating more type 2 diabetes patients, labelling it a health timebomb.

What the papers say - August 23

Daily Mirror front page: Heart attacks and strokes to rise by 30% https://t.co/yIJRhoD19W pic.twitter.com/gU0G89S7g7  The Mirror (@DailyMirror) August 22, 2018

Meanwhile, Donald Trump features on the front of The Times, which says the US presidents former lawyer Michael Cohen was said to have information of interest for the investigation into Russias role in the 2016 election.

Tomorrow's front page: Trumps former lawyer to assist Russia inquiry #tomorrowspapertoday pic.twitter.com/ldWt6lM1S2  The Times (@thetimes) August 22, 2018

Cohens plea deal has thrown Mr Trumps presidency into jeopardy, with the threat of impeachment becoming a reality, reports the i.

The Financial Times reports that Mr Trump lashed out at Cohen, accusing him of making up stories.

Just published: front page of the Financial Times, UK edition, Thursday 23 August https://t.co/rjxkQCwB05 pic.twitter.com/hjgfHvVHFw  Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) August 22, 2018

Jeremy Corbyn makes the front of both the Daily Telegraph and The Guardian as he makes calls for a digital TV licence fee paid for by tech giants.

He will also urge the BBC to declare the social class of its staff, the Telegraph reports.

The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph: 'Corbyn says BBC should reveal staff social class #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/nE6aWdXxt5  The Telegraph (@Telegraph) August 22, 2018

The Guardian front page, Thursday 23 August 2018: Tax Facebook and Netflix to fund the BBC, says Corbyn pic.twitter.com/IlaX5SWQNj  The Guardian (@guardian) August 22, 2018

Elsewhere, the Daily Express claims experts have insisted Britain can dominate world trade even if we leave the EU without a deal.

EXPRESS: Britain will thrive outside the EU #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/kK5vLJc1Qt  Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) August 22, 2018

And The Sun says Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has stunned military chiefs with ideas to solve an equipment crisis.Jeremy Corbyn will propose a windfall tax on tech firms to fund journalism as he outlines a raft of suggestions for the BBC and wider media in a speech to the industry.

The Labour leader will also propose a shake-up of the way the TV licence fee is paid and set, and call for information about the social class of anyone who creates BBC content to be published, as he delivers his Alternative MacTaggart Lecture at the Edinburgh TV Festival.

Mr Corbyn will outline proposals for a an independent fund for public interest journalism paid for by tech giants, which could include Google, Facebook and Amazon.

Facebook could be one of the companies that is taxed (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

He is expected to say: One solution to funding public interest media could be by tapping up the digital monopolies that profit from every search, share and like we make.

Google and news publishers in France and Belgium were able to agree a settlement.

If we cant do something similar here, but on a more ambitious scale, well need to look at the option of a windfall tax on the digital monopolies to create a public interest media fund.

He will also argue that the licence fee should be modernised for the digital age, with a fairer and more effective way to fund the BBC.

He will float the idea of introducing a digital licence fee  paid by tech companies or through internet service providers  to supplement the existing licence fee, with a view to reducing the cost for poorer households and helping the corporation compete more effectively.

Mr Corbyn will also propose the creation of a new independent body to set the licence fee and suggest the BBC should be placed on a permanent statutory footing to end government control through charter renewal.

Michaela Coel will appear on day two of the Edinburgh TV Festival (Yui Mok/PA)

The second day of the festival will include appearances from Michael Palin, a number of TV executives and Michaela Coel, who delivered the James MacTaggart Memorial Lecture  the keynote speech of the festival  on Wednesday.

Ms Coel told of her challenging experiences in the TV industry, and revealed she had been a victim of sexual assault.

The Chewing Gum actress will appear in a post-MacTaggart interview session with comic Katy Brand on Thursday.

Monty Python star Palin is scheduled to give a special preview of his forthcoming Channel 5 documentary on North Korea, while a number of broadcasting and channel bosses will take part in panels and discussions about the industry.

Day two of the festival will see comedian Frank Skinner host the Edinburgh TV Awards, with categories including channel of the year, production company of the year and TV moment of the year.

The Edinburgh TV Festival runs until Friday August 24.China has approved imports of UK-made dairy products such as cream and yoghurt made using milk sourced from other countries, Liam Fox has announced.

The International Trade Secretary said the deal is worth 240 million over five years for the UK dairy industry.

The agreement is said to increase flexibility in the supply chain, meaning producers in Northern Ireland, for example, can export products made using milk from across the border.

Liam Fox said the deal is worth 240 million over five years for the UK dairy industry (David Cheskin/PA)

Dr Fox announced the deal whilst in China, where he is attending a meeting of the UK-China Joint Economic and Trade Commission (JETCO) in Beijing.

This is my fourth visit to China this year and Im delighted to see the completion of this deal, bringing significant benefits to dairy producers across the UK at a time when British food and drink exports are at a record high, he said.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove added: Our world-class dairy producers already export 1.7 billion worth of produce per year.

This milestone will help to unlock the UK food and drink industrys full potential forging new trading relationships around the globe.

This step shows we can be a truly outward looking Britain outside the European Union.The Queen has sent a message of condolence and support to those affected by the worst Australian droughts in living memory.

She said she and the Duke of Edinburgh were deeply saddened to hear of the ongoing extreme weather in eastern parts of the country.

The conditions in the state of New South Wales have been the driest and most widespread since 1965.

The Queen has sent a message to Australia (Steve Parsons/PA)

Farmers have told harrowing stories of failing crops, severe water shortages and being unable to feed livestock.

The Queen, who is the Australian monarch, said: Prince Philip and I have been deeply saddened to hear of one of the worst Australian droughts in living memory.

I know Australia as a land where extremes of weather, floods and droughts are taken in their stride, and life goes on with a stoic and determined spirit.

It is clear, however, that the current drought is taking an immense toll, especially on those living and working in rural communities, who are, in so many ways, the very heart and soul of Australia.

She praised those working together to help the people who have been affected.

It is heartening and reassuring to see that families, communities and the entire nation are working together and supporting each other at this time of need, the Queen said.

My thoughts and prayers are with the many individuals, families, communities and businesses who have been affected, and I send my sincere thanks to all those who stand shoulder to shoulder in their support.

Australias prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has unveiled a package of measures to assist farmers coping with the conditions.

Farmers in New South Wales have been given enhanced authority to shoot kangaroos, which are competing with livestock for sparse pasture, because of the drought.

The Queen is currently at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on her summer break.For one student celebrating being the top performing student at her school can wait as she hurriedly packs to move to Italy on Friday.

Hannah Gardner got nine grade 9s, one grade 8 and two A*s in her GCSEs at St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School in Bristol.

But the 16-year-old has not got time to enjoy her success as she is flying to Italy on Friday to begin studying for the two-year international baccalaureate at the United World College of the Adriatic, near Trieste.

From left to right, Alice Bentley, Ellen Harris, Grace Evans and Hannah Gardner celebrate their GCSE results (Rod Minchin/PA)

The teenager, who lives in Pucklechurch near Bristol, said: Its been a long wait from finishing the exams until finding out my results.

I applied to the United World College and in February I found out they had offered me a place in Italy.

The college aims to foster peace and international understanding and there will be students from 80 different countries in my year.

You study six subjects in the baccalaureate and I think I would like to study economics or maths at university.

Im flying off on Friday and I start on Saturday with the introduction and lessons start in a couple of weeks. I havent finished packing yet.A Ugandan pop star-turned-politician who opposes the longtime president has been charged with treason in a civilian court, minutes after a military court dropped weapons charges.

The new charge was bound to bring fresh outrage from Ugandans and global musicians after Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine, alleged he had been severely beaten while in detention, which the government denies.

Ssentamu has emerged as an influential critic of President Yoweri Museveni, especially among the young, after winning a parliament seat last year.

The 36-year-old had been charged last week with illegal possession of firearms for his alleged role in an incident in which Mr Musevenis motorcade was pelted with stones.

Ugandan security forces detain a protester in Kampala (Ronald Kabuubi/AP)

A military court freed him on Thursday but minutes later the poltiician was re-arrested by police and taken to a magistrates court.

Ssentamu limped during his appearance in military court and appeared to cry as he rubbed his eyes.

A colleague wrapped the national flag about his shoulders.

He sat in the dock in the magistrates court, with his lawyers saying he is unable to stand on his own.

Lawyers for Ssentamu asked the magistrate to order his remand to a health facility.

The magistrate ruled that Ssentamu should be allowed access to his own doctors. He was remanded until August 30.

The politician had been arrested with four other opposition lawmakers, three of whom also face treason charges.

A fifth legislator has been taken hospital with injuries allegedly sustained during detention.

Ssentamus appearance on Thursday was the first time he had been seen in public since his detention.

He clenched his fists and greeted supporters.

In recent days Ugandas government has faced mounting pressure at home and abroad to free him.

Security forces have violently put down street protests demanding his release.

Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Ronald Kabuubi/AP)

On Thursday, other opposition figures expressed concern about being targeted by security forces.

Every way out of my home is barricaded since very early today, Kizza Besigye, a four-time presidential challenger who has been jailed many times, tweeted.

Ssentamus arrest came after he was campaigning in an election to choose a politician in the north-western town of Arua.

Mr Museveni was also in Arua at the time, campaigning for a rival candidate who eventually lost.

While the president was departing, authorities said, his motorcade was pelted with stones by people associated with Ssentamu and the candidate he backed, Kassiano Wadri.

Ssentamus driver was shot and killed, allegedly by security forces.

In a statement late on Wednesday, Mr Museveni accused unprincipled politicians of luring youth into rioting.

Responding to calls on social media to #FreeBobiWine, the president said he had no power to release Ssentamu.

Let us therefore wait for the courts and see what they decide, he said.

Mr Museveni, a US ally on regional security, took power by force in 1986 and has since been elected five times.

Although he has campaigned on his record of establishing peace and stability, some worry that those gains are being eroded the longer he stays in power.

The 74-year-old is now able to seek re-election in 2021 because parliament passed legislation last year removing a clause in the constitution that had prevented anyone over 75 from holding the presidency.

Ssentamu publicly opposed that decision.Scotland is one of the top five destinations in the world for travel experiences, research has found.

Experiences such as a tour of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park and a four-day tour of the west Highlands and Isle of Skye helped boost Scotland to fifth place in the world rankings by travel website TripAdvisor.

It came ahead of destinations such as Australia, Mexico, the United States and Iceland, which were also in the top ten.

Costa Rica was in first place followed by New Zealand, Vietnam and Ireland.

Meanwhile, Edinburgh was rated the ninth best place in Europe with top rated experiences such as a two-hour guided tour of the Old Town and a private half-day tour of the city in a Mini.

Edinburgh was rated the ninth best place in Europe (Danny Lawson/PA)

Belfast was in fourth place with top rated experiences such as a Troubles historical walking tour, a two-hour black taxi tour of the citys murals and peace walls, and a Titanic walking tour while Dublin was placed tenth.

The lists recognise the top places in the world for travellers to do local tours, activities and experiences, based on the combined average destination ratings and reviews for bookable experiences on the site.

TripAdvisor spokeswoman Hayley Coleman said: These rankings show travellers growing appetite and appreciation for travel experiences beyond Europes iconic cities.

With places like Tromso, Belfast and Funchal all ranking amongst Europes top destinations for experiences, its clear travellers are breaking away from the big cities and thoroughly enjoying it.

These destinations are perfect inspiration to start planning your next trip and with over 121,000 experiences available to book on TripAdvisor, youll never be stumped with what to do, somewhere new.A man abused for eight years by a notorious paedophile priest has said the Popes actions will speak louder than his words during his visit to Ireland.

Sean Faloon, 39, from Hilltown in Co Down, suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and flashbacks of attacks by Malachy Finnegan, who died in 2002.

He was first targeted as an altar boy aged 10 in 1989.

Abuse victim Sean Faloon (Michael McHugh/PA)

The survivor claimed Pope Francis open letter this week condemning abuse was no different from the churchs refrain for 50 years.

He said: Actions speak louder than words.

He added: It will not only protect the children of the future and the present in the Catholic Church, it will also help Catholicism and Christianity as a whole also.

But the longer they delay putting things into action, the longer this is going to go on, the longer we will make noise and the more people will lose trust in the Catholic Church.

He said Finnegan groomed him initially, then that progressed into full sexual contact.

It continued on average once a week for many years.

I realised it was wrong, what we were doing, about 13 years old, but I felt trapped, I felt I could not get out of it, I felt I would be in trouble.

He said it would ruin me if anyone found out and I was getting the same impression as well because I believed him.

As he was getting older he realised he needed to speak out and stand up for other children who were abused.

He said he would have depression and PTSD until the day he died.

He said: Feeling his left hand on my left shoulder, sitting very close to my right leg, I can smell his breath, stubble rash.

I can feel that, I can feel the movement in his car, when he abused me in his car, I can remember sitting on his sofa, I can remember how the sofa felt on my hands, there are all sorts of things

that go through my mind every day.

He lives near Perth in Scotland, having left home aged 19 and said returning to Northern Ireland produced bad memories and intense headaches.

I am away from it because I cannot cope with it, it is healthier for me to stay in Scotland, however my heart is here in Ireland, he said.

I want to move back, hopefully that will happen some time in the future, however I cannot see it happening any time soon.The refurbished 1979 Popemobile has been unveiled alongside a new waxwork of Pope Francis in Dublin ahead of the papal visit to Ireland this week.

The restored Popemobile, which was used to transport Pope John Paul II during the last papal visit to the country, will be used to bring people to and from the closing mass in the Phoenix Park to make money for charity.

Pope Francis arrives in the capital on Saturday for a 36-hour visit to the country. Almost half a million people are expected to make their way to the Phoenix Park for the closing mass on Sunday.

Crowds gathered at OConnell Street bridge for the unveiling by Dublins National Waxworks Plus Museum on Thursday before the Popemobile took to the streets with waxworks of three popes on board.

The Pope Francis waxwork was completed with just days to go to papal visit, while the waxwork of Pope John Paul II has been restored after being damaged in the Father Ted Room last year.

Tourists pose for photos with a newly unveiled waxwork of Pope Francis (Brian Lawless/PA)

National Waxworks Museum Plus general manager Ed Coleman said it was a dream come true to see the Popemobile unveiled and drive through the streets of Dublin.

The Popemobile is still in the hearts of the Irish public after all these years, Mr Coleman said.

People still ask at the museum where is the Popemobile  they want to see it.

An estimated 2.7 million people saw Pope John Paul II during his three-day tour.

Built ahead of the last visit by a Pope, the 20 foot long vehicle was designed to resemble a Roman chariot and it has the Papal crest on the exterior. It had to have space to hold the Pope and 15 of his entourage.

It was originally a D-Series Ford but was upgraded to a Mercedes Benz truck before it was completed, and was on display at the museum until 2006 when it was removed for restoration.

Tourists pose for photos with a newly unveiled waxwork of Pope Francis (left) and the waxwork of Pope John Paul II (Brian Lawless/PA)

Mr Coleman said the restoration involved the vehicle being painstakingly dismantled before being put back together again.

They had no blueprint, it was a massive project it took years to complete, he said.

The vehicle has now been re-named The Hope Mobile and it will be used to assist Irish charities in their fundraising efforts.

Mr Coleman said they wanted to use the vehicle for good causes.

Despite many requests to lease the vehicle for various social events, its use has  and always will  be prioritised for causes that benefit those who need help the most, Mr Coleman said.

A fundraising campaign across all 32 counties on the island of Ireland will begin after the popes visit.The Brexit transition period will be stretched out until after the next British general election, a former Irish Taoiseach said.

Bertie Ahern predicted resolving the UKs relationship with the EU would be put off until after the country goes to the polls in 2022.

He said Prime Minister Theresa May would not seal a withdrawal deal by October, when a crucial European Council meeting of EU leaders in Brussels is scheduled.

Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said creating a permanent solution to Brexit will be kicked down the road until after the next British general election. Brian Lawless/PA.

Mr Ahern said: It will be kicked down the road a little bit, it will probably be kicked down the road to March (Brexit Day).

The transition period will be lengthened, it will be kicked out to the other side of the British election and I dont know what will happen then.

I dont have much faith in Jeremy (Corbyn) either.

Mr Ahern is one of the architects of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement which largely ended decades of violence in Northern Ireland. He was Irish premier from 1997 to 2008.

He has previously warned about the impact of Brexit on the peace process and the effect of any hard border on the island of Ireland.

The former Fianna Fail leader reflected on the chances of a Brexit deal being implemented in the short-term.

"I think #Brexit was the worst decision the UK ever made in its history. The hope is that @theresa_may will get her way and leave the EU but actually stay in it." Former #Taoiseach Bertie Ahern #GlobalConflict2018 pic.twitter.com/rMwNZmYv0A  Queen's University Belfast  (@QUBelfast) August 23, 2018

It is not going to happen. We can dream on but I can think of better dreams.

Earlier this year the UK and EU said they had agreed on a large part of the deal that will lead to the orderly withdrawal of the UK.

Issues remaining to be resolved included the Northern Irish border with the Republic.

Officially, the transitional period is expected to last from Brexit day on March 29 2019 to December 31 2020.

The UK and EU have expressed differing visions of what exactly the transition period entails but the Irish Government has said a backstop means Northern Ireland will continue to follow certain EU rules.

Mr Ahern also urged Stormonts quarrelling politicians to get back to work to address Brexit challenges.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I dont think any politicians here stood on the grounds of not doing anything for the next few years.

"Correct me if I am wrong but I don't think any politicians here stood on the grounds of not doing anything for the next few years." Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern #GlobalConflict2018 pic.twitter.com/4UZcnpR6w6  Queen's University Belfast  (@QUBelfast) August 23, 2018

He said Brexit was the worst decision the UK had ever made.

The hope is that Theresa May will get her way and leave the EU but actually stay in it.

Former Ulster Unionist leader turned Conservative peer Lord David Trimble addressed the same event at Queens University Belfast.

He is a proponent of Northern Ireland Brexit, as part of the UK, and reiterated his view that the divorce did not pose any threat to the Good Friday Agreement.

Lord Trimble also blamed the EU for engaging in last-minute brinkmanship over the future of the Irish border.

He said: It is not a problem. If we could just get the parties concerned to sit around the table for half an hour we would solve it.

He accused Brussels of playing games.

It (Brexit) will happen and it is not going to be a problem as far as Northern Ireland is concerned.Edinburgh councillors have revoked the Freedom of the City granted to Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The honour, the highest in the city, was awarded to the Nobel Peace Prize winner in 2005 in recognition of her personal courage and relentless pursuit of justice.

Ms Suu Kyi, who lived under house arrest for years for her pro-democracy activism, has been accused of failing to speak out over violence against the Rohingya people in Burma in her role as state counsellor.

The 'Freedom of the City' is the highest honour we can bestow. It is granted rarely and only to those who are held in high esteem by the citizens of #Edinburgh. It is with a heavy heart Councillors have chosen to revoke the honour granted to Aung San Suu Kyi in 2005 #edinwebcast pic.twitter.com/QlWONaLETB  The City of Edinburgh Council (@Edinburgh_CC) August 23, 2018

A motion was lodged by Edinburgh Lord Provost Frank Ross at a meeting of the full council, calling for the honour to be removed.

It noted the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Northern Rakhine and in the refugee camps of neighbouring Bangladesh as well as calls from the United Nations, Amnesty International and international governments to stop the violence.

Mr Ross said: It has been 10 months since this chamber discussed the status of this award for Aung San Suu Kyi.

It did so in the light of the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar (Burma), which was and continues to be broadcast around the world.

At that time this chamber instructed me to write to Aung San Suu Kyi, making it very clear that as a recipient of the Freedom of our City, we urged her to use her powers to alleviate this human crisis.

Rohingya refugees from Burma in a refugee camp in Bangladesh (Anna Dubuis/DFID/PA)

Mr Ross added: I did so and we have tried every route that we possibly have available to us to make contact, via our armed forces, through diplomatic means, by writing directly  yet we have seen the situation in Myanmar continue to deteriorate.

This award is granted rarely and only to those individuals who are held in the highest esteem by the citizens of Edinburgh. It was presented to Aung San Suu Kyi in recognition of her personal courage and relentless pursuit of justice.

I no longer believe her receipt of this award or the reasons it was presented are appropriate or accurate. It is not a decision we take lightly to revoke the honour granted to her in 2005.

Other cities including Oxford, Glasgow and Newcastle have also acted to strip Ms Suu Kyi of similar honours.Four giant tortoises have been stolen from a college.

Dorset Police are investigating the thefts at Kingston Maurward College, near Dorchester, which happened overnight on Thursday.

The thieves gained entry to a shed on the site and took four Sulcata tortoises  three female and one male.

One of the giant tortoises stolen from the college(Kingston Maurward College/PA)

The animals are called Squirtle, Wartortle, Blastoise, all aged 11, and 24-year-old Jeffery.

It is thought the thieves entered on foot from the rear entrance to the college and used wheelbarrows belonging to the establishment to transport the animals to a vehicle before driving off.

The tortoises are around 40cm to 50cm long and 30cm wide. They are all micro-chipped.

One of the stolen tortoises (Kingston Maurward College/PA)

Pc Chris Stephens, who is investigating the thefts, said: I am appealing to anyone who witnessed anything suspicious overnight in the area to please come forward.

If you have any information that could assist with the investigation or have seen tortoises for sale in suspicious circumstances, please contact Dorset Police urgently.

We are desperate to reunite them with the college to ensure they are appropriately cared for.The Brexiteers behind the Leave.EU campaign have joined the Conservative Party, it has been reported.

Multimillionaire Leave.EU founder Arron Banks and his spin doctor Andy Wigmore announced the move on social media.

The pair were instrumental in the referendum campaign and have revealed in an article for Banks Westmonster news website that the battle for Brexit is now within the Conservative Party.

Leave.EU founder Arron Banks and Andy Wigmore (left) leave Portcullis House in Westminster, London, after giving evidence to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee inquiry into fake news.

Hello @Anna_Soubry & @NickyMorgan01 ... play nicely we are family now! @TiceRichard makes three out of the four bad boys of Brexit now Conservative members... only @Nigel_Farage left .. https://t.co/4e15ibzzK9  Arron Banks (@Arron_banks) August 23, 2018

Mr Banks said: We believe that the battle for Brexit is now within the Conservative Party and the upcoming leadership election.

Over 1.4m people follow Leave.EU online and we have urged them to join up and have their say.

Most of our members are proper conservatives that believe in immigration control, family values, self reliance and prudent management of the economy.

My Conservative Party membership lapsed in 2013 and I today joined the party.

He later tweeted Tory Remainers Anna Soubry and Nicky Morgan saying: Play nicely we are family now! Richard Tice makes three out of the four bad boys of Brexit now Conservative membersonly Nigel Farage left.

Mr Banks was asked on Twitter whether he would attend the upcoming Tory conference, to which he replied why not?.

Andy Wigmore, also speaking to Westmonster, said: Like thousands of other Brexit supporters Ive rejoined the Conservative Party to ensure that if there is a leadership contest then I can influence the type of leader the country and the Tory Party need.

We need a Brexit leader, one who believes in Brexit and will deliver what 17.4 million people voted for.

A strong Tory membership is essential to hold the leadership and MPs to account, if the party continues on its current path then we will not get the Brexit we voted for and will ultimately end up with a Corbyn Government  both are not an option.

The Conservative Party have been contacted for comment.A burglar swapped jail for a four-star hotel after lying to a judge about living in Grenfell Tower.

Derrick Peters, 58, was put up in the Park Grand hotel in Paddington, west London, after claiming to have lost his friend and all his possessions in the blaze on June 14 last year.

Police found items stolen from a couples west London flat in his 192-a-night room, where he ran up a 40,000 bill over six months for room service and accommodation.

He was arrested on August 10 but the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea continued to pay for his hotel for two months while he was held on remand in Wandsworth prison.

Peters pleaded guilty to burglary but was freed when he was sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on October 16 last year after writing to the judge repeating his Grenfell lies.

At the time, Judge Simon Davis sentenced him to a 12-month community order and said: How on earth can one even begin to understand what it is like to lose a friend in a tragedy like Grenfell?

Peters returned to the hotel where he stayed until he was finally evicted on December 16.

He appeared at the same court on Thursday to plead guilty to one count of perverting the court of justice and two counts of fraud.

Prosecutor Ben Holt said Peters told officials on June 28 he had been living with his friend Steve Power at the time of the deadly blaze, which left 72 people dead.

Mr Power was a genuine Grenfell resident who died in the fire along with his three dogs, while his daughter Rebecca Ross escaped.

She told police Peters had never lived with them.

Survivors of the Grenfell blaze have said Derrick Peterss actions left them `sickened (Victoria Jones/PA)

Mr Holt said: The prosecutions case is founded on the fact that Peters does not have any links to the Grenfell Tower. He did not stay there. The representations he made, therefore, to receive accommodation and subsistence were false.

The mitigation was also false. It was designed to con the learned judge into passing a more lenient sentence than would have otherwise been the case. That plan was successfully executed; he received a community order.

The prosecutor read a statement from Edward Daffarn, a member of the Grenfell United survivors group, who said he was left sickened by what Peters has done.

He said: It is upsetting beyond words to know the tragedy of Grenfell Tower is being used by individuals so that they can exploit our misery for their own gain. It pours salt on the wounds of ex-residents.

Referring to the statement, Judge Robin Johnson described the publics horror at such offending, adding: I can hardly think of a fraud which would meet with greater revulsion.

The court heard Peters has 40 convictions for 90 offences, including 24 for fraud and 73 for theft.

His barrister Iona Nedelcu said he turned to drugs after losing his cousin in the early 1990s, adding: He is deeply ashamed.

CPS prosecutor Kate Mulholland, said: Derrick Peters lied about staying in Grenfell to benefit from aid and assistance meant for true survivors of the fire.

He then used the same lie to mislead a court and avoid a prison sentence, a serious offence in itself but which also allowed him to continue to defraud the taxpayer by claiming more accommodation.

Our prosecution was able to prove Peterss calculated dishonesty leading to the guilty pleas.

Peters will be sentenced on Friday.An art installation has been erected in Dublins main tourist area as a distress signal to Pope Francis ahead of his visit to Ireland this weekend.

The Somebodys Child site at Exchange Street in Temple Bar had nine wooden panels erected on Thursday, with art and graphics detailing the stages of harm endured from child sexual abuse.

The work was installed by local politician Mannix Flynn, who was subjected to sexual and physical abuse by a priest from age 11, and says he wants the church to admit their guilt in a cover-up.

Mannix Flynn who installed the art in Temple Bar on Thursday.

This is a continuation of the work which has been done on the site for the last 15 years.

This however, is directed solely at Pope Francis, with flags of the Vatican turned upside down, as an international distress call.

Many victims are asking him why he continues to cover up and protect the guilty.

The nine panels depict the impact of sexual abuse throughout their lifetime, from a child and follows them their whole life, and undermines them entirely.

Particularly those abused in institutions, who in adulthood are still traumatised.

His letter does not suffice, many of us have strong faith, and were not attacking the church, but we need the church to be held accountable.

The art installed at the site in Temple Bar shows how child sexual abuse effects victims throughout their life

The Gardai should be interviewing the pope, and the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar should not simply wait until the Popes visit but ask questions constantly about the cover up of abuse.

The amount of clerics involved in mass abuse and torture of children, this is a hidden weapon of mass destruction.

This art is on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of victims of clerical abuse throughout the world.

Some of which are no longer with us.

The message is clear, the writings on the wall, its already drawn massive crowds.

The feature which is usually at the site, was installed by Mr Flynn in November 2015 to remember the children and infants who died in the States Mother and Baby Homes.

It lists the names of 796 children who died in the Tuam home for unwed mothers in Galway.

The site in Temple Bars main thoroughfare will be viewed by over a million people this week as Dublin prepares for the Popes visit on Saturday and Sunday.

Mr Flynn added: The Pope has accepted that there was a cover up and now people are less inclined to throw holy water on it, and more inclined to understand us.

However, we do not want prayers and fasting or sympathy, we want people arrested and those who covered it up at least held accountable in court.A 16-year-old Syrian refugee who could not speak English when she arrived in the UK has said she hopes to study at college after passing her GCSEs.

Hasna Ali said she wanted to continue studying to become a doctor after gaining a B in Arabic, C in art and design, and DD in double science.

The teenager arrived in the UK two years ago after fleeing her war-torn county with her Kurdish parents and three younger siblings.

The family had spent the three previous years at an Iraqi refugee camp before being relocated to Wrexham, North Wales, in September 2016 as part of the UK Governments resettlement scheme.

Hasna was enrolled in Ysgol y Grango secondary school in the Welsh town and, despite barely speaking a word of English, thrived in her studies.

She says she now wants to enrol into college to gain two more GCSEs in English and maths.

Hasna Ali with her language support teacher Louise Hollingsworth (Home Office)

Hasnas family were the first to be resettled in North Wales under the Governments Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme.

The Minister for Immigration, Caroline Nokes MP, said: I would like to send my warmest congratulations to Hasna on her impressive GCSE results.

As a country we can be proud that we have resettled 12,851 vulnerable refugees fleeing Syria through our Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme.

In the last four years, communities across Wales have welcomed 854 refugees, like Hasna and her family, under the scheme and supported them in rebuilding their lives here in safety.

Kim Mills, Hasnas support worker from the British Red Cross, said: Wed like to congratulate Hasna on her GCSE results which she has achieved through real hard work, having arrived in Wales almost two years ago with no English.

The Red Cross has supported Hasna and her family since they arrived in the Wrexham area as the first family to move to North Wales as part of the resettlement scheme in September 2016 and they have all been welcomed warmly by the community of Rhosllanerchrugog.

Hasnas achievement and ambition to become a doctor just goes to show the great contribution refugees can make in the UK and how important resettlement services are in assisting refugees as they adapt to life in a new community.The Conservatives have turned down an application from a controversial former Ukip donor to join the party.

There are concerns that the party is in danger of being heavily infiltrated by Brexit hardliners.

Arron Banks, the multimillionaire founder of the Brexit campaign who was Ukip's largest donor, said on social media he had joined the Conservatives.

The pro-Brexit group's former communications director Andy Wigmore also said he was joining. But a party spokesman said their applications 'have not been approved'.

Mr Banks reacted to the statement by writing on Twitter: 'That's strange because I had a nice welcome letter from (Conservative Party chairman) @BrandonLewis this morning saying you are now activated and welcome to attend any event.'

Arron Banks (right), the multimillionaire founder of the Brexit campaign who was Ukip's largest donor, said on social media that they had joined the Conservatives. The pro-Brexit group's former communications director Andy Wigmore (left) also said he was joining

But a Tory spokesman said their applications 'have not been approved'. Mr Banks reacted to the statement by writing on Twitter: 'That's strange because I had a nice welcome letter from (Conservative Party chairman) @BrandonLewis this morning saying you are now activated and welcome to attend any event'

Mr Banks and Mr Wigmore have close ties with former Ukip leader Nigel Farage, and styled themselves as the 'Bad Boys of Brexit'.

Earlier this week Mr Banks called on supporters of Leave.EU to join the Conservatives so they can vote in the party's next leadership election. Remain-supporting Tory MPs such as Anna Soubry have warned that the Tories are at risk of entryism by supporters of a 'hard Brexit'.

The pair said in an article for Banks' Westmonster news website that the battle for Brexit 'is now within the Conservative Party' and any upcoming leadership election, hence their decision to seek membership.

Mr Banks said: 'Most of our members are proper conservatives that believe in immigration control, family values, self reliance and prudent management of the economy.

'My Conservative Party membership lapsed in 2013 and I today joined the party.'

He later tweeted Tory Remainers Anna Soubry and Nicky Morgan saying: 'Play nicely we are family now! Richard Tice makes three out of the four bad boys of Brexit now Conservative membersonly Nigel Farage left.'

Thousands of @LeaveEUOfficial supporters have already signed up to ensure they have a say on the next prime minister in any @Conservatives leadership election. With the right leader we can ensure Brexit is a huge success for Britain! 



 Join today: https://t.co/Vgc33bXJWn pic.twitter.com/gZDVscyD7B  Leave.EU (@LeaveEUOfficial) August 23, 2018

In June the insurance tycoon was questioned by MPs over alleged links with the Kremlin  but strolled out of the Commons hearing after three hours. He accused the Commons digital, culture, media and sport committee of a botched attempt 'to discredit the Brexit campaign'.

He joked: 'I like to think I'm an evil genius with a white cat who controls all of democracy, but that's not true.'

He insisted he never broke the law or worked with Russians. He met Russian embassy officials three times around the time of the referendum.

Mr Banks was asked on Twitter whether he would attend the upcoming Tory conference, to which he replied 'why not?'.

Andy Wigmore, also speaking to Westmonster, said: 'Like thousands of other Brexit supporters I've rejoined the Conservative Party to ensure that if there is a leadership contest then I can influence the type of leader the country and the Tory Party need.

'We need a Brexit leader, one who believes in Brexit and will deliver what 17.4 million people voted for.

'A strong Tory membership is essential to hold the leadership and MPs to account, if the party continues on its current path then we will not get the Brexit we voted for and will ultimately end up with a Corbyn Government, both are not an option.'Former Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt has emerged as the bookmakers favourite to replace Ant McPartlin on Im A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! after ITV confirmed Declan Donnelly will not present the show alone.

ITVs director of television Kevin Lygo told the Edinburgh TV Festival that a new co-host has been chosen to replace McPartlin, but he declined to reveal who it would be.

Donnellys long-time presenting partner will not return to work this year following a drink-driving conviction which saw him banned from the road for 20 months and fined 86,000.

It marks the first time since the show began in 2002 that the duo will not front the reality show together from the Australian jungle.

Ant McPartlin will not appear on Im A Celebrity with Declan Donnelly this year (Matt Crossick/PA)

Bookmakers Paddy Power are offering odds of 6/4 on Moffatt, 27, to replace McPartlin. The TV star was crowned queen of the jungle in the 2016 series.

Moffatt, who like McPartlin and Donnelly hails from the North East of England, also appeared on Im A Celebrity spin-off show Extra Camp.

A spokesman for Paddy Power said: ITV bosses seem set to really think outside the box by replacing him with much-loved Geordie TV presenter Scarlett Moffatt. Genius.

Moffatt is one of several female presenters being touted as contenders for the role.

Another previous winner, Made In Chelseas Georgia Toffolo, has odds of 2/1. She is just ahead of the host of the Australian version of the show Julia Morris.

Comedian Morris told ITVs Good Morning Britain she would fill in for McPartlin in a heartbeat.

2017 winner Georgia Toffolo is also in the running according to bookmakers (Ian West/PA)

A montage of the way Morris introduces herself while presenting, including as Kylie Minogues body double has recently amassed more than a million views online.

This Morning host Holly Willoughby and Love Islands Caroline Flack are also in the reckoning.

The male presenter that Paddy Power is offering the lowest odds on is X-Factor host Dermot OLeary who is at 10/1.

TV presenter Stephen Mulhern, who appeared a segment in Ant And Decs Saturday Night Takeaway, is also thought to be in contention.Social media bots and Russian trolls spread false information and promoted discord about vaccines on Twitter, according to a study.

The research, led by the George Washington University in Washington DC, found that using tactics similar to those seen during the 2016 presidential election, these Twitter accounts entered into vaccine debates months before election season was under way.

Experts suggested the trolls were using vaccination as a wedge issue to promote discord in American society.

A US study found bots and Russian trolls influenced vaccine discussions on Twitter (Nick Ansell/PA)

David Broniatowski, an assistant professor at the School of Engineering and Applied Science, said: The vast majority of Americans believe vaccines are safe and effective, but looking at Twitter gives the impression that there is a lot of debate.

It turns out that many anti-vaccine tweets come from accounts whose provenance is unclear.

These might be bots, human users or cyborgs  hacked accounts that are sometimes taken over by bots.

Although its impossible to know exactly how many tweets were generated by bots and trolls, our findings suggest that a significant portion of the online discourse about vaccines may be generated by malicious actors with a range of hidden agendas.

The study, published in the American Journal of Public Health, saw researchers examine thousands of tweets sent between July 2014 and September 2017.

They discovered several accounts  now known to belong to the same Russian trolls thought to have interfered in the US election  as well as marketing and malware bots, tweeted about vaccines and skewed online health communications.

For example, the researchers found that content polluters  bot accounts that distribute malware, unsolicited commercial content and disruptive materials  shared anti-vaccination messages 75% more than average Twitter users.

Meanwhile, they found that Russian trolls and more sophisticated bot accounts used a different tactic  posting equal amounts of pro- and anti-vaccination tweets.

Researchers reviewed more than 250 tweets about vaccination sent by accounts linked to the Internet Research Agency, a Russian government-backed company recently indicted by a US grand jury because of its alleged attempts to interfere in the 2016 elections.

They found the tweets used polarising language linking vaccination to controversial issues in American society, such as racial and economic disparities.

Researchers from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, and the University of Maryland also took part in the study.

Mark Dredze, associate professor of computer science at Johns Hopkins, said: These trolls seem to be using vaccination as a wedge issue, promoting discord in American society.

However, by playing both sides, they erode public trust in vaccination, exposing us all to the risk of infectious diseases.

Viruses dont respect national boundaries.Thomas Cook holidaymakers will be removed from a hotel in Egypt following the death of a British couple.

John and Susan Cooper, from Burnley, Lancashire, died while staying in the Red Sea resort of Hurghada.

The couple had been staying at the Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel in the coastal resort.

Susan Cooper worked for Thomas Cook (Jonathan Brady/PA)

A Thomas Cook spokesman said: We are deeply saddened by the tragic deaths of two of our customers that were staying in the Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel in Hurghada, Egypt.

The circumstances of their deaths are still unclear. We have also received further reports of a raised level of illness among guests.

Safety is always our first priority, so as a precautionary measure we have taken a decision to remove all our customers from this hotel.

The spokesman said the tour operator would be offering customers alternative hotels within Hurghada from Friday onwards, as well as giving them the option to return home.

For those customers who choose to come home, we have made arrangements to fly them back tomorrow, August 24. While we understand this is upsetting for those on holiday, we believe this is the right thing to do, he said.

We continue to work closely with the hotel and are supporting the authorities with their investigations.

The Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel was last audited by Thomas Cook in late July 2018 and received an overall score of 96%.

We will be contacting those customers due to travel to the Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel in Hurghada in the next four weeks to offer alternative holiday options.

Mrs Cooper worked at the tour operators Burnley branch which was closed on Thursday.

The listing for the hotel on the Thomas Cook website includes a line saying Sorry, there is currently no availability.Alex Salmond is taking the Scottish Government to court following complaints about his conduct during his time as first minister.

Mr Salmond said he had been denied the chance to properly challenge the complaints, which he denies.

The allegations relate to his behaviour towards a member of staff at his official Bute House residence in 2013, the Daily Record reported.

Former Scotland first minister Alex Salmond (Danny Lawson/PA)

Statement from Alex Salmond pic.twitter.com/DUOTS7MriX  Alex Salmond (@AlexSalmond) August 23, 2018

In a statement, Mr Salmond said: The Permanent Secretary chose to deny me contact with any current civil servant, many of whom wished to give evidence on my behalf and access to documentation to allow me to properly challenge the complaints, all of which I refute and some of which were patently ridiculous.

The procedure as put into operation by the Permanent Secretary is grossly unfair and therefore inevitably will lead to prejudicial outcomes.

It is therefore with great reluctance that I have today launched a Judicial Review in the Court of Session which will decide the issue of the lawfulness of the procedure which has been used against me.

Mr Salmond could not be contacted for comment on the nature of the complaints against him.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: For legal reasons we are currently unable to comment.BOGOTA, Aug 22 (Reuters) - The Colombian government is examining possible help for coffee farmers hit by low international prices, the agriculture minister said on Wednesday, after repeated requests for aid by the country's coffee growers' federation.

Colombia is the world's largest producer of washed arabica and the federation represents some 550,000 families.

The global benchmark futures contract for arabica coffee prices fell to a 12-year low, at 99.35 cents per lb, on Wednesday, hurt by a weak currency in top grower Brazil.

This marked its first fall below $1 per lb since July 2006, a level below the cost of production in mountainous countries like Colombia, where farm owners must pay workers to pick the crop, unlike in some parts of Brazil where harvest is mechanized.

"We are going to work with the finance minister to see if we can give a hand to the coffee growers with some measures," Agriculture Minister Andres Valencia told journalists. Valencia is part of the government of new right-wing President Ivan Duque, who has pledged to cut taxes and bolster flagging growth.

"Obviously we have an enormous fiscal challenge, but right now we are studying the possibility of helping in various ways," Valencia said. "It's probable that we're going to propose more than one measure, which could be help with fertilizers, help with debts, incentives for (crop) renovations."

The domestic price for a 125 kilogram (275 lb) shipment of coffee was 685,000 pesos ($229) on Tuesday, equivalent to about 83 cents per lb.

Coffee federation head Roberto Velez said farmers needed to earn some $1.40 to $1.50 per lb.

"If they don't do something we run the risk, not just in Colombia, but in the world, that people will leave coffee and change their crops to other alternatives or that they don't care for their crops and productivity falls," Velez told Reuters late on Tuesday.

He said in central Colombia some coffee farmers have already sold their land to developers building vacation condominiums.

In 2013 and 2014 the government spent more then $350 million in subsidies for growers. But the current fiscal difficulties may restrict the government's options.

Colombia is forecasting production of 14 million 60-kg bags of coffee this year, similar to last year's output.

($1 = 2,990.78 Colombian pesos) (Reporting by Luis Jaime Acosta, additional reporting by Marcy Nicholson in New York Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)By Marianna Parraga and Gary McWilliams

Aug 22 (Reuters) - Curacao's Isla refinery was still operating at a minimum level as it waited for the resolution of a legal dispute between Venezuela's state-run PDVSA and ConocoPhillips to restore crude supplies to the plant, three sources close to the matter said this week.

Isla, owned by the island's government and operated by PDVSA, was also still searching for a new partner to participate in the 335,000-barrel-per-day facility, the sources said. One option being considered would be recruiting a company to supply crude and market its fuel output, one of the sources said.

PDVSA and Conoco this week reached a payment agreement over a $2 billion arbitration award related to the 2007 nationalization of the U.S. oil firm's projects in Venezuela. The pact is ultimately expected to restore PDVSA's oil shipments to Isla and other facilities in the Caribbean.

As part of that deal, Conoco said it would suspend legal actions that largely sidelined PDVSA's Caribbean operations. Separately, the Venezuelan firm this month settled unpaid bills with NuStar Energy, enabling it to resume use of a storage terminal in St. Eustatius.

It was unclear if Conoco has received a first payment from Venezuela and lifted the legal measures. PDVSA has failed to fulfill previous agreements with creditors. In the meantime, oil operations in Curacao remained almost completely frozen, including the refinery and the neighboring Bullenbay terminal, the sources added.

"The refinery is only in re-circulation to avoid a total paralysis," one of the sources said.

Isla suffered a power blackout in late July that along with a lack of crude supplies left operations in standby mode. Workers have been performing maintenance to several plants, including the fluid catalytic cracker and the alkylation unit, which is expected to take about two months to be completed.

Refinery spokesman Earl Balborda said on Wednesday workers have been unclogging the lines. He declined to comment on the PDVSA-Conoco agreement.

Conoco declined to comment. PDVSA did not respond to a request for comment.

OTHER SUPPLIES

PDVSA has not shipped Venezuelan crude to the island since late May, when Conoco began seizing Caribbean assets to satisfy the arbitration award, according to the sources and Thomson Reuters vessel tracking data.

Curacao's fuel distributor, Curoil, recently has been seeking imports of crude or fuel from the U.S. Gulf Coast to supply the refinery and gasoline stations in the island, two of the sources said.

Isla management and Curacao's government last month said 15 firms were short-listed in a competitive process to temporarily replace PDVSA as the facility's operator. The parties also were searching for a long-term operator for the refinery after PDVSA's lease expires in late 2019.

The hunt for a temporary operator or oil supplier continued as the government and the refinery have been waiting for the Conoco-PDVSA settlement to progress in coming months, the sources said.

"We are still looking to find a suitable entity, to bring crude and have it refined, and arrange the marketing," one of the people said.

Tanker activity around Curacao's Willemstad and Bullenbay ports has decreased in recent months, with only a few vessels going in and out the refinery and the terminal.

"It is too early to say how the Conoco-PDVSA deal will work. PDVSA might pay the first installment and get delayed in further payments, as it has happened before," another of the sources said. (Reporting by Marianna Parraga and Gary McWilliams Additional reporting by Sailu Urribarri in Jacksonville, Florida Editing by Susan Thomas, Frances Kerry and David Gregorio)By Idrees Ali and Jonathan Landay

WASHINGTON, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Even after a string of deadly Taliban attacks in Afghanistan in recent months, the outgoing commander of U.S. and international forces there insisted on Wednesday that President Donald Trump's strategy of an open-ended deployment was making progress.

A year ago Trump agreed to an open-ended deployment of U.S. military advisers, trainers and special forces and increased air support for Afghan forces.

"I believe the strategy is working... The reconciliation progress is significant and ultimately wars end with a political settlement," General John Nicholson, commander of the NATO-led Resolute Support mission, said. He was speaking to reporters on the telephone from Kabul in one of his last media engagements.

The Taliban have launched a wave of attacks in recent weeks, including on the city of Ghazni, southwest of Kabul. Hundreds have been killed in the fighting.

An inspector general report released this week said that despite Trump's new strategy, the Taliban continue to launch attacks across the country.

"As has been the case since the announcement of the South Asia strategy, the share of the population in areas controlled/influenced by the Taliban or the Afghan government did not change this quarter," the report said.

Nicholson, who after more than two years has become the longest-serving U.S. commander of international forces, is going to be replaced by Army Lieutenant General Scott Miller next month.

Back-channel diplomacy between the Taliban and a range of countries - including the United States - has taken place over the years to end the war in Afghanistan, which began with a U.S. invasion in 2001.

"We have an unprecedented opportunity, a window of opportunity for peace right now," Nicholson said.

In June, the Taliban observed a government ceasefire over the three-day Eid al-Fitr festival, raising hopes for talks.

This week Afghan President Ashraf Ghani offered Taliban militants a three-month ceasefire.

While Nicholson said the Taliban had not responded, two insurgent commanders told Reuters that the Taliban rejected the government offer.

The four-star general was the latest U.S. commander to offer an optimistic view of the 17-year old war, even as the security situation in the country deteriorated.

However, Nicholson acknowledged the government had not increased its control over territory in Afghanistan.

"There has not been a significant change one way or the other with respect to population control... we have seen other forms of pressure emerge social, religious etc, that are advancing the peace process," Nicholson said. (Reporting by Idrees Ali and Jonathan Landay; Editing by David Gregorio)RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug 22 (Reuters) - A third Brazilian soldier, wounded in a sweeping operation this week targeting warring drug gangs in slums across Rio de Janeiro, has died, the army said on Wednesday.

At least five civilians and two soldiers died in the coordinated raids across violent neighborhoods in the north of the city on Monday, the army said at the time.

However, on Wednesday, authorities said a third soldier, who had been wounded in the raids, died of injuries that had initially been considered treatable.

The soldiers are the first troops to die in a six-month-old federal intervention in Rio, which has been criticized for military tactics, a lack of transparency and unclear goals.

In February, President Michel Temer announced emergency measures authorizing the army to take command of police forces in Rio de Janeiro state, where drug gangs and militias have triggered a sharp rise in violence.

Since the operation began, both murders and the number of people killed in police confrontations have risen, casting doubts on the strategy, according to official data.

Nearly 64,000 people were murdered in Brazil in 2017, a record high, and the rise in violence has become a key issue ahead of presidential elections in October. Candidates across the political spectrum are playing up their crime-fighting credentials to appeal to an electorate fed up with a weak economy and endemic graft. (Reporting by Pedro Fonseca Writing by Gabriel Stargardter Editing by James Dalgleish)SOFIA, Aug 23 (Reuters) - These are some of the main stories in Bulgarian newspapers on Thursday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

-- Two Bulgarians and a foreigner with a humanitarian status were detained in the western town of Svoge for illegal migrant trafficking, the interior ministry said (Trud, 24 Chasa, Standart)

-- Some 1,084,900 Bulgarians made tourist trips in the second quarter of 2018, 5.6 percent less compared to the same period last year, the statistics office data showed. The majority (77.7 percent) travelled only within the country, 17.5 percent did it only abroad, while 4.8 percent travelled both in the country and abroad (Standart, Monitor)

-- Preparations are underway to remove the fuel oil from the sunken ship near the Black Sea town of Sozopol, Zhivko Petrov, the head of Maritime Administration Burgas, said. The work will begin when the weather conditions allow it. Last week a U.S. cargo ship, sunken near the shores of Sozopol since 1921, has started to leak fuel oil (Trud, 24 Chasa, Monitor, Standart)Law and Order Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara told Parliament yesterday that during the past two months, 38 Ava group members had been arrested and four motorbikes, four swords and an axe taken into custody.

Responding to a statement by EPDP leader Douglas Devananda that the 'Ava' group had inconvenienced the people in Jaffna, the minister said some 100 police officers had been deployed in the North to control the situation.

Mr. Devananda said this armed group had engaged in assaulting and looting people and that he was wondering whether some unknown elements were backing this group.

"I wonder whether the criminals are operating with political influence because whoever is arrested is released soon after," he said.

The minister said the police had not received any complaints about political influence backing the 'Ava' group. (Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera)Venerable Fa Hsien Thera is a Chinese Buddhist Monk who engaged in a quest to bring the sacred Buddhist texts from the then South Asian sites of Buddhism and translate them to propagate the Buddha Dhamma in China. His endeavour that started in 399 CE was to last more than 12 years before he could return to China. Venerable Fa Hsien Thera is regarded as a crucial historical link between China and other Asian Buddhist countries such as Sri Lanka, where in the present day the Belt and Road Initiative has evoked the significance of the ancient land and maritime Silk Roads he travelled.

Born in 337 CE in Shanxi, Ven. Fa Hsien lived under the influence of Buddhism which enjoyed imperial favour during the Eastern Jin Dynasty and adopted his spiritual name which translates as the Splendour of Dhamma. His travelogue - Foguoji (Record of Buddhist Kingdoms) gives vivid details of his travels from China to India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and then to Sri Lanka which was then one of the most flourishing centres of learning Buddhism at the time. What is incredible is that his travel on land was mostly on foot, despite the dangers ever-present and obvious.

On an account of his terrifying crossing of the wastelands of Central Asia, he writes:

In the desert were numerous evil spirits and scorching winds, causing death to anyone who would meet them. Above there were no birds, while on the ground there were no animals. One looked as far as one could in all directions for a path to cross, but there was none to choose. Only the dried bones of the dead served as indications.





Upon his arrival in North Western India in 402 CE, he settled into studying the Sanskrit scripts with Buddhist scholars and engaging in conversations with learned monks





Upon his arrival in North Western India in 402 CE, he settled into studying the Sanskrit scripts with Buddhist scholars and engaging in conversations with learned monks. He transcribed the Vinaya of Mahasanghika School and acquired another version of Vinaya from Sarvastivada School and the famous Mahaparinirvana-Sutra.He visited the most important sites of Buddhist learning - Udyana, Gandhara, Peshawar and Taxila, and the Buddhist Holy Sites - Lumbini, the Birthplace of Prince Siddhartha, Bodh Gaya where Enlightenment was attained, Baranas, the site of the first sermon and Kushinagar where the exalted one attained supreme bliss of Parinirvana.

On his return trip to China, Ven. Fa Hsien Thera took a different route from the one he adopted for his arrival and sailed to Sri Lanka where he added the Mahishasaka Vinaya and a selection of the Sarvastivada canon to his collection of Buddhist scripts. After 02 years in Sri Lanka, he set sail for China, where he spent the rest of his life translating and editing the scriptures, rendering a yeoman service to Buddhism in China till his passing away in around 422 CE.

May Venerable Fa Hsien Thera attain the Supreme Bliss of Nirvana!

Colonel Sudath Madugalle

Secretary General-Sri Lanka China Buddhist

Friendship Association,

Deputy Secretary General-World Fellowship of Buddhists.Apart from finding a solution to the current problem we have to address that future problem as well

Ven. Keenapelesse Upali Gnanissara Thera, the chief incumbent of the Ambala, Peraketiya Sri Isipathanaramaya in the Kandy District

Those who commit crimes during ethnic violence must be punished irrespective of their ethnicity, but there is a danger of their children along with the children of their victims carrying the problem to the future.

Apart from finding a solution to the current problem we have to address that future problem as well.

This observation is a part of an hour long sermon by Ven. Keenapelesse Upali Gnanissara Thera, the chief incumbent of the Ambala, Peraketiya Sri Isipathanaramaya in the Kandy District delivered to a group of trainee journalists recently.

Ambala was in the news some five months ago as the death of one of its residents, M.G. Kumarasinghe had triggered the anti-Muslim riots in many places in the Kandy District, causing destruction to properties worth millions of rupees and threatening lives.

Following a road rage between Kumarasinge, who was a lorry driver and four drunken Muslims, who had been travelling in a three wheeler, Kumarasinghe was assaulted at Teldeniya on February 22 and was admitted to Teldeniya hospital before being transferred to the Kandy General Hospital, where he died.

The four Muslims had been arrested by the Police. It was when he explained this incident that the Ven. Thera expressed his concern over the children of those four men and those of Kumarasinghe carrying the hatred to another generation.





When a Sinhalese man dies because of Muslims, for whatever reason or for no reason, it would be very difficult to assure the safety of Muslims living in the deceaseds village



The trainee journalists met the Ven. Gnanissara Thera during a field visit to Ambala as a part of their training. There was a special reason for them to choose Ambala for their field visit and to meet Ven. Gnanissara Thera.

Ambala, the village of Kumarasinghe was in the news again after those riots as well, since its people had maintained peace there, while some groups had created mayhem in other areas torching houses, shops and vehicles in Kumarasinghes name.

The person behind this peace initiative in Ambala and its surrounding areas was none other than the mentor of the Ambala residents, Ven. Gnanissara Thera, who had toiled day and night for two weeks since Kumarasinghe was assaulted to see that no untoward incidents would take place in his village and nothing would disturb the ethnic harmony that the people of the village had preserved for generations.

His concern about the children carrying the hatred and the present problem to the future is something unique as any peace activist would be concerned only about how to tackle the present situation.

Such an activist would suggest penalizing any wrongdoer irrespective of their ethnicity or race but would not think about the children, especially those of the wrongdoers. But the Thera thinks out of the box, beyond penalizing.





Ambala, was in the news again after those riots as well, since its people had maintained peace there, while some groups had created mayhem in other areas torching houses, shops and vehicles in Kumarasinghes name







Those who assaulted Kumarasinghe and burnt Muslims houses and other properties must definitely be punished. However, when they are sent to the jail their families would be devastated, the future of their children would be ruined.

Already the future of Kumarasinghes children is ruined. This would create a situation where those children would take the problem to the future. It is our duty to find a solution to that problem as well.

There are about seven to eight thousand Sinhalese people living in Ambala and surrounding areas, while the village has been the house to only 36 Muslim families.

Therefore when a Sinhalese man dies because of Muslims, for whatever reason or for no reason, it would be very difficult to assure the safety of Muslims living in the deceaseds village.

Nevertheless, no Muslim in Ambala had been subject to physical or verbal attacks after Kumarasinghe was assaulted, nor had a single Muslim left the village during or after the riots, seeking safety and security.





There should be hotels and eateries where people of all communities eat and drink. That should be a place of trust and not a place of suspicion, he contended



Further, the small mosque in the village was intact while so many mosques situated some ten to fifteen kilometers away were attacked.

The only difference was that the Ambala, mosque authorities had stopped reciting Azan (Call for the prayer) using loudspeakers, for about three days after Kumarasinghe died at the Kandy General Hospital. These facts were confirmed by the mosque authorities as well.

Responding to a question as to how he managed to prevent communal clashes in Ambala Ven. Gnanissara Thera said as he sensed that it would be difficult to save Kumarasinghes life when he was admitted to the Kandy General Hospital, measures were taken to create a forbearing environment and understanding among the villagers, which he said had been successful when the unfortunate news about his death reached the village.

He went on to explain how he and the elders along with a group of youth in the village prevented untoward incidents in the area.

Kumarasinghes extended family is quite large and we felt the danger in case of doctors failing to save Kumarasinghes life. Therefore we approached his relatives from the day he was assaulted to instill in them forbearance and restraint.

With the respect and recognition to the religious leadership among the villagers we were able to persuade them to understand the situation without agitation when the bad news came.

We sent Kumarasinghes parents to the Police Station where they were briefed by the OIC on the consequences including the sympathy possibly turning into vilification. We also invited the DIG to the village where the heads of households were educated on the need for restraint and the DIG explained the new laws governing the communal clashes, which are severe in respect of law breakers.

Bodhi Poojas had been organized here during the all nine days the assault victim was in the hospital and the monks who led the poojas focused on the peace that had been preserved by the village elders for generations during their sermons. We made the possible unruly persons engage in various duties in order to minimize the spread of hatred. There is a group of very progressive youth in the village who too went house to house taking the message of peace.

Thus, when what should not happen had happened to Kumarasinghe, who was a very helpful man to all irrespective of ethnicity, the village was prepared to bear it up.

However, we cannot be proud to say that nothing happened. Two small incidents took place but the progressive youth and the elders in the village were able to nip them in the bud. I was near the village mosque almost the whole night of the day Kumarasinghe breathed his last. I returned to the temple after the last suspected person withdrew from the vicinity at about 2.45 a.m. on the next day.

We took about 300 people from the village to the Police Station where the Police officers explained how they should work towards communal amity. Even the theme of the sermons at the Pansukoola Rites after the death had been the much needed peace.

Ven. Gnanissara Thera insisted on the need to identify the problem when an incident takes place, without unnecessarily finding out the race or religion of those involved.

He regretted people doing their day-today activities ethnically divided.

They come together only during clashes, he observed.

The Thera criticized the notion of ethnicity based schools and political parties.

There should be an environment where people of all ethnicities go to the same school and politicking in the same party he opines.

An important point Ven. Gnanissara Thera stressed several times was the need for the Buddhist monks, Christian clergy Hindu Kurukkals and the Muslim Mowlawis of each area to have close relationship among them.

They must have their telephone numbers with each other. And they must show their close relationship to their respective followers. We, in this village have such an understanding which helped us to maintain peace, Gnanissara Thera stated.

He argued that the hotels and eateries were very important in building reconciliation among communities.

There should be hotels and eateries where people of all communities could eat and drink together amicably. That should be a place of trust and not a place of suspicion, he contended.

Commenting on the fear of so-called contraceptive pills, the Ven. Thera said that there were people without children and when a rumour starts to circulate they might hurriedly clinch those stories, leading to mutual suspicion.

That is why the eateries must be places of trust, he asserted.The notices issued on former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and six others to appear in Court on September 7 were recalled by Colombo Chief Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake today.

The seven suspects were noticed by the Colombo Additional Magistrate on July 20 over the case of alleged misappropriation of state funds when constructing the D. A. Rajapaksa memorial and museum at Weeraketiya.

Rescinding the notice, the Chief Magistrate said the issuing of notices was a grave error and a violation of the Court of Appeals order which had been given in this regard.

Accordingly, Magistrate Dissanayake said Mr. Rajapaksa need not appear in court on September 7 and ordered the FCID to hand over the recalled notices to the suspects. (Shehan Chamika Silva)President Maithripala Sirisena reiterated yesterday that the decision to reactivate capital punishment on persons convicted for drug offences, who continue to repeat the crime even while on death row, would be carried out without hesitation shortly.

Addressing a ceremony held to mark the modernization of the Myliddy Fisheries Harbour and its commissioning last morning (22) at a cost of Rs. 44 million, President Sirisena said he had received the list of those on death row and the top five were Pakistani nationals. He also said that he has initiated talks with Pakistan's new government on transferring Pakistani prisoners on death row to that country in order to implement the death sentence there. The President stated that the majority of prisoners on death row were women

88% of lands that had been occupied by the armed forces had already been returned to their owners in the North and added that the rest would be returned to the rightful owners of those lands before long. The lands that belonged to the Myliddy School and other schools in the area would be released back to these schools by next week.

We all must be determined and resolve not to allow another war to occur as the separatist war that lasted for 30 years devastated the country, destroyed the economy, deprived people of living a decent life where education and health were also affected. In the post-war scenario, this government has restored the dignity and self-respect of the country and worked to rebuild confidence among communities and promote reconciliation among different ethnic groups, he said.

President Sirisena emphasized that the governments target was to give the benefit of peace to the people in the North-East and the unity government had already done much to achieve this goal.

He also reiterated that the government was committed to saving the next generation in the North from the alcohol and drug menace and would do whatever it takes to achieve its goal.

Ministers Wijith Vijayamuni Soysa, Northern Province Governor Reginald Cooray, State Minister Dilip Wedaarachchi, Deputy Ministers Angajan Ramanathan, Cader Mastan, MPs Mavai Senadhiraja and former State Minister Vijayakala Maheshwaran were present at the ceremony. (Sandun A Jayasekera)Member organisations of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) from across the Asia Pacific Region will meet in Colombo at their 13th Regional Conference, which is scheduled from August 12-16 next year (2019).

The conference, held under the theme UNITE-THRIVE-GROW aims at bringing together member organizations across the Asia Pacific to celebrate achievements of the past years and to discuss strategies for the future development of the movement.

Three hundred and fifty conference delegates are expected to visit Sri Lanka to discuss how to grow Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting throughout the region so as to reach many more girls and young women. These efforts are taken to give girls in more countries the opportunity to develop self-esteem, leadership skills and make a difference in their communities on issues such as sustainability, ending violence against girls, gender empowerment and equality.

The week-long conference includes workshops, consultations and the showcasing of projects by member organisations. The delegates will discuss topics important to the global movement and to girls in their own countries. These topics include eliminating violence against girls and women, global leadership, sustainable development, actions to ensure enabling laws and policies, solid institutional infrastructures, adequate financial resources, strengthening of participation mechanisms, girls education, fund raising and membership growth.

There are plans at the conference to celebrate extremely important milestones for the Asia Pacific Region, which celebrates 50 years, and the Friends of Asia Pacific WAGGGS (FAPW), who celebrate 20 years of supporting Girl Guiding initiatives in the region.

A regional planning committee headed by Ms Thanyaporn Krichtitayawuth is currently in Sri Lanka working with the Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association (SLGGA) to finalise the venue for the conference and other logistics surrounding the week-long 2019 event.

A regional planning committee headed by Ms Thanyaporn Krichtitayawuth is currently in Sri Lanka working with the Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association (SLGGA) to finalise the venue for the conference and other logistics surrounding the week-long 2019 event.

The SLGGA, which was established in 1917, accounts for over 60,000 memberships spanning all nine provinces. It is a non-governmental, non-religious organisation which is open to girls and young women from all walks of life, irrespective of their caste, religion or race. It follows a values-based, non-formal educational programme focusing on community development, environmental awareness, primary health-care, drug abuse prevention, the girl child, adolescent health, HIV/AIDS and the integration of differently-abled persons into normal society.

Following its mission to enable girls and young women to develop their fullest potential as responsible citizens of the world, the SLGGA hopes to encourage girls and young women to make their own choices in decision-making at all levels.San Francisco (dpa), Aug 22, 2018- Hawaiis governor has issued an emergency proclamation as category 5 Hurricane Lane bears down on the state.



Governor David Ige made the proclamation late Tuesday, saying he had never seen such dramatic changes in the forecast as with the hurricane.



Lane, packing wind gusts of up to 260 kilometres per hour, is expected to hit Hawaii on Wednesday and stay until at least Saturday.



This will allow us to line up services and resources prior so that we can keep our communities safe... [I am] urging residents and visitors to prepare for a significant impact, Ige wrote on Facebook and Twitter.



Earlier, the mayor of Honolulu on the states Oahu island, Kirk Caldwell, had asked residents to prepare 14-day hurricane kits and check in with friends and neighbours.Senior Deputy Solicitor General Haripriya Jayasundara today told the court that the Central Bank's former governor Arjuna Mahendran, who is the first suspect in the magisterial inquiry into the bond scam had recently requested the CID to forward some of the documents on the investigation through Interpol.

This was revealed when Colombo Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne asked the prosecution what had happened with regard to the warrant issued on the first suspect.

SDSG Jayasundara initially said the prosecution had obtained a red notice against the suspect and was working on certain arrangements on this matter.

On being asked by the magistrate for a report on that matter without delay, the prosecution said it would make the necessary submission no sooner the process was finalised.

It said the suspect had requested for copies of the warrant and evidence against him from the CID via the Singapore Interpol.

SDSG Jayasundara informed the court that the Attorney General would look into the request and decide whether it was a legitimate demand.

When questioned by the magistrate about the whereabouts of the first suspect, SDSG Jayasundara confirmed that Arjuna Mahendran was residing in Singapore.

Meanwhile, Perpetual Treasuries Limited owner Arjun Aloysius and CEO Kasun Palisena were re-remanded till August 30 on charges of aiding, abetting and conspiring with Mr. Mahendran to misappropriate Rs.688 million in public funds at the bond auction held on February 27, 2015.

They were also re-remanded till August 30 in connection with the parallel magisterial inquiry on deleting phone call data from the PTL voice recording system and fabricating evidence to the Bond Commission.

PTL's former chief dealer Nuwan Salgado and its IT executive Sachith Devathantri were earlier arrested in this connection and subsequently released on bail amid the prosecution expecting them to be named as crown witnesses in the inquiry. (Shehan Chamika Silva)

Video by Courts PrasannaThe National Medicine Regulatory Authority (NMRA) would issue a Gazette Notification to reduce prices of yet another batch of 26 essential drugs next Friday (25) a spokesman of the NMRA said yesterday.

This is in addition to the reduction of prices of 48 essential drugs in November 2016 by the NMRA.

The new regulations would apply to the branded and generic versions of the listed drugs bringing the number of drugs reduced in price to 74, he added.

The Spokesman said the new price formula would be announced based on the National Drug Policy which Health Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne enacted in 2016 after eminent medical professional Prof. Senaka Bibile introduced it in the 60s.

All drugs that were brought under the price formula were essential drugs regularly prescribed by doctors to heart diseases, diabetes, respiratory diseases, kidney ailments, hypertension and painkillers, he said.

The Spokesman said with the price reduction in 2016, the monthly medical bill of patients, who regularly purchase drugs, had been slashed by half.

The low health bill has also provided an opportunity for patients to buy the full course of drugs. In many instances, they do not purchase the full prescription they cannot afford it, he stressed.

For instance, the price of a 5 mg tablet of Amlodipine will come down to Rs. 15.32 from the current price of Rs. 21 and 50 mg tablet Losartan will be reduced to Rs. 10.30 from Rs. 28.00.

Prices of other drugs such as Atorvastatin has come down to Rs. 17.63 from RS. 41.00, Clopidogrel to Rs. 15.27 from Rs. 20.50, Clopidogrel to Rs. 15.27 from Rs. 20.50, Metformin 500 mg to Rs. 10,00 from Rs.11.25 and Gliclazide 80 mg to Rs. 9.28 from Rs. 19,00, he said.

This formula is only a model that will be used to prepare the new drug prices and the new system. Based on the above formula, an expenditure for drugs for a heart patient or a diabetic patient will come down to Rs. 79.05 from Rs. 159.50. The monthly drug bill will come down to Rs. 2371.50 from Rs. 4,785.00, he stressed.

All drugs imported to Sri Lanka will bring under the drug formula restricting the profit to maximum 60% and State Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Corporation (SPMC) will be modernized in two years to produce all drugs required to Sri Lanka, he said.

Discussions are underway with 23 investors to set up drug producing factories. A new price formula will also be introduced for all healthcare facilities provided by the private hospitals and nursing homes shortly, he said.

The Spokesman added that once the new Quality Assurance Lab was constructed with the aid from China, the Health Ministry would be able to prohibit prescribing drugs under the trade name.

He added at least 1,000 trade names were covered under the price formula of 47 drugs. (Sandun A Jayasekera)Every child has a dream to go to school. But for some this is merely a dream. If a child doesnt have school uniforms, shoes, books or a school bag, he or she is discouraged from going to school. There are many such children in the rural areas of Sri Lanka who have been marginalised by poverty. As a result absenteeism is common among these schools and children are often deprived of their basic educational needs. Identifying the need to provide support for such children, the My Hope UK-Lanka Foundation was established. Having done various projects in aid of school-children and under-privileged families, Sujith Weerasinghe and his team is determined to find more such people and give them a hand in life.

We do a project every three to four months. So far we have done projects in Kandy, Badulla, Warakapola and Ampara We have come across children who have never worn a pair of shoes and I got my volunteers to look for these children



Speaking to Mirror For Hope Sujith Weerasinghe, the founder of My Hope UK  Lanka Foundation said that he has been involved with charity work for the past 20 years. I have been doing this very silently. One of the biggest achievements through this Foundation was raising 1.5 million pounds for tsunami affected victims in the country. The Foundation is dedicated to support under-privileged children in rural areas. We have come across children who have never worn a pair of shoes and I got my volunteers to look for these children. Through our projects each child gets five to ten books, five pencils, one eraser, brand new shoes sponsored by a leading shoe manufacturer in the country. In addition to that we also buy them a school bag from a supplier.



Sujith was one of the people who made Sri Lanka proud in 2012 when he carried the Olympic Torch in London. Hence his vision is to create a future for people who could carry this torch for Sri Lanka. Speaking further Sujith said that last year they have helped close to 872 families. I am based in UK and there are 20 people helping me with the projects. We do a project every three to four months. So far we have done projects in Kandy, Badulla, Warakapola and Ampara while we try to include every ethnic minority. All the money that we collect goes into the fund and the administrative staff doesnt get paid.



When Sujith gets to know about a place that needs help, he sends the volunteers to check if people are genuinely poor. After we helped them we got to hear success stories from most places. Three to four families came back to us and said that their children have been chosen to university and that some have passed their O/Ls and most importantly children are showing an interest to go to school. Since they dont have books and other materials, children are discouraged to come to school and schools in rural areas have higher rates of absenteeism. Even one hour of study would help a child to become a better person.



People spend exorbitant amounts of money on weddings and other occasions. If they could pool in some money for charity they will be setting examples for the rest of the people. Last month the Foundation has given away three wheelchairs and likewise they support anybody who is in need. Speaking about the challenges faced Sujith said that the biggest challenge was in trying to find people who could help me without any hidden agendas. I didnt want people to think its a business.

Therefore I didnt want to partner with any other organization as well. We want to do something to make a difference and nobody can discourage me in this process. We have donors from England, Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka.



The next stage of this project is an attempt to give away reading glasses for those who cannot afford to buy a pair of glasses. We have collected over 1000 frames and we are currently working on how this could be done.

If theres anybody interested to join this Foundation as a volunteer or would like to contribute to their projects drop an email to sujith.weerasinghe@aol.co.uk and mention how you would like to help and they will get back to you at their earliest. Check out their projects on www.myhopeuklanka.com or on FB at My Hope UK Lanka Foundation.Six Indian fishermen who were drowning in the Sri Lankan territorial waters were rescued yesterday by the Navy officers and sailors of Sri Lanka Navys Fast Gun Boat on patrol, attached to the Northern Naval Command.

Navy Media Spokesman Commander Dinesh Bandara said a Fast Gun Boat which was on patrol in the Sri Lankan territorial waters, had observed the drowning fishermen in the seas 15 nautical miles off Kovillan Point lighthouse and the officers and sailors onboard promptly reacted to rescue them.

Accordingly, six lives of drowning fishers were saved, he said.

Later, the rescued fishermen were handed over to the 'Uththara' navy camp at Kankasanthurai. After providing basic first aid and medicine, the group of rescued fishers was handed over to Kankesanthurai (KKS) Police for further investigations. (Darshana Sanjeewa)The Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) in collaboration with the University of Ruhuna and INDECOS, commenced Fish Bonanza Phase II under the CSR project, SLIM Gamata Marketing at the SLIM Matara branch with over 100 enthusiastic women entrepreneurs in the Southern Province participating.The event was graced by the two Vice Presidents of SLIM, Mr. Suranjith Swaris and Mr. Roshan Fernando. Dr. Nilantha Liyanage represented the University of Ruhuna, whilst Mr. Conrad Ranawake represented INDECOS. The Project Chair Ms. Kaushala Amarasekara, other distinguished guests and the staff of SLIM were also present at the ceremony.

The project was launched by SLIM in collaboration with the Department of Food Science and Technology of the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Ruhuna and the Institute for Development of Community Strengths (INDECOS). HNB Grameen came on board as the Financial Partner of this project.

As the national body for marketing, the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing has identified a requirement for its intervention to promote the marketing philosophy among SMEs, rural enterprises and new entrepreneurs. This year Gamata Marketing focuses on the fishing communities in Matara through Fish Bonanza. The project was initiated with the aim of educating regional fishing communities on marketing principles and its applications. The project will train selected candidates on the new technology and skills,make them aware of means by which to produce innovative products from fish, and provide them with product strategies coupled with marketing related knowledge.

Pradeep Edward, the President  SLIM and CEO of Lanka Hospitals Diagnostics stated, As the leading institute for marketing in Sri Lanka, SLIM is determined to elevate the status of marketing in the country by producing professional marketers incountry and bringing out their hidden talents. Here at SLIM we also stress upon social responsibility in our actions to uplift the economy and create a better society. SLIM has hence embarked on a CSR program branded Gamata Marketing, which focuses on the society, economy and environment of the country.

Roshan Fernando, Vice President  SLIM, added, Gamata Marketing' was launched by SLIM with the aim of empowering the regional SMEs on marketing principles and the means by which to apply them effectively and efficiently to further develop their businesses. The project focuses on helping new entrepreneurs to compete in the market by delivering specific products and services to a wider market. This initiative will help to uplift their business performance and streamline their focus, attitudes and orientation towards market based products, which is the key to success in the marketing industry.

Kaushala Amarasekara, the Project Chairperson of Gamata Marketing said, The latest endeavour by SLIM, Gamata Marketing aims to identify and uplift unseen entrepreneurs in rural areas and emphasize the importance of marketing. Women play a vital role as entrepreneurs in this society. They have an enormous capacity to indulge in sustainable businesses. Yet women living beyond urban and sub-urban areas of the country often lack education and exposure to the latest trends in the world. Thus, they are confined to conventional methods when engaging in business and household affairs. SLIM with Gamata Marketing intends toprovide these women with business ideas, opportunities and also look forward to elevating the status of their living standards.

Gamata Marketing creates an opportunity to provide awareness to the rural stakeholders about the importance of marketing and its benefits to all individuals and thereby to the society. The project will bridge the gap between rural upcoming entrepreneurs and SLIM, which in turn will open a whole new world to the upcoming entrepreneurs.

SLIM is the national body for marketing in Sri Lanka and has been promoting marketing excellence and elevating the status of marketing since 1970. Incorporated by the Parliament Act 41 of 1980 of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.United National Party (UNP) Deputy Leader and Minister of Housing Sajith Premadasa recently called for an open economy with a human face saying it is the right way to establish a just society.

Mr. Premadasa expressed this sentiment while speaking at the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) awards ceremony held in Colombo recently.

It must be understood that full-blown capitalism is not the order of the day. A just and fair society can only be established through systems, structures and procedures that are based on benevolence capitalism. To use a more apt phrase, a just society could be established through capitalism with a human face, Mr. Premadasa said.

It is a universal notion that the free market capitalistic approach is the best mechanism to create wealth. However, we need to be cognizant of externalities and social costs of this system. Therefore the government and the corporate sector benevolence are of utmost importance in order to address the grievances of the society, to correct the imperfections and anomalies which are sad by-products of this system, he added.

He then requested the corporate sector to focus more on corporate social responsibility. I make a humble request from everyone gathered here. Now you shall smile, you will celebrate. Today you will enjoy your success. When the function is concluded, when the curtains are drawn and when it is time to leave please think of the poor and of the destitute in the society, on those who have become permanent members of abject poverty circle. Please do think of the silent majority of our motherland. Once you do so, gather your energy to talk to your superiors and explain the importance of civic responsibility and corporate social responsibility. Remind them of late President John F. Kennedys words of wisdom "if a society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich", the minister said.

The minister said in this regard he was willing to work with the corporate sector to provide lands to the landless, homes to the homeless and to feed the hungry.

The UNP Deputy Leader then stressed the need for a depoliticized approach to resolve issues faced by the country today. He again quoted late President Kennedy and said "Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country" and added that these sentiments were relevant to Sri Lanka even today.

Kennedy once said, "let us not take the Republican answer, the democratic answer but let us seek the right answer". This view stated by the former American President is also relevant to us. Therefore we should not seek the UNP answer, the SLFP answer, the flower bud answer or the JVP answer for all our issues. We all should use our energies, mobilize our resources to find the right answer for this country, he said. (Yohan Perera)The first ever case of the Special High Court would be taken up for hearing tomorrow (24), legal sources said yesterday.

The Special High Courts were set up to hear financial fraud and corruption cases.

The first case has been filed against former President Mahinda Rajapaksas Chief of Staff Gamini Senarath and three others over alleged criminal abuse of Rs.500 million of Litro Gas Company under the Money Laundering Act.

The Court complex was declared open by Justice Minister Thalatha Atukorale at the Hulftsdorp Court premises in Colombo 12 on Tuesday.

The Mandate Paper for Special High Court was handed over to the Chief Registrar of Colombo High Court Upul Nandana.

The case will be taken up before the Special High Court at Bar comprising Colombo High Court Judges Sampath Wijeratne, Sampath Abeykone and Champa Janaki Rajarathna.

Notices have already been issued to the accused, including Gamini Senarath to appear before the court. (Manopriya Gunasekera)REUTERS, 22nd AUGUST, 2018 - Thai police have seized more than 14 million methamphetamine pills worth 1.48 billion baht ($45 million) that were bound for neighbouring Malaysia and beyond, authorities said on Tuesday, in one of its biggest ever drug busts.



Police said that the orange pills of methamphetamine, known as yaba or crazy drug, were seized in Ayutthaya province, north of Bangkok, on Aug. 18.



Three Thais were arrested in connection with the seizure, police said. The drugs came from Shan State in northeast Myanmar, in an area under the control of an ethnic Wa militia force, police said.

The Narcotics Suppression Bureau displayed the haul, neatly packed into large container bags, at their headquarters.



Bureau commander Police Lieutenant General Sommai Kongvisaisuk said the drugs were destined for Malaysia and then on to markets around the world.Mr. Nimal Dissanayake, the Director of Education for the Southern Province

Thomian Girls N Boys Association, the Past Pupils Association of St. Thomas College and St. Thomas Girls High School, Matara funded a grooming salon and wheelchair repair center at Abhimansala 2 Wellness Resort for dependent war heroes in Kamburupitiya. The centers were declared open to the war heroes by the Director of Education for the Southern Province, Nimal Dissanayake.

The project was completed under the guidance of the Commanding Officer of Abhimansala 2  Lieutenant Colonel Aruna Wijekoon and coordinated by Staff Officer II Major Sampath Palliyaguru and Staff Officer III Major Asela Chathura Gunasekere, along with the support of all the officers attached to the Abhmansala 2 Wellness Resort.

The event was also attended by Omini Mudalige  Assistant Directorof the Zonal Education Office, Matara, along with Administrative Officer, Vibhusha Basnayake, the Principal of St. Thomas Girls High School, Matara Subha Siribaddana and Past Pupils of both schools.

Advisors of the association, Indika Siriwardene and Dinithi Gunaratne, President Isuru Ediriratne, Vice President Nadeesha Nanayakkara, Secretary Chathurika Liyanapathirana and Treasurer Buddhi Sudusinghe expressed their gratitude to all who contributed to successfully complete the project.The Thomian Girls N Boys Association was established with the aim of promoting fellowship between the two schools and fulfilling social responsibility.

Ms. Subha Siribaddana, the Principal of St. Thomas Girls High School

Liutenant Colonel Aruna Wijekoon, the Commanding Officer of Abhimansala 2

Mr. Omini Mudalige, Assistant Director of the Zonal Education Office, MataraDonald Trump stood accused of conspiring to commit campaign finance fraud and two of his closest aides faced jail time Tuesday, after court proceedings delivered a legal and political one-two punch to his embattled presidency.



In a drama that played out simultaneously across two US cities, a court found one former aide guilty of eight charges -- and the other pleaded guilty to another eight -- stemming from the federal investigation into the 2016 presidential election.



In New York, Trumps longtime fixer, the attorney Michael Cohen, admitted to charges that included making illegal campaign contributions.



Cohen detailed how he made pre-election hush payments to porn star Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal. Both claim to have had affairs with Trump.



But in a sensational twist, Cohen also pointed to the president -- or individual 1 as a co-conspirator -- alleging that he acted in coordination and at the direction of a candidate for federal office in making those payments.



I participated in this conduct with the purpose of influencing the election, a visibly crestfallen Cohen told the judge, his voice trembling at times as he addressed the packed courtroom.



That admission put Trump himself in legal jeopardy. And it raised the prospect that a once-trusted lieutenant is ready to spill secrets, gathered over decades, in exchange for a reduced sentence.  Cohens lawyer Lanny Davis explained;



This is Michael fulfilling his promise... to put his family and country first and tell the truth about Donald Trump. Today, he stood up and testified under oath that Donald Trump directed him to commit a crime by making payments to two women for the principal purpose of influencing an election, the lawyer continued.

- NEW YORK AFP Aug22, 2018This nation has proved time and again that it needs stricter laws and also a strong president who can keep a check on activities which can get out of hand. These days, quite regularly, we get to read so much in newspapers about gang violence and people being arrested with narcotics in their possession. Some of them end up in jail and a few are sentenced to death, with the latter verdict still being converted into a life imprisonment. The bottom line to all this is that the environment prevailing in the country is leading to a certain lawlessness.

We cant forget the fact that the security forces of this country successfully quelled a war against separatist Tiger rebels. During the three-decade war, specially during the latter stages of the conflict, the avenues open for illicit activities were efficiently sealed. That was the level of tight control the authorities had over the country.

But today we see drug peddlers having their way and minting money. Cannabis and illicit cigarettes seem to circulated freely. Whats most frightening is that so much of it being made available to guests at beach parties and social gatherings. Very recently 28 people were arrested at a DJ Beach Party in Mount Lavinia when they were in possession of cannabis and illicit cigarettes.

Drug trafficking is a serious offence and most countries have strict laws serving as deterrents. But in Sri Lanka we are still struggling to reintroduce the death penalty on those nabbed for drug trafficking.

As of now, what we know is that President Maithripala Sirisena intends to reintroduce the death penalty on inmates who are on death-row and continue to engage in drug trafficking. Its known that the prison is a place where certain privileged inmates can obtain narcotics of their choice at the snap of a finger. This is why its essential to start clearing this rut at the place where such notorious activities happen freely.

The Kandy Division Anti-corruption Unit has unearthed something interesting. There were reports of seven armed gangsters being arrested in Kandy. What was revealed from this operation was that these suspects were alleged to have been trafficking cannabis.

Most gangs, which terrorise people, are also involved in drug trafficking. There was also a recent report of a hotel owner in Marawila being harassed and his property being damaged by a gang that was armed. There were also reports of a shooting incident inside a state owned bank in Matara.

Adding to this mayhem was a shooting incident at a hotel in Weligama and topping all this up was the riot incident at the Welikada Prison. These incidents give us the indication that we have a serious issue regarding the security of citizens in this country.

If this Government is criticised for many things, what seems to be the mother of all sins is the authorities not implementing the law equally. The case against former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran, who is accused in the controversial Central Bank Bond Scam, is a classic example. Many believe that the Government allowing Mahendran to leave the country at will questions the Government authorities commitment towards building a corrupt-free and safe nation. Mahendrans exit from this country suggests that any criminal can leave this country without being detected by the Government radar.

This Bond Scam and the Government struggling and failing to see this case conclude, gave the picture to the rest of the country that the authorities dont wish to have a no-nonsense tag pinned on it.

After the ethnic conflict what we are seeing within a seemingly peaceful nation are cracks caused by incidents of lawlessness.

Armed gangs and illicit narcotics have no place in a just society where the law is strict and above all. This country is screaming for a leader who will make it part of his mission to put an end to this gang culture and irradicate drug trafficking for good.The poet is a curious creature. He does not pander to the majority, but his role is that of a public voice. The language he resorts to thus cannot be esoteric or obscurantist, because by definition, being a poet, he cannot obfuscate. So he gets entangled in a strange conundrum: he has to speak to the people, but not in the language of the people. He has to be the voice of an entire collective and identity, yet strike some sort of a balance between the emotions of the majority and the aesthetic sensibilities of a minority. This is as true for Sinhala society as it is for other societies, here and elsewhere, so from the oldest scribe to the youngest radical, it is this challenge which distinguishes the written word from the visual arts. Moreover, what is true here of the poet and his verses is to a large extent also true of the lyricist and his songs. He may be more popular, he may have to tone down his language to appeal to a broader base, but essentially, there cannot be a world of difference between these two people.

In Modernizing Composition, Garret Field charts the evolution of the Sinhala song. It is an admirable piece of work, particularly considering that Field, who completed it via a Fulbright-Hays scholarship and two years of extensive research in the country (packed with conversations with various veterans in the field), took the trouble of studying and to an extent mastering Sinhala before embarking on his enterprise. The book deserves more than a sketchy review, and not being a student of music, much less of literature, I am unable to pen down more than a few thoughts. Reviewing it in whatever way, however, is not my intention here. My intention is to ascertain how poetry and literature coincided in the context of the Sinhala song and how this may explain an insidious conclusion Ive drawn from the many conversations Ive had with people: that the Sinhala lyricist, as we once knew him or her, is nowhere to be found.

The lyricist in Sri Lanka

This is not to suggest that the lyricist in Sri Lanka is dead. There are songs, a great many of them, which make the rounds every day on television, radio, and more than both these, the internet. We expect Iraj to come up with a new music video every other month, packed with the requisite level of controversy. His songs make no sense if you read into them (those of the early Iraj did), but that is because we are not meant to read them; we are supposed to be awed by the visuals (which are deep or disgusting, depending on how you view them). On the other hand there are the proponents of popular adolescent music: Sanuka, Nadeemal Perera, Lahiru Perera, and those never-ending boy bands that release covers. On average, a band transits from such covers to original pieces after three or four years, but that is an average, and most bands I know, even after five or six years, still resort to remakes. More often than not, they are formed to take part in competitions organised at school level, and if they win, they publicise themselves heavily by taking part in social welfare projects (like donating proceeds of concerts to cancer projects). They are also unknown to each other, which is why they sometimes pick on the same names: I know of two Syrens, for instance.

The lyricist does not figure that prominently in this scheme of things. For one thing, covers do not require poets; they are based on works produced elsewhere. For another thing, the level of prose needed to titillate audiences is based on what the audiences have heard until then, so through ceaseless repetition, the same theme, reworked 10 times or so over, became a staple, a trend to emulate. Sarith and Surith Jayawardena, in 2016, came up with Ira Wenas Wela, which was not a trendsetter that forayed into that most emulated theme, unfulfilled and unrequited love. But while Ira Wenas Wela was different and did contain some reckonable lyrics (not least because they were written by the father of the twins, a teacher acquainted with both language and mass communication), it was a one-sided affair; Sarith and Surith are the only teenage vocalists Ive talked to who have emphatically stated that they will not perform a song without examining its lyrics first. This attitude is not widely shared. Why, I cant say.



Losing footing

Field, in his book, makes a rather interesting observation: in Sri Lanka, which has never had a musical tradition of its own, the lyrics to a song have been regarded as a work in itself, a sample of artistic craftsmanship which should stand on its own as a piece of literature (as Mahagama Sekara put it in a lecture in 1966). Except for plays, where the script has an autonomous existence that can be reworked and reinterpreted in a hundred different ways if possible, there is no other art form in which this act of autonomising one element from every other is possible, and it is certainly not possible in Western societies, where except for literary geniuses like Bob Dylan and Simon and Garfunkel, the lyric cannot really stand up on its own this way. Consider a Sinhala song from the sixties, and compare its lyrics with that of a contemporary song, and you can see the difference: the lyricist has lost his footing, he is no longer able to stand on his own, he has become entangled in cheap moneymaking processes, he is a victim of the composer and vocalist, and he has become a second fiddle through this.

The popular Sinhala song, from the nineties on, is the product mainly (though not jointly) of two lyricists: Nilar N. Cassim and the more flamboyant Wasantha Dukgannarala. I remember Upul Shantha Sannasgala interviewing Dukgannarala once and I remember him prefacing the interview with the following sketch: Duka hitapu gaman sindu liyanawa, keti katha liyanawa, ragapanawa, danweem hadanawa, sarama adinawa, thekka wikunanawa, company walata yanawa, bulath wita kanawa, denim adinawa.

Buttressing this is another interesting, though not unusual, phenomenon: the best young lyricists come from either the village or the fringes of the city. From the last 50 or so years only three lyricists, among the many Ive come across, can be termed as urban versifiers: Premakeerthi de Alwis, Lucien Bulathsinghala, Saman Athaudahetti. This has nothing to do with their origins (Sunil Ariyaratne lived in Nugegoda, but I would hardly term him as an urban versifier), rather with the artistic temperament they have projected through their work. Premakeerthi was shaped by the Colombo poets (the idealisations of the female figure in his songs attest to this), Bulathsinghalas lyrics reflect a wide ranging milieu which goes beyond the village, while Athaudahetti evokes a rural arcadia being visited by the metropolis (Iri Thalunu Wala is still a favourite among adolescents I know who scandalously profess ignorance of other songs by Amarasiri Peiris). Most other lyricists, even those who settled in Colombo in later years on account of their education or careers, remained at heart poets of the village. Regardless of historical period, national development begins with the farmer, wrote Madawala Ratnayake in his preface to Akkara Paha. That farmer came from the village; it was the village that these early lyricists returned to, frequently.

The popular Sinhala song, from the nineties on, is the product mainly (though not jointly) of two lyricists: Nilar N. Cassim and the more flamboyant Wasantha Dukgannarala. I remember Upul Shantha Sannasgala interviewing Dukgannarala once and I remember him prefacing the interview with the following sketch: Duka hitapu gaman sindu liyanawa, keti katha liyanawa, ragapanawa, danweem hadanawa, sarama adinawa, thekka wikunanawa, company walata yanawa, bulath wita kanawa, denim adinawa. That is the best description of the man Ive come across until now. Born in Anuradhapura, and perhaps more ruralised than the Matara and Rahula College bred Cassim, he is a paradox, the sort that attracts both mystical praise and vituperative condemnation. In 2007, someone posted the following on an online forum: Wasantha Dukgannaralage sampradaya grameeyada? Nagarikada? That is a question to which no one, not even (I feel) Cassim, can provide a proper answer. He is of both worlds, yet belongs to neither. It is this curious paradox which found its way to the vocalists and the melody makers of subsequent years: rooted, but in a way also uprooted.

Take three lyricists from the recent past: Manuranga Wijesekara (Saragaye), Sanuka (Mayam Kalawe), and the lesser heard of Ujitha Warnakulasuriya (Rathriyak). Rathriyak is the most profound Sri Lankan love song Ive heard in recent years; it was written for Nadeemal Perera, who is better known for Mayam Kalawe. The differences in tone and temperament between these three singles couldnt be more obvious: both Saragaye (Niyarata... Mawanawa... Apathare... Wu katha...) and Mayam Kalawe (Mayam Kalawe... Saayam sinase... Payan sande...) subsist on a fragmented aesthetic (the only rationale I can think of: the adolescent male, to whom both songs are addressed, are so blown away by the prospect of first love he cant get beyond two or three words a line), Rathriyak is the sort of love song which can be read and read into (Mata maath nomathi digu rathriyak pamani takes from, and adds to, that other memorable one-liner, Mata mage nowana magema adarayak thibuna). Origins go a long way here, I suspect: both Manuranga and Sanuka, while well versed in the aesthetics of poetry, are populists hailing from the metropolis (in particular, Sanuka), while Ujitha, an Economics undergraduate at the Sabaragamuwa University, hails from Ehetuwewa. Where is Ehetuwewa? Not many would know, and not many would be able to point at it on a Sri Lankan map. A tragedy? I should think so.Poor pupils given presents (Photo: VOV)

Through the Vientiane Red Cross, the Hanoi Red Cross has provided assistance worth VND50 million to the fund for overcoming the consequences of the Sepian Senamnoy hydropower dam collapse in Attapeu province.

The delegation has visited and given 100 presents worth VND1 million each to poor families in Sang Thong district, nearly VND90 million to build a charitable house for Mr. Bun Su in Huay Kham village, and five cows to poor families in Hattay village.

During the 3-day trip, the Hanoi Red Cross delegation to organize a training course on first-aid for 50 pre-school and primary school teachers in Sang Thong district, and exchange social and Red Cross activities with Vientiane.

According to Nguyen Si Truong, President of the Hanoi Red Cross, the organization shared all experience with Vientiane, with the hope that it would help the operation of the Vientiane Red Cross be more effective./.President Tran Dai Quang will pay State-level visits to Ethiopia and Egypt from August 23rd to 29th. (Photo: VNA)





The trips are made at the invitation of Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Vietnam and Ethiopia established diplomatic ties on March 23rd, 1976. The bilateral long-standing relations have been growing at a steady rate.

Ethiopia supported Vietnams candidacy for the UNESCO Executive Council (2015-2019) and United Nations Economic and Social Council (2016-2018).

In April 2014, Ethiopia recognised Vietnams market economy status.

Recently, Ethiopia affirmed its support for Vietnams bid to run for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure.

The two sides have inked a framework agreement on cooperation in culture and another on collaboration in economy and science-technology, as well as a cooperation deal between the Vietnamese and Ethiopian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

Bilateral trade hit USD11.3 million in 2017, of which Vietnam exported USD2.2 million worth of goods, mainly garment-textiles, footwear, and chemical products.

Telecom group Viettel plans to expand the investment and trade of telecom equipment to Ethiopia. It set up a representative office in Addis Ababa in August 2016.

The visit to Ethiopia by President Quang is expected to create a historical milestone in bilateral relations as well as open up investment and trade cooperation prospects in the years to come.

Vietnam and Egypt have a traditional friendship and cooperation relationship. Egypt is one of the first Arab countries to have relations with Vietnam. From 1958, Vietnam established a trade representative office in Egypt. Then, on September 1st, 1963, Vietnam and Egypt officially set up diplomatic ties. The same year, Vietnam opened its embassy in Cairo. One year later in 1964, Egypt opened its Embassy in Hanoi.

The two countries have regularly coordinated and supported each other at international forums as well as shared viewpoints on numerous issues of mutual concern at the United Nations.

In May 2015, Vietnam and Egypt held the eighth political consultation at the deputy foreign ministerial level in Cairo. In September 2016, Egypt joined the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC).

The two nations have also regularly exchanged information and cooperation through the Party and local channels in the fields of inspection and culture, while also setting up the Vietnam-Egypt Friendship Parliamentary Group.

Economically, Egypt is the fifth largest trade partner of Vietnam in Africa. Two-way trade reached about USD350 million in 2017. Vietnam mainly exported aquatic products, automobile spare parts, fabric, black pepper, coffee, rubber, and consumer goods.

Egypt was the first north African country to recognise Vietnams market economy in November 2013. It has three registered investment projects in Vietnam worth USD2.05 million.

Each year, Egypt provides 12 Arab language training scholarships for Vietnamese students. On the occasion of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisis visit to Vietnam in September 2017, Egypt pledged to provide technical assistance and training for 10-20 officials on Halal standards for goods exported to the Muslim market.

In recent years, Vietnam and Egypt have signed some agreements on trade, economic and technological cooperation, investment protection, aviation, inspection collaboration, visa exemption for diplomatic special and official passport holders, and cooperation protocol between the two foreign ministries.

They also signed cooperation deals in tourism, exploration and exploitation of oil and gas, organising trade fairs and exhibitions, and developing micro and small enterprises.

The two sides established a joint business council and prompted investment cooperation between Vietnams Ministry of Planning and Investment and Egypts Ministry of Investment and International Cooperation.

The upcoming visits to Ethiopia and Egypt also affirm that Vietnam persistently pursues its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation, and diversification of international relations.

Vietnam always attaches great importance to enhancing traditional friendship with African countries in general, and Ethiopia and Egypt in particular.

The visits also creates a chance for countries to exchange measures to further develop their cooperation in economy, trade, investment, as well as seek cooperation opportunities in their fields of their strength such as agriculture, culture, and tourism./.Vietnamese Ambassador to Ethiopia and Tanzania Nguyen Kim Doanh (Photo: VOV)

Vietnamese Ambassador to Ethiopia and Tanzania Nguyen Kim Doanh talked with the Voice of Vietnam about the significance of State President Tran Dai Quangs visit to Ethiopia from August 23rd-25th.

Reporter: How important is the visit to Ethiopia by Vietnamese State President Tran Dai Quang, Ambassador?

Ambassador Doanh: Ethiopia and Vietnam have had diplomatic relations since 1976. Although the traditional relationship and support for each other at international forums is good, the economic cooperation is limited although there is huge potential.

This visit, the first visit by a Vietnamese leader to this large and most populous country in the Horn of Africa, will open up new prospects for investment and trade cooperation between the two countries.

Ethiopia appreciates Vietnams success in economic development and national construction. Therefore, Ethiopia desires Vietnam to share experience in its renewal process and economic development, and is willing to make good conditions for Vietnamese businesses in Ethiopia.

Additionally, during the visit, State President Tran Dai Quang will visit the African Union (AU) headquarters and meet with AU leaders to discuss measures on strengthening the Vietnam - AU relationship.

Reporter: Are any agreements signed during the visit?

Ambassador Doanh: The visit holds great significance for the two countries, both politically and economically. In terms of politics, the visit will create a framework for joint cooperation and a trust for continued support of each other at international forums. Meanwhile, it will help open up great prospects on economic cooperation, as Vietnam has another market and Ethiopia has another partner for development and investment attraction.

During the visit, the two sides are expected to sign a visa exemption agreement for diplomatic and official passport holders, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two Foreign Ministries, on investment promotion, and on agricultural cooperation.

I hope that after the visit, the two sides will negotiate and sign other documents, especially the Agreement for the Promotion and Protection of Investment and the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement, in order to increase cooperation in the future.

Reporter: Vietnam and Ethiopia share a lot of similarities in population, agriculture, industry and tourism. Ethiopia is among African countries that have strong economic growth over the past years. What advantages in economic cooperation can the two sides exploit?

Ambassador Doanh: Ethiopia has great advantage in area; it is 3 times larger than Vietnam, with a population of over 100 million, fertile land and plentiful natural resources; however, it lacks management experience and capital.

Vietnam can share experience with Ethiopia in more efficiently exploiting natural conditions and resources for economic development, becoming an average income country by 2025.

Meanwhile, Vietnam has another market for the consumption of goods, and another investment market as Ethiopia can provide a large number of laborers.

It is certain that the visit will open up a new framework for cooperation in all areas between Vietnam and Ethiopia, as well as between Vietnam and the AU.

Reporter: Thank you very much!23 August 2018 (Desdemona Despair)  Amid all of the cries of disgrace and witch hunt from the capo of the Trump crime family, Im reminded of another famous gang of New York mobsters taken down by Robert Mueller: the Gambino crime family.After the Dapper Don, John Gotti, was sent to prison, Gotti supporter Melissa Angelini (aka, Ravenna) turned to cyberspace to sing his praises and decry the injustice of it all. Her site, Gotti.com, was full of gambling imagery and essays like, A Kinder, Gentler Gotti and Rats & the Witless Protection Program. It sold Free John Gotti! T-shirts for $19.95 (discounted to $16.95 in 1999). The landing page warns us, If you dont like this site, vaffanculo!Sadly, Gotti.com went to the Big House In The Sky in 1999, but its memorialized forever in the Wayback Machine, so you can still enjoy this snapshot of early web design and mobster sycophancy. The best part of Ravennas site is the Recipes from Readers section, which collects some traditional Italian dishes like Messalas Sicilian-Style Tomatoes and Pasta. To prepare the garlic: Saute it in a tiny bit of the olive oil (and if you dont have the herbs in it, youre no Italian *I* want to associate with).Maybe, in the not-too-distant future, well see a similar site from MAGA types, selling us Free Don Trump T-shirts and recipes for steak with ketchup.By Brian Resnick

22 August 2018

(Vox)  The state of Hawaii is facing a rare threat: A Category 4 hurricane is moving toward it, with hurricane watches and warnings in effect for most of the islands.The state of Hawaii is facing a rare threat: A Category 4 hurricane is moving toward it, with hurricane watches and warnings in effect for most of the islands. Hawaii is no stranger to natural hazards like volcanic eruptions (remember Kilauea?). But due to high-pressure weather patterns over the central Pacific, and a lot of deep, cool water around the islands, tropical storms usually steer clear.Its unclear if the storm  which is currently howling with 155 mph winds  will just graze the islands as it approaches on Thursday, or if it will make landfall. Its expected to weaken a bit over the next day, but will remain a dangerous hurricane as it approaches the islands, the National Weather Service warns. In any case: its a potentially scary situation for the islands 1.4 million inhabitants, given the size of the storm and the impact it could have. The center of Lane will track dangerously close to the islands Thursday through Saturday, the National Weather Services Honolulu office reports. Regardless of the exact track of the storm center, life threatening impacts are likely over some areas as this strong hurricane makes its closest approach. []As CNN reports, a named storm passes within 60 miles of Hawaii every four years or so. But its also the case that the Pacific waters around the islands are about a degree Celsius warmer than usual, which is helping to fuel Lanes powerful wind speeds. [more]Save my User ID and Password

Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site.

Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site.Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses a national conference on publicity and ideological work in Beijing, capital of China. The conference was held in Beijing on Tuesday and Wednesday. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

BEIJING, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping has underscored the importance of better fulfilling missions and tasks of the publicity and ideological work under new circumstances.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks while addressing a national conference on publicity and ideological work held in Beijing on Tuesday and Wednesday.

He called for solid publicity and ideological work to unite the people to embrace shared ideals, convictions, values, and moral standards, thus making greater contributions to the overall situation of the Party and the state.

Xi said decisions and plans made by the CPC Central Committee since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012 are correct and that officials on the publicity and ideological front are reliable.

He asked for taking "unity of thinking and gathering strength" as the central part of publicity and ideological work.

In order to do a better publicity and ideological work under the new circumstances, Xi underlined holding high the banner of Marxism and socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Xi stressed the importance of taking a firm hold on maintaining the right tone in public communication to boost morale and raise people's spirits in the Party and across the country.

He called for efforts to promote socialist cultural-ethical progress and cultivate and observe core socialist values to foster a new generation capable of shouldering the mission of national rejuvenation.

He also stressed adhering to the path of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics and developing a great socialist culture in China.

"We will improve our ability to engage in international communication so as to tell China's stories well, make the voice of China heard, and present a true, multi-dimensional, and panoramic view of China to the world," Xi said.

Developing a socialist ideology that has the ability to unite and the power to inspire the people is a strategic task for the whole Party, especially those on the publicity and ideological front, Xi noted.

Publicity and ideological work should play a key part in fostering a new generation capable of shouldering the mission of national rejuvenation, Xi said, adding that the top priority should be fostering firm faith.

People who work in the art and cultural sectors should continue to produce masterpieces that laud the Party, the motherland, the people, and the heroes, he said.

Noting that China's traditional culture serves as the cultural foundation of the Chinese nation, Xi said that its vision, concepts, values, and moral norms not only constitute the ideological and spiritual core of Chinese but are also valuable for addressing the issues that humanity faces.

Xi also emphasized enhancing the overall Party leadership in publicity and ideological work.

Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the meeting.

Wang noted that Xi's speech should be the guideline for the Party's publicity and ideological work under the new circumstances.

In his closing speech at the meeting, Huang Kunming, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, pledged to thoroughly implement the important instructions given by Xi in publicity and ideological work. Enditem

[ Editor: Zhang Zhou ]Subscriber content preview

SEATTLE (AP)  Washington Gov. Jay Inslee says the state plans to sue the Trump administration over its proposal to dismantle Obama-era pollution rules that would have increased federal regulation of emissions of coal-fired power plants.

Inslee, a Democrat, told reporters Wednesday that the Environmental Protection Agency plan threatens lives and is also illegal.





. . .Subscriber content preview

SEATTLE  A small Interbay office building at 4019 21st Ave. W. has sold for $6.5 million, according to King County records.

The seller was Alaska Star Inc., which acquired the property in a 1991 trust arrangement for an unrecorded dollar amount.





. . .Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng (R), also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with Mongolian Deputy Prime Minister Ulziisaikhan Enkhtuvshin in southwest China's Chongqing, Aug. 22, 2018. Ulziisaikhan Enkhtuvshin was here to attend the first Smart China Expo to be held from Thursday to Saturday. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

CHONGQING, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng on Wednesday met with foreign leaders who were in Chongqing to attend the first Smart China Expo, held from Thursday to Saturday.

During his meeting with Mongolian Deputy Prime Minister Ulziisaikhan Enkhtuvshin, Han said it was in line with the fundamental interests of the people of China and Mongolia that the two neighboring countries enhance all-round cooperation.

China has always regarded its relations with Mongolia as important in its foreign policy of neighboring countries and followed the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness in conducting neighborhood diplomacy, Han said.

The year 2019 will mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Mongolia. Han said China will implement the consensus reached by by presidents of both countries to enhance high-level exchanges, promote cooperation and expand people-to-people relations.

Enkhtuvshin said his country would stick to the one-China policy and better dovetail the Development Road Initiative of Mongolia with China's Belt and Road Initiative.

During his meeting with Lao Deputy Prime Minister Somdy Duangdy, Han expressed condolences regarding the dam collapse disaster in southern Laos last month.

Han said the development of China-Laos comprehensive strategic partnership benefited both sides and the region.

"China has always viewed Laos as its good neighbor, good friend, good comrade and good partner, and will continue to follow a friendly policy towards Laos," Han said.

He said China hoped to enhance communication and coordination with Laos to implement the consensus of both leaders and provide momentum in exchanges to build a shared future with Laos.

Somdy thanked China for providing aid after the dam collapse, and commended the deepening of bilateral relations.

During his meeting with Singapore's Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, Han said China and Singapore had embarked on a road of mutual learning and benefit.

He said China will work with Singapore to safeguard rules-based multilateral trade system and help create an open, inclusive and balanced global economy.

Goh said Singapore had always attached importance to relations with China, which continued to develop steadily.

He said Singapore opposed unilateralism and protectionism, and wanted to work with China to ensure greater interconnectivity and an open world economy.

3

1

[ Editor: Zhang Zhou ]Students from De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) pitched their ideas to improve local communities to an audience at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Dominic Shellard addressed the 67th annual DPI/NGO Conference, the premier event of the UNs NGO calendar with two DMU students, before the four students took the stage during the #JoinTogether NGO SDG workshop.

Emily Fox said: Its an absolute honour to present at the United Nations, its not the sort of thing you really ever think you would do. Its kind of a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Dan Bewley added: It was just something that was on another level to be able to sit on the stage at the United Nations and address the delegates about something, it was just fantastic. It was an amazing experience and one which Ill never forget.

The four volunteers formed two opposing teams to pitch their ideas to conference delegates and received questions and feedback from the workshop to help develop their projects, before putting the two ideas to a vote.

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After counting the votes it became clear that the initiatives had received the same number of votes and Professor Shellard made the decision that both projects will now be put in to action as part of the universitys #JoinTogether work.

First to pitch their idea to the workshop was third year Law student Aneesah Latkan and Dan Bewley, who studies Politics and Economics.

Their project involved 1,000 student volunteers working for one day across Leicester, encouraging a mass clean-up of the city, trimming hedges, clearing litter, painting and fixing to improve communities.

Emily Fox, an International Relations and Politics student, and Demis Makris-Colman, who is studying Business Management, pitched their idea to delegates next.

Their initiative involves students buddying with asylum seekers and refugees and living on a similar budget while recording the challenges they face to promote awareness of the difficulties they face.

Demis said: Weve been pitching our initiatives and had a vote at the end and it came to a draw so well actually be doing the two projects.

I think that the interest here has shown that we really can make a difference and that we can make a bigger impact.

Aneesah said: Its amazing to see how many different organisations are here for the same goals.

The workshop followed Professor Shellards earlier announcement that students will be working to help provide thousands of daily meals to people in need across Leicester under a new proposal.

DMU has demonstrated commitment to the UN SDGs by embedding the goals into the curriculum, covering all aspects of DMUs teaching, learning and research.

This step saw the university being chosen as a designated hub for SDG number 16 by the United Nations Academic Impact group  which is a commitment to the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, providing access to justice for all and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- The White House said on Wednesday that U.S. President Donald Trump earlier in the morning had spoken with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe over phone about the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and their meeting at the upcoming UN General Assembly.

White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders said in a press briefing that Trump and Abe said during their conversation that they committed to maintaining strong sanctions on the DPRK.

The two leaders said they look forward to seeing each other at the UN meeting and will "continue these important conversations with allies."

U.S. Department of the Treasury on Tuesday sanctioned two entities and six vessels for violating the UN and U.S. sanctions on the DPRK, accusing them of involvement in ship-to-ship transfer of refined petroleum products with DPRK-flagged vessels, an activity prohibited by the UN Security Council.

"Consequences for violating these sanctions will remain in place" until the final and fully verified denuclearization of the DPRK is achieved, said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

The actions came after Trump said on Monday that he would "most likely" meet with the top leader of the DPRK, Kim Jong Un.

He also said that he believes Pyongyang had taken specific steps toward denuclearization.

In the joint statement after the June 12 Trump-Kim meeting in Singapore, Trump committed to provide security guarantees to the DPRK, while Kim reaffirmed his firm and unwavering commitment to a complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

The two leaders also agreed to commit to establish new U.S.-DPRK relations, and to build a lasting and stable peace regime on the peninsula.

[ Editor: Xueying ]





Belarus reduces dairy product exports to Russia



In the first half of 2018, the Republic of Belarus has reduced a significant amount of dairy product exports to the Russian Federation, according to a report from the National Statistic Committee of Belarus, Belstat.



The main cause of the decline in exports was the decline in the supply of condensed milk and milk powder to Russia.



However, despite the reduction in supplies, the Russian Federation continues to be the main market for Belarusian milk today.



Belarus exports almost all kinds of dairy products to Russia and simultaneously supplying milk to more than 20 countries.Win McNamee/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- President Donald Trump addressed the impeachment issue publicly for the first time Thursday, warning of the consequences of removing him.



I don't know how you can impeach somebody who has done a great job, Trump told Fox News. I will tell you what, if I ever got impeached, I think the market would crash. I think everybody would be very poor because, without this thinking, you would see -- you would see numbers that you wouldn't believe, in reverse.



Impeachment is in the air on Capitol Hill, too, but so far, few lawmakers are saying the word out loud.



Former Trump attorney Michael Cohens guilty plea Tuesday implicating President Donald Trump in a crime raised the prospect of more congressional probes of the presidents conduct  especially if Democrats gain control of the House of Representatives after Novembers midterm elections.



A push to investigate and impeach Trump for alleged high crimes and misdemeanors - a constitutional basis for removal from office -- could also gain steam.



For now, however, most Democrats and many Republicans arent going there publicly  rejecting the talk of impeachment proceedings while special counsel Robert Muellers investigation is still underway.



"If something comes out that is clear and convincing and impeachable, I think members will act," Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., a member of the House GOP leadership, told CNBC Wednesday. However, Cole added, it's "too soon" for Congress to start an impeachment probe.



There is no immediate legal threat to Trump, said ABC legal analyst Dan Abrams. The question is going to be: Does Robert Mueller put together ultimately, effectively what is a charging document  but he presents it to Congress, not to a grand jury.



As politically appealing as impeachment may be, many Democrats believe talking about it or campaigning on it could backfire  energizing Republican voters and stoking a perception that the party is trying to overturn the outcome of the hotly contested 2016 election.



I don't think that we should be talking about impeachment, said Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill.



We need to know the facts and the law before we decide upon a remedy, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., told ABC. It has to be a remedy that the American people will be supporting because ultimately the decision will be made not only in the courts but also the court of public opinion.



House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi has consistently urged her caucus not to push for impeachment and said any eventual effort to do so must be bipartisan. A senior Democratic congressional aide said this weeks Cohen guilty plea and conviction of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort have not changed her position.



The Special Counsels team and the prosecutors in New York are conducting thorough and professional investigations, and they must be allowed to continue free from interference, Pelosi wrote in a letter to members Wednesday. As November rapidly approaches, we must also stay focused on delivering our strong economic message to hard-working families across America.



Republican leaders House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have avoided public comment on the Cohen and Manafort cases and generally dismiss talk of impeachment on Capitol Hill.



Privately, however, there is concern among many Republicans that Democrats would likely go after Trump if they retake majorities in the House and Senate later this year. Some conservative strategists believe impeachment fears could help Trump and Republicans turn out voters in the midterms.



"The idea of an impeachment is frankly a sad attempt by Democrats, its the only message they seem to have going into the midterms, said White House press secretary Sarah Sanders. It is another great reminder why Americans should support other like-minded candidates like the president.



"November is a referendum on impeachment  an up or down vote," former Trump strategist Steve Bannon told Bloomberg News on Tuesday. "Every Trump supporter needs to get with the program."



Several House Democrats have bucked the advice of party leaders and already introduced articles of impeachment against Trump. The measures have gone nowhere, but they are waiting in the wings.



"I think the president has to realize that the countdown to impeachment has already started. He, at some point, will have to choose if he will face impeachment or if he will resign. It will be his choice. The Congress will have no choice but to act," Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, said in an interview.



Green, one of the first Democrats to introduce articles of impeachment against Trump -- which cited his comments about the white supremacists' rally in Charlottesville in 2017 - has not ruled out introducing another set of impeachment articles if none of his colleagues do so following the Cohen guilty plea.



"At some point, we have to act," he said.



The president of the United States is now directly implicated in a criminal conspiracy, numerous members of both his campaign and administration have been convicted, pleaded guilty to felonies, or are ensnared in corruption investigations, and the Judiciary Committee has real work to do, said Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., who would play a key role in any impeachment proceedings should Democrats regain control of the House and move forward.



Still, impeachment is far from a foregone conclusion. Even some of Trumps strongest critics concede there is currently limited evidence for a convincing case. The president has not been charged with a crime and the special counsels investigation, whose findings have been kept secret, is ongoing.



Even if Democrats are trying to put off questions of impeachment until after the midterms, some have privately discussed the possibility of authorizing impeachment proceedings in the House Judiciary Committee in January should Democrats retake the House. The committee would then have to conduct an investigation and vote to send any of the articles to the House floor for a vote.



I think that the first and foremost we need to have the Mueller investigation continue and we need the legal processes in New York as well as in other courts to proceed, Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, told ABC.



President Trump addressed the issue publicly for the first time Thursday, warning of the consequences of removing him.



I don't know how you can impeach somebody who has done a great job, Trump told Fox News. I will tell you what, if I ever got impeached, I think the market would crash. I think everybody would be very poor because, without this thinking, you would see -- you would see numbers that you wouldn't believe, in reverse.

Copyright  2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.LOS ANGELES, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office is reviewing a new sexual assault case involving the two-time Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey, authorities disd Wednesday.

Greg Risling, a district attorney's spokesman, was quoted by the Los Angeles Times as saying that the investigation under review was received Tuesday from the L.A. County Sheriff's Department.

The report also said detectives of the sheriff's office last May began an investigation on a "sexual assault involving Mr. Kevin Spacey" which occurred in October 2016. In this case, the 58-year-old actor was accused of attacking a man in Malibu, a coast city in Los Angeles county.

This is the second case presented to the district attorney's office from law enforcement against Spacey, who is under investigation both in the U.S. and in Europe over many alleged forced sexual encounters.

Discovery star Anthony Rapp started a storm of accusation against Spacey last year, claiming Spacey made sexual advances toward him in his New York apartment in 1986 when Rapp was 14 years old.

As a result, scandal-plagued Spacey was fired by the streaming service, Netflix, from the cast of the last season of "House of Cards" and was also edited out of the film "All the Money in the World."

His most recent film, Billionaire Boys Club, bombed over the weekend, grossing only 618 U.S. dollars from 11 theaters.

[ Editor: Xueying ]MANILA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- One Abu Sayyaf militant was killed and at least 20 government soldiers wounded when Philippine troops clashed on Thursday with some 40 militants in southern Philippine Sulu province, a military spokesman said.

Lt. Col. Gerry Besana of the military's Western Mindanao Command said the heavy fighting that broke out around 9 a.m. local time in Langhub village of Patikul town, an Abu Sayyaf stronghold in the remote jungles, lasted almost an hour.

He said the injured soldiers were hit by shrapnel from rifle grenades.

This is the third clash this week. Besana said clashes also broke out in nearby villages of Tugas and Latih and in Patikul town earlier this week.

The military continues its operation to pursue the militants, Besana said.

Abu Sayyaf, a radical Islamist groups in the Philippines, often carries out kidnappings, bombings and beheadings in western Mindanao, particularly in their lair in the island provinces of Basilan and Sulu.

[ Editor: Xueying ]By Theodore Pelagidis

After eight years of painful bailout programs, this week Greece is leaving behind, at least technically, the era of bailout programs dictated by creditors. However, despite optimistic views expressed both by the Greek governmentPrime Minister Alex Tsipras includedand some Eurozone officials, many believe that the country has, to paraphrase the Eagles Hotel California song, checked out but it can never leave.

From CNBC to Reuters to Politico EU to CNN Money, recent international news coverage on Greece cites the usual culprits and causes for pessimism, emphasizing weaknesses in the economy that were not tackled as part of three consecutive bail-out programs. These include: inefficient public administration, the black market economy, corruption and tax evasion, slow and inefficient justice, and numerous administrative obstacles to exports and investments. Other shortcomings of the three bailout programs include a heavy propensity toward implementing austerity measures. These are all, at least to an extent, valid flaws.

Yet rarely does the international press cite my top pickovertaxationa phenomenon with disastrous repercussions for Greeces future. Let me explain why by presenting a few graphs.

Figure 1

Figure 1 depicts higher taxes plus higher social security contributions (SSCs). Both are higher than the OECD average and become highly progressive as wages become higher. But even low-income employees pay the high and non-rewarding SSCs. In sum, such a social welfare tax makes it extremely costly for a company or an employer to hire and so they avoid doing so. When an employer does hire, the disposable wage should be low to compensate for sky-high taxation and SSCs. As a consequence, domestic demand will be weak, which in turn dampens growth and employment prospects.

Figure 2

Despite high progressivity, tax revenues are low. This is not because of tax evasion, but mainly because of the high and progressive tax wedge: There are few employees, and even fewer at higher incomes, that used to pay the majority of the personal income tax. Now that the tax base has moved in large part to lower levels, tax revenues are beginning to replenish. Figure 2 shows this unfortunate combined result when the share of formerly employed workers is of low as a percentage of the total population together with a shortfall in tax revenues. See also how the situation has deteriorated since 2009! It follows that the government, to achieve the promised 3.5 percent primary surplus of GDP, will choose to double down on taxes. Indeed, the Syriza government seems to do that with some enthusiasm, as overtaxation and a primary over-surplus above 3.5 percent aligns with the leftist ideology of extended income redistribution.

Figure 3 shows the dramatic impact of taxation on incentives to work and invest.It said the growth will be supported by the economy's rising competitiveness, healthy trade flows and robust consumption, but banking system risks and a history of susceptibility to destabilising financial market cycles remain a constraint on broader economic strength.

Moody's conclusions are contained in its just-released report "Government of Vietnam: FAQ on prospects for growth, trade and government debt".

The report says that investment is largely responsible for the 6-percent growth recorded over the last decade for the Vietnamese economy, but productivity will increasingly drive headline growth as the economy moves up the value-chain and the role of the private sector increases.

These competitiveness improvements, together with a mix of healthy trade flows and robust consumption, will support average GDP growth of 6.4% between 2018-2022, which is nearly double the 3.5% median for Ba3-rated sovereigns like Vietnam.

Meanwhile, the effects of the ongoing trade dispute between the US (Aaa stable) and China (A1 stable) may be detrimental for Vietnam if tariffs are extended to products within the mobile phone supply chain - that Vietnam specializes in - or affected other economies with which it has strong trade ties, such as the Republic of Korea (Aa2 stable).

At 52% of GDP, the government debt is now largely in line with the median of about 50% for Ba-rated sovereigns. The rapid pace of nominal economic growth will stabilise debt at this level.

Moreover, the structure of debt has improved, with lengthening maturities and a declining share of foreign-currency debt limiting Vietnam's vulnerability to financial shocks, Moodys added.Written by ACM









*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- Surprisingly, after well-known Leftist American Journalist Glenn Greenwald (See: ...), it's even the World-Famous Leftist Intellectual "Guru", Professor Noam Chomsky himself, who has just launched a vibrant Appeal to Back new US President Don Trump, an atypical Rightist, at least on the "Hot" Issue of alleged "Russian interference" at the latest US Presidential Elections of November 2016, according to a Video Interview at the American News Website "Democracy Now", earlier this Summer 2018, from which "Eurofora" Publishes the Main Abstracts (concerning more particularly Europe) in Full Text, now that the Latest Developments around Controversial Attorney Mueller's so called "Investigation" approached a Crucial Threshhold, on the way towards the forthcoming "Mid-Term" US Congress/Senate Elections on Autumn 2018, of Decisive Importance for USA's and the World's Future :



Chomsky, a MIT and Arizona Universities' Professor on Linguistics, is also a Philosopher and a Popular Anti-War Dissident, Internationaly known since his 1967 Pamphlet on "The Responsibility of Intellectuals", against Vietnam War, and was Voted the "World's Leading Intellectual" on 2005, at a Global Poll co-organized by UK magazine "Prospect" and USA Magazine "Foreign Policy".



Greenwald has earlier Denounced the risk of an UnDemocratic, Oppressive and War-mongering "Deep State" against President Trump, (See : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/journalistgreenwaldfortrumpondeepstate.html), while Chomsky now Slams mainly Establishment's Medias.



They have both sharply Criticized various Other aspects of New US President Don Trump's policies, but strongly Supported, particularly, his pro-Peace policy in World Affairs, as well as Anti-Establishment Medias stance.



Chomsky and Greenwald supported the atypical Leftist Candidate Bernie Sanders of the Democratic ("Socialist"/Liberal) Party in the 2016 US Presidential Election of 2016, who was notoriously Undermined by the DP's Leadership in favor of Establishment's Hillary Clinton, in a Scandal revealed by "WikiLeaks".



Atypical Rightist Candidate Don Trump, just after Winning the Conservative GOP Party's Nomination, since the Summer of 2016, launched an Original Political Appeal towards several sincere, values-driven Anti-Establishment Leftists, particularly at his landmark Speech in Ohio's Cleveland, (See: ..., etc).



------------------------



- "Trump... is probably Right when he says that we (USA) should have Better Relations with Russia", stressed nowadays Chomsky, in his Summer 2018 Video-Interview to US News Website "Democracy Now", with Amy Goodman.



- That's one of the "Issues on which, what Trump says, for whatever reason, is Not UnReasonable", he underlined.



=> Therefore, "Being drag to the Mud for that, is Outlandish Rubbish , Professor Chomsky criticized, at a moment when most Establishment's Medias grossly slander President Trump, mainly in relation with Controversial Special Attorney Mueller's "Investigation" on alleged Russian "Interference" in the 2016 US Presidential Elections.



Mueller has Failed, however, until now, to find any trace of "Collusion" with such alleged Russian attempts, and has been Limited only into Attacking some Former Aides of Trump for various Other, irrelevant Issues, such as ... 12 Years Old Tax problems, alleged payments to American Porn Stars for shady 2006 claims, ro Contradictory Statements on Minor points Before the 2016 Elections, (etc)...



- In fact, "if you are Really Concerned with our (US) Elections, and how they operate, how they are related to what happens in a Democratic Society", then, "take a look at a (so-called) "Russian Hacking" is absolutely the Wrong place to look !", Chomsky pointed out.



- The MIT Professor strongly Criticized those Establishment's "Medias (which) are Focusing on (such) Marginal Issues", which are "Not among the Issues that Should be under Discussion", (such as, f.ex., Natural Environment, World Peace, Economy, etc), but, on the Contrary, belong "on what I Believe is a Marginal Area : F.ex. the "Huge" Issue of Interference in our (US)pristine Elections : Did the Russians interefere in our (USA) Elections ? An issue of overwhelming attention at the (Establishment's) Medias", But, "for most of the World, it's a Joke !"



- Because, "First of all, if you are interested in Foreign Interference to our (US) Elections, whatever the Russians might have done, can Barely be compared, ... with what Other States have done"... even "openly, poisonously, and with enormous support". Because it "vastly Overwhelms anything the Russians might have done". F.ex., inter alia, also : "to Speak to US Congress without informing the US President, Call the US Congress and Senate to Reverse an US President's Policy", etc.



++ Moreover, "for the Elections themselves, it has been Demonstrated very conclusively, that, for a Long Period, US Elections have been very much a Bore : You can Predict the Outcome of Presidential or Congressional Elections with a remarquable precision, simply by looking at Campaign Spending", Chomsky denounced, (speaking, f.ex., after the Exceptionally Big private Funds gathered by Obama, from Big Pharma and other varous sources, on 2008 and 2012 US Presidential Elections : The Biggest in US History, even compared to multi-Millionaire Rockfeller !)...



+++ And "that's only 1 Part of it : Lobbyists practicaly Rape Legislation and Congressional Principles in Massive ways. The concentrated Private Capital, (Corporate sector/SuperWealth), Intervene Massively, Overwhelmingly in our (US) Elections. To the extend that the most Elementary Principles of Democracy are Undermined", Chomsky strongly criticized.



- "Of course, all that" can be "Technically (il)Legal"... But that tells you something about how the system functions".



++++ In Addition, "one of the most Elementary Issues of a well functioning Democracy is that Elected Representatives should be Responsive to those who Elected them", (i.e. Voting Citizens). "Nothing more Elementary than that".



- But, "we know very well that it simply is not the case in the US". On the contrary, "there is ample Litterature, mainstream Academic Political Science, simply comparing Voters' attitudes with the Policies pursued by Representatives, which shows that a Large Majority of the Population, are simply disenfranchised. Representatives are Not paying Attention to their Voices, they are not listening to them. But they are listening to the voices of ...(1%) : the Rich and the Powerful, the Corporate sector", etc.



- "Well, you see, Occasionaly, some attention to these matters (even) in the (Establishment's) Medias. But, they are very Minor, as compared to the Extremely Marginal Question of "Russian Hacking""...



-------------------



- So, in fact, "we (USA) shouldn't refuse to Deal with them (Russians), for whatever Infractions they might have carried out, (which certainly exist) : that's just Absurd", Chomsky urged, as a matter of General Principle.



+"Same, Russia shouldn't refuse to deal with the USA, because the US (under former UK PM Tony Bliar's tricky pressure) carried out the Worst Crime of the Century : I.e. the Invasion of Iraq, that was much Worse than anything Russia has done. But they shouldn't refuse to deal with us for that reason", he added.



------------------------------



>>> Because "We have to move towards a Better Way", since, Nowadays, "at the Russian Borders there are very Extreme Tensions, that could Blow up at Any Time".



- And "we could, in fact, be in Nuclear War. Terminal for the Species and Life on Earth. We are very Close to that !", Chomsky sternly Warned.



=> So that, "1st, we Should do things to Ameliorate that" dangerous situation.



+ "2nd, we should ask Why : F.ex., "Watch how NATO Expanded after the Collapse of the Soviet Union (1991+), in Violation to formal Promisses to Michael Gorbatsov", he reminded.



- Indeed, NATO "Expanded right to the Russian Borders", and "the US offered to the West even Ukraine (since the 2014 Bloody Clashes at Kiev, followed by the Eastern Regions, etc), towards NATO : That's a kind of Hard way under Russian Geo-Strategic Concerns", Professor Chomsky noted.



- This was done "mostly under Clinton (DP), partly under Bush (GOP), .... further under Obama (DP)", he observed, (obviously criticizing the War-Mongering and Globalist tendencies mainly of "Socialist"/Liberal recent US former Presidents, which extend a longer, Historic trend, visible already as early as, at least, since the former "Cold War" Period of 1948-1952 with Truman, 1964-1969 with Johnson's aggravated "Vietnam War", etc).



=> "So, Yes, there are Tensions at the Russian Borders" recently, he stressed.



----------------------------



>>> "And these are Issues that Should be of a Primary Concern, for the Fate of an Organized Human Society, (since) even the Survival of the Species, Depends on this", Chomsky warned.



- But, "How much Attention has been given to these things (by Establishment's Medias), "... as Compared to whether Trump lied about something, etc. ?", he critically asked.



=> - "I think that those seem to me (to be) the Fundamental Criticism of the (Establishment's) Medias", Professor Noam Chomsky concluded.

(../..)





------------------------------------------





This Page Is Under Construction - Coming Soon!

Why am I seeing this 'Under Construction' page?Asia Briefing, a subsidiary of Dezan Shira & Associates, which provides business intelligence, due diligence, and legal, tax and advisory services throughout Vietnam and the Asian region, stated that in 2018, the government is targeting a growth of 6.7% which seems achievable based on the 2017 figures. Moreover, 2017s record high registered foreign direct investment (FDI) is expected to lead to a high disbursed FDI in 2018.

Vietnam will continue to remain a priority for investors in 2018. Opportunities not only exist in the traditional sectors such as garments, footwear, and electronics but also in renewable energy projects, high-tech agriculture, and other high-tech industries, according to Asia Briefing.

Investors will continue to find the traditional export-oriented sectors such as electronics, garments, and footwear to be attractive. In addition to the export-oriented sectors, the domestic market also provides an opportunity for investors. With growing urbanisation and rising incomes, industries such as education, real estate, retail, food & beverages, e-commerce, and FMCG will continue to grow in 2018, said Asia Briefing. The aforementioned industries will continue to be a priority for the government in the short term.

In this years first seven months, total FDI disbursement hit US$9.85 billion, up 8.8% annually. Newly registered capital reached US$13.2 billion, up 2.2% annually.

The government has set a target of US$17.5 billion in FDI disbursement this year, equal to that recorded last year.

At the recent Vietnam Business Forum in Hanoi, chairman of Dragon Capital Group, Dominic Scriven said that Vietnam remains an attractive market for FDI.

In the first half of this year, foreign investors withdrew US$5.6 billion from the Thai market, US$3.7 billion from the Indonesian market, and US$1.6 billion from the Philippine market but they poured US$1.5 billion in the Vietnamese market, Scriven said. This means foreign capital flow is still strongly pouring into Vietnam.

According to the World Banks Doing Business 2018 report, Vietnam ranked 68th among 190 economies, a jump of 14 ranks against 2017 and 30 ranks against 2012. Similarly, as per the World Economic Forums Global Competitiveness Report 2017-2018, Vietnam ranked 55th among 137 economies, a jump of five places from the previous year.

In the recent Global Innovation Index 2017, Vietnam jumped 12 places to 47th among 127 economies, its highest ranking in the last 10 years. Vietnam also led the group of 27 lower-middle-income economies.

Big contributions

For the first time in Vietnam, the FDIs specific contributions to the state coffers have been revealed.

The Department of Corporate Finance (DCF) under the Ministry of Finance recently published a report on foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) performance for the 2012-2016 period, which was conducted a few months ago.

According to the report, FIEs contributions to the state budget climbed from US$3.7 billion in 2012 to US$4.94 billion in 2013, US$5.5 billion in 2014, US$6.26 billion in 2015, and US$7.18 billion in 2016 (excluding contribution from crude oil exports).

Tran Tu Quynh, Chairman of Bac Ninh Peoples Committee, stated that the Republic of Korea (RoK)s Samsung Electronics and Samsung Display, that are based in the province, have contributed multi-millions of US dollars to the provincial budget.

In this years first six months, these two projects greatly helped the province earn VND480 trillion (US$21.33 billion) in production value, up 22% year-on-year, and rake in US$16.45 billion in export turnover, up 38 % on-year and 55% as compared to the plan for the whole year, Quynh said.

According to the DCF, in 2016, Samsung Electronics and Samsung Display held 68% of total revenue of all FIEs in Bac Ninh. In another case, Samsung Electronics Thai Nguyen in Thai Nguyen province accounted for 92% of total revenue of all FIEs in this province.

The DCF report also revealed that the total revenue of all FIEs in Vietnam in 2016 touched US$154.29 billion, up 21.7% as compared to 2015.

This revenue rise was higher than the 18.6% ascension in assets and also higher than the equity increment of 15.5%. This demonstrated the fact that FIEs performance has been quite convenient, said the departments representative Nguyen Ngoc Khanh.

According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, as of July 20, 2018, Vietnam attracted nearly 26,214 FDI projects, registered at US$333.026 billion, with a focus placed on the sectors of manufacturing and processing (US$189.76 billion), property business (US$56.33 billion), electricity, gas and water (US$22.7 billion), and accommodation and catering (US$12.61 billion).WA GROWERS are concerned that glyphosate may be taken out of their tool kits, after several international legal decisions pushed the future of the widely-used chemical into a world of uncertainty.

The use and future of the broad-spectrum herbicide was a key point of discussion at last weeks Grain Industry Association of WA (GIWA) 2018 Barley Spring Forum at Dalwallinu, where more than 60 farmers, brewers, researchers and industry stakeholders gathered to discuss what lies ahead for the barley industry.

It comes after a Brazilian judge ruled earlier this month to suspend the registration of glyphosate  the key active ingredient in Monsantos popular weed killer Roundup  until the countrys peak health regulator completed a toxicology re-evaluation.

Brazil is the worlds biggest soybean producer and about 85 per cent of its national crop is planted to a genetically modified variety featuring Roundup Ready technology.

Meanwhile in a separate case this month Monsanto was ordered to pay $A395million in damages to an American groundskeeper, who claimed exposure to glyphosate led to his cancer diagnosis.

GIWA chief executive officer Larissa Taylor said contrary to the recent legal findings, several international regulatory bodies  including the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA)  had placed glyphosate under rigorous testing and found it safe to use as labelled.

Ms Taylor said when it came to glyphosate, it was important to distinguish the difference between the science-based decisions made by regulatory bodies and the legal decisions made in courts.

She said the grain industry needed science rather than emotion to inform the public debate about glyphosate.

The European Food Safety Authority in May  after a very extensive whole of EU review  found no cause to suggest that glyphosate is harmful to humans, Ms Taylor said.

The APVMA also conducted a review in 2016 and came to the same conclusion that glyphosate is safe for human consumption if used at the recommended label rates.

What the regulators are saying is contrary to public opinion and the legal system and the parliamentary systems are responding to public opinion.

GIWA Barley Council chairman Lyndon Mickel said despite the scientific evidence backing glyphosate as a safe herbicide, public perception against the chemical was mounting.

Mr Mickel farms on the States south coast at Beaumont where he said the chemical was an essential part of his broadacre enterprise.

In our scenario we can use three to four shots of glyphosate pre-seeding and then most of the time well be desiccating canola and depending on if we have beans or field peas, well be using glyphosate to do that, Mr Mickel said.

Theres potentially five shots of glyphosate that were using and its one of the most important chemicals that weve got in our arsenal.

Mr Mickel said the herbicide was an important agronomic management tool used in no-till cropping systems across the State that helped improve soil quality and preserve soil moisture in WAs dry climate.

He said without the option of using glyphosate to tackle weed problems, WA growers might be forced to return to older management practices such as cultivation which would be grossly detrimental to WAs already-fragile soils.

Early this year we had winds consistently up around 40 or 50 kilometres per hour just because of that dry start and once it gets rolling, it was bloody hard to stop, Mr Mickel said.

If we were going to a full-cut system using cultivation, I reckon we would have been picking up half of Esperance out of South Australia.

GIWA chairman and Kalannie grower Bob Nixon echoed these sentiments, describing the use of glyphosate in WA as integral to the low rainfall, no-till cropping system.

Mr Nixon said regressing to agronomic practices used in the past would not only be harmful to WA soils, but impractical on the many large-scale cropping programs across the State.

Its something that keeps me awake at night  weve got the oldest, most infertile soils in the world and we need no-till, Mr Nixon said.

The other problem is be careful what you wish for  if you lose glyphosate then you start moving to another set of chemicals like paraquat, diquat and amitrole that are actually a lot more harmful to the user and the environment.CHANGES to the Harvest Mass Management Scheme (HMMS) mean WA growers will have to apply to Main Roads to continue utilising routes not approved within the Restricted Access Vehicle (RAV) Network when transporting grain this delivery season.

On top of this, trucks that fall under the RAV category will now be required to travel at speeds no faster than 40 kilometres per hour and activate a flashing amber light when carting grain on unapproved roads.

The changes come after Main Roads received legal advice recommending it discontinue previous access arrangements that were not adequately meeting its road safety obligations.

Over the past two years Main Roads has allowed RAVs to cart grain loaded on-farm to the nearest RAV network access point and onwards to grain receival sites via unapproved roads without registration during the harvest period.

This arrangement was put in place to deal with the large amount of grain that was expected to be moved over the consecutive seasons.

However despite the high chance of another large WA crop, uncertainty has surrounded HMMS requirements for the upcoming harvest since Main Roads was advised to change its access arrangements, and concerns have been raised over a proposal that suggested an agricultural pilot be required to accompany grain trucks between the farm gate and its nearest RAV approved road.

The proposal has been met with resistance from farmers and agricultural lobby groups, all suggesting a pilot was an unnecessary burden on growers.

WAFarmers general executive officer Grady Powell said his organisation had worked closely with CBH Group to demonstrate to Main Roads that the HMMS could be maintained safely and efficiently without applying a requirement for an agricultural pilot to escort grain trucks during harvest.

He said although growers would be required to fill in extra paperwork this season, the result of consultation with Main Roads was positive.

We were looking pretty close to losing the scheme in terms of its access but its probably worked out quite well in that we might have another bit of paperwork, but Im hoping it might be short-term pain for long-term gain, Mr Powell said.

Were a lot better off than where we were, because before the access arrangements that weve agreed to, there was a proposal from Main Roads to have an agricultural pilot in front of every truck so thats another car and another person.

Were happy for where weve landed.

Mr Powell said growers would have to register the roads they utilised to deliver grain that were not already on the approved network before harvest.

Main Roads will then assess the nominated roads between the paddock and the nearest road approved for RAV Network access to ensure they are safe for the proposed RAV combination.

If deemed safe, Main Roads will endorse the HMMS Road List, which truck drivers will be required to carry within their vehicle at all times.

Mr Powell encouraged growers to submit their paperwork to Main Roads as soon as possible.

He was hopeful the new system would be beneficial to growers in the long-term, allowing more roads to be added to the RAV network in future years.

The roads that are registered will be assessed by Main Roads to gauge whether they can be put on the network in a full time capacity, Mr Powell said.

Im hoping that if we get a good data set of roads that farmers are using, we can see where the movements are taking place, but also we can collect all of that data so in the background Main Roads can see if many of those roads can be put onto the approved network.

Then in future years the farmer wont have to re-apply with this form every year, and were going to have all that access hopefully all year around.

Mr Powell said Main Roads representatives would be available at the WAFarmers marquee at this years Dowerin GWN7 Machinery Field Days to further discuss the changes with growers.A former Julius Baer Group wealth manager pleaded guilty Wednesday for his role in a billion-dollar scheme to launder money embezzled from the Venezuela state oil company.

Matthias Krull, 44, a German national and Panama resident, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, the DOJ said.

He was arrested in Miami in late July.

Krull had been vice chairman of Julius Baer Panama.

The conspiracy began in December 2014 with a currency exchange scheme designed to embezzle about $600 million from Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. or PDVSA, according to his plea.

The amount embezzled from PDVSA doubled to $1.2 billion by May 2015.

Krull joined the conspiracy in 2016 when a co-conspirator asked him to help launder the money. He used real estate deals in Miami and phony investments.

The scam involved money managers, brokerage firms, banks and real estate investment firms in the United States and elsewhere, the DOJ said.

They operated as a network of professional money launderers.



The DOJ has charged at least seventeen other defendants in FCPA, fraud, and money laundering cases linked to PDVSA. Twelve have pleaded guilty.

Krulls sentencing is set for October 29. He faces up to 10 years in prison. But as part of his plea deal he agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.

The DOJ said Wednesday it had help from law enforcement agencies in the UK, Italy, Spain, and Malta.

____

Harry Cassin is the managing editor of the FCPA Blog.The statement was made by Nguyen Viet Nga, Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation under the General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC), at a press briefing held by the GDVC in Hanoi on August 22.

Nga noted that the TFA which has been approved by 136 out of 164 WTO members and entered into force on February 22, 2017  is considered a landmark agreement for the global trade system due to its provisions facilitating trade liberalisation.

In the year after the agreement came into effect, Vietnamese customs has implemented measures to fulfill its commitments which are divided into three categories of notifications including 15 commitments under the Category A notifications, 14 commitments under the Category B notifications and nine commitments under the Category C notifications.

Regarding commitments under Categories B and C, Vietnam will implement them after a transitional period of two to five years following the entry into force of the TFA through the technical assistance and capacity building in this area, Nga noted.

The customs official said that the Vietnams agenda to realise commitments under Category B and C was reported to the WTO on August 2, 2018.

She added that the GDVC will continue to coordinate with the agencies concerned to complete its legal framework, particularly those related to the specialised inspection of import-export goods to facilitate import-export activities.

The GDVC will also promote the national one-stop-shop customs mechanism while boosting the risk management system for customs control and reducing the list of goods subject to specialised inspections to fulfill TFA commitments.

WTO estimates show that the full implementation of the TFA could reduce trade costs by an average of 14.3% and boost global trade by up to US$1 trillion per year, with the biggest gains seen in the poorest countries.Axiom Bank, N.A., a community bank headquartered in Central Florida, acquired Dallas-based Allied Affiliated Funding, L.P.

The amount of the deal was not disclosed.

This acquisition adds a lender finance line of business, scalable factoring and an asset-based lending platform to Axiom. In addition, bringing together two companies with complementary strengths and cultures will provide a platform to extend Axioms business banking solutions across a larger market area.

Allied Affiliated Funding will also bring expanded product capabilities to each entitys clients. Its capabilities in factoring will result in new opportunities to Axiom Banks clients and prospects, while business capabilities in cash management services will provide opportunities for Allieds current commercial clients.

Led by Clay Tramel, Chief Executive Officer, Allied was established in 1992 as a limited partnership to provide secured working capital in the form of accounts receivable factoring (invoice based financing) to small and middle market companies serving clients primarily in such industries as trucking, staffing, construction, manufacturing, oil and gas, and telecommunications.

Facilities typically range from $100k to $10m. In addition to factoring services, Allied occasionally provides loans secured by real estate, equipment, and inventory.

Following the deal, Tramel will remain CEO at what will now be known as Axiom Factoring. Gen Merritt-Parikh will be in charge of the day-to-day operations as President.

Led by Daniel Davis, President and CEO, Axiom Bank provides retail banking services, including checking, deposit, and money market accounts, through 24 branch locations, 22 of which are inside select Walmart Supercenters. The bank also specializes in commercial loans for both real estate and business purposes, as well as treasury management and other merchant services. In addition, it sponsors prepaid debit card programs offered by thirdparty program managers. Axiom was also recently approved as an SBA preferred lender, a designation that allows the bank to independently approve and underwrite SBA 7(a) loans.

The company is advancing a growth strategy, which also includes:

 branch expansions (the most recent of which is located in Orange Countys growing Hamlin development);

 the launch of AxiomGO, a mobile banking app; and

 the addition of staff with specialty expertise.

FinSMEs

23/08/2018Bungalow, a San Francisco, CA-based residential real estate platform, raised $64m in funding.

This included:

 a $14m Series A round led by Khosla Ventures, Atomic VC, Founders Fund, Cherubic Ventures, and Wing Ventures, and

 a $50m debt facility.

In conjunction with the funding, investor and Opendoor founder, Keith Rabois, will join the Bungalow Board of Directors.

The company intends to use the funds to expand operations.

Led by Andrew Collins, co-founder and CEO, Bungalow utilizes existing housing supply by signing long-term leases with homeowners, and offers multi-bedroom homes in some of the most desirable neighborhoods in cities throughout the U.S. The platform matches potential roommates, provides furnished common areas, and takes care of utilities including WiFi and monthly cleaning services.

The company also hosts monthly events for its residents, creating an instant community for those new to a city or who are looking to expand their social circle.

Founded in 2017 by Andrew Collins and Justin McCarty, Bungalow has scaled to hundreds of properties and over 750 residents across five urban areas including: the Bay Area, Los Angeles, New York, San Diego, and Seattle.

Today, the company is announcing two new markets to its platform: Portland and Washington, D.C., and is on track to be in 12 major U.S. metro markets by the end of 2018 with plans for global expansion in 2019.

FinSMEs

23/08/2018Simple Feast, a Copenhagen, Denmark-based startup that delivers sustainable pre-made food to peoples homes in biodegradable boxes, raised $12m in funding.

The round was led by Balderton Capital, with participation from 14W in New York and existing investors Sweet Capital and ByFounders.

The company intends to use the funds to continue to expand operations and its business reach.

Founded in 2015 by Jakob Jnck and Thomas Ambus, Simple Feast offers ready-to-eat plant-based food that is sustainably produced, organic, and delivered straight to the consumer home. The meal solution delivers weekly boxes with three prepared plant-based and 100% organic meals ready to serve in 10 minutes. All meals are delivered in sustainable, bio-degradable packaging free of any plastic.

The company currently employs 20 people full-time.

FinSMEs

23/08/2018At a reception for Bernerd Da Santos, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the US power company AES, Deputy PM Dung said he highly valued its construction and operation of the Mong Duong II Power Plant.

He also appreciated AESs proposal for cooperation in developing energy and power sources, noting that Vietnams demand for electricity to power its production and development is growing and requires huge investment and advanced technology to meet environmental protection standards.

Deputy PM Dung stated that thermal energy will play a major role in Vietnams power structure since most of the hydropower resources have already been tapped.

Coal-fired power projects require the use of advanced and environmentally friendly technologies so as not to affect the lives of residents near these plants, said Dung.

At the meeting, the Deputy PM also confirmed that Vietnam would introduce policies to develop gas-fired electricity generators and renewable resources to ensure adequate power supply for economic growth.

For his part, Bernerd Da Santos also affirmed the corporations commitment to working closely with the agencies and units concerned to enhance the efficiency of existing projects and expand into new energy sources..                ,    .    .     ...                

       

         

  



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107.   -   The PM made his remarks during a reception for a research team from the Japanese House of Representatives, headed by Kawamura Takeo, Chairman of the Houses Committee on Budget, in Hanoi on August 22.

He stated that the exchange between parliamentarians and friendship parliamentarians groups of the two countries has been growing strongly and achieved significant congress over the past few years. The two sides have been organising a wide range of activities to mark the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties so far this year, helping to consolidate their mutual understanding, political trust, economic cooperation and people-to-people exchange.

The PM expressed his gratitude to Japan for providing ODA for Vietnam over the past 26 years, which, he said, has contributed significantly to the cause of socio-economic development, poverty reduction, and infrastructure improvement in Vietnam.

He said the Vietnamese Government always values and strives to realise the commitments of ODA projects between the two countries, as well as to effectively use the ODA capital sources for the right purposes.

Japanese investors in Vietnam have achieved numerous successes and are satisfied with the business climate in the country, PM Phuc said, stating that the Government and the PM always direct ministries and sectors to create favourable conditions for Japanese companies.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc poses for a photo with Japanese guests. (Photo: VNA)

He called on Kawamura Takeo to support the enhancement of economic cooperation between Vietnam and Japan, to back Japans continuous provision of ODA for Vietnam, especially in areas such as key and large-scale infrastructure projects, training high-quality human resources, and climate change adaptation, and to facilitate Japanese firms investment into Vietnam so that Japan will become the largest foreign investor in the Southeast Asian country.

For his part, Kawamura Takeo called on PM Phuc to support Japanese firms in doing favourable business in Vietnam, adding that Japanese PM Shinzo Abe always favours the facilitation of close ties with Vietnam on bilateral and multilateral issues.

He took the occasion to convey the Japanese PMs gratitude for Vietnams sympathy and support for the Japanese people in the recent natural disaster.

Concerning the Vietnam-Japan University project, Takeo highly appreciated the favourable conditions created by the Vietnamese Government and the PM for the universitys operations, noting that Japan wants to receive more interns from Vietnam.

He hailed the Japan-Vietnam strategic partnership as the most successful model in the world, stating that Japan looks forward to greeting PM Phuc when he attends the upcoming Mekong-Japan Summit.

Agreeing with the guests opinions, PM Phuc applauded the role played by the Japanese parliament as a whole, and the House of Representatives in particular, in strengthening relations between the two countries.Ben Affleck's personal life is once again under a spotlight.

The Hollywood star, 46, has reportedly checked into rehab after his estranged wife Jennifer Garner staged an intervention, according to multiple reports.

Read on for a look at some of the personal issues the actor and director has faced through the years.

Rehab stay, 2018

TMZ first reported Aug. 22 the star checked into a treatment facility after Garner went to his Pacific Palisades home to sit down with him. Garner reportedly left the home visibly shaken before returning shortly after with an unidentified woman. Afterward, all three got into a car and headed for a treatment facility.

The Blast obtained photos of Affleck receiving a delivery of alcohol at his home in the days leading up to his conversation with Garner.

Affleck has been in ongoing treatment and attending meetings for alcohol abuse, People reports. The publication also notes he knew he needed treatment and was vocal about it. He reportedly didn't resist Garner's pleas for him to enter rehab.

Affleck is reportedly in a live-in treatment facility, where he will stay for an extended period of time.

Public admission, 2017

Affleck spoke about undergoing treatment via social media in March 2017.

I have completed treatment for alcohol addiction; something I've dealt with in the past and will continue to confront, he said in a Facebook post.

He referenced his three children with Garner  Violet, Seraphina and Sam  in the post.

I want to live life to the fullest and be the best father I can be," he added. "I want my kids to know there is no shame in getting help when you need it, and to be a source of strength for anyone out there who needs help but is afraid to take the first step.

The Justice League actor continued, Im lucky to have the love of my family and friends, including my co-parent, Jen, who has supported me and cared for our kids as Ive done the work I set out to do.

Affleck concluded the post by calling it the first of many steps being taken towards a positive recovery.

Garner divorce and other relationships, 2015

Garner and Affleck announced their split in June 2015, after marrying in Turks and Caicos on June 29, 2005.

After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce, they said in a statement.

The actors added, We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children, whose privacy we ask to be respected during this difficult time. This will be our only comment on this private, family matter.

Affleck reportedly moved on with the family's then 28-year-old nanny, Christine Ouzounian.

It wasnt until April 2017 that Garner and Affleck officially filed for divorce. While their divorce is not yet finalized, Affleck has made headlines for his relationship with Lindsay Shookus.

Affleck began dating the Saturday Night Live producer in July 2017. However, it was recently revealed they broke up, which reports claim took a toll on the actors sobriety.

News of a new rehab stint comes after the troubled actor was seen around town with 22-year-old Playboy model Shauna Sexton, who is rumored to be his new girlfriend.

Rehab stint, 2001

Affleck reportedly entered a Malibu, California, rehab in August 2001.

People reported at the time Affleck reached out to a friend and said he was in need of help. Eventually he connected with another big name: Charlie Sheen.

Sheen had three years of sobriety under his belt at the time, People explained, adding that he helped get Affleck a room at Promises and gave him a ride there.

"I went to rehab for being 29 and partying too much and not having a lot of boundaries and to clear my head and try to get some idea of who I wanted to be," Affleck told The Hollywood Reporter in a 2012 profile. "It was more a 'let me get myself straight,' before it became a rite of passage."

Comments on sobriety, 1998

Affleck explained his choice to abstain from alcohol.

I just wanted to stop. I started regretting some things I did when I was drunk, he told USA Today in June 1998.

He added, It's funny to be obnoxious or out of control, but then it's like, 'I think I hurt that person's feelings. I made a fool of myself' or 'I didn't want to kiss that girl.' I have almost no inhibitions, so it's dangerous for me.

Fox News Tyler McCarthy and Katherine Lam contributed to this report. The Associated Press also contributed to this report.Mark David Chapman, the man who killed John Lennon, has been denied parole for the 10th time.

Chapman, 63, went before New York's parole board on Thursday in what was his 10th attempt to be released from the Wende Correctional Facility in western New York, where he's serving a 20-years-to-life sentence.

Chapman shot and killed Lennon, a former Beatles star, outside of his apartment in The Dakota building in Manhattan on Dec. 8, 1980.

The state's parole board last denied Chapman's request two years ago  describing the murder of Lennon as "selfish and evil." The board determined Chapman should remain behind bars, in part because of the premeditated and "celebrity-seeking" nature of the crime.

When he applied for parole in 2014, Chapman told the board that he still gets letters about the pain he caused in his pursuit of notoriety.

"I am sorry for causing that type of pain," he said. "I am sorry for being such an idiot and choosing the wrong way for glory."

Years earlier, in 2010, Chapman recalled he had considered shooting Johnny Carson or Elizabeth Taylor instead, but said that Lennon was more accessibly as his luxury apartment building near Central Park "wasn't quite as cloistered."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.Rumors are swirling that Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West are already thinking about baby No. 4  but the television reality star said that's news to her.

Kardashian, 37, responded to media reports that claimed the famous couple were planning on having a fourth child with their last remaining embryo, which a source told Us Weekly was male.

"I don't know, I read that, I read something ... none of that was true," Kardashian clarified to E! News on Tuesday. "I've been really open about it and talked about it on our show, so ... I don't know."

The couple welcomed their third child, Chicago, via surrogate on Jan. 16. Kardashian and West are already parents to daughter North, 5, and son Saint, 2.

KIM KARDASHIAN'S BIKINI PIC BODY SHAMED BY USERS MOCKING HER TOE



Kardashian has been open about her journey with a gestational carrier, revealing she had been told by doctors it would be risky for her to carry on [her] own.



Doctors said that it wasnt safe for my  or the babys  health to carry on my own, Kardashian wrote on her website after Chicago was born. After exploring many options, Kanye and I decided to use a gestational carrier. Although I have used the term surrogate in the past, a gestational carrier is actually the technical term for a woman who carries a baby that she has no biological relationship to. A traditional surrogate donates her egg, is artificially inseminated with the fathers sperm and then carries the baby to term. Since we implanted my fertilized egg in our gestational carrier, our baby is biologically mine and Kanyes.

LAMAR ODOM ON MOVING TO CHINA: 'IT'S A HUGE STEP FOR ME'

While Kardashian said in the past she wanted a big family, the star has made it clear she wants to keep the focus  at least, for now on her career, husband and their three children.

However, Kardashian didn't confirm nor deny whether or not the topic would come up on episodes of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians."

"We start filming Season 16 next week, so if I think about it more and it's gonna happen, you'll definitely see it on the show," Kardashian hinted to E! News. "But as of now, no."

Fox News' Kathleen Joyce contributed to this report.Like mother-in-law, like daughter?

Meghan Markle apparently shares a sweet hobby with her husband's late mother, Princess Diana  and it's giving royal fans nostalgia.

Both the Duchess of Sussex and Princess Diana enjoyed an old-school habit that many no longer participate in: handwriting letters.

In a post on her now-inactive lifestyle blog, The Tig, Markle reportedly revealed her passion about mail, particularly sending handwritten letters to friends and family members. In response, many fans were quick to point out Princess Diana, too, was known to spend time writing letters.

MEGHAN MARKLE AND PRINCE HARRY WILL NOT HAVE CUSTODY OF THEIR CHILDREN: REPORT

"Amongst the throwback things that I love (a 62 porsche speedster a la Dylan McKay in 90210, a bevy of Vargas girls, a Busby Berkeley film, or cooking over a charcoal grill), what trumps all is my love of writing (and receiving) a handwritten note," Markle once wrote, according to The Mirror.

Plus, Markle gushed, there's a joyful feeling you get when receiving a response.

"I absolutely relish it. I know my mailman's name, I race to the door when the mail comes (usually just fliers or bills), but I always hold out hope there will be a letter. A sweet letter. And that I will have the tactile experience of un-creasing the paper, reciting the words, and holding someone's thoughts in my hands," she continued.

MEGHAN MARKLE'S FAMILY TREE INCLUDES THOMAS MARKLE, DORIA RAGLAND, SAMANTHA GRANT AND BEYOND

Royals author Andrew Morton told The Mirror Princess Diana appreciated writing letters, and even volunteered to personally respond to those who sent gifts and letters with a thank you note.

"[She] sat down to answer many of the 47,000 letters of congratulation and 10,000 gifts which the wedding generated," Morton said, referring to Princess Diana and Prince Charles' 1981 marriage ceremony.

Numerous letter written by Princess Diana have surfaced over the years.

In February, three letters from Princess Diana and her lady-in-waiting sent to a friend of an AIDS victim were sold by Henry Aldridge & Son.

"[The letters] demonstrate the empathy and generosity Diana was able to show to some of the more vulnerable members [of] society and just illustrate what an incredible person she was," auctioneer Andrew Aldridge told Fox News on Feb. 19.

In 2017, letters sent by Princess Diana to a Buckingham Palace official, including one revealing Prince Harry was "constantly in trouble" at boarding school, sold at auction for thousands of dollars.

Princess Diana, who was famed for her charitable work, died in August 1997 at the age of 36 after sustaining fatal injuries in a Paris car crash.

Fox News' James Rogers contributed to this report.Israel Broussard, an actor from Netflixs hit movie To All the Boys Ive Loved Before, has issued an apology Tuesday for past inappropriate and insensitive tweets that have recently resurfaced.

Broussard, in a tweet from 2011, allegedly wrote, Dogs can sense earthquakes. Too bad Japan ate them all, the Daily Beast reported. The tweet came just days after a massive earthquake caused a tsunami in the country that left at least 15,000 dead.

Social media critics were quick to note that the 24-year-old co-stars along side Lana Condor, the Asian-American female lead in To All the Boys Ive Loved Before.

KELLY CLARKSON REVEALS EXTREME WEIGHT LOSS AT SIMON COWELLS HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME CEREMONY

I am deeply sorry for my inappropriate and insensitive words and likes on social media. I take full responsibility for my actions and I sincerely apologize. This has been a pivotal life lesson for me. I am dedicated to becoming a more informed and educated version of myself, the actor tweeted.

Other tweets he was criticized for included disparaging remarks about the Black Lives Matter movement and his discomfort with portraying a homosexual character.

The actor has since deleted the controversial tweets.

KYLIE JENNER SHOWS SUPPORT FOR MODEL TAMMY HEMBROW WHO WAS WHEELED OUT OF HER 21ST BASH ON STRETCHER

Im not going out for a gay role, thank you though. Haha, he tweeted according to the Daily Beast.

Broussard is not the first celebrity to be called out for resurfaced tweets.

Garrett Yrigoyen, the latest Bachelorette winner, apologized for his past Instagram activity. He was criticized after social media users pointed out posts he liked on the social media platform, which included memes that mocked transgender people, immigrants and feminists.

Fox News Katherine Lam contributed to this report.

Teen Mom 2 star Jenelle Evans former boyfriend was sentenced to prison Tuesday after he was arrested for running a methamphetamine lab.

Kieffer Delp, who dated the reality star on and off for years, accepted a plea deal and will serve 18 to 36 months in a state correctional facility, Us Weekly reported, citing court documents. The time Delp has served since being arrested in January will also count toward his sentence.

Delp was arrested on Jan. 10 in Allegheny County, Penn. after police received complaints that there was a meth lab operated out of an apartment, the report stated. The complaints noted there was a strong chemical smell coming from the residence.

At the time, the 28-year-old was charged with operating a meth lab, possession with intent to deliver, possession of substances for meth waste in the manufacture of meth and possession and prohibited acts.

Delp was featured in the first four seasons of Teen Mom 2 where viewers watched his and Evans tumultuous relationship play out.

This isnt Delps first run-in with the law.

Evans previously pressed assault charges against Delp in 2010. Hes also faced various drug charges in the past, including one with Evans when they were arrested for breaking and entering and drug possession in North Carolina, according to Us Weekly.

Evans has since moved on from the relationship. The reality star married David Eason last September.A McDonalds employee was fired after she allegedly threw hot grease on a customers face following an argument at the fast food restaurant in Arkansas on Sunday.

Officers were called to the scene of a McDonalds in North Little Rock by the restaurants manager, who called authorities after a customer, identified as Tonio Andrews, "became irate in the drive-thru and had returned and smashed the glass on the lobby door, the North Little Rock Police Department wrote in a police report, according to THV11. Officers wrote in the report that the glass in the door was broken but still intact.

Later, officers received a second call  this time from Andrews who told police a McDonald's employee, who was not named, threw hot grease on his face after he changed his food order. Andrews claimed the employee told him, "You need to make up your  mind and quit wasting my time.

MCDONALDS INVESTS $2 MILLION TO PROMOTE EMPLOYMENT FOR CHICAGO YOUTH

An argument ensued and Andrews said the worker tried to close the drive-thrus window, but he stopped it with his arm. The customer claimed the worker came to the window with a container filled with boiling hot grease and she threw it at his face."

Officers confirmed the burns marks on Andrews face were consistent with a grease burn, THV11 reported. The customer said he drove away but returned to the McDonalds with his family and one of his family members broke the restaurants door. Police said they would watch surveillance video to investigate the incident.

MCDONALDS WILL START SELLING 48-PIECE MCNUGGETS IN A BUCKET IN JAPAN

Michael Retzer Jr., the owner and operator of the McDonalds where the incident occurred, announced on Wednesday that the employee involved in the incident was fired, THV 11 reported.

"While the customer was threatening and harassing staff, our employee handled things inappropriately," Retzer said. "The employee was immediately fired after we learned of the incident, and we continue to work closely with the police to further investigate."The visit aims to strengthen the fine traditional relationship and promote cooperation in various fields between Vietnam and Ethiopia.

The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is a country situated in the Horn of Africa with a population of nearly 100 million. Despite potential for both industrial and agricultural development, agriculture remains a major part of the Ethiopian economy, accounting for 46% of its GDP.

Ethiopia is known for coffee, cotton, fruits, pepper, sugarcane and timber. The country also boasts Africas largest livestock population and the worlds tenth largest, providing meat, milk and leather for the processing industry.

In mid-2015, the Ethiopian government approved the second Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP II), giving priority to industrialisation, urbanisation and investment in infrastructure.

The Ethiopia government is seeking to privatise the banking, insurance and telecommunications sectors, and attract foreign investment in the garment, footwear, agricultural trade and manufacturing sectors.

Ethiopia is a country with great potential in the telecommunications market thanks to having the second largest population in Africa. Considered as a model for economic development in Africa, Ethiopia is the fastest-growing economy in the region, with its income per capita increasing by four times during the 2009-2017 period. The GDP per capita in 2017 stood at US$2,100.

With a foreign policy of peace, friendship and cooperation with all countries, Ethiopia has capitalised on foreign aid to revive and develop its economy. Located at the centre of the Horn of Africa and as a gateway to eastern Africa, Ethiopia houses the headquarters of more than 90 international and regional organisations, including the African Union. The country is also a member of many international and regional organisations such as the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).

The fine traditional relationship between Vietnam and Ethiopia has been growing in many fields since the two countries first established diplomatic relations on March 23, 1976. Ethiopia has supported and coordinated with Vietnam in many international forums and endorsed Vietnams nomination to the UNESCO Executive Council (2015-2019) and the United Nations Economic and Social Council (2016-2018).

Recently, Ethiopia affirmed its backing for Vietnams nomination as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 term, while Vietnam supports Ethiopias nomination to the post of Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The fine bilateral relationship has been marked by mutual visits of high-level leaders. The two sides have also signed cooperative documents in the areas of culture, economics, trade, science-technology and investment.

However, the economic relationship remains modest, incommensurate with its potential. The bilateral trade value between Vietnam and Ethiopia in 2017 reached US$11.3 million. Vietnams Viettel Group has already established a representative office in the capital Addis Ababa and is planning to expand its investment and the trading of telecommunications and military equipment in the African country.

President Tran Dai Quangs state visit to Ethiopia aims to boost cooperation in various fields, especially economic, trade and investment cooperation, offering prospects for cooperation between Vietnam and Ethiopia in particular and the African Union in general.

The visit is expected to bring the fine traditional relationship and multi-faceted cooperation between the two countries to a new page, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the world.Heidis Place, a restaurant located in Brockton, Mass., isnt situated smack-dab in the middle of freeway, but youd be forgiven for thinking as much based on recent headlines.

The family that owns the restaurant has confirmed that, for the third time in two years, and out-of-control driver has slammed into the building, causing damage to the property. Stranger still is the fact that the restaurant is merely located on the southeast corner of a moderately trafficked intersection  in other words, it's not an unusual or uncommon spot for an eatery to exist.

MAINE RESTAURANT AT CENTER OF FRENCH FRY CONTROVERSY SAYS WORLD IS INTRIGUED BY STORY

The latest accident took place on Sunday, Aug. 12, when the restaurant was closed. However, photos appear to show that the restaurant suffered only slight damage as compared with earlier incidents.

A 2016 accident, which involved a car crashing into the restaurants front doors, managed to close down the place for a month, MassLive reported. A second crash prompted another closure, albeit for only a few days. Still, the gas company installed barriers around the restaurants gas tanks, just in case.

Following the Aug. 12 incident, Heidis co-owner Alex Kosmidis met with Brockton Mayor William Carpenter to discuss preventative measures  which, for safety and handicap-accessibility reasons, cannot include more barriers around the restaurant.

Instead, Kosmodis told MassLive that stop signs, more reflectors, just more things for visibility" will be added. The mayor also promised to have the crosswalks repainted, and to have police patrol the area more often, WHDH reported.

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Insurance reportedly covers the damage, too, but Kosmodis isnt keen on another accident, as the money doesnt make up for the restaurants lost revenue.

That said, the owners told MassLive they have a simple request for Brocktons residents: When you pass by Heidis Place, kindly slow down.McDonald's is preparing to launch a major campaign, and spend $2 million, to promote employment among the youth in Chicago, home of the fast-food megachains headquarters.

Mickey Ds announced Wednesday the debut of its Youth Opportunity initiative in Chicago, with a global goal to reduce barriers to employment for two million young people by 2025.

According to a press release, the chain will distribute $1 million in grants to local community groups in the Illinois city for job readiness training. McDonald then plans to give an additional $1 million grant to Skills for Chicagolands Future to design a new apprenticeship program with City Colleges of Chicago. If the plan proves successful, McDonalds plans to launch similar campaigns in other American cities starting in 2019.

MCDONALDS WILL START SELLING 48-PIECE MCNUGGETS IN A BUCKET IN JAPAN

Likewise, in Europe, McDonalds has committed to offering 43,000 apprenticeships by 2025.

We feel we have an obligation to be a good neighbor, said David Fairhurst, McDonalds executive vice president and chief people officer, in an interview with the Chicago Tribune.

Around the world, too many young people are finding that, through no fault of their own, there are barriers to entry into the workplace. We believe this needs to change, Fairhurst continued in the release.

Together, we will leverage our scale for good and help these young people to develop the core workplace skills they need to get a job and the opportunities they need to kick-start their career and achieve their true potential  whether at McDonalds or elsewhere.

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I want to commend McDonalds and their independent franchisees for demonstrating what it means to be a good corporate citizen and for investing in Chicagos next generation, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said of the news. Chicago is proud to partner with McDonalds to ramp up our workforce development efforts and help create more opportunities for young men and women across our great city.

While McDonalds is often targeted by the Fight for $15 campaign and other activists fighting for higher wages for fast-food employees, the company says the major investment reflects its commitment to doing good, the Tribune reports.

We know we have to be competitive on pay but what were hearing from employees is, Show us the opportunity. Give us a chance, Fairhurst mused.

Representatives for McDonalds not immediately return Fox News request for additional comment on the story.One Louisiana supermarket staffer is being showered in good karma, having received a new car and nearly $130,000 for college after video footage of him letting an autistic shopper help stock coolers went viral online.

In early August, a video of Jack Ryan Edwards teaming up with Rouses Market employee Jordan Taylor to stock milk and juice on refrigerator shelves went viral on Facebook, after Edwards father and sister were blown away by Taylors empathy, Fox News reported at the time.

We all know autism makes going out difficult, and sometimes grocery stores can be a challenge. This young man took the time to slow down and allow Jack Ryan to help for over 30 minutes, guiding him as he finished his task, Delaney Edwards Alwosaibi captioned the clip, which has since been viewed nearly a million times online.

OLIVE GARDEN'S NEVER ENDING PASTA PASSES ARE BACK, ALONG WITH BRAND-NEW 'ANNUAL' OPTION

He could have ignored him. He could have made an excuse and said he couldnt allow him to help. Instead, he let him have his moment and in turn gave my family a moment we will never forget, she continued. It might seem like nothing to others, but as you can hear my dad say in the video, [Im watching a miracle in action].

Sid Edwards, Jack Ryans father, spoke with Taylor after filming the sweet scene and learned that the stand-up young man hoped to return to school to be a teacher.

In the weeks since, over $130,000 have poured in on a GoFundMe page that Delaney set up online for the cause, smashing and surpassing an original goal of $100,000.

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According to the Associated Press, Taylor has since enrolled at Grambling State University to achieve his dream of becoming a math teacher, and a local bank has announced theyve given Taylor a new car.

Neighbors Federal Credit Union president and CEO Steve Webb said they are proud of his actions.

Fox News Michelle Gant and the Associated Press contributed to this report.A Missouri man who was allegedly told he had terminal cancer is suing his three doctors after a specialist determined he was actually suffering from a treatable inflammatory disease.

Pasquale Michael Fatino, 52, said he had started making funeral arrangements and checking on his life insurance policy after the doctors at ProPartners Healthcare in Leawood, Kansas, allegedly told him he had terminal cancer of the lungs and liver, Kansas City Star reported.

Fatino, who first sought help in January 2017 for flu-like symptoms, went home and broke the news to his wife. According to the lawsuit, days later a third doctor at ProPartners confirmed the diagnosis, and advised Fatino to tell his two children, then ages 12 and 13.

TEXAS MAN BITTEN BY SHARK HAS FLESH-EATING BACTERIA RELATED TO ATTACK

Fatino claims his son went directly upstairs to his room while his daughter dropped to the floor.

I had to hold her up and tell her everythings going to be OK. That was probably the hardest part of this whole thing, he told the news outlet.

Several days later, Fatino claims he went to an appointment at the University of Kansas Cancer Center to hear the results of a biopsy, where the doctors error was discovered.

Fatino saved an alleged voicemail from Dr. Charles Sonny Holbrook apologizing for the error.

Man, Im looking at this report from KU and Im just so relieved, Holbrook allegedly said in the recording, according to Kansas City Star. I apologize that we probably scared the heck out of you. I just feared thats what it was.

Fatinos lawsuit claims the doctors caused him and his family unnecessary pain and suffering.A man who was bitten by a shark while swimming at a Texas beach earlier this month said hes now being treated for flesh-eating bacteria related to the shark bite.

WARNING: Graphic image below

Blaine Shelton was admitted to the hospital again this week after he was attacked on Aug. 9 while swimming near Boliver Islands Crystal Beach. The 42-year-old was about 200 yards from the shore when the shark sunk its teeth into his thigh, just above his knee.

Shelton told KHOU11 on Tuesday that after he was released from the hospital last week, he began experiencing extreme pain around his shark bite wound.

"You see all that dried stuff right there? That's what was dying, Shelton told the news station, referencing the tissue the flesh-eating bacteria has taken around his infected wound.

"Thank God they're helping me with the pain because the other day when I came in I could hardly walk in here, he said.

WARNING GRAPHIC IMAGE: SHARK BITES TEXAS BEACHGOER, WHO IS RUSHED TO HOSPITAL

He added that hes always heard there was bacteria in the water, but never took the warning seriously  until now.

"But to tell you the truth, if you've got a scratch on your arm or your leg, I wouldn't get in that water, Shelton said. And if you do, bring some alcohol with you to clean it the second you get out. It's nothing to play with."

Shelton wrote on his GoFundMe page on Wednesday that he was back at the hospital and in good hands with the doctors on staff. He posted a selfie of himself Thursday from the hospital bed.

The construction worker recalled seeing a fin in the water the day of the attack and realizing it wasnt any friendly fish.

I already saw the fin, and I knew it wasnt a porpoise, Shelton told the station. So I turn around to get out of there, and thats when he grabbed me by the leg."

Shelton said hes expecting his medical bills to top $100,000 by the end of the ordeal and is raising money to pay for the rising costs.Three years ago, Lisa Smith got a call from her babysitter that every parent fears: something was wrong with her toddler  she wasn't waking up.

Smith then rushed to the hospital, where she was told her 1-year-old daughter, Mia, had died of positional asphyxia after taking a nap in her car seat. Somehow, the girl must have slumped down in the seat, restricting her airway.

"[It was the] worst call Ive ever had in my life," Smith, of Aledo, Texas, recalled to WFAA.

Sharon Evans, a trauma injury prevention coordinator at Cook Childrens Hospital in Fort Worth, told the news station parents and other guardians should pay close attention when their children are in car seats. In particular, Evans stressed the dangers of sleeping in them.

MISSOURI MOM WARNS ABOUT DANGER OF HOT SLIDES AFTER GIRL, 4, SUFFERS SECOND-DEGREE BURNS

Theres nothing about the car seat thats designed to sleep. Of course, if the straps aren't tight, the child can kind of slump down, Evans said, adding that straps can also pose a choking hazard.

According to a safe sleep brochure circulated by New York City Administration for Children's Services (ACS), a car seat, carrier, swing, or any type of bouncer should never be used as a designated sleeping spot, especially if the child is under 12 months old.

"Because babies dont lie flat in car seats, they can suffocate when their heads (which are very heavy compared to the rest of their bodies), tip forward, blocking their airway," the ACS explains. "These products are not made for babies to sleep in and are dangerous because babies are not sleeping flat on their backs."

If your child does fall asleep in one of these products, the ACS recommends immediately moving them to a flat, firm surface.

FLORIDA MOM WARNS OF LIQUID NITROGEN 'DRAGON'S BREATH' SNACK AFTER SON'S HOSPITALIZED: 'HE COULD HAVE DIED'

A July 2015 report from the Journal of Pediatrics found evidence of at least 47 deaths in children two years and under as a result of car seats  while used outside of a car  over a four-year period.

"The analysis showed that more than one-half of the deaths were from strangulation because of straps not being secured appropriately. The others were from unrecognized positional asphyxia," the report, which included data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, stated.

How many parents do you think might not know this? Smith asked WFAA, adding that the babysitter watching Mia at the time had ran a licensed home daycare in Iowa. Probably a lot.

Since Mia's death, Smith has been working nonstop to spread the word about the potential dangers of sleeping in car seats, particularly when they're used outside of vehicles. She did not reveal what kind of car seat the family had purchased.

I walk around town and see people using a car seat on the seats at restaurants or putting them on the floor at tables, Smith said.

She was our first born, our only child, and she didn't deserve what happened to her. But other families don't deserve this to happen to them either," she added.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

The tragic killing of 20-year-old University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts  allegedly by an illegal immigrant from Mexico  appears to be yet another example of Americas dangerous and failed immigration policy.

Authorities in Iowa charged a man identified as Cristhian Rivera with first-degree murder Tuesday in Tibbetts death. He is being held in jail on a $5 million cash-only bond.

According to authorities, Rivera  if that is really his name  is a 24-year old illegal immigrant from Mexico, whose movements driving a black SUV in the area of Tibbetts disappearance were caught on security cameras. Tibbets disappeared July 18 while she was running in the rural central Iowa town of Brooklyn.

How many more needless deaths will it take for our immigration policies to change?

Apologists for illegal immigration are already trying to deflect public attention from this horrific case.

When asked about Tibbetts killing on CNN, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.  beloved by far-left Democrats and a possible presidential contender in 2020  said that she knows this is hard for the Tibbetts family. However, she said that our focus should be on where the real problems are, which she said is the separation of mamas and babies who entered the U.S. illegally at the border.

Fordham University Professor Christina Greer lamented on MSNBC that Fox News is talking about a girl in Iowa instead of devoting more air time to court proceedings Tuesday resulting in felony convictions for former Trump presidential campaign chairman Paul Manafort and a guilty plea to other crimes by President Trumps former attorney, Michael Cohen. Greer later backtracked for what she called her flippant remark about Tibbetts.

Americans should not be distracted by the chirping of these and other advocates of open borders, including the Cato Institute, which claims misleadingly that illegal immigrants commit fewer crimes than Americans. Even if that statement was factual (it isnt), it is completely irrelevant to this case, and no comfort to the victims.

The reality is that while most illegal immigrants are not violent, many do commit crimes, sometimes horrific ones, just like Americans do.

The nonpartisan Government Accountability Office estimates in a new report that since 1974 there have been more than 32,000 immigrants incarcerated for homicide in federal and state prisons. Other government reports show that most of these criminal immigrants are in the country illegally. They are not usually legal immigrants, who are vetted for criminal records.

It sounds obvious, but nowadays it is necessary to remind lawmakers that these homicides and many other crimes could have been prevented with better border security to block illegal entry into the U.S.

The fact that illegal immigration exacerbates crime is not lost on Americas local law enforcement agencies. Sheriffs and police leaders have become more and more outspoken in recent years urging the federal government  and especially Congress  to shore up our immigration enforcement.

Hundreds of sheriffs signed a letter to Congress in the spring, asking for the passage of a House bill to improve enforcement. The letter states: Year after year, we have been warning the Federal government about detrimental increases in transnational drug trafficking, gang violence, sex trafficking, murder, and other escalating incidents of crime by illegal aliens entering our country.

Not only are criminal immigrants a threat to the community, they are a strain on taxpayers. The same GAO report found that federal and state governments spent about $2.5 billion on incarcerating foreign criminals in 2015  not including the additional cost of arrest, prosecution, deportation, and of course, the cost to the victims. Now we see how high the cost can be to Iowans for some of the low-wage workers demanded by local farmers.

The killing of Mollie Tibbetts also highlights the role of identity fraud in facilitating the illegal employment that draws most illegal immigrants to this country.

Rivera reportedly used a false identity to secure an Iowa photo ID card and may have used these documents to secure employment at a farm, where he apparently worked for four years. It has not been revealed if he used these same documents to get a drivers license.

Authorities said the Chevy Malibu that Rivera used to stalk Tibbetts and then transport her body to the corn field where she was later found was not registered in his name. Thats a common practice for unlicensed drivers, and another in the list of crimes of otherwise law-abiding illegal immigrants.

An estimated 75 percent of illegal immigrants obtain false documents. Counterfeit green cards are not difficult to detect, but incidents of total identity theft  in which the illegal immigrant uses the name, date of birth, and Social Security number of a real person  have become more common.

The Trump administration is cracking down on this practice. Last month, Attorney General Jeff Sessions traveled to Boston to announce the results of Operation Double Trouble. Under the enforcement operation, dozens of illegal immigrants were charged with identity theft-related crimes, including fraudulently obtaining Medicaid and other welfare benefits, and registering to vote.

Some of those charged are heroin traffickers, who have obtained U.S. passports to facilitate their deadly illicit commerce.

More can be done, even without passing new laws.

The Social Security Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, and immigration agencies must be empowered to work together to act on instances of the multiple use of Social Security numbers that are easily detectable within government tax and crime databases.

Citizens should be notified when their Social Security numbers have been compromised. Employers should have to terminate illegal workers when detected. Agencies should use facial recognition technology more frequently to detect imposters.

As long as prospective illegal immigrants believe that after making it past border and visa controls they will be able to get a job, a drivers license, and live as if they were in the U.S. legally, they will continue to come.

Like the smuggling rings, the identity document industry is part of the infrastructure of illegal immigration. And like the smugglers, the document vendors do not care whether their clients are harmless workers, drug traffickers, terrorists or criminals.

When authorities allow such illicit enterprises to flourish, they are inviting more illegal immigration, and setting the stage for more atrocities committed by people who should not have found it so easy to get here and stay here illegally.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

Knowing Kate Steinles name has been painful enough. We know of her because she was killed by a criminal illegal alien in 2015. We now know Mollie Tibbetts name, murdered last month, and an illegal alien has been arrested for that crime as well.

For many who did not originally support Donald Trump for president, a turning point for us was the existential danger of our open southern border. In Trump, it became clear we had a candidate who understood and was serious about dealing with the disaster of our southern border. Being blunt about the criminals enjoying the open door into our nation, liberals and the establishment gave us our first taste of the hysteria about President Trump that would come to consume them.

And then in July of 2015, Kate Steinle was shot to death by a criminal illegal alien who had been put back onto the street through San Franciscos sanctuary policy. If they had just turned Kates killer over to ICE when they wanted him, she would be alive today. A San Francisco jury inexplicably found him not guilty of both murder and manslaughter. They did find him guilty of a lesser charge of being a felon in possession of a gun.

Now we know Mollie Tibbetts name. Hers is a horror story of a college student going out for a jog in her small Iowa town. She was found dead in a cornfield, and authorities arrested a man who the police say confessed to stalking her, but then blacked out during the time he allegedly murdered her. He thought to look in his trunk, found her dead body, and then buried her in the field.

He, too, is an illegal alien, living in that Iowa town for at least 4 years, perhaps as many as 7. Law enforcement doesnt really know.

Mollie is another of so many in this country, who were victimized and harmed by people who should never have been here. Sure, theres danger everywhere, and yet there is a simple fact: The horror of Mollies last moments leading to her death would not have happened had her alleged killer not been in this country.

For perspective, For America, the grassroots conservative action group, reminded us by tweeting the toll exacted on too many families in our country: Mollie Tibbetts, Kate Steinle,, Tessa Tranchant Dominic Durden, Grant Ronnenbeck, Jamica Williams, Kevin Will, Nabra Hassanen, Jamiel Shaw, Jose Chavez, Lauren Bump, Sarah Root, Edwin Jackson  and thousands more. None of their killers should have been in this country.

Liberals are already refusing to acknowledge the truth of the matter. CNN must have been in a tizzy trying to figure out how to report, but not report, the story and decided on this nonsense for a headline: Man arrested in connection with disappearance of Mollie Tibbetts. They couldnt even be honest about her death. No wonder CNN is being beaten in the ratings by Ancient Aliens.

Media bias presenting opinion as news is bad enough. Gossip masquerading as news is rightly called out as fake news. But even worse is the increasing penchant by the legacy media to hide facts by not reporting them at all.

For years we watched as the Republican establishment obsessed about passing comprehensive immigration reform consisting primarily of amnesty while offering up a vague gesture about securing the border.

That was a regular promise never kept, as illegal immigration increased and criminal gangs, like MS-13, continued to devastate our communities.

Candidate Trump, indicated a sea change for Americans who were constantly being lied to by a condescending establishment and their helpmate media, that was never serious about the chaos brought to our communities by millions of illegal aliens.

Some might even say the swamp preferred chaos in society, as it might keep people distracted enough from noticing the increasing politicized corruption eating away at our government, most apparently at the so-called Justice Department.

After the arrest of Mollies alleged murderer, an MSNBC guest referred to her as some girl in Iowa being talked about on Fox News while implying Fox News wasnt covering the Manafort and Cohen stories. NewsBusters reported, Both legal stories dominated Fox News Channel programming on Tuesday with multiple segments every hour, but that didnt stop Greer from making that sweeping generalization and trivializing the death of a young college student allegedly at the hands of an illegal alien from Mexico.

Mollies murder is a reminder about why Donald Trump is president  Americans are committed to their families, and the future. We know there are no guarantees, but we want to be as safe as possible and expect the government to act on that. We are also tired of being patronized by an increasingly out-of-touch and smug media, and having our concerns dismissed by ignorant know-it-alls in government.

Americans stand with Kate and Mollie and everyone who has, and will, face violence that is directly and specifically preventable by securing our border and reforming our immigration policy. Its time to send another message that our deadly status quo on immigration must change.

This column originally appeared in The Washington Times.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

The appalling killing of 20-year-old college student Mollie Tibbets in rural Iowa  allegedly by an illegal immigrant who has been charged with first-degree murder  should give new urgency to the effort to get Congress to fund a border wall to protect the safety of all Americans.

Mollies tragic death has galvanized public opinion on immigration, putting a spotlight on an issue that has already ranked among the top concerns of voters.

With just eight full legislative days remaining on the House calendar between now and the Nov. 6 midterm elections, Congress must pass a budget to keep the government running. Nothing lawmakers can do in that budget will have a bigger impact than funding a border wall. This is, quite literally, a matter of life and death.

If Congress really wants to enhance the day-to-day safety and security of everyone living in the U.S.  both citizens and non-citizens  a border wall must be the top budget priority. The wall would keep criminals out. It would remove the incentive for dangerous border crossings and it would ends family separations.

All of this can be done without compromising the ability of legitimate asylum seekers to petition for legal admission into the U.S.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll released in early July  before Mollie Tibbets was killed  showed that 15 percent of registered voters and 26 percent of Republicans cited immigration as the top concern driving their vote in November.

Despite the best efforts of Democrats and their media allies to ignore the need to finally get control of immigration into our country, people turned to social media to express concern and demand a better policy.

Fox News is the only network that has devoted sufficient attention to Mollie Tibbetts killing and to the arrest and initial court appearance of her accused killer, identified as Cristhian Rivera.

Authorities said that Rivera, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, told them he followed Mollie while she was jogging. They said Rivera told them he panicked when Mollie threatened to call police, blacked out, and then remembers dumping her body in a cornfield and covering it with corn stalks. Surveillance video led to his arrest.

Other networks had extensively covered the hunt for the killer, but lost interest when the man arrested and charged with murder turned out to be in the country illegally.

Every American can relate to the fear and pain that must be felt by the families of those who become victims of criminal immigrants. There is absolutely no good reason to allow criminals to cross our borders with impunity.

We have people like Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., telling us we need to focus on keeping immigrant families together. I agree. A border wall will do that.

With a border wall, families wont get separated, because they wont need to cross the border until their asylum petition has already been granted. Those with bogus asylum claims wont risk separation, either, because they wont be able to get here in the first place.

If Democrats were serious about protecting the safety and security of legitimate asylum seekers, they would encourage those families and individuals to apply for asylum at our embassies in their home countries, instead of paying coyotes and putting their lives at risk crossing the border.

The American people spend millions of dollars staffing our embassies abroad so no one has to make a dangerous and expensive trek across the border. We already have embassies and consulates in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and throughout Mexico.

With the upcoming budget process, Congress has the ability to do two things: fund the border wall, and get rid of sanctuary cities and states that attract and protect criminal illegal immigrants.

The question is, do Republicans have the political guts to drive this to the finish line?

Funding the border wall is good public policy. It also highlights the two very different approaches between Democrats and Republicans, giving voters an immediate opportunity to weigh in on the approach they believe will work best.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

Donald Trump has long demonstrated a knack for getting his political opponents to make fools of themselves. Sen. Marco Rubio learned this the hard way on the 2016 campaign trail when he tried to out-Trump Mr. Trump. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and former CIA chief John Brennan got caught in the trap last week.

Cuomo took issue with Trumps campaign slogan, Make America Great Again, telling an audience full of Democrats that were not going to make America great again  it was never that great. The audience booed. Cuomo was attempting to insult the president but wound up insulting the country and then spent several days walking back what he said. Cuomos late father, Mario, also served as governor of New York. He once remarked: There are few things more amusing in the world of politics than watching moderate Republicans charging to the right in pursuit of greater glory. His son is evidence that such behavior is bipartisan.

Brennan, who called Trumps July press conference with Russian strongman Vladimir Putin nothing short of treasonous on Twitter, had his security clearance revoked by the president last week. But during an appearance on MSNBC a few days later, he rescinded his comment. I didnt mean that he committed treason. But it was a term that I used, he said. Sometimes my Irish comes out. Trumps statements after the meeting with Putin were roundly criticized by Democrats and Republicans alike, and Brennan was free to add his voice. But a former top intelligence officer who wants to decry the presidents reckless behavior on cable news and social media might want to be more mindful of his own behavior.

Likewise, the political press has decided that its job isnt merely to inform the public but also to take down the current White House, even if such efforts cost journalism what little credibility it has left. Last Thursday, hundreds of newspapers nationwide simultaneously published editorials attacking Trump in the guise of promoting a free press. The president regularly accuses news outlets of biased coverage. He prefers tweets and rallies to news conferences because he doesnt trust the Washington Post and CNN to give him or his agenda a fair shake. Trumps base comprises tens of millions of voters convinced that the media is as eager as the Democratic Party to run their guy out of office, and last weeks stunt only feeds those fears. Journalists who dont like what the president has said about the press might want to start behaving like objective reporters instead of liberal political activists.

To continue reading in the Wall Street Journal, click here.At the meeting, Deputy PM Minh said he was delighted to see remarkable progress in the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, as well as the close and effective ties between the two foreign ministries.

He stressed the significance of the Vietnam-Laos political consultation mechanism at the deputy foreign minister-level, saying the two sides should discuss issues openly with mutual trust in an effort to deepen the two countries cooperation.

The Deputy PM also took the occasion to express his sympathy for the losses the Lao people have suffered due to the tragic dam break in Attapeu province in late July. He believed the Government of Laos and those affected would soon be able to overcome the hardship and return to normal life.

Ernthavan, for her part, expressed that the annual consultation mechanism between the two foreign ministers and the political consultation at the deputy foreign minister-level, initiated by Deputy PM and FM Pham Binh Minh, have significantly contributed to strengthening the special ties between Vietnam and Laos at large and the two ministries in particular.

She congratulated Vietnam on the success of the 30th Diplomatic Conference and thanked the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its cooperation with and assistance to the Lao counterpart in recent years, especially in professional training for young diplomats.

On the behalf of the Party, State, and people of Laos, she showed gratitude towards the donations from Vietnam to aid relief efforts following the Lao dam collapse, and also extended her condolences over the losses after floods hit northern and central Vietnam recently.

The third political consultation at the deputy foreign minister level will take place in Hanoi on August 24 under the co-chair of Vietnamese Deputy FM Le Hoai Trung and his Lao counterpart Khamphau Ernthavan.

Deputy PM and FM Pham Binh Minh (R) hosts a reception for Park Soo-kwan, Honorary Consul General of Vietnam in the RoKs Busan-Gyeongnam region. (Photo: VGP)

* The same day, Deputy PM Pham Binh Minh hosted a reception for Park Soo-kwan, Honorary Consul General of Vietnam in the Republic of Korea (RoK)s Busan-Gyeongnam region.

At the meeting, FM Minh expressed his delight at the development of the Vietnam-RoK strategic cooperative partnership.

He applauded Parks contributions to promoting bilateral ties, especially in assisting Vietnamese-Korean families, and Vietnamese labourers and students in the Busan-Gyeongnam region.

The Deputy PM urged Park to carry forward his role as the Honorary Consul General to support and protect legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese citizens who are living, studying, and working in the region.

He also called on the Honorary Consul General to encourage large and potential businesses in the region to increase their investment in Vietnam, to promote the presence of Vietnamese products on the RoK market, and to enhance cooperation in tourism, and education and training between the two countries.

In his reply, Park pledged that he will continue to make all-out efforts in order to contribute to forging the strategic cooperative partnership in the time ahead.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

Every time I experience Israel, I feel a sense of serenity, holiness and kinship that I find nowhere else. This must be what makes me keep coming me back. I have been visiting the Holy Land  the land of miracles in the Bible  for 45 years, with several trips each year.

On each trip to Israel, my relationship with the Lord grows deeper and I am privileged to share that journey with others, drawing on my roots from years ago as an evangelical pastor to ensure they too feel that joy and wonder.

But my continuing religious growth is only part of the reason I return so often to the Holy Land of the Bible. I also feel a deep sense of belonging in the country, both politically and socially. Going to Israel is a bit like going home. Thats why it is so important to continue to pray and act for Israels survival and serenity.

On Sept. 7 I will be joining people across the globe to pray for peace and stability in Israel and for a return to civility for all mankind.

Each year, Acheinu  the outreach arm of the nonprofit educational organization Dirshu  holds a Day of Jewish Unity. On this day, individuals  Jews and non-Jews alike  are asked to come together and promise to be kinder and more caring, while praying for peace.

Israel, the only true democracy in the Middle East, needs our support now more than ever. With rising anti-Semitism and hostilities from Israels Arab neighbors, our Israeli brothers and sisters need us. Supporting Israel not only helps its citizens, but helps us in America as well.

Like the United States, Israel believes in freedom, democracy and fighting terrorism in all its forms. Israel is our truest ally in the Middle East, with values more closely aligned to ours than any other Middle Eastern nation.

As a Christian, I know that Israel is sacred and is a fulfillment of prophecy in the Bible. God wants Israel to stay strong and grow. We need an Israel free from violence, with Jerusalem as its united capital.

There are too many forces in our world trying to destroy the Jewish people and the Holy Land, but Jews need to stay strong and united  and we must join them.

Acheinu promotes this day of prayer in honor of Rabbi Israel Meir Kagan, who devoted his entire life to promoting respect and civility and cautioning about the evils of gossip. Though Rabbi Kagan died in 1933, his teachings live on.

I think if Rabbi Kagan was alive today to see how divided the world still is, he would be disappointed. And yet, through the rabbis teachings, I also know that he would not give up hope but would continue to call for courtesy, understanding and cohesion.

As Americans, we are blessed to have the right to speak our minds and voice opposition to the government without fear of reprisal. But there is a difference between articulating your views and spreading vitriol.

We can disagree with one another, yet remain courteous. A disagreement does not have to be a fight. I think it is safe to say that Christian scholars, both present and past, and Rabbi Kagan would have agreed on this.

It has saddened me greatly to see how my own daughter, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, has been treated this past year by those on the other side of the political aisle and many in the media.

My daughter is a kind, caring and good-hearted wife and mother, so it pains me to see the near-constant personal attacks made against her. This is not to say you cannot disagree with her or with the White House she represents, but the key to civil discourse is civility.

As Americans, we do not have to always agree with one another  in fact, it is our disagreements that often heighten our dialogue and ideas.

But, as Americans, we must remember that we are one nation, under God. Just as the Jewish people, though divided into many denominations, still view themselves as one people with a common interest in supporting and protecting the Holy Land, so must we as Americans come together.

We must unite against those who would wish to destroy all that we  and our forefathers  stand for. We can disagree, but we should also be proud that together we make the strongest democracy in the world.

On Sept. 7, please join me in praying to God for peace and the continued prosperity of Israel and all mankind. And back up your prayers with your interactions with others by reminding yourself to be kind, courteous and always civil.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

The liberal media suggest that President Trump is on a sinking ship and will be soon be losing the support of a large number of his followers  the group Hillary Clinton dismissively described as a basket full of deplorables. Dont believe it.

The conviction Tuesday of former Trump presidential campaign chairman Paul Manafort on tax and bank fraud charges  and the guilty plea that Trumps former personal lawyer Michael Cohen entered the same day to charges of violating federal campaign finance laws, tax evasion and making a false statement to a bank  wont shake support for Trump among the millions of Americans who voted for him and appreciate his many accomplishments in office.

Heres why:

Supporters of President Trump are convinced that the Justice Department has been biased against him. They believe Special Counsel Robert Muellers probe into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government to win the 2016 presidential election is politically motivated. They know that the Clinton campaign funded a dirty tricks dossier that led to a court warrant allowing surveillance of Trump associates. They know that numerous people working for Mueller had ties to Hillary Clinton and opposed Trumps election. For this and other reasons, much of the country no longer supports the special counsel and his work.

Trump supporters think an investigation into Hillary Clintons actions was inadequate and tainted. The FBI conducted a far too limited investigation of Clintons use of her own private computer server to handle her email communications  including classified emails  when she was secretary of state. Clinton then lied about what seems to be a clear security breach. Her aides were granted immunity in the investigation for no apparent purpose, and her interview with the FBI was not recorded in any fashion. On top of that, Attorney General Loretta Lynch met secretly with former President Bill Clinton during the probe of his wife. This all seems highly suspect.

Many Trump supporters believe writer Peter Schweizer disclosed wrongdoing by the Clintons and their foundation. Schweizer is the author of the book Clinton Cash: The Untold Story of How and Why Foreign Governments and Business Helped Make Bill and Hillary Rich. The book documents numerous instances of apparent pay-to-play involving questionable donations to the Clinton Foundation and exorbitant speaking fees paid to former President Bill Clinton by organizations that had received favors from then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Trump fans wonder why the investigations into those activities were sidelined by the FBI.

The Mueller probe has yet to disclose any evidence that the Trump campaign colluded with Russia. Democrats are giddy that White House Counsel Don McGahn spoke openly with Muellers team, assuming he may have revealed damaging information about President Trump. Trump voters consider the openness indicative of innocence on the part of the president, who approved the conversations. The White House has operated under a cloud of suspicion for well over a year, beset by allegations that are as yet unfounded. Millions of Americans believe, as the president has said, that the Mueller investigation is a witch hunt; two-thirds of the country thinks it should be brought to a close.

The media coverage of the Trump presidency has been almost laughably biased. The persistent focus on Russia, Russia, Russia is meant, supporters think, to distract from the accelerating economy and other achievements of the Trump White House.

Trump backers knew they were not voting for a choir boy. If they harbored any such notions, the release of the Access Hollywood tape shortly before the 2016 presidential election put those to rest. People do not condone Trumps language on the tape and his alleged behavior with women, but they do not think it criminal or disqualifying. If Trump follows through on campaign promises, and the country is better off under his guidance, they are willing to look the other way.

Paying a woman to keep mum about an alleged sexual relationship is understandable. Two women received payments from Trump after they claimed to have had consensual sex with him  although he denies their claims. Either way, reaching a financial settlement with the women to not publicly air their charges appears to be a reasonable action by a wealthy married man, much less someone running for office. To many, the payments to the two women do not rise to the level of high crimes and misdemeanors that would justify impeachment of the president and his removal from office.

All these are some of the reasons that many Trump voters will cite for their continued support of the president.

Most Americans are too busy to follow every twist and turn of the Mueller investigation, the melodrama around fired FBI Director James Comey, the lying and leaking of fired No. 2 FBI official Andrew McCabe, the disgraceful saga of Trump-hating lovers Peter Strzok and Lisa Page at the FBI, or the myriad other rivulets feeding into the torrent of partisan bitterness infecting our politics.

But Trump supporters have a sense that Justice Department holdovers from the Obama years  and indeed officials high up in that administration  were furious at Trumps election and have worked to undermine his administration from Day One.

More importantly, people who voted for Trump are happy with the way our country is going. In recent months, according to Gallup, the percentage of Americans satisfied with the direction of the country was higher than at any time since 2005.

People are optimistic, they are upbeat about their finances, they are enjoying wage hikes, and their ability to quit and find a better job. As their incomes rise, they are spending more (retail sales in July were up over 6 percent) and going out to eat more often. Spending at restaurants was ahead nearly 10 percent in July.

People are feeling flush, and are giving President Trump credit for producing a humdinger of an economy.

Democrats are dumbfounded by the very high approval ratings Trump earns from Republicans. In Gallups latest weekly tally, 87 percent of the Republicans said they approve of the presidents job performance, compared to only 7 percent of Democrats. Its an unbridgeable gulf, and thanks in part to the intemperance of the liberal media it is likely to stay that way.

Come November, we will get a better reading of how President Trumps legal problems sort out politically. There may well be further developments stemming from Paul Manaforts second trial, scheduled for next month, or more revelations from Michael Cohen, whose lawyer has hinted he may have information that could damage the president.

With or without more bad news, President Trumps fate will be determined by the steadfastness of his supporters  and on whether Democrats overplay their hand. Midterm elections are decided by turnout; impeachment talk will drive Trumps deplorables to the polls. As of today, they still have his back.The killing of Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts, allegedly at the hands of an illegal immigrant, has placed a spotlight on the state's Democratic party, which this summer denounced federal immigration laws and called for local officials not to enforce them.

But Iowa Democratic party officials on Wednesday would not say whether they stood by their immigration platform, and instead characterized the matter as a "partisan fight."

"The Iowa Democratic Party is going to honor the wishes of the Tibbetts family to let them grieve in private and will not turn this senseless tragedy into a partisan fight," Iowa Democratic Party chairman Troy Price told Fox News.

The national uproar over Tibbetts' slaying also threatens to upend two key House races underway in the state, which are considered potentially pivotal to Democrats' chances of retaking the House in November's midterm elections.

The 2018 Iowa Democratic Party platform, in a section entitled "Statement of Issues," reads: "We oppose: detaining undocumented minors, immigrant detention/deportation quotas, locally enforcing federal immigration laws, mass raids/related enforcement practices, religious exclusion, 'papers please,' unnecessary travel-bans, abrogating birthright-citizenship, separating minor children from their parents when they are trying to enter the country, internment and concentration camps."

The platform was adopted at a state convention in June. It goes on in a "Statement of Principles" to "affirm the Democratic Partys contributions to our nations heritage, accomplishments, and diversity."

Asked directly whether Iowa officials still did not want local police to enforce federal immigration law, Price did not respond. Abby Finkenauer and Cindy Axne, the two candidates Democrats have nominated to take on vulnerable Republican congressmen in the state, did not immediately respond to Fox News' inquiries as to their positions on the party platform.

FARM THAT HIRED SUSPECT TIBBETTS KILLING DIDN'T USE E-VERIFY, OFFICIAL SAYS

On Wednesday, an Iowa judge ordered Cristhian Rivera, the 24-year-old illegal immigrant accused of killing Tibbetts, held on $5 million cash-only bond. Rivera was mostly stoic and looked straight ahead in the courtroom. He wore headphones and used an interpreter when the judge spoke, only answering "Yes" when asked if he understood the proceeding.

A body believed to be Tibbetts was discovered Tuesday hidden in a corn field beneath several corn stalks after Rivera led authorities to the location.

Tibbetts' killing has fueled Republican calls to strengthen border security, while raising questions as to how Rivera was able to enter and remain in the country.

Rivera worked at a dairy farm, Yarrabee Farms, for the past four years -- less than three miles from where the 20-year-old University of Iowa student was staying the night she vanished in July. The company said he was in good standing as a worker and was shocked to learn of his alleged involvement in Tibbetts' disappearance and murder.

The suspect told law enforcement he approached Tibbetts while she was running, according to authorities. He claimed to have blacked out and realized later that he had put Tibbetts in his trunk. Investigators said they believed Rivera had been in the area for four to seven years.

WHAT MURDER SUSPECT CRISTHIAN RIVERA TOLD COPS ABOUT TIBBETTS' SLAYING

On Wednesday night, President Trump cited Tibbetts' case to call for changes to the country's immigration laws.

"Molly Tibbetts, an incredible young woman, is now permanently separated from her family. A person came in from Mexico Illegally and killed her. We need the wall, we need our immigration laws changed. We need our border laws changed. We need Republicans to do it because the Democrats arent going to do it. This is one instance of many," the president said in a video posted to Twitter.

Democrats are aggressively trying to flip the House seats of two Republicans in Iowa in November, Reps. David Young in the 3rd Congressional District and Rod Blum in the 1st Congressional District.

Both races are toss-ups, and are considered key contests as Democrats try to retake the House in the midterms. That would require Democrats winning a total of 24 currently GOP-held seats.

Immigration had played a significant role in two campaigns even before Tibbetts' disappearance.

Democrats have nominated Finkenauer and Axne to take on Blum and Young, respectively. Both Finkenauer and Axne are seeking to the first women to represent Iowa in the House.

Axne has vowed to a provide a "full path to citizenship for Dreamers and undocumented immigrants who don't have a criminal background," referring to illegal immigrants brought to the country as children. The progressive Finkenauer also has come out in support of immigration reform.

Neither Axne nor Finkenauer responded to Fox News' requests for comments on the Tibbetts case.

On the Republican side, Young had taken a moderate approach to the issue, saying he wanted border security but also a path to citizenship for Dreamers, the Des Moines Register reported. Blum, for his part, has called for an end to family separations at the border in the wake of the Trump administration's "zero tolerance" policy on arresting all illegal border crossers, but stressed that media coverage of the issue has been unfair.

PHILADELPHIA TERMINATES ICE CONTRACT AFTER ACTIVISTS STORM CITY HALL

The Tibbetts case also could have national political ramifications. The once-fringe call to abolish ICE in recent months has been picked up by top 2020 Democratic prospects, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.

There are signs not all Democrats are ready to take the idea mainstream, though. In July, House Republicans passed a nonbinding resolution expressing support for ICE, effectively daring Democrats to oppose the measure on record. Only 35 Democrats voted against the bill, with 133 voting present.

Fox News' Chad Pergram, Adam Shaw, Cody Derespina, Bret Baier and Guerin Hays contributed to this report.Special Counsel Robert Muellers team was one holdout juror away from winning a conviction against Paul Manafort on all 18 counts of bank and tax fraud, juror Paula Duncan told Fox News in an exclusive interview Wednesday.

It was one person who kept the verdict from being guilty on all 18 counts, Duncan, 52, said. She added that Muellers team of prosecutors often seemed bored, apparently catnapping during parts of the trial.

The identities of the jurors have been closely held, kept under seal by Judge T.S. Ellis III at Tuesday's conclusion of the high-profile trial.

But Duncan gave a behind-the-scenes account to Fox News on Wednesday, after the jury returned a guilty verdict against the former Trump campaign chairman on eight financial crime counts and deadlocked on 10 others.

Duncan described herself as an avid supporter of President Trump, but said she was moved by four full boxes of exhibits provided by Muellers team  though she was skeptical about prosecutors' motives in the financial crimes case.

Certainly Mr. Manafort got caught breaking the law, but he wouldnt have gotten caught if they werent after President Trump, Duncan said of the special counsels case, which she separately described as a witch hunt to try to find Russian collusion, borrowing a phrase Trump has used in tweets more than 100 times.

Something that went through my mind is, this should have been a tax audit, Duncan said, sympathizing with the foundation of the Manafort defense teams argument.

She described a tense and emotional four days of deliberations, which ultimately left one juror holding out. Behind closed doors, tempers flared at times, even though jurors never explicitly discussed Manaforts close ties to Trump.

It was a very emotionally charged jury room  there were some tears, Duncan said about deliberations with a group of Virginians she didnt feel included many fellow Republicans.

A political allegiance to the president also raised conflicted feelings in Duncan, but she said it ultimately didnt change her decision about the former Trump campaign chairman.

Finding Mr. Manafort guilty was hard for me. I wanted him to be innocent, I really wanted him to be innocent, but he wasnt, Duncan said. Thats the part of a juror, you have to have due diligence and deliberate and look at the evidence and come up with an informed and intelligent decision, which I did.

Duncan, a Missouri native and mother of two, showed Fox News her two notebooks with her juror number #0302 on the covers.

In the interview, Duncan also described how the special counsels prosecutors apparently had a hard time keeping their eyes open.

A lot of times they looked bored, and other times they catnapped  at least two of them did, Duncan said. They seemed very relaxed, feet up on the table bars and they showed a little bit of almost disinterest to me, at times.

The jury box was situated in a corner of the courtroom that gave them an unobstructed head-on view of the prosecutors and defense, while members of the media and the public viewed both parties from behind.

COULD MANAFORT COOPERATE WITH MUELLER'S TEAM? A LOOK AT HIS OPTIONS AFTER THE GUILTY VERDICT

Judge Ellis told jurors, including Duncan, that their names would remain sealed after the trials conclusion, because of dangerous threats he received during the proceedings.

But the verdict gave Duncan a license to share her story without fear.

Had the verdict gone any other way, I might have been, Duncan said.

MANAFORT CONVICTED ON BANK AND TAX FRAUD CHARGES

Her account of the deliberations is no longer a secret. And neither is the pro-Trump apparel she kept for a long drive to the federal courthouse in Alexandria every day.

Every day when I drove, I had my Make America Great Again hat in the backseat, said Duncan, who said she plans to vote for Trump again in 2020. Just as a reminder.

Fox News Andrew OReilly contributed to this report.During a visit to Texas on Wednesday, Vice President Mike Pence rushed to the aid of a congressmans wife, who had tripped while exiting the staircase of Air Force Two.

Pence, walking alongside Rep. John Culberson, R-Texas, was walking away from the vice presidential plane when Culbersons wife, Belinda, tripped on the ground, according to CBS News Mark Knoller.

Pence quickly rushed to Culbersons side, once he realized she had fallen, and the two, along with her husband, appeared to briefly chat before the three moved forward.

The vice president visited Texas to tour the area nearly one year after Hurricane Harvey caused widespread damage in the state.

Pence, according to the Houston Chronicle, also traveled to Houston with Culberson to attend a fundraiser for the congressman, whos running for reelection this year.President Trump on Wednesday weighed in on whether he'd pardon Paul Manafort following the former campaign chairman's conviction on bank and tax fraud charges.

Speaking to Fox News' Ainsley Earhardt in an exclusive "Fox & Friends" interview, Trump said he had "great respect" for Manafort in terms of "what he's done... what he's gone through."

"You know, he worked for Ronald Reagan for years, he worked for Bob Dole, he worked -- I guess his firm worked for [Sen. John] McCain," the president said. "He worked for many, many people, many many years."

A jury on Tuesday convicted Manafort on eight counts of bank and tax fraud. In the interview, Trump described the charges as what "every consultant, every lobbyist in Washington probably does."

WATCH AINSLEY EARHARDT'S EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH TRUMP ON 'FOX & FRIENDS' AT 6 AM ET THURSDAY ON FOX NEWS CHANNEL.

The president then pivoted to Hillary Clinton's email scandal, pointing to "the crimes that Clinton did."

"If you look at Hillary Clinton's person, you take a look at the people that work for Hillary Clinton," Trump began, "With the emails and she deletes 33,000 emails after she gets a subpoena from Congress and this Justice Department does nothing about it? And all of the other crimes that they've done?"

The president also told Fox News that "later on" he knew that former attorney Michael Cohen made hush-money payments to adult-film star Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal, and insisted the money did not come from campaign funds.

Later on I knew. Later on. What he did  and they werent taken out of the campaign finance, thats the big thing. Thats a much bigger thing, Trump said Wednesday. Did they come out of the campaign? They didnt come out of the campaign, they came from me.

Cohen entered a guilty plea in a New York City courtroom on Tuesday, admitting to violating campaign finance laws in relation to the hush-money payments.

Catch Trump's full exclusive interview with "Fox & Friends" Thursday morning at 6 a.m. ET.

Fox News' Brooke Singman contributed to this report.Several big seats are up for grabs in Arizona in this years midterm elections and already the races are expected to be tight.

President Trump beat Democrat Hillary Clinton in Arizona by about 4 percentage points  and many races in this years midterms election are predicted to be just as close. Republican Gov. Doug Ducey is up for re-election, and theres a fierce battle for a Senate seat left vacant by outgoing Sen. Jeff Flake, a vocal critic of the president.

Democrats have their sights set on a few congressional races in Arizona, too, during their quest to regain control of the House.

Read on for a look at the races to watch in the Aug. 28 primary elections.

Governor

In the race for governor in Arizona, education is playing a big role. Thousands of educators walked out of their classrooms in April, closing down schools, to protest for more pay and resources.

The average starting salary for teachers in Arizona for the 2016-2017 school year was $34,068, less than the national average of $38,617, according to statistics from the National Education Association.

Incumbent Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican running for re-election, has stuck by his plan to increase teacher pay by 20 percent over four years. And as the Arizona Capitol Times previously reported, when Ducey took office, the states per student funding was already low at $4,154; it is now $4,720. During the 2011-2012 school year, before he took office, it sank as low as $3,814, according to the Capitol Times.

But GOP challenger Ken Bennett, Arizonas former secretary of state who unsuccessfully challenged Ducey before, criticized the governors handling of the teacher walkouts and told the Arizona Republic he decided to run because of the panic and flip-flopping of the governor with his plan.

ARIZONA TEACHERS STATE WALK-IN TO DEMAND HIGHER PAY, MORE RESOURCES

As for the Democrats, Army veteran and Arizona State University professor David Garcia has emerged as a frontrunner. A more progressive Democrat, Garcia is an advocate for public schools and free college tuition.

Gubernatorial hopeful Steve Farley, a former state senator and artist, has raised more money in the primary than his Democratic counterparts. His campaign website touts him as a strong advocate for public transit and other transportation improvements in Arizona. According to the Capitol Times, Farley is a policy wonk with an abundance of knowledge about the state budget.

ARIZONA SCHOOLS CLOSE AS THOUSANDS OF TEACHERS PROTEST FOR MORE PAY

A third Democratic candidate, Kelly Fryer, is the YWCA Southern Arizona CEO and a political activist who spoke at a local Womens March event last year, the Arizona Daily Star reported. She said friends had encouraged her to seek political office for a while, but she decided to run because she was tired of watching people struggle because of the things our legislators are doing.

Fox News has ranked the gubernatorial race as leaning Republican.

Senate

The race to replace outgoing Republican Sen. Jeff Flake, who held the seat since 2013, has been bruising as three candidates battle it out for the GOP nomination.

Rep. Martha McSally has seemingly emerged as the frontrunner, pulling ahead of her two GOP opponents in recent local polls. In her campaign, McSally has focused on border security and immigration issues, saying she supports building a wall between the U.S. and Mexico.

While talking about the separation of children and families at the border, McSally told KGUN-TV law enforcement officials should not be put in a position where they have to choose between enforcing the law and keeping families together.

FOX NEWS MIDTERM ELECTIONS HEADQUARTERS

Also running in the Republican primary is Kelli Ward, a controversial and outspoken conservative who unsuccessfully challenged Arizona Sen. John McCain for his seat in 2016. A former state senator, Ward had already planned to run for Flakes seat even before he announced he would retire. While Flake has often been an outspoken critic of Trump, Ward has been an ardent defender of the president.

McSally and Ward traded jabs during a July debate, hitting each other over their credentials and who has more solid policy positions. The attacks also got personal at one point.

And you know, Im not a trained killer, Ward said. I am a trained problem-solver. Im a trained healer. And I think thats what we need in Washington.

The Arizona Republic reported that McSally, an Air Force veteran who served 26 years in the military, seemed disturbed by the comment.

Former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is also vying for the Republican nomination, although the Arizona Republic has reported his campaign is experiencing detrimental problems  including the loss of a prominent staffer  ahead of the primary. Arpaio was found guilty of criminal contempt for denying a judges order to stop traffic patrols that targeted illegal immigrants in July 2017; Trump pardoned him a month later.

Rep. Kyrsten Sinema and attorney Deedra Abboud are battling it out for the Democratic nomination for Senate.

ARIZONA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES STAFFER RESIGNS AFTER OLD INFLAMMATORY TWEETS SURFACE

Sinema, who also served in the state legislature, is Democrats best hope to flip the seat blue in November. Fox News has ranked the Senate election as leaning Democrat. Sinema is a more moderate candidate than some progressives may have hoped. Shes been openly critical of ObamaCare and said she does not support Medicare for all.

Abboud, who focuses on immigration law, told KGUN shes concerned about whether people coming across the border illegally are safe. Shes against the border wall because she said it could be harmful to the environment. Shes also focused her campaign on racial issues in the U.S., according to KGUN.

6th congressional district

While incumbent GOP Rep. David Schweikert should hold onto his seat, Democrats have fixed their attention on this race as one that they could flip as Schweikert is under a House Ethics Committee investigation for alleged misuse of official funds and campaign contributions.

Attorney Garrick McFadden said he wants to work for Medicare for all, citing his mothers cancer diagnosis when he was a child. In a campaign ad, McFadden said he got a job when he was 12 years old in order to help his family with the financial burdens of health care costs.

Heather Ross is an Arizona State University professor and nurse practitioner. With her background in heatlhcare, Ross is an advocate for expanding Medicare as well as access to mental health programs. She also supports greater gun control and strengthening the countrys alliance with Israel, according to her campaign website.

ARIZONA CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE REBUFFS CALLS TO DROP OUT OF RACE OVER OLD RAPE ALLEGATION

Anita Malik said she quit her job as chief operating officer of a technology company to run for office. After she lost her father to cancer, shes become a proponent for healthy and compassionate work environments, her campaign website said.

2nd congressional district

Rep. Martha McSally left her seat open when she decided to run for Senate, and Fox News has it ranked as leaning Democrat.

A large number of candidates  both Democrats and Republicans are vying for the seat. The 2nd congressional district, which encompasses much of Tucson and butts up to the U.S.-Mexico border, is one that is pretty equally divided among political parties, according to the Arizona Republic.

Ann Kirkpatrick represented Arizonas 1st congressional district in two non-consecutive terms. She also unsuccessfully challenged Sen. John McCain in 2016. Shes backed by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which has listed her as one of its Red to Blue candidate.

Physician and former state Rep. Matt Heinz has made health care and gun control some of his top issues. He raised eyebrows just ahead of the primary when he compared Kirkpatrick to a meth addict during an interview with National Journal.

All she can think about is, What do I have to do to put that damnable little pin on my lapel, Heinz said. Thats all she can see, and I understand it because Ive had to treat people with meth addiction.

Small business owner Billy Kovacs has been compared to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the Democratic socialist who won over progressives when she defeated longtime incumbent Rep. Joseph Crowley in New Yorks Democratic primary earlier this year. Kovacs supports Medicare for all and raising the minimum wage while he opposes a border wall.

JEFF FLAKE BLASTS TRUMP AS ERRATIC IN NEW HAMPSHIRE SPEECH, FUELING 2020 PRIMARY SPECULATION

Then theres Mary Matiella, who served as a financial manager for the U.S. Army during the Obama administration; Barbara Sherry, whose campaign website calls her a LGBT mortgage-broker-turned-rancher; former state Rep. Bruce Wheeler, who was also a Tucson city councilman; and Yahya Yuksel, an attorney, who are gunning for the Democratic nomination.

Yuksel faces calls to drop out of the race for allegedly raping a 16-year-old girl while drinking at a friends house in 2007. He has denied the allegations.

Republican Lea Marquez Peterson is the president and CEO of the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. She supports greater border security  including a wall  and repealing ObamaCare. When it comes to Trump, she told Politico that shes focused on the policy and things that I can actually impact as opposed to comments hes made about women that she disagrees with.

I kind of separate the man from the policy, she said.

Army veteran Brandon Martin, too, supports a border wall and included a quote from White House chief of staff John Kelly on his campaign website to drive his point home.

Danny Morales is a Navy veteran and local politician who served as the vice mayor of Douglas and on its city council. Douglas is in southern Arizona, right on the U.S.-Mexico border.

Casey Welch served in the Peace Corps and has spent time working with the military in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kosovo, according to his campaign website. While he was in Nicaragua, he also started a small business.Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel fired back at President Trump on Wednesday, saying the president should focus on other matters instead of badmouthing his city.

The mayor was quick to allude to Trump's mounting legal troubles one day after the president assailed Chicago's crime rate and immigration policies at a Tuesday night rally in West Virginia.

First of all, we'll always be a welcoming city, because Chicago welcomed my grandfather, etc. But let me just say one thing, if I were Donald Trump, Id spend my time figuring out which attorney Im going to have, Emanuel told Fox 32 Chicago.

One night earlier, Trump took jabs at Chicago's status as a high-crime city that also served as a sanctuary for immigrants.

"Take a look at Chicago. How about the mayor of Chicago? It's like a war zone. This is what those policies do," Trump said at the rally.

Chicago is known to have the some of the nation's most violent neighborhoods, with nearly 60 people shot and four people killed last weekend alone, Fox News reported.

But a researcher told Fox 32 that violence in the city's "war zones" is "virtually all carried out by native-born Americans" rather than immigrants.

Emanuel, meanwhile, was apparently preaching to the Democratic choir: A new survey showed that 70 percent of Cook County residents have an unfavorable view of Trump, the station reported.

Trump and Emanuel have a history of trading barbs.

In July, after Trump's Helsinki summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Emanuel called for Trump's security clearance to be taken away, the Chicago Tribune reported.

I dont know if Ive ever thought this, but I did yesterday: Can you actually take away a presidents security clearance, since they shouldnt be getting intel from the intel community? Emanuel said, criticizing Trump's performance at the summit. Ive never seen anything like this.

Amid Chicago's crime problems, Emanuel faces building pressure to take action or resign, the report said.

He also reportedly came under fire for comments that linked the city's violence to the moral character of people in some ethnic neighborhoods.Hillary Clinton is stepping back into politics this fall when shell headline a number of Democratic National Committee fundraisers, in an effort to raise money for candidates ahead of Novembers crucial midterm elections.

The 2016 Democratic presidential nominee will headline events in New York, Chicago and San Francisco  which are being billed as intimate dinners with discussion  as Democrats hope to boost their chances of taking control of the House and even Senate come November.

Invitations for the first event in San Francisco next month went out earlier this week.

"There has never been a more important midterm election, and Secretary Clinton is going to do her part to lift up the next generation of leaders," Clinton spokesman Nick Merrill told NBC News, adding that he does not currently have specifics to provide about individual candidates the former secretary of state may campaign for.

Since losing to Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election, Clinton has, for the most part, avoided openly campaigning for Democratic congressional candidates. Her outside political organization, Onward Together, has been doling out funds to Democrats running for seats in congressional districts she won in 2016.

Clinton is also planning fundraisers for a number of women running for Congress. Earlier this year, Clinton held a fundraiser in New York for Lucy McBath, a gun control activist who recently won a run-off election in Georgia.

Some Democrats, though, bristled at her return to the public stage last year for her tour promoting her 2016 campaign memoir, in which she relived the party's upset loss to Trump and blamed a number of different factors.

Former President Barack Obama also headlined a fundraising event in Washington earlier this summer, and his Attorney General Eric Holder was the featured guest at an event in Atlanta.

Fox News' Tamara Gitt contributed to this report.Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is reportedly considering allowing states to use federal funds to buy firearms for educators.

The New York Times, citing multiple people with knowledge of the plan, reported Wednesday evening that the department is focusing on a federal education law that does not explicitly prohibit the purchase of firearms through federal funds called the Student Support and Academic Enrichment grants.

It would be up to DeVos to approve of any such measure, The Times reported.

The Department of Education did not immediately respond to an email from Fox News.

A spokeswoman for the education department told the paper that the agency is constantly considering and evaluating policy issues, particularly issues related to school safety, but did not specifically address whether the department is considering granting states the option to use federal funds for weapons purchases.

The secretary nor the department issues opinions on hypothetical scenarios, the spokeswoman said.

Former Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords -- who was injured during a 2011 shooting at a meet-and-greet event in Tuscon, Az.  said arming teachers puts children in even more danger.

Arming teachers is not a solution. It recklessly puts American children in even more danger, Giffords tweeted late Wednesday evening. We can forge a better path. Its time for Americans to find the courage to fight for our own safety.

Stricter gun control laws have been at the forefront of hotly debated topics in Washington since a gunman opened fire at a high school in Parkland, Florida, and killed 17 students and faculty members.

President Trump in February expressed his support for arming gun adept teachers with military or special training experience, as a way to prevent another savage sicko from causing mass causalities.

He also advocated for gun control measures, such as raising the minimum age to purchase a firearm to 21.

DeVos unveiled a federal commission on school safety in March to study whether to ban gun sales to people under 21, among other things.* President Tran Dai Quang pays state visit to Ethiopia

President Quang and his spouse were greeted at Bole International Airport with a 21-gun salute.

They also watched a traditional Ethiopian dance, which is often performed to welcome guests.

Later, the Vietnamese State leader held talks with his Ethiopian counterpart Mulatu Teshome at the Ethiopian presidential palace.

This is the first visit by a State leader of Vietnam to the African country since the two set up diplomatic ties in 1976.

During the visit, the two sides will discuss measures to boost bilateral ties, particularly in terms of trade and economics.Florida elections tend to be fairly competitive, and the race for the open U.S. Senate seat is shaping up to be no different.

Republican Gov. Rick Scott and incumbent Democrat Sen. Bill Nelson have emerged as the frontrunners in whats expected to be an extremely costly election.

The fact that a sitting U.S. senator and a sitting governor will likely square off in the race is a rarity, Dr. Susan MacManus, a University of South Florida professor and expert on Floridian politics, told Fox News.

Its two people with understanding of grassroots-level campaigning, two state politicians with two different views of the world, MacManus said. Its a clash of titans, I would say.

Heres a look at the contentious Senate race.

The Republicans

Gov. Rick Scott, 65, officially declared his candidacy for Senate in April 2018.

To win, Scott shouldnt try to paint himself as a political outsider  after all, hes spent the past seven years as Floridas governor  but should discuss congressional term limits as a way to differentiate himself from Democratic incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson, who has been involved in Florida politics for decades, MacManus said.

He should also tout his success in bringing jobs to the state. Scott, in announcing his candidacy, said nearly 1.5 million jobs were added under his governing; PolitiFact said Scott brought about 86 percent of the jobs he promised to the state  and he still has a few more months in office.

Scott, who is term-limited, got his first experience in Florida politics as its governor. He is a Navy veteran.

Also gunning for the Republican nomination is Roque De La Fuente, who sought offices this year in a handful of states, including California.

The Democrats

Incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson, 75, has represented Florida in the Senate for more than 17 years. Before he was senator, he served in the state legislature and the U.S. House.

It was while he was a congressman that he was able to join the crew on the space shuttle Columbia in 1986 for six days.

To win, Nelson needs to be able to get voters, particularly minorities, to come out to vote, Dr. Gregory Koger, a political science professor at the University of Miami, told Fox News.

"I think if he campaigns as a real Democrat, a real member of the party who is interested in checking the president, thats probably a strong message for him," Koger said.

In the Senate, Nelson serves on the Armed Services and Finance committees.

Nelson has not had a serious challenger since 2000.

The District

Trump narrowly defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton in Florida in the 2016 presidential race by less than 2 percentage points, according to Fox News election results.

Fox News has ranked the election a toss-up.

Florida statewide elections tend to be fairly competitive, Dr. Kevin Wagner, a Florida Atlantic University political scientist, told Fox News. Florida is a purple state that neither side can win, and thats increasingly uncommon [nationally].

The fact that the president essentially lives here, comes on a regular basis, will make it hard for Republicans in the state to claim they do not know him or stay away from him.  Dr. Gregory Koger, University of Miami political science professor

Wagner said both sides will need an assist from their national parties in order to win in the fall.

Florida is a very large state and a very expensive state to run in, Wagner said, adding that Scott may already have a slight advantage as hes already shown, through his gubernatorial campaigns, that he is willing to spend his own money.

The issues

President Trump: Its inevitable that the president will play a role in the race  for better or for worse, depending on voters opinions of Trump. Its not uncommon for midterm elections to become a sort of proxy on how the president is doing," Wagner said.

But Trumps visibility certainly is heightened in the state given Mar-a-Lago, Trumps Palm Beach, Florida resort considered to be a winter White House.

The fact that the president essentially lives here, comes on a regular basis, will make it hard for Republicans in the state to claim they do not know him or stay away from him, Koger said. His presence here will be a constant reminder of the agenda of this administration.

So much more than other states, this election will probably be a referendum on the president, and that wont do well for the Republican Party, Koger said.

Gun control: In less than two years, Florida has seen two of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history  the Pulse nightclub attack in 2016 and the Parkland high school shooting in 2018.

Despite his A-plus rating with the National Rifle Association, the powerful gun lobbying firm, Scott ultimately signed Floridas new law raising the age limit to purchase rifles to 21 and creating a new process enabling law enforcement to seize guns from someone who is considered a danger.

Nelson has advocated for universal background checks and a ban on certain types of semi-automatic rifles.

Puerto Rico: Following the devastating hurricanes in 2017, particularly Hurricane Maria, more than 200,000 Puerto Ricans have relocated to Florida, at least temporarily, according to NBC News. And neither Nelson nor Scott have wasted time in courting the votes of those who have moved to the Sunshine State.

The administrations poor response to Puerto Rico will probably hurt Rick Scott, Koger said, although adding that Scott hasnt been as anti-immigrant as President Trump.

Both Nelson and Scott have visited Puerto Rico since the hurricanes. Wagner noted that theres typically not a high voter turnout among this demographic of people, but the hurricanes could change that this year.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.Voters continue to support a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants currently living in the United States, although support has declined since February. And while majorities remain concerned about certain issues linked with illegal immigration, voters are becoming increasingly less worried about them, according to the latest Fox News Poll.

The top concern voters have regarding illegal immigration is the possible drain on Uncle Sam: 69 percent are very or somewhat concerned it will overburden government programs. Thats down from 79 percent in July 2015 and a high of 87 percent in April 2006. Other concerns include the possibility illegal immigration will lead to increases in crime (59 percent) and terrorism (55 percent), and take jobs away from citizens (50 percent), but each of those problems saw double-digit decreases since 2015 as well.

Changing the culture of the country was the least of voters worries with 47 percent very or somewhat concerned, relatively unchanged from 46 percent in 2015.

READ THE COMPLETE POLL RESULTS.

In addition, almost six-in-ten voters (58 percent) favor allowing illegal immigrants to remain in the country and eventually qualifying for citizenship (32 percent oppose). While thats down from a record 65 percent who felt that way in February, its still a significant change from the split recorded in October 2014 (46 percent favor vs. 44 percent oppose).

The biggest changes in support since February come from black voters (-14), Southerners (-12), and Democrats (-10).

President Trumps approval rating on immigration remains in negative territory (39 percent approve vs. 57 percent disapprove). That matches his record low, recorded in September 2017. Last month, it was 43-55 percent.

Trump does better on handling of border security: 44 percent approve, while 51 percent disapprove.

2018 Midterms

Immigration is an important issue for voters in the 2018 elections, but not the most important issue. While 47 percent say immigration is extremely important to their vote, it trails health care (56 percent extremely important), which party controls the House (54 percent), the economy (53 percent), and President Trump (48 percent).

And when asked to pick the most important issue to their vote, just 10 percent say immigration. The economy (18 percent), health care (18 percent), which party controls the house (14 percent), and President Trump (13 percent) rank higher.

Border security comes in last place on both measures: 42 percent say its extremely important to their vote and just 5 percent say it will be the most important when casting their vote this November.

Voters who prioritize immigration are more likely to back the Republican candidate in their congressional district this fall by 22 points, while health care voters prefer the Democratic candidate by 42.

The Fox News poll is based on landline and cellphone interviews with 1,009 randomly chosen registered voters nationwide and was conducted under the joint direction of Anderson Robbins Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R) from August 19-21, 2018. The poll has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus three percentage points for all registered voters.Voters are increasingly divided over the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court since President Trump announced him as his choice to replace retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy.

Forty-five percent would confirm Kavanaugh, while 46 percent oppose him, according to the latest Fox News poll.

Last month, voters supported him by a 38-32 percent margin. Many voters at that time, 30 percent, had no opinion on Kavanaughs nomination. That makes sense, given interviews for the July poll were conducted July 10-11, which was soon after the presidents July 9 prime-time announcement of his selection.

READ THE COMPLETE POLL RESULTS.

Since July, support for Kavanaugh is up 15 points among Republicans (was 70, now 85 percent), while opposition among Democrats is up 20 points (was 58, now 78 percent).

Theres a gender gap too, as men (53 percent) are 15 points more likely than women (38 percent) to support his confirmation.

Many other nominees received similar mixed support. For example, voters backed the confirmation of President Trumps first nominee Neil Gorsuch by a 45-39 percent margin (March 2017), and former President Obamas second nominee Elena Kagan by 38-36 percent (June 2010). In addition, trend going back to 2005 shows that only two nominees garnered majority support: John Roberts received 51 percent support in July 2005 and Sonya Sotomayor got 53 percent in July 2009.

The new survey, released Thursday, also finds voters split over whether Senate Democrats should do everything they can to block any of President Trumps Supreme Court nominees: 45 percent say yes, while 42 percent disagree. Among Democrats, 75 percent think their partys leaders should do everything they can to oppose Trump nominees.

On Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer requested a delay in the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on Kavanaughs nomination, stating: Kavanaughs refusal to say that a president must comply with a duly issued subpoena, and Michael Cohens implication of the president in a federal crime, makes the danger of Brett Kavanaughs nomination to the Supreme Court abundantly clear. Its a game changer. Should be.

Trumps former personal attorney Michael Cohen pleaded guilty Tuesday to campaign-finance violations and other charges.

When the president revealed his selection of Kavanaugh in July, Senate Democrats called for delaying the vote on his nomination until after Novembers midterm elections. According to polling conducted at that time, voters disagree with that, saying the Senate should vote before the midterms by a 50-42 percent margin.

The Senate is scheduled to begin Kavanaughs confirmation hearings September 4.

Pollpourri

More voters view Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer negatively than positively by 14 points (28 favorable vs. 42 unfavorable). Other leaders fare even worse. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is viewed more negatively by 25 points (29-54 percent), House Speaker Paul Ryan is underwater by 20 points (31-51 percent), and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has a net negative of minus 30 (22-52 percent).

For comparison, voters rate Trump negatively by 16 points (41 favorable vs. 57 unfavorable).

Nearly half of voters, 46 percent, have a strongly unfavorable opinion of Trump. The next highest on that measure? Pelosi, at 35 percent strongly unfavorable.

Among the party faithful, Trump does best. Among Republicans, 83 percent have a favorable view, while Ryan comes in at 57 percent and McConnell 36 percent. Among Democrats, 46 percent have a favorable opinion of Pelosi and 39 percent of Schumer.

Voters view the Democratic Party more positively than the Republican Party.

Opinion of the GOP is upside down by 17 points (39 favorable vs. 56 unfavorable), while the Democratic Party is rated positively by 4 points (50 favorable vs. 46 unfavorable).

The Fox News poll is based on landline and cellphone interviews with 1,009 randomly chosen registered voters nationwide and was conducted under the joint direction of Anderson Robbins Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R) from August 19-21, 2018. The poll has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus three percentage points for all registered voters.President Trump's attorney Rudy Giuliani told Fox News on Thursday that Trump did not consult him or fellow attorney Jay Sekulow about the idea of pardoning his former campaign manager, Paul Manafort.

Giuliani told Fox News that Trump brought up the subject of pardons to Sekulow and himself several weeks ago, but never mentioned Manafort's name. The Washington Post reported Thursday that Trump did seek his lawyers' advice about a possible Manafort pardon.

Giuliani did tell Fox News that during the conversation about pardons, Trump mentioned his former national security adviser Michael Flynn. Flynn, who resigned his position in February 2017, pleaded guilty last year to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russian officials during the presidential transition and his Turkish lobbying work.

Manafort was convicted by a federal jury Tuesday of eight counts of bank and tax fraud. The judge in the case declared a mistrial on 10 counts on which the jury deadlocked.

The former New York City mayor said he and Sekulow advised Trump that for political and public relations purposes, it would not be a good idea to consider pardoning anyone until the court cases related to Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation are over.

Giuliani also said Trump was very upset with how Manafort was being treated while in custody.

The conversation took place after Trump commuted the life sentence of Alice Marie Johnson over a first-time nonviolent drug offense and charges related to money laundering.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.Former President Jimmy Carter has taken on President Trump, calling the current commander-in-chief a disaster on the issue of human rights in a Washington Post interview.

I think hes a disaster, Carter, 93, said. In human rights and taking care of people and treating people equal.

His wife, former first lady Rosalynn Carter, added that Trump is not truthful, which hurts everything.

The worst is that he is not telling the truth, and that just hurts everything, she said.

TRUMP RIPS COHEN FOR FLIPPING, PRAISES MANAFORT IN EXCLUSIVE FNC INTERVIEW

Carter told the newspaper Aug. 17 that he always told the truth when he was president. He said he was taught by his father and while studying at the U.S. Naval Academy that truthfulness matters.

I think theres been an attitude of ignorance toward the truth by President Trump, he said.

Carter had earlier remained quiet on Trump but praised him recently for his efforts with North Korea and a peace treaty.

If President Trump is successful in getting a peace treaty thats acceptable to both sides with North Korea, I think he certainly ought to be considered for the Nobel Peace Prize, the former president told Politico in May.

However, he did question Trumps character in the same interview.

I think the president ought to tell the truth. I think the president ought to be for peace. I think the president ought to treat everybody equally. So, equality and peace and the truth, and Id say basic justice are some of the moral values that I think every person should have, Carter said.

CHICAGO MAYOR FIRES BACK AT TRUMP AFTER PRESIDENT SLAMS CITYS CRIME RATE, SANCTUARY STATUS

Carter concluded his remarks about politics in the interview after discussing the Supreme Courts Citizens United decision, saying it changed our political system from a democracy to an oligarchy. Money is now preeminent. I mean, its just gone to hell now.

However, he said he had faith Americans would return to whats right and whats wrong, and whats decent and whats indecent, and whats truthful and whats lies.

But, he added, I doubt if it happens in my lifetime.

The interview followed Carter and his wife, who live a modest life in Plains, Ga., where the former commander-in-chief was born and raised. Following his presidency, he wrote books about his faith and career before starting the Carter Center. Carter also costs U.S. taxpayers less than any other ex-president in terms of allowances and office staff, the General Services Administration reported.Federal prosecutors in New York granted immunity to publisher David Pecker in exchange for information in the investigation into hush-money payments by Trump attorney Michael Cohen.

Sources confirmed to Fox News that prosecutors struck the immunity deal with Pecker, CEO of American Media, Inc., which publishes the National Enquirer.

His company allegedly was involved in the hush-money deals, involving payments to porn star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal to shut down allegations of affairs with President Trump. The immunity agreement allows Pecker to speak on what involvement Cohen and Trump might have had in those payments.

Cohen on Tuesday pleaded guilty to eight counts, including campaign finance violations connected to those payments.

Trump has insisted he did nothing wrong. In a Fox & Friends interview with Ainsely Earhardt that aired Thursday morning, he blasted Cohen for flipping and claimed it almost ought to be illegal.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Pecker, who like Cohen was close with Trump, provided information on Cohen and the president in the criminal probe.

Prosecutors reportedly indicated he wont be criminally charged.

Vanity Fair first reported the immunity deal.House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi made clear Wednesday that, unlike President Trump, she doesn't dig coal.

We're not gonna have a coal power plant floating around, Pelosi said during a discussion about energy policy at the Public Policy Institute of California in San Francisco.

Her appearance coincided with the Trump administrations rollback and replacement of Obama-era regulations on emissions from coal-fired power plants.

The newly unveiled Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) Rule, as its called, would give authority to the states to set their own rules how to restrict carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions.

And it really is a moral issue if you believe as I do that this is Gods creation [and] we have to be good stewards of it, Pelosi said.

We have evangelicals and others with us  er, some, those who believe in Gods creation. So, in any case this was a big thing for us. I had to fight some Democrats. Senator Byrd had a coal powered plan fueling the Capitol, you know I [unintelligible] thats gonna go, with all due respect to West Virginia were not gonna have a coal power plant floating around.

But as Pelosi mocked West Virginia, many in the state celebrated the administrations efforts to revitalize the industry.

[Trumps] almost single-handedly turned this industry around, Chris Hamilton, senior vice president of the West Virginia Coal Association, said on "Fox & Friends" on Wednesday, noting the the darkest days for the industry are now over.

We experienced perhaps the darkest days within the coal industry during the  President Obamas eight years and as a result, we just saw nothing but the, you know, the type of consequences you find when you have a president utilizing every resource available to him to ratchet down and  do away with the coal industry,  he added.

Bo Copley, a West Virginia coal worker who made headlines in 2016 when he confronted then-candidate Hillary Clinton with his family photo and asked about her plans to cut coal mining jobs, also praised Trumps plans to ease the regulations and follow through his campaign promise to protect the industry and the jobs.

It's great for us to be able to say we have someone who cares about the people in this state and cares about the people in our industry, that he's got our back, he told Fox News on Monday, adding that the administrations support for the industry is one of the reasons the state will continue to back him.Former National Security Agency contractor Reality Winner on Thursday was sentenced to more than five years in prison after pleading guilty to leaking a classified report with information on Russias involvement in the 2016 presidential election.

Winner, 26, was sentenced to 63 months, with no fine in a Georgia courtroom. She received an additional three years of supervised release.

The prisoner's mom had tears streaming down her face as the sentence was read. Winner appeared in court wearing an orange jumpsuit.

Winner's defense team said they felt the sentence, reportedly the longest ever imposed for a federal media leak crime, was "fair."

Winner, an Air Force veteran, pleaded guilty in June after being held in prison at the Lincoln County Jail near Augusta, Georgia. Winner was arrested in June 2017, and charged under the Espionage Act for removing classified material from a government facility and mailing it to a news outlet, according to the Justice Department.

Winners 2017 arrest was announced shortly after the Intercept website published a story detailing how Russian hackers attacked at least one U.S. voting software supplier and sent so-called spear-phishing emails to more than 100 local election officials at the end of October or beginning of November 2016.

The Justice Department did not specify that Winner was being charged in connection with the Intercepts report. However, the site noted that the NSA report cited in its story was dated May 5, 2017. An affidavit supporting Winners arrest also said the report was dated on or about May 5, 2017.

Winner worked as a contractor with a Top Secret security clearance with Pluribus International Corporation at a federal facility in Georgia when she printed out a sheet of paper with classified information and mailed it to a news outlet, according to the Justice Department.

Winner had a colorful history on social media that laid bare her political leanings, and wanted to resist President Trump.

At the time of her arrest in 2017, Winners social media pages indicate she was a passionate environmentalist who shared Bernie Sanders material online and held some anti-Trump views. She shared numerous articles and comments against the Dakota Access and Keystone XL pipelines (which Trump has moved to revive) on her Facebook page, even posting a letter she sent to the office of Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga.

Repeat after me: In the United States of America, in the year 2017, access to clean, fresh water is not a right, but a privilege based off of ones socio-economic status, Winner wrote in a Facebook posting last year.

Winner also posted using the hashtag #F---ingWall, in an entry about Trump silencing the Environment Protection Agency.

Winner also posted last February, before Trump revived construction on the Dakota Access Pipeline: You have got to be s---ting me right now. No one has called? The White House shut down their phone lines. There have been protests for months, at both the drilling site and outside the White House. Im losing my mind. If you voted for this piece of s---, explain this. Hes lying. Hes blatantly lying and the second largest supply of freshwater in the country is now at risk. #NoDAPL #NeverMyPresident #Resist.

And in one telling post before the 2016 general election, she wrote, "On a positive note, this Tuesday when we become the United States of the Russian Federation, Olympic lifting will be the national sport."

Air Force officials confirmed that Winner served active duty from December of 2010 to December 2016. Winner was a cryptologic language analyst, requiring fluency in at least one foreign language which was not divulged. Winner attained the rank of senior airmen, E4, and was last stationed at Ft. Mead in Maryland.

Fox News' Samuel Chamberlain and Nicole Darrah contributed to this report.Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter and his wife pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges they illegally used $250,000 of campaign funds for personal expenses, a development that could cost the GOP his California seat -- but Hunter claims the charges are politically motivated.



Bail was set at $15,000 for the congressman and at $10,000 for his wife after they entered their pleas in federal court.



The two are alleged to have used campaign funds from 2009 to 2016 for everything from family vacations to dentist bills, from video games to tequila-soaked nights out.



The indictment includes a lengthy list of astonishing allegations of using campaign funds for personal items and mischaracterizing them. Much of the spending was allegedly done by Margaret Hunter whose tabs include a total bill of $2,569.96 at Barnes & Noble over several years.



Between 2010 and 2016, the pair allegedly spent a total at $11,375.46 in campaign funds at Costco, primarily for personal items including groceries, toiletries, cosmetics, pet supplies and video games. The Hunters also spent a total of $1,528.68 in campaign funds on video game charges, prosecutors say.



In November 2015, he is alleged to have attempted to justify the use of $14,261.33 of campaign money to pay for a family vacation in Italy by setting up a day tour of a U.S. naval facility. When Navy officials said they could only do the tour on a specific date, Rep. Hunter is alleged to have told his chief of staff tell the navy to go f--- themselves.



In March 2016, Hunter allegedly spent $462.46 in funds at a restaurant for a bachelor party -- that bill was for 30 shots of tequila and one steak. This was amid personal financial difficulties for the couple, with the indictment alleging they overdrew their bank account 1,100 times.



But Hunters lawyer described the prosecution as "politically motivated" and alleged it is because of Hunters early support of President Trump. His lawyers also noted that in 2017, Hunter and his wife repaid the campaign about $60,000.



Hunter has also brushed off the suggestion he would resign.



Im not going to resign with a bunch of leftist government folks throwing allegations at me, he said this week. "There's a trial. This means nothing. The indictment is all they have. They only have what you have now seen. That's it. I've done nothing wrong.



One of the pillars of our country since its founding is that those tasked with enforcing the law would do so in an unbiased manner, allowing evidence to dictate how cases should run, with nothing impeding the rule of law, he said in a separate statement. Unfortunately, this is not the case today. The fact is that there is a culture operating within our Justice Department that is politically motivated.



Despite the indictment putting the seat into play in November, Republican leaders seem unwilling to step up and defend him.



House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., this week called the charges deeply serious and said he would be removed from the three House committees on which he sits. Hunter agreed to comply with Ryan's request and step down from his assignments -- avoiding the spectacle of a debate and vote on the House floor.



House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said that Ryan should demand Hunter resign.

Roll Call reports that GOP options are limited, and that California Republicans cannot remove his name from the ballot, or pursue write-in campaigns for a general election.



That offers an opening for Democrats, but it is not clear if the scandal will be enough to flip what has been a comfortably Republican seat in recent years. The outlet reported that 62 percent of voters backed a Republican in the primary, compared with just 36 percent who backed Democrats.



But Democrats have publicly expressed hope for their chances.



I think the Republicans just lost another House seat, California Democratic Party Chairman Eric Bauman told Roll Call. Surely the voters of San Diego are not going to elect a crook whos been indicted.

Even Hunters team indicated in an Aug. 6 letter to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein that they believe the move to bring an indictment now could cost him the seat.

"Because California employs a 'jungle primary' process, an indictment brought just after the June primary but before the general election  which is what we understand the Southern District intends to do  will result in a solidly Republican district being handed to a Democratic candidate who garnered a mere 16 percent of the vote in the primary," his lawyer said.

Hunter's opponent in the general election is 29-year-old Ammar Campa-Najjar, a Democrat who has never held elective office.

Fox News William LaJeunesse, Chad Pergram, Paulina Dedaj, Lee Ross and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The Senate overwhelmingly approved an $854 billion measure Thursday that combines military spending with disbursements for the departments of Health and Human Services, Education, Labor and other agencies.

The 85-7 vote sends the measure to the House and means the Senate has now passed nine of the 12 mandatory spending bills for the budget year that begins Oct. 1.

The House has approved a $675 billion spending bill for the Defense Department, but has not voted on a spending measure for labor, health and education. Senators from both parties have said they want to keep the two measures attached. The bills must be merged into a single product that passes both the House and Senate before they can be sent to the White House for President Trump's signature.

The bill did not include any formal proposal to prohibit the arming of schoolteachers, despite threats by Democrats to draft an amendment barring the Department of Education from using funds allocated by Congress for the purpose.

Under current law, the Trump administration is allowed to use the money to arm teachers through the end of September.

The bill boosts military pay by 2.6 percent, the largest increase in nearly a decade, and ups funding for the National Institutes of Health by 5 percent.

Republicans cited defense spending in urging support for the measure, which accounts for about two-thirds of federal spending for the 2019 budget year.

The 5 percent boost for NIH is the fourth straight significant increase for the biomedical research agency. The measure would hike spending for Alzheimer's research to more than $2.3 billion, essentially quadrupling spending levels from four years ago on a disease that requires hundreds of billions of dollars for dementia-related care.

Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., chairman of the Appropriations subcommittee on labor and health, said that if the United States does not find a solution to the disease by 2050, "we will be spending about twice today's defense budget on Alzheimer's care."

The bill also would provide a $145 million increase for treatment of opioid addiction, bringing spending to $3.7 billion to confront what lawmakers called an epidemic of abuse.

It would also boost spending for the Head Start preschool program and increase maximum Pell Grants for college education.

Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said the vote "shows what the Senate can do working together. We all know it's not easy, but it works."

Some conservatives criticized Republicans for going along with Democratic demands for increases in non-defense spending that match the increase in defense spending. The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, said the bill "continues to fund wasteful and ineffective programs that should be curtailed or eliminated entirely" and omits several policy riders important to conservatives.

Senate leaders from both parties have agreed to avoid attaching so-called poison pill proposals to spending legislation to ensure passage.

The Senate rejected an amendment sponsored by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., to block taxpayer dollars from going to Planned Parenthood and other groups that perform abortions. Paul said the amendment offered Republicans who "profess pro-life values" a chance "to turn our words into action, stand up for the sanctity of life and speak out for the most innocent among us that have no voice."

Only 45 senators voted in favor of the proposal.

Senate leaders also blocked an amendment by Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., to allow the Senate to intervene in a Texas lawsuit that could upend health-care protections for people with pre-existing medical conditions. The Trump administration has said it will no longer defend key parts of the Obama-era Affordable Care Act in court.

"What's happening today in the Senate is disgusting," Manchin said after the amendment was blocked. He said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell "chose to play politics with the health care of millions of Americans," including about 1.8 million people with pre-existing conditions in his home state of Kentucky.

"This is not a Democratic or Republican issue, this is life or death to many," Manchin said.

Manchin's election opponent, West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrissey, has joined states challenging the health care law.

Fox News' Chad Pergram and The Associated Press contributed to this report.U.S. Department of Justice(NEW YORK) -- Jakiw Palij, a man authorities say is a former Nazi concentration camp guard who was deported to Germany this week, is unlikely to be prosecuted for war crimes there due to insufficient evidence.



Justice Department officials say Palij served as an armed guard at a death camp in Nazi-occupied Poland. His deportation came 25 years after Palij, who had been living in Queens, New York, was first accused of lying about his Nazi past to obtain a U.S. visa. In 2003, a judge stripped him of his U.S. citizenship and ordered him to be deported.



At the time, Palij denied that he was a collaborator, telling The New York Times he was conscripted at 18 when the Nazis took over his farm.



"I know what they say, but I was never a collaborator," Palij told the New York Times in 2003.



Representatives for Palij declined ABC News' request for comment.



The Trump administration released a statement after Palij landed in Germany early Tuesday.



"President Trump commends his Administrations comprehensive actions, especially ICEs actions, in removing this war criminal from United States soil," the statement read, in part.



The statement also said that Palij had lied about not being involved.



"Palij had lied about being a Nazi and remained in the United States for decades," the statement said. "Palijs removal sends a strong message: The United States will not tolerate those who facilitated Nazi crimes and other human rights violations, and they will not find a safe haven on American soil."



The decision to finally send him to Germany Tuesday was at the urging of President Trump and came after weeks of discussion.



Authorities in the town of Wurzburg closed the case against him in 2015 because he could not be specifically linked to anyone's death.



"By itself, the transfer from the U.S. changes nothing as far as the body of evidence and the grounds for suspicion in Germany are concerned," Jens Rommel, known as the "Nazi Hunter," told German broadcaster Deutsche Welle on Wednesday. Rommel leads Germany's Central Office of the State Judicial Authorities for the Investigation of National Socialist Crimes.



"Theoretically, the public prosecutor's office in Wurzburg could resume its proceedings if it comes to a different evaluation. For that, though, it would principally require evidence connecting the person with the specific crime," Rommel told Deutsche Welle.



That evidence, Rommel added, is lacking.



While Americans may be celebrating the expulsion, Germans are left with a "bitter aftertaste," an article in left-leaning newspaper Taz on Wednesday pointed out. Palij will "live here for the rest of his life. He will be cared for, receive financial help; a roof, food and clothing," comforts he would not have received from the government in the U.S., Taz reported.



Palij will live in a care facility in the town of Ahlen in Western Germany, according to local officials.

Copyright  2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.The event, jointly organised by the Binh Phuoc Youth Union and the Asia Association of Education and Exchange, is also joined by over 600 local youths.

The programmes main activities will be held in Bu Dang district from August 23 to 26, featuring an English speaking contest on education and poverty, as well as hands-on experiences in farming and teaching.

The delegates will have a chance to learn about local life in Bu Dang and the culture of ethnic minorities in Binh Phuoc. Participants will also present 40 gifts to disadvantaged residents in the locality.

The activity is expected to foster friendly relations between Vietnamese and Japanese people, while offering opportunities for young people to engage in dialogue, practise international communication skills, and learn about bilateral relations, in addition to demonstrating their own roles in enhancing the Vietnam-Japan relationship.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Head of the Asia Association of Education and Exchange, Professor Akinori Seki from Japans Tokyo Keizai University, expressed his sincere thanks to the provincial authorities for creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese and Japanese students to carry out their exchange.

He said the programme helps young generations of the two countries increase mutual understanding and contributes to tightening Vietnam-Japan friendly relations.Attorney General Jeff Sessions fired back Thursday at President Trump for saying he never took control of the Justice Department, putting out a sharp statement vowing the agency wont be improperly influenced by politics.

Trump had made the comments in a wide-ranging interview with Fox & Friends. The president, on the heels of the first guilty verdict from a trial connected to Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe, continued to fume over Sessions' recusal from the Russia investigation.

"Jeff Sessions never took control of the Justice Department, and it's a sort of an incredible thing," Trump claimed.

But Sessions countered in a written statement:

I took control of the Department of Justice the day I was sworn in, which is why we have had unprecedented success at effectuating the Presidents agendaone that protects the safety and security rights of the American people, reduces violent crime, enforces our immigration laws, promotes economic growth, and advances religious liberty.

He went on to say, While I am Attorney General, the actions of the Department of Justice will not be improperly influenced by political considerations.

'While I am Attorney General, the actions of the Department of Justice will not be improperly influenced by political considerations.'  Attorney General Jeff Sessions

The statement was released shortly before he joined Trump at the White House for a meeting on prison reform legislation. We're pleased the President agreed that we shouldn't support criminal justice reform that would reduce sentences, put drug traffickers back on our streets, and undermine our law enforcement officers who are working night and day to reduce violent crime and drug trafficking in the middle of an opioid crisis, Justice Department spokeswoman Sarah Isgur Flores said after the meeting.

The president for months has railed against Sessions over his recusal, but the attorney general has hung on, occasionally pushing back publicly. The president discussed Sessions when asked in the Fox News interview if he would fire his AG and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein after the midterms.

He didnt rule it out, but said he wanted to stay uninvolved.

But when everybody sees whats going on in the Justice DepartmentI always put justice now with quotesits a very, very sad day. Jeff Sessions recused himself, which he shouldnt have done. Or he should have told me, Trump told Ainsley Earhardt. Even my enemies say that Jeff Sessions should have told you that he was going to recuse himself and then you wouldnt have put him in. He took the job and then he said Im going to recuse myself. I said, what kind of a man is this?

Trump also said that the only reason he appointed Sessions as attorney general was because he worked on his 2016 campaign.

Because I felt loyalty, he was an original supporter. He was on the campaign. He knows there was no collusion, Trump explained. And whats come out of Manafort? No collusion. Whats come out of Michael Cohen? No collusion.

Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort was convicted on eight financial crime counts earlier this week, arising out of the Mueller probe. His ex-attorney Cohen also struck a plea deal in a separate case.

Sessions recused himself in 2017, due to his involvement with the Trump campaign, per Justice Department regulations.

Rosenstein, his deputy, was then named to oversee the investigation. He appointed Mueller as special counsel.

Earlier this summer, Trump blamed Sessions for the ongoing Russian Witch Hunt Hoax, again saying he would have picked someone else as the nations chief law officer if he knew of Sessions decision to recuse himself, concluding: And I wish I did!

But despite Trumps consistent criticisms and Sessions recusal from the Russia investigation, the attorney general has led the charge on a number of items on the presidents agenda.

Just this week, Sessions announced developments in combating the opioid crisis, warning drug companies, foreign nationals and drug traffickers that the Justice Department will use civil and criminal penalties alike.

We will find you, put you in jail, or make you pay, Sessions said in a speech Wednesday in Cleveland, Ohio.

Sessions Justice Department also has focused on immigration enforcement, with an announcement just this week that the agency denaturalized a war criminal who had fraudulently obtained refugee status and U.S. citizenship.

The Justice Department has focused as well on campus free speech, violent crime and religious freedom.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Thursday that despite Sessions accomplishments, he believes it very likely Trump will appoint a new attorney general.

The president is entitled to an attorney general he has faith in, somebody thats qualified for the job and I think there will become a time sooner rather than later where it will be time to have a new face, and fresh voice, at the Department of Justice, Graham said. Clearly, Attorney General Sessions doesnt have the confidence of the president and all I can say is that I have a lot of respect for the attorney general, but thats an important office in the country and after the election, I think there will be some serious discussions about a new attorney general.

Graham added, though, that replacing [Sessions], to me, before the election would be a non-starter.

Fox News' Jason Donner and Jake Gibson contributed to this report.It pays to become a Trump nemesis.

Consider what now has become a familiar routine: get into a highly publicized media battle with President Trump, set up an online crowdfunding campaign for your legal defense and watch hundreds of thousands pour into your bank account from the anti-Trump resistance.

Since April, according to a review by Fox News, more than $1.7 million has been donated through crowdfunding campaigns like GoFundMe to former Trump attorney Michael Cohen, fired FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe, fired FBI agent Peter Strzok and adult film star Stormy Daniels.

The latest effort comes from Cohen, Trumps longtime personal lawyer who turned on the president this week, to the delight of Trumps critics. In a plea deal with prosecutors, Cohen admitted to violating federal campaign finance laws by arranging hush money payments to two women allegedly at the direction of then-candidate Trump during the 2016 race.

Money raised online by Trump foes, as of Aug. 23

Michael Cohen: $136,221

Andrew McCabe: $554,000

Peter Strzok: $443,170

Stormy Daniels: $585,563

TOTAL= $1,718,954

His attorney, Lanny Davis, on Tuesday set up a legal defense fund for Cohen on GoFundMe with a goal of raising $500,000. As of Thursday morning, Cohens fund had raised more than $136,000.

The Michael Cohen Truth Fund is a transparent trust account, with all donations going to help Michael Cohen and his family as he goes forward on his journey to tell the truth about Donald Trump, the fundraising page says.

Some critics, though, have found the blatant request for donations to be icky.

The live audience mockingly laughed when Davis, during a Wednesday appearance on Megyn Kellys television show on NBC, asked people to donate so Cohen can continue to tell the truth.

I dont know if theyre ready to donate, Lanny, Kelly replied, as the laughter faded.

Others  including those who are no fans of Trump  have criticized the GoFundMe campaigns as opportunistic.

Last week, "Daily Show" host Trevor Noah took aim at the GoFundMe page for Strzok, who was fired from the FBI after the revelation of numerous anti-Trump text messages while he was involved in the bureaus Hillary Clinton and Russia probes. As of Thursday, Strzoks crowdfunding page indicates that hes raised $443,170 out of a $500,000 goal.

"Because seriously, half a million dollars on a GoFundMe just for hating Donald Trump! Noah said. There are cancer patients on that site that are like, Hey! We hate him too, can you help me pay for my treatment?'"

"Daily Show" correspondent Michael Kosta added: "I get it. People are desperate for something that can hurt Trump even a little bit. But that's how scams work, by preying on the most desperate."

The first to really embrace this fundraising strategy was McCabe, who was fired from the FBI in March after the DOJs inspector general determined McCabe was not truthful during his review of the Clinton email investigation and the FBIs Office of Professional Responsibility recommended his firing.

McCabe was fired just days before he would have been eligible for a lifetime pension. He countered that he was unfairly singled out by the administration, and punished for what he knows about James Comey's firing.

A GoFundMe campaign set up to cover legal expenses far exceeded its goal, raising about $554,000. Organizers ended the campaign, having raised more than anticipated.

TREVOR NOAH TEARS APART PETER STRZOK'S OPPORTUNISTIC GOFUNDME CAMPAIGN

The donations have more than tripled the original goal, which is nothing short of astonishing, McCabe spokeswoman Melissa Schwartz said in April.

Stormy Daniels, the porn star who says she was paid off during the 2016 by Cohen to keep quiet about a past sexual encounter with Trump, has raised more than a half-million dollars in her crowdfunding campaign.

I am attempting to speak honestly and openly to the American people about my relationship with now President Donald Trump and the intimidation and tactics used against me, Daniels says on the fundraising site.

Cohen's plea deal, and other documents, supported her claim that she was paid hush money.

Some former Trump associates, ensnarled in Robert Muellers Russia investigation, have also set up defense funds. Supporters of Michael Flynn, the former national security adviser who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI, have set up a website to raise money for his legal defense. But that site doesnt list how much was raised.

There have been some hiccups in the crowdfunding efforts: Davis, the attorney for Cohen, on Wednesday mistakenly promoted michaelcohentruth.com as the place where supporters could donate to his client's legal fund -- but a Trump supporter apparently swooped up that domain first.

It now redirects to Trumps campaign website donaldjtrump.com, which urges visitors to contribute to re-elect the president and "Make America Great Again."

Fox News Gregg Re and Sasha Savitsky contributed to this report.President Trump blasted his former attorney, Michael Cohen, for flipping on him and praised another ex-lieutenant with legal trouble, Paul Manafort, in an exclusive Fox & Friends interview with Ainsely Earhardt airing Thursday morning.

The sit-down comes during a dizzying week that saw Cohen plead guilty and Manafort get convicted for crimes that mostly had to do with their personal business dealings. But Cohen also admitted making hush money payments on behalf of Trump in what prosecutors say amounted to campaign violations.

[Cohen] makes a better deal when he uses me, like everybody else, Trump said. And one of the reasons I respect Paul Manafort so much is he went through that trialyou know they make up stories. People make up stories. This whole thing about flipping, they call it, I know all about flipping.

He continued: For 30, 40 years Ive been watching flippers. Everythings wonderful and then they get 10 years in jail and theythey flip on whoever the next highest one is, or as high as you can go.

Cohen, Trump's former longtime personal attorney and self-described fixer, pleaded guilty Tuesday to five counts of tax evasion, one count of bank fraud, one count linked to an unlawful corporate contribution, and one count stemming from an illegal campaign contribution. The tax and fraud charges were tied to his dealings with a taxi business, while the campaign finance charges related to arranging payments to adult film star Storm Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal at the direction of then-candidate Trump.

Cohen is facing up to 65 years in prison on all the counts, but prosecutors have pledged to reduce his sentence sharply as part of the plea deal.

It almost ought to be outlawed. Its not fair. Because if somebodys going to givespend five years like Michael Cohen, or 10 years, or 15 years in jail because of a taxi cab industry, because he defrauded some bankthe last two were tiny ones, Trump explained. You know, campaign violations are considered not a big deal, frankly. But if somebody defrauded a bank and hes going to get 10 years in jail or 20 years in jail, but if you can say something bad about Donald Trump and youll go down to two or three years, which is the deal he made.

Trump said that in all fairness to Cohen, most people are going to do that.

Ive seen it many times, Trump said. Ive had many friends involved in this stuff. Its called flipping and it almost ought to be illegal.

He laid out a scenario in which you get 10 years in jail, but if you say bad things about somebody in other words, make up stories if you dont know. Make up. They just make up lies. Ive seen it many times.

They make up things and now they go from 10 years to theyre a national hero. They have a statue erected in their honor. Its not a fair thing, but thats why [Cohen] did it, Trump said.

Trump also seemingly distanced himself from Cohen, downplaying a relationship which spanned over a decade.

He was a lawyer for me, one of many," Trump said. "You know, they always say, 'the lawyer,' and then they like to add 'the fixer.' Well, I dont know if he was a 'fixer.' I dont know where that term came from. But hes been a lawyer for me. Didnt do big deals, did small deals. Not somebody that was with me that much.

He added: You know, they make it sound like I didnt live withwithout him. I understood Michael Cohen very well. Hewell, it turned out he wasnt a very good lawyer, frankly.

Trump said that Cohen worked for him for about 10 years, and he would see him sometimes, but noted that while Cohen was involved in big deals, Trump had outside lawyers and inside lawyers, too.

I always found him to be a nice guy, Trump said.

At issue involving the president is the $130,000 payment to Daniels in the weeks prior to the 2016 presidential election in exchange for her silence about an alleged affair with Trump, as well as the McDougal case. McDougal was paid $150,000 by the parent company of the National Enquirer for her, separate, story about an alleged 2006 affair with Trump, which it never published. Cohen admitted Tuesday to making an excessive campaign contribution and causing an unlawful corporate contribution.

But Trump insisted he only knew about hush-money payments made by Cohen later on, despite Cohens claims to the contrary.

Later on I knew. Later on. What he did and they werent taken out of the campaign finance, thats the big thing. Thats a much bigger thing, Trump said. Did they come out of the campaign? They didnt come out of the campaign, they came from me.

He added: In fact, my first question when I heard about it was, did they come out of the campaign, because that could be a little dicey. And they didnt come out of the campaign and thats big. But they werentthats not even a campaign violation.

If you look at President Obama, he had a massive campaign violation but he had a different attorney general and they viewed it a lot differently, Trump said. Trump was referring to Obama's 2008 campaign being fined $375,000 by the Federal Election Commission for a series of missing notices for more than 1,300 contributions. They totaled $1.8 million.

Trump, though, went on to criticize Attorney General Jeff Sessions, saying he never took control of the Justice Department." When asked whether he would fire Sessions or Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, he maintained that he wants to stay uninvolved with the DOJ.

Jeff Sessions recused himself, which he shouldnt have done. Or he should have told me, Trump said. Even my enemies say that Jeff Sessions should have told you that he was going to recuse himself and then you wouldnt have put him in. He took the job and then he said Im going to recuse myself. I said, what kind of man is this?

Trump added that the only reason he appointed him as attorney general was because I felt loyalty.

He was an original supporter. He was on the campaign. He knows there was no collusion, Trump said. And whats come out of Manafort? No collusion. Whats come out of Michael Cohen? No collusion.

This week, Manafort, Trump's former campaign chairman, was charged on eight counts of tax fraud as part of Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation. Unlike Cohen, Trump noted in the exclusive interview with Fox & Friends, Manafort did not flip.

"I have great respect for what he's done in terms of what he's going through. You know, he worked for Ronald Reagan for years. He worked for Bob Dole. He worked, I guess his firm worked, for [Sen. John] McCain. He worked for many, many people many, many years, and I would say what he did, some of the charges they threw against him, every consultant, every lobbyist in Washington probably does," Trump said.

He added: "If you look at Hillary Clinton's person, you take a look at the people that work for Hillary Clinton, and look at the crimes that Clinton did with the emails and she deletes 33,000 emails after she gets a subpoena from Congress, and this Justice Department does nothing about it and all of the other crimes that they've done."

Trump said he "didn't know Manafort well," and that his charges were "on things totally unrelated to the campaign."

"And by the way, they got Cohen on [charges] totally unrelated to the campaign," Trump explained. "I'm not involved. I wasn't charged with anything. You know, people don't like to say that, but I wasn't charged."A Washington state lawmaker was fired from his job as a university professor last week amid allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior directed at female students.

State Rep. Matt Manweller, a Republican, was terminated from his position as a political science professor at Central Washington University on August 14.

A report from an investigator hired by the public university said it found a preponderance of the evidence supported a finding that Manweller engaged in a pattern of unprofessional and inappropriate behavior with gender-based and sexual overtones with female students and former students from 2004 to 2017. The report was published by The Seattle Times.

Manweller is accused in the report of asking inappropriate and personal questions, physical touching, communicating with students with sexual or romantic overtones and offering an educational benefit in exchange for sex.

The report includes concerns raised by 15 current or former female students as well as witnesses.

Manweller has denied any wrongdoing. In a video posted to his YouTube channel, he called the allegations trivial and blown way out of proportion. He also said the investigation sensationalized  everyday events, such as offering someone a glass of wine or standing near a person.

One former student, in particular, alleged that when she was 19 years old, she was struggling to pass Manwellers class because her 3-year-old son needed to be hospitalized. She said she was in his office one evening when he sat close to her and placed his hand on her knee.

ARIZONA CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE REBUFFS CALLS TO DROP OUT OF RACE OVER DECADE-OLD RAPE ALLEGATION

Theres always a way for you to get an A in this class, Manweller allegedly told her.

The student said it was clear to her that he was offering her other ways to earn an A that did not involve course work, and understood this to mean a sexual favor for an easy A, the report said. The young woman ultimately withdrew from the class.

Manweller denied touching his student inappropriately and said if he had offered assistance in his class he would have been referring to something like extra credit work.

He said it was not quid pro quo, and he was very sorry if [the student] took it that way, the report said.

The report also includes multiple other female students who said they received unwanted attention from Manweller. In particular, some accused him of looking at their bodies in ways that made them feel uncomfortable.

SOME LEGISLATURES LACK SEXUAL MISCONDUCT POLICIES, TRAINING

Another student  who never took one of his classes  said she became a babysitter for Manwellers family. She said he would often comment on her appearance and want to talk to her for long periods of time when he arrived home, making her uncomfortable. There were times, she said, when she would leave without getting a check because she wanted to go.

Manweller often offered her alcohol when he got home, she claimed, and one night she accepted a glass of wine. She said they talked about school and work, but he kept inching closer to her, and eventually his hand was touching the side of her knee. She said she left and cried on the way home.

Manweller said he never discussed her appearance but did talk to her upon arriving home in order to debrief how his children were while he was gone since they have food issues and separation anxiety. He said he and his wife would sometimes offer her a glass of wine, but denied ever inappropriately touching her.

RAPE KIT ACCESS WOULD EXPAND UNDER BIPARTISAN BILL, AS VICTIMS SEEK 'CARE AND JUSTICE'

Other female students said Manweller would ask them personal questions.

This is the third time the Central Washington University has investigated Manweller for misconduct, he said in the video, accusing the school of only investigating him during years when hes up for re-election.

Ill tell you this. There is nothing in that report I have to apologize for. The things that are true, are not inappropriate. And the things that are inappropriate, are not true, Manweller said.

According to a Seattle Times report in December, one former student told investigators Manweller invited her to a bar in 2006. She said she went with another female friend because she would eventually need a letter of recommendation from him. At the bar, she said he asked her inappropriate questions, including asking the two to have a threesome.

Manweller denied the allegations, saying hes never propositioned a student.

After reports of inappropriate behavior began to surface, some students came to his defense, including a former babysitter, the Columbia Basin Herald reported earlier this month.

In a statement announcing Manwellers termination, Central Washington University criticized Manweller for having chosen to make public statements minimizing, trivializing, even ridiculing, the female students who have come forward with legitimate concerns.

Manweller is up for re-election this year. He has said he plans to sue the university and investigator.A brown briefcase containing fossils and several other unlikely items was discovered in Alabama, and police on Wednesday said they were searching for whoever the items belonged to.

The bag was located and dropped off to law enforcement by a citizen, the Mobile Police Department said on Twitter, along with a photo of the item and its contents spread out across a table.

99-MILLION-YEAR OLD BEETLE, WHICH LIVED IN TYRANNOSAURUS REX, FOUND PERFECTLY PRESERVED IN AMBER

A citizen found the briefcase filled with fossils, geodes, and a carving and turned it over to police, police tweeted. MPD is trying to find the owner. If you recognize this briefcase and the items inside, please call 251-208-1231.

More than a dozen items were found in the suitcase, each wrapped separately, police spokeswoman Charlette Solis told The Associated Press, who added that authorities think the items are genuine.

They are beauties just looking at them, and they are unique, Solis said.

MEGA-SHARK TEETH DATING BACK 25 MILLION YEARS DISCOVERED AT AUSTRAILIAN BEACH

There was no ID found on the briefcase, Solis said, and no one has reported any crime of missing items that appears to be connected.

If the bags owner cant be found, Solis said its likely the items will sit in our property room forever.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.Vice President Mike Pence highlighted the critical importance of the Moon to Americas space future in a speech at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston Thursday.

Were not content with just leaving behind footprints, he said, during the 30-minute speech, reiterating the Trump administrations objective of establishing a permanent presence around and on the Moon.

The administration has cited Moon missions a key element of the 2019 NASA budget. President Donald Trump wants U.S. astronauts to return to the Moon as a foundation for future Mars missions.

TRUMP WANTS TO SEE NASA BOOTS ON THE MOON

Pence discussed plans for a Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway, a NASA orbital outpost that will be in the vicinity of the Moon. The chair of the National Space Council described the goal of putting an American on board the Lunar Orbital Platform before the end of 2024. Were on the cusp of a new golden age of exploration, he said.

NASA released a draft Request for Proposals earlier this year that called on the U.S. commercial space industry help deliver payloads to the Moon. The agency plans to award multiple contracts for Commercial Lunar Payload Services through the next decade, with contract missions to the lunar surface expected to begin as early as 2019.

The VP also described the mighty Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft that will be used to carry U.S. astronauts on epic missions over the coming years. The SLS will be the largest and most powerful rocket ever built  all this energy, all this force, will lift American astronauts to space aboard the Orion capsule, Pence explained.

NASA NAMES NINE 'AMERICAN HERO' ASTRONAUTS FOR SPACEX, BOEING MISSIONS

"We will return to the Moon, put Americans on Mars and once again explore the farthest depths of outer space, he said.

NASAs goal is to send a manned mission to Mars in the 2030s.

In December, Trump signed a policy directive instructing NASA to "refocus America's space program on human exploration and discovery." The move, Trump said, "marks an important step in returning American astronauts to the Moon for the first time since 1972 for long-time exploration."

NASA'S PARKER SOLAR PROBE BLASTS OFF ON EPIC JOURNEY TO 'TOUCH THE SUN'

The last time a human set foot on the Moon was during the Apollo 17 mission in December 1972. Only 12 men, all Americans, have set foot on the Moon.

Fox News Madeleine Rivera and The Associated Press contributed to this article.

Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogersCall it a close encounter of the dorsal fin-kind.

A group of whale watchers in Alaska had a brush with a massive humpback whale on Monday while near Pleasant Island, not far from Juneau.

Tristan Krause told Storyful he was enjoying a whale-watching tour when he and his fellow passengers experienced a close encounter with a humpback whale.

Without any warning, the large creature jumped out of the water before crashing down near the boat, soaking everyone on board.

No injuries were reported, according to KTUU.

FISHERMAN FILMS WHALE BREACHING RIGHT NEXT TO BOAT: IT 'SCARED THE CRAP OUT OF ME'

Humpback whales can weigh up to 40 tons and are about the size of a school bus, according to National Geographic.

Besides being known for their whale songs, they are also powerful swimmers that use their massive tail fin, known as a fluke, to propel themselves through the water.

"These whales, like others, regularly leap from the water, landing with a tremendous splash," National Geographic notes. "Scientists aren't sure if this breaching behavior serves some purpose, such as cleaning pests from the whale's skin, or whether whales simply do it for fun."An Oregon man who was caught on video seemingly antagonizing a bison in Yellowstone National Park was reportedly sentenced to 130 days in jail Thursday after entering a guilty plea to the charges against him.

Raymond Reinke, 55, pleaded guilty to four charges of misconduct in national parks, according to ABC Fox Montana. He reportedly reversed his original not guilty plea, resulting in a fifth charge getting dropped.

Law enforcement had numerous encounters with Reinke since late July as he was traveling across several U.S. parks, Yellowstone officials revealed in a news release announcing his Aug. 2 arrest.

COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE ASKING RESIDENTS TO BEAR-PROOF THEIR HOMES

He was eventually taken into custody after Yellowstone rangers connected Reinkes extensive history and saw the egregious nature of the wildlife violation, the news release said.

An onlooker captured the moment on video, seemingly showing Reinke approach a bison in the middle of the road. The animal initially walked away from him as he approached. But soon after, the bison turned around and ran toward Reinke, who skittered away. The animal then retreated in the opposite direction.

Judge Mark Carmon, who handed Reinke his sentencing, admonished him for the bison incident, according to ABC Fox Montana.

A 55-FOOT FIT WHALE WASHED UP ON A MASSACHUSETTS BEACH. WHAT KILLED IT?

You chased and hounded the bison, the judge said. You're lucky the bison didn't take care of it, and you're standing in front of me.

Reinke was handed 60 days each for harassing wildlife and interfering with law enforcement, as well as 10 days for disorderly conduct, the outlet said. He was also reportedly given credit for 21 days already served.

Aside from jail time, Reinke was given five years of unsupervised probation, during which he must abstain from alcohol and drugs and cannot enter Yellowstone, Glacier or Grand Teton National Parks, the news outlet said. He reportedly also has to receive drug and alcohol treatment.

I'm sorry to the buffalo, Reinke said Thursday. He didn't deserve what I did to him. I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to hurt that buffalo.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.Giraffes are protecting U.S. Navy ships  and also a powerful new military base that can float anywhere in the world supporting special operations and other combat missions.

Onboard warships, Sea Giraffes radar systems are constantly conducting surveillance around the ship  scanning the air and the water surface  looking out for any possible threat large or small. The floating bases Giraffe can even detect small, fast threats like enemy rockets, missiles and more.

When a threat is heading toward a U.S. Navy ship, these Sea Giraffes spot it early, giving the ship the maximum amount of time to respond to the threat. Every fraction of a second counts in reducing risk.

In response, the ship can defend itself, launching counter-measures to prevent impact. The threat data can also be transmitted to other nearby assets, such as fighter jets, which can assist in intercepting the threat.

BIGGEST-EVER BRITISH WARSHIP JOINS FORCES WITH MOST POWERFUL AMERICAN STEALTH FIGHTER JETS

These talented giraffes havent been recruited from the zoo. They are state-of-the-art devices created by Saab. Sea Giraffe is a multi-mode surveillance radar that already plays a vital role on multiple U.S. ships for national defense.

The Navy has announced that the Sea Giraffe AMB Multi Mode Radar will now also be joining the Navys Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB) class ship USNS Hershel "Woody" Williams, ESB 4.

PODCAST: MEET AN INCREDIBLY BRAVE NAVY CROSS, IRON MAN WORLD RECORD-HOLDING MARINE

Sea Base Missions

The Navys new warships, ESBs, are floating sea bases that can be used to enhance combat power. In fact, the ESB used to be known as the Afloat Forward Staging Base which is an apt description but describes only one aspect of the huge flexibility and capabilities it can provide.

The U.S. military can leverage platforms like an ESB to lily pad access to just about anywhere inland. Given the Earth is about 71 percent water thats phenomenal access. These floating bases can sidle up to shore and handle littoral environments, such as getting a Navy SEAL team closer to riverine areas they can use to travel covertly inside a hostile country.

A MILITARY HELICOPTER DRONE THAT CAN FIGHT WILDFIRES

For SOF (Special Operations Forces), there is a lot of potential - from sea-to-shore teams in small boats, to aviation assault squadrons and more. They could also be vital as a place for special operations teams to safely resupply and rest in between missions while helicopters and boats undergo maintenance and refueling.

For counter-terrorism, Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team (FAST) platoons could also leverage the ESBs.

Other missions could include counter-piracy, launching surveillance drones, Airborne Mine Counter-Measures, maritime security, and crisis response.

'FORCE FIELD' TECHNOLOGY COULD MAKE US TANKS UNSTOPPABLE

ESBs could prove vital for supporting safe movement at sea for the U.S. military. For example, they could support sweeping water areas for mines before an incursion of forces. Mine countermeasures in advance would certainly reduce risk and save lives before a storming the beaches scenario.

An ESB could potentially provide much closer opportunities for aircraft to refuel. Rather than fly a long distance, say across a countrys border to an ally where there is an established base, aircraft could merely head towards water and refuel right offshore, thereby reducing time to return and provide vital air support and evacuation of casualties.

If there are no substantial medical facilities nearby, then an ESB could potentially be hugely useful to provide a floating medical hub for war zone evacuations. It could also potentially save countless lives if deployed to support disaster relief missions and provide humanitarian aid.

PODCAST: FIND OUT WHAT THE FIRST BATTLE IS LIKE FROM A TEXAN MARINE

Whats on an Expeditionary Sea Base?

The ESBs are based on Alaska class crude oil carriers built by General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO).

STORMBREAKER: POWERFUL BOMB PENETRATES BAD WEATHER, SPELLS BAD NEWS FOR BAD GUYS

One of the most evident adaptations is the flight deck with room for four helicopters and tiltrotor aircraft added on top. Theres also a hangar and a huge mission bay complete with cranes and equipment for small boat and unmanned vehicle operations.

The ESBs are 785-feet long with a 164-foot beam and can reach speeds of 15 knots with a range of 9,500 nautical miles. Fully loaded their displacement is 90,000 tons.

The floating bases are currently designed around providing four key capabilities: aviation, berthing personnel, support for equipment staging and whats needed for command and control. Their Expeditionary Transfer Dock (ESD) siblings focus more on vehicle staging areas and vehicle transfer from sea to shore.

BLACK HAWK ARMY HELICOPTERS GET FUTURISTIC NEW COCKPIT

The warship carries 34 Military Sealift Command personnel and can carry 250 military personnel for missions.

Now the compact, low weight Sea Giraffe AMB will be onboard as well. This ultra-advanced surveillance radar resists enemy attempts to jam it and will remain accurate even in the littoral environment.

How does it work so well in tough maritime environments? Saab describes the MMR as a 3D, electronically scanned phased array radar providing high-radiated power, selectable waveforms, and modern signal processing.

USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3) was the first Expeditionary Sea Base delivered with Hershel Woody Williams (ESB 4) and Miguel Keith (ESB 5) still under construction.

OTHER NAVAL SHIPS

Giraffes are protecting several classes of national defense ships.

In addition to the ESB, Saabs Sea Giraffe AMB radar, (aka AN/SPS-77), is currently deployed on the U.S. Navys Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship.

U.S. Naval Air Systems Command has a version underway, the AN/SPN-50, for air traffic control.

The Navys ESB announcement comes on the heels of the Navy purchasing more Giraffes for the U.S. Coast Guard. In 2017, Sea Giraffe MMR was first selected for the U.S. Coast Guards newest class of ship, the Offshore Patrol Cutter.Google said it has uncovered a "state-sponsored phishing attack" that is connected to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), marking the first time the tech giant has found a direct link between Iran's state media and misinformation attacks.

In a blog post Thursday, the company said it had found a number of different YouTube channels, blogs and Google+ accounts that are linked to the campaign from IRIB.

"We identified and terminated a number of accounts linked to the IRIB organization that disguised their connection to this effort, including while sharing English-language political content in the U.S.," Google's Kent Walker, SVP of Global Affairs, wrote in the post.

GOOGLE EMPLOYEES REVOLT OVER CENSORED SEARCH ENGINE PROJECT FOR CHINA, REPORTS SAY

Walker said that three important pieces of evidence gave the company confidence the attack was being carried out by the IRIB:

- "Technical data associated with these actors is strongly linked to the official IRIB IP address space."

- "Domain ownership information about these actors is strongly linked to IRIB account information."

- "Account metadata and subscriber information associated with these actors is strongly linked to the corresponding information associated with the IRIB, indicating common ownership and control."

The violations were found in "39 YouTube channels that had 13,466 total U.S. views on relevant videos; six blogs on Blogger and 13 Google+ accounts.

Walker added the company had been working with cybersecurity company FireEye on the "influence operation," noting that FireEye specifically identified "some suspicious Google accounts," which the company then disabled.

The full 20-page report from FireEye can be found here.

Walker also wrote that the advertising giant, which has come under scrutiny in recent days for tracking its users without notice, is working with U.S. lawmakers and law enforcement about the findings of the investigation, "including its relation to political content in the United States."

The news comes just days after Facebook said it has removed 652 pages, groups and accounts linked to Iran for "coordinated inauthentic behavior"  including the sharing of political material  and had also removed other pages tied to Russian military intelligence services.

In a statement, the social network said the activity originating in Iran and the activity sourced to Russia were not related. It also said it was not aware of any activity from the Russia-based accounts that targeted American users.

Fox News' Samuel Chamberlain contributed to this report. Follow Chris Ciaccia on Twitter @Chris_CiacciaThe event saw the presence of Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia, Ngo Duc Manh, and the entire staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in addition to news agencies based in Russia.

At the ceremony, Counsellor Nguyen Quynh Mai stressed that the collapse of the dam in Attapeu province was the biggest flood disaster in Laos in decades, causing serious damage to people and property. The senior Vietnamese leaders and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh sent their condolences to the senior Lao leaders and the Laos Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Vietnamese Government has promptly supported the Lao people with an amount of US$200,000. Ministries, sectors and localities in Vietnam have also held practical activities to assist the Lao people, Mai said.

Promoting the spirit of mutual affection and solidarity, the Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on its entire staff to support the Lao people so that they can quickly recover from the damage.

At the ceremony, officials and staff from the Vietnamese Embassy in Russia and news agencies in Russia donated one-day of salary each to support the Lao people. The financial support will soon be transferred to the Lao people through the Trade Union of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mai noted.

The breakdown of the Sepien Senamnoi hydropower dam in Attapeu province occurred on the evening of July 23, causing severe human and material damages, inundating 13 villages, while making 587 households and 3,060 people homeless.131 people are still missing.Fully autonomous weapons would breach international law if used in a theater of war, advocates say, claiming there is a moral imperative to ban robots that are programmed to kill.

As the U.S., China and Russia push to become leaders in weapons powered by artificial intelligence, longstanding calls for a ban on killer robots, which experts fear could lead to all-out, highly destructive warfare, have grown.

A new report published by Human Rights Watch and Harvard Law Schools International Human Rights Clinic claims that such autonomous weapons would violate the Martens Clausea provision of humanitarian law that's widely accepted worldwide.

APPLE COULD LOSE $16B IN WAR TRIGGERED BY NETFLIX

It requires emerging technologies to be judged by the principles of humanity and the dictates of public conscience when they are not already covered by other treaty provisions.

Specialists from 26 countries, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, have called for a ban on fully autonomous weapons.

Permitting the development and use of killer robots would undermine established moral and legal standards, Bonnie Docherty, senior arms researcher at Human Rights Watch, which coordinates the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots, told the Guardian. Countries should work together to preemptively ban these weapons systems before they proliferate around the world.

Docherty continued: The groundswell of opposition among scientists, faith leaders, tech companies, nongovernmental groups, and ordinary citizens shows that the public understands that killer robots cross a moral threshold. Their concerns, shared by many governments, deserve an immediate response.

Governments from more than 70 countries are meeting at the United Nations in Geneva on August 27 for the sixth time to discuss the challenges raised by fully autonomous weapons.

The idea of delegating life and death decisions to cold compassionless machines without empathy or understanding cannot comply with the Martens clause and it makes my blood run cold, Noel Sharkey, a roboticist who wrote about the reality of robot war as far back as 2007, told the British publication.

MIT DEVELOPS WIRELESS SYSTEM TO LET SUBMARINES COMMUNICATE WITH PLANES

Some states would prefer to shift from a prohibition protocol to one that requires a positive obligation to ensure meaningful human control, and both amount to the same humanitarian law, he added.

Although fully autonomous weapons do not yet exist, experts believe their usage will be widespread in a matter of years. In addition, the paper reports that at least 381 partly autonomous weapon and military robotics systems have been deployed or are under development in 12 nations, including France, Israel, the U.S. and the U.K.

Russia reportedly opposes the ban of fully autonomous weapon systems, joining various others  including the US  who could seek to block any future negotiations.

Research by the International Data Corporation has suggested that global spending on robotics will double from $91.5 billion in 2016 to $188 billion in 2020.This is a rush transcript from "Your World," August 23, 2018. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

NEIL CAVUTO, HOST: Well, with Duncan Hunter under scrutiny, The Cook -- The Cook Political Report, I should say, has now shifted the 50th California District from solid Republican to now just leans Republican.

This Democrat would probably be saying, how about no Republican?

House Democratic candidate Ammar Campa-Najjar is running against Duncan Hunter. He joins us right now.

Congressman...

(CROSSTALK)

AMMAR CAMPA-NAJJAR, D-CALIFORNIA CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE: Hi, Neil. How are you?

CAVUTO: Very good, sir.

We reached out to Congressman Hunter. He's going to be appearing on another Fox show.

But, sir, very good to have you. Does this change the dynamic in your race? How do you look at it?

CAMPA-NAJJAR: It does.

And the solidly Republican thing or solidly Democrat, it's 100 solidly American, this district that I belong to. And I think this does change the race.

I was just talking to my pastor about how I should confront this issue. And, first, I just want to say that Congressman Duncan Hunter honorably served our country abroad. He fought the battles that we wage abroad, so someone like me could have the luxury to fight the ones we have here at home.

But I think that man who served our country never made it back from the battlefield. And I think Washington chewed him up and spat him out, and he lost his way.

And so I think people are looking for someone who will lead with their values, somebody who not only will pass laws, but follow the law. And that's what I'm trying to run for everybody in the district, not just for the resisters or the Trumpsters, but for everybody.

And I talk to people in my district all the time.

CAVUTO: Well, how do you know -- how do you know Washington won't chew you up and spit you out?

CAMPA-NAJJAR: Because I actually served in Washington long enough to know that it's broken, but it didn't break me.

I know where I came from. I'm the son of a single working-class mom who raised me on her own, through being broken, broken-hearted. I didn't inherit a scene from my father, like Duncan Hunter did. And I haven't spent the past 10 years selling my votes to the highest bidders in Washington, whether it's big oil or big pharmaceutical companies.

CAVUTO: Well, that's a -- that's a little extreme.

CAMPA-NAJJAR: Well, I don't know.7

CAVUTO: But let me ask -- let me ask you about this.

(CROSSTALK)

CAVUTO: You were recently very critical of the idea that, if you made it to Washington, you wouldn't want Nancy Pelosi to be your leader.

CAMPA-NAJJAR: Sure. Right.

CAVUTO: I guess you meant that whether Democrats are in the minority or the majority.

CAMPA-NAJJAR: That's right.

CAVUTO: Who would you want?

CAMPA-NAJJAR: You know, that's a good question.

I think I really appreciate that you have the confidence that you think I'm going to be in the position to make that choice.

But let me first get elected. I would like to see another woman in that seat.

CAVUTO: Well, you were the one who stated it, that you wouldn't support her. I didn't.

CAMPA-NAJJAR: Yes. No, you're right. And I'm not backpedaling on that.

I haven't given enough thought on who would be a good replacement. I would like to see a woman in that position, because odds are we're probably going to have another man as president in 2020. And I would like to see a balance between Congress and the presidency having men and women trying to figure out what the best way forward is for our country.

So I do think it's time for new leadership. And for the people in my party who disagree, it's inevitable. Whether you want it or not, nobody is in office forever.

That's why I'm running for Congress against a dynasty that's been there for 40 years, so...

CAVUTO: Well, let me ask you what you -- you agree with a lot of what Nancy Pelosi espouses. You think the tax cuts were tilted to the rich. You would like to revisit them, so -- she has said the same.

CAMPA-NAJJAR: Yes.

CAVUTO: So, you agree with her on a lot of policy, just not her leading things, right?

CAMPA-NAJJAR: Well, you know what.

Duncan Hunter Jr. and I actually agree that this tax plan would hurt California families. He said on San Diego airwaves that it would hurt California families. But he said, why should I let the rest of the country suffer for California's poor decisions?



The last I checked, he was the congressman from California. So I want to put the 50th first. And I'm not really thinking about what label that falls under.

I think I want to be an independent leader who will get rid of the corruption, the greed and the chaos that's been plaguing Washington.

Wouldn't you agree there's a lot of that? And without looking at labels of party, I think we need somebody who will put the people's interests first. And I think Duncan Hunter has been too distracted.

He once did serve our country, but I think those days are gone, and he's lost his way.

CAVUTO: The president is saying that if Democrats want to go after him and impeach him, the market is going to crash.

What do you say?

CAMPA-NAJJAR: I think what you said, I think -- didn't you call it bombastic? And you have been known to stand up to the president from time to time.

I think that's what we need in Congress, is an independent check on the president, no matter who it is. And I don't think that should be the threat of holding the economy hostage and saying that, if you impeach me, the economy will tank.

CAVUTO: All right.

CAMPA-NAJJAR: It's a weapon of mass distraction. We need to focus on the people of my district, not our personal politics, Neil, but our personal health, our personal safety, and our personal financial dignity.

That's what I care about. And the partisanship these days, it's not for me. I'm not a fan of it.

CAVUTO: All right. We will watch your race very, very closely. Thank you, sir, very, very much.

CAMPA-NAJJAR: Thank you for having me.

CAVUTO: All right.

END

Content and Programming Copyright 2018 Fox News Network, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Copyright 2018 CQ-Roll Call, Inc. All materials herein are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of CQ-Roll Call. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content.Week 2 of the "Fox and Friends" All-American Summer Road Trip is taking us to my home state of New Jersey  the Jersey Shore in Atlantic City, specifically. But this was no day at the beach, and I mean that in the best possible way.

Instead, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience I will never forget, as I got to fly with the world famous Air Force Thunderbirds.

From the moment I arrived at the Atlantic City International Airport, the training began. I learned that the reasoning behind these airshows is to inspire the nation  and the next generation of airmen and airwomen  and to retain the best and the brightest in our Air Force.

ALL-AMERICAN ROADTRIP: DOLLYWOOD OFFERS GOOD OLD-FASHIONED FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

I also learned how to safely eject from an F-16, a skill which, fortunately, I did not have to use.

One of the most interesting parts of the training was the medical evaluation, which is much more than just your standard doctors appointment. I learned how to clench my body in such a way as to somewhat alleviate the G-forces that wreak havoc on your body in a fighter jet like the F-16. I also learned the proper breathing and sitting techniques, so as to make my experience comfortable, or as comfortable as one can be traveling well past the speed of sound.

Then it was off to get suited up in my flight uniform. For me, the coolest part was the helmet because more than anything, it serves as a symbol that, for a brief moment, I was on the Air Force team. But the most crucial part of the uniform (besides the hookup to the parachute) was the air bladder system attached to my legs and torso. This device pressurizes your body in such a way as to make sure blood flows to your brain when you hit more Gs  in other words, it keeps you from passing out!

Finally, I met with Major Brendan Felker, the pilot of the Number 8 F-16, who would be my "tour guide." We went over logistics as to what we would do in certain emergency situations, but also shared a few private conversations about the experience (for which the cameras couldn't be present). Those conversations will remain between Maj. Felker and me, but suffice it to say, we have some really special people defending our skies.

HOW TO GET STARTED ON YOUR OWN FAMILY-FRIENDLY RV ADVENTURE

I was so nervous heading to the fighter jet, but the team of Thunderbirds cheering me on was unreal. They strapped me in, we did our checks, and away we went. I cant describe what a G-force feels like, much less what 6.4 of them feel like, but I'll try: Picture the wildest roller coaster you've ever been on, and then multiply that by a million. Oddly, though, the smoothness of the jet and the serenity of the surroundings enhances the experience in such a wonderful way. It doesn't hurt that the tremendous sounds one usually hears at an air show aren't audible inside the plane, because the pilots are traveling faster than the speed of sound, and therefore leaving the sound behind.

When we landed, I was greeted by brave airmen and women, who graciously gave me a hero's welcome  but they're the true heroes. To be able to fly these fighter jets is an amazing feat in and of itself; to defend ones country while doing it is beyond comprehension.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE TRAVEL NEWS

We often talk about teamwork in the context of sports, but no team can match what I saw out on the airfield. One-hundred thirty strong, working in unison, committed to a mission, and flawless in their execution.

Thank you, U.S. Air Force, for the ride of my life.Italian police are on the hunt for two English-speaking tourists who went skinny-dipping in an ancient memorial fountain in Rome.

The two unidentified men stripped down to their underwear and climbed into the water at the Altare della Patria in Piazza Venezia Sunday, BBC reports.

The historic site, also called Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele, is a tribute to Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of Italy after the country's unification, and houses the tomb of the unknown soldier, a place where the eternal flame shines and which is always guarded by two soldiers, according to Romes tourism website.

COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE ASKING RESIDENTS TO BEAR-PROOF THEIR HOMES

In a video of the incident posted to a Roman blog, the duo can be seen splashing around the fountain and laughing, and one even pulls down his pants to pose for a photo.

Italian officials are outraged over the perps behavior, who will be facing a fine of at least $460 each if theyre caught.

Matteo Salvini, the country's deputy prime minister, tweeted: "I will know how to educate these idiots if they are caught. Italy is not their home bathroom."

Authorities say the pairs actions seriously offend the national sentiment and the memory of the fallen whom the monument is dedicated to and theyre seeking an effective collaboration to identify those responsible for this illegal and outrageous conduct, according to a statement.

Italy has seen its fair share of badly behaved tourists, especially during the summer months when the weather is hot and people seek to cool off in fountains.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS

In 1999, the country passed a law banning wading in the fountains, and more recently, Roman officials have begun issuing harsh fines for other disrespectful and potentially harmful acts like eating, drinking or sitting on the fountains, The New York Times reports.

It is unacceptable that someone uses them to go swimming or clean themselves, its a historic patrimony that we must safeguard, Virginia Raggi, Romes mayor, told the Times in 2017.Ryanair has been forced to apologize after sending out checks for compensation to customers that bounced.

Many of the passengers were charged extra fees after the checks were rejected by banks, and they have since been unable to get through to Ryanair on the phone.

Turns out the checks hadn't been signed, and therefore couldn't be deposited into accounts.

The BBC reports that one passenger, Karen Joyce, had to pay 20 euro (about $23) out of pocket after she was charged by her bank.

"I was totally dumbstruck. We were loyal Ryanair customers and for them to bounce the check as well, I just thought was disgusting," she said.

PHOTO: TSA FINDS GRENADE-SHAPED GROOMSMAN'S GIFT IN PASSENGER'S BAGS

After calling Ryanair to complain, she spent 20 minutes on the phone to a customer services rep before she was hung up on.

"Then he just put the phone down. I have not received anything from Ryanair."

Many of the checks had been sent out to compensate customers for the series of strikes this summer, which canceled flights for thousands of travelers.

Due to an admin error, a tiny number of checks (less than 190 out of over 20,000 compensation checks in July) were posted without a required signatory.

RYANAIR KICKS OFF DISRUPTIVE PASSENGER DRESSED AS TINKER BELL

These checks were re-issued last week and we apologize sincerely for this inconvenience which arose out of our desire to issue these compensation checks quickly to our customers.

The U.K.'s Civil Aviation Authority recently advised passengers caught up in strikes to apply for compensation, under EU law 261. Compensation comes in at 250 euro ($290) for short flights of up to 932 miles in Europe. For longer flights, compensation stands at 400 euro ($463).

Ryanair had previously stated that it would not be paying any compensation over the strikes because they were caused by extraordinary circumstances." The airline told The Times of London that it was not liable because unions were acting "unreasonably."

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE TRAVEL NEWS

This article originally appeared in The Sun.The U.S. Department of State issued an update to its Mexico travel advisory, telling tourists to exercise increased caution when visiting the country.

The update comes just one day after authorities confirmed the discovery of eight bodies outside the resort areas of Cancun  however, the State Departments advisory for the state of Quintana Roo, where Cancun is located, remains at a Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution), just as it did in the week preceding the discovery.

The rest of the warning is also largely the same as the previous advisory, albeit with a change concerning government personnel traveling to the Chihuahua city of Ciudad Juarez, WPVI reports.

A spokesperson for the board of tourism for Quintana Roo issued a statement in response to the advisory update, claiming it does not apply to tourist or beach areas.

"The State Department travel advisory for Mexico does not include any tourist or beach areas and reaffirms that all major tourist destinations in Mexico are safe," the Quintana Roo tourism spokesperson said, per USA Today.

The travel warning, does, however, warn visitors to Quintana Roo to continue to exercise increased caution due to crime.

The advisory also urges U.S. citizens to avoid certain areas outright.

Exercise increased caution in Mexico due to crime. Some areas have increased risk, reads the travel warning, which specifically lists the states of Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa and Tamaulipas as being under a Level 4 advisory  meaning U.S. citizens should not travel to these areas for safety and security reasons.

The State Department cited violent crime, such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery, in the advisory, calling the activity widespread.An Arkansas man was sentenced Wednesday to 50 years in prison without the possibility of parole after fatally shooting a 3-year-old in a road-rage incident.

Gary Eugene Holmes was convicted of first-degree murder and terroristic threatening after a jury found him guilty of the December 2016 killing of Acen King.

According to the boys grandmother, Kim King-Macon, she was stopped at a stop sign in Little Rock, when Holmes honked his horn, got out of his car and fired into her car. King was shot in the back but his grandmother did not realize until she reached a shopping center 10 miles away.

The toddler died later that night at the hospital.

A woman who was in Holmes car at the time of the shooting had a different story. According to a police affidavit, she said he was angry because he thought the car behind him was tailing him too closely.

Jurors deliberated for fewer than 30 minutes before returning the guilty verdict. Holmes was sentenced 45 years for the killing and five years for the terroristic threats.

Holmess mother said she didnt think her son was in his right mind when he shot at the vehicle. She also described injuries her son sustained as a child and battles with depression.

Defense Attorney Ron Davis said Holmes plans to appeal.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.As Hurricane Lane nears Hawaii, officials and residents prepare for the fierce winds and heavy rain that are expected to hit the Pacific islands.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige said during a news conference Wednesday that he requested a presidential disaster declaration, which allows us to preposition the state, should the need for federal assistance arise during the Hurricane Lane effects.

The Category 4 storm, currently situated about 400 miles south-southeast of Honolulu, is expected to bring maximum sustained winds of 150 mph, and currently is moving west-northwest at 8 mph, according to an 8 p.m. ET update from the National Weather Services Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC).

The storm was listed earlier as a Category 5 storm before a decrease in wind strength. Hurricane warnings are in effect for Hawaii County and Maui County, in addition to several islands, the agency said. Oahu and Kauai County are under a hurricane watch.

A steady weakening trend is forecast to begin today, but Lane is expected to remain a dangerous hurricane as it approaches the islands, the CPHC said in the Wednesday evening update.

Parts of the state under hurricane warning should see tropical storm conditions by Thursday morning before strengthening to hurricane level severity later in the day, CPHC said.

Heavy rain from the storm is anticipated across portions of the Hawaiian Islands through the weekend, the update said, which could lead to major flash flooding and landslides.

With the potential of rain, wind and coastal flooding on the island of Oahu, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said they are using an abundance of caution as we go forward.

Were planning for the worst and hoping for the best, he said.

Starting Thursday, only disaster response workers were expected to report to work, Caldwell said, echoing a tweet from the governor, who is permitting administrative leave for all non-essential state employees on Oahu and Kauai. Ige previously issued the same authorization for similar employees on the Big Island and Maui.

Hurricane evacuation shelters are expected to be opened Thursday morning, Deputy Director of Emergency Management Hiro Toiya said during the news conference. There is very limited space in the shelters, Toiya said, adding that the facilities essentially will be standing room only, and will be stocked with very few supplies, so residents should prepare to bring their own.

Most of the shelters have not been designed or hardened to withstand winds greater than a tropical storm, he said, before adding that they were still a safer option for people in potential flood areas or those who lived in older homes. He also encouraged people to consider the option of staying with friends and family.

Among the other preparations announced by the mayor and other officials from the city included cancelling all public schooling on the island and concluding regular bus service Thursday evening until after the storm. Public schools also were closed on the Big Island and in Maui County until further notice.

Residents in Hawaii rushed to stores to stock up on bottled water, toilet paper and other supplies as they faced the threat of heavy rain, flash flooding and high surf.

Were planning on boarding up all our windows and sliding doors, Napua Puaoi of Wailuku, Maui, told The Associated Press after buying 16 pieces of plywood from Home Depot. As soon as my husband comes home  he has all the power tools.

Lane is the strongest storm to come this close to Hawaii in recorded history, and only six Category 5 storms have been located in this part of the Pacific Ocean.

The Aloha State, while located in a vast ocean, has not had many brushes with large tropical systems. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations database, there is no record of a hurricane track within 65 nautical miles of either Maui or Honolulu since statehood.

For Hawaii, the big one came in in 1992 when Hurricane Iniki struck the island of Kauai as a Category 4 storm, causing $3.2 billion in damage and killing six people, according to Fox News Senior Meteorologist Janice Dean.

Iniki is still the costliest and deadliest storm to hit the islands in recorded history, and only two other hurricanes  an unnamed storm in 1871 and Dot in 1959  have hit a Hawaiian island in that time period.

Fox News Travis Fedschun, Janice Dean and The Associated Press contributed to this report.Florida wildlife officials said a homeless woman was attacked by an alligator Wednesday while swimming in a lake.

Felicitie Gillette, 24, was swimming in Lake Hernando in Citrus County around 1 a.m., when an alligator snatched her left arm, and tried to drag her underwater, WFTS-TV reported, citing the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission.

Gillette was able to fend off the gator and called 911. She was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and was treated and later released.

The alligator, according to the news station, is believed to be around 5- to 6-feet long, and is being sought by wildlife officials.

The commission warned that alligators inhabit many aquatic areas of Floridas 67 counties, but ask that if anyone sees specific gators that may pose a threat to humans, pets or property, they could call the Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program hotline at 866-392-4286.

The reported alligator attack comes days after a woman in South Carolina was killed while trying to protect her dog during their daily walk at her vacation home in a private resort on Hilton Head Island.

MAN CAPTURES 1,000-POUND ALLIGATOR ON FLORIDAS LAKE OKEECHOBEE

An 8-foot-long alligator attacked and pulled the woman into the water, and she died. The gator later was found and killed.

Florida currently is undergoing an alligator harvest in which permit-holders hunt the reptile as a method to help manage the alligator population.A getaway driver and reputed gang member charged in the 2013 killing of a 15-year-old high school honors student in Chicago was found guilty Wednesday of first-degree murder, in a case that brought national attention and shed light on the city's gun violence crisis.

Prosecutors said Kenneth Williams, 25, was behind the wheel the afternoon Hadiya Pendleton was shot to death as she and several of her classmates went to a public park after final exams.

In closing arguments, Cook County Assistant States Attorney Brian Holmes told jurors Williams was just as culpable in Pendletons death as alleged shooter Micheail Ward, whose trial is ongoing.

Williams is responsible and accountable for his own actions as well as responsible and accountable for the actions of Ward," he said. "In the eyes of the law his hand is on that trigger."

Pendleton, an honors student and drum majorette at King College Prep High School, had performed a week earlier at President Barack Obamas inauguration festivities. First lady Michelle Obama attended Pendletons four-hour funeral in February 2013. Pendletons death resonated well beyond Chicago and she became a national symbol of senseless gun violence.

Two separate juries were impaneled to hear the cases against Ward and Williams. The juries were swapped in and out of the courtroom as evidence was offered in one case or the other.

Williams' lawyer, Matthew McQuaid, argued that jurors should not be swayed by emotion.

McQuaid said many prosecution witnesses were under pressure to testify, making their testimony unreliable.

"They're saying whatever they have to say to get out of the police station," he argued.

Some of the witnesses who testified at the trial disputed their previous grand jury testimony in which they implicated the two suspects.

Prosecutors presented a video recording of Ward confessing to police. Early on, Ward could be seen denying shooting into the park as a detective accused him of lying. At one point, Det. John Murray reminded Ward that the first lady had attended Pendleton's funeral. An attorney for Ward, Gina Piemonte, noted how detectives raised their voices, swore and occasionally got physically close to Ward.

Williams' lawyer called one witness in his defense. Gang expert Lance Williams contended police had no evidence proving the shooting was gang-related.

Lawyers for Ward completed their case as the jury that heard the case against Williams deliberated. After the defense rested and the jury was excused, the presiding judge asked Ward if he would testify on his own behalf.

"Nah, I'm not going to testify," he answered.

During the trial, prosecutors told jurors what has become a familiar story in Chicago: Gang feuds that turn deadly when members of one rival gang open fire, not worried about anybody else, not children riding their bikes, people sitting on their porches or, on this day, high school students sitting in a park laughing and talking with each other after final exams.

As if to underline their point, the trial began the same week in which bullets fired in two neighborhoods pierced two homes, one finding and killing a woman as she sat on her couch and the other injuring a woman while she slept in her bed.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Department of the Treasury on Tuesday announced sanctions on several individuals and entities over their involvement in actions against the U.S. sanction measures on Russia and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

In an announcement, the Treasury targeted two entities and two Russian individuals "in order to counter attempts to evade U.S. sanctions."

They were accused of providing assistance for a sanctioned Russian entity.

"The Treasury Department is disrupting Russian efforts to circumvent our sanctions," said U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests of the designated persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.

In another separate announcement, the Treasury targeted two entities and six vessels for violating the UN and U.S. sanctions on the DPRK.

They were accused of involvement in ship-to-ship transfer of refined petroleum products with DPRK-flagged vessels, an activity prohibited by the UN Security Council.

"Consequences for violating these sanctions will remain in place" until the final and fully verified denuclearization of the DPRK is achieved, said Mnuchin.

The new moves are the latest among a series of the Trump administration's actions against Russia's alleged "threatening" activities against the United States.

In response to U.S. escalating actions, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law a bill which allows him to respond to sanctions by the United States and other "unfriendly states."

Under the new law, foreign entities could be prohibited from providing services for Russia's central and local governments, conducting trade with Russian counterparts, or participating in the privatization of Russian properties.An Arizona man who sold ammunition to Las Vegas massacre gunman Stephen Paddock was indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday on one count of manufacturing ammunition without a license.

Douglas Haig, 55, was charged in Arizona earlier this year with manufacturing armor-piercing bullets after authorities said his name was found on a box in Paddock's hotel room at the Mandalay Bay hotel on the Las Vegas Strip.

According to a Justice Department statement, Haig operated an online business selling "high explosive armor piercing incendiary ammunition, armor piercing incendiary ammunition, and armor piercing ammunition."

Justice Department officials said Haig sold his ammunition to customers in Nevada, Texas, Virginia, Wyoming and South Carolina between July 2016 and mid-October 2017. The charge made no mention of his sales to Paddock.

Paddock killed 58 people and injured hundreds of others on the night of Oct. 1 when he opened fire from his suite onto concertgoers at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival. He killed himself as police approached his room and investigators have been unable to pin down a motive for the massacre, the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

Haig told investigators that he reloads ammunition, but doesn't sell such cartridges to customers -- and that none of the ammunition recovered in the Las Vegas attack would have tool marks consistent with his reloading equipment, prosecutors said.

The prosecutors also said Haig's fingerprints were found on reloaded, unfired .308-caliber cartridges inside Paddock's hotel room. Investigators had said previously that armor-piercing ammunition recovered inside of Paddock's room had tool marks consistent with Haig's reloading equipment.

Marc Victor, an attorney in metro Phoenix who represents Haig, told The Associated Press his client would fight the Nevada charge aggressively. Victor also said he expected a separate federal case filed earlier this year in Arizona, charging Haig with manufacturing armor-piercing bullets, will be dismissed in the coming days as a result of the Nevada indictment.

Victor said he was preparing to provide prosecutors with a response to evidence turned over in the Arizona case, but prosecutors instead went ahead and indicted him in Nevada. "We are disappointed by that," Victor said.

Haig, an aerospace engineer who sold ammunition as a hobby for about 25 years, previously acknowledged selling 720 rounds of tracer ammunition to Paddock in the weeks before the attack. Tracer rounds, which are legal to sell, contain a pyrotechnic charge that illuminates the path of fired bullets so shooters can see whether their aim is correct.

The criminal charge filed against Haig in Arizona mentioned Paddock extensively.

Investigators have said FBI agents found armor-piercing rounds during an Oct. 19 search of Haig's home.

They also said a forensic analysis of the two armor-piercing cartridges found in Paddock's hotel room with Haig's fingerprints had tool marks consistent with equipment in Haig's backyard workshop.

The criminal complaint filed in Arizona said Haig didn't have a license to make armor-piercing ammunition.

Haig has said he didn't notice anything suspicious when he sold the tracer rounds to Paddock.

But the criminal complaint from Arizona said Haig told investigators that when Paddock bought ammunition at his home, Paddock went to his car to get gloves and put them on before taking a box to carry the tracer ammunition.

Haig has since closed his ammunition business. He is scheduled to make an initial court appearance Sept. 5.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.Police in Oregon said a woman allegedly shot and killed her disabled 7-year-old son before attempting suicide by drug overdose.

The woman was recovering in the hospital Wednesday; law enforcement did not elaborate on a potential arrest.

Bend Police responded to a call at around 5:45 p.m. Monday that a woman had been found unconscious in her home by a family member. First responders identified the woman as 28-year-old Tashina Aleine Jordan.

She was rushed to the hospital, where, at the time, she was suffering from a life-threatening condition, police said.

Investigators in the home later found the body of 7-year-old Mason Jordan, who was pronounced dead on the scene from an apparent gunshot wound.

Police said notes left at the scene led investigators to believe that Jordan is a suspect in the shooting of her child.

The woman was the primary caretaker of her son, who suffered brain bleeds as an infant and lapsed into a coma before reawakening. He was unable to feed, bathe or dress himself and used a wheelchair, said Dianna Hansen, a close family friend. Jordan lived with her mother to make ends meet, said Hansen, the executive director of the Central Oregon Disability Support Network.

A fundraising page raised thousands of dollars for the boy's funeral expenses by Wednesday night.

Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel said Wednesday that Jordan was still clinging to life, KTVZ reported.

Mason had cerebral palsy and hydrocephalus and required multiple surgeries, including two or three so far this year, but always seemed happy, Hansen said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.The only incomplete 9/11 memorial site in the country gets its final major component this year. The Tower of Voices, the final part of the Flight 93 National Memorial, is making its debut Sept. 9 in Shanksville, Pa., the National Park Service says.

The Tower, standing 93 feet tall to represent United Airlines Flight 93, will have 40 wind chimes to represent each of the 40 passengers and crew members killed in the plane's highjacking, National Park Service's Chief of Interpretation and Education MaryJane Hartman told Fox News.

"40 is a very significant number," Hartman said, adding that 40-degree angles are seen throughout the structure. She noted that the number 40 also represents Flight 93s angle of impact, as well as the degree of the branches on the hemlock trees that were destroyed by the plane.

Lorraine Bay was a senior flight attendant on that United Airlines flight, and for families like Bays, this memorial will serve as a reminder of the lives lost.

"She was the cool older sister that I never had," Ed Root, Bay's cousin, told Fox News.

"Wishing you lasting success in all of your endeavors. Love, Lorraine," Root read aloud from a note his cousin gave him. He said he always looked forward to family gatherings with her.

"Christmas Eves were always a highlight of the year," he remembers. "Thanksgivings were always a highlight of the year."

On 9/11, there was only one word to describe what he felt when a voice on the other end of the phone gave him the news.

"Shock," Root said.

Over the past several years Root got to know the other families whose loved ones had also died in the crash.

"The nicest people we should have never had to meet," Root said, adding that this was a phrase they had heard throughout the years of grieving.

The National Park Service says the planning and funding of the Tower of Voices has been a years-long process.

"Its been a very long haul," Hartman said. "It's been nearly 17 years to get this memorial completed."

Before the first piece of the Tower was placed on the ground, one construction coordinator said 9,000 planning hours had gone into the project.

"You're only going to get one shot at doing this and everybody wants it to be right," Guy Fiore told Fox News.

For Rot, the dedication of the Tower will be a bittersweet moment.

"I think whenever I hear those chimes or see those chimes, Ill hear Lorraine's voice," he said.

"It is the only wind chime structure of its kind that we know of in the world," Hartman said, adding that the chimes' sounds will each be unique to represent each of the 40. "There is that little bit of discord...to represent the struggle and the fight that occurred on Flight 93."

The dedication of the Tower of Voices will be held at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Pennsylvania on Sept. 9.Police and family are searching for an at-risk woman who was last seen five days ago at a Northern California grocery store, reports said Wednesday.

Wamaitha Kaboga-Miller, 66, was shopping at a Palo Alto market Friday morning when she went missing, Palo Alto police told The San Francisco Chronicle.

Her family reported her missing on Saturday, The Mercury News reported.

Her family told Fox 2 KTVU that she just had back surgery that left her "weak and frail."

Its been nerve-wracking, NJ Kaboga-Miller, her son, told the station. It's literally been the worst and most tumultuous time of my life.

He said she could die if she doesn't take her medication in the next 48 hours.

Its been nerve-wracking. It's literally been the worst and most tumultuous time of my life.  NJ Kaboga-Miller, son of Wamaitha Kaboga-Miller

Anybody with a mother would know she's your rock and she's your base so I need my base back, he said.

The family is joining law enforcement for the search.

Our detectives remain in regular contact with Kaboga-Miller's family and are continuing to investigate any possible leads as to her whereabouts, police said in a statement. Our goal is to reunite her with her family as soon as we can.An employee at a Texas bank allegedly texted a go signal to a duo of thieves in order to launch a plot to steal $75,000 from a woman on Friday  a violent attempted robbery captured in shocking surveillance footage.

Shelby Taylor Wyse appeared in court Wednesday, the third person arrested in connection with the violent robbery at Wallis State Bank in Harris County, KTRK reported. Wyse faces a charge of second-degree robbery. Travonn Johnson, who is dating Wyse, and David Dowell Mitchell were also arrested in the case.

Wyse is accused of sending a message to tip off Johnson and Mitchell that a woman had withdrawn $75,000. The unidentified woman had gone to the bank to withdraw the cash for legitimate business reasons, officials said. Video shows the woman being followed by two thieves -- identified by police as Johnson and Mitchell -- from the bank to a gas station her family reportedly owned.

SHOCKING VIDEO SHOWS THIEVES ATTEMPTING TO STEAL $75K FROM WOMAN BEFORE RUNNING HER OVER

Surveillance video showed Wyse watching the woman withdraw the cash, then send a text message to Johnson that officials believe was a go signal.

In another video, taken at the gas station, the thief cops say is Mitchell is seen attacking the woman and attempting to rip her purse away. The womans husband, who was in the store at the time, then runs out and attempts to stop the robbery.

It's at this point, prosecutors say, Johnson arrived and began beating the couple. Officials say Johnson then got back into a car and ran over the couple before fleeing the scene -- without the money.

Mitchell was arrested shortly after the robbery occurred. Johnson and Wyse were taken into custody earlier this week.

Johnson and Mitchell both face a charge of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon.

Officials traced the license plate number of the car one of the thieves fled the gas station in and reportedly found it was a rental vehicle under Wyse's name. She allegedly told officers the car was stolen Friday morning, but she'd never reported the incident. Prosecutors said they're working to obtain a search warrant for Wyses phone.A Boston City Hall employee and a man convicted of killing a local police officer 45 years ago were among 29 people charged as part of an undercover sweep targeting drug and gun crimes, the Justice Department announced Thursday.

Prosecutors said those arrested have been charged with state and federal drug, firearms and counterfeiting crimes.

One of those charged is Gary Webster, a project manager for the Boston Planning & Development Agency and the former director of constituent outreach for City Councilor Michelle Wu.

Investigators say Webster sold cocaine and fentanyl in 2016 to buyers who were secretly working with authorities.

In a statement, Wu said she was "saddened" at the news that Webster had been charged. She noted that Webster "has not worked in my office for over a year, [but] was part of my team when I first took office."

According to Webster's LinkedIn page, he began working in Wu's office in January 2014. The page did not indicate if or when he left that position.

Webster has been placed on unpaid administrative leave.

Another one of the 29 charged is Terrell Walker, who was convicted of manslaughter in the 1973 killing of Boston police officer John Schroeder. Walker is now charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and other offenses.

It wasn't immediately clear if Walker has an attorney.

According to U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling, the sting involved 130 co-called "controlled drug buys," mostly of heroin and fentanyl.

The Boston Herald reported that 23 charged individuals were arrested in connection with the investigation. Another four were already in custody and two others remain fugitives.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Click for more from Boston25News.com.Predatory funeral homes have been accused of cashing in on Chicagos relentless crime wave by taking advantage of a taxpayer-funded scheme that pays $7,500 in funeral expenses for homicide victims families.

Advocates have accused some funeral directors of inflating prices or charging families for services they never received.

Every funeral home in the state knows that victims get $7,500 for a funeral and its their goal to charge the entire amount because its easy money, Susan Johnson, executive director of Chicago Survivors, told Fox News.

CHICAGO MAYOR FIRES BACK AT TRUMP AFTER PRESIDENT SLAMS CITY'S CRIME RATE, 'SANCTUARY' STATUS

Johnson, whose organization helps people who have lost loved ones to homicide, claims some zero in on people receiving money from the Illinois Crime Victims Compensation fund.

The state  along with the federal government  provides eligible victims of violent crime with up to $27,000 in financial assistance for out-of-pocket expenses. The families of murder victims get $7,500 for funeral costs.

According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the average cost of a funeral for an adult is between $7,000 and $8,300. The Federal Trade Commission puts the figure slightly higher at around $10,000.

The $7,500 from the Crime Victims Compensation fund is supposed to go toward staff salary, use of facilities, transportation, a casket as well as other memorialization costs. The price jumps if flowers, clothing or an obituary is added.

Johnson, a former pastor, says shes seen families who have been overbilled and underserved.

GETAWAY DRIVER IN CHICAGO SHOOTING OF 15-YEAR-OLD HADIYA PENDLETON CONVICTED OF MURDER

In one case, she claims a funeral home held a body hostage because the family could not come up with additional funds after being quoted one price but charged a higher amount.

It happens all the time, she said.

She added that even though there are laws in place to protect consumers and prevent funeral homes from cold calling families or soliciting outside the medical examiners office, few offenders ever face consequences.

The bad behavior is allowed in part because cash-strapped cities like Chicago lack the resources to crack down on fraudsters, giving greedy operators the green light to target grief-stricken families.

In recent months, the Windy City has gained national notoriety for its soaring crime rate. Even with an additional 600 officers on the streets, 58 people were shot last weekend - seven fatally.

CHICAGO POLICE CHIEF BLAMES CITY VIOLENCE ON LENIENT JUDGES AND PROSECUTORS

Rooting out funeral fraud, by comparison, is not something on the radar of authorities.

Its not a high priority, Johnson said, adding that shes been privately told there are simply not enough resources at the national, state or local level to go after those trying to bilk the system.

Thats the excuse of every government agency, isnt it? Joshua Solcum, executive director of the Funeral Consumers Alliance, told Fox News.

Solcum, who describes his non-profit organization as the Consumer Reports magazine of funerals, says he too has heard horror stories of funeral homes taking advantage of people.

(The families) have an ethical right to be angry, he said. Its one of the worst ways to victimize people.

Some funeral homes have driven up prices so high that the families couldnt afford burial costs.

RAHM EMANUEL UNDER INCREASING FIRE FOR LINKING CHICAGO VIOLENCE AND MORALS IN MINORITY NEIGHBORHOODS

The Illinois attorney generals office, as well as multiple state and local leaders, declined to comment on what  if anything  it is doing to combat the problem.

The National Funeral Directors Association maintains its members are required to abide by the code of professional conduct which is centered on an obligation to serve families in an honest and fair manner.

The organization told Fox News that all funeral homes in the United States must adhere to the FTCs funeral rule which requires transparency when discussing prices with families.

And though consumers can file complaints with the FTC, the agency tends to act only after seeing patterns of abuse, multiple sources told Fox News.

Another reason some funeral homes are not held to account is because victims families are often too emotionally drained to report abuses.

Theyve had it, Johnson said. They have just gotten through the worst thing in their lives and they dont want to get into a protracted fight with a funeral home.

Johnson says grieving relatives are often asked to sign additional documents at the viewing or just before the funeral begins. Most of the time they dont know what they are signing or are still in so much shock that they fail to comprehend whats happening.

Items that they dont need or services that were never rendered get tacked onto the bill.

Its disgusting, she said.

In one particularly shocking case, a 45-year-old womans body had been partially burned. The funeral home failed to pick up her remains in time for the service. Instead, they put an empty casket in front of the church and didnt tell the family. When the victims 19-year-old son demanded to see his mothers body, the funeral director eventually produced a second casket. When it was opened, mourners were horrified that the mortician failed to dress the body as they claimed they had. The last image the son had of his murdered mother was a charred and mangled mess.

In another incident, a Chicago funeral director decided to cancel a viewing and service four hours before it began. He based his decision on faulty information that the victim was part of a gang. Johnson, who was assisting the family, says she repeatedly told the funeral director this was not the case, going so far as to get the commander of the police to call and vouch for the victim.

When Johnson kept pushing, she claims the funeral director hissed, What are you, an effing lawyer?

And he didnt use the word effing, she added.

Solcum believes that even if some people feel betrayed by the system, they should still voice their complaints.

I would say directly to any family please, please speak up.Two Colorado cops were suspended Wednesday for their involvement in leaking body camera footage of the Denver mayor's son threatening an officer as part of an expletive-laden outburst.

Aurora police officers Paul Timmons and Judy Gurley-Lutkin received a one-day suspension after the department found they were involved in prematurely leaking the video of Jordan Hancock, the son of Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, FOX31 reported.

Jordan Hancock, 22, was pulled over March 23 by an Aurora police officer for going 65 mph in a 50 mph zone, the site reported. Despite reportedly being caught driving without a license, Hancock became belligerent toward Aurora police officer Paul McClendon and began cursing him out.

Hancock told McClendon, Because thats my motherf---ing dad, when the officer asked why the title of the car was in the name of Denvers mayor.

POLICE RELEASE BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE OF DENVER MAYOR'S SON'S EXPLETIVE-LADEN OUTBURST AT COP

He became even more agitated when McClendon said he needed to take a photo of the 22-year-old because he was driving without a license. The officer had already processed a speeding ticket.

You aint taking my picture, Jordan said. B----, my dads the mayor, you f---ing f-----, he told the officer.

The police department found no wrongdoing by McClendon. Internal affairs, however, did find McClendon showed the body camera footage to Timmons, who recorded it with his cellphone and played it to Gurley-Lutkin. The officer then showed it to her husband.

Hancock has personally apologized to McClendon and paid the $275 fine for the speeding ticket, FOX31 reported.

Fox News' Kathleen Joyce contributed to this report.The father of two Indiana boys who apparently drowned in the Kankakee River was arrested and facing neglect charges in their deaths, officials said Wednesday.

A second man was being sought in connection with the deaths of siblings Levi Patillo, 4, and Evan Patillo, 2, Chicago's FOX 32 reported.

The boys were pronounced dead Tuesday evening after witnesses found them unresponsive in the river in southwestern Lake County near the Indiana-Illinois border, Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez said.

The father, Eric J. Patillo, 34, may have been using drugs at the time and did not notice when his sons went under the water, the Tribune News Service reported.

Investigators were also searching for Jesse Brandon Linter, 31, whom they believe was with Patillo's sons, the report said.

Linter reportedly fled before police could question him.

Autopsies were scheduled to determine the cause of death of the siblings, whom Martinez said appeared to have drowned.

"It's a tragedy. It's unfortunate that something like this happened," he said at a news conference. "It's tough."

The boys' mother, Savannah Sanders, 29, told the Chicago Tribune that her "stomach just hurts" at the news.

They were just amazing children and I want them back, Sanders said. Im never going to get them back.

Martinez said two men who were fishing along the river noticed Patillo with his sons acting strangely, apparently lapsing in and out of unconsciousness and possibly under the influence of drugs.

They were just amazing children and I want them back. Im never going to get them back.  Savannah Sanders, mother of the boys

Anthony Kyle and Dylan Sherwood told WGN their observations of Patillo, with Kyle saying Patillo was "definitely impaired" and there was "just something off" about him, the Tribune News Service reported.

He was so impaired that he couldnt even get a worm on the hook, Kyle said. He was stabbing himself in the finger with the worm on the hook.

The men told investigators that Patillo was going in and out of the river and they last saw his sons in waist-deep water.

I knew something bad was going to happen, Kyle said.

A few minutes later, Martinez said, the men saw Patillo jumping into the river and grew concerned because they could no longer see the two children.

"So they starting looking for the kids and found them in the water. One was floating on top of the water and one was underneath the water, unresponsive," Martinez said.

The fishermen said there is a lot of heroin use in the area and thought the father could have taken the drug.

The sheriff said the boys were found near a boat launch at the LaSalle Fish and Wildlife Area.

They were just so full of life, Sanders said. I just wish we could have seen what they would become.

Results of drug and alcohol tests were still pending on Patillo.

They were just so full of life. I just wish we could have seen what they would become.  Savannah Sanders, mother of the two boys

Sanders said her husband "would never have intentionally hurt" their sons.

"He loved them," she told Chicago's WBBM-TV.

Patillo could face 20 to 40 years in prison if charged and convicted, according to the Tribune.

The family is from Thayer, Ind., a community with just over 350 residents, the report said. The Kankakee River, where the boys were found, is less than a mile northwest of their home, relatives told the paper.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.A Kentucky woman who told police she gave her boyfriend the nose job he wanted after allegedly shooting him in the face in 2012, told prosecutors Wednesday that the act was in self-defense.

Shayna Hubers was convicted of murder April 23, 2015 and sentenced to 40 years in prison. But the conviction was overturned Aug. 25, 2016, when a juror on her trial was found to have a prior felony conviction.

Testifying on Wednesday in Campbell County Circuit Court, Hubers, 27, recounted the details leading up to the fatal shooting of her boyfriend, Ryan Poston, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported.

Hubers said she and Poston, an attorney from Fort Mitchell, Ky., first met at a Lexington bar on April, 8, 2011.

I remember thinking that he had a strong personality. I feared him, she said in her testimony, Cincinnati's FOX 19 reported. I felt like I need to do what he was telling me to do.

I remember thinking that he had a strong personality. I feared him. I felt like I need to do what he was telling me to do.  Shayna Hubers, accused of fatally shooting boyfriend

Hubers testified that their relationship had been wrought with abuse. In one incident, Hubers said, Poston threw her out of a condominium onto the porch. When she tried to get back inside, Hubers said Poston repeatedly slammed the door on her body.

The two reportedly dated on and off for a year. But things took a turn a for the worse in the fall of 2012.

He wanted me to be his incognito girlfriend and he wanted me to talk 25 percent less, he always said I talked too much. And he wanted me to get a hobby while I was at his condo and he wanted me to also to agree to have threesomes with other girls, she said.

On Oct. 12, 2012, Hubers allegedly shot Poston six times at his Highland Heights condominium.

David Eldridge, Hubers attorney, argued that references made to her initial trial violated the judges decision that it would not affect her retrial. He argued for a mistrial, but the motion was thrown out by the Circuit Court Judge, the Enquirer reported.

Hubers will face questions from the prosecution on Thursday about what happened the night Poston was killed, FOX 19 eported.A man learns tai chi at the Cinquantenaire park in Brussels, Belgium, Aug 21, 2018. Every Tuesday and Friday afternoon, free Chinese tai chi class is held here and it attracts many local residents in Brussels. [Photo/Xinhua]The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency is closely monitoring Hurricane Lane and is prepared to assist those affected by the storm by employing barges filled with food, water and other supplies, the agency said Thursday.

The federal agency moved the supplies into the region ahead of Hurricane Hector, which skirted past the islands more than a week ago.

The agency has had a team on Hawaii's Big Island for months after Kilauea volcano began erupting, FEMA Administrator Brock Long said in a telephone news conference Wednesday.

Hurricane Lane is forecast to move dangerously close to Hawaii sometime between Thursday and Saturday, potentially bringing damaging winds, prolonged heavy rainfall and life-threatening flash-flooding, the National Weather Service said.

Shelters are being opened statewide for those needing to evacuate flood zone areas.

FEMA also tweeted tips for hurricane preparedness, including protection for homes.

"Cover all your home's window. Permanent storm shutters offer the best protection for windows," FEMA's public service handle tweeted.

Hurricane Lane has weakened to a Category 4 storm as it approaches Hawaii.

All public schools will be closed for the rest of the week in anticipation of the storm.For the past two days, a Florida city has been littered with fliers accusing a local businessman of being a predator who profits from sexual violence, physical abuse and the caging of undocumented people -- all because he rents office space to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.

Chuck Prather, of St. Petersburg, said protesters who are angry with the Trump administrations zero-tolerance illegal immigration policy are targeting him because he leases an office complex in Tampa to the government. Its an agreement that goes back 21 years and was recently renewed.

They are trying to terrorize me, he told Fox News on Thursday.

On Wednesday, dozens of fliers showing his image were posted around St. Petersburgs downtown area, where he owns several businesses, including the Birchwood Inn.

I was taking my son to school yesterday when my elderly neighbor who walks dogs for a living came up to me and said, I need to talk to you, Prather said. [She said] there are posters all over town. It has a big picture of you and it says that you are a predator. What is going on?

Prather added: They were everywhere.

The fliers, which call for people to boycott all of Prathers businesses, say in part: Charles Chuck Prather of the Birchwood Inn directly profits from sexual violence, physical abuse and the caging of undocumented people in the greater Tampa community. Chuck has earned his wealth through leasing property to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as well as other border control offices.

And the harassment campaign didnt stop there.

On Thursday morning, Prather woke up to find more posters plastered around his home, and the words EVICT ICE spray painted on the sidewalk.

This is all about ICE. This is nothing about me being a predator, which I am not, he said.

Surveillance photos, provided to Fox News, from outside the Birchwood Inn show two people putting up the posters.

Its horrifying, Prather said. I have 175 employees. They are completely innocent [and] their livelihoods are being targeted.

The U.S. government  not ICE, specifically  has leased the building complex from Prather since 1997, and he said he hasn't had any problems until the protests began last month. He said a few weeks ago he had to pay $10,000 to repair damage to the Tampa building caused by vandals.

A spokeswoman for the St. Petersburg Police Department told Fox News on Thursday officials are looking at surveillance footage to figure out if any laws have be broken, adding freedom of speech is at play in the determination.

Prather said he is looking at all legal avenues available to him.A white professor at Rutgers University in New Jersey violated the school's policy when he complained about other white people in a post on Facebook, according to reports.

The university says it prohibits discrimination and harassment, and judged that history professor James Livingston, who is white, crossed a line with his comments.

In the post, Livingston slammed other white people, describing them as entitled and saying they impeded "access to my dinner."

"... this place (burger restaurant) is overrun with little Caucasian a--holes who know their parents will approve of anything they do," Livingston wrote.

"... this place (burger restaurant) is overrun with little Caucasian a--holes who know their parents will approve of anything they do."  Rutgers professor James Livingston, in since-deleted Facebook post

"I hereby resign from my race. F--- these people," the professor added.

Facebook removed his post, he said in a subsequent post, according to NJ.com.

Livingston argues that his remarks were "satirical," and he was commenting on the gentrification of the Harlem neighborhood of New York City, where he lives, NorthJersey.com reported

OK, officially, I now hate white people, Livingston wrote. I am a white people, for Gods sake, but can we keep themusus out of my neighborhood?

Since the post appeared, Livingston has faced a "barrage of hate emails, slur-laced insults and death threats," the Washington Post reported.

Rutgers said in a statement that "there's no place for racial intolerance at Rutgers," the report said.

"... at Rutgers University, we also must foster an environment free from discrimination, as articulated in our policy prohibiting discrimination," Dory Devlin, media relations director for Rutgers, told NorthJersey.com.

In a letter, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) has asked Rutgers, on Livingston's behalf, to reverse its conclusion that he violated policy, according to the publication. The letter also reportedly argued that he has the right to his opinion as a private citizen.

His appeal was denied, the Post reported, citing FIRE.

Livingston, a tenured professor for 28 years, has taught at the university since 1988, NorthJersey.com reported.

Allowing human resource administrators to tell a professor of 30 years what he can and cant say on Facebook means that the tradition of academic freedom in our public universities is essentially over. I respect that tradition too much not to protest, Livingston said in a statement, according to the report.

Livingston faces disciplinary action that could include discharge, the Post reported.

"You may not agree with the faculty member, but the First Amendment exists to protect speech that challenges you or asks you to think about things in a different way."  Will Creeley, Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE)

Im also a fan of the Constitution, which is equally under assault here, Livingston said. I very much hope the university will see its way to overturning this finding of reverse racism and reaffirming the democratic freedoms that Rutgers has long stood for.

Will Creeley of FIRE said the First Amendment right is particulary important for faculty members, especially because Livingston was speaking about gentrification -- a matter of public concern, according to the Post.

"You may not agree with the faculty member, but the First Amendment exists to protect speech that challenges you or asks you to think about things in a different way, Creeley said.

Last year, another Rutgers professor came under fire for his Facebook posts, which some critics said were anti-Semitic and anti-Israel.

Michael Chikindas, a professor in the university's food science department, lost his role as a school center's director and was no longer allowed to teach required classes, Fox News reported.Hawaii residents and visitors are bracing for Hurricane Lane as the now Category 1 storm continues on its path toward the Pacific state.

Hurricanes are rare in Hawaii, but Lane is expected to bring heavy rain and flooding, dangerous surf and strong winds as it continues to churn toward the islands.

Read on for a look at its path, and what to know about the hurricane as it barrels closer to Hawaii.

Where is Lane now?

Lane is approximately 115 miles west-southwest of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center said in an 8 p.m. ET advisory Friday. It is about 120 miles south of Honolulu, Hawaii.

With maximum sustained winds around 85 mph, Lane is moving north at approximately 2 mph as of Friday evening.

"A turn toward the west is anticipated on Saturday, with an increase in forward speed, an earlier advisory said.

WHAT IS THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE WIND SCALE?

Lane is currently a Category 1 hurricane.

"The center of Lane will remain dangerously close to portions of the central Hawaiian islands later today and tonight, the advisory said.

What else should I know about the hurricane?

A hurricane warning is in effect for Oahu and Maui counties.

A tropical storm warning has been issued for Hawaii County, while a tropical storm watch is in effect for Kauai County.

HAWAII VOLCANO ERUPTION SPEWS LAVA ACROSS BIG ISLAND: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT FISSURES, EVACUATIONS AND MORE

Isolated maximum rainfall amounts of more than 20 inches is possible in certain areas, according to Fox News senior meteorologist Janice Dean. Its becoming increasingly likely all of the islands will experience at least tropical storm-force winds, she said.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige signed an emergency proclamation Tuesday declaring a disaster emergency relief period through August 29, which would provide relief for damages, losses and suffering as a result of the storm.

He also is allowing for nonessential state employees on the Big Island and Maui to go on administrative leave from Wednesday to Friday as the hurricane approaches. However, employees on Hawaii and Maui islands who work in disaster response and in hospitals or prisons are required to report to their jobs.

Michael Lowry, a strategic planner at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, stressed the storm should be taken seriously.

This isnt Florida. The landscape and infrastructure are different, Lowry said in a tweet.

The storm, initially listed as a Category 5, was progressively downgraded throughout the week before becoming a Category 1 by Friday.

HAWAII BRACES FOR HURRICANE LANE, AS OFFICIALS SAY THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH SHELTERS FOR EVERYONE

Kauai resident Mike Miranda was 12 when Hurricane Iniki hit, and she said people already are comparing that storm to Lane.

I remember how very little rain fell. But I remember the wind being the strongest force of nature Ive ever witnessed, and probably the scariest sounds Ive ever heard in my life, he told The Associated Press.

Utility poles were down all over the island, and his seventh-grade classes were held in Army tents for several months.

Fox News Travis Fedschun, Amy Lieu and The Associated Press contributed to this report.An Indiana man was arrested after he was accused of drugging and raping his Subway co-worker while working their shift.

Jordan Matthew Johnson, 19, of Evansville, was booked into the Vanderburgh County Jail on Tuesday on preliminary charges of sexual battery and rape.

The woman, who was not identified, told police she believed she was drugged by Johnson while at work at a Subway restaurant in Evansville, Courier & Press reported.

The alleged victim told Evansville officers she asked Johnson for an aspirin or Tylenol after coming down with a headache. The victim said Johnson gave her a white pill and told her it would make her feel better.

INDIANA PRIEST ASSAULTED AT CHURCH IN POSSIBLE HATE CRIME, POLICE SAY

During her shift, the woman said she started to feel impaired and fell a few times. The restaurant manager and owner reviewed surveillance video from the day of the incident that showed the victim becoming more and more impaired, according to a probable cause affidavit.

The manager said they were not working on the day of the incident but watched surveillance video of the employees working and reported seeing the woman falling down a few times. The manager also said they received a complaint from a customer saying employees were having sex in a closet, 14 News reported.

Police said the surveillance video showed Johnson standing over the victim in the restaurants kitchen with her pants down and touching her inappropriately when she fell down. The victim told police Johnson took her into a utility closet and sexually assaulted her.

FATHER OF 2 BOYS WHO DIED IN INDIANA RIVER MAY FACE CHARGES



Johnson allegedly raped the victim, forced her to perform oral sex and inappropriately touched her, Courier & Press reported. Police said surveillance video showed the two of them going inside the utility closet.

Johnson allegedly identified himself as the person seen in the surveillance video standing over the victim. He told investigators he did not remember what occurred during the shift and refused to give a DNA sample to detectives.A Florida judge has decided not to reduce the bail of a white man charged with manslaughter in the death of an unarmed black man in a store parking lot.

Pinellas County Judge Joseph Bulone ruled Thursday that the $100,000 bail amount for Michael Drejka should stand. He called it "a fair and a reasonable bond under all the facts and circumstances of the case," since Drejka faces anywhere from 11 to 30 years in prison if convicted.

The 48-year-old Drejka said he shot 28-year-old Markeis McGlockton in self-defense in an encounter that has revived debate over Florida's "stand your ground" law.

Surveillance video shows Drejka initiating the confrontation. McGlockton's girlfriend, Britany Jacobs, was seated in the couple's car July 19 with two of their children, ages 3 years and 4 months when she said Drejka confronted her for being parked in a disabled-accessible space. McGlockton had gone into the store with the couple's 5-year-old son, also named Markeis.

McGlockton then came out and shoved Drejka to the pavement. Drejka then pulled a handgun and fired as McGlockton backed away.

Drejka has been in jail since he was charged Aug 13. His attorney John Trevena argued for his release, saying, "He just simply wants to go on with his life with his family." Trevena also said that Drejka was injured after years of working as a tree trimmer, and had worked as an Uber driver, but his car became inoperable.

Prosecutors argued that the bail fits the crime, and that Drejka, who has been unemployed for much of the last decade, is a flight risk. They also says he poses a threat to the community and to himself, citing four previous incidents in which Drejka either brandished a gun at someone or became angry with them over perceived traffic sleights.

During one incident where he was ticketed, prosecutors said he became upset with a woman and "brake-stopped," repeatedly braking hard to force the person behind to take evasive action. The 32-year-old woman had two children in her vehicle when she rear-ended Drejka's car.

Drejka also showed two teens his gun when he became upset that they stopped at a yellow light, and he became upset with another motorist he felt was driving too slow in a school zone.

In another instance, Assistant State Attorney Fred Schaub said, Drejka confronted another man at the same convenience store about parking his septic truck in the same disabled-accessible space, which isn't even in a legal spot according to state specifications.

"He was confronted by the owner of that business who told him he had to stop," said Schaub.

He added that Drejka had a response: "I know I can't help myself, I keep getting myself in trouble."

Trevena said his client told him all these incidents were 'grossly exaggerated or outright fiction. We'll address those in detail as the case develops."

Drejka's family issued a statement through a spokesperson Thursday afternoon.

"We knew that we would likely be denied, but we had to try. We have been approached by political groups, film producers and others with clear agendas to help us with this matter, but we cannot accept it," the statement read. "While we want Michael home to prepare his defense, we do not want to do it in any fashion that would be disrespectful to the community or any of the families involved in this case. To that end, we are taking donations from private individuals only, directed to an account controlled solely by the family."

Trevena said it's unclear at this point whether he'll seek an immunity hearing, which is the first step for a "stand your ground" defense.

"That may depend on trial strategy," he said. "We might just take it to a jury."Hidden beneath the bleak exterior of a fried chicken restaurant in the Southwest lurked the infrastructure of a sophisticated drug organization shipping meth, cocaine and heroin to the Arizona streets, officials said Wednesday.

No, this is not the original pitch for "Breaking Bad."

Ivan Lopez, who owns the property where the shell of a since-closed Kentucky Fried Chicken eatery stands in San Luis, Ariz., was arrested Aug. 13 when authorities pulled him over and discovered Lopez had stashed a slew of drugs in his truck, AZFamily.com reported. A canine unit alerted cops to the drug-filled toolboxes in the vehicle.

"[Lopez had] over 118 kilograms of methamphetamine, over six kilograms of cocaine, over three kilograms of fentanyl, over 13 kilograms of white heroin and over six kilograms of brown heroin," said Scott Brown, a Homeland Security Investigations special agent. "Just the three kilograms of fentanyl translates to over 3 million dosage units."

Agents executed a search warrant at Lopezs house and the ex-restaurant location in San Luis, where they found Lopez had turned the establishment into an alleged drug smuggling operation. The restaurant had already been shut down at the time of the raid.

CALIFORNIA GIRL, 15, RAN POT SHOP OUT OF HER BEDROOM AND MOM ALLOWED IT, INVESTIGATORS SAY

Video of the tunnel showed it was 22 feet deep and 590 feet long with wooden planks lining the wall. The tunnel connected the abandoned San Luis KFC restaurant to a home in San Luis Rio Colorado in the state of Sonora, Mexico.

The tunnel opening in the building only measured 8 inches in diameter. Authorities believe smugglers used ropes to bring drugs up from the tunnel.

Its unclear how long the tunnel had been in operation. Brown said Lopez was spotted prior to his arrest removing toolboxes from the old restaurant.

Homeland Security investigators and Yuma Border Patrol agents were investigating the incident.

Editor's note: A previous version of this story stated Lopez ran the KFC prior to its closing. He owned the property but was not affiliated with the operation of the restaurant.The Latest on the death of a 20-year-old Iowa student who vanished while running last month (all times local):

2:50 p.m.

Preliminary autopsy results show that Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts was killed by "multiple sharp force injuries."

The state medical examiner has determined that Tibbetts' death was a homicide. No details were released about what caused the sharp force injuries. The agency says further examination may result in additional findings.

The Division of Criminal Investigation released the information Thursday, saying the autopsy also officially confirms that the body found in rural Iowa this week was that of the 20-year-old Tibbetts.

A man has been charged in Tibbetts' slaying. Investigators say Cristhian Bahena Rivera led police to the body on Tuesday in a cornfield outside of Brooklyn, Iowa.

Investigators allege that Rivera abducted Tibbetts while she was out for an evening run on July 18. Investigators say he killed the young woman and later disposed of the body in a rural location.

___

12 a.m.

For years, his employer said the young man from Mexico presented himself as a legal U.S. resident and reliable worker at a family dairy farm in small town Iowa.

But now Cristhian Bahena Rivera is accused of illegally living and working in the U.S. on fraudulent documents and of being a predator who kidnapped and killed a beloved young woman.

Rivera appeared in court Wednesday on a first-degree murder charge in the death of 20-year-old college student Mollie Tibbetts. He was ordered jailed on a $5 million cash-only bond.

The turn of events stunned the farm family that employed him the last four years. They said even after Tibbetts disappeared on July 18 while out for an evening run in the town of Brooklyn, Iowa, Rivera kept coming to work.Supporters set up a GoFundMe page Wednesday to cover the legal expenses of an Oregon man who was arrested for slugging a convicted sex offender who was being sentenced for filming a 14-year-old girl exiting a shower.

Authorities say Kevin Patrick Smith, 45, lunged over a railing inside a Medford courtroom and punched defendant Donald Courtney Biggs, 40, in the face.

The impact of Smith's fist left Biggs lying on the floor in a fetal position, the Mail Tribune of Medford reported.

As of early Thursday, the GoFundMe page for Smith had raised about $1,000 toward a $5,000 goal.

Biggs, a former youth pastor in Medford who had pleaded guilty to filming the girl, had to be hospitalized, the report said.

Prior to the sentencing hearing, Biggs had been held in the Jackson County Jail since early 2015, after a burglary at Mountain Church in Medford, where he worked, led investigators to a collection of hidden-camera recordings involving dozens of young victims.

The recordings involved juveniles undressing, showering and using the bathroom in Biggs home, on church trips and at summer camps, the Mail Tribune reported, citing information from the U.S. Attorneys Office.

Earlier this year, Biggs pleaded guilty to one felony count of transporting with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. As part of a plea deal, nine other transportation and child pornography charges were dropped.

For punching Biggs, police said Smith faced misdemeanor charges of obstructing governmental or judicial administration, fourth-degree assault and disorderly conduct. He was being held at the Jackson County Jail on $12,500 bail, the Mail Tribune reported.

The attack came as Biggs' defense attorney was telling the judge his client regretted his actions. Before that, victims who packed the courtroom had been giving impact statements.

Biggs sentencing was postponed after the attack, the Mail Tribune reported. He faces up to nearly 16 years in prison.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.Ichi-go ichi-e, see you next year, white apricots.

Wang Jinqiu (pseudonym) remembers the luscious and enthralling fruit. Even more, she remembers the image she captured on camera of her joyful little girl holding the apricots.

The white apricots are from Kashgar, an oasis city surrounded by desert in Chinas Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The city is known for its fruits, such as candy apples in December, white grapes in August, and Hami melons in September, while walnuts and jujube are available the whole calendar year.

Never mistake distance as impatience. We spent a whole year waiting for the precious fruit, and we are not disappointed, Wang told Peoples Daily.

Living in Dongguan, south Chinas Guangdong Province, some 5,500 kilometers away from Kashgar, Wangs family receives fresh fruits and nuts with well-printed postcards featuring local farmers and their families each month, like the picture of her daughter holding apricots.

The sweet fruit and memories came from the apricot tree the family adopted in Bachu county last summer, which marked a new form of contract farming to help Chinese farmers

Wangs family-signed contracts for the procurement of fruits and nuts from local farmers through Xinjiang-based e-commerce company Vizdan Trading Co. Ltd., whose name means conscience in Uyghur, which is a leading player in e-commerce giant Alibabas Village Taobao scheme.

Village Taobao is a rural version of Taobao, which aims to directly connect rural farmers with urban customers and raise living standards in Chinas countryside through online contract farming.

Now, we plant beautiful fruits that are in demand and no longer worry about how to sell them thanks to Vizdan and Village Taobao. Some 60 local families have been lifted out of poverty in Bachu County, including mine, said Yzp Rahman, a contract farmer of Vizdan with more than three tons Hami melons.

The industrialization of agriculture in China has got on the fast track with the Internet+ Strategy, after the nation released the No.1 Central Document in 2016, setting out a package of polices aimed at revitalizing rural areas, with contract farming as the most noticeable one.

The new mode is widely hailed as an innovative method to boost farmers income in a short time, but also create a healthy industrial ecology for contract farming in a long run, experts noted.

Few crops could be sold outside of some remote rural areas in China, due to poor transport infrastructure. In recent years, however, with the construction of modern-day infrastructure, particularly regional transportation networks and the improvement of refrigeration techniques, local specialties can more easily make their way around the world.

The popular online game Happy Farm has turned into reality in China as contract farming grew more popular in the less-developed border regions, Wang Jianxun, vice president of Alibaba Group and manager of Village Taobao, said in April.

Take Wangs family for example, the adopted apricot tree costs 20,000 yuan ($3,044) as advance payment, which already doubles the average annual income of local families in Bachu county.

Interest in Happy Farm continues to grow, particularly in regions whose economy was primarily based on central planning, becoming more liberalized markets through multi-layer investment and cooperation.

Similarly, Quannan County in east Chinas Jiangxi Province, which is known for grapes and corns, has also introduced the businesses + farmers mode of contract farming, which has lifted 2,300 households of residents out of poverty.

In northeast Chinas Jilin Province, customers can now order different types of rice seeds online and receive well-packed new rice at harvest time.

Changing consumption habits, such as greater demand for fresh and organic foods in urban areas, the growing role of e-commerce, and the continued expansion of logistics services, have also provided impetus for further development of contract farming in China, Liu Jingwen, founder of Vizdan, told Peoples Daily.

The pain of chronic labor shortage in Chinas rural areas is becoming less of an issue.

The changes mean we must be more professional and better ensure food security as people value quality more than advertisement, Liu said.

The blossoming of contract farming in China has shed light on the promising future of rural China. May the desert become a honey oasis, said Ji Hua, a customer who purchased watermelon from Yzp Rahmans melon field.Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday appointed a senior executive with Ford Motor Co. to be his special envoy for North Korea and said the two would visit Pyongyang next week.

Pompeo announced that he had chosen Stephen Biegun to handle day-to-day negotiations with the North over dismantling its nuclear weapons program. Pompeo has been leading the effort for President Donald Trump and has already made three trips to Pyongyang since April, although there have been few visible signs of progress in the talks.

Pompeo said he and Biegun would be travelling to North Korea "to make further diplomatic progress toward our objective" of its full, final and complete denuclearization. Pompeo offered no other details about the trip. But State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said later that Pompeo did not expect to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on the trip. "We have no expectation of meeting Chairman Kim," she said.

In brief remarks to reporters at the State Department, Pompeo and Biegun both noted that Kim had pledged to denuclearize in his historic meeting in June with Trump.

"The issues are tough and they will be tough to resolve," Biegun said. "But the president has created an opening and it's one that we must take by seizing every possible opportunity to realize the vision for a peaceful future for the people of North Korea. This begins with the final, fully verified denuclearization of North Korea as agreed by Chairman Kim Jong Un at the summit with President Trump in Singapore."

Although the North has ceased nuclear and missile tests and has taken some steps in other areas, it has yet to begin dismantling its nuclear weapons facilities and continues to develop ballistic missiles. Pompeo and other officials have said sanctions will remain on North Korea until denuclearization has been completed and verified but have suggested that other confidence building measures are possible before then.

Biegun, Ford's vice president of international governmental affairs, was a White House staffer and aide to national security adviser Condoleezza Rice during President George W. Bush's administration. He was also an adviser to former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and was rumored to be a contender to replace H.R. McMaster as Trump's national security adviser.

His appointment is the latest in a series of special envoy posts filled by Pompeo, who is seeking to tap veteran diplomats and national security officials to run delicate negotiations. Last week, he appointed the State Department's policy planning chief, Brian Hook, to run a group dedicated to Iran issues.

He also named former ambassador James Jeffrey to be special representative for Syria and is expected soon to appoint another former ambassador, Zalmay Khalilzad, to handle issues related to Afghanistan.Melania Trump's immigration attorney - and frequent critic of her husband's policies - says the federal employment verification system that's become a talking point in the Mollie Tibbetts murder case is unreliable and vulnerable to fraud.

This is a perfect example of how we cannot trust employers to involve themselves in the policing of immigration, said Michael Wildes, author of a new book about immigration called Safe Haven in America."

Wildes said the federal system intended to flag those not authorized to live or work in the country can't be counted on, as shown by Tibbetts murder suspect's Christhian Riveras apparent ability to beat the system by working under someone elses name.

Wildes, who also represented Melania Trump's parents, told Fox News employer verification programs like E-Verify, and another program that depends on checking the Social Security Administration database, are vulnerable.

Rivera, the 24-year-old Mexican national who has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of the 20-year-old Iowa college student, was hired to work at Yarrabee Farms four years ago, after he passed employment eligibility vetting, the employers said.

Rivera reportedly submitted another identity, which evidently showed up on the Social Security Administrations system as legitimate. The Social Security Administration itself reported several years ago that just under two million immigrants worked in 2010 using a Social Security number that was not theirs.

Wildes, a former federal prosecutor, said the solution to illegal immigration and to keeping dangerous people out of the country is to have tighter cooperation among local, county and state law enforcement agencies and immigration officials.

But Wildes also criticized what he called the politicizing of the Tibbetts murder.

We should not scapegoat all immigrants because of Riveras crime, Wildes said, denouncing the political discourse on immigration and the lack of real advancement for our safety and economic needs.

Wildes said employers often are left to act on good faith," relying on documents that prospective workers present as legitimate, and running them through government programs.

They go beyond just the ritual of collecting documents to also making sure the documents are verified, but theyre not forensic experts, said Wildes, adding that its nearly impossible for people who lack the training to spot fraudulent documents.

This is a perfect example of how we cannot trust employers to involve themselves in the policing of immigration. The [verification system] supported the notion that [Rivera] was permitted to work here, how is that possible?  Michael Wildes, immigration attorney

The owners of Yarrabee Farms said at first that they had run Riveras documents through E-Verify, which checks prospective workers I-9 forms through federal databases to confirm their legal status and eligibility to work.

Later, however, they said they had not used E-Verify, but relied on the Social Security Administration. They told reporters Rivera had showed them a state-issued photo ID and a social security card - in someone elses name.

"We screen every applicant through the Social Security Administration social security number verification service," Dane Lang said at a news conference Wednesday. "What we learned in the past 24 hours is that our employee is not exactly who he said he was."

"Our family member who handles the verification process believed the systems were the same," Lang said, referring to SSA and E-Verify.

There were conflicting reports about Riveras immigration status, and how long he has been in the U.S.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services spokesman Michael Bars told ABC News: "A search of records by USCIS revealed Rivera did not make any DACA requests nor were any grants given. We have found no record in our systems indicating he has any lawful immigration status."

Riveras attorney, Allan Richards, refuted that, claiming in a court document that his client has legal status.

Most, though not all, people with legal status have permission to work in the United States. If Rivera did have legal status, it is unclear why he would have hidden his true identity while seeking work.When Doris Stiles-Scown caught a man using his phone to peep underneath the stall her 12-year-old daughter was changing in at Rue 22 in Salt Lake City, Utah, she chased him down into the parking lot.

With help from other shoppers and mall security, Stiles-Scown successfully apprehended the man on Saturday, according to a police report from the Salt Lake City Police Department. The group then surrounded the suspect, making sure he stayed put, while they waited for police to arrive.

During that time, Stiles-Scown whipped out her phone and began recording as the man sat silently on the ground outside of the clothing store.

This right here is what a predator looks like, Stiles-Scown says as she focuses the camera on his face. Thankfully, I got him. Not today, buddy. Not today.

COLORADO BODYBUILDER PUNCHES MAN WHO GROPED HER ON THE STREET: 'HE WASN'T TAKING ME SERIOUSLY'

The mom instructed the suspect, later identified by police as 36-year-old Jorge Leon, to look at the camera.

Not today. He didnt get away from this mom!  Doris Stiles-Scown

Im going to make sure your face gets out so that youre not in any more stalls, looking under little girls dressing [rooms]. Im going to make sure you go viral. Youre a sick pervert," Stiles-Scown said. A video Stiles-Scown posted of the encounter on Facebook has garnered more than 14 million views and received thousands of comments as of Thursday evening.

Leon continued to look toward the ground, telling Stiles-Scown he was just going to wait for officers to arrive.

A crowd gathered around the man  many with their arms crossed  while Stiles-Scown continued to question him. Stiles-Scown could be heard sniffling off camera.

Youre so lucky that I dont hurt you because thats what I want to do right now. Because what you did to her  youre going to leave a scar on my daughter permanently. Are you happy with yourself? Stiles-Scown asked, vowing to be at every single court date.

MICHIGAN GIRLS KICK, THROW COFFEE TO FIGHT OFF KIDNAPPER, POLICE SAY

Stiles-Scown then turned the camera on herself, claiming she also saw the man attempt to grab her daughter's legs.

Not today. He didnt get away from this mom! she commented.

Police said Leon was arrested and taken to jail on felony voyeurism charges.

People are aware of whats going on and paying attention, Detective Greg Wilking of the Salt Lake City Police Department told Fox 13. Other people were paying attention, too and saw similar things that concerned them and that led to his arrest.Two people were killed and one other was wounded Thursday in a knife attack outside Paris, authorities said.

The stabbing occurred in Trappes, located about 20 miles west of Paris. The assailant, who was only identified as a male, was killed by police.

The man first sheltered in a house after attacking passersby and then was shot dead by police, according to BFM-TV. The man was reportedly known to intelligence services.

Islamic State claimed the attack through its propaganda arm, but failed to provide evidence.

Gerard Collomb, Frances interior minister, praised the officers efforts in taking down the attacker and announced that an investigation was ongoing.

Officials havent determined whether the stabbing was a terror attack.

Authorities urged residents to avoid the area around Rue Camille Claudel while a police operation was underway.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.next Image 1 of 2

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Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Thursday that he is considering a "huge amnesty" for prisoners so that those released will have a chance to correct their mistakes.

Hun Sen's comments come amid an apparent softening of the government's harsh stance toward critics. Four land rights activists were pardoned and released from prison on Monday, and two journalists who formerly worked for U.S.-funded Radio Free Asia were released Tuesday on bail as they await trial on espionage charges. A jailed politician was reported to have received a pardon Thursday night after Hun Sen spoke.

Hun Sen cracked down on critics and opponents last year in what was seen as an effort to ensure his party would win elections held this year. His party did, though the vote was widely seen as lacking credibility.

Hun Sen has led the country for more than three decades and has said he intends to remain at the helm for at least 10 more years.

Hun Sen insisted Thursday in a speech to garment factory workers that the pardons were not because of international pressure, but to show mercy.

He did not identify which prisoners might receive the amnesty, but his reference to 12 of them may refer to 12 opposition party members convicted a few years ago of social unrest.

Hun Sen said the amnesty could coincide with an important festival or national dates in coming months.

After he spoke, the pardon of Sourn Serey Ratha, the president of the former Khmer Power Party, was reported by local media. He was arrested in August 2017 and sentenced to five years' imprisonment for posting a comment on his Facebook page that the government said incited soldiers to disobey orders.

He had criticized the deployment of troops to the border with Laos during a brief but tense territorial standoff. He said a conflict would harm only regular troops, while generals could safely enjoy their good life with "money" and "girls."The operators of Europe's largest illegal turtle farm were shell-shocked Thursday during a Spanish police raid that rescued more than 1,100 turtles -- including endangered species selling for nearly $12,000 each, officials said.

Mallorca police also seized about 750 eggs, and will end up with many more than that: 200 female turtles were about to lay eggs. Specimens of 14 of the 50 most endangered species in the world were also discovered at the illicit pet farm, officials said. Tortoises were also seized at the farm.

Some of the most protected species came from the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Video of the turtles were posted on YouTube.

The operation was launched 18 months ago when a shipment of turtles was seized at Mallorca airport, Europol said in a news release. The discovery eventually led them to the farm.

A Barcelona pet shop specializing in exotic animals was allegedly used as a front to smuggle the exotic animals in and out of Spain, officials said.

Six people were arrested between Mallorca and Barcelona in connection with the smuggling, Europol announced.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.An audio recording of the Islamic State leader  who was previously reported dead from Russian airstrikes  purportedly resurfaced Wednesday evening on a website run by the extremist group.

In the 54-minute recording titled, Give Glad Tidings to the Patient, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi made multiple references to current affairs. If the voice on the audio is confirmed to be that of al-Baghdadi, it would indicate he is still alive.

Al-Baghdadi congratulated his followers on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, an Islamic holiday, and referenced Turkeys recent quarrel with the U.S. over its detention of American pastor Andrew Brunson.

He purportedly said America is going through the worse time in its entire existence, and said Russia was competing with the U.S. over regional influence and clout.

Al-Baghdadis whereabouts has eluded captors since the rise of the Islamic State. His only public appearance was in 2014 in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. His last know audio recording was released on Sept. 28, 2017.

There have been recurring reports of his death or injury, including reports by Russian officials last year who said there was a "high probability" that al-Baghdadi was killed in a Russian airstrike on the outskirts of the Syrian city of Raqqa. U.S. officials later said they believed he was still alive. He is believed to be hiding in the desert that stretches in the Syrian-Iraqi border region.

The Islamic State has lost around 90 percent of the lands bordering Iraq and Syria since declaring a caliphate in June 2014.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.Nicaragua on Thursday named as its National Police director a high-ranking officer sanctioned by the United States for alleged abuses against protesters opposed to President Daniel Ortega's government.

New police chief Francisco Diaz, who is also related to Ortega through the marriage of their children, replaces Aminta Granera, who months earlier left the top police job. An announcement in the government's official Gazette said Diaz assumes the post Sept. 5.

At least 317 people have been killed since April in protests demanding Ortega leave office, with most of the deaths blamed on security forces or armed, allied civilians, according to local and international rights groups.

On July 5, the U.S. State Department announced that Diaz was being sanctioned under the Magnitsky Act for what it called "serious human rights abuse against the people of Nicaragua" during the crackdown by police under his command.

Ortega has accused protesters of attempting a coup against him and vowed to serve out the rest of his term, which ends in 2021. Vice President and first lady Rosario Murillo has called the demonstrators "terrorists."

Several other Nicaraguan officials have also been sanctioned under the Magnitsky Act for alleged rights abuses or corruption.

Also Thursday, Carlos Pastora, general manager of Channel 10 TV, said in a statement that a media boss from the government-aligned Channel 8 was sent to his studios and tried to install himself in the same job there and get involved in editorial decisions.

"They want to force me to hire a journalist from Channel 8 who comes to see and regulate the news broadcasts," Pastora said in the letter addressed to the human rights commissioner of Honduras. Pastora is Honduran.

He added that he tried to return to Honduras due to the situation but was not allowed to.

Nicaraguan authorities say he is under investigation for possible money laundering.

Channel 10 is owned by Mexican businessman Remigio Angel Gonzalez, considered an associate of Ortega. U.S. lawmakers have called for Magnitsky sanctions against him as well.The most capricious discourses about the future of AI technology must be destroy humans and help humans lead a better lifetwo comments that came from the mouth of the social humanoid robot, Sophia.

As the worlds first robot citizena full citizen of Saudi Arabia, Sophia cant be held accountable for any of her opinions for now. However, her existence has sparked discussions about ethical issues surrounding AI technology at a time when most are focused on whether AI will lead to a new industrial revolution and widespread loss of jobs.

Li Kaifu, an AI expert and a successful entrepreneur from Taiwan, China, expressed his insightful thoughts on the current AI-induced turmoilhumanity.

At book sharing party in Beijing on August 14, Li shared an impressive story that inspired him during his battle against lymphoma, a cancer that almost took his life.

A friend of his built a product that helped elderly people go about their daily lives, such as ordering food, tuning on TV, calling doctors, and other things. But the one thing that received by far the most use during the trial wasnt any of the above. It was a customer-service button that, according to a customer service representative, allowed them to call someone to talk to when they were feeling lonely.

At that moment, Li and his friend realized that what elderly people wanted more than anything else was companionship.

AI has no ability or desire to love or to be loved, no matter how advanced it is. The only thing that differentiates us from AI is the humanity that is deeply rooted in our human hearts, Li told Peoples Daily.

When AI technology is capable of doing everything, what does it mean to be human? The answer is the ability to love, according to Li, who is also chairman and CEO of Sinovation Ventures, a venture capital company aiming to nurture successful Chinese start-ups.

The fear of losing the connection to human society serves as the key concern over all the potential ones caused by AI. The human species is prone to loneliness, even in the smartphone era. The coming flood of AI products should double down on what makes us truly human, Li added.Amid the worst economic environment in the country's history, Venezuelans in one city are knowingly buying spoiled meat because there's not enough electricity to keep their refrigerators working.

At bargain prices, residents of Maracaibo are risking their lives for the protein they need. The nine months of rolling blackouts the country has experienced have only grown worse.

It smells a little foul, but you rinse it with a little vinegar and lemon, Yeudis Luna, a father of three young boys, told the Associated Press on Thursday.

He added: I was afraid that they would get sick because they are small. But only the little one got diarrhea and threw up.

The power problem has left refrigerators of little use and forced at least four butcher shops to start selling spoiled meat in the citys central market, Las Pulgas. Some buy the meat to feed to their dogs -- while others feed it to their families.

Of course they eat the meat -- thanks to [President Nikolas] Maduro, butcher Johel Prieto said. The food of the poor is rotten food.

Luna took about two pounds of spoiled meat home, even though he knew it was bad. He told the Associated Press his wife already left him and their three sons for Colombia because she couldnt stand the hunger.

Luna said he rinsed the rotten meat in water and let it soak overnight in vinegar before squeezing lemons on it, cooking it with tomatoes and an onion and serving it to his children.

Maracaibo was once called the Saudi Arabia of Venezuela. The sprawling port city lays on the banks of a vast lake that once served as a hub of Venezuelas oil production. The city was clean and bustling with international restaurants.

Now, the businesses that once made Maracaibo a shining city have fallen into ruin.

The blackouts have plagued residents for nearly the entire year and things turned dire in early August when a fire destroyed a power line supplying electricity to the city of 1.5 million people.

Relief has yet to come despite assurances from Omar Prieto, the governor of Zulia state where Maracaibo is located, the line was being repaired.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.



[This unedited press release is made available courtesy of Gamasutra and its partnership with notable game PR-related resource Games Press.]

Toronto, Canada, August 23, 2018  The king of breakout games is coming back to PCs this Fall with Longbow Games announcement today of the re-release of their classic arcade game DX-Ball 2. Celebrating 20 years and over 5 million downloads, DX-Ball 2: 20th Anniversary Edition has been updated to run on modern machines while maintaining the fan-favourite action and unique graphic style of the late 90s original. The special edition includes an all-new anniversary boardset, online highscores and achievements, plus an official board editor to allow fans to create and share their own custom boardsets. Over the past 20 years, weve received countless stories from players about how much DX-Ball 2 meant to them, said Longbow President Rob McConnell. So were really happy to be releasing this new edition that will allow both existing fans, and a whole new generation of players, to keep smashing bricks for many more years to come. DX-Ball 2: 20th Anniversary Edition will be released for Windows PCs on Steam and other major digital distribution platforms in Fall 2018. Features of DX-Ball 2: 20th Anniversary Edition -150 Boards from the original Board Pack 1 (aka Full Version) plus an all-new anniversary boardset. -20 classic power-ups including multi-ball, fireball, lasers, and more. -Play locally against your friends with hot-seat multi-player. -Compete against the community with new online leaderboards. -Create and share custom boardsets with included editing tools. Please direct media inquiries to Rob McConnell at [email protected] Trailers, screenshots and other media can be downloaded from www.longbowgames.com/mediakit You can follow @LongbowGames on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube for all of the latest news. About Longbow Games Based in Toronto, Canada, Longbow Games is an independent game developer founded in 1998 by the late Seumas McNally creator of DX-Ball 2 and Tread Marks. Most recently Longbow has been working on the adventure game Golem and the Hegemony series of historical wargames including Hegemony III: Clash of the Ancients and its expansion Hegemony III: The Eagle King.Thank you so to all the families that stopped the Grunion for the Belmont Shore Business Association's Trick-Or-Treat on Second Street! We saw some fantastic costumes this year, did we catch you on the Grunion camera? Check out our photo...Asylum process : Quality of interpreting can affect asylum decisions

Bonn Interpreters can play a decisive role at the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bamf). But some organizations which help refugees complain of a lack of professionalism and quality.

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The young Iranian waited for his hearing for many months, but when he finally sat in Bonn's arrival center of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bamf), the conversation was quite different than he had imagined. When he told the Bamf staff member who would decide his case about his conversion to Christianity, the interpreter intervened. "He hissed at my client and insulted him," says Jens Dieckmann, a Bonn lawyer for asylum. There was an exchange of words in Persian, after which the interpreter claimed that the Iranian had insulted the Bamf employee. Consequence: The asylum seeker was expelled from the Bamf grounds between Ermekeilstrae and Reuterstrae.

Dieckmann said the Iranian was well integrated, with a permanent job in a hotel kitchen." He complained to Bamf about the interpreter, the asylum hearing was repeated and the young man received received recognition as an asylum seeker. Bamf reacted very professionally, praised Dieckmann.

Quality of interpreting services is lacking

Still, this case from 2016 reveals a major problem in the asylum process: the quality of interpreting services. The interview with the applicant and the Bamf decision-maker is fundamental in the asylum procedure. But the protocol is only available in German. "The interpreters are the key," says the lawyer.

Employees of Bonn-based Caritas, which offers refugees advice on how to handle the hearing, have had similar experiences. "Misunderstandings often occur and it often happens that it is translated incorrectly," says a counselor who was present at hearings. "There is a lack of quality in interpreters and there is a lack of training," she says.

She has had the experience that the interpreters were overwhelmed with the vocabulary used in asylum procedure, or that they were embarrassed by the topic of the discussions, and commented on or judged what was said. She describes the case of an Iraqi woman, who was subjected to massive domestic violence in her homeland, and then fled from her husband to Germany. In her asylum hearing, the interpreter approached her and after that, she said nothing more. That case also resulted in a new hearing. The Caritas employee complained that there was no quality control of the interpreters, as they were only volunteers.

Gabi Al-Barghouti from Bonn Caritas says there was a desperate need for interpreters at the height of the refugee crisis and the qualifications of those they found were not always sufficient. Al-Barghouti also thinks it is possible that interpreting errors could have resulted in wrong asylum decisions, but not only at Bamf in Bonn. Regardless, she emphasizes the good cooperation with Bamf.

90 percent have no training

Around 90 percent of the approximate 5,400 interpreters who currently work for Bamf throughout Germany have no corresponding training, explains Monika Eingrieber, project manager and expert in interpreting asylum procedures at the Federal Association of Interpreters and Translators (BDU). There are two main reasons for this: For languages such as Dari or Farsi in Afghanistan, Wolof in Somalia or Igbo in Nigeria, there is no training at all. And there is a shortage of finances. "The Bamf just does not pay enough for professional interpreters," she says.

For Eingrieber, the main problem is that the interpreters do not translate everything that is said. "And next to completeness, there's a lack of accuracy because the vocabulary is missing," she says. Bamf is working hard to improve the situation, she says. In Bonn too, for example, in November there is a further training event for interpreting at Bamf.

Bamf itself does not comment on individual cases in the asylum procedure, but a written statement from 2017 says that quality deficits in interpreting can lead to some interpreters no longer being used. Around 2,100 interpreters were taken out of commission for further assignments in 2017 and 2018 due to quality issues, and 30 were terminated due to violations of Code of Conduct. "This shows that the quality assurance measures taken by the Federal Office are effective," says Bamf spokeswoman Natalie Buenius.

Orig. text: Daniela GreulichChinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses a national conference on publicity and ideological work in Beijing, capital of China. The conference was held in Beijing on Tuesday and Wednesday. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

BEIJING, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping has underscored the importance of better fulfilling missions and tasks of the publicity and ideological work under new circumstances.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks while addressing a national conference on publicity and ideological work held in Beijing on Tuesday and Wednesday.

He called for solid publicity and ideological work to unite the people to embrace shared ideals, convictions, values, and moral standards, thus making greater contributions to the overall situation of the Party and the state.

Xi said decisions and plans made by the CPC Central Committee since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012 are correct and that officials on the publicity and ideological front are reliable.

He asked for taking "unity of thinking and gathering strength" as the central part of publicity and ideological work.

In order to do a better publicity and ideological work under the new circumstances, Xi underlined holding high the banner of Marxism and socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Xi stressed the importance of taking a firm hold on maintaining the right tone in public communication to boost morale and raise people's spirits in the Party and across the country.

He called for efforts to promote socialist cultural-ethical progress and cultivate and observe core socialist values to foster a new generation capable of shouldering the mission of national rejuvenation.

He also stressed adhering to the path of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics and developing a great socialist culture in China.

"We will improve our ability to engage in international communication so as to tell China's stories well, make the voice of China heard, and present a true, multi-dimensional, and panoramic view of China to the world," Xi said.

Developing a socialist ideology that has the ability to unite and the power to inspire the people is a strategic task for the whole Party, especially those on the publicity and ideological front, Xi noted.

Publicity and ideological work should play a key part in fostering a new generation capable of shouldering the mission of national rejuvenation, Xi said, adding that the top priority should be fostering firm faith.

People who work in the art and cultural sectors should continue to produce masterpieces that laud the Party, the motherland, the people, and the heroes, he said.

Noting that China's traditional culture serves as the cultural foundation of the Chinese nation, Xi said that its vision, concepts, values, and moral norms not only constitute the ideological and spiritual core of Chinese but are also valuable for addressing the issues that humanity faces.

Xi also emphasized enhancing the overall Party leadership in publicity and ideological work.

Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the meeting.

Wang noted that Xi's speech should be the guideline for the Party's publicity and ideological work under the new circumstances.

In his closing speech at the meeting, Huang Kunming, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, pledged to thoroughly implement the important instructions given by Xi in publicity and ideological work. EnditemCologne court ruling : Standard animal experiments banned at Bonn University

Bonn Students and researchers are no longer allowed to perform standard animal testing on mice for educational purposes. A Cologne court announced the verdict on Wednesday, after the university had filed a lawsuit against such a ban by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

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In the experiments, the mice would be injected with psychotropic drugs or alcohol and then they had to "meet special challenges" such as going through a labyrinth or be placed on a hot plate, according to the court.

The verdict states that these are standard experiments which are already captured on film. For that reason, it was unnecessary to carry them out again. The students could be shown the videos instead. The students would still be allowed to practice their skills using the mice. This includes being allowed to capture them and give them injections - but for that, the experiments are not necessary.

Bonn university spokesman Andreas Archut did not want to comment on the subject on Wednesday, because he did not yet have the court document with the grounds for the judgement.The Chinese Foreign Ministry holds a press conference on the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) 2018 Beijing Summit in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 22, 2018. Chinese President Xi Jinping will deliver a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the FOCAC 2018 Beijing Summit on September 3, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced at the press conference Wednesday. (Xinhua/Wang Jianhua)

BEIJING, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping will deliver a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) 2018 Beijing Summit on September 3, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced Wednesday.

The speech will expound China's new ideas on strengthening relations with Africa, and announce new measures for China's pragmatic cooperation with Africa, Wang said at a press conference.

The summit is scheduled for September 3 to 4 in Beijing. Wang said various African leaders and the chairman of the African Union (AU) will attend the summit, as well as the United Nations Secretary-General as the special guest and 27 international and African groups as observers.

This summit will be a significant diplomatic event hosted by China this year and attended by the largest number of foreign leaders, he said.

Xi and some African leaders will attend and deliver speeches during the opening ceremony of the High-Level Dialogue of China-Africa Leaders and Business Representatives, and the 6th China-Africa Business Forum, on the morning of September 3.

On September 4, Xi and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will separately chair the two rounds of discussion. Both Chinese and African leaders will exchange ideas on China-Africa relations and international and regional issues of common concern, according to Wang.

Xi will also invite foreign delegates to a welcoming banquet and a performance, and will hold bilateral meetings with other leaders during the summit, Wang added.

Established 18 years ago, FOCAC has achieved fruitful results and has become a significant mark of China-Africa cooperation. It also serves as the mechanism leading international cooperation with Africa and promoting South-South cooperation, he said.

The summit aims to build closer China-Africa community of shared future, further dovetail China's Belt and Road Initiative with African development, set a new path for a higher level of China-Africa cooperation, and deepen people-to-people exchanges, Wang said.

"We believe that with the joint efforts of China and Africa, the Beijing summit will be a great success and establish a new historical monument of China-Africa friendly cooperation," Wang said.The content you are looking for has either been removed or requires you to login to view

Please login below or register for an account With Naijapals.comTo say Tom Boyer is not the typical candidate for sheriff is a bit of an understatement. Boyer has only a few years of law enforcement experience and unlike many, his reasons for running are not to cap off his career, or change a flawed policy. Instead, Boyer was thrust into the position of sheriff candidate by circumstances far outside his control.

So who exactly is Deputy Tom Boyer? Boyer, 49, is originally from Missoula, and he says that as a young man he had intended to pursue law enforcement, inspired by a law enforcement officer with the Missoula Police Department, but that his father encouraged him to seek other paths. "Basically my dad said, 'No way,' and instead I went to nursing school," explained Boyer.

Boyer completed a degree at Missoula College and went on to become a licensed practical nurse. He would eventually come to work at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula on the surgical orthopedics ward before taking on a job as a clinician for a medical supply company, working his way up to general manager.

Following a series of random jobs working as a salesman and doing background investigations, and back to medical supply, Boyer moved out east to Glasgow to work for an underground utility locating company in the Baaken Oil Fields.

Boyer says he then moved back to Missoula to be closer to his daughters, but would return to Glasgow to be with his now wife, Annette (Fassett) Boyer. That move led to his pursuit of his adolescent dream to become a law enforcement officer, and he submitted an application for a sheriff deputy slot. That application would actually land him a job working in the county detention center before getting the opportunity to apply for a deputy spot a number of months later. In January 2017, he was hired as a deputy and attended the Montana Law Enforcement Academy shortly thereafter.

Boyer says that what he lacks in law enforcement experience he makes up for in life experience. He touted his past business and medical acumen as benefits for the role of sheriff and took on the idea of having little experience, citing recent examples such as former Sheriff Dan Taylor. Boyer stated, "Dan Taylor said to me, 'maybe the inexperience is a good thing right now.'"

Boyer's motivation for seeking the top law enforcement seat was circumstantial but he still plans to take on the job and he sees room for improvement from his view and that of the other deputies.

"To build a strong house you need a strong foundation, and over the last few months we've had a crumbling of that foundation," explained Boyer before going on to describe his desire to get the department back to basics, and, "Be the sheriff's office Valley County needs and deserves." A primary concern for Boyer is training, recruitment and retention of deputies, an ongoing struggle for the county in the middle of nowhere.

Boyer delicately took on his opponent in the race speaking about Joe Horn saying, "I don't know Joe Horn, I've never met him, and I don't have anything bad to say about him. A concern I have is someone who has been out of law enforcement for three years, who knows nothing about our department, who does not know what it will take to lead our department right now and the rumors indicate he wants to take us back to the '70s is not the guy we need for Sheriff. We need someone who is firmly in the 21st Century."The family of Lori Denise (Dahl) Pyle, of Minden, Nev., would like to announce her permanent change of address. On Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018, at the age of 58, Lori took her last breath on earth and awoke in heaven in the arms of Jesus.

She was diagnosed with ampullary cancer two years earlier. Her steadfast faith in the Lord sustained her and gave her peace. We'll miss her greatly, but we know where she is! Lori is absent from the body and present with her Lord Jesus because all the days God ordained for her were completed (Psalm 139:16).

Lori was born in Glasgow, Mont., on Feb. 4, 1960, to her parents, Otto and Jenamae (Johnson) Dahl. She was raised in Opheim, Mont. in a happy and hospitable home. Her life was full of love, laughter, and fun with family and friends. Lori was the baby in a family of six children with a 20-year age gap between the oldest and youngest. Her siblings and their spouses are: Zona Gail Atwood (husband, Dick) of Melbourne, Fla., Donnie Jean Dahl (deceased), Rod Dahl (wife, Susan) of Roundup, Mont., Allen Dahl (wife, Kathy) of Missoula, Mont., and Myrna DeLay (husband, Bob) of Sun City West, Ariz.

While growing up, Lori loved to read, dance, cheerlead, play card games, sew, and do a variety of crafts. She was a loving and social person with a contagious giggle who loved to laugh and tell stories. Lori was known for her own unique twist on common idioms which we affectionately call "Lorisms." Instead of saying, "Don't burn the CANDLE at both ends," she would add in the idiom "Up a creek without a paddle" and say, "Don't burn the CANOE at both ends."

In 1978, Lori met Dave Pyle, the love of her life, when they were freshmen at Montana State University in Bozeman, Mont. They were married on Sept. 3, 1982, and were best friends for 40 years. God blessed them with three wonderful children: daughter Jessie Heussler (husband, Jakob), of Lake Forest, Calif., daughter Katie Pyle (who went to be with the Lord before experiencing life on earth), and son Shane Pyle, of Bozeman, Mont.

Lori taught elementary school for 12 years at Faith Christian Academy (FCA) and had a profound academic and spiritual impact on her students, parents, and staff. Lori attended Hilltop Community Church in Carson City, Nev., where she helped teach discipleship classes. She was a wise woman of God who developed deep caring relationships; she was a beloved friend and mentor to many women.

One of Lori's favorite quotes was that "When you go through a trial, the sovereignty of God is the pillow upon which you lay your head" (Charles Spurgeon).

Lori's "Celebration of Life" Service was held on Saturday, Aug. 11, at Hilltop Community Church.

Should family and friends desire, memorial contributions may be sent to Faith Christian Academy (FCA) Scholarship Fund at 1004 Dresslerville Rd., Gardnerville, NV 89460, 775- 265-0688.Flags stand outside of Henniges Automotive's factory building in suburb Detroit, Michigan, the United States, on Aug. 17, 2018. (Xinhua/Wang Ping)

DETROIT, the United States, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- The global nature of the automotive industry today means any change to its supply chain could be detrimental to all. As the U.S. government rolled out additional tariffs on imported goods from some of its important trading partners, auto companies in Michigan are losing sleep over trade fears.

Industry insiders and experts said the Trump administration's tariff plan, which shows U.S. misconception about world trade, will certainly lead to a lose-lose situation.

AUTO COST SPIKE

In its second-quarter earnings report released in July, General Motors cut its profit outlook for the year, citing significant increases in commodity costs. The automaker now expects to achieve earnings per diluted share of 6 U.S. dollars for the whole year, down from its previous forecast of 6.3 to 6.6 dollars.

Its rival Ford Motor Co. has seen commodity costs rising 300 million dollars from last year, attributing about half of that to the U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum.

The tariffs are expected to eat up about 600 million dollars in profit in 2018, the automaker's Chief Financial Officer Bob Shanks told media earlier.

Fiat Chrysler, along with its German, Japanese and South Korean competitors, have all voiced their concerns about potential impact additional tariffs on steel, aluminum, and other intermediate goods could bring to the industry.

Auto parts suppliers have already taken the fall.

Henniges Automotive, which produces automotive sealing, said they've already seen cost rising. Lucerne International, which fabricates auto parts in its Asian plants and ship them back to the United States, is worried that the company's profit margin is too thin to offset the rise of costs.

Like Lucerne International, many auto parts suppliers that are locked in long-term contracts with its clients will not be able to pass on higher costs. There are few ways for them to lower costs and break even. The companies will then be caught in a dilemma: whether to cling on to major clients running at a loss, or to stop loss by terminating partnership. Either way the companies will suffer heavily.

Other suppliers may pass the higher costs to automakers, which will lead to higher prices of certain car models.

"In the end, everybody loses," said Shuo Wang, president of Michigan-based automotive supplier STEC USA, a subsidiary of Shanghai-based automaker SAIC Motor Corporation Limited.

GLOBALIZATION BEHIND JOB LOSSES?

One of the Trump administration's intentions to add tariffs on autos, auto parts, steel and aluminum is to bring manufacturing back to the United States and revive jobs. However, experts said the idea shows U.S. misconception about world trade.

Farok J. Contractor, a professor in Rutgers Business School's management and global business department, said that while jobs will be preserved for a while against international competition in industries such as steel, winning back those already gone is difficult because global value chains take time to be reshaped.

He pointed out the fact that U.S. workers are losing many jobs because of automation rather than outsourcing. Statistics show that for every U.S. job lost through international outsourcing, three jobs are lost because of automation. "It makes sense that American firms would prefer automation to outsourcing given the relative strength and size of the workforce in the United States," said an article from the Harvard Political Review published in July.

Globalization and international trade are not to be blamed entirely for the loss of jobs in the United States, said the professor, whose conclusion is most evident in the automotive industry.

As automakers expand their global footprint to reach the widest consumers possible, they are inclined to choose suppliers that could provide them auto parts globally in order to manage cost and quality. The inherent requirement for auto parts suppliers is to go global with automakers.

STEC opened a plant in Madison Heights, Michigan in 2014 to stay as close to its customers as possible, marking another step in its global expansion. The Chinese company has a global workforce of more than 6,000 serving more than 50 customers in every major region of the world.

STEC USA has since employed 15 U.S. locals and is aiming to hire more than 10 times that figure.

FOREIGN BENEFITS

At Henniges' headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan, Chinese national flag stood high in front of the building, alongside those of the United States, Mexico, Germany, and many more, showcasing the company's global presence.

In 2015, the company was bought by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China. Larry Williams, the president of Henniges, said the change of ownership allowed the auto parts supplier to adopt a long-term development goal and grow at a much quicker pace. The capital investment provided the company with an opportunity to expand abroad and add jobs at its U.S. facilities.

Williams said that Henniges added three new plants in the past two and a half years under the current ownership, compared with two new plants added in more than a decade when the company was under the previous ownership.

Many similar stories could be told by auto companies in Michigan and beyond, where the stronger-than-ever foreign presence has brought benefits to U.S. companies, workers and consumers alike.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is holding public hearings on Aug. 20-24, and on Aug. 27, regarding proposed tariffs on approximately 200 billion dollars worth of Chinese products.

According to the USTR, the proposed tariffs are a supplemental action in response to China's unfair trade practices related to technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation, based on findings in its investigation of China under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.

Williams said the accusation runs contrary to his observation.

"There's a lot of sharing (of technology between Chinese companies and European or U.S. companies) that goes on, which creates some competition but ultimately improves the environment," said Williams.

Representatives of the U.S. auto industry are expected to voice concerns or opposition to the proposed tariff list.Dear Valley County Voters,

The final date to withdraw my name from the ballot for the primary election was this past Monday, Aug. 13. So after much deliberation and prayer, I have determined that I must continue centering all my focus and energy on my family at this time. They mean the most to me in my life, everything else is secondary. Additionally, I am considering what may be best for the Valley County Sheriffs Office and the people of Valley County at this time. Therefore, I withdrew my name as an official candidate for Valley County Sheriff/Coroner.

Please know that both Tara and I have been very humbled and thankful for the continued prayers and support of our families from our community. For that, we are eternally grateful.

I also pray God blesses our county and the extraordinary people that live in it with an effective, committed, positive, inspirational, courageous, insightful and motivated leader. I feel that Valley County Sheriffs Deputy Tom Boyer is that leader, and I hope you will support him during his write-in campaign and cast your vote this fall for Tom as your next Valley County Sheriff/Coroner.

Sincerely,

Luke Strommen

Deputy Valley County

Sheriff's OfficeUnited Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivers his remarks after signing a book of condolences in memory of the late former Secretary-General Kofi Annan, at the UN headquarters in New York, Aug. 22, 2018. A wreath-laying ceremony was held at UN Headquarters in New York on Wednesday to mourn the death of former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Annan, a Ghanaian diplomat, died on Saturday in Switzerland. He served as UN secretary-general for 10 years till the end of 2006. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- A wreath-laying ceremony was held at UN Headquarters in New York on Wednesday to mourn the death of former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Current Secretary-General Antonio Guterres paid tribute to his predecessor at the ceremony and wrote on a condolence book in memory of Annan.

"We are here to pay tribute to Kofi Annan, one of the best of us, a man who embodied United Nations values and made us all proud to call ourselves his colleagues," Guterres told the ceremony.

"Kofi Annan's years in office were an exciting time. He put forward new ideas. He brought new people into the United Nations family. He spoke passionately about our mission and our role. He created a renewed sense of possibility both inside and outside our organization about what the UN could do and could be for the world's people."

The world is still reaping the rewards of the Millennium Summit, when Annan brought the world together to agree on the first global targets on poverty and child mortality. His response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic united governments, nongovernmental organizations and the healthcare industry and undoubtedly saved many lives, said Guterres.

Annan faced up to the grave errors made by the United Nations in the 1990s -- in its response to the Rwanda genocide and the Srebrenica killings during the 1992-1995 Bosnian war. The reports he commissioned aimed to make sure such terrible mistakes are never repeated, and set the international community on a new course in its response to mass atrocities, he said.

"In these times of growing political divides and intractable conflicts, we need the peacemaking spirit of Kofi Annan more than ever," he said.

Annan's most defining features were his humanity and solidarity with those in need. He put people at the center of the work of the United Nations, and was able to turn compassion into action across the UN system.

"A true voice for the voiceless, he did not shy away from the most challenging issues but worked creatively to bridge differences and protect the most vulnerable. He stood his ground without antagonizing others; his humility, good humor, courtesy and charm went hand in hand with enormous wisdom and strength."

Besides being an extraordinary statesman, a remarkable diplomat, an inspiring leader, Annan will be remembered for his gentleness, warmth, and for his friendship, said Guterres. "He was indeed a good man and a gentleman and always at our disposal to support us, to comfort us, to be in full solidarity with us in any difficult moment that one of us, as colleagues of him, would have."

Guterres was picked by Annan as UN High Commissioner for Refugees in 2005 before he himself became UN secretary-general in 2017.

Annan, a Ghanaian diplomat and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, died on Saturday in Switzerland, at the age of 80. He served as UN secretary-general for 10 years till the end of 2006.Famed atheist Richard Dawkins said he plans to write a book titled "Atheism for Children" in efforts to arm the younger generation "against indoctrination by schools, grandparents and religious books."



On Twitter, the 77-year-old author of "The God Delusion" said his new book will "be unflinching, not a storybook."



"[C]hildren won't beg parents to buy it for Xmas," he said. "Are there parents who'll want to buy it for their children anyway? Do you anticipate a demand? Would you like to see a 'children's God Delusion' by me published?"



Writing on Twitter, Dawkins continued: "I really want to not indoctrinate. Perhaps I can help parents arm them against indoctrination by schools, g'parents & religious books. & against taunting by religious schoolmates. Help them think on evidence, e.g. for evolution. 'What do you think?' is my continual refrain."



The evolutionary biologist previously wrote a book for teenagers and young adults, entitled "The Magic of Reality: How We Know What's Really True," which aimed to show that science  not religion  can best explain the natural world.



In 2015, Dawkins sparked controversy after stating that "children need to be protected so that they can have a proper education and not be indoctrinated in whatever religion their parents happen to have been brought up in."



The "Selfish Gene" author argued that when parents force their religious opinions on their children, the children are prevented from properly thinking for themselves or escaping their "idiot child role."



"Would you ever speak of a 4-year-old's political beliefs? Hannah is a socialist 4-year-old, Mark a 'conservative. Who would ever dream of saying such a thing?" Dawkins asked.



"Religion is the one exception we all make to the rule: don't label children with the opinions of their parents."



At the time, Creation Museum president Ken Ham accused of Dawkins of attempting to impose his own "religion" of atheism on others.



"Dawkins believes that children should be taught evolutionary naturalism as fact. He wants his religion of naturalism imposed on them. So children shouldn't be taught religion by their parents - they should be taught the religion of atheism by their teachers," Ham wrote in an article titled "Whose Really (Falsely) Indoctrinating Kids?" posted on his AiG blog.



"All Dawkins is advocating is replacing one religion with another religion," he added.



Ham, who is also the president of Answers in Genesis, called Dawkins' arguments inconsistent and even dangerous.



"Does Dawkins mean that children should be taught the major problems with evolution? Does this mean that children should be shown the evidence that supports the Bible's history? Does this mean that children should learn the difference between historical and observational science? Dawkins definitely wouldn't think so," Ham wrote.



He added that the evolutionary biologist believes children "should be exclusively taught a religion of atheistic, evolutionary naturalism  and no other options."



[Such teaching is] indoctrination in a false religion," wrote Ham, adding that Dawkins desires to do the very thing he's warning parents against.



Ham also responded to Dawkins' argument that Christians "put the Bible ahead of scientific evidence," writing, "Well, as biblical creationists, we do start with the Bible and we interpret the scientific evidence in light of what the Bible says. And observational science confirms what God's Word teaches! We aren't against science - we love science."



He added, "But because we start with God's Word and Dawkins starts with man's word, we reach different conclusions about the past (historical science)."



Ham encouraged Christian parents to impress the Gospel truth on their children's hearts and minds, as the secular world will continue to pull them in the opposite direction.



"I encourage you to be bold in teaching your children to stand on the authority of God's Word from the very beginning. Secularists are working hard at indoctrinating our children, and we need, more than ever, to equip our children with solid answers from God's Word and from science that confirms what the Bible teaches," he said.

Over the years, weve written often about performance-informed government and the reticence of managers or elected officials to use that data to make decisions -- mainly, they say, because they dont trust it. Weve tended to cast this claim as an excuse to ignore data-based reality in favor of politically popular decisions.More recently, even though were still strong supporters of the move to make decisions based on measures, weve begun to get a little skeptical about the validity of some measures and concerned about the way government officials sometimes misuse the data -- inadvertently or, on occasion, intentionally. As Kip Memmott, the audit director for the Oregon Secretary of State, tells us, Reporting that information is critical and important, but the information can be a lot of smoke and mirrors.Sometimes, thats done purposefully. You could call it cheating. For example, when Cynthia Eisenhauer, a now-retired expert in government performance measurements, was giving customer service training sessions in New York City, she discovered that the staff person assigned to work with her threw away the results of the people who had the lowest scores.There was the well-known case in Atlanta a few years ago, when 11 teachers were convicted by a jury for altering student scores on standardized tests. According to media reports at the time, teachers and administrators were under pressure to meet certain scores or they risked termination.A few years back, the Ohio auditor told us this story: If theres an oil spill and fish die, you send a biologist out to count dead critters. They get a [certain] amount for each dead critter [they find], and they send you the bill. Im not saying anyone is cheating, but how can you possibly consider those numbers reliable?Then theres this incident at the New York City Department of Homeless Services, which in 2017 experienced a sudden drop in critical incidents, such as fights or weapons possession, in its Bedford-Atlantic Armory shelter. When the Daily News looked into the surprising results, it found the real reason for this allegedly good news. The mayors office had changed the definition of critical incidents to involve firearms possession, but not other weapons commonly found in shelters, such as shivs, steak knives and locks in socks. In fact, even when an arrest is made, that incident doesnt necessarily show up in the citys performance measures if the arrest was not made for a particularly serious offense.Officials of the Homeless Services Department believed that the numbers it was using before the definitional change exaggerated concerns about safety. But others see the situation differently. Though I can only state surely that the numbers are underreported, says Gregory Floyd, president of Teamsters Local 237, which represents employees in the department, my speculation is that the city is underreporting numbers so it can show that the shelters are safer than they are.One of the areas in which measurements frequently leave misleading impressions is emergency response time. David Ammons, professor of public administration at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, tells us that when local governments report the average emergency response time, citizens and members of the city council tend to think that it is a measure of the time from when a citizen calls with a 911 emergency until the emergency unit rolls up onto the scene.But in fact, the stopwatch may start when emergency units are dispatched, not when the calls come in. That means that citizens and council members may believe the emergency response time in their city is around six minutes when it may actually be eight minutes once the time between calls and dispatch is figured in. Fire chiefs say they use this measure because their departments dont directly control the dispatch, so they dont want those minutes included in the measures. But if theyre doing that, Ammons says, then there may be a problem with dispatch and the city council and the citizenry are oblivious to that.There are instances in which the data are inadvertently misleading and create an unfortunate impression. Phoenix, for instance, is known for its high rate of reported bias-related crimes, which makes the city look bad when compared to other communities and in benchmarking exercises. But, in reality, the Phoenix police are one of the few agencies in the country with a dedicated Bias Crimes Unit. It has mandatory reporting when officers suspect bias. As a result, more cases are identified, investigated and reported.Unfortunately, unlike financial data, which is certified through the audit process, very few performance measures are validated in a scientific way. As a result, fallacious or misleading data can pass from an agency to the legislature or the public without the kind of confirmation that inspires confidence.This is all unfortunate because, as Sharon Erickson, the city auditor of San Jose, Calif., says, The basic premise of American democracy is that people will trust their government, if their government provides accurate information.We still believe that measuring and disclosing data about government operations is useful and meaningful. But we also know that much more attention needs to be paid to the data behind the measures.Governments around the nation are working to design the best vaccine policies that keep both their employees and their residents safe. Although the latest data shows a variety of polarizing perspectives, there are clear emerging best practices that leading governments are following to put trust first: creating policies that are flexible and provide a range of options, and being in tune with the needs and sentiments of their employees so that they are able to be dynamic and accommodate the rapidly changing situation.WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump Wednesday accused his former long-time personal lawyer Michael Cohen of "making stories" in order to get a "deal."

"If anyone is looking for a good lawyer, I would strongly suggest that you don't retain the services of Michael Cohen!" Trump tweeted.

Cohen has pleaded guilty to eight criminal charges, including campaign-finance violations, tax evasion and bank fraud at a federal court in Manhattan, New York.

"Michael Cohen plead guilty to two counts of campaign finance violations that are not a crime," Trump said, adding "President Obama had a big campaign finance violation and it was easily settled!"

In another tweet, Trump praised his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort as "a brave man."

"I feel very badly for Paul Manafort and his wonderful family. 'Justice' took a 12 year old tax case, among other things, applied tremendous pressure on him and, unlike Michael Cohen, he refused to 'break' - make up stories in order to get a 'deal'. Such respect for a brave man!" Trump tweeted.

Manafort was found guilty of eight out of 18 criminal charges at a federal jury in Virginia on Tuesday. He has denied all the charges.

In court on Tuesday, Cohen reportedly said "in coordination and at the direction of a candidate for federal office," he kept information that would have been harmful to the candidate and the campaign from becoming public.

Cohen didn't mention Trump's name but it's widely thought his claim was a clear reference to the president.

"On or about summer 2016, in coordination and with and at the behest of the candidate, I and the CEO of a media company worked together to keep an individual with information that would be harmful to the candidate from publicly disclosing this information ... under which she received compensation of 150,000 dollars," Cohen was quoted as saying in court.

Cohen surrendered to the FBI earlier Tuesday. It remains unclear if the former Trump lawyer has committed to cooperate with the ongoing Special Counsel Robert Mueller probe over the alleged Russia meddling into the 2016 U.S. general elections.

Federal investigators raided Cohen's office, home and hotel room in New York earlier this year and seized various electronic devices and documents which reportedly include information that Cohen paid porn star Stormy Daniels so as to keep her silent about accusations of an affair with Trump.

Judge William Pauley set a sentencing date for Cohen for Dec. 12.At a time when the U.S. government is trying to deal with a nationwide opioid epidemic, many jails across the country are only now rolling out medicines to help inmates overcome addiction. And most of those jails dispense only one of the drugs currently available.Nearly 1 in 5 jail and prison inmates regularly used heroin or opioids before being incarcerated, making jails a logical entry point for intervention, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.Medication, when paired with counseling and social support, is considered the standard treatment for opioid addiction. Three medications treat addiction to opioids. Methadone and buprenorphine diminish opioid withdrawal symptoms and can reduce cravings. Naltrexone blocks the effect of opioids and also treats alcoholism.About 220 of more than 3,000 jails nationwide offer naltrexone for inmates  mostly to those about to be released, said Andrew Klein, project director of a Department of Justice grant program that supports agencies providing drug treatment for inmates. Only about 20 jails offer methadone or buprenorphine, he said. The numbers dont include facilities that offer methadone for pregnant inmates.But cost and a long-standing belief that the best way to overcome addiction is abstinence are barriers to using any type of medication to help treat opioid addiction, experts said. In addition, methadone and buprenorphine require a special license to distribute and, to be an effective long-term solution, should be continued after many inmate patients are released.Those two medications also can induce mild opioid effects, which creates the potential for misuse and illicit sales. They are very valuable commodities in jail, Klein said.The jails in San Mateo County, located just south of San Francisco, recently began offering naltrexone, about 20 months ago. Jail officials say they believe the medication will improve patients chances of recovery and reduce the likelihood they will return.We want to use every tool in the toolbox, said Akhil Mehra, a psychiatrist at the jails. Its not a panacea.  But when used appropriately, it can help people stay sober.The county will continue to provide methadone to inmates if they were already taking it in the community, but the current policy is to not start new people on the drug. Buprenorphine is not offered in the jails, but health officials said they may consider it for the future.One of the San Mateo County inmates taking naltrexone is Rosamaria Castillo, who has been in and out of jail more than two dozen times. She admits to using drugs but said her primary addiction is to alcohol. Now back in jail, Castillo said she is hopeful that anti-addiction medication will help curb her cravings and make her more open to participating in other therapies.I want to get back on track, and I need all the help I can get, Castillo, 60, said as she sat near her dorm-style cell. I believe it can work for people who are really serious about wanting to get well.But Mehra said about half of the inmates evaluated for naltrexone decide not to take it because they are worried about side effects  which can include headaches, joint pain or upset stomach  or they believe they can kick their habits without it.Another San Mateo County inmate, Rebecca Pro Compton, 32, said she had been in and out of recovery for methamphetamine and heroin abuse since she was a teenager. Pro Compton said she sees naltrexone as just another drug  and a crutch. As a drug addict, I dont think its beneficial, she said. Instead, Pro Compton participated in a jail program called Choices that focused on group therapy.Even some health workers are circumspect about dispensing medicines, including Adrian Maldonado, the San Mateo jails program services manager, who said he generally opposes the use of methadone and buprenorphine in jails. He said naltrexone can work for some inmates but should be used only as a steppingstone to get them into other forms of treatment that address the broader issue. The goal is to help that person change their behavior, he said.Though few jails dispense medications to treat addiction, experts say they expect that to change over time. The American Society of Addiction Medicine and the American Correctional Association issued a joint statement in February supporting the use of medications behind bars and making specific recommendations on screening, treatment and release.Corrections [departments are] starting to understand [their] role in addressing this, and its role is huge, said Kathleen Maurer, director of addiction services for the Connecticut Department of Corrections, who helped write the statement.One problem that can arise at facilities offering only naltrexone, or no addiction medication at all, is that new inmates who were taking opiates on the outside are suddenly forced to go cold turkey inside, putting them at risk of serious withdrawal symptoms.Experts said treating opioid addiction behind bars could help address the broader opioid epidemic. Some research has shown providing medication is effective at reducing both the likelihood of relapsing on drugs and returning to jail.Several programs that provide medication-assisted treatment have demonstrated success, including ones in New York and Rhode Island, which offer the full suite or medications  methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone. A small study on the Rhode Island program found a 60 percent reduction in opioid overdose deaths among recently freed inmates.In California, health care decisions in the jails are left to the counties. Los Angeles County is expanding its use of medication-assisted treatment. It currently offers naltrexone but is in the planning stages of offering buprenorphine and methadone, said Arastou Aminzadeh, medical director of addiction medicine services for the L.A. County jails.The state also is working to expand access to anti-addiction medications for inmates. The California Department of Health Care Services recently announced that counties can apply for grants of up to $25,000 to learn how to effectively implement such treatment in jails and drug courts.But that is only the beginning. The cost of providing methadone and buprenorphine can reach hundreds per inmate each month, in part because of the medical and security staffing needed to run the programs, Klein said. Naltrexone, on the other hand, is much cheaper to provide. In fact, Maurer said, the company that manufactures the drug has provided it free to some jails.Marshaling the resources to pay for these programs is a challenge. This is something new that is coming to corrections budgets, said Maurer, of the Connecticut Department of Corrections.A federal appeals court agreed Wednesday with a lower court's ruling that Alabama can't limit a woman's access to second-trimester abortions.The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling that blocks a state law -- the Alabama Unborn Child Protection from Dismemberment Act -- that bans a certain abortion procedure. The ban was struck down by federal judge in Montgomery last year, but the state appealed that ruling.The appeals court's order stated, "In our judicial system, there is only one Supreme Court, and we are not it. As one of the 'inferior Courts,' we follow its decisions... Our role is to apply the law the Supreme Court has laid down to the facts the district court found."Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall issued a statement Wednesday afternoon disagreeing with the ruling."I am disappointed that the 11th Circuit sided with the lower court in this case, but it is encouraging that the court recognized the State's important and legitimate interests in ending barbaric abortion procedures--in this case, procedures that literally tear apart babies living inside their mothers' wombs," Marshall stated."I also appreciate Judge Dubina's separate opinion that the United States Supreme Court's abortion jurisprudence 'has no basis in the Constitution,' Marshall stated. "Our legal team is carefully considering whether we will petition the Supreme Court for review of this case. We expect to reach a decision soon."Governor Kay Ivey also reacted to the decision."I was supportive of the bill when it passed through the Legislature in 2016, and I signed it as president of the Senate. I am disappointed in the court's ruling today; however, we should not let this discourage our steadfast commitment to protect the lives of the unborn, even if that means taking this case to the U.S. Supreme Court. This ruling clearly demonstrates why we need conservative justices on the Supreme Court, and I look forward to the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh."The Foundation for Moral Law condemned the appeals court decision.Kayla Moore, the Foundation's President, said in a statement that "Because the Eleventh Circuit had an amicus brief in front of it explaining why the court's duty was to follow the Constitution instead of the Supreme Court, the court knew it had a duty to disregard Roe and protect the children's right to live.""The Eleventh Circuit cannot wash its hands of the blood of the innocent by placing the blame on the Supreme Court," Moore statement. "The victims of the Eleventh Circuit's passivity are Alabama's unborn children, who can now be murdered by having their limbs torn from their bodies while their hearts are still beating."Last October, U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson blocked the Alabama law that would criminalize the most common method of second-trimester abortion in the state, effectively ending the right to an abortion at 15 weeks. The method is called dilation and evacuation-- but is referred to in Alabama law as dismemberment abortion-- and is typically performed between 15 and 18 weeks of pregnancy.The Legislature passed the ban in 2016, and it was set to take effect last year. After the ban was passed, the West Alabama Women's Center in Tuscaloosa and the Alabama Women's Center in Huntsville filed a lawsuit against the state. The district court ruled in their favor, but the state appealed to the 11th Circuit.The appeals court wrote in its decision Wednesday, "At that stage of pregnancy, it is settled under existing Supreme Court decisions that the State of Alabama cannot forbid this method of abortion entirely." The ruling continued, "The State has an actual and substantial interest in lessening, as much as it can, the gruesomeness and brutality of dismemberment abortions. That interest is so obvious that the plaintiffs do not contest it.But the fact that the Act furthers legitimate state interests does not end the constitutional inquiry. The legitimacy of the interest is necessary but not sufficient for a pre-viability abortion restriction to pass the undue burden test."The order also notes that almost 93% of abortions performed in Alabama happen before 15 weeks, and a different method is used.In Alabama, the appeals court said, the majority of women who have abortions at the West Alabama Women's Center and the Alabama Women's Center live in poverty and cannot afford the other methods that "prolong the abortion" suggested by the state.At first glance, it may seem typical that Lewis Conway Jr. got his name on the ballot for a seat on the Austin City Council  he paid the filing fee and turned in his application before the deadline. But Conway's success Tuesday is unique for one big reason: He's a convicted felon.According to Texas' election code, a person is only eligible to run for office if he or she has not been "finally convicted" of a felony "from which the person has not been pardoned or otherwise released from the resulting disabilities." Conway was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in 1993, and his candidacy is testing that state law.It's the "resulting disabilities" portion of the code that's caused people to scratch their heads  there's no legal precedent defining the term. But after a brief challenge on Friday by the city clerk, Conway has been cleared to continue his campaign.I am happy that Austin is standing up for the nearly four million Texans affected by our criminal justice system," Conway said in a statement. "Our campaign is about more than just an election  its about diversity in leadership, belief in a fair chance, and bringing the sentence to an end. I have been released from parole and my voting rights have been restored. I have served my time and now I am ready to serve my community.Conway's conviction stems from a 1991 stabbing that he has described as self-defense. He says he he stabbed a man at an Austin apartment complex during a skirmish over drugs Conway said the man had stolen. Conway served eight years in prison and has completed his 12 years of parole. He now works as a criminal justice organizer at the advocacy group Grassroots Leadership.The statute regarding the eligibility of a felon is one Conway's campaign called "ambiguous, unchallenged and potentially unconstitutional." Because there's no clear definition of resulting disabilities, nor a prior legal case to help determine it, Conway has pressed forward.Sam Taylor, a spokesperson with the Texas Secretary of State's office, agreed that the issue is unclear and without precedent. But citing a 2004 memo from the office's former director of elections, Taylor said the office maintains that a finally convicted felon is not eligible to run for public office without a pardon or a judicial release. Although Conway's attorneys believe that fulfilling his probation and having his voting rights restored counts as judicial release from his disabilities, Taylor said there's "no legal precedent for that interpretation to stand on."And Conway's case might not end up providing much broader clarity. His opponents vying for the East Austin seat would have had the opportunity to challenge Conway's candidacy in court, but they told the Austin Chronicle earlier this month that they wouldn't fight his eligibility.After months of the Conway campaign waiting for a challenge, City Clerk Jannette Goodall sent Conway an email on Friday, citing his inability to meet the requirements to run under the Texas election code. Goodall gave Conway until Tuesday to prove his eligibility. He submitted what he believed was that proof Monday, indicating that he has been released from "resulting disabilities" by serving out his parole and having his voting rights reinstated.A spokesperson with the City of Austin said Goodall met with city attorneys and came to the determination that the city had no reason to question his eligibility.Conway says he will make criminal justice reform one of the main focal points of his campaign.Gov. Ralph Northam has set Aug. 30 for lawmakers to begin hashing out a federal court order to redraw 11 House of Delegates districts -- six of them in Hampton Roads.On the Peninsula, the court order would mean new lines for the 95th District, represented by Del. Marcia "Cia" Price, D-Newport News, and the 92nd District, represented by Del. Jeion Ward, D-Hampton.In South Hampton Roads, the order calls for the redrawing of the 77th, 80th, 89th and 90th districts, represented respectively by Del. Cliff Hayes, D-Chesapeake; Del. Matthew James, D-Portsmouth; Del. Jay Jones, D-Norfolk; and Del. Joe Lindsey, D-Norfolk.Redrawing district lines could move voters into new districts and change where they vote. People also could be placed under a new representative in the House of Delegates."It is in the public interest for the General Assembly to finalize constitutional maps as soon as possible -- Virginians deserve that clarity," Northam said in a statement Monday. "I am calling a special session so we can focus our collective attention on doing what's right: working together to draw lines that represent Virginians fairly."Speaker of the House Kirk Cox, R-Colonial Heights, said lawmakers will meet at noon Aug. 30, but House Republicans will continue to pursue legal options about halting these redistricting plans -- through a request for a stay in the U.S. Eastern District Court and an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.The federal court order, issued in June, set Oct. 30 as the deadline to redraw districts. A three-judge panel ruled that when those 11 districts were designed in 2011, they were fashioned to dilute blacks' votes and make districts more white and more Republican."I'm glad that the governor sees the urgency in our remedying the unconstitutional districts that are racially gerrymandered, including the 95th District," said Del. Price.In his appeal of the federal court ruling, Cox argued that the majority of the judicial panel erred when it found a House guideline for redrawing districts did not meet the standards of the Voting Rights Act.That House guideline, used in 2011, was to make sure that at least 55 percent of the voting age population in each majority-minority district had to be black.In his appeal, Cox asked for the October deadline to be put off until the U.S. Supreme Court can weigh in. Cox said Republicans plan to submit their full appeal to the Supreme Court by next month.Cox argued it could have "irreparable harm" to the House if the Supreme Court overturns the federal court order, but lawmakers have already started redrawing lines. He argued it could be an "immense waste of scarce resources" and cause confusion as Virginia approaches the 2019 state election.The Eastern District Court has set Thursday as a deadline for Republicans to say what their plan is on meeting the Oct. 30 deadline. In his statement Monday, Cox said Republicans intend to file a notice this week that further supports staying the federal court order.Cox said they also plan to submit their full appeal to the Supreme Court by next month.In the meantime, Democrats have been creating a proposal with new district lines, which they hope to be ready by the start of the special session, said Kathryn Gilley, spokeswoman for House Democrats.Since the court's ruling, Democrats have been working on a "fair and constitutional map, and we hope that the House Republicans will be receptive and show a good faith effort to pass new maps in the best interest of Virginia voters," said House Minority Leader David Toscano, D-Charlottesville.In his statement, Cox said it's not going to be a fast or simple process."The General Assembly must establish criteria, hold committee meetings, and gather public input from across the Commonwealth," Cox said. "A bevy of federal redistricting cases has created a confusing set of conflicting standards and expectations, all of which must be met to satisfy the Courts. The Special Session called by the Governor gives him and Delegate Toscano the opportunity to present a redistricting plan and demonstrate a willingness to engage in a good-faith effort. We look forward to reviewing their proposal."Redrawing district lines and spreading black constituents in new districts could make some areas less Republican.For example, the 95th District snakes for about 18 miles from the Southeast Community in Newport News, and wraps in almost every public housing project and major rent-subsidized apartment complex in Newport News.Price's district also splits five precincts to create a district that is 63 percent black.Several of the majority-black precincts added to the 95th in 2011 touch the 94th District, represented by Del. David Yancey, R-Newport News, whose district is currently a close split between Democrat and Republican voters.Other precincts in the 95th District touch the 93rd District, represented by Del. Mike Mullin, D-Newport News.Moving some of Price's constituents into either of these districts could make both of them more Democratic.A group of 22 state attorneys general and the District of Columbia late Monday asked a U.S. appeals court to reinstate the Obama administrations 2015 landmark net neutrality rules and reject the Trump administrations efforts to preempt states from imposing their own rules guaranteeing an open internet.The states, led by New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood, filed a lawsuit in January after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted in December along party lines to reverse rules that barred internet service providers from blocking or throttling traffic or offering paid fast lanes, also known as paid prioritization.Several internet companies filed a separate legal challenge on Monday to overturn the FCC ruling, including Mozilla Corp, Vimeo Inc, Etsy Inc, and numerous media and technology advocacy groups.The FCC handed sweeping new powers to internet providers to recast how Americans use the internet  as long as they disclose any changes. The new rules took effect in early June but major providers have made no changes in internet access.Nine states have legalized recreational use of marijuana. Despite that, and the fact that public opinion has grown in favor of legalization, people in those states are still serving jail time or facing professional and financial consequences for low-level, nonviolent marijuana arrests and convictions.Generally, people with criminal records are about half as likely to receive a call back from a prospective employer. The numbers are worse for applicants of color. This can also hurt a person's eligibility for public housing and student loans, as well as their chances of obtaining personal loans.But there's a small, growing movement among cities in legal marijuana states to either reduce sentences or expunge marijuana-related charges from before the laws changed.Weve shifted public opinion so broadly on marijuana ... but weve got to also do something about those who have been arrested, incarcerated or otherwise penalized for possession, or use or sale, says Chris Alexander, the New York policy coordinator for the Drug Policy Alliance.This push comes as voters in November could legalize marijuana in two more states -- Michigan and North Dakota -- and New Jersey lawmakers are moving closer to legalization after Vermont earlier this year became the first state to legalize it through the legislature. North Dakota's measure would create an automatic expungement system, and bills have been introduced in New Jersey that would allow people to apply for expungement.About half of legal marijuana states have processes for people to apply for reduced sentences or expunged records. But the majority of these systems rely on those with convictions to initiate the process, which can be time-consuming and costly, says Kate Bell, general counsel for the Marijuana Policy Project. Many may also be unaware of the option.In California, for instance, voters in 2016 approved Proposition 64, which legalized recreational marijuana and permitted the reduction of sentences and expunging of records for marijuana convictions. While the Drug Policy Alliance estimates that nearly 1 million people qualify to have their records reclassified or cleared by Prop. 64, just under 6,000 people petitioned for it between November 2016 and March 2018.This gap between the number of eligible people and those applying for record relief highlights one of the challenges of marijuana policy reform.There could be myriad reasons why individuals arent applying. It could be simply [because] they dont know or dont have the ability to access this, says Justin Strekal, policy director for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. The better public policy is to have the jurisdictions go through and expunge those records [automatically] without putting the burden on the individual.Some cities are doing just that.In January, San Francisco announced it will retroactively dismiss around 3,000 misdemeanor marijuana convictions and review about 5,000 felonies dating back to 1975. The next month, Seattle announced similar plans to vacate between 500 and 600 convictions dating back to 1997.We want to address the wrongs that were caused by the failures of the war on drugs for many years in this country and begin to fix the harm that was done not only to the entire nation but specifically to communities of color, said San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon in an email.After the passage of Prop. 64, San Diego County worked with the public defender to petition on behalf of eligible residents to receive marijuana sentence reductions, according to Tanya Sierra, a public affairs officer for the county's District Attorneys. So far, 1,131 sentences have been reduced or dismissed. The initial focus was for people on probation or in custody, but Sierra says the public defender may consider relief for more than 14,000 defendants going back to 2005.Some marijuana advocates, however, want to see states step up. Bell, of the Marijuana Policy Project, hopes states will develop automatic expungement systems that benefit people in both urban and rural areas.I certainly commend the prosecutors that have taken this into their own hands to do the right thing, she says. But it should be uniform across the state, and the only way thats going to happen is if the state provides resources.For some, full legalization isn't a necessary step to achieve the same goal as San Francisco and Seattle.Kevin Sabet, president and CEO of the anti-legalization group Smart Approaches to Marijuana, argues that decriminalization addresses criminal justice issues more directly than legalization.The latter, he says, is only focused on profit and commercialization.Just because its legal doesnt mean you dont get arrested, he says. Its not legal if youre under 21, its not legal to use in public housing, its not legal to use it in schools.According to a Prison Policy Initiative report , 235,000 people were locked up in state prisons or local jails for drug offenses in 2016.Currently, 13 states have decriminalized but not legalized marijuana. In Rhode Island, for instance, marijuana possession can result in a fine rather than criminal charges. And last month, the states governor signed a bill that allows people to petition for record expungement even though recreational use of the drug is still illegal there. In New Jersey, the state attorney general has paused all marijuana prosecutions until Sept. 4 while his office decides whether to officially decriminalize the drug.While legal marijuana states have seen steep drops in marijuana arrests, blacks and latinos are still much more likely to be arrested for marijuana-related offenses than whites within those states.Legalization does not fix racial bias, says Alexander of the Drug Policy Alliance. Those are problems that need to be addressed within the policing and justice system as a whole. But, he says, legalization and record expungement are important starting points.On Wednesday, in the morning, at the ABC Far North studios, Cairns, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC undertook a media interview with presenter Kier Shorey.

Following, at Woree, His Excellency and Mrs Kaye de Jersey visited Woree State High School, and the Governor addressed students and guests.

Following, at Cairns, His Excellency and Mrs de Jersey visited the EnVizion innovation hub.

Following, at Cairns, His Excellency and Mrs de Jersey visited the Cairns Library, and the Governor read a book to children and guests.

In the afternoon, at the Albatross Bay Resort, Weipa, His Excellency and Mrs de Jersey hosted a reception in support of the Weipa community, and the Governor addressed guests.

Following, at the Weipa Town Authority Office, Weipa, His Excellency received a briefing from Authority representatives.Description

GIS  23 August 2018: The book Zistwar depi enn bob afrikin was launched by the Prime Minister, Minister of Home Affairs, External Communications and National Development Unit, Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, yesterday during a ceremony at Hennessy Park Hotel in Ebene.

The event was organised jointly by the Creole Speaking Union and the Petrusmok Library. The Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Prithvirajsing Roopun, the President of the Union, Professor Arnaud Carpooran, and other personalities were present.

In his address, the Prime Minister commended the work carried out by the Creole Speaking Unions team which led to the publication of Zistwar depi enn bob afrikin. He reiterated Governments continuous engagement and support for the development of the creole language, which is a national heritage. Government is also doing its best to promote languages in general through the different Speaking Unions under the aegis of the Ministry of Arts and Culture, he stated.

Prime Minister Jugnauth underscored that Mauritian creole, which is now being used for more than three centuries, is a unifying and popular language for the countrys multicultural nation. The formal introduction of this language in primary schools only dates back to 2012, he pointed out.

Speaking about the Creole Speaking Union, the Prime Minister observed that it lays emphasis on written activities so as to enable a further advancement of Mauritian creole. It is important for each and every one to have access to information and knowledge, he highlighted, adding that the Creole Speaking Union is contributing in this endeavour through literary publications.

For his part, Professor Carpooran said that the book Zistwar depi enn bob afrikin is a readaptation of Francois Chretiens Les Essais dun bobre africain, which was first published in 1822. This, he observed, was the first book published in Mauritian creole. The latest publication has a historical, pedagogical, cultural and political importance as the creole language is an essential element in the Nation-Building process, he indicated.State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe meets Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday in New Delhi. LI XIAOWEI/XINHUA

China and India will strengthen cooperation between their militaries and maintain peace along their shared border, the two sides pledged during a meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday between State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Wei, who is on a four-day visit to India, said that under the guidance of President Xi Jinping and Modi, friendly coexistence and win-win cooperation have come to characterize relations between the two countries as well as between their militaries.

The visit will help further implement the important consensus the two countries' leaders have reached, deepen military and security exchanges and cooperation, and strengthen the building of mutual trust, Wei said.

It will also help the two countries' militaries promote their ties and maintain peace in border regions, Wei said.

Modi said India and China share vast common interests and should support each other, conduct win-win cooperation and jointly plan for the future.

The two countries should also further enhance exchanges and cooperation between their militaries and work together to maintain stability along their long shared border, Modi said.

Wei is also scheduled to meet with Indian Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during the visit.

This year has seen frequent interactions between the leaders of China and India.

Xi and Modi held an informal meeting in Wuhan, Hubei province in Aprila meeting Xi said he hoped would begin a new chapter in bilateral ties.

They met again in June on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in Qingdao, Shandong province.

Less than two months later, they held bilateral talks while attending the BRICS summit in Johannesburg.

Lan Jianxue, a researcher of South Asian studies at the China Institute of International Studies, said such frequent high-level exchanges show that bilateral ties are improving.

Both countries believe they should seek common ground while properly settling their differences, he said.

Lan added that strengthened cooperation and mutual trust between their militaries will help prevent conflicts in the border areas, thus further contributing to the development of bilateral ties.Parallel systems will be separated by an air gap to prevent infection;

A physically isolated duplicate system, reformatted after every election to guard against the possibility of infection, is used solely to read memory cards containing vote results, and;

No alteration or substitution of the system will be allowed unless Padilla signs off.

No network connections to any device not directly used and necessary for voting system functions may be established. Communication by or with any component of the voting system by wireless or modem transmission is prohibited at any time.

California Secretary of State Alex Padillas office has certified the first open-source, publicly owned election technology for use in Los Angeles County  a significant step in the future of elections in California and across the country.The system is known as Voting Solutions for All People ( VSAP ) Tally Version 1.0. Its certification will allow Los Angeles County to use its newly designed Vote By Mail (VBM) ballots in the November election.County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean Logan , in the news release from Padilla's office, said the new system will ensure accurate and secure counting of ballots.Logans office will begin distributing the new ballots on Oct. 9. Each voters packet will include a ballot, a postage-paid return envelope, a secrecy sleeve and an I Voted sticker.As part of the certification process, the system went through rigorous functional and security testing conducted by the Secretary of States staff and a certified voting system test lab, Padillas office said. The testing ensured the systems compliance with California and federal laws, including the California Voting System Standards (CVSS).In a proclamation authorizing use of VSAP, Padilla notes:Additional specifications are available here Padilla noted that additional changes are coming to Los Angeles County in 2020 under the Voters Choice Act Separately, Logan signed a contract on June 13 with Smartmatic USA , making it the VSAP prime contractor and systems integrator. Smartmatic USA will help Logan's office in managing the manufacture and implemention of components scheduled for introduction in the March 2020 California presidential primary election.Following a nine-month bidding and evaluation process, Smartmatic USA was selected after being scored by technical, legal and financial evaluators in accordance with Los Angeles Countys competitive procurement policies. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the contract June 12.Smartmatic USA and its team will be responsible for systems integration, engineering and manufacturing of the system components that were designed by and for Los Angeles County voters with a focus on security, accessibility and usability.Hawaii has been disaster central ever since the volcano began erupting many weeks ago. Now they have Hurricane Lane, a Category 4 storm to deal with.Hawaii emergency managers have not caught a break in the action for much of the summer, and their September is not going to be any better  likely worse, depending on the track of the hurricane.The hurricane from 26 years ago that they are referencing was Hurricane Iniki in 1992. The year 1992 was a bit like 2017, with multiple hurricanes hitting areas of the United States. The other major hurricane of record for 1992, that gave FEMA a black eye was Hurricane Andrew. I recall a story told to me by FEMA national staff. They were walking down a hallway and overheard people talking about a hurricane and they thought they were talking about Andrew  but, it was the early warning stages for Hurricane Iniki. They were already tired!Luke Meyers, formerly with the city of Seattle, is headed, perhaps there already, to Hawaii to be the deputy state emergency management director for Hawaii. I think he is going from the "counter top, into the fire!"(TNS)  San Rafael residents have launched a campaign to block cellphone companies from attempting to build 5G towers in Marin.The 5G towers, which would allow for faster and higher-capacity video streaming and other transmissions, could exacerbate health symptoms already suspected as a result of exposure to electromagnetic fields, Vicki Sievers, of the EMF Safety Network , told the San Rafael City Council on Monday.According to the EMF Safety Network website, those symptoms can include fatigue, headaches, sleep problems, anxiety, heart problems, learning and memory disorders, ringing in the ears and increased cancer risk.Weve experienced 2G, 3G, 4G and now, on the horizon, is a fifth generation called millimeter wave technology, Sievers said after her presentation that brought standing applause from about 20 people at the packed meeting. Around the world, doctors and scientists are gravely alarmed about the biological and physiological effects of that technology.Sievers said no permits for 5G so-called small cell towers have been issued in Marin as of yet  though they have in other Bay Area cities  and she suspects they are being planned in San Rafael and Marin.[We want] amendments to the current telecommunications ordinance  which has not been reviewed since 2004  that protect residential areas, schools and parks through setbacks and attention to power profiles, Sievers said in an email Tuesday.According to Sievers, San Anselmo, Fairfax and Mill Valley are working on strengthening their cell tower ordinances.Our effort has to do with making pre-emptive strikes before Verizon, AT&T [and others] actually make formal applications to each town and city, Sievers said. There are no applications in San Rafael to date, but there surely have been permits granted and installations begun in other Bay Area cities.In May, Verizon was forced to withdraw its application to build two small cell towers in Sebastopol after four months of heavy opposition by residents and attorneys for the EMF Safety Network.Several of us San Rafael residents went to the (San Rafael) council on Feb. 20 (when the Sebastopol issue arose), urging them to prevent such debacles here, Sievers said.San Rafael Mayor Gary Phillips said Tuesday he was not aware of any ongoing activity to strengthen or upgrade cell tower regulations in the city and there were no immediate plans for further discussion.It kind of came a little bit out of the blue, he said of Mondays presentation.EMFs include wireless radiation emitted by cell towers, cell and cordless phones, smart meters, smart grid, Wi-Fi and computers, power lines, fluorescent lights, indoor wiring and other electronic devices, according to the EMF Safety Network.According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the jury is still out on the health risks of exposure to EMFs.Studies have shown that some workers exposed to high magnetic fields have increased cancer rates, the CDC reported on its website. But such associations do not necessarily show that EMF exposures cause cancer (any more than the springtime association of robins and daffodils shows that one causes the other). Scientists have looked carefully at all the EMF evidence, but they disagree about the health effects of EMFs except to say that better information is needed.According to the website whatis5g.info , the 5G small cell tower will include the higher millimeter wave frequencies never before used for internet and communications technology. These waves do not travel easily through buildings so 5G will require millions of new cell towers. The wireless telecom industry is aggressively seeking to outfit nearly every lamppost and utility pole around the country with a wireless small cell antenna beaming hazardous radiation next to, or into our homes, 24/7.San Rafael resident Chandu Vyas said Monday he is wary of EMFs after a health challenge about five years ago. He said he developed severe and constant headaches after a smart meter was installed at his home. The headaches went away after he opted out and had the smart meter at his property removed.I dont want to go through the same health problem again, he told the City Council. I ask your help.Kiah Bosy of Chi Home Design showed the council how her EMF meters ratcheted up to high pitch when she walked toward a TV screen in front of the council chambers.Its serious, she said. Were microwaving each other.(TNS)  Fredericksburg, Va., residents want broadband that is fast, reliable and affordable. City officials say more competition among Internet-access providers is the best way to make that happen.The city conducted an online survey between April 16 and July 1 as a step toward its goal of having the fastest broadband of any city in Virginia. It got 214 responses from residents and 54 from businesses.Citizens and businesses are satisfied, but I wouldnt say theyre overwhelmed by the broadband service in the city, Suzanne Tills, the citys chief information officer and director of information technology, told city council during its Aug. 14 work session. Competition would certainly improve price and speed if we could bring more providers into our community.The survey was put together with input from city staff and the University of Mary Washingtons Center for Economic Development. Localities from large cities to rural counties are looking at ways to improve broadband in their communities because it has become essential in education, workforce training and, for business especially, in keeping a competitive edge.Broadband is one of the five criteria that companies look at when searching for a location, according to Angela Freeman, the citys business development manager. It is increasingly important for residents as well because of the rise of smart appliances and devices such as Amazon Alexa and Google Home.While the survey found that the most common ways for residents to connect to the internet are, not surprisingly, through the use of personal computers, tablets, smartphones and smart TVs, Tills said, 47 reported they were using it for the internet of things: appliances, vehicles and electronic systems that use the internet to access and exchange data.In addition, 21 said they were using it for webcams, 16 said they were using it for alarm systems, 10 said for other uses and six for facility automation.The survey showed that residents average paying their internet provider $71.20 a month for a download speed of 101.39 mbps. Businesses pay an average of $124.50 for 54.84 mbps. Four people who took the poll said that they couldnt afford internet access, Tills said.Residents said that they mainly access the internet from their home, although 15 percent said they go online using their smartphone or at a public library, restaurant, work, or relative or friends house. Only about 4 percent of businesses said they use a public library. The rest of the time they use the internet connection at work.In Fredericksburg, free public access is available at the Central Rappahannock Regional Library branch, 1201 Caroline St.; and the Dorothy Hart Community Center, 408 Canal St.Federal and state laws governing broadband and related technologies limit localities ability to regulate and facilitate them, said Assistant City Attorney Rob Eckstrom, but the city has been able to institute some changes. These include streamlining the approval process for small cells, equipment located in public rights-of-way that add additional wireless bandwidth to existing tower networks.In addition, the city has instituted a one dig goal of installing conduit for more than one reason whenever a city street has to be ripped up. When the city replaces some of the old Colonial-style street lamps downtown, for example, conduit for broadband could be laid at the same time as the conduit for the replacement lights. Dave King, the citys Public Works director, said theres a possibility that the new lights could potentially serve as Wi-Fi centers.Im not saying that were going to go there or offer that, he said. Its just something to discuss as part of that project.Tills said a number of Virginia localities are working on broadband issues, but are taking different approaches. Some major cities are making significant investments while some rural, underserved areas are seeking state grants.Most of the emphasis now is on bringing broadband to rural areas, she said. We dont want to get left out. We definitely want to bring in high-tech industry, and be competitive. It will help our labor force and help us in many ways.Every locality needs a plan for broadband, said Tills, who recommended doing in-depth needs assessment and crafting an action plan. She suggested applying to the Center for Innovative Technology in Herndon, which could do a study for free, or the city could pay to have a study done. Costs for this typically range from $30,000 to $100,000.The study would allow the council to assess the citys needs and the costs of addressing them, then prioritize its goals.It might be putting some money on the table in terms of, do we provide open-access conduit to incentivize competition? Since there are providers in the area, the city is probably not going to want to provide service directly. So our focus would be on bringing the providers in and getting offers for service.Councilman Matt Kelly suggested reaching out to U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman, R1st District, who has been working with the George Washington Regional Commission on ways to expand broadband into underserved areas.Two of our areas, King George and Caroline, are underserved, he said. All roads lead through Fredericksburg.Councilwoman Kerry Devine asked if any businesses indicated on the survey that they were so unhappy with the broadband available in the city that they would move or not locate here. None did, but a percentage did say that they were unhappy with it, which is telling, said City Manager Tim Baroody.Whats the cure? asked Councilman Billy Withers.The more competition there is, the more choices there are, Tills replied.Baroody said the discussion will help him and city staff better communicate the issues with broadband to the citys current providers.Please dont ignore us, he said. Rural areas need help, but we are still not where we need to be in the city of Fredericksburg. Hopefully, this resonates with them.California on Wednesday restored its push for the nations toughest net neutrality rules, advancing legislation that calls for a free and open Internet over the objections of the telecommunications and cable industries.The Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee approved SB 822 by Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, by a 9-3 vote. The bill, which had been gutted by the same committee earlier this summer, now goes to the full Assembly for a vote.The measure is a response to the Federal Communications Commissions decision last year to overturn net neutrality regulations that had banned Internet providers from blocking or slowing down websites.The Internet needs to be free and open, where we as individuals get to decide where we go, Weiner told the committee.Since the FCC ruling, Internet service providers (ISPs) are allowed to manipulate Internet traffic if they disclose their practices. California, 20 other states and the District of Columbia have sued in federal court to overturn the FCCs repeal of net neutrality rules, which were created in the Obama administration.Meanwhile a number of telecommunications and cable companies have posted net neutrality principles on their websites, pledging an open Internet. But California lawmakers want to put those consumer protections into state statute.Wieners bill would prohibit Internet service providers from impairing or degrading lawful Internet traffic based on the content, application or service  ensuring what advocates described as open access and healthy competition. It would also limit a practice known as zero rating, where customers arent charged for using their data on certain websites picked by ISPs.While supporters praised the bill for its consumer protections, critics from the telecommunications and cable industries warned it would create a regulatory, compliance and litigation environment that will be hard on consumers, as well as weaken the states leadership in technology innovation.We believe this bill is anti-competitive and anti-consumer, Bill Devine, an AT&T vice president, told the committee. It will prohibit popular free data programs. We believe it will increase litigation costs.Specifically, Devine cited a study that showed 3.6 million Californians are saving as much as $30 a month using zero-rating programs, with minorities and low-income consumers benefiting the most.And Carolyn McIntyre, president of the California Cable & Telecommunications Association, told lawmakers they were overstepping their jurisdiction, saying the federal government, not states, has the authority to regulate the Internet.The overwhelming vote by the committee reverses its course two months ago when it stripped the bill of many of the protections sought by consumer advocates. And its chairman, Miguel Santiago, D-Los Angeles, who was criticized for siding with the telecommunications industry, joined with Wiener to advance an even broader bill.The push to legislate California-only Internet rules, however, wasnt embraced by all lawmakers.If were not careful, were going to create of our state an island of its own regulations thats going to penalize our Internet users and our constituents, said Assemblyman Jim Patterson, R-Fresno.The committee also approved a related bill, SB 460 by Sen. Kevin de Leon, that would require state agencies to enter into contracts only with companies that comply with Californias net neutrality provisions.(TNS)  Nassau and Suffolk counties will receive nearly $320,000 in state Homeland Security grants to upgrade their 911 response and emergency service dispatch operations, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced this week.The funding announcement comes as Long Island officials begin to prepare for the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June through October.Cuomo announced Monday that 57 counties and New York City would receive $10 million through the 2018-19 Public Safety Answering Points Operations grant, which allows counties to upgrade their public safety call-taking and dispatching technology.These grants will allow counties to continue to upgrade and improve their emergency communications and ensure that New Yorkers are getting the fastest, safest response in their moment of need, Cuomo said in a statement.Suffolk will receive $173,668 in grant funding to offset costs to its 911 call center, while Nassau will get $145,826, officials said. The noncompetitive, formula-based grant is dependent on a countys population, operations and emergency service calls.At a news conference Tuesday in Bethpage, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran said her administration had learned a number of lessons from superstorm Sandy, which struck the region nearly six years ago, and was better prepared for the storm season.We are an island and we are vulnerable in such storms, which we saw all too closely during superstorm Sandy, Curran said. The good news is we have made great progress in the past six years.For example, Nassau now has contracts with several disaster management contractors and consultants to assist with debris removal and disposal after a storm, Curran said.The county Office of Emergency Management, she said, also has procured 50 portable traffic lights to be powered by 100 generators, additional traffic management electronic warning signs, traffic cameras to monitor flooding conditions and a new warning system to notify residents about emergencies.We are ready for whatever Mother Nature has in store, said Steven Morelli, Office of Emergency Management commissioner.Suffolk, meanwhile, has expanded its mass notification capabilities, improved its weather forecasting models and updated its emergency management and hazard mitigation response plans, officials said.Suffolk County is continuously implementing best practices to ensure safety during these devastating storms, which includes educating our residents on emergency preparedness, County Executive Steve Bellone said.(TNS)  TALLAHASSEE, Fla.  The heads of two of the nations top security agencies refuted U.S. Sen. Bill Nelsons claim that Russian agents have infiltrated the election systems of some Florida counties.In a letter to the Florida election officials late Monday, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristjen Nielsen and FBI director Christopher Wray stated that no election system in Florida has been hacked. The letter was released nearly two hours after Nielsen spoke with Gov. Rick Scott on the phone about election security.Although we have not seen new or ongoing compromises of state or local election infrastructure in Florida, Russian government actors have previously demonstrated both the intent and capability to conduct malicious cyberoperations, the letter states. DHS and the FBI will continue to notify any victim of a successful cyberintrusion into their election network in any jurisdiction nationwide.Nelson, D-Orlando, made the assertion on Aug. 7, in the midst of his re-election campaign against Scott, a Republican, and sending state and local election officials scrambling to find out more information. He told reporters Russian operatives have free rein to move about in certain counties in Florida.In a statement, Nelson spokesman Ryan Brown said, theres nothing in this letter that contradicts what Sen. Nelson said he was told a few months ago, and what he and Sen. Rubio have tried to warn about in order to guard against Russian meddling in our elections.Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Miami, has consistently raised alarm bells about the threat to Floridas election systems from Russian hackers. He and Nelson sent a letter to local supervisors of elections in June alerting them to the threat.But Nelsons comments went further, asserting there had already been a breach. Rubio released a statement after Nelsons initial claim that reiterated his warning about the cybersecurity threat but neither confirmed nor denied Nelsons contention.Florida Department of State Secretary Ken Detzner, a Scott appointee who heads the agency in charge of elections, sent letters to Congressional leaders, to DHS and the FBI.When Senator Bill Nelson made unsubstantiated claims that Russians are in Floridas election records, the Department began aggressively pursuing answers, Detzner spokeswoman Sarah Revell stated in an email. None of these agencies had information to corroborate Senator Nelsons claims.Seminole County Supervisor of Elections Michael Ertel said hes been in contact with DHS and the FBI, and theres been no breach. Nelsons comments have raised alarm among some voters, he said, but while theres been no breach so far, that doesnt mean the threat has subsided.There was no intrusion in 16, none in 17, none in 18, and well prosecute anyone that attempts to, Ertel said, adding that youve got to be careful not to pump your chest up so much that you cause someone to see you as a potential target.Scotts campaign has hounded Nelson since he made the claim, saying he either made a false charge or inappropriately released classified information.It is irresponsible and reckless that Bill Nelson would attempt to undermine the voters confidence in their county elections systems by making confusing statements while campaigning and then walking away with absolutely no explanation, Scott said in a statement released by his campaign.Last week, Nelsons campaign pointed to an NBC News story citing three anonymous intelligence officials, who indicated there remained a threat from the 2016 hack of an elections vendor, Tallahassee-based VR Systems. The campaign said that vindicated Nelsons claims.Brown blamed Scott for publicly bashing Nelson and politicizing the issue.The governor of Florida has a security clearance and could have quickly and directly received information, answers and posed any questions instead of engaging in these confusing and partisan histrionics of the past week, Brown said.Photo taken on Aug. 22, 2018 shows a flower parterre in Chinas capital city. Beijing is currently being decorated with ornamental flower beds to welcome the upcoming 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which will be held on September 3-4. The city will plant more flower beds at Tiananmen Square and Changan Avenue among other famous Beijing landmarks, in preparation for the Summit. (Photo/ Weng Qiyu from Peoples Daily Online)Sweetwater County will no longer send depositories to Bank of the West starting Oct. 1.

During the Sweetwater County Commissioners meeting Tuesday morning, the commissioners voted unanimously to remove Bank of the West from its list of depositories starting Oct. 1. The commissioners stated they needed to make a statement against Bank of the Wests views.

About two weeks ago, Bank of the West stated on its website blog.bankofthewest.com/change, We will no longer do business with companies whose main activity is exploring, producing, distributing, marketing or trading oil and gas from sh...One Sweetwater County organization is trying to spread the word about how human trafficking and sex exploitation can happen in Wyoming and even in this county.

For Christal Martin, founder and executive director of Sweetwater Against Trafficking, the fight to stop this from happening to other children is personal.

About one year ago, Martins 12-year-old daughter was sexually exploited with a chat website that her daughter could access on her phone called Chatous. While the site seems perfectly harmless, perpetrators are using it as a way to communicate with their potential victims.

Once...While Sweetwater County voters sided with Foster Friess in the Republican Primary Election, GOP voters across the state decided State Treasurer Mark Gordon would be their choice for Governor of Wyoming.

Gordon will take on Democrat Mary Throne in the General Election. Throne defeated Kenneth Casner, Michael Allen Green and Rex Wilde for the Democratic nomination.

Friess earned 1,692 votes in Sweetwater County, Gordon earned 1,217 votes, with Sam Galeotos receiving 1,028 votes, Harriet Hageman earning 807 votes, Dr. Taylor Haynes receiving 265 votes and Bill Dahlin earning 60 votes.

Statewi...A Mass of Christian burial for James While and Jacqueline While will be celebrated at 10 a.m., Friday at the Saints Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church, 633 Bridger Ave. in Rock Springs. Inurnment will take place at the Rock Springs Municipal Cemetery. Friends may call the church one hour prior to services.

The family of respectfully requests donations in their memory by sent to Holy Spirit Catholic School, 116 Broadway, Rock Springs, Wyoming or the charity of the donor's choice.

...Mario Batali. Photo: Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Eataly

A woman who has accused Mario Batali of sexual assault filed a lawsuit against the chef in Massachusetts superior court on Wednesday. Natali Tenes allegations were first reported by Eater earlier this year, and other female fans also allege that Batali groped them.

The lawsuit states that Batali kissed Tenes face, grabbed her butt, put his hands on her legs, groped her groin, and rubbed her breasts. The incident occurred at a Boston bar in April 2017, and the lawsuit says Tene has suffered emotional distress, anxiety, and self-doubt. In a statement to Eater, Tenes lawyer writes, Nobody should ever be subjected to this type of conduct, and that without warning, [Batali] then sexually assaulted her.

This is the first lawsuit against Batali from one of the number of women who have accused him of sexual harassment and abuse. In May, the NYPD opened an investigation into one womans allegations that Batali drugged and assaulted her. He remains a partner in Batali & Bastianich Hospitality Group; his co-owners had said they would buy him out by July 1, but say the process is still ongoing.The pot industry and beer industry have been on a collision course for decades. Photo-Illustration: Grub Street; Photo: Sergey Peterman/Getty Images

Imagine meeting friends for a beer and choosing your drink not by style or brewer, but by the effect you want the beer to have on your body: an option to make you happier, or calmer, or more energetic. This is the dream of Keith Villa, the brewer that created Blue Moon, and one of the big ideas behind his new company, Ceria Beverages. Ceria isnt a traditional brewery, but is instead focused on making cannabis beer, a nonalcoholic drink that will nevertheless leave you in a state of (gently) altered consciousness. Villa thinks Ceria will do for marijuana beer what his Blue Moon did for craft beers tastefully garnished with orange slices. He might actually be right.

By the start of next year, Ceria will release a THC-infused lager, IPA, and witbier. Villa partnered with a Denver cannabinoid research company called Ebbu that, he says, can isolate compounds in order to trigger specific sensations in the body. Our light beer will have a low dose of THC so people can drink several without getting stoned, he says, comparing it to Bud Light. Or if they want a stronger sensation, they can get our IPA. It will be equivalent to a regular IPA  have two, enjoy a decent buzz. All this, according to THC beer advocates, will happen without hangovers or the threat of a beer gut.

Villa is hardly alone in his pursuit, as the legal(ish) pot industry and beer industry have been on a collision course for years now. Pot smoking is a dying trend. Edibles sales, meanwhile, are white-hot, and industry insiders predict beverages will be the largest sector by far. Meanwhile, analysts estimate the beer industry could lose $2 billion a year if pot keeps siphoning off sales. But brewers  a demographic long partial to weed  have realized a solution is staring them in the face: nonalcoholic beer made with marijuana, which just so happens to be a close genetic cousin of hops (a crucial ingredient in traditional beer). Both hops and cannabis affect brain function, and both share the same terpenes, the citrusy-piney punch that will be familiar to anyone who loves double IPAs.

A lot of beer brands are realizing theyre in a great spot, says Dooma Wendschuh, CEO of Province Brands, a Canadian start-up that in a few months will introduce the worlds first beer brewed with raw marijuana plants. Like all of these new THC beers, Provinces products promise to be hangover-less, low-calorie, and engineered so the dose-response curve is comparable to regular beer. The idea is to make them a go-to option for people who want a social dose, essentially replacing edibles. Nobody, Wendschuh says, wants to meet the guys after work and eat a plate of gummy bears.

To make its beer, Province uses the plants stalks, stems, and roots instead of oils or extracts. The process involves mashing beer as if the marijuana were barley or another grain, then removing the alcohol as if it were an ODouls. The method, needless to say, is tricky. When they shopped their plan around to top brewers almost two years ago, Wendschuh explains, everyone balked. They said, This wont work. Cannabis doesnt have carbs, and you need carbs for mashing. What are you going to be using? And to be fair, the earliest test batches werent promising: They tasted like rotten broccoli and would have cost roughly $60 a bottle. Eventually, Wendschuh says, he worked with chemical experts to iron out the kinks, and will have the first batches available next year.

The race to be first to market is real: Earlier this week, Cannabiniers, a company based in San Diego, announced the release of its own THC-infused beer. The five nonalcoholic styles rolled out in Nevada dispensaries with eventual plans to debut in California and other pot-friendly states.

Big Beer, meanwhile, isnt sitting on the sidelines. Constellation Brands, the U.S. owner of Corona and Modelo, invested $190 million last fall for 10 percent of Canopy Growth, a billion-dollar marijuana company that trades under the stock symbol WEED. Last week, it turned heads by upping that investment by another $4 billion. And Molson Coors, the worlds seventh-largest brewer, has announced a joint venture with another marijuana company, HEXO, that will produce its own weed-laced beverages.

Last year, Lagunitas, which is owned by Heineken, made its own terpene-infused IPA called SuperCritical, named for the extraction method used to produce cannabis oil. It was a one-off, but a few weeks ago Lagunitas also debuted the industrys first nonalcoholic THC sparkling water, Hi-Fi Hops  basically, a beer-flavored LaCroix thats infused with pot. It has no booze, sugar, or calories. Cans, which are currently available in California dispensaries, cost $8 and come in two doses: 5 milligrams each of THC and CBD, or 10 milligrams of THC. It apparently takes about 15 minutes for the psychoactive effects to kick in. Ronald den Elzen, the CEO of Heinekens U.S. arm, observed at an industry conference in October that marijuana is being legalized in many states, and that means, we have to act now, and we have to do it together.

Laws, as you might expect, remain difficult to navigate, but the brewers who make THC beers arent waiting. Villa wants the laws loosened, obviously, but also knows that if the federal government relaxes rules for things like hemp or CBD, there would inevitably be an industry-wide stampede into cannabis. Its going to come at us like a tidal wave, he predicts, which is why were getting in front of it now.DOWA, Malawi, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Malawi government has launched a satellite television project which seeks to make 500 rural communities connected to satellite television services, with assistance from China.

The development is a follow-up action since the 2015 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit held in South Africa, and part of China's pledge to provide satellite TV reception to 10,000 African villages.

In his remarks during the launch Tuesday, Malawi President Peter Mutharika hailed the Chinese government for the initiative, saying it resonates with his development strategy of bringing development to the country's rural masses through Rural Growth Centers.

Mutharika said: "Malawi is migrating into a digital world and I want everyone in rural areas to be part of that migration.

"I want rural people to have access to information because informed people make informed choices and decisions." he said.

Chinese Ambassador to Malawi Liu Hongyang said the project was a concrete reflection of China-Malawi friendship and cooperation.

"Since the establishment of our diplomatic ties, the two countries have witnessed rapidly growing and continuously deepening bilateral cooperation which brings tangible benefits to the people of Malawi," he said.

Liu disd that though the project, China will also donate 500 sets of solar digital TV integrated with decoder, 1,000 sets of solar projector TV system, and 10,000 sets of digital decoder.

The country's rural masses are expected to have access to at least 21 TV channels through the project, including three local channels. China's Star Times Group was implementing the project.News

Wife convinces husband he has Alzheimers, embezzles $600,000 from his account

John's daughter, Elena, said her mother convinced her father that he had Alzheimer by telling him he didn't remember going to an appointment, and by making up stories that he was chasing her in the house.



Haiti - Politic : Senators condition the examination of the PM's documents to those of the ministers





Following the creation on Thursday, August 16, of the Special Senate Committee for the Examination of Documents of Prime Minister Jean Henry Ceant https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25275-haiti-news-zapping.html Joseph Lambert the President of the Senate and Senator Onondieu Louis, President of the Special Commission recalled Monday, that under a new provision adopted by the Presidents of the two Chambers, the records of all ministers must be submitted to the Special Committees. at same time as that of the appointed Prime Minister, stating that the PM can not be analyzed separately.



Senator Onondieu confirmed that he had sent a letter to the Senate Speaker, asking him to solicit from the appointed Prime Minister the files of all the members of his cabinet.



This is the first time that the presidents of both chambers make such a requirement, previously the appointed Prime Minister presented the names of the ministers of his cabinet, a few hours before the session of presentation of the general policy, procedure applied at the time of the ratification of the Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant and consistent with the 1987 Constitution as amended, the documents were analyzed after.



Joseph Lambert confirms having delivered Monday the documents of the Prime Minister appointed to the Special Commission waiting for the documents of citizens to form the next government, documents that the PM should have deposited at the same time as his own, says Joseph Lambert.



In the meantime, Gary Bodeau, the Speaker of the Lower House, has set up his special commission consisting of 9 deputies : Jean Wilson Hyppolite, Jerry Tardieu, Benoit Laguerre, Alfredo Antoine, Guerda Benjamin Alexandre, Beaudelaire Noelsaint, Jacquie Guerrier, Jude Destine and Francisque Delacruz.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25320-haiti-news-zapping.html (deposit of PM's documents)

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25275-haiti-news-zapping.html



HL/ HaitiLibre





















Philippine president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo meets Filipinos living in Chengdu, Sichuan province at a Philippine-invested shopping center in Chengdu on June 6, 2007. SHAO XING/FOR CHINA DAILY

Former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo first visited China in 1975

Former Philippine president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has a sentimental attachment to China, and as a frequent visitor to the country since her first trip in 1975, she has witnessed epochal changes in the past 40 years.

Arroyo first visited China when she was co-chairperson of the Association for Philippines-China Understanding, a people-to-people organization that played a significant role in the establishment of diplomatic ties between the Philippines and the People's Republic of China in 1975.

She returned to China in 1976 with her father, Diosdado Pangan Macapagal, who served as Philippine president from 1961 to 1965, and other family members.

She later traveled frequently between the two countries, either in her role as president of the Philippines between 2001 and 2010, or later on as a congresswoman and most recently as the newly elected speaker of the House of Representatives.

Arroyo has a special connection to China through her husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, whose ancestors came from Fujian province in southeastern China. She told a World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention in Manila in 2009 that she was proud her husband and children had Chinese blood.

In an exclusive interview with China Daily during her latest visit, early this month, Arroyo said she had witnessed 40 years of "breathtaking" changes in China thanks to the reform and opening-up policy the country adopted in 1978.

The 71-year-old recalled traveling with her family to several places in the 1970s that "continue to be very important in China", such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hangzhou and Dazhai, a village in northern China that was set up as a model for agricultural production during the 1960s and 1970s.

"At that time, the people all wore Mao suits and rode on bicycles," she said. "My impression at that time, even before 1978, was that life was very simple in China."(Reuters) Britain has extended its lead in the global currency trading business in the two years since it voted to leave the European Union, in another sign London is likely to continue to be one of the worlds top two financial centres even after Brexit. Leaving the European Union was supposed to deal a crippling blow to Londons position in global finance, prompting a mass exodus of jobs and business. But with eight months to go, London has tightened rather than weakened its grip on foreign exchange trading, a Reuters analysis shows.

To read this article:The journalist, Moustafa Daly, was one of 16 participants in the Foreign Correspondent Program, a ministry-run programme that aims to show different aspects of Finland to young journalists from outside Europe.

An Egyptian journalist had to flee neo-Nazis while visiting Turku on Saturday, tells Vesa Hakkinen, the head of communications on current affairs at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

Daly reveals in a blog post that he travelled to the city together with the father of the Finnish family that was hosting him for the weekend. Their visit coincided with the handful of demonstrations organised on the first anniversary of the terrorist knife attack that took place in Turku on 18 August, 2017.

Related posts: Police bring 11 into custody during demonstrations in Turku (19 August, 2018)

He says he wanted to see how the right-wing reacted to his brown skin.

I rushed over to the cathedral square where the protest was taking place, and there they were looking like a militia waiting for the attack order. I reached in my bag and quickly grabbed my Finnish press card and held it up as I made my way through the protestors, he tells.

Towards the end of the protest, as I was pulling out my camera again to film them up close, two of them suddenly attacked. Taken aback and startled, I quickly took a few steps back while raising my press card as one of them kept screaming at me go away.

Hakkinen says it is clear that the incident will have an impact on Dalys impression of Finland.

Only he himself knows what the memory is like: Different, yes. Exciting, certainly. Unfortunately also Finnish, but hopefully not the normal, he writes in a blog on the website of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT

Photo: Vesa Moilanen  Lehtikuva

Source: Uusi SuomiTrump likely to flaunt accord ahead of midterm elections

China and the US were set to resume their often contentious trade talks on Wednesday in Washington with both sides remaining circumspect about a possible breakthrough, considering the delegations are being led by a Chinese vice minister and a US under secretary.

Chinese experts said at best the new round of consultations might produce a road map that could temporarily ease tensions, but are likely to fall short of establishing a detente in the China-US trade war.

The Chinese delegation, led by Vice Minister of Commerce Wang Shouwen, will hold talks with a delegation led by David Malpass, US Treasury Department's Under Secretary for International Affairs, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said at a routine press conference on Tuesday.

The Chinese delegation flew to the US capital after "repeated invitations" from the US, Lu said. Chinese experts noted the talks are consultations, not negotiations.

"A negotiation focuses on substantive matters, whereas a consultation is a discussion in preparation for negotiations," said He Weiwen, a former economic and commercial counselor at the Chinese consulates in San Francisco and New York, adding that this round of vice-ministerial consultations is preliminary work that could lead to further consultations and eventually higher-level negotiations.

"Talks are always better than no talks, but the key will be the Trump administration's sincerity and credibility," He told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Just two days before the consultations were set to begin, Trump appeared to pour cold water on any hope of a significant outcome. He told Reuters on Monday that he did not "anticipate much" and that resolving the trade dispute will "take time because China's done too well for too long, and they've become spoiled."

That's the kind of incendiary comment from Trump that has led analysts to say China needs to be very cautious when attempting to engage the US in serious trade negotiations.

"Since we are going to talk to each other, we certainly hope the talks will lead to good outcomes. But we prefer no unnecessary prejudgments or predictions," Lu said at Tuesday's press conference.

Ten days after a consensus agreement appeared to have settled the trade conflict in May, the Trump administration tore up the joint statement and imposed additional tariffs on Chinese goods.

The current round of consultations might produce a "road map" representing the principles and common goals that will guide future negotiations, said An Gang, a member of the Pangoal Institution, a Beijing-based think tank.

"Both China and the US need to show they are willing to talk despite the frictions," An told the Global Times on Wednesday.

In an interview with Reuters on Monday, Trump upped his accusatory rhetoric saying China was manipulating its currency in order to lessen the impact of tariffs.

"Trump's words are nonsense and meaningless. The main cause is the appreciation of the US dollar, it is not the yuan's problem at all," He Weiwen said, noting that many currencies around the world have lost ground to the US dollar.

Possible detente

A Wall Street Journal report on Monday quoting "officials from both nations" said that "if all goes well [during the consultations], the two sides would figure out a way to end the trade dispute ahead of planned meetings" between the leaders of the two countries at multilateral summits scheduled for November.

In November, two major multilateral events, the annual G20 summit and APEC meeting, will take place in Argentina and Papua New Guinea, respectively.

At Tuesday's news conference, Lu didn't confirm the Journal's report predicting a China-US "summit meeting later this year."

The US midterm elections could also be a critical factor impacting future trade talks, Diao Daming, an American studies expert and associate professor at Renmin University of China, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Diao warns that the Trump administration may try to reach some non-binding, temporary agreement with China before November and then "flaunt" it to gain voter support.

"This means even if the talks bring some outcomes, the untrustworthy Trump administration might just rip it up again. China-US frictions on trade have become a new normal, so China had better abandon any wishful thinking that a solution is at hand. We should continue positive talks, but we must safeguard our interests," Diao said.As the internet turns into a battlefield of intellectual property right (IPR) protection, China is ready to sharpen its law enforcement knife on IPR infringement, which is increasingly rampant in the new era.

Speaking at a cybersecurity conference hosted by the Internet Society of China and Alibaba in Beijing on Tuesday, Zhao Jie, an official with the National Copyright Administration (NCA), pointed out that China has already stepped up its efforts in combating IPR violations online at a time when violations are on the rise in the virtual world, including setting up more IPR courts in major cities.

Over half of the new civil lawsuits last year were IPR-related, up some 57.8% compared to 2016, with copyright disputes in games and cyber business models among others. Since 2010, China has launched a month-long anti-piracy campaign every year. The latest one kicked off in July, mainly targeting IPR infringements of short videos, knowledge sharing, audiobooks, and animations, according to the official.

In addition to the nations iron-fist policy to combat piracy is societys increasing recognition that creativity and innovation should be better protected.

Alibaba, the nations largest e-commerce platform, announced on Tuesday a scheme to protect the original designs and products being sold on its platform, which saw some 50 million original designs in 2017.

About 100 shops, including the Palace Museum and the National Museum, as well as individual shops like the lady apparel brand, Mukzin, have joined the scheme.

Shop owners can submit their work, even things like documents, and, once verified, it will be certified as an original product or design by a third-party organization. Like a birth certificate for original products on Tmall. If there is any plagiarism, owners can file a complaint through the system, Li Xihan, Alibabas IPR director, explained.

Feng Guang, CEO of Mukzin, said at the conference that other shops have copied the designs of the young brand since its successful launch in 2014, when its monthly sales increased 300%. It was more than a loss in terms of cost and sales it was a huge blow to every designer. With Alibabas protection scheme, we believe designer brands like us can go global and show the world the real design-in-China, Feng said.

Zhao, from NCA, also revealed that IPR protection in cyberspace has been enlisted as part of this years legislature work of the National Peoples Congress, and authorities are working to push forward the amendment of the current copyright law.

We believe that internet technology can provide new solutions to IPR protection. We present you the Alibaba-way, said Sun Jungong, a vice-president of Alibaba and the director of Alibabas Intellectual Property Research Institute.

Sun introduced that the group is using AI to monitor its Taobao platform and help prevent IPR violations by detecting violations automatically. Every day, some 600 million to 800 million pictures are scanned by the system, which boasts an accuracy rate of 97.8%.

Earlier on August 10, Wu Da, a cybersecurity expert at Alibaba, also presented the groups technology for short video copyright protection at Black Hat, a conference known as the Academy Awards for white-hat hackers.

As short video platforms usually add watermarks to videos uploaded to the platform, the different watermarks after reposts on different platforms can badly affect the copyright granted to the original designer. In response, Wu Da presented at the summit a technology that can reverse the practice through an ffmpeg filter and an OBS plug-in, which should help keep videos clean from various watermarks.China to file complaint with WTO against U.S. tariffs on 16-bln-USD Chinese goods: MOC

BEIJING, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday said it will file a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against U.S. tariffs on 16 billion U.S. dollars worth of Chinese goods under the Section 301 investigation, according to the Ministry of Commerce (MOC).

By launching the complaint under the WTO dispute settlement mechanism, China is to safeguard free trade and multilateral mechanisms as well as its legitimate rights and interests, an MOC spokesperson said in an online statement.

By willfully imposing the tariffs on Thursday, the U.S. has obviously violated WTO rules, according to the statement.

"China firmly opposes it and has to once again take necessary countermeasures," it said.Patrick Cleburnes plan for arming slaves might have turned the tide of the Civil War at a time when all other hope for the Confederacy was lost.

On January 2, 1864, a month after the Souths devastating defeat at Chattanooga, General Joseph E. Johnston, the new commander of the Army of Tennessee, gathered several of its top officers at his headquarters in Dalton, Ga., for a meeting born of desperation. Johnston had been sent by President Jefferson Davis to reorganize the demoralized, undersupplied and undermanned army of 40,000 men, the only major force standing between 100,000-plus Federals and the Confederate heartland.

Anticipation, anxiety and fascination no doubt filled the room as a grim-faced, taciturn Irishman rose to address his fellow officers. Major General Patrick Cleburne was grave. The South had been dealt a crippling blow at Gettysburg in addition to losing Vicksburg and now nearly all of Tennessee. Danger loomed for Richmond and Atlanta. In Cleburnes mind, there was one, and only one, hope for the Confederatesthe slaves many of them had fought so hard to keep.

Although there had been glorious moments at Manassas, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and elsewhere, the Confederacy had largely been unable to overcome a devastating and obvious battlefield liability throughout the warSouthern soldiers were constantly outnumbered by Union forces. At the time of Johnstons council, the Union had mustered millions of men into uniform compared to the Confederacys hundreds of thousands. Hopes for support from England and other European powers had faded after Abraham Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation, and were dead after the defeat in Pennsylvania.

When Cleburne stood to read a proposal he had been working on for several weeks, he knew he was walking on dangerous ground, presenting not just a radical idea, but one that might even get him court-martialed for treason. Nonetheless, in his mind, the only choice left was obvious and logical: We must immediately commence training a large reserve of the most courageous of our slaves.

The idea of arming slaves had already worked for the North. The 54th Massachusetts Infantry had distinguished itself six months earlier at Fort Wagner in South Carolina. But those slaves had been freed. Giving guns to men who were in bondage was altogether different. Cleburne had worked that problem out: He insisted that a bargain be struck, calling for a guarantee of freedom within a reasonable time to every slave in the South who shall remain true to the Confederacy in this war.

As his comrades stared at him in outrage, disbelief and horror, Cleburne sharpened the choice. As between the loss of independence and the loss of slavery, we assume that every patriot will freelygive up the negro slave rather than be a slave himself.

Just a few months before Johnstons council the Army of Tennessee, if not the entire South, remained confident that the war could be won. Hope had come as recently as September 20, when these same soldiers defeated Maj. Gen. William Rosecrans and the Army of the Cumberland at Chickamauga, forcing them to retreat back over the border into Tennessee. Lincoln had commented afterward that Rosencrans seemed confused and stunned, like a duck hit on the head.

Exhilarated Rebel troops surged toward the fleeing enemy, but their cautious commander, General Braxton Bragg, worried that he lacked enough men, supplies and wagons to ensure victory. Instead he placed his men in fortified positions on the hills surrounding Chattanooga, hoping to starve the bluecoats out of the city.

Weeks later, in November, Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grants troops seized nearby Lookout Mountain and began to claw their way up Missionary Ridge in the face of daunting Confederate artillery fire. Despite the strength of their positions, Braggs men broke and retreated to Dalton. Davis removed Bragg from command, and on December 27 a Western & Atlantic Railroad train puffed into the Dalton station bearing his successor, Old Joe Johnston.

The new general had endured just about as many setbacks as his new command. The trim Virginian had been forced to give up command in the East after being wounded twice at Seven Pines in May 1862. A year later he led a futile effort to help prevent the fall of Vicksburg. He had long quarreled with President Davis, who feared that Johnston favored retreat more often than advance. But with few options available, Davis placed Johnston in charge of the Army of Tennessee.

Before his war council commenced, Johnston knew that Cleburne had circulated his proposal privately among the officers of his division. Fourteen of them, ranging from brigadier generals to colonels, had joined him in signing it.

Johnston had to take the proposal seriously because Cleburne was deeply respected by the other officers. He had fought brilliantly and courageously at Shiloh, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga and elsewhere and had defended the armys right flank during the Battle of Missionary Ridge, repeatedly hurling back the Federal attacks and securing the railroad tunnel under the mountain. When the Rebels atop the ridge pulled out, Cleburne and his men skillfully covered their retreat. They had orders to hold a strongpoint in the hills of Ringgold, Ga., at all hazards, and saved the Confederates from ruin by doing so. Cleburne, who had become known as the Stonewall Jackson of the West, received the thanks of the Confederate Congress for his actions.

Slender, wiry and straight as an arrow, Cleburne had a high forehead, high cheekbones, hollow cheeks and a firm chin and mouth. His black hair was tinged with gray, as were his moustache and imperial. His eyes were a clear, steely gray, usually making him look cold and distant when he was lost in thought. He was much given to fits of absent mindedness, his dreamy poetic nature seeming to beckon him away from realities, said one close friend.

Another friend said this blunt, impassive man only needed the flames of battle to kindle his dull features, to stir the depths of his strong nature, to show forth a soldier for stoutness of heart, for stubbornness of fight, for shining valor and forgetfulness of self rarely to be matched. And yet another observer called him one of the most loyal of mena man of rare intelligence but extremely guarded in speech.

Nothing was guarded about Cleburnes words as he rose to address his peers in Dalton. We have now been fighting for nearly three years, have spilt much of our best blood and lost, consumed or thrown to the flames an amount of property equal in value to the specie currency of the world, he began. Through some lack in our system the fruits of our struggles and sacrifices have invariably slipped away from us and left us nothing but long lists of dead and mangled. Instead of standing defiantly on the borders of our territory or harassing those of the enemy we are hemmed in today into less than two thirds of it, and still the enemy menacingly confronts us at every point with superior forces. Our soldiers can see no end to this state of affairs except in our own exhaustion; hence, instead of rising to the occasion, they are sinking into a fatal apathy, growing weary of hardships and slaughter which promise no results.

Cleburne continued methodically: In this state of things it is easy to understand why there is a growing belief that some black catastrophe is not far ahead of us, and that unless some extraordinary change is soon made in our condition we must overtake it. The consequences of this condition are showing themselves more plainly every day; restlessness of morals spreading everywhere, manifesting itself in the army in a growing disregard for private rights; desertion spreading to a class of soldiers it never dared to tamper with before; military commissions sinking in the estimation of the soldiers; our supplies failing; our firesides in ruins. If this state continues much longer we must be subjugated.

Cleburne then noted three great causes operating to destroy us. The first, he said, was the inferiority of our armies to those of the enemy in point of numbers; second, the poverty of our single source of supply; third, the fact that slavery, from being one of our chief sources of strength at the commencement of the war, has now become, in a military point of view, one of our chief sources of weakness.

President Lincoln, said Cleburne, boasts that he has already in training an army of one hundred thousand negroes as good as any troops and from every slice of territory he takes in the South, he adds more. Slavery is a source of great strength to the enemy by supplying him with more troops but it is a weakness to the Confederacy now. Once slavery was disturbed, even by a cavalry raid, he explained, the whites can no longer, with safety to their property, openly sympathize. The fear of their slaves is continually haunting them and, from silence and apprehension, many of them soon learn to wish the war stopped on any terms. The next stage is to take the oath to save property and they become dead to us, if not open enemies. The slaves, said Cleburne, provide the enemy with an omnipresent spy system, pointing out our valuable men to the enemy, revealing our positions, purposes and resources and yet acting so safely and secretly that there is no means to guard against it.

Thus the Irishman dared to tell the truth about the slave systemthat the supposedly happy, contented and loyal blacks were spying on their masters for the benefit of the invaders and dropping the mask of loyalty as soon as Union troops came in to set them free. His cold gray eyes also looked straight at the unpleasant truth that so many Southerners sought to avoidthat most of the soldiers who were AWOL or deserters would not return to duty, despite all appeals to their manhood and patriotism. Even if forced back into service, they would be unwilling and discontented soldiers. Where, then, could the Confederacy obtain the thousands of fresh troops that it must have to survive?

To this point, Cleburnes fellow officers listened to his appeal in agreement, for they knew he was telling the truth about the low morale and bitterness in the ranks. The officers knew that every day soldiers were slipping out to go home and look after their families, which were facing hunger, insecurity or even destitution with no relief in sight.

They also knew that the Army of Tennessee must have about twice the number of troops that it currently possessed to have a realistic chance against the juggernaut of Maj. Gen. William T. Shermans invaders, who would start their march to Atlanta in the spring. Lee faced similar odds against Grant, who would open his drive on Richmond at the same time.

Cleburne argued that his plan would enable us to have armies numerically superior to those of the North and a reserve of any size we might think necessary. It would restore confidence in an early termination of the warwith victory and independence for the South.

Cleburne also pointed out that if we arm and train the negro and make him fight for the country in her hour of dire distress, then we should set him and his whole racefree. He stated, We must immediately make his marriage and parental relations sacred in the eyes of the law and forbid their sale.

He then addressed several questions that he knew would surface against his radical idea. Will the slaves fight? he asked rhetorically. The experience of this war has been so far that half-trained negroes have fought as bravely as many other half-trained Yankees. It is said that an army of negroes cannot be spared from the fields. A sufficient number of slaves is now administering to luxury alone to supply the place of all we need.It is said slaves will not work after they are free. We think necessity and wise legislation will compel them to labor for a living. It is said it will cause terrible excitement and some dis-affection from our cause. Excitement is far preferable to the apathy which now exists and disaffection will not long be among the fighting men. It is said slavery is all we are fighting for and if we give it up we give up all. Even if this were true, which we deny, slavery is not all our enemies are fighting for. It is merely the pretense to establish sectional superiority and a more centralized form of government and to deprive us of our rights and liberties.

In closing, Cleburne admitted that his plan might be imperfect, but in all human probability it would give us our independence. He pleaded for immediate action because negroes will require much training; training will require time, and there is danger that this concession to common sense may come too late.

To no ones surprise, Cleburnes plan evoked cries of horror and outrage from some of the generals, who had listened to it in disbelief. Brigadier General Patton Anderson denounced it as revolting to Southern sentiment, Southern pride, Southern honor. The idea of placing guns in the hands of slaves and freeing their families ran counter to all the ingrained beliefs of many Southerners, who considered the institution essential to preserving white supremacy. As these people saw it, they had seceded to protect that supremacy; why give it up now? Cleburnes answer was that the victorious Yankees would abolish slavery anyway; with his plan, the South would at least keep its independence.

What are we to do? Anderson asked Lt. Gen. Leonidas Polk, commander of Confederate troops in Mississippi and east Louisiana. If this thing is once openly proposed to the army, Anderson wrote, the total disintegration of the army will follow in a fortnight. He added, I will not attempt to describe my feeling on being confronted by a project so startling in its characterand not the least painful of the emotionsis that it met with favor by others beside the other in high station then present. Anderson dreaded that publicizing Cleburnes proposal would bring down the universal indignation of the Southern people and the Southern soldiers upon the head of at least one of our bravest and most accomplished officers.

Equally horrified, Maj. Gen. William Bate commented: I thought I knew the temper of the troops and felt it was an entering wedge which, driven in these dismaying times, would rift and scatter our army, defeating the very object it proposed to secure. I regardedthe seductive argument as the rose beneath which the serpent of abolition is coiled. Pluck it and you lay bare a political hydra, the deformity of which is shocking to contemplate. Its proposition contravenes the principles upon which I haveacted[and] would result in breaking down all barriers between the black and white races.

Captain Irving A. Buck, the assistant adjutant general in Cleburnes division, called the daring proposal one of the most remarkable documents of the war. A close friend of Cleburnes, Buck warned him that the slaveholders were totally unprepared to consider such a radical measure.It would raise a storm of indignation against you. Furthermore, Buck expressed fears that advocating the plan would destroy Cleburnes bright prospects of being promoted to command a corps, with the rank of lieutenant general. The captain was prophetic in his concern. Cleburne, one of the most capable generals on either side in either theater, was never promoted beyond the rank of major general, and only briefly received command of a corps. No official reason was ever given for his lack of advancement, even while inferior officers were being promoted all around him.

Cleburne replied to Buck that a crisis was upon the South and he felt it was his duty to bring this before the authorities regardless of its effect on his own career. I would cheerfully undertake command of a negro division in this emergency, the general declared. His worst fate, he said, would be a court martial and cashiering, in which case he would enlist as a private in his old Arkansas regiment and do his duty in the ranks.

Cleburne had hoped that his plan could be presented directly to President Davis for action, but General Johnston decided against forwarding it to Richmond on the grounds that it was a political, not a military, matter. Major General W.H.T. Walker, who violently opposed Cleburnes plan, sent a copy to Davis in hopes of crushing it. The concept of arming slaves stirred up a storm inside the inner circle in Richmond, although the Southern people never knew anything about it. Bragg, who was now the presidents chief military adviserand still smarting over his removal from command of the Army of Tennesseecommented: Great sensation is being produced by the Emancipation project of Hardee, Cheatham, Cleburne and Co. It will kill them. His remarks linking Lt. Gen. William Hardee and Maj. Gen. Benjamin Cheatham to Cleburne illustrate his belief that those generals showed some sympathy with the idea.

Davis, fearing an uproar among the populace if it ever found out about the idea of arming slaves, issued an order suppressing all copies of Cleburnes letter and barring any discussion of it. Such controversy, he feared, would produce only discouragement, distraction and dissension.

Secretary of War James A. Seddon relayed the presidents disapproval to Johnston, who obediently passed it along to the officers who had read or heard the revolutionary proposal. The agitation and controversy which must spring from the presentation of such views by officers high in public confidence are to be deeply deprecated, Seddon declared, adding, Such views can only jeopard among the states and people unity and harmony when successful cooperation and the achievement of independence are essential.

Accepting his rebuff like a good soldier, Cleburne kept silent and turned his attention to personal affairs. Hardee, his good friend and admirer, chose Cleburne to be the best man at his wedding. On January 13, at a plantation near Mobile in south Alabama, Hardee married Mary Foreman Lewis, the daughter of a wealthy planter.

At that wedding the reserved Irishman met the well-connected maid of honor, Sue Tarleton, and fell in love with her at first sight. A few months later they were engaged. They could not be married immediately, however. The idyllic interlude was rudely interrupted by the Unions preparations for a massive attack on the Army of Tennessee, and Cleburne quickly returned to duty in Georgia.

Through the late spring and summer Shermans juggernaut pushed the smaller Confederate army through the mountains of north Georgia while General Johnston stubbornly combined defensive maneuvers and hard fighting to check the Yankees drive on Atlanta. Cleburne, as always, distinguished himself in combat.

Desperate to save Atlanta and distrustful of Johnstons repeated retreats, Davis removed him from command on July 17 and replaced him with an aggressive, ambitious young Kentuckian from the Army of Northern Virginia, Lt. Gen. John Bell Hood. The belligerent Hood, who had long favored an offensive, made a series of attacks on the much larger body of invaders but could not succeed in saving Atlanta. The city fell to Sherman in early September.

Only when faced with this crushing loss, which portended the Confederacys ultimate defeat, did the authorities in Richmond finally realize that Cleburne had proposed the one sure way of raising enough fresh troops to prevent the Souths subjugation. In November 1864, the Confederate Congress debated a bill to enlist some negro troopsbut still avoided the idea of freeing the slaves.

At long last on March 13, 1865, the Congress enacted a statute authorizing the president to enlist some slaves to perform military service, and the first black Confederate soldiers paraded in the streets of Richmond. A few weeks later Richmond felland then the Confederacy.

Cleburne did not live to see his idea carried out by the Congressalbeit in a futile gesture that obviously was too little and too late. He was killed, at 36, while courageously leading his troops against entrenched Federals in the Battle of Franklin on November 30, 1864, during Hoods disastrous attempt to capture Nashville and recover Tennessee. President Davis paid him this tribute: Around Cleburne thickly lay the gallant men who, in his desperate assault, followed him with the implicit confidence that in another army was given to Stonewall Jackson; and in the one case, as in the other, a vacancy was created which could never be filled.

Major General Cleburne had been distinguished for his admirable conduct upon many fields, and his loss, at this moment, was irreparable, Hood said in his memoirs. He added: He was a man of equally quick perception and strong character and was, especially in one respect, in advance of many of our people. He possessed the boldness and the wisdom to earnestly advocatethe freedom of the negro and the enrollment of the young and able-bodied men of that race. This stroke of policy and additional source of strength to the armies would, in my opinion, have given us our independence.

Although Davis had ordered all copies of the Cleburne memorial destroyed, one copy remained in the possession of a Cleburne aide, Major Calhoun Benham. After Benhams death, the letter was found and went to the War Department. It finally came to light in 1898, when it was published in a volume of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies in the War of the Rebellion. In that document lay the mind of a man who was before his time, and a plan that very well could have changed history.

Originally published in the October 2007 issue of Civil War Times. To subscribe, click here.HNX - 7/6/2020 10:33:00 AM

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With his small family and their belongings in tow, former U.S. Congressman James H. Lane slipped quietly into Kansas Territory in April 1855leaving behind the shattered remnants of a once-promising political career. A year earlier the Indiana representative had cost himself the backing of his stunned constituents by supporting the unpopular Kansas-Nebraska Act. Now he was looking for a new life on the broad prairies of Kansas, a troubled and virtually lawless land carved out by the passage of Illinois Senator Stephen Douglas historic act.

Already, eastern Kansas was filling with Free Soil supporters and proslavery emigrantsideological foes drawn from the Ohio Valley, New England and Missouri to settle the land according to Douglas controversial principle of popular sovereignty. Soon this border ground would teem with scores of dangerous characters, all willing to settle their differences with violencethe likes of hard-fighting Ohioan James Montgomery, slaverys sworn blood enemy John Brown and gunslinging Missouri Senator David Atchison.

The garrulous Jim Lane fit right in. A slim 6-footer with sunken cheekbones, wild hair and wilder eyes, he was a zealous, grim specter of a man with unwavering convictions and steadfast visions of glory. He tended to pontificate just like his father, Amos, a legendary congressman who had reportedly commanded an eloquence that could raise a hurricane or melt his audience to tears. All theatrics and passion, the younger Lane lacked Amos intellect; he was, one contemporary said, by nature an actor. But like his father, his appearance on a stage, the back of a wagon, even a tree stump could drive an audience mad.

By 1855 Jim Lane was also a figure of considerable reputation. Born on June 22, 1814, in Lawrenceburg, Ind., the third of seven children, he was an amalgam of his earliest influences: his father, the crafty lawyer and politician; his schoolteacher mother Mary; and his two older brothersone a future assistant secretary of the U.S. Treasury and the other a West Pointeducated soldier.

Lane began his career as a merchant, running the dry goods business J.H. Lane & Co. But a natural inclination to speak his mind eventually pushed Lane onto the stage history had reserved for him. Passing the Indiana bar at age 26, he followed his father into the law profession and the hurly-burly world of Western politics, where he argued the Democratic Party agenda with ferocity.

In 1846 the outbreak of war south of the border spawned bright new prospects for ambitious men willing to risk death in Mexicos hinterlands. Lane jumped at the chance, and his popularity among Indianas volunteers earned him the colonelcy of the states new 3rd Infantry. One of General Zachary Taylors volunteer regiments, Lanes 3rd made a name for itself in the February 1847 Battle of Buena Vista, combining with the Mississippi Rifles of Colonel Jefferson Davis to repel a heavy Mexican cavalry charge. Lane later raised another regiment, the 5th Indiana, but the war ended before it saw action.

The modest success of the Steadfast Third set Lane on the path to political stardom. Indiana voters made him lieutenant governor in 1849, then sent him to the U.S. Congress. However, he was soon undone for voting in favor of the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Since many Indianans vehemently opposed the spread of slavery, that vote represented either a serious error in judgment or a calculated step taken with a new future in mind. (Rumors flew of some backroom deal with Douglas but went unproved.) Regardless, Lane was finished in his home stateit was now Kansas or bust.

Residents of the developing Free Soil town of Lawrence welcomed Lane to their community with curiosity and speculation. (Mrs. Lane found the transition somewhat less enjoyable. She soon returned to Indiana and filed for divorce.) The eccentric Hoosiers position on slavery was unclear, and the stance of such a prominent citizen was sure to become crucial. Already the territorys proslavery faction had gained the upper hand with the election (obviously aided, the Free Soilers alleged, by ballot stuffing) of a legislature that shared their sentiments, based at Shawnee Mission. While debate raged over the legality of the new government, Lane waded the territorys turbulent political watersquietly gauging the chances of organizing Lawrence-area Democrats and observing the strength of pro- and antislavery sentiment. A number of Kansans believed he was in favor of slavery; others thought he was on the fence. One Missourian who had served under Lane in Mexico encountered the former colonel near the Kansas border and assessed that Lane had not then decided on which side he would cast his fortune, as he carefully avoided any expression that would indicate the party he would support.

Among his new neighbors, Lane found little support for the Democratic Party, which, along with President Franklin Pierce, supported the territorys legally elected legislature. But he sensed opportunity within the loose ranks of the fledgling Free State Party, formed by disgruntled antislavery residents in September 1855. Having determined his new political courseone he hoped would lead to the U.S. SenateLane deftly politicked his way into party leadership and the presidency of its constitutional convention, which opened in Topeka on October 23.

The gathering in Topeka deter- mined the Free State Partys path and made Lane a national figure once more. No one in Lanes Kansas audiences had seen or heard anything quite like him; he stalked stages like a fanatical preacher, rocking lecterns with his furious theatrics and converting enemies to his flag with the force of his personality. Rallying around Lanes impassioned cries for a new, legitimate state government to oppose the legislature, Free Staters produced a constitution written to speed Kansas admission to the Union as a nonslavery state.

In the midst of a remarkable political rebirth, Lane jumped at a chance to show off his soldiering skills in Kansas brief Wakarusa Wara nearly bloodless affair that unfolded in November 1855 with the killing of a Free State settler by a proslavery man. Tension between the enemy factions exploded, and an angry 1,200-man proslavery army gathered to attack Lawrencewhich Lane and fellow party leader Charles Robinson had transformed into a fortified camp. Icy December winds interceded to freeze the Kansas plains and cool tempers before fighting erupted. But members of the government in Topeka remembered Lanes conspicuous role in protecting the heart of Free State country: When the legislature met for the first time the following March, it rewarded the now widely popular Lane (along with Pennsylvanian Andrew H. Reeder) with berths in the Senateassuming, of course, that Congress accepted Kansas application for statehood.

Considering the territorys still tiny population (perhaps 9,000) and the questionable status of this second territorial government, statehood seemed a virtual impossibility, however. Hostile congressmen all but shouted Lane out of Washington when he arrived to deliver Kansas sloppy application in April 1856. Statehood would not come for another five years.

Returning west, Lane prowled the lecture circuit, delivering speeches to electrified crowds and raising money for the Free State cause. Meanwhile, tensions mounted back home. On May 21, fiery Missouri Senator David Atchison led a band of proslavery Border Ruffians into Lawrence. If one man or woman dare stand before you, Atchison bellowed, blow them to hell with a chunk of cold lead. Spurred by free-flowing rhetoric and liquor, the guerrillas destroyed the presses of Lawrences two newspapers and went on to burn the Free State Hotelthe hated symbol of the abolitionist heartland.

The next day in the nations capital, South Carolina Representative Preston Brooksspurred on in part by Charles Sumners recent Crime Against Kansas speechbeat the Massachusetts senator senseless with his cane. Enraged by these events, 56-year-old antislavery fanatic John Brown took it upon himself to exact revenge: In the darkness of May 24-25, he and a handful of followers slaughtered five proslavery settlers along Kansas Pottawatomie Creekan atrocity that Brown deemed was Gods will.

The bloodshed of May sparked outright war in the Kansas-Missouri borderlands, as Missouri Bushwhackers clashed with bands of Kansas Jayhawkers. Indicted by territorial authorities for treason (along with other Free State officers), Lane returned to Kansas under an alias, opening a new emigrant road into the territory to replace old routes blocked by gun-toting Missourians. With the sides skirmishing along the border, Lane led a series of raids on proslavery strongholds while eluding federal troops, marshals dispatched to arrest him, and Missouri gunmen after his hide.

Eventually the warrant against him lapsed, and Lane hit the road again, this time to stump for Republican presidential candidate John C. Fremont. He even returned to Indiana to mend fences with his ex-wife, whom he remarried and brought back to Lawrence. Then, on October 5, 1857, under the watchful eye of Lane and some Free State volunteers, Kansas voters elected a new legislature with a Free State majority. That governing body convened on December 7 and named Lane major general of the territorial militia. With a single antislavery legislature in place and a steady stream of Northern settlers pouring into the territory to increase its majority, Kansas path to statehood now seemed clear.

Jim Lanes promising future nearly vanished in a few moments of frontier violence the following year. For months the pugnacious politician and a man named Jenkins had been at odds over the use of a well on land each claimed to possess. On June 3, 1858, Lane warned Jenkins and three friends away from his property; when they ignored him, Lane repeated his warning at gunpoint. But Jenkins and his associates kept coming, and Lane opened firekilling his nemesis with a shotgun blast. Lane was wounded in the leg.

Although he was eventually acquitted of murder, Lane nevertheless found himself widely despised and bereft of political stock. He spent the next year scratching out a living as a lawyer from his Lawrence home. Then, on March 17, 1859, the city newspaper published a letter from Lane in which he defended his shooting of Jenkins. Kansas political chameleon played coy, meekly asking for the right of free speech and permission to labor as a private in the great Jeffersonian Republican party of freedom.

But with Kansas political futurethough not its violent tendenciessettled and the states admission to the Union on the horizon, Lane was in full comeback mode, adroitly rehabilitating his image in time for the upcoming national elections. At stake was the Senate seat he had barely glimpsed three years earlier.

Courting the religious vote, Lane publicly embraced the Methodist faith, the lands most popular Christian denomination. He then hitched his wagon to the young Republican Party and hit the campaign trail in support of dark horse presidential candidate Abraham Lincolngarnering headlines for the lanky Illinoisan and firming up his own shaky support back home. He would go to a place where they were about resolved to hang him, Lane supporter John Speer wrote, and come back with Lane for the Senate inserted in their resolutions. Speech followed fiery speech; again Lanes work paid off.

Kansas joined the Union as a free statethe nations 34thon January 29, 1861, and veteran Free Staters celebrated their hard-fought victory. On April 9, the state legislature confirmed its first U.S. senators, longtime enemies Samuel Pomeroy and James Lane. On April 12, General P.G.T. Beauregards gunners opened fire on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, compelling President Lincoln to call for 75,000 volunteers with which to quash the rebellion. Naturally Lane led the charge out of Kansas, tramping into jittery Washington, D.C., three days later as the captain of 120 Frontier Guardshard-bitten, gun-toting Lane loyalists eager to defend Lincoln and the capital. The rough Westerners camped out in the Capitols East Wing, under the eye of the gaunt, tattered, uncombed and unshorn Lane, who stood out in his rough rusty overcoat, a torn shirt, and suspenderless breeches. After one night in the Capitol, where their presence offered the president a degree of comfort as well as amusement, Lanes motley Kansans joined other Western volunteers in the comfortable Willard Hotel. When fears of a Confederate attack subsided, Lane discharged his men and headed for home.

Back in Kansas, an invigorated Lane warned neighboring Missourians in a series of speeches that a decision by their state to secede would invite an attack. His threats turned ominous in June when Lincoln rewarded the energetic politician with the authority, as a brigadier general of volunteers, to raise a force with which to defend his adopted state. With a Senate seat in one hand and a generals commission in the other, Lane was walking a fine linea fact his enemies didnt hesitate to point out.

Nevertheless, the senator-soldier set to work organizing the generously named Kansas Brigadea predictably shady mix of Jayhawkers and frontier roughnecks divided into regiments of infantry and cavalry. From his headquarters at Fort Lincoln, a dozen miles north of Fort Scott in southeastern Kansas, Lane eyed events unfolding in southern Missouri, where Union Brig. Gen. Nathaniel Lyon had cornered and scattered Confederate forces under Generals Sterling Price, a former Missouri governor, and Ben McCulloch.

On August 10, a Confederate victory at Wilsons Creek deprived Missouri of its staunchest Union defender, Lyon, who died in the battle, increasing fears that there might be a Confederate invasion of Kansas. With only his own disorganized brigade between Price and the Kansas heartland, Lane dispatched a small force east to discover Prices intent. But the former governor was more interested in reclaiming territory secured by Lyons Federals, and after a brief skirmish with Lanes thin lines, he led his Southerners north.

As Price laid siege to Lexington, which fell on September 20, Lane slipped into western Missouri with about 1,500 men, determined to fly the Stars and Stripes over any secessionist towns he found. His rough Kansans eagerly confiscated provisions and slaves as they marched, and on September 22 entered Osceola, a key commercial center on the southern banks of the Osage River. After Lane shelled the small collection of defenders into submission and drunken troops liberated the town of its valuables, the brigade departed, leaving devastation and bitterness in its wake. I found all through Western Missouri a deadly horror entertained towards Lane, one Eastern reporter later noted. Everywhere that he has been, he carried the knife and torch with him, and has left a track marked with charred ruins and blood. Prices army, meanwhile, had easily slipped south into the safety of Arkansas.

In between military excursions, Lane continued to assail his Kansas opponents and Missouri secessionists from the podiumworking more or less as what Ralph Waldo Emerson called a half orator, half assassin. Despite his limited military experience (colorful newspaper reports notwithstanding), he petitioned the president for command of a department in order to quash partisan interference and, he said, improve communication in Kansas and Missouri. Otherwise, he added with typical hyperbole, he would be forced to quit the field, and most reluctantly become an idle spectator of the great struggle, and witness, I have no doubt, the devastation of my adopted state and the destruction of its people.

Lincoln soon created the Department of Kansas but left its command in the hands of Maj. Gen. David Hunter, an irascible West Pointer who would later incur Southern wrath by setting fire to the Virginia Military Institute.

Frustrated in his bid for higher rank and a larger command, Lane returned to his Senate work in Washington and began lobbying the president and Congress for leadership of an ambitious new expedition. With a large force, Lane hoped to march south into Arkansas and the Indian Territory to gain the allegiance of southern Indians and secure Kansas southern border. Union officials hoped the mission would also quiet the unrest on the Kansas-Missouri line.

Lanes proposition met with enthusiastic approval of virtually everyone except Hunter, who seemed to know little about it. Already less than thrilled with his distant command, Hunter read with surprise newspaper reports of the erstwhile brigadier generals upcoming campaign. The trouble, he told Maj. Gen. Henry Halleck, is that I know of no such brigadier-general, Senator Lane having told me expressly and in terms, at the only interview we have had since his return to Kansas, that he had not accepted his commission, and was only my visitor as a Senator and member of the Military Committee of the Senate of the United States. When Lincoln came to the natural conclusion that Hunter, as department commander and Lanes superior, should command the expedition, a bitterly disappointed Lane lost interest. In late February 1862, Lane notified his constituents that he would give up his controversial generals commission (which, as Hunter had indicated, he had never officially accepted) to concentrate on his civic duties.

In Washington, Lane continued his metamorphosis from Democratic compromiser to Radical Republican, calling not only for more rigorous prosecution of the war but also for the emancipation and military enlistment of slaves. Appointed recruiting commissioner for the Department of Kansas in July 1862, Lane campaigned to fill Kansas three white regiments and then one black unit (the 1st Kansas Colored).

Lane was back home in Lawrence on August 21, 1863, when 400 of William Clarke Quantrills Confederate raiders galloped into town looking to avenge Jayhawker crimes in Missouri. During a four-hour rampage, as many as 180 people fell before the raiders guns or died in the flames that quickly swept the town. Laneone of Quantrills prime targets managed to escape certain death by slipping out of his new brick home while his wife convinced the bushwhackers he was out of town. Recovering a horse and some clothes, Lane joined in a hastily organized pursuit of Quantrills band, which nevertheless managed to slip safely back into the western woods of Missouri.

Vociferous as ever in his denouncement of Quantrill, Lane called for the devastation of the border for a distance of thirty-five miles into Missouri. Ultimately, nothing came of all the talka fact that made Lanes radical friends wonder if he was again playing politics. Talk of thwarting his reelection grew. But Lane was not quite finished: Playing to his strengths, he began stumping for Lincoln, who was up for reelection. Then, in September 1864, Sterling Price galloped back into Missouri with 12,000 menthreatening Kansas and giving Lane the opportunity to get back in the saddle and generate more headlines. The senator quickly offered his services to Maj. Gen. Samuel Curtis, commander of the Department of Missouri, and served as an aide during the brief campaign, which ended once again with Prices retreat from the state.

Buoyed by that success, Lane won reelectionalong with the president and numerous other area Republicans. That gratifying victory, however, was his last hurrah. The assassination of Lincoln in April 1865 forced him to shuffle his political cards. In an effort to cozy up to the new president, he supported Andrew Johnsons 1866 veto of the movement to secure Constitutional rights for former slaves, what would become the 14th Amendment. Lanes decision confounded his supporters.

Meanwhile, rumors of shady business dealings began to dog the senator, and Lane, perhaps worn-out by a decade of scheming, began to slip mentally. When his old friend John Speer visited him in late June, Lane greeted him by saying: The pitcher is broken at the fountain. My life is ended; I want you to do my memory justice; I ask nothing more.

On July 1 Lane stepped from a moving carriage, said Good-bye, Mac to his brother-in-law and fired a revolver into his brain. Perhaps it was his fiery spirit that kept him alive for 10 more days.

Jim Lane died of Andy Johnson, the New York Tribune editorialized as the Kansas meteor lingered in a coma. It was a tactless comment on Lanes final political misstep. Doubtless the soldier-senator recognized his own failings and foresaw the end of his career. For the man Kansans had come to know as the Grim Chieftain, that might have been just too much to bear.

Originally published in the October 2007 issue of Civil War Times. To subscribe, click here.Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry discussed in a phone call with his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi the latest developments concerning the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations, according to a statement by the Egyptian FM.

According to the statement, Safadi recently discussed resuming the peace talks with US officials in Washington.

Shoukry and Safadi also discussed how Egypt and Jordan can coordinate to provide support to UNRWA to enable it to serve the needs of Palestinian refugees.

The two ministers also exchange views on a number of regional issues of mutual concern.

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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.Cairo will host on 25 August meetings of the joint Egyptian-Sudanese ministerial committee under the co-chairmanship of foreign ministers from both countries.

The planned talks are in preparation for a presidential panel set to take place in October, according to Egypt's Ambassador to Sudan Osama Shaltout.

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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 18-08-23 Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/> Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 23.08.18 Contents [A] Turkish Cypriot Press [01] Statements by Ozersay on the crossing points and the US Chief of Staff's visit to Cyprus [02] Threats against Afrika newspaper continue [03] Ozersay argues that those who will profit from the devaluation of the TL will be punished [04] Erhurman inspects shops, says opportunism should not be overlooked [05] Twenty two newspapers in the occupied area  Columnist wonders how they could question corruption [06] "Personality cult for Erdogan has no limits" [B] Turkish Press [A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS [01] Celik slams the Greek judiciary for backing the "enemies of Turkey" [02] Kal?n: "US disregard of legal process is unacceptable" [03] Bahceli accuses the US of trying to protect coup fellows [04] "Brunson is not the only issue" [A] Turkish Cypriot Press [01] Statements by Ozersay on the crossing points and the US Chief of Staff's visit to Cyprus According to Turkish Cypriot illegal Bayrak television (22.08.18, http://www.brtk.net/ozersay-hukumet-irademiz-nettir-her-iki-kapi-da-yakinda-acilabilir/), Kudret Ozersay, self-styled foreign minister of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus, has alleged that their "government" wants the crossing points in Deryneia and Apliki areas to open as soon as possible. He claimed: "Our will as a government is for the Deryneia and Apliki crossing points to open as soon as possible. I think that both gates could open soon. Our government is taking steps in Apliki and in Deryneia both for the migration and customs and on other issues. The process is continuing. We can reach nowhere by accusing each other on these issues. As government, we attach importance to the development of the economic relations by the opening of both gates and we support this. In spite of the fact that we are exposed to various obstacles by the Greek Cypriot side in practice on issues related to economy, we think that the development of economic relations between the two sides will contribute both to dialogue and mutual trust. Apliki will benefit not only our people living in Lefka, but also the Greek Cypriots who live in the south of the area. The same situation is valid for the shopkeepers of Famagusta area. From time to time, we follow though the press the objections of some Greek Cypriots. I do not think that these objections have a reasonable basis. I wish for the Greek Cypriot side as well to exhibit a positive approach for the opening of both gates without making excuses". Asked to comment on Chief of Staff for the US Army, General Mark A. Milley's visit to the government-controlled area of the Republic of Cyprus, Ozersay said that they closely follow the visits of the US military officials. He alleged: "We are passing through a period during which the Turkish-American relations are as turbulent as never before until today. It is not possible to accept the fact that the US President has chosen the way of implementing sanctions on many states [] at the cost of spoiling the relative stability which exists in the military and economic relations in the world and furthermore the fact that he is attempting to do this for Turkey as well which is a NATO member and ally for so many years. I hope that the US officials will not attempt to make a move that will change the balances in Cyprus, having as their starting point the current situation in the Turkish-American relations, which preserves the uncertainty as to the point they will reach. The US foreign policy has stopped being predictable, we can all see this. We are in a continuous consultation on these developments with the off icials of the Republic of Turkey". (I/Ts.) [02] Threats against Afrika newspaper continue Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (23.08.18) reports that the paper and the editor-in chief of the paper, Sener Levent continue receiving threatening messages. Pointing out that the threatening messages against the paper were increased especially after the attack against the paper on 22 January 2018, the paper publishes a threatening message received by a group called "Allah's friend". Under the title: "Sener Levent is thirsty for his death", the message writes that Sener Levent, seems to be thirsty for his death after opening a lawsuit against the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "There is no other explanation for this", the message added. Also, another message signed by someone called "Haci", writes the following: "TRNC should shut down immediately this paper. Otherwise, the government would suffer a lot. This paper receives open support from the Greek Cypriots and the supporters of FETO". (AK) [03] Ozersay argues that those who will profit from the devaluation of the TL will be punished Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Bakis newspaper (23.08.18) reports that Kudret Ozersay, "deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs" of the Turkish-occupied north said that legislation in place "punishes those who are trying to deceive by overcharging on products after taking advantage of the increase in the foreign exchange through fines, closure of the workplace and imprisonment'". He added: "The legislation gives authority to the government and we're not afraid of anyone". In statements to the Turkish Cypriot news agency "TAK", Ozersay stated that "price and quality control officers have been appointed since today", adding that "the government may declare some products and services as regulated and controlled". He further said that "those who do not comply with the maximum price or maximum profit practice on the products declared as controlled products and those who violate the law will be punished". He added: "In case of a conviction, the a fine up to 10 times the minimum may be imposed or up to 3 years imprisonment or up to 30 days closure of their workplace or all these penalties combined". (DPs) [04] Erhurman inspects shops, says opportunism should not be overlooked Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Bakis newspaper (23.08.18) reports that Tufan Erhurman, the self-styled prime minister, said that after visiting three major markets he had the opportunity to personally see price differences on goods. In a post on his social media account, Erhurman wrote: "Today (yesterday), by walking around in three big markets in Nicosia, I saw with my own eyes the price differences on the products." He also gave an example of the price gap between products. He said despite the prices gaps, Erghuman noted however, that opportunism during such periods shouldn't be overlooked. Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (23.08.18) reports that twelve officers of the "trade department" were appointed as "price and quality control officers". According to a notification published in the "official gazette", "minister of economy and energy Ozdil Nami appointed twelve employees from the trade department as price and quality control officers with the authority given by article 17 of the 1977 regulation and supervision of goods and services law". (DPs) [05] Twenty two newspapers in the occupied area  Columnist wonders how they could question corruption In his article in Turkish Cypriot daily Diyalog newspaper (23.08.18), columnist Resat Akar comments on the situation which exists in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus in all fields. Under the title "We have created a fake world for ourselves", Akar refers to the media in the occupied area and says: "Let us first start from our own sector. In a country as big as a palm, we have 8 TV stations, 22 newspapers and 66 radio stations. A state aid is given every month to a part of them with the tricks of the politicians. Moreover, the social insurance deposits of the employees, again in one part of them, are made by the state. However, our radios silence when you approach the Bogazi of Keryneia or the Bogazi of Trikomo. You start listening songs in Arabic or Greek, because the frequency which is allegedly yours and is documented by TRNC's High Broadcasting Council 'is actually fake'. When it rains or when the wind blows, out TV broadcastings are interrupted. Around 800 persons are employed in BRT, the state corporation. The state has two TV channels and many radio channels. In spite of the fact that it has exploded from the point of view of personnel, the second TV channel usually broadcasts piratical films or old programs broadcasted in the other channel are transferred here. Very well, what is the aim with this broadcasting? Is there a politician who knows or can explain this? In the same manner, the sales of the great majority of the newspapers at the dealers are small if any. Some of them are purchased for the state departments with 'partisan decisions'. The purchase of newspapers which do not belong to parties is stopped, they purchase for the party organs. The state pays the money for this. Isn't this an 'illegal' action? Very well, when you carry out illegal actions, how can you refer to 'questioning the corruption'? []" (I/Ts.) [06] "Personality cult for Erdogan has no limits" Under the title: "Bootlick cut across all boundaries", Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (23.08.18) reports that Ali Hakan Yavuz, "member of the administration board" of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) who is illegally visiting the occupation regime on the occasion of the Eid al-Adha (Bayram feast), dives in the waters of "north Cyprus" and opens a placard with Erdogan's photo, in order to wish him on the Bayram Feast on behalf of the Van district offices. (AK) [B] Turkish Press [01] Celik slams the Greek judiciary for backing the "enemies of Turkey" Ankara Anatolia news agency (22.08.18-https://www.aa.com.tr/en/politics/greek-judiciary-slammed-for-backing-enemies-of-turkey/1237180) reported that AK Party spokesman Omer Celik slammed the Greek judiciary on Wednesday claiming that it has supported the "enemies of Turkey" by granting asylum to coup-plotters. In a Twitter post, Celik said: "The Greek judiciary sided with Turkey's enemies and coup plotters with this decree. This is much more serious and shameful than supporting terrorism." The statement came after the Greece's General Council of State rejected the government's appeal against the asylum of one of the eight ex-Turkish soldiers who fled to Greece after the July 2016 defeated coup. "We will never forget those who support terrorists by providing arms and protect coup plotters by judicial decrees," Celik said. "Greece suffered a lot from coups in the past but it is obvious now that there are other motives for the Greek judiciary to leave the path of law and instead protect coup plotters," he said. The General Council of State, which is the supreme administrative court of Greece, made its decision on Suleyman Ozkaynakci's case on Tuesday, setting a precedent for other cases involving the seven fugitive Turkish soldiers. A few hours after the July 2016 defeated coup to overthrow the Turkish government, eight ex-military personnel arrived in Greece on a hijacked Black Hawk helicopter and requested asylum. Turkey immediately issued an extradition request, which was eventually declined by the Greek Supreme Court in January 2017, after a series of trials and appeals. Turkish authorities accuse the soldiers of being involved in the defeated July 2016 coup and being members of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO). ()In a statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said that the decision "not only breaches Greece's international obligations to combat terrorism, but also constitutes a violation of the provisions of the 1951 Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. "By rejecting the extradition of the putschist traitors, Greece has prepared the ground for such decisions, which offends the conscience of the Turkish nation." Meanwhile, Turkish Defense Ministry and military officials called the decision to grant asylum to FETO members an "exact example of lack of foresight". "The court decision on the coup-plotters is an exact example of lack of foresight in a period when we are talking about the reinitialization of confidence-building measures and showing all kinds of good intentions," the officials told Anadolu Agency. "No improvement can be expected on the implementation of the confidence-building measures without taking decisions on the coup terrorists in accordance with the law, democracy and good neighbourly relations," they added. Turkish Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul also lashed out at the Greek decision, saying it contradicts international law and democratic norms. "It is the Greek judiciary that has made the country a safe haven for the terrorists by rejecting the international laws, and the Greek politics which have established a terrorist haven in the middle of Europe by opening its doors to the terror group members that are responsible for this massacre of law," Gul tweeted. [02] Kal?n: "US disregard of legal process is unacceptable" Turkish daily Sabah (22.08.18-https://www.dailysabah.com/diplomacy/2018/08/23/us-disregard-of-legal-process-unacceptable-presidential-spokesman-kalin-says) reported that the spokesman of President Tayyip Erdogan slammed on Wednesday the United States' disregard for Turkey's legal process, adding that Washington had made arbitrary comments and demands in the case of a detained pastor. In a statement to Reuters, Ibrahim Kal?n called on the U.S. to respect Turkey's judicial independence, one of Ankara's most pointed responses yet to criticism over its detention of a terror-linked evangelical pastor Andrew Brunson. "There is rule of law in Turkey and the Andrew Brunson case is a legal issue. There is an ongoing legal process related to this individual," Kal?n said in a statement to Reuters. "It goes without saying that we find unacceptable the disregard of the legal process by the United States, which has been making certain demands." His comments came after U.S. President Donald Trump's national security adviser John Bolton told Reuters that Turkey made a "big mistake" by not releasing Brunson. Kal?n said Bolton's remarks regarding Turkey's economic situation and Qatar's support were proof that the U.S. administration is targeting its NATO ally as part of an economic war. He said the U.S. has established that it intends to use trade, tariffs and sanctions to start a global trade war. "Turkey has no intention of starting an economic war but cannot stay silent", he added. () [03] Bahceli accuses the US of trying to protect coup fellows Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (22.08.18-http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/us-tries-to-protect-coup-fellows-nationalist-party-leader-136061) reported that the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli has accused the United States of trying to protect its "fellows" who took part in the coup attempt against the Turkish government in 2016 and claimed that U.S. President Donald Trump administration's recent "attacks" on the Turkish economy have been for this reason. "The U.S. is trying to seize Turkey in terms of economy and politics," he said, speaking to party members who had gathered at the MHP headquarters for an Eid-al Adha greeting on Aug. 22. The U.S. is harming its relations with its ally and its friend Turkey over a pastor, he said, referring to the detaining of U.S. evangelical pastor Andrew Brunson in Turkey, which has caused a diplomatic rift between Ankara and Washington. Bahceli questioned Trump's real intentions and said that "it is not just a matter of a pastor." "The U.S. is trying to protect its coup fellows," Bahceli added. He suggested the U.S. is about to grant asylum to 200 coup plotters. "Global powers are protecting FETO [Fethullahist Terrorist Organization], the PKK [Kurdistan Workers' Party] and ISIL [Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]," Bacheli further alleged, praising the recent economic support from Qatar to Turkey. () [04] "Brunson is not the only issue" In a commentary in Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (23.08.18-http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/opinion/yusuf-kanli/brunson-is-not-the-only-issue-136063) under the above title, columnist Yusuf Kanli writes the following: "Taking the case of United States evangelical pastor Andrew Craig Brunson to the Constitutional Court with the demand that the continued house arrest and travel restriction has compromised the pastor's rights may not yield any results. Carrying the issue to the European Court of Human Rights may not do any good either. Efforts to compel Turkey through various horse trade tactics to let the pastor travel to the United States may eventually produce results, but the crisis in Turkish-American relations will not be resolved anytime soon. It could be argued one fundamental reason leading the Brunson issue to evolve into a major crisis in Turkish-American relations was the depressive need for U.S. President Donald Trump's administration to gain the support of evangelists and the Jewish lobby in order to win the upcoming November elections in the U.S. We could indeed expect an increase in the U.S.-Turkey standoff, or some tangible surprise moves, similar to accepting Jerusalem as the Israeli capital and moving the U.S. Embassy there. However, the rift between Turkey and the West in general, with the U.S. in particular, is not one limited to the electoral designs of Trump or him being held hostage by evangelists. At the very root of the crisis lies the fact that Turkey has been double-playing between its Cold War era allies and foes for a long time, persistently distancing itself from the norms and values of the 'free world' and giving strong signals of a will to join a club of autocrats rather than a club of democracies, which has kept it in the waiting room for over the past half century. The sanctions against two Turkish Ministers, suspending the sale of F-35 jetsof which Turkey is a manufacturing partnerincreased iron and steel tariffs for imports from Turkey and similar developments are all strong indicators of anger against Turkey from the White House. The operation against Turkish currencyas Ankara has rightfully perceivedis indeed a financial declaration of war. It may be overoptimistic to assume the Americans eventually will have to solve this problem and that the increased tariffs could be defeated at the World Trade Organization, as Ankara is a partner of the project, who has spent over $900 billion so far for it, and produced certain parts in Turkey. The threat to take the issue to international arbitration is equally nonsense, as Turkey agreed while signing the F-35 agreement those problems among the partners would be resolved through talks and no one had the right to take problems to arbitration. Of course, the Turkish audience might be happy to see the Turkish presidency take up such challenges, but the palace must be very much aware of how empty those statements were. Turkey's S-400 deal with Russia that symbolized the rapprochement between Moscow and Ankara, the Astana process and similar dialogue between the two capitals have not been developments that have been very welcome for Washington. Furthermore, Turkey undertaking joint operations or security plans in Syria supported by Russia, while Washington has been actively supporting, abetting and indeed arming Kurdish groups that Turkey has considered a number one threat to its national security, are all elements that have compromised the 60-year-old allied relations between Washington and Ankara. Last but definitely not least, U.S. efforts to impose sanctions on Iran cannot be acceptable for Turkey as a country, which is energy dependent on Iran, in addition to it being a border country likely to be most-affected through such measures. The last time Turkey was provided exceptions from Iran sanctions was used by some Turks in an incompatible manner that landed, for example, a senior banker with a public Turkish bank, in a U.S. prison. If the house arrest and travel restrictions on Brunson are to be lifted tomorrow, nothing will improve in Turkish-American relations. The course is one aimed at a head-on collision". TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION (AK/ AM) Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleTRENTONAcknowledging that Governor Phil Murphys executive order banning bear hunting on state lands is a first step in the right direction, New Jersey Black Bear Coalition members agree that substantially more action is needed to fulfil the governors commitment to a statewide moratorium on the controversial hunt.

Despite the order, the hunt is set to begin the second week of October on federal, county, municipal, and private lands in the northern portion of the state, where a considerable amount of bear hunting already occurs. Hunters who previously pursued bears on state lands will have plenty of time to relocate bait stations to non-state properties.

Veteran environmental attorneys, including former Senior Deputy Attorney General in Charge of Litigation, Assistant State Environmental Prosecutor and Deputy Attorney General on New Jersey environmental matters Dante DiPirro, strongly disagree.

The Courts have recognized that the governor and commissioner have the authority to set wildlife policy through the adoption of a species comprehensive management plan, said DiPirro. The new Governor should use this authority to void the ill-conceived comprehensive bear management adopted by the previous administration, and set his own new policy that stops the bear hunt on all lands."

"The governor has the authority to cancel the bear policy. The 2005 Supreme Court decision mentioned in the governor's August 20 press release does not restrict the governor; nor does it apply to a new commissioner who had nothing to do with the previous administration's bear policy, said the Animal Protection League of New Jersey lead attorney Doris Lin.

Brian Hackett, New Jersey state director of the Humane Society of the United States, said, Although this is a step in the right direction, this executive order does not go far enough. We urge Governor Murphy to heed the wishes of his constituents and keep his campaign promise to end the statewide bear hunt. New Jerseys beloved bears are neither ornaments nor rugs."

Stopping the hunt on state lands does not stop the hunt; it only changes where the bears get killed. The hunt will continue on other public lands, including county parks, water company lands, and private lands. We still need Governor Murphy to keep his commitment to ban the bear hunt completely. We believe that he has the legal tools to do so and that he must protect New Jerseys bear populations by stopping the hunt altogether, said Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. After eight years of Christies open season on bears, at least Governor Murphy is trying to deal with the hunt.

League of Humane Voters Jay Lassiter expressed dismay at the bans limited scope. His base is these voters, and he cant let them down.

Pending Bear Smart legislation known as Pedals Law has broad public support, said Angi Metler, director of Animal Protection League. "The legislation would restrict baiting in bear habitat and, as is done in Western states and Alaska, require the use of bear-resistant bins in conflict areas. Senate President Stephen Sweeney has taken no action to move the bill. Our coalition will continue to engage our supporters and advocates to move this important public safety legislation.

A big part of the problem, said Susan Russell, Animal Protection League wildlife policy director, is that unlike previous administrations that stopped the bear hunt, the DEP deputy attorneys general have long represented the interests of the Fish and Game Councilnot the governor, and certainly not the public. Its the tail wagging the dog, and perhaps an entrenched bureaucracy taking advantage of a new governor.WASHINGTONA shocking undercover investigation [PDF] conducted by the Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International found giraffe parts and products sold online and in stores by at least 51 dealers across the United States. An investigator went undercover in 21 stores in California, Florida, Maryland, North Carolina, New York, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas, as well as at the Dallas Safari Club expo where many more sellers exhibited.

Kitty Block, acting president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States and president of Humane Society International, said, Purchasing giraffe parts puts the entire species at risk. The giraffe is going quietly extinct. With the wild population at just under 100,000, there are now fewer than one third the number of giraffes in Africa than elephants.

Block notes that killing giraffes for trophies, and using their parts for fashion, knife handles, home decor and trinkets not only shows a complete disregard for this iconic species, but also adds to the major threats causing the species to decline by 40% in the past 30 years.

We urge the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to list the giraffe as endangered under the Endangered Species Act to help combat this trade and reduce population declines before its too late, she said.

Giraffe parts are considered by consumers as a new exotic popular in part as an alternative to ivory and other products for which regulations have tightened. The HSUS/HSI investigation reveals a wide variety of giraffe parts and products easily available through wholesalers and retailers in the United States, including a giraffe taxidermy ($8,000), a custom-made giraffe jacket ($5,500), a full giraffe hide ($4,500), a giraffe hide rug ($3,000), a giraffe skull ($500), a knife with a giraffe bone handle ($450), a giraffe leather Bible cover ($400), a giraffe tail hair bracelet ($10) and a giraffe foot ($75).

Some sellers told investigators that they had received giraffe parts from trophy hunters. Several promised that new giraffe trophies were arriving soon and that they were taking custom orders for products, and others falsely claimed that giraffes were dangerous and needed to be killed to protect African villages.

On average, more than one giraffe per day [PDF] is imported into the U.S. by American trophy hunters. Giraffe are targeted so hunters can bring home exotic trophies, and the Africa hunting outfitters who arrange these hunts sell the leftover giraffe partsskin, bones, feet, tail. The giraffe parts and products are imported into the U.S. and sold by knife makers, purveyors of wildlife curios, bootmakers and others. Increased demand in the U.S. fuels more killing of this already vulnerable species.

Background

U.S. law does not prohibit the trade in giraffe parts. In April 2017, the Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society International and conservation partner groups petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to list giraffes as endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. An ESA listing would restrict the import, export and sale of giraffe specimens in the U.S.

Demand for giraffe parts can fuel poaching and trophy hunting, further decreasing giraffe populations already facing severe threats from habitat loss and civil unrest.

In 2016, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature elevated the threat status of giraffes from least concern to vulnerable on its Red List of Threatened Species. Among the nine subspecies, two are deemed endangered.

From 2006 to 2015, the U.S. imported approximately 40,000 giraffe parts and products [PDF], mostly for commercial purposes. Among these imports were about 21,000 giraffe bone carvings, nearly 4,000 raw bones, about 3,000 skin pieces, almost 2,000 raw bone pieces and more than 700 skins.

View Investigation Report [PDF]

MEDIA DOWNLOADSJoined by Harrington and her supporters, Mayor Linda Tyer announced her endorsement Tuesday afternoon.

Tyer Backs Harrington In District Attorney's Race

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  With less than two weeks to go until the primary, Mayor Linda Tyer is putting her support behind Andrea Harrington in the race for district attorney.

"My endorsement comes with the strong belief that Andrea and I share similar values and we are like-minded. We both believe in creating opportunities for social justice and for thinking differently about entrenched problems," Tyer said.

"Our leadership styles are similar in that we seek diversity of thought, opinion, and professional experiences to inform our decisions. We believe in building any bridge to find a solution or to advance a progressive idea."

Harrington is one of three candidates in the race for the Democratic nomination. Both Paul Caccaviello, the incumbent, and Judith Knight are also seeking the post as Democrats. There is no other candidate on the November ballot so whoever wins the Sept. 4 primary will likely become the next district attorney.

In one of the least surprising of late campaign surprises, Tyer was joined by Harrington supporters at the campaign's headquarters on East Street to announce her endorsement.

"I am truly humbled and honored by the mayor's endorsement. The mayor's leadership in the city has been an inspiration to me and my campaign. She has shown us that it is more effective to lead by giving people hope rather than through fear. Mayor Tyer has tackled tough issues facing the city with candor and determination. She has broken with the go along to get along politics that have prevented progress and reform and I will do the exact same thing as your next district attorney," Harrington said.

"I will work with Linda and leaders throughout the county and the state to make our community safe for everyone and one where all of our children can thrive. We will do this by working together to get dangerous people off of the streets and modernize our approach to law enforcement by fighting the underlying causes of crime and deploying proven strategies to combat the opioid epidemic and the crime that we've seen that comes from drugs."

Tyer also highlighted the opioid epidemic, saying the city has seen the "sad and tragic consequences" of the drug issue. She believes Harrington offers "alternatives for how to be a better advocate for those who struggle."

The mayor also highlighted Harrington's plan to create a citizen's advisory committee and "her balanced perspective of vigorously prosecuting crimes, protecting victims, and seeking new ways to disrupt criminal culture."

"Andrea has built a broad-based, grassroots, countywide campaign. She has hustled up and down this county for every vote. That's the kind of energy, enthusiasm, and tenacity that's needed to lead the DA's office with fresh ideas and a new vision," Tyer said.

The mayor believes the district attorney's office serves as an important piece toward improving safety in the city. That intersection is why the mayor feels it is important for the city to have a like-minded person in the office.

"We run a law enforcement agencies. We have an important responsibility to ensure that our city is safe, to ensure that the people of our community know that our Police Department and our district attorney's office is working together to keep people protected, to keep them safe, to ensure we are doing what they can for social justice matters," Tyer said.

The police officers and the superior officers' unions, however, have both endorsed Caccaviello . Tyer said that while the officers and she may differ on who should lead that office, she believes that the union members still know she is supportive of their efforts.

"I believe the Pittsfield Police Department knows I stand with them in the efforts they are undertaking now to keep our city safe. Some of the things Andrea is talking about, we've already deployed in our Police Department -- things like cultural competency training, things like implicit bias training. We're already advancing some of these progressive ideas in our Police Department. That work has to be supplemented by the work of the DA's office," Tyer said.

The election has been divisive and often combative between the candidates' supporters and the race remains tight. Tyer said she doesn't fear any ripple effects once the race is ended, no matter who ultimately wins.

"When the dust settles we have to come together and do the next right thing for the people that we represent. So I will extend my hand to whoever the successful candidate is -- it is going to be Andrea Harrington -- and hope that hand is extended back to me," Tyer said.

The two also used the occasion to highlight the difference in experience Harrington has compared to other candidates. Both Caccaviello and Knight have been critical of Harrington's lack of prosecutorial experience: Caccaviello has worked in the DA's office for more than 20 years and Knight has been both an assistant district attorney and a public defender.

"She has a worldview that is different from the other candidates," Tyer said of Harrington.

Harrington has 15 years of experience as an attorney and had worked with one of the state of Florida's Capital Collateral Regional Counsels for two years in post-conviction death penalty appeals.

"We would completely reinvestigate the case. We would have investigators. We would pour through court records. We would look for new theories of the crime plus all of the forensic evidence. We worked very closely with mental health professionals and those cases go through state and federal court processes," Harrington said.

She returned to the Berkshires, still working on a contract basis with the district, and moved around, working with a number of firms. Here she worked in the courts as a defense attorney for a wide array of cases. She also worked on civil cases, which she said ranged from discrimination to sexual assault to consumer protection.

So while Harrington hasn't specifically been a prosecutor like the other two, she said her wide range of court work gives her a perspective the others do not have.

"I bring a problem-solving approach that is sorely needed in the district attorney's office," Harrington said.

"The one-track mind of prosecuting everybody to the hilt is not working to solve the tough challenges. I want to work with the city, work with community leaders, and really get to the underlying problems which have to do with the drugs, crime, and lack of opportunity."

In all, Harrington hopes to bring a "new leadership and new direction."The new school year can be an adjustment challenge for the whole family  but your children's health can remain strong during this busy transition, and on into the school year.

Back to School? Keep Kids Healthy and Happy



Dr. Sandeep Kumar

"Back to school" is just around the corner for our Berkshire County children. The new school year can be an adjustment challenge for the whole family  but your children's health can remain strong during this busy transition, and on into the school year.



At CHP Berkshire Pediatrics, we'd like to set you and your children and teens on a path to a healthy school season, with some helpful reminders and tips about sleep, stress, food safety and the importance of "downtime." And some advance planning can help to smooth the transition to the school year  regardless of whether you kids are in preschool, high school, or somewhere in between.

Sleep

Ease the transition with better sleep  starting now.



Start your family's "back-to-school" sleep schedule before school starts. Sleep is among the top "nutrients" for our brains, and lack of sleep could be the first trigger for attention deficit disorder. Getting the right amount of sleep - nine to 11 hours for kids 6 to 13 years old and eight to 10 hours for older kids  is an important building block for school success.



Set consistent wake-up and bedtimes. Turn off all electronics at least 60 to 90 minutes before bedtime, and charge gadgets outside the bedroom  and this applies mom and dad as well!

Stress

Kids of all ages may feel anxious about making friends, getting good grades, or adjusting to a new school or teacher. If an unfamiliar new school is on the horizon, make an advance school visit to reduce your childs anxiety.

Acknowledge concerns and share ways to deal with specific worries. Reassure your child that he/she can handle the situation, and offer reminders of past success, such as when your child made a new friend or did well on a test. These reminders can boost confidence.

Homework

Set a consistent time and place for your child to work each day. Then, stay close by and offer to help if needed. If your child gets stuck on something, don't just provide the answer; work together to solve the problem. Problem-solving teaches children they are capable and self-sufficient.

Healthy Body Image

Many students feel pressure over their appearance and bodies. Media images, peers and parents all have an impact, so focus on positive personal qualities and achievements instead of appearance and help him/her do the same. Encouraging healthy eating, physical activity and positive friendships help your child develop a healthy self-image.

Immunization and medication

Check on the status of your child's immunizations during a check-up or with a call to your medical practice.



If your child needs daily medication during the day, try to meet with school nurse ahead of school, to make the connection. Parents, not children, should deliver medications to the school nurse.



Ask the pharmacy to provide two labeled bottles  one for the school, and another for home.

Stay healthy

Studies show that children who eat a nutritious breakfast are able to focus better throughout the day.



Water is the best source of hydration, so keep it flowing. Many children and teens in particular don't get enough water, and dehydration risks are greater for athletes. Decreases in urination and concentrated, darker urine are signs of dehydration, which can lead to fatigue, headaches and dizziness.



Wash hands. Washing up after using the restroom and recess, and before and after meals or snacks, is great prevention.



Pack lunch when you can. Cafeteria food is super-convenient and must meet federal nutrition standards, but your home-prepared lunch will most likely be better, so try to mix and match.



Lighten the load. Backpacks should be worn on both shoulders and should not be too heavy. Help your student with regular backpack cleanout.



Encourage after-school activities. Children and teens who are involved with extracurricular activities will meet peers with shared interests and adults who arent scrutinizing academic performance. They are likely to do better in school and in overall development and are less likely to engage in risky behaviors.



And finally, encourage unscheduled time in your family. Children and teens, just like adults, need open-ended, uncommitted time to recharge, relax, play and unwind.



There's no prescription for perfect health, but the school transition can go smoothly. Meanwhile, our team of pediatricians and pediatric nurse practitioners are here for you if you need us. Contact CHP Berkshire Pediatrics at 413-499-8531 for an appointment.



Sandeep Kumar, M.D., is a pediatrician at CHP Berkshire Pediatrics in Pittsfield.



iciHaiti - Safety : Summer period, already 205 accidents and 503 victims





According to the Haitian organization Technical and Operational Services for Accidents (STOP-accidents), the report for the summer season between June 29 to August 19, 2018, made in partnership with the National Ambulance Center and the Haitian Red Cross, amount to 205 accidents, 425 injuries and 78 deaths.



Summary in figures :



82.4% of accidents are attributable to motorcycles;

National Road #1 accounted for 33% of all victims;

The National Roas #2 has the highest number of accidents (but fewer casualties);

49% of the wounded are related to car accidents;

51% of the injured are related to motorcycle accidents;

62% of deaths were caused by car accidents;

38% of the deaths were caused by motorcycle accidents.



IH/ iciHaiti





















iciHaiti - Security : The Ministry of Communication condemns and denies !





After the denial of the Directorate of Civil Protection (DPC) and the Center for Observation and Operations on Maritime Data (CODOMAR) https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25280-haiti-flash-dpc-and-codamar-deny-rumors-of-earthquake-and-tsunami.html it is the turn of the Ministry of Communication to condemn false alarmist messages circulating on social networks for a few days that predict the impending earthquake and tsunami in Haiti.



The Ministry wishes to point out that, despite advances in science, the day and the hour of an earthquake can not be announced in advance and invites to the reason the authors of these messages and all those who tend to relay them. The Ministry recalls that such behavior only tends to spread fear and panic among Haitian families.



The Ministry of Communication invites everyone to remain vigilant and to believe only the official notes from the institutions concerned or from credible organizations and media.



IH/ iciHaiti

















Israel still hopes the U.S. will recognise its claim to sovereignty over the Golan Heights, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday, after a top U.S. official said the issue is not currently under consideration by Washington.

Israel captured much of the Golan from Syria in a 1967 war and annexed it, in a move not endorsed internationally. In May, a senior Israeli official said that U.S. recognition could be forthcoming within months.

But in a Reuters interview during a visit to Israel this week, U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton said "there's no discussion of it, no decision within the U.S. government" .

Netanyahu was asked whether Israel, in light of Bolton's remarks, had dropped expectations of U.S. recognition of Israel's Golan claim. He replied: "Would I give up on such a thing? No way."

In the interview, Bolton said that while the United States understands Israel's claim that it has annexed the Golan Heights, "there's no change in the U.S. position for now".

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The leader of the Islamic State jihadist group Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi called on Muslims to wage "jihad" in a purported new audio recording released on Wednesday.

He also called for attacks in the West in the Telegram message on Eid al-Adha, which comes as IS has lost most of its territory in Iraq and Syria.

It is the first purported recording of the IS leader to be released since September last year.

"Those who forget their religion, patience, jihad against their enemies, and their certainty in the creator's promise lose and are disgraced," the leader said.

"But when they hold on to it, they are mighty and victorious, even if after a certain time."

IS overran large swathes of Syria and neighbouring Iraq in 2014, proclaiming a "caliphate" in areas they controlled.

But they have since lost most of that to various offensives in both countries.

The "caliphate will remain, God willing", Baghdadi however said in Wednesday's recording, addressing followers in the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

It was not clear when the message was recorded, but Baghdadi appeared to criticise a $100-million pledge by Saudi Arabia last week to help rebuild Syria's northeast.

He threatened the United States and Russia, who have both backed offensives against IS, saying that the Islamist militants had prepared "horrors" for them.

Speaking of war-torn Syria, he criticised rebel fighters for agreeing to surrender deals with the Damascus regime, and called on opposition fighters to join his jihadist group.

The IS chief made his only known public appearance in Iraq's second city of Mosul in July 2014.

Baghdadi has been pronounced dead on several occasions, but an Iraqi intelligence official said in May that he remains alive in Syrian territory by the Iraqi border.

Baghdadi was said to move around with only a small group of followers.

Originally from Iraq, Baghdadi has been dubbed the "most wanted man on the planet" and the United States is offering a $25 million reward for his capture.

The Iraqi official said the noose was closing around the jihadist leader after Iraqi forces captured five top IS commanders in an unprecedented raid in Syria on March 24.

In July, Iraqi intelligence services said Baghdad's son Hudhayfah al-Badri had been killed in Syria by three Russian missiles targeting a cave where he was hiding.

In September 2017, in a voice message attributed to Baghdadi, the IS leader called on his fighters in Syria and Iraq to "resist" their enemies.

Today, after a vast military campaign by Iraqi forces backed by a US-led coalition, the jihadist group only has sleeping cells in Iraq.

In Syria, IS has faced two separate offensives by Russia-backed regime forces and another by a Kurdish-Arab alliance supported by the US-led coalition.

They hold a few pockets in the far east of the country near the Iraqi border, and retain a presence in the vast desert stretching from the capital to the frontier.

IS has claimed a string of deadly attacks in the West in recent years.

Baghdadi claimed responsibility for a July attack in Canada in which a gunman killed two people.

The jihadist group had already said they were behind the shooting, but Canadian police said there was nothing to substantiate it.

Baghdadi called on followers to carry out more attacks in the West.

In Syria, the group killed around 250 people in attacks in the southern province of Sweida last month and still holds dozens of hostages, mostly women and children.

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North Kingstown School Committee officials found themselves in the middle of a debate over curriculum this week as members of the public sparred Tuesday night over the topics of sexuality and gender identity and how appropriate it is for those subjects to be explored by local students. At particular issue was the inclusion of a book titled Gender Queer that was recently added to the high school library. The memoir, about gender identity, includes images and discussion of sexual acts.

You voted:African-Americans express more motivation to pursue a healthier lifestyle than non-African-Americans, yet are less likely to describe themselves as being in good health, according to recent findings from the African-American Health Engagement Study (AAHES), a collaboration of Pfizer, the National Medical Association (NMA) and the National Black Nurses Association (NBNA). The AAHES study examines the health attitudes and behaviors of African-Americans and reveals important health-related cultural differences compared to other non-African-American respondent groups. Areas of focus in the study include spiritual health relative to other dimensions of health; awareness of and attitudes towards clinical trial participation; perception of state of health, and level of motivation to take action on health.

The AAHES research, which commenced in 2017, is designed to garner insights that could inform meaningful and effective actions to increase health equity in African-American communities. According to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control, African-Americans face a greater risk of death at almost every stage of life compared with other American racial and ethnic groups, and African-Americans overall have a life expectancy more than three years shorter than that of non-African-Americans.

Our mission is to ensure access to the highest quality of healthcare for persons of color, said Eric J. Williams, DNP, RN, CNE, FAAN, president, National Black Nurses Association. Our participation in the study helps us better understand health attitudes and behaviors of African-Americans. Through our partnership with Pfizer and the National Medical Association, we are working to develop a sustainable plan of action that will make an impact on critical disparities that affect the health of our community.

Key findings of the AAHES study include:

84

% of African-American study participants described themselves as highly motivated to improve overall health, compared with 76% of non-African-American participants. Moreover, 75% of African-American respondents claimed to be taking some action to stay healthy, compared to only 52% of non-African-American respondents.

67

% of African-Americans surveyed agreed with the statement I will do better on my health tomorrow, compared with 53% of non-African-Americans surveyed.

36

% of all African-American study participants ranked their overall health (including physical, mental/emotional, and spiritual health) as very good or excellent, compared to 43% of study participants in other groups.

79

% of African-American study participants viewed spiritual health as extremely or very important to overall health and wellness, compared to 59% of non-African-American participants. Forty-five percent of African-Americans reported being satisfied with their body regardless of weight, compared to 36% of respondents in other groups.

87

% of African-American participants believe African-Americans are not well-represented in clinical trials, but only 33% of African-American women and 41% of African-American men stated that they are willing to enroll in a trial if it means changing or starting medication.

When it comes to trusted sources of health and medical information, African-American respondents said that they place their highest level of trust in medical organizations focused on African-Americans. African-Americans least trusted sources for health-related information are widely used media channels, such as cable news and commercial broadcast networks.

Doris Browne, M.D. President, National Medical Association, said, As the collective voice for African-American physicians and the leading voice for parity and justice in medicine and increasing health equity, the National Medical Association, in alliance with the National Black Nurses Association and Pfizer, will work together to address the underlying causes of health inequity with greater creativity, innovation, and precision.

The death rates for African-American women from heart disease and breast cancer are far greater than that of other women in America (CDC Health, United States 2016 Report). African-American men of all ages experience higher mortality than men of other races and ethnicities and have significantly higher rates of malignancies such as prostate cancer (CDC Health, United States 2016 Report).

We see our partnership with the National Black Nurses Association and the National Medical Association as a critical way to increase trust and communication and better meet the health needs of African-Americans, said Freda Lewis-Hall, M.D., chief medical officer and executive vice president, Pfizer. Certain medical conditions are more prevalent and devastating for African-Americans and other populations of color; diversity in clinical trials is one critical approach to closing disparity gaps. African-Americans account for 12 percent of the U.S. population but make up only five percent of clinical trial participants. When it comes to increasing African-American participation in clinical trials, we cannot overstate the importance of trust and collaboration.

Beyond clinical trial awareness and recruiting, the AAHES provides insight into other areas where the organizations can work together to increase health equity, including increasing the capacity of AfricanAmerican health care provider organizations; facilitating more effective health-seeking behaviors in African-Americans through health education and community initiatives; and defining and launching targeted initiatives to respond to specific health care needs in African-American communities.The Kerala cable and broadcast industry is just about keeping its head above the water, quite literally! The industry has been crippled due to the recent floods. We wrote about how cable operators bore the brunt of the calamity yesterday. Needless to say, broadcasters were also not unaffected.

continue reading...(August 16, 2018) WASHINGTON  Earlier this month, Tara Mac Lean Sweeney, a prominent Alaskan leader and acclaimed businesswoman with the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, was sworn in as the Department's Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs....In this file photo, Indian Bollywood film actress Nargis Fakhri holds a newly launched HCL tablet at a function in New Delhi on April 2, 2012. HCL Technologies, a multinational corporation headquartered in Noida, is being sued in the U.S. by a white male software engineer who alleges that the company disproportionately favors Indian Americans when hiring. (Sajjad Hussain/AFP/Getty Images)Democratic candidate in the Kentucky House Nima Kulkarni is looking to win the District 40 seat in the general election, taking on Republican Joshua Neubert. The Indian American candidate already defeated incumbent Dennis Horlander and others in the May 22 primary. (votenima.com photo)Dipankar Rai was named the inaugural director of the Hetterich Center for Global Engagement and Impact at New York-based Le Moyne College. The Indian American professor teaches courses that focus on marketing analytics, brand management, digital marketing and principles of marketing. (Lemoyne.edu photo)Roberto Ubiera (pictured) was arrested Aug. 21 and charged with the murder of Indian American small businessman Tarlok Singh in East Orange, New Jersey. Ubiera is being held without bail. No motive has been established for the attack. (photo courtesy of the Essex County Prosecutors office)British Airways says it is suspending its London to Tehran service as the operation is currently not commercially viable

British Airways says the last outbound flight to Tehran will be on September 22, and the last inbound flight from Tehran will be on September 23.

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President Muhammadu Buhari during the eid el-kabir celebration was visited by members of the National Youth Service Corps(NYSC) posted to Daura, Katsina state.

The president, who revealed that such a visit was one he looked forward to the most during Sallah celebrations, had taken over the medical bills of a blind corps member.

Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president now a presidential aspirant has reacted to the news.

Although, Atiku hailed Buhari for taking up the medical bills of the blind corper, he however noted that if the President had invested funds he spends on medical tourism, such gesture wouldnt have been necessary.

He said this via his twitter handle this morning. See what he wrote below:Presidential aspirant and former Vice president Atiku Abubakar took a swipe at President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday over his 800m walk.

Atiku, who quickly shared a photo of himself at the gym declaring how fit he is, but not asking Nigerians to vote for him based on that, in reaction to presidency, hailing Buhari as fit to re-contest next years presidential election because he walked 800m home from a prayer ground.

He had written via Twitter:

I regularly jog more than a mile & exercise, but it will be pedestrian of me to ask Nigerians to vote for me because of that. I want my party  the PDP, and Nigerians, to vote for me because I WORK not because I WALK. I will work to create jobs. I wont walk to create an illusion pic.twitter.com/zxkzLcWDpg  Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) August 22, 2018

Well, the All Progressives Congress(APC) has replied the former VP, saying the president was ruled out as sick, thats why he had to prove to critics that hes healthy. They however, asked Atiku who was accused of corruption to travel to the US to prove critics wrong.

They wrote:Former minister of finance, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was last July appointed into the board of directors of Twitter.

She wrote on twitter of her appointment:

Excited to work with @Jack and an incredible team on the Board of Twitter, a global platform that is such a strong connector of people and ideas.  Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (@NOIweala) July 19, 2018

The news of the former finance ministers appointment sent ripples through out the Nigerian social media sphere. Nigerians were so proud of her and poured their love on her.

Mrs Okonjo-Iweala yesterday met with the African and African American staffs of Twitter(black birds) in San Francisco.

She shared photo of the meeting via her twitter handle earlier, saying shes very proud of their work and commitment.The police have arrested a 38-year old man, Mr. Clement Momudu, after he was caught having sex with an 11-year old girl inside the school compound at the popular Inner City Mission Nursery and Primary School located in Alausa area of Lagos.

The police alleged that on 28th July, 2018, Mr. Momudu lured the victim into one of the classrooms in the school premises, removed her pant and penetrated her. While he was still engaging in the act, one of the school staff caught him and raised alarm which attracted other members of staff.

He was apprehended and handed over to the police at the Alausa Division. The matter was later transferred to the Gender Section of the State Police Command.

It was gathered that during investigation, Momudu admitted but claimed that he did not force her into the act; that he did it with her consent as such it was not rape.

However, the police found him culpable and charged him before the Ogba Magistrates court for the offence.

The prosecutor informed the court that the victim was a minor and the incident happened within the school premises when the school had closed after classes.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. Peter Nwaka, did not take his plea and denied him bail.

The court ordered that Momudu be remanded in prison custody and directed the prosecutor to duplicate his file and send to DPP for advice.

The matter was adjourned till 3rd September, 2018 for the report of DPP to be available.

It was gathered that the case of defilement was felony as such if the DPP found him culpable, Mr. Momudu may spent up to 10 years in prison for the offence if convicted.

The police did not disclose if the defendant was a staff of the school and how he was able to gain access to the school premises in the afternoon to commit the offence there before he was caught.The Lagos State Government has announced that the 3rd Mainland Bridge will be temporarily shut down for four days starting from today to midnight of August 26, 2018 for Investigative Maintenance Test to be carried out.

The State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr Ade Akinsanya, who disclosed this in a statement, said the decision was taken after due consultation with the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing.

The four-day closure, according to Akinsanya, will enable the contractors assess the true state of the bridge after which works would commence by the end of the year or early in 2019.

It would be recalled that the Federal Government had earlier announced plans to shut the bridge in July, but had to be shelved after due consultation with the State Government and wide deliberations with other stakeholders, who expressed concern about the indiscriminate parking of articulated vehicles on other alternative routes which would have adversely affected traffic.

Subsequently, a Joint Task Force set up to remove the articulated vehicles from the highway was able to achieve tremendous success.San Diego, CA - August 23, 2018 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Gopher Protocol Inc. (OTCQB: GOPH) ("Gopher"), a company specializing in the creation of Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence enabled mobile technologies, is pleased to announce that it has assembled its MESH system hardware and communication product specifications as part of phase 2; MESH implementation phase. In parallel, it is designing the system's timing/synchronization methods to be utilized in the event GPS signal lose. In addition, a BLE sub system design is under development.

A product specification is a document that provides essential defining information about a product including manufacturer identification, limitations and standards that apply to the product. The specification also includes product's images that visually illustrate the product and note its distinguishing characteristics. Documenting the product and its features is an essential stage within the design process. In addition the specification defines the product's parameters, features and its testing program requirements.

"After assembling our MESH system implementation phase project plans and budget, we successfully completed an initial system hardware specifications," stated Dr. Danny Rittman, Gopher's Chief Technology Officer. "We assessed the electronic hardware requirements and successfully constructed a product's parameters and features specifications. In addition, we are addressing the system's timing/synchronization mechanisms in order to maintain continuous communication in case of GPS signal lose due to topographical reasons. One of the key features of our system is to maintain functionality with or without GPS system, providing full coverage at all times." Dr. Rittman continued, "Another sub-system that we are currently working is our BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) unit. The main difference between BLE and BT (Bluetooth) is the low power consumption. With BLE low power consumption, applications can run on smaller power sources (Batteries) for long time periods. This is a vital feature for applications that need to exchange fairly small amounts of data periodically. This type of feature is critical for our MESH system in order to enable low power, autonomous nodes and gateways operation. Combining with solar power for our nodes, our goal is to create some self-powered, autonomous nodes that may be used for a wide variety of applications (i.e. agriculture, military and security, autonomous machines, mapping and more."

About Gopher Protocol Inc.

Gopher Protocol Inc. (GOPH) ("Gopher") (http://gopherprotocol.com/) is a development-stage company which consider itself Native IoT creator, developing Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence enabled mobile technology. Gopher has a portfolio of Intellectual Property that when commercialized will include smart microchips, mobile application software and supporting cloud software. The system contemplates the creation of a global network. The core of the system will be its advanced microchip technology that can be installed in any mobile device worldwide. Gopher envisions this system as an internal, private network between all enabled mobile devices providing shared processing, advanced mobile database management/sharing and enhanced mobile features.

Corporate Site: http://gopherprotocol.com

Press page/ press kit - http://gopherprotocol.com/?page_id=228

Consumer and product website for Guardian Patch: http://www.guardianpatch.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors as disclosed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission located at their website (http://www.sec.gov). In addition to these factors, actual future performance, outcomes, and results may differ materially because of more general factors including (without limitation) general industry and market conditions and growth rates, economic conditions, governmental and public policy changes, the Companys ability to raise capital on acceptable terms, if at all, the Companys successful development of its products and the integration into its existing products and the commercial acceptance of the Companys products. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company's views as of the date of this press release and these views could change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to the date of the press release.

Contact:

Dr. Danny Rittman, CTO

Gopher Protocol Inc.

VM Only 888-685-7336

Media: press@gopherprotocol.com

SOURCE: Gopher Protocol Inc.

Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investment involves risk and possible loss of investment. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Contact each company directly regarding content and press release questions. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Disclosure: GOPH is a PR, social media and publishing client and compensates Investorideas.com: More disclaimer and disclosure info: http://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp, http://www.investorideas.com/About/News/Clientspecifics.asp

Additional info regarding BC Residents and global Investors: Effective September 15 2008 - all BC investors should review all OTC and Pink sheet listed companies for adherence in new disclosure filings and filing appropriate documents with Sedar. Read for more info: http://www.bcsc.bc.ca/release.aspx?id=6894. Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country.

Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: http://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.aspAugust 23, 2018 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Fund manager John Newell with Fieldhouse Capital Management discusses what he terms an "exciting new discovery in the heart of the Yukon's White Gold District."

In this article, we will take a brief look at the Yukon, the prolific Tintina Gold Belt and drill down to the White Gold district, which makes up part of the belt, and what could be Luckystrike Resources Ltd.'s (LUKY:TSX.V) strategic position in the White Gold District.

Luckystrike Resources Ltd. shares are just now trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol LUKY. It was born as a spinout from Goldstrike Resources (GSR.V). See the press releases below for full details:

Shares Issued and Outstanding: 37,579,296

Warrants: 16,142,083

Fully Diluted: 53,721,379

Cash: $3,100,000

Major Shareholder: Goldstrike now owns approximately 22% of the issued and outstanding Luckystrike shares on an undiluted basis and approximately 36% on a partially diluted basis, assuming only the exercise of the warrants held by Goldstrike.

https://www.luckystrikeres.com/lucky-strike-property/

https://www.goldstrikeresources.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Goldstrike-and-Luckystrike-Joint-NR-Aug-14-2018.pdf

https://www.goldstrikeresources.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Goldstrike-NR-Completion-of-Arrangement.pdf

Why the Yukon: Canada's Yukon Territory is a mining-friendly jurisdiction with a long proud history in mining and exploration, starting with the 1897 Klondike Gold Rush. Mining is an important part of its economy today, as the Yukon experiences a new modern-day gold rush. For much of this time, smaller companies, placer miners "working the creeks," dredging barges "working the rivers," prospectors and mining entrepreneurs have walked, staked the ground throughout the Yukon.

However, this is changing because the majors are discovering what the juniors have long known: This region is largely underexplored, has exceptional geology, and has strong potential for district-size mining operations that can replace the declining reserve profiles, which the majors are experiencing.

Mining companies continue to invest in the Yukon, not only because of the strong mineral potential, but also the clarity provided at all levels of government, programs, and partnerships with First Nations.

The Tintina Gold Belt, which extends from British Columbia to Alaska, is underexplored in its central section spanning the Yukon Territory, including where it crosses the un-glaciated Dawson Range. The Tintina Gold Belt is a 1200 km long and 200 km wide arc, extending from the south corner of Alaska into the northern part of British Columbia. Production mines and significant exploration and mine development projects demonstrate the geologic potential in the Dawson Range. Over 50 million ounces of gold have been discovered in this belt over the last 20 years. (See maps below)

The White Gold District experts call the "Best Hope for New Gold Deposits," Northern Miner May 13, 2018

The Yukon's White Gold District is known as a series of orogenic vein deposits that lie within the famed Tintina Gold Belt. There have been estimates of 1520 million ounces of placer gold mined from the creeks in the White Gold district. The sources of that gold remained uncovered until the discovery of the Golden Saddle (Underworld, Kinross, now White Gold) and Coffee deposits (formally Kaminak, now Goldcorp) in the district. Many geologists and experts believe there are many more sources. Exploration for hard rock deposits has been limited in the past. This started to change in the past 10 years, when over 7 million ounces has been discovered in this area. Over time new technology, innovation and more experience has continually enhanced companies' abilities to discover new deposits, as well as expand on existing ones, which is encouraging senior miners to take a closer look and invest in the district.

In addition, the Yukon territorial governments, along with the Canadian federal government, have committed CA$360 million to build improved roads and infrastructure throughout the Yukon, including the White Gold District. This heavy infrastructure spending should drive down capex costs and improve project economics for companies in the area. Investors can see from the insert below how the landscape is changing in the area, as major gold producers are moving heavily into the area. To re-cap, the reasons are excellent geology, vast areas of underexplored prime terrane, geopolitical stability, infrastructure is decent and improving, a mining friendly culture, and new large deposits being found, examples being Goldcorp's Coffee project, Victoria Gold's Dublin Gulch, and ATAC's Carlin style target. The rush back to North America will likely intensify as events continue to become more volatile worldwide, large mining corporations must look forward at least 1015 years to be sustainable.

"The best place to find a new mine is next door to an old mine or existing mine"-Tom Zoellner

Luckystrike's Property Map

Luckystrike Resources Ltd. (LUKY) is an advanced junior exploration company that has already hit big with all nine inaugural exploratory drill holes intersecting gold mineralization during the summer of 2017 including the discovery hole, 22 meters of 5.36 grams per tonne gold. The geological setting of the properties held by Luckystrike Resources are like that of Goldcorp's Coffee 3-million-ounce deposit and White Gold's Golden Saddle 1-million-ounce deposit, which is contiguous with the Luckystrike property. Luckystrike properties compare favorably with those deposits in terms of grade, geology, geochemistry, structure, size, orientation and location of both these well-known deposits.

The company has a five-year exploration permit, no underlying royalties or property payments, and CA$3 million cash on hand for the highly anticipated follow up drill program currently underway to expand on its nine 2017 discovery drill holes to trace the full extent of the gold mineralization found last year. The 2018 program includes but is not limited to soil sampling, trenching, ground geophysics and aggressive diamond drilling. We feel Luckystrike is in good shape to tackle this project.

Luckystrike's property covers more than 150 square km in total and is contiguous with White Gold's Golden Saddle property in a mining district that has seen over 7,000,000 ounces of gold discovered since 2007. This area has excellent access by road with Goldcorp's haul road crossing the property in three locations, as well as two barge landings for river access, a permitted airstrip on the property and a larger well-maintained airstrip in the area.

The Management

Founder, president, CEO and director, Mr. Bill Chornobay is a well-established project generator, dealmaker and heads the team that includes members of the original group that generated, prospected and staked the Coffee Creek claims in 1998. They also discovered the gold in soil anomaly in 1999 and 2000 that now forms the nucleus of the Supremo zone. This discovery evolved into a 5-million-ounce gold resource that was recently bought by Goldcorp for $520 million. The team also includes some of the original members who staked and generated the Plateau Project in the Yukon for Goldstrike Resources (TSX-V: GSR), which recently completed an unprecedented $53 million JV deal with Newmont Mining Corp. Mr. Chornobay is also a Special Adviser to Juggernaut Resources (JUGR.V) and Goliath Resources (GOT.V).

Mr. Chornobay stated in a Northern Miner article dated May 29 2017, "Our focus over the past five years has been at Goldstrike's Plateau property that Newmont has taken 53 million JV in, so the Luckystrike property has been our orphaned child. We have completed only small programs to date, but the trenching we did last year exceeded our expectations. Every trench we've dug has hit mineralization, and the results rival the discoveries at both Coffee and White Gold's Golden Saddle, so we are excited to go back there." Chornobay went on to say, "if Luckystrike delivers good drill holes this year it's an obvious spin-out, and that will benefit all of our shareholders."

Luckystrike has indeed been "spun out," so we conclude that good progress is being made at Luckystrike Properties.

In this article we will briefly look at five main gold zones encompassed within a 10-km long gold corridor (more detailed information can be found on SEDAR): Monte Carlo, Belmont, Samson, Boss and Maverick. The anomaly in the Monte Carlo Zone measures 1450 meters by 450 meters and the Belmont Zone anomaly measures 1500 by 800 meters, and both zones remain open. Either zone is large enough in scale to host a deposit the likes of either the Golden Saddle deposit or Goldcorp's Supremo Zone. The other three anomalies are the Samson zone, measuring 600 by 300 meters, the Boss zone, measuring 1,000 by 1,000 meters and the Maverick zone, measuring 150 x 200 meters, all of which remain open. See map below.

10-km Corridor of Gold Discoveries

The 10-km gold corridor is being further delineated by soil sampling geophysics, prospecting, bedrock trenching and drilling in 2018 further expanding on (2017 results shown below).

The picture below shows the drill hole that management considers the discovery hole at Monte Carlo Zone grading 22 meters of 5.36 grams per tonne gold.



Pictures of the core from drill hole DDSL-17-09

One grab sample from the Boss Zone assayed 41.7 grams per tonne gold. Visible gold was observed in rock at Samson Zone, where trenching returned assays including 0.32 grams per tonne gold over 12 meters (including 0.41 grams per tonne gold over 6 meters).

The anomaly at Monte Carlo is 1450 meters X 450 meters and remains open. This area is large enough in scale to host a deposit the likes of either the Golden Saddle deposit or Goldcorp's Supremo Zone. To date, all eight trenches along the 450-meter strike length at Monte Carlo have encountered near-surface gold mineralization in bedrock and many drill targets remain to be tested. Monte Carlo has a northwest trending geophysical signature indicating a mineralized contact or structure that has been mapped using IP, ground magnetics and airborne geophysics. This is coincident with gold mineralization seen in the 2016 and 2017 trenches. This anomaly is observed at depth and along strike for 700 meters and remains open.

Goldcorp's (Kaminak) Coffee Creek gold deposit was discovered by drill testing gold-in-soil anomalies (also unglaciated terrain) that were typically associated with well-defined magnetic responses.

Does Luckystrike LUKY.V have the goods? This year's drilling could tell us

Soil sampling and trenching has been a prime tool in locating mineralized areas in the unglaciated White Gold District, and results from trenches in the Monte Carlo Zone at Lucky Strike are like those seen in the initial discovery trenches at both Coffee Creek and the Golden Saddle that led to the drilling of those deposits.

The chart below shows the comparison to the nearby deposits of both Goldcorp and White Gold (formerly Kinross). The Golden Saddle discovery trench returned a gold grade of 1 g/t gold over 40 meters, and the discovery hole returned 4.35 g/t gold over 18 meters. One of Kaminak's (now Goldcorp) 2009 original discovery trenches at Coffee Creek (Trench 4) showed that the longest interval of gold mineralization in the Supremo Zone, and returned 0.4 g/t gold over 100 meters. Goldstrike's 2016 discovery trench in the Monte Carlo Zone at Lucky Strike returned 0.42 g/t gold over 154 meters, including 0.76 grams per tonne gold over 78 meters, including 3 grams per tonne gold over 8 meters. Other trenches on Monte Carlo have produced bedrock samples of 58 g/t gold over 6.8 meters and 2.73 g/t gold over 12 meters, including 4.02 g/t gold over 8 m. Luckystrike appears to be getting warmer with this project.

In summary, Luckystrike Resources appears to be an exciting, high probability ground floor opportunity in the high-risk, high-reward, early discovery phase of the mining cycle (see chart above). The company is committed to create shareholder value through systematically drilling, prospecting and exploring six properties that are more than just highly prospective: Take for instance 2017 results from the Hot Spot property Sure Bet zone, a 150 by 150 meter high-grade gold-in-soil anomaly that remains open. Reconnaissance soil sampling in 2017 returned three multi-gram values as high as 4.1 grams per tonne gold.

Also underway is the Hot Spot 2018 exploration program including mechanized trenching, soil sampling and ground geophysics in preparation for drilling. Couple this with Luckystrike's exciting flagship property being neighbor to two evolving gold projects being built by major gold companies. In the majors' quest for district-scale deposits and land packages, with any more drilling success, and the ability to define a resource by the company, Luckystrike could be a welcome addition to the already existing resources at Goldcorp and/or White Gold. Finally, Luckystrike is in a safe political jurisdiction, in an area with good infrastructure, close to power, rivers and roads.

Caution: As a new listing, the shares could be thinly traded and subject to large swings in this market. The recent private placement is locked up and the shareholders of Goldstrike (GSR.V) received 1 share of Luckystrike (LUKY.V) for every 7 shares GSR.V they held. Investors may want to hold on to their new shares, so liquidity may be an issue.

John Newell is a portfolio manager at Fieldhouse Capital Management. He has 38 years of experience in the investment industry acting as an officer, director, portfolio manager and investment advisor with some of the largest investment firms in Canada including Scotia McLeod, CIBC Wood Gundy and Richardson Greenshields (RBC Capital Markets). Newell is a specialist in precious metal equities and related commodities, and follows a disciplined proprietary approach incorporating equity research, analytical frameworks and risk controls to evaluate and select long and short stocks primarily from the Canadian small and mid-cap coverage. Many large, midcap and junior precious metal companies use his technical charts. Newell is a registered portfolio manager in Canada (advising representative).

Disclosures:

1) John Newell: I, or members of my immediate household or family, own shares of the following companies mentioned in this article: I do not own Luckystrike Resources but friends and family do. I personally am, or members of my immediate household or family are, paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None. My company currently has a financial relationship with the following companies mentioned in this article: Funds controlled by Fieldhouse Capital currently do not own shares of Luckystrike Resources but a position could be initiated at any time. I determined which companies would be included in this article based on my research and understanding of the sector. Additional disclosures/disclaimer below.

2) The following companies mentioned in this article are sponsors of Streetwise Reports: Victoria Gold. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees.

3) Comments and opinions expressed are those of the specific experts and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers. The author is wholly responsible for the validity of the statements. The author was not paid by Streetwise Reports for this article. Streetwise Reports was not paid by the author to publish or syndicate this article. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports requires contributing authors to disclose any shareholdings in, or economic relationships with, companies that they write about. Streetwise Reports relies upon the authors to accurately provide this information and Streetwise Reports has no means of verifying its accuracy.

4) The article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports.

5) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the interview or the decision to write an article, until one week after the publication of the interview or article. As of the date of this article, officers and/or employees of Streetwise Reports LLC (including members of their household) own securities of Juggernaut Exploration and Goliath Resources, companies mentioned in this article.

Additional Disclosures and Disclaimer from John Newell, Fieldhouse Capital Management, August 15, 2018:

Disclosures and Disclaimer:

It should not be assumed that the methods, techniques, or indicators presented in these pages will be profitable or that they will not result in losses. Past results are not necessarily indicative of future results. Examples presented on these pages are for educational purposes only. These set-ups are not solicitations of any order to buy or sell. The authors, the publisher, and all affiliates assume no responsibility for your trading results. There is a high degree of risk in trading.

Hypothetical and historical performance results have many inherent limitations, some of which are described below. No representation is being made that any account will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to those shown. In fact, there are frequently sharp differences between hypothetical and historical performance results and the actual results subsequently achieved by any trading program. One of the limitations of hypothetical and historical performance results is that they are generally presented with the benefit of hindsight. In addition, hypothetical and historical trading may not present the financial risks and returns for future trading. For example, the ability to withstand losses or to adhere to a particular trading program in spite of trading losses are material points which can also adversely affect trading results. There are numerous other factors related to the markets in general or to the implementation of any specific trading program which cannot be fully accounted for in the preparation of hypothetical performance results and all which can adversely affect actual trading results.

Disclaimer: This Publication is protected by Canadian and International Copyright laws. All rights reserved. No license is granted to the user except for the user's personal use. No part of this publication or its contents may be copied, downloaded, stored in a retrieval system, further transmitted, or otherwise reproduced, stored, disseminated, transferred, or used, in any form or by any means without prior written permission. This publication is proprietary.

Neither the information, nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation for the purchase of an investment program. Any further disclosure or use, distribution, dissemination or copying of this message or any attachment is strictly prohibited; such information, whether derived from Fieldhouse Capital Management or from any oral or written communication by way of opinion, advice, or otherwise with a principal of the company is not warranted in any manner whatsoever, is for the use of our customers only and may be obtained from internal and external research sources considered to be reliable.

Images provided by the author.

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Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.aspRelated British Airways to suspend London to Tehran flights

Iran's top envoy to Britain said on Thursday a decision by British Airways to suspend flights to Tehran from September was regrettable.

"Considering the high demand ... the decision by the airliner is regrettable," Hamid Baeidinejad wrote on his official Twitter account.

In a statement, British Airways, owned by IAG, said it would suspend its flights between London and Tehran next month as the route "is currently not commercially viable".

The last outbound flight to Tehran will be on Sept. 22, and the last inbound flight from Tehran a day later, a British Airways spokesman said in an email.

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Editorials are longer opinion pieces that are written by a group of community members recruited across campus who address relevant issues on a local, national and international level. Editorials are research-based. The purpose of the Editorial Board is to promote discussion concerning relevant issues in the community while advising on possible solutions. Topics are chosen via relevancy and interests of the members, which are then discussed by the Editorial Board in order to reach a general consensus concerning the topic or issue.

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If you have a grievance concerning the content or argument of the Editorial Board, please contact either Opinion Editor Peyton Hamel (peyton.hamel@iowastatedaily.com) or the Editorial Board as a whole (editorialboard@iowastatedaily.com). Those wanting to respond to editorials can also submit a letter to the editor through the Iowa State Daily website or by emailing the letter to Opinion Editor Peyton Hamel (peyton.hamel@iowastatedaily.com) or Editor-in-Chief Sage Smith (sage.smith@iowastatedaily.com).

Column Policy

Columns are hyper-specific to opinion and are written by only columnists employed by the Iowa State Daily. Columnists are unique because they have a specific writing day and only publish on those writing days. Each column undergoes a thorough editing process ensuring the integrity of the writer, and their claim is maintained while remaining research-based and respectful. Columns may be submitted from community members. These are labelled as Guest Columns. These contain similar research-based content and need to be at least 400 words in length. The following requirements should be met: first and last name, email and relation or position to Iowa State. Emails must be tied to the submitted guest column or it will not be accepted or published. Pseudonyms are prohibited and the writer will be banned from submissions.

Read our full Opinion Policies here. Updated on 10/7/2020The United States slapped steep tariffs on another $16 billion in Chinese goods on Thursday, triggering a swift tit-for-tat retaliation from Beijing, even as negotiators from both sides seek to soothe trade tensions.

The latest action completes the first round of $50 billion in Chinese products that President Donald Trump targeted with Beijing striking back at American products dollar-for-dollar at each step.

China "firmly opposes the tariffs and has no choice but to continue to make the necessary counter-attacks", the commerce ministry said in a statement.

Beijing hit back with tariffs on an equal amount of US goods, targeting iconic products such as Harley-Davidson motorcycles, dump trucks and asphalt, among hundreds of others.

China's commerce ministry said the US tariffs were "cleary suspected of violating WTO rules" and noted it would file a lawsuit against them under the WTO's dispute resolution mechanism.

The escalation came as the world's two largest economies hold their first formal discussions since June on the spiralling trade war.

Trump has pushed aggressive trade actions to lower the US trade deficit, which he equates with theft from Americans. But US trading partners have retaliated aggressively, which is hurting American farmers, manufacturers and consumers.

US businesses have become increasingly concerned about the tariffs, which are raising prices for manufacturers and could hurt the economy, although the prospect of a negotiated solution buoyed world markets this week.

However, Federal Reserve officials have warned that "an escalation in international trade disputes was a potentially consequential downside risk for real activity", according to the minutes of its July 31-August 1 policy meeting.

A large-scale and prolonged dispute likely would adversely impact business sentiment, investment spending and employment, the officials warned, and boost prices, which would "reduce the purchasing power of US households".

Still pending is the possibility of new duties on another $200 billion in Chinese goods, which are the subject of public hearings this week, as well as Trump's proposed 25 percent taxes on all auto imports to protect the US car industry.

China has responded by threatening to impose new tariffs on $60 billion worth of US goods, while Beijing could also target the local operations of US corporations with inspections and boycotts as it has done in past disputes with South Korea and Japan.

China's state media has taken aim at Apple in recent weeks, accusing the US titan of allowing illegal apps to proliferate on its platform.

US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said China will not be able to continue to retaliate at the same pace as the United States.

"Naturally they'll retaliate a little bit. But at the end of the day, we have many more bullets than they do. They know it," Ross said on CNBC. "We have a much stronger economy than they have, they know that too."

Trump, who has threatened to target all $500 billion in goods the US imports from China, has made that same point, noting that Beijing cannot continue to retaliate in kind since it imports less than $200 billion a year in American goods.

US Treasury's David Malpass, undersecretary for international affairs, is leading two days of talks with China's Vice Commerce Minister Wang Shouwen and Vice Finance Minister Liao Min that began Wednesday.

The talks were to continue Thursday morning, but the Treasury has not specified what topics are being discussed.

Trump said earlier this week that he was not expecting much from the dialogue.

"We are a country that has been ripped off by anybody and we are not going to be ripped off anymore," he said at a campaign rally in West Virginia on Tuesday.

"It has to be a two-way street. We only have one-way streets not only with China but everybody."

Thousands of large and small companies and industry groups have urged the Trump administration to reconsider the tariffs, which some say could put them out of business.

But so far it has largely been deaf to the complaints, as only a handful of product lines have been shielded from the punitive duties.

The administration has already been forced to announce a $12 billion aid programme for farmers hurt by the trade row, as US agricultural products, like soybeans, were an easy target for China and others.

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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...Egypt's Minister of Planning Hala El-Saeed said on Thursday that a specialised committee of legal and economic experts has been formed to create the statutes of the newly introduced EGP 200 billion sovereign wealth fund known as the Egypt Fund.

On Monday, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi ratified Law 177 of 2018 for the establishment of the Egypt Fund, which involves funding for utilising natural sources and attracting investments.

The fund will be financed by cash as well as in-kind contributions in the form of under-utilised state-owned assets such as land, buildings, factories, companies, and properties that can be more efficiently utilised to generate better returns.

The committee is expected to establish the fund's articles of association as well as set rules upon which the fund's employees will be selected.

The regulations of the fund will be issued by a decision from Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly following the approval of parliament within 60 days from the date of implementation of the provisions of the fund law.

The board of directors of the fund will be headed by the minister of planning and its members will include representatives from the ministries of finance and investment as well as five experts.

The general assembly of the fund will comprise the prime minister and the ministers of planning, finance and investment as well as seven experts.

The minister of planning said that the location for the headquarters of the fund is yet to be announced.

The Egypt Fund seeks to maximise the utilisation of unexploited assets and wealth of the state, as well as diversify the sources of state profits and reduce the budget deficit.

The fund will be also developing Egypt's natural resources in a sustainable manner to maximise the value of these resources for future generations by contributing to the establishment of companies or increasing their capital and investment in securities inside or outside Egypt.

The authorised capital for the fund is EGP 200 billion and its issued capital is EGP 5 billion. The capital for the fund may be increased in cash or in any other way stipulated by the law.

The law states that the president of the republic may, on the basis of the offer of the prime minister and the minister concerned, transfer the ownership of any of the unutilised assets owned by the state or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries to the Fund.

The fund aims to attract the private sector and domestic and foreign partners to carry out projects that serve the governments development plans.

The fund will also only invest within Egypt, and will encourage other funds to do so jointly with the government.

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Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek El-Molla discussed with John J. Christmann, the chief executive officer and president of the US Apache Corporation, means to expand the company's exploration activities in Egypt.

During the meeting, El-Molla also discussed with Christmann future investment plans of the company in the oil exploration to achieve more finds in order to increase Egypt's oil and gas output and reserves, a statement issued by the Ministry of Petroleum on Tuesday read.

Christmann said his company's planned investments are expected to reach $1 billion annually, a matter he said reflects Egypt's importance for the company, adding that plans are under way to clinch more tenders in the light of the expected discoveries in the country.

He expressed hope for forming a joint work team to prepare a five-year plan to explore for oil and increase the company's investments in the oil and gas domains in Egypt.

The Apache CEO also pointed out that a plan is being outlined to start work in the new concession area "Sharq Bahariya" in the Western Desert after the signing of an agreement in this respect last month.

He praised the economic achievements made in Egypt during the past three years especially in the oil sector, saying Egypt is on the right track and that its bold rdecisions would bring more investments to the country.

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Stepping off the picturesque harbor docks and onto San Juan Island you instantly get an overwhelming calming sensation take you over. Youre hit in the face with the unexpected, yet incredibly charming streets and sidewalks of Friday Harbor.

Classic old fishing boats are docked out in the weeping willow lined harbor in the distance. Colorful buildings give the area a Nordic vibe, but youre quickly made aware youre in the US from the flags flying proudly above the buildings.

Nestled perfectly amid the hustle and bustle youll notice a colorful and swanky set of industrial buildings terraced into the hillside. Those buildings make up the amazing Island Inn at 123 West.

Almost instantly upon arrival to the 123 West that, aside from very accommodating service, green is the focus of this perfectly situated hotel. The hotel is Silver LEED Certified, uses funneled rainwater for irrigation, as well as 100% recyclable products and linens. This hotel has a green-chic vibe with its modern touches and structured industrial facade.

The rooms are bright, spacious, and have a contemporary maritime style that pays homage to its former days of being a storage facility for fishing fleets and ferries. The large windows overlook the iconic Friday harbor in the distance where you could spend hours watching the seaplanes land and boats come in. The large king beds are plush and very comfortable- in the most environmentally way possible. The bathroom was large, luxurious, and fully equipped with organic Malin and Goetz soaps.

Also located in the room are bountiful bowls of local fresh fruit, local ground coffee, homemade granola, and cold milk. All of these are thoughtfully refilled as needed. Attached to the large penthouses are open decks reminiscent of historic front porches plus ship ladders and roof decks that are reminiscent of the Inns industrial past.

The slogan for the Inn is Ready, Set, Slow. which is exactly the pace you will want when you arrive in San Juan Island. This gorgeous island is located off the coast of Washington and is easily accessible by float plane or ferry from Seattle, Vancouver, or Victoria Island. Its an incredible island with so much to see and do. If youre looking for the best place to stay in San Juan Island, look no further than the Island Inn at 123 West.Nonviolence Studies Certificate Program

Learn the strategies, tactics, and tools to help resolve problems without violence.

This program encompasses a broad range of concepts grounded in nonviolence as philosophy and methodology guiding humanistic and democratic activities on all levels of human interactions. The courses focus on the advancement of peace building endeavors in every area of human engagement, including all kinds of human relationships, both personal and professional, as well as activities of social change-making and civic and political participation.

Careers

The skills learned in the nonviolence studies undergraduate certificate program can be applied to many careers, including:

Crisis communication

International diplomacy

Psychology

Anthropology

Social work

Education

Goals



To earn the Certificate in Nonviolence Studies (NVS), students will examine violence and nonviolence within a holistic context. Students will look at social justice issues as they relate to individuals, the community, and the world. Students will take a comprehensive and far-reaching view of issues as they exist within the context of the culture and the world that surrounds themas they exist through time and within a continuum that includes the precursors that lead to actual physical violence. They will imagine ways to apply nonviolence methodology to achieve better "cultural and social health" similarly to the way "public health" officials apply a preventative, contextual model.

Upon completion of an undergraduate certificate in nonviolence studies, student will be able to demonstrate their understanding of:

systems theory

the differences between a mechanistic and organic worldview

basic anthropological perspectives and concepts of holism

history and theories of past and current nonviolence movements, including major writers

their positionality in the social order and in what ways their life choices make a difference

their ability to apply:

the concepts and methodologies of nonviolent resistance and direct action

holistic thinking to human issues ranging from local to global

the basic skills of conflict resolution, mediation, and arbitration

critical thinking to real-world issues

To view course curriculum for the Nonviolence Studies Undergraduate Certificate, please click here.

Brief History

K-State Nonviolence Studies ProgramFourth-grader, Addison Captain, made sure her education didn't stop when the last school bell rang, instead she spent her summer launching BrownBackpack.com, a Web site selling nearly 100 products to inspire children of color.

"I'm not like the other kids who play video games and watch TV," said Addison. "I like doing business work instead."

"We make backpacks, we have books on the Web site, we have phone cases, we have pillows and many things that inspire children," said Addison.

Addison is able to use images from Far Beyond the Treetops because her mother, Stephanie, wrote and published the book herself.CAVE JUNCTION, Ore.  Deputies are still looking for an unidentified suspect that robbed a bank in Cave Junction Wednesday afternoon, according to the Josephine County Sheriff's Office (JCSO).

A 911 call came in to dispatchers just after 4 p.m., indicating that the First Community Credit Union at 309 S Redwood Hwy had just been robbed.

When deputies with JCSO and detectives from the Oregon State Police (OSP) Major Crime Team responded, they got a description of the suspect and searched the area. Detectives interviewed the bank employees and a single customer who had witnessed the robbery.

Investigators found that a man, masked and wearing gloves, had approached the bank teller and demanded money. The teller handed over an "undisclosed amount of money" before the suspect took it and fled the bank on foot. The suspect reportedly never displayed a weapon during the exchange.

Security cameras caught the incident on video and provided deputies with a description, but the suspect was well-covered. JCSO describes him as an adult man of unknown race wearing a black mask, black zipper-type hoody, a light and dark-colored shirt, blue jeans, "possibly brown" boots, and gloves with black dots "similar to the type one would wear to handle glass."

Deputies were unable to locate the suspect after a search of Cave Junction and the surrounding areas.CENTRAL POINT, Ore. -- Anyone who has been under an evacuation warning this year knows how hard it is to get ready to leave. It's exponentially more difficult to relocate an entire farm.

Rogue Creamery had to deal with exactly that scenario just a couple weeks ago. Their organic dairy in Grants Pass had been under an evacuation level two and the farmer there said he could see flames. The fire was only three miles away.

So they prepared everything in case they needed to leave at any moment. One caveat, the only place they could take their cows was to another organic farm.

Fortunately, they're part of Organic West Milk, Inc., a network of farms that jump into action at a moments notice.

Brian Moss, the production manager at Rogue Creamery explained what is needed. "It really takes the commitment and the communication of all the farms," he detailed. "Knowing that at any time in the summer on the West Coast as we know it now, all of our families and our animals can be evacuated at a minute's notice."

Rogue Creamery says it's committed to the safety of it's animals and farmers. It also says it's committed to providing quality organic products.

They'll be ready at a moment's notice should any new fires threaten their farms.YREKA, Calif. 

UPDATE: The Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office has released a mug shot of John Skoda, plus a list of his charges.

Skoda has been booked on charges including Arson, Involuntary Manslaughter, Cause of Fire at an Inhabited Structure, Cause of Fire on Property, Failure to Prevent Fire Spread, and Burning Without a Permit.

(Updated 8/23/18 at 3:45 p.m.)

INITIAL REPORT: Authorities have arrested a suspect believed to be responsible for starting the Klamathon Fire, which began on July 5. The fire burned down homes and killed one man in the town of Hornbrook.

CAL FIRE says that their law enforcement officers arrested 32-year-old John Colin Eagle Skoda on Thursday. Investigators determined that Skoda caused the fire by recklessly burning debris.

The Klamathon Fire burned 38,008 acres before its containment, and destroyed much of the Hornbrook community. The fire destroyed 35 homes and 48 structures, with 12 more structures damaged by fire and smoke. 72-year-old Hornbrook resident John Karl Bermel died in the fire and three firefighters were injured.

On July 5, a relatively small grass fire south of Hornbrook spread swiftly to the north, quickly jumping the Klamath River and roaring through the small community. Flames continued north and west throughout the night, shutting down Interstate 5 when they jumped the freeway. Flames reached as far north as Pilot Rock in Oregon, and prompted evacuations in both states and in multiple communities.

At the time, there were rumors that some locals knew who had started the fire, with CAL FIRE insisting that the cause was still under investigation.

The Hornbrook community continues to struggle in the aftermath of the fire, with residents still bereft of drinkable water and a slow recovery and rebuilding process ongoing.

This is a developing story, and NewsWatch 12 will be updating this article as more details emerge.The beach in Vernon is normally packed with local residents and tourists during the summer, but it was pretty quiet Monday as thick smoke from wildfires in B.C. blanketed the Okanagan. More than 560 wildfires were burning in the province Wednesday.BEND, Ore. (AP) -- Authorities say a mother who fatally shot her disabled son attempted suicide by overdosing on drugs.

Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel told KTVZ-TV that 28-year-old Tashina Aleine Jordan was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after taking a combination of pills. Her 7-year-old son was found dead Monday at the family home.

Jordan previously told the station her son was severely disabled after two brain bleeds put him a coma after his birth.

KTVZ interviewed Jordan when her son was 4, after viewers raised $4,000 to buy the child a specialized bicycle that he could operate himself.

Mason had cerebral palsy and hydrocephalus, the station said, and an elementary school "adopted" him in 2017.

Jordan had served on their board of directors at the Central Oregon Disability Support Network and a city accessibility board.ALBANY, Ore. -- Albany police have arrested a man accused of robbing a video lottery store Aug. 8.

Police said Israel William Thompson, 40, of Albany was wearing dark clothes, a mask and gloves when he entered the Yellow Flamingo, 1119 Santiam Road SE, at 1:55 a.m. armed with a handgun.

They said Thompson forced the male employee into a back office and handcuffed him to a door before he left with an undisclosed amount of money.

Police arrested Thompson Wednesday in the 400 block of SE Denver Street. He faces charges of first-degree robbery, first-degree kidnapping and coercion.MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) -- A former youth pastor was attacked by an unknown man in the gallery in U.S. District Court in Medford during his sentencing hearing on a sex abuse charge.

The Mail Tribune reports Wednesday that Donald Courtney Biggs was being sentenced on a charge of transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity for filming a 14-year-old exiting a shower on a church trip.

The newspaper says it isn't immediately clear if Biggs was injured.

Biggs pleaded guilty earlier this year to one felony sex abuse count and federal prosecutors dropped nine other charges.

He was indicted on the federal charges in 2015 after Medford police launched an initial investigation in late 2014.

Just before the attack, victims spoke about how Biggs' crimes had impacted them.CLEAR LAKE, Iowa  The Clear Lake Fire Department is warning people about a fundraising mailer that is showing up in the community.

The mailer is from a group calling itself the Clear Lake Area Volunteer Firefighting Drive. The Fire Department says it wants to make clear that neither it nor the City of Clear Lake have anything to do with this fundraiser. The Fire Department says it has not been contacted by this group and the only fundraising event it does is the annual pancake breakfast scheduled for October.

The unsolicited mailing was brought to the Fire Department by a local concerned citizen and a copy of it can be seen below.

Anyone with questions about this issue may contact Public Information Officers Josh Pokorney at jkpokorney@cltel.net or Dave Sims at David.Sims82@gmail.com.DES MOINES, Iowa  The Federal Emergency Management Agency is denying individual assistance to homeowners, renters, and businesses in Winnebago, Buchanan, Dickinson, and Polk counties.

Governor Kim Reynolds asked for the assistance on August 1 to help those affected in the four counties by flooding and severe weather from June 6 through July 2.

"We are extremely disappointed with FEMA's decision," says Governor Reynolds. "People in Iowa are still hurting and in need of help several weeks after the flooding. We will be appealing this decision."

The Governors Office says FEMAs denial letter states it had determined the impact to individuals and households from this event was not of such severity and magnitude to warrant a designation of Individual Assistance.

Iowa has 30 days to file an appeal and Governor Reynolds says the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management will be working closely with local emergency management agencies to determine additional damage and impacts caused by the flooding and severe weather.

Federal officials announced on August 20 that they will provide funding for the repair of public infrastructure that was damaged during that same time period. Public Assistance Program funding is used to rebuild damaged infrastructure and cover the costs of debris removal and emergency work. The counties now eligible to apply for Public Assistance Program funding are: Adair, Buchanan, Buena Vista, Cerro Gordo, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Clay, Dallas, Delaware, Dickinson, Emmet, Floyd, Hamilton, Hancock, Howard, Humboldt, Kossuth, Lyon, O'Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Polk, Sioux, Story, Warren, Webster, Winnebago, Winneshiek and Wright.FOREST CITY, Iowa  A clinic closed due to flooding is almost ready to reopen its doors.

Mercy Family Clinic in Forest City is now scheduled to reopen on September 4. The clinic closed on June 25 due to water damage in several patient care and supply areas. Mercy officials say repairs to flooring and walls have made the facility safe again for patients.

"We know this has been an inconvenience for our patients and we appreciate their understanding as we made the needed repairs," said Kathy McEnelly, Mercy Clinic Manager. "Our goal is a clean and safe environment for our patients."MASON CITY, Iowa  A man accused of illegal spending sprees is pleading not guilty.

Eric Jon Scheff, 39 of Grafton, is charged with credit card fraud. Authorities say he used a credit card from a former employer to spend $4,433.75 during five trips to Menards in Mason City in June. Because of the amount of money, Scheff is being prosecuted for a class D felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

No trial date has been set.MASON CITY, Iowa  A not guilty plea has been entered in an attack authorities say left the victim needing surgery.

Juan Luther Bendickson, 36 of Mason City, is accused of punching someone on July 28 in the 600 block of East State Street in Mason City. Law enforcement says Bendickson hit the victim in the back of the head several times, with the victim suffering a broken wrist.

Bendickson is charged with assault causing serious bodily injury as a habitual offender. Court records do not list a trial date.BROOKLYN, Iowa (AP)  The Iowa college student who was allegedly abducted by a stranger while running last month in a small town died from stab wounds, a medical examiner says.

Authorities announced Thursday that preliminary autopsy results from the state medical examiner's office show 20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts was the victim of a homicide who died from "multiple sharp force injuries."

State medical examiner Dennis Klein said in an interview that the finding means a sharp-edged or pointed object such as a knife was used to attack Tibbetts. He declined comment on the details of her injuries, and said that his office would hire consultants, including forensic anthropologists, to analyze her remains further and make additional findings.

The man charged with first-degree murder in Tibbetts' death, Cristhian Bahena Rivera, allegedly led investigators to her body early Tuesday in a cornfield outside of Brooklyn, Iowa, the town where the University of Iowa psychology major was last seen one month prior. While investigators were confident then that the body was that of Tibbetts, the autopsy definitively confirmed her identity.

Prosecutors allege that Rivera abducted Tibbetts while she was out for an evening run in Brooklyn on July 18, killed her and disposed of her body in the secluded location.

A criminal complaint alleges that Rivera confessed during a lengthy interrogation that began Monday to following Tibbetts in his car, getting out on foot and chasing after her. Rivera told investigators that he panicked after Tibbetts threatened to call police on her cellphone, he blacked out and later came to when he was unloading her bloody body from the trunk of a car, it says.

Rivera worked for the last four years at a dairy farm a few miles from where Tibbetts was last seen. He and Tibbetts have no known connections other than that Rivera allegedly told investigators that he saw her running previously. Investigators zeroed in on him as the suspect after obtaining footage from surveillance cameras showing a vehicle connected to him circling the area of Tibbetts' running route.

Earlier this week, investigators said they were uncertain how Tibbetts was killed or whether she was sexually assaulted. They've made no mention of recovering a knife or other weapon linked to the death.

Rivera, a native of Mexico who is suspected of being in the U.S. illegally, made his initial court appearance Wednesday and is being jailed on a $5 million cash-only bond. He faces life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted.

Within hours of the arrest, President Donald Trump seized on the news that Rivera was allegedly in the country illegally to call for stricter immigration laws. And in an interview that aired Thursday, he said on "Fox & Friends" that Tibbetts was a "beautiful young girl" killed by a "horrible person that came in from Mexico, illegally here."

Trump has claimed that people living in the U.S. illegally often commit crimes, but studies by social scientists and the libertarian Cato Institute reject that assertion. The studies show that states with higher shares of people living in the country illegally have lower violent crime rates.

The president also said the suspect was "found by" agents from Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, an agency that some liberals have called for abolishing because of tactics they view as overly harsh. An ICE spokesman said Thursday that its agents worked with state and local investigators in "identifying, locating and interviewing the suspect."

Division of Criminal Investigation spokesman Mitch Mortvedt agreed that ICE played a "significant role" in the case, particularly in helping confirm Rivera's identity and immigration status.

Rivera's defense attorney, Allan Richards, has denounced Trump for prejudging his client's guilt, saying the president's comments would make it hard for Rivera to get a fair trial.

"Let's let the process go," he said Thursday. "The process is about truth-finding in a rational, peaceful and efficient manner. We're only at the very preliminary stages."

___

Sign up for the AP's weekly newsletter showcasing our best reporting from the Midwest and Texas: http://apne.ws/2u1RMfvFOREST CITY, Iowa  A Wisconsin man is pleading guilty to drug and gun charges in North Iowa.

Jeffrey Allen Walkowiak, 48 of Superior, WI, was arrested on May 14 in Lake Mills. Police said a search of his van found 33.27 grams of methamphetamine, some marijuana, and two loaded handguns.

Walkowiak pleaded guilty Wednesday to possession of meth with intent to deliver, gathering where controlled substances are used, carrying weapons, and failure to affix a drug tax stamp. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 9 in Winnebago County District Court.By Melanie Burton MELBOURNE, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Australian producers of alumina, South 32 and Alumina Ltd , both said on Thursday they expect high prices for the aluminium raw material to stretch into next year based on a shortfall in global supply.

A buoyant cycle for alumina is expected to continue given an outage at the Alunorte plant in Brazil, production cuts in China over the coming winter, and prospects that global aluminium maker UC Rusal may not escape sanctions this year.

Alumina Ltd is a stakeholder in miner and aluminium producer Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals (AWAC), which is 40 percent owned by itself and 60 percent by Alcoa .

In Alumina Ltd's annual profit report on Thursday, CEO Mike Ferrar said AWAC's alumina margins had hit levels not achieved since before the 2008-2009 financial crisis. "A tight Western world alumina market, and structural and environmental reforms in China produced significant price tailwinds for AWAC," he said.

"Current market conditions are broadly expected to continue into the second half with the Alunorte refinery in Brazil still running below full capacity and Chinese winter production cuts expected to commence later in the half."

Norsk Hydro was ordered by Brazilian regulators in February to slash output from Alunorte, the world's biggest alumina refinery, after Hydro admitted to emissions of untreated water during severe rains that month.

The company, however, has also denied many of the allegations against it. Alumina prices surged to a record above $800 a tonne in May before falling back to $450 in late June and climbing again to $550 a tonne on Thursday. Hydro said late last month the timing for resuming full output at Alunorte remained uncertain, with the possibility it could be between October and the middle of next year. A Hydro spokesman said on Thursday it had no estimate for when the closed part of Alunorte could restart, because it depended on approval from the authorities in Brazil.

"It certainly feels like their initial ramp-up at the end of this calendar year is not going to be achieved and is pushing out to next year," South 32 Chief Executive Graeme Kerr told reporters on a briefing call.

Alumina "prices at $550 a tonne are well supported by tight supply and we think there is further upside from trade sanctions and China policies," Kerr said.

China's aluminium output is expected to be curtailed over winter as part of its crackdown on pollution. Also, Rusal expects to halt some of its production as soon as next month if sanctions against it are not lifted. Adding to tightness, a strike at Alcoa's operations in Western Australia continues after an Aug. 8 walkout. Alcoa has said it doesn't expect any impact to output at the refineries, which account for around 8 percent of global alumina. (Reporting by Melanie Burton; Editing by Tom Hogue)

+613 9286 1421; Reuters Messaging: melanie.burton.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))MONTREAL (Reuters) - Quebec farmers want further relief from a global tariff dispute ahead of Oct. 1 elections in the mostly French-speaking Canadian province, which has seen a recent rise in nationalist sentiment.

Quebecs ruling Liberals, centrists but separate from the federal Liberal party, launched their campaign on Thursday. They trail in polls behind the center-right Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ).

In power for 13 out of the past 15 years, the Liberals hope to extend that run on the back of their economic track record, having balanced the budget and cut debt in the province.

The CAQ, led by Francois Legault, has said it too wants to reduce debt, but its vows to cut taxes, lower immigration, boost healthcare spending and bring in fresh blood may explain its edge in early polls.

The CAQ has also addressed fears by some voters of an erosion in Quebecs identity, with a promise to forbid people in positions of authority such as judges from wearing religious symbols like hijabs. Under the CAQ, immigrants would have three years to pass a French test to get the papers required in Quebec to become Canadian citizens.

Uncertainty over tariffs and the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement has taken center stage, with Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard arguing the Liberals will best protect the provinces economy from the threat of the Trump administrations protectionist policies.

The Liberals announced C$863 million ($657 million) in aid just last week to mitigate the impact of U.S. tariffs on companies and the agriculture sector.

Quebecs aluminum sector has been hit directly by U.S. tariffs on metal imports from Canada and other nations, while U.S. President Donald Trump has directly attacked Canadas dairy industry, which is based largely in Quebec.

All major Quebec politicians support the dairy sector but farmers will be looking for the candidate with the best plan to defend it, said Francois Dumontier, spokesman for les Producteurs de lait du Quebec, a dairy producers group.

He did not elaborate. But the Quebec Liberal governments efforts have not gone far enough for Quebec pork and soy producers. Many fear becoming collateral damage amid slumping prices due to tariffs between the United States, China and Mexico, said Marcel Groleau, president of the Union des producteurs agricoles, a provincial trade union for agriculture.

In the election campaign, it will be part of our demands to have a plan that will support our farmers during the uncertainty that exists, Groleau said in an interview.

According to Statistics Canada data for the week ending Aug. 11, Quebec hog prices declined 20 percent on an annual basis.

The Trump administrations $12 billion plan to aid American farmers hurt by tariffs has stepped up pressure on other governments to back their industries, Groleau said.

The competition is not between producers, its between governments, he said.(Adds detail)

JOHANNESBURG, Aug 23 (Reuters) - South African precious metals producer Sibanye-Stillwater swung to a half-year profit, bolstered by the inclusion of its U.S platinum operations and higher prices for platinum group metals.

Headline earnings per share (HEPS) for the six months to June 30 were 4 cents per share, compared with a loss of 135 cents in the same period last year, in line with market expectations.

HEPS, which strip out certain one-off items, is the main profit gauge used in South Africa.

Revenue rose 24 percent to 23,910 million rand ($1.63 billion), as inclusion of a full six months of production from the U.S. platinum assets acquired in May 2017 and the higher metals prices offset lower revenue from South African gold operations.

Revenue at South African gold operations fell to 1,596 million rand, hit by a decline in output because of the closure of its Cooke mine and disruptions at Driefontein and Beatrix.

A spate of deaths at its gold operations, including a seismic event that killed seven miners in early May, have also increased pressure on the company to improve safety at its mines.

The company also said first-half results were affected by transaction and financing costs from the acquisition of Stillwater and higher restructuring costs and impairments associated with losses at South African gold operations.

Sibanye-Stillwater raised $1 billion through a rights issue last year to help to fund the $2.2 billion acquisition of United States-based Stillwater Mining.

($1 = 14.6363 rand)

Reporting by Tanisha Heiberg Editing by Edmund Blair and David Goodman)

Messaging: tanisha.heiberg.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))* Sibanye-Stillwater swings to H1 profit

* Outlines future growth in bullion assets

* Records more than 20 fatalities in H1

* Reviewing incentives as part of safety strategy (Recasts, adds growth plans, safety) By Tanisha Heiberg JOHANNESBURG, Aug 23 (Reuters) - South African precious metals producer Sibanye-Stillwater said on Thursday it will look for growth in the bullion sector once it has improved its debt levels and outlined a blueprint for improving safety at its gold operations. The gold industry in South Africa, which has produced a third of the bullion mined in history and is home to the world's deepest mines, has seen a spate of deaths at Sibanye-Stillwater's gold operations, increasing pressure on the company to improve safety at its mines. Sibanye-Stillwater, which swung into profit for the half-year boosted by the inclusion of its U.S. platinum assets, acquired in May 2017, and higher platinum group metals prices, said it planned to look at growth opportunities in the gold sector next year once its debt levels had improved. "We would like to increase our exposure to gold now that we have a very significant PGM exposure," Sibanye-Stillwater Chief Executive Neal Froneman told Reuters. The company, which accumulated debt after an acquisition spree, made an all-share offer for London-listed Lonmin in December in a deal worth 285 million pounds that aims to create the world's No.2 platinum producer. The deal has yet to be concluded. Sibanye-Stillwater said its net debt to adjusted EBITDA reduced to 1.85 times from 2.55 times, which is below the agreed levels with creditors of 3.5 times.

"We have made significant inroads into deleveraging and we need to see our operations stabilize and then I think we are perhaps ready to look at additional growth," said Froneman. The miner entered a $500 million streaming agreement last month with Wheaton Precious Metals Corp for its gold and some palladium assets, in a move to improve debt levels. BULLION TARGETS Froneman said the firm would primarily look for existing operating mines but would not rule out advanced projects. "A small target that's highly profitable could well be considered and a large target that is profitable could also be considered," Froneman said.

Sibanye-Stillwater's gold operations were hit by a decline in output during the six months ended June 30, 2018 due to the closure of its Cooke mine and disruptions at its Driefontein and Beatrix operations with revenue falling to 1,596 million rand ($109 million). The miner, which had more than 20 fatalities at its operations during the period compared with six in the same period last year, said it was in the process of reviewing its bonus incentives for shift supervisors and safety officers to reward staff for safe production. Safety is a huge concern for investors, with the gold sector home to mostly labour-intensive and non-mechanised operations. ($1 = 14.6363 rand) (Editing by James Macharia and David Evans)

Messaging: tanisha.heiberg.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))(Related story on page 21)



By Yoon Ja-young



Income polarization between the rich and poor has widened to the worst level in a decade, with the government's income-led growth policy failing to lead to fatter paychecks for those in middle- and low-income brackets.



The increasing income gap came as the nominal income of those in the lower income bracket continued dropping in the second quarter, while those in the highest income bracket saw their incomes soaring.



According to Statistics Korea Thursday, the monthly average household income increased 4.2 percent to 4.53 million won ($4,038) in the second quarter, marking the steepest rise since the first quarter of 2014.



However, those in the bottom 20 percent income bracket saw their nominal monthly income contract 7.6 percent from a year ago to 1.32 million won. This is the biggest drop for a second quarter in the 15 years Statistics Korea has been compiling data.



They especially saw wages contract 15.9 percent. Their income from business also dropped 21 percent.



Those in the 20 to 40 percentile income bracket also saw a nominal income decrease of 2.1 percent to 2.8 million won.



Analysts say the contracting income was somewhat anticipated as a result of the steep minimum wage hike.



"Jobs decreased in wholesale and retail as well as restaurants and lodgings, where those in the low-income bracket mostly work. The average income was expected to drop as the job indices have been worsening," said An Young-jin, an economist at SK Investment and Securities. The number of newly added jobs per month dropped to 5,000 in July from around 100,000 earlier in the year.



"The minimum wage hike was aimed at benefiting low-income households, but it decreased the number of jobs more than the increase in wages," he said.



The country is raising the minimum hourly wage by double digits this year and the next to increase the income of the low-income bracket, but the too-steep hike ended up with employers decreasing hiring.



The nominal income of those in the top 20 percentile bracket, meanwhile, surged 10.3 percent to 9.13 million won, marking the steepest rise since 2003.



The gap between the haves and the have-nots has only widened as a result. The top income bracket's disposable income was 5.23 times larger than that of the bottom 20 percent, which is the widest gap since the second quarter of 2008. It has been worsening since 2015 when the top earners had 4.19 times more than the lowest bracket.



The income gap isn't likely to narrow.



Most of all, the economy is not in good shape.



"When excluding the semiconductor industry, the economy is in poor condition. This administration, however, seems to believe the economy is faring well, only seeing the 3.1 percent growth achieved last year," said Shin Se-don, a professor at Sookmyung Women's University, pointing to problems the manufacturing industry faces.



He said the minimum wage hike was like adding a typhoon to already bad weather. "The self-employed will have to close down or reduce their number of employees."



Those in the bottom income bracket also saw the number of close family members with jobs drop 18 percent from a year ago.



The middle class is also limping. The average monthly income of those in the 40 to 60 percentile income bracket dropped 0.1 percent to 3.94 million won, which is the first drop since the first quarter of last year.



They saw business income drop 7 percent, reflecting that many of the self-employed are shuttering their businesses. According to the National Tax Service, 166,000 restaurants closed last year while 181,000 opened.



No policy shift expected



The administration, however, is likely to continue with the income-led growth strategy. Presidential chief of staff for policy Jang Ha-sung affirmed his support for it, saying "the minimum wage hike is only a part of the income-led growth strategy."



Jang said further analysis is needed to determine whether the minimum wage hike has affected employment numbers.



"Jobs started to decrease in restaurants from May and June of last year, not this year," he said Tuesday at the National Assembly's special committee on the budget, adding he doesn't agree the minimum wage hike caused the job market disaster.



Economy and Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon said the government will increase the budget by a record amount to sustain jobs.



"The government will promote an expansionary fiscal policy to create jobs, improve income distribution and accelerate innovative growth," he said at a consultation meeting with the governing Democratic Party of Korea, Thursday, over the budget plan for next year.



He said a job stabilization fund will be created for small merchants and the self-employed who have suffered from the minimum wage hike.



Economists, however, doubt whether an increased budget will create jobs.



"The government is wrong in its approach to tackle the problem," Shin said. "A bigger budget won't help at all."



By Jung Da-min





United Nations Environment Program Executive Director Erik Solheim. ReutersBy Jay Ambrose





Further revealing who and what he is, former CIA Director John Brennan recently produced a New York Times op-ed that took something President Donald Trump once said, made it sound like something he did not say, and on the basis of this laughable evidence of nothing much, said Trump colluded with the Russians.



For Trump to deny it, Brennan told us, is "hogwash," which is something Brennan himself seems to bathe in at night and drink for breakfast in the morning. In this article, written in response to Trump's taking away a retirement security clearance allowing probes of the nation's deepest secrets, he pretty much makes a case against himself.



What it all comes down to, Brennan says, is Trump once talking about Hillary Clinton's 33,000 missing emails during the 2016 presidential campaign.



These were emails used on her private email server when she was secretary of state and subpoenaed by Congress to see if any of them contained classified material. An aide then destroyed them. The Clinton claim was that they were all private and only about such innocent matters as yoga and grandchildren. If the computer had been hacked prior to the aide's tidying things up, and if they showed Clinton was lying, they would also be proof of obstruction of justice.



Trump, in jabbering about all of this in his usual back-and-forth, undirected way at a press conference, said the Russians might have these emails and should find and share them if they did, which is not what Brennan wrote.



He said Trump was encouraging Russia to "collect intelligence" on her, which is absurd. If Russia had the emails, the collecting had already been done, and if Clinton were telling the truth, the intelligence would be about grandchildren.



Brennan then said Trump was thereby "authorizing his followers" to work with the Russians, which is a leap Superman would not try. What Trump did, says Brennan, was a "public clarion call" making one wonder what Trump told his cohorts in private. Maybe he said obstruction of justice is illegal.



While you can still argue Trump should have shut up, he also said any Russian hacking would only happen under a weak Obama administration, meaning it would not happen under a Trump administration. Such context is important, as in the career of Brennan.



Consider, for instance, how he worked with President Barack Obama in killing terrorists with drones that were also killing civilians, despite Brennan's comforts to the contrary. The CIA spied on Senate staffers, and Brennan employed prevarication on that issue of unconstitutionality, too. Deeply involved in urging a Russia collusion probe, Brennan testified he did not know things about the misleading Russian dossier he almost had to know.



Brennan has been a screeching, anti-Trump foe from the word go. For example, he accused Trump of treason when the president said he believed Russian President Vladimir Putin over our own intelligence agencies on U.S. election interference. Treason is assassination, a coup or taking up arms on the enemy's side. Trump was mainly being dumb, and Brennan scurried to catch up.



In like spirit, some Brennan supporters are saying Trump is denying Brennan free speech by punishing him. Brennan is all over TV, his lips more stretched in anger than quivering in fear, and there happen to be protocols connecting security clearance with discretion and sound judgment. It can in fact be abused to the point of felonious leaks threatening to drown our democracy, although, yes, there are pluses and Trump should not strip it from other retirees as a partisan weapon.



Meanwhile, a dozen former CIA directors have appeared to be Brennan bros as they have supported a fellow elitist. But then there's James Clapper, former director of national intelligence, who said Brennan was as subtle as "a freight train" and that his rhetoric was itself an issue. I'd argue that Brennan is not your usual freight train, but one that runs on hogwash.





Jay Ambrose is an op-ed columnist for Tribune News Service. His commentary was distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

It is hasty to drop 'main enemy' in defense policy paper



The Moon Jae-in administration is reportedly considering deleting the description of North Korea as our "main enemy" in its defense white paper, to be published later this year.



The Ministry of National Defense publishes the white paper every other year. In 2016, the policy paper said that North Korea's constant military threats and provocations were our primary security concerns, adding that the North Korean regime and military were our main enemy as long as these threats persist.



In the last 20 years, the ministry has been inconsistent with the use of the description of North Korea in its policy paper. The main enemy description first appeared in the defense white paper under the Kim Young-sam administration, following an inter-Korean working-level consultation in March 1994 where a North Korean representative said that they were ready to turn Seoul into a "sea of fire" in protest of Korea-U.S. joint military exercises. The defense policy paper published at the end of 1995 described the North Korean military as the "main enemy."



The description was replaced with other expressions such as "grave military threat" in 2004, following the conciliatory mood between the two Koreas after the first inter-Korean summit in 2000 between the late former President Kim Dae-jung and the late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, the father of the incumbent.



The notion of the North Korean regime and military as our main enemy reappeared in the defense white paper in 2010 during the Lee Myung-bak administration after North Korea's bombardment of Yeonpyeong Island on Nov. 23, 2010.



The ministry's consideration of deleting the description has invited some concern among Koreans who still remember North Korea's provocations including the shelling of Yeonpyeong and the sinking of the frigate Cheonan. It is understandable that the Moon administration is pushing to delete it as part of follow-up measures to the April 27 Panmunjeom Declaration. The main outcome of the first summit between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the border village of Panmunjeom contains the two leaders' resolve to reduce hostilities and embark on a roadmap to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula.



After the Moon-Kim summit, the U.S. and North Korea became engaged in denuclearization talks, culminating in the June 12 U.S.-North Korea summit in Singapore. But Pyongyang has yet to take convincing measures to abandon it nuclear and missile development. Therefore, the Moon administration must be prudent about deleting the main enemy description in its defense policy paper as long as there are no fundamental changes that reduce North Korea's threats to our national security.



By Donald Kirk





The bait of reunions of members of families divided by the Korean War has got to be about the most cynical ploy devised by the North Koreans to exploit human suffering for no reason other than to inflict cruel punishment on defenseless people.



We all have heard many times why the North Koreans built up their nuclear strength. For "self-defense," they say, to the applause of pro-northers and other useful idiots who think, sure, devices for wiping out millions are just the thing to ward off an enemy attack.



We also know the stock answer for why the North Koreans have imprisoned millions over the years in a vast gulag system where they slave away unto death by starvation, disease, torture or execution. It's all fabrication, says the North Korean propaganda machine. "Prove it," echoes the pro-north chorus.



Okay, but can anyone come up with any rationale at all for why North Korea has countenanced only 21 reunions of divided families since South Korea's President Kim Dae-jung and North Korea's leader Kim Jong-il in their joint declaration of June 15, 2000, agreed "to promptly resolve humanitarian issues such as exchange of visits by separated family members and relatives."



I vividly remember the excitement surrounding the first such reunion. It was in the COEX Convention Hall in Seoul on August 15, 2000, the 55th anniversary of the Japanese surrender and the division of the Korean peninsula. Journalists could wandered freely as 100 North Korean family members embraced dozens of relatives who had fled the North in the early days of the Korean War. Simultaneously, at the Koryo Hotel in Pyongyang, 100 South Koreans met relatives who had stayed in the North and had asked to see them.



The South Koreans whom I saw at the COEX were winners of a lottery in which more than 116,000 people bid for the chance. The assumption was that family reunions would occur regularly so that most of the survivors among 10 million members of families divided by the war would eventually be chosen.



In the decade of the Sunshine policy, initiated by Kim Dae-jung during his presidency from 1998 to 2003 and perpetuated by his successor, Roh Moo-hyun, for another five years, there were 16 family reunions plus four video conferences. Quite quickly the North Koreans took control, insisting they all be held at the Mount Geumgang resort, just above the North-South line. They wanted to be sure no North Koreans would come back from Seoul talking about the wonders of modern South Korea. Also, of course, there would be no danger of some North Korean bolting into South Korean hands screaming he wanted to stay in the south.



Lee Myung-bak, Roh's conservative successor, right after taking office in 2008 cut off free shipments of grain and fertilizer. That did it. North-South relations plunged to new lows as the North conducted nuclear and missile tests. Then, in April 2010, a torpedo fired by a North Korean mini-submarine sank the corvette the Cheonan, killing 46 sailors. Between 2008 and this week, there were only three reunions, most recently nearly three years ago. All told, about 20,000 South Koreans have attended these reunions.



As far as the South Koreans are concerned, the North Koreans should agree to reunions all the time, maybe every month. Soon, there may be no more South or North Koreans left to go to Mount Geumgang. This year, the South Koreans who went there were selected from among 57,000 still alive more than 65 years after the truce was signed.



It's not certain how the North chose its citizens to meet relatives from the South, but the assumption is they are beneficiaries of loyal service. In those first three reunions, when North Koreans came to Seoul, I ran into a few who had gone North in the early days of the Korean War and joined the Korean People's Army. Or so they said.



The liberal President Moon Jae-in has requested regular reunions. That's nothing new. Lee Myung-bak, now in prison, made the same request during the 17th round of reunions in September 2009. As long as Kim thinks Moon will bend to his will, we can be pretty sure he'll agree to more reunions.



It's a cruel game in which the most vulnerable people are pawns made to suffer at the whims of a power-hungry dictator.





Donald Kirk (www.donaldkirk.com) has been covering the North-South Korean standoff since the first Red Cross talks in 1972.

By Doug Bandow





It has been decades since bombs fell and bullets flew on the Korean Peninsula. Yet the U.S., China, North Korea, and South Korea are still technically at war. The Korean War ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty.



The time is long overdue for the "combatants" to declare a state of peace.



Until now formally ending the war might have seemed premature. Despite Pyongyang's sometimes pacific protestations, it didn't seem like the North Korean leadership actually wanted peace.



Everything changed this year. Although the Trump-Kim summit was the highlight, there was much more. Kim met three times with China's Xi Jinping and twice with the Republic of Korea's Moon Jae-in; the second visit was arranged overnight.



Indeed, Kim apparently has been invited to Moscow to meet Vladimir Putin and there is even talk of a summit with Japan's Shinzo Abe. The North Korean leader appeared to enjoy his stroll in Singapore.



Equally significant, the North recently ended its anti-American propaganda. For 70 years Washington and its "puppets" in the ROK were the primary enemies used to rally North Koreans behind the regime. Now Kim Jong-un has implicitly declared that peace reigns on the peninsula.



Recognizing changing reality is a good reason to formally make peace, but there is a better one: encouraging movement toward denuclearization.



Grant that no one has ever gone broke betting against North Korea's intransigence. Moreover, the U.S. has given Kim much cause to hold on to his nukes.



The last international pariah to disarm in return for Western expressions of love and affection, Moammar Gadhafi probably wondered in his dying moments why he had trusted the Americans.



Nevertheless, Kim appears to be different than his predecessors. He is more committed to economic reform and comfortable with the international spotlight than his father and grandfather. In a first, he at least wants North Korea to appear non-threatening.



If denuclearization is really possible, it still won't be easy. Pyongyang won't give away anything for free and Kim understandably wants assurances  presumably better than those received by Gadhafi.



Before the summit Kim said nukes wouldn't be necessary if the U.S. and North Korea had a relationship and lots of contact. The short statement agreed to at the summit put denuclearization last, after establishing "new U.S.- North Korea relations" and building "a lasting and stable peace regime." Kim almost certainly expects to proceed in that order.



The administration should seek to accelerate the process, first ending the dual travel ban, on Americans going to North Korea and North Koreans coming to America. Dropping the prohibition would indicate the end of what the North Koreans routinely term America's "hostile policy."



The administration also could send additional visitors. For instance, a Treasury Department official could discuss how Washington might roll back sanctions  if Pyongyang proceeds with denuclearization. The objective would be to demonstrate to Kim that the administration is prepared to establish significant, positive, and ongoing ties.



Moreover, the administration should propose elimination of today's formal state of war. Pyongyang long pushed to create "a peace regime."



Some Washington policymakers fear that a formal peace treaty would be viewed as a concession, but the U.S. and South Korea no less than North Korea have an interest in peace. Even something less formal than a formal treaty would be helpful: The North suggested a declaration ending the war.



Another concern is that agreeing to a peace treaty would reduce international pressure on the North, but that ship has sailed: Kim's transformation from threatening lunatic to serious statesman has transformed South Korean public opinion and led both China and Russia to relax sanctions enforcement.



Finally, some U.S. officials fear such an agreement would reduce the justification for U.S. troops in the Republic of Korea. But why should they remain if peace reigns?



While costing little, creating a formal agreement or treaty would reinforce the Kim government's retreat from confrontation. This approach also would help maintain cooperation with South Korea, which has agreed with the North to replace the armistice with a permanent peace accord.



Even more important, though, would be to advance Washington's denuclearization agenda. Kim is more likely to comply if the rest of the agreement also is fulfilled. And that means ending the peninsula's state of war.



Washington understandably wants to eliminate Pyongyang's leverage at the start of the process, which is why the North's demand for normalization of relations first makes sense. Why give up your ultimate deterrent if you can't trust your longtime enemies?



North Korea understandably distrusts Washington, which has a disturbing  from other governments' perspectives, anyway  tendency to bomb, invade, and occupy weaker nations. But if the administration signs a peace treaty with Pyongyang, the North Koreans are more likely to believe that President Trump has no ill intent.



Transforming the peninsula would be advantageous even if the North did not fully disarm. Kim's willingness to denuclearize may be in doubt, but his newly demonstrated desire to participate internationally is not. Creating "a peace regime" might help normalize the North's behavior even if it does not result in disarmament.



By meeting Kim, the president created new opportunities to encourage stability and peace in Northeast Asia. Despite the uncertainties and risks, he should press forward, which means building the sort of relationship and treaty that might help bring North Korea in from the cold.





Doug Bandow (chessset@aol.com) is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute. A former special assistant to President Ronald Reagan, he is author of "Tripwire: Korea and U.S. Foreign Policy in a Changed World" and co-author of "The Korean Conundrum: America's Troubled Relations with North and South Korea." The views expressed in the above article are the author's and do not reflect the editorial direction of The Korea Times.

The CGTN video hosted by Cheng Lei suggested that Donald Trump showed the dangers of over-confidence. Photos from South China Morning Post



By Kinling Lo





China's biggest state broadcaster has produced a short, satirical video mocking the US president that opens with the line: "Thanks Mr Trump, you are GREAT!"



The English-language footage, which was uploaded on YouTube on Monday night but now appears to have been deleted, takes the form of a letter to Donald Trump that thanks him for all the things he has done for China, and highlights many of the country's concerns in the ongoing trade dispute.



The film by China Global Television Network (CGTN) sarcastically thanks Trump for helping the rest of the world to "bond" and galvanising China into making economic reforms that helped it lure major foreign investors such as Tesla.



It is one of the few occasions that state media has personally targeted the US president since the start of the trade war, with most reports taking a less confrontational tone.





The footage, released before Trump was embroiled in the latest controversy concerning the guilty plea of his personal lawyer Michael Cohen and conviction of former campaign chief Paul Manafort , appears designed to promote China's cause before the latest round of US tariffs are expected to take place on Thursday.





The video included a pun on the phrase "trompe l'oeil", literally deceive the eye, referring to an illusory effect.



"Dear Mr Trump, Thank you for the shock therapy about how far apart China and the US are and why it's imperative they get on the same page," the letter, read out by CGTN business anchor Cheng Lei, says.



"Thank you for re-instilling in the Chinese a sense of HUMILITY. How can there be enough gratitude for highlighting the foibles of overconfidence and self-congratulation, never a virtue except in your case," Cheng, a former reporter for the US CNBC network, continues.



The letter covers a number of issues the trade war has brought into focus and explains how China has benefited from the situation.



At one point it even argues that China's retaliatory tariffs on US food and drink imports will help improve the nation's health, saying: "On behalf of doctors, thank you for pointing out the need to wean off American goods like bourbon and bacon."



Cheng expressed "agreement" with Trump's stance that the "WTO needs reform", and went on to thank the US government for reports that spelt out "China's shortcomings" that had helped it to make "tough reforms" that helped bring in new investors, adding: "Hello, Tesla."





The video was a rare example of Chinese state media personally targeting the US President.Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun in the morning followed by cloudy skies during the afternoon. High 48F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy later at night. Low 32F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.Angola, IN (46703)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun early, then becoming cloudy later in the day. High 48F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy later at night. Low 32F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.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.Editor's note: Wang Peng is an associate research fellow at the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies of Renmin University of China. The article is translated and edited from a report on US Indo-Pacific Strategy. The article reflects the author's opinion, and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

The US Indo-Pacific strategy seeks to use political (emphasizing democratic values), economic (exclusive institutional economic and trade arrangements), diplomatic (strengthening bilateral alliances and sowing discord between China and other countries), military (joint military exercises and arms sales) and other means to co-opt Chinas neighboring countries to undermine China, contain Chinas rise, and ultimately maintain US hegemony.

In the face of the US Indo-Pacific strategy, China should maintain its strategic poise, and take the following steps on the basis of prudent judgment to turn crises into opportunities:

US President Donald Trump leaves after signing the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 at Fort Drum, New York on August 13, 2018. /VCG Photo

1. Selectively participate in the construction of an Indo-Pacific discourse system.

It is advisable for China to participate in the construction of an Indo-Pacific discourse system selectively, and join the discussions about some concepts that are in Chinas national interests, such as (Indo-Pacific) community of shared future for mankind and the Indo-Pacific and the Belt and Road Initiative.

In the process of constructing an Indo-Pacific discourse system together with other countries, China may deconstruct some concepts put forward by the US and other countries that are not in Chinas interests, and replace them with new concepts that are beneficial to China by means of discourse substitution strategies.

2. Focus on defense in dealing with the US.

China should continue pursuing the strategic tradition of exercising self-restraint in terms of security, and, through military operations other than war (such as the construction work on its own islands and reefs, construction of roads, upgrading of border facilities, etc.), defend its national sovereignty and security interests at a lower cost and with controllable risks without direct military confrontation with the US and other major neighbors in the Indo-pacific region.

In the economic and trade field, what China needs to do in the short and medium term is to take appropriate countermeasures against Trumps tariffs, force the US side to negotiate with China through targeted counterattacks, and try to end the trade war with wars by making limited concessions and reaching new agreements that do not harm Chinas fundamental interests.

President Donald Trump signs an executive memorandum targeting China on trade at the White House on March 22, 2018. /VCG Photo

Instead of taking the initiative to escalate the trade war, China should aim to mitigate confrontation and negotiate an agreement. In the long run, the fundamental way for China to turn the tide is to carry out internal reforms.

3. Pursue stability in the surrounding region.

Trumps fuzzy strategies have greatly overdrawn the US international strategic reputation. On the contrary, China should demonstrate its goodwill and provide reassurance to the international community by using concepts such as community of shared future for mankind as well as the Belt and Road Initiative, and those of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and the BRICS New Development Bank.

China should also try to ease its strategic conflicts with important countries in the region such as Japan, India and Australia through foreign diplomacy, public diplomacy and other means, seek common ground while reserving differences, work with them to safeguard common interests (globalization, multilateralism, fair trade, etc.) and, by so doing, weaken their motivation and determination to join Indo-Pacific countries to contain China.

A local employee works on a ceramic tile production line at an industrial park, the first China-invested joint venture industrial park, in Uzbekistan. /Xinhua News Agency

Located in the center of the Indo-Pacific region, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as a strategic stronghold, has not been given vital attention in the US Indo-Pacific strategy. China should pay attention to this. After improving its relations with Vietnam and the Philippines, China should decisively strengthen its economic and trade cooperation with ASEAN within the framework of 10+3, and enter into security cooperation in due time.

Following the principle of picking the low-hanging fruit first, the two sides may start with non-traditional security cooperation (joint counter-terrorism exercises, search and rescue exercises, etc.), then promote traditional security cooperation (to comprehensively enhance the strategic cooperation between the two sides, including that of armed forces), and lay the foundation for the establishment of a community of shared future for China and neighboring countries.

4. Take advantage of situations in other regions to relieve difficulties and challenges at hand.

China should keep a close eye on the western and southern parts of the Eurasia World Island and leverage its material power in a complex and ever-changing regional landscape. While staying committed to the principle partnership without alliance, China should prudently strengthen strategic cooperation with Russia, Iran and other countries, and take advantage of the increasing challenges to the US in Eastern Europe and the Middle East to reduce Chinas pressure in East Asia and West Pacific regions.

This may help create a favorable external environment for China. China and the US have been locked in a stalemate for so long that both countries are somewhat exhausted now. Things may change soon. In this context, if we see a positive signal, we should not hesitate to seize it, because it may be something that makes the US feel the compelling urge to seek strategic support from China.

5. Building partnerships across the world.

Local medical staff receives training from Chinese doctors on Ebola treatment in Monrovia, Liberia on December 3, 2014. /Xinhua News Agency

China can counter the negative impact of Trumps America First economic nationalism and strategic conservatism on world order and globalization with its pragmatic cooperation with mutual benefit and win-win results. Also, China can make use of the Belt and Road Initiative, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the BRICS, the AIIB and others to galvanize the support of third parties and jointly build a community of shared future for mankind.

It is imperative for China to take the initiative and the moral high ground in the international community to counter American bullying.Source: Sputnik

KUBINKA (Moscow Region) (Sputnik) - Chinese companies which have arrived in Russia for the annual International Military-Technical Forum Army-2018 are promising to never act against Moscows interests, and to instead pursue a lasting partnership in the defense sector while the West continues slapping Russia with more sanctions.

This year's forum, which kicked off at Patriot Park in the western suburbs of Moscow on Tuesday, marked the first appearance of prominent Chinese military equipment manufacturers such as the China North Industries Group Corporation, officially abbreviated as Norinco, which is one of the largest defense companies in the world.

Norinco's booth has become a key element of the Chinese pavilion at the defense industry forum, showcasing top-notch models of tanks, high-power cannons and anti-aircraft systems the company offers.

On the first day of the forum, Chinese Ambassador to Russia Li Hui and senior Chinese military officials visited Norinco's booth, where they were introduced to the capabilities of the company's weapons systems.

"This is the first time our company takes part in this annual military forum. The reason we're here this year is because the Russian military invited Chinese defense manufactures like us to join the forum, as part of the bilateral military exchange between the two countries. That's why the Chinese government organized eight Chinese defense companies including us to come here," Ji Yongzhao, deputy marketing director of Norinco, told Sputnik.

Ji admitted that when it came to working with Russian partners, China traditionally focused on importing advanced Russian military equipment and technology.

"From Russia, we used to import a lot of their military hardware. We rarely exported anything to Russia, as our exports mostly reached Central Asian countries that used to be part of the Soviet Union. I can't reveal the details of our cooperation with our Russian partners. But we did import certain technology and products from Russia," he said.

Ji expressed hope that the military forum would help his company become better known among potential Russian partners.

"This year, we just want to be here first and let everyone know who we are. There could be some opportunities for cooperation in the future," he said.

Unique Option

China Electronics Corporation (CEC), one of the largest Chinese computer hardware and telecom equipment manufacturers, also hopes to expand its presence in the region through the forum.

"Under China's Belt and Road Initiative, we're motivated to introduce our products to different countries in neighboring regions who take part in this forum," Lv Baoli, deputy director of the systems equipment department at CEC, told Sputnik.

Lv explained that the CEC had brought complete computing systems, networking equipment, industrial control systems and aerospace components to exhibit at the forum.

The CEC representative noted that his company had a unique competitive advantage, compared to offerings from other countries, when working with potential Russian partners.

"We have not established long-term relationships with Russian clients. But we can tell our Russian partners that we can offer you a different option, which will be a long-term and stable service. As China and Russia are strategic partners today, along with our intertwined history, our partnership would be long lasting. China would not introduce sanctions or things like that," Lv said.

No Restrictions

The Shandong-based IRay Technology Corporation, which is also taking part in the forum for the first time, said that it was benefiting from the sanctions that prohibited the West from exporting participial technology to Russia because this opened up new market opportunities for China.

"Our company offers infrared thermal imaging technology. As Russia cannot produce infrared imaging sensors domestically, it used to rely on imports from France, the United States or Israel. We have an advantage today, because such technology exports from Western countries to Russia have been restricted in recent years. As bilateral relations between China and Russia warmed in recent years, the Russian side start to prefer to import such sensors from China. There's no restriction in China about exporting our products" Frank Hu, overseas sales manager at the IRay Technology Corporation, told Sputnik.

Hu added that his company had been attending similar technology exhibitions in Russia for two years and already established business relations with local partners.

"Several of the Russian exhibitors that offer infrared imaging products at this year's forum are our clients," he said.

New Customers

Aside from buyers from Russia, the most promising market for Chinese producers, the companies also hope to find clients in Moscow's partner regions  the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America  which are also present at Army-2018.

"This year, our company took part in six-seven similar military forums overseas, where we met with military delegations from different countries. To come to the forum here in Moscow [Region], we also could showcase our products to military delegations from countries that are friendly to Russia," Ji from Norinco said.

Ji noted that while Norinco's existing customers came from the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, where it may face competition from Russian defense companies, it was up to a customer to make the final decision.

"It's all up to the customers' choice. Today, we face steep competition from many countries, including Russia, European countries and the United States. Although the military hardware market appears to be rather sensitive, it is still a very open and highly competitive global market," he said.

A file photo of Jia Ziyan

A Chongqing senior man who has been supporting the army for decades has decided to leave all his wealth and possessions not to his children but to army and public welfare undertakings.

"Thanks to soldiers defending the country, we can live and work in peace," said Jia Ziyan, 75, a local in Nanan district of Southwest China's Chongqing municipality, on Tuesday.

Jia, who runs a pig farm and a distillery, launched activities supporting the army in 1989, and preliminary figures showed that he had donated over 6 million yuan ($876,900) in past 29 years.

Jia said he decided to support the army after watching the film Heroic Sons and Daughters, a 1964 movie that shows stories of Chinese soldiers in the 1950-53 Korean War.

"I respect the brave and fearless spirits of soldiers," he said.

From 1989, Jia would bring fruits and pigs from his farm to the troops stationed in Nanan district on the Army Day and Spring Festival every year, and he also arranged some art troupes to perform for soldiers.

In 1994, Jia sold his family's old house to establish a special fund for awarding servicemen originating from Nanan district who gained military merits. In 2013, the fund extended to the servicemen who serve in Nanan district. The fund has so far awarded 421 servicemen about 1.26 million yuan.

In 2008, Chongqing first group of individual businessmen for supporting the army was established. Jia and other 29 individual businessmen were initiators. He was happy to see more people join in the effort.

In 2016, Jia was honored with the title of national model in supporting the army.

He said he had told his offspring that they will not inherit any money as money will only make them indulge in a life of pleasure and comfort. He expected them to inherit the tradition of supporting the army.

Jia's daughter Jia Yujing also joined in activities supporting the army, and son-in-law has even served in the army for eight years.KAANAPALI  The construction of a West Maui Hospital has been delayed with money the major factor and not need.

The latest press release from the West Maui Hospital Foundation reflects that the planned critical care facility for our isolated West Side community is in the no more money phase.

The West Maui Hospital Foundation has now been unsuccessful in two Municipal Bond Offerings to finance the West Maui Hospital due to the of lack significant community and governmental financial support, the communication read.

The foundation, however, has sweetened the pot with this offer.

Newport Hospital Corporation (NHC) has agreed to donate its 5.085-acre West Maui Hospital site to the Foundation, the media advisement noted, which is fully entitled, hospital building construction permit-ready and graded with on-site in-ground infrastructure.

The next step, the press release explained, is for the foundation to move forward with a Request for Proposal (RFP) process that will offer the site to selected hospital systems and providers with the proven financial ability to build and operate the West Maui Hospital.

Brian Hoyle is the president of the for-profit NHC and the nonprofit West Maui Hospital Foundation.

He explained the connection between the different entities.

NHC is the owner/developer of the West Maui Hospital and Medical Center, Hoyle said, consisting of the West Maui Hospital and four other sites inclusive of a 40-bed skilled nursing facility, 39-unit assisted living facility, two 30,000-square-foot medical office buildings and a 40-bed drug treatment center

The West Maui Hospital Foundation was formed to own and operate the West Maui Hospital, and the foundation is preparing the RFP to obtain a partner to finance and operate the West Maui Hospital.

The total investment, thus far, by the NHC is about $15 million.

Donations from the West Side business and residential community over the past five years has totaled, according to Hoyle, less than $100,000.

Any financial support for the construction/development costs of the West Maui Hospital would be greatly appreciated, he said.

The foundation is a Hawaii 501(c)(3) Public Charity.

Its directors, other than Hoyle, are Michelle Berner, Howard Hanzawa, JoAnne Johnson-Winer, Dr. Alfred Arensorf, Stephen Lovelette and Gwen Ohashi Hiraga.

To donate to the project, go to wmhandmc.com/donate/.

The current goal, Hoyle stressed, is to find a partner to complete the development of the West Maui Hospital in the next two to three years.LAHAINA  Lifelong surfer, cook and writer Jim Kempton, who has been editor and publisher of Surfer Magazine and media consultant to the top surfing brands in the world, will talk story and sign copies of his new book on Aug. 24 and 25. The book includes travel photography and recipes from the greatest surfing locations in the world.

Kempton will talk story and sign books from 3 to 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 24, at the Maui Friends of the Library Bookstore in Queen Kaahumanu Center by Sears, and Saturday, Aug. 25, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Lahaina Public Library by the harbor on Wharf Street.

For his new book, First We Surf Then We Eat, the author features 90 recipes gathered as he follows the waves and prepares meals in French Polynesia, Central America, Mexico, the Caribbean, Indonesia, California and Hawaii.

The book is illustrated with photos of surfing, his favorite ingredients and easy-to-execute recipes. One favorite is San Onofre Guard Roast  a roast beef preparation you cook under the hood of your car while driving.

The author was born in Guam, attended Maunaolu Community College and played college volleyball there. The Makawao Steak House and Paia are featured in the book with a recipe for porterhouse steak with Portuguese chimichurri.

There is also a recipe for fish from Mamas Fish House near Hookipa.

Kempton has consulted some of the worlds top surfers and is president of the California Surf Museum. The author will talk story about some of the worlds great surfers and surf breaks as well his adventures working with food and how it is cooked.

Nothing follows the stoke of a good surf session than a good meal, said Kempton.

In related news, on Saturday, Sept. 8, from 2:30 to 4 p.m., Ebb & Flow Arts will present a free lecture at Lahaina Public Library.

Pioneers of Electronic Music features composer/videographer and Ebb & Flow Arts Technical Producer Peter Swanzy. He will discuss the fascinating beginnings and development of the electronic music medium through the end of the 20th century.

Think of all the electronic sounds that surround us, from movie soundtracks to warning beeps for seatbelts, coffee machines, alarm clocks and ovens.

Music for electronic media has a fascinating history beginning in the early 20th century to the present. Swanzy uses several audio samples, photos and a detailed chronology of electronic music.

He produces Ebb & Flow Arts Music of the Spheres  electronic music with full dome film  in the states planetaria.

The next scheduled shows will be held on April 6, 2019 at Hokulani Imaginarium. He has composed several original works for these shows.

As the founding lead of Swanzy Media (swanzymedia.com), he brings a rich history of media expertise.

Ebb & Flow Arts Inc. (E&FA) is a nonprofit presenter of modern music and multimedia events.

Visit www.ebbandflowarts.org for information.West Maui is lucky to have a variety of agencies monitoring the health of near-shore waters and working to keep runoff and pollutants out of the ocean.

If you love the ocean and are interested in efforts to reduce land-based pollution here, attend West Maui Ridge to Reefs public meeting on Thursday, Aug. 30, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Hall on Fleming Road in Lahaina.

Join West Maui Ridge to Reef Partners to catch up on projects and progress, weigh in on sediment mitigation ideas from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and connect with community groups and agencies supporting ocean health.

The Army Corps is looking at solutions to mitigate sediment moving out of the gulches and streams and into near-shore waters.

There are ideas still in the conceptual phase, such as retrofitting existing sediment dams, using flocculants to settle out fine particles, removing sediment from gulch and stream banks, deep ocean outfalls for sediment and other concepts awaiting feedback by the community.

The meeting is free and open to the public. Ocean users here know problem areas better than anyone, so attend and offer input for the West Maui Watershed Management Study.

For more information, contact West Maui Watershed Coordinator Tova Callender at (808) 214-4239 or tova@westmauiR2R.com.Freely accessible local news is vital. Please power our reporters and help keep us independent with a donation today.

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You don't have to wait for an official agency to tell you to leave a situation you feel is potentially dangerous. Let's just get that out there. You do you.

But this isn't exactly a story about that. This is a story about Cole and Savannah LaBrant (Cole&Sav), a famous YouTube family from Orange County who superimposed their worried faces over a flaming hillside and told their millions of followers: "A giant fire makes us evacuate our house."

When the Holy Fire broke out earlier this month in the Cleveland National Forest, thousands of Southern Californians were actually forced to flee their homes. For many families, it was a nightmare scenario.

(Screenshot via YouTube)

The image the couple used for their video is a composite, and its suggestion that they were among those in imminent danger from a raging inferno was not grounded in reality.

According to county fire officials -- and many of the couple's Ladera Ranch neighbors -- their home was never in danger. Community members have been livid for weeks now, and they are accusing the couple of misleading viewers to gain sympathy and YouTube views.

The LaBrant's Cole&Sav YouTube channel has more than 6.5 million subscribers. The family also boasts a massive Instagram following -- more than 10.5 million across accounts for the husband-wife-daughter trio (their dog also has an account with more than 680,000 followers).

The family showcases a wholesome, Christian-family lifestyle, which they've monetized into a lucrative business as social media influencers. Their channel and other social media streams feature videos of dance battles, pranks and a look into their everyday lives -- all while promoting brands including Audible, WayFair and Walmart.

But the social media stars aren't as popular with their real-life neighbors since the video was first published on their channel Aug. 13.

(Screenshot via YouTube)

After a few days of backlash from community members and viewers, the title was changed to "We left our house because of fires in California" and the original thumbnail was removed.

But for neighbors like Emilie Blum, the damage was already done. Blum has lived in Ladera Ranch for the past six years and said she started following Savannah LaBrant on Instagram because of their shared faith and an interest in her posts. But when she came across that video, she was taken aback.

"Since I live in the same neighborhood as them, I was baffled as to what fire they could be referencing," Blum told LAist via email. "I watched half of the video and was so outraged that they would exploit the Holy Fire tragedy for their own profit."

In the video, Cole LaBrant appears on camera to tell viewers that his wife had texted him about "a huge fire right by our house." The video cuts to news footage of the fire, then switches to cell phone footage of smoke in the distance from a road, then from the LaBrant's home.

(Screenshot via YouTube)

"It's gotten a lot closer. I think it's like four miles away and we just got an evacuation thing," Cole says in the video. Fire mapping data puts the burn zone's southern end at roughly 10 miles away.

"The only part of Orange County that was under mandatory was the El Cariso village area, Holy Jim Canyon and the Trabuco Canyon Recreation Residence Track," according to Capt. Tony Bommarito of the Orange County Fire Authority. Asked if any type of evacuation notice was issued or alerted for Ladera Ranch, the captain said no.

"The fire never got close."

In the video, Cole appears with a backpack, saying he packed it with "essentials... because we might not be able to come home tonight."

"Hopefully we never have to upload this, but if we do, then you guys kinda saw what happened," he says to the camera, before the video cuts to the couple outside their home with two packed bags. "Everything that we don't want to get burned down is all right here."

"We're going away from the fire so you don't have to be scared anymore," Savannah LaBrant tells her daughter as the family prepares to leave in their car.

The rest of the video is basically a vacation montage of the family's trip to San Francisco. Cole LaBrant posted a photo to Instagram on Aug. 11, showing the couple celebrating an anniversary in the city.

The LaBrants did not respond to requests for an interview and have not mentioned the fire or the controversy over the video on their Instagram or Twitter accounts. Savannah LaBrant is scheduled to appear on a social media influencers panel during the "Repurposed Women's Conference" at Crossroads Christian Church in Corona later this week.

The LaBrants are represented by Creative Artists Agency (CAA) a talent agency which "creates limitless opportunities for the storytellers, trendsetters, icons, and thought leaders who shape popular culture." CAA confirmed the LaBrants are their clients but would not respond to multiple requests for comment.

The Aug. 13 video closes with Cole LaBrant updating viewers that the family had returned home to Ladera Ranch after the trip to San Francisco. It's unclear what day the family first mentioned the fire in the video, when they left town and when they returned.

"We were only gone for like two days because I guess the fire moved onward," he says, then encourages subscribers to pray for the families and first responders affected by the blaze.

"We are OK, our house is OK," Cole says as a "Subscribe" button pops up on screen. He promotes the family's three Instagram accounts and signs off.

Ladera Ranch residents told LAist the video caused an uproar in a private community Facebook group for local moms, leading to roughly 400 comments. As of Thursday morning, the YouTube video had almost 24,000 comments (and 4.2 million views), with many calling the family out for the misleading nature of the original title and thumbnail.

"You guys fell for it. They didn't have to evacuate," one commenter wrote. "They lied. I live near them. For the ones who actually DID have to evacuate and or lost their home. Prayers go to them, not you."

Emilie Blum was among the community members who attempted to set the record straight in the video comments, only to be called liars and haters by Cole&Sav fans -- among other name-calling.

Some fans argued the family left because Savannah is pregnant and didn't want to breathe in harmful smoke, or that their daughter's fear of fire made then choose to leave.

Blum said she and fellow neighbors reached out to the couple on Instagram, asking that they donate any money they made off the video to victims and emergency responders affected by the fire. She said the couple then blocked her from their accounts, along with some of her neighbors.

"Taking a tragedy that did not affect them and exploiting it for their own personal profit is absolutely wrong," Blum said. "They are public figures, and this went beyond harmless clickbait."

To date, the Holy Fire has burned nearly 23,000 acres and destroyed 18 homes in Orange and Riverside counties, according to emergency officials. At least two firefighters have been injured. The fire was 93 percent contained as of Thursday morning, according to CalFire.

You made it! Congrats, you read the entire story, you gorgeous human. This story was made possible by generous people like you. Independent, local journalism costs $$$$$. And now that LAist is part of KPCC, we rely on that support. So if you aren't already, be one of us! Help us help you live your best life in Southern California. Donate now.Freely accessible local news is vital. Please power our reporters and help keep us independent with a donation today.

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The U.S.-Mexico border fence crosses the desert at sunrise between Yuma, Arizona and Calexico, California. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

When Juana was 8 years old, her parents left their small Mayan village in Guatemala with the same dreams of many other Central Americans: to find a job in the U.S. But her mother and father went alone. Juana said she and her sisters were left behind with their abusive grandmother.

"Every time I was mistreated by my grandmother, I thought about my mother and father," said Juana, who asked that we not use her last name because she's in the U.S. illegally.

As she become older, life became more dangerous. She said some women were raped and even killed by gang members. She remembers when a gang member targeted her.

"He threatened to kill me," Juana said. "I came here [Los Angeles] to save my life."

So at 17, Juana traveled 2,000 miles -- alone -- to find refuge in South L.A.

SEPARATION AND TRAUMA

U.S. Border Patrol Apprehensions FY2018 YTD

The Trump administration is still working to reunite the last of the migrant parents and children who were forcefully separated in recent months at the U.S.-Mexico border. Mental health experts believe family separation and border trauma can lead to long-lasting mental health challenges, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression. But minors like Juana have been coming alone to the U.S. for years.

Organizations in the Los Angeles-area are tackling mental health challenges that these unaccompanied minors face by providing group therapy, private counseling and other mental health services.

"I STARTED TO BLOOM"

When Juana reunited with her parents in L.A., she finally breathed a sigh of relief. She saw safety in the police cars and ambulances "all over the place."

"I see police and ambulances all over the place," she said. "If something happens a police will be there and I'm not scared," she said. "It's not like over there where I'm always having to check."

But just because she felt safer her life became safer doesn't mean it became she felt better.

Juana said her energy levels were very low. She often felt sick. She couldn't shake the trauma that she experienced back home and would isolate herself from her parents and others.

"I thought it was going to be the same," she said. "That there were going to be gang members over here."

So she isolated herself. It was difficult for her to talk about what she experienced back in Guatemala to her family and even her immigration lawyer. She didn't want to talk.

And that made the process of seeking asylum difficult. That all made it more difficult for her to move forward as she started the process of seeking asylum. Applicants have to sit for a series of interviews with an immigration officer or a judge to recount trauma and threats they experienced in their home country.

Juana's immigration lawyer suggested she seek help at Amanecer, a community counseling center in downtown Los Angeles.

For eight months, she attended group therapy with other unaccompanied minors like herself and one-on-one sessions with a therapist. She said the counseling changed her life.

"My mental health to me is now more important," Juana said. "It felt like they gave me water and I started to bloom."

Now Juana is 21, she's about to become a mother and is still pushing ahead with her request for asylum.

"I got a lot of help with the therapy," she said.

"Thank god, I'm now here starting a new life."

"I'M SO FAR AWAY FROM MY PARENTS"

Juana came to L.A. in 2015, when the flow of unaccompanied minors crossing the border was at a peak. She was one of 68,541 who entered the U.S. that year alone. While those numbers have significantly dropped since then, there are still many minors crossing the border to escape violence in their home countries.

Seventy-six percent of unaccompanied minors crossing into the U.S. in 2014 came from three Central American countries.

One of them is "Carlos" (he shared his story on the condition that we not use his real name because of his immigration status). He came to L.A. illegally about seven months ago from El Salvador.

Like Juana, Carlos escaped gang violence in his home country. He said when he was about 8 years old a gang killed his uncle.

"We didn't feel safe anymore" because the police didn't do anything, he said. Then when he was 16, the gang started pressuring him to join it. Carlos said he was threatened when he refused. That led to his decision, at age 17, to leave his family and go somewhere safe on his own.

Carlos made it as far as Mexico before he was caught and deported to El Salvador. Since 2014, it has been more and more common for Mexican officials to deport Central Americans crossing the border.

Carlos was determined to make it to the U.S. He said he tried again and eventually made it to Los Angeles, where he lives with a cousin.

"The only thing that has made me feel sad is that I'm so far from away from my parents," he said as he shuffled his keys from hand to another.

Like Juana, he feels safer in L.A., but his emotional state is fragile.

"My body gets all tense. Sometimes I don't know what to do," he said. "My head hurts so much. I feel like staying inside and not talking with anyone."

School is another source of tension. The high school Carlos attends put him in ninth grade when he arrived -- even though he graduated high school in El Salvador -- because he doesn't speak English.

And of course there's the constant threat of deportation.

"I DON'T FEEL SAFE WITH MYSELF"

Carlos hasn't formally started the process to get legal status, but on a recent evening he went to an event hosted by Esperanza Immigrants Rights Project to find out about his rights. Esperanza holds a weekly legal orientation for unaccompanied minors and their sponsors and relatives in a basement near downtown L.A. Attendees learn how to get to immigration court, how to sign up for school and how to get mental health care.

A retired therapist spoke to the group about identifying negative emotions like stress and anxiety and what it's like to talk to a professional counselor. He offered to connect them with a therapist or clinic near where they live.

Carlos hadn't considered going to therapy before, but during the evening he began to open up to the idea.

"I don't feel safe with myself," he said quietly as he jingled his keys in his hands again.

"I feel that therapy can help me."

News happens every day. Here at LAist, our goal is to cover the stories that matter to you and the community you live in. Now that we're part of KPCC, those stories (including this one you're on right now!) are made possible by generous people like you. Independent, local journalism isn't cheap, but with your support we can keep delivering it. Donate now.Freely accessible local news is vital. Please power our reporters and help keep us independent with a donation today.

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A Los Angeles Unified School District bus idles on the curb on Aug. 9, 2018. (Photo by Kyle Stokes/KPCC)

In the days before school started, Estella Martinez received three different notices -- a letter, an email and another online message from the Los Angeles Unified School District -- outlining where her son should catch the school bus.

All three messages were different.

The letter said the bus would pick up Martinez's seventh grader in Northridge at 6:55 a.m. The email said he'd catch the bus at 7:15. The other online message also listed a 7:15 pickup time -- but from a different location, three miles away.

"People are just calling and winging it," said Martinez. "They're talking directly to the bus driver, and the bus drivers are doing the best they can."

Martinez, whose son attends Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies, is one of five parents from across L.A. to call KPCC/LAist to report problems with their bus in the first days of school.

My son's LAUSD bus has been an hour late for past two days so I call and the dispatch tells me they can't find enough bus drivers. Nobody wants to drive. I was like, um, how much are y'all paying???  Liz Dwyer (@losangelista) August 15, 2018

About two-thirds of the students who ride LAUSD buses attend magnet schools, like Martinez's son does. Their parents -- and those with children in special education placements -- depend on district-provided buses to transport their children to schools far outside their home neighborhoods.

LAUSD buses 43,200 children each day. Bus delays and other glitches are inevitable at the beginning of a new school year. The district's transportation division reports to LAUSD Chief Financial Officer Scott Price, who said officials are already making adjustments to bus routes and schedules to smooth out the kinks.

"This will be at least a two- to three-week process," Price said, "as we make sure we get things right."

'WHY RUN BUSES THAT ARE ONLY 10 PERCENT FULL?'

Many of these early-year transportation problems seem to have converged on Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies -- known as "SOCES" for short -- according to Martinez and other parents there.

This year, LAUSD consolidated 85 of its 1,600 bus routes -- a move Price said was more about efficiency than cost savings per se. "It doesn't make sense," Price said, "to run buses that are 10 to 15 percent full."

Because of these consolidations, the Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies -- which, vexingly, is in Reseda -- now shares 19 of its bus routes with another magnet school three miles away, according to a letter the school's principal sent to parents.

But the two schools' schedules don't always align. One day a week, SOCES lets students out an hour early to give staff professional development time in the afternoon. But on Tuesday, the district didn't account for the early release and sent its buses at the normal pickup time. Rosa Mejia of North Hills said her two children at SOCES waited around on campus to catch a bus for more than an hour.

'OUR KIDS ARE STRESSED OUT'

Mejia and Martinez said their consolidated routes have been consistently behind schedule.

Last year, Mejia said the bus was rarely late in the morning. This year so far, the bus has been consistently behind schedule when even a delay of even ten minutes can make her late to work.

"It's the first time it's happened like this" during the first week of school, Mejia said. "We've had different bus stops because my kids have moved, but there's always been consistency ... unless there's an accident."

In the afternoon, Mejia was told the bus would drop her kids off at 4 p.m. She said the bus has consistently arrived closer to 4:30 p.m.

Martinez has resorted to driving to pick up her children herself rather than wait around, but shared a text message from another parents showing the bus is consistently arriving more than 40 minutes after afternoon dismissal.

By consolidating routes, "I get you're saving money," Martinez said. "But our kids are stressed-out, it's hot, there's no air conditioning on the buses, they're standing outside and it's hard on the families."

Price didn't have details to respond to specific complaints, but encouraged parents with transportation problems to call a district hotline: 1-800-LA-BUSES

"We need to know if there's an issue," Price said. "Of course, we look at our own arrivals and adjust those daily also, so there will be fine-tuning."

'THEY DON'T HAVE AS MANY DRIVERS'

Compounding the challenge this year: a shortage of drivers. LAUSD would like to employ more than 1,000 drivers, but started the school year 73 short of its target. After another two-dozen new drivers complete training, the district will be only 47 short.

LAUSD's Scott Price said those numbers of drivers mean "we are able to cover most routes most of the days" and that the district is "in a stronger position than last year." Still, the shortage means the district also has a thin bench of substitutes.

During the first week of school, Cecily Harrison of Hancock Park called to report her daughter's bus from Koreatown to Hamilton High School was running more than an hour late. The LAUSD dispatcher Harrison spoke to cited the shortage as a possible reason for the delay.

"He explained to me," Harrison recalled in an interview last week, "he has no idea if it's budget cuts or what, but that they don't have enough drivers, so they're asking other drivers to absorb other routes."

On the parent email lists Rebecca Weiker follows, the same explanation for the delays is floating around: "that [district officials] are sort of scrambling, they don't have as many drivers." Weiker, who lives in Los Feliz, says her son's bus to Cleveland High School in Reseda routinely arrived late during the first week of school.

But Weiker said Wednesday that the bus has been arriving on time this week. Harrison, too, said the delays have subsided somewhat -- but that the district is still looking for a regular driver for her daughter's return trip.

A POSSIBLE SOLUTION FOR THE DRIVER SHORTAGE?

Price noted the shortage of bus drivers is a national problem. Most major private school bus contractors told School Bus Fleet magazine -- there truly is a trade journal for everything -- that they cannot meet hiring goals. Nationally, analysts say low pay, poor benefits and barriers to obtaining a commercial drivers' license are fueling the shortage.

Historically, L.A. Unified bus drivers have complained it was difficult to earn raises or to work enough hours to make a decent living. Blanca Gallegos, a spokesperson for the union representing L.A. Unified bus drivers, SEIU Local 99, says these factors "often led to school bus drivers leaving for better paying jobs with L.A. City or County."

However, Gallegos said the union and the district recently renegotiated the drivers' labor contract to address both issues: the new contract lifts a cap on work hours and makes it easier, in theory, for drivers to earn a raise.

If you're an LAUSD parent, what's been your experience with the buses? Let us know below.

News happens every day. Here at LAist, our goal is to cover the stories that matter to you and the community you live in. Now that we're part of KPCC, those stories (including this one you're on right now!) are made possible by generous people like you. Independent, local journalism isn't cheap, but with your support we can keep delivering it. Donate now.Medical officers of Vietnam and China are joining a medical examination for people in border areas of the two countries, as part of the fifth Vietnam-China border defence friendship exchange programme (Photo: www.qdnd.vn)

Hanoi (VNA)  Medical officers of Vietnam and China are joining a medical examination for people in border areas of the two countries, as part of the fifth Vietnam-China border defence friendship exchange programme.

The first round of examination is underway in Hoa Thuan township of Vietnams northern border province of Cao Bang until August 24, while the second one in Longzhou County in Chinas Guangzi Zhuang Autonomous Region is slated for August 26-28.

The programme is organised by the Army Medical Department under the General Department of Logistics of the Vietnamese Defence Ministry of Defence, along with the Health Department under the Logistic Support Department of the Central Military Commission of China, and local authorities.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Colonel Nguyen Xuan Kien, head of the Vietnamese Army Medical Department, stressed that the activity aims to disseminate health care knowledge as well as provide medical examination and treatment for people living in border regions of Vietnam and China.

It also offers chances for medical officers of the two countries to share experience, improve their skills and enhance friendship.

Participants will be able to understand more about the traditional cultures of the two nations and lifestyle of ethnic groups living in border areas in particular, Kien added.

For his part, Major General Ji Jianhua, deputy head of the Chinese Health Department, said the joint activity is the first to realise the two countries medical logistics cooperation outside their border.Call it the anti-Trump bump.

Fox News has enjoyed a surge in cable ratings as the destination of choice for President Trumps supporters.

But the conservative-leaning network  typically the top-rated channel  scored a rare third-place finish in prime-time ratings Tuesday in the advertiser-coveted 25-to-54 age group, behind CNN and MSNBC, according to Nielsen data.

The ratings dip came on a day many pundits described as the worst of Trumps presidency, a one-two punch of his former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, being convicted of bank fraud and tax evasion, and his former lawyer Michael Cohen saying in court that Trump ordered hush money deals to pay off two women he had allegedly had sex with. Cohen pleaded guilty to campaign-finance, bank and tax violations.

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MSNBC, the channel on which criticism of the president is most harsh, won prime-time Tuesday night with 709,000 viewers in the demographic, according to Nielsen. CNN was second with 638,000 viewers, while Fox News had 613,000.

Among all viewers, MSNBC had the most with 3.3 million, followed by 2.9 million for Fox and 1.7 million for CNN. MSNBCs 9 p.m. host Rachel Maddow scored 3.8 million viewers, her second-largest audience ever.

One day does not make a trend. But viewer response to coverage of the Manafort verdict and Cohens guilty plea raises the possibility that Fox may not be able to sustain its ratings dominance as Trump faces more scandal, and underscores the deep ideological divide in cable news.

You can see how America is, said a cable news executive with CNN who was not authorized to comment publicly on the ratings. When news is good for the president, Fox ratings go through the roof. And when the news is bad, they dont, and last night, they didnt.

Fox News commentators and opinion hosts have been staunch supporters of the president, who often praises the network for its favorable coverage, and it has served the network well from a business standpoint.

But a day like Tuesday, when Cohen implicated the president in a felony, raises the question: What happens when the actions of the White House become indefensible?

A prolonged legal battle or impeachment proceedings for the president could demoralize his supporters and result in their spending less time watching Fox. Or it could become an electronic bonfire for Trump loyalists to rally around.

The course is hard to predict, even though Fox News has seen its ratings roiled by Republican misfortunes before. There was a ratings dip after former President Bushs botched handling of Hurricane Katrina. Fox News competitors also saw a ratings surge in 2008, with the election of Barack Obama. In both cases, Fox News critics believed the channels reign of ratings supremacy would slip away.

But Fox News has never lost its leadership position  it has been No. 1 since 2002  largely because it has cornered the market on viewers who see other established media outlets as being too liberal. That position has only solidified during the Trump era.

The Fox News prime-time lineup of Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham has lambasted special counsel Robert S. Mueller IIIs investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. Hannitys opening monologue on the Manafort verdict and Cohen plea repeatedly used the phrase no Russian collusion.

Fox News critics accused the network of playing down the bad news about Trump on Tuesday by focusing on the murder of Mollie Tibbetts, the University of Iowa sophomore. Cristhian Rivera, a 24-year-old immigrant who authorities say is in the United States illegally, has been charged in the crime. (The Tibbetts case is actually the kind of story that used to get saturation coverage across all cable news channels before the outlets became obsessed with the unpredictable Trump presidency).

We dont program the network for the media critics, a Fox News representative said. Fox News Channel has been No. 1 in cable news for 16  years and the No. 1 network in cable for most of this year, so clearly viewers agree with our editorial decisions.

Even if Fox News devoted all of its time to the Manafort verdict and Cohen plea, viewers were more likely to head for outlets on which they would get more critical coverage of Trump.

The reason Fox News usually wins is not their raw number of viewers; its the sheer amount of time their viewers spend on the channel versus the shorter time spent viewing by the CNN and MSNBC audiences, said Jonathan Klein, a former CNN president. On a news day like Tuesday, anti-Trump viewers on MSNBC and CNN will stick around far longer than usual to soak up every gory detail, which raises their ratings.

All cable channels  not just Fox  have become dependent on Trump, network executives say.

While Fox News ratings may take a hit if Trump stumbles further, the network is in the best position to recover by being the conservative alternative to the others. One Fox News executive said privately that not every viewer is a Trump fan, but some may just prefer it to CNN or MSNBC, on which one contributor, Elise Jordan, described the president as a scumbag.

If Trump is driven out of office, it will likely generate glee from many of the liberal commentators on MSNBC. But it will also be the end of one of the biggest stories in cable news history, one that began in 2015 when Trump entered the race for the White House.

The danger is that when youre Fox, when [Trumps] in trouble, youre in trouble, said an NBC News executive who was not authorized to comment publicly. And if youre MSNBC and CNN, if he goes away, all bets are off.

stephen.battaglio@latimes.com

Twitter: @SteveBattaglioKathy Kraninger is a step closer to becoming the nations top consumer financial watchdog: A Senate committee on Thursday narrowly approved the White House aides nomination to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau despite strenuous objections from Democrats that shes not qualified for the job.

Opponents of President Trumps nominee to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said that she has no experience in consumer protection, financial regulation or the banking industry and questioned her involvement overseeing the budgets of agencies that developed and implemented the child-separation policy at the border and the response to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. Democrats complained that Kraninger would not detail her role in those policies during her confirmation hearing or in written questions.

She is refusing to describe her role in two very public management failures because she knows it would destroy her case for her nomination, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said.

But Republicans brushed off those concerns. All 13 of them voted to confirm Kraninger on Thursday, while all 12 Democrats opposed her nomination.

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Senate Banking Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) said Thursday that she had significant leadership experience at federal agencies and on Capitol Hill. He said her her depth and diversity of public service experience gave him confidence she is well prepared to lead the bureau.

Trumps decision to tap Kraninger for the job leading the controversial agency, created in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, was a surprise. She holds a mid-level White House position as associate director for general government at the Office of Management and Budget and her background has been largely in Homeland Security.

At the Office of Management and Budget, Kraninger oversees spending at five agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security.

Previously, she served as deputy assistant secretary for policy at the Department of Homeland Security during the George W. Bush administration and also worked for the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and the Senate Appropriations subcommittee handling Homeland Security funding.

Kraninger is seen as a protege of Mick Mulvaney, the director of the White House Office of Management and Budget who also has been serving as acting director of the CFPB since November. Kraningers nomination allowed Mulvaney to stay as acting director while the Senate considers her confirmation. Otherwise, he would have been forced to give up the post in June under the law by which he was appointed.

Trump installed Mulvaney in the position temporarily after the resignation of the bureaus first director, Richard Cordray, in a controversial move that led to protests and a legal challenge from Cordrays chosen successor, Leandra English. English, who has been the bureaus deputy director, resigned in July and dropped her legal fight.

Mulvaney, who had been an outspoken critic of the agency, has scaled back the bureaus enforcement efforts, urged Congress to reduce its authority and made the the agency more friendly to the financial services industry.

This month, the New York Times reported that Mulvaney was planning to suspend the bureaus routine examinations of lenders for violations of the Military Lending Act, which protects service members and their families from predatory lending and other financial fraud.

Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), a former Army officer, said he had no confidence Kraninger would halt Mulvaneys apparent attempt to weaken oversight of the Military Lending Act.

Kraninger has worked for Mulvaney at the OMB since March 2017 and is expected to continue his approach if confirmed as director by the full Senate.

Republicans are eager to see the bureaus authority reduced.

Personally, I think Ms. Kraninger will do a good job of trying to rein in  an agency that needs to be reined in, said Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.).

Since opening in 2011, the bureau has helped consumers obtain about $12 billion in refunds and debt relief from financial institutions. It also played a key role in penalizing Wells Fargo & Co. for its creation of unauthorized accounts.

During her July confirmation hearing, Kraninger pledged to uphold Congress mandate that the bureau ensure that all consumers have access to financial products and services that are fair, transparent and competitive.

She said she would do that in part by making robust use of cost-benefit analysis, an approach favored by Republicans. Democrats argue that it can be manipulated by industry and create roadblocks to quickly enacting important regulations.

Kraninger pledged to take aggressive action against bad actors who break the rules.

Pressed by Democrats on whether she thought Mulvaney was doing a good job running the bureau, Kraninger said he was.

He is my current boss, who I respect greatly, and has been focused on implementing the law, so from that standpoint, I would say yes, Kraninger told the committee at the July hearing.

jim.puzzanghera@latimes.com

Twitter: @JimPuzzangheraThe Trump administration has delivered another blow to California.

The Internal Revenue Service and Treasury Department on Thursday moved to block efforts by lawmakers in California and other Democratic-controlled states to help their residents avoid a new limit on state and local tax deductions.

The proposed rule, which is likely to face legal challenges, targets legislation in those states that would allow taxpayers to claim a charitable deduction for state and local tax payments above the $10,000 limit set in the tax cuts passed by Congress last year.

The Treasury Department said the legislation being considered in various states amounts to a tax dodge for wealthier Americans.

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Congress limited the deduction for state and local taxes that predominantly benefited high-income earners to help pay for major tax cuts for American families, Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin said.

The proposed rule will uphold that limitation by preventing attempts to convert tax payments into charitable contributions, he said.

However, the limits on state and local tax deductions will hit some middle-class families in California hard even though the wealthy reap the most benefits from it.

Some 6.1 million California residents filed for the deduction in 2015, reducing their federal taxable income by $18,438 on average, according to the Tax Policy Center. Only New York and Connecticut had a higher average deduction.

The IRS will accept comments on the rule through Oct. 11 and then will hold a required public hearing on it Nov. 5. The rule is likely to be in place by the end of the year.

Thursdays announcement escalated a partisan battle over the tax-cut law that was pushed through by President Trump and congressional Republicans with no Democratic support.

California and New York are among the states that have taken action or have been looking for ways around the limit on state and local tax deductions that Republicans included in the $1.5-trillion tax-cut law that took effect Jan. 1.

Many of the states hardest-hit by the limit are high-tax ones controlled by Democrats, and leaders there have complained the tax bill targeted the deduction for political reasons.

In the Trump administrations rush to punish California theyre now attempting to unilaterally rewrite the law in a manner beyond their authority, and California is prepared to litigate to protect our taxpayers who were unfairly targeted in the GOP tax plan, said state Sen. Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles), who has been pushing workaround legislation.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, also slammed the IRS for what he called hastily proposing politically motivated regulations that amounted to abuse of government power.

We are confident that the recently enacted opportunities for charitable contributions to New York state and local governments are consistent with federal law and follow well-established precedent, Cuomo said. And make no mistake: We will use every tool at our disposal, including litigation, to fight back.

Jared Walczak, a senior policy analyst at the conservative-leaning Tax Foundation, said states were likely to sue but such efforts are probably futile given the authority the government has in such matters.

The goal of the charitable deduction has always been to give preferential treatment to actual charitable contributions, with guardrails designed to limit its use as a tax-avoidance strategy, Walczak said.

Legislation pending in Sacramento from De Leon would allow California residents to circumvent the new $10,000 deduction limit through a 75% tax credit to an existing state program that funds college tuition scholarships.

Assemblywoman Autumn Burke (D-Marina del Rey) has a pending bill that would allow Californians to donate to nonprofits, universities, community colleges or K-12 public school districts, and those entities would transfer 90% of that donation to the state. In turn, the state would lower a taxpayers state income tax liability by issuing a state tax credit equal to 80% of the original donation.

Under the bill, California taxpayers would have been able to deduct the entire amount of the contribution as a charitable contribution on their federal taxes.

The bill faces a deadline of next Friday to pass both houses of the Legislature. Gov. Jerry Brown opposed a prior version of Burkes bill because it could disrupt the states cash flow and questioned the wisdom of acting when the IRS could move to clamp down on such efforts.

The Treasury rule released Thursday would require taxpayers to reduce the federal charitable tax deduction they are claiming by the amount of any credit they receive on their state and local taxes. That would effectively prevent taxpayers from substantively circumventing the cap through the workaround programs.

For example, if a state granted a $700 tax credit on a $1,000 contribution, the taxpayer would be able to write off only $300 on his or her federal return.

The new rule also would hit some existing, limited programs in dozens of states that offer federal charitable deductions for contributions to fund schools and other programs.

Normally, the amount a taxpayer can claim for a charitable contribution must take into account the value of anything received in exchange for the contribution. That previously had applied only to tangible items, such as the value of a free tote bag given for a contribution to a public radio station, or the value of the meal at a charity dinner.

The IRS had not required people to take into account the value of a charitable deduction in lowering their tax liability. Now, the IRS is extending that doctrine to the value of a lower tax liability. An exception in the rule is for tax credits worth no more than 15% of the contribution.

The new restrictions on the previously unlimited federal state and local tax deduction is projected to generate billions of dollars a year in additional revenue to the U.S. Treasury to help offset money lost by the bills cuts to corporate and individual rates.

Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas), a lead author of the tax bill, cheered the new rule.

These Treasury regulations rightly close the door on improper tax evasion schemes conjured up by state and local politicians who insist on brutally taxing local families and businesses, he said.

Eight tax experts released a 44-page research paper in January arguing that California and other states would be allowed to turn state and local tax payments into charitable contributions based on previous IRS rulings and court opinions.

Some tax law experts also have said that it would be very difficult for the IRS to prohibit efforts designed to circumvent the state and local tax deduction limit without also disallowing the federal tax deduction for contributions to more than 100 existing charitable programs in 33 states.

Those programs, many of them in Republican-controlled states, fund state-supported activities such as public schools and college scholarship programs.

The Treasury Department said Thursday that it expected some spillover effect on those other programs, but that only about 1% of taxpayers would see an effect on tax benefits for donations to school tax credit programs.

Times staff writer Liam Dillon contributed to this report.

jim.puzzanghera@latimes.com

Twitter: @JimPuzzanghera

UPDATES:

4:55 p.m.: This article was updated with comments from California state Sen. Kevin de Leon, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Tax Foundation analyst Jared Walczak, as well as additional details and analysis regarding the IRS rule.

This article was published at 2:35 p.m.Sun-Maid Raisins is one of the most recognizable brands in the United States. But its bonnet-wearing farm girl hasnt kept this century-old cooperative from losing touch with consumers, especially younger ones.

Harry Overly vows to change that.

Overly was hired last year as the president and chief executive of Sun-Maid Growers of California. A 39-year-old marketing whiz who has spent most of his career in Chicago, Overly was brought in to shake things up in raisin land.

For the first time in more than a decade, Sun-Maid will launch a national campaign next year focused on rekindling fondness for the brand. People react favorably when they hear the name Sun-Maid. Now its up to Overly and his team to leverage that into new sales.

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His goal is $100 million in growth over the next three to four years. Stay tuned for new products, new advertising and an elevated presence in grocery stores.

During our research, we heard comments from people who said raisins are the bridesmaid but never the bride, or its like mustard  you eat it on a hot dog but never alone, Overly said. Raisins are not a top-of-the-mind snack. And  competition on the grocery store shelf is fierce.

Overly said people pigeonhole raisins as a food for small kids: Parents feed raisins to young children when they start eating solid food, but once the children reach school age, they want other things in their lunches.

They may not buy [raisins] again unless they are making cookies for their grandkids, Overly said.

For more than 30 years, Sun-Maid was run by Barry Kriebel, who provided steady and pragmatic leadership. It served the grower-owned cooperative well for quite a while. Growers earned a decent profit and consumers loved the brand.

But people began eating other snacks.

Our kids arent thinking about raisins anymore, said farmer Jeff Jue, chairman of Sun-Maids board of directors. We need to make Sun-Maid more relevant. And thats why we hired Harry.

Overly said he was cautious about taking the job. After all, he had climbed his way up the corporate ladder of several major food companies in Dallas and Chicago. Kingsburg, Calif., and Sun-Maid werent exactly on his radar.

His last job was as CEO of the North American division of Deoleo, one of the worlds largest sellers of olive oil. Before that he was in Chicago as the chief customer officer of TreeHouse Foods, the largest private-label food maker in the United States.

Overly wondered whether Sun-Maid was willing to take risks or just wanted a CEO who would play it safe.

If they wanted a guy to run a volume-based business and manage it for cash, I would probably be bored and leave in a year, Overly said. But thats not what the board wanted. They wanted to grow the business and make Sun-Maid relevant again. They wanted to put the business on a different trajectory.

To do that, Overly started by changing the culture at Sun-Maid. He got tired of people describing sluggish sales as managing the decline or thinking of packaging as being just in a box.

There was such a fear of failure in this company that they became risk averse, he said.

He estimates that raisin consumption has dropped about 10% over the last five years, in part because Sun-Maid has not invested in growing the business.

To help reverse that trend, Overly brought in some new talent for his marketing team, including creating a new role: vice president of insight and innovation. To fill that role, he hired longtime colleague Lana Simon, whose resume includes TreeHouse, Sara Lee and Kraft Foods.

Simon will oversee the relaunch of flavored sour raisin snacks made with natural fruit juice and no added sugar. The snacks were launched about 18 months ago, but Overly gave them a makeover, including new packaging and placement in grocery stores snack aisle instead of the dried fruit aisle. They come in watermelon and strawberry flavors.

Snacks, especially healthy snacks, are a growing segment and appeal to millennials as well as baby boomers, the core of Sun-Maids customers.

Simon said consumers can expect to see raisins combined with other healthy ingredients. She and her team also plan ads that play on the nostalgia and trust Sun-Maid raisins represent.

Overly knows he has doubters among the cooperatives 700 growers. Change happens slowly in the raisin world. For decades, farmers have made raisins the same way: In the late summer, thousands of workers clip ripe bunches of grapes and place them on paper trays in the middle of the vineyard, where they naturally dry into raisins.

Longtime Sun-Maid grower Paul Locker of Selma, Calif., said wanting to sell more raisins is only part of what has growers in knots. The industry has been shrinking over the last decade as growers rip out their vines and replace them with higher-value crops such as almonds and tangerines. Even Locker has added wine grapes and almonds to his mix of crops.

Since 2000, raisin acreage in the San Joaquin Valley has plummeted to 150,000 from 270,000. A majority of that acreage is in Fresno County, the nations raisin capital.

Newly planted raisin grapes accommodate mechanical harvesting, a labor-saving method of picking that is costly to install.

We have been able to grind out a living, but it is expensive, said Locker, who harvests some of his vines by machine. And it is not getting easier.

He is hopeful that Overly can help revive the Sun-Maid brand and boost sales. If we can come up with some new products using our label, then we might be able to turn things around, he said.

Rodriguez writes for the Fresno Bee/McClatchy.Now that White House aide Kathy Kraninger has received the blessing of the Senate Banking Committees Republican majority to become the nations top consumer financial watchdog, its worth highlighting whos in her corner and who isnt.

Kraninger is supported, of course, by President Trump, who nominated her for the job. Shes also backed by her boss, White House budget chief Mick Mulvaney, who currently serves as the CFPBs acting director.

I have never worked with a more qualified individual than Kathy, Mulvaney said in a statement. He cited her sharp-as-a-tack intelligence and simple, old-fashioned, Midwestern humility.

Opposing Kraninger is, well, pretty much everyone who takes consumer protection seriously.

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Ms. Kraninger doesnt have one iota of the necessary experience, and its unclear whether she even has the will to carry out this job, said Christine Hines, legislative director of the National Assn. of Consumer Advocates.

Its a sentiment shared by every Democrat on the Banking Committee, which approved Kraninger on Thursday by the narrowest of party-line margins, 13-12.

Its also a sentiment I heard again and again in conversations with consumer advocates, former CFPB officials and legal scholars.

Ms. Kraninger has no qualifications for this job, said Judith Fox, a professor of consumer law at Notre Dame Law School. She has no experience in consumer finance, consumer protection or any of the relevant subject matters involved.

Indeed, for all her Midwestern humility, Kraninger, 43, has never worked in consumer affairs, never worked in financial services, never worked as a financial regulator, never held public office and never run a government agency.

Kraninger graduated from Milwaukees Marquette University in 1997 and from Georgetown University Law Center in 2007. Shes done stints at the Transportation and Homeland Security departments, and as a congressional staffer.

Rob Nichols, president of the American Bankers Assn., welcomed Thursdays vote, citing Kraningers substantial government and management experience.

At the Office of Management and Budget, which she joined last year, Kraninger oversees funding for Homeland Security and reportedly played a role in administering Trumps zero tolerance policy of separating immigrant families.

On Wednesday, dozens of consumer, civil rights and labor groups submitted a letter to the Banking Committee arguing that Kraninger is unfit to lead the CFPB.

Either Ms. Kraninger failed terribly at her job, putting the well-being and lives of thousands of children in danger, or, even more concerning, she purposefully sought to run an ineffective, cruel process in order to punish children and/or their parents, in which case she lacks the moral sense or standing to hold a government position, the groups wrote.

In his statement, Mulvaney said Kraningers background in homeland security gives her the kind of experience Washington so desperately needs.

I put that to Patricia McCoy, a law professor at Boston College who served previously as the CFPBs assistant director for mortgage markets. Is Kraningers homeland security experience a plus?

No, McCoy answered without hesitation. Her only qualification is having been Mulvaneys right-hand person and her willingness to carry out his vision.

McCoy told me that Mulvaney has installed his lieutenants throughout the agency, and their sole purpose has been to hamstring efforts to investigate and, if warranted, punish companies that take advantage of consumers.

I would have felt very compromised if Id have had to work like that, she said, adding that before she exited the agency in 2011, everyone from rank-and-file staffers to senior managers were committed to safeguarding consumers.

Ed Mierzwinski, senior director of the federal consumer program for the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, said Kraninger in no way reflects such zeal.

She has not indicated any desire to achieve the agencys mission  protecting consumers from the myriad financial harms and threats that lurk in that marketplace, he said.

She has indicated only that she supports and expects to continue everything Mulvaney has done, which has been to starve the agency of funding and mission leadership, and to interpret its job as narrowly and in as pro-industry a way as possible.

Mulvaney recently sacked the bureaus 25-member Consumer Advisory Board, which included consumer advocates, academics and industry executives. Their job was to provide informed input on the bureaus policies.

Hes also keen to shut down the CFPBs database of consumer complaints about financial firms, which he has called a Yelp for financial services sponsored by the federal government.

In January, Mulvaney asked Congress for all of $0 in funding to keep the CFPB running, saying hed make do with whatever funds were on hand.

The only question now is whether Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will bring up Kraninger for a vote by the full Senate before the midterm elections in November, or whether he keeps her on hold until next year, allowing Mulvaney to stay put possibly until March.

Either way, the writings on the wall. Trump wants the CFPB dead, and hes found people he can trust to do the dirty work.

Over the past year, Mulvaney has taken a wrecking ball to the CFPB and has appeared more intent on serving the interests of the financial industry than looking out for whats best for consumers, said Pamela Banks, senior policy counsel at Consumers Union.

His tenure at the CFPB has provided a stark lesson in how the bureaus ability to take on financial fraud and abuse can be seriously undermined when it is led by a director who isnt committed to carrying out its mission, she said.

At her hearing before the Banking Committee last month, Kraninger said she appreciates all that Mulvaney has accomplished.

David Lazarus column runs Tuesdays and Fridays. He also can be seen daily on KTLA-TV Channel 5 and followed on Twitter @Davidlaz. Send your tips or feedback to david.lazarus@latimes.com.Major General Ji Jianhua, deputy director of the Health Bureau of the Logistic Support Department under China's Central Military Commission (CMC), gives a speech at the opening ceremony on August 22, 2018. (mod.gov.cn)

VIETNAM, Aug. 23 (ChinaMil) -- The joint free medical examination by Chinese and Vietnamese militaries for people in border areas of the two countries kicked off in Phuc Hoa District, Cao Bang Province, Vietnam on the morning of August 22, local time.

The seven-day free medical examination, with the theme Serving the military and the people together to create a healthy future, is the first such activity that the Chinese and Vietnamese medical service troops have jointly conducted in border regions of China and Vietnam.

At the opening ceremony, Colonel Nguyen Xuan Kien, head of the Military Medical Bureau of the General Logistics Department of the Vietnams People's Army (VPA), said that Vietnam and China are neighbors connected by mountains and waters. The joint free medical examination will provide quality medical services to the border residents of the two countries and at the same time promote mutual help, unity and friendship between the people of both countries and the medical personnel of the two militaries, contributing to deepening bilateral cooperation and exchanges.

Chinese and Vietnamese officers and soldiers take a group photo at the opening ceremony on August 22, 2018. (mod.gov.cn)

Major General Ji Jianhua, deputy director of the Health Bureau of the Logistic Support Department under China's Central Military Commission (CMC), stated that the exchanges and cooperation on healthcare are the important field for friendly exchanges between the two countries and militaries, and are essential for the health and common well-being of the two countries people.

The joint free medical examination along the China-Vietnam border will further safeguard and improve the health of local people, while promoting the development of local medical and health services, Ji noted.

After the opening ceremony, the medical teams of the Chinese and Vietnamese militaries immediately carried out treatments for local Vietnamese residents. By 12 a.m. on August 22, the Chinese military medical team had treated more than 380 patients.

It is reported that members of the Chinese military medical team are all experts from various disciplines, including internal medicine, surgery, ophthalmology, stomatology, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics and traditional medicine.

(By Zhou Na and Huang Yi)

Medical personnel from Chinese and Vietnamese militaries exchange ideas during the activity. (mod.gov.cn)Google announced Thursday that it deleted 58 accounts with ties to Iran on its video platform YouTube and its other sites, the latest sign that foreign agents from around the world increasingly seek to spread disinformation on a broad array of popular websites.

The new removals targeted 39 channels on YouTube, which had more than 13,000 views in the United States, as well as 13 accounts on the social networking site Google Plus and six accounts on Blogger, its blogging platform, the company said. Kent Walker, Googles senior vice president of global affairs, said in a blog post that each of the accounts had ties to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, or IRIB, which is tied to Irans ayatollah, and that they disguised their connection to this effort.

Googles announcement comes days after Facebook Inc. suspended hundreds of accounts on its site and photo-sharing app Instagram that originated in Iran as well as Russia, and Twitter Inc. made a similar move. At the time, YouTube confirmed it had removed one account, called Liberty Front Press, which appeared to have connections to Iranian state media.

Google, a division of Alphabet Inc., also revealed Thursday that it took down 42 additional channels on YouTube that had ties to the Russian governments online troll army, called the Internet Research Agency, since the company testified to Congress in November.

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Facebook acted on a tip from the cybersecurity firm FireEye, which later shared its findings with Google and Twitter. In response, Google briefed law enforcement officials and congressional investigators about its findings Thursday, the company said.

The revelations of further coordinated inauthentic activity online are likely to grab lawmakers attention. The Senate Intelligence Committee plans to question top executives from Facebook, Google and Twitter next month on their efforts to protect their platforms from disinformation and other digital ills.

On Thursday, the Republican chairman of the panel, Sen. Richard Burr, said he had rejected an offer by Google to send Walker to testify. I told them I wasnt accepting the senior vice president, Burr said.

Earlier this week, Microsoft announced it found evidence of a Russia-backed effort to spoof key websites, including those for conservative think tanks, in an apparent bid to hack into visitors to those pages. In its blog post, Google said it recently took similar actions to block attempts by state-sponsored actors in various countries to target political campaigns, journalists, activists, and academics located around the world. Google said it most recently notified Gmail users who received suspicious emails from a wide range of countries Monday.

Romm writes for the Washington Post.She wrote the novellas on lined school paper. Shed fold them into little booklets and pass them around to the third- and fourth-graders at Bates Academy in Detroit. They were titled The Cabbage Patch Kid Mysteries, and kids began asking when the next installment was coming.

Their author, Dominique Morisseau, enjoyed the attention and played the part of budding author to a T. When she was 7 and vying for a juicy role in her schools annual Black History Month show, she was cast as an understudy  but drama became her heart and soul.

That Morisseau is now a playwright surprised exactly nobody in her life. Nor did her success in a notoriously competitive field. Morisseaus determination defines her, say those close to her.

Everybody deserves to have their story fully told. Dominique Morisseau

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They call her a fighter and say she will stand in the eye of the storm and hold her ground when she believes in something  that she is as much of an activist as she is an artist.

It is these qualities that have brought Morisseau to this moment in her career: A respected playwright for years, she is now a name playwright, a rising star. She ranked No. 5 on American Theatres list of the 20 most-produced playwrights of 2017-18  one spot above Arthur Miller  and her first musical, Aint Too Proud  The Life and Times of the Temptations, opened Friday at the Ahmanson Theatre after runs at Berkeley Repertory late last year and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., this summer. Broadway is likely next.

People look at her now and think she had some sort of meteoric rise, jokes Morisseau, but she has been in the playwright trenches since moving to New York City just after 9/11 in 2001. She worked for a time as a teaching artist for an educational theater company in Queens alongside a then-unknown Lin-Manuel Miranda.

She eventually earned a spot in the Public Theaters emerging writers group, as well as with the Eugene ONeill National Playwrights Conference. A Playwright of New York Fellowship came with a stipend and an apartment in the city for a year, a plum setup that allowed her to concentrate solely on her writing.

I met a New York that was in mourning, and a very benevolent New York, she says, sitting on the couch in her home office in Van Nuys on a recent sunbaked afternoon. And thats the New York Ive kinda always known.

She fell hard for New York, but she never renounced Detroit. People who leave Detroit, she says, carry the city like a shield on their backs. It protects them, but they also protect it. The city Morisseau loves has been so maligned over the years that she feels a responsibility to it as a hometown scribe. Her breakthrough play in 2013, Detroit 67, examines the race riots of 1967 through the eyes of siblings running an after-hours club devoted to Motown music.

That play became part of a three-work cycle called The Detroit Project that includes Paradise Blue and Skeleton Crew, which wrapped a run at the Geffen Playhouse in July. Each play touches on the sociopolitical and economic underpinnings of the Motor City and strives to give voice to often marginalized people.

Dominique Morisseau, pictured at home in Van Nuys, has become one of the most produced playwrights in America and has projects in development with FX and HBO. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Everybody deserves to have their story fully told, Morisseau says. I write about the people I love, or that Im very curious about, and Im going to investigate those people.  If I dont get them right, if I fail them, or over-explain them, Im doing them a disservice and it feels unfair.

In a review of Skeleton Crew, Times theater critic Charles McNulty called Morisseau one of the rising talents in American drama, adding that the play, which takes place inside a soon-to-shutter auto plant at the start of the Great Recession, is a powerful drama about workers, the value of their work and what happens to society when that work is taken away.

Aint Too Proud also dives into the complex world of Detroit as it details the sacrifice, pain and triumphs behind the rise of the Temptations, who are played by Derrick Baskin, James Harkness, Jawan M. Jackson, Jeremy Pope and Ephraim Sykes. Some might call it a jukebox musical, but director Des McAnuff sees that label as a bit dismissive. He says it would be more accurate to describe the show as a biography.

Morisseau, he says, has successfully taken the history of the band and fit it succinctly into a show that is much more than a musical revue. The Temptations and Detroit are in her DNA, and that allowed her to make story choices that might not have been apparent to a writer less versed in Motown.

I love her words, McAnuff says. She puts the right words in peoples mouths. Not only are they authentic, but there is a poetry to her writing that works when youre up against lyrics.

Morisseau has not shied away from embracing the cultural dialect she grew up around  the rhythm and cadence of language used in the African American community of her childhood. The title of black female playwright can feel very heavy, indeed, she says. The title is wrapped up in responsibility, not just to herself, but to a community, and the often-fraught racial forces that shaped her.

Morisseau grew up in a working-class neighborhood. Her mother taught at an inner-city elementary school and her father was disabled following a stroke at age 35. Her father is from Haiti and displays what Morisseau describes as a very old-school Caribbean machismo.

I am like his wrath come upon him, jokes Morisseau, referencing her feminism and progressive ideals.

Her mother, Linda Morisseau, describes her as her fathers kindred spirit  both type-A personalities and extremely feisty.

She has surprised me, Linda says. I always knew she had a passion for what she was doing, but a lot of what happens in theater is about timing and getting breaks. She has worked very hard to get to where she is.

Morisseaus role models in Detroit  the teachers, doctors, lawyers and activists  were all black. She saw reflections of herself in leadership positions all over the city. It was, she remembers, an ideal childhood. College, however, proved a bit of a wake-up call.

The writers Morisseau studied while earning her bachelors degree in theater at the University of Michigan were, Morisseau says, old white men, dead or alive, and in the departments shows she was relegated to roles in the one show per year helmed by a black director.

She expended great energy trying to find a space where her voice, as a woman of color, would truly be heard, says her husband, the hip hop artist J. Keys, who met her in college.

A black womans voice is an asset if it is used correctly instead of being whitewashed or made to fit into another box, Keys says. In hindsight I think what she was searching for was more work that would let her be what was first nature to her.

That quest led Morisseau to write a play for herself and the two other black actors in the theater department. The title: The Blackness Blues: Time to Change the Tune, A Sister Story. If that conjures thoughts of Ntozake Shanges 1976 play, For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf, thats no coincidence, Morisseau says.

She had been studying Shange and was greatly inspired by the poet, playwright and feminist. She also found purchase with August Wilson and George C. Wolfe, whom she counts as a friend.

When Morisseau arrived in New York, she was introduced as a poet playwright from Detroit to an aspiring director and producer named Kamilah Forbes, who was running a hip-hop theater festival that later staged a reading of Morisseaus work.

She loves her people so intensely, and you see that in her characters, says Forbes, who is now the executive artistic producer of the Apollo Theater in Harlem. She gives them space to breathe and exist in all their beauty, flaws and fullness.

Morisseau, Forbes says, possesses a fearlessness that propelled her forward at a time when there werent many women of color playwrights being produced at all.

We could count them on one hand, she says.

But Morisseau has broken through, not just in theater but on TV, as a writer and co-producer for the Showtime series Shameless who has more projects in development with FX and HBO.

Success has upped the ante for Morisseau, who says that as a known artist it has become more complicated to represent women and people of color. She wonders how long she will have to explain the same things about herself, or the people she writes about, before her audience decides to take a journey with her.

My liberation as a writer is when I am not writing under a white gaze, but I am also not writing under a black gaze, she says. Im actually writing under my gaze.

         

Aint Too Proud  The Life and Times of the Temptations

Where: Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., L.A.

When: In previews through Thursday; opens Friday. Performances 8 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sundays (check for exceptions); ends Sept. 30

Tickets: $30-$145 (subject to change)

Information: (213) 972-4400, www.CenterTheatreGroup.org

jessica.gelt@latimes.com

@jessicageltThe movie begins with a smash.

Specifically, an explosion of glass as a clown-masked bank robber blasts a window from the flank of a corporate tower from the 1980s. The robber and his various masked accomplices then prepare to wreak mayhem as they abscond with the mountains of money stored in a neighboring bank (played by the old Chicago post office, an Art Moderne structure from 1932).

The Dark Knight, the acclaimed second entry in director Christopher Nolans blockbuster Batman trilogy, returns to select Imax theaters for its 10th anniversary.

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The film lives on in the cultural lore for a variety of reasons.

There is Heath Ledgers deft performance as the Joker, in which he took a role that could have been all cartoon, and turned it into something more unhinged. And there were the ways in which the films mortal plotlines seemed to seep into real life  namely, Ledgers death from an accidental overdose before The Dark Knight made it to the big screen. (He was awarded a posthumous Academy Award for his work.)

But what made The Dark Knight truly remarkable is that Nolan set his Gotham not in some villainous realm, but in the contemporary American cityscape (principally, Chicago).

Nolans astute, cinematic deployment of architecture is no accident.

Christian Bale stars as Bruce Wayne in The Dark Knight. Stephen Vaughan / AP

RELATED: Ten years after it changed Hollywood, The Dark Knight is back in theaters. Accept no substitutes 

The only job that was ever of interest to me other than filmmaking is architecture, he told Wired in 2010. And Im very interested in the similarities or analogies between the way in which we experience a three-dimensional space that an architect has created and the way in which an audience experiences a cinematic narrative that constructs a three-dimensional reality from a two-dimensional medium.

In Nolans Gotham, gone were the exaggerated backlot arches and overwrought sculpture of the Expressionist metropolis depicted in the 1980s and 90s films made by Tim Burton. Instead, in The Dark Knight, Nolan gives us architectural life as we live it.

Bruce Wayne doesnt reside in some fusty mansion on the outskirts. He inhabits a tower in the middle of the city, the Art Deco Chicago Board of Trade building. The boardroom of Wayne Enterprises isnt some clubby wood-paneled salon from another era. Its a crisp, minimalist room in a modern building that offers floor-to-ceiling city views. And in a scene in which the Joker is unleashing pandemonium on LaSalle Street with an 18-wheeler, the camera flies past rows of everyday glass towers, a FedEx office supply store and a Starbucks.

Nolan didnt need to invent alienating architecture for Batman. We have built it ourselves.

Maggie Gyllenhaal and Christian Bale in a scene from The Dark Knight. Warner Bros/DC Comics / Kobal/REX/Shutterstock

It is Batmans environs, in particular, that seem to offer the most vivid departure from Gothams past. The Batcave isnt some dark, Gothic lair. Its a high-tech research lab, rife with Beton brut concrete walls and a bright geometric ceiling. This Bruce Wayne is no batty recluse; hes a business man.

In fact, the architecture ends up playing right into a plot that is straight out of todays debates about technological privacy. Late in the film, Wayne finds a way of using a special sonar program to turn on the microphone in every cellphone in Gotham so that he can track the Jokers moves.

Scientist Lucius Fox (played by Morgan Freeman) objects: Spying on 30 million people is not in my job description, he says. Batman (Christian Bale) ignores the ethical concern  at least until he can get the Joker  leaving Fox staring helplessly at a wall of computer monitors in the bunker.

Re-read the L.A. Times coverage of The Dark Knight  

The not-always-moral ways in which big business achieves its aims are alluded to regularly throughout the film via Nolans regular use of corporate modern architecture as backdrop. There are glass towers, glassy conference rooms and Bruce Waynes glassy urban penthouse  Trump Tower can be seen in the background, and its exterior stands in for Wayne Enterprises in the trilogys finale, The Dark Knight Rises  their reflective surfaces obscuring the activities that lie beneath.

As the Joker tells Batman in one scene: When the chips are down, these civilized people will eat each other.

In many ways, The Dark Knight is a story about haves and have-nots. Bruce Wayne has infinite wealth acquired in undisclosed ways. The Joker had a father who sliced up his face, or so he says.

All you care about is money, the Joker laughs as he torches a pyramid of stacked bills. This town deserves a better class of criminal, and Im going to give it to them.

And the town Nolan gives us is better than we deserve. Throughout the film, Nolan uses stairwells and atria to masterfully frame shots. He transforms the urban canyons of Chicago into a gladiatorial arena. He even shoots in the citys guts  setting one particularly tense chase scene on Lower Wacker Drive, a tunnel of grim concrete obscured by gleaming towers.

For Nolan, what sits on the surface is as important as what lies beneath.

Image of the batcave from The Dark Knight. Warner Bros/DC Comics / Kobal/REX/Shutterstock

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carolina.miranda@latimes.com | Twitter: @cmonstahIn the vastness of wars impact, waiting takes on a special kind of psychological peril. One waits for death or freedom, and sometimes, each can seem like the other. But what made the World War II remembrances of French author Marguerite Duras (Hiroshima Mon Amour, The Lover) so charged  specifically her torment wondering about the fate of her husband Robert Antelme, a captured Resistance member sent to concentration camps  is that the waiting became not some drawn-out limbo after which one returns to life but, in its own right, a kind of complexly universal human condition.

Memoir of War is director Emmanuel Finkiels fragmented adaptation of Duras semi-autobiographical wartime diaries (published in 1985 as La Douleur), with Melanie Thierry offering a commanding portrayal of Duras as a woman in an exquisite hell of steadfastness, inscrutability and suffering.

But as an attempt to dramatize Durass agonizing wait for Roberts return (alive or dead) in a cinematic manner that does justice to the acclaimed novelist-screenwriters attention to inner turmoil, while still fueling the narrative tension in a harrowing scenario, it is primarily a valiant misfire. Resolutely somber, and self-aware about its deliberately tight and opaque visual style, its presentational more than lived, a series of filmmaking choices instead of something deeply felt and conveyed.

The first hour is Duras as a confused, chain-smoking, persevering figure, toggling between desperate inquiries about Roberts whereabouts to an accommodating Gestapo figure named Rabier (Benoit Magimel)  who flirts in return because he admires her work  and secret Resistance meetings in which members express concern that Duras is being played by Rabier to suss them out. The Duras/Rabier scenes in which they circle each other suggest a queasy wartime-affair melodrama, while her narration, culled from the writers own words, clues us in to the churning inside, characteristic of French people making do under Vichy rule: Im afraid Ill be killed, ashamed to be alive.

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Chain-smoking and persevering: Melanie Thierry as Marguerite Duras in Memoir of War. (Music Box Films)

The waiting became not some drawn-out limbo after which one returns to life but, in its own right, a kind of complexly universal human condition. Robert Abele

When Liberation arrives, Duras cannot connect to all the dancing, kissing and celebrating in the streets, because Robert is never among the returning POWs who flood the stations. Her Resistance confidante and sometime lover Dionys (Benjamin Bioly) loses his patience with her displays of pessimistic sorrow, calling her grief precious and earning a mighty slap. But with reunions happening all around her, and word of camp horrors eking out, she still feels shackled to wars miseries.

With scenes in which images deliberately blur, mirrors or shadows dominate and Duras occasionally watches her own self in the confines of her apartment, Memoir of War is unafraid to step outside its subjects interiority to aesthetically intellectualize this suffering. Sometimes this strikes a chord, especially when Thierrys performance, or Durass words, are given their due. The introduction of a Yiddish-speaking, older neighbor Mrs. Katz (Shulamit Adar), awaiting word on the fate of her Jewish daughter, also provides a stinging contrast and a poignant reminder that rumors are sometimes more comforting than news.

But eventually Finkiels remove starts to feel like a missed opportunity, as if his reverence for Duras aching state, increasingly divorced from her feelings for Robert, were the go-ahead to keep his movie from being too emotionally concentrated. As the movie starts, theres a beautifully color-drained close-up shot as Finkiels camera starts on Thierrys face, meanders over an open window, goes in and out of focus and rests, hesitantly, on a teacup. Its a mood-setting shot of claustrophobic artistry that also reveals the movies own impenetrable mindset: to be as near to Durass grief as possible, without ever really engaging it.

-------------

Memoir of War

In French with English subtitles

Not rated

Running time: 2 hours, 7 minutes

Playing: Starts Aug. 24, Laemmle Royal, West L.A.; Laemmle Playhouse 7, Pasadena; Laemmle Town Center 5, Encino

More reviews from Robert Abele

Generation Wealth examines extreme consumerism with a self-probing eye

Anime trilogy Flavors of Youth deftly highlights the melancholic hold of the past

Amandla Stenberg leads the charge in the been-there, done-that dystopia of The Darkest Minds

Brazilian filmmaker beautifully captures a friends journey in Gabriel and the Mountain

Influences and overdirection trip up psycho-sexual thriller Elizabeth HarvestWhen Papillon initially landed in theaters in late 1973, expectations were inescapable.

Based on the sensational, bestselling 1969 autobiography by Henri Charriere, the French convict who would successfully break out of Devils Island, the ambitious production co-starred Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman, then ranked No. 8 and No. 9, respectively, on the annual Quigley Poll of Top Ten Money Making Stars.

It also had a bankable director in Franklin J. Schaffner, who had previously delivered the crowd-pleasing goods with Patton and Planet of the Apes.

That degree of marquee value is worth bearing in mind with this weeks arrival of a brand new Papillon that manages to be both meaner and leaner (by about 14 minutes), while drawing sturdy performances from leads Charlie Hunnam and Rami Malek, two actors who had their breakthroughs on a pair of TV series, Sons of Anarchy and Mr. Robot, respectively.

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But while it might have been assumed that Danish filmmaker Michael Noer, unencumbered by all that big studio baggage, would be freer to put his own stamp on the material, the end result feels routinely anonymous.

Incorporating the originals screenplay from Dalton Trumbo and Lorenzo Semple Jr. as well as a pair of Charriere memoirs as its blueprint, the new script by Aaron Guzikowski (Prisoners) adds a pointless prologue set in Paris circa 1931 that portrays the glamorous, high-rolling life of safecracker Henri Papillon Charriere (Hunnam).

Tracing the events leading to Charriere being framed for murder and handed a life sentence, the sequence ultimately serves to introduce a female character into this otherwise all-male mix, in the form of Charrieres girlfriend Nenette (Eve Hewson).

As with the 1973 version, the story really begins on a barge carrying prisoners to the brutal penal colony where Charriere meets timid currency forger Louis Dega (Malek) and the two form a bond predicated on a business proposition: Charrier will offer the vulnerable Dega protection in return for him bankrolling an escape plan with his hidden stash of funds.

Turns out both the funds and protection will come in awfully handy at the notorious Camp de la Transportation presided over by sadistic warden Barrot (an effectively steely Yorick van Wageningen). Noer, who first attracted attention with his 2010 prison drama, R, choreographs the various beatings and beheadings with a fierce efficiency.

Whats missing is a more personal directorial imprint.

The original film aside, many of the incarceration scenes echo those in Martin Scorseses Silence, while an escape aboard a leaky boat brings to mind one aboard an inflatable raft in Angelina Jolies Unbroken and a fight sequence in an outdoor shower cant help but invite comparisons to that naked Viggo Mortensen Russian bathhouse scene in David Cronenbergs Eastern Promises.

The actors prove more successful at making the characters their own, with Hunnam, though lacking the sort of casual swagger that rightfully earned McQueen his King of Cool status, possessing sufficient Chris Hemsworth-type tough guy likability to keep his ordeal involving.

Malek, wholl get a chance to show his impressive range as the decidedly more extroverted Queen frontman Freddie Mercury in the upcoming Bohemian Rhapsody, conceals an intense take-no-prisoners survival instinct beneath Degas meek demeanor while affectionately throwing in the occasional inflection that is pure Hoffman.

But by the time the film reaches its new 1969 coda, during which Hunnam  and a lot of unconvincing old age makeup  attempts to get his life story published, those extra details end up adding little of value.

Despite the efforts to give Papillon a broader wingspan, it seldom engagingly takes flight.

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Papillon

Rated: R, for violence including bloody images, language, nudity and some sexual material

Running time: 2 hours, 16 minutes

Playing: In general releaseThe eeriest scene in the gripping techno-whodunit Searching consists of little more than a computer screensaver, glowing silently in the dark like a jellyfish. A series of incoming call notifications pop up on the screen, but the computers owner, David Kim (John Cho), is asleep and thus unaware that his teenage daughter, Margot (Michelle La), is desperately trying to reach him.

The moment takes on layers of Hitchcockian dread and a paralyzing sense of helplessness: Thanks to bad luck and human error, not even the devices that connect us 24/7 can tell us everything we want to know.

The dubious paradoxes of Internet technology  its power to inform and deceive, to connect and alienate  are at the heart of this ingeniously high-concept thriller from the 27-year-old writer-director Aneesh Chaganty. A Bay Area native and former Google employee making a sharp, confident feature debut, Chaganty employs a formal gimmick that clearly reflects what he knows, but also what any 21st-century screen addict knows. Unfolding entirely on a series of computer and phone displays, Searching both captures and defamiliarizes an experience that most of us would consider mundane, even banal.

This isnt the first movie to turn FaceTime chats and browser windows into the stuff of a taut, intriguing, sometimes uncomfortably voyeuristic drama. Earlier versions of this conceit played out in the under-seen 2014 Elijah Wood shocker Open Windows and the recent Unfriended horror movies, all of which were about unsuspecting computer owners being terrorized by off-screen psychopaths. The novelty was that each of those thrillers played out in real time, in what appeared to be a single take, so that you as a viewer felt unsettlingly hard-wired into the user experience.

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With Searching, Unfriended and beyond, Timur Bekmambetov seeks a new cinematic language that mirrors our digital lives 

Although Searching is no less accomplished in its formal syntax  at any moment you may find yourself marveling at the low-key accuracy of the production design, or the ease with which a moving cursor can hold your attention  it doesnt play out in real time. The mystery here, in which a father tries to find his missing daughter by digging into her online history, plays out in a less sadistic, more intimate register, and it benefits from having someone as recognizable and appealing as Cho in the drivers seat. Because his story unfolds over the course of a week, Chaganty relies on familiar narrative techniques such as exposition and montage, and he and his ace technical collaborators maintain visual interest by continually reframing Davids screen with strategic cuts and zooms.

The prologue alone compresses more than a decade of family life into a laughter-and-tears montage, composed from photos and videos stored on the Kims desktop computer. We watch as David and his wife, Pamela (Sara Sohn), happily raise Margot (played by a few actresses of different ages), their lives a flurry of piano lessons and morning jogs. There are ups and downs, highs and lows, none lower than Pamelas long, difficult battle with cancer. The whole sequence may remind you of the deeply moving marriage-in-miniature sequence from Pixars Up, but this time with a distracting whiff of e-product placement.

The story proper picks up sometime after Pamelas death. David has sadly moved on with Margot, who is by all appearances a smart, well-adjusted 16-year-old, at least from our brief glimpse of her in an early FaceTime chat with Dad. The actors have a lovely, unforced rapport that toggles gently between affection and exasperation: When David sends Margot a text message one afternoon, playfully chiding her for having forgotten to take out the trash, he makes sure to include a photo of the overflowing can. Margot, distracted with schoolwork, promises shell take care of it when she gets home.

Except that she never makes it home (cue those frantic middle-of-the-night phone calls), and David soon finds himself plunged into every parents worst nightmare  albeit one that unspools more slowly and realistically, at first, than the average missing-persons melodrama. Filtering their story through Google searches, video chats and other online applications forces Chaganty and his co-writer, Sev Ohanian, to apply a step-by-step procedural rigor, ensuring that the audience doesnt miss any crucial details. The movie is so insistent on plausibility that it takes several hours (and several fruitless phone calls) before David even realizes that Margot might be in serious danger.

John Cho stars in Screen Gems thriller SEARCHING. (Sebastian Baron / Screen Gems)

At the recommendation of Det. Rosemary Vick (Debra Messing), whos leading the police investigation, David begins searching Margots laptop for clues to her disappearance, with some help from his more laid-back younger brother, Peter (Joseph Lee). Dads sleuthing generates some sly comedy (the way Cho inflects the word Venmo is a highlight), but he turns out to be as tech-savvy and resourceful as he needs to be as he pores over Margots email and social-media accounts (a string of password resets is one of many puzzles that need solving), calls up her Facebook contacts and tries to piece together her last known whereabouts.

The heart of the investigation, and the movie, is a trove of old live-cast videos that Margot had recorded and saved. Watching them for the first time, David begins to appreciate how much he didnt know (or care to ask) about his daughter, namely how profoundly lonely she had become following her mothers death. In these moments, Searching poignantly explores both the comfort and the isolation that technology can breed, even as it considers the lasting effects of grief. It also satirizes the ways in which that grief can be mocked and exploited, through mindless online gossip, sensationalist media coverage and the performative sympathy of onlookers who claim to have known Margot better than they did.

Searching is nothing if not ambitious, and its rapidly accelerating second half is jammed with bold twists, red herrings and breathless confrontations. Its also here that the movie begins to slacken its grip  partly because some of the twists beggar belief, and partly because they strain the limits of the online-all-the-time interface. The sheer volume of plot that has to be recapped via TV news footage is both understandable and disappointing, forcing the picture to behave like a more conventional thriller and muddying the crucial question of whose perspective were following.

The movie is at its strongest when that perspective is Davids, and Cho, following his superb lead turn in last years very different Columbus, gets the kind of full-bodied actors showcase that has eluded him too long. He runs the full gamut of fatherly emotions like a pro, escalating from mild panic to violent outrage, but the key to Chos charisma, a quality that Hollywood seldom knows what to do with anymore, is that he can just sit there and still hold your attention. He may just be a guy in a plaid shirt mumbling into a webcam, but that doesnt make him any less of a movie star.

------------

Searching

Rating: PG-13, for thematic content, some drug and sexual references, and for language

Running time: 1 hour, 42 minutes

Playing: ArcLight Cinemas, Hollywood; AMC Century City 15, Century City; ArcLight Cinemas, Sherman Oaks

See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour 

justin.chang@latimes.com

@JustinCChangMid-morning just off the Venice boardwalk, six striking young women arrive, skateboards in tow. The Skate Kitchen tends to roll deep wherever they go, even on this summer day when the New York City-based crew finds themselves soaking up the West Coast sunshine.

A collective of fearless female skateboarders all in or around their early 20s, the members of the Skate Kitchen are now also the stars of their own eponymous indie film, which premiered at this years Sundance Film Festival and is currently playing in limited release, directed by filmmaker Crystal Moselle (The Wolfpack).

Loosely inspired by the skaters own experiences, the film centers on shy Camille (Rachelle Vinberg), a Long Island teen who links up with a welcoming squad of women that dare to be themselves and skate free among the male-dominated streets and skate parks of New York.

Later, theyll try out the iconic ramps and rails of the Venice skate park. But first, they crowd into a nearby cafe, where an innocent question breaks the morning peace before the coffee and acai bowls arrive: When exactly did the Skate Kitchen first assemble?

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Kabrina Adams, 24, who goes by the moniker Moonbear, is in many ways the groups official unofficial documentarian, appearing in the film much like she does in real life  with a video camera glued to her hand, always filming. She answers decisively: It was on May 23, 2016.

Immediately, to her left, Vinberg, 19, raises an objection: No it wasnt. It was before that!

Rachelle Vinberg, left, Ajani Russell, Nina Moran, Dede Lovelace and Alexander Cooper in Skate Kitchen. (Magnolia Pictures)

They go back and forth another few minutes, before Dede Lovelace, who stars as welcoming squad member Janay, plays referee, ribbing the others into a bet. May, April, okay, she smiles. All right, were going to check it. How much are we putting down?

Half of the Skate Kitchen take to their phones to scroll back and check the official history book  Instagram, where they banded together two years ago and amassed 76,300 followers by posting skate videos, skate fails, triumphs, goofs, and images of inclusive, girl power-infused inspiration.

In another minute its forgotten, anyway. Whats more important to know is that the sisterhood of the Skate Kitchen existed before the Skate Kitchen movie  not the other way around.

A few years ago, Moselle turned a chance meeting on the street with the Angulo brothers into the acclaimed 2015 documentary The Wolfpack. This time, she was on the train on her way into Williamsburg for work when she saw Vinberg and fellow Skate Kitchen founder Nina Moran, whod become friends after seeing each others skating videos on social media.

First of all, theyre women holding skateboards, which is something that you now see a lot, but two years ago it was very different, Moselle said. Nina also has this insane voice  you just kind of want to listen to what shes saying. I asked them where theyre from, whats happening, and I said, Do you want to do some sort of project together? 

It was just incredible to see women with skateboards, which reflects women doing things that, when I was young, you didnt see. Her next question to Moran and Vinberg has become the stuff of Skate Kitchen legend: Are there more of you?

Director Crystal Moselle with Rachelle Vinberg on the set of Skate Kitchen. (Magnolia Pictures)

Moselle started spending time with the pair and their friends, learning about their lives and gathering inspiration for what would eventually become the fictional story that drives Skate Kitchen, her first narrative feature.

They said, Were going to go skate  come hang out with us. So I just came and hung out, she said a few weeks later, after taking many of her first-time actors on a whirlwind press tour. I jumped on the board. They were very welcoming right away. I think they liked that somebody was interested in what they were doing.

What they were doing was finding solidarity in what can be a daunting world, particularly when most images of the skate world, both in fiction and reality, are of boys and young men shredding, kick-flipping and grinding on two wheels  and only rarely, until more recently, women.

Lovelace, 20, remembers seeing young men skate after school at a popular local spot at 12th and A in the East Village. At the time, I didnt really skate because all the dudes had, like, anger issues. I pretty much skated by myself. Then, I met a group of older guys two years later and learned from them, and they really gave me the courage to start skating more.

Brenn Lorenzo and her twin sister, Jules Lorenzo, 19, grew up in Florida, skateboarding from the age of 11, encouraged by parents who built a half-pipe for them in the backyard.

It was always nice to have another girl with me in the park, said Brenn. The guys were never really mean about us being in the park, or rude, or told us to get out  it was just a little intimidating at times. A lot of them would be like, Wow, its a girl skating, and would be supportive. That was nice.

Kabrina Adams, Nina Moran, Ajani Russell, Brenn Lorenzo and Rachelle Vinberg in Skate Kithen. (Magnolia Pictures)

Skating has always had its undersung female heroes  Z-Boys member Peggy Oki, Olympic snowboarder Cara-Beth Burnside, and more recently, figures such as Brazilian street skateboarder Leticia Bufoni, who boasts X-Games titles, a Nike sponsorship and 1.9 million followers on Instagram, have inspired legions of girls and boys alike to take up a board and follow in their wake.

But the world of skating hasnt exactly opened its arms to women. In 2013, one of skateboardings biggest and best-paid stars, Nyjah Huston, faced backlash, particularly from the growing ranks of female pro skateboarders, for telling Thrasher Magazine that skateboarding is not for girls. He later publicly apologized for his comments.

The collective power of a multicultural group like Skate Kitchen, says Ajani Russell, gives everyday visibility to women and girls and that can be powerful encouragement for new generations.

In Skate Kitchen, six of us are women of color, said Russell, 20. Me and Rachelle are both Hispanic, and we look really different, but weve always bonded over that. When I saw women skating before the Skate Kitchen, it was always blonde beach babes  that trope of skater girl. 

I was like, I cant relate to that,  she continued. So its really about creating your own space, because you cant always be safe in somebody elses space, or you have no examples, no point of reference.

Early in Skate Kitchen, a drama that unfolds dreamlike amid the NYC summer, Camille defies her mothers wishes and sneaks away to the city, tentatively entering a skate park solo for the first time.

When a boy first starts skateboarding, nobody cares that he sucks  he just started. When a girl starts skateboarding, she does not even get the chance to try before getting judged by everybody. This is what makes it so intimidating to enter the skate park in the first place, Moran said in a 2017 TEDx Talk.

I honestly feel a little self-conscious when I go to skate parks. That feeling doesnt go away for me, said Vinberg, who first starred for Moselle in That One Day, a short for Miu Miu that serves as a spiritual and tonal predecessor to Skate Kitchen. Its in the movie and its in real life too. I feel that way all the time.

From that jumping off point, Skate Kitchen weaves a naturalistic path through Camilles eyes as she defies her mother, finds her tribe, forms friendships, tests those friendships, bonds with a boy from a rival crew (Jaden Smith) and skates her way toward a sense of self.

Off screen, many of the vibrant Skate Kitchen cast members are artists and aspiring filmmakers in their own right, encouraged by the collaborative experience of working with Moselle.

Jules Lorenzo is currently studying film directing and writing at the New School (One of my all-time favorite directors is Guillermo del Toro, she says). She just bought a camera with designs on going out and shooting her own movies.

Brenn Lorenzo is working on a solo music project. I was interested in doing music for a while, but it wasnt until recently that I decided, let me take this seriously.

Rachelle Vinberg, Dede Lovelace and Ajani Russell in Skate Kitchen. (Magnolia Pictures)

Adams also DJs and spent much of last year vlogging (It could be raining, snowing, the camera will be with me), chronicling the Skate Kitchen squads adventures at Sundance, and is currently trying to learn how to turn that into another business venture.

Lovelace, also a visual artist and DJ, recently filmed a role in the Facebook series Strangers.

Vinberg, who turns 20 this month, put it frankly, with no shred of pretense: I have no idea what I want to do with the rest of my life. Its putting me into an existential crisis.

Russell is currently studying at CalArts, making weird art films, producing music and VR projects, and exploring themes of female empowerment, being female in male-dominated spaces, and also being a woman of color and trying to diversify these spaces  [in skating] and everywhere.

She hopes that the Skate Kitchen can continue to empower others. I want us to do more because now we have the platform to spread more positive messages and help girls  not just through skating, but to follow their dreams, she said. We can do that now.

jen.yamato@latimes.com

@jenyamatoWhile working as a fashion model in Los Angeles, Christy Dawn Baskauskas tended to be more interested in what was going on around her than in the clothes she was wearing. She would casually observe how fashion brand executives worked and interacted with their staff members. And she imagined what it would be like to run a fashion business.

Id ask the stylists and designers questions, says Baskauskas, who modeled from ages 14 to 24. I saw a lot of things that I loved, and things that I would do differently. I was always attracted to the people who treated their employees with respect. I would imagine a place where everybody would love coming to work.

The 31-year-old model-turned-designer now oversees a business where that fashion fantasy has unfolded. Baskauskas has 34 employees working in a high-ceiling, 12,000-square-foot manufacturing, design and office space in downtown Los Angeles, which the team moved into last year. Some of the employees have acquired a taste for the kombucha on tap. In the back of the space, there are foosball and ping-pong tables for staff tournaments that include trophies and celebratory lunches. The employees also are invited to movie screenings  a recent showing was the documentary Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead  where theyre often served glasses of green juice. In contrast to the sweatshop scenarios that play out across the fashion industry, Baskauskas says shes proud to say that her employees are paid more than a living a wage.

Seamstresses shown in the foreground in the studio space of fashion label Christy Dawn in downtown Los Angeles. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)

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In 2013, Baskauskas started her eco-friendly and predominantly dress-driven Christy Dawn label with her husband, Aras Baskauskas, a musician and a Survivor winner. It began with an investment of $20,000, using the garage of their Santa Monica home as a workspace.

Because her objective was to create an environmentally conscious brand, she set out to source deadstock, basically remnants of fabrics that other fashion brands are about to toss into landfills, to make her labels designs. Her dresses, by virtue of the fabric alone, could be considered limited edition. Some bolts of the fabric can make only five dresses.

Its the opposite of what happens in fashion, where brands have to plan a year in advance and have different collections for each season, she says, wearing an ankle-length black dress with a floral design from her label. Here, we use what is available. We go with the flow. Theres something to be said for listening to your intuition.

The Athena dress ($1,800) is a bridal offering from designer Christy Dawn Baskauskas. (Christy Dawn)

Although she has no formal fashion training, Baskauskas has amassed a following of loyal customers, with many of her designs selling out hours after hitting her website, christydawn.com. She also has a store in Venice at 1930 Lincoln Blvd. Dresses sell for $190 to $380; bridal designs go up to $1,800.

Baskauskas recently got into knits with a line of sweaters ($360 to $390). The Frankie cardigan, for example, is a cozy, button-free, three-quarter length cashmere number in pale beige. This spring Baskauskas expanded her collection with the addition of embroidered dresses, and in October, the label will debut boots made from deadstock leather in three colors: dark brown, light brown and black.

Were not making thousands of yards of fabric using thousands of gallons of water, she says. Were not using dyes or outsourcing. The way we look at it  one mans trash is another mans treasure.

Christy Dawn Baskauskas, the designer behind a vintage-inspired clothing label. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)

Born in Placerville, Calif.  Its where you stop for gas on your way to Tahoe, she says  Baskauskas, as a young girl, would buy dresses with her mother at the local thrift stores and have them altered to fit her own aesthetic. I love vintage, and Id change the dresses and get compliments on them, she says. When we started the business, I knew I wanted to bring that element.

Her designs also have that easy Californian vibe. Baskauskas wedding dresses, often made of silk and lace, would look more at home in a sweet, rustic-chic forest ceremony than a wedding in a ritzy hotel ballroom. And her bestselling blousy Paloma dress has a long, full body, while the thigh-skimming Leah dress features a neat collar and cuffs.

With a dress, Baskauskas says, theres not a lot of hassle that goes into creating a look for the day. Just slip it on. Put on your shoes, and youre good to go.

image@latimes.com

For fashion news, follow us at @latimesimage on Twitter.Stylists and wedding experts might tell you that the picture-perfect wedding wardrobe for brides and grooms deserves an element of surprise such as a pop of color or a great heirloom piece  well, as long as the surprise is tasteful and carefully chosen.

Its always nice to think about the pictures you will show to your grandchildren, so you want something tasteful and timeless, said Julie Pryor, an L.A.-based celebrity event and wedding planner who has worked with actress Felicity Huffman and music mogul Quincy Jones. While its fun to add pieces with a wow factor, make sure you are comfortable in the accessories you choose. They should reflect your personal style.

For accessories, considering wearing a pretty wrap with a wedding dress especially on a cooler fall evening. (Think faux fur or taffeta.) Other solid options are solitaire stud earrings or a colorful bow tie. Here are some other ideas to enliven traditional wedding attire this upcoming season.

Kate Spade New York

Kate Spade New York's Make It Mine Rylie Bridal Set offers a touch of whimsy for the bride and missus in your life. Kate Spade New York

Add a quirky touch with the Make It Mine Rylie Bridal Set from Kate Spade New York. Heres a white resin clutch with Mrs engraved on one side, and the word bride on the other. The clutch has a magnetic closure and comes with an attachable strap. $328. Available at www.katespade.com.

Jessica Bedard

Crystal-encrusted shoes from Jessica Bedard might enliven a traditional wedding dress  or make you feel as if you're the belle of the ball. Jessica Bedard

Several styles in Toronto-based Jessica Bedards bridal footwear collection feature a pale blue tip on the heel  a nod the tradition of having something blue. However, a slightly edgy take on the usual bridal shoe is the Nicolette, a peep-toe bootie with a four-inch stiletto. Its studded with lilac crystals and features satin laces. $579. Available at www.jessicabedardshoes.com.

Tacori

Tacori earrings add that something blue in a subtle way thanks to sky blue topaz. JR Dunn

For brides taking the something blue thing to heart, there are Tacoris Island Rains round stud earrings in sky-blue topaz, set in sterling silver. $320. Available at jrdunn.com.

Kukka Jewelry

An easy way to help a groom to stand out on his wedding day is through the use of fashionable cufflinks such as these from Spanish brand Kukka Jewelry. Kukka

Dont forget about the groom. For him, its all about the tiniest of details. Here are Core Magma Unearth Cufflinks from Cordoba, Spain-based brand Kukka Jewelry for an added touch. The cufflinks are in 18-karat yellow gold plated sterling silver with sparkling clear stones. $365. Available at kukkajewelry.com.

Paul Stuart

A dark bottle green velvet is an alternative to a typical blue or grey suit. Paul Stuart

Tired of a sea of blue and grey suits? There are options. New York label Paul Stuart offers this dark bottle-green velvet tartan jacket with a frog closure and peak lapels for a lean silhouette. $1,895. Available at www.paulstuart.com.

Christy Dawn

Here's the Athena dress ($1,800) from Christy Dawn's bridal collection. Christy Dawn

In a flattering wrap style and featuring a discreet low neckline and multi-tiered skirt, the top-selling Athena dress from Christy Dawn has wedding-day glamour written all over it  without being unnecessarily poufy. The dress is made from pearl silk, and, like all the dresses in the designers collection, its made from deadstock fabric. $1,800. Available at www.christydawn.com.

image@latimes.com

For fashion news, follow us at @latimesimage on Twitter.This year's 19th typhoon Soulik will likely be the most powerful typhoon ever to hit Seoul since 1977, the Korea Meteorological Administration warned Wednesday. Soulik is expected to make landfall in Korea on midnight Thursday and will hit the Seoul metropolitan area with its 20 million inhabitants on Friday morning. The typhoon will keep moving northeastwards, reaching Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province at 6 a.m. and Goseong, Gangwon Province around 10 a.m.



A wave breaks on a pier on Jeju Island on Wednesday as typhoon Soulik approaches Korea. /Newsis

The typhoon is expected to pass through the Seoul area in the small hours Friday way ahead of morning rush hours, but since it is slowing down it could hover over inland areas longer than expected. Soulik has about a 300 km radius of gale-force winds, so it is possible that some areas will still come under their influence much later.

Passengers look at a departure board at Jeju International Airport on Wednesday. /Newsis

On Jeju Island, which lay in the direct path of the typhoon, strong winds have led to flights being canceled since Wednesday. More than 100 flights had been canceled as of Wednesday afternoon, stranding an estimated 20,000 tourists on the resort island. About 2,000 ships took shelter in Jeju ports, and all ferries were canceled. Fifteen schools on the island closed temporarily until Thursday and 69 others adjusted school hours. The Seoul Metropolitan Government has checked about 12,000 facilities including windows of skyscrapers, roofs and signboards.Anytime there are vintage Hermes crocodile bags for sale it qualifies as an event in Beverly Hills. But Tuesday nights 25th anniversary party for luxury vintage retailer What Goes Around Comes Around upped the ante, as a selection of items on display will go on the block at Christies on Sept. 18 and Kim Kardashian made an appearance to celebrate.

The event at WGACAs Beverly Hills boutique also drew Jhene Aiko, Ellen Pompeo, Kathy Hilton, Becca Tilley, Draya Michele and Steph Shep, but all eyes were on Kardashian, bobbed, tan and svelte, wearing a vintage pink sleeveless Versace minidress, which she accessorized with a Judith Leiber Couture French Fries Rainbow clutch and Yeezy Season 5 PVC pumps.

Where did the time go? said WGACA cofounder Gerard Maione. Weve kind of never worked harder in our lives. We have such a wide cross section of clients from 20 to 60 years old and celebrities and socials, but people love us because we offer something thats different from anything out there.

Added cofounder Seth Weisser, Its part of why weve lasted 25 years and the next step is how do we push it forward? With the collaboration with Christies and a new store on Madison Avenue. The new store will join the original SoHo warehouse that opened in 1993, along with East Hampton and Roslyn, N.Y., locations, plus Miamis South Beach.

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Judith Leiber Couture French Fries Rainbow clutch. (Chelsea Lauren / WWD / REX / Shutterstock)

We thought it would be good to partner with Christies because theyve been expanding and helping grow the younger space. Our years of fashion curation provide what their customers are accustomed to from Hermes, and we mixed that with the best of Chanel, Louis Vuitton and RTW that theyve never even touched. Pieces from Versace, Gaultier and iconic moments to evolve the fashion perspective for their clients, Weisser said.

Highlights of the sale include: Hermes Rouge Imperial Porosus Crocodile Lisse Kelly Sellier Bag, Philippe Barland x Chanel Limited-Edition Blue Carbon Surfboard, Hermes Vert Celadon Alligator Lisse Kelly Sellier Bag, Hermes Yannick Manier 30s Bag, Monster x Chanel Black Quilted Adjustable Headphones and a customized Rolling Stones Leather Jacket hand-painted by Charlotte Watts  Charlie Watts granddaughter  for the 2016 Rolling Stones Exhibitionism launch. It is one of two made and was owned by Tommy Hilfiger.

The goods will be on display in Beverly Hills until Aug. 27, followed by a New York preview run Sept. 7 to Sept. 17 in conjunction with New York Fashion Week.

Some people can be intimidated buying from an auction, but they are very comfortable buying from the secondary market from brands like WGACA, so this is really opening up a new audience for us, said Caitlin Donovan, vice president and head of sales for Christies handbags and accessories department, the youngest and only female-centric department at the legendary auction house.For the last year, construction on the corner of Avenue R and 40th Street East in Palmdale hummed along as a massive school campus took shape.

On its Facebook page, Guidance Charter School posted photos of students holding shovels adorned with yellow ribbons and contractors pouring the foundation for what would be an 87,000-square-foot campus with a swimming pool, library and playing fields  paid for with nearly $30 million in bonds.

Less visible was what was happening behind the scenes, as the local school system raised alarms that threatened Guidances existence.

The Palmdale School Districts board of trustees, which first authorized Guidance 17 years ago, voted in January to close the school, citing concerns about poor academic performance and questionable financial operations. As the new campus rose, charter officials launched a series of appeals, the latest of which came before the Los Angeles County Board of Education this week.

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On Tuesday, the board rejected Guidances last-ditch effort to open for the 2018-19 school year. Unless a court overturns Palmdales decision, Guidance Charter School will not be able to enroll students  or receive the state funding that comes with them. But it still will be responsible for repaying the debt.

Supporters say the school is a victim of a process that puts decision-making power in the hands of the very districts that compete with charters for students and funding. Opponents see it as proof that charter schools, regardless of the quality of the education they offer or the extent of oversight they receive, are able to access bond money too easily.

The schools executive director, Kamal Al-Khatib, blames its closure on the Palmdale School District, which he said purposely set the charter school up for failure in order to win students back. In the spring of 2017, less than a year before voting not to renew the school, the district had declared that Guidance was on solid ground, he said.

They gave the bondholders assurance that the Guidance Charter School is in good standing. And then when we submitted our charter, they denied our charter, Al-Khatib said. It was their plan from the beginning.

District officials dismissed these claims. We are not anti-charter, said Nancy Smith, president of the board of trustees. We have two other charters. The other two are doing great. This one is not.

Guidance was founded in 2001 by Muslim leaders who promised to offer students a secular education and Arabic instruction.

The school leased space from a mosque owned by the American Islamic Institute of Antelope Valley, a religious organization run by the charters founder and its executive director, which would later prompt a host of conflict-of-interest concerns. Guidances ties to the mosque  and the thin partitions erected to separate its students from a prayer room  drew criticism from the American Civil Liberties Union and the Anti-Defamation League that there was not enough of a wall between church and state.

Regardless, the school grew. It had opened with 65 students but by last year had about 900 in grades K-12. And every five years, when its right to operate came up for renewal, the Palmdale school board voted to keep it open. Guidance also rented classroom space from the district.

In 2017, with assurances from the district that it was not in danger of being closed, Guidance set about building a permanent campus that could hold more than 1,000 middle- and high-school students.

To finance construction, more than $29.5 million in mainly tax-free bonds were issued by the California Statewide Communities Development Authority, a public joint-powers authority. This money was then lent to the charter school, which agreed to pay off the debt over the course of several decades. The schools leaders expected that the bonds would cover most of the project, which they thought would cost $35 million.

According to financial documents that detailed the terms, investors were warned that Guidance had been the subject of several inquiries by the Palmdale School District, including one regarding invalid or improper teacher credentials. The documents noted, however, that in February 2017 school system officials had confirmed the school was in good standing with the District, other than with respect to the teacher credentialing issue.

The authority did not respond to requests for comment.

It is not uncommon for California charter schools to borrow money through bonds to build campuses. But unlike public school districts, they dont have access to additional public revenue streams such as parcel taxes when they have to find a way to pay back creditors.

Desks and chairs are stacked on the site of Guidance Charter Schools new campus. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

When district officials voted not to renew the charter, they cited Guidances lagging academic performance as their primary concern.

Although its students scores on the state English exam in 2017 were roughly comparable to their peers in the district, according to Palmdale, math was a different story. In that subject, scores at Guidance were worse than those at most other schools in the area; none of the charter schools 11th graders tested at grade level.

Many of Guidances students didnt graduate, according to county officials, who said its drop-out rate was about 23% for the class of 2016. Palmdale officials found that even when students did graduate, many were not prepared to go to four-year colleges. According to the district, of 32 students who graduated from Guidance in 2014 and 2015, 24 had not completed the courses required for admission to the University of California or California State University systems.

The district also flagged Guidances fiscal operations and governance structure. It accused Al-Khatib of having financial interests in several of the schools transactions, including its lease with the American Islamic Institute and a roughly $2-million loan from a related company called Guidance Charter School Services LLC.

Guidances lawyers disputed the claims and said Al-Khatibs role at the mosque was voluntary and unpaid.

The charters leaders also took issue with the district and countys data, saying Guidances information had been entered incorrectly by the charter schools own staff. They claimed to have a graduation rate of 97%, a figure that county officials said is actually 73%.

They tried to manipulate the data, Al-Khatib said.

The school districts findings were taken seriously enough that Guidances appeals to county and state officials failed.

In June, at the end of the school year, Guidances charter officially expired and the school closed. Families had no choice but to move on. Many parents decided to put their children back into the district-run schools they had tried to leave, while others looked for open seats at other charter schools in the area.

Marcia Ramos son and daughter attended Guidance for years, but she said she had to enroll them in their local schools this year or risk accusations of truancy. Palmdale students went back to school Aug. 15. Like Al-Khatib, Ramos blames the Palmdale school system, which she said didnt like the charter competition.

Im going to tell you straight  it was politics, she said. Palmdale was losing students.

Saddled with debt, Guidances leaders did not give up. They sued the Palmdale School District in an attempt to overturn its decision. A trial date has not yet been set. They also applied to open the new campus as a new school, Guidance Charter School 2, under the authorization of the Antelope Valley Union High School District, which encompasses the city of Palmdale.

When that district rejected them, they went to the L.A. County board.

It is unclear why the Palmdale district finally moved to close down Guidance after repeatedly renewing its charter. On Tuesday, Smith blamed former district Supt. Roger Gallizzi, who retired in 2013.

What I have been told is the former superintendent told the staff to ignore it and let it go, she said, referring to the charter schools problems.

Gallizzi called that a false statement.

I have been retired for five years, he said. If this was really an actual problem, why have they allowed it to go on for five years? A charter school can be revoked at any time.

Although Guidances charter is no longer valid, the organization that operated the school is still responsible for a multimillion-dollar debt and the empty campus that Al-Khatib estimated is 95% complete.

Its unclear how long the organization has before it runs out of cash and defaults on its payments.

Al-Khatib said he is focused on finding a way to reopen his school and retain ownership of the campus, possibly by getting another charter to rent it. Bankruptcy is not an immediate option, he said, but it could be a last resort.

Were still looking for opportunities, he said. It is a long shot, but theres nothing impossible.

anna.phillips@latimes.com

Twitter: @annamphillips

UPDATES:

4:40 p.m.: This article was updated to clarify that Guidance Charter School claimed that its own staff had incorrectly entered data about its students.

This article was originally published at 3:20 p.m.A prosecutor on leave from the Los Angeles County district attorneys office was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence Tuesday after a crash in Calabasas involving popular radio personality Big Boy led to a strange series of events that was captured on video.

Michael Kenneth Pettersen, 54, of Northridge, was taken into custody following the crash at the intersection of Parkway Calabasas and Park Entrada shortly before 1 p.m., Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department spokeswoman Nicole Nishida said. Booking records list Pettersens occupation as district attorney.

Pettersen is also being held on two outstanding warrants from Ventura County stemming from DUI charges in 2014 and allegations of driving on a suspended license from 2016. He has pleaded not guilty to those charges, according to court records.

He has not been charged in connection with Tuesdays crash, but is expected to appear in court in Van Nuys on Thursday, court records show.

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Big Boy  whose legal name is Kurt Alexander  hosts a morning radio show called Big Boys Neighborhood on Real 92.3 FM. He told KABC-TV that he was waiting at a red light when the car he was riding in was struck from behind.

Big Boy told the station he walked over to the other vehicle and saw the driver take a drink from a bottle that he alleges contained vodka.

PLEASE dont drink and drive.



I am ok. In the twinkling of an eye your life can change. Im here another day to raise my kids, love my wife and family and love you ALL. Real talk, it could have been worse.

I cant believe what I was seeing. He was still on the bottle. pic.twitter.com/J844Mqncyl  Big Boy (@BigBoy) August 22, 2018

Man, this dude just crashed into me and hes sitting in the car still drinking, Big Boy said to a videographer at the scene.

A video of the incident thats been widely circulated online shows a man behind the wheel of a smashed BMW sipping from a bottle with a screw top. Moments later, a deputy arrived and helped the man out of the vehicle.

As the man walked toward the deputys patrol car his pants fell down around his ankles and he stumbled onto the concrete. Paramedics arrived shortly after and evaluated the man for injuries. It is not clear if he was hurt.

A bottle of lemon-flavored vodka is seen on the roof of the BMW in video footage.

Big Boy shared portions of the video in a post on Instagram Wednesday. He wrote in the post that he is OK and urged people not to drink and drive.

Real talk, it could have been worse, he said. I cant believe what I was seeing. He was still on the bottle. He has a problem and I pray for him as well.

Pettersen has been on leave from the Los Angeles County district attorneys office since Jan. 1, 2017, according to spokeswoman Shiara Davila-Morales.

It is not clear why Pettersen is on leave.

Pettersen, who was admitted to the California State Bar in 1989, was suspended after he failed to pay his bar membership fees in September 2017, according to the state bar website.

Los Angeles Times staff writer Richard Winton contributed to this report.

hannah.fry@latimes.com

Twitter: @HannahnfryA crew of firefighters from Silicon Valley had arrived in Lake County to help battle the largest blaze in California history when suddenly their mobile internet service slowed to a crawl.

Officials coordinating the firefighting effort inside the Santa Clara County Fire Departments command vehicle faced email delays and challenges updating web-based documents with critical information about deployment, Capt. Bill Murphy said.

They quickly learned that their provider, Verizon Wireless, had throttled down the departments connection to 1/200 or less than previous speeds because the agency had exceeded its data plan limit.

It essentially rendered those very routine communications almost useless or completely ineffective, Murphy said. They were essentially dealing with dial-up type speeds.

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A Verizon representative told them the only way they could make the service faster immediately was to upgrade their plan at a higher cost. So they did, and service improved.

The breakdown occurred several weeks ago during the massive Mendocino Complex fire, which has destroyed more than 150 homes and killed one firefighter. But the incident only became public this week, sparking widespread outrage both from fire officials and the public.

Santa Clara County Fire Chief Anthony Bowden chronicled the incident in an addendum to a federal lawsuit filed Monday by 21 states  including California  and the District of Columbia seeking to overturn the Federal Communications Commissions repeal of net neutrality rules.

The repeal, which went into effect in June, scrapped Obama-era regulations that, among other things, prevented internet service providers from blocking content they didnt like or charging providers more for speeding up delivery of certain content.

Verizon spokeswoman Heidi Flato wrote in a statement Wednesday that the situation with the Santa Clara County Fire Department was a customer support mistake and has nothing to do with net neutrality or the current proceeding in court.

This customer purchased a government contract plan for a high-speed wireless data allotment at a set monthly cost, she wrote. Under this plan, users get an unlimited amount of data but speeds are reduced when they exceed their allotment until the next billing cycle.

However, Flato wrote that the company has a practice to remove data speed restrictions for emergency responders  regardless of the plan they have chosen  in emergency situations.

In this situation, we should have lifted the speed restriction when our customer reached out to us, she said. We are reviewing the situation and will fix any issues going forward.

Murphy said officials felt compelled to join in the lawsuit in hopes of ensuring that reduced data speeds wont affect the publics access to information such as evacuation routes and fire maps disseminated online during emergencies.

If the public were to experience the same level of throttling that we experienced, their ability to access basic information were trying to get them would be significantly reduced, he said.

The necessity of prompt communication during disasters was highlighted during the 2017 wine country fires in Northern California; officials have debated whether more could have been done to give residents earlier warnings before the fires swept in, ultimately killing 44 people and destroying more than 10,000 homes.

In the wake of that disaster and the deadly flood in Montecito that followed the Thomas fire, there has been much discussion about better targeting emergency alerts and evacuation orders to the cellphones of people living in endangered areas. Some of the alerts for those disasters only reached a fraction of those who were in evacuation zones.

For the firefighters battling the Mendocino Complex, Bowden wrote that data-slowing affected a department command vehicle that acts as a mobile emergency operations center. The van requires near-real-time information exchange to coordinate resources and staff during emergencies, he wrote.

Dated or stale information regarding the availability or need for resources can slow response times and render them far less effective, he wrote. Resources could be deployed to the wrong fire, the wrong part of the fire, or fail to be deployed at all. Even small delays in response translate into devastating effects, including loss of property, and, in some cases, loss of life.

The Santa Clara County department now uses FirstNet, a service that provides wireless network service to public safety agencies, as a supplement to Verizon to avoid future issues, Murphy said.

Emails between fire officials and Verizon representatives filed in court show that the department has been having issues with data throttling since December 2017. Fire crews noticed the problem again in June, as they fought the Pawnee fire, which burned 15,185 acres in Lake County. During that incident, Verizon suggested a $2-a-month upgrade to the fire departments plan to restore data speeds.

Data speeds continued to be an issue as Santa Clara County firefighters deployed to the Mendocino Complex fire, which began July 27 and had charred 410,482 acres in Mendocino, Lake, Colusa and Glenn counties as of Wednesday.

Please work with us, a fire official wrote to Verizon on July 30. All we need is a plan that does not offer throttling or caps of any kind.

In response, Verizon suggested the department upgrade to a $99.99 per month plan, which would have more than doubled its bill, to remove the data throttling. Before the department subscribed to the new plan, county fire personnel used other agencies internet service and their personal devices to deploy fire resources, Bowden wrote.

In light of our experience, county fire believes it is likely that Verizon will continue to use the exigent nature of public safety emergencies and catastrophic events to coerce public agencies into higher cost plans, ultimately paying significantly more for mission critical service, even if that means risking harm to public safety during negotiations, he wrote.

Katharine Trendacosta, a policy analyst with the nonprofit Electronic Frontier Foundation, said the departments experience is an example of why actions like this are so dangerous and why we need to pay attention to how were getting our internet.

Concerns over the incident were raised on Wednesday by members of the state Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee, which advanced far-reaching legislation to reinstate net neutrality protections in California. If it receives full legislative approval, Senate Bill 822 would bar internet service providers from blocking, speeding up or slowing down websites and video, as well as charging websites fees for fast lanes.

Assemblyman Freddie Rodriguez (D-Pomona) said he was troubled by what happened to the Santa Clara County firefighters.

If it is happening to them [while] doing their job and protecting our people and saving lives, I am having a problem with that, said Rodriguez.

Times Staff Writer Jasmine Ulloa in Sacramento contributed to this report.The powerful reality of Hurricane Lane began to settle in on Hawaiians on Thursday as Honolulu braced itself by opening emergency shelters, closing beaches and parks, canceling school for the remainder of the week and putting nonessential government workers on leave.

But even amid that preparation and images of flooding on the Big Island, meteorologists reported that Lane had weakened to a Category 3 storm by late Thursday afternoon. Forecast models showed it continuing to head north before veering west  with the eye running just west of the shores of the island chain  though its ultimate trajectory remains uncertain.

It has already shown signs of weakening, National Weather Service meteorologist Leigh Anne Eaton said. It is still expected to pass dangerously close to the island [of Oahu] as a hurricane on Friday.

But whether its strength would continue to diminish was unclear.

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The storm, which was a Category 4 hurricane hours earlier, had already dumped more than 20 inches of rain on parts of the Big Island over the previous 30 hours. Eaton said Hilo International Airport got 15 inches. Some roads on the Big Island  as well as on Maui  were closed because of flooding.

The Big Island of Hawaii drew international attention earlier this year when the Kilauea volcano began its spectacular eruption, and dozens of homes have been destroyed as lava continued to creep across the landscape and pour into the ocean.

David Hess lost his home to the volcano when lava covered it in May. He said Thursday that he was just closing escrow on a new home in Pahoa when he began to scramble as Hurricane Lane approached. He said the rainfall was steady all day.

There will be a downpour, and then it lightens up, Hess said by phone. The wind seems to be picking up, though.

Though its only about 200 miles from Hilo on the Big Island to Honolulu, Hawaiis capital was barely experiencing a drizzle early Thursday, and only a slight breeze could be detected on the citys streets. Undeterred by the advancing storm, a few surfers paddled through the breakers.

Chase Mizumoto, 33, said he figured hed be able to surf until midafternoon before things got too treacherous.

Its pretty good now. The waves are at about 7 feet, said Mizumoto, who recalled riding the pre-storm waves in 1992 when Hurricane Iniki hit the islands. Theyre coming in at a weird angle, but thats no problem.

Yet there was a sense in Honolulu that trouble was fast approaching.

At 4 p.m., an outdoor warning siren wailed throughout the streets downtown  drawing the curious onto hotel balconies and momentarily stopping pedestrians in their tracks.

Parks and beaches were closed, so beaches were much emptier than normal. Stores closed early in the afternoon, and some businesses already had tape on windows and sandbags at the base of doors. And some hotels were telling guests to move patio furniture on balconies to the inside of their rooms.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell on Twitter urged people to prepare for the storm and to remain home if possible. Buses were scheduled to be taken out of service by 6 p.m. Thursday.

We do not want people out on the streets as Hurricane Lane approaches, the mayor said. Were using a lot of caution here.

Shelters for the homeless were opened up Thursday morning on Oahu as well. They opened Wednesday on the Big Island.

Everyone is starting to buckle down at this point, said Christyl Nagao, who lives on the island of Kauai. Our families are here. We have businesses and this and that. You just have to man your fort and hold on tight.

Visitors watch waves generated by Hurricane Lane crash at Kailua-Kona. (Bruce Omori / EPA/Shutterstock)

Whenever possible, the public should plan to shelter in place or stay with family or friends in homes outside of these hazard areas that were designed, built, or renovated to withstand anticipated conditions, the city and County of Honolulu said in a news release.

The 20 shelters on Oahu are pet friendly, and someone from the Humane Society will be on hand to assist with animals, authorities said.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said it has several barges stocked with food, water and other supplies that it moved into the region ahead of Hurricane Hector, which skirted past the islands more than a week ago, according to FEMA Administrator Brock Long.

The Navy was moving its ships and submarines out of Hawaii. All vessels not undergoing maintenance were being positioned to help respond after the storm, if needed.

The state was also seeing help arrive from the mainland.

Late Wednesday night, 36 members of California Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 3  sponsored by the Menlo Park Fire Protection District  arrived to provide assistance as the hurricane approached.

In a statement, Menlo Park Fire Chief Harold Schapelhouman said the unit was last sent to Hawaii for Hurricane Iniki in 1992.

Hurricanes are ranked from 1 to 5 according to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Earlier Thursday, Hurricane Lane was a Category 4, which means it packed maximum sustained winds between 130 and 156 mph. Hours later when it was downgraded to a Category 3, wind speeds topped out at 125 mph.

Unlike Florida or Texas, where residents can get in their cars and drive hundreds of miles to safety, theres little room to run in Hawaii.

1 / 22 Residents carry dogs through flood waters to dry land, after playing in the water briefly on the Big Island in Hilo. (Mario Tama / Getty Images) 2 / 22 A large wave hits a man on a breakwater along Waikiki Beach ahead of Hurricane Lane, Friday in Honolulu, Hawaii. (John Locher / Associated Press) 3 / 22 Morale Welfare and Recreation employees and Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam personnel go over the emergency preparation kits at the base fitness center as Hurricane Lane approaches Hawaii. (CORWIN M. COLBERT / AFP/Getty Images) 4 / 22 A car is partially submerged in floodwaters from Hurricane Lane in Hilo, Hawaii. (Mario Tama / Getty Images) 5 / 22 High surf generated by Hurricane Lane hits Kailua-Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii. (Bruce Omori / European Pressphoto Agency) 6 / 22 Bader Ali, 22, of Kuwait reacts as a wave crashes near a hotel in Honolulu. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 7 / 22 High surf at Waikiki Beach in Honolulu. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 22 Sophia Malone, 7, of Orange County walks on sandbags at the Moana Surfrider Hotel in Honolulu. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 9 / 22 The flooded intersection of Kamehameha Avenue and Pauahi Street in Hilo, Hawaii, on Thursday. (Hollyn Johnson / Associated Press) 10 / 22 People gather to watch floodwaters from Hurricane Lane rainfall in Hilo, Hawaii. (Mario Tama / Getty Images) 11 / 22 Construction workers board up windows at a McDonalds in Honolulu. (Kat Wade / Getty Images) 12 / 22 Kaipo Popa puts plywood over windows on a home in Kapolei, Hawaii. (John Locher / Assocaited Press) 13 / 22 A worker creates a small sand berm on a portion of Waikiki Beach in Honolulu in preparation for Hurricane Lane. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 14 / 22 Hotel employees Richard Dela Cruz, left, and Roman Amores fill sandbags in Honolulu. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 15 / 22 The front page of the Star Advertiser in Honolulu shows the projected path of Hurricane Lane on Thursday morning. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 16 / 22 Bottled water was nowhere to be found at a grocery store in Honolulu. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 17 / 22 Hurricane Lane as seen from the International Space Station. (NASA) 18 / 22 People read a hurricane warning notice in the lobby of the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani Hotel in Waikiki. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 19 / 22 Workers board up a McDonalds in Honolulu. (Kat Wade / Getty Images) 20 / 22 Jacquelyn Wu, left, helps Roger Pfeffer, 81, prepare his boat for Hurricane Lane by removing spear guns with help from Wus boyfriend, Donovan Eliopulas, at the Ala Wai Boat Harbor in Waikiki. (Kat Wade / Getty Images) 21 / 22 Sandbags at Waikiki Beach in Honolulu. (Kat Wade / Getty Images) 22 / 22 Jay Kitashima works to secure the roof of his tiny home along Ewa Beach in Honolulu. (John Locher / Associated Press)

Melanie Davis, who lives in a suburb outside Honolulu, said she was gathering canned food and baby formula.

Were getting some bags of rice and, of course, some Spam, she said of the canned meat thats popular in Hawaii.

She was organizing important documents into a folder  birth and marriage certificates, Social Security cards, insurance paperwork  and making sure her three children, all under 4, have flotation devices such as swimming vests  just in case.

Hawaii Emergency Management Agency Administrator Tom Travis said there isnt enough shelter space statewide and advised those who are not in flood zones to stay home.

Officials warned that the limited shelter space should be a last resort and isnt designed to withstand winds greater than about 40 mph.

The central Pacific gets fewer hurricanes than many other regions, with about only four or five named storms a year. Hawaii rarely gets hit, though its had a few close calls in recent years.

Were planning on boarding up all our windows and sliding doors, Napua Puaoi of Wailuku, on Maui, said after buying plywood at Home Depot.

Puaoi was 12 when Iniki hit 26 years ago.

When it did happen, I just remember, pandemonium, it was all-out craziness, she said.

At the Wailana Coffee House in downtown Honolulu, however, Hurricane Lane didnt seem so threatening. Locals and tourists belted out My Heart Will Go On and I Want It That Way by the Backstreet Boys until 1 a.m. Thursday.

They said they planned to be there again Friday, when the full force of Lane is expected to arrive.

david.montero@latimes.com

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

UPDATES:

8 :15 p.m.: This article was updated with the downgrading of the storm to a Category 3 hurricane and details about its projected path.

4:20 p.m.: This article was revised to update the rainfall total on Hawaiis Big Island.

1:45 p.m.: This article was updated with comments from Chase Mizumoto, a local surfer.

1:20 p.m.: This article was updated with a staff report.

This article was originally published at 6:30 a.m.Two months after President Trump boasted that North Korea is no longer a nuclear threat, growing evidence suggests that leader Kim Jong Un has not shut down the countrys illicit production of bomb-making material and other nuclear activities, raising concerns that the proposed denuclearization deal has stalled at the starting gate.

Hoping to pressure the government in Pyongyang, Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo said Thursday he would return to the reclusive nation next week and bring a newly appointed U.S. special representative, Stephen Biegun, to take over the challenging negotiations.



For the record: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that next weeks visit to North Korea would be Secretary of State Pompeos third since President Trumps summit with Kim Jong Un in June. It will be the second.

The visit will be Pompeos fourth to North Korea since March, and the second since Trump and Kim met in Singapore in June and agreed to a brief, vaguely worded statement that served to lower tensions in northeast Asia, but contained few specifics or clear promises.

The White House has asserted since the summit that Kim pledged to dismantle his nuclear infrastructure and give up his arsenal of several dozen nuclear weapons in exchange for U.S. security guarantees. Kim has not confirmed that publicly, focusing instead on his call to ease economic sanctions against his country.

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After the summit, Trump announced he would halt long-planned joint annual U.S. military exercises with South Korean forces as a goodwill gesture. North Korea, in turn, last month handed over the remains of 55 soldiers from the Korean War that it said were probably American. U.S. officials said it would take months to identify them.

While North Korea has not tested any nuclear weapons or ballistic missiles since the summit, the far more difficult goal of denuclearization has gone nowhere. On Monday, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations nuclear watchdog agency, said it had detected no signs that North Korea has begun to dismantle critical nuclear infrastructure or halt production of fissile material.

The IAEA report said Pyongyangs continued nuclear activities, including the operation of a reactor, a uranium enrichment facility and related infrastructure at the Yongbyon nuclear facility, were cause for grave concern and were clear violations of several U.N. resolutions.

North Korea has not abandoned its existing nuclear program in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner or ceased all related activities, the report said.

The IAEA also noted that it has no access to nuclear production and research sites in North Korea to carry out inspections, as Pompeo has said would be required. The agencys inspectors were kicked out of the country in 2009.

As further nuclear activities take place in the country, [the agencys] knowledge is declining, the report added.

The international 2015 Iran nuclear deal allowed the most intrusive IAEA inspections to date. But Trump walked away from that accord, saying it didnt go far enough in curtailing Tehrans support for militants in Yemen, Iraq, Lebanon and elsewhere.

Under the Iran deal, Iran gave up most of its ability to enrich uranium and disabled a reactor intended to produce plutonium, another bomb fuel. The IAEA has consistently said Iran was largely in compliance with the requirements of the accord, and the five other nations besides the U.S. that signed it have continued to abide by it.

Pompeo has repeatedly said progress was being made in North Korea, but has not offered evidence. On his last trip to Pyongyang, on July 5, he came away without new pledges of cooperation or a chance to meet with Kim, who had received him in March and June.

On Thursday, Pompeo made clear he would step aside from the day-to-day effort. He said Biegun would direct U.S. policy towards North Korea, lead negotiations with Pyongyang and spearhead diplomatic efforts with our allies and partners in the effort to produce a final, verified disarmament deal.

Russia and China, which have voted for U.N. sanctions on North Korea, have begun to ease them in the wake of the summit. The Trump administration blacklisted several Russian shipping companies for allegedly supplying North Korea with oil in violation of the sanctions.

Biegun, who spent nearly two decades working on foreign policy issues in the Senate and in the George W. Bush White House, most recently worked as vice president of international government affairs at Ford Motor Co. In his comments, Biegun made clear the challenge ahead.

The issues are tough, and they will be tough to resolve, he said. But the president has created an opening, and its one that we must take by seizing every possible opportunity to realize the vision for a peaceful future for the people of North Korea.

It wasnt immediately clear if Pompeo had simply decided that the negotiations were going nowhere and he needed to hand them off to focus on other issues. One analyst argued that Bieguns appointment suggested negotiations have reached a critical point and Pompeo needs to beef up his team.

Their visit to Pyongyang is critical to regain momentum on the stalled denuclearization talks, said Bruce Klingner, a senior fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation and former CIA deputy director for North Korea.

By all accounts, Biegun is not particularly partisan. Writing for Foreign Policy magazine in 2009, he assessed the first 100 days of the Obama presidency in glowing terms.

Many solid personnel appointments, no apparent turmoil inside the administration, no noteworthy mistakes on the international stage, and Congress is following the presidents lead, he wrote. Four years of this would be great.

Foreign policy experts praised Biegun on Thursday as sharp and talented, and no stranger to tough negotiations.

Michael McFaul, a former ambassador to Russia and frequent critic of the Trump administration, called his appointment a terrific choice for a huge, hard, important job.

Richard Fontaine, president of the Center for a New American Security think tank, with which Biegun is affiliated, said on Twitter it was hard to think of a better person to take on a harder challenge. Biegun, he added, will once again serve our country, this time tackling North Korea. Good news.

Pompeo has taken heat on Capitol Hill for the continued impasse with North Korea. Last month, he appeared before skeptical senators on the Foreign Relations Committee, who decried the absence of a coherent strategy.

Weve only seen a vague agreement of promises to make more promises, [and] of weaker commitments than North Korea has previously made, Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey, the ranking Democrat on the committee, told Pompeo. The United States and North Korea seem to remain far apart on even basic issues such as the definition of denuclearization.

On Thursday, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert defended the diplomatic effort.

Were on pretty solid footing here, she said. We continue to have conversations with them. Our goals have not changed.

Asked about the IAEA report, she said the Trump administration shared those concerns but was determined to work forward.

tracy.wilkinson@latimes.com

For more on international affairs, follow @TracyKWilkinson on TwitterThe Mormon Church has played a quiet role in the fight against an effort to legalize medical marijuana in Utah, releasing measured statements and helping to bankroll lawsuits.

But on Thursday, leaders of the powerful Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came out from behind the scenes.

We are deeply concerned by the history of other states that have allowed medical and recreational use of this drug  and have experienced serious consequences to the health of its citizens, Elder Jack N. Gerard, flanked by politicians, medical professionals and other church leaders, said at a news conference at the state Capitol.

His comments marked the first time an official from the Mormon Church  which has deep roots in business and politics in the state  has made a public appearance to voice opposition to Proposition 2, a ballot measure that voters will consider in November.

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Some observers predict that the church will ramp up its campaign against the measure with news conferences and television and radio ads.

A recent Salt Lake Tribune-Hinckley Institute of Politics poll showed two-thirds of voters in Utah support Proposition 2. But more public opposition from the church could change that in a state where more than 60% of residents identify as Mormon.

Thirty states already allow the sale and use of marijuana for medical purposes, and supporters of the Utah measure say the effort was born out of compassion for those suffering from chronic pain.

Opponents have characterized Proposition 2 as a dangerous step on the path toward legalizing recreational pot, as has occurred in eight other states, including California.

The churchs first public stance on the issue came in April, when leaders released a brief statement lauding a memo by the Utah Medical Assn. opposing the measure. The church praised the association of doctors for cautioning that the proposed Utah marijuana initiative would compromise the health and safety of Utah communities.

A month later, church leaders put out a document citing legal concerns, including significant challenges for law enforcement.

Several prominent Mormon politicians in the state, including Republican Gov. Gary R. Herbert, have also come out in opposition to Proposition 2.

On Thursday, Gerard, the high-ranking church leader, echoed the common concern that the initiative could open the way to broader legalization of marijuana and increase crime and addiction.

We want to prevent unwanted consequences in this state, he said.

Earlier this month, Walter Plumb, a well known local attorney and active member of the church, filed a lawsuit in state court arguing the ballot initiative would tread on his freedom of religion.

His religious beliefs include a strict adherence to a code of health which precludes the consumption and possession of mind-altering drugs, substances and chemicals, which includes cannabis and its various derivatives, the complaint states.

The churchs doctrine regarding health, referred to as the Word of Wisdom, asks members to abstain from alcohol, tobacco, coffee, tea and illegal drugs, though it does not directly address medical marijuana.

The court has yet rule in the case.

DJ Schanz, a Mormon and the director of the Utah Patients Coalition, the campaign spearheading the measure, said the most recent onslaught by the LDS Church to undermine our efforts to give patients relief is nothing new.

We are actually relieved that they are finally doing it in the open rather than behind the scenes, he said. We have great hope that the voters in Utah will side with patients and in favor of compassion and see through the smoke and mirrors surely to follow.

kurtis.lee@latimes.com

Twitter: @kurtisaleePresident Trump embraced a longtime white-nationalist talking point when he tweeted about alleged large scale killing of white farmers in South Africa, drawing praise Thursday from white nationalists and protests from anti-racism groups in the U.S.

I have asked Secretary of State @SecPompeo to closely study the South Africa land and farm seizures and expropriations and the large scale killing of farmers, Trump tweeted Wednesday night. Appearing to quote a Tucker Carlson segment on Fox News, Trump wrote the South African Government is now seizing land from white farmers.

For the record: An earlier version of this article said the capital of South Africa is Johannesburg. It is Pretoria.

South Africas government immediately protested Trumps remark, writing on Twitter that South Africa totally rejects this narrow perception which only seeks to divide our nation and reminds us of our colonial past.

Trumps tweet drew applause from white nationalists in the U.S., who have strongly supported his presidency due to his tough stances on immigration and his past reluctance to denounce far-right figures.

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Thank you! tweeted David Duke, a former Ku Klux Klan leader, later adding an image that said, Stop White Genocide, with the hashtag #SouthAfrica. Duke has strongly praised Trump in the past, including after last years violent rally in Charlottesville, Va., when Trump struggled to criticize white nationalists who clashed with anti-racism protesters.

Land reform is a complicated issue in South Africa, and violence is also a serious problem. But experts say white nationalists and other far-right figures in the U.S. and abroad have conflated the issues to push a message of white genocide happening in South Africa.

The claim had long percolated on the far-right before appearing on Fox News and in the White House, which is what made its sudden appearance on Trumps Twitter feed striking to anti-racism groups.

This is a white supremacist talking point, the Anti-Defamation League said in a statement on Twitter. For years theyve campaigned to stop white genocide in South Africa & made false claims about race-based killings of white South African farmers.

I have asked Secretary of State @SecPompeo to closely study the South Africa land and farm seizures and expropriations and the large scale killing of farmers. South African Government is now seizing land from white farmers. @TuckerCarlson @FoxNews  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 23, 2018

For decades, South Africa has struggled to correct the legacy of apartheid, in which a white ruling minority  the descendants of European colonialists  had denied black South Africans various rights and access to farmland.

Today, black South Africans make up 80% of the population but own just 4% of the countrys land. The government, dominated by the African National Congress since 1994, has pursued policies seeking to transfer white-owned farmland to black owners, often meeting failure.

South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa has suggested amending the constitution to allow uncompensated seizures by the government.

South Africa has a high overall homicide rate compared to other countries, and farmers have sometimes been victims of violence. But a recent report by a consortium of agricultural associations said that the number of farmers killed from 2017 to 2018  47  was actually at a 20-year low.

The issue has been closely followed in the U.S. by white nationalists and far-right figures, who have hyped stories of black-on-white violence in South Africa, as they often do in the U.S., to help push their political messages about the need for white power.

Opening up space to talk about White South Africans  giving his base the permission to seriously discuss White dispossession  is a monumental achievement, tweeted Richard Spencer, a prominent white nationalist.

Spencer added a caveat: Ill remain critical of all this because Trump is effectively live-tweeting Fox News, and he has simply not been effective at implementing policies that reflect his defining ideas.

South African experts and political figures largely denounced Trumps large scale killing tweet.

People are not being targeted because of their race, but because they are vulnerable and isolated on the farms, Gareth Newham, head of the crime and justice program at the Institute for Security Studies in the capital, Pretoria, told the Associated Press.

He is part of the right-wing lynch mob using the fear factor in order for us to maintain the status quo, Zizi Kodwa, a member of the ruling partys national executive committee, told the Associated Press. Donald Trump is a weapon of mass destruction.

A former U.S. ambassador to South Africa under the Obama administration, Patrick Gaspard, accused Trump of using a disproven racial myth to distract the public from the recent guilty plea and criminal conviction of close political associates Michael Cohen and Paul Manafort.

But AfriForum, a group that represents some white South African interests, welcomed Trumps tweet.

Everyone in South Africa should hope that the pressure from the USA will lead to the [ruling party] reconsidering the disastrous route that they want to take South Africa on, AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel said in a statement, according to the AP.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

matt.pearce@latimes.com

Matt Pearce is a national reporter for The Times. Follow him on Twitter at @mattdpearce.

More national headlinesGood morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter. Its Thursday, Aug. 23, and heres whats happening across California:

TOP STORIES

Santa Clara County firefighters were critically hindered by inadequate internet service while they helped battle the massive Mendocino Complex fire in July after Verizon slowed the speed of their wireless data, the countys fire chief wrote in a federal court filing this week. While the agency believed it had paid for an unlimited data plan, the Santa Clara County Fire Department discovered its data connection had been throttled down to 1/200 or less than previous speeds as it fought the largest fire in modern California history. Verizon Wireless representatives told the department it had exceeded its plan limit for data and suggested the agency purchase a plan at more than double the cost, according to court documents. Los Angeles Times

Plus: What evacuees took when they escaped the fires, and what they left behind. Los Angeles Times

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More on the Hunter indictment

The indictment of Rep. Duncan D. Hunter and his wife Tuesday has suddenly turned his normally safe Republican House seat into a competitive race in a midterm election that was already looking grim for the GOP. Democrats across the nation had already been portraying President Trumps Republican Party as a swamp of corruption. Los Angeles Times

And: What people are saying about the Hunter indictment. San Diego Union-Tribune

An olive branch in Anaheim

Amid growing animosity between Anaheim and Walt Disney Co., the president of the media giants Disneyland Resort asked the city to end all tax incentive deals in hopes of promoting cooperation and goodwill. The move marks an end to the way Disney has long done business in the hometown of its original theme park. By eliminating certain tax agreements, Disney may be ensuring that it isnt affected by a Nov. 6 ballot measure that, if passed, would require the resort to pay all its workers a living wage. Los Angeles Times

Get the Essential California newsletter 

Los Angeles city firefighters battle a structure fire in a commercial building in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday morning. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

L.A. STORIES

Happy birthday, Pete Wilson: Columnist Gustavo Arellano writes that the former governor made California what it is today. Los Angeles Times

Scary: A fire broke out in a commercial business in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday morning, triggering a large response from firefighters and shutting down streets. Los Angeles Times

Great story: This doctor treats LAUSDs newly arrived immigrants. She was once one of them. LAist

IMMIGRATION AND THE BORDER

Big in Mexico: She spent five years in jail or under house arrest on highly publicized corruption charges. But Elba Esther Gordillo, a former powerbroker as head of the major Mexican teachers union, made a defiant comeback this week. Los Angeles Times

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Got milk (or water)?: California lawmakers gave final approval Tuesday to a bill requiring water or milk as the primary choices for childrens meals in the state, an effort designed to combat the health effects of sugary drinks. Los Angeles Times

In D.C.: Maternal mortality rates in the U.S. have risen steadily. Sen. Kamala Harris has a plan to change that. Los Angeles Times

In S.D.: In the past year, Mayor Kevin Faulconers approach on addressing homelessness has shifted dramatically, but hes continued to face setbacks, including his latest ballot measure failure. Voice of San Diego

In S.F.: Mayor London Breed, who won her election largely on a promise to clean up the city, is stepping up efforts to scrub San Franciscos streets, including playing a bit of cat and mouse with her own city department heads. San Francisco Chronicle

Plus: When she was married to gubernatorial candidate Gavin Newsom, Kimberly Guilfoyle was once compared to Jackie Kennedy. Now shes basically a Trump. Washington Post

Budget problems: California cities and counties have too few cops and too many wildfires to get a handle on their soaring overtime budgets. Sacramento Bee

CRIME AND COURTS

Eek: Maywood Mayor Ramon Medina was found guilty of neglecting his sick dog that he kept at his auto repair shop in 2015, according to the Los Angeles County district attorneys office. Los Angeles Times

Really sad: At least three Rancho Cucamonga-area students killed themselves in August, but there is no apparent link between the deaths, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department. Los Angeles Times

Atomwaffen update: The attorney for a 21-year-old white supremacist who allegedly killed a former classmate because he was gay is saying his client has struggled with his own sexuality and autism spectrum disorder. BuzzFeed

THE ENVIRONMENT

Live at City Hall: Under a new plan being floated at City Hall, officials could try to block the reopening of a South Los Angeles oil site where neighbors once complained of nausea, nosebleeds and other ailments. Los Angeles Times

CALIFORNIA CULTURE

Exciting: A sequel to Crazy Rich Asians, based on the second book in author Kevin Kwans series of three, is in the works. Los Angeles Times

Lamar Odom: I had 12 strokes and six heart attacks when I was in a coma. Los Angeles Times

Not so sweet: The rising minimum wage is a welcome development for hourly workers, but it carries a price for employers and consumers. Case in point: Cheesecake Factory Inc. Los Angeles Times

Yum! Beating the citys summer heat in Koreatown with boiling chicken ginseng soup. L.A. Taco

CALIFORNIA ALMANAC

Los Angeles area: sunny, 81, Thursday; partly cloudy, 80, Friday. San Diego: partly cloudy, 78, Thursday and Friday. San Francisco area: partly cloudy, 64, Thursday; partly cloudy, 62, Friday. San Jose: partly cloudy, 78, Thursday; partly cloudy, 77, Friday. Sacramento: partly cloudy, 84, Thursday; partly cloudy, 86, Friday. More weather is here.

AND FINALLY

Todays California memory comes from Paul Luthra:

This is my story of how I got to California. At age 5, the family took refuge in India from an area that became part of newborn Pakistan. Settling in India was hard. There was a period of finding a place to live, and then my father succumbed to tuberculosis. I can count 32 places in India where we lived. Finally in 1972 I landed in Rochester, N.Y., for a PhD. In 1980 we ended up in Morgan Hill, Calif., via Niagara Falls, N.Y., and Dayton, Ohio. We were received very warmly in California and declared it to be the final home state. What a beautiful state!

If you have a memory or story about the Golden State, share it with us. Send us an email to let us know what you love or fondly remember about our state. (Please keep your story to 100 words.)

Please let us know what we can do to make this newsletter more useful to you. Send comments, complaints and ideas to Benjamin Oreskes and Shelby Grad. Also follow them on Twitter @boreskes and @shelbygrad.So far this calendar year, the nation has seen 15 school shootings in which at least one person was killed. Overall, 32 people have died, including 10 people in May at Santa Fe High School near Houston, and 17 people in February at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., according to a running tally kept by Education Week. Every such act of violence is tragic, and the scope of the mass shootings has shocked the nation.

Against the greater backdrop of American gun violence, however  5,627 non-suicide firearm deaths last year and 9,395 so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive  the risk of gun-wielders attacking schools is low. Yet some states, driven by the National Rifle Assn. mentality that a fully armed America is a safer America (its not), have passed laws allowing teachers and staffs at schools to carry or have access to firearms.

And now Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is reportedly contemplating using federal education aid to pay for those guns. Specifically, the plan reportedly under consideration would exploit a loophole in a 2015 education reform law to let local districts buy guns using federal grant money earmarked for academic enrichment and student services.

Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion 

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Thats a foolish and dangerous idea for protecting students against shooters in their classrooms. Police experts warn that adding more guns to a chaotic and violent scene would increase danger because arriving police would have no idea whether an armed person they encounter is a bad guy with a gun or a good guidance counselor with a gun.

According to the reports, some Education Department officials think that because the law creating Student Support and Academic Enrichment grants does not specifically say those dollars cant be used to buy firearms (unlike some other education grant laws), then local authorities should be free to use that money to buy guns for staffers. How many times has President Trump decried loopholes? And now his Education Department thinks it has found one large enough to shove a case of semiautomatic handguns through? And how exactly does buying guns meet the programs objective of helping provide a well-rounded education and improve learning conditions and digital literacy in schools?

Its possible that the internal discussions will go nowhere  policymakers float all sorts of ideas that never come to fruition, often because of cost, politics or legal issues. In this instance, its unclear whether the administration has indeed found a legal way to let school districts buy guns with federal tax dollars, but to do so would clearly flout the spirit of the 2015 Every Student Succeeds Act and reverse longstanding federal policy. Of course, this current Congress isnt likely to reaffirm the intent it expressed a mere three years ago, given the inordinate sway the NRA holds over the body. But the public should not stand for a program that, rather than protecting students, may well endanger them.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or FacebookSouth Korea considered ending a visa waiver for Thais that has been in effect since 1981 because of the current influx of refugees and illegal immigrants, a government source said Wednesday.

Back in June, when xenophobia reached fever pitch due to the arrival of dozens of Yemeni refugees on Jeju Island, the Justice Ministry considered suspending or canceling the visa waiver for some nationals who are prone to outstaying their welcome.

Thais topped the list since they make up an estimated 100,000 of about 310,000 illegal immigrants in South Korea.

Under the waiver, Thai tourists can stay here for 90 days without a visa. Last year, 498,511 Thais came to the country, the largest number among visitors from Southeast Asia and sixth after China, Japan, Taiwan, the U.S. and Hong Kong.

An estimated 65,000 Thais have stayed beyond the 90-day limit, according to Statistics Korea. The ministry believes many of them take illegal jobs in bars and massage parlors.

But the Justice Ministry relented in the face of opposition from the Foreign Ministry, which argued that Thailand is a major partner in South Korea's foreign policy and a main stopover on the escape route of North Korean defectors.

If Seoul unilaterally suspended the reciprocal visa waiver, this could have caused a diplomatic dispute with Thailand, a major destination for 1.71 million South Korean tourists last year.

To the editor: The U.S. Air Force has had a mixed past in regard to the imposition of fundamentalist Christian principles on the rank and file.

Brig. Gen. E. John Teichert, the installation commander at Edwards Air Force Base who created a website promoting his brand of Christianity, should know that his faith is not under attack. It is simply getting pushback when it crosses a line drawn by our Constitution. No Christians are being martyred in America; they are only challenged to engage in dialogue by those who reject the sola scriptura literalism that folks like the general impose as their brand of truth.

Our nations founding principles are not biblical. While our founding fathers believed in God, they built a firewall into the Constitution to prevent the creation of a theocracy in America.

Teichert is a Christian nationalist whose fundamentalist zeal is not only misplaced, but presumes that all of us must believe as he believes.

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Ted Furlow, Long Beach

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and FacebookTo the editor: While the science behind the $289-million verdict against chemical and seed-maker Monsanto might not be sound, as Michael Hiltzik exhaustively explains, the politics and sentiment are deeply rooted.

This is a company that mercilessly pushed its product and its genetically modified seeds on American agriculture, ruining anybody who would not conform. We have Monsanto to thank for Clarence Thomas, the former lawyer for the company who now sits on the U.S. Supreme Court.

The real shame is that Bayer, a somewhat respectable German firm, bought this poison pill and will be held accountable for damages caused by the practices and products that Monsanto pushed. The ones who should be paying are the Monsanto executives who cashed out just before the bomb dropped.

Niels Goerrissen, Harbor City

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..

To the editor: Thanks to Hiltzik for speaking up for science. Regardless of how you feel about Monsanto, the science is clear on glyphosate and cancer.

Organizations like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the European Food Safety Authority, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, Health Canada, New Zealands National Poisons Centre and the European Chemicals Agency have each found no link to cancer.

The sole outlier has been the WHOs International Agency for Research on Cancer, which was reported to have fudged its findings to show that glyphosate poses a cancer risk (but not a link). It put glyphosate in the same risk category as working night shifts, and you dont see 24-hour operations being sued for causing cancer.

Richard Green, Ventura

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and FacebookThe young attorney decided the president deserved to be forced from office for his pattern of revolting behavior and the sheer number of his wrongful acts.

The president has disgraced his office. He has lied to his aides. He has lied to the American people, Brett Kavanaugh wrote in a 1998 memo to his colleagues. Im strongly opposed to giving [him] any break  unless he either resigns or  issues a public apology.

Kavanaugh, a fast-rising Republican legal star, then 33, went back to work on a 132-page memo to his boss, independent counsel Kenneth Starr, that outlined the grounds for impeaching President Clinton.

It was 20 years ago this month that Kavanaugh, President Trumps Supreme Court nominee, set out his broad view of obstruction of justice and of what constitutes an impeachable offense, arguing the president could be removed from office even for a rarely charged crime  in this case, lying under oath in a civil deposition, to deny a sexual affair with a 22-year-old White House intern. By repeating false stories for months, lying to the public and his aides, trying to cover up the affair with Monica Lewinsky and helping her find a job in New York, the president, Kavanaugh argued, engaged in a conspiracy to obstruct justice.

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Now as Kavanaugh prepares to go before the Senate on Sept. 4 for his confirmation hearing, there is again talk of impeachment in Washington.

Full coverage: Where Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh stands on the issues 

This week, President Trump was implicated in a scheme to pay hush money shortly before the 2016 election to two women to cover up sexual affairs. His own former attorney, Michael Cohen, has pleaded guilty to violating campaign finance laws and accused Trump of directing him to make the payments. Trump has publicly denied the womens claims and denied knowing about the secret payments in advance, though he can be heard on tape discussing how to make them.

Trump is also under investigation by Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III for possible collusion between his campaign and Russia, and obstruction of justice in trying to hinder that probe.

The Kavanaugh argument in the Starr Report is highly relevant now, says New York lawyer David R. Lurie, because it portrayed a presidents false statements and public denials as reflecting a pattern of obstructing justice. If investigators wanted a template for charging the president with acts of obstruction meriting impeachment, they could do worse than using sections of the Starr Report drafted by Kavanaugh, Lurie said.

The Constitution says the president can be impeached for treason, bribery and other high crimes and misdemeanors. While scholars disagree on how to define an offense that warrants impeachment, most maintain it involves a significant abuse of power by the president.

In 1974, President Nixon faced impeachment for obstruction of justice for arranging to pay hush money to the burglars who broke into the Watergate offices of the Democratic National Committee, and for intervening with the CIA and the FBI to thwart the investigation.

Starrs investigators did not have evidence that Clinton used the machinery of the U.S. government to cover up his crimes as Nixon did. They did, however, have evidence he had lied when questioned under oath by lawyers for Paula Jones, who had sued him for sexual harassment.

Critics of President Trump say he could be vulnerable to obstruction of justice charges for firing FBI Director James B. Comey over the Russia probe and for drafting a misleading statement about a Trump Tower meeting with a Russian lawyer during the 2016 campaign. Mueller has not alleged any legal wrongdoing by the president. Trump has repeatedly denied that his campaign coordinated with Russias covert effort to defeat Hillary Clinton.

If confirmed to the Supreme Court, Kavanaugh would not likely face the question of what warrants impeachment. That is a question for Congress. But some legal experts say the Starr Reports roadmap could influence a future congressional debate if Trump faces impeachment.

If the presidents telling a false story to the public or to his secretary is an impeachable offense, how is that different from the president tweeting a false story? It could be a signal to witnesses, said University of Chicago law professor Daniel Hemel. You can imagine [Senate Minority Leader Charles E.] Schumer turning to the Republicans and saying, We should rely on the Kavanaugh argument for impeachment. Of course, [Kavanaugh] wont have a vote, but if there is an impeachment, Kavanaugh would be looming in the background.

In 1994, after Kavanaugh finished a one-year clerkship at the Supreme Court, Starr recruited him to join his investigation of Clinton and the Whitewater land deal in Arkansas. He spent three years re-investigating the suicide of White House deputy counsel Vince Foster. Conspiracy theorists had alleged Foster may have been murdered to cover-up Bill and Hillary Clintons role in Whitewater. Kavanaugh and Starrs staff concluded his death was indeed a suicide.

Kavanaugh briefly left the counsels staff, but returned in the spring of 1998 as the prospect of impeachment loomed. For the first time in his career, he would play a major role in a high-stakes constitutional clash.

Kavanaugh voiced disgust with Clinton and said he found his behavior abhorrent. The day before the president was set to testify before the grand jury, Kavanaugh urged his colleagues to ask the president highly explicit questions about sex acts to prove he had lied in the earlier deposition.

It may not be our job to impose sanctions on him, but it is our job to make his pattern of revolting behavior clear  piece by painful piece  on Monday, he wrote in a memo released this week by the National Archives.

Clinton had continued to deny his affair with Lewinsky, in public and in private. Kavanaugh argued that the presidents repeated false statements amounted to obstruction of justice and witness tampering because his statements could influence the grand jury. He cited Clintons refusal to testify for seven months as grounds for impeachment, even after the president had changed his position and testified.

Andrew D. Leipold, a University of Illinois law professor who worked on the Starr Report, said that while Kavanaugh drafted the impeachment articles, everyone knew this was a report that reflected the views of the office and ultimately of Ken Starr.

Clintons defenders and most Democrats questioned whether the presidents lies and cover-up amounted to a high crime warranting impeachment.

Leipold said the final decision rested with Congress. Was the referral aggressive in setting forth the grounds for impeachment? Some people say yes, Leipold said. I wont say everything was right, but I think we set forth truthful allegations. And what constitutes a high crime is a political question for Congress.

Critics alleged Starrs investigation was driven by partisan politics. They were political warriors and Federalist Society true believers, said Nelson W. Cunningham, a former federal prosecutor and a White House lawyer under Clinton. Starr had not been a prosecutor, and Kavanaugh had no credentials as a prosecutor or investigator. They were on a mission to bring down the president. No ordinary citizen would be charged for lying in a civil deposition denying an affair.

In the November election, Democrats surprised political analysts by winning five seats, prompting House Speaker Newt Gingrich to resign. But the Republicans opted to press forward in December and rejected calls to pursue a less aggressive path by censuring Clinton instead. On a largely party-line vote, the House approved impeaching Clinton for perjury and obstruction of justice.

A conviction required a two-thirds vote in the Senate, and to no ones surprise, the president was acquitted in February 1999. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), now the majority leader, and then-Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), now the attorney general, were among the Republicans who voted to remove Clinton for obstructing justice.

In his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee next month, Kavanaugh will face several other veteran lawmakers who played roles in the Clinton impeachment drama. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) was one of the House members who argued for ousting the president, and Sens. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) voted for conviction.

Schumer fought the charges in the House and then voted to acquit Clinton as a newly elected senator. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.) and Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.) also were among the Democrats who voted to acquit the president.

The latest from Washington 

More stories from David G. Savage 

david.savage@latimes.com

Twitter: DavidGSavageThe National Enquirer kept a safe containing documents on hush money payments and other damaging stories it killed as part of its cozy relationship with Donald Trump leading up to the 2016 presidential election, people familiar with the arrangement told The Associated Press.

The detail came as several media outlets reported on Thursday that federal prosecutors had granted immunity to National Enquirer chief David Pecker, potentially laying bare his efforts to protect his longtime friend Trump.

President Trumps former lawyer Michael Cohen pleaded guilty this week to campaign finance violations alleging he, Trump and the tabloid were involved in buying the silence of a porn actress and a Playboy model who alleged affairs with Trump.

Several people familiar with the National Enquirers parent company, American Media Inc., who spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because they signed nondisclosure agreements, said the safe was a great source of power for Pecker, the companys chief executive.

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The Trump records were stored alongside similar documents pertaining to other celebrities catch-and-kill deals, in which exclusive rights to peoples stories were bought with no intention of publishing to keep them out of the news. By keeping celebrities embarrassing secrets, the company was able to ingratiate itself with them and ask for favors in return.

But after the Wall Street Journal initially published the first details of Playboy model Karen McDougals catch-and-kill deal shortly before the 2016 election, those assets became a liability. Fearful that the documents might be used against American Media, Pecker and the companys chief content officer, Dylan Howard, removed them from the safe in the weeks before Trumps inauguration, according to one person directly familiar with the events.

The AP cannot say whether the documents were destroyed or simply were moved to a location known to fewer people.

American Media did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Peckers immunity deal was first reported Thursday by Vanity Fair and the Journal, citing anonymous sources. Vanity Fair reported that Howard also was granted immunity.

Court papers in the Cohen case say Pecker offered to help deal with negative stories about [Trumps] relationships with women by, among other things, assisting the campaign in identifying such stories so they could be purchased and their publication avoided.

The Journal reported Pecker shared with prosecutors details about payments that Cohen says Trump directed in the weeks and months before the election to buy the silence of McDougal and another woman alleging an affair, porn star Stormy Daniels. Daniels was paid $130,000, and McDougal was paid $150,000.

Although Trump denies the affairs, his account of his knowledge of the payments has shifted. In April, Trump denied he knew anything about the Daniels payment. He told Fox News in an interview aired Thursday that he knew about payments later on.

In July, Cohen released an audio tape in which he and Trump discussed plans to buy McDougals story from the Enquirer. Such a purchase was necessary, they suggested, to prevent Trump from having to permanently rely on a tight relationship with the tabloid.

You never know where that company  you never know what hes gonna be " Cohen says.

Maybe he gets hit by a truck, Trump says.

Correct, Cohen replies. So, Im all over that.

Pecker is cooperating with federal prosecutors now, but American Media previously declined to participate in congressional inquiries.

In March, in response to a letter from a group of House Democrats about the Daniels and McDougal payments, American Media general counsel Cameron Stracher declined to provide any documents, writing that the company was exempt from U.S. campaign finance laws because it is a news publisher and it was confident it had complied with all tax laws. He also rebuffed any suggestion that America Media Inc., or AMI, had leverage over the president because of its catch-and-kill practices.

AMI states unequivocally that any suggestion that it would seek to extort the President of the United States through the exercise of its editorial discretion is outrageous, offensive, and wholly without merit, Stracher wrote in a letter obtained by the Associated Press.

Former Enquirer employees who spoke to the AP said that negative stories about Trump were dead on arrival dating back more than a decade when he starred on NBCs reality show The Apprentice.

In 2010, at Cohens urging, the National Enquirer began promoting a potential Trump presidential candidacy, referring readers to a pro-Trump website Cohen helped create. With Cohens involvement, the publication began questioning President Obamas birthplace and American citizenship in print, an effort that Trump promoted for several years, former staffers said.

The Enquirer endorsed Trump for president in 2016, the first time it had ever officially backed a candidate. In the news pages, Trumps coverage was so favorable that the New Yorker magazine said the Enquirer embraced him with sycophantic fervor.

Positive headlines for Trump were matched by negative stories about his opponents, including Hillary Clinton: An Enquirer front page from 2015 said Hillary: 6 Months to Live and accompanied the headline with a picture of an unsmiling Clinton with bags under her eyes.After the guilty verdicts came down against Paul Manafort on Tuesday, President Trump was quick to note that his former campaign chairman had worked for Ronald Reagan and many other Republicans, implying that anyone in politics would have hired him, despite Manaforts later reputation for operating in lobbyings darker corners.

What about the illegal preelection payments that Trumps former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen admitted to in a separate federal court that day, intended to hush two women alleging affairs with Trump? No more a crime than a minor campaign finance violation by the 2008 Obama campaign, Trump tweeted on Wednesday.

Similarly, earlier this month Trump again dismissed suspicions about his sons 2016 meeting with a Kremlin-connected operative offering dirt on Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. Totally legal and done all the time in politics, he falsely tweeted.

Trump has long promulgated an especially dark image of politics as-usual in America. During his campaign, he bragged of buying politicians and said that only he could end the corrupt scheming because he had seen firsthand how the system is rigged against our citizens.

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Yet his oft-stated view that politicians are generally corrupt and purely transactional may have colored the conduct of Trump and those around him, resulting in actions that could imperil his presidency.

He thought they were stupid, said longtime business associate Barbara Res, who worked with Trump in the 1980s and 1990s, speaking of his view of the politicians he lobbied on real estate matters. He thought they were all for sale.

Michael Gerson, a former speech writer for George W. Bush and a frequent Trump critic, labeled Trumps White House the everybody does it presidency in a recent Washington Post column.

Doesnt every campaign try to conspire with a hostile foreign government to influence an American presidential election? Doesnt every politician try to discredit and derail a federal investigation against them? Doesnt every prominent man pay off Playboy bunnies and porn stars after he has used and discarded them? Gerson wrote.

He answered: No. They. Dont.

On Wednesday, following Manaforts conviction and Cohens guilty plea, many in Trumps orbit were calling this the most difficult moment of his presidency. Some were consoling themselves that even if impeachment talk is accelerating, the bar for actually removing the president is high, and the partisan politics in a Congress currently controlled by Republicans make it unlikely.

Most of them, Im sure, were all hoping that someday soon the Russia investigation would go away, said Barry Bennett, a former campaign advisor to Trump. Now it seems the Russia part has gone away but the investigation goes on.

On Twitter early Wednesday, Trump expressed sympathy for Manafort, and praise that hed refused to break and cooperate with the investigation of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III into possible campaign collusion with Russia and obstruction of justice. He tweeted more scornfully of Cohen, who implicated the president in the crime Cohen admitted to and offered to cooperate more broadly with Muellers inquiry.

Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders dodged reporters questions on Wednesday about Trumps legal culpability and allegedly false statements in the past about the Cohen payments to a porn star and a Playboy model.

He did nothing wrong. There are no charges against him, she said several times. Just because Michael Cohen made a plea deal, that doesnt mean it implicates the president in anything.

Former White House staffers, demanding anonymity to avoid burning bridges to the administration, expressed relief that they no longer worked for Trump, recalling other tough moments in his tumultuous presidency.

You just never knew what he was going to do, but usually it would make things worse, said one former aide.

Several current and former advisors say that Trump  schooled in a hardball politics by his long-ago mentor Roy Cohn, the bare-knuckles lawyer of McCarthy-era notoriety  is now motivated by grievances about perceived double standards, as one put it, as he fights to maintain support from his loyal Republican base.

Theres a lot of what-about-ism, and its like Obama did X, Y and Z and now Im getting yelled at, said a former White House official.

That attitude can sometimes be because he doesnt appreciate the very important legal nuances, the former official added. Trump tends to over-simplify things, the official said. Thats just his nature as a salesman.

Fox News and other conservative media have done their part to amplify Trumps frustrations, repeating Trumps claims that the investigations are a witch hunt, that others have done worse and that Clinton is the one who should be investigated.

During the campaign, Trump said politicians were controlled completely by their donors, by Wall Street and by lobbyists working for foreign governments. He suggested that the rich and powerful  like himself  could do whatever they wanted when it comes to politics.

I was a businessman. I give to everybody, he said during one Republican primary debate. When they call, I give. And do you know what? When I need something from them two years later, three years later, I call them. They are there for me.

Another former White House official said Trump holds the view that hes never gotten in trouble for this kind of stuff his whole career and now theyre coming after him because hes president, and that hes done stuff a lot of people do and that hes being singled out.

Trumps view on Manafort, who faces a second trial next month on charges related to his lobbying for a since-ousted Ukrainian strongman, is that this stuff isnt legal per se, but everyone does it  its how the world works, the former official said.

Manafort was convicted on a total of eight charges of tax and bank fraud and failure to disclose a foreign bank account. The jury failed to reach a verdict on 10 additional counts.

Trumps sense that he is being singled out ignores a long record of others travails. Clinton faced damaging investigations throughout her political career. Her husband, as president, was impeached by the House after a lengthy investigation. And other politicians of both parties have faced career-ending criminal charges. Among them was former presidential candidate Sen. John Edwards, a Democrat who was indicted for using campaign dollars to cover up an affair, a case that ended in a mistrial.

Though Trump has repeatedly hammered the Clintons, he has showed a measure of compassion for Edwards. I have never been a fan of John Edwards but it is time for the govt to focus on more important things, Trump tweeted in 2012.

Trump went further in forgiving another Democrats illegal conduct as business as usual. In May, he floated the possibility of curtailing the 14-year prison sentence of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, whod been a contestant on Trumps Celebrity Apprentice reality television show. Blagojevich was convicted in 2011 of corruption for essentially seeking to sell the Senate seat Obama vacated when he became president.

The long prison sentence was really unfair, Trump said in May. Blagojevich was being punished, he added, simply for being stupid and saying things that every other politician  you know that many other politicians say.

Follow the latest news of the Trump administration on Essential Washington 

noah.bierman@latimes.com | Twitter: @noahbiermanRaising the prospect of his own impeachment, President Trump warned during a television interview Thursday that his removal from office would hurt the economy.

If I ever got impeached, I think the market would crash, Trump said during an interview with a Fox and Friends host that was conducted Wednesday and broadcast on the show Thursday morning.

I think everybody would be very poor. Because without this thinking, he continued, pointing a finger at his head, you would see, you would see numbers that you wouldnt believe in reverse.

I dont know how you can impeach somebody whos done a great job, the president said.

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The interview was recorded just before Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders staccato performance on Wednesday in the White House briefing room, where she asserted repeatedly that Trump did nothing wrong. She was responding to questions about the stunning events of Tuesday, when Michael Cohen, the presidents long-time fixer and lawyer, pleaded guilty to felonies and implicated the president, and Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort was convicted by a jury of fraud and tax evasion.

Cohen claimed in a Manhattan federal court that Trump directed him to pay hush money in the final weeks of the 2016 presidential election to women claiming to have had affairs with Trump.

Because Justice Department policy holds that a president cannot be indicted while in office, Cohens claim has prompted rising talk about the prospect of Trumps impeachment, just two months ahead of Novembers midterm election to decide which party controls Congress. Democrats capture of a House majority, as many observers predict, would greatly increase the likelihood of Trumps impeachment.

In the interview, Trump complained about Cohen pleading guilty and lamented that his former fixer, who once claimed hed take a bullet for his boss, has turned against him. Its called flipping and it almost ought to be illegal, Trump said.

He suggested that Cohen, who faces four to five years in prison for tax evasion, bank fraud and violating campaign finance law by the hush-money payments, took a plea deal to receive a shorter sentence.

They go from 10 years to theyre a national hero, he said. They have a statue erected in their honor. Its not a fair thing.

In contrast, Trump praised Manafort, who has not cooperated with investigators and remains jailed. With Manafort facing years in prison on his conviction, speculation has risen that he might cut a deal to cooperate with prosecutors as he prepares for a second trial next month on charges related to his lobbying on behalf of a former government in Ukraine.

The latest from Washington 

eli.stokols@latimes.com

@EliStokolsTwo indisputable truths await the Southern California constituents of Rep. Duncan Hunter on election day in November: The indicted Republican lawmaker will remain on the ballot, and there wont be any way for voters to write in the name of someone different.

Hunter and his wife face allegations of using campaign money to fund lavish personal expenses. Despite the charges brought against him, the GOP incumbent will face off on the Nov. 6 ballot with Democrat Ammar Campa-Najjar.

But there can be no write-in candidate in the 50th Congressional District, nor in any other state or regional race. In the early hours after Hunters indictment, some suggested the ban on an impromptu candidacy was perhaps an unintended consequence of Californias top-two primary system.

No, it was entirely intentional. The change was tucked deep inside a political compromise that gave birth to one of the most sweeping changes to the states elections.

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In the hours before sunrise on Feb. 19, 2009, sleep-deprived members of the California Legislature approved a deal erasing a $41-billion budget deficit. The decisive vote was cast by a Santa Barbara GOP state Sen. Abel Maldonado after Democrats agreed to his demand for a new kind of statewide primary.

Californias major political parties feared the top-two primary but emerged as powerful as before 

Maldonados proposal, drafted by a bipartisan group of election reformers, would allow only the two candidates with the most votes to advance to November. Legislators placed the proposal on the June 2010 ballot.

Little noticed in the hoopla, though, was a second bill approved that night that was sold merely as a statute to implement the primary rules. It included this provision: A person whose name has been written on the ballot as a write-in candidate at the general election for a voter-nominated office shall not be counted.

Write-in candidates are still allowed in June primaries; they were only banned in November elections. Steve Peace, a Democrat who termed out of the Legislature in 2002, was part of the group that drafted both documents. He says reformers were not united in the decision to exclude write-in candidates.

I disagreed with that, Peace said Wednesday. I think its the fundamental right of a voter to be able to write somebodys name in.

Supporters of the ban, though, worried that political party leaders would try to rush in at the last minute with a write-in candidate and a well-funded campaign to get another bite at the apple in November  injecting a third candidate into what voters had been promised would be a two-person race.

After all, Peace points out, the Democratic and Republican parties hated the top-two primary, a change he likened to taking out the two most powerful political corporations on the planet.

In November 2010, the last election under the old rules, there were 33 write-in candidates for California contests, including races for governor and Congress. None received more than a smattering of votes. Winning a campaign as a write-in candidate is one of the most uphill battles in all of politics.

But it does offer voters one final Hail Mary, the kind of eleventh-hour option that could be used should something happen to one of the two candidates in a race  death usually comes to mind in most hypotheticals, not so much a criminal indictment as in the case of Hunter, who is running for a sixth term in Congress.

Some, including Peace, believe the 2009 state law is unconstitutional. But there have been no takers when it comes to a lawsuit. Should that change, one key point undoubtedly will be made in court: Stripping voters of the chance to scribble in someones name might not have been the end of the world, but it was most certainly intentional.

john.myers@latimes.com

Follow @johnmyers on Twitter, sign up for our daily Essential Politics newsletter and listen to the weekly California Politics PodcastPeople often ask me whether good grammar is important. Theres usually a subtext to their question. Its, Validate all the sweat and effort Ive put into learning how to speak and write properly.

My pat answer tends to disappoint: Proper grammar is like a nice suit. It might be crucial when applying for that dream job, but you can ditch the starched-shirt formality if youre going to a backyard barbecue.

Today, I stand corrected. Turns out good grammar and even 10th-grade writing skills are immaterial to one of the most important jobs in the country provided that, along with your resume, you send a mountain of cash.

Behold the language skills of a man accused in federal court of slipping $16 million of other peoples money to one Paul Manafort, while simultaneously seeking a job as Secretary of the U.S. Army.

Stephen M. Calk, trusted custodian of depositors savings at Chicagos Federal Savings Bank  an institution focused on serving veterans with home loans and the like  submitted his application materials to Manafort well after the latter was officially removed from the presidential team.

This was around the same time he approved $16 million in loans to Manafort.

In his job application materials, Calk listed the prospective roles he might assume, except he spelled them perspective rolls. Calk continued to misspell roles elsewhere in the employment paperwork, with the exception of a passage whose wording was identical to that of a Wikipedia entry.

Regarding Calks handpicked subordinates to help him run the U.S. Army, Calk wrote that he can have them on boarded within 30 days. Perhaps theyre a highly qualified bunch, but we can safely bet none has a proofreading background.

The document was titled Qualification Memorandum on Behalf of Stephen M. Calk Articulating His Qualifications to Serve as the 22nd Secretary of the Army, which is very helpful for any reader who doesnt know that a qualification memorandum articulates qualifications.

Calk also wrote that his own financial acumen, academic proficiency and national reputation is without equal, leaving us to wonder what type of academic proficiency eschews subject-verb agreement.

The remainder of the application materials leave an inquisitive reader wondering whether Calk ever bribed a freshman English teacher.

Yet he sure has gone far in life, making it to chief executive of an institution focused on lending to veterans then courageously handing a substantial fraction of that banks lendable assets to Manafort, whos not a veteran.

Calks inarticulate bid for Secretary of the Army shot straight up the chain of command. Manafort sent Calks application to not-yet-disgraced Rick Gates, who sent it to Jared Kushner, who emailed the reply: On it!

So kids, if anyone tells you language skills are important to getting ahead in this world, you can just shout Youre wrong! while waving around $16 million of veterans money.

True, there are powerful people out there  people who may hold your fate in their hands  who will fuss over your grammar. Lucky for you, many dont know what theyre talking about.

Judge T.S. Ellis, presiding over the Manafort case, ripped into a prosecutor for his grammar. Apparently, the prosecution had filed a legal brief containing the words you are expressly to understand.

Ellis assailed that language, saying it was wrong diction and that no one speaks that way, but adding at least it didnt split the infinitive.

Apparently, Ellis believes that putting expressly between to and understand would create the dreaded split infinitive, even though there exists no such error.

Some infinitives seem to improve on being split, just as a stick of round stovewood does, Elements of Style authors Strunk and White advise.

The lesson here, kids: If you use proper grammar, some blowhard could hold it against you. But if you cant make a verb agree with a subject, but you can make dirty deals with other peoples millions, the worlds your oyster.

JUNE CASAGRANDE is the author of The Best Punctuation Book, Period. She can be reached at JuneTCN@aol.com.

JUNE CASAGRANDE is the author of The Best Punctuation Book, Period. She can be reached at JuneTCN@aol.com.Pensions, low-income housing and offshore drilling were hot topics Tuesday at the first City Council candidate forum of the 2018 election season in Huntington Beach.

The Chamber of Commerce forum at the Waterfront Beach Resort on Pacific Coast Highway drew 11 of the 15 candidates in the Nov. 6 election  information technology analyst Brian Burley; council members Barbara Delgleize, Billy OConnell and Erik Peterson; business owner Darren Ellis; retired history teacher Kevin KC Fockler; second-time candidate Amory Hanson; Planning Commissioner Dan Kalmick; longtime resident Don DK Kennedy; Huntington Beach Union High School District trustee Michael Simons; and second-time candidate Ronald Sterud.

For the record: An earlier version of this post incorrectly stated that candidate Kevin K.C. Fockler favored a hypothetical initiative requiring a vote for certain types of development.

Mayor Mike Posey and candidates Kim Carr, Charles Ray and Shayna Lathus were absent.

In one segment, the candidates were given two signs reading yes or no to use as answers to three questions.

All but Simons, OConnell and Hanson said they support allowing a regulated cannabis industry as a way to increase revenue.

The candidates were split when asked whether they favor creating taxes and regulations to allow short-term vacation rentals in the city.

And all but Hanson, Burley and Kennedy said no when asked whether they would support a hypothetical initiative requiring a vote for certain types of development.

Asked for their thoughts on how to address public employee pension liabilities, responses were mixed.

Huntington Beach implemented a plan four years ago that includes paying an extra $1 million a year toward pensions beyond the required minimum. But the citys employee pension costs continue to strain annual budgets, according to city officials.

OConnell said the California Public Employees Retirement System, or CalPERS, should be held accountable when it doesnt meet its financial goals. The agency manages pension and health benefits for California public employees, retirees and their families. It derives its income from investments and member and employer contributions.

Kalmick said the pension issue could have been resolved with an Excel spreadsheet using estimates offered by CalPERS.

Sterud disagreed, saying CalPERS couldnt predict what [investment] returns will happen in the future. He said the city needs strong council members who will negotiate with employee unions.

Hanson said the city needs to create a pension task force to focus on the issue.

Some candidates said they would surround themselves with experts to help guide them toward potential solutions.

If Im not the expert, Im going to surround myself with subject matter experts, Kennedy said.

Candidates also were asked for their thoughts about the Regional Housing Needs Assessment, or RHNA, a state requirement that a certain number of low-incoming housing units be outlined in a citys general plan.

Nearly all candidates said they want to maintain and retain local control, saying the state shouldnt dictate how affordable housing should be offered in a charter city.

Ellis said a one-size-fits-all plan wouldnt work in Huntington Beach and that hed like to see more investment in the citys Inclusionary Housing Program, in which homes become available for purchase by eligible low-, median- or moderate-income buyers when new developments are built or when existing owners decide to sell.

Burley said he would make sure the city attorney has all resources necessary to legally challenge RHNA.

In 2016, City Attorney Michael Gates wrote a letter to the California Department of Housing and Community Development and the Southern California Assn. of Governments indicating the citys opposition to a state requirement that 1,353 low-income dwellings be added by 2021.

But Kalmick said the city needs to be prepared in case it doesnt succeed in challenging the state requirement.

We dont need high-density development everywhere, Kalmick said. High density has to be part of it; the state says that.

Nearly all the candidates voiced opposition to local offshore drilling.

Fockler said the city needs to protect the ocean, which serves as its economic engine.

Simons said none of us want our beaches in jeopardy.

Peterson said the way offshore drilling in the area is being done now is the most responsible because its underground.

In that case, Im for offshore drilling the way were doing it now, but I dont want to see more rigs out there because they do have problems, Peterson said.

Priscella.Vega@latimes.com

Twitter: @vegapriscellaThe Newport-Mesa Committee for Students, a community group, will present a forum for Newport-Mesa Unified School District board candidates Oct. 1 at Fairview Community Church, 2525 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa.

The free forum will begin at 7 p.m. and is open to the public.



For the record: The original version of this article stated incorrectly that the pizza party before the Oct. 1 Newport-Mesa Unified School District candidates forum would be at Hotties Pizza. It will be at Fairview Community Church.

In the Nov. 6 election, trustees for the first time will be chosen by voters in the areas where they live instead of by voters throughout the school district.

The seven-member board, which governs 32 schools in Costa Mesa and Newport Beach, has four available seats in the election. Trustees Charlene Metoyer and Karen Yelsey are seeking reelection.

Those attending the forum also are invited to a pizza party beforehand from 6 to 6:45 p.m. at the church.

Huntington Beach council candidate forum Sept. 6

The Sunset Beach Community Assn. will host a Huntington Beach City Council candidate forum Sept. 6 at its community center, 16861 12th St., Sunset Beach.

The event will begin at 7:30 p.m. and is open to the public.

Fifteen candidates are vying for four available seats on the seven-member council. Incumbents Mike Posey, Erik Peterson, Barbara Delgleize and Billy OConnell are running for reelection.

3 Feet to the Fire candidate forums coming in September

The annual Feet to the Fire forums will kick off Sept. 17 with candidates in the Costa Mesa City Council and mayoral races.

Newport Beach City Council candidates will be featured Sept. 20, followed by the 48th Congressional District race Sept. 22.

Each forum will begin at 7 p.m. at the Robert B. Moore Theatre at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa.

For more information, visit feet2thefireforum.com.

Line in the Sand endorses 3 for Newport City Council

Local political action committee Line in the Sand has endorsed three candidates who are challenging incumbents in this years Newport Beach City Council race.

The group supports Tim Stoaks in District 3 against Mayor Marshall Duffy Duffield, Roy Englebrecht in District 4 against Councilman Kevin Muldoon and Joy Brenner in District 6 against Councilman Scott Peotter.

Tim, Roy and Joy are all longtime Newport Beach residents whose values and views on issues such as traffic and development, the need for a general plan update and campaign finance reform are aligned with those of Line in the Sand, the group said in a statement. All worked actively to defeat Measure Y and the Museum House.

Measure Y was a 2014 ballot initiative that sought to condense residential, office and commercial development at Newport Center and near John Wayne Airport. Museum House was a proposed luxury condominium tower, also in Newport Center, that lost its City Council approvals last year after a petition circulated by opponents gathered enough signatures to send the matter to voters.

Line in the Sand is associated with activist group Still Protecting Our Newport.

H.B. council candidate Shayna Lathus endorsed by Indivisible OC 48

Indivisible OC 48, which represents a group of residents in the 48th Congressional District, has endorsed candidate Shayna Lathus in the Huntington Beach City Council race, according to a news release.

Shayna is a champion for the issues that matter to you and your family in Huntington Beach, Indivisible OC 48 Chairman Aaron McCall said in a statement. Shaynas passion for community building is why shes the best choice for City Council.

Lathus, a Huntington Beach resident for more than 20 years, has taught in the Santa Ana Unified School District the past 16 years.

This is a huge endorsement for my race, Lathus said in a statement. Indivisible OC 48 is such a reputable organization, and this shows that my campaign has the momentum and grassroots movement to power through Election Day.

Cottie Petrie-Norris gets California firefighters endorsement for state Assembly

The California Professional Firefighters organization announced its endorsement of Laguna Beach Democrat Cottie Petrie-Norris in the race for the state 74th Assembly District seat against incumbent Matthew Harper (R-Huntington Beach).

CPF joined the Orange County Professional Firefighters Assn. and the Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach and Newport Beach firefighters associations in giving Petrie-Norris a sweep of every firefighter and paramedic association in the district, which includes all or portions of Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach and Newport Beach.

Cottie Petrie-Norris is committed to making sure Californias first responders have access to the equipment, training and technology we need to maintain fast emergency response times, CPF President Brian Rice said in a statement. We trust Cottie to help us keep you safe.

Petrie-Norris has had a 20-year career in finance and technology and serves on the Laguna Beach Housing and Human Services Committee.

Priscella.Vega@latimes.com

Twitter: @vegapriscellaThe U.S. is stepping up sanctions against North Korea ahead of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's fourth visit to the North late this month.

After U.S. President Donald Trump's initial generosity toward North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Washington has gradually returned to a policy of maximum pressure against the North while Trump's attentions are otherwise engaged.

The U.S. Commerce Department on Tuesday blacklisted six Russian ships and the two companies that own them for illegally transporting fuel to North Korea. This is the third unilateral sanction against North Korea the U.S. has announced this month.

One of the Russian tankers, the Patriot, violated sanctions by loading fuel on two North Korea ships early this year which are on the U.S. sanctions list. Washington believes the oil was purchased by Room 39, which handles Kim's private coffers.

Senator Ed Markey, a ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia, in a statement that Russian companies seeking to aid the Kim Jong-un regime deserve "extensive intervention" and urged more efforts to prevent the North from obtaining foreign currency.

The Senate also raised the bar by setting denuclearization as the "minimum requirement" for any declaration ending the Korean War. Senator Jack Reed, a ranking member of the Armed Services Committee, told Voice of America that there are "many conditions" that need to be satisfied before the end of the Korean War can be declared, and specifically cited the reporting of North Korea's nuclear facilities and speedy denuclearization. David Purdue, another member of the committee, said the North's denuclearization is the "top priority" and peace negotiations come next.

U.S. officials are also worried that warming ties between North and South Korea may prove a weak link in pressuring the North. Cheong Wa Dae has downplayed the concerns, saying any steps it takes toward improving ties with the North are coordinated with the U.S.

President Moon Jae-in's special security adviser Moon Chung-in said despite the concerns the Korean government is to keep up its engagement policy with North Korea. "U.S.-North Korea talks are stalled, and... Seoul aims to prod both sides to keep moving in the direction of disarmament and peace," he told the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday.Less than a decade ago, 60 students began classes at Californias first new public law school in more than 40 years.

They knew the uncertainties associated with enrolling in UC Irvine Law School in its infancy, but recognized opportunities to shape it by fostering a tradition of pro bono work, penning the first law review and founding groups aimed at improving minority representation in the profession.

We, in many ways, were risk-takers, but it was a risk worth taking, said Christina Zabat-Fran, a graduate of the first class in 2012.

UCI began a yearlong celebration of the law schools 10th anniversary Monday. Students and faculty gathered in the courtyard to pay respects to trailblazers and welcome incoming students. Current enrollment stands well above that inaugural class at about 520.

We are not satisfied with the status quo, Dean L. Song Richardson said at the ceremony. We want to build the law school all other law schools will follow.

Current students Marlon Holley, Erik Jimenez-Rodriguez and James Kim cut the ribbon, ushering in the first day of instruction.

In the early 2000s, the law school had about as much a chance of success of working out as a mule winning the Kentucky Derby, recalled Newport Beach attorney Mark Robinson, who helped establish it. But it worked out.

Law school discussions were underway when UCI opened in 1965, but decades would pass before the idea took hold. The breakthrough came when the University of California Board of Regents gave approval in November 2006. A $20 million gift from Irvine Co. Chairman Donald Bren about a year later helped attract renowned faculty dubbed the dream team.

In 2007, 1st Amendment scholar Erwin Chemerinsky, who was then at Duke University and USC before that, became founding dean.

Classes began in August 2009 and the fledgling school quickly  by academic standards  won provisional American Bar Assn. accreditation in 2011 and then full accreditation in 2014.

I am very proud that the decision by the ABA is at the earliest possible time under the ABA rules, Chemerinsky said at the time.

The first graduating class achieved a rare 90% passage rate on the California Bar Exam  second only to Stanford University at the time.

Chemerinsky left in 2017 to become dean of UC Berkeleys law school, Boalt Hall.

Erwin Chemerinsky, the dean of UC Berkeleys law school, presents his case to the jury during a mock trial of Shakespeares Hamlet at the Irvine Barclay Theatre. Chemerinsky is the founding dean of the UCI School of Law. (Kevin Chang / TimesOC)

Zabat-Fran recalled early students playing an integral role in founding the UC Irvine Law Review.

We picked the fonts, the weight of the paper, the design of the cover, Zabat-Fran said. We decided how we were going to organize and run ourselves.

They also formed the student government and campus groups built around civil rights, assisting the poor in need of counsel, addressing the under-representation of lawyers of color and other causes.

Brooke Weitzman, a 2014 graduate, helped develop the Global Justice Summit, a two-day simulation where students can negotiate a resolution and pen a treaty to a mock conflict.

Weitzman said the program has become known for community service. UCI Law ranked third in per student community service hours, which includes clinical and pro bono programs, according to a national legal publication.

The required clinical program provides students practical experience working with clients. Students notched several wins for the under-served, including helping veterans receive wrongfully withheld benefits and aiding low-income and elderly mobile home residents in San Juan Capistrano buy their park.

UC Irvine law students helped low-income and elderly mobile home residents in San Juan Capistrano buy their park. From left: Amanda Cordova, Monica Chapa, Jasmin Boodaie, Jose Zamawipa, Nikki Lawrence, Jess Lopez, Carrie Hempel, Pooja Pujara and Andre Harmandjian. (Photo by Spencer Grant)

Although the pro bono program isnt mandatory, about 90% of students have completed more than 80,000 hours since its inception providing legal services to clients who couldbnt otherwise afford it.

The law school imparts that mindset of being a good steward and recognizing the important role attorneys play in the community, Zabat-Fran said. Its the culture of community at UCI Law.

Weitzman said she chose UCI because its community-driven mission aligned with her values. She completed about 400 hours of pro bono work as a student and built relationships with non-profit organizations that later helped with her career.

Following graduation, Weitzman co-founded the Santa Ana-based Elder Law and Disability Rights Center, which is involved in a federal lawsuit aimed at protecting the homeless.

Its not typical for law schools to have that kind of a relationship with the community, Weitzman said. I wouldnt have been able to do these things if I went to a different school.

The law school has become one of the most renowned in the country. Its ranked No. 21 out of 194 by U.S. News & World Report.

benjamin.brazil@latimes.com

Twitter:@benbrazilpilotFour occupants of a vehicle in La Crescenta were all arrested last Saturday after they were found in possession of stolen mail and a loaded handgun, police say.

Yesenia Prado, Ivan Figueroa, Jairo Vargasrivera and Jose Melendez were all arrested on suspicion of identity theft while Prado was also booked on suspicion of carrying a concealed weapon. The arrests occurred after the car carrying the quartet was stopped by the Glendale Police Department on a license plate violation around 4:50 a.m. near the intersection of Foothill Boulevard and Raymond Avenue.

Tahnee Lightfoot, a spokeswoman for the department, said an officer noticed Prado was attempting to hide a large amount of mail underneath a sweater.

She said this led to a search of the vehicle where the officer recovered several knives and a tool to steal mail from mailboxes.

Its a sticky device with string that they can throw into the mailbox  and pull mail out of it, Lightfoot said.

Police recovered a stolen loaded handgun during the traffic stop. (Courtesy of the Glendale Police Department)

The officer also found a notepad containing names of unknown people, their account information and Social Security numbers. Approximately 80 pieces of mail addressed to 40 people were also recovered.

Lightfoot said the officer also recovered a loaded .32 automatic handgun while conducting a pat-down search on Prado. The firearm was hidden in her bra and was reported stolen from Mercer County in Ohio.

The incident remains under investigation.

andy.nguyen@latimes.com

Twitter: @Andy_TrucSome believe goats belong in a barnyard, not a yoga studio. But those people were noticeably absent Saturday, when the Community Center of La Canada Flintridge hosted a first-ever goat yoga class for both the curious and the convinced.

Nigerian Dwarf goats Billy, Burlap and Roscoe made the trip from Hello Critter Goat Yoga in the Burbank/Glendale Rancho neighborhood to La Canada, where a class of 35 participants had signed up for a one-hour session that promised peace and mindfulness with a side of animal action.

Hello Critter yoga instructor Beverly ODonohue went over the basics, including what is surely the No. 1 question on any goat yoga FAQ:

They are goats, so we have to keep in mind that they are willing, and able, to make this entire room their bathroom, ODonohue said, explaining any blessings offered by the goats during class would be immediately cleaned up. We are extremely appreciative of your tolerance and sense of humor.

Some poses would be slightly modified to avoid injuries, while others might inspire goats to jump from one back to another, the instructor continued. Unlike typical yoga classes, selfies and cellphone pics were not prohibited.

The three goats worked the room, perching on backs and shoulders with sock-covered hooves as students changed positions. A row of students doing Downward-Facing Dog created the perfect tunnel for Billy, a young male goat whose budding horns were wrapped in vet tape for safety, to run through.

Hello Critter owner Michelle Tritten and mom Donna used treat canisters to help focus the animals attention and distribute the love evenly, though they occasionally traded them for towels and brooms whenever blessings required cleanup.

After the session, participants lined up in the courtyard to take posed photos with Burlap, Billy and Roscoe. La Canada sisters Claire and Ellie Chapman said they equally enjoyed the yoga and the goats.

It was really fun and relaxing, said 17-year-old Ellie Chapman. And it was kind of funny, in some aspects, because youd be relaxing and then youd have goats on you.

It made it more fun to be watching them, Claire Chapman, 19, agreed.

Thats the allure of goat yoga, said Michelle Tritten, whos owned goats since the 1980s and claims to have hosted the first class in Greater Los Angeles in 2017  they lend an undeniable joyfulness that can enhance the yoga experience.

You cant be mad or depressed around a goat, she said. They just open up hearts and give me a sense of peace more than anything else.

La Canada resident Sasha Stalgren brought husband Doug to the Community Center Saturday as a surprise present for their sixth wedding anniversary. Attracted by the novelty, she quickly warmed to the concept.

When I do yoga its hard to focus my mind because my mind wanders, she said. But with this, I could focus my mind on the goats. It helped.

As for Doug Stalgren, while the inclusion of yoga mats made his wifes plan clear, the goats were a welcome surprise.

I thought she was going to get me a tattoo, he joked.

FYI: A second goat yoga class is scheduled for Oct. 6 at 10 a.m. at the Community Center of La Canada Flintridge. The cost is $32, and pre-registration is required. For information, visit cclcf.org or call (818) 790-4353.

sara.cardine@latimes.com

Twitter: @SaraCardineAfter years of planning, YMCA of the Foothills will put a $7-million expansion plan for its La Canada facility before the city Planning Commission in an Aug. 28 public hearing  but the publics full reaction remains to be seen.

The two-phase project includes construction of a two-level parking deck on the north end of the campus fronting Foothill Boulevard, demolition of nearly 7,000 square feet of existing structure and the addition of nearly 15,000 square feet of new space.

Representatives will seek a conditional use permit for the property, a permit to remove 48 trees to accommodate the 24,500-square-foot parking structure that will add nearly 70 spaces, and height and setback variances.

On Monday, YMCA officials invited nearby residents; many of whom use private roads and driveways near the site to access their homes, to review the plans and share their questions and concerns.

Im very happy youre here tonight to listen to a little bit about our project, but truly tonight is about you, chief executive Tyler Wright said as he addressed the small group. We do want to hear your comments and your feedback.

A rendering, on display Monday at a meeting between YMCA of the Foothills officials and area neighbors, shows an interior courtyard that is part of a $7-million plan to renovate the Crescenta-Canada Family YMCA campus. (Sara Cardine / La Canada Valley Sun)

YMCA board member Warren Lukesh and Stephen Finney, president of Glendale-based architectural firm CWA AIA, Inc., explained each building phase and plans to mitigate noise, light spillage and visual impacts.

They estimated construction of the parking deck could take six to eight months, while the campus restructuring could last up to one year. A traffic study indicated the additions would create a net addition of 30 car trips per day.

Plans also call for a change-up of entrances and exits to the campus, a vital sticking point for nearby homeowners. The main western entrance will remain unchanged, but the eastern driveway will be relocated to the northeast corner of the property to form a four-way intersection with Palm Drive.

That relocation is part of a larger plan being undertaken by the city, which is currently redesigning a stretch of Foothill Boulevard from Leata Lane to Hillard Avenue through a grant-funded Link Bikeway and Pedestrian Greenbelt Project that aims to replace parking on Foothill with bike paths and sidewalks.

Those plans propose a solid curb at the Ys current eastern driveway. Wright said his organizations hands are tied when it comes to changing the citys plans for the street.

Several neighbors decried the relocation, claiming intersection traffic would interfere with their access to and from a private driveway just east of the proposed campus exit.

Ive been hearing the citys plans (for the greenbelt) might be changing, so I want to take this back to the city and say this is what were hearing from our neighbors  what can we do at this point? Wright responded. But I cant speak for the city.

Other neighbors, who use an unpaved road near the facilitys western entrance, were concerned the parking structure would increase traffic and queuing near routes they use on a daily basis.

These driveways are aggravating  the question is, are things going to be more aggravating? asked Mark Hunter, who lives on Rancho Canada Road. This design has the potential to make people more frustrated, not less.

Attendees expressed additional concerns about tree removal and landscaping, construction noise, parking structure lighting and the impact of construction and increased traffic on emergency response times.

I moved here 24 years ago because its a nice, quiet neighborhood, said Rancho Canada resident Marissa Solis. Now I see more concern from the YMCA about members, and providing for members, but not the neighbors.

Lukesh assured residents issues would be considered.

Were not going to forget these things, he said.

FYI: The La Canada Flintridge Planning Commission meets Tuesday at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 1327 Foothill Blvd., La Canada. For more, call (818) 790-8881.

sara.cardine@latimes.com

Twitter: @SaraCardineThe Arizona Diamondbacks have been baseballs best first-inning team and they added to those numbers with Paul Goldschmidts two-run homer Wednesday night.

The way Clay Buchholz has been pitching, it was more than enough.

Goldschmidt homered to set the all-time mark at Chase Field, Buchholz pitched seven scoreless innings and the Diamondbacks earned a 5-1 victory over the Angels.

It seems like every day. This team is pretty amazing when you look at the runs scored in the first inning, Buchholz said.

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The Diamondbacks have a knack for jumping on teams early, leading the majors in first-inning runs with 109.

Goldschmidt increased the total with his two-run shot off Odrisamer Despaigne (2-2), passing Luis Gonzalez with his 96th homer at Chase Field. Goldschmidt had three hits to extend his hitting streak to 14 games and has reached safely in 27 straight.

Buchholz (7-2) yielded four hits and struck out seven with no walks for his eighth straight game of at least five innings and three runs or fewer allowed.

David Peralta also hit a two-run shot to homer for the third straight game. The Diamondbacks have won six of seven to maintain a 1 1/2-game lead in the NL West over Colorado.

It all started with Clay tonight, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. He goes out and gives us seven scoreless and really set the tone for us for the course of this game.

The injury-depleted Angels had five hits  two by Rene Rivera  and lost for the fifth time in six games.

I thought we had some pretty good looks at him (Buchholz), hit some balls hard, but he got in his rhythm and started to change some speeds midway through, Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.

Buchholz has been sharp the past two months, entering Wednesdays game 5-1 with 2.00 ERA over seven starts, including his 10th career complete game against San Diego last Thursday. He kept the Angels off balance most of the night, allowing three singles and a double.

Despaigne gave up five runs and seven hits in four innings against Texas on Friday in his second start since being acquired from Miami on Aug. 14 for cash. The right-hander served up Goldschmidts first-inning homer and a run-scoring single to Nick Ahmed in the fourth.

Despaigne allowed three runs and five hits in four innings.

He made a couple of mistakes: One to Goldschmidt and the other one to Ahmed, Rivera said. Besides that he was OK. His pitch count was a little high but overall he did OK.Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias completed his lengthiest outing in his rehabilitation assignment on Tuesday for class-A Rancho Cucamonga with a 44-pitch appearance that lasted 2 1/3 innings. Manager Dave Roberts indicated Urias would pitch again in the minors in three days, as he inches closer to rejoining the big league roster.

Urias has pitched on either four or five days of rest since first appearing in minor league games on July 30. The Dodgers are trying to build him up as a reliever who can contribute in September, but they are wary of placing unnecessary stress on his surgically repaired left shoulder.

He came out of it feeling good, Roberts said.

Urias, 22, struck out five batters Tuesday. He also gave up a home run for the third consecutive outing against class-A hitters. He is unlikely to be promoted to the majors before the rosters expand Sept. 1.

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Hell be here when hes ready, Roberts said.

Stripling slated for simulated game on Friday

Ross Stripling (lower back inflammation) threw a bullpen Wednesday to prepare for a simulated outing Friday. The team is hopeful they can activate Stripling by next weeks two-game series in Texas.

The Dodgers have not determined how Stripling will slot into the pitching staff upon his return. Stripling could rejoin the starting rotation or aid the bullpen. The need may be more acute in a relief role, given the teams surplus of starters.

Short hops

Gianni Jansen, the wife of the Dodgers closer, gave birth to a son, Kyrian, Wednesday morning. The timing was ideal for her husbands team: There was time for Kenley Jansen to get to the ballpark in time for Wednesday nights game against St. Louis . . . Clayton and Ellen Kershaw will host their sixth annual ping-pong tournament, Ping Pong 4 Purpose, on Thursday at Dodger Stadium. The event raises money for charities the Kershaw family partners with in Los Angeles and the Dominican Republic.

andy.mccullough@latimes.com

Twitter: @McCulloughTimesAs Hurricane Lane menaces the state of Hawaii, the islands may escape a direct hit, but it is rain thats the concern.

The slow-moving system may bring catastrophic flooding and rainfall to the islands, the Weather Channel said. Oahu and Maui appear to be in the most imminent danger.

On Hawaii Island, Hilo, which receives more rain than the Kailua Kona region, was especially hard-hit, receiving more than 30 inches in 24 hours.

Flight cancellations have begun. United has canceled flights in and out of Kahului on Maui, Hawaii News Now reported.

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If you are scheduled to fly to Hawaii, check with your airline (a list of websites and phone numbers can be found here) for their cancellation terms.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority urged visitors not to show up at any airport without confirmed airline reservations.

Popular tourist attractions, including Pearl Harbor, have closed. Gov. David Ige has told travelers to plan to shelter in place in their hotels.

The hurricane, whose center was still offshore, lashed the Big Island, causing landslides and flooding. A wind gust of 67 mph was recorded at Kohala Ranch on the northern side of the Big Island.

The hurricane had weakened to a Category 2 by Friday, but the impact of such a storm, whose winds could reach 110 mph, could be devastating. Forecasters said the center of the storm would move close to or over parts of Hawaiis main islands late Friday, bringing dangerous surf of 20 feet.

By 1 pm Friday, there were still hundreds of tourists at Waikikis Kuhio Beach Park despite blowing sand, choppy surf and strong winds.

It wasnt an easy day for vacationers, who clogged sidewalks throughout Waikiki, but found almost nothing open. Most restaurants were closed, and the few mom-and-pops that had stayed open had long lines and one- to two-hour waits for food.

Path of Hurricane Lane as of 11 a.m. Pacific Time, 8 a.m. Hawaii Time Friday (National Weather Service)

Besides dangerous winds and waves, the storm could bring 30 inches of rain to some places, causing widespread flooding and landslides.

The National Weather Service issued this update at 12:44 a.m. Pacific time Friday: The storm along with damaging winds is expected to expand westward over the smaller islands later tonight through Saturday as Lane approaches and moves into the area. This will be a long-duration event with the potential for heavy rainfall continuing Sunday into early next week as Lane begins to track westward and away from the state.

Ige had advised residents and visitors  he estimated about 270,000 travelers were on the islands  to ensure they have access to two weeks worth of food and water.

Despite repeated warnings to leave the beach, strollers were drawn to the sunset Thursday evening on Waikiki. (Rosemary McClure)

Closures

National parks on Hawaii and Maui are closed along with other attractions managed by the National Park Service. Among places that have closed:

 The World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument in Honolulu; Pearl Harbor Visitor Center there is closed until further notice.

The Bishop Museum, the Honolulu repository of some of the islands most important pieces of history.

Public libraries in Hawaii, Kauai, Oahu and Maui counties and and the Waikiki Aquarium, according to Hawaii News Now.

Cruise, flights and roads

Norwegian Cruise Lines Pride of America was supposed to have returned to Honolulu on Saturday but will now return on Sunday, spending an extra day at sea to try to steer clear of the storm. Its originally scheduled Saturday departure now will not occur until Monday, according to CruiseCritic.com.

If you were scheduled to board on that next sailing, you can stay on board on Sunday night. The ship will not leave until 7 p.m. Monday.

Some flights between the mainland and Hawaii were still operating Friday morning. Check with your airline for details. You can find a list of airlines, websites and telephone numbers on the L.A. Times list.

The Hawaii Department of Transportation said Oahus Pali Highway Kailua/Kaneohe-bound lanes at Nuuanu Pali Drive would be closed from 8 p.m. Thursday until the storm passes and the road is assessed for potential rockfall threat.

Also closing on Oahu: Kuhio Highway between Wainiha and Waikoko after 11 p.m. Thursday. The road will reopen, the DOT said, after crews check for any damage.

On Hawaii Island, Bayfront Highway (Highway 19) in Hilo was closed Wednesday evening because of standing water.

If you do not need to be on coastal roads or those that flood, the DOT asks that you not travel.

Koalua Ranch, a private nature reserve known for ziplining and tours of movie sites such as Jurassic Park and Godzilla, on Oahu closed Thursday and Friday. The website says it plans to open Saturday.

7:30 a.m. Friday: This article was updated with information about the Pride of Americas delay and flight information.

11:25 a.m. Friday: This article was updated with information about the closing of Koalua Ranch on Oahu.

4:10 p.m. Friday: This article was updated with additional information about the strength of the storm and with the sunset photo.

6:43 p.m. Friday: This article was updated with additional information about tourists on Oahu.

The original article published at 7:45 a.m. Thursday.

Mary Forgione, Rosemary McClure and Catharine Hamm contributed to this report.

travel@latimes.com

@latimestravel

UPDATES:

7:45 a.m.: This article was updated with new forecasts and rain totals.

This article was originally published at 11:05 a.m. Aug. 23.Out-of-state medical marijuana users next year will be able to buy cannabis products at dispensaries in Hawaii. The only hitches: Visitors will need to apply online and pay $45 (plus a $4.50 processing fee) for a temporary Hawaii medical marijuana card thats valid for 60 days.

Weve been fielding a lot of calls daily about reciprocity, said George Bullock, director of the Cure Oahu marijuana dispensary in Waikiki. We really look forward to being able to serve them in the future.

The Hawaii Department of Health plans to allow medical marijuana cardholders from other states to make purchases at dispensaries on Oahu, Maui and Kauai. But state officials are not using the word reciprocity because those out-of-state cards wont work.

Also, participants must have a debilitating condition, as defined by Hawaii regulators. They include epilepsy, cancer and Lou Gehrigs disease, or ALS. The online application process and website have yet to be created.

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[The temporary card] will be available to them to take to dispensaries to show that they are registered patients for purchase and for possession for medical cannabis, Peter Whitacar, chief of the departments Harm Reduction Branch, told Hawaii News Now.

Availability away from home is often important for patients who rely on cannabis products because federal law prohibits them from transporting marijuana across state lines.

If theyre using the medicine for whatever their qualifying condition is, you have to take that into consideration if youre making travel plans, Bullock said. A lot of the calls that we have are from patients who need the medicine and are concerned about  not being able to get their medicine once they are here.

Hawaiis medical marijuana dispensaries, such as Cure Oahu, will begin welcoming out-of-state residents who wish to buy medical marijuana. (Cure Oahu)

When Hawaiis regulations ease next year, travelers can buy marijuana products at three dispensaries on Oahu, two on Maui and one on Kauai. Two companies on Hawaii Island have been granted licenses to grow and sell medical marijuana but have not opened.

Bullock said the upcoming change was a key factor in choosing a location for Cure Oahu. The dispensary at 727 Kapahulu Ave. in Honolulu is just a mile from the nearest resorts along Waikiki Beach.

State health officials estimate that once the change takes effect, 5,000 visitors could apply for temporary cards during the first year. They expect that, over time, that number could increase to 30,000 annually. Nearly 9.4 million people visited Hawaii in 2017.

Thirty-one states plus the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico have enacted medical marijuana laws. The National Council of State Legislatures says only three  Delaware, Nevada and Rhode Island  allow out-of-state cardholders to buy cannabis.

In Nevada, that provision is no longer relevant because recreational marijuana was legalized last year.

Hawaii legislators have not legalized recreational marijuana in the islands.

ALSO

The inexpensive all-you-can-eat Las Vegas buffet deliciously lives on at Palace Station

These redone and recently relaunched downtown L.A. hotels will take you to the Jazz Age and back again

Experience the culinary heart of Israels cities, and soak up ancient culture along the way

travel@latimes.com

@latimestravelSummer is already over (although not officially) for thousands of students who have returned to school. For them (and their parents), the open road taunts; for the rest of us, it beckons.

For all of us, whether going now or later, Highway 1 is the gold standard in California road trips, and the recent reopening of all its parts shows they still thrill as they twist and turn through Big Sur. The road is quintessential California, the path you take when youre not suffering under the tyranny of time.

And time is a tyrant. If it werent, there would be no deadline to submit photos for our annual summer vacation photo issue.

My name is Catharine Hamm, and Im the travel editor for the Los Angeles Times. Id like you to picture the perfect shot in the pages of our Sept. 16 Travel section and its online sibling, latimes.com/travel.

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As you gaze at your shots, you may think they are just not quite good enough, and thats where a photo tour will come in handy. Well explain the ins and outs of how to submit your photos for that issue and/or how to find a photo tour that ups your game. Even the most expert photogs need a little refresh.

Everybody needs a little renewal now and again, as do hotels. (By the way, after our article on Santa Barbara hotels, two readers shared their favorite places to stay, which we detail below.) We also look at the redo and relaunch of two downtown L.A. hotels whose roots date to the Roaring 20s. Those were the days.

And these are the days you can take advantage of a little breath of fresh air just off U.S. 395 in Big Pine. Its a classic case of marital compromise that worked out quite well.

We also have a story in which things didnt work out so well for one couple trying to get Global Entry, which lets you get through Customs faster. They ran into a problem when the agent who was interviewing (part of the process) discovered a travel transgression that may have tripped them up.

All of this and the return of Penn & Teller and one of the last cheap (which doesnt mean icky) buffets in Las Vegas, 21 places to get married for mere dollars and the latest on Hurricane Lane and Hawaii.

 Catharine Hamm

Taking wing again

Highway 1 is back, all 650 miles of it between L.A. and San Francisco. The road could take only so much between fire and floods, or so it was thought. But then there was the landslide that brought through traffic to a screeching halt. Writer Rosemary McClure traveled the iconic road and found not only an easier path to great scenery but also an energy restored after the road was restored.

A seagull takes flight from the Bird Island Trail at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve on the Big Sur coast along Highway 1. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Picture perfect

Big Sur is as pretty as a picture, but what if your photos are not? Kari Kozak Dahlstrom can you help you find a photo tour that serves your needs. Start, she says, with a tour that goes to a place you want to be, and try to be sure to choose a group whose goals line up with yours. These and other tips will lead you to the photographic promised land.

Reindeer approach photo tour participants on an island in Svalbard, Norway, during an Arctic Circle expedition. (Kari Kozak Dahlstrom)

Or maybe youre already there

If so, wed like to encourage you to submit photos for our annual summer vacation photo issue. This isnt a contest; the only reward is bragging rights. But it is a chance to show off your skills and see how others capture memorable moments. Some photos will run in print and many more will run online, but all capture a moment and a memory that should bring a smile to your face. Youll find details at our photo issue submission page. Perhaps the most important: the deadline is 11:59 p.m. Sept. 5.

Kevin Roland of Bakersfield, Calif., submitted this photo, which was included in the Travel sections 2017 vacation photo issue. This starry confection was shot in the Alabama Hills near Lone Pine, Calif. (Kevin Roland)

A moment in time

The Hotel Figueroa and the Mayfair hotel both opened in 1926 during the Jazz Age, when life seemed, for many, one endless party. Christopher Reynolds looks at two iconic accommodations.

The lobby of the Mayfair Hotel, Los Angeles, features a series of black columns. (Christopher Reynolds/Los Angeles Times)

Readers recommend

Speaking of hotels, readers shared some of their ideas after our recent article on Santa Barbara accommodations. Their recommendations sparked an idea for this newsletter. First, their suggestions:

Herbert Klein of Oxnard wrote about a reasonable alternative to Santa Barbara: You should have considered Oxnard as an alternative, particularly the Embassy Suites by Hilton, which sits right on the beach in Oxnard and is much more reasonably priced than the Santa Barbara hotels.

Bill Knopf of Indianapolis said in an email, Ive traveled a fair amount in my 30-year business career. By a wide margin, the best hotel experience I have ever had was five days in the lovely Hotel Covell in Los Feliz in May 2017 with my wife on one of our frequent visits in L.A.

After all those nights in convention hotels  it is so refreshing to relax and recharge in small boutique properties. And Hotel Covell is the best one weve found. He loves the location and is charmed by the Covell, he said.

Thanks for your recommendations. And heres an idea. We used to run a column in the Times Travel section called Readers Recommend. The submissions dwindled as online sites grew. Those sites provide good, directional info, but we miss the personal touch of those Travel section recommendations, which always felt to us like something your Cousin Louise might share.

Because you are part of a large family that travels, your suggestions carry more weight than, say, RickyRacoon420 whos posting on a site. (No offense if there really is a RickyRaccoon420.)

If you have favorite travel experiences, whether thats a hotel, a tour guide, a great restaurant or an amazing attraction, please share them with us by sending an email to travel@latimes.com with Readers Recommend in the subject line. Please include your name and city of residence.

Big Pine, big hit

Sara Lessley gives a big thumbs up to Big Pine as a Weekend Escape destination. She and her husband, Paul, dont always have the same goals when theyre looking for a getaway spot, but their universes aligned on a jaunt that included a trip to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest. And how could any trip be bad that involves barbecue?

Temple Crag and Fifth Lake from the Big Pine Lakes Trail in the John Muir Wilderness, Sierra Mountain Range, Calif. (Karen Crowe / Getty Images/All Canada Photos)

Fibbing to the feds? Um, maybe not

A couple went to Cuba in 2014 without getting the license that the Treasury Department required. They recently applied for Global Entry, which gives you expedited passage through airport security. The approval process requires an in-person interview. Read what happened when things took an unexpected turn.

Global Entry allows you to get through Customs quickly, but woe be to the person who leaves out important info from their application. (The Washington Post / Getty Images)

His back, theyre back

Penn & Teller, the magicians who are comedians (or is it the other way around?) took a hiatus while Teller, 70, recovered from back surgery. They made an announcement upon their return to the stage at their Rio All Suite Hotel & Casino home that may surprise you.

Meanwhile, that cheap all-you-can-eat Las Vegas buffet that disappeared from most Vegas spots years ago isnt completely gone. You can still find a heckuva meal for $10.99 for breakfast, $12.99 for lunch and $17.99 for dinner just about a mile from the Strip. Heres where to find that bargain.

Dinner for $17.99 in Vegas? Yes and just a mile off the Strip. (Station Casinos)

Hurricane Lane stalks Hawaii

Hurricane Lane is making its way toward the Hawaiian islands, Jay Jones reports. Heres what airlines are doing to help those were planning a visit and some of the attractions that are closing, just in case.

Hurricane Lane is moving toward the Hawaiian islands. (National Weather Service)

What were reading

The flyover states are often dismissed out of hand because some people think they are dull. Those people are wrong, especially when it comes to Kansas, for which I have an enormous affection (college there, family there, heart there). Read the L.A. Times story about Etzanoa, a lost city that has been found near Arkansas City, Kan., about an hour southeast of Wichita. David Kelly, a frequent contributor to the Travel section, details the discovery that should send your inner Indiana Jones into overdrive.

Lori Rackl writes in the Chicago Tribune about Marshall, Mich., on the banks of the Kalamazoo River. You might know it as New Zebedee, that name given to it by John Bellairs, whose childrens book series The House With a Clock in Its Walls made its debut in 1973. Its been turned into a film starring Jack Black and Cate Blanchett that is to be released in September.

Marriage on your mind? Sunset magazine has a guide to 21 national parks where you can get married. The even better news about these parks in the West, Hawaii and Alaska: You wont pay an arm and a leg for these venues. Death Valley, anyone?

You can get married in Death Valley or 20 other national parks for not a lot of dough. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

End paper

Send us your thoughts, your concerns and, of course, compliments about this newsletter, along with your recommendations for great travel experiences, your opinion on whether Penn & Teller are magicians or comedians and whether youd get married at Death Valley to travel@latimes.com. To sign up for this newsletter and others, go to our site, which promises the stories that matter the most. Delivered free to your email inbox. Until next week, travel smartly and safely. Well be here to welcome you home.Mayor Tom Bradley is confronted by the media during public furor regarding Police Chief Daryl Gates and the Los Angeles Police Department after the Rodney King beating.

Following a car chase on March 3, 1991, Rodney King was arrested and beaten by LAPD officers. In the public furor over the beating, Bradley called on Gates to resign. Gates refused, leading to a stand-off lasting several months.

On July 13, 1991, Gates announced his intention to resign. He left the LAPD on June 28, 1992.

See more from the Los Angeles Times archives hereKorean beef, not Japan's wagyu, "might be the best meat on earth," according to an article in USA Today last week that seems to reflect fresh global recognition.

"Wagyu from Japan is often held up as the best beef in the world," says an article by Bloomberg's published in March last year. But the headline asked "Is Wagyu the World's Most Overrated Steak?"

Wagyu is loved for its tenderness, but some complain that it is too soft and buttery and does not have enough flavor. On the other hand Korean beef, or hanwoo, is said to have great flavor as well as texture to the palate. They are both highly marbled but are distinctively different in taste.

The key to the difference in taste is the fat-to-protein ratio. Wagyu ribeye is about 70 percent fat and 30 percent protein, whereas hanwoo ribeye has 40 to 50 percent fat. It strikes a fine balance between the strengths of wagyu and less fatty and tougher American or Australian beef.

"Hanwoo has a very attractive flavor; it's not as beefy and lean as American steaks tend to be, nor as fatty as wagyu," Hong Kong chef Sandy Keung was quoted as saying. This finely balanced flavor, complemented by slight sweetness, is achieved by what the cows eat -- organic mixed grain and grass.

"When people describe that 'beef' flavor, that's what you think of when eating a lean meat. Hanwoo has that great beef flavor, but there are unique flavors in an animal's fat too. So you need both fat and protein to achieve a steak that's as tender and beefy as hanwoo."

Residents in a Rio de Janeiro neighborhood where thousands of troops recently conducted operations protested rough-handed tactics on Wednesday, as Brazils military announced the third death of a soldier killed in clashes.

Members of rights groups with the Rio public defenders office walked through the streets of Penha and listened to accusations involving human rights violations by soldiers who conducted major operations this week. Those accusations included killing and leaving the bodies of several young men in a forest atop the complex of slums.

In addition to the rights frequently violated, like entering homes [without a warrant], mistreatment and torture, there is an even more grave situation, said Pedro Strozenberg from Rios public defenders office. Its [accusations of] homicides, deaths and bodies hidden in the forest.

Soldiers patrolling the area did not let media or human rights groups access the forest. The accusations about the bodies could not immediately be confirmed.

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An email sent to the military command asking for comment Wednesday was not immediately answered.

Meanwhile, a soldier died Wednesday of the wounds he sustained in a shootout this week with suspected drug traffickers.

He was the third soldier to be killed in Mondays confrontations between soldiers and armed traffickers in the neighborhoods of Penha, Mare and Complexo do Alemao. Five suspects were killed and 10 others were arrested.

The deaths of the three soldiers this week are likely to raise new questions about the controversial federal intervention. The military was put in charge of security in Rio de Janeiro state this year after muggings and beatings were caught on camera during the Carnival celebration. Soldiers have mostly played supporting roles to police during operations, but on Monday they were clearly in the lead.

The federal intervention put thousands of soldiers in the streets and increased operations against drug trafficking gangs that control many of Rios more than 1,000 favelas, or poor neighborhoods. Critics argue the intervention has targeted poor people, particularly blacks, and done nothing to address underlying issues such as unemployment and income inequality.

We live in the slum, but we are not criminals, said a resident in Penha who asked not to be identified out of fear for reprisal. We just want peace and respect.A man killed his mother and sister and seriously injured another woman in a knife attack Thursday in a Paris-region town, officials said.

Police shot and killed the man soon afterward. Islamic State, which has a history of opportunistic claims, swiftly claimed responsibility.

French prosecutors werent treating the attack in Trappes, west of Paris, as a terrorism case, said Interior Minister Gerard Collomb. He noted the attacker suffered from serious mental health issues, although he had also been flagged for glorifying terrorism.

Collomb said the man killed his mother at her home and stabbed the other women outside. Still wielding the knife, he ignored police warnings and was shot and killed, the minister said after meeting officers and prosecutors in Trappes.

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He described the man as unstable, rather than someone who was engaged, someone who could respond, for example, to orders and instructions from a terrorist organization, in particular from Daesh. Daesh is another name for Islamic State.

A long-time friend of the attacker named him as Kamel Salhi, 36. The friend, Said Segreg, said Salhi had no obvious problems, didnt abuse drugs or alcohol and wasnt fervently religious.

A government official confirmed Salhis name and age. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasnt authorized to discuss such details publicly.

Salhi was divorced and living with his mother, said Adama Traore, another of his acquaintances in Trappes.

The Islamic State group, via its Aamaq news agency, claimed responsibility. The agency said the attack in Trappes was motivated by calls from the Islamic State leadership to attack civilians in countries at war with the extremist group. Hours earlier, Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi urged followers to attack enemies everywhere.

Islamic State, which has lost most of the territories it once controlled in Iraq and Syria, has been known to make opportunistic claims even when there was no established link between an attacker and the extremist group.

UPDATES:

7:40 a.m.: This article was updated with details on the attack, suspect and the name of the town.

This article was originally published at 4:20 a.m.South Africas government lashed out at President Trump on Thursday after he tweeted that his administration would be looking into farm seizures and the large scale killing of farmers in the country.

The government said Trumps tweet was based on false information and reflected a narrow perception which only seeks to divide our nation and reminds us of our colonial past. It was meeting with the U.S. Embassy as it sought to clarify Trumps remarks.

South Africa is in the throes of a racially charged national debate over land reform, a lawful process that seeks to correct the legacy of decades of white minority rule that stripped blacks of their land.

Today, nearly a quarter-century after the first democratic elections, black South Africans comprise 80% of the population but own just 4% of the countrys land, according to the government.

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Though the ruling African National Congress, which has been in power since 1994, has pledged to close that gap, progress has been slow. In July, President Cyril Ramaphosa said his party would amend the constitution so the state could expropriate land without compensation to speed up the land reform process. Debate over the issue has grown ahead of next years election.

Trumps tweet followed a segment on Fox News on Wednesday in which host Tucker Carlson claimed Ramaphosa already had started seizing land from his own citizens without compensation because they are the wrong skin color, calling the alleged seizures immoral.

Though South Africas constitution has not yet been amended and the government has not seized any major agricultural land, the prospect has sent panic through some white farming communities who worry the policy will strip them of their land, cause land prices to plummet or make them the target of potentially violent land seizures.

For years, a small but vocal group of white South Africans has claimed white farmers are the target of violent, racially motivated farm attacks.

Experts say that the attacks reflect the countrys generally high crime rate and that there is no evidence connecting them to victims race. In 2016-17, there were 74 murders during farm attacks, according to Africa Check, compared with 19,000 murders across the country in the same period.

People are not being targeted because of their race, but because they are vulnerable and isolated on the farms, said Gareth Newham, head of the crime and justice program at the Institute for Security Studies in the capital, Pretoria.

There is no white genocide in South Africa, Julius Malema, leader of the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters party, told reporters. There is black genocide in the USA; black people are killed every day. There is a black genocide here in South Africa; just recently a farmer was convicted for the murder of a black farmer.

Trumps tweet did find some supporters.

AfriForum, a group that represents some white South African interests, welcomed the presidents comments. In May, its leaders went to the U.S. to lobby institutions and politicians about Ramaphosas proposal to expropriate land and the alleged targeting of white farmers.

Earlier this month, the group posted a list of farms it said were earmarked for expropriation, a list that the government said was fake.

Everyone in South Africa should hope that the pressure from the USA will lead to the [ruling party] reconsidering the disastrous route that they want to take South Africa on, AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel said in a statement Thursday.

AfriForum and other critics say the governments proposal to expropriate land without compensation could lead to economic disaster, pointing to the collapse of the agricultural sector in neighboring Zimbabwe after the government of former President Robert Mugabe began seizing white-owned farms, sometimes violently, in 2000.

Proponents of South Africas policy, including Ramaphosa, say it is necessary to address historic injustices and can be done in a way that is lawful and will not compromise the beleaguered economy or food security.

It is absolutely unbelievable that a head of state at that level can be so disrespectful to issues of dispossession that South Africa is painfully trying to address in a democratic way, Vuyo Mahlati, president of the African Farmers Assn. of South Africa, said of Trump.

In Parliament on Wednesday, Ramaphosa said that land expropriation could make more land available for cultivation, and that the process would begin by seizing state-owned land, not privately held land.

This is our South Africa. This is our land. This is where we live, Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane told South Africas public broadcaster, SABC. Only solutions of land reform that are South African will work in South Africa.

Trump has never experienced apartheid and doesnt know its legacy of inequality in which the majority of South Africans own nothing, Zizi Kodwa, a member of the ruling partys national executive committee, told the Associated Press.

He is part of the right-wing lynch mob using the fear factor in order for us to maintain the status quo, Kodwa said. Donald Trump is a weapon of mass destruction.A Ugandan pop star-turned-lawmaker who opposes the longtime president was charged with treason in a civilian court Thursday, minutes after a military court dropped weapons charges.

The treason charge, which is punishable by death, was bound to bring fresh outrage from Ugandans and global musicians after Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine, alleged he had been severely beaten while in detention. The government denies it.

Ssentamu has emerged as an influential critic of President Yoweri Museveni, especially among youth, after winning a seat in Parliament last year.

The 36-year-old Ssentamu had been charged last week with illegal possession of firearms after an incident in which Musevenis motorcade was pelted with stones.

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A military court freed him Thursday, but the lawmaker was re-arrested by police and taken to a magistrates court.

Ssentamu limped during his appearance in military court and appeared to cry as he rubbed his eyes. A colleague wrapped the national flag around his shoulders. He sat in the dock in magistrates court, with his lawyers saying he was unable to stand on his own.

The magistrate ruled that Ssentamu should be allowed access to his own physicians. He was remanded until Aug. 30.

Going abroad for treatment is desirable but Ssentamus attorneys are first fighting for access to a private Ugandan health facility, said one of those lawyers, Medard Sseggona. As to whether they can do it is a different matter.

Ssentamu had been arrested with four other opposition lawmakers, three of whom also face treason charges. A fifth legislator has been hospitalized with injuries reportedly suffered during detention.

The court appearance Thursday was the first time Ssentamu had been seen in public since his detention. He clenched his fists and greeted supporters.

In recent days Ugandas government has faced mounting pressure at home and abroad to free him. Security forces have violently put down street protests demanding his release.

On Thursday, other opposition figures expressed concern about being targeted by security forces. Every way out of my home is barricaded since very early today, tweeted Kizza Besigye, a four-time presidential challenger who has been jailed many times.

Police spokesman Emilian Kayima later said that Besigye was arrested when he tried to force his way out. Police were also deployed, under what the spokesman called preventive arrest, at the homes of certain Ugandans after intelligence was received that some wanted to engage in criminal activities.

Ssentamus arrest came after he was campaigning in an election to choose a lawmaker in the northwestern town of Arua.

Museveni also was in Arua at the time, campaigning for a rival candidate who eventually lost. While the president was departing, authorities said, his motorcade was pelted with stones by people associated with Ssentamu and the candidate he backed, Kassiano Wadri.

Ssentamus driver was shot and killed, reportedly by security forces.

In a statement late Wednesday, Museveni accused unprincipled politicians of luring youth into rioting. Responding to calls on social media to #FreeBobiWine, the president said he had no power to release Ssentamu. Let us therefore wait for the courts and see what they decide.

Museveni, a U.S. ally on regional security, took power by force in 1986 and has since been elected five times. Although he has campaigned on his record of establishing peace and stability, some worry that those gains are being eroded the longer he stays in power.

The 74-year-old Museveni is now able to seek reelection in 2021 because Parliament passed legislation last year removing a clause in the Ugandan Constitution that had prevented anyone over 75 from holding the presidency. Ssentamu publicly opposed that decision.

UPDATES:

8 a.m.: This article was updated with background on President Yoweri Museveni and the incident in which his motorcade was pelted with stones.

This article was originally published at 3:35 a.m.Contradicting rumors that Islamic State leader Abu Bakr Baghdadi is dead, the militant group has released a 54-minute audio message it says he delivered to mark Eid al-Adha, the Muslim holiday celebrated this week.

The speech, released Tuesday by the groups Furqan media arm, marks the first appearance by Baghdadi in almost 11 months.

There was no way to verify that the voice belongs to Baghdadi, but it is consistent with other recordings of him. Though the message is undated, it includes references to recent events, including the diplomatic rift between the U.S. and Turkey over Andrew Brunson, the American pastor being tried in Turkey on terrorism charges.

The speech comes after the group has lost almost all of the territory it once controlled in Iraq and Syria, including Mosul and Raqqah, the two most important cities in its self-declared caliphate.

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Separate offensives, one by a U.S.-led coalition and the other headed by Russia, have squeezed Islamic State militants into a small wedge of territory near the Iraqi-Syrian border, with both insisting the groups fighters now number in the few thousands if not less. Still, the U.N. said this month that the figure could be as high as 30,000.

Baghdadi insisted his group was in good shape and that the scale of victory or defeat with the mujahedin [holy warriors]  is not linked to a city or a village that was taken, and is not subject to those who have air superiority, intercontinental missiles or smart bombs.

He credited Islamic State for sullying Americas prestige and exposing its weakness over the last two decades and declared that the U.S. had lost standing in the world and was going through its worst period in contemporary history.

Baghdadi went on to congratulate the striking lions, a reference to those who had conducted so-called lone wolf attacks in Canada and Europe. He urged others to follow in their path, and to use guns, knives or simply run over their victims.

He also called on Sunni Muslims in Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain to rise up against their rulers, and he directed special ire at Syrian opposition fighters who he said had been tricked by their leaders to fight against Islamic State or had surrendered to Syrian government forces.

Baghdadi urged rebel fighters not to surrender Idlib, the northwestern Syrian province and the rebels last major redoubt in the country.

nabih.bulos@latimes.com

Twitter: @nabihbulosSummer heat has cast a pernicious spell on me, it's clear, but the winds are changing, the light is changing, and, finally unwilting, so am I. Weather aside, reentry to normal life has been very difficult after such an exalted and inspiring time in Norway.

My chief reason for going on this trip was in pursuit of my Places Project, to see and draw another vestige from the Caledonian Orogeny, circa 450-250 MYA. I had fewer days to do this than I had for my first two drawings, made in Wales, one in Pembrokeshire, one on Anglesey.

The accordion sketchbook I drew in here was custom made for me by book artist friend Josh Hockensmith. It is 10 1/2' long when stretched to its full length and each page is bigger than those in the Seawhite of Brighton concertina books I used in my first two drawings. The paper is ivory and slightly toothed, not white and smooth, and so the resulting drawing has a slightly different look from the first two.

The rocks I drew were very different, too. The rocks in Wales were faceted, sharp, angular, with mostly smooth surfaces. The rocks in Norway were flowing, textured, and multi-colored in shades of grays, ochres, some siennas and subtle blues. These outcrops will lend themselves to later studio pieces, some collages, some linocuts, perhaps, and I am looking forward to seeing what will emerge!

In between my days of Caledonian Orogeny drawing, I sketched, as you will have seen in my last post. Here are some miscellaneous moments, caught in my sketchbook. On a remote island in the Barents Sea, magenta saxifrage grew improbably and brashly between rocks in the tundra.

Later, in the Lofotens, I drew another view of the majestic Olstind mountain, seen from our cabin near Reine.

My husband and I love Bergen and it was in Bergen that I had this delicious vitello tonnato dish for lunch at a cafe near the Kode Museums. Note the candle, lit in the middle of the day in sunny, summery Bergen. This is one of the things I love about Scandinavia, the use of candles, a profound celebration of light, at all times of the year, at all times of the day, in the Polar Night or in the time of the Midnight Sun. I have taken this to my heart and I do the same thing in our home in North Carolina.





Circling back to Longyearbyen, here is a drawing of a bus passenger, who was a wonderfully monumental figure, compelling to draw:

On the painting front, two recently finished pieces.The first is another work belonging to my Places Project. This is a Copper Mountain sunset painting, inspired by my artist residency in Alaska, fall before last:

The second is an example of What I Did for Love, a snowy owl painting requested by my four-year-old grandson Miles. I have two more requested owlish pieces to finish, but I am returning to Norway in the studio in the next days, too.

I won't wait so long to post again. Soon I am taking a shortish trip with two dear friends to Yorkshire, not on the trail of the Caledonian Orogeny. The main focus will be to spend time with my friends in the birthplace and childhood region of one of them. Though I have lived and traveled widely in the UK, I have never been to Yorkshire. It turns out that my long-ago ancestors from Norway, settled in Yorkshire (coincidentally near where we will be), before much later emigrating to the US, so I will be, in some small way, returning home. Who knew??? See you soon!China prohibits support policies for illegal steel capacity

From:ChinaDaily | 2018-08-22 14:42

BEIJING - Chinese authorities on Tuesday released a set of rules regulating government policies for the steel industry, prohibiting any support for illegal capacity in the sector.

In a notice jointly released by nine government agencies including the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Finance, local authorities were told not to release any measures hampering the elimination of steel capacity that did not meet certain standards and the clean-up of "zombie" companies.

Regarding policies on encouraging innovation, research and technology progress in the industry, local regions should step up supervision and inspection to make sure policy funds are properly used.

The notice also stressed that the country's steel trade policies should comply with WTO rules, banning the release of export subsidies and import substitution subsidies breaching such rules.

The notice was the latest sign of government determination to regulate overcapacity after efforts in cutting capacity in recent years helped support economic growth.

China plans to cut 30 million tonnes of ineffective steel capacity and 150 million tonnes of coal capacity in 2018, according to a government work report released earlier this year.Breaking News Trunk-R-Treats the Thing on Halloween Night

Trunk-RTreats prove a big hit on Halloween Night in Lincolnton! Events sponsored by the Lincoln County Sheriffs Department and Lincolnton United Methodist Church drew large...

Fox opens The Little Fox Den

The only not in-home child care center in Lincolnton now has a new owner and a new name, with plans to grow. The Montabella Child...

Food Pantry sets Thanksgiving schedule

Jimmy and Michelle Chappell are among the newest volunteers helping out last Tuesday, October 19, at the Lincoln County Food Pantry to prepare for the...

Cousins take top honors at State Fair

Lincoln residents Brooklyn Seagraves, representing Lincoln County Middle School 4-H, and Lincoln County High School junior Elizabeth Ann Reed representing FFA, took top honors at...Computer & Technology Virtual Reality at the PPMA Show 2018

Mariani: The latest packaging systems presented virtually

23.08.2018 14:52:13 - Mariani chooses CAD Schroers virtual and augmented reality applications for its trade show presentations, and creates a lasting impression



(live-PR.com) - Cambridge, UK and Pittsford, NY  23 August 2018: Also this year CAD Schroers customer Mariani will attend the PPMA show in Birmingham. The PPMA show is the UK's largest processing and packaging machinery exhibition, and is completely free for visitors to attend. CAD Schroer will be supporting Mariani at the show with the latest virtual and augmented reality technologies. - Cambridge, UK and Pittsford, NY  23 August 2018: Also this year CAD Schroers customer Mariani will attend the PPMA show in Birmingham. The PPMA show is the UK's largest processing and packaging machinery exhibition, and is completely free for visitors to attend. CAD Schroer will be supporting Mariani at the show with the latest virtual and augmented reality technologies.

Mariani Presents in Virtual Reality at the show

Mariani is one of the worlds leading suppliers of packaging systems in the food and pharmaceutical industries, and regularly exhibits at international trade shows. Only last year, Ma riani attended the DrinkTec fair in Munich and wanted to present several new machines to its customers. CAD Schroer was able to help Mariani achieve this goal.

AR & VR at the show: An unforgettable experience

Using the latest AR and VR technologies, CAD Schroer has developed solutions that enable Mariani to present its machines and systems virtually. Above all, the mobile technologies at Marianis stand open up completely new possibilities and offer the visitor an unforgettable, immersive experience of how machines and complete systems can be presented in VR and AR.

The latest packaging systems presented virtually

Together with CAD Schroer, Mariani is organizing a ground-breaking presentation of augmented and virtual reality using one of its latest machines, the TRM700 LF film shrink-wrapper. This will be presented full-size on the stand in virtual reality, and on a tablet in augmented reality. The extensive system, which was designed using CAD Schroers MPDS4 software, can be viewed from any direction, inspected close-up, and virtually walked through in real-time using VR glasses. The live presentation will take place at the Mariani booth (B60).

PPMA Show: The latest innovations in manufacturing

The PPMA Show returns to the NEC from 25-27 September to provide manufacturers with insights into the latest machinery products, technologies and materials. The show will offer visitors a chance to see new machinery in action, find inspiration, new ideas and solutions, gain access to potential new suppliers and evaluate and purchase the latest technology, as well as talk face-to-face with the industrys leading technical experts.

Visit us at the Mariani stand

Exhibits can be viewed from any direction and walked through in virtual reality using VR glasses. The live presentation will take place at the Mariani stand (B60).



PPMA Show 2018 - NEC Birmingham

September 25 - 27, 2018

Booth: B60



>> How Mariani inspires its trade show visitors at the PPMA with Virtual Reality

www.cad-schroer.com/news/virtual-reality-at-the-ppma-show-2018/?utm_source=pressemitteilung&utm_medium=portal&utm_campaign=20180822_PPMA-UK





Video: Augmented Reality (AR) Apps for Sales and Marketing

youtu.be/07AckkWeWwI

About CAD Schroer

CAD Schroer is a global software development company and engineering solutions provider, helping to raise the productivity and competitiveness of customers working in manufacturing and process engineering, including the automotive sector and its supply chain, the energy sector and public utilities. CAD Schroer has offices and subsidiaries throughout Europe and in the United States.



CAD Schroers product portfolio includes 2D/3D CAD, plant design, factory layout and data management solutions. Customers in 39 countries rely on MEDUSA, MPDS, M4 ISO and M4 P&ID FX to provide an efficient, flexible and integrated design environment for all phases of product or plant design  cutting costs while raising quality.



CAD Schroers product and service portfolio also includes Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR & VR) solutions. Together with its customers, CAD Schroer develops immersive AR & VR apps using existing 3D CAD data for a wide range of applications, including impressive sales presentations, interactive training workshops, and servicing and maintenance guides. CAD Schroer apps are also used by distributed design teams to collaboratively review designs in virtual meeting rooms.



CAD Schroer emphasizes close customer partnerships and supports its clients objectives through extensive consultancy, training, development, software support and maintenance services.

Contact Information

CAD Schroer GmbH

Fritz-Peters-Strae 11

47447 Moers

Germany



Website:

Email:



Telephone:



UK: +44 1223 850 942

USA: +1 866-SCHROER (866-724-7637)

Germany: +49 2841 9184 0

Switzerland: +41 43 495 32 92

France: +33 141 94 51 40

Italy: +39 02 49798666

Mariani Presents in Virtual Reality at the showMariani is one of the worlds leading suppliers of packaging systems in the food and pharmaceutical industries, and regularly exhibits at international trade shows. Only last year, Ma riani attended the DrinkTec fair in Munich and wanted to present several new machines to its customers. CAD Schroer was able to help Mariani achieve this goal.AR & VR at the show: An unforgettable experienceUsing the latest AR and VR technologies, CAD Schroer has developed solutions that enable Mariani to present its machines and systems virtually. Above all, the mobile technologies at Marianis stand open up completely new possibilities and offer the visitor an unforgettable, immersive experience of how machines and complete systems can be presented in VR and AR.The latest packaging systems presented virtuallyTogether with CAD Schroer, Mariani is organizing a ground-breaking presentation of augmented and virtual reality using one of its latest machines, the TRM700 LF film shrink-wrapper. This will be presented full-size on the stand in virtual reality, and on a tablet in augmented reality. The extensive system, which was designed using CAD Schroers MPDS4 software, can be viewed from any direction, inspected close-up, and virtually walked through in real-time using VR glasses. The live presentation will take place at the Mariani booth (B60).PPMA Show: The latest innovations in manufacturingThe PPMA Show returns to the NEC from 25-27 September to provide manufacturers with insights into the latest machinery products, technologies and materials. The show will offer visitors a chance to see new machinery in action, find inspiration, new ideas and solutions, gain access to potential new suppliers and evaluate and purchase the latest technology, as well as talk face-to-face with the industrys leading technical experts.Visit us at the Mariani standExhibits can be viewed from any direction and walked through in virtual reality using VR glasses. The live presentation will take place at the Mariani stand (B60).PPMA Show 2018 - NEC BirminghamSeptember 25 - 27, 2018Booth: B60>> How Mariani inspires its trade show visitors at the PPMA with Virtual RealityVideo: Augmented Reality (AR) Apps for Sales and MarketingAbout CAD SchroerCAD Schroer is a global software development company and engineering solutions provider, helping to raise the productivity and competitiveness of customers working in manufacturing and process engineering, including the automotive sector and its supply chain, the energy sector and public utilities. CAD Schroer has offices and subsidiaries throughout Europe and in the United States.CAD Schroers product portfolio includes 2D/3D CAD, plant design, factory layout and data management solutions. Customers in 39 countries rely on MEDUSA, MPDS, M4 ISO and M4 P&ID FX to provide an efficient, flexible and integrated design environment for all phases of product or plant design  cutting costs while raising quality.CAD Schroers product and service portfolio also includes Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR & VR) solutions. Together with its customers, CAD Schroer develops immersive AR & VR apps using existing 3D CAD data for a wide range of applications, including impressive sales presentations, interactive training workshops, and servicing and maintenance guides. CAD Schroer apps are also used by distributed design teams to collaboratively review designs in virtual meeting rooms.CAD Schroer emphasizes close customer partnerships and supports its clients objectives through extensive consultancy, training, development, software support and maintenance services.Contact InformationCAD Schroer GmbHFritz-Peters-Strae 1147447 MoersGermanyWebsite: www.cad-schroer.com Email: marketing@cad-schroer.com Telephone:UK: +44 1223 850 942USA: +1 866-SCHROER (866-724-7637)Germany: +49 2841 9184 0Switzerland: +41 43 495 32 92France: +33 141 94 51 40Italy: +39 02 49798666 Press Information:

CAD Schroer UK Ltd.



Sheraton House, Castle Park

Cambridge

CB3 0AX



Contact Person:

Gudrun Tebart

marketing@cad-schroer.de

Phone: +44 1223 850942

eMail: eMail



Web: http://https://www.cad-schroer.com





23.08.2018 14:52:13 -

Disclaimer: If you have any questions regarding information in this article please contact the author. Please do not contact Live-PR.com. We are not able to assist you. Live-PR.com disclaims content contained in this article. Live-PR.com is not authorized to give any information about content and not responsible for content posted by third party.Stock Market News

IHG Headlines - InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (LON:IHG) Outperform Rating Has Just Been Reiterated by Credit Suisse 23-08-2018 02:20



Stock News headlines are gathered from financial news sources around the web. Views and opinions on each item are from their respective authors and website. They are not opinions of LiveCharts.co.ukLast residents to leave Hongzhen Old Street

From:Shine | 2018-08-22 15:29

Residents pose for a picture after signing on the agreements to move out of Hongzhen Old Street to make way for a project to revamp the dated neighborhood.

The last batch of residents at the Hongzhen Old Street in Hongkou District have agreed to be relocated, marking a milestone for the overall upgrading of thelargest remaining slum in Shanghai.

Over 90 percent of the residents at the 122 block of the old residential area have eagerly signed to be relocated with great relish. They can receive either subsidies from the government or new apartments elsewhere in the city.

The street and its surrounding area once housed more than 100,000 people. Most residents still used chamber pots since they didn't have toilets and plumbing and they cooked outdoor with charcoal stoves. Residents had to line up each morning to clean their chamber pots. The the rainy season or typhoon season, they placed buckets and barrelys under the many leaks.

Earlier this month, many residents gathered at the relocation office at the block where many of them have spent half of their lives to celebrate their move. Bulldozers will tear down the remaining apartments at the Hongzhen Old Street area soon and the shabby homes will be replacedwith a high-end residential community.

"We have dreamed all our life of getting out of this place," said Zhou Lanfeng, a 67-year-old resident who has lived in the area for over six decades.

Her family of five lived in a 17-square-meter apartment at the block. The crammed room is divided into a bedroom, a sitting room and a kitchen. She built a loft on the second floor a decade ago to improve the living space.

Before the relocation campaign was launched, she lived with her illfather since she could not afford an apartment of her own because of Shanghai's high prices.

"I felt I could never leave the shabby lane after the death of my mother and husband," Zhou said.

The Hongkou district government launched the relocation campaign on March 15 after neighboring parts of the area were revamped in previous years. Nearly all of the last batch of 1,201 households agreed to be relocated as soon as the government asked.

But agreeing on compensation was difficult, saidLu Xuebin, an official in charge of the relocation campaign for the area inJiaxing Road Subdistrict.

Nearly half of the properties are jointly owned by different family members, making it difficult to reach an agreement among them. One of the apartments, for instance, was owned by 19 people.

To solve the problem, the subdistrictestablished three work groups to visit and talk with each member in a household. Senior residents and retired judges were invited to join the work groups to solve problems and mediate family disputes.

"For the property owned by 19 family members, we spent half a month to gather them to a meeting together," said Chen Li, another official in charge of the relocation project. With the efforts of the work group, the household finally reach an agreement among the property owners and signed to get relocated, Chen said.

The Hongzhen Old Street area originated from the Hong'an ancient town and became prosperous in early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The 500-meter-long street became a popular market among locals.

In the 1930s, the area was an idyllic water town with farmlands, villages and stores along with dairy and silk plants. A large number of farmers mainly from neighboring Jiangsu Province who lost their lands during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) fled to the city and settled in straw houses on both sides of the street.

The area has been undergoing a major revamping with residential high-rise buildings, upscale shopping malls and facilities such as supermarkets, restaurants and schools. As part of a central commercial project,Ruihong Tiandi (Hall of The Moons) opened to the public and has become a popular recreation site for nearby residents and white-collars to shop, dine and spend weekends.

The former resident Zhouchose to receive cash subsidies as part of the relocation campaign. She plans to buy a small apartment in the surrounding area to live with her 90-year-old father.

"My father has been looking forward for half of his life to move into a modern residential apartment, and the dream has now come true soon," Zhou said.City seniors dine together in style they can afford

From:Shine | 2018-08-23 01:29

Zhuang Yunhai (left), the boss of Yinfu Kitchen, a government-subsidized seniors canteen at theYinhang community in Yangpu District is happy to serve as a cashier at the canteen to save on labor costs.

Specialized canteens catering for the growing elderly population, are opening up across the city, with cheap prices and a pleasant environment in an attempt to alleviate the loneliness which afflicts many in their later years.

Some 90 percent of local seniors are taken care of at home. The traditional virtue of filial piety means children are reluctant to put frail elderly parents in nursing homes. Dining has become a major difficulty, especially for those seniors living alone, or whose families are off at work all day.

The daughter of Tang Xiulan, an 83-year-old retiree inShiguang No.2 community in Yangpu, used to drive across town for an hour, twice a day, to take her mother cooked meals.

Her daughter's daily pilgramage ended last month, when Tang began eating atYinfu Kitchen, a government-subsidized seniors canteen at the nearby Yinhang community.

The canteen provides affordable, healthy meals which have made things easier for me daughter as well as relieving my loneliness, said Tang.

With subsidies from the government, a meat dish at the canteen such as a pork chop costs 4.5 yuan, while a dish of vegetables costs 1.5 yuan, far cheaper than any nearby restaurants.

Around 60 of these canteens have been opened in Yangpu District, catering for over 3,000 elderly citizens. More than 84 percent of them are over 70 years old living alone or with chronic diseases. The canteens also offer meal deliveries for an additional one yuan.

Citywide, over 500 seniors canteens are scattered around major residential communities, with another 70 to open by the end of the year, according to the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau.

It is part of the citys efforts to improve community care services for all senior residents. Companion daycarecenters, with activity rooms and medical services are also planned.

The number of city residents aged 60 or older reached 4.8 million at the end of 2017 and is expected to climb to 5.3 million by 2020. Seniors already account for more than a third of the citys permanent residents.

Jiang Xiaowei / SHINE

Adiscrimating customer carefully examines the dishes on offer atYinfu Kitchen, making sure she's gets exactly what she wants.

Jiang Xiaowei / SHINE

A meat dish atYinfu Kitchen sells for 4.5 yuan, while a dish of vegetables costs 1.5 yuan. It is easy to see why seniors prefer to eat here rather in other, much pricier, locations nearby.

He's lovin' it

Yinfu Kitche was opened with assistance from bothYangpu District and Yinhang subdistrict in 2008. It is run by Zhuang Yunhai, a successful businessman who previously managed a popular restaurant on Jungong Road in Yangpu.

Comparing with his previous lucrative endevour, the seniors canteen he hardly makes ends meet due to the low prices, but the 64-year-old Zhuang is more fulfilled than ever before.

Without a loving heart, no one could stick to a business which involves a lot of hardships and very little profit, Zhuang said. His two predecessors quitthe business within a year.

Zhang Xingen, 85,is Zhuang's most loyal customer. He has been dining at the canteen since 2008 when his wife passed away. The former technician at a Shanghai diesel engine plant can hardly see now.

He arrives at the canteen at 10am every day, listens to the orders of other customers to learn the menu of the day and then orders his own. He sits on a special spot near the counter where canteen staff bring him his meal.

The price of the dishes has not increased in ten years, Zhang said. He has made many new friends at the canteen, who eat with him and chat.

On weekends, his son and daughter come to visit him along with his grandchildren. Zhang often takes them to the canteen to sample his daily cheap and cheerful feast.

Jiang Xiaowei / SHINE

A Yinfu Kitchen deliveryman takes meal to the elderly in their own home for a surcharge of just one yuan

Every penny counts

To keep prices low, Zhuang drives to a wholesale market in neighboring Baoshan District at 5am every day where the products are fresh but prices are lower than other downtown wet markets. He also serves as the cashier at the restaurant to save the labor costs.

The canteen has 22 staff, including cooks and deliverymen. Another two branches have been opened, mainly for delivery services. The three sites sell about 700 meals on the premises plus another 300 meals each day.

During peak hours, his son and his wife often come to help out.

I determined to spend every penny of the government subsidies properly and never make a profit from my customers, he said.

Downtown district governments have also begun cooperating with restaurants to serve meals for elderly residents.

Huangpu District has invited the citys time-honored eatery brands, the Guang Ming Cun and Xiao Shaoxing restaurants, famous for local specialities like pork meat mooncakeand plain chicken, to deliver meals to seniors across Huangpu.

Over 5,000 seniors have registered for the service. The district government has invested over 6 million yuan to monitor the cooking process and ensure food safety.

In the Yangjing community in Pudong New Area with over 29,000 elderly residents, campaign isunderway to increase choice and improve quality of its sevencanteens.

Today, most seniors care more about the flavor and quality of their meals than the price, said Lu Xiaofeng, the official in charge of the canteens.

The canteens also open to nearby office workers and other residents to ensure profitable operations, but seniors aged over 85 enjoy a 15 percent discount.This content is from: Trademarks

The internet overseer says the court was wrong to rule that it did not sufficiently explain or provide a credible reason why it wanted to force one of its registrars to collect data on new registrantsHow Chinas Mobile Ecosystems Are Making Banks Obsolete

The U.S. credit card system siphons off excessive amounts of money from merchants. In a typical $100 credit card purchase, only $97.25 goes to the seller. The rest goes to banks and processors. But who can compete with Visa and MasterCard?

It seems Chinas new mobile payment ecosystems can. According to a May 2018 article in Bloomberg titled Why Chinas Payment Apps Give U.S. Bankers Nightmares:

The future of consumer payments may not be designed in New York or London but in China. There, money flows mainly through a pair of digital ecosystems that blend social media, commerce and bankingall run by two of the worlds most valuable companies. That contrasts with the U.S., where numerous firms feast on fees from handling and processing payments. Western bankers and credit-card executives who travel to China keep returning with the same anxiety: Payments can happen cheaply and easily without them.

The nightmare for the U.S. financial industry is that a major technology companywhether one from China or a U.S. giant such as Amazon or Facebookmight replicate the success of the Chinese mobile payment systems, cutting banks out.

According to John Engen, writing in American Banker in May 2018, China processed a whopping $12.8 trillion in mobile payments in the first ten months of 2017. Today even Chinas street merchants dont want cash. Payment for everything is handled with a phone and a QR code (a type of barcode). More than 90 percent of Chinese mobile payments are run through Alipay and WeChat Pay, rival platforms backed by the countrys two largest internet conglomerates, Alibaba and Tencent Holdings. Alibaba is the Amazon of China, while Tencent Holdings is the owner of WeChat, a messaging and social media app with more than a billion users.

Alibaba created Alipay in 2004 to let millions of potential customers who lacked credit and debit cards shop on its giant online marketplace. Alipay is free for smaller users of its platform. As total monthly transactions rise, so does the charge; but even at its maximum, its less than half what PayPal charges: around 1.2 percent. Tencent Holdings similarly introduced its payments function in 2005 in order to keep users inside its messaging system longer. The American equivalent would be Amazon and Facebook serving as the major conduits for U.S. payments.

WeChat and Alibaba have grown into full-blown digital ecosystemsaround-the-clock hubs for managing the details of daily life. WeChat users can schedule doctor appointments, order food, hail rides and much more through mini-apps on the core app. Alipay calls itself a global lifestyle super-app and has similar functions.

Both have flourished by making mobile payments cheap and easy to use. Consumers can pay for everything with their mobile apps and can make person-to-person payments. Everyone has a unique QR code and transfers are free. Users dont need to sign into a bank or payments app when transacting. They simply press the pay button on the ecosystems main app and their unique QR code appears for the merchant to scan. Engen writes:

A growing number of retailers, including McDonalds and Starbucks, have self-scanning devices near the cash register to read QR codes. The process takes seconds, moving customers along so quickly that anyone using cash gets eye-rolls for slowing things down. Merchants that lack a point-of-sale device can simply post a piece of paper with their QR code near the register for customers to point their phones cameras at and execute payments in reverse. A system built on QR codes might not be as secure as the near-field communication technology used by ApplePay and other apps in the U.S. market. But its cheaper for merchants, who dont have to buy a piece of technology to accept a payment.

The mobile payment systems are a boon to merchants and their customers, but local bankers complain that they are slowly being driven out of business. Alipay and WeChat have become a duopoly that is impossible to fight. Engen writes that banks are often reduced to dumb pipessilent funders whose accounts are used to top up customers digital wallets. The bank bears the compliance and other account-related expenses, and it does not get the fees and branding opportunities typical of cards and other bank-run options. The bank is seen as a place to deposit money and link it to WeChat or Alipay. Bankers are being disintermediatedcut out of the loop as middlemen.

If Amazon, Facebook or one of their Chinese counterparts duplicated the success of Chinas mobile ecosystems in the U.S., they could take $43 billion in merchant fees from credit card companies, processors and banks, along with about $3 billion in bank fees for checking accounts. In addition, there is the potential loss of money market deposits, which are also migrating to the mobile ecosystem duopoly in China. In 2017, Alipays affiliate Yue Bao surpassed JPMorgan Chases Government Money Market Fund as the worlds largest money market fund, with more than $200 billion in assets. Engen quotes one financial services leader who observes, The speed of migration to their wealth-management and money-market funds has been tremendous. Thats bad news for traditional banks, where deposits are the foundation of the business.

An Amazon-style mobile ecosystem could challenge not only the payments system but the lending business of banks. Amazon is already making small-business loans, finding ways to cut into banks swipe-fee revenue and competing against prepaid card issuers; and it evidently has broader ambitions. Checking accounts, small business credit cards and even mortgages appear to be in the companys sights.

In an October 2017 article titled The Future of Banks Is Probably Not Banks, tech innovator Andy OSullivan observed that Amazon has a relatively new service called Amazon Cash, where consumers can use a barcode to load cash into their Amazon accounts through physical retailers. The service is intended for consumers who dont have bank cards, but OSullivan notes that it raises some interesting possibilities. Amazon could do a deal with retailers to allow consumers to use their Amazon accounts in stores, or it could offer credit to buy particular items. No bank would be involved, just a tech giant that already has a relationship with the consumer, offering him or her additional services. Phone payment systems are already training customers to go without bank cards, which means edging out banks.

Taking those concepts even further, Amazon (or eBay or Craigslist) could set up a digital credit system that bypassed bank-created money altogether. Users could sell goods and services online for credits, which they could then spend online for other goods and services. The credits of this online ecosystem would constitute its own user-generated currency. Credits could trade in a digital credit clearing system similar to the digital community currencies used worldwide, systems in which money is effectively generated by users themselves.

Like community currencies, an Amazon-style credit clearing system would be independent of both banks and government; but Amazon itself is a private for-profit megalithic system. Like its Wall Street counterparts, it has a shady reputation, having been variously charged with worker exploitation, unfair trade practices, environmental degradation and extracting outsize profits from trades. However, both President Trump on the right and Sen. Elizabeth Warren on the left are now threatening to turn Amazon, Facebook and other tech giants into public utilities.

This opens some interesting theoretical possibilities. We could one day have a national nonprofit digital ecosystem operated as a cooperative, a public utility in which profits are returned to the users in the form of reduced prices. Users could create their own money by monetizing their own credit, in a community currency system in which the community is the nationor even the world.

Ellen Brown developed her research skills as an attorney practicing civil litigation in Los Angeles. In Web of Debt, her latest book, she turns those skills to an analysis of the Federal Reserve and the money trust. She shows how this private cartel has usurped the power to create money from the people themselves, and how we the people can get it back. Her earlier books focused on the pharmaceutical cartel that gets its power from the money trust. Her eleven books include Forbidden Medicine, Natures Pharmacy (co-authored with Dr. Lynne Walker), and The Key to Ultimate Health (co-authored with Dr. Richard Hansen). Her websites are www.webofdebt.com and www.ellenbrown.com and http://PublicBankingInstitute.org

 Copyright Ellen Brown 2018

Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors.

 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.



Asia Pacific Cruise Conference to be held in Shanghai

By:Zheng Qian | From:english.eastday.com | 2018-08-23 09:46

The 2018 Seatrade Cruise Asia Pacific Conference will be held in Shanghai from October 23 to 25 this year, according to news released by the Baoshan District Government yesterday.

Cruise company executives, government officials and more than 100 guests from all over the world will gather together to discuss the development of the cruise market in the Asia Pacific region. In addition, the 2018 Report on Chinas Cruise Industry is expected to be released.

The Chinese cruise industry has gone through a decade of rapid development, making China the world's second largest cruise passenger market.

However, in the past two years, many international cruise companies have reduced their capacity in China. The slowdown in market growth, low-price competition, and product homogeneity are all issues that need to be solved in China's cruise industry today.

Thus, this conference is to hold a number of forums on themes such as "The next golden decade of China's cruise industry: how to balance the growth and sustainability of the market" and "Made in China, made for China", so as to stimulate a qualitative increase in the Chinese cruise industry and the building of domestic luxury cruise ships.

During the conference, the Asia Cruise Port Association Forum will also be launched to promote interaction between international cruise ports in Asia and the "Asian Cruise Port City Alliance" is expected to be established.The coalition government formed after the 2006 Janaandolan, in its annual budget statement, announced the launch of one laptop per child (OLPC) programme in a bid to promote the use of information and communication technology in government schools.

The decision was made to emulate the success of similar programmes in other underdeveloped countries around the world. Therefore, the Nepali version of the programme not only borrowed the idea but also the name. After the announcement, the Department of Education, as a pilot activity, distributed laptops loaded with child-friendly content to students of selected schools in Makawanpur and Mustang districts.

Stakeholders enthusiastically applauded the government initiatives. However, the pilot lasted only for a year as the government dropped the programme in the next annual budget. A group of enthusiasts, closely following the developments, were worried about the governments decision to discontinue the ambitious programme; they had thought it could bring a paradigm shift in Nepals education.

The withdrawal triggered an innovative thought in them: Can a nongovernmental or private agency intervene and run exactly the same programme? After rounds of discussions, the activists concluded that they could launch the project themselves as an NGO.

This is how Open Learning Exchange (OLE) Nepal was born in 2007. Now, the organisation facilitates ICT-enabled teaching and learning activities at various schools in all districts of the country except Manang. Three major programme components of the organisation have collectively changed the way that teachers and students would engage themselves in classroom activities.

It is interesting to note that the NGO, born as a result of the governments failure to continue its own programme, is partnering with the government for every activity it has carried out.

E-paati

The organisations Senior Manager for Training and Government Affairs, Tika Raj Karki, says his organisation continued distributing laptops to children of selected schools of Makawanpur and Mustang districts after the government pulled out.

The programme was popularised with its international name OLPC in the beginning. But, OLE Nepal, after it took over, found the acronym quite difficult for children and their guardians to understand and remember. Hence, the name was changed to e-paati.

The organisation and the Department of Education signed an agreement to run the programme jointly in 2008. They have been renewing it every year since then. Currently, around 150 schools have been using around 6,000 such e-paatis (laptops). In addition to pilot districts of Makawanpur and Manang, select schools in Lalitpur, Kavre, Kapilvastu, Bajhang, Baitadi, Doti, Dadeldhura and Darchula are using the facility.

The World Food Programme is sponsoring the programme in five far-western districts. There are some other donors too. The organisation conducts occasional fundraising campaigns to ensure the sustainability, according to Karki.

Besides, some individual donors, both from Nepal and abroad, want to support schools they know with the project. Therefore, the project has its presence in few schools in other districts as well, he adds.

Karki informs that the organisation began distributing a laptop to every child of the selected schools in the beginning as its name suggests. However, they later realised that if the laptops could be shared among children of different grades, more kids would benefit from limited resources.

That is the reason why every single child does not get a laptop these days. However, they have made sure that every child studying between Grade I and VIII has an access to the machines. We find out the class with the highest number of students in the school and give as many laptops as students in the biggest classroom so that an entire class can use them simultaneously.

E-paath

The e-paatis are loaded with e-paaths along with other resources. E-paaths are lessons that have been prepared following the curricula designed by the Curriculum Development Centre. Further, the CDC monitors the contents of e-paaths at the beginning of every academic season and the organisation distributes the contents only after getting the Centres approval.

Based on recommendations made by various commissions and result patterns of secondary level examinations, we have limited our contents to four major subjects; namely: Nepali, English, maths and science, Karki says, However, we want to expand its scope further.

The e-paaths are not just computer versions of textbooks. They contain interactive lessons with animation videos, sounds and pictures. Karki says exercises given in the textbooks are not enough for diligent students; therefore, the e-paaths have additional exercises too.

Likewise, he hopes that the organisation would be able to produce contents for students up to Grade X in the next few years.

E-pustakalaya

Whereas e-paati and e-paath are offline programmes, the organisations e-pustakalaya has been providing benefits to both online and offline users.

The NGO claims it is the biggest online library designed for schoolchildren, guardians, teachers and stakeholders in Nepal. The library currently has easily downloadable 8,000 pdf books, over 1,000 interactive lessons from the e-paath, and dozens of magazines and journals of education and child development sectors.

Educational games and contents developed by other national and international organisations and companies including the British Council, Khan Academy and Pratham Books are also available. All the contents are open licensed and hence free to download.

On the basis of its reach also, this is the biggest e-library of Nepal, according to the organisations Library Coordinator Ganesh Ghimire. On average, more than 50,000 books are downloaded from the library free of cost every month. Anyone can access the site from any place in the world and read and download the contents online.

The organisation also realises that not all schools in Nepal have online access and hence restricting the resources to online users would be against their objective. Therefore, the organisation has been providing offline servers loaded with similar contents to schools of rural Nepal.

Currently, over 700 schools have such servers. Ghimire says the programme has reached all districts of the country except Manang. The number of schools has doubled in past one year as the government began providing Rs 650,000 to select schools to establish e-libraries.

According to Ghimire, the government has been providing the monetary support to around 1,500 schools every year since last year. Interestingly, the OLEs e-pustakalaya has been the first choice for most of the schools to properly utilise the money because other resources available in the market are not as rich and easy to use as the e-pustakalaya. Generally, a school buys computers and server, sends the server to the OLE, and the organisation loads contents into it, and sends back to the school.

Likewise, old servers are sent to the organisation every year to update the contents.

The organisation has also been providing training to teachers, students and guardians to effectively use available resources.

The governments role

Both Karki and Ghimire claim that concerned government agencies are actively involved in the implementation of the organisations projects. At the central level, the NGO has a partnership agreement with the Department of Education. The Curriculum Development Centre supports content development and updating. The National Centre for Educational Development is working together for teacher training programmes.

District level offices are involved in the delivery of the programmes. Of late, local governments have also begun assisting schools to buy computers and install library programmes there.

The government has announced various programmes to promote information and communication technology at schools and released budget for them generously. But still, some schools have been using computers just to train their teachers to type basic Nepali and English.

There are some schools which have launched computer courses but teach the students by drawing pictures of computer parts on blackboards. I visited one of such schools in Doti last year, Karki says, hinting the budget has not produced effective results as intended. He suggests the government take initiatives to expand the reach of such programmes to remotest parts of the country.

The OLPC programme in Nepal is a brainchild of the government, not NGOs. The NGO adopted the programme only after the government failed to continue it. Nonetheless, the two sides are working together to let Nepali schoolchildren have a better access to modern technologies. Impacts of the cooperation look commendable.

Yet, NGO workers themselves feel that the government has to take the lead in this transformation process.

We wish the government took it over again. We have been questioned by various sections of the society why we are doing all these good activities if we are not earning any penny out of it, Karki says, If the government does it, it will look more natural and innocent. We are always ready to extend our support.

Photos: OLE NepalMajor Nepali and English broadsheet dailies published from Kathmandu on Thursday have highlighted a host of issues from political, sociocultural and economic spheres of the country. The government is introducing new bills one after another as it is under the pressure to implement new laws so as to ensure citizens get fundamental rights envisioned in the constitution. Newspapers have significantly reported provisions of proposed laws and likely controversies that might emerge after the implementation.

Likewise, a press meeting organised by the Nepali Army Welfare Fund has received significant attention from some of the newspapers. They have also featured contemporary political activities including those of ruling Nepal Communist Party and main opposition Nepali Congress on their front pages.

Few other issues from sociocultural and economic sectors have been featured on the front pages today.

Important

Nepali Army wants to expand business

Annapurna Post, Karobar and The Kathmandu Post have reported that the national military organisation has hinted at expanding its business further.

The Military Welfare Fund organised a press conference in Kathmandu yesterday and announced its interest to expand its investment area further, according to Karobar. The report claims that the Welfare Fund is preparing to formulate separate rules for investment in various lucrative sectors including real estate, shopping complex, guest house, fuel supply, textile and hydropower production.

Meanwhile, the Nepali Army has approached the Ministry of Defence to lobby for some amendments to the existing Army Act to facilitate the process, according to a three column story in The Kathmandu Post.

Meanwhile, the Funds Rs 230 million is at stake, according to Annapurna Post anchor story.

Ignored

View tower construction still in limbo

It has been three and half years since the Kathmandu Metropolitan City announced to build a 29-storey view tower at Purano Bus Park of the capital. Accordingly, the local government removed the bus park from the place and signed a contract with a private company.

However, the construction has not begun yet, Nepal Samacharpatra reports. But, the company is still claiming that the construction will begin at the earliest.

Kalimati traders to face music

The government has decided to cancel the contract signed with 98 vegetable traders who were doing their business at Kalimati Fruit and Vegetable Market in Kathmandu after they were found to be giving the space they rented from government to others for profit, according to Kantipur.

They rented the space for Rs 20,000 from the government, but earned as much as Rs 500,000 from it, according to the Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Yubak Dhoj GC.

Report says jailbirds deprived of human rights

The Office of Attorney General has recently made public its report prepared after monitoring prisons across the country and it has highlighted that the jailbirds in general are deprived of their basic human rights, reports Annapurna Post.

Many jailhouses do not have sufficient windows to pass in air, light and warmth whereas the jailbirds do not have sufficient space to sleep, the report has identified.

Congress mahasamiti meeting will begin new leadership race

The Nepali Congress mahasamiti meeting scheduled to be held within next few months is expected to begin the race for new leadership in the party, according to The Kathmandu Post.

The party will hold its 14th national general convention next year and it holds much significance because it will bid adieu to the partys ageing leadership and welcome new faces, the report explains.

It is expected that the partys Central Working Committee meeting called for tomorrow will fix the date and venue for the mahasamiti meeting.

Karna spits venom against constitution

The government has recently filed an amendment proposal to revise the Constitution Act in its bid to address concerns raised by Madhesh-centric parties. However, a key leader of the Rastriya Janata Party Nepal, Laxman Lal Karna, has commented that the proposed provisions are more stringent than those of the constitution, reports The Himalayan Times.

Interesting

Govt embraces social media use to address complaints

Kantipur lead story for the day reports that the government has issued a guideline over the use of social media for government offices, and this is the first time the government promoted social media at its offices officially.

The new law requires all government agencies to use new media platforms including Facebook, Twitter and Viber so that complaints of the public can effectively be addressed on time.Kathmandu, August 22

The much hyped Kalanki Underpass in Kathmandu has been closed a week after authorities allowed vehicular movement on the newly built structure.

The Ring Road Improvement Project closed the underpass for traffic on Wednesday morning, Kalanki Police Inspector Bimal Thapa told Onlinekhabar. The underpass was opened only for a few days to test how vehicles move about, he added. There is still some construction work that needs to be carried out for the underpass to become fully functional, explained Thapa.

Project officials say the underpass, which had eased traffic on the Ring Road, will be re-opened after a week. After its closure, a long line of vehicles has been seen in the area.

Construction work for the 800-m pass began in 2016. Although the initial target was to finish the project in six months, it took the builders two years to complete it.It is common for companies to organize various informal events where workers can come with their partners. One of those...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,Photo and posters: Pictoral prism into the pastBy By:

Dr. Francis R. Souder, 85, formerly of Telford, died Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007 in the skilled nursing unit of Peter Becker Community, Franconia Township. He and his wife Marion R. (Parker) Souder celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary in July.

Born in Souderton, he was a son of the late Elvin B. and Mary (Rittenhouse) Souder.

A 1938 graduate of Souderton High School, he received his undergraduate degree in 1941 from the University of Pennsylvania where he was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa. Dr. Souder went on to receive his medical degree from Hahnemann Medical College in 1944 and completed his internship at Hahnemann Hospital from Oct. 1944  July, 1945.

He served with the U.S. Navy Medical Corps for 30 months in San Diego and Long Beach, Calif. during WW II and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant prior to his discharge. He entered his second tour of duty during the Korean War where he served in Panama City, Fla. as the medical officer for the Panama City Naval Air Station and the Tyndal Air Force Base.

Dr. Souder owned and operated his family practice on Main Street in Telford from 1947-1989. He served on the staff of Grand View Hospital, and as its president, and taught at the Grand View Hospital Nursing School. He was a member of the Pa. Medical Society, the Bucks County Medical Society, Diplomat American Academy of Family Practices, and served on the board of trustees at Grand View Hospital, Sellersville.

He was a member of Trinity United Church of Christ in Telford, where he sang in the church choir. He was also a member of the MacCalla Lodge #596 in Souderton, the Raja Shrine, and Lehigh Consistory.

In addition to his widow, he is survived by a son, Dr. Ronald L. Souder, and his wife Susan L. of Green Lane; a daughter, Susan J. Souder, and her husband Stephan Russo of New York, N.Y.; five grandchildren: Jennifer A. Souder of Philadelphia; Emily E. Souder of Philadelphia; Kathryn A. Souder of Washington, D.C.; Noah Russo of New York, N.Y., and Rebekah Russo of New York, N.Y., and two brothers: Attorney Elvin B. Souder of Souderton and Dr. Lawrence Souder of Souderton.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 12 p.m. in Trinity United Church of Christ, 101 S. Main St., Telford, with calling hours following the service.

Interment will be private in Trinity UCC Cemetery Telford.

Memorial contributions may be made to Grand View Hospital, 700 Lawn Ave., Sellersville, Pa. 18960.

Arrangements are by Sadler-Suess Funeral Home, Telford.August 23, 2018

What The Party 'Strategists' Say Is Not What The Voters Want

Q: Why did the Democrats lose the Senate, House and presidency as well as more than a thousand state government positions?

A: They listened to their 'strategists', not to their voters.



Here is what the strategists currently say:

Staying out of the single-payer debate, party strategists say, could help Democrats in the general election, when theyll have to appeal to moderates skeptical of government-run health care. Earlier this year, the DCCC warned candidates about embracing single payer, hoping to avoid Republican attacks on socialized medicine.

Why is "socialized" medicine supposed to be a bad thing? Why not defend it? It is what the voters want:



Reuters/Ipsos poll - June/July 2018 - bigger

The 'strategists' say the voters can not have the nice stuff they want. Their arguments lost the elections. If the Democrats want to win again their must tell their voters to demand more nice stuff. Some people get that:

Progressive insurgents believe Clintons defeat, on top of losing control of Congress and most state governments, proved them right. They aspire to overthrow conventional wisdom that Democrats must stay safely in the middle to compete. Democrats have been fixated for 20 years on this elusive, independent, mythical middle of the road voter that did not exist, said Crystal Rhoades, head of the Democratic Party in Nebraskas Douglas County, where a progressive candidate, Kara Eastman, is trying to wrest a competitive congressional district from a Republican. Were going to try bold ideas.

Most social-democratic parties in Europe have the same problem the U.S. Democrats have. The party establishments angle for the ever elusive 'liberal' center. They move the parties further to the right and lose their natural constituencies, the working class. This gives rise to (sometimes fascist) 'populists' (see Trump) and to an ever growing share of people who reject the established system and do not vote at all.

This phenomenon is the micro version of a much larger trend. Liberal globalization, as promoted by the party 'elites', promises but does not deliver what the real people need and want. Liberal globalization turned out to be a class war in which only the rich can win. A revolt, locally on the level of voters, and globally on the level of nations, is underway to regain a different view.

Alastair Crooke recently outlined the larger trend within a global, 'metaphysical' perspective.

The progressive Democrats who are pushing for single payer healthcare still miss out on other issues. They also support higher wages, but are, at the same time, against restrictions on immigration. Wages rise when companies have to compete for workers. Immigration increases the available work force. A political program that supports both does not compute.

Working people understand this and in 2016 many of them voted for Trump. Neither LGBTXYZ identity policies nor other aloof 'liberal values' will increase the income of the poor. To win back the necessary masses the Democrats and social-democrats in Europe will have to shun, or at least de-emphasize such parts of their program.

It's a class war. The rich are winning. Fight.

Posted by b on August 23, 2018 at 18:30 UTC | Permalink

Comments

next page The 40-year dream of restoring passenger rail servicestoked by increasing population and traffic congestionfrom Gilroy south to Salinas and/or Hollister has found new life in two counties.

Monterey County officials this week began construction of an $81 million project to build a new train station and other railroad upgrades, which they claim could bring daily railroad service to Gilroy and the Bay Area by 2020.

Meanwhile, San Benito county transportation officials this spring received a $150,000 grant for an in-depth feasibility assessment of public transit projects, including passenger rail, to help reduce congestion along Highway 25.

One problem: No railway company has committed to, or even expressed an interest in, providing the rail service.

The Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority, which contracts with BART to operate rail service between Sacramento and San Jose, is the latest favorite of the Transportation Agency of Monterey County for the San Jose-Gilroy passenger rail.

Caltrain, the initial choice, told this newspaper, There has been no commitment made that Caltrain would be responsible for operating the service from San Jose to Salinas through GIlroy.

Six Caltrain trainsthree northbound in the early morning commute and three southbound in the evening commutecurrently connect the Bay Area to and from the Gilroy station, with stops in San Martin and Morgan Hill.

Some folks may still remember the last passenger train to stop in Hollister at the Fifth Street depot, on Oct. 30, 1955. The Gilroy-to-Hollister rail route opened in 1871. The old train station since 2007 has been the home of El Epazote Restaurant.

WIth much fanfare, Monterey officials held a groundbreaking ceremony Aug. 9 at the Salinas Train Station to celebrate the Monterey County Rail ExtensionKick Start Project to extend passenger rail service from Santa Clara County to the City of Salinas.

The project will provide an alternative to traffic congestion, thereby reducing commuter stress and increasing productivity. The extension will provide access to jobs, health care, education and shopping, and expand transportation options for the young, elderly and disabled, touted the Monterey agency in a press release. The event was cited as an unprecedented collaboration of state and regional transportation agencies, along with local jurisdictions.

The proposed route would follow Union Pacific tracks that roughly parallel state Highway 129. The lone Amtrak train, the Coast Starlight linking San Diego and Vancouver, follows this routenorthbound in the early evening and southbound mid-mornings. This is the closest passenger train to Hollister, but the San Benito Council of Governments will be studying its own possible Caltrain extension. A Tres Pinos branch line of this rail route extends east past San Juan Bautista to Hollister.

The Union Pacific is the main rail freight system in the region. One Salinas city councilmember last week said that Monterey officials would also be reaching out to Union Pacific as a possible provider of the new passenger service, but the railway stopped all of its passenger trains in the U.S. in 1971.

Plans to link either the Capitol Corridor, which now ends in San Jose, or Caltrain, which now ends service at Gilroy, could be in place optimistically by 2020, said Christina Watson of the Transportation Agency for Monterey County.

Originally, the project was to extend Caltrain to Salinas, according to Monterey County officials.

Then the plan changed to extending the Capitol Corridor train, which connects Sacramento with San Jose.

Another project in the mix is the California High Speed Rail, which would reach from Gilroy to Merced, then to Los Angeles.

Caltrain, along with many other regional rail operators and the state, has been involved with planning efforts to establish rail service between Monterey County and the Bay Area. However, there has been no commitment from Caltrain to be responsible for operating the service.

The Transportation Authority of Monterey County has been working on this effort for many years, but the effort is still in its infancy and no operator has been identified, Caltrain said in a statement this week in response to inquiries from the Dispatch.

Significant planning, capital improvements, actions and agreements involving many parties would be required before any service could be considered for operation. As a key part of the regions rail network, Caltrain staff will continue to participate in these discussions.

The Council of San Benito County Governments and San Benito County Local Transportation Authority, which oversees San Benito County Express, received a $150,000 competitive SB1 transportation planning grant award from Caltrans. The funds will be dedicated to an in-depth feasibility assessment of public transit projects, including passenger rail, to help reduce congestion along Highway 25.

Highway 25 is highly congested during weekday commute hours due to the large number of residents commuting to Santa Clara County. The average daily traffic at the San Benito/Santa Clara county line has more than doubled since the mid-1990s due to rapid population growth and commute trips, and is expected to double again by 2040.

The study will include public engagement, stakeholder participation, the evaluation of public transit projects, high-level implementation strategies, project cost estimates and the identification of funding strategies, COG said in a press release.

Work with a consultant began this summer with community outreach starting later this year.

Project updates and information on how to get involved will be provided on the San Benito County Express website at www.SanBenitoCountyExpress.org.

Senate Bill 1 provides approximately $5.4 billion in annual funding to fix roads, freeways and bridges and puts more dollars toward transit and safety. For complete details on SB 1, visit the states website at http://www.rebuildingca.ca.gov.

Census information indicates that 48.9 percent of employed San Benito County residents commute outside of the county for employment. As the population of the county continues to increase at a rate higher than the employment opportunities, current congestion issues for personal automobiles will continue to increase, including along Highway 25.MERIDEN  In 1973, a man claiming to be a prophet of God moved his cult from New Jersey to central Connecticut.

Over the next three decades, Brother Julius Schacknow would lead hundreds in performing gods work as members of The Work, culminating in multiple unfair business practice lawsuits, several sexual assault charges and an alleged murder between cult members.

Schacknow died in 1996 at age 71. He reportedly had seven wives he alternated living with and had five children between two women.

After serving in the Navy in World War II, Schacknow converted from Judaism to Christianity. He was a fundamentalist preacher who one day, at an outdoor revival in Trumbull in 1970, proclaimed that he was Jesus Christ reincarnated.

Several hundred young people flocked to the guidance of the long-haired, bearded preacher who wore a white robe and had mesmerizing green eyes, the Record-Journal reported in his obituary in 1996. Years later he would elevate his title to God.

The Work was active in Meriden and Southington and set up headquarters in the Kennedy Building on Pratt Street in Meriden at one time.

In 1985, the Record-Journal helped ex-cult members share their stories of the fear and intimidation that ran deep in the cults system.

You follow Julius because you believe in certain values and ideals, including the existence of Jesus Christ, Gods kingdom, and the battle between good and evil, said Pawul, a former member who declined to share his last name with the Record-Journal at the time.

(But) you found out you couldnt go along with what was happening and retain the values that brought you there, he said.

Stephen Rand was perhaps the most staunch opponent to Brother Julius cult and sued for $1.5 million against commercial enterprises supposedly connected to the cult.

Intimidation and fear. Thats the whole way they get everybody to do anything, Rand said. Rand recalled group meetings when he was ridiculed publicly and experienced the wrath of the cult leader (Schacknow).

Ive gone home from so many meetings thinking I was dirt because I was screamed at so much Ive seen people turn white and almost pass out because they were so intimidated and screamed out, Rand said in 1985. Ive seen people hysterically crying  these things are common.

He described Schacknow as having an insatiable sexual appetite and said he would prey on female members of the cult, which allegedly included underage girls.

In 1988, Schacknows stepdaughter sued him, saying he sexually assaulted her for seven years, beginning when she was 11 years old. The suit was settled for an undisclosed amount and criminal charges were never filed.

Among the cult members were Southington residents Paul and Joanne Sweetman, who ex-cult members alleged took advantage of the group by paying low wages to cult members who worked in the groups businesses, according to Rand.

Those business ventures included County Wide Construction Inc., Century 21/

J-Anne, and Anointed Music and Publishing Co. or TAMPCO.

Paul Sweetman was killed and his body was allegedly dismembered by former cult members in 2004. Rudy Hannon, 72, and Sorek Minery, 42, of Burlington, were charged earlier this month in the homicide.

When police officers interviewed Minery in 2016, he said that in the months leading up to the murder, Hannon was trying to convince Minery that Sweetman "needed to be killed because he was hurting his wife, Joanne Sweetman, and that God would have wanted them to kill Sweetman," court documents state.

Minery said at the time of the incident he looked up to Joanne Sweetman as a high religious figure within their group.

bwright@record-journal.com

203-317-2316

Twitter: @baileyfaywrightSOUTHINGTON  The final semester of Lincoln College of New England begins early next month, leaving students with questions about where theyll continue their education at the end of the year.

Some of the classes scheduled for the fall will take place in Southington and others at Goodwin College in East Hartford. Lincoln and Goodwin signed an agreement that waives admission fees for students who transfer. Lincoln credits will transfer to Goodwin College, according to the agreement.

The schools are nearly identical in price, both costing just under $20,000 in tuition per year for a full-time student.

On social media, frustrated students questioned why the college announced the closure this week. Alumni said they worried that the closure would hurt their ability to get a job in the future.

Lincoln officials said an accreditation group put the college on probation in June. Leaders of the for-profit education company that owns Lincoln decided to close the school, which had been declining in revenue and enrollment. It has about 200 students.

Barbara Brittingham, president of the New England Commission on Institutions of Higher Education, said Lincoln offered programs such as mortuary science that were hard to find. But despite serving a unique market, the college is struggling against demographic and economic trends that are resulting in fewer college-aged students.

In times of low unemployment, fewer adults go back to college, Brittingham said. That particularly hurts institutions that primarily offer two-year degree programs, such as Lincoln. In the Northeast and other parts of the country, a declining birth rate means fewer college-aged students looking to enroll in schools. Population trends project that problem to worsen for the foreseeable future.

Not only are things tough now, theres every reason to believe theyre going to get more difficult, Brittingham said.

The bleak demographic outlook likely influenced Lincoln Educational Services leaders in their decision to close the school, she said.

Some of Lincolns programs were also more expensive to run, such as mortuary science and dental hygiene requiring specialized equipment and accreditation.

On Tuesday, the campus main office was busy with students and employees. Media were not allowed to talk to students or remain on campus. School officials provided written statements on questions that may arise.

Its unclear what will happen with the Southington campus on Mount Vernon Road. Its owned by a company with a Florida address, according to state records, and leased by Lincoln.

Even after the school closes at the end of December, Goodwin may continue offering some classes in Southington, according to Goodwin communications director Phil Moore.

There could be a program that needs a certain layout that they have down there, he said.

Lincoln was formerly Briarwood College and Clemens College.

jbuchanan@record-journal.com

203-317-2230

Twitter: @JBuchananRJInternational

Afghanistan rejects Russias invitation for talks with Taliban

Kabul, Aug 23 (IANS) | Publish Date: 8/23/2018 12:20:25 PM IST

Afghanistan has said it would not participate in peace talks with the Taliban, to be hosted by Russia in Moscow in the beginning of September.

Afghanistan would not attend the Moscow talks and meeting. We will not participate, the peace process should be held under the leadership of the Afghan government and should be Afghan-led, Sibghatullah Ahmadi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was quoted as saying by TOLO News on Wednesday.

Afghanistans decision of not participating in the talks, to which 12 other countries have been invited, could come as a blow to the Kremlins initiative scheduled for September 4.

The processes will give no result and will achieve nothing in which Afghanistan is not taken in the loop and Afghanistan is not accepted as the main player and pillar, Ahmadi said.

However, a former Taliban political figure Sayed Akbar Agha said the Taliban will attend the meeting and will start discussions on the prospects of peace in Afghanistan with countries in the region.

Taliban has agreed on the Moscow talks and they will attend it. These talks are related to Asia. Foreign forces have come to Asian countries and there are concerns among these countries about it. All these countries want foreign forces to withdraw from Afghanistan, he said.

Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, head of the Talibans political office, will lead the militant groups delegation in the talks, reports say.

The main objective of the Moscow Format according to the organizers was to promote the process of national reconciliation in Afghanistan and establishment of peace in the country, which has been steeped in conflict since American troops ousted the Taliban in 2001.

The US also rejected Moscows invitation to the talks but delegations from Russia, Pakistan, China, Iran, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan reportedly accepted the invitation.

On April 14, 2017, Afghanistan participated in one of the first six-party peace talks hosted by Russia with the same objective although it did not yield any concrete results.

The Taliban and the Afghan government have held only one official meeting in July 2015 but the talks were suspended after Afghanistan revealed that Mullah Omar, the founder of the insurgent group, had died in 2013.International

Afghanistan seeks Russian help to press Taliban into peace talks

Sergei Lavrov and Mohammad Hanif Atmar (Artyom Korotayev / TASS)

KABUL, Aug 22 (Agencies) | Publish Date: 8/22/2018 12:29:34 PM IST

Afghanistan hopes Russia can press Taliban insurgents into holding peace talks with the government, Afghanistans top security official said on Wednesday after he met Russias ambassador in Kabul, Reuters reported.

The Taliban, fighting to oust U.S. and other foreign forces and defeat Afghanistans Western-backed government, plan to take part in talks on Afghan peace in Moscow on Sept. 4, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was quoted as saying on Tuesday.

Afghanistans national security adviser, Hanif Atmar, told Russias ambassador that Afghanistan appreciated Russias support for the peace process and called upon it to put pressure on Taliban insurgents to begin negotiations with the Afghan government, Atmars office said.

The Taliban this week rejected a government offer of a three-month ceasefire and said they would press on with their war, two insurgent commanders told Reuters, after a series of militant attacks in which hundreds of people have been killed.

Russian ambassador Alexander Mantytski, said his country was ready to help Afghanistan make the peace process a success, Atmars office said.

According to a senior diplomat in Kabul, Moscow in recent months has stepped up direct contacts with the Taliban, which is formally banned in Russia.

Russia has invited 12 countries, including the United States, to the Moscow talks next month but the United States has declined the invitation.

Russias foreign ministry said on Wednesday it regretted the U.S. decision.

Nearly 40 years have passed since Moscow sent its troops into Afghanistan, beginning a bloody decade-long occupation and factional conflict which is still going on.

This year, Russia rejected an accusation by NATOs top commander in Afghanistan that it had been supporting and even supplying weapons to the Taliban.

A Western diplomat in Kabul said Russia was seeking to increase its influence and improve its image in Afghanistan by inviting Taliban leaders for talks.

The Taliban have yet to announce if they would attend the Moscow talks.Business

Finance ministry refuses Rs 300-bn fund-infusion proposal for Air India

New Delhi, Aug 22 (Agencies) | Publish Date: 8/22/2018 12:23:44 PM IST

The finance ministry has turned down Rs 300-billion fund-infusion proposal for Air India in the absence of a clear turnaround plan. The civil aviation ministry had sought the package to wipe out the debt obligation of the state-owned airline, defaulting on salary disbursements and payments to vendors, Business Standard reported.

The finance ministry has instead asked the airline to transfer its non-core assets and subsidiaries to a special purpose vehicle (SPV). Those assets would be monetised to reduce the companys unsustainable portion of the debt. Of the Rs 500-billion total debt, around Rs 220 billion has been termed unsustainable, implying it cannot be serviced with the cash flow income.

Of the overall debt component, aircraft loans account for about Rs 160 billion, which has been raised partially from EXIM Bank, foreign institutions and NCDs (non-convertible debentures), while the rest is from working capital.

Senior officials aware of the development said the civil aviation ministry was of the view that the airline could not perform at the optimum level due to the hefty interest outgo. The civil aviation ministry had proposed that a small infusion of funds was not helping the airlines turnaround plan as it was paying Rs 40-50 billion annually in interest, said a senior official.

However, sources in the finance ministry suggested that the airline was unable to come out with a concrete turnaround plan. The last bailout package for the airline didnt improve the functioning of the airline. Instead the burden kept on increasing. So it has been proposed that the airline should transfer the non-core assets and its subsidiaries into the SPV, following which the government will monetise the assets and pay off the unsustainable portion of the debt. That will help in cleaning the airlines books, a senior finance ministry official said.

The finance ministrys stand also stems from the fact that in an election year, budgetary resources need to be allocated for funding agriculture and infrastructure rather than an airline, a source pointed out.

The government is simultaneously preparing to sell Air Indias engineering and ground-handling subsidiaries, Air India Engineering Services Limited (AIESL) and Air India Air Transport Service Limited (AIATSL).

We have started the sale process of the two subsidiaries, said a senior government official. The airlines non-core assets comprise real estate assets across prime locations in cities and airports.

A consultant will be appointed to make a detailed inventory report of the assets and fix a proper valuation. The process will be reviewed by a committee represented by secretary-level officials from the ministries of Civil Aviation and Finance, Air India executives as well as a retired judge. With the SPV holding a portion of the debt, this will help clean up Air Indias books and lighten the debt burden.

The move will also push up the enterprise valuation of the company, making it more attractive for investors whenever the sale process is resumed, the official said.

Experts supported the move saying that subsidising large-scale losses of the airline was not a viable idea. Funding large-scale losses is grossly unfair to the tax payer, said Kapil Kaul, CEO (South Asia) of aviation consultancy firm CAPA.State

Muslim community celebrates Eid in Nagaland

Members of Muslim community offer namaz on the occasion of Eid ul-Adha in Dimapurs Idgah ground (L) and at Kohima local ground (R) on Wednesday (Photo: Social media)

DIMAPUR, AUG 22 (NPN) | Publish Date: 8/22/2018 11:42:20 AM IST

Muslim community in Nagaland Wednesday celebrated Eid ul-Adha (also known as festival of sacrifice or Bakrid) with religious fervour and also made sacrificial offerings. Eid ul-Adha marks the end of the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.

Members of Muslim community residing in and around the state capital Kohima and commercial hub Dimapur marked the day by performing special namaz at idgahs.

Nagaland governor, PB Acharya, and chief minister, Neiphiu Rio, have extended greetings to the people on the occasion. The governor conveyed his greetings to the people of Nagaland and wished for harmony and brotherhood in the society.

Acharya expressed hope that the sacred occasion would usher in goodwill and harmony and further strengthen the values of composite society everywhere.

May this Eid bring you cheer, peace and happiness and may it foster goodwill and brotherhood, Rio tweeted.By Dylan Lynch

Ballots and beer seem to be sewn into the very fabric of this nation.

Many Americans can relate to having a drink or two while watching the election returns, and then, maybe a few more either in celebration or disappointment.

According to a 2014 World Health Organization report, America ranked 48th in the world for alcohol consumption measured in liters per capita per year. Take that, 49th-ranked Cyprus!

The report further notes that of the 9.2 liters drank by an average American, 50 percent of that is beer. In addition, Americas unique system of governance is ingrained in every American. Maybe its not perfect, but its ours.

Indeed, the relationship between beer and elections seems to have started at the very beginning. In 1777, James Madison sought to obtain office without the corrupting influence of spirituous liquors and promptly lost the election. Madison had not learned from the story of a young, aspiring politician who, in 1758, once spent his entire campaign budget on about 150 gallons of alcohol to win a seat in the Virginia House of Burgess. This candidate had learned from a failed campaign in 1775, where he had pointedly neglected to offer alcohol to the electorate. That candidate: George Washington.

By many accounts Election Day used to look more like a frat party than a solemn act of civic participation (perhaps all the more because women usually couldnt vote). But the days of rowdy elections began to wane in 1811, when Maryland is credited with passing the first campaign finance reform law, which prohibited purchasing alcohol for voters. Still, as you scan state election code sections, you can see the remnants of a different time.

Louisiana strictly prohibits a polling place from being in a place where alcoholic content is served to the public. The state does allow an exception for a nonprofit whose main purpose is not to serve beerthink VFW or American Legion Halls. In Georgia and Maryland, the sale of alcohol can be prohibited by local jurisdictions on election days.

Counties in Oklahoma that choose to authorize the sale of alcohol by the individual drink cannot prohibit such sales on the day of any election, provided that it is not otherwise prohibited by law. Puerto Rico has a similar provision but exempts certified restaurants and bars in cruise ships.

Fortunately for George Washington and unfortunately for James Madison, they did not live in Montana. According to Montana statute, the distribution of alcohol to a voter within 100 feet of a polling place is expressly prohibited. In Minnesota, it is a misdemeanor offense to bring or drink intoxicating liquor or 3.2 percent malt liquor in a polling place or to even be intoxicated while at the polls. In New Mexico, the boundary extends to 200 feet, and if youre a member of the precinct board, Election Day is a day of sobriety.

For better or worse, it seems America has gone the way of Madison and not of Washington. So, if you decide to crack open a cold one on the next election, make sure you check your state election code first. Maybe just wait to imbibe until after youve voted and are safely away from your polling place.

And residents of Georgia and Maryland? You may want to plan ahead and stock your fridge.

Dylan Lynch is a policy associate with NCSLs Elections and Redistricting Program.

Email DylanBy IANS

MUMBAI: Jet Airways on Wednesday said that its Board will consider the unaudited financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2018, on August 27.

According to a BSE filing, the "Audit Committee and the Board of Directors" will, inter-alia, take up the matter in relation to the cost reduction initiatives and a turnaround plan.

The airlines' management had earlier sought time and deferred the consideration of unaudited financial results for the first quarter of the current financial year 2018-19.

On August 9, the company in a BSE filing said: "...Board of Directors of the Company, at its meeting held today (Thursday), deferred the matter of consideration of the unaudited financial results for the quarter ended 30 June 2018."

"It may be noted that the Audit Committee did not recommend the said financial results to the Board for its approval, pending closure of certain matters," it added.

Recently, the airline said that it is regular in all its payment obligations to the bank and statutory dues including PF obligations.

It had pointed out that no differences of opinion existed between the company and its statutory auditors and that the airline has been working on various cost and revenue initiatives to mitigate the significant increase in fuel rates and depreciation in rupee.Ashwini M Sripad By

Express News Service

BYRAMANGALA VILLAGE, BIDADI (RAMANAGARA): Unlike Bellandur lake, the oozing froth from Byramangala lake in Bidadi, which adjoins Ramanagara assembly constituency represented by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, and is fed by the by Vrushabavathi river flowing from Bengaluru, does not fall on any passing software engineer. Neither is it located in the state capital to grab global attention, besides that of political leaders and activists.

But frothing at Byramangala lake, caused by Bengaluru sending its "poisonous chemicals to it, is causing severe skin and health problems to local farmers using the same water to breed fish and grow fruits and vegetables in their fields  which ultimately comes back to Bengaluru for its citizens consumption. The Vrushabavathi river originates near Bull Temple in Basavanagudi, South Bengaluru, and flows underground towards Gali Anjaneya Temple, Kengeri and then Bidadi before joining Cauvery river at Sangama near Mekedaatu.

Located some 40 km from Bengaluru, the lake in Byaramangala village of Bidadi taluk is part of Vrushabavathi valley which carries toxic pollutants from Bengaluru. The canal (naala) from the lake passes through at least 28 villages, including Chowkahalli, Kolleganahalli, Gharepalya, Ramanahalli, Billedoddi and other villages in Byramangala and toxic pollutants are entering agricultural fields where farmers also grow sugarcane and paddy.

In fact, frothing at Byramangala Lake is worse than that at Bellandur Lake in Bengaluru. But no ones paying attention. There is no sewage treatment plant (STP) nor effective mitigation measures taken, and things have turned from bad to worse. And villagers blame Bengaluru for their woes. Right from expired medicines to paint, ice-cream powder, industrial effluents containing acid, fluoride, methyl and more, all which are harmful to the human body, end up in Byramangala Lake. Often, garbage trucks from Bengaluru come here to dump waste.

Fakirappa, a resident of Kathegaanahalli comes to Byramangala Lake to cut the grass grown on the lake bed. I have two cows and do not own any land. I take grass from here and feed to my cows, he says, oblivious to the fact that the chemicals from the lake are ingested by his cows, the milk of which is supplied to the co-operative society, which, in turn, is supplied to Bengaluru. There is also land belonging to the Horticulture, Fisheries and Minor Irrigation Departments next to the lake. There is fisheries on the other side of the lake.

SKIN INFECTIONS

Except for drinking, the same lake water is used for agriculture purpose in all the 28 villages. With regular use of the water, people are developing skin infections. Nagarathna, who lives near Byramangala Lake, is in her late 20s, but looks much older. There are black marks on her feet. I cannot sleep during night. My feet itch and it also gets painful, says Nagarathna who spends five-six hours a day getting grass from the lakeside where she has contracted the infection. At least 40% of people living in the lakes vicinity suffer from similar infection. The couple Sundaramma and Kariyappa of Chowkahalli spend close to Rs 1,000 per month buying medicines for the infection.

The doctor says if we do not work in the field and have no water contact, it can be cured. If we do not work, how will we lead our life? another resident Kariyappa questions. They buy ointment and apply it every day on the infected parts. The villagers buy water from private tankers. But the borewell water is not fit to drink either. There was a time when we used to drink water from the naala directly. The naala water was so transparent and clean, another villager Lokappa says. There is just one primary health centre at Byramanagala where people from in and around come, most of them for skin infections. Medical Officer Dr Raju V says skin allergy and infection is so common here.

There are 13,000 people in the 28 villages and many of them have infection. Some common infections are Dermatitis (skin disease caused by itchiness, red skin and rashes), some have small blisters, and skin even becomes thickened, skin infection which spread gradually across the body. There are some who suffer from asthma; the chemical content in the water could be one of the reasons for it, he says. Dr Raju made an observation and said: Most people in these villages are farmers who work in the fields with good physical activity. They eat just two meals a day, and there is no junk food. In spite of this, people in their late 20s and 30s suffer from diabetes, which is strange.Avinash Ramachandran By

Express News Service

How often does one see a poster for a short film at a multiplex? With even the biggest of films not getting enough screens in Chennai, it is encouraging that the citys Rohini Silver Screens has decided to screen Nagarum Nodigal, debutant director Raj Eshwars 25-minute film, on Sunday.

Raj, who is hardly able to contain his excitement, says, Our short film posters have been placed at the entrance, and more importantly, right next to the poster of Nayantharas Kolamavu Kokila.



This is the maiden film venture for the ad-filmmaker who started his cinema journey five years ago when he was part of Naalaiya Iyakkunar. I was part of a talented team in the show and some of them have already made their first feature films, like Pyaar Prema Kaadhal and 8 Thottaakal, says Raj whose short film has garnered appreciation from celebrities like Prabhudheva and Vijay Sethupathi.

This is the first time a single Tamil short film, as opposed to an anthology like Stone Bench Creations films, is getting a big-screen release.

This is a showreel of sorts for the feature film we are planning to make. Producers have suggested retaining the title. The feature film will mostly have the same content with a few changes made here and there, says Raj.

Kaali Venkat and Balaji Venugopal headline the short film that also stars National Award-winner Kaaka Muttai Ramesh and debutant Shyam Sundar. Crediting his ad-film background for picking the apt cast, Raj says, The editors and PROs of my ads helped me develop contacts with relative ease.

Though it is a short film, Raj affirms he has left no stone unturned to make it a quality product, on par with a full-length feature. There were no compromises made. The motion poster for the film was done by the same team behind Shankars 2.0, says the director who has bankrolled the project under his advertising agency, 7 Screen Studios.

With cinematography by Navin Kumar, who has helmed the camera for the yet-to-be-released film Sigai, and music composed by KS Sundaramurthy of 8 Thottakal and Echarikkai fame, Nagarum Nodigal hits Rohini Silver Screens for two shows at 10 am and 11.30 am on Sunday.Avinash Ramachandran By

Express News Service

If there is one thing that sets apart Indian cinema from the rest of the world, it is our song and dance routines. And since the late 1980s when a lanky teenager named Prabhudheva made his debut, dance in India has never been the same. Into his thirtieth year in the film industry, Prabhudheva has donned many hats successfully, and on Friday, his acting acumen will be put to test in the Vijay-directorial Lakshmi, a dance film featuring talented young dancers from the country.

Lakshmi is an extraordinary film, says the National award-winning choreographer in a freewheeling chat about his upcoming projects, his favourite type of films, and of course, Lakshmi.

Young kids like Ditya Bhande (star of Lakshmi) are now entering the film industry. As a teenage entrant into cinema yourself, how do you see this phenomenon?

Ive been working in the field for too long, right? (sighs) The thing is when I started out, all I knew was dance. However, kids now go to school, and learn swimming, music, sports, etc. So unlike me, these kids are smarter and much more talented, and in a way, I think they are better prepared. They have an impressive clarity of thought.

This is your second film with director Vijay. What makes your combination work?

Not just two, we are all set to do our third film together (Devi 2). Thats the level of comfort I have with him. Considering that the first time I interacted with him was only during Devi, I feel we have come a long way in a very short time.

There seems to be a sudden increase in the number of serious roles you are playing.

I think filmmakers have finally accepted me as an actor. In Mercury, and even in Devi, I played serious roles. I am once again trying something different with Lakshmi. It is an interesting attempt in an altogether different genre; it is a conscious effort to explore new things.

So, is your film, Pon Manickavel, a result of this conscious effort too?

In Pon Manickavel, I play a police officer for the first time. It is a film that goes completely against the tide of my career. I have directed cop stories (Rowdy Rathore, Pokkiri), but this will be more simple and realistic. Its completely unlike my style.

You have almost 5-6 releases this year. The last time this happened was in the early 2000s.

Did I actually do so many films in the early 2000s? Well, I am not sure how it happened then and Im not sure why it is happening again. I think it has just worked out that way. Even now I ask my directors why they choose me? Is it because they didnt find any other actor to play the role? They laugh and explain that they feel I can do justice to the character they envisioned.

How do you separate the actor from the director?

After all these years, I now know what not to do and I feel it is very important. As a director, there are certain nuances that one notes, and when it gets coupled with maturity and experience, it gets easier to separate the actor from the director.

A lot of choreographers seem to be turning directors. What explains this transition?

It is not just dance choreographers; even stunt choreographers and cinematographers have tried their hand at direction. People like Farah Khan or Remo Fernandes are doing some excellent work. They have spent decades in the industry, and this helps them develop a good rapport with the actors. While narrating their scripts, the artistes are already aware of their technical abilities and style of work; so the transition becomes smoother.

With filmmakers opting for more realism, the number of song-dance routines seems to be reducing.

To be honest, I am one of those who loves songs, fights, comedy and action in films. I believe thats what makes a film. If you take the Telugu film industry, even big stars like Chiranjeevi, Allu Arjun, etc stick to these types of films. The audience for such films will always be the majority; not just in the South, but also worldwide.

Having won National awards for contrasting styles of choreography, have you found a comfort level with any particular style?

For a long time, I didnt realise that every time I choreograph, there were huge expectations. But now, the need to fulfil expectations is in the back of my head. The audience wants to know what unique thing Im going to do each time. Though I have this in mind, I dont let it affect my work. For me, it is more about the trust the filmmakers have placed in me

Any project you are particularly excited about?

Charlie Chaplin 2. It is an interesting subject that deals with a simple conceit but also carries a powerful message. It also has the same levels of fun that the original film had, which was a blockbuster hit in every language it was remade in.

It has been a while since you directed a film in Tamil. Whats your next directorial?

I actually dont know why there has been a gap in directing a film in Tamil. I think it is high time to do one. What do you say? However, for now, my next project is Salman Khans Dabbang 3, which is likely to go on floors in January.Anand ST Das By

Express News Service

PATNA: The transfer of CBI SP in Patna, JP Mishra, who was heading the investigation in the Muzaffarpur shelter home sexual abuses case, prompted Opposition parties to dub it as a "plot to weaken the probe".

Mishra, who was shifted out of the case with immediate effect on Tuesday, would be working as SP in DIG office, Patna range. Devendra Singh, who was posted as SP in CBI's anti-corruption unit in Lucknow, would replace Mishra and head the shelter home probe, said sources.

The transfer, that officials described as a "routine move by the CBI," came as a surprise to many as it was effected two days before the agency is set to submit to Patna High Court a report on the progress of the probe. Sources said Devendra Singh would now submit the CBI's action taken report to HC on Thursday.

Several raids were conducted by the CBI across Bihar ever since the agency took over the case on July 29. Bihar's former social welfare minister Manju Verma and her husband, former MLC Chandeshwar Verma, were also interrogated. Manju Verma resigned on August 8 after her husband's name surfaced in the racket.

"It raises questions on the agency's sincerity in investigating the case as it happens just two days before submitting of ATR in the HC. It clearly raises huge suspicion," said Alok Mehta, a former minister and senior leader of the Opposition RJD.

"So after Bihar Governor, CM Nitish Kumar also got CBI SP transferred. Tomorrow he would have submitted progress report on Muzaffarpur shelter home mass rape case in the HC. The investigation was reaching to 'Patna Sir' as mentioned in Brajesh Thakur's diary. Chacha wait and watch, who's he?" tweeted Tejashwi Yadav, the Leader of the Opposition in Bihar Assembly, referring to the CM as 'chacha' (uncle).By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: A week after Ashutosh resigned from the Aam Aadmi Party, another journalist-turned-politician, Ashish Khetan, on Wednesday announced his decision to quit the party. I am completely focused on my legal practice and not involved in active politics at the moment. Rest is all extrapolation, Khetan tweeted.

Later, in a Facebook post, he sought to dispel rumours and speculations regarding his move and said he had received love and respect from party. For the past two years, I have been plagued with self-doubt and the question of whether I wanted to continue in electoral politics. Early this year I made my decision to quit active politics after much deliberation and in consultation with family and close friends, he wrote. He clarified that he did not announce his decision earlier because the party was beset with a series of crises and waited for an opportune time to formalise his decision.

He also added that his personal decision to move away from the party and electoral politics should not be viewed as a reflection on AAP. Khetan, who was brought into the AAP fold by former members Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan, was made vice-chairman of the Delhi Dialogue and Development Committee an advisory body of the Delhi government  three years ago. But he resigned from the post in April this year, saying he was joining the legal profession.

Like Ashutosh, Khetan, too, claimed that the decision to quit politics was a personal one. But observes see the recent developments as a result of AAP being relegated to a one-man show. The list of those who founded AAP or joined it with great idealism, but left, bitterly disillusioned, is long, very long. It was a moment of great hope. All destroyed by the unscrupulous ambition and lack of vision of 1 man. A case study of how an Organisation or movement can be destroyed, tweeted Bhushan.

Delhi Congress leader Sharmishtha Mukherjee tweeted: Within 6 years of forming the party, most of the old guards, founding members of AAP have left. Obviously something is terribly wrong within the party.Anuradha Shukla By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: With an eye on 2019 general elections, the Central government is planning a massive outreach for India Inc, especially with the corporate leaderships. It has asked the respective ministries to engage more frequently with business houses under their domain.

According to sources in various ministries, the government has mandated selected ministries to identify the dominant industry voices.

This will be more of a targeted programme for outreach to India Inc. The purpose is to identify dominant industry figures, to engage with them and make them aware of the governments policy achievements in the last four years. In doing so they will also be able to hear their grievances and can use meetings and conferences to clarify governments stand on them, a top official from the Finance Ministry told TNIE.

Apart from the corporate bigwigs, the ministries will also engage with industry associations, think tanks and trade unions, who are the media and social media influencers.

So, while the Power Minister will engage with power companies, power finance companies and power distribution companies, the Finance Ministry will engage with bankers, micro-finance and insurance companies, and the MSME Ministry will take care of small manufacturers.

According to sources, the whole outreach programme will be under the guidance of a team of ministers handpicked by the Prime minister himself.

The whole purpose of the exercise is to make a more focused and targeted way to make the industry aware of the governments past policies, future vision of the sector and immediate concerns on a more direct way, without the message being diluted, said another official who is aware of the programme.

However, such outreach programmes are not new to the government. It is already running a campaign called Sampark for Samarthan, as a part of which 4,000 elected BJP members will target around 1 lakh newsmakers in politics, business, sports, movie, art and cultural fields. Under this programme, the top BJP members have already met corporate biggies like industrialist Ratan Tata, Yes Bank MD & CEO Rana Kapoor and Biocon chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw to name a few.By Express News Service

LUCKNOW: Five people died and 12 were taken ill after allegedly consuming spurious liquor in Kamalpur Village on the Uttar Pradesh-Haryana border in Shamli district of western UP.

According to police sources, three out of the five people died on Tuesday and two succumbed on Wednesday.

Villagers allege that the victims had consumed country-made liquor. As per sources, one of the deceased had supplied the spurious liquor and he had consumed it as well.

Shamli District Magistrate Indra Vikram Singh ordered an inquiry into the hooch tragedy and a case was lodged against one of the deceased and some unknown vendors under sections of IPC and Excise Act.

Singh said the village borders Haryana and the victims may have consumed spurious liquor in Karnal as a few were admitted in Karnal too. He did not rule out smuggling of spurious liquor from Haryana due to cheaper rates.

Taking swift action in the case, district police authorities suspended Inspector KP Singh and four Constables on Wednesday.

Shamli SP Dinesh Kumar said they had received information about the hooch tragedy in the village on Tuesday morning.

According to Kumar, the family members of the deceased denied that the deaths had taken place due to consumption of country-made liquor. "Families of two victims claimed that they had died due to heart failure. When policemen insisted on taking the bodies for autopsy, they refused to allow that," he said.

Those who died on Tuesday included Indrapal Singh (55), Sanjay Singh (28) and Joga Singh (50). The victims' families refused to lodge any complaint with the police.Anand ST Das By

Express News Service

PATNA: Patna High Court, which is monitoring the probe by CBI into the sexual exploitation of minor girls at a shelter home in Bihars Muzaffarpur, on Thursday pulled up the central agency for failing to submit before it a report on the progress of the probe and transferring the SP heading the probe.

A division Bench of Chief Justice MR Shah and Ravi Ranjan expressed displeasure over CBIs failure to submit the report regarding the progress of the probe on the appointed date. The CBI counsel sought more time, but the Bench directed the agency to submit the report in a sealed envelope during the next hearing slated for August 27.

The Bench asked CBI why its SP JP Mishra was transferred in the middle of the probe and that too just two days before the date fixed for submitting the report to the court. Asking why the court was not informed beforehand about the transfer, the Bench asked the CBI counsel to keep the court informed about such processes in future.

Since CBIs main counsel in the case, Vipin Bihari Sinha, was not present at the court, a junior lawyer represented CBI. Dissatisfied by the lawyers replies, the Bench asked him to come fully prepared during the next hearing.

Observing that there have been reports in the media about possible raids, searches, seizures and arrests, the court also asked CBI how its probe plans were getting leaked to the media. Terming it a serious issue, the Bench asked the media to not show or print anything related to the case in advance.

JP Mishra, who had been heading the probe into the shelter home case since it was taken over by the agency on July 29, was shifted from CBIs Special Crime Branch unit and attached to the office of the DIG in Patna on Tuesday.

While CBI said the transfer was a routine process, Opposition parties in Bihar decried the move, saying it raised suspicion that the direction of the probe was being influenced in order to protect powerful people linked to the case.

Under Mishras leadership, CBI teams had conducted dozens of raids across Bihar and interrogated former social welfare minister Manju Verma and her husband Chandeshwar Verma, a former MLC. Manju Verma had resigned from her post on August 8 after her husbands name surfaced in the case.By PTI

NEW DELHI: The NHRC has sent a notice to the Bihar government days after a woman was assaulted and paraded naked by some people in Bihiya town of Bhojpur district in the state.

The National Human Rights Commission has also directed the state's Director General of Police to ensure proper protection to the woman and her family members so that she is not threatened or subjected to any kind harassment by the miscreants.

"The NHRC has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report that a woman was beaten and paraded naked by some people in Bihiya village of Bhojpur district in Bihar on suspicion of her involvement in a teenager's mysterious death," the national human rights panel said in a statement today.

The Commission observed that the incidents appear to be a "serious case" of violation of human rights including right to life of the teenager and the right to dignity to the victim woman.

Though FIRs were registered in the matter and several police personnel were placed under suspicion, the action "does not seem to be sufficient".

The Commission has issued a notice to the Bihar chief secretary, calling for a detailed report in the matter.

Both the officers have been given four weeks to respond.

While issuing notices, the Commission has observed that the sequence of incidents indicate towards "negligence on the part of the police authorities and the local administration".

The shameful incidence was a fallout of the violence that had rocked the main market area of Bihiya block, about 60 km from state capital Patna, after the body of 19-year-old Vimalesh Sah, who had gone missing on August 19, was found adjacent to a railway track the next morning.

Residents of Sah's native village Damodarpur had rushed to the spot upon hearing the news and some of them suspected that those living in a red light area nearby could have strangled the youth to death, police said.

The villagers set ablaze a number of shops in the market area and assaulted many local residents, police said.

As the mob frenzy continued, one of them dragged the woman out on street, ripped off her clothes and paraded her naked while kicking and slapping her and hurling abuses, Bhojpur Superintendent of Police Avakash Kumar had said.

Sixteen people have been arrested and eight policemen suspended in connection with the case.Manish Anand By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: In his death, former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee appears to have addressed the BJPs quest for a national icon matching the Nehruvian legacy.

The top leadership of the BJP, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the party chief Amit Shah, is expected to meet soon to hammer out a roadmap to put him in the league of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru.

The BJPs quest to establish Vajpayee as a foremost national icon has just begun. The statewide yatras to immerse ashes of Vajpayee in over 100 rivers across the country are only the beginning. The top leadership of the party will be meeting around Raksha Bandhan to chalk out a plan of action to cement Vajpayee in the minds of the people, said a top-ranking BJP leader, requesting not to be quoted.

For long, the BJPs tallest icon has been party ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyay. But because of his lack of immediacy and connect with the masses, he couldnt be established as an icon outside the party.

For almost four decades, the Congress reaped political dividends because of the Gandhi-Nehru legacy. Vajpayee is fresh in the memory of the people. Weve at our disposal rich resources in the form of his speeches on diverse subjects, besides his poetry. That the party is in power at the Centre and in about 22 states will come in handy to execute the plan in the course of the next few months, said the BJP leader.

Memorials, renaming of cities and major highways, instituting awards, rechristening of Central schemes and campaigns at the grassroots level in his memory are all on the cards.

Eye on polls, BJP prepares to encash on Vajpayee legacy

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh took the lead in renaming its new township Naya Raipur as Atal Nagar.

The Madhya Pradesh government will incorporate a biography of Vajpayee in school textbooks, besides announcing a slew of awards in his memory and naming upcoming smart cities after him. The Uttar Pradesh government, too, will go the extra mile to etch Vajpayee in public memory.

The Congress didnt allow any icons to get their respectful places. Sardar (Vallabhbhai) Patel too wasnt allowed his rightful place. The table has turned, and now the BJP is in a similar position as the Congress had been in the 1970s, added the BJP leader.

With the BJP bracing up for polls in four states and the Lok Sabha elections in another eight months, the saffron outfit is banking on campaigns around Vajpayee to infuse energy among the party workers and encash his legacy.

The rich treasure of Vajpayees speeches will prove to be a great brand ambassador for the BJP in the coming years, opined the BJP leader.By Express News Service

SRINAGAR: National Conference president and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah was on Wednesday heckled during Eid prayers in Srinagar for chanting Bharat Mata ki jai and Jai Hind during a prayer meet held on August 20 for former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Abdullah was attending Eid prayers at the 17th century Hazratbal mosque when a section of the gathering started raising slogans of Farooq Abdullah go back and Hum kya chahte, azadi (we want freedom). Some of the slogan-shouting youths also tried to approach the NC leader, who was sitting on a chair in the front row because of ill-health. However, some people joined hands to make a human chain around him and stop them from coming near him. Security personnel also threw a ring around the NC leader.

Despite the disruption, Abdullah, who is also the Lok Sabha MP from Srinagar, continued with his prayers. He later downplayed the incident saying the jeering and booing youths were his own people who were misguided. I did not leave the venue and completed my prayers. They are my own people, Abdullah said. A politician, at times, has to face peoples anger. I only hope these misguided youths are counselled properly.By PTI

NEW DELHI: In refusing foreign aid for the rehabilitation of flood-hit Kerala, the Centre has followed a 14-year convention it "inherited" from previous governments of refusing such assistance in the face of natural calamities, Union minister Alphons Kannanthanam said today.

The government is under fire for refusing aid for Kerala from countries like the UAE and Thailand.

Alphons said this was a policy that was followed by the current government since former prime minister Manmohan Singh had refused aid from foreign countries in 2004 during the devastating Tsunami.

READ| Union minister Alphons Kannanthanam sleeps in Kerala relief camp, trolled for posting picture

"A policy decision was taken by the Manmohan Singh government in December, 2004 in the aftermath of the Tsunami and that policy has been continued with for the last 14 years. This is something we have inherited," he told reporters here.

Earlier, among others, Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac had criticised the BJP-led government over the refusal of aid and said the rain-ravaged southern state had asked the Centre for a financial support of Rs 2,200 crore, but was granted only Rs 600 crore.

"We make no request to any foreign government but UAE government voluntarily offered Rs 700 crore. No, says Union government, it is below our dignity to accept foreign aid. This is a dog in the manger policy (sic)," Isaac had written on Twitter.

We asked Union Gov for financial support of 2200 Cr ; they grant us a precious 600 Cr . We make no request to any foreign gov but UAE gov voluntarily offer 700cr. No, says Union gov , it is below our dignity to accept foreign aid. This is a dog in the manger policy.  Thomas Isaac (@drthomasisaac) August 22, 2018

He had further said as part of the state government's resource mobilisation efforts for the ongoing relief-and-rescue operations for the flood-hit people, it had increased the excise duty on liquor and was geared to approach the GST Council for imposing a 10-per cent cess on SGST.

"Both together on annualised basis mobilise Rs 750 crore (sic)," Isaac had written on the microblogging website.

Alphons, who has been in the thick of things, is continuously updating the rest of the country about the conditions in Kerala and listing out the requirements of the people of the state as they hobble back to normalcy.

The Union tourism minister also appealed to all the Indians to donate "big money" for the cause. "We need huge amounts of money -- millions and billions of dollars to rebuild Kerala.

Now we need that big money. Please send money to the chief minister's relief fund and not to NGOs that are not credible," he said.

Incessant rains have claimed over 230 lives in Kerala since August 8.By PTI

JUNAGARH: The country would have been disease-free by now if programmes like the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan were started 70 years back, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said.

Attacking the opposition, Modi said he was mocked for these programmes, which are aimed at making a healthy nation.

READ| I dream of every family owning a house by 2022: Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Citing a report by the World Health Organisation, he said lives of three lakh children in India can be saved just by ensuring cleanliness.

"There has been a recent WHO report, (which states) that just because of (by ensuring) cleanliness, three lakh children can be saved from dying in India, such is the situation.

The Swachhta Abhiyan is directly connected to health," Modi said, addressing a public gathering in Junagadh district of Gujarat.

He was speaking after inaugurating various projects, including a newly-built hospital of the Gujarat Medical and Education Research Society.

"When I used to talk about cleanliness, they (Opposition) used to make fun of me. Is this the PM's work, to make toilets, clear garbage? Had all these work been done 70 years back, the country would have been disease-free by now," the prime minister said.

Modi said moving the country towards being open defecation free is the biggest service towards health.

He said a programme has been started under which there will be one medical college and a hospital for every three parliamentary seats.

Later, (as the programme progresses) the number of parliamentary seats will be reduced to two and then one.

"There should finally be a medical college and a hospital in every district (zilla)," Modi said.

The prime minister arrived in Gujarat this morning on a day's visit and headed to Valsad where he witnessed the collective 'e-gruha pravesh' (online housewarming) of the beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin).

He will later attend the convocation of the Gujarat Forensic Science University in Gandhinagar and a meeting of the Somnath Temple Trust at the Raj Bhavan there.Prasanta Mazumdar By

Express News Service

GUWAHATI: Polling for the by-election to Ranikor and South Tura Assembly constituencies in Meghalaya passed off peacefully on Thursday. According to the state's election department, Ranikor recorded a voters' turnout of 82.1 per cent while it was 72.87 per cent in South Tura. In the Assembly elections of February, Ranikor had recorded 89.5 per cent voters' turnout as against 73.59 per cent by South Tura.

"The polling passed off peacefully. There were minor glitches as regards the functioning of electronic voting machines (EVMs). However, it was limited to three places in Tura and four places in Ranikor. The EVMs were replaced and polling went on smoothly," the state's chief electoral officer, Frederick Roy Kharkongor, told TNIE.

He also said that ten runners were engaged in Ranikor on Thursday to relay messages."The runners were there in ten non-motorable polling stations. They acted as living bridges of communication and were able to pass on information and updates in a very efficient manner," Kharkongor added.

Chief Minister Conrad Sangma contested from the South Tura seat along with Charlotte W Momin of the Congress and independent candidates John Leslee K Sangma, who is a former MLA, and Chris Kabul A Sangma.

Sangma, son of former Lok Sabha Speaker PA Sangma, has to get elected to the Assembly to be able to continue as the CM. He donned the CM's mantle after the National People's Party-led (NPP) Meghalaya Democratic Alliance formed the government in March this year. He was then serving as the Tura MP. His sister Agatha Sangma represented the South Tura seat but she resigned last month to make way for him. She will contest next year's Lok Sabha polls if he gets through.

Sangma, who is not a voter in South Tura, accompanied his mother Soradini K Sangma and Agatha to a polling booth where they cast their votes.

The by-election in Ranikor was necessitated after five-time sitting Congress MLA Martin K Danggo had resigned in June to contest as an NPP candidate. The by-election here assumed significance given that NPP's two regional allies United Democratic Party (UDP) and People's Democratic Front (PDF) fielded candidates against Danggo. Danggo vied against UDP's Pius Marwein, PDF's PN Syiem and Congress's Jackiush Sangma.Namita Bajpai By

Express News Service

BADAUN: In yet another case of gang rape, a minor, who was allegedly raped by a group of three men on the premises of a primary school in Badaun district of western UP, committed suicide by hanging self from the ceiling of her room on Wednesday.

The girl took the extreme step after the medical report in the case purportedly did not confirm rape on her. The family of the victim, 14, alleged that she was kidnapped by a few men on gunpoint on Monday night when she had stepped out of the house to relieve herself in the open. She was allegedly waylaid to a nearby government-run school and gang-raped by the miscreants.

Later, the victim was found unconscious on the school premises.As per the claims of victim's family, initially, the incharge of Moosajhag police station indulged in dilly-dallying and did not lodge the FIR.

Subsequently, the victim along with her mother approached the SP city Jitendra Srivastava on whose intervention, a report was lodged against those named by the victim. The police then arrested the main accused and sent the victim for medical examination.

As per the police sources, the girl's medical examination did not confirm rape on her. They added that investigation revealed the accused was known to the victim and she had spoken to the arrested accused over phone 122 times.

Meanwhile, the girl was found hanging from the ceiling of her home on Wednesday night. While a forensic team was dispatched to the school where the girl was allegedly gang-raped.

Speaking to media, Badauan SSP Ashok Kumar said that the police received a complaint from the victim on August 21 following which a case of gang-rape was registered.

"The girl was found dead and her body was hanging from the ceiling of her room. The post-mortem examination on the body of the victim will be conducted by a medical board," the SSP said.

"Investigation is being done keeping all points in mind. The medical report does not suggest rape. Also, the victim and the accused were in constant touch with each other for over two months," he added.

The girl's kin, however, accused the police of trying to cover-up the crime to -"shield the culprits-".By PTI

PATNA: The Patna High Court pulled up the CBI today for its failure to submit a progress report in the investigation into the Muzaffarpur shelter home sex scandal case and also sought to know from it as why a Superintend of Police-rank officer, who was part of the probe team, was transferred.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Mukesh R Shah and Justice Ravi Ranjan directed the CBI to file its reply by the next date of hearing on August 27 and place it before the court in a sealed cover.

In its previous order of August 6, the court had directed the SP, CBI, to appear before this court through a counsel and submit a report with regard to the progress of the investigation.

READ| Bihar shelter home rape: Three cops suspended

The SP, JP Mishra, was shifted from the Special Crime Branch and attached to the office of the DIG at Patna vide an order passed by the CBI headquarters on August 21.

The court asked the central probe agency to explain as to why Mishra, who was the investigating officer in the case, was transferred.

Opposition parties in Bihar have criticised the reshuffle, alleging that it would adversely affect the probe.

The Patna High Court was monitoring the probe into the sordid episode at the government-funded short stay home for girls at Muzaffarpur on the request of the Bihar government.

READ| Those guilty in recent glaring incidents will not be spared: Nitish Kumar

Meanwhile, the court also expressed displeasure over leak of details of the investigation and asked the media to refrain from publishing the same as it could be detrimental to the probe.

The sexual assault of 34 girls over a period of time in the government-funded Muzaffarpur shelter home came to light after a social audit was conducted by the Mumbai-based Tata Institute of Social Sciences.

An FIR was subsequently registered by the Bihar social welfare department and 10 persons, including prime accused Brajesh Thakur whose NGO ran the shelter home, were arrested.

However, following a huge outcry the Nitish Kumar government handed over the probe to the CBI a month ago which was followed by the resignation of social welfare minister Manju Verma a few days later.

On the previous day of hearing on the matter, the government had requested the High Court to monitor the CBI probe and consider appointing a special judge for speedy trial.

Both the requests had been accepted by the court.Ramananda Sengupta By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Ending days of heated speculation on whether India would or should accept the 700 Crores reportedly offered by the UAE government for Kerala flood relief, the ministry of external affairs Wednesday categorically declared that New Delhi would tackle the Kerala flood disaster "through domestic efforts."

"The Government of India deeply appreciates offers from several countries, including from foreign governments, to assist in relief and rehabilitation efforts after the tragic floods," the MEA said in a late night statement.

ALSO READ | Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan says no obstacles for accepting UAE aid, to take up with PM Modi

"In line with the existing policy, the Government is committed to meeting the requirements for relief and rehabilitation through domestic efforts. Contributions to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund and the Chief Minister's Relief Fund from NRIs, PIOs and international entities such as foundations would, however, be welcome.

"On Tuesday, the ambassador of Thailand in India Chutintorn Gongsakdi had tweeted that he had been "Informally informed with regret that GOI is not accepting overseas donations for Kerala flood relief. Our hearts are with you the people of Bharat."Earlier Wednesday, an Indian diplomat in a mission abroad said the MEA had sent out an advisory to all heads of missions urging them to "politely decline" any offers of aid from governments, while clarifying that aid from individuals, subject to their passing the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), would not be blocked.

A former diplomat, however, noted that there "was still an element of ambiguity" in the MEA statement. "Is the UN considered an international entity? And suppose the UAE government decides to route the money through some NGO..would that be acceptable?" he asked.By Express News Service

MUMBAI: Former president of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Student Union (JNUSU) Kanhaiya Kumar lashed out at the Modi government during his interaction with the Mumbai media at the Mumbai Press Club on Wednesday. The people have chosen the government for development and not to protect a religion, he said while replying to questions.

The BJP promised to uproot corruption after coming to power. However, they shielded several corrupt leaders by accommodating them in their own party, Kanhaiya said as he raised questions over the Rafael deal. Why Narendra Modi doesn't announce the figures, he asked.

While demonetization hit the MSMEs hard, the company of Amit Shah's son made huge profits, Kanhaiya said and added that those who served the Britishers earlier are now serving Ambanis. Defending the quota demands raised by various communities including the Marathas, Kanhaiya blamed the unemployment and economic disparity for such demands being raised.

Quality services if made available to all the people below poverty line, that will help doing away the disparity, he added. While denying that he ever said "Bharat Tere Tukde Honge" Kanhaiya added that the society has fallen prey to the "hashtag mentality".

"People with hashtag mentality used the words Tukde Tukde," he said. While it is right to criticize Vajpayee, it is wrong to do so while mourning his death. But, it is also wrong to beat up any person doing so, Kanhaiya said while defending the act of MIM corporator in Aurangabad.

While stating that those killed Gauri Lankesh and those who are opposing him are the same, Kanhaiya said that the censorship that existed even earlier has grown now. He also deplored the government efforts by saying that efforts are being made to bring in Manu Smriti in place of the constitution.

He also raised questions over the arrest of suspected assailants who killed Dabholkar. Those arrested in Gauri Lankesh case revealed information on them. However, before Karnataka police could reach up to them the Maharashtra police did so in a haste, he said and asked why this was not done five years back.By PTI

JAMSHEDPUR: Three persons were killed and 35 others injured when a bus overturned in Jharkhand's East Singhbhum district early today, police said.

The bus was on its way to Raxaul in Bihar when the driver lost control over the vehicle and it overturned near Jamsola chowk, about 90 km from here, they said.

One person died on the spot while two others succumbed to their injuries in hospital, they said.

The injured were first rushed to primary health centre in Baharagora.

The doctors at the health centre referred them to government-run M G M Hospital here.

Altogether 15 injured persons were admitted in M G M hospital while several were discharged after first-aid, they added.Namita Bajpai By

Express News Service

LUCKNOW: A day after the death of CBI's key witness Yunus in Unnao rape case in which survivor's father had died in police custody, the family of the deceased witness met Unnao SP on Thursday to state that Yunus had not been keeping well for the past several months and that he died of a chronic liver ailment.

BJP Unnao MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar is the main accused in the rape case and in jail while CBI has been conducting the probe into the case. Yunus was the key witness in the assault case of Unnao rape survivor's father who finally died in police custody owing to internal injuries. He was thrashed by Unnao rape case accused BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar's younger brother Atul Sengar and his four accomplices.

READ | Rahul Gandhi slams PM Modi over mysterious death of Unnao rape case witness

Yunus had died under mysterious circumstances on last Saturday and his body was buried immediately by his family without informing the CBI or the district police.

Talking to media persons, Yunus' wife said that he was diagnosed with cirrhosis of liver four months back and had been undergoing treatment at various hospitals in Kanpur and Unnao since then. He expired due to his prolonged illeness on August 18.

"Yunus was on bed for past three months and undergoing treatment. He was being treated by retired LLR hospital doctor, Dr Arun Nigam. He died on August 18 and was buried thereafter. We will under no circumstances let Yunus' corpse exhumed for the post-mortem examination. He died a natural death," said deceased Yunus' brother Mohammad Raes.

READ | Unnao gang rape case: CBI's main witness dies, buried without autopsy

Raes had come to Unnao SP Harish Kumar's office where he met the senior official and gave him an application mentioning that the claims made by rape survivor's family were false. Notably, rape survivor's family on Wednesday had alleged that Yunus was allegedly poisoned to death by the jailed MLA's henchmen. Her uncle had met the Unnao SP to demand that Yunus' body should be exhumed for conducting autopsy to ascertain reason for his death. For this, he had uncle had given an application in the Unnao SP office as well.

Deceased Yunus other sibling Jaan Mohammad who also accompanied the family SP office, said:"The girl's (rape survivor) uncle has submitted a false application in the SP office. He took me along in his vehicle yesterday (Wednesday) and told me that if I will get Yunus' post-mortem conducted, our family will get Rs 10-12 lakh from the government. But we will let the body exhumed," said Jaan Mohammad.

He clarified that body of Yunus was not buried in a huff. However, the fact that Yunus was suffering from liver ailment was corroborated by Circle Officer, Safipur, Vivek Ranjan Roy who told the media persons that the prescriptions of various doctors showed that Yunus was under treatment since 2013. CO Roy, who was conducting an inquiry into the death of Yunus, said that the CBI witness was being treated by Dr Ashok Verma of Kanpur, Dr Arun Nigam of Shuklaganj and one Dr Katiyar of Lucknow.

"Yunus died at around 8 am on August 18. According to the family, doctors had given up on Yunus. The entire matter is being interrogated by me. Necessary action would be initiated if required", Roy said.By PTI

NEW DELHI: Eminent journalist and author Kuldip Nayar, who fought fiercely for press freedom and civil liberties, died here early today.

He was 95.

Nayar died around 12.30 am at the Escorts hospital, his elder son Sudhir Nayar said.

He was suffering from pneumonia and was admitted to the hospital five days back.

The veteran journalist, a proponent of India-Pakistan peace, is survived by his wife and two sons.

His last rites will be performed at Lodhi crematorium in New Delhi at 1 pm.

Nayar, who was born in Sialkot in Pakistan in 1923, began his career in journalism in the Urdu language press and went on to serve as editor of several newspapers, including Indian Express and The Statesman.

Known not just as one of India's most respected journalists but also as an advocate for human rights, Nayar served as India's high commissioner to the United Kingdom in the 1990s and was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 1997.

The journalist-author was arrested during the Emergency.

Condolences poured in as news of his death came in.

Describing Nayar as a veteran editor and writer, diplomat and parliamentarian, President Ram Nath Kovind said he was "a determined champion of democracy during the Emergency" and would be missed by his readers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Nayar's strong stand against the Emergency, public service and commitment to the country will always be remembered.

"Kuldip Nayar was an intellectual giant of our times. Frank and fearless in his views, his work spanned across many decades. His strong stand against the Emergency, public service and commitment to a better India will always be remembered. Saddened by his demise. My condolences," Modi said in a tweet.

The Editors Guild of India said in its message that Nayar's many legendary news scoops will continue to inspire generations of young journalists for their sharpness, credibility, speed and standards of due diligence.

Nayar, a founder member and president of the Guild, was one of the doyens of Indian journalism, it said in a statement.

Terming him a "reporter's editor", the Guild said he held many leadership positions in news organisations, providing both edge and depth to their formidable team of reporters and editors.

"An exemplar, Kuldip Nayar fought through his writings the oppressive Emergency regime that had imposed curbs on media freedom and as a result of which he was also arrested," it said.

The Guild, it said, will also soon consider a proposal to honour Kuldip Nayar's memory and contributions to journalism.

BJP president Amit Shah, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley were among the others who condoled the death of the veteran journalist, whose columns and op-eds were published in over 50 newspapers.

Editor of The Week magazine Sachidanand Murthy remembered Nayar's contribution in protecting press freedom and civil liberties.

"He had protested the infamous Defamation Bill which was brought by the Rajiv Gandhi government in late 1980s. He had also worked tirelessly to ensure protection of civil liberties in India," said Murthy.

The Defamation Bill was seen as an attempt to contain free speech in India.

The government withdrew the bill following massive protests.

The journalist, who in historian Ramachandra Guha's words followed the dictates of his conscience rather than the lure of money or fame, wrote several bestsellers, including "Beyond the Lines: An Autobiography" and "Between the Lines".

One of Nayar's most enduring images will be of him leading peace activists in lighting candles at the Attari-Wagah border on the Independence Days of India and Pakistan -- while India celebrates its Independence Day on August 15, Pakistan does so a day earlier.Ramananda Sengupta By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met Chinese State Councillor and Defence Minister Wei Fenghe in New Delhi on Thursday, and agreed to step up defence interactions and set up hotline to prevent misunderstandings on the disputed border.

Wei, who met Prime Minister Narendra Modi soon after his arrival on a four-day official visit on Tuesday, received a ceremonial guard of honour at South Block before his meeting with Sitharaman.

Smt @nsitharaman welcomes the Hon'ble Defence Minister of China Gen. Wei Fenghe at the South Block pic.twitter.com/rQse08kVkd  Raksha Mantri (@DefenceMinIndia) August 23, 2018

According to the defence ministry, the two ministers decided to expand "the engagement between their armed forces relating to training, joint exercises and other professional interactions.. Both sides also decided to work towards a new bilateral MOU (memorandum of understanding) on defence exchanges and cooperation to replace the MOU signed in 2006."

The ministers also "discussed issues relating to the border areas. It was agreed to work towards the full implementation of ongoing confidence building measures as well as (have) greater interaction at the working level to ensure maintenance of peace and tranquility" including the setting up of a hotline, it said.

However, it was unclear whether the differences over the protocol for the hotline had been sorted out. While Delhi wants the hotline to connect the Director General of Military Operations with his PLA equivalent, the Chinese side wants it connect with the deputy commander of its Chengdu-based Western Theatre Command.

This was the first formal bilateral meeting between the two ministers since the Doklam standoff on the Bhutan China border during June to August last year. Subsequently, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's informal summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping at Wuhan in April, the two sides agreed to step up efforts to ensure that a similar situation does not recur, and to bridge the trust deficit that plagues the two nations, despite more than 20 rounds of high level talks on the disputed border. Wei is expected to meet several senior Indian military officials during his visit.Rashmi Belur By

Express News Service

BENGALURU:Children whose schools were destroyed in rain-ravaged Kodagu will now get admissions to schools anywhere in the state.The State Department of Public Instructions has issued an official circular instructing all the officials and school authorities concerned not to deny admission to any child who has been a victim of Kodagu floods. The department has also directed the authorities not to ask for documents or certificates while admitting these children.

A senior official of the department explained, There are several schools which were destroyed in floods, including both government and private. We have instructed that these children be admitted without demanding any document. This is to ensure that the children do not drop out of school because there are no schools to go to. Parents are willing to leave their kids at government residential schools in other districts, and admissions should be given immediately.

The official added that there are schools that need to be rebuilt from scratch and this will take at least a year. In such cases, we advise parents to admit their children to schools anywhere in the state, the official said.So far, the department has identified nine government primary schools that have been completely destroyed. This school had 580 students. Officials say at least 76 government primary schools need minor repairs.

PU DEPT TO RELAX ATTENDANCE

PU students in Kodagu are having a tough time reaching their colleges, owing to the zero connectivity in most villages in the district. Considering this, the PU Department has said it will relax the attendance for these students and compensate for the same by holding special classes on Sundays as well as during Dasara vacation. It is mandatory for PUC students to have 75 per cent attendance, C Shikha, PUE Department director said.Anusha Ravi By

AFP

NEW YORK: Nine-man New York City FC fought back to secure a 1-1 draw with the New York Red Bulls in a stormy derby to kick off Major League Soccer's Rivalry Week on Wednesday.

City had a player sent off in each half but managed to recover from falling behind to Bradley Wright-Phillips' 200th professional goal in the 37th minute to grab a share of the points.

Eloi Amagat had left City down to 10 men after being shown a red card shortly after Wright-Phillips' opener at Yankee Stadium for a wild challenge on Marc Rzatkowski.

City however responded well after half-time, former Spain international David Villa pouncing on a half-chance to score after good work from Maxi Moralez and Jo Inge Berget.

City's task got harder in the 73rd minute however after Ebenezer Ofori was given his marching orders for a foul on Wright-Phillips.

The result did not affect the standings in the Eastern Conference, with Red Bulls remaining in second on 49 points with City third on 48 points.

Rivalry Week sees MLS fixtures scheduled to set up the league's biggest rivalries, with an emphasis on city or regional derbies.By Express News Service

UDUPI: More than a month after Shiroor seer Lakshmivara Theertha died, the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report has confirmed that he died of natural causes owing to a rupture in the liver. The police, however, are yet to make an official announcement in this regard.

The seer died at Kasturba Hospital in Manipal on July 19. The FSL report was handed over to the director of Kasturba Hospital by Karkala Deputy SP Belliappa, the investigating officer, on Monday.

Sources told The New Indian Express that the doctors in Kasturba Hospital are expected to officially reveal the cause of death in two days after going through the FSL report. Meanwhile, the district police have sent a questionnaire to the doctors in Kasturba Hospital asking for clarifications to conclude the investigation.

After the death of the seer on July 19, Dr Avinash Shetty, Medical Superintendent of Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, had suspected that the Shiroor seer might have consumed food laced with poison and died of poisoning. But it is said that the Medical Superintendent, while speaking to the media, jumped the gun and declared that poison was found in the seers body. The autopsy, however, found no poisonous substance in the seers body.By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: While a flood-ravaged Kerala is inching back to normal, the state government and the Opposition are engaged in a war of words over allegations that it was an avoidable man-made disaster. Hours after Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala lashed out at the government alleging the dam shutters were opened without warning when an early release could have reduced the severity of damage, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan hit back, rejecting each and every allegation, with data. Going a step further, Pinarayi quoted from Chennithalas Facebook posts to dismiss the charges.

Chennithala came out putting the entire blame on the government saying it is responsible for the disaster. The havoc and the deaths and miseries faced by the people is a purely man-made disaster, he said.



Chennithala - Before opening the dams, no alerts were issued in time. If water in Idukki was released in steps before reaching the optimum level, the catastrophe could have been avoided.

Pinarayi - Chennithalas FB posts on July 30 and August 14 - that it has become necessary to open the shutters and Orange alert will be declared soon - stand testimony to the fact that alerts were issued.

C - The floods of 1924 was natural while this is man-made. As per the rainfall data, in 1924, the state recorded 3,368 mm rain while in 2018 it was 2,500 mm.

P - The 3,368 mm rainfall in 1924 is the total rainfall in a year while 2,500 mm in 2018 is the rainfall for this season alone. Even if going by Chennithalas argument, theres only a difference of 868 mm. From just one dam in 1924, now the state has a total of 82 dams.

C - Lapses in governments dam management. On August 9, when the water level in Idukki dam reached 2,398.98 ft, the government gave permission to raise one shutter by 50 cm but it was late by then and the water level touched 2,400.10 ft.

P - The floods were not due to dams alone. This year, from August 1 to 19, the state received 758 mm rainfall against an average of 287.5 mm during this period. This years rainfall is 164 pc more than the average. Other than those dams which are opened every year, all others were opened after issuing Blue, Orange and Red alerts.

Pandalam got inundated with water from Achankovilar while Tiruvalla was affected by Manimalayar. Similarly, the floods in Pala is due to water from Meenachilar while Nilambur was affected due to Chaliyar river. There are no dams in these rivers. Therefore, the argument that the floods are due to the dams doesnt hold water.

C - Power Minister M M Mani said on July 27 if the water level of Idukki dam rises above 2,397 ft, trial run will be conducted. But nothing happened and the government was waiting till the water level touched 2,400 ft.

P - The government has taken all steps for the trial run at 2,397 ft. However, water level at Idamalayar reached the maximum level before that and Idamalayar was opened on August 8, the day water level at Idukki touched 2,397 ft. Since Idamalayar was opened, opening Idukki shutters could have led to a major loss. Thats why the trial run was postponed. However, the shutters were opened the next day.

C - Water Resources Minister Mathew Thomas and Power Minister M M Mani had a major rift with the former not wanting to open the dam. P - Such a dispute can only be his imaginary creation.C - It was on August 9 when the water level reached 2,398.98 ft the government gave permission to raise one shutter by 50 cm. But it was late by then and the water level touched 2,400.10 ft. While water flow was 50,000 litres/second when the first shutter was partially opened it reached 7.5 lakh litres of water per second which is one of the reasons for the floods.

P - Sudden rain from August 8 led to the floods. The water level which was less till August 7 went up in the coming days. With the heavy rain on August 16, the water level reached a very high level. Nobody can foresee this; still the government issued alerts and shifted people.By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Centre today said Rs 600 crore released two days ago to flood-hit Kerala was only the advance assistance and additional funds would be released when an inter-ministerial team visits the state again and assesses the damage.

The Home Ministry statement came amidst a row over accepting funds from foreign governments for Kerala after the United Arab Emirates offered USD 100 million (around Rs 700 crore) and the government declared that it will not take any financial assistance from foreign governments in sync with an existing policy.

"It is clarified that Rs 600 crore released by Centre is the advance assistance only.

Additional funds would be released from NDRF on assessment of the damages as per laid down procedure," the statement said.

On Tuesday, the central government had released Rs 600 crore to flood-hit Kerala as promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Rs 500 crore) and Home Minister Rajnath Singh (Rs 100 crore) during their visits to the state.

The home ministry said during the floods in Kerala, the Centre has provided urgent aid and relief material in a timely manner and without any reservation.

The situation has been regularly monitored by the Prime Minister on daily basis and he visited the state on August 17-18, 2018.

On his instructions, the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), under the chairmanship of the Cabinet Secretary, regularly monitored and coordinated rescue and relief operations by holding daily meetings from Aug 16-21, 2018.

Senior officers of Defence Services, NDRF, NDMA and Secretaries of Civilian Ministries attended these meetings.

Kerala Chief Secretary participated in these discussions through video conference.

Following the decisions taken during these meetings, the Centre launched massive rescue and relief operations.

In one of the largest rescue operations, 40 helicopters, 31 aircraft, 182 teams for rescue, 18 medical teams of defence forces, 58 teams of NDRF, 7 companies of Central Armed Police Forces were pressed into service along with over 500 boats and necessary rescue equipments.

They successfully saved over 60,000 human lives by rescuing them from marooned areas and shifting them to relief camps, the statement said.

Defence aircraft and helicopters have made 1,084 sorties of duration 1,168 flying hours and airlifted 1,286 tonne of load and carried 3,332 rescuers.

In addition, a number of Navy and Coast Guard ships were pressed into service to carry relief material to Kerala.

The search and rescue operations and mobilisation of resources alone would cost the central government hundreds of crore of rupees.

The statement said after floods and landslides in Kerala last month, an interim memorandum was submitted by the state government on July 21 and immediately an inter ministerial central team (IMCT) was constituted, which visited the state on August 7-12 for on-the-spot assessment of the damages.

Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju had visited Kerala on July 21 followed by the Home Minister Rajnath Singh on August 12.

Since there was a second spell of floods in the state, the state government has stated that they will submit an additional memorandum on the fresh damages caused by the floods and landslides once rescue efforts are over.

Since submission of additional memorandum by the state government will take time, with a view to assist the state in meeting relief and rescue expenditure, the central government has released Rs 600 crore in advance pending assessment by IMCT and decision of a high level committee.

This is in addition to Rs 562.45 crore already made available in State Disaster Relief Fund of the state.

In addition to the financial support, the Centre has made available large quantities of emergency food, water, medicines and other essential supplies, including additional allocation of foodgrains, as requested by the state.

Financial mechanism to meet the rescue and relief expenditure during any notified disaster event is governed by notified guidelines on State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).

State Disaster Response Fund has been constituted in each state in which the Centre contributes 75 per cent for general category states and 90 per cent for special category states of hilly regions every year as per the award of the successive Finance Commissions.

As per the guidelines, the central government provides its allocation to SDRF of each state in advance in two installments.

In case of any natural calamity, State meets the expenditure of relief and rescue from the SDRF already available at its disposal.

In case of any natural calamity beyond the coping capacity of a state, the state government submits a detailed memorandum indicating the sector-wise details of damage and requirement of funds for relief operations of immediate nature.

On receipt of a memorandum, an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) is deputed by the Central Government for on-the-spot assessment of damages and additional requirement of funds.

The report of IMCT is considered by the Sub-Committee of National Executive Committee (SC-NEC) headed by the Union Home Secretary in conformity with the norms and then by a High Level Committee (HLC), chaired by the Home Minister for approving the quantum of additional assistance from the NDRF, the statement said.Rajesh Abraham By

Express News Service

KOCHI: As Kerala moves from relief to rehabilitation, questions have started flying thick and fast regarding the efficiency with which the disaster was dealt with. Right on top of the list is the question whether the state could have softened the blow on the people through a better calibrated and coordinated release of water from the dams. Experts believe the floods, the worst in a century that claimed nearly 400 lives and displaced over 10 lakh people and caused damages in excess of Rs 50,000 crore, could have been minimised with better preparedness and integrated dam management.

Amita Singh, a professor at Delhis Jawaharlal Nehru University, who specialises in environmental and developmental imperatives of land, told Express that Keralas disaster management was a total failure during the floods. Kerala was the first state to set up the State Disaster Management Authority, but the preparedness of the state was zero during the floods, she said over phone from Delhi. Singh said Tamil Nadu had warned Kerala in May, and later in June, that water was in excess and they may have to release it.

However, Kerala Dam Safety Authority chairman and former High Court judge C N Ramachandran Nair refuted the allegations, saying all protocols were followed during the opening of the dams.

All the district administrations, including the Collectors, were informed in advance about the opening of dams. The engineers who are in charge of the safety of the dams had to give top priority for the dams safety. If any of the dams had burst, everyone would ask why the dams were not opened, Nair told Express. Asked if the dams could not have been opened much earlier, he said a trial run was planned when the Idukki reservoir level touched 2,398 ft but the Idamalayar dam suddenly reached full reservoir limit, forcing the authorities to open it and leaving the Aluva region downstream flooded.

Comments distorted: Tom Jose

State Chief Secretary Tom Jose said on Wednesday that his comments on communication gap regarding dam opening were distorted. This answer was picked out of context and it was part of several answers which I had given on the opening of the Banasurasagar dam.

Alerts were issued, says KSEB chief

TPuram: The KSEB has defended its decisions on dam opening, saying all alerts were issued and precautions taken. KSEB chairman N S Pillai said the Cheruthoni and Edamalayar shutters were opened after arriving at a clear idea about the situation.Rajesh Abraham By

Express News Service

KOCHI: A policy is in the making to encourage the fishing boats in the country to tap the potential of solar energy. The objective is to convince fishermen to use solar panels for the boats auxiliary power requirements such as lighting, net handling, etc.Prototypes have been developed and are functional in the backwaters of Kerala. The extrapolation to fishing boats is a vision at present, and consultations are on with interested entities. Discussions have been held with maritime boards, International Solar Alliance and some ports, Malini V Shankar, director general of shipping and secretary to the Government of India, told Express.

She said studies need to be conducted on the relative cost of boats powered by solar power and other renewable fuels. Comparison will have to be done on life-cycle cost and not on mere capital and operational costs. The study is expected to reveal if any subsidy will be necessary for promoting solar-powered boats and if so, how would it compare with the existing subsidy, Malini said.K K Lajid, assistant director of Fisheries, said fishing boats require 100 HP and above.

Its not a practical idea to have solar-powered fishing boats as they would require huge solar panels. Solar-powered boats are feasible only for inland fishing, which requires just 2-6 HP, he said.The Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT) has taken the lead in developing prototypes for seagoing boats, which can generate auxiliary power using solar energy.M V Baiju, senior scientist, CIFT, who is in charge of the project, said the solar prototype developed by the institute includes a 3.63-m-long catamaran type (twin hull) FRP inland fishing craft and a sea-going class multi-purpose fishing vessel. Solar power is suitable for only small boats, those which use less than 20 HP. Ideally, its best used for auxiliary boats, he said.

CIFT has also just built one 8-m-long solar fishing boat for reservoir fishing-cum-aqua tourism, which will be launched by the Union Minister for Agriculture. Malini pointed out Kerala has already taken the initiative of converting traditional boat to solar power and is operating a passenger boat on the backwaters. Students in an engineering college in Kashmir have developed a 12-seater passenger boat which is run by solar power for operations on the Dal lake. The state government can play a major role in promoting solar power, she said.

CIFT takes the lead

The Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT) has taken the lead in developing prototypes for seagoing boats, which can generate auxiliary power using solar energy.Siba Mohanty By

Express News Service

BHUBANESWAR: Two good news for tiger conservation in Odisha. The Wildlife Wing of State Government has proposed Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary as a tiger reserve (TR). That is number one.

Two, it has already sent in the proposal for final notification of Sunabeda as a tiger reserve which has been hanging fire for a decade.

Debrigarh, located in Bargarh district, has been proposed as a TR with total area spreading over 900 sq km. Its core zone is estimated at about 500 sq km. A team from National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) will reach the State later this week and hold talks with Chief Wildlife Warden Dr Sandeep Tripathi. It may also visit Debrigarh for a preliminary inspection.

Tripathi confirmed that Debrigarh has been proposed as the fourth TR of the State. For In-principle approval, the NTCA had sought three clarifications which have been submitted to the State Government, the Chief Wildlife Warden told this paper on Wednesday.

The preliminary prey-base analysis and maps have already been submitted. Once the in-principle approval is received, detailed analysis of prey-base, DGPS maps and habitat evaluation would be carried out.

Proposal for Debrigarh as a TR is a sign that Odisha Government is making moves to create more protected areas for the big cats which have been pushed to limited pockets.

Barring Similipal, no habitat is found to be holding a steady population. Even Satkosia, which was notified as second TR of the State in 2007, lost most of its tigers within a decade necessitating re-introduction which was started in June. So far, two tigers from Madhya Pradesh have been released in Satkosia.

On its part, Similipal has remained an island for large cats. However, Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary, which was proposed as a TR in 2008, is seen as a better habitat for tigers because of its connectivity to the Central Indian landscape facilitating population exchange and contiguity to Udanti and Sitanadi tiger habitats in Chhattisgarh. Maoist menace and NGOs with vested interests delayed its evaluation process which was completed in 2016.

We have now sent in the proposal for final notification for Sunabeda as a tiger reserve and it is only a matter of time, Tripathi said. Earlier, NTCA had asked the State Government to complete the process.

Debrigarhs elevation to TR would mean more reserve forests from Bargarh to be included while corridors to Bamra, Badrama and Hemgir will be protected. Conservationist Aditya Panda said a promising tiger habitat, rich in prey like Debrigarh, proposed as a tiger reserve, is heartening.

This will be a major milestone in wildlife conservation history of the State and pave the way for re-establishing a substantial tiger population there, he added. The Chief Wildlife Warden said efforts are being made to identify and secure existing corridors that connect TRs while finding migratory routes to neighbouring States. We have to facilitate intra as well as inter-state movement of the big cats, he added.

Panda strongly advocated for Khalasuni-Badrama sanctuary cluster as a tiger reserve as it is contiguous to Satkosia and will prove a stepping stone in Satkosia-Similipal corridor and the States tiger habitat contiguity with Central India.By Express News Service

BHUBANESWAR:The Asthi Kalash (urn containing ashes) of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee arrived here on Wednesday for immersion in all major rivers, including Mahanadi and Bay of Bengal in Puri.

Almost all party leaders, workers and a large number of people gathered at Biju Patnaik International Airport to have receive the ashes. The urn, which was handed over to State BJP president Basanta Panda in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Wednesday, was taken to party headquarters in a procession from airport.

The urn is kept at the BJP State headquarters here to enable party workers and people pay their respects to the departed leader. Bhajans will be performed all night, said Panda.The Asthi Kalash will be taken to Puri in a procession from party office on Thursday at 9 am. Apart from Panda, Union Ministers Jual Oram and Dharmendra Pradhan, Leader of BJP legislature party KV Singhdeo and other senior leaders will be part of the procession to Puri where ashes will be immersed at Mahodadhi.

The party will organise a memorial function at exhibition ground on Friday evening, informed BJP spokesperson Golak Mohapatra.The party has invited leaders of all political parties, including Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Leader of Opposition Narasingh Mishra and other eminent citizens of the State to the function, said State BJP vice-president Sameer Mohanty.By Express News Service

BHUBANESWAR: The commercial ties between India and Japan are likely to get a further fillip with Odisha Government forging a partnership with the island nation for its mega investment summit, scheduled to be held here in November this year.While Japan will be the partner country, State Bank of India as banking partner intends to introduce a slew of products and services to cater to the financial needs of large corporates as well as small enterprises and self-help groups in the State.

This partnership will provide a new impetus to the relations between Odisha and Japan and open up varied sectors for collaboration, said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. He will attend a road show in Delhi on September 12. The team will also visit three countries --- China, Korea and Japan between August 25 and September 1, and hold discussions with companies and prospective investors.

Sanjeev Chopra, Principal Secretary, Industries Department, Japan will be the only country partner for Make in Odisha Conclave-2018 as Odisha seeks a deeper engagement with Japan in diverse various sectors. A delegation will visit Tokyo later this month to pitch for investment opportunities in the State across six focus sectors including food processing and seafood, chemicals, plastics and petrochemicals, ancillary and downstream industries in the metal sector, electronic manufacturing, textiles, apparel and tourism.

The state has also earmarked 600 acres of land in Bhubaneswar to woo Japanese investors. The land that we have identified is proposed to be developed as a multi-product park where companies from Japan can come and set up their units, Chopra noted.

Industrial hub

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also inaugurated two industrial projects and laid the foundation stone of 13 manufacturing units on Thursday at a cumulative investment `2,901.2 crore. OCL India Ltd, the flagship company of Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Ltd, topped the list of investors with `1,994.98 crore followed by IFFCO, Jyoti Solar Solutions Pvt Ltd, Grasim Industries Ltd, Indo Nissin Foods Pvt Ltd and Hindustan Urban Infrastructure Limited.

At a time when the state seems to be falling behind in private investment inflows with 2017 seeing private investments stumbling down to a new low of mere `6,971 crore, sources in the know say that the Government is mulling collaborations with IT majors like TCS and Infosys. Similarly, there are also plans to collaborate with networking giants such as Reliance Jio and Cisco.

The second edition of the flagship investors meet will be held from November 11 to 15. The first edition in 2016 saw the State receive investment intent of more than `2 lakh crore across 10 diversified sectors, Naveen said.By Express News Service

CHENNAI: If a reputed Hindu organisation accepts the conversion of a Dalit Christian back to Hinduism and performs Sutthi Satangu and the revenue authorities issue the community certificate on the basis of the evidence given by local people and the converted person also scrupulously follow Hindu customs, there can be no doubt that he/she be treated as a Hindu Adi Dravidar, the Madras High Court has ruled.

Applying this yardstick, Justice R Suresh Kumar granted the Hindu Adi Dravidar status to a woman, who was denied a job on the ground that her conversion to Hinduism cannot be accepted.

Daisy Flora, a Dalit Christian, converted to Hinduism and the Vishva Hindu Parishad performed the Sutthi Satangu and she became A Megalai in November 1998. She also married a Hindu man. But she was denied the post of a junior graduate assistant by the Teachers Recruitment Board on the ground that her conversion for marrying a Hindu was not valid. She moved the High Court in 2004 and following an interim order, she was given the posting, pending final orders on the petition.

Additional Advocate-General Nirmala Sampath submitted that merely because she married a Hindu man, on that strength alone she cannot claim the status of her community as Hindu SC. The courts have taken the view that once a person belonging to Christianity converted to Hinduism or the person belonging to Hinduism converted to Christianity and again reconverted to Hinduism, cannot by virtue of the mere conversion, claim the status of Scheduled Caste community, unless the person is accepted by the community for all practical purposes.

There must also be a proof to show that the person, who, on conversion to Hinduism, from such conversion had been continuously following the Hindu customs.

Justice Suresh Kumar observed that if a reputed Hindu organisation, having branches throughout the country, had accepted such conversion and the people, who were residing in the locality had also given statements before revenue officials that the petitioner on conversion had been continuously following the Hindu customs and she belongs to Hindu community, there can be no doubt that, such a claim made by the petitioner for being a Hindu Adi Dravidar community, can very well be accepted.

The petitioners selection and appointment to the post of Junior Graduate Teacher, which has been re-designated as a graduate teacher (Science) is to be confirmed, the judge said.By AFP

WASHINGTON: Hackers recently attempted to gain access to the US Democratic Party's voter database, a cyber security firm said Wednesday, reviving the spectre of Russia's hugely consequential cyber-theft of party communications in the 2016 vote.

Less than three months before crucial congressional elections in November, security consultant Lookout said it had detected "an attempted phishing campaign" targeting the Democratic National Committee.

The effort was spotted by Lookout's Phishing AI engine, an automated monitor.

Lookout said that it targeted VoteBuilder, a voter database of the DNC run by NGPVAN.

The hackers erected a lookalike domain that could allow it to grab the login and password of any authorized VoteBuilder users fooled by the fake website.

The fake site was taken down. There was no information on the identity of who erected it, but a DNC official told US media that there were no breaches of its systems.

"While it's clear that the actors were going after the party's most sensitive information - the voter file - the DNC was able to prevent a hack by working with the cyber ecosystem to identify it and take steps to stop it," DNC Chief Security Officer Bob Lord told the Washington Post.

US intelligence bodies say that in 2016 hackers from Russia's GRU intelligence agency broke into Democratic Party networks, stealing documents and communications that were later leaked out to embarrass Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

On Tuesday, Microsoft reported the GRU-linked hackers had recently created fake websites for two conservative think tanks, aiming to siphon off user data or implant malware.

The same hackers also erected fake generic domains for the US Senate for the same purposes.By UNI

NEW YORK: Brazilian coffee exporters are struggling to find shipping capacity to transport a bumper crop from the world's top producer, which could result in supply delays to roasters worldwide.

Abundant overall supplies in consuming countries, however, will limit any near-term impact from shipping delays of Brazil's new crop and are not yet seen impacting coffee prices that are 12-year lows.

Farmers in Brazil are finishing what the government and industry expect to amount to a record coffee crop of around 60 million 60-kg bags compared with 45 million bags last year.

Container ships do not have the capacity to immediately take the huge volume of beans that are arriving at top exporting ports such as Santos and Rio de Janeiro, importers and exporters said.

That means exporters, which typically book capacity on container ships one or two weeks in advance, have a wait of up to eight weeks, they say.

For Unique Coffee Roasters, a mid-sized roaster on New York's Staten Island, new-crop shipments from Brazil scheduled to arrive in early September have been postponed to October due to shipping delays, said Joseph Ferrara, director of the company's Coffee and Operations department.

"It's happening to everyone. It's not something (importers) can really control," said Ferrara, adding the roaster has enough inventory to wait out the delay.

The shipping delays come after UScoffee imports from Brazil fell 6.6 per cent in the first half of 2018 to a six-year low, US International Trade Commission data showed.

"There is less availability of liners, of ships," said Rodrigo Costa, director of trading for Comexim USA.

"Usually it will take a week at most to get a new booking. Now sometimes it's taking three to four weeks."

One US importer cited eight-week delays coupled with a 10 per cent price hike.

Brazil's coffee exporters association CecafA said in its latest monthly report that July shipments, which were up 28 per cent from a year prior, could have been even bigger if not for "difficulties at ports."

This comes after Brazil, Latin America's largest economy, suffered its deepest recession on record in 2017, which reduced its imports and consequently cut the availability of containers available to be used for exports, importers and exporters said.

Only commodities that are transported in containers have been impacted by reduced shipping space, traders said.

Grains and sugar, which are largely transported in bulk carriers that transport unpackaged cargo, are not facing the same waiting time, exporters and importers said.

Coffee, on the other hand, is shipped in containers, and its transportation pinch is being felt now as Brazil harvests and ships its large 2018/19 crop.

It was not clear if container ship availability will improve in the future as the country's economy remains sluggish and its imports remain low.

And while Brazilian coffee sales reached 38 percent of production by Aug.7, which was up from 34 percent at the same time a year ago according to Safras & Mercado data, arabica coffee prices have since tumbled to 12-year lows below $1 per lb on pressure from the weak Brazilian currency.

The low price was expected to reduce farmer selling, which could help ease the shipping logjam, though any price rebound would increase sales and the country's coffee flow in coming months, one of the largest Brazilian exporters said.

For now, the bottleneck is exacerbated by this year's enormous crop, the exporter said, adding it cannot find extra space beyond a previous agreed allocation with ship owners.

"We have a volume 'x'.

The liner will deliver that volume, but if we need additional cargo space, they already said they don't have it," the exporter said, asking not to be named because the company did not want to speak publicly about the issue.By AFP

SYDNEY: Embattled Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull faced a second leadership challenge Thursday, with the man who wants his job demanding a Liberal party meeting to vote on the issue.

Former home affairs minister Peter Dutton, seen as a hardline conservative, said he was confident he now had the numbers to unseat Turnbull, considered a moderate.

"Earlier this morning I called the prime minister to advise him that it was my judgement that the majority of the party room no longer supported his leadership," he said in a brief statement.

"As such, I asked him to convene a meeting of the Liberal party at which I would challenge for the leadership of the parliamentary Liberal party."

Turnbull survived a ballot on his leadership on Tuesday, winning the vote 48-35.

He is yet to publicly respond to the latest threat to his rule, although broadcaster ABC reported that he turned down the demand for another party meeting during the phone call.

To force the issue, Dutton must produce a petition signed by a majority of ministers, essentially saying they no longer had faith in Turnbull's leadership.

Local media widely reported that such a petition was being compiled, but it was not clear how many names were on it.

The turmoil has come to a head after months of poor opinion polls and a revolt by fellow Liberal politicians on Monday against the prime minister's plans to embed carbon emissions targets in law at a time of soaring power prices.

Dutton quit his powerful cabinet position after his first failed leadership bid, with at least nine other ministers also offering to follow him out the door.

Turnbull has so far only accepted two resignations.

The unrest is the latest chapter in a turbulent decade for Australian politics, with no leader managing to serve out a full term since John Howard lost the 2007 election.By AFP

HONOLULU: As emergency shelters opened, rain began to pour and cellphone alerts went out, the approaching hurricane started to feel real for Hawaii residents.

Hurricane Lane was forecast to continue its northwest turn into the islands Thursday, which would make it the most powerful storm to hit Hawaii since Hurricane Iniki in 1992.

"Everyone is starting to buckle down at this point," said Christyl Nagao of Kauai. "Our families are here. We have businesses and this and that. You just have to man your fort and hold on tight."

This image provided by NASA on Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018 shows Hurricane Lane as seen from the International Space Station. The National Weather Service says the hurricane will still pack a wallop for Hawaii on Thursday before gradually slowing over the next two days. Early Wednesday, the hurricane was 320 miles (515kilometers)) south of Hilo on Hawaii Island and moving northwest toward other islands.

(Photo | AP)

Officials opened shelters on the Big Island and on the islands of Maui, Molokai and Lanai on Wednesday. They urged those needing to use the Molokai shelter to get there soon because of concerns the main highway on the south coast of the island could become impassable.

On the island of Oahu, which was put on a hurricane warning late Wednesday, shelters were scheduled to open Thursday. Officials were also working to help Hawaii's sizeable homeless population, many of whom live near beaches and streams that could flood.

Hawaii Emergency Management Agency Administrator Tom Travis said there's not enough shelter space statewide and advised those who are not in flood zones to stay home.

Officials warned the limited shelter space should be a "last resort" and aren't designed to withstand winds greater than about 40 mph (64.3 kph).

This satellite image provided by NOAA on Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018 shows Hurricane Lane south of Hawaii. The National Weather Service's Central Pacific Hurricane Center expects Lane to move very close to over Hawaii from Thursday through Saturday. Forecasters say even if Lane doesn't make landfall, the islands could be walloped with rain and wind.

(Photo | AP)

"Whenever possible, the public should plan to shelter in place or stay with family or friends in homes outside of these hazard areas that were designed, built, or renovated to withstand anticipated conditions," the city and county of Honolulu said in a news release.

Hurricanes are ranked 1 to 5 according to what is known as the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Hurricane Lane is at category 4, which means winds from 130 to 156 mph (251 kph).

The Big Island was already starting to see Lane's first effects, Gov. David Ige said at a news conference Wednesday.

The hurricane's outer rain bands were bringing showers to some parts of the island, said Matt Foster, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

The eastern side of the island picked up nearly 3 inches (7.62 centimetres) of rain in three hours, Foster said.

Melanie Davis, who lives in a suburb outside Honolulu, said she was gathering canned food and baby formula.

"We're getting some bags of rice and of course, some Spam," she said of the canned lunch meat that's popular in Hawaii.

She was organizing important documents into a folder  birth and marriage certificates, Social Security cards, insurance paperwork  and making sure her three children, all under 4, have flotation devices such as swimming vests  "just in case."

Public schools were closed for the rest of the week and local government workers were told to stay home unless they're essential employees.

Contractor David Meyer pushes a plywood board into place over a window in preparation of the approaching strong winds of Hurricane Lane, Wednesday, August 22, 2018, in Honolulu.

(Photo | AP)

Meteorologist Chevy Chevalier said Lane may drop to a Category 3 by Thursday afternoon but that would still be a major hurricane.

"We expect it to gradually weaken as it gets closer to the islands," Chevalier said. "That being said, on our current forecast, as of the afternoon on Thursday, we still have it as a major hurricane."

The central Pacific gets fewer hurricanes than other regions, with about only four or five named storms a year. Hawaii rarely gets hit. The last major storm to hit was Iniki in 1992. Others have come close in recent years.

"We're planning on boarding up all our windows and sliding doors," Napua Puaoi of Wailuku, Maui, said after buying plywood from Home Depot. "As soon as my husband comes home  he has all the power tools."

Puaoi was 12 when Iniki hit Hawaii.

"When it did happen, I just remember, pandemonium, it was all out craziness," she said.

Unlike Florida or Texas, where residents can get in their cars and drive hundreds of miles to safety, people in Hawaii are confined to the islands.

Instead, they must stay put and make sure they have enough supplies to outlast prolonged power outages and other potential emergencies.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has several barges with food, water and supplies that it moved into the region ahead of Hurricane Hector, which skirted past the islands more than a week ago, according to FEMA Administrator Brock Long.

The U.S. Navy was moving its ships and submarines out of Hawaii. All vessels not currently undergoing maintenance were being positioned to help respond after the storm, if needed.By AFP

BEIRUT: The leader of the Islamic State jihadist group Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi called on Muslims to wage "jihad" in a purported new audio recording released on Wednesday.

The Telegram message on the occasion of Eid al-Adha is the first known to be released since another was broadcast in September last year, and comes as IS has lost most of its territory in Iraq and Syria.

"Those who forget their religion, patience, jihad against their enemies, and their certainty in the creator's promise lose and are disgraced," the leader said.

"But when they hold on to it, they are mighty and victorious, even if after a certain time."

Baghdadi has been pronounced dead on several occasions, but an Iraqi intelligence official said in May that he remains alive in Syrian territory by the Iraqi border.

Baghdadi was said to move around with only a small group of followers.

Originally from Iraq, Baghdadi has been dubbed the "most wanted man on the planet" and the United States is offering a $25 million reward for his capture.

The Iraqi official said the noose was closing around the jihadist leader after Iraqi forces captured five top IS commanders in an unprecedented raid in Syria on March 24.

In September 2017, in the last voice message attributed to Baghdadi, the IS leader called on his fighters in Syria and Iraq to "resist" their enemies.

IS overran large swathes of Syria and neighbouring Iraq in 2014, proclaiming a "caliphate" in areas they controlled.

But they have since lost most of that to various offensives in both countries.By AFP

PARIS: A man stabbed his mother and sister to death and seriously injured another person in a town near Paris on Thursday before being shot dead by police.

The killer had serious mental health problems and had been on a terror watch list since 2016, Interior Minister Gerard Collomb told reporters after visiting the scene in the town of Trappes.

The motive for the violence remained unclear despite a claim by the Islamic State group that it was an attack by one of its fighters responding to the terror organisation's propaganda.

Collomb said the attacker was "mentally unstable, rather than someone who was committed, who would respond to orders from a terrorist organisation, in particular Daesh," another name for IS.

Regular French criminal prosecutors are investigating the case rather than anti-terror specialists, Collomb stressed, although checks on the knifeman's phone and computer were under way.

Experts have urged caution about recent IS announcements because it has lost credibility after claiming responsibility for seemingly unrelated violence as it faces defeat on the battlefield in the Middle East.

French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb, center , answers reporters after a knife attack Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018 in Trappes, west of Paris.

(Photo | AP)

Social problems

The killing spree began early on Thursday in Trappes, a poor town with a large Muslim population about 30 kilometres (20 miles) southwest of the capital.

Armed police responded to reports of violence and were threatened by the man who stabbed his mother to death in her home, Collomb added.

"He walked towards the police with his knife," he said. "Police then opened fire."

The assailant has not yet been named.

Only a short drive from the wealthy area of Versailles, home to a world-famous palace, Trappes is known for its social problems linked to poverty, drugs and hardline interpretations of Islam.

About 50 locals are suspected of having left France to fight for the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq, French security sources have previously told AFP.

The knifeman had been on the terror watch list since 2016 after expressing extremist views, a security source told AFP.

BFM television reported that he had serious alcohol and drug problems.

France remains on high alert after a string of jihadist attacks since 2015 that have claimed the lives of more than 240 victims.

IS claimed the Trappes attacker was one of its fighters.

"He carried out the attack in response to calls to target subjects of the countries of the coalition" fighting IS, said a statement on its propaganda channel Amaq.

The leader of the extremist group Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi had called on Muslims to wage "jihad" in a purported new audio recording released on Wednesday.

The group claimed responsibility for a massacre in Las Vegas last year that saw a wealthy accountant open fire on a crowd in one of the deadliest mass shootings in recent US history.

US investigators concluded that there was "no evidence of radicalisation or ideology to support any theory that (Stephen) Paddock supported or followed any hate group or any domestic or foreign terrorist organisation".

French terror expert Jean-Charles Brisard, head of the Center for the Analysis of Terrorism (CAT), said it was "too soon to say" if IS had a hand in the violence in Trappes.

"But remember that in 2017 we had three claims of responsibility that were outlandish by Islamic State... above all the massacre in Las Vegas," he told AFP.By Associated Press

JOHANNESBURG: The South African government lashed out at President Donald Trump on Thursday after he tweeted that his administration would be looking into farm seizures and the "large scale killing of farmers" in South Africa.

The government said Trump's tweet was based on "false information" and reflected a "narrow perception which only seeks to divide our nation and reminds us of our colonial past." It said it was meeting with the U.S. Embassy on Thursday as it seeks to clarify Trump's remarks.

I have asked Secretary of State @SecPompeo to closely study the South Africa land and farm seizures and expropriations and the large scale killing of farmers. South African Government is now seizing land from white farmers. @TuckerCarlson @FoxNews  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 23 August 2018

South Africa is in the throes of a racially charged national debate over land reform, a lawful process that seeks to correct the legacy of decades of white minority rule that stripped blacks of their land.

Today, nearly a quarter-century after the first democratic elections, black South Africans, who comprise 80 per cent of the population, still own just 4 per cent of the country's land, according to the government.

Though the ruling African National Congress, which has been in power since 1994, has pledged to close that gap, progress has been slow. In July, President Cyril Ramaphosa said his party would amend the constitution so the state could expropriate land without compensation to speed up the land reform process.

Trump's tweet followed a segment on Fox News on Wednesday in which host Tucker Carlson claimed Ramaphosa had already started "seizing land from his own citizens without compensation because they are the wrong skin color," calling the alleged seizures "immoral."

People place white crosses, representing farmers killed in the country, at a ceremony at the Vorrtrekker Monument in Pretoria, South Africa.

(Photo | AP

Though South Africa's constitution has not yet been amended and the government has not seized any major agricultural land, the prospect has sent panic through some white farming communities who worry the policy will strip them of their land, cause land prices to plummet or make them the target of potentially violent land seizures.

For years, a small but vocal group of white South Africans have claimed white farmers are the target of violent, racially motivated farm attacks.

Experts say the attacks reflect the country's generally high crime rate and that there is no evidence connecting them to victims' race. In 2016-17, there were 74 murders that occurred during farm attacks, according to Africa Check, compared to 19,000 murders across the country in the same period.

"People are not being targeted because of their race, but because they are vulnerable and isolated on the farms," said Gareth Newham, head of the crime and justice program at the Institute for Security Studies in the capital, Pretoria.

"There is no white genocide in South Africa," Julius Malema, leader of the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters party, told reporters. "There is black genocide in the USA; black people are killed every day. There is a black genocide here in South Africa; just recently a farmer was convicted for the murder of a black farmer."

Trump's tweet did find some supporters.

AfriForum, a group that represents some white South African interests, welcomed his comments. In May, its leaders went to the U.S. to lobby institutions and politicians about Ramaphosa's proposal to expropriate land and the alleged targeting of white farmers.

Earlier this month the group posted a list of farms it said were earmarked for expropriation, a list that the government said was fake.

"Everyone in South Africa should . hope that the pressure from the USA will lead to the (ruling party) reconsidering the disastrous route that they want to take South Africa on," AfriForum's CEO Kallie Kriel said in a statement on Thursday.

AfriForum and other critics of the government's proposal to expropriate land without compensation say the policy could lead to economic disaster, pointing to the collapse of the agricultural sector in neighboring Zimbabwe after the government of former President Robert Mugabe began seizing white-owned farms, sometimes violently, in 2000.

Proponents of South Africa's land expropriation policy, including Ramaphosa, say it is necessary to address the country's historic injustices and can be done in a way that is lawful and will not compromise the beleaguered economy or food security.

In parliament on Wednesday, Ramaphosa said land expropriation could make more land available for cultivation, and that the process would begin by seizing state-owned land, not privately held land.

"This is our South Africa, this is our land, this is where we live," Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane told South Africa's public broadcaster SABC. "Only solutions of land reform that are South African will work in South Africa."By PTI

KINMEN: Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen called for unity and vowed not to bow to pressure from Beijing today as the island marked the 60th anniversary of a deadly Chinese artillery attack.

The anniversary of the assault on tiny Kinmen island, known as the "823 bombardment", comes as China steps up pressure on self-ruling Taiwan, which it sees as part of its territory to be reunified.

Also Read | Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen makes rare US speech for first time in 15 years

China's People's Liberation Army fired 470,000 shells at Kinmen and nearby islets in 1958, killing 618 servicemen and civilians in an attack that lasted 44 days.

Kinmen is part of Taiwan, but lies less than two miles off mainland China, at the narrowest part of the Taiwan Strait.

"When we remember the '823 bombardment' 60 years later, we will not forget the spirit of solidarity," Tsai said on her Facebook page.

"When we face diplomatic suppression we will not forget how strong our country can be when we are united," she added, saying that while Taiwanese people cherished peace they would not take national security for granted.

Tensions with Beijing have worsened under Tsai because she refuses to acknowledge that Taiwan is part of "one China".

In response, China has ramped up military drills and poached Taiwan's official diplomatic allies -- El Salvador became the third this year to switch ties from Taipei to Beijing today.

At an anniversary ceremony held in a former army bunker and combat centre in Kinmen, Taiwan's Defence Minister Yen De-fa said today's troops in Taiwan must again make "combat preparations" in the face of what he described as a growing military threat from China.

Hundreds of soldiers, relatives and veterans, some in their 80s and 90s, gathered at a Kinmen cemetery where victims of the 1958 bombardment were buried. Lai Jen-hsien, 83, remembered the attack.

"We were joking it was firecrackers, but then all of a sudden it was a rain of them (artillery)," said Lai, who was in the combat engineer battalion in Kinmen at the time.

He told AFP he did not think history would repeat itself on Kinmen.

"Peace is priceless. War is ruthless and we should try our best to peacefully handle the fate of people from both sides of the (Taiwan) Strait," Lai said.

China has sought to bring Taiwan back into the fold since nationalist troops fled to the island after their defeat by communist forces on the mainland in 1949.

Kinmen historically often found itself on the frontline, although now the island is a popular tourist attraction for both mainland Chinese and Taiwanese visitors.

Its most famous souvenirs are kitchen knives made from the remnants of artillery shells.By Associated Press

KAMPALA: A Ugandan pop star-turned-lawmaker who opposes the longtime president was charged with treason in a civilian court on Thursday, minutes after a military court dropped weapons charges.

The new charge was bound to bring fresh outrage from Ugandans and global musicians after Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine, alleged he had been severely beaten while in detention. The government denies it.

Ssentamu has emerged as an influential critic of President Yoweri Museveni, especially among youth, after winning a parliament seat last year.

The 36-year-old Ssentamu had been charged last week with illegal possession of firearms for his alleged role in an incident in which Museveni's motorcade was pelted with stones.

Supporters of pop star-turned-lawmaker Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine, hold a poster of him as they gather in the Kisekka Market area of Kampala, Uganda.

(Photo | AP)

A military court freed him Thursday but the lawmaker was re-arrested by police and taken to a magistrate's court.

Ssentamu limped during his appearance in military court and appeared to cry as he rubbed his eyes. A colleague wrapped the national flag about his shoulders. He sat in the dock in magistrate's court, with his lawyers saying he is unable to stand on his own.

Attorneys for Ssentamu asked the magistrate to order his remand to a health facility. The magistrate ruled that Ssentamu should be allowed access to his own physicians. He was remanded until Aug. 30.

The lawmaker had been arrested with four other opposition lawmakers, three of whom also face treason charges. A fifth legislator has been hospitalized with injures allegedly sustained during detention.

Ssentamu's appearance on Thursday was the first time he had been seen in public since his detention. He clenched his fists and greeted supporters.

In recent days Uganda's government has faced mounting pressure at home and abroad to free him. Security forces have violently put down street protests demanding his release.

On Thursday, other opposition figures expressed concern about being targeted by security forces. "Every way out of my home is barricaded since very early today," Kizza Besigye, a four-time presidential challenger who has been jailed many times, tweeted.

Every way out of my home is barricaded since very early today. The intention is to deny us freedom to move & to be at the Military Court where @HEBobiwine is to be produced this morning.

The struggle for freedom &sovereignty won't be blocked! Museveni Must Go.@PGovUg @ntvuganda pic.twitter.com/3AbXlChF0n

 Kifefe Kizza-Besigye (@kizzabesigye1) 23 August 2018

Police spokesman Emilian Kayima later said Besigye was arrested when he tried to force his way out. Police also deployed, under what the spokesman called "preventive arrest," at the homes of certain Ugandans after receiving intelligence that some "wanted to engage in criminal activities."

Ssentamu's arrest came after he was campaigning in an election to choose a lawmaker in the northwestern town of Arua.

Museveni also was in Arua at the time, campaigning for a rival candidate who eventually lost. While the president was departing, authorities said, his motorcade was pelted with stones by people associated with Ssentamu and the candidate he backed, Kassiano Wadri.

Ssentamu's driver was shot and killed, allegedly by security forces.

In a statement late Wednesday, Museveni accused "unprincipled politicians" of luring youth into rioting. Responding to calls on social media to #FreeBobiWine, the president said he had no power to release Ssentamu. "Let us therefore wait for the courts and see what they decide."

Supporters of pop star-turned-lawmaker Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine, gather in the Kisekka Market area of Kampala, Uganda Thursday.

(Photo | AP)

Museveni, a U.S. ally on regional security, took power by force in 1986 and has since been elected five times. Although he has campaigned on his record of establishing peace and stability, some worry that those gains are being eroded the longer he stays in power.

The 74-year-old Museveni is now able to seek re-election in 2021 because parliament passed legislation last year removing a clause in the constitution that had prevented anyone over 75 from holding the presidency. Ssentamu publicly opposed that decision.By AFP

LONDON: Britain's Brexit secretary said on Thursday that London will take unilateral action and respect EU rules in some sectors to keep trade flowing if Brussels refuses to cooperate and strike a deal.

Dominic Raab insisted he was "still confident" of reaching a deal with the European Union -- but is nonetheless due to set out the government's advice about planning for a departure without an agreement.

London and Brussels are yet to reach a deal on the terms of Britain's exit from the bloc, due to take place in March next year.

London's proposal would keep Britain close to the EU on trade -- but parts of it have been rejected by Brussels.

ALSO READ | Britain's Raab hopes Brexit deal with EU still possible in October

"I remain confident a good deal is within our sights, and that remains our top, and overriding, priority," Raab said.

If the EU responds with the level of ambition and pragmatism, we will strike a strong deal that benefits both sides," he told BBC radio.

"But we must be ready to consider the alternative.

"In some cases, it means taking unilateral action to maintain as much continuity as possible in the short term, in the event of no deal -- irrespective of whether the EU reciprocates."

London and Brussels hope to strike a deal by October, to allow its ratification by the European and British parliaments before the UK leaves the bloc.

The government on Thursday is publishing the first 25 in a series of around 80 technical notices advising businesses and citizens what they need to do to prepare for a no-deal scenario.

"Our overarching aim is to facilitate the smooth, continued, functioning of business, transport, infrastructure, research, aid programmes and funding streams," said Raab.

ALSO READ | Risk of no-deal Brexit 'uncomfortably high': Bank of England Governor Mark Carney

He cited pharmaceuticals, saying Britain would recognise batch-tested medicines produced in the EU.

He said Britain already kept three months' worth of buffer stock for more than 200 medicines and would work with the industry to stockpile a further six weeks in the "worst-case scenario".

Raab said Britain and the EU had reached Brexit agreements on around 80 percent of issues, but the Irish border situation remained unresolved.

Britain voted to leave the EU in a June 2016 referendum and is due to exit on March 29 next year.By Associated Press

WASHINGTON: The United States has rejected an invitation to join Russia-led talks on Afghanistan because they are unlikely to help bring peace, a State Department spokesman said Wednesday, as the Trump administration prepared to appoint a diplomatic veteran as a new special envoy for the war-battered nation.

Russia said that the Taliban will be joining the Sept. 4 talks in Moscow, along with representatives of several neighboring countries. It will be one of the insurgent group's biggest diplomatic forays since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan.

Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman Sibghatullah Ahmadi told The Associated Press in Kabul that the government will not attend the meeting in Moscow, saying the peace process should be Afghan-led. He also said that "a peace process without the cooperation of the Afghan government would not be successful."

The State Department official said that as a matter of principle, the U.S. supports Afghan-led efforts to advance a peace settlement. And, based on previous Russia-led meetings on Afghanistan, the Moscow talks are "unlikely to yield any progress toward that end." The spokesman was not authorized to be quoted by name and requested anonymity.

That decision comes as the Taliban escalates attacks across Afghanistan. It has refused direct talks with Kabul, even as it seeks to raises its diplomatic profile in the region and calls for talks with the U.S. which it views as the real power behind the Afghan government. The insurgent group has yet to respond to President Ashraf Ghani's offer earlier this week of a conditional cease-fire for the duration of the Eid al-Adha religious holiday that began Tuesday.

ALSO READ | Mike Pompeo meets British counterpart on Russia, Iran

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo intends to appoint a former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, to a special envoy post that would deal with the Afghan-Taliban peace process and Afghanistan's integration into the administration's Indo-Pacific strategy, according to two U.S. officials and a congressional aide briefed on the plan.

Khalilzad, who did not respond to queries about his potential new role, is expected to visit South Asia soon, according to the officials, who were not authorized to publicly discuss personnel matters and spoke on condition of anonymity.

A native of Afghanistan who was educated at the American University in Beirut and the University of Chicago, Khalilzad is a diplomatic veteran in Republican foreign policy circles and has also served as U.S. ambassador to Iraq and the United Nations. He was considered for secretary of state by the Trump transition team, notably after introducing then-candidate Donald Trump at his first major foreign policy speech during the campaign.

Despite escalating violence in Afghanistan, the top U.S. commander there said Wednesday that the U.S.-led coalition sees hope in Taliban statements in recent months indicating interest in a negotiations to end the 17-year war, and Afghan public and religious clerics' desire for peace. He contended that could lead to political reconciliation.

"We have an unprecedented window of opportunity for peace now," Gen. John Nicholson told Pentagon reporters from Kabul. His comments came just a day after rockets slammed into the heart of Kabul as Ghani delivered a speech for the Eid holiday, highlighting the precarious security even in the heavily protected capital.

Nicholson did not address the Russia talks. U.S.-Russian ties are increasingly strained. Washington has eyed Russian engagement in Afghanistan and its links to the Taliban with suspicion. Moscow says it is encouraging the insurgents to abandon hostilities and engage in a dialogue with the Afghan government.

ALSO READ | Afghanistan: 20 Taliban militants killed in airstrike on hideout

Nicholson, who is slated to turn over command of the war next month, said the Taliban launched major assaults to take control of two provincial centers this year, and after tough battles the Afghans regained control. But he also acknowledged that the military campaign led by the Afghans and backed by the coalition is largely at a stalemate, and that the Afghan government has made little progress taking back additional population centers from Taliban control.

Nicholson took over the war effort in March 2016. In May of that year, 34 percent of Afghanistan's districts were contested or under militant control or influence, compared with 44 percent as of May 2018, according to U.S. military figures. He will leave as the longest-serving U.S. commander of the coalition.

ALSO READ | Afghanistan won't attend peace talks in Moscow with Taliban: Government sources

Nicholson's time in charge included a key reversal in U.S. policy on the war -- stretching from the troop drawdown ordered in the final years of the Obama administration through President Donald Trump's endorsement last summer of a new strategy to increase U.S. and coalition presence, beef up the training and push for reconciliation.

Nicholson said that the Afghan Air Force and special operations units are growing in numbers and abilities, and that progress will have an increasing impact over the coming year.By PTI

ISLAMABAD: In an unusual move, Pakistan tonight asked the US to "immediately correct" a readout issued by the State Department in which Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was quoted as saying that he asked Pakistan's new Prime Minister to take "decisive action" against all terrorists operating in the country.

State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert said in a statement that Pompeo, in his talks with Khan, raised the importance of Pakistan taking "decisive action" against all terrorists operating in Pakistan and its vital role in promoting the Afghan peace process.

However, according to the Foreign Office (FO), Pompeo congratulated Khan while discussing other issues of interest and there was no mention of "terrorists operating in Pakistan".

FO spokesman Mohammad Faisal said that "Pakistan takes exception to the factually incorrect statement issued by US State Department on today's phone call between Prime Minister Khan and Secretary Pompeo".

"There was no mention at all in the conversation about terrorists operating in Pakistan. This should be immediately corrected," Faisal said on Twitter.

The Pakistani media this week reported that Pompeo is likely to visit Islamabad in the first week of September to hold talks with newly-elected Prime Minister Khan.

Pompeo, who is expected in Islamabad on September 5, would be the first foreign dignitary to meet Khan, Dawn reported, quoting the diplomatic and official sources.

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.

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.By PTI

WASHINGTON: A former contractor for the US National Security Agency who leaked information on Russian hacking of election systems to journalists was sentenced today to more than five years in prison.

The 63-month sentence that a federal judge in Augusta, Georgia handed Reality Winner in exchange for her guilty plea was the stiffest ever for a single charge of leaking classified information to the media, according to her lawyers.

It came despite the same information she leaked later being divulged officially by Washington after US states demanded it.

"The defendant schemed to take and disclose classified information she had sworn to protect -- and then did so almost as soon as she had the chance," said Assistant Attorney General John Demers in a statement.

The former Air Force linguist was arrested in June 2017 hours before The Intercept, an online publication that frequently breaks national security-related stories, published a story based on documents she took.

They discussed in detail attempts by hackers from Russian military intelligence to penetrate a company that sells voter registration software, as well as the computers of local election officials.

Three months after Winner's arrest, under pressure from state election officials, the Department of Homeland Security revealed that Russians tried to hack systems in 21 of the 50 states in 2016.

Prior to the decision Thursday, Winner's lawyers told the court that the proposed sentence was well over previous sentences in leak cases.

"There is no allegation or evidence of actual spying or treason" against her, they said.

"This was not a WikiLeaks-like 'dump' of massive amounts of sensitive data, nor was it a disclosure of military secrets," they added.

That was a reference to the case of Chelsea Manning -- at the time known as Bradley Manning -- who as an army intelligence analyst in 2010 leaked a massive amount of highly secret defense and diplomacy documents to the transparency group.

Manning was ultimately sentenced in February 2013 to 35 years in prison on 17 counts that included espionage and other charges.

In January 2017 President Barack Obama commuted her sentence as having been disproportionate and she was freed.

Winner's case was one of a string of breaches at the National Security Agency, the powerful signals intelligence body still smarting from Edward Snowden's 2013 disclosures of its global surveillance programs.

The sentence appeared to reflect in part the Trump administration's pledge to crack down on leaks of classified information.

Media activists criticized it as excessive.

"Reality Winner is a whistleblower who alerted the public about a critical threat to election security," said Freedom of the Press Foundation Executive Director Trevor Timm.

"Winner performed a public service by alerting the public and state officials to dangerous vulnerabilities in election infrastructure, and it's shameful the Justice Department would seek any prison time for her doing so --let alone the longest sentence for such an act in history."Copy Editor/Entertainment Editor

Frank Pieper is a copy editor and entertainment editor at The News-Gazette, and the author of Frank's Faves and Frank's Weekend Faves. His email is fpieper@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@frp308).Reporter

Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk).Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.Reporter

Debra Pressey is a reporter covering health care at The News-Gazette. Her email is dpressey@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@DLPressey).One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021After being freed and told that charges of unlawfully possessing firearms were dropped by the General Court Martial, Bobi Wine was told by his lawyer that he was under arrest again and he was put into a police vehicle with his wife to be taken to the Chief Magistrates Court.Amazon Adds a $9.95 Fee, So

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Virgin Births new study(Newser)  Improved conditions and higher pay are among the ten demands being made by prisoners participating in a nationwide strike that kicked off Tuesday and is planned to continue until Sept. 9. According to the Guardian, the strike, organized by Jailhouse Lawyers Speak, calls for work stoppages by prisoners (many get paid pennies an hour for their prison jobs, prompting comparisons to slavery), hunger strikes, sit-ins, and withholding money from the "prison industrialized complex" through things like not shopping at prison commissaries and not making collect phone calls. With prisoners in 17 states from coast to coast reportedly planning to participate in the strike, it "certainly has the potential  to be one of the largest prison strikes that the country has ever seen," Lauren-Brooke Eisen of New York University Law School tells Vox. But, she adds, strikers' "demands are rarely met."

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In a statement, the organizers call for solidarity among prisoners, asking them to "stop the violence against each other. Regardless of race, class or label, we are one. And yes, we are by our very interest a class." This strike is partly motivated by a 2016 prison strike, NPR reports, as well as being a reaction to a deadly prison riot in South Carolina earlier this year. The Aug. 21 start date is significant because that is the day in 1971 that black activist George Jackson was killed in San Quentin State Prison, the Washington Post reports. Sept. 9, the planned last day of the strike, is the anniversary of the Attica prison riot, also in 1971. (Read more prison system stories.)(Newser)  Two southeast Kentucky jail inmates who escaped, spraying bleach in the eyes of one jail worker and assaulting another, were being sought Wednesday, police said. David Mosely, 41, and Matthew Price, 45, escaped Tuesday night from the Bell County jail, Kentucky State Police said in a statement. The worker who was assaulted suffered injuries to his ribs, police said. Both jail workers were treated at a hospital and released, said deputy jailer 1st Lt. Josh Collett. Police described Mosely as a 6-foot-1, 200-pound white male who's bald and Price as a 5-foot-9, 170-pound white male with blondish brown hair.

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Both men are from Middlesboro, Ky., and have multiple tattoos including on their chests. Collett said Mosely was in jail on various drug and theft charges while Price was serving time for various counts including burglary, wanton endangerment of a police officer, and driving under the influence. Police spokesman Shane Jacobs says dispatchers have taken numerous calls about the inmates, but police haven't located them yet, the AP reports.

(Read more Kentucky stories.)(Newser)  One of South Carolina's most notorious serial killers claims to have buried two more bodies near an interstatebut a full day of searching Wednesday failed to find any remains. Police using cadaver dogs searched an area near Interstate 26 in southern Spartanburg County without success after receiving information from a production company making a documentary on Todd Kohlhepp, who is already serving life for seven murders, CBS News reports. Sheriff Chuck Wright said there would be no more searching without new information.

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"At present, there aren't any plans to go back to the site tomorrow, and that lead will be suspended until Kohlhepp decides to share more detailed information that can be verified," he told WYFF4, adding that while he doesn't want to give Kohlhepp more attention, it is his duty to families of potential victims to investigate. "This will be the last time this happens until he gives me some specifics that I can corroborate, because I don't want it to be one of those thingshe wants to stay relevant," he said. (Kohlhepp has previously said he won't disclose how many people he killed.)(Newser)  After a morning spent tweeting about Paul Manafort and Michael Cohen, President Trump on Wednesday night turned to a situation less close to home: "I have asked Secretary of State @SecPompeo to closely study the South Africa land and farm seizures and expropriations and the large scale killing of farmers. 'South African Government is now seizing land from white farmers.' @TuckerCarlson @FoxNews," he tweeted. The Guardian reports the tweet was seemingly triggered by Carlson's Wednesday night segment. South Africa tweeted back: "South Africa totally rejects this narrow perception which only seeks to divide our nation and reminds us of our colonial past." Reuters describes the tweet as "hav[ing] inflamed an already high-octane debate over land in South Africa, a country that remains deeply racially divided and unequal."

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Per the Guardian, South Africa is 8% white, but white farmers hold 72% of the land. "The majority of South Africans want to see land reform. The majority of our farmers, white and black, want to be a part of this initiative," a rep for President Cyril Ramaphosa told CNN, which notes farm seizures are not currently "ongoing." Ramaphosa on Aug. 1 said South Africa will move forward with amending the constitution to allow land that had been taken during apartheid to be expropriated without compensation. As for farmer deaths, they're actually at a 20-year low, with 47 killed over 2017-2018; the toll stood at 153 in 1998. Attacks on farms are up, however. The Washington Post reports it's the first time Trump has used the word "Africa" in a tweet as president, and adds that the post of US ambassador to South Africa is currently vacant. (Read more President Trump stories.)(Newser)  He told co-workers he was going to kill rabbits, and he told police that he only meant to get rid of ratsbut prosecutors say a Hong Kong professor used a rather odd weapon to instead murder his wife and teen daughter. That alleged weapon: a yoga ball filled with carbon monoxide, which Khaw Kim-sun is accused of leaving in the trunk of a Mini Cooper his wife, Wong Siew-fung, was driving in May 2015, the South China Morning Post and BBC report. The ball is said to have deflated while in the car, leaking the gas that killed Wong and 16-year-old Khaw Li-ling; the two were found unconscious in the locked car by a jogger. Prosecutor Andrew Bruce says Khaw, a Malaysian professor specializing in anesthesiology at Chinese University, was having an affair with a student and that Wong knew about it but refused to grant him a divorce.

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Per Coconuts, Bruce told a Hong Kong jury Thursday that Khaw's anesthetist background gave him knowledge of, and access to, the carbon monoxide, and that the student he was having the affair with helped him with the "research project" he'd set up as a ruse to get his hands on the carbon monoxide. Bruce adds that co-workers saw Khaw filling two yoga balls with the gas, explaining that he wanted to see how it affected rabbits. He later changed that story and told cops he wanted the carbon monoxide to kill rats at his house, though a worker at his home said rats weren't an issue there. The one part of his alleged scheme that went awry, per Bruce: Although Khaw meant to kill his wife, he hadn't expected his daughter to be in the car with her. "The last thing the accused wanted was for his 16-year-old to die," Bruce says, per the Post. Khaw has pleaded not guilty to two murder counts. (Read more Hong Kong stories.)(Newser)  The United States and China went ahead with tariff hikes on billions of dollars of each other's automobiles, factory machinery, and other goods Thursday in an escalation of a battle over Beijing's technology policy that companies worry will chill global economic growth. The increases came as envoys met in Washington for their first high-level talks in two months, reports the AP. They gave no sign of progress toward a settlement over US complaints that Beijing steals technology and its industry development plans violate Chinese free-trade commitments. The 25% duties, previously announced, apply to $16 billion of goods from each side, including automobiles and metal scrap from the United States and Chinese-made factory machinery and electronic components.

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The Chinese government criticized Thursday's US increase as a violation of World Trade Organization rules and said it would file a legal challenge. A foreign ministry rep declined to give details of the Washington talks, saying he hoped the US would show "a reasonable and practical attitude." With no settlement in sight, economists warn the conflict could knock up to 0.5 percentage points off global economic growth through 2020. Ahead of talks, Chinese state TV mocked Trump with a sarcastic video. "On behalf of doctors, thank you for pointing out the need to wean off American goods like bourbon and bacon," says a presenter. Trump has proposed another round of tariffs imposing 25% increases on an additional $200 billion of Chinese goods. Beijing issued a $60 billion list of American imports for retaliation.

(Read more US-China relations stories.)(Newser)  A "hardworking" Indiana priest said by a colleague to rise before dawn every day to help his community may have been the object of a hate crime, and the FBI is now investigating. Merrillville Police rep Jeff Rice tells the Chicago Tribune that 64-year-old Basil John Hutsko is "definitely bruised and banged up" after someone attacked him Monday morning inside St. Michael Byzantine Catholic Church. The Rev. Thomas Loya, a longtime friend and fellow priest, tells the Washington Post the still-at-large assailant reportedly approached Hutsko from behind right after he'd finished praying at the altar (meaning Hutsko didn't get a glimpse of his attacker). The assailant then "grabbed [Hutsko] by the neck, threw him down on the floor, and immediately started slamming his head against the floor," Chief of Police Joseph Petruch tells CBS Chicago.

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What the assailant said during the assault is what's leading to hate-crime talk. "The subject yelled out, 'This is for all the little kids,'" Petruch saysa possible reference to the sex scandals that continue to plague the Roman Catholic Church. Petruch says he's not sure whether Hutsko was targeted specificallyhe wasn't tied to a recent grand-jury report on "predator priests"but adds, "I have enough there to say it's a hate crime." Local clerics are baffled someone might take out their anger about the sex scandals on an "innocent man." "He's a good priest and  he's not accused of anything," the Rev. Steven Koplinka tells the Tribune. "Why attack him?" Loya tells WGN: "The stories are very ugly ... so I can see where some people might become enraged, but at the same time ... that's not going to help or solve anything." CNN reports Hutsko was taken to a hospital for treatment and released. (Read more hate crime stories.)(Newser)  Australia's government is in turmoil as Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull fights for his political life because of a challenge from within his own ruling party. The battle has resulted in a tense showdown: Turnbull says he's willing to step down if the majority of Liberal Party lawmakersthe magic number is 43want him to go, but there's one big catch. He wants those 43 names to be made public before he'll allow a party vote on Friday, and so far, his rivals haven't been able to produce the names. As the AP explains, lawmakers who might otherwise vote against Turnbull in the party's secret ballot might be unwilling to sign a public petition for fear of retribution from voters. The background:

Why the revolt: Some dizzying semantics: Despite the name, the Liberal Party is actually conservative, though Turnbull himself is seen by his critics as too liberal on social issues, explains the Wall Street Journal. For example, main rival Peter Dutton wants to take a much harder line than Turnbull on immigration issues. In general, more Australian voters are starting to favor right-wing and populist movements, notes the Journal.

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The catalyst: Turnbull got into political hot water within his party when he went ahead with plans to put emissions-reductions targets under the Paris climate accord into effect. Amid a rebellion, Turnbull ditched those plans this week in what was seen as a bid to save his job, reports Deutsche Welle. It worked: Turnbull narrowly defeated Dutton in a leadership challenge on Tuesday. But now a second leadership challenge is in the works.

Turnbull got into political hot water within his party when he went ahead with plans to put emissions-reductions targets under the Paris climate accord into effect. Amid a rebellion, Turnbull ditched those plans this week in what was seen as a bid to save his job, reports Deutsche Welle. It worked: Turnbull narrowly defeated Dutton in a leadership challenge on Tuesday. But now a second leadership challenge is in the works. Won't run: If the 43 lawmakers emerge publicly, Turnbull says he won't run in the ensuing election to choose a new prime minister, reports the BBC. He would thus become the fourth prime minister ousted before a full three-year term since 2010, and the AP says this "extraordinary era of political instability" is generally hated by Australians. The nation's prime ministers are not directly elected by voters but instead through a party vote.

If the 43 lawmakers emerge publicly, Turnbull says he won't run in the ensuing election to choose a new prime minister, reports the BBC. He would thus become the fourth prime minister ousted before a full three-year term since 2010, and the AP says this "extraordinary era of political instability" is generally hated by Australians. The nation's prime ministers are not directly elected by voters but instead through a party vote. One view: "Turnbull is all but done," writes Christopher Knaus at the Guardian, who digs into the particulars of Australian politics and notes that Turnbull just lost the support of three key ministers. One wrinkle: Turnbull has threatened not just to step down but to resign from politics entirely, and the loss of his seat could cost the Liberal Party its ruling majority. That could make some in the party wary of ousting him.

"Turnbull is all but done," writes Christopher Knaus at the Guardian, who digs into the particulars of Australian politics and notes that Turnbull just lost the support of three key ministers. One wrinkle: Turnbull has threatened not just to step down but to resign from politics entirely, and the loss of his seat could cost the Liberal Party its ruling majority. That could make some in the party wary of ousting him. A counterattack: Turnbull is questioning whether Dutton is eligible to serve in Parliament at all because he benefits from a family trust that's partially enriched through government contracts. It's complicated, but Australia's ABC has the details. An ABC columnist thinks it's a savvy move by Turnbull to buy some time, assuming an anti-Dutton ruling comes soon.

Americans might remember Turnbull from a famous phone call with Trump . (Read more Australia stories.)(Newser)  A woman withdrew $75,000 in cash from a Houston bank minutes before she was brutally attacked at her family's gas station, where she runs a check-cashing business. It was no coincidence, according to police, who say a 25-year-old Wallis State Bank employee was involved. Police allege Shelby Taylor Wyse watched the unidentified victim withdraw the money around 9:30am Friday before texting her boyfriend a "go signal," reports KTRK. The boyfriend, 27-year-old Travonn Johnson, and another man, 31-year-old Davis Mitchell, allegedly followed the woman before attacking in an attempt to take her purse, in a scene caught on surveillance video.

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Police say the video shows that Mitchell emerged from the back seat of an SUV before attacking the woman, whose husband soon gets involved, reports the Houston Chronicle. Johnson subsequently emerges from a black car and is seen kicking at the pair before getting back in the car and reversing over them, police allege. Mitchell was arrested at the scene, reports the Kansas City Star, while police say the license plate of the car driven by Johnson led them to Wyse, its leaseholder. All three suspectspolice are also searching for the SUV's driverface robbery charges. The woman, who never let go of her purse, was listed in critical condition but is expected to survive. The extent of her husband's injuries was not clear. (Read more robbery stories.)(Newser)  In discussing Michael Cohen on Thursday, President Trump complained about people who wind up striking deals with prosecutors. Now it appears that another of his allies has done just that: Vanity Fair reports that David Pecker, who is the CEO of the parent company of the National Enquirer, was granted immunity in exchange for his cooperation in the Cohen investigation. Pecker, a longtime friend of both Cohen and Trump, met with federal prosecutors to provide details about the payments to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal in exchange for their silence about alleged affairs with Trump, reports the Wall Street Journal. Prosecutors say Pecker's company, American Media, played a role in both payments.

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The company's role in the McDougal story has been previously reported. At Cohen's urging, American Media purchased the rights to her story for $150,000, then did not publish it, a practice known in the tabloid business as "catch and kill." The question is whether Pecker and his company might have violated any campaign finance laws along the way, but his immunity deal will shield him (and another American Media exec) from prosecution. The Vanity Fair post by Gabriel Sherman says the Enquirer "operated as a de-facto arm" of the Trump campaign leading up to the election, but it adds that Trump and Pecker, once close, have not spoken in about eight months. (Read more National Enquirer stories.)(Newser)  The US State Department has issued a travel advisory for Mexico, saying that travelers to the country should "exercise increased caution" in general and avoid several states altogether. "Violent crime, such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery, are widespread, according to the advisory issued Wednesday. Among the states listed as "do not travel" are Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa, and Tamaulipas. "The US government has limited ability to provide emergency services to US citizens in many areas of Mexico as US government employees are prohibited from travel to these areas," the advisory says.

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The updated travel advisory was prompted by a security alert by the US Consulate in Ciudad Juarez, per a State Department spokesperson, Time reports. Also this week, Mexican authorities found eight dead bodies in Cancun, which is in the state of Quintana Roo, USA Today reports. Among the grisly discoveries, according to reports, were the dismembered bodies of two men, a man found dead in a hammock, the bodies of a man and woman in the trunk of a taxi, two men shot to death, and a body that had been decapitated. None of the killings took place in Cancun's beachside resort area, according to reports. Quintana Roo is under a Level 2 advisory, "exercise increased caution." (Read more Mexico stories.)(Newser)  The man who murdered John Lennon will remain behind bars after his 10th unsuccessful parole hearing, reports the Daily News. Mark David Chapman, now 63, was turned down again this week. No reasons have yet been made public, but the newspaper reports that Yoko Ono sent the parole board a letter asking that Chapman remain in the Wende Correctional Facility in upstate New Yorknot only for the safety of her and her family, but for his own safety. Chapman, who shot Lennon in New York City in 1980, is up again for parole in about two years. Chapman's wife recently told the UK Mirror that he talked of killing Lennon two months before actually doing so. (Read more John Lennon stories.)New Delhi:

The Malayalam film industry among other sectors in Kerala has suffered enormous loss as several theatres are damaged by the recent flood disaster in the state.

Film producers, distributors and theatre owners held a meeting with the Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce officials on Thursday. It was decided in the meeting to re-arrange the dates for releasing at least 10 films scheduled during Onam festival.

Also Read | Assamese movie streaming portal Movietonne launched

Huge loss has been reported as at least four theatres were totally damaged by the flood, the Chambers officials said. They said that several other theatres have been inundated.

Overall Rs 30 crore loss has been reported in the theatre area alone, Film Chamber General Secretary V C George said.

Read More | Mahesh Babu believes celebrities should be good role models

After the flood, rebuilding and restoration of the state and the protection of the survivors is a daunting challenge posing the state authorities and civil societies.

(With inputs from agencies)New Delhi:

Union Minister Arun Jaitley, who stepped aside as Finance Minister in May to undergo a kidney transplant, on Thursday reached the Ministry of Finance to resume charge for Finance and Corporate Affairs after a nearly 100-day gap.

"The President of India, as advised by the Prime Minister, has directed to assign the portfolios of the Minister of Finance and Minister of Corporate Affairs to Arun Jaitley," a communique from the Rashtrapati Bhavan stated on Thursday.

Happy to read the news that @ArunJaitley Ji has recovered well from his surgery and resuming his duties today. Welcome back. Best wishes  Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) August 23, 2018

Jaitley, 65, who last attended office in early April, also held meetings with officials, including Secretary Hasmukh Adhia, chairpersons of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) on Thursday.

Read | MK Stalin chairs DMK Emergency Executive meeting; says 'I have lost the leader as well as my father'

Jaitley wearing a white Tata Safari was accompanied by his personal staff and went straight to his first-floor office, which had been sanitised recently to suit his physical condition.

Meanwhile, host of officials and deputies greeted the senior minister while the later waived at people waiting for him. Welcoming Jaitley back to the ministry, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted, "Happy to read the news that Arun Jaitley Ji has recovered well from his surgery and resuming his duties today. Welcome back. Best wishes".

However, during his over four-month-long break, Jaitley has been active via social networking sites and was holding meetings with ministry officials through video conference. The minister also wrote blogs on various ongoing issues, including Assam NRC, Emergency of over four decades ago, No-confidence Motion in Parliament, Rafale fighter jet deal and the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Read | DMK all set to name M K Stalin as party chief on August 28

On August 9, Jaitley attended the election for the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha in Parliament. It was his first appearance post renal transplant operation on May 14. It was the same day when Railway minister Piyush Goyal took over the charge of his ministry and have been serving as an interim finance minister till the time.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.New Delhi:

The Congress on Thursday criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleging that its leaders were using Atal Bihari Vajpayees last remains for petty political gains and has not drawn any lessons from the former prime minister and BJP stalwart. Congress spokesperson RPN Singh also heavily criticised the BJP leaders for using strong words to attack Sonia Gandhi and the opposition party.

"The kind of words that the BJP has used for former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, it is unfortunate for politics.

ALSO READ: BJP trolls Congress for posting many facets of Rahul Gandhi

"The entire country is paying tributes to Vajpayee and his ashes are yet to be immersed, but the BJP has not followed what Vajpayee had said," he told reporters.

"The kind of words (they are using) and the level that the BJP has fallen to, the BJP leaders have taken nothing from Vajpayee's speeches either in their words or thoughts," he said.

Later, the Congress took to Twitter and said,"The last rites are performed by family members for peace of the departed soul. PM Modi and the BJP have usurped the last remains of Former PM Vajpayee and are using it for petty political gains. BJP leaders discover new lows every day."

The party also posted a news report in which Karuna Shukla, Vajpayees niece, has attacked the BJP for allegedly giving Vajpayees demise a political turn.

ALSO READ: Indian Men's Kabaddi team defeated by Iran, settle for bronze medal

Earlier, Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil had stated that the BJP should not politicise Vajpayees legacy or on his ashes, as he was respected by all.

Meanwhile, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra on Thursday attacked Gandhi for comparing the employment figures with China and asked if the numbers were "manufactured in 10 Janpath". The Congress supremos mother, Sonia Gandhi, resides at 10 Janpath Road in New Delhi.

Patra also alleged that Sonia Gandhi, who was the president of the Congress for over 19 years, ruled the nation as a proxy prime minister for 10 years.

"Wasn't this the Indian culture which helped her reach the top? Rahul and Sonia Gandhi should come out and explain as to how they can point fingers at this great Indian culture," the BJP spokesperson said while asking for an apology from the Congress party on Rahul Gandhis comments on the issue of womens safety in India.

(With inputs from PTI)

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.New Delhi:

The ashes of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee were on Thursday immersed in the Brahmaputra and Barak rivers in Assam amid vedic chants and rites by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and BJP state president Ranjeet Kumar Dass and other senior party leaders.

The four urns containing ashes of Vajpayee were brought to Assam on Wednesday and immersed in Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Dhubri and Silchar. One of the urns immersed by Sonowal in the River Brahmaputra in Guwahati near the Lachit ghat as Atalji Amar rahe slogan was raised.

Also Read | PM Modi, Shah hand urns with Vajpayee's ashes to party chiefs

The urns were handed over to Dass by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party national president Amit Shah at a function in Delhi on August 21. They were placed in the opposite Karbi Field for people to pay tribute to the departed prime minister. The leader passed away on August 16 in Delhi.

The three other urns sent to different parts of the state were also simultaneously immersed with that in Guwahati.

One of the urns was taken to Dibrugarh by Minister Tapan Gogoi, another by minister Bhabesh Kalita to Dhubri for immersion in Brahmaputra flowing across the state, while the third was taken by minister Parimal Suklabaidhya to Silchar for the ashes to be one with the other major river Barak.

Read More | Atal Bihari Vajpayee's ashes immersed in Haridwar's Har Ki Pauri Ghat

Sonowal said four urns were sent to Assam as Vajpayee had a special bond with the state and Northeast region contributing for their development.

(With inputs from agencies)

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.New Delhi:

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was on Thursday evening admitted to Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai for a review health check-up after returning from treatment in the US, officials said.

Parrikar returned to Panaji from the United States on Wednesday evening. He had gone to the US on August 10 for a follow-up treatment of his pancreatic ailment. The chief minister, on his return, flew to Mumbai from Panaji on Thursday afternoon and was admitted at the Lilavati Hospital. He would stay in the hospital for at least a day for a review health check-up, a senior official from the hospital told reporters.

Also Read | Manohar Parrikar leaves for US for specialised medical treatment from Mumbais Lilavati Hospital

The CMO officials said Parrikar is expected to return to Panaji from Mumbai on August 25.

Earlier this year, Parrikar had undergone treatment in the US for nearly three months for a pancreatic ailment.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday visited his home state Gujarat and said India would have been disease-free by now if programmes like the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan were started 70 years ago. He also said that his initiatives aimed at making a healthy nation was mocked at by the Opposition. He said that going by the WHO report ensuring cleanliness in the country can save the lives of three lakh children in India.

There has been a recent WHO report, (which states) that just because of (by ensuring) cleanliness, three lakh children can be saved from dying in India, such is the situation. The Swachhta Abhiyan is directly connected to health.

When I used to talk about cleanliness, they (Opposition) used to make fun of me. Is this the PMs work... to make toilets, clear garbage? Had all these works been done 70 years back, the country would have been disease-free by now, Modi said, after inaugurating several projects in Gujarats Junagadh district.

Here are the HIGHLIGHTS of PM Modi's Gujarat visit:

# 15:32 PM: The health sector requires good doctors and paramedical staff. We also want medical instruments to be made in India. The health sector must keep pace with the technological advancements globally: PM Modi.

Health sector requires good doctors and paramedical staff. We also want medical instruments to be made in India. Health sector must keep pace with the technological advancements globally: PM Modi in Gujarat's Junagarh pic.twitter.com/c9HDi0Wydy  ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2018

# 15:30 PM: Government's emphasis on cleanliness is being universally appreciated. Cleanliness is important because a Clean India ensures that people do not suffer from diseases, says PM Modi in Junagarh.

# 12:58 PM: When the festival of Raksha Bandhan is around the corner, nothing can be better than getting a house as a gift. Just days before the festival, gifting a house as a brother to more than 1 lakh families gives great satisfaction to me: Narendra Modi at Valsad rally.

When festival of #RakshaBandhan is around the corner, nothing can be better than getting a house as a gift. Just days before the festival, gifting a house as a brother to more than 1 lakh families gives great satisfaction to me: PM Modi at a public rally in Valsad #Gujarat pic.twitter.com/WMY5xAuGay  ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2018

# 12:47 PM: It is my dream, it is our endeavour to ensure that every Indian has his own house by 2022. Till now, we only heard about politicians getting their own homes. Now, we are hearing about the poor getting their own homes, the prime minister added.

It is my dream, it is our endeavour to ensure that every Indian has his own house by 2022.



Till now, we only heard about politicians getting their own homes.



Now, we are hearing about the poor getting their own homes: PM  PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 23, 2018

# 12:40 PM: The wonderful homes under PM Awas Yojana are being made possible because there are no middlemen, says Modi.

# 12:38 PM: PM Modi addresses a public gathering at Valsad, Gujarat.

PM @narendramodi is speaking at a public meeting in Valsad, Gujarat.

Watch Live: https://t.co/oluIMk1Aul  PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 23, 2018

#12:35 PM: I got an opportunity to talk to women across the state today who got their homes under PM Awas Yojana: PM Narendra Modi.

# 11:45 AM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi distributes certificates to beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Gramin in Valsad.

Gujarat: Prime Minister Narendra Modi distributes certificates to beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Gramin in Valsad pic.twitter.com/vAxOXTYpUU  ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2018

# 11:12 AM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address a public meeting in Valsad, also to distribute certificates to beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin.

Gujarat: Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address a public meeting in Valsad, also to distribute certificates to beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin pic.twitter.com/iRkU5PhGsl  ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2018

# 10:20 AM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Surat.

Gujarat: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Surat. He will distribute certificates to beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin in Valsad, launch several projects in Junagadh & address convocation of Gujarat Forensic Science University in Gandhinagar today. pic.twitter.com/E1tXzImSxW  ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2018

Read | Rahul Gandhi in Germay: Indian men must start viewing women as equals

During his day-long visit to Gujarat, PM Modi will also address a public gathering in Jujwa village near Valsad town to witness the e-griha-pravesh (online housewarming) of beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (gramin), a flagship scheme of the Centre which envisions housing for all. As per the latest data, over one lakh houses have been completed in Gujarat under the PMAY scheme while many more would be constructed in the shortest possible time.

Post that, Modi would be performing the ground-breaking ceremony of a water supply project meant for the tribal population in Dharampur and Kaprada talukas.

Later in the day, the prime minister will move to Junagadh town in Saurashtra, where he will be inaugurating a slew of developmental projects, including a newly-built hospital of the Gujarat Medical and Education Research Society and two fisheries colleges at Veraval town in the Gir Somnath district.

The day-long schedule also includes another address of PM Modi at the Police Training College ground near Junagadh.

Read | Finance Ministry asks PSU bank CEOs to check frauds in NPAs or face penal action

Meanwhile, BJP president Amit Shah, who is one of the trustees of the Somnath temple, is expected to accompany Modi during the trust meeting in Gandhinagar. On a related note, former Gujarat chief minister Keshubhai Patel serves as the president of the Somnath Trust.

Earlier, PM Modi's visit to Gujarat was slated for July 20 but was postponed owing to incessant downpour and flood-like situation across the state. On August 18, the prime minister conducted an aerial survey of the rain-savaged Kerala and announced an immediate relief of Rs 500 crore for the southern state of India.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.New Delhi:

Putting an end to all rumours and speculations, Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat on Thursday ruled out any possibilities of holding simultaneous elections to the state assemblies along with the Lok Sabha polls anytime soon, saying that proper legal framework needs to be sorted amid speculations that the Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram that are due this year may be postponed and held simultaneously with the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Koi chance nahi (no chance at all), Rawat told a select media meet in Aurangabad after he was asked about simultaneous Lok Sabha and state Assembly elections.

Recently, BJP president Amit Shah called on for a healthy and open debate for simultaneous elections.

ALSO READ: BJP trolls Congress for posting many facets of Rahul Gandhi

The lawmakers will take at least a year to frame a law that can be enforceable. This process takes time. As soon as the Bill to amend the Constitution is ready, we (the Election Commission) will know that things are now moving), Rawat said.

The EC begins preparations for the Lok Sabha elections 14 months before the scheduled timeframe of the polling, Rawat said.

The Commission has a staff strength of just 400 but deploys 1.11 crore people on poll duty during elections, he said.

ALSO READ: India, China decide to improve communication between their armies

When asked about the failure of the EVMs, Rawat said that the understanding of the system is not comprehensive enough.

There is just a 0.5 to 0.6 per cent rate of failure and such a rate of machine failure is acceptable,  he said, adding that the Voter Verified Paper Trail (VVPAT) usage is a new concept after the commitment to have 100 per cent VVPATs following political pressure.

(With inputs from PTI)

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.New Delhi:

Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who is on a four-day tour in United Kingdom and Germany, on Wednesday took a jibe at the Narendra Modi-led BJP government, saying that the incidents of mob-lynching across India are due to anger emanating from joblessness and "destruction" of small businesses due to demonetisation and the "poor" GST, implemented by the Centre.

Launching a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) regime, Gandhi at Bucerius Summer School, Hamburg also traced on the issues of insurgency and said that the Modi governments scheme to exclude tribals, Dalits and minorities from the development narrative "could be dangerous" to the nation.

"It is very dangerous in the 21st century to exclude people. If you don't give people a vision in the 21st century somebody else will give them one," the Congress president was quoted as saying in Germany.

Referring to the example of ISIS creation across the world the Gandhi scion said, "And that's the real risk of excluding a large number of people from our development processes". "They (the BJP government) feel that tribal communities, poor farmers, lower caste people, minorities shouldn't get the same benefits as the elite," he alleged.

Read | In Hamburg, Rahul discusses Kerala floods, GST with German Minister

To hit out at India's informal economy, Rahul Gandhi further criticised the implementation of demonetisation and GST reform a couple of years back by the Narendra Modi government. The Congress chief also accused the ruling BJP the cash flow of all small and medium businesses rendering millions jobless.

Asserting that the transformation taking place in the world requires certain protection for people, he accused the current dispensation in India of taking these protections away from them and hitting the informal economy through demonetisation and GST, causing anger which is leading to lynching incidents.

"They imposed a badly conceptualised GST which complicated lives further. Large numbers of people who worked in small businesses were forced back to the villages and these three things that the government has done has made India angry," Gandhi said.

"And that's what you get to read in the newspapers. When you hear about lynching, when you hear about attacks on Dalits in India, when you hear about attacks on minorities in India, that's the reason for it," Rahul went on to claim further.

Read | 46 per cent people see Rahul Gandhi as an alternative to Narendra Modi: Survey

Gandhi also claimed that there is a big job problem all over India but the prime minister has turned his blind eye to the matter. "You have to (first) accept the problem, to fix it," he said. Gandhi also spoke about India and its progress over the last 70 years.

Referring to his famous hug, after a no-holds-barred attack during a Parliament debate last month, Gandhi said, "When I hugged PM Modi in Parliament, some within my party did not like it."

The Congress president also talked about his father, former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's assailants. "My father was killed by a terrorist in 1991. When the same terrorist died a few years later, I wasn't happy. I saw myself in his children," Rahul concluded.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.New Delhi:

Ending the five-decade-long practice of retired bureaucrats being appointed to the post of governor of a state, Satya Pal Malik was appointed as the 13th governor of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday.

Malik took the oath of the office under the surveillance of the Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court Gita Mittal at the Raj Bhawan in New Delhi.

Former veteran politicians and chief ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Farooq Abdullah were among the guests in the oath-taking ceremony, which also witnessed the presence of many senior leaders of PDP, BJP, Congress and other parties.

PM in Gujarat LIVE:Cleanliness will ensure disease free India

Meanwhile, veteran BJP leader Lalji Tandon on Thursday sworn in as the 29th governor of Bihar after being administered the oath of office by Chief Justice of Patna High Court Mukesh R Shah at the Raj Bhavan, New Delhi.

Eminent leaders like Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Deputy Minister Sushil Kumar Modi were present at the oath ceremony.

The new governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Malik has worked with all political alliances in the nation and was the first politician to assume the position after Karan Singh, who held the office from 1965 to 1967.

ALSO READ: Arun Jaitley resumes charge as Finance Minister

Whereas, the new governor of Bihar, Tandon, started his political career in the 1970s and served as the member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council for two terms.

Reportedly close to Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the former prime minister and a BJP veteran who recently breathed his last, Tandon won the Lucknow Lok Sabha seat in 2009, the same year the former PM announced his retirement from politics due to poor health.

(With inputs from agencies)

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.New Delhi:

Ahmed Patel's appointment as the Congress party treasurer has opened a little window of hope for the party's old guards under the young leadership of Rahul Gandhi that had earlier heralded big changes in the partys upper echelons. At 69, Patel has for long been one of the main strategists of the party, working as political secretary of former Congress president Sonia Gandhi. He has a reputation of virtually being a backroom functionary of the party who shuns the limelight and keeps a low profile or has a self-effacing image.

Patels new role in the party points to the possibility that the GOP, or the grand old party, is not as blessed with funds now as used to be the case in the past. He replaces Motilal Vora who has been the virtual money god of the party for long. Patel is 20 years younger than his predecessor who would now be looking after administration as Congress general secretary. This will lighten some of the burdens of his party peer Ashok Gehlot. With the ascent of Rahul Gandhi as the Congress president in December 2017, Gehlot has been multitasking as a host of functions came his way.

Vora like Gehlot has had too much in his plate. Besides being treasurer of his party until the post went to Patel, Vora has been and will continue to be involved in running of the party's newspaper National Herald and its sister publications in Hindi and Urdu called Navjivan and Qaumi Awaz. Interestingly, Vora had taken over from Patel as treasurer of the AICC in the year 2000 and, thus, he is once again back to his old position.

Read | Rahul Gandhi blames unemployment for lynching; cites ISIS to warn Modi government against discrimination

Ahmed Patel hails from Gujarat. And significantly the change of his party's stewardship bringing Rahul to the helm took place alongside the Assembly polls in Gujarat. Congress had offered a stiff challenge to the BJP in these polls despite Gujarat being the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The tone for the battle in the state polls was, however, set by Patel's election to the Rajya Sabha held a few months before the Assembly polls in Gujarat. Patel won his Rajya Sabha seat, though by a whisker, it was so despite the BJP president Amit Shah's stiff opposition. The Congress also did better in the Assembly polls than the elections held in the past. So much so that the polls outcome was claimed by party satraps as a sign of the possible revival of Congress' chances and fortunes.

Polls in Karnataka followed soon after Gujarat where the outcome for Congress was bad enough to dislodge it from power. Yet, the party checkmated a takeover of the state by the BJP. HD Kumaraswamy became Chief Minister through the combined strength of his Janata Dal-Secular and Rahul Gandhi's Congress party. The virtual coup in Karnataka against the BJP that had emerged as the single largest party in the state polls again reminded of Patel's successful elections to the Rajya Sabha from Gujarat despite the Congress hardly having enough numbers to make him win and the BJP being all set to thwart Congress' plans.

Read | Modi Gujarat visit LIVE: PM to launch several projects, interact PMAY beneficiaries, address convocation

Through all these polls, the Congress felt lack of money, resources and clout as compared to the BJP. And, thus, there have ever since been talks about better mobilisation of men and resources by the Congress to match the might of the saffron party. About BJP's veritable electorate savvy shows Congress often alleges that the distinction between the BJP and the Government run by it gets lost as both come together to impress the people. Patel is known for his acumen in respect to organising funds for the party. So much so that the BJP has often been trying to catch him on the wrong foot as he is rightly or wrongly reputed to have been the main cash handler of his party during the period the Congress was in power.

With the Congress now in the cold at the Centre as also in so many states, Patel again faces a test of sorts to meet the high cost of putting a weak party on its feet. The party has indeed been becoming too weak over the years in terms of means and resources to take on the formidable BJP in coming state elections of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh besides next year's countrywide polls for the new Parliament.

Read | PM Modi, Shah hand urns with Vajpayee's ashes to party chiefs

Thus, Patel's ascent to the post of Congress treasurer will be keenly watched by both his friends and foes. And if money makes the mare go, the task before Patel is too daunting to be underestimated in any case. How far he succeeds would only be known in the months or less than a year at the most. His success or failure will also determine the fate of some of his contemporaries in the party since many of them had to relinquish their party positions in the wake of its reins now in the hands of Rahul Gandhi.

READ more OPINIONNot a member of terror entity I have nothing to do with International Union of Muslim Scholars, says Dr Al Mahmoud

Not a member of terror entity I have nothing to do with International Union of Muslim Scholars, says Dr Al Mahmoud

I am not a member of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, which has been internationally recognised as a terrorist entity, Chairman of the National Unity Gathering Dr Abdullatif Al Mahmoud told Tribune yesterday.

Dr Al Mahmoud said the list of names that has been published by a website claiming that he is one of the people banned from entering Saudi Arabia is neither true nor is the website a credible source. He said the website is an anti-Bahrain one based in a Northwestern African state thats aimed at defaming his image and labelling him as terrorist.

He added that this website and people involved in running it aim at defaming the image of Saudi Arabia too apart from destabilising the social security in Bahrain.

Dr Al Mahmoud said he got his involvement and membership with the Union terminated before the union was officially recognised as a terrorist entity by Bahrain and other countries.Producers of a Turkish TV series are demanding $150,000 from a television channel which broadcast the series but refused to pay.

The producers of the Raining Season TV series have resorted to the High Civil Court in an effort to force the channel to settle the fee of airing the series, with the first hearing, scheduled for September 25, 2018.The High Appeals Court upheld the one year in prison sentence issued against a Bahraini man for issuing a cheque in bad faith.

The defendant is said to have given a dud cheque to a fellow national as part of an agreement between them to obtain all the required licences to open a restaurant and a coffee shop. The victim reported him to police after he found out that there wasnt any money in the defendants account.

The defendant had argued earlier that the cheque should be cancelled because the victim didnt adhere to the contract signed between them which stipulated him to complete the task in three months. We agreed that he would do the job in three months, and I gave him the cheque to make our contract valid. He didnt finish the task in the agreed period.

Therefore, this honourable court shall deem the cheque invalid, he said. But the court declined this claim, stating that he was obliged to pay the victim.Kathmandu : A man in Nepal was arrested for sharing a doctored image on Facebook showing Prime Minister KP Sharma Olis head superimposed on a monkeys body, police said yesterday. Homnath Sigdel, 44, was taken into custody on Tuesday for sharing indecent photos that targeted the prime minister, senior police officer Narendra Prasad Uprety told AFP.

The offending image appeared on a Facebook group earlier this month and has been shared more than 2,500 times. Police said Sigdel had also posted a second photo of Olis head on a naked human body. Sigdel could face up to five years in jail and a 100,000 rupee ($900) fine if found guilty under a provision in the Electronic Transactions Act.

The arrest comes days after Nepal introduced a new criminal code that includes draconian laws that activists have warned could be used to silence critics of the government. The Communist-led government headed by Oli has shown increasing intolerance of dissent since it took power at the beginning of the year. In June it became embroiled in a standoff with a popular activist doctor who was on hunger strike to protest against political interference in the medical sector.Colombo : Sri Lankas national carrier will launch a new search for an equity partner after the IMF warned the loss-making airline was dragging the countrys economy down, officials said Wednesday. The government will call for fresh expressions of interest next month to inject new capital into and manage Sri Lankan, back in the doldrums after a potential US investor pulled out in May last year.

We hope a deal can be concluded in the first quarter of next year, a treasury official said.Attempts to privatise the carrier failed when San Francisco-based private equity firm TPG withdrew its bid for a 49 percent stake in Sri Lankan. The International Monetary Fund (IMF), which bailed out the government with a $1.5-billion loan in June 2016, warned two months ago that restructuring Sri Lankan airlines was essential to sustain economic growth.

The flag carrier has debts and losses of over $2 billion. The airline was profitable before Mahinda Rajapakse, when he was president, cancelled a management agreement with Emirates in 2008 following a personal dispute. The carrier had refused to bump fare-paying passengers and give their seats to Rajapakses family. Rajapakse removed the Emirates-appointed CEO of Sri Lankan and made his brother-in-law Nishantha Wickremasinghe head of the company.

In 2016, Sri Lankan cancelled an order made under the previous government to lease four new Airbus A350-900 long-haul jets after paying a penalty of $115 million to leasing giant AerCap. A separate order for four Airbus A350-900 planes is to be renegotiated, government officials said. Rajapakse ordered all eight planes as part of a $2.3-billion programme for the airline, which is now the subject of a criminal investigation.Every midsummer, much of Japan is treated to the sights and piercing sounds of cicadas.

These large insects, which are about three inches long, look like little pieces of poo and fly around with all the grace of a fork thrown by a 2-year-old, bumping into walls, buildings, and occasionally my head. Still, theyare loved by kids because theyare kind of stupid and really easy to catch.

Another feature of summer in Japan is that kids are given the task of doing an independent study project for their vacation, and this is where our story begins: Eight-year-old Jun Kitayama of Kameoka, Kyoto decided to mix his study with pleasure through his hobby of collecting discarded cicada husks.

He did the same project last year, but is continuing his research in order to compare the results and what he found was beyond anyoneas expectations. It wasnat just the fact that the third grader managed to gather about 5,000 husks, but he found some disturbing trends overlooked by grown-up experts.

First, in both years the majority of cicadas found in Kyoto City were of the species kumazemi (Cryptotympana facialis). However, this year there were significantly fewer aburazemi (Graptopsaltria nigrofuscata) husks found. Kitayamaas assistant, 62-year-old Joji Nakada of the Kameoka City Global Environment Childrenas Village, confirms this is indicative of a yearly decline in the aburazemi population.

More unsettling is that this year, 207 of the 1,370 kumazemi molted shells still had the dead bodies of cicadas inside. Amounting to 15 percent of the insectas numbers, this suggests an environmental factor was contributing to their demise.

Kitayama postulates that it was the recent heatwave that may have caused the deaths, but being the professional he is, he realizes that more research is needed for more conclusive results.The All Progressives Congress, APC, determined to control at least three of the six states of the South-South geo-political zone from 2019, has mounted fresh pressure on a former Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, to dump the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the party.It was reliably learnt that the high-powered lobby for Uduaghan by APC strategists was led by the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, himself a former governor of Edo state, who had never hidden the ambition for his party to take over Delta state from PDP, steered by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who succeeded Uduaghan.At present, APC controls only Edo state, which is Oshiomholes home state in the South-South, but with the recent successful entry of ex-Senate Minority Leader and former governor of Akwa Ibom state, Obong Godwill Akpabio, to the APC, the partys strategists believe it was time to go for Uduaghan with equal dexterity.A source told Vanguard, Thursday: Comrade Oshiomhole is already discussing with Dr. Uduaghan, never mind the attempts by another former governor of Delta state, Chief James Ibori, Governor Okowa and others to stop Uduaghan from joining APC, he is coming to APC.Even when they were calling and meeting with Uduaghan not to dump PDP, Oshiomhole was briefed on their plans, but he just allowed them to waste their time because he had finalized talks with him and was sure that he would not fall for their gamble, the source added.According to the informed source, Uduaghan is APCs talisman to take over Delta and Oshiomhole is not going back on him. Uduaghan has played commendable roles in APC and he knows that is where his heart is now.Comrade Oshiomhole had already directed the state chairman of the party, Prophet Jones Erue to reconcile the warring parties in the state and present a harmonized front for the 2019 elections.The party leadership, it was learnt, had already met with principal figures in the other camp, especially Olorgoun Otega Emerhor and other leaders in line with the directive of Oshiomhole.Already, Senator Akpabio, who installed the current governor of Akwa Ibom state, Udom Emmanuel had been given marching orders by Oshiomhole to do all it will take for the APC to take over Akwa Ibom in 2019. He will be given all the required support from the centre and that is why you see that Akpabio has remained in the state to put things in placce.With Governor Godwin Obasekis performance in Edo state and the fact that Oshiomhole is from there, APC has no problem in Edo.The problem is Delta, where Chief Ibori is calling the shots, but APC wants Uduaghan to come over as a prelude to Ibori joining the party if he wishes. But to say that APC will leave Delta in the hands of PDP is a joke. With Uduaghan and others, the party will retool and sack PDP from power. They know that they are in their last days in the state, he added.It was gathered that because of the volatile nature of Rivers politics and powerful nature of Governor Nyemson Wike, the APC strategists want Senator Magnus Abe, who is pulling his strength under the new arrangement and Minister of Transportation, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi to reconcile their differences and join forces to outwit Wike.Our findings, however, showed that Senator Abe is the main arrowhead of the plan by APC to snatch Rivers from PDP.Bayelsa state is not in contention in 2019 as Governor Seriake Dicksons second tenure will expire in 2020, but the party has not yielded Cross River state to PDP, despite that Governor Ben Ayade and his forces think the state is secure for them.Efforts to reach Uduaghan on phone, Thursday, were abortive, but one of his former aides said: Our boss has made up his mind to join APC, our people have been directed to register with APC, he will follow suit shortly.Ntufam Hilliard Eta, the National Vice Chairman, South-South, who recently boasted that President Muhammadu Buhari would win South-South in the 2019 elections, could not be reached for comments.Delta state chairman of the party, Prophet Jones Erue, told newsmen, I am in a meeting when contacted on phone.A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has commended the partys national leader, Bola Tinubu, nat...

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has commended the partys national leader, Bola Tinubu, national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, and others for shunning the opening of an illegal Rivers APC Parallel Secretariat by Senator Magnus Abe.

Eze, in a statement issued on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, recalled that Abe and his group had claimed that great leaders of the party would not only grace the commissioning but would play active roles during the event.





Eze, former spokesman of the defunct New PDP (nPDP), described as most unfortunate the decision of Abe, the Senator representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District, to open the office despite being aware that the party has a functional State Secretariat occasioned by a legal Congress sanctioned and monitored by the National leadership of APC.





I am shocked that Senator Abe, who is a respected legal practitioner, could involve himself in such an illegality and rascality of opening a parallel State Secretariat of a party that is very much united.





He noted that for a parallel or factional party to exist, there must be a parallel congress conducted by the aggrieved party members, saying that was not done by Abe and his supporters.





Opening a parallel State Executive in the circumstance is not only mischievous, ill-conceived, sad and illegal but is also tantamount to anti-party activities, which is a very serious offence if the partys constitution is to be strictly followed, the chieftain added.





Eze appealed to Abe to remember the efforts that were made to accommodate him and his supporters in the conduct of the congresses in Rivers State and allow peace to reign instead of playing into the hands of Governor Nyesom Wike, knowing the evil omen that his government represents to Rivers State and her people.



Adeolu Akande, a gubernatorial aspirant in Oyo, has urged governor Abiola Ajimobi to be compassionate in his governance of the state.

Adeolu Akande, a gubernatorial aspirant in Oyo, has urged governor Abiola Ajimobi to be compassionate in his governance of the state.





Akande said the recent actions of the Ajimobi government negates the 2011 promise to cater for the security and welfare of the people of the state.





The professor of political science at Igbinedion University was reacting to the Oyo governments demolition of Music House, a building owned by Yinka Ayefele, an iconic gospel musician.





Akande, a former chief of staff to Ajimobi, said no government without the element of compassion can go down in history as being successful.





He said in a statement: The furore generated by the demolition of the property of Mr Yinka Ayefele must have demonstrated to the government by now that it was an unpopular decision. Government is about the people and not the anger and emotions of the people in government. The Yoruba captures this truism when they say ogbon ni oba n lo, oba ki lo agidi meaning a ruler rules with wisdom and not with stubbornness.





Akande said the reaction of the people to the demolition of Music House in an indication that Ajimobi needs to rejig his personnel.





The Ayefele saga has once again brought to the fore the need for Governor Ajimobi to rethink his government and review its personnel and focus, as he embarks on his homestretch so that history can be kind to him, he said.





As the premier chief of staff in the administration, I am pained to see that many of the lofty ideals that endeared the governor to the people in the early years have been abandoned and replaced with practices that can only wipe out the achievements of these early glorious years of his administration.





It is more painful that many of the personnel who encourage controversial government decisions and actions claim innocence in private conservations and never identified themselves with those decisions, even in public.





Ayefele means many things to many people. His rise to grace in spite of a major life challenge makes him a model for a good percentage of our people. As a musician, he has been the purveyor of joy and happiness to many of us because of his melodious and philosophical music. As a philanthropist, he is a great shield for hundreds of thousands of people. As the promoter of Fresh FM, he is a trustee of public trust as the station has become the voice of the voiceless.





I recall that the location of the building was an issue when the dualisation of the Challenge-Toll Gate road was conceived by government about 2012 but the governor in his magnanimity directed that all government agencies involved must take measures to protect the building from demolition, even when some forces encouraged him to demolish the building.



Muhammad Mukaila, one of the supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari who reportedly trekked a long distance to celebrate the emergence of...

Muhammad Mukaila, one of the supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari who reportedly trekked a long distance to celebrate the emergence of the president in 2015, has expressed regrets over his action.





Speaking with journalists in Lagos on Thursday, Mukaila said he wished he had not embarked on the long trek three years ago.





He also announced the commencement of Anger Trek from Lagos to Abuja, saying he decided on the action to prove that the youth are angry with the Buhari-led administration for failing to keep its promises.





Mukaila, carrying a coffin with R.I.P All Progressives Congress (APC) written on it, said he would not vote for anybody from the ruling party.





Actually, Im here to show my disappointment with this present government of APC. I knew Buhari then, I thought he was who I knew but when he came in, I saw a different thing, he said.

As you can see, this is the casket of APC on my head, so Im very very angry; the youth of this country are angry. We are disappointed with this present government. This government is dead, APC is dead.





They promised us heaven on earth, 3million jobs in a year which they could not even give us 5000 jobs in a year; they promised to return fuel to N45 per litre but it is now N145; they promised a dollar will be equal to a naira, dollar is N360-N400 now. So we say no more APC, we say no to APC again.





I trekked during the Buhari victory to celebrate it because we thought we had a change in the government but we are disappointed. Now, Im working to show the whole nation that we say no more APC and to apreciate those leaders that mean well for the youth.





When asked if the anger trek was politically motivated, he replied I am not in anyones pocket.

This walk is not politically motivated. I used my money to do everything I want to do; I have my money, I dont need anybody to give me money. Im just representing the youth of the country, we are not happy. This walk is not politically motivated. I used my money to do everything I want to do; I have my money, I dont need anybody to give me money. Im just representing the youth of the country, we are not happy.





Im trekking from here to Abuja where Im going to deposit the coffin in the mortuary; this is the body of APC as you can see. Its going to take me 18-20 days to get to Abuja. And Im very okay healthwise because I heard that after I trekked in 2015, some people said I fell sick but I wasnt. I was okay, very Okay. Theres nothing wrong with me.



The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has given President Muhammadu Buhari 24 hours to arrest leaders of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Associat...

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has given President Muhammadu Buhari 24 hours to arrest leaders of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and prosecute them.





In a statement on Wednesday, Kola Ologbondiyan, spokesman of the party, said if the president refuses to do that, he will be held responsible for the utterances and actions of the group.





Garus Gololo, chairman of the association in Benue state, had said the senate president is working to undermine the presidency. He then asked Saraki to relinquish his position or be forced out.





But Othman Ngelzarma, national secretary of MACBAN, said Gololo spoke in his personal capacity and he would be sanctioned for making the comment, while he asked the public to disregard it.





PDP said the threat has revealed the relationship between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and MACBAN, adding the group is the military wing of the ruling party.





If anything, this unguarded statement by Miyetti Allah has exposed the synergy between the ruling party and some troublesome elements, who are being used to stoke division and create violent crisis that had resulted into daily bloodletting in various parts of the country, the statement read.





It is now abundantly clear to Nigerians that those fomenting crisis, including the bloody clashes in Benue, Taraba, Zamfara, Nassarawa, Plateau, Kaduna, Edo, Borno, Yobe, Enugu, Kogi, Adamawa and other states in our country, have political backers, who now want to channel them to achieve their unpatriotic quest to subvert our constitution and forcefully take over the national assembly.





Before now, to majority of Nigerians, the Miyetti Allah has always represented the military wing of the APC and the Buhari presidency. It is incontrovertible that they have now become the fourth arm of government that can determine when and how to forcefully remove the number three citizen, the president of the senate.





It is common knowledge that Mr. President has come under heavy public criticisms on how his body language has condoned the unguarded utterances and actions of these characters.





However, in the light of these treasonable and inciting utterances by Miyetti Allah, we demand that President Muhammadu Buhari, should within the next 24 hours, order the arrest and commence immediate trial of the leadership of this group, otherwise Nigerians will henceforth hold him directly responsible for the utterances and actions of the Miyetti Allah.



The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has said the Senate President, Bukola Sarakis refusal to reconvene the National Assembly had t...

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has said the Senate President, Bukola Sarakis refusal to reconvene the National Assembly had to do with his hopes that the party would negotiate with him on his position as the number three citizen.





APC Acting National Publicity Secretary, Mr Yekini Nabena, who stated this, advised Saraki to cast his fears of a looming impeachment aside and reconvene the National Assembly in the interest of the country.





He said: The National Assembly should reconvene to consider INEC Budget, virements from Mr President and other issues raised by the National Chairman. Yes, because it is for the good of the country and the masses if the National Assembly reconvenes.





The budget is something that will affect everybody. So, its not for personal interest. Budget is meant for the country. We all know that the INEC issue is still outstanding, security and other issues of economic importance.





So, we are still insisting that Senate President should reconvene the National Assembly. His only fear  he is afraid because he knows that the numbers are there. That is why he is afraid. But he is just buying time. All what he is doing is just to buy time to negotiate with him this time around.





Asked if the APC was insisting that he (Saraki) should resign, Nabena said, He needs to resign from the position since he has moved to the PDP. And this is not negotiable. Nobody is negotiating with him. And if he doesnt, he will be impeached democratically.



Senate President Bukola Saraki, alongside fellow senators, Dino Melaye, Ben-Murray Bruce and others arrived at the venue of the Ojude-Oba amidst wild jubilation from guests.The defected senator, Saraki arrived at the Oba Sikiru Adetona Golden Jubilee Centre, Ijebu-Ode, venue of the Ojude-Oba, as the special guest of honor for the event.His entrance erased doubts over his presence, having raised controversy in some quarters over his choice for the 2018 edition of the festival.Upon arrival, Saraki went round the pavilion to acknowledge cheers from the crowd before eventually making his way to the reserved area to pay homage to the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona and other dignitaries.In spite of the rain, guests were seen in their numbers to savour the occasion, which was majorly sponsored by telecommunications giant, Globacom.The Ojude-Oba is held yearly two days after Eid-el-Kabir celebrations, as an age-old tradition of Ijebu indigenes in honour of the towns monarch.Different age-grade groups, known as the Regberegbe, attend in different colourful outfits, bearing gifts for the Awujale.Other side attractions are the mock wars and horse display by various warlord families, as tourists from within and outside the country bask in the allure of the annual event.#consumer prices October's inflation growth estimated at 3.2 pct: poll South Korea's consumer prices are estimated to have grown more than 3 percent for the first time in nearly 10 years in October due to last year's low base and surging oil prices, a...

#K-pop K-pop industry sees bigger opportunities in international market Big-name K-pop companies saw their revenues from overseas rise sharply in the first half of the year, financial data showed Monday, as the number and influence of overseas-based fa...The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged security agencies to summon former Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio for questioning. ...

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged security agencies to summon former Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio for questioning.





The Akwa Ibom State chapter of the party noted that Akpabio should be asked to explain his Hitler comment on the 2019 general election.





Publicity Secretary of the party, Ini Emembong, said this in a statement in Uyo on Wednesday.





The former governor had stated that the All Progressives Congress (APC) victory over the PDP will be like the invasion of Poland by Adolf Hitlers Germany.





His words: In 2019, Warsaw shall see war and war shall see Warsaw.





But reacting, Emembong said Akpabios threat to take over Akwa Ibom in a war-like manner should not be swept under the carpet.





Security agencies should investigate a statement of such magnitude. They should invite the former governor for questioning and explanation of his comments.





Also, if the state witnesses any violence between September 2018 and in the months preceding the elections, Akpabio should be held responsible, he demanded.





The PDP has ruled the state since 1999 and under Governor Udom Emmanuel, Akwa Ibom does not encourage and will not subscribe to violence under any guise.



Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday pegged the total earning which accrued to the Nigerian government from oil sales in the past thre...

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday pegged the total earning which accrued to the Nigerian government from oil sales in the past three years at $94 billion.





He, however, stated that in the four years preceding the All Progressive Congress, APC, administration, the government  then led by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  earned about $393 billion in oil sales but made less impact on the livelihood of ordinary Nigerians.





Osinbajo made this revelation during a town hall meeting in Bariga/Somolu LCDA in Lagos State, on Tuesday, as part of festivities marking the Eid-el-Kabir with Lagosians.





He said: In the past four years of the previous administration, over $393 billion was earned in oil proceeds alone. In the past three years, we have earned $94 billion. Look at the difference.





And the reasons are very straightforward. The price of oil was about half of what it used to be. But with the same $94 billion, we have been able to do far more.





The vice president, who addressed a gathering comprising APC chieftains in the state, youth groups, state government officials and the LCDA Chairmen of Somolu and Bariga, noted that the administrations National Social Investment Programmes (N-SIP) were geared towards improving the welfare of ordinary Nigerians.





The presidents focus has always been on the common man. So, when we came, we decided on a few things to tackle youth unemployment. First, the N-Power programme to engage as many young people who are graduates as possible.





We started with 200,000, and just this month, we have employed another 300,000. So, in our N-Power programme, we have 500,000 young graduates who are employed in the programme. Now every local government (area) in Nigeria has N-Power graduate, he said.





When we got into office, 24 states had not paid salaries for over six months and we ensured that these salaries were paid.





And President Buhari said then, Look, I have been a salary earner all my life, I have never done any business; the only thing I have ever done is government work, either as a soldier or in government. I cannot imagine how anybody can go to sleep as a governor without paying the salaries of his workers. So, we made sure that we paid salaries, and we have done so many other things.



After more than two dozen speakers asked Lee County commissioners to weigh in against a staff-tendered plan to modify the Conservation 20/20 land acquisition process, the elected board approved a change to how lands are evaluated for purchase while postponing its decision on when parcels may be submitted into the consideration queue.

The Lee County Board of County Commissioners voted 4-1 Tuesday to update the review criteria to more heavily weigh parcels that could result in water quality improvements.

The commission postponed a decision that would coincide land acquisition proposals with the budget process.

This is the most important project Lee County has had or has ever had, said Frank Mann, District 5 commissioner.

The Conservation 20/20 program was signed into action in 1996, and in 2016, supported with 84 percent of voters saying they support the taxpayer-funded initiative.

The program is designed for Lee County to buy and preserve wild lands that are home to many different kinds of wildlife and natural landscapes.

Since its inception, through Conservation 20/20, the county has acquired 28,978 acres on 130 properties and miles of shorelines arose the county.

Some major acquisitions include Edison Farms Preserve and Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve.

The postponement of potential adopted criteria for these land submissions will include future workshopping of new ideas on how to improve the process.

District 3 Commissioner Larry Kiker said he wants county staff to improve on the policy aspect of the proposal, as he believes the plan highlights operation aspects.

We all want to make this work. Whats key is if we can find the proper way to evaluate them and decide whether to buy them or not, he told the staff.

The major components of the new changes would be to adopt a formal process for applications in an annual cycle to be evaluated and ranked by the county staff, not the Conservation Land Acquisition and Stewardship Advisory Committee, which currently reviews parcels.

The commissioners agreed to a 100-point system to determine desirability, with 50 points available to parcels that have water resources in some fashion.

County staff explained the purpose of the changes is to find a way to better leverage acquisition funds and to respond to requests more efficiently  especially for the sellers who are waiting to hear whether the county wishes to obtain their land.

These changes would not effect 20/20s funding or parcels, it is simply an evaluation and criteria change for applicants, proponents said.

A major turn-off for the commissioners was the idea of only reviewing nominations once a year, as opposed to the rolling cycle instituted presently.

All of the commissioners were vocal about their support of Conservation 20/20.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, residents urged no changes to the current structural components of the program and championed for an increase in funding.

Though water quality is a major issue currently across Lee County, the 50 points granted to all land involving water may result in unbalanced scales, especially for wildlife, such as burrowing owls, which may not live in aquatic conditions.

I havent had one email saying We need to change this because 20/20 is running amuck,' said Mann. What were contemplating could put the brakes on the program.

We have to review the process and make changes to line up with the economy and Lee County, Kiker added.

Editors note: This story replaces the original post to correct and clarify the Commissions actions.

Connect with this reporter on Twitter: @haddad_cj

Editors note: This story replaces the original post to correct and clarify the Commissions actions.The decision by U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney to not seek reelection has resulted in a wide-open scramble by both major parties to take an all-important seat in the House of Representatives.

U.S Congressional District 17 encompasses northern Lee County  including North Fort Myers, Babcock Ranch, Alva and parts of Lehigh Acres and Buckingham  as well as parts of Polk, Highlands, Hardee, Hillsborough, DeSoto, Okeechobee, Charlotte, Manatee, and Glades counties, making this one of the largest districts in the state in terms of geography.

U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney -?not to be confused with Congressional District 19s Francis Rooney  is a Republican. Tom Rooney has represented Floridas 17th Congressional District since 2013. He previously represented Floridas 16th Congressional District from 2009 to 2013.

Closed Republican and Democratic primaries will be decided Tuesday, Aug. 28, with the winners of each facing off in the General Election on Nov. 6. Only registered party members can vote in their respective partys primary.

Mail ballots are out and early voting is under way at 10 locations from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Saturday.

Early voting sites include the North Fort Myers Recreation Center at 2000 N. Recreation Way (just off Old 41), the East County Regional Library, 881, Gunnery Road, and Veterans Park Recreation Center, 55 Homestead Road S., in Lehigh Acres.

The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on election day.

Democratic Primary (registered Democrats only)

* April Freeman

Age: 54

Residence: Cape Coral

Occupation: TV producer

April Freeman is no stranger to running for office. She ran for Congress as a Democrat in the 19th District in 2014, in the 17th District in 2016 and ran for mayor of Cape Coral last year. Shes running again in D-17, hoping to build on the support she got the last time around.

Ive been picking up endorsements left and right. I have more name recognition than anyone else running and the ability to win that race, Freeman said. We have the data from 2016 and are picking up where we left off. I think the Republicans are scared of losing that seat, and I think we scared Tom Rooney away.

Freeman said people are tiring of the break-up and make-up style of Congress and are very concerned about environmental issues, which she will campaign on heavily.

Theres blue-green algae, theres toxic waste coming into our backyards, theres red tide and its all affecting our property, Freeman said. The only way to get rid of it is to get rid of whos there, and thats the Republican majority.

Freeman said redistricting took her to D-17 where her heart is and she said she knows the district as well as anyone despite her residence outside of it.

Ive campaigned there for four years. I only live 30 minutes outside the district. I defy anyone to tell me I know nothing about the district, Freeman said.

* Bill Pollard

Age: 64

Residence: Avon Park

Occupation: Respiratory Therapist

Bill Pollard has worked in the medical field his whole life. He said he wants Congress to be represented by someone who knows what it means to work for a living and that people seem to have tired over the same-old politicians that have made for insular system.

With one party pretty much dominating everything, we need a strong two-party system. Theres a lot of unhappiness with the way things are and a lot of people who are looking for a Democrat, Pollard said. Ive lived here 16 years and there has never been a Democratic primary here.

Pollard said he would like Medicare for All with so many people falling through the cracks with health care, strengthen Social Security so everyone can rely on it when they retire, and make sure anyone who wants to work has a job.

Pollard said he believes the Democratic Party can do better than the 34 percent it has gotten in recent years, which was about what April Freeman got in 2016.

I think we can get better support than that and I believe I have better support. Everywhere I go, people are very supportive, Pollard said. Im willing to go anywhere to talk, even to Tea Party and Republican audiences. Everybody needs to hear what you have to say.

Republican Primary (Registered Republicans only.

* Bill Akins

Age: 69

Residence: Port Charlotte

Occupation: Retired

Bill Akins was inspired to run for office because of the work he did to build a Vietnam Memorial Wall near Laishley Park in Punta Gorda. He served in Vietnam and 10 years in the Army. He said it seemed people were tired of Rooney.

Everyone was afraid to take on an incumbent, but in October I jumped in and in January Rooney jumped out, Akins said. Im a street fighter.

Akins said his main platform is on veterans issues, adding that Rooney sat on the House subcommittee for Veterans Affairs and did nothing. Akins also supports pro-life, is anti-tax, anti-spend and a proponent of the Second Amendment and term limits.

Im very conservative. Im behind Trump all the way. I believe hes doing the right thing. There are a lot of RINOs up there who dont support him and he needs our help, Akins said.

Akins said he would never vote to undermine traditional marriage, raise taxes or non-military spending, raise the debt ceiling or weaken the Second Amendment.

He said he would go to Washington to get things done and would not be wooed by lobbyists.

If people knew where this dark money was coming from, its absolutely incredible. Campaign finance has to be looked into because its pretty ugly, Akins said.

* Julio Gonzalez

Age:54

Residence: Venice

Occupation: Orthopedic Surgeon

Julio Gonzalez says he believes the country is under assault. And he believes he has a skillset that he can lend to create sound policy and solutions to the problems we have today.

Im a doctor who is also an attorney who went to learn the regulatory schemes that affect health care and combat them better, Gonzalez said. I have expertise on the Constitution and see the assault thats being made on that more so than on health care.

Gonzalez said besides supporting the Constitution, the nation needs to shift decision making to the states, that we should lower taxes and support much of President Trumps agenda regarding sealing the borders, immigration policy enforcement, and the Second Amendment.

I also have an interest in environmental issues for pretty much my adult life, seeing what happened to the Everglades. I want to address the issues that are impacting our waters, Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez said its ethics that will make him the best candidate, as the primary race has been a very heated one.

I am the only candidate who has advocated on health care issues federally for 15 years. Ive written books on the Constitution and health care and Ive advocated as a citizen and not a lobbyist. Gonzalez said. I have also built my life helping others while watching the negative impacts the federal government has had on health care.

* Greg Steube

Age: 40

Residence: Sarasota

Occupation: State Sen. D-23, attorney

Greg Steube has the most political experience in the field, having been a state representative for six years and the current state senator. He now wants to serve his nation in Congress as he did in the military during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Ive always wanted to use the experiences Ive had. We can do things at the state level, but the majority of veteran and defense policy is at the federal level, Steube said.

Steube said his platform is very much aligned with the Trump agenda. He supports the Second Amendment, supports an immigration policy that does away with chain migration, builds a border wall and ends the visa lottery system.

Steube also believes in allowing the states to have more power in making decisions.

I believe in cutting taxes and I believe Washington has a spending problem. We need to rein back a lot of issues I dont believe the federal government should be involved in, Steube said.

Steube said his background in agriculture as a cattle rancher and the fact D-17 is among the largest agriculture districts in the nation, along with his military and governmental background. give him the edge.

I have understanding from a security perspective and I have a record for fighting for conservative principles, Steube said. Ive filed bills supporting life, the Second Amendment and illegal immigration in Florida. I would do the same at the national level.Community Reporter

Erica Welch is the special sections editor for The News-Review, mother of two and a native of Roseburg. She is an alumni of RHS, UCC and Western Oregon University. Contact her at ewelch@nrtoday.com or 541-957-4218.In Sweden, hundreds of refugee children are reportedly suffering from a strange condition known as resignation syndrome. These children fall into a coma-like state; they dont eat, speak, or even open their eyes. Sufferers of resignation syndrome are often left bedbound for years at a time.

Their appearances suggest they have been involved in some sort of accident or suffer from some sort of neurological illness, but sufferers of resignation syndrome have nothing physically wrong with themthey have simply lost the will to live. The condition is known as uppgivenhetssyndrom in Sweden, and it is thought to only affect young members of the refugee population.

Research has linked resignation syndrome with the stress and disappointment of having asylum claims rejected. In recent years, regulations surrounding asylum cases have tightened, and those refugees who were not fleeing from an active war zone were likely to have their applications rejected. These rejections could often take years to be decided upon, leaving refugee families in a state of limbo. For many children, the weight of rejection proved too much to bear and they would shut down completely, entering a coma-like state, seemingly on the edge between life and death.

Photo: Alexas_Fotos/Pixabay

Doctors have studied the condition and have noticed that it only seems to affect refugee children coming from Eastern Europe. The children tend to come from holistic societies in which the needs of the family and wider society are seen as being more important than the needs of the individual.

A report from the Swedish government has suggested that the afflicted children may be acting in accordance with the unspoken rules of their cultures. They decideperhaps even unconsciouslyto give up on living in order to save their families. Since the condition has no apparent cure, psychologists have suggested the only way to effectively address the problem is to provide the security of permanent residency.

One child who spent months in a bed-bound state described feeling like he was lying in a glass box at the bottom of the ocean. The child believed that if he moved or spoke, the glass would shatter and he would drown.

The condition is still not fully understood; some believe that the children should be left in their comas, but some believe the opposite. Karl Sallin, a doctor, said: Another way to give the children hope would be to treat them properly and not leave them lying on a bed with a nasal tube for nine months.

News about this strange condition has generated a national outcry. In response, the Swedish government has pledged not to deport any children suffering from resignation syndrome.

Doubters may suggest that resignation syndrome is far too specific of a disorder to be genuine, but there are actually a number of mental illnesses that only seem to occur under very specific cultural and social circumstances. For example, Japanese people have been known to suffer from Paris syndrome when they visit Frances capital city. Due to the extreme disparity between popular Japanese depictions of Paris compared to reality, many Japanese tourists suffer from shocking symptoms such as depersonalization, hallucinations, tachycardia, and vomiting.



Plus, while it has yet to be fully understood, resignation syndrome has been thoroughly studied and observed by both scientists and medical experts, all of whom agree that it is a genuine and very serious health condition. Its easy to brush it aside as a mere trick to prevent deportation, but scientific evidence shows that is not the case.

I think it is a form of protection, this coma they are in, Elisabeth Hultcrantz, a doctor who witnessed several cases of resignation syndrome, told The New Yorker. They are like Snow White. They just fall away from the world.This is the story of Werner Jaisli, a Swiss man who in 2008 started building a giant, star-shaped ovniport  a UFO landing spot  in an Argentinian desert, because aliens telepathically ordered him to.

Its not clear exactly when Werner Jaisli arrived in Cachi, a small town in the Argentinian province of Salta, but its not hard to figure out what drew him to this place. The deserts of Salta have become famous among UFO enthusiasts around the globe, after several sightings of unidentified flying objects and other unexplained phenomena were reported in the area over the last few decades. On the night of November 24, 2008, Jaisli himself was allegedly contacted by aliens who gave him specific instructions on how to build a UFO landing port, aka ovniport.

Photo: Geocaching

I was there, at Forte Alto, at midnight on November 24, 2008. Suddenly, everything was silent and the power was cut off, Werner Jaisli told reporters a few years back. At that moment, two luminous objects advanced about 200 meters above the Calchaqui River. They were solid, circular, and had the color of burnished metal. They stood about 100 meters above our heads and projected a powerful beam of light. The strange thing is that this extraordinary light did not affect our vision at all. At that moment, something began to boil through my brain: it was an order. They asked me telepathically to build the UFO port.

Soon after this bizarre incident, the Swiss started building his now famous ovniport of Forte Alto, about 4 kilometers from the town of Cachi. It consists of a large star-like pattern, with 36 points and measuring 48 meters in diameter, which has a smaller star in its center. It is made of white stones that Jaisli and his assistant, Luis  who was also present the night that the aliens made contact  gathered from the nearby mountains. There are also smaller star patterns made of darker rocks that together form a compound visible from high altitudes.

I built it the way they told me to, Jaisli once said after being asked what the patterns of his ovniport symbolized.

Over the years, Werner Jaisli and his unique ovniport became famous all over the world, and UFO enthusiasts still visit the sight regularly, even though the area is known to be crawling with poisonous snakes. As for Jaisli, who should be around 70-years-old, he got into trouble with the law a few years ago, and disappeared soon after being released from prison.

In 2011, the Diario Veloz newspaper reported that Werner Jaisli had been jailed for stealing the wallets of an Uruguayan couple staying at a hostel in Cachi. He was easy to identify from the security camera footage, as he was the only one who sported an impressive beard and went around dressed like a druid. When police raided the cave he called home, they found $1,828, half of the money reported missing by the tourists.

Jaisli spent some time in jail for his crime, and disappeared from the area soon after being released. No one seems to know what has become of the eccentric Swiss. All the locals know is that he gathered his things and started walking north. There were some rumors that he settled in Bolivia where he started working on another ovniport, but no one has been able to confirm these claims.



In 2014, he was photographed by French photographer Etienne Jeanneret in a bar in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Jaisli apparently told him that he had fled Argentina because he felt persecuted, but did not mention a second ovniport.

The UFO landing port of Fuerte Alto, in Salta, remains a popular tourist attraction for both UFO enthusiasts and tourists looking for unusual sights. No alien landings have been reported yet, but who knows, maybe one day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.Venezuelan Government Conducts Temporarily Occupation of Smurfit Kappa in Carabobo Aug. 22, 2018 - The National Superintendence for the Defense of Socioeconomic Rights of Venezuela (SUNDDE) on Aug. 21 announced that it 'made a temporary occupation' of Smurfit Kappa in Venezuela's Carabobo state. SUNDDE did not specify exactly where the 'occupation' took place. Smurfit Kappa has a number of units in the city of Valentia in Carabobo, including a regional head office, a corrugated boxboard plant, and a paper mill. Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, Smurfit Kappa is a global producer of paper-based packaging with around 46,000 employees across 35 countries and sales of EUR 8.6 billion in 2017. According to a press release posted by SUNDDE, During an inspection carried out in the company Smurfit Kappa, located in the industrial zone of Carabobo state, the National Superintendent for the Defense of Socioeconomic Rights, Willian Contreras in the company of the ministers of the Popular Power for Labor, Eduardo Pinate, Luis Medina Ramirez , Minister of Popular Power for Food with the authorities of the entity, made the temporary occupation of this company producing cardboard, for abuse of possession of ownership. SUNDDE said the 'occupation' was in response to multiple complaints made by the working force and the adjustment of prices has been ordered immediately in the entire catalog of products offered by [Smurfit Kappa]. Superintendent Contreras also noted that Smurfit Kappa did not want to sell to a specific company. We have ordered that these practices be reversed . . . For example, they do not want to sell to Industrias Diana and that is a boycott of the country's production. He added that "this is the most important cardboard production company in the country and its speculative practices have a direct impact on the people." In addition, Contreras said that Venezuelan families should know that more than 50 percent of the value of a product is represented by its packaging, which is why the oversight forces carry out this type of action in order to protect the people and workers, to guarantee success of public policies issued by President Maduro in this new stage of economic prosperity of the Nation. SOURCE: SUNDDENews and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism.Has A Diversionary War (With Iran) Just Become More Likely?

08/23/18

By Paul Pillar (source: LobeLog)

Michael Cohen's guilty plea directly implicating President Trump in commission of a crime has stimulated new talk about possible impeachment. Given how the case involves sexual liaisons, it also has stimulated comparisons with the impeachment of Bill Clinton. Most such comparisons are focusing on the domestic politics of each episode, and on such questions as whether Democrats who downplayed the significance of Clinton's dalliance with a White House intern would be inconsistent if they now went after Trump-although Clinton's behavior did not involve an election and violation of campaign finance law, whereas Cohen's allegation about Trump does.

Those more interested in foreign and security policy might focus instead on another dimension of how Clinton's caper with Monica Lewinsky was discussed at the time. When Clinton, following al-Qaeda's attacks on the U.S. embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam twenty years ago this month, ordered cruise missile attacks against facilities associated with al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and Sudan, some of his political opponents accused him of using the strikes to boost domestic support that was sagging amid the Lewinsky affair. The accusation was stimulated partly by the timing of the missile strikes, which occurred just three days after Clinton admitted in a televised address that he had misled the public about his relationship with Lewinsky.

Although it is impossible to know every factor affecting Clinton's thinking at the time, it would be difficult to make a persuasive case that political diversion was the main motivation. A terrorist group had just bombed two U.S. embassies-the sort of attack on U.S. interests in which a forceful response is widely considered not only justified but even mandatory, as it surely would be today. Clinton's ordering of the missile strikes received considerable bipartisan support in Congress, including from Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, who said the president "did exactly the right thing." The timing of the missile strikes was determined by the reported presence of Osama bin Laden and other terrorist leaders at one of the targeted sites in Afghanistan.

The suspicion that Clinton's decision had more to do with his domestic political problems than with terrorism was nonetheless so persistent that it acquired a short-hand label: the "Wag the Dog" scenario-after the title of a then-popular movie, the plot of which involved the White House concocting a phony war to divert attention from a presidential sex scandal. The long history of foreign wars bolstering political leaders' domestic support and giving them the benefit of a rally-round-the-flag effect make it legitimate to ask whether a politically beleaguered leader in our own day might be tempted to use a military campaign in this way.

If Donald Trump were so tempted, a military attack against a mere terrorist group probably would be insufficient to achieve the desired political effect. A military strike against al-Qaeda today, in Afghanistan or elsewhere, would look little different from ongoing U.S. military operations overseas. The same goes for any attacks on the remnants of the mini-state established by the so-called Islamic State or ISIS.

The likely adversary of any such Trumpian war would be Iran. The administration already has an ongoing campaign of ratcheting up tension with, and hostility toward, Iran, thus laying the political and psychological groundwork for a war. The consciously elevated tension has increased the probability of incidents that could spark a war or provide an excuse for initiating one.

So a question of the moment is: will Donald Trump's domestic political and legal troubles lead him intentionally to start such a war, as the ultimate diversionary tactic of his presidency?

Trump probably does not regard his troubles as having yet reached that point. He does not currently look like he is actively seeking a war. Endless hostility toward Iran already serves most of the purposes that having a foreign bete noire serves. Unrelenting tension with Iran, short of open warfare, that precludes any U.S.-Iranian rapprochement also serves most of the Iran-related objectives of the regimes in Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, whose lead Trump has followed as far as policy on Iran is concerned.

Some members of Trump's administration probably would welcome a war with Iran-most notably the national security advisor, John Bolton, who still believes the Iraq War was a good idea-and are in position to push Trump in that direction. They will be countered, however, by others, probably including Secretary of Defense James Mattis, who loathes Iran as much as anyone but also seems to understand the immense downsides of such a conflict.

If criminal investigations surrounding Trump tighten to the point that his political base starts to show signs of cracking, then he may decide that the time has come to try that ultimate diversionary tactic. For two reasons, Trump is even more likely to go that route than other presidents under similar pressures would be. One is that Trump already has shown a strong inclination to rely on destructive diversion, mostly through tweets and oral statements. One explanation for why the outrages of his presidency have not engendered more opposition with staying power is that they are followed so fast and so frequently by other outrages that steal attention from whatever came before them. It is hard to stay worked up over any one behavior or policy of Trump when it quickly is eclipsed by something else.

The other reason is that Trump is always tactically focused on whatever immediately affects his personal standing and support, and he shows little sign of thinking strategically about what is in the larger and longer-term interests of the nation. It thus is quite plausible that he would launch a U.S.-Iranian war with little or no appreciation of the disastrous consequences of such a conflagration.





About the author:



Paul R. Pillar is Non-resident Senior Fellow at the Center for Security Studies of Georgetown University and an Associate Fellow of the Geneva Center for Security Policy. He retired in 2005 from a 28-year career in the U.S. intelligence community. His senior positions included National Intelligence Officer for the Near East and South Asia, Deputy Chief of the DCI Counterterrorist Center, and Executive Assistant to the Director of Central Intelligence. He is a Vietnam War veteran and a retired officer in the U.S. Army Reserve. Dr. Pillar's degrees are from Dartmouth College, Oxford University, and Princeton University. His books include Negotiating Peace (1983), Terrorism and U.S. Foreign Policy (2001), Intelligence and U.S. Foreign Policy (2011), and Why America Misunderstands the World (2016).

US replaced with UK in redesigning Arak heavy water reactor: Iran Nuclear Chief

08/23/18

Source: Press TV

The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) says the US has been replaced with the UK in a working group tasked with redesigning the Arak heavy water reactor in central Iran.



Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi

"With the unilateral US withdrawal from the JCPOA (the Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), Britain replaced the US in the group tasked with redesigning the Arak heavy water reactor," Ali Akbar Salehi told IRIB on Wednesday.

He added that the group "had been established with the participation of Iran, the US and China."

Salehi said the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal has not impacted Iran's peaceful nuclear activities, adding that the country's nuclear projects "are progressing well and there is no problem."

"Despite the US exit from the JCPOA, there is no problem neither in the field of exploration, research and development or in the construction of new [power] plants and activities such as production of drugs or hospital construction," he said.

Under the JCPOA signed between Iran and six world powers, including the US, in 2015, Iran agreed to redesign the 40-megawatt Arak research reactor to sharply cut its potential output of plutonium.



Arak heavy-water reactor

Tehran, Washington and Beijing, another party to the landmark nuclear accord, released a joint "statement of intent" in October 2015 to announce cooperation on the Arak project and soon signed a related document.

The document committed the six nations, which also included France, Russia and Germany, to contribute to the project through a working group established after consultations with Iran and co-chaired by the US and China.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Salehi said the US move to re-impose sanctions on Iran has also had no impact on the country's nuclear activities.

"A great part of our projects are either self-dependent or [carried out] with [the help of] a country like Russia," the former foreign minister said, adding that Russia is meeting its commitments to build two power plants in Bushehr.

Iran's nuclear chief also said Iran is now among few countries that can produce stable isotopes.

Russia has assisted Iran in completing the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in the south of the country, and has taken part in the ongoing construction of the Bushehr 2 power plant.The Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Mr James Avedzi has accused the Minister of Finance, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta of deceiving Parliament on the countrys debt as at December 2016.



The 2017 budget statement, which was presented to Parliament, indicates that the countrys debt as at December 2016 stood at GH122 billion, but the Controller and Accountant General (CAG) in its 2016 report on the consolidated fund reported that the debt stood at GH120 billion.



While pointing out the discrepancies in the figures to Deputy Minister of Finance, Ms Abena Osei Asare when she appeared before the committee, Mr Avedzi accused Mr Ofori-Atta for deliberately deceiving the House.



Our domestic debt was GH52.179 billion and external was GH68.149 billion. The two put together will give you GH120.3 billion, he noted.



The accounts of the Controller and Accountant General confirmed GH120 billion and the auditor also verified and confirmed that figure. My question is, why did your minister say GH122billion when the actual debt was GH120 billion?



Exchange rate fluctuation



Ms Abena Asare, explaining the reason for the discrepancy, said the ministry used the exchange rate as that time to arrive at the GH122 billion.



Yes, our minister confirmed GH122 bilion, but you know that a lot of these debts are foreign based or denominated and so these exchange rates differ. My minister reported this in March 2017 based on the current exchange rate at that time, she stated.



Anytime you are quoting your current liabilities, you need to quote it at the current rate. Certainly, Ghana took some loans way back in 1999. We cannot use the exchange rate of 1999 when we are talking about that loan and making some repayment. So, certainly he will use the current exchange rate, she added.

Source: Graphic.com









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Featured VideoFinance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has reiterated that government is focused on merging the adb Bank and the National Investment Bank(NIB).



The Finance Minister announced in the 2018 budget presentation last year that government was considering merging adb and NIB banks to serve industry and the agriculture sectors.



Reports on the merge has been low as some analyst warned the move could lead to some job losses.



But speaking at a forum organized by the Danquah Institute in collaboration with Citi FM, on the collapse of banks, Mr. Ofori-Atta stressed that government is still pursuing the agenda to merge the adb Bank and NIB bank.



He explained that the consolidation the two banks will create a smooth atmosphere for government to implement its flagship programmePlanting for Food and Jobs.



We are looking at NIB and adb coming together. I think we are still on that course to do that because at the core of that we will then be creating that capacity to look at this whole industrialization in an organized and structured way of a strong institution that does that, so that Agric and industrialization would be taken care of.



Government has already indicated that the planting for food and jobs programme will create thousands of job while it provides food to feed the nation.



According to Mr. Ofori-Atta such a huge project will require financial support that can be provided by the adb bank and NIB bank when they are consolidated.



Other distinguished persons who were part of the forum were a Deputy Minister of Finance, Charles Adu-Boahen, Head of Chambers, Kasser Law Firm and Lecturer at GIMPA, Clara Kasser-Tee, Private Legal Pratitioner Ace Ankomah, Senior Lecturer and Economist, Dr. Eric Osei-Assibey, Head Consultant and CEO of EBEN Consultancy, Accra, Dr Ebenezer Ashley.



The forum which was moderated by Citi FMs Bernard had the theme THE BANKING SECTOR CLEAN UP  ARE DEPOSITORS SAFE?.

Source: citinewsroom









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Featured VideoGhana is committed to regional and international efforts to maintain peace and security on the African Continent, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said.



Thus, the country stood ready to support strategies and plans aimed at addressing the issues of drugs and human trafficking, cross-boarder crimes, and terrorism, and would spare no efforts to make the region safe.



The President gave that assurance when the out-going French Ambassador to Ghana, Francois Pujolas, called at the Jubilee House on Wednesday to bid him farewell after ending his duty tour of Ghana.



He told the envoys that Ghana would always play its role in the comity of nations to address pertinent issues that made the Continent and its people vulnerable.



The President commended the French government for the security-specific investments in the region.



He said those investments and support would enable Ghana to respond effectively to threats to security both in the country and on the Continent.



President Akufo-Addo was appreciative of the support the French Government had given Ghana in several sectors of its economy, including; infrastructure development, agriculture, health and education, which had strengthened ties between the two nations.



He described Mr Pujolas duty tour of Ghana as very successful, praising him for being an effective bridge between Ghana and France, as well as other francophone nations, adding that his work would greatly enhance integration efforts in the region.



He further wished Mr Pujolas well in future endeavours,



On his part, Mr. Pujolas commended Ghanas contribution to peace and stability on the Continent and for playing a lead role in the regional integration process.



He was positive that during his tenure, the economic relations between the two countries inched higher, with the number of people shutting between the two nations increasing as a result of daily direct flights from Ghana to France.



He was optimistic that investment and partnerships between business entities of both nations would see a significant rise soon.



President Akufo-Addo also received Egypt s envoy to Ghana, Mohammed Heider, who has also completed his duty tour of the country.



Harping on Ghanas special ties with Egypt, he said Ghana would lend its support to the Egyptian leader Mohammed Sisi, who has been elected to be the Chairman of the African Union from January 2019.

Source: GNA









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Featured VideoThe cordial relationship between the Manhyia Palace and the Ofori Panin Fie has been cemented when the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, made a historic visit to Kyebi, the traditional capital of Akyem Abuakwa, today, August 23, 2018 at the invitation of the Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin.



Otumfuo Osei Tutu, the 16th occupant of the Golden Stool, visited Kyebi as the Special Guest of Honour at the 75th anniversary of the death of a former Okyenhene, Nana Sir Ofori Atta, who is credited with the transformation of Akyem Abuakwa.



A source at the Manhyia Palace told the Daily Graphic that the Asantehene was travelling with a huge delegation of about 100, including some paramount chiefs from the Ashanti and the Brong Ahafo regions.



Otumfuo and his host rode in palanquins in what was expected to be an extraordinary traditional extravaganza.



When the Asantehene and Okyehene met for the historic tee off

Complexity



One of the most complex conundrums that have lived with the countrys chieftaincy institution for centuries has been the perceived rivalry between the two traditional leaders.



The long-held rift dates back to over 300 years during the Asante Wars of Expansion, and was recently fuelled by public comment by the Asantehene, accusing some individuals close to President Nana Akufo-Addo of trying to bring the Golden stool into disrepute.



Although the intervention of the President saw the Okyenhene making a visit to the Manhyia Palace, some people saw it as mere window dressing.



This explains why the visit of the Asantehene to Akyem Abuakwa is very significant.



Close watchers of our traditional institution, and even political and social commentators believe todays visit will demonstrate what modern chieftaincy stands for - unity of purpose and development.



Pre-independence wars



The countrys pre- independence history from the 17th century was occupied by the Asante wars of conquest vis-a-vis the British attempts to maintain its stranglehold on the colony.



The Founder of the Asante Kingdom, Opemsuo Osei Tutu (1700-1717), began the Asante wars but was unable to conquer the Akyem state, although his army had defeated the Akan states, including Wassa, Denkyira, Sefwi and Twifo.



Before Asante could push its forces to the coastal states with a target on the Fantes and Gas, it had to take control of Akyem. So in 1717, Opemsuo Osei Tutu led an Asante force to attack the Akyem state but they were met with a fierce counter-attack which forced the Asante army to withdraw to Kumasi.



History has it that Opemsuo Osei Tutu was shot and killed by the Akyems while crossing the Pra River, accompanied by the Asante rear army.



The mantle fell on the then occupant of the Silver Stool in Asante, the Mamponghene, Nana Akuamoa Panin, to take charge of the Asante army until Opoku Ware I, also known as Opoku Ware Katakyie, ascended the Golden Stool in 1718 to lead the Asante army.



In 1742, Opoku Ware I led his dreaded army to attack Akyem Abuakwa and Akyem Kotoku and the chiefs of the two areas were killed by the Asantes, paving the way for the Asante army to launch an onslaught on the Ga and Fante states.



Pre-Amoatia era



It may not be for nothing that Otumfuo Osei Tutu II is going to Akyem Abuakwa to honour the late Nana Sir Ofori Atta.



Clearly, Asante and Akyem Abuakwa cannot be perpetual enemies even if that enmity existed.



Nana Ofori Atta visited Otumfuo Sir Osei Agyeman Prempeh II at the Manhyia Palace in the 1960s. Both of them were knighted by the British Monarch and were the two most powerful traditional rulers in the country then who rallied behind the National Liberation Movement to oppose the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) in the fiery pre-independence and immediate post- independence political upheavals.



Later in 1985, the Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Kuntukunuku II, also attended a durbar by Otumfuo Opoku Ware II in Kumasi.





Okyenhene cherishes relationship



When he visited Kumasi, Osagyefuo Amoatia made a profound statement, emphasising that he cherished his relationship with the Asantehene.



We do not want to remain just traditional rulers. Our country needs transformation, and we must encourage our people to take care of their own destiny, the Okyenhene was reported to have said at a dinner hosted by Otumfuo Osei Tutu in his honour.





President Akufo-Addo, who was also at the dinner, was also reported to have said he would continue to bring on board traditional rulers in the countrys development aspirations to facilitate socio-economic growth.



Otumfuo Osei Tutu is married to an Akyem, Lady Julia Osei Tutu.



Chieftaincy has come a long ways, and as Otumfuo Osei Tutu has repeatedly said, chiefs today are not leading their peoples to fight their enemies in the physical sense, explaining that the fight is against their greatest enemies, which are poverty, ignorance and disease.

Source: Graphic Online









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Featured VideoGhana and Cote D'Ivoire have launched a joint action to step up efforts at fighting the Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease -CSSVD at Pilla 34 and Manzanouan , both towns at the Ghana-Cote D'Ivoire border.



Speaking at the launch of the programme, the Chief Executive of Ghana Cocoa Board, Hon Joseph Boahen Aidoo disclosed that about 40% of Ghanas cocoa tree stock was unproductive posing serious economic threat to the livelihoods of cocoa farmers and the country as a whole.



According to him, out of this, 17% is diseased while 23 % is muribund and over-aged.



Hon. Boahen Aidoo further stated that the Western and Eastern Regions were so far the most endermic regions with approximately 68% infection rate.



Hon Aidoo said the situation was very alarming and required aggressive steps to control the spread of the disease in cocoa farms.



The Ghana Cocoa Board Chief Executive said the decision by the previous government to let cocoa farmers cut and treat their diseased farms on their own some years ago did very little in combating the menace thereby contributing to the extensive outbreak of the disease in the country.



He explained that the Western Region which so far is the leading producer of cocoa in the country could not be allowed to be seriously threatened by the CSSVD.



Describing the spread as a National Disaster, Hon Aidoo said the best form of treatment is cutting infected farms and applying aboricides to eliminate the virus.



To this effect, he announced a new scheme which will provide equipment to enhance the treatment and also announced incentive package for farmers and landlords during the implementation process to enable them cope with the loss of income during the exercise.



He further also said staff of COCOBOD had been trained with requisite expertise to cut identified farms adding that for the start, a total of 10,000 hectares of infected cocoa farm out of a total of about 680,000 hectares of infected farms will be treated.



He was encouraged cocoa farmers to support extension officers to assist them treat their farms.



Speaking on why the joint action between Ghana and Cote D'Ivoire in launching the programme, Hon Aidoo explained that the presidents of both countries sanctioned the initiative in a back-to-back approach to combat the swollen shoot virus disease which has become a cross border issue.



He added that since the two countries control about 60% of the global cocoa stock there is urgent need for collaboration.



He again said both countries have in recent times stepped up efforts to cooperate in the areas of technical and joint actions to promote sustainable cocoa economy adding this is one of the major concrete steps to protect the fortunes of the cash crop.



The Director General of the Le Conseil du cafe and Cacao M. Kone Ibrahima speaking on behalf of the Ivorian government and cocoa farmers lauded the joint initiative and said the cooperation was necessary to sustain the cocoa industry.



He added that about 100,000 hectares of infected farms in Cote D'Ivoire have earmarked for cutting and called on the security personnel, farmers and chiefs to help in the control of CSSVD which has become a major issue affecting cocoa production in both countries.



Later, a joint demonstration exercise on the processes involved in the CSSVD control was done by trained operators from countries at two separate infected farms to symbolize the official launch by both countries.





Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Featured VideoReverend Prof. Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante has been elected the new Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) to succeed Right Reverend Professor Cephas Narh Omenyo, the incumbent Moderator.



Right Rev Professor Omenyo was elected Moderator of the Church in August 2016 at Abetifi Kwahu during the 16th General Assembly and was inducted into office on Sunday 4th December 2016.



Unfortunately the Moderator fell sick in May 2017 during his first official visit to the Europe Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana to ordain some Ministerial Probationers in London.



The General Assembly Council of the PCG took a decision on Friday, August 17 to declare the Moderators seat vacant so that a new leader could be elected for the Church.



Rev. Prof. Mante was elected in a Yes or No ballot on Wednesday after he failed to secure a 70 per cent plus endorsement for his nomination.



He managed to secure 151 votes out of 224 total votes representing 67.04 percent for his nomination.



The two other nominees Rev Dr Godwin Nii Noi Odonkor, Kaneshie Distrcit Minister and Rev Dr Victor Okoe Abbey, the Acting Moderator and Chairperson of the Ga Presbytery however, considering their performance, withdrew from the election which ended with 175 delegates representing 93.73% voting Yes while 13 of them representing 6.25% voted No.



This was at the 18th General Assembly of the Church at Akropong Akuapem in the Eastern Region.



Profile



Rev. Prof. J.O.Y Mante, PhD is the immediate past President of the Trinity Theological Seminary, Legon.



And a professor in the study of religion with extensive experience in teaching, research and administration.



He holds an MA, MPhil and PhD in Systematic Theology and Philosophy of Religion from Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, California in USA.



Prof. Mante has served as the Board Chairman of Adom Foundation since 1996 and he also serves on the National Accreditation Board of Ghana.



He has served on many committees and boards in Ghana and abroad over the past 20 years including the Presbyterian University College of Ghana, Presbyterian Womens College of Education, and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches in Geneva, Switzerland.



He has been a minister of the gospel of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana since 1981.



He was once the Akuapem Presbytery Chairperson of the PCG from 2006 to 2011.



Prof. Mante also hosted the GTV talk show programme In the Light for four straight years.



He and wife Mrs. Florence Mante are the co-founders of Adom Foundation Ghana which aimed at helping vulnerable children in Ghana.













Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Featured VideoThe plush houses of some individuals around the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) Air Navigation Station at East Legon, Accra are likely to be demolished by the State.



Outgoing Minister of Aviation, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, made disclosure in response to a question on Monday in Accra during her first appearance at the Meet The Press Series organized by the Ministry of Information.



It would be recalled that Ms Dapaah on January 23, 2018 visited the KIAs Very High Frequency Omni Directional Radio Range (VOR) Station in the company of journalists and officials of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).



During the tour, it was discovered that encroachment by some people was threatening the safety of air passengers.



The Minister, at the time, promised to take steps to immediately demolish such structures.



We wish the encroachers will understand and move to the allowed distance, she said.



She told DAILY GUIDE that the ministry was working with relevant authorities and institutions like the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to mark the structures that ought to be demolished immediately.



Earlier, the Minister cited encroachment on aviation lands as one of the main challenges facing the aviation sector in Ghana.



According to her, lands belonging to the Ghana Airports Company Limited and the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority were being encroached upon by individuals and private developers.



Ms Dapaah, who has been reassigned to the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, said the land issues include the acquisition process and sometimes compensation.



She stressed that government would ensure the demolition of the structures near the VOR station after the completion of the assessment by relevant agencies and authorities.



When DAILY GUIDE visited the VOR Station alongside the Minister in January this year, there were plush high-rise buildings in the area.

Source: Daily Guide









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Featured VideoThe Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations has expressed disappointment in comments made by Member of Parliament (MP) for Nadowli Kaleo, Hon. Alban Bagbin with regards to the nomination of Dr Henry Siedu Daanaa and Mr Omane Boamah, as Minister for Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs, and Communications, respectively.



Portions of a statement from the Federation read,We are very very Disappointed in You Hon Alban Kingsford Sumana BagbinDisability is not an inability



Dr Henry Siedu Daanaa, who is the former Minister for Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs of Ghana, was the first visually impaired person to be approved as a Minister of State in Ghana.



Mr Alban Bagbin has slammed as bad, former President John Mahamas appointment of Dr Omane Boamah as Communications Minister and a blind person as Minister of Chieftaincy Affairs.



According to him, Dr Omane Boamah, who stammers; wasted time communicating with Ghanaians due to his disability.



He added further that the choice of Dr Seidu Danaa, who is visually impaired; as Chieftaincy Minister was also wrong because the Ghanaian culture does not allow one who is not whole to be made a chief.



A statement from the Disability Federation, while displeased with the comments also expressed satisfaction in Dr Siedus performance and further urged other disabled persons to take up opportunities.



He delivered diligently. He had no issues with corruption and any sort of mismanagement We believe he performed his role as expectedDr Henry Siedu Danaa ..is a role model for the of Youth of our Federation. Our Role as a federation is to Advocate, inspire and change the self-image of our members to believe in themselves. the statement added.



Read the full statement below:



Ghana Federation of Disabilities Charges a Veteran Member of Parliament

The report reaching us indicates The Member of Parliament (MP) for Nadowli Kaleo, Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin appears to have been nursing bitterness in him over certain decisions taken by the previous government



Citing clearly the Appointment of a person with Disability was a mistake and illegible to be given a ministerial position..



Dr Henry Siedu Daanaa (born 1955) is a lawyer and the former Minister for Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs of Ghana. He was the first visually impaired person to be approved as a Minister of State in Ghana. He was nominated for the position by President John Dramani Mahama in January 2013.



Dr Henry Seidu Danaa is a highly respected personality in the Ghana Federation of Disabilities ..



He didnt disgrace the federation when we petitioned the government to consider. Persons with Disabilities in its affairs.



He delivered diligently. He had no issues with corruption and any sort of mismanagement We believe he performed his role as expected.



The Federation has a lot of Youths in our Educational Institutions  WeRise GH and a few others who are striving, learning and working hard to achieve their Dreams. Most importantly to be influential citizens of our nation



Dr Henry Siedu Danaa ..is a role model for the of Youth of our Federation



Our Role as a federation is to Advocate, inspire and change the self-image of our members to believe in themselves.



Ghana has a number over 2.3 million persons with Disabilities



This is a message to all politicians as well the present Government.

If you dont know our power; wait for Elections!



We are very very Disappointed in You Hon Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin



Disability is not an inability!



Mr Prince Debrah.



President of Ghana Federation of Disability organization (GFD) Kumasi metro



Call him

(0244778061) .

Source: The Publisher









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Featured VideoThe Leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is asking the Electoral Commission to organize a new Inter Party Adisory Council (IPAC) meeting.



According to the largest opposition party, decisions of Wednesday's IPAC meeting does not bind them since they did not take part in the said meeting.



Speaking on Okay FM's 'Ade Akye Abia' programme, General Secretary of the party, Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia explained that since the Electoral Commission has admitted to the late invitation to them for the IPAC meeting, they should as well admit that what ever decision they took at the IPAC meeting cannot hold.



"As a major political party, how do you expect us to admit that the decision they took in our absence is still binding, no, they have to arrange a new meeting for us to discuss the issues again," he said.



"It is unfortunate and the level of incompetence that has been exhibited by this EC is legendary. Never in the history of the working of the EC has political parties received an invitation to an important meeting such as this the way we received it.



Weve worked with Dr Afari Gyan, weve worked with Madam Charlotte Osei, this has not happened, he added.



He said if the Electoral Commission continue this way, they cannot be trusted for a credible elections.



The Electoral Commission has apologized to political parties after a letter for an Inter-Party Advisory Committee Meeting (IPAC) for Wednesday at 1pm arrived late.



The apology comes after the National Democratic Congress (NDC) boycotted the meeting, the first of its kind since Madam Jean Mensa was appointed Chair.



The purpose of the meeting was to discuss plans for the organisation of a limited voter registration exercise ahead of a referendum for the setting up of new regions later this year.



But the NDC was absent at the meeting.



Its National Organiser, Mr Kofi Adams, explained that the party was absent because it received the invitation to the meeting very late.



In an interview with Peace FM News Wednesday evening, he said the NDC received the invitation at 12:14 p.m., while the meeting was slated for 1 p.m.



The invitation was not just late; we received it on the day of the meeting. This was not an emergency meeting for us to be invited through an emergency process, he said.



Meeting Conclusion



The EC is expected to organise the referendum on November 27, 2018.



Some of the programmes outlined for the referendum are a limited registration exercise that will be done from September 16 to 25 and the laying of a Constitutional Instrument (CI) which will give legal backing to the referendum before Parliament.



The referendum will be held in only the proposed areas where the Justice Stephen A. Brobbey Commission recommended for the creation of new regions.



Political Parties Present



According to sources, Mrs Mensa was out of the country and was, therefore, not present at the meeting, but her two deputies, Mr Bossman Asare and Mr Samuel Tettey, were present.



Political parties represented at the meeting included the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), the Convention Peoples Party (CPP), the Progressive Peoples Party (PPP), the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) and the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP).



Some of the representatives of the parties who were seen at the EC headquarters for the meeting were Mr John Boadu, the General Secretary of the NPP; Mr Peter Mac Manu, a former National Chairman of the NPP, and Mr O.B. Amoah, the NPP MP for Akuapem South, all representing the NPP; Nii Allotey Brew Hammond, the National Chairman of the PPP, and Mr T. D. Ward-Brew, the Founder and Leader of the DPP.



Others were Mr James Kwabena Bomfeh, representing the CPP, and Madam Akua Donkor, the Founder of the GFP.

Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]









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Featured VideoSome 94 Members of Parliament have reaffirmed their support for John Dramani Mahama.



This comes hours after the former president declared his intention to contest the flagbearership race of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).



Reports of these MPs who were in favour of John Mahama emerged in July; however, the list never came out.



In a statement issued today, the 94 MPs expressed "profound gratitude to His Excellency, John Dramani Mahama for hearkening to the cries of our Constituents which we presented to him when we met him four (4) months ago



They have therefore promised to support the former President "with their expertise, knowledge and personal resources".



Attached is the statement including the full list of the 94 MPs

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Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, left, and his bride Princess Tseyang Palmo smile during their Tibetan Buddhist royal wedding ceremony in Halifax on Saturday, June 10, 2006. New allegations have surfaced against the spiritual leader of one of the largest Buddhist organizations in the western world, including fresh claims of sexual misconduct and financial coercion. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew VaughanA single-use plastic bag. New Jersey lawmakers have passed legislation that would impose a 5-cent fee on the bags in stores. The bill will go to Gov. Murphy. Read more

Relax, New Jerseyans. You probably won't have to pay an extra 5 cents each time you pick up a plastic carryout bag from Wawa.

New Jersey was poised to join a growing number of states tackling the glut of non-recycled, single-use plastic bags that are nearly ubiquitous, blowing into trees, washing down storm drains, ending up on beaches, or ensnaring wildlife.

Not quite yet. Gov. Murphy is set to veto a bill that would impose a 5-cent fee on each carryout bag given out to shoppers at many retail and food outlets. Under the bill, which passed with split support in the Legislature in June, a store would get 1 cent of the fee and the remaining 4 cents would go to a fund to help pay for lead abatement in schools and communities. It had the potential to raise $23 million.

The bill had support from the New Jersey Food Council, a trade group, but drew the ire of environmental groups, who said it fell short of a ban on the bags. Also, the environmental groups said the bill would have overridden plastic-bag bans already passed in some communities, mostly along the Shore.

Representatives of the New Jersey Sierra Club and others learned of the impending veto Thursday during a hearing in Toms River of state Senate and Assembly committees to hear testimony on single-use plastics and plastic waste steps the state might take. The veto is expected to be announced in the coming days.

"In a win for the environment, Gov. Murphy vetoed the bad plastic bag fee bill," said Jeff Tittel, the Sierra Club's director. "It is important that Gov. Murphy [veto] this bill because now we can start fresh on a comprehensive statewide ban."

Tittel said the Sierra Club did not support the bill because fees really won't stop the use of bags as consumers get used to paying a little extra. Indeed, the bill gave stores the option of incorporating the fee into sale prices, so shoppers might not have even been aware they were paying for the bags.

Instead, the environmental groups, especially the New Jersey Sierra Club, are seeking a more stringent bill that would ban not only the bags but also straws and polystyrene.

That bill, sponsored by State Sen. Bob Smith (D., Middlesex), calls for an outright ban on plastic carryout bags, single-use plastic straws, and foam containers. The ban would apply to retail stores and restaurants. Violators would face a $5,000 fine.

The bill has not come up for a full vote, and it's unclear whether it would have Murphy's support.

Nationally, and internationally, momentum has been building to tackle problems posed by plastics in the environment. In 2014, California became the first state to enact a plastic-bag ban. Since then, at least seven states have passed similar legislation. Municipalities in New Jersey have launched a variety of ordinances, which has left the convenience-store, retail, and restaurant industries fearful of facing a panoply of different regulations not only across states but also local borders.

Chains such has Aldi have long charged for plastic bags. This week, Kroger, the nation's largest supermarket chain, announced it would start phasing out plastic bags, with the goal of being bag-free at all of its nearly 2,800 stores by 2025. And on Thursday, California legislators approved a bill that would prohibit full-service, dine-in restaurants from offering plastic straws to customers unless they are requested, according to the Los Angeles Times.

It's likely any such ban or fees would be much harder to enact in Pennsylvania, which has a booming natural gas industry. Plastics are produced from natural gas and crude oil. In 2009, Philadelphia attempted to impose a bag ban but failed, and later failed to impose a 25-cent fee. Manufacturers of the bags have fought back in Pennsylvania and, with the support of legislators last year, proposed prohibiting cities, towns, and counties from banning or taxing the bags. Gov. Wolf vetoed that bill.Charlie Henry Cunningham, Jr. calls Wyoming home. But it wasn't always home to this outstanding United States Air Force veteran.

Cunningham, Jr. started out in this world on April 14, 1958 in Birmingham, Alabama. He was born to Charlie Cunningham, Sr. and Mattie Ruth Cunningham. He was the oldest of three children. When he was seven years of age, his father passed away, and it became his job to help his mother out. This was a job he kept until he was 21 years of age.

Cunningham, Jr. graduated from Montevallo High School, Montevallo, Alabama in June of 1976. He continued his education at th...Cheyenne Wyoming: A Service Academy Information Day will be conducted in Cheyenne, Wyoming on Saturday, September 8th, 2018. This event provides the opportunity for parents and students to join representatives from the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO; the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, NY; the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD; the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, NY; the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, New London, CT; the University of Wyoming Army ROTC; the University of Wyoming Air Force ROTC; and, the Navy NROTC college programs for an information session regarding...How much will it cost?

The United States currently spends more than $20 billion per year on national security-related space activities, with the funding split roughly evenly between the the secretive "black budget" activities related to intelligence gathering (spying) and the Department of Defense (communications, navigation, early warning systems). All of these are uncrewed, autonomous spacecraft.

The national intelligence agencies' space activities are not included in the Space Force proposal, so the activities relevant to Space Force account for $12.5 billion of the Defense Department's $686 billion budget proposed by the White House for 2019.

According to Vice President Pence, the Administration is preparing to request $8 billion over the next five years to stand up the Space Force. It is unclear if this will be new money, or moved from existing accounts.

More details will be available when the White House releases its budget request for fiscal year 2020 in February of next year.

What was the deal with those Space Force logos?

Those logos were released by the Trump reelection campaign, not the Department of Defense or the White House. They are not official and will never become official should a Space Force actually come to exist. Basically, the campaign was trying to raise some cash off of the announcement.

What does a Space Force mean for NASA and science funding?

Very little, at least directly. Space Force will pursue no science or exploration initiatives; those are NASA's prerogatives. NASA may benefit from increased investment in research and development for space hardware and techniques, but that is hard to say one way or another.

What happens to NASA funding in the future depends on if and how Congress chooses to rein in its spending. Both NASA and the Department of Defense are considered "discretionary" accounts within the budget, i.e. Congress exercises its discretion every year when it chooses how much to fund them. National security always receives strong political support, so much so that discretionary funding is functionally divided in two:. "Defense" funding, which accounts for about $700 billion per year, and "non-defense discretionary" funding, which comes in at around $600 billion per year. Non-defense discretionary accounts fund pretty much everything else that the federal government does except for Social Security, Medicare, and interest on the national debt (those are all "mandatory" programs, for those of you keeping track at home). NASA's account lives within the non-defense discretionary side of the budgetary accounting.

During the first years of the Trump presidency, Congress has significantly increased funding for the Department of Defense. So far, Democrats in Congress have insisted on applying similar increases to non-defense side. But as time goes on and the deficit grows, more pressure will be placed on the size of those discretionary accounts, and NASA could find itself competing within a shrinking pool of funds.

Is the Space Force a good idea?

This is a complex issue with well-reasoned arguments for and against. The Planetary Society, focused on the scientific exploration of the cosmos, has no official stance on this issue. Below are a number of articles and op-eds that give weight to a variety of viewpoints.

Will the Space Force happen?

While the Department of Defense intends to pursue some internal restructuring right away, Congress must approve the creation of a new branch of the armed services through legislation. There are many details to work out.

The White House will include a formal Space Force proposal in its 2020 budget requestto be released in February of 2019. Congress then must include legislation in its annual national defense authorization legislation and then fund the initiative in its annual appropriations legislation.

As we have seen, there are strong supporters of the idea in the House of Representatives, but so far the idea has received a chilly reception in the U.S. Senate. Additionally, recent polling has found that anywhere from 55% to 42% of the public is against the idea of a Space Force, and that the issue has become highly partisan, with Republicans generally demonstrating far stronger support than Democrats and Independents. This induced polarization is almost certainly a consequence of President Trump's strong embrace of the issue, a topic that I wrote about more than two years ago.

No one likes to make predictions about politics anymore, but if the Democrats capture the House of Representatives in November, it is very hard to see how Space Force legislation would ever make it to the President's desk. If the Republicans retain the House and grow their majority in the Senate, chances are much more likely that, over time, a Space Force will happen.KAMPALA  The highly anticipated Rolex Festival that went down Sunday, August 19 attracted several revellers and Kampalas top A-Listers to a fun-filled event

The Rolex Festival is an annual Event that has become a tourism experience both for locals and international revellers that seek to identify with the Ugandan delicacy, Rolex

For developed Countries talking about a Rolex, one thinks of an expensive Watch or accessory but here in Uganda, it has become one of the most sought for delicacies.

The Rolex is prepared by rolling chapatti with the omelette with ingredients like sliced tomatoes (nyanya mbiisi), onions, green pepper and cabbage. Its preparation takes at most 5-7 minutes and averages shs2,000 depending on the location and facility.

This years edition added a spark to the taste with several types of Rolex made by various sellers that included beef, Chicken, vegetable; all prepared on the clients preference

Due to high demand for the Rolex, one went for between Shs10,000 to Shs15,000. The drinks included all kinds of beers and spirits but the sodas were restricted to Century bottling company Products since Coca-Cola was a title sponsor of the show.

The Event attracted very many sponsors like Coca-cola, Uganda Tourism Board, Ministry of Tourism, Abaachi Gas and many others.

We are very glad that this idea that started as a small event has grown into one of the most sought for Kampala events with crowds especially the locals and internationals, said Former Miss Tourism Enid Mirembe, one of the brains behind the event.

She added that it was a great achievement to the Tourism industry since it is a source of income for many youths around Kampala; reducing unemployment

RelatedKAMPALA  Security forces have reportedly surrounded the homes of opposition leaders including that of former FDC President Kizza Besigyes home in Kasangati ahead of Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wines appearance before the General Court Martial from Gulu military barracks.

Dr Besigye in a Twitter post has confirmed the presence of armed forces at his residence in Kasangati.

Every way out of my home is barricaded since very early today. The intention is to deny us the freedom to move and to be at the Military Court where Bobi Wine is to be produced this morning.

The struggle for freedom and sovereignty wont be blocked! [President Yoweri] Museveni must go, Dr Besigye twitted on Thursday morning.

Also surrounded is the home of FDC secretary for mobilization Ingrid Turinawe.

The two were instrumental in leading previous protests against President Museveni. Others who have been blocked from leaving their homes include Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago who is also Robert Kyagulanyis lawyer and Makindye East MP Allan Ssewanyana

Police spokesperson Emilian Kayima says the opposition politicians were planning to cause riots in the city, and the decision to hold them in their homes is a preventive measure.

MP Robert Kyagulanyi alongside 32 other people were last week arrested in Arua during the violence that engulfed the area on the final day of the by-election to replace slain MP Ibrahim Abiriga.

While the rest were charged with treason in the civilian courts, Mr Kyagulanyi has been singled out for charges of illegal possession of firearms before the Military court.

RelatedWhen Sergeant Travis Goforth of the Pine Bluff (AR) Police Department came upon a house fire in July, he believed there might be someone inside. He pounded on the front door and eventually a woman answered. He informed her that there was a fire, entered the home, and picked up a small child and got them out of the house.

Goforth was one of several Pine Bluff officers to receive certificates of appreciation during the recent Coffee with the Chiefs event, according to the Pine Bluff Commercial.

Sergeants Lynn Wright and Cassandra Briggs-McAfee and officers Lakendra Williams, Rob Gober and Martino Green were recognized for their actions in locating a suspect wanted for rape and residential burglary

Officers Phillip Meacham and Marquis Creggett were commended for apprehending a man and a woman who allegedly broke into cars parked at a local hotel.

The eventsponsored by Interested Citizens for Voter Registration and held at the Pine Bluff Country Clubalso highlighted the actions of Sergeants Shawn Davis and Goforth and officers Abdias Valdez, Rick Bunting, Nathan Smith, Kristen Pennington, Kelsey Collins, Marquis Creggett, Lakeisha Jones, and Enrique Soto for their response to a shooting in July.Officials in East Pittsburgh, PA, are considering dissolving that town's police department after a controversial officer-involved shooting in June, according to the Tribune-Review.

The city council met to discuss options for alternate police servicesincluding the Allegheny County police or the police department of a neighboring municipalitybut no decision has been made.

The council hopes to vote on the matter at its public meeting next month.

Council President Dennis Simon told the Tribune-Review that the borough has been considering dissolving the police force for years.ABSTRACT

This article describes the relevant careers counselling services in Germany for school leavers, with a focus on the characteristic German dual system of vocational training. By the time they have reached the end of their school lives, most students have already made key decisions about their subsequent working lives and possible career paths. Bad decisions regarding training and higher education are often a factor in dropping out of vocational training or higher education (Frey, Ertelt, & Ruppert, 2016) , affecting approximately 25% of all dropouts from vocational training and approximately 30% of all dropouts from university (Frey, Balzer, & Ruppert, 2014; Uhly, 2015) . It is therefore imperative to investigate whether career counselling services address the right target group, when they are mainly targeting school leavers. According to data from the National Educational Panel Study (NEPS), from which cohort 4 (SC 4) was analyzed by descriptive data statistics, on various careers counselling offers, the influence of parents on young peoples career choices is greater than that of teachers, of career counsellors or of occupation-specific information from the internet. Based on these findings, the authors recommend strengthening the parents competences in order to enable them to better assist their children in making suitable career choices. Thus career counselling services could indirectly improve decision-making behaviours.

Keywords:

Career Counselling, Sources of Information, Sources of Guidance, School-to-Work-Transition, Vocational Training, Parents

1. Introduction

In Germany, young people have the opportunity to plan their education and career paths independently and autonomously. 60.2% (Federal Statistical Office, 2017) of young people leaving school in 2015 held a lower secondary or intermediate school-leaving certificate while 34.2% (Federal Statistical Office, 2017) left school with a subject-specific or general certificate of aptitude for higher education. By the time they reach the end of their school lives, most students have already made key decisions about their subsequent working lives and possible career paths. As making these choices is just one of numerous development tasks that they face at this stage of life, young people are frequently confronted with excessive demands.

To enable them to make sound decisions in this regard, specific counselling services are available at every stage of life offering counselling on school and educational pathways, providing classroom-based career information and career-choice preparation, as well as the employment agencies delivering career counselling and career information in schools (Watts & Sultana, 2004) .

Schools offering general education (Allgemeinbildende Schulen) are legally required to provide counselling on school and educational pathways (Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs, 2016) , and this counselling focuses primarily on the choice of school type, educational stream and detailed subject combinations. Particular importance is attached to counselling during the transitions from one type of school to another and especially at the transition from primary education to lower secondary education. Young people also require counselling at the end of lower secondary education, as well as in upper secondary education, to help them identify their own interests, abilities and ideas and therefore to choose appropriate specific subjects or a specific type of secondary school to continue their studies (Ertelt & Frey, 2013) . Counselling on school and educational pathways also targets parents, who typically help their children in deciding on their educational pathway. For the young people, parents are one of many sources of guidance. As for the parentsthe familys de facto in-house careers counsellors, they find themselves in a difficult role. If they know their childrens strengths and weaknesses very well, they lack both a professional and objective perspective as well as expert knowledge of the labour market.

In schools offering general education, counselling is provided by guidance counsellors and social workers, as well as by career counsellors from the employment agencies collaborating with the schools. Classroom-based career information and career-choice preparation aim to prepare young people for the world of work by improving their career management skills, their ability to research and process information, as well as their decision-making strategies. These services are primarily implemented in the subjects of Arbeitslehre (introduction to the world of work), Sozialkunde (social studies) or Wirtschaft und Recht (business studies and law). In addition to classroom-based teaching, career information activities at schools usually also include work experience placements, visits to companies and a visit to the employment agencys Careers Information Centre (BIZ). The compulsory two- to three-week work experience placement in a company or an administration provides young people with first-hand experience of the conditions, opportunities and risks present in the world of work (Adler, 2013) .

The career counselling and career information provided by the employment agencies in schools offering general education is actively supported by professional career counsellors (Rubner, 2009) . Through their experience of the labour market and their direct contact with training companies and employers, career counsellors can more effectively help young people in selecting of a training occupation or training company. The employment agencies therefore offer a bespoke counselling service combining career information, individual counselling and training placement. Thus this service benefits not only the young people but also the employers, making it easier for them to find suitable trainees. The employment agencies provide individual career counselling sessions not only in their local offices but regularly also in schools offering general education. In addition, they give talks in the classroom, organise workshops and seminars, and supervise class groups at the Careers Information Centre (BIZ). The BIZ also hosts training fairs and seminars and talks on professions. Furthermore, the career counsellors assist the teachers in all matters relating to career information and education on career choices. These services are available in both lower and upper secondary education. The Federal Employment Agency publishes a wide variety of print and online media on the subjects of occupations, careers, and training and higher education opportunities, as well as self-assessment tests and information on the training and labour markets. These media are available to young people and their parents at the BIZ and online, as well as being distributed in schools (Federal Employment Agency, 2015) .

For this article, data from the NEPS study (Blossfeld, Robach, & von Maurice, 2011) were used. In a series of ongoing waves, the National Educational Panel Study (NEPS) has asked young people, parents and other actors about their educational behaviour. More than 60,000 people were sampled from 2009 to 2012 using a multi-cohort sequence design and following six starting cohorts in a longitudinal manner. This article describes cohort four, ninth graders, and was initiated in 2010. The representatively selected target individuals were regularly questioned and tested in different areas. The first survey for ninth graders was conducted in the autumn/winter of 2010. Parents, teachers and principals were regularly questioned up until 2014 as long as the target individuals were still enrolled in a general educating school institution. The respondents further paths were individually followed after the school year of 2014/15, when the entire sample was completed. In a stratified cluster sampling about 14,540 students at regular schools all over Germany, 9180 parents of the participants, 1089 students at special schools, 1654 teachers and 495 heads of schools were questioned. Three different selection stages were used. Firstly, a random sampling of regular schools at lower secondary level. Five different types of schools existing in Germany were singled out and served as strata. Schools were drawn proportional to their number of classes: grammar schools, middle secondary schools, lower secondary schools, comprehensive schools, and schools offering all streams of secondary education bar the grammar school stream. An oversampling of schools in which students were likely to change into vocational training was implemented. Secondly, a random selection of grade nine classes at the selected schools took place. If the school had two grade nine classes, they were selected. And thirdly, all students from the selected classes were invited to participate in the study.

2. The Transition from Lower to Upper Secondary Education

The Federal Statistical Office (2017) indicates that in 2015, a total of 846,312 young people left schools offering general education in Germany - with or without a school-leaving qualification. Of those young people, 510,042 (60.2%) (Federal Statistical Office, 2017) held a lower secondary or intermediate school-leaving certificate (Hauptschulabschluss or Realschulabschluss), and 288,835 (34.2%, Federal Statistical Office, 2017) left school with a subject-specific or general certificate of aptitude for higher education (fachgebundene Hochschulreife or allgemeine Hochschulreife). A total of 47,435 young people (5.6%, Federal Statistical Office, 2017) did however not obtain a school-leaving certificate.

These young people have reached the end of their compulsory education and in most cases, have made key decisions about their subsequent working life. The question is whether young people with a lower secondary or intermediate school-leaving certificate have now decided to switch to a general education or vocational upper secondary school, or to enter dual vocational training? Have young people with a subject-specific or a general certificate of aptitude for higher education decided to go to university, or have they switched to school-based or dual vocational training? And what opportunities were available to those young people without a school-leaving certificate? Before they could take such decisions, young people will have had to consider a whole series of options, while as a rule being supported, advised and influenced by their parents.

As in all transitions between different stages of life, this process presents opportunities and risks. Different aspects of stress and coping strategies can be dealt with, taking into account cognitive, affective and social facets (Ditton & Krusken, 2006) . It is important to balance professional and personal aspirations against ones own capabilities, as well as taking into consideration the current circumstances on the labour market. Young people are confronted with a wealth of expectations from parents, friends and society they must evaluate and categorize. In this respect, the decision about their future education or career pathway is just one of a number of development tasks that they must overcome at this stage of their life (Flammer & Alsaker, 2002) . At the same time, the young people find themselves at that particular stage where, though no longer children but not yet adults yet either, they are acting increasingly autonomously. Their quest for autonomy therefore confronts their parents legal right to make decisions on their childrens behalf, as these are still legal minors. At this stage, parents are just one possible port of call for young people wishing to discuss their future career paths. Career counselling and information are on offer from numerous institutions and, above all, from the Federal Employment Agency. Bad decisions regarding training and higher education are often a factor in dropping out of vocational training contracts or higher education (Frey, Ertelt, & Ruppert, 2016) , affecting approximately 25% of all dropouts from vocational training and approximately 30% of all dropouts from university (Frey, Balzer, & Ruppert, 2014; Uhly, 2015) . At the same time, the trend in recent years has been quite heterogeneous. On one hand, the decisions reached at the end of lower secondary education are no longer as final as they once were, thanks to efforts to open up the education system. Now that school types and qualifications have been decoupled in various ways, it is possible to obtain qualifications regardless of the type of school you attend, as well as at a later point in time (Bellenberg & Im Brahm, 2010) . On the other hand, the vocational and training landscape and the range of university courses on offer are becoming increasingly nuanced and specialised to the extent that it is virtually impossible for young people to gain a clear overview on their own (Nota & Rossier, 2015) .

Career entry is now taking place at a later stage in life. According to a study by the Bertelsmann Stiftung (2007) , a few decades ago young people were available to the labour market at the age of 18. Today, the average age of those entering training is 19. Parents therefore find themselves in a parental role for a longer period of time (Baum & Wagner, 2014) which further increases their influence on young peoples career paths. Given the longer time that young people spend in education, parents also invest financially more in their childrens training. From an emotional perspective, parents are mainly perceived as intensive counsellors and supporters in key educational and career-related matters (Hurrelmann, 2007) . However, in the vast majority of cases, parents have no expert knowledge of occupational fields, and their knowledge of occupations may also be out of date, influenced by the media, or at odds with the opportunities that actually exist. Their view of their children is also influenced by their personal judgement and may not always be consistent with the assessment of a professional counsellor.

This article examines the degree of influence which parents have during this transition phase. To what extent do young people involve their parents and do parents involve themselves in the career guidance process? And to what extent do professional career counsellors manage to reach young people and compensate for any deficits in the counselling provided by the parents?

3. Educational Decisions as a Process

There are various approaches to explaining parents influence on decisions made at the transition from lower secondary education, stemming both from sociology, whose approaches are transferred from phenomena on the macro level to the micro level, and from psychology, looking for explanations at the level of actors.

The socialisation theory of Bourdieu (1983) explains educational decisions primarily by way of social capital effects, whereas Boudon (1974) talks about primary and secondary effects of the social background. As primary effects, Boudon (1974) refers to opportunities that open up as a result of educational achievements. Secondary effects are imparted by the social environment. The cost-benefit analysis of whether to make additional investments in a further educational pathway or to complete training reaches a different conclusion depending on the social background. Boudons approach has its origins in the economic theory of subjective expected utility (Maaz, Hausen, McElvan, & Baumert, 2006) . Other rational choice models based on this theory tend to present the decision as an isolated occurrence within the transition phase. However, there are indications that decisions regarding educational pathways are actually negotiation processes on the actors level, i.e. between the children and their parents or their wider environment, and therefore have the characteristics of a process (Ditton & Krusken, 2006) . If this were to be confirmed, there should be a longer period in which the career-choice decision could be supported through counselling and information than if this decision were a one-off occurrence. However, this would mean that career counselling and career information could not only take place within a limited time frame, further strengthening the influence of the parental home on young peoples career choices.

4. Influence of Social Environment

It is known from numerous earlier studies (e.g. Berger, Keim, & Klarner, 2010 ) that the social environment and therefore the parents have an influence, perhaps even a decisive one, on their childrens educational pathway and career. Parents are the most important people that their children turn to, specifically as advisers and role models (e.g. Kracke, Hany, Driesel-Lange, & Schindler, 2013 ). In phases of transition from education or training phase into the next, the effects of social differences become particularly clear. This is true for decisions about the educational pathway between primary and secondary education (Ditton, 2013) but can also be applied to the educational decisions that come after lower secondary education. Young people do not take the decisions about their future educational pathways on their own. On school-leavers with a subject-specific or a general certificate of aptitude for higher education, a 2010 study of the university information system (Heine, Willich, & Schneider, 2010) observed that only 7% of this group did not have any problems with their decision about their post-school pathway. Here, key factors include the degree of embedding in a social framework and the support from the parental home. Coleman refers already in 1966 to the importance of the extracurricular environment to successful learning, citing above all parents but also the young peoples friends as important actors. This influence appeared to depend strongly on social status, and has been confirmed in further studies (e.g. Jencks, Smith, Acland, Bane, Cohen, Gintis, Heyns, & Michelson, 1973 ). As young people get older and more independent, their parents influence on their decisions declines (e.g. Meulemann, 1985 ). Nevertheless, as shown by the results of a large-scale study in Switzerland, parents educational aspirations are more reliable than other predictors such as grades, of educational pathways over the course of two educational transitions (Neuenschwander & Malti, 2009) . At the same time, less-educated parents aspire from the outset to lower qualifications for their children than parents with a higher level of education.

5. Sources of Information for Choosing a Career

The NEPS survey can provide details on how parents support their children and on how students ask for their assistance as well as what sources of information students are using in their career orientation.

In the first survey, i.e. before completing lower secondary education and entering vocational training or continuing secondary school, these students were asked how relevant various sources of information were to them (Figure 1). Questions were asked about vocational preparation by the school, careers counselling at the employment agency, and the information provided by the media, by family, by friends and acquaintances, by individual teachers, as well as about work experience placements and jobs.

The results in Figure 1 show that the young people in Grade 9 who were surveyed for the NEPS viewed their parents as the most important source of information. The next most important source was considered to be various opportunities to try out an occupation, such as a work experience placement or a vocational preparation. The farther the individuals providing advice were from the family or everyday environment, the less important the respondents perceived their information to be. The media came in last place which was surprising given the universally high level of media affinity that young people have nowadays.

Figure 1. Assessment of relevance of various sources of information, in %. Question: How important/unimportant are the following sources of information for your job choice? Source: NEPS Wave 1, SC 4, Version 7.0.0 Grade 9.

When asked how helpful the various sources of information were in their actual search for a training position (Figure 2), the young people answered that above all their work experience placement was either rather or very helpful for them, followed by their parents assessment.

The NEPS also asked the young peoples parents about the extent to which they supported their children in the process of choosing a career and applying for training positions (Figure 3). The overwhelming majority of parents (95%) talked to their children about what they wanted for their future. Practical support was usually provided prior to the application. Parents obtained information about training positions (68%) or regularly checked the students homework (43.5%) even though they had almost reached the end of their time at school.

Figure 2. When looking for an open vocational training position, how important are the following sources of information to you? Respondents from Wave: Summer 2011 and 2011/2012. Source: NEPS Wave 1, SC 4, Version 7.0.0 Grade 9.

Figure 3. Support according to parents (Autumn 2010), in %. Source: NEPS Wave 1, SC 4, Version 7.0.0 Grade 9.

Only 17% of parents accompanied their child to the interview for a training position, with 37% deeming this unnecessary.

The results shown in Figure 3 reflect the view that parents provided their children with extensive support with approximately 68% of parents searching for information on training opportunities, just under 55% organising a work experience placement, and approximately 45% selectively looking into training programmes, organising tutoring (45%) or helping with writing applications (44%). The parents therefore played an extensive and central role in the career orientation process for which they require specific knowledge.

6. Career Counselling by Parents as a Demanding Process

As a familys in-house career counsellors, parents find themselves in a difficult role. On the one hand, most parents have supported their children from birth and know their strengths and weaknesses inside out. On the other hand, they lack a professional, objective view of these young people. They also lack expert knowledge in terms of the labour and vocational training markets and their developments. The expression the parents is also confusing as this ostensibly homogeneous group does not exist. People from all parts and levels of society have children, and so the parental composition is also extremely heterogeneous. Not all parents have the personal prerequisites to assist their children in a capacity of advisers. Sometimes, parental advice also reaches a conclusion that is not shared by professionals and does not always help the young persons to position themselves successfully on the labour market. Parents with a low level of school education have been found to have knowledge gaps as regards not only the opportunities but also possible courses of action that certain school-leaving certificates open up (Deppe, 2013) . It also is still more difficult for young people from non-academic families to get into sixth form and to successfully complete it (Klomfa, Stubig, & Fabel-Lamla, 2013) .

Parents are well aware of their role during the process of choosing a career, with 92% of parents and guardians stating in a study by Voigt (2010) that the subject of career choice is important to them. A further 87% of parents also see themselves as being responsible for supporting their children actively in this transition.

According to Ditton (2014) the childs or young persons social positioning is also a significant factor in their career choice. When it comes to the parents educational aspirations, there is a difference as a function of the family living in a rural or in an urban environment, in a prosperous or in a deprived neighbourhood, or in Eastern or in Western Germany.

7. Findings and Discussion

According to our data the influence of parents on young peoples career choices is greater than that of vocational teachers or career counsellors as well as that of occupation-specific information available on the Internet. The finding that information from the Internet is not as seminal as anticipated is surprising considering the influence the Internet exerts on students in other domains. Given that the social group a person belongs to can exert an institutional influence not only on the educational decisions actually implemented but even on the parents educational aspirations, there is plenty of evidence to suggest that this influence also applies to the choice of vocational training. It might therefore be extremely helpful to define parents as a new regular target group for career counselling. Our results show that careers counselling services are rather unimportant for students decision making. But the expertise and the in-depth knowledge careers counselling services provide can empower parents. Coordinated services for parents could create the circumstances for balancing out parents different starting conditions. To this end there is a great need for individual information and counselling services for parents so that they are in a better position to provide informed advice to their children. At the same time various mitigating circumstances such as a migrant or a single-parent family background must be taken into account. In particular young people from homes with a low level of school education should benefit from professional information at an early stage in order to clarify possible courses of action in terms of individual school-leaving certificates and opportunities for training and higher education (Deppe, 2013) .

As the overall family atmosphere and interactions within the family have a considerable influence on the form and the quality of advice that parents provide on career choices, it is sensible to explore the forms of interaction within the family and to include positive examples in the counselling given to parents (Schmitt, 2009) .

When it comes to real job-seeking for a vocational education position, the influence of and the trust in professional services increases, but the impact parents have remains high (Figure 2). As the career entry date draws nearer the other information sources gain in influence (Figure 2). One reason could be that students use a broad range of possibilities to seek a position. Furthermore, the importance of contacts made in their practical work experience increases. As with their parents, students have a combination of a personal relationship with accredited professionals and possess an archetype for a specific career. This indeed seems to be very helpful for students occupational orientation.

8. Conclusion

As shown in this analysis, there is a wide range of information and counselling services for students in Germany when it comes to career decisions. Professional counsellors and information providers are mainly targeting students. Students however perceive their parents as being more helpful. Given the high number of dropouts from vocational training, the challenge is to find ways to increase the existing range of services for career guidance in order to prevent bad decisions. Finally, the idea that counselling services should target parents with a view of strengthening their role in the decision making process of their children looks like a promising avenue that should be further investigated.

Working continuously with parents from an early stage could enable them to better manage the influential role they have in their childrens career planning and assist them in a responsible way. It might also help to give children from low-education households increased opportunities to take up training or studies corresponding to their abilities by communicating relevant information on careers and support services in good time. This would however require the creation of a systematic structure for what must be called parental outreach work.

Notes

This paper uses data from the National Educational Panel Study (NEPS): Starting Cohort Grade 9, DOI: 10.5157/NEPS:SC4:7.0.0. From 2008 to 2013, NEPS data was collected as part of the Framework Program for the Promotion of Empirical Educational Research funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). As of 2014, NEPS is carried out by the Leibniz Institute for Educational Trajectories (LIfBi) at the University of Bamberg in cooperation with a nationwide network.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Cite this paper

Ulrich, A., Frey, A., & Ruppert, J.-J. (2018). The Role of Parents in Young Peoples Career Choices in Germany. Psychology, 9, 2194-2206. https://doi.org/10.4236/psych.2018.98125

ReferencesBHUBANESWAR, India, August 23, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

OCL India Ltd., the flagship company of Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Ltd. (DCBL) in Eastern India today took yet another step towards affirming its commitment towards the State of Odisha with laying of the ceremonial foundation stone for its third integrated cement plant at Rajgangpur. The new manufacturing facility will be known as Dalmia DSP Unit. The ceremony, held at Bhubaneswar and Rajgangpur simultaneously, Shri Naveen Patnaik, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Odisha, unveiled the plaque on video conferencing by pushing the button from the State Secretariat in presence of Mr. Mahendra Singhi, Group CEO, Dalmia Bharat Cement, Mr. Amandeep, Whole-Time Director, OCL India Limited, H. Sethi, ED, CA and Mr. Joyram Mishra, Head of Corporate Affairs (East), DCBL. Sundargarh District administration along with Mr. Sunil Gupta, Executive Director - Manufacturing (East), DCBL joined the event at Rajgangpur to commemorate the occasion. The stone-laying ceremony marks a key milestone in DCBL's commitment towards industrial growth and investment in the State of Odisha.

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OCL India Ltd. had earlier proposed to set up a new unit of 2.25 million tonne per annum (MTPA) cement manufacturing and 3 MTPA clinker manufacturing capacity at Rajgangpur. The new capacity creation plan received enormous support from the local populace during a public hearing held last year. With the plant going live, the company's total capacity in Rajgangpur will increase to 6.25 MTPA in cement and 5.9 MTPA in clinker manufacturing. OCL India Limited, which is revered for peripheral development of Rajgangpur and multiple deeper pockets of Odisha and East at large, now promises to generate further direct and indirect employment opportunities through this expansion programme. The new Dalmia DSP Unit will entail an investment of Rs. 2500 crores and it is expected to be commissioned by early 2020. As a part of its integrated cement plant, new cement manufacturing capacity of 2.5 MTPA would be put up at Biswali, Cuttack with an investment of approx. Rs 400 crores.

Speaking on the occasion at Bhubaneswar, Mr. Mahendra Singhi, said, "On behalf of Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Ltd., I take this opportunity to sincerely thank Hon'ble Chief Minister of Odisha, Shri Naveen Patnaik for his confidence in our ability to support the growth of Odisha's vibrant and growing economy through this new state-of-the-art plant at Rajgangpur. Dalmia Cement stands by its commitment towards Odisha's growth story and looks forward to assistance from external partners who can complement and augment our internal efforts. There is a growing demand of cement due to infrastructural growth in Eastern India and our plan to add fresh capacity through this new unit is an approach to be ready to cater to this growing demand. We would continue to follow our sustainability commitment by manufacturing green cement."

Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Ltd. has been shaping the country's infrastructural requirements for the last 75 years. This development is in line with the Company's expansion plans for the eastern market. A leader in specialised cements, Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Limited has been ranked globally no. 1 as the World's Greenest Cement Company by the CDP (formerly Carbon Disclosure Project). Out of 13 cement majors across the globe, Dalmia Bharat is ranked at the top in Cement Sector League. It is recognised as the lowest carbon footprint cement producer globally with carbon dioxide emission of 342 kg/tonne of cement produced as compared to global average of 616 kg/tonne. Reiterating its commitment towards green energy, Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Limited (DCBL) has already become the first cement Company across the globe to join RE 100 and EP 100 campaign. The Company has commissioned 8-megawatt captive solar PV and a 9.2 Megawatt Waste Heat Recovery (WHR) project in Eastern India. Currently, Dalmia Cement is three times water positive and the company has further plans to replicate this success in all its cement plants.

About Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Limited

Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Limited (DCBL), a subsidiary of Dalmia Bharat Limited (BSE: 533309) (NSE: DALMIABHA) and listed in MSE, is a leading player in cement manufacturing since 1939. It has been globally ranked no. 1 by CDP (formerly Carbon Disclosure Project). It is one of the largest and most diverse cement companies in India and is the world's greenest cement company. With a growing capacity, currently at 26 MTPA, it is also the fourth largest manufacturing capacity in the country. Spread across nine states and 12 manufacturing units, the company is also the category leader in super-specialty cements used for oil wells, railway sleepers and air strips and is the country's largest producer of slag cement. It has lowest carbon footprint in the global cement industry. Visit us at http://www.dalmiacement.com

About OCL India Ltd

OCL India Ltd (BSE: 502165) (NSE: OCL) is an associate company of Dalmia Cement Bharat Ltd (a subsidiary of Dalmia Bharat Limited) - the fourth largest cement manufacturing business group in the country. OCL is the largest and most trusted brand in Odisha and one of the fastest growing cement brands in Eastern India with very strong presence in West Bengal and significant inroads in Jharkhand and Bihar. The Company has a 4 MTPA cement plant at Rajgangpur (Odisha), 1.35 MTPA cement plant at Kapilas (Odisha), 1.35 MTPA cement plant at Salboni, West Medinipur (West Bengal) and a 1,06,400 Tonne PA refractory plant at Rajgangpur (Odisha). The company has commissioned a 2x27 MW Captive Power Plant in 2010-11 at its Rajgangpur Plant. Among the earliest and prominent names to set in motion India's industrial revolution is OCL - the makers of KONARK Cement and Top of the World Refractories. OCL India continues to be a market by setting benchmark for consistent quality; best business practices and service excellence. Our outreach to the communities in which OCL India operate, has been synonymous with the brand OCL long before CSR evolved as a concept. Consistently, since 1950 OCL India have played a key role in partnering with the Government in the development of our home state. Etched in the ethos of OCL is the principle of making a positive and meaningful impact on the communities OCL India lives with. This belief has been demonstrated through several initiatives in various areas: environment, health, education, drinking water, community development and livelihood training - which have been and continues to be the need for of the people.



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SOURCE Dalmia Cement (Bharat) LimitedNEW DELHI, August 23, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

REC Group, the number one European brand for solar photovoltaic (PV) panels in India, clocked major orders in the Rooftop RESCO segment in the month of June and July. The total orders combined for the three-leading solar EPC companies in India amounted to a whooping 45MW.

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It is a major achievement for REC Group in India as rooftop solar though a key point of government's plan is still at 6% of the stipulated target of 40GW, with roughly 2.5 GW of cumulative installed base.

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SOURCE REC GroupLONDON, August 23, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

One Distribution, a leading technology distributor, today announced it has signed a distribution agreement with Skybox Security, a global leader in cybersecurity management. This agreement leverages One Distribution's expertise in sales enablement and education programmes to fuel Skybox's channel expansion plans and long-term channel partnerships across the UK and Ireland.

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SOURCE One DistributionTrump Is Close to His Goal - Oil at $50/b

According to Finanz, President Trump is close to making oil prices drop down to $50/b like never before. Last week was bearish for the global market of crude oil. This happened mainly due to the agreement between the U.S. president and the King of Saudi Arabia.

According to international experts, the market of crude oil is currently on the verge of big price moves. In particular, they think there are several factors that can make the oil prices drop all the way down to $50/b. Even though the oil prices are currently recovering a bit and may well continue recovering in the near future, they will eventually go down at some point until November. This prediction has to do with the expectations related to the Cushing oil hub. The thing is that a breakdown in the hub resulted in a massive shrink in the U.S. crude oil inventories (around 70%) all the way down to the lowest capacity since 2014. The capacity is expected to be completely restored closer to November.

At the same time, President Trump urged the OPEC to contribute to pushing the oil prices down. The talk between the U.S. President and the King od Saudi Arabia seems to have changed the market bias. Saudi Arabia has been increasing its daily oil production up to the record-high level over the last 4 years along with dropping the export prices for the last 2 months.

They say, Saudi Arabia's export capacities make it possible to ship 15 million barrels of crude oil a day. Given the speed at which technology has been developing so far, it would be easy to increase the daily production by 2 million barrels a day, which may drop the prices all the way down to $45/b.

At the same time, experts say that Trump is ready to use the USA 's strategic oil inventories to achive his goal by exporting even more oil. His administration is already working on it. It's important for him to make the gas in American gas stations cheaper by November when the U.S. Congress preliminary elections are to take place. This is expected to help the Republicans to preserve the majority in the Congress.

You are free to discuss this article here: forum for traders and investorsVisikol began its journey in late 2012 as an idea at Rutgers University by Visikol Co-Founder Dr. Thomas Villani. Through support from advisors, mentors, the Rutgers Technology Transfer team and Foundation Venture Capital Group, Visikol Inc was launched a few years later.

Visikols path from an idea to a successful biotech company has been a circuitous path but was due in large part to the resources at Rutgers University, New Jersey-based investors and an ecosystem in New Jersey of mentors, advisors and experts. Since taking office, Governor Phil Murphy has been a strong advocate for building the New Jersey science, innovation and technology ecosystem by bringing together academic institutions and making it easier to bring an idea to life in the state. This focus is in response to many technology companies leaving the state or startups pursuing other states to grow their businesses in such as New York, Massachusetts or California.

To support this effort, Governor Murphy recently announced the launch of the ResearchwithNJ.com initiative through which anyone can easily access the states academic experts. The centralization of this information in one database allows anyone to quickly find a technical expert in almost any field that can help them bring their idea to life. This database includes researchers and scientists from Princeton University, New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), Stevens Institute of Technology, Rutgers University and Rowan University (Montclair State University will be joining the list soon).

To further these efforts, on August 15th, Governor Murphy held a press conference at the Commercialization Center for Innovative Technologies in North Brunswick, NJ to announce the re-instatement of the states Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology. The commission will be reinstated and will be provided with $1 million in funding to launch initiatives aimed at re-establishing innovation in NJ.

As the CEO of a company which began as an idea at Rutgers University and has matured into a profitable biotech business, Dr. Michael Johnson from Visikol was asked to speak at this press conference which was held a few hundred yards away from where the idea for Visikol was conceived.

After an introduction from James Barrood, President of the NJ Tech Council, The Governor started the press conference by stressing the importance of fostering innovative and scientific companies and his major campaign goal of re-establishing New Jersey as the leading state for up and coming innovative companies like Visikol. The Governor then introduced Dr. Michael Johnson who spoke on behalf of Visikol and described their journey from Rutgers to maturing an innovative business within the state.

Dr. Johnson began his speech by describing Visikol and their mission to accelerate drug discovery through the use of the machine learning, computer vision and advanced drug discovery tools that it has developed. Dr. Johnson explained that there is currently a myth in the entrepreneurial community wherein a founder pulls themselves up by the bootstraps without the help of anyone else and wills their idea into existence. However, it was described how this narrative is truly a myth and that launching a company is incredibly challenging and requires an ecosystem of experts, investors and resources. Visikol was only able to transform form an idea to a profitable and successful company through the help of New Jersey-based investors, the NJ EDA, Rutgers University, Foundation Venture Capital Group and a large group of advisors and mentors.

For these reasons, Dr. Johnson expressed a sincere interest in the Governors efforts to launch ResearchwithNJ.com and to re-establish the Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology. Dr. Johnson explained how founders of a company seldom have all of the answers and by bringing together all of the experts in the state in one database it allows founders to much more easily find an expert to assist them with their endeavor.

Click here for full press conference video.

About Visikol

Visikol is focused on accelerating drug discovery through quantitative histopathology and using their patented Visikol HISTO tissue clearing technology to transform tissues into three dimensional data sets that can be mined for actionable insights. When paired with fluorescent labeling and 3D microscopy, Visikol HISTO allows tissues such as 3D cell culture models or whole tissues to be imaged in their entirety in 3D. Visikol has leveraged this technology to launch 3Screen which is a high-throughput 3D imaging platform capable of transforming tissues into 3D data sets and answering complex biological questions. The addition of 3D histological information to the drug discovery workflow allows for complex features such as vasculature networks to be quantitatively analyzed in 3D or for the penetration kinetics of antibodies into tumor models to be understood. The company currently offers 3Screen as a service to pharmaceutical/biotech companies and is continually focused on improving the platform as well as building out a suite of standardized assays. In addition to this service offering, Visikol also sells various tissue clearing reagents and kits for academic researchers that are interested in adopting the approach into their own workflows. For more information about Visikol or 3Screen, please visit our website at visikol.com.

For additional assistance, journalists, investors and analysts may contact:

Dr. Michael Johnson

Chief Executive Officer

info(at)visikol.com

1-800-615-8474Digital Writer gives us the best of both worlds, because it is a tool that was clearly designed with journalists and editors in mind, and it will also be closely integrated with our Newscycle Content system. - Sren Braad Steen, Head of Digital Business Development at Nordjyske Medier.

Nordjyske, a news media group serving the North Jutland region of Denmark, signed a contract with NEWSCYCLE Solutions (Newscycle) for Infomakers Digital Universe, which includes an omnichannel authoring tool, dashboard for planning and a central repository of all the content. The contract marks the first deal since Infomakers acquisition by Newscycle and furthers Nordjyskes mission to become more flexible in the digital media space.

Digital Writer is a content management application focused on making it easy for journalists to create media-rich news stories that can be published on any digital or print channel. Digital Writer together with the products Dashboard and Open Content will enable the journalists to work in a pure digital content creation environment, said Jonas Bringle, Newscycles EMEA Managing Director.

Digital Writer provides Nordjyske a strong, web-based authoring tool with a simple and intuitive user interface. Reporters have greater ability to enrich articles with social media enhancements, metadata, images, video and links. Digital Writer also has tight integration with the current Newscycle Content solution, ensuring smooth content sharing between online and print departments. Nordjyske is an existing Newscycle customer, and the contract for Digital Writer lets it preserve its investment in Newscycle technology while extending the platform.

In todays world, busy newsrooms like ours must focus on creating content in a completely channel neutral manner, and we were looking for the best tools to help our journalists produce this content as easily and efficiently as possible, said Sren Braad Steen, Head of Digital Business Development at Nordjyske Medier. Digital Writer gives us the best of both worlds, because it is a tool that was clearly designed with journalists and editors in mind, and it will also be closely integrated with our Newscycle Content system.

Infomakers Digital Writer is an increasingly popular choice among newsrooms across Scandinavia. Open Content is a content repository and search engine for all digital assets, and Dashboard is a browser-based tool for planning and managing newsroom workflows. The entire Infomaker platform is built using an open and extensible architecture, hosted in the Amazon Cloud for optimal speed and reliability.

Digital Writer is a product of Infomaker, which Newscycle acquired in July 2018. Newscycle sought to increase its reach in the worldwide market, while Infomaker was excited about the possibilities of joining a larger global company. In addition, Newscycle recognized the agile processes and forward-thinking approach that Infomaker brings to the organization.

The contract signing, so soon after the acquisition, has validated the aspirations of Newscycle and Infomaker. Teams from Infomaker and Newscycle continue to collaborate on ways to combine software and strategies to create additional value for news media companies worldwide.

To learn more about Newscycles latest acquisition or schedule a demo of the Infomaker platform, please contact info@newscycle.com.

About Newscycle:

NEWSCYCLE Solutions is the leading provider of software and services powering the global media industry. Our content management, advertising management, subscription management and mobile solutions help companies drive profitability and accelerate digital business models. With headquarters in Bloomington, MN and regional offices throughout the world, Newscycle Solutions is a trusted partner serving over 2,500 news media, broadcast, magazine, financial services and corporate clients in 45 countries.Welcome Guest! You Are Here:Sorry for inconvenience!

You have been redirected to this page due to the following reasons:--

Your session has expired.

You have closed the browser, without logging out.

If the problem persists, kindly remove all the temporary files and cookies from your browser.

For IE - 1. Click on tools from the task bar of browser.

2. Click on Internet Options.

3. Click on "Delete temporary files."

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2. Click on "Clear recent history."Motion to review ruling on confiscation of Zakharchenkos property denied

 RIA Novosti, Mikhail Voskresensky

11:56 23/08/2018

MOSCOW, August 23 (RAPSI)  Moscows Nikulinsky District Court has declined to reconsider a ruling on forfeiture of property worth nearly 9 billion rubles ($131 million at the current exchange rate) owned by the former Russian anti-corruption official Dmitry Zakharchenko charged with corruption crimes and his relatives to the State, lawyer Alexander Gorbatenko has told RAPSI.

According to the attorney, this decision will be challenged in a court of appeals and other higher courts.

On July 12, the Investigative Committee reported transfer of 9 billion rubles to its bank accounts.

Earlier, a court granted a lawsuit filed by the Prosecutor Generals Office and confiscated money and property belonging to Zakharachenko and his relatives. Overall, the property in this case is evaluated at 9 billion rubles, including 27 real estate objects in elite neighborhoods of Moscow, 4 high-end automobiles, 8 billion rubles (about $116.4 million) and a gold bar. The ruling came into force in March.

Ex-Russian anti-corruption official Dmitry Zakharchenko was arrested on September 8, 2016. During searches at the apartment belonging to Zakharchenkos sister law enforcement officers found around 9 billion rubles. He denied any relation to seized funds.

Zakharchenko was charged with receiving a 7-million-ruble ($102,000) bribe from an unknown source. He has also been charged with abuse of office and hindering the conduct of preliminary investigation. In March, it was revealed that he is charged with two more instances of corruption crimes.

According to case papers, Viktor Zakharchenko, the father of ex-official, is charged with being an accessory to embezzlement. He also pleaded not guilty.



Russian DIA seeks to seize property of Clientsky banks top managers

 asv.org.ru

13:59 23/08/2018

MOSCOW, August 23 (RAPSI)  Russias Deposit Insurance Agency (DIA) has filed an appeal with the Ninth Commercial Court against a lower courts refusal to seize property of the Clientsky banks top managers evaluated at over 10 billion rubles ($145.1 million), the court documents read.

The DIA challenged the July 31 ruling of the Moscow Commercial Court. Back then the court did not find evidence for the claim that failure to seize the property is going to complicate execution of the courts rulings in the future.

In October 2015, the bank was declared bankrupt. Audit of the Clientskys property found that there are 15.2 billion rubles ($220.6 million) missing. Later examination conducted by the DIA revealed that top managers of the bank gave away loans to legal entities and persons, who were not involved in economic activity and were not able to pay back.

In August 2015, the Central Bank of Russia stated that former management of the Clientsky did not provide temporary administration of the bank with documents preventing recovery of debt. This information was transferred to the law enforcement.Scientific unions ex-CEO to remain in detention on embezzlement charges

 TASS, Sergey Bobylev

14:32 23/08/2018

MOSCOW, August 23 (RAPSI)  The Moscow City Court has dismissed an appeal filed by the former CEO of the S.A. Lavochkin Scientific Union Sergey Lemeshevsky charged with embezzling 330 million rubles ($5.2 million) from the state space corporation Roscosmos against his detention, the courts press service has told RAPSI.

Lemeshevsky will remain in jail until September 19.

The defendant was arrested and detained in late July. In early August, the Moscow City Court overturned the ruling and forwarded the matter to a lower court for reconsideration. On August 13, the court reordered detention of Lemeshevsky until September 19.

Two other defendants in the case, chief of the Unions legal department Yekaterina Averyanova and chairman of the law firm Tretyakov & Partners Igor Tretyakov have been earlier put in detention. All of them are charged with embezzlement.

According to investigators, three defendants of the case have stolen assets of Roscosmos by signing fraudulent contracts with the law firm.Russian court sentences citizen of Tajikistan to 6 years for attempt to join ISIS

 RIA Novosti

17:07 23/08/2018

MOSCOW, August 23 (RAPSI)  Tajikistans citizen Umar Makhmadiyev has been sentenced to 6 years in high security penal colony for attempting to participate in the activities of the Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist organization prohibited in Russia, the spokesperson of the Leningrad District Military Court has told RAPSI.

According to the case documents, in 2017, Makhmadiyev lived in the Leningrad Region working at a brick factory. In free time he communicated with a representative of the ISIS, who convinced him to leave Russia and come to a training camp in Afghanistan, the investigators noted.

On December 8, when the defendant was passing the passport control in an airport before leaving for Istanbul, he was arrested by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB). Witnesses questioned in court said that the defendant was a radical Islamist.Can 3 crore out of the 8.9 crore young male population of nine states set off on a pilgrimage that extends for about a month?

If yes, then what can we infer regarding the state of the young working population in these states, asks Mahesh Vyas.

During the last one month, much of north India witnessed colourfully attired kanwariyas trudging along sidewalks of large metropolises, often spilling over into busy city traffic jams.

This is as spectacular a clash between tradition and modernity as one can get.

The traffic jams reflected the inability of modernity to deliver as the march of tradition grew in numbers and in its swagger.

While this clash is an interesting subject to study and understand, it is not my subject of discourse here. My interest is in finding in this phenomenon a reflection of the jobs situation in India.

A Google search tells me that the number of kanwariyas could be of the order of 3 crore this year.

Amulya Gopalakrishnan writes in her Sunday Times of India blog on August 12 that the number was estimated at 1.2 crore in 2011.

Sandeep Rawat reports in Hindustan Times on July 19, Last year, more than 2.5 crore (25 million) kanwariyas had arrived in Haridwar to fetch the holy Ganga jal (water).

"This year, the fair administration expects arrival of more than three crore kanwariyas.

A Scroll.in interview of Vikash Singh, assistant professor of sociology at Montclair State University, who wrote a book, Uprising of the Fools, Stanford University Press, March 2017, on the kanwariyas, gives the number at 2 crore in 2016.

Given the above, an estimate of 3 crore kanwariya pilgrims this year may not be too far off the mark.

What does this 3 crore estimate tell us about the employment situation in the country?

First, 3 crore is about 3 per cent of India's working-age population. It is 7.3 per cent of the total employed persons in the country and about 7 per cent of the labour force. That is a substantial number in itself.

It equals the total working-age population of Telangana (or, just a little less than the working-age population of Kerala).

It equals the total labour force of Rajasthan and Haryana put together.

It would be safe to assume that participants of the kanwariya pilgrimage come essentially from Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana and Uttarakhand.

The pilgrimage entails a trek up the Ganga to Haridwar, Gaumukh or Gangotri to fetch water from the Ganga to be offered at local Shiv temples or at temples in Meerut or Kashi Vishwanath.

There is a separate pilgrimage to Sultanganj in Bihar with similar objectives but we are not discussing that here.

Thirty million pilgrims work out to over 40 per cent of the labour force, and 43 per cent of the estimated employed persons in the four states of Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Harayana and Uttarakhand.

It would be extremely difficult for any state to free so many persons for a pilgrimage that could easily take away a month.

The annual kanwar yatra began on July 10 and ended on August 9 this year.

If we spread the net a little farther and assume that the kanwariyas could be coming in from Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and also from Himachal Pradesh, the 3 crore (30 million) estimate then works out to 23 per cent of the labour force and 24 per cent of the employed of these states.

This is a significant proportion that drops work and sets off on pilgrimage.

But why should we assume that they drop work? It is because the kanwariyas are mostly young men who could have been working.

Women, middle-aged and old-age people are a rare sight in this arduous trek. The average age appears to be in the mid-twenties, with a range from late teens to early thirties.

So then, it is more relevant for us to compare the 3 crore estimate to the young male population of the relevant states. For the purpose of this exercise, we define young population as those between 15 and 34 years of age.

The young male population in the four main states of kanwariya movement is of the order of 5.2 crore.

If we include all the nine states listed above, the relevant population size grows to 8.9 crore.

Can 3 crore out of the 8.9 crore young male population of the nine states set off on a pilgrimage that extends for about a month?

If yes, then what can we infer regarding the state of the young working population in these states?

Are they mostly unemployed or underemployed?

What can we infer from their growing numbers?

They seem to be growing at the rate of 20 to 25 per cent per annum. Is there growing unemployment or underemployment?

An alternative argument could be the large and growing number of kanwariyas reflects growing religiosity in Indian society.

While this could be true, one would be stretching credulity if we assume that religiosity can forego employment over an extended period.

It is more likely that there is a substantially large float of unemployed youth north of the Vindhyas.

Mahesh Vyas is managing director and CEO, Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy P Ltd.

Photograph: PTI Photo.'I went to slums in India which were quite destitute, where people were clearly really struggling, but typically there is a sort of sense of purpose.'

'People are hustling.'

'What that tells you is that if the country was so organised in a way to give these people opportunity, then they would make something of it.'

James Crabtree on India's slums: 'The thing that strikes you when you go into an Indian slum is the industry. There are businesses everywhere.' A metro train moves past a cluster of houses at the Asalpha slum in Mumbai, April 12, 2018. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters.

James Crabtree's The Billionaire Raj, a book that tracks India's place in the world economically and looks at how big India could become if it makes the right moves has already earned itself laurels.

It made it onto the long list for the Finanical Times McKinsey Business Book of the Year.

It also found a spot on former US treasury secretary Larry Summer's list of five best books on globalisation ever and figures in The Washington Post's summer reading choices.

The review have been generous too. The New York Times while stating that Crabtree should have devoted a larger section of his book to the fascinating Indian billionaires still conceded, 'The book is chock-full of profoundly revealing vignettes from various corners of India's endlessly diverse society and economy.'

"The Lutyens crowd, I think, it is undeniable that the grip on power that the traditional English-speaking elite in south Mumbai and central Delhi has over the country is slipping, for all sorts of reasons, partly to do with Modi and Hindu nationalism... India needs an elite that looks like India, not one that looks like London," Crabtree -- who considered it his business during his five year stint as the Financial Times correspondent to understand India and came to love it -- tells Vaihayasi Pande Daniel in the third segment of his multi-part interview to Rediff.com.

James Crabtree signs copies of his book at Mumbai airport. Photograph: Kind courtesy @jamescrabtree/Twitter

Any anecdotes about India for you that became metaphors for India?

The classic experience for a foreign correspondent in India -- and it is actually quite a good one to show you the country is improving -- is when you go to the Foreign Regional Registration Office in Mumbai.

So I end the book by talking about the airport, which is a little bit like that. Mumbai airport is quite a good metaphor for the progress that is being made to some degree.

Ten years ago it was a world-class disaster and now it is one of the best in the world. It is an indication that India can do great.

The same is true (for the FRRO). Ten years ago, when I arrived, it was an awful experience going to the FRRO. It is still pretty bad, but it has gotten a lot better.

I now talk to people who come here when it is no longer a disaster. You don't have to spend all day there in some dizzying bureaucracy. It is now a bit more efficient than it used to be.

It is not Singapore. It is getting there.

When you used to come here having to do this very painful day long registration was a thing that everybody complained about and was somehow your entry into Indian bureaucracy.

Whereas where I now live, in Singapore, that same experience is about the best in the world. To go and get your work registration documents it takes half an hour in a beautiful welcome centre, perfectly organised.

So it is not like that (in India) but it is getting better.

What about India's sense of religion?

Religion is a huge part of who India is.

How does religion in India, in your view, affect the journey India needs to be on, to reform itself?

That's a huge question. All I'd say is I think there are good reasons to believe that the values of secularism and equality enshrined in the Indian Constitution will provide a strong basis for future economic development.

James Crabtree interviewed former UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and was tickled to discover that he was reading the book he wrote. An exultant photograph from Crabtree's Twitter feed.

Any distressing experiences in India?

People used to say that the remarkable thing about India is it is a country where every single day you see something and you think, 'I can't believe I just saw that!'

I remember once I saw a man cutting a lawn with nail scissors (in Delhi). I remember staring at him and thinking this is crazy.

Then you think about it and think what does that tell you. It tells you something interesting about the price of labour relative to capital.

It is more efficient to have someone cut the lawn with scissors then it is to buy a lawn mower.

I suppose the most distressing thing is you see people, every day, in India whose circumstances are very hard. I suppose that is hard and trying not to become inured to it is also hard -- not become kind of cynical or dismissive, trying to be empathetic to people in their situation, particularly when there are people whose circumstances you can't really begin to understand if you come from the West.

We are so extraordinarily privileged. I am tall, middle-class, English, a white guy. I couldn't be more fortunate in the lottery of life. And so you have to work really hard to put yourself in other people's shoes to not end up being a jerk about things.

My book is moderately critical about aspects of Indian life, but I always want to be conscious, you know, that I am a guest in someone else's house.

When you are a guest in someone else's house you know you wipe your feet, you talk respectfully.

I was very, very conscious both in the way I was doing my reporting and in my book that I wanted to be as a friend of the country, as I am.

My son was born here. My wife and I had our children here. We love India. We come back all the time.

India is going to part of our life for a long time. It means a lot to me that people think the book is meant in the right way.

During your posting in India did you have interactions with those who are less privileged? People living in the slums? What about that group of people struck you?

The thing that strikes you when you go into an Indian slum is the industry. And I don't mean that in the literal sense though that is often true. There are businesses everywhere.

It is the aspiration. The people who are living there often have almost nothing but they are industrious. They are working hard. It is not a situation that is generally hopeless.

You feel a much greater sense of hopelessness walking into a housing estate in Glasgow (Scotland) than you do walking into Dharavi (a large slum in north central Mumbai).

The people in the housing estates in Glasgow probably earn more than almost anyone other than the one per cent in India, in terms of annual income, but the parts of the West that are downtrodden, are really depressed.

James Crabtree feels the magnitude of urbanisation India's faces is like nothing the world has seen ever before or will see. 'Urbanisation fundamentally changes the politics of places.' Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters

People are more cheerful than one would have imagined?

Cheerful would be putting it too hard. But it is industrious. It is not hopeless.

If you walk into Dharavi and Mumbai -- that's a bit of a cliche all journalists go there -- but if you go to some place... I went to a few slums in India which were quite destitute, where people were clearly really struggling, but typically there is a sort of sense of purpose. People are hustling.

What that tells you is that if the country was so organised in a way to give these people opportunity, then they would make something of it.

Look at the Indian Diaspora. All around the world Indians are successful, everywhere they go.

Hindus in America are America's richest religion. Indian are the highest net tax payer of any minority.

Given the same opportunity here people would be fine. The system is holding them back.

Apart from the actually billionaire rajas, who probably have no connect with the rest of India, did you not find that India's elite, who live in south Mumbai and Lutyens' Delhi were quite disconnected from the reality of India and that that is odd?

That was my job right. I worked for the Financial Times and I didn't spend a lot of time going out into the Indian countryside and learning about the condition of people in villages.

I spent my time trying to talk to captains of industry, industrialists, tech entrepreneurs, because I was working for a newspaper that was interested in business and money and so in a sense these were people I got to know.

Add to that what I said earlier that the elites of Mumbai and Delhi and the other top tier cities are very impressive people but they are also very welcoming.

Some people you end up liking a lot and some people you don't like so much.

Typically people are nice to you. It's more (so for) being a British person in India. You would have thought for reasons of history alone people may not be very nice, but people are very nice to the English.

They are kind of welcoming and they have a sort of respect for the British that we probably don't deserve, probably less so nowadays, but still there is this kind of residual sense of mutual recognition and that just makes life easier.

People are nice to you. You are treated very generously in India. People have been very kind.

In a sense everything I know about India you can only read so much in books people have to tell you, you have to be able to talk to people.

So most of the ideas in this books someone told this stuff I am just absorbing it and trying to put it down on paper and so a lot of what I was able to do was based on the goodwill of others.

You are well to do and are you connected to the reality of India?

I don't know what it means to be connected to the reality of India. It is not clear to me to me that I or my friends or you and your friends are much more connected to the reality of somebody living in a village in Bihar.

Often I find that the industrialists are quite attuned to this world.

If you are Naveen Jindal you are stupendously rich, but you still have to build steel plants in rural Chhattisgarh.

You don' have to do anything in Chhattisgarh you can happily live in south Mumbai or Lutyens' Delhi and go on holiday to Bali.

(Jindal) might fly there on a private jet, but he has to understand the politics like a local area in rural Chhattisgarh.

So for quite a lot of these industrialists, their businesses are going to take them up against parts of India that other people don't go to.

That is not to suggest that they are fantastically attuned to the hardship of the country. But certainly compared to business people in the West, I think in India people are much more conscious of the fact that they live in a country that is being remade in which they have a kind of particular responsibility. I would give people more credit than that.

On the Lutyens crowd I think it is undeniable that the grip on power that the traditional English-speaking elite in south Mumbai and central Delhi has over the country is slipping, for all sorts of reasons, partly to do with Modi and Hindu nationalism.

And partly to due with simply the fact that the rest of the country is now modernising and so you will have different groups in Hyderabad or Ahmedabad, who are powerful and rich in a way that only Mumbai and Delhi used to be.

So the kind of lock-hold on the culture that this group -- the small elite -- used to have is slipping. That's probably a good thing.

In the end India needs an elite that looks like India, not one that looks like London.

Although it is important that the values that that elite to some degree upheld, which are the values, to some degree, in the Indian Constitution, that those continue to be upheld.Construction major L&T was the biggest gainer among the Sensex components, spurting 2.30 per cent, after the company said its board has approved a Rs 9,000-crore share buyback plan.

Benchmarks defied gravity for the fourth straight session on Thursday, riding on a rally in RIL which became the first Indian company to reach a market capitalisation of Rs 8 lakh crore.

The BSE Sensex jumped 51 points to a fresh closing peak of 38,336.76, while the broader NSE Nifty rose 11.85 points to record 11,582.75.

Persistent buying by both foreign and domestic investors offset concerns related to the rupee and global trade, brokers said.

The rupee once again breached the 70-mark against the US dollar amid robust demand for the greenback.

On the global front, the US slapped tariffs on another $16 billion of Chinese imports, which Beijing vowed to retaliate.

Construction major L&T was the biggest gainer among the Sensex components, spurting 2.30 per cent, after the company said its board has approved a Rs 9,000-crore share buyback plan.

Index heavyweight Reliance Industries (RIL) became the first Indian company to cross the Rs 8 lakh crore market capitalisation mark. RIL shares rose 1.86 per cent to hit a record high of Rs 1,269.70.

The 30-share Sensex opened strong and scaled an all-time (intra-day) high of 38,487.63 in early trade.

However, it succumbed to profit booking to slip to 38,227.36, before finally ending at 38,336.76 points, up 51.01 points, or 0.13 per cent.

It bettered its previous record closing of 38,285.75 reached on August 21.

The gauge has now gained 673.20 points in four sessions. The stock market was shut on Wednesday on account of Bakri Id.

The broader NSE Nifty also rose 11.85 points or 0.10 per cent to finish at 11,582.75 -- surpassing its previous record closing of 11,570.90 hit on August 21.

Meanwhile, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth a net of Rs 254.25 crore and domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought equities worth Rs 197.87 crore on Tuesday, provisional data showed.

"This was the 25th time this year calendar year that the Nifty has hit a new high. The market's resilience was commendable coming after a near 5 per cent rise in crude oil over the last two days coupled with a depreciation of the rupee.

"Pharma sector continued to do well for the second day running while the IT stocks also edged up. Bank Nifty closed lower in the weekly expiry," said V K Sharma, head Private Client Group and Capital Market Strategy at HDFC Securities.

Other prominent Sensex gainers were Adani Ports 1.68 per cent, PowerGrid 1.47 per cent, Maruti Suzuki 1.43 per cent, ONGC 1.18 per cent, HUL 1.18 per cent, TCS 1.08 per cent, Infosys 1.08 per cent, Sun Pharma 0.61 per cent, M&M 0.43 per cent, Bharti Airtel 0.41 per cent and Wipro 0.35 per cent.

In contrast, Tata Motors slumped 4.33 per cent followed by Vedanta 2.01 per cent, Tata Steel 1.85 per cent, Bajaj Auto 1.52 per cent, SBI 1.52 per cent, Kotak Bank 1.21 per cent, IndusInd Bank 0.90 per cent and Coal India 0.89 per cent, among others.

On the sectoral front, the BSE IT index jumped 1.16 per cent, followed by FMCG 1.12 per cent, capital goods 1.01 per cent, teck 0.91 per cent, energy 0.88 per cent, healthcare 0.81 per cent, power 0.66 per cent, infrastructure 0.42 per cent, realty 0.37 per cent and oil and gas 0.01 per cent.

While metal fell 1.54 per cent, bankex 0.83 per cent, PSU 0.53 per cent, consumer durbales 0.11 per cent and auto 0.11 per cent.

The broader markets too displayed a mixed trend, with the mid-cap index rising 0.20 per cent while the small-cap gauge shed 0.14 per cent.

Globally, Asian shares ended mixed amid fresh escalation in the Sino-US trade dispute.

Shanghai Composite index rose 0.37 per cent and Japan's Nikkei gained 0.22 per cent. However, Hong Kong's Hang Seng shed 0.49 per cent.

In Europe, Paris CAC 40 rose 0.11 per cent and Frankfurt DAX inched up 0.02 per cent in early deals. London's FTSE rose 0.01 per cent.

However, US stocks closed mostly lower yesterday, with the S&P 500 and the Dow snapping a four-day winning streak, as the minutes from the latest Federal Open Market Committee's meeting reaffirmed the central bank's hawkish bias.Union Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday resumed charge of the ministries of finance and corporate affairs after a nearly 100-day gap during which he underwent a surgery for kidney transplant.

IMAGE: Re-appointed as the finance minister, Jaitley walked into the North Block attired in a formal trousers and smiling and waving at people. Photograph: @FinMinIndia/Twitter

Jaitley, 65, who had stopped attending office a month-and-half before the May 14 renal surgery, came to North Block -- the seat of the ministry of finance and the ministry of corporate affairs -- at 1100 am in his white Tata Safari accompanied by his personal staff.

Attired in formal trousers and wearing a characteristic smile, Jaitley went straight to his first-floor office, which had been renovated and sanitised to suit his present condition.

He was greeted by a host of officials and his deputies. He acknowledged them with folded hands and also waived at people waiting for him.

Jaitley started work after getting a clearance from his doctors, official sources said.

He met senior officials in both the ministries including Finance Secretary Hashmukh Adhia as also the chairpersons of Central Board of Direct Taxes and Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs.

Sources said doctors have advised him to cut his public interaction to the minimum to protect him from contracting any infection.

The limited visitors to his room are required to cover their shoes with the blue plastic bags that are used in hospitals.

IMAGE: During the day, Jaitley met with senior officials, including Finance Secretary Hashmukh Adhia. Photograph: @FinMinIndia/Twitter

Earlier in the day, a communique from the Rashtrapati Bhavan said, The President of India, as advised by the Prime Minister, has directed to assign the portfolios of the Minister of Finance and Minister of Corporate Affairs to Shri Arun Jaitley.

Jaitley had undergone a renal transplant operation on May 14. On that day, the charge of his ministry was given to minister for railways and coal Piyush Goyal on an interim basis.

Jaitley had remained a minister without portfolio in the Narendra Modi government since then.

He has been the finance minister since the Modi government came to power in May 2014. He had also held additional charge of Ministry of Defence as well as that of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

During his over four-month-long break, he was active on social media, writing blogs on economy as also various issues of national importance such as National Register for Citizens in Assam, Emergency of over four decades ago, No-confidence Motion in Parliament, Rafale fighter jet deal and the Goods and Services Tax.

He also participated in a couple of events like banking conclave and the first anniversary of the launch of GST through video conferencing. He even held at least one meeting with ministry officials through the same mode after the surgery.

He made his first public appearance in Parliament for a few hours to participate in the election for the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha on August 9. Later he also participated in the prayer meeting organised after the death of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

A Rajya Sabha MP since 2000, he was re-elected to the Upper House from Uttar Pradesh in March this year. He is also the leader of the House.

Jaitley had undergone a bariatric surgery soon after the Bharatiya Janata Party government came to power at the Centre in 2014. The surgery, to treat weight gain that he suffered because of a long-standing diabetic condition, was first performed at Max Hospital, but he then had to be shifted to AIIMS because of complications.Last year we had drought and this year flood. How prepared are we to face that?

IMAGE: A man cleans up his house after flood waters subsided in Chengannur district of Kerala. Photograph: PTI Photo

Kerala has seen one of the worst floods in its history during this monsoon.

From August 8 to 20, nearly 223 people have lost their lives, 33 are missing and around 1.2 million individuals from 3,02,441 families are in 3,941 relief camps. Initial losses are estimated to be around Rs 200 billion (Rs 20,000 crore).

With the rescue measures on its last legs, the Kerala government is looking at raising funds to rebuild the state.

In an interaction with Gireesh Babu and T E Narasimhan, Kerala Finance Minister T M Thomas Isaac says he has a three-pronged strategy to raise funds.

What is your estimate on the economic losses? How much would Kerala require to rebuild the state?

The initial estimate (loss) is around Rs 200-300 billion. We need to rebuild houses, roads and other infrastructures. We are currently working on the package, and are conducting meetings for that. We had a meeting with all the erstwhile chief secretaries of Kerala on how to bring in a method and agency for implementation so that the entire programme can be implemented in the next 24 months. We would finalise it in another weeks time.

How is the state planning to mobilise resources to rebuild Kerala?

First, raising of the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management borrowing limits for at least two years and at least 1.5 per cent increase of the Gross State Domestic Product to be borrowed, which will entirely be spent only on capital expenditures. We will ensure that the revenue deficit goes down so that the additional borrowing will go entirely into capex.

Secondly, we want the Goods and Services Tax Council to permit us to impose a cess on SGST. The Centre wanted a cess for sugar. So in principle, they shouldnt oppose this.

Third, we are going to get a lot of private participation and will also utilise Centre sponsored programmes.

IMAGE: Flood victims unload food and relief material from an Indian Air force helicopter at Nelliyampathy village. Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters

Is there any provision in the GST framework to allow such a cess?

Now, the Centre wanted to have a cess on GST for sugar. They have not done it, but if they can opt for that, they can equally permit Kerala. SGST is purely an intra state tax and does not affect the Centre or the other states. So there is no logic in denying. We want to have a 10 per cent cess on SGST, which I think will get us some Rs 10 billion.

How much can the state mobilise?

Revenue is going to be around Rs 10 billion, we are not going to get more from it. If I had my land tax, I would have put a 3-5 per cent tax without asking anybody and got my money. Centre schemes are also limited. So it means the package would be keenly dependent upon the central government raising the FRBM level. If they increase the FRBM limit by 1.5 per cent from 3 per cent of the GDP at present, for two years, that should fetch us something like Rs 250 billion and the rest we will raise from other methods.

Will rebuilding Kerala further worsen its current financial situation?

No, we are going to use this crisis as an opportunity. Like the rebuilding Kerala programme, we have created various special purpose vehicles through which we are attracting private capital and building up big infrastructure.

Measures of raising resources through SPVs and investing in the economy, infrastructure are not done very normally. The rationale for it is that this precisely is the crisis. That is what I mean converting the crisis into an opportunity.

Will you take the Gadgil committee report into account when you rebuild the infrastructure?

The debate is not going to be on the basis of the Gadgil report, which is about protecting the Western Ghats. That is unnecessarily going to create a division.

The current crisis shows serious indications of climate change. Last year, we had drought and this year flood. This is going to be a more common occurrence. How prepared are we to face that?

Water carrying capacity of river basins are sharply down, which resulted in flash floods. Focus would be how to rejuvenate the rivers, ponds, small canals, conserve the paddy field and also of course, discourage construction in the slopes, land slide prone areas etc.The European Union on Thursday announced an assistance of 190,000 (Rs 1.53 crore) in aid funding to the Indian Red Cross Society for providing immediate relief to flood-affected people in Kerala.

IMAGE: A Border Security Force personnel distributes food food and water to the residents who are stuck in their houses because of the flood water in interior places at Allapy. Photograph: Atul Loke/Getty Images

The announcement was made by the office of the grouping, comprising 28 European countries.

In response to the devastating monsoon floods that swept across large parts of the southern Indian state of Kerala, the European Union has allocated an initial contribution of 190,000 in humanitarian aid funding to support the Indian Red Cross Society for immediate relief assistance, the EU said in a statement.

It said the aid will directly benefit 25,000 people from some of the worst hit areas of the state, adding a humanitarian expert from the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Operations has also been deployed to assess the situation in the state.

This EU funding support to the IRCS will ensure much needed assistance through the distribution of essential shelter and household items including tarpaulins and kitchen sets, the EU said.

It said as outbreaks of vector-borne diseases such as dengue, chikungunya and malaria are common following flooding, mosquito nets are also being provided, while disease prevention and hygiene promotion activities are also being conducted.

The bloc said the funding is part of the EUs overall contribution to the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

According to official figure the floods claimed 231 lives and rendered more than 14.50 lakh people homeless besides causing widespread destructions in 13 of the 14 districts of the state.

The full extent of the damage from the flooding is yet to be fully revealed, as search and rescue operations continue in several locations across the region.

On Wednesday, the government said it will not accept any assistance from foreign governments for Kerala flood relief in sync with an existing policy.

The external affairs ministry, however, said contributions to the Prime Ministers Relief Fund and the Chief Ministers Relief Fund from Non Resident Indians, Persons of Indian Origin and international entities such as foundations will be welcomed.Just hours before his death, veteran journalist Kuldip Nayar had penned an article, in which he asked the Narendra Modi government to focus on development and good governance in the North East rather than imposing its 'Hindutva philosophies'.

The 95-year-old, who breathed his last around 12.30 am in a Delhi hospital on Thursday, also wrote that illegal migration will remain a security challenge for India if no adequate measures

are taken including checking and deporting illegal migrants.

His article titled 'Immigrants or vote banks?' was published in the Nagpur edition of Lokmat Times on Thursday morning, hours after his death.

Nayar wrote that the central government should initiate steps to address the pending inter-state issues in the North East, especially the boundary dispute of Assam with Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya.

Manipur also has a boundary problem with Mizoram and Nagaland, yet the region is united on many important issues like harassment of people from North East particularly the student community in some parts of the country, especially the national capital, the prolific journalist, columnist and author wrote.

He said the Bharatiya Janata Party is well entrenched in six of the seven states in the North East and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party know well that political loyalities in the region can change very fast.

Nayar said the central BJP government has introduced several measures for the development in the North East, trying to connect with the people of the region emotionally.

'The ruling BJP must remember that the North East is a plural society devoid of much communal violence unlike the Hindi heartland. It is paramount that the Centre should concentrate more on development and good governance rather than impose its Hindutva philosophies,' the article read.

With the general elections due next year, the BJP cannot afford to ignore the problems North East is facing, he said.

Of the 25 Lok Sabha seats from the region, Assam has the highest 14 members and winning every seat will be important for Modi, Nayar wrote.

Dinkar Raikar, group editor of Lokmat newspaper, told PTI that the article will be published on Friday in the Lokmat newspaper, the Marathi daily of the group.

Nayar, who had headed the Lokmat bureau in Delhi for some years, was a regular contributor to the group of newspapers, Raikar said.

"Some of his articles would be translated in Marathi as well," he added.

While recalling Nayar's close association with Lokmat, Raikar said he was the guest at the paper's launch in Aurangabad.

Nayar leaves behind unpublished piece on Vajpayee

Nayar had written a tribute piece on Atal Bihari Vajpayee after the former prime minister's death, but as fate would have it, Nayar's obituary has overtaken his unpublished article on the poet-politician.

"He was in 90s and yet working till his last day. His loss is irreplaceable, but, at least he died peacefully," his son Rajiv Nayar said.

"After Vajpayee's death, he (Nayar) was working on a piece on him. He had finished the article and it was to be sent to all the syndicated publishers, but the inevitable happened. Irony is, his obituary has been written even before his planned piece could be published. Such is life," Rajiv Nayar told PTI.

"He was a deeply determined man. And so, even in his old age he was writing. Last Friday, we took him to the hospital, not knowing we were going to lose him. But, he was spirited till the end," said Ratish Nanda, who is married to Kuldip Nayar's granddaughter Mandira.

"He wrote the piece on Vajpayee, but it still lies on his desk," Nanda said.

Vajpayee, 93, died at the AIIMS hospital in Delhi on August 16 following a prolonged illness.

As Nayar's mortal remains were consigned to flames, amid a mournful gathering, many described his departure as an 'end of an era' in journalism.

Delhi University professor Ajit Jha, who also attended the funeral, said, "I had worked with him as part of his various initiatives, including the civil society ones."

"His personal relationship with Vajpayee was warm but as a journalist he was also critical of him as a politician," he said.

Vajpayee and Nayar, both born in 1920s, died one week apart, and leave a wealth of legacy behind for the posterity.

With inputs from Kunal Dutt/PTIIMAGE: French police secure a street after a man killed two persons and injured an other in a knife attack in Trappes, near Paris, on Thursday. Photograph: Philippe Wojazer/Reuters

A man stabbed his mother and sister to death and seriously injured another person in a Parisian suburb on Thursday, before being shot dead by police.

The attacker was later neutralised by the police and they are investigating the motives behind the attack, reported The Washington Post.

Meanwhile, the terrorist outfit Islamic State has come forward to take the responsibility for the attack.

The Islamic State's Amaq news agency claimed that the attacker was one of the 'fighters for the Islamic State'.

Referring to the countries fighting the IS, they further announced that the attack was in response to 'calls to target the coalition'.

However, they have not provided any proof of their claim and the police are investigating all the possible motives of the attacker.

The killer had serious mental health problems and had been on a terror watch list since 2016, Interior Minister Gerard Collomb told reporters after visiting the scene in the town of Trappes.

Collomb said the attacker was 'mentally unstable, rather than someone who was committed, who would respond to orders from a terrorist organisation, in particular Daesh', using another name for IS.

Regular French criminal prosecutors are investigating the case rather than anti-terror specialists, Collomb stressed, although checks on the knifeman's phone and computer were underway.

With ANI inputsPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said every paisa of every rupee released by his government reaches the poor as there is no place for middlemen and asserted that his endeavour is to provide every Indian family a home of its own by 2022.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the convocation of Gujarat Forensic Science University in Gandhinagar on Thursday. Photograph: Santosh Hirlekar/PTI Photo

In an apparent jibe at former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's famous comment about only 15 paise of every one rupee released by the Centre reaching the targetted beneficiary, Modi said, "If one rupee is released from Delhi, the entire 100 paise (now) reach the house of the poor."

Addressing a public gathering in Jujwa village of Gujarat after a collective 'e-gruha pravesh' (online house warming) event for beneficiaries of the Prime Minister's Housing Scheme for Rural areas, Modi said people now do not have to pay bribes to avail benefits of the Centre's flagship housing scheme.

Modi said he dreams of every family owning a house of its own by 2022 when the nation will celebrate 75 years of independence.

The erstwhile rural housing scheme, Indira Awaas Yojana was restructured into Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G), which was launched by Modi in November 2016.

As part of the government's 'Housing for All by 2022' scheme, targets have been set to complete one crore new pucca houses in rural areas by March 2019 and 2.95 crore by 2022.

According to information available on the Rural Development Ministry website, 18.22 lakh houses were completed under the erstwhile scheme in 2015-16, while the number rose to over 32 lakh in 2016-17 and 44.54 lakh in 2017-18 after taking into account houses built under the new scheme and completion of incomplete houses started under the previous scheme.

The scheme aims to provide a pucca house with basic amenities to all houseless families and those living in kutcha and dilapidated houses by 2022.

It provides unit assistance of Rs 1.20 lakh in plains and Rs 1.30 lakh in hilly areas, besides other benefits. The assistance cost is shared between the central and state government in the ratio of 60:40 in plains and 90:10 for North Eastern and Himalayan states.

IMAGE: The PM is greeted during the convocation. Gujarat Governor O P Kohli and deputy CM nitin Patel are also seen. Photograph: Press Information Bureau of India

"While talking to the women beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna, I was watching the houses behind them. Even you would be wondering how such good quality houses were built under that scheme," Modi said, referring to his interaction through video conferencing with some beneficiaries.

"This was made possible because there is no place for middlemen in my government," he said.

Modi said his government has the "guts" to ask the women beneficiaries -- when the entire country is watching and the media is present -- if they had to pay any bribe or commission to get the houses.

"In reply, the mothers and sisters could say with satisfaction that they got the houses according to rules and they did not have to pay a single rupee bribe," he said.

The prime minister said his government has paid due attention to ensure that these houses are of good quality.

"Gujarat has taught me a lot. It has taught me to fulfil dreams within a specific time. It is my dream, it is our endeavour to ensure that every Indian family has its own home by 2022," he said.

Modi said the government has given money for building the houses, but these homes have also been built with the 'sweat of the family'.

"The family decided how will the house be, what material will be used and how will it be made. We put our trust in them and not on contractors. When a family makes its own home, it makes it the best," Modi said.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah, senior BJP leader L K Advani and former Gujrat C M Keshubhai Patel during a meeting of Somnath Temple Trust at the Raj Bhavan in Gandhinagar on Thursday. Photograph: PTI Photo

While interacting with women beneficiaries, he asked them about their experiences of owning a concrete house, quizzed them about cleanliness, education of the girl child, supply of water, power, and gas connections under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjawala Yojana.

He asked some women if they had to pay any bribe to the middlemen to get the amount of around Rs 1.5 lakh under the housing scheme.

Modi said bribery was not possible as the money was transferred directly into accounts of the beneficiaries.

As many as 1.15 lakh concrete houses have been constructed under the scheme across 26 districts in Gujarat and its beneficiaries are the rural families.

On the occasion, women beneficiaries of the Chief Minister's Gramodaya Yojana were also given certificates of vocational training.

Referring to the government's drive to provide electricity to all, Modi said in the next 1-1.5 years, no home will be left without power in the country.

At the function, he also performed ground-breaking ceremony through remote control of a Rs 586 crore water supply project to provide drinking water to around 175 villages situated in hilly areas of Valsad district.

Modi said he had spent time in Vasad's tribal areas in the past and therefore he knew about problems faced by its people.

'India would have been disease-free if Swachh drive was launched 70 yrs ago'

Later, speaking at Junagadh, Modi said the country would have been disease-free by now if programmes like the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan were started 70 years ago.

Attacking the Opposition, Modi said he was mocked for these programmes, which are aimed at making a healthy nation.

Citing a report of the World Health Organisation, he said lives of 3 lakh children in India can be saved just by ensuring cleanliness.

"There has been a recent WHO report, (which states) that just because of (by ensuring) cleanliness, 3 lakh children can be saved from dying in India, such is the situation. The Swachhta Abhiyan is directly connected to health," Modi said, addressing a public gathering.

He was speaking after inaugurating various projects, including a newly-built hospital of the Gujarat Medical and Education Research Society.

"When I used to talk about cleanliness, they (Opposition) used to make fun of me. Is this the PM's work... to make toilets, clear garbage? Had all these works been done 70 years back, the country would have been disease-free by now," the prime minister said.

Modi said moving the country towards being open defecation free is the biggest service towards health.

He said a programme has been started under which there will be one medical college and a hospital for every three parliamentary seats. Later, (as the programme

progresses) the number of parliamentary seats will be reduced to two and then one.

"There should finally be a medical college and a hospital in every district (zilla)," Modi said.

He later attended the convocation of the Gujarat Forensic Science University in Gandhinagar and a meeting of the Somnath Temple Trust at the Raj Bhavan there.

'Use DNA profiling for speedy justice in rape cases'

Addressing the 4th convocation ceremony of the Gujarat Forensic Sciences University (GFSU) in Gandhinagar, Modi asked forensic experts to adopt modern techniques like DNA profiling in rape cases to ensure speedy justice.

He said the central government had approved the DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, 2018 in view of the importance of DNA technology in forensic investigation.

"I call upon forensic experts to help the judiciary by using DNA profiling as much as possible so that culprits of brutal rape cases are punished immediately and the victims get justice," Modi said.

He said technology should be used to the maximum extent to ensure speedy delivery of justice.

"In order to deal with rapidly changing crime scenario, you also have to develop newer techniques to ensure that criminals are not spared," the prime minister said.

He said criminals and their ways of committing crime are constantly changing.

"Forensic science, the police and the judiciary are three important pillars to ensure criminal justice delivery system, so that citizens feel safe and the crime is kept under check," Modi said.

He said Gujarat had adopted a holistic approach in developing these three areas.How would you react if the oranges and other items at your neighbourhood grocery store were smiling at you?

If you want to find out, head to British artist Lucy Sparrows recent art installment at the Standard, Downtown Los Angeles and check out the adorable results.

Welcome to Sparrow Mart -- British artist Lucy Sparrows felted supermarket. All 31,000 objects in the market are handmade, painted and signed by Sparrow - and every single one is for sale. The pop-up installation runs through August 31. Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty Images

Everything in the 'supermarket' is made of felt. Prices vary, with trays of $10-a-pop sushi pieces, $35 candy bars, and $65 bottles of gin and whiskey among the wide range of goods for sale. And if you are hungry, don't hope on getting to gorge on any pizza as that too is made of felt! Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty Images

Browse through the soda and soft drinks aisle at the supermarket. Lisa's art is so realistic that each of her art pieces have labels -- all made by her. Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty Images

And one must pay homage to America's greatest snack -- the Hot Dog! The supermarket has a hot dog stand -- this too is made of felt. Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty Images

Even Sparrow admits she wouldnt be able to resist stocking up on some of her felt creations. The fruit and veg, or the meat fridgetheyre just so cute, she says. Theyre cute and they dont necessarily know their fate at the same time. Theyre sort of doomed. Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty Images

About 30 guests will be allowed inside Sparrow Mart at a time where they can chill in the meat's section. But be warned, don't get freaked if your meat smiles at you. Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty Images

The artist employed a team of four sewers in her studio, dubbed the felt cave, to help accomplish the task. Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty Images

With everything being available for sale, the only catch is that when its over, its over. Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty Images

If you run out of cash don't expect the ATM at the supermarket to help you out as that too is made of felt :-) Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty ImagesSatya Pal Malik was sworn in as the 13th governor of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, ending the five-decade-long practice of retired bureaucrats being appointed to the post.

IMAGE: Governor-designate of Jammu and Kashmir Satya Pal Malik being received by former chief minister Farooq Abdullah, at Srinagar airport on Wednesday. Photograph: PTI Photo

Malik was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir high court Gita Mittal at the Raj Bhawan.

State Chief secretary B V R Subrahmanyam read the warrant of appointment issued by President Ram Nath Kovind before Malik was administered the oath.

Former chief ministers Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti were among over 400 guests present in the ceremony, which also saw the presence of legislators, senior leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party, Peoples Democratic Party, National Conference, Congress and other political parties.

Senior officials of the civil administration, police, Central Reserve Police Force, Border Security Force and the army were also present at the event.

Malik, 72, has worked with almost all political hues of the country. He is the first politician to assume the position after Karan Singh, who held the office from 1965 to 1967.

Malik, former governor of Bihar, had arrived in the state on Wednesday.

Outgoing governor N N Vohra, who was at the helm of affairs in the state for the last 10 years, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a courtesy visit on Wednesday. He had also met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

Vohra, however, could not attend the ceremony as he was on his way to Srinagar from Delhi.

The militancy-hit state is at present under the governors rule after the BJP withdrew support from its alliance partner PDP in June this year.

Vohra, a 1959-batch Punjab cadre IAS officer, had remained the choice of the central government, irrespective of the party in power due to his knowledge, expertise and negotiation skills.

Just as he saw Jammu and Kashmir through its worst crises, including the Amarnath agitation in 2008, Vohra also witnessed the rise and fall of militancy in Punjab.

He had served as the home secretary of Punjab after Operation Blue Star in 1984 when the northern state was in the thick of a bloody struggle for Khalistan and the army stormed into the Golden Temple.

Malik, in contrast, is a career politician who started as a student leader in Meerut University and became an MLA of Charan Singhs Bhartiya Kranti Dal from Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh in 1974.

He had joined the Congress in 1984 and became a Rajya Sabha MP, but resigned three years later against the backdrop of the Bofors scam. He switched to the V P Singh-led Janta Dal in 1988 and became an MP from Aligarh in 1989.

In 2004, Malik joined the BJP and unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha elections, losing to former prime minister Charan Singhs son Ajit Singh.

Before taking oath as Bihar governor on October 4, 2017, he was in-charge of BJPs Kisan Morcha.IMAGE: Navy supplies food and materials to the flood affected people of Chengannur district of the Kerala. Photograph: PTI Photo

As the row over foreign aid for flood-ravaged Kerala escalated, the National Disaster Management Authority had in 2016 suggested assistance offered as a goodwill gesture 'may' be accepted by India, bolstering the stand taken by Chief Minister Pinarayi there is no blanket ban.

With the Centre drawing flak from the opposition parties and others for invoking a policy decision taken by the Manmohan Singh government in 2004 in the aftermath of the Tsunami for not accepting foreign aid, Union minister K J Alphons on Thursday appealed for an 'one time exception' to the 14-year convention to allow overseas assistance, notably from the United Arab Emirates.

"Kerala has contributed huge amounts of foreign exchange through remittance in the last 50 years. In fact in the last year itself, it had brought Rs 75,000 crore... For these reasons, as junior minister I am appealing to my senior colleagues to make a special consideration for the state. I appeal to them to make a one-time exception to the policy," Alphons told PTI in Delhi.

Alphons, who hails from Kerala, earlier in the day defended the Centre's decision, saying in refusing foreign aid for rehabilitation of the flood-hit state it has only followed the convention 'inherited' from the previous governments of not accepting such assistance in the face of natural calamities.

Vijayan and his ministerial colleague Thomas Isaac on Wednesday said India, by law, could accept financial aid voluntarily given by a foreign government in times of a severe calamity.

They cited the National Disaster Management Plan.

Backing the chief minister, top diplomats and bureacrats who had serving during Manmohan Singh's tenure as prime minister suggested that the 2004 decision was not cast in stone.

Isaac, the finance Minister of the Left-ruled state, flayed the Centre over the refusal of foreign aid and said the southern state had asked it for a financial support of Rs 2,200 crore, but was granted only Rs 600 crore.

"We make no request to any foreign government but UAE government voluntarily offered Rs 700 crore. No, says Union government, it is below our dignity to accept foreign aid.

This is a dog in the manger policy (sic)," Isaac said on Twitter.

Vijayan said on Wednesday night there were no obstacles for accepting such assistance.

"Donations from other countries are acceptable. Will approach the Prime Minister if required," he told reporters.

Asserting it was natural two countries help each other, Vijayan said the Disaster Management policy announced in 2016 makes it clear if any national government of another country voluntarily offers assistance as a good will gesture in solidarity with the disaster victims, the Central government may accept the offer.

The National Disaster Management Plan, a publication of the NDMA, on planning framework for disaster situations, noted in its 2016 document that as a matter of policy, the government of India does not issue any appeal for foreign assistance in the wake of a disaster.

'However, if the national government of another country voluntarily offers assistance as a goodwill gesture in solidarity with the disaster victims, the central government may accept the offer,' says the NDMP prepared during the tenure of the current NDA government.

When asked for a comment on the NDMP, a home ministry spokesperson said: 'At this stage, the ministry of home affairs has no comment to offer'.

On Wednesday, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said India will not accept any assistance from foreign governments for flood-hit Kerala in sync with an existing policy.

He said the government was committed to meeting the requirements for relief and rehabilitation in Kerala through domestic efforts.

A number of countries have announced assistance for flood relief operations in Kerala.

While the UAE has offered $100 million (around Rs 700 crore), Qatar has pledged around Rs 35 crore and Maldives has announced a donation of USD 50,000 (Rs 35 lakh).

The Kerala government is keen to accept the donations from the UAE.

Communist Party of India-Marxist Kerala state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said the Centre should make changes in the convention to get Kerala assistance from foreign countries.

In a Facebook post, he termed as 'wrong' the Centre's decision to refuse UAE's aid offer.

'The refusal to accept foreign assistance is an act of vengeance,' Balakrishnan said.

Congress termed the centre's decision as 'disappointing'.

'Centre to give more funds; Rs 600cr only advance assistance'

Meanwhile, the Centre on Thursday said Rs 600 crore released two days ago to flood-hit Kerala was only the advance assistance and additional funds would be released when an inter-ministerial team visits the state again and assesses the damage.

'It is clarified that Rs 600 crore released by Centre is the advance assistance only. Additional funds would be released from NDRF on assessment of the damages as per laid down procedure,' the statement said.

On Tuesday, the central government had released Rs 600 crore to flood-hit Kerala as promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Rs 500 crore) and Home Minister Rajnath Singh (Rs 100 crore) during their visits to the state.

The home ministry said during the floods in Kerala, the Centre has provided urgent aid and relief material in a timely manner and without any reservation.

The situation has been regularly monitored by the PM on daily basis and he visited the state on August 17-18, 2018.

On his instructions, the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), under the chairmanship of the cabinet secretary, regularly monitored and coordinated rescue and relief operations by holding daily meetings from Aug 16-21, 2018.

Pak offers humanitarian assistance

Pakistan's new Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday said Pakistan stands ready to provide any humanitarian assistance to flood-ravaged Kerala as he sent best wishes to those affected by the devastating deluge.

Khan, who took the oath as Pakistan's Prime Minister last week, took to Twitter to express his support to the people of Kerala.

'On behalf of the people of Pakistan, we send our prayers and best wishes to those who have been devastated by the floods in Kerala, India. We stand ready to provide any humanitarian assistance that may be needed,' Khan said in a tweet.Since 2016, when India was officially recognised in US law as a 'major defence partner', Washington has purposefully upgraded the defence relationship.

Ajai Shukla reports.

IMAGE: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman with US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis during the general's visit to New Delhi last year. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo



Washington's chief South Asia diplomat Alice Wells has for the first time outlined a clear agenda for the inaugural 2+2 dialogue in New Delhi on September 6.

Previewing the meeting, for which two United States principals -- Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary for Defence General Jim Mattis -- will travel to India for joint talks with Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Wells said: 'What we are looking for at the upcoming 2+2 ministerial is to discuss how to operationalise India's status as a major defence partner."

Since 2016, when India was officially recognised in US law as a 'major defence partner', Washington has purposefully upgraded the defence relationship.

Earlier this year, the Hawaii-based, Asia-focused US military command was renamed the 'Indo-Pacific Command' to highlight India's centrality to regional security.

By clearing an amendment to the National Defence Authorisation Act 2018, the US Congress effectively exempted India from being caught up in US sanctions against Russia.

In addition, earlier this month, the Trump administration granted India 'Strategic Trade Authorisation-1' status to facilitate sensitive high technology trade.

New Delhi sources also indicate that a crucial communications security agreement (COMCASA), which has been in negotiation for over a decade, could be signed shortly before or after the 2+2 meeting next month.

'As you know, we've gone from essentially zero dollars in defence cooperation in 2008 to as much as $18 billion (Rs 12.5 lakh crore) today,' Wells pointed out.

'We do more military exercises with India than with any other country in the world, but how do we take this partnership to a new level so that it's not just going to be defence acquisition, but really a way of framing how we see challenges and how we are able to respond together to address these challenges,' Wells said, outlining an agenda geared to 'demonstrate the facts of this maturing partnership'.

Wells, who was briefing the media in Washington, DC on Monday, August 20, ahead of the annual Indian Ocean Conference in Hanoi, Vietnam, scheduled for next week, also talked up India's role in Afghanistan.

Pointing to 'India's $3 billion (Rs 20,700 crore) commitment to date up to 2020, in support of Afghanistan's economic development,' Wells said: 'We welcome the fact that India has stepped up and has evinced this commitment and enjoys a strategic relationship with Afghanistan that does not have to come at the expense of any other country in the region.'

In contrast, Pakistan's 'critical role' was mainly to 'take stronger steps to ensure that the Taliban either comes to the negotiating table or is expelled back into Afghanistan, rather than enjoy safe haven outside the country'.

Referring to the new Imran Khan-led government in Pakistan, Wells said, 'We have expressed our concern over the fact that terrorist proxy groups continue to enjoy safe haven in Pakistan. We are urging for the government to do more and bring pressure to bear against these organisations and externally-oriented terror groups.'

Wells also indicated that Washington would work to ease Islamabad's roadblocks on trade between India and Afghanistan.

'It's easier for India to trade with Brazil than it is with some of its neighbouring countries. That doesn't make sense,' she said.

Underlining the US claim to being an Indo-Pacific nation, Wells said: 'The US conducts about $1.4 trillion (over Rs 96 lakh crore) in two-way trade with the rest of the Indo-Pacific region, more than any other country in the world, and has provided a cumulative $850 billion (over Rs 58 lakh crore) in foreign direct investment.'

Wells characterised America's economic goal in the region as 'not about spending dollar-for-dollar, for instance, compared to (China's) Belt and Road Initiative.'

Taking a potshot at the BRI, Wells said American companies would use their investment of over $850 billion in the region 'to participate in projects that are of the highest international standards, that are efficient and cost-competitive, and that bring returns to the countries that benefit from their participation'.

Wells was echoing India's criticism of the BRI.

On May 13, 2017, explaining why India had stayed away from the ongoing BRI Forum in Beijing, New Delhi, Modi had stated: 'We are of the firm belief that connectivity initiatives must be based on universally recognised international norms, good governance, rule of law, openness, transparency and equality.'

He also raised concerns that BRI would create unsustainable debt burdens on participants, violate environmental norms, and violate 'sovereignty and territorial integrity', referring to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor that passes through Pakistan occupied Kashmir.

Suggesting there were infrastructure opportunities in the Indo-Pacific region far beyond the BRI, Wells stated: 'Some of the estimates are, like, $27 trillion in investment is going to be required over the next several decades.'

While Wells echoed the long-standing US position that the regional security architecture was centred on Asean (Association of South East Asian Nations), she stated that the US is 'lending its expertise' to the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, which the Indian Navy set up more than a decade ago as a framework for collective action on maritime security issues, 'including disaster relief'.

Alongside security cooperation, Wells pointed to the importance of 'economically focused fora' like SAARC (South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation) and BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) as platforms for driving conversations on regional connectivity and infrastructure.'One wrong input meant instead of rescuing one person, four people in the helicopter would gone down.'

'That was the risk I was supposed to take.'

'It was like balancing on a pin.'

'In an ordinary situation, I would not have done that operation at all because it was extremely risky. But this was an emergency.'

Photographs and Video: Kind courtesy The Indian Navy

In his more than two decade career as an Indian Navy officer and 19 years of service as a pilot, Commander Vijay Varma has been involved in several rescue missions including three flood affected areas in India.

The Kerala floods, Commander Varma tells Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier, has been the most challenging as far as distance and scale of operations is concerned.

The commander became a hero after the miraculous rescue of a pregnant woman whose water had broken. Two hours later, she delivered a baby boy.

The same day, he rescued another pregnant woman and two days later, two more women in the advanced stages of pregnancy were rescued.

Commander Varma looks back on his amazing mission possible:

It was on the 17th of August that we got a call that there was a medical emergency -- a pregnant woman whose water had broken.

My helicopter being a small one is uniquely suitable for operations in places like Kerala where bigger helicopters find it difficult to operate.

Although we were given the location that she was in a masjid near Chowara railway station in Aluva, we could not even see where the road was or where the railway line was.

All we could see down was water. It was a very built up area and when we saw a large group of people standing, we asked them in sign language where a pregnant woman was.

They showed us the masjid which was operating as a relief camp, I think.

There was no place on the roof of the masjid to land as they had raised a shelter covering the terrace with tarpaulin and bamboo.

So there was no way we could pick her up from the terrace. We then saw a small balcony next to the roof and we decided to use it for rescuing her.

There were a lot of trees. There were also power and other cables on one side and the masjid on the other. There was barely any space for me to take the helicopter any lower.

The problem in such built up areas is when you are hovering low, a kind of recirculation happens which causes a loss of power. That was what we were facing there.

We were operating on the margin and hence descended very carefully. It was like walking on the ground very, very slowly.

Finally, we got into position, but my winch operator, a very experienced person from Haryana who was also a flight diver, said, "Sir, mushkil lag raha hai (It looks difficult)."

I said, let me try.

Slowly, when I positioned myself (the helicopter) on top, he said, "Sir, if you can maintain like this, then we can do it."

Thus started the 30 minute ordeal of bringing her up.

I had to position myself steadily in that position for that long.

Decision making is risk management for us.

Every day, we are in situations where we have to make decisions, to do or not to do, in a split second.

If the tail rotor or the main rotor touches something, everything will break apart.

One wrong input meant instead of rescuing one person, four people in the helicopter would gone down -- my co-pilot, the winch operator, the diver and myself.

That was the risk I was supposed to take. It was like balancing on a pin.

When you pick someone using a thin rope, it starts swinging like a pendulum once it starts moving up.

Here it is a pregnant woman. She could hit something in the swing, and in her condition, it was very dangerous.

Only if you were very sure, you should do it.

In an ordinary situation, I would not have done that operation at all because it was extremely risky. But this was an emergency.

What gave me the courage to do the operation was one had to be very realistic about one's capability. Nothing inflated, just realistic.

I was trained to do such operations and this is my 19th year as a pilot.

Every pilot should be aware of his limitations and I was confident that I could remain steady for the entire period.

I had great faith in my team. We knew each other very well as we had operated several missions together. There was an understanding and trust between us.

I had faith in my co-pilot.

I had faith in my winch operator.

I had faith in my diver.

And I had faith in my capability that I would be able to hover around during the entire operation.

The most critical thing was, while winching up the pregnant lady, the wire had to be absolutely vertical.

Even if there is a slight amount of angle, as the person leaves the ground, she will swing in the opposite direction.

I told my winch operator that it was his responsibility to see that it worked perfectly. If something went wrong, he would be responsible.

But the final decision had to be mine and I took the decision that we would do it.

Then the mission started.

First, I had to send a doctor down to examine her and assess the condition of the person.

As her water broke, Sarjitha was not able to walk. She was brought out of the masjid in a chair.

The second person who went down was the diver to help the lady come up.

Next was bringing the doctor up so that he was there when she was brought up.

The fourth person to come up was Sarjitha and the last person to enter was the diver.

So, we did five winching operations and each operation took around five minutes.

The entire operation needed 25 to 30 minutes.

As the operation went on with my winch operator and diver giving me running commentary, my concentration was purely on maintaining the helicopter steady and nothing else.

Once all of them were inside, we quickly rushed at a very high speed to the naval base station, Garuda, where an ambulance was waiting to take her to the hospital.

The moment we landed, they rushed to the aircraft with a stretcher and in five minutes, she was taken to the hospital.

It so happened that while we were winching Sarjitha up, we were told there was another heavily pregnant woman close to where Sarjitha was, but she was not in a critical condition.

We could not take two pregnant ladies and there was no space in the aircraft. So, I promised to come back to take the next lady.

So I was in the air the moment after Sarjitha was safely dropped to airlift the second woman.

There was also no place to land and there were trees and cables all around.

The whole story was repeated and we successfully airlifted her too.

After that, there was another mission and another mission... the day continued like that.

When you hover over an area steadily for 25 to 30 minutes, your entire body becomes taut.

It was physically and mentally draining, but the adrenalin rush would last for three days.

It was emotionally draining too to see so many people suffering.

As I was coming back late that evening from the naval base totally drained, somebody came and told me that Sarjitha had delivered a baby boy two hours after we dropped her at the base.

And that news made me forget all the pain I had till then.

Looking back, airlifting Sarjitha was an emotional experience; not when we were doing it, only much later.

Also, seeing the thank you note on the terrace from where we had rescued two women who were stranded there.

Though we are trained to do such operations, I would say in my 19 years of experience as a pilot, I have not had such an experience.

I had not taken a pregnant woman to a hospital in such difficult and risky circumstances.

Here, I rescued not one or two, but four pregnant women.

The third rescue happened from a camp of around 1,000 people where I had gone earlier to deliver urgent medicines.

I was told then that I had to take a pregnant woman to a hospital. She was not in any danger and we took her and her husband to a hospital. Both were in very poor state when we saw them.

The fourth pregnant woman was critical when we were called. It was a medical emergency of a woman who had not reached full pregnancy but her water had broken, and she was also bleeding.

She was almost unconscious when we landed there. We had taken a doctor with us and only after he stabilised her did we airlift her. I am told she still continues to be serious.

The Chennai floods where I also operated was terrible, but it was restricted to one area -- the city and its outskirts.

But here, almost the entire state was flooded. So, the number of people to be rescued was humongous and the distance also was very large.

The Indian Navy had to cover the north to the south. We had to send teams by air, on the ground and on boats.

It was a colossal effort involving hundreds and thousands of people. The scale of operation was phenomenal.

The terrain was very difficult and varied.

For example, a place like North Paravur which was fully inundated, you have palm trees as tall as 20 feet.

Trying to go down between these trees was extremely difficult, but we did it.

We went to locations where normally we would not venture out. That was what made the relief operations so challenging here.

The problem here was nobody expected a calamity of this proportions.

The people of Kerala living in the low-lying areas are used to floods; they know the water will come up and then go back without creating any problems. That was why many people remained at home.

Another problem we saw was there were so many old people living alone in several of the houses with their children living abroad. There was nobody to support these people. We found their mental state very distressing.

I have to say the people of Kerala were amazing! We encountered several occasions when people said, 'Don't take me. Take him first.'

We went to a place and dropped three big food packets. When we were about to drop another one, they said, 'We need only this much now. Please give the rest to somebody else. There are so many hungry people out there.'

When we went to pick people from a completely inundated area, we saw people standing on the terraces of four houses. They were all desperate, but we could only take two.

When we said that, they started pointing to the other terrace.

When the Kerala government offered money to the fishermen who voluntarily came forward to help in the relief operations, they refused it saying they were just helping the fellow human beings. I had goose bumps hearing it.

Where will you see such behaviour while facing a calamity like this?

These kinds of incidents were not confined to any one place, but at many places.

The way the people of Kerala have come together in a tragedy like this, I don't think you will see it anywhere else. This is incomparable.Plantation, FL -- (ReleaseWire) -- 08/23/2018 --Knight Insurance is a famous independent insurance agency which is located in Florida. The company offers the policies from numerous insurance companies. Knight Insurance has tie-ups with many renowned insurance service providers, and thus they can support the client in finding the best policy. The main aim of the company is to offer extensive insurance coverage to all individuals and businesses and that too at affordable rates. As an independent agency, the firm pays attention only to the client instead of on any specific insurance company.



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Knight Insurance has emerged as a most important independent agency that has connections with some of the well-known insurance service providers.RBS in England & Wales and NatWest retail banking business in Scotland was due to be divested and relaunched as a separate "challenger bank", under the brand name, Williams & Glyn.This year however, Rothbiz reported that the taxpayer-backed RBS group has decided that NatWest should become its primary customer facing brand in England and Wales and Royal Bank of Scotland its core brand in Scotland.The decision meant that the Rotherham town centre branch would close in November and the Wickersley branch in August.

Images: Google Maps

A planning application has now been submitted for the change of use of 208/210 Bawtry Road in Wickersley from Class A2 (Financial and Professional Services) to Use Class A3 (Restaurants and Cafes) use.The plans for the two-storey, 1,700 sq ft unit on The Tanyard are from Bischi (Properties) Limited and also include proposals for a new shopfront.Although no operator has been disclosed, the proposal is to open seven days a week, opening throughout the day and early evening until 10pm, including opening on bank holidays.Six jobs could be created. Recent applications for the Wickersley area for new bars have been refused by Rotherham Council. The authority said that, cumulatively they would result in the loss of two A1 units and reduce the overall number of retail units within the primary shopping frontage to 64%, contrary to recently approved new local planning policies.The latest application, submitted by agents at Bradley Stankler Planning, states that the RBS unit is already used for a non-retail use and so the "argument about loss of a retail use is itself not relevant as the proposal involves the replacement of one non retail use with another."The unit has been advertised by joint agents at Carter Towler and Paul Lancaster with an annual rent of 42,000.For the town centre branch at the foot of the historic High Street, plans have been approved to decommission the branch , following its closure.The plans are required as the property is a Grade II listed building and involve removing all banking related fittings from the building.The application stated that: "The proposals are necessary to ensure that the building presents an attractive proposition for re-use by an alternate occupier (subject to the necessary consents). The removal of these items aims to ensure that the building is increasingly viable and thus aim to reduce the amount of time that the building is vacant."European are exhibiting a mixed trend midway through the session on Thursday, with investors mostly making cautious moves amid escalating U.S.-China trade tensions.

Some encouraging economic data out of Germany and France aided these two markets early on in the session, but due to lack of support at higher levels, their benchmark indices retreated subsequently.

In the German market, shares from automobile section are seeing a tough ride, as they continue to reel under pressure after Continental AG recently cut its 2018 revenue outlook.

U.S. President Donald Trump's threat that his administration will slap a 25% tariff on all cars coming into United States from the European Union, dragged down the shares of carmakers yesterday and today's session has not been any significantly different for these stocks for now.

The benchmark DAX is down 5.37 points or 0.04% at 12,380.33, around 30 points off the day's high of 12,410.16.

Continental AG is declining nearly 2%. BMW and Daimler are both down by about 1.5% and Volkswagen is lower by 0.7%.

Deutsche Bank is down 1.5% and Covestro is declining 1.3%. Munench.Rueckvers, Merck, Heidelberg Cement and Commerzbank are also weak.

Adidas, Beiersdorf, Infineon, RWE, SAP and E.On are gaining 1% - 1.3%. Siemens, Vonovia and Deutsche Boerse are up marginally.

The French market is slightly higher, with the latest batch of economic data aiding sentiment. The CAC 40 index is up 3.62 points or 0.07% at 5,424.27.

Technip FMC, Safran, Hermes International, Airbus Group, L'Oreal, Publicis Groupe, Kering, Essilor International and Louis Vuitton are gaining 0.4 to 1%.

Autombile stocks Renault, Michelin, Peugeot are down 1.3 to 1.8%.

Arcelor Mittal, Valeo, Credit Agricole, AXA and Vivendi, Sanofi are declining by 0.3 to 1%.

The U.K.'s FTSE 100 is gaining 7.30 points or 0.1% at 7,581.54, after having advanced to 7,603.25 earlier.

The mood is cautious with investors trying to figure out the likely impact of the country making a no-deal exit from EU.

Old Mutual, up 2.4%, is the top gainer in the FTSE index. Associated British Foods is gaining 1.8%. Marks & Spencer, Micro Focus, Ferguson, Burberry Group, Ashtead Group, Pearson, Sage and Royal Dutch Shell are up 1% - 1.7%.

Fresnillo, Travis Perkins, Hikma Pharma, Anglo American, Imperial Brands, Antofagasta, Dixons Carphone, Prudential, RBS and Severn Trent are lower by 1 to 2.3%.

In economic news from Europe, a survey report from the statistical officce Insee showed France's manufacturing confidence index rose to 110 in August from 109 in July, which was revised up from 108. The index measuring general production expectations rose to 11 in August from 10 in the prior month.

Meanwhile, their personal production expectations weakened to 18 from 23. However, the index remained well above its long-term average. The climate index that covers the main sectors, remained slightly less favorable in August. The corresponding index edged down to 106 from 107.

According to a report from IHI Markit, France's private sector growth accelerated to a four-month high in August, thanks to stronger expansions in both the services and manufacturing sectors.

The composite output index rose to 55.1 in August from 54.4 in July. Importantly, the index remained above the neutral 50.0 mark for a twenty-sixth month in a row. The index was expected to grow to 54.6.

The services Purchasing Managers' Index climbed to 55.7 in August, as against expectations for a rise to 55.1, from 54.9 in the preceding month. With manufacturers reporting a faster increase in output in August, the manufacturing PMI rose to 53.7 in the month, up from 53.3 in July and higher than the forecast of 53.4.

In news from Germany, flash data from IHS Markit showed Germany's private sector activity to have grown at the fastest pace in six months in August, with the composite output index improving to a score of 55.7 in the month, from 55.0 in July.

The services Purchasing Managers' Index rose to 55.2 from 54.1 in July. The score was expected to rise marginally to 54.3.

The manufacturing PMI slid to 56.1 from 56.9 in the previous month. Economists had forecast the index to fall moderately to 56.5.

Meanwhile, the euro area private sector continued to expand in August, according to IHS Markit. The composite output index rose marginally to 54.4 in August from 54.3 in July. But the score was slightly below the forecast of 54.5. The services Purchasing Managers' Index also came in at 54.4, up from 54.2 a month ago.

The manufacturing PMI fell unexpectedly to a 21-month low of 54.6 from 55.1 in July. Within the eurozone, growth accelerated in France and Germany but slowed across the rest of the single-currency area.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Market AnalysisThe Swiss stock market fluctuated between small gains and losses throughout Thursday's session, but managed to cling to a small increase. Traders were in a cautious mood due to concerns over trade tensions between the U.S. and China.

The U.S. imposed tariffs on $16 billion worth of Chinese goods, leading to a tit-for-tat retaliation by the Asian nation.

The Swiss Market Index increased by 0.02 percent Thursday and finished at 9,049.72. The Swiss Leader Index climbed 0.04 percent and the Swiss Performance Index added 0.11 percent.

The index heavyweights ended the session with mixed results. Novartis fell 0.5 percent, Nestle rose 0.2 percent and Roche ended the day unchanged. Novartis announced that its Phase 3 trial of BYL719 met its primary endpoint.

UBS dropped 0.7 percent, Credit Suisse surrendered 0.1 percent and Julius Baer finished down by 0.4 percent.

Despite the trade concerns, the luxury goods companies finished in the green. Richemont climbed 0.7 percent and Swatch Group added 0.1 percent.

ABB was among the top performing stocks of the session, with an increase of 1.7 percent. Givaudan and Sika also gained 0.7 percent each.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Market Analysis

Senior journalist Kuldip Nayar (file photo) Senior journalist, author and human rights activist Kuldip Nayar died at a hospital here, his family said on Thursday. He was 95. Nayar breathed his last at the Escorts Hospital at 12.30 a.m. The cremation will take place at 1 p.m. on Thursday afternoon.



Born on August 14, 1923, in Sialkot (Pakistan), Nayar was among the country's first syndicated columnists and wrote several books.



He was appointed High Commissioner to the UK in 1990 and nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 1997.



Nayar started his journalistic career with the Urdu daily "Anjam" in 1948. He worked in the Press Information Bureau as a Press Officer to then Home Ministers Govind Ballabh Pant and Lal Bahadur Shastri.



He was the editor and General Manager of United News of India (UNI) and also the editor of The Statesman. He also worked with the Indian Express, The Times, The Spectator and the Evening Star.



He was also the author of 15 books including "Beyond the Lines", "India after Nehru" and "Emergency Retold".



Senior journalist H.K. Dua, who knew Nayar for 54 years, described him as a "good friend", a "great journalist" and said his death was a loss to the profession.



"Till the last, he was working. At the age of 94, he kept his interest alive in the news world. He was a great chaser of news and broke many stories in his life. He knew much more of what was happening behind the news than many other journalists and got lots of inside information. Essentially, he remained a thorough journalist," Dua told IANS.



He said Nayar also made efforts for peace between India and Pakistan and organised candle-light demonstrations.



Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind were among the leaders who condoled Nayar's death.



Modi termed him an intellectual giant and recalled his role as a staunch opponent of the Emergency.



"Kuldip Nayar was an intellectual giant of our times. Frank and fearless in his views, his work spanned across many decades. His strong stand against the Emergency, public service and commitment to a better India will always be remembered. Saddened by his demise. My condolences," Modi said in a tweet.



Kovind described him as a determined champion of democracy.



"Sad to hear of the passing of Kuldip Nayar, veteran editor and writer, diplomat and parliamentarian, and a determined champion of democracy during the Emergency. His readers will miss him. Condolences to his family and associates," he said in a tweet.



Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said Nayar will be best remembered for his struggle against the Emergency.



"Saddened by the death of the veteran Journalist Sh. Kuldip Nayar. His contribution to the cause of free speech is unparalleled. He is credited with breaking some of the most exclusive news stories. Will be best remembered for his struggle against the Emergency," Jaitley said.



Congress communications incharge Randeep Singh Surjewala also expressed his condolences and described Nayar as a role model for his profession.



"My deepest condolences on the passing away of veteran journalist, political commentator and human rights activist, Sh. Kuldip Nayar ji. A role model for many in his profession and beyond, his demise ends an era of journalism of courage, ethics and values, Surjewala said.



Its undeniable that the Government has copped a lot of flak over its catch cry about accountability, transparency and good governance.

More often than not, critics of Prime Minister Tuilaepas administration have taken the Government to task over their perceived failure to walk the talk and deliver on their promise to be transparent and accountable.

And rightly so in many cases which we will not delve into in this piece.

Suffice to say, the Government has a moral obligation to deliver on what it promises, especially when it comes to accountability and transparency.

Indeed, leaders of these public offices are accountable to the people who put them there in the first place. Let them be reminded that they are there to be transparent and walk the talk when it comes to good governance. Part of that involves dealing with corruption and not burying it under the mat as if it is nobodys business.

Today, however, we believe there is reason to be optimistic in the pursuit for truth and justice when it comes to dealing with corruption and abuse of power in public offices.

Last week, a story published on the pages of this newspaper revealed that a Unit has been set up within the Audit Office to protect whistleblowers in the public sector who want to report fraud and other irregularities.

This is a fantastic step, one the Government should be commended for.

By definition, a whistleblower is a person who informs on a person or organization regarded as engaging in an unlawful or immoral activity. In other words, they are people who report on other people who commit fraud, steal, engage in forgery and all kinds of different corrupt activities.

The development follows a recommendation that the Audit Office facilitates voluntary reporting of fraud and other irregularities, and ensure there is legal protection for whistleblowers.

Talks about the Unit started in 2014. Today, the Unit is up and running.

According to the Audit Office, it has been formed with newly qualified Certified Fraud Examiners (C.F.E.). There are also plans in the pipeline to recruit legal and Police experts to assist.

The special Audit unit will also make use of new audit laws effective from January 2014 with whistle blowing clauses facilitating the voluntary reporting of fraud and irregularities with legal protection and without repercussions, the Audit Office revealed.

The special audit unit will also set up a Samoa C.F.E. Forum or Chapter to network and seek resources and expertise from A.C.F.E. when required.

The Audit Office C.F.Es have received C.F.E. training and qualification and now need the professional experience to translate theory into practice.

And what might that mean?

Well the Audit Office does not say.

But lets break it down a bit. When someone in the public service is found to have engaged in corrupt activities, in the ideal world, they should be investigated, charged and jailed. Its that simple.

That hardly happens in Samoa.

And one of the reasons why is because this is a small country where everyone knows someone. There are many cases where whistleblowers get cold feet because their identities often end up being exposed and they pay the price.

This is why many of them have chosen to remain silent, much to the demise of the pursuit for truth and justice, accountability, transparency and good governance.

But the new Unit for Whistleblowers in the Audit Office is such an encouraging step. Our only hope is that the Unit is run with integrity and the sort of professionalism that truly ensures that information and its sources are protected, to allow justice to take its course.

Have a great Thursday Samoa, God bless!The Deputy Director of the International Press Institute (I.P.I.), Scott Griffen, touched down at Faleolo International Airport last night.

He is in Samoa as a special guest of the Samoa Observer News Group, which is celebrating its 40th Anniversary at Sheraton Samoa Aggie Greys Hotel on Beach Road, tomorrow night.

The Vienna-based I.P.I.  which is a global network of editors, publishers and journalists who defend press freedom  recognised the work of Samoa Observer founder and Editor-in-Chief, Gatoaitele Savea Sano Malifa in 2000 and named him one of its World Press Freedom Heroes.

Speaking to Samoa Observer upon his arrival last night, Mr. Griffen said the long journey from Austria was worth it as it is important for I.P.I. to show its support for its members around the world.

Savea Sano Malifa is one of our World Press Freedom Heroes named in 2000. He is someone youd recognise as having played a very important role in press freedom here in the South Pacific, Mr. Griffen said.

At this time, press freedom could never be more important. It is always important and always will be important. There are a lot of challenges right now in every part of the world with press freedom.

Theres backlash, if you want, in many countries including the ones where we take press freedom for granted, like the United States, for example.

Press freedom is under siege in different parts of the world and Mr Griffen said it is important to continue the fight to protect it.

And we are losing some good examples of press freedom so it is still important to keep fighting for press freedom everywhere in the world, including here in Samoa to Europe and I.P.I. wants to support those efforts wherever it can.

Mr. Griffen added that he is looking forward to the 40th anniversary celebrations.

He is also keen to visit the Samoa Observer newspaper to meet its journalists.

Holding a bachelors degree in humanities from Yale University and a masters degree in Global Ethics from Kings College London, Mr. Griffen is the author of numerous I.P.I. reports on diverse topics related to press freedom and independent journalism.

He has led and participated in dozens of I.P.I. press freedom missions around the world.The two suspects charged with the alleged assault of business personality David Main recently were deported by the United States five years ago.

Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Prime Minister and Cabinet, (M.P.M.C.), Agafili Shem Leo confirmed this when responding to questions from the Samoa Observer.

He expressed disappointment with the assault but expressed confidence that justice will be served now that the matter is in the hands of the appropriate authorities.

Mr. Main was brutally beaten by two men opposite McDonalds the previous weekend and told Samoa Observer in an interview at his residence that he is lucky to be alive.

Agafili said he is not privy to any further information relating to the circumstances, which could have provoked the assault as the matter is now the subject of an ongoing criminal investigation.

He said he is also unable to verify reports that the two men are registered members of the Samoa Returnees Charitable Trust (S.R.C.T.), a not for profit that rehabilitates returnees integrate back into the community.

While I agree with your statement that in cases of this nature it is beyond government's control, it would be amiss if the unfortunate incident which has victimised an innocent member of the public will overshadow the government's initiative and leading role to establishment the S.R.C.T. in 2011."

To date, a government policy is in place which mandates all returnees to furnish a medical certificate and police report prior to their removal to Samoa. But the most crucial component is that they must have relatives and family in Samoa to live with on their return. It is part of their rehabilitation engagement initiated by government as many of the returnees had left Samoa at a young age."

Reuniting with relatives will rekindled their family bonds and resurrect a sense of responsibility as well as a sense of belonging for the returnees to become assets to their respective families, villages, churches and our country and not as liabilities, he said.

Agafili said there has been cases of successful re-engagement and reintegration through the matais, faifeaus and the village communities, such as the case of returnees Papalii Siva Afi and Lemalu Toilolo, whom the C.E.O. said expressed remorse and transformed themselves to become role models by preaching about the ills of a life of crime in public forums.

The C.E.O. noted the Government has also provided office facilities for the S.R.C.T. Headquarters at Nafanua which returnees have utilised as a home for fellowship, training and other purposes.

At the same time, the S.R.C.T. management board composition also includes Chief Executive Officers from a number of Government Ministries. This all reaffirms the government's genuine vision for returnees to be afforded every opportunity for a new beginning and a second chance to contribute to the welfare of the country and our general public. Again, the incident in question is a huge disappointment and I am confident that justice will be served now that the matter is in the hands of the appropriate authorities, he added.The Fire and Emergency Services Authority (F.E.S.A.) has appealed to the Samoa Tourism Authority and the Government to put up bilingual safety signs at the To Sua Trench.

A New Zealand Navy sailor went missing at the popular tourist attraction in May this year and a Chinese tourist disappeared last month with the pair new presumed dead after authorities called off the searches.

The F.E.S.A. Assistant Commissioner, Tanuvasa Petone Mauga, told the Samoa Observer that bilingual safety sign posts should be placed in prominent areas within the vicinity of To Sua Trench following the disappearance of the Chinese national.

After the New Zealand soldier disappeared, a huge warning sign was posted at this popular attraction. There is a big warning sign at the place. However, when the second incident with the Chinese man, I guess it is the language barrier."

The warning is available in Samoan and English only. When we look at it with the large numbers of Chinese and other non-English speakers visiting Samoa, it is appropriate to include their languages as well to keep them safe. People need to be well informed especially when they do not speak English or Samoan, he said.

Tanuvasa said the disappearance of the Chinese national last month highlighted the need for safety signs in other languages other than English and Samoan, especially to cater for the increasing number of international tourists.

If we look around, Chinese numbers have increased tremendously. Not only Chinese but other people from other countries that do not speak English. So it is a good idea to consider including other languages to benefit our tourists.

The growing popularity of Samoa as a tourist destination has also led to an increase in visitor numbers, and subsequently more tours of scenic spots around Samoa.

The F.E.S.A. will release a report next month, which Tanuvasa says will show a significant increase in accidents at scenic spots.

In our report that comes out in September, I can confirm that the number of incidents has dramatically increased recently in this area not only with To Sua but with other scenic points of interests around Samoa. This includes waterfalls in the nation."

As we are continuing awareness programs with the government departments to better assist with what is best for the safety of the nation, it is also our responsibility to make sure our staff is well equipped with their work to better assist with any kind of incident that involves locals and tourists, he added.

Last week the F.E.S.A. responded to an incident at the To Sua Trench where a tourist was badly injured after she tried to jump into the water.

Urging people to be cautious, Tanuvasa said: People can get into trouble when they are not careful enough to adhere to the notices included with the sign posts. It is important to read and be mindful and not become too excited about these places as it may lead to serious consequences and worst case scenario, lost of lives.

Attempts to get comments from the Samoa Tourism Promotion Authority were unsuccessful.Catholic youth are the focus of an international meeting of bishops held later this year and Pacific youth will be well represented.

Pope Francis has appointed Samoan Joseph Moeno-Kolio to be an Auditor, where he will present directly to the Pope on issues relating to youth in the Pacific and their faith.

Raised in the Catholic Church by parents who constantly fought social injustices, Mr Moeno-Kolio said he feels passionate about making sure Pacific voices are heard in the churchs biggest institutions.

The Bishop Synod in October is a critical component of Pope Francis mission to include the voices of young people in the focus of the church going forward.

Mr Moeno-Kolio said that young people from all around the word can help the Pope understand where young people are at today, in order to better meet their needs.

More importantly, he said the voice of the Pacific is often overlooked in Church decision making by people not from the Pacific.

We shouldnt have to fly to Europe but thats where the decisions happen, he said.

We need to be there to say: this is what is happening, and this is what we need done.

Without us, the voice for our region is lost between the cracks.

The Synod will last for a whole month, and during that time Mr Moeno-Kolio will be able to bring Pacific influence to all corners of the conference.

In the backchannel meetings and coffee breaks, writing rooms, I will be trying to influence decision making, he said.

Throughout that process Ill be drawing on people in our region to inform myself.

In the months to come, Mr. Moeno-Kolio will be reaching out to both youth and elders in his Pacific communities to gather reflections and input.

For me the important thing is to consult the pacific way  with my elders.

Representing the Pacific voice to the Church must include mention of climate change and its devastating effects on people in the region.

Mr Moeno-Kolio said while he is eager to speak to the Pope on this subject, he knows Pope Francis has his eye on this issue already.

Just last month, Pope Francis held the Laudato si Conference, where the focus was on saving our common home and the future of life on earth.

Calling the conference Pope Francis brainchild, Mr Moeno-Kolio said climate change is an example of an area the churchs attitudes have moved quickly on.

For an old institution it is both good and bad that things dont happen too quickly, he said.

It gives time for reflection and analysis, which probably helped the perseveration of the church and its wide reaching impact.

But on the matters of the climate, and of the clerical abuse of vulnerable people, the church needs to move quicker, he said.

The business as usual boys club way of doing things doesnt work, and as we have seen now how horrible its been it is time for some time, there is real urgency to change.

That is why meetings are happening not just with clergy but with youth, experts, and the laity to figure out how to move the church in a positive direction to address these issues while maintaining the integrity of the church.

On Monday, Pope Francis publically acknowledged the failings of the church with regards to sexual abuse by priests in the form of a letter.

In it, he wrote: no effort to beg pardon and to seek to repair the harm done will ever be sufficient.

Mr Moeno-Kolio said he is hopeful that the direction Pope Francis is moving the church in will be well received by Samoa.

But I am cautious in the sense that I am not naive and I know well the history of the church there and how slow things are to get going, he added.

There is a bit of reluctance or resistance towards change that Pope Francis is putting out, and not just Samoa.

Part of the reason things are moving so slowly is because Pope Francis is moving so quickly. Churches who are in opposition to that will stall things and obstruct change.A great business idea needs a great business plan. And an office.

Thats what Manawa Udy, from Te Arawa, Tainui and Mataatua, and her business partner figured out when they launched their creative business in South Auckland, New Zealand.

They quickly learned that offices come in whole floors, and there is no way a startup business can afford that. There were no co-working spaces available to them either.

So the idea of Ngahere Communities was born: a shared space which could be a community as well, for Maori and Pasifika entrepreneurs to lift their ideas off the ground.

Ms. Udy, now the Managing Director of Ngahere said she wants South Auckland to thrive in spite of negative stereotypes about the area.

Its not that that defines us but the reality is Maori and Pacific people are struggling, or are way over represented in a lot of negative statistics, she said.

New to the Ngahere team is Repeka Vilitau, who was raised in Otara but hails from Laulii and Fusi Saoluafata.

Growing up in Otara and spending her professional life in South Auckland exposed her to the realities of poverty and inequality faced by Maori and Pasifika families.

Establishing a co-working space in South Auckland targeting the success of Maori and Pasifika people means creating a different business culture, said Ms. Udy.

The main way we are going to do that is by creating and leading an environment that is led by Maori and Pacific values and ways of doing things.

That is really important and sets us apart from other co-working spaces.

The Maori and Pacific way of doing things for Ngahere is to act like pioneers.

Ms. Udy said the group feels as if they are building a vaa from scratch to step out into the unknown.

Looking back at the way our ancestors used what they had we feel a similar sense of excitement, nervousness, resourcefulness and courage.

Ms. Vilitau said there is a great need for a working space with pacific culture at the center.

There are too many entrepreneurs of Maori and Pacific background working out of their homes and struggling to get a foot in the door of their market or business field.

Our people are real creative, they are pioneers but they need someone to back them and they need people to believe in them.

People want this, and having accessibility to it and the backing of people who can help them achieve is what we want, she said.

Ngahere Communities, based in their new office space called Te Haa o Manukau will be a space where Maori and Pacific businesspeople can feel comfortable to be themselves.

You can talk the way you talk, and feel the way you feel, put people first in your business and not be told thats the wrong way to approach things, Ms. Udy said.

Ms. Vilitau said the famous Pasifika and Maori hospitality will be an important part of the culture.

We want to create an environment where people feel the hospitality of being welcomed in a place, she said.

We want people to look forward to coming to work and being part of this community.

Ms. Vilitau said her Samoan parents taught her to work hard and believe in herself and her dreams.

Our people are capable of doing things, she said.

I want encourage our people that the world is what they say, its our oyster, you just have to take the opportunities that present themselves and go with it.

But believing in yourself comes with hard work too.

Thats how mum and dad brought us up, you have to work hard for what you want to achieve, you have to go out there and learn.

Ngahere (which means forest ecosystem) Communities are currently crowdfunding NZ$65,000 to be able to rent their office in central South Auckland, mere meters from the brand new Manukau transport hub. Readers can donate to their cause at this link: https://www.pledgeme.co.nz/projects/5742Well here we are ladies and gentlemen.

Today is a very special day in the life of the Samoa Observer News Group. As you would have seen from the front page of the edition you are reading, your newspaper has turned 40 years old. It calls for a time of celebration.

So tonight at Sheraton Samoa Aggie Greys Hotel on Beach Road, we are looking forward to welcoming the Head of State, His Highness Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi and all our distinguished guests for an evening of thanksgiving. It will also be a time of quiet reflection.

To tell you the truth, we are mighty grateful to be here. You see, forty years is a long time during which some pretty testing challenges and countless obstacles weve had to overcome along the way could have easily weakened ones resolve.

The history of the Samoa Observer is littered by those challenges. Some of them were quite frightening. But today is not the day to talk about those problems.

By the grace of God and one mans relentless pursuit for truth and justice against tremendous odds, we have persevered and we are here.

The story of the Samoa Observer has been well told. The crux of it is really the journey of one man, Gatoaitele Savea Sano Malifa, whose vision is the rock solid foundation upon which this institution remains steadfast and strong.

For the uninitiated though, I feel it would be better for me to allow Gatoaitele to tell you briefly, in his own words, how the Samoa Observer came about.

In an editorial titled Samoas will, is also Gods will published on 29 August 2003, during the celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Samoa Observer, this is what Gatoaitele wrote:

Twenty five years ago on 28 August 1978, two restless young men saw their dream come a reality. They saw the first edition of the newspaper theyd been planning for months published. Their paper was called The Observer. It was put together in a cookhouse of a family at Vaimoso.

But that dream would have remained still a dream if it hadnt been for an English man called Jeff Marfleet. New to the country, Mr Marfleets Commercial Printing Co Ltd agreed to publish the weekly on credit for four weeks.

After which, the dreamers would start paying up what theyd owe, plus present printing costs. Later when repayments were slow-since everything was very slow in 1978 - someone pushed Jeff to take court action. In response, Jeff or was it his lawyer at the time, Misa Telefoni Retzlaff? retorted: How can you take Sano to court? Hes got only one typewriter.

And so court action was averted, and Jeff eventually got paid in full. But that was how Samoans and one English man that is - did business in Apia in those days.

In case you are wondering who the other man is, he is Dr. Ieti Lima. And the rest as they say is history.

From those humble beginnings in 1978, the Samoa Observer has grown from strength to strength so that today, the paper has become part of the fabric of 21st Century Samoa. Over the years, the paper expanded so that in the Pacific today, it remains one of only three daily newspapers  excluding Australia and New Zealand. The other two being the Fiji Times and the Fiji Sun.

Which is quite an achievement. Believe me, producing a daily newspaper on an island isolated in the middle of the biggest ocean in the world is not the sort of business for the faint hearted. The challenges are enormous, the cost ridiculous and the price one pays is often more than just money.

But its doable. The Samoa Observer has proved this for 40 years. And it can only be possible when there is a true commitment to quality journalism and democratic principles, which are underpinned by integrity, honesty, hard work and the uncompromising pursuit of the truth.

Today as we celebrate our 40th birthday, wed like to think thats what the Samoa Observer is all about. Are we perfect? Do we always get it right?

Absolutely not.

You see, like everyone else, we make mistakes, lots of them too. Some of them inadvertent while others are the result of carelessness and fatigue. It happens.

But where we falter, we are quick to admit wrong and we try to make it right.

As for me, well in a few months time, Ill be celebrating a little milestone of my own too. It will be my 20th year with this newspaper, 12 of them as the Editor. It has been an enthralling journey, fascinating and one that continues to excite me every day.

By the way, never in my wildest dreams growing up did I ever imagine I would end up doing what Im doing today. I thought I had my future plans all worked out. In those plans, there was nothing remotely related to media or a newspaper, let alone returning to Samoa.

But God knows best and he strategically orders our steps. What seemed like a tragedy in the family back in 1998, which forced me back on the plane to Samoa to help my parents, has become one of the best decisions Ive made. It doesnt feel like it was that many years ago. In fact it feels like it was just yesterday.

Since then, Ive learnt from the best, especially the man I am privileged to call my Editor-in-Chief. I have been and seen the world and worked with the best of the best. I consider myself blessed.

But let me tell you a little secret, Gatoaitele might have been the man with the vision and boldness, but the true rock behind the growth and success of the Samoa Observer is the Publisher, Muliaga Jean Ash Malifa. She provides the finesse, the critical money-management skills that have allowed this company to flourish. Without her, I doubt this company would be where it is today.

Today is her day; it is her moment. She, Gatoaitele and their family have come a long, long way, overcome so much more than many people dare to think, and they are still at it.

This is why this day is a very special moment for the Samoa Observer.

But this is just the beginning. Wed like to think that since we are 40 years old, the beginning of the next 40 years starts now. There is much work to do.

Looking at Samoa and the world today, the role of an independent newspaper that is run responsibly and fearlessly, has become so much more important now than ever.

With the innovative insights of our Online Manager, Jarrett Malifa, the assistance of our Co-Editor, Alex Rheeney, sales and marketing skills of Helen Papalii, dedication of our Production Manager, Shane Ash, and all our team at the Samoa Observer News Group, we look forward to continuing to serve you into the future.

In the meantime, from the bottom of our hearts here at Vaitele where all the magic happens, thank you for your support Samoa. Have a fabulous Friday, God bless!KAMPALA, Uganda (AP)  The Ugandan government filed a charge of treason Thursday against a pop star-turned-lawmaker who has emerged as a major critic of the long-serving president and whose jailing drew outrage from top musicians around the world.

Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, was visibly weak and struggled to walk into court from what his lawyer said was a severe beating while in custody. The government denied it.

It was the first time Ssentamu had been seen in public since his detention, and he clenched his fists as he greeted supporters. A colleague wrapped a scarf in the colors of Uganda's national flag around his shoulders.

The 36-year-old Ssentamu was arrested with other lawmakers while campaigning for a candidate Aug. 13. He was charged with illegal possession of firearms for his alleged role in an incident in which the motorcade of President Yoweri Museveni was pelted with stones.

The arrest sparked protests in the capital, Kampala, and elsewhere demanding his release, with scores of people detained as security forces cracked down on demonstrators. Dozens of top musicians, including Angelique Kidjo, Chris Martin, Chrissie Hynde and Brian Eno, signed a letter demanding Ssentamu's release, and a social media campaign to #FreeBobiWine was launched.

In Kampala's Kisekka Market area on Thursday, protesters held posters of Ssentamu, praising him as the "People's Voice." Demonstrations also occurred in Nairobi, the capital of neighboring Kenya, and in London.

A military court in the northern town of Gulu dropped the weapons charges, but he was quickly re-arrested, taken to a magistrate's court and charged with treason, which carries the death penalty.

He needed help to walk into court and appeared to cry at one point. He sat in the dock in magistrate's court, with his lawyers saying he was unable to stand on his own.

Ssentamu was arrested with four other opposition lawmakers, three of whom also face treason charges. A fifth legislator has been hospitalized with injuries allegedly sustained during detention.

The magistrate ruled Ssentamu should be allowed to see his own doctors, and he was remanded into custody until Aug. 30.

Medical treatment abroad is desirable, but first he needs to go to a private Ugandan health facility, said one of Ssentamu's attorneys, Medard Sseggona.

"As to whether they can do it is a different matter," he said.

Other opposition figures expressed concern about being targeted by security forces as Museveni's government has come under pressure in the Ssentamu case.

"Every way out of my home is barricaded since very early today," tweeted Kizza Besigye, a four-time presidential challenger who has been jailed many times.

Police spokesman Emilian Kayima later said Besigye was arrested when he tried to force his way out. The spokesman said forces also were deployed at the homes of certain Ugandans after receiving intelligence that some "wanted to engage in criminal activities."

Ssentamu, who was elected to parliament last year, has emerged as an influential critic of Museveni, especially among many educated youth who cannot find work in Uganda, where hospitals often lack basic medicines, and main roads are dangerously potholed.

In his music video "Freedom," he sings from behind bars: "We are fed up with those who oppress our lives."

He has protested an unpopular social media tax as well as a change to the constitution that removed the presidential age limit of 75. That provision allows the 74-year-old Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, to seek re-election in 2021.

Ssentamu's arrest came after he was campaigning for a lawmaker in the northwestern town of Arua. Museveni also was in Arua at the time, campaigning for a rival candidate who eventually lost.

While the president was departing, authorities said, his motorcade was pelted with stones by people associated with Ssentamu and the candidate he backed, Kassiano Wadri.

Ssentamu's driver was shot and killed, allegedly by security forces.

In a statement late Wednesday, Museveni accused "unprincipled politicians" of luring youth into rioting. Addressing calls on social media to free Ssentamu, he said he had no power to do so.

"Let us therefore wait for the courts and see what they decide," Museveni said.

Museveni, a U.S. ally on regional security, has been elected five times. Although he has campaigned on a record of establishing peace and stability, some worry that those gains are being eroded the longer he stays in power.Dear Editor,

While in Samoa for a short fishing break over the last week I caught up with Savea Sano Malifa and discovered the Samoa Observer was celebrating 40 years of publication.

I would like to include me and my familys congratulations to Sano and Jean Ash Malifa for the way they have guided their publication through what has at times been a rocky path.

Their efforts, as Samoas independent voice, has at times ensured what for some has been an unpalatable truth, has been brought before the public.

The number of awards they have collected over the years for their steadfast drilling down to expose the key issues of the day makes even the All Blacks trophy cupboard look bare in comparison.

To all the past and present staff, congratulations for taking what is a great publication from strength to strength.

Grant Dixon

Managing Editor and Publisher

NZ Fishing Media

New ZealandPrime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi has paid tribute to the Editor-in-Chief of the Samoa Observer News Group, Gatoaitele Savea Sano, Publisher, Muliaga Jean Malifa, and their staff for their commitment to press freedom in Samoa and the world.

In any Government, the need for a newspaper such as the Samoa Observer is critical, a newspaper that is not timid, Tuilaepa said. They report what they see and interpret it the way they see it. So I want to congratulate Sano and his wife for their dedication. We know it hasnt been easy.

Tuilaepa offered his well wishes during a press conference in his Office as the Samoa Observer News Group prepares to celebrate its 40th Anniversary at Sheraton Samoa Aggie Greys Hotel on Beach Road tonight.

The Prime Minister is among three speakers for the evening. The other two are the Deputy Director of the International Press Institute (I.P.I.), Scott Griffen, who flew in from Austria for the occasion, and the Samoa Observers Editor-in-Chief Gatoaitele.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa commended the Samoa Observer pointing out that 40 years is a long time where the newspaper would have already grown some grey hairs.

I take my hat off to the Samoa Observer. It is slightly younger than the Savali, the Savali is nearly 200 years old which means the Samoa Observer is the son of the Savali, he said, laughing.

In all seriousness though, I take my hat off to Savea and his wife, Muliaga, for their hard work in developing their newspaper. You see I spent some time with him during his younger years; he is a lot younger than me. I told him to start a newspaper. I did not think at that time that this person would become one of my biggest headaches.

The Samoa Observers relationship with the Government is based on mutual respect, Tuilaepa said.

When you put aside our usual squabbles, the newspaper has a critical role to keep members of the public informed. Whether its wrong or right, a story is a story. But there are times when its good to get it wrong so that we can get it right, he said.

I know there are times when the Government takes them to Court, and they are also sued by different individuals but they have continued to produce the newspaper which is a testament of their resolve. And thats why I take my hat off to Sano and his wife for never giving up.

The Samoa Observers independence is one of its strengths, Tuilaepa said. He claimed that at one time, the Samoa Observer sought help from the Government, which he declined.

The Prime Minister said one of the best aspects about the Samoa Observer today  and this is why it is respected by readers  is because it is totally independent, without any Government assistance.

Tuilaepa also spoke about his experience with newspapers.

From my experience with newspapers having helped with the Apia Weekly, it is a very expensive exercise; one publication costs a lot of money.

So thats how I know and I can appreciate the difficulties they go through.

Thats why I always make time when journalists  including ones from the Samoa Observer - come to me for interviews. I know you guys need me because when Im away, you have no news.

As for the Samoa Observer being dubbed the unofficial opposition party given the H.R.P.Ps dominance in Parliament, Tuilaepa said he welcomes constructive criticisms.

There are many things in the paper and when I look at something that I know would give me a headache, I just flip the page and read the overseas news. Dont get involved in stuff that will harm your health.

Lastly, Tuilaepa offered warm congratulations to the Samoa Observer.

As the leader of the Government, I want to acknowledge Saveas service to the country. I also want to acknowledge the support of Muliaga. Wives play such an important role. I congratulate them for their bravery, perseverance and hard work against all the odds.

Now that the newspaper is turning 40 years, I want to say it has made a tremendous contribution to the development of the country by highlighting the developments being implemented by the Government. It has also assisted in terms of job creation for sons and daughters of Samoa. So well done to the Samoa Observer.Meet Ruth and Arthur Banks from Tasmania, Australia.

The couple flew into Samoa with the intention to learn and experience the Samoan culture and lifestyle, but they have been surprised with what Samoa offers.

The authentic island life and their stay at the SaMoana Beach Resort have made their stay a memorable one so far.

It is their first time in Samoa and they wanted to travel to a place less touristy and relaxing.

We looked at two other islands making the decision where to go but we chose Samoa because we thought it wasnt mainstream tourism and it would give us the opportunities to actual interact with some of the Samoan people and to observe their culture and how they live.

We read about Samoa before and as well about the level of tourism here, we thought we would be pretty comfortable with and we are, Arthur said.

Because it isnt mainstream tourism, it is just very laid back, island time, friendly, nobody rushes you. I am really pleased that we came now because I think in 10 years time it will be quite different.

An island like Samoa I think has to develop tourism as part of its economy and I hope they develop it carefully so they dont lose the Samoan culture and especially Samoan friendliness and relaxation.

They said there needs to be more street signs along the road to direct new visitors.

We are in a very small resort and so we know many of the staff by their personal name, we talk to them, they teach us some Samoan and we have lots of laughs, which are good, Arthur said.

They believe Samoa offers everything for any tourist.

I think it is pretty well paid for because if you want adventure you can go scuba diving, waterfall sliding, Samoa has a lot of activities, Arthur said.

Then there are resorts if you just want to go to a resort, Ruth added.

On Samoas agriculture potential, Arthur said: I thought in the tropics the tropical fruits would be very fairly available, even in the supermarket there is very little.

They leave next week but they plan to see more of Savaii first.

The people and culture are what will bring them back to Samoa.Today Samoa Observer celebrates its 40 years anniversary. Deidre Fanene asks people on the street on what they think of this newspaper and what Samoa Observer stands for.

Kasandra Laufili 45, Saleimoa

The role of the paper is very important because not every family owns a TV, so this is how most families are informed of what is happening in country is through the paper. Its cheap too only $2.50 they have facts of what they print, they have proof of what they publish in the paper so the role of the Samoa Observer is very important. Not only that but the newspaper is like a diary to other people because when they have events like reunions, birthdays and all that they would call the paper to take photos and write an article about and then that family will hold on to the paper for memories.

Faaeteete Usufono 60, Nofoalii

Its very important because without the Samoa Observer newspaper we would not know what is going on in our country. Yes there are news on the television but not everyone has a television so role and the work of the Samoa is very important. And I would also like to wish Samoa Observer a happy birthday and may God continue to bless its leaders as well as the staff.

Avaavau Avaavau 53, Lelata

For me personally the Samoa Observer newspaper has done a lot and their role in a country like Samoa is very important. You see there are so many media outlets in Samoa but Samoa Observer is the only daily newspaper and they have some really valid issues that they put in the paper and this is why I am a really big fan of the paper.

Happy birthday Samoa Observer!

Tanuvasa Asela 50, Nofoalii

Samoa Observer is the voice of the people and that is why their role is very important in Samoa.

They raise issues that no other media raise and they are not afraid to speak the truth. This is the kind of paper that we really need in a country like this to inform the people of what is going on in the country.

Fatu Tanuvasa 40, Laulii

There is so much work that Samoa Observer has done and for them to reach this milestone is a moment that needs to be celebrated. They have been through so much in the past but they made it this far. Happy 40th anniversary Samoa Observer, God Bless!

Leitu Lelevaga 37, Utualii

To be honest I dont read the paper but to me it is just another way of getting the news out to the people of whats happening in our country.

But Happy 40th Anniversary Samoa Observer!

Mose Peter 34, Fagalii

A lot of people especially the Prime Minister complain about the Samoa Observer and how they should report on facts alone and I think thats true. Their work is important because it will keep the people updated and informed of what is happening but they should report and write about facts only not their opinions.

Viliamu Neemia 42, Afega

Everyone knows how important the role of the Samoa Observer is. They inform us of what is happening around the globe especially in our small country. They publish what is happening in Samoa and especially how we are spending our money so its very important.

Marcus Fesolai 40, Faleasiu

To me personally I think the Samoa Observer should come out to the public more often and ask of our opinion about certain issues. Issues that affects members of the public because to me there are so many things that we want to talk about but I hardly see the people who works for the Samoa Observer around here asking us of what we think of this issue. So I think in the future this is what needs to be improved.

TJ Russel Tuaia 20, Vaoala

It is through the paper that people come to know of what is happening around our country. But the paper also have a role to do and that is to report on facts only because there are a lot of people who are accusing Samoa Observer of lying so this is why they have to prove those people wrong.But Samoa Observer has done so much for the people of Samoa in terms of keeping us updated of what is going on.JOHANNESBURG (AP)  By now, many Africans know to cringe whenever "Trump" and their continent are mentioned together.

It's happened again. In a tweet containing inaccurate comments, President Donald Trump said he had instructed his secretary of state to "closely study" alleged land seizures from white farmers in South Africa. The issue is racially divisive almost a quarter-century after the end of apartheid, the system of white minority rule.

Trump rarely turns his attention to Africa  the tweet was his first since he became president to mention the continent by name  but when he does it often backfires.

The most shocking example came earlier this year when Trump reportedly used vulgar language to compare African nations to a filthy toilet. Outraged countries swiftly summoned U.S. ambassadors to explain the comment  much as South Africa on Thursday was reaching out to the U.S. Embassy to clarify the latest remarks.

Many South Africans were stunned. "A racist bigot," the morning host of one of the country's most popular talk radio stations, Eusebius McKaiser, told listeners before opening the airwaves to lively debate about Trump's comments.

Trump's tweet appeared just days after first lady Melania Trump took a very different approach to Africa, announcing she would be visiting several countries on the continent in October in her first big solo international trip. She said she looked forward to learning about the issues children face and appreciating Africa's history and culture.

It was the latest hint that the first lady might be subtly separating herself from her husband and his controversial views.

The last time Trump referred to Africa on Twitter was in 2014, long before his presidential ambitions were taken seriously by much of the public. He expressed alarm over the devastating Ebola outbreak that killed more than 10,000 people in West Africa: "Why are we sending thousands of ill-trained soldiers into Ebola infested areas of Africa! Bring the plague back to U.S.?"

Trump also made clear he was no fan of South Africa's security situation, tweeting in December 2013 that "I really like Nelson Mandela but South Africa is a crime ridden mess that is just waiting to explode-not a good situation for the people!"

Since becoming president, Trump has largely left Africa to drift, meeting only a handful of African heads of state and leaving key diplomatic positions  the ambassador to South Africa, for one  unfilled. It took a year and a half to name the top Africa diplomat in the State Department.

Trump also fired his previous secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, hours after Tillerson ended a multi-country Africa visit earlier this year in an effort to mend badly frayed ties.

Now some observers say Trump is using his latest Africa comments to try to deflect attention from his sprawling legal troubles at home.

"The President of the U.S. needs political distractions to turn our gaze away from his criminal cabal, and so he's attacking South Africa with the disproven racial myth of 'large scale killings of farmers,'" Patrick Gaspard, a former U.S. ambassador to South Africa, tweeted on Thursday. "This man ... has no discernible Africa policy."

On Monday, Trump faces another chance to address the continent when he welcomes just the second African head of state to a White House meeting, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.BEIJING (AP)  The United States and China went ahead with tariff hikes on billions of dollars of each other's automobiles, factory machinery and other goods Thursday in an escalation of a battle over Beijing's technology policy that companies worry will chill global economic growth.

The increases came as envoys met in Washington for their first high-level talks in two months. They gave no sign of progress toward a settlement of U.S. complaints that Beijing steals technology and its industry development plans violate Chinese free-trade commitments.

The 25 percent duties, previously announced, apply to $16 billion of goods from each side including automobiles and metal scrap from the United States and Chinese-made factory machinery and electronic components.

In the first round of tariff hikes, U.S. President Donald Trump imposed 25 percent duties on $34 billion of Chinese imports on July 6. Beijing responded with similar penalties on the same amount of American goods.

The Chinese government criticized Thursday's U.S. increase as a violation of World Trade Organization rules and said it would file a legal challenge.

A foreign ministry spokesman, Lu Kang, declined to give details of the Washington talks.

"We hope the U.S. side will get along with us to strive for a good result from the talks with a reasonable and practical attitude," Lu said.

Beijing has rejected U.S. demands to scale back plans for state-led technology development that its trading partners say violate its market-opening commitments. American officials worry they might erode the United States' industrial leadership.

With no settlement in sight, economists warn the conflict could spread and knock up to 0.5 percentage points off global economic growth through 2020.

The pressure on Chinese export industries that support millions of jobs adds to challenges for Communist leaders who are trying to shore up slowing economic growth.

Factory output, consumer spending and other indicators were weaker than expected in July. Beijing has responded by pumping money into financial markets and announcing plans for higher spending on public works construction.

Chinese leaders have promised to help struggling exporters and ordered banks to lend more freely to them. But they have avoided full-scale economic stimulus that would set back efforts to rein in surging debt and nurture self-sustaining growth supported by consumer spending.

Forecasters say the impact of U.S. tariffs on China's economy is small and manageable for now. Credit Suisse said this month that if Trump goes ahead with all threatened U.S. increases, the "worst case" outlook would cut China's economic growth by 0.2 percentage points this year and 1.3 percent in 2019.

The International Monetary Fund's growth forecast for China this year is 6.5 percent, down from last year's 6.8 percent and more than double the U.S. forecast of 2.9 percent.

Ahead of the Washington talks, Chinese state TV mocked Trump with a sarcastic video posted on the YouTube and other social media pages of its international arm, China Global Television Network.

"You are great," says a presenter on the nearly three-minute English-language clip, reading a letter that pays a satirical tribute to Trump.

"On behalf of doctors, thank you for pointing out the need to wean off American goods like bourbon and bacon," the presenter says, referring to products on which China imposed retaliatory tariffs.

The video appeared to have been removed Thursday from CGTN's social media accounts.

Trump has proposed another possible round of tariff hikes involving 25 percent increases on an additional $200 billion of Chinese goods. Beijing issued a $60 billion list of American products for retaliation if Washington goes ahead with that.

That smaller target list reflects the fact that Beijing is running out of American goods for retaliation due to their lopsided trade balance.

China's imports from the United States last year totaled about $130 billion. That leaves about $20 billion for penalties after tariffs already imposed or planned on a total of $110 billion.

Chinese authorities have said they will take "comprehensive measures," which companies worry could mean targeting operations of American businesses in China for disruption.The one-time crown jewel of downtown, Horton Plaza, has officially been sold to real estate investment firm Stockdale Capital Partners, which seeks to return the 900,000 square-foot property to its former glory  albeit in much different form.

Our vision is to create downtown San Diegos absolute leading creative office space, said Daniel Michaels, managing director of the firm, which closed on the property Thursday.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Horton Plaza opened in 1985 with a Disneyland-meets-Italian-hills vibe, and was seen as a model of urban development at the time. Thirty-three years later, many of the malls storefronts have been abandoned as dueling forces  the rise of e-commerce and the centers fortress-like design  hastened retailers exit. The plaza also suffered from years of indecision on the part of previous owner-operator Westfield, which is currently embroiled in a suit with mall tenant Jimbos.

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Now, keys in hand, Stockdale envisions the plaza as an ultra-modern office campus, dubbed The Campus at Horton, and geared toward top technology firms.

Department store shells, like the currently vacant Nordstrom building, will be converted into light-filled, expansive workplaces with 40,000 square-foot floors. The center will also see the retail outposts on the second and third floors transformed into hip work zones. And specialized ground floor retailers will be selected to ensure workers and visitors can eat, drink and work out in quintessential San Diego style.

In addition, the developer plans to significantly open up the meandering path that already winds through the mall site  referred to as the boardwalk in the new version of Horton  and further invest in the adjacent Horton Plaza park, Michaels said. Other planned amenities include a luxury cinema, daycare facility and dog-care service.

Ultimately, Stockdale expects to gut the retail center down to its studs and pump hundreds of millions of dollars into building it back up. It anticipates around two years of construction with tenants occupying the downtown tech campus by the end of 2020. The result should be a work-play hub that creates as many as 4,000 high-paying jobs and generates an estimated $1.8 billion in annual economic impact, according to calculations commissioned by the firm.

The future tenants, as Michaels describes them, are the big and important kind; technology firms of Facebooks caliber that have avoided establishing a presence in San Diego.

Theres an incredible opportunity to capture primarily Bay Area technology tenants who are looking to expand outside a very expensive San Francisco, said Steven Yari, co-managing director of Stockdale Capital. I can tell you, San Diego is not on their radar. Its not been on their radar because theres no space.

But to create the space they covet, Stockdale will need to renegotiate land use approvals with the city.

The site contract currently requires at least 600,000 square feet of retail space. Though it wouldnt share specifics on square footage, Stockdales plan is clearly heavy on office and light on retail. And any changes to the Horton Plaza owner participation agreement, as its called, would require the approval of City Council, said Andrew Phillips, interim president of the citys downtown planning agency Civic San Diego.

Its unclear how the proposed office park use will be received by the council.

Gary London, principal real estate analyst with London Moeder Advisors, says council members will need to be swayed by Stockdales design along with representations that it has secured office tenants.

It makes sense that Horton Plaza needs to be revitalized as something different, he added. There is insufficient demand for that type of regional shopping center in downtown San Diego.

Michaels, of course, views the Horton redo as a no-brainer for the city.

This is an opportunity to take a blighted mall and create 3,000 to 4,000 high-paying jobs, he said.

Working in his favor is Stockdales transformation of the 560,000 square-foot Galleria Corporate Center in Arizona, which was a dated indoor mall that has since been remodeled and outfitted with tech tenants, including Yelp, Zillow and Square. Already out of space and with demand still high, Stockdale is building a new office tower on the Galleria site, Michaels said.

Should The Campus at Horton prove as popular, Stockdale said it could add as much as 1.5 million square feet to its office development in future phases.

Going forward, the firm said it will work with the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, Downtown San Diego Partnership and the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation to host a series of community engagement workshops on the project.

Business

jennifer.vangrove@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1840 Twitter: @jbruin

UPDATES:

3:41 p.m.: Stockdale clarified that it plans to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on the first phase of development.

This article was originally published at 2:30 p.m.A 58-unit senior living apartment complex is coming to E Street.

The Chula Vista Planning Commission approved plans for the three-story residential building between Third and Landis avenues Wednesday evening.

Im glad to see that we are looking to provide the type of housing for a segment of our population that we dont often talk about at these planning commission meetings, said Commissioner Pedro Anaya. That makes me feel good about the project.

The 58 market-rate units will be eligible for people 62 years and older. About half will be studios and the other half one-bedroom units.

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The complex will also have a 1,000 square-foot multipurpose community room and a large outdoor patio.

The Planning Commission approved the project with a unanimous vote.

But there were some concerns about parking. Several commissioners said they received multiple emails from residents concerned about the lack of parking in that part of town.

The developers are putting in 35 parking spots, which is more than the legally required minimum of 29.

Additionally, city staff are working on a plan to address parking issues in western Chula Vista, city officials said.

Contact Gustavo Solis via Email or TwitterIt was supposed to be a win-win.

Coronado dog-owners would get an off-leash dog park, and the local school district would get $60,000 for leasing the space to the city.

But a plan to convert a quarter-acre of a kindergartens playground into a dog park hit a snag Tuesday when parents of students at the school, neighbors, and teachers rejected the idea during a City Council meeting.

We are here today to express our many concerns and frustrations about the proposed off-leash dog park that would compromise the health and safety of our youngest Coronado students and residents, Allyson Silva, a teacher at Early Childhood Development Center, told the council.

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Those concerns include fears that students would be bitten by dogs, loud barking would distract students from learning, possible health issues from dog feces and fleas near where children play, and increase vehicle traffic in an area with limited parking.

Nearly 100 people attended the standing-room-only crowd at Coronados City Council chambers Tuesday. Although most speakers opposed the park, several supported the idea of a dog park  even if it is not in that location.

After more than an hour of public testimony and council deliberation, City Council members postponed making a decision so that they could have more public input on options for a dog park.

Unless we have a proper public forum to identify those concerns and address those concerns I wouldnt feel comfortable moving forward with any park, Mayor Richard Bailey said.

Between 30 and 40 percent of Coronado residents own dogs and there is large demand for another dog park, Bailey added.

Dog owners can take their dogs off-leash in a designated area on the beach and at a park in the Coronado Cays. However, there is no off-leash dog park in what locals call the Village, the densely populated area of Coronado just on the other side of the bridge.

The council did not set a date for a public forum.

Contact Gustavo Solis via Email or TwitterLocated in the heart of San Ysidro, the white, stucco church that once housed Nuestra Senora de Monte Carmelo, or Our Lady of Mount Carmel, stands as a symbol of the border towns rich history and culture.

Built in 1927, the landmark is set to be the centerpiece of a small affordable housing project that will include spaces for services and programs geared toward the predominantly Latino community.

We want to integrate (the church) because of the huge historical significance in the community. Its seen as an icon in San Ysidro, said Teddy Cruz of Estudio Teddy Cruz + Fonna Forman, a research-based political and architecture firm that designed the project with Casa Familiar, a social services organization.

David Flores, Casa Familiars community development director, added: We believe that culture exisits in a community  that you dont bring culture to a community.

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Construction at the site on West Hall Avenue, just west of the San Ysidro Community Park, is expected to begin in October.

Cruz and Flores said they consider the small-scale development an important model for other housing projects in small communities like San Ysidro  one that puts residents needs first and aims to spur community engagement.

Plans for the $8.7 million project, named Living Rooms at the Border, include 10 apartments: four 3-bedroom units, three 2-bedroom units and three 1-bedroom units. Rents are estimated between $900 and $1,800.

In neighborhoods like San Ysidro, housing cannot just be units on their own, said Cruz, a public culture and urbanization professor at UC San Diego. They need to be embedded in an infrastruture of social, cultural, educational and economic programming.

An affordable housing project in San Ysidro dubbed Living Rooms at the Border will be built around spaces for community services and programs. (Estudio Teddy Cruz + Fonna Forman)

To that end, plans call for the church to be restored and used for visual arts and theater programs run by theater company Teatro Mascara Magica and a UCSD program named Community Stations. The space, which will be re-named El Salon, or The Hall, will include a recording studio.

Plans also include an open-air pavilion called Casa Patio, where UCSD would put on art-related programs and activities for the community.

This is about developing programs, developing participation and developing engagement, Cruz said.

Also included in the plans are five office spaces, reserved primarily for community services. Casa Familiar intends to use two spaces to offer immigration services and a third to house a coffee cart, which would provide barista jobs to youth.

Casa Familiar has not yet designated a use for the two other office spaces, although the nonprofit has considered leasing to San Ysidro Health for a small clinic.

Other aspects of the the project that aim to draw the community include walkways and courtyards.

Cruz and Flores said they hope the the project encourages more urban development in San Ysidro and beyond.

Its about respecting the small-scale fabric of the historic center, the heart of San Ysidro, Cruz said.

The project dates back to 2000, when Casa Familiar purchased the land on which the church stands. In 2001, Casa Familiar bought an adjacent property, with a ramshackle house on it.

Cruz and his partner Fonna Forman, a UC San Diego political science professor, pointed to various aspects that contributed to the time frame of the project.

This is not a developer-driven project, which from the beginning has budgets and a process all in place, he said. For this project, Casa Familiar has to construct a process: advocating for the right housing agenda, fundraising for acquiring land, approaching policy makers to raise awareness about the relations between housing and social services, and developing outreach efforts in collaboration with others like UCSD and foundations. To put in place the right financial composition that could support an unorthodox housing project.

The project was one of five selected by the city of San Diego as part of a development planning effort, named the City of Villages initiative. The initiative began in 2002 and later fell apart. Despite the loss of support from the city, Casa Familiar moved forward with the project.

In 2010, the project gained national attention after it was showcased as part of an exhibition named Small Scale, Big Change at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Casa Familiar, which has developed six housing projects, including two in National City, received funding for the project from the PARC Foundation and Civic San Diegos New Market Tax Credit program.

The project is expected to be completed in a year.

Email: david.hernandez@sduniontribune.com

Phone: (619) 293-1876

Twitter: @D4VIDHernandezFor Rent: Zero BR, 1 BA, 1 Tap Room

If youre apartment hunting in San Diego County, you have my sympathy. Affordable units are as rare as $3 pints of craft beer.

But spare a moment for those beers poor brewers! They face a similar challenge.

This is a super tight, a tight, tight, tight market, said Damon Melda, an executive vice president with Jones Lane LaSalle, a commercial real estate firm. With other businesses thriving today, theres just not enough space.

Melda, who has worked with a wide variety of commercial tenants for 12 years, is now assisting Pure Project. That two-year-old brewery occupies a cozy space in a Miramar industrial park. Wouldnt it be nice to have a tap room in a more visible location?

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Dream on. Weve been at it over a year, Melda said, trying to find a 2,000-square-foot tasting room.

Actually, Melda predicted that Pure Project will soon close on a spot in Bankers Hill. And hes enjoyed some success in the past, finding suitable locations for growing breweries. Stones move into Richmond, Va., he said, is probably the coolest real estate deal Ive ever done.

But success can pose serious hurdles for small breweries. If booming sales lead them to shop around for new, larger facilities, theyll bump into that tight, tight, tight market.

Pure Project right now has only about 1,500 square feet, and you can find those kinds of spaces no problem, Melda said. Its breaking into the next level where these breweries are going to have some challenges.

Beer Curious: Random Questions from my Editor

Q. Can an IPA be a lager?

A. By definition, no. IPA is an acronym for India Pale Ale.

But numerous breweries, including Ballast Point, Pizza Port and Stone, make IPLs  India Pale Lagers.

Like IPAs, IPLs are hop-centrict beers. But its worth noting that ales and lagers use different yeasts. Some brewers will tell you that the lager strains are cleaner, which means that IPLs deliver better-defined hop flavors.

Tom Browns Stone Collection

At a private tasting in Mission Hills five years ago, I was introduced to one of the wonders of San Diego beer: Tom Browns cellar, overflowing with specialty beers from Stone Brewing.

Now, this private collection is being opened up to the public. Brown is donating 447 Stone bottles to the San Diego Festival of Beer.

Scheduled for noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 22 on the Broadway Pier, the areas oldest beer festival is run by the nonprofit San Diego Professionals Against Cancer. In the festivals first 23 years  this is the 24th  it has raised more than $680,000 for the cancer ward at Radys Childrens Hospital, Cancer Angels, the Seany Foundation and others.

Brown will sell his bottles at the fest, donating all proceeds to the Professionals. Highlights from his collection include Old Guardian 1999 (five bottles); Imperial Stout 2004 (nine bottles); Sawyers Triple 2008 (eight bottles); Double Bastard 2001 (four bottles) plus multiple bottles from each and every year of the Stone Vertical Epic series.

Well, except for that 2002-2012 series inaugural year.

Im keeping three complete Vertical Epic series, Brown said. I only have three more 2002, the rare year.

Festival tickets, starting at $40, are available at sdbeerfest.org/tickets.

Kings of Beer

Browsing a local bottle shop, I picked up a 750-ml. bottle of Saison Prestige (6.5 percent alcohol by volume) for about $20. At home, my palate recognized this as a complex beer, worth exploring, but the Rowe Family CFO wasnt sure it was worth that much.

Unlike Saison Dupont and other classics of this style, Saison Prestige emphasizes a tart fruitiness rather than an herbal spiciness. This ambitious ale, a product of downtown San Diegos Resident Brewing, was aged in French oak Chardonnay barrels and dosed with the Brettanomyces yeast and Lactobacillus bacteria, giving the beer a sour, funky character.

Prestige was then aged in bottles  mine was capped 14 months before I cracked it open. Time did little to mellow the beer, though, and my first sips were dominated by an explosive tartness. My taste buds needed time to recalibrate and discover some stone fruit jamminess under the acidic, tongue-curling opening notes.

I cant recommend this as a stand-alone beer, but the full-throttle tartness would provide a welcome contrast to something sweet or creamy  a whitestone pizza, say, or a goat cheese and pear salad.

Best of the Week

Modern Times Festival of Dankness, 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday at San Diegos Waterfront Park, is super-popular  and sold out. If you didnt land tickets, here are two disappointment-stifling strategies:

1. Party on! Celebrate Circle 9s first anniversary, 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the brewery, 7292 Opportunity Road, Suite C, San Diego.

2. Get in touch with your inner, beer-quaffing yogi. On Sunday, yoga classes will be held at 9:30 a.m. at North Park Beer, 3038 University Ave., North Park; at 10 a.m. at Eppigs Waterfront Biergarten, 2817 Dickens St., Point Loma; and at 10:30 a.m. at Green Flash, 6550 Mira Mesa Blvd., Mira Mesa.

Words to Drink By

Smoother than a puma cheating at backgammon.  British comedian Stephen Frys goofy testimonial to Heineken Export in a 1999 TV ad. Fry turns 61 Friday.

Beer Videos

Twitter: @peterroweut

peter.rowe@sduniontribune.comWhats happening

Puesto and Ballast Point Brewing Company will host San Diegos Best: When Puesto met Ballast Point, an intimate, five-course dinner and beer pairing. The menu is a regional assortment of dishes like tacos al pastor from central Mexico to black cod in pipian verde from Puebla, Mexico. 6 to 9 p.m. today. at Puesto at the Headquarters, 789 W. Harbor Drive, San Diego. Limited seating. $75. Tickets: bit.ly/2Kqiept

Friday is National Waffle Day, and Cafe 222 will serve its signature Golden Waffle, a thick golden-brown malted waffle (normally priced at $9.50) for just $2.22. Open 7 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. 222 Island Ave., San Diego. (619) 236-9902. cafe222.com

Luigis Italian Ice vending machine. (Courtesy photo)

Luigis Italian Ice, the East Coasts frozen indulgence, is coming to cool down San Diegos heatwave with a one-time pop-up vending machine filled with frozen ice treats. Free samples will be doled out to visitors from 2 to 8 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday near The Tin Fish, 170 Sixth Ave., Gaslamp Quarter. All you have to do is tweet about it. Special surprises will take place each day, and Luigis ambassadors will be on-site to answer any questions. facebook.com/LUIGISREALITALIANICE

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Sidecar Doughnuts and chef Richard Blais will take over a portion of The Crack Shacks parking lot to serve up their flavor of the month designed by Blais: Banana Split Donut. Made with banana chocolate chip cake, its topped with a strawberry-banana glaze, chocolate sauce, salted and roasted peanuts and a dried strawberry. A portion of the proceeds will go to Blais charity of choice, Traveling Stories. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. 407 Encinitas Blvd., Encinitas. (760) 230-2968.

The Royal Treatment is one of the dishes on the Baxters Bites menu. (Courtesy of LAuberge Del Mar)

Coastline celebrates National Dog Day on Sunday with Baxters Bites menu items for four-legged guests and a new farm-fresh summer menu for their owners, walkers and dog-lovers in general. Pups can choose either a coastal bowl, a mix of seared salmon, brown rice, peas and carrots or the royal treatment, made with beef tenderloin, three-grain salad and farmers market vegetables. Human treats include sea scallops, New York strip steak and pork chop. LAuberge Del Mar, 1540 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar. (858) 259-1515. laubergedelmar.com

Fresh Corn Pot de Creme. (Courtesy of Bleu Boheme)

Monday is National Pots de Creme Day and Bleu Boheme will celebrate the traditional 17th-century French dessert with a fresh corn custard topped with blueberry preserves prepared by owner and executive chef Ken Irvine. (619) 255-4167. bleuboheme.com

Sammys Woodfired Pizza & Grill will host Green Flash Dinner Series, an education night featuring a five-course meal curated by Sammys executive chef Alfred Alfie Szeprethy and beer pairings poured by Green Flashs Director of Beer Education and certified cicerone, Dave Adams. 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. 121 S. Las Posas Road, Suite 102, San Marcos. $30 per person. Tickets: bit.ly/2LX6d0G

Summer menu cool-downs

Salt & Straw Ice Cream debuted its latest flavor series, Eat Your Vegetables in Ice Cream, a series spotlighting produce from local farmers, including Dickinson Farm in National City. Co-founder and head ice cream guru Tyler Malek is churning out flavors like Freckled Chocolate Zucchini Bread, Green Fennel & Maple, Beet Red Velvet Cake (vegan), Chocolate Date Shake and Cream Cheese & Tomatillo Chutney, a cream cheese ice cream laced with a fresh tomatillo-spiced jam. These tasty flavors are available through August. 1670 India St., Little Italy. (619) 542-9394. saltandstraw.com

Chef Jeremy Ourslands salmon skin salad. (Courtesy of Cannonball at Belmont Park)

Belmont Park announced that two of its restaurants, Cannonball and Draft Mission Beach, have added new food options to their menus. Draft chef de cuisine Luis Romeros menu offers grilled octopus and bone marrow, pesto macaroni and cheese and shrimp salad, as well as butterscotch pudding, strawberry shortcake, South Mission tres leches cake and chocolate stout cake. At Cannonball, chef Jeremy Oursland has crafted dishes for both the lunch and dinner crowds, with items like mussels and chorizo, salmon tartare and stone fruit salad. 3105 Ocean Front Walk, San Diego. belmontpark.com/restaurants-quick-bites

Firecracker shrimp. (Courtesy of Rustic Root)

Rustic Root recently introduced Flight Night, a Tuesday evening happy hour, featuring beer flights ($8 for three selections), wine flights ($9 for three selections) and cocktail flights ($11 for three selections). Guests can pair their flight of choice from a select group of appetizers ($9 each) like salmon tartare tacos or fire cracker shrimp. 535 Fifth Ave, San Diego. (619) 232-1747. rusticroot.com

Cafe La Rue executive chef Alex Emery has revamped the restaurants entire menu, adding an hors doeuvres section, wines by the glass and a Libation Hour with offerings like $1 oysters, $1 Frenched chicken wings, $3 sliders and $2 poutine (French fries, cheese curds and gravy). Pair it with a $5 draft beer or $5 house wine daily from 3 to 6 p.m. La Valencia Hotel and Spa, 1132 Prospect St., La Jolla. (855) 476-6870. lavalencia.com

Chocolate cherry waffle. (Courtesy of Provisional Kitchen Cafe & Mercantile)

Pendry San Diegos Provisional Kitchen Cafe & Mercantile has unveiled a new summer dessert menu using seasonal flavors like berries, peaches and watermelon. Priced at $9 each, options include basque cake with blackberry peach compote, blood peach coulis and creme fraiche ice cream; watermelon granita, made with mint-compressed melon, lime meringue and mint caviar (vegan, gluten-free and nut-free); and chocolate cherry waffle with almond chanttily, cherry ice cream, chocolate and almond crunch. Nasons Beer Hall is also offering a new summer menu featuring two favorite summer dishes: Nasons double burger with certified Angus beef, American cheese, chopped romaine lettuce and secret sauce on a brioche bun; and the double dog with two beef hot dogs, kimchi, Kewpie mayonnaise and green onion on a potato bun. 550 J St, San Diego. (619) 738-7000. pendryhotels.com/san-diego

Openings

San Clementes Biggies Burgers has expanded into Pacific Beach. Famous for great hamburgers and shakes, the eatery also offers hot dogs, sandwiches, salads, homemade onion rings, fried zucchini, soft drinks, milk and bottled water. 4631 Mission Blvd., San Diego. (858) 263-4433. biggiesburgers.com

Death by Tequila opened its doors in Encinitas. (Courtesy of Death by Tequila)

Death by Tequila opened its doors in North County. An agave-spirits bar and modern Mexican restaurant, owners Chad and Jessica Mestler said that their vision for this restaurant was inspired by their surf trips to Baja and the regions growing food and wine scene. The first-time restaurateurs engaged the services of Top Chef and Top Chef All-Stars alum Angelo Sosa to create a menu reflective of Bajas fresh, coastal cuisine. Signature plates range from ahi tuna crudo to Spanish octopus. The drink menu includes more than 100 tequila and 30 mezcal selections, beers from Tijuana and wines from the Valle de Guadalupe. 569 S. Coast Highway 101, Encinitas. (760) 230-6108. deathbytequila.com

The Creamery offers nearly 30 rotating flavors of ice cream and other delicious sweet treats. (Courtesy of Barona Resort & Casino)

Barona Resort & Casino recently opened The Creamery, a 1932-era ice cream shop, the latest eatery to be unveiled as part of Baronas expansion. The menu offers a variety of traditional flavors, including vanilla, chocolate and strawberry, plus nearly 30 rotating flavors like cinnamon bun, salted caramel and chocolate malted crunch. The generously sized scoops are available in cups, cones and waffle cones. A selection of nostalgic candy, including Necco wafers, Sugar Daddies, saltwater taffy and malted milk balls are available.1932 Wildcat Canyon Road, Lakeside. (619) 443-2300. barona.com

InterContinental San Diego has tapped iconic chefs Amy DiBiase and Paul McCabe to lead the culinary venture, Vistal, scheduled to open in tandem with the hotel on Tuesday. The menu will showcase flavors found in the Baja peninsula, Pacific Islands and fishing villages of the Mediterranean through dishes ranging from blue prawns with purple sweet potato gnocchi and roasted poblano to gold spotted bass with yam greens and lobster-coconut broth. The dining room features panoramic windows and floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors that lead to a west-facing outdoor terrace and fire pit lounge areas. The restaurant also offers a 29-seat bar, as well as a 14-seat chefs table situated near large exhibition kitchen windows. The interior is accented with art by various Southern California artists, including an installation of flying fish made out of skateboards. 901 Bayfront Court, San Diego. (619) 501-9400. intercontinentalsandiego.com

In the culinary news

Kettner Exchange has announced the appointment of Les Johnson as its general manager. Johnson brings more than eight years of experience with some of San Diegos leading restaurant concepts to his role, where he will lead daily operations, development and strategic planning. He began his career in 2011 at Searsucker San Diego, where he held various management positions before taking on a general manager training leadership role at its Scottsdale location. Three years later, he returned to San Diego filling the post as general manager at Georges at the Cove in La Jolla, and most recently at Little Italys Juniper & Ivy. 2001 Kettner Blvd., San Diego. (619) 255-2001. kettnerexchange.com

carolina.gusman@sduniontribune.comAugust 23, 1927 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.

Tuesday, August 23, 1927

In 1927, amid worldwide protests, Italian-born anarchists Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were executed in Boston for a 1920 shoe factory payroll holdup in which two men were killed.

Many observers believed that Sacco and Vanzetti were not given a fair trial because of the anti-immigrant sentiment pervasive at the time.

In 1977  50 years after the controversial executions  Massachusetts Gov. Michael S. Dukakis issued a proclamation that the trial was unfair, and that "any stigma" should be removed for the names of the two and their families.

Here are the first few paragraphs of the story:

SACCO, VANZETTI ELECTROCUTED

RADICALS DIE GAME AFTER SEVEN YEARS OF COURT BATTLES

Long Live Anarchy, One Red Slayer Shouts as He Enters Death Chamber; Other Calmly Shakes Hands with Guards, Again Protesting Innocence

(Universal Service)

STATE PRISON, BOSTON, Mass., Aug. 23.  (Tuesday morning)  Sacco and Vanzetti died game. Both made a speech to the death chamber just before they were electrocuted this morning.

Long live anarchy, shouted Sacco in Italian after he entered the chamber.

Then, without any instructions, he sat down in the chair and said in broken English: "Farewell to my wife an children, and all my friends.

As the straps were being applied, he added:

Good evening, gentlemen.

He was speaking to the official witnesses.

The, Farewell, mother.

That was his last.

Vanzetti Protests His Innocence

Vanzetti made a longer talk in which he protested his innocence. He was cool and collected. As he entered the death chamber he shook hands with his guards.

Then he sat down in the chair without any instructions and said: I wish to tell you I am innocent and never committed a crime but sometimes a sin. I thank you for everything you have done for me. I am innocent of all crimenot only of this one but of all crimes. I am an innocent man.

Here he paused. The traps were being applied. Then he added: I wish to forgive some people for what they are now doing to me. Thus Vanzettis last words were those of forgiveness to those he had considered his enemies.

Celestine Madeiros, who also was executed here this morning for another murder, preceded Sacco and Venzetti to the chair.

He seemed to be in a stupor and said nothing.

Warden Hendry gave the signal for the execution. Robert C. Elliottt, the executioner, was standing at the switch and caught the fist signal instantly. He pushed the switch in with a firm hand. The lights went dim.

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 Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department is in the early stages of an investigation into allegations that actress Asia Argento sexually abused child actor Jimmy Bennett at a Marina del Rey hotel in 2013.

But like so many sexual abuse allegations in Hollywood over the last year, this case is playing out in the media and the court of public opinion.

Law enforcement authorities from Los Angeles to London have investigated dozens of allegations against Hollywood figures including Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey and others.

The Argento case, however, is unique because she was one of the leading figures calling out others in Hollywood for alleged wrongdoing.

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Its a man-bites-dog story, and its an anomaly in a serious and profound movement forward, said Davia Temin, a crisis manager who does research on the #MeToo movement. It shows that the story gets more complicated.

Asia Argento (Getty Images)

Argento emerged as a powerful figure in the #MeToo movement in fall 2017 after telling the New Yorker that during the Cannes Film Festival in 1997, Weinstein invited her to his hotel suite, came out in a bathrobe and sexually assaulted her. At this years festival, she delivered a bold speech about the alleged experience.

In 1997, I was raped by Harvey Weinstein  here at Cannes. I was 21 years old. This festival was his hunting ground, she said in remarks that drew loud cheers and applause.

On Sunday, the New York Times reported that Bennett was paid a $380,000 settlement after he accused Argento of sexually assaulting him in a Marina del Rey hotel room when he was 17. In California, the age of consent is 18.

The newspaper reported that the settlement, paid in installments, secured the copyright for photos Bennett took during the alleged incident.

On the day of the alleged incident, Argento posted a photo on Instagram showing her hugging Bennett, referring to him as My son, my love, and included the month and year.

Q: Where is the case now?

Sheriffs Department officials said they are trying to reach out to all parties in the case.

No complaint was filed at the time by Bennett, which is usually the first step in a criminal investigation.

But the department said it would examine the matter anyway.

Legal experts have said the alleged incident would fall within the statute of limitations for sexual assault. Some of the allegations in the #MeToo movement were not prosecuted because they fell outside the statute.

As of Wednesday, it was unclear if detectives had interviewed either Bennett or Argento. Attorneys declined to comment.

New details have emerged all week, including photos of Argento and Bennett together.

Q: What does Argento say?

Argento admitted to the settlement but insisted she did nothing wrong.

I am deeply shocked and hurt by having read news that is absolutely false. I have never had any sexual relationship with Bennett, Argento said in a statement to the Guardian newspaper and the Huffington Post.

Subsequent to my exposure in the Weinstein case, Bennett  who was then undergoing severe economic problems and who had previously undertaken legal actions against his own family requesting millions in damages  unexpectedly made an exorbitant request of money from me, she said.

Q: Why does Bennett say he did not immediately report the incident?

In a statement issued Wednesday, Bennett, now 22, said that until now he was afraid and ashamed to speak about an incident he said happened in 2013.

I did not initially speak out about my story because I chose to handle it in private with the person who wronged me. My trauma resurfaced as she came out as a victim herself, he said in the statement. I have not made a public statement in the past days and hours because I was ashamed and afraid to be part of the public narrative.

At the time I believed there was still a stigma to being in the situation as a male in our society. I didnt think that people would understand the event that took place from the eyes of a teenage boy. Bennett said in his statement. I would like to move past this event in my life, and today I choose to move forward, no longer in silence.

Bennett said also that he tried to seek justice in a way that made sense to me.

They had worked together on a movie several years before the meeting at the Marina del Rey hotel.

Q: How is this case connected to Anthony Bourdain?

Argento said she made the settlement at the urging of Bourdain, who she was dating at the time.

Bourdain, a legendary food author and television personality, became an outspoken supporter of the #MeToo movement.

Anthony insisted the matter be handled privately and this was also what Bennett wanted. Anthony was afraid of the possible negative publicity that such a person, whom he considered dangerous, could have brought upon us, Argento said in her statement.

Bourdain killed himself in June.

Q: Where does this leave the #MeToo movement?

Many #MeToo movement activists have expressed outrage at what Argento has been accused of doing. And some say its a reminder that many sexual assault allegations are at their core about unfair power dynamics.

Genie Harrison, an attorney representing one of Weinsteins accusers, said abuse of power can never be ignored, even if the alleged wrongdoer is a #MeToo leader.

Though it seems incomprehensible for victims to become victimizers, history and storytelling are replete with examples of exactly this transformation, Harrison said. Victims need support and excellent therapy to have the best chance for full recovery and healthy relationships, including with themselves.A critically endangered Hawaiian honeycreeper called the akikiki has been bred in captivity for the first time, by a project involving San Diego Zoo Globals Hawaii Endangered Bird Conservation Program.

The single fledgling was produced by parents raised from eggs collected in the wild, Jennifer Pribble of San Diego Zoo Global said in a statement.

So this is the first offspring ever produced in captivity. It was parent-reared  raised completely by its mother, without any human intervention, said Pribble, a research coordinator of the zoos Hawaii Endangered Bird Conservation Program. The parents are a 3-year-old male and 2-year-old female.

The program is a collaboration of the Kauai Forest Bird Recovery Project, Hawaiis Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office and San Diego Zoo Global.

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San Diego Zoo Global is the zoos conservation arm, active around the world to save threatened species. Its also taking part in an effort to breed another native Hawaiian bird, a crow called the alala.

As with all native Hawaiian birds, their numbers have sharply declined since invasive species such as mosquitoes arrived with European explorers. Having evolved in relative isolation, the birds are unprepared to handle the threats.

The status of the akikiki, also known as the Kauai creeper, is dire. After a precipitous drop in population over the last 15 years, fewer than 500 of the birds are believed to exist in the wild. Theyre small, a little over 5 inches long, and gray-feathered with white patches on the underside.

Since 2015, akikiki eggs have been collected to breed a captive population that can provide extra security for the species. Akikiki lay more eggs to replace those taken, so there is no loss to the wild population.

After collecting the first akikiki eggs and hand-raising the chicks, it is exciting to have confirmation that our artificial incubation and hand-rearing techniques are successful, with this milestone of akikiki reproducing in captivity, said Jeremy Hodges, a research coordinator on the project.

Fikes writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.A federal grand jury has indicted a Nevada man as an unlicensed firearms dealer after he allegedly sold guns to out-of-state residents, including one that was used in the fatal shooting of a Sacramento County sheriffs deputy.

Charles Martin Ellis, 64, was charged Wednesday in a Nevada federal court with one count of engaging in firearms dealing without a license and one count of transfer or sale of a firearm to a nonresident, according to the indictment.

Prosecutors say Ellis sold the Zastava 7.62-millimeter caliber pistol that was used in a dramatic shootout on Aug. 30, 2017, that ended with two California Highway Patrol officers wounded and Deputy Robert French, a 21-year veteran of the Sacramento County Sheriffs Department, dead.

According to the Sheriffs Department, investigators also found two handguns and a live hand grenade in the shooters vehicle after he was caught. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives traced the gun back to a man who purchased it from Ellis in Nevada, prosecutors said.

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The genesis of this investigation started the day Bob French was murdered, Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones said in a statement. With the gracious help of our federal partners and their relentless pursuit of this investigation, a dangerous felon that provided the instrument that killed Deputy French will now be held to answer. It does little to fill the hole that still exists in his family and in our Department family, but it helps provide both a small measure toward justice and helps reduce the risk of a similar recurrence elsewhere.

Between January 2016 and February 2018, Ellis bought and quickly sold 250 firearms, including AR-15 and AK-47 assault-style weapons, without a federal firearms license, the indictment says. He allegedly sold the guns to residents of Nevada, Texas, Arizona and California.

Several of the guns were used in crimes in Nevada and California, prosecutors said.

Ellis faces up to five years in prison and $250,000 in fines if convicted.

Thomas Littlecloud, 32, the man who killed French, died days later from wounds he suffered in the shootout.

joseph.serna@latimes.com

For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna on Twitter.For four years, the half-completed hulk of a Target store has loomed over Sunset Boulevard, a project halted by litigation brought by neighborhood groups opposed to the buildings height.

As a flurry of development brought new restaurants, apartments and residents to Hollywood, the construction site remained unchanged. It inspired the Target Husk social media accounts, which post plaintive-sounding messages on Facebook and Twitter in the voice of the unfinished project.

Now, work is slated to begin again. A California appeals court Thursday sided with the city of Los Angeles, reversing a lower courts ruling that stopped construction.

The 2nd District Court of Appeal ruled that the city complied with state environmental law and did not abuse its discretion by changing local zoning laws to allow the development.

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Los Angeles city officials, including Mayor Eric Garcetti, cheered Thursdays ruling, while an attorney for the opponents indicated he would appeal.

Because todays decision reversing the trial court could have broad ramifications for land-use approvals across the state, we believe this matter should be addressed by the California Supreme Court, attorney Robert Silverstein, who represents the La Mirada Avenue Neighborhood Assn., wrote in an email.

Community groups opposed to dense development in Hollywood have repeatedly sued the city over the last decade, stopping projects such as the Millennium Hollywood twin skyscrapers and the Sunset and Gordon apartment complex. Opponents also successfully challenged the Hollywood Community Plan, the citys blueprint for development in the neighborhood.

The City Council first approved the Target shopping center in 2010, drawing a challenge from critics who said the project lacked an environmental impact report. Weeks later, Target withdrew its application and agreed to prepare a more extensive review.

The project was approved again in 2012. Two groups, the La Mirada Avenue Neighborhood Assn. and Citizens Coalition Los Angeles, sued to stop the shopping center, arguing that the City Council should not have allowed Target to build a 74-foot-tall structure in a location where such projects couldnt at the time exceed 35 feet.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Richard L. Fruin Jr. sided with opponents, ruling in 2014 that the City Councils approval of the project violated planning rules.

Fruin said Target could have complied with the citys height rules had it constructed an underground parking garage  a move that would have added at least $5 million to the projects cost. Fruin also pointed to a 2012 letter sent by Targets attorney, saying the retailer originally considered a design that would have mostly complied with the citys zoning requirements.

In that letter, Targets lawyer at the time, Bill Delvac, said the company changed plans in response to then-City Councilman Garcetti and key community stakeholders who wanted the development to be more pedestrian-friendly and conform to good planning principles.

Council members in 2016 approved new zoning for the site, but that decision prompted another legal challenge.

In 2017, Fruin ruled that the councils do-over on the project also violated the law. City officials, he said, failed to properly examine the environmental effects of its new zoning mechanism on the larger neighborhood.

Thursdays decision reverses that ruling.

Rob Wilcox, spokesman for City Atty. Mike Feuers office, said the city was pleased with the courts decision that the city of Los Angeles followed the law and that the project can move forward.

Target spokeswoman Jacqueline DeBuse said that the company is pleased with the outcome and that Thursdays ruling brings us one step closer to offering an easy and inspiring shopping experience to this area.

DeBuse said she didnt have details about Targets timeline for completing the store.

Councilman Mitch OFarrell, who represents Hollywood, said local residents will soon have visual relief from the blight of the stalled development.

With this path forward, we can complete the project and bring this long, unfortunate saga to a close, OFarrell said.

Garcetti, who championed the project as a council member representing Hollywood, said hes thrilled the store can move forward.

This store will be good for Hollywood, the neighborhood wants it, and its time we get it open, Garcetti said.

dakota.smith@latimes.com

Twitter: @dakotacdsmith

UPDATES:

6:35 p.m.: This article was updated with additional background.

5 p.m.: This article was updated with reaction, background and additional details from the ruling.

This article was originally published at 12:20 p.m.Police are investigating after a woman was found with a gunshot wound at the Santa Monica Pier early Thursday, an incident that prompted the closure of the popular tourist spot for most of the morning, officials said.

At about 6:05 a.m., a fisherman notified guards after seeing a woman in her 20s with a gunshot wound to her thigh at the west end of the pier near the Mariasol restaurant, according to authorities.

The woman was taken to a local hospital. Her wounds are not life-threatening, officials said.

The woman told police she had been shot by a man in his 20s who was accompanied by a woman, said Rudy Flores, a spokesman for the Santa Monica Police Department. When questioned further, the woman gave no other information and became vague and uncooperative, he said.

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Police had not identified any witnesses to the the shooting, he said. Detectives were investigating and a dive team was deployed to search the waters under the pier for a weapon.

The west end of the pier was closed to the public for most of the morning and reopened around 11 a.m.

Everything is pretty much back to normal, Flores said of the pier, which is typically highly populated by tourists visiting its several restaurants and attractions.The green flash.

For years, newcomers to San Diego have been advised to be on the lookout at sunset for the elusive burst of green that sometimes appears just as the sun dips below the ocean horizon.

Jim Grant has made a hobby of finding and photographing green flashes for the past two decades  ever since the professional deck designer couldnt find a really good picture of one. Today, his Shelter Island home has green flash photos everywhere.

I got hooked on it 18 years ago. Its my heroin, laughs Grant, who grabs his Nikon D7100 and 330-mm telephoto lens and heads to Sunset Cliffs or Ocean Beach on most evenings. He says he has taken more than 200 images of different green flashes.

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Grant posts his photos on social media, and occasionally they pop up on local TV weather broadcasts. Last Friday, Grant was interviewed on The Weather Channels Underground Weather segment. Their big question: Have Californias wildfires increased the number of green flashes?

Photographer Jim Grant takes a selfie with a fisheye lens. (Jim Grant)

Definitely, opines Grant. Pollution, moisture, smoke  those all play a factor in how big, how large and how clearly defined a green flash is going to be.  Particles get trapped close to the horizon and, when the sun sets, filter out all of that harsh light, and you get a lot of nice greens and blues.

The Weather Channel aired two photos Grant considers his most spectacular  one taken a couple of weeks ago over the OB pier and the other at 4:54 p.m. on Dec. 13 off Sunset Cliffs as a wildfire was burning across the border in Baja. Sky & Telescope magazine is running a full-page print in its September edition.

He admits that his conclusion isnt based on scientific analysis but on observation. Along with the frequency, the intensity and duration also have increased. A recent green flash in Ocean Beach lasted as long as six seconds, exhibiting five or six layers of green flashes like peeling an onion, he says. It was really sensational.

Grant says he doesnt color enhance or doctor his photos, other than straightening an image and perhaps increasing contrast. He often posts them on his Facebook or Instagram sites where they are passed on to others. He rarely gets paid for his hobby. He says his reward comes when people thank him for brightening their day in Idaho or Kansas or in the hospital or for cheering up their father in a wheelchair.

I am more than happy to share our gorgeous city with anyone who wants to see it, he says.

A blast from the past: The 2018 Luau and Legends Invitational at Scripps Pier marked the 25th anniversary of the filming of Endless Summer II, featuring surfers Robert Wingnut Weaver and Pat OConnell. Replicas of their 1994 surfboards were auctioned for charity. (Courtesy photo)

And the real winner is: A past chairman of the annual Luau and Legends of Surfing Invitational gala at La Jolla Shores had no idea that his decision to attend last weekends event may have saved his life. Since it is a fundraiser for the Moores Cancer Center, medical personnel were offering skin screening as the surfing competition took place by Scripps Pier. Thats when one of them discovered a small melanoma on one of the events VIP attendees.

He got in right away at Moores (Cancer Center). They have done the biopsy and are waiting for results, reports Sam Armstrong, co-founder and 2018 co-chair of the event with John Otterson. It was caught early ... which is crucial with melanoma.

This years event marked the 25th anniversary of both the luau and the filming of the popular surf movie Endless Summer II, released in 1994. So, it was only fitting that two Endless Summer II stars, Robert Wingnut Weaver and Pat OConnell, took part in the Aug. 19 event. Weaver, in fact, served as honorary chair. Also joining in was guitarist Gary Hoey, the movies music maestro, who brought his band.

In their globe-trotting surf adventures, the film stars visited American surfer Tom Curren, who had bought a home in Biarritz, France. Then they were off to South Africa to see Shaun Tomson. Both Curren and Tomson showed up at Sundays luau.

Junior Achievement operates Biz Town where young students get to practice running a mini-city. In this file photo, a Bernardo Elementary School fifth grader was the mayor of BizTown for a day. San Diego Junior Achievement also recognizes adults for their business leadership. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune)

Senior achievement: The co-founder of a local brewery, a university chancellor who also teaches entrepreneurship and a San Diego couple with a history of community involvement are about to find new fame.

Chris Cramer, CEO of the Karl Strauss Brewing Co., Michael Cunningham, National University System chancellor, and Jane and Tom Fetter will be inducted into the Business Hall of Fame of Junior Achievement of San Diego County.

Along with running a motor home dealership, car washes and gas stations, Tom heads the San Diego History Center while Jane aids causes such as the Crew Classic, Rady Childens Hospital and San Diego Zoo. The induction gala will be Oct. 25 at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar.

diane.bell@sduniontribune.com

(619) 293-1518

Twitter: @dianebellSD

Facebook: dianebell.newsRep. Duncan Hunter is running for re-election against an opponent who is not on the ballot: the U.S. Department of Justice.

If he stays in the race, the indicted incumbent eventually will have to campaign against his Democratic opponent, Ammar Campa-Najjar. But its an open question whether his challenger will receive more of Hunters focus on the campaign trail than federal prosecutors.

As part of his approach, Hunter has continued to tie himself closely to President Donald Trump, whom he also describes as a victim of a politically motivated investigation.

We are seeing this with President Trump; we are seeing this with my case, Hunter said in a statement Wednesday.

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Hunter and his wife, Margaret, on Tuesday were indicted on 60 counts that included wire fraud and campaign finance violations. For some time, Hunter has been critical of the investigation, both for its substance and length. But in recent weeks, he has ramped up the accusations against the Department of Justice, even incorporating one of Trumps favored terms, witch hunt.

Attacking the Justice Department is a political strategy, not a legal strategy, said Ron Nehring, former chairman of the California and San Diego Republican parties.

Nehring, who has testified as a political expert for the prosecution in a federal San Diego political corruption case, questioned the legitimacy of Hunters approach.

Anyone who has dealt with the FBI in San Diego, or the U.S. Attorneys Office, knows these are top-flight professionals who have their act together, so Im not sure how far that goes, he said.

Still, some residents in Hunters 50th District share the congressmans suspicions, according to El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells, a Republican like Hunter. As a candidate running against Hunter in the June primary, Wells said he got an earful from people who thought the incumbent was the target of a conspiracy.

Running against the system, or claiming the system is out to get you, is not a novel campaign tactic. But it is unique when youre a Republican in a Congress controlled by the GOP with a Republican president who ostensibly oversees the Department of Justice.

But it makes sense for Hunter because Trump has taken that same approach, and the 50th is one of the strongest pro-Trump districts, along with being one of the most Republican, in the country. Trump defeated Hillary Clinton by 15 points there.

So while Republicans battling in swing districts keep their distance from the president  how often does Diane Harkey bring him up in the North County 49th District?  Hunter embraces him. He was one of the first members of Congress to endorse Trump.

Therein lies one of the reasons why analysts conclude that Campa-Najjars chances improved considerably with the indictment, but maybe not enough. Nationally, the Democrats believe they have the momentum to gain the majority in Congress in November and the shift in power could come down to one seat.

Campa-Najjar has raised serious money, while Hunter has had to focus on paying his rising legal bills. But the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has other priority Republican districts it is targeting, though its positioned to jump into the 50th District if convinced by polling in the coming weeks that Campa-Najjar can take it.

This is a huge gift to (Democratic House leader) Nancy Pelosi, Nehring said. This puts a district in play that otherwise would never be in play.

Republican leaders have expended few resources, though lots of anxiety, on Hunter because they havent had to. They certainly dont want to spend money in a district they never had to worry about. And they might not want to because its Hunter. Some Republicans in Washington wanted to get Hunter to step down so another Republican could step in. When he resisted, some GOP members and staff leaked damaging allegations about Hunters alleged carousing, drinking and other unseemly behavior to Politico early this year.

On the day of the indictment, House Speaker Paul Ryan immediately moved to strip Hunter of his committee assignments. Hunter is fighting it, and the matter will be taken up by the House Republican Conference after the August recess.

But with no write-in option or ability to get another Republican on the November ballot, the GOP has no choice but to stick with Hunter. All they need is for him to get through the election. If he has to step down after winning, the Republicans would be expected to hold the seat in a special election.

Meanwhile, Hunters indictment may not only have improved Campa-Najjars chances, but perhaps those of Democratic candidates elsewhere.

Every House Republican who is under an ethical cloud plays into the Democratic narrative to paint all Republicans as corrupt, Nehring said.

That narrative got a big boost this week, from both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue.Josefinas family didnt know she was alive.

Neighbors in City Heights didnt know she existed.

Even houseguests didnt suspect Shirley Montano of holding a woman prisoner for 23 years in a small room, where Josefina was beaten, starved and intimidated, according to county prosecutors.

Authorities say Montano did it to pocket Josefinas $910 Social Security monthly benefits.

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Montano, 52, pleaded not guilty in San Diego Superior Court Wednesday to six counts of kidnapping for extortion, kidnapping, willful cruelty to an elder causing great bodily injury, theft from an elder, false imprisonment and perjury on an application for federal housing aid.

Montano could get life in prison with parole if convicted of the first charge alone.

A prosecutor said Montano is already serving a one-year sentence for financial elder abuse involving another victim, and may face new charges of stealing the $1,600 monthly income of a man with a brain defect who was in her care.

Judge Maureen Hallahan ordered Montano held without bail, saying that based on the allegations, her victims and the public would not be safe otherwise.

Authorities did not release the full name of Josefina, now 59. She has been removed from Montanos home and is hidden, in safe keeping, until she can be reunited with family, Deputy District Attorney Rebecca Zipp said.

The complaint against Montano alleges the crimes against Josefina occurred between March 1, 2011 and March 8 of this year.

Zipp said authorities believe Josefina had been held against her will much longer, but could document sufficient proof for just nine of those years.

The victim fell into the defendants clutches around 1995, Zipp said in court.

Josefina would have been about 36 when she suffered an unspecified disability that required in-home care and provided her with a Social Security benefit, Zipp said.

Josefina moved into Montanos City Heights apartment and was relegated to a small bedroom, the prosecutor said.

Zipp gave horrific details of the ensuing alleged abuse, saying Josefina was given only two outfits to wear over the years, and was systematically starved  sometimes fed only a package of ramen noodles in a day  so Montana could save on her food and adult diapers.

The 5-foot-6 woman shrunk to 81 pounds at her most emaciated level, Zipp said.

Josefinas letters to her family were intercepted and she wasnt allowed to make phone calls. She was beaten with a stick, berated, over-medicated and given a urine-soaked mattress to sleep on, the prosecutor said.

She said a family of six came to stay with Montano and a month passed before they realized Josefina was living there, too.

When Montano drove to Orange County to visit someone, she ordered Josefina to wait inside her vehicle. At other times when Montano left her apartment, Josefina would be locked into her room, Zipp said.

The dire conditions for Josefina came to light after Montano was arrested in March on suspicion of identity theft and stealing $40,000 of another elderly dependent womans Social Security benefits in 2016.

Zipp said Montano called a neighbor from county jail and asked her to bathe Josefina.

Josefina weighed 97 pounds then, Zipp told the judge. The neighbor nearly wept at how emaciated the victim was.

Zipp said Josefinas daughter in Northern California and ex-husband had lost track of her and didnt know she was still alive when authorities contacted them this year. The proscutor said she didnt know how the family lost communication with Josefina.

They were very emotional, Zipp said of the family reaction. She said Josefina will be reunited with them soon.

After being arrested in the first elder abuse theft case in March, Montano pleaded guilty to two felony counts and on May 15 was sentenced to one year in jail, placed on probation for five years and ordered to pay restitution.

Zipp told the judge charges have not yet been filed against Montano in the third case involving the man in her care. The prosecutor said the 6-foot 2-inch man in 2009 weighed 220 pounds, but at his recent death, he weighed 143 pounds.

pauline.repard@sduniontribune

Twitter: @pdrepard8 / 26

50th congressional district representative Duncan D. Hunter, on right walking out door, came out of the Federal courthouse in San Diego where he had just pleaded not guilty to charges that he and his wife Margaret Hunter misused $250,000 in campaign contributions. (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune)Republican Congressman Duncan D. Hunter and his wife pleaded not guilty Thursday to allegations of widespread misspending of campaign funds on personal items  from family vacations to video games to private school tuition.

The arraignment in San Diego federal court was the first court appearance for Hunter and his wife, Margaret Hunter, since being indicted by a grand jury Tuesday.

The Alpine couple is charged in a 60-count indictment with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, falsification of records, bank fraud and aiding and abetting in the prohibited use of campaign contributions.

U.S. Magistrate Judge William Gallo allowed both to remain out of custody, with Duncan Hunter released on a $15,000 bond secured by the signature of a related, financially responsible adult, and his wife released on a $10,000 bond under similar conditions. Both had to be fingerprinted by the U.S. Marshals Service and give DNA samples.

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Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip Halpern told the judge that while the government considers the allegations to be extremely serious, the pair have shown no signs of being a flight risk during the investigation. He said the couple also didnt have any substantial assets and were living paycheck to paycheck.

The judge set additional conditions of release, including restricting travel to within the continental U.S. Duncan Hunter must also submit to drug testing and give up two guns that he owns.

The couple arrived separately with their attorneys and did not speak to one another in the courtroom, which was filled to capacity with reporters, investigators, attorneys and other onlookers. The Hunters faced the judge side by side and held stoic expressions during the short hearing.

About an hour later, Hunter emerged from the courthouse and continued down the sidewalk silently, trailed by news cameras and protesters chanting Shame! Before leaving, Hunter removed a sign reading Lock him up that a protester had placed on the windshield of the vehicle he was riding in.

Also Thursday, Hunter sent a letter to Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, asking to be temporarily removed from his positions on the House Committees on Armed Services, Education and the Workforce, and Transportation and Infrastructure. Ryan had already removed Hunter from the committees upon Hunters refusal to step down.

I fully intend to resume my position as an active member of these committees upon a successful resolution of pending legal matters, Hunter wrote. The charges against me are politically motivated and without merit. I intend to fight them fully. In the meantime, I look forward to quickly clearing my good name, and I will continue to represent the people of Californias 50th District.

The letter adds to Hunters comments a day earlier, when he assailed the prosecution as a witch hunt and flatly denied ever using his campaign funds for personal expenses.

His attorney, Greg Vega, stopped to address reporters after the hearing Thursday, saying the investigation was politically motivated and that he was prepared to fight the charges.

On behalf of Congressman Hunter and his wife, Margaret, we are hoping the public will keep an open mind until we have an opportunity to respond in a court of law, not the court of public opinion, Vega said.

He added that Hunter had faced more difficult battles in Iraq and Afghanistan as a Marine.

Vega reiterated accusations that the U.S. Attorneys Office was acting out of political bias, pointing to two prosecutors on the case who attended a Democratic fundraiser for then-presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in 2015 in La Jolla.

The prosecutors were there in an official capacity at the request of the U.S. Secret Service as a matter of routine, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

Vega said others with the Department of Justice have not heard of similar requests from protection details.

We believe that there is a possible cover-up as far as why two of the prosecutors in this investigation were at the fundraiser and then were intimately involved in this investigation, Vega told reporters after the hearing.

The Secret Service has declined to discuss the matter, citing the litigation.

The indictment details some 200 instances of personal expenses using campaign funds. The $250,000 total went toward everything from airfare for a pet rabbit to tequila to Pittsburgh Steelers tickets, according to the indictment. Using political contributions for personal costs is illegal under federal election law.

The couple is also accused of lying to cover up the spending and of continuing to draw from campaign coffers despite warnings from staffers and inquiries from investigators and reporters.

Their personal bank account was overdrawn some 1,100 times over a seven-year period, prosecutors allege.

Hunter is paid $174,000 a year as a member of Congress, while Margaret Hunter receives $3,000 a month as her husbands campaign manager.

The criminal investigation began after the Federal Elections Commission and The San Diego Union-Tribune began raising questions about certain campaign expenses in April 2016.

Hunter reviewed the matter and repaid more than $60,000 back to the campaign, calling the expenditures mistaken, personal or insufficiently documented. He sold his home in Alpine to make the payment and moved in with his father, also named Duncan Hunter, a longtime former congressman.

Hunter, who succeeded his father in 2008, is up for re-election in a runoff race in November. He represents the 50th congressional district, a region that includes the East County and portions of the North County, into Temecula.

Outside the courthouse after the arraignment, dozens of protesters with Indivisible San Diego waited alongside news cameras for the Hunters to emerge.

To see this day we all expected to come finally got here, said protester Kathy Stadler, 45, of San Diego. Its not good  its incredibly sad  but it shows the system may still be working. There are checks and balances still.

Hunters opponent in the November election, Democrat Ammar Campa-Najjar, addressed reporters outside the courthouse after the arraignment.

Hopefully we can explore unity and not exploit division for too long, he said. There has been too much chaos, corruption and greed, and I think that chapter in our history is coming to term. My hope is to represent the people of this district and bring national pride, not national shame to this community.

Campa-Najjar also said that before the campaign turns to mudslinging he wanted to take the opportunity to thank Hunter for his service and for fighting the wars that we waged abroad so someone like me could have the luxury to stand here to fight the ones we have at home.

Campa-Najjar is a Palestinian Mexican American.

Congressman Hunter served our country honorably abroad, he added. I happen to think that man who served our country never made it home from the battlefield. I think Washington chewed him up and spat him out and engulfed him in the corruption that has plagued Washington for too long.

The Hunters are set to return to court on Sept. 4.

Prosecutors told the judge they are ready to hand over to defense attorneys discovery in the case  enough to fit on a two-terabyte hard drive  as soon as possible.

Staff writer Lyndsay Winkley contributed to this report.

Previously: Hunter

Duncan Hunter Videos  On Now Hunter indictment sheds light on 'personal relationships' for congressman On Now Rep. Duncan Hunter leads by 8 points despite indictment On Now Duncan Hunter arraigned at federal court On Now Issa discusses Hunter indictment On Now Rep. Duncan Hunter and wife plead not guilty to charges of fraudulent campaign spending 2:41 On Now Editorial's Opinion on Duncan Hunter's plea 13:50 On Now Duncan Hunter arraigned On Now Video: Festival of Books preview: Scott Miller On Now Video: Rep. Duncan Hunter enters federal court On Now Rep. Duncan Hunter responds to indictment charges 8:53

kristina.davis@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @kristinadavisA man accused of fatally stabbing a stranger during a tiff in a Poway parking lot was ordered to stand trial on a murder charge Wednesday.

Kevin Miles Talbott, 31, a homeless man, is charged with killing Zubayr Phahez, 29, a 7-Eleven store manager, on Jan. 14.

Prosecutors say Talbott and Phahez exchanged words in a Poway convenience store lot and Talbott plunged a knife into the other mans neck, severing his jugular vein. Talbotts lawyer said his client acted in self defense when Phahez came at him.

Witnesses in a two-day preliminary hearing said when Phahez pulled into the Pomerado Road store parking lot, Talbott called to him to shut off his headlights because they were bothering him.

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Phahez did so, but then thought Talbott said something possibly offensive and walked toward him, asking if Talbott was talking to him.

Security camera video played in court showed a shadowy figure, Talbott, jump over a low wall as Phahez advanced. Phahez was stabbed, shoved Talbott away, and tried to drive away.

He got only a short distance before pulling over, with his wife in the passenger seat. She screamed for help, but her husband died at a hospital.

San Diego Superior Court Judge Steven Stone said hed heard enough evidence to order Talbott to trial.

pauline.repard@sduniontribune

Twitter: @pdrepardFleeing fascist Italy in 1939, Dr. Achille Viterbi, an ophthalmologist nearing his 60th birthday, arrived in the United States faced with the daunting task of restarting his career at an age when many men start to think about retirement.

Forced to retake his medical boards and cope with rules that kept recent immigrants from practicing at the most prestigious hospitals, the physician never managed to regain the kind of financial footing that would have allowed him to fund exciting new research in his field.

Not to worry. His son, Andrew Viterbi of La Jolla, has that angle covered with a donation valued at $50 million to the UC San Diego School of Medicine. Announced Thursday, the gift will fund six new endowed chairs in the schools Department of Ophthalmology, which will be renamed the Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology.

Plans are also in progress to build the Viterbi Family Vision Research Center next to the universitys Shiley Eye Institute, expanding and consolidating lab and meeting space with the goal of fostering the kind of collaboration that could quite literally end up restoring sight to the blind.

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Viterbi, 83, said his father, who was a socialist in his youth, would surely have been tickled at the prospect of supporting such a lofty public goal.

Ophthalmologys on the cusp of great, great things. Were talking potentially giving sight to the blind. I think UCSD has one of the strongest programs in the nation in moving down that path, Viterbi said.

It is finding the right path that has firmly set the Viterbi name in the firmament of electrical engineering. The Viterbi algorithm revolutionized electronic communications through its ability to sift a signal from noise using a clever statistical model to predict the correct path of values among myriad dead ends.

Used in everything from satellite communications to cell phones, the algorithm produced the critical insights that eventually led to Viterbi becoming a co-founder of Qualcomm Inc. and its predecessor Linkabit Corp.

Achille Viterbi never got to see his sons ultimate success. He passed away in 1966 one year before Andrew Viterbi proposed the algorithm that led to the kind of success that has resulted in pile of awards, including the National Medal of Science.

Philanthropy has been an ongoing interest for decades with contributions to the Massachusets Institute of Technology, his alma mater, and the University of Southern California where he earned a doctorate in 1963. The USC Viterbi School of Engineering was renamed in his honor after a $52 million donation in 2004.

His gift to UC San Diego connects to a $2 billion fundraising campaign aimed at increasing the universitys teaching capacity and staff recruitment ability.

UCSD Chancellor Pradeep Khosla said endowments like the six included in Viterbis donation are what allow a public institution to compete with well-funded private schools such as Harvard and Stanford for top talent.

Having endowed chairs to offer definitely allows you to compete in the big leagues, and having the name of someone with the stature of an Andrew Viterbi attached to our program is invaluable, Khosla said.

Since 2012, the universitys aggregated endowment total has increased from $555 million to about $1.64 billion.

In the world of opthamology, UCSDs program already enjoys significant national stature. In 2016, the Journal of Clinical Ophthalmology ranked UCSD second in the nation for eye-related research.

Dr. Robert Weinreb, head of the Shiley Eye Institute, said its not too crazy to think that Viterbis gift could play a significant role in helping find the path forward for successfully transplanting the stem cell-derived optic nerve and retina cells that UCSD researchers are already able to grow in the lab.

Were looking forward to the time in hopefully the not-too-distant future where we can take the optic nerves and the retinal organiods and place them in humans that have been blinded by glaucoma or macular degeneration and restore their vision, Weinreb said.

I believe that the medical breakthroughs were going to make in the next decade will dwarf those made in the last century, and Mr. Viterbis generosity will allow us to lead that innovation, Weinreb said.

The donation includes $10 million in cash to fund six endowed chairs, one of which will be named for Achille Viterbi. A second chair will be named for internationally recognized ophthalmologist Alfred Vogt, the elder Viterbis colleague and mentor whose support was critical in making the familys immigration to the United States possible.

Viterbi will also transfer his 33-acre estate in Rancho Santa Fe to UCSD. Proceeds from the sale will be used to support the ophthalmology department and to build the research center building.

Today, Weinreb said, many of the universitys vision science labs are scattered across campus, but the new building will allow everyone to work in one place in addition to providing new space for the six new researchers hired to fill the six new endowed chairs.

This will serve as a real hub for our research, and it will make it much easier to do interdisciplinary collaborations with other disciplines like engineering, computation, life sciences, neurosciences and bio-engineering, Weinreb said.

UC San Diegos $2 billion fundraising campaign, which started in 2012, has now raised $1.6 billion. For more information, visit campaign.ucsd.edu.

Correction: A previous version of this story transposed the values of UC San Diegos endowment and fundraising totals. We apologize.

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paul.sisson@sduniontribune.com

(619) 293-1850

Twitter: @paulsissonPresident Trumps future is in peril like never before  and it doesnt seem to have anything to do with Russia.

On Tuesday, Trumps former personal attorney, Michael Cohen, pleaded guilty to breaking federal campaign finance law by paying hush money to two women who said theyd had affairs with Trump. Cohen failed to report the payments as de facto political contributions in support of Trumps campaign.

The allegations that Trump had extramarital affairs werent the news. The bombshell came when Cohen, after taking a plea deal from prosecutors, testified under oath that he broke the law at the direction of Trump for the principal purpose of influencing the election.

To sum it up bluntly: Cohen was calling the president of the United States a crook who told him to commit a felony and a cover-up to help get him into the Oval Office.

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If Trump were a congressman instead of the president, he might be under indictment right now, said Jessica Levinson, a professor at Loyola Law School.

Yet Trump, who has denied any wrongdoing, probably wont be facing any criminal charges, at least while hes still president.

Here are answers to some of the legal and political questions surrounding Trumps predicament.

MORE: Follow the latest news of the Trump administration on Essential Washington 

Can the president be indicted?

Thats up for debate.

The question has been posed, but never in a court, said Neil Kinkopf, a professor of law at Georgia State University.

The issue has roiled legal observers since at least the 1970s, when President Nixon came under fire for his role in the Watergate scandal. It arose again in the 1990s in the investigation of President Clinton for various alleged improprieties.

Now the question is back as special counsel Robert S. Mueller III examines whether Trumps campaign colluded with Russia in its hacking and other attempts to interfere with the 2016 election. Muellers mandate allows him to pursue other criminal activity he discovers in the course of his investigation.

The Department of Justices longstanding guidance to its prosecutors has held that presidents shouldnt be indicted while in office, an opinion it first formed in 1973 amid Watergate.

Some legal experts, including Trumps latest Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, have argued that a president should not be burdened by criminal charges or lawsuits while in office due to the extraordinary demands of the presidency.

Others have argued that having unelected prosecutors or jurors undertake a criminal case that could effectively remove a president from office would steal an important power that the Constitution entrusts to Congress  impeachment.

Yet these are just theories. They havent been tested.

Theres nothing in the Constitution that says you cant indict the president, Levinson said.

Kinkopf added that whether a president can be indicted while in office, and whether a president can be prosecuted while in office, are actually separate questions that might have separate answers. He suggested that a grand jury, after being presented with evidence that a president committed a crime, could file an indictment, but that prosecutors would hold off until the president leaves office.

The problem with making a grand jury wait for a president to leave office before filing an indictment is that the statute of limitations might run out before the presidents four-year presidential term ends, Kinkopf said.

In that situation, he said, The president escapes any kind of criminal liability, and the president in that way is in some sense above the law.

Can the president be impeached for something that happened before he took office?

Yes.

Impeachment is the process laid out in the Constitution under which a majority of House of Representatives members can vote to investigate a president, after which a trial is held in the Senate, where a two-thirds majority vote can result in the presidents removal from office.

Congress impeachment powers are broad because the Constitutions definition of impeachable offenses includes treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. What are high crimes and misdemeanors? Its not defined in the Constitution.

Or, as Levinson put it: Impeachment is, like, whatever Congress decides it is.

However, Kinkopf said, the primary check on the justness of impeachment is the two-thirds approval requirement of the Senate, rather than a strict legal definition.

Could Trump pardon Cohen and Manafort if they turn against him and cooperate with prosecutors?

Yes.

As long as Donald Trump is president, he can issue Manafort or Cohen a pardon for federal crimes, period, full stop, for any reason, Kinkopf said. He could announce to the nation that Paul Manafort paid him for a pardon and then issue that pardon. The pardon would still be effective.

Doing so could have dire political consequences, including impeachment, Kinkopf said. But there is no mechanism by which that pardon can be rendered invalid, he said.

Trumps pardon power is limited to federal charges. Cohen and Manafort could be facing state crimes, and he has no pardon authority for state crimes, Levinson said.

Whats at stake with this years midterm election?

Possibly Trumps future. Trumps executive powers arent infinite, even if a president might not be indictable while in office.

Congressional Republicans  who hold majorities in both the Senate and the House  have largely stuck behind Trump through the stormy days of his presidency and have expressed little interest in his removal. But if Democrats were to take control of the House, they could launch impeachment proceedings with a majority vote.

Cohens claims against Trump directly implicate the election and the validity of the election, and so I do think those could be impeachable offenses, Levinson said.

Getting two-thirds of the Senate to approve removing Trump from office, however, would likely require Republicans to support Trumps removal, Levinson said.

I think its really depressing that were having to talk about this along party lines, Levinson said. If the president is really guilty of violating federal law in at least one area or more, it should havent to do with whether you have a D or an R next to your name  but of course it does.

matt.pearce@latimes.com

Matt Pearce is a national reporter for The Times. Follow him on Twitter at @mattdpearce.

More national headlinesA federal judge has ordered San Diego to stop ticketing homeless people for living inside vehicles, calling the citys longtime law prohibiting such behavior too vague for effective enforcement.

The injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Anthony Battaglia on Tuesday is a victory for a group of disabled homeless people living in recreational vehicles who filed suit last year against the law, which they claim is discriminatory.

While the injunction will only be in place until Battaglia makes a ruling in the case, the judge said he expects to eventually rule in favor of the homeless people.

The court finds plaintiffs have shown a likelihood of success on the merits of their claim that the ordinance is vague because it fails to alert the public what behavior is lawful and what behavior is prohibited, Battaglia wrote.

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He said the vehicle habitation law doesnt indicate specifically what turns a vehicle into a persons home or living quarters, noting that people have gotten tickets under the law for reading a book inside their vehicle.

Before the lawsuit was filed last November, San Diego officials and lawyers for the homeless people discussed potential changes in enforcement that would allow homeless people to park their recreational vehicles somewhere legally.

This weeks injunction could allow the two sides to revisit those discussions and come up with a solution.

In addition to prohibiting the city from issuing tickets, the injunction prevents the city from impounding vehicles under the ordinance and from pursuing any outstanding tickets that have been issued but not prosecuted.

Battaglia gave city officials 30 days to submit a report to the court detailing how San Diego has complied with the order.

A spokeswoman for City Attorney Mara Elliott declined on Wednesday to discuss the order, saying in an email only that we will review the ruling and advise our client.

San Diego got some good news from Battaglia, who said a separate city ordinance prohibiting overnight parking of recreational vehicles and oversized vehicles appears to be legally sound.

The lawsuit filed by the disabled homeless people targets that ordinance as discriminatory, in addition to the vehicle habitation law.

The suit claims both laws illegally prevent disabled homeless people from living and sleeping in recreational vehicles parked overnight on city streets.

The overnight parking ordinance, enacted by the city in 2014, prohibits such vehicles from parking on any San Diego city street or in any public parking lot between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.

Battaglia declined on Tuesday to block that law, contending that the homeless people and their attorneys didnt demonstrate that it has been applied in a discriminatory way against homeless people.

He also wrote that the law doesnt appear to suffer from the same vagueness as the vehicle habitation law.

While the court sympathizes that this ordinance leaves plaintiffs with nowhere to park between these hours and is decidedly unfair, the law is not ambiguous, unclear or vague in any way, Battaglia wrote.

Special parking lots established last year in San Diego allow overnight parking for homeless individuals, but they dont accept RVs and have far fewer spaces than the estimated 1,000 homeless people living in vehicles locally.

The city safe lots also require users to apply for slots in local homeless shelters, a move that doesnt make sense for most disabled homeless people living in RVs because shelters arent appropriate environments for them, the suit says.

Regarding shelters, the lawsuit says people who are physically disabled may struggle with stairs and that those with mental health problems dont function well in noisy, dirty, unsafe and overcrowded conditions where there is a lack of privacy.

The lawsuit says the RV law and vehicle habitation ordinance both violate numerous U.S. and state constitutional rights, including the Eighth Amendment prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment and the 14th Amendment due process protections.

Enforcement of the two laws also violates the anti-discrimination protections of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the suit says.

In June, attorneys for the city argued the laws are neutral and cant be challenged under disability discrimination laws because they apply to everyone regardless of disability status.

Battaglia, however, said in June that a policy can violate the Americans with Disabilities Act and Rehabilitation Act if it disparately impacts or places a disproportionate burden on the disabled.

The litigation, filed on behalf of nine disabled homeless people, is a class action lawsuit.

It was filed by Disability Rights California and The National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty. Attorneys for either organization couldnt be reached for comment on Wednesday.

david.garrick@sduniontribune.com (619) 269-8906 Twitter:@UTDavidGarrickA man who was a teenager when he gunned down San Diego police Officer Archie Buggs nearly 40 years ago was granted parole on Thursday, the fourth time a state Parole Board has recommended his release.

Each of the previous three parole recommendations for Jesus Salvador Cecena, now 57, was reversed by Gov. Jerry Brown, and Cecena has remained behind bars.

The governor will review the new parole recommendation within 150 days and either he or his replacement  Democrat Gavin Newsom faces Republican John Cox in Novembers election  will decide if Cecena should get out of prison.

San Diego police Chief David Nisleit and the San Diego Police Officers Association oppose Cecenas release.

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The San Diego Police Department is very disappointed in the Parole Boards decision to parole convicted cop killer Jesus Cecena, Nisleit said in a statement Thursday. Cecenas actions greatly affected the community, the police department and most of all Officer Archie Buggs family. We urge Governor Brown to do the right thing and reverse the Parole Boards decision. This murderer should not be released.

Cecenas parole has been opposed by the District Attorneys Office and local police groups every time he has appeared for a hearing  17 times since 1986. Last February, in the most recent parole hearing before Thursday, then-Chief Deputy District Attorney Summer Stephan attended on behalf of the Buggs family.

Stephan on Thursday said her office will strongly urge the governor to once again reverse the parole recommendation.

While we understand the factors considered by the Parole Board, were extremely disappointed in its decision to send a cop killer who still lacks honest insight and remorse into this atrocious crime back into the community, Stephan said in a statement. He continues to be unpredictable and dangerous. Given the gravity of the crime and its impact upon the officers family and our community, we believe he is not suitable for release.

Cecena was convicted of first-degree murder in the killing of Buggs during a traffic stop on Nov. 4, 1978. After trial, he was sentenced in 1979 to life without parole  a sentence that was modified to life with parole in 1982 after an appellate court ruled that juveniles could not be sentenced to no-parole terms.

After years of being denied parole, in 2014 a state Parole Board recommended his release, but that was later reversed by Brown. Under state law all parole grants for prisoners serving life terms are reviewed by the governor, who can reverse the decision.

Twice since then  in 2015 and 2017 the board granted Cecena parole, and each time, Brown reversed. Brown said that he was not convinced Cecena had fully come to terms with his crime, or as he put it in one reversal order, the true nature of his actions.

A spokesman from Browns office said Thursday it would be pure speculation to guess whether the governor planned to overturn Cecenas parole recommendation a fourth time  and the decision ultimately might end up with Browns successor, anyway, depending on when the Governors Office receives the case for review from the Parole Board.

The board has up to 120 days to turn over the case to Browns office, and the governor has 30 days to review it once its received, the spokesman said.

Based on the timing of (Cecenas) parole grant, a decision will likely come in early- to mid-January 2019, Deputy Press Secretary Brian Ferguson said in an email.

The winner in the race between Newsom and Cox is slated to take office Jan. 7.

A key issue in his 2017 parole hearing was Cecenas insistence that the shooting was not premeditated, but instead done in a panic. He denied that he fired a final round, execution style, into Buggs as he lay prone next to his police car.

Board members said they did not believe him, and Brown too has said Cecenas unwillingness to admit this weighs against granting his freedom.

In several of the recent hearings, former DA Public Affairs Officer Jesse Navarro, Buggs friend and partner when both were on the force, has spoken against Cecenas freedom on behalf of the Buggs family.

Former SDPD officers Archie Buggs, left, and Jesse Navarro, right. (John Gibbins / UT San Diego/Zuma Press)

Two years ago, Navarros comments came under investigation after retired San Diego Superior Court Judge Allen Preckel  who prosecuted Cecena when he was a deputy district attorney before becoming a judge  accused him of lying to the board.

Preckel said that Navarro lied to the board when he told them at a hearing in 2015 that he and Buggs had numerous prior confrontations with Cecena, and that the teen had made many threats to kill them. Preckel said Navarro never told him of that during the trial, and that if such evidence existed he would have used it against Cecena.

The parole board investigated the accusation by Preckel, interviewing a dozen people. The report concluded that while there was some evidence it was possible Cecena had interacted with the officers before the shooting, it also said that information was not provided to Preckel for prosecution of the case.

Buggs remains a revered figure in the department. In 2017, the substation on Skyline Drive was renamed in his honor  the first station in department history to be named after an individual.

Twitter: @gregmoran

greg.moran@sduniontribune.com

UPDATES:

3:55 p.m.: This article and its headline were updated with additional details.

This article was originally published at 2:35 p.m.A 36-year-old man was behind bars Wednesday on suspicion of attempted murder in a stabbing that occurred earlier this year inside an Embarcadero park bathroom.

Robert Alexander Perez, 36, is accused of stabbing his victim multiple times with a knife inside a mens restroom at the Embarcadero Marina Park South, just west of the Convention Center, San Diego Harbor Police officials said.

Officers responded to the 911 call reporting the stabbing just after midnight May 9.

Arriving within minutes of the call, Harbor Police officers located the victim and transported him to a local hospital with serious injuries, Harbor Police Sgt. Victor Banuelos and Sgt. Brianne Mundy Page said in a statement. The suspect had left the park before officers arrived.

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Detectives used DNA evidence recovered at the scene to identify Perez as the suspect, the sergeants said. Investigators obtained an arrest warrant, and on Aug. 11, San Diego police officers arrested Perez at St. Vincent de Paul Village.

Perez was booked into the San Diego Central Jail that afternoon on an attempted murder charge, jail records showed. He remained at the downtown jail Wednesday in lieu of $500,000 bail, with court dates scheduled for Thursday and Monday.

The victim of the stabbing has recovered from his injuries, the sergeants said.

Harbor Police are continuing to investigate the stabbing and asked anyone with information about the case to contact Detective Armando Ramirez at (619) 686-6511.

Twitter: @Alex_Riggins

(619) 293-1710

alex.riggins@sduniontribune.comA United States citizen allegedly driving three undocumented immigrants led Border Patrol agents on a three-hour pursuit Tuesday that began in Imperial County and ended in a forested area near Julian, federal authorities said.

The 40-year-old man, whose name was not released Wednesday, was the last of the cars four occupants to be detained after they bailed out just after passing through the town in San Diego Countys mountains, Customs and Border Protection spokesman Ralph DeSio said.

Agents began chasing the suspects Nissan Altima a little after 10 a.m. on Imperial Highway north of Ocotillo, DeSio said. Border Patrol agents assigned to rove the area had learned before the chase the car might be transporting undocumented immigrants.

When agents attempted to stop the Altima, the cars driver failed to pull over, continuing north on the county highway and then west on state Route 78 toward Julian, officials said.

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Agents backed off the Altima as it passed through Julian, DeSio said. The Altima turned onto (state Route) 79 where agents were able to reacquire visual of the vehicle.

Around 1 p.m., three hours after the pursuit began, the Altima pulled to the shoulder of SR-79, and all four occupants ran into the woods, DeSio said. The three passengers  a citizen of El Salvador and two from Mexico  were quickly detained.

The driver escaped into the dense vegetation, but agents set up a perimeter and called in the SWAT-like Border Patrol Tactical Unit, DeSio said. During a thorough search of the forest, agents from the tactical unit found the suspected driver hiding in a densely wooded area.

The 40-year-old was arrested and was being held in federal custody Wednesday pending criminal prosecution, DeSio said. The three passengers were held as witnesses in the case against the driver.

Twitter: @Alex_Riggins

(619) 293-1710

alex.riggins@sduniontribune.comMedia outlets are reporting that federal prosecutors have granted immunity to the executive in charge of the National Enquirer amid an investigation into hush-money payments made on behalf of President Trump.

Vanity Fair and the Wall Street Journal, citing anonymous sources, were first to report Wednesdays development involving David Pecker, CEO of the tabloids publisher, American Media Inc., and a longtime friend of the president.

Court papers connected to ex-Trump lawyer Michael Cohens guilty plea Tuesday say Pecker offered to help Trump squash negative stories during the 2016 campaign.

The Journal said Pecker shared details with prosecutors about payments Cohen says Trump directed to buy the silence of two women alleging affairs with him.

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Trumps account has shifted. He said recently he knew about payments later on.When state legislators voted to end Californias unfair bail system for criminal defendants, they were following the wisdom of Otto von Bismarck.

They also were bowing to the demands of a modern sage, Gov. Jerry Brown.

Bismarck, a 19th century German chancellor, famously observed that politics is the art of the possible. That means its not about doing whats best. Its about doing what realistically can be done.

The bail bill that passed both legislative houses this week fell far short of achieving what some of its original advocates had wanted. They accused sponsors of a bait-and-switch and turned against the measure.

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The defectors complained the final compromise could result in more defendants being jailed prior to trial than under the current bail system. They objected to judges being given more power to decide whether a defendant is jailed or freed. They predicted judges would be skittish about releasing defendants, fearful some Willie Horton might commit a heinous crime that would end their careers.

If a judge locks someone up, that person is never going to commit a terrible crime that hurts the judge, UC Berkeley law school dean Erwin Chemerinsky told me. Theyll overprotect.

And what we know about the criminal justice system, he added, is that whenever there is unlimited [judicial] discretion, it works to the disadvantage of racial minorities.

But regardless of any flaws, the bill accomplished what had been the central goal of its backers. That was to junk the bail system. If more defendants are locked up, it wont be because theyre poor and cant raise bail.

Currently we have a system that punishes people and takes away their liberty simply because they have less money. Thats not fair, Sen. Bob Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys), the bills lead author, said in a statement after the compromise was reached.

The senator reminded me that Harvey Weinstein, accused of sexual assault, was able to write a $1-million check and remain free awaiting trial in New York. Thats a rich mans perk.

Its perverse, Hertzberg said.

Assemblyman Rob Bonta (D-Alameda), the main coauthor, put it this way: The jailhouse door shouldnt open and close based on how much money you have in your pocket.

Under Californias long-held system, when someone is busted, a judge sets bail based on the crimes severity and the accuseds perceived flight risk. The amount varies from county to county.

If the defendant doesnt have enough cash to free himself, he can contact a bail agent who will post the money. But first, he typically must pay the agent 10% of the bail amount. Thats not refundable. And poor people usually dont have that kind of cash.

Three years ago, the Public Policy Institute of California estimated that the median bail amount in this state was $50,000  five times higher than the rest of the country. That meant $5,000 for a bail agent. A federal survey found that nearly half of Americans didnt even have $400 for an emergency.

The institute reported that nearly two-thirds of inmates in crowded county jails were there awaiting trial, mostly because they couldnt afford bail.

More from George Skelton 

Brown began pitching for bail reform four decades ago during his first tenure as governor.

In his 1979 State of the State address, he called bail a tax on poor people [who] languish in the jails of this state even though they have been convicted of no crime. He urged the Legislature to overhaul the bail system and make it as just and as fair as we can make it.

The lawmakers essentially ignored him. Fast-forward 39 years, and current legislators didnt just overhaul the bail system, they eliminated it.

Hertzberg and Bonta began pushing legislation to eliminate bail early last year. Browns chief of staff, Nancy McFadden, was enthusiastic. She actively tried to bring opposing sides together in a compromise.

But McFadden left the Capitol at years end to fight ovarian cancer. She died in March. That stalled the bail bill for months.

Coverage of California politics 

Ultimately Brown insisted on giving judges the power to jail or release defendants. Criteria will be set by county supervisors  the kind of local control Brown prefers.

Under the bill, a risk analysis will be made of each person arrested. Defendants will be sorted into low-, medium- or high-risk categories. Generally, low-risk defendants will be freed, and high-risk jailed. Those considered medium-risk will be at the judges mercy.

One reason Brown likes this solution is that it embodies recommendations of a judicial task force created by state Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, an outspoken advocate of dumping the bail system.

Liberals complain that many judges are former prosecutors and contend that they cant be trusted with criminal defendants. But they forget that this blue state probably will be governed by Democrats for the foreseeable future. Governors appoint state judges. And the California court system is likely to move left.

After lengthy, spirited floor debates, the bill narrowly passed the Assembly, 42 to 31, and the Senate, 26 to 12. Democrats generally voted for the measure and Republicans against.

Its a crappy bill and its going to need a lot of fixes, Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) told his colleagues. But Im afraid that if we dont vote on this bill now, its not going to pass.

Thats not as eloquent as Bismarck, but its the same idea.

george.skelton@latimes.com

Follow @LATimesSkelton on TwitterIn a congressional district of some 750,000 people, where the majority of residents work an honest day and love their country, the federal indictment this week of a hometown hero and the voters man in Washington for nearly a decade has shaken and flummoxed many of those most engaged in the community.

Across the 50th District, supporters and opponents of Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, digested the allegations Wednesday in a 47-page indictment issued by the U.S. Attorneys Office in San Diego one day earlier.

Some political activists and community leaders were quick to stand by Hunter, who with his wife was charged with 60 criminal counts related to misuse of campaign funds.

Others wrestled with the sordid details contained in the charging documents and couldnt decide whether they would vote for Hunter come November. Still others called for Hunter to step away from public office.

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If criminal charges against Congressman Hunter are true, he must resign, county Supervisor Dianne Jacob, who has served East County for decades, said in a statement. At the very least, voters must hold him accountable in November.

Hunter and his wife, Margaret, stand accused of converting at least $250,000 in political contributions to personal use, which is illegal under federal election law.

The indictment issued Tuesday alleges a years-long pattern of illegal spending, with lies to cover it up. It says the Hunters persisted with their crimes even after being warned by staff and campaign officials to stop. It also accuses them of conspiring to hide the illegality after being questioned by reporters and federal investigators.

Duncan Hunter facilitated the Hunters theft of campaign funds by directing his treasurer to obtain a campaign credit card for Margaret Hunter at a time when she had no official role with the campaign and received no official salary, knowing that she would spend campaign funds for the Hunters personal benefit, the indictment states.

Duncan Hunter has denied any wrongdoing, saying he reimbursed the campaign when he made some mistakes. He blamed the charges on a political witch hunt aimed at denying him re-election.

I believe in our American system of justice, I support our system of justice, Hunter said in a statement Wednesday. I cannot say the same, however, for those within our justice system that have a political agenda to harm those with whom they differ.

Hunter has served in Congress since he was elected in 2008 to succeed his father, also named Duncan Hunter.

The 50th District he represents stretches from El Cajon east to the Imperial County line and north to portions of San Marcos and Temecula. Its also home to more than 53,000 veterans  a key constituency for Hunter, who joined the Marines after the Sept. 11 terror attacks in 2001 and served three combat tours overseas.

Residents of the 50th District contacted Wednesday were divided are over the allegations confronting the five-term congressman and his response to the crimes for which he is accused.

I will still be voting for Duncan and most of the people I know will still be voting for him, said Lou Russo, a longtime Alpine community leader who is running for a seat on the local school and planning boards. Its an indictment, not a conviction.

Russo said he read the federal indictment and was bothered by some of the details, but remains convinced that prosecutors are playing politics with their authority.

It seems if youre a Republican, with the current Department of Justice, and you should get an IRS audit, you instead get federal court, he said. But if youre a Democrat with a secret server in your basement, that seems to be OK. We see a double standard.

Gloria Chadwick is less forgiving. The Democrat and Grossmont Healthcare District board member said Hunter only now is paying a price for behavior that has been evident for too long.

The indictment is overdue, she said. Its a shame that hes been our representative, and I do hope that the voters vote with their conscience what is good for the country. Our representatives represent us. We are better than that, and he needs to go.

Steven Boozer is a retired heating and air conditioning man from the tiny East County neighborhood of Guatay, which is the election precinct that registered the highest support for Hunter in the June primary, at 65.5 percent. He was not among the majority.

A lot of my neighbors are misinformed, he said. Its kind of a sad commentary on what they did if the guy was under investigation and they voted for him anyway. I just dont understand.

Several community members contacted Wednesday said they were having difficulty reconciling details of the indictment with the politician they have admired for so long.

Priscilla Schreiber, a former Grossmont Union High School District trustee and a Republican, said she had been satisfied with the Hunters explanation for the questionable campaign spending that dominated news of Hunters congressional service for two-plus years. Then she heard detailed federal allegations of lavish meals, overseas travel, fake donations to charity and donor dollars being used to pay for dentists and household utility bills.

I voted for him in the primary because I trusted the family that this was not true, she said. But since the indictment, I am in a quandary. I dont want to be quick to judgment, but it doesnt sound like they were managing things in a way thats responsible to the contributors.

Larry Wilske is a Republican candidate who unsuccessfully sought the 71st state Assembly seat on the June primary ballot. The former Navy SEAL said he is bothered by the allegations against Hunter and his wife and would strive to do better if elected to public office.

I will never stand for unethical behavior from leaders, Wilske wrote in an email Wednesday. Moreover, we must be held to a higher standard because we work for you, the people we serve and not the party we are members of.

George Barnett is president of the Back Country Land Trust, a nonprofit that works to preserve open space across rural San Diego County. Barnett, who has known both Hunter and his father for decades, sees a notable difference between the two.

My personal thoughts are: I liked his dad, Barnett said. His dad was as much into the local community stuff as he was into Washington. The younger Duncan had great promise as a result of his military service, a real patriot and a young man with lots of energy.

I felt that his service as a congressman was less locally focused than his dads was. You didnt see him in town much.

Barnett said Hunter should publicly address the specific allegations in the indictment  not complain about a Department of Justice conspiracy to drive him from office.

These allegations started coming out months ago and I was really disheartened, he said. To now use the deep state and base his defense on a political attack I think is disingenuous. I dont want to accuse him because I dont know (the truth). Maybe he is innocent.

Portrait of Anne Wigdahl Subia in her apartment. (Charlie Neuman / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Anne Subia is another conservative activist who is conflicted about the charges contained in the federal indictment. The San Marcos resident called the accusations disturbing, but she also questioned the prosecutors timing, bringing a criminal case just 11 weeks ahead of Election Day.

The fact that its happening now is interesting, in a political way, Subia said. Its late in the game, so he doesnt have a lot of time to fight.

For his part, Hunter said he has faith that voters will weed out politics when they cast ballots this fall.

My constituents are not easily misled, he said in his statement. I know they can recognize a political agenda when they see it and they can disregard empty rhetoric when they hear it.  I believe in what I am fighting for and still have faith that evidence and the rule of law will trump political agendas and bias.

Duncan Hunter Videos  On Now Hunter indictment sheds light on 'personal relationships' for congressman On Now Rep. Duncan Hunter leads by 8 points despite indictment On Now Duncan Hunter arraigned at federal court On Now Issa discusses Hunter indictment On Now Rep. Duncan Hunter and wife plead not guilty to charges of fraudulent campaign spending 2:41 On Now Editorial's Opinion on Duncan Hunter's plea 13:50 On Now Duncan Hunter arraigned On Now Video: Festival of Books preview: Scott Miller On Now Video: Rep. Duncan Hunter enters federal court On Now Rep. Duncan Hunter responds to indictment charges 8:53

jeff.mcdonald@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1708 @sdutMcDonaldA bank employee gave a go signal to her boyfriend before a violent attempted robbery in Texas, prosecutors said in court on Wednesday.

Shelby Wyse was the third person taken into custody in connection with Fridays assault in Houston that has left a woman critically injured. A fourth suspect remains at large.

Shelby Wyse was taken into custody in connection with Fridays assault in Houston that has left a woman critically injured. (Harris County Pct. 4 Constables Office via Twitter)

Surveillance video shows the victim parking at a gas station after making the withdrawal of $75,000 at Wallis State Bank. She was taking the money to her familys place of business, according to ABC 13.

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Video shows a man running up to her and trying to grab her purse. She holds onto the purse as she falls to the ground.

As another man tries to help the victim during the violent struggle, a car driven by a suspect backs into the woman, and the assailants flee with some of the money.

One man suspected of being involved in the attack was arrested later on Friday, while a second man was taken into custody Monday.

The 25-year-old Wyse, who does not have a criminal history, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with aggravated robbery. Prosecutors say she rented the car used in the attack, according to Click 2 Houston, and that she sent a text message after the withdrawal was made.

Presumably a go signal, prosecutors said in court.

Travonn Johnson, Wyses boyfriend, was arrested along with alleged accomplice Davis Mitchell. Prosecutors say it was Johnson who backed the vehicle into the woman.

She was followed from the bank to the business by these two robbers who drove in separate cars, Harris County Constable Mark Herman told ABC 13.

With News Wire ServicesPardon?

President Trump is considering exonerating Paul Manafort, a day after the ex-campaign manager and international fixer was convicted on eight counts of tax and bank fraud, Fox News reported.

He mentioned pardoning Manafort, Fox & Friends co-host Ainsley Earhardt told political pundit Sean Hannity Wednesday, previewing the broadcast of her interview with Trump. He said he would consider that. I think he feels bad for Manafort. They were friends. He didnt work for him for very long.

I feel very badly for Paul Manafort and his wonderful family. Justice took a 12 year old tax case, among other things, applied tremendous pressure on him and, unlike Michael Cohen, he refused to break - make up stories in order to get a deal. Such respect for a brave man!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 22, 2018

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The President made his feelings known in a tweet, but didnt mention a pardon.

I feel very badly for Paul Manafort and his wonderful family, Trump tweeted. I have such respect for a brave man!

Earlier Wednesday, Senate Republicans came out against the idea.

It would be an enormous mistake and misuse of his power to pardon, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) told The Hill newspaper.

Democrats warned a presidential pardon for Manafort could have deeper political ramifications.

If the president tries to pardon these people, there will be a constitutional crisis in our country, Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass) told the paper. That looks like a shutdown of the United States House of Representatives and Senate for all other business.

The President will be on the show on Thursday for a wide-ranging interview, discussing Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation in to Russian hacking of the 2016 presidential election, the payoffs to porn star Stormy Daniels and Playboy playmate Karen McDougal.A Muslim woman from Staten Island is suing U.S. customs agents who seized her phone at the airport, copied her data and held the device for more than four months after she returned on a flight from Switzerland.

Rejhane Lazoja, said her iPhone 6 Plus and its SIM card were taken when she landed at Newark Airport in February by U.S. Customs and Border agents when she returned to the U.S. on Feb. 26.

Lazoja said that when the government returned the phone after 130 days, officials never explained why it was taken, and refused to destroy personal data they copied.

When I came back to the U.S., I expected to be welcomed home, Lazoja said. Instead, I was questioned, degraded, and had my phone taken away. I expected better from my country and from customs officials.

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The federal lawsuit was filed along with The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim advocacy group which has been outspoken on immigration issues.

The Trump administration needs to understand that our border is not a Constitution-free zone, CAIR-NY Legal Director Albert Fox Cahn said in a statement.

As the U.S. Supreme Court has recognized, there is nothing more invasive than searching and copying the data on our smartphones. These phones track our location, our conversations and even our passing thoughts. Muslim travelers must not be subjected to this warrantless electronic dragnet simply for practicing their faith.

Cahn said Lazoja, an American citizen, was with her 6-year-old daughter when she was taken to a separate room for a secondary screening. There, agents asked her for her cell phone, but she refused to give them the passcode.

He said agents confiscated the phone -- and kept it for more than four months.

Lazoja bought a new phone and even though her old phone was returned, she is afraid to use it.

Lazaja and Cahn said they were not certain that her data was compromised, but they assume it was.

A customs agency spokesman declined to comment on the lawsuit.

Keeping America safe and enforcing our nations laws in an increasingly digital world depends on our ability to lawfully examine all materials entering the U.S., the spokesman said in a statement. We are committed to ensuring the rights and privacies of all people while making certain that CBP can take the lawful actions necessary to secure our borders.Rep. Duncan Hunters only Republican colleague in San Diegos congressional delegation said Thursday he is concerned about the timing of the congressmans indictment, with just months left in his re-election campaign. Hunter and his wife Margaret on Tuesday were indicted on dozens of criminal charges including wire fraud and campaign finance crimes.

The timing so close to an election raises significant concerns, Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, told The San Diego Union Tribune via email. Nevertheless, Im saddened by the news and what I know is a very difficult time for a colleague and his family whom I have known and served with for many years.

The couple, facing 60 counts, pleaded not guilty at their arraignment in San Diego federal court on Thursday, after Hunter told reporters the day before that he never used his campaign for personal expenditures  ever. Instead, he blamed what he called the deep state.

House Speaker Paul Ryan sought Hunters removal from his committee positions in the House of Representatives this week pending the resolution of this matter and Hunter has offered to temporarily step down according to reporting by Politico. He serves on three committees: Transportation and Infrastructure, House Armed Services and Education and Workforce.

We also reached out to Rep. Susan Davis, Rep. Scott Peters and Rep. Juan Vargas of the San Diego delegation for comment. We asked these questions:

What is your response to the indictment?

Should Hunter resign?

Should Hunter step down from his committee assignments as House Speaker Paul Ryan has requested?

Any other comment to make on the matter?

Heres how they responded.

Rep. Susan Davis, D-San Diego

These are serious charges that were a long time in coming. He has the right to a trial but could be distracted from properly serving his constituents.

Rep. Scott Peters, D-San Diego

Im very concerned about the nature of these charges. As public servants, we owe it to the people we represent to follow the campaign spending and disclosure laws, which keep elections fair and provide the transparency the public deserves. The public deserves an explanation, and any wrongdoing should be punished.

He needs to decide what is best for the people he represents and his family. Its difficult for me to see how he can represent his district at the same time he is consumed with defending himself in court.

If he resigns from his committees, there is little point in remaining in Congress.

Duncan and I have wide political differences, and I have endorsed his election opponent. Nevertheless, he and I, and our entire delegation, have managed to work together on San Diego matters. I certainly dont condone any of the alleged misconduct, but this is sad news for our region and for his children.

Rep. Juan Vargas, D-San Diego

I support Rep. Duncan Hunters decision to step down from his committee responsibilities. By removing himself, he is allowing for Members of Congress to return to Washington and get back to work without any distractions. I firmly believe that our judicial system will handle this case appropriately.

Email: abby.hamblin@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @abbyhamblinLifelong health must start at the youngest ages and schools play a tremendous role in shaping our childrens lives. While state law requires that most public schools guarantee all low-income students have access to at least one nutritious, affordable meal each day, charter schools are the exception. This inequity needs to change.

The San Diego Childhood Obesity Initiative is committed to the optimal health and wellness of children and families. For the many children who live in poverty throughout San Diego, school meals are an essential resource and critical to maintaining good health.

Assembly Bill 1871, currently moving through the legislature, will ensure that low-income children in charter schools, like low-income students in all other public schools, have access to free and reduced-price school meals. We support this fundamental legislation to protect childrens health.

Shaila Serpas

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Dan Fesperman

San Diego County Childhood Obesity Initiative

Charter schools are open to all children, that is, all children whose families dont rely on the Free and Reduced-Price Meal program to make ends meet. In San Diego County, that means about half of all public school students. Thats because charter schools are not required, like other public schools, to provide nutritious free or reduced-price meals for the kids who need them. When a charter school doesnt offer free and reduced-price meals, it eliminates the option of attending that school for very-low-income families.

Fortunately, theres a bill (Assembly Bill 1871) being voted on this week by the California State Senate that  if passed  would remove this barrier. I am joining the California Charter Schools Association in supporting AB 1871, because I dont want the ability to afford school meals to be a consideration for families when selecting the best school for their children.

Anahid Brakke

Executive Director

San Diego Hunger Coalition

Hunger is a serious problem in San Diego County. For thousands of low-income children, school meals may be the only nutritious meals they get all day. A tremendous amount of research proves what we already know -- well-nourished children are healthier, happier, and do better in school.

Unfortunately, we dont give all children the same opportunity to be fed.

Charter schools, unlike all other public schools, are not required to offer free and reduced-priced school meals to students in need. That can change if the state legislature passes AB1871 to provide basic healthy, affordable meals to low-income charter school students. The Community Resource Center fights hunger in all forms. Thats why we urge our elected officials to pass AB1871.

Yanira Frias

Food and Nutrition Program Manager

Community Resource Center

Children shouldnt have to go to school on an empty stomach with no lunch in sight. Our kids deserve the best, and that means making sure they are all well-nourished and ready to learn. This benefits all of us. But theres a significant gap in state law that excuses some schools from providing meals to low-income students. This loophole leaves these students at a serious disadvantage. Fortunately, new legislation, Assembly Bill 1871, will close the loophole and ensure that throughout California, low-income students will have equitable access to nutritious school meals. Here at Feeding San Diego, we see every day that hunger hurts children. We know that having enough food is critical for children to learn, grow, and succeed in school. We call on the Governor and legislature to enact AB 1871 into law.

Vince Hall

CEO

Feeding San Diego

Letters and commentary policy

The U-T welcomes and encourages community dialogue on important public matters. Please visit this page for more details on our letters and commentaries policy. You can email letters@sduniontribune.com or leave a comment below.

Follow @UTLetters on Twitter and UTOpinion on Facebook.Palomar Colleges fall semester began Monday at its Rancho Bernardo campus, with some of its students attending tuition-free.

More than 1,500 first-time students district-wide are benefiting from the Palomar Promise program that gives free tuition plus assistance with registration fees and textbooks. This is double the number of students who received the benefit last year, according to college officials.

Participants needed to graduate from an eligible high school in the Palomar College service area and meet other eligibility criteria, per the colleges website. That service area includes the Poway Unified School District communities.

Were thrilled to be serving twice as many Promise students in 2018-19 as last year, said Palomar College Superintendent and President Dr. Joi Lin Blake. Its so important to get our first-year students off to a strong start at Palomar, and we know that serving them well is going to strengthen our region in the years to come.

Palomar Promise funding comes through a combination of state, federal and local funding resources, according to its website. State funding was made possible through the California College Promise. Signed by Gov. Jerry Brown in October 2017, Assembly Bill 19 allocated funding that, for the first time since 1985, allows eligible first-time students to not pay tuition regardless of their economic status. Registration fees at Californias community colleges were instituted in 1985, officials said.

Laura Gropen, Palomar Colleges director of communications, marketing and public affairs, said last year  the first time Palomar Promise was offered  Palomars tuition program was funded through donations. While it only covers the first year of tuition, she said Palomar is providing financial aid assistance to help students with their second year of coursework. Students also receive academic support services and help with staying on track so they can reach their career or academic goals at Palomar and/or transfer to a four-year college or university.

Of the more than 1,500 receiving assistance this year, Gropen said 115 students  or 7.6 percent of recipients  came from the Poway Unified School District.

Per the districts website, Palomar College enrolls around 30,000 full- and part-time students, who attend classes at multiple facilities, including its main campus in San Marcos. California residents are charged $46 per unit as they choose from over 200 associate degree and certificate programs, complete the first two years of a bachelors degree or take personal enrichment classes.

Palomar Colleges South Education Center in Rancho Bernardo offered a limited number of courses when it opened for the summer session. Its offerings expanded to 95 classes for the fall term, which began Monday, with 1,226 students taking courses on the campus at 11111 Rancho Bernardo Road, according to Gropen. She said there are also 66 faculty members plus 30 staff members at the campus.

Palomar College is thrilled to be a part of the Rancho Bernardo community, expanding the districts educational access to residents in that area, Gropen said. We have received very positive feedback from our students regarding their experiences at the new facility.

The college is committed to being a good neighbor, she added. We are providing parking free of charge for the first year of operation to all students who attend at the South Education Center in Rancho Bernardo. The Palomar College Police Department has a presence in the neighborhood, providing added safety to the community.

Email: rbnews@pomeradonews.comThe groundball that bounce off Wil Myers face during Wednesdays batting practice might only cost him a game or two. Christian Villanuevas fractured finger will cost him three to four weeks  at least.

I dont see guys coming back from fractures in three weeks very often, Padres manager Andy Green said. Thats the number I get at the very beginning. My guess is its going to be longer than that. If (Villanueva) can make it back by the end of the year, then great. But theres not a lot of weeks left in the season right now.

Villanueva sustained his injury while fielding a ball at second base in Tuesdays game.

Myers scare arrived before Wednesdays game.

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He was fielding grounders off a fungo bat a third base when a ball bounced off the lip of the grass, over his back-hand attempt and into his face.

The training staff, coaches and teammates immediately rushed to Myers side. He was bloodied with a lacerated nose as he left the field but reportedly in good spirits before a visit to the hospital.

He had a stitch put in the bottom of his nose, Green said. The good news is he had a CT scan and everything was negative. Theres no concussion or anything like that. He definitely took a hard one off the face today.

I dont know if he was ever pretty, but hes definitely not pretty right now.

Said Freddy Galvis, who was standing next to Myers when the ball struck him in the face: It was a scary moment. That gets to everybody. Hes a person and a human being. We dont want something like that to happen to nobody. I hope hell be OK in a few days and hope to get him back as soon as we can.

Green indicated Myers  who was set to make his eighth career start at third base  would be out of the lineup Thursday.

Villanueva, meanwhile, is headed to the disabled list after x-rays taken Wednesday afternoon revealed a fracture. The Padres had not announced a corresponding roster move, but top prospect Luis Urias was not yet expected to be called up for his major league debut Thursday.

The Padres are still discussing whether Urias arrives before September call-ups, the first day rosters can expand or after Triple-A El Pasos playoff run.

In the meantime, infielder Carlos Asuaje and shortsotp Javy Guerra, both on the 40-man roster, are the likeliest options to join the Padres for the series finale.

Asuaje plays second and third base. Guerra, however, could make the most sense as Villanueva was Galvis only back-up at shortstop, albeit seldom-used.

Urias plays second, shortstop and third base.

Breaking News: @wilmyers hit by groundball during warmups, has been scratched from tonight's lineup! pic.twitter.com/ubAnEAd75o  FOX Sports San Diego (@FOXSportsSD) August 23, 2018

Wait, whos hitting clean-up?

Spangenberg wasnt Andy Greens first choice for a clean-up hitter Wednesday. Given the circumstances, the Padres third-year skipper deemed his 195-pound second baseman  the owner of seven homers and a .399 slugging percentage  his best choice.

Christian Villanuevas middle finger, it turns out, was fractured on the ball he fielded in the fourth inning Tuesday and Hunter Renfroe  hit on his right forearm by a pitch on Sunday  did not look like himself in the first game in Colorado.

The injuries left Spangenberg as a de facto choice for the clean-up spot. Before Myers was scratched, Green said he did not want to back up Myers and Eric Hosmer to the three-four spots.

In 17 games (12 starts) this month, the left-handed hitting Spangenberg was hitting .349.472/.558 with 10 walks against 15 strikeouts. He had one homer, two triples and two doubles.

Spangenberg was 4-for-16 with a double, a homer and six strikeouts against no walks in 17 career plate appearances against Rockies right-hander Jon Gray. He doubled in a run in the first inning to give the Padres a 1-0 lead.

Corys had some good swings off him in in the past, Green said. He hasnt had a ton of success off him, but hes played incredibly well here in August and hes looked good in the box. I think the quality of his at-bats every single day have been extremely high.  I like what hes doing.

Padres Videos  On Now Padres pitcher Chris Paddack on start vs. Mariners and possibility of making rotation On Now Meet the Padres: Ian Kinsler 5:18 On Now Catching up with Padres OF Franmil Reyes 5:18 On Now Meet The Padres: Greg Garcia 5:11 On Now Catching up with Padres reliever Craig Stammen 5:33 On Now Meet the Padres: Logan Allen 6:23 On Now Meet The Padres: Manny Machado 9:08 On Now Meet The Padres: Chris Paddack 5:08 On Now Three things that stood out from Machado's first day with the Padres 1:53 On Now Padres manager Andy Green on Machado joining his roster

jeff.sanders@sduniontribune.com; Twitter: @sdutSanders

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.Pune, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/23/2018 -- Global Gastric Bypass Surgery Market  Overview



Gastric bypass is a surgical procedure used to reduce the stomach size, and decrease its food storage capacity. Common bariatric surgery procedures to reduce the stomach size are gastric bypass, adjustable gastric band, sleeve gastrectomy, and biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch. During the gastric bypass, the stomach is divided into upper and lower pouch due to which is food directly enters the small intestine after passing through the stomach. The surgery is found to be an effective treatment for obesity, i.e. BMI greater than 40. Other indication for gastric bypass gastroesophageal reflux disease, heart disease, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes.



The rising prevalence of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and increasing demand for minimally invasive surgery are majorly driving the growth of the market across the globe. Additionally, use of advanced technology devices for a surgical procedure in health care institutes also influence the market growth.

Furthermore, globalization in the healthcare has influenced the market growth. Established market players in the developed countries tap new markets through new products and services into the developing regions and emerging economies. The major strategic approach followed by the company is a geographical expansion and product launch for sustaining growth in the market. However, side effects of the gastric bypass may hamper the market growth during the forecast period.



The Global Gastric Bypass Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.1% during the forecast period 2017-2023.



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Gastric Bypass Surgery Market - Leading players



Medtronic (U.S.), Intuitive Surgical Inc. (U.S.), TransEnterix Inc. (U.S.), ALLERGAN (Republic of Ireland), USGI Medical Inc. (U.S.), Cousin Biotech (France), GI Dynamics Inc. (U.S.), Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc. (U.S.), Mediflex Surgical Product (U.S.), and others.



Global Gastric Bypass Surgery Market - Regional Analysis



The Americas are the largest gastric bypass market across the globe owing to well-developed technology, increasing the prevalence of obesity and cardiovascular diseases, availability of healthcare specialty healthcare services, and technologically advancement in the field of healthcare. In North America, the U.S. dominates the market owing to an increased number of market players manufacturing surgical devices. Additionally, in the U.S., gastric bypass is one of the most common procedures for obesity, and other major indications such as diabetes, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. Furthermore, the prevalence of diabetes is found to be increasing among the U.S. population. As per the National Diabetes Statistics Report of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2015, 9.4% of the U.S. population i.e. 30.3 million people had diabetes.



Europe holds the second position in the global gastric bypass market owing to the increasing diabetic population. Additionally, extensive research & development activities in the field of gastroenterology and availability of funds for research also fuel the market growth. Germany and France are the largest contributors to the market owing to increasing use of minimally invasive surgical procedures in hospitals, and surgical centers.



The Asia Pacific is the fastest growing gastric bypass market owing to the ever-increasing prevalence of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases and demand for technologically advanced devices for minimally invasive surgical procedures. India and China are the major contributors to large diabetic patient pool and increasing number of specialty services. Additionally, the growth of the medical technology and healthcare industry in developing economies of Asia Pacific also influence the growth of the market. Furthermore, increasing demand for quality care services and new devices in the healthcare are expected to increase the use of advanced medical devices and instruments.



In the Middle East & Africa, prevalence of obesity and diabetes is increasing from last few years. This increase in the prevalence is attributed to sedentary lifestyle, and lack of physical exercise. In Africa, the prevalence of non-communicable diseases is increasing at a steady rate along with communicable diseases, thus signifying the need for effective therapeutic options of treatment of diseases.



Global Gastric Bypass Surgery - Market Segmentation



The global gastric bypass market is segmented on the basis of type, indication, and end user.

On the basis of the type, it is segmented into endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty and intragastric balloon.

Based on the indication, it is segmented into obesity, gastroesophageal reflux disease, heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and others. On the basis of the end user, it is segmented into hospitals & clinics, surgical centers, and others



Intended Audience

- Medical Devices Companies

- Research and Development (R&D) Companies

- Government Research Institute

- Academic Institutes and Universities



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TOC of Gastric Bypass Surgery Market Research Report  Global Forecast to 2023



1. Report Prologue



2. Introduction

2.1 Definition

2.2 Scope of the Study

2.2.1 Research Objective

2.2.2 Assumptions

2.2.3 Limitations

2.3 Market Structure

2.4. Market Segmentation



3. Research Methodology

3.1 Research Process

3.2 Primary Research

3.3 Secondary Research

3.4 Market Size Estimation

3.5 Forecast Model



4. Market Dynamics

4.1 Drivers

4.2 Restraints

4.3 Opportunities

4.4 Threats

4.5 Macroeconomic Indicators



TOC CONTINUED



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About Market Research Future

Market Research Future (MRFR), enable customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Neanderthals and Denisovans are extinct groups of hominins that separated from each other more than 390,000 years ago. These two groups inhabited Eurasia  Neanderthals in the west and Denisovans in the east  until they were replaced by modern humans around 40,000 years ago. Now, a research team led by scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology has sequenced the genome of Denisova 11, a 50,000-year-old individual from Denisova Cave in Siberia, and discovered that she had a Neanderthal mother and a Denisovan father.

We knew from previous studies that Neanderthals and Denisovans must have occasionally had children together, said co-lead author Dr. Viviane Slon, a researcher in the Department of Evolutionary Genetics at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.

But we never thought we would be so lucky as to find an actual offspring of the two groups.

The Denisova 11 bone fragment was excavated in 2012 from the East Gallery of Denisova Cave. It weighed 1.68 g, with a maximum length of 24.7 mm and width of 8.39 mm.

The Denisova 11 individual is only represented by a single small bone fragment, said co-author Dr. Bence Viola, from the Department of Anthropology at the University of Toronto.

The fragment is part of a long bone, and we can estimate that this individual was at least 13 years old.

Dr. Slon, Dr. Viola and their colleagues performed six DNA extractions from bone powder collected from the Denisova 11 specimen, produced ten DNA libraries from the extracts, and sequenced her genome.

To determine from which hominin group Denisova 11 originated, they compared the proportions of DNA fragments that match derived genetic variants from the genome of Altai Neanderthal and a Denisovan genome (Denisova 3), both determined from bones discovered in Denisova Cave, as well as from a present-day African genome.

An interesting aspect of the Denisova 11 genome is that it allows us to learn things about two populations  the Neanderthals from the mothers side, and the Denisovans from the fathers side, said co-author Dr. Fabrizio Mafessoni, from the Department of Evolutionary Genetics at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.

The researchers found that Denisova 11s father, whose genome bears traces of Neanderthal ancestry, came from a population related to a later Denisovan found in the cave.

The mother came from a population more closely related to Neanderthals who lived later in Europe than to an earlier Neanderthal found in the cave, suggesting that migrations of Neanderthals between eastern and western Eurasia occurred sometime after 120,000 years ago.

So from this single genome, we are able to detect multiple instances of interactions between Neanderthals and Denisovans, said co-author Dr. Benjamin Vernot, also from the Department of Evolutionary Genetics at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.

It is striking that we find this Neanderthal/Denisovan child among the handful of ancient individuals whose genomes have been sequenced, said co-lead author Dr. Svante Paabo, Director of the Department of Evolutionary Genetics at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.

Neanderthals and Denisovans may not have had many opportunities to meet. But when they did, they must have mated frequently  much more so than we previously thought.

The findings were published online this week in the journal Nature.

_____

Viviane Slon et al. The genome of the offspring of a Neanderthal mother and a Denisovan father. Nature, published online August 22, 2018; doi: 10.1038/s41586-018-0455-x'Highly politicized process'

Cuba expert Collin Laverty, president of Cuba Educational Travel, called it 'a breath of fresh air in a highly politicized process of confusion, anxiety and speculation which led to an excessive measure by the State Department.'

He added: 'Given that the initial decision to increase the Cuba travel warning was politically motivated, the United States government is righting its wrong by assessing that Americans need not reconsider travel to Cuba in order to stay safe.'

'Most people have no idea what levels mean or the difference between them,' Bruce Nierenberg, chairman of Victory Cruise Lines, told Seatrade Cruise News. 'What makes a difference is when the politicians decide to use travel as a political football.'

Nierenberg said demand softened for operators in the senior market, like Victory, last summer, fall and winter when ' Trump made it sound like he was limiting travel there when in fact he did very little. It was a political favor repaid to South Florida conservative Cuban Americans and little more than that. But it did make a difference and bookings definitely dropped off.'

This, combined with the hurricanes that came one after another, did not help, Nierenberg added. For Victory, the winter demand 'never rebounded as the lingering impact of the negative politics and the Caribbeans nightmare hurricane season changed a lot of peoples plans.'

Recently, though, Cuba bookings are showing some healthy signs for this coming winter, according to Nierenberg, even though many more ships are going than last year.

Deployment surges ahead

Though major lines seemed to have little trouble selling Cuba during the months the Level 3 warning was in place, some smaller operatorsthose that offer longer sailings around the island, with more port callsdid report an impact.

Similar to Victory's experience, last November Lindblad Expeditions reported few new bookings, while there were some cancellations. CFO Craig Felenstein forecast then that Cuba would still be profitable for Lindblad, but not at the return originally projected.

Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean International president and CEO Michael Bayley had said that when the warning broke in the media, the company received a spike in queries from customers and travel partners. 'Everybody was trying to seek clarity but after, literally, a few days, things just returned to normal and the business is very good for our Cuba product,' he said.

'One of the world's safest countries'

In Laverty's view, 'Cuba continues to be one of the safest countries in the world to visit and hundreds of thousands of Americansand millions of global travelersenjoy all that it has to offer each year with no health or security risks to note.'

Laverty added that foreign service officers in Washington and diplomats on the ground in Havana favor increased travel to support the Cuban people.

'I look forward to President Trump and Secretary [of State Mike] Pompeo addressing Cuba in a smart and respectful manner and opening up travel and trade further,' Laverty said.

The State Department had put the Level 3 warning in place last September after US Embassy employees in Havana were allegedly 'targeted in specific attacks' that caused them to suffer 'significant injuries' including 'ear complaints and hearing loss, dizziness, headache, fatigue, cognitive issues and difficulty sleeping.'

The State Department's travel advisory scale has one higher level, 4 ('do not travel').This article is part of State of Health, a series examining health disparities, how they affect Michigan's children and seniors, and the innovative solutions being developed to address them. It is made possible with funding from the

Michigan Health Endowment Fund

.

Removal from even the worst of foster homes is a traumatic experience for any foster child, and that experience can get even worse if the child doesn't have timely access to psychiatric services.

It can take a while to find a child psychiatrist, and to get insurance approval for the child to see that psychiatrist. But telepsychiatry services, which offer remote psychiatrist visits via videoconference, can help to close that gap  and hasten the child's healing process.

"This is technology most kids already know how to use," says Melissa Peters, director of behavioral health for the Royal Oak-based nonprofit Judson Center, which offers telepsychiatry for children and adolescents. "Some kids think it's cool and may open up a little more."

Telemedicine and e-health programs that allow patients to talk to medical staff via phone or videoconferencing systems have the potential to create more equitable access to health care, but these programs are currently underutilized for a variety of reasons ranging from insurance issues to slow adoption by clinicians.

Still, many private and public healthcare providers are expanding their telehealth programming to meet the needs of their most vulnerable patients.

"Telehealth addresses the sector of people that cannot even address acute medical and psychiatric issues, much less think about a journey to wellness or being a whole person, if they physically had to go into an office and see a provider," says Sara Coates, director of integrated health for the Michigan Primary Care Association, a networking organization of health centers and stakeholders established in 1978.

Coates says telehealth programs can address social determinants of health ranging from language barriers to issues finding transportation and childcare. Patients who have been traumatized and suffer from anxiety may also find it difficult to navigate a traditional office visit and may find it easier to talk to a psychiatrist from the comfort of their own homes.

Coates says equitable healthcare programs should be about meeting patients where they are, helping them take care of themselves, and setting them on a journey to being a well person. She says telehealth is an important tool that can help accomplish those goals.

Areas where telemedicine shines

Bruce Retterath, a licensed psychologist who serves as clinical director at Grand Rapids-based Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services, says telehealth is especially helpful for three purposes: behavioral health and psychiatry, post-acute follow-up care, and chronic condition management. Healthcare centers receiving grants to explore telehealth options are largely focused on those areas.

"For patients with chronic care conditions who come in and receive care on a regular basis, telehealth is uniquely poised to help them," Retterath says. "They don't have to take half a day off work and drive in for an appointment. They can do it over their lunch break or early in the morning or after work."

Pine Rest uses telepsychiatry to support patients recently discharged from an inpatient psychiatric stay. Retterath says Pine Rest served 930 children and 440 older adults in inpatient psychiatric units in 2017. A grant will allow the nonprofit to use telepsychiatry to follow up with those vulnerable populations after discharge.

"It's been shown in various studies that having a connection with a health clinician within the first week of leaving the hospital positively impacts recidivism," Retterath says.

Joyce Lee, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Michigan's Child Health Evaluation and Research Center, recently received a grant from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund to use e-health to improve care for pediatric diabetes.

The e-health project allows doctors and others on the medical team to connect electronically with children and their families and teach families how to manage their own glucose control data and make adjustments themselves, saving them multiple trips to a clinic.

"There is a ton of data being generated by glucose monitoring systems, and understanding patterns in data and how to adjust an insulin regimen or behavior around exercise and food in response to that data is important," Lee says. "Our program trains families how to use technology for data management and how to make their own changes in dosage so they're not so dependent on the clinic."

Judson Center's telepsychiatry program focused on children and adolescents has been running in Macomb County for more than a year. The center also recently received funding to start a telepsychiatry program in Wayne County focused on children in foster care.

Peters says there are very few psychiatrists with a speciality in children and adolescents, and they often get snapped up by private healthcare systems or large hospitals, making fewer available to smaller healthcare providers and nonprofits like Judson.

Because of that shortage, Judson contracts with a psychiatrist in another state for both their Macomb and Wayne telepsychiatry programs, Peters says. Most patients also have the option of seeing a doctor in person, and telepsychiatry offers an additional choice.

"It's just an option that can be a good fit in terms of the doctor they want to see and availability of appointment times," she says.

Overcoming obstacles to new technologies

While Michigan is fairly progressive in terms of legislative and insurance support for telemedicine, there is still room for improvement.

Some clinicians are skeptical of new technologies and prefer face-to-face interactions. But even healthcare teams that are on board with telemedicine may have difficulty fitting telemedicine appointments into their existing workflow.

One psychiatry practice may block off an afternoon one or two days a week just for telepsychiatry appointments. In another medical or psychology practice, a medical assistant may run five or six cases by a doctor in person, make notes, and then hold teleconference calls with individual patients.

Retterath says Pine Rest already uses Epic, a secure web portal for providers to interact with and view managed care information, and the nonprofit hopes to integrate telepsychiatry into that system by the end of the year.

"The clinician will log in, and see they have a telepsychiatry patient on their schedule, and they'll be able to push a button right on the schedule that opens up a video session with the patient, who is coming in through the portal," Retterath says.

However, insurance coverage is often a bigger problem for these visits. While Medicaid has covered some telemedicine appointments since 2006, and 2012 legislation removed the requirement that physicians had to see patients face-to-face for reimbursement, the uses of telemedicine and telepsychiatry are still limited by insurance coverage.

Coates says that while Medicaid will reimburse for telepsychiatry appointments at Federally Qualified Health Centers, psychiatrists often charge a much higher rate for an hour than the reimbursement covers. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will eventually make up the difference, but often many months after the cost was incurred by the health center.

Retterath says some private insurances will pay for telehealth appointments, but only if they're conducted in a clinical setting. That means if a patient goes to a clinic and has a telepsychiatry appointment with an out-of-state doctor, that visit will be covered. But if the patient wants to talk to the doctor from home or the workplace, the visit would not be covered by insurance.

Lee also considers lack of insurance a "huge barrier" to increased use of telemedicine, and says only a minority of private insurers will cover a telehealth visit from a patient's home to a clinic.

"I wish all insurers would cover it," she says. "I really want a model that allows patients to do it from home."

Sarah Rigg is a freelance writer and editor in southeast Michigan. You may reach her at sarahrigg1@gmail.com.

Photos by Adam Bird.Sen. Bam asks Pope Francis: Pray for PH, poor Filipinos

ROME, Italy -- In a private audience with Pope Francis here, Sen. Bam Aquino asked the Holy Father to pray for the Philippines and poor Filipinos amid the challenges of injustice and suffering that the country is facing.

Sen. Bam, who shared his experience of meeting Pope Francis on his Instagram page, also presented to Pope Francis letters from members of the Philippine clergy, such as Bro. Armin Luistro of the Purple Cross Movement.

"Holy Father, I have some letters from our religious leaders in the Philippines. Our country needs your prayers," Sen. Bam told the Holy Father during the private audience. In response, Pope Francis smiled back, took the letters and blessed Sen. Bam and the rosary that the senator was holding in his hand.

Sen. Bam said one of the letters asked Pope Francis to pray that the violence in the Philippines comes to an end and for the welfare of the widows and orphans left by the drug war.

Sen. Bam had the distinct honor of meeting Pope Francis as the country's representative to the 9th Annual Meeting of the International Catholic Legislators Network (ICLN).

In his message to Catholic and Christians legislators, Pope Francis said Christian politicians are especially called... with humility and courage, to bear witness to their faith.

Sen. Bam, for his part, said Pope Francis' message encourages Catholics to stand up for God and for fellow Filipinos, against all odds and with all humility and courage.

"Kung totoong nananampalataya ka, dapat wala kang takot na manindigsan para sa Diyos at para sa ating mga kababayan," said Sen. Bam.Sen. Bam to NFA Administrator: Mahiya ka naman, mag-resign ka na

Sen. Bam Aquino questioned the government's failure to lower the prices of rice in the market despite its promise that rice importation will solve the problem.

"Sino na ba ang nagmamando sa bansa? Itong malaking krisis sa bigas, hindi man lang masolusyunan," questioned Sen. Bam.

"Nag-import sila para maresolba ang problema pero mukhang lumala pa ngayon ang sitwasyon at nauwi sa rice crisis sa Zamboanga City," added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam's pronouncement came in the light of Zamboanga City's plan to declare a state of calamity due to rice shortage. Prices of rice in the city went up to a high as P68 per kilo, with the lowest being sold at P55 per kilo.

Earlier, the government approved the importation of 500,000 metric tons of rice to address the lack of supply of affordable NFA rice in the market.

"Saan napunta ang ipinagmamalaking inangkat ng National Food Authority (NFA) para mapababa ang presyo ng bigas sa mga palengke?" asked Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam expressed fear that the imported NFA rice could land in the hands of traders who will sell it for a higher price, putting more burden on the shoulder of poor Filipinos.

Sen. Bam renewed his call for the resignation of some NFA officials, led by its administrator Jason Aquino, for their failure to address the problem of lack of supply of affordable rice in the market.

"Mahiya naman sila sa taumbayan at mag-resign na. Dahil sa kanilang kapalpakan, nalulunod ang mga pamilyang Pilipino sa taas ng presyo ng bigas," said Sen. Bam.

Earlier, Sen. Bam urged the NFA administrator to quit his post due to the agency's failure to fulfil the 15-day buffer stock policy for almost one year, beginning March 2017.Press Release

August 23, 2018 De Lima defends VP Robredo vs Duterte's tirades Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has come into the defense of Vice President Leni Robredo against Mr. Duterte's latest tirades belittling her leadership capabilities and rejecting her as his duly constitutional successor. De Lima, the first prominent political prisoner under the Duterte regime, reminded Duterte that his presidency is not the benchmark of good governance and is not even "a tough act to follow." "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," she said in her recent Dispatch from Crame No. 365. "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," she added. After admitting he has grown exhausted of fighting corruption and illegal drugs, Duterte claimed he is willing to step down if the likes of Sen. Francis Escudero or former Sen. Bongbong Marcos would succeed him. Asserting that Robredo is not fit to be his successor, Duterte also belittled Robredo's leadership capabilities by saying that she could not handle the pressing issues hounding the country, including the drug menace. In the 2016 vice presidential polls, Robredo handily defeated Marcos - a known ally of Duterte - and Escudero. Marcos, however, has refused to accept his loss and filed an electoral protest against Robredo, blaming alleged "massive cheating" as the reason behind his electoral defeat to her in the polls by a margin of 263,473 votes. De Lima expressed confidence that Robredo can perform better than Duterte as President, especially in terms of handling criminality and corruption and improving international relations. "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," she said. De Lima said Robredo can "put an end to the culture of impunity in government that saw Duterte appointees and allies robbing the people in broad daylight while at the same time having the gall to be self-righteous about it." The Senator from Bicol maintained that it is not anymore hard to be a better President after Duterte, saying, "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." Since Duterte launched his administration's all-out war on drugs, more than 23,000 suspected drug offenders have died without being accorded a day in court and the culture of impunity has been rampant.Sen. Ejercito speaks at the Asia-Pacific parliamentarians meeting on global health

PARLIAMENTARIANS from countries in the Asia-Pacific Region held today (August 23) in Manila the "Asia-Pacific Parliamentarian Forum for Global Health Fourth Meeting" with Senator JV Ejercito as the guest speaker.

Ejercito, Co-Chairman of the Fourth Meeting, welcomed the delegates led by Forum President Professor Keizo Takemi, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director Dr. Shin Young-soo, Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, and House of Representatives health committee Chairperson Rep. Angelina Tan.

"It is our honor and privilege to host this Fourth Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentarian forum on Global Health...Today, we open our meeting in support of the global call to advance universal health coverage, or, as we call it here in the Philippines, universal health 'care'," he said in his welcome address. The forum was held at the WHO Regional Headquarters in UN Avenue, Manila.

The highlights of the meeting include the discussion of the important role of the parliamentarians for the sustainable financing and regulations for universal health care.

Ejercito, who is the author of "Universal Health Care for All Filipinos Act" bill, has assured the parliamentarians that the Philippines aligns itself with countries in the Asia-Pacific in striving to make quality health care accessible to the people.

"Filipinos are one with you, our sisters and brothers in Asia and the Pacific, in seeking affordable and accessible quality health care for our people. In health, there are no borders, no colors, no races; only humanity," he said.

Ejercito also attended the third forum held last year in Tokyo, Japan.Press Release

August 23, 2018 Gatchalian calls for abolition of NFA Senator Win Gatchalian is pushing for the abolition of the National Food Authority (NFA) to spare taxpayers from the burden of subsidizing the "inefficient and unproductive" operations of the embattled agency. "lsa sa mga problemang nakikita ko kaya kulang ang supply at mataas ang presyo ng bigas ay iyong operations ng NFA. Hindi maayos at hindi nagagampanan ang responsibilidad nito," said Gatchalian, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs. The senator pointed out the NFA has become "a liability to the government" after its revenue continues to drop every year. Financial data shows that NFA's revenue shrank 38 percent to ?17.93 billion in 2017, from ?29.3 billion in 2016. NFA's losses, on the other hand, swelled to ?150 billion. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Treasury reported that the NFA was the biggest recipient of subsidies provided to government owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) in June 2018. Record shows that the treasury department allocated ?5.2 billion of the total ?9.72 GOCC subsidy released that month for NFA's food security program. The Commission on Audit (COA), however, has called out the NFA for using GOCC subsidy funds to settle outstanding debts, saying the funds were intended "specifically to stabilize the price and supply of rice and corn." "Taxpayers continue to shoulder the losses that NFA despite its consistent failure to fulfill its mandate to stabilize the market price of rice so that every Filipino family will be able to put enough rice on their plates. It's time to abolish this unproductive agency and put taxpayers' money to better use," he added. The lawmaker threw his support behind the recommendation of the country's economic managers to let market forces determine rice prices instead, which he believes will make the country's foremost staple food more affordable for all. Gatchalian also reiterated his call for the passage of his Senate Bill No. 1839, which aims to replace quantitative restrictions on rice with a reasonable tariff to make the country's rice producing provinces more competitive. The measure would also give the President elbow room to adjust tariff rates on imported rice, to regulate rice exports, and to impose special rice safeguards to ensure food security for Filipinos.Third-year SFU student Karlie Tessmer has just returned from seven weeks in Greece where she attended SFU Hellenic Studies Greek field school.

The program, a collaboration between SFU and Douglas College, featured classes in Athens and in the small town of Molyvos on the Aegean island of Lesvos.

Heres what Tessmer, who is majoring in sociology and anthropology, had to say about the field school, which was her first European experience:

I am profoundly touched by the experience I had in Greece. Whether it was in the classroom, on a field trip, or adventures during our free time, this experience has connected me with history in a way I never thought possible. It challenged me mentally, physically and emotionally.

Each day in the bustling city of Athens provided an entirely new cultural experience. It was particularly impactful for me to connect the topics we studied in class to the city as we explored itthe historical aspects explained to us by our instructors, highlighted the citys liveliness and profound cultural presence.Auckland International Airport is considering raising $175 million via a bond issue towards the end of the year to help fund capital expenditure, as it undertakes a $2 billion infrastructure development programme

The announcement came during the airport's annual result release this morning, and on the following investor conference call, chief financial officer Phil Neutze said the bond may be spread into two tranches, and will be used to fund capital spending.

Almost half the airport's $2.06 billion of debt is in bonds, with 34.6 percent, or $675 million, in fixed rate notes and 11.5 percent, or $225 million, in floating bonds. It has a $75 million floating rate bond that matures in October 2018. In the latest year, the airport repaid $200 million for two separate bonds which came due in October 2017 and raised $126.5 million via 10-year Australian medium-term notes paying 4.5 percent that same month.

In the year to June 30, the airport's net profit nearly doubled to $650.1 million, boosted by the A$370 million sale of the airport's stake in North Queensland Airports. Underlying profit rose 6.2 percent to $263.1 million, on an 8.7 percent lift in revenue to $683.9 million. It anticipates an underlying profit of between $265 million and $275 million in June 2019, and expects capital expenditure of between $450 million and $550 million.

On the investor call, chief executive Adrian Littlewood was confident about future passenger growth as analysts questioned whether demand from both New Zealand outbound and international inbound passengers was softening on price increases. Much of the airport's revenue comes from passenger charges, and international passengers are especially valuable, each generating about four times as much revenue as a domestic passenger.

In 2018, the airport lifted international passengers excluding transit by 4.7 percent to 10.2 million, and domestic passengers by 7.7 percent to 9.2 million. It earned $179.1 million in passenger services charges, up 2.8 percent on 2017. The rest of its revenue came from $122 million in airfield landing and parking charges, $190.6 million from retail, $61 million from car parking and $97.6 million in rental income.

Littlewood said that while there may be a shift in New Zealanders' travel patterns - for example, people may choose to go to Australia's Gold Coast rather than Hawaii - "people still want to go on holiday". On the flipside, he said the weakening New Zealand dollar "can only help to attract inbound passengers" and "there is a significant number of people for whom a couple of bucks' change in ticket prices" won't deter them from visiting.

He said limited supply and higher prices in the hotel sector possibly contributed to flatter arrivals from countries such the United States and Japan in the last quarter of 2018 and the beginning of the 2019 financial year, but "anecdotally, pricing for some hotels is moderating somewhat" and New Zealand is not a super high volume destination. Littlewood also noted the lack of significant sporting events such as the World Masters Games and the British & Irish Lions rugby tour, which both occurred in the 2017 financial year.

There's also still growth to be had from China - the airport's third-largest source of passenger arrivals in the latest year, and up 10.9 percent in that time - both in new routes to tier two cities and engaging with new carriers, he said.

Littlewood said in his conversations with Chinese carriers, they are positive about New Zealand as it drives a good yield for them.

"On a macro level, the rest of the world is not as open as New Zealand and Australia for some carriers trying to grow internationally," he said. "They see us as open and willing for those carriers to come in."

The shares fell 0.4 percent to $6.89.

(BusinessDesk)

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Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corp has raised its full-year earnings forecast by about $5 million on the back of strong sales growth and the weaker New Zealand dollar.

The firm sells hospital equipment and personal sleep apnoea products in about 120 countries and gets only about 1 per cent of its sales in New Zealand.

Chief executive Lewis Gradon said the recent weakening of the kiwi dollar was a major driver of the earnings upgrade. The kiwi recently traded at 66.75 US cents, and hs dropped about 6 percent so far this year.

At current exchange rates, operating revenue for the six months ending Sept. 30 of $510 million should deliver a net profit of about $95 million. Assuming an exchange rate of 67 US cents for the rest of the year, those measures would rise to $1.07 billion and $215 million respectively for the year ended March 2019, the company told shareholders today.

The firms shares rose 6 cents to $15.30 on the NZX, taking their gain this year to almost 9 per cent.

F&P Healthcare increased net profit by 12 percent to $190 million in the March year. Operating revenue climbed 10 percent to $980 million.

In May the firm had forecast current year earnings of $210 million, assuming an exchange rate of 69.50 US cents and operating revenue of $1.05 billion.

(BusinessDesk)

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Ebos Group boosted annual earnings in line with its forecast even though revenue fell, as the pharmaceutical and animal health products company increased margins and benefited from acquisitions.

Underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation on a constant currency basis increased 10.3 percent to $272.4 million in the year ended June 30, in line with its forecast for 10 percent growth. Revenue slipped 2.5 percent to $7.6 billion. The company's healthcare business lifted its ebitda profit margin to 3.28 percent from 2.9 percent, while the animal care unit expanded margins to 12.08 percent from 10.57 percent.

Ebos has lifted ebitda 55 percent since 2014 as it pursued acquisitions across New Zealand and Australia and has invested $33.6 million on in the past year. Its latest investments included a 14 percent stake in Australia's leading digital medication management company MedAdvisor, the acquisition of New Zealand's leading footcare consumer brand Gran's Remedy, and the purchase of the management company of Australian pharmacy retail group Ventura Health. In addition, it integrated HPS, Australia's largest provider of outsourced pharmacy services to hospitals, which it bought at the end of last financial year, and launching its premium pet-food brand Black Hawk into the New Zealand market.

"We have been a very acquisitive company but what can also be overlooked is that we are growing organically as well," chief executive John Cullity told BusinessDesk. "The strategy is very much to continue building our healthcare business and our animal care business across both Australia and New Zealand."

Ebos said it is confident of further profit growth in the current 2019 financial year on an underlying, constant currency basis. It will provide a performance update at its annual shareholder meeting on Oct. 16.

The company's growth saw its net debt increase to $471.1 million as at June 30, from $434.7 million a year earlier, although its net debt to ebitda ratio improved to 1.74x from 1.79x. Its net cashflow from operating activities lifted to $176.2 million from $143.9 million a year earlier.

Cullity said the improved cash position gives the company additional acquisition capacity of about $150 million.

He said the company's current focus was "very much" on Australia and New Zealand.

"We still think theres still capacity and theres still opportunities for us to undertake within those markets," he said. "There may come a time in the medium to long-term where we look to overseas markets but I dont think we have reached that point yet.

"What does pleasantly surprise us is that as the group does get bigger I feel the number of opportunities in front of us also increase."

Ebos is a minnow in global terms, dwarfed by large international players such as McKesson Corp, Cardinal Health, and Henry Schein which are many times its size.

The company will pay a final dividend of 35.5 cents per share on Oct. 12, taking its annual dividend to 68.5 cents, ahead of 63 cents in 2017.

The shares slipped 0.7 percent to $20.86, having gained 19 percent over the past year.

In its healthcare business, ebitda increased 10.4 percent to $235.9 million on a constant currency basis, as revenue fell 2.3 percent to $7.2 billion due to a $364 million reduction in hepatitis C medicine sales.

Animal care ebitda grew 9 percent to $49.8 million on a constant currency basis as revenue slipped 5.1 percent.

The company said Black Hawk sales in Australia grew 23 percent and was one of Australia's fastest growing premium pet food brands with a leading market position in the pet specialty retail channel.

"Total animal care revenue declined for the year principally due to the business ceasing sales of low-margin wholesale products to a major Australian retail chain and discontinuing sales of other products upon the introduction of Black Hawk into New Zealand," Ebos said. "The business has strategically realigned its focus on developing its own brands to drive greater margin and shareholder value."

Ebos signalled plans to report earnings in Australian dollars in the future, given about 82 percent of its earnings are now generated in Australia and its results are significantly impacted by movements in the currencies.

(BusinessDesk)

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State-owned broadcaster Television New Zealand is counting its first year of stable revenues since 2012 as a win as it reports a 58.6 percent increase in operating earnings for the year to June 30.

Total revenues of $318.5 million, an increase of 0.6 percent on the previous year, produced operating earnings of $24.6 million before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation and changes in the value of financial instruments.

On a profit before tax basis, earnings were up 265 percent to $5.1 million, reflecting the fact that TVNZ had to write down $12.4 million against onerous contract terms for some of its international content. That impact has flowed through the accounts now, creating a dramatic bounceback in reported earnings as a result.

From a financial perspective, the most significant shift is stable topline revenue, TVNZ chief executive Kevin Kenrick told BusinessDesk. This is the first time we have stable revenue in the past six years.

The challenge now was to continue to replace revenues from traditional linear TV with revenue derived from its growing revenues from online streaming, which had hit its straps going in the second half of the last financial year and was continuing to show strong momentum in growth, he said.

Also assisting was a continued reduction in operating costs, which fell 2.4 percent to $293.9 million.

Cost control is a given in our sector now, said Kenrick. Its the combination of the two (stabilising revenue and stable costs) that is giving us growth in earnings.

While TVNZ had continued to grow its share of total advertising spending and the trend back towards a greater share of ad spend going to traditional TV had continued, Kenrick conceded that retail advertising had been softening in recent months in line with declining business sentiment.

Retail is tough at the moment, he said, although the company remained optimistic about ad spend growing in the lead-up to Christmas.

Total advertising revenue was $301 million, compared to $299.1 million the previous year.

Growth in online streaming saw TVNZ On Demand crack 100 million streamed views in the year to July, and a 15.2 percent increase over the year to June 30, compared to the previous year.

Its social media platform, Re, which plays shorter content and aims to attract a younger audience back to TVNZ, had recorded 30 million views during the year, with efforts to monetise the new channel a priority for the year ahead.

The revenue model for Re would concentrate on partnerships and sponsorships rather than traditional advertising, Kenrick said.

(BusinessDesk)

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The New Zealand Refining Company intends to appeal aspects of the consents it has been granted for dredging the mouth of the Whangarei harbour.

Chief executive Sjoerd Post said the company believes a couple of the 138 conditions are unreasonably onerous and wont deliver any environmental benefit.

The consents have imposed a blanket turbidity standard across the whole project, when most of the work is outside the harbour. Independent commissioners have also said dredging should not take place between October and January in order to allow seafloor species to recover.

Post said the turbidity standard makes sense in the inner harbour and near marine reserves but adds nothing outside the harbour where most of the work will be carried out.

The closed period also seems unreasonable, given the firms advice that the time of year makes no difference to recovery of marine life, but could be quite restrictive in terms of the firms ability to contract a specialist vessel and operator for the work.

We are keen to get this right, Post told BusinessDesk. We are very keen to do this without stressing the environment, but on these couple of conditions we think we have been asked a little too much.

The plant at Marsden Point is the countrys only oil refinery and produces about 70 percent of the petrol, diesel and jet fuel used here. It is 43 percent-owned by Z Energy, BP and Mobil, and charges those customers processing fees based on refining margins in Singapore.

The planned dredging  possible any time after 2019  would deepen and straighten the existing shipping channel. It would reduce refining costs and risk by enabling crude deliveries on fewer, but larger, tankers and help keep the operation competitive against newer, larger refineries in Asia.

The company, which trades as Refining NZ, earlier reported a $2.8 million loss for the six months through June 30 after an extended shut of the sites hydrocracker reduced yields and increased the cost of the firms biggest shutdown in 15 years.

Revenue for the period fell to $147.1 million, down 23 percent from the same period a year earlier when the company posted a net profit of $35.2 million. Throughput fell to 17.9 million barrels during the six-month period, 11 percent less than a year earlier.

The company estimates the shut reduced net profit by $43.2 million  compared with the $30 million originally planned. Total capex for the programme was $98 million and the total cost was estimated at $110 million  up from the $85 million originally estimated, but at the bottom end of a range the firm indicated in late June.

While the over-spend was regrettable Post said the site was now performing well. More than 1,700 individual projects had been completed in complex and difficult conditions.

The seven weeks of work included major rebuilds of the refinerys high vacuum unit and its hydrogen manufacturing plant, and involved 600,000 work-hours. The plants usual annual work rate is 1.2 million hours, he noted.

Post said work that was more difficult than expected, or only discovered when equipment was opened up, added about 13 days to the work programme and about $22 million of capex.

The failure of a brand new valve late in the programme had also added about another eight days of work.

Chief financial officer Denise Jensen said the firm had done well to deliver an average gross refining margin in the first-half of US$5.65 a barrel. Without the shut it would have delivered a gross margin of about US$8.25, compared with US$7.70 a year earlier, including an increased uplift over Singapore rates.

She noted that margins since July have been tracking at about US$8 a barrel. The New Zealand dollar is also trading at about 67 US cents, compared to 73 cents for the half-year just reported.

With no shutdowns planned this year or in 2019, and the potential for a record 44 million barrel throughput next year, the board agreed to pay a 3 cent-a-share first-half dividend on Sept. 20. Last year the first-half payout was 6 cents.

The firms shares rose 5 cents to $2.51 on the NZX. They have fallen about 5 percent so far this year.

Refining NZ has had a raft of upgrade projects underway since completing the installation of the $365 million continuous catalytic regeneration unit in late 2015.

It has completed a project to allow customers to bring additional jet fuel supplies into the country during peak travel periods, but is reviewing whether a tank conversion planned as the next phase of that work at Marsden Point is still required.

Next year it will also complete work increasing the capacity of its fuel pipeline to Auckland, and producing sulphur in solid form for fertiliser maker Ballance Agri-Nutrients.

Post said the upgrade of the sites hydrogen unit strengthens the firms position as a major producer. Hydrogen is likely to play an increasing role in low-carbon transport through things like biofuels, long-distance trucking and aviation, and the company can already make more than it needs.

Post said the company has also looked conceptually at whether it could use solar at Marsden Point to also make electricity and hydrogen and help reduce the carbon footprint of its operations.

He said the company has a future in the transition to a low-carbon economy and beyond, and its options around hydrogen and biofuels are part of that.

We have the technology to at least kick-start that as a possible future.

(BusinessDesk)

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Shares of trans-Tasman rivals Air New Zealand and Qantas Airways fell after the national carriers both warned the rising cost of fuel will weigh on upcoming earnings, despite their respective success in the latest period.

Auckland-based Air NZ said pre-tax earnings were $540 million in the year to June 30 versus $527 million in the prior year. The company had expected to improve on 2017 earnings based on an average jet fuel price of US$60 per barrel. The price, however, increased 25 percent to US$75 per barrel. Fuel costs contributed around $160 million to costs, although operating efficiencies of $104 million helped offset the impact. Net profit rose 2.1 percent to $390 million while operating revenue rose 7.4 percent to $5.5 billion.

"This is an impressive financial result, driven by strong revenue growth across the airlines key markets, as well as continued focus on sustainable cost improvement, despite significantly higher fuel prices," said chair Tony Carter in a statement.

Looking ahead, however, fuel will continue to bite. Air New Zealand said 2019 underlying earnings before tax are expected to be in the range of $425 million to $525 million, based on current market conditions and assuming a higher average jet fuel price of US$85 per barrel.

This excludes an estimated $30 million to $40 million impact on profit from schedule changes prompted by the global Rolls-Royce engine issues, it said. The impact is largely due to lost revenue as it adjusts its schedules, including reducing flight frequency on some routes.

Air New Zealand's shares shed 2.9 percent to $3.31 "on the 2019 guidance and warning of fuel costs," said Grant Williamson, director at Hamilton Hindin Greene in Christchurch.

Across the Tasman, competitor Qantas shares fell 0.9 percent to A$6.66 on the ASX. The Sydney-based company reported record underlying earnings of A$1.6 billion in the year to June 30 but warned that fuel prices would be a challenge in the current financial year.

"Our fuel bill was up by almost A$200 million in FY18 and we're expecting it to be up another A$690 million in FY19," said chief executive Alan Joyce in a statement.

Despite the more expensive input costs, both airlines' chief executives remain relatively upbeat about consumer demand. Meanwhile travel management firm Flight Centre today said it still sees the travel market growing and expects to top the record earnings of A$384.7 million.

Qantas's Joyce said he expects to "substantially recover" the higher fuel cost given the strength of forward bookings.

Air NZ head Christopher Luxon said meeting earnings guidance will depend on demand, which remains strong. "The bottom line is that we are seeing really good underlying demand dynamics in the business."

Luxon also poured cold water on reports of softening New Zealand business confidence. "I appreciate there is a lot of commentary in the market around business confidence. We see it often early and fast - we are not seeing it," he said.

Air New Zealand is leasing three widebody aircraft and adjusting schedules to free up two other planes after a backlog of engine maintenance has slowed the return of some of its engines.

Some of the airline's Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner fleet faced operating restrictions and disruption to schedules after engine maker Rolls Royce and regulator the European Aviation Safety Agency directed operators to checks Trent 1000 engines every 300 cycles rather than the typical 2,000 threshold due to concerns about the blades.

"We recognise that we need to deliver greater schedule certainty for our customers going forward," Luxon said.

Air New Zealand will pay a final dividend of 11 cents per share, taking the total dividend for the year to 22 cents, up 4.8 percent on the year. The dividend will be paid Sept. 19 to shareholders on record as at Sept. 7. Staff who do not participate in a short-term incentive programme will receive an $1,800 bonus.

Qantas will pay a fully-franked final dividend of 10 Australian cents per share, taking the annual return to 17 cents. The airline is also buying back up to A$332 million of stock.

(BusinessDesk)

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TeamTalk shares fell 2.2 percent after the company said it will reinvest earnings growth into network upgrades during the next two years.

The Wellington-based telecommunications provider had considered resuming dividend payments after the sale of its rural internet services provider Farmside to Vodafone New Zealand last year generated enough cash to repay debt and shore up the balance sheet. That plan's been put on hold while TeamTalk rolls out a new digital radio network across the country and upgrades its fixed-line network in the Auckland and Wellington CBDs.

TeamTalk said the digital radio network supports its existing business and opens new revenue streams in conventional radio, while the wired network upgrade will let it offer new services to broadband customers. As at June 30, it had capital commitments totalling $3.5 million to deliver services to its customers and build the radio network.

"The board believes firmly that the investment we are making in our infrastructure over the next two years will deliver significant returns to our shareholders," chair Roger Sowry said in a statement. "As such the board believes that substantial reinvestment of our profits into the business at this time will be of considerable benefit to shareholders rather than a resumption of dividends this financial year."

The shares fell 2 cents to 90 cents, trimming their 14 percent gain this year.

TeamTalk's capital spending more than doubled to $6.8 million in the year ended June 30. It signed up to a $27 million, three-year lending facility with Bank of New Zealand in June, replacing an earlier facility with Westpac New Zealand. That funding line gives TeamTalk headroom to invest in the upgrades.

Net profit fell to $4.4 million, or 15.6 cents per share, in the June year, from $5.1 million a year earlier when it reaped a bigger gain on the sale of Farmside. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation increased 4.7 percent to $12.1 million on largely flat revenue of $34.2 million.

Chief executive Andrew Miller said health and safety legislative changes and the Christchurch and Kaikoura earthquakes meant "many organisations are now considering diversity across their communications portfolio and mobile radio is critical in providing this service".

(BusinessDesk)

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Port of Tauranga, New Zealand's biggest port company, posted a 13 percent rise in annual profit, driven by record cargo volumes, and plans to further expand capacity.

The port company - which handles 40 percent of all containers in New Zealand - said net profit rose to a record $94.3 million in the year to June 30 from $83.4 million a year earlier as container volumes lifted 8.9 percent to nearly 1.2 million twenty-foot equivalent units or TEUs and overall cargo was up 10.2 percent to almost 24.5 million tonnes.

"Our expansion programme to accommodate larger vessels, coupled with New Zealands buoyant economy, has resulted in the 10.2 percent increase in cargo volumes. Revenue increased 10.9 percent to $283.7 million," chief executive Mark Cairns said in the annual report.

The stock gained 2.9 percent to $4.90, having slipped 3.6 percent so far this year ahead of today's result.

Bryon Burke, head of equities at Craigs Investment Partners. said the result was "pretty much bang on forecasts" and therefore is unlikely to spur a huge move in the shares. Given the stock has been under some pressure lately, however, it could see a bit of a rally to the upside but "overall, we'd expect them to trade in line," he said, adding that like most companies that have been reporting "it's ticking along nicely."

David Price, a broker at Forsyth Barr, said, however, the result was ahead of Forsyth Barr's expectations and was likely to be well-received by the market.

The company said today it has begun planning for the next stage of capacity expansion as part of its aim to be able to handle up to 3 million TEUs. It has about 40 hectares of undeveloped, port-zoned land available for future expansion. There are options to extend the quay length on both sides of the harbour, using port-owned land south of the existing berths, it said.

Volumes rose across all major cargo categories, with export logs up 14.3 percent in volume and dairy products up 4 percent. On the import side, cement imports increased 18.9 percent while steel imports were up 25 percent. Oil product imports rose 9.3 percent. Imports of cars and other vehicles doubled from the prior year.

Port of Tauranga is reaping the benefits of a $350 million investment over six years to prepare for larger vessels, which began calling in late 2016. The investment included dredging to widen and deepen shipping lanes, extending the container ship wharves by a third, and purchasing new ship-to-shore cranes and other equipment.

This growth is a direct result of Port of Taurangas six-year investment in building capacity to accommodate larger vessels, said chair David Pilkington.

Profit included a $16.4 million contribution from Port of Tauranga's subsidiaries and associate companies, up 11.9 percent on the year.

The investments reflect the company's reach across the country including 50 percent of Northport, 50 percent of Prime Port Timaru, 50.1 percent of Timaru Container Terminal, 50 percent of logistics group Coda and long-term agreements with strategic partners such as Kotahi Logistics, owned by Fonterra Cooperative Group and Silver Fern Farms. About 17 percent of its income comes from those subsidiaries and associate companies.

The port company will pay a final ordinary dividend of 7 cents per share, taking total ordinary dividends to 12.7 cents per share, a 13.4 percent increase on the previous year. The record date is Sept. 21 and the payment date is Oct. 5. It will also pay a further special dividend of 5 cents a share as part of an ongoing plan to return $140 million to shareholders. It is now in the third year of a four-year capital restructure plan.

Port of Tauranga, which is 54 percent owned by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, paid nearly $62.3 million in dividends to the Bay of Plenty Regional Council's Quayside Holdings.

Looking ahead, the company expects cargo growth to continue in the next year across most categories, particularly containerised cargo, it said.

"We will invest appropriately in the infrastructure required to manage these volumes and remain confident that our current footprint allows for significant expansion without the need for expensive reclamation," said Cairns.

Port of Tauranga hosted 83 cruise ship visits in the 2017/18 summer season. It expects this to lifted to an estimated 113 calls this summer, including seven visits by the giant Ovation of the Seas carrying up to 4,900 passengers each time.

(BusinessDesk)

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South Port New Zealand, which operates the country's southern-most port, lifted full-year profit 14 percent as cargo flows - in particular wood products - continued to push higher.

Net profit rose to a better than forecast $9.66 million, or 36.8 cents per share, in the year to June 30 from $8.45 million, or 32.2 cents, a year earlier, the Bluff-based company said in a statement. The result was ahead of the $8.7 million to $8.9 million the company had forecast. Total operating revenue rose 10.9 percent to $41 million.

Total cargo flow through Bluff was a record 3.445 million tonnes versus 3.053 million tonnes due to strong growth in bulk cargoes, which represented 85 percent of all volumes handled across its wharves.

"Bulk forestry cargo (logs and woodchips) for the first time in the ports history, have eclipsed the one million tonne mark and is now the largest contributor to the ports volume and profit," said chief executive Nigel Gear.

Favourable market conditions in both China and India have supported the increase in log trade and the export of eucalyptus woodchip into Japan has remained buoyant."

Stock food imports lifted 80 percent compared to the prior year due to a particularly dry summer and poor pasture growth. Specialised products are typically shipped in containers with bulk coming in the form of molasses and palm kernel.

South Port also benefited in March after the Mediterranean Shipping Company, which calls at South Port on a weekly basis with their Capricorn Container Service, enhanced their South-East Asia  Oceania network by splitting their service into two separate loops, one to cover the South Island and the other the North Island.

This greatly improves the service out of Bluff with increased capacity to load/discharge more cargo and provide faster transit times to markets worldwide. These changes have already delivered an increase in containerised cargoes handled through the Port," said Gear.

South Port chair Rex Chapman noted concerns over an escalating tariff war between major economies but said trade forecasts for South Port remain steady. Forestry exporters are still predicting healthy export markets in China, India and Japan. Cargo volumes and revenues are expected to be stable, he said.

The board declared a final dividend of 18.5 cents per share, payable on Nov. 6 with an Oct. 26 record date. That takes the annual return to 26 cents, unchanged from a year earlier.

Looking ahead, the company said earnings in the current financial year are likely to be approximately 10 percent lower and "increased expenditure this year will continue to be a factor that will have a bearing on profitability, however, the directors will endeavour to maintain the current level of dividend payment."

The shares, of which the Southland Regional Council owns two-thirds, last traded at $6.65. Thay have gained 14 percent over the past 12 months.

(BusinessDesk)

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New Zealand shares dropped as investors picked a weaker outlook for Air New Zealand and Ebos. Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corp and Auckland International Airport gained on expectations for continuing strong earnings growth.

The S&P/NZX 50 Index fell 22.47 points, or 0.2 percent, to 9,139.87. Within the index, 26 stocks fell, 20 rose and four were unchanged. Turnover was $115.4 million.

Leading the index lower was Air New Zealand, down 4.3 percent to $3.265. It lifted full-year pre-tax earnings 2.5 percent to $540 million despite significantly higher fuel prices, but the airline is slightly more downbeat about the current financial year as those costs continue to push higher.

The company had expected to improve on 2017's $527 million earnings based on an average jet fuel price of US$60 per barrel. The price, however, increased 25 percent to US$75 per barrel.

"After having been very strong for the last few days, and perhaps surprisingly strong given the known fuel cost and currency headwinds they'll face going into next year, it's a bit of reality," said Matt Goodson, managing director at Salt Funds Management. "The factors are no surprise. The business is still performing well in terms of the controllables, but the reality of those two things came home."

The dual-listed banks dropped as the Australian benchmark index weakened amidst political turmoil in Canberra.Westpac Banking Corp was down 2.8 percent to $31.08 and Australia and New Zealand Banking Group fell 2.4 percent to $31.25. The ASX200 was down 0.2 percent at 5:20pm New Zealand time.

Comvita fell 2.1 percent to $5.62 and Spark New Zealand dropped 1.9 percent to $3.875.

Ebos dipped 0.05 percent to $20.99. It boosted annual earnings in line with its forecast even though revenue fell, as the pharmaceutical and animal health products company increased margins and benefited from acquisitions. Underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation on a constant currency basis increased 10.3 percent to $272.4 million in the year ended June 30, in line with its forecast for 10 percent growth.

"It was bang in line with expectations, but the multiple is quite extended relative to peers for a company with relatively skinny ebit margins," Goodson said. "Their outlook comments were for further growth, but perhaps didn't quite meet the market's expectations, and they had had a very strong run going into the result."

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corp was the best performer, up 3 percent to $15.69. It raised its full-year earnings forecast by about $5 million on the back of strong sales growth and the weaker New Zealand dollar.

"When you dig into it it appears almost entirely due to currency. There was an initial reaction from the algo machines which took it as high as $16 for a nanosecond," Goodson said. "It was very much expected and the market, at least locally, will continue to focus on core business where growth has been slowing a touch. The market is keenly awaiting the launch of a new sleep apnoea mask."

Pushpay Holdings rose 2.4 percent to $3.85, continuing yesterday's gains. Trade Me Group rose 2 percent to $5.10.

New Zealand Refining Group gained 2 percent to $2.51. It reported a $2.8 million loss for the six months through June 30 after an extended shut of the sites hydrocracker reduced yields and increased the cost of the firms biggest shutdown in 15 years.

With no shutdowns planned this year or in 2019, and the potential for a record 44 million barrel throughput next year, the board agreed to pay a 3 cent-a-share first-half dividend on Sept. 20. Last year the first-half payout was 6 cents. Goodson said the market hadn't expected a dividend from the company and its outlook was also quite buoyant.

Auckland International Airport edged up 0.2 percent to $6.935. It lifted underlying profit 6.2 percent to $263.1 million in 2018 and expects further uplift in 2019 as it spends more on redevelopment.

The airport is anticipating moderate underlying profit growth in 2019, between $265 million and $275 million, and expects between $450 million and $550 million of capital expenditure in the year ahead, as part of its $2 billion aeronautical infrastructure development programme.

"It was a good solid result, largely as expected, as was their guidance for next year," Goodson said. "The next key thing will be any regulatory outcomes around the return on capital they've proposed, which is above the regulator's midpoint. The result particularly featured a very strong performance from their retail expansion and their industrial property investments."

Outside the benchmark index, NZME sank 14.5 percent to 71 cents. It will pay a smaller interim dividend than analysts expected as first-half earnings almost halved to $5.5 million on declining print revenue. Weak business confidence also dented radio agency advertising.

"It does carry a reasonable historic debt load. In terms of earnings multiples, it looks cheap; in terms of audience metrics it's doing well, radio was perhaps a little disappointing versus expectations. In a declining market, it's perhaps a little surprising their choices between dividend and debt repayment," Goodson said.

(BusinessDesk)

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Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that if need be, he will hold discussions with the Prime Minister in receiving the 100 million dollars (Rs. 700 crores) relief aid from UAE.

India's refusal to accept foreign aid for relief work in flood-battered Kerala has touched a raw nerve, with the state government pressing the Centre to review the decision.

CM Pinarayi Vijayan will conduct today an in-person review of the functioning of relief camps. CM will visit the camps in Chengannur, Kozhencherry, Alappuzha, North Paravoor and Chalakudy. #KeralaFloodRelief  CMO Kerala (@CMOKerala) August 23, 2018

Speaking to reporters, the state Chief Minister said, "Donations from other countries are acceptable. Will approach the Prime Minister if required."

He further said that the Disaster Management policy announced in 2016 makes it clear that if any national government of another country voluntarily offers assistance as a goodwill gesture in solidarity with the disaster victims, the Central government may accept the offer.

The Congress earlier in the day termed as disappointing reports that the centre was unlikely to accept any foreign financial aid for flood relief work and requested the Prime Minister to take action to amend the rules.

Instead of welcoming UAE's offer to give Rs 700 crore to Kerala, KJ Alphons is putting bureaucratic obstacles by saying "it is subject to Centre's approval". This is blatant cussedness. Is Centre embarrassed that a foreign govt has offered a bigger package than it?  Aditya Menon (@AdityaMenon22) August 21, 2018

Why not ? UAE has to cut the cheque without conditions to the Central Treasury. Because the rains damaged Kerala and Karnataka. Its not for UAE to shed tears ONLY for Kerala. Its the prerogative of the Centre. And Centre will prorate the money and give it to Kerala & Karnataka  Rag (@ragways) August 21, 2018

Kerala CM to visit relief camps

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday will conduct an in-person review of the functioning of relief camps in Chengannur, Kozhencherry, Alappuzha, North Paravoor and Chalakudy.

Nearly one million people are sheltering in number of relief camps, set up by the administration across the state. The southern state is reeling under the massive devastation caused by flash floods from the onset of monsoon. In order to help Kerala limp back to normalcy, Centre and several states have announced aid from their relief funds.

As many as 357 people have lost their lives so far, with the state facing a loss of Rs 19,512 crore. Rescue and relief operations in the state has been stepped up to evacuate the stranded people from the flood-affected areas.Germany halts deportation of Uighurs to China over rights



Berlin, Aug 23 (AFP) Aug 23, 2018



Germany said Thursday it would refrain from deporting members of China's mostly Muslim Uighur minority over human rights concerns, after admitting a Uighur man was sent back by mistake in April.

In a case that made waves earlier this month, German authorities acknowledged that the 22-year-old asylum seeker, who was not named, was deported to China by the German state of Bavaria due to an administrative error.

The Uighur's lawyer Leo Borgmann has said he has had "no sign of life" from his client since the expulsion and fears that he has been "detained" by Chinese authorities.

After an outcry by human rights groups and opposition politicians, the interior ministry said in a written response to a query by Greens MP Margarete Bause, that the practice had been halted.

"Until further notice, we will desist from repatriating Uigurs and their families," the ministry said.

It cited "recent" guidance by Germany's Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) and the foreign ministry on the situation in China in its decision not to send Uighurs back.

"The highly critical situation in terms of human rights, which are stressed in the BAMF report, has been known to German authorities for months," Bause told AFP, citing a "danger to life and limb" for Uighurs in China.

"The fact that the Uighur was expelled by the Bavarian authorities in the dead of night is scandalous."

Bause called on the German government to do "everything in its power" to secure the return of the deported man from China.

Many of the Uighur minority say they face cultural and religious repression in China.

Members of the Uighur diaspora say relatives have been arrested for seemingly innocuous acts such as sending Ramadan greetings to friends or downloading popular music.

Chinese authorities are also believed to have detained hundreds of thousands of Muslims in a secretive network of extra-judicial political re-education centres, where inmates are given language and ideological training and forced to participate in military-style drills.

The German foreign ministry recently updated its travel advisory for China's far-west Xinjiang region.

"In Xinjiang there have for months been rising numbers of arrests and passports revoked," it said.

"Those affected are, in particular, people of Uighur origin."

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.Page Content

Two new projects for a total of US$ 47.5 million in grants from the Sint Maarten Recovery, Reconstruction and Resilience Trust Fund financed by the Government of the Netherlands have been launched. The first project provides training and stipends to unemployed and underemployed residents in the wake of hurricane Irma and the second will help bring the Sint Maarten Medical Center, including a new hospital building, to standards that can withstand extreme weather events.





These two grants are a testament to our commitment to build back better, says Sint Maarten Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin. With the new funds, we plan to invest in the people of Sint Maarten; their job skills, livelihoods and health care. Strengthening our human capital is a key part of the successful recovery of our country.





The Emergency Income Support and Training project (US$ 22.5 million) will provide income support to under-employed and unemployed persons, who are not currently working in the wake of hurricane Irma and declining tourism revenues. Approximately 1,800 people will receive skills-training in exchange for a stipend over the next 18 months. The project builds on a successful first phase which provided 700 under-employed citizens, more than half of these women, with training and a stipend. In addition, the project will develop a Social Registry which will allow the authorities of Sint Maartens to improve the efficiency of the countrys social protection system and to identify the most vulnerable populations when providing assistance in post-disaster situations.





The beauty of this project is that it builds on a successful initiative by Sint Maartens private sector. Businesses in the tourism sector have led the response to mitigate the impact of the sudden rise in unemployment, says Frank Weekers, Steering Committee Representative for the Netherlands.





The Sint Maarten Hospital Resiliency and Preparedness project (US$25 million) will contribute to the critical rehabilitation of the existing hospital and construction of a new and larger facility, more resilient to climate shocks. The project will contribute to a rise in the new hospitals bed capacity from 66 to 110, improvements in the scope and quality of health services (new operating theaters and larger areas for ambulatory care), a reduction in costly overseas medical referrals, and will strengthen preparedness and delivery of medical services in case of future emergencies and extreme weather events. This project will be implemented by the Sint Maarten Medical Center Foundation.





The objective is to provide the people of Sint Maarten with access to a broader range of healthcare services on the island in a safer and more resilient facility, better prepared to deliver health services in case of another disaster, reaffirms Michelle Keane, World Bank Program Manager of the Sint Maarten Recovery, Reconstruction and Resilience Fund.

About the funding:

The World Bank manages the US$ 580 million (Euro 470 million) Recovery, Recovery and Resilience Trust Fund, established in April 2018 and financed by the Government of The Netherlands, to help Sint Maarten build back better and increase resilience following the devastation caused by hurricane Irma. The World Bank estimates damages and losses related to the hurricane at US$ 1.38 billion and US$ 1.35 billion (both about 129 percent of GDP), respectively.





Contacts: In Washington: Christelle Chapoy, (202) 361 4255, cchapoy@worldbank.org

In Sint Maarten, Giselle York, (721) 520-4560, Giselle.York@sintmaartengov.org



Page Content

The St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) has signed an agreement to receive a USD 25 million grant from the St. Maarten Recovery, Reconstruction and Resilience Trust Fund that is funded by The Netherlands and managed by the World Bank.





The grant will serve to improve services of the current hospital, while the new hospital is being built, and to upgrade the design of the new hospital to withstand category 5+ hurricanes. This with the overall objective to improve the preparedness and capacity of hospital services in St. Maarten.





SMMC General Director Kees Klarenbeek is elated with the grant and is very grateful to the Government of the Netherlands, the World Bank and the Government of St. Maarten for the allocation of the funding. Klarenbeek is convinced that the new hospital will greatly reduce the discomfort of patients having to travel abroad because of non-availability of certain medical services on-island. By now investing in certain critical upgrades to the existing facility and the Care Complex - the latter will remain to exist after completion of the new hospital building - we can continue to introduce new medical specialties. This will significantly reduce the number of patients that are currently sent abroad and is in line with all health stakeholders mission of providing quality care, close to home, Klarenbeek stated.





Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA), the honorable Emil Lee, stated: I am happy with the obvious benefits of strengthening the new hospital, reinforcement of the current SMMC and the support to achieve the Joint Commission Internationals (JCI) [1] health care standards and accreditation. But there are additional benefits, the validation that our procurement procedures for the construction of the new hospital meet rigorous international standards, which brings status and confidence to the entire project.





In addition to the funds, the grant also comes with the supervision and technical expertise of the World Bank which are both valued and appreciated, Lee continued.





This is another tremendous step forward towards our anticipated start of the construction of the new general hospital later this year. Thanks to the members of the health Tripartite (SZV, SMMC and VSA), Government of St. Maarten, the World Bank team and support from the Netherlands for all of their efforts to secure this grant, Lee concluded.





The structure of the existing hospital was damaged and weakened by Hurricane Irma. As a result, priority has been given to essential upgrades to the current hospital which will ensure continuity of services and improve the hospitals preparedness and capacity for future extreme weather conditions, particularly during the period that the new hospital is being built.





While the new hospital will provide a state of the art medical complex, final delivery of the new hospital will take place several years from now. With the upgrades to the existing facility taking place over the next year, patients will not have to wait until the new facility is completed, and can benefit from an expanded scope of services. These investments to the current building compared to the reduction in the costs of overseas medical referrals are absolutely worth the effort. A start has already been made on the reinforcement of existing hospitals roof in order to increase its resiliency to future storms.





Both Minister Emil Lee and Kees Klarenbeek thank the teams of the World Bank, the Interim Recovery Committee, the Ministry of VSA and SMMC for their tremendous commitment leading to this important agreement for St. Maarten.



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AgreeSystem error

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You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.You should upgrade or use an alternative browserUS mobile network limits access to firefighters battling blaze



Los Angeles, Aug 22 (AFP) Aug 22, 2018



A US mobile network has come under criticism after severely limiting service to firefighters battling the biggest wildfire in California's history.

Santa Clara County Fire Department Chief Tony Bowden said Verizon Wireless had hindered the work of firefighters trying to put out the Mendocino Complex Fire by throttling data during the crisis.

The throttling meant data connection was reduced to 1/200 -- 0.50 percent -- of normal speed or less.

"This throttling has had a significant impact on our ability to provide emergency services," Bowden said in a statement that is part of a lawsuit filed this week in a bid to reinstate federal net neutrality rules.

"Verizon imposed these limitations despite being informed that throttling was actively impeding County Fire's ability to provide crisis-response and essential emergency services," he added.

Bowden said that when the fire department reached out to Verizon to inform the company of the throttling, a representative said the department had exceeded its data usage limit and suggested it subscribe to a new, more expensive plan.

The fire chief said the incident with Verizon highlighted the importance of ensuring emergency responders have access to quick data that could prove lifesaving.

"In large and complex fires, resource allocation requires immediate information," he wrote.

"Dated or stale information regarding the availability or need for resources can slow response times and render them far less effective. Resources could be deployed to the wrong fire, the wrong part of a fire, or fail to be deployed at all.

"Even small delays in response translate into devastating effects, including loss of property, and, in some cases, loss of life."

In a statement, Verizon on Wednesday admitted that it had made a mistake and that it normally lifts limits on data usage in emergencies. It added that the incident had nothing to do with net neutrality.

"Regardless of the plan emergency responders choose, we have a practice to remove data speed restrictions when contacted in emergency situations," it said. "In this situation, we should have lifted the speed restriction when our customer reached out to us.

"This was a customer support mistake. We are reviewing the situation and will fix any issues going forward," the statement added.

Bowden's declaration was submitted in an addendum to a lawsuit filed by 22 states and the District of Columbia to challenge the Federal Communications Commission's decision to do away with net neutrality rules that requires internet providers to treat all traffic equally.

The Mendocino fire which began on July 27 has consumed nearly 407,000 acres and as of Wednesday was 74 percent contained.Sony to release AI-infused robotic pups in the US



San Francisco, Aug 23 (AFP) Aug 23, 2018



Sony on Thursday announced that its Aibo robotic dogs infused with artificial intelligence will be unleashed on the US market by the year-end holiday season, with a price tag of $2,899.

The sixth-generation mechanical pup combines robotics with image sensors and artificial intelligence, enabling it to learn behaviors and recognize faces, according to the Japanese consumer electronics giant.

Aibo robot personalities develop based on interactions with people, giving each a unique character depending on its human companions, Sony said.

"This is truly a one-of-a-kind product designed to connect with its owners on an emotional level," Sony Electronics North America president Mike Fasulo said in a release.

Similar to real-life dogs, Aibo can learn tricks and will seek out owners, reacting to words of praise or scratches on the head, according to Sony. Aibo will also play with toys, which Sony will sell you.

Unlike real-life dogs, Aibo has an application owners can use to adjust system settings or add new tricks, and can connect to the internet cloud to store memories.

Aibo owners will also be able to check on internet-linked canine companions while away from home, glimpsing life through their robotic eyes, according to Sony.

Sony will begin taking US orders for "First Litter Edition" Aibo next month, with deliveries promised by the holiday season.

Aibo became available in Japan early this year, more than a decade after it culled earlier models from its product line.LOS ANGELES, Aug. 22, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- City National Bank, Americas Premier Private and Business BankSM, today announced that colleagues of the bank collected 1,800 backpacks filled with school supplies as part of its 9th Annual Back-to-School Drive held this month. The bank is donating these backpacks filled with supplies to 60 elementary and middle schools, and nonprofit organizations in California, Nevada, New York, Georgia, Tennessee, Minnesota, Washington State, and Washington, D.C.



City Nationals Back-to-School Supplies Drive began in 2008 just one year after it launched its Dollars & Sense Financial Literacy program in 2007. The banks Reading is The way up literacy program, which also provides support for the Back-to-School Supplies Drive, began in 2002 when City National wanted to help put more books into school libraries in California. The program expanded to schools in other states as City Nationals footprint began to expand, which now includes eight states.

The Back-to-School Supplies Drive is one of our colleagues' most favorite community outreach programs each year as we continue to help more students and schools throughout our growing footprint, said Jennifer Nickerson, vice president and community relations manager for City National. The backpacks and school supplies we donate annually actually comes from our colleagues and their generous donations. Our colleagues genuinely want to give back to the communities we serve much like the bank does, so together we can help students and families on the way up.

The school supplies that are part of each backpack include erasers, highlighters, round-tip scissors, packs of wide ruled paper, colored pencils, folders, notebooks, pencil sharpeners, rulers, boxes of crayons, glue sticks, #2 pencils, three-ring binders, and more. In addition to these supplies, bank colleagues donated countless hours of time packaging and delivering the backpacks to the various schools receiving them.

Following is a list of the schools and nonprofit organizations that are receiving backpacks filled with school supplies.

California

John Marshall Elementary, Anaheim

United Way of Ventura County, Camarillo

Meadow Homes Elementary, Concord

Winnetka Elementary, Canoga Park

Share Our Selves, Costa Mesa

Project Access  Harbor Village, Harbor Village

Felton Elementary, Inglewood

San Jacinto Elementary, Inland Empire

Allesandro Elementary, Los Angeles

Assistance League of Los Angeles, Los Angeles

Atwater Elementary, Los Angeles

Azusa Lighthouse Mission, Los Angeles

Carthay School of Environmental Studies Magnet, Los Angeles

Drew Childhood Development Corporation, Los Angeles

Educating Young Minds, Los Angeles

Good Shepherd Shelter, Los Angeles

LIFT LA, Los Angeles

Logan Street Elementary School, Los Angeles

Magnolia Avenue School, Los Angeles

Metro Charter Elementary, Los Angeles

Para Los Ninos, Los Angeles

Project Access  Vista Angelina, Los Angeles

Rivera Elementary School, Los Angeles

Rowan Elementary, Los Angeles

Solano Avenue Elementary, Los Angeles

Southside Coalition, Los Angeles

Stevenson Middle School, Los Angeles

Sunrise Elementary, Los Angeles

Urban Compass, Los Angeles

10 th Street Elementary, Los Angeles

Street Elementary, Assistance League of Long Beach, Long Beach

Claremont Middle School, Oakland

East Bay Asian Youth Center, Oakland

Project Access  Pacific Point, Oxnard

Padres  Unidos, Santa Ana

Franklin Elementary, Santa Barbara

Juarez Elementary School, San Diego

Monarch Elementary, San Diego

Cesar Chavez Elementary, San Francisco

Sanchez Elementary, San Francisco

The Family Giving Tree, San Jose

Roscoe Elementary, Sun Valley

Conejo Elementary School, Thousand Oaks

Academia Moderna Charter School, Walnut Park

Nevada

John C. Fremont Elementary, Carson City

C.C. Meneley Elementary, Gardnerville

Helen Jydstrup Elementary, Las Vegas

Lincoln Elementary School, North Las Vegas

Hidden Valley Elementary, Reno

New York

Hyde Leadership Charter School, Bronx

PS 134 School  Henrietta Szold, New York

Child Center of New York, New York

Georgia

Dunbar Elementary, Atlanta

Dunwoody Springs Elementary School, Atlanta

International Community School, Decatur

Tennessee

Carter Lawrence Elementary, Nashville

Minnesota

Bancroft Elementary School, Minneapolis

Washington State

Pioneer Elementary School, Seattle

Washington, D.C.

Powell Elementary School, Washington, D.C.

Amidon-Bowen Elementary, Washington, D.C.

About City National

With $48.9 billion in assets, City National Bank provides banking, investment and trust services through 72 offices, including 19 full-service regional centers, in Southern California, the San Francisco Bay Area, Nevada, New York City, Nashville, Atlanta, Minneapolis and Washington, D.C. In addition, the company and its investment affiliates manage or administer $67.3 billion in client investment assets.

City National is a subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), one of North Americas leading diversified financial services companies. RBC serves more than 16 million personal, business, public sector and institutional clients through offices in Canada, the United States and 34 other countries.

For more information about City National, visit the companys website at cnb.com .

For images related to this story, go to

https://www.cnb.com/PublishingImages/School-Supplies-Drive-1.jpg

https://www.cnb.com/PublishingImages/School-Supplies-Drive-2.jpg

https://www.cnb.com/PublishingImages/School-Supplies-Drive-3.jpg

https://www.cnb.com/PublishingImages/School-Supplies-Drive-4.jpg

Caption : City National Bank colleagues, along with members of their families, helped pack and sort over 1,800 backpacks filled with school supplies that are being delivered to at-risk students at nearly 50 schools and nonprofit groups in eight states.

Media Contact:

Paul C. Stowell, City National Bank, 213.673.7602

paul.stowell@cnb.comIS chief Baghdadi urges 'jihad' in purported new recording



Beirut, Aug 22 (AFP) Aug 22, 2018



The leader of the Islamic State jihadist group Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi called on Muslims to wage "jihad" in a purported new audio recording released on Wednesday.

He also called for attacks in the West in the Telegram message on Eid al-Adha, which comes as IS has lost most of its territory in Iraq and Syria.

It is the first purported recording of the IS leader to be released since September last year.

"Those who forget their religion, patience, jihad against their enemies, and their certainty in the creator's promise lose and are disgraced," the leader said.

"But when they hold on to it, they are mighty and victorious, even if after a certain time."

IS overran large swathes of Syria and neighbouring Iraq in 2014, proclaiming a "caliphate" in areas they controlled.

But they have since lost most of that to various offensives in both countries.

The "caliphate will remain, God willing", Baghdadi however said in Wednesday's recording, addressing followers in the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

It was not clear when the message was recorded, but Baghdadi appeared to criticise a $100-million pledge by Saudi Arabia last week to help rebuild Syria's northeast.

He threatened the United States and Russia, who have both backed offensives against IS, saying that the jihadists had prepared "horrors" for them.

Speaking of war-torn Syria, he criticised rebel fighters for agreeing to surrender deals with the Damascus regime, and called on opposition fighters to join his jihadist group.

The IS chief made his only known public appearance in Iraq's second city of Mosul in July 2014.



-$25 million reward -



Baghdadi has been pronounced dead on several occasions, but an Iraqi intelligence official said in May that he remains alive in Syrian territory by the Iraqi border.

Baghdadi was said to move around with only a small group of followers.

Originally from Iraq, Baghdadi has been dubbed the "most wanted man on the planet" and the United States is offering a $25 million reward for his capture.

The Iraqi official said the noose was closing around the jihadist leader after Iraqi forces captured five top IS commanders in an unprecedented raid in Syria on March 24.

In July, Iraqi intelligence services said Baghdad's son Hudhayfah al-Badri had been killed in Syria by three Russian missile targeting a cave where he was hiding.

In September 2017, in a voice message attributed to Baghdadi, the IS leader called on his fighters in Syria and Iraq to "resist" their enemies.

Today, after a vast military campaign by Iraqi forces backed by a US-led coalition, the jihadist group only has sleeping cells in Iraq.

In Syria, IS has faced two separate offensives by Russia-backed regime forces and another by a Kurdish-Arab alliance supported by the US-led coalition.

They hold a few pockets in the far east of the country near the Iraqi border, and retain a presence in the vast desert stretching from the capital to the frontier.

IS has claimed a string of deadly attacks in the West in recent years.

Baghdadi claimed responsibility for a July attack in Canada in which a gunman killed two people.

The jihadist group had already said they were behind the shooting, but Canadian police said there was nothing to substantiate it.

Baghdadi called on followers to carry out more attacks in the West.

In Syria, the group killed around 250 people in attacks in the southern province of Sweida last month and still holds dozens of hostages, mostly women and children.'Too girlish': Austria rejects another 'gay' asylum claim



Vienna, Aug 23 (AFP) Aug 23, 2018



Austria has rejected the asylum claim of an Iraqi who claimed he could not return home because he is gay, saying he acted too "girlish" in his assessment interview, reports said Thursday.

The case follows that of an Afghan asylum-seeker whose claim to be gay was rejected because he did not "act or dress" like a homosexual.

Rights group Amnesty International said earlier this week that it saw a "structural problem" in how Austria assessed asylum claims. An Interior Ministry spokesman rejected this on Thursday.

In the most recent case to be made public, authorities in Styria state found that the Iraqi could not be believed because the 27-year-old displayed a "stereotypical, in any case excessive 'girlish' behaviour (expressions, gestures)", which seemed fake, the Kurier daily reported.

The man, reportedly an active member of Austria's gay community, can appeal the decision.

Austrian LGBT rights groups working with the man could not immediately be reached.

Amnesty has slammed Austria's assessment of asylum claims as "dubious", adding people in the central European country, which currently holds the EU's rotating presidency, should be able to count on "professional and fair procedures".

"The inhuman language in asylum claims does not conform with the requirements of a fair, rule-of-law procedure," it said in a statement Tuesday.

Interior Ministry spokesman Christoph Poelzl rejected the accusations, saying that all officials who assess asylum claims receive training.

An official in Lower Austria state, who rejected an 18-year-old Afghan's claims that he was gay, is now no longer involved in assessing asylum applications, Poelzl added.

"The way you walk, act or dress does not show even in the slightest that you could be homosexual," the official had written in his assessment, according to the Falter weekly newspaper.

The publication listed similar cases, including that of an Afghan whose rejection said that "it would be questionable that the Taliban would have been interested in a stuttering, well-fed boy who had not given the impression of being able to become a good fighter".Six killed in jihadist attack north of Baghdad: police



Samarra, Iraq, Aug 23 (AFP) Aug 23, 2018



Six people, including members of Iraq's security forces, were killed in a jihadist attack north of Baghdad that left four others wounded, police told AFP on Thursday.

Iraq declared "victory" over the Islamic State group in late 2017 but jihadist cells remain active in the country.

On Wednesday, "IS gunmen attacked the house of former member of parliament Adnan al-Juburi," a police officer, asking not to be named, told AFP.

"They fired mortars at the home in the village of Asdira," 90 kilometres (55 miles) north of Tikrit, without causing casualties, he said.

But as police, members of the Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary force and civilians rushed to the scene, "a suicide bomber blew himself up, killing six people and injuring four others", he said.Pompeo to return to N. Korea, names special envoy



Washington, Aug 23 (AFP) Aug 23, 2018



US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday named a Ford Motor Co. executive as special envoy for North Korea and said they would both travel to the nuclear-armed country next week.

Stephen Biegun, 55, who is retiring as Ford's vice president for international governmental affairs, had been considered for the post of President Donald Trump's national security advisor before it went to John Bolton.

"Steve will direct the US policy towards North Korea and lead our efforts to achieve President Trump's goal of the final, fully verified denuclearization of North Korea, as agreed to by chairman Kim Jong Un," Pompeo said.

"He and I will be traveling to North Korea next week to make further diplomatic progress towards our objective," he said.

The trip will be Pompeo's fourth to North Korea, and the second since a historic summit June 12 between Trump and Kim.

"The State Department has already done excellent work in implementing and sustaining the pressure campaign, putting together the first ever leader-level summit in Singapore and laying the groundwork to hold North Korea accountable to the promises that chairman Kim has made," Pompeo said.

At the first-ever meeting between sitting leaders of the US and North Korea, which took place in Singapore, Trump and Kim pledged in a joint statement to work toward the "complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."

The statement however was short on details and a UN panel of experts has found that North Korea is pressing ahead with its nuclear and missile programs.

Pompeo has insisted that Kim verbally agreed to the complete and verifiable denuclearization of North Korea, under a timetable to be fleshed out in follow-up discussions led by the State Department on the US side.



- 'Very productive' -



Kim has followed through on some commitments made at the summit, including returning the remains of US service members killed during the Korean War.

And satellite imagery from the Sohae Satellite Launching Station on North Korea's west coast shows workers dismantling part of the site, though experts warns the move does not necessarily impact Pyongyang's nuclear program.

But overall, there is little evidence to show Kim is serious about getting rid of his nuclear weapons.

Pompeo went to Pyongyang in early July but came back with little to show for his efforts, though he insisted the talks were "very productive."

Meanwhile the North has criticized Washington for its "gangster-like" and "unilateral" demands for the complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantling of Pyongyang's atomic arsenal.

Pompeo has repeatedly called for the international community to maintain pressure on North Korea, and a UN report this month warned that Pyongyang is circumventing tough sanctions imposed over its nuclear weapons program.

Trump's administration has argued that sanctions must remain fully in place until North Korea has scrapped its nuclear and missile programs and that the dismantling is verified.

Following his summit with Kim, Trump famously proclaimed North Korea is "no longer a nuclear threat" and boasted of his good relationship with the strongman.VICTORIA, British Columbia, Aug. 22, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vigil Health Solutions Inc. (Vigil), is pleased to announce that, at its 2018 AGM shareholders elected Troy Griffiths, Greg Peet, Ian Power and Lindsay Ryerson as Directors of Vigil.



In addition, conditional upon TSXV approval, the Board granted an aggregate amount of 386,000 stock options pursuant to Vigils Omnibus Share Compensation Plan. Of the total, 90,000 options were granted to Directors, these vest 25% on grant and 25% every six months following, a further 240,000 were granted to Officers of the Company, these vest over a 4-year period, in equal quarterly installments, starting 12 months from issue. The remaining 56,000 options were granted to employees under the same vesting terms as the Officers of the Company. These options are exercisable at a price of $0.48 per share and expire August 21, 2023.

After the addition of these options, the Company has an aggregate of 1,792,834 options outstanding representing 9.81% of shares issued.

About Vigil Health Solutions Inc.

Vigil offers a technology platform combining software and hardware to provide comprehensive solutions to the expanding seniors housing market. Vigil has established a growing presence in North America and an international reputation for being on the leading edge of systems design and integration. Vigils objective is to offer solutions for the full continuum of care. Vigils product range includes the innovative wireless Vitality Care System featuring discreet 'mini pendants', a nurse call system, mobile fall, incontinence monitoring, resident check and the award-winning Vigil Memory Care System.

For further information please contact:

Troy Griffiths, President and CEO

Tel: (250) 383-6900

Fax: (250) 383-6999

Email: information@vigil.com Vigil Health Solutions Inc.

2102-4464 Markham Street

Victoria, BC

V8Z 7X8

Website: www.vigil.com

The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility

for the adequacy or accuracy of this releaseGoing Global Newspaper Could Help Rebrand China Abroad

The South China Morning Post has been reporting from Hong Kong for 115 years. Internet giant Alibaba bought the newspaper in 2015 in what appears to be an effort to turn it into a global media brand.Pune, India, Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Market Overview

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive imaging technology used in attaining detailed images at a microscopic level. It employs near-infrared lighting to obtain clear images in real-time. The sharp rise noticed in eye-related diseases among the geriatric populace and industrial applications will induce the demand for OCT.

Market Outlook

The Global Optical Coherence Tomography Market valuation can touch USD 1483.9 million by 2023, as per the latest report by Market Research Future (MRFR). Technological advances in imaging devices coupled with high prevalence of macular disorders are likely to fuel the market growth.

Favorable medical reimbursement schemes regarding eye diseases and approval from regulatory agencies can propel the market to experience an 8.9% CAGR from 2017 to 2023 (forecast period). Furthermore, government support for the technology is likely to lead to an upturn in demand over the forecast period. Introduction of hybrid techniques such as optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) can open up new pathways for the market. In August 2018, Conavi Medical launched the Novasight hybrid system for scanning coronary arteries. It has been used on a trial basis by Hamilton General Hospital, Canada, to check its efficacy and performance.

Movers and Shakers

Some of the prominent names in the optical coherence tomography market include NIDEK Co., Ltd., Carl Zeiss AG, Terumo Corporation, Agfa Healthcare, KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V, Imalux Corporation, Optovue, Abbott Laboratories, Boston Scientific Corporation, OPTOPOL Technology S.A, B. Braun Melsungen AG, Michelson Diagnostics, Heidelberg Engineering GmbH, Alcon, Novacam Technologies Inc., Topcon Corporation, Thorlabs Inc., and others.

Launch of new products are certain to get exposure owing to social media and prevalence of chronic diseases. This is evident by the launch of AngioVue by OptoVue in 2016. The trend is indicative of the pressing demand owing to launch of similar products such as AngioScan OCT by Nidek, DRI-Triton and 3D Oct-1 Maestro by Topcon.

Get a Premium Sample Copy of Optical Coherence Tomography Market Research Report at https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1328

Segmentation Analysis

The OCT market is segmented by technology, application, and device type.

By technology, spectral-domain OCT (SD-OCT), swept-source OCT, and others. The SD-OCT segment can command nearly 60.1% share of the OCT market by the end of the forecast period. On the other hand, the swept-source OCT segment can expand at a 9.1% CAGR over the aforementioned period.

Key applications of OCT include oncology, dermatology, ophthalmology, cardiology, and others. The ophthalmology segment can acquire close to 53.6% share of the market, while dermatology can grow at a brisk pace during the forecast period.

Types of OCT devices include tabletop OCT devices, catheter-based OCT devices, handheld OCT devices, and others.

Americas to Touch $558.34 Mn by 2023

Regions of prime interest to the market include The Americas, the Middle East & Africa (MEA), Asia Pacific (APAC), and Europe.

The Americas will lead the optical coherence tomography market owing to high ubiquitousness of diseases and presence of leading manufacturers. Prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and other age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are likely to induce demand for the market in the coming years. This market can touch a valuation of USD 558.34 million by 2023.

The Europe market has assumed the second position after Americas owing to funding gained for research & development by research institutes from governments and private sources. According to the 2017 report by the European Society of Retina Specialists (EURETINA), nearly 34 million suffer from AMD in the European Union.

The APAC OCT market is touted to grow at a rapid clip owing to technological advances in OCT devices. Growth opportunities in China, India, Malaysia, and other countries of South Asia and establishment of manufacturing units can bolster regional demand by 2023.

The MEA market can exhibit a sluggish growth rate during the forecast period owing to slowly developing economies in the African region.

Get Corporate Discount on Optical Coherence Tomography Market Report at https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/1328

High-Resolution Images to Assist Physicians in Rapid Diagnosis

Developments in OCT have witnessed a sharp uptick in recent years. The time domain technology was used in assessing the thickness of retinal fiber nerve layer (RFNL) and ganglion cell layer (GCL). But the emergence of spectral domain technology was instrumental in attaining images of other layers. The thickness of these fibers in the optic nerve can be used to determine the phase of multiple sclerosis in individuals. These improvements are used to discern and predict the vision of individuals.

Googles artificial intelligence software, DeepMind, has been successful in interpreting eye scans and recommending accurate treatment akin to leading eye doctor experts. In 2018, Google partnered with Moorsfield Hospital to detect eye diseases in seconds and recommending the frequency of trips required to treat them. It analyses OCT scans via its neural network and predicts debilitating visibility changes in individuals. This technology can disrupt the healthcare landscape in the coming years.

Related Reports:

Spectral Computed Tomography (CT) Market Research Report - Forecast to 2023

Spectral Computed Tomography (CT) Market Research Report: By Types (Spiral Ct, Electron Beam Tomography, Multi-Slice Computed Tomography, Positron Emission Tomography (Pet) And Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography), By Application (Oncology, Neurology, Cardiology, Spine, Musculoskeletal Disorders, Body Imaging, Gastrointestinal Diseases), By End Users (Diagnostic Centers, Hospitals)- Global Forecast Till 2023.

Integrated Cardiology Devices Market Research Report - Global Forecast till 2023

Integrated Cardiology Devices Market Research Report, By Types (Cardiology EMR Software, EHR, FFR, Optical Coherence Tomography, others), By Applications (Sudden Cardiac Arrest, Internal Monitoring, Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy, Cardiothoracic Surgery, others), By End User (Catheterization Laboratories, Hospitals, others)  Global Forecast till 2023.

About US:

Market Research Future (MRFR), enable customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.DULLES, Va., Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ATPCO and SITA today announced that launch customer Air Canada processed its first NDC (New Distribution Capability) production transaction via NDC Exchange , a platform that simplifies the adoption of the International Air Transport Associations (IATA) NDC standard.



NDC is a new standard aimed at enabling the travel industry to transform the way services are retailed to corporations as well as leisure and business travelers. It provides greater product differentiation, quicker time-to-market, access to full and rich content and delivers a more transparent shopping experience.

NDC Exchange is a community platform that facilitates the real-time connectivity between airlines and sellers (GDSs, travel agents, aggregators, OTAs, CBTs and TMCs) so that they can exchange messages easily and cost effectively. NDC Exchange supports shopping, booking, and servicing workflows and enables the cross-selling of ancillary services between airlines, and airlines and sellers. It normalizes messages regardless of version or format, creating interoperability across the distribution ecosystem. Travel sellers can access multiple airlines via NDC Exchange, hence lowering the cost of their implementation.

It became apparent to us very quickly that NDC Exchange was the perfect fit for Air Canada, said Keith Wallis, Director of Global Product Distribution for Air Canada. It is built by industry partners that we know and trust, and it allows us to work with multiple sellers through one connection. NDC Exchange is enabling Air Canada to innovate and get to market rapidly.

Air Canada was able to simultaneously implement connections to multiple sellers using NDC Exchange, including Verteil Technologies, Innfinity Software Systems, Zeno by Serko, and Atriis Technologies. This demonstrates, in real-world conditions, the simplicity and scalability of NDC Exchange.

Enabling our customers to get their products to market quicker in a way that works best for them is what guides us, said Graham Wareham, Director of Products & Solutions for ATPCO. As NDC continues to gain traction in the industry, ATPCO will provide the solutions that are cost-efficient and enable our customers to effectively incorporate new distribution channels into their business model.

Rene Fourel, VP Messaging and Data Services at SITA said: In todays digital world, consumers are accustomed to a more direct and flexible retail experience, and it should be no different with travel. Through NDC Exchange, airlines such as Air Canada can move closer to their distribution partners by simplifying and scaling their NDC connectivity in a cost-effective way.

NDC Exchange has seen robust industry interest, with early-joiners Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) providing settlement support and Routehappy by ATPCO powering rich content capabilities to enhance merchandising. NDC Exchange has earned a Level 3 NDC certification, the highest level of certification offered by IATA.

Notes to Editors:

About ATPCO

Uniquely positioned at the center of the airline distribution ecosystem, ATPCO enables seamless management of the airfare data that makes our entire industry run more efficiently. We hold more than 189.6 million fares for 439 airlines in 160 countries and manage an average of 5.3 million daily fare changes. Because ATPCO is owned by airlines, we serve as a neutral and trusted partner for our airlines with travel agencies, search engines, global distribution systems, governments, and many other industry partners. Every day, these organizations rely on our thought leadership and portfolio of technology and data solutions to help millions of travelers get where they need to go. Learn more about us at atpco.net.

About SITA

SITA is the communications and IT solution provider that transforms air travel through technology for airlines, at airports and on aircraft. The companys portfolio covers everything from managed global communications and infrastructure services, to eAircraft, passenger management, baggage, self-service, airport and border management solutions. Owned 100% by more than 400 air transport industry members, SITA has a unique understanding of its needs and places a strong emphasis on technology innovation.

Nearly every airline and airport in the world does business with SITA and its border management solutions are used by more than 30 governments. With a presence at more than 1,000 airports around the world and a customer service team of 2,000+ staff, SITA delivers unmatched service to more than 2,800 customers in more than 200 countries.From an African warthog to swinging orangutans, animals from all corners of the planet are featured in two stories among a new crop of childrens books at the Jewish New Year that also includes a lyrical poem of the biblical story of Creation and a magical story about an ordinary shoebox.

And a bonus: An illustrated picture book tells the story of Regina Jonas, the German Jewish girl who followed her dream to become the first woman ordained as a rabbi.

Young ones can get a jump start on the new year by turning the pages on these entertaining and informative reads.

Rosh Hashanah ushers in the High Holidays on Sunday evening, Sept. 9.

ADVERTISEMENT

Shanis Shoebox  Written and illustrated by Rinat Hoffman; translated (from Hebrew) by Noga Applebaum, Green Bean Books; ages 4-8

Prepare to be enchanted! Shanis Shoebox, a gently rhyming poem-story for Rosh Hashanah by the award-winning Israeli illustrator and childrens author Rinat Hoffman, will kick off the Jewish New Year on the right foot.

Shanis aba, the Hebrew word for dad, surprises her with a pair of shiny new red shoes for Rosh Hashanah. Naturally she tosses aside the ordinary looking shoebox.

But on Yom Kippur, Shani finds the box hidden behind stuffed animals and the next day crafts it into a sukkah. During Hanukkah, a cat discovers the discarded box and uses it to stay warm in the winter. Season to season, the box takes on a magical quality, turning up in new guises and with new uses throughout a years worth of Jewish holidays.

The next Rosh Hashanah, when Shanis father fills the box with a new pair of shoes  this time they are blue  Shani is reminded of the years adventures.

Hoffmans colorful, animated illustrations draw in readers with vibrant energy. In one scene, as the family prepares the house for Passover, Shani is on a stool cleaning a mirror and her dad is sweeping. Its refreshing to have a childrens story that depicts a father in everyday roles more commonly associated with moms, like buying shoes for his kids and cleaning the house.

Wheres the Potty on This Ark?  By Kerry Olitzky; illustration by Abigail Tompkins, Kar-Ben; ages 1-4







Even on Noahs Ark, the animals need to use the potty. Young kids will be delightfully surprised with this inventive spin on the biblical story of Noah, from the Book of Genesis. As Noah and his wife, Naamah, greet each of the animals onto the ark, Naamah makes sure they are comfortable.

Be careful not to hit your head on the ceiling, she warns.

The ark comes well designed, with big potties for the elephants and little ones for smaller friends. When a baby raccoon needs to use the bathroom, Mother Hen patiently guides the young one to learn how. The animals offer an empathetic lesson in taking care of ones body, complete with a prayer. And off they sail on the ark as the rains begin.

Kerry Olitzkys simple, lighthearted prose is paired well with Abigail Tompkins playful illustrations. The book makes a timely read during the High Holidays because the story of Noah is read in synagogues on the second Shabbat following Simchat Torah, when the cycle of reading the Torah begins anew.

Whos Got the Etrog?  By Jane Kohuth; illustrations by Elissambura, Kar-Ben; ages 4-8

In this brightly illustrated story for Sukkot, Jane Kohuth weaves a playful folk-like tale told in simple poetic verse. In her rural village in Uganda, under a bright and full milk-bowl moon, Auntie Sanyu is preparing for the fall harvest holiday when Jews build a hut called a sukkah where they eat, welcome guests and sometimes even sleep. Kids follow Auntie Sanyu as she decorates her sukkah and places a lulav, the bunch of green palm branches, and a bright yellow etrog, the lemon-like fruit, on a tray to be used in the holiday rituals by Auntie Sanyus animal guests. But Warthog loves the etrog so much, he doesnt want to hand it over to the lion, parrots or giraffe. A young girl named Sara intervenes.

The story comes to life in Elissamburas boldly colored, striking collage-style illustrations. The back page explains the history of the Ugandan Jewish community called the Abayudaya, and a glossary explains about the sukkah and lulav and terms like Oy, vey!

Regina Persisted: An Untold Story  By Sandy Eisenberg Sasso; illustrated by Margeaux Lucas, Apples & Honey Press; ages 7-12

These days, when Jewish-American kids attend High Holiday services, its not that unusual to have a female rabbi leading the congregation. Older kids may be fascinated to learn about Regina Jonas, the German Jew who in 1935, against many odds, became the first woman ordained as a rabbi.

In this illustrated biography, Sandy Eisenberg Sasso traces how Jonas persisted until religious authorities finally allowed her to take the exam to become a rabbi. Margeaux Lucas illustrations capture the period, with drawings of Berlin life. Several scenes convey the young Regina as a kind of Disney-like Belle, greeting peddlers at the market, and clutching a book, daydreaming, as she crosses the street.

The afterword tells of the tragic ending of Jonas life in 1944, where she was killed in the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz. It would be nearly 40 years later until another woman, the American Sally Priesand, is ordained, in the Reform movement. Today there are nearly 1,000 women rabbis around the world, among them the books author, who herself was a trailblazer as the first woman to be ordained as a rabbi in the Reconstructionist movement.SOLAR-1 evaluated BYL719 plus fulvestrant vs. fulvestrant alone in HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer patients with PIK3CA mutations who progressed on or following treatment with an aromatase inhibitor with or without a CDK4/6 inhibitor[1]



Approximately 40% of HR+ advanced breast cancer patients have PIK3CA mutations, and the PI3K pathway is the most commonly mutated pathway associated with tumor progression in HR+ advanced breast cancer[2],[3]



Full results will be submitted to an upcoming medical congress and Novartis will initiate discussions with regulatory authorities worldwide

Basel, August 23, 2018 - Novartis today announced the global Phase III SOLAR-1 trial evaluating the investigational alpha-specific PI3K inhibitor BYL719 (alpelisib) has met the primary endpoint showing an improvement in progression-free survival (PFS). SOLAR-1 is evaluating BYL719 in combination with fulvestrant compared to fulvestrant alone in postmenopausal women and men with hormone-receptor positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 negative (HR+/HER2-) PIK3CA-mutant advanced or metastatic breast cancer that progressed on or following aromatase inhibitor treatment with or without a CDK4/6 inhibitor[1].

"BYL719 is the only alpha-specific PI3K inhibitor and the first one to show potential increased benefit and acceptable tolerability for patients," said Samit Hirawat, MD, Head, Novartis Oncology Global Drug Development. "We are encouraged by the results observed in the SOLAR-1 study and look forward to submitting the data to an upcoming medical congress and starting discussions with health authorities worldwide."

Currently, there are no approved PI3K inhibitors for HR+ advanced breast cancer. The PI3K pathway plays an important role in regulating cell processes and is the most frequently altered pathway promoting tumor growth, disease progression and treatment resistance in HR+ advanced breast cancer[4],[5].

Adverse events observed with investigational BYL719 in combination with fulvestrant in SOLAR-1 were generally consistent with those observed in previous BYL719 and fulvestrant studies[1]. The SOLAR-1 trial will continue to assess data for secondary endpoints. Novartis will begin discussions with global health authorities based on these results.

About PI3K inhibition in advanced breast cancer

Studies have established the role of PI3K signaling in several processes critical for cancer progression, including cell metabolism, growth, survival and motility[9]. Activation of the PI3K pathway in breast cancer is associated with resistance to endocrine therapy, disease progression and poorer prognosis[4],[6].

Proteins in the PI3K pathway consist of four smaller parts called isoforms[7]. Approximately 40% of HR+ advanced breast cancer patients have genetic mutations that activate the alpha isoform, called PIK3CA mutations[2]. Mutations in the three other isoforms are typically not associated with advanced breast cancer[7].

About SOLAR-1

SOLAR-1 is a global, Phase III randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial studying investigational BYL719 in combination with fulvestrant for postmenopausal women and men with PIK3CA-mutated HR+/HER2- advanced or metastatic breast cancer that progressed on or following prior aromatase inhibitor treatment with or without a CDK4/6 inhibitor[10].

The trial randomized 572 patients in a 1:1 ratio to receive continuous oral treatment with BYL719 300mg or placebo once daily in combination with fulvestrant 500mg intramuscular injections on days 1 and 15 on the first cycle and day 1 of each subsequent 28-day cycle as per fulvestrant prescribing information. Patients were allocated based on tumor tissue assessment to either a PIK3CA-mutant cohort or a PIK3CA non-mutant cohort. Stratification was based on visceral metastases and prior CDK4/6 inhibitor treatment[10].

The primary endpoint is PFS for patients with the PIK3CA mutation. Secondary endpoints include but are not limited to: overall survival, overall response rate, clinical benefit rate, health-related quality of life, efficacy in PIK3CA non-mutant cohort, safety and tolerability[10].

About BYL719 (alpelisib)

BYL719 is an investigational, orally bioavailable, alpha-specific PI3K inhibitor. In breast cancer cell lines harboring PIK3CA mutations, BYL719 has been shown to potentially inhibit the PI3K pathway and have antiproliferative effects. In addition, cancer cell lines with PIK3CA mutations were more sensitive to BYL719 than those without the mutation across a broad range of different cancers[11].

About Novartis in Advanced Breast Cancer

For more than 30 years, Novartis has been tackling breast cancer with superior science, great collaboration and a passion for transforming patient care. With one of the most diverse breast cancer pipelines and one of the largest numbers of breast cancer compounds in development, Novartis leads the industry in discovery of new therapies and combinations, especially in HR+ advanced breast cancer, the most common form of the disease.

Disclaimer

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by words such as "potential," "can," "will," "expect," "encouraged," "upcoming," "starting," "look forward," "investigational," "pipeline," "launch," or similar terms, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential marketing approvals, new indications or labeling for BYL719 or the other investigational or approved products described in this press release, or regarding potential future revenues from such products. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that BYL719 or the other investigational or approved products described in this press release will be submitted or approved for sale or for any additional indications or labeling in any market, or at any particular time. Nor can there be any guarantee that BYL719 or such other products will be commercially successful in the future. In particular, our expectations regarding BYL719 and such other products could be affected by, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including clinical trial results and additional analysis of existing clinical data; regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; global trends toward health care cost containment, including government, payor and general public pricing and reimbursement pressures; our ability to obtain or maintain proprietary intellectual property protection; the particular prescribing preferences of physicians and patients; general political and economic conditions; safety, quality or manufacturing issues; potential or actual data security and data privacy breaches, or disruptions of our information technology systems, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Novartis

Novartis provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, cost-saving generic and biosimilar pharmaceuticals and eye care. Novartis has leading positions globally in each of these areas. In 2017, the Group achieved net sales of USD 49.1 billion, while R&D throughout the Group amounted to approximately USD 9.0 billion. Novartis Group companies employ approximately 125,000 full-time-equivalent associates. Novartis products are sold in approximately 155 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.

Novartis is on Twitter. Sign up to follow @Novartis at http://twitter.com/novartis

For Novartis multimedia content, please visit www.novartis.com/news/media-library

For questions about the site or required registration, please contact media.relations@novartis.com

References

[1] Novartis Data on File.

[2] Sabine V, Crozier C, Brookes C, et al. Mutational analysis of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in tamoxifen exemestane adjuvant multinational pathology study. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2014;32:2951-2958.

[3] Lee JJX, Loh K, Yap Y-S. PI3K/Akt/mTOR inhibitors in breast cancer. Cancer Biol Med. 2015 ;12(4):342-354.

[4] Miller TW, Rexer BN, Garrett JT, Arteaga CL.Mutations in the Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase Pathway: Role in Tumor Progression and Therapeutic Implications in Breast Cancer. Breast Cancer Res. 2011.

[5] Mukohara T. PI3K mutations in breast cancer: prognostic and therapeutic implications. Breast Cancer Targets Ther. 2015;7:111-123.

[6] Saal LH, Johansson P, Holm K. Poor prognosis in carcinoma is associated with a gene expression signature of aberrant PTEN tumor suppressor pathway activity. PNAS. 2007;104(18):7564-7569.

[7] Thorpe LM, Yuzugullu H, Zhao JJ. PI3K in cancer: divergent roles of isoforms, modes of activation, and therapeutic targeting. Nature Reviews Cancer. 2015;15(1):7-24.

[8] Keegan NM, Gleeson JP, Hennessy BT and Morris PG. (2018) PI3K inhibition to overcome endocrine resistance in breast cancer. Expert Opin on Investig Drugs. 2018(27; 1:1-15).

[9] Courtney KD, Corcoran RB, Engelman JA. The PI3K pathway as a drug target in human cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2010;28(6):1075-1083.

[10] ClinicalTrials.gov. Study Assessing the Efficacy and Safety of Alpelisib Plus Fulvestrant in Men and Postmenopausal Women With Advanced Breast Cancer Which Progressed on or After Aromatase Inhibitor Treatment (SOLAR-1). https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02437318?term=SOLAR-1&rank=1 (link is external). Accessed August 16, 2018.

[11] Fritsch C, Huang A, Chatenay-Rivauday A et al. Characterization of the novel and specific PI3K alpha inhibitor NVP BYL719 and development of patient stratification strategy for clinical trials. Molecular Cancer Therapeutics.2014; 13(5):1117-1129.

# # #

Novartis Media Relations

Central media line: +41 61 324 2200

E-mail: media.relations@novartis.com

Eric Althoff

Novartis Global Media Relations

+41 61 324 7999 (direct)

+41 79 593 4202 (mobile)

eric.althoff@novartis.com Julie Masow

Novartis Oncology Media Relations

+1 862 579 8456 (mobile)

julie.masow@novartis.com

Novartis Investor Relations

Central investor relations line: +41 61 324 7944

E-mail: investor.relations@novartis.comShares is the leading weekly publication for retail investors. It is packed with investment ideas, news and educational material to help build and run portfolios and get more from your money.

Shares puts on free Investor Events throughout the year across the country. They provide an opportunity for investors to learn more about companies on the stock market and hear from a range of investment experts including fund managers and Shares journalists.With the recovery of all the territory Boko Haram once controlled and the ability to interview more victims it has been possible to get a better idea about the impact of seven years (2011-2018) of Boko Haram violence. The death toll is now believed to be about 35,000, nearly double earlier estimates (about 20,000). The new estimates include all dead (Boko Haram, security forces and civilians) in over two thousand incidents. A little over half the dead were Boko Haram, with civilians comprising 42 percent and security forces about six percent. Actually, a lot of the civilian deaths were local security forces, some of them recognized and supported by the military. Taking that into account about ten percent of the dead are security forces and 39 percent civilians. By 2015 most of the Christians in the northeast had been killed or, more frequently fled. A minority in the northeast the Christians were a prime target but by 2016 religion-based attacks turned to mosques and Islamic clerics that openly opposed Boko Haram.

Most of the victims of the Boko Haram related violence were from a small fraction of the Nigerian population. The three northeastern state where most of the mayhem occurs have a population of 13 million (Borno; 5.5, Yobe; 3.1 and Adamawa; 4.3). Thats about seven percent of the national population. There is some Boko Haram activity in other northern areas making Boko Haram a problem for about 14 million Nigerians. There are nearly as many people in neighboring countries who are still terrorized (although to a lesser extent) by Boko Haram. The security forces in these neighboring countries have proved more effective at dealing with Boko Haram, which remains mainly a Nigerian organization.

In addition to driving out the Christian minority (who were better educated and ran many businesses) Boko Haram violence did major damage to the educational system in the three northeast states. Borno was the hardest hit but all these states suffered from attacks on schools and teachers. More than 2,300 teachers {staffing some 3,000 schools in the area} were killed and nearly 20,000 teachers fled their schools and often left the northeast. Over 1,500 schools were destroyed and over a thousand students were kidnapped. Over half the school-age children in the area still have no access to education. There is little indication that schools will be repaired or rebuilt very quickly either.

The violence peaked in 2014-15 and for a while Boko Haram was killing more people than ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant). In 2016 Boko Haram was on the defensive and lost control of most of its territory by 2017. Now Boko Haram has spilt into two major factions and concentrates on terror attacks (a third of them using suicide bombers) and survival as bandits and raiders. In some cases, Boko Haram operates a protection scam in which locals pay a fee to ensure they, or their property, are not attacked. This sort of thing is particularly popular in the far north, on the coast of Lake Chad where fishermen in some areas pay the local Boko Haram for protection so they can fish. Most Boko Haram activity remains concentrated in the northeast, specifically Borno State. There is still some Boko Haram presence in Cameroon and Chad but there are no longer many attacks outside northeast Nigeria (Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states).

Boko Haram persists in the northeast in part because one of the two rival factions has adopted more effective tactics. The Barnawi (or Albarnawi) faction is recognized by ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) and follows the current ISIL doctrine of concentrating attacks on security forces and government officials (preferably the corrupt ones). That makes it easier to extort (raise taxes) cash and other goods from the local population. The Barnawi faction has several thousand active gunmen and operates mainly in the far north of Borno state near Lake Chad. The smaller Shekau faction has about half as many armed men and operates further south near the Borno State capital of Maiduguri and the Sambisa Forest.

Money matters and one reason the Barnawi faction has been more successful is their emphasis on raising cash, especially via large ransoms for hostages, especially foreign hostages. There was never a specific demand made in public but the government paid for high-value captives, like the May 2017 agreement that got 82 of the Chibok captives (from 2014) released in exchange for the freedom of eight Boko Haram leaders being held and awaiting prosecution for mass murder, terrorism and so on. Many Nigerians believed these men should have at least stood trial before being traded for hostages. As expected some of the freed Boko Haram leaders promptly went back to Islamic terrorism. At the same time, Boko Haram had very visibly divided into factions. Back in March 2017 Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau released a video to boast that he was still alive and operating in the northeast. At that point, security forces had claimed Shekau was dead at least five times since 2011 but so far had always been wrong. In late 2016 there was hope that a recent split in Boko Haram might lead to Shekau getting killed by other Islamic terrorists but that hasnt happened either and the two main factions appear to have achieved some kind of truce with each other and continue to operate.

The Boko Haram split began in August 2016 when ISIL announced that it was replacing Shekau, who was accused of mismanagement, with Abu Musab al Barnawi. ISIL believed Shekau devoted too much effort to killing fellow Moslems (especially civilians) rather than the real enemies of ISIL (local security forces and non-Moslems in general). ISIL leadership was also unhappy with the Boko Haram use of children and women as suicide bombers. That has become an issue in Nigeria because the use of children as suicide bombers has tripled during 2017. While the new Boko Haram leader has concentrated attacks on the security forces and non-Moslems he has also used children, especially females, as suicide bombers. Barnawi is a son of Mohammed Yusuf, one of the ISIL founders. Barnawi was appointed the main Boko Haram spokesman in January 2015. Although Barnawi has developed a following in Boko Haram Shekau refused to accept the ISIL decision. The Barnawi faction has also been more successful at online recruiting (via encrypted messaging systems like Telegram and frequently shifting presence on social media sites like Facebook.)

The national government has occasionally carried on unofficial talks with the Barnawi faction of Boko Haram. This faction is also known as ISWA (the Islamic State West Africa province) and has access to resources Islamic terror groups use help negotiate large ransoms for hostages, especially foreign hostages. These hostage negotiations apparently evolved into discussions about a peace deal but appeared to get nowhere.

Inept Iranian Interference

Like most Sunni Islamic terror groups Boko Haram will go after other Moslem factions. The most frequent targets are Shia Moslems. There is a Shia minority in Nigeria which, with Iranian help, tried to organize a militant faction. That did not go well and by 2018 Nigerian police managed to eliminate most armed members of the Shia IMN (Islamic Movement in Nigeria). There has not been much violent activity from the Shia since 2016 when the security forces cracked down hard. There are about seven million Shia in Nigeria and since the 1980s a growing number of them have joined IMN, a group founded and quietly supported by IRGC. While relations between Shia and Sunni Moslems have generally been good in Nigeria, local Sunni radical groups like Boko Haram practice the anti-Shia attitudes so common in Sunni terror groups like al Qaeda and the Taliban. IMN always proclaimed itself a peaceful group that welcomed all Moslems but over the years it has become all Shia and a lot more militant.

President Accused of Tribal Bias

President Buhari, in addition to being a reformer, a northern Moslem and a retired general is also a Fulani and seen as reluctant to have the security forces hold the Fulani tribesmen accountable for the violence the Fulani continue to instigate across northern and central Nigeria. So far this year Moslem Fulani raiders are increasingly active with their attacks on local tribes (most of them Christian) that rely on farming. That means the Fulani violence in 2018 accounted for more than five times more deaths than Boko Haram. Despite growing pressure from the Christian community to recognize the escalating (since 2010) threat in a band stretching from the northwest (Zamfara state) through central Nigeria (Plateau, Jos, Kaduna, Benue and Nassarawa states) and the southeast (Taraba State) Buhari refuses to order a crackdown on the attackers.

This is largely about Fulani herders moving south to find more grazing land and water for their animals. While these attacks often trigger reprisals by local militias the Fulani are seen as the source of constant tension and violence. Most of the victims of the Fulani violence are Christian. This has been going on for a while and Fulani suffer far fewer losses because they are usually the attacker. The violence declined a bit in 2017 but nothing was done to diminish or eliminate it. To make matters worse the raiders have also been attacking soldiers or police who intervene to protect the farmers. Attempts to negotiate peace deals with the Fulani generally fail. In the last three years, the Fulani violence is believed to have left nearly 9,000 dead. Buhari is currently running for reelection.

August 20, 2018: A World Bank study detailed how Nigerian governments wasted opportunities from 1970 through 2014 to invest a trillion dollars of oil income into development. Instead, most of it was stolen or squandered. During that 44 year period, there were five spikes in oil prices and demand. These oil booms brought in extraordinary amounts of income which made it easy to spend most of it on infrastructure, and other long-term investments in the economy. That was rarely done and all the oil income has made a few Nigerians (most of them corrupt politicians) fabulously rich but otherwise has done nothing for Nigeria.

Oil has been a curse not a blessing for Nigeria and one thing nearly all Nigerians can agree on is reducing corruption and theft of most oil income. Since 1972 the government has earned over a trillion dollars ($1,300 billion) in oil revenue, most of which has been stolen or misused. This corruption is the main cause of the unrest in the country, especially the oil producing areas. Since 1980, the poverty rate (the percentage of people living on less than $400 a year) has gone from 28 percent to over 60 percent today. For over four decades, the oil money has been going to less than twenty percent of the population, leaving most of the rest worse off today than they were in the early 1960s before the oil exports began. The people in the Niger Delta are up in arms because most of them have not benefited from the oil production, but have suffered from the oil spills and other disruptions that accompany oil drilling and shipping. The four decades of theft have left the national infrastructure (roads, water supplies, power production, and so on) in ruins. In short, oil has not helped Nigeria at all.

August 19, 2018: In the northeast (Borno State) a wanted Boko Haram leader was identified and arrested in a refugee camp. The Boko Haram leader was apparently no longer active and willing to cooperate with police. There are still over two million refugees in the northeast, mainly Borno State.

August 18, 2018: In the northeast (Borno State) armed Boko Haram arrived outside a village late at night and after midnight attacked. Police in the village did nothing and dozens of villagers were killed while most of the rest fled to a nearby refugee camp (that had better security). The Boko Haram looted the village for two hours then drove off into the darkness.

August 12, 2018: In the northeast (Borno State) there was another public demonstration (at the Maiduguri airport) by soldiers as several hundred protested that they had been stationed in a battle zone (Borno) for several years and away from their home base (and families) down south. Units are supposed to be rotated at least once a year to give the troops some rest and opportunity to train and integrate new recruits. Despite repeated promises that this would be the policy, it hasnt been. Getting rids of incompetent officers has also been promised but it is an effort that is far from complete. The government, led by a reformist former general, is aware of the problem but the military has a hard time carrying out basic reforms or enforcing policies (like rotation of troops) they are ordered to carry out. President Buhari has held officers in charge of operations in the north responsible for their failures. As a result, there have been four commanders in the northeast during the last 14 months, replaced in turn when they failed to make needed changes. The military has been notoriously corrupt and inept for decades and change has not come easily or quickly.

August 8, 2018: In the northeast (Borno State) Boko Haram ambushed a group of soldiers and killed fifteen of them. Incidents like this continue to occur and recently there has been at least one a month.

August 6, 2018: In the northeast (Borno State) Boko Haram attacked a village 13 kilometers outside the state capital and beheaded the village chief, his wife and five others. This was part of an effort to encourage village leaders to cooperate with Boko Haram and not with the security forces.

July 29, 2018: In the south (Niger River Delta) three naval officers were arrested for taking equipment seized from oil thieves and operators of illegal refineries. The officers then sold the equipment on the black market, or directly to other oil theft gangs. The military, especially the navy, has been very successful in finding and shutting down oil theft gangs. In the last two years, this effort has found (via more than 16,000 patrols) and shut down over 1,800 illegal refineries. Much of the refinery equipment is destroyed where found but the navy has seized over 1,5oo weapons, 1,600 boats, 198 barges, 258 outboard engines, 133 tanker trucks, 349 vehicles, 95 generating sets and much more recoverable equipment. The navy is supposed to sell off this stuff with the proceeds going to the government.

July 26, 2018: In the northeast (Borno State) several dozen vehicles carrying over a hundred Boko Haram gunmen attacked a police outpost 3o kilometers outside the state capital. After an hour of fighting the outpost was taken and looted. Yesterday, elsewhere in Borno, another group of Boko Haram ambushed an army convoy and killed at least 23 soldiers.English Danish

To The Press

23 August 2018





Today, Nykredit announces the interim reports of:

Nykredit A/S, cvr. nr. 12 71 92 48

Nykredit Realkredit A/S, cvr. nr. 12 71 92 80

Nykredit Bank A/S, cvr. nr. 10 51 96 08

Totalkredit A/S, cvr. nr. 21 83 22 78

Michael Rasmussen, Group Chief Executive, comments on Nykredit's H1 Interim Report 2018

Nykredit has had a successful half-year. The half-year results presented today may not quite match last year's record level, but relative to our expectations they are very satisfactory. It is particularly positive that Nykredit continues recording strong business growth. Both Nykredit Bank and Totalkredit deliver customer and lending growth, and assets under management continue to grow significantly.



At Nykredit, we go the extra mile for homeowners  all across the country. It is therefore particularly gratifying that Nykredit Bank's homeowner customer satisfaction is rising for the fifth consecutive half-year and that Totalkredit has recorded lending growth in 94 out of 98 municipalities this year. I am also extremely pleased that with our customer benefits programme KundeKroner we now offer the lowest administration margins on the loan types most popular among Danish homeowners.



Highlights from the H1 Interim Report 2018:

In the Annual Report for 2017, our guidance for business profit and profit before tax for 2018 was DKK 6.5-7.5 billion. We maintain our guidance, but based on events in H1/2018 we expect profit to be at the high end of the range.

The business profit for H1/2018 declined compared with the exceptionally high profit for H1/2017, driven partly by high investment portfolio income and considerable reversals of impairment provisions.

The Group's efficiency and profitability remain at a competitive level with a cost:income ratio of 38.1%, a return on business capital (ROAC) of 11.6% and a return on equity of 8.6%.

Nykredit Bank's lending* and assets under management grew by 6.5% and 32.8%, respectively, from H1/2017 to H1/2018.

Totalkredit's lending at nominal value went up by 7.4% from H1/2017 to H1/2018.

*Including secured homeowner loans transferred to Totalkredit

DKK million Nykredit Group H1/ H1/ 2018 2017 Change Income 6,337 7,419 -1,082 Costs 2,414 2,373 -41 Impairment charges for loans and advances 103 (448) -551 Business profit 3,821 5,494 -1,673 Legacy derivatives 219 1,366 -1,147 Profit before tax for the period 4,040 6,860 -2,820 Tax 781 1,433 652 Profit for the period 3,259 5,427 -2,168

Reference is made to the H1 Interim Reports of the individual companies, published today at www.nykredit.com







Contact

For further comments, please contact Jens Theil, Head of Nykredit Press Relations, at tel +45 44 55 14 50.

AttachmentPress release 2018-08-23

Arc Aroma Pure AB ("ArcAroma") has sold an additional oliveCEPT installation to one of the current end-users in Crete, Greece. The oliveCEPT unit is sold and will also be delivered by ArcAroma's local distributor I. Nitadoros A.E.

This is the third oliveCEPT unit that has been sold in Greece since the end of July. In total, eight oliveCEPT installations are now in contract in the Mediterranean for the 2018/19 season.

- This sales agreement is the result of the hard work and commitment by our distributor and ArcAroma. Crete is one of the main areas for olive oil production in Greece and we are very satisfied to have made our first landmark there, says Johan Mollerstrom, CEO of ArcAroma.

Delivery will take place in November 2018, a couple of weeks in time for the start of the harvest season in Crete. The distributor will handle installation, integration and start up with support from ArcAroma.

For more information, please contact:

Johan Mollerstrom, CEO

(+46) 768 - 86 81 78

johan.mollerstrom@arcaroma.com

This information is such information that Arc Aroma Pure AB (publ) is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set above, at August 23, 2018 at 08:30 CET.

About Arc Aroma Pure AB (publ)

Arc Aroma Pure has developed a way to control electrical pulses that provide a high energy yield. The CEPT platform, which is a generator, uses the technology of biogas, sewage treatment and extraction. The platform uses short-term high-voltage pulses that blow the cell membrane and kill unwanted microorganisms. Efficiency of biogas production and the introduction of new raw materials that can not be used today are in focus. Water, ballast water and liquid foods are examples of other CEPT applications. Founded in 2008, the company is based in Lund, with offices in Shanghai, and has received various awards and support from, among others, Vinnova and the Swedish Energy Agency. Arc Aroma Pure's shares are listed on NASDAQ First North Premier. Erik Penser Bank is Certified Adviser and is available at 08-463 80 00. www.arcaroma.com.The Macallan Valerio Adami 1926 60-year-old will be auctioned at the Bonhams Whisky Sale in Edinburgh, Scotland on 3 October.

Bottled in 1986, the whisky features a distinctive label designed by the world-famous Italian painter and pop artist, Valerio Adami. Only 12 such editions were created alongside another 12 by another pop artist, Peter Blake.

The bottle is presented in a specially commissioned cabinet or Tantalus, which is based on the traditional Brass and Glass distillery spirit safe.

Bonhams Whisky specialist Martin Green said, The Macallan 1926 60 year old has been described as the Holy Grail of whisky.

Its exceptional rarity and quality puts it in a league of its own, and the worlds most serious whisky collectors will wait patiently for many years for a bottle to come onto the market. It is a great honour to be offering this amazingly rare whisky at our Edinburgh sale.

Earlier this year a set of two of the same whiskies  one by each designer  sold for a record breaking price of $1.2 million, and similar demand is expected for this bottle among collectors.

Based in Scotland since 1824, The Macallan Estate has a global reputation as one of the worlds finest distillers of single malt whisky.VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MGX Minerals Inc. (MGX or the Company) (CSE: XMG / OTCQB: MGXMF / FKT: 1MG) and engineering partner PurLucid Treatment Solutions Inc. (PurLucid) are pleased to announce the engagement of Dr. Vuay Mehta, former Process Development Technology Leader at FMC Lithium Corporation, to oversee final phase product upgrading and commercial scale-up operations for the Companys rapid lithium brine extraction technology. Dr. Mehta will also oversee Hatch Engineerings scale-up of the technology and buildout.



Dr. Mehta has over 45 years of research and development and manufacturing experience of ore and brine based technologies focused on recovering lithium, potash, magnesium and boron to produce commercial-scale, high purity chemical products. He holds extensive knowledge of lithium brine and ore chemistries and has developed numerous projects related to selective process technology and upgrading of lithium into high purity Li2CO3, LiOH and more than 20 other lithium products. Dr. Mehta has been awarded 15 U.S. patents related to these technologies and published more than 50 reports in scientific journals. He spent more than 25 years in senior executive roles at FMC Lithium Corporation, the worlds second largest producer of lithium compounds, and was directly responsible for guiding projects through feasibility and implementing commercial-scale operations. Dr. Mehta has received highly esteemed industry awards for his process development work of Li2CO3 and LiCl at FMCs Salar Del Hombre Muerto project in Argentina. Dr. Mehta holds a MS from the Sir P.P Institute of Science and a Ph.D in Chemical Technology from the Central Salt & Marine Chemicals Research Institute.

We are please to have a chemist of Dr. Mehtas caliber and background join our team as we enter the final stages of scale-up and deployment of our rapid lithium extraction systems, stated MGX President and CEO Jared Lazerson. We look forward to leveraging his vast experience in lithium compounds to oversee the lithium upgrading process design and finishing steps.

About MGX Minerals

MGX Minerals is a diversified Canadian resource company with interests in advanced material and energy assets throughout North America. Learn more at www.mgxminerals.com.

Contact Information

Jared Lazerson

President and CEO

Telephone: 1.604.681.7735

Web: www.mgxminerals.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.



Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking information or forward-looking statements (collectively "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is typically identified by words such as: "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "potentially" and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by the Company is not a guarantee of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking information as a result of various factors. The reader is referred to the Company's public filings for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects which may be accessed through the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.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 ...LONDON, Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The UKs car makers have been praised for recognising the contribution of those who have served their country in the armed forces.



Most major motor manufacturers have generously agreed to offer special discounts to current and retired military personnel and their family in acknowledgment of their service.

Steve Thornton, Managing Director of Forces Cars Direct, today commended the altruistic principle behind these schemes and said that because the concessions are offered discreetly, the car giants do not get the credit they deserve.

As an ex-serviceman himself - having served in the Army for five years, including a tour in Iraq - Steve is particularly touched by the fact that car manufacturers are willing to offer discounts to those who have given exceptional service.

When we speak to these manufacturers to broker deals, its really heart-warming to know that they care about the individual buying the car, Steve says, Its tempting, I think, for some people to see car giants as just like other corporations, but the fact is that they are made up of people who are happy to recognise the good work done by others. It makes my job extremely rewarding: I get to see both sides - peoples generosity and the impact it has for customers. These schemes arent well known, because the companies havent been bragging about their good work.

In the US such schemes are common and they are gaining more traction in the UK, with the car industry leading the way. Forces Cars Direct is the UKs biggest broker of bespoke car deals, supplying more than 20,000 cars to people from the Army, Navy, Royal Airforce and MOD.

A spokesperson for the SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, said: We can best serve our veterans by working together; thats why we partner with companies such as Forces Cars Direct. Any scheme going the extra mile for those who have served makes a real difference to the community. Our most recent research report, The Nations Duty, highlights the need for better financial planning and guidance for those serving and leaving the Forces  discounts are a great way for external companies to show their support for this idea.

Please call Malcolm Munro on 07795013006 to interview Steve Thornton about these deals or commentary on the UK car industry.

The website for more details is www.forcescarsdirect.com



Cornell University, Ithaca NY USA, Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Twenty-five Africans have been selected to participate in the prestigious Cornell University Alliance for Science Global Leadership Fellows Program, which begins Aug. 27 in the United States.

The Fellows are traveling from their homes in Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Ghana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Tanzania to attend the 12-week intensive training program, which is held on the Cornell University campus in Ithaca, New York.

The Fellows are an integral part of our mission to create a global network of science champions who are dedicated to helping smallholder farmers, reducing poverty and eliminating hunger, said Sarah Evanega, director of the Alliance for Science.

The 2018 cohort includes Ghanaian farmer Evans Okomeng, who characterizes his countrys delay in adopting genetically modified crops as an injustice to the ordinary farmer, and Winnie Nanteza, who has conducted extensive public outreach around biotech crops as development communication officer with the National Crops Resources Research Institute-Uganda.

Many of the 2018 Fellows are also staunch proponents of environmental sustainability and social justice, including Chidi Okereke, who advocates for human rights, gender equality and youth participation in governance in Nigeria.

Others, like Louis Juma Baraka of Tanzania and Okon Odiong Unung of Nigeria, are working directly with farmers. Some, such as Veronica Zulu Mwaba of Zimbabwe and Verenardo Meeme of Kenya, are already active in promoting effective science communications.

Yewande Kazeem, a US communications professional who works extensively in Nigeria, has been named the Sathguru Fellow in recognition of the support provided by the Alliances main partner in India. The four Ugandan Fellows  Victoria Mbigidde, Alfred Namaasa, Winniefred Nanteza and Jonan Twinamatsiko  are sponsored by the Winkler Family Foundation. Knowledge Chikundi of Zimbabwe is the Gazard Family Fellow.

The GLFP  now training its third cohort  is designed to build the skills of emerging international leaders who are committed to advocating for access to agricultural innovation in their home countries. The course includes training in strategic planning, grassroots organizing, the science of crop biotechnology and effective communications.

Upon completion of this certificate program, Fellows become members of an international professional network uniquely qualified to promote evidence-based decision-making around global issues such as food security, agricultural development, environmental sustainability and climate change. The network has partners on six continents.

The program graduated 28 Fellows in 2016 and 25 Fellows in 2015. Together, they represent 20 countries across South and Southeast Asia, Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa, as well as the United States.

These alumni Fellows have successfully launched activities in their home countries that support science education and expand public awareness of the role that agricultural biotechnology can play in improving the lives of smallholder farmers and boosting food security. They have also worked to advance science-based policies related to agriculture in their own countries.

The GLFP is supported in part by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, as well donations from individuals and sponsorships by partner organizations. Tax-deductible contributions are welcomed.Tsui, a pharmacist by occupation, to bring over a decade of specialised experience to the company in advance of October legalisation

THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SpeakEasy Cannabis Club Ltd. (CSE:EASY) (Frankfurt:39H) (the Company or SpeakEasy) a late stage Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR) applicant, today announces the appointment of Wilson Tsui to its board of advisors. Tsuis appointment marks the third for the Company this year, following the appointment of Advisory Board member and now President, Brian Peery, and Dr. Matthew Brolich, PhD, who was appointed to the board earlier this month.

With cannabis legalisation on the horizon, Wilsons appointment marks a clear shift for us at SpeakEasy Cannabis Club, says Marc Geen, Founder and CEO of the Company. SpeakEasy will be a producer of the highest quality Canadian cannabis. Our ongoing dedication to quality and the preservation of premium cannabis standards paired with Wilsons expertise in the areas of regulatory compliance, strategic forecasting, and day-to-day operations will assist us in rapidly scaling our production to meet the anticipated demand for premium quality products in the legalized recreational ecosystem.

SpeakEasy will not only be a producer of the highest quality Canadian cannabis but will also represent a community of some of the best cannabis growers and geneticists in the country through its Growers Collective.

Tsui holds a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of British Columbia and currently serves on the Drug Administration Committee at the College of Pharmacist of British Columbia. Prior to this, Tsui was the Operations Manager at Medical Pharmacy Group Limited and also spent 13 years in retail pharmacy at Shoppers Drug Mart where he served as Pharmacist, Pharmacy manager, and Owner-Associate. Tsui now serves as the Pharmacy District Manager in British Columbia for Sobeys National Pharmacy Group.

About SpeakEasy Cannabis Club Ltd. (CSE:EASY)

SpeakEasy Cannabis Club is a late stage Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations ("ACMPR") applicant that is leveraging three generations of farming experience and the largest land package of LP in Canada to produce the highest quality, small batch premium cannabis products. Set on 290 acres of the best agricultural land in Rock Creek, British Columbia, the 10,000 square foot optimized, indoor facility allows for the growth, production, and cultivation of premium small batch cannabis. SpeakEasy now represents a collective of the top cannabis growers in Canada, who have spent their lives perfecting the production of premium products.

Construction has commenced on an 80,000 square foot expansion facility, which will include growing, extraction and genetics labs. Completion for the expansion is projected for fall/winter 2018.

For more information visit: https://speakeasygrowers.com/

This news release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements. Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause SpeakEasys actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in the industry to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words expects, plans, anticipates, believes, intends, estimates, projects, potential and similar expressions, or that events or conditions will, would, may, could or should occur.Trump declares emergency as hurricane menaces Hawaii



Hawaiian Ocean View, United States, Aug 23 (AFP) Aug 23, 2018



US President Donald Trump on Thursday declared a state of emergency in Hawaii, releasing disaster funds as powerful Hurricane Lane bears down on the archipelago's Big Island.

US weather authorities said Lane had weakened slightly to a Category 4-storm but was still packing maximum sustained winds of 130 miles (215 kilometers) per hour, threatening torrential rains, high winds and dangerous surf.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warned in its latest advisory that Lane could produce "excessive rainfall" that would deluge the islands into the weekend, "leading to significant and life-threatening flash flooding and landslides."

"The state is going to be heavily impacted," said Jeff Byard, associate administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

"We are anticipating that communities will be isolated because of the rain, that communications will be spotty," he said.

Trump had earlier urged Hawaiians to hunker down and prepare for the major storm, while the US Navy said it was deploying some of its Hawaii-based ships and submarines to avoid getting trapped when Lane hits.

Residents were stocking up on water, food and emergency supplies as Lane was tracking some 230 miles (370 kilometers) southwest of Kailua-Kona, a town on the west coast of the Big Island.

Forecasters said the slow-moving storm would generate large swells in the coming days that would produce "very large and damaging surf" on shorelines facing west and south, likely triggering "significant coastal erosion."

Sea levels in that area were expected to rise as much as two to four feet above normal tide levels, prompting a storm surge and "large and destructive waves."

Lane's center was expected to sweep very close or over Hawaii's main islands later Thursday or Friday, the NOAA said.



- Bracing for the worst -



The storm's wind power was expected to weaken into the weekend, but forecasters warned it would remain a hurricane as it approaches the islands.

Governor David Ige had already on Tuesday declared a state of emergency on the Big Island to help provide relief for damage from the hurricane.

"Hurricane Lane is not a well-behaved hurricane," he said in a statement. "I've not seen such dramatic changes in the forecast track as I've seen with this storm.

Hurricanes rarely make landfall in Hawaii and the last major storm to strike the state was nearly three decades ago, when Hurricane Iniki barrelled into the island of Kauai, leaving six people dead and causing billions of dollars in damage.

Authorities were bracing for the worst, stocking up on emergency food and water and readying shelters.

"We have emergency food in the form of MREs (Meals Ready-to-Eat) and water that are currently on all four counties of the state," Byard, the FEMA associate administrator said.

He said FEMA was also working with utility companies to coordinate the repair of any damaged power infrastructure.

The power grid was a major vulnerability in Puerto Rico last year when it was hit by Hurricane Maria, a Category 4 storm.

Hurricane-related deaths in Puerto Rico have been estimated at as many as 4,600 people, largely because prolonged and widespread power outages and washed out roads prevented access to health care, according to US researchers. The government of Puerto Rico, a self-ruled US territory, has put the toll at 1,427.BRUSSELS, Belgium, Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WABCO Holdings Inc. (NYSE: WBC) (www.wabco-auto.com), a leading global supplier of technologies that improve the safety, efficiency and connectivity of commercial vehicles, today announced that it has entered into a strategic partnership with Hino Trucks, a premier commercial truck brand headquartered in Novi, MI, U.S. Under the agreement, WABCO will provide its latest generation braking control technology and a range of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) for Hino Trucks forthcoming heavy-duty truck debut in North America.



WABCO will furnish Hino Trucks with a range of technologies from its portfolio of industry-leading safety and vehicle control technologies to support Hinos all-new XL Series line of Class 7 and 8 heavy-duty trucks which will begin series production in early 2019. These include WABCOs breakthrough modular braking system platform mBSP to enable anti-lock braking (ABS), ESCsmart Electronic Stability Control and products from its suite of industry-leading ADAS technologies.

Hino will offer their new XL7 and XL8 trucks with WABCOs breakthrough OnGuardACTIVE collision mitigation system onboard. With powerfully differentiating performance, particularly in low visibility conditions, OnGuardACTIVE assists truck drivers to recognize and respond to potentially dangerous traffic or weather conditions that could lead to a rear-end collision with moving or stationary vehicles ahead. This radar-only system provides acoustic, visual and haptic alerts to prompt the drivers response to imminent collisions. If the driver does not take corrective action, OnGuardACTIVE can autonomously apply the brakes and can bring the vehicle to a complete stop.

Hino will also offer this range of heavy-duty trucks with WABCOs powerful OnLaneALERT Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS). Helping drivers to avoid unintentional lane drifting, the most common accident involving heavy-duty vehicles, OnLaneALERT utilizes a forward-looking, windshield-mounted camera to monitor the vehicles position within its highway lane. When the system detects the vehicle crossing its driving lane markings without a turn signal having been previously activated, OnLaneALERT provides an audible warning from the side of the vehicle affected. This alert prompts the driver to take corrective action to help prevent potential collisions or road run-offs.

WABCOs global technology leadership in the commercial vehicle industry makes it the perfect partner to support our entry to the North American heavy-duty truck segment, said Yoshinori Noguchi, President and CEO, Hino Trucks North America. As we continue to expand Hinos presence in the local Class 7 and 8 market, WABCOs ADAS and innovative modular technologies offer distinct advantages that further differentiate the versatile and stylish Hino XL Series for fleet customers.

WABCOs pioneering ADAS and modular braking system platforms provide significant advantages for global original equipment manufacturers seeking to penetrate new markets, said Jon Morrison, WABCO President, Americas. We are honored that Hino has selected WABCO to support the North American launch of its next-generation heavy-duty trucks, underlining our technology leadership and relentless focus on delivering value for our customers wherever they choose to operate.

About Hino Trucks

Hino Trucks, a Toyota Group Company, assembles, sells, and services a lineup of Class 4-8 diesel commercial trucks in the United States. Hino Trucks is the premier heavy and medium duty nameplate in the United States with a product lineup that offers fully connected vehicles with low total cost of ownership, superior fuel economy, unmatched reliability and maneuverability and the most comprehensive bundle of standard features in the market. Headquartered in Novi, Michigan, Hino has a network of over 230 dealers nationwide committed to achieving excellence in the ultimate ownership experience. Learn more about Hino Trucks at www.hino.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

About WABCO

WABCO (NYSE: WBC) is a leading global supplier of technologies and services that improve the safety, efficiency and connectivity of commercial vehicles. Originating from the Westinghouse Air Brake Company founded nearly 150 years ago, WABCO continues to pioneer breakthrough innovations to enable autonomous driving in the commercial vehicle industry. Today, leading truck, bus and trailer brands worldwide rely on WABCOs differentiating technologies, including advanced driver assistance, braking, steering and stability control systems. Powered by its vision for accident-free driving and greener transportation solutions, WABCO is also at the forefront of advanced fleet management systems that contribute to commercial fleet efficiency. In 2017, WABCO reported sales of $3.3 billion and has nearly 15,000 employees in 40 countries. For more information, visit www.wabco-auto.com and, for WABCOs 2017 Annual Report, visit ar.wabco-auto.com.

WABCO global media contact

Nina Friedmann, +49 69 719 168 171, wabco@klenkhoursch.de

WABCO North America media contact

John Tews, +1 248 276 1970, jtews@millerschingroup.com

WABCO investors and analysts contact

Sean Deason, +1 248 270 9287, investorrelations@wabco-auto.comFlying into Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, the passengers cheered as the plane landed, a tradition many Puerto Ricans acknowledge. Many were coming to visit family, others for a vacation, but overall, everyone was there to enjoy summer in San Juan. As I walked the streets of Santurce, San Juan's art district, I saw murals on buildings that were left after the annual art competition, called Santurce Es Ley. I also couldn't help but notice the abandoned storefronts on the ground level of some buildings. The smell of the aftermath of Hurricane Maria remained strong. Despite the mounds of gravel and debris and emptied buildings, people still came out to celebrate and eat; mofongo and tostones were in abundance. People were having a great time, despite what had happened nearly a year earlier.

This coming Sept. 20 is the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Maria, a natural catastrophe that completely devastated the island and caught the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Puerto Rican officials with their pants down. According to FEMA's July 2018 report, "The Nation faced an unprecedented 2017 Hurricane Season. ... Ultimately, the lessons learned ... will contribute to FEMA's efforts to work with our partners to help people before, during, and after disasters."

But the "lessons learned" were at the cost of thousands of lives. As many as 4,600 deaths are thought to have been associated with the direct impact and aftermath of Maria, and until recently, nearly 1,000 households in Puerto Rico remained without power. People have not yet recovered from the aftermath of Maria. Teal-blue tarps covering hundreds of homes are visible when flying over the island. If a hurricane like last year's were to hit again this season, these homes would be completely demolished.

What do these natural disasters mean for people living with chronic illnesses, such as the approximately 17,000 people living with HIV on Puerto Rico? Puerto Rico is facing a health care crisis, and it began before Hurricane Maria hit. As reported by Drew Gibson for TheBody last year, "Puerto Rico ranks in the top 10 among U.S. states and territories for total HIV cases and has an HIV death rate higher than any other state or U.S. territory." One would think that being a commonwealth of the most powerful country in the world would have benefits when it comes to health care and recovery from natural catastrophes, such as the one that took place in September 2017; however, that is certainly not the case for Puerto Rico.

Federal spending for Medicaid for the 50 U.S. states grows as need grows, but these funds are capped for Puerto Rico. Under the Affordable Care Act, Puerto Rico was given a one-time federal grant of $6.4 billion for health care spending for fiscal years 2011-2019. But that money was spent as of April 2018, although half of all people on the island rely on Medicaid.

Yet, the HIV community remains resilient. "I have been able to continue [HIV] treatment; I do not know anyone who has had problems," said Dianne Michelle, a 69-year-old Afro-Latin transgender activist in San Juan. "The problem lies with the issue of electricity to do everyday tasks. There are places that lasted four months without electricity, and others still have no power a year later. I believe the government of Puerto Rico should be more attentive and sincere when we deal with these natural catastrophes."

Michelle is now a mentor for other transgender people and people living with HIV on Puerto Rico. She remembers the fear on the island after AIDS became known and began to take root on the island. People saw it as leprosy, and patients were left in corner hospital beds to die alone. She remembers that the first regimen to treat HIV was a set of ten pills.

Eventually, Michelle was able to continue her life with HIV and went to school for cosmetology. She would host homeless LGBT youth in her home after they were kicked out for being who they were. Many of these youth were sex workers, and even though she never chose to do sex-work herself, she tried to support youth as best she could by providing a roof over their heads. Michelle is now a prominent figure in San Juan. She is an activist in the LGBT community and well respected by her peers. And she has strong words for how the Puerto Rican government has responded to the current infrastructure devastation.

"This government does not care about the people; it's a daily crisis, she said. "We have no sure future for Puerto Rico."

Related: Help People Living With HIV in Puerto Rico Recover From Hurricane Maria

Health care coverage is only one aspect of the ongoing challenges. Community organizers on Puerto Rico told me that they feared that the closure of pharmacies on the island since the hurricane will jeopardize the health of people living with chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, HIV, and asthma. In recent years health care providers on the island have done a phenomenal job at containing the HIV virus -- only 523 new HIV cases were reported in 2016; however, the Medicaid funding crisis could impact overall health care access and impact this progress.

As Michelle pointed out, the lack of health care and other infrastructure is partially the result of corruption by Puerto Rican government officials. In 2016, Ricardo Rossello -- son of the former governor of Puerto Rico -- came into office. His political party, New Progressive Party (NPP), advocates for the statehood of Puerto Rico, an action the people of Puerto Rico strongly oppose (many want to become completely independent of the United States). In the early '90s, when Rossello's father was governor of Puerto Rico, the NPP was involved in embezzlement with HIV/AIDS NGOs and non-profits.

According to Anselmo Fonseca, community organizer for Bill's Kitchen (a nonprofit that provides food and other support services to people with HIV), the Rossello legacy has caused great pain to people living with HIV in Puerto Rico. Fonseca is a long-term HIV survivor. He lost his partner to complications from AIDS in 1991 and was diagnosed with HIV in '95 after moving to Puerto Rico.

"The [HIV] stigma does exist, but we emerged as activists after finding out our status," said Fonseca. He consistently called out the corruption in Puerto Rico's government during the early '90s when the AIDS crisis on the island was at its peak. San Juan AIDS Institute and two other non-profits created to help HIV patients were caught diverting money to the NPP. Jose Granados Navedo, former house vice president of the NPP, resigned after admitting that he took a $200,000 political donation from an AIDS Institute official. Another NPP senator, Freddy Valentin, was arrested on charges of extortion and money laundering.

Ricardo Rossello, the current governor, is a social and fiscal conservative who opposed same-sex marriage and is against gender studies in public schools. He has also supported the privatization of public utilities and other government functions in a non-transparent manner that raises conflict of interest issues. Meanwhile, it took 11 months for electricity and other basic services to be fully restored to Puerto Rican neighborhoods.

It comes as no surprise that, given the infestation of corruption found in the political party affiliated with former Governor Rossello, Rossello Jr. would also be caught up in an ordeal affecting the HIV-positive community of Puerto Rico, among others. Despite these tragedies, the people living with HIV in Puerto Rico stay hopeful and strong, even after all these years living with the virus.

Giuliani Alvarenga is a UC Berkeley alumnus who double majored in English and gender & women's studies. He is a Sidley Austin Pre-Law Scholar and wrapping up his two-year clerkship with Munger, Tolles, & Olson before he begins law school.CARMIEL, Israel, Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GlobeNewswire /Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. (NYSE American:PLX, TASE:PLX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of recombinant therapeutic proteins expressed through its proprietary plant cell-based expression system, ProCellEx, today announced that the Company will present at the 20th Annual Rodman & Renshaw Global Investment Conference, sponsored by H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC. The conference is being held on September 4-6, 2018 at the St. Regis New York Hotel in New York City.



Mr. Moshe Manor, the Companys President and Chief Executive Officer, will provide a corporate overview on Wednesday, September 5 at 2:10 pm ET and will be available to participate in one-on-one meetings with investors who are registered to attend the conference.

If you are an institutional investor, and would like to attend the Companys presentation, please click on the following link (www.rodmanevents.com) to register for the conference. Once your registration is confirmed, you will be prompted to log into the conference website to request a one-on-one meeting with the Company.

A live and archived webcast of the presentation will be available at www.protalix.com, on the event calendar page.

About Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc.

Protalix is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of recombinant therapeutic proteins expressed through its proprietary plant cell-based expression system, ProCellEx. Protalixs unique expression system presents a proprietary method for developing recombinant proteins in a cost-effective, industrial-scale manner. Protalixs first product manufactured by ProCellEx, taliglucerase alfa, was approved for marketing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in May 2012 and, subsequently, by the regulatory authorities of other countries. Protalix has licensed to Pfizer Inc. the worldwide development and commercialization rights for taliglucerase alfa, excluding Brazil, where Protalix retains full rights. Protalixs development pipeline includes the following product candidates: pegunigalsidase alfa, a modified version of the recombinant human alpha-GAL-A protein for the treatment of Fabry disease; OPRX-106, an orally-delivered anti-inflammatory treatment; alidornase alfa for the treatment of Cystic Fibrosis; and others. Protalix partnered with Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., both in the United States and outside the United States, for the development and commercialization of pegunigalsidase alfa.

Investor Contact

Marcy Nanus, Managing Director

Solebury Trout

646-378-2927

mnanus@soleburytrout.comSend your info, photos, videos or audios to 3624518042 SITECH Federation met with candidates for deputies of the FE political space, to reaffirm the commitment in defense of public school that they had assumed before the PASO and with theComing Soon Join Columbia Childrens Theatre this October for the musical production of Ragtime! At the dawn of a new century, everything is changingand anything is possible. Set in the volatile melting...

This week at Picnic in the Park Theres nothing better than great music and great companyin the best neighborhood around. Town Theatre will present a second series of concerts by some fantastic performers that have graced not...TORONTO, Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RioCan REIT (TSX:REI.UN) today announced it has leased approximately 98% of its new Toronto development, Bathurst College Centre, after signing a lease with a leading, international technology company. The mixed-use development has also attracted high-profile retail tenants led by FreshCo. (Sobeys), Winners and Scotiabank, all of which are expected to be open and operating in Spring of 2019.



Within the office space, the technology company will occupy approximately 28,000 square feet starting in Spring 2019, and University Health Network will occupy an additional 40,000 square feet starting in Summer 2019.

Bathurst College Centre is a four-storey, commercial mixed-use development located on Bathurst Street between Dundas and College in Toronto. RioCan purchased the land in 2011 and since has worked closely with the city and community to ensure it is an integral contributor to the area in which it operates.

RioCans ability to fully lease the development to such high caliber retail and office tenants reflects the value of this urban mixed-use property, as well as our development pipeline and overall portfolio. We are pleased that notwithstanding the challenges associated with obtaining zoning for the area, our excellent leasing results will deliver returns in the upper end of the targeted range we require for all our developments, said Edward Sonshine, Chief Executive Officer of RioCan. Bathurst College Centre is a perfect example of how our major market strategy is coming to life and were thrilled to deliver a mixed-use development that will serve the communitys needs long into the future.

About RioCan

RioCan is one of Canadas largest real estate investment trusts with a total enterprise value of approximately $13.7 billion at June 30, 2018. RioCan owns, manages and develops retail-focused, increasingly mixed-use properties located in prime, high-density transit-oriented areas where Canadians want to shop, live and work. Our portfolio is comprised of 267 properties, including 17 development properties, with an aggregate net leasable area of approximately 42 million square feet. To learn more about how we deliver real vision on solid ground, visit www.riocan.com.

For further information, please contact:Memphis, TN, Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Civil Rights Museum announced recipients of The Freedom Award, the museums signature event that honors outstanding individuals for their significant contributions to civil and human rights. This years honorees are Vice President Joe Biden, civil rights leader Jesse Jackson and philanthropist Pitt Hyde.

The Freedom Award will be presented October 17, 2018 at the Orpheum Theatre. The Ceremony will be preceded by the Pre-Show Gala at the Halloran Centre for the Performing Arts.

The theme for the 27th Freedom Award is 1968, a reflection of a pivotal year in modern American and world history when the fight for equality went global. It was a year of tumultuous chaos and paradigm shifts on what it meant to be free as indicated in a series of galvanized movements including: the opposition to the Vietnam War and tyranny; student protests at the Chicago Democratic Convention and the stand for voter rights and political representation; the wave of political coups and liberation from colonialism in Africa, Asia and Europe; the fight for gay and civil rights in America; the strike for economic equity in the Memphis Sanitation Workers Strike for which Dr. King came to Memphis; the outcry that ensued after Dr. Kings assassination; and the compounding grief after Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated just two months later.

In 1968, the world was in turmoil in a way never recorded before, yet in ways similar to events today. The museum looks back on this historical year and how society moved forward. It looks toward leadership, champions of freedom, who have been tested through trials and tragedies, and remain invested in lighting the way for those who struggle, said Terri Lee Freeman, National Civil Rights Museum President.

As a young man in then-segregated Wilmington, Delaware, Joe Biden was inspired to begin a life of public service by the leaders of the civil rights movement. Only a few years later, Biden became one of the youngest senators elected to U.S. Congress when he was elected to represent the state of Delaware at the age of 29. As a senator for 36 years, Biden was recognized for his work in criminal justice and international affairs. In 2008, he was elected Vice President, serving alongside President Barack Obama, where he continued to work to shape policies impacting the living standards of middle-class America, gun violence and violence against women. In 2017, President Obama awarded Biden the Presidential Medal of Freedom with distinction, calling him a lion of American history honored for faith in his fellow American, for [his] love of country and a lifetime of service that will endure through the generations. Since leaving the White House, Vice President Biden has continued to stay engaged in the issues that have always animated his career, including through the Biden Institute at the University of Delaware.

The Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr., founder and president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, is one of the foremost civil rights, religious and political figures of our time. For nearly 50 years, he has played a pivotal role in virtually every movement for peace, civil rights, empowerment, gender equality, and economic and social justice the world over. A testament to the breadth and depth of his works can best be expressed by two of the greatest honors he has received. In 2000, President Bill Clinton awarded the nations highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to Reverend Jackson; and, in 2013, the South African government bestowed upon him their highest civilian honor, their National Order, the Companions of OR Tambo.

Reverend Jackson has been called the "Conscience of the Nation" and "the Great Unifier," challenging America to be inclusive and to establish just and humane priorities for the benefit of all. He is known for bringing people together on common ground across lines of race, faith, gender, culture and class.

J.R. Pitt Hyde III is trustee of the Hyde Family Foundation. His lifetime of executive and entrepreneurial experience shaped his hands-on grantmaking, focus on data-driven impact, and his philosophy emphasizing programs designed to tackle the urban challenges facing his hometown of Memphis.

Acting on the family tradition of giving back to his city, his business leadership shaped a nationally recognized family foundation focused on improving the lives, empowering others to drive change in their neighborhoods, and bringing business principles to civic engagement. Working with his wife, Foundation Chair and CEO, Barbara Rosser Hyde, he established the philanthropys priorities -- transforming education, strengthening neighborhoods, engaging civic leadership and promoting Memphis unique assets in arts and culture. He recognized that education reform is the civil rights issue of our time and his persuasive advocacy has been credited with Memphis being recognized as ground zero for the most innovative reform efforts in the U.S. Hyde and his wife were awarded the 2017 William E. Simon Prize for Philanthropic Leadership by the Philanthropy Roundtable.

Special tribute to Aretha Franklin. The Museum will pay tribute to the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, during the Award Ceremony acknowledging her role in the Civil Rights and Womens Rights Movements, and the impact she had through her creative gifts in empowering those who felt marginalized.

Writer, commentator and activist, Michaela Angela Davis, is host of the Award Ceremony.

Over the past 26 years, the National Civil Rights has presented The Freedom Award to many of the most lauded civil and human rights leaders and history makers including Coretta Scott King, President Nelson Mandela, The Dalai Lama, President Bill Clinton, President Jimmy Carter, President Mikhail Gorbachev, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Rosa Parks, Bono, Secretary of State Colin Powell, President Lech Walesa, President Oscar Arias, President Mary Robinson, Paul Rusesabagina, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, Tom Brokaw, Frank Robinson, Earvin Magic Johnson, Bernard Lafayette, Marlo Thomas, Hill Harper, Marva Collins, Usher Raymond, Bill Frist, Dolores Huerta, Rev. James Lawson, Cicely Tyson, Rev. Samuel Billy Kyles, Kirk Whalum, Southern Poverty Law Center, Susan Taylor, Rev. C.T. Vivian, John Seigenthaler, NAACP, Alonzo Mourning, Danny Glover, Julius Dr. J Ervin, Eva Longoria Parker, Dr. Dorothy Cotton, Dr. Wangari Maathai, Vice President Al Gore, Diane Nash, B.B. King, John Hope Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Rev. Joseph Lowery, Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis, Congressman John Lewis, Maxine Smith, Rev. Benjamin Hooks, Julian Bond, Sidney Poitier, Harry Belafonte, Andrew Young, Jackie Robinson, Frank Robinson, Elie Wiesel, Oprah Winfrey, Myrlie Evers-Williams, Geoffrey Canada, Joan Trumpauer Mulholland, Ruby Bridges-Hall, Ava DuVernay, Swin Cash, Benjamin Crump, Tawakkol Karman, Soledad OBrian, The Honorable Damon Keith, Bryan Stevenson, William F. Winter, Rev. Bernice A. King, Hugh Masekela and Morris Dees.

The Freedom Award premiere sponsors are International Paper, Hyde Family Foundations, FedEx Corporation, Ford Motor Company and First Tennessee.

Freedom Award activities on Wednesday, October 17, 2018 include the following:

10:00 a.m. Student Forum Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church

5:00 p.m. Pre-Show Gala Halloran Centre for the Performing Arts and Education

7:30 p.m. Award Ceremony Orpheum Theatre

The Freedom Award ceremony and Pre-Show Gala are ticketed events. Sponsorship levels are $3,000, $4,500, $6,500, $10,000, $15,000, $25,000 and $35,000. Individual tickets are $200, $300 and $450. Tickets and sponsorships are available at civilrightsmuseum.org.

The Student Forum is a free student and educator forum.ROLLING MEADOWS, Illinois, Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OneLife Technologies Corp. (OneLife, the Company) (OTC Pink: OLMM), a mobile medical data and technologies company, today provides a corporate update including information on the forthcoming launch of its mobile medical health technology platform.



OneLife Technologies Corp. is a mobile medical software/data collection company with a suite of proprietary, patented, medical grade tracking technologies designed to provide patients, physicians, nursing homes, and hospitals with real-time centralized, personal, comprehensive health data and monitoring. The system and devices will be Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliant and utilize an open application programming interface (API) for easy data communication and integration to any existing system.

Over the past few months, as we have continued to develop and update our wearable health hardware products, we realized that the need for accurate, constant and consistent monitoring of a persons medical conditions has never been in greater demand than it is today, as we are witnessing a paradigm shift from hospitals as a destination to a Hub-of-Care, stated Robert J. Wagner, CEO of OneLife.

The time an individual spends in the hospital continues to decrease, while rehabilitation time at home increases. This is the very reason why it has been so important for OneLife to focus on a product platform whose underlying technologies decreased the cost of these monitoring devices, decreased the cost of data connectivity and increased battery life, added Wagner.

The Companys suite of proprietary, patented, medical grade wearable tracking technologies was developed to provide users (typically, 55+ years old and suffering from a medical condition) with constant 24/7 monitoring by their physician and loved ones. OneLife s fully-functional medical grade wearable device is specifically designed for the healthcare market and priced for maximum affordability and cost-effectiveness. OneLife system upgrades also include a mobile health kit designed to take more advanced vitals readings.

As we near the market introduction of our new mobile medical technologies platform, we are confident that we will offer a suite of medical technologies that will bring healthcare to a population, rather than a population to healthcare, stated Wagner.

OneLife s portfolio of medical/health software and data collection technologies are supported through a personal health data account that can centralize a users health records and an application management system that link the technology at the hospital/physician level. Proprietary artificial intelligence software also acts as a personal healthcare consultant to detect developing health issues.

THE GROWING MOBILE HEALTHCARE MARKET

According to recent studies and information posted by statistics portal Statista, the health and medical industry have been named as one of the top three fields to accelerate the growth of mobile devices. Mobile health, or mHealth, has the ability to improve the overall healthcare system by improving efficiency, communication, costs, and quality of healthcare services.

The study states that as smartphone ownership and use becomes more widespread, the mHealth market has grown and developed. Using digital forms for consumer communication with healthcare professionals is becoming more common and is often considered a more convenient means of contact. Mobile health services are able to provide programs for chronic conditions, remote monitoring, patient data, electronic records, e-prescriptions, and also include fitness and wellness applications. Using mobile devices to monitor health and data of patients can be especially convenient. Such use would not only help to improve the quality of care and health of patients but could also save millions of dollars a year in avoidable healthcare costs, for example by simply helping to improve poor medication habits.

The mobile health industry is expected to continue to grow in the coming years and is predicted to reach a total market size of almost $60 billion dollars by 2020. Uses of mHealth will grow and change as health trends and concerns fluctuate in coming years.

ABOUT ONELIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORP.

OneLife Technologies Corp. is a mobile medical software/data collection company with a suite of proprietary, patented, medical grade wearable tracking technologies designed to provide patients, physicians, nursing homes, and hospitals with 24/7 real-time centralized, personal, comprehensive health data. For additional information, visit www.onelifetc.com.

Keep up-to-date on OneLife Technologies news, events and developments, join our online communities at Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Contact Information:

OneLife Technologies Corp.

Investor Relations

Email: ir@onelifetc.com

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENT

This news release includes forward-looking statements that reflect OneLife Technologies Corp. current expectations about its future results, performance, prospects and opportunities OneLife Technologies Corp. has tried to identify these forward-looking statements by using words and phrases such as "may", "will", "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "should", "typical", "we are confident" or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to the Company and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company's actual results, performance, prospects of opportunities for the remainder of 2018 and beyond to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements.MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC) is pleased to announce the jury-selected finalists for the 2018 ITAC Ingenious Awards and the CanadianCIO of the Year Award. The awards programs were created as a way to recognize Canadian talent and initiatives designed to improve performance, introduce new services, solve programs and grow businesses.



The ITAC Ingenious finalists, together with the finalists for the CanadianCIO of the Year, will be judged by a second judging panel made up of senior CIOs and CEOs, including a representative from the CIO Association of Canada, who will select the final winners in each category. Winners will be announced on November 6, 2018 at the Omni King Edward Hotel, in Toronto, ON.

2018 FINALISTS

The 2018 ITAC Ingenious Awards finalists are:

Large Private Sector

Impark: Impark hangTag

Goldcorp: Goldcorp Cognitive Journey

Enercare: Enercare Smarter Home and Tech Enroute

Large Public Sector

TransLink: Universal Fare Gate Access

Halton Healthcare: Smart Hospitals Enabling Exemplary Patient Experiences

SickKids: SickKids Health Information System Implementation

Medium Size Private Business

ComplyWorks: Realtime Multilingual Language Detection and Translation Add-on to Customer Support Application

The Pythian Group: Pythian Kick Analytics as a Service (Kick AaaS)

Agreement Express: Digital Onboarding for iA Financial Group

Small Size Private Business

Bluewrist: Robotics and 3D Machine Vision: A Smarter Way to do QA Testing

WeUS Them: imTEEN

Ulula: Connected Communities

Small-to-Medium Size Public Sector/ Not-for-Profit

Calgary Drop-In and Rehab Centre: Calgary Drop-in Center IT Transformation

Montreal West Island Integrated University Health and Social Services Centre: Demonstration of the Clinical Utility of the Resident Assessment Instrument through Lean Methodologiesthe Making of!

Ingenious Spark

Chatter Research: Chatter Research

Testfire Labs: Testfire Labs

Nelson: Project Edwin

The CanadianCIO of the Year Award finalists are:

Public Sector Nominations:

Helen Wetherley Knight, Calgary Drop-In and Rehab Centre

Tara Mulrooney, Alberta Energy Regulator

Roy French, Saint Elizabeth

Dana C. Sanderson, University of Prince Edward Island

Jessie Adcock, City of Vancouver

Private Sector Nominations:

Fred Cook, BlueShore Financial

Mark Bryant, PCL Constructors

Amer Matar, Moneris

Ali Razavi, Tangerine Bank

Mark Saunders, Sun Life Financial

Shauna Begley, White Spot

For more information on the awards programs, please visit www.ingeniousawards.ca.

Our Partners

ITAC is proud to partner with the CIO Association of Canada (CIOCAN) on both the Ingenious Awards Program and CanadianCIO of the Year Awards. CIOCAN together with CanadianCIO Magazine partner to recognize individuals making extraordinary contributions to the evolution of technology in Canada in their capacity as CIOs in both the public and private sector for the CanadianCIO of the Year Awards.

About Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC)

As Canadas national ICT business association, the Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC) champions the development of a robust and sustainable digital economy in Canada. A vital connection between business and government, we provide our members with the advocacy, networking and professional development services that help them to thrive nationally and compete globally.

For more information, contact:

Christine Leonard, Director, Events and Program Development

905-580-2048 or cleonard@itac.caTORONTO, Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stratabound Minerals Corp. (TSXV: SB) (Stratabound or the Company) is pleased to provide a further update on the gold exploration program at its Golden Culvert Project located in the Hyland Valley Gold District of the southeastern Yukon Territory. Trenching is complete and diamond drilling of eight holes across 500 metres of strike length is nearing completion. Based on early positive visual indications of intense quartz-sulphide veining in the drill results to date, the diamond drilling has been increased from 1,000 metres originally planned to 1,700 metres. Logging and sampling of the core is in progress. First core assays are expected in early September.



Highlights of the trenching program as shown on the attached map include 1.43 gpt gold over 12.0 metres including 4.23 gpt gold over 3.0 metres in trench 1805. Trench 1801 returned 1.49 gpt gold over 10.0 metres including 6.11 gpt gold over 1.5 metres, and 2.76 gpt gold over 7.0 metres including 6.67 gpt gold over 2.5 metres. Trench 1804 returned 2.33 gpt gold over 3.0 metres including 5.32 gpt gold over 1.0 metre. The trenches are located approximately 100 metres apart along the 500 metre strike length and with the above intervals only at the margins of the >200 ppb Au soil anomaly. Trenching has only been able to expose the margin of the soil anomaly peak due to sloughing of highly oxidized material that forms thick scree/talus cover on the steep mountain slopes. Therefore, trenching has been only partially effective as an exploration tool, but has provided essential geological information, including structural orientations and confirmation of the gold anomaly trend.

To view the Golden Culvert Project trenching and drilling map, please visit the following link:

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f4570ac6-9e6f-4ea8-93b1-c5328986cddf

The first diamond drill holes, however, have encountered sulphide mineralized quartz veins and quartz breccia, with sulphide mineralized phyllite host rock underlying the >200 ppb gold-in-soils anomaly zones.

President and CEO R. Kim Tyler commented, "With the trenching we would like to have uncovered more bedrock exposure below the deep oxidized talus around the higher grade portions of the gold-in-soils anomaly. We are nevertheless very encouraged by what we have seen in the drill core and the partially effective trench results, and as a result of these positive results we have increased the drill program to include the 700 additional metres of drilling.

Analytical, QA/QC Methods and Protocol:

All trench samples were delivered to the ALS Global preparation facility in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory where they were crushed to 70% passing a 2mm sieve, then a 250g split was pulverized to better than 85% passing a 75 micron screen. Gold was determined by a 30 gram fire assay method with an atomic absorption finish at the Vancouver ALS lab facility. In addition to the quality assurance and quality control program performed by ALS, Stratabound personnel inserted blind, laboratory certified standards into the sample batches at the rate of one standard for every 15 samples.

About the Golden Culvert and Little Hyland Properties

Golden Culvert and Little Hyland cover 83.8 square kilometres in the southeast Yukon Territory across a 24-kilometre strike located approximately 20 kilometres northeast of and parallel to Golden Predator Mining Corp.s 3 Aces property. Work filed in Yukon mineral claims assessment reports has outlined a northerly trending, 3 kilometre by 250 metre, +30 ppb Au up to 791 ppb Au gold-in-soil anomaly that remains open at both ends. The soil anomaly is centred around partially exposed primary gold-bearing quartz veins grading between 7.7 to 22.8 gpt gold over 1 metre and complimentary gold-bearing quartz vein stockwork within a larger silicified, altered, sulphide and gold-bearing wallrock grading up to 2.27 gpt gold over 0.5 metre.

Prior to this summers exploration program a total of $564,400 of work had been done on the Property, including 3,645 soil samples, 48 stream samples, 239 rock samples, 19.4 line-km of ground magnetic survey and 18.5 line-km of VLF survey. This summers program of $1.1 million includes the completed trenching and ongoing drilling to further define the highly mineralized areas of the property.

About Stratabound

Stratabound Minerals Corp. is a Canadian exploration and development company focused on the Yukon Territory and to a lesser extent the Bathurst Mining Camp in New Brunswick. Stratabound management has a diversified track record of exploration, development and operating successes that will facilitate the development of the Companys exploration projects.

For further information, please see the Golden Culvert presentation and the NI 43-101 technical report on the Stratabound web site, www.stratabound.com.

For further information contact:

Ritu Gupte, Investor Relations Consultant

647-267-5380

rgupte@stratabound.com

info@stratabound.com

www.stratabound.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

WARNING: the Company relies upon litigation protection for forward looking statements. The information in this release may contain forward-looking information under applicable securities laws. This forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking information. Factors that may cause actual results to vary materially include, but are not limited to, inaccurate assumptions concerning the exploration for and development of mineral deposits, currency fluctuations, unanticipated operational or technical difficulties, changes in laws or regulations, failure to obtain regulatory, exchange or shareholder approval, the risks of obtaining necessary licenses and permits, changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets and the inability to raise additional financing. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information. The Company does not assume the obligation to revise or update this forward-looking information after the date of this release or to revise such information to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.Brooklyn, New York, Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (Brooklyn, NY  August 22, 2018) NYC Health + Hospitals/Coney Island marked the official opening today of its Outpatient Diagnostic Center/Womens Health, a suite of some of the most advanced imaging technologies. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by William Brown, chief executive officer of NYC Health + Hospitals/Coney Island, City Council member Chaim Deutsch, and a host of leaders and staff from the public health system.

Located on the fifth floor of the main hospital building, the 7,093-square-foot imaging suite features the following:

GE 3D mammography unit, the Senographe Pristina - Radiologists can see breast tissue details more clearly to uncover breast cancer that may have otherwise been hidden by overlying breast tissue. The mammography system was designed with patient comfort in mind, with dedicated functionalities for easier patient positioning during a mammogram.

Hologic bone densitometry (DEXA)/Osteoporosis scanning unit - This enhanced form of x-ray technology is used to measure bone loss. In addition to detecting early stages of osteoporosis and improving identification of hard-to-capture vertebral and femoral fractures, the unit features IVA-HD technology, which enables clinicians to visualize abdominal aortic calcifications, a significant predictor of cardiovascular disease.

- This enhanced form of x-ray technology is used to measure bone loss. In addition to detecting early stages of osteoporosis and improving identification of hard-to-capture vertebral and femoral fractures, the unit features IVA-HD technology, which enables clinicians to visualize abdominal aortic calcifications, a significant predictor of cardiovascular disease. Henry Schein panorex unit - Jawbone and dental x-rays are taken by a machine that moves around the head, rather than requiring the patient to accommodate the technology. The unit offers digital radiography, which offers reduced x-ray exposure compared to traditional x-ray-processing techniques.

- Jawbone and dental x-rays are taken by a machine that moves around the head, rather than requiring the patient to accommodate the technology. The unit offers digital radiography, which offers reduced x-ray exposure compared to traditional x-ray-processing techniques. A Philips ultrasound unit - High-frequency sound waves capture images for a range of health care purposes, including ultrasound-guided biopsies.

The suite serves as the hospitals main ambulatory imaging and diagnostic center, and is available to all patients in need of service. It complements other imaging resources available at NYC Health + Hospitals/Coney Island to address the full range of patient needs.

The opening of the Outpatient Diagnostic Center/Womens Health imaging suite demonstrates our commitment to continuously providing our patients and community members with the most advanced medical services, said Mr. Brown. As the medical provider of choice in southern Brooklyn, we recognize that our patients deserve premier, advanced medical care, and that is exactly what we will continue to deliver.

I commend NYC Health + Hospitals/Coney Island and the broader public health system on the opening of this new Outpatient Diagnostic Center/Womens Health imaging suite, said Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz. I'm pleased that residents will have this potentially lifesaving, state-of-the-art facility within easy access in their own community, which encourages them to be proactive about their own health.

This is a significant achievement in the Citys ongoing efforts to better serve the health needs of the community, said New York Council Member Chaim Deutsch. Im glad to have been able to allocate $130,000 towards 3D-imaging technology for womens health. The Outpatient Diagnostic Center with its advanced imaging technologies will benefit the public for decades to come. I congratulate Mr. Brown and everyone else associated with this milestone, and look forward to continue working with them.

Residents in southern Brooklyn deserve the same high-quality medical care that is available and accessible to New Yorkers in other parts of the city, said New York City Council Member Mark Treyger. The new Outpatient Diagnostic Center at NYC Health + Hospitals/Coney Island will help their great team of medical professionals better diagnose, treat, and care for local residents. This is welcome news for our community.

The Outpatient Diagnostic Center/Womens Health imaging suite reflects a $9.5 million investment in construction and new technologiesfunding provided through a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to mitigate damage experienced in 2012 during Super Storm Sandy.



About NYC Health + Hospitals/Coney Island

NYC Health + Hospitals/Coney Island is a 371-bed facility, one of the public health systems 11 acute care hospitals that offers general and acute medical care to adults and children. NYC Health + Hospitals/Coney Island offers inpatient services for primary and acute care in general medicine, adult medicine, pediatrics, general surgery, medical and surgical sub-specialties, coronary care, intensive care, obstetrics and gynecology, midwifery, neonatology, critical care, rehabilitation medicine, psychiatry, and behavioral health services to a primary service area of approximately 900,000 NYC residents of southern Brooklyn. The hospital has designations as a SAFE Center of Excellence under the Sexual Assault Reform Act, Designated AIDS Center (DACs), Level 2 Perinatal Center, and a New York State-designated Stroke Center.

About NYC Health + Hospitals

NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest public health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the citys five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the systems trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlus health planall supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 42,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NYCHealthandHospitals or Twitter at @NYCHealthSystem.VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CROP Infrastructure Corp. (CSE: CROP) (OTCMKTS: CRXPF) (CROP or the Company) announced today the appointment of Greg Douglas to the Executive Advisory Board who will have a special focus on CROPs Jamaica operations.



CROP Infrastructure CEO, Michael Yorke, stated, Greg can be considered one of the foremost authorities on the Jamaican cannabis industry. He will be of considerable assistance to CROP as the business develops there.

Greg has the invaluable ability to effectively interact with stakeholders from both the private and public sectors and his knowledge of the industry, both in the Caribbean and North America, is truly extensive and that will be of great benefit to CROP as it expands even further internationally.



Greg Douglas formally entered the Cannabis space in 2015 when he joined the Bureau of Standards Jamaica as their Management Information Systems (MIS) Manager. Shortly after joining the Bureau he was named as the Project Coordinator for a proposed Medical Cannabis (Ganja) Track and Trace Pilot Project.

Through this Greg was exposed to compliance mechanisms used in Colorado, touring state facilities which increased his understanding and appreciation of the industry while building relationships with Colorados compliance agency, along with local businesses.

Greg is now known internally at the Bureau as the Ganja Man and externally by stakeholders as the Bureau Man. During April to November 2017 Greg was seconded to the Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA) as their CEO. While there he became a part of history issuing the first commercial licenses.

He also sought to streamline internal processes to increase the efficiency of the Authority. He was part of the CLA team that visited Canada where the team met with both Canadian Government entities and officials (Health Canada, MP Bill Blair, Department of Finance), also with resident offices of the Jamaica Tourist Board and JAMPRO.

Greg resumed his duties at the Bureau of Standards in January 2018 and is engaged as a member of the team responsible for the creation of standards within the cannabis industry in Jamaica.

About CROP Infrastructure Corp.

CROP Infrastructure Corp. is publicly listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange and trades under the symbol CROP and in the US under the symbol CRXPF. CROP is primarily engaged in the business of investing, constructing, owning and leasing greenhouse projects as part of the provision of turnkey real estate solutions for lease-to-licensed cannabis producers and processors offering best-in-class operations. The Companys portfolio of assets includes cultivation properties in California, Washington State, Nevada, Italy, Jamaica and a joint venture on West Hollywood and San Bernardino dispensary applications. CROP has developed a portfolio of 16 Cannabis brands and has US and Italian distribution rights to a line of over 55 topical cannabis products from The Yield Growth Corp.

Company Contact

Michael Yorke  CEO & Director

E-mail: info@cropcorp.com

Website: www.cropcorp.com

Phone: (604) 484-4206The core of every museum is its collection, often accumulated over a long period of time, which is then presented to the public to highlight a certain genre, style or art form.

What is often forgotten, however, is the fact that every collection was formed and influenced by political, social and cultural conditions and therefore often represents merely one of many perspectives.

The Hello World exhibition, which runs through Aug. 26 at the Nationalgalerie  Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (National Gallery  Berlin State Museums) and is part of the Federal Cultural Foundations program Museum Global, takes a critical look at its own collection and aims to approach it differently by answering the following question: What would our collection look like today if its formation and understanding of art had been shaped by a more open-minded view  sans colonialism, wars, conflicts and other significant events that have rattled the world over the past centuries?

Hello World offers possible answers to this question and potential alternative views on art history in 13 different chapters that touch on a variety of topics that range from moments of trans-cultural exchange and processes of transformation to museum concepts, both old and new.

The chapter Making Paradise. Places of Longing, from Paul Gauguin to Tita Salina, curated by Anna-Catharina Gebbers, is a fascinating foray into the world of art in Indonesia as it uncovers the roots and exchange between artists of two continents, the transformation of Bali island into a place of longing and imagined paradise to works of contemporary artists today such as Tita Salina and Agan Harahap.

In preparation for her chapter of Hello World, Gebbers traveled extensively throughout Indonesia to network and connect to different artists, art collectives, galleries, museums as well as other important figures of Indonesias cultural industry and closely conferred with Indonesian curators Grace Samboh and Enin Supriyanto, discussing questions of painting practices in Indonesia and the countrys art canon.

Both Grace and Enin also contributed a lengthy article to the exhibitions catalog, in which they suggest rethinking the ideas and ideals of paintings in Indonesia, referencing three essays by painter S. Sudjojono (1913-1986), artist Oesman Effendi (1919-1985) and Professor Sudjoko (1928-2006).

It is a sensational introduction to the politically-led discourses on painting in Indonesia, which  as far as I know  has so far never been included in any European catalogue, Gebbers said.

Going back to the Hello World exhibition, the starting point of the Making Paradise chapter is Raden Saleh, often referred to as the first modern artist from Indonesia. With the support of the Dutch colonial administration, Raden Saleh first came to Europe in 1829 to study painting as the first Asian, non-European artist.

Read also: Common art exhibition rules and why you should obey them

He spent twenty years living and working in Europe, including Dresden, and was well respected as an exotic figure at the royal courts, Gebbers said, adding that Raden Saleh came to Europe during a time, when the stereotypical image of people from the Orient mainly consisted of salacious yet wily men and women sitting in the shade of tropical palm trees.

Raden Saleh knew about these perceptions in the West, Gebbers explained.

Therefore, after settling in Dresden, he began to change his appearance. He didnt wear Western attire anymore but played with the cliche of the Orientals, dressing the part, because it seemed to be more useful when it came to selling his paintings. He also incorporated Western painting styles into his works, alongside Orientalist elements.

French painter Paul Gauguin, who was a contemporary of Raden Saleh, first set sail for Tahiti in 1891, longing to make a fresh start and the vision of a primitive idyll firmly fixed in his mind.

Walter Spies, a German artist born in Moscow, was another adventurer seeking lucrative opportunities and artistic inspiration beyond the borders of his home country. When he arrived in Bali in 1923, colonialism was at its height.

The Balinese were proud people who fought and resisted colonialism and didnt want to bow down to the Dutch rulers, which led to mass ritual suicides,

puputan. The images of these suicides resulted in international criticism and led to an image problem of the Dutch, Gebbers explained.

To put things right again, the Dutch changed course and presented themselves as protectors of the real Bali and its culture, which was the beginning of the Balinization of the Balinese. At the same time, they recruited Balinese rulers and kings to become leaders of their new administrative elite.

One of the aforementioned new Balinese leaders was Cokorda Gede Agung Sukawati, the Prince of Ubud, who invited Walter Spies, Dutch painter Rudolf Bonnet and Balinese artist I Gusti Nyoman Lempad to establish the artist collective Pita Maha whose main purpose was to promote Balinese culture, including traditional dances and also paintings.

Pita Maha was beneficial to Balinese painters, some of whom were looking for artistic reorientation and therefore became interested in Western painting styles, Gebbers said.

It also meant they could earn an extra income after losing money because of crop failures. Both Indonesian and European artists were keen to discover compatibility in their techniques in order to further develop their style.

Read also: Six Picasso exhibitions to see in Europe in 2018

Thanks to Walter Spies and Pita Maha, the international trade in Balinese painting began to develop and visitors from all over the world were lured to the island, from fellow artists to writers, researchers and cultural anthropologists such as Margaret Mead. Together with filmmakers like Charlie Chaplin, Andre Roosevelt and Victor von Pleesen, they presented the image of Bali as a largely untouched paradise to the rest of the world  the image Walter Spies had created for them.

Many of these semi-documentaries were released at a time when film productions played a crucial part in shaping public opinion and conveying certain images to the public in the West. Indonesian artist Tita Salina plays with these cliches in her video work 1001st Island  The Most Sustainable Island in the Archipelago, where she is seen standing on a selfbuilt island, dressed in a black suit.

The island is made from plastic waste that the artist together with fishermen collected from the harbor, Gebbers explained.

Its her way to protest against artificial paradises and also tackles the issue of marine ecology, land reclamation and water pollution. And with this work, we have come full circle and are back in the present time.

The curator added that the video seemed to have left a lasting impression on many visitors: since the exhibition started, staff of the museum shop reported that more and more customers have refrained from taking their purchases home in plastic bags.

Even those already acquainted with Raden Saleh and Walter Spies will find that Making Paradise offers unexpected insights. It is the first exhibition that showcases so many paintings by Walter Spies in one place. Another novelty is that it links Raden Saleh and Walter Spies in a unique way: it shows how the former traveled from Batavia to Dresden, while the other came from Dresden to Batavia (and later on, Bali), and they arrived at their destination during a significant historical time, when these places were in the process of nation-building. Both Raden Saleh and Walter Spies were interested in the art practices of their new surroundings, quickly became acquainted with local artists and eventually adapted their motives and styles.

The exhibitions meticulously curated chapter Making Paradise is a treasure trove for everyone interested in Indonesia and Indonesian art, showcasing the works of more than 30 artists.

At the same time, it raises interesting questions about perceptions, stereotypes and the art canon in general  in an increasingly globalized world, tackling such issues and encouraging debate is more imperative than ever.

The core of every museum is its collection, often accumulated over a long period of time, which is then presented to the public to highlight a certain genre, style or art form.Who gets to use which toilet has become an unlikely flashpoint in the global battle for LGBT rights as campaigners push for equal access to single-sex spaces.

The fight over changing rooms, train cabins, restrooms and any other public space segregated by gender has unleashed vitriol and sparked confrontation from Oklahoma to Australia.

Access to toilets has split opinion most sharply.

"There has been a backlash against LGBTI people in a number of countries and the issue of access to toilets based on how people identify has been used as a polarising issue," Lesly Lila, a campaigner for Amnesty International rights group, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Campaigners for gender minorities want single-sex spaces open to anyone who says they identify that way, no matter what gender was assigned to them at birth.

Opponents say women could be put at risk by widening access to bathrooms.

Transgender activists argue the risks run the other way.

This month, a transgender 12-year-old was labelled a "thing" and a "maggot" after using the girls' toilet at her Oklahoma school. The abuse was posted in a Facebook group - parents of classmates were also members - whose veracity was confirmed to the Thomson Reuters Foundation by a local school official.

"If he wants to be female make him a female. A good sharp knife would do the job," said one of the posts, according to screenshots posted on a hate-tracking website.

Safe space

In February, President Donald Trump revoked landmark guidance instructing public schools to let transgender students use the bathrooms of their choice, reversing a signature initiative of his Democratic predecessor.

More than a dozen U.S. states have considered legislation in recent years forcing gender minorities to use toilets that match their sex at birth or limiting their access in other ways.

But similar battles are now playing out worldwide.

Read also: LGBT people viewed negatively, but accepted as Indonesian citizens

In Britain, a councillor in the university city of Cambridge resigned over policies allowing transgender people to use toilets matching their gender, fearing it put women at risk.

A Malaysian mufti, or legal expert, recently said gender minorities should check their genitals if they are "confused" about which toilet to use, the New Straits Times reported.

And in Canada, a transgender man was awarded $15,000 in damages after he was attacked by nightclub bouncers after using the men's toilet, according to a network that tracks legal cases of LGBT interest.

'Pervert's charter'

Some anti-trans campaigners reject the idea that a person can change gender, saying babies are born male or female.

Others, like British feminist Hannah Clarke, say rules allowing people able to pick a gender without challenge are a "pervert's charter" that could be abused by predatory men.

"Its the self-identification aspect that we are really worried over," she said. "We know the lengths that men will go to get close to vulnerable women."

To underline her point, Clarke attended a men-only swimming session at a London pool, wearing only trunks and a pink swim cap, and took candid photos inside men's changing rooms when she went shopping for clothes.

She said men claiming to be women to get into single-sex spaces could be voyeurs, flashers, rapists or murderers.

Read also: LGBT people face uphill battle for rights

Too scared to pee

They could also be at risk themselves.

More than one in 10 respondents said they had been harassed or attacked in a toilet over the past year, in a survey of 28,000 transgender people by the U.S. National Center for Transgender Equality in 2016.

More than half had avoided using public toilets, with a third limiting the amount they ate or drank as a result.

"I have memories of not drinking water during the school day so I wouldn't have to be faced with using any toilet," said Lily Madigan, a transgender activist and women's rights official for Britain's opposition Labour Party.

"I used to faint a lot, and generally feel unwelcome...The reality is that if you don't feel welcome using a public toilet, you can't exist in society in the same way."

A report in January by the British LGBT group Stonewall found almost half of transgender people did not feel comfortable using public toilets.

But while feelings run high and debate is far from over, transgender activists say they will continue to use the facilities that match their gender identity.

"It's what trans women and trans men have been doing for years," said Juno Roche, a transgender campaigner and writer. "The truth is no one shows an ID when they go into the toilets."The Company continues its strategy to disrupt the 5-billion-dollar brick and mortar hearing aid and delivery sales model in the United States through acquisition and/or building new hearing aid retail locations



ROSEVILLE, Calif., Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- InnerScope Hearing Technologies Inc. (OTCQB: INND) announced today that it has resolved its lawsuit with Helix Hearing Care (California) Inc. ("Helix") by both parties dismissing all claims against the other party with prejudice. Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, InnerScope will receive cash and other undisclosed benefits. The settlement will allow the Company to recapture the deferred revenue that was reported on its balance sheet which will be reflected in its 3rd quarter financials. Additionally, the settlement terminates the Non-Compete covenant provisions for the Company and its Founder, CEO and CFO individually.

InnerScope's CEO, Matthew Moore states, "We are pleased that we have reached this Settlement with Helix. The Settlement allows advancement of our strategy for substantial growth to accelerate immediately to deliver our high-quality affordable hearing aid devices to the hearing impaired through multiple sales channels without any contractual limitations."

Acquisition of Retail Hearing Aid Centers and Expansion Plans

With no contractual restrictions, InnerScope Hearing Technologies (the "Company") has entered into a Letter of Intent to acquire 100% of LLC Value Hearing dba Value Hearing Aid Centers ("VHAC"). VHAC is a related party to the Company and currently operates 2 Northern California hearing aid retail locations. Once completed, the acquisition allows the Company to execute its plans to disrupt the current 5-billion-dollar in the U.S., model brick and mortar hearing aid sales by offering factory direct pricing to consumers of its FDA-Registered hearing aid devices.

In addition to acquiring VHAC's two locations, InnerScope has begun to initiate its expansion plan for 4th quarter 2018. The build out plan consists of 3 new VHAC hearing aid retail locations in the greater Sacramento, California area, and will be staffed full-time with hearing healthcare professionals ("HCPs"). These 5 total stores with a combined marketing strategy could yield annual revenues of over $3,000,000 per year.

Currently, the 5-billion-dollar retail hearing aid industry has an estimated 17,000+ HCPs and 15,000 brick and mortar audiological clinics and retail hearing aid locations across the U.S. Which nearly most of these locations operate as a traditional professional brick and mortar hearing aid sales model. Under the traditional brick and mortar hearing aid sales model, the HCPs conduct hearing tests to assess each person's hearing deficiencies, select appropriate hearing aids based on hearing and lifestyle needs, provide counsel and realistic expectations, program and adjust hearing aids based on hearing and lifestyle needs, provide warranty service and regular maintenance service of hearing aids ("Bundle Services"). The services that the HCPs provide are typically bundled within the price of the hearing aids. The traditional bundling of services drives the cost of a pair of hearing aids for the consumer to an average of over $4,600 according to the 2015 President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST).

This current brick and mortar hearing aid and delivery sales model is ultimately controlled by six major hearing aid manufacturers in the world (soon to be five). This small number of hearing aid manufacturers with virtually no competition or competitive market pressure for reducing their margins and especially, since over 95% of all the hearing aid devices sold by the HCPs are one these six global hearing aid manufacturers, the consumer has no choice but to pay the high cost under this current traditional sales and delivery model.

InnerScope has developed an alternative to the brick and mortar delivery model for consumers. By incorporating its Direct-To-Consumer hearing aid sales model into the HCPs traditional brick and mortar sales model, creating a new hybrid model. This new hybrid hearing aid retail sales model will be VHAC's Unique Selling Proposition ("USP"), while not sacrificing HCP's Bundled Services for the consumer. Consumers will have the ability to either choose from InnerScope's FDA-Registered hearing aids at more affordable factory direct pricing for the same technology and features compared to current hearing aids from the six global manufacturers, or the consumer could purchase hearing aids from one of the six global hearing aid manufacturers at everyday value prices from Value Hearing Aid Center.

"branding for the InnerScope brand of hearing aids." Mr. Moore concluded. increase its retail hearing aid locations will also brick and mortar chain of VHACs, will create a competitive edge against all other competitors in the retail hearing aid space. Additionally, InnerScope's strategy of having a This deployment will not only give InnerScope a competitive advantage by capturing quick market share, but also by delivering on the USP of new locations," said Matthew Moore, CEO of InnerScope. "This is nothing new for InnerScope management. For over 30 years in Northern California, management, has built, acquired, operated and sold a successful retail hearing aid chain of 40 locations. Therefore, it only made sense to start InnerScope's brick and mortar expansion growth plan within the market in which we have proven success, generating revenues of eight figures annually before selling in 2016. We are excited to start our brick and mortar expansion growth plan with this acquisition and 3

About InnerScope Hearing Technologies (INND):

InnerScope Hearing Technologies (INND) is a technology driven company with highly scalable B2B and B2C solutions. The Company plans on offering a B2B SaaS based Patient Management System (PMS) software program, designed to improve operations and communication with patients. INND also offers a Buying Group experience for audiology practice, enabling owners to lower product costs and increase their margins. INND will also compete in the DTC (Direct-to-Consumer) markets with its own line of "Hearable", and "Wearable" Direct-to-Consumer Hearing Aids and Personal Sound Amplifier Products (PSAPs) and revolutionary APPs on the iOS and Android markets.

INND has plans on opening, operating and expanding a chain of audiological and retail hearing device clinics. INND's seasoned team of professionals, with collectively over 200+ years of experience in the hearing aid industry, including successful operations in hearing aid manufacturing and retail store management. Our team has the knowledge, relationships, and the experience to quickly deploy new products and software to serve approximately 1.2 billion people around the globe that are suffering with 25 db or greater hearing loss. For more information, please visit: www.innd.com

About Value Hearing LLC.

The Value Hearing LLC dba Value Hearing Aid Centers are located off the highway 80 freeway corridor, between San Francisco and Sacramento in Fairfield and Vacaville California. The Fairfield location has been operating as retail hearing aid center for 5 years and the Vacaville for 3 years. For more information, please visit: www.valuehearingaid.com

Safe Harbor

This presentation contains forward-looking statements which relate to future events or InnerScope Hearing Technologies future performance or financial condition. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact (including statements containing the words "believes," "should," "plans," "anticipates," "expects," "estimates" and similar expressions) should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, condition or results and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as result of a number of factors, including those described from time to time in InnerScope Hearing Technologies filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. InnerScope Hearing Technologies undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements made herein.

Contact:



InnerScope Hearing Technologies, Inc.

Matthew Moore

Matthew@innd.com

916-218-4100

www.innd.com

www.valuehearingaid.com

www.innd.com

President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST)

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3a9791e6-4f49-4b1b-9246-8e9c2838b2adVeteran artist Tisna Sanjaya never imagined that his former student, author-director Pidi Baiq, would ask him to star in his comedy flick, Koboy Kampus 1995 (Campus Cowboy 1995). When offered, the lecturer at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) confessed he did not think twice to say yes to Pidi, who was hugely successful in his movie Dilan 1990 last year.

The movie tells of the student life of Pidi and his band, The Panasdalam. Tisna plays his lecturer. During filming in July this year, he faced challenges in acting even though he had been familiar with theater life since he was a teenager in Bandung, West Java.

This is the first time Ive starred in a movie, he said, laughing. When I was little, my dream was to be a movie star, and it finally came true when I am 60 now. I am very happy.

In the art world, Tisna is a veteran artist respected for fighting against injustice through his work  from sketches and paintings to etchings and performance art.

Having held over 30 solo exhibitions at home and abroad since 1983, the father of four uses art to defend people, nature and the country, whatever the risks.

In the 1980s, he was one of the artists targeted by the authoritarian New Order regime for his controversial work, such as an etching titled Pesta Pencuri (Thief Party) about undemocratic elections celebrated by corrupt politicians. But he was not arrested.

His latest exhibition Potret Diri Sebagai Kaum Munafik (Self Portraits of Hypocrites) in July this year in the National Gallery in Jakarta was no less intriguing.

The exhibition cost him friends, relatives and students as it threw shade at religious conservatives who have politicized the peaceful Islam.

His close ITB alumni friends, for example, kept their distance due to the exhibition. Knowing that it was inspired by the blasphemy case of former Jakarta governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama, they disagreed with his position, which defends the Christian of Chinese descent.

I feel anxiety about society in which religion is politically used as a weapon to attack people, Tisna said.

Read also: Tisna Sanjaya: Art as a solution to religious hypocrisy

His relatives, meanwhile, warned him against his artworks, which were made using prayer rugs, such as an installation titled 99 Sajadah Merah (99 Red Prayer Rugs). Tisna, who himself is a Muslim cleric in his hometown of Bandung, also raised concern over Islamic organizations that label traditions bidah (heresy) and syirik (polytheism) as well as people who like to mock certain religions out of phobia.

Learning from his parents teachings, he argues that art and religion should not be placed at odds as they can go harmoniously hand in hand.

Born on Jan. 18, 1958, Tisna was raised in a pious Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) family. His mother taught the holy Quran at mosques and his father was a chicken seller passionate about art. From selling chicken, my father bought land to establish a mosque, where children then studied religion and performed art activities, he recalled.

After dawn prayer, little Tisna accompanied his father working in the market, where he later experienced interreligious tolerance between his father and non-Muslim vendors, such as pork sellers of Chinese descent.

When his family celebrated Idul Fitri, these traders visited his house. In return, he would join his parents to go to their houses during Imlek to get angpao (red envelopes containing cash).

Today, people easily call others kafir [infidels], Tisna says.

As an artist, Tisna, who completed his masters degree in Hochschule fur Bildende Kunste Braunschweig in Germany and his Ph.D in the Indonesian Fine Arts Institute (ISI) Yogyakarta, has a strong reputation, but it does not mean that his work will be always be appreciated.

In 2005, the Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) burned down his boat installation, Doa Khusus Bagi Si Mati (Special Prayer for the Dead), in Babakan Siliwangi city forest in Bandung because deemed it garbage.

His work was vandalized because it criticized a big company that backed the former Bandung mayors plan to destroy the city forest in exchange for a condominium construction. For me, it [the destruction] is an insult, Tisna said.

Read also: Bambang "Toko" Witjaksono: Combining the artistic and curatorial worlds

To make the city government understand what art means and to fight for green spaces in Bandung, Tisna then filed a lawsuit. He lost after 18 months of fighting in the court.

But the Babakan Siliwangi case ended happily as the mayor canceled the plan after Tisna lobbied the big company that backed the mayor. The city forest has now become a new tourist attraction in the city.

After Babakan Siliwangi forest, Tisna is focusing on saving the Citarum River, the worlds most polluted river. The place is special for him because when he was little, it was so clean that he liked to swim along the river, near his grandfathers house.

He understands, however, that to save the river is the responsibility of all, from the government to people, but he is deeply disappointed that West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan could not solve the problem during his 10-year tenure.

Tisna sees the dirty river as his outdoor studio, where he creates various artwork, such as sketches, paintings and installations.

In the Potret Diri exhibition, he showcased a large installation titled Citarum, in which trash scavenged from the river were on display to raise peoples awareness about the importance of saving the environment by stopping careless dumping.

Tisna has yet to retire because he has many dreams to realize, such as becoming a professor in ITB, making a private museum for his artworks and setting up an institution that enables ITB graduates from any discipline to collaborate to save Citarum.

I want to make a cultural center around the Citarum, where people can work together to recycle waste to be artwork, and artists can also hold exhibitions, he said.Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin Alex Webb (Bloomberg) London, United Kingdom  Thu, August 23, 2018 20:10 1165 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df5491b79 2 Business Facebook,media,Advertisement,industry,JeremyCorbyn,tax Free

In the UK, the demise of local newspapers can be broadly attributed to two forces: easy access to free online news, and advertisers shifting their spending to the web from print.

Which is why Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn's proposal to tax Facebook and Google parent Alphabet in order to fund "public interest journalism" identifies the problem, but is wildly amiss with the solution.

The budgets of local newspapers have dwindled with the ascent of online ads, making it harder to invest in quality reporting. Since 2005, the number of regional journalists has halved.

Much of Facebook and Google's continued revenue growth, meanwhile, comes from small and medium-sized enterprises  the sort of businesses that might typically have advertised in local newspapers. Facebook is actively targeting SMEs for its next wave of growth.

In his Thursday speech at the Edinburgh TV festival, Corbyn also outlined plans to funnel some proceeds of a tax on Google and Facebook to the British Broadcasting Association, and invest some in "local democracy reporters. What he doesnt seem to appreciate is that competition from the BBC is one of the causes of local papers pain.

Britain's opposition Labour party Leader Jeremy Corbyn (left) waves as he stands with members of his shadow cabinet after Britain's opposition Labour party's Deputy Leader Tom Watson (right) delivered a speech on the third day of the Labour Party conference in Brighton, southern England, on Sept. 26, 2017. (Agence France-Presse/Ben Stansall)

As the state broadcaster, the BBC collects 3.8 billion pounds ($4.9 billion) a year from a license fee that pretty much everyone in Britain has to pay. It spends 233 million pounds of that on its local content, which includes radio and television as well as stories published online. Thats already some serious competition for regional publishers.

The BBC is already top of the list for Brits looking to consume news  according to an Ipsos MORI poll commissioned by the BBC, 55 percent of the nations adults turn to it for news you trust the most and accurate news coverage. Giving it plumper coffers is more likely to give it a further boost and disadvantage local newspapers than help them.

There are far better ways to fix the funding of regional journalism. Regulators could start by compelling the digital giants to share more ad revenue with content creators.Take Facebook, for instance. Your feed is typically peppered with news stories, and while you might digest a headline and preview, you're unlikely to click on the story itself. Yet Facebook still takes all of the revenue for the ads displayed alongside the story  the company profits from the content which someone else has created, while the content creator doesn't. Forcing Facebook to share that revenue with publishers would be an important move to give local journalism more sustainable income. The same goes for Google's news platform.

Corbyn is correct in identifying the problem. But strengthening the BBC is not the solution. A keener focus on how Google and Facebook monetize other organizations' content would be a smarter approach.Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin Arya Dipa (The Jakarta Post) Puncak, Bogor  Thu, August 23 2018

The Indonesia mens and womens paragliding teams secured a gold medal and a silver medal in accuracy at the Asian Games in Puncak, Bogor, West Java, on Wednesday.

The mens team, comprising Aris Apriansyah, Joni Efendi, Jagro Megawangi and Hening Paradigma, won gold, scoring better than South Korea and Thailand, which finished in second and third respectively.Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin Ganug Nugroho Adi (The Jakarta Post) Surakarta  Thu, August 23, 2018 23:48 1165 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df549889f 1 National car-accident Free

The Surakarta Police have named a 40-year-old businessman a suspect for allegedly killing a motorcyclist after deliberately hitting him with his car in a road rage case.

Surakarta Police detective unit chief Comr. Fadli said the investigators alleged that the suspect, identified as Iwan Adranacus, had deliberately hit Eko Prasetyo, 28, on Jl. KS Tubun in Surakarta on Wednesday, after an argument at a traffic light.

The victim reportedly stopped his motorbike in front of the Mercedes Benz Iwan was driving at the red light, around 3 kilometers from the scene.

Iwan repeatedly honked, urging Eko to give way, but the victim did not move. One of the passengers [of the car] got out and hit the victim, Fadli said on Thursday.

When the light turned green, Iwan chased Eko until Iwans car hit Ekos motorbike.

We are digging deeper into the case. If we find evidence of intention, we may charge the suspect with murder, he said.

An eyewitness, Sigit Parmanto, 33, told The Jakarta Post that the victim had slowed down near the Surakarta Police headquarters. However, the car maintained its speed despite onlookers shouting to slow down, so it eventually hit the motorbike.

Another eyewitness, Valencia Melani, 26, echoed Sigits statement, saying the car driver had continued to drive even after hitting the motorcyclist, dragging the victim 15 meters, before bouncing off the motorbike.

Police and residents aimed to help the victim, but he had passed away on the scene, she said. (sau/swd)Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin Ganug Nugroho Adi (The Jakarta Post) Karanganyar  Thu, August 23, 2018 20:15 1165 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df54934b2 1 National divorce,settlement,civil-servants Free

A civil servant with the Central Java administration, Dwi Susilarto, paid Rp 155 million (US$10,598.65) in alimony with coins weighing 890 kilograms at the Karanganyar Religious Court in Central Java on Thursday.

The court ordered him to pay Rp 178 million in alimony to his former wife, Hermi Setyowati, who sued him for financially neglecting her for nine years.

Im only a low-ranking employee, how could I get Rp 178 million? My friends decided to help me by donating the money, even though most of them are coins, Dwi said.

The fundraising effort, which began in May after the court announced the ruling, managed to collect Rp 155 million in coins and the rest in banknotes.

They helped me collect the money, some even brought buckets and sacks of coins, said Dwi.

When he entered the courtroom, Dwi was assisted by two friends carrying 14 sacks of coins using a trolley. The remaining Rp 23 million included banknotes ranging from Rp 2,000 to Rp 100,000.

This event provoked an argument between the Dwi and Hermi camps as neither wanted to count the coins.

Hermi was upset, saying that she felt insulted by the way her former husband had paid spousal support.

"This is such an embarrassment because he considers me to be a beggar," she said after accepting the money. (swd)Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin Gisela Swaragita (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, August 23 2018

For some residents in Bukit Duri subdistrict, South Jakarta, a court victory was not enough to mend the lives that were torn apart in an eviction two years ago.

Almost a year after a landmark court victory found the Jakarta administration guilty for demolishing their kampung, the residents have yet to receive homes or even temporary shelters.

They cannot return to their kampung, which was cleared for a Ciliwung River restoration project to prevent flooding. Land procurement remains stalled, as the administration has been unable to find a plot of land large enough in which to rebuild the new houses it owes.Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, August 23, 2018 18:39 1165 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df548a6cf 1 City assault,workers,employer,bogor Free

A householder allegedly beat and shaved the head of his former maid, identified only as MG, in Bogor, West Java, after accusing her of stealing Rp 1.5 million (US$102).

Bogor Police criminal investigation unit head Adj. Comr. Benny Cahyadi said the police arrested the former employer, identified only as EA, on Wednesday on Jl. Raya Parung.

EA had reported the theft to the police, but [his accusation] could not be proven, Benny said as quoted by tempo.co.

EA then hunted down MG to a garment factory in Parungpanjang, where the latter now worked, and beat and shaved her head. Later MG was forcibly taken to EAs house in Jakarta.

MG was finally released after her family picked her up and reported the incident to the Bogor Police.

MG told the police that after two months working with EA, she could not bear working for him anymore because he often harassed her.

MG quit and later got the job at the garment factory. (stu)Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin Novan Iman Santosa (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, August 23 2018

Military projection: Visitors inspect three Dassault Rafale B jet fighters of the French Air Force during an event at Halim Air Force Base in Jakarta on Tuesday. (JP/ David Caessarre)

The French Air Force is sending a fleet of its aircraft to Southeast Asia to reinforce Frances presence in the region of major strategic interests.

Dubbed Mission Pegase (Mission Pegasus), the fleet consists of an Airbus A400M Atlas heavy transportation aircraft and three Dassault Rafale B twin-seater heavy jet fighters.Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, August 23, 2018 11:21 1166 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df5472f52 1 Business rupiah-against-dollar,government-debt,depression,state-budget Free

The proposed 2019 state budget is designed to face a worst-case scenario of rupiah depreciation of up to 35 percent -- Rp 18,000 per US dollar --, particularly related to anticipated ballooning government debt due to the rupiah weakening.

Finance Ministry Budgetary Director General Askolani said the shock estimation was a stress test that could be used by the government to test the debt ratio under the worst conditions.

It means if the worst occurs, we are prepared, said Askolani as reported by kontan.co.id on Thursday.

He said if the rupiah weakened to Rp 18,000 per US dollar, government debt would still be controllable. This years average rupiah exchange rate is projected at Rp 13,973 per US dollar.

The government believes debt to gross domestic product (GDP) will be between 29.5 and 31 percent, with a possible increase of 5 percent.

The government considers a debt to GDP ratio lower than 40 percent safe, considering Malaysia debt to GDP ratio had reached 65 percent.

The government also estimates that debt installment payments to the GDP ratio will be 1.5 to 2 percent in the period between 2019 and 2022. Meanwhile, debt payment to debt outstanding ratio is estimated at 5.5 to 6.5 percent.

Meanwhile, Bank Indonesia deputy governor Dody Budi Waluyo said the possibility of the rupiah depreciating by 35 percent was very small, considering that the rupiah's depreciation from January to date reached only 7 percent. (bbn)Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, August 23, 2018 18:01 1165 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df548829f 1 City MRT-Jakarta,trial-run,Bundaran-HI,Lebak-Bulus Free

The MRT train successfully completed its second trial run from Lebak Bulus Station to the Hotel Indonesia Traffic Circle in Central Jakarta on Thursday.

MRT Jakarta president director William Sabandar said the train covered the 14-kilometer journey in one hour at speeds below 30 km per hour. But when the train enters commercial use in March 2019, it will reach speeds of between 40 and 60 km/h, and will cover the distance in half an hour.

The train is currently under an intensive internal testing period, and will begin public trial runs in December, as MRT Jakarta waits for 10 more trains to arrive from Japan.

We are on target to launch commercial operations in March, said William at Hotel Indonesia Traffic Circle Station on Thursday.

From the scaffolding-lined entrance to the underground station, Hotel Indonesia Traffic Circle Station was seen to have an overall grey hue; with aluminum-composite walls, concrete floors and a grey grid-like ceiling which exposes the inner workings of the station, with the pipes, ventilation and wiring visible. The lights, and even a digital information board, were working but not the air conditioning or washrooms.

He added that MRT Jakarta would employ 380 staff members to run the system, including 70 drivers who are currently undergoing training.

William estimated the system was about 95 percent complete with only small technicalities remaining.

Shinichi Yamanaka, chief representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, which funded the project, said the MRT technology in the project was among the most advanced available.

It is a very high standard even compared with [that in] Japan, he told The Jakarta Post. (nor)NEW YORK, Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Greystone, a real estate lending, investment, and advisory company, announced it has provided a $68,770,000 Fannie Mae DUS loan for the acquisition of The Glendale Apartments in Lanham, MD. The loan was originated by Dan Sacks and Eric Rosenstock of Greystones New York office.



The Fannie Mae financing carries a 12-year fixed rate and 6 years of interest-only payments. Acquired by Quantum Equities on July 31, The Glendale Apartments is a 486-unit multifamily community located near the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center; the University of Maryland, College Park; and the metro Washington D.C. area, enabling a projection for strong rental demand in the area.

Helping investors like Quantum explore and secure opportunities outside of their core investment area has truly been a pleasure, said Mr. Sacks. With Greystones wide array of financing options, and our ability to help property investors meet their needs when acquiring new properties, we are thrilled to have executed beyond measure for Quantum Equities.

The market fundamentals for the Lanham market are on an upswing, enabling Quantum to leverage growing rental demand and increased rents in the area, added Mr. Rosenstock.

About Greystone

Greystone is a real estate lending, investment and advisory company with an established reputation as a leader in multifamily and healthcare finance, having ranked as a top FHA, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac lender in these sectors. Our range of services includes commercial lending across a variety of platforms such as Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, CMBS, FHA, USDA, bridge and proprietary loan products. Loans are offered through Greystone Servicing Corporation, Inc., Greystone Funding Corporation and/or other Greystone affiliates. For more information, visit www.greyco.com.

PRESS CONTACT:

Karen Marotta

Greystone

212-896-9149

Karen.Marotta@greyco.comShare this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin Vela Andapita (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, August 23 2018

Thousands of people flocked to the National Monument (Monas) on Sunday to witness a spectacular show in which the 132-meter-high monument was lit up by animated videos that showed the history of Jakarta and the Asian Games.

Rizky Harisnanda, who came with his friends to watch the show, said it was so crowded that they had to stand quite a distance from the monument to enjoy the spectacle.

I honestly didnt expect the crowd would be that huge. But I had so much fun and I think Ill come again soon with my family, said Rizky who lives in Pondok Gede, East Jakarta.Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin Karina M. Tehusijarana (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, August 23, 2018 19:47 1165 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df5491091 1 National Meiliana,TanjungBalaiRiot,Blasphemy-Law Free

The Anti-Discrimination Struggle Movement (GANDI) is the latest rights group to condemn the blasphemy conviction of Meiliana, a Buddhist resident of Tanjung Balai, North Sumatra, for complaining about the volume of the adzan (Muslim call to prayer).

The Medan District Court found Meiliana, 44, guilty of blasphemy under Articles 156 and 156a of the Criminal Code on Tuesday and sentenced her to 18 months in prison.

She reportedly said the adzan was too loud and hurt her ears in July 2016, triggering an anti-Chinese riot in which offended Muslims torched several Buddhist temples in Tanjung Balai.

GANDI secretary-general Ahmad Ari Masyhuri said Meilianas statement was far from the definition of blasphemy in the criminal code, likening it to a statement made by Vice President Jusuf Kalla about the volume of mosques loudspeakers.

Kalla, who is also head of the Indonesia Mosque Council, criticized the excessive volume of some mosques speakers in 2015, saying that the noise disturbed both Muslims and non-Muslims.

Looking at the statement that Meiliana is accused of making, in substance there is no difference in what the head of the Indonesian Mosque Council, Vice President Jusuf Kalla, once said, Ari said in a statement on Thursday. So, which part is blasphemous?

Ari called on the government and the House of Representatives to quickly revise the blasphemy laws, saying that they were too open to interpretation.

It is too risky for such a diverse nation to be mired in blasphemy articles that can be interpreted in so many ways, he said.

Rights advocacy group the Setara Institute agreed, adding that President Joko Jokowi Widodos administration had failed to act firmly against intolerance over the past four years.

Instead of taking real action to guarantee the freedom of religion, Jokowi has only disbanded organizations like Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia, more for political reasons rather than genuinely defending religious freedom, the institutes chairman, Hendardi, said in a statement. (swd)Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin Aman Rochman (The Jakarta Post) Pasuruan  Thu, August 23, 2018 16:37 1165 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df54843c5 1 National white-lion,Pasuruan,zoo Free

Prigen Safari Park zoo in Pasuruan, East Java, has just welcomed the birth of a white lion cub named Aldovo--the fifth white lion in the zoo.

Aldovo, a male, was born on July 27 to 3-year-old mother Meng Meng and 5-year-old father Kaka.

The zoos veterinarian, Dessy, said the other four white lions in the zoo were brought from Chimelong Zoo in China in March, including the couple Meng Meng and Kaka.

Meng Meng gave birth to Aldovo in a cage during quarantine, she said on Thursday.

However, Dessy added that right after Meng Meng gave birth to Aldovo, she did not lick her cub like most mammals usually do after the birth process.

We are now trying to get Meng Meng closer to Aldovo by putting the cub side by side while sleeping, as well as [helping] the suckling process. The suckling period for a white lion cub is one year, said Prigen Safari Parks white lion keeper Pon Nasri.

Well also monitor the health of the cub and behavior of the mother as well as the other white lions toward the new-born, Pon Nasri added.

White lions are nocturnal animals that live in groups. The species is the result of a rare color mutation in the lion, believed to have originated in the Timbavati region of South Africa. The species can be found in several conservation parks in South Africa. (sau/swd)Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, August 23, 2018 16:21 1165 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df5483571 4 Business Pertamina-EP,oil-and-gas,finding,West-Java Free

PT Pertamina EP, a subsidiary of state-owned oil and gas holding company Pertamina, has discovered a new oil and gas reserve, said Pertamina EP exploration and new discovery project director Achmad Alfian Husein on Thursday.

The field has been named Akasia Maju -001 (AMJ-001), he said, adding that drilling started on March 20 using Rig PDSI#38.2/D1000-E and on Aug. 20 reached a depth of 2,517 meters.

Achmad said the well was estimated to produce 1,700 barrels of oil per day (bopd), according to the results of a production test on the well. No figures on gas and condensate production were immediately available.

Thank God our efforts have produced positive results. We believe that coordination with all stakeholders and our hard work will contribute to achieving the national target, he said as reported by kontan.co.id.

He said that Pertamina EP would continue exploration in potential areas.

Previously, Deputy Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Arcandra Tahar said Indonesia needed to intensify exploration, because the countrys proven oil reserves would last only about 12 years.

He said Indonesias proven oil reserves were only 0.2 percent of global proven oil reserves, while Indonesias reserve replacement ratio was only 50 percent. (bbn)Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, August 23, 2018 14:40 1165 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df547ba4e 1 City Richard-Muljadi,conglomerates,drug-abuse,arrest Free

The Jakarta Police arrested businessman Richard Muljadi on Wednesday evening, when one of its officers reportedly caught him sniffing cocaine in the toilet of a South Jakarta shopping mall where he was dining.

Jakarta Police drug investigation director Sr. Comr. Suwondo Nainggolan said on Thursday that police officer Sr. Comr. Herry Heryawan happened to be at the same establishment when he witnessed Richard sniffing cocaine off his iPhone X using a rolled up Australian dollar bill, and apprehended him immediately.

His urine test came back positive for only one type of drug [cocaine]," said Suwondo as reported by kompas.com.

Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Argo Yuwono added that Richard said he had received the drug as "a wedding gift from a friend" via an anonymous courier. The police are currently tracking down the whereabouts of the friend and the courier, whose names were not released.

Richard is the director of oil, gas and mining company PT Mulia Graha Abadi and the eldest son and heir of its owner, Sujipto Husodo Muljadi. His grandmother, the lawyer, former judge and pharma tycoon Kartini Muljadi, is the 44th richest Indonesian according to Forbes Magazine's 2017 list. (nor)Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Dubai, United Arab Emirates  Thu, August 23, 2018 10:10 1166 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df5470897 2 World #SaudiArabia,Saudi-Arabia,human-rights-activists,shia Free

Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor has sought the death penalty against five human rights activists, including a prominent female rights defender, campaigners said Wednesday.

Among those accused of inciting protests by the Shiite Muslim minority in the oil-rich Eastern Province is Israa al-Ghomgham, the first female activist to possibly face the death penalty for her rights-related work.

"Israa al-Ghomgham and four other individuals are now facing the most appalling possible punishment simply for their involvement in anti-government protests," said Samah Hadid, Amnesty International's Middle East director of campaigns.

"We are urging the Saudi Arabian authorities to drop these plans immediately."

Saudi government officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Ghomgham, a prominent Shia activist who documented mass demonstrations in the Eastern Province starting in 2011, was arrested at her home along with her husband in December 2015, according to Human Rights Watch.

"Sentencing Israa al-Ghomgham to death would send a horrifying message that other activists could be targeted in the same way for their peaceful protest and human rights activism," Hadid said.

"The charges against Ghomgham... are absurd and clearly politically motivated to silence dissent."

Amnesty says at least 12 other leading human rights activists, including eight women, have been arrested in the kingdom since May -- just before the kingdom ended its ban on women drivers.

Many of them long opposed the decades-long ban and resisted the system of male "guardians" -- fathers, husbands or other relatives, whose permission is required to travel or get married.

The ultra-conservative kingdom has one of the world's highest rates of execution, with suspects convicted of terrorism, homicide, rape, armed robbery and drug trafficking facing the death penalty.

Rights experts have repeatedly raised concerns about the fairness of trials in the kingdom, an absolute monarchy governed under a strict form of Islamic law. The government says the death penalty is a deterrent for further crime.Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin Karina M. Tehusijarana and Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta/Medan  Thu, August 23, 2018 16:18 1165 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df548257f 1 National Meiliana,TanjungBalai,TanjungBalaiRiot,North-Sumatra,Blasphemy-Law,discrimination,minority-rights,mosque,jusuf-kalla,#PostScript Free

The blasphemy conviction of Meiliana, a 44-year-old ethnic Chinese Buddhist resident of Tanjung Balai, North Sumatra, for complaining about the volume of the adzan (call to prayer) has garnered worldwide attention and condemnation.

But how exactly did the case unfold from a simple noise complaint to an 18-month prison sentence?

The complaint

Meilianas complaint was made on the morning of July 22, 2016 to her neighbor Kasini, who owned a stall near her house. Reports vary on what she actually said  her lawyers claim she merely remarked that the adzan broadcast from the nearby mosque was louder than it used to be, while the legal indictment says she asked Kasini, a Muslim, to tell the mosque caretakers to lower the volume as it hurt her ears.

All parties agree, however, that Meilianas initial complaint was only to a single person. Over the next few days, however, her statement became distorted and rumors spread that a Chinese woman wanted to ban the adzan.

On the evening of July 29, 2016, a small group of people, including a mosque staff member, went to Meilianas house to confirm the truth of her complaint.

According to the indictment, Meiliana said Yes, lower the volume of the mosque. Its too loud and hurts my ears when I hear it.

The group took offense at her statement, which they considered rude, and returned to the mosque. Meilianas husband Lian Tui went to the mosque to apologize but by then a mob had started to form.

In riot  Residents gather in front of Dewi Samudera, a Chinese temple or pagoda in Tanjung Balai, North Sumatra, which was plundered and set ablaze by angry mobs on Friday evening. (Courtesy of kini.co.id/-)

The riot

After the groups confrontation with Meiliana, provocative messages spread like wildfire on social media and messaging applications, with some even claiming the woman had thrown rocks at the mosque and forcefully stopped prayers.

Later that night, an angry mob started to gather in front of the local subdistrict office and went to Meilianas house to throw rocks at it. The violence then spread to nearby Buddhist temples.

Fourteen Buddhist temples in Tanjung Balai were burned and ransacked by mobs between the night of July 29 and the morning of July 30, 2016. No fatalities were reported in the incident but damage ran into the billions of rupiah.

Inequality and Buddha statue

Opinions differ on what caused a seemingly innocuous complaint to spiral into a violent riot.

Ethnic Chinese business people said the social and economic gap between those of Chinese-descent and the non-Chinese people in Tanjung Balai was among the main reasons for the riot.

Leo Lopulisa, a local fisheries businessman, said Chinese Indonesians in Tanjung Balai accounted for about 10 percent of the city's population of over 180,900. Of that figure, some 3 percent are categorized as very rich, while the rest are also in a comfortable financial condition.

Muslim community leaders, on the other hand, blamed the riot on underlying tensions resulting from the construction of a six-meter-tall Buddha Amitabha statue on top of a Buddhist temple in the city.

"The presence of the Buddha statue in Tanjung Balai is like a ticking time bomb, it can trigger a riot at any time. That's why it has to be taken down soon," Tanjungbalai Interfaith Communication Forum (FKUB) chairman Haidir Siregar said a month after the incident.

Haidir said the majority of Muslims in Tanjung Balai could not accept the Buddha statue in their region because they considered the city to be Islamic.

The statue was taken down in October 2016.

The condition of Tri Ratna vihara in Tanjung Balai, North Sumatra on July 29. The vihara was damaged after angry mobs attacked the vihara and several other Buddhist houses of worship. (Antara/Anton)

The legal consequences

The police arrested 19 people for their role in the riot. Eight were charged with looting, nine with malicious destruction of property and two with inciting violence. All were given one to four month jail sentences.

The police themselves built a case against Meiliana based on a report filed by their own officer, Brig. Kuntoro. "How can we prove Meliana insulted a religion when nobody reported her to the police? To solve this problem, Brig. Kuntoro reported her," North Sumatra Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Rina Sari Ginting said in 2016.

Rina said Kuntoro had reason to report Meliana because he was at the scene when the mob argued with Meliana outside her house. Kuntoro came to the location at the request of the neighborhood head.

Kuntoros report claimed that Meilianas complaint constituted an insult to Islam, based on the argument he witnessed between Meiliana and the mob outside her house on July 29.

Police initially struggled to process the case against Meiliana, with expert witnesses saying that Meilianas statement contained no expression of hate.

The fatwa

Soon after the riot on Aug. 9, 2016, Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) chairman Ma'ruf Amin deplored the fact that local people chose to burn temples to express their anger against Meliana. He added that it was acceptable to lower the volume of loudspeakers if people in the neighborhood were bothered. "Although [Meiliana] expressed her complaint angrily, such an act should not be replied to with anger. Both parties should sit together to discuss her concerns," Ma'ruf said.

However, in January 2017, the North Sumatra chapter of the Indonesian Ulema Council issued a fatwa declaring that Meilianas complaint was demeaning and insulting towards Islam because the adzan was part of Islamic law.

Based on the fatwa, police charged Meiliana with blasphemy that same month, but she reportedly disappeared until she was finally arrested on May 30 this year.

The conviction

Meilianas blasphemy trial started on June 26 this year and later on Aug. 13 the prosecutors demanded that she be found guilty as stipulated in articles 156 and 156a of the Criminal Code, and be sentenced to 1.5 years in prison.

Meilianas lawyer, Ranto Sibarani, denied the prosecutions claims, saying that the blasphemy charges against his client were based on hearsay and that no one had directly heard her say all the words she was accused of saying.

The mother of four was nevertheless found guilty by the Medan District Court on Tuesday and sentenced to 18 months imprisonment.

Her legal team has said that they would appeal the verdict.

The reaction

Meilianas conviction has drawn widespread criticism from domestic and international rights groups and two of Indonesias largest Islamic mass organizations.

Amnesty International called the verdict a ludicrous decision that constituted a flagrant violation of freedom of expression.

The Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR) said her case showed once again that the Criminal Codes blasphemy articles were used to attack minority groups.

Executives from Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah also denounced the verdict, with NU legal division head Robikin Emhas saying that Meilianas statement did not constitute blasphemy.

Muhammadiyah secretary Abdul Muti agreed and said there should be an in-depth study to review the blasphemy-related articles and laws, arguing that the provisions were vague and open to subjective interpretation.

Anti Discrimination Movement (Gandi) said on Thursday that Meilianas statement was similar to what Vice President Jusuf Kalla said in 2015. Kalla, also the chairman of the Indonesian Mosque Council (DMI), criticized the overuse of mosque loudspeakers during Ramadhan that year. Therefore, the North Sumatras MUI should review their fatwa, said Gandis secretary general, Ahmad Ari Masyhuri, who is also the chairman of NUs Quran reciters association.

A petition asking President Joko Jokowi Widodo to free Meiliana started on Change.org on Wednesday has since garnered over 30,000 signatures.Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin Emma Charlton (Agence France-Presse) Washington, United States  Thu, August 23, 2018 08:08 1166 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df546c5da 2 World #DonaldTrump,DonaldTrump,sex-scandal,payment,verdict Free

Donald Trump insisted Wednesday he did nothing wrong after his longtime attorney implicated him in illicit hush payments made before the 2016 election, as experts warned the legal maelstrom swirling around the Republican leader could further threaten his presidency.

On perhaps the worst day of Trump's tumultuous time in office, his former fixer Michael Cohen told a federal judge Tuesday he had made illegal campaign contributions -- in the form of payments to silence women alleging affairs with Trump -- at his boss's request.

Cohen's statements came on a day of head-spinning political drama for Trump, whose former campaign chief Paul Manafort was found guilty within the same hour of federal tax and bank fraud, in the first case sent to trial by the special prosecutor probing Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

While the full implications for the real estate mogul-turned-president remain unclear, Cohen's statements -- and the prospect of more revelations to come -- puts Trump in legal peril.

But the mercurial US leader appeared determined to ride out the latest storm.

After first accusing Cohen of making up "stories" to cut a plea deal, he then tweeted that Cohen's actions were "not a crime," and went further in an interview with "Fox and Friends," saying they were "not even a campaign violation."

In that interview, Trump said the hush payments were financed with his own money -- to which Cohen had access -- and that while he had no knowledge of them at the time, he had since been fully transparent.

"My first question when I heard about it was, 'Did they come out of the campaign?', because that could be a little dicey," he said of the payments -- believed to have been made to porn star Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal.

"But they didn't come out of the campaign," he said. "They came from me and I tweeted about it."

Despite Trump's defiant tone, Washington-based campaign finance expert Kate Belinski, of the Nossaman law firm, said to expect legal consequences for both Trump and his campaign -- most likely in the form of a civil complaint before the Federal Election Commission.

Cohen has meanwhile pleaded guilty to two counts of violating campaign finance laws, along with six counts of fraud -- identifying Trump as his co-conspirator when it came to the hush payments.

- 'He did nothing wrong' -

In a string of interviews early Wednesday, Cohen's own lawyer Lanny Davis took aim squarely at the president, dubbing him a "criminal."

"He committed a crime," Davis told CBS News.

"If he were not president, he clearly would be indicted and jailed for that crime."

In practice, an indictment is highly unlikely: since 2000, the Justice Department position has been that a sitting president is "immune from indictment as well as from further criminal process."

And while the president could theoretically be impeached, it remains a remote prospect in a Republican-dominated Congress where even Democrats are focused on letting Robert Mueller's Russia probe play out.

But Cohen's cooperation with investigators may yet pose a wider threat.

Writing on the Lawfare blog, former White House counsel Bob Bauer said the Cohen plea will resonate "unmistakably" with Mueller's investigation, "which also concerns what a candidate is prepared to do to win an election and then cover his tracks."

"As (Richard) Nixon found when one of his lawyers also became a witness for the government, this can be the beginning of very hard times."

The White House insisted Trump was not concerned "at all" that Cohen might implicate the US president by cooperating with Mueller.

"He knows that he did nothing wrong and that there was no collusion," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said.

But Davis told CBS News that Cohen knew of election tampering efforts during the 2016 campaign that would be "of interest to the special counsel."

- 'Tell the truth '-

Rather than cut a deal, Manafort chose to leave his fate to a jury, prompting speculation he was hoping for a pardon -- something Trump has not ruled out.

After four days of deliberations, the 69-year-old was found guilty of eight counts of financial fraud.

Even as Manafort learned of his fate, the 51-year-old Cohen was revealing in Manhattan how he made hush payments "in coordination and at the direction of a candidate for federal office," and "with the purpose of influencing the election."

Davis said Cohen was now determined "to put his family and country first and tell the truth about Donald Trump."

Trump's response was to discredit Cohen -- contrasting his actions with the "brave" Manafort.

"Unlike Michael Cohen, he refused to 'break' - make up stories in order to get a 'deal,'" tweeted the president.

"If anyone is looking for a good lawyer, I would strongly suggest that you don't retain the services of Michael Cohen!"Share this article Whatsapp

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Linkedin Dian Septiari (The Jakarta Post) Siem Reap, Cambodia  Fri, August 24 2018

Intelligent being: Sophia (right), a humanoid robot from Hanson Robotics and UNDP Asia-Pacific Innovation Champion, speaks to participants of a symposium on localizing sustainable development goals (SDG) and realizing poverty eradication in Siem Reap, Cambodia, on Monday. (JP/Dian Septiari)

Southeast Asian policymakers have been urged to embrace the fourth industrial revolution to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), with more than half of the jobs in Southeast Asia at risk of automation.

This is one of the preliminary findings of a report by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).From surrealist art and notable women to beer and chips, streets in a Brussels district undergoing regeneration are being named according to the whims of the Belgian public.

The eclectic mix of new names chosen by Brussels residents range from Passage de la Kriek, named after a famous Belgian cherry beer, to Ceci nest pas une rue (This is not a street), inspired by the art of Belgian surrealist Rene Magritte.

To give a street a name, it gives it a certain identity, Kris Verhellen, CEO of the Extensa development group which owns the former transport hub in the north of the city, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

He said he had been surprised by the poetic contributions, with many people sharing personal memories and hopes in their submissions.

The project comes as many cities taking on major regeneration projects look to ensure local people and histories are reflected.

It will commemorate two significant Belgian women after a campaign by a local feminist group highlighting the lack of streets named after historic female figures.

Both the film director Chantal Akerman and the countrys first female medical doctor Isala Van Diest will have roads named in their honor.

Read also: First exhibition for Indonesian comics history held in Brussels

The feminist group involved in the project Noms Peut-etre (Names Maybe) say they are working to denounce the invisibility of women in public space.

Members have stuck up unofficial street names in Brussels to commemorate women and are also pushing for new public spaces to reflect their role - a phenomenon also seen in the Netherlands.

Dutch activists unofficially renamed streets in major cities after finding the vast majority commemorated men.

Verhallen said he hoped the names in the Brussels development would help shape the feel of the new area.

After one square was named after a term of endearment, they worked to create a romantic lovers nook within the space, he said.

I think it should be a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy, he added.SANTA MONICA, Calif., Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the Midwests leading advanced design and manufacturing conference announced that Michael McAlpine and Phil Magney will keynote this years co-located event. The event is comprised of six shows that span across medical technology, advanced design, and embedded systems, including Medical Design & Manufacturing (MD&M) , Embedded Systems Conference (ESC) , Minn Pack , Automation Technology Expo (ATX) , Design & Manufacturing Minneapolis , and PLASTEC Minneapolis .



McAlpine, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Minnesota, will explore the benefits of 3D printing for medical materials and devices including regenerative bioelectronics, smart prosthetics, biomedical devices, and human-machine interfaces. Magney, Founder and Principal Advisor of VSI Labs, will examine all the components and technologies necessary to build safe automated vehicles for future deployment.

Minnesotas largest advanced design and manufacturing event takes place October 31  November 1, 2018, at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, MN. To register as press, please visit: minneapolis.am.ubm.com/2018/registrations/Media .

In his keynote presentation, 3D Printing Functional Materials and Devices , McAlpine will share information from his current research at the University of Minnesota, and also discuss the advent of 3D printing and imaging for a variety of multifunctional devices, from biological to electronic. The presentation will take place at the Engineering HQ Booth 232 on Wednesday, October 31 from 1-1:45 p.m. CST.

Phil Magney has more than 25 years of experience in active safety systems, automated vehicle systems and telematics, and is the Founder and Principal Advisor of VSI Labs, a leading researcher and engineering advisor on autonomous vehicle technologies. Magneys keynote presentation, The Future of Automated Driving , will dissect all-things associated with the Automated Vehicle Stack. In addition, VSI Labs will also examine the technologies outside the car including intersections and supporting infrastructure supplementing deployment. Magneys keynote presentation will take place Thursday, November 1 from 1-1:45 p.m. at Engineering HQ Booth 232.

Supporting Magneys keynote presentation, VSI Labs will feature a Ford Level 2 (L2) automated vehicle, where attendees can experience a ride with a VSI employee and get a glimpse into the future of self-driving vehicles. Additionally, onsite demonstrations will discuss current capabilities of the L2, including but not limited to Point Cloud Localization and Path Following.

The co-located events will host over 5,000 industry professionals and 500+ top-level suppliers to showcase the newest technology, practices, and trends in the medical and embedded systems industries. McAlpine and Magneys presentations further complement the programming at this years event featuring in-depth educational conference tracks focused on product development, technical solutions, embedded software, IoT and connected devices, and much more.

The medical and automotive industries are prime examples of the application of exciting advances in design and manufacturing today, said Amy Sklar, Group Senior Vice President, UBM. When we gather at the Minneapolis convention center, we will explore these innovative themes, aiming to engage, inspire, and educate engineers across the design-to-build supply chain. With their wide breadth of knowledge and insight, Michael McAlpine and Phil Magney will bring tremendous value to our attendees experience.

About the Keynote Presenters:

McAlpine was previously an Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Princeton University. He received a B.S. in Chemistry with honors from Brown University (2000), and an M.A. (2002) and PhD (2006) in Chemistry from Harvard University. In addition to his distinguished academic background, McAlpine has received several awards, including the George W. Taylor Award for Distinguished Research, the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), among many more.

Magney has authored numerous reports and papers for industry trade publications and is a frequent speaker at global automotive and technology conferences. Trained in ISO 26262, Magney has a deep understanding of Functional Safety within the context of automotive safety and automated driving. He is an active member of SAE International and contributor to ITS International.

To learn more about the keynote presenters please visit: https://mdmminn.mddionline.com/keynotes

To register as press for MD&M and ESC Minneapolis, please visit: minneapolis.am.ubm.com/2018/registrations/Media .

Connect with MD&M Minneapolis: #AdvMfgExpo

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Connect with ESC Minneapolis: #ESCconf

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LinkedInAfter its Grand Jury Prize-nominated debut at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, and critically acclaimed US theatrical release, Carlos Lopez Estradas Blindspotting is set for release in selected UK Cinemas on 5th October 2018.

Collin (Daveed Diggs) must make it through his final three days of probation for a chance at a new beginning. He and his troublemaking childhood best friend, Miles (Rafael Casal), work as movers, and when Collin witnesses a police shooting, the two mens friendship is tested as they grapple with identity and their changed realities in the rapidly-gentrifying neighbourhood they grew up in.

Longtime friends and collaborators, Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal co-wrote and star in this timely and wildly entertaining story about friendship and the intersection of race and class set against the backdrop of Oakland. Bursting with energy, style, and humour, and infused with the spirit of rap, hip hop, and spoken word, Blindspotting, boldly directed by Carlos Lopez Estrada in his feature film debut, is a provocative hometown love letter that glistens with humanity.

Daveed Diggs is, of course, most famous for originating the roles of Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson in the original Broadway cast of Hamilton, but he's been making waves across all areas of the arts. He raps with band CLPPNG, and starred in last year's Wonder alongside Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson, not to mention his stint on Black-ish.

The film also stars Diggs' Hamilton co-star Jasmine Cephas-Jones, Janina Gavankar (True Blood), Ethan Embry (Grace and Frankie), and Utkarsh Ambudkar (Pitch Perfect, The Mindy Project).

The news of the film's UK release is hugely welcome, after other Sundance successes like Boots Riley's Sorry to Bother You haven't been able to secure international distribution.

Blindspotting is in select UK cinemas on October 5th, distributed by Lionsgate.Verdict:

As is the case with any spoof, The Spy Who Dumped Me

isnt best appreciated for its realism. It is however a very fun way to spend two hours and a real testament to the strength and purity of real friendship.

Spy films are a firm favourite with cinema-going audiences, crammed to the brim with explosive action sequences, adventurous destinations, and passionate, flighty romances. Spy spoofs, when done well, take the traditional spy formula and add in a generous slathering of humour. Susanna Fogels The Spy Who Dumped Me is no exception.

The Spy Who Dumped Me centres on Audrey (Mila Kunis) and her fiercely loyal best friend, Morgan (Kate McKinnon) as they trek through Europe, following the death of Audreys ex-boyfriend, who just so happens to have been a spy. After Morgan convinces Audrey to go to Europe for the first time to fulfil her ex-boyfriends dying wish, the women  who are absolutely not trained in the art of espionage  are met with, to name but a few, motorcycle chases in Vienna, gymnast assassins in Germany, and murder in Prague. Not your typical European holiday

The film is surprisingly bloody for a spoof, with most of the motorcyclists in the chase being killed off in gruesome ways, scenes of torture, and a man who seemingly is killed through suffocation in a vat of fondue. The body count (and the amount of onscreen deaths that come with it) rivals some of the most gory spy films.

But more than just a catalogue of death scenes, The Spy Who Dumped Me is a great buddy comedy that specialises in buddy; one of the rare pairings that allows the buddies to actually be friends, as opposed to stark opposites thrown together by chance and kept together by necessity. McKinnons chemistry with Kunis is palpable and they bounce off each other perfectly.

Though Kunis is arguably the star of the movie, McKinnon, in her comediac role, steals the show. Morgan is the best friend that everyone deserves: she convinces Audrey to take chances, she is a great wingman and she even risks losing their chance to escape to praise Audrey for her quick thinking and some gun-toting worthy of an actual spy. McKinnon is lovably zany as Morgan; and not the grating zany that comes off as false, but genuinely sweet kookiness. Her phone conversations with her parents are a real treat.

The female influence on the movie is apparent through the believability of Audrey and Morgans friendship. Their friendship is what makes the movie so funny and the realness of it overshadows the confusion of the plot. It is clear that the strong bond that Audrey and Morgan share precedes everything else that makes up the film: the spy antics, the romance, and the violence all take a backseat to the driving force of their relationship.

The Spy Who Dumped Me is out now, distributed by Lionsgate.Last year alone, there were over 50,000 performances of almost 4,000 shows across the space of 25 days. Year after year, performers, artists, and creatives flock up to Scotland to showcase their productions. However, the Fringe may be in danger of becoming a victim of its own success. As its popularity increases, Festival executives have noticed an increase in the price of accommodation in the surrounding areas. This development is having a significant effect on both prospective audience members and the artists that hope to take work up there, especially smaller companies with low budgets. Concerns have been raised so often by artists, performers, producers and promoters that Fringe chief executive, Shona McCarthy, has warned the accommodation prices are threatening the lifeblood of the festival. We spoke to some artists and audience members about their experience with accommodation at the Fringe. Fringe first-timer, Kirsty Osmon, has spent around 3,500 on accommodation to take Empty Wallet Production s show, Awakening , up to the Fringe this year. With their companys place being confirmed relatively late, Empty Wallet Productions found it difficult to locate any properties still available that fit their needs of a two bedroom property, settling eventually for a three bedroom property (where the living room had been converted into the third room). Osmon said that if she wanted bedding to be provided, she would have to pay for it further at 75 per set. Osmon told us that even if I rented my [London, zone two] two -bedroom flat on Airbnb for all of August it still wouldnt cover half of what Ive got to pay for Edinburgh accommodation. Georgia Carney, co-writer and actor in No Door Theatre s Bitter , told us that as a company of four people, theyve had to rent a one bedroom flat, with one double bed, to stay in for the week that they are at the Fringe. Even with economising on space and members of the company fronting the costs of the Festival out of personal savings, Carney said that they were only able to afford one week in total. Carney believes that if accommodation prices came down I think it would make things much more accessible for people to see, as the fringe shows themselves are pretty accessible, as you have the free fringe and lots of shows (such as ours) are pay what you can!, as well as telling us that she aims to go to the Fringe every year for as long as she can but accommodation prices definitely have an impact on that."Olivia Munk, Part of the Main company member and producer of The Squirrel Plays , has been to the Fringe once before as a director, but this year is her first time arranging accommodation  part of her role as the producer. Munk told us that she started looking for accommodation in January even before she had secured a venue. During her search, she found properties that were 400  600 during the rest of the year but 3,000  6,000 during the Fringe. Many Fringe companies end up sharing beds in their accommodation (last year, Munk shared an air mattress) and she was dedicated to ensuring each member of Part of the Main had their own bed. With a company of eight members, Munk managed to find a property with a bed per person (though still sharing rooms) at 3,200 in Old Town; 25 minutes from their venue on the Mile. Munk reported that a property with a larger amount of rooms, allowing for a room per member, was around 7,000 - 10,000. Many emerging companies that take productions to the Fringe expect to lose money. Osmon and Munk both told us that they were expecting to make a loss from the Fringe with Osmon saying, even if Empty Wallet sold out every show of Awakening, we will still be very much out of pocket with their largest expense being accommodation. Munk reasoned that she would have to sell around 900 tickets to start making money." She also thanked backers for helping the team raise enough money to pay its artists.She also added that just driving home the idea that the Fringe is already so emotionally and physically straining that piling up in flats is much less than ideal, and I think it certainly continues to the widespread notion that the Fringe is difficult on your mental health. When you don't have anywhere to retreat and breathe, it makes the pressure of the Fringe even heavier. And its not just artists who are struggling with the prices of accommodation for the Fringe. Many potential audience members cannot afford the cost of accommodation, which tends to be the most expensive part of visiting the Fringe as an audience member. We spoke to Beth Cocking, who is attending the Fringe this year, who told us she could only afford to go due to a family friend who lives in Edinburgh. She reported prices of 1500 for 6 nights when she started looking for her own accommodation two months prior to her departure. Cocking stated that she thought the price of accommodation was a major deterrent to some, stating I definitely think a lot of people don't go due to the pricing of accommodation, especially considering how reasonably priced shows are. Even hostels are overpriced, there just seems to be no cheap way to do it. She expressed concerns that the price of accommodation would eventually stop audience members being able to attend.ELIZABETH, N.J., Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hayward Industries, Inc., a leading global manufacturer and marketer of residential and commercial pool equipment and industrial flow control products, today announced it has signed a definitive Purchase Agreement to acquire Paramount Leisure Industries, Inc. The transaction is expected to close during the month of August.



Known in the industry as Paramount Pool & Spa Systems, the company has a strong heritage and reputation for high quality, innovative and state-of-the-art pool products. Current CEO Lewis Buzz Ghiz has built on the foundations of the company started by his father George back in 1964 to create a world class business synonymous with service, quality and innovation. Recognized as one of the worlds leading in-floor cleaning system manufacturers, Paramount has diversified into alternate sanitizer technology, energy efficient white goods, lighting and other products which optimize pool/spa operation and enjoyment.

Clark Hale, CEO of Hayward Industries stated, We are delighted to join forces with Buzz and the Paramount team. Their culture of innovation and superior customer service combined with Haywards global reach will create significant growth opportunities for both companies, our customers, and our employees.

Buzz Ghiz shares the excitement of this next chapter for his business. Weve built an exceptional company in large part due to the relationships established with our valued clients and friends over many years. Hayward acknowledges this and I believe they will be good stewards of the Paramount brand. We will operate as an autonomous business under the Paramount name with the same structure we have today; the same management team, sales force, customer service team and operations.

We are committed to growing the business with the same passion and culture and by always staying highly focused on being customer centric. We look forward to this relationship and this new phase for Paramount, said Ghiz.

Paramount in-floor cleaning and circulation systems work automatically to minimize maintenance time. They also function as high efficiency circulation systems. Owners can expect to save up to 30% on chemicals and energy over the lifetime of their pool. Paramounts line of UV, Ozone and UVO3 combination sanitizers deliver a level of water purity unmatched by Chlorine alone. These supplemental sanitizers work synergistically to inactivate chlorine resistant microorganisms and remove organic particles to leave sparkling safe water. Paramount has a wide array of engineered white goods ranging from unblockable drains and automatic water levelers to their new venturi skimmer  the perfect partnering technology for variable speed pump installations.

About Hayward

Hayward Industries, Inc. is a leading global manufacturer of residential and commercial pool equipment and industrial flow control products. Headquartered in Elizabeth, NJ, Hayward markets a full line of energy efficient pool and spa equipment including pumps, filters, heaters, cleaners, salt chlorinators, automation, lighting, safety and flow control products. Hayward Products and trademarks include OmniLogic, VS Omni, TriStar, MaxFlo, Super Pump, AquaRite, TurboCell, Navigator, Pool Vac, AquaVac, Swim Clear, and CAT Controllers. Hayward products are sold worldwide. For more information contact Hayward at (908) 351-5400 or visit Hayward.com.

About Paramount

Paramount Leisure Industries is a world leading supplier of in-floor pool cleaning systems. Headquartered in Chandler, Arizona Paramount markets in-floor cleaning systems as well as innovative pool sanitization products including UV systems and Ozone systems, energy efficient white goods, lighting and other pool/spa products. Trademarks include Ultra UV2, ClearO3, SwingJet, SwingSweep, and VectorJet. Paramount products are sold worldwide. For more information contact Paramount at 480-893-7607.

For more information, contact:

Dave MacNair

Phone: 908.351.5400

Email: pr@hayward.comInfluenced by 40s Italian quartets, epic biblical cinematography and the famously archetypal Disney stories, Polo & Pan are melding pot of modern electronics and classic artistry.

Polo & Pan by Juliette Abitbol

Electronic DJ duo Polo (Paul) & Pan (Alexandre, formerly known as DJ Peter Pan) dabble in the dusty dark corners of the imagination. Pulling on childhood Disney stories of heroes, bad guys and archetypal female damsel in distress roles, Paul and Peter mix and mutate personal influences in progressive compositions peppered with 80s synths and Kraftwerk- esque vocoders.

Their first EP

Rivolta

was released in 2012 and took inspiration from the early 40s in Italy, quickly followed by

Dorothy

, an English-sung track which played on themes from The Wizard of Oz. However, since the release of their 2016 EP

Canopy

, the duo have stumbled upon serious success.

Their year-long tour of the States, UK, Istanbul, Beirut, Mexico (to name but a few) is slowly coming to a close in December, so we thought wed catch up with Paul during his brief day of respite.

Among all else, Polo & Pan are colourful and eccentric characters. Growing up on Disney stories, classic retro music (which they endeavour to collect and source ideas from) and beautiful films has clearly influenced their own personalities, as well as the personality of their sound.

Were diggers of old music...A lot of our obscure references were taken from the 40s and 50s, theres lots of old music that we really treasured together.

And dig they did. Alex, together with friends and musicians from across generations and time zones, started an online radio catalogue called

Radiooooo.com

that classifies music by decennial, and then by country. What youre faced with is one huge world map, littered with songs from across continents, countries, decades and genre.

The first song we made as Polo & Pan was Rivolta which used a sample of a band called Quartetto Cetra - an Italian band from the 40s. We like retro music, music from Disney...Peplum movies...exotica from the 50s. I guess Disney was one of our first references and we both really love that, so started remixing and doing edits of Disney tracks.

For a French DJ duo, Disney seemed an odd choice as a point of reference, but Paul explained its the joy of childhood stories that has translated into their music today.

Our music is linked to childhood. Theres a lot of naive and childish energy in a lot of our tracks, I would say.

I think theres a lot of archetypal stories in Disney; the stories of the hero and those feminine archetypes too. Id say these are the big stories that we were fed in our generation, and that we built our morals on. Were really fascinated with these stories that have been so relevant in the past 50 years or so.

Those delicate motifs of naivete, surprise and childlike fascination are truly present in Polo & Pans sound and accompanying visuals. Soft synthesisers, obscure, twinkling samples and rematched sounds collaborate with one another to provide an other - wordly backdrop to heavily warped vocals. The latest album

Caravelle

, released in May 2017, exploits these surreal sonics to take the listener on a journey; we ourselves are sat next to Paul and Alex, traversing the Amazon forest and the Congo river, and trekking through Tajikistan.

The destinations we go to in the songs with our Caravelle are imaginary postcards of countries that we havent yet been to.



And I think thats why their sound - no matter how complex and multifaceted - is so easily relatable. Tantalisingly unconventional electronics shoot us to far-flung places, French lyricism drenches us in cool sex appeal, while retro samples drop us straight back into a pool of nostalgia. Pulling on a listeners yearning for their past and future selves is something not many artists can do.

We try to make our music a-sexual, appealing to people who are 7 to 77 years old.

If theres one thing we can learn from Polo & Pan it that it's important to dream, no matter how old you are.

Listen to the latest album

Caravelle, available now.Highlights include Rick & Morty Presents Pickle Rick #1, Shadow Roads #5, and Long Con #5.

Source: Oni Press

RICK & MORTY PRESENTS PICKLE RICK #1 CVR A

SEP181899

(W) Delilah Dawson (A) Nick Filardi (A/CA) CJ Cannon

The biggest pickle-sized character in pop culture comes to comics! In this reimagined version, written by Delilah S. Dawson (Star Wars) and with art from series artists CJ Cannon and Brittany Peer, Rick gets out of some much-needed family therapy time by inventing a fruit gun, which he uses on himself, and things go...poorly. Yes, cucumbers are fruits! Plus, Jaguar's back and he's on a mission to save his daughter.

In Shops: Nov 21, 2018

SRP: $4.99



BAD MACHINERY POCKET ED GN VOL 07 CASE FORKED ROAD

SEP181901

Time is a fickle creature, especially when there's wormhole in the science cupboard. When a strange boy who seems far too entranced by cell phones appears, it's up to Lottie, Shauna, and Mildred to figure out his strange purposes.

The Case of the Forked Road, the seventh book in John Allison's award-winning Bad Machinery series, finds our young sleuths facing the intricacies of time and space itself. What is their science teacher hiding? Who is the mysterious Calvin, why is he dressed like it's 1960, and why is he obsessed with Communists? And another thing just what is going on with Jack, Sonny, and Linton?

In Shops: Jan 30, 2019

SRP: $12.99



KIM REAPER VAMPIRE ISLAND #4

SEP181902

(W) Sarah Graley (A/CA) Sarah Graley

Becka, Charlie and Tyler are going on a mission to rescue Kim from the second layer of Hell, no big deal. It'd probably be a little easier without all this spooky mist though...The gang could also do without all these ghouls getting in the way, too. Ugh, who knew the second layer of Hell would be so unpleasant?! I wanna go back to Vampire Island.

In Shops: Nov 28, 2018

SRP: $3.99



INVADER ZIM #37 CVR A

SEP181903

(W) Sam Logan (A) Kate Sherron (CA) Warren Wucinich (A/CA) Fred Stresing

When Dib wakes up one morning to find ZIM inside his house, eating breakfast with his family, he's confused. Even more confused when everyone refers to ZIM as Dib's brother. What horrible plot could ZIM be unfurling? But the more Dib looks into it, the more it seems like... ZIM might actually be his brother? Is that possible? Or will Dib lose his mind trying to unravel the vast conspiracy?

In Shops: Nov 28, 2018

SRP: $3.99

SHADOW ROADS #5

SEP181905

(W) Cullen Bunn, Brian Hurtt (A/CA) A.C. Zamudio, Carlos Zamudio

The Hunter has stolen the power of the Crossroads for himself, and he uses it to battle Abigail, Henry, and Isabella around the globe. Not all of our heroes will survive this fateful, final encounter with the soulstealing monster!

In Shops: Nov 14, 2018

SRP: $3.99



LONG CON #5

SEP181906

(W) Dylan Meconis, Ben Coleman (A) Emilee Denich (A/CA) M. Victoria Robado

GET READY FOR FIGHTS AND/OR TIGHTS. Saddled with obnoxious child actor gone to seed Flix Bixby, and pursued by con authorities and a cabal of cannibal celebs, Dez and Victor need allies, and fast! Enter Capetown: the genre-exclusive hall where superhero cosplayers act out their elaborate power fantasies, rooftop brawls and all. Who better to fight for truth and justice, right? Right??

In Shops: Nov 14, 2018

SRP: $3.99



RICK & MORTY #44 CVR A

SEP181909

(W) Kyle Starks, Tini Howard (A) Jarrett Williams, Sarah Stern (A/CA) Marc Ellerby

A message from Rick Sanchez: "Oooh wee, bruh, haven't you been wondering about The Vindicators and how The Vindicators met Rick and Morty and what kind of a super-duper mess they got into? Well, guess what. Yeah, you guessed right. Here it is. Rick and Morty VINDICATORS. THE ISSUE." Editor's note: Raise your hand if you read that in his voice. I sure did. Also, this excellent issue is written by Kyle Starks, with art by Marc Ellerby and Sarah Stern, and features a back-up story by Tini Howard, with art by Jarret Wiliams and Sarah Stern.

In Shops: Nov 28, 2018

SRP: $3.99Spoilers for The Punisher #1 and Hunt for Wolverine: Mystery in Madripoor #4.

Source: Marvel Comics

Among Marvel Comics' releases this week were Hunt for Wolverine: Mystery in Madripoor #4 and The Punisher #1, which both dealt with long-standing Asian stereotypes, albeit in different ways.

Hunt for Wolverine: Mystery in Madripoor #4, by Jim Zub and Thony Silas, saw Betsy Braddock aka Psylocke, a white British woman who had been inhabiting the body of Revanche, a Japanese woman, for 30 years, switched back to her original body. For the last 30 years, Psylocke was a walking stereotype, wearing ninja outfits, liking dragons, and wielding katanas. She stopped being a former model who wore body armor and became a ninja, frequently going to Japan.

Meanwhile in The Punisher #1, by Matt Rosenberg and Szymon Kudranski, saw the Mandarin get straight up wasted. While we don't see if The Punisher was the one to kill him, we're likely to find out in future issues who did the killing.

The Mandarin has been a problematic character since his inception, with Iron Man 3 director Shane Black saying:

"The Mandarin is a racist caricature."

The character's initial design was deeply rooted in Yellow Peril and Fu Manchu stereotyping.

Though it's comics, so it's only a matter of time before deaths are undone and bodies are swapped and reswapped again.English Danish

Summary

The Board of Directors and Management of FirstFarms A/S have today reviewed and adopted the un-audited interim financial accounts for the period 1 January - 30 June 2018.

FirstFarms increases turnover and result despite low prices on animal produce

FirstFarms has in the accounting period realised a turnover of DKK 85.3 million compared to DKK 66.4 million in the same period in 2017, an EBITDA result of DKK 24.9 million and an EBIT result of DKK 12.1 million. EBITDA and EBIT are improved with DKK 4.4 million and DKK 4.2 million, respectively compared to the same period last year.

In the first half year, the milk price has been marginal lower than budget. A milk price is expected on the same level for second half year. The milk production has been on par with the budget in the first half year.

The prices on grain and oil seed are in total expected to be higher than budget. The dry weather in the spring and summer has put upwards press on the prices due to an expected lower production on the world market.

The harvest yields for the winter crops have been marginal lower than budget due to a dry spring period. Yields for the spring crops are expected on par with budget.

The price on piglets has been low in first half year, and it has contributed negatively to the result in the pig production. The pig production efficiency has been satisfactory. Low prices are still expected in the autumn, but the prices are expected to increase at the end of the year.

The price on slaughter pigs is also low, and only a small increase is expected in the remaining part of the year.

The take-over in May 2018 of the pig production in Czech Republic has contributed positively to the result, including recognition of negative goodwill and the company is also expected to contribute positively in second half year.

FirstFarms maintains the announced expectations of an EBITDA result in the level of DKK 49-53 million and an EBIT result of DKK 22-26 million.

Anders H. Nrgaard from FirstFarms A/S says: "We now see high, positive effect of our risk spreading on production lines and geography. Thus, we can withstand the effect of fluctuations in climate and price, which the agricultural production in general is challenged by."

Furthermore, Anders H. Nrgaard states: "The agricultural production in Eastern Europe is in a very good development. The price of land is increasing, and the demand for pork is high. This provides basis for our future growth plans."

Best regards,

FirstFarms A/S

For further information:

Please visit our website www.firstfarms.com or contact CEO Anders H. Nrgaard on telephone +45 75 86 87 87.

About FirstFarms:

FirstFarms is a Danish stock exchange listed company, which purchases and operates agriculture in Eastern Europe. We develop the individual farms to modern and sustainable businesses that deliver milk, meat and grains of the highest quality to the dinner tables all over the world.Investor meeting on 31 August 2018

Eimskipafelag Islands hf. will publish its second quarter 2018 results after market closing on Thursday 30 August 2018.

Eimskip invites investors and market participants to a meeting where Gylfi Sigfusson, CEO, and Hilmar Petur Valgardsson, CFO, will present the second quarter and first six months 2018 results.

The meeting will be held on Friday 31 August at the companys headquarters in Korngardar 2 in Reykjavik and starts at 8:30 a.m. (GMT). Breakfast will be served from 8:15.

Documents and a recording of the meeting (in Icelandic) will be available after the meeting on the companys investor relations website, www.eimskip.com/investorsSan Francisco, CA, Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SharesPost, the leading provider of liquidity solutions to the private growth asset class, has partnered with Securitize, an end-to-end technology platform for tokenizing any asset, to enable security token issuers to list on the SharesPost platform. The partnership will help both investors and security token issuers by providing additional liquidity and accessibility to the growing global digital asset marketplace.



Were excited to partner with a robust and well-established marketplace for digital securities like SharesPost, said Carlos Domingo, CEO of Securitize. We continue to see rapid adoption of our Digital Securities Protocol across the globe and welcome further partnerships.



Through this partnership, Securitizes issuer clients will have access to one of the most established marketplaces for secondary transactions and digital securities. SharesPost has closed over $4 billion in unregistered securities transactions to date. Additionally, it will provide Securitize clients with access to a ready pool of experienced investors in the private securities space. Securitize previously disclosed that it has over 15 issuer clients, with several more set to come online and list on the SharesPost platform in the coming months.



Weve seen tremendous growth in the burgeoning security token market this year, and were excited to be partnering with Securitize as we expand our digital asset offerings, said Gregory Brogger, Founder and CEO of SharesPost. Securitize is a perfect partner for us. They bring a pipeline of strong token issuers and a market leading tech solution for both exchanges and issuers.



SharesPost is a global leader in the private securities market, operating as a FINRA-registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered U.S. Alternative Trading System (ATS). Digital securities trading is expected to launch in H2 2018. The company has also been rapidly building out its GLASS network - a compliant, global network of exchanges and OTC pools facilitating the trading, certification, and custody of security tokens and tokenized assets. In recent weeks, major exchanges including OKCoin, Stellar Decentralized Exchange, and Huobi have all announced that they will be joining GLASS as exchange nodes alongside the SharesPost ATS when it launches in Q4 2018.



Securitizes security token issuance platform, coupled with their Digital Securities Protocol, allows for seamlessly compliant trading of security tokens across multiple markets and exchanges. The partnership with SharesPost continues the trend of rapid adoption across the security token ecosystem.



For more information on SharesPost, visit SharesPost.com.



For more information on Securitize, visit Securitize.io.



###



SharesPost Founder and CEO Greg Brogger is available for interview



About SharesPost, Inc.

SharesPosts mission is to create liquidity for the private growth asset class. In 2009, SharesPost launched the first online secondary market for private technology company shares. Since then, SharesPost has connected thousands of buyers and sellers in more than $4 billion worth of transactions in the shares of more than 220 leading technology companies.



The SharesPost platform now also enables clients to access a variety of private market investment and liquidity solutions including (i) research and data on leading private technology companies, (ii) the SharesPost Private Growth Index, (iii) the SharesPost100 Fund, a registered closed-end interval fund providing all investors with easy access to the asset class, and (iv) SharesPost Lending, which enables private company shareholders to borrow against their shares. In 2017, SharesPost managed its first Initial Coin Offering and in 2018 announced plans to integrate trading of digital securities into the SharesPost platform.



SharesPost is a FINRA-registered broker-dealer, SEC registered Alternative Trading System and Registered Investment Advisor. For more information, please visit SharesPost.com.



About Securitize, Inc.

Securitize is a software platform for issuing and managing digital securities (security tokens) including dividends, distributions, and share buy-backs. Securitizes innovative Digital Securities Protocol (DS Protocol) enables seamless, fully compliant trading across multiple markets simultaneously. As a market leader, Securitize is heavily invested in the overall security token space, and actively partners with exchanges, broker-dealers, custodians of crypto, escrow services, and other financial infrastructure for security tokens. For more information, visit securitize.io.

Montreal, CA (H4T1V6)

Today

Sun and a few passing clouds. High 9C. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph..

Tonight

Mostly clear skies. Low 3C. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph.

remaining of

Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading.Hygea vct plc (the "Company")

Issue of Equity, Change of Name and Appointment of Director

On 9 May 2018 the Company launched an offer for subscription for new "B" ordinary shares of 1p each in the Company ("New "B" Shares") to raise, in aggregate, up to 10 million with an over-allotment facility of up to a further 10 million (before issue costs) (the "Offer"). The new funds are to be managed by North West head-quartered investment firm Seneca Partners Limited.

The Board of the Company is pleased to announce that valid applications have now been received in excess of the minimum subscription threshold.

Pursuant to the Offer, and the 3,110,250 of valid applications received up to and including 22 August 2018, the Company has issued and allotted 3,081,892 New "B" Shares on 23 August 2018. In accordance with the allotment formula set out in the prospectus for the Offer, the offer prices at which the New "B" Share were issued were in the range of 100p to 103.1p per share.

As a result of this allotment, the number of shares now in issue is 8,115,376 Ordinary Shares of 1p each and 3,081,892 New "B" Shares. Therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company is 11,197,268.

In respect of this allotment, an application will be made by the Company to the UK Listing Authority and to the London Stock Exchange for the new New "B" Shares so issued to be admitted to the Official List and to trading on the London Stock Exchange's main market for listed securities. It is expected that the admission of the New "B" Shares will become effective and dealings will commence on or around 7 September 2018.

The above statement of voting capital may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest, or a change to their interest, in the Company under the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

Following this first allotment of New "B" Shares the investment management agreement between the Company and Seneca Partners Limited ("Seneca") dated 9 May 2018 comes into effect. As envisaged in the Prospectus, the board of directors have also resolved to change the name of the Company to Seneca Growth Capital VCT plc, and to appoint Richard Manley as an additional non-executive director with immediate effect. In relation to this appointment, there is no additional information required to be disclosed pursuant to Listing Rule 9.6.13 R.

Richard is a director and CEO of Seneca. He qualified as a chartered accountant with KPMG in 2004, joined NM Rothschild's leveraged finance team in Manchester in 2007 before joining Cenkos Fund Managers in 2008. Richard joined Seneca on launch in 2010. Richard has been involved in the development of all areas of Seneca's business and played a key role in its journey from start up to managing more than 100m. Richard became Managing Partner in 2016 and CEO in 2017.

Richard Roth, a director of the Company subscribed for 15,000 of New "B" Shares under the Offer and has been allotted 15,000 New "B" Shares. As a director of the Company Richard Roth is a related party of the Company under the Listing Rules and this subscription is, therefore, a transaction to which Listing Rule 11.1.10R applies.

For further information, please contact:

John Hustler, Hygea vct plc at john.hustler@btconnect.com

Richard Manley, Seneca Partners Limited at Richard.Manley@senecapartners.co.uk

Any enquiries in respect of the Offer should be directed to:

John Davies

Seneca Partners Limited

01942 295 981

John.Davies@senecapartners.co.ukThe FTSE 100 closed down 11.02 points at 7563.22 and the pound was at $1.28 against the dollar.

Saudi Arabia has insisted it 'remains committed' to a two trillion US dollar stock market listing of oil giant Saudi Aramco, despite reports suggesting it has been abandoned. The listing, which would have been the biggest IPO in history, has been beset with delays.

Franco Manca and The Real Greek restaurant group Fulham Shore has reported 'encouraging trading' in the first half of the year, helped by a rise in the number of diner transactions and menu 'innovation'.Scottish-based BrewDog saw its sales rise by 55 per cent to 78million in the first half of this year, with UK sales surging by 83 per cent.

Earlier this year, BrewDog announced plans to open at least 17 new bars in the UK and around the world this year.

As part of these ambitious expansion plans, bars in Canary Wharf, London and Reykjavik, Iceland are among those set to open in the coming months.

Sales boost: Scottish-based BrewDog saw its sales rise by 55 per cent to 78million in the first half of this year

In an interim trading update, BrewDog said 'heavy investment' in the off-trade, such as partnerships with supermarkets Morrisons and Tesco, contributed to strong retail sales in the UK.

Revenues in BrewDog's bar division rose by 92 per cent on a year ago, raking in an extra 10million for the group so far this year.

The group said its on-trade sales were also growing, thanks to ongoing partnerships with pub giants JD Wetherspoon and Greene King.

BrewDog co-founder James Watt said the group was at an 'exciting and pivotal' juncture.

He said: 'We've established a solid and rapidly growing presence in the UK and the demand from Europe shows no signs of waning.

'We're making significant inroads in Asia and Australia, which I believe will begin to bear fruit in 2019.

'Our US business is expanding at breakneck speed with new distribution points added every week.'

Hotel: BrewDog is opening what it calls the 'world's first beer hotel' in Ohio later this month

Expansion plans: Earlier this year, BrewDog announced plans to open at least 17 new bars in the UK and around the world this year

Later this month, multi-national BrewDog is opening what it calls the 'world's first beer hotel' in Ohio, following a crowdfunding appeal.

Each of the rooms in the new DogHouse Columbus hotel will have a minibar containing BrewDog beers.

BrewDog was founded in 2007 and has grown to become one of the most popular craft beers sold in UK supermarkets.

It has 46 bars around the world and shipped 344,387 hectolitres of beer last year  equivalent to 1.4million bottles.

Its most popular beer, Punk IPA, raked in 35.4million worth of sales for the business in 2017.

Almost a quarter of the business is now owned by private equity firm TSG Consumer Partners.Elderly expats in Europe face losing access to their pension income and other financial services if there is a 'no-deal' Brexit.

One of a stream of new technical papers on Brexit preparations says that annuities - which people rely on for a regular pension income - are among the financial products which expats could struggle to receive.

Lending and deposit services and insurance are other services under threat if you are an expat. Meanwhile, British online shoppers and tourists visiting the EUcould face millions of pounds in credit card charges, it has emerged.

Pensions warning: Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab delivers a speech in central London on preparations for a no deal scenario

The prospect of expats in the EU seeing their pension payments stopped if there is a no-deal 'cliff edge' Brexit was raised by influential House of Commons Treasury committee chair Nicky Morgan MP last year.

She backed industry calls for the issue to be addressed in the Brexit talks, after the Association of British Insurers warned that unless a deal was reached, pension firms could face a choice between breaking their promises to people and businesses or breaking the law.

Morgan, who put the Treasury on alert in a letter to Chancellor Philip Hammond, said: 'The possibility that UK providers may not be legally able to pay out pensions or insurance contracts to citizens in the EU  including UK expats  is a stark example of the consequences of a "cliff edge" Brexit.'

Early on in the negotiations, there was news that expats in the EU look set to keep annual increases in the state pension and still get healthcare paid for after Brexit.

However, experts cautioned at the time that this would not be nailed down until a final deal was reached.

The documents released today said the Government was committed to putting unilateral action in place if necessary to resolve issues as far as possible on the UK side.

But it said that 'in the absence of action from the EU, EEA-based customers of UK firms currently passporting into the EEA, including UK citizens living in the EEA, may lose the ability to access existing lending and deposit services, insurance contracts (such as life insurance contracts and annuities) due to UK firms losing their rights to passport into the EEA'.

'For UK-based customers who access banking, insurance, investment funds and other financial services with EEA firms currently passporting into the UK, temporary permissions will enable these firms to continue to provide these services to UK customers for up to three years after exit - allowing firms time to apply for authorisation to continue operating in the UK', the documents said.

This means these firms will be able to continue as before if they receive authorisation covering the full scope of services they currently provide.

The UK's savings safety net, the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, protects money held by customers of UK-authorised firms when firms go bust, including some products with EEA firms.

Regulators will consult this autumn on arrangements for coverage to continue, the documents said.

Hugh Savill, director of regulation at the Association of British Insurers, said: 'Leaving the EU without a deal would cause major inconvenience to millions of pensioners, travellers and drivers.

'We urge the Government to agree a deal as a matter of urgency.

'Today's paper emphasises the risk of insurers not being able to make payments to customers based in the EU after the end of March next year.

'Obviously insurers want to meet their commitments to their customers, but this problem has the potential to affect millions of insurance customers, including UK pensioners overseas.

'It can be fixed by co-operation between the UK and EU regulators  if the EU authorities wish to do so.

'Insurers have of course been making contingency plans for their own operations for many months now, but this contract issue is not one that insurers themselves can fix.'

Stephen Jones, chief executive of financial services trade body UK Finance, said: 'A "no deal" scenario can and should be avoided.

'Both the UK and our EU partners should focus on agreeing a managed exit and a clear framework for cross-border trade including in financial services.

'However, it is right that contingency plans are made to minimise disruption for consumers and businesses on both sides of the Channel in the event of a "no deal".

'The government is taking a pragmatic approach to addressing critical cliff-edge issues and to ensure consumers and businesses can continue accessing vital cross-border services.

'However, these issues cannot be addressed by the UK acting alone. It is therefore vital that negotiators on both sides work together to agree solutions that prevent any unnecessary disruption and additional costs for customers in both the EU and UK.'Banks are dodging payouts for fraud victims by unfairly branding them 'negligent', a watchdog will say today.

In a victory for customers, banks will be told to stop blaming victims of highly-sophisticated scams which exploit their own banking systems.

In current law, banks can refuse to compensate fraud victims if it can prove they were 'grossly negligent'.

But they are said to be interpreting this to include almost anyone who hands over personal details to fraudsters or transfers money into a criminal's account.

In current law, banks can refuse to compensate fraud victims if it can prove they were 'grossly negligent'

Now, the Financial Ombudsman Service has warned that 'gross negligence isn't a term to be used lightly' and cannot be used inappropriately as an excuse not to pay up. In a hard-hitting report released today, banks will be told to cover customers' losses if they cannot provide evidence to back up their negligence claim.

The ombudsman, which investigates complaints about banks, says that proving a customer has been grossly negligent is 'an increasingly difficult case to make' because criminals are using such clever technology.

Lead ombudsman Pat Hurley will say: 'The increasing sophistication of scams means that the bar for gross negligence is high  it's more than just a test of whether someone was careless. The fact is that scams can be very convincing  for example, using fake websites that look identical to banks' online systems, or text messages which to all intents and purposes look like they're from someone's bank.'

Jenni Allen, managing director of Which? Money, said: 'This is a welcome intervention by the ombudsman and shows that many consumers who have been tricked out of money .. should really have been compensated by their bank.'

Last year, RBS boss Ross McEwan insisted it was a not always the responsibility of banks when customers give their account details or money to online scammers

Last year, RBS boss Ross McEwan insisted it was a not always the responsibility of banks when customers give their account details or money to online scammers.

Asked whether the bailed-out bank, which owns NatWest, had a duty of care to victims, he replied: 'No.' He said it would be too expensive to cover all losses and customers should be more careful.

But the Financial Conduct Authority says it interprets gross negligence to mean the customer showed 'a very significant degree of carelessness'.

Caroline Wayman, chief ombudsman and chief executive of the FOS, said that 'it's not fair to automatically call a customer grossly negligent simply because they've fallen for a scam'.

Martyn James, formerly of the ombudsman and now at complaints website Resolver, said: 'They [banks] must introduce a basic level of safeguarding for online bank transfers to ensure a customer is not being defrauded.'

And Wes Streeting, Labour MP for Ilford North, said: 'Given that fraudsters are acting with increasing sophistication to cheat people out of their money, banks should take greater care in throwing around charges of 'gross negligence' at their customers.'

UK Finance, which represents the banks, said last year banks' security systems prevented 2 in every 3 of attempted fraud.LAS VEGAS, NV, Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --



via NEWMEDIAWIRE -- United Rail, Inc. (OTCPK: XTRN), a short line railroad consolidator and owner of the X Train brand and brand licensor, today announced that it has acquired U S Rail Holdings, a freight short line railroad, located in Toledo, Ohio.

U S Rail Holdings (USRH) is a short-line railroad operator and provides a variety of value-added rail transportation services including transloading, private industrial rail car switching, track maintenance services, rail car repair, and rail car storage. USRH leases and operates approximately 72 miles of rail lines in the Kokomo, Indiana area.

Our plan is to consolidate the smaller and sometimes overlooked short lines and consolidate them under the United Rail Inc. banner, said Michael Barron, CEO of United Rail Inc.

Mr. Barron added, We plan to aggressively grow our presence in other markets. With the inclusion of USRH under the United Rail Inc. umbrella, we now have a pathway to effectively reach those small railroad companies who wish to sell.

Danielle M. Mitchell, CEO of USRH and the new EVP of Business Development for United Rail Inc., stated, We have been looking for some time to find a partner with the same vision as we have for the consolidation of these small short lines. Now with this deal, we will have a leg up on contacting and closing these rail properties and afford the sellers a path to liquidity. We are very pleased to be part of the exciting program United Rail Inc. has planned.

The Toledo offices of U S Rail will now become the operations hub for the acquired companies into the United Rail network. United Rail already has developed a pipeline of prospective companies and expects to have five such railroads under the United network by the end of the year.

About United Rail Inc.

United Rail, Inc. is in the business of acquiring short line railroads in the freight operations space. The company has been active in this space for several years. It has operated both passenger rail excursions and short line freight operations and plans to develop rail infrastructure projects and terminal operations.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements regarding United Rail, Inc. (the Company) within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included herein are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding: the financial outlook of the Company, the general ability of the Company to achieve its commercial objectives; the business strategy, plans and objectives of the Company and its subsidiaries; and any other statements of non-historical information. These forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as believes, expects, anticipates, seeks, should, could, intends, or projects or similar expressions, and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. The Companys actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and uncertainties, and may be beyond the Companys ability to foresee or control. The Company does not undertake an obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, and all forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by all such risk factors and other cautionary statements. The information set forth herein speaks only as of the date hereof.



MBABANE  It was a two horse race in the tender for preparation of the capital citys Integrated Development Plan (IDP).



Tender results issued by Municipal Council of Mbabane Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Gideon Mhlongo, which were published by the Swaziland Public Procurement Regulatory Agency (SPPRA), reflect that among the competing duo of Altersol Consulting Limited and VIP Property Consultants (Pty) Ltd, the former - emerged as the best evaluated tenderer.



The company amassed a total of 77 points during the evaluation exercise where the approvals authority was the citys finance committee. It was reported that there was only a 70 per cent difference between VIP Property Consultants Pty (Ltd) and Altersol which managed to score 70 points.

The proposed contract price for preparing the IDP was E258 300. VIP Property Consultants, on the other hand, had priced their bid at E252 000.

In accordance with the Public Procurement Act of 2011, Mhlongo announced that a period of 10 working days would be allowed for the submission of any application for review.



The contract award decision does not constitute a contract, Mhlongo clarified.

It should be mentioned that just like the capital city which is getting itself ready to outline upcoming developmental projects in the IDP, the Municipal Council of Ezulwini, Nhlangano and Piggs Peak also recently announced that they would also soon have a joint financial management and billing system to improve efficiency.



The system will be supplied and implemented by a South African company, Finware Enterprise Systems, which has been enlisted as the best evaluated tenderer for the project valued at E1.6 million.



The company, which scored 93 per cent during evaluation, outsmarted AM Consultancy, which amassed 73 per cent and Bytes Systems which only managed to score 58 per cent. Evaluation undertaken in accordance with the Public Procurement Act of 2011 was based on 60 per cent technical and 40 per cent financial proposals.



In terms of pricing, the best evaluated tenderer had submitted the lowest bid price of E1 686 472.64. The highest among the tenderers was Bytes Systems at E8 283 591.



EZULWINI  Although men are known to be perpetrators of violence, new data suggests that they are also desperate for help.



This was an assertion made by the Transition Mental Health and Psycho Social Wellness organisation. The organisation, which has a number one can call when they are in distress, revealed that they received about 15 calls daily from people who needed help and a majority of these were men.



Out of these calls received, 10 were said to be from men who needed assistance. The organisation revealed that most of these men were abused by their wives mentally and financially.



The organisations Director, Clinical Psychologist Ndo Mdlalose, said men were most desperate for help and in most cases, felt useless, something that triggered violence against their spouses.



Mdlalose was speaking during their Akume Campaign launch at Royal Villas yesterday.

She said they were launching the campaign following the disturbing reports of violence in the country.



National Commissioner of Police Isaac Magagula stated that there were 1 046 rape cases reported in 17 months, which was from January 2017 up until May this year.



The commissioner said 61 women were raped at least every month in the Kingdom of Eswatini.

According to Mdlalose, as an organisation, they were saying rape and killing should stop.



Violence



She also said they were emphasising that violence in general should come to an end in the country, be it financial, mental or physical.

Mdlalose said Eswatini was confronted with cases on a daily basis which were reported in the media of brutal killings, rape, suicides and other tragic things which were happening in the society.

MBABANE  Suspended lawyer Siboniso Clement Dlamini has filed an application for the convening and sitting of an ad hoc committee to consider the suspension and subsequent removal of Chief Justice (CJ) Bheki Maphalala.



Dlamini is accusing the head of the Judiciary of serious misbehaviour and misconduct.

According to Section 158(10) of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Eswatini, an ad hoc committee is a committee made up of the minister responsible for justice, chairman of the Civil Service Commission(CSC) and the president of the Law Society of Swaziland.



damaging



The chief justice has committed gross violation of the Constitution by his conduct, such that it is glaring to all and damaging to the reputation of the Judiciary and the rule of law, alleged Dlamini.



He is seeking an order directing the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, as chairman of the ad hoc committee in terms of Section 158(10) of the Constitution, to forthwith and immediately within 72 hours, convene a sitting of the committee, to consider and implement the decision on his complainant on the question of removing the CJ in terms of Section 158(2), for alleged serious misbehaviour and misconduct.



Section 158(2) provides that: a Justice of a superior court of judicature shall not be removed from office except for stated serious misbehaviour or inability to perform the functions of office arising from infirmity of body.



urgency



In his application which has been filed under a certificate of urgency, Dlamini is further seeking an order calling upon the minister, president of the Law Society of Swaziland and the chairman of the Civil Service Commission (CSC), to show cause why the meeting had not been convened in terms of Section 158 of the Constitution.



Respondents in the matter are the minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, president of the Law Society of Swaziland and the chairman of the Civil Service Commission



Dlamini averred that the CJ allegedly without lawful authority, proceeded to issue a general notice to all members of the Judiciary including the Law Society and judges, debarring him. He claimed that the CJ also directed that he (Dlamini) should not appear in all courts in the Kingdom of Eswatini.



He submitted that the letter by the chief justice purported to exercise powers vested in him in terms of Section 139 (5) and 142 of the Constitution. Dlamini contended that these sections did not grant the head of the Judiciary the right or authority to bar practitioners in the Kingdom of Eswatini. According to the applicant (Dlamini), the law regulating lawyers was the Legal Practitioners Act.EZULWINI  Muslims yesterday celebrated their Eid al- Adha where over 100 cattle were slaughtered across the country.



The cattle were slaughtered along with goats and sheep in all local mosques. Mosques are places where Muslims worship God (Allah). The figure was confirmed by the IHH which funded the slaughtered animals.



Luqman Asooka, one of the Imams, (priests) said 30 cattle were slaughtered at the Ezulwini Islamic Institute. The Imam said he was not sure of the other figures in the other mosques which included Nhlangano, Manzini, Piggs Peak, Siteki and Mbabane.



There are over 100 cattle that have been slaughtered for the event according to their (IHH) records of the purchased animals, he said.

The animals were slaughtered after a prayer session that was held in the morning.



The meat was then distributed to over 300 people, including those who were not Muslims and were from the surrounding areas in Ezulwini. The people from nearby communities came in numbers to get a share of the free meat.



The at least 300 people each received about 4kg of beef from the Muslim community as part of their Eid al-Adha celebration. The meat distribution started at about 2:30pm where the hundreds of people were already gathered under a tent.

When it was time for distribution, men, women and children formed three separate lines. First to receive meat parcels were women then men followed.

Noticeably, some of the women made attempts to get more than one meat parcel by rejoining the line after being given.



The meat parcels were distributed by locally-based Muslims as well as others from Turkey. As per their invitation, they distributed the meat to everyone including those who were not Muslims.



Most of the people who received the meat were elderly women who stated that the parcels could not have come at a more proper time.

Sonto Dlamini, a 74-year-old woman of Nyonyane, said she was a Christian under the Zion church. She said this was the first time for her to receive the meat as last year, she could not due to being ill. She said her feet often swelled, making it impossible for her to walk.MBABANE  Following the Commission of Inquiry into the 2017 army recruitment exercise, a senior soldier has been dismissed from work.



Colonel Jeffery Sipho Simelane, who was one of the senior army personnel responsible for the recruitment exercise, was dismissed by Army Commander Sobantu Dlamini. This was after the commission found that there was a lot of corruption by senior army officials who were mandated to conduct the exercise.

Simelane is one of the senior army personnel who were recalled by His Majesty after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 60.

His new contract was for a period of three years and it was to end on August 18, 2019. He had served the army for 40 years. After the conclusion of the enquiry where Colonel Simelane was fingered, the army commander deemed it fit to terminate his three-year contract. Some of the recruits who were illegally recruited informed the commission that they were assisted by Simelane.



You are hereby informed that your contract of employment from (sic) the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force has been terminated, reads part of the letter signed by the army commander.



Simelane and the other senior official were assigned to conduct recruitment in areas known as emahambate. Emahambate are areas under Swazi Nation Land which have no chiefs and which are directly under the control of His Majesty King Mswati III.



It was found that instead of conducting the recruitment exercise as per the order of the Commander-in- Chief (His Majesty King Mswati III), Simelane and the other senior officials allegedly decided to recruit their relatives and ignored the eligible candidates.

In May last year, it was reported that about 60 army recruits were shown the exit door from the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) Infantry School in Mbuluzi.



The army commander mentioned that following an outcry from the public and from Members of Parliament (MPs) concerning the irregularities in the recruitment exercise, he then established a Commission of inquiry into the recruitment.



Irregularities



The commission of inquiry comprised Lieutenant General Tsembeni Magongo, who was the chairperson, Major General Moses Fakudze (member) and Captain Thokozane Dlamini who was the secretary. Its terms of reference were: to investigate any irregularities in the 2017 recruitment process in particular Tinkhundla Centres and Chiefdoms; to find out whether or not all those who were announced to have qualified at their Tinkhundla centres were eventually called to undergo medical examination; to hear and consider the medical results of those who were called to undergo medical examination; to find out whether or not those who failed the medical test were replaced by candidates from the same constituencies; find out, all those who were involved in the irregularities and also advise and make recommendations to the UEDF commander based on its finding arising from the submission.



Enlisted



The commission was also mandated to find out if those who qualified both at Tinkhundla and at Phocweni Defence Clinic were finally enlisted

The army commander stated that when the Commander-in-Chief commissioned the recruitment, he also gave directions as to how the recruitment should be conducted.



He said during the 2017 recruitment, the Commander-in-Chief had directed that the recruitment should be from chiefdoms including areas known as emahambate, Tinkhundla Centres and from regiments.RESTON, Va., Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Resonate , the leading provider of consumer intelligence and insights for marketers, today announced the release of its new report, The Bank Marketers Playbook: Consumer Insights to Score Lasting Connections. The report outlines the challenges facing traditional consumer banks and provides an in-depth profile of consumers who are looking to switch financial services providers.



Because technology has so fundamentally transformed the banking business, consumers now want a different banking experience than they did in the past, Resonate found. As a consequence, more than 5.6 million Americans are thinking about switching banks. Powerful tech companies like Amazon, Google and Facebook are all looking at ways to offer financial services and incorporate consumer banking options into their business models.

The consumer banking landscape is changing dramatically, and financial companies that want to thrive must focus squarely on their customers and what drives them, said Ericka McCoy, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Resonate. The unique consumer insights provided through the Resonate Platform paint a picture of a banking customer who wants more personalized services and technology, which is why some big tech companies are looking toward the consumer banking market.

Resonates report found that the largest demographic of Americans looking to switch banks are women ages 25-34 with a household income range of $25,000 to $50,000. Forty-five percent of this audience have children, and 38 percent have a college degree or higher. These consumers say they want more convenient branch locations, better customer service, and better online and mobile banking services.

Resonates Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven platform is a consumer intelligence industry first, applying science and technology toward the art of understanding the complexity of human motivationsthe true why behind consumers decisions to buy, endorse or abandon. These deep consumer insights help drive growth and customer lifetime value through improved acquisition, expansion and retention programs. Resonate is the only insights platform that provides a continuously updated view of the consumer, as well as cross-channel engagement and ongoing analysis that helps marketers make better decisions and create unique customer experiences that drive growth.

To learn more and read the full report, click here .

About Resonate

Resonate is a pioneer in Consumer Intelligence Marketing, delivering deep understanding, dynamic insights, cross-channel engagement and analysis in a single, simple-to-use SaaS platform. The Resonate Consumer Graph encompasses 9,000 attributes, including values, motivations and other psychographics, describing more than 175 million U.S. consumers. Hundreds of companies have used Resonate to reveal and engage The Human Element, a deeper understanding of their target audience that extends beyond traditional demographics, psychographics and behavioral data to uncover the whythe values and motivations that drive consumer decisions to buy or support certain brands, products or causes. Empowered by this unparalleled understanding, leading brands, agencies and organizations identify, engage and continuously analyze these audiences, achieving unbreakable relationships that drive growth and increase customer lifetime value.

Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, Resonate is privately held and backed by Argentum Capital Partners, Revolution Growth, Greycroft Partners and iNovia Capital. For more information, please visit www.resonate.com .DENVER, Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Xero today announced the official opening of its new Denver office. By relocating to Downtown, Xero furthers its commitment to helping grow the citys thriving technology scene and allows for the future growth of its Americas business.



Xero will now occupy the top floor of the brand new Circa Building on Platte Street in Lower Highland as the flagship tenant. As Xero continues to grow its presence in North America, the 30,000-square-foot space will enable the organization to house around 300 employees in Denver.

Xero employs more than 2,000 people worldwide, and continues to cement its status as a top tech employer both globally and locally in the US. Battery Ventures and Glassdoor recently named Xero one of the best cloud computing companies to work for.

The new Downtown location increases Xeros visibility as a vibrant tech leader and facilitates access to great talent. It also puts Xero in the heart of the small business community, enabling Xero to contribute to this essential part of the local economy, and to the accountants and bookkeepers who help make it thrive.

Xero joins a score of high-growth tech companies expanding their footprints in Denver including Facebook, Slack and Xero partner, Gusto . Xero recently announced a strategic partnership with Gusto , selecting the platform as the preferred payroll provider for its small business and accountant customers in the US.

Denver is fast becoming one of the nations most attractive cities to live and work for tech talent. In 2017, Denver added more than 5,000 tech jobs  the 10th highest in the country  and the citys startups raised more than $500 million in venture capital funding.

State of the Art Facilities

Key features of the new Circa Building on Platte Street include a reservable multi-function event space, common outdoor seating area and mezzanine social space. Xeros office space itself has an espresso machine, ping pong table, putting green and employs activity-based working, where employees choose a work area that suits them based on any given day or task at hand.

Rather than assigned seating, Xeros people have the option to choose from quiet spaces for phone calls and focused work, rooms for virtual and in-person meetings, collaboration areas such as booths or flexi tables or a desk in their teams neighborhood.

Surrounded by LoDo and the Highlands, the building is centrally located at the base of the pedestrian bridge to the Highlands. A seven-minute walk to Union Station, the location provides easy access to the Pepsi Centre, Coors Field, Platte River North Bike Trail, Commons Park and the West Side Line.

Denver is an amazing place to live and work, making it a fantastic hub for Xeros Americas HQ, said Xero Americas VP of People & Business Operations, Andy Burner. Knowing that we were going to outgrow our former space, we set out to find a new space that would not only facilitate our growing team, but enable us to do beautiful business in close proximity to all that Denver has to offer. We have found all of that and more in our new space. We cant wait to contribute to the local small business and accounting scene on an even bigger scale.

"Like our partner Xero, we chose to build an urban campus in Denver because we wanted to be located at the center of technological innovation in Colorado," said Gusto Head of Denver Engineering Jeremy Thomas. "We're excited to welcome Xero as Downtown neighbors as they share our values and commitment to supporting small businesses and the local community."

Added Tami Door, President and CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership : Innovative, high-growth companies like Xero are driving economic growth even further in our city center. The Downtown Denver Partnership is thrilled to welcome Xero to Downtown Denver and we look forward to working closely together on our shared goal of building an even more robust, vibrant tech scene.

Xero is hiring. For job openings, head here .

About Xero

Xero is a beautiful, easy-to-use global online platform for small businesses and their advisors. The company has 1.4 million subscribers in more than 180 countries. Xero seamlessly integrates with more than 700 apps. It was ranked No. 1 by Forbes as the World's Most Innovative Growth Company for two years running, won Technology Provider of the Year for the British Small Business Awards, and was rated by Canstar Blue as Australias best accounting software three consecutive years from 2015-2017.Jillian Baldwin sits atop her horse, Kimmie, during Wednesdays competition at the Crawford County Fair. She has claimed a fifth- and first-place ribbon so far this week.CHESAPEAKE, Va., Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gwaltney  has teamed up with Roc Solid Foundation to build hope for kids with cancer. From Aug. 27  Sept. 23, 2018, Gwaltney will donate $.02 to Roc Solid Foundation for every eligible product sold, up to $50,000.



Roc Solid Foundation, based in Virginia, is a nonprofit that builds hope for kids with cancer through the power of play. The organization is best known for constructing playsets for kids with cancer who are between the ages of one and eight and completing top-to-bottom room makeovers for kids ages eight to 18. Roc Solid also distributes Ready Bags to families the day they hear the devastating news of their childs diagnosis.

Gwaltney, a brand that believes in both giving back and the power of play, will support Roc Solids mission in select areas where its products are sold: Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Alabama. Eligible products include varieties of: Gwaltney Great Dogs, Gwaltney Hardwood Smoked Bacon, Gwaltney Great Bolony, and Gwaltney Pork Sausage. More information on the program, and a complete list of participating items can be found at GwaltneyGives.com.

The Gwaltney brand is all about family and fun, and we are proud to partner with Roc Solid to support their mission of building hope for kids with cancer, said Gwaltney brand manager Chad McFadden. Weve volunteered at many Roc Solid Foundation projects, and having the opportunity to put smiles on the faces of kids fighting cancer is an experience like no other.

Gwaltney has been a great partner to us, and we are excited about the potential of this campaign, said Roc Solid Foundations chief play officer Eric Newman. The money raised will build hope for more kids and families, allowing them to do what they do best  play.

About Roc Solid Foundation:

Roc Solid Foundation builds hope for kids and families facing pediatric cancer. The organization is best known for its Play It Forward initiative, which surprises kids ages 1-8 with custom playsets in their backyards and completes room makeovers for kids ages 8-18. The organization has completed nearly 400 Play It Forward projects throughout the U.S. For more information, visit www.rocsolidfoundation.org .

About Gwaltney

Originally founded in 1870 by P.D. Gwaltney in Smithfield, VA, Gwaltney offers a variety of bacon, hot dogs, bologna, lunchmeat and sausage. For more information and family recipes, visit www.GwaltneyFoods.com and www.Facebook.com/GwaltneyFoods . Gwaltney is a brand of Smithfield Foods.

About Smithfield Foods

Smithfield Foods is a $15 billion global food company and the worlds largest pork processor and hog producer. In the United States, the company is also the leader in numerous packaged meats categories with popular brands including Smithfield, Eckrich, Nathans Famous, Farmland, Armour, Farmer John, Kretschmar, John Morrell, Cooks, Gwaltney, Carando, Margherita, Curlys, Healthy Ones, Morliny, Krakus and Berlinki. Smithfield Foods is committed to providing good food in a responsible way and maintains robust animal care, community involvement, employee safety, environmental and food safety and quality programs. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com , and connect with us on Facebook , Twitter and LinkedIn .

Media Contacts:

Ashley Martin, Director of Communications

ashley@rocsolidfoundation.org

757-348-2344

Adrienne Taylor, Public Relations Coordinator

awtaylor@smithfield.com

757-357-8520PHOENIX, Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Telkonet, Inc. (OTCQB: TKOI), (the Company) announced CEO and Director, Jason Tienors first interview on Uptick Newswires Stock Day Podcast.



Everett Jolly invited a company for the first time to Uptick Newswires Stock Day podcast, Telkonet, Inc.s CEO and Director, Jason Tienor. Jason, welcome to the show! Give my listeners a statement about who you guys are and how you make your money.

Telkonet, Inc. is an intelligent automation or Internet of Things (IoT) Company. Largely what we do is design and manufacture products that speak to one another. Using a number of triggers or intelligence, these products are able to conserve energy for our commercial customers. A number of these products include thermostats, outlets and light switches that, once a room becomes unoccupied, will shift away from temperature and will turn off lighting and plug-load devices so that the property can conserve money when nobodys there. Our devices also integrate with a number of other smart products within the wireless industry or cloud environment, specific to our markets, which allow us to provide incredible welcoming environments.

Jolly interjected, You just reported your 2nd quarter. $3 million. 40% in growth. How did you get there?

Tienor replied that the industry itself has seen some rapid growth during 2018, surprisingly in consumer education. Being a leader in this market has really given Telkonet the ability to expand their market penetration and awareness and really grow the business quite dramatically. He expects this to continue primarily because the IoT industry is currently in its infancy.

In closing, Tienor indicated that the Company is really maintaining its competitive edge in the industry due to its products, plus developing and incorporating the best technologies. Telkonet has the most comprehensive platform thats available to their markets.

Jolly believes the Company is currently undervalued and underfollowed. Tienor said the Company will take a strategic look at the market and all the players and come back with some better alternatives and increase shareholder value for investors.

For more information about the Companys financial details, listen to the full interview at the link below:

https://upticknewswire.com/featured-interview-ceo-jason-tienor-of-telkonet-inc-otcqb-tkoi/

About Telkonet, Inc.

Telkonet, Inc. (OTCQB: TKOI) provides innovative intelligent automation platforms at the forefront of the Internet of Things (IoT) space. Helping commercial audiences better manage operational costs, the Company's EcoSmart intelligent automation platform is supported by a full-suite of IoT-connected devices that provide in-depth energy usage information and analysis, allowing building operators to reduce energy expenses. Vertical markets that benefit from EcoSmart products include hospitality, education, military, government, healthcare and multiple dwelling housing.

Telkonet is the leader in intelligent automation, occupancy-based energy management and IoT technology. Founded in 1999, Telkonet has successfully deployed over 600,000 devices across more than 3,000 properties.

As a clean energy company, we help clients decrease operating expenses, reduce carbon footprints and improve sustainability with green technology. The Telkonet intelligent automation platform is supported by a full suite of IoT-connected devices that provide building operators with in-depth energy usage analytics. This information can be used to deploy targeted solutions that dramatically reduce energy consumption and improve facility management and efficiency with measurable results.

Contact:

Telkonet, Inc.

20800 Swenson Drive, Suite 175

Waukesha, WI 53186

(414) 302-2299

https://www.telkonet.com/

Safe Harbor Act and Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ from expectations and, consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as expect, estimate, project, budget, forecast, anticipate, intend, plan, may, will, could, should, believes, predicts, potential, continue, and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. Additional information concerning these and other risk factors are contained in the Companys most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company does not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in their expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.

About Uptick Newswire and the Stock Day Podcast:

Founded in 2013, Uptick Newswire is the fastest growing media outlet for Nano-Cap and Micro-Cap companies. It educates investors while simultaneously working with penny stock and OTC companies, providing transparency and clarification of under-valued, under-sold Micro-Cap stocks of the market. Uptick provides companies with customized solutions to their news distribution in both national and international media outlets. Uptick is the sole producer of its Stock Day Podcast, which is the number one radio show of its kind in America. The Uptick Network Stock Day Podcast is an extension of Uptick Newswire, which recently launched its Video Interview Studio located in Phoenix, Arizona.

Investors Hangout is a proud sponsor of Stock Day, and Uptick Newswire encourages listeners to visit the companys message board at https://investorshangout.com/By Cynthia Hind

On Friday 16th September, at approximately 10:15, 62 children from Ariel School, a private primary school in Ruwa (about 20 km from Harare) were in their playing field for the mid-morning break.

Suddenly, they saw three silver balls in the sky over the school. These disappeared with a flash of light and then reappeared elsewhere.

This happened three times and then they started to move down towards the school with one of them landing (or hovering) over a section of rough ground made up of trees, thorn bushes, and some brown-grey cut grass with bamboo shoots sticking up out of the ground.

The children are not allowed in this area although it is adjacent to their playing field and is not fenced off, because of snakes, spiders and perhaps other harmful creatures. One can soon disappear from view while walking here, and there is only one very rough track used by tractors in an attempt to clear this area.

There is a line of electricity pylons and according to one boy, the object followed along this line prior to landing. There is also some controversy as to whether the object _landed_ on the ground or hovered above it.

On Tuesday, 20th September, I went out to the school with a BBC reporter and their television equipment, as well as my son and Gunter Hofer, a young man who builds his own electrical equipment, viz, a Geiger counter, a metal detector and a magnetometer, to try and see if the object left any traces behind.

The headmaster of the school is Mr. Colin Mackie, who was most co-operative, and although he had never been involved with UFOs or a believer in them, said that he believed the children had seen what they said they saw.

I was able to interview about 10 or 12 older children and this was recorded for BBC television.

One eyewitness, Barry D., said he had seen three objects flying over, with flashing red lights. They disappeared, and reappeared almost immediately, but somewhere else. This happened about three times. Then they came and landed near some gum trees; Barry said the main one (object) was about the size of his thumb nail held at arm's length.

The reports were similar although some children were more observant than others. The consensus of opinion was that an object came down in the area where they indicated, about 100 metres from where they were at the edge of the school playing field.

Then a small man (approx 1 metre in height) appeared on top of the object. He walked a little way across the rough ground, became aware of the children and disappeared. He, or someone very like him, then reappeared at the back of the object.

The object took off very rapidly and disappeared. The little man was dressed in a tight-fitting black suit which was 'shiny' according to one observant girl (11 years of age). He had a long scrawny neck and huge eyes like rugby balls. He had a pale face with long black hair coming below his shoulders.

I had suggested to Mr. Mackie prior to visiting the school and before the children had been interviewed, that he let the children draw what they had seen and he now has about 30-40 drawings, some of which are very explicit and clear, although some are rather vague. The children's' ages vary from 5/6 to 12 years. I have 22 photocopies of the clearer drawings as Mr. Mackie kindly allowed me to page through the pictures and choose those I wanted.

Most of the descriptions are similar but some of the craft are very obviously 'flying saucers', and I wonder how many of these children have had access to the media. Others are crude but more or less in this saucer shape.

The children vary in cultures: there are black, white, coloured and Asian children. One little girl said to me, 'I swear by every hair on my head and the whole Bible that I am telling the truth.' I could see the pleasure on her face when I told her that I believed her. The smaller children from 5-7 years were very frightened at the time and ran shouting 'Help me, help me.'

When the older children asked why they were saying this, the reply was, 'He is coming to eat us.' I should think this applied more to the black African children who have legends of _tokoloshies_ eating children.

Their teachers were in a meeting and did not come out. When I queried the headmaster about this he said the children always shouted and yelled during their playtime and no-one thought there was anything unusual going on. The only other adult available at the time was one of the mothers who was running the tuckshop.

When the children came to call her, she did not believe them and would not come out: she was not prepared to leave the tuckshop with all the food and money.

Gunter and the men thoroughly examined the ground around where the children had seen the object, but could get no reaction on the geiger counter or any other equipment. If the object was hovering perhaps nothing would show.

I walked, on my own, along the electricity pylons for quite a away, caught up in thorn bushes, trampling blithely over snake holes and discarding all caution. I found no place where some object could have landed and pressed down the foliage. In fact, I should think the bamboo stumps would have been a deterrent. The day was hot, around 33 C (91F)...

Dr John Mack was visiting Zimbabwe at the time of the event, and he spent two days at Ariel School with the children. He also spoke to the Headmaster, Colin Mackie, the teachers and some of the parents. John and his fellow researcher, Dominique Callimanopulos, were able to get through to the parents and teachers and convince them that even if they did not believe the children, it was counter-productive to accuse them of lying.

Listen and think about what they were saying, he advised.

His particular interest in child psychiatry was also of great use during the questioning and many former hidden memories came to light, something John is sure to make public when he has had a chance to reassess his interviewing.Venezuelans queue to have their travel documents processed by immigration authorities in Tumbes, a Peruvian city near the border with Ecuador.  UNHCR/Sebastian Castaneda

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi and the Director General of the United Nations Migration Agency, IOM, William Lacy Swing appealed for greater support from the international community to the countries and communities in the region receiving a growing number of refugees and migrants from Venezuela. With an estimated 2.3 million Venezuelans living abroad, more than 1.6 million have left the country since 2015, 90 per cent of them to countries within South America.

Grandi and Swing commended States in the region for generously hosting Venezuelan nationals arriving at their borders. They nonetheless expressed concern over several recent developments affecting refugees and migrants from Venezuela. These include new passport and border entry requirements in Ecuador and Peru, as well as changes to the temporary stay permits for Venezuelans in Peru.

We recognise the growing challenges associated with the large scale arrival of Venezuelans. It remains critical that any new measures continue to allow those in need of international protection to access safety and seek asylum, stressed Grandi.

We commend the efforts already made by receiving countries to provide Venezuelans with security, support and assistance. We trust that these demonstrations of solidarity will continue in the future, said IOMs Director General, Ambassador Swing, in Geneva Thursday.

Of particular concern are the most vulnerablesuch as adolescent boys and girls, women, people trying to reunite with their families and unaccompanied and separated children who are unlikely to be able to meet documentation requirements and will therefore be placed at further risk of exploitation, trafficking and violence.

UNHCR, IOM, UN agencies and other partners are working in support of national responses by governments in the region to this complex human mobility and protection situation. This current situation underlines the urgent need to increase international engagement and solidarity in support of the governments response plans and addressing the most pressing humanitarian needs, in order to assure that those are met, safe transit is guaranteed and social and economic integration can be provided in line with larger development strategies.

Following the commitments of the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, timely and predictable support by the international community is needed for fairer sharing of responsibilities and to complement the efforts of host countries.

For more information on this topic, please contact:

For UNHCR

In Geneva: Cecile Pouilly, [email protected] , +41 79 108 26 25

, +41 79 108 26 25 In Bogota Olga: Sarrado Mur, [email protected] , +57 310 202 6029

For IOM:Sikkim reports 21 new COVID-19 cases 01 Nov 2021 | 10:03 AM Gangtok, Nov 1 (UNI) Sikkim reported 21 new COVID-19 cases on Monday.

There are at present 195 active case in the state. Out of the 31,979 total cases confirmed in the state so far, 31,063 have been discharged after recovery. see more..

Media Certification and Monitoring Committee traces paid news case against BJP candidate in HP 01 Nov 2021 | 9:02 AM Shimla, Nov 1 (UNI) Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) has traced a case of paid news on the base of news items appeared in favour of Ratan Pal BJP candidate of Arki assembly constituency in Himachal Pradesh. see more..

Mah: Marathwada registers 45 new COVID-19 cases, 2 deaths 01 Nov 2021 | 8:42 AM Aurangabad,Nov 01(UNI) Marathwada region of Maharashtra state has been coming down significantly and only 45 new cases and two deaths are reported during the past 24 hours, health authorities informed on Monday. see more..

Sangrur folks cheer as Punjab govt scraps GVK's power purchase agreement 01 Nov 2021 | 2:30 AM Sangrur, Oct 31 (UNI) People of Punjab, especially Sangrur folks welcomed the Congress government's decision of waiving off electricity bills up to 2 KW of all the consumers and scrapping of power purchase agreement (PPA) with GVK Goindwal Sahib, signed by the erstwhile SAD-BJP government and expressed gratitude towards the state government and Cabinet Minister Vijay Inder Singla. see more..FREDERICKSBURG, Va., Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IST Research, which employs advanced technology and techniques to address human security issues around the world, today announced two significant achievements that cement the company as the leader in addressing challenges within the information environment. The company has been awarded a $48.3 million, 5-year contract by the Department of the Army to purchase IST Researchs Pulse Platform; services IST Research provides in support of the platform; and future research, development, and engineering by IST Research associated with advancing the platform.

In addition, IST Research has been named to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies for the third consecutive year. According to Inc., only 25% of all honorees have been named to the Inc. 5000 list for 3 years running. Published annually by Inc. magazine and now in its 37th year, the list ranks the fastest growing privately held companies in the United States based on revenues over the past 3 years.

IST Research has delivered 105% revenue growth over the past 3 years, has been selected as one of the best companies to work for in the nation in 2017, and has seen its corporate operations expand into 25 countries around the globe.

It is very exciting to see a concept, that emerged after my friend and business partner Todd Huffman and I stood on the streets of Jalalabad, Afghanistan in 2010, asking ourselves how to engage richly with the people of the world, materialize into this level of achievement, said Ryan Paterson, CEO of IST Research. There have been enormous technical and business hurdles along the way, but we stayed true to our vision of a decade ago. IST Research is now perfectly placed to make an extraordinary impact on all areas within the information environment.

Pulse combines social listening, content discovery across the surface, deep, and dark web, and direct population engagement with fragile and hard-to reach-populationsall on a single technology platform. Pulse is flexible and applicable to problem sets across the industry, including security, humanitarian assistance, research, marketing, and risk assessment. IST Research subject matter experts combine this proven technology with specific communications techniques to create a unique capability that is deployed operationally around the globe.

Im extremely proud ofand impressed withwhat IST Research has accomplished in these past few months, said Todd Huffman, CEO of 3Scan and IST Board Member. This nearly $50 million contract is proof that the company is on the precipice of becoming one of the most highly sought after technology and techniques providers empowering insight into the information environment. In addition, Peter Marino of the Board of Directors said, There are a myriad of companies chasing the information operations challenge, but nobody else combines the real-world experience of operating in tough environments with the cutting-edge technology and rapid prototyping capabilities of IST. This contract is tremendous validation of those characteristics.

About IST Research

Founded in 2008, IST Research was created to explore the possibilities created by the development of technology and techniques within new and challenging operational environments. The company's communications platform fosters understanding of hard-to-reach communities by providing insight into their thinking and engaging them in two-way conversations to gain a comprehensive understanding of complex human security challenges. Pulse is a proven technology that addresses today's complex, global problems. An Inc. 5000 company headquartered in Fredericksburg, VA, IST Research is privately funded.TORONTO, Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Toronto-based charity, Canada Company is hosting the 11th Annual Canada Company Scholarship Awards Ceremony on Friday, August 24th.



Canada Company Scholarships are awarded annually as a tribute to fallen Canadian Forces personnel to support the post-secondary education of their children. Each recipient is eligible to receive up to $4,000 per year for up to four years to help defray the costs of their post-secondary education.

Since the Scholarship was established in 2007, Canada Company has awarded $504,000  another $48,000 will be awarded on Friday  and 47 young people have benefited from the program.

Event Details:

11th Annual Canada Company Scholarship Awards Ceremony

Friday, August 24, 2018 at 11:00 a.m.

First Canadian Place

100 King Street West, Toronto (Street Level, BMO Lobby Area)

There is an opportunity to interview Canada Company founder Blake Goldring as well as 2018 scholarship recipients.

Recipients are from communities across Canada, including: Quebec City, Quebec, Ottawa, Ontario, Kingston, Ontario, Courtice, Ontario and Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.

Quote from Blake Goldring

Canada Company Founder

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, AGF Management Limited

The Canada Company Scholarship Fund was created to recognize the selfless sacrifice that Canadas brave military personnel make in the service of our country and in tribute to the children they have left behind, said Canada Company Founder, Blake Goldring. We are committed to ensuring that those who serve in the Canadian Armed Forces and Reserves and their families receive the widest support, recognition and care they deserve. 

About Canada Company

Canada Company is a charitable, non-partisan organization that serves to build the bridge between business and community leaders and the Canadian Military. Our goal is to ensure that the men and women in our Canadian Armed Forces receive the widest support, care and recognition that they deserve. Canada Company was founded in 2006 by Canadian businessman Blake Goldring M.S.M., CD., CFA. To learn more visit: www.CanadaCompany.ca

Media Contact

Amanda Marchment

Director, Corporate Communications

amanda.marchment@agf.com

416-865-4160Business Professionals Invited to WyoHackathon at UW

Organizers of the WyoHackathon are inviting business-minded individuals to attend the event at the University of Wyomings War Memorial Fieldhouse and contribute to the development of blockchain and cryptocurrency ideas.

The WyoHackathon 2018, which takes place Sept. 7-9, is a technology-based event hosted by UW. Developers and technologists will compete to solve challenges, but registration has been opened to encourage participation from individuals interested in business-building challenges or blockchain. That group includes, but isnt limited to, project managers, designers and development specialists.

Topics covered at the event include creation of new businesses using blockchain or cryptocurrency, and idea-sharing sessions. A notable example of a regional business using blockchain is Beefchain, which uses the technology to create a new supply chain for Wyoming cattle.

Free registration for the event can be found at www.wyohackathon.io/.

The public is invited to attend keynote speeches from some of the worlds foremost experts on cryptocurrency and blockchain. The speeches will take place in War Memorial Fieldhouse on the UW campus, and attendees must sit in the bleachers above the competition floor.

The speaker schedule for the WyoHackathon is:

Friday, Sept. 7

-- 8:20 p.m.: Caitlin Long, UW graduate and co-founder of Wyoming Blockchain Coalition.

-- 8:40 p.m.: Erik Voorhees, founder and CEO of ShapeShift.

Saturday, Sept. 8

-- 9:30 a.m.: Daniel Riddell, adviser of DECENT Foundation.

-- 9:50 a.m.: Jeff Garzik, co-founder of Bloq.

-- 10:10 a.m.: Joseph Lubin, founder of ConsenSys and co-founder of Ethereum.

Sunday, Sept. 9

-- 12:30 p.m.: Patrick Byrne, founder and CEO of Overstock.com and executive chairman of tZERO.

-- 12:50 p.m.: George Weiksner, 12-year-old CEO of Pocketful of Quarters.

-- 1:10 p.m.: Robert MacInnis, CEO and founder of ActiveAether.

-- 1:30 p.m.: Arie Levy-Cohen, co-founder of SingularDTV.

-- 1:50 p.m.: James Row, managing partner of Entoro.

-- 2:10 p.m.: To be announced.

-- 2:30 p.m.: Joseph Lubin, founder of ConsenSys and co-founder of Ethereum.Denver, Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TiE Rockies , the Colorado chapter of TiE Global , a nonprofit venture devoted to entrepreneurs in all industries, at all stages, from incubation throughout the entrepreneurial lifecycle, today announced the organization is changing its name to TiE Denver. The name change signifies the organizations further clarity and focus, which is centered around supporting Denver metro area entrepreneurs.

The organization recently established a new leadership structure , including a new president, board of directors, board members, staff and further innovations to the organizations programs. TiE has extended programs to support entrepreneurship in high schools and universities in addition to developing more than 17 partnerships with local accelerators, including Rockies Venture Club and Innosphere .

"TiE stands for 'The International Entrepreneurs'. Our global reach as an organization helps us bring more opportunities to Colorado entrepreneurs. Re-branding to TiE Denver was one of our first official decisions as a new board, intended to clarify our focus on local support," said Kristine Shaw Quine, TiE Denver board director and marketing chair.

We want the Colorado entrepreneur to be successful, said Bhawnesh Mathur, board chair, TiE Denver. When they win, Denver wins, the state of Colorado wins and TiE wins.

The name change announcement coincides with TiE Con Northwest , TiEs regional conference which brings more than 40 speakers to Denver from Washington, Canada, China, Japan and the United Arab Emirates to discuss bridging marketplaces through global expansion. For more information about the event, please visit bit.ly/TIEConNW .

About TiE Denver:

Mission: TiE Denver is a Colorado non-profit, global community welcoming entrepreneurs at all stages. Our mission is to foster entrepreneurship, funding and economic growth in Colorado by providing the highest level of mentoring and programming through TiE Denver while leveraging our TiE Global connections and local strategic partner relationships.

Purpose: Our purpose is to be a leader in making Colorado a top hub for entrepreneurship by leveraging the expertise of our TiE Charter Members, the TiE Global Network and creating entrepreneurial alliances with strategic partners including other Colorado incubators/accelerators, investors and economic development agencies.

For more information, please visit www.rockies.tie.org .

###Bosch signed a public-private partnership to enable highly skilled workforce towards the 4th Industrial Revolution

On August 22, Bosch with the Directorate of Vocational Education and Training (DVET), Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and LILAMA 2 International Technology College (LILAMA 2) signed a memorandum of understaning (MOU) for the public-private partnership.

The partnerships objective is to create a cooperation with the business sector and stakeholders in the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) sector to jointly work on integrating the requirements of the growing technological changes resulting from Industry 4.0 and digitalisation into the human resources development in Vietnam.

This is the next movement of the cooperation partners in contributing the technical vocational education and training in Vietnam, following the goal of making Vietnam an industrialised country by 2020.

The joint project is one of the bilateral activities of the Vietnamese-German development cooperation in the vocational education and training sector. Over 400,000 ($464,640) will be invested into the project for three years. In which, Boschs contribution to the joint project will be over 200,000 ($232,320) by establishing a demonstration room with equipment following Industry 4.0 requirements at LILAMA 2, taking part in conducting a demand analysis on skills relevant for Industry 4.0 and supporting LILAMA 2 in adapting its training programmes accordingly.

GIZs contribution to the joint project will amount to up to 200,000 by supporting the partners in coordinating the activities, organizing professional workshops, providing further training for teachers, evaluating results of the project, etc. The project is implemented at LILAMA 2. Afterwards it is going to be expanded to other vocational training institutions under the support of the DVET.

The demand for highly skilled workforce in Vietnam continues to increase and thus this strategic partnership is a critical step to upskill/reskill labor force in order to stay competitive," said Guru Mallikarjuna, managing director of Bosch Vietnam.

Also in the MOU signing ceremony, Dr. Jurgen Hartwig, programme director of Reform of TVET in Vietnam said: In this cooperation, GIZ supports the partners in adjusting vocational training offers according to the requirements of Industry 4.0. Bosch, as a leading Internet of Things company, is an ideal partner to help develop modern, up-to-date training programs which reflect the demands of the business sector and enhance the competitive ability of Vietnam in a globalised economy.

The partners cooperate on key fields related to the education and training sector, including awareness raising through the high-raking conference about consequences of Industry 4.0 for vocational education and training; demand analysis, which is collection of best practice examples of Industry 4.0 related training programmes, analysis of demands and preparing of the adjustment of training programmes at LILAMA 2 International Technology College.

Additionally, Industry 4.0 modules/elements will be developed and piloted including further training of teachers and in-company trainers (multipliers), and the results, which are summary of evaluation results of the pilot project, integration of adapted modules/elements in training programmes of other vocational training institutes, transfer of resulting recommendations to the DVET will be disseminated.

The trainees who take part in the modernised training programmes at LILAMA 2 will obtain the theoretical knowledge and practical skills reflecting the latest technological developments and thus improve their employability. These skills are required not only by foreign-invested enterprises but also by Vietnamese companies which are adapting their processes and services to the changing environment resulting from the 4th industrial revolution, said Nguyen Khanh Cuong, rector of LILAMA 2 College.

Truong Anh Dung, deputy director general of the DVET added: This pilot project is very important for us, since the adapted modules can be implemented in vocational training institutes throughout the entire country. Also, we can use resulting recommendations for the integration of topics related to Industry 4.0 into the regulatory framework on the system level.Nguyen Phu Trong - Party General Secretary Over the past three years and especially in 2017, Vietnams diplomatic efforts have led to several important achievements which have taken centre stage among the countrys overall successes. These efforts have made an important contribution to maintaining and strengthening the peaceful and stable environment and facilitating national construction and protection. Diplomacy has effectively served Vietnams economic development, especially its external economic development. Since 2016, Vietnam has seen higher annual economic growth than the average of the 2011-2015 period, while all macro-economic indicators have been positive, especially foreign investment and import-export turnover. Notably, though protectionism is rising in many countries worldwide, Vietnams attracted investment, export turnover, and tourist arrivals from key partner nations keep increasing from year to year. The total foreign direct investment in 2017 hit $35.88 billion, up 44.4 per cent on-year, a 10-year record, $17.5 billion of which was disbursed, which is up 10.8 per cent over 2016. Besides, international donors also committed more than $3 billion in official development assistance to Vietnam until 2020. The number of foreign tourist arrivals to Vietnam hit a record 13 million last year, while 71 countries have recognised Vietnams economy as a market economy. International economic integration has continued, providing more resources for the countrys economic development. Diplomatic activities have continued to play an important role in enhancing Vietnams global position and deepening and consolidating its relations with other nations, especially prioritised and important partners. The country has also boosted international integration in all fields and continued taking an active role in regional and global institutions, notably including its participation in constructing the strong, co-operative, and self-reliant ASEAN community. These achievements have proved that the foreign policy set by the 12th Party National Congress and the Partys relevant policies related to foreign affairs are correct. Vietnam always pursues a consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, co-operation and development, multilateralising and diversifying relationships, and proactively integrating into the world. Pham Quang Vinh - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, former Ambassador to the US The US is one of the biggest trade and investment partners of the entire region, including Vietnam. Currently, the US is Vietnams ninth largest foreign investor. However, US investment is different from that sourced from many other nations. Specifically, it has been able to greatly stimulate the relationship between Vietnam and the US in all sectors. It has also created a big impetus for a rise in investment of multi-national corporations and US companies, and even of investors from other nations, into Vietnam. As US companies invest in Vietnam, they show their confidence in this market. That is why, over the past years, the US has continued being an important investment source for Vietnam. Thus, we must understand this special US investment characteristic and promote Vietnams pro-business and pro-investment climate, which is in line with international practices and laws as well as with the rules set by the World Trade Organization. We also promote the fact that Vietnam has been increasingly boosting its international integration, including its participation in regional, bilateral, and multilateral free trade agreements, which have contributed to creating a more friendly business climate. During our meetings with many major US groups and investors, we saw that they have been paying attention to our countrys development and even felt quite excited about doing business and investing in Vietnam. They consider Vietnam an attractive and stable investment destination with a growing role in the region. US investment in Vietnam began in the mid-1990s, after the two sides forged official diplomatic relations in July 1995. Major US companies such as Coca-Cola and Intel have invested in Vietnam. They told us that they will not only stay in the country, but will also continue and expand their long-term investments. We also see that both economies have advantages and strengths that can supplement each other. Tao Thi Thanh Huong - Ambassador to Singapore Since 1996, Singapore has been one of Vietnams most important trade partners. Currently, Singapore is Vietnams second largest trade partner within the ASEAN and the eighth largest trade partner in the world. Total bilateral trade turnover in 2017 climbed by 8.9 per cent against 2016, to reach $8.3 billion. Singaporean direct investment capital into Vietnam has also continuously risen. Singapore is the biggest ASEAN investor and third-largest foreign investor in Vietnam. As of late May 2018, Singapore had 2,048 investment projects in Vietnam, registered at $43.53 billion. Singaporean investments used to be found only in locations with favourable infrastructure and economic conditions like Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Haiphong, Binh Duong, and Bac Ninh. However, over the past few years, investments spread out into many other provinces like Quang Ngai, Quang Tri, Nghe An, Thai Nguyen, Thanh Hoa, and Binh Dinh. Notably, the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP), co-invested by Sembcorp over the past 20 years, have become a symbol of successful economic ties with mutual benefits for both nations. In the near future, Vietnam and Singapores economic co-operation may receive a new impetus. Vietnam needs to boost co-operation with Singapore in sectors which are the formers strengths so as to increase the added value for its own economy, develop more stably, digitalise its economy, apply high-technology, as well as develop smart cities and the sectors of e-services and banking. Ngo Tien Dung - Ambassador to Spain Vietnam is a key ASEAN trade partner for Spain. The two nations two-way trade turnover has annually increased by an average of 15 per cent over the past 10 years, to reach over $3 billion in 2017. The two nations have set the target of raising the figure to $5 billion by 2020. Spain also prioritises its co-operation with Vietnam in official development assistance. It has earmarked over $300 million for bilateral and multilateral co-operation projects over the past 10 years. Currently, Spain still provides about $350 million for infrastructure projects in Vietnam, including Metro Line 5 in Ho Chi Minh City. This is expected to create a strong impetus for luring major Spanish investors to Vietnam. Currently, Spanish direct investment into Vietnam remains limited, with the country ranking 14th out of 19 EU nations investing in Vietnam. However, this investment is likely to increase in the near future. For example, Repsol, one of the worlds leading energy groups, has invested in Vietnam, Premo Group has established a state-of-the-art plant to produce electronics spare parts in Danang, and Getinsa Group has provided consultancy for the construction of the Noi Bai-Lao Cai Expressway. Spanish investors are showing increasing interest in Vietnam. Their experience in the sectors of renewable energy, infrastructure, tourism, high-technology, construction, and architecture will make valuable contributions to Vietnam. Ngo Duc Manh - Ambassador to Russia The economic, trade, and investment co-operation between Vietnam and Russia continues developing dynamically. Co-operative projects in the oil and gas sector have been effectively implemented in both nations. The Vietsovpetro joint venture established in 1981 has continued being a symbol of Vietnamese-Russian co-operation and a pillar of the oil and gas exploration and exploitation sector of Vietnam. The expansion of co-operation in the sector of automobile assembly and manufacturing promises to create further positive changes in the Vietnamese-Russian economic relationship. Since the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union took effect in October 2016, the two nations bilateral trade turnover has soared by an average of 30 per cent per annum. According to Russian statistics, the figure hit a record $5.2 billion last year. According to Vietnamese statistics, in the first half of this year, the figure reached $2.3 billion, up 42 per cent on-year. In terms of investment, Russia had 117 valid investment projects in Vietnam as of June 2018, registered at almost $1 billion. Meanwhile, Vietnam had 22 investment projects in Russia, with the total registered capital of nearly $3 billion. Notably, Vietnams TH Group has invested $2 billion in high-tech concentrated dairy and fresh milk production projects in Russias Moscow and Kaluga oblasts. This is a major highlight in the investment co-operation between both nations. Le Huy Hoang - Ambassador to Mozambique Over the past few years, Vietnam has made major efforts to boost its economic ties with African nations, with Mozambique being a focus. Vietnam has closely cemented its co-operation with Mozambique in many sectors, including the telecommunications sector. Vietnamese companies total investment capital in Mozambique has risen to nearly $1 billlion. Movitel, a joint venture between Vietnams Viettel Group and a Mozambican partner, has invested over $600 million in Mozambique. The joint venture has already begun to turn profit. Vietnamese companies see a multitude of opportunities to do business in Mozambique in many sectors, such as agriculture, fishery, and forestry. I think that besides telecommunications, in the future we need to further our agricultural co-operation with Mozambique. Recently, we established a project worth over $2 million to support the country. Also, we need to boost co-operation with Mozambique in forestry and fishery.A monument for eleven-year-old boy Nicky Verstappen who was abused and killed 20 years ago AFP/Marcel van Hoorn

Nicky Verstappen's body was found on Aug 11 1998, a day after he disappeared from a youth camp in southern Limburg province. He had been sexually abused before he was killed.

Police at the time mounted a massive search closely followed by local media and the Dutch public, but the 11-year-old boy's killer was never found.

As time ran out to catch the suspect, police earlier this year appealed to more than 20,000 men to donate DNA samples in a bid to close in on the perpetrator.

"New investigative techniques gave us new opportunities. We now have a one-on-one DNA match with the (DNA) traces found on Verstappen's body," police detective Ferdinand Schellinkhout told a press conference in the southern city of Maastricht on Wednesday.

"We are looking for Jos Brech, 55. He was last seen in France."

Dutch and French police believe that Brech - who was interviewed at the time of the crime as a witness - is hiding somewhere in France's mountainous eastern Vosges region, where he owns a chalet.

His family reported him missing in April after the former scout worker, who is believed to be a survival expert, told them he was going for a walk in the mountains, Schellinkhout said.

"GONE INTO HIDING"

"We are convinced that the suspect has gone into hiding," Limburg police chief Ingrid Schaefer-Poels told journalists, asking the public to contact police with any information of his whereabouts.

Wednesday's announcement brings Verstappen's family one step closer to what happened to Nicky the night he disappeared, in what became one of the most extensive murder investigations to date in the Netherlands.

Police said new digital techniques helped them to develop a DNA profile in 2008, from traces found on Verstappen's clothing, but there had been no match.

Earlier this year, some 16,000 men living in the area where Verstappen was murdered volunteered to hand over DNA samples after a call by detectives.

However, Brech who was 35 at the time, was not among the volunteers but as he was previously interviewed as a witness, police became suspicious.

When his family reported him as missing, Dutch and French police searched his cabin in the Vosges region.

"We found traces of DNA on his personal belongings. It was a match," said chief prosecutor Jan Eland.

A European-wide warrant for Brech's arrest was issued on Jun 12.A good working environment goes a long way towards improving labour productivity, Photo: Le Toan

After three working sessions, the National Salary Council, and representatives of employers and employees last week reached a decision to propose for the government approval of the region-based minimum wage hike applied at private companies by 5.3 per cent, equalling an average increase of VND175,000 ($7.74) per worker per month. This hike is a compromise between the 6.1 per cent proposed by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) representing employees, and the 5.1 per cent proposed by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) representing employers.

The councils chairman Doan Mau Diep stated that this 5.3-per-cent increase would help labourers cover their daily living expenses, even with a 4-per-cent rise in the consumer price index (CPI). The rate will not put great pressure on employers to pay their work staff either.

The 5.3-per-cent increase is a compromise. It allows employers to adapt to the changes on the labour market, especially in preparation for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Diep said, adding that this 5.3-per-cent raise would bring local workers closer to being able to meet their most basic needs.

Mutual benefits

Facing the increasing CPI, higher social insurance payments, and the Vietnamese governments annual roadmap to raise the countrys minimum wage, the business community concerns about narrowing competitiveness vis-a-vis regional countries is understandable. Last year, the CPI in Vietnam was up 3.53 per cent against the previous year, and is expected to reach 4 per cent in 2018, according to the VGCL.

Ryu Hang Ha, chairman of the Korea Chamber of Business in Vietnam (KorCham), told VIR that the the gross income of Vietnamese workers at South Korean-invested companies include not only the minimum wage, but also other allowances. Their gross income increased by 20-30 per cent last year, while the minimum wage climbed 6.5 per cent, causing difficulties to South Korean investors in Vietnam.

According to Ha, South Korean investors now mainly do business in the electronics and garment sectors in Vietnam, which are very labour-intensive. With the 6.5-per-cent increase last year, employers spending on labour costs mounted and thus their competitiveness narrowed.

South Korean employers find a 5-per-cent increase this year reasonable. This rate is appropriate for price levels and labour productivity, Ha told VIR.

Higher incomes, better balance

According to the Workplace ProductivityA Key Indicator of Economic Development report announced at the CEO Forum in Hanoi in April 2018, Vietnams labour productivity currently ranks below almost all countries in Southeast Asia, including Laos. In 2016, the average productivity of a Vietnamese worker was $9,894, equalling 7 per cent of Singapores, 17.6 per cent of Malaysias, and 36.5 per cent of Thailands.

According to Kazuteru Kudoda, a labour productivity consultant from the Japan Productivity Centre, productivity will be improved by the co-operation between employers and employees. Thus, the gains of this improved productivity must be distributed fairly among employers and employees. Under the VGCLs latest survey, 43.7 per cent of labourers said that their incomes are enough to make a living, and 26.5 per cent held that they have to tighten spending.

It is said that increasing the minimum wage is necessary, as it not only contributes to ensuring the minimum living standards of employees, but is also a motivation to improve labour productivity. In addition to factors like income and the working environment, Vietnams socio-economic development situation, quality of personnel training, and ability to apply technology also hugely impact labour productivity.

According to a Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs survey conducted in 2015, most Vietnamese companies are using outdated technologies that lag two to three generations behind. Nearly 80 per cent of the companies equipment was imported between 1960 and 1970. Some 75 per cent of the equipment was over-depreciated without being replaced, and 50 per cent of the imported equipment needed to be repaired.

According to a report presented at the workshop themed A New Solution for Human Resources Development in Light of the CPTPP in April 2018, 69 per cent of foreign-invested enterprises in Vietnam admitted to having difficulties in recruiting personnel meeting their working requirements.

Vietnamese workers could reach the productivity levels of Singaporean or South Korean workers given the same conditions. The reason behind the significant productivity gap between Vietnamese workers and those in other countries is that conditions  including education and training, salaries, and production technology in use  are far behind those in other countries.

However, with extra inputs, the country and its workforce stand a good chance to create higher returns. Such gains could be manifested by increasing wages that would alleviate many of todays workers problems revolving around satisfying their basic needs and providing basic safety for themselves and their families.

This increased feeling of safety would be translated directly into increased productivity (for example through the reduced need for second jobs), which would return the increased expenses on wages through increased production and revenue for the companies.

Urgent need for improved working environment

Acording to Kudoda, in addition to a rise in the minimum wages, the working environment is also an important factor impacting labour productivity. An ideal working environment is determined by five factors, namely the job satisfaction of employees, the recognition of the capacity and qualifications of employees, the employees trust in the companies development plans, workers incomes, and the management capacity of CEOs, he said.

Andrea Cudemo, director of Triom Vietnam located in Hanois Quang Minh Industrial Zone, which produces motorbike and automobile lights, stated that increasing the minimum wages are just temporary solutions to encourage employees to increase labour productivity. More important, he said, is that the infrastructure is good and the employees are satisfied with their jobs. When people work with a relaxed mind, they will be motivated to work more, increasing labour productivity.

In general, the income of Triom Vietnams workers is not higher than those paid by other employers in the zone, but the factor that makes our workers stay on for a long time is the working environment, Cudemo said.

At Triom, we do not put pressure on our employees and control them by rigid rules, forcing them to work hard to increase labour productivity. Instead, we build development targets for the whole company and specific employees. This way, employees will understand that working hard will benefit them, and they are contributing to the development of the company. In eight years, we built a stable employee volume and attained employees with key skills, he said.

Many also agreed that a great CEO is also the second-most important productivity factor. Leaders and managers are not only in charge of defining the direction, purpose, priorities, goals, and roles of the workforce, but also play a critical role in connecting employees to create a warm and friendly working environment.

However, according to Kudoda, in reality, many Vietnamese managers and CEOs are still old-fashioned. They make decisions while workers follow orders.

They should consider improving co-operation and teamwork to achieve mutual goals to improve labour productivity instead of chasing their own benefits, Kudoda suggested.

To create an ideal working environment, especially as the world is entering the era of Industry 4.0, along with the human factor, improving the lean production management system is also important. For example, a smart inventory control system can help reduce inventories, improve profitability, and speed up customer response time.

Thus, companies must invest into management systems and software, not just machines and hardware. Currently, making better software applications and providing them through cloud computing is a key investment channel as part of Industry 4.0, Kuoda said.Hole No. 4 Laguna Golf Lang Co with paddy fields

EarthCheck is the worlds leading scientific benchmarking, certification and advisory group for travel and tourism.

Gavin Herholdt, managing director of Laguna Lang Co, said: Banyan Tree Group has always prided itself on its commitment to environmental protection and emphasis on corporate social responsibility (CSR)."

It is, therefore, especially meaningful that Laguna Lang Co receives this certificationand that we are the first resort in Vietnam to be recognised in this manner. It is an endorsement of all the hard work and planning that takes place behind the scenes and also demonstrates Laguna Lang Cos commitment to preserving its cultural heritage and natural surrounds.

Herholdt added: Laguna Lang Co has had sustainability at its core since the very first days, from its planning and design to its daily operation. We are proud to be a resort well-known for its socially responsible practices with our wide variety of programmes, from group initiatives like Greening Communities and Seedlings Mentorship, to Laguna Lang Co's own special projects such as the popular English Is Fun programme for local children. These long-term programmes not only sustain the resorts position as a leading CSR practitioner in the hospitality industry, but also ratifies Banyan Trees long-held values of being a responsible world corporate citizen."

It is my hope that Laguna Lang Co will continue to develop and grow in harmony with the surrounding environment and community where our resort is located, and all these efforts will have long-standing effects in the next 10, 20 years, turning Lang Co into a vibrant and engaged world-class holiday destination in Central Vietnam, he added.

Since 1987, EarthCheck has helped businesses, communities and governments to deliver clean, safe, prosperous and healthy destinations for travellers to visit, live, work and play.

The assessment is carried out annually and is based on criteria set by EarthCheck. A total of 10 Key Performance Areas are addressed in this standardGreenhouse Gas Emissions; Energy Efficiency, Conservation and Management; Management of Freshwater Resources; Eco-system Conservation and Management; Social and Cultural Management; Land Use Planning and Management; Air Quality Protection; Wastewater Management; Solid Waste Management and Environmentally Harmful Substances.

EarthCheck science and products were developed by the Australian Government Sustainable Tourism Co-operative Research Centre (STCRC), over a 10-year period. Our science is reviewed annually to ensure that it meets international standards relative to greenhouse gas protocols, responsible tourism and certification, said a spokesperson for EarthCheck.

EarthCheck products and services are built on the Agenda 21 principles for Sustainable Development endorsed by 182 Heads of State at the United Nations Rio De Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992.

The spokesperson said: Our certification programme provides a framework to achieve the desired outcomes for sustainable development as set out in the final report of the World Summit for Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg in 2002. It also complies with the Mohonk Agreement which outlines the guidelines and principles for an international sustainable tourism certification programme."

EarthCheck Certified is Certified by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and has been approved by the CDP. Tourism operations who display the EarthCheck Certified seal, can clearly demonstrate their environmental and social performance and provide confidence for consumers that they are walking the talk, he said.

Laguna Lang Co marks five-year anniversary in Vietnam After receiving the license to run casino business, Laguna Lang Co, the first integrated resort in Vietnam, celebrated its fifth anniversary with a series of ...

Vietnam grants first casino licence in ten years to Laguna Lang Co Laguna Lang Co, one of Asias largest integrated resorts with international hospitality operator Banyan Tree as its managing partner, has officially got a casino licence ...Russian GAZ brings truck manufacturing to Danang, illustration photo

Last week, in Russia, Chairman of the Danang Peoples Committee Huynh Duc Tho had a working session with Gorkovsky Avtomobilny Zavod (GAZ Group), one of the largest truck manufacturers in Russia, to discuss a project to develop an assembly and manufacturing factory for its vehicles in the central city.

The leader of GAZ Group was impressed with the incentives and business environment in Danang, and affirmed that this is the right time to expand the groups markets. He also stated that he will visit Danang this December.

Highlighting Danangs development potential, synchronous infrastructure system, and high-quality human resources, Tho confirmed that the city will do its utmost to create a favourable and transparent investment climate to attract businesses.

GAZ has 13 modern production facilities in Russia with the rate of automation at 85 per cent, and assembly plants based in Turkey and Kazakhstan. The company produces passenger cars, trucks, buses, military vehicles, and special vehicles, exporting to more than 40 countries across the world.

At the Vietnam AutoExpo 2018 in June, Kristina Dubinina, GAZs sales director for Asia, said, Vietnam is a market with high potential and growth in the coming years. In a modest assessment, sales of GAZ in this market will reach 550,000 by 2024. We are studying the possibility of establishing a joint venture to begin sales in Vietnam to identify products for local manufacturing in the future.

At the end of 2017, the amendment protocol on supporting the production of motor vehicles in Vietnam was signed by Tran Tuan Anh, Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade, and Russian Ambassador Konstantin Vasilievich Vnukov.

Russian automobile manufacturers such as KAMAZ, GAZ, and UAZ will collaborate with Vietnamese partners to establish joint ventures to manufacture and assemble automobiles and trucks, all-terrain vehicles, and some specialised vehicles in Vietnam.

These joint ventures will import 2,550 completely built-up unit vehicles and 13,500 sets of automobile assembly parts to Vietnam during the 2018-2022 period completely duty-free.

I hope these Vietnamese-Russian ventures will be successful and contribute to the development of the Vietnamese automobile industry, as well as seizing opportunities to break open the ASEAN market with its population of 640 million, the minister stated at the signing ceremony last December.

In September 2017, following the Eastern Economic Forum in Russia, Vadim Shvetsov, general director of Sollers OJSC and UAZ OJSC, said that the group planned to set up a joint venture to manufacture and assemble automobiles in Vietnam in 2018, with an initial capacity of 1,000 vehicles per year.The signing ceremony between SCB and the three banks from Hong Kong

On August 20, 2018, in Ho Chi Minh City, within the framework of the investment promotion event held by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) in coordination with Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), Saigon Joint Stock Commercial Bank (SCB) and three banks from Hong Kongincluding Hang Seng Bank Limited, Chong Hing Bank Limited, and The Bank of East Asia Limitedsigned a co-operation agreement of syndicated credit financing to Union Square Company Limited, which operates in the field of real estate.

Accordingly, SCB and these banks commit to support financial investment and ensure a stable financing source for Union Square to foster its business.

The signing of the co-operation of syndicated credit financing to Union Square opens new opportunities for co-operation, development, and experience sharing among SCB and the three big banks in diversifying financial services, exploiting all potentials, increasing business efficiency, and enhancing their status on the financial market. This event is also an important milestone to meet the capital needs and support the economic development of the country.

Established in 1992, after 26 years of operation, SCB is now among the five biggest private commercial banks in Vietnam with total assets of VND476 trillion (more than $20 billion), and a charter capital of VND14.295 trillion ($630 million) as of the end of the second quarter of 2018. Its network covers 28 cities and provinces in major economic zones with nearly 6,000 employees.

With strong financial potential, rapid growth rate, modern technology background, diversified product portfolio, and gradually increasing service quality, SCB is projected to become one of the most trusted and versatile retail banks in Vietnam, providing all-in-one financial solutions to customers.

Meanwhile, Hang Seng Bank Limited, established in 1933, is one of four Asian banks listed in the top strongest banks in the world for five consecutive years. In 2014 and 2015, this bank maintained its leading position, surpassing other European and American banks with the 270-transaction-unit network in Hong Kong.

Chong Hing Bank Limited, established in 1948 with 39 branches in Hong Kong, provides a variety of banking services to personal and corporate customers, including Hong Kong dollars and foreign deposits, credit, asset management, investment, securities, insurance and other commercial banking products.

The Bank of East Asia Limited (BEA), established in 1918, is a group of leading financial services in Hong Kong, meeting the demands of customers in China and the world, with consolidated total assets of 808.9 billion HKD ($103.5 billion). BEA also owns one of the largest networks in Hong Kong with 70 branches, 54 Supreme Gold centres, and 11 financial centres.OTTAWA, Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Union of Canadian Transportation Employees (UCTE) is calling on the federal government to buy back the Canadian Wheat Board from a Saudi consortium.



UCTE represents the workers at the port, Transport Canada and the Marine Tank Farm in Churchill, Manitoba. Dave Clark, National President of UCTE, said that the latest actions by Saudi Arabia to punish Canadians are clear evidence that they can no longer be trusted to put the interests of grain farmers first. Their actions to stop buying Canadian wheat and barley should be the final nail in the coffin. Having a foreign interest managing such an important asset is wrong and should be immediately reversed.

This call by the union comes after many farmers and farm organizations from across Canada have made their concerns about their treatment by the Saudi Grains Organization (SAGO) and the consortium they lead, G3 Canada Limited, known to the government and the media. Earlier this year a group of producers from parts of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, the Canadian Wheat Board Alliance (CWBA), called for the federal government to bring back the board and its single desk for selling wheat and barley.

The CWBA says the former Conservative government made a mistake when it privatized the board and sold it to the G3 Global Grain Group. The union agrees. We used to have a fast, efficient and effective means of getting Canadian grain to market using the rail line and ports like Churchill and Thunder Bay, said Clark. Now we have foreign interests threatening our suppliers and Canadian jobs.

The unions will be writing to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to ask for his immediate action to protect Canadian producers by restoring the Canadian Wheat Board to Canadian farmers.

Contact information:

Lira Buschman

Communications & Special Projects Officer

613-558-4003The northern province of Thai Nguyen is seeking investors to build infrastructure for 11 new industrial clusters through the PPP format Photo: Dung Minh

Investors are being welcomed to 11 newly planned industrial clusters (ICs) covering 283.5 hectares, focusing on seven locations in the province, namely the city of Song Cong, Pho Yen town, and Dong Hy, Dinh Hoa, Phu Binh, Phu Luong, and Dai Tu districts, according to the Thai Nguyen Department of Industry and Trade.

The investors are encouraged to build the ICs under the public-private partnership (PPP) model to reduce reliance on the state budget. Significantly, most of the ICs offer convenient transport connections. For instance, the 48.5ha Ba Xuyen IC (Song Cong) connects to Road 262 and is 18 kilometres from Thai Nguyens city centre, while the 20ha Kim Son IC (Dinh Hoa district) links to National Highway 3C and the Ho Chi Minh Highway.

When taking part in building these ICs technical infrastructure, businesses will receive financing for 10 per cent of total site clearance costs or 10 per cent of total investment cost put into building IC technical infrastructure and wastewater treatment facilities, up to but not exceeding VND6 billion ($265,487) for each IC.

In addition, in light of the governments current regulations on land rental and corporate income tax (CIT) incentives, seven out of nine districts in Thai Nguyen belong to areas entitled to investment encouragement policies. Accordingly, these seven districts are subject to a CIT exemption in the first two to four years and a 50 per cent reduction in the subsequent four to nine years, depending on their locations.

A new development, touted as a fresh move in wooing investors to build Thai Nguyens ICs, is that under a decision of the Thai Nguyen Peoples Committee, the Centre for Industrial Promotion and Industrial Development Consultancy belonging to the Thai Nguyen Department of Industry and Trade was assigned to act as the developer for building the infrastructure for several ICs, primarily the 52ha Son Cam 2 IC.

The move attests to the provincial leaderships commitment to courting investment into local IC development.

Centre director Nguyen Dinh Hung said that the IC investment proposal has been submitted to the local management authorities for approval and investors are encouraged to advance their capital for site clearance and building IC infrastructure.

Economists say that infrastructure investment plays a vital role in making IC projects appeal to investors. In fact, despite having detailed plans, many ICs fail to lure investors due to incomplete investments into infrastructure works such as power, water, and wastewater treatment.

To address this bottleneck, Thai Nguyen has reviewed its IC development plan to remove underperforming ICs and supplement new ICs with favourable locations and advantages in local labour or natural resources. Seven ICs covering 162ha were removed from the provincial IC plan and more than 250ha were cut from five other ICs, while 10 new ICs were added to the plan.

The Thai Nguyen Department of Industry and Trade has proposed to the Ministry of Industry and Trade to raise the capital support volume from the central budget through an industrial promotion programme and has asked the State Bank of Vietnam to offer concessionary credit packages for investors in ICs located in remote, mountainous areas.

In the words of Tran Anh Son, head of the Industrial Management Division under the Thai Nguyen Department of Industry and Trade, to attract investors, ICs need convenient access to material supply sources and the consumer market as well as favourable transport infrastructure.

In light of Thai Nguyens revised IC development plan for 2020 with a vision towards 2030, the number of local ICs will increase from 32 to 35, covering 1,259ha in total area. Investment will be implemented in two phases. In the first phase, from now until 2020, efforts will be geared towards building infrastructure for 28 out of 35 ICs covering 731ha, with an expected occupancy averaging 60-65 per cent.

In the second phase, from 2021 to 2030, efforts will be put into finalising the infrastructure construction of these 28 ICs, matching the detailed IC plan, striving to reach 100 per cent occupancy, and building infrastructure for the remaining seven ICs covering more than 202ha.

The province is set to raise $79.6 million in total investment capital in the first phase and $98.9 million in the second, with the amount sourced from the non-state budget to surpass $44.2 million in each phase.President Donald Trump asserted that his former lawyer Michael Cohen's campaign finance violations were "not a crime". (AFP/MANDEL NGAN)

On perhaps the worst day of Trump's tumultuous time in office, his former fixer Michael Cohen told a federal judge on Tuesday he had made illegal campaign contributions - in the form of payments to silence women alleging affairs with Trump - at his boss' request.

Cohen's statements came on a day of head-spinning political drama for Trump, whose former campaign chief Paul Manafort was found guilty within the same hour of federal tax and bank fraud, in the first case sent to trial by the special prosecutor probing Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

While the full implications for the real estate mogul-turned-president remain unclear, Cohen's statements - and the prospect of more revelations to come - puts Trump in legal peril.

But the mercurial US leader appeared determined to ride out the latest storm.

After first accusing Cohen of making up "stories" to cut a plea deal, he then tweeted that Cohen's actions were "not a crime," and went further in an interview with "Fox and Friends," saying they were "not even a campaign violation."

In that interview, Trump said the hush payments were financed with his own money - to which Cohen had access - and that while he had no knowledge of them at the time, he had since been fully transparent.

"My first question when I heard about it was, 'Did they come out of the campaign?', because that could be a little dicey," he said of the payments - believed to have been made to porn star Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal.

"But they didn't come out of the campaign," he said. "They came from me and I tweeted about it."

Despite Trump's defiant tone, Washington-based campaign finance expert Kate Belinski, of the Nossaman law firm, said to expect legal consequences for both Trump and his campaign - most likely in the form of a civil complaint before the Federal Election Commission.

Cohen has meanwhile pleaded guilty to two counts of violating campaign finance laws, along with six counts of fraud - identifying Trump as his co-conspirator when it came to the hush payments.

'HE DID NOTHING WRONG'

In a string of interviews early Wednesday, Cohen's own lawyer Lanny Davis took aim squarely at the president, dubbing him a "criminal."

"He committed a crime," Lanny Davis told CBS News. "If he were not president, he clearly would be indicted and jailed for that crime."

In practice, an indictment is highly unlikely: the Justice Department position since 2000 has been that a sitting president is "immune from indictment as well as from further criminal process."

And while the president could theoretically be impeached, it remains a remote prospect in a Republican-dominated Congress where even Democrats are focused on letting Robert Mueller's Russia probe play out.

But Cohen's cooperation with investigators may yet pose a wider threat.

Writing on the Lawfare blog, former White House counsel Bob Bauer said the Cohen plea will resonate "unmistakably" with Mueller's investigation, "which also concerns what a candidate is prepared to do to win an election and then cover his tracks."

"As (Richard) Nixon found when one of his lawyers also became a witness for the government, this can be the beginning of very hard times."

The White House insisted Trump was not concerned "at all" that Cohen might implicate the US president by cooperating with Mueller.

"He knows that he did nothing wrong and that there was no collusion," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said.

But Davis told CBS News that Cohen knew of election tampering efforts during the 2016 campaign that would be "of interest to the special counsel."

'TELL THE TRUTH'

Rather than cut a deal, Manafort chose to leave his fate to a jury, prompting speculation he was hoping for a pardon - something Trump has not ruled out.

After four days of deliberations, the 69-year-old was found guilty of eight counts of financial fraud.

Even as Manafort learned of his fate, the 51-year-old Cohen was revealing in Manhattan how he made hush payments "in coordination and at the direction of a candidate for federal office," and "with the purpose of influencing the election."

Davis said Cohen was now determined "to put his family and country first and tell the truth about Donald Trump."

Trump's response was to discredit Cohen - contrasting his actions with the "brave" Manafort.

"Unlike Michael Cohen, he refused to 'break' - make up stories in order to get a 'deal,'" tweeted the president.

"If anyone is looking for a good lawyer, I would strongly suggest that you don't retain the services of Michael Cohen!" Trump wrote.Many signs contribute to the concerns about the IPO of Vietnams state-owned shipping giant Vinalines Photo: Le Toan

Last week, the leaders of Vinalines had a busy day meeting with SM Group, which wanted to learn about the upcoming initial public offering (IPO), scheduled to take place in the first week of September. SM Group, which is a South Korean construction conglomerate and sea vessel operator, is moving quickly to expand its fleet through a series of acquisitions.

SM Group is one of several foreign investors, including some from South Korea and Japan, showing great interest in the IPO. We are preparing to work with other potential investors in the coming days, Le Quang Trung, vice chairman of Vinalines, told VIR.

High engagement on the way

Like any powerful state-owned enterprise (SOE), the long-awaited IPO of Vinalines is garnering interest from foreign investors who want to tap into the giants available assets in its two attractive core business lines, seaports and logistics, to reduce costs and expedite their expansion in the country.

With the involvement of SM Group, Vinalines IPO is once again proving its appeal to South Korean enterprises. SK Securities, which recently failed to satisfy the criteria to become a strategic investor of the Vietnamese shipping giant in a strategic state stake sale, is said to look for new opportunities in the IPO.

South Korean investors are among the most interested in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deals in Vietnam in recent years, with logistics holding much of their attention.

Planning to conduct a road show this week to promote the share sale, Vinalines is pinning high hopes on the IPOs success. Seaports remain the companys most profitable and attractive segment to foreign investors, while logistics is attracting international logistics giants who are investing in Vietnam in anticipation of growing trade and loosened regulations.

The company is now the countrys largest port operator with 15 seaports, and also Vietnams largest shipping company with a fleet of 82 vessels, and a leading logistics services provider with a wide network of warehouses and modern inland container depots along influential seaports.

Vinalines is also the owner of many valuable land plots. It is also planning to invest heavily to increase operational efficiency in 2018-2020.

With the long-standing interest of foreign investors such as Hyundai Motor, SK Group, and SCG, we believe the IPO will be successful, said Vo Van Cuong, head of equity research (Ho Chi Minh City) at KB Securities.

The likelihood of success

Despite high expectations among insiders, many outsiders have a dim outlook for the share sale, blaming the unfavourable timing and unattractive financial indexes.

This time is not favourable for Vinalines to conduct the IPO, as the shares of several state-owned conglomerates have become less attractive to investors. The share prices at several SOEs became unstable after their IPO, Tran Dinh Dzung, manager of the Underwriting and Financial Advisory Department at Saigon-Hanoi Securities JSC, told VIR.

What is more, the shareholder structure, with the state holding 65 per cent, is believed to be an impediment to convincing investors.

It means that the remaining 35 per cent can be sold to small investors or financial investors. To lure investors, Vinalines must have attractive profit commitments and profitability indexes in future plans of the equitisation scheme. Although Vinalines owns a huge number of seaports and subsidiaries, their operational efficiency and financial indexes are not convincing enough, Dzung added.

As shown in the audited financial statements for 2015-2017, Vinalines return on assets (ROA) was 5.5 per cent in 2015, 13.7 per cent in 2016, and 1.9 per cent in 2017, while return on equity (ROE) was 9.5, 21, and 2.5 per cent, respectively, from 2015 to 2017.

An official of Vinalines admitted that the ratios remained lower than the industry average, as in this period, the giants profit dropped to the break-even point as it focused on restructuring.

In addition, in its equitisation plan, Vinalines has no scenario to divest state holdings to below 51 per cent, while future profit plans are not persuasive enough.

Vaibhav Saxena, lawyer at Vietnam International Law Firm, said that with the poor business results, investors who want to earn profit immediately after investment will not be interested in this IPO. Also, there are analysts forecasting that investors will not want to join Vinalines equitisation process, as they want to hold a controlling stake of over 51 per cent in the group, Saxena added.

Looking back a few weeks ago, when Vinalines looked for a strategic investor, the 14.8-per-cent deal on offer was believed to be attractive to private domestic and foreign investors, as the giant has seaports, logistics, and shipping as three attractive core business lines.

However, the response was smaller than expected, as SK Securities was the only one to register as a potential strategic investor. Meanwhile, many potential foreign investors, including Belgian firm Rent-A-Port and others from Japan, the US, and South Korea, did not join the sale, which was considered one of the hottest M&A deals in the shipping industry in 2018.

It is worth noting that Rent-A-Port signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Vinalines in 2017 in the hope of acquiring 10 per cent of the latters chartered capital upon its equitisation. Many reasons have been named for the disappointing outcome, but much of the blame must go to time constraints.

Vinalines left less than one month after the prime ministers approval of its equitisation plan in late June 2018 for potential investors to register. It is likely that the period was too short for many conglomerates to study the firm thoroughly as well as to analyse and assess risks. Now, Vinalines is not only betting it all on the upcoming IPO, but foreign investors in joint venture ports with the giant are also expecting to have a capable partner after the IPO.

The shipping giant will auction off nearly 281 million shares or 20 per cent of its stake at a starting price of VND10,000 ($0.44) per share under the ticker MVN, and unload an additional 14.8 per cent left from the first stake sale.

Looking back only a few years ago shows how important the long-delayed approval of Vinalines equitisation plan was. At the time, the delays caused a dilemma for foreign investors, including APMT, SSA, and PSA, as to whether or not they should invest further in their joint venture ports. They anxiously expected to work with a new partner of Vinalines.

According to foreign port operators, strong privatisation is the optimal choice to increase the operational efficiency of joint venture terminals and to attract foreign investors. They cited T&T Groups acquisition of Quang Ninh Port from Vinalines as an example.

Another failed IPO?

Industry insiders are now raising doubts about the success of Vinalines IPO, wondering whether it could become another in a string of failed IPOs of local conglomerates.

The reality is that, while a number of initial public sales by SOEs indeed lured in big capital, there are also many that failed, including well-publicised major deals.

Recent high-profile cases include Song Da Corporation and Becamex IDC, a property and township development giant in the southern province of Binh Duong with close ties to the lucrative Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park. In late November 2017, Becamex IDC only managed to sell 6 per cent of the stake on offer in its IPO. The company conducted another public sale two months later, which suffered the same fate, as only 1.7 per cent of the shares were sold. In both auctions, Becamex IDC only raised VND745 billion ($33 million), much lower than the expected figure.

There have been many explanations for Becamex IDCs unsuccessful IPO. The first one were high valuation, as at VND31,000 ($1.37) per share, the companys price-per-earnings ratio stood at 51x, much higher than its peers such as IDICO or Viglacera.

Moreover, Becamex IDCs colossal amount of debt also added to investors concerns. According to a recent report from KIS Vietnam Securities, the company is heavily indebted, as debts take up 40 per cent of its assets, much higher than the market average of 30 per cent. More than half of the loans at Becamex IDC are short-term borrowings, sparking worries about the companys liquidity and repayment abilities.

However, it is notable that despite lacklustre share sales, Becamex IDC was still able to strike up a deal with US investor Warburg Pincus, in which the two partners set up a $200 million joint venture for logistics and industrial development.

Another unfortunate example is VTVCab, which had to cancel its IPO in April as only one investor joined the auction. The main reason, again, were sky-high valuations, as VTVCabs price, at VND140,900 ($6.23) a share, was 168 times higher than the companys forecasted earnings for 2018.

Less dismal but still disappointing was the IPO of Vietnam Rubber Group (VRG) in February 2018. The company sold 21.2 per cent of the stake it put on offer. However, VRG had refused to let foreign investors join the auction, but changed its tune after the sale and said that it would welcome overseas shareholders.Vietnam Railways to dump its cargo

The Ministry of Transport (MoT) is now in the final stages of assessing Vietnam Railways (VNR) restructuring and divestment plan for 2017-2020, before submitting its report to the government for approval next month.

An end to the cargo transport monopoly

One of the highlights of the plan, proposed by VNR itself, is the merger of Hanoi Railway Transport JSC and Saigon Railway Transport JSC into one joint stock company (JSC). This JSC will be then separated into two entities, with one specialising in passengers, in which VNR will hold a controlling stake, and the other focusing on cargo transport, with VNR to possibly divest the entire state stake.

Currently, Hanoi Railway Transport JSC and Saigon Railway Transport JSC are the biggest operators of cargo transport in the industry.

If approved, we could call on private investors to join and promote the development of cargo transportation, thus enabling it to compete with other transport segments, including aviation and road, VNR chairman Vu Anh Minh told VIR.

The move comes after years of low operational efficiency at the two railway transport units.

According to the Ministry of Finances Document No.9280/BTC-TCDN, recently sent to the MoT, both Hanoi Railway Transport JSC and Saigon Railway Transport JSC have showed poor performance, and their competiveness has plummetted compared to aviation, road, and waterway transport.

As shown in the document, in 2017, VNRs total revenue rose by 15 per cent on-year to reach VND7.77 trillion ($343.8 million), but its profit declined by 16 per cent to VND145 billion ($6.4 million), mainly because of a loss of VND88 billion ($3.89 million) at Hanoi Railway Transport JSC. Saigon Railway Transport JSC performed better than its Hanoi peer, but results remained lower than expected.

These two companies are offering the same products and services and compete with each other, increasing the employed labour force but decreasing their productivity, competitiveness, and operational efficiency, Minh explained.

For example, as the industrys running capacity is 21 couples of trains, one company is able to handle this number. But with two units, they reduced prices to attract passengers and customers, resulting in losses, he said.

The proposal is expected to result in a breakthrough in VNRs future operations, as the company reported low yearly profits of around VND150 billion ($6.64 million) for the past three years, partly due to the burden of numerous non-business lines on 100-year downgraded infrastructure.

At present, VNR is tasked with managing and maintaining the railway infrastructure network, while also monitoring railway transport and leasing railway assets.

As stated by the World Bank, nations which have separated the passenger and cargo transport businesses in their railway networks have proved efficient.

The MoT is also supporting VNRs proposal. The merger is necessary and the stake divestment in the cargo transport unit is an indispensable choice for long-term development. We expect better performance with the involvement of private investors, said MoT Deputy Minister Nguyen Ngoc Dong.

With this new move, the railway industry is expected to receive new life in its private investment on the back of new policies and legislation.

The Law on Railways 2017, which entered into force in July 2018, introduces unique preferential mechanisms on import duty, corporate income tax, land use, and concessional loans, while Decree No.63/2018/ND-CP dated June 19, 2018 supports railway projects in the form of public-private partnerships (PPP).

What is more, the recently issued Decree No.46/2018/ND-CP governing the management and use of railway infrastructure assets will give VNR the right to own, use, and develop the assets indirectly involved in train operation with state capital recorded in the business, enabling it to take the initiative in its investment plan and to call on more favourable private investments.

The MoT is in the final stages of assessing VNRs restructuring and divestment plan, Source: VNR

Who will benefit?

According to Vaibhav Saxena of Vietnam International Law Firm, in the past, since urban railway projects were merely aimed at serving the needs of locals and foreign investors concentrated on incentives and returns on their investment, projects in the urban railway industry could not attract foreign investment and were mainly invested by state-owned enterprises.

However, with increasing attention from the government, foreign investors are more keen to invest in the urban railway development sector.

In fact, the natural and geographical conditions of Vietnam are a win-win factor for the development of the railway network. Furthermore, the urban railway business is expected to receive ample support from the government. As the government has relaxed the limitations, a new investment arena has emerged for investors to explore, said Saxena.

These moves are expected to back the expansion plans of Lotte Engineering and Construction Co., Ltd. (Lotte E&C), a subsidiary of Lotte Group, South Koreas fifth largest corporation.

We have come on board with construction projects in Vietnam in recent years. We will now expand operations in the country with a focus on railways, metro lines, and other transport infrastructure projects, said Ha Suk Joo, president of Lotte E&C.

In a similar move, Siemens Group is also seeking opportunities to join several road and railway projects in Vietnam, while a number of foreign investors such as Russias EVRAZthe worlds largest producer of railsand Russia Export Centre Group have recently expressed interest in doing business with VNR.

Attracting foreign investment into the railway industry is a challenge not only in Vietnam, but worldwide.

The question is now whether VNRs move and the countrys new policies and legislation are enough to help brighten the picture of private investment attraction in the industry.On the fifth anniversary of the horrific Ghouta Sarin attack, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France reiterate their condemnation of the use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime.

Since 2012, the regime has resorted to the use of chemical weapons during military offensives, not only in Ghouta but also in Khan Sheikhoun, Ltamenah, Saraqib, and Douma, killing and injuring thousands of people.

As Permanent Members of the Security Council, we reaffirm our shared resolve to preventing the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime, and for holding them accountable for any such use.

Our position on the Assad regimes use of chemical weapons is unchanged. As we have demonstrated, we will respond appropriately to any further use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime, which has had such devastating humanitarian consequences for the Syrian population.

We welcome the establishment of attribution arrangements at the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), in accordance with its authority under the Chemical Weapons Convention, as confirmed by the decision of the Conference of States Parties.

The establishment of these arrangements will help ensure that the perpetrators of chemical weapons use in Syria cannot escape identification. We welcome the launch of the International Partnership against Impunity for the Use of Chemical Weapons on 23 January 2018, and call on all countries committed to fight impunity to join the International Partnership. We remain committed to securing justice for victims of chemical weapons use.

Furthermore, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France are gravely concerned over reports of a military offensive by the Syrian regime against civilians and civilian infrastructure in Idlib, and the resulting humanitarian consequences. We also underline our concern at the potential for further  and illegal  use of chemical weapons.

We urge supporters of the Assad regime to use their influence to uphold the global norm against chemical weapons use. We implore those countries to recognize that the unchecked use of chemical weapons by any state presents an unacceptable security threat to all states. We urge the international community to support our collective efforts to end Syrias use of chemical weapons. And we remain resolved to act if the Assad regime uses chemical weapons again.Denver, CO, Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NexusTek today congratulated Executive Vice President of Consulting and Operations, Kristen Noftsger, for being named a 2018 C-Suite Award Recipient by the Denver Business Journal (DBJ). Honorees were nominated by DBJ readers, and then judged on individual and organizational accomplishments, community involvement, contributions to management and innovation within their fields, among other factors.



Kristen Aleksa Noftsger brings extensive technology experience to NexusTek with more than 25 years in IT and Consulting Services. She is an accomplished, results-oriented, technology executive skilled in growing and developing teams and managing complex, cross-company strategic initiatives to successful outcomes.

This recognition is well-deserved as Kristens dynamic leadership and ability to affect positive change across an organization have been instrumental in NexusTeks growth and maturation into a national leader, said NexusTek CEO, Mike Jenner. Under Kristens watch, NexusTek has created a corporate culture that fosters collaboration, engagement and customer experience, and which champions opportunities for growth through professional education.

Earlier this month, NexusTek announced its fifth acquisition in 2018, and eight in four years. NexusTeks growth rate in 2018 is in excess of 100%; the company now serves almost 2,700 organizations in 47 states, with a national workforce of 300 employees. Kristen, who leads the NexusTek Integrations Office team, oversees operations of newly acquired companies and ensures that personnel and processes are seamlessly assimilated without affecting performance.

I am humbled by this recognition and to be honored alongside such a distinguished and accomplished group of executives, said Kristen Noftsger. Our companys progressive, flexible corporate culture reflects both the present and future of work. As part of NexusTeks executive leadership, I am particularly proud of how we truly embrace diversity, respect and equal opportunity for advancement  regardless of gender, religion or race.

Also of note is Kristens commitment to service excellence. Kristen launched an advanced customer experience program to ensure that as the company continues expanding, satisfaction levels did not wane. Her guidance in reorganizing NexusTeks metrics for measuring customer satisfaction has enhanced visibility and understanding of best practices.

Despite the flurry of M&A activity, our evolution from small business into one of the nations top cloud and managed IT services providers is marked by efficiency and agility  and the caliber of the team weve built, added Noftsger. We take great care to never disrupt our customers. I read every post-service interaction customer survey and am really pleased that our growth has not interrupted clients performance in any way. No matter how big we get, personal attention and prompt service will not decline. Our customers value having the best of both worlds: a local presence combined with national resources to support all of their needs.

NexusTeks cloud and managed services eliminate the administrative overhead and variable cost associated with IT environments; customers receive 24/7 monitoring of their IT environments and proactive responses to issues for a fixed monthly fee. The company serves businesses across the country, providing IT solutions and professional recommendations to strengthen the customers IT infrastructures. By virtue of its SSAE 16 SOC II certification, NexusTek proves its adherence to rigorous, industry-accepted auditing standards for service companies.

About NexusTek

NexusTek, an award-winning Microsoft Gold Partner, provides small and medium-sized businesses a trusted resource to optimize and manage their IT environments, ensuring business continuity and driving productivity. From managed IT services to cloud solutions and customized business software implementations, NexusTek employs top talent, offers personalized attention, and brings nearly 22 years implementing technology best practices for companies nationwide.

For more information: http://www.nexustek.com/This could get messy. Photo: Mark Sagliocco/FilmMagic

Aretha Franklin left no will or trust prior to her death last week, new court documents filed in Michigan have revealed. Per the New York Times, Franklins surviving sons  Clarence, Edward, and KeCalf Franklin, and Ted White Jr.  have listed themselves as interested parties in documents filed with local probation court, in which they confirmed their mother died without a will. They have nominated Franklins niece, Sabrina Owens, to be the estates personal representative. Michigan law states that the assets of an unmarried person who dies without a will are then passed on to their children and divided equally. As part of the legal process, the specifics of Franklins personal finances could be made public. Similarly, a long legal feud over Princes estate and assets erupted after he, too, died without a will. Franklins former attorney, Don Wilson, tells the Detroit Free Press that he begged her for years to consider a trust but she never did it. According to Wilson, the monetary value of Franklins assets is unknown  think of all the furs and purses!  but she did have ownership of some of her biggest hits. Any time they dont leave a trust or will, there always ends up being a fight, he says.The accuser of prominent #MeToo activist Asia Argento has released a statement to the New York Times, following reports that the actress had sexually assaulted him when he was 17. Jimmy Bennett had previously remained silent as details of the incident and payments made to him totaling $380,000 by Argento came to light. However, Wednesday the actor and musician spoke out about his arrangement with Argento, explaining that he  tried to seek justice in a way that made sense to me at the time, and that he feared the stigma of coming forward as a male victim. Read his full statement below:

Many brave women and men have spoken out about their own experiences during the #metoo movement, and I appreciate the bravery that it took for each and every one of them to take such a stand. I did not initially speak out about my story because I chose to handle it in private with the person who wronged me. My trauma resurfaced as she came out as a victim herself. I have not made a public statement in the past days and hours because I was ashamed and afraid to be part of the public narrative. I was underage when the event took place, and I tried to seek justice in a way that made sense to me at the time because I was not ready to deal with the ramifications of my story becoming public. At the time I believed there was still a stigma to being in the situation as a male in our society. I didnt think that people would understand the event that took place from the eyes of a teenage boy. I have had to overcome many adversities in my life, and this is another that I will deal with, in time. I would like to move past this event in my life, and today I choose to move forward, no longer in silence. -Jimmy BennettPhoto: IFC

In case you havent been watching and need more sketch in your life, the Baroness von Sketch Show is here to provide. Our benevolent Canadian ruler, also known as an IFC series starring comedians Carolyn Taylor, Meredith MacNeill, Aurora Browne, and Jennifer Whalen, will be returning for a fourth season sometime in 2019. The shows third season will premiere on November 8. The first two seasons of the lady-centric sketch show aired on Canadas CBC before being acquired by IFC, which then debuted them both during the summer of 2017. As long as Americas women keep living lives of quiet humiliation that need riffing on, the Baroness is welcome to make herself at home.The 2018 Emmy race is here, and Vulture will take a close look at the nominated contenders until voting closes on August 27. Tina Fey, Dave Chappelle, and Jimmy Fallon on SNL. Photo: NBC

Saturday Night Live debuted Tina Feys remarkable Sarah Palin impression in the fall of 2008; the following year, she was nominated for an Emmy in the Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series category. Justin Timberlake didnt deliver a culture-shifting performance during his SNL hosting gig in early 2009, but he was nominated for Outstanding Guest Actor for his dynamic, playful, and consistent appearances on the show. Since the 70s, character actors in recurring sitcom roles won these awards, but in the first year the TV Academy recognized SNL players or hosts in these categories, both Fey and Timberlake won. Since then, the Academy has given the nod to many SNL regulars  as many as five in a single year. This year, with Tiffany Haddish, Bill Hader, Donald Glover, and Tina Fey all contending in the Guest Actor or Guest Actress categories, lets look back at those nominees who won, and why they nabbed their Emmys.

Tina Fey (2009)

If theres one political impression from the last decade that shifted cultural perceptions of a public figure and arguably altered the trajectory of a political campaign, it was Feys Palin. Thanks to a notable likeness between the two, there were calls for Fey to play the Republican vice-presidential candidate long before fall of 2008. Once Fey committed to the idea, playing the loopy, gun-toting Alaskan opposite Amy Poehlers calculating but barely constrained Hillary Clinton, it felt like a shot in the arm. With a writer as sharp as Fey, of course, the impression wasnt just vocal tics, mannerisms, and a few clever turns of phrase. While exaggerating Palins natural wackiness and indulging her word salads, Feys take was not a cartoon. It was real enough to be approachable yet barbed enough to be damning.

Justin Timberlake (2009)

During his first two hosting gigs, and with his frequent drop-ins, JT proved himself capable of playing credible characters, trying on accents, leveraging his musical talents for comedic purposes, and otherwise milking moments for all they were worth. Timberlake also found conspirators in both Andy Samberg and Jimmy Fallon; he made the famed Dick in a Box short with the Lonely Island guys, and played giggling cohort to Fallon in The Barry Gibb Talk Show. This award surely was a nod to everything Timberlake had accomplished on the show by that point, but his third hosting gig in 2009 offered new levels of confidence and control. JTs turn as his own great-great-grandfather Cornelius Timberlake  a man with a preternatural sense of what his great-great-grandson will accomplish in America  let Timberlake strut like a peacock, only to scorch his own feathers moments later.

Betty White (2010)

Its tempting to view this Emmy as a celebration of Betty Whites life and achievements in general, but that would discount how goddamn funny she was in her episode. White, who was 88 at the time of the filming, threw herself with abandon into every bawdy bit the writers imagined. More than just an old lady talking about her dusty muffin, as she did during NPR (a.k.a the Delicious Dish or Schweddy Balls sketch), Whites impeccable timing and superbly dry delivery showed that age and wisdom really could win the day. And as fun as the naughty stuff was, watch Census Taker, the sequel to a Tina Fey classic in which crafty wordplay and precision were key. And to whoever created and promoted the Facebook campaign that helped bring this event aboutyour name ought to be scratched somewhere on this Emmy, too.

Justin Timberlake (2011)

Emmy voters, it seems, couldnt get enough of JT. In 2011, Timberlake bested four supporting actors and Zach Galifianakis (for his own SNL hosting gig) with a little song, dance, and self-effacement. In a The Merryville Brothers sequel, he made for a perfectly calibrated, creepy robot. He chewed scenery alongside Kristen Wiig in Secret Word and skewered his own celebrity persona in Whats That Name. This time around, he didnt do double duty as host and musical guest  he stepped aside for Lady Gaga and her attendant costume rack  but his best bit was musical. This opening number (about not singing an opening number) also won an Emmy for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics.

Jimmy Fallon (2012)

Something in Jimmy Fallon was just built for sketch comedy. Hes always silly and consistently high energy, hes a uncanny musical impressionist, and he breaks character often enough that audiences feel its cute and charming but not so often that its cloying. His first Guest Actor Emmy came eight years after his run as an SNL cast member ended, and it felt like a reward for returning to the things he does best. This episode featured old favorites, like his yakking Bostonite Sully (attended, as always, by Rachel Dratchs Denise) and some funny new bits that suited Fallon well. Take Beethoven, in which Fallon played one of historys greatest composers as though he were a jovial, pun-pushing bandleader introducing the many dudes in his band.

Jimmy Fallon (2014)

To win the same award not but two years later, Fallon tiptoed by heavies including Nathan Lane and Bob Newhart  as well as Louis C.K., who was also nominated for SNL. Justin Timberlake returned to 8H for this one, too, and was in onstage seemingly as much as Fallon; the Emmy felt like a cosign of the bromance that has continued to flourish on Fallons version of The Tonight Show. JT and Fallon did The Barry Gibb Show, of course, but Fallon also joined JT in Wrappingville, one of an ongoing series that had been one of JTs signature bits on the show. Fallons big highlight had to be an ad for a compilation Now Thats What I Call Christmas, which gave Fallon space to play Michael Buble, Alan Rickman, Harry Styles, and Pitbull in the span of three minutes.

Tina Fey & Amy Poehler (2016)

Lorne Michaels could not have picked a better time for Fey and Poehler to co-host SNL. By the winter of 2015, theyd spent three years charming and challenging A- and B-listers from the Golden Globes stage. During their night at 30 Rock, they were firing on all cylinders. Big opening number? Check. Poignant political sketch (involving Sarah Palin and two Hillary Clintons)? Check. Retro parodies? Check. Recurring characters? Check. Boisterous digital short? Check. All that and Meet Your Second Wife, a stunner of a sketch in which three guys come to a game show set only to learn their futures: Each of them will leave their wives and meet someone, uh, new. It was perfectly disturbing and disturbingly perfect.

Melissa McCarthy (2017)

By the time she won her Guest Actress Emmy, McCarthy had hosted SNL four times and had been rightfully lauded for sharp characters and gonzo performances. Her 2017 show may not have been a next-level event, but her year of playing White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer was revelatory. Alec Baldwins Trump is a caricature that teaches viewers nothing about Trump the man. McCarthys Spicer, on the other hand, is strangely humanizing. For all the outsize gestures and props in these sketches, McCarthy paints Spicer as a furious little man barely staving off the humiliation constantly threatening to swallow him. McCarthy not only brought Spicer into the spotlight, she helped SNL fans see the desperate machinations of an entire White House staff attempting anything to please their president and keep him in office.

Dave Chappelle (2017)

Seemed like Hillary was doing well in the polls, and yet  I know the whites. This quote  from Chappelles monologue at the top of SNL on November 12, 2016  sums up the reason why he won the Guest Actor category in 2017. Yes, there was certainly some nostalgia mixed in. Chappelle had been doing stand-up gigs since 2013, but not a lot of TV, and certainly not sketch comedy. His appearance in a Walking Dead parody, which brought back several Chappelles Show characters, scratched that itch for many. But in general, the night belonged to Chappelles attempts to process the political moment of which the country was trying to make sense. One sketch in particular, featuring Chris Rock and co-written by Chappelles longtime collaborator Neal Brennan, was an honest and painful record of what happened across America (for black and white people) on the evening of November 8.Photo: HBO

This story discusses theories for HBOs Sharp Objects, and not Gillian Flynns 2006 novel that inspired the series. Please dont reveal any book spoilers in the comments!

Between all of those beautifully edited flashbacks and the dynamic duo of Amy Adams and Patricia Clarkson  plus the music, swoon, the music!  its easy to forget that Sharp Objects is, in fact, a disturbing murder-mystery. With Camille Preaker (Adams) back in her spooky hometown of Wind Gap, Missouri, to investigate the murder of two teen girls, its now clear that both the old money and trash inhabitants of the Bootheel town have motives to kill, even if it seems, with one episode to go, that Adora is Suspect No. 1. Ahead of the Sharp Objects finale on Sunday, here are the most prominent murder suspects on our list.

Alan Crellin

Photo: HBO

Dont even think about loading up another virtuosic classical arrangement into your incredible $112,000 stereo system, Alan! Although the stronger case can be made for Adora after the penultimate episode, too many incriminating things have stacked up against the Crellin patriarch and his tasteful pastel sweaters to go unnoticed. Think about Alans role in the household and how that can relate to the two murdered girls: His home life isnt great. Abysmal, even. He only gets rare affection from his daughter Amma (Eliza Scanlen), even less affection from his wife, Adora (Clarkson)  theyve been sleeping in separate bedrooms for a while now  and he seems to only get enjoyment when hes sitting alone in his music room, ears blissfully cocooned in headphones. But most importantly, hes aware that Adora has been poisoning their daughter for awhile now  Go listen to your music, Adora coos when Alan sees her concocting that medicine in the kitchen  yet turns a blind eye to it.

Alan needs a catharsis for his emasculation, he needs a release to feel like a man in control of his life, and perhaps it comes in the horrific form of torturing and killing teen girls. The killer is targeting girls around Ammas age who have healthy, enviable relationships with their own fathers  something thats unattainable to Alan, at least so long as his wife keeps poisoning Amma. Personally, Im waiting for our onscreen Eureka! moment when Alans unveiled as the psycho killer and he changes out Paris Jazz Piano to Talking Heads: 77.

Chief Bill Vickery

Photo: HBO

To put it lightly, Wind Gaps reigning king of one-liners doesnt seem good at his job. Hes incapable of believing anyone other than an out-of-towner, a Mexican, or John Keene would do such terrible crimes, eschewing the reasonable theory from Detective Richard Willis (Chris Messina) that both murdered girls are connected by crimes of passion from people they already knew: Passion doesnt always have to equal sex. This type of thing can scratch a different kind of itch. Power. Control.

The simple version of Vickerys aversion to thoroughly investigating all angles of the crimes, or using Willis and Camille as useful assets in the investigation, is that hes the murderer himself and hes trying to cover his tracks. The more complex version is hes in cahoots with Adora, whos blackmailing him to assist with depositing the girls bodies in a way that puts any blame off her. Lest we forget, the chief is quite handy when it comes to pliers  the same tool used to remove Natalies teeth, implying only a man with incredible strength could succeed in such an act.

Adora Crellin

Photo: HBO

Theres no use of skirting around the issue here: Adora sure looks guilty, huh? She slowly poisoned her daughter Marian to death, and it looks like shes doing it again to Amma now, too. Munchausen syndrome by proxy is a serious mental disorder, and thered be nothing better than seeing the Princess of Wind Gap brought to justice for killing her daughter after all of these years. But we have to consider the other issue: Just how involved is she in the deaths of Ann and Natalie? We already know Adora had maternal relationships with both slain girls, whom she took an interest in thanks to their outsider, Camille-esque nature. But their deaths definitely dont follow the Munchausen by proxy playbook, and its doubtful Adora could muster up the strength to rip out Natalies teeth with a plier. Our bet is if Adora is indeed involved in the killings, she has a strong-armed accomplice helping her. Whether that accomplice is willing or blackmailed is another story.

Amma Crellin and her roller-skating girl gang

Photo: HBO

Never underestimate the brutal strength  psychological and physical  of a teenage girl. Or three teenage girls. Even though shes currently being, uh, poisoned by her mother and unable to hang with her friends, Amma was raised in an incredibly repressive Southern Gothic household that can account for her schismatic behavior. Its not outrageous to think that when free from the constraints of her mothers care, Amma might choose to rebel in ways that are  abnormal, in order to assert her dominance, especially when her devoted posse of friends are willing to do anything for their queen bee. Take this bit of dialogue between Camille and one of Ammas pals in episode two, when the elder sister gives the teens a few bucks for their vodka-Sprite combo:

Amma, Momma wants you home and I want you home. Its dangerous out there, people are killing little girls.

Not the cool ones.

Is this the voice of a stupidly delusional teen, or one who let slip that theyre out of harms way because theyre the ones doing the harming? It doesnt help that Amma admitted she was friendly with both murdered girls, especially since they didnt fit the profile  yes, looks and behavioral  of her other friends. But the most reasonable theory is this: If Amma is the killer, shes continuing the circle of trauma brought forth by her mother.

Jackie ONeill

Photo: HBO

We initially passed Jackie (Elizabeth Perkins) off as a boozy, quasi-spiritual presence in Wind Gap, whod much rather kick back a dozen gins and don the finest muumuus than float among the towns drama. (Why get directly involved when you can just gossip about it, anyway?) Her pill-roulette meeting with Camille changed all of that, though. And quick. Not only did we discover Jackie had personally investigated the death of Marian and knows the truth about Adora, but she did nothing about it, owing to the odds stacked against her going up against the towns golden woman. (Who the fuck was gonna believe me?) But wouldnt someone have believed Jackie in another town, another police jurisdiction, or another hospital, if she tried to get the word out? A life of isolation and alcoholism in her empty home  with no apparent family in the immediate area  coupled with years of harboring this dangerous secret couldve lead her to lash out against teenage girls of Marions age, teenage girls who were developing special relationships to Adora, no less. Dont you believe she could wield some pliers if she put her mind to it?

Everybody in Wind Gap

Photo: Courtesy of HBO

Bless this Reddit user for adding a bit of levity to an otherwise very gruesome murder-mystery. What if the town, in an act of Hot Fuzzesque defiant behavior, banded together to rid themselves of its most undesirable  to them, those who dont live up to their high southern standards of decorum  young people? It would provide easy alibis for everyone if the townspeople had a constant carousel of murderers, thats for sure.Photo: Aimee Spinks / Netflix

The Innocents is a show about teens in love. Its about other things, too  strained family relationships, knowing yourself, the joy of chunky-knit wool sweaters, the ability to shape-shift  but its mostly about lovebird teens, and on that crucial front, The Innocents succeeds. Even where the Netflix series falls short in its first season, which premieres this Friday, its misfires dont seem to matter all that much. Our hero is a shape-shifter, theres a mysterious Norwegian island, and murky questions linger about trauma and messages from absent mothers and sinister doctors with glasses. But at the bottom of it all, all that matters is that the teens are in love.

June (Sorcha Groundsell) and Harry (Percelle Ascott) are the shows sweet and devoted couple, and The Innocents introduces them through a well-worn but effective trope: Chafing under the restrictions of strict parenting, Harry and June decide to run away together, but things quickly get weird when June unwittingly transforms into a man who looks like hes trying to kidnap her. Harry is understandably alarmed, and from there, none of their escape plans go the way theyd imagined. Honestly, its all par for the course when youre a teen runaway in a YA supernatural drama.

But its not like The Innocents needs to break new ground, anyway. The show is at its best when it does very sincere, persuasively performed versions of familiar genre themes. Much like Buffy the Vampire Slayer (or an untold number of witch stories), Junes transformative ability is terrifying and powerful, and its also a direct parallel to some of the potent emotional realities of being a young woman. In this case, her talent as a shape-shifter taps into the deep well of adolescent anxiety about finding yourself, deciding who to be, and anchoring your personality against the prevailing social winds. June is, like so many teen heroines before her, the kind of person who feels too much, whose own power frightens her, and who realizes that too many people are trying to claim her as their own.

The shows perspective is focused through June  making it a clean-cut fantasy of power, self-searching, and having an adorable boyfriend  so its appropriate, then, that her insight and wary concern are contrasted with Harrys blunt devotion and trust. Together, the two performances are unquestionably the best things about The Innocents. Groundsell, in particular, is great at resisting the binary of Strong Female Characters  that is, the damsel in distress versus the badass fighter  and she moves smoothly through being thrilled, confident, shaken, alarmed, distrustful, terrified, clingy, and self-sufficient. Junes joy feels palpable, as does her fear and her lust. Ascotts Harry is also strong, and its a strength unmarred by the fact that his role is primarily to swear his fealty to June, over and over. Thats partly why the moments that hit the hardest are also the ones that are supposed to hit the hardest: June and Harrys thrill at the chance to be together, their devastation when things go wrong. They love each other! Itd be hard not to root for them.

When the The Innocents does falter, its in ways that seem inevitable in the current era of Netflix dramatic storytelling. Its pilot is economical, and the whole season is only eight episodes  a good length for the story its trying to tell  but even still, there are moments when the show gets mired in side plots. More broadly, it suffers from storytelling that sloshes around aimlessly rather than getting to the point. Especially in its middle third, things seem to just happen, with little thought to how various plot threads might better fit together to build tension. Its easy to lose track of why the baddies are chasing down some particular goal, or whats going on with Junes dad and brother as she and Harry continue their picaresque journey. The show would be better if it juggled its plots more deftly.

Its characters are also unevenly drawn. Faced with extraordinary circumstances, June and Harry have coherent ideas about who they are and what they want. For the most part, thats also true of Junes father John (Sam Hazeldine) and brother Ryan (Arthur Hughes), who end up rushing around after the teens, hoping to get June back to safety. Its less true for The Innocents crew of nearly identical Scandinavian shape-shifting women, largely because the show plays with hiding their motives in a way that gets too close to actually muddying their motives. Its even less true for the shows maybe-a-villain, maybe-a-savior Halvorson (Guy Pearce). The Innocents flirts with revealing his true intent, and insists on stretching the mystery long past the point when its useful. In the service of keeping his real goals ambiguous, Halvorson tends to make baffling choices that feel so plainly prone to failure, it almost ruins the shows otherwise compelling big moments. All the threads do pull through by the end, mostly in the ways you were expecting, but the failure to give Halvorson a stable emotional framework means they dont tie together as well as they should.

Still, The Innocents has so many things going for it that none of this feels too troubling. Its specific mythology of shape-shifting has the right balance of novelty, stable mechanics, and unexplained mystery. The show is almost never funny, but it does have the good sense to put some lighter moments into Harry and Junes dark voyage. And then theres Sanctum, the cryptic, remote compound that Halvorson runs somewhere on a fjord in Norway. Even after watching the whole season, some things about Sanctum still make no sense to me. But its atmospherics are so compelling, laying out a specific fantasy of back-to-the-earth wholesomeness with a big dollop of suspicion, a bit like if Losts island masqueraded as a lovely farm-to-table New Scandinavian restaurant and bespoke sweater outfitter. (Many, many things are outlawed in Sanctum, but nothing seems as verboten as synthetic fibers.) After the romance of Harry and June, Sanctum is the most effective piece of The Innocents, a place feels both otherworldly and solid.

I suspect the most polarizing part of The Innocentss first season will be its last episode, which appears well on its way to packaging everything up neatly into a clean eight-episode arc  until it quite dramatically does not. Given the fact that all supernatural teen romances ache to franchise themselves, that swerve is unsurprising. But I found it unfair, and after pouting for a while, I realized that my frustration was also a testament to the series. If nothing else, The Innocents made me care about these two ill-fated teens and their grand romance.Alabaster police say a 43-year-old Amy Silver was arrested in the death of her 4-year-old daughter because she was driving under the influence when her car was struck by a train.

WBRC-TV reports Silver was arrested by U.S. Marshals and charged with reckless murder in the death of her daughter, Sharon Smith. Silver was arrested at her home in Onenota and transferred to the Shelby County jail.

Police said Silver stopped at the tracks, but ignored train signals and kept going through the intersection while a train was coming.

Along with the reckless murder charge, Silver is also charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, driving under the influence and disregarding a railroad warning device. Silver was also seriously injured in the crash that happened earlier this month.

Her bond is set at $154,000. It was unknown if she has an attorney who could speak on her behalf.Multiple churches have opened their doors to the congregation of Warrior Creek Missionary Baptist Church in Arab after a fire destroyed their place of worship Tuesday night. WAAY 31 spoke with church members and learned what comes next for the worshippers.

Its like a death in the family. Its like one of your relatives died," said Shelby Beam. "You feel like youre kind of in a haze or in a dream. Like when I woke up this morning, I was like, Man, I had a bad dream. But its reality. Thats how Warrior Creek Missionary Baptist Church member Shelby Beam explained what it feels like to lose her church. "It was a place where I looked forward to coming to," Beam said. "I went to school in Kentucky and it was one of the main reasons I wanted to ever come home.

However, Beam says the church is not gone with the building. She says the church still lives within its members. "Warrior Creek is going to meet every Sunday," she said. "It might not be in the same place all the time, but well definitely get together.

Many other churches in the area have already called and offered a helping hand as well. "We have an old sanctuary, so they can use that. Also, I know Desperation has reached out, Shady Grove has reached out, Hopewell has reached out. In a time of need, we all pull together," said Leeann Still who is a member of Union Hill Congregational Methodist Church.

Beam says the community's outpouring of support is something she will be forever grateful for. "Union Hill is not the same denomination as Warrior Creek, and so for them to be able to reach out, it just shows how much this community cares for one another," she said.

And while the church members have a long road of rebuilding ahead of them, they say they arent going to let that hinder them from continuing to worship. "Even though our building is gone and it was a beautiful place and somewhere where I wanted to get married one day, theyre going to build it back and its going to be okay," Beam said.

Church members tell WAAY 31 they plan on meeting in front of the church again on Sunday, and they say the pastor will preach just like he would any other Sunday.

Fire officials tell WAAY 31 the cause of the fire is still undetermined, but they will continue to investigate on Thursday.On Thursday, a Muscle Shoals musician is remembering one of his good friends and former Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist, Ed King. King's family made a post on Facebook announcing he died on Wednesday in his Nashville home at the age of 68.

"They don't get no better than Ed king."

Jimmy Johnson worked alongside Lynyrd Skynyrd during the 1970s at the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio. He clearly remembers spending long hours with Ed King.

"Like three solid days with him,12 hours a day," Johnson said.

King had a history of medical problems. He underwent a successful heart transplant in 2011 but was fighting cancer in recent months. King wasn't only a guitarist but he was also a song writer, he co-wrote the famous song "Sweet Home Alabama."

"He designed all those guitar parts in a dream the night before," Johnson said.

King wasn't a founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, but he was with the group when they recorded albums in Muscle Shoals. David Hood is a member of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, also known as "The Swampers." He will always remember the songwriters for "Sweet Home Alabama."

"The name of our group mentioned like that in a song that's been played thousands... millions of times.... you couldn't buy that," Hood said.

Johnson says King was just a different type of musician

"His style of playing, his expertise, he was fabulous"

No funeral arrangements have been announced. The Facebook post thanked King's friends and fans for their support over the years.The WAAY31 I-team learned a Birmingham mission center, where a triple homicide suspect was paroled to notified the state when he walked off.

The Jimmie Hale Mission Center, where Jimmy Spencer, was paroled to in January told the WAAY31 I-team they notified his parole officer when he walked away.

The parole board told us Spencer was originally paroled to a LifeTech Center, and they knew it was full when they paroled him.

So their second option was the Jimmie Hale Mission Center, which doesn't really operate as an inmate reentry program. They are a faith based program and offer counseling and help for people wanting to get away from drugs and alcohol. The center said they do accept parolees into the facility and they can take courses to earn a GED and help finding a job.

Spencer was supposed to stay at the mission center for six months but he left after only three weeks.

"He was here exactly three weeks," said Jimmie Hale Missions Chaplin, Conrad Baggott.

Baggott, said when they accept a parolee they do regular check-ins with the parole officer.

"First of all we have to send check-in with the parole officer if and or judge every month saying 'billy bob' is still here, which is all that matters," Said Baggott.

Wednesday, we walked right into the Jimmie Hale Mission Center. People staying there are not forced to, they can come and go and walk freely around the facilities. It's not like a prison or jail, or even a work release facility. Baggott told us the minute Jimmy Spencer or any other parolee walks away and does not come back they start calling the state and sending letters.

"If 'Billy Bob' leaves then we have to tell the courts and or the judge and the parole officers," said Baggott. "I've made those phone calls on Christmas and Thanksgiving."

This is the second time we've been told by an entity that they contacted the state about Jimmy Spencer. In May, Spencer was written citations for misdemeanor offenses in Guntersville State Park, according to court documents. We do not know if the officer in the May case tried to run Spencer's name or report this to the parole officer.

Then in June, Sardis police told us Spencer was arrested for drug paraphernalia, resisting arrest, and attempting to elude. Police in Sardis said they sent a notice through dispatch to tell his parole officer and notify the state, which would have been a parole violation.

We asked the Alabama Board Pardon and Parole Assistant Executive Director, Darrell Morgan, if Spencer fell through the cracks.

"Right now that's one of the things were reviewing and that's why this file is open to determine what notifications we receive from law enforcement of their contact with this individual," said Morgan.

Morgan explained what's supposed to happen when a parolee is arrested. It is the local jurisdiction's responsibility to notify the parole officer and ask if they want the parolee to be held. Morgan said part of their review will be looking at Spencer's parole officer.

"If there was notification sent out, did the officer receive it? Did the officer act accordingly? Those are the things we do in any kind of file review on a case like this," said Morgan.

Morgan told us the review of the Spencer case could take weeks. We asked him once their review is done if we could have it as well to show you, the public, but parole board documents are sealed. We are still going to file open records requests to see if we can obtain this review and look at the findings.

Jimmy Spencer was supposed to be serving a life sentence for crimes out of the Shoals. The Parole Board granted him freedom and he was let out in January. The parole board said Spencer had a positive conduct record while in prison, even though he escaped prison three times and assaulted another inmate, according to court documents.

They also said he had a low to medium chance of re-offending, despite the fact that he was already a career criminal. Spencer is now accused of murdering three people in Guntersville in July, only months after he was paroled.

While we were in Montgomery for the public parole hearings the board granted parole to two men convicted of murder and decided to keep a Huntsville man in prison for murder.

Willie Reeves, who was serving a 40 year sentence, for a murder out of Henry County was granted parole to a LifeTech Center. He's served 33 years of his sentence. His sister said during the hearings that Reeves was only a teen when the murder occurred and he would come live with her and get a job. Once Reeves is released he will go to the LifeTech Center for six months.

Marvin Bell was also paroled to LifeTech by the board, despite in person opposition from the Mobile County District Attorney's Office and the Attorney Generals Office. Bell was convicted for shooting a person execution style in Mobile County and sentenced in 2003 to a 20 year sentence. The Mobile County District Attorney's Office addressed the board saying Bell should serve everyday of his sentence, but was paroled anyways. Once he is out he will go to LifeTech for six months.

The parole board denied parole for Robert Brothers who was convicted of murder in Madison County. Huntsville police were there and asked the board to keep Brothers behind bars. He is serving a 30 year sentence and will have another parole hearing in 2020.English Norwegian

Orkla ASA has on 23 August 2018 bought 265,000 Orkla shares through broker at an average price of NOK 70.9132 per share.

Orkla's total holding of treasury shares after this transaction is 18,494,259 shares.

Orkla ASA

Oslo, 23 August 2018



Ref.:



IR & Communications Manager

Elise A. Heidenreich

Tel.: +47 951 41 147

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5 -12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.The map of Morgan County shows in blue where flood zones were previously defined and in red where they are defined now.

The change was official within the week but some homeowners told WAAY31 Sierra Phillips they had no idea this change was happening.

The Morgan County Engineering office told us homeowners within the new flood zones were notified months ago, but many people who we spoke to in this neighborhood in the new zones had no idea they could soon be responsible to have flood insurance

The price of that insurance depends on location, elevation and structure of the home

On Jenkins Court off of Highway 36, neighbors told WAAY right now most homes are abandoned, because of flood damage. They also said It doesn't surprise them this is now an official flood zone

The zone change is thanks to the use of more accurate technology, like Lidar, which uses a plane to get an in-air view of the land below.

These updates are federally mandated and homeowners all across Alabama might be seeing changes to their insurance requirements soon.

The Morgan County Engineering office told WAAY the changes to the flood zones don't necessarily mean anyone is more at risk for flooding. They just mean the zones are more accurate now.The Huntsville City School District may not need an audit to fix the financial issues the district is facing.

Alabama State Department of Education Finance staff are in Huntsville looking at the books right now.

The last time the state department of education came in to help the district with finances was 2011 when the district was $20 million in debt. The situation now is not that dire, but the state is back again to help.

David Rorex has two children in Huntsville City Schools. "I'm always concerned when I see a shortfall," said Rorex.

The shortfall is projected to be $16 million by the end of September 2019 if the district does nothing.

Right now the finance staffers in town from Montgomery are going over the books and will be able to identify where the district is spending too much money.

"It's accountants taking a look at everything and seeing where the mistakes are. It absolutely is, but it's not a formal audit. The formal audit takes months and months and months," said Huntsville City Board of Education President Elisa Ferrell.

Right now there is no timeline for when the state finance staff will determine where the district went wrong. What they find could determine whether the district does an audit or not.

"I think it depends on what they give us and that's a board decision, so if the board wants to move ahead we need to get prices," said Ferrell.

One board member wants an audit to be done no matter what and they would prefer the state send in an audit team.

"We need an audit and we need someone to come in who is unbiased, doesn't have any connections to the city schools," said Board Member Michelle Watkins.

WAAY 31 asked the state department of education in an email what the process would look like for a state run audit and if the state, or Huntsville City Schools, would pay for it, but we haven't gotten answers to our questions yet.

Rorex said its money well spent to do an audit to find out what happened and who is to blame.

"I think it would be better for the state to come in. It would just be a little more transparent," said Rorex.

According to Ferrell, budget cuts throughout the district could happen depending on what the state finance staff finds.English French

QUEBEC CITY, Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nemaska Lithium Inc. (Nemaska Lithium or the Corporation) (TSX: NMX) (OTCQX: NMKEF) (FRANKFURT: N0T) is pleased to confirm that Nemaska Lithium Shawinigan Transformation Inc., its wholly-owned subsidiary, has received a first payment of USD 75M from affiliates of Orion Mine Finance II LP (Orion) under the streaming agreement entered into on April 12, 2018 (the Streaming Agreement). Such payment represents the first tranche of the total advance payment equal to USD 150M to be made by Orion under the Streaming Agreement (see press release of April 12, 2018). The second USD 75M tranche will be payable upon the satisfaction of certain technical and other customary conditions that can be satisfied until December 31, 2019.



Guy Bourassa, President and CEO, commented, We welcome this first payment and look forward to working with Orion in the coming months to bring in the second tranche payment. We are also on track with the requirements to meet the conditions precedent to the Bond offerings Long Stop Date of August 30, 2018 (see press release of May 30, 2018 for full details). The project execution itself is moving forward in terms of, but not limited to, engineering and construction and we are bringing in the components of the project funding as needed.

This first tranche payment from Orion was the main remaining conditions precedent to the Long Stop Date. The gross proceeds of the Bond Offering currently sits into a USD escrow account pending the satisfaction of the last conditions precedent on or prior the Long Stop Date.

Stormcrow Capital acted as advisor to Nemaska Lithium and facilitated the Orion streaming transaction.

About Nemaska Lithium

Nemaska Lithium is a developing chemical company whose activities will be vertically integrated, from spodumene mining to the commercialization of high-purity lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate. These lithium salts are mainly destined for the fast-growing lithium-ion battery market, which is driven by the increasing demand for electric vehicles and energy storage worldwide. With its products and processes, Nemaska Lithium intends to facilitate access to green energy.

The Corporation will be operating the Whabouchi mine in Quebec, Canada, one of the richest lithium spodumene deposits in the world, both in volume and grade. The spodumene concentrate produced at the Whabouchi mine will be processed at the Shawinigan plant using a unique membrane electrolysis process for which the Corporation holds several patents.

Nemaska Lithium is a member of the S&P/TSX SmallCap Index, S&P/TSX Global Mining Index, S&P/TSX Global Base Metals Index, S&P/TSX Equal Weight Global Base Metals Index, and the MSCI Canada Small Cap Index. For more information, visit nemaskalithium.com or twitter.com/Nemaska_Lithium.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release including, but not limited to, those relating to the Corporation bringing all the funding needed to execute the project, constitute "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of certain securities laws and are based on expectations and projections as of the date of this press release. Certain important assumptions by the Corporation in making forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the Corporation receiving all proceeds from the Streaming Agreement and the Bond offering.

Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, without limitation, those related to (i) the receipt by the Corporation of the second USD 75M tranche from the Streaming Agreement, (ii) the satisfaction of the conditions precedent to the Long Stop Date, (iii) the project moving on track, and (iv) generally, the above "About Nemaska Lithium" paragraph which essentially describes the Corporation's outlook. Forward-looking statements are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the time of this press release. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Corporation as of the time of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. These estimates and assumptions may prove to be incorrect.

Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can directly or indirectly affect, and could cause, actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that the Corporation will meet all requirements to the Long Stop Date and will receive the second USD 75M tranche from the Streaming Agreement, as future events could differ materially what is currently anticipated by the Corporation.

By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved or that assumptions do not reflect future experience. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's endeavors to complete its project financing and, more generally, its expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as a number of important risk factors and future events could cause the actual outcomes to differ materially from the beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations, anticipations, estimates, assumptions and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those made in our other filings with the securities regulators of Canada including, but not limited to, the cautionary statements made in the "Risk Factors" section of the Corporation's Annual Information Form dated October 5, 2017 and the "Risk Exposure and Management" section of the Corporation's quarterly Management Discussion & Analysis. The Corporation cautions that the foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive, and new, unforeseeable risks may arise from time to time. The Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law.

Further information regarding Nemaska Lithium is available in the SEDAR database (www.sedar.com) and on the Corporation's website at: www.nemaskalithium.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Victor Cantore

Investor Relations

514 831-3809

victor.cantore@nemaskalithium.com



Fanny-Eve Tapp

Media Relations

514 442-0445

fanny-eve.tapp@nemaskalithium.com Wanda Cutler

Investor Relations

416 303-6460

wanda.cutler@nemaskalithium.com





www.nemaskalithium.comVANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aton Resources Inc. (AAN: TSX-V) (Aton or the Company") is pleased to provide investors with an update on exploration activities at the Rodruin prospect at the Companys 100% owned Abu Marawat Concession (Abu Marawat or the Concession), located in the Eastern Desert of Egypt.



Highlights:

Channel sampling of drill access road cuttings and pads, currently under construction ahead of the upcoming RC drilling programme, is ongoing at Rodruin;



Channel sample profile ROC-009 has returned a mineralised intersection of 39m @ 3.62 g/t Au and 5.44% Zn , and was mineralised along its whole length. The presence of extensive cover suggests the potential for more extensive subcropping mineralisation at Rodruin than has been previously identified at surface;



and , and was mineralised along its whole length. The presence of extensive cover suggests the potential for more extensive subcropping mineralisation at Rodruin than has been previously identified at surface; Capital Drilling have now mobilised all their equipment to site ahead of the drilling programme, which is now scheduled to start on August 27, 2018.

This is another exciting set of new assay results to add to the Companys recent successes. It is anticipated that the initial drilling at Rodruin will continue to add value to shareholders. said Mark Campbell, President and CEO. These results add to the substantial potential at Rodruin for the discovery of a significant gold deposit, given the extraordinary number of high grade gold mineralised showings in the immediate area. Each regional prospecting programme at Abu Marawat conducted over the last two years has returned with further evidence of widespread precious metal mineralisation in the Concession, while Rodruin has become our primary exploration focus. While conclusions as to the economic potential of the Rodruin prospect obviously cannot be drawn from the initial work, the results are certainly encouraging given our strategy for Rodruin as a whole; to identify a high grade gold deposit potentially suitable for early development at low capital cost. I am also very pleased to advise that our aggressive drilling program at Rodruin will commence next week.

Channel sampling at Rodruin

During the ongoing drill access road construction works a programme of surface channel sampling to test potential mineralisation exposed in the road cuttings was commenced. To date 16 channel profiles have been sampled (ROC-002 to ROC-017). For full details of sampling procedures please refer to the news release dated August 7, 2018. Samples from the channel sampling programme were crushed to -4mm at the Companys onsite sample preparation facility at Hamama, with c. 500g splits shipped to ALS Minerals at Rosia Montana, Romania for analysis. Samples were analysed for gold by fire assay using analytical code Au-AA23; and silver, copper, lead and zinc with an aqua regia digest followed by an atomic absorption spectroscopy finish (analytical code AA45). High grade gold samples (>10 g/t Au) were re-analysed using analytical code Au-AA25; and high grade Ag and base metal samples (Ag >100 g/t, and Cu, Pb, and Zn >10,000ppm or >1%) were routinely re-analysed using the ore grade technique AA46.

The first 7 profiles ROC-002 to ROC-008 (see Figure 1) in the Aladdins Hill area were all mineralised with gold and zinc (see news release dated August 7, 2018), and returned significant intersections including 25.5 m @ 4.74 g/t Au (profile ROC-004). Further assay results will be released as they become available.

Figure 1: Schematic geological plan of the Aladdins Hill area, showing the location of drill access roads, drill pads and channel sample profiles ROC-002 to ROC-009 is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/60893fa7-c25c-447b-85c6-d3c18842b6ed

Figure 2: The South Ridge at Rodruin, viewed from the northwest, showing drill access roads and pads, and the location of channel sample profile ROC-009 is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9b346c39-b7b9-49fe-abaa-91c30e61ca15

New assay results have now been received from channel profile ROC-009 (see Figures 1 and 2), located to the northeast of Aladdins Hill. Using a cut-off grade of 0.5 g/t Au the whole 39m length of the sampled profile was mineralised, with the profile returning a total mineralised intersection of 39m @ 3.62 g/t Au and 5.44% Zn. The Au-Zn mineralisation is associated with gossanous carbonates and altered slates, as at Aladdins Hill. Full intersection assay details are presented in Table 1. Sampling was terminated at the southeastern end of the profile due to cemented scree and talus covering the mineralised bedrock in the sampled road cutting. Cemented scree and talus covers much of the northern flank of the South Ridge, and has been mapped to a vertical thickness of greater than 4 metres in drill pads excavated further along the road from profile ROC-009 (see Figure 2). At the northwestern end of the ROC-009 profile the bedrock was partially obscured by mineralised waste and tailings from ancient workings in the hillside above the sample profile, and sampling was therefore again terminated.



Profile ID Length (m) From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Cu (%) Pb (%) Zn (%) ROC-009 39.0 0.0 39.0 39.0 3.62 3.97 0.37 0.08 5.44

Table 1: Mineralised intersection from channel sample profile ROC-009

Aton is very encouraged by the assay results from channel profile ROC-009, which is located approximately 130m to the northeast of the main ancient workings at Aladdins Hill, and believes that there is excellent potential for the development of significant additional mineralisation between these areas. The fact that much of the northern flank of the South Ridge is covered by cemented scree and talus is potentially very significant, as this cover is likely to mask previously unidentified subcropping mineralisation.

Figure 3: Abu Marawat regional geology, showing the location of the Rodruin prospect is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a6a57439-0793-4eae-bebd-84f0ba9cef23

The Rodruin prospect was discovered in December 2017 by Aton geologists (see news release dated December 14, 2017), and is located approximately 18km east of the Companys Hamama West mineral deposit (see Figure 3). Field mapping and sampling has indicated the presence of ancient mine workings and extensive gold mineralisation over an area of at least 700m x 400m at surface. Abundant visible gold has been and continues to be identified in hand specimens from surface outcrops, and ancient dumps and underground workings, with individual selective grab samples assaying up to 321 g/t Au. The main series of extensive ancient underground workings in the Aladdins Hill area (see Figure 1) has also been sampled to a depth of approximately 40m below ground level, indicating continuation of the surface mineralisation at depth (see news releases dated February 6, 2018, March 5, 2018 and April 16, 2018).

Construction of the initial drill access roads and pads in the Aladdins Hill area has now largely been completed, ahead of the upcoming reverse circulation percussion (RC) drill programme. Construction of further drill access roads and pads to access other mineralised zones is continuing. Capital Drillings track-mounted Gemrok MP-1000 multi-purpose rig, which is capable of both RC and diamond drilling, has arrived onsite, and Capital have now mobilised all ancillary equipment and consumables to the Rodruin camp (see news release dated August 21, 2018). Aton now anticipate that drilling will commence on 27 August, 2018. The first phase of drilling is planned to consist of approximately 4,000 metres of RC drilling, and will primarily test the main zone of ancient workings and mapped mineralisation in the Aladdins Hill area, and is expected to take about 6 weeks to complete. The first assay results are expected in the second half of September 2018.

About Aton Resources Inc.

Aton Resources Inc. (AAN: TSX-V) is focused on its 100% owned Abu Marawat Concession (Abu Marawat), located in Egypts Arabian-Nubian Shield, approximately 200km north of Centamins Sukari gold mine. Aton has identified a 40km long gold mineralised trend at Abu Marawat, anchored by the Hamama deposit in the west and the Abu Marawat deposit in the east, containing numerous gold exploration targets, including three historic British mines. Aton has identified several distinct geological trends within Abu Marawat, which display potential for the development of RIRG and orogenic gold mineralisation, VMS precious and base metal mineralisation, and epithermal-IOCG precious and base metal mineralisation. Abu Marawat is over 738km2 in size and is located in an area of excellent infrastructure; a four-lane highway, a 220kV power line, and a water pipeline are in close proximity.

Qualified Person

The technical information contained in this News Release was prepared by Javier Orduna BSc (hons), MSc, MCSM, DIC, MAIG, SEG(M), FGS, Exploration Manager of Aton Resources Inc. Mr. Orduna is a qualified person (QP) under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

For further information regarding Aton Resources Inc., please visit us at www.atonresources.com or contact:

Mark Campbell

President and Chief Executive Officer

Tel: +202-27356548

Email: mcampbell@atonresources.com

Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements contained in this release are forward-looking statements. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions; by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results in each case could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.SEATTLE, Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Diego Pellicer Worldwide, Inc. (OTCQB: DPWW), the premium marijuana brand and retail development company, today announced its financial results for the fiscal 2018 second quarter ended June 30, 2018. The company reported a net income of $1,010,752 for the six months ended June 30, 2018, and a net loss of $849,894 for the quarter ended June 30, 2018.

Its been a year of expansion  both in Colorado where we currently do business, and now were conducting due diligence and actively exploring real estate and upscale branding opportunities in California, the largest cannabis markets in the United States, said Ron Throgmartin, chief executive officer of Diego Pellicer Worldwide, Inc. To accelerate this development, we formed a new management company to set carefully selected operators up for success, while providing a continuous revenue stream for Diego Pellicer Worldwide, Inc.

In July, Diego Pellicer Worldwide, Inc. announced a second store location in Denver and is currently working on the design and build-out with world-renowned architect Michael Rotondi, FAIA and original Apple store creative team member Jill Savini. Earlier this month, Diego Pellicer Worldwide, Inc. formed Diego Pellicer Management Company to license the upscale Diego Pellicer brand to qualified operators while providing expertise in retail, product and manufacturing from its accomplished executive team with extensive industry experience. As part of its management and premium branding program, Diego Pellicer Worldwide, Inc. receives royalty payments from all operators under the Diego umbrella.

Diego Pellicer Worldwide, Inc.s full second quarter 2018 10-Q filing is available on the companys investor site at Diego-Pellicer.com,

http://compliance-sec.com/secfilings/company/DPWW/filings.html.

About Diego Pellicer Worldwide, Inc. (OTCQB: DPWW)

Diego Pellicer Worldwide, Inc. is the premium marijuana brand and retail development company. The company actively seeks, develops and leases legally compliant real estate, including turnkey cultivation and processing facilities as well as high-end, branded retail stores to licensed marijuana operators. When federally legal, DPWW is positioned to become a national, vertically integrated marijuana company. To learn more about how to become a branded Diego Pellicer retailer, cultivator or investor visit www.Diego-Pellicer.com .

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain statements contained in this press release may be construed as "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"). The words "estimate," "project," "intends," "expects," "anticipates," "believes" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management pursuant to the "safe-harbor" provisions of the Act. These statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected on the basis of these statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company also undertakes no obligation to disclose any revision to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.SMITHTOWN, NY, Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE -- iGambit, Inc. (OTCBB: IGMB) is pleased to announce the company has signed an exclusive contract with Device Distributors, LLC, to expand its health monitoring and reporting system into Brazil, Argentina, and throughout South and Central America.



Device Distributors will represent iGambit subsidiary HealthDatix in the territory to facilitate the introduction of cloud data and trend data tracking, reporting, and analysis systems supported by HealthDatixs wearable medical monitor, the BioDatix Health Band.

The BioDatix Health Band offers round-the-clock monitoring, passively collecting data on heart rate, blood pressure, blood oxygen, sleep, and steps/distance/calories, without affecting the patients routine. The device delivers accurate, real-time syncing of data to the HealthDatix platform for use by the clients Care Team of Professionals, Caregivers, Physicians and their staffs, and is also designed to reduce the time from a BioDatix Health Band wearers medical incident to the application of often lifesaving treatments.

BioDatix Health Band transmits data to an FDA certified back-end application, to produce trend reports and alerts. Identified out of limit or unusual baselines can be reported by HealthDatix to the clients Care Team. The Care Team professionals can receive alerts and send messages to any or all of the Wearer, Caregiver, Physicians, and Physicians staff to facilitate better user engagement in managing their overall health.

Our new enhanced health monitoring Health Band offers strategic synergies in multiple markets, e.g. health care management, chronic health conditions, fitness, reducing costs in employee wellness programs and self-insured companies, private self-monitoring, and importantly the continuous real time monitoring of an employees health who performs work which has the potential for a major disaster e.g. train conductors, airplane pilots, truck drivers, etc.

The global wearable medical devices market size was valued at USD 3.9 billion in 2014 and is expected to grow with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 28% over the forecast period. Increasing demand for technologically advanced wearable medical devices, rising awareness regarding physical fitness, the advent of new smartphone-linked healthcare applications, and growing demand for wireless connectivity in the healthcare industry are the key factors propelling the overall industry.

John Salerno, Chairman of iGambit stated: This partnership is an important step that will expand the market reach of HealthDatix, and create additional value for our customers and our stockholders. Device Distributors will provide the infrastructure to address the particular needs of institutional, legal, and logistic challenges in Brazil, Argentina, and throughout South and Central America.

About HealthDatix

The achievement of longer healthy lives for the population at large is our mission. Within any population there are some that are apparently healthy and some that are at risk. Consistent with our mission, we aggregate data and deliver accurate Information to a caregiver who must make vital decisions on a course of treatment for those at risk. Just as importantly however, is that the health data we collect from the apparently healthy group is compiled into historical data reports available to an attending physician during a clients office visit or telephone conference. The Caregiver for both the at risk and apparently healthy populations will no longer only have available a snapshot of health monitoring readings during an office visit which can be misleading at best but also a patients vital signs over the course of a desired period of time.

We are also helping to shape the future of our nations health care system with robust leveraging of technology that enhances our ability to deliver value based healthcare to all populations without employing additional staff or additional burdens on the Caregivers. Our proprietary data analytics management facilitates the conducting of, and fully utilizing, the new opportunities inherent in the Wellness Visit program. For more information regarding the Wellness Visits and 24/7/365 monitoring of clients with chronic conditions, please visit www.healthdatix.com

About Device Distributors, LLC

Device Distributors brings new technologies and data systems to business and institutional customers in Brazil, Argentina and throughout South and Central America. The company buys, brokers, and provides logistics, customs, and licensing support to enable clients to take advantage of cloud innovations, revolutionary medical devices, and consumer electronics that promote health and fitness. For more information, please visit www.devicedistributors.com.

iGambit (OTCBB: IGMB) is a fully reporting publicly-held company. For more information, please visit www.igambit.com. Information on our web site does not comprise a part of this press release.

Safe Harbor:

Certain statements and information included in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Federal Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words or phrases "will likely result," "expected to," "will continue," "anticipated," "estimate," "projected," "intends," or similar expressions are intended to identify "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to certain risks, known and unknown, and uncertainties, including but not limited to, economic conditions, dependence on management, dilution to shareholders, lack of capital changes in laws or regulations, the effects of rapid growth upon the Company and the ability of management to effectively respond to the growth, demand for products and services of the Company, newly developing technologies, its ability to compete, conflicts of interest related to party transactions, regulatory matters, protection of technology, lack of industry standards, the effects of competition, and the ability of the Company to obtain additional financing. Such factors could materially adversely affect the Company's financial performance and could cause the Company's actual results for future periods to differ materially from any opinions or statements expressed within this press release.



Unprecedented Gathering of Marketers and Digital Experience Pros Share Insights for Optimizing the Journey at Fifth Annual User Conference



BOSTON, Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Acquia today announced registration is open for its annual North American user conference, Acquia Engage . Austin, Texas, will serve as host city for this years annual gathering, which is the premier event for the leaders in digital. With the theme of Optimize the Journey, this years program will provide actionable insights and lessons from practitioners that aim to inspire and guide the changemakers in digital transformation who attend the conference.

Acquia Engage gathers an unprecedented audience of marketing, technical and business leaders, all of whom are tasked with creating powerful digital experiences for customers, said Acquia CMO Lynne Capozzi. Our conference program is focused on empowering attendees with the information they need to bring innovative, scalable digital solutions to market. Every attendee will leave Austin inspired by the work of their peers and ready to tackle the greatest customer experience challenges facing brands today.

Extending the theme of Optimize the Journey will be mainstage presenter and celebrated adventurer Erik Weihenmayer , who in 2001 became the first blind person in history to climb Mount Everest and all of the Seven Summits  the tallest peak on each of the seven continents. His best-selling memoir Touch the Top of the World, was made into a feature film. His latest book No Barriers dives into the heart and mind at the core of the turbulent human experience.

The agenda also features speakers from the American Medical Association, AMD, Panasonic, Pegasystems, Nestle Purina North America, UL, Voya Financial, Wendys, Workfront and more, all of whom will showcase winning strategies for optimizing the customer journey. Acquia CEO Mike Sullivan and Acquia Co-founder and CTO Dries Buytaert will be among the Acquia executives featured throughout the conference. The conference agenda features hands-on best practices sessions, technical and executive business sessions all focused on helping organizations succeed with their digital initiatives.

Attendees are invited to participate in one of three pre-conference workshops on Wednesday, November 7. Workshops include Driving Engagement Throughout the Customer Journey , Building for the Future of Digital Experiences , and Enabling Accessibility . Advance registration is required for pre-conference workshops, which are expected to sell out. A full slate of Acquia Certification exams will also be offered at discounted rates throughout the conference.

Acquia Engage once again features a world-leading collection of agencies, web development companies, system integrators, and technology providers with whom attendees can network in the Acquia Partner Pavilion. Acquia Engage is presented by Diamond sponsor VML and Platinum sponsor MRM//McCann . Breakout session sponsors include FFW , Hero Digital , HS2 , Mediacurrent , Mirum , Siteimprove . Joining these sponsors are digital agency and technology partners including: Blue Fountain Media , Digital Echidna , Elevated Third , EPAM , GeekHive , Horizontal Integration , ICF Olson , ImageX , Phase2 , Palantir.net , R2I , Srijan , TechAspect , Third & Grove , and Wunderman .

This years agenda also features mainstage appearances from winners of the annual Acquia Engage Awards , sharing their lessons learned and best practices for success. The awards celebrate the creative and technical mastery of Acquia partners and customers. Award finalists will be announced on September 10. Winners will be revealed prior to the conference.

Special pricing for lodging at the Fairmont Austin is available to registered attendees through October 10. For more information and to register, see http://engage.acquia.com .

About Acquia

Acquia is the open source digital experience company. We provide the worlds most ambitious brands with technology that allows them to embrace innovation and create customer moments that matter. At Acquia, we believe in the power of community - giving our customers the freedom to build tomorrow on their terms. To learn more, visit acquia.com .

All logos, company and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.by Richard Coulson

First published in The Tribune...

The disputed future of the Grand Lucayan Hotel complex is more than a business debate. It could well mark the opening political shot for control of the FNM. Incumbent Prime Minster Hubert Minnis and predecessor Hubert Ingraham have each visibly tied his flag to a radically different solution for the hotels continued viability - and the future of Grand Bahama.

Grand Lucayan Hotel is no ordinary commercial ventureit symbolises Grand Bahamas success or failure as a tourist destination. Actually three linked hotels (two closed and Lighthouse Point struggling), it provides the back-bone of the islands guest room supply. Although the Freeport Zone enjoys a successful industrial segment, a dynamic tourist industry remains essential for economic growth, affecting cruise ships, airlift, transportation and real estate.

Prime Minister Minnis has now formally announced his government will buy Grand Lucayan.

Both he and Tourism Minister DAguilar make no bones about loathing this decision since they agree Government should not be in the hotel business. It was the best of bad choices, necessary to avoid closure of Lighthouse Point, which would not only throw 400 hotel workers on the dole but destroy most demand for Port Lucaya, the bustling complex of restaurants, bars, music and retail shops oriented towards both visitors and locals. The one remaining hotel, privately-owned boutique Pelican Bay, operates smoothly, but cannot by itself support a a thriving Port Lucaya.

Mr DAguilar fears a repeat of the Royal Oasis catastrophe, when that once premier hotel closed from hurricane damage in 2004 and never reopened, dragging down the related casino and the International Bazaar, the once colourful shopping district, now a ghost town blighting central Freeport.

Government has been dealing with two uncooperative parties. Hutchison Whampoa, dominant over much of Freeport, never showed any enthusiasm for the business of its hotel subsidiary. Instead of upgrades and maintenance, it has focused solely on the negative step of selling Grand Lucayan for a non-negotiable $65m. The only potential buyer was Canadas Paul Wynn, who after months of expressed interest, walked away from his non-binding Heads of Agreement, preferring to set up on Nassaus Cable Beach, leaving Dr Minnis as the abandoned bride at the altar.

Dr Minnis firm-jawed decision to buy Lucayan has one major flaw: nobody knows how it will be done. He admitted there is no timeline, merely that the public will be told all upon closure. Bluntly, that means he has not the foggiest plan what the next steps may be. Closure could be months or years down the road.

One scenario might go like this: Government provides enough current cash to keep Lighthouse Point open on a shoe-string basis. It makes a $25m cash down - payment (available from the budget) to Hutchison, who grants a purchase-money mortgage loan for the balance. It then must find a reputable, experienced hotel company prepared to lease or manage the operation  or even buy it outright. On the strength of that name, it borrows the minimum $50m needed to restore the hospitality group to presentable shape for modern tourism. Simultaneously, it negotiates with airlines and travel agencies to assure enough tourism supply for this questionable destination.

Clearly, these steps will demand financial and business expertise of the highest order and cannot be accomplished overnight.

Meanwhile, the Lucaya area will stagnate and Grand Bahamas many other problems will be on the back burner. Its not surprising Dr Minnis decision has met sharp criticism.

It certainly opened the door for Mr Ingraham to veto the hotel purchase and propose a far more ambitious strategy for growth, one that would revolutionise how Freeport and Grand Bahama are governed.

His manifesto calls for Government to buy out the interests of the St George and Hayward families in the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) and all their other holdings like DevCo and the Harbour and Airport Companies, acting jointly with a financially capable strategic partner and Bahamian investors.

In effect, the GBPA and the Hawksbill Creek Agreement would vanish. Government and its private partners would establish a new entity heavily managed and directed by private experts.

Since the death of business leader Edward St George in 2004, the GBPA has floundered, and Mr Ingraham argues that present management by the two families heirs, though well-meaning, is simply incapable of generating the new investments needed for economic resurrection. Grand Bahama needs a reset, he summarises.

Much remains to be filled out in Mr Ingrahams strategy. Government itself certainly does not have the funds to compel a buy-out from the reluctant St George and Hayward families, as Hubert knows. But he seems confident of finding the financially capable strategic partner to bankroll the deal. Is he already talking with one? What incentives would it demand? How would it coordinate with Government objectives? Where would the new Bahamian investors fit?

Holding no Government position, as an independent, well-connected lawyer with a cadre of willing advisors, Mr Ingraham is free to explore all possibilities. If he can produce a viable scheme to re-energise Grand Bahama, the present administration will have no choice but to listen.

Enjoying a higher level of personal popularity than the often verbally disadvantaged Prime Minister still suffering from his Oban missteps, Papa Ingraham may find himself once again a major political figure.

Mr. Coulson has had a long career in law, investment banking and private banking in New York, London, and Nassau, and now serves as director of several financial concerns and as a corporate financial consultant. He has recently released his autobiography, A Corkscrew Life: Adventures of a Travelling Financier.According to a petition on change.org, after investing in premises and equipment for a unique fast-food outlet in Marsh Harbour, Abaco, Shay Russell has apparently been denied permission to establish the business by the Marsh Harbour Township Committee.

This prevents the owner getting utilities connected and her business license.

This is just more proof that the governing bodies of The Bahamas stifle economic growth rather than encourage it.

Meanwhile vendors set up under tents wherever and whenever they please. Go figure.

Furthermore, it is criminal to make people invest in premises and equipment before one can apply for a license only to be turned down.

Please help Ms. Russell get her license to operate by signing and sharing her petition at change.org. Click here...By West Kentucky Star Staff Aug. 23, 2018 | 11:58 AM | PADUCAH





United Airlines is adding another round-trip flight from Paducah to Chicago's O'Hare airport using Skywest Airlines.Barkley Regional Airport Authority Chairman of the Board Jay Page announced the additional flight at a press conference Thursday morning.Page said, "Beginning January 7, United Airlines, operated by Skywest will be adding an additional flight to Chicago O'Hare, Monday through Friday. These flights are now bookable through United.com and by calling United Airlines."A simultaneous press event was held in Cape Girardeau, since the new flight will stop in southeast Missouri along the way.According to the United Airlines website, the new flight will depart Paducah at 10:55 a.m., stop in Cape Girardeau briefly, then arrive in Chicago at 1:40 p.m. The return flight will leave O'Hare at 2 p.m., stop in Cape, then arrive in Paducah at 4:43 p.m.Recent existing flights to and from Chicago have had record numbers of passengers, according to Page."Since United Express, operated by Skywest, began service to Chicago in 2010, our ridership has increased by nearly 20 percent. In 2017 nearly 42,000 passengers arrived and departed from Barkley Regional Airport," Page said. "We believe that level of growth, along with several other factors, have made today possible. For that we'd like to thank everyone who's flown out of Barkley Regional Airport in the past eight years, and we look for continued growth in 2019."Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce President Sandra Wilson applauded the news, saying it was also local officials' close relationship with the airlines and federal government that made the new service possible."This is great news for our region. I think it shows most of all how important relationships and partnerships are. When you talk about the relationship that we have with the Department of Transportation, Skywest and United, all of that comes together to make a difference for your community." Wilson said.Wilson also thanked Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao for helping secure funding to make the new flights possible.Email To : Multiple e-mail addresses must be separated with a comma character(maximum 200 characters) Email To is required.

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Your Email Address: Your Email Address is required.By West Kentucky Star Staff Aug. 22, 2018 | 04:58 PM | BENTON, IL





A southern Illinois woman was indicted Wednesday in federal court on methamphetamine-related charges.According the the southern Illinois office of the US Attorney's office, 33-year-old Anna Rose Sullivan of Metropolis was indicted August 7 on eight charges. Seven charges are for distributing more than 5 grams of meth, and one is for possession of meth.Documents say the alleged crimes took place in Massac County in 2017 and 2018.Sullivan entered a not guilty plea on August 21, and her trial is set for October 22 in Federal Court in Benton.If convicted, Sullivan could be sentenced to between 5 and 40 years in prison, a maximum fine of $5 million, and a minimum of four years supervised release on each of the distribution charges. On the possession charge, Sullivan could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of 1 million and at least three years of supervised release.Advertisement

By West Kentucky Star Staff

Aug. 22, 2018 | BENTON

By West Kentucky Star Staff Aug. 22, 2018 | 06:33 PM | BENTON

Gov. Matt Bevin and the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet have approved more than $192,000 in grants to provide victim services in Marshall County, where students and families are recovering from January's school shooting.



The funds, available through the federal Victims of Crime Act, are part of two separate grants approved Tuesday by Gov. Bevin.



The first grant will provide $175,834 for a floating advocate to work with prosecutors and victims and help bridge service gaps in the area. The

Kentucky Office of Victims Advocacy is administering the project.



The second grant  $17,147 for Four Rivers Behavioral Health  will pay for emergency crisis counseling for students, school staff, families and first responders.



Since the tragedy in January, the Justice Cabinet has channeled more than $348,000 in VOCA funds to crisis and advocacy centers in Marshall County.



The shooting at Marshall County High School claimed the lives of two students and injured 18 others. Approximately 300 students and 25 school staff members were reportedly within range to see or hear the attack.



In addition, the Justice Cabinets Grants Management Branch estimates that close to 1,375 individuals were immediately impacted by the violence, including first responders and friends and family members of the victims.



Gov. Bevin also joined with U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos earlier this month to announce a $138,000 Project School Emergency Response to Violence grant for the high school, which is assisting with recovery and student support efforts.Miami, FL, Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HistoryMiami Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate in Downtown Miami, announced today the revolutionary Spitz projector that brought the galaxy to Miami audiences for decades at the former Miami Science Museum is now on view at HistoryMiami.

The beloved giant Spitz Model B Space Transit Projector is one of only 12 made and consists of 5,600 holes, many so small they are invisible to the naked eye. Its sheer size, standing nearly 14 feet high, wowed Miami audiences for years before it was retired in 2015 when the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science shut its doors and moved to its new facility in Museum Park. Now it shines bright in Miami once again.

This projector has a fascinating history here in South Florida. For six decades it allowed Miamians to immerse themselves in outer space. We are thrilled to preserve it and shine a new light on its history, HistoryMiami Museum Executive Director Jorge Zamanillo said. This is a true wonder of technology and a beloved artifact in the Miami community. We know it will continue to awe audiences for years to come.

The projector, which cost the science museum $131,825 in 1963 (more than $1 million in today's dollars), was the first of its kind to be computer-controlled. The projector rotated on three axes and was capable of projecting the stars from any point in the solar systemgiving visitors a view of the night sky that they had previously never experienced.

The Spitz projector at our former location in Coconut Grove was beloved by those that visited and we are honored this piece of history has found a new home in Miami, said Frank Steslow, President & CEO at the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science. We thank the team at HistoryMiami for their support and hope the projector will continue to inspire and motivate generations to come.

Along with the projector, visitors will view posters from the shows presented at the Space Transit Planetarium during the 1960s and 1970s.

HistoryMiami Museum is supported by the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museum, HistoryMiami is also sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.

Museum Hours & Fees: Hours: Tuesday  Saturday, 10:00am  5:00pm; Sunday, 12:00pm  5:00pm; Monday, closed.

Regular museum admission: $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and students with ID, $5 for children 6-12, and free for museum members and children under 6.

About HistoryMiami Museum:

HistoryMiami Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate, is the premier cultural institution committed to gathering, organizing, preserving and celebrating Miamis history as the unique crossroads of the Americas. We accomplish this through education, collections, research, exhibitions, publications and City Tours. Located in the heart of downtown Miami, HistoryMiami Museum is a 70,000 square foot facility and home to more than one million historical images and 30,000 three-dimensional artifacts, including a 1920s trolley car, artifacts from Pan American World Airways, and rafts that brought refugees to Miami. For more information, call 305-375-1492 or visit historymiami.org. HistoryMiami Museum is located at 101 W Flagler St, Miami, FL 33130.

About the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science (Frost Science):

Located in Downtown Miamis Museum Park, the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science is a leading science museum dedicated to sharing the power of science, sparking wonder and investigation, and fueling innovation for the future. Sitting on four acres, the 250,000-square-foot museum is divided into four buildings: the Frost Planetarium, Aquarium, and the North and West Wings. At Frost Science, visitors can explore the world of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in an experiential setting with interactive exhibitions and unique shows. Frost Science is supported by the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners of Miami-Dade County. This project is supported by the Building Better Communities Bond Program and the City of Miami. It is sponsored, in part, by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. The museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and a member of the Association of Science and Technology Centers. Learn more at frostscience.org. Follow Frost Science on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @frostscience.

AttachmentTHE SBI IS INVESTIGATING; SUMO JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE 75 PER CENT DESTROYED BY FIRE THURSDAY MORNING

THE FIRE MARSHAL CONFIRMED FOR WHKP NEWS THURSDAY AFTERNOON THAT ABOUT 75 PER CENT OF THE BUILDING WAS DESTROYED BY THE FIRE THAT BROKE OUT IN THE ASHEVILLE HIGHWAY STEAKHOUSE JUST BEFORE 5 AM THURSDAY MORNING.

THE FIRE MARSHAL ALSO CONFIRMED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE STATE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION AND THE HENDERSONVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT ALONG WITH THE LOCAL FIRE MARSHAL.

THE FIRE MARSHAL SAID NO ONE WAS IN THE BUILDING AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE, AND NONE OF THE NEARBY BUILDINGS WERE DAMAGED BY THE SUMO FIRE.

FROM THURSDAY MORNING REPORTS:

TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC WERE OPEN AGAIN AS OF 7:30 AM ON THE ASHEVILLE HIGHWAY. ALL LANES HAD BEEN SHUT DOWN AND ASHEVILLE HIGHWAY TRAFFIC HAD BEEN DIVERTED EARLIER AFTER FIREMEN RESPONDED TO A FIRE THAT STARTED JUST BEFORE 5 AM AT THE STEAKHOUSE. FIREMEN SAID THAT FIRE HOSES HAD BEEN STRETCHED ACROSS THE ASHEVILLE HIGHWAY.

SUMO JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE IS LOCATED WHERE HARDEE'S ONCE WAS ON ASHEVILLE HIGHWAY.

FIRE CHIEF JOSEPH VINDIGNI TOLD WHKP NEWS THAT FIREMEN WERE CLEANING UP, PUTTING OUT HOT SPOTS, AND BEING SURE THERE ARE NO MORE DANGEROUS AREAS AFTER GETTING THE FIRE UNDER CONTROL.

THE CHIEF SAID THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE DONE TO THE RESTAURANT. IT'S TOO EARLY TO GIVE A MORE ACCURATE ESTIMATE OF THE DAMAGE, HE SAID.

THE CHIEF SAID THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED...THEIR INVESTIGATION INTO THE CAUSE IS JUST GETTING UNDERWAY.

VALLEY HILL AND MOUNTAIN HOME FIRE AND RESCUE DEPARTMENTS ALSO RESPONDED TO THE FIRE WITH MUTUAL AID ALONG WITH EMS, THE RESCUE SQUAD, AND HENDERSONVILLE POLICE.

CHIEF VINDIGNI TOLD WHKP NEWS HE'D HAVE MORE DETAILS LATER ONCE THEIR INVESTIGATION INTO THE FIRE GETS FURTHER ALONG. SO STAY TUNED.

By Larry FreemanEffingham, IL, Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Heartland Dental, the largest dental support organization in the country, today announced the opening of a support office in Indianapolis for non-clinical, accounting positions. Open since Jul. 16, Heartland Dental is actively recruiting for open positions at this location.

Our growth trajectory demands that we increase the level of assistance that we provide to our supported dentists, said Patrick Bauer, Heartland Dental President and Chief Executive Officer. We are excited to announce our first regional support office outside of our Effingham headquarters. Indianapolis is the first additional office, and we may add others. But no timetable has been set.

Since its inception in 1997, Heartland Dental has grown to support more than 850 dental offices, 1,200 dentists, and 11,000 employees. The companys Strategic Plan calls for increasing the number of supported dentists and dental offices that comprise the Companys operations. Therefore, a regionalized model for administrative support functions, like accounting for example, was most suitable. No timetable has been set for opening additional support offices in other cities.

Its incredibly gratifying to be positioned to build upon the value that we create for supported dentists, said Rick Workman, DMD, Founder and Executive Chairman of Heartland Dental. Indianapolis is the first installation of regional support outside of our headquarters. But Effingham is where it all started, and it will continue to be the heart of Heartland Dental.

About Heartland Dental

Heartland Dental is the largest dental support organization in the United States with more than 850 supported dental offices located in 35 states. Based in Effingham, Illinois and founded by Rick Workman, DMD, Heartland Dental offers supported dentists and team members continuing professional education and leadership training, along with a variety of non-clinical administrative services including staffing, employee relations, procurement, administration, financial, marketing assistance, and information technology. For more information, visit www.Heartland.com. Follow Heartland Dental on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.Boston, Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UbiCare, a health technology company that helps hospitals activate, engage and educate patients throughout a care episode, congratulates our 12 hospital clients who made the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals list for 201819.





These hospitals use UbiCares SmarteXp technology to activate patients, lower care costs and improve patient outcomes.

It makes sense that hospitals using innovative patient engagement solutions are also being honored as Best Hospitals, says UbiCare Executive Vice President Debra Zalvan. Healthcare leaders today are focusing on programs that drive value enterprise-wide, and patient activation technology is one of the ways that hospitals are doing this.

U.S. News evaluated more than 5,000 hospitals and awarded winners in a variety of categories. The 12 awardees working with UbiCare break down as follows:

3 made the Honor Roll  a category reserved for the top 20 overall hospitals nationwide.



7 were honored as Best Childrens Hospitals, and these hospitals all work with UbiCare in the obstetrics, maternal health, pediatrics and autism service lines.



2 were honored as Best Hospitals in Orthopedics, and these hospitals use UbiCares solution for total knee and hip replacement.

The best hospitals recognize that to impact clinical outcomes, you need to reach patients outside the hospital walls, adds Zalvan. Each of the hospitals honored is doing just that. The U.S. News honor reinforces that educating and engaging patients remotely over an extended period of time contributes to hospital success.

Below is the full list of UbiCare client hospitals who made the list.

Best Hospitals Honor Roll:

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Northwestern Memorial Hospital

Brigham and Women's Hospital

Best Childrens Hospitals:

Ann and Robert H. Lurie Childrens Hospital of Chicago

Baystate Childrens Hospital

Boston Childrens Hospital

Childrens Hospital at OU Medical Center

Doernbecher Childrens Hospital at Oregon Health and Science University

Rainbow Babies and Childrens Hospital

Tampa General Hospital Childrens Medical Center

Best Hospitals (Orthopedics):

AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center

New England Baptist Hospital

About UbiCare

UbiCare, a digital health pioneer, improves care costs and outcomes by activating patients throughout their unique health pathways. Through SmarteXp end-to-end patient activation software, healthcare institutions educate, energize and monitor patients more efficiently and consistently than ever before. Learn more at www.ubicare.com.

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For transfer instructions to GoDaddy, please click here.MONTREAL, Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Plotly, a Montreal data visualization company, and Universite de Sherbrooke will develop new research and analytical tools to explore and visualize genetic structures. Three interns, with support from Mitacs, will use Plotlys Dash product to develop new data visualization software in their research at the universitys CoBIUS Lab.



Rapid developments in gene sequencing are producing growing levels of genomic data, leaving researchers in need of new models and tools to help them interactively explore that data, and curate and share results quickly. Plotly is developing its open-source data visualization library, Dash, for application in this growing area of research.

Dash is popular with bioinformaticians because it allows users to create and publish real-time, interactive data visualizations using only Python, a well-known language in the field.

Plotly is grateful for the support from Mitacs, and we are excited to partner with Universite de Sherbrooke for this project, said Jack Parmer, Plotly CEO. Quebec has a real asset in its bioinformatics community, and were happy to be able to provide training and resources to develop this important research.

Dr. Aida Ouangraoua, Canada Research Chair in Computational and Biological Complexity at Universite de Sherbrooke, said, We thank Mitacs and Plotly for this internship funding and the partnership. They will accelerate the transfer of CoBIUS Lab research results to practice.

Dr. Ouangraoua will supervise one postdoc and two postgraduate interns in their research. CoBIUS Lab develops mathematical models and software tools to study and solve computational biology questions related to the comparison of biological data, with a focus on the evolution of genome structures, gene structures and RNA structures.

Plotly will provide training and access to its software engineers, who will assist the researchers with using Dash to visualize both the very small, such as RNA and gene structures, and the very large, like the evolutionary relationships between transcripts, genes and species.

Mitacs, a national not-for-profit research and training organization, is awarding the funding for the Plotly-CoBIUS Lab partnership through its internship program. Mitacs connects Canadian companies with graduate students and fellows who apply their specialized expertise to business challenges.

Alejandro Adem, CEO and Scientific Director of Mitacs, said:

Were pleased to partner with Plotly to support the development of their innovative visualization platform, Dash, while also providing Universite de Sherbrooke researchers with the opportunity to solve industry challenges that will prepare them for a successful transition to Quebecs growing digital technology job market.

Please direct queries to: ashley@plot.ly.CHICAGO, Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), www.ncsbn.org , met in Minneapolis, Aug. 15-17, 2018, to consider pertinent association business with its member boards of nursing (BONs). There were 59 member boards represented by delegates.



NCSBN Board of Directors President Julia George, MSN, RN, FRE, executive director, North Carolina Board of Nursing, noted, Our 2018 Delegate Assembly with its theme of Surging Toward the Future, was very inspiring as we celebrated our 40th anniversary and reflected on our organizational history. It was also very timely as we will start our strategic planning cycle later this year. As I begin my term as president, I am honored to be a part of our strategic thinking and planning for the future, and look forward to working with all of our members.

Highlights of some of the significant actions approved by the member BONs include:

Approval of the terms and conditions of NCSBN Exam User membership;



Approval of the College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia, the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba and the College of Nurses of Ontario as exam user members;



Approval of the National Center for Independent Examination (NCIE) - Kazakhstan as an associate member of NCSBN;



Election of new members of the NCSBN Board of Directors and Leadership Succession Committee;



Adoption of the 2019 NCLEX-RN Test Plan; and



Approval to convene a forum of state board regulators with expertise in APRN issues to investigate the challenges BONs are experiencing in relation to the implementation of the APRN Consensus Model, and to report on these findings to the 2019 Delegate Assembly.

About NCSBN

NCSBN marks its 40th anniversary milestone in 2018 with the inspiring theme of Regulatory Excellence Surging Toward the Future. Founded March 15, 1978, as an independent not-for-profit organization, NCSBN was initially created to lessen the burdens of state governments and bring together BONs to act and counsel together on matters of common interest. It has evolved into one of the leading voices of regulation across the world.

NCSBNs membership is comprised of the BONs in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and four U.S. territories  American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and the Virgin Islands. There are three exam user members. There are also 28 associate members that are either nursing regulatory bodies or empowered regulatory authorities from other countries or territories.

NCSBN Member Boards protect the public by ensuring that safe and competent nursing care is provided by licensed nurses. These BONs regulate more than 4.8 million licensed nurses.

Mission: NCSBN provides education, service and research through collaborative leadership to promote evidence-based regulatory excellence for patient safety and public protection.

The statements and opinions expressed are those of NCSBN and not the individual member state or territorial boards of nursing.

Contact: Dawn M. Kappel

Director, Marketing and Communications

312.525.3667 direct

312.279.1034 fax

dkappel@ncsbn.orgONEONTA, NY-- SUNY Oneonta is implementing a new project to help new students make the transition to college life, with letters from alumni.

"It's crazy it doesn't feel real at all," Hannah Sobel, a freshman from Stony Brook. "I feel like I'm going to bed tomorrow and wake up in my bed at home."

Sobel is one of 1,300 freshmen at the college this year. The college is providing 70 letters written by alumni, to freshmen and transfer students. Students are given letters from the alum who lived in the exact same dorm room. Colin Davis, of Woodbury, is one of those lucky freshman to receive a letter.

"I think it's a great idea," he said. "I know my sister is going to Clemson {University} they didn't do anything like this. I think it's good to see what other people had to say, especially because they went through what you're going through."

Jessica Reynolds, writer and editor of communication and marketing at SUNY Oneonta, said the college wanted to get more people engaged on social media, while supporting students. The college reached out to alumni on Facebook asking them to write letters offering advice and fond memories of living in their particular dorm room.

"The letters will be a good way to welcome students in and let them know that there's such a rich history of friendship," she said. "So many alumni wrote to us and said 'these were the best four years of my life.''

Reynolds, an alum herself, wrote a letter to the students who will live in her old room.

"My piece of advice was to leave your door open, because it's a great way to meet people and bring people into your room," she said.

She added that the college plans to make the alumni letters project a 'moving day' tradition.

"We're hoping to continue to do this and each year get more letters from alumni," she said. "That way more freshman can receive these letters, because it's really an exciting discovery."

Davis said the letter he received is comforting.

"It's pretty cool to see someone who was here before me, in my shoes write me a letter," he said. "The advice that they're going to give to me, I'm going to try and follow it."(CNN) -- The man accused of pursuing and killing 20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts appeared in Poweshiek County court on Wednesday to face a charge of first-degree murder.

The court hearing for Cristhian Bahena Rivera came a month after Tibbetts went for an evening run in Brooklyn, Iowa, and did not return home.

On Tuesday, Rivera -- who confessed to following her as she ran on a country road -- led authorities to the field where a body believed to be hers was buried under corn stalks, officials said.

Rivera, 24, was arraigned on first-degree murder charges and his bond was set at $5 million. His next court hearing is scheduled for August 31.

Rivera, a Mexican man who officials said came to the US illegally, largely remained silent, answering yes or no questions in Spanish through an interpreter. His defense attorney, Allan Richards, said Rivera came to the US as a minor, held a job in the community and has no prior criminal record.

It is unclear why Rivera killed Tibbetts, said Rick Rahn, special agent in charge at the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

"I can't really speak to you about the motive," Rahn said. "I can just tell you it seems that he followed her and seemed to be drawn to her on that particular day and for whatever reason he chose to abduct her."

Tibbetts' family released a statement Wednesday thanking their supporters and asking for privacy.

"Our hearts are broken. On behalf of Mollie's entire family, we thank all of those from around the world who have sent their thoughts and prayers for our girl. We know that many of you will join us as we continue to carry Mollie in our hearts forever," the family said.

"At this time, our family asks that we be allowed the time to process our devastating loss and share our grief in private. Again, thank you for the outpouring of love and support that has been shared in Mollie's name. We remain forever grateful."

An autopsy to determine when and how Tibbetts died is planned for Wednesday. The final autopsy results are expected in four-eight weeks, although some preliminary results may be available in the next few days, according to Mitch Mortvedt, assistant director of the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

A month-long search

Tibbetts was studying psychology at the University of Iowa and wanted to get a doctorate and write books, her father said. Her disappearance set off an extensive search that brought in hundreds of leads but no clues as to where she was.

Authorities had been looking for Tibbetts for about a month when they found home surveillance video that showed a car following a woman running on July 18.

After watching it for hours, investigators found clues that led them to Rivera. He didn't resist when authorities tried to detain him, Rahn said.

According to court documents, the suspect said in an interview that when he approached Tibbetts, she pulled out her cell phone and told Rivera she was going to "call the police" and that caused him to get angry.

Rivera alleged he blacked out at some point and woke up at an intersection in rural Poweshiek County, court documents state. At that point, he realized he had put the woman in the trunk of his car, and when he took her out, he saw blood on the side of her head, the arrest warrant states.

He left the body in a cornfield and covered it with corn leaves, the warrant adds. Rivera led authorities to a corn field on Tuesday morning, where they found a body covered in corn leaves. Tibbetts' clothing was also found at the scene.

In addition, Rahn said Tibbetts' digital footprint, which included data from a fitness tracker known as a Fitbit, played a role in solving the case.

Suspect came to US illegally

Shawn Neudauer, a spokesman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said the agency on Tuesday sent a detainer request to local authorities for Rivera, who is from Mexico. That means ICE could take custody of Rivera if he was released from local custody.

Authorities believe the suspect has been in the area for four to seven years, Rahn said.

He worked at a dairy farm that is owned in part by Craig Lang, a prominent Iowa Republican who ran for secretary of agriculture this summer, CNN affiliate WHO reported.

In a statement to WHO, the company, Yarrabee Farms, said Rivera was vetted through the government's E-Verify system and was an employee in good standing.

"First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Mollie Tibbetts," it said. "This is a profoundly sad day for our community. All of us at Yarrabee Farms are shocked to hear that one of our employees was involved and is charged in this case."

Rivera's immigration status was cited by Republican leaders to argue for a change in American immigration policy. President Donald Trump referred to the case while speaking at a rally in Charleston, West Virginia on Tuesday night.

"You heard about today with the illegal alien coming in very sadly from Mexico. And you saw what happened to that incredible beautiful young woman. Should have never happened. Illegally in our country," he said.

"We've had a huge impact but the laws are so bad, the immigration laws are such a disgrace. We're getting it changed but we have to get more Republicans."VERONA  Another federal official was in the 22nd Congressional District on Thursday, this time taking a look at local farms.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue toured Brabant Farms in Verona with Rep. Claudia Tenney. After the tour, Perdue and Tenney sat and talked to farmers about their concerns.

The farmers expressed their worries about milk prices and the threat of non-dairy products on the sale of milk. Specifically, how almond milk and its marketing has affected the dairy industry.

Farmers also discussed how they would be affected by tarrifs.

Long term ... the real resolution is getting new trade deals and hopefully we can get something done with Mexico in a week or two and we hope our friends to the north come in, Perdue said.

Part of that discussion that Claudia is very concerned about is that class 7 milk they dumped on us and depressed some of the world, Perdue said.

Perdue visited four farms total in upstate New York.NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES



HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NOVA LEAP HEALTH CORP. (TSXV: NLH) (Nova Leap or the Company), a company focused on the home health care industry, is pleased to announce the release of financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2018. All amounts are in United States dollars unless otherwise specified.

Nova Leap Second Quarter Financial Results

Financial highlights for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 included the following:

Q2-2018 Q1-2018 % Change Revenue $ 2,425,066 $1,265,021 + 91.7% Gross Margin $786,321 $444,544 + 76.9% Net loss $171,463 $438,742 - 60.9% Total one-time or non-cash items included in net loss comprised of the following: $135,364 $255,688 -47.0%  Acquisition related expenses $41,255 $171,412 - 75.9%  Amortization $151,514 $63,616 + 138.2%  Stock-based compensation $26,567 $81,580 - 67.4%  Foreign exchange gain ($83,972) ($60,920) + 37.8% Annual recurring revenue run rate (defined below) $11,400,000 $7,600,000 + 50.0%

Other highlights for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 included the following:

The Company reported double digit revenue growth for the fourth consecutive quarter;

Nova Leap expanded into Canada as it closed the previously announced acquisition of Always Home Homecare Services Inc., located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on June 1, 2018;

Each of the United States and Canadian operating segments were profitable during the second quarter;

Closed the previously announced acquisition of Home Health Solutions located in Holyoke, Massachusetts on April 14, 2018;

Closed the first tranche of a brokered private placement in April 2018 and raised gross proceeds of $798,643 ($1,006,050 CAD);

Closed the final tranche of a brokered private placement in May 2018 and raised gross proceeds of $1,843,837 ($2,387,400 CAD);

Closed a non-brokered private placement in May 2018 and raised gross proceeds of $671,269 ($869,160 CAD).

Our expansion in New England has been going very well, said Chris Dobbin, President and CEO of Nova Leap, It was an opportune time for us to expand into Canada and we expect our growth to continue.

This news release should be read in conjunction with the interim condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, notes to the financial statements, and management's discussion and analysis, which have been filed on SEDAR.

Corporate Update

Management had previously announced its updated plans, during the release of Q1 results and the Companys corporate update, to complete up to five acquisitions in 2018. Three acquisitions have been closed in 2018 to date;

On August 13, 2018, subsequent to Q2, Nova Leap announced the execution of a definitive agreement for the acquisition of a New England based home health care business;

On August 20, 2018, subsequent to Q2, Nova Leap announced the execution of a definitive agreement for the acquisition of a Massachusetts based home care business;

Management continues to explore and evaluate further opportunities for the acquisition of profitable home health care businesses;

Management had previously indicated that it anticipated Nova Leap would exceed a $10 million revenue run rate by the end of Q2 2018 and is pleased to report that has been accomplished as the Q2 revenue run rate was $11.4 million;

Management had also previously indicated that it was targeting to exit 2018 with a revenue run rate range of $14 million to $15 million. The two most recent definitive agreement announcements place the Company on track to achieve this target.

About Nova Leap

The Home Care Providers industry is one of the fastest growing healthcare industries in Canada and the United States. Home care saves patients billions of dollars every year by treating them in their own homes instead of in hospitals. An aging population, the prevalence of chronic disease, growing physician acceptance of home care, medical advancements and a movement toward cost-efficient treatment options from public and private payers have all fostered industry growth. Nova Leap is focused on a highly fragmented market of small privately-held companies providing patients one on one care in their homes, facilities or hospice. Nova Leap's post-acquisition organic growth strategy is to increase annual revenue per location through a combination of increased employee investment, including training, focused sales and marketing efforts, billing rate increases, expansion of geographical coverage, and improved referral sources.

NON-GAAP MEASURE:

Annual recurring revenue run rate is the expected annualized recurring revenue based on the most recent months actual revenue for current operations multiplied by 12.

For acquisitions that closed subsequent to the reporting period or are expected to close and have been disclosed in a press release as material information, annual recurring revenue run rate is the expected annualized recurring revenue based on the most recent months revenue for current operations multiplied by 12 plus the annual revenue based on the most recent financial information available for the newly acquired operations or operations which are expected to close and have been disclosed in a press release as material information.

FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION:

Certain information in this press release may contain forward-looking statements, such as statements regarding future expansions and cost savings, the Companys expected 2018 revenue run rate and plans regarding future acquisitions and financings. This information is based on current expectations and assumptions, including assumptions concerning the Companys ability to integrate its acquired businesses and maintain previously achieved service hour and revenue levels, that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. Risks that could cause results to differ from those stated in the forward-looking statements in this release include regulatory changes affecting the home care industry, unexpected increases in operating costs and competition from other service providers. All forward-looking statements, including any financial outlook or future-oriented financial information, contained in this press release are made as of the date of this release and included for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward looking-statements unless and until required by securities laws applicable to the Company. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in the Company's filings with the Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com .

For further information:

Christopher Dobbin, CPA, CA, Director, President and CEO Nova Leap Health Corp., T: 902 401 9480 F: 902 482 5177 cdobbin@novaleaphealth.com

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT:

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.FRANKFORT, Ind. (WLFI)  The Clinton County Humane Society said it plans to reopen on Tuesday, but not without fixing its problem.

It fired most of its staff last week and closed over the weekend.

We spoke to the interim director, who said they are now dealing with an outbreak of the deadly Parvovirus, but that's not all he said he walked into.

We've run into a mold problem as you can see right here, said Clinton County Humane Society Interim Director Ben Pfeffer. "It's gross, and I apologize, but this is the reality of it..

The reality of it is that 12 puppies are suffering from the Parvovirus and the shelter has already lost one.

The puppies were diagnosed last Saturday and now the other animals are quarantined.

"I liken it to the flu, said Pfeffer. That it is its own type of flu bug. It sticks to everything and then you have to bleach everything within an inch of its life."

The cats have been affected by the feline version of Parvovirus.

If left untreated, it can be fatal, but once the animals fight off the bug, they won't get it again.

Board President Nancy Elsea says the animals are in good hands.

It's the shelter that needs more work.

"These animals are just as much loved as they have always been no matter who was taking care of them, said Elsea. We are going through this place bit by bit and looking at what needs to be done. What we can do immediately. We've got a lot of things to do, but it will be done."

One thing to do is keep the kill rate low.

Within the last 10 years under Jim Tate, the shelter went from 60 percent to three percent.

"This shelter used to be a high kill shelter, said Pfeffer. The last group that was here did a good job bringing it down, but we're going to maintain that."

Maintaining the 15-year-old building has already been a challenge for the interim director.

He says he has many projects in the works, like covering the outside fences.

As for the president of the board, she knows the community will be watching the progress with concern.

"I can't drive around this town without someone asking how to help, said Elsea.

We asked Pfeffer and Elsea if the conditions of the shelter had anything to do with the firing of Jim Tate and the other staffers.

They wouldnt comment.

We previously said he was let go for denying the board social media access.LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI)  Residents of the Edgelea neighborhood are meeting with police Thursday night after a string of recent vandalism.

No arrests have been since the spree happened two weeks ago. As we previously reported, Lafayette police received reports of cars and homes being spray-painted.

The Edgelea Neighborhood Coalition is hosting an open meeting to help keep their area safe. Residents who were targeted are will discuss the vandalism with police.

"We'd like to get an idea of what's going on in the investigation," coalition founder David Dorsett said. "We would like to know how to handle situations going into the future, and what's the best way to report items like that."

Neighbors are wanting to build a pocket park in that area soon, and they want to see what they can do to prevent vandalism like this from happening again.

"We'd also like to know how our idea of a pocket park will improve our neighborhood and increase neighbors working together and taking care of each other," said Dorsett.

The open meeting is being held at Edgelea Elementary Thursday from 7 to 8:30 p.m.HOUSTON, Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hi-Crush Partners LP (NYSE: HCLP), "Hi-Crush" or the "Company", today announced that on August 20, 2018, John R. Huff notified the Company of his resignation from the Board of Directors (the "Board"). Mr. Huff has served as a non-independent director of Hi-Crush Proppants LLC since May 2011 and was appointed to the Board of the Companys general partner by Avista Capital Partners in May 2012.



"I have considered it a privilege to serve on the Board and to work with the extraordinarily talented team that has been assembled at Hi-Crush and to have played a role in the Companys development," said Mr. Huff. "I wish the Company success in the future."

On August 23, 2018, the Board appointed Thompson Dean to fill the vacant non-independent Board seat resulting from Mr. Huffs resignation. Following these changes, the composition of Hi-Crushs Board remains unchanged, including three independent directors.

Mr. Dean is the Managing Partner and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Avista Capital Partners. Prior to co-founding Avista Capital Partners in 2005, Mr. Dean led DLJ Merchant Banking Partners for 10 years. Mr. Dean served as Managing Partner of DLJMB I, II and III and DLJ Growth Capital Partners until his departure in 2005 and was Chairman of their respective Investment Committees. Mr. Dean received a B.A. from the University of Virginia, where he was an Echols Scholar, and an M.B.A. with high distinction from Harvard Business School, where he was a Baker Scholar.

"We thank John for his many contributions to our Board over the years, dating back even before the formation of the Partnership and the time of our IPO," said Robert E. Rasmus, Chief Executive Officer of Hi-Crush Partners. "We welcome Tom to our Board and look forward to benefiting from his significant board experience as we continue to execute on our Mine. Move. Manage. operating strategy."

About Hi-Crush

Hi-Crush is a premier provider of proppant and logistics solutions to the North American energy industry. Our portfolio of purpose-built production facilities is capable of producing 13.4 million tons per year of high-quality monocrystalline sand, a specialized mineral used as a proppant during the well completion process, necessary to facilitate the recovery of hydrocarbons from oil and natural gas wells. Our Wisconsin production facilities' direct access to major U.S. railroads enhances our delivery capabilities into consuming basins, while our strategically located owned and operated in-basin terminals as well as our Texas production facility positions us within close proximity to significant activity in all major oil and gas basins for advantageous truck transportation. Our integrated distribution system, enhanced by our innovative PropStream logistics solution, efficiently delivers proppant the "last mile" into the blender, providing customers surety of supply from mine to wellsite. For more information, visit www.hicrush.com .

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the information in this news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). Forward-looking statements give our current expectations, and contain projections of results of operations or of financial condition, or forecasts of future events. Words such as "may," "should," "assume," "forecast," "position," "predict," "strategy," "expect," "intend," "hope," "plan," "estimate," "anticipate," "could," "believe," "project," "budget," "potential," "likely," or "continue," and similar expressions are used to identify forward-looking statements. They can be affected by assumptions used or by known or unknown risks or uncertainties. Consequently, no forward-looking statements can be guaranteed. When considering these forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements in Hi-Crushs reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including those described under 1A of Hi-Crushs Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and any subsequently filed 10-Q. Actual results may vary materially. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. You should also understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors and should not consider the risk factors in our reports filed with the SEC or the following list to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the results contemplated by such forward looking statements include: the volume of frac sand we are able to sell; the price at which we are able to sell frac sand; the outcome of any pending litigation, claims or assessments, including unasserted claims; changes in the price and availability of natural gas or electricity; changes in prevailing economic conditions; and difficulty collecting receivables. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. Hi-Crushs forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made and Hi-Crush undertakes no obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Investor Contact:

Caldwell Bailey, Lead Investor Relations Analyst

Marc Silverberg, ICR

ir@hicrushpartners.com

(713) 980-6270

Source: Hi-Crush Partners LP



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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NEW YORK, Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces it is investigating potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of CBS Corporation (NYSE: CBS) resulting from allegations that CBS may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.

On July 27, 2018, media sources reported that The New Yorker would be publishing an article containing allegations that Leslie Moonves, CBSs Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, committed acts of sexual misconduct. CBS announced it would investigate these allegations. On this news, shares of CBS stock fell $3.52 or 6.12% to close at $54.01 on July 27, 2018.

Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action lawsuit to recover losses suffered by CBS investors. If you purchased shares of CBS please visit the firms website at http://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-1385.html to join the class action. You may also contact Phillip Kim or Zachary Halper of Rosen Law Firm toll free at 866-767-3653 or via email at pkim@rosenlegal.com or zhalper@rosenlegal.com .

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm .

Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 3 each year since 2013.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

-------------------------------Brymbo archaeological find could pre-date Offas Dyke

This article is old - Published: Thursday, Aug 23rd, 2018

AN archaeological discovery close to Offas Dyke could be thousands of years old, it has been revealed.

Work to create a new car park in Brymbo near Wrexham recently came to a grinding halt after evidence of an old settlement was found just metres away from the early medieval monument.

Now the archaeologist responsible for locating what he believes to be man-made stone pits and charred pieces of seed, wood charcoal and grains said he thinks they could date back to the pre-historic era, before the dyke was built.

The discovery on land at the back of Cheshire View was made on the same road where Brymbo Man  the skeleton of a man who lived during the Bronze Age in around 1600BC  was found by workmen in August 1958.

Ian Grant from the Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust has been overseeing work by Wrexham Council to alleviate parking problems in the area at the request of the historic environment service Cadw.

He said the pits were found while top soil was being removed ready to lay tarmac.

Ian said: While we were monitoring the works I was looking to see if I could see anything associated with Offas Dyke, because its a big enigma and no-one quite knows when exactly it dates to.

We didnt find any nice bling or treasure, but we certainly retrieved material that you could date as there were lots of charred remains.

What I suspect Im looking at is an enclosure ditch or something associated with occupation on the summit of Cheshire View, which you shouldnt be surprised at when you stand up here because its a stunning view.

Its a good spot for an Iron Age or Bronze Age site.

My gut feeling based on similar archaelogical works that Ive done in Wrexham is that it is pre-historic.

Ian said the charred items have now been sent off to be tested in order to establish when they date from.

Brymbo councillor Paul Rogers previously described the find as an important piece of the jigsaw in the villages history.

He said: Obviously it has delayed the works, but the find has generated some interest in the community with a lot of residents feeling that its another positive piece of our history.

Its now just a case of awaiting the findings and once everythings recorded and documented then works will proceed.

The parking works are being funded by Wrexham Councils housing environmental improvement scheme budget

A spokesman for the authority said the excavation work had been completed and construction works will start later this week.

Brymbo Man was found by local workmen who were digging a pipe trench near number 79 Cheshire View and uncovered a large capstone about one foot below the surface.

When archaeologists from the National Museum of Wales arrived to investigate, they excavated a stone-lined box in which they discovered the incomplete remains of a skeleton, a small earthenware pot and a flint knife.

Meanwhile, questions remain over the exact date when Offas Dyke itself was built after excavation work by the trust carried in September 2013.

Samples taken from a damaged section of the mound near Chirk found it was built after AD 430 at the very earliest, while the latest date places it between AD 887-1019.

By Liam Randall  BBC Local Democracy Reporter (more here on the LDR scheme).SMITHFIELD, Va., Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Smithfield Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Smithfield Foods, Inc. , has once again donated $50,000 to the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank to support its Veterans Mobile Food Pantry at the VA Medical Center in Hampton, Virginia. This is the second consecutive year of the partnership, following last years donation which helped increase the number of meals served to veterans by almost 50 percent.



The Foodbanks Mobile Pantry Program delivers and distributes fresh, healthy food directly into communities and neighborhoods. With the support of Smithfield, the Mobile Pantry visits the VA Medical Center once a month to serve veterans and their families in the Hampton Roads area. In 2017, this program served more than 2,300 veteran households.

Throughout the Peninsula, there are thousands of veterans and their families who deal with food insecurity issues each month, said Karen Joyner, chief executive officer for Virginia Peninsula Foodbank. Smithfields continued support of this program is truly making a difference in the quantity and quality of food we are able to provide for veterans here in the communities we serve.

As a company committed to veterans causes, this program aligns with Smithfields responsibility to honor the service and sacrifice of American veterans and their families. It also aligns with Smithfields social purpose of hunger relief, combining two focus areas of the companys charitable giving program to help strengthen a community its employees call home.

At Smithfield, we believe in supporting those who have served our country, said Keira Lombardo, senior vice president of corporate affairs for Smithfield Foods and president of the Smithfield Foundation. We are extremely proud of the impact our partnership with the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank has had over the past year, and we look forward to continuing our support of this valuable service for veterans and their families.

The Veterans Mobile Food Pantry occurs on the fourth Thursday of every month from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the VA Medical Center in Hampton, Virginia. Any veteran seeking food assistance is welcome to attend and receive nutritious meal components that will lead to a healthier lifestyle. For more information, please contact the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank at (757) 596-7188.

About Smithfield Foods

Smithfield Foods is a $15 billion global food company and the world's largest pork processor and hog producer. In the United States, the company is also the leader in numerous packaged meats categories with popular brands including Smithfield, Eckrich, Nathan's Famous, Farmland, Armour, Farmer John, Kretschmar, John Morrell, Cook's, Gwaltney, Carando, Margherita, Curly's, Healthy Ones, Morliny, Krakus, and Berlinki. Smithfield Foods is committed to providing good food in a responsible way and maintains robust animal care, community involvement, employee safety, environmental and food safety and quality programs. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com , and connect with us on Facebook , Twitter , and LinkedIn .

About Virginia Peninsula Foodbank

Since 1986, the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank has been providing hunger relief to the cities of Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, and Williamsburg, and the counties of James City, Gloucester, Mathews, Surry, and York. With the support of over 200 member agencies and programs, the organization has provided over 157 million meals. The Foodbank is a proud member of Feeding America, the Federation of Virginia Food Banks, Charity Navigator, and the United Way of the Virginia Peninsula. Our vision is to inspire hope by leading the effort for a hunger free and properly nourished community. For more information, visit us online at our website , on Facebook , and on Twitter .

Media Contacts:

Smithfield Foods, Inc.

Diana Souder

dsouder@smithfield.com

(757) 357-1675

Virginia Peninsula Foodbank

Craig Gallaer

cgallaer@hrfoodbank.org

(757) 596-7188

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/dba11516-5b42-408d-973b-4d979107af9aStudents across Wrexham receive their GCSE results

This article is old - Published: Thursday, Aug 23rd, 2018

Its a nerve wracking day for the thousands of students across Wrexham who are eagerly waiting to find out the outcome of their GCSEs.

Students across Wrexham are celebrating their achievements today, with the percentage of pupils across the borough achieving A*  C grades across all subjects improved against all Wales figures.

Entries for GCSEs have all fallen this year, according to statistics published by Qualifications Wales. The number of entries this summer are down by 13% falling from 334,095 in 2017 to 290,640 in 2018.

The fall in the overall number of entries for GCSEs, AS and A levels in Wales for summer 2018 are thought to be influenced by several factors. These include changes to:

 Population size;

 Decisions made by schools and colleges about when to enter pupils for their GCSEs;

 The average number of qualifications taken by individual learners, and

 The types of qualifications taken in post-16 education and training.

Unlike schools in England, the grading system for GCSEs in Wales remains A* to G.

Ysgol Rhiwabon

The Ruabon high school is one of the first in the county borough to release its results, with staff and students celebrating Key Stage 4 results which build on last years success.

Every student leaving Ysgol Rhiwabon had a range of GCSE passes or their equivalent, with an A*  C pass rate in the core subjects English Language, Mathematics and Science .

A significant number of the cohort also achieved the upper grades A*  B across their subjects with 87% of the year group achieving A*  C in the Skills Challenge Qualification.

The school is proud of the achievements of this years students as they prepare for sixth form studies or the world of work. The results are very pleasing as they have been secured against harder examination measures, relatively new specifications and changing performance measures; for this reason alone the students should be congratulated on their success.

Headteacher, Mrs Ferron-Evans said: This is a year group which has worked very hard to secure success, attending lots of extra lessons and revision sessions and we are pleased with this set of results. There are some excellent individual performances.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff, students and parents for the incredible amount of hard work and dedication shown across a wide range of studies.

The results will enable our young people to further their studies at sixth form or to enter the world of work as confident and successful individuals.

We wish them continued success and happiness in the future.

The Maelor School Penley

Staff and students were very pleased with the results this year achieved by The Maelor School at GCSE. For the second year running more than 20% achieved 5A* and A grades at GCSE.

Headteacher Simon Ellis commented: The pupils have worked extremely hard to produce such good grades, I am proud of them all.

They year group have seen many challenges including major curriculum change yet they have still performed brilliantly.

Deputy Headteacher Joanne Lee added: I am proud of these mature young people. Some of the results are the best we have ever seen.

I look forward to seeing how they will progress within our sixth form.

Head of Science Carrie Ferrier was thrilled with the performance with the new Science GCSE specifications: We are delighted with how they performed, over 84% achieved an A*-C on the newer more difficult papers, 100% achieved A-C in Biology Chemistry and Physics in their separate sciences.

Science has always been a strength at the school both at A level and GCSE and Im really pleased to see it continue to be so strong

Ysgol Morgan Llwyd

They have told us: As a school we are very proud and delighted of the achievements of our young people and for their good results once again this year. It is a pleasure to see so many of them reach their potential or exceed expectations. The results show the tremendous amount of hard work from pupils and staff with excellent support from parents.

There are some who have excelled of course and a special mention needs to made for Bethan Williams who succeeded in getting 8 A* and 6 As. There were also excellent results for Jody Hallam, James Davies, Osian Davies, Seren Jones, Ella Oldfield, Ffion Williams, Lauren Simons, Morgan Roberts-Alsop. We wish them well in the future and we look forward to welcoming them back in September.

Ysgol y Grango

Its a time of celebration for students and staff at Ysgol Y Grango High School in Rhosllanerchrugog with the best overall set of GCSE results in the schools history, beating last years significant improvements.

Strong performance has been achieved across the board and in all subject areas with continued improvements in GCSE English, GCSE Mathematics and Numeracy, and the Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Qualification.

In the new core GCSE Science and GCSE Welsh qualifications students have achieved exceptional results and these were repeated in all option subjects.

All students gained A*-C grades in GCSE Music, up 30 per cent compared to last year, and there was excellent performance in GCSE Art and GCSE Digital Photography with all students achieving A*-C grades. Other outstanding results were achieved in GCSE Geography, GCSE History, GCSE PE, and GCSE RE.

Among the top achievers, those gaining 5 or more A*/A grades, are: Ryan Hughes, Marla Jones, Olivia Koziej, Erin Long, Alex McMeiken and Jamie Samuels.

Students who attend the 14-19 college link courses at Coleg Cambria and St Christophers have also attained higher grades.

Stephen Garthwaite, headteacher, said: I am absolutely thrilled with this years GCSE results and our congratulations go out to all our students for their fantastic achievements.

This is the best set of results weve had as a school with even further improvements from last years successes, which is especially pleasing at a time of continuing change in the examinations and curriculum framework.

We have seen a huge team effort by students, staff and governors who have all worked incredibly hard to achieve these results. I would also like to express my thanks to parents and carers for their ongoing support.

Ysgol Rhosnesni

Mr Andrew Brant, headteacher, said: Congratulations to our Year 11 students on their success. Teachers and support staff have worked tirelessly to ensure that examination figures have improved significantly this year.

We are delighted that our results have continued to improve in both English and English Literature, following excellent teaching and rigorous exam preparation.

Our talented maths department has made a record leap of 16% from last year, giving many more youngsters the essential pass mark for colleges and sixth forms.

Our most academic students have also excelled, with the number of students achieving 5A*-A doubling since 2017.

A special mention for Casey Edwards and Arash Khangura who both achieved 11 A/A* grades.

Cllr Phil Wynn, Lead Member for Education, said: Pupils should be very pleased with these results. They have worked very hard to achieve them, and deserve to be congratulated for their efforts.

Thanks are also due to the efforts of teachers and all school support staff, and parents and guardians as well.

Ian Roberts, Head of Education, said: Pupils at all levels of ability have worked incredibly hard to achieve these results, and thanks are due to all schools for the work they have put in and the level at which theyve supported pupils.

I wish the very best to all learners, as they look to the future in whichever path they have chosen.

Pictured above: The Maelor School, Ella Pritchard, 8A*-A, Isabel Mytton 11A*-A, Molly Hudson 11A*-AWe want to pay rent in Ty Pawb  Glacial Council blamed as traders fire back

This article is old - Published: Thursday, Aug 23rd, 2018

Some Ty Pawb traders have told us they are very keen to pay rent after it was revealed nothing has been collected from stallholders since the centre opened, and have accused Wrexham Council of dragging their feet in getting the paperwork sorted.

Yesterday Wrexham Council said Although no rent has yet been collected, as noted in the response to the FOI, the billing process is underway and the payment is due  no income will be lost due to this process, something that has raised eyebrows with some traders as they do not have any agreements in place.

We have been told, by traders wishing to remain anonymous, We want to pay rent, as we know we have to, but we need the conditions and timings to be right, as they have changed since it opened.

Another trader we spoke to was very specific about when they felt rent should be paid from, at odds to the Councils expectation of rent from early April: We are looking to pay from when the building was completed, so July.

People should know traders were and are supporting the centre, and committed to it, without knowing the terms and contracts. We have done our bit.

We are not getting free rent. We have not been able to negotiate the correct leases. The Council have said sign that, but we cant as there are problems with it, for example the documents said Ty Pawb is open 7am to 10pm but it is not.

The contracts are not reflective of the actual trading situation, the business plan indicated a late night evening, big event plans, however that is not happening.

They laid the blame at Wrexham Councils door on the lack of rent being paid: In all seriousness they have not asked for it. They have not given us bank details, or agreements. It is them not us. It is all so glacial to get things going. This has been a four year project, why werent contracts or leases or licences in place before opening? Who should of sorted it, and why was it not done?.

When Freedom of Information requests are placed to Wrexham Council the questions are often circulated, as you would expect, to people in therelevant departments. Wrexham.com did not place the FOI that triggered yesterdays story, however knowledge of the query was known to us last week. This week has apparently seen a new push to get agreements in place, with some linking the imminent publication FOI to a reported recent flurry of connected activity over the last few days.

One trader told us: The traders came to Ty Pawb on goodwill, and wanted to see it be a success. That is why we came in with no contracts in place for opening.

Concerns have also been raised over the staffing by Wrexham Council, The marketing Officers were not in place at the start, and only last week we have had actual caretakers.

Yesterday Wrexham Council assured taxpayers that no rental income would be lost due to the contractual and billing delays, however one trader told us: The builders only left in July, so there is a question why people should be paying full rent for what was a building site until last month.

We are told initial Heads of Terms between traders and Wrexham Council referred to supplementary documents, that were not provided when asked, meaning some traders were being asked to sign paperwork without seeing the full documents it referred to, We have had revised heads of terms since then, but even then they were not there.

A request for a low three figure contribution to legal fees for the council agreements has also not gone down well with some traders.

Traders also recounted to us how they had requested the opening readings of utilities to prepare them for electric or water bills, being told they were zero, but that was not verifiable by the traders themselves.

Tensions appear high between traders and Council management, with vague hints of legal action against Wrexham.com regarding re-publishing already public comments made by traders, and even alleged reluctance for contractual documents to be allowed out of the Ty Pawb building, which was at odds with one person wanting their solicitor to look over any paperwork.

Another trader told us they were concerned a licence not a lease was being offered, as that could have future implications if they ever wished to sell their business, saying that they started trading thinking they would eventually be agreeing a lease.

Yesterday signage and promotion of the centre was specifically mentioned, and defended, prompting an angry reaction from one trader that is unprintable but firmly noted there is a common query by visitors of where the toilets are due to inadequete internal signage.

Earlier today we checked out the external signage, with the Butchers and General Market having lots of signage nearby for both the markets themselves and events taking place. The Techniquest events in the old TJ Hughes were also well signposted, however that contrasted with the event and markets signage for Ty Pawb

Lots going on  and has been comments about no signage. so had a nose! pic.twitter.com/wg9gAOYVto  Wrexham.com (@wrexham) August 23, 2018

Looks like job fair inside Ty Pawb  and checking out signage nothing on the A board for that  and map for visitors a couple of meters away still says Peoples Market pic.twitter.com/0Z8qaAXJI0  Wrexham.com (@wrexham) August 23, 2018

Ty Pawb has been described as being on budget and on time, despite building works on the site overrunning past the official and public opening events.

In September 2017 it was announced that Ty Pawb would not immediately be placed into a trust as was intended due to legal issues that could have meant a non-Wrexham trust operating the development. As as result the site is being operated by Wrexham Council for at least three years  with plans to establish an advisory board pressing ahead apparently as planned.

The business plan, which was formulated in by consultants in 2015, provides details on the recommended governance model for Ty Pawb, projected finances and a sensitivity analysis. In December Cllr Hugh Jones said this original business plan was still being followed, a position consistently held, however recently we have been told various elements have in-fact altered.One year ago this week, the World Socialist Web Site published an open letter to search monopoly Google demanding that it end its censorship of the internet.

The letter documented that a change in Googles search algorithms that the company claimed was aimed at promoting authoritative news sources had led to a substantial decline in search traffic to left-wing, socialist and anti-war sites. Google, the letter from WSWS International Editorial Board Chairperson David North stated, was engaged in political censorship of the Internet.

One year later, it is clear that the allegations against Google were both correct and extremely prescient. The measures taken by Google initiated a sweeping system of corporate-state censorship adopted by all the US technology monopolies, including Facebook and Twitter. A campaign that began under the pretext of combatting Russian meddling and fake news is ever more openly targeting left-wing views.

The latest and most extreme attack on democratic rights came Tuesday, when Facebook announced that it has removed hundreds of user accounts and pages, many opposing the crimes of the American, Saudi, and Israeli governments in the Middle East, claiming they were the result of influence campaigns by Iran and Russia.

Some of the accounts purported to be American liberals supportive of US Senator Bernie Sanders, who expressed support for Palestinians and opposition to Israel, according to FireEye, the cybersecurity firm, heavily staffed by former intelligence operatives, with whom Facebook coordinated the deletions.

The press went even further in linking left-wing viewpoints with foreign influence operations. The Financial Times declared, In the US, FireEye found accounts purporting to support Bernie Sanders, the US senator, and a fake organisation called Rise Against the Right. In the UK, the company discovered fabricated organisations called British Left and the British Progressive Front posting in support of Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labour Party.

Virginia Democrat Mark Warner, who is leading the campaign for censorship, made clear that the internet giants moves to censor the internet are far broader than the original pretext of Russian meddling in the 2016 election. Theres no way the problem of social media manipulation is limited to a single troll farm in St. Petersburg, and that fact is now beyond a doubt. He added, Iranians are now following the Kremlins playbook from 2016.

Tellingly, FireEye said that it had only moderate confidence that this activity originates from Iranian actors. The company added that the possibility exists that the activity could originate from elsewhere or includes authentic online behavior.

Wherever the accounts originate, it is not up to Facebook to determine whether they are authentic or not. Tellingly, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, in a conference call with reporters, added that some of the accounts removed came from a set of people the U.S. government and others have linked to Russia. Given that dominant sections of the US state have sought to brand anyone who opposes US foreign policy as an agent of the Kremlin, such a broad definition could extend to any public critic of the US political establishment.

On the same day that Facebook removed pages and accounts it said were linked to Iran, it terminated the longstanding Facebook account of a WSWS contributor writing under a pseudonym, declaring that it would only reinstate the account if he provided government identification proving his identity.

Were such a standard to apply across the board, social media posts by contemporary authors Stephen King (who writes as Richard Bachman), Anne Rice (who writes as Anne Rampling) and countless others would be inauthentic if they were to use the names by which they are known to by millions of people. Some of the most famous figures in the revolutionary movement, including Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky, were known exclusively by their pen names. And of course, the American Federalist Papers and Anti-Federalist papers were all drafted by writers using pseudonyms.

Facebook, acting in coordination with government entities, serves as judge, jury and executioner in deciding who is granted the freedom of expression guaranteed under the First Amendment and international civil rights laws. It claims the right, with no trial, no appeal, and providing no information, to declare statements to be inauthentic and remove accounts making them.

Last month, Facebook deleted the official page of the left-wing counter-protest to this months fascist Unite the Right 2 demonstration in Washington, which was endorsed by prominent left-wing political activists, including whistleblower Chelsea Manning. Its rationale was that one account connected to the event page displayed coordinated inauthentic behavior.

This week, the Washington Post reported that Facebook operates an internal ranking system to determine the trustworthiness of its users on a scale from zero to 1. Those labeled untrustworthy will evidently be liable for deletion.

What is being introduced, piece by piece, is the mechanism for US technology monopolies to silence anyone, at any time, for any reason, by claiming their statements and views are inauthentic and divisive.

Such a mechanism, tested and implemented in the privately-controlled social media ecosystems, will then, with the ending of net neutrality, be used by internet service providers to block access to sites on the public internet and through email, claiming the responsibility to police their privately-owned networks.

In other words, one year after the WSWS published its open letter, all the mechanisms have been created for Google, Facebook, Twitter and leading internet service providers to ban and silence anyone, with no legal recourse, oversight or public knowledge.

But in the year since the publication of the open letter, another process has emerged. The working class all over the world has entered into struggle, beginning with a wave of teachers strikes in the US earlier this year, and continuing with strikes by heavy industry workers in Germany, airline pilots throughout Europe at Ryanair, and a growing opposition and anger among UPS workers, autoworkers, Amazon workers and other sections of the working class.

The moves to intensify censorship are aimed above all at blocking the intersection of this growing movement of the working class with a socialist program.

But this movement of the working class also creates the political basis for the struggle against censorship. As workers clash with their employers and their union collaborators, they must inscribe on their banners opposition to political censorship and must fight for the expropriation of the social media monopolies under public control as a key component of the fight for socialism.

In January of this year, the World Socialist Web Site issued an open letter calling for socialist, anti-war, left-wing and progressive websites, organizations and activists to join an international coalition to fight Internet censorship. This appeal is more relevant than ever. We urge everyone seeking to fight the grip of the technology monopolies and intelligence agencies over the internet to contact us and join the fight against censorship!BOCA RATON, Fla., Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Saxena White P.A. has filed a securities fraud class action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against Nevro Corp. (Nevro or the Company) (NYSE:NVRO) on behalf of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired the common stock of the Company between January 8, 2018 and July 12, 2018, inclusive (the Class Period).



Nevro is a global medical device company focused on providing treatment for patients suffering from debilitating chronic pain. Nevros primary products are its Senza spinal cord stimulation systems, neuromodulation devices that deliver the Companys HF10 therapy.

The Complaint asserts claims for violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Companys business, operations, and the proprietary nature of the Companys principal products.

Specifically, Defendants allegedly made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) that Nevro had engaged in a fraudulent scheme by using protected confidential and proprietary trade secrets and stolen documents from its competitors to develop and enhance the Companys Senza systems; (2) that as a result, the Companys Senza systems were not novel or proprietary; (3) that these practices caused the Company to be vulnerable to increased litigation expenses and adverse legal and regulatory action; (4) that, as a result, Nevros U.S. sales growth was not sustainable; and (5) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants statements about Nevros business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and/or misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

You may obtain a copy of the Complaint and join the class action at www.saxenawhite.com.

If you purchased Nevro shares between January 8, 2018 and July 12, 2018, you may contact Lester Hooker (lhooker@saxenawhite.com) at Saxena White P.A. to discuss your rights and interests.

If you purchased Nevro stock during the Class Period of January 8, 2018 through July 12, 2018 and wish to apply to be the lead plaintiff in this action, a motion on your behalf must be filed with the Court by no later than October 22, 2018. You may contact Saxena White P.A. to discuss your rights regarding the appointment of lead plaintiff and your interest in the class action. Please note that you may also retain counsel of your choice and need not take any action at this time to be a class member.

Saxena White P.A., with offices in Florida, New York, and Massachusetts, concentrates its practice on prosecuting securities fraud and complex class actions on behalf of institutions and individuals. Currently serving as lead counsel in numerous securities fraud class actions nationwide, the firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of injured investors and is active in major litigation pending in federal and state courts throughout the United States.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Lester R. Hooker, Esq.

lhooker@saxenawhite.com

Saxena White P.A.

150 East Palmetto Park Road, Suite 600

Boca Raton, FL 33432

Tel: (561) 206-6708

Fax: (866) 290-1291

www.saxenawhite.comNiles Niemuth is the Socialist Equality Party candidate for Congress in Michigan 12th congressional district, which includes the Downriver area. Visit niles2018.com to donate and get involved in the campaign.

A new report has revealed the horrific impact of the opioid crisis across Michigan, which requires an emergency response.

The report, produced by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) and Appriss Health, found a 30 percent increase in drug-related overdose deaths in Michigan between 2013 and 2015. Most of these deaths were from opioids, a class of drug that includes illegal forms such as heroin, as well as many pharmaceutical forms used to treat pain, such as hydrocodone and oxycodone (known by the brand names Vicodin and OxyContin, respectively).

The report shows that six of the top ten cities for overdose deaths in the state were in Downriver, the 18 suburban Michigan cities and townships southwest of Detroit. The six cities are Lincoln Park, Wyandotte, Ecorse, Flat Rock, Woodhaven and Southgate. The community of Lincoln Park topped the overdose death rate among Michigan cities with 3.2 deaths per 1,000 people. In total deaths, Detroit topped Michigan cities, with 447 fatal overdoses over three years. However, its death rate was a third of Lincoln Parks.

The drug largely responsible for the increase in many areas is a specific type of opioid called fentanyl, which is so strong that it is used to tranquilize elephants and carry out executions. It is cheaper and about 50 times more potent than heroin. According to preliminary calculations, about three-quarters of fatal overdoses in Wayne County were tied to fentanyl, an eight-fold increase in three years.

The opioid epidemic has touched every part of the state. A recent report on Macomb County, a suburb north of Detroit, showed that the number of deaths involving fentanyl jumped 38 percent between 2016 and 2017 from 144 to 199. The increase contributed to a record death toll from drug overdoses in the county380 people or more than one a day.

The massive death toll is a national public health emergency on a scale not seen since the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s and 90s. According to new CDC data, in 2017 drug overdose deaths in the US topped 72,000, which is 6,000 more than in 2016, a rise of 9.5 percent. Nearly 30,000 deaths involved opioids, an increase of more than 9,000 (nearly 50 percent) from previous year.

The number of people directly impacted by the crisisincluding family members, friends and colleagues, medical responders, social workers and many othersis in the millions.

The drug epidemic is the product of capitalism and the policies of the capitalist parties, both Democrats and Republicans. There is, first of all, the role of the pharmaceutical companies, which have amassed huge profits from the deceptive marketing of opioid pain killers, which they claimed were not addictive. Prescriptions for opioids such as Percocet, Oxycontin and Vicodin skyrocketed from 76 million in 1991 to nearly 259 million in 2012, enough to supply each American adult with a bottle of pills, and some with two.

The promotion of addictive pain killers was made possible by the immense need for such medicationone consequence of the conditions confronting American workers. A recent report found that many workers in dangerous jobs resorted to aggressive pain killers to allow them to continue working because they were afraid of the economic consequences of missed work.

Drug abuse and addiction, moreover, feeds on social distress and inequality. The regions most affected by the opioid epidemic include those that have been most devastated by deindustrialization, the destruction of jobs, and the unrelenting attack on social programs, wages, public education and health care. This includes Downriver Michigan, which has been impacted by the destruction of auto and steel jobs over the past four decades.

Neither the Democrats nor Republicans have any intention of or capacity to address this crisis, for it is their bipartisan policy of social counter-revolution that has produced it. Trump is carrying out a war on the working class, handing billions of dollars to the corporate and financial elite. Yet he is only continuing the policies of his predecessor, Obama, who left office after ensuring the bailout of the banks and the greatest transfer of wealth from the working class to the rich in American history.

In response to the drug epidemic, Republican politicians and the Trump administration advocate a law and order approach, such as cracking down on low-level drug dealers and scapegoating immigrants. Some demand that individuals suffering from overdoses be denied life-saving treatment.

The Democratic Party is no less culpable. It is facilitating Trumps attacks on workers while posturing here and there by proposing palliatives that leave untouched the underlying causes. My opponent in the 12th district, Debbie Dingell, has sponsored four such bills in congress aimed at an array of symptoms: safe disposal of unused drugs after a hospice patients death, sharing medical records between doctors, improving the over-the-counter monograph system, and calling for a paltry increase in funding for National Institutes of Health (NIH) research.

A drop in the ocean!

The socialist response to the opioid crisis, and drug abuse more generally, is based on the abolition of its causes.

The Socialist Equality Party insists that billions of dollars must be allocated to fund rehabilitation centers, using the most advanced scientific methods and procedures. The health care system must be equipped with detox centers and connected to institutions to help with long-term recovery. All social workers in the field must receive an immediate 50 percent wage increase, along with the counseling and support needed. Children must be given the highest level of care while their parents recover.

Profit must be taken out of health care, which is a social right that must be guaranteed to everyone. The giant pharmaceutical companies must be transformed into publicly-owned utilities. The health insurance industry must be abolished and replaced with universal, socialized medicine.

Such elementary measures and more must be connected to the reconstruction of society to ensure that everyone has the right to a high-paying job, health care, education and quality housing, and that workers have access to leisure, art and culture. Cities devastated by deindustrialization must be rebuilt through a multi-trillion-dollar public works program.

The resources to pay for these necessary measures must come from the expropriation of the wealth of the corporate and financial elite, the parasites on society, who have amassed unimaginable fortunes through the exploitation and immiseration of the vast majority. As tens of thousands die, the ruling class conspires to spend trillions on war and conjure up new ways to increase its wealth.

These measures are component parts of the socialist transformation of American and world society. All the major banks and corporations must be placed under the democratic control of the population, to meet social needs and the rights of the working class, not private profit.

The disease of which the drug epidemic is a symptom is capitalism. It can be cured only through the mobilization of the entire working class, independently of the Democrats and Republicans, in a revolutionary movement to abolish inequality, war and the capitalist profit system.

To support the Niles campaign, get involved and donate at niles2018.com.Over 200 immigrants detained at the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC) in Tacoma, Washington began a hunger strike and work stoppage on Tuesday in response to the call for a 19-day national prison strike, spearheaded by the organization Jailhouse Lawyer Speak. The strike has participation from prisoners in at least 17 states who are expected to conduct coordinated sit-ins, hunger strikes, work stoppages and commissary boycotts from today until September 9.

The immigrants hunger strike, held in solidarity with the prisoners, was initially announced in a Facebook post by NWDC resistance, an advocacy group that formed in 2014 to oppose deportations and poor treatment of immigrant detainees at the detention center. The facility houses immigrants awaiting hearings or deportation after being arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. A letter NWDC Resistance received from the prisoners bravely declared:

We are taking part in a hunger strike nationwide demanding change and closure of these detention centers, we are acting with solidarity for all those people who are being detained wrongfully, and stand together to help support all those women who have been separated from their children, and to stop all the family separations happening today for a lot of us are also being separated and we have U.S. citizen children.

Maru Mora Villalpando, lead organizer for the Northwest Detention Center Resistance, said the main demand was the reunification of families. They mentioned the mothers that have been separated from their children at the border, but also recognizing that themselves and over 40,000 people across the nation right now that are detained have been separated from their loved ones, too, she said.

The prisoners noted the psychological toll taken on separated families. They stated it is damaging to our loved ones to be unable to visit them in prison and demanded ICE allow contact visits. They added, our family and most detainees are not criminals and there is no reason why we cant hold our children.

A second statement from 27 immigrants, with medical issues, detained at NWDC described negligence on part of the prisons staff.

We want better COs, they dont do their job right, they see that there are problems and they dont do nothing about it, they just let things get big and thats the reason why everybody gets into fights.

The statement also demands medical attention and says prisoners are not given adequate food portions. News reports note that in the prison, one immigrant reportedly had an eye injury but did not receive medical attention and is now going blind. The letter concludes with the prisoners stating we dont want somebody dead beside us because staff didnt do their jobs right.

The immigrant prisoners have also demanded to be paid Washington States minimum wage, $11.00 an hour, and implicitly stated that GEO, the company in charge of NWDC, is a private corporation and is using slave labor to run its operation

Like others incarcerated across the country, immigrant detainees at NWDC receive low wages for work they perform. Prisoners are paid $1 per day, and their income goes solely to commissary items such as hygiene products, snacks, etc.

Last year, Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a class action lawsuit alleging wage theft against GEO Group, claiming the company makes millions of dollars in profits by illegally exploiting workers and immigrants.

A multi-billion-dollar corporation is trying to get away with paying its workers $1 per day. That shouldnt happen in America, and I will not tolerate it happening in Washington. For-profit companies cannot exploit Washington workers, he declared.

The plight of the detained immigrants has been largely ignored by the media and no genuine opposition can be seen from the Democratic Party. The Democrats only offer empty criticism and are complicit in the regime of terror immigrants are forced to endure.The political warfare between the Trump White House and its opponents in the military-intelligence apparatus, the Democratic Party and the corporate media reached a new level of savagery Wednesday in the wake of the legal blows to former Trump aides the previous day.

Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort was convicted of eight felony counts, including income tax evasion, bank fraud and filing false statements with the government, after a three-week jury trial in Alexandria, Virginia. Former Trump attorney and self-styled fix-it man Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to eight felony counts in a federal court in Manhattan, including income tax evasion, bank fraud and two counts of violating federal campaign finance laws.

In the most damaging aspect of the days events, Cohen declared in open court, as his guilty pleas were made before federal Judge Kimba Wood, that in orchestrating payoffs in 2016 to former Playboy model Karen McDougal and pornographic film actress Stormy Daniels he had acted in coordination and at the direction of a candidate for federal office, in other words, Trump. He stipulated as well that the purpose of the payoffs was to suppress their accounts of sexual relationships with Trump in light of the presidential election.

One of Cohens attorneys, Lanny Davis, followed up this statement by posing the question: If those payments were a crime for Michael Cohen, then why wouldnt they be a crime for Donald Trump? Davis, a longtime Democratic Party operative who worked as a defense lawyer against impeachment for President Bill Clinton, made the rounds of television interview programs Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, all but demanding congressional action to impeach Trump.

He told CNN that Cohens testimony could assist the investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and Trump campaign collusion with Russia. Michael Cohen has information that would be of interest to Mr. Mueller in his probe of a conspiracy to corrupt American democracy, he said.

Davis added, referring to the payoffs to suppress accounts by McDougal and Daniels: There is no doubt that Donald Trump committed a crime and, more than that, a cover-up of the crime. Because he did not want to write the check to Stormy Daniels.

He claimed that Cohen was motivated in making his confession to the federal charges by newfound political hostility to the Trump presidency. Patriotism and love of country caused him to recognize the danger of this particular president, his lack of suitability to be president of the United States, Davis said.

With the conviction of Manafort and the guilty plea by Cohen, the four aides who stood closest to Trump exactly two years ago are all now convicted criminals. Manafort was campaign chairman, now found guilty of fraud and tax evasion. Rick Gates, his deputy, has pled guilty to multiple felonies and testified as a prosecution witness in the Manafort trial. Gen. Michael Flynn, Trumps top adviser on national security and a prominent campaign surrogate, has pled guilty to felony charges of lying to the FBI and is cooperating with the Mueller investigation. And Michael Cohen, Trumps closest personal aide at the time, has pled guilty and his lawyer is shopping his services to Mueller as well.

The media outlets that have been spearheading the anti-Russia campaign, based on unproven allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 election, seized on the Cohen plea and the Manafort conviction as a vindication of the Mueller investigation, although neither case has anything to do with Russia.

The New York Times, in an editorial headlined All the Presidents Crooks, wrote, Only a complete fantasistthat is, only President Trump and his cultcould continue to claim that this investigation of foreign subversion of an American election, which has already yielded dozens of other indictments and several guilty pleas, is a hoax or scam or rigged witch hunt.

The Washington Post, under the headline Sixteen felonies, made the same argument, claiming that with the Manafort conviction, Mr. Mueller continues to demonstrate with quiet professionalism and steady results that his investigation is anything but the witch hunt of Mr. Trumps insult-mongering.

The newspaper essentially declared the 2016 election fraudulent, because, through the suppression of the Trump sex stories, American voterswere prevented from learning potentially relevant information ahead of Election Day 2016. The editorial went on to demand a congressional investigation into the Cohen charges against Trump, calling him the alleged co-conspirator in the White House.

Tuesday also brought the indictment of Republican Congressman Duncan Hunter Jr. of California on multiple counts of campaign finance violations and fraud. Hunter allegedly used at least $250,000 in campaign funds for personal expenses, including trips to Hawaii and Italy. The indictment of Hunter follows the indictment earlier this month of Republican Congressman Chris Collins of New York on charges of securities fraud and insider trading.

There is no doubt that similar charges could be brought against dozens of members of Congress, both in the House and the Senate, Democratic and Republican. What separates Collins and Hunter from other equally corrupt capitalist politicians is that they were the first two congressmen to endorse Trump for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016. Their selective prosecution is political payback within the ruling elite, another blow against the Trump camp.

The timing of the indictments is obviously political, coming barely two months before the midterm election, on charges that have been known to federal prosecutors for several years. Both representatives were referred to the House Ethics Committee in 2016 for the conduct that has now produced a criminal indictment well after the deadline for replacing the candidates on the ballot. In a particularly brutal display of political hardball, the families of the two representatives were indicted, not just the congressmen themselves: Hunters wife and Collinss son were also charged and could face prison terms and heavy fines.

In the face of this onslaught from the Department of Justice headed by Trumps nominee, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the response from his camp has been weak and defensive. His top personal lawyer, Rudolph Giuliani, issued a statement on the Cohen plea declaring, There is no allegation of any wrongdoing against the president in the governments charges against Mr. Cohen.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders used a similarly legalistic formula at a Wednesday press briefing, declaring of Trump, he did nothing wrong. There are no charges against him, and repeating that language several times in response to press queries.

Trump himself made no mention of Cohen or Manafort during an hour-long speech at a campaign rally in West Virginia Tuesday night. In a series of tweets Wednesday morning, he praised Manafort as brave because he refused to plead guilty, while sneering at Cohen.

In an interview with Fox News Channel on Wednesday, he claimed that the payments to Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels were not illegal because they came from me and not from the funds of the presidential campaign, and therefore were not covered by campaign finance laws.

In fact, my first question when I heard about it was did they come out of the campaign because that could be a little dicey, he continued. And they didnt come out of the campaign and thats big. But they werent its not even a campaign violation.

He added that he did not know of the payments until some time after Cohen made them, an assertion contradicted not only by Cohens testimony, but also by audio tapes secretly made by Cohen in which the two men discuss the scheme to suppress McDougals story by having the National Enquirer buy the rights to it and then not publish.

The developments with Cohen and Manafort sparked a flurry of comments about impeachment from media pundits and sections of the Democratic Party, although the top Democrat in the House of Representatives, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, said it was not a priority, adding that it was premature to discuss impeachment before the issuing of a report by the Mueller investigation.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer made much the same point in a speech on the Senate floor, in which he called for delaying action on the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court because the president would in effect be choosing one of the jury in a future court ruling arising from the corruption probes and the Mueller investigation.

The senior Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Dianne Feinstein, issued a statement Wednesday saying, The possibility of criminal wrongdoing by the president, combined with existing doubts that Brett Kavanaugh believes a president can even be investigated, demand further review of this situation. Brett Kavanaughs hearing should be delayed.

Congressional Republicans poured cold water over the discussion of impeachment or any delay in the Kavanaugh nomination, but otherwise sought to avoid a public defense of Trump. Neither House Speaker Paul Ryan nor Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made any statement.

The number two Senate Republican, John Cornyn of Texas, avoided questions about Cohens implication of Trump in a felony. I have no idea about what the facts are surrounding his guilty plea other than the fact that none of it has anything to do with the Russia investigation, Cornyn said. I would make the same observation with regard to Mr. Manafort.CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - Illinois is creating a new merit-based scholarship aimed at getting more high school graduates to attend in-state colleges and universities.

The AIM HIGH grant pilot program will provide at least $50 million in financial aid. The state is providing $25 million in the current budget year. Universities are matching that amount.

Lawmakers approved the program earlier this year with nearly unanimous support. Gov. Bruce Rauner signed the measure into law Tuesday during a stop in Champaign.

His office says undergraduate enrollment at Illinois' public universities fell more than 8 percent, or by more than 5,000 students, between 2011 and 2016.

Rauner says the scholarship will make Illinois colleges more affordable and allow the state to better compete with out-of-state institutions that offer more financial aid.TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Indiana State Police say they're working extra to make sure people stay safe this weekend.

They'll be paying close attention to events after the Scheid Diesel Extravaganza.

Police say many of the after parties will host hundreds of trucks and people, which can lead to dangerous situations. They're asking for compliance from folks who attend these parties. They will be out in full force.

They want folks to have fun, but they also want them to stay safe.

"Any time that you have maybe 500 to 800 people at one party, maybe pushing a thousand, you know that has the potential for danger. So we're going to try to be on top of that at the get go," ISP Sgt. Joe Watts said.

Indiana State Police say things like reckless driving, burnouts, excessive smoke, and speeding are all traffic violations and will land in a citation for the driver.

Those violations will end in arrest if police find alcohol is involved.Fort Wayne, Ind. (WFFT) - In a press release Attorney General Curtis Hill today praised a U.S. District Court decision ordering the Internal Revenue Service to repay Indiana and five other states more than $839 million because of an unlawful Obamacare tax on state Medicaid programs. Of that total, the court ordered that approximately $95 million should be returned to Indiana.

Indiana joined in a multistate lawsuit filed in October 2015 against the federal government over an Obama-era regulation. Under that rule, federal authorities threatened to withhold Medicaid funds unless state taxpayers paid a portion of the Health Insurance Providers Fee to help fund the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare.

The feds wrongfully took Indianas money to fund Obamacare, Attorney General Hill said. Since the federal government cannot tax the states, we are pleased to return this illegally collected money to Hoosiers.

The five other states that now can expect repayments from the IRS are Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, Texas and Wisconsin.

Indiana, meanwhile, remains involved in efforts challenging the overall constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act.English Portuguese Spanish

SAO PAULO, Brazil, Aug. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rio Alto Energia, a Rio Alto Group company, will deliver the Brazilian solar photovoltaic power plant project in the city of Coremas, in the backlands of Paraiba. The complex consisting of 10 plants will have the capacity to generate 300 MWp and three of them are already in operation, generating 93 MWp in an area of 300 hectares.



We founded the Rio Alto Group in 2009 with the goal of developing renewable energy projects, but above all, thinking about the future of next generations and sustainable development. I am proud to participate in the transformation of the city of Coremas and contribute to a greener economy in Brazil, remarked Rafael Brandao, co-founder of the Rio Alto Group.

In order to make the project feasible, which will generate jobs and opportunities in the region, the Rio Alto Group was financed by Banco do Nordeste and Banco BTG Pactual, having also established important partnerships with the European Union, a pioneer in renewable energies and solutions against climate change. Among the partner companies there is Nordic Power Partners, a joint venture between the IFU (Danish Investment Fund) and EE (European Energy).

The other seven plants with a capacity of 210 MWp are already fully developed and ready for deployment. By 2040, it is estimated that the solar and wind energy production will exceed the production of hydroelectric power in Brazil, and may reach 40% of the national energy matrix.

About Rio Alto Group

Founded in 2009, Rio Alto Group specializes in the development of renewable energy projects, energy commercialization, construction and asset management and structured products. Consisted of by the companies Rio Alto Energia, Construtora, Comercializadora and Mais Asset, the group has, as founding partners, Edmond Farhat, Rafael Brandao and Sergio Reinas.

More information

www.gruporioalto.com.br

Phone: +55 (11) 3546-0900Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian woman imprisoned in Tehran since 2016 on spying charges, has been temporarily released, the Free Nazanin campaign said in a statement Thursday.

The release is initially for three days, the statement said, but Zaghari-Ratcliffe's lawyer is hopeful this can be extended.

Continents and regions Iran Middle East Middle East and North Africa Tehran Europe Misc people Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe Northern Europe United Kingdom Boris Johnson Political Figures - Intl

"This was a very happy surprise after a number of false dawns recently, which had been increasingly unsettling," the campaign group said.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe is currently in Damavand, east of Tehran, with her family, including her 4-year-old daughter Gabriella.

"It will be just awesome for Gabriella to have mummy home finally," Zaghari-Ratcliffe said through the campaign group.

"We can play with her dolls house, and she can show me her toys. The thought of brushing her hair, and giving her a bath, of being able to take her to the park, and feed her, and sleep next to her -- it just kills me. It is still so hard to believe."

Zaghari-Ratcliffe was first detained at Tehran's airport in April 2016 while on her way back to the UK from visiting family with Gabriella, who was then 22 months old.

The Iranian government accused her of working with organizations allegedly attempting to overthrow the regime. She was sentenced to five years in jail and her child was placed in the care of her parents.

Her employer, the Thomson Reuters Foundation, rejected the allegations.

In May, Iranian media reported that she was due to face a new trial for "security-related" charges.

The Thomson Reuters Foundation CEO said she was "delighted" at Zaghari-Ratcliffe's temporary release.

"We see this as a positive sign and hope that this will lead to her permanent release and an end to her traumatic ordeal for good," Monique Villa said in a statement.

Writing on Twitter, British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt described Thursday's announcement as "really good news," but called for Zaghari-Ratcliffe's permanent release.

"Being in prison AT ALL is gross injustice and she must be PERMANENTLY released for which every effort will continue," he wrote.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe's husband, Richard Ratcliffe, has been the driving force behind the Free Nazanin campaign and has been very critical in the past of the UK government's handling of the case.

While acknowledging Thursday that he "may need to be critical again," he thanked Hunt and all those involved in negotiating his wife's temporary release. "Today is a good day," he said.

'A genuine surprise'

Zaghari-Ratcliffe's release is subject to certain conditions, according to the campaign group. She is not allowed to leave the country, visit the grounds of any foreign embassy or conduct interviews with the media.

According to the group, it is standard practice for prisoners in Iran to be released for a short period initially, but for their furlough then to be extended. Zaghari-Ratcliffe's lawyer will request an extension on Saturday, the group said.

Although Zaghari-Ratcliffe and her family had been aware of the possibility of temporary release for some time, they had lost hope that it could happen and were surprised to receive a phone call Thursday morning, according to the group. Zaghari-Ratcliffe was given just 10 minutes to get ready to leave Evin prison, the group said.

Earlier this year, she had requested a temporary release to visit Gabriella, whom she had not seen for more than two years and who celebrated her fourth birthday in June. Despite high hopes, her release was not authorized.

"Today was a genuine surprise after all the disappointments," Richard Ratcliffe said. "We have been burned by hope before, so it had been easier to presume disappointment would come again."

Diplomatic rift

Zaghari-Ratcliffe's imprisonment sparked a diplomatic spat between Britain and Iran.

In December last year, then British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson visited Tehran to try to raise Zaghari-Ratcliffe's case with the Iranian government.

The visit came a month after Johnson was forced to apologize for a serious misstep in which he told a UK parliamentary committee that Zaghari-Ratcliffe had been teaching journalism during her visit to Iran. He later clarified that she had been visiting relatives before she was detained.

The comments apparently led to Zaghari-Ratcliffe being summoned to an unscheduled court hearing, at which Johnson's remarks were cited as proof that she had engaged in "propaganda against the regime."

Johnson later backtracked and apologized for his comments.COLUMBUS, Miss. (WTVA) - A child was treated at a local hospital and a woman was arrested for child abuse in Columbus.

Shanita Williamson, 28, of Columbus, was arrested August 16. She also faces the charge of providing false information to police.

Columbus Police Chief Fred Shelton says this was not a random case.

He says the victim is related to Williamson. However, the specific relation was not released.

Shelton says the child was later released from medical care.(WTVA) - A West Point man has lost an attempt to have his 105-year prison sentence overturned.

Terry Lamont Hill, 45, is serving the time for rape, kidnapping and robbery.

Hill was one of two men arrested in May 2016 after a woman was raped and the man with her robbed at an apartment complex in Starkville.

Hill was later convicted at trial and the judge ordered him to serve 105 years in prison.

Hill later appealed claiming the judge erred in not allowing him to represent himself and not allowing his attorney to withdraw from the case.

Justices say the court record showed three days before the trial, he agreed to allow his attorney to continue representing him.

They also say the evidence presented in the case supports his conviction.

Hill is serving his sentence in the East Mississippi Correctional Facility.STARKVILLE, Miss. (WTVA) - Police charge a Eupora man with attempted murder after a shooting at The Block Townhomes.

Carson Clement, 19, of Eupora, was arrested Wednesday in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, for a felony warrant, police said. Clement is accused of being a suspect in a shooting incident on August 16, around 10:20 p.m.

Following the arrest, Clement was taken to the Oktibbeha County jail where his bond was set at $250,000, according to police.

His bond has been set at $250,000. Clement will be appearing before a judge next week to lower that bond.

This is a developing story.UPDATE 08/24/18 1:23 p.m.

Shelby County, Tennessee, deputies say the brothers were at a local Dollar General trying to get supplies to treat wounds they suffered in the shootout, reports WMC-TV in Memphis.

(L-R): Jeremy Rooker, Timothy Rooker

Suspects' overturned vehicle on CR 102 Suspects' overturned vehicle on CR 102

This is on County Road 102. This is on County Road 102. (L-R): Jeremy Rooker, Timothy Rooker

The brothers' mother was also with them. She was arrested for aiding and abetting.

Both brothers were arrested and taken to the hospital. The TV station reports they're being treated for their wounds.

UPDATE 08/24/18 11:09 a.m.

U.S. Marshals confirm both fugitives have been captured in Shelby County, Tennessee.

UPDATE 08/23/18 at 11:15 p.m.

INGOMAR, Miss. (WTVA) - The names of the three men involved in a pursuit in Union County, which ended in gunfire, have been identified, according to Sheriff Jimmy Edwards.

Two brothers, Timothy Rooker, 23, and Jeremy Rooker, 21, are on the run, but Adarious Porterfield, 18, was captured at the scene of the chase and sits at the Union County jail, Edwards said.

The chase started as a deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop. After trying to pull over an SUV from Desoto County, deputies were led on a high-speed chase.

When the suspects reached County Road 102, their vehicle overturned, according to Edwards.

Edwards said Timothy Rooker stepped out of the vehicle with what appeared to be a sawed-off shotgun, and that is when deputies fired shots.

One of the brothers has stolen a truck from WW Farms, Edwards said.

Edwards added the brothers have separated and he believes they could be headed back to Memphis where they are from.ADEL, GA (WALB) - The final suspect in a recent Eldorado shooting and armed robbery was arrested, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Caleb Day, 21, was arrested in Adel after a warrant was taken out on him for armed robbery and felony murder after Akhatar Perveez, a convenience store owner, was shot and killed on July 30.

Caleb was booked into the Cook County Jail and will be transported to the Tift County Jail, according to the GBI.

Caleb was on the run and the GBI asked for the public's help in finding him.

The second suspect, Alexis McCrary, 21, turned herself in to the Tift County Jail on Aug. 20.

A third suspect, Nathaniel Day, 21, was also charged and was already incarcerated at the Ben Hill County Jail, according to the GBI.

On July 30, the Tift County Sheriff's Office requested the GBI assist with a death investigation at the Eldorado Food Mart.

The GBI ruled Perveez's death a homicide by gunshot wound, according to law enforcement.

Copyright 2018 WALB. All rights reserved.

ELDORADO, GA (WALB) - A suspect in a Tift County armed robbery and murder turned herself in Monday, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Alexis McCrary, 21, turned herself into the Tift County Jail, GBI officials said.

Warrants were sought on McCrary for armed robbery and party to the crime of felony murder.

A second suspect, Caleb Day, 21, remains at large, according to the GBI. GBI agents have charged Caleb Day with felony murder and armed robbery.

GBI also issued an arrest warrant for Nathaniel Day, 21, who was already behind bars in the Ben Hill County Jail for another armed robbery.

Arrest warrants were issued Aug. 16 for the three suspects in connection with the armed robbery and murder of Ahktar Perveez, 50, Tift County convenience store owner.

Nathaniel Day has been charged with armed robbery and party to the crime of murder.

MORE: Identity released of Tift Co. store owner found dead

The GBI said that on Monday, July 30, around 3:25 in the afternoon, Perveez was shot and killed during a robbery.

Anyone with information is asked to call the GBI at (229) 777-2080 or the Tift County Sheriff's Office at (229) 388-6021.

Copyright 2018 WALB. All rights reserved.MARIANNA, Fla. (WTXL) - A local mother has been charged with child neglect after her 6-year-old son was shot in the head in late January 2018.

Whitney Smith, the mother of 6-year-old Ervin Sims, was arrested and charged with child neglect.

Ervin died days after being accidentally shot in the head by a family member on Jan 26. The 6-year-old died days after the shooting.

After conducting a thorough investigation, the Jackson County Sheriffs Office filed a complaint with the State Attorney on February 27, 2018, against Smith.

As a result, the State Attorney issued a warrant for Smith's arrest on child neglect charges. On Wednesday, Smith was arrested and taken to the Jackson County Corrections Facility to await first appearance.

MARIANNA, Fla. (AP) - A 6-year-old Florida boy has died days after being accidentally shot in the head by a family member.

The News Herald reports Ervin Gerard Sims Jr. died Tuesday while being treated for injuries sustained in the Friday night shooting at a home in Mariana, which is in Florida's Panhandle.

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office said the child was air-lifted to Pensacola for treatment. They have not released many details about the shooting, including who shot the gun.

Officials said this is the second accidental shooting of a child in Jackson County during January. An 8-year-old girl suffered a gunshot would when a weapon accidentally charged on Jan. 7. She was also taken to a Pensacola hospital in stable condition.

No charges have been made in that case.

MOBILE USERS: Download our WTXL news app on your Apple and Android devices for the latest from South Georgia and North Florida. Also, download our WTXL First Alert Weather app for Apple and Android devices to get the latest local weather wherever you go.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for additional local news and hourly updates.TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Thursday's a big day for FAMU students as they get ready to move into their new dorm rooms.

WTXL ABC's Jada Williams was live Thursday morning with a break down of move in day for the new school year.

FAMU is getting ready to welcome about 1,200 first-time in college students, many of whom were moving into their dorm rooms Thursday.

University leaders, employees, students and alumni are all coming out to help students and parents move in.

FAMU students not moving into dorm rooms Thursday can still come out to campus to learn more about off-campus housing options.

The Housing Fair is Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Efferson Student Union Multipurpose Room.

The festivities for returning students continues on Sunday with the New Student Pinning Ceremony featuring New York Times best-selling author Wes Moore as the speaker.

That starts at 4 p.m. at the Al Lawson Center.TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Two Tallahassee women were arrested after a traffic stop for a seatbelt violation led police to find over 40 grams of meth, multiple pills and hundreds of dollars in cash inside their car.

Lisa King and Tedesta Longver were arrested by the Leon County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, deputies saw Longver driving her car without a seatbelt, so they conducted a traffic stop. When deputies approached Longver on the driver's side window, they saw the seatbelt was underneath her and they explained the reason for the stop.

Longver admitted to deputies she was not wearing her seatbelt and was sorry. King was in the passenger seat and both stated they did not have any identification.

Deputies were able to identify both by their photographs on DAVID.

The police report states, Longver seemed nervous as her speech pattern was slow and she would not make eye contact with deputies. Deputies stated King also appeared nervous and could not sit still, moving around on the inside of the car.

Longver told deputies that her driver's license was not good and a criminal history check showed that her license has been revoked since Oct. 2005 and that she had six previous driving while licensed revoked citations.

Longver could not provide insurance or registration information to deputies and was arrested for DWLSR.

When deputies asked Longver if there were any weapons or drugs in the car, she said there was not and gave officers permission to search the car.

During the search of the car, deputies found a glass smoking pipe with methamphetamine inside a bandanna and three more grams of meth inside a small twist top container.

There was also a Visa credit card with Longver's name on it and a black digital scale. Deputies saw King holding a purse and asked if they could search it, to which she replied they could.

While searching the purse, deputies found a prescription bottle of Clindamycin that belonged to another person, a bag of syringes, and a small plastic cellophane containing four Phendimetrazine Tartrate pills, which is a class three controlled substance.

King was then arrested for possession of controlled substance without a prescription.

According to the police report, deputies found another purse with a wallet that contained King's Florida identification, which she told deputies she didn't have.

Deputies also found three digital scales, a glass smoking pipe, and an eye glass case with a plastic bag containing 47.5 grams of meth inside that purse. Inside another wallet was $653 in cash and two white packages of Buprenorphine and Naloxone Sublingual Film.

When deputies searched King, she was found with a container containing .5 grams of meth, a clear tube containing six Oxycodone pills, and a plastic bag that had "meth shake," which is commonly scraped out of pipes.

Longver admitted the meth pipe in the bandanna and the meth found in the purse and scale was hers. She stated she got the meth from King and was picking King up to head back to her house. Longver told officers she has been trying to stop using drugs.

King stated to officers that the prescription pills, the 47.5 grams of meth, scales, pipe, and cash found was all hers.

Based on the evidence, Longver is being charged with possession of a controlled substance, DWLSR third or subsequent, and issued a seatbelt ticket. King is being charged with trafficking methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, and possession of paraphernalia.

Both were taken to the Leon County Detention Center.WAKULLA COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - Tests in Shell Point Beach report bacteria in the water that could cause health concerns.

To make sure water is safe for us to swim in, the Florida Department of Health tests the quality of coastal waters weekly.

One place that didn't pass the test was Shell Point Beach in Crawfordville.

That's because on Aug. 20, scientist found something unusual in the Gulf.

"Enterococcus is a bacteria that only lives in warm-blooded creatures. So it could be in a raccoon, a possum, or a person," said Sean McGlynn, Principal Investigator with McGlynn Labs Inc. "And usually it indicates sewage."

So how does this end up in coastal waters? McGlynn and someone who does the exact same test as the state, says septic tanks are commonly the culprit and heavy rain just makes it worse.

"Septic tanks will go under water and be inundated and they will flush and their contents will come out and run off into the stormwater," said McGlynn. "And stormwater ponds typically have high bacteria in them. That's why there's no swimming or fishing in them."

According to doctors if you swim in water that has this type of bacteria in it, you can get sick.

"Flu-like symptoms, especially fever, chills, body aches you need to have yourself checked, make sure you're not developing some type of sepsis, especially if you've been in those areas and you have open wounds or open sores," said Lucinda Rosebush, Sepsis Coordinator at Capital Regional Medical Center.

Rosebush says sepsis is considered a medical emergency and if you have signs pointing to it, you should see your doctor immediately.

The good news, the bacteria typically only survives a few days outside of a human or animal body.

McGlynn says if the rains hold off, the water samples should improve in the next day or two.

WAKULLA COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - The Florida Department of Health says Wakulla County's Shell Point Beach has tested positive for high levels of a bacteria that causes meningitis and other serious infections.

According to FDOH, Shell Point Beach got a 'poor' bacteria rating in its last beach sample due to the bacteria Enterococcus. The beach was recently reopened in May 2018 after a county restoration project.

The latest sample was collected on Monday. Officials say a poor rating is given when there is 70.5 or greater Enterococci per 100 milliliters of marine water.

Enterococcus can be found in your intestines and genital track, but can also be found in the environment. FDOH says the presence of enteric bacteria can be an indication of fecal pollution, which may come from stormwater runoff, pets and wildlife, and human sewage.

If they are present in high concentrations in recreational waters and are ingested while swimming or enter the skin through a cut or sore, they may cause human disease, infections or rashes.

According to the book Enterococcal Disease, Epidemiology, and Implications for Treatment, enterococci can cause of variety of infections, most commonly urinary tract infections.

However, enterococci can also cause serious infections like bacteremia, which is caused by bacteria in the blood and endocarditis, which is an infection of the inner surface of the heart. Other infections less commonly or rarely seen caused by enterococci include meningitis, septic arthritis, and pneumonia.

Enterococci can also develop resistance to the antibiotic its most commonly treated with, vancomycin, making it difficult to get rid of and sometimes leading to fatality.

All Florida beaches are tested regularly for enterococci, which the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recommended states adopt as a saltwater quality indicator.

An advisory has not yet been issued. According to FDOH, a poor rating may result in a resampling to confirm the conditions. If a resampling is again found to be poor, then an advisory would be issued for the sampling site.

Records show Shell Point received five poor ratings in 2017 and one other poor rating in March 2018. About a month before Monday's sampling, the beach received a 'good' rating.

We are reaching out to officials for more information about the rating system and what that means for beachgoers.MIDWAY, Fl. (WTXL) -- There is a disturbance over Western Africa that will soon move into the eastern Atlantic.

It has a 20% chance of developing in the next five days as it pushes west into the ocean in the coming days.

No other tropical disturbance in the Atlantic exists at this point in time.

You can catch the forecast on ABC 27 News starting at 5:00 each weekday morning, as well as ABC 27 News at Noon. First Alert Chief Meteorologist Casanova Nurse has your forecast at 5:00, 5:30, 6:00, and 11:00 this evening.

Remember to follow WTXL First Alert on Social Media.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WTXLFirstAlert/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/WTXLFirstAlertSource: Xinhua| 2018-08-22 20:00:17|Editor: xuxin

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ZAGREB, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Workers in two Croatian shipyards, "Uljanik" in Pula and "3. Maj" in Rijeka which are under the management of Uljanik Group, started on Wednesday morning a strike because of their unpaid salaries for July.

In Pula, one of the best-known tourist spots in Croatia, workers came out of the shipyard and blocked a road. Police have entered the shipyard while the workers' representatives and the company management are trying to negotiate the end of the strike.

Workers are demanding the leave of the company management. "The management is responsible for this situation. They have brought us here and we ask them to step down," Boris Cerovac, the president of the Union told reporters. He said that the Croatian government is responsible as well and called it to help people get their wages.

Croatian Administration Minister Lovro Kuscevic told reporters on Wednesday that Uljanik is a big problem for the Croatian economy, but the government has no fault in that. He stressed that Uljanik is a private company and that the management of the company should be more serious about this problem.

Uljanik is one of the oldest shipyards in the world. It was founded in 1856 and throughout the years has gone through different phases of development as well as different owners. The Uljanik Group has been in financial difficulties for several years.

On August 19, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic told reporters that the government is communicating with both Uljanik and the European Commission in an attempt to find a solution of the company's future.

They are looking, he said, if the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development (HBOR) can give a new loan to enable a completion of orders and further functioning of Uljanik shipyard.

Shipbuilding is a very important industrial sector in Croatia. According to the report published by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in 2015, Croatian shipyards and subcontractors shared up to ten percent of Croatian employment, two percent of GDP and ten to 15 percent of Croatian export.

Until recently, large Croatian shipyards have been in State's majority or exclusive ownership, but it has changed and most have been restructured or are in a restructuring phase.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 00:01:28|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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JUBA, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Several South Sudanese rebel groups have been hit by a wave of mass defections to the government since an amnesty was granted to armed groups in the country's civil war early this month, a spokesman for the military said Wednesday.

Lul Ruai Koang, Spokesperson for the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), told journalists in Juba that at least four senior rebel commanders and hundreds of forces have crossed over to the government since the start of the week, and security agencies are negotiating more returns.

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir last week pardoned his rival and former deputy Riek Machar and other estranged groups, after they signed a new peace deal in neighboring Sudan on Aug. 5.

"Every group that has come back to us will have a very positive impact in terms of reducing insecurity, in terms of encouraging others who have not joined the peace process," Koang said when he received some of the defectors at the airport.

The opposition groups most hit by the latest defections are the South Sudan United Front led by former army chief Paul Malong, the South Sudan United Movement/Army commanded by Peter Gadet and the SPLA- IO led by Machar.

William Weithiang Mut, who was Gadet's deputy until recently arrived at the capital, Juba on Wednesday accompanied by some 300 forces.

The rebel defector said he abandoned rebellion to join the path of reconciliation in the war-torn East African nation.

James Okuk, a lecturer of Political Science at the University of Juba said the mass defecation is prompted by the recently signed peace deal as many armed groups scramble for opportunities in the proposed power sharing government.

"These guys are realizing that rebellion is not lucrative anymore and there are consequences ahead. So the perceived opportunities in the peace deal are attracting them," Okuk said.

South Sudan descended into civil war in late 2013, and the conflict has created one of the fastest growing refugee crises in the world. The UN estimates that about 4 million South Sudanese have been displaced internally and externally.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 00:01:28|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- A wreath-laying ceremony was held at UN Headquarters in New York on Wednesday to mourn the death of former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Current Secretary-General Antonio Guterres paid tribute at the ceremony and signed a condolence book for Annan.

"We are here to pay tribute to Kofi Annan, one of the best of us, a man who embodied United Nations values and made us all proud to call ourselves his colleagues," Guterres told the ceremony.

"Kofi Annan's years in office were an exciting time. He put forward new ideas. He brought new people into the United Nations family. He spoke passionately about our mission and our role. He created a renewed sense of possibility both inside and outside our organization about what the UN could do and could be for the world's people."

Annan, a Ghanaian diplomat, died on Saturday in Switzerland. He served as UN secretary-general for 10 years till the end of 2006.

In a statement issued on the day of Annan's death, Guterres described Annan as "a guiding force for good" and a good friend and mentor of his. Guterres was picked by Annan as UN High Commissioner for Refugees in 2005.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 00:16:34|Editor: mmm

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Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (2nd R) meets with a Philippine government delegation led by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 22, 2018. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

BEIJING, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with a Philippine government delegation led by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez in Beijing on Wednesday.

Wang said relations between China and the Philippines have entered a fast track and shown good momentum of improvement and development under the guidance of the two countries' leaders, which is in the fundamental and long-term interests of the two people.

"China is willing to strengthen high-level exchanges with the Philippines to promote pragmatic cooperation to a new level," Wang said, also expressing hope for the Philippines' active involvement in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Speaking highly of the Belt and Road Initiative, Dominguez said the Philippines would continue to take part in it actively. He also said the Philippines highly appreciates and will attend the first China International Import Expo to be held in Shanghai from Nov. 5 to 10.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 00:16:35|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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JUBA, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan's Health Ministry said on Wednesday that it has stepped up Ebola surveillance following an outbreak of the deadly virus in its southern neighbor, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Health Minister Riek Gai Kok told reporters that the government has teamed up with partners to strengthen disease surveillance in key entry points and border areas shared with the DRC.

He said the government has formed a national response team composed of the World Health Organization (WHO) and other aid organizations to draft an emergency response plan to respond to any suspected case of Ebola in the war-torn East African nation.

Despite the ongoing insecurity that has engulfed South Sudan since 2013, Kok said the country is prepared to tackle any outbreak with the support of aid organizations.

Evans Liyosi, WHO representative in South Sudan, said South Sudan is close to DRC from where the latest transmission is occurring, therefore it is crucial to get prepared before disaster hits.

He said monetary support is needed to help the war-torn country improve its existing health infrastructure in order to strengthen its response health emergencies.

According to the WHO, Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a severe, often fatal illness for humans. The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 00:21:35|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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BEIJING, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- China's disaster relief authorities have launched a level IV emergency response plan to help flood victims in Anhui Province, the Ministry of Emergency Management said Wednesday.

About 2.63 million people in the east China region were affected by floods as rivers saw surging water levels due to heavy rains and influxes of water from upper reaches. As of 8 a.m. Wednesday, 12 people had been reported dead and one missing. More than 100,000 people have been evacuated.

According to the regional civil affairs authority, over 400 houses collapsed while some 34,000 houses were badly damaged. Around 330,700 hectares of crops were destroyed.

The Ministry of Emergency Management has sent work teams to flood-hit regions to oversee relief efforts.

Anhui has earmarked 10 million yuan (1.46 million U.S. dollars) in disaster relief funding and sent 370 tents, 12,000 quilts, clothes, food, bottled water and other supplies to flood-hit regions.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 00:41:41|Editor: mmm

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BEIJING, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- China's State Council on Wednesday sent 31 inspection teams across the country to make sure major policies issued by central authorities are being effectively implemented.

The priorities include the work on the "three tough battles" of controlling risk, reducing poverty and tackling pollution, rural revitalization strategy, expanding domestic demand and promoting opening-up, cutting red tape, lowering fees and taxes, improving the business climate, innovation, job creation, health and elderly care.

Each team will stay at one provincial area for 10 to 12 days, conducting open talks and private interviews with people in communities, hospitals, schools, businesses, research institutes, and government service halls. The inspection teams will also open social media accounts to receive complaints from the public.

The State Council said it will take follow-up measures to address the issues found during the inspection.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 01:21:53|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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VILNIUS, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Lithuanian government presented a new agreement on defense policy for the upcoming decade to the country's parliamentary parties on Wednesday.

The agreement is aimed at ensuring the continuity of Lithuania's defense policy throughout changeovers of the country's governments, said representatives of the government to local media.

The cabinet has sent the draft version of the agreement to seven parliamentary parties for further discussions.

"This national agreement is valid until 2030 and will be implemented constantly by the state authorities, regardless of election cycles, political campaigns, results and changes of political powers," reads the draft agreement, as quoted by BNS news agency.

The agreement would also include the commitment to increase the country's defense spending to up to 2.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030.

In 2018, Lithuania's defense expenditures are 873 million euros (1.01 billion U.S. dollars), or 2.01 percent of the country's GDP.

The decision to increase defense spending would push it further above the NATO target of 2.0 percent.

The previous national agreement on defense policy was signed in 2014 when parliamentary parties agreed to increase defense spending to meet the NATO target.

The new agreement would also include strengthening various parts of the Lithuanian Army, BNS reported.

Lithuania, a small Baltic country with a population of less than three million and NATO's eastern-flank member, has been strengthening its defense capabilities since 2014.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 01:21:53|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia's Southern regional state on Wednesday disclosed the arrest of some 300 individuals in connection with participation in recent violence.

The arrest of the reported 300 suspects by the regional police is said to be part of the nationwide effort to ensure rule of law in the country as vigilante violence incidents are presently affecting various parts of the east African country, state affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate (FBC) quoted regional officials as saying on Wednesday.

The move by Ethiopia's Southern regional government followed recent deadly riots, in which weeks of riots in June this year in various parts of the region had left more than 15 people dead and many others injured, according to figures from the local government.

The largest number of casualties happened in the regional state capital Hawassa city, where days of riot in June had left some 10 people dead and 89 others injured.

The riots in Hawassa city are said to have involved ethnic Sidamas, the original inhabitants of the city and the neighboring Wolaita ethnic group.

Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, on Sunday urged citizens to abide by the rule of law so as to avoid recurrent violence in the country.

The country is currently facing the negative impacts of misunderstanding between freedom and disorder, eventually affecting the country's peace and security efforts, Ahmed said.

The violence, mostly based on ethnic and religious lines, has put into question the stability of Ethiopia, which already hosts around 2.8 million internally displaced persons, according to figures from the United Nations.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 02:02:02|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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KHARTOUM, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan's conflicting parties have reached consensus on a final peace deal draft expected to be signed with initial letters in Khartoum on Aug. 27, South Sudan's Information Minister said Wednesday.

"We are expected to sign with initial letters on a comprehensive peace agreement next Monday," South Sudan's Information Minister and government spokesman Michael Makuei told Xinhua Wednesday.

"The parties have overcome most of the issues of differences which we discussed during the third round of South Sudan's peace talks starting in Khartoum on Aug. 13," he noted.

He said the current round of talks discussed issues that were not resolved in the framework and the power-sharing and security arrangements agreements.

"We have discussed issues relating to powers of the vice presidents, formation of the committees responsible for formulating the constitution, the judiciary committee and the number of the states and their borders," said Makuei.

The comprehensive deal, expected to be signed on Aug. 27, will be complementary to the previous two agreements and include resolutions of outstanding issues that had not been resolved before.

Last June, the parties, negotiating in the Sudanese capital Khartoum, signed Khartoum Peace Agreement on South Sudan.

Also, on Aug. 5, the parties signed a deal on power-sharing and security arrangements.

The third round of peace talks between the South Sudanese rivals started in Khartoum on Aug. 13 to discuss the outstanding issues relating to powers of the president and vice presidents, representation in the judicial authority, revision of the number of the states and naming new ministries.

Earlier, the South Sudanese opposition alliance demanded revision of the administrative division of South Sudan and reconsideration of the number of the 32 states.

In October 2015, South Sudanese President Salva Kiir issued a decree dissolving the Council of the States, which operated under the administrative division of ten states, and establishing 28 states.

In January 2017, Kiir issued a separate decree establishing an additional four states.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 02:07:04|Editor: zh

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Workers forklift packaged industrial materials in a warehouse in Athens, Greece, on Aug. 21, 2018. Increased exports of goods and services held a key role in Greece's exit from the bailout programs after eight years, according to official data. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)

by Maria Spiliopoulou, Valentini Anagnostopoulou

ATHENS, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Increased exports of goods and services held a key role in Greece's exit from the bailout programs after eight years, according to official data.

Although many industries were hit hard by recession and industrial units moved abroad to deal with tax hikes, Greece has potential for a dynamic comeback and should focus on "industry gain" to reverse the "industry drain", experts told Xinhua.

Greece's return to growth is attributed also to a rise in exports of goods and services, according to Greek Statistical Authority experts. By focusing on exports, Greek businesses tackled the sharp fall in domestic consumption, the experts explained in regular reports.

When the crisis broke out in late 2009, exports accounted to about 19 percent of Greece's GDP. By 2017 the share had climbed to 30 percent and the positive trend continues.

According to a recent National Bank of Greece survey the dynamic products that supported the ailing economy include basic commodities which had secured significant shares in international markets for years, such as aluminum, marble and olive oil, as well as quite new products in Greece's export portfolio, like yoghurt.

Greek exports grew strongly also in the first half of this year by 15.7 percent to 16.4 billion euros (19 billion U.S. dollars) compared to the same period in 2017, according to a Panhellenic Exporters Association report. In the same January-June period, imports stood at 27 billion euros.

Over taxation and the introduction of capital controls in the summer of 2015 were pinpointed as main factors obstructing further improvement by the Panhellenic Exporters Association.

Vassilis Korkidis, President of the Hellenic Confederation of Trade and SMEs (ESEE) and President of the Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), agreed.

"Capital controls limited business. A country with capital controls, as you can understand, loses also credibility abroad. Nevertheless, the private sector in our country managed to retain the good name we had created," he told Xinhua in a recent interview.

Although the indexes of industrial production and exports look good, the image is not entirely rosy.

"We are not selling our products at the prices we would like in order to have profit, but we export, because there is no domestic demand and we do not want to keep them on the shelves," he explained.

Korkidis suggested that the focus should shift also to sectors which can give more, like agricultural production.

"The industry has been hit hard. We all know by now that Greece cannot have heavy industry, but can have an industry with long history behind and know-how," he said.

"Many industrial units were transferred to other Balkan countries due to over taxation. Maybe it is time for their return, if the taxation rates for businesses decrease from the current 29 percent to 26 percent and then 20 percent within a couple of years. I believe that this is what should happen so that we can have an industry gain like we had the industry drain," he stressed.

"What we would like to see is every small import company developing into a small export company also," Korkidis told Xinhua.

Yorgos Kavvathas, President of the Hellenic Confederation of Professionals, Craftsmen and Merchants (GSEVEE) suggested also a national growth plan and emphasis on how to resolve the businesses' financing issues.

"A country with four systemic banks cannot move ahead to growth. She needs a Development bank of special purpose which will support those sectors of the economy which can become the steam engines that will pull forward the train of growth," he told Xinhua.

"What we need to do is to eventually draft a national strategic plan for growth which will determine the sectors that will be the drivers. And we do have such sectors," he stressed.

Constantinos Achladitis, CEO of Golden Cargo SA, a logistics and warehousing services company based at Piraeus port that is part of Greece's imports/exports supply chain, accommodating mainly the maritime sector, also referred to a positive climate of hope over the exit from bailouts, but also concern over pending issues.

"There is stability and an optimistic note from the second half of 2017, but still this has not reached the real economy," he told Xinhua.

Over taxation was a big issue, but a more flexible framework to support growth was also a prerequisite to move further, he said.

"The capability of Greek enterprises to become competitive in the international environment needs the lawmakers' support. The establishment of protectionism barriers still is hindering the Greek companies' development," Achladitis noted. (1 euro= 1.15 U.S. dollars)This file photo shows Iran's launching of an Emad long-range ballistic surface-to-surface missile in an undisclosed location on Oct. 11, 2015. (Iranian Defense Ministry)

TEHRAN, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Wednesday that they would strike Israeli cities with missiles if the Islamic country was threatened, according to local Mizan News Agency.

The Revolutionary Guards added that they will continue increasing Iran's defensive capabilities despite U.S. pressure to scrap its ballistic missile program.

On the same day, a senior Iranian cleric Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami warned that if his country was attacked by the United States and Israel, Tehran will give a tit-for-tat fightback.

Khatami told worshippers attending Eid prayers in Tehran that talks with U.S. President Donald Trump is impossible.

"Americans say you should accept what they say in the talks, which is not negotiation, but dictatorship. The Iranian nation would stand up against dictatorship," he was quoted as saying.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has rejected before Trump's offer of "unconditional talks on a new nuclear deal," saying that "if they (Americans) want to meet, that's fine; if they don't, I couldn't care less."

Khatami also stressed "the price of a war with Iran is very high," adding that if the Americans harm his country in the slightest way, "the U.S. and its main ally in the region, the Zionist regime (Israel), would be targeted."

On May 8, Trump pulled Washington out of the nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and vowed to reinstate sanctions against Tehran to make the latter "change behavior."

The U.S. government on Aug. 7 re-imposed sanctions on Iran on non-energy areas and will slap the remaining sanctions on Nov. 5 that concentrate on areas including energy, shipping and ports.U.S. President Donald Trump (1st L) welcomes Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (2nd L) at the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, on June 7, 2018. (Xinhua/Yang Chenglin)

WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- The White House said on Wednesday that U.S. President Donald Trump earlier in the morning had spoken with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe over phone about the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and their meeting at the upcoming UN General Assembly.

White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders said in a press briefing that Trump and Abe said during their conversation that they committed to maintaining strong sanctions on the DPRK.

The two leaders said they look forward to seeing each other at the UN meeting and will "continue these important conversations with allies."

U.S. Department of the Treasury on Tuesday sanctioned two entities and six vessels for violating the UN and U.S. sanctions on the DPRK, accusing them of involvement in ship-to-ship transfer of refined petroleum products with DPRK-flagged vessels, an activity prohibited by the UN Security Council.

"Consequences for violating these sanctions will remain in place" until the final and fully verified denuclearization of the DPRK is achieved, said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

The actions came after Trump said on Monday that he would "most likely" meet with the top leader of the DPRK, Kim Jong Un.

He also said that he believes Pyongyang had taken specific steps toward denuclearization.

In the joint statement after the June 12 Trump-Kim meeting in Singapore, Trump committed to provide security guarantees to the DPRK, while Kim reaffirmed his firm and unwavering commitment to a complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

The two leaders also agreed to commit to establish new U.S.-DPRK relations, and to build a lasting and stable peace regime on the peninsula.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 07:38:31|Editor: zh

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A helicopter of the Swiss Army airlifts water for cows over a mountain pasture on Suchet summit, west Switzerland, Aug. 22, 2018. Switzerland is experiencing its lowest rainfall in nearly a century, with mountain pastures shriveling and army helicopters being used to ferry water. (Xinhua/Xu Jinquan)Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 07:58:10|Editor: zh

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HAVANA, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Cubans were treated to free mobile Internet access on Wednesday as part of a pilot program by the state telecommunications company ETECSA.

More than 5 million prepaid cellular customers received a free 70 MB data package valid through midnight.

In a statement on its website, the company said it planned to roll out the service later this year and wanted to observe how the "data networks operate" and "adjust technical parameters."

On the streets of Havana, mobile users said they were happy about the free Internet, though some complained the connection was notably slower than usual.

ETECSA hasn't given a date for the start of the service or its costs, however it launched the service for foreign companies, embassies and journalists last year, charging a maximum of 40 U.S. dollars a month for four gigabytes of data.

A surprise pilot test earlier this month lasted five hours and saw some 800,000 people spontaneously log on, according to the company.

Currently Cuba has 1,651 public Internet access sites and 673 WiFi zones in parks, squares and other venues, according to local authorities.

In addition, 27,316 users have coveted home Internet service.

ETECSA is working to boost connectivity on the island and this year aims to install 150 new public WiFi areas and 52,500 home Internet connections. However, high service rates (a dollar an hour) are still an issue.

In the last two years, Internet access has expanded to 38.77 percent of the population, or more than 4 million Cubans."We have about 1,400 children just in our practice that will become eligible. If you imagine a third of that population calling us Monday to schedule the appointment as soon as possible, then you understand."Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 07:58:11|Editor: zh

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MEXICO CITY, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Marines seized 725 kilos of cocaine and arrested four men on a vessel in waters off the south Pacific Coast state of Guerrero, the Mexican Naval Ministry said on Wednesday.

In a press release, the ministry said marines made the arrests on Tuesday after air surveillance detected the boat 40 nautical miles (around 45 kilometers) southeast of Guerrero.

Seven boats and two aircraft were sent to intercept the vessel. On board, officers found 599 packets of cocaine with a combined weight of 725 kilos.

The Mexican Navy has increased its surveillance of the Pacific coast in the last two years due to the increase in drug smuggling via the coasts.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 09:43:25|Editor: zh

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by Luis Rojas

MEXICO CITY, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- MercadoLibre, a leading e-commerce company in Latin America, is expecting more partnerships with Chinese firms, a senior executive of the Argentina-headquartered company said.

Omar Galicia, marketing manager of Mercado, said the company has identified some 50 firms worldwide, including in China, to establish business ties with.

"We are definitely opening the door to Chinese companies, Chinese brands, Chinese manufacturers and many (businesses) there," Galicia told Xinhua during a recent interview in his Mexico City office.

MercadoLibre Mexico and JD.com, which Galicia described as "one of the biggest Chinese sites in the world," signed an agreement earlier this month to provide Mexican consumers easier access to Chinese commodities.

The companies will initially offer 6,000 items, ranging from electronics and jewelry to musical instruments unavailable in the local market.

The long-term goal is to provide Mercado's more than 25 million users in Mexico access to between 2 million and 3 million Chinese-made products, and boost sales, Galicia said.

JD.com is one of the most popular online shopping platforms in China that enjoys an advantage in electronic device sales over its domestic competitors. Mercado is Latin America's most visited e-commerce site.

In May, MercadoLibre Mexico also partnered with U.S. e-commerce giant eBay. So far eBay and JD are the company's only international partners.

Galicia said the partnership benefits both companies.

"They (JD.com) win because they are entering a new market and we win because we have more to offer our clients, so technically ... everybody wins," he said

According to the executive, the company will improve purchase delivery, which now takes 20 to 25 days.

He also said e-commerce has notable potential for growth in Mexico and other Latin American countries, where the level of penetration is still relatively low.

Today in Mexico, e-commerce accounts for just 2 percent of total retail sales, Galicia said.

"If in three years we account for 4 percent, or 7 percent like in Brazil, or 12 percent like in Argentina, that is clearly the parameter we are pursuing to see how far we can go," he said.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 10:23:35|Editor: zh

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CANBERRA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Australia has a "unique opportunity" to develop a world-leading hydrogen export industry, according to the nation's peak scientific body.

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) on Thursday released a roadmap to grow Australia's hydrogen industry.

The report found that "hydrogen presents a new export opportunity for Australia and could also play a significant role in enabling the further uptake of renewable energy."

Larry Marshall, chief executive officer (CEO) of the CSIRO, said that clean hydrogen could be cost-competitive with natural gas by 2025.

The CSIRO announced earlier in August that it had successfully turned hydrogen into ammonia and back again using membrane technology in a world first that will allow hydrogen to be safely shipped worldwide for use as a zero emission fuel.

Transporting hydrogen was previously implausible because of its low density and high flammability.

"Australia has a unique and urgent opportunity to turn significant natural resources, including coal, gas, and renewables like solar and wind energy, into a low-emissions energy product and ship it around the world - in some cases literally exporting Aussie sunshine," Marshall said in a media release on Thursday.

"CSIRO is at the forefront of innovation with our partners in industry, government and the research sector, like our recently developed, world-first membrane to separate hydrogen from ammonia for fuel cell vehicles."

Patrick Hartley, the CSIRO's Hydrogen Future Science Platform director, said there was clear interest in an Australian hydrogen industry.

"We've established a strong network of partners and collaborators that support current, practical research and technology development initiatives right across the hydrogen energy value chain," he said.Source: Xinhuanet| 2018-08-23 11:00:06|Editor: mym

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BEIJING, Aug. 23 (Xinhuanet) -- The core content of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is connectivity, and all the elements of it are what African countries need, said Zeng Aiping, deputy executive director of the China-Asian African Cooperation Centre, in a recent interview with Xinhuanet.

The Belt and Road Initiative is mainly a development initiative, according to Zeng.

Recently, China has signed cooperation documents with two of the African countries: Senegal and Rwanda on the BRI.

Zeng believed this has signified that an increasing number of African countries attach significant importance to China's proposal of the initiative, adding that "The BRI would be better understood and recognized by African countries."

"Especially in the areas of trade, infrastructure and investment, China can do a lotor the Belt and Road Initiative can do a lotand contribute a lot to African development," Zeng noted.

According to the statistics by China Customs, in January-December 2017, the import and export value of China-Africa trade amounted to US$170 billion, up 14.1% year on year, 2.7 percentage points higher than the general increase of foreign trade in the same period.

Zeng held a positive attitude towards total trade volume between China and Africa after the implementing of the Belt and Road Initiative.

He believed the initiative would certainly boost and further promote the trade volume between the two sides.

He firmly agreed that with the joint efforts of China and Africa, the Belt and Road Initiative would contribute enormously to the common development and prosperity of China and African countries.

"African countries are the natural partners of the Belt and Road Initiative. I am optimistic about the prospect of both African development and China's development," he concluded.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 11:23:45|Editor: zh

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SYDNEY, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Queensland (QLD) State government of Australia has proposed changes to transhipping laws which would limit cargo in the Great Barrier Reef.

QLD minister for environment Leeanne Enoch said the reef needs to be secured for future generations.

"The Reef is under threat, and we need to do everything we can to ensure it is protected," she said on Thursday.

"Our policy will prohibit transhipping within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and restrict transhipping operations in the World Heritage Area to areas that are declared ports only."

"For transhipping that occurs outside the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, appropriate environmental authorities will also be required."

Worth over 4.4 billion U.S. dollars to the Australian economy, the world heritage listed site also provides around 60,000 jobs to the local area

To develop the new policy, the state examined 2,246 public submissions during a lengthy consultation period.

But while the proposed changes may restrict some forms of shipping, Enoch confirmed that vital services would not be disrupted.

"We are committed to avoiding unnecessary impacts on communities, and this is why the policy will not apply to the supply of essential services to remote communities, marine emergency response practices, the movement of cargo between vessels while docked in a port, and refuelling activities," she said.

"In addition, the policy does not apply to packaged or containerized goods at any volume or to bulk materials where the quantity handled is under 100 tons per day."Homebound travelers travel on buses and trucks in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Aug. 20, 2018, during the Eid al-Adha festival. (Xinhua)

DHAKA, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- With due solemnity and religious fervor, Muslims across Bangladesh on Wednesday celebrated the first day of Eid-al-Adha that marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

In capital Dhaka and elsewhere across the country, Muslims offered special prayers seeking divine blessings, peace and prosperity in tens of thousands of congregations of Eid-al-Adha, also known as the festival of animal sacrifice.

The main congregation in Dhaka was held on Wednesday morning at the national Eidgah (ground specified for saying Eid prayers) in Dhaka where President Abdul Hamid and ministers, lawmakers and elite of society said their prayers amid tight security.

Security was beefed up in the country to avoid any untoward situation during the festival, which is celebrated by Muslims worldwide.

Homebound travelers crowd a train station in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Aug. 20, 2018, during the Eid al-Adha festival. (Xinhua)

The festival is celebrated on the 10th day of the twelfth and final month in the Islamic lunar calendar after holy Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

It also occurs approximately two months and 10 days after Eid-al-Fitr, another biggest religious festival which marks the end of Muslims' holy fasting month of Ramadan.

After prayers, Muslims in Bangladesh sacrificed millions of animals such as sheep, cows, goats and camels in the name of Allah almighty.

A man poses with his cattle ahead of the annual Eid al-Adha festival at a market in Dhaka,Bangladesh on Aug. 18, 2018. (Xinhua)

Bangladeshi Fisheries and Livestock Minister Narayon Chandra Chanda had earlier said some 23 million cattle are usually slaughtered in Bangladesh each year, and half of these are sacrificed during Eid-al-Adha.

Every Muslim who has financial means sacrifices animals and distributes the meat to family and the poor.

Millions of Muslims and non-Muslim poor people in Bangladesh, who cannot afford to buy meat even once in a year, get a chance of eating meat up to satisfaction as rich people will distribute much meat of their sacrificial animals among their poor neighbors and relatives.

The Bangladeshi government declared a three-day holiday starting from Tuesday on this occasion.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 11:48:48|Editor: mmm

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CHENGANNUR, India, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- A row has erupted between the Indian government and the government of flood-hit southernmost state of Kerala over receiving the financial aid committed by foreign countries.

While the central government "welcomed" contributions from non-resident Indians, people of Indian origin and international entities such as foundations and only "appreciated" offers from several countries, the state government has decided to hold parleys with the former to help transfer the 7 billion Indian Rupees (around 100 million U.S. dollars) aid committed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government.

A statement released by the country's Ministry of External Affairs said late Wednesday night, "The government of India deeply appreciates offers from several countries, including from foreign governments, to assist in relief and rehabilitation efforts after the tragic floods."

The statement added: "In line with the existing policy, the government is committed to meeting the requirements for relief and rehabilitation through domestic efforts. Contributions to the prime minister's Relief Fund and the chief minister's Relief Fund from NRIs, PIOs and international entities such as foundations would, however, be welcome."

Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac described the Union government's move to say no to foreign assistance as "a dog in the manger policy."

Issac tweeted on Wednesday night, "We asked Union government for financial support of 22 billion Indian Rupees, they grant us a precious 6 billion Indian Rupees. We make no request to any foreign government but UAE government voluntarily offer 7 billion Indian Rupees. No, says Union government, it is below our dignity to accept foreign aid. This is a dog in the manger policy."

State Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the "National Disaster Management Policy" provides provisions to accept voluntary offers from foreign nations in the wake of calamities.

"So far, a total of 3.8 billion Indian Rupees has been collected. Of this, 1.46 billion Indian Rupees came from various states, which contributed generously. This is apart from the contribution in the form of food grains from states like Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Telengana and Tamil Nadu," said the chief minister.

There are still 1.2 million people residing in over 3,314 relief camps across the state, the chief minister said, adding that all efforts have been taken to prevent shortage of medicine and food, and to ensure all facilities at the relief camps.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 12:58:58|Editor: Lu Hui

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- China has extended good faith in settling its trade dispute with the United States. As Vice Minister of Commerce and Deputy China International Trade Representative Wang Shouwen accepted the U.S. invitation and led a delegation here for resumed talks, the ball is in Washington's court to make this dialogue not another exercise in futility.

The two-day conversation merits applause and aspiration as the world's two largest economies came back to the table after over two months' escalation of confrontation. Its implication of a mutual desire to manage the current divergences and curb further spillovers into the global growth and financial stability is a matter of course.

Yet it always takes two to tango. Any fruit that might come from this round of exchange requires bonafide interactions and stand-in-your-shoes thinking on both sides. This is by no means a one-way street for China.

Although the U.S. delivery of invitation to China has shown its readiness for negotiating deals, the soul of "the art of the deal" lies more on ungrudging concession than on forced bargain. The maximum pressure approach featuring my-way-or-no-way logic and zero-sum mentality has proved infructuous to China, and risks a renewed no-win prospect.

Previous trade talks between the two countries have offered abundant lessons for both to circumvent misunderstanding and misjudgment while engaging in this hard-won opportunity for negotiations.

Among them is the requisite of a more sensible approach on the U.S. side that highlights mutual understanding rather than one-sided pressuring. Any mutually acceptable results of this round of talks must depend on two-way efforts, with two parties meeting each other halfway.

Also, as the saying goes, Rome was not built overnight. The different phases of development in China and the United States make the settlement of issues such as market access unattainable at one stroke; yet with vast areas of overlapping interests, the two sides should be more patient and seek common ground while putting aside differences.

The success of the discussions also requires a mutually recognized priority list of problems. However, Washington remains nubilous in this regard, given that the U.S. authorities such as the White House, the Treasury Department and the Office of the United States Trade Representative have been at cross purposes regarding their priorities with China.

As U.S. President Donald Trump said in his book on making deals, "the point is that you can't be too greedy." The two sides would hence be advisable to define their top concerns in this round of talks and outline a roadmap, in a bid to find a way out of the current impasse and towards the final settlement of the issues.

Moreover, since the significance of trustworthiness is second to none in negotiations, the U.S. side should be ready to re-engage in its commitments than renege on them, if it really means it. Any fruits of the bilateral dialogue will once against come to naught if Washington goes back on its word as it did before. Credibility for a state plays the role of character for a human being, and it's in a country's interests to keep faith with others.

While mulling its trade strategy on China, Washington cannot overlook the cries of U.S. industries affected or to be affected by its current confrontation with China. Warns of U.S. tactics' backfire effects, such as the disruption of global supply chain, the disability of U.S. private sector, job losses, and damage to the interests of consumers, have dominated the ongoing six-day public hearings process, which solicits business and industrial comments on the proposed tariffs on Chinese imports worth 200 billion U.S. dollars.

In fact, unilateral tariff tactic has never made its way in the U.S. history. Spillovers of a trade faceoff with the world's second largest economy will from each and every aspect be more biting than Washington could ever imagine.

Washington's huff-and-puff bluster and now-or-never ultimatum will only cut short the odd of a productive dialogue. The United States should rationally review the China-U.S. trade relations, look for a win-win solution to the dispute through equal negotiation with China, and jointly safeguard the open and rules-based multilateral trade system.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 13:03:59|Editor: zh

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday met with his British counterpart Jeremy Hunt to discuss the Russian "threat".

According to a statement issued by State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert, Pompeo and Hunt discussed "a number of global issues, including the ongoing threat posed by Russia's dangerous and destabilizing activity and Iran's malign behavior, the defeat ISIS campaign, as well as the humanitarian situation in Yemen."

"As close allies, the two committed to deepening cooperation on security and foreign policy issues and welcomed the prospect of a future free trade agreement," the statement read.

After their meeting, Pompeo and Hunt expressed their gratitude to U.S. diplomats expelled by Russia after the Western joint response to Russia's alleged use of a chemical weapon in a murder attempt in Britain.

Earlier on Tuesday, Hunt said in a speech at the United States Institute of Peace in Washington that the Western world should bluntly respond to Russia with "one voice."

Remarking that "the established rules of international conduct are repeatedly being flouted by major countries like Russia," he said "Russia's foreign policy under President (Vladimir) Putin has made the world a more dangerous place."

"Today the United Kingdom asks its allies to go further by calling on the European Union to ensure its sanctions against Russia are comprehensive, and that we truly stand shoulder to shoulder with the U.S.," Hunt said.

"That means calling out and responding to transgressions with one voice whenever and wherever they occur, from the streets of Salisbury to the fate of Crimea," he added.

In response to Hunt's remarks, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Britain had too high an opinion of itself and was trying to impose its Russia policy on the EU and the United States.

Relations between Russia and the West have deteriorated over the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain earlier this year. London accuses Moscow of involvement in the attack, an accusation Moscow denies.

Following the incident, more than two dozen Western countries, including the United States, expelled a large number of Russian diplomats. Russia expelled an equal number of foreign diplomats in response.

Washington has threatened to sanction Russia over the case in two phases. The first slew of sanctions would come into effect around Wednesday.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced sanctions on two entities and two Russian individuals. The same day, the Senate held two hearings on Russia, with administration officials telling lawmakers they would impose "much more economic pain" on Russia if it did not change its global behavior significantly.

Since January 2017, the Trump administration has sanctioned 217 Russia-related individuals and entities.

Moscow has questioned the U.S. seriousness to improve ties with Russia, and said it reserves the right to take additional countermeasures against U.S. diplomatic properties in Russia if Washington continues its hostility.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 13:08:59|Editor: zh

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RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Brazil is very optimistic about achieving the greenhouse gas emission reduction goal laid down in the Paris Agreement ahead of time, Brazilian Environment Minister Edson Duarte told state news agency Agencia Brasil on Wednesday.

Duarte, who participated in an international seminar in Montevideo, said Brazil's public policies have already helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2.6 million tons. Latin America and the Caribbean have important goals to achieve and Brazil's contribution is an important part of that achievement, he said.

"The creation of new conservation units and the balance between what stopped being emitted and what is being captured by our forests lead to very optimistic results for fulfilling the commitments ahead of time," he said.

Brazil has committed it will cut greenhouse gas emissions by 37 percent by 2025, and possibly by 43 percent by 2030.Authorities are seeking two women for allegedly attacking an A train rider who stepped on their foot.

The incident took place on Wednesday, August 22nd, around 12:10 p.m. in Inwood. According to the NYPD, a 24-year-old man on a northbound A train "mistakenly stepped on the foot" of a woman, and then a second woman "became irate and began a verbal dispute with the victim."



(NYPD)

When the subway got to the 207th Street station, the two women allegedly tried to block the man from leaving the train. Police say he was able to leave, but "the dispute continued in the mezzanine" and when the man was trying to leave the station, the first woman started to hit him with her purse while the second woman "displayed a box cutter and slashed the victim's lower left back and right arm."

The suspects fled, while the victim was taken to Allen Pavilion Hospital, where he was treated for two lacerations.

The NYPD released an image of the first woman (pictured, right), describing her as being about 25-years-old, 5'7" and 150 pounds with a medium build, long brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a white tank top. The second woman is described as being around 40-years-old, 5'5" and 150 pounds with brown hair and was last seen wearing a purple shirt.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.

Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 13:08:59|Editor: zh

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UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Security Council on Wednesday expressed concern over the lack of progress in the political situation in Burundi.

While the security situation in the East African country is generally calm, members of the Security Council are concerned over the slow progress of inter-Burundian dialogue and lack of engagement by the government, the UN body said in a press statement.

The members are calling on all Burundian stakeholders to participate unconditionally in the dialogue led by the East African Community and reach an agreement well ahead of the 2020 elections.

Stressing that dialogue is the only viable process for a sustainable political settlement, the council members welcomed the announcement by President Pierre Nkurunziza that he will not seek another term in 2020, which is seen as a first step toward reducing political tensions.

The Burundi political crisis dates back to April 2015, when President Nkurunziza sought a controversial third term.

The council members said they hope the 2020 elections will be free, fair, peaceful and fully inclusive, with the participation of all political parties and women. The political and human rights situation has to be considerably improved and progress made on reconciliation to enable credible elections, they said.

The council members are asking other states in the region to refrain from any interference and respect their obligations under international law.

The humanitarian situation in Burundi has been deteriorating with nearly 180,000 Burundians internally displaced, nearly 400,000 seeking refuge in neighboring countries, and 3.6 million people in need, they said.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 13:39:03|Editor: zh

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NEW DELHI, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley resumed office Thursday after nearly a four-month break for a kidney surgery.

"The President of India, as advised by the Prime Minister, has directed to assign portfolios of the Minister of Finance and Minister of Corporate Affairs to Arun Jaitley," a statement said.

Jaitely, 65, went on medical leave in April for the kidney surgery on May 14, handing over the charge of his ministry to Indian Railway Minister Piyush Goyal.

Though he has been on best rest, Jaitley has been active on social media and wrote blogs on topics such as goods and services tax and no-confidence motion against the Indian government.

Jaitely is one of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's senior ministers and a prominent lawyer.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 13:49:04|Editor: zh

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CANBERRA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Embattled Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said Thursday he would resign from the parliament if a second vote challenging his leadership in the ruling Liberal Party was convened Friday.

Turnbull had defeated Peter Dutton, former Home Minister in his cabinet, in a party room leadership ballot Tuesday. Dutton now called for a second vote to challenge Turnbull's leadership.

Turbull Thursday called on supporters of Dutton to produce a petition with signatures of 43 out of 85 Liberal Party of Australia Members of Parliament (MPs) for the second party meeting to be held on Friday.

If the meeting was convened, Turbull would not stand as a candidate at the ballot and would resign from parliament, he announced Thursday.

"The reality is that a minority in the party room supported by others outside the Parliament have sought to bully, intimidate others into making this change of leadership that they're seeking," Turnbull told reporters in Canberra on Thursday.

"I think what we're witnessing, what we have witnessed at the moment is a very deliberate effort to pull the Liberal Party further to the right."

It was reported that Treasurer Scott Morrison, a Turnbull supporter, was preparing to run against Dutton as a moderate candidate in place of Turnbull if a second ballot was held.

The meeting would only go ahead if the Solicitor General provided advice that Dutton was eligible to sit in parliament under section 44 of the Australian Constitution, Turnbull said.

It has been reported that Dutton holds a pecuniary interest in the Commonwealth, which, if true, would render him ineligible to sit in parliament.

"It's important that before the party meeting is held, we have access to the advice of the Solicitor-General on the eligibility of Mr Dutton to sit in the Parliament," Turnbull said.

"We expect that advice to be available first thing in the morning.

"That may impact on his decision to run or not."

Turnbull's likelihood of retaining the leadership took a blow on Thursday after a series of key ministers tendered their resignations in an act of support for Dutton.

The government took the extraordinary step of adjourning the lower house of parliament on Thursday while the leadership saga unfolded, a move that Turnbull said was requested by Dutton.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 13:54:05|Editor: zh

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PHNOM PENH, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said Thursday that he and other political party leaders have agreed to form a Supreme Council for Consultations and Recommendations, which will serve as a consultation forum between the government and political parties on the matters of national interests.

Hun Sen said he initiated the establishment of the council during a meeting on Tuesday with the leaders of 16 political parties out of the 20 parties that took part in the July 29 general election.

"The leaders of those political parties have provided their full support for this initiative," the 67-year-old prime minister said in a speech during a get-together with about 17,500 garment factory workers in southern Kandal province.

"Although the people have given entire power to the Cambodian People's Party (CPP), in both the parliament and the government, I need to mobilize human resources and idea resources for the sake of national development," he said.

Hun Sen said the council will be formed by a royal decree, and it has duties to provide opinion on government policies, give feedback on draft laws and report on inaction or violations by government officials.

The prime minister said the council, to be presided by a rotating chairperson among political parties every month, will hold a consultation forum with him once every six months.

The council members will receive a salary from the national budget.

Twenty political parties contested in the sixth general election on July 29. The official results indicated that Hun Sen's CPP won all 125 seats in the parliament.

Through the victory, Hun Sen will continue to lead the government for another five years. He said a new parliament and a new government will be formed on Sept. 5 and 6, respectively.

Meanwhile, the prime minister said that he will ask the nation's King Norodom Sihamoni to grant a large-scale pardon to 12 former opposition prisoners.

He did not give the names of those prisoners, but said that the upcoming pardon is made because of his mercy toward them, not because of international pressure.

On Monday, the prime minister also asked the king to pardon jailed prominent land rights activist Tep Vanny and three of her fellow activists.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 13:59:08|Editor: zh

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TOKYO, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and U.S. President Donald Trump pledged on Wednesday to continue to work together towards resolving issues pertaining to the Korean Peninsula, local media reported Thursday.

During their telephone conversation late on Wednesday, the two leaders traversed a number of issues related to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Abe told a press briefing on the matter.

The Japanese leader also said Japan and the United States coordinated their policies on how to handle the DPRK, according to local media.

The phone talks between Abe and Trump came ahead of U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's fourth expected visit to Pyongyang.

Abe also said following the talks that he was encouraged by Trump saying that Washington would help Tokyo to resolve the longstanding abduction issue connected to the DPRK that stems back to the 1970s and 1980s.

The Japanese premier has maintained that this issue remains one of the top priorities of his administration.

In addition, Abe affirmed that Japan stood ready to work with key stakeholders on the issue of bringing the DPRK's missile development programs to an end and settling the abduction issue.

These stakeholders include the United States, South Korean, China and Russia.

Abe himself is seeking a summit with top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un, at which he is hoping to gain some momentum in resolving the abduction issue as well as advancing ties.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 14:04:08|Editor: mmm

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BEIJING, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- China's tariffs on imported products from the United States worth about 16 billion U.S. dollars took effect at 12:01 p.m. Thursday.

In response to a U.S. tariff move against Chinese products, China decided to impose additional duties of 25 percent on U.S. products, according to a statement of the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 14:09:09|Editor: mmm

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BEIJING, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent a congratulatory letter to the first Smart China Expo that opened in Chongqing Municipality on Thursday.

"We are currently in a period of gathering momentum for a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, with rapid changes in the new generation of information technology represented by the Internet, big data and artificial intelligence," Xi said.

It is a common task of all countries to promote the integrated development of the digital economy and the real economy, step up the transition of driving forces of development, and create new industries and new business forms, Xi said.

Xi emphasized that China attaches great importance to innovation-driven development and is firmly committed to its new vision for development by accelerating the industrialization of the digital economy and digitization of industries to promote high-quality development and pursue better lives for the people.

China is willing to actively participate in international cooperation on the digital economy and advance its healthy development together with other countries to create new drivers and new room for the world's economic growth, Xi said.

With "Smart Technology: Empowering Economy, Enriching Life" as its theme, the expo reflects the trend of global economic development and the people's expectation for better lives in different countries, Xi added.

Xi hopes that representatives at the expo can enhance communication and cooperation, and learn from each other to jointly facilitate the development of the digital economy and contribute to building a community of shared future for mankind, according to the letter.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 14:14:12|Editor: zh

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SEOUL, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in ordered chiefs of local governments and ministers Thursday to maintain an emergency management stance as typhoon Soulik was set to make landfall on the Korean Peninsula.

Moon held a teleconference with governors of local governments and cabinet members at the crisis management center of the presidential Blue House, saying all public officers should maintain the emergency management stance and make all-out efforts to minimize possible damages from the typhoon.

Moon said the safety and lives of people should be prioritized, instructing all public officers to get vigilant until the typhoon dissipates completely.

He ordered the interior ministry to review all measures beforehand to support the possibly damaged areas.

Soulik battered the country's southern resort island of Jeju Wednesday, inflicting damages on people in the island. A South Korean woman in her early 20s went missing as she was swept away by sea waves.

Heavy rains pounding the island ranged from 99.9 mm to 746 mm as of 10 a.m. local time (0100 GMT). It also brought a strong wind at a speed of about 30 meters per second.

The tropical storm, which has a 340 km wind radius, was heading north. It was expected to pass through the Korean Peninsula Friday into the East Sea, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA).

Hundreds of flights at nine key airports were canceled, with major ports closing down temporarily. Most of schools closed or shortened school hours for the typhoon.

The typhoon was forecast to pass through Mount Kumgang in the east coast of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), where the second session of reunions of Korean families, separated by the 1950-53 Korean War, is scheduled to be held from Friday to Sunday.

Moon ordered the ministers to pay special attentions to the safety of the separated families, mostly in their 80s or older, saying that if necessary, the reunions should be rescheduled rapidly.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 14:19:13|Editor: mmm

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SYDNEY, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- China's Jiangsu Industrial Technology Research Institute (JITRI) has signed an agreement with Australia's University of New South Wales on Thursday, to collaborate on 10 major technology projects.

As part of the deal, an 8-million-Australian dollar (5.8-million-U.S. dollar) investment fund was set up to drive innovation in advanced materials, biotechnology, energy and environmental engineering.

With the research projects set to take place at UNSW's Torch Innovation Precinct, the latest collaboration at the facility is yet another milestone for China-Australia ties.

Launched in 2016 to promote greater cooperation between the two countries' scientific networks, the 100-million-Australian dollar (73-million-U.S. dollar) tech hub has amassed a wide range of vital research partnerships.

"The announcement highlights the importance of Australian-Chinese collaborations and national innovation planning and Australia's bilateral relationship with China, our largest trading partner," President and Vice-Chancellor of UNSW Sydney Ian Jacobs said.

The investment will provide a further boost to collaboration between UNSW and China that will drive innovation, he added.

"One of the major projects under the new collaboration will offer new opportunities to scale up UNSW's new Center for Transformational Environmental Technology, the University's first research base outside Australia that will translate environmental research into industrial application in China."

Although China's Torch Program has been driving global technology innovation since 1988, the JITRI was only recently established in 2013 to promote and support the economic development of China's eastern Jiangsu province through industrial research and the commercialization of advanced technologies.

The institute focuses on bridging the gap between fundamental research and commercialization, that's why Dean of engineering at UNSW Professor Mark Hoffman believes the partnership will be such a positive for Australian scientists.

"This translation of research into the development of technology -- whether in renewable, water or biomedical devices -- connects closely with JITRI's aims," he said.

"We don't sit in two countries, large parts of our population sit in both countries."

"Employers of engineering graduates are very diverse and at UNSW we are driven to have social and economic impact."Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 14:24:14|Editor: mmm

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BEIJING, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- China's top observatory on Thursday issued a blue alert for heavy rain from now to Friday, the lowest level in the country's four-tier warning system.

Heavy rain is expected to hit parts of the northeast and southwest China, as well as the southeastern province of Fujian, according to the National Meteorological Center (NMC).

Some areas in Jilin, Liaoning and Guizhou provinces will be hit by 250-300 mm of rainfall within 24 hours and severe convective thunderstorms.

NMC advised local governments to prepare for possible urban flooding, landslides, and mudslides caused by the heavy rain and recommended outdoor operations be halted in hazardous areas.

China also renewed a blue alert for Typhoon Soulik, which is expected to move northward at a speed of about 10 km per hour and bring gales in coastal areas of eastern provinces of Jiangsu and Shandong.

China has a four-tier color-coded weather warning system for storms, with red representing the most severe, followed by orange, yellow and blue.A chain reaction crash caused by two drivers who both had suspended licenses sent an SUV careening onto the sidewalk in Kips Bay, injuring at least one pedestrian, police said.

At around 6 p.m. on Wednedasy, the driver of a black sedan traveling north on Third Avenue reportedly stopped short, causing the driver of an SUV behind it to sideswipe the sedan and jump the curb near East 31st Street. The SUV then struck a light pole and sent a metal garbage can hurtling through the air, which hit a woman walking nearby, witnesses told NBC.

It was a terrible crash, and things went flying. I saw metal flying," witness Arlene Normyle told PIX 11. "The girl was down on the ground."

(Gramercy, Manhattan) Multiple Pedestrians Hit by Car  The collision occurred near E 31st St & 3rd Ave. It is unclear if anyone is suffering from life-threatening injuries. Details here: https://t.co/MVPOhKmcEq pic.twitter.com/u82K4PaMyT  Citizen NYC (@CitizenApp_NYC) August 22, 2018

Police said a 29-year-old pedestrian was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries. Cell phone footage taken by a bystander shows another person on the ground, near the passenger door of the SUV.

The 34-year-old driver of the SUV and 29-year-old driver of the sedan were both arrested and charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 14:24:14|Editor: Xiang Bo

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Vehicles from Kazakhstan line up to enter Chinese territory at the China-Kazakhstan Horgos International Border Cooperation Center, Aug. 4, 2018. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

by Xinhua writers Wang Jingzhong, Miao Xiaojuan

URUMQI, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- At a cafe in Kashgar's renovated old town, a German family of four sat in the morning sunshine debating which type of grape was the tastiest or most succulent.

"We bought a hundred types of Turpan grapes to eat in the car. They were all different, and each of us had our favorite," said Achim Loeffler, director of a Shanghai-based chemical firm.

"But other than that, everyone was amazed by the deserts, the mountains, the culture and the food. There was absolutely no disagreement on how delicious the lamb, noodles or naan bread were," his wife, Ute, added, while their son and daughter chuckled in the background.

After living in China for two and a half years, the Loefflers chose northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, the heartland of both the ancient and modern Silk Roads, as the destination for the family's last trip before moving back to Germany.

"I'm curious about the old Silk Road, and I like the idea of the modern one linking the East with the West," Loeffler said, "On the trip, we saw a lot of work going on, especially in new infrastructure."

"Kashgar, for example, is old, but also very new," he added.

The ancient oasis city of Kashgar, in the westernmost part of China near the border with Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, was an important staging post on the original Silk Road and has been revitalized as a bustling hub of business and different cultures.

From Kashgar to Pakistan's Gwadar Port, there will be new roads, railways, and pipelines along the 3,000-km China-Pakistan Economic Corridor that connects the northern and southern routes of the modern Silk Road.

A one-billion-dollar renovation project has transformed most of the substandard housing in Kashgar's old town into sound, earthquake-proof buildings, while retaining the area's traditional Uyghur charm.

The old town is now a mainstay of the local economy, a favorite among young and old, locals and newcomers. Neither the mercantile culture nor the entrepreneurial spirit has waned over time.

A kilometer away, inside the Id Kah Mosque, tourists stop to stare at a wall-sized wool carpet as a tour guide explains that the 56 pomegranate flowers symbolize the unity of China's 56 ethnic groups, a sentiment echoed by President Xi Jinping when he said that all ethnic groups should hold together like pomegranate seeds to achieve national rejuvenation.

The Belt and Road Initiative was proposed by Xi in 2013 to boost world trade and connectivity through a land-based Silk Road Economic Belt and an oceangoing 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

Nowhere exemplifies the initiative better than Xinjiang, which accounts for a quarter of China's land boundary.

Home to dozens of ethnic groups, it occupies a sixth of China's territory, although habitable oases only cover 9 percent of its area. Despite the barren landscape, Xinjiang is a frontier of cultural exchanges, transportation, and trade.

KEY PASS

In his 1893 adventure novel "Claudius Bombarnac," Jules Verne envisioned a "Grand Transasiatic Railway" running from the Caspian Sea to Beijing. Back then, the idea of a rail link across Eurasia was almost as absurd as launching men to the moon with a cannon.

Men have, of course, since reached the moon, though not by cannon, and the dream of the railway has become a reality. But even the sci-fi writer could not have imagined the scale of today's China-Europe freight rail lines, the arteries of the modern Silk Road.

Between March 2011, when the first line opened, and the end of June this year, over 9,000 trips delivered nearly 800,000 containers of goods, connecting 48 Chinese cities with 42 cities in 14 European countries. The cost of rail freight is only 20 percent of the cost of moving cargo by air, and three times quicker than shipping by sea.

Centuries ago, the Alataw Pass -- about 460 km west of Urumqi, Xinjiang's regional capital, and 680 km northeast of Almaty, the biggest city in Kazakhstan -- was a windswept route through the mountains for traders on horseback. Now, 70 percent of westbound freight trains pass through it, with the roar of locomotives drowning out the howling wind.

China exported more than it imported on those trains until the Belt and Road Initiative addressed the imbalance. Zhao Jie, a Chinese waybill translator in Dostyk, the first Kazakh port after the pass, has noticed an increase in the variety of imports.

"When I started the job in 2013, the list of imported goods for translation was much duller, mostly steel and ore," he said. "Now we import electronics, mechanical parts, drone accessories, red wine, baby formula and even polyester."

The Alataw Pass has become one of the busiest trading posts on the border, linking Central Asia, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region by rail, road, air, and pipeline.

China's first cross-border crude oil pipeline, operational in 2006, from the Caspian Sea to the Alataw Pass, now brings in 12 million tonnes of crude oil every year.

"With China and Kazakhstan each holding 50 percent, the pipeline is a great example of our close partnership and the success of the Belt and Road Initiative," said Yao Yage, head of the pipeline's operation center in the Alataw Pass.

TRADING HUBS

Apart from being connected to raw materials and markets, the first bonded zone in Xinjiang gives the Alataw Pass an extra edge. More than 400 companies have established bases there since 2014, and total trade volume has risen to about 8.7 billion U.S. dollars.

A local private food-processing plant now has a 4,000-sq-meter warehouse and is building a 20,000-sq-meter new one, plus a 1,000-tonne flour mill. Its manager, Hu Xuming, said, "Our annual imports of Kazakh wheat will reach a million tonnes in five or 10 years, and we will store and process all the raw materials here to be cost-competitive."

About 300 km southwest of the Alataw Pass, exporters in Horgos are grateful for improved customs clearance and simplified procedures. Yu Chengzhong, CEO of Jinyi International Trade Corp, the biggest local fruit and vegetable exporter, said the benefits have been immediate.

"It used to take 10 to 15 days to transport goods from Horgos to Russia, but now it only takes five," he said. "Customs clearance in Kazakhstan used to take a whole day, but now it's only two hours."

When Yu, from central China's Henan Province, arrived in Horgos more than 30 years ago, he struggled to make ends meet by selling fruit on the street. Now his company exports 70,000 tonnes of produce each year to neighboring countries and has increased the incomes of 1,000 farming households across China.

"The Belt and Road Initiative is a golden opportunity, a blessing for all," Yu said. "I have never seen Xinjiang safer or more flourishing than it is now."

Despite being one of the most remote and inhospitable spots on earth and the youngest city along the Silk Road, Horgos does not lack creativity. Among the city's initiatives are an economic development zone and an international cooperation center.

Established in 2010, the economic development zone ensures that companies registered there enjoy a five-year tax holiday and are exempt from local corporate tax for the subsequent five years.

The international cooperation center, straddling the China-Kazakhstan border, is the world's only cross-border free-trade zone. The movement of personnel, vehicles and goods in the zone is unrestricted, and stores and visitors pay less or no tax.

Last year, the 5.28-sq-km center welcomed over 5.5 million visitors from China and abroad, 33 times the number in 2012 when it opened, and spending hit 1.7 billion dollars, almost three times as much as in 2016.

Horgos literally means a place where caravans pass, as it used to be a trading post along the northern route of the ancient Silk Road.

In Kazakh, Horgos is known as Khorgos, a place where wealth can be accumulated. That resonates with what it is becoming today -- a regional hub of trade and commerce, a portal for China's opening-up to the west and a linchpin of the Belt and Road Initiative.

BIGGER DREAMS

The initiative isn't just powering development in Xinjiang.

Last year, China's imports from countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative rose by nearly 27 percent, compared with an 18.7-percent increase in overall imports, and its trade with those countries topped 1 trillion dollars, up almost 18 percent year on year.

While protectionism threatens to derail global trade, the Belt and Road Initiative looks set to define the 21st century by cutting global deficits in peace, development and governance. Over a hundred countries and international organizations are now on board.

As Xi said in an article published last month, the initiative offers a pathway to common development through improved infrastructure and connectivity and greater synergy of development strategies.

In just five years of experimentation and exploration, with visions becoming promises and promises turning into projects, the Belt and Road Initiative has emerged as one of the most important globally beneficial projects for international cooperation in modern history.

Projects in Xinjiang only scratch the surface of the opportunities under the initiative, and changes are first felt in Silk Road locations like Kashgar, the Alataw Pass and Horgos.

The most powerful change, however, is probably the changing perspectives.

As the Loeffler's 19-year-old son, Tobias said, "I knew little about the Silk Road, but now I am intrigued. After living in a foreign country like China, I know how much there is to see and do, and how great it can be." Enditem (Xinhua correspondents He Zhanjun and Zhao Ge contributed to the story)Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 14:24:14|Editor: mmm

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- With a record number of women running for the U.S. Congress this year, a poll released Wednesday showed U.S. voters welcomed the trend.

According to the Pew Research Center survey, on average, 61 percent of respondents said more women running for office is a good thing, while only 5 percent said it is a negative trend. The rest remained neutral.

Broken down by gender and political leaning, women and democrats tended to have a more positive view, with 68 percent of women and 54 percent of men showing support.

Democrat voters or those with Democratic leanings overwhelmingly supported more women in public offices, with 80 percent in favor and just 1 percent voicing opposition.

The view among Republican voters is more split: 39 percent showed support, 10 percent rejected more women, and 50 percent were neutral.

While public opinion in general welcomed more women in public office, it was more divided on whether more women would boost effectiveness, transparency or civility in Congress.

Just short of 40 percent of those polled said more women can improve Congress, 7 percent believed the contrary would happen, and 53 percent said more women will not make any difference.

With the number of female politicians increasing, the expectancy of a female president is also on the rise. The percentage of people who expect to see a female president in their lifetime rose 7 percentage points from 38 percent in 2014 to 45 percent this year. The trend is seen across all demographic and political groups.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 14:59:21|Editor: xuxin

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BRASILIA, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's Workers' Party on Wednesday released its first campaign video featuring jailed former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as its candidate for October's presidential election.

Lula, in what seems to be a clip taped before he was imprisoned in April, criticized the current government for cutting the spending for the poor. "We have to change the tune. We have already proven that it is possible to make Brazil better," the two-time ex-president says.

The video also features his running mate Fernando Haddad, who would take his place as the Workers' Party candidate should Lula be forbidden to run.

Brazil's Superior Electoral Court is widely expected to reject Lula's candidacy, due to a law that bars those convicted of crime from running for elected office.

Lula is currently serving a 12-year prison term for corruption, though he denies any wrongdoing and claims the charges are aimed at keeping him out of the race.

Brazilian polling firm Datafolha on Wednesday said Lula has widened his lead over the other 13 candidates, with 39 percent support.

The party's strategy is to keep Lula as its candidate for as long as possible, though the video showed it is also hedging its bets with a campaign slogan that touts both men: "It's Lula, it's Haddad, it's the people, it's Brazil happy again."Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 15:09:23|Editor: xuxin

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LOS ANGELES, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- A pro-free trade group in the U.S. agriculture industry Wednesday announced it has purchased billboards and radio ads this week in the state of North Dakota to protest President Donald Trump's tariff policy on behalf of American farmers.

One of the billboards presented by the bipartisan group Farmers for Free Trade rotates with this message: "Secretary Ross, Tariffs Hurt ND Farmers".

The group, co-chaired by former Democratic Senator Max Baucus representing Minnesota and former Republican Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana, showed one of the eight billboards in Fargo, North Dakota's most populous city, which will be visited by Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross on Thursday.

The billboards have been up since Aug. 20. Radio ads highlighting the impact of tariffs on North Dakota farmers will run on Thursday, when Ross arrives in the state to discuss the impact of tariffs on farmers and the agriculture industry in general.

Brian Kuehl, the group's executive director, said farmers and manufacturers have been patient, giving time to the president to see if his tariffs worked. However, they have received only bad results as prices plummeted and export markets were being taken over by foreign competitors.

"We hope that Secretary Ross hears from North Dakota farmers, manufacturers and workers that it's time to end the trade war, so America's heartland can start thriving once again. It's past time that we open new markets to American exports instead of erecting new barriers," Kuehl said.

Soybean exports to China are the "bottom line" for North Dakotan farmers. Roughly, two-thirds of the state's annual 2-billion-U.S.-dollar soybean crop sale is made in China. However, Chinese buyers have cancelled all orders for food-grade soybean due to the trade war ignited by the White House, the group said.

"If the United States and China don't resolve the trade dispute, farmers may not be able to meet their payments and could lose financing to plant next year's crop. These slashes to the bottom line are unsustainable, and farmers want to see the president focus on open access to international markets for their products." the group said.

The Washington Post reported Wednesday that Trump will make a campaign stop in North Dakota "in the coming weeks."Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 15:14:24|Editor: Liangyu

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XINING, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese researchers have found a record number of Przewalski's gazelle, an endangered species found only around a lake in northwest China's Qinghai Province, during an annual large-scale survey this year.

The researchers recorded 2,793 gazelles during the survey from Aug. 6 to 16, the most since the survey started in 2007, and 783 more than the number recorded last year, according to the administration of the Qinghai Lake National Nature Reserve.

The animals were found in four counties around the Qinghai Lake, including Gangca County where 1,651 gazelles were found.

Thanks to increasing conservation efforts of the local government and rising awareness of local herders, the population of the gazelle has been growing, said He Yubang, head of the administration.

Przewalski's gazelle was named after a Russian adventurer who discovered the species more than 100 years ago. The gazelle is under the top level of national protection in China.

The species was once found in Inner Mongolia and Ningxia Hui autonomous regions and in Gansu and Qinghai provinces. However, it is now only found around the Qinghai Lake due to human activity and loss of habitats.

The government has led a major conservation effort to remove barbed wire fences in the region, once used to restrict the movement of livestock and mark ownership of the grassland. Previously, the fences killed many gazelles as they tried to jump them.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 15:24:27|Editor: Liangyu

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XI'AN, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The northwestern Chinese city of Xi'an has set a target to be coal-free by 2020 in a bid to tackle air pollution.

Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi Province and home of the Terracotta Army, has rolled out a spate of tough measures for cleaner air in a three-year action plan, the city government said Thursday.

The plan orders to improve the energy mix by using more natural gas and relocating or closing energy-guzzling heavy industries.

Local authorities plan to eliminate all coal-fired boilers by October and ban household coal use by the end of 2019. The coal-fired power plants and winter heating systems will also be switched to natural gas.

The city also plans to relocate or shut down all coal chemical, petrochemical and coking companies to help greatly improve the air in the ancient Chinese capital.

Xi'an achieved progress in its anti-pollution campaign between 2013 and 2017. Last year, the concentration of PM2.5, health-damaging airborne particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, fell 30.5 percent from the 2013 level.

Shaanxi and several other regions around Beijing, including Hebei, Henan and Shandong, are at the forefront of the country's fight against air pollution.

Local authorities have been taking harsh measures to fight against air pollution over the past few years as the public are becoming more worried about the health impact of smog.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 15:24:27|Editor: Liangyu

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SHENYANG, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- After falling in love with the sky, Wang Ting quit her job as an office lady and became an aerobatic pilot, a typically male-dominated profession.

"I have always felt at ease in the sky and flying is my destiny," Wang, 31, said at an airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province.

Dressed in a dark blue conjoined flying suit, she was a bit sweaty but full of energy. She and her six colleagues came from northwest China's Shaanxi Province to attend the Shenyang Faku International Flight Convention which concluded Monday.

Wang pilots a gyroplane, a type of rotorcraft that uses an unpowered rotor in the free autorotation to develop lift.

Her gyroplane weighs about 200 kg. A gasoline engine offers over 100 horsepower to push the aircraft, flying at a maximum speed of more than 100 km per hour.

Wang has over 300 flying hours and she knows everything about her aircraft. However, she did not always have aerial aspirations.

She used to be an accountant at a new energy company in Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi. When she moved to the city of Baoji in 2014, she applied to be an accountant for a local company which manufactures special vehicles and aircraft.

"The boss's wife asked the chief pilot to take me for a flight. The gyroplane didn't have a canopy, and I felt like I was part of the sky," said Wang. After that experience, she decided to quit her accounting job and applied to be a pilot in the company's pilot team.

Although the training was more challenging for women, gender has never been an insurmountable obstacle for Wang.

"Controlling the joystick requires strong muscles," she said. "Male pilots use one hand to push the joystick when taking off, but I had to use all my strength to operate the aircraft."

It took her several months to finish all the courses before she took her first solo flight, which remains fresh in her memory.

"It was a clear spring day without turbulence and I kept going higher, doing aerial tricks according to the commands I was given," she recalled. "The breeze touched my face, and a blue river ran across the ground below. It was amazing."

Aerobatics can be performed by a single aircraft or in formation with several other planes.

"Loop, dive, head-to-head...The aircraft can be as close as 15 meters from each other while in formation, so the pilot must be precise in every move and follow the orders of the lead gyroplane," she said.

Among Wang's 15-member aerobatic display team, she is the only woman. Her family's support has been a major element for Wang to have a successful flight career.

"My mom cares more about my safety but my dad, a military veteran, encouraged me to challenge myself instead of living a dull life," she said. "My husband helped me a lot; he is also a pilot in our team. I'm so proud of him."

Now, Wang has been an experienced pilot for almost four years, earning a decent salary and raising a happy family.

"I hope to be a pilot trainer in the future so I can help more people realize their dream to touch the sky," said Wang.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 15:29:28|Editor: xuxin

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- A news anchor who interviewed U.S. President Donald Trump recently said Wednesday evening that the president is considering pardoning Paul Manafort, his former campaign manager who was convicted of bank and tax fraud.

"He mentioned pardoning Manafort," Ainsley Earhardt said on Fox News' Hannity Show, which Trump is known to watch frequently.

"I think he feels bad for Manafort. They were friends, he didn't work for him (Trump) very long, worked for him for basically 100 days," she told the show's host Sean Hannity, who has close ties to the president.

The interview is scheduled to air Thursday morning.

Although Trump has not yet openly signaled he would issue a pardon, a number of Republican lawmakers have warned against the move.

"It would be an enormous mistake and misuse of his power to (issue a) pardon," Senator Susan Collins of Maine told the press.

Bob Corker, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said a pardon would damage the presidency.

Manafort, who was Trump's campaign manager during the 2016 presidential campaign, was found guilty Tuesday on five counts of filing false income-tax returns, one count of failing to report foreign bank accounts, and two counts of bank fraud.

Failing to report foreign bank accounts carries a maximum sentence of five years, and each count of bank fraud can lead up to 30 years in prison.

The trial was seen as a victory for Special Counsel Robert Mueller, whose team has been probing possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, which is accused of meddling in the 2016 election.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 15:39:31|Editor: xuxin

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UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- The 67th United Nations Department of Public Information/Non-Governmental Organization Conference kicked off Wednesday, bringing together some 2,000 representatives from over 300 non-governmental organizations to discuss issues of global concern.

Alison Smale, under secretary-general for global communications, UN Department of Public Information, said stronger links to civil society provide the greatest chance for dealing with global problems that no country can solve alone.

Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, Ghana's permanent representative to the UN, underlined the crucial importance of civil society participation in ensuring the success of the UN and multilateralism.

Some 44 percent of the registrants are young people, showcasing the two-day event's focus on the role of the younger generation in global governance.

The conference will conclude with an official outcome document. It will include a youth declaration detailing the commitments made by young people to contribute to the UN 2030 Agenda.A lawyer admitted that he spent four years harassing a woman he dated for four months, the U.S. Attorney's office announced on Wednesday. In one email sent a month after they broke up, David Waldman wrote, "where are you and when will you be back in my life? i am not a patient man. i have tried every tact i know of to get you to have contact with me. i am running out of options. i am not too proud to show the f--- up at your apartment unannounced. i am crazy enough to do it, too. you should know that. I am not playing around anymore... women like you come around once, twice. maybe three times in a lifetime. that means you are rare. and valuable. and something to be kept and cherished. and cherished can mean held hostage and bound and gagged inside my apartment."

According to the U.S. Attorney's office, Waldman, of Inwood, pleaded guilty to an "extensive cyberstalking and threats campaign"which started in 2014that included hundreds of texts, voicemail messages, and email messages as well as posts on blogs he created, like Executiverecruitingskank.blogspot.com, where he said that she "had been diagnosed with bipolar and narcissistic personality disorder, used drugs, and fabricated claims that she had been a victim of child sexual abuse."

The complaint notes that he once wrote in a blog post, "i only hope you don't die of cervical cancer before i can fuck up your sh--- ... i will impact your life greatly and negatively. mark my words... i am obsessed with f---ing up your s---. and i always achieve the things i put my mind to." He added, "i am going to change your life for the worse. and I am going to enjoy it. and fuck the collateral damage to your family. i swear it." In another excerpt from the complaint, he admitted writing to her parents, "this f---ng c--- is going to pay. for having broke [sic] your heart and made you cry and made you feel cheap as well as the letter i wrote to your dad wherein i essentially told him his daughter is a f---ed up whore. but that was only the beginning [S]leep tight. but trust me, things are going to get worse for you."

Waldman also allegedly contacted her employers, claiming she smoked pot and used cocaine, recommending that she be tested for drugs.

The victim obtained orders of protection from the Manhattan DA's office in 2014, including one that was to last through 2019. As recently as this year, she was sent emails telling her, "You should be put down. Put down like a dog."

Waldman, who was arrested in June, pleaded guilty to one count of cyberstalking, which carries a maximum sentence of five years.

The victim's lawyer, Carrie Goldberg, said, "The crime may be called cyberstalking. However, there was nothing cyber about the pain and terror Waldman inflicted upon our client." Goldberg's firm also shared this message on Facebook, "David Waldman spent four years of his life ruining our client's. The deluge of harassing calls, texts, emails, lies, and frightening threats to her reputation seemed endless. Yesterday, Waldman pled guilty in court to federal cyberstalking and will be sentenced on November 22. We are grateful to the investigators and lawyers at the DOJ for their brilliant collaboration on this case with us. And, of course, to our brave client who can now see a future free of this nightmare!"Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 16:09:39|Editor: xuxin

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SEOUL, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's exports rose in the first half of this year on solid demand for locally-made semiconductors and petrochemicals, a government report showed Thursday.

Exports, which account for about half of the economy, reached 296.79 billion U.S. dollars during the January-June period, up 6.3 percent from a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

The growth was led by chips and petrochemicals, of which exports touched new highs of 61.27 billion dollars and 24.96 billion dollars, respectively, in the first half.

Oil product export jumped 34.3 percent on higher crude oil price, with shipments for computer and cosmetics rising almost 40 percent.

Exports in the promising industries advanced 23.9 percent over the year to 39.01 billion dollars in the first half. The promising industries refer to electric car, robot, bio-health, aerospace, new energy, new material industries as well as next-generation chip and display panel.

The exports in the promising industries accounted for 13.1 percent of the total in the first half, continuing to grow from 11.2 percent in the first half of 2016 and 12.8 percent in the first half of 2017 each.

Electric vehicle export surged 95.1 percent in the first half, marking the fastest growth among the promising sectors.

Shipments for next-generation semiconductor, bio-health product, new high-tech material and new energy posted a double-digit increase in the first half.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 16:24:42|Editor: xuxin

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MANILA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- One Abu Sayyaf militant was killed and at least 20 government soldiers wounded when Philippine troops clashed on Thursday with some 40 militants in southern Philippine Sulu province, a military spokesman said.

Lt. Col. Gerry Besana of the military's Western Mindanao Command said the heavy fighting that broke out around 9 a.m. local time in Langhub village of Patikul town, an Abu Sayyaf stronghold in the remote jungles, lasted almost an hour.

He said the injured soldiers were hit by shrapnel from rifle grenades.

This is the third clash this week. Besana said clashes also broke out in nearby villages of Tugas and Latih and in Patikul town earlier this week.

The military continues its operation to pursue the militants, Besana said.

Abu Sayyaf, a radical Islamist groups in the Philippines, often carries out kidnappings, bombings and beheadings in western Mindanao, particularly in their lair in the island provinces of Basilan and Sulu.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 17:09:57|Editor: xuxin

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A wreckage of train is seen at the scene of the train collision in Donja Jablanica, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on Aug. 23, 2018. A train collision killed two people and severely injured another Wednesday night in Donja Jablanica, a city located 85 km southwest of Bosnia and Herzegovina's capital Sarajevo, local police told media. (Xinhua/Haris Memija)

SARAJEVO, Aug.23 (Xinhua) -- A train collision killed two people and severely injured another Wednesday night in Donja Jablanica, a city located 85 km southwest of Bosnia and Herzegovina's capital Sarajevo, local police told media.

The head-to-head collision of two cargo trains occurred at the Jablanica Railway Station, shortly after midnight, Ljudevit Maric, spokesperson of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, told local media Thursday morning.

The accident happened when a fully-loaded train and an empty one coming from the opposite direction collided. The locomotives and several wagons of both trains were thrown off the track as a result of the impact.

One person managed to get out of the train after the accident, and was immediately taken to the hospital.

The collision also forced operators to suspend railway traffic, according to the spokesperson.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 17:14:58|Editor: Xiang Bo

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RIYADH, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia denied on Thursday media reports about the cancellation of Saudi oil company Aramco's initial public offering (IPO), Saudi Press Agency reported.

The Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources and Chairman of Saudi Aramco, Khalid Al-Falih, highlighted the commitment of the government to the IPO of the company when conditions are optimum.

He said that the timing will depend on multiple factors, including favorable market conditions and a downstream acquisition which the company will pursue in the next few months.

To prepare for the listing of Saudi Aramco, the government has undertaken major preparatory measures, including issuing a new income tax law, reissuing a long-term exclusive concession, and appointing a new board of directors.

The company, for its part, has completed its internal program for IPO preparedness.

The IPO and many other steps have been taken by Saudi government to diversify its economy to make it less dependent on oil revenues and transform the country into a regional financial hub.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 17:24:59|Editor: xuxin

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Photo taken on Aug. 23, 2018 shows the explosion site in Vietnam's northern Cao Bang province. Three workers were killed and another one injured in an explosion when they were preparing dynamite for the repair of a provincial road in Vietnam's northern Cao Bang province, Vietnam News Agency reported on Thursday. (Xinhua/VNA)

HANOI, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Three workers were killed and another one injured in an explosion when they were preparing dynamite for the repair of a provincial road in Vietnam's northern Cao Bang province, Vietnam News Agency reported on Thursday.

All the three victims aged 35, 28 and 21, and the injured man aged 22 lived in Cao Bang's Thong Nong district and worked for a local construction company in the same district.

When the workers were arranging the dynamite and electrical cables on Wednesday, it rained and a lightning struck near the construction site, triggering the explosion. Local police were investigating the accident's cause.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 17:30:00|Editor: Xiang Bo

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COLOMBO, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena said on Thursday that he will initiate talks with Pakistan's new Prime Minister Imran Khan over extraditing five Pakistani nationals who were on death row in Sri Lanka.

In a local media report, Sirisena said these Pakistani nationals, who were currently jailed, were on top of the list to face execution for their alleged involvement with drugs.

However, he said he will speak to Khan to deport these Pakistanis and hand them over to the authorities in Pakistan.

Sirisena said he would not hesitate to go ahead with re-enforcing capital punishment on drug dealers and smugglers as the drug menace had emerged into a major problem affecting the island country.

"I also told the authorities to impose the maximum possible penalty on those who are even caught with drugs in their possession," the president said.

Cabinet Spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said last month that the death penalty would initially be implemented on 19 large-scale drug convicts as part of an urgent need to curb the spread of drug-related crimes.

According to figures of the Prisons Department, there are 373 convicts on death row in Sri Lanka, including the 19 drug offenders, as of last month.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 17:50:05|Editor: Xiang Bo

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KAMPALA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- A military court seating in the northern Ugandan district of Gulu on Thursday dropped charges against independent opposition leaning legislator Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi over illegal possession of firearms.

Andrew Gutti, chairman of the General Court Martial, ruled that the charges be withdrawn and terminated after an application by the prosecution.

Prosecution asked court to hand over Kyagulanyi to the police so that he could be taken to a civilian court to face the same charges as his colleagues.

The defense welcomed the dropping of the charges but protested the prosecution's argument, saying that the court should not be used as arresting vessel for other courts.

Kyagulanyi's arrest on Aug. 13 has drawn public anger following reports that he was tortured by the military.

Kyagulanyi and three other legislators including their supporters were arrested in the northwestern district of Arua following the alleged stoning of President Yoweri Museveni's convoy.

The other legislators and their supporters were charged with treason in a civilian court while Kyagulanyi was arraigned in a military court and faced charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

One of the other three legislators was not charged in any of the courts, though he was hospitalized for injuries he allegedly sustained due to military torture.

The capital Kampala was on Aug. 20 rocked with riots over Kyagulanyi's arrest and alleged torture. One person died and several others were arrested by the police.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 17:55:07|Editor: Xiang Bo

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PHNOM PENH, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The UN Development Program (UNDP) and China's Green Leader Holdings Group signed a cost sharing agreement here on Thursday to accelerate inclusive cassava market development in Cambodia.

The deal was inked between Nick Beresford, UNDP country director for Cambodia, and Michael Tse, CEO of Hong Kong-based Green Leader, in the presence of Cambodian Minister of Commerce Pan Sorasak, Economic and Commercial Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy Li An, and Xu Haoliang, UN assistant secretary-general and UNDP regional director for Asia and the Pacific.

Under the agreement, UNDP and Green Leader will contribute 300,000 U.S. dollars and 500,000 U.S. dollars respectively to the three-and-a-half-year project. The UNDP will be the project implementer in Cambodia's eastern region.

Sorasak said the agreement reflected a new hope and would provide substantial benefits to Cambodian farmers who depended on cassava to make their living.

"I would like to extend my strong support for the partnership between UNDP and Green Leader Holdings Group on a new project which is implemented through the cost sharing agreement," the minister said.

He said the project is the first private and public partnership initiative in the development of cassava sector in the Southeast Asian country.

Beresford said the agreement illustrated a strong commitment from UNDP and Green Leader to work together with the Ministry of Commerce to enhance the development of cassava sector.

"This cost sharing agreement reflects our solid commitment to support the Royal Government of Cambodia in moving toward a transformative change in the cassava sector toward higher value-added cassava and a reliable supply chain, bringing greater income to Cambodia's cassava farmers," he said.

Michael Tse said cassava is Cambodia's second largest agricultural crop which is grown in over 600,000 hectares of land with annual production of over 14 million tons.

The Green Leader-invested first processing plant in eastern Kratie province has commenced construction in April and is expected to be completed and commenced trial production at the end of 2018, he said.

Securing fresh cassava for factories is important to the success of the operation, Tse said, adding that the firm has worked closely with farmers through a Contract Farming Scheme.

"Entering into this cost sharing agreement with UNDP also signifies a further step forward in supporting the sustainable development of cassava through a public-private partnership," he added.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 18:30:16|Editor: xuxin

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JERUSALEM, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu departed on Thursday for Lithuania, where he will attend the summit of Baltic states.

"I would like to balance the European Union's unfriendly stance toward the State of Israel to achieve a more fair and sincere relationship," Netanyahu said before he boarded the plane, according to a statement released on his behalf.

"I'm doing so through cooperating with groups of countries within EU, Eastern Europe and now with the Baltic countries and of course, with other countries," he said.

The four-day trip marks the first official visit of an Israeli prime minister in Lithuania.

The leaders "will discuss the deepening of cooperation between their countries," the prime minister's office said.

Netanyahu's government has been working on strengthening ties with countries in Latin America, Africa and countries that are not in line with EU policy, which criticize the Israeli control over the Palestinian West Bank and Gaza Strip.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 18:40:17|Editor: xuxin

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CHENGDU, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- A new freight train service linking southwest China's city of Chengdu with Alma Ata, the largest city in Kazakhstan, was launched Wednesday.

A train carrying air conditioners, elevators and excavating equipment departed from Chengxiang central railway station in Chengdu Wednesday evening and will travel eight days to reach Alma Ata.

The route, part of the China-Europe route, serves the customized needs of companies in both cities and will operate regularly in the future, according to Zheng Shuangli, operation supervisor of Chengdu International Railway Port Investment and Development Co. Ltd.

China-Europe freight trains made 2,490 round trips in the first half of 2018, growing 69 percent from a year ago, according to statistics released last month by China's State Council Information Office.

Data also showed that the number of trains returning from Europe doubled in H1. The number of categories and quality of the goods have also been increasing.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 18:45:18|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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Chinese Vice Premier Hu Chunhua (1st R) meets with Britain's International Trade Secretary Liam Fox in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 23, 2018. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

BEIJING, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Hu Chunhua on Thursday met respectively with Britain's International Trade Secretary Liam Fox and Philippine Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez.

During his meeting with Fox, Hu said China attaches great importance to relations with Britain and has always placed China-Britain relations in a very important position.

He said China is ready to work with Britain to safeguard multilateral trading system, enhance economic and trade cooperation, and promote sustained, healthy and steady development of bilateral relations.

During his meeting with Dominguez, Hu said under the guidance of the two heads of state, China-Philippine relations had started a new chapter. He called on the two sides to further enhance political mutual trust, and expand and deepen pragmatic cooperation, to benefit the two peoples.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 19:05:23|Editor: xuxin

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KUALA LUMPUR, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Hong Leong Bank, the first Malaysian bank to partner Tencent's WeChat Pay, is confident that the Chinese mobile payment platform will be received positively.

"With a proven platform such as WeChat Pay, ready-to-activate users already on WeChat and the growing number of merchants signing up to WeChat Pay, we are confident that WeChat Pay will be received positively in Malaysia," the bank's chief executive officer and group managing director Domenic Fuda said in a statement Thursday.

Hong Leong is the first bank in Malaysia to partner Tencent's local WeChat Pay as master merchant acquirer, enabling merchants and individual users to transact with WeChat Pay for the first time in Malaysia in Ringgit.

The development has been eagerly awaited by industry watchers and Malaysian consumers, following the bank's collaboration with Tencent in November 2017 to provide WeChat Pay solutions for online and offline digital payments from retail merchants in Malaysia with an easy-to-adopt, fully integrated cross-border payment solution.

Chinese tourists have been able to pay using WeChat Pay with Renminbi when visiting Malaysia.

When the bank took the step to become a merchant acquirer for WeChat Pay in Malaysia, it was not only looking to expand the payment ecosystem to enable Malaysian merchants to cater to the Chinese tourists market, Fuda said,

"We are thrilled that our customers will be amongst the firsts in Malaysia to access this highly popular Chinese electronic wallet and pay for their transactions seamlessly in Malaysian Ringgit, especially for products and services offered on WeChat platform," he said.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 19:10:25|Editor: xuxin

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BRUSSELS, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The European Commission on Thursday adopted a support package for Iran, with a focus on the private sector for the sustainable economic and social development.

The package includes 18 million euros worth of projects (8-million-euro assistance to the private sector).

These projects are the first of a wider package of 50 million euros for Iran, aiming to support the country to address key economic and social challenges.

"Since the renewal of the EU-Iran relations as a result of the Iran nuclear deal, cooperation has developed in many sectors. We are committed to sustain it and this new package will widen economic and sectoral relations in areas that are of direct benefit to our citizens," said EU Foreign Policy chief Federica Mogherini.

The support is the renewed cooperation and engagement between the EU and Iran following the conclusion of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), or the Iran nuclear deal, in 2015.

Activities supporting the private sector will include support to high-potential Iranian Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), the development of selected value chains, and technical assistance to Iran's Trade Promotion Organisation.

The Commission will also provide technical support in the area of environmental challenges and support drug harm reduction.

The projects will be implemented by the International Trade Centre, EU Member State agencies, and other organisations in close cooperation with Iranian counterparts.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 19:10:26|Editor: xuxin

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ANKARA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Presidential Spokesman Ibrahim Kalin slammed the United States for its "disregard" on Turkey's legal process in the case of a detained pastor, said local media Hurriyet Daily News on Thursday.

Kalin called on he United States to respect Turkey's judicial independence, one of the Ankara's most pointed responses yet to critisicim over its detention of a U.S. pastor, Andrew Brunson, said the report quoting a written statement to Reuters.

Kalin also criticized the U.S. over an investigation into state-owned lender Halkbank for potential Iran-sanctions evading scheme.

"It is unacceptable that certain baseless and false allegations are made against Halkbank to weaken this public bank," Kalin said.

His comments came after the U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton saying that Turkey made "big mistake" in not releasing Brunson, who is now under house arrest in Turkey over terrorism charges.

Bolton also said he was skeptical about the pledge of an investment of 15 billion U.S. dollars in support of Turkey by Qatar's emir, which was "utterly insufficient to have an impact on Turkey's economy."Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 19:20:30|Editor: xuxin

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RAMALLAH, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Secretary General of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Saeb Erekat urged Thursday the international community to impose sanctions on Israel for its continued settlement activity in the West Bank.

He also blamed the U.S. administration for encouraging such activity.

"By refraining from condemning such colonial illegal plans, the U.S. State Department is, in fact, encouraging Tel Aviv to continue with its violations of international law that threatens peace and security in our region," said Erekat in a press statement.

He said that Israel must take responsible for its actions and the situation on the ground requires provision of international protection for the Palestinian people.

Israel settlement activity in the occupied territories is not just a breach of international law, but could also constitute a war crime, he added.

Erekat's statements come in reaction to the latest announcement by the Israeli Civil Administration, which is a military body in charge of Israel's affairs in the occupied territory, to build 1,000 new settlement units in the West Bank, 400 of which will begin construction immediately.

Israeli settlement activity, deemed illegal by most world powers, is considered one of the thorniest issues that hindered the peace talks between the two sides. It continues to be one of the main issues of disagreement since the stop of the peace talks in 2014.

The last round of U.S. sponsored negotiations between Palestine and Israel ended after almost nine months of talks without achieving any breakthrough.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 19:25:31|Editor: Liangyu

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URUMQI, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Orange International, a company founded 6 months ago, has made a mark in Kazakhstan by opening the country's first television shopping channel.

Located in Horgos, a border city in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the company was founded by 22 Kazakhs and five Chinese, all in their twenties. They aim to build a cross-border e-commerce platform for consumers in countries along the Belt and Road.

We use live-streaming and television shopping channels to promote food products from Central Asian countries and daily necessities from China, said Salik, the head of the company.

The company receives about 600 orders a month, earning more than 120,000 yuan (17,500 U.S. dollars).

"The commodities sent from the company can be delivered to the city of Almaty in Kazakhstan within a day, and to the most remote city in the country within 10 days," Salik said. "We are confident of receiving about 200 orders a day in the future, considering the huge market along the route of Belt and Road Initiative."

Akijan Masribick, 22, makes commercials for the television shopping channel. She earns 2,500 yuan a month, higher than a local teacher's salary of about 1,200 yuan.

"Horgos provided a lot of job opportunities for both Kazakhstani and Chinese people thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative," she said. "The market of cross-border e-commerce will be more huge, and I believe I could have more than a successful career in China."

Guilmay Satzhan, 25, quit her job as a shop manager in Kazakhstan to start working in the company in April. She is responsible for customer service in the company, taking more than 40 phone calls a day to introduce their products to customers and answer their inquiries.

"I only earn about 2,500 yuan a month now, which was much lower than the monthly salary of 4,000 yuan in my former job," she said. "But I never regret coming to China for work because I saw great potential in cross-border e-commerce, and I can seize the opportunity of the Belt and Road Initiative in Horgos."Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 19:35:36|Editor: xuxin

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PUL-E-KHUMRI, Afghanistan, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Three police officers were killed in two separate attacks in northern Afghanistan on Thursday, local police said.

"Mohammad Salim, chief of criminal investigation department of Nahreen district, Baghlan province, was killed and two of his brothers critically wounded, following a Taliban militants' ambush attack Thursday morning," Zabihullah Shuja, provincial police spokesman, told Xinhua.

The incident took place in the strategic Charshanba Tapa area, bordered with northern Kunduz province, he said, adding a probe was underway.

In the neighboring Badakhshan province, unknown gunmen killed two policemen guarding the Badakhshan University in the provincial capital of Faizabad city, and took away their arms early Thursday, Sanaullah Ruhani, provincial police spokesman, told Xinhua.

Fighting has escalated in Afghanistan as the Taliban insurgency spreads from its traditional strongholds in the south and east to the once peaceful region in the north, where the Taliban militants have been recruiting fighters among the youth.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 19:50:42|Editor: xuxin

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PHNOM PENH, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations in Cambodia organized a public lecture on "The Real China Model: What other developing countries should learn from China" in Phnom Penh on Thursday, according to its press release.

Professor Yuen Yuen Ang, author of the book How China Escaped the Poverty Trap, spoke on the topic to senior officials from the Cambodian government, diplomats, UN officials, and development professionals, the release said.

Ang presented her work and explained how it relates to Cambodia's socio-economic development opportunities and challenges, it said.

"When developing countries and partners think of the China Model, they often, incorrectly, think of it as purely a top-down model," said Ang, associate professor of Political Science at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

"In reality, different parts of China have followed many different paths to economic and social development over the last several decades. Their commonality is the adaptation of central mandates to local conditions," Ang said.

China has overcome complex development challenges to move into the ranks of a middle-income country and lifted many out of poverty, Ang said.

There's much developing countries can learn from China's success, said Haoliang Xu, UN assistant secretary-general and UNDP regional director for Asia-Pacific, who opened the public lecture.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 19:55:43|Editor: xuxin

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JERUSALEM, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that his country still hopes the United States will recognize its annexation of the Golan Heights, after a U.S. official said the issue is not on the White House's agenda.

Israel occupied much of the Syrian Golan Heights in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed it shortly later, claiming it part of Israel, in a move never recognized internationally.

The Israeli government hoped that the United States would follow the 2017 recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel with a recognition of the annexation of the Golan Heights.

In May, Israel's Minister of Intelligence Yisrael Katz said the United States is expected to endorse the Israeli claim for sovereignty over the territory.

However, U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton said during his visit to Israel this week that "there's no discussion of it, no decision within the U.S. government."

Netanyahu said, according to a statement by his office, he won't give up on expectation in light of Bolton's remark.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 19:55:43|Editor: xuxin

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GENEVA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- A meeting between U.S. National Security Advisor John R. Bolton and Russia's Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev kicked off here Thursday morning.

The meeting, taking place amid Washington's fresh sanctions on Moscow, is expected to last several hours and a press briefing by Bolton is scheduled after the meeting.

An official from the U.S. mission in Geneva said that the closed-door meeting is a follow-up to the recent summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki last month.

Earlier this week, Bolton told reporters that he planned to discuss at the meeting "a broad range of issues that may be open for discussion between Washington and Moscow", in particular, discussions of the situation in Syria and Iran's role there.

Russia's Security Council spokesman said earlier that a number of topical issues on the international agenda, as well as prospects of Russian-U.S. cooperation in the field of security, are planned to be discussed.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 20:00:44|Editor: Liangyu

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BEIJING, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- China recently released a guideline on winning the battle against poverty in the next three years to prepare the nation for eradicating poverty by 2020.

According to the guideline, the poor population should be guaranteed food and clothing and children from poor families should be guaranteed a nine-year compulsory education. Basic medical needs and living conditions of the poor population should also be guaranteed.

People whose annual income is lower than 2,300 yuan (about 336.1 U.S. dollars) are defined as living below the poverty line in China.

Over the past five years, over 68 million people were lifted out of poverty. Another 30 million are set to be lifted in less than three years time.

However, as the work becomes harder towards the end, what exactly will the country do to achieve its goal?

AN ARDUOUS TASK

Fostering distinctive industries will continue to be emphasized.

"To become a moderately prosperous society in all respects by 2020, our biggest area of weakness lies in rural areas, especially the poor people in rural areas," Han Jun, deputy director of the office of the central agricultural work leading group, said at a press conference.

In southwest China's Zhexiang Township, Bouyei-Miao Autonomous Prefecture of Qianxinan, Guizhou Province, an area in deep poverty, a tourism park featuring distinctive Bouyei cloth making studios was established amid the local government's drive to develop the ethnic cultural industry together with rural tourism.

Since its establishment in 2016, the park has created over 200 jobs for residents and has drawn many tourists.

"Sales revenue of 'Tubu,' (a cloth with special patterns of the Bouyeu ethnic group), hit over 1.2 million yuan in only six months in 2017," said Wan Tianqin, deputy manager of a local cloth manufacturing company.

The industry not only increased the township's average income but also promoted our unique culture, said Zhou Jun, deputy Party secretary of Zhexiang.

As China proceeds with developing more distinctive industries, more attention should also be given to inspire the spirit of the poor people, according to the guideline.

MEDICAL INSURANCE

Besides fostering distinctive industries, the biggest challenge of poverty alleviation in the last three years lies in illness-caused poverty, according to Han Jun.

To tackle the problem, the country is piloting new insurance programs covering nearly all medical expenses for registered poor people.

In northwest China's Galou village, Qinghai Province, Wang Quanfu managed to spend zero yuan for his wife's ovarian cancer treatment this year.

According to Wang, his medical insurance and serious illness insurance normally covers 60 percent of the medical cost, but new health insurance piloted in his county in 2016 reimbursed the remainder of his expenses for his wife's treatment.

According to Qinghai Insurance Regulatory Bureau, 44.1 percent of the province's registered poor people are under the poverty line due to illness-related expenses. The new insurance program is aimed to expand the medical reimbursement ratio for them.

"After they are reimbursed from the medical insurance and the serious illness insurance, the government together with other commercial insurance companies will take care of the rest," said Qiu Zhijiang, an official with the insurance regulatory bureau.

The new insurance program has already started in many areas nationwide including Xining in Qinghai and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

ANTI-CORRUPTION

Anti-corruption is another priority in China's war against poverty, according to the guideline.

The country's top anti-graft body, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of the Communist Party of China, earlier this year opened a new section on its website to expose cases of corruption and misconduct in poverty alleviation.

Among the first 24 cases exposed, six were involved in the misappropriation or theft of funds intended for renovating old houses, and other violations involved embezzling job training funds and dereliction of duty.

Li Linqing, former Party chief of Caozhuang village in central China's Henan Province, was found to have reallocated more than 67,000 yuan of house renovation funds for other purposes.

Li was expelled from the Party, with his case transferred to judicial departments for further investigation.

The move is part of CCDI's three-year campaign launched to keep high alert on graft in case it interferes with the poverty relief work.

"Winning the battle against poverty is a promise that the Party has made to the people and is a political task that must be fulfilled," according to the CCDI.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 20:05:45|Editor: xuxin

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JAKARTA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Australian consulate office in Surabaya, provincial capital of East Java, Indonesia, has boosted security after terrorists threat to launch attacks, the Australian ministry of foreign affairs said on Thursday.

The ministry said in an updated travel advisory that the Australian staffs and personnel in the Surabaya city are currently adopting enhanced security measures and restricting their movement after the terror threat.

"Due to heightened security concern, staff at the Australian Consulate-General in Surabaya will not be attending an event at the Airlangga University in Surabaya on Aug. 23," the ministry said in a statement issued by the Australian embassy in Jakarta.

"We continue to receive information indicating terrorists many be planning attacks," it said.

The advice stipulated Australian nationals to pay close attention to their personal security at all time and monitor media for the latest information about safety and security risks.

In May, Surabaya, the second largest city in Indonesia, suffered a series of suicide bombings.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 20:10:48|Editor: xuxin

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DAMASCUS, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Following the progress of the Syrian army in recaptured areas that are rich in livestock, the prices of sacrificial sheep has decreased this year in comparison with previous years by 24 percent for each kilogram.

This decrease in price and the improvement in the overall security situation have been conducive in encouraging Syrians to revive the tradition of sacrificing sheep on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, or Feast of Sacrifice.

Sacrificing sheep at this time every year has been a tradition as Muslims commemorate Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son before God intervened to provide him with a sheep instead, according to the Islamic belief.

During the more than seven-year-long war, the areas that were rich in livestock were lost to an array of rebel groups, including the Islamic State (IS) and the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front.

These areas were in the southern province of Daraa, the eastern province of Deir al-Zour and the Eastern Ghouta countryside of the capital Damascus.

As a result, the prices of sacrificial animals have increased as well as anything else, making it difficult for people to make ends meet, let alone observing the yearly tradition of Eid al-Adha.

However, this situation has changed in recent months, as the Syrian army has restored the entire countryside of Damascus, including Eastern Ghouta in May.

The army also managed to recapture much of the southern region in Syria in recent weeks, including Daraa province.

In November 2017, the army restored the capital city of Deir al-Zour province and much of the countryside of that province from the IS.

Ahmad al-Deiri, a livestock trader, told Xinhua that the rebels used to take extra money from the livestock traders to allow the sheep to be taken to the government-controlled parts when they were in control.

"Now, we can move sheep from one place to another freely after all these areas have been liberated and the roads were opened. The situation has largely improved in comparison with previous years and more people are showing up this year to buy sheep," he said.

Aref al-Numan, one of the people who was buying a sacrificial sheep at a livestock market in Damascus, said that in previous years people were afraid to remain outdoors for a long time for fear of any mortar attack or shelling.

Now, he said people can leave their homes, practice their daily lives and revive the traditions of Eid al-Adha without fears.

"Of course the improvement in the security situation and the stability that has been achieved positively reflected on all aspects of life, including the prices of the sacrificial sheep. This is why you see more people buying sheep this year and I am one of them," he told Xinhua.

Zuhair al-Ez, a butcher, told Xinhua that the increase in the prices reflected well on his job, adding that he was amazed by the number of people showing up this year.

"I am happy this year, not only because I am having more customers, but because it reminds me of the days before the war and now my hope grow bigger that we will return as peaceful as we used to," he said.

The situation of the livestock wealth in Damascus and its countryside is good in terms of the availability to meet people's demands as well as low prices in comparison with last year, said Moataz al-Sawah, Vice-Chairman of the Damascus Economic Committee, quoted by the pro-government al-Watan newspaper as saying.

He said the prices decreased 24 percent for one kilogram of mutton this year, adding that two million sheep are available this year.

"This has changed now and the live sheep are available in good and acceptable prices this year in comparison with previous years," he said.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 20:10:49|Editor: Liangyu

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Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, attends the opening ceremony of the first Smart China Expo and reads a congratulatory letter sent by Chinese President Xi Jinping in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Aug. 23, 2018. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

CHONGQING, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng on Thursday called for the advancement of research and application of smart technology to support economic development.

Han, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, attended the opening ceremony of the first Smart China Expo in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality and read a congratulatory letter sent by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

In the letter, Xi said China attaches importance to innovation and is firmly committed to high-quality development by accelerating the digital economy and digitization of industries.

The congratulatory letter "fully demonstrated that the CPC Central Committee and the State Council highly value the development of smart technology," Han said when addressing the ceremony.

"Information technology and smart technology have seen remarkable development in China," Han noted. With nearly 800 million Internet users, China is the world's largest market for smart phones, mobile payment and online retail sales.

The country has been the top consumer of industrial robots for six consecutive years, with the size of its artificial intelligence market growing over 40 percent annually on average, according to the vice premier.

"Faster progress should be made in building a smart economy and an intelligent society, and new momentum should be fostered while traditional drivers should be upgraded, to support a modernized economy and high-quality development," he said.

Han called for using smart technology to innovate core technology, modernize manufacturing, improve social governance and create high-quality life for the people.

"We are willing to actively participate in international cooperation on the digital economy, share the opportunities brought by smart technology with other countries, and jointly create a bright future of the digital economy," he said.

Han proposed strengthening cooperation on smart technology in research and development, industry and security.

Themed "Smart Technology: Empowering Economy, Enriching Life," the expo attracted more than 500 enterprises from 28 countries and regions.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 20:25:56|Editor: xuxin

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BERLIN, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- German justice minister Katarina Barley (SPD) has called for an investigation into alleged links between the Saxony state criminal police office and the anti-immigrant Pegida movement on Thursday.

"Recent events in Saxony are truly concerning and must be urgently and thoroughly investigated by local authorities," Barley told the German press agency (dpa).

The minister's comments were made in response to reports that press representatives were harassed by police and prevented from going about their work at a Pegida demonstration in the Saxon capital of Dresden.

Pegida stands for "Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the Occident" in German. The group was founded in 2014 and regularly organizes large rallies to protest what it views as a threat posed by Islam and multiculturalism more generally to Western society.

During the latest demonstration of the group, a protestor, who was later identified as a member of the state criminal police office, hurled verbal abuse at a team of "ZDF" journalists filming the gathering. Rather than reigning in the aggressive Pegida supporter, police proceeded to inspect and temporarily detain the "ZDF" team over the course of just under an hour.

As a consequence, the public broadcaster is now accusing Saxon police officers of undermining the constitutionally-guaranteed right of the freedom of press in Germany. According to the magazine "SPIEGEL", a corresponding lawsuit has already been filed with the Saxony state prosecution office against the regional police force.

Barley emphasized on Thursday that press freedom was a "critical principle of our society and constitution" in Germany. The Saxon state assembly has announced that it will question regional interior minister Roland Woeller (CDU) on the issue in the course of the day.

Woeller's ministry confirmed earlier that the Pegida supporter who became embroiled in a row with "ZDF" reporters is an employee of the state criminal police office. "The state criminal police office will arrive at a decision about possible consequences when the case has been investigated and the affected individual has provided a testimony", a statement released online read.

Thomas Geither, the spokesperson for the Dresden police, has rejected claims that his organization interfered with the freedom of press at the Pegida demonstration. He admitted, however, that there were members of his police force who sympathized with the anti-immigrant group.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 20:25:56|Editor: xuxin

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KAMPALA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- A civilian court in northern Uganda on Thursday charged Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi, a musician cum lawmaker, with treason just minutes after a military court dropped charges of illegal possession of firearms.

Kyagulanyi who appeared before Yunusu Ndiwalana, Gulu Magistrate Grade One, was charged with alleged intent to harm President Yoweri Museveni in the northwestern district of Arua on Aug. 13.

"You are charged with the offense of treason. Prosecution alleges you (Kyagulanyi) together with 32 others on Aug. 13 at Arua municipality and other places within Uganda with the intent to do harm to the person of a president, unlawfully aimed and threw stones, thereby smashing the rare windscreen of the presidential car," said Ndiwalana.

The magistrate remanded Kyagulanyi until Aug. 30 when he will reappear together with the 32 others accused, including three legislators.

The new charge came barely 30 minutes after the lawmaker known by his stage name "Bobi Wine" had been freed by the general military court martial.

During the Aug. 13 arrest carried out by the military, one person was shot dead and several others were injured. Later there were reports that the arrested legislators were brutally tortured by the military.

In the Thursday court session, Magistrate Ndiwalana, following an application by the defense counsel, ruled that Kyagulanyi be allowed to access a private doctor due to his deteriorating health condition.

The Ugandan capital Kampala was on Aug. 20 rocked with riots over Kyagulanyi's arrest and alleged torture. One person died and 173 others were arrested by the police.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 20:30:58|Editor: Liangyu

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BEIRUT, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Vessel Beijing Bridge of Cmacgm arrived to Lebanon's Tripoli port on Thursday from China passing through Suez Canal to unload 800 containers of products, local media reported.

"After the opening of the maritime line between Lebanon and China, Tripoli port will become a central port for transit in the Mediterranean sea," Tripoli Port Manager Ahmad Tamer was quoted by National News Agency as saying.

Tamer said that Tripoli port will receive every two weeks such a huge vessel carrying products to Lebanese market and other markets which will turn the port into a transit station.

Beijing Bridge is a 295 meters vessel with 32 meters of width.

On August 17, another vessel coming from China arrived to Tripoli port carrying around 1000 containers.

Cmacgm Nerval, which measures 600 meters in length and 40 meters in width, is the biggest vessel arrived to the port since its establishment.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 20:41:00|Editor: xuxin

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BEIRUT, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's President Michel Aoun called upon the United States on Thursday to put pressure on Israel to stop its violations of Lebanese airspace aiming at hitting Syria, presidency website reported.

"We hope that the U.S. adopts a policy aimed at promoting peace in Middle East and in the world," he said during his meeting with U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, Robert Karem.

Aoun praised Lebanese army in winning over terrorism and voiced his intention for a national defense dialogue following the formation of the cabinet.

In his part, Karem said the U.S. appreciates the efforts made by Aoun to improve the capabilities of the Lebanese army, adding that "the U.S. is willing to strengthen the relation between Lebanese and American armies."

Karem also met Thursday with Lebanon's Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. The two officials discussed bilateral relations and the latest developments in Lebanon and in the region.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 20:56:05|Editor: xuxin

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by Zhang Yongxing

SUVA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- A China-aided palm leaf weaving workshop started on Thursday in Fiji, aiming to help train rural Fijian women to upgrade their weaving skills.

To celebrate the opening of the workshop, jointly organized by the China Cultural Center in Fiji and Fiji's Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, a grand and traditional ceremony was held on Thursday in Nabudrau, a village around 30 km from the Fijian capital city of Suva, with the participation of Fijian government officials, village chiefs, 30 women from 10 surrounding villages and representatives from the China Cultural Center in Fiji.

Mereseini Vuniwaqa, Fiji's Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, congratulated the Fijian women for being able to attend the workshop and thanked China for supporting this workshop which will last for a week.

For his part, Deng Xianfu, director of the China Cultural Center in Fiji, expressed his hope that the women attending the workshop will make nice weaving products upon their graduation.

"I hope you will make nice weaving products upon your graduation and give us a big surprise. As the number of the participants is limited, I hope in this workshop we will train the trainees. When you go back to your villages, you can transfer the skills you have learnt to your fellow villagers. In the future, we will hold more training workshops like this one on other handicraft making, such as bamboo weaving and wood carving, so that our Fijian friends can benefit more from our cultural exchange projects," he said.

The workshop has triggered exciting reactions from Fijian government officials and ordinary Fijians.

Dr. Josefa Koroivueta, permanent secretary of Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, voiced his satisfaction with the workshop, saying that this workshop will help Fijian rural women a lot and Fiji is grateful to China which has provided a lot of assistance to the island nation.

"We are very grateful to China for making this workshop available. We are excited because we know our Fijian women will gain from this skill of China and after this workshop, we will have the products we have not had before. We look forward to and we will remember the training that will have impacts upon our generations. The families that will use the skill from China will benefit from this training. Actually this is a symbol of the real close and friendly relationship between Fiji and China. And we are sure that from here, more big opportunities will be available for us," he told Xinhua.

Several women attending the training told Xinhua that they are very pleased to have this training chance and believe that they will learn a real skill that will help them make extra money.

"We really want to thank China for giving us this chance for training, Vinaka Vakalevu (Thank you very much)," they said.

Liu Junying, an experienced woman trainer from China's Sichuan province, is a famous palm-leaf weaving inheritor in China. She has visited many countries to train people wanting to learn palm-leaf weaving.

"I am very happy for being in Fiji to train these rural women as this is a good chance for the two cultures to learn from each other and this will no doubt help promote the mutual understanding and friendship between China and Fiji," she told Xinhua.

According to Deng, this is the first time for the China Cultural Center to bring cultural activity like this to the Fijian rural area. And in the future, the center will do more similar events for rural Fijians.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 21:01:08|Editor: xuxin

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ISLAMABAD, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- At least one security personnel was killed and three others were injured in a landmine blast in Pakistan's northwestern district of North Waziristan on Thursday, local media reported.

According to the media reports, the landmine blast hit the security forces' vehicle in Dand Killay area of Datta Khel region in North Waziristan, the country's tribal region bordering Afghanistan.

The personnel came under attack belonged to Frontier Corps (FC), a paramilitary force performing duties in the northwest and southwest region of the country.

The security personnel were on their routine patrol in the area when they came under the attack.

The body of the deceased and injured persons were shifted to the Datta Khel Camp hospital where the wounded personnel were in stable condition.

Security officials have cordoned off the area and started an operation in the region. No group has claimed the attack yet.A boy touches a sacrificial sheep at a livestock market during the Muslim festival Eid al-Adha in the capital Damascus on Aug.22, 2018. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani)

DAMASCUS, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Following the progress of the Syrian army in recaptured areas that are rich in livestock, the prices of sacrificial sheep has decreased this year in comparison with previous years by 24 percent for each kilogram.

This decrease in price and the improvement in the overall security situation have been conducive in encouraging Syrians to revive the tradition of sacrificing sheep on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, or Feast of Sacrifice.

Sacrificial sheep are seen at a livestock market during the Muslim festival Eid al-Adha in the capital Damascus on Aug.22 2018. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani)

Sacrificing sheep at this time every year has been a tradition as Muslims commemorate Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son before God intervened to provide him with a sheep instead, according to the Islamic belief.

During the more than seven-year-long war, the areas that were rich in livestock were lost to an array of rebel groups, including the Islamic State (IS) and the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front.

These areas were in the southern province of Daraa, the eastern province of Deir al-Zour and the Eastern Ghouta countryside of the capital Damascus.

As a result, the prices of sacrificial animals have increased as well as anything else, making it difficult for people to make ends meet, let alone observing the yearly tradition of Eid al-Adha.

However, this situation has changed in recent months, as the Syrian army has restored the entire countryside of Damascus, including Eastern Ghouta in May.

The army also managed to recapture much of the southern region in Syria in recent weeks, including Daraa province.

In November 2017, the army restored the capital city of Deir al-Zour province and much of the countryside of that province from the IS.

People buy sacrificial sheep at a livestock market during the Muslim festival Eid al-Adha in the capital Damascus on Aug.22, 2018. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani)

Ahmad al-Deiri, a livestock trader, told Xinhua that the rebels used to take extra money from the livestock traders to allow the sheep to be taken to the government-controlled parts when they were in control.

"Now, we can move sheep from one place to another freely after all these areas have been liberated and the roads were opened. The situation has largely improved in comparison with previous years and more people are showing up this year to buy sheep," he said.

Aref al-Numan, one of the people who was buying a sacrificial sheep at a livestock market in Damascus, said that in previous years people were afraid to remain outdoors for a long time for fear of any mortar attack or shelling.

Now, he said people can leave their homes, practice their daily lives and revive the traditions of Eid al-Adha without fears.

"Of course the improvement in the security situation and the stability that has been achieved positively reflected on all aspects of life, including the prices of the sacrificial sheep. This is why you see more people buying sheep this year and I am one of them," he told Xinhua.

Zuhair al-Ez, a butcher, told Xinhua that the increase in the prices reflected well on his job, adding that he was amazed by the number of people showing up this year.

"I am happy this year, not only because I am having more customers, but because it reminds me of the days before the war and now my hope grow bigger that we will return as peaceful as we used to," he said.

The situation of the livestock wealth in Damascus and its countryside is good in terms of the availability to meet people's demands as well as low prices in comparison with last year, said Moataz al-Sawah, Vice-Chairman of the Damascus Economic Committee, quoted by the pro-government al-Watan newspaper as saying.

He said the prices decreased 24 percent for one kilogram of mutton this year, adding that two million sheep are available this year.

"This has changed now and the live sheep are available in good and acceptable prices this year in comparison with previous years," he said.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 21:16:14|Editor: xuxin

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STOCKHOLM, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Several cars and houses were burned on Wednesday night in southern Swedish municipality of Kristianstad, the Swedish Television SVT reported on Thursday.

A total of seven cars burned in different locations throughout the city. Even though the locations are far from each other, according to the police, it is possible that the car fires were arson attacks.

Earlier the same night, police and rescue services received alarms of a couple of houses caught fire. Among the burned houses were a pizzeria and a garage building that were completely destroyed.

"The fires happened on residential area, but no one got hurt," chief police officer Tommy Bengtsson told SVT.

According to the local newspaper Kristianstadsbladet, several fire units were on the spot trying to prevent the fire from spreading to close by houses.

For now, it is unclear what caused the fires or whether there is a connection between them.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 21:26:15|Editor: xuxin

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PARIS, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb identified the profile of the knifeman who killed two people near Paris earlier Thursday as an "unbalanced" man who suffered "major psychiatric problems".

"The crime was committed by the son and brother of two victims... The murderer had significant psychiatric problems," Collomb said.

Visiting the attack site, the minister confirmed that the assailant was registered in FSPRT (Signaling file for the Prevention of Terrorist Radicalization) and known for apologia for terrorism.

However, he suffered "major psychiatric problems", making him "someone who would not be able to follow instructions of terrorist groups, notably Daesh (the Islamic State)," Collomb added.

At around 09:30 a.m. local time, police had been alerted for a family dispute out in the street in Trappes, west Paris where a knifeman stabbed to death his mother and sister and seriously wounded a third person. The attacker was later shot dead by police.

According to news channel BFMTV, the man, 36, was sentenced in 2016 on charges of apologia for terrorism.

Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack, according to some media reports.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 21:41:18|Editor: xuxin

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MONROVIA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Liberia on Thursday confirmed that nine people were feared dead after a canoe carrying 15 people capsized in the central county Margibi.

Responders have so far rescued six people who fell into the river on Wednesday afternoon, Jerry Varnie, superintendent of Margibi County, told Xinhua.

The incident in Dolo's Town area in the county occurred when the victims, mostly students, reached the Manawhala crossing point in Lower Margibi County.

The students were crossing the Gben River to do their school registration for the upcoming academic year, Varnie said.

In his reaction to the incident, Samuel Berrien, city mayor of Unification Town, the most populous area in Margibi, has ordered the closure of all crossing points within the city limits until the dry season.

According to local media, Berrien took the action to prevent a recurrence of what has been described as an "unfortunate situation" in Margibi County.

The six rescued victims have been admitted to a county hospital, said local officials.U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Jordan's Foreign Affairs Minister Ayman Safadi meet at the U.S. State Department in Washington, U.S., Aug. 22, 2018. (Xinhua/REUTERS)

WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recently met with Jordanian and Qatari foreign ministers Ayman Safadi and Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on bilateral ties and regional issues.

According to a statement issued by the State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert, Pompeo on Wednesday met with Ayman Safadi, as the two officials discussed regional developments, "including efforts to bring peace and stability to Syria and the broader Middle East."

Pompeo also thanked Safadi for Jordan's continued role in helping to alleviate humanitarian suffering in southern Syria.

Nauert also said that Pompeo on Tuesday met with Qatar's Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

They affirmed their mutual interest in promoting security and stability in the region and their continued commitment to the strong bilateral relationship, said Nauert.

The two diplomats also discussed Qatar's ongoing support for peace in Afghanistan and for Iraq government formation.

U.S. media reported that the Trump administration plans to roll out its peace mediation plan that involves both Palestinians and Israelis recently.

However, Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Islamic Hamas movement on Wednesday slammed U.S. President Donald Trump for suggesting removing the issue of Jerusalem from the Middle East peace talks.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas recently confirmed that the Palestinian side would neither hold talks with the Trump administration nor accept it as the peace mediator before it backs down on its decision on Jerusalem.

Jordan has urged the international community to recognize East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine, which is a prerequisite for attaining peace and stability in the Middle East region.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 22:02:10|Editor: Liangyu

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Chen Gang (R) packs organic rice at Liangfeng Village in Yuqing County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Aug. 22, 2018. In 2016, Chen Gang gave up his job as a machinery salesman in Guiyang, the capital city of Guizhou Province and returned to his hometown to start organic farming. Chen achieved a big success in selling his products over the Internet in 2017. He helped local villagers increase income and offered jobs for over 40 villagers who could live in hometown instead of going out as migrant workers. (Xinhua/He Chunyu)Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 22:51:36|Editor: zh

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MOSCOW, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Central Bank said Thursday that it has decided not to purchase foreign currency on the domestic market from Aug. 23 to the end of September in order to counter market volatility.

The decision was taken to increase the predictability of the monetary authorities' actions, the bank said in a statement, adding that it has enough tools to preserve financial stability.

As to when to resume the purchase of foreign currency, the bank said it will take into account the situation in the financial markets during September.

Russia's ruble has plunged to its weakest since mid-2016 as a result of Washington's latest decision to impose a new round of sanctions on Moscow, which was expected to take effect around Aug. 22.

Relations between Russia and the West have deteriorated over the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain earlier this year. London accused Moscow of involvement in the attack while Moscow denied.

Washington has threatened to sanction Russia over the case in two phases. In the first phase, it will ban the granting of licenses to sell "all national-security sensitive goods or technologies" to Russia, according to senior U.S. officials.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 23:01:48|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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KIEV, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Ukrainian army on Thursday suffered one of the worst daily losses in the conflict in eastern Ukraine since the start of the year, official figures showed.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry said in a statement that five government soldiers were killed and seven others were injured in the active hostilities earlier Thursday.

The casualties occurred as Ukrainian army positions were attacked with heavy artillery, infantry fighting vehicles and mortars, the statement said.

The conflict in eastern Ukraine has been underway since April 2014, claiming more than 10,000 lives.

On Wednesday, the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) on Ukraine and representatives of the certain areas of eastern Ukraine's Donetsk and Lugansk regions confirmed their full commitment to an indefinite cease-fire in the conflict-affected region from Aug. 29.

The TCG is a group of representatives from Ukraine, Russia and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) that was formed to facilitate a diplomatic solution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 23:01:49|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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JUBA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The South Sudanese army and the main rebel group are trading blame for the renewed fighting that erupted in the northern parts of the country earlier this week.

The Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and the rebel group SPLA-in Opposition (IO) led by former first deputy president Riek Machar on Thursday renewed counter accusations of truce violation in the former Unity State.

South Sudan's warring factions on Aug. 5 signed a new power sharing and cease-fire deal in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum aimed at ending five years of civil war.

The foes in the country's civil war had previously violated several cease-fires brokered by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), an East African regional bloc since the conflict erupted in December 2013.

SPLA military Spokesman Lul Ruai Koang told media that rebels allied to the SPLA-IO attacked two government control areas in northern Liech state on Tuesday killing four SPLA forces and injuring scores.

Koang called on the peace monitor, the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM), to investigate the alleged truce violation.

"The opposition forces on 21 attacked our position in two areas of Northern Liech state, we lost four service men and nine of the attackers were killed. That was a serious violation of the ceasefire," Koang said.

"We urge CTSAMM to visit the area where the attack took place so that they know who was on the wrong side," he added.

Lam Paul Gabriel, SPLA-IO deputy military spokesperson, denied the government accusations, accusing the government of trying to dismantle opposition forces from their cantonment areas before the final signing of the peace agreement.

"That is a baseless accusation. They are just trying to cover up their aggregation because whenever we try to open up our cantonment sites, they try to disorganize our forces," Lam said.

South Sudan has been embroiled in over four years of conflict that has taken a devastating toll on the people, creating one of the fastest growing refugee crisis in the world.

A peace deal signed in August 2015 between the rival leaders under UN pressure led to the establishment of a transitional unity government in April, but was shattered by renewed fighting in July 2016.

The warring factions are continuing with talks on outstanding issues before a final peace deal could be signed.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 23:11:53|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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PARIS, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- French justice minister Nicole Belloubet on Thursday denounced the release of a terrorism suspect after a judge forgot to renew his custody term, describing the incident as a "serious error".

"This is a serious mistake that creates unacceptable dysfunction. That's why I want to understand exactly what happened," the minister said when speaking to BFMTV news channel.

"The investigating judges have tools to work with, including digital ones. Why did the scanned warning systems not work?" That's what I have to understand," she said during the interview.

"The anti-terrorist justice works well, there was this mistake, but it's rare," she added.

The suspect, Oualid B., was arrested in August 2016 on charges of planning attacks in Lyon in 2014 and recruiting jihadists to join insurgents in Syria and Iraq. Expected to appear before judges in November, the presumed terrorist was freed in April as a judge forgot to renew his pre-trial detention.

According to the satirical weekly newspaper "Le Canard Echaine", Oulaid B. was detained in May for driving without a license and outside his probation area. Images of armed jihadists and a propaganda film of the Islamic State terrorist group were found on his mobile phone. He was released following his immediate court appearance in Meaux, a suburb of Paris.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 23:16:56|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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BERLIN, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Volkswagen Group will invest billions of euros in a range of new digital services involving its vehicles, the Wolfsburg-based company announced on Thursday.

Juergen Stackmann, head of sales at the Volkswagen flagship brand, told press in Berlin that the carmaker planned to spend 3.5 billion euros (4 billion U.S. dollars) on the digitalization offensive until 2025. Volkswagen hopes that resulting products will boost earnings even further at the German automotive giant.

Amongst others, Volkswagen is planning to launch a "We Share" car sharing platform in Berlin with a purely electric fleet of vehicles at the start of next year. The service is then scheduled to be expanded to select European and American city centers with more than one million inhabitants from 2020 onwards.

Volkswagen is thus entering an increasingly crowded car sharing market in Germany which is currently dominated by the Daimler and BMW subsidiaries Car2Go and DriveNow. In an unusual move for the rival luxury car makers, Daimler and BMW have recently announced the merger of their respective car sharing businesses.

While Volkswagen may be lagging behind the competition on car sharing, however, it is the only industry representative which has begun to offer ride-sharing services through its Moia start-up in Hannover. Moia was founded as a digital carpooling alternative to public transportation providers, conventional taxis services and new market entrants like Uber.

Customers use a mobile phone application to order Moia vehicles to a virtual stopping place in their geographical proximity. A specially developed algorithm ensures that drivers only collect passengers whose destinations all fall along a similar route.

In the coming years, Moia wants to gradually raise the number of its vehicles and customers in Hannover.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 23:52:09|Editor: mmm

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BEIJING, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) on Thursday expressed serious concern about 5G security rules published by the Australian government, calling the move "a wrong decision."

An MOC spokesperson said in a statement that the rules will exert negative influence on the interest of both Chinese and Australian companies.

The Australian government has issued an order to expand its security regulations on the 5G network, which will block Chinese telecom equipment producers from the Australian market, according to media reports.

"Australia should look at the big picture of bilateral economic and trade cooperation, rather than easily interfere with and restrict normal business activities in the name of national security," the spokesperson said.

China hopes Australia will uphold the principles of fairness and openness to create a sound business environment for Chinese companies, according to the spokesperson.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-23 23:52:09|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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by Larry Neild

LONDON, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- From business leaders to the farming industry, there has been a mixed reaction, and plenty of warnings on Thursday, to the government's publication of papers preparing for the prospect of a "no deal" Brexit.

Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab insisted in a keynote at Westminster speech that Britain was stepping up the pace and the intensity of its negotiations with Brussels about its exit from the European Union (EU).

"I am confident a good deal is within our sights. That remains our top priority, our overriding priority," said Raab, adding that it was the most likely outcome.

Raab said roughly 80 percent of Britain's withdrawal agreement had now been agreed with the EU, and further progress was being made on outstanding separation issues.

But Raab said Britain has to consider the alternative possibility -- that the EU does not match its ambition and pragmatism, and a deal with Brussels is not in reach.

Josh Hardie, deputy director-general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), said few can be in any doubt that 'no deal' would wreak havoc on economies across Europe.

"These papers show that those who claim crashing out of the EU on World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules is acceptable live in a world of fantasy, where facts are not allowed to challenge ideology," he said.

Hardie said it was right and responsible that the government has supplied information to businesses on issues from financial services passporting to food labelling, all of which will help lower the risks of the harshest outcomes of a 'no deal' Brexit.

But he said that without a similar response from the EU, many of the mitigating measures would be blunted.

Hardie added: "The reality is that businesses across the UK have already spent millions of pounds and thousands of hours on getting ready for no deal. Whilst smaller firms simply do not have the resources to assess what the worst-case scenario would mean to their enterprises."

"Above all, negotiators must now get on with finalising a withdrawal agreement, putting pen to paper on a jobs-first transition period, and finally, agree on a new relationship that puts people's livelihoods above politics."

Adam Marshall, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said: "The technical notices being published by the UK government are a good start, but businesses still need more detailed information to trade as smoothly as possible across borders if there is no UK-EU deal on March 30 next year."

"Ministers say they will take unilateral steps to keep trade moving freely but must demonstrate what they will concretely do to limit the impact of delays, inspections and red tape. It is unfortunate that businesses face several weeks wait for further information and clarification. Every additional delay means less time for businesses to prepare."

On cross-border trade and customs, Marshall said: "The stark reality is that in a 'no deal' scenario, it appears that the government's intention is to impose full-blown customs controls on trade between the EU and the UK immediately. According to the technical notice, businesses will have to be ready for customs declarations, tariffs, safety inspections, new licenses and more from day one, which will be cold comfort for many trading firms."

"Companies trading across European borders need to start preparing for this possibility now, and so too do communities close to border crossing points."

Marshall said there are also concerns for banking and financial services, where changes could have a significant impact on non-financial firms trading across borders.

"The government is saying that firms could face higher costs and slower processing for their Euro transactions in a no-deal scenario."

Ann McGregor, chief executive officer of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: "Businesses across Northern Ireland need the two sides to be far clearer about what will happen to trade on the ground at the Irish border" if a deal cannot be struck.

The National Farmers' Union (NFU) warned of a disastrous scenario for Britain's food supply chain.

NFU president Minette Batters warned that Brexit could bring farms to the brink of collapse if there was no frictionless and free trade.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-24 00:17:18|Editor: mmm

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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the State Council leading group on the development of western regions, presides over a meeting of the leading group in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 21, 2018. Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and deputy head of the State Council leading group on the development of western regions, also attended the meeting. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

BEIJING, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has called for more efforts to boost growth momentum and improve people's livelihood in the country's less-prosperous western regions.

Western areas should continue with reform and opening-up and vigorously innovate to achieve high-quality development, said Li, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the State Council leading group on the development of western regions.

At a meeting of the leading group on Tuesday, the premier acknowledged the economic and social achievements in the regions, which have supported the country's development and offered significant assistance for the national strategy.

Li described the development in western regions as "a crucial and difficult point" for China to become a moderately prosperous society in all respects and achieve modernization.

Western areas should channel more energy into industrial upgrades, and make more contributions to a stable national economy, Li said.

Li pointed out local governments should continue to foster a more competitive "soft environment" in a bid to improve their endogenous development capacity.

More efforts are required to further streamline administration and enhance services, address sore points for enterprises and individuals, and reduce government-imposed transaction costs.

Entrepreneurship and innovation should be promoted in a practical manner, Li said, urging measures to raise industrial competitiveness in western regions and greater steps to cultivate new growth drivers and restructure traditional sectors.

The inland regions should also vigorously push forward opening-up based on their own characteristics, according to Li.

The premier said China would accelerate a raft of major construction projects in western regions as part of the efforts to better economic structure, improve weak links and expand domestic demand. The central government will pump more capital into the areas and encourage local governments to attract private investment.

Li cited transport projects including the Sichuan-Tibet railway, power grids, oil and natural gas pipelines, internet infrastructure, and water diversion projects.

Governments should innovate in investment and operation mechanisms for urbanization projects that concern the environment and people's well-being, such as sewage treatment and refuse disposal.

Consumption environment will be improved to further unleash the potential of western markets, with online shopping and spending on cultural products and healthcare services promoted.

Li highlighted the people-centered development and the fact that China remains as the world's largest developing country, calling for continued efforts to improve people's livelihood in western regions.

China will take solid, precise actions to win the tough battle against poverty and work for equality in public services, Li said. Internet technologies will be used to let remote poor regions enjoy better education and medical services, and the employment and old-age care in western regions will also be enhanced.

Vice Premier Han Zheng attended the meeting. He is a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and deputy head of the State Council leading group on the development of western regions.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-24 00:27:21|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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DAMASCUS, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian government forces are sending reinforcements to the frontline with rebel-held areas in Idlib province in northwestern Syria as part of the preparations for a wide-scale offensive against that last major rebel stronghold in Syria, a war monitor reported on Thursday.

The Syrian army is sending more military gears with tens of soldiers to the frontline areas in the countryside of the central province of Hama, the coastal province of Latakia and the southern countryside of Idlib as all three share borders with the rebel-held areas in Idlib.

The rebels are also consolidating their positions in anticipation to a major military confrontation with the Syrian army in Idlib, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The Britain-based watchdog group said the indications are high that a major military operation is looming on the horizon after the army brought in hundreds of military vehicles, including armored ones, as well as thousands of soldiers from other frontlines.

Idlib has emerged as the main destination and stronghold for the rebels fleeing other parts of Syrian through deals or surrender.

In recent months, the Syrian army captured several towns in the southern countryside of Idlib and hundreds of people have started recently returning to those areas.

Several Turkey-backed rebel groups are located in that province near the Turkish border but the main powerful group is the Hayyat Tahrir al-Sham, or the Levant Liberation Committee (LLC), whose backbone is the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front.

Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the head of the LLC, vowed in a video posted online recently that his group will fight in the face of any possible military offensive by the Syrian army.

He also noted that his group will not surrender similar to what happened in other Syrian areas where rebels surrendered their weapons and embarked on deals with the government.

For the Syrian government, the priority is to achieve reconciliation.

Bashar Jaafari, the Permanent Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic to the United Nations, said recently that the Syrian government is exerting efforts to encourage the local reconciliations in Idlib, otherwise, the Syrian army has the right to use force.

But the LLC has recently been rounding up opposition figures who are advocating the need to accept the reconciliation deals with the government.

The observatory said earlier that the LCC rounded up over 250 since early this month.

Additionally, Idlib is now living in a state of severe lawlessness amid assassinations, explosions, and infighting.

All of these factors could pave the way for the Syrian army to restore Idlib, after which the rebels would be left with some areas in the northern countryside of Aleppo province near Turkey.

But the situation is not that easy as the recapture of Idlib by the Syrian army demands an understanding between Russia and Turkey, which is the patron of several rebel groups there, and already has posts deployed there as Idlib is the fourth de-escalation zone agreed upon with Russia.

In his latest remarks, Jaafari said the Turkish side didn't live up to its commitment in the Astana talks about the de-escalation zones.

He said the Turkish side was supposed to send Turkish police with light weapons to the points agreed upon to observe the de-escalation of violence.

Instead, he continued, Ankara sent army forces with heavy weapons to Idlib.

Jaafari said the Syrian government has the right to restore all Syrian areas, stressing that the validity of the Astana agreement about the de-escalation zones is only six months and could only be renewed upon the consent of Damascus and its allies.

In addition to Turkey, Western powers have started warning Syria against chemical weapons as they feel the Idlib battle could be near.

On Tuesday, the United States, France, and Britain warned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad against using chemical weapons, saying that "we remain resolved to act if the Assad regime uses chemical weapons again."

The three Western powers stressed their "concern at the potential for further, and illegal, use of chemical weapons" in Syria.

"As we have demonstrated, we will respond appropriately to any further use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime, which has had such devastating humanitarian consequences for the Syrian population," the three powers said in their statement.

Their remarks were read as a sort of threat to Damascus as the army is preparing to retake Idlib.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday condemned the tripartite statement, saying it's "the campaign of threats, hypocrisy, and misinformation resorted to by those powers against the Syrian Arab Republic, which comes in the framework of the outright support to the terrorist groups."

While stressing that the Syrian forces have never used chemical weapons, the ministry charged that the rebels have used chemical weapons under the direct support of the Western powers as well as some regional countries such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.

The ministry said that it had informed concerned International parties a few days ago about the information that the rebels are planning a fresh gas attack in Syria.

It said the Western statement comes to support any chemical attack by the rebels to use it as a pretext to attack Syria.

The three powers had launched a missile attack on Syrian military positions in April. At the time, they said they had targeted the facilities involved in the manufacture of chemical weapons in Syria.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-24 00:27:21|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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LONDON, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- British shoppers will face slower and higher credit card payment costs in the event of a no-deal Brexit, the British government admitted on Thursday.

The revelation was included in one of 25 papers published Thursday that detail measures to try to mitigate turmoil from crashing out of the European Union (EU).

British consumers would face slower and more costly credit card payments when they buy EU products, and British citizens living abroad could lose access to their bank accounts in the event of a no-deal Brexit, the government warned.

No deal means the collapse of the ongoing talks between London and Brussels on how Britain will leave the regional bloc in March 2019.

A document on banking, insurance and other financial services said: "The cost of card payments between the UK and EU will likely increase, and these cross-border payments will no longer be covered by the surcharging ban."

Customers of UK banks living in the EU "may lose the ability to access lending and deposit services, and insurance contracts," the paper said.

Meanwhile, British businesses are warned that if the UK leaves without a deal, "the free circulation of goods between the UK and EU would cease."

Under an EU-wide clampdown, it became unlawful in January for retailers to charge additional fees when someone uses a particular credit or debit card, or another system such as PayPal, to make a purchase.

Adam Marshall, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: "There are some alarm bells for business here."

"The government is saying that firms could face higher costs and slower processing for their euro transactions in a no deal scenario, and that surcharges for card payments could make a comeback," he said. "Both of these real-world business issues need to be avoided if at all possible."

The contingency plans urge Britons not to be "alarmed" by the risks of a no-deal Brexit.

British Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab released the first batch of about 80 papers, covering topics such as how the City can prepare for any turmoil, avoiding border delays at Dover, and ensuring medicine supplies do not run out.

Britain would take "unilateral action" in the event of a no-deal Brexit to keep trade and transport flowing freely, Raab pledged Thursday.

In his first major speech as the Brexit secretary, he said that the British government would not risk triggering a tit-for-tat battle with Brussels by imposing new border checks or travel restrictions.

"People and businesses should not be alarmed by no-deal planning and preparation, nor read into it any pessimism," the documents urged. "Instead they should be reassured that we are taking a responsible approach, ensuring the UK's exit can be as smooth as possible in all scenarios."

Labour accused the government of going into "panic mode," as calls were made for a no deal to be ruled out amid worries that a bungled Brexit would send the pound into a nosedive, lead to long border delays and risk food and medicine shortages.

Addressing more general concerns, Raab told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that "There are some risks here ... but let's not have the risks blown out of proportion and out of context."

"These technical notices and the ones that will follow are a sensible, measured and proportionate approach to minimising the impact of no deal on British firms, citizens, charities and public bodies."

Raab insisted he was still confident that a trade deal with Brussels would be reached.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-24 00:47:27|Editor: zh

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NICOSIA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- EU member-states Bulgaria and Cyprus are at loggerheads over the failure of an insurance company based on the eastern Mediterranean island and on who is to foot the bill for insurance claims totaling 43.5 million euros, Cypriot media reported on Thursday.

Olympic Insurance, which was put in liquidation both in Bulgaria and in Cyprus, is facing 9,500 claims in Bulgaria amounting to 28.5 million euros and 2,500 claims in Cyprus amounting to 15 million euros.

Bulgarian authorities have already asked Cyprus to foot the bill for the money Olympic owes to its citizens.

Cypriot Financial Ombudsman Pavlos Ioannou said on Thursday that he received a letter from a Bulgarian official requesting Cyprus to cover the damages to Bulgarian claimants. He said he is considering the request taking into consideration Cypriot legislation.

Olympic Insurance was based in Cyprus but most of its business was done in Bulgaria, where it had 9 percent of the market with 200,000 insured clients against damage to third parties. Both they and the Cypriot clients of the company had to buy new road insurance.

English language newspaper Cyprus mail published documents which it said proved that the failure of the company could have been avoided had the Cypriot supervisor of insurance companies was more diligent and spotted warnings about its owners shadowy activities.

It said that the owner of Olympic's Luxembourg based parent company, a Spanish citizen, was named in a June 2015 statement issued by Spain's Comision Nacional del Mercado de Valores (CNMV), which supervises the country's financial markets.

It warned investors that his New York Securities Bank based in the Comoros Islands was not authorized to provide services detailed in Spain's Securities Market Act, which include insurance services.

Yet, seven months later the Cypriot supervisor failed to take cognizance of the warning, and he was allowed to buy all shares of Olympic Insurance, totaling almost 8 million, from its previous owner and become its new owner and manager, in January 2016.

The report said that supervisors failed to spot the Spanish warning about the new owner of Olympic, further prohibitions for his parent company to deal in foreign currency.

A report by a reputable audit firm said it could not verify any of several claims about its financial health, including Brazilian sovereign bonds, immovable property, receivables and cash deposits in a shadowy bank in the Comoros islands, which, as it transpired, had the same registration number as one which was owned by him.

Cypriot Auditor General Odysseas Michaelides said via Twitter on Thursday that his office had spotted Olympic's shortcomings when it carried out its audit for 2014.

He said it was one of two companies which would face problems with the introduction of Solvency II, a European Union directive which introduced a harmonized prudential framework for insurance firms across the European Union.

He did not say if he alerted any authorities about his findings, and which.

An official of the Cypriot Motor Insurance Fund, which has been set up by insurance companies to underwrite claims on insurance companies in case of insolvency, said the Fund may pay claims by Bulgarian clients of the company.

Officials said it all boils down to a 5 percent surcharge on road insurance premiums payed by each Cypriot car owner from now on.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-24 00:52:28|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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TEHRAN, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei on Thursday appointed Rear Admiral Ali Reza Tangsiri as the new commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) navy.

In a decree on Thursday, Khamenei, commander-in-chief of Iran's Armed Forces, appointed Tangsiri as commander of the IRGC navy which is in charge of security in Iran's southern waters.

Tangsiri succeeds Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi as the IRGC navy chief.

Khamenei said the decision for the appointment has been made with regard to the new commander's "commitment, competency and valuable experiences."

He called on Tangsiri to push for promoting the training skills and upgrade the maritime equipment.

Khamenei has also called for the enhancement of the Iranian naval forces' presence in international waters and expanding the Navy's power in balance with the merit of the Islamic establishment.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-24 02:02:43|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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DUBAI, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash slammed on Thursday Qatar for "secret contacts with Israel."

Gargash made the remarks on Twitter, saying Qatar is reaching out to Israel while blaming its neighbors in doing so.

Gargash tweeted that "there is documented evidence that Doha has been in direct contact with officials in Tel Aviv on the topic of Gaza."

Gargash was referring to reports by Israeli news outlet Walla News from Wednesday saying that Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman secretly met with Qatar's Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani in Cyprus in late June this year.

On June 5, 2017, the UAE, along with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt, severed its diplomatic and economic ties with Qatar, accusing Qatar of sponsoring "terrorism" and of aligning with non-Arab Gulf state Iran.

Qatar, which denied all charges, was isolated by scores of Arab and Islamic countries following the Arab quartet, and has upgraded relations with Iran and Turkey to mitigate the lost.

Gargash called the alleged Israeli-Qatari contacts a "mutually beneficial relationship between the small node and greed to power," saying it is "far from principles and positions."File photo provided by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) shows United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (2nd L) shaking hands with Kim Yong Chol, vice chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) Central Committee after his arrival at Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), on July 7, 2018. (Xinhua/KCNA)

WASHINGTON, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- U.S. State Secretary Mike Pompeo said on Thursday that he has appointed Stephen Biegun as the new special envoy for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

He also said that he and Biegun will travel to Pyongyang next week for further talks with the DPRK side.

In the remarks, Pompeo said that "it's a very timely moment for Steve to join the team and come on board. He and I will be traveling to North Korea next week to make further diplomatic progress towards our objective."

"As the special representative, Steve will lead negotiations and spearhead diplomatic efforts with our allies and partners," Pompeo said, noting that "using diplomacy to resolve the North Korean security threat once and for all remains one of President Trump's greatest priorities, and Steve is eminently qualified for the task and clear-eyed in the challenge before us."

For his part, Biegun said he fully understands the importance of this job.

"The issues are tough, and they will be tough to resolve," he said. "But the President has created an opening, and it's one that we must take by seizing every possible opportunity to realize the vision for a peaceful future for the people of North Korea. This begins with the final, fully verified denuclearization of North Korea as agreed by Chairman Kim Jong Un at the summit with President Trump in Singapore."

Biegun is to continue the mission of Joseph Yun, who resigned from his post earlier this year for personal reasons.

U.S. media outlets reported that the departure of Yun, who has been supportive of solving the Korean Peninsula issues through dialogue, was due to his long disappointment over the Trump administration's provocations against the DPRK, and diplomats' lacking of speaking in the government's decision-making process.

U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton said earlier on Aug. 19 that Pompeo would leave for a trip to the DPRK for the fourth visit since he assumed the current office.

He added that the U.S. side expects Pompeo to meet with the DPRK's top leader Kim Jong Un.

According to the website of Ford Motor Company, Biegun has been its vice president of International Governmental Affairs, overseeing "all aspects of Ford's international governmental relations, including trade strategy and political risk assessment."

Before joining Ford, Biegun worked in the White House from 2001 to 2003 as executive secretary of the National Security Council. He served as a senior staff member to former National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice. He also served for 14 years as a foreign policy advisor to members of both the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.

Born in 1963, Biegun graduated from the University of Michigan where he studied Political Science and Russian Language. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Aspen Strategy Group.

Biegun's appointment was the latest in Pompeo's efforts to fill special envoy posts. Last week, he appointed Brian Hook, head of the State Department's policy planning, to lead the newly established the Iran Action Group.

He also named Jim Jeffrey, U.S. former ambassador to Iraq, to be the Secretary's Representative for Syria Engagement, a new position Pompeo created to work on the Geneva Process.

Pompeo is expected soon to appoint another former ambassador, Zalmay Khalilzad, to handle issues related to Afghanistan, U.S. media reported.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-24 02:07:44|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The upcoming summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) is expected to explore new paths that will elevate the Sino-Africa cooperation to a higher level, Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia Tan Jian said on Thursday.

The FOCAC Beijing summit, scheduled for Sept. 3-4, will run under the theme, "China and Africa: toward an even stronger community with a shared future through win-win cooperation."

Speaking to the press, Tan said the summit would be a historic event of grand family gathering between China and African countries, following the previous summit held in 2015 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

"It will be a historic event, providing a valuable opportunity for Chinese and African leaders to gather in Beijing, to discuss about fraternity and cooperation, as well as joint efforts to map out a new blueprint for China-Africa friendly cooperation," said Tan.

The ambassador noted that the Beijing summit would serve as a platform for China and Africa to promote their friendly cooperation in a holistic manner and address global challenges in an active manner.

"It is our strong belief that the success of the Beijing summit would manifest the vitality of unity and cooperation between China and Africa, further promote the sound momentum of the overall growth of the developing countries," he said.

The ambassador said that the Beijing summit would make a renewed call for a stronger community with a shared future between China and Africa.

He said China through the summit would also align the Belt and Road Initiative with the Agenda 2063 of the African Union (AU), the UN 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development, and development strategies of respective African countries.

He revealed that numerous African leaders, chairperson of the AU Commission, the UN Secretary General, 27 international and African regional organizations are expected to attend the summit.

Speaking to Xinhua recently, the AU Commissioner for Social Affairs, Amira Elfadil, said that the FOCAC summit has now become a regular summit between Africa and China, and that preparation for the event is going on well on both sides.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-24 02:17:46|Editor: zh

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by Xinhua writer Gu Zhenqiu

LONDON, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The British government on Thursday shouted "Do not panic!" to the general public while ringing alarm bells over the possible worst Brexit scenario -- if there is no Brexit deal between London and Brussels.

In publishing 25 reports, apparently the first batch of a planned series of 80, the government, which comes under huge domestic and Eropean pressure, set out advice to the British businesses and citizens on how they need to prepare for the worst case that the United Kingdom leaves the European Union without a deal.

The consequences of a no-deal Brexit could include new EU tariffs, extra credit card costs, additional border paperwork, possible medicine shortages, power blackouts and traffic grinding to a halt on the motorway to Dover, according to the new official documents, known as technical notices.

With less than eight months to go until the March 29 exit day, Britain has yet to reach a divorce agreement with the regional bloc.

However, a seemingly confident Downing Street urges British businesses and consumers to prepare for the worst while promising to work very hard to avoid the no-deal situation.

British Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab, in his first major speech since he assumed office in July, insisted he was still confident that "a good deal" with Brussels would be reached.

The new Brexit secretary said: "I remain confident a good deal is within our sights, and that remains our top, and overriding, priority. If the EU responds with the level of ambition and pragmatism, we will strike a strong deal that benefits both sides."

"But, we must be ready to consider the alternative. We have a duty, as a responsible government, to plan for every eventuality," he said.

The senior official's comments came after Liam Fox, the British trade secretary, said earlier this month that there was a "60-40" chance of the UK failing to reach an agreement with Brussels. Jeremy Hunt, the new foreign secretary, has said that Britain was heading for "no deal by accident".

Labor, the British opposition party, accused the government of going into "panic mode", as calls were made for a no deal to be ruled out amid worries that a bungled Brexit would send the pound into a nosedive, lead to long border delays and risk food and medicine shortages.

Shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer said, "No deal means we have not reached agreement on anything with the EU, so that's no deal on EU citizens, no deal on trade, no deal on security and so on."

"The idea that technical notices issued eight weeks before we are supposed to reach agreement is going to reassure anybody I think is fanciful," he said. "It actually reflects the fact that these negotiations are going badly and the government is now moving into panic mode."

Raab claimed the withdrawal agreement between the EU and the UK was 80 percent complete, and pledged to step up the pace of talks with Brussels.

However, there is still a big gap on major issues between the two sides during the Brexit talks, which resumed on Tuesday. EU diplomats in Brussels expect an informal deal deadline of October to be missed.

A no-deal Brexit was "the most costly" option and this is not what the EU wanted, said Michel Barnier, EU's chief Brexit negotiator.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-24 02:42:51|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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GENEVA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi and the Director General of the UN Migration Agency William Lacy Swing on Thursday jointly appealed for greater support to receive a growing number of refugees and migrants from Venezuela.

According to the two UN officials, with an estimated 2.3 million Venezuelans living abroad, more than 1.6 million have left the country since 2015, with 90 percent of them going to countries within South America.

Commending nations in the region for generously hosting Venezuelan nationals arriving at their borders, the UN officials also expressed concern over recent developments affecting refugees and migrants from Venezuela.

For example, there were new passport and border entry requirements in Ecuador and Peru, as well as changes to the temporary stay permits for Venezuelans in Peru.

"We recognize the growing challenges associated with the large scale arrival of Venezuelans. It remains critical that any new measures continue to allow those in need of international protection to access safety and seek asylum," stressed Grandi.

"We commend the efforts already made by receiving countries to provide Venezuelans with security, support and assistance. We trust that these demonstrations of solidarity will continue in the future," said Swing.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-24 03:27:58|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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TRIPOLI, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on Thursday condemned the Islamic State (IS) for attacking a security checkpoint in the western Libyan city of Zliten, which killed and injured 11 security personnel.

"The UN Support Mission in Libya condemns today's terrorist attack on al-Kaam Checkpoint east of the Libyan capital Tripoli which resulted in at least four deaths and seven injuries among security personnel manning the checkpoint," the UNSMIL said in a statement.

"The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Libya, Ghassan Salame, expresses his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government of the State of Libya and wishes the injured a speedy and full recovery," it added.

The UN-backed government also condemned the attack, confirming an investigation into the attack in order to capture those responsible.

Suspected IS militants riding on a four-way drive vehicle earlier on Thursday attacked a security checkpoint in Zliten, some 160 km east of Tripoli.

The attack came less than a day after IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi reportedly issued an audio tape calling on his supporters to "turn to Libya and support the Mujahideen in Libya, Syria and Iraq."

A number of Libyan cities previously suffered similar terrorist attacks, which targeted security and military checkpoints.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-24 03:38:02|Editor: zh

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SANAA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- At least 22 children and nine women were killed in a Saudi-led airstrike on a camp of internally displaced families south of Yemen's Red Sea port city of Hodeidah on Thursday, Houthi rebel-controlled Saba news agency reported.

The air attack took place in the evening and targeted the camp in al-Durayhemi district, Saba said.

The Saudi-led coalition was not immediately available for comments on the airstrike.

On Aug. 9, a previous coalition airstrike hit a school bus in Yemen's northern province of Saada, killing 51, including 40 children, according to Johannes Bruwer, head of the International Committee of Red Cross delegation in Yemen.

In addition, among the 79 injured in the strike were 56 children, Bruwer said.

The airstrike triggered public anger across Yemen and condemnation from international humanitarian agencies.

Yemen has been locked in a civil war since late 2014, when the Houthi rebels overran much of the country and seized all northern provinces, 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.

The war has so far killed more than 10,000 Yemenis, mostly civilians, and displaced about 3 million others.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-24 03:48:05|Editor: zh

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JOHANNESBURG, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Former South African President Jacob Zuma appeared with his son Duduzane in Randburg magistrate court for the latter's alleged homicide case on Thursday.

During his appearance, Duduzane was accompanied and supported by Zuma, who sat not far from his son during court proceeding. The two appeared friendly and made small talks with journalists.

The case however has been postponed to October.

"We have arranged a date of October 26 to revolve all pe-trial issues and transfer of his matter to a trial court," States Prosecutor Yusuf Baba told the court.

When the case was postponed, Duduzane and his father were escorted out of court by a security team.

Duduzane, 36, is facing two charges of culpable homicide relating to an accident which claimed the lives of two people in 2014 when Duduzane's Porsche collided with a mini bus taxi in Sandton at night.

Thursday was his second appearance after being in court on July 12 this year.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-24 04:23:12|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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BUCHAREST, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Moldova's wine exports to China account for 10 percent of its total exports so far this year, an official of the wine authority announced on Thursday.

China is one of the five major markets for Moldovan wines, and the other four countries are Poland, Romania, the Czech Republic and Russia.

For other countries, the total amount of exports is less than 40 percent, according to Gheorghe Arpentin, director of the National Office of Vine and Wine in Moldova.

Since the harvest in 2017, Moldova exported 14.3 million decaliters of wine, up 3 percent compared with the previous crop, while the incomes came to 2.3 billion lei (137.560 million U.S. dollars), a year-on-year growth of 5.5 percent.

Poland is currently the largest market for wine of Moldova, with imports reaching 15 percent of the country's total exports.

Arpentin predicted at a national conference on Thursday that the wine production will drop to 15 to 17 million decaliters this year, lower than the level of 18 million decaliters last year.

The harvest of wine grapes will be 290,000 tonnes, while that of table sorts 130,000 tonnes, estimated Liliana Dascaliuc, head of the Wine Policy and Regulation Service of the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment.

Statistics showed that in 2017, China was the main market for Moldovan bottled wine by value and second market, by volume (expressed in bottles).Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-24 04:33:14|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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BAGHDAD, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- A police officer was killed and five security members wounded on Thursday in separate operations in the Iraqi provinces of Anbar and Diyala, security sources said.

In the western province of Anbar, a police lieutenant colonel was killed and three policemen wounded in a roadside bomb explosion near their patrol in an area west of the provincial capital city of Ramadi, some 110 km west of Baghdad, Sabah al-Assafi from the Anbar police told Xinhua.

In the eastern province of Diyala, an IS militant was killed in a clash with the paramilitary Hashd Shaabi fighters, who were searching an area in the town of Sa'diyah, some 120 km northeast of Baghdad, Ahmed al-Shimary from the Diyala police told Xinhua.

In a separate incident in Diyala, two soldiers were wounded while they were trying to defuse a roadside bomb near the city of Jalawla, some 135 km northeast of Baghdad, Shimary said.

The security in Iraq has dramatically improved since Iraqi forces fully defeated IS militants across the country in late 2017.

However, IS remnants regrouped in urban and rugged areas, carrying out attacks against security forces and civilians despite operations from time to time to hunt them down.Policemen and firemen stand outside the metro station where a blast went off in St. Petersburg, Russia, on April 3, 2017. (Xinhua/Sputnik)

MOSCOW, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Basmanny district court in Moscow on Thursday authorized an arrest in absentia of the alleged organizer of the St. Petersburg metro blast in 2017, Russian media reported.

Sirozhiddin Mukhtarov, the Kyrgyz-born suspect on the federal and international wanted list, is a member of the Jama'at Al-Tawhid wal-Jihad terrorist group, according to the RT news channel.

"The petition of the investigation to select for Mukhtarov the measure of restraint in the form of imprisonment in absentia for two months was satisfied," the judge of the court Elena Lenskaya was quoted by Tass news agency as saying at the courtroom.

The term of detention will be calculated from the moment of extradition of the accused to Russia's territory, namely, from the moment of crossing the Russian border by the accused or from the moment of his detention on Russia's territory, according to the court's decision.

Mukhtarov's whereabouts are currently unknown.

The suspect is reportedly accused of 12 crimes of terrorist nature, including the organization of a terrorist community, illegal manufacture of weapons, the promotion of terrorist activities and a number of others.

A file on the court's website showed that Mukhtarov was charged with recruiting terrorists, in accordance with which he faces up to 15 years in prison.

An explosion took place in a train carriage on the runway between two metro stations in St. Petersburg on April 3, 2017, killing at least 14 people and injuring over 50 others.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-24 05:53:35|Editor: Yamei

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Vladimir Voronkov (front), undersecretary-general for UN Counter-Terrorism Office, briefs the Security Council at the UN headquarters in New York, Aug. 23, 2018. The Islamic State (IS) remains a cause of a serious and significant concern despite the great losses the terrorist group has suffered, said Vladimir Voronkov, undersecretary-general for UN Counter-Terrorism Office, on Thursday. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic State (IS) remains a cause of a serious and significant concern despite the great losses the terrorist group has suffered, said Vladimir Voronkov, undersecretary-general for UN Counter-Terrorism Office, on Thursday.

Since the end of 2017, the IS has been defeated in Iraq and is in headlong retreat in Syria, Voronkov told the Security Council.

IS membership in Iraq and Syria is estimated at more than 20,000, split fairly evenly between the two countries. Some IS fighters are fully engaged militarily and others concealed in sympathetic communities and urban areas. The IS has also decentralized its leadership structure to mitigate further losses, said the top UN counter-terrorism official, briefing the council on a report of the UN secretary-general on the IS.

An IS core is likely to survive in Iraq and Syria in the medium term, due to the ongoing conflict and complex stabilization challenges, he said. In addition, significant IS-affiliated numbers also exist in Afghanistan, Southeast Asia, West Africa and Libya, and to a lesser extent in Sinai, Yemen, Somalia and the Sahel.

Also, the challenge posed by returning and relocating foreign terrorist fighters remains complex, said Voronkov.

The flow of foreign terrorist fighters toward the IS in Iraq and Syria has essentially come to a halt. However, the reverse flow, although slower than anticipated, remains a serious challenge, he said.

Moreover, the rising threat from the IS's global network, particularly from foreign terrorist fighters, will be diverse and hard to predict.

The IS's evolution from a proto-state structure into a covert network poses new challenges, he said.

The IS's finances in the Middle East are harder to detect and analyze now as administrative functions to manage finances have gone underground. After its structural changes, the IS is still able to channel funds across borders often via intermediate countries, to their final destination, he said.

The IS's continuing presence and influence has been detected, particularly through its affiliates and intermediaries, said the UN official.

The IS has continued attempts to expand its presence in Afghanistan, and the terrorist threats projecting from Afghanistan into Central Asia is perceived to be growing, he said.

Countries must renew their efforts to effectively counter the rapidly evolving and transnational threats from the IS, he said, adding that international cooperation, information sharing and capacity-building are critical.Throngs of customers select and try to use Xiaomi products at the Xiaomi flagship store at the Dizengoff Center mall in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Aug. 22, 2018. (Xinhua photo)

TEL AVIV, Israel, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Security was beefed up Wednesday evening at the Dizengoff Center mall in Tel Aviv, Israel, as thousands of Israelis formed long lines to attend the opening ceremony for the first Xiaomi flagship store in the country.

The massive Israeli crowd awaiting entry outside the store was attracted by the hefty discounts on most Xiaomi products offered by the store as a way to celebrate its opening.

Some customers came to the store as early as in the morning to make sure they could buy the most desired devices with discounts. The official ceremony was held after one-week trial operation of the store.

Occupying some 150 square meters, the store, with an after-sale service lab, is the first official store in Israel opened by Xiaomi, a Chinese tech giant.

The store sells more than 100 products, including smartphones, mobile computers, kick scooters, headphones, backpacks, sunglasses, and even umbrellas.

"Since it was opened a week ago, the store has been full of customers from morning till night. We've literally become the most visited store in the shopping center," said Avi Korenfeld, the business development manager for Xiaomi's official Israeli importer Hemilton Electronics Ltd.

Between 1,800 and 2,000 people showed up at the ceremony on Wednesday, Korenfeld said in a Facebook post published later that night.

"My Xiaomi phone is as good as the phone that costs more than three times the price," said a customer, who only identified himself as David.

He, a loyal user of Xiaomi products, bought a headset with 69 new shekels (19 U.S. dollars), and a power bank with 150 new shekels.

Ishay Lev, who bought a Xiaomi scooter days ago and brought his friends to the store to buy the same item, said he loved the scooter very much.

"It is chic, high quality and low price. Other scooters sold in Israel cost way much more," he said.

Xiaomi is expanding fast in Israel through its cooperation with Hemilton. In just three years, it has become the third most popular smartphone brand in Israel.

Market research firm StatCounter said that as of July 2018, Xiaomi accounts for 12 percent of mobile phones market share in Israel, just after Samsung and Apple, whose share stands at 46.88 percent and 20.85 percent, respectively.

"Most of the Israeli public knows Xiaomi as a company that makes excellent smartphones at low prices, but this is a company with a portfolio of hundreds of products in a wide range of areas, most of which we will bring to Israel," said Eyal Aharoni, Hemilton's commercial manager.

"We aim to extend the whole product chain and formulate a closed electronic ecosystem," said Aharoni, who travels to China at least four times a year for business meetings.

"Perfect" is the word Aharoni used to describe his feeling about the three years of cooperation with Xiaomi.

"We are No. 3 in smartphones. We are No. 1 in scooters. We started to sell vacuum cleaners just three months ago and we are already No. 1 now," Aharoni said.

He added that he is confident that Hemilton will "build a better future" in Israel for Xiaomi.

Hemilton is also the distributor for another Chinese home appliances tech brand Midea.

Not all Israeli customers showing up at the opening ceremony were satisfied, as some of them complained on Xiaomi's Hebrew version of Facebook page about the short supply of Xiaomi products at the ceremony, which forced them to leave empty-handed.

Several people reported that all the discounted Xiaomi items were sold out in just an hour.

Excluding China, where it has 2,000 branches, Xiaomi has opened or is planning to open 234 brand stores worldwide, of which 103 are in the planning stage. The company plans to open more stores in Israel following the opening of its flagship store.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-24 06:18:39|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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DOHA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Qatar Red Crescent (QRC) has announced to provide 200,000 U.S. dollars in emergency aid to the victims of the recent earthquakes in the Indonesian island of Lombok, local media reported Thursday.

The QRC will provide non-food relief goods, including shelter packages, such as plastic sheets, blankets, mosquito nets, and water-savng containers, to the Indonesian quake victims, the state-run Qatar News Agency reported.

The Qatari assistance will also include providing first aid, personal hygiene and awareness packages for 700 affected families, the report said.

On Aug. 5, a 6.9 magnitude quake hit Lombok, which was hit by another 6.2 magnitude quake on Aug. 9. A third quake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale shook the island again on Aug. 19.

Indonesia lies on the Ring of Fire - a significant region in the basin of the Pacific Ocean where a number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur.Police officers stand on duty by a cordon near to Borough Market in London on June 5, 2017, as they continue their investigations following the June 3 terror attack. British police on Monday made several arrests in two dawn raids following the June 3 London attacks, claimed by the Islamic State group which left seven people dead. (AFP Photo)

UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said here Thursday that Britain will fully support the United Nations' efforts to fight against Daesh (Islamic State).

Speaking to reporters before proceeding to preside over a UN Security Council meeting on the threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts, Hunt, whose country holds the Council presidency in August, said that "Britain wants to give every support to the UN in its efforts to continue a successful fight against Daesh."

Hunt noted that Britain will also support the UN "to find new ways to prevent the reemergence of the military capabilities" of the terrorist group.

The foreign secretary noted that the military action "has been very successful" in driving Daesh from "practically old territory" in Syria and Iraq.

However, he warned that in spite of the success, the terrorist group has evolved into a terrorist network, which still has "attraction" to followers in many countries.Iraqi civilians fleeing the city of Mosul sit under the rain on March 23, 2017 as Iraqi forces advance in their massive operation to retake Iraq's second city from jihadists of the Islamic State group. (AFP Photo)

UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic State (IS) remains a cause of a serious and significant concern despite the great losses the terrorist group has suffered, said Vladimir Voronkov, undersecretary-general for UN Counter-Terrorism Office, on Thursday.

Since the end of 2017, the IS has been defeated in Iraq and is in headlong retreat in Syria, Voronkov told the Security Council.

IS membership in Iraq and Syria is estimated at more than 20,000, split fairly evenly between the two countries. Some IS fighters are fully engaged militarily and others concealed in sympathetic communities and urban areas. The IS has also decentralized its leadership structure to mitigate further losses, said the top UN counter-terrorism official, briefing the council on a report of the UN secretary-general on the IS.

An IS core is likely to survive in Iraq and Syria in the medium term, due to the ongoing conflict and complex stabilization challenges, he said. In addition, significant IS-affiliated numbers also exist in Afghanistan, Southeast Asia, West Africa and Libya, and to a lesser extent in Sinai, Yemen, Somalia and the Sahel.

Also, the challenge posed by returning and relocating foreign terrorist fighters remains complex, said Voronkov.

The flow of foreign terrorist fighters toward the IS in Iraq and Syria has essentially come to a halt. However, the reverse flow, although slower than anticipated, remains a serious challenge, he said.

Moreover, the rising threat from the IS's global network, particularly from foreign terrorist fighters, will be diverse and hard to predict.

The IS's evolution from a proto-state structure into a covert network poses new challenges, he said.

The IS's finances in the Middle East are harder to detect and analyze now as administrative functions to manage finances have gone underground. After its structural changes, the IS is still able to channel funds across borders often via intermediate countries, to their final destination, he said.

The IS's continuing presence and influence has been detected, particularly through its affiliates and intermediaries, said the UN official.

The IS has continued attempts to expand its presence in Afghanistan, and the terrorist threats projecting from Afghanistan into Central Asia is perceived to be growing, he said.

Countries must renew their efforts to effectively counter the rapidly evolving and transnational threats from the IS, he said, adding that international cooperation, information sharing and capacity-building are critical.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-24 00:42:24|Editor: zh

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U.S. National Security Advisor John R. Bolton (6th L) and Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev (5th R) hold talks in Geneva, Switzerland, Aug. 23, 2018. A meeting between U.S. National Security Advisor John R. Bolton and his Russian counterpart, Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev, concluded Thursday afternoon here in Geneva without reaching a joint statement though both sides cited "progress". (Xinhua/U.S. Mission Photo/Eric Bridiers)

GENEVA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- A meeting between U.S. National Security Advisor John R. Bolton and his Russian counterpart, Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev, concluded Thursday afternoon here in Geneva without reaching a joint statement though both sides cited "progress".

Speaking to journalists at a press briefing inside the U.S. mission in Geneva, Bolton said that they had made some progress, and identified specific areas "in which it is possible to restore communication lines and conduct more work within the relevant departments".

The senior U.S. official told reporters that they discussed "the whole range of issues", like non-proliferation and arms control, bilateral issues, the fight against terrorism, illegal migration, topics related to cyberspace, regional issues such as Syria, the Middle East, Afghanistan and Ukraine.

Bolton said that he also warned his Russian counterpart not to intervene the upcoming U.S. midterm elections, saying that he made it clear the U.S. wouldn't tolerate election meddling in 2018 and they were prepared to "take necessary steps to prevent it from happening".

The U.S. has imposed a series of sanctions and expelled a number of Russian diplomats due to the alleged Russian election interference, but Moscow has denied the accusations.

As for the Syrian issue and the role of Iran, Bolton said that the U.S. position is that "all Iranian forces return to Iran", adding that he and his Russian counterpart talked about a variety of ways in which it might be accomplished through a series of steps.

Thursday's meeting, lasting for more than five hours, was the first such talks since the summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump in Helsinki last month.

While describing the meeting with his U.S. counterpart as "constructive", Patrushev said that he had invited U.S. officials to Moscow or any other Russian city for a new round of talks, but no agreement had been reached on the timing for further talks.

"An agreement has been reached that those channels that were suspended -- between the defense ministries, the defense ministers, chiefs of general staff and other working groups -- will resume work. Contacts between the foreign ministries will resume as well," Patrushev was cited as saying by Russian media after the meeting.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-24 01:02:31|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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WASHINGTON, Aug.23 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said in a TV interview aired Thursday that he appointed Attorney General Jeff Sessions because he was "loyal".

"The only reason I gave him the job is because I felt loyalty. He was an original supporter," Trump told Fox news anchor Ainsley Earhardt.

Trump's remarks came as part of an attack on Sessions' performance in the Justice Department.

" I put in an attorney general that never took control of the Justice Department, " Trump said, adding it's "an incredible thing".

Trump was also frustrated with Sessions' decision to recuse himself from the Russian probe, which saw the conviction of Trump's former campaign manager Paul Manafort and guilty plea of Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen earlier this week.

"Sessions recused himself, which he shouldn't have done or he should have told me," Trump said, alleging that had Sessions told him his intention, he would not have appointed Sessions to the position.

"He took the job and then he said, 'I'm going to recuse myself.' I said, 'What kind of a man is this?'" Trump said.

Trump did not give clear answers to whether Sessions is in danger of being fired.

Sessions, an early supporter of Trump, was one of the first to be nominated by Trump to a key cabinet position. Despite fierce opposition, Sessions was able to clear the Senate with a thin majority.

After the Russian probe was launched against the Trump campaign, Sessions recused himself, leaving the reins to his deputy Rod Rosenstein, infuriating Trump.

Relationship between Sessions and Trump deteriorated in the following months, with Trump frequently bashing Sessions, prompting widespread rumor in Washington that Session may be heading toward an exit.Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-24 02:27:48|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- U.S. State Secretary Mike Pompeo on Thursday named Stephen Biegun to be the new special envoy for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

The appointment aims to fill key posts regarding the Korean Peninsula so as to facilitate issues like bilateral negotiations over denuclearization, peace regime and economic sanctions, among others.

In a speech to the media at a press conference, Pompeo said Biegun's joining is "timely" as the two of them will travel to the DPRK next week "to make further diplomatic progress towards our objective."

"As the special representative, Steve will lead negotiations and spearhead diplomatic efforts with our allies and partners," Pompeo said, noting that "using diplomacy to resolve the North Korean security threat once and for all remains one of President Trump's greatest priorities, and Steve is eminently qualified for the task and clear-eyed in the challenge before us."

For his part, Biegun said he fully understands the importance of this job.

"The issues are tough, and they will be tough to resolve," he said. "But the President has created an opening, and it's one that we must take by seizing every possible opportunity to realize the vision for a peaceful future for the people of North Korea."

"This begins with the final, fully verified denuclearization of North Korea as agreed by Chairman Kim Jong Un at the summit with President Trump in Singapore," he added.

Biegun is to continue the mission of Joseph Yun, who resigned from his post earlier this year for personal reasons.

U.S. media outlets reported that the departure of Yun, who has been supportive of solving the Korean Peninsula issues through dialogue, was due to his long disappointment over the Trump administration's provocations against the DPRK, and diplomats' lacking of speaking in the government's decision-making process.

Earlier this year, the Trump administration also appointed Harry Harris, former commander of U.S. Pacific Command, to become U.S. ambassador to South Korea.

U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton said earlier on Aug. 19 that Pompeo would leave for a trip to the DPRK for the fourth visit since he assumed the current office, adding that Washington 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.

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.

Pompeo has visited the DPRK for three times, respectively in April, May and July.

President Donald Trump on Aug. 20 said he would "most likely" meet with Kim for a second time.

He also said that he believed Pyongyang had taken specific steps toward denuclearization, and that he has "great chemistry" with Kim.

In the joint statement after the June 12 Trump-Kim meeting in Singapore, Trump committed to provide security guarantees to the DPRK, while Kim reaffirmed his firm and unwavering commitment to a complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

The two leaders also agreed to commit to establish new U.S.-DPRK relations, and to build a lasting and stable peace regime on the peninsula.

According to the website of Ford Motor Company, Biegun has been its vice president of International Governmental Affairs, overseeing "all aspects of Ford's international governmental relations, including trade strategy and political risk assessment."

Before joining Ford, Biegun worked in the White House from 2001 to 2003 as executive secretary of the National Security Council. He served as a senior staff member to former National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice. He also served for 14 years as a foreign policy advisor to members of both the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.

Born in 1963, Biegun graduated from the University of Michigan where he studied Political Science and Russian Language. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Aspen Strategy Group.

Biegun's appointment was the latest in Pompeo's efforts to fill special envoy posts. Last week, he appointed Brian Hook, head of the State Department's policy planning, to lead the newly established the Iran Action Group.

He also named Jim Jeffrey, U.S. former ambassador to Iraq, to be the Secretary's Representative for Syria Engagement, a new position Pompeo created to work on the Geneva Process.

Pompeo is expected soon to appoint another former ambassador, Zalmay Khalilzad, to handle issues related to Afghanistan, U.S. media reported.You have permission to edit this article.

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Edit CloseCRYSTAL SUZIK addresses the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners Wednesday about the closing of the Ojibway Correctional Facility at Marenisco. From left are commissioners Dan Siirila, Jim Oliver and Jeff Wasley.

By RALPH ANSAMI

[email protected]

Bessemer - It appears the Ojibway Correctional Facility in Marenisco won't go down without a fight.

Around 100 people, including many Ojibway employees and their families, appeared at a Gogebic County Board of Commissioners meeting Wednesday to discuss the planned Dec. 1 closing of the facility, even though it wasn't on the agenda.

Joining them was Ed McBroom, the former state representative who is seeking the state Senate seat held by Tom Casperson, R-Escanaba.

The public comment session began with Crystal Suzik, a strong proponent of keeping the prison open, proposing filing for an injunction to stop the closure, although she said the state Department of Corrections has already begun moving prisoners from the facility.

McBroom told the circuit courtroom overflow audience the DOC is required to undertake an analysis of the economic ramifications of closing the prison, but there has not been enough time elapsed since the announcement last week to do so.

"Let's see their proof," he said.

McBroom said closing the prison would place an even greater burden on the county jail, which has been overflowing with inmates for the past several years.

Gogebic County Prosecuting Attorney Nick Jacobs, who said he has been "a steadier supplier of inmates to the prison," said he couldn't handle a lawsuit against the state on his own.

"It's beyond my ability," he said, but added the lack of the state completing an analysis could be challenged.

"Our county is not budgeted for this type of litigation," he warned, noting it would be costly. Jacobs acknowledged the DOC budget had been shrunk, "pulling the rug from under us."

County board member Joe Bonovetz, of Bessemer, said the excuse for closing the prison that loved ones couldn't be near their relatives didn't make much sense.

"Keep the Yooper prisoners at Ojibway," where they could be visited by relatives, he suggested.

County board member Dan Siirila, of Ironwood, echoed a previous statement made by county board chair George Peterson, of Watersmeet, that a Gogebic County delegation of about 13 people was preparing to head downstate to support Ojibway when the closing was announced. "We didn't have a chance to do what we were supposed to do," he said, later referring to the action as a "kick in the (gonads)."

Jacobs advised the gathering to determine what information McBroom obtains before determining whether legal action would be worth pursuing.

McBroom noted the western Upper Peninsula lacks political clout. "We're a very small fish in the pond," he said.

Bonovetz said the 15 U.P. counties vowed to unify for the cause, but there are 84 counties in the state.

The closure of Ojibway leaves U.P. prisons in Baraga, Marquette, Munising, Newberry and Kinross and follows closures in Iron River, Manistique, Shingleton, Painesdale and Kincheloe.

"We will do everything we can," Peterson pledged.

There will be a gathering of people protesting the closure of the prison Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. at the old Kmart lot on U.S. 2 in Ironwood.

McBroom previously said the 2019 budget, passed in June, called for the closure of a prison in the state, but it was unknown until this month which facility it would be. He said State Sen. John Proos, of southwest Michigan, chairs the Corrections Appropriations committee in the Senate and pushed hard for the Ojibway closure during debate, citing significant reductions to state prison populations over the last eight years.

"We know the reduction in population has more to do with fudging recidivism numbers and sending more prisoners to our county jails than with an actual reduction in incarcerations. This does nothing more than shift the cost from the state to our counties, who cannot afford that shift," McBroom said in a statement last week.

He contends costs of running Ojibway are not being fairly compared to other facilities because the state is putting undo emphasis on distance, rather than taking into account the relatively young age of the facility, security of the location, and proximity to other state facilities.

"Most of all, it is a state-run, typical myopic way of budgeting that ignores the net costs to the state by foisting such a dramatic hurt on a small, already hurting community," he said.As a homeowner, you probably already know that you should be working to maintain your home. But, chances are, you Read More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...Turn5, a Malvern digital car and truck customization company founded by Steve and Andrew Voulouris, in early 2018 occupied its new headquarters, studio and video center at the former Taylor Gifts warehouse in Malvern. Amenities include a bowling alley; staff are depicted in these custom bowling balls. Read more

Turn5 has gone into overdrive. The Malvern online retailer of custom car and truck parts and know-how is adding a string of new ventures:

On Thursday, Turn5 purchased All Things Jeep, a seven-employee, Massachusetts-based company that retails 3,000 Jeep apparel and accessories items  "hats, shirts, mugs, Jeep Hair Don't Care T-shirts, floor mats, tire covers and more"  said Turn5 CEO Steve Voudouris. Terms of the sale, from private investors based in Silicon Valley, weren't disclosed.

Also today, Turn5 added Toyota Tacoma mid-sized trucks as the second brand on its ExtremeTerrain channel for off-road customization, alongside Jeep Wranglers.

Last week, Turn5 said it has started work on a 350,000 square foot "fulfillment center" in Lenexa, Kan.  larger than its centers in Malvern and Las Vegas combined.

"This is a whole different magnitude for us," Voudouris told me. When all three centers are up  scheduled for late October  "85 percent of our customers will be in a two-day delivery zone for us."

For Turn5, the Jeep gear is a departure from creating videos showing how new parts and variations can be bolted onto your buggy and filling buy orders, to hawking hats and coffee cups. Voudouris called that a natural extension of the brands: "We focus on marketing to enthusiasts. They'll buy parts, and they also want the shirt and the hat: 'Show 'em where your loyalty lies.'"

So what's with the "Taco" trucks, aka Toyota Tacomas, which are smaller than the Ford 150s, Rams and Silverados that Turn5 customizes on its American Trucks channel? "Tacoma sales are up 20 percent, year over year," says Voudouris. "They're popular to where Ford is bringing back its Ranger as a mid-sized truck. People are using them for 'overlanding' these three- and four-day off-road-truck-and-camping trips."

He recently took a group of Turn5 customer-service staff for a day at Rausch Creek Off-Road Park in Pine Grove, near Gettysburg, as a reward for three months of perfect attendance. "It was a blast." (Turn5 also added Dodge Challenger to its AmericanMuscle group last month.)

The new warehouse near Kansas City will employ up to 100, on top of Turn5's current 450 employees. About two-thirds of Turn5 workers are based in suburban Philadelphia, at the Malvern headquarters-studio-warehouse and a Pottstown call center, which the company plans to relocate to larger quarters. The firm is hiring engineers and marketers, Voudouris added.

Can Turn5 handle greater scale and complexity? The company has been adding veteran managers, including Nancy Adams, a Nutrisystem HR veteran, as "chief people officer," Voudouris said. "She's getting us more into training and education. So our employees have the skills to step up."

Where's the money for all this coming from? "We are accustomed to being profitable and reinvesting in the business," Voudouris said.

Turn5 is one of a string of homegrown online retailers that call the Philadelphia area home. Others include Qurate, John Malone's West Chester-based TV and mobile shopping group, which owns QVC, HSN and Zulily; Kynetic, Sixers owner Michael Rubin's retail investment group, which controls pro and college gear group Fanatics, and online shopping discount service RueLaLa/Gilt Group; Radial, which competes with Amazon to deliver retail client products; and Revzilla, which markets motorcycle gear, among other items.

Occasionally these emerging mid-market companies work together on community projects. Turn5, Revzilla, and Meet Group, the New Hope-based mobile-social-media company, are putting together a Kids' Tech Exploration Day on Oct. 13 for Philadelphia middle schoolers to visit the Radnor site and learn about "drones, video and game design, and 3-D printers," Voudouris said.

He's hosting the event at Turn5's headquarters, a former Taylor Goods warehouse on a hillside looking north into the Great Valley, which the company has repurposed as multiple drive-in video production studios and a software-development center, and Silicon Valley office amenities such as a fancy cafeteria and a bowling alley.Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is seeking patients to participate in an observational study of medical cannabis.

The study will not provide marijuana products to participants. Researchers want to partner with families whose children have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and are already consuming medical cannabis from state-licensed dispensaries. Participation will be confidential, said Dr. Athena Zuppa, director of CHOP's Center for Clinical Pharmacology.

Participating families will be asked to undergo an hour-long interview in person or on the phone; provide information on the child's medical background; answer questions about their child's medical cannabis use and behaviors; and complete optional study materials, Zuppa said in a letter to prospective parents.

>> READ MORE: Medical marijuana news at Philly.com/cannabis.

The hospital is pairing with Zelda Therapeutics, an Australian biopharmaceutical company, for what some advocates have described as the first major effort in the United States to study the effects of medical marijuana on children with autism.

Substantial anecdotal evidence shows that cannabinoids, the active compounds in medical marijuana, can help with some symptoms of autism. Cannabis advocates say cannabinoids help improve social interaction and control repetitive behavior, and don't cause the side effects associated with antipsychotic drugs often given to autistic children.

One of the aims of the study is to determine what parents in the region are giving their autistic children. Cannabidiol, known as CBD, is a substance in marijuana that, unlike THC, does not induce euphoria.

Pennsylvania was the first state to include autism as a qualifying condition for the use of medical marijuana. Though mothers of autistic children led the push for the medical marijuana program in the state, there are few products available in Pennsylvania dispensaries that are predominantly CBD.

CHOP is home to the Center for Autism Research, a collaborative program with the University of Pennsylvania that is trying to determine the origins of autism spectrum disorders and create effective treatments through research.

For more information, call the study coordinator at 877-754-2440 or email carmedcanchop@email.chop.edu .

This story was updated to provide the correct email address for study information.The control tower at Philadelphia International Airport. PHL has service to destinations in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East. Read more

Come Monday, Philadelphia travelers will be able to book tickets for the four new European routes that American Airlines is introducing next year.

The airline announced this week that it's adding seasonal flights to Edinburgh, Scotland, beginning in April, and to Berlin; Bologna, Italy; and Dubrovnik, Croatia, starting in June  all out of Philadelphia International Airport.

American already rolled out new flights from PHL to Prague and Budapest this summer, and the company said it's now looking to build on the popularity of those two routes.

"They both have done extremely well for us out of Philadelphia, and so we're going to go do more of it," Vasu Raja, American's vice president of network and schedule planning, explained on a company podcast. "This is going to create a ton of new markets," he said, adding: "We are excited for the future of Philadelphia."

Before American launches the flights to the four European cities next spring, it's canceling three other routes. Two seasonal flights will end as scheduled for the year, and won't resume in 2019: service from Philly to Glasgow, Scotland, will stop Sept. 29, and service to Frankfurt, Germany will stop Oct. 27. A year-round daily flight from PHL to Munich, Germany, will end March 30.

"In the current fuel environment, it's important for us to make sure we are using our assets wisely, and these flights were just not performing as well as we needed them to," said American spokeswoman Leslie Scott. But rather than move the airplanes from the canceled routes out of PHL altogether, she said, the company is trying new markets that it believes will be a better fit.

"Philadelphia is a key trans-Atlantic gateway for us, and it's uniquely positioned to get a great mix of both leisure and business traffic," Scott said.

Philly-based travel blogger Dom Perilli, who runs The Short Final blog, sees the added European flights as part of an extended boon for fliers using PHL: Aer Lingus started nonstop service to Dublin earlier this year; Icelandair introduced flights to Reykjavik in 2017; and Qatar Airways began offering flights to Doha in 2014.

"Seeing American investing in Philadelphia as a launching point to Europe is really awesome," Perilli said.

He said the warm reception extends outside the region, to customers from other parts of the U.S. who'd gladly connect through PHL. "Dubrovnik has just become an incredibly popular place," Perilli said. "Everyone around the internet is pretty pumped about these new additions."Uber and Lyft riders could face a new 50-cent surcharge under a proposal by the Philadelphia Parking Authority. Read more

Uber and Lyft have enjoyed explosive expansion in Philadelphia, with trips starting in the city increasing by 13 million in the last two years, according to data recently released by the Philadelphia Parking Authority.

That growth revealed a deep demand for convenient and plentiful cars for hire, industry representatives said, while others expressed concern about congestion caused by the service and the pressures that driving for a ride-share app puts on drivers.

"It's pretty clear that we're filling an important transportation need in Philadelphia," said Danielle Filson, a spokeswoman for Uber.

Along with an easy way to hail a ride, Philadelphia's two ride-share providers say they've increased mobility for people living in transit-poor communities and have played a role in reducing drunk driving, a claim some data support. They also, though, have been criticized for hurting public transit ridership, worsening street congestion, and creating a class of semi-professional drivers who work, sometimes full-time, with few benefits and uncertainty about how much money they will make for a day's labor.

>>READ MORE: DUIs are down in Philly, but the influence of Uber and Lyft remains blurry

"Any time you take a turn, any traffic jam you come across, there are always at least five or six Uber or Lyft drivers in it," said Roseann Robertson, a Chester woman who started driving for Uber five months ago. "That's probably why we don't get as much money as we used to."

These kinds of concerns drove New York City this month to put a temporary cap on ride-share vehicles there. The cap limits the number to those operating in the city now through the next year, according to the New York Times. The city also created a minimum wage for ride-share drivers.

Unlike New York City, neither Philadelphia city government or the PPA can order a cap. That power lies with the state legislature, and there is little enthusiasm to revisit the legislation that legalized ride sharing in Pennsylvania before next year, when it must be renewed. For the time being, city and state policy makers say they are watching and discussing New York City's policy shift.

"I'd like to see what happens in New York," said State Rep. Maria Donatucci, a Philadelphia Democrat and one of the negotiators on the original legislation. "I think it's something worth discussing."

Whether something similar could, or should, happen in Philadelphia depends on whom you ask.

An industry that didn't exist four years ago provided more than 10 million rides in April through June this year, the PPA data showed, more than three times as many trips than cabs provided during the same months in 2014, just before ride-share apps arrived in Philadelphia.

The numbers show that the ride-share industry is still growing, and capping it now could create a disparity between supply and demand.

"It's a completely unfeasible way to think about it," Campbell Matthews, a Lyft spokeswoman, said of the cap. "Demand is going to continue to increase. More people need rides to where they're going."

The 36 million Uber and Lyft trips originating in Philadelphia from July 2017 to June 2018 brought in about $376 million in revenue, 62 percent more than the companies reported earning in the previous year, according to tax revenue reported by the PPA. The key to success is convenience and speed, said David King, a professor at Arizona State University who studies transportation.

"These companies, Uber in particular," he said, "have this idea that service time, and the time between the request and the pickup, has to be as close to zero as possible."

Achieving that goal requires lots of drivers. Uber prides itself on being able to get a car to any location in the city within an average of five minutes, and in an interview Monday, Filson noted the greatest growth has been in parts of Philadelphia away from the city core, where there's less robust public transportation.

That's true outside the city as well. The company is providing 2 times as many rides in Chester County as it did two years ago and more than three times as many rides in Bucks County, Filson said.

Exact numbers aren't available, but an estimated 25,000 ride-share vehicles operate in the city, the PPA reported.

>>READ MORE: PPA proposes new fee on Uber, Lyft and taxi rides

Drivers of both taxis and ride-share vehicles said they would welcome a cap. Working for Uber and Lyft is becoming increasingly cannibalistic, they said. The glut of drivers means fewer trips per vehicle and less income. Robertson has a full-time job as a machinist, but her company hasn't been getting as many contracts recently, shrinking her pay. The lost salary already cost her a home to foreclosure, she said, so now on Fridays and Saturdays, between 9 p.m. and 4 a.m., she leaves her 1-year-old daughter with family to drive for Uber.

"I'm hoping Uber will be able to fix my financial problems," said Robertson, 33.

She typically drives in Philadelphia, she said, but in just five months, she's seen competition from other drivers cut into her earnings. When she started, she said, she typically could make $280 over both nights. Now she's just clearing $200.

Others have noted the overload of cars is particularly clear at Philadelphia International Airport, where ride-share drivers wait up to two hours in line in the hope of getting a traveler who needs a long ride home.

"The Uber drivers are sitting just as long as we are," said Ron Blount, president of the city's Taxi Workers Alliance, who also has begun speaking on behalf of ride-share drivers. "It's just horrible the way the situation is."

Transportation experts, and ride-share companies themselves, say New York City's situation is unique. Unlike most cities, New York's street traffic overwhelmingly consists of commercial vehicles, they said. While Uber and Lyft are likely contributing to traffic in Philadelphia, more personal vehicles are a bigger problem.

"I'm confident Uber and Lyft have contributed in some small way to the increase in congestion," said Erick Guerra, a University of Pennsylvania professor of urban design, "but not nearly as much as the economic growth and increase in population."

He said that the success of ride-share apps was evidence the city had a gap in transportation to fill and that a cap could unfairly limit access to a valuable service. Less extreme solutions could help Philadelphia, experts said, such as a congestion fee or minimum wage for drivers.

King also said New York's situation was unique and a cap shouldn't be replicated in Philadelphia. Concerns about drivers' wages, he said, would likely be resolved by market forces, as ride-share companies' efforts to keep prices low will eventually make driving for them unfeasible for most people.

"If Uber and Lyft want to retain their drivers, they'll have to pay attention to wages," he said. "I think the market will largely take care of it, but it's not like the market is magic, and the market won't happen overnight."Philadelphia Federation of Teachers president Jerry Jordan says a plan to possibly use federal funds to buy teachers' guns is a bad one. Read more

U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, according to reports, wants to allow school systems to use federal education dollars to purchase guns for educators' use.

Philadelphia Federation of Teachers president Jerry Jordan said that's a "terrible approach to the issue of school safety."

Jordan, in a statement, said the issue ignored public-school children's real needs and teachers' wishes.

"If school safety is truly a concern of this administration, they should use these funds for school counselors and other services that help children deal with the trauma and violence they experience on a daily basis," Jordan said in the statement. "Once again, Betsy DeVos and her Department of Education are either out of touch or unconcerned with the real needs of our schools, educators, and schoolchildren."

DeVos and her staff are are considering using academic enrichment grants for schools and districts to buy the guns, officials said.

Teachers in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey are forbidden from carrying weapons to school. In Pennsylvania, an Indiana County lawmaker has introduced legislation for the last three years that would allow school districts to create their own policies on whether trained educators can carry guns. That legislation has never advanced, though it got more attention this year, after the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., where 17 people were murdered.

This article contains information from the Associated Press.Melanie Carter will debut her show, Mary's Daughter  Memoirs of an Activist on Aug. 25 at the African-American museum, she is shown here in front of the African American Museum in Center City, Philadelphia, Tuesday, August 21, 2018. The one-woman show, which was sold out for three days straight earlier this year in Pittsburgh, reflects on black women's experiences on subjects ranging from feminism, hip-hop, police brutality, and mass incarceration. Read more

When Melanie Carter videotaped a confrontation with a North Versailles, Pa., police officer in March, she was trying to stand up for the young black girls she said she saw the officer shove out of a theater.

Before long, Carter said, she was handcuffed, her head was banged on concrete, and she was later arrested.

Her video  subsequently posted to Facebook  garnered more than 2.7 million views and was shared nearly 70,000 times.

"I thought he was going to kill me," she said. But for those girls, she would do it again in a heartbeat, she said.

"[Black women] owe it to ourselves to stand up."

Incidents like the one in North Versailles, Allegheny County, inspired her to bring what she said "is a shared experience" by black women to the theater stage  to show that their stories matter.

On Saturday, themes of black womanhood, hip-hop, black consciousness, and police brutality will converge in the performance of Mary's Daughter  Memoirs of an Artivist. The show makes its Philadelphia debut 5 p.m. at the African American Museum.

Carter  artistically known as Blak Rapp M.A.D.U.S.A.  stars in the one-woman autobiographical play she wrote as an ode, "a love story" to the black women in her life, in hip-hop, who saved her. (Carter promotes messages of equality and liberation under her stage name, which stands for "Black Liberation and Knowledge," "Rhymes and Political Poetry," "Making a Difference Using Skills and Activism.")

The name of the show was inspired by her mother, foster mother, and grandmother  all named Mary.

Earlier this year, she premiered the show in Pittsburgh, where three shows sold out at Kelly Strayhorn Theater.

The Harrisburg native settled in Philadelphia in June as a self-proclaimed artivist, a blend of artistry and activism. She calls herself "a collage of everything"  black, female, bisexual, Muslim, and formerly incarcerated.

Her identities as artist and activist come center stage in three acts during 75 minutes of satirical drama that follows Carter's journey, including foster care and incarceration in a maximum-security prison for drug possession.

"I wasn't supposed to be put in maximum security for a non-violent offense," she said.

The performance  made up of five monologues, original poetry, rap songs, and dances  tells the story of "struggle" and "self-discovery," she said. She hopes it will support, uplift, and empower black women to speak openly and "to stop being silent about our pain all the time."

"A lot of times, women, we've been victimized so many times" that we're afraid to tell our stories, she said.

Historically, black women's stories "kind of get lost," in the shuffle, she said. The play is a remedy.

Kim El, the show's director, is a Pittsburgh-based actress, poet, director, and playwright who has penned 15 plays of her own.

She said Carter's play, "is like hip-hop theater in full force."

"She wants to be able to tell her story in such a way that it expounds on black feminism and artistic resistance," El said.

"The way [Carter] tells a story with rhyme and hip-hop" is phenomenal, she said.

"It allowed me to feel the respect of someone who has overcome what she has endured to achieve what she has achieved," El said.

El helped "bring it to life," Carter said.

"Because [Carter is] not a playwright, she wanted me to transform her words into a play," El said, so for about five months, the duo collaborated, revising and rewriting.

Onstage, Candace Perdue is Carter's only company, as she dances and mimes, representing the versatility of hip-hop and black women, she said.

The show is for everyone who "ever felt like a lost one, a misfit, a nobody," she said.

For Perdue, the show calls for lots of costumes, songs, and dances with Carter. The show's many costumes and makeup were created by award-winning costume artist Cheryl El Walker.

At the show's core  much like Carter's life  is music, always leading the way.

"For whatever scene of life we're in, hip-hop has a song for it," Perdue said.

Music jams like Salt-N-Pepa's "Push It" and Bell Biv DeVoe's "Poison" are woven throughout deeply vulnerable, joyous, and emotional scenes that depict moments in Carter's life, such as past relationships and her time in prison.

"I want to tell my own story," Carter said. "I just want to be out-front with my story and not be afraid, or apologetic about telling my story."

PERFORMANCE

Memoirs of an ArtivistThe Food and Drug Administration took a "big tent" approach earlier this month when it approved two new forms of birth control that prevent pregnancy in very different ways.

Women's health advocates applauded the availability of a new vaginal ring that could be used for up to a year. But some questioned the approval of a mobile phone app that helps women avoid pregnancy by tracking their body temperature and menstrual cycle, a type of contraception called "fertility awareness."

Critics pointed to reports that three dozen women in Sweden got pregnant despite monitoring their cycle with the app. They also fear that the FDA approval of the app may encourage patients to think that fertility awareness methods, which include a range of practices to track ovulation, and avoid unprotected sex during that time, are just as good at preventing pregnancy as some highly effective types of birth control, such as the intrauterine device, or IUD. While "natural" methods can be successful, they generally require close daily attention.

There's still room for improvement in contraceptive use by women and men. Nearly half of the 6.1 million pregnancies in the United States  45 percent  in 2011 were unplanned, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. That figure is lower than the 51 percent rate in 2008, but is higher than the rate in many other industrialized countries.

The FDA has approved nearly two dozen contraceptive methods, including the pill, the patch, IUDs and hormonal implants and shots, among others. Insurance is required to cover all FDA-approved methods without charging women anything out-of-pocket.

The new vaginal ring, Annovera, releases hormones that prevent ovulation and must be removed after three weeks for seven days, then reinserted. It can be used for a year. The device will not be on the market until at least late 2019, and the price hasn't been released by the manufacturer.

The Natural Cycles app instructs women to take their temperature at the same time every morning when they awake and record it in the app. They also track information about their menstrual cycle. Based on slight temperature changes around ovulation, the app signals when women should avoid unprotected sex. It costs about $80 a year.

Both of the new methods require more attention on the part of the user than, say, an IUD, which once inserted can be ignored and is designed to prevent pregnancy for five to 10 years, depending on the brand.

Still, some women's health experts worry that the FDA stamp of approval may be misinterpreted by some women.

"People will interpret this to mean that the FDA approves this and thinks it's a good method," said Christopher Zahn, vice president of practice activities for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

"That's why counseling is so important," he said, noting that doctors should discuss all forms of birth control with women, and the conversation should include the efficacy of different methods.

But Gillian Dean, senior director of medical services at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, welcomes the approval of both new methods.

"More options are always better," she said. "It isn't one size fits all, and more options increases the likelihood that women will find a method that works for their needs."

The right contraceptive depends on a woman's goals, Dean said, including her reproductive plans, what her menstrual cycle is like, the number of partners she has and how important it is for her not to get pregnant. She said most women who visit Planned Parenthood clinics ask for and receive birth control pills, but an increasing number are asking for long-acting reversible methods of contraception, such as IUDs and hormonal implants.

The IUD and hormonal implants have a "failure rate" of less than 1 percent, making them among the most effective ways of preventing pregnancy (on par with permanent sterilization). Birth control pills, the patch and the vaginal ring have effectiveness rates of about 91 percent, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Fertility awareness methods, on the other hand, have a failure rate of about 24 percent, according to the CDC. But that figure is widely misunderstood, said Chelsea Polis, a senior research scientist at the Guttmacher Institute, a sexual and reproductive health research and advocacy organization.

Polis co-authored an analysis of studies of fertility awareness-based contraceptive methods that was published in August in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology.

The 24 percent figure, she said, primarily reflects the expected failure rate for women who used the rhythm method, a calendar-based approach to calculating when ovulation occurs, rather than newer biometric methods that track body temperature, cervical mucous or urinary hormones. Some of those methods may be more effective, she said.

Based on a review of published studies, Polis and colleagues reported that the Natural Cycles app had a 9.8 percent unintended pregnancy rate. The FDA announcement, which includes the results of an additional study, noted a 6.5 percent rate.

Polis said her research indicates that about 3 percent of women who use contraception practice fertility awareness-based methods, either alone or with other types of birth control, and their numbers are growing.

"I think [the app approval] is largely a positive step forward," Polis said. "I'm relieved that the FDA has a regulatory pathway to evaluate these uses and claims."

Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.Coconut oil, which has been widely touted for its health benefits, is back in the news this week after a Harvard professor equated the trendy fat with poison.

In a viral video on YouTube, Karin Michels, an epidemiologist at the T.H. Chan School of Public Health, called coconut oil "one of the worst things you can eat" and as good for well-being as "pure poison," the Guardian reported.

Michels' lecture, delivered in German, has been viewed over one million times. Michels holds a second academic position as director of the Institute for Prevention and Cancer Epidemiology at the University of Freiburg in Germany.

This isn't the first time coconut oil has come under fire.

In June 2017, the American Heart Association recommended that people replace saturated fats, like those in coconut oil, butter, and beef fat, with healthier fats, like olive oil and canola oil. Saturated fats can raise LDL, or "bad," cholesterol, which increases the risk of heart disease.

One tablespoon of coconut oil contains 117 calories and 14 grams of fat, of which 12 grams are saturated fat, compared with one tablespoon of canola oil, which has 120 calories and 14 grams of fat, but only 1.1 grams of that is from saturated fats.

According to a 2016 New York Times survey, 72 percent of Americans thought of coconut oil as healthy, but only 37 percent of nutritionists who were polled shared that view.

Coconut oil is not only popular in cooking and baking but also is commonly used in skin and hair products.

"There are many claims being made about coconut oil being wonderful for lots of different things, but we really don't have any evidence of long-term health benefits," Walter C. Willett, professor of epidemiology and nutrition at the Chan School, told CNN.

Twitter, of course, had its own take on the subject.Gemmika Champion, a student at Drexel University, has been in recovery from alcohol use disorder for more than three years. Read more

The first time Bob Lamb thought of alcohol as an escape, he was standing in a hospital emergency room. A friend of his had collapsed and Lamb, then a sophomore at the University of the Sciences, had performed CPR. "I kept him alive long enough for his dad to see him," Lamb recalled.

After his friend died, Lamb thought, "I need to get out of here, to get drunk and forget everything that I'm feeling."

Until then, Lamb drank occasionally, like many college students, but that night was the beginning of a downward spiral. He became a daily drinker, missed classes, and failed courses. He took several leaves from school to get mental-health and substance-use care.

Now more than six years in recovery, and a recent graduate of Temple University's master of public health program, Lamb, 30, recognizes that his alcohol-use disorder stemmed from the trauma of his friend's death. But the realization caught him off guard.

As a teenager, he'd been told not to drink and drive. To match every alcoholic beverage with a glass of water. To never go to college parties alone. But none of the warnings he'd received about alcohol mentioned mental health.

As millions of freshmen arrive on college campuses this month and next, they are warned of binge drinking, alcohol poisoning, and sexual assault. Parents dropping their children off may have thought about episodes such as the death of 19-year-old Tim Piazza after a night of alcohol-fueled hazing at Pennsylvania State University. But for most, there likely was little discussion of the relationship between alcohol and mental health, or how drinking can exacerbate anxiety and depression  increasingly common diagnoses among incoming students.

"We have a major alcohol problem that has never really been properly addressed," said Pascal Scoles, director of Community College of Philadelphia's collegiate recovery program.

The national conversation about addiction has been focused on opioids, which college recovery experts say is appropriate. But they worry that alcohol will continue to be overlooked. "Alcohol is often the forgotten issue," said Devin Reaves, executive director of the Pennsylvania Harm Reduction Coalition.

Seven percent to 12 percent of college students misuse opioids, according to the American College Health Association, and about 20 percent meet the criteria for alcohol use disorder.

Not only are more young people dying from alcohol-related liver disease, but excessive drinking also can worsen mental illness and has been linked to suicidal thoughts. Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among college students.

>>READ MORE: College students train to help peers at risk for suicide, depression and more

Despite these consequences, American society, and college campuses in particular, treat alcohol differently from other drugs, said Frank Greenagel, an addiction policy expert in New Jersey who works with college students. Many think it's harmless, he said, and the focus on opioids can further normalize that. "Now people with a drinking problem think, 'At least I'm not taking pills.' "

How alcohol affects mental health

When working with students in recovery at CCP, Scoles addresses substance use and mental health at the same time. "I've always felt that you can't really separate them out anyway," he said.

Research backs him up. About 20 percent of people with a history of substance use disorder suffer from at least one mood disorder and 18 percent suffer from at least one anxiety disorder, according to a federally funded study. Long-term alcohol use has been shown to decrease the brain's levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that contributes to feelings of happiness and plays a large role in depression. Drinking also lowers blood sugar and causes dehydration  conditions that can mimic symptoms of anxiety or trigger an episode. Alcohol consumption can also lead to a loss of inhibition, impaired judgment, and impulsiveness, which studies have linked to a higher risk of suicide.

To make matters worse, drinking can counteract the benefits of many psychiatric medications. Alcohol and antidepressants, for example, affect many of the same neurotransmitter pathways. If the medication is aimed at increasing levels of serotonin in the brain, extended alcohol use can slow that process. Sometimes the effects are more dire. Some antidepressants inhibit the body's ability to break down tyramine  an amino acid found in certain types of alcohol. Drinking while on those medications can lead to dangerous spikes in blood pressure.

Although it's clear that mental health and substance use are connected, Scoles said, the exact relationship varies. For some people, substance use leads to mental-health concerns as they lose jobs and friends, and suffer other consequences. Others will turn to alcohol and other drugs as a way of coping with pre-existing mental-health issues.

For Gemmika Champion, a 24-year-old from Overbrook, drinking was a way to self-medicate her social anxiety and deal with childhood trauma. She had her first drink at 12, started binge drinking at 16, and began drinking daily when she got to college.

"I had a lot of discomfort about how to fit in and whether or not I liked myself," Champion said. Alcohol helped with that, at least in the moment. "But in the morning, I'd feel that pang of anxiety, guilt, and shame," she said. "And I'd think, 'What's the solution for that? What worked last night? To drink.'"

It's easy for college students to get caught in that cycle, said Stephanie Ives, associate vice president and dean of students at Temple University. Many students drink to socialize or self-medicate, she said, but for some, that evolves into dependency.

Champion broke the cycle by going through detox, therapy, and a 12-step program. Now three years sober and a master's student at Drexel University, she continues therapy, recognizing that good mental-health care is just as important to her recovery as abstaining from alcohol. "Addiction is a chronic disease that requires constant maintenance," she said.

A holistic approach

College recovery specialists say the goal of discussing alcohol is not to shift resources away from addressing opioids or other drugs.

Most students with a substance-use disorder have used multiple drugs, said Lisa Laitman, director of the alcohol and drug assistance program at Rutgers University. "We need to have a holistic approach with different substances, and also with mental health," she said. "It isn't one or the other."

A growing number of colleges are offering on-campus recovery programs that provide counseling, student support groups and sober activities. Some, such as the programs at Rutgers and Penn State, also offer sober dorms for students in recovery.

>>READ MORE: At Rutgers, a haven for students in recovery

"A lot of people have this idea that if a student develops a substance-use disorder, that they should never go back to college because it's a high-risk environment," said Jason Whitney, program coordinator of Penn State's collegiate recovery community. "But in many cases, their odds are better if they come to a college with a recovery program than stay at home."

For Mike Luna, the recovery program at CCP has made all the difference. Luna, 29, left home in New Jersey at 21 to try to find independence and a job in Philadelphia. But when he struggled to make child-care payments and afford the trips back home, he lost partial custody of his son. That's what fueled his drinking. "It was to run from reality," he said, "from the emptiness and resentment I had for not being able to provide for my child."

He visited bars in the morning, spent the day selling pirated DVDs to finance his addiction, and returned to the bars at night. After being prescribed opioids for a gunshot wound, he got hooked on those, too.

Once he got clean, more than two years and 40 days ago  per the app on his cellphone that tracks his days, minutes and seconds in recovery  Luna knew he needed the structure of a recovery program to stay clean. "It's the real reason I came to CCP," he said.

Engaging with mentors and other students has helped him work through his anger and stay accountable. He was recently elected student body president and is on track to graduate with a degree in liberal arts in 2020.

"Going from a certificate from rehab to a college degree didn't seem realistic," he said, but "I was able to turn the psychological warfare of addiction into accomplishment."

At colleges that don't have recovery programs, there are still many ways to help students with substance-use disorder, experts say. It can involve employing a substance-use specialist in college counseling centers or increasing student awareness about the link between substance use and mental health. It's also important to confront the normalization of drinking culture, because fewer young people are drinking than most students assume.

>> READ MORE: Why young people are drinking less alcohol

It must be a constant conversation, Laitman said. "You don't do a one-hour session at the beginning of the year at orientation and that's it," she said. "Students are overwhelmed at orientation, so it needs to be an ongoing process."Roughly half the people who belong to a U.S. airline loyalty program don't understand how it works.

That's not just people who fly a few times a year. A recent study by J.D. Power showed almost one-third of those who travel enough to attain an upper status (silver, gold, platinum) may be unable to explain how they got it.

Among loyalty program members, only 55 percent of respondents said they know how to book and redeem rewards, which could mean the rest are confused about how airlines structure these plans.

Five of the six airline programs included in J.D. Power's 2018 airline loyalty satisfaction survey had financial gains, with the three largest  American's AAdvantage, Delta's SkyMiles, and United's MileagePlus  each posting 20-point jumps from last year.

JetBlue's TrueBlue was the top-ranked program for the second consecutive year, followed by Southwest and Alaska, though Alaska's Mileage Plan was the only program that had a satisfaction decline from 2017. Alaska has been integrating Virgin America since acquiring that airline in 2016.

The survey shows that airlines have a long way to go in making their programs more accessible and better understood. What carriers have been doing instead is promoting nontravel awards, such as gift cards obtained with miles or points, said Michael Taylor of J.D. Power.

The survey didn't address participants' views on the value of their miles and points, the most common complaint about frequent flyer programs.

The survey, which included 3,025 people who were members of at least one frequent flyer program, also found that three-quarters of program members prefer to save their miles for a larger reward and that satisfaction among general members who have not achieved a higher status is improving faster than among travelers who have.

In another ranking recently announced, using different criteria, U.S. News & World Report placed Alaska's Mileage Plan in the top spot in airline rewards programs for the fourth straight year.

The report evaluates the programs based on such criteria as membership benefits and ease of use. It cites Alaska's mileage-based earning structure, the option to cash in miles for free flights, and the elite members' benefits as reasons for the top ranking.

Delta's SkyMiles ranked second for the second year in a row, followed in order by JetBlue, American, Southwest, and United.Johnny Bobbitt Jr., the homeless veteran who gave $20 to buy gas for Kate McClure, is back on the streets, and cutoff from the money donors gave to help him. DAVID SWANSON / Staff Photographer . Read more

Editor's Note: On Nov. 15, the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office announced that the three central figures in this story had been arrested and charged with second-degree theft by deception and other offenses. Prosecutors concluded that their dramatic tale of rescue and redemption had been "completely made up." Story detailing the findings can be found here.

Johnny Bobbitt, famously rescued from the streets of Philadelphia last October after word of his kindness to a stranger went viral and led to a $400,000 GoFundMe campaign, is once again homeless, drug-addicted  and panhandling for money.

The couple who started the fund-raiser say that in helping Bobbitt, they've spent or given him more than half of the money donated by thousands of people around the world and they are withholding the roughly $200,000 balance. Bobbitt says he fears that the couple, Kate McClure and her boyfriend, Mark D'Amico, squandered much of the money. He worries there may be little, or nothing, left.

The once-warm relationship between Bobbitt and the couple has dissolved into acrimony and discord, and the dispute may be headed to court. GoFundMe officials and lawyers for Bobbitt are trying to determine whether the money was mismanaged.

Bobbitt, 35, a North Carolina native, made international news when he used his last $20 to buy gas for McClure, 28, of Burlington County, after her car stalled on the I-95 ramp in Kensington, where he had been panhandling.

In return, McClure and D'Amico, 39, gave Bobbitt money, food, and clothing. Their GoFundMe campaign to find Bobbitt a home inspired 14,347 donors to give generously as the three appeared on Good Morning America, the BBC, and in newspapers across the country.

"He will never have to worry about a roof over his head again!!" the couple posted on GoFundMe as they thanked "everyone who had a part of this amazing ride."

The couple promised donors they would set up two trusts for Bobbitt's benefit and hire a lawyer and a financial adviser for him to help manage the money and invest for his future.

"The first thing on the list is a NEW Home which Johnny will own!!" the GoFundMe posting said.

Not long after, tensions were simmering. The promise of a home gave way to a camper that Bobbitt lived in until June on land McClure's family owns in rural Florence Township, Burlington County, near the small house the couple share. He never got his "dream" pickup, a 1999 Ford Ranger, and the used SUV he was given instead broke down. The couple said they put the two vehicles in McClure's name so Bobbitt couldn't sell them, but both vehicles have since been sold.

Through it all, Bobbitt admits, the pull of drugs was strong, dooming two stints in rehab and sending him back to the streets, where he now spends his days scrambling for money and drugs.

Bobbitt wonders how McClure, a receptionist for the New Jersey Department of Transportation, paid for the new BMW she drives and for vacations to California, Florida, and Las Vegas, as well as a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon. He also questions how much D'Amico, a carpenter, spent gambling.

In an interview last week, the couple said they used their own money to buy the BMW and to pay for vacations. D'Amico said he gave McClure the car as a gift. The California trip, he said, was paid for by The Ellen DeGeneres Show, which invited them on to talk about their GoFundMe campaign for Bobbitt. D'Amico said he spent $500 of the GoFundMe money to gamble because he did not have his SugarHouse Casino card one night, but he said he quickly repaid it with his winnings.

As for Bobbitt, the couple said he once burned through $25,000 they gave him in less than two weeks. They said he stole from them and pawned some of their possessions for cash to feed his drug habit, allegations he denies.

With no formal accounting of the money and no financial statements, it is unclear how much is left. What is clear is that Bobbitt has little to show for it.

He insists that the couple didn't shell out anywhere near the $200,000 they say they spent on his care. He said McClure and D'Amico controlled most of the spending and limited how much they gave him to live on. He said he had no direct access to the money donors contributed.

Bobbitt said he never met the lawyer the couple said they hired for him. He said he met briefly with a financial adviser they recommended, but never signed or saw paperwork for any trusts.

There are no trusts, D'Amico said in an interview last week. He said the remaining $200,000 is in a savings account that he will start dispensing when Bobbitt gets a job and is drug-free. On Wednesday, D'Amico said he had reconsidered that decision and had given Bobbitt $400 in cash and some gift cards. On Thursday morning he said he hoped Bobbitt would not spend the money on drugs.

The couple declined to produce financial statements or provide an accounting of the spending from the GoFundMe campaign. They said they spent much of the money on the hotel Bobbitt stayed in until they bought him the camper and an SUV, along with a television, laptop, and two cellphones. They also paid for food and clothing, they said. GoFundMe kept $30,000 as a standard fee.

McClure, through tears, said she and D'Amico did all they could to help Bobbitt, and she still believes he can turn his life around. But for now, she feels frustrated and betrayed. "I don't want to lose my job over this," she said.

D'Amico said he controls the money and did nothing wrong. "Write what you want," he said last week.

"Giving him all that money, it's never going to happen. I'll burn it in front of him," said D'Amico, who in recent months has had his own legal problems stemming from traffic offenses, a suspended driver's license, and an arrest for failing to appear in municipal court. Giving the money to someone addicted to drugs, he said, would be like "giving him a loaded gun."

Bobbitt said he feels betrayed. He questions whether the couple can legally deny him access to the money donated to help him.

After he moved from the hotel room into the camper, Bobbitt said, he was worried because D'Amico seemed to spend more time gambling online or at casinos than working. If he brought up finances, Bobbitt said, the couple were dismissive. D'Amico, he said, would withdraw large sums of money, give some to him, and keep the rest.

"I think it might have been good intentions in the beginning, but with that amount of money, I think it became greed," Bobbitt said as he sat beneath the bridge at Callowhill and Second Streets, where he and his brother, Josh, 34 and also addicted to opiates, have been staying since June.

In the city, homeless advocates helped Bobbitt and his brother find a detox program and put Bobbitt in touch with the pro bono lawyers now investigating his options.

"I think he is just a genuine, sincere person who has been the victim of so many bad circumstances," said Jacqueline Promislo of Cozen O'Connor, who with her colleague Chris Fallon agreed to represent Bobbitt last week. "We want to make sure he has the opportunity to benefit from the incredible generosity of people."

Promislo sent McClure and D'Amico a letter on Thursday, asking them to meet and discuss the GoFundMe money. D'Amico has agreed to do that on Monday, she said.

The GoFundMe website says its policies are strictly enforced, and those who raise money are forbidden to deceive donors for their own personal gain. The nonprofit says it cooperates with law enforcement when there are allegations of fraud or instances in which money has been withheld from the beneficiary or used for something other than the stated purpose.

GoFundMe spokesman Bartlett Jackson said the nonprofit "is looking into the claims of misuse regarding this campaign. When there is a dispute, we work with all parties involved to ensure funds go to the right place. We will work to ensure that Johnny receives the help he deserves and that the donors' intentions are honored."

Donors gave generously as the story spread about Bobbitt's serendipitous meeting with McClure. Bobbitt, whose bright smile at times veils his troubles, did a brief stint in the military, got engaged, and had been studying to be a paramedic before he lost it all to drugs.

For a time, he said, he lived a tranquil and mostly sober life in Montana before coming to Philly in 2016. He came to buy a truck, but his life spiraled again.

"I have said that all along that I wanted to leave this godforsaken place and go back to North Carolina or Montana," Bobbitt said.

When his fortune changed with the GoFundMe campaign, he began to think he might finally be able to head west.

"I'm not going to lie and say I wasn't thrilled about the money," Bobbitt said last week. "Who wouldn't be?"

McClure and D'Amico said they took significant time off from work to help Bobbitt, and they tried having him manage his own money, only to watch him quickly spend thousands. Bobbitt acknowledged that they once gave him $25,000, which he said he spent by sending money to relatives and sharing with friends. He also spent some of it on drugs. Typically, Bobbitt said, he uses $15 a day to buy opiates or Suboxone, a prescription drug used to treat addiction.

In recent days, D'Amico told an evolving account of his stewardship of the money. Initially, he said he would not produce financial records because the money was put into an existing account at PNC bank that does not belong to Bobbitt. On Wednesday, he said he and McClure had opened up a separate account for Bobbitt. On Thursday morning he said he told a reporter the trusts had been set up because that's what Bobbitt wanted him to say.

D'Amico said they decided to sell the camper for $10,000 at Bobbitt's suggestion, along with the SUV, because Bobbitt wanted to use the money from the sale to move out of New Jersey.

Bobbitt said D'Amico refused to give him the money and told him he had to leave the Burlington County property.

As he sat under the bridge at Callowhill and Second, Bobbitt said panhandling for food and drugs is better than trying to squeeze money from McClure and D'Amico. Bobbitt kept an eye on his younger brother as he stood nearby on the median with a sign that read, "Homeless Hungry Anything Helps Thank You! God Bless!"Tonya Bell stands in front of her former Germantown house. Read more

Three years ago, Tonya Bell went to City Hall and discovered that she was dead.

And that her house had been stolen.

She learned these things when she looked at the deed for a property she owned in Germantown. In the deed, she had been declared dead by a man she had never heard of. He had named himself her sole heir and taken ownership of her house for $1.

In the years that followed, the saga of her stolen house took many twists and turns, few of them good for Bell.

She learned that the notary who approved the $1 sale to "Braheem Hart" later admitted she never met the "heir" and helped fabricate the paperwork as a favor to her cousin.

She learned that a company that renovates and resells homes had ended up the owner of her property and resold it for almost $300,000.

Without ever contacting her, the firm filed legal papers declaring that she had no claim on the property and accusing her of having obtained it by fraud.

She also learned a hard lesson about asking for help in Philadelphia. She reached out to the Records Department, the Sheriff's Office, the Police Department, and the District Attorney's Office. Nobody assisted her. After a year, a private lawyer said she had no case and dumped her as a client.

Her story also exposed the empty promise of the city's highly touted reforms to crack down on the theft of houses, a problem in Philadelphia for decades now.

>> READ MORE: It's outrageously easy for someone to steal your house in Philadelphia (published Aug. 7, 2000)

By law, those reforms required officials to ask people filing deeds to show identification and death certificates to prove they are rightful heirs  and for the deeds office to take a picture of the filers and keep a photocopy of their ID.

Nothing like that happened here.

A substantial stone twin

Bell, 61, is retired now, after a career working for a pair of Philadelphia civil rights leaders, the late C. Delores Tucker and the late Samuel Evans. She is taking classes at the University of Pennsylvania to complete her bachelor's degree and caring for her infirm mother. Bell, by nature, is curious. She's meticulous and very determined, too.

"I believe this is bigger than me. This has been happening to many people," Bell said recently, referring to the heist of her house. "I've been in the civil rights movement. It's not unusual for us to be fighting for our rights. And that can take a long time."

She and her 87-year-old mother have lived for years in a rowhouse on Portico Street in lower Germantown. It cost her about $27,000 in 1993.

In 2002, she bought a nicer house, a few miles north in Germantown, near the border with Mount Airy. It is a substantial stone twin on Greene Street, near Duval.

She paid only a nominal $1 but with the understanding that she would pay off the owner's tax debts. The seller was Linda Penny, a niece of Tucker, Pennsylvania's first black female secretary of state. Bell dated Penny's brother for many years.

Bell intended to move into the Greene Street house after she fashioned a first-floor apartment for her mother, who suffers from arthritis. As the years passed, though, they stayed at Portico.

The Greene Street property sat vacant, as Bell worked to refashion it inside. For years, receipts show, Bell kept paying property taxes (after first putting up $33,000 to pay off Penny's back taxes) and repairing the house ($4,000 to fix the basement and front walkway, among many other expenses).

All of this was for naught.

The first sign of trouble surfaced in late 2015. Driving by the Greene Street property, Bell saw that someone had torn off the porch. Fresh lumber was nearby.

Bell checked city records online. She discovered something alarming  she was no longer listed as the owner of the house.

Bell went to City Hall to pull the actual documents. A clerk handed her a four-page deed. It attested that in 2014, one "Braheem Hart, sole heir to Tonya Bell, deceased," had bought her house for $1.

How to Steal a House In 2014, a man calling himself Braheem Hart filed this phony document with the city deeds office. He declared Germantown homeowner Tonya Bell dead, himself her heir, and took ownership of her house for $1. The thief didnt even bother to put down a date of death for Bell. Bell is alive and well  and angry. SOURCES: City of Philadelphia Records Department; Pa. Secretary of States office. Staff Graphic

The deed also declared that "the said Tonya Bell departed this life on." No death date was given. Hart hadn't bothered to complete the sentence.

Because it was an intra-family transfer, Hart paid no transfer tax.

The deed included the signature and seal of notary public Lelia L. Hilliard, declaring that Hart had appeared before her in November 2014, provided proof of his identity, and executed the sale.

Much later, Hilliard would admit that wasn't true.

Breathtaking greed

For at least two decades now, thieves have been stealing houses with regularity in Philadelphia.

Given the city's vast store of vacant homes  properties abandoned by owners as relatives die or mortgage bills and taxes accrue  and its ever-shifting number of gentrifying neighborhoods, grifters know they can often make a killing by stealing a house and then quickly reselling it for a profit to an unsuspecting buyer. It's a crime with two victims  the original (usually absentee) owner and the new (unsuspecting) buyer.

>> READ MORE: Police officer probed in theft of homes (published Dec. 2, 2012)

Periodically, law enforcement cracks down. In 2014, federal prosecutors put away one thief for six years for recruiting people to pose as heirs and estate executors in phony sales. Investigators said he had pocketed $200,000 from three deals alone.

In 2009, city prosecutors broke up a 15-member ring, including three notaries, who had stolen and resold more than 80 houses in Kensington. Then-District Attorney Lynne M. Abraham said the gang had had a simple motivation: "breathtaking, bold and unapologetic greed."

>> READ MORE: Philadelphia real estate fraud ring broken (published Feb. 12, 2009)

The District Attorney's Office currently has 50 thefts under investigation, it said.

All that thieves need to do is hoodwink Philadelphia's Records Department and its gullible and often careless deed room. All that takes is putting down a series of lies on blank deed forms easily obtained online or at stationery stores. A crooked notary gives the fake deed legitimacy.

The problem is complicated by the passivity of the Records Department  not to mention the sheer volume of paper it processes (145,000 documents a year).

As Records Commissioner James P. Leonard said in a recent interview: "We're not a fact-finding or investigative agency."

Indeed, the agency, once notorious for its backlog of unprocessed deeds, has faced legal pressure to simply stamp deeds and move them along.

District Attorney Larry Krasner is looking for fresh ways to attack the problem. His spokesperson, Ben Waxman, says Krasner wants to both toughen enforcement  in part by cracking down on crooked notaries  and to better educate people on how to block thievery when a relative dies.

The city's statehouse delegation and City Council have long pursued remedies, with mixed results. In 2014, the state legislature officially urged the secretary of state to have notaries undergo a criminal-records check. The secretary's office hasn't done that. Proposals to require notaries to take and keep thumbprints of filers have made no headway.

In Philadelphia, Council passed a reform law in 2010. The measure required the deeds office to demand ID from filers. Clerks must also photocopy the identification and ask to photograph the filers.

People who say they are heirs must prove it with records from the city register of deeds, such as letters of administration for an estate.

Asked about Tonya Bell's house, Mike Dunn, a spokesperson for Mayor Kenney, said the Records Department had no photograph or ID on file for Braheem Hart. He added: "This matter is under investigation."

Dunn acknowledged that no one asked Hart for proof that he was an heir. At first, Dunn said the law didn't require any because Hart was a "sole heir" and as such needed no approvals from the register of wills' office. After the register of wills' legal staff disputed this, Dunn backtracked.

He said, "We recognize that the failure to request supporting documentation in the case of so-called 'sole heir' deeds is a flaw in the deed-recording review process."

In the future, he said, the city will demand evidence, "such as a death certificate, proof of familial relationship, and documents relating to estate administration."

A mysterious figure

As Bell pored over the records, she absorbed shock after shock.

She had no idea who Braheem Hart was. What she did know was he was no relative. Bell is an only child. She never married and has no children and, aside from her mother, all her relatives are in Virginia.

Bell thinks Hart was a made-up name. "I think that's a fictitious person," she said.

Moreover, Bell learned something else: Hart himself lost control of the house shortly after stealing it.

As it happens, Hart had targeted a property with overdue taxes. After paying off the tax debts of Penny, the previous owner, and then staying current, Bell fell behind by about 2008.

In 2014, even while Hart was working his scheme, the city took the Greene Street property to sheriff's sale for back taxes. The sheriff's sale paperwork listed Hart as the owner.

Perhaps because Hart was now controlling her property, Bell said she never saw any of the letters sent to the Greene Street address warning of the impending sheriff's sale. Nor, she said, did she see the notices posted there.

In the end, her Greene Street house sold for $40,500 to Affordable Homes Group Inc., a New Hope-based company whose owners have bought and resold numerous homes in Philadelphia in recent years.

The following year, Bell would suffer one more blow.

Concerned about the provenance of its new asset, Affordable Homes filed suit in 2015, asking a judge to declare that an array of past owners of the Greene Street house had no stake in the property. It asked the court to wipe out any claims by Braheem Hart, "all unknown heirs of Tonya Bell, deceased," and even Linda Penny, the woman who had sold it to Bell 13 years before.

The firm never won the court order. After eight months, it gave up and dropped the suit. It quit after a judge warned that the case would be dismissed unless the company could find Hart, any other Bell "heirs," and others. Bell, for her part, was listed in public city voting records at her Portico Street address, but no one contacted her.

Then Affordable Homes tried something else  a maneuver that other real estate experts said in interviews they found troubling. Lawyer Lawrence Avallone, a veteran in the real estate area, called it "weird" and "baloney."

In late 2015, the company filed a new deed declaring that Bell's original purchase of the house in 2002 "appears to have been fraudulent" and was "void and of no effect."

Its evidence? Affordable Homes cited its own unsuccessful lawsuit  the one it had dropped.

In the new document, Affordable Homes struck a deal with the two grown daughters of Linda Penny, who had died in 2007. The daughters signed paperwork declaring they were the true last owners of the Greene Street property before the sheriff's sale, but for $1 they were giving up any right to the property. It is unclear why they did so. They could not be reached for comment.

Virginijus Anusauskas, president of Affordable Homes, said in an email that he had little information to share, but recalled that after buying the house at sheriff's sale, his firm found a "mess with previous title transfers so we hired the attorney to resolve it." Laurence Mester, the Philadelphia lawyer who filed the 2015 lawsuit, could not be reached for comment. Stuart Graff, of Assurance Abstract Corp., which worked with Affordable Homes regarding the property, declined to answer questions.

A contacts spreadsheet

Tonya Bell is a fighter. And the kind of careful strategist who keeps files, documents, and a spreadsheet with dates of every contact she has had with officialdom.

Her records are dispiriting.

When she called the District Attorney's Office, she said, an office staffer told her that Hart had committed no crime and that prosecutors could not assist her.

"There is a crime because this person is referring to me being dead, and I'm not dead," Bell replied.

Asked about that recently, the DA's Office confirmed that an office paralegal had offered no help from the agency but had rather urged Bell to call the police.

Waxman, the DA's spokesperson, said one reason prosecutors hadn't pursued the complaint was that Bell had lost the property at a sheriff's sale. It was unclear why that would matter.

Waxman also said one theft alone was not enough to trigger an inquiry.

"This case was properly referred to the Philadelphia Police Department for investigation as there were no other deeds recorded in the name Braheem Hart and the notary was not on our radar as a problem notary," he said. "An isolated one-house fraudulent transfer is not the type of complaint that would be handled by the investigations division."

City Councilman William K. Greenlee, who spearheaded the 2010 city reforms, said he had heard rumors that prosecutors would not investigate a single instance of house theft, but was troubled to see that confirmed.

"I have to admit I don't understand that," Greenlee said. "You don't wait for people to steal three cars."

Waxman later expanded the office statement to say the office was beefing up its efforts to combat house theft and stood ready to prosecute even a single rip-off.

Bell also reached out to the state secretary of state, who regulates notaries. Her complaint triggered an investigation of Lelia Hilliard, who had attested to the existence of Braheem Hart. In May, the office completed a protracted probe by filing civil charges against Hilliard over the Greene Street property. She faces a $1,500 fine and possible loss of her license.

In the charging document, the agency wrote that Hilliard a year ago "admitted that she notarized the deed, signed by Braheem Hart, without the individual appearing before her" and that she had "admitted she notarized this document as a favor to her cousin." The cousin was not named in the document.

Hilliard, 61, a notary for 16 years, declined comment when reached at her Center City workplace.

Bell took another step. She called into a radio station where Sheriff Jewell Williams fielded questions on the air. Williams put her in touch with his DART squad  the Defendant Asset Recovery Team. Its job is to track down people whose properties were sold at sheriff's sales and to return any excess money to them, once back taxes and mortgage bills are paid. Williams has touted its work, though his office admits that, due to accounting issues, it has no idea how much surplus money it has collected but has been unable to distribute.

After an initial contact with the DART staff, Bell did not hear from the Sheriff's Office for a year, and then not until a reporter asked the office about how it had responded to her case.

Last month, a black car pulled up at Bell's Portico Street home. The driver explained it was Sheriff Williams' vehicle. The driver was there to hand-deliver a check for the surplus money from the sale. At last, the Sheriff's Office was satisfied that Bell had been an owner of the Greene Street house.

Bell's tax debt was $13,000 in taxes, interests, and fees. Affordable Homes had bid the $40,500. But before cutting a check for Bell, the Sheriff's Office, as is standard policy, dipped into the proceeds to pay off thousands of dollars in other charges  liens for repairs by city crews when Penny owned the house 23 years ago, money for newspaper ads for the sheriff's sale, money for the auctioneer, money for transfer taxes, and more. The office refused to explain all the charges.

In the end, Bell received $2,213.07.

As for the Greene Street house, the place was extensively renovated, city records show  and resold by Affordable Homes for $299,900.

As for Braheem Hart, he's in the wind.Philadelphia's city government paid out more than $130,000 to settle two sexual harassment lawsuits in June, one stemming from the Department of Prisons and another from the Office of the City Commissioners.

According to records obtained through a right-to-know request, the city agreed to pay one woman, a correctional officer, $100,000 to settle a suit she filed last year alleging that her supervisor sexually harassed her for two years, and that he and another higher-up retaliated after she complained about the behavior.

In a separate case, the city government paid out $32,500 to settle a lawsuit brought by a clerk in the city commissioners' Office of Voter Registration who claimed her coworker-turned-supervisor groped and sexually harassed her.

The $100,000 payout, agreed to in December 2017, is included in the $2.2 million paid by the city between 2012 and April of this year to settle sexual misconduct claims. That calculation was reported in a June audit conducted by the city's fiscal watchdog, Controller Rebecca Rhynhart. The $32,500 payment, from a settlement reached this summer, was not included in the $2.2 million figure.

A city spokesperson declined to comment on the cases specifically, noting Mayor Kenney signed an executive order last month aimed at improving sexual misconduct reporting systems within city government.

The lawsuit against the Philadelphia prisons was filed in May 2017 by Morgan Scott, a correctional officer who claimed her former supervisor at the House of Correction, ex-correctional sergeant Robinson Hernandez, made "unwanted sexual advances" toward her "on many occasions" beginning in 2013.

The lawsuit alleges he made comments about her body and physical appearance, stared at her while working, and stated he'd leave his girlfriend for her.

After Scott became engaged to another correctional officer of the same rank in 2015, Hernandez began to schedule her to work in a different location within the jail. According to the lawsuit, he stated in a note: "When your around many improper thoughts and wanting of improper actions."

Scott's then-fiance complained to higher-ups about the behavior, and Deputy Warden Edward Miranda launched an internal inquiry. According to the lawsuit, Hernandez stated the note was a "joke." Then, Miranda filed a formal report against Scott, alleging she violated the Employee Code of Conduct with respect to sexual harassment, the suit states.

Miranda didn't respond to a request for comment. Shawn Hawes, a spokesperson for the Department of Prisons, said a right-to-know request must be filed in order to obtain "sensitive employee information." She added the department "has a zero-tolerance policy regarding both sexual harassment and retaliation for making a complaint."

Following the internal inquiry, Hernandez was reassigned to Riverside Correctional, the city's women's facility, while Scott was reassigned to Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility, according to the suit. Hernandez's employment with the city ended in 2017, payroll records show. Attempts to reach him were unsuccessful.

Scott declined to comment through her attorney, Timothy Creech, who would say only that his client wishes "to put the matter behind her."

Corinthia Johnson, the clerk in the City Commissioners' Office, contended in a 2017 lawsuit that Francisco Martinez groped her breast, rubbed her shoulders without her consent, and walked up to her desk with his zipper down. When informed his zipper was down, he said he was not wearing underwear "either," the suit contends. Johnson says the alleged harassment began shortly after her hire in 2004.

Johnson said she complained about Martinez's behavior several times, including in 2016 to Democrat Lisa Deeley, one of the three City Commissioners who oversee Philadelphia's elections. But Martinez was not reprimanded and was allowed to keep working with her, Johnson said.

Deeley said in a statement she's prohibited from discussing Johnson's case and said the office doesn't comment on personnel matters concerning current employees. She said Martinez "was terminated from employment."

"Please be assured that myself and my fellow commissioners take all allegations of sexual harassment seriously and make sure that all proper procedures are followed to ensure a safe work environment for our employees," she added.

Johnson claimed three other women in the office had been sexually harassed by Martinez between 2008 and 2016.

"The Commissioners' Office did nothing," contended Johnson's lawyer, Thomas Holland. "There were no procedures in place for when a woman would make a sexual harassment case."

Johnson said coworkers retaliated against her for complaining about the sexual harassment, and that she was denied promotions in favor of people less qualified.

In a separate case involving Sherron Bell, another employee in the Office of Voter Registration, Martinez was found guilty in 2016 of indecent exposure and criminal attempt and sentenced to a maximum of two years of probation. He was placed on administrative leave about a month after he was arrested, according to Johnson's lawsuit.

Martinez later appealed the case, and a jury deadlocked on the charges earlier this year. A request for a retrial was granted.

Bell filed a civil lawsuit in 2017 against Martinez and the city, making many of the same claims that Johnson did, including the allegation he walked around the office with his zipper down and said he was not wearing underwear. Bell also said Martinez cornered her alone in a room, pulled out his genitals, and demanded that she touch them.

Deeley said she's "unable to comment" on Bell's case as both the civil and criminal proceedings are still pending.

Efforts to reach Martinez directly were unsuccessful, and his criminal defense attorney did not respond to a request for comment.

Staff writer Claudia Vargas contributed to this article.Fired SEPTA police officers Johnathan Lanciano and David Simcox this week were cleared of charges that they beat a man at a train station last December. Read more

In April, when the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office charged two SEPTA Transit Police officers with beating a drunken man on the platform of the Frankford El station, the office said the decision represented "even-handed justice, everyone being held accountable for their actions."

This week, after five hours of preliminary hearing testimony, including from the emergency room doctor who treated the man who accused the officers of beating him, a Philadelphia judge threw out the charges against Johnathan Lanciano, 29, and David Simcox, 30, who were fired by the transit authority in February.

Simcox had been accused of breaking the 28-year-old man's nose with a punch, and was charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment, and filing a false report. Lanciano had been charged with simple assault, harassment, reckless endangerment and filing a false report.

But after reviewing video of the Dec. 12, 2017, incident and hearing from Dr. Jamie Adamski of Jefferson Frankford Hospital, Municipal Court Judge James DeLeon concluded that the officers' accuser threw a punch and that the officers were justified in using force to take him down.

Adamski, who was called to testify by the former officers' attorneys, said that while treating the man the morning of the incident, the patient relayed that he had thrown a punch at an officer, which contradicted assertions in charging documents that the man never struck the officers while the two officers used excessive force "in direct contravention to all provided training and departmental standards."

The man drew the officers' attention shortly after midnight when he jumped from the train platform onto the tracks to retrieve his eyeglasses. When Lanciano, Simcox and three other SEPTA officers first encountered the man, he had gotten back on the platform, where he was sitting with his legs hanging over the ledge. After moving the man away from the tracks, a scuffle ensued.

"They had to use some force to get him away, to get him out of that dangerous situation with the third rail just below," said attorney Frank DeSimone, who represented Lanciano.

"The judge said [the man] threw a punch. The video showed he threw a punch. I absolutely believe the judge made the right choice. We have the complainants saying he threw a punch. What other evidence do you need?" DeSimone added.

Attorney Louis Anthony Mincarelli, who represented Simcox, said the officers used force after the man struck Lanciano in the face. "The officers were responding to an assault on a police officer, and they used the force that was necessary," he said. "Our clients were innocent and should never have been charged."

Both defense attorneys said their clients want to get their jobs back and are hopeful the District Attorney's Office will not recharge them in Common Pleas Court. "I'm hoping that they will not do that so my client can get on with his life. I'm hoping they do the right thing because this case does not warrant that," Mincarelli said.

Ben Waxman, spokesman for the District Attorney's Office, said: "We respectfully disagree with some of the court's statements of fact and its ruling. As always, we respect the independence of the judiciary. We have not made any decision yet about refiling charges."Jeffrey Dennis, who was fatally shot by an undercover police officer in Tacony on Aug. 20, 2018. Read more

Relatives of a man shot and killed by undercover police in Tacony this week met with Police Commissioner Richard Ross on Thursday to express their concerns about the incident, according to a lawyer for the family.

The head of the police union, meanwhile, issued a letter asking for people "to hold judgment until all facts are known," adding: "It's unfortunate that city leaders and others are prematurely second-guessing the tactics of police officers during a volatile and chaotic situation that [led] to the death of an alleged drug suspect."

The developments marked the latest fallout from Monday's shooting, in which a plainclothes officer  identified by the Police Department late Thursday as Richard Nicoletti, a 29-year veteran assigned to the Narcotics Field Unit  fatally shot 36-year-old Jeffrey Dennis.

Police have said Dennis drove his Toyota Camry into another officer as police confronted him while preparing to execute a search warrant for narcotics at his house, on the 7100 block of Cottage Street.

Three officers were injured during the incident, according to police. Dennis was shot in the head and left arm and declared dead at the scene at 4:18 p.m.

Wednesday night, hundreds of people gathered at the site of the shooting, on the 7100 block of Hegerman Street, to mourn Dennis' death.

Lee Merritt, a lawyer for Dennis' relatives, said Thursday that family members met with Ross to ask for a transparent investigation and to detail their concerns. Merritt said that family members hope to be allowed to review surveillance video of the shooting and that they want the officers involved to be fired and criminally charged.

The Police Department's officer-involved-shooting unit is investigating and the state Attorney General's Office will determine whether criminal charges are warranted.

The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office referred the case to the attorney general because top prosecutor Larry Krasner, formerly a defense attorney, had previously represented Dennis, according to spokesperson Ben Waxman.

Ross told a reporter for NBC10 this week that "quite candidly we have some concerns about the shooting too, some of the tactics that were used." Mayor Kenney also issued a statement saying in part: "My prayers are with the family and friends of Jeffrey Dennis. It is always tragic to lose someone you love. I am relieved there were no life threatening injuries to the police officers."

The letter from the head of the police union, John McNesby, which was released Thursday, said: "Officers are entitled to due process of law like every other citizen. And our officers are also presumed innocent until proven guilty."

Merritt said that Dennis had three children, ages 6, 11, and 17, and that he had recently gotten engaged.

According to police, undercover officers with the Narcotics Field Unit were conducting surveillance on Dennis' house and were preparing to execute a search warrant there when they saw him driving the Camry.

Six officers in three unmarked police vehicles followed him and then tried to block him with their cars on Hegerman. Dennis attempted to flee from the makeshift barricade, police said, but his car struck several vehicles, and after an officer shattered the driver's door window, he drove into an officer.

At that point, police said, Nicoletti fired three shots at Dennis. He has been put on desk duty pending the investigation into the shooting.Anthony Wright Sr. , center, walks out of Curran Fromhold Correctional Facility holding his hands up in triumph with his lawyers, left to right, Peter Neufeld, Nina Morrison, Rebecca Lacher and Sam Silver. A Philadelphia jury in August 2016 found Anthony Wright not guilty of the crimes. He was released from Curran Fromhold Prison on Tuesday August 23rd, 2016 where his lawyer and family welcomed him back to his freedom. 08/23/2016 MICHAEL BRYANT / Staff Photographer Read more

Two years ago, Anthony Wright was acquitted by a jury of the 1991 rape and murder of an elderly woman in her North Philadelphia home due in large part to DNA evidence that did not exist when he was convicted in 1993 and sentenced to life in prison without parole.

In June, Wright, 47, received a nearly $10 million settlement from Philadelphia, the largest wrongful-conviction payout in city history.

Now, Bridget L. Kirn, the lead prosecutor in Wright's 2016 retrial, who told the jury he was guilty and should remain in prison despite the DNA evidence, stands formally accused of official misconduct in a scathing complaint that Wright's legal team filed with the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

In the complaint, the Innocence Project attorneys allege that Kirn did not correct the record when two retired city police detectives gave testimony that she knew to be false during the retrial of their client, who had spent nearly 25 years in prison by then.

"What prosecutors could not do was violate the law and the rules of professional conduct in their zeal to secure his re-conviction. There is compelling evidence that Ms. Kirn crossed that line here, and egregiously so," Nina Morrison, one of Wright's attorneys from the Innocence Project Inc., wrote in the 29-page complaint, which was released Thursday morning.

"Had she succeeded in her efforts to convict Mr. Wright of murder a second time, he would still be behind bars, spending the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole," Morrison wrote. "The fact that she did not ultimately achieve this objective should not minimize the severity of her misconduct. Nor should it prevent the board and the Supreme Court from holding her fully accountable for her actions."

If the board conducts an investigation and finds merit in the charges it could impose sanctions on Kirn that range from reprimand to public censure to suspension of her law license to disbarment. Kirn was among 31 employees terminated in January by newly elected District Attorney Larry Krasner. Ben Waxman, Krasner's spokesperson, said the office would have no comment about Kirn's latest troubles. Kirn moved on to work for the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office, writing briefs on a contractual basis, but is no longer working there, spokesperson Kate Delano said.

Attempts to reach Kirn through her former employer and at her house were not successful.

Kirn provided retired homicide detectives Manuel Santiago and Frank Jastrzembski with detailed information about the newly discovered DNA evidence during preparation sessions prior to the retrial, including that the DNA found in the body of victim Louise Talley, 77, came not from Wright but from a homeless crack cocaine addict named Ronnie Byrd who squatted in an abandoned house near the victim's, the complaint alleges.

During those pretrial prep sessions Kirn also told the detectives that Wright's DNA was not found on clothing stained with Talley's blood that police said they recovered from Wright's bedroom. Only the victim's DNA was recovered from the clothing, Kirn told the detectives, according to the compliant.

Despite Kirn's having shared that information with the detectives, the complaint states, Santiago and Jastrzembski testified that they had only general knowledge that DNA evidence had been developed since the 1993 trial and that they did not know DNA taken from the victim had been positively linked to Byrd, who died in a South Carolina prison years earlier.

Santiago and Jastrzembski committed perjury, the complaint alleges, and Kirn failed to alert the judge or jury to what she knew was false testimony. This came to light when the former detectives gave sworn testimony in a deposition last year as defendants in Wright's civil rights lawsuit, according to the complaint.

Santiago and Jastrzembski admitted during their deposition that Kirn had told them that DNA taken from Talley came from Byrd and that only Talley's DNA was on clothing police allegedly recovered from Wright's bedroom, according to the complaint, which contains excerpts of the retrial and deposition transcripts related to the perjured testimony.

"It is difficult to conceive of a more textbook violation of this rule than when an attorney for the commonwealth fails to correct a pivotal law enforcement witness's false denial of knowledge about facts that she herself provided to the witness in their pretrial preparation session," the complaint states. "Here, Ms. Kirn stood mute while not one, but two, of the commonwealth's most critical witnesses perjured themselves in this fashion. And she did so as an experienced homicide prosecutor, serving as lead counsel for the commonwealth in a case where the defendant faced mandatory life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted."

Reggie Shuford, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, called the allegations in the complaint "very serious" and said prosecutors "must be held accountable" for their misconduct.

"Prosecutors enjoy broad immunity for committing misconduct in the performance of their duties," Shuford said. "There are very few mechanisms available for holding them accountable. The disciplinary board is one of those mechanisms, and our hope is that the board will investigate this complaint thoroughly, provide Ms. Kirn with due process, and reach a fair conclusion."

Despite its allegations against Kirn, the Innocence Project is well aware that states are reluctant to discipline prosecutors. A survey the organization conducted with the Veritas Initiative that looked at five diverse states including Pennsylvania identified 660 cases between 2004 and 2008 in which courts found prosecutors committed misconduct. Of those cases, only one prosecutor, from Texas, was disciplined; that case involved a man who served time on death row who was later exonerated, the survey found.Exterior of home along 5900 block of Keystone St. in Wissinoming section of Philadelphia, site of an early Thursday morning homicide. Read more

Police are investigating the shooting death of a woman inside an apartment in Northeast Philadelphia's Wissinoming section early Thursday.

Two men whom arriving officers spotted on the porch of a duplex that had been divided into apartments were being questioned as possible witnesses by homicide detectives, police said. The shooting occurred about 3:30 a.m. on the 5900 block of Keystone Street.

The victim, who was not immediately identified, was shot once in the chest and pronounced dead at the scene at 3:49 a.m., police said.

Chief Inspector Scott Small said investigators brought in a dog in an effort to find the semi-automatic weapon used in the shooting, but there was no immediate indication the canine found anything.

Other details, including the circumstances surrounding the shooting, were not released.Father Angelo Drive in Hazle Twp, Luzerne County Pennsylvania has become a controversy since the State Grand Jury Report on Child Abuse in the Catholic Church. Father Girard F. Angelo was named in that report. Now there is a movement to change the name of the street named in his honor. Tuesday, August 21, 2018. Read more

HAZLE TOWNSHIP, Pa.  A sign of controversy at the corner of Father Angelo and St. Joseph's Drives will be put to a vote next week, the sacred and the profane playing out in paper ballots in a municipal building.

Most residents were silent in the suburban Ridgewood development on the outskirts of Hazleton in Luzerne County on Tuesday morning when asked about the late Rev. Girard Angelo, whose name is on their deeds and the birthday cards that relatives send their children, a man identified as an alleged child abuser in the Pennsylvania attorney general's recent grand jury report on widespread abuse in the Catholic Church.

A woman on Father Angelo Drive spoke sternly to a German shepherd by a two-car garage and said "No" when approached by a reporter. A neighbor skimmed leaves off the surface of his pool and didn't have time to talk. A widow around the corner with a statue of the Blessed Mother in her backyard said she forgave Angelo, who was accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old boy in Williamsport in the 1960s.

"Temptation is all over," said the woman, who asked not to be identified.

The 11 households on Father Angelo Drive will decide Monday whether they'd like to change the name of their small street or keep things the way they are. One man said it didn't matter either way but declined to say how he'd vote.

None remembered ever meeting Angelo.

Resident Anna Jarnutowski recalled a time when her house number was changed. It was a hassle.

"I don't want to change the name," she said in her doorway.

When Attorney General Josh Shapiro released the grand jury report Aug. 14, phone calls came in to the Hazle Township Board of Supervisors asking whether officials would move to change the street's name.

"I have gotten some calls from people who want to get rid of it," said Jim Montone, chairman of the supervisors.

>> READ MORE: 'A distorted sense of mercy': Even the Knights of Columbus say they've had enough

Montone said some residents were concerned about being harassed if they decide to keep the name.

"I'm leaving it up to them," he said. "If that's what they want to do, that's fine."

Keeping the status quo on the street seems to be the consensus, said resident Dave Naugle, who had a "Father Angelo Drive" placard screwed into his brick facade.

"Most of the people on the street are against having it changed, because of the nightmare that would entail with everything. Your driver's license. Your mail. Your utilities," he said. "Not that they want to honor someone that  you know."

Angelo, who passed away in 2009, was pastor of St. Raphael's, later renamed Sacred Heart of Jesus, for three decades. The church is just a few blocks from the street that bears his name. A Hazleton native, Angelo spearheaded the efforts to build the National Shrine of the Sacred Heart of Jesus beside the church.

The church closed in 2009 as part of a Diocese of Scranton consolidation, and two years later, the shrine was closed as well, its statues moved to surrounding churches. The open-air shrine, described as Angelo's "legacy" in his obituary, sits unkempt today. The fountains are empty and large rhododendrons grow into the pathway that leads to a sculpture of a large crown.

Prior to Sacred Heart, Angelo was an assistant pastor at Mater Delorosa in Williamsport, Lycoming County. According to the grand jury report, former Diocese of Scranton Bishop James C. Timlin received a letter from an adult male in 2002, claiming that Angelo sexually abused him when he was 14, in the 1960s.

In all, the grand jury report found that some 300 Catholic priests across Pennsylvania victimized more than 1,000 children for decades, crimes that were often never addressed by church hierarchy and sometimes covered up.

Timlin, according to the report, told Angelo's alleged victim he was contacting the Lycoming County District Attorney's Office. Timlin also told the victim that Angelo would be responsible for any compensation, though the man said he had no intention of filing a lawsuit.

>> READ MORE: As Pope Francis pledges reform, AG Josh Shapiro urges Pa. church leaders to stop 'denials and deflections' on clergy sex abuse

Timlin also told the victim to contact Angelo directly. He never did. Angelo denied the accusations, according to the report, when contacted by Timlin.

The University of Scranton said on Monday that it would be removing Timlin's name from buildings, along with the names of two other bishops, Jerome D. Hannan and J. Carroll McCormick. All three were named in the grand jury report.

Frances Calarco, Hazle Township's zoning officer, said changing a street name isn't that difficult on the municipality's end. There are legal ads, a small attorney's fee, and documentation sent to both Luzerne County and the U.S. Postal Service.

"It doesn't happen that often," she said.

The Diocese of Scranton "respects the right of the municipality to determine on whom and in what manner it will bestow honors," a spokesperson said in an email Tuesday.

In the Ridgewood development, residents recalled the paperwork gantlet when St. James Drive became St. Joseph's, when Sunburst Drive became West Venisa Drive.

Paul Rashko, a resident on West Venisa, said the development's builder, Jim Ustynoski, was close with Angelo and named the street in his honor.

"I'm going to tell you it took us not months but years to change every legal thing, from credit cards, to licenses and permits, and even the deed on the house," Rashko, 64, said.

Rashko, who is Catholic, said the "damage is done" when it comes to Father Angelo Drive.

"I mean, come on, let's not beat this horse to death," he said.

Chris Leskosky, 63, lives on St. Joseph's Drive, at an intersection with Father Angelo Drive. She won't be allowed to vote but stopped her SUV in the middle of the street to make sure someone heard how she felt about it.

Leskosky, a Catholic, suggested draping black cloth over the sign.

"It sickens me that I have to look at that sign every time I pull into my driveway," she said. "It really makes sad."SAN FRANCISCO  Violent crimes and other hate incidents against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans are consistently not reported and prosecuted because of chronic distrust between the LGBTQ community and police.

Nearly 300,000 crimes may have been committed against people across the United States because of their sexual orientation from 2012 to 2016, according to a News21 analysis of data from the federal National Crime Victimization Survey, which tens of thousands of American households fill out each year.

"There are people that are hurting right now who don't trust the police and also don't feel comfortable coming forward or speaking up," said Sheryl Evans Davis, executive director of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission. "Until we have an increase of people reporting things, then we could be doing [more]. We're still not really doing enough for them."

U.S. Department of Justice documents for the relatively few federally prosecuted hate crime cases since 2009 tell stories of beatings, robberies, slurs, profanities and fatalities targeting LGBTQ individuals.

Steven Nelson, a 49-year-old gay man, died in an Idaho hospital hours after being lured into the woods by an online ad for a sexual encounter in April 2016. His attacker, Kelly Schneider, repeatedly kicked him with steel-toed boots while yelling homophobic slurs, then stripped and robbed him.

David Beltier and his boyfriend, Jeremy Mark, were walking their pink-dyed poodle, Beauty, in Hillsboro, Ore., when George Mason got out of his car and beat Beltier with a metal tool while yelling gay slurs in March 2013.

Three gay men were walking through a Seattle neighborhood in January 2015 when Troy Burns began to tail them, shouting homophobic slurs and eventually threatening them with a knife and attempting to stab one of them.

Experts and such advocates as Seth Brysk, the central Pacific regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, believe many similar crimes are not reported to law enforcement, much less recorded by the FBI or prosecuted. Only 1,776 of the 15,254 police departments participating in the FBI's crime tracking program reported hate crimes in their jurisdiction in 2016, at a time when other measures indicate a sharp rise in bias-motivated crimes.

"We know that the reporting of hate crimes is vastly underreported," Brysk said. "So it's important for law enforcement to do everything possible in their power to make it  easy as possible for people to feel comfortable and willing to go and report these crimes. And that they then are faithful to their own position and reporting up the chain."

From 2012 to 2016, about 20 percent of hate incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program were sexual-orientation bias crimes. Although sexual orientation isn't limited to lesbians, gays and bisexual people, sexual minorities comprised the majority of the victims.

"The numbers look big, but I think they're even bigger if you really did have everybody who has experienced any hate crimes come forward when they should," said Angelic Setchell, the anti-violence program specialist with the Montrose Center in Houston, a LGBTQ social services organization.

Setchell said she encourages hate crime victims she works with in Houston to report their experiences to the police, but some are reluctant because they haven't revealed their sexual orientation to family or employers. Others fear being targeted again if they go after their attackers in court.

The more frequently someone is subjected to bias-motivated hostility, the less likely he or she may be to report the behavior to the authorities, said Gregory Herek, an anti-LGBTQ hate crime expert who retired from University of California, Davis.

"If a person has insults yelled at them several times a day, the idea that you're going to try to deal with each of those by going to the police or by reporting something is just not worth it for the individual," he said.

Sneh Rao, director of policy for the policy and social justice division for the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, said anti-LGBTQ hate-crime numbers would look much larger if the LGBTQ community was more trusting of law enforcement.

"What success might actually look like is a spike in the reported numbers of hate crimes, and that would tell me that people are actually starting to trust our police," Rao said.

When Bobby Brooks was elected Texas A&M University's first openly gay student body president in March 2017, he was targeted with threats of bodily harm and homophobic slurs, and tried to report it to the local police.

The threats on Facebook and Twitter came after then-Texas Gov. Rick Perry wrote an editorial column in the Houston Chronicle questioning Brooks' election. Initially, Perry said, he considered Brooks' election "a testament to the Aggie character." But after discovering Brooks' opponent had been disqualified for failing to disclose campaign expenses, Perry questioned whether A&M's quest for "diversity" was behind the election.

"Rick Perry's letter was the single greatest catalyst for me receiving death threats," Brooks told News21. Perry "gave a lot of permission to allow hateful speech. He was able to write this letter and wash his hands of it because he's Rick Perry."

Three weeks after results became official, Brooks was at a convenience store in Longview, Texas, when he noticed glares and whispers from a group of people he recognized as A&M students. He left the store and his traveling companion soon followed him, crying. She told him after he walked out, the students used homophobic slurs and recorded him in Snapchat videos while saying, "I'm going to f you up."

Brooks turned to a university adviser, who encouraged him to report the incident. When he contacted the Longview police, he said the responding officer told him, "Well, that doesn't sound like a problem to me. It sounds like those are just some words."

"The police wouldn't even take a report, wouldn't even take it seriously," Brooks said. "They laughed me off the phone.  Nobody let me do anything about it, and it's so frustrating when there's a system designed that won't recognize your struggles, and then people will only base their understanding of discrimination based off of what that system perceives as discrimination."

Herek, from UC Davis, said the responding officer and the quality of his or her LGBTQ cultural-competency training can have a direct effect on whether a bias crime is properly recorded. The officer must know which questions to ask the victim, understand how to identify a potential hate crime and take the additional steps to classify the incident in the department's system, he said. Then, the department must share this information with the FBI to facilitate accurate tracking.

"There are all these things that can go wrong," Herek said.

News21 reporters Abby Bitterman, Penelope Blackwell, Renata Clo, Shelby Knowles, Lenny Martinez Dominguez, Emmanuel Morgan, Justin Parham, and Jasmine Putney contributed to this article.

This report is part of the "Hate in America" project produced by the Carnegie-Knight News21 initiative, a national investigative reporting project by top college journalism students and recent graduates from across the country and headquartered at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. For the complete project, visit hateinamerica.news21.comFederal authorities bring bias charges against the former Bordentown police chief , Frank Nucera, for assaulting a handcuffed African American suspect while spewing racial slurs against the suspect and African Americans in general. Photo courtesy NBC10 Read more

The New Jersey police sergeant who secretly taped his former chief using the N-word baited him and then deleted tapes that could have provided context, the chief's defense attorney says in court papers filed this week in U.S. District Court in Camden.

The allegation was made by attorney Rocco Cipparone Jr. in a motion to dismiss charges against former Bordentown Township Police Chief Frank Nucera Jr., who is nearing a trial on suspicion of slamming the head of a handcuffed African American suspect into a door jamb because of racial bias in September 2016.

The prosecution intends to use more than 100 hours of tape-recorded conversations in which Nucera repeatedly used racial slurs. In one of the tapes, he is heard saying: "These ns are like ISIS, they have no value. They should line them all up and mow 'em down. I'd like to be on the firing squad, I could do it."

In his motion, Cipparone said the tapes made by Police Sgt. Nathan Roohr were flawed because Roohr asked leading questions and then deleted potential evidence that the chief could use in his defense. In one tape, Roohr is heard saying he was afraid "Black Lives [Matter] gonna be protesting on my front lawn" because of the assault.

A hearing on the motion is expected to be heard in the fall after the U.S. Attorney's Office files a response.

The 215 pages of court documents that Cipparone filed also say that six other police officers in the department taped Nucera beginning in 2014.

"Clearly there was a concerted effort to 'get' Frank Nucera out as police chief by officers" who were dissatisfied with his overtime pay policies and disciplinary actions, Cipparone said in the filing.

The documents also revealed that Nucera, 61, had been investigated by the FBI in an unrelated probe in 2007- 08.

Cipparone declined to elaborate on the subject of that investigation. "I do not want to comment beyond the attachments to the motion," he said.

But the documents say that decade-old investigation was triggered by Jake Archer, an FBI agent assigned to the Philadelphia Division who previously was an officer on the Bordentown Township force.

Archer is a "good friend" of Roohr's and later brought Roohr's tapes to the attention of the FBI, which triggered the charges against Nucera, the court papers say. Archer also defeated Nucera in a race for a seat on the township's Board of Fire Commissioners in 2007.

The filing also seeks to have the judge order two trials in the case: The first to determine whether the former chief is guilty of assaulting Timothy Stroye, who was arrested for failing to pay a hotel bill at the local Ramada, and a second trial  if Nucera is convicted in the first trial  to determine whether the attack was racially motivated.

"Using racially insensitive language by itself is not a crime, and without the assault there was no crime," Cipparone said. He said he didn't want the jury to be prejudiced by the charges of racial animus before it decides whether Nucera attacked Stroye.

The federal indictment says that Roohr and another officer escorting the handcuffed Stroye, then 18, to a police cruiser both witnessed the assault.

Federal prosecutors say the chief slammed the Trenton teen's head into a metal doorjamb, causing "a loud thud" heard by witnesses, as he was being escorted out of the hotel. Authorities said the attack was racially motivated.

In a statement to police, Stroye said that he could not identify the person who struck him and had difficulty seeing because he had been pepper-sprayed.

But Stroye said that he also recalled hearing someone say "chief" during the incident, and that after he was brought to the station, he heard the chief tell an officer: "If you got to, punch on him."Fudgy Wudgy Ryan McNesby sells his frozen treats on the beach in Sea Isle City. Read more

Ryan McNesby pushes his makeshift cart, two coolers propped up by plastic pipes on oversize wheels, up and down the beach in Sea Isle City, N.J., seven days a week as he hawks cold treats under the simmering sun.

"It's the best job in the world," said McNesby, 24. "Can't beat being on the beach all day, man."

Its a rite of a New Jersey Shore summer to hear the call of the ice cream man trudging along the sand.

But the tradition of mostly older military veterans selling the treats is fading, and the beach-based ice cream brigade is undergoing a youth movement.

Call it the new era of the Fudgy Wudgy.

We still got a couple older guys, said McNesby, who is into his fourth year, but there are not as many as there used to be.

 READ MORE SHORE STORIES AT INQUIRER.COM/SHORESERIES

"Fudgy Wudgy," for the uninitiated, is the traditional call of the Shore ice cream vendor as he makes his way along the beach.

Since the early 1900s, a state law gave veterans a strange advantage: special preference when it came to selling ice cream products on beaches along the Shore. Exactly why is not clear, but while other veteran benefits have come and gone, this particular perk remained.

The law did not bar towns from granting ice cream licenses beyond those it gave to vets. Yet by the 1950s and 60s, nearly every Shore towns Fudgy Wudgy workforce was made up exclusively of veterans.

But in the 1990s, towns started to see the licenses, as many as 15 per town, as cures for rising taxes. Slowly, towns stopped renewing licenses for individual salespeople and put them out to bid, typically ending with one contract with a single vending company. The companies hired their own sales force, which usually translated into young guys working for lower wages.

In Stone Harbor, there are a lot of teenagers. In Sea Isle, college students, recent college graduates, young teachers.

There are some holdouts, including Brigantine, Atlantic City, and North Wildwood, where individual licenses are still awarded and veterans get preferential treatment.

 READ MORE SHORE STORIES AT INQUIRER.COM/SHORESERIES

In Ventnor, ice cream vendors have mostly been veterans and retired firefighters, paying $55 a year for individual licenses. Earlier this year, the city proposed to change that by ending contracts with its 15 vendors and instead holding an auction.

That quickly caused an uproar from residents loyal to their longtime ice cream vendors.

Debbie Silverstone of Cherry Hill, who has had a house in Ventnor for more than a decade, said the town's culture includes seeing the same faces on the same beach, a mini-beach community within the larger community.

"You get to know the people around you," she said. "You get pretty loyal."

She only bought from her favorite salesman, John McLaughlin, who last year celebrated his 50th, and final, year in the job.

Her kids worked for McLaughlin, serving as runners, helping him re-up his supply.

At the end of last summer, about 20 of McLaughlin's best customers, led by Silverstone, gathered in matching red shirts on the Ventnor beach and surprised him with an anniversary party. A small acknowledgment of the end of an era.

This year she has noticed a crop of new and younger salespeople. And also a lot more.

"It's not always the same guys," she said. "It's just a new world. I don't think people care as much anymore, but people genuinely cared about John."

So now she has a new guard, and new relationships to form.

Either that, she added, "or I think people are to the point now, with John not here, they just say, I guess Ill take whoever. "

McNesby, who grew up in Sea Isle, graduated from Stockton University in May.

While he considers his options, he's decided he'll do this job as long as he can.

Until my girlfriend yells at me, he said.Lt. Harry McKinney with Melody, a member of the Chester County Sheriff's office K-9 unit, in West Chester last year. The unit is now subject to a controversial audit by the county's controller. Read more

A dispute is brewing in Chester County, with tensions running high among county officials over how much money is being thrown to the dogs.

Earlier this month, Controller Margaret Reif issued a subpoena to Sheriff Carolyn "Bunny" Welsh, seeking to examine the finances of the K-9 unit operated by the Sheriff's Office, and supported largely by grant money and donations.

Weeks later, the probe has plodded forward, with Reif contending that her office has had to sift through an incomplete set of financial records from the last nine years, the period before a nonprofit was formed to handle the unit's fund-raising efforts. Those statements, she said, indicate that the unit received "hundreds of thousands of dollars" that passed through an account managed by county employees.

Welsh has said her office is fully cooperating with the probe despite her "grave concerns" about the audit's objectivity.

"I think it's unfortunate that this was not handled differently," Welsh said. "Because now, these actions have created a confrontational situation that I felt was unnecessary."

This is the first time in recent memory that an elected official in Chester County has subpoenaed a colleague. And it has spawned accusations of partisan motivation: Reif is a Democrat who took office in January. Welsh, a Republican and vocal supporter of President Trump, has held her position for 18 years.

Reif has fired back against those claims, which have been plastered across the pages of local newspapers.

"Since taking office, while fulfilling my duties pursuant to the county code, I have come across multiple issues that needed to be addressed in the Sheriff's Office," she said in a statement. "I didn't go to the press, but rather sat down with their office to work out ways to correct the problems. It is not now, nor has it ever been, my intention to use my job as a political tool. Campaigns are for politics, governing is not."

Reif said her concerns with the K-9 unit were catalyzed by a tip to her office about "improper spending." She later discovered that similar tips had been sent to her predecessor, Norman MacQueen, a Republican, but that no investigation had been initiated.

So, Reif contacted Welsh earlier in the summer, asking for records for the K-9 unit's finances. Welsh initially agreed to cooperate, Reif said, but later sent a letter saying her office couldn't comply with the request.

To hear Welsh's staff tell it, that refusal came from the belief that Reif didn't have the authority to audit money that didn't come from the county's general fund. And because the K-9 unit has always been run on donations, including in-kind charity from veterinarians, officials in the Sheriff's Office believed there were no grounds for an audit.

If Chester County were to take on the expense of the K-9 unit, Welsh said, it would put a $100,000 annual strain on the county's budget, based on current expenses.

Because the fund-raising has been handled by county employees, and included events that used county resources, Reif said, she could use her authority to audit the account. So, the subpoena was issued, asking for bank statements, lists of assets, contracts, receipts, and other records.

In response, Welsh asked the head of the nonprofit Friends of the Chester County Sheriff's K-9 Unit if it would be willing to hand over some those records, according to Dawson R. Muth, solicitor for Welsh's office. Last week, staff from the Controller's Office began sifting through the first batch of the documents.

"She has nothing to hide. The sheriff has played by the rules for nine years, and now the controller wants to change the rules," Muth said. "This money was raised by fund-raisers  it's not secret, it's not hidden. And all of a sudden it's now subject to an audit by the county controller."

From about 2009 onward, employees in the Sheriff's Office seemed to be managing those finances, according to Reif. An initial review of the documents Welsh produced shows that members of her staff had signing authority, and that all checks and statements were mailed to her office in West Chester.

Still, Welsh said, the people managing the account don't report to her directly. She added that they began the process of forming a nonprofit to handle the fund-raising process about a year ago.

In February, the Friends of the Chester County Sheriff's K-9 Unit registered with the Department of State and was granted nonprofit status a few months later. State records list Brad DeSando as the incorporator. DeSando is a corporal in the Sheriff's Office.

The K-9 unit was formed in 2006, with grant money helping to acquire two bomb-sniffing dogs. Despite being initially "unsuccessful," according to Welsh, the unit grew in reputation and acclaim, winning national awards in 2016 for cadaver recovery and narcotics detection.

Today, the unit has nine active dogs, with three more in training. It's the largest K-9 unit in the region operated by a sheriff's office. Most, including Philadelphia's, have no more than three dogs.

Welsh says the size of her office's unit has more to do with a declining trend in local K-9 units in Chester County. Her office's dogs support 57 law enforcement agencies, of which only two, police at Lincoln and West Chester Universities, have dogs. The K-9 unit, she said, fields about 100 requests a year from different agencies.

In 2016, the county organized a K-9 training academy, with members of the unit providing services to other law enforcement agencies in the region. The academy, the only one of its kind in the Philadelphia area, is a source of income for the county, according to Welsh. But she noted that the revenue goes into the general fund, not back to her unit.

"I'm extremely proud of this K-9 unit and its development over the last few years," Welsh said. "You cannot measure the value of these dogs."Jim Reis looks through his collection of historical deeds. Read more

In his 45 years as a real estate broker, James J. Reis has developed a keen eye for undervalued treasures.

Not the bricks-and-mortar variety, but paper: yellowed, wrinkled, torn, stained, and steeped in so much American history that a single sheet might bring thousands at auction.

Reis, 73, is a collector extraordinaire of old local deeds, having amassed a trove of 2,000 documents in which every neighborhood in Philadelphia, every township in the Pennsylvania suburbs and South Jersey is represented. But the collection's value doesn't lie in its size so much as the famed names and places that pop up in it.

There is a deed, on parchment, to George Washington's presidential mansion on Market Street near Sixth, and one to the house a block west where a 33-year-old Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence. There are deeds dotted with flattened red circles of stamped wax, the old-school way to seal a deal. There are deeds to grassy tracts with rocks and oak trees and, if the buyer was lucky, a clean stream. But depending on what those lands eventually became, and under whose ownership, seemingly mundane conveyances unfold into rich stories of a developing nation.

Reis, of Ambler, began collecting seriously in the late 1980s, when "all of a sudden, I started making money" in real estate, he said. "I always wanted a weird or unusual hobby."

He bought from manuscript dealers and in bulk at auctions, spending $6,000 in a single day at Freeman's. He scoured old bookstores, at one point picking up a collection stacked in boxes floor-to-ceiling at a West Chester shop. The deeds, plus sundry historic papers he found along the way, were an investment. But Reis was undeniably drawn to the characters living in them, and researched their names at the library of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

"What these represent," he said of the deeds, "is priceless."

Yet, they do indeed have a price. After devoting decades to the collection, Reis has decided to sell. It's the same old story: He's getting up in years. His kids aren't interested.

"I'm at a point, he said, "where I gotta get rid of them."

The first White House

On a recent July day, Reis laid out two pieces of priceless parchment for inspection.

"National," he said, holding up an index finger and pausing for dramatic effect. "National significance."

The two deeds belonged to the original White House, which was in Philadelphia when the city served as the new nation's first capital.

In May 1772, 36-year-old Richard Penn, grandson of William Penn, married 16-year-old Mary "Polly" Masters. Her mother gave them a 5-year-old, 3-story brick mansion at the corner of present-day Sixth and Market Streets  just in time for the young Penn, a British loyalist, to return to London in the summer of 1775. The Revolution ensued, and over the course of the conflict, the home saw many tenants, including traitor Benedict Arnold during the British occupation of Philadelphia.

In 1785, Penn sold the property through a lawyer to Robert Morris, the father of the United States financial system, who renovated and expanded the house and then leased it to George Washington. It served as Washington's executive mansion from 1790 to 1797, and was also occupied by John Adams until he moved into the current presidential digs in Washington in 1800.

Reis' two documents include the mother's surrender of the deed and the receipt for the "deed of the gift" to the newly married couple, both dated 1775.

Another gem leads to Thomas Jefferson  at least the red-brick home where he ensconced himself in two rented second-floor rooms in June 1776 to write the first draft of the Declaration of Independence.

Graff House, as it is now known, was first built in 1775 by bricklayer Jacob Graff (it was torn down but later rebuilt). He owned the structure, but the Physick family owned the tract and charged Graff a ground rent.

The land deed, dated 1804, is a conveyance of the ground rent to another Physick family member, who then collected the 85 1/3 Spanish dollars from subsequent building owners. The parchment was signed by Philip Syng Physick, often called the father of American surgery.

Reis also has a 1774 deed signed by a Continental Congress delegate conveying a swath of land that would eventually be occupied by the Philadelphia International Airport.

Among his other finds: a pro-Lincoln silk ribbon from the election of 1864; a colonial IOU note from Indian-fighter brothers; a bill of sale for the 125-acre farm that is now part of Valley Forge National Historical Park, and  perhaps his favorite acquisition  letters written by the colonial financier Morris to his children about his ascent to wealth and descent into debtor's prison.

Auction houses

Just how much can a deed fetch?

Reis says he has had some interest, mostly from academics and universities, genealogical societies and religious groups, but he scoffs at many of the offers. He claims to have sold one deed to a Quaker group for more than $10,000.

In 2012, Freeman's auction house in Center City sold a land patent, dated March 6, 1788, for 400 acres in Washington County. It was signed over to Revolutionary War hero Peter Muhlenberg, at the time the vice president of the Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, of which Benjamin Franklin was president.

Darren Winston, head of the Books, Maps & Manuscripts Department at Freeman's, said the value in otherwise run-of-the-mill deeds lies in the signatures.

"The value here, first and foremost, is Franklin," Winston said, "but that fact that it was Muhlenberg makes it a double-whammy."

The deed sold at auction for $12,000.

"You can drill down and look up what they were both doing at the time, what their council was doing," Winston said. "That's the historical part that's fun. Even if it's a nobody, it's fun."

Another document bearing Franklin's signature, a real estate indenture from May 1763, sold for $5,000 in 2004.

"People go and buy a box of 100 [deeds] with the hope of snagging someone as great as Franklin, and those people are often rewarded because there's a wealth of material," he said. " If you know what you're looking for, you can never stop collecting. And that's just Philadelphia."

Most deeds are printed on vellum, a fine parchment made from the skin of a calf or baby goat.

"It's kind of indestructible," Winston said.

But, as Reis learned, not waterproof.

Lesson learned

Reis was working in the real estate trust department at the former Girard Bank in the late 1980s when his boss, an elderly Jewish man, took a liking to the Irishman from Hunting Park. One day, he gave Reis a well-preserved real estate deed from 1850. Reis took it home and began tearing through encyclopedias in a vain attempt to piece together the story behind a Philadelphia man's deed to land in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Years later, after moving his business from Horsham to Ambler, he randomly decided to take the deed out of its frame.

"Every now and then, the building would flood," he said. "I had all of these documents on the floor, went to the Shore, and when I came back, they were soaked."

Among the 20 ruined were a few dating to the 1600s.

"I threw many of them out. I should have kept the Russian one," he said.

"The worst is, I didn't realize what it was until afterward," when Reis was watching a TV special about an innovative railroad system first laid out in St. Petersburg, Russia, by a Philadelphia engineer. That man's name had been on the discarded deed.

"It was the same guy," Reis said, shaking his head. "That's another reason why I want to get rid of these, so someone else can take care of them.  If you put these in the hands of the right person, it's found treasure."At left, Buzz Aldrin, on the Moon. At right, wooder ice, which has also been detected on the Moon. Read more

In what may be one small step for man  but one giant leap for Philadelphians  scientists announced this week that wooder ice has been discovered on the moon.

While this scientific breakthrough did not eclipse the Iggles' Super Bowl win when it comes to astronomical news in Philly this year, people across the region took to social media to celebrate.

The moon's wooder ice, which was incorrectly spelled "water ice" by the smarty-pants scientists who published their findings, was found at the north and south poles of the moon. According to a report from the BBC, the wooder ice is "likely to be ancient in origin," just like that guy in front of you in line at Rita's. Just pick a flavor already!

While the wooder ice has not been taste tested yet  it was detected by a spacecraft from India  we'd like to suggest this flavor be named in honor of Philly's most lunar-friendly section, Crescentville.

According to the BBC, the wooder ice on the moon might be able to be used for drinking or even rocket fuel in the future. We're pretty sure some of the wooder ice in Philly, at times, serves similar purposes now.

Given the discovery, we suggest Virgin Galactic and SpaceX prepare to be inundated wit requests from guys named Chalie who want to sign up to board their civilian space jawns in Iggles sweatpants to get the coldest wooder ice in the galaxy.

But those bouls better be broadcasting the game on board or Chalie ain't going, come hell or high wooder ice.Mayor Jim Kenney signs an executive order instituting a new policy aimed at creating a better environment for reporting sexual harassment at City Hall on Thursday, July 19, 2018. Read more

The City of Philadelphia spent at least $2.2 million to settle sexual misconduct claims in the last six years, though the city controller suspects that number could be much higher.

In an audit of the city's sexual harassment policies and payouts released Thursday, City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart also indicated that Philadelphia's current sexual harassment prevention policy is a "one-size-fits-all document that does not adequately meet the needs of its employees."

The controller found that supervisors have not been given thorough instructions about what to do if an employee reports sexual harassment, and dozens of city departments don't comply with sexual harassment policies, creating an environment that can stifle sexual harassment reporting and foster unequal discipline for harassers.

Overall, the current process for reporting sexual harassment is "opaque and complicated," and the procedures present a "significant potential for financial liability," the controller's audit found.

Officials from Mayor Kenney's administration say they've already taken steps to address the problems. Kenney signed an executive order Thursday instituting a new sexual harassment prevention policy that his administration claims will improve sexual misconduct reporting systems within city government.

The changes include a revamped training regimen, the addition of an electronic database for tracking claims, a new online form to file sexual harassment complaints, and a new investigatory oversight system.

Those changes don't address the controller's top recommendations outlined in the audit. Rhynhart said the city should create a "centralized" unit of personnel who would investigate all sexual harassment complaints across city government and codify a citywide discipline schedule to show how punishment should be doled out. The administration has not established either.

"What's being presented right now, to me, is not what eventually needs to happen," she said.

Kenney said Wednesday that the policy would be reviewed annually, and that his administration is committed to further implementing the recommendations.

Lawsuits, payouts, and elected officials

As part of the controller's audit, the city Law Department produced documents showing sexual harassment lawsuit settlement payouts between July 2012 and April 2018 totaled about $2.2 million. That includes a $1.25 million payment last year to settle a lawsuit bought by a former police officer who said a commander sexually assaulted her.

But auditors found the Law Department has "inadequate" internal systems meant to track litigation, making it nearly impossible for officials to identify all sexual misconduct cases.

Rhynhart said she "absolutely" believes the payout figure over six years is higher than $2.2 million.

In addition, Rhynhart's office opened a phone line for city employees to report issues related to sexual misconduct. Many of the incidents reported by callers through the phone line weren't in any documentation provided by the city, even though some of those callers indicated they had reported the allegations or filed formal complaints.

The Law Department provided the Controller's Office with 121 sexual misconduct case files spanning between July 2012 and April 2018. Of those cases, 63 were investigated and substantiated while 53 were deemed unsubstantiated. The controller did not audit the quality of those investigations.

But it did find that the city has no procedure for handling sexual misconduct allegations against elected officials, as was the case in November when multiple allegations of sexual harassment by Sheriff Jewell Williams surfaced. He has denied the allegations and remains in office.

The controller's audit found that earlier this year, Williams, as the head of his department, was the recipient of the final case file in a complaint lodged against him  and deemed "substantiated" by a city investigator  and was responsible for taking "appropriate measures."

The Kenney administration says its new sexual harassment policy applies only to executive branch employees, and it can't cover elected officials outside that scope.

Inconsistent handling of complaints and investigations

Currently, there are several ways for city employees to file sexual misconduct complaints, one of which is to go through the Employee Relations Unit (ERU) in the Mayor's Office of Labor Relations. Though, in most cases, sexual harassment complaints are dealt with at the departmental level.

The problem is, the processes for handling those complaints  as well as the discipline dispensed in response  aren't consistent across departments. For example, the audit found that several departments had suspended employees for having "inappropriate conversations" while another issued only a written warning for an employee found to have groped a coworker. It found several cases in which discipline was more severe for lower-level employees than for supervisors in the same department who'd committed similar infractions.

Monica Marchetti-Brock, director of the Mayor's Office of Labor Relations, said in the future, all complaints will go through the ERU, which will itself investigate only particularly "sensitive" matters. In most cases, that office will refer the complaint to the respective department's human resources officer and will then review the case after an investigation is complete. (The ERU is currently staffed by three employees tasked with reviewing employment-related complaints across city government, which employs roughly 30,000 people.)

Marchetti-Brock said the city hasn't standardized discipline across departments, as recommended by the controller.

"It's very hard to standardize discipline across departments," she said, "because there are different disciplinary matrices within each department and they are unionized employees."

The new sexual harassment policy doesn't include written guidelines for how supervisors should conduct such investigations, though Marchetti-Brock said the city hopes to standardize the process through improved training of supervisors and managers. It's unclear how that process will be reconciled in departments that already have ingrained investigatory methods like, for example, the Police Department, which runs investigations through its Internal Affairs branch.

The city will also roll out a new case management database, making it easier to track complaints over time.

Will the training system be improved?

The controller also probed how often sexual harassment training has occurred. Under current city policy, supervisors are required to undergo sexual harassment training. But auditors found that more than 70 percent of employees working in a human resources capacity  the people responsible for overseeing sexual harassment complaints  either had never been trained or had "noncurrent" training.

In May, Philadelphia voters approved a ballot measure to require all city employees to receive sexual harassment training every three years.

City officials say they're revising policies and developing new training materials in addition to increasing the regularity of training. Administration officials said all supervisors and managers will receive instructor-led training beginning in January, and by spring of next year, it will implement an online training module for all employees with access to a city computer.

Some experts say all sexual harassment training should be in-person. Chief Administrative Officer Christine Derenick-Lopez said the city is choosing to train some employees online because "it's about reach."

"We want to get the information out to employees as quickly as possible, and the best way to do that is to leverage technology," she said, adding that "doesn't mean that there's not going to be some in-person training" in addition.

Chief of Staff Jane Slusser said the city expects to train all employees  whether that's in-person or online  by the end of next year. The training for rank-and-file employees is expected to be tailored by department and will address reporting procedures, in addition to bystander intervention and LGBTQ sensitivity.For many months, President Trump, his White House staff, and his personal attorneys, Michael Cohen and Rudy Giuliani, repeatedly made false, misleading, and contradictory statements about illegal payments that were made during the 2016 campaign to silence two women who claimed to have extramarital affairs with Trump.

The string of falsehoods and misrepresentations was exposed on Aug. 21, when Cohen admitted that he arranged  "at the direction of" Trump  payments totaling $280,000 to the women.

Cohen admitted to paying $130,000 in hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, and to receiving $420,000 from the Trump Organization to reimburse him for the payment, plus expenses and a bonus.

In addition, Cohen admitted to "causing" another corporation  believed to be American Media Inc., owner of the National Enquirer  to pay $150,000 to Playboy model Karen McDougal. In exchange, AMI received the rights to her story of an extramarital affair with Trump with the express purpose of killing McDougal's story and preventing it from influencing the election, according to the plea agreement.

Cohen pleaded guilty to two campaign finance law violations. Under federal law, individuals such as Cohen cannot make a contribution that exceeds $2,700 per election, and corporations, such as the Trump Organization and AMI, cannot make campaign contributions.

Below are two timelines that record the false, misleading and contradictory statements made by Trump, Cohen, Giuliani, and others about the payments to Daniels and McDougal.

The timelines show, for example:

Trump denied knowing anything about the payment to Daniels, answering "no, no  what else?" when asked on April 5 if he knew about the $130,000 payment to Daniels.

Cohen lied when, on Feb. 13, he claimed he paid Daniels using his own funds and was not reimbursed. He falsely said, "Neither the Trump Organization nor the Trump campaign was a party to the transaction with Ms. Clifford," Daniels' real name.

Trump and Giuliani falsely claimed that Cohen was reimbursed by Trump, not the Trump Organization or the campaign, and that the payments were drawn from a legal retainer that wealthy clients typically have with lawyers. The Justice Department said that "there was no such retainer agreement."

When asked about the $150,000 payment AMI made to McDougal, Trump campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks told the Wall Street Journal on Nov. 4, 2016: "We have no knowledge of any of this."

A White House spokesperson in February dismissed a New Yorker story about Trump, McDougal and AMI as "fake news."

We start with the $130,000 payment to Daniels, a story that was first reported by the Wall Street Journal at the start of this year.

Stormy Daniels

Jan. 12  The Wall Street Journal writes that Michael Cohen arranged a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels. The White House, Cohen, and Daniels  in a statement put out by Cohen on behalf of Daniels  all deny the affair and/or hush money.

"These are old, recycled reports, which were published and strongly denied prior to the election," the White House says in a statement to the Journal.

"Rumors that I have received hush money from Donald Trump are completely false," Daniels says in a statement released by Cohen. "If indeed I did have a relationship with Donald Trump, trust me, you wouldn't be reading about it in the news, you would be reading about it in my book." (Daniels would later deny that she signed the statement.)

"These rumors have circulated time and again since 2011. President Trump once again vehemently denies any such occurrence, as has Ms. Daniels," Cohen tells the Washington Post.

Jan. 18  Deputy press secretary Raj Shah aboard Air Force One tells the press that questions about the payment to Daniels were "answered during the campaign."

Reporter: Shah: Reporter: Shah:  This is an issue that hasnt really gotten much attention amidst everything else, but nonetheless, this woman named Stephanie Clifford, goes by the name Stormy Daniels, she says that she had an affair with the president. She spoke on record about it to a magazine. They say that she took a polygraph test. What is the presidents response to her allegations?

Jan. 30  Appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Daniels denies signing a statement put out by Cohen on Jan. 12 in which she said she did not receive "hush money" from Trump. "That does not look like my signature, does it?" Daniels says. "I do not know where it came from."

Feb. 13  Cohen issues a statement to the New York Times claiming that he paid Daniels and falsely saying he was not reimbursed by the Trump Organization.

"Neither the Trump Organization nor the Trump campaign was a party to the transaction with Ms. Clifford, and neither reimbursed me for the payment, either directly or indirectly," Cohen's statement says. "The payment to Ms. Clifford was lawful, and was not a campaign contribution or a campaign expenditure by anyone."

March 7  At a press briefing, a reporter asks White House press secretary Sarah Sanders "did the president approve of the payment" to Daniels, and Sanders says that the president "made very well clear that none of these allegations are true."

Reporter: Sanders: Reporter: Sanders: Reporter: Sanders: Reporter: Sanders:  Sarah, youve said repeatedly that weve addressed our feelings on that situation, in regards to the Stormy Daniels payment. But specifically, can I ask, did the president approve of the payment that was made in October of 2016 by his longtime lawyer and advisor, Michael Cohen?

March 26  A day after Daniels appeared on CBS' 60 Minutes to discuss her alleged affair with Trump, the White House deputy press secretary says that "the president strongly, clearly, and has consistently denied these underlying claims."

Reporter: Shah: Reporter: Shah:  Thanks, Raj. One more for you just on the Stormy Daniels incident. Im sure my colleagues have more questions on that. Could you state, categorically, that the president, his campaign, and the Trump Organization did not violate federal law  specifically, election law  regarding that payment?

April 5  In a brief exchange with reporters on Air Force One, Trump denies knowing about the payment to Daniels:

Reporter: Trump: Reporter: Trump: Reporter: Trump:  Mr. President, did you know about the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels?

April 9  The FBI executes a search warrant at Cohen's home, office and hotel room.

April 26  In an interview on Fox & Friends, Trump says Cohen  whom he refers to as a "good guy"  handles a "tiny, tiny little fraction" of his overall legal work. Trump says Cohen represented him on the "crazy Stormy Daniels deal," but the president goes on to falsely claim that Cohen did "absolutely nothing wrong" because the payment wasn't made by campaign funds. (In a previous story, we explain why it could still be a campaign violation even if campaign funds were not used. Federal law states that a personal loan or "anything of value made by any person for the purpose of influencing any election for Federal office is a contribution," whether or not it is repaid.)

Steve Doocy: Mr. President, how much of your legal work was handled by Michael Cohen? Trump:  Well, as a percentage of my overall legal work a tiny, tiny little fraction. But Michael would represent me and represents me on some things  he represents me, like with this crazy Stormy Daniels deal. He represented me and you know from what I see he did absolutely nothing wrong. There were no campaign funds going into this  which would have been a problem.

May 2  In an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity, Giuliani discloses for the first time that Trump repaid Cohen, but makes the false claim that the payment was "perfectly legal" because campaign funds weren't used. He also claims the president "didn't know about the specifics" of the payment.

Giuliani: Hannity: Giuliani: Hannity: Giuliani:  That money was not campaign money. Sorry, Im giving you a fact now that you dont know. Its not campaign money. No campaign finance violation.

Hannity later in the interview asks if Trump knew about the payment.

Hannity: Giuliani:  Do you, the president didnt know about this?

(Giuliani's full remarks about the $130,000 payment begin at the 11-minute mark of the video.)

After the Hannity interview, Giuliani falsely tells the Washington Post later that night that Trump reimbursed Cohen through a $35,000 monthly retainer, beginning in January or February 2017. "The repayments took place over a period of time, probably in 2017, probably all paid back by the end of 2017," Giuliani says. (Giuliani's claim about the legal retainer is false. In announcing the plea agreement with Cohen, the Department of Justice would later say, "In truth and in fact, there was no such retainer agreement, and the monthly invoices COHEN submitted were not in connection with any legal services he had provided in 2017.")

May 3  Trump tweets that the payment to Daniels had "nothing to do with the campaign," (contrary to Cohen's subsequent guilty plea statement), and falsely claims Cohen "received a monthly retainer."

Mr. Cohen, an attorney, received a monthly retainer, not from the campaign and having nothing to do with the campaign, from which he entered into, through reimbursement, a private contract between two parties, known as a non-disclosure agreement, or NDA. These agreements are.....

...very common among celebrities and people of wealth. In this case it is in full force and effect and will be used in Arbitration for damages against Ms. Clifford (Daniels). The agreement was used to stop the false and extortionist accusations made by her about an affair,......

...despite already having signed a detailed letter admitting that there was no affair. Prior to its violation by Ms. Clifford and her attorney, this was a private agreement. Money from the campaign, or campaign contributions, played no roll in this transaction.

Sanders, the White House press secretary, is asked at a press briefing why Trump "was not truthful with the American people" when the president on April 5 denied knowing anything about the Daniels payment or where the money came from. Sanders says that "the president didn't know at the time, but eventually learned" about the payment.

Reporter: Sanders:  And secondly, on another topic in the news today. Can you explain why the president, when he spoke  when he answered questions from reporters a few weeks ago about the $130,000 payment from Michael Cohen to Stormy Daniels, why the president was not truthful with the American people and with the people in this room?

May 4  In remarks to reporters, Trump falsely denies that he changed his story about payments made to Stormy Daniels. Specifically, he tells reporters to "go take a look at what we said" on April 5  which is when the president denied knowing anything about the payment or where the money came from.

Reporter: Trump: Reporter: Trump: Reporter: Trump: Reporter: Trump:  Mr. President, why did you change your story on Stormy Daniels?

Aug. 21  Cohen admits in open court that he made a $130,000 payment to Daniels "at the direction" of Trump without mentioning Daniels or Trump by name. He pleads guilty to campaign finance violations, telling the judge that illegal payments were made to two women "for the purpose of influencing the election." Cohen's attorney would later confirmthat the payments were made to Daniels and McDougal at Trump's direction.

Cohen:  With and at the direction of the same candidate, I arranged to make a payment to a second individual to keep the individual from disclosing the information. I used a company under my control to make a payment of $130,000 later repaid to me by the candidate. I participated in this conduct for the purpose of influencing the election.

Aug. 22  Trump tweets that Cohen has decided to "make up stories in order to get a 'deal'" with federal prosecutors. He falsely claims that the two campaign finance violations "are not a crime." Cohen admitted to paying or causing payments totaling $280,000 to keep two women silent during the campaign and being repaid for one of the payments by the Trump Organization. Under federal law, individuals such as Cohen cannot make a contribution that exceeds $2,700 per election, and corporations, such as the Trump Organization, cannot make campaign contributions.

In an excerpt of an interview with Fox News, Fox & Friends co-host Ainsley Earhardt asks the president if he knew about the payments to Daniels and McDougal. "Later on I knew. Later on," he says, without saying exactly when. He goes on, again, to falsely claim that there was no campaign finance law violation because the payments were not made by the campaign.

Karen McDougal

Nov. 4, 2016  The Wall Street Journal publishes a story saying, "The company that owns the National Enquirer, a backer of Donald Trump, agreed to pay $150,000 to a former Playboy centerfold model for her story of an affair a decade ago with the Republican presidential nominee, but then didn't publish it, according to documents reviewed by The Wall Street Journal and people familiar with the matter." The Journal reports that Karen McDougal signed the agreement with American Media Inc. in August 2016.

Trump campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks tells the Journal: "We have no knowledge of any of this." She says, according to the newspaper, that the claim of an affair between McDougal and Trump was "totally untrue."

AMI, whose chairman and CEO, David J. Pecker, is friends with Trump, denies that this was an instance of "catch and kill"  paying for the exclusive rights to a story with no intention of publishing it. "AMI has not paid people to kill damaging stories about Mr. Trump," the company says in a statement to the Journal.

Feb. 16, 2018  The New Yorker publishes a story on McDougal's alleged affair with Trump in 2006 and 2007 and the contract with AMI. A White House spokesperson tells the magazine: "This is an old story that is just more fake news. The President says he never had a relationship with McDougal."

July 23  In a press briefing, a reporter asks if the president still denied that he had a relationship with McDougal. Press secretary Sarah Sanders says, "Once again, the president maintains that he's done nothing wrong, and I would refer you to Rudy Giuliani for all questions on that matter."

July 24  CNN obtains an audio recording from Cohen's attorney, Lanny Davis, of Cohen and Trump discussing the payment to McDougal in September 2016. "I need to open up a company for the transfer of all of that info regarding our friend David [Pecker]," Cohen says in the recording. The two men discuss arranging a payment. "We'll have to pay," Cohen says, and Trump seems to say, "pay with cash," though the recording is muddled.

Aug. 21  Cohen pleads guilty to tax evasion and campaign finance violations in federal court. Cohen says in court: "On or about the summer of 2016, in coordination with, and at the direction of, a candidate for federal office, I and the CEO of a media company at the request of the candidate worked together to keep an individual with information that would be harmful to the candidate and to the campaign from publicly disclosing this information  under which she received compensation of $150,000."

The Department of Justice press release on the plea says that in August 2015 Cohen and "one or more members of the [Trump] campaign" were involved in an offer by "the Chairman and Chief Executive of Corporation-1, a media company that owns, among other things, a popular tabloid magazine" to "help deal with negative stories about Individual-1's relationships with women by, among other things, assisting the campaign in identifying such stories so they could be purchased and their publication avoided."

The press release says that in June 2016 "Woman-1," who is McDougal, attempted to sell her story of an affair. "At COHEN's urging and subject to COHEN's promise that Corporation-1 would be reimbursed, Editor-1 ultimately began negotiating for the purchase of the story," the DOJ release says. The agreement with McDougal was struck on Aug. 5, 2016.Operators in the city's 911 call center, located in the police administration building (aka The Roundhouse), take calls in November 2015. The Kenney Administration did not allow the renovated call center to be photographed. CLEM MURRAY / FILE Read more

When Mayor Kenney came into office in 2016, he killed a Nutter administration plan to consolidate Philadelphia's 911 police and fire emergency dispatch centers under one roof in South Philadelphia.

In doing so, Kenney found $40 million that had been saved for the project. That was in addition to $34 million the city was already receiving annually from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) 911 fund  revenue collected statewide from anyone who has a landline or cellphone. The city had more money than it could spend.

"PEMA doesn't want us sitting on money," said Mark Wheeler, the city's interim chief information officer. "They made it very clear."

The Kenney administration had its own idea: moving the police and fire dispatch centers into a new police headquarters at Broad and Callowhill Streets.

But because the move to the new headquarters won't happen until 2020, the city used its 911 grant to cover payroll costs for emergency dispatchers, then used general fund money that would have paid them to purchase other things, including unrelated information technology.

Shifting the money Philadelphia receives from PEMA is allowed under the state agency's guidelines. But some question whether it's the wisest use for money that is meant for emergency services. Philadelphia's 911 system is currently split between two old buildings, and dispatchers say they are short-staffed.

Instead of addressing those issues, the Office of Innovation and Technology devised a plan that would allow it to use about $38 million over five years to pay for some pet projects: Cloud-based Office 365, a street-view mapping system called Cyclomedia, and two-way radios that are no longer eligible for state 911 aid.

Chris Donato, chief finance officer for the technology office, emailed city finance officials in January 2017 to "ensure we are on the same page about how to make this happen 'behind the scenes' with respect to budget appropriations and transfers." He attached a chart to the Jan. 6, 2017, email, obtained by the Inquirer and Daily News, that showed a five-year plan to spend an extra $38 million from "Net 911 revenue available to fund other needs" on OIT's projects and calling the plan a "Swap mechanism."

Budget director Anna Adams said the swapping of funds is a common practice. "It's just about maximizing the grant," she said.

The city says its cost for 911 personnel is $35 million including salaries, overtime and benefits, all of which are eligible for PEMA funding. In previous years, it had used about $13 million of 911 funding for payroll, and the rest of the personnel cost was covered by the general fund. Starting in fiscal year 2017, the city used $23 million of 911 money for personnel, giving it more than $10 million as a cushion for two-way radios and other technology pet projects.

The Office of Innovation and Technology's former chief operating officer and integrity officer said he saw that as a pass-through of 911 funds to pay for non-911 items.

"I had concerns.  To me it doesn't pass the sniff test," said Jim White, who retired in December. "They used this money for Office 365. I know that. And then it went on from there."

More than $2 million was used in fiscal year 2017 to upgrade the city to cloud-based Office 365, and the plan was for $15 million to be used over five years for the program via the "swap mechanism," noted in the administration's chart. Also, $2.25 million was planned for Cyclomedia and $20 million for the two-way radios over five years.

PEMA spokeswoman Ruth Miller said that the agency is still reviewing all counties' 911 expenses from 2017. Reimbursing the general fund for 911 payroll is acceptable, per PEMA funding guidelines.

Frank Halbherr, the AFSCME District Council 33 union representative for city police and fire dispatchers, said he didn't know there was a surplus left over from the Nutter administration.

"I'm surprised you are telling me there is a surplus of funds given the staffing levels," Halbherr said. "I think there needs to be an increase in staffing. And I've been told numerous times the funds aren't there for it."

Currently there are about 270 police dispatchers, but Halbherr said management has told him the appropriate level of staffing would be 335 dispatchers. On the fire side, there are about 70 dispatchers, and Halbherr said the department also could use more staff. Both sets of dispatchers are on mandatory overtime.

Kenney spokesman Mike Dunn said that the police unit that oversees dispatchers requested more staffing for the fiscal 2019 budget. The administration declined.

The state increased 911 fees from $1 to $1.65 monthly for every phone line in 2015 in order to help counties move to modern 911 technology that allows people to text and eventually use Facetime with dispatchers.

In 2015, the 911 police dispatch area was in desperate need of an upgrade, with water stains on the ceiling and desks and computers so old that replacement parts were no longer available.

The Kenney administration used some of the 911 money to gut the police emergency call center and install new equipment. Text capability is currently being rolled out.

"It would make no sense to do anything but basic maintenance to the current 911 centers, since we were definitely moving," Dunn said. "Once we reach that point, we will use 911 funds towards the new call center."

The city will end fiscal year 2018 with a $29 million surplus in its 911 funding.President Donald Trump arrives to award the Medal of Honor posthumously to Air Force Tech. Sgt. John A. Chapman, for conspicuous gallantry during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018. Read more

In South Jersey, Andy Kim tweeted about climate change. In the Lehigh Valley, Susan Wild touted an endorsement from former Vice President Joe Biden. And in Bucks County, Scott Wallace declared it a "bad day for Americans who had hoped for ethical government and drained swamps."

The admission in federal court Tuesday by Michael Cohen, President Trump's longtime former lawyer, that Trump directed him to violate campaign-finance laws in 2016 delivered the biggest political blow yet to the White House.

Tack on the criminal conviction of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and the indictment of a Republican congressman, and Tuesday was a low-water mark for Republicans.

But even as talk of possible impeachment is ramping up in Washington, Democrats running in competitive districts, in the Philadelphia area and elsewhere, are avoiding that controversial word.

Party leaders see an opening to brand Trump and his Republican allies in Congress as corrupt, but they are wary of overreaching and possibly alienating voters in swing districts with an explicit appeal to removing the president from office.

To take control of the U.S. House, Democrats need a net gain of nearly two dozen seats. Some of the most competitive are in the Philadelphia metropolitan area.

Some in the party's progressive base are demanding bolder action. Liberal billionaire Tom Steyer, who has spent tens of millions of dollars on an effort to impeach Trump, has reserved more advertising time in light of Tuesday's news. "We're going to do everything we can to make impeachment an issue in this campaign," said Kevin Mack, lead strategist for the Steyer group Need to Impeach.

Kim, a former adviser to President Barack Obama who's running against GOP Rep. Tom MacArthur in New Jersey's Third District, "supports protecting" special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, a spokesperson said in response to questions about impeachment.

"Once we see the result of the Special Counsel's report, then we can discuss appropriate next steps," spokesperson Forrest Rilling said.

A spokesperson for Wild, who is running against Republican Marty Nothstein for an open seat in Pennsylvania's Seventh District, an area previously represented by Republican Charlie Dent, didn't respond to a request for comment.

Wallace, who is challenging Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick in Pennsylvania's First District, said in a statement that it was "imperative for Congress to give" Mueller the tools to "complete his investigation unimpeded."

The Wallace campaign on Tuesday started running Facebook ads pledging to be transparent in Congress and denouncing "the rampant corruption going on in Washington."

"You shouldn't even be talking about impeachment until Mueller does his report, and you know you have grounds for it," said Bob Shrum, a former longtime Democratic consultant who was chief strategist to John Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign. "You should be talking about protecting Mueller, the culture of corruption which appears to go pretty far beyond Trump, and these basic bread-and-butter issues that people care about" like health care.

Shrum and other Democrats said the political moment was reminiscent of the 2006 midterm campaign, when anger with the Bush administration's war in Iraq, botched response to Hurricane Katrina, and corruption scandals tarnished the GOP brand, resulting in a Democratic takeover of the House.

But the party doesn't want to push its luck.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) warned Trump not to pardon his associates, and also argued the convictions were grounds to delay confirmation hearings for the president's Supreme Court nominee, Judge Brett Kavanaugh.

And the House Democratic leader, Nancy Pelosi, told the Associated Press that if Democrats win control of the chamber, they should conduct oversight and ensure Mueller can complete his investigation. Impeachment, she said, was "not a priority on the agenda going forward unless something else comes forward."

For his part, Trump on Wednesday accused Cohen of lying to prosecutors "in order to get a deal."

Nevertheless, an anticorruption message is taking shape. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren unveiled measures to ban former members of Congress from lobbying and to bar lawmakers from owning individual stocks.

The Trump era has "given our country its most nakedly corrupt leadership of our lifetimes," Warren, a Trump foe and possible presidential candidate in 2020, wrote on Twitter on Wednesday. "But they didn't cause the rot  they're just the biggest, stinkiest example of it."

The issue isn't going away. Manafort, who was convicted on charges of financial fraud Tuesday, faces another trial next month on separate charges stemming from Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

That inquiry is ongoing and could well produce more indictments before the November elections.

"It is a real issue for the Republicans to defend," said Rep. Brendan Boyle, a Philadelphia Democrat, referring to Tuesday's convictions and other criminal cases that have ensnared Trump allies.

But as he campaigns for Democrats in tight races around the country, Boyle said, he will "primarily talk about the ways in which I believe working Americans are completely being shafted by Republican one-party rule in Washington."

Mike DuHaime, a Republican strategist, said impeachment will be a campaign issue "whether Democrats try to make it one or not, because this seems to be in the news on a near-daily basis."

"Democrats should be careful not to overreach on this," he said. "If they are seen as trying to overturn the election of 2016 without sufficient justification, the voters could push back on it, like they did in 1998 when Republicans voted" to impeach Bill Clinton.

Former Trump strategist Steve Bannon has tried to frame the midterm campaign as a referendum on impeachment. "This other side, they're very motivated  and they're motivated for one thing: They want to impeach Donald Trump," Bannon told Politico last week.

One race where Democrats may want to avoid a corruption debate: the New Jersey Senate campaign, where Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez is running against Republican Bob Hugin.

A Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday found Menendez holding on to a slim lead in the blue state. Regarding corruption charges that were ultimately dropped against the senator, 49 percent of respondents said they believed he was involved in "serious wrongdoing," including a plurality of Democrats. Just 16 percent of voters said he was not involved in serious wrongdoing. The poll found that ethics in government was the most important issue for voters in that race.

Hugin has already spent millions of dollars on ads branding Menendez as corrupt; the senator rolled out his first ad this week.

Menendez, filmed walking in his hometown of Union City, contrasted himself with the former pharmaceutical executive: "I'm standing up to Donald Trump. He donated hundreds of thousands to him."Members of the Traveling Muslimahs, a travel group of Muslim women, at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emeriates in April 2018. Read more

Yes, Muslim women do have fun.

The notion that they don't, that their faith dictates a nearly cloistered life, was a stereotype that Munazza Muhammad set out to challenge. But the Philadelphia day-care center operator never dreamed it would land her atop a donkey wobbling up a Mexican mountain in the company of eight intrepid Traveling Muslimahs. By day's end, the women  wearing lightweight, form-fitting "burkinis" that covered all but their faces, hands and feet  rappelled down a waterfall, went for joyrides on a tortuous water slide in a forest, and ziplined, four times, through the trees.

A travel club for Muslim women who want to see the world, the Muslimahs had booked an obstacle-course tour in Puerto Vallarta that turned out to be not for the timid. "There were real tears shed," said Muhammad, 35.

But they survived the adventure and, when it was over, celebrated their accomplishment, flashing the arm-crossing Wakanda salute from the movie Black Panther.

Founded by Muhammad in June 2017, the Traveling Muslimahs  from an Arabic term for Muslim women  has about 60 active members, ages 35 to 65. Among them are teachers, a chef, an accountant, and nurses, and although most are from the Philadelphia area, some live as far afield as Mississippi and California. What they share is a desire to travel without having to set aside their faith because it is inconvenient, or to be branded a killjoy when they opt out of activities with non-Muslim companions. Without fail, they pray five times a day. They do not go bar-hopping or nightclubbing.

In Muslim culture, "it's not common for women to just travel by themselves," said Khadijah Rashid, 40, a coordinator at the International Museum of Muslim Cultures in Jackson, Miss. "The world is a big, bad, scary place, and women are encouraged to have a responsible male in the family to protect [them].  But now we live in a modern world."

Trip by trip, the Muslimahs are seeing it, often decked out in color-coordinated and themed hijabs, or head coverings, and overgarments. They have ridden camels in the United Arab Emirates, shopped at spice markets in Morocco, skied in Vermont, and visited mosques in Spain.

"The media portrays us like we're just in the home, that we don't really have fun," said Muhammad, who operates the Creative Touch Learning Center in Nicetown. "We want to show the world there is more to us than being a wife and mother. We travel and explore."

The idea for the Traveling Muslimahs (initially called Philly Traveling Muslimahs) came to Muhammad after making Umrah, a minor pilgrimage to Mecca. She posted pictures on social media and the response was immediate, with many posters chatting excitedly about their own travel dreams. She began thinking that perhaps she had uncovered an entrepreneurial niche that she could fill.

"I had heard of black travel groups, women's travel groups, and Muslim travel companies, but nothing that catered to Muslim women," Muhammad said.

Soon, she was planning their first trip, a ski vacation in Vermont.

Muhammad charges an annual fee of $99.99, or $9.99 a month, and handles all travel arrangements; the cost of a trip typically ranges from $500 to $3,000, everything included. Members also accumulate points that can help defray part of the expense of making Umrah or Hajj, the trip to Mecca that is one of the five pillars of the faith and an obligation for all able-bodied Muslims. Hajj ended Friday in Saudi Arabia.

>>READ MORE: Philly area Muslim students memorize Quran

>>READ MORE: Muslims look for new moon for start of Ramadan

Rashid and friend Kameelah Wilkerson of Altadena, Calif., traveled with the group for the first time on a recent trip to Morocco and Spain. Noting that accommodation for Muslim tradition is rare in Mississippi (she once had to pray in a closet for privacy), Rashid said she appreciates the respect given to faith practices by the Traveling Muslimahs.

"Everything is laid out. You know where the prayer areas are. The tour guides are Muslim. The food was all halal," adhering to Islamic law, she said. "Your values are understood and known before you even show up."

Members must sign a contract in which they pledge to get along with others, making them free of "fitnah," an Arabic term used to describe forces that cause controversy or chaos. If the pledge is violated, the member could be expelled.

"This is a religion of peace. People are watching us, and we want to demonstrate the best of character," Muhammad said. "If you cause drama, you could be expelled. We don't tolerate that."

So far, one Muslimah has been suspended, but has returned on a probationary period, Muhammad said.

Zakirah Thomas of Northeast Philadelphia joined the group partly to find connection. She converted to Islam about five years ago, and is one of the few Muslims in a family of Catholics.

"Because I'm single, I'm always looking for something to do  to be able to travel, go out or have dinner, and interact with other Muslims outside of the [mosque]," said Thomas, 37, an analyst for a pharmaceutical company. "This group allows you to build sisterhood."

The club also supports the charitable efforts of members' projects on behalf of autism awareness and feeding the homeless.

Next up for the group, Thailand and South Africa.

"We are reinforcing that you can be unique and special in your garb and don't have to conform to society," Muhammad said. "You can be your unique self and be accepted. We are breaking the stereotype just by showing up."Following last week's revelations about decades of sex abuse and cover-ups in Pennsylvania dioceses, my colleagues have created a search tool that allows you to look through years of assignments of accused clergy. The thousands of records are organized by location and priest, and include assignments in Philadelphia. In other news, since this week's revelations about former Trump insiders Michael Cohen and Paul Manafort, the word "impeachment" has been floating around Washington  but decidedly not on the lips of certain Democrats in our region.

Reading this online? Sign up here to get this newsletter delivered to your inbox every morning.

 Aubrey Nagle (@aubsn, morningnewsletter@philly.com)

The grand jury report released last week on sexual abuse and cover-ups in Pennsylvania Catholic dioceses included the assignment histories of 250 accused clergy. Now you can use our database to search for the assignments by priest or by parish.

Faith communities are still reacting to the news. The leader of the Knights of Columbus released a public letter Wednesday calling for a "full accounting" of any crimes and cover-ups.

Following news contained in the grand jury report, one Luzerne County town is grappling with a street named after an allegedly abusive priest.

On Tuesday, President Trumps former lawyer pleaded guilty to eight criminal counts, including two campaign finance violations in which the president was implicated as a co-conspirator. Meanwhile, Trumps former campaign chairman was convicted of tax and bank fraud.

The news spurred talks of impeachment in Washington. But Democrats in competitive districts, including our region, are avoiding the controversial word. Instead, they're focused on weeding out corruption and protecting special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation in an effort to overtake the U.S. House.

Ride-share apps Uber and Lyft have exploded in Philadelphia over the past few years. The ride-share providers say theyve increased mobility for the underserved and even helped reduce drunk driving.

Critics, on the other hand, blame them for hurting public transit ridership and making street congestion even worse.

Similar concerns drove New York City to put a limit on ride-share vehicles operating in the city. And Pennsylvania lawmakers are watching closely.

What you need to know today

Through Your Eyes | #OurPhilly

It's a little spooky, huh, @carlin_dixon?

Tag your Instagram posts or tweets with #OurPhilly and we'll pick our favorite each day to feature in this newsletter and give you a shout out!

Thats Interesting

Opinions

"When Lanny Davis dangles hints about all the dirt that Cohen knows about, he's not just sending a message to Bob Mueller. He's also sending a message to Donald Trump."  Columnist Will Bunch on what Michael Cohen knows and whether it will impact Trumps presidency.

If the Land and Water Conservation Fund is allowed to expire thousands of public spaces will be at risk, writes U.S. Navy Reserves lieutenant Arielle Griffin.

Nothing divides the country more effectively than race, and in America, your truth depends on the color of your skin, writes columnist Solomon Jones.

What were reading

Your Daily Dose of | Adventure

A social media post inspired a Philadelphia day-care operator to launch a travel club for Muslim women. One year later she found herself atop a donkey wobbling up a Mexican mountain in the company of nine Traveling Muslimahs.An electric scooter from Lime, one of several companies crowding into cities around the country, often without permission. Read more

Nobody wants to feel like Philly is losing the race to have all the modern amenities of a big city. We deserve protected bike lanes and a reliable transit system to be proud of.

That certainly does not mean we need to put blinders on and allow dockless bikes and scooters to be dumped here in the name of progress.

Dockless companies operate on an ask-for-forgiveness-over-permission model, taking advantage of a city's lack of regulations. Philadelphia City Council seems to be taking precautionary steps to protect us from an onslaught of dockless scooters as seen in cities like Louisville and Indianapolis.

Perhaps City Council learned a lesson from the Wild West-style atmosphere rideshare companies Lyft and Uber brought to the city. Uber recently revealed their own fleet of dockless scooters.

The dockless scooters can be left anywhere and the interpretation of that freedom spawned an Instagram account depicting many unique drop-off locations that will leave you scratching your head as well as acts of senseless destruction. Images of scooters lit on fire and defecated on are just a few of the terrible things people do to dockless bikes and scooters. This begs the question, is humanity ready for this level of responsibility? Seems like we aren't.

There's also the tremendous waste of materials when these companies decide to pull out of town like China-based company Ofo did with its fleet of dockless bikes after a short lived pilot in Camden came to an untimely end.

Ofo rolled out to the greatest fanfare with the mayor even getting on one of the bikes for an inaugural ride. Bicycle advocates lined up to sing Ofo's praise. It seemed like the right move for a city on the rise, but only a couple months after the fleet arrived, Ofo is trying to donate their bikes wherever they can and scrapping the rest of their fleet as fast as possible. This isn't unique to bikes. Enormous piles of scrapped dockless scooters are well documented on the internet.

The scooters and bikes aren't always where their app says they are either. I tried to find an Ofo bike earlier this summer, and despite the app saying there was one right in front of me, there was not. The only Ofo bike I found was behind a police building on North 10th Street. It had been impounded by Camden County Police for an unknown reason. The Bicycle Coalition of Philadelphia described similar scenarios in a blog post on July 23.

These modes of transportation are sometimes labeled a "last mile" option meaning they complete the final leg of a commute between a transit stop and destination. However, rollouts of dockless scooters generally take place in city centers and adjacent areas, leaving the outlying neighborhoods, which would likely benefit the most from inexpensive transit options, without immediate access. It seems unlikely that a dockless scooter company would choose to roll out its fleet around Olney or Frankford Transportation Centers over Center City.

Dockless scooters do nothing to progress the mayor's Vision Zero Plan or his campaign proposal to have 30 miles of protected bike lanes as there is no requirement for the city or company to upgrade infrastructure. Good luck dodging those monster craters on a flimsy electric scooter.

Expect a rise of inexperienced riders on the street without proper safety equipment since there's no training required to operate a dockless scooter. It's only a matter of time until someone rides one onto I-95.

Unless you actively carry a helmet around with you, chances are you aren't going to have it on you when you decide to spontaneously jump on a scooter as these companies suggest you do. Riding without a helmet greatly reduces your chances of survival during a crash.

Philadelphia needs to step back from the dockless gimmick and reinvest in building safe means of travel for pedestrians and cyclists. Sadly, many people can't even park cars in legal spots. Our city has a booming population of bicycle riders and bike owners, hungry for safe streets and protected bike lanes. It's not easy to admit that City Council needs to thoroughly review and potentially regulate dockless bikes and scooters, but they do, and now they have more power to do so.

Ptah Gabrie is a freelance journalist who's written for City Paper, Billy Penn, and the Spirit of the Riverwards. He works for an environmental non-profit and promotes sustainable transportation in the Philadelphia region.Dieynaba, an eighth grader from Senegal, came to America in September 2017 to join her parents. A student in the School District of Philadelphia, Dieynaba returned home to her mother from school crying most days, frustrated that she couldn't understand her teacher or ESOL instructor, and hurt that her peers made fun of her.

Dieynaba's major "flaw" is that she doesn't speak English. I met Dieynaba in February when her mother brought her to African Community Learning Program. Just a month after she joined our after-school program, Dieynaba presented to her peers in English. We provided Dieynaba with individualized attention in reading and writing while explaining concepts back and forth in French, Pulaar, and English.

African Community Learning Program was founded with students like Dieynaba in mind, students of African background who were either born in the United States or came to the country at a young age. We support our students in maintaining their cultural heritage and in integrating into American society, namely through learning English. We have created an Africa-centered curriculum focusing on our students' experiences and those who share an African identity with them.

For example, in February, we put together a list of 23 people, most of whom have a connection to both the United States and Africa. Our students learned about people like the first Somali American elected official in the country, Ilhan Omar, a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. They researched and presented on people like chef Marcus Samuelsson and comedian Trevor Noah. This was a new experience for our students, as they usually don't learn about these individuals at school during Black History Month.

Mayor Kenney recently told me at a Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists forum, "I think it's extremely important, especially for immigrant children, to not lose their identity or if they're American born to understand what their history is, their real history." Since the School District is back under public control, I urge the mayor to act on his words by training teachers in their students' histories and cultures, by welcoming and even including these diverse experiences in students' learning, by hiring staff members who reflect the students they serve.

Students shouldn't be made to feel inferior because they don't speak English or because they communicate with an accent. Students like Dieynaba already speak at least two languages and are ready to learn English with the necessary support. When we invest in students like Dieynaba, we invest in the future of Philadelphia, America, and the world.

Aminata Sy is the founder and president of African Community Learning Program, a multimedia journalist, and a senior at the University of Pennsylvania, where she studies international relations and English. She is also the founder, editor, and publisher of the #500EmpoweringAfricanStories Project.PATNA: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Bihar's former health minister Tej Pratap Yadav has alleged that he was attacked by an armed person while he was on a visit to his his constituency Mahua.

Yadav claimed that a man with a weapon in hand approached him on the pretext of shaking hands with him. However, when he held Yadav's hand, he refused to leave the RJD leader. When Yadav's security personnel got to know about the incident, they caught hold of the weapon.

On my way to Mahua, an armed person held my hand and was unwilling to leave. This is a conspiracy by RSS and BJP to kill me. MLA, ministers are not safe here, how can commoners be safe? The attacker is yet to be nabbed: RJD leader Tej Pratap Yadav #Bihar (22.8.2018) pic.twitter.com/JpvMMzZnHl  ANI (@ANI) August 22, 2018

Following the alleged attack, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav's son has blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) for trying to 'kill him'.

"On my way to Mahua, an armed person held my hand and was unwilling to leave. This is a conspiracy by RSS and BJP to kill me. MLA, ministers are not safe here, how can commoners be safe," Yadav alleged.

He also said that the attacker is yet to be nabbed.Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan yesterday hosted a delegation an ARF Central Committee delegation from Lebanon lead by Hakop Pakradouni, a deputy in the Lebanese parliament.

Also at the one-hour meeting were Lebanese Minister of Tourism Avedis Gidanian and ARF Central Committee member Raffi Ashkarian.

According to an ARF press release, the sides discussed the positive outcomes of the recent Velvet Revolution in Armenia and the positive reception its garnered in the diaspora, especially in Lebanon.

Delegation members said that is is vital for the revolution to succeed and that the ARF is ready to assist in the effort.

The ARF officials said it is important to maintain national unity in order to overcome the challenges and difficulties that await Armenia during this period of change.

Prime Minister Pashinyan is reported to have said that Lebanon, the Armenians of Lebanon and the youth, have a special importance for him, noting the solidarity they showed during the revolution in Armenia.

Pashinyan stressed the need to continue dialogue and cooperation and to strive for unity of purpose among all healthy forces to ensure the victory of the revolution.RAIPUR: Atal Bihari Vajpayee's niece and Congress leader Karuna Shukla has alleged that the Chhattisgarh government is playing politics over the death of the former prime minister. She alleged that Chief Minister Raman Singh never took Vajpayee's name in the last ten years but is now using his ashes for political gains.

"He never named Atal ji in his speeches, gave no importance to him but today they are playing politics over the urn of his ashes," Karuna said. She said that she was angered as well as sad with the way the BJP government renamed schemes just after the former PM's death and never mentioned him before.

"In none of the elections in the last nine years has Raman Singh ever spoken about the work done by Atal ji," she said. Karuna was earlier a member of the BJP but is currently a part of the Congress.

The BJP government in Chhattisgarh had recently said that it will rename Naya Raipur, the upcoming capital city of the state, as 'Atal Nagar' in memory of former PM. Several other government institutions and projects will also be named after Vajpayee.

"Acknowledging the historic contribution of Atal ji in the formation of the state in 2000, Naya Raipur will be named as 'Atal Nagar' and a memorial of Atal ji will be built there," Raman Singh had said.

Vajpayee's statue will be installed at Naya Raipur as well as in all 27 district headquarters of the state. The Central Park to be developed in Naya Raipur, will also be named after him, Singh said.

On Wednesday, a procession of an urn containing the Vajpayee's ashes was taken out by the BJP from the Raipur airport to the old BJP office in the city. State unit BJP president Dharamlal Kaushik had brought the urn from Delhi which was received by the Chief Minister and BJP leaders at the Swami Vivekanand airport.

The urn was then put on a specially designed rath (chariot) and taken to the old state BJP headquarters 'Ekatm Parisar', a distance of around 13 kms, in a procession.

A large number of BJP workers and common people followed the chariot from the airport to its destination. People showered flowers on the chariot when it passed through various areas amidst chanting of slogans hailing Vajpayee.

After the urn reached the Ekatma Parisar, a condolence meeting was held.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah had handed over urns containing the ashes to state unit chiefs of the party in Delhi.Jujwa (Gujarat): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said he dreams of every family owning a house by 2022 when the nation will celebrate 75 years of independence, and asserted that no bribes have to be paid to avail benefits of the Centre's housing scheme.

He said there is no place for the system of paying 'commission' in his government.

In an apparent jibe at former (Congress) prime minister Rajiv Gandhi who had once claimed that if the Centre releases Re 1, only 15 paise reach the poor, Modi said in his government "if Re 1 goes from Delhi, the entire 100 paise reach the house of the poor".

The prime minister was addressing a public gathering at Jujwa village in Gujarat's Valsad town after witnessing the collective 'e-gruha pravesh' (online house warming) of the beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin).

More than one lakh houses have been built in the state under the Centre's flagship scheme which envisions housing for all.

"While talking to women beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna, I was watching the houses behind them. Even you would be wondering how such good quality houses were built under the scheme," Modi said after interacting with some of the beneficiaries in various districts of Gujarat through video conferencing.

"This was made possible because there is no place for the system of paying commission in my government. If one rupee goes from Delhi, the entire 100 paise reach the house of the poor," he said.

Modi said his government has the "guts", and when the entire country is watching and the media is present, he can ask the women beneficiaries if they had to pay any bribe or commission to get the houses.

"In reply, the mothers and sisters could say with satisfaction that they got the houses according to rules and they did not have to pay a single rupee bribe," he said.

The prime minister said his endeavour is to ensure that every Indian family has its own home by 2022.

"Gujarat has taught me a lot. This lesson has taught me to fulfil dreams within a specific time. It is my dream, it is our endeavour to ensure that every Indian family has its own home by 2022," Modi said.

He said the government has given money, but along with it, these homes have been built with the "sweat of the family".

"The family decided how will the house be, what material will be used and how will it be made. We did not believe in contractors but the family. When a family makes its own home, it makes it the best," Modi said.

The prime minister arrived in Gujarat this morning on a day's visit and headed to Valsad.

He would later go to Junagadh town in Saurashtra to inaugurate various projects, including a newly-built hospital of the Gujarat Medical and Education Research Society and two fisheries colleges at Veraval town in the Gir Somnath district, another official said.

Modi would also address a public meeting at the Police Training College ground near Junagadh.

Later, he will preside over the convocation ceremony of the Gujarat Forensic Science University in Gandhinagar and before leaving for Delhi, he will attend the meeting of the Somnath Temple Trust in the evening at the Raj Bhavan there.New Delhi: Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's niece Kanti Mishra on Thursday countered Karuna Shukla's remark that said 'BJP are carrying the late PM's ashes as show off and for votes'.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Kanti said that Vajpayee did not belong to me or anyone but he belonged to the entire nation. "Everyone can't go to Delhi so when 'Kalash' comes to their state they get chance to pay their last respects," she said.

Almost a week after Atal Bihari Vajpayee's death, his niece Karuna Shukla raked up a controversy alleging that BJP is politicising the former prime minister's death for electoral gains in 2019 polls. Karuna also alleged that the Chhattisgarh government is playing politics over the death of the former PM and accused Chief Minister Raman Singh of using his ashes for political gains. "Singh never took Vajpayee's name in the last 10 years but is now using his ashes for political gains," she said.

Karuna, who was earlier a BJP member but quit the party to join Congress, said that she was angered as well as sad with the way the BJP government renamed schemes just after the former PM's death and never mentioned him before.

BJP governments across the country have already undertaken a number of measures to cement the legacy of the leader, whose popular appeal and affable manners won it support of the masses and also new allies. Many of them have announced memorials, some like Chhattisgarh named a city after him and some like Maharashtra decided to set up chairs in his name in universities.

Several 'yatras' will be held in many states so that they can pass through all district and blocks.

Modi had cited outpouring of emotions across the country following Vajpayee's death even though he was away from public glare for a decade due to poor health, to emphasise on his enduring appeal.Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat on Thursday vehemently ruled out the possibility of holding simultaneous elections to the state assemblies along with the Lok Sabha polls anytime soon, bringing an end to all supposition. Rawat also said a legal framework is needed to be in place for holding simultaneous polls.

"Koi chance nahi" (no chance at all), Rawat told a select media meet in Aurangabad when asked if it was feasible to hold simultaneous Lok Sabha and state Assembly elections in the near future.

In the recent weeks, there have been speculations that Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Mizoram due this year-end may be delayed and held simultaneously along with the Lok Sabha elections, scheduled for April-May 2019.

While the term of the Mizoram Assembly ends on December 15, the terms of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan assemblies will end on January 5, January 7 and January 20, 2019, respectively.

Rawat's comments also come against the backdrop of BJP president Amit Shah's recent call for a "healthy and open debate" among stakeholders for simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and the state Assemblies. "The lawmakers will take at least a year to frame a law that can be enforceable. This process takes time. As soon as the Bill to amend the Constitution is ready, we (the Election Commission) will know that things are now moving)," Rawat said.

The Election Commission commences preparations for the Lok Sabha elections 14 months before the scheduled timeframe of polling, Rawat said. "The Commission has a staff strength of just 400 but deploys 1.11 crore people on poll duty during elections," he said.

To a query on complaints of "failure" of the Electronic Voting Machines(EVMs), Rawat lamented that in many quarters in India, the understanding of the EVM system "isn't comprehensive enough".

"There is just a 0.5 to 0.6 per cent rate of failure and such a rate of machine failure is acceptable, " he said.

Rawat also said the Voter Verified Paper Trail (VVPAT) usage is a new concept which was put in place after the Commission made a commitment to have 100 per cent VVPATs following "political pressure", he said.

In Meghalaya assembly bypolls, there were complaints of VVPAT malfunctioning but that could have been avoided had the authorities there used a high humidity paper, keeping in view that there is high rainfall in the state, he said. "You all know that Cherrapunjee, which records the highest rainfall, is in that state," Rawat said.

To a query, he said the percentage of NOTA option in elections is normally between 1.2 and 1.4 per cent.

Replying to another query, Rawat said the Election Commission enjoys full autonomy as can be seen from the manner in which poll officials didn't budge under political pressure in the Rajya Sabha polls in Gujarat in 2017.

The Congress had then said two of its MLAs had cross-voted and showed their ballot papers to BJP president Amit Shah. The EC ruled in Congress' favour, declaring that the two MLAs had violated polling procedures and secrecy of the ballot.A day after the death of a newborn inside an ambulance in Haryana's Sonipat, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday ordered a probe into the incident.

Speaking to reporters, Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij said, "The Chief Minister ordered an investigation by Superintendent of Police (SP) Rohtak. I have ordered Directorate General of Health Services to file a report today after a preliminary investigation. We will take strict action in the case."

An FIR has also been registered in the case under Section 304A and 177 (Motor Vehicles Act) in a police station in Kundli.

It is alleged that an infant died inside an ambulance after it was stuck in a political rally en-route to the hospital.

According to the relatives of the infant, the ambulance was allegedly stuck in a massive traffic jam due to a cycle rally by Congress leader Ashok Tanwar. The rally, "Haryana Bachao Pariwartan Lao", was apparently led by Tanwar in Sonipat. Tanwar, however, blamed the hospital for the infant's death.

Denying that the death was due to traffic jam caused by his rally, Tanwar said, "I have a video of his father wherein he stated that the incident happened because of the hospital's negligence. He was there (hospital) for 12 hours but did not receive any medical facilities. The family was later referred to civil hospital and then to Rohtak."

Expressing his grief over the incident, Tanwar said, "We are sad that an infant died. We shouldn't do politics over it. If an FIR has to be registered, it should be against the hospital for negligence." He claimed that when the party members got to know about the ambulance being stuck in traffic, they gave way and cleared the road.

"When our people came to know that there is an ambulance stuck in traffic, they cleared the road. The government, local administration and police should take responsibility. Also, there was no nurse, doctor or proper oxygen supply given to the child," Tanwar alleged while defending himself.

On the contrary, a relative of the infant claimed that the ambulance was stuck for a long time that led delay in reaching the hospital. "We were referred to Sonipat and from there to Rohtak hospital. He (infant) died en-route due to the Congress rally because we reached hospital late by one-and-half hours. We also tried meeting the Chief Minister but were not allowed," a relative of the infant told reporters.HAMBURG: Congress President Rahul Gandhi's hug to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Parliament continues to be a topic of discussion not just in India but beyond the borders too. Rahul who is currently in Germany clarified on Wednesday that he hugged the PM out of affection in response to the hateful remarks directed towards him adding that the latter did not like it.

"Responding hate with hate is foolish. It is not going to solve any problem. The only thing you control is how you respond. I wanted to tell him the world is not all evil places. There are many people who have affection. Prime Minister was making hateful remarks at me, I showed affection. He didn`t like that. He was upset and taken aback, but it works." he said while addressing a gathering at Kampnagel Theater in Bucerius Summer School.

The Congress President invoked the deaths in his family of his grandmother Indira Gandhi and his father Rajiv Gandhi to reiterate that violence cannot be used to overcome violence. "I have seen two members of my family being killed - my father and grandmother. Violence cannot be overcome by violence. The correct way to deal with violence is to act non-violently. My father was killed by a terrorist in 1991. When the same terrorist died a few years later, I was not happy. I saw myself in his children. I have suffered violence and I can tell you, there is only one way to let it go- forgiveness. And for forgiveness, you need to understand where it is coming from," he said.

Rahul also attacked the Modi-led government claiming that incidents of mob lynching were being caused by the forceful repatriation of people back into villages. "A large number of people who worked in small businesses were forced back into villages. This is what's making people angry. All the lynchings we hear about are the result of this. The Dalits, minorities and tribal people are now not allowed to gain from the government. All the money that used to go into schemes for the poor is now going to a few large corporates," he claimed.

He also said that despite a steady growth, India is facing a sevre shortage of jobs. "The guaranteed employment scheme, right to food, right to information, bank nationalisation was some of the ideas that all governments held through. Now, these ideas are damaged to a great extent," he claimed.

The Congress President is on a four-day visit to Germany and the United Kingdom during which he will address the Indian Overseas Congress in Berlin on Thursday. In United Kingdom, he will address an event organised by the Indian Overseas Congress in collaboration with local Indian-origin parliamentarians.Amidst a row over accepting funds from foreign governments for flood-ravaged Kerala, the Centre on Thursday assured a release of additional funds for the state after an inter-ministerial team visits the state again and assesses the damage. It also added that Rs 600 crore released two days ago to was only the advance assistance. "It is clarified that Rs 600 crore released by Centre is the advance assistance only. Additional funds would be released from NDRF on assessment of the damages as per laid down procedure," the statement said.

A heated argument took place between the Kerala government and the Centre after India refused to accept funds from foreign governments for Kerala. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) had offered USD 100 million (around Rs 700 crore) and the government declared that it will not take any financial assistance from foreign governments in sync with an existing policy.

On Tuesday, the central government had released Rs 600 crore to flood-hit Kerala as promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Rs 500 crore) and Home Minister Rajnath Singh (Rs 100 crore) during their visits to the state. The home ministry said during the floods in Kerala, the Centre has provided urgent aid and relief material in a timely manner and without any reservation.

The situation has been regularly monitored by the PM on daily basis and he visited the state on August 17-18, 2018. On his instructions, the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), under the chairmanship of the Cabinet Secretary, regularly monitored and coordinated rescue and relief operations by holding daily meetings from Aug 16-21, 2018.

Senior officers of Defence Services, NDRF, NDMA and Secretaries of Civilian Ministries attended these meetings. Kerala Chief Secretary participated in these discussions through video conference.

Following the decisions taken during these meetings, the Centre launched massive rescue and relief operations. In one of the largest rescue operations, 40 helicopters, 31 aircraft, 182 teams for rescue, 18 medical teams of defence forces, 58 teams of NDRF, 7 companies of Central Armed Police Forces were pressed into service along with over 500 boats and necessary rescue equipments.

They successfully saved over 60,000 human lives by rescuing them from marooned areas and shifting them to relief camps, the statement said.

Defence aircraft and helicopters have made 1,084 sorties of duration 1,168 flying hours and airlifted 1,286 tonnes of load and carried 3,332 rescuers. In addition, a number of Navy and Coast Guard ships were pressed into service to carry relief material to Kerala. The search and rescue operations and mobilisation of resources alone would cost the central government hundreds of crore of rupees.

The statement said after floods and landslides in Kerala last month, an interim memorandum was submitted by the state government on July 21 and immediately an inter-ministerial central team (IMCT) was constituted, which visited the state on August 7-12 for the on-the-spot assessment of the damages.

Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju had visited Kerala on July 21 followed by the Home Minister Rajnath Singh on August 12. Since there was a second spell of floods in the state, the state government has stated that they will submit an additional memorandum on the fresh damages caused by the floods and landslides once rescue efforts are over.

Since submission of additional memorandum by the state government will take time, with a view to assist the state in meeting relief and rescue expenditure, the central government has released Rs 600 crore in advance pending assessment by IMCT and decision of a high level committee.

This is in addition to Rs 562.45 crore already made available in State Disaster Relief Fund of the state. In addition to the financial support, the Centre has made available large quantities of emergency food, water, medicines and other essential supplies, including additional allocation of foodgrains, as requested by the state.

Financial mechanism to meet the rescue and relief expenditure during any notified disaster event is governed by notified guidelines on State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). State Disaster Response Fund has been constituted in each state in which the Centre contributes 75 per cent for general category states and 90 per cent for special category states of hilly regions every year as per the award of the successive Finance Commissions.

As per the guidelines, the central government provides its allocation to SDRF of each state in advance in two installments. In case of any natural calamity, State meets the expenditure of relief and rescue from the SDRF already available at its disposal. In case of any natural calamity beyond the coping capacity of a state, the state government submits a detailed memorandum indicating the sector-wise details of damage and requirement of funds for relief operations of immediate nature.

On receipt of a memorandum, an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) is deputed by the Central Government for on-the-spot assessment of damages and additional requirement of funds. The report of IMCT is considered by the Sub-Committee of National Executive Committee (SC-NEC) headed by the Union Home Secretary in conformity with the norms and then by a High Level Committee (HLC), chaired by the Home Minister for approving the quantum of additional assistance from the NDRF, the statement said.New Delhi: In refusing foreign aid for the rehabilitation of flood-hit Kerala, the Centre has followed a 14-year convention it "inherited" from previous governments of refusing such assistance in the face of natural calamities, Union minister KJ Alphons said on Thursday.

The government is under fire for refusing aid for Kerala from countries like the UAE and Thailand. Alphons said this was a policy that was followed by the current government since former prime minister Manmohan Singh had refused aid from foreign countries in 2004 during the devastating Tsunami.

"A policy decision was taken by the Manmohan Singh government in December 2004 in the aftermath of the Tsunami and that policy has been continued with for the last 14 years. This is something we have inherited," he told reporters in the capital.

Earlier, among others, Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac had criticised the BJP-led government over the refusal of aid and said the rain-ravaged southern state had asked the Centre for a financial support of Rs 2,200 crore but was granted only Rs 600 crore.

"We make no request to any foreign government but UAE government voluntarily offered Rs 700 crore. No, says Union government, it is below our dignity to accept foreign aid. This is a dog in the manger policy (sic)," Isaac had written on Twitter. He had further said as part of the state government's resource mobilisation efforts for the ongoing relief-and-rescue operations for the flood-hit people, it had increased the excise duty on liquor and was geared to approach the GST Council for imposing a 10-per cent cess on SGST. "Both together on annualised basis mobilise Rs 750 crore (sic)," Isaac had written on the microblogging website.

Alphons, who has been in the thick of things, is continuously updating the rest of the country about the conditions in Kerala and listing out the requirements of the people of the state as they hobble back to normalcy. The Union tourism minister also appealed to all the Indians to donate "big money" for the cause.

"We need huge amounts of money -- millions and billions of dollars to rebuild Kerala. Now we need that big money. Please send money to the chief minister's relief fund and not to NGOs that are not credible," he said. Incessant rains have claimed over 230 lives in Kerala since August 8.Srinagar: In his first meeting after assuming office as governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Satya Pal Malik on Thursday made it clear that reinforcing good governance and delivering results urgently on the developmental front must be the priority of the state administration at all levels.

Rapid, people-centric development is the need of the hour, he said.

Immediately after assuming office, Malik convened the first official meeting with his advisors, B B Vyas, K Vijay Kumar and Khurshid Ahmad Ganai and Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam at Raj Bhavan in Srinagar this afternoon. He took first-hand appraisal of the functioning of the governor's administration.

To ensure a tangible turnaround, Malik enumerated the measures to be taken to give a fresh push to the "Mission on Delivering Development" and the "Mission on Good Governance". He said the state administration needs to function with efficiency, speed and accountability and deliver quick results on the ground on developmental and governance fronts.

Malik said the grievance redressal mechanism will be expanded. "Focus has to be on working through transparency and consultation to promote a culture of excellence in governance characterized by integrity and highest standards of deliverance," he said.

Judicious and productive use of resources has to be ensured so that the funds are utilised according to priorities, he added. He prioritised the health, education, rural development and social welfare sectors for focussed attention.

The governor also called for expanding the scope of the grievance redressal mechanism, adding it should not be limited to the capital cities of Srinagar and Jammu alone. He also asked officers to expand their public outreach.New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sent a notice to the Bihar government days after a woman was assaulted and paraded naked by some people in Bihiya town of Bhojpur district in the state. The NHRC has also directed the state's Director General of Police to ensure proper protection to the woman and her family members so that she is not threatened or subjected to any kind harassment by the miscreants.

"The NHRC has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report that a woman was beaten and paraded naked by some people in Bihiya village of Bhojpur district in Bihar on suspicion of her involvement in a teenager's mysterious death," the national human rights panel said in a statement on Thursday.

The Commission observed that the incidents appear to be a "serious case" of violation of human rights including right to life of the teenager and the right to dignity to the victim woman. Though FIRs were registered in the matter and several police personnel were placed under suspicion, the action "does not seem to be sufficient".

The Commission has issued a notice to the Bihar chief secretary, calling for a detailed report in the matter. Both the officers have been given four weeks to respond.

While issuing notices, the Commission has observed that the sequence of incidents indicate towards "negligence on the part of the police authorities and the local administration". The shameful incidence was a fallout of the violence that had rocked the main market area of Bihiya block, about 60 km from state capital Patna, after the body of 19-year-old Vimalesh Sah, who had gone missing on August 19, was found adjacent to a railway track the next morning.

Residents of Sah's native village Damodarpur had rushed to the spot upon hearing the news and some of them suspected that those living in a red light area nearby could have strangled the youth to death, police said. The villagers set ablaze a number of shops in the market area and assaulted many local residents, police said.

As the mob frenzy continued, one of them dragged the woman out on street, ripped off her clothes and paraded her naked while kicking and slapping her and hurling abuses, Bhojpur Superintendent of Police Avakash Kumar had said. Sixteen people have been arrested and eight policemen suspended in connection with the case.Armenias National Assembly will convene a special session to discuss amendments to the law on annual programs designed to restore and preserve Lake Sevans ecosystem.

The Armenian government today proposed to increase the amount of water released from Lake Sevan for irrigation purposes this year from 170 million to 210 million cubic meters.

The government says the added water release will also allow for an additional 38 million kilowatts of electricity at hydro plants along the Sevan-Hrazdan cascade and that the profits will be invested in a number of priority projects.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, at a government cabinet meeting today, said he had been opposed to drawing more water from Sevan but that his advisers told him it was a necessity.The Border Security Force (BSF) in a report to the Union Home Ministry has said that Pakistan is trying to strengthen its security deployment along the International Border with India. As per the report, Pakistan has built two ammunition depot in Rahim Yar Khan across Jaisalmer to ensure that its forces receive arms on the border in no time.

As per sources, Pakistan has also built helipads in the premisis of the ammunition depot to further assist its soldiers along the border. The depot is merely 37 kilometres away from the Indian border. In another depot in Bahawalpur, Pakistan has built many bunkers to save their ammunition in case of an attack by the Indian Air Force. The bunkers would also allow Pakistan to place its missiles in close proximity to the border.

From building bunkers to missiles and even warships, China has been assisting Pakistan in mordenising its military. Through the Pakistan-China Fiber Optic Project, China has been setting up 820-kilometre long optical fibre cable between the Khunjerab Pass on the China-Pakistan border and Rawalpindi. The optical fibre being laid as a part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has improved the communication capabilities of the Pakistani Army to a huge extent.

Intelligence reports suggest that Pakistan's ISI has given anti-thermal jackets to terrorists so that they can evade detection by thermal imaging devices installed by India near the LoC and International Border. Security forces are on alert after the intelligence report of terrorists trying to enter India by wearing these jackets.

Indian agencies had received information about such jackets when Pakistani Rangers had violated the ceasefire and fired at the BSF. The action could not be captured by the night devices but when the video footage was minutely observed, it was found that the firing had been from an extremely close range.New Delhi: The BJP on Thursday accused Rahul Gandhi of belittling and insulting India in his address at an event in Germany, alleging that the Congress president tried to justify terrorism and "lied through his teeth" to attack the Narendra Modi government.

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra sought the Congress chief's apology on his comments on a range of issues, claiming that he presented India in a bad light by allegedly blaming the country's culture for violence against women.

Addressing a gathering at the Bucerius Summer School in Hamburg yesterday, Gandhi had cited the example of the Islamic State (IS) to say the exclusion of a large number of people from the development process could lead to creation of terrorist groups in the world.

He had then accused the BJP government of excluding the tribals, Dalits and minorities from the development narrative, adding that "this could be a dangerous thing".

Hitting back at the Congress chief, Patra told reporters, "Rahul Gandhi left no opportunity to belittle India and present it in a bad light. His speech was full of lies and deception and its sole aim was to insult India...He should apologise."

Taking a dig at Gandhi, he said, "Rahul Gandhi has behaved like Rahul Gandhi and expecting any maturity from him is a futile exercise."

Gandhi tried to justify terrorism and a terror outfit like the IS, Patra said, adding, "There cannot be anything more frightening and worrying." Gandhi said the minorities in India would "sell their soul" to the IS if jobs were not available for them, the BJP spokesperson said, adding that this amounted to "denigrating" the community.

The Congress chief had a poor opinion of India, he said, adding that Gandhi talked about China, even though India had become "one of the leading countries in the world" under the Modi government.

Patra wondered whether the figures Gandhi cited regarding China producing 50 jobs every 24 hours compared to India's 44, were "manufactured in 10 Janpath". The Congress chief's mother, Sonia Gandhi, stays at 10, Janpath Road in the national capital.

"You have no data and you do no preparation," Patra said of Gandhi. He alleged that Sonia Gandhi, who was the Congress chief for over 19 years, ruled India as a "proxy prime minister" for 10 years.

"Wasn't this the Indian culture which helped her reach the top? Rahul and Sonia Gandhi should come out and explain as to how they can point fingers at this great Indian culture," the BJP spokesperson said, seeking the Congress chief's apology for his response on the issue of women's safety in India.

Gandhi "lied through his teeth" in accusing the Modi government of striking down a law on atrocities against Dalits and tribals, Patra said, adding that Parliament had in fact made the legislation more stringent by passing an amendment in the recently-concluded Monsoon Session.

Under the Congress-led UPA government, the Right to Food law was implemented in only 11 states, while the BJP-led NDA dispensation had enforced it in all the 29 states and seven Union territories of the country, he said.

The rural employment scheme (MGNREGA) became a "monumental success" under the current government from a "monument to failure" it was under the UPA, Patra claimed, adding that women accounted for over 56 per cent of its workforce now -- the highest ever.

The beneficiaries of over 431 government schemes were getting money, amounting to over Rs 4 lakh crore, credited directly to their bank accounts, resulting in the saving of Rs 90 crore, which used to be "pocketed" by Congress leaders earlier, he alleged.

Patra also referred to the words of praise from international bodies for the reform measures undertaken by the Modi government to rebut Gandhi's charges.In a renewed demand, the ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu on Thursday asked for conferring India's highest civilian honour Bharat Ratna on its late supremo J Jayalalithaa. Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam stated that Jayalalithaa was a champion for social justice who gave 69 per cent reservation to the downtrodden people and hence the party desired the award be conferred to her.

"It is Amma (Jayalalithaa) who gave 69 per cent reservation to the downtrodden people. She was a champion for social justice. Therefore, Bharat Ratna for Amma is our desire," said Panneerselvam.

The party also sought the honour be conferred upon late Dravidian stalwarts E V Ramasamy 'Periyar' and C N Annadurai.

A meeting of the party's Executive Committee, a key decision-making body, urged the Central government to award Bharat Ratna posthumously for the three leaders for their struggles and achievements in public life.

While the party had made the demand for honouring Jayalalithaa with Bharat Ratna months after her demise in December 2016, the move to seek the honour for Periyar and Annadurai, a former chief minister, comes decades after their death.

The latest demand comes days after DMK Rajya Sabha member Tiruchi Siva asked the Centre to posthumously confer Bharat Ratna to party chief M Karunanidhi as a tribute to his outstanding and exemplary work for the people.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha, Siva had said Karunanidhi, who passed away on August 7, was a Dravidian stalwart and the tallest leader of the country.

The AIADMK meeting, held under party presidium chairman E Madhusudhanan, adopted a resolution, seeking Bharat Ratna for social reformer Ramasamy, popularly known as Periyar, Annadurai and Jayalalithaa. Party Coordinator O Panneerselvam and Coordinator K Palaniswami among others attended the meeting.

Jayalalithaa, the resolution said, was a "proud daughter of Mother India," who loved the people. She overcame many difficulties to emerge victorious and her achievements as a starlet, political leader and Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu were 'grand', it said.

As Chief Minister, she launched a number of welfare measures, especially benefiting women and chidlren and was an "upholder of social justice," it said. The resolution recalled her giving away her gold jewels to then Prime Minister Lalbahadur Shastri, during the 1965 Indo-Pak war and said it "displayed her patriotism."

It described Periyar as "one of the great revolutionaries" the world has seen and said he had sowed the seeds of revolution through his oratory and writings. "He tirelessly strived against social practices that enslaved women, besides the exploitation in the name of caste," it said.

Heaping praise on Annadurai, DMK founder and the first non-Congress Chief Minister in Tamil Nadu after the country's independence, the AIADMK said he showed for the first time that a regional party can storm to power in Independent India. The party recalled his decision to rename Madras State as Tamil Nadu, besides his contribution in addressing issues like hunger, food safety and welfare of various sections, and urged the Centre to confer the Bharat Ratna on him.

The meeting also passed resolutions, lauding the party's K Palaniswami-led government on many issues including the handling of the Cauvery issue. It adopted resolutions condoling the deaths of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Karunanidhi. It also condoled the loss of lives due to recent rain fury in neighbouring Kerala and Karnataka.Slamming the ruling government in Bihar, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Thursday called for the resignation of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and deputy Sushil Modi, over their failure to maintain law and order in the state.

"If Nitish Kumar and Sushil Modi do not resign, we will make it happen. We will make them resign if they don't voluntarily do so. It is the most shameful incident. Criminals are now running loose in the state. They don`t fear the government or the law and order anymore. There should be stringent action against the culprits so that these incidents are prevented in the future. However these incidents have become recurrent," he said.

"In Patna, the government officials are killed in their houses. The Supreme Court has said that the incident (Muzaffarpur shelter home) was government-sponsored, what can be more shameful than that? JDU is still shielding culprits. I just want to know that who will own responsibility for these failures?" asked Yadav.

The former deputy chief minister's comments come at the backdrop of the incident where a woman was allegedly thrashed and stripped by a mob in Bihar's Bihiya over suspicions of murdering a youth. As many as eight police officials were suspended following the incident.

His comments also follow the recent cases of alleged sexual harassment in shelter homes in the state.

Aiming a potshot at the CM for the liquor ban he had implemented, Yadav pointed out, "He (Kumar) said that after the liquor ban, crime rates will go down, but look at the statistics. All numbers indicate that crime rates have spiked. They have failed and are now shielding criminals, politicians and high-level officials."

Earlier, the RJD leader had called for the resignation of Muzaffarpur MLA Suresh Sharma, who is the Urban Housing and Development Minister of Bihar. However, Sharma termed those demands as baseless, saying his department has nothing to do with the Muzaffarpur shelter home case.

On August 20, an FIR was lodged against Bihar`s former Social Welfare Minister Manju Verma and her husband Chandrakant Verma under Arms Act, in connection with the incident. An audit by Mumbai based the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) had discovered that over 40 girls were sexually exploited in the shelter home, which resulted in the arrest of 11 employees.Beijing: China has said that it is willing to play a "constructive role" in improving the relations between India and Pakistan.

Addressing a press briefing here on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Lu Kang said that Beijing welcomed the "positive" comments recently made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his new Pakistani counterpart, Imran Khan, on improving and bolstering their bilateral relations.

Calling India and Pakistan 'important countries in South Asia', Kang expressed that both New Delhi and Islamabad would enhance their ties by resolving differences between each other in order 'to contribute to regional peace and stability'.

"The improvement and development of their bilateral ties are very important to regional peace, stability and prosperity. As a neighbour to both Pakistan and India, China sincerely hopes that the two sides could enhance dialogue, increase mutual trust, properly handle and resolve differences, and make joint contributions to regional peace and development. China is willing to play a constructive role in this regard," the spokesperson noted.

"Anything that will help the two sides improve relations continuously and contribute to regional peace and stability deserves recognition. As long as there is any possibility, China certainly would like to play a positive and constructive role," he added.

On being asked whether he was suggesting that China is willing to mediate between India and Pakistan, Kang said, "I cannot make a prediction for you at this moment as to when and how China will do something. But it is obvious that playing a constructive role means advancing, consolidating and sustaining positive momentum."

This is not the first time when China has offered to mediate between India and Pakistan. Earlier in April, China had asked Pakistan to engage with India to keep tensions between the two countries to a minimum for timely completion of various projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.

In June, during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Qingdao, where India and Pakistan were designated as full-time members, China's Foreign Minister and State Councilor, Wang Yi had advocated for resolution of differences between both the countries.Srinagar: Suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists shot dead a Forest Department official in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla, police said. The incident took place on Thursday evening.

Terrorists this evening barged inside Tariq Ahmad Malik's house in Zandpal area in Tangmarg and fired upon him," a police spokesman said. Malik sustained critical injuries and later succumbed, he said.

Police have registered a case and initial investigation establishes the involvement of LeT militant Yousuf Dar alias Kantroo, the spokesman said. Further investigation is underway.

The incident comes a day after terrorists killed a policeman in Pulwama district on the occasion of Eid. The policeman, identified as Mohd Asharf Dar, was shot dead on Wednesday at his residence. On the same day, Special Police Officer (SPO) identified as Mohammad Yaqoob Shah was too shot at in Pulwama district. He was declared brought dead at the hospital.

Another incident took place when Fayaz Ahmad Shah, an under-training police constable, was shot when he was returning home after offering Eid prayers in Kulgam, one of the worst militancy-hit districts of South Kashmir.New Delhi: Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to pay a visit to Kodagu and take stock of the situation in the wake of recent floods in the state. "As PM it is his duty, he visited Kerala, I demand that he should also visit Kodagu," Siddamaraiah said.

On Saturday, PM Modi conducted an aerial survey of the flood-ravaged state where the calamity has so far claimed over 324 lives. The Prime Minister saluted the people of Kerala for their fighting spirit and assured the nation's support to the state. He announced Rs 500 crore as immediate aid for Kerala, in addition to the 100 crore announced earlier. He also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to those seriously injured, from Prime Ministers National Relief Funds (PMNRF).

Earlier today, Siddaramaiah along with Pradesh Congress chief Dinesh Gundu Rao visited affected areas of the district and took stock of the situation.

With rains subsiding in the last couple of days, relief and rehabilitation work have gained momentum in Kodagu, where operations to rescue those stranded due to floods and landslides have by and large been completed, according to officials.

The administration was now focused on providing relief and rehabilitating those at the relief camps, clearing blocked roads and restoring electricity.

However, a total of 1,019 rescuers from various agencies are stationed in Kodagu and are screening villages along with NGOs and local community.

An amount of Rs 30 crore has been released to Kodagu by the state government to take up relief works, officials said, adding engineers and personnel from Madras Engineer Group are being deputed to Kodagu for road restoration and debris clearance.

Schools that were shut for over 20 days reopened today, with teachers conducting classes to students at relief camps across the district.

Fifty-one relief camps have been set up in Kodagu that are currently housing 6,996 people. According to officials, till last evening 4,450 were rescued and brought to safety. According to preliminary estimates, around 1,118 houses have been damaged.

In Dakshina Kannada, another flood-hit district, five deaths have been reported and over 360 houses have been damaged, according to preliminary estimates. Rescue teams along with locals are making efforts to rescue animals stranded and affected due to the natural calamity.

Officials said a three-member team from NGRI (National Geophysical Research Institute) headed by Ragavan visited Kodagu and set up a seismic monitoring centre in Navodaya School to closely monitor seismic activity in and around the area.

Also, the three-member team comprising Dr Srinivasa Reddy, Director, Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre and Dr H M S Prakash (former DDG, GSI) are conducting geotechnical studies in landslide affected region of Mangaluru.

Noting that there is loss of certificates, documents and identity cards due to flooding, officials said the government will set up common service centres that will act as single-window system to issue duplicate these documents.

Documents will be issued free of cost or at a nominal cost as deemed appropriate, and there will be no need to file an FIR.

(With inputs from PTI)

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the state government will initiate high-level discussions with the Centre to enable the transfer of funds from the UAE government in the wake of the floods in the state.

"The National Disaster Management policy provides provisions to accept voluntary offers from foreign nations in the wake of calamities," the chief minister said in response to reports of the Centre`s reluctance to accept UAE aid worth Rs 700 crore.

Vijayan further said that people from various parts of the country and the state have come forward, irrespective of differences to help Kerala tide over the calamity.

"So far, a total of Rs 318 crore has been collected for the Chief Minister`s Distress Relief Fund. Of this, Rs 146 crore comes from various states, which contributed generously. This is apart from the contribution in the form of food grains from states like Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu," an official release read.

The statement comes shortly after the Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Raveesh Kumar clarified the government`s stance on acceptance of aid from the UAE.

"In line with the existing policy, the Government is committed to meeting the requirements for relief and rehabilitation through domestic efforts. Contributions to the Prime Minister`s Relief Fund and the Chief Minister`s Relief Fund from NRIs, PIOs and international entities such as foundations would, however, be welcome," he noted.

Kumar also stated that there would be no change in the existing policy in regard to foreign aids. However, he expressed gratitude towards countries offering financial assistance to Kerala, which is witnessing the worst flood in many years.

On Tuesday, the Indian government stated that it will stick to its long-standing policy of not accepting monetary help from foreign countries. In a note to all Indian Missions around the world, the government directed its respective envoys to politely turn down the financial assistance from foreign countries, saying that the Government of India decided to "rely solely on domestic efforts" to combat the challenges.

While the southern state is reeling under the massive devastation caused by flash floods from the onset of monsoon, the entire country has come together to help the state limp back to normalcy. Chief Ministers from various states have also announced aid from their relief funds. As many as 357 people have lost their lives so far, with the state incurring losses to the tune of Rs 19,512 crore.New Delhi: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday expressed his grief at the devastating floods in Kerala that have so far claimed more than 300 lives in the state. The newly-elected PM said his country is ready to provide any humanitarian assistance.

"On behalf of the people of Pakistan, we send our prayers and best wishes to those who have been devastated by the floods in Kerala, India. We stand ready to provide any humanitarian assistance that may be needed," Khan shared a post on his Twitter handle on Thursday.

The devastating deluge in Kerala has left over 300 dead in a fortnight and has displaced nearly 14 lakh people. A bleak, uncertain future stares the nearly 14 lakh people currently taking shelter at the relief camps in the state.

Though the rains have eased over the last two days, vast swathes of land remain under a seemingly endless sheet of water in Ernakulam, Thrissur, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha and Kollam districts.

Many houses are still under water and the ones which are not have broken pots and pans strewn everywhere with a multitude of problems plaguing them.

The situation is particularly critical in Kuttanad, which is one of the few places in the world where paddy farming is done 1.2 metre to 3 metre below sea level. Flood waters receding is not the panacea for all ills.

As waters subsided in Cheruthoni in Idukki district, many were shocked to see huge deposits of sand and slush inside and outside their homes.

Many cannot even open the doors of their homes. Earth-movers are being used at many places to remove the accumulated mud and sand.

The heavy rains and consequent floods have claimed 231 lives since August 8, besides causing an estimated loss of Rs 20,000 crore to the state.New Delhi: The festival of Eid evokes love, friendship and brotherhood. It brings people together and gives them a chance to spend quality time with family and friends. Eid-Al-Adha was observed on August 22 this year and many Bollywood stars celebrated with family, friends and co-stars.

'Dangal' sisters Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sanya Malhotra took to their Instagram handles and shared pictures from the celebrations. The two celebrated the festival along with Aamir Khan, his wife Kiran Rao and other friends. The director of Dangal, Nitesh Tiwari was also present in the celebrations.

Check out the pics here:

A post shared by Sanya Malhotra (@sanyamalhotra_) on Aug 22, 2018 at 7:48am PDT

A post shared by Sanya Malhotra(@sanyamalhotra_) on Aug 22, 2018 at 7:46am PDT

A post shared by Fatima Sana Shaikh (@fatimasanashaikh) on Aug 22, 2018 at 2:25am PDT

Fatima and Kiran looked lovely in sarees which they paired with matching earrings, donning the ethnic attire with grace and elegance. Sanya looked pretty in her pink coloured traditional outfit and long, stylish earrings. Aamir can be seen wearing a white kurta-pyjama which makes him look absolutely dashing.

Fatima Sana Shaikh, Sanya Malhotra and Aamir Khan's 'Dangal' released on December 23, 2016, broke several records at the box office. Fatima played the grown-up Geeta Phogat while Sanya played the role of her sister, Babita.

Aamir and Fatima will share the screen space yet again in 'Thugs Of Hindostan'. The film is slated to release in November this year.Representatives of the U.S. and U.K. armed forces arrived in Armenia on August 20 to discuss measures Armenia can take to decrease the number of suicides and self-inflicted wounds in the countrys military.

The representatives will be in Armenia for four days at the invitation of the Ministry of Defenses Center for Human Rights and Integrity.

According to the ministry, the sides will discuss modernizing the armys emergency hotline, capacity building for psychological support, ensuring equal opportunities, and strengthening human rights.New Delhi: As the rain-battered Kerala continues to battle floods, megastar Amitabh Bachchan has made a donation of Rs. 51 lakh to the relief organisations working towards the welfare of victims.

The 'Sholay' star has contributed towards relief work being coordinated by sound designer Resul Pookutty for Kerala Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund.

Not just money, the 75-year-old also gave away some of his personal belongings to the flood-ravaged state.

A source close to Pookutty informed that senior Bachchan has not only donated Rs. 51 lakhs cash but also sent six cartons of his personal clothing, including around 80 jackets, 25 pants, 20 shirts, and scarves. The actor has also donated around 40 shoes.

Apart from him, many other Bollywood celebrities including Shah Rukh Khan, Sushant Singh Rajput, Hrithik Roshan among others, have extended their support, urging people to come forward and help the people of Kerala.

As many as 357 people have lost their lives so far, with the state incurring a loss of Rs 19,512 crore due to the deluge.

Rescue and relief operations in the state have been stepped up to evacuate the stranded people from affected areas.New Delhi: The devastating floods in Kerala have wreaked a havoc leaving hundreds dead and several others stranded. Many countries have stepped forward and offered to extend help in rebuilding the beautiful state. At the time of crisis, several Bollywood celebrities are urging people to donate and help the victims in Kerala.

Sushant Singh Rajput donated Rs 1 crore from his earnings to the Kerala CMDRF (Chief Minister Distress Relief Fund). And now the 32-year-old actor has sent a team to Kerala to set up base there and help with the volunteering work, skilled labour and distribution of essential material for the rehabilitation of homes and people who have suffered trauma in these floods.

The team consists of five volunteers from TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences), skilled electricians and carpenters. Sushant has also posted about the urgent requirement of Doxycycline capsules which is being distributed right now in Kerala for tackling bacterial infections among the affected population.

A spokesperson from Innsaei, SSR's business venture, says, The challenge ahead for the country right now is one of rehabilitation of the flood-affected population. In light of this, our team of 11 people has landed in Kerala consisting of five volunteers from TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences), skilled electricians and carpenters. They will be assessing the problems with the rehabilitation of homes and contributing with their efforts in coordination with the local bodies. While we are asking people to join hands through our social media handles, we want to use this medium to ask doctors and paramedics to join us in this cause for tackling the medical emergency that could be brewing. We would also need psychologists and counsellors to work with us to tackle the post-traumatic stress that a lot of survivors must be going through.New Delhi: Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the mysterious death and burial without autopsy of a key witness in the Unnao rape-murder case involving BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar. It "smells of a conspiracy," Gandhi said.

"Is this your idea of 'justice for our daughters', Mr 56?" Gandhi tweeted.

BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar is one of the accused in the Unnao rape case.

The CBI had earlier filed a chargesheet in a Lucknow court against the BJP MLA, his brother and eight others, including three policemen, in its probe into the Arms Act case in which the politician had framed the Unnao gang-rape victim's father.

The agency has filed chargesheet against Jai Deep Singh alias Atul Singh Sengar, a brother of BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar, and his accomplices Vineet Mishra alias Vinay Mishra; Birendra Singh alias Bauwa, Ram Sharan Singh alias Sonu Singh and Shashi Pratap Singh alias Suman Singh, all residents of Makhi village in Unnao District of the state. The agency has charged the accused of murder and other related offences, a CBI spokesperson told PTI.

The MLA is also an accused in the rape case. He is currently lodged in the Sitapur jail after the survivor petitioned and requested that he be moved from the local Unnao jail.

The case came to light in April this year when a 17-year-old girl alleged that she was raped by Bangermau MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar of the BJP at his residence when she had gone to meet him with a relative seeking a job last year.

The girl attempted a suicide outside the residence of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow, claiming police inaction in the rape case that took place in June 2017. Two days later after the self-immolation incident, the victim's father lost his life in police custody.

The girl's father had come from Delhi to attend the court hearing on April 3 for registration of a case related to rape of his minor daughter against the MLA.

In the evening, he was allegedly abused and beaten up by the accused in front of his house during which he suffered serious injuries. He was also slapped with the Arms Act by the local police and put in jail where he succumbed to injuries in the absence of treatment on April 8. An autopsy revealed multiple injuries on his body.

During an investigation, all the accused named in the FIR were arrested and they are at present in judicial custody, the spokesperson said. "Further investigation, in this case, to look into the roles of others including an MLA, officials are continuing," he said.

In the charge sheet, CBI investigator Anil Kumar charged the accused persons under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including murder. The CBI mentioned names of 76 witnesses and 53 documentary evidence in its 19-page charge sheet. The CBI had registered the FIR in this case on April 12.

Kuldeep Singh Sengar is the main accused in the rape case and at present, is in jail.A Saudi woman's frank response on question-and-answer community platform Quora is going viral.

Aisha Fahda, who defines herself as 'a Muslim girl living in Sweden', said that  Indian Muslims are much more safer than those Muslims living in the Islamic countries.

An anonymous Quoran asked, Why don't Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia together attack India to save Indian Muslims?

The question has more than 100 responses, including few highly upvoted ones. But Fahda's response stood out. Here's a complete text of her response.

Q: Why don't Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia together attack India to save Indian Muslims?

Aisha Fahda: I'm not an Indian but I can tell you for sure that Indian Muslims are much more safer than those Muslims living in the Islamic countries.

Islamic countries follow the Islamic Sharia Law which is extremely totalitarian and completely against human rights.

I am a Saudi woman and I have spent my entire childhood in Saudi Arabia. I have witnessed many public executions since I was only 6 years old. I saw a man being beheaded for leaving Islam (apostacy), I saw a thief whose left hand was being amputated as a punishment for stealing and I saw three gays being thrown from the rooftop of a tall building beacause homosexuality is a sin in Islam.

All of these cruel acts happen because Islamic countries are governed by the Sharia law.

Indians, on the other hand are governed by something known as the Indian Constitution which is full of human rights and gender equality. India is one of the best democracies in the entire world.

I have been currently living in Sweden since I was 22 years old. My boyfriend is an Indian and we both visited India last year. And believe me when I tell you this, Indians have a heart of gold and they are as secular as secular ever will be.

If I would have been living in Saudi Arabia instead of Sweden, I would have been beheaded because I partied a lot here in Sweden and also drank a lot of whiskey and sherry wine. My boyfriend would have been beheaded as well because he lost his virginity before marriage when he was only 15 years old.

So, Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia should concentrate on the welfare of their own people instead of trying to save Indian Muslims, who are perfectly leading such a safe and wonderful life in India.

The answer has over 16 thousand upvotes and nearly 200 shares.BALUKHALI REFUGEE CAMP, Bangladesh: Hamida Begum fled her home in Myanmar to neighbouring Bangladesh about two months ago with her husband, two-year-old son, and three-month-old baby. In the weeks before she left, her husband almost never slept at home out of fear of being arrested.

"He would climb on top of a tree and sit there the whole night, even if it was raining really hard," said the 18-year-old, wearing a yellow headscarf over a purple dress and sitting on the floor of her barren bamboo hut.

Hamida now lives on the edge of the world`s largest refugee camp, one of the latest arrivals among some 700,000 Rohingya Muslims who have escaped an army crackdown that the United Nations has called "a textbook example of ethnic cleansing".

Though Myanmar says it is ready to take back the Rohingya, the continued outflow of refugees such as Hamida and her family underlines the lack of progress in addressing the crisis, a year on from the start of the offensive on Aug. 25, 2017.

The Rohingya exodus has threatened Myanmar`s tense transition to democracy and shattered the image of its leader, Nobel peace prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, outside the country.

"The crisis has done enormous damage to Myanmar`s standing in the world," said Richard Horsey, a former U.N. diplomat in the country and a political analyst.

Suu Kyi`s government has rejected most allegations of atrocities made against the security forces by refugees. It has built transit centres to receive Rohingya returnees to western Rakhine state.

But stories brought by Hamida and other recent arrivals in Bangladesh - at least 150 people in August and nearly 13,000 since the beginning of the year - suggest the resolution of a crisis that enters its second year on Saturday remains distant.

Around half a dozen new refugees who spoke to Reuters said that, after months of struggle amid charred huts and empty villages, they were forced to abandon their homes out of fear of harassment or arrest by the security forces. They said they had been confined to their homes and pushed to the brink of starvation, unable to visit farms for work, markets and fishing ponds for food, or mosques to pray.

Myanmar says it did not provoke the crisis and its military launched a legitimate counterinsurgency operation in response to a violent campaign from within the Rohingya minority, who are mostly denied citizenship in the southeast Asian nation.

"It was a systematic activity by a group in order to get a citizenship for Bengali people," said Myo Nyunt, a spokesman for Suu Kyi`s National League for Democracy (NLD) party.

Many in Buddhist-majority Myanmar refer to the Rohingya as "Bengali", which most in the Muslim minority regard as a derogatory term used to suggest they are interlopers from Bangladesh.



AFRAID TO LIGHT CANDLES

The massive influx of refugees has transformed the hills in southeastern Bangladesh into an endless sea of white, orange and blue tents. Residents are settling in for the long haul.

Near Hamida`s hut, Rohingya men carry bricks, dig 4 metre-deep latrines, reinforce muddy slopes with sturdy soil, and mend fences for a new NGO-run school. Bits of wood, bamboo poles and tarpaulin sheets are spread across the area where many of the new arrivals are sent to build their shelters.

Hamida said around 5,000 Rohingya lived in her village in northern Rakhine until last August. When she fled about two months ago, she was among only 100 or so who had remained in the partly-burned hamlet.

Reuters was unable to independently verify Hamida`s account, though relatives and neighbours present at the interview supported her version of events and offered additional details.

Hamida stayed because she could not afford to pay her way into Bangladesh. Months after the initial offensive, she said, the security forces frequently patrolled her village and sometimes arrested Rohingya men or grabbed them to do unpaid work at an expanding military camp nearby.

"In Myanmar, if my children start crying at night, I can`t even light a candle because there is a complete blackout, and if the military see any light they come and arrest you," she said.

The UN`s refugee agency, UNHCR, said in a report last week more than half of the new arrivals, "reported that relatives remaining in Myanmar also plan to leave due to continued fears".

"People tell us...they told me, that they feel like they`re prisoners. They can`t leave the house, the men can`t go fishing, the curfew is so extreme, that there are only certain hours when you can light a fire," said Caroline Gluck, a UNHCR representative in the camps.

Suu Kyi`s spokesman did not respond to repeated calls seeking comment. In a speech in Singapore on Tuesday, Myanmar`s civilian leader said the country had made preparations for the repatriation of refugees, but that it was difficult to set a timeframe for when that might happen.

"The returnees have to be sent back by Bangladesh," she said. "We can only welcome them at the border."

NLD spokesman Myo Nyunt acknowledged that the ethnic and religious tensions that triggered the violence in Rakhine a year ago remained stark.

"The situation in the area hasn`t changed within one year," he said. "It will take time to be improved, live in harmony."Washington: Donald Trump on Thursday warned that "the market would crash" if he is impeached, amid increasing trouble for the US President after his former lawyer Micheal Cohen implicated him by pleading guilty to campaign finance laws. In a stunning admission that implicates Trump, Cohen, 51, pleaded guilty to buying the silence of two women about their alleged affairs with Trump.

The admission to paying hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 US election potentially leaves the US president in legal jeopardy.

In an interview with 'Fox & Friends', Trump said: "I don't know how you can impeach somebody who's done a great job". "If I ever got impeached, I think the market would crash, I think everybody would be very poor, because, without this thinking, you would see?" "You would see numbers that you wouldn't believe in reverse," the President said.

Trump asserted that he has done a great job in office, despite the critical coverage in connection with the guilty plea of his long-time attorney Cohen.

Listing his economic accomplishments, Trump claimed that the economy was going to be "down" if he hadn't been elected. "I freed up, I got rid of regulations, the tax cut was a tremendous thing," the President said. He said that "Had Hillary and the Democrats have gotten in, had she been president, you would have had negative growth. We picked up USD 10 trillion worth".

In a series of tweets, Trump maintained that there was no collusion between his campaign and Russia in the 2016 presidential elections. "The only thing that I have done wrong is to win an election that was expected to be won by Crooked Hillary Clinton and the Democrats. The problem is, they forgot to campaign in numerous states!" he tweeted.

"NO COLLUSION - RIGGED WITCH HUNT!" he said in another tweet.

Cohen's extraordinary admission came the same day as Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort was convicted of five counts of tax fraud, two counts of bank fraud and one count of failure to disclose a foreign bank account.

In the interview with Fox & Friends, Trump also spoke about immigration, saying "we're doing a record-breaking job, but we have bad laws". "You know when you have bad laws you can do good. But you can do a lot better if you had good laws. So they'll all get changed, but we have to elect more Republicans," Trump said.

On the issue of building a wall along the border with Mexico to contain illegal migration of people, the President said that the work has already started.

"We're building the wall. It's already started. We've spent USD 3.2 billion on it. We're asking for USD 5 billion for this year's funding. The wall is going up. A lot of people don't know it," Trump said. He said that he would "like to build it even faster," but working with the Democrats is "very tough". "We're doing an incredible job," Trump said.

The president said he would give himself and his presidency, thus far, an 'A-plus'. "I don't think any president has ever done what I've done in this short (term), we haven't even been two years, biggest tax cuts in history...," Trump said. "You look at all of the things we've done with regulations, the economy is the best it's ever been in history," he said.

Trump said the one area where he was not succeeding was with the media. "The only thing I'm doing badly on is the press doesn't cover me fairly. I thought after I won, you know, they killed me during the campaign. Just killed me. I said well, one good thing about winning, I've shown them, so now I'm going to get fair press," Trump said.

He also criticized the media coverage of his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, Finland, last month. "My meeting with Putin was a tremendous success, I got killed by the fake news. They wanted me to go up and punch him in the face. I said I want to get along with Russia. I want to get along with everybody," the President said.

"They said I was too rough on North Korea, remember that, too rough. But with Putin, they said I was too soft. I've always won. It was controversial when I ran, and I won, and now the country's doing better than it's ever done," Trump added.CAIRO (Reuters) - Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, in his first purported speech in nearly a year, has called on followers to persevere, according to a statement posted on the group`s media outlet.

"For the Mujahideen (holy warriors) the scale of victory or defeat is not dependant on a city or town being stolen or subject to that who has aerial superiority, intercontinental missiles or smart bombs," Baghdadi said in a recording posted on his al-Furqan media group.

Reuters was unable to verify whether the voice on the recording was Baghdadi`s.

Islamic State, which until last year controlled large areas in Syria and Iraq, has since been driven into the desert following successive defeats in separate offensives in both countries.

Baghdadi, who declared himself ruler of all Muslims in 2014 after capturing Iraqs main northern city Mosul, is now believed to be hiding in the Iraqi-Syrian border region after losing all the cities and towns of his self-proclaimed caliphate.

The secretive Islamic State leader has frequently been reported killed or wounded since leading his fighters on a sweep through northern Iraq. His whereabouts are not known but Wednesday`s message appears to suggest he is still alive.

One of his sons was reported to have been killed in the city of Homs in Syria, the group`s news channel reported earlier this year.

Baghdadi`s last message came in the form of an undated 46-minute audio recording, released via the al-Furqan organisation in September, where he urged followers across the world to wage attacks against the West and to keep fighting in Iraq, Syria and elsewhere.Karachi: Inside a Hindu temple in a shanty area in Pakistan's Karachi city, Anum Agha wearing the traditional Muslim Hijab greets her students with 'salaam' and gets a loud 'Jai Shri Ram' in response.

Anum runs a school inside the temple in the Basti Guru area of the southern port city. The school is situated in the middle of an informal Hindu settlement which is facing constant threats from land grabbers.

But Anum is determined to impart knowledge about education, health and basic rights to the children of the minority community.

In the settlement, 80 to 90 Hindu families live in a close cluster of wooden huts and some semi-constructed houses. One can see Anum holding discussions with children of the settlement after her classes are over.

"Everyone is surprised when I tell them about our school inside this temple but we had no other place to hold our classes when I first started coming here last year," she said.

The classes are conducted in the main area of the temple. The walls of the temple are plastered with posters of Hindu deities and statues of Hindu Gods placed up on a higher perch.

The lack of basic facilities is noticeable as one moves around the settlement located in Rehman Colony near Mahmoodabad but for land grabbers, it is not an ordinary piece of land. "There have been at least two incidents in the last four years when some huts were set on fire and the Hindu families were threatened and told to get out of the area," Shiva Dharni, a community leader, said.

Recently authorities also cut electricity and water connections to the Basti, which was set up in the 60s when the Hindu families migrated from Ghotki in interior Sindh to Karachi.

The area witnessed tensions a few years ago when a Muslim resident apparently started propagating an idea that a mosque should be constructed over the land. "These land grabbers try to persuade the Muslim clerics that having a settlement of lower caste Hindu in the center of a proper Muslim neighbourhood is unacceptable," Arif Habib, who heads the non-governmental Initiator Human Development Foundation which has brought Anum to run the school in the temple, said.

"These are vulnerable communities and they are under threat from non-state actors, I mean land grabbers who want them to evacuate the plot where this settlement is located," he said.

Anum reluctantly admits that some of the Muslim residents living around the settlement don't like her involvement with the scheduled caste Hindu families and her holding classes. "But I do it because these people are not even aware of their basic rights. Their children want to gain knowledge and education. Some of them attended other schools in the area but faced social and religious issues," Anum said.

She said that the Hindu elders were very happy that their children, specially the girls, don't have to leave the settlement for education.

Asked whether she has faced difficulties as a Muslim teacher, Anum said she did face challenges. "But I never talk about religion and avoid hurting their sensitivities. I try to keep them focused on different subjects and religion is not one of them," she said.

"I respect them as human beings and they respect me back. That is how we work. We celebrate religious festivals together. I say salaam to them and they respond with Jai Shri Ram."

She feels the school can serve as an example of how different communities can co-exist peacefully in the Muslim majority nation while respecting each other.Paris: Two people were killed and one seriously wounded in a knife attack in the Paris suburb of Trappes, French authorities said. The knife attacker was then shot dead by police.

"The police operation is over ... the person was neutralised and is dead," the local prefecture said on Twitter.

Islamic State issued a statement claiming responsibility for the attack. BFM TV said the attacker shouted "Allahu akbar", but police could not immediately confirm it.

One Interior ministry source said the victims might be relatives of the attacker and police are looking into whether it was a family quarrel. "The reason behind the attack and his profile are not known yet and are being looked into," another source said.

Counter-terrorism officials have yet to be asked to join the investigation, a judicial source said.

Trappes is an underprivileged town situated in an overall wealthy area west of Paris. Dozens of radicalised youths from the town of about 30,000 habitants have left for Syria.Spearman High School alum, Alberto Vargas, recently attended a Certified Angus Beef Chef Summit in Wooster, Ohio. He was able to work side by side with some of the best chefs in the country learning everything there is to learn about primal and sub-primal cuts of beef.

Chef Alberto was part of the crew representing the Drunken Oyster in Amarillo, where he is the Executive Sous Chef.

After graduating in 1999 from SHS, he studied architecture, graphic design, graphic design animation and finally settled his artistic bent on the culinary arts.

Chef Alberto studied at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Dallas.

He is the son of Esther and Arturo Vargas of Spearman.

to learn more about Alberto click the links below:112 International tells you all you need to know about Ukraine's parliamentary and presidential elections

Open source

Ukrainian elections are near, but when exactly? And, actually, what kind of elections are we talking about? Who can be a candidate and who can vote? What is the procedure, what does the election process look like, and does it have any interesting features?

When will the next elections take place in Ukraine?

In the 2019 year. Ukraine would hold both presidential and parliamentary elections.

According to the law, elections of the President of Ukraine are scheduled for March 31, 2019.

Elections to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine should be held on October 27, 2019.

Occasionally, there were rumors about the possible holding of early elections (primarily to the Verkhovna Rada), but as of now, such a decision was not adopted.

Those presidential and parliamentary elections, which are waiting for Ukraine in 2019, are called regular.

The next presidential and parliamentary elections are held in connection with the end of the constitutional term of office of the head of state and the Verkhovna Rada.

President elections. Main stages

The Verkhovna Rada appoints the next election of the President of Ukraine by adopting an appropriate resolution not later than 100 days before the election day. That is, the decision on the appointment of elections must be made before December 21, 2018.

A citizen of Ukraine who has reached the age of thirty-five, who has the right to vote, who speaks the state language and resides in Ukraine for the last ten days before the election day, might be elected President of Ukraine.

The CEC announces the beginning of the electoral process by taking a decision not later than 91 days before the voting day.

Thus, considering that the election process of the next presidential election in Ukraine begins 90 days before the voting, this falls on December 31, 2018.

Stages of the electoral process:

Nomination and registration of candidates;

Formation of the local, district election commissions;

Carrying out election campaigning;

Establishment of special polling stations that exist on a temporary basis;

Compiling voter lists, checking and clarifying them;

Voting on election day;

Counting the votes of voters, determining the results of voting and the results of presidential elections in Ukraine and their official announcement;

Termination of powers of district and precinct election commissions.

The CEC forms election commissions no later than 40 days before the election day (that is, until February 18, 2019), precinct election commissions are formed no later than 18 days before the election day (until March 13, 2019).

The nomination of candidates for the presidency by parties and self-nomination begins with the first day of the electoral process.

A candidate needs to make a cash deposit for his registration  2.5 million hryvnias (almost 100 thousand USD).

Submission of documents for registration as a presidential candidate ends 50 days before the election day.

As a result, Ukraine should know the names of all presidential candidates by February 8, 2019.

However, no later than 23 days before the election day, a candidate for the presidency might apply to the CEC for the withdrawal of his candidacy from the election.

Election campaigning of the candidate begins the day after he is registered with the CEC and ends at midnight on the last Friday before the voting day.

The voting day lasts from 8 am to 8 pm. The CEC should determine the election results within 10 days, but not later than on the third day after the receipt of all protocols on the results of the voting.

Verkhovna Rada elections

Regular elections to the Ukrainian parliament take place on the last Sunday of October of the fifth year of the Verkhovna Rada. In this case, it is October 27, 2019.

A citizen of Ukraine who has reached the age of twenty-one, who has the right to vote and has been residing in Ukraine for the last five years, may be elected as a deputy.

The election process, similarly to the rules for presidential elections, begins 90 days before the voting. In this case, it is July 29, 2019.

Stages of the electoral process:

Compiling and clarifying voter lists;

Creation of electoral districts (according to the legislation, the CEC publishes data about single-mandate constituencies no later than 175 days before voting day);

Establishment of polling stations;

Creation of election commissions (district election commissions are established not later than 62 days before voting day);

Nomination and registration of candidates for deputies;

Carrying out agitation;

Vote;

Counting of votes;

Establish results;

Termination of the activities of election commissions.

There are two options for nomination: from the party (list) and self-nomination (majority system). To register a candidate a person must pay a deposit. If a candidate is nominated by a party, it becomes responsible for the payment of the pledge, in case of self-nomination, the candidate himself should pay the amount (about 15 thousand hryvnias or 55 USD).

Important: The society is still discussing changes in the legislation regarding the parliamentary elections. There have already been attempts to adopt the relevant draft laws, but they were failed.

However, given that there is still plenty of time before the parliamentary elections, it is possible that there will be new attempts to change the legislation. At least, the consideration of the new electoral code might be scheduled for this autumn.

Who can vote in the elections?

Citizens of Ukraine, who turned 18 at the time of the elections. Citizens who are recognized as legally incapacitated cannot vote.

Read the original text at 112.ua.In the result of the militants' attack four Ukrainian soldiers died, another one died due to the mass assaults

Four Ukrainian soldiers died in the result of the five-hour fight in Donbas, another seven were wounded. One more soldier died in the result of the shelling. Dmytro Hutsuliak, the spokesperson of the Defense Ministry of Ukraine claimed this as 112.ua reported.

"About 6:00 a.m. an enemy approached the forward position of one of the mechanized brigades near Krymske under the cover of the artillery and mortar fire and attempted to seize the observation posts along the Bakhmut highway. The command of the brigade used the reserves to respond the attack and fire defeat was inflicted. As a result, the attack of the enemy was repulsed. The casualties of the enemy are specified," Hutsuliak reported.

Moreover, one more military man died as the result of the shelling performed by the illegal armed formations. The militants carried the targeted fire from the grenade launchers and heavy machine guns in the area of Severne, Starognativka, Vodyane, Lebedynske, Shyrokyne, Pesok and Krasnogorivka.

Totally, 12 attacks of the pro-Russian militants were spotted.

As we reported the militants shelled the units position of the Joint Forces five times since the beginning of the day on August 22, no casualties reported. The enemy was opening aimed fire from attached, automatic and hand grenade launcher, heavy machine guns, and small arms.

Related video:The authorities of occupied Donbas are going to do this if Kyiv refuses to prolong the law on the special status of occupied territories

So-called "Chairman of people's council of Donetsk People's Republic" Denis Pushylin claimed about the possibility of holding not only the "elections" of the leaders of Luhansk and Donetsk People's Republics but also the new "referendum" as TASS reported.

Particularly, he connects the holding of the "referendum" with the possible refusal of Kyiv to prolong the law on the special status of occupied territories.

"Ukraine hints that this law can be not prolonged in October and it will cease to exist. It will mean the refusal of Kyiv from the Minsk Agreements and the prospects to build the contractual relationship between Kyiv and Donbas, renew the trade connections and so on. In other words, it will be finally clear that no integration will take place and we will be forced to build on our "independence" and strengthen "sovereign statehood"," he said.

Pushylin claimed that in such case, the issue on the holding of the "elections" of the heads of the self-proclaimed "republics" and to the "city council" will be under the decision.

"Then we will need to hold the "elections" of the head and the "People's Council". And not only for these bodies. We will need to hold the "election to the city council". They were postponed as they fell under the Minsk Agreements. But if Kyiv withdraws from these agreements, we will hold them on our own," Pushylin said.

"Also, the "national referendum" will be needed with a clearer issue then it was in 2014. For example: "Are you voting for Donetsk People's Republic to be the independent sovereign state?," he is sure.

As we reported the militants decided to postpone the election of the leaders of the so-called Luhansk Peoples Republic (LPR) and Donetsk Peoples Republic (DPR) for uncertain times. Citing the source in Kremlin, it is specified that the so-called election was postponed due to a few reasons, including the absence of the necessity to re-elect the so-called MPs and leaders of the self-proclaimed republics, due to the risks for the Minsk Talks and the prospects of new sanctions. As a result, the militants did not hold the preparations for the election in occupied Donbas.

Earlier U.S. Special Envoy Kurt Volker claimed that Ukraine should extend law on the special status of Donbas. He admitted that the law was adopted, but never actually implemented.

The MPs of the Verkhovna Rada claimed that this law will not be prolonged as the law on de-occupation of Donbas acts at the moment.

Related video:The bilateral strategic relations 'have been improving on the daily basis', the Turkish leader wrote in his greeting letter

President of Turkey Recep Tayip Erdogan congratulated the Ukrainian nation and President Poroshenko on the 27th anniversary of this country's independence. Poroshenko's press service reported this on Thursday evening.

'Our relations with Ukraine as a strategic partner have been growing deeper in every area, whilst the friendship between our peoples has been growing every day. It is very nice to notice this mutual will, which we show to bring our cooperation on the even higher level', reads the letter.

'Turkey will keep on supporting Ukraine's independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty', Erdogan said. He also urged Poroshenko to visit Turkey and join the Strategic Council meeting in autumn.

Erdogan wished Ukrainians welfare and prosperity.

Earlier today, leaders of other countries, specifically USA, France and Germany already congratulated the Ukrainian nation and personally President Poroshenko.It is only one working checkpoint on the division line in Luhansk region

Open source

The division line checkpoint in Stanytsia Luhanska will be closed from September 2 to 7, due to the ongoing maintenance works. The press service of Luhansk regional state administration reported that on Thursday.

The respective agreement was made during the session of Minsk contact group on August 22.

The authority explained that the works include settling of temporary constructions, as well as connection to power networks and water facilities.

After the repair works are done, the number of workplaces at the new checkpoint will be increased.

Stanytsia Luhanska is only one working checkpoint on the division line in Luhansk region. Another checkpoint in Zolote has been shut down for a while because the Russian militants refuse to open it.

As we reported earlier, Stanytsia Luhanska checkpoint (Ukraine-controlled area of Luhansk region) will be closed for maintenance works. The press service of Luhansk regional administration reported that on Facebook.

'Starting on August 6, the service zone of entry-exit checkpoint of Stanytsia Luhanska will be undertaking refurbishment works. It will keep running; the local residents should be advised that the checkpoint will work as usual', said Yuriy Klymenko, the deputy head of the authority.

The entry-exit operations will be suspended from August 27 till August 31, if the parties to the Minsk talks group decide so during the next session, which is slated for August 22. During the time, maintenance workers will set the temporary constructions on the premises, and plug them into the local electricity and water supply systems.On his way to Berlin for a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Vladimir Putin stopped in the Alps on Aug. 18 for the mountainside wedding of Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl. Seated at her right hand at one point, Putin traded toasts with the bride, waltzed with her, and even stuck around for the Cossack singers and dancers hed brought as guest performers. It was just long enough for Russian official media to tout the appearance as evidence Putin is no longer unwelcome in Europe.

Later that day, the German government tried to play down the significance of his meeting with Merkel, but it was hard to deny the symbolism. It was the Russian presidents first one-on-one meeting on the home turf of his most implacable European opponent since relations froze in 2014 after his annexation of Crimea. If not a breakthrough, it was at least a thawing of the ice.

With Donald Trump upending diplomatic ties around the world, Putin is finding a warmer reception from European leaders whove long shunned him. Trumps decision to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal, plus the billions of dollars in tariffs and sanctions hes leveled at the European Union and Russia, suddenly give Putin and European leaders a set of common grievances. The U.S. president has added to the pressure with recurrent warnings that he might impose sanctions on a natural gas pipeline under construction from Russia to Germany that Putin and Merkel strongly support.

Although Trump has been a unique catalyst, hes not the only force behind Europes shift toward Russia. Even before he pulled out of the Iran deal and started his trade war this spring, new governments in Italyand Austria were calling for better relations with Moscow. In May, French President Emmanuel Macron attended Putins annual economic showcase in St. Petersburg, saying a strong partnership could help anchor Russia to Europe. The EU has resisted U.S. pressure to add more sanctions on Russia. Speaking in Washington on Aug. 21, British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt appealed for more restrictions in the wake of the March poisoning in the U.K. of a former Russian spy, but European officials remain cautious.

With the U.S. throwing everything from European security to trade deals into question, detente with Moscow is a top priority in Berlin and other capitals. Merkel is hedging, and Putin is exploiting, says Josef Janning, senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations in Berlin. Trumps meeting with Putin in Helsinkijust as the U.S. president attacked Merkel and the German economyhighlighted why the chancellor must cultivate her own relationship with the Russian president, Janning says. She doesnt want to give up the chance of keeping Putin within a margin that is manageable for Germany.The forgotten topic of "elections" in the self-proclaimed "people's republics", or some regions of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, became again topical

According to the "Constitution" of the "Luhansk Peoples Republic" (LPR) and "Donetsk Peoples Republic" (DPR), the powers of their "heads" last for 4 years and therefore expire in November 2018. This is applicable only to Olexandr Zakharchenko (DPR leader) since his colleague Leonid Pasechnik from "LPR" came to power as a result of the usual military coup in November 2017.

As early as December 2017, the People's Council of the DPR adopted a majority of votes in the Constitution, according to which the term of office of the head of the DPR and deputies is extended to five years, although they come into force only after the next election. Even then, many saw this as Zakharchenko's desire to stay in power and uncertainty about his victory in the future "elections."

The latter had all the prerequisites - the fall of the socio-economic development of the region, the living standards of people, unemployment, the arbitrariness of militants and so on. A visible manifestation of this was the removal of the so-called "the chairman of the political council" of "Public Movement" Donetsk Republic Denys Pushylin, head of the DPR parliament.

Another, much more visible rival was the ex-battalion commander of the "East" battalion, Olexandr Khodakovsky, who took on the heavy burden of an official oppositionist.

In January 2018, the topic of the elections was voiced again: Zakharchenko said that the "elections of the head of the People's Democratic Republic" will be held in the fall of 2018 and he will take part in them.

On the same day, "ex-speaker of the DPR parliament" Andriy Purgin from Russia has criticized Zakharchenko's decision, claiming that elections to the local councils should be held.

After that, the news about the "DPR elections" became rare: then "the head of the DPR parliament Denys Pusylin declares that they would decide about the elections to the People's Council and the head of Donetsk People's Republic and ensure their "legality", then Zakharchenko will declare a certain mythical increase in the number of candidates for the post of head of the "burgeoning DPR."

Everything has changed in August.

Bring Zakharchenko to power again  the society demands it

The breakthrough in the DPR election campaign took place on August 6, when practically the main "DPR media," the DAN website published a proposal of three activists of the "Donetsk Republic" public movement: Svitlana Drozhzhyna - rector of the Donetsk National University of Economics and Trade, Mykola Shtefan - Council of DPR Veterans, and Ruslan Morozov - Head of the Department of International Relations and Foreign Policy of Donetsk National University.

These unknown people, who do not decide anything in the quasi-republic, suddenly got the honor to announce their position, which was to prolong the term of the powers of the head and deputies of the People's Council, because in some places the world practice is on the way of determining the five-year term of the head of state and powers of parliaments, and in Turkey, Italy and Ireland the president stays in power for 7 years.

A week later, DAN posted the opinion of Viktor Lytvynenko, a teacher at the Donetsk Industrial Technology School of Industrial Automation, who said that the situation in Donbas was unfavorable for holding the election of the "head of the Donetsk People's Republic" in the near future since the war is in progress.

Questions arise: who are all these people and how important is their opinion in the military dictatorship? Why were they allowed to say anything at all?

The answer is simple  it is beneficial to the "power of the republic," but the power cannot voice the same thing and therefore exposes certain "activists" and teachers, whose opinion does not matter and might be ignored if needed. On the other hand, in case of success, it is easy to show how the opinion of "the republican public".

But why is this done?

The answer is obvious - to avoid the "elections." Then a question arises - why and who wants to avoid them, and the answers are not so obvious as it may seem.

Who does not want the elections  Zakharchenko or Russia?

The question "who benefits from the cancellation of the elections" seems to easily find the answer. Current "head of the DPD" Olexandr Zakharchenko wants to remain in power, but not everything is as obvious as it may seem.

After the disappearance of Olexandr Khodakovskiy from the public sphere of the "DPR opposition" in May 2018, the silence of the remaining opposition members in the person of the same "people's governor" of Donetzshyna in 2014, Pavlo Gubarev, Zakharchenko simply does not have obvious competitors in future elections. So why should he initiate their cancellation?

A small number of polling stations and the delivery of voters will give a beautiful television picture of the "multiplicity of elections", and armed submachine gunners will "correctly" count the votes. Actually, this technology was being prepared for "elections of mayors" in 2015.

At the same time, victory in the "elections" formally adds Zakharchenko some "legitimacy", even if in the eyes of the propaganda media of the Russian Federation, the inhabitants of the "DPR" itself do not deceive - they know perfectly that Zakharchenko's power is held on bayonets and will end when the hands holding his hands turn the guns against him, as it happened a year earlier in Luhansk.

True, some idealistic supporters of the "DNR" believe that Zakharchenko's fear of losing the election is an attempt to abolish the election. However, it is hard to believe in this, given the story of the former head of the "DPR electoral commission" Roman Lyagin, who was first fired and then kidnapped and sent to prison, where he was tortured, for criticizing the "head of the republic." It seems that his successor is unlikely to have heard about this story and will decide to count the votes in a "wrong" way.

However, there is a view that Zakharchenko is afraid of elections, on which he can lose because of the Kremlin's decision to change the governor's region "democratically," and not through a military coup, as in Luhansk in November 2017.

However, the Kremlin might be just unwilling to hold the elections.

According to the Minsk agreements of 2014-2015, "Donetsk" or "Luhansk People's Republics" do not exist as states, there are only certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine.

In this regard, there might be no questions about any election of the head of the "LPR" or "DPR," as they are absolutely illegal, they directly contradict and violate the Minsk agreements. And then such a sudden and flagrant violation of Minsk by the "people's republics" should not be real.

In such a situation, the "DPR" election issue can be easily "removed", declaring them undesirable in the opinion of the "DPR public," whose opinion is of no interest to anyone, but it will come in handy as an "excuse."

As time has shown, Russian is not going to follow the "Crimean way" and annex Donbas  it is rather destined for the fate of either unrecognized quasi-formations, or return to Ukraine on the basis of autonomy.

In the second case, it is extremely critical that Ukraine recognizes elections in the territory of uncontrolled regions, which is possible only within the framework of the law "On the provisional order of local self-government in certain regions of Donetsk and Luhansk regions." This document, which, by the way, should be extended by people's deputies in autumn, essentially determines the procedure for legitimizing autonomy within Ukraine, and most importantly - local elections under the Ukrainian laws.

No disarmament - no elections

An insurmountable obstacle to these elections is paragraphs 9-10 of Minsk agreements and article 9 of the Law of Ukraine "On the provisional order of local self-government in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions."

According to the clauses of the Minsk agreements, all illegal armed formations on the territory of the unrecognized republics must be disbanded and disarmed, so of course, it includes all units of the so-called "armed forces of the Donbas People's Republic" or "People's Militia of Donetsk People's Republic."

The Minsk agreements and article 3 of the above-mentioned law guarantee amnesty to the members of the IAF. According to article 9 of the law of Ukraine, detachments of the people's militia are created on the territory of the uncontrolled Donbas, the backbone of which is likely to be the former fighters of illegal armed formations. However, this will happen only on the basis of the decision of the local councils of these regions, that is, after the elections, during which all "servicemen of the people's republics" are obliged to give up their arms under amnesty guarantees.

As you know, the disarmament of illegal armed groups did not happen, and it is at least unreasonable to hold elections in a situation where their results would be easily rigged with the help of the weapons and intimidations.

On the other hand, the curators of the "people's republics" have faced a choice: to hold elections directly contradicting the Minsk agreements, or to abolish the vote, referring to the extremely "important" opinion of the "DPR" local citizens.

Read the original text at 112.ua.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or 112.International and its owners.145 people's deputies out of 156 voted for it

Czech Parliament recognized bringing the USSR and Warsaw Pact members troops to Czechoslovakia as an intervention in 1968, occupation and violation of the international law, as Ceskenoviny reports.

It is necessary that the proposed resolution becomes a clear sign for the community. A clear message to people and other states, including Russia. The message which says that we do not accept recent comments on the events of 1968, which distort its actual sense, the leader of the Christian Democratic Union faction Jan Bartosek, who initiated the voting, said.

Only the representatives of the Communist party stood against the resolution. One of them called the resolution absurd, as "Russia is not the Soviet Union and Putin is not Brezhnev".

Soviet and Warsaw Pact members (except Romania) troops invaded Czechoslovakia in August-September 1968. The events of that year are known as Operation Danube. Soviet military presence lasted till 1991.

108 citizens of Czechoslovakia were murdered, 500 civilians were injured as a result of the invasion. 100 people from the Soviet side died.

Moreover, yesterday the leaders of Latvia and Estonia discussed reimbursement from Russia for damage the Soviet occupation caused.

Related video:U.S. State Secretary Mike Pompeo and Jeremy Hunt, UK Foreign Secretary, discussed Russias threat, as the press office of the Department of State reports.

They discussed a number of global issues, including the ongoing threat posed by Russias dangerous and destabilizing activity and Irans malign behavior, the defeat ISIS campaign, as well as the humanitarian situation in Yemen, the message says.

Pompeo and Hunt promised to deepen cooperation on security and foreign policy issues, and welcomed the prospect of a future free trade agreement.

Earlier, the U.S. imposed anti-Russian sanctions due to Skripals case. The sanctions are expected to come into force on August 22.

Later, The U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he would consider the question of removal of anti-Russian sanctions if it took steps on such areas as Syria or Ukraine.

Additionally, Trump ticked off areas that he discussed privately with Putin  security in Israel and Syria, Crimeas annexation and incursion into eastern Ukraine, the message says.

Related video:The Ukrainian side filed the respective request, and the Court's reaction was very quick, Ukraine's Justice Minister Pavlo Petrenko said

Open source

The Russian government is obliged to report to the ECHR about the current health conditions of four Ukrainian political prisoners. The list includes Stanislav Klykh, Volodymyr Balukh, Emir-Usein Kuku and Serhiy Lytvynov. Ukraine's Justice Minister Pavlo Petrenko posted this on Facebook.

'The ECHR reacted to the request from the Ukrainian government very quickly... the ECHR's decision is the following: Russia must provide information on the health conditions of these political prisoners, about the medical service they received, and whether they are provided with that services now', the minister wrote.

Petrenko also added that according to the ECHR decision, Russia should provide information on political prisoners, whom Ukrainian consuls and other representatives could not have visited recently, as the Russian authorities have not allowed them to do so.Germany will stand for the Ukrainian nation's welfare, stability and freedom, the top official said in his greeting letter

On the occasion of Ukraine's Independence Day, President of Germany Frank-Walther Steinmeier sent his Ukrainian colleague Petro Poroshenko a congratulation letter. Ukraine's presidential administration reported that on Thursday afternoon.

'(...) I'm sending you most sincere wishes, on the behalf of the German citizens, too', the letter says.

The German president also wrote that his country supports Ukraine as it fights political, economic and social challenges.

'Along with European and international partners, Germany will keep standing for people in Ukraine to enjoy a free, independent life in peace, stability and welfare', he wrote.

Watch the related video:

Steinmeier added that in order to succeed on this path, Ukraine should decisively continue with the reforms that already started.

The German official wished Ukraine a happy and peaceful future.Steshenko was found guilty in the arson of the house of the Russian mufti in Crimea

Central District court in Simferopol controlled by the Kremlin sentenced Oleksandr Steshenko from Kharkiv to two years in prison to be served in a penal settlement. Krym.Realii reports this with a reference to the data of the Russian FSB in Crimea and Sevastopol.

Steshenko was found guilty in the arson of the house of Crimean mufti Emirali Albayev. The security forces claim that Steshenko admitted his guilt during the investigation and applied for the special order of the judicial proceedings. This is why the criminal proceeding against Steshenko in the part of committing another offense is terminated due to the sincere repentance, reads the message.

Related: Sentsov not to be fed forcefully, - Russian Federal Penitentiary Service

Reportedly, Oleksandr Steshenko was detained by the Russian security forces at the administrative border with the occupied Crimea in April.

Last time Oleksandr got in touch on the morning of April 11: He called his mother and said that the Russian border officers in Chonhar are doubt about the similarity of him and the photo in his passport.

Related: Poroshenko, Merkel discuss release of Sentsov

Russian FSB refuted the detention of the Ukrainian. In their turn, Ukrainian MFA directed a note to the Russian Federation with a request to voice the reasons for the detention of Oleksandr Steshenko.Austria was one of few states which did not expel Russian diplomats from the country due to Skripals' poisoning

Sebastian Kurz, the Chancellor of Austria, stated that regardless of Putins visit to the wedding of Austrias Foreign Minister, the police of his state towards Russia would not change, as Reuters reports.

Our position in Europe did not change because of a wedding. Our foreign policy towards Russia is clear... We helped shape and are committed to all the European Unions decisions, Kurz said.

However, Kurz added that he hoped to improve the relations with Russia through more intensive dialogue.

Austria holds the EUs rotating six-month presidency until the end of the year and is expected to speak on behalf of the whole 28-nation bloc, the news agency reads.

Earlier, last week Putin danced with Karin Kneissl, Austria's Foreign Minister, at her wedding.

Related video:The representatives of the Russian Ministry stated that they have sent over 500 tons of humanitarian cargo to Donbas, which comprise childrens food packages, medication and medical equipment

Russia sent the 89th humanitarian convoy to the occupied Donbas, as the press office of Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations reports.

The vehicles of the 89th humanitarian column of Russias Emergency Ministry are heading towards the Russian-Ukrainian border. The column will be divided there by two, each of which will move to its direction after the inspection at the checkpoints  one to Donetsk, another  to Luhansk, the message says.

The representatives of the Russian Ministry stated that they have sent over 500 tons of humanitarian cargo to Donbas, which comprise childrens food packages, medication and medical equipment.

Russian authorities have been sending the so-called humanitarian convoys to Ukraine since August 2014. The Russian side claims the trucks carry food, water, medicines, books, agrarian instruments and other necessities. Ukrainian border guards cannot check the contents of trucks, and Russia refused to send their humanitarian aid through the controlled checkpoints on the border, as requested by Ukraine. Ukraine insists there are weapons and ammunition aboard the trucks, so they reach Kremlin-backed militants that keep on attacking Ukrainian positions.

Related video:Office of the Ambassador of Renewable Energy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine signed a Memorandum of Cooperation in the field of promotion of renewable energy

On 22 August 2018, Ruslana Lyzhychkos Office of the Ambassador of Renewable Energy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine signed a Memorandum of Cooperation in the field of promotion of renewable energy. The ministrys press service reported that.

The Memorandum is aimed at facilitating the development of "green" energy in our country, the attraction of foreign investments, the integration of Ukraine into international projects, and the use of new technologies and developments in this area.

The Foreign Minister of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin expressed his conviction that joint efforts of the MFA and Ruslana Lyzhychko as Ambassador of Renewable Energy will contribute to fully tapping the potential of alternative energy in Ukraine, and to expanding international cooperation in the field of green economy.

The ceremony was also attended by President of the Energy Watch Group Hans-Josef Fell, who announced their plans to conclude a similar Memorandum with the Office of the Ambassador of Renewable Energy.

Earlier, on August 17, State Agency on Energy Efficiency (SAEE) of Ukraine and the Ministry of Energy and Industry of UAE signed a memorandum about mutual understanding in the field of energy efficiency and renewable energy.Open source

August 23  Ukraine celebrates the Day of the National Flag.

A bit of history:

1848  a yellow and blue banner was adopted by the Main Ruthenian Council in Lemberg (Lviv, Western Ukraine), the capital of the then Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria, and flew over the city's magistrate for the first time. The flag was indeed yellow and blue, it was later changed upside down to blue and yellow to be more appealing to the common person.

March 25, 1917  the blue-yellow flag was flown in Petrograd during a 20-thousand people mass demonstration for the first time in the Russian Empire. On April 1, 1917 a 100-thousand people demonstration carried over 320 national flags in Kyv.

Open source

March 10, 1919  the first flag of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (blue and yellow based on the red flag) was adopted to serve as the symbol of state of the Soviet Ukraine.

Open source

1949  the flag of the Soviet Ukraine was changed once again: a red (top, 2/3) and a azure (bottom, 1/3) stripes with the golden star, hammer and sickle in the top left corner.

Open source

August 23, 1991  a group of MPs brought a blue and yellow flag to the session hall of Ukraines parliament. That very flag is still being stored in the museum of the Verkhovna Rada as a relics.

January 28, 1992  Ukraines Verkhovna Rada adopts the Law on National Flag approving it as a state one. The common interpretation of blue and yellow is "blue sky above yellow field of wheat".

2009  President Victor Yushchenko founded an annual flag-raising ceremony on August 23.The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) have uncovered an agent who cooperated with Russian special forces. The SBU head Vasyl Hrytsak announced this, as Radio Liberty reports.

We have revealed the mole in our rows. We have detained the mole and documented everything. The arrest was chosen for him as a restrictive measure. Unfortunately, we still have many cases, in which we are investigating possible involvement with Russian special forces of SBU and other Ukrainian citizens, who work in other military and paramilitary organizations, he said.

According to Hrytsak, on August 18, the suspect was chosen a restrictive measure in form of arrest.

As it was reported earlier, the soldiers of one of the brigades of the Joint Force operation detained the citizen of Yasynuvata city (not controlled by Ukraine) who is a member of the human intelligence network of the Ministry of State Security of Donetsk People's Republic (DPR). The detention took place on June 3, according to the message.

The representatives of the military counterintelligence of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) as a part of the Joint Force operation established that 23-year-old man conducted reconnaissance of the military objects of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Mariinka at the request of the militants' tutors. He got $242 for every fulfilled task.The Armed Forces of Ukraine completely restored the contact line in the area of Zholobok, Luhansk region. President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko claimed this at the opening of the exhibition of the military hardware as 112 Ukraine reported.

"At 6 a.m. the Russian soldiers attacked the position of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Zholobok by the forces of the enhanced company in the offensive lane more than a kilometer with the powerful artillery preparation and use of the heavy weapons. Four Ukrainian heroes gave their lives, seven were wounded. But they regrouped in time, opened fire, used the reserves and the attack was repulsed. Eight militants were killed and more than 11 were wounded. We completely restored the contact line," he said.

"According to the report of General Nayev who commands the Armed Forces that was announced: the stability was restored, the Ukrainian land was restored and the people of Ukraine can fully rely on the Armed Forces of Ukraine," Poroshenko added.

As we reported four Ukrainian soldiers died in the result of the five-hour fight in Donbas, another seven were wounded. One more soldier died in the result of the shelling.

Related video:Earlier, peoples deputy Leonid Yemets, stated on Facebook that the presidential elections might be postponed

Andriy Parubiy, Ukraines Parliament Spokesperson, stated that the presidential elections in Ukraine are to be held, as the law intended, in March 2019. He said it at the briefing, as 112 Ukraine reports.

Therefore, the Head of the Parliament commented on the statement of one of the peoples deputies on a possible postponement of the presidential elections.

I dont know anything about that. I think that the elections should be held according to the Constitution, on last Sunday of March of the fifth year in office, the Spokesperson said.

Earlier, peoples deputy Leonid Yemets, stated on Facebook that the presidential elections might be postponed.

As far as I know a submission to the Constitutional Court is being prepared to postpone the date of the presidential elections in Ukraine, he wrote.

Presidential elections in Ukraine will take place in spring in 2019, and in autumn this year Ukrainians will vote for a new Parliaments composition.Pizza Veteranos is located 20 km away from the frontline

Armed Forces soldiers in east Ukraine enjoy pizza delivery from Pizza Veteranos, as Bloomberg reports.

The pizza place, which is 20 km away from the frontline, was opened this year. It delivers pizza to Ukrainian soldiers who fight against Russian militants.

We have discounts of 25% for those who fight. We deliver 20 pizzas a week, Bohdan Chaban, the Co-owner of Pizza Veterano, says.

Moreover, 10% of the income goes to kids charity fund, whose parents died in battle actions.

We try to employ the war veterans, Chaban adds.Open source

Four former fighters of "Tornado" task force unit and two workers of Lukyanivska prison were served with charge papers on the riot case as the press service of the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine reported.

"On the results of the pretrial investigation, on August 20, 2018, the prosecutor's office of Kyiv garrison of Central region of Ukraine notified of the suspicion to the ex-commander of "Tornado" company who is the organizer of the commitment of the crimes and to four ex-fighters of this company and the members of the commitment of the crimes. Moreover, two workers of Lukyanivska prison, the supporters of the organized group in the commitment of the crimes were served charges," the message said.

The Prosecutor's Office added that during the investigation, it was established that the organized group from among the arrested former officers of "Tornado" company with the support of the prison's workers committed the serious and particularly serious crimes: mass unrest followed by the arsons, seizures of the buildings, resistance to the representatives of the authorities with the use of the weaponry; threats of the murder, violence toward the workers of the law enforcement bodies due to the carrying of the duty by these workers and the storage of the explosives.

"The criminal actions of the particular members of the organizer group and its organizer will be additionally qualified as the actions that aim to the commission of the attempted murder of the workers of the law enforcement bodies due to the carrying of the duty by these workers, the message said.

Earlier, on August 9 clashes between the citizens and law enforcers occurred during transferring of ex-fighters of Tornado near Lukyanivska Prison.

As a result, three Tornado fighters, kept in Lukyanivska Prison, were transferred and the others were put in an isolation cell. As the representatives of the Justice Ministry informed, one law enforcer got injured as the fighters used handmade firecrackers. Moreover, it was reported that Tornado fighters poured petrol on a law enforcer and threatened to burn him.

Earlier, two workers of Lukyanivska Prison passed Tornado fighters the prohibited items.

Pavlo Petrenko, Ukraines Justice Minister announced severe administrative decisions concerning Lukyanivska Prison workers soon.

Later Ruslan Romashkov, the Head of Boryspil Penal Colony #119 became the new Head of Kyiv Remand Center more known as Lykyanivska Prison.

Related video:The Head of the White House stated that the U.S. would always support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine

The U.S. President Donald Trump sent congratulations on the Independence Day to Petro Poroshenko, as the press office of Ukraines President reported.

On the behalf of the American nation, I would like to congratulate You and Ukraines people with the 27th anniversary of your independence, which you will mark on August 24. Ukrainians have a lot to be proud of: for four years Ukraine was fearlessly resisting Russian aggression and is blessed with a bright civil society, growing economy and Armed Forces, which are strong more than ever, Trump stated.

The Head of the White House stated that the U.S. would always support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

Please, remember that the U.S. will always stand by Ukraine when it protects its sovereignty and territorial integrity within the internationally recognized borders. The U.S. Government will continue working with Ukraine and support efforts in the strengthening of democratic institutions, development of supremacy of law, fight against corruption and stimulating economic growth, Trump concluded.

Ukraine marks Independence Day on August 24.

Related video:The sides have already discussed the conditions of the detention of Ukrainian movie maker Oleg Sentsov and other political prisoners in the Russian prisons

Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Lyudmyla Denisova had the meeting Arif Virani, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage during which she offered to consider the possibility of the imposing of the additional restrictions against the allies of Russia's President Vladimir Putin by Canada for the release of the Ukrainian prisoners. Denisova reported this on Facebook.

"I invited Canada to join to the entire society that constantly reminds the president of Russia about the necessity to return our citizens to the relatives. It is possible to do this through the additional restrictions against his allies and the constant appeals to him. Mister Virani promised to inform the leadership of the government of Canada as according to him, it is very important for the human rights all over the world," Denisova said.

Also, the sides discussed the conditions of the detention of Ukrainian movie maker Oleg Sentsov and other political prisoners in the Russian prisons.

"I noted that Russia did not answer any of our appeals, in which we sent the lists of the prisoners and schedules of their transfer. I reported that 22 Russian prisoners detained in Ukraine appealed to the Russian president with the request to exchange them for the Ukrainians," she said.

Moreover, the sides discussed the issues of the internally displaced persons and conflicts with the Romes in Ukraine.

As we reported the Ukrainian side in Minsk proposed to pardon two Russian citizens and convey them to the Russian Consul with a simultaneous exchange of the Ukrainian servicemen with Ukraine illegally kept on the occupied territory of Donbas.

Related video:My home is filled with vintage rugs, mainly from Turkey, and a few from Morocco as well. They are one of my collections that I am pretty sure I will love forever (along with vintage scarves, brass objects and mid-century ceramics). I have learned a LOT from my rug shopping adventures! Im excited to share some of my tips with you today!

Vintage rugs are unique.

Similar to vintage clothing, there is an appeal to me that when I buy a vintage rug I probably will not see it in two of my friends homes as well. Maybe this kind of thing doesnt bother you, and I am slightly embarrassed to say that it does bother me. But when I spend so much time and energy on a room I do want it to feel unique. Shopping vintage rugs helps a LOT with that because its pretty tough to find the exact same one twice.

The thing I love most about my vintage rugs is that they LAST. Most of my rugs have some wear (some of them a LOT of wear) when they arrive to my home. I like that they are already worn in and I love the idea that they have lived in many homes before us, and that they will live in many homes after us, too.

When I was younger and living in my first home with Jeremy we would buy a new $60 rug from Urban Outfitters a couple times a year because they didnt last (we had puppies toobut they are just not made to last). Eventually, I began to realize that with all the money I was spending on disposable rugs I could buy better quality rugs and learn to clean them (in my experience, I prefer to clean my own rugs over taking them in to a rug cleaner).

I still buy an occasional rug from Target or a big box store, but for the most part I choose rugs made with materials that are meant to last and be cleaned over and over. And as a result, our rugs are lasting year, after year, after year.

I grew up loving vintage and buying most of my clothing and housewares from thrift shops. As I got older, I kept a place in my heart for vintage, but began to mix it with different styles. I also began to be more thoughtful with my purchases. I used to walk into a flea market and fill up a cart. At one point, Jeremy pointed out to me that the joy of thrifting was getting a haul, but that I wasnt using and appreciating the things I was buying. It was a light bulb moment for me (I didnt even realize that about myself!). After that, I took a couple years break from vintage shopping and when I got back into it I developed new habits. These days, I usually leave with just one itemor nothing. Being more selective has helped me to stay true to my style and collect things I will use and cherish, rather than hoarding.

Bottom line, I think that learning to be really picky about the vintage you buy is absolutely KEY if you want to curate a strong style in your home (or closet).

Buy for specific rooms.

This is pretty obvious. But dont shop backwards. If you are browsing rugs on Etsy without considering the size and what room you are shopping for, you are not going to get as good a result as when you shop with a purpose. I have a lot of experience with this mistake, to be honest! I see a rug I cant live without and I tell myself, Ill find a spot for it. Well, that might work, but it might not. Its much wiser to shop with a room in mind and measure in advance to know what size you need.

When I shop online, I always use search termsfirst for size like runner, area rug or specific sizes like 23. Then I also add color search terms because its VERY easy to stray from your color palette when shopping vintage.

If you happen to live in Nashville, my go-to store is Apple & Oak . I met Allison when we were working on Kaceys dining room . The thing that is really special that she offers is that she will come to your home with a truck full of rugs and let you try them all in your space. Its a DREAM come true because it is so incredibly helpful to see them in your space. I purchased quite a few rugs from her (like my bathroom vanity runner) that I honestly wouldnt have selected online, but they just looked really good IN my space.

My office rug is from Coco Carpets, which is a great shop with a lot of larger options in really bright colors. If you havent shopped vintage rugs much, one of the tough things is finding rugs that are large enough. Its easy to find bathmat size or runners, but larger area rugs can be tricky.

The Vintage Rug Shop is great if you are looking for more traditional style and more muted colors.

Etsy has a great selection and I shop there often. I prefer Etsy over eBay just because the photography tends to be higher quality and seeing true color is really important when shopping for rugs. I dont have a favorite shop, I just use my search terms and pick a bunch of favorites, then narrow it down from there based on price and what is truly best for my room.

EBTH  I found an amazing rug at a steal on EBTH. It is bidding based, so if you get lucky and no one else bids you can get crazy low prices. The main struggle is just remembering to check back because new auctions are listed every week and they can vary quite a bit. Since its estate sale-based, maybe one week there is someones things on there that really resonate with you and other weeks there isnt.

eBay  I have definitely found some steals on eBay. Like I said above, the photography can be a little hit or miss, but I would say its the lowest prices I have found anywhere on the Internet. When I was working on collecting runners for my hallway, I checked eBay quite a bit.

Credits/Author: Elsie Larson. Photography: Amber Ulmer. Photos edited with A Color Story Desktop.

Thanks so much for reading! You can also check out our favorite rugs for under $250 if you are on a budget for your room refresh. If you have any questions, just leave them for me in the comments and I will respond! xx  ElsieCourtesy of Sheri Crider

Sheri Crider described looking through the fence onto the building and surrounding grounds of Cibola Detention Centera large, privately run center that detains immigrants west of Albuquerque. Mass incarceration has long been an inquiry of Crider's work. She was at the facility near Milan doing research, observation and documenting the place while security patrolled the fence line. They don't want people to see it, she pointed out. She described a moment that day when a flock of birds rose skyward from the ground. Crider was struck by their magical interaction with that environment.

Birds symbolize a lot of things for many of us who are so firmly earthbound. For Crider they are a symbol of migration and freedom, but carry even more weight than that on the curved backs of their wings. Hanging in her workshop at Sanitary Tortilla Factorythe gallery and artist studios that she started which has been located on the corner of Second Street and Lead Avenue since 2016is a duck-like form built in wood, suspended on wire. It hangs among more of similar design, but it has an aged, weathered quality that stands out.

Courtesy of Sheri Crider

This body of work is inspired by two men in my life, a half-decade apart, from two different countries, Crider explained. This particular bird was constructed by her grandfather many years ago, out of wood salvaged from an Arizona dumpster. That bird is very symbolic of my grandfather's exceptional empathy, Crider said, going on to describe how it has traveled with her from studio to studio. He was the person in my life, whothrough multiple incarcerationswould always listen and always extend empathy towards me. I like to focus on the possibility of creating empathy in the conversations surrounding mass incarceration.

The second man who has shaped this expansive projecttitled Flightwas a man Crider befriended at a construction site where they both worked 14 years ago. He was from Veracruz, Mexico, and supported his whole family there by working almost every single day. He and Crider became close friends. After Donald Trump was elected, she described the course of their usual conversations shiftingHe started asking me, 'Do people really feel this way?' and watching the news, we're both wondering, what's going to happen?

Courtesy of Sheri Crider

In the aftermath of alleged human rights abuses, Cibola Detention Centeronce a prisonbecame a facility where migrants are held. The relationship between Crider's own experiences of incarceration, as well as her broader interest in such injustices is naturally extended to the detention of immigrants. It's really the same conversation, she said, which largely hinges on how we lock people up based on color. Crider's dedication to exploring these issues, generating conversation, and perhapsif we are luckyeven empathy, led her to apply for and receive a Right of Return Fellowship, which supports formerly incarcerated artists. Partially sponsored through that fellowship, she spent the last year and a half developing Flight, a multi-part installation that will open at the UNM Museum of Art (1 University of New Mexico) on Friday, Aug. 24 with a reception from 4 to 7pm.

As viewers descend the museum stairs into the lower gallery, they are greeted by a flock of some 650 migratory birds of more than 70 different species. They are suspended by barely visible wire, so much so that their pale wingsmade from wood salvaged from a dumpster, of courseseem to be lifted by a breeze. These were made by Crider, her assistant Magdalena Ramos-Mullane and about 150 visitors to community workshops led by Crider and other artists which aimed to generate conversation around the detention of immigrants and build connection and empathy. This was a vital piece of the process for Crider. I think that having an exhibition in a museum or a gallery, it doesn't have any breadth, you know? Instead, she aims to litmus test the effectiveness of how art might generate cultural change through workshops, through more discussion and expansive interfacing with the community at largenot just the art community. I don't know, she said, but I do know that art has potential.

Courtesy of Sheri Crider

In the rest of the gallery, there is video projection of bird refuges, several gouache paintings by Crider which hone in on detention centers and the massive profits they turn, interactive maps illustrating shifting borders throughout history and sculpture as well. Reflecting on her personal experiences, the figures who have so impacted her life and how politics, profits and racism has shaped collective futuresit kind of all coalesced into this project. It's amazing how the universe created this moment where I could put together all these really complex ideas, she said.

My short notes to history, she went on is that it repeats itself.  It's just the long story of power, money and violence. She pointed out that so many of the conversations that arise out of Flighton mass incarceration, on conservation, on immigrationhave been vital talking points since the 70s. So what is it that keeps us from making change happen? She asked. We wondered aloud that perhaps, sadly, it is existing power structures perpetuating themselves ad infinitum. I asked Crider if intensely engaging with these topics ever weighs on her. I would say, about every six weeks, I'll have a day where I feel super depressed, she said. But there's no benefit in that. I feel terrible, but it's not helping the situationthe better path is to try to do something.

Proceeds from workshops and the purchase of birds from Flight have gone directly to the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center (nmilc.org). Throughout the duration of the exhibitionthat is, until Dec.1there will be workshops and panel discussions on art as social practice, mass incarceration and radical empathy building. A full schedule of these can be found online at artmuseum. unm. edu/ events.Save the Date for New Mexico Cannabis Expo!

Join Weekly Alibi at our inaugural New Mexico Cannabis Expo from 11am to 5pm on Saturday, March 23, 2019, at Santa Fe Community Convention Center. The mission statement of the expo is working together to build a local cannatopia, creating the ideal future for medical cannabis and hemp industry in New Mexico. Explore medical cannabis and adjacent industry vendors, workshops, flower sampling and much more. Early-bird booth pricing will be available through Sept. 30. Call 505-346-0060 ext. 248 or email advertising@alibi. com to learn more or get involved.

The Long Arm of the Health Department

With legalization comes regulation. And with regulation comes oversight, and that ultimately has to lead to penalties and enforcement. It was bound to happen: The New Mexico Department of Health found itself in the position to revoke a producer or dispensarys license. Its the most pronounced intervention in the decade-plus-long history of the compassionate use in New Mexico, and the disciplinary action involves a Las Cruces-based business.

Based on state health secretary Lynn Gallaghers ruling , Mother Earth Herbs was ordered to surrender its license by March 31, 2019. The nonprofit company behind the dispensaries, owned by Vivian Moore, opened a location in Albuquerque this year while facing these allegations of falsified audits that were conducted during 2014 and 2015. Moores accountant testified that his signatures on the suspected audits were forged. As a further consequence of the Health Department's decision, Moore has been banned from participating as a medical cannabis professional in New Mexico, an outcome that she protested was severe compared with her alleged misconduct. According to state law, Moore and company can challenge this ruling in district court.

Cannabis Industrys Political Muscle

The cannabis industrys growing influence in New Mexico can be witnessed in myriad ways, from the job growth it has unlocked in the state to how much money is being made thanks to the compassionate use act. Duke Rodriguez, a former New Mexico Secretary of Health who is now head of UltraHealth, an Albuquerque-based cannabis company, told the Las Cruces Sun last week that the industry topped $100 million in revenue in 2017.

That economic heft translates to political power. The southern state newspaper of record notes that oil and gas concerns contribute more to political campaigns than most other organizations and entities combined$1.4 million so far during 2018but also sees the writing on the wall: The cannabis industry is making itself heard in the state through economic success and because the folks behind the scenes of the cannabis industry openly contribute to their home state politics. This year over $49,000 has been donated by local cannabis firms to various elections featuring candidates statewide. Thats practically double the amount handed out during the entire 2016 election cycle and serves as a key indicator of the matched path that cannabis and profitability are walking in the Land of Enchantments economic and cultural narrative.Albuquerque Police Department

Looking back on the 18 years I lived in Fringecrestthat pleasantly arcadian and very bourgeois bastion of El Duques progressive wing that includes the Parkland Hills neighborhood as well as part of the adjacent international districtI remember the early years best.

Millennial memories of the Blockbuster Video store on the corner of San Mateo and Kathryn reveal an adjacent commercial district that was lively and varied. The accompanying mental images of pre-2008 recession Albuquerque are difficult to displace for locals.

Zinns Bakery, a long time Albuquerque go-to for fresh bread, donuts and coffee was in this shopping center too. Back in the 70s the strip mall also featured the popular Acoma Pets, a barber shop and an S&H Green Stamps redemption store. Nearby, the German restaurant, Gasthaus Europa, filled its tables nightly. Oh, and people also hung out in the neighborhood, walking around fearlessly at all hours, I am told.

In the early aughts, after the Blockbuster closed, a series of churches rented some of the store fronts that were left behind when businesses began to flee in the mid-80sas the malls in Burques uptown became ascendant.

But the only other tenant of note in that baroque period for demise and decline, an indoor flea-market sort of deal where they sold everything from fine furniture to Tootsie popswhich was, coincidentally, the last place I ever saw local cray-cool hot rod collector and sculptor Andy York aliveclosed by 2010.

Then it seemed like the whole stretch on San Mateo, south from Central Avenue, began a rapid decay, an interregnum that lasted 7 years, through the Berry era. That period of governance, if you recall, featured an administration none too keen on re-development, but instead wanted new and grandiose projects to be the symbols of that mans reign.

Obviously some members of the City Council were aware of what needed to happen in regards to owning and revisioning, repurposing really, the urban decay that had afflicted District 6. But the conservative financial values of the Berry Administration, in harmony with some right-leaning Councilors like Dan Lewis thwarted any real progress.

In that space of time, the Berry years, the edges of the neighborhood I called home continued to deteriorate. The convenience store on the corner of Kathyrn and San Mateo was seemed to be dangerous after dark. The Parkland Hills Shopping Center wasnt the only sickly and abandoned property in the area, there were literally dozens of them between Zuni Boulevard and Gibson Boulevard. And on top of that, because of the shortage of patrol officers during the Berry administration, the police presence in the area was exceedingly low.

Those were givens about the neighborhood until the mayoral administration of Tim Keller was elected at the end of 2017. Kellers team noticed and responded to the words of City Councilors who had been warning against this hard fade-out for years.

In particular, District 6 Councilor Pat Davis had a plan. It begins with a new substation atyou guessed itthe southeast corner of San Mateo and Kathryn.

Weekly Alibi chatted with Davis about this latest development; heres a condensed version of that conversation about a neighborhood reborn, not so much Phoenix-like, but definitely Burque-like. If it all turns out well, Ill miss the old hood after all.

Weekly Alibi: What are the plans to bring back the vitality of the neighborhood, particularly at the old site of the Parkland Hills Shopping Center?

Pat Davis: You know, when I took over as a City Councilor, one of the first things I did, at one of my first meetings with APD, we looked at the crime data for the city, across the city, across District 6. That was the number one area call for service in the southeastit was Kathryn and San Mateo. The place had basically been abandoned. The developer, before the bust, [in 2008] had some big plans for the property. They kicked all of the small businesses out, but then the market fell apart.

How did the idea to re-develop Kathryn and San Mateo come up?

I went back and looked at the history of the area and we passed legislation to start citing them [the developer] for zoning violations. We needed to do that, the property had become severely delapidated. Then I went and re-scoped a bunch of city bond money, that allowed the city to buy the property from those developers. It was leftover funding dating back to Councilor [Martin] Heinrich. We had a bunch of money that was left over from various projects. We used that to buy the property. The way we came to the idea of a new police station was based on the fact that APD was in the process of planning a new station for the southeast, as we are planning to add 100 officers over there during the next 5 years. We need room for them. The current location is one of the oldest police buildings in the city. Currently its one of the smallest stations but with the highest number of officers attached to it.

How many callouts does that area get per year?

About 100,000 calls per year.

Really?

Probably more than that, but anyway, APDs planners determined that a new station wouldnt fit on the old lot, so they were preparing to wait 5 years for a $20 million grant in order to build a 2-story police station. Instead, we decided to put the money I had put together along with funds the project already had on the books, to re-develop that site, to build the new police station there, to build the facility around the concept of community policing. Thats very different than the atmosphere at the old station where you walk in and talk to cops behind a glass window. That was the initial thinking, anyway.

How did the process of envisioning the new police station proceed?

Since this is essentially about enacting a community policing initiative, we decided we needed community input. We needed to create a process to facilitate that input, because we saw from ART that the city doesnt really have a formal process; we built a new process to take community input on the project. We worked with APD to look at community policing models around the country. Thats where we are right now, a year into the process. A design for the station has been developed, based on the input we had.

How are the design aspects lined up with community policing values and standards?

We did start this project under the former admistration. We held community meetings to ask people the question, If you could build a police station from the ground up, what would you want in it? One of the first meetings we held was with students at Van Buren Middle School. The first thing they told us was, I dont care whats in the station, but can we have a park or a playground or a skate park next door to it, because Ill feel safe to go there if you guys are there. Those sorts of comments drove the process. What we have now is a years worth of community input from meetings.

Given those sorts of concerns what will the station look like?

Things that will be different include a community room in the station where neighborhood associations can meet. Were taking Coffee to a Cop to a whole new level: Well have a coffee shop in the station.

So citizens can have a cup of joe and chat with an officer?

Thats right. It becomes a neighborhood hub of activity.

I dig that, thats kinda cool ...

The other thing people will notice is an increase in the number of bicycle cops. The new station will have a bike barn to serve a cadre of officers on bikes. We envision allowing the kids in the neighborhood to use the tools there to work on their bikes, too. We tried to take the best ideas and practices and put them together. With this design and the services the new building will include, we want to advance the concept that the only time you go to the police station should not just be during a time of crisis, this place should already be a familiar, friendly place to the citizens of the neighborhood. Its a safe place.

Whatre the next steps?

Weve recently hired 200 new officers who came in wanting to patrol on a bicycle. Weve expanded the Block by Block [clean up program] to Nob Hill and UNM because the police shouldnt be the only ones dealing with homelessness and its associated problems on the streets. Business owners said they wanted better police visibility. The real test will be building the station; it will show people that were serious about community policing, and establish a location where the process is totally visible, transparent, accessible. Thats on the way, within two years it will happen.



The diplomat reiterated the Andean nation's permanent solidarity with this situation, which "has been demonstrated," he underlined.





Popolizio deplored xenophobic sentiments and explained that the recently adopted measures like the passport requirement for Venezuelans wishing to enter Peru  seek to regularize the immigration process.





Visas will be granted in exceptional cases, for example, to immigrant mothers with their children.





"Everyone else will be required to show their passports , taking into account that 80% of Venezuelans present this document, and only 20% of them show their national ID cards a document that can be easily forged," he said.





The official deems it necessary to address the Venezuelan immigration issue on a multilateral not bilateral basis. Therefore, he noted arrangements are being made with Colombian, Ecuadorian, and Brazilian authorities.





According to the minister, in one or two weeks, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) will hold a meeting to discuss the migratory crisis in the Bolivarian country.





No Venezuelan has been deported, he assured, and there are 85,000 asylum applications, of which 90% are denied.





(END) CVC/RMB/MVB

Foreign Affairs Minister Nestor Popolizio affirmed the Government of Peru will not close its doors to Venezuelan citizens leaving their country due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis.Published: 8/22/201814:25 | Arequipa (Arequipa region), Aug. 23.

According to the official, 33,421 sightseers arrived at the valley in the same period last year, a figure that will be surpassed in a few days as the month has not come to an end yet.





"We're confident the number of tourists will exceed 33,000 by the end of August since an average of 1,000 tourists arrive at Colca Valley on a daily basis," Valdivia expressed.









"Visitors are willing to experience the natural beauty of the place and the traditions of locals," he added.





The White City celebrated its 478th anniversary 's main days last week. In this sense, there was an increase in the flow of tourists, who made the most of their stay and traveled to Colca.









Valdivia expressed his satisfaction over the figures recorded . From January to date, tourist inflow (185,912) has been higher than the one registered in the same period in 2017.





Given these results, authorities expect 280,000 sightseers to have visited Colca by the end of 2018



YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received the ARF Lebanese Central Committees delegation led by Lebanese MP Hagop Pakradouni, the ARF told Armenpress.

The delegation included Lebanese minister of tourism Avedis Guidanian and the ARF Lebanese Central Committee member Raffi Ashkarian.

During the meeting the positive results of the Velvet revolution and the peoples expectations on this direction, as well the atmosphere among the Diaspora, especially the Lebanese-Armenian community and the determination to preserve it have been discussed. It was stated that it is necessary to preserve the national unity and partnership spirit to overcome all obstacles, difficulties and prevent any attempt that will hinder the success.

The ARF delegation conveyed to the PM the readiness and determination of the Lebanese-Armenians to practically support the efforts on strengthening Artsakh and Armenia. They also expressed their readiness to boost the economic, partnering, political, cultural and tourism ties between Armenia and Lebanon.

PM Nikol Pashinyan welcomed this meeting, stating that Lebanon, Armenians and youth of Lebanon have special significance for him, especially in the context of their support during the recent revolution.

Pashinyan highlighted the need to continue the dialogue and partnership for the benefit of the success of the revolution.

Edited and translated by Aneta HarutyunyanYEREVAN, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attended the ceremony of the police troops joining to the Armed Forces, reports Armenpress.

The PM said live on Facebook that he has already thanked the officers of the internal troops of the police, their relatives for the readiness to conduct an important mission to defend the borders of the homeland.

The police troops depart for a combat duty to the state border of Armenia, join the Armed Forces to defend Armenias state border, the PM said.

The ceremony was also attended by Police Chief Valery Osipyan.

Edited and translated by Aneta HarutyunyanYEREVAN, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attended the ceremony of departure of the officers of the police internal troops to the border, the PMs Office told Armenpress.

Dear friends, dear officers of police troops, today is a very important day for the police troops of Armenia, between the relations of the police troops and citizens of Armenia. Today the police troops are assuming a very important mission, and that mission is to provide support to the Armenian Army, the Armed Forces while defending the state borders of the Republic of Armenia.

I think this is a historical period not only for the police troops, but also for the Police since I believe that the citizens of Armenia should treat the Police, any police officer like a relative. Let what I say doesnt seem strange since a relative is the person whom the citizen applies to first of all at a difficult moment, in a difficult situation. And our task is to do so that the Armenian citizens will perceive the Police in this way, will perceive that the Armenian Police and police troops protect, preserve the Armenian citizens, the security of the Armenian statehood, Constitution and legality. And what is happening today will first of all contribute to such perception of the Police and the police troops.

I would like to thank the police troops, those police officers who assumed this duty with a responsibility, readiness and pride. I would like to thank the entire police system for this readiness, this patriotic step, this courage, and I am confident that the police troops will fulfill their responsible duty at a high level, will return to their families with pride after each duty, the PM said in his remarks and also thanked the families of the police troops, their spouses and parents, children.

PM Pashinyan wished good luck and victorious service to the police troops, expressing confidence that they will conduct the service with an honor.

Edited and translated by Aneta HarutyunyanYEREVAN, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS. The attorneys of 2nd President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan are preparing an appeal to submit to the Court of Cassation aimed at making two of their grounds presented in the Court of Appeals a subject of discussion, attorney Hayk Alumyan told Armenpress.

Earlier Kocharyans defending team has submitted several grounds to release the 2nd President from custody to the Court of Appeals, however, he was released based on only the principle of the persons immunity.

At the moment we are working on preparing an appeal, he said, adding that they will submit the appeal to the Court of Cassation soon.

Robert Kocharyan has been charged on July 26 over the 2008 March 1 case, under the Article 300.1 part 1 of the Criminal Code for breaching the constitutional order of the Republic of Armenia. He has been remanded into custody. His attorneys appealed the court ruling. On August 13 the Court of Appeals approved the attorneys appeal, and Robert Kocharyan has been released.

Edited and translated by Aneta HarutyunyanYEREVAN, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS. To honor the memory of the former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan the UN Armenia Country Office joined the United Nations mourning period. The flag of the UN House in Armenia was lowered from Sunday, August 19, to Wednesday, August 22., the UN Armenia Office told Armenpress.

On August 22 for commemoration of the legacy of Kofi Annan - statesman, a guiding force for good, advocate for sustainable development, fairer, more peaceful world - the UN Armenia Country Team observed a minute of silence.

During the ceremony in the memory of Kofi Annan the UN Coordinator in Armenia Shombi Sharp emphasized the tremendous role of Kofi Annan as a global champion for peace and for determination of the power of human rights for all humanity, meanwhile facing the turbulent challenges of his period (1997-2006) as a Secretary General.

The UN Resident Coordinator a. i., Tanja Radocaj, the Head of EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Piotr Switalski, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, the representatives from the Government, the President Office and international institutions, the ambassadors Greece, Poland, Italy, Islamic Republic of Iran, Belarus, Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, Lebanon and other countries to Armenia, left a note in the book of condolences that was open from Monday, August 20 to Wednesday, August 22,

Kofi Annan (Ghana) is the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations.

UN Secretary-General from 1 January 1997 to December 31, 2006, Mr. Annan's appointment marks the first for a UN staffer to emerge from the ranks and for a Sub-Saharan African to serve.YEREVAN, 23 AUGUST, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 23 August, USD exchange rate is down by 0.03 drams to 482.87 drams. EUR exchange rate is down by 1.43 drams to 558.20 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate is down by 0.14 drams to 7.00 drams. GBP exchange rate is down by 1.34 drams to 621.02 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price is up by 87.34 drams to 18577.55 drams. Silver price is up by 0.37 drams to 229.92 drams. Platinum price is up by 45.80 drams to 12388.65 drams.YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS. At the guest house of the Writers Union in Tsakhadzor city the solemn closing ceremony of Step to Home has kicked off. ARMENPRESS reports PM Pashinyan has arrived in Tsakhadzor to greet the Diaspora Armenian youth. Minister of Diaspora Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, Kotayk Governor Romanos Petrosyan and Tsakhadzor Mayor Artur Harutyunyan also participated in the ceremony.

The Ministry of Diaspora of Armenia organized Step to Home program from August 10-24 that brings together 13-21 year-old Diaspora Armenian young people.

Edited and translated by Tigran SirekanyanYEREVAN, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan highlights the return of all the Diaspora-Armenian young people to Armenia, he announced on August 23 at the solemn closing ceremony of Step to Home.

ARMENPRESS reports Pashinyan noted in his speech that he has a great desire that the youth take with them the idea of returning back to Armenia.

I consider that any Armenian is a citizen of the Republic of Armenia, and I have the honor to address you as my dear compatriots and proud citizens of the Republic of Armenia. The time to make real the country of our dream a reality and its very important that in the families of each of you and other Diaspora Armenians the idea of returning to Armenia is always touched upon, Pashinyan said.

He emphasized that Armenia is a country for living inside it, its the country where one should develop, create, strengthen, enrich and make the country rich in ideas and love.

I am confident that today, looking at each others eyes, and loving each other we become more powerful, Pashinyan said.

Edited and translated by Tigran SirekanyanBomb disposal experts, police dogs and firefighters were on hand as Argentine police investigating the so-called notebooks corruption case began searching the homes of former president Cristina Kirchner on Thursday. The move came after judge Claudio Bonadio successfully petitioned the Senate on Wednesday to partially lift Kirchner's parliamentary immunity so her three residences could be searched for evidence of multi-million dollar bribes paid by businessmen in exchange for public works contracts during her administration. As a senator, Kirchner enjoys congressional immunity from imprisonment, but not from prosecution. On Wednesday, Kirchner denounced in a fiery and defiant speech to the chamber what she called "political persecution" but the 65-year-old, like all the other 66 senators present, approved the petition. She had told lawmakers in a letter that she was willing to allow searches of her homes in Buenos Aires, Santa Cruz and El Calafate on condition that they did not allow the searches to be filmed or photographed. Around 20 police officers entered Kirchner's Buenos Aires residence in the exclusive Recoleta neighborhood just after midday (1500 GMT), although local media said the searches of her other two homes were yet to begin. Kirchner was not present at her fifth-floor apartment measuring around 250 square meters, having spent Wednesday night at her daughter Florencia's home, her lawyer Gregorio Dalbon said. More than a dozen elite businessmen and former government officials were arrested after La Nacion newspaper reported on August 1 that millions in bribes were delivered by a ministerial chauffeur to Kirchner's residences, both during her presidency and that of her late husband Nestor. The driver's meticulous records of the alleged cash deliveries form the basis of Bonadio's investigation. Prosecutor Carlos Stornelli has said a total of $160 million in bribes was handed over during a 10-year period from 2005-15. Earlier this month, Amado Boudou, a former vice-president under Kirchner, was sentenced to almost six years in prison after he was found guilty of "passive bribery" and conduct "incompatible" with his duties as a public servant. Kirchner is being investigated in five other cases, ranging from alleged foreign exchange manipulation to the signing of a memorandum with Tehran that Bonadio argues effectively protected Iranian suspects in the deadly 1994 bombing of Argentine Jewish centers. Argentine police arrive at ex-president Cristina Kirchner's Buenos Aires residence to search for evidence of corruptionBritain on Thursday outlined plans for managing the fallout in the "unlikely" scenario of Brexit talks collapsing, warning that businesses faced more customs red tape and consumers risked higher card payment charges. Brexit Minister Dominic Raab said London would adopt a series of EU rules in the event of no deal to allow EU imports in and urged Brussels to do the same for British goods travelling out. Britain would continue to recognise batch testing and EU certifications for medicines to avoid disruption but the government has asked pharmaceutical companies to stockpile additional six-week supplies on top of their normal levels lasting three months, he added. Raab insisted failing to reach agreement with the European Union ahead of its planned departure on March 29, 2019 was "unlikely". "I remain confident a good deal is within our sights, and that remains our top, and overriding, priority," Raab said in a speech in London as the government published the first of a series of "technical notices" advising sectors of the economy how to handle no deal. "If the EU responds with the same level of ambition and pragmatism, we will strike a strong deal that benefits both sides. But we must be ready to consider the alternative," he added. "In some cases, it means taking unilateral action to maintain as much continuity as possible in the short term, in the event of no deal -- irrespective of whether the EU reciprocates." Alexander Winterstein, a European Commission spokesman, said the bloc was focused on achieving Britain's "orderly withdrawal" but "preparing for all possible outcomes". "It is also clear that the withdrawal of the UK is going to lead to disruption regardless -- with a deal or without a deal," he added. "That's why everybody, and in particular economic operators, needs to be prepared." - Medical air freight - In the scenarios outlined by the government, Britons were warned of possible "increased costs and slower processing times" for euro transactions and told that "the cost of card payments between the UK and the EU will likely increase". Consumers may also have to pay more for online shopping and cross-border payments would also no longer be covered by a "surcharging ban" under EU rules, the technical notices said. Surcharges, which were banned by the EU in January, cost Britons 166 million (185 million euros, $214 million) in 2015. Another notice advised businesses that they could face additional customs costs and should consider buying appropriate software or hiring a customs broker. The government reassured farmers it will continue to pay them subsidies currently made by the EU, but warned organic food producers they will need their exports certified by a body recognised by the EU to sell products inside the bloc. As well as stockpiling drugs, Health Secretary Matt Hancock revealed arrangements were underway for post-Brexit air freight services supplying medicines with short shelf-lives, such as radioisotopes. The ABPI, which represents British biopharmaceutical companies, welcomed the government's technical notice on the sector and urged the EU to match it. But its chief executive Mike Thompson said a no-deal scenario was "not in the interest of patients" and urged both sides to agree "a future relationship based on cooperation to protect public health." - 'Playing Russian roulette' - The government, which has come under pressure from some Brexit hardliners to leave the EU without a negotiated agreement, said it would publish its remaining advice by the end of September. Keir Starmer, the main opposition Labour Party's Brexit spokesman, said so far it had "provided no answers to how ministers intended to mitigate the serious consequences of leaving the EU without an agreement". David Lammy, a pro-EU Labour MP, said the papers showed the government was "playing Russian roulette with our economy". Frances O'Grady, head of the Trades Union Congress, added the reports confirmed that no-deal was not a credible option. "It would be devastating for working people," she said, adding: "The government cannot allow us to crash out". London and Brussels hope to strike a deal by October, to allow its ratification by the European and British parliaments before the UK leaves the bloc. Britain's Brexit Minister Dominic Raab said he is confident a "good deal is within our sights" as the government outlined plans for managing an "unlikely" no-deal crash out of the European Union A no-deal exit from the EU would cause disruptions and higher costs, the government warned

A sign banning a left turn has netted about $25,000 in fines each day since it was introduced in June.

Drivers are now banned at times from turning left from Mare Street into Richmond Road, in the London suburb of Hackney, in a bid to cut down on pollution and increase safety around schools nearby, local media reports.

The restriction applies from Monday to Saturday between the hours of 7am and 10am and 3pm and 7pm.

And despite being in place for a couple of months it continues to catch many off-guard.

In the first nine-week period there were nearly 14,000 tickets issued  costing motorists close to $1.6 million (898,235) during that time.

Those tickets cost 65 ($115) each, with the Hackney Gazette estimating that equals 100,000 (about $176,000) a week, or 14,000 (about $25,000) each day.

An image of one sign in June, which has since been lowered. Source: @LundunFeeldz/ Twitter

Motorists have claimed there was not enough notice about the traffic changes.

Others also complained about one of the signs being too high to read, which led to it being lowered in July.

One Islington council worker has been handed 21 tickets and is said to be extremely stressed about paying off his hefty bill.

The council is now appealing on behalf of the man who has been driving this route for three decades, the Hackney Gazette reported.

The 74-year-old is not the only one who has been slapped with multiple fines.

A man named Derek Rochester who has been using the intersection for a decade has received six tickets.

You have to come into the inside lane. Youve got to keep an eye on the bus lane and watch out for cyclists and taxis. Its easy to miss them, Mr Rochester told he Hackney Gazette.

A Google image of the intersection in 2017  before the ban was put in place. Source: Google Streetview

A Hackney Council spokesperson told the Metro the notices already met all requirements of the Department for Transport, but additional signage had been added to ensure all drivers comply and help make our childrens school journeys healthier.

While it is the responsibility of drivers to read this signage and adhere to the road closures, we will, of course, listen to representations where a driver feels that a fine has been issued unfairly or received multiple fines during a short period.

The initiative is reportedly being run as a trial for nine months.The woman who fell overboard from a cruise ship appears to have attracted sympathy from an unlikely source  her partners ex-wife.

British tourist Kay Longstaff was found floating some 83 kilometres off Croatias coast after she fell from the seventh deck of the Norwegian Star shortly before midnight on Saturday.

Just before 10am on Sunday  10 hours since she fell overboard  Ms Longstaff was found treading water in the Adriatic Sea, several kilometres from the position she went overboard.

Kay Longstaff speaks to press in Pula, Croatia, after being rescued from the Adriatic sea, Source: Reuters

It is a real miracle that she is alive, captain of the Croatian rescue ship, Lovro Oreskovic, said after the 46-year-old was pulled from the ocean.

But the story surrounding Ms Longstaffs fall is unclear, with witnesses reporting that she jumped from the ship following an argument with her partner, Craig Rayment.

Mr Rayments ex-wife has reportedly revealed that if she was in Ms Longstaffs shoes theres a chance she wouldve jumped too.

The 46-year-old spent 10 hours treading water before she was rescued by a military patrol vessel on Sunday morning. Source: Reuters

Ms Longstaff pictured with Craig Rayment. Source: Facebook

If I was on a ship with him I would get off any way I could, Kelly Rayment told The Mirror.

Craigs not a very nice person after hes been drinking. So him going on a cruise is a recipe for disaster.

I can imagine what she went through.

The pair were only married for a year before they split and are reportedly in the process of getting a divorce.

Im proud of myself for building up the courage to leave him and saying no when he begged me to come back, she told The Mirror.

The flight attendant leaves the Croatian Coast Guard vessel Cavtat in Pula, Croatia after being rescued. Source: Reuters

When Ms Longstaff was found, she continued to complain to her rescuers about her boyfriend, according to the captain who saved her.

She was talking about the boyfriend. I cant tell you exactly what she said because its all under investigation, but she didnt say anything positive, Captain Lovro Oreskovic said.

Ms Longstaff was admitted to hospital in Pula in Croatia but has since been picked up by Mr Rayment and taken to Venice, photographs in the Daily Mail appear to show.

It is thought the couple have now travelled back to Spain.Half the Rohingya children who crossed into Bangladesh without their parents were actually orphaned by violence in Myanmar and not separated from them during the refugee exodus as previously thought, new research showed Thursday. The findings from international charity Save the Children have dashed a long-standing belief that thousands of 'lost' children in the world's largest refugee camp might one day be reunited with their parents. There are more than 6,000 children known to aid workers in the Bangladesh camps who never found their parents after fleeing a brutal army crackdown in Myanmar that has been likened to ethnic cleansing. Humanitarian agencies say the real number is impossible to know but some estimates run higher, as many children disappeared into the enormous camps to live with relatives or neighbours once they crossed the border alone. Some came on their own and were placed in temporary care. Efforts to reconnect these children with their parents have been under way since 700,000 Rohingya Muslims were expelled from Myanmar a year ago. But this latest data -? gleaned from more than 100 cases of unaccompanied and separated minors in the largest study of its kind ?- suggests half these children were orphaned before they even arrived, and that many witnessed their parents' violent murders. "We knew it was bad, but not this bad. Even experienced child protection managers were shocked by the findings," said Beatriz Ochoa, humanitarian advocacy manager for Save the Children in Cox's Bazar. "This is going to have a profound implication on our work. Some of these children watched their parents die. Can you imagine?" - Lost generation - Jubeda Begum has been caring not just for her own infant, but also for her young niece and nephew after she said her sister Rozia was murdered with her husband during an army sweep in their village last year. The orphaned children, aged 8 and 7 years, were surrounded by family and playmates in the bleak confines of their refugee shanty town, but trauma simmers beneath their smiles. "They both miss their parents a lot. They often cry for their father and mother," 25-year-old Jubeda told AFP in the doorway of her shack where the wider family of 10 live under one tarpaulin roof. The Rohingya crisis has been marked by its appalling impact on children. Sixty percent of the civilians pursued by Myanmar forces and armed Buddhist militias into destitution in Bangladesh were children, aid groups say. Their lives in the unsanitary, cramped and lawless terrain of Cox's Bazar has fostered a "fatalism" about their future, UNICEF said in a new report Thursday. "Older children and adolescents who are deprived of opportunities to learn or make a living, are at real risk of becoming a 'lost generation', ready prey to traffickers and those who would exploit them for political or other needs," the report stated. Orphans and unaccompanied children are particularly vulnerable to abuse and neglect and are treated as high-priority cases, child protection workers say. In the bleak camps -- where nearly a million Rohingya displaced by decades of violence live hand to mouth -- caring for these youngest victims often falls to family. "We all take care of him," said Mohammad Issa, gesturing to his six-year-old cousin Tarek who has lived with his family since the boy's parents were killed in Myanmar. "We do not let him feel the lack of parents. But still, he sometimes misses them." A new study suggests half the Rohingya children who fled to Bangladesh in the last year lost parents through violenceA week after the Italian coastguard rescued nearly 200 migrants, Interior Minister Matteo Salvini on Thursday restated his refusal to let them land in Italy and accused EU partners of inaction. "No one will land in Italy without my authorisation," Salvini, of the far-right League party, said in a radio interview. The migrants were rescued by the Diciotti vessel overnight on August 15 in a new drama that has sparked a political row within Italy, with former Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni of the centre-left Democratic Party branding Salvini's handling of the situation a "national disgrace". Salvini meanwhile has renewed accusations that fellow EU states are shirking their responsibilities. In a Facebook post he accused several European countries, including Germany and Spain, of reneging on an agreement to take migrants who were allowed to land in the Sicilian port of Pozzallo in July. "Why should we trust them this time? Before asking for the disembarkation of the Diciotti, Europe should give us explanations. I'm not backing down." Thirteen of the some 190 migrants were allowed off for health reasons on the island of Lampedusa before the vessel carried on to the Sicilian port of Catania. Late Wednesday, Salvini agreed to allow 27 unaccompanied minors off the boat but the rest remain trapped on board, despite calls from the UNHCR and aid agencies for them to be allowed off. Salvini insists those who remain on board are "illegal immigrants" and do not have the right to humanitarian protection accorded to refugees. The nationalities of those still on board is not clear but according to Save the Children almost all of the children who were allowed off on Wednesday are from Eritrea, whose regime of compulsory military service has been likened to slavery by the UN. Prosecutors in the Sicilian city of Agrigento have opened an inquiry into "abduction" over the Diciotti case and according to Italian media reports President Sergio Mattarella has privately expressed concerns that the row could damage Italy's image abroad. - 'Unfair and illegal' - But Salvini has thrived on the controversy and the opportunity to present himself as in tune with public opinion. "There is an inquiry under way, we will see," he said. "I have broad shoulders. I think the majority of Italians agree with me." Opinion polls suggest that his stance is benefiting the League, whose approval rating has risen to around 30 percent -- 10 points up from its showing in March elections -- and is now level with the populist Five Star Movement (M5S) with which it has formed a government. For its part the European Commission said Thursday it wanted "a swift resolution so that the people on board can be safely disembarked as soon as possible". "We are stepping up our pro-active work to find a long-term, durable, European solution," Commission spokesman Alexander Winterstein told reporters. He added that a meeting of high-level representatives from around a dozen member states would be held on Friday to discuss the issue. If no European solution to the Diciotti case is found, Salvini has repeatedly threatened to send the migrants back to Libya. "Either Europe begins to seriously defend its borders and shares the relocation of immigrants, or we will start taking them back to the port that they left," he tweeted on Tuesday. Mohamad Siala, foreign minister in Libya's UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), shot back late on Wednesday that such a move would be "unfair and illegal" given that Libya already has "more than 700,000 migrants" on its territory. The migrants were rescued by the Diciotti vessel overnight on August 15 in a new drama that has sparked a political row within Italy while also prompting Salvini to renew accusations that fellow EU states were shirking their responsibilities Thirteen of the some 190 migrants were allowed off for health reasons on the island of Lampedusa before the vessel carried on to the Sicilian port of Catania The European Commission said it wanted "a swift resolution so that the people on board can be safely disembarked as soon as possible"A week after the Italian coastguard rescued nearly 200 migrants, Interior Minister Matteo Salvini on Thursday restated his refusal to let them land in Italy and accused EU partners of inaction. "No one will land in Italy without my authorisation," Salvini, of the far-right League party, said in a radio interview. The migrants were rescued by the Diciotti vessel overnight on August 15 in a new drama that has drawn sharp criticism from the left, with former Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni of the centre-left Democratic Party branding Salvini's handling of the situation a "national disgrace". Salvini meanwhile has renewed accusations that fellow EU states are shirking their responsibilities. In a Facebook post he accused several European countries, including Germany and Spain, of reneging on an agreement to take migrants who were allowed to land in the Sicilian port of Pozzallo in July. "Why should we trust them this time? Before asking for the disembarkation of the Diciotti, Europe should give us explanations. I'm not backing down." Thirteen of the some 190 migrants were allowed off for health reasons on the island of Lampedusa before the vessel carried on to the Sicilian port of Catania. Late Wednesday, Salvini agreed to allow 27 unaccompanied minors off the boat but the rest remain trapped on board, despite calls from the UNHCR and aid agencies for them to be allowed off. Salvini insists those who remain on board are "illegal immigrants" and do not have the right to humanitarian protection accorded to refugees. The nationalities of those still on board is not clear but according to Save the Children almost all of the children who were allowed off on Wednesday are from Eritrea, whose regime of compulsory military service has been likened to slavery by the UN. A psychologist from Medecin Sans Frontieres (MSF), Nathalie Leiba, who treated some of the minors allowed off the boat, said many of them were "exhausted and confused". "One of them couldn't see well, he had dilated pupils, he told me that he had been detained (in Libya) in the dark for a year," she said. Aid workers from Save The Children have been allowed access on to the boat, as well as monitors from a public body which safeguards detainees' rights. Prosecutors in the Sicilian city of Agrigento have opened an inquiry into "abduction" over the Diciotti case and according to Italian media reports President Sergio Mattarella has privately expressed concerns that the row could damage Italy's image abroad. - 'Unfair and illegal' - But Salvini has thrived on the controversy and the opportunity to present himself as in tune with public opinion. "There is an inquiry under way, we will see," he said. "I have broad shoulders. I think the majority of Italians agree with me." Opinion polls suggest that his stance is benefiting the League, whose approval rating has risen to around 30 percent -- 10 points up from its showing in March elections -- and is now level with the populist Five Star Movement (M5S) with which it has formed a government. For its part the European Commission said Thursday it wanted "a swift resolution so that the people on board can be safely disembarked as soon as possible". "We are stepping up our pro-active work to find a long-term, durable, European solution," Commission spokesman Alexander Winterstein told reporters. He added that a meeting of high-level representatives from around a dozen member states would be held on Friday to discuss the issue. On Thursday the head of Europe's border agency Frontex, Fabrice Leggeri, weighed in on the contentious issue saying that unless European countries step up expulsions of illegal migrants "we won't resolve the migrant problem". "If that continues, you send an implicit message to potential migrants: try at any price to get to Europe, because even if you're picked up, you have every chance of staying there," Leggeri said in an interview with the French regional press group Ebra. - Back to Libya - Salvini has repeatedly threatened to send the migrants back to Libya if no European solution to the Diciotti case is found, "Either Europe begins to seriously defend its borders and shares the relocation of immigrants, or we will start taking them back to the port that they left," he tweeted on Tuesday. Mohamad Siala, foreign minister in Libya's UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), shot back late on Wednesday that such a move would be "unfair and illegal" given that Libya already has "more than 700,000 migrants" on its territory. According to the interior ministry, migrant arrivals are more than 80 percent down on the same period last year, with 19,526 arriving up to August 23, as opposed to 98,076 in 2017. The migrants were rescued by the Diciotti vessel overnight on August 15 in a new drama that has sparked a political row within Italy while also prompting Salvini to renew accusations that fellow EU states were shirking their responsibilities Thirteen of the some 190 migrants were allowed off for health reasons on the island of Lampedusa before the vessel carried on to the Sicilian port of Catania The European Commission said it wanted "a swift resolution so that the people on board can be safely disembarked as soon as possible"Peter Dutton has told Malcolm Turnbull he has the majority support of the Liberal party room and wants to challenge him again.

The ex-Home Affairs Minister lost a challenge 48 votes to 35 on Tuesday but now wants to have another go at toppling his leader.

A few minutes ago I spoke with Malcolm Turnbull to advise him I believed the majority of the party room no longer supported his leadership, Mr Dutton tweeted on Thursday.

Mr Turnbull has so far declined the request to hold the meeting.

A few minutes ago I spoke with Malcolm Turnbull to advise him I believed the majority of the party room no longer supported his leadership. Accordingly, I asked him to convene a party room meeting at which I would challenge for the leadership of the Parliamentary Liberal Party.  Peter Dutton (@PeterDutton_MP) August 22, 2018

How the rising threat to Turnbull unfolded

Mr Turnbull on Tuesday declared the leadership vacant before successfully seeing off a challenge from Mr Dutton, drawing 48 votes to his 35.

It is believed Mr Dutton is now confident he has the numbers to force an extraordinary partyroom meeting and ultimately claim the leadership.

He has also released the legal advice which he says makes clear he is eligible to sit in parliament after questions were raised over his familys business interests in two childcare centres.

BREAKING NEWS: crisis meeting with Coalition leadership team currently underway in the Prime Minister's office. #7News #libspill #auspol  Jennifer Bechwati (@jenbechwati) August 22, 2018

Questions have been raised if he could be in breach of section 44 of the constitution, which bans from parliament anyone who has any direct or indirect pecuniary interest with the public service of the Commonwealth.

Story continues

It is understood Turnbull allies, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, Treasurer Scott Morrison and Defence Minister Marise Payne, are now meeting with the prime minister in his office.

Two more ministers quit

Two more federal government ministers have also formally resigned to support Mr Duttons bid to overthrow Mr Turnbull.

Assistant ministers Michael Sukkar and Zed Seselja have refused the Prime Ministers offer to remain on in their positions, throwing their weight behind Mr Dutton ahead of a looming second leadership challenge.

Ten ministers have offered their resignation to Mr Turnbull following the leadership spill.

The pair have followed Mr Dutton, Concetta Fierravanti-Wells and James McGrath from the front bench.

The defiant Prime Minister, who has arrived at Parliament House early Thursday morning, is holding on to his leadership with support from his two key lieutenants, Treasurer Scott Morrison and Finance Minister Mathias Cormann.

The iron laws of arithmetic confirmed my leadership of the Liberal Party, Mr Turnbull told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday.Three of Malcolm Turnbulls senior ministers have resigned from the cabinet, telling the wounded prime minister he no longer has their support.

Mathias Cormann, Michaelia Cash and Mitch Fifield fronted the media on Thursday morning outside Parliament House where they echoed Peter Duttons calls another party room meeting.

Its with great sadness and a heavy heart that we went to see the prime minister yesterday afternoon to advise him that in our judgment he no longer enjoyed the support of the majority of members in the Liberal Party party room, Senator Cormann told reporters in Canberra.

And that it was in the best interests of the Liberal Party to help manage an orderly transition to a new leader.

BREAKING: Mathias Cormann, Michaela Cash and Mitch Fifield have resigned from Cabinet @7NewsSydney pic.twitter.com/AoSgqGScZc  Peter Fegan (@PeterFegan7) August 22, 2018

Senator Cormann said the prime minister had declined his resignation from the ministry on Wednesday.

I have also met again with the Prime Minister this morning and again advised him that I do not believe he has the confidence of the party room, Ms Cash said.

The former ministers called for the prime minister to call a party room meeting.

In my view it would be in the interests of the Liberal Party and in the interests of the country for a partyroom meeting to be called swiftly for the issue of the leadership of the Liberal Party to be resolved, Senator Cormann added.

Dutton says he has the numbers

Earlier this morning, Peter Dutton announced he would again challenge for the liberal leadership  before Mr Turnbull refused his offer for a second party room meeting.

The ex-Home Affairs Minister lost a challenge 48 votes to 35 on Tuesday but now wants to have another go at toppling his leader.

Story continues

Peter Dutton has demanded a second party room meeting, announcing he will challenge Malcolm Turnbull for the Liberal leadership again. Images: AAP

Earlier this morning, I called the prime minister to advise him that it was my judgment that the majority of the party room no longer supported his leadership, Mr Dutton told reporters at Parliament House on Thursday morning.

As such, I asked him to convene a meeting of the Liberal Party at which I would challenge for the leadership.

Mr Dutton later told reporters he was confident he had the numbers, but Mr Turnbull has so far declined the request to hold the meeting.

More to come.German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday reaffirmed support for Georgia's territorial integrity on a visit to Tbilisi a decade after a Russia-Georgia war led to Moscow-backed regions breaking away from the Caucasus nation. "During my last visit to Georgia 10 years ago, I demanded the withdrawal of Russian troops," Merkel said at a news conference in the Georgian capital on the first leg of a three-day trip to the South Caucasus. Today, "of course, I am standing by Georgia's territorial integrity," she added. Merkel last visited Georgia in August 2008, a few days after an EU-brokered ceasefire ended Russia and Georgia's armed conflict over the Moscow-backed breakaway South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions. After the five-day war, Moscow recognised the two enclaves that constitute 20 percent of Georgia's territory as independent states and stationed permanent military bases there. On Friday, Merkel will travel to Armenia and on Saturday to Azerbaijan, where she will encourage "a peaceful and consensual solution" to the two countries' long-running territorial conflict over the Nagorny Karabakh region, her office said. In Azerbaijan she is expected to discuss energy cooperation with the oil-rich Caspian nation which is seen as an alternative to Russian supplies of natural gas and oil to Europe. German Chancelor Angela Merkel gestures during a press conference in Tbilisi on August 23, 2018Over 100 African migrants forced their way into the Spanish territory of Ceuta on Wednesday after storming a barbed-wire border fence with Morocco and attacking police with caustic quicklime, a local official said. In the second assault on the Spanish border in a month, seven police officers were lightly injured when migrants threw quicklime and battery acid as they tried to scale the fence, a spokesman for the Spanish government's representative in Ceuta told AFP, adding that some 115 migrants managed to enter the tiny territory. An undetermined number of migrants were also injured in the assault on the border. Images published by local newspaper El Faro de Ceuta showed bare-chested African migrants celebrating their arrival in Ceuta, many with bloody cuts to their hands. Some waved Spanish or European Union flags as they made their way to a temporary migrant accommodation centre. "All my support to those security forces who are facing the migratory challenge in an exemplary way, especially the agents who were injured today," Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez tweeted. Every year sub-Saharan African migrants living illegally in Morocco try to enter Europe either by climbing over their border fences or swimming along their coastlines. Spanish territories Ceuta and Melilla have the European Union's only land borders with Africa, drawing migrants trying to reach the bloc. The assault on the border comes as Ceuta was marking Islam's Eid al-Adha religious feast. Over 600 African migrants got past the double border fence on July 26, in the biggest run on the border since February 2017. Fifteen police officers were injured in the violence, some sustaining burns to their face and arms. Some 3,100 migrants have entered Ceuta and Melilla by land since the start of the year, according to the International Organization for Migration. Over 25,000 others have arrived in Spain by sea, making it the main entry point for migrants arriving in Europe, after Italy and Greece. Spanish territories Cueta and Melilla have the European Union's only land borders with Africa, drawing migrants trying to reach the blocIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu landed in Lithuania on Thursday for a Baltic summit through which he said he hoped to deepen ties with eastern European nations to counter the EU's "not always friendly" relations with his country. Netanyahu, who has Lithuanian roots, was greeted by the Baltic country's foreign minister at Vilnius airport. "I want to achieve a balance in the European Union's not always friendly relations with Israel in order to maintain fairer relations," Netanyahu said before boarding the plane for the first-ever visit by an Israeli premier to Lithuania. "I am doing it through contacts with blocs of European Union countries, eastern European countries, and now with Baltic countries and other countries, of course." Netanyahu will meet the leaders of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia together in Vilnius during his visit which is set to last until Sunday. He will also pay tribute to Lithuania's once vibrant Jewish culture and its tragic end during the Holocaust. Lithuania has traditionally been one of Israel's better friends in the European Union. The Baltic nation was behind Netanyahu's invitation to meet with EU foreign ministers in Brussels last December, irking some EU officials. "Lithuania and the other Baltic states are probably regarded by Netanyahu as voices that could play the role of Israel's advocates inside the EU," Vilnius University professor Ramunas Vilpisauskas told AFP. Netanyahu has regularly sought sympathetic ears within the EU, particularly among countries that can serve as a counterweight to the critical treatment Israel often receives from western European nations over its policies in the Palestinian territories it occupies. Netanyahu has also been eager to convince European countries to exert more pressure on Iran after the United States pulled out of the nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers and reimposed sanctions -- something Israel had advocated. The EU was one of the signatories to the deal, and European countries have sought to rescue the deal. They say it is working as intended, keeping Israel's arch-enemy Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons for now. - Jewish heritage - Lithuania in turn is seeking to expand defence cooperation, notably in cyber security, and wants Israel to take a tougher stance towards Russia, which the Baltic states see as their greatest security threat. "We need to better understand each other's security challenges because security is indivisible," Deividas Matulionis, an advisor for the Lithuanian prime minister, told AFP. Many Israelis have origins in Lithuania, including Netanyahu's grandmother, who was born in the northern town of Seduva. His grandfather hailed from Kreva in what is now Belarus, according to Lithuanian Jewish community spokeswoman, Monika Antanaityte. Netanyahu will meet with members of the Jewish community in Lithuania and visit a memorial in tribute to Jewish Holocaust victims there. He will also award a Lithuanian family the title of Righteous among the Nations for having saved their Jewish neighbours from the Nazis. "We are greatly honoured that Netanyahu will pay so much attention to the Lithuanian Jewish community," community leader Faina Kukliansky told AFP. Lithuania was once a hub of Jewish learning and home to more than 200,000 Jews before World War II. Over 90 percent of Lithuania's Jews died during the 1941-1944 German occupation at the hands of Nazis and local collaborators. The country's 2.9 million population today includes some 3,000 Jews. burs-vab-amj/spm Benjamin Netanyahu is the first Israeli leader to visit LithuaniaBenjamin Netanyahu will on Thursday become the first Israeli prime minister to visit Lithuania, where he will hold talks with the leaders of the three Baltic countries, his office said. Netanyahu's trip comes as he seeks to improve ties with eastern European countries who may be more sympathetic to Israel in international bodies than other EU nations. He will meet the leaders of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia together in Vilnius during his visit, which will last until Sunday, his office said in a statement. "At this summit, the four leaders will discuss cooperation between their countries," the statement said without giving further details. Netanyahu is constantly seeking sympathetic ears within the EU, particularly among countries that can serve as a counterweight to the criticism Israel often receives from western European nations over its occupation of Palestinian territory. He has also been eager to convince European countries to exert more pressure on Iran after the United States pulled out of the nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers and reimposed sanctions, as he had advocated. European countries have sought to rescue the deal, saying it is working as intended in keeping Iran, Israel's main enemy, from obtaining nuclear weapons for now. Separately from the Baltics, Netanyahu has found common cause among eastern and central European countries with nationalist leaders, notably the so-called Visegrad Group of Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. During a visit to Hungary last year, he denounced "absolutely crazy" EU demands of Israel, such as those related to Israel's occupation of the West Bank, in closed-door remarks picked up by a microphone and overheard by journalists. The visit to Lithuania is also likely to include trade discussions. Lithuania has been a customer of Israel's key defence industry and has spoken of expanding its cyber-security sector, a particular speciality of Israeli firms. Nine EU member states, including Lithuania, recently announced their intention to create "rapid reaction teams" to respond to possible cyber threats, as part of a new EU defence pact. Many Israelis have origins in Lithuania and Netanyahu will visit with members of the Jewish community as well as attend a ceremony in memory of the 141,000 Jewish victims of the Holocaust there. Lithuania's 2.9 million population today includes some 3,000 Jews. Netanyahu has said one of his grandfathers was born in Lithuania. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting at his office in Jerusalem on August 12, 2018Its not every day you spot a crocodile cruising through the water below your house, but its even more unusual to capture one using a bright yellow pool noodle for extra support.

Thats exactly what happened to South Florida local Victor Perez, who was standing on his balcony overlooking the waters of Key Largo when he was shocked to see the creature and its unexpected travel accessory.

I saw the croc off my balcony swimming up the canal, Mr Perez told Fox News. My first thought was, What happened to the person that was on the noodle?'

A crocodile was photographed crossing a canal in Florida with the help of a pool noodle. Source: Mashable

Initially, all Mr Perez saw was the noodle, not realising it was accompanied by the reptile.

It was just cruising along and I was like: OK, wheres the swimmer?, he told US news outlet The Miami Herald.

Then he saw a brownish-green figure lurking in the water and quickly grabbed his camera.

Mr Perez posted the picture to Instagram and it quickly went viral, with one person nicknaming the creature a crocadoodle.

We see crocs from time to time in our canal, but never ever one on a noodle, Perez told Fox13.

He could have been from up north on vacation, just chilling.

Its not unusual to see crocodiles and alligators in the waters of South Florida, and native American crocodiles are considered less deadly than their Australian cousins.

But the question still remains  just where did the croc get its pool noodle, and did any humans suffer in the process?US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday named a Ford Motor Co. executive as special envoy for North Korea and said they would both travel to the nuclear-armed country next week. Stephen Biegun, 55, who is retiring as Ford's vice president for international governmental affairs, had been considered for the post of President Donald Trump's national security advisor before it went to John Bolton. "Steve will direct the US policy towards North Korea and lead our efforts to achieve President Trump's goal of the final, fully verified denuclearization of North Korea, as agreed to by chairman Kim Jong Un," Pompeo said. "He and I will be traveling to North Korea next week to make further diplomatic progress towards our objective," he said. The trip will be Pompeo's fourth to North Korea, and the second since a historic summit on June 12 between Trump and Kim. "The State Department has already done excellent work in implementing and sustaining the pressure campaign, putting together the first ever leader-level summit in Singapore and laying the groundwork to hold North Korea accountable to the promises that chairman Kim has made," Pompeo said. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert later said Pompeo was not expecting to meet with Kim. At the first-ever meeting between sitting leaders of the US and North Korea, Trump and Kim pledged in a joint statement to work toward the "complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." The statement, however, was short on details and a UN panel of experts has found that North Korea is pressing ahead with its nuclear and missile programs. Pompeo has insisted that Kim verbally agreed to the complete and verifiable denuclearization of North Korea, under a timetable to be fleshed out in follow-up discussions led by the State Department on the US side. - 'Very productive' - Kim has followed through on some commitments made at the summit, including returning the remains of US service members killed during the Korean War. And satellite imagery from the Sohae Satellite Launching Station on North Korea's west coast shows workers dismantling part of the site, although experts warns the move does not necessarily impact Pyongyang's nuclear program. But overall, there is scant evidence to show Kim is serious about getting rid of his nuclear weapons. Pompeo went to Pyongyang in early July but came back with little to show for his efforts, though he insisted the talks were "very productive." Meanwhile North Korea has criticized Washington for its "gangster-like" and "unilateral" demands for the complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantling of Pyongyang's atomic arsenal. Pompeo has repeatedly called for the international community to maintain pressure on North Korea, and a UN report this month warned that Pyongyang is circumventing tough sanctions imposed over its nuclear weapons program. Trump's administration has argued that sanctions must remain fully in place until North Korea has scrapped its nuclear and missile programs and that the dismantling is verified. Following his summit with Kim, Trump famously proclaimed North Korea is "no longer a nuclear threat" and boasted of his good relationship with the strongman. "The consultations will continue," Nauert said. "This issue is going to take some time." Steve Biegun has been named US special representative to North KoreaSaudi Arabia's public prosecutor has sought the death penalty against five human rights activists, including a prominent female rights defender, campaigners said Wednesday. Among those accused of inciting protests by the Shiite Muslim minority in the oil-rich Eastern Province is Israa al-Ghomgham, the first female activist to possibly face the death penalty for her rights-related work. "Israa al-Ghomgham and four other individuals are now facing the most appalling possible punishment simply for their involvement in anti-government protests," said Samah Hadid, Amnesty International's Middle East director of campaigns. "We are urging the Saudi Arabian authorities to drop these plans immediately." Saudi government officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Ghomgham, a prominent Shia activist who documented mass demonstrations in the Eastern Province starting in 2011, was arrested at her home along with her husband in December 2015, according to Human Rights Watch. "Sentencing Israa al-Ghomgham to death would send a horrifying message that other activists could be targeted in the same way for their peaceful protest and human rights activism," Hadid said. "The charges against Ghomgham... are absurd and clearly politically motivated to silence dissent." Amnesty says at least 12 other leading human rights activists, including eight women, have been arrested in the kingdom since May -- just before the kingdom ended its ban on women drivers. Many of them long opposed the decades-long ban and resisted the system of male "guardians" -- fathers, husbands or other relatives, whose permission is required to travel or get married. The ultra-conservative kingdom has one of the world's highest rates of execution, with suspects convicted of terrorism, homicide, rape, armed robbery and drug trafficking facing the death penalty. Rights experts have repeatedly raised concerns about the fairness of trials in the kingdom, an absolute monarchy governed under a strict form of Islamic law. The government says the death penalty is a deterrent for further crime. Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor is seeking the death penalty for five activists for inciting protests, including Israa al-Ghomgham, the first female activist to possibly face the death penalty for her rights-related workPresident Donald Trump is running out of options to avoid possible impeachment or prevent his family from prosecution, legal experts say. The felony convictions of two former top aides Tuesday demonstrated that Trump's nonstop attacks have failed to impede Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia collusion and obstruction investigation against him. And while no one knows how strong a case Mueller has built against the president and his inner circle, Trump's own behavior suggests he feels intense pressure. Experts say he has three basic strategic options, none of them good. - Cooperate with Mueller - Though he repeatedly says there was no crime committed, Trump has tried disrupt and delay the investigation, and has avoided for months being interviewed by Mueller. That's a bad strategy, if Trump truly has nothing to hide, says Eric Freedman, a constitutional law professor at Hofstra University. "He should absolutely adopt and embrace a policy of openness," Freedman says, a move which could buttress the White House campaign to tarnish Mueller's probe as a political "witch hunt." Doing so would require abandoning his support for former aides like Paul Manafort, Trump's ex-campaign chairman convicted Tuesday on tax and bank fraud charges. Trump could, however, justify that he is "draining the swamp" of Washington corruption, argues Freedman, "wrapping himself in the mantle of good governance." Robert Bennett, a veteran Washington criminal defense lawyer who worked for president Bill Clinton in the 1990s, says it is too late for that. "They decided a long time ago to attack the special counsel. It would be hard now to do an about-face," he told AFP. "Who is he going to turn on? He's at the top of the food chain." Moreover, cooperating now would almost certainly not change the direction of Mueller's probe, except possibly for the worse, said Bennett, currently senior counsel at Schertler & Onorato, a Washington law firm. An interview with Mueller would be fraught with dangers for Trump, who notoriously cannot stay on script. "He couldn't truthfully cooperate without further incriminating himself, is my guess," Bennett said. Cooperating could also force the president into a difficult position if, as many think, his son Donald Trump Jr. or other family members fall into Mueller's sights. What then? "Stall as long as possible and pardon him," says Freedman. - Attack and Buy Time - Trump's immediate hurdle is the November 6 election, in which Democrats are threatening to take control of one or both houses of Congress. Trump needs to prevent that, to avoid having a Congress that would support impeaching him. His current strategy has been to convince voters that Mueller's investigation is an illegitimate, pro-Democrat operation, in hopes of attracting support to Republicans. The effort appears to be having limited success, polls suggest. In addition, the White House is demanding Mueller abide by a Justice Department policy for prosecutors not to take any action in the 60 days before an election that would impact any candidate. Michael German, formerly an FBI agent and now at the Brennan Center for Justice, says the policy doesn't prevent Mueller from pushing ahead. "Law enforcement doesn't stop every investigation 60 days before the election," German said. "I don't see anyone in the November election that has anything to do with those under investigation." Bennett says stalling tactics worked when he defended Clinton against Paula Jones' sexual harassment charges. The case threatened Clinton's reelection chances in 1996, and Bennett forced a procedural issue to the slow-working Supreme Court to make the case disappear for months. "My job was to get this Jones case out of daily media coverage," he recalled. "We figured if we could get the Supreme Court to take the case, we were assured this thing would have less impact on the 1996 election. That's exactly what happened. Ultimately we lost in the Supreme Court but he won the election." If Trump, or someone in his family facing charges, could get their case tied up in court over constitutional issues, it could take up to two years to resolve, to the end of Trump's term in office. "No matter what the outcome, he'd probably be much better off," Bennett said. - The Nuclear Option - Or Trump could fire Mueller and shut down the investigation. He has repeatedly threatened to do so, but has held back under warnings from lawmakers that that could provoke impeachment. The "nuclear option" didn't help president Richard Nixon when he fired Watergate special prosecutor Archibald Cox in October 1973. That further eroded support for Nixon, and Cox's replacement pursued the case anyway, until Nixon, nearly one year later, resigned in the face of certain impeachment. Even without any charges lodged against him yet, President Donald Trump faces narrowing options in confronting the ominous investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller In 1996 president Bill Clinton's lawyers stalled a sexual harassment investigation to help him win reelectionNazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian woman who has been in prison in Tehran for more than two years following a conviction for sedition, was freed for three days on Thursday. Zaghari-Ratcliffe was reunited with members of her family including her young daughter outside the Iranian capital after her surprise release. "Nazanin was released from Evin prison on furlough this morning. Initially the release is for three days -- her lawyer is hopeful this can be extended," her husband Richard Ratcliffe said in a statement. Ratcliffe said his wife, who has denied all charges filed against her in Iran, was currently with her parents and their four-year-old daughter Gabriella in Damavand, a mountain resort near Tehran. "I cried so much. I felt so overwhelmed," she said of the reunion, according to a statement released by The Free Nazanin campaign, which is run by her husband. Her husband voiced thanks to those in Tehran and London involved in making the release happen, including Britain's new Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt. "This was a very happy surprise after a number of false dawns recently, which had been increasingly unsettling," her husband said. Hunt, who met Ratcliffe in London earlier this month after he was appointed as Britain's top diplomat in July, called her temporary release "really good news" and paid tribute to the "tireless campaigning by husband Richard and her friends". "But being in prison AT ALL is gross injustice and she must be PERMANENTLY released for which every effort will continue," he wrote on Twitter. Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who works for the Thomson Reuters Foundation -- the media organisation's philanthropic arm -- was arrested at Tehran airport in April 2016. She is serving a five-year jail sentence for sedition -- a charge she has always contested. Hunt's predecessor Boris Johnson came under heavy criticism after appearing to jeopardise her defence last year by saying she was training journalists during her visit -- something her employer and family strongly deny. Johnson later clarified his remarks, saying it was clear that she was only on holiday. Ratcliffe and his supporters have held multiple protests and vigils in London to seek her release, attracting celebrity support from the likes of Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson. - 'Had to borrow a phone' - The Free Nazanin campaign said she was told on Thursday she had just 10 minutes to get ready because she was being released. Zaghari-Ratcliffe was not allowed to call her family and had to borrow a phone from someone outside the prison to call her brother, who lives in Tehran, to pick her up. She then called her husband and the British embassy and travelled to join the rest of her Iranian family, including her grandmother and daughter, in Damavand. "I wasn't expecting it at all when it was mentioned two weeks ago," she was quoted as saying by the campaign. "I didn't tell Gabriella or for a long time my mum -- so if it didn't happen I would be the only one to suffer." Zaghari-Ratcliffe was told she must return to prison on Sunday and the two conditions of her release are that she not give any media interviews or visit the grounds of any foreign embassy. Bail for her temporary release was set at one billion rials ($23,800, 20,600 euros), with her family's home in Tehran used as collateral, the campaign said. Zaghari-Ratcliffe's lawyers will on Saturday ask the authorities to extend her furlough, it added. "Nazanin has a number of cellmates who were released initially for three days, but who are still on furlough over a month later," the campaign statement said. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, pictured with her husband Richard and daughter Gabriella, has been in an Iranian prison for more than two years Campaigners have staged protests to demand the release of Nazanin Zaghari-RatcliffeThe de facto US ambassador to Taiwan said Thursday Washington would reassess its relations with El Salvador after the Central American country switched ties from Taipei to Beijing this week. The US is "deeply disappointed" at the break in ties between Taiwan and El Salvador, said Brent Christensen, the new director of the American Institute in Taiwan, in a meeting with Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen. Taiwan and China have been engaged for years in a diplomatic tug-of-war in developing countries. Economic support and other aid are often used as bargaining chips for diplomatic recognition. "El Salvador's receptiveness to China's apparent interference in domestic politics in western hemisphere countries is of grave concern to the United States," Christensen said at the meeting in Taipei. The move "will result in a reassessment of our relationship with El Salvador", he added. Christensen also reaffirmed US support for Taiwan to "resist efforts to constrain its appropriate participation on the world stage". Beijing sees self-ruling, democratic Taiwan as part of its territory to be brought back into the fold and has not ruled out using force to do so. Relations between Taipei and Beijing have worsened since Tsai came to power in 2016 as her government refuses to acknowledge that Taiwan is part of "one China". As a result, China has stepped up its poaching of Taiwan's dwindling official allies. El Salvador became the fifth diplomatic loss under Tsai's presidency and the third this year. But while most countries have established formal relations with Beijing rather than rival Taipei in recent decades, Taiwan still has unofficial relationships with powerful countries. Its most important unofficial ally is the US, which remains Taiwan's leading arms supplier, despite switching diplomatic recognition to Beijing in 1979. Ties have warmed between the US and Taiwan in recent months, incensing Beijing. Some analysts saw the poaching of El Salvador as an indirect slap in the face to the Trump administration and a warning against further friendly overtures. The cutting of ties came just after Tsai had wrapped up a Latin American tour with high-profile stopovers in the US. In her meeting with Christensen, Tsai said China was suppressing Taiwan "with every conceivable means". She called on "like-minded countries to jointly express concern" over China's actions. Taiwan is often shut out of international forums under Beijing pressure and some global firms have caved to requests to list Taiwan as part of China on their websites. El Salvador became Taiwan's fifth diplomatic loss under President Tsai Ing-wen and the third this yearThe United States slapped steep tariffs on another $16 billion in Chinese goods on Thursday, triggering a swift tit-for-tat retaliation from Beijing, even as negotiators from both sides seek to soothe trade tensions. The latest action completes the first round of $50 billion in Chinese products that President Donald Trump targeted with Beijing striking back at American products dollar-for-dollar at each step. China "firmly opposes the tariffs and has no choice but to continue to make the necessary counter-attacks", the commerce ministry said in a statement. Beijing hit back with tariffs on an equal amount of US goods, targeting iconic products such as Harley-Davidson motorcycles, dump trucks and asphalt, among hundreds of others. China's commerce ministry said the US tariffs were "clearly suspected" of violating World Trade Organization and noted it would file a lawsuit against them under the WTO's dispute resolution mechanism. The escalation came as the world's two largest economies hold their first formal discussions since June on the spiralling trade war. Trump has pushed aggressive trade actions to lower the US trade deficit, which he equates with theft from Americans. But US trading partners have retaliated aggressively, which is hurting American farmers, manufacturers and consumers. US businesses have become increasingly concerned about the tariffs, which are raising prices for manufacturers and could hurt the economy, although the prospect of a negotiated solution buoyed world markets this week. However, Federal Reserve officials have warned that "an escalation in international trade disputes was a potentially consequential downside risk for real activity", according to the minutes of its July 31-August 1 policy meeting. A large-scale and prolonged dispute likely would adversely impact business sentiment, investment spending and employment, the officials warned, and boost prices, which would "reduce the purchasing power of US households". - Next round - Still pending is the possibility of new duties on another $200 billion in Chinese goods, which are the subject of public hearings this week, as well as Trump's proposed 25 percent taxes on all auto imports to protect the US car industry. China has responded by threatening to impose new tariffs on $60 billion worth of US goods, while Beijing could also target the local operations of US corporations with inspections and boycotts as it has done in past disputes with South Korea and Japan. China's state media has taken aim at Apple in recent weeks, accusing the US titan of allowing illegal apps to proliferate on its platform. US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said China will not be able to continue to retaliate at the same pace as the United States. "Naturally they'll retaliate a little bit. But at the end of the day, we have many more bullets than they do. They know it," Ross said on CNBC. "We have a much stronger economy than they have, they know that too." Trump has threatened to target all $500 billion in goods the US imports from China, noting that Beijing cannot continue to retaliate in kind since it imports less than $200 billion a year in American goods. - Talks continue - US Treasury's David Malpass, undersecretary for international affairs, is leading two days of talks with China's Vice Commerce Minister Wang Shouwen and Vice Finance Minister Liao Min that began Wednesday. The talks were to continue Thursday, but the Treasury has not specified what topics are being discussed. In Beijing, China's foreign ministry declined to provide details on the progress of the negotiations. "We hope the US can make concerted efforts with China and follow a rational and practical attitude to earnestly seek good results in the talks," foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a regular news briefing. Trump said earlier this week that he was not expecting much from the dialogue. "We are a country that has been ripped off by anybody and we are not going to be ripped off anymore," he said at a campaign rally in West Virginia on Tuesday. Thousands of large and small companies and industry groups have urged the Trump administration to reconsider the tariffs, which some say could put them out of business. The administration has already been forced to announce a $12 billion aid programme for farmers hurt by the trade row, as US agricultural products, like soybeans, were an easy target for China and others. President Donald Trump has pushed aggressive trade actions to lower the US trade deficit that he equates with stealing from Americans Chart showing the 2017 value of sectors that will be hit by President Donald Trump's tariffs on Chinese goods, with the second round taking effect Thursday. A graphic showing the major trading partners of the United States in 2017A woman has been charged after more than $200,000 cash and 4000 tins of baby formula were seized by police in Sydney overnight.

Strike Force Dungv detectives arrested a 48-year-old woman and a 53-year-old man at about 10pm on Wednesday night in a car park at Carlingford.

They were taken to the Ryde Police Station.

Police said two search warrants were executed at homes at Carlingford shortly after the arrests.

Investigators allegedly found more than 4000 tins of baby formula, Manuka honey, large quantities of vitamins and other items, all of which are believed to be stolen.

More than $215,000 cash was located by authorities hidden throughout one of the homes, and was seized as alleged proceeds of crime.

Police allege they found more than 4000 tins of baby formula on Wednesday night after two search warrants were executed. Source: NSW Police

Police seized more than $200,000 in Sydneys north-west. Source: NSW Police

The woman was charged with knowingly directing activities of a criminal group, knowingly participating in a criminal group, three counts of participating in a criminal group and related charges.

She is due to appear in Burwood Local Court on September 17, after being granted strict conditional bail.

The man was released pending further investigations.Even an occasional glass of wine or beer increases the risk of health problems and dying, according to a major study on drinking in 195 nations that attributes 2.8 million premature deaths worldwide each year to booze. "There is no safe level of alcohol," said Max Griswold, a researcher at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation in Seattle, Washington and lead author for a consortium of more than 500 experts. Despite recent research showing that light-to-moderate drinking reduces heart disease, the new study found that alcohol use is more likely than not to do harm. "The protective effect of alcohol was offset by the risks," Griswold told AFP in summarising the results, published in medical journal The Lancet on Friday. "Overall, the health risks associated with alcohol rose in line with the amount consumed each day." Compared to abstinence, imbibing one "standard drink" -- 10 grammes of alcohol, equivalent to a small beer, glass of wine or shot of spirits -- per day, for example, ups the odds of developing at least one of two dozen health problems by about half-a-percent, the researchers reported. Looked at one way, that seems like a small increment: 914 out of 100,000 teetotallers will encounter those problems, compared to 918 people who imbibe seven times per week. "But at the global level, that additional risk of 0.5 percent among (once-a-day) drinkers corresponds to about 100,000 additional deaths each year," said senior author Emmanuela Gakidou, a professor at the University of Washington and a director at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. - 'Less is better, none is best' - "Those are excess deaths, in other words, that could be avoided," she told AFP. The risk climbs in a steep "J-curve", the study found. An average of two drinks per day, for example, translated into a 7.0 percent hike in disease and injury compared to those who opt for abstinence. With five "units" of alcohol per day, the likelihood of serious consequences jumps by 37 percent. The "less is better, none is best" finding jibes with the World Health Organization's long-standing position, but is at odds with many national guidelines, especially in the developed world. Britain's health authority, for example, suggests not exceeding 14 drinks per week "to keep health risks from alcohol to a low level". "There is always a lag between the publication of new evidence and the modification and adoption of revised guidelines," said Gakidou, who admitted to being an "occasional drinker" herself. "The evidence shows what the evidence shows, and I -- like 2.4 billion other people on the planet that also consume alcohol -- need to take it seriously." Overall, drinking was the seventh leading risk factor for premature death and disease in 2016, accounting for just over two percent of deaths in women and nearly seven percent in men. The top six killers are high blood pressure, smoking, low-birth weight and premature delivery, high blood sugar (diabetes), obesity and pollution. But in the 15-49 age bracket, alcohol emerged as the most lethal factor, responsible for more than 12 percent of deaths among men, the study found. - The 95 percent club - The main causes of alcohol-related deaths in this age group were tuberculosis, road injuries and "self-harm", mainly suicide. King's College London professor Robyn Burton, who did not take part in the study, described it as "the most comprehensive estimate of the global burden of alcohol use to date." The examination of impacts drew from more than 600 earlier studies, while a country-by-country tally of prevalence -- the percentage of men and women who drink, and how much they consume -- drew from another 700. Both were grounded in new methods that compensated for the shortcomings of earlier efforts. Among men, drinking alcohol in 2016 was most widespread in Denmark (97 percent), along with Norway, Argentina, Germany, and Poland (94 percent). In Asia, South Korean men took the lead, with 91 percent hitting the bottle at least once in a while. Among women, Danes also ranked first (95 percent), followed by Norway (91 percent), Germany and Argentina (90 percent), and New Zealand (89 percent). The biggest drinkers, however, were found elsewhere. Men in Romania who partake knocked back a top-scoring eight drinks a day on average, with Portugal, Luxembourg, Lithuania and Ukraine just behind at seven "units" per day. Ukranian women who drink were in a league of their own, putting away more than four glasses or shots every 24 hours, followed by Andorra, Luxembourg, Belarus, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland and Britain, all averaging about three per day. The most abstemious nations were those with Muslim-majority populations. Don't drink to your health: A new major study has found that even an occasional glass of wine can do you harm Alcohol problem: How different levels of alcohol effect the health of different age ranges The heaviest drinkers: Countries were the most alcohol is consumed per personGEDDES  Republican U.S. Senate candidate Chele Farley chatted with voters at the New York State Fair Wednesday. But she had another mission while at the fairgrounds: to find chocolate-covered bacon for her 11-year-old son.

"He was like, 'You gotta bring me chocolate-covered bacon', because I've been talking about chocolate-covered bacon for years," Farley said shortly after arriving at the fair.

She was joined by state Sen. John DeFrancisco, who served as the unofficial tour guide. DeFrancisco's district includes the state fairgrounds and he makes multiple trips to the fair each year.

The pair's first stop: The joint Dinosaur Bar-B-Que and Gianelli Sausage stand at Chevy Court. Eighteen years ago, another Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, Rick Lazio, infamously said he was "so so on the sausage sandwiches." It's become a tradition for politicians to eat a sausage sandwich while visiting the fair.

Farley didn't make the same mistake as Lazio. She embraced the custom. She ordered an Italian sausage sandwich with peppers and onions. Together with DeFrancisco, they sat and ate lunch in the Chevy Court picnic area.

There were other stops during Farley's first visit to the state fair. The Manhattan resident viewed the butter sculpture, one of the fair's top attractions, in the Dairy Products Building. She purchased a few cups of milk from the Rainbow Milk Bar. And then it was on to the Horticulture Building, where she was treated to food from a Kosher vendor.

The trip balanced the leisure of the fair with a desire to win over New Yorkers in a tough race. Farley is challenging U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, a Democrat who is a heavy favorite to win re-election. Farley has slammed Gillibrand for not having any significant legislative achievements and believes New York needs more of its junior senator.

While Farley has been crisscrossing the state, she received more attention last week after President Donald Trump gave her a shout-out at a fundraiser in Utica. Trump was in central New York to campaign for U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney, a Republican who represents the 22nd Congressional District.

"I've watched you and I know you're really working hard," Trump said to Farley at the event. "Honestly, on the merits, you should win."

Trump then criticized Gillibrand, who has been one of the leading critics of his policies.

The mention by Trump led to more coverage of her campaign by national outlets, including Fox News.

"It's been fantastic," she said Wednesday. "That's what we need."

The main issue Farley has campaigned on is New York's status as a donor state. Studies have found that the state sends $48 billion more to Washington in the form of tax payments than it receives in federal aid. She wants to bring more of that money back to the state.

With the additional funds, she said New York could improve broadband access, upgrade crumbling infrastructure, address ongoing economic problems and combat opioid addiction.

"There is enough money. It should be spent in our state," she added.

As Farley walked through the fairgrounds, few fairgoers recognized her. But it helped to have DeFrancisco at her side. A state senator since 1993, at least 25 people approached him near Chevy Court and in fair buildings to thank him for his service.

Nearly every time, DeFrancisco would introduce fairgoers to Farley. And he would tell them that she has his support.

Love 1 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0A state appellate court has affirmed a lower court's decision allowing Democratic candidate John Mannion to remain on three ballot lines in the 50th Senate District race.

Onondaga County Comptroller Bob Antonacci, the Republican candidate in the race, and two of his supporters, Barbara Duck and Timothy Mitchell, appealed a state Supreme Court's decision last week that Mannion would be booted from the Reform Party line, but would remain on the Democratic, Women's Equality and Working Families party lines.

Antonacci's side accused Mannion of fraud. A Mannion campaign aide allegedly filed a voter registration form that was purportedly signed by Meghan Carranti, a former Onondaga County resident who now lives in North Carolina. Carranti was listed as one of two people who signed Mannion's Reform Party petition.

But Carranti signed an affidavit stating that she never signed the voter registration or Reform Party petition. State Supreme Court Judge Norman Seiter decided to toss Mannion's Reform Party petition, removing him from the line.

Antonacci and his supporters believe the alleged fraudulent behavior extends beyond the Reform Party petitions. After Seiter's decision last week, they filed an appeal. The appeal attempts to have Mannion removed from the Democratic, Women's Equality and Working Families party lines.

Judges from the Appellate Division, Fourth Judicial Department, said Antonacci's side lack standing to challenge Mannion's Democratic, Women's Equality and Working Families petitions because they did not file objections with the state Board of Elections.

"We further conclude that the court properly denied that part of the petition in which (Antonacci) challenged the other designating petitions inasmuch as (Antonacci) failed to establish by clear and convincing evidence that those designating petitions are permeated with fraud or that (Mannion) participated in or is chargeable with knowledge of the fraud," the judges wrote.

Antonacci could appeal the state appellate court's ruling. He could urge the state Court of Appeals, New York's highest court, to review the case.

Antonacci and Mannion are running for the 50th Senate District seat. The district includes parts of Cayuga and Onondaga counties.

The race is expected to be one of the most competitive state Senate contests in New York. Democratic and Republican leaders have said that the race is a high priority.

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 0 Sad 0 Angry 1LYONS  For nearly two hours Wednesday evening, U.S. Rep. John Katko answered questions about veterans issues  and more  at his first public forum of the year.

The first hour of the listening session, which was held at the Wayne County Public Safety Building in Lyons, focused on veteran-related topics. Many of the questions asked Katko, R-Camillus, and panelists who joined him for the discussion about services available to veterans. Katko and his staff offered to assist veterans navigate the bureaucracy.

It was the last hour that Katko did what he has been accused of not doing: Take questions, in an open forum, on any topic.

He was peppered with questions about his health care stance and, specifically, whether he supports Medicare for all. Some Democrats have endorsed establishing a Medicare-for-all system, a form of single-payer health insurance. Among those supporting this proposal is Dana Balter, Katko's Democratic opponent in the 24th Congressional District race.

Katko referred to a report published by the Mercatus Center, a George Mason University think tank, that found health expenditures would decrease, but federal spending would need to double to pay for the program.

While taxes would rise, proponents say taxpayers would save money because their health expenses would decrease. But Katko isn't convinced. He worries that it would have an adverse impact on the economy.

"I've met with people who are very much for the Medicare for all. I've been learning from them and they've been learning from me," he said. "But there's some long-term concerns I have about it that have not been answered."

Katko reiterated his support of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia's meddling in the 2016 election. A question about the investigation came one day after the conviction of Paul Manafort, President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman.

When asked if he would support impeaching Trump if Mueller's investigation found wrongdoing on his part, Katko fell short of pledging to vote one way or another. He called engaging in speculation "dangerous," but added that he will "abide by the facts wherever they lead us."

"I'm not saying he's innocent," he said. "I'm not saying he's guilty."

Throughout the second hour, there were questions raised by those in attendance about whether Katko has stood up to Trump. Trump, like Katko, is a Republican.

At one point, Katko grabbed a few pieces of paper he had sitting in front of him and read what he viewed as examples of him standing up to Trump. There were at least three pages of examples he mentioned, the most recent example being a statement he released criticizing Trump for praising Russian President Vladimir Putin at a summit in Finland.

"I have a track record of standing against him," he insisted.

Katko also addressed the ongoing immigration debate and shared his account of a failed effort to pass a comprehensive bill. He played a role in drafting a legislation he believed would appeal to both parties. It included a provision to protect 1.8 million "Dreamers"  individuals who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children  and provide a pathway to citizenship.

The legislation contained other provisions, such as funding for a border wall  one of Trump's top priorities  and border security measures.

When the bill came to the House floor for a vote, it failed by a wide margin. Only 121 Republicans supported the legislation. Half of the GOP joined the Democratic caucus in voting against the plan.

Katko blamed Democrats for not putting aside their differences about the border wall to support a bill he believes would help Dreamers. He also blasted GOP members who voted against it and criticized Trump for sending mixed messages.

"We could've put this issue behind us," he said.

The forum concluded with multiple attendees asking Katko to hold an open town hall meeting. Wednesday's session was his 10th forum since joining Congress in 2015. He has mostly scheduled issue-specific forums to discuss agriculture, the drug crisis and other subjects.

Last year, he participated in a televised town hall meeting at Onondaga Community College.

Katko said he plans to hold a forum in the next week or two in Cayuga County. He didn't reveal the date or location.

"I will continue to make myself available," he said. "You have my word on that."

Online producer Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding.

Love 4 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 4U.S. Rep. John Katko will lead a discussion about infrastructure issues and take questions on other subjects at a public forum next week in Auburn, his office announced Thursday.

Katko, R-Camillus, will hold the forum at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 30, at Cayuga Community College's Student Lounge, 197 Franklin St., Auburn. The event is free and open to the public.

The meeting will be moderated by Owasco Supervisor Ed Wagner. Katko will be joined by several panelists for the infrastructure-focused discussion. The panelists include Auburn Mayor Michael Quill, Centro CEO Rick Lee, Greg Lancette of the Central New York Building & Construction Trades Council and Randy Wolken, president and CEO of the Manufacturers Association of Central New York.

"In central New York, and communities nationwide, our infrastructure is crumbling," Katko said in a statement. "Roads, bridges, and ports have fallen into disrepair. Here in our community, we know all too well the dangers of toxins on our water sources."

Katko, a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, highlighted his work on infrastructure issues in Congress. He led a bipartisan working group within the Problem Solvers Caucus to author a report on ways both parties could address infrastructure problems nationwide.

The listening session next week will be the 11th forum Katko has held since taking office in 2015. His most recent public forum was Wednesday in Lyons, where he answered questions for nearly two hours. The first half of the forum focused on veterans' issues, but Katko stayed for another hour to answer questions about health care, immigration and other topics.

While the forum isn't a campaign event, Katko is up for re-election this year. His opponent, Democratic challenger Dana Balter, has criticized the congressman for not holding open town hall meetings. Many of Katko's past forums have been on specific issues, such as agriculture or the drug crisis. He participated in a televised town hall meeting last year.

The Auburn forum will be Katko's first in Cayuga County since March 2016, when he held a listening session about the opioid epidemic. He participated in two public forums last year  one about opioids and synthetic drugs in Oswego County and another on agriculture in Wayne County.

Online producer Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding.

Love 2 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0A couple of weeks ago, I realized that I had not been able to take a weekend off for most of the summer. Is it because it has been extraordinarily busy at the shop? Or is it because I think that I am indispensable? Jessica will tell you the latter. In any event, I took off on Saturday afternoon, drove west and crossed the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge to Canada.

I headed for Niagara-on-the-Lake, perhaps one of the best planted small communities in North America. It was recently voted the Friendliest City or Town In Canada. Canadians always seem to do a great job in parks and downtown plantings. This sleepy little village was developed around the Shaw Festival, very much like our Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival. Today it has four theaters and a bustling downtown area with dozens of shops and restaurants. And to make the area comfortable and interesting, they spend a lot of dollars planting the shopping and public areas. It was the weekend of the annual Peach Festival, the area is loaded with fruit farms, and it was crowded.

Rather than write a lot of words, I am sharing some of my pictures from the weekend  pictures of how a town of some 25,000 people can look, and how a theater can transform a community.

Carmen Cosentino operates Cosentino's Florist with his daughter, Jessica. He was elected to the National Floriculture Hall of Fame in 1998, and in 2008, received the Tommy Bright award for lifetime achievements in floral education. He can be reached at cosenti@aol.com or (315) 253-5316.

Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0AUBURN  A Cayuga man who has served over 8 years in a maximum security state prison was deemed a level 3 sex offender, the highest level, and designated as a sexually violent offender in Cayuga County Court Thursday.

Steven Valder, 28, of 7805 Route 90, was sent to Coxsackie Correctional Facility in March 2010 after pleading guilty to first-degree criminal sex act, a class B felony, for molesting a child in 2008.

At the time, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison with 10 years of post-release supervision. He was to serve the sentence concurrently to a 15-year federal prison sentence for distributing child pornography.

Judge Thomas Leone did not include Valder's child pornography charges in the assessment because he felt the federal case  involving an undercover officer posing as a 13-year-old boy  could not be captured by the risk level assessment.

Although Valder's guilty plea in 2010 involved forced sex with one boy between the ages of 11 and 16, his risk assessment accounted for him sexually abusing three children.

"I'd argue he admitted to sexually abusing three children," Cayuga County District Attorney Jon Budelmann said, explaining that Valder previously admitted in an interview to abusing three children.

A girl was also a victim, and Budlemann argued there was sufficient evidence from Valder's interview that another girl  who was believed to be 9 at the time  was also a victim.

"I think the defendant has demonstrated he is at extremely high risk to re-offend," Budlemann said.

In addition to Valder admitting to abusing three young children, Budlemann said Valder also had thousands of images of child pornography  noting that child porn and the sexual exploitation of victims "feed each other"  and that Valder began abusing others when he was 18 years old. He stated Valder "demonstrates an appetite" that makes him a high risk to re-offend.

Valder's attorney, Joseph Sapio, first proposed a total risk factor score of 75 points, and later asked the judge for a score under 105 so Valder would be a level 2 sex offender.

Leone gave Valder a total score of 125 which deemed him a level 3 sex offender.

The state's Department of Corrections and Community Supervision's website lists Valder's earliest release from Coxsackie Correctional Facility as Sept. 27, 2018 and his maximum expiration date as March 3, 2020.

The federal court will assign his federal prison release date.

Also in court

 Reisha Overstreet, 24, of 2 Palm Dr., was sentenced to 1 1/2 to 3 years in prison for punching a woman in the face.

In July, Overstreet pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal contempt, a class E felony. In an altercation in May, she punched her mother in the face which also violated her probation from her first felony offense. Overstreet's first felony offense was back in July 2016 for third-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

Overstreet's attorney, Charles Thomas, explained the sentencing was moved up from Sept. 13 because Overstreet is now 6-to-7-months pregnant and wants to get out of Cayuga County Jail and into a correctional facility that would allow the birth of the child and time for the mother and infant to be together.

Leone sentenced Overstreet to 1 1/2 to 3 years in prison for violating the terms and conditions of her probation as well as the criminal contempt charge. Shock camp was recommended. Leone also issued a full stay-away order of protection against Overstreet's mother.

Staff writer Megan Ehrhart can be reached at (315) 282-2244 or megan.ehrhart@lee.net. Follow her on Twitter @MeganEhrhart.

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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.After Nye County, Nevada, revoked the license to operate a legal brothel held by flamboyant, self-described pimp Dennis Hof earlier this month, a judge on Wednesday said that he is likely to reverse the countys decision to shut down Hofs Love Ranch South brothel in Crystal, Nevada.

The Love Ranch South is located about a half an hour by car from Pahrump, Nevada, where Hof resides and where he is currently the Republican candidate for state assembly. The brothel is situated slightly more than one hour outside of Las Vegas.

Hof last week filed a lawsuit in United States District Court in Nevada, seeking to overturn the Nye County decision, which the countys Liquor and Licensing Board said was the result of Hofs failure to pay fees in a timely fashion and to file his license renewal application.

On Wednesday morning, federal Judge Richard Boulware reviewed the status of Hofs brothel licenses and set a hearing for Monday, August 27, to allow both Hof and the county to present evidence as to why the Love Ranch should remain closed, oras Hof is demandingbe reopened.

According to Las Vegas Sun reporter Mick Akers, at Wednesdays court session, Boulware said that he sees a significant chance that he will grant Hofs request and order the brothel to reopen.

The judges statement came the day after a raucous hearing before the commissioners, at which a number of Nye County residents rallied in support of Hofincluding onetime Hollywood Madam Heidi Fleiss.

Can we settle this with Dennis without lawsuits and all these people complaining? Fleiss said at the public meeting, according to a report in the Sun by Akers. Can we find middle ground here? Would you rather have the lawsuits? There are other ways of doing this than closing down the business where a lot of people are affected.

One of those people affected appears to be Fleiss herself, who is now in talks to buy the Love Ranch South brothel from Hof, according to the Sun report.

But at least one resident, Dave Stevens, spoke against reopening the brothel, saying that legal brothels were giving this town a bad name.

The board had to warn the largely pro-Hof crowd to quiet down as Stevens spoke, threatening to have them removed as they jeered him, Akers reported.

Photo by Daniel Dacumos / Wikimedia CommonsPITTSBURGH, PAAdult Empire Cash has announced that it will be sending a representative to the industrys major European trade shows for the first time. Scott Blackburn, AE Cashs affiliate manager, will be attending, among other events, Webmaster Access 2018 in Amsterdam.

Blackburns presence at the expos will allow European industry professionals to connect with AE Cash, which serves as the affiliate arm of leading retail sites Adult Empire, TLA Video and Sugar Instant. It has also become known for a growing family of membership sites, including Elegant Angel, Lethal Hardcore, Forbidden Fruits Films, WhorecraftVR and more.

Its a great opportunity to have the chance to attend ... Webmaster Access, Blackburn said. Were excited for the potential and think that there are many incredible collaborative efforts waiting for us in the European market. Adult Empire is a brand with global reach and global recognition, so it only seemed appropriate for us to make our presence known in some of the most prominent events outside the United States.

Scott has performed superbly as our affiliate manager ever since he joined the AE Cash team, said AE Cash Director of Affiliates Daniel Chura. Hes a terrific communicator and having him at these events will help new partners understand how much AE Cash can offer, including our new hybrid system which combines the power of our retail side with the technology and design of our membership sites.

Blackburn hopes to meet with current partners, new affiliates, webmasters and studios to discuss potential custom stores, VOD partnerships, member trades and membership sites. The AE Cash program has won praise from its many existing partners, including industry legends such as Stoney Curtis and Jodi West.

Attendees wishing to schedule a meeting with Blackburn can email [email protected] or submit a request here.

General information about AE Cash can be found at AdultEmpireCash.com and on Twitter @adultempirecash.MONTREALRabbits Network, the team behind Rabbits Reviews and The Best Porn, is marking the 15th anniversary of its sites. Since its inception in 2003, the sites have worked hard to become trusted super-affiliates. Said Mantas M., president and RabbitsReviews founder, I wanted to create a brand that speaks to people, was instantly recognizable and has a reputation that both customers and partners respect.

Rabbits Network will be hosting a series of special blogs, exclusive deals, contests and membership giveaways related to the celebration of 15 years in the business. The network partnered with such recognizable brands as Team Skeet, Brazzers, Reality Kings, PornDoe, Badoink, Nubiles and Mr. Skin to give away year-long memberships to fans who have signed up to Rabbits Reviews or PornUsers.

Considered a major player in adult reviews, Rabbits Reviews continues to innovate by introducing a new review format called Top Tier Reviews, which will examine paysites in a way no other site has done before. One way we are changing now is by introducing Top Tier reviews. Were going to look at the biggest brands, the ones we know are here to stay, and talk about their brand, their history, the producers, etc., Mantas explained.

Rabbits Networks flagship properties, RabbitsReviews.com and TheBestPorn.com, attract close to 2 million readers each month, and claim to offer the largest online collection of paysite reviews. The companys portfolio also includes MyFavSexCams.xxx, VRPornSites.xxx, TopChats.com, XXX.xxx and Rewards.xxx along with hundreds of other web properties and an ad network. The company employs more than 25 full-time staff in Montreal.Cornish baker Prima Bakeries has announced its first export deal following record sales this year.

The business, which is based at Scorrier near Redruth, reported that its trade since April had broken all monthly records, and it had just recorded the three busiest ever weeks in its 40-year history.

Strong growth in the bakerys pasty sales, both within and outside Cornwall, has meant that the business recently introduced a new freezer unit, capable of holding 80,000 pasties. This has enabled Prima to take on several new upcountry wholesale customers, as well as its first export sales to a pasty shop in Dublin. Bread, pastries and cakes have also contributed to the recent growth.

People like to buy locally made food products and Prima fills a big gap by looking after the needs of the many small independent retailers, convenience shops and catering outlets looking for a good product, a fair price and, most importantly, great service, said managing director Mark Norton.

Prima Bakeries was purchased by the Norton family back in 2010. Since then, Norton has grown the business five-fold and it now employs 82 staff. He is planning a further 20% growth over the next 12 months and expects to create 10 to 15 full-time equivalent new jobs.

It is also working with the next generation of bakers and earlier this year announced that it had partnered with Warrens Bakery and Truro and Penwith College to create a new apprenticeship.The Food & Drink Federation has said government advice for businesses on a no-deal Brexit will have frightened many small and medium food businesses.

The government has today (23 August) published the first in a series of Technical Notices advising businesses and individuals how to prepare for a no deal scenario.

In such circumstances, the UK would leave the EU on 11pm on 29 March next year without a withdrawal agreement and framework for a future relationship in place between the UK and the EU.

Speaking in London today, Brexit secretary Dominic Raab said that the government had plans to mitigate any risk of disruption to supply chains, and that the suggestion there would be a sandwich famine was misleading.

The first technical notes covered topics including producing and processing organic food, and specific importing and exporting matters (trade remedies; trading with the EU; classifying your goods in the UK trade tariff; and exporting controlled goods).

The notice about organic food certification made it clear that UK organic exporters could face a ban on exports to the EU for at least nine months after a no-deal exit, while new approvals for certification were sought, said the Food & Drink Federation (FDF).

And it warned the issues would also affect any UK food that currently displayed EU marks or logos.

The governments laudable decision to publish these Technical Notices nevertheless confirms what a grisly prospect for UK food and drink a no-deal exit from the EU would be, said FDF chief executive Ian Wright.

He added there was no sign of further progress on negotiating frameworks with devolved administrations, and no substantive information on mitigating the impact of no-deal on the island of Ireland.

Moreover, the UK food industry will doubt that the government could replace TRACES (the EU Trade Control and Expert System that tracks the entire trade and certification process for animals, food, feed and plants) with a new, comprehensive, functional UK alternative IT system in time for the end of March, said Wright.

The FDF warned the new burdens potentially facing food and drink exporters and importers set out today would frighten many SME food businesses.

The piecemeal release of these notices indicates that many are not yet ready and agreed for publication. That hardly inspires confidence. As the consequences of a no-deal exit from the EU become ever clearer it is vital that, to protect the interests of shoppers and consumers, the government must deliver a deal with the EU.

The FDFs words were echoed by the Soil Association, which said a no-deal Brexit would be the worst possible scenario for UK food and farming.

The technical notices offer no further clarity to businesses and provide neither reassurance nor advice on how to prepare for a potential no deal scenario, added head of standards Chris Atkinson.

The information outlined raises concerns that imports and exports to and from the EU may be held up for months. We are also concerned that a new UK-owned imports traceability system to replace the current EU system would need to be in place by 29 March 2019. In our view this is an unrealistic goal within the time frame. Delays could significantly hinder trade.

The five living former N.C. governors held a press conference Monday, Aug. 13, announcing their opposition to two constitutional amendments. At lectern is Republican Jim Martin. From left, Democrats Jim Hunt, Mike Easley, Bev Perdue, and Republican Pat McCrory. (CJ photo by Don Carrington)

"While it's not surprising former governors oppose checks and balances on the unilateral authority of their office, we are confident the people will support a more accountable approach to filling judicial vacancies and approve a bipartisan balance on critical boards like the state's ethics and elections commission over a system of purely political control."

"It's rare that we get together like this. Never have five of us gotten together and stuck it to you on the same issue. So you can believe we believe in what we're saying to you today."

It wasn't about partisan politics, former Gov. Jim Martin said. It's something much worse.Martin, and the four other living former North Carolina governors, held a news conference Monday, Aug. 13, in the State Capitol building, standing in bipartisan opposition to two constitutional amendments they say would limit executive power.Republican Martin joked.Martin said he arranged the meeting with his colleagues Jim Hunt, Mike Easley, Beverly Perdue, and Pat McCrory, because they agreed the proposed amendments - House Bill 913 and Senate Bill 814 - would damage separation of powers. They also would shift too much control away from the executive and judicial branches of government to the legislature. The governors planned to meet with political strategist Paul Shumaker to discuss ways to oppose the amendments, including the possibility of forming an official committee, raising money, and running ad campaigns.They also urged media outlets to inform the public about the amendments and let voters make up their own minds on the measures - though Perdue added she wanted voters to reject them.Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper filed a lawsuit challenging the two amendments. He argued the ballot questions are misleading, unfair, and incomplete. His lawyers say they're unconstitutional because ballot questions must accurately describe the effect of the amendment.H.B. 913 creates a new eight-member Bipartisan Board of Ethics and Elections Enforcement appointed by the legislature and outside the authority of the executive branch; it also wrests authority for making other board and commission appointments from the governor to the legislature. S.B. 814 deals with filling judicial vacancies. It creates merit commissions to recommend judicial candidates to the General Assembly, which would make nominations to the governor.Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, and House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, issued a joint statement responding to the governors.Hunt served four terms as governor - 1977-85 and 1993-2001. He said the amendments would be bad for North Carolinians, who choose the governor in a statewide election with the expectation he or she will represent their interests through board appointments.Hunt said.Easley reiterated the significance of the meeting.Easley said the amendments would be bad for regulatory policy.Easley said.Easley said that, from his perspective as governor, attorney general, and lawyer, the amendments were poorly drafted and warned it would take years for the courts to interpret them.Perdue said she was surprised by news of the legislature's ongoing session and its plans to implement the amendments after the elections.Perdue shared.Perdue, a former history and civics teacher, said even fourth-graders understand the concept of checks and balances among the three branches of government.Republicans McCrory and Martin agreed this constitutional issue went beyond partisan politics.Failing to engage the GOP-led General Assembly would be hypocritical, McCrory said, recalling his successful battle in the separation-of-powers lawsuit McCrory v. Berger. In the lawsuit, the state Supreme Court ruled the governor had to have effective control of a majority of the appointees of a board or commission which primarily performs executive branch functions.McCrory challenged legislators to join the governors in opposing the amendment.McCrory said.The fallout continues over an audit that found a lack of oversight by the N.C. Alcoholic Beverage Control commission has cost the state about $13.5 million.Michael Herring, one of three members on the state ABC commission, resigned Wednesday, Aug. 15., according to a letter obtained by the Triangle Business Journal.In the poorly worded letter, Herring called findings by the Office of State Auditor Beth Wood "fictitious" and calls out the administration of Gov. Roy Cooper for failing to defend the state ABC, saying it'sABC administrator Bob Hamilton left the agency late last month, about a week before the state released the audit. The reasons for Hamilton's abrupt departure remain unclear, and the ABC, citing state personnel laws, refuses to comment.The audit released Aug. 9, in short, found that poor contract administration cost North Carolina taxpayers at least $11.3 million over 13 years. Unused warehouse space potentially cost the state $2.1 million over seven years, and a lack of monitoring left the state underpaid by at least $297,537 over two years.Herring told the TBJ the LB&B contract was "a good deal for the state," the paper reported, and the findings amount to "typical politics."The N.C. ABC has removed Herring's profile from its website. The commission now consists of chair A.D. "Zander" Guy Jr. and Norman A. Mitchell Sr., who Cooper appointed in July.Herring was a long-time ABC administrator and appointed to the board by former Gov. Pat McCrory in 2015.The ABC, the audit found, failed to administer the warehouse contract in the best interests of the state.The General Assembly, said Wood, asked her for an audit the state's six largest agencies, including Public Safety, where ABC resides.Wood told Carolina Journal.In his response to the audit report, ABC chairman A.D. Zander Guy says he was appointed only last year andYet Guy has a history with the state ABC during the period LB&B was reportedly overcharging state taxpayers. In 2009, he was first appointed to the commission and served until 2013. He was chairman from February 2012 to February 2013.Saint Peter is on the Job

Always Ask, Never Assume!

Saint Peter is seeing all of the new arrivals trying to go through the pearly gates in Heaven.The first applicant of the day explains that his last day was not a good one.Saint Peter thanked him and sent him on to the waiting room.The second applicant said that his last day was his worst....Saint Peter couldn't help but chuckle as he directs the man to the waiting room.Saint Peter is still chuckling when his third customer of the day enters.He apologizes and saysreplies the man.His request approved, the CNN News photographer quickly used a cell phone to call the local airport to charter a flight.He was told a twin-engine plane would be waiting for him at the airport.Arriving at the airfield, he spotted a plane warming up outside a hanger.He jumped in with his bag, slammed the door shut, and shouted,The pilot taxied out, swung the plane into the wind and took off.Once in the air, the photographer instructed the pilot, 'Fly over the valley and make low passes so I can take pictures of the fires on the hillsides.'asked the pilot., he responded,The pilot was strangely silent for a moment, finally he stammered,On Saturday, dozens of media outlets reported that federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested an illegal alien who was taking his wife to the hospital to deliver their baby - but they conveniently left out one key detail: the man was a wanted murder suspect.Agents arrested murder suspect Joel Arrona-Lara when he stopped to get gas while taking his wife, Maria del Carmen Venegas, to the hospital so she could give birth.Many media outlets ran with misleading headlines that conveyed a sense of brutality and inhumanity as the political Left is currently trying to demonize ICE. Many publications didn't even include the fact Arrona-Lara was a homicide suspect in their reports.Here are some of the headlines featured by the media: The Washington Post : "ICE arrested a man driving his pregnant wife to give birth. She drove herself to the hospital." The Sacramento Bee : "They were on their way to the hospital to have a baby when ICE took him away" CBS News : "ICE detains man driving pregnant wife to hospital to deliver baby" TIME : "ICE Agents Detained a Man Driving His Pregnant Wife to the Hospital" Slate : "ICE Officers Arrest Man Who Was Driving Pregnant Wife to Hospital for C-Section" NY Mag : "ICE Arrests Husband Who Was Taking Wife to Give Birth at Hospital" Newsweek : "Ice Agents, Part Of Trump Crackdown, Detain Husband Driving Pregnant Wife To Deliver Baby"One of the only media outlets to report that Arrona-Lara was a murder suspect in the title and in the report was NBC News , which reported that ICE specifically noted that Arrona-Lara was arrested because of anThe timing of the media's latest deception to demonize the Trump administration for political gain comes just two days after more than 350 newspapers wrote op-eds bemoaning President Donald Trump's attacks on the media for inaccurately covering news stories and for sometimes reporting blatantly false information.One of the most interesting titles which the MBLWHOI Library has scanned into the Biodiversity Heritage Library is Resultats des campagnes scientifiques accomplies sur son yacht par Albert Ier, prince souverain de Monaco = Results of the scientific campaigns carried out on his yacht by Albert I, sovereign prince of Monaco.

This important book series is part of the MBLWHOI Library Special Collection of the great voyages of scientific exploration. Resultats brings together the science and data collected by the research expeditions led by Prince Albert I of Monaco (1848-1922) at the end of the 19and the beginning of the 20Centuries, and the title consists of 110 volumes published from 1889-1950.

The Prince, in addition to having been the head of state of the Principality of Monaco, was an important figure in the development of the ocean sciences in the decades before and after the turn of the 20th Century. HSH Prince Albert I of Monacos pioneering science career included the exploration of the Mediterranean, the south and north Atlantic regions, and polar regions north of Norway known as the Svalbard Archipelago. Prince Albert I of Monaco was also considered a preeminent statesman who understood the importance of the preservation and stewardship of the most fragile areas of our earth, and the importance of science as a source for the foundation of peace on earth: Science: that force that transforms living conditions, peoples mentalities, and international relations.  Prince Albert I of Monaco (1910)

One hundred and seventy years after his birth, the work of Prince Albert I is today carried on by his great-grandson, the current head of state of Monaco, HSH Prince Albert II.

On July 8th of this summer, Prince Albert II of Monaco touched down at Barnstable Airport on Cape Cod, Massachusetts to visit the laboratories and marine work environment of the scientists who work at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL, founded in 1888, is an affiliate institution of the University of Chicago.) Activities during the Princes visit included laboratory visits, an exploration of the local waters aboard the MBL research vessel Gemma, and a panel discussion held with MBL interim director Neil Shubin and scientists from MBLs Ecosystems Center: Adapting to a Climate-Changed World. The Prince came to MBL also to announce his support, through the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, for the development of a website, SeaBase at MBL, a new open-access infrastructure for integrated data on marine organisms, their genomes, their microbiomes, and the environmental status of their habitats. Later during his visit, HSH Prince Albert II walked down the street to visit the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institutions (WHOI was founded in 1930) Center for Marine Robotics Dunkworks facility.

Woods Hole has hosted heads of state in the past: in 1975 Emperor Hirohito of Japan, whose life long hobby/profession was as a marine biologist (known for his detailed descriptions of marine species), visited scientists at both the MBL and WHOI as well as making a visit to the collections of the MBLWHOI Library.

The MBLWHOI librarians Jen Walton (Co-director/MBL Archivist), Matt Person (Tech Services Coordinator), and Dave Sherman (WHOI Archivist) all played roles among tens of MBL and WHOI staff members who contributed to the planning of Prince Albert IIs historic visit to Woods Hole.

The Librarians prepared a small exhibition for a visit from the Prince on July 9th centered upon the work of Prince Albert I. Librarians Jen Walton and Matt Person researched the past and present connections between Monaco and the MBL, and they also studied specific volumes from Resultats des campagnes scientifiques accomplies sur son yacht par Albert Ier, prince souverain de Monaco (donated to the MBL by Prince Albert I) relative to current MBL environmental and biological research. While the physical volumes were used in the exhibition, the librarians consulted the digital volumes in the BHL for multiple reference purposes.

In addition to volumes from Resultats, the exhibit included a special chair, now a part of the WHOI Archives collection, prepared for the exhibit by current WHOI Archivist Dave Sherman. In 1933, while on a marine biological station tour of Europe, WHOI marine chemist Professor Norman Rakestraw visited the Oceanographic Institute of Monaco and was given a gift of a wooden chair, which had been part of the late 19th Century oceanographic research yacht Hirondelle, owned and operated by Prince Albert I of Monaco. The Hirondelle chair was donated by Rakestraw to WHOI upon his return to the United States.

Jen Walton concentrated her research on one of the Cephalopod volumes, Volume 17 (1900), and in particular this image of a large squid which was named in honor of the family of the Princes Albert I and Albert II: Grimalditeuthis richardi.

Matt Person told highlights of the story of the four expeditions (through studying Volumes 40-44 of Resultats) to the Svalbard Archipelago which Prince Albert I led in 1898, 1899, 1906, and 1907. Matt Person also showed Prince Albert II an 1899 bathymetric chart of the Azores Islands and explained how the use of data from multiple sources collected by Prince Albert I over time created a single complete workand this was compared to current arctic research at the Ecosystems Center of the MBL, which has drawn data over many years from multiple polar region collection sites, to inform global studies of climate change.

While both Jen Walton and Matt Person used the physical book volumes in the research they performed to become conversant in the work of Prince Albert I , they also employed the full text search and OCR (optical character recognition) files from the Biodiversity Heritage Library and BHL Affiliate the Internet Archive, for which they used an online translation tool to convert French text into English. This translation process was essential to gain a clearer understanding of the text, which informed the illustrations and photographs and narratives of the exhibition as explained to Prince Albert II.



The MBLWHOI Library is a Biodiversity Heritage Library founding member, currently an Affiliate, and our staff was part of the development team of the original taxonomic name server, which extracted scientific names from scanned literature. Our staff also formed part of the original BHL worker bees, who developed the implementation of much of the day-to-day workflows related to the operation of the online digital library. Matt Person is the Tech Services Coordinator of the MBL WHOI Library and a member of the BHL Collections Committee.Update April 2019: We released an extensive set of files from the investigation in combination with a German talk covering the material. See German press coverage near the end of this page.

Update August 23rd: The court has confirmed that the searches and seizures were illegal. (Allegedly, no documents or equipment was analysed/evaluated and all copies were deleted.)

Die angegriffenen Durchsuchungs- und Beschlagnahmebeschlusse und Beschlagnahmebestatigungsbeschlusse des Amtsgerichts Munchen waren rechtswidrig. Soweit sie noch Bestand hatten, waren sie deshalb aufzuheben. Im Ubrigen war ihre Rechtswidrigkeit festzustellen. Den Antragen auf Herausgabe der beschlagnahmten Gegenstande war insoweit ebenfalls stattzugeben. Die Manahmen konnen nicht mehr als von der Strafprozessordnung gedeckt angesehen werden. Zu Recht fuhren die Ermittlungsbehorden Verfahren gegen die Verantwortlichen der Aufrufe auf den zitierten Internetseiten. Die Annahme der Ermittlungsbehorden, dass sich bei der Durchsuchung bei den Betroffenen bzw. auf den beschlagnahmten Datentragern Beweismittel fur diese Verfahren finden lassen, ist aber bei den bekannten Umstanden nicht gerechtfertigt. Es besteht keine ausreichende Wahrscheinlichkeit fur das Auffinden relevanter Daten. Es gibt keine Anhaltspunkte, dass die Betroffenen, deren Verein Zwiebelfreunde e.V. oder die Gruppierung Riseup Networks auch nur zum Umfeld der unbekannten Tater gehoren. Es ist zudem auch nicht unmittelbar ersichtlich, dass sich bei ihnen Informationen zum Taterumfeld oder zu den Tatern finden lassen. Einziger Verbindungspunkt ist der Umstand, dass die unbekannten Tater bei Riseup Networks ein E-Mail-Konto eingerichtet hatten. Riseup Networks bietet allerdings (bestimmungsgema) anonymisierte Internetdienste an. Die Einrichtung des Kontos kann (auf Empfehlung) anonym erfolgen. Der E-Mail-Verkehr uber das eingerichtete Konto erfolgt verschlusselt. Deswegen besteht nur eine sehr geringe Wahrscheinlichkeit, uber Riseup Networks und dessen Datenbestand Informationen zu den Tatern und Taten zu erhalten. Erganzend kommt hier noch hinzu, dass die Betroffenen mit ihrem Verein Zwiebelfreunde e.V. nach bisherigem Informationsstand nicht mit Riseup Networks gleichgesetzt werden konnen. Die Verbindung besteht, soweit bisher ersichtlich, nur in der Unterstutzung des Netzwerks durch das Sammeln von Spenden. (Landgericht Munchen I)

Update August 13th: No update. The case is pending in court (at Landgericht Munchen). Prosecution has confirmed that they have sealed all items they took from us and that no further analysis will take place until after the court decision.

Update July 10th: Last week Monday, prosecution stated that they will keep our things for further analysis, even after explicitly confirming to journalists that they are aware that our only connection to Riseup is the collection of donations. This includes items belonging to our partners, and other third parties like companies we work for. That same Monday, after the AfD party convening, our lawyers filed for immediate sealing and suspension of analysis until a court decision. Everything else is pending on that, and for now it looks like there are no further legal steps we can take (yet). The two of us who have not been interviewed yet (because they were not present during the raids) have been asked to give further testimony, which they will do during this week, together with our lawyers. This is not over.

On June 20th, police raided five locations across Germany, nicely coordinated at 6:00 in the morning: The private homes of all three board members, Jens, Juris and Moritz, our registered headquarters in Dresden (a lawyers office), and the home of a previous board member.

Please check the bottom of this page for links to various press reports about these raids detailing what happened. We will update that section regularly.

The brief summary is that a German left-wing blog Krawalltouristen (ruckus tourists) called for protest actions around the right-wing AfD party convening in Augsburg, Germany. Law enforcement argues that this includes calls for violence.

The German police were interested in finding the authors of said blog, and deemed it appropriate to not ask for information or go after the email provider the blog happened to be using, riseup.net, but after the German entity Zwiebelfreunde.

Zwiebelfreunde has a partnership with Riseup Labs, a US non-profit, and manages donations via European wire transfers for the Riseup collective. We spend the money in collaboration with the collective on software development, travel reimbursements, and for Riseups Tor infrastructure.

We will update this post as the story evolves. For more details, please see publications by other media.

What data is affected, and how?

First of all, heres a list of things we have strong reason to believe are not affected, and can still be considered safe:

any Torservers related infrastructure: Tor relays, mail servers, web servers

any of Riseups infrastructure (because we have nothing to do with that)

cryptoparty.in or other cryptoparty related infrastructure

PGP keys, SSH keys, OTR keys etc

They seized most of our electronical storage equipment (disks, laptops, PCs, GnuPG Smartcards/Yubikeys), but it is safe to assume that they will not be able to break the encryption (or the smartcards). They also took our mobile phones, but even if they were to break into them, no login data or anything else affecting our infrastructure or communications is stored on those phones.

We nevertheless revoked our shared contact PGP key, and will replace more and more keys and passphrases over time. Our new key is 0x74A312092938F2F0, signed by our previous key.

So, what is affected?

Apart from encrypted media, they had the legal right to seize documents related to our Riseup bank account starting from January 2018. They also went and got those from our bank, the GLS Gemeinschaftsbank. However, we have to keep records and receipts of all expenditures for tax reasons. These documents were safely kept in a secure fire-proof safe.

Despite our protests, they additionally seized all printed documents relating to our own and partner projects since the inception of the association in 2011.

This includes highly sensitive personal data of donors, identities of activists that received reimbursements or payments, and a list of our members.

If you have ever donated to Torservers, or Tails or Riseup via a European bank transaction, your data is very likely now in the hands of the German police. (IBAN account number, name of account holder, amount and date)

We did everything in our power to avoid a data breach like this, and are now doing everything we can to fight it:

Our lawyers kindly asked for our equipment back. Most of the equipment does not belong to Zwiebelfreunde, and some of it is not even ours. They refused. We are now going to court over this. The warrant lists specific items. This was not respected. We argue that even the original warrants and seizures were clear overreach, and that this was used as an excuse to get access to member data and donor data. We have nothing to do with Riseups infrastructure. During the raids, the police forces clearly gave the impression that they knew we had nothing to do with either Riseup or the ruckus tourist blog. None of us had even heard of that blog before!

We are grateful for the quick and unbureaucratic financial support by Renewable Freedom Foundation, the logistical support of the Chaos Computer Club, and all the kind offers of help by various communities. Thank you!

If youre not afraid to donate to accounts that are probably being monitored, you can still do so, at https://www.torservers.net/donate.html.

Press Coverage

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Japanese

Luxembourgish

Danish

Greek

German

Audio

Video

Yahoo! JAPAN



Yahoo! JAPANWe thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. There's nothing like having great audio to take your gaming marathon to the next level. Whether you're an esports athlete or just love to get the most out of gaming, you're READ THE RESTCalifornia's Net Neutrality bill just passed out of committee and is on its way to be voted on by the Assembly. If you are a California voter, please take a moment now to call your assemblymember and tell them to vote "yes" on SB 822.

From Kaleigh Rogers at Motherboard:

Senate Bill 822 was originally introduced earlier this summer and would introduce some of the most robust net neutrality protections in the country, including prohibiting blocking and throttling of data, as well as limits on zero ratinga practice where companies provide access to certain parts of the internet for "free" and charge for others. But on the first go around, when being considered by the state senate Communications and Conveyance Committee, the bill was dramatically gutted, thanks to heavy lobbying from major telecom companies like AT&T. In response, the bill's supporters scrapped it.

The bill's author, democratic state senator Scott Wiener, went back to the drawing board and, with the help of the bill's proponents, managed to get more committee members to back it, including state assemblyperson Miguel Santiago, who led the original effort to dismantle the bill. He then brought the bill back from the dead.

On Wednesday, the committee held a second hearing on the bill, which drew dozens of members of the public in support. After a mild debate, which included telecom lobbyists claiming the bill was anti-competitive and would have devastating impacts on consumers (while also misrepresenting the bill's language and taking weird digs at the Netherlands), the committee voted 8-2 to adopt the bill. It will now go to the state assembly for a vote.The Democratic National Committee called the FBI Tuesday, after discovering what the DNC says was the early phase of a sophisticated phishing attempt to hack its voter database.

CNN reports that the DNC was first alerted in the wee hours of Tuesday morning by "a cloud service providers and a security research firm" that a bogus login page had been created by a malicious actor who was trying to collect usernames and passwords they could use to then gain entry to the Democratic Party voter database.

The DNC, the cloud host, and the security researchers all believe they effectively halted an attack.

No official word on who was behind the attack, at this time.

And no comment yet from the FBI.

The fake page was designed to look exactly like the login page Democratic Party officials and campaigns across the country use for 'Votebuilder,' which hosts the DNC's database.

The bad guys' idea was to spoof a familiar site and get users to hand over their login credentials, then misuse those credentials for who knows what nefarious purpose.

The DNC is said to be investigating who was responsible for the attempted attack, and has no reason to believe its voter file was accessed or altered.

From CNN's report:

The page was initially discovered late Monday by Lookout, a San Francisco-based cybersecurity firm. The company doesn't work for the DNC but alerted the party to its findings, Mike Murray, the company's vice president of security intelligence, told CNN on Wednesday. Murray said that a link to the page could have been sent to Democrats by email or through other online platforms in a spearphishing operation. "It was very convincing," Murray said, adding that if a person were to see the real login page and the fake login page side-by-side, it would be difficult to tell them apart. "It would have been a very effective attack," he said. The fraudulent page was hosted on a cloud computing platform called DigitalOcean, which took action to remove the page as soon as it was alerted by Lookout, the cloud company said.

"We see no evidence that any sensitive data was stolen and our initial investigation indicates that we were able to address this threat prior to the attack being launched," Josh Feinblum, chief security officer at DigitalOcean, said in a statement. The DNC's chief security officer Bob Lord, a former Yahoo! executive, briefed Democrats on the attempted attack at a meeting of the Association of State Democratic Committees in Chicago on Wednesday. "These threats are serious and that's why it's critical that we all work together, but we can't do this alone. We need the (Trump) administration to take more aggressive steps to protect our voting systems. It is their responsibility to protect our democracy from these types of attacks," Lord said in a statement to CNN.

NEW: No comment from @FBI in response to questions about the apparent attempted phishing attack targeting a @DNC tech provider  Jeff Seldin (@jseldin) August 22, 2018

The most newsworthy element of this story is that DNC actually picked up the phone and called the FBI. Big improvement between them and the feds on dealing with cyber intrusions since 2016. https://t.co/I2gum4iing  Dustin Volz (@dnvolz) August 22, 2018

FBI called DNC repeatedly to try to tell them they had a problem. DNC staffer was skeptical it was really the FBI and was org was slow to awaken to the problem. Both sides could have handled the situation a lot better, and so far it seems like this time around they are doing so.  Dustin Volz (@dnvolz) August 22, 2018

Nielsen referred most DNC attempted hacking questions to the FBI. Wouldn't say if the scale of attacks vs. political actors and institutions is rising. Reiterated that scale and scope of Russian efforts to undermine '18 remain lower than '16 but that could change any moment.  Joseph Marks (@Joseph_Marks_) August 22, 2018One of my favorite filmmakers has always been Preston Sturges. I call him the Judd Apatow of the 1940s. He was Hollywood's first writer/director and his films are truly memorable (and entertaining) in a time when we all need a little more comedy in our lives.

My favorite is Sullivan's Travels starring Joel McCrea and Veronica Lake

Followed closely by The Lady Eve starring Henry Fonda and Barbara Stanwyck

His films resonate with me and are truly timeless because of their basis in character over concept. Let me clarify, his concepts are engaging and entertaining, it's just that his characters are even better.

Here is an interview I found with his widow who is just wonderful.

Here's Peter Bogdanovich talking about The Lady Eve

And Allan Arkush on The Lady Eve

Preston Sturges may or may not have invented the RomCom but he certainly was the father of several roots of the genre. You can discover his work for yourself here via some Amazon links:

Preston Sturges DVD box set

Watch "The Lady Eve"

Buy "The Lady Eve" DVD

Watch "Sullivan's Travels"

Buy "Sullivan's Travels" Blu-Ray

Buy "Five Screenplays by Preston Sturges" (great book!)

Comment below and let me know what you think. I'm sure you will enjoy these films.The British government, veering toward a "no deal" exit from the European Union, has published "practical and proportionate" advice for citizens in the event of this taking place. The BBC posted excerpts.

 Pharmaceutical companies have been told to stockpile an extra six weeks' worth of medicine to ensure a "seamless" supply

 New picture warnings will be needed for cigarette packets as the EU owns the copyright to the current ones

 Britons living elsewhere in Europe could lose access to UK banking and pension services.

The government says the economy will shrink 7.7% under a no-deal Brexit scenario. It's shocking to imagine even in the abstract, but then you realize how unevenly that suffering will be distributed. It's no wonder Prime Minister May had to promise not to put the army on the streets.

I'd like to see a BREXIT SURVIVAL GUIDE along "Scarfolk" lines.

42. How to skin a rabbit

43. Unguents and potions



42 (appendix). How to skin a human

UPDATE:When Verizon's life-threatening price-gouging was introduced in a sworn statement from the Santa Clara County Fire Department as part of 22 states' lawsuits against the FCC over its dismantling of Net Neutrality rules, Verizon's crisis communications team leapt into action.



Verizon claimed that on the one hand, the entire incident in which they cut a fire department's network speeds by 99.5% during the worst wildfires in state history, and then demanded that the fire department cut a purchase order for the highest premium account was a regrettable error on the part of a single, low-level customer service clerk.

And on the other hand, Verizon claimed that none of this had anything to do with Net Neutrality.





A spokesman for the county, County Counsel James Williams, says Verizon's answer is flaming bullshit. In a public rebuttal, Williams said that the depraved, life-threatening profit-seeking by Verizon shows that "ISPs will act in their economic interests, even at the expense of public safety," and that this "is exactly what the Trump Administration's repeal of net neutrality allows and encourages."



"In repealing net neutrality rules, the Trump Administration failed to consider public safety threats as required by law," Williams said. "For this reason alone, the repeal of net neutrality is illegal and must be overturned." Verizon doesn't think its throttling of the fire department's unlimited plan should be part of the lawsuit that seeks to restore net neutrality. "This situation has nothing to do with net neutrality or the current proceeding in court," Verizon said.



Fire dept. rejects Verizon's "customer support mistake" excuse for throttling [Jon Brodkin/Ars Technica]For the past 8 years, Hong Kong has received the dubious honor of having the least affordable housing market in the world. The average house price is 20 times the median household income (Los Angeles and London are about 10 and New York is about 6). As a result, many families live in very tiny apartments (75 to 140 square feet). Those who can't afford a parking lot sized apartment can live in a cage inside a room filled with stacked cages.

In this video, Johnny from Vox visits with cage dwellers and finds out how they live.

Image: Vox screenshot"We went there to protect a monument," he said.

A man who identified as a member of the white terrorist group Ku Klux Klan fired his handgun toward a black man who was protesting the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia last year. The black victim survived the racist attack. On Tuesday, the klansman was sentenced to four years in prison.

From Joshua Eaton at ThinkProgress:

Judge Richard Moore sentenced Richard Preston Jr., of Baltimore, Maryland to eight years in prison, with four of those suspended, and three years of supervised release on one count of shooting a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school, according to CNN. Moore pleaded no contest in May. We didnt go as the Klan, Preston told WANE news, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, two days after the rally. We didnt go there to create havoc and fight. We went there to protect a monument.

[via @jjmacnab]My American friends: I regret to inform you that your dream of declaring ding as duty-free swag when crossing back from Canada into the United States is oh, so very stillborn.

From Newsweek:

U.S. customs and border agents are bracing for Canada's legalization of recreational marijuana, saying they will continue to enforce federal law along the northern border. "Although medical and recreational marijuana may be legal in some U.S. States and Canada, the sale, possession, production and distribution of marijuana all remain illegal under U.S. federal law," Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials told Detroit's Local 4 news. The unidentified officials said that anyone attempting to enter the U.S. with cannabis may have the products seized, as well as face fines and possible "apprehension."

Sorry.

That said, our rye whiskey, Hudson Bay blankets and maple syrup still love you and would be thrilled if you gave them a forever home, south of our border.

The ban holds true, even if you're a resident of border states like Vermont, Washington and as of October, Michigan, where toking, and otherwise buddying up with cannabis is fine and dandy. It's not just American citizens who have to watch their ass at the border, either. According to Newsweek, Canadians who admit to having used dope at any point in their lives could face a lifetime ban on entering the United States.

While I'm a whiskey sorta guy, I feel for anyone that has to put up with this nonsense.

Image via Wikipedia CommonsFormer Air Force language specialist and intelligence contractor Reality Winner has been sentenced to 63 months in prison.

In June, she pleaded guilty to leaking a top-secret government report that detailed Russia's hacking of our 2016 presidential elections to the news organization The Intercept.

Reality Winner was sentenced Thursday to five years and three months in federal prison. This makes the 26-year-old the only person doing time for anything related to Russia's attacks on American elections. And she's the person who tried to warn us.

She was charged and convicted under the Espionage Act, the same arcane code under which Chelsea Manning was previously convicted for leaking classified government material to Wikileaks.

The judge in Reality Winner's case imposed the sentence recommended by prosecutors. They wanted her to spend 10 years in prison, but opted for a shorter term to avoid discussing classified material during the court proceedings.

From the New York Times:

Ms. Winner, 26, received the longest sentence ever imposed for an unauthorized release of government information to the media. She is the first person to be sentenced under the Espionage Act since President Trump took office. She was arrested in June 2017 and was held for more than a year while prosecutors built their case. She pleaded guilty in June 2018 to one felony count of unauthorized transmission of national defense information, for giving a classified report about Russian interference in the 2016 election to a news outlet. She was fresh out of the Air Force and just a few months into a job as a translator for the National Security Agency in May 2017 when prosecutors say she printed a report from her work computer that detailed hacking attacks by a Russian intelligence service against local election officials and voter registration databases. She later told investigators that she had smuggled the report out of the offices of the contractor, Pluribus International in Augusta, Ga., in her pantyhose, and mailed it to the online news outlet The Intercept. Following a trail of clues, the F.B.I. soon arrested Ms. Winner, but not before the Intercept published the classified report. Federal guidelines allowed for a sentence of up to 10 years, but prosecutors agreed in June to a sentence of 63 months, to avoid a trial that would require discussing classified reports and intelligence gathering techniques in open court. Prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum filed this week that such a trial "would compound the exceptionally grave harm to national security already caused by the defendant."

Joe Arpaio: pardoned. Dinesh D'Souza: pardoned. Scooter Libby: pardoned. Father-son arsonists: pardoned: Woman who revealed secrets about Russian hacking: the longest sentence ever given for a federal crime involving leaks. https://t.co/wVpxDXR6pl  Joe Berkowitz (@JoeBerkowitz) August 23, 2018

All this for trying to change Glenn Greenwald's mind about something. https://t.co/ISLUpb9vRk  Michael Weiss (@michaeldweiss) August 23, 2018

"The longest sentence ever given for a federal crime involving leaks to the news media" has been handed down to Reality Winner, who leaked a report about Russian election hacking https://t.co/oBZylqRYB4  Evan Hill (@evanchill) August 23, 2018"We are in a Constitutional malestrom. Literally a crisis that we haven't seen since Watergate. We are in a Watergate moment. The White House increasingly is looking like a criminal enterprise." said US Senator Richard Blumenthal.

In the video above, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) explains that President Trump can be indited, or even impeached, over his crimes. The Senator also discusses pending legislation to protect the special counsel's investigation.Last night Carla and I attended a screening for an upcoming National Geographic documentary called Science Fair, about the International Science and Engineering Fair. It's a terrific movie about smart young scientists from around the world. One thing I learned watching it is that students in Germany pay almost nothing to attend college. Here in the US, students graduate with a debt load that will hurt the quality of their life for decades. What is the US Department of Education doing about it? Actively making it worse, thanks to Betsy DeVos, who oversees the department.

The Trump swamp is a veritable legion of cartoonishly evil supervillians, but the mustache-twirling cackler Betsy DeVos operates on a level that would make a 4chan troll blush. Married to the former CEO of Amway (which paid $56 million to settle a class action for "alleged fraud, racketeering, and operating as an illegal pyramid scheme," she is also sister of Erik Prince, founder of the murderous Blackwater mercenary firm.

This billionaire griefer  with fleets of private jets and yachts at her command  has no teaching experience and refuses to visit troubled schools. Instead, she spends her time coming up with outrageous ways to make students' lives financially miserable and fraught with danger. And like the best robot, she doesn't crack a smile when her victims suffer.

DeVos's latest lulz generator is a plan to get around a law that Congress passed in March that forbids federal funds from being used to buy guns for teachers. But DeVos is the kind who doesn't let the law get in her way, especially if it would spoil her plans to fill schools with deadly weapons. According to the New York Times, she's discovered a potential loophole:

[DeVos's department] is eyeing a program in federal education law, the Student Support and Academic Enrichment grants, that makes no mention of prohibiting weapons purchases. That omission would allow the education secretary, Betsy DeVos, to use her discretion to approve any state or district plans to use grant funding for firearms and firearm training, unless Congress clarifies the law or bans such funding through legislative action.

Fortunately, not everyone in in Congress is scared to death of her.

94% of teachers spend out-of-pocket money for their classrooms. The fact that we can find money for guns in schools, but not enough for new books and supplies, tells you that this is an investment in the school-to-prison pipeline.https://t.co/dSqcFE8Gdq  Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) August 23, 2018

.@ChrisMurphyCT says on Senate floor that DeVos allowing schools to buy guns with federal money would be "in direct contravention of federal law"  says his amendment would "reiterate the policy of this Congress".  Michael Stratford (@mstratford) August 23, 2018

The NRA spent $30,000,000 to elect Trump. Betsy DeVos is using the murder of my daughter to justify a return on that investment. November cannot come soon enough. #OrangeWaveInNovember  Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) August 23, 2018

The State of New Jersey will not be part of this dangerous and misguided idea of arming our teachers. @realDonaldTrump should use our tax dollars to provide all children with the education they deserve, not turn our classrooms into warzones.

https://t.co/QF6m37MAPZ  Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) August 23, 2018

Image: Gage Skidmore/FlickrOh, brands. Will you never learn. P&G is trying to give itself a Millennial Cool makeover by grabbing the intellectual property rights to the internet-origin expression 'WTF.' The only possible response to this, of course, is: WTF?

Here's the USPTO filing link for 'WTF.' NBD, FML, and WTF too. and a screengrab is below:

AdAge broke the news:

If you thought all those texting acronyms couldn't be yanked out of the digital commons and trademarked, forget that. Procter & Gamble Co. has filed for trademarks on household and personal-care use of LOL, WTF, NBD and FML. FWIW, there's no indication products bearing those names exist yet, and P&G doesn't have trademark approval. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has sought clarifications from P&G, which has until January to respond.

Chief Executive Officer David Taylor has said P&G already does well with millennials. But a new board member, Nelson Peltz, has faulted the company for being slow to respond to rapidly changing preferences. Upstart products are increasingly eroding market share from established brands, and consumer-products companies have turned to buying smaller rivals to capture their growth.

In the past year, P&G has acquired brands like Native deodorant, which markets itself as "deodorant that isn't a chemistry experiment," and introduced greener versions of classic products, including a line called Pampers Pure Protection. It also bought Snowberry, a New Zealand skincare company, in February.- Naledi Willers, the wife of Naked DJ, is one of the women featured on The Real Housewives of Johannesburg

- The beauty, who hails from Botswana opened up about the show and her life

- Willers admitted it was weird having cameras follow her around

PAY ATTENTION: Click "See first" under the "Following" tab to see Briefly news on your News Feed!

South Africans just love to watch the drama unfold between six glamorous ladies on the new hit reality show The Real Housewives of Johannesburg.

Mzansi is given a front row seat to the lives of these women, and their wealth it on full display. From designer clothes to exotic travels overseas, these ladies are living lives many of us can only dream of.

One of the real housewives is Naledi Willers, the Botswana born former beauty pageant queen who tied the knot to famous SA radio DJ, Quinton Masina, who is best known by his stage name Naked DJ.

Just by looking at her Instagram page, it is evident Willers is living the high life- if she is not jetting off to Paris with Minnie Dlamini, Willers is sipping wine in Dubai.

READ ALSO: 8 reactions to robbery in broad daylight: "Joburg turned into Gangsters' Paradise"

However, in a recent interview with IOL, the beautiful Mrs. Masina opened up about who she is behind the glitz and glamour.

Willers grew up in a village in Botswana with her mom, whom she described as being very 'strict'. Willers added she appreciated her mother's strictness because it turned her into a disciplined individual.

Briefly.co.za learned the model went on to compete in beauty pageants and she was crowned the second princess in Miss Botswana.

Other than her interests in the beauty industry, Willers added she was always fascinated with her mixed-racial heritage.

Growing up was always interesting being a mixed child. I have a white South African father and black Motswana mother," she was quoted saying.

Willers, who is currently a law student, also spoke about the reality show. According to the beauty, she had to adjust to the cameras following her around, and it made conversations with other people weird.

She admitted their schedules are plotted but added everything that happens on the show is 100% real.

"Nothing is scripted and we are not told what to say or how to act,"Willers added.

Do you have a story to share with us? Inbox 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.

Top Model South Africa: 5 Things You Didnt Know About Melissa Magiera

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by Staff reporter

ANXIETY gripped Harare and other parts of the country as the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) began the much-anticipated hearing to determine the case in which MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa is contesting President-elect Emmerson Mnangagwa's slender electoral victory on July 30.Chief Justice Luke MalabaAs most people went through their routines, they anxiously kept their ears and eyes to live broadcast of the proceedings on both State television and radio. All roads leading to the ConCourt and others nearby were closed, with police maintaining a heavy security presence in the vicinity.Baton-wielding riot police officers were roving around the central business district, with their trucks stationed at different strategic areas, ready to deal with any form of disturbances that might arise as a result of the hearing.Several ordinary people intending to follow the proceedings at the ConCourt were turned away as security details demanded accreditation.As word started to spread that Chamisa's South African lawyers were denied access, some people who spoke to NewsDay in the morning expressed concern that the hearing would not be accorded the fairness that it deserved.However, Zimbabweans generally went about their work despite the explosive court battle that could define the country for the next five years and probably beyond.As lawyers sweated it out before the full bench of the ConCourt, ordinary citizens went about mainly selling their wares in the streets of Harare, with the country's biggest informal market in the capital's oldest and poorest suburb of Mbare ran as usual.Admire Muranda, who was pushing a cart full of bananas, said while he was aware of the political goings-on, he had a family to feed."I know that the ConCourt is sitting and is to make a decision, but really, how does that change my situation at home? I will still have to go home with some food and cover the usual expenses," he said with a chuckle, in what seemed to be a summing up of the mood in the capital.Sarah Toga, a vendor at Mbare's popular Mupedzanhamo market, seemed oblivious to the anxiety gripping the country's political leadership in particular."Life has to go on. As long as whatever they are doing does not result in some form of violence, as we saw on August 1, then whatever comes out of the courts is acceptable to us," she said.Zimbabweans are a sceptical lot when it comes to talking to the media and this showed with many unwilling to come in the open to show their preference of how they hoped the court would rule.Shops opened as usual, but a common sight was of people walking with earphones or headphones stuck in their ears, listening to radio stations or workers in shops constantly passing glances at the television as the proceedings, in a landmark move, were beamed live.On the other hand, social media came to a standstill as Zimbabweans across the world passed comments that suggested a country literally on edge.The performance of lawyers and judges was evaluated on end, while some even went to the extent of suggesting the nature of the judgement the court was likely to pass.Political commentator Maxwell Saungweme said: "The battle is between Zim's finest legal brains Advocate (Thabani) Mpofu and Advocate (Lewis) Uriri. It looks so far that Advocate Uriri's job has been made easier by Mpofu's submissions and the bench's questions around primary evidence."In Mutare, business was low as scores of workers took their time to follow the ConCourt proceedings.Many residents of the Eastern border city spent the rest of the day glued to televisions sets around local bars and restaurants, among other areas, as they await anxiously for the ConCourt outcome expected tomorrow.However, there was disappointment in some high-density suburbs such as Sakubva and Chikanga, as there was no electricity.Chris Mwenzwa, an MDC Alliance supporter, said he was expecting the ruling to be in favour of Chamisa."I am just hoping that the ruling is going to favour us. The situation is, however, tense and everyone is following proceedings," he said. "We are hoping for a re-run, but we know we won the elections."A Zanu PF supporter was also optimistic that the ruling would be in favour of his party's presidential contender, Mnangagwa."I think this is just a formality, but we are aware we won the elections. We are also going to win the court case," he said.Mnangagwa was declared winner by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, with 50,8% of the vote, while Chamisa came a close second with 44,3%.Chamisa has, however, poked holes into Mnangagwa's victory, arguing the Zanu PF leader did not have enough votes to avoid a run-off or better still, that his vote tally was understated, adding he should have been declared victor.The ConCourt has wide powers to confirm Mnangagwa's win, nullify it and order a run-off or alternatively declare Chamisa President.News / National

by Staff reporter

I have asked Secretary of State @SecPompeo to closely study the South Africa land and farm seizures and expropriations and the large scale killing of farmers. "South African Government is now seizing land from white farmers." @TuckerCarlson @FoxNews  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 23, 2018

South Africa's land expropriation debates have caught the eye of United States president Donald Trump.On Thursday Trump tweeted that he was looking into South Africa's land seizures."I have asked Secretary of State @SecPompeo to closely study the South Africa land and farm seizures and expropriations and the large scale killing of farmers. 'South African Government is now seizing land from white farmers' @TuckerCarlson @FoxNews" Trump tweeted.This comes just hours after President Cyril Ramaphosa answered tough questions in Parliament on the issue of land expropriation.During a question-and-answer session Ramaphosa rejected a proposal that the state should be the sole owner of all land in the country.News / National

by Staff reporter

Political analysts and opposition political parties are praying that the judiciary will today conduct itself in a manner that is going to leave the credibility of Zimbabwe's electoral and judiciary system permanently intact.Today sees the start of the hearing of MDC Alliance president candidate Nelson Chamisa's challenge of presidential results announced by Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) which declared President-elect Emmerson Mnangagwa the winner.Political analyst Gifford Sibanda said Zanu-PF stands to gain from the court ruling."The case will basically die on technicalities," he said. I am convinced that the court will follow the Zanu-PF submissions for the case to be dismissed on technicalities because they know that if the case goes to the merits it won't look good for Zanu-PF."In this case Zanu-PF won't allow their gains to be reversed at all costs so in other words they will be always that third force to influence the outcome," he said.Political analyst Dumisani Nkomo said Zanu-PF was in a fix as a result of the court case."It's a very tight situation for the Zanu-PF government, either way, whatever the court outcome; their legitimacy is under serious scrutiny," Nkomo said."As an individual Chief Justice Malaba has been an upright person and we hope that he will conduct himself in a professional manner. In a manner that won't show that there is executive interference on the judiciary," he said.Another political analyst Bhekumusa Moyo had this to say: "We have known our courts to be controlled by the ruling party for years but this time around I think this is not going to be easy not only for the Chief Justice but for president-elect Mnangagwa himself because the whole world is watching."Moyo added: "The judiciary has no option but to conduct itself in a transparent and fair manner because they will be setting a precedent in the African history of elections. So personally I think the outcome is unpredictable."Democratic Opposition Party (DOP) president Harry Wilson is praying for a fair and transparent handling of the case."We need the Chief Justice to do the best thing not only for Zanu-PF but for the whole of Zimbabwe," Wilson said."The whole world is watching to see if Zimbabwe has a credible judiciary system. It has to be clear that we have moved away from the Robert Mugabe era where the judiciary system was not functioning, where it was obvious that the executive had maximum interference on the court case outcomes."I am not for Chamisa or Mnangagwa but all I want is the judiciary to act in a fair and transparent manner. Zimbabweans need proper results in this kind of context. If it fails we should just go for a re-run and do proper elections which are not contested like this. We need a credible election, not this."People's Progressive Party of Zimbabwe Timothy Chiguvare said the judiciary was seriously under check."While the independence of our judiciary is questionable because for the past three decades it was being controlled by the executive...,The chief justice has to do the best for the people of Zimbabwe. The people of Zimbabwe expect nothing except the best and nothing else. We need the international media to cover the court proceedings live for the world to see," Chiguvare said.Adding that: "The Chief Justice has no choice because failure to handle this case properly will cause anarchy in this country."Zapu national spokesperson Iphithule Maphosa was also of the view that Zanu-PF's history of interfering with the judiciary system was written all over."Zanu-PF has a history of blatant interference with the country's judiciary system, so even this time around they will leave nothing to chance, especially considering the importance of this challenge to their stranglehold to power and the risk involved," Maphosa said.He said this was a matter of life and death for the military dictatorship'' and their arrogance is sure to have the better of them."However, I personally have known Justice Malaba to be highly professional in his conduct, hence a little glimmer of hope in this particular case."Should he succeed in resisting Zanu-PF, he and his bench could take this particular opportunity to restore the independence and professionalism of the justice system where fairness could be achieved," he said.Maphosa added: "Should he succumb to pressure from the military dictatorship, I personally foresee the case being dismissed merely on technicalities since Zanu-PF would not want to delve into the matter fearing being exposed."News / National

by Staff reporter

The ruling Zanu-PF party let loose the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (Znlwva) yesterday to denounce the MDC Alliance leadership for challenging President-elect Emmerson Mnangagwa's win in the Constitutional Court (Con-Court).ZNLWVA railed at MDC Alliance principals Nelson Chamisa and Tendai Biti - including their lawyer Thabani Mpofu - in Harare yesterday, saying they were behind the United States' decision to extend sanctions on Zimbabwe.The trio have been a thorn in Zanu-PF's backside before, during and after the July 30 harmonised elections won by Mnangagwa's party.They accuse the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) of manipulating the plebiscite in favour of Zanu-PF, with Chamisa escalating his case to the Con-Court where the full bench of the superior court will hear his petition, starting today.Stung by the impasse created by the Con-Court appeal, ZNLWVA secretary-general Victor Matemadanda told a news conference in the capital yesterday that Chamisa and Biti must be removed from their positions in the main opposition party.He said bona fide MDC supporters should kick out the former student leaders from the Alliance because they turned themselves into enemies of the State by lobbying Washington to extend sanctions on Zimbabwe.Washington recently extended sanctions on Zimbabwe, much to the chagrin of Zanu-PF faithful."We are concerned by the traitors - Biti, Chamisa and Mpofu who called for the extension of sanctions," said Matemadanda."They want to reverse what is clearly a Zanu-PF win - they will not win. Those who voted for (Douglas) Mwonzora for the post of secretary-general (of the MDC) ahead of Chamisa should now stand up and throw Chamisa to the dustbin. The MDC is now losing its values (because of) Chamisa. He is just like his mentor, Mugabe, a dictator," added the ZNLWVA secretary-general.He sensationally claimed that former president Robert Mugabe was behind the MDC Alliance's Con-Court application, saying the 94-year-old teetotaller has gone into bed with the MDC Alliance leadership.The war veterans, whose sheer numbers at the media briefing, dwarfed the journalists who were present, threatened to march to the Robert Mugabe International Airport to have the name changed back to the Harare International Airport.The boisterous former liberation war fighters sloganeered and punched clenched fists in the air as they exalted Mnangagwa.They were particularly incensed by Chamisa's Con-Court petition and his show of strength through press-ups when he led protesters against Zec.While Chamisa has disowned those who picketed in the streets, Matemadanda said his press-ups were meant to incite his supporters to riot.Zanu-PF has been desperately trying to woo foreign investors and improve ties with the international community.While the international community had warmed up to its overtures, it had premised its support on the administration's ability to hold free, fair and credible elections.Although the pre-poll period was relatively peaceful, all hell broke loose after the military killed six civilians in central Harare early this month as it tried to quell the demonstrations that had broken out in the capital as MDC Alliance supporters protested against Zec's delays in releasing results of the presidential poll."Zimbabwe should have an opposition but not sell-outs like ChamisaAs war veterans we don't see why the inauguration of our president is not taking place. He has the credentials, he was enslaved and imprisoned. That person cannot be judged on the same platform with Chamisa."We will not follow the American way. We will follow ours. This Parliament is going to be forced by people to amend laws that benefit foreigners... As war veterans, we will not accept uncle Toms like Chamisa and Biti, Mpofu included," said Matemadanda.He slammed the US for its double standards, saying they should have censured Chamisa as well for his part in the August 1 demonstrations."He (Chamisa) was clear from the onset that if he was not going to win he would not accept the results and America and other progressive nations did not ask what he meant but they chose to punish us for defending our sovereignty," said Matemadanda.After the shootings, Mnangagwa's government blamed the MDC Alliance leadership for the deaths.With the ED scarf draped around their shoulders, war veterans through their spokesperson Douglas Mahiya said they were justified to disown Mugabe because he had veered off course."We are concerned about the unfolding development and it is of concern for us to call the people of Zimbabwe to do what they did in November. We have no option because it will be what the people will do; you will not stand in front of a broken dam wall. The MDC must exist but it must exist without Biti, without Chamisa, without Mugabe," said Mahiya.After the ZNLWVA's leadership fell out with Mugabe over their overt backing of his then deputy, Mnangagwa, the war veteran claimed back then that they had seen the light and henceforth wanted to be apolitical.News / National

by Staff reporter

ZANU-PF's bid to amend the Constitution is likely to face hurdles because it does not have a two thirds majority in the Senate, which would have allowed the party to ride roughshod over the opposition.The ruling party is mulling using its super majority in the National Assembly to effect a raft of constitutional amendments, including raising the minimum age for presidential aspirants from the current 40 years to 55.This was revealed by its winning legislator for Buhera South, Joseph Chinotimba.However, the amendments will not be an easy task because the party lacks the two thirds majority in the Senate.Zanu-PF has 35 seats in the Senate, far below three thirds majority which needs 54 seats.In terms of section 344(3)] of the Constitution; a two-thirds majority is needed to pass a constitutional amendment.While chiefs are supposed to be nonpartisan, history shows a trend whereby they have aligned themselves with Zanu-PF.In the event that a constitutional amendment is brought to the Senate, the 18 chiefs in the upper chamber of the legislator will add to its numbers.In its latest instalment, legal watchdog - Veritas said "even if all 18 Senator chiefs were to vote with the Zanu 35 (totalling 53), it would still need one more Senator to make up the 54 votes".The opposition has 24 seats while the other two seats belong to disabled persons.Political analysts canvassed by the Daily News yesterday said the failure by Zanu-PF to attain a super majority in the Senate will affect its plans."This may affect their ability to do so, but Zanu-PF is Zanu-PF, they know no Constitution and they can do whatever needs to be done to make the changes. They may just ignore the Constitution and operate as if it's amended. This is why we still have AIPPA (the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act) and POSA (the Public Order and Security Act). Zanu-PF is a lawless organisation. They know no Constitution, no law," said political analyst, Maxwell Saungweme.Piers Pigou, senior consultant at the International Crisis Group said the development was good for Zimbabwe."It is important for Zanu-PF not to have two thirds majority so they cannot amend the Constitution. It is unhealthy in the current circumstances," Pigou said.In the National Assembly, Zanu-PF won 145 of the 210 contested seats, while their closest rivals - the MDC Alliance - garnered 63.The other two - Norton and Kwekwe Central - were won by independent candidates Temba Mliswa and Masango Matambanadzo respectively.Since the promulgation of the national charter in 2013, Zanu-PF has made it clear that it is unhappy with some of its provisions.Last year, the Constitution was amended for the first time when the ruling party rescinded provisions on the appointment of the Chief Justice, the Deputy Chief Justice and the Judge President of the High Court.Unlike in the past when the Judicial Services Commission would make these critical appointments through an interview process, office holders are now being appointed by the president following the constitutional amendments.News / National

by Staff reporter

Independent Norton candidate Temba Mliswa was barred from sitting in the VIP tent housing government officials and Zanu-PF's politburo members during Thokozile Mathuthu's burial at the National Heroes Acre.Mliswa, a former Zanu-PF chairperson for Mashonaland West, immediately took to Twitter to express his bitterness.He said such exclusionary politics reflect badly on the "new dispensation" tag, which President-elect Emmerson Mnangagwa's administration is trying to portray to the world."Is this the new dispensation? Let's learn to separate national events from party events and accommodate each other. Zanu-PF leaders seated whilst an independent is ostracised," fumed Mliswa.The Norton legislator said as long as the country remained polarised along political lines, national development will be hard to come by."We can't bring progress and togetherness as long as national events are exclusionary and that's why the opposition has refused to be part of national events since they are held as party functions," he fumed on the microblogging site.Zanu-PF has a tradition of humiliating those who would have fallen out of favour with its leadership.Zanu-PF has always viewed Mliswa with suspicion ever since he was dismissed from the party in 2014 for aligning himself with former vice president Joice Mujuru, who was accused - at the time - of plotting to unseat then president Robert Mugabe using unconstitutional means.News / National

by Staff reporter

Chief Justice Luke MalabaLuke Malaba was born in 1951.He received his law degree from the University of Warwick in 1974, and another law degree from the University of Zimbabwe in 1982. From 1981 to 1984, he served as a prosecutor in Bulawayo. He started his career as a magistrate in 1984 at Masvingo, rising to regional magistrate in 1990. Malaba was appointed as a judge of the High Court in 1994, serving in that capacity until 2001 when he was elevated to the Supreme Court in August 2001. Malaba later became the country's first Deputy Chief Justice in 2008. The esteemed CJ has also held an appointment as a judge of the Comesa Court of Justice.Notable RulingsIn a 2013 case in which Jealousy Mawarire sued former president Robert Mugabe compelling him to set the date for the election. The majority ruled in favour of Mawarire's application, which ensured that elections were held by July 31, 2013. Malaba was one of the only two dissenters together with Justice Bharatkumar Patel.After Mike Campbell and a group of white farmers had taken their case to the Sadc Tribunal and won in the case Mike Campbell (Pvt) Ltd et al. vs. Republic of Zimbabwe, they sought to enforce the orders in Zimbabwe. The Sadc Tribunal had ruled that the land reform process was unlawful and a violation of the rule of law. Writing for the Supreme Court in the case, Malaba dismissed the farmers' application, holding that the Sadc Tribunal had no jurisdiction over the matter and that the Supreme Court was not obliged to comply with or enforce the orders of the Tribunal.Malaba also wrote the judgment in the case where Zimbabweans were challenging ZBC's powers to levy the licence fee. He ruled that ZBC's powers were not unlawful.In Marimo and Another vs minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and Others (2006) ZWSC 60 the important question was whether then Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku's power to appoint judges of the Electoral Court under the Electoral Act was constitutional. Section 162 of the Electoral Act empowered the Chief Justice to appoint judges of the Electoral Court. Following that provision after the 2005 elections, Chidyausiku had handpicked judges but this was challenged by losing MDC candidates on the grounds that the Electoral Court was a special court and judges had to be appointed in accordance with the provisions for appointing judges.Malaba ruled that this was improper and unconstitutional.Deputy Chief Justice Elizabeth GwaunzaElizabeth Gwaunza was born in 1953.Gwaunza was admitted as a legal practitioner of the High Court of Zimbabwe in 1987. She co-founded and was the national coordinator of the Women and Law in Southern Africa Research Project between 1989 and 1995.She was the first director, Legal Affairs in the ministry of Community Development and Women's Affairs and also worked as a director of Legal Aid in the ministry of Justice. Gwaunza served on the boards of many women's non-governmental organisations.She was founding member and past president of the Zimbabwe Association of Women Judges and member of the International Association of Women Judges.Gwaunza was appointed as a Judge of the High Court in August 1998.She was appointed as Deputy Chief Justice in March 2018 - succeeding Luke Malaba who had been appointed CJ - after serving as Supreme Court judge from November 2002.She had been the second woman to serve as Supreme Court judge after Vernanda Ziyambi, who is now retired.Justice Rita MakarauRita Makarau was born on December 7, 1960.Makarau attended Donnybrooke Primary School in Mabvuku for her primary education before proceeding to Goromonzi High School. In 1982, Makarau attained the Bachelor ofLaws degree from the University of Zimbabwe before graduating with an Honours Degree in 1983.Between 1983 and 1984, Makarau worked as a public prosecutor at the Harare Magistrates' Courts before going into private practice.Makarau had her first case at the age of 24. From 1988 to 1989 Makarau was the Secretary of Legal Affairs at the Parastatal Commission. From 1998 to 2000 she served in the Constitutional Commission before she was appointed High Court Judge in December 2000. In 2006, she became the first woman to hold the position of Judge President.In May 2010, she was appointed a Supreme Court Judge.In 2013, the principals of the Government of National Unity chose her to be the chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec).Landmark RulingsIn January 2006 Margaret Dongo was turned away by the Registrar-General's Office while seeking to obtain a passport for her child Kudakwashe Norman on the basis that she could not assist the child to obtain a passport, as she was not the natural guardian of the child. Makarau granted Dongo the authority to assist her minor child to obtain a passport without the presence and the authority of the child's father.However, her position as the Zec chairperson made her very unpopular - particularly with the then Morgan Tsvangirai-led MDC - who accused them of being biased towards Mugabe's Zanu-PF and failing to stop vote-rigging.Makarau resigned as the chairperson of Zec in December 2017 with no reasons being given for her resignation later also resigning as the acting secretary of the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) in February 2018.Justice Paddington GarweGarwe registered as a legal practitioner on May 10, 1979. His career in the judiciary started in the colonial era, as a young assistant magistrate in 1978. Garwe later on worked as a clerk of court and prosecutor before being appointed magistrate in February 1980. Garwe later rose through the ranks of the judicial system, and became a regional magistrate when he was just 26 years of age in 1984. He became the chief magistrate at 31 in 1989. Garwe was appointed to the position of Permanent Secretary for the ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs in 1991 after which he was appointed as a judge of the High Court in 1993 at the age of 35. He was made Judge President of the High Court of Zimbabwe in 2001.In 2006, Garwe was promoted to Justice of the Supreme Court. In 2013, he became a Justice of the Constitutional Court. He has also been the chairperson of the Zimbabwe National Committee on Community Service from 1993 to date and chairperson of the Pre-Trial Diversion Programme for Young Offenders from 2010 to date.Notable CasesWhen he was a magistrate, back in the 1980s he presided over the trial of the late-PF Zapu MP Sydney Malunga who was accused of trying to overthrow the government and supporting dissidents. Malunga was acquitted. In his judgment.In 2003, Garwe presided over the trial of Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the MDC, who was accused of treason. Justice Garwe discharged Tsvangirai's co-accused, Welshman Ncube and Renson Gasela, leaving Tsvangirai to face trial alone. In the end, Garwe acquitted Tsvangirai in October 2004.When war veterans and others started invading and occupying white-owned commercial farms in 2000, there was a flurry of legal applications to stop the activities. In one such case came before Garwe at the High Court, he ruled in favour of the farmers, declaring that the land occupations were illegal and should be stopped. The Supreme Court, then headed by Chief Justice Anthony Gubbay, upheld the ruling in December 2000.In 1995, Garwe protested when he was named as having presided over an alleged secret wedding between former president Robert Mugabe and Grace Mugabe. Garwe and Enos Chikowore, who was a Cabinet minister who had also been named as a witness at the alleged secret wedding instigated criminal defamation charges against the newspaper's owner and the journalists who wrote the story.Garwe successfully sued the Zimbabwe Independent newspaper in 2004 for Z$75 billion, following the publication of a story in which he was alleged to have been blocked by two assessors from passing judgment in the treason trial against Tsvangirai. In 2007, the Zimbabwe Independent was ordered to pay Z$70 million in damages.Justice Chinembiri BhunuBhunu was appointed Senior President of the Labour Court in 2001. In 2003, Bhunu was appointed as a High Court Judge. He was promoted to the Supreme Court and to the Con-Court on September 16, 2015.Notable CasesOn September 6, 2016, Bhunu passed judgment after five years on MDC supporters who were convicted of killing a police officer. Yvonne Musarurwa, Tungamirai Madzokere, and Last Maengahama were sentenced to 20 years in jail each while Phineas Nhatarikwa was given a three-year wholly suspended sentence and a fine of $500. Musarurwa, 29, Madzokere aged, 41, and Maengahama aged, 40, were found guilty of murder with actual intent of Petros Mutedzi, a Zimbabwe Republic Police inspector. Phineas Nhatarikwa aged 50 was convicted for being an accessory to the crime.Justice Bharatkumar PatelPatel was born April 16, 1952 in Salisbury, Rhodesia (now Harare, Zimbabwe)), and did his primary education at Louis Mountbatten School before proceeding for secondary education at Peterhouse Boys' School and St. Georges College. He completed his legal training at the University of Rhodesia in 1975 and departed for England where he qualified as a barrister at Inner Temple and obtained his Masters degree in law with University College London.Patel began his working career in 1978 in the London para-legal sector, with the Greater London Citizens Advice Bureaux Service, focusing on civil rights, employment, and social welfare law. In 1982, he returned to Zimbabwe and joined government service as legal counsel performing advisory and representative duties in matters of public law and International law. From 1993 he headed the Division of Legal Advice in the Attorney-General's Office until he was appointed to the position of Deputy Attorney-General in August 2000. In April 2003, he assumed the post of Acting Attorney-General.In December 2004, he was appointed to the Bench, in the High Court, and assumed judicial duties in January 2005. From December 2007 to December 2008 he was temporarily re-appointed to the post of Acting Attorney-General, following the suspension and removal from office of the previous incumbent, Sobuza Gula-Ndebele.In May 2013 he was appointed to the Supreme Court as Judge of Appeal. He was simultaneously appointed to the Constitutional Court by virtue of certain transitional provisions in the Constitution.Ben HlatshwayoJustice Ben Hlatshwayo was appointed as a High Court judge in the year 2000. He was later promoted to the Supreme Court in 2013. In the same year, Justice Hlatshwayo was also appointed as a judge of the Constitutional Court.Justice Hlatshwayo was part of the Supreme Court bench that ruled in favour of Masvingo's first black mayor Thomas Zawaira's 10 children born out of wedlock giving them right to inheritance. Zawaira died in 2003. After his death, his estate was shared between his wife Felistas and her six children.The Supreme Court reversed the High Court decision, arguing all the children are entitled to an inheritance, in the same way, they are entitled to maintenance. The court also said that spouses of cheating partners can sue for adultery.Tendai UchenaJustice Tendai Uchena was appointed President of the Administrative Court in 1998. In 2003, he was appointed as a High Court judge. He was promoted to the Supreme Court and to the Constitutional Court in September 2016.In February 2018, Justice Uchena was appointed as head of the Commission of Inquiry of Sale Of State Land. The Commission was created to look into the sale of State land in and around urban areas since the year 2005. It was given 12 months from the day of the appointment to conclude its task.Lavender MakoniShe is one of the latest additions to the Con-Court Bench as one of only two appointees of President Emmerson Mnangagwa to the Con-Court since he took over power last year. Justice Makoni has 14 years' experience on the High Court bench as the head of the Civil Division.- Additional reporting from JSC/WIRESCon-Court benchNews / National

by Staff reporter

The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) will resume the live broadcast of the Constitutional Court judgement this Friday, the 24th of August, and will also live stream the event on its social media platforms.The national broadcaster successfully beamed live yesterday's Constitutional Court proceedings and will resume the live broadcast of the passing of the judgement by the nine- member bench of the Constitutional Court led by Chief Justice Luke Malaba tomorrow.ZBC's radio stations including Classic 263, National FM and Radio Zimbabwe will also be ready to broadcast to millions of Zimbabweans across the country and the rest of the world.Tomorrow's judgement by the Constitutional Court will be final and in the event that the bench declares a winner, inauguration of whoever wins is expected to take place within 48 hours after the judgement.Opinion / Columnist

Chamisa continues to incite the povo once more: if his God fails him, he will turn to the people, he said this yesterday's Bulawayo24. Who is higher in this equation: God or the people? How does Pastor Chamisa put God to this raw test of faith? Where God may have failed Chamisa's petition in the Constitutional Court, he sincerely thinks the people will make HIM President!! When we saw Chamisa in white garments praying in the Zimbabwean wilderness, praying and of course fasting, one wonders if it is an abuse of religion, what Lenin correctly said: religion is the opium of the people!!!!!!Exactly twenty-three days ago, the ordinary people were incited by the leadership of MDC-Alliance to demonstrate. We lost lives: seven of them in that demo of the 1st of August. Blood was lost carelessly at the incitement of unscrupulous political leaders. To invite them once more by telling us that if God failed he will turn to the people to protect their vote is the sheer lack of leadership qualities, leadership responsibilities and political immaturity. When our wounds of loss are still so fresh in our minds, did they need to spill more blood again just to make a political point and Chamisa be president? Are the people pawns, cannon fodder to be used and abused by egoistic and senseless politicians of our time? No Chamisa, please respect life you are a pastor in the first place and a father of a son. Whose sons and daughters are to be sacrificed just to make you Chamisa President?If Chamisa was a good leader, he would know that if Zanu PF has two-thirds majority in parliament, he can never be a president of a full parliament life. You cannot be president of a minority government in parliament. It is wholly your personal ego to become a president irrespective of the bare facts on the ground. It is you Chamisa, again, who accepted the 64 parliamentary vote as legitimate, ulamawala, and you should have waited to accept parliamentary vote as an accurate vote and make a collective petition of both parliamentary and presidential vote fraud. In other words, you do not really care about the MDC-Alliance loss of parliamentary seats at all but you are talking about peoples vote when it means Chamisa presidential loss: What a God! Is it really the God of Israel you are worshipping dear Chamisa?Your God should have told you that it is evil and satanic to impose yourself as leader of the opposition party: to grab MDC-T leadership from Thokozani Khuphe. Your God again should have told you never to go for elections without electoral reforms on the ground. Your God should have told you that you do not threaten the nation by using violence: words such as "kudira jecha muupfu" are words of incitement to create chaos in the nation. Your God again should have told you: those words such as: "elections will be free and fair if you win" are words wholly ungodly, not coming from noble leadership that puts God ahead of all decisions. Your God should have told you that you do not give young people alcohol early hours of the morning for the purpose of demonstrating "effectively." I bet you do not drink alcohol yourself. Your God should tell you to respect our children Chamisa, those children who you send on errands: to demonstrate are our children, and the loss of their lives is felt by us mothers of this great nation.I sincerely ask you to revisit your religious faith because it is found wanting. You know better than all of us how deadly the military junta is. You know how the junta went on a shooting spree at the glare of the international community that was still present in Zimbabwe. We saw how people were razed down like lesser creatures by water cannons, falling on the ground like human beings of lesser God. When you incite the youth again, do you sincerely want a repeat of what we saw on the 1st of August in the Harare streets? You are a man dear Chamisa and not a woman, and it is for this reason you have no idea about the pain of giving birth to a human being. Your son is well protected in the leafy suburbs of Harare but you are wholly capable of subjecting other people's children to the wrath of Chiwenga/Mnangagwa junta.If you did not trust the ZEC electoral processes how you did package the MDC-Alliance to the elections? If you have no faith in the judiciary how do approach the very constitutional courts you have no faith in, you take your petition to the very courts you do not trust. At the late hours of the whole election saga and courts cases, you ask God to intervene on your behalf, and if God fails you will turn to the people for help. You do not even trust your God, dear Chamisa, do you?.If there is anything that Chiwenga & Co are happy about today, is how they instilled fear in our people by gunning down only seven to send a message to the povo how brutal they can be. You should know this well and never to incite young people to the streets as they will be harmed. We mourn the deaths of those who died on the 1st of August endlessly because they carelessly lost their dear lives to prove a political point of egoistic politicians. Both the junta and MDC-Alliance are responsible for those deaths equally. Both the junta and MDC-Alliance were not present at the burials of those who were sacrificed by politicians to prove a point.It is for this reason that they call any military exercise that takes over power from a constitutional government a junta. A junta is lethal, has no respect for human lives. You should be the one to know how they invited the people to join them in the Mugabe dethronement, but hardly seven months, have they treat THE PEOPLE as enemies of the state. Citizens are pawns to be used to prove a point!!The verdict will be tomorrow on the 24th of August and shudder to think about the two hard surfaces we pray for: Zimbabwe is between the rock and two hard surfaces: Chamisa and Mnangagwa. I allow myself to say I cannot envisage a Chamisa minority government, God forbid!!! Chamisa has already shown his dictatorial tendencies before he is even declared the winner of the elections, before he is inaugurated as president. To go to Bulawayo and cherry-pick a Mayor and deputy Mayor both from Mashonaland: what did he promise the people from Mathebeleland at the fully packed White City Stadium? Chamisa's promises to this region, and before the election sun has even set, he has been broken. We have a Mayor and a Deputy Mayor from Mashonaland. I am sure the residents of this City of Kings & Queens will come to terms with Chamisa's choice because they are the ones who voted for him. The residents must ask some pertinent questions: on what capacity did Chamisa nominate those positions of a mayor and his deputy before he is proclaimed the winner of president?My thoughts are still on those children of this great nation who perished on that August deaths in Harare: the fact that not a single politician was present when the families mourned those deaths is painful to this day. I think deeply about Ishmael Kumire, a vendor who had nothing to do with the demonstration, died a careless death. How are the families coping with loss of life of their loved ones because of sheer power and glory of the leadership, either way, the junta and MDC-Alliance are wholly responsible for that sheer careless show of power and glory. When we lose children cold-blooded, it becomes irrelevant to me who wins the court case tomorrow in this presidential vote petition. Ishmael Kumire will not come back from his grave because Chamisa has won the petition and will be President of the Republic of Great Zimbabwe.Opinion / Columnist

According to political analyst Pedzisai Ruhanya's recent interview with Peter Ndoro of SABC soon after the ConCourt hearing on the 22 of August, the respected Human Rights expect articulated well to Peter Ndoro on SABC that it is most unlikely that any court outcome will favor Adv. Nelson Chamisa. Considering the nature of a person like Ruhanya surely his views will most likely be precise considering how Zanu Pf have captured state institutions including ZEC and the Judiciary. In his recent speech in Magunje Vice President Chiwenga once again told the public that Mnanangagwa will remain the President, Chiwenga is not confident of the Zanu Pf lawyers that represented ED but he knows well that any critical political decision in Zimbabwe is not done in courts but rather it is done by a clique of individuals in the politburo with him being one of them. I'm not a lawyer and I wouldn't want to argue the ConCourt debate amongst the opposing lawyers but one thing for sure that I know is that politics controls any State apparatus in Zimbabwe. As much as Zimbabweans are hoping for a Chamisa ConCourt victory tomorrow, the truth is that Chamisa won't win the case at all and ED will soon be inaugurated as the winner of the July polls, and nothing will change after ED takes over the presidency in terms of the economy, employment and development.Zanu Pf and Emmerson Mnangagwa are tried and tested failures and nothing good will ever come out of a leader and his counterparts who always shun local hospitals in search of quality health systems in neighboring South Africa. I do not hate Zanu Pf but I hate the system which have destroyed the lives of innocent Zimbabweans. Vice President Kembo Mohadi and Zanu Pf Chairperson Oppah Kashiri were the latest high level government dignitaries to be flown to South Africa for critical medical attentions, while most of the White City bombing victims were anguishing at Mpilo Hospital. The Zanu pf government has destroyed the health system that the people in Beit Bridge are now flocking to Messina for medical checkups. How then will Mnangagwa retain Zimbabwe to a bread basket of Africa yet it took him and his Zanu Pf counterparts 38 years to massacre the once flourishing economy.Zimbabwe is mostly likely to experience the worst of their lives in the next five years, considering that the United States of America have tightened the sanctions on ED's government the economy will languish once more and misery will continue. Victor Matemadanda and his cabal of war vets needs some psychiatric attention because they are really out of reality, Zimbabwe is where it is today because of sanctions so Matemadanda's assertion that Zimbabwe doesn't need USA is totally madness cause the Look East Policy did not yield anything during Mugabe's tenure. Zimbabwe needs the International community to strive again but with ED in power that won't happen. Unemployment will rise to its highest level and crime will be the order of the day. Zimbabweans will continue anguishing as no tangible change will take place for the next five years. Mnangagwa and Chiwenga they are just power hungry and they really know that they can't turnaround the economy.The military government which is now in control might actually prove to be worse than Mugabe as the defacto president Chiwenga does not have people at heart but power. Guvheya as Chiwenga is known in political circles is already planning for his takeover in 2023. Zimbabwe is not just is a mishmash environment but it's in a total clutter and only a revolution will change the current system. Elections will remain a formality in Zimbabwe as nothing will ever change. The opposition which is led by Adv. Nelson Chamisa of course won the popular vote but because the system of oppression is still intact and their mandate to govern was denied. What Chamisa and his peers needs urgently, is to find a way on how to dethrone and destroy the system of oppression which was established by Mugabe and Zanu Pf. But as for the ConCourt outcome Mnangagwa will prevail because of the current system.Economic Disorder awaits the long suffering ZimbabweansKnowledge Hakata is the co-founder of Demos Cratos a political consultancy organization. He can be contacted on waterlessprings@gmail.comPlane on runway

Air Canada (TSX:AC)(TSX:AC.B) announced on Tuesday that the company, along with three others, had acquired the Aeroplan from Aimia Inc (TSX:AIM) for $450 million cash. Last month, Air Canada made a smaller bid for the loyalty program, which was not long after Aimia had announced plans to launch its own airline. In addition to cash, the group of companies acquiring the Aeroplan will also assume the Air Miles liability as well, which totals around $1.9 billion. The deal is expected to close later this year.

What the move means for Air Canada

This acquisition will ensure that Air Canada can easily migrate existing Air Miles users over to Air Canadas new loyalty program once it is launched. It will also help to encourage Air Miles members to continue using their cards without fear or uncertainty as to what will happen with the points as the existing agreement between Aimia and Air Canada approaches a close in 2020.

Had Air Canada not reached this deal, it could have faced the very real danger that some of its most loyal customers would jump ship over to Aimia or other airlines. Aimia was looking to make the loyalty program more flexible for members, and that likely would have resulted in less travel on Air Canada. Through the acquisition, however, the airline can effectively keep the plan unchanged and have control over the redemption options.

While Air Canada may claim that this was done for the customers and the ease of switching over to its new loyalty program, in reality, the big losers in all of this are the consumers, who would have had more choice under Aimias revised program.

What does this mean for Aimia?

In its release, Aimia was very brief, sticking to the details of the deal and omitting what this means for the companys future. The expectation previously had been that the Aeroplan would help the company build a model for its airline to make smarter flights available, ones that would be in demand rather than offering every route. It was a good idea, but now with the Aeroplan out of the picture, it seems as though Aimia would have to start from scratch.

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In the short term, its a win for shareholders that get to see the value of the company rise, as Aimia was able to secure a higher dollar value for its loyalty program. But in the long term, it raises many questions. After all, the Aeroplan was what Aimia had become known for, and without that, its difficult to assess whether the stock is a good long-term buy.

It was a surprising move for a company that rejected the initial deal and seemed intent on building something much bigger than just a loyalty program. Im a bit disappointed in the decision, as I would have loved to see what Aimia could have done, and by having the Aeroplan program, it would have had a good head start right out of the gate.

More reading

Fool contributor David Jagielski has no position in any of the stocks mentioned.Quebec prosecutors have quietly decided not to lay charges in five cases of alleged police misconduct toward Indigenous people.

The absence of charges was revealed during testimony this week at the Viens Commission, the public inquiry struck in response to multiple allegations by Indigenous women in Val-d'Or in the fall of 2015.

Following those allegations, the Ministry of Public Security tasked Montreal police with investigating all future complaints of police misconduct by Indigenous women or men.

So far, none of the 54 complaints handled by Montreal police have led to charges, and Quebec's director of criminal and penal prosecutions (DPCP) will not say how many are being analyzed at this time.

Jean-Pascal Boucher, spokesperson for the DPCP, declined to be interviewed.

"At the end of the review of all the completed investigations, we will determine how we'll make our decisions public," Boucher wrote in an email to CBC.

Montreal police refused to say if and when any of the 54 complaints lodged after April 2016 were transferred for review to the DPCP.

The DPCP's public announcement in November 2016 that there would be only two charges laid after the Val-d'Or allegations was met with disappointment and anger.

At least five of 54 complaints dismissed without announcement

At the inquiry, Montreal police detectives have given details of more than a dozen completed investigations in which no charges were laid.

For five of those investigations, the DPCP has never made public its decision to dismiss the complaints.

Two complaints came from women who were injured by police or during detention by police.

Yesterday, Det.-Sgt. Carl Theriault talked about his investigation of a February 2017 incident at the Royal Canadian Legion in Maniwaki.

He interviewed a 60-year-old Indigenous woman who alleged she was injured during her arrest.

"She told me the officer was rough with her," Theriault told the inquiry Tuesday.

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The woman told Theriault she had pushed a first officer toward a wall because she was trying to get at her husband, when a second officer came up behind her.

"She said [the officer] asked her to cross her legs and then put all his weight on her, which led to a fracture in her leg, below the knee."

Theriault said the officers were trying to get her on the ground in order to put handcuffs on her.

Retired justice Jacques Viens, who is presiding over the inquiry, noted the woman's age and asked Theriault to describe her physically.

"She's about five feet, not very tall," he responded.

Theriault said an internal expert at the police force didn't find any problems with the manoeuvre and said it made sense because the woman was resisting arrest.

"The injuries 'Victim A' incurred are unfortunate and remind us that that even in an ideal situation, consequences of the use of force remain unpredictable," said Theriault, quoting from the SPVM expert's report.

Violent incident caught on camera

Last week, the inquiry heard about a woman who ended up with severe bruising all over her head, face, arms and knees after she was injured during an escort into a cell at the Val-d'Or detachment.

The incident happened in June 2016, about six months after provincial police in Val-d'Or came under the spotlight because of the allegations in the Radio-Canada report, Enquete.

Det.-Sgt. Patrick Parent described surveillance video where you can see the woman's hands cuffed behind her back. There are four officers present and one officer is guiding her to the cell.

"You can see she's intoxicated and having trouble walking, and when they turn a corner, her pants fall a little, and she falls face first on the floor," said Parent.

Parent told the inquiry some of the officers can be seen "smiling or laughing" on the surveillance footage.

None of the officers checked to see if she was injured.

Parent told the inquiry he didn't find any evidence of criminal wrongdoing and had not been hired to investigate misconduct.The recent loss of jobs at Diabetes Canada offices across the country is the unfortunate reality of health charities fighting to stay financially viable, the CEO of the national charity said Tuesday.

John Reidy said the decision to cut staff by 20 per cent last week was made as Diabetes Canada tries to find ways to stretch donor dollars.

"While actions such as the one we took last week are unfortunate, they're a necessity to drive us forward with the objectives we set for ourselves," he said in an interview, citing advocacy, education, research and the charity's camp programs among its areas of focus.

The job losses follow the closure of Diabetes Canada offices on P.E.I. and in Moncton, N.B., as well as the merger of three camps for children with Type 1 diabetes.

The company's annual report says there's been a drop in clothing donations and the last two years have been difficult.

"To call us being in financial trouble is a stretch, but we are not a rich charity," said Reidy, adding the charity has run deficits. "We have to live within our means."

Diabetes Canada spent between $400,000 and $500,000 to rebrand itself less than two years ago in what Reidy said was a push to get new members and stay current.

But Reidy said even if the organization had three times its revenue, it wouldn't be enough to meet the needs of 11 million Canadians with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, as well as prediabetes.

"Our need is enormous. Our capability is much more modest," he said. "We have had a lot of change, by necessity. We're not different to any other health-care charity."

Charitable donors on the decline

The president and CEO of Imagine Canada  a national charity aimed at strengthening other charities and non-profits  said there is widening gap between a demand for services and the ability to pay for those services.

"This sector is going to be under strain to be able to actually continue to provide the services that we, as Canadians, have come to enjoy and expect," said Bruce MacDonald.

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Canadians remain generous, he said, but there are fewer people opening their wallets. As such, MacDonald said he wasn't surprised to hear that Diabetes Canada was cutting staff.

"It is interesting that a large organization with a significant brand name is also taking this action because this is one that people know a lot about," he said.

"I think clearly the board and the staff there are positioning themselves to go forward in a sustainable manner, but I think this question about long-term sustainability is around for every single charity in the country."

Other health charities making cuts

This summer, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada laid off more than 100 employees and closed 26 offices.

Charlotte Comrie, CEO for Heart and Stroke in Nova Scotia and P.E.I., said it wasn't a purely financial decision.

With an eye to new donors, the organization is growing its digital presence while realizing the need for traditional offices isn't as great as it once was.

"These are challenging times to raise money. There are more charities than ever, donors have more ways to give, they have crowdfunding, they have door-to-door canvasses, special events, all kinds of ways to give," she said.

"We need to be loyal to the donors that we do have and we need to provide new donors an opportunity to give in the ways that they want."

Reidy said Diabetes Canada is moving away from local programming, investing more in advocacy and actively pushing all levels of government to take up the cause.

Historically, he said Diabetes Canada stepped in to provide programming when it felt the government should be doing so.

"We're not shutting down programs, we're looking to partner with appropriate organizations," he said. "For them to actually carry on the programs and us not provide the service anymore."

The charity's efforts to reassess have been paying off so far, said Reidy, and he doesn't expect any other major changes.

MacDonald said the best thing charities can do is be proactive.

"Understand the data and understand where dollars are coming from now, where they're likely going to come from in the future, that continued generosity of older generations. Reach out in an intentional way to engage young people," he said.

"Organizations need to look at their missions, their mandates, their structures and say, 'How are we adapting our operations to meet the needs of our communities?'"By Steve Holland and James Oliphant WASHINGTON/CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Reuters) - President Donald Trump suffered twin setbacks on Tuesday with two ex-advisers facing prison sentences - and one of them saying Trump told him to commit a crime - possibly hurting his Republican Party's election prospects and widening a criminal probe that has overshadowed his presidency. Within minutes of each other in separate courts, former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort was found guilty on tax and bank fraud charges, while Trump's former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, pleaded guilty to a range of charges. Cohen also testified that Trump directed him to commit a crime by arranging payments ahead of the 2016 presidential election to silence two women who said they had had affairs with Trump. The setbacks refocused attention on Special Counsel Robert Mueller's inquiry into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election, whether Trump's campaign colluded with Moscow and whether Trump obstructed justice by firing then-FBI Director James Comey, who was formerly in charge of the investigation. Trump has denied collusion, calling Mueller's probe a "witch hunt." Of the two latest developments, Cohen's plea deal was the more troublesome, said those around Trump. "A bad day for the home team," said one source close to the president, who asked not to be identified. The source added that the legal woes could depress voter turnout and increase Republicans' risk of losing their 23-seat majority in the House of Representatives in November's congressional elections. "This hurts our midterm prospects." A Democratic victory in November would limit Trump's ability to push through legislation and increase the risk of calls for his impeachment. Cohen's lawyer, Lanny Davis, said late on Tuesday that his client was "more than happy" to tell Mueller's legal team everything he knows about Trump. Democrats pounced on the Cohen and Manafort cases, saying they bolstered their argument that the Trump White House was weighed down by scandal. "The American people deserve answers regarding the presidents role in these corrupt and criminal actions," said Democratic Representative Rosa DeLauro. Rodell Mollineau, a senior Democratic strategist, said the news "adds to a constant drumbeat that will ultimately affect some independent voters" and help Democrats at the polls. "Manafort being convicted, on its own, might not sway any votes. But given the totality of criminality uncovered ... it will be hard for some Republicans to ignore and even harder to explain. Still, there were no immediate calls for Trump's impeachment and Republican lawmakers did not join the chorus of criticism from Democratic ranks. LOYAL SUPPORT The long-term impact of the Cohen and Manafort cases will likely depend on how they affect the turnout of Republican and Democratic voters in November. While he undoubtedly had a bad day on Tuesday, some analysts said Trump might be able to turn the setbacks to his advantage by reinforcing core supporters' views that he is under siege, said Andy Smith, director of the University of New Hampshire Survey Center. "In midterm elections, the presidents party tends to be less interested and less motivated to vote. But one thing that will motivate people to get out and vote is if they believe the party is being attacked unfairly," he said. At a rally in Charleston, West Virginia, on Tuesday night, a relatively subdued Trump did not mention either the Cohen or Manafort case. Instead, as supporters cheered him on, he made fun of his opponents' focus on the Mueller investigation, saying they were desperate to find collusion with Russians. "Where is the collusion? Where is it?" he said, mimicking his critics. Josh McGrew, who traveled from Huntington, West Virginia, for the rally, called the investigation a smear campaign and said his support for Trump was unshaken. This is all about finding out anything they can in somebodys past, McGrew said. They havent come up with anything in a year and a half, almost two years. Polling by Ipsos/Reuters has shown Trump's job approval rating holding steady at about 40 percent, even with Mueller's investigation already bringing guilty pleas by several former Trump advisers. The Cohen and Manafort cases were unlikely to erode Trump's support from his political base or the Republican Party establishment, said Larry Sabato, a political analyst and director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics. I dont think there is any change at all, said Sabato. Thats the amazing part of it. The Trump base and virtually the entire Republican Party could care less. The polls will bear me out. (Reporting by Steve Holland and James Oliphant; Additional reporting by Ginger Gibson and Jonathan Landay; Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh and Peter Cooney)It is perfectly normal for politicians to make regional visits throughout the summer. However, it is rare to see a Prime Minister and five cabinet heavyweights come to a region of only a handful of ridings and a few hundred thousand people.

After Trudeau's visit to the so-called tomato capital came Amarjeet Sohi's attendance at the official inauguration of the construction of the Gordie-Howe bridge. The then-minister of infrastructure was accompanied by Marko Mendicino, the parliamentary secretary for the minister of Justice, Jody Wilson-Raybould.

At the beginning of August, health minister Ginette Petitpas-Taylor held a private meeting with Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens and police chief Al Frederick to reportedly discuss the opioid crisis.

Just days later, Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, came to inaugurate and name a building in honour of former Canadian federal judge Jack "Bud" Cullen.

And finally, Canada's Minister of Finance Bill Morneau was here on August 13 to talk to local entrepreneurs and workers at the Fiat Chrysler plant.

It's not big events which have driven these people here. Instead, they've actually made time in their agenda to come tend to regionally-specific issues.

What the experts have to say

"It's probably telling, a year coming into the next federal election, that the Liberals are seeing this region of Ontario as a key region for them, something that they want to conquer, that they want to bring back to their side of politics." said Laval University political science professor Thierry Giasson.

It's not just about gaining votes, but also strengthening a political base of supporters and volunteers who will help the Liberals during the upcoming 2019 campaign. That's according to Peter Graefe, a political science professor at McMaster University.

The motivation for Trudeau's team in paying attention to the Windsor-Essex region may be that they are betting on citizens' fear of retaliation over NAFTA renegotiations.

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Graefe said people could see the election of a Liberal MP as favourable for regions heavily impacted by NAFTA, as opposed to electing an MP from the opposition.

There are many factors which could explain the federal government's presence here  the trade feud with the United States, Windsor-Essex's status as a border region, possible irregular border crossings or even the agriculture file, given that Leamington may soon become the capital of marijuana.

"They've clearly identified this region as something that is reachable, and it's also obviously one of the highest circulation points between the U.S. and Canada. Businesses a lot of merchandise moves between Detroit and Windsor, so it's a very important and strategic part of Ontario and the country," Giasson said.

A big scare in June

Additionally, Giasson said the results of the recent Ontario election have shaken up the federal Liberals quite a bit.

Kathleen Wynne's defeat in most of the Ontario ridings has Trudeau's team possibly worried about the way the federal Liberals will fare in this province, given that Doug Ford's Ontario PC party saw such a strong win back in June.

"We've seen a complete reframing of the cabinet, following the provincial Ontario election. I think that this Federal government is very weary of its placement [and] its standing in Ontario right now," he said.

Graefe agrees with that statement. According to him, Liberals are scared that Justin Trudeau will see the same fate as Kathleen Wynne did in Ontario.

Political history in southwestern Ontario

Southwestern Ontario has a historical importance for the Liberal Party. That's according to Graefe, who said "not too long ago, about a generation ago, that party was dominating the federal elections here."

As for University of Windsor professor Lydia Miljan, she said Windsor-Essex works by having three NDP strongholds  something the Liberal Party may be looking to change.



"They're probably doing the same thing in Quebec. They're probably doing similar things in British Columbia. And [other] places where they think they can make inroads," Miljan said.

It is interesting to note that Jagmeet Singh has grown up in Windsor, which Giasson said could influence the government to double-down in the predominantly-orange region.

But Miljan said that since Singh hasn't seen much traction on the federal scene since becoming party leader, that leaves the NDP somewhat vulnerable, which may create an incentive for Liberals to take advantage.As legalization of recreational marijuana approaches, the Kanien'keha:ka community of Kahnawake, Que., is in the final stages of deciding how to regulate the burgeoning industry on the reserve.

"Until the governments really want input from First Nations, because we've seen it's been very minimal, we have to continue to move forward," said Gina Deer, the portfolio chief for cannabis on the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK).

Kahnawake's proposed Cannabis Control Law is being developed through the Community Decision-Making Process, a consensus-based model for amending and creating legislation.

On Tuesday night, residents had an opportunity to weigh in on the law for the first time since the latest draft was released. The information session was one of two organized by the MCK's cannabis working group to explain its approach to cannabis legalization.

Representatives from the working group said Quebec's cannabis regulations will not apply in their territory and their law is invoking "the exclusive right and jurisdiction to regulate and control cannabis within its territory."

"We've always done things on our own jurisdiction. It's our territory and we govern it as we see fit and I think that Quebec is accustomed to that," said Deer.

Asserting jurisdiction

While anyone 18 years and older will be able to consume and purchase marijuana legally under Quebec's laws, Kahnawake's law sets the legal age at 21.

The draft law is also proposing a two-pronged licensing system requiring both the community's and Health Canada's approval for anyone wanting in on the industry within the territory, to the dismay of some people in attendance Tuesday.

Jeremiah Johnson said he feels the Health Canada licence will erode the community's jurisdiction.

"We understand that we protect our jurisdiction and our sovereignty. The last thing we want to do is to impose outside federal laws on our territory and our people," said Johnson, who submitted his own request for cannabis legislation prior to the Mohawk Council.

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"By making Kahnawa'kehro:non have to apply and acquire Health Canada permits, we're having to submit to outside law."

Learning from tobacco

Johnson drew comparisons to Kahnawake's tobacco industry, where at one time the MCK was discouraging business owners from getting federal and province licences for production and manufacturing cigarettes to defend its own jurisdiction.

Deer said the two-pronged licensing system is a matter of the community not having the expertise and capacity for quality assurance in many aspects of the industry.

"For us, health and safety is first and foremost and it's only responsible for us to take what is out there and utilize it. It doesn't give them the jurisdiction over the territory," she said.

"The long term goal is for us to train ourselves and use our own people to do these things. But until we get to that point we have to outsource."

The development of legislation, Deer said, is also an attempt to prevent other problems that arose with the tobacco industry  the lack of regulations, dozens of cigarettes stores and community members who have been charged with fraud for trafficking contraband tobacco.

"We want everything to be so that we can have an industry and not worry about people being arrested," said Deer.

The concerns prompted a moratorium last October on distribution and sale of cannabis within the community, after dispensaries started opening in other First Nations communities in a similar manner to cigarette shacks in the '80s and '90s.

At least one dispensary, Greenleaf, opened in Kahnawake despite the moratorium, but has been shut down twice by the Kahnawake Peacekeepers, most recently on Aug. 17.

"I don't think our community would be happy with that type of situation," said council chief Rhonda Kirby, who also sits on the working group.

"Look at where the tobacco industry is now. We learned our lesson through tobacco."Most wanted deadbeat dad in U.S. gets 24 months in jail after arrest near Calgary

A man who was dubbed the most wanted deadbeat dad in the U.S. has been sentenced to two years in jail months after he was arrested near Calgary with the help of a restaurateur who acted on a hunch.

Joseph Stroup, who had been living under the name Joop Cousteau, was detained by the Canada Border Services Agency and transported to the United States on Feb. 15.

Authorities were tipped off by the co-proprietor of the Bears Den restaurant west of Calgary, who found his picture on a U.S. government website listing "wanted deadbeats."

A clerk with the U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids, Mich., told CBC News that Joseph Stroup (a.k.a. Joop Cousteau) was sentenced on Aug. 20 to 24 months in jail and ordered to pay $533,624.91 in restitution.

Stroup, 64, had been ordered to pay child support during a 1989 divorce. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website, Stroup owed more than $560,000 in child support.

Investigators say he fled, despite selling an internet business for more than $2 million.

He had been on the run ever since.

Living in the Calgary area, Stroup had become somewhat of a regular at the Bears Den  a now-closed restaurant just outside Calgary's city limits to the northwest in the community of Bearspaw  and was well liked by the staff, said Scott Winograd, the restaurant's former general manager and co-proprietor.

But that changed in November following an unusual request by Stroup.

"One day out of the blue, he ordered a Cherry Coke and he wanted eight maraschino cherries in it, which is just bizarre. That just doesn't happen," said Winograd.

But staff put the drink together and served it to Stroup.

"About a minute later, he calls the server over and he's clutching his jaw and says, 'I bit into a pit and broke some dental work,' and he holds this pit up," said Winograd.

Staff at the restaurant became suspicious as maraschino cherries generally don't have pits.

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"He held up this pit that looked like a regular cherry," said Winograd.

The next day, the man came back with handwritten forms from a dental office describing his alleged injuries.

Worried about being sued for damages, Winograd said he typed the man's name into Google, which led him to a Facebook page started by one of Stroup's sons.

"I started following some links and got to the Department of Justice [website], and sure enough, he was the No. 1 most wanted deadbeat dad, and the picture was him from 20 years ago, a spitting image. It was absolutely him," he said.

"Nothing had changed, just older, hair loss, glasses now, but I was sure it was him."

Winograd then telephoned Stroup under the guise of wanting to settle the dental complaint and invited him to come to the restaurant for dinner.

"Sure enough, he comes in a day or two later, and I talked to him," he said. "I wanted to be sure, I didn't want to say, 'this might be the guy, or it might not be.'"

Once he felt sure, Winograd jotted down the licence plate on Stroup's car and called RCMP the next day.

"They didn't think they could really do anything, because they said he's not wanted here, he's wanted in the United States, and I was quite surprised by that," he said.

Contacted U.S. authorities

Winograd then contacted the Inspector General's office in the United States.

"Within an hour I had the FBI, U.S. Marshals and the office of the Inspector General calling, wanting more information, because they really wanted this guy," he said.

Stroup was arrested by the Canada Border Services Agency on Feb. 1 and taken back to the U.S. to face charges.

With files from Associated Press

- MORE CALGARY NEWS | Man wanted on 43 warrants linked to serious domestic incidents

- MORE CALGARY NEWS | Council nears final Olympic bid off-ramp as many questions linger for Calgary

- 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Army seeks greater leeway for investment

The Nepal Army, which is already facing widespread criticism for its increasing commercial activities, wants more legal leverage for the investment in profit making business.The Ontario government has released an interim sex-ed curriculum for elementary school teachers to use this September, and Premier Doug Ford is suggesting there will be consequences if they don't adhere to it.

The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO) was quick to blast the plan, accusing the Ford government of creating chaos instead of addressing the real issues facing the public school system just weeks before classes resume.

The Progressive Conservative government issued a news release about the changes on Wednesday afternoon, while also announcing plans for what it called an "unprecedented" provincewide consultation process on education reform and a future parents' bill of rights.

The Ford government has faced sharp criticism from a number of groups  including teachers' unions, many parents and the Official Opposition  over its decision to scrap the modernized sex-ed curriculum brought in by the former Liberal government in 2015, which included information about online bullying, sexting and gender identity.

A group of human rights lawyers are also challenging the government's decision in court on behalf of six families.

Neither Ford nor Education Minister Lisa Thompson took questions from reporters on Wednesday.

High school curriculum not changing  for now

The government's news release says teachers will use the 2014 health and physical education curriculum, which has been denounced by critics as the guidelines have been in place since 1998, predating smartphones, social media and the legalization of same-sex marriage.

Simon Jefferies, Ford's spokesperson, said only students in Grades 1 to 8 will be taught the 223-page interim curriculum, which has now been posted online.

"The high school health and physical education curriculum is not changing in the interim consultation period," he said in an email to CBC News.

A government backgrounder urges any parent who believes a teacher is "jeopardizing their child's education by deliberately ignoring Ontario's curriculum" to alert the Ontario College of Teachers' investigations department.

Story continues

Meanwhile, Ford appears to be taking a hard line about what will be taught when classes resume.

"We expect our teachers, principals and school board officials to fulfil their obligations to parents and children when it comes to what our students learn in the classroom," the premier said in the news release.

"We will not tolerate anybody using our children as pawns for grandstanding and political games. And, make no mistake, if we find somebody failing to do their job, we will act."

Teachers' union still has questions

The province's largest teachers' unions have promised to defend any educator who continues to use the modernized curriculum.

ETFO president Sam Hammond attacked Ford's request that parents alert the authorities if their child is being taught the modernized curriculum. He called the move "unprecedented, outrageous, and shameful" in a tweet.

In a statement, Hammond said accused the government of misrepresenting how sex education is being taught with the goal of "manufacturing a crisis."

Harvey Bischof, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation, said there's still "a huge lack of clarity" about what high school teachers will and won't be allowed to do when classes resume, even though they'll be free to use the latest curriculum.

Teachers would normally be able to teach what's in the curriculum, as well as enhancing it or answering additional questions without worrying about an "implied threat" from the government that doing so could get them in trouble, he said.

"It's a very peculiar way to go forward, to say the least," Bischof said of Ford's statements.

The OSSTF wasn't given any notice that the government was prepared to unveil an interim curriculum, he said.

Toronto District School Board (TDSB) chair Robin Pilkey also expressed frustration with the lack of clarity.

"Parents would have expected the province to have explained more clearly the differences between the two curriculums  both over 200 pages  but based on the information released today, we're disappointed to see that it's still very unclear," she said in an email statement.

Pilkey also pointed out the TDSB already has a protocol for parents who are concerned about what their children are being taught.

Consultation process will look at range of issues

A government backgrounder says the consultations will aim to create an "age-appropriate" health and physical education curriculum that includes "mental health, sex-ed and legalization of cannabis."

The government also said it plans to unveil an interim math curriculum in the coming weeks.

The PCs say the consultations will include an online survey, telephone town halls across the province, and a submission platform where the government will accept detailed proposals.

The government had initially promised to give the public a chance to weigh in on a new sex-ed curriculum. It now says the consultations will also seek parental feedback on number of issues, including math scores, cellphone use, financial literacy and how best to prepare students with needed job skills.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Education refused to say how much the consultation process will cost.

With files from Farrah Merali, Meagan Fitzpatrick and The Canadian PressNewfoundland and Labrador Premier Dwight Ball launched his party's fight to retain a key Liberal district in an upcoming byelection by wading into one of the biggest challenges voters face today, announcing Wednesday that the province will be "separating the ratepayers from the Muskrat Falls debt."

Ball made the statement in St. John's at a campaign launch event for Paul Antle, who is running as the Liberal candidate in the upcoming Windsor Lake byelection.

The premier added that Muskrat Falls is a "tremendous burden," but should be a debt issue, not a ratepayer issue.

"We just want to clarify, there is no way ratepayers in our province could pay or should pay for the burden of Muskrat Falls, so we need to separate this," Ball said.

"The final cost of it will not be known until 2021, 2022, so I just want to add reassurance to ratepayers in this province that they will not bear the burden of Muskrat Falls."

As for how the province will pay the massive bill for the hydroelectric project, Ball didn't have specifics, adding there are a "number of options" on the table, which will include talks with the federal government.

Ball added that the Liberal government would leave "no stone unturned" when looking at options for how to pay for it, adding, "we are not looking at increasing taxes for people in Newfoundland and Labrador."

Ball did say it will be dealt with like "every other debt that we've been left," a swing at the previous Progressive Conservative government.

In addition, Ball said the Public Utilities Board (PUB) "will be brought back" to set "consistent, affordable" power rates.

Provincial legislation in 2012 stripped some of the independent authority away from the PUB, after a report that said the PUB didn't have enough information to determine if Muskrat Falls was the best option to satisfy the province's future power demands.

Story continues

The legislation allowed the project to get the green light, and critics say it handcuffed the board.

"What happens when you kick them out, like the Tories did in 2012, is projects  and burdens  like Muskrat Falls," Ball said.

Last week, Crown corporation Nalcor Energy pulled back on its proposal for a 6.5 per cent rate increase in January 2019 to help pay for the rising costs of the Muskrat Falls hydroelectric project in Labrador.

The only increase Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro is seeking from the Public Utilities Board is a 1.2 per cent increase for Jan. 1, 2019.

The Muskrat Falls project has been chronically delayed and over budget.

Originally green-lit at a price tag of $7.2 billion, the estimated cost of the project has ballooned to $12.7 billion. First power won't be delivered to Newfoundland until 2020.

Antle will battle Progressive Conservative Leader Ches Crosbie for the east end St. John's district. No other candidates have so far officially entered the race with the general vote set for Sept. 20.

Given his business interests, Antle said he's been in discussions with the province's ethics commissioner about what to do during the campaign.

"My business will continue to run whether I'm there for 28 days or not there for 28 days," Antle said. "Assuming that the 28 days is successful, I'll be able to sort out some of my business dealings and move on to put my full attention behind the province and behind the premier."

Antle previously ran for the Liberals in NDP MHA Lorraine Michael's district of St. John's East-Quidi Vidi in the last provincial election, coming in a strong second place.

He also lost out on the Liberal leadership convention in 2013, with now-premier Ball beating him for the top job.

The byelection was called after former finance minister and MHA Cathy Bennett resigned from the House of Assembly.

Crosbie not worried

On the campaign trail Wednesday, Crosbie said he was not buying Ball's plan to avoid passing the cost of Muskrat Falls to consumers, chiding the lack of specifics from the premier.

"It's amusing they kept this marvellous announcement locked away in the Liberal vault until this very moment," he said. "I'd like to hear more details from Mr. Ball as to what exactly his plan is."

The PC leader said he doesn't have any doubt that he'll win the Windsor Lake byelection, and that he doesn't believe voters will be convinced by Ball's promise.

"If Mr. Ball had a fund of credibility and trust with the voters then it might be a problem, but when he makes vague announcements promising pie in the sky, I don't think people are much impressed," he said.

Rogers pins blame on both parties

NDP leader Gerry Rogers echoed Crosbie's skepticism.



"We haven't seen any specifics, we haven't seen how he's going to do this, so I'm not holding my breath," she said.

But ahead of the Sept. 20 byelection in Windsor Lake, she urged viewers to look toward the NDP for a different path forward.

"Lets not forget that the Conservatives brought us Muskrat Falls and the Liberals have done nothing to make it any better," said Rogers.

The NDP has yet to announce a candidate for the riding.

Read more articles from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador

With files from Ryan Cooke ,Terry Roberts, Kate McGillvray and Stephanie TobinSafety focus of events that aim to help Regina kids get ready for 1st bus ride

With school starting in two weeks, children heading into kindergarten may be excited and nervous about all the changes and new experiences coming their way. A program in Regina aims to help kids and their parents become comfortable with one of those experiences  taking the school bus for the first time.

Regina Catholic Schools and Regina Public Schools are hosting four First Ride events, where children will also learn the importance of bus safety. Dozens of families attended the first event, held Tuesday at Sacred Heart Community School.

Organizers said that school bus safety is extremely important and everybody should understand the basics.

"Sixty-five per cent of Saskatchewan drivers have reported seeing speeding in school zones," a Canadian Automobile Association representative told the parents and kids at the event.

"School zone safety is everyone's concern and together we can all do our part to ensure that school zones are a safe place for children of all ages."

According to Saskatchewan Government Insurance, more than 75,000 children ride school buses every day in the province.

In 2016 alone there were 14 bus collisions in Saskatchewan. One collision involved a pedestrian.

What to know about bus safety

Students at Tuesday's event were shown the features of school buses, including the alarm that is activated if the emergency window handles are pulled.

There was also a demonstration on how to exit the vehicle in an emergency, during which students were told to calmly approach the back exit, sit on the floor of the bus with their legs out the exit door and wait for an adult to help them out of the bus.

Parents were also shown how to assist a child in such an emergency.

Instructors also emphasized the importance of giving the bus space and staying out of "danger zones."

Children were shown how far away they need to be from a bus to be safely visible to the driver. Instructors told them to always make sure the bus driver's face is visible before attempting to cross in front of the vehicle.

Story continues

The big event

Instructors gathered the children in pairs to help them get comfortable with crossing streets without their parents. Safety patrols guided the kids around all four corners of an intersection before returning them to their waiting parents.

Everyone seemed excited, though, for the big event  riding a school bus for the first time.

"Who wants to ride buses?" asked one of the instructors.

"Me!" shouted eager kids who shot up their hands in response.

The kids were shown how to identify which bus they were suppose to board upon pickup. Two buses then took the kindergarten students and their parents on a short ride.

Kids were reminded to stay in their seats for the entirety of the ride and warned to never put their hands out of windows.

The First Ride program has three other events for scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday:

- Harbour Landing School  Tuesday from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

- Jack MacKenzie School  Wednesday from 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

- St. Angela Merici Elementary School  Wednesday from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.

The event is free and families are urged to arrive early for registration.Spanish graffiti artists PichiAvo have worked in major cities around the world, and now their latest mural is making a big impression in downtown Edmonton.

"It's our first time in Canada, so it was also like an opportunity to meet new people, a new country, learn things, " said Avo, who along with his artistic partner, Pichi, has been spray painting a new mural on a building near 106th Street and 103rd Avenue.

The pair specialize in street art and have painted murals in several major cities, including New York and London.

Their work can be best described as a combination of graffiti and classical art.

'Brings colour and life to the downtown core'

The artists were brought to Edmonton by the organizers of the Rust Magic International Street Mural Festival.

Since 2016, the festival has helped artists create 39 murals across the city.

For PichiAvo, this is an opportunity to introduce their art to a new audience, and they say so far the response has been welcoming.

"Everyone is super-friendly, so we're super-comfortable," said Avo. "Actually, we feel at home. So, yeah, it's cool."

Word about the mural has spread on social media, and numerous people have dropped by to admire the work.

Some have brought coffee and food for the artists, who have been working long days, using a scissor-lift to reach the top of the mural, which is three storeys high.

Trevor Tsoi, who works in a nearby office tower, turned up during his lunch break to take a picture to post online.

'Graffiti can be good'

"You know, it brings a little colour and life to the downtown core," said Tsoi, who has been watching the progress from his office.

"I think it's cool, puts Edmonton on the map," Tsoi said. "We might be a smaller city in comparison to Calgary, Vancouver or Toronto. But it adds a little culture and flavour to our city."

Don Lenihan saw a story about the mural going up, and drove down to see it for himself.

Story continues

"It's just amazing how they do it," said Lenihan, who said he has seen similar-sized murals in parts of America.

"I mean, I've stood here for a few minutes and they're just spraying all over the place. But it starts to look like something after they've done the spraying."

PichiAvo say their inspiration comes from growing up in Valencia, Spain, where graffiti art can be found on walls throughout the city.

"We try to teach people that graffiti can be good, teach the young people that mythology and classical art is interesting."

The project is expected to be complete by the weekend.An iconic piece of Canada's aviation history has been pulled from the depths of Lake Ontario, and now the team that recovered it is hoping to find more beneath the waves.

Divers brought what is believed to be a scale model of the Avro Arrow to the surface last week off Prince Edward, and delivered it to the Canada Aviation and Space Museum on Tuesday.

Since last September, a series of models has been found at the bottom of Lake Ontario.

The recovered model is about three metres long  a 1/8 scale of the actual plane, according to Erin Gregory, an assistant curator at the museum.

"It looks like a rocket with large triangular wings," she said.

The Canadian Conservation Institute and the museum will oversee conservation and restoration of the models.

What they found last week isn't the full replica of the Arrow the search group was hoping to find. Instead they believe the smaller model was meant to test the delta wing design  the triangular shape the plane was known for.

Several different models were flown for testing over Lake Ontario between 1954 and 1957 as the plane was being developed.

"The delta wing was a relatively new concept at that point, so it required a lot of testing to determine whether or not it would perform well, particularly at supersonic speeds," Gregory said.

The test was conducted at such a high speed the nose of the model was likely bent when it hit the water, Gregory said.

John Burzynski, the leader of the search group, said he's happy they recovered the model and plan to recover anything they find, but that the real prize would be one of the last five versions tested before a fully functional jet was built.

"The original object of the survey was to find one of those last five. It's very identifiable as an exact replica of the flying plane," Bruzynski said.

The greatest plane that never was

The Avro Arrow was the first and only supersonic interceptor built in Canada, developed to respond to Soviet bombers that could attack North America by flying over the Arctic.

Story continues

In 1959, the Arrow program was suddenly cancelled. Six completed planes and related construction material were destroyed.

Finding the models and being able to see the progression of the program highlights Canadian ingenuity, Gregory said.

"[It] speaks to the science, technology and engineering that went into the production of the greatest plane that never was."

Four other models have been located on the bottom of the lake, and Burzynski said his team plans to bring them up next summer and hopefully locate more.

"The Avro has been in the forefront of a lot of Canadians' minds over the years. It's really more of a piece of living history."By Patpicha Tanakasempipat BANGKOK (Reuters) - A boat disaster near Thailand's Phuket Island that killed 47 Chinese last month is significantly cutting arrival numbers from China, though the Thai tourism industry is hopeful the decline will be stemmed by late this year. The July 5 capsizing of the Phoenix was Thailand's worst tourist-related disaster in years. China is Thailand's biggest source of visitors, and last year accounted for nearly one-third of the record 35.38 million arrivals. During July, Chinese arrivals fell 0.9 percent from a year earlier, the first drop since the start of 2017, when the Thai government was cracking down on cheap tour packages from China. The Thai tourism ministry expects a bigger decline of 14.3 percent for August. And the ministry cut its target for Chinese arrivals in July-December by 669,000, or 11.5 percent, to 5.15 million. Virat Chatturaputpitak, vice president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, said he expects numbers to recover during China's "Golden Week" holiday in October, when many citizens travel en masse. "They'll return in October," he said. For sure, the boat deaths have cut Chinese arrivals in Phuket, a popular island resort. "This is the lowest point in my 20 years working with the Chinese," said Apicharn Pasomsap, an airport transfer operator who caters to Chinese tour groups. "We're all waiting around for clients that don't arrive." The number of hotel rooms in Phuket taken by Chinese in July and August has been 30 percent lower than usual, according to the Thai Hotels Association. The Tourism Authority of Thailand said six Chinese airlines have canceled a total of 19 flights to Phuket, or about 6 percent of weekly arrivals. AVOIDING THE WATER Zhou Min, 33, an English teacher from China's Yunan province, still visited Phuket for two days recently, but didn't go on the water. "My husband didn't allow me to go out to the sea because the accident influenced us and we were a little scared," she said. After the disaster, Thai Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan blamed Chinese tour operators for disregarding Thai safety regulations, prompting a backlash from Chinese netizens. He later apologized. In July, China issued statements reminding outbound tourists to guard against safety risks, with mentions of the Phuket incident. Local Thai authorities say they have increased safety checks on boats. Yuthasak Supasorn, Tourism Authority of Thailand governor, told Reuters the boat disaster "has affected our image and what's most important now is we have to focus on restoring tourist confidence and our safety image." (Additional reporting by Panu Wongcha-um in BANGKOK and Brenda Goh and Shanghai Newsroom; Editing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre and Richard Borsuk)Sheera Frenkel, a reporter for the New York Times, opened up on Twitter about the difficulty of being a working mom. Frenkel appeared on a last-minute TV spot Tuesday morning after waking up at 5 a.m. to feed her daughter. (Photo: MNSBC)

After scrambling through breastfeeding and getting her 1-year-old dressed so she could make it to a last-minute TV spot on MSNBC, Sheera Frenkel took to Twitter to shed light on the plight of working moms. A cybersecurity reporter for the New York Times, Frenkel said appearing on TV in time took a lot of hustle and a little luck (in this case, her mom being free to babysit her little one on no notice).

I woke up at 5AM to my 1-year-old melting down in her crib. When I got up to put her back to sleep, I saw 6 missed calls on my phone. A few TV networks were asking if I could come on air. Happenstance #1  Had the kiddo not woken up, I would have never see these messages in time.  Sheera Frenkel (@sheeraf) August 21, 2018

So now it is 7:30. Baby is nursed and dressed. Grandma is in place, and Ive even managed to brush my teeth! MSNBC calls and tells me the studio is farther away then I thought, and my slot has been moved up from 8:30 to 8. Im breaking the speed limit to get there.  Sheera Frenkel (@sheeraf) August 21, 2018

And Im on! Its a story about Russia and the midterms, two subjects I know a lot about. Ive written about them extensively, for the NYT and others. But because Im a mom to a (young) kiddo, I often have to watch (male) colleagues go on to discuss my work.  Sheera Frenkel (@sheeraf) August 21, 2018

Ultimately, Frenkel did appear on TV in time, so her account isnt a story of a failure. Rather, she says, its an anecdote that sheds light on the obstacles plaguing working moms today. This is just one example of how the system isnt set up for moms, and why doing it all, at work and at home, is often a s***show.

Story continues

Her Twitter thread  which is eliciting its own reactions on the platform  is an important glimpse into the challenges working mothers face each day. In other words, Frenkel, in her struggle to have it all, is far from alone. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, working moms are the norm in the U.S., with almost 70 percent of moms with a child under 18 currently participating in the workforce.

Of those 25 million working moms, over 75 percent work full time  and do it while earning less than their childless counterparts. This pay inequity, which is referred to as the motherhood penalty, was the subject of a March study from the Washington Center for Equitable Growth, which offered sobering statistics on this worsening trend.

The wage gap between women with kids and without widens with every additional child, according to the research. Women with one child, for example, earn 14 percent less than their childless counterparts  even when controlling for their education level. Women with two children earn 18 percent less, and women with three or more earn 24 percent less.

But pay isnt the only thing docked when women become mothers. Myriad studies in the past decade have shown that employers view mothers as less competent than their childless peers overall. Its the same reason that stay-at-home mothers are half as likely to get a job interview as those who have been laid off, according to the Harvard Business Review.

In addition to these changes in perception, women who choose (or are forced) to juggle work and motherhood often lack basic assistance from their jobs. According to a 2016 report from the Womens Bureau of the U.S. Department of Labor, only 11 percent of working mothers are offered childcare assistance, and just 6 percent have access to flexible work benefits (such as working from home).

In a New York Times article in May, journalist Katherine Goldstein suggested that perhaps this is the next wave of the #MeToo movement, addressing all the facets that make up the anti-mom bias in the workplace. If we havent heard much from mothers yet, Im hopeful well hear more soon, Goldstein wrote. We are living in unprecedented times for women raising their voices, loudly.  If the dam of silence ever starts to break, I believe well soon begin to hear a lot of mothers saying #MomsToo.

Frenkel may not be breaking the dam, but at the very least shes making waves.

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Religious beliefs are part of the humanity of every individual. In a civilised society, individuals respect each others beliefs. This enables them to live in harmony.  Lord Nicholls

Religious freedom is a hallmark of every free society. The ability to act in accordance with a moral will is a fundamental right, enshrined both within the principles of democracy and hundreds of years of Australian public policy and common law. Being compelled to act in a manner that is inconsistent with these beliefs, is morally unjust.

While religious liberty is a freedom in its own right, it is not a standalone concept. Being free to live in accordance with a religious worldview, requires that other basic freedoms are met. Religious freedom should therefore be viewed as a group of rights, with freedom of speech, conscience, and association being necessary conditions for its existence. Collectively, these enable individuals to operate according to religious ideals without threat of State interference.

Legislative Interference

This is where various state and federal anti-discrimination laws come under question. While the importance of discrimination regulation cannot be understated, a plethora of recent legislation has given rise to a new and unique threat to the fundamental freedoms of Australian citizens. Instruments such as Queenslands Anti-Discrimination Act, and Victorias Equal Opportunity Act share several common characteristics. They each establish prohibitions on behaviour that is deemed discriminatory against another on the basis of a discrete range of protected attributes. This, inevitably, can conflict with the ability of faith-based organisations to operate according to their conscience. At home and abroad, these provisions have been successfully used against individuals and small businesses. Additionally, they have been used to ensure institutions of faith-based education remain tightly regulated on matters of curriculum and policy. So, have the governments of Australia exceeded their executive boundaries?

Well, the problem does not reside in the implementation of the respective Acts themselves, in fact, each of these instruments play a vital role in safeguarding against social discrimination. The underlying issue is that both the premise of several of these legislative provisions and nature of their construction across the Australian judicature is one which opposes dignitary harm. The problem arising from the concept of harm with respect to dignity is that it is impossible to adjudicate with any degree of certainty or objectivity and is therefore plainly arbitrary. In addition, enforcement against dignitary harm creates social biases as the law prioritises some rights over others. The concepts of individual autonomy and dignity are inherently bound. As such, legislation which demands that a sector of the population forfeit their autonomy for the dignitary benefit of others, in effect, denies both ideals. Loss of autonomy is itself a loss of dignity. Therefore, employing such a low, indeterminate threshold as a legal basis, serves to trim religious freedoms almost to the point of non-existence.

Sufficiency of Current Legislative Protections

1. The Constitution: Section 116 of the Constitution restricts the Commonwealth from making laws for establishing religion, imposing religious observance, or prohibiting its free exercise.

Sufficient or insufficient? Insufficient. While the Commonwealth cannot legislate to limit the free exercise of religion, it remains susceptible to state regulation.

2. International Law: The Commonwealth government is a signatory to several international treaties that uphold civil liberties such as religious freedom (e.g. Clause 18 of the ICCPR).

Sufficient or insufficient? Theoretically sufficient, however practically insufficient. International treaties do not automatically form part of domestic law. They must be implemented by parliament, under the external affairs power. Historically, the ICCPR has never been implemented in this way. It also contains stringent provisions on anti-discrimination which may be viewed by the Court to nullify religious protections.

3. Legislative Exemptions: Each of the aforementioned provisions provide exceptions for religious institutions where their acts/omissions are reasonable to comply with their religious doctrines.

Sufficient or insufficient? Insufficient, in two ways. Firstly, the scope of exceptions is limited to religious institutions. It does not cover organisations or individuals. Secondly, it requires the court to decide what reasonable religious beliefs are. This leaves room for misinterpretation.

Securing Liberties into the Future

Religious beliefs affect the lives of many Australians. Both state and federal governments must begin addressing the aforementioned concerns by reviewing laws that restrict a persons ability to exercise these beliefs. To that end, I advance the proposition that:

1. Freedom of speech can be protected by redefining legislation which enforces against dignitary harm, to a reasonably objective standard such as harassment.

2. Freedom of association can be safeguarded by redrafting legal exemptions, so that protections are not limited to religious organisations, but extend to a general protection for freedom of conscience for all Australians, including individuals and businesses.

David is a law student, elite athlete & business owner, from Brisbane, Australia.

David Leans previous articles may be viewed at https://www.pressserviceinternational.org/david-lean.htmlBill on education contradicts spirit of constitution

The draft Bill on Compulsory and Free Education registered by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology at the Parliament Secretariat on Tuesday contradicts with the spirit of the Constitution of Nepal that envisions free secondary education to every Nepali citizen.Going back four or five years ago, you could expect a slew of new cigars from Rocky Patel Premium Cigars at IPCPR. The past two or three years has seen the number of new releases decrease. While three new lines may seem a lot less than it used to be, Rocky Patel Premium Cigars still had quite a busy trade show with a very active booth. What I particularly liked about the 2018 Rocky Patel Premium Cigars rollout at IPCPR was it was a nice mix of things. There were three new lines, including one limited edition, the continued expansion of the Hamlet line, the return of a classic line in Olde World Reserve, and a beautiful packaging change to one of Rocky Patels Fifteenth Anniversary lines.

The Rocky Patel ALR is a new small batch line. ALR stands for Aged, Limited, Rare. Back in 2015, there was a blend that Rocky Patel was working on at the Tavicusa factory in Esteli, Nicaragua. He opted to do a small production run of 100,000 and felt it was a blend suited to aging the fully rolled cigars over time. This year, the blend comes to market as the ALR.

ALRs blend features a Habano wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler. Its available in three sizes: Robusto (5 x 50), Toro (6 x 52), and Sixty (6 x 60). Each is presented in 20-count boxes with a total of 1,500 boxes per size being released.

Speaking of the Tavicusa factory, it will now have its own brand in the Rocky Patel portfolio. This brand is being launched to pay homage to the tenth anniversary of Rocky Patels boutique factory in Esteli, Nicaragua. This release was a surprise to many because Rocky Patel Premium Cigars had made many announcements prior to IPCPR, but had not mentioned this.

Tavicusa consists of a San Andres Maduro wrapper over tobaccos from the Condega, Jalapa, and Esteli regions of Nicaragua. The cigar is available in three sizes: Robusto (5 1/2 x 50); Toro (6 1/2 x 52), and Sixty (6 x 60).

Theres a new cigar under Hamlet Paredes Hamlet line called Hamlet Liberation. Its the third project for Paredes under the Hamlet line since he joined Rocky Patel Premium Cigars after working many years in Cuba as a master roller and brand ambassador.

The Hamlet Liberation features an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, and a combination of Nicaraguan and Honduran fillers. It is being released in one size  a 6 1/2 x 55 Figurado featuring one-inch rough cut shaggy footer and a tapered head. It will be packaged in ten-count boxes.

The Hamlet 25th, the second blend under the Hamlet line, is getting a line extension in the form of a Salomon. This is quite a big Salomon, measuring 7 5/8 x 58. The Hamlet 25th Year features an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, Pennsylvania broadleaf binder, and filler from Nicaragua and Honduras. The Salomon is the first line extension to Hamlet 25th, and fourth vitola overall.

After being taken out of national distribution in 2012, the Olde World Reserve line is returning as a regular production line in the Rocky Patel Premium Cigars portfolio. Both the Olde World Reserve Corojo and Maduro lines return.

The Olde World Reserve Corojo will be the cigar that will continue to be produced as the original. It will feature the original blend which includes a Honduran Corojo wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler. Production remains at the El Paraiso factory in Honduras as before. As for the Olde World Reserve Maduro, that cigar will be produced at TaviCusa in Esteli, Nicaragua. This cigar features a Costa Rican Maduro wrapper, a Nicaraguan binder, and a combination of Nicaraguan and Honduran fillers.

Both blends are returning in three box-pressed sizes: Robusto (5 1/4 x 54), Toro (6 1/2 x 52), and Sixty (6 x 60). In addition, both blends get packaging updates.

Finally, eight years after it made its debut, the Rocky Patel Fifteenth Anniversary also gets a packaging update. In terms of packaging, in general, this author thinks that Rocky Patel Premium Cigars has been releasing some of the industrys most aesthetically pleasing packaging out there.

ALR, Tavicusa, and Liberation by Hamlet were launched at a release party held at the BURN by Rocky Patel lounge in Naples, Florida. They are shipping to retailers nationwide shortly thereafter.

Tavicusa was launched (along with ALR and Liberation by Hamlet) on August 22 at a Release Party hosted by BURN by Rocky Patel in Naples, Florida. Those Nicaraguan brands will arrive on tobacconist shelves shortly.

2018 Product Reports

Photo Credits: Cigar CoopTHURSDAY, Aug. 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- Patients may say no to unnecessary surgery for low-risk thyroid cancer if doctors simply avoid using the word "cancer" when discussing treatment options, a new study suggests.

Nearly twice as many people wanted their entire thyroid removed when doctors used the wording "papillary thyroid cancer," as opposed to a "papillary lesion" or "abnormal cells," the Australian researchers found.

Doctors should "be aware of the impact that the term 'cancer' has on patients' anxiety and treatment preferences, which in turn may be driving potential overdiagnosis and overtreatment of some low-risk cancers, such as papillary thyroid cancer," said senior researcher Kirsten McCaffery. She's a behavioral scientist with the University of Sydney's School of Public Health.

There's a growing consensus among cancer doctors that removal of the thyroid gland is an overreaction in most thyroid cancers.

Most cases of thyroid cancer can be treated either by partial removal of the gland or by simply keeping a watchful eye on the cancer, the study authors explained in background notes.

Four out of five patients who have surgery to treat thyroid cancer undergo a full removal of the gland, even though only about 2 percent of people die from their thyroid cancer over 25 years, recent research has shown.

Part of the problem stems from doctors' preferences. Large cancer centers currently put most thyroid cancer cases under observation, but smaller hospitals still opt for surgical removal of the gland, said Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical and scientific officer for the American Cancer Society.

But patients also have a say in their care, and that could be influencing the decision to remove the entire thyroid in cases where that simply isn't needed, the Australian researchers said.

Any diagnosis of cancer can be "terrifying and shocking to hear," McCaffery said. "Many patients we've interviewed report not being able to think of anything else once the word 'cancer' is used."

To see whether the emotional response to the word is influencing treatment decisions, McCaffery and her colleagues presented 550 healthy adult Australians with a series of three different hypothetical medical scenarios.

All three scenarios were based on a diagnosis of papillary thyroid cancer. About eight out of 10 thyroid cancers are papillary cancers, which tend to grow very slowly and usually develop in only one lobe of the thyroid gland, according to the American Cancer Society.

However, doctors referred to papillary thyroid cancer in only one of the three scenarios. In the other two, they used different terms to describe the same condition: papillary lesion; or abnormal cells.

About 20 percent of people wanted their whole thyroid removed when the word cancer was used. Only about 11 percent of the same people opted for full thyroid removal when it was called a papillary lesion or abnormal cells.

People presented the papillary thyroid cancer scenario more often chose surgery over active surveillance than participants told of papillary lesions or abnormal cells, and they also experienced higher levels of anxiety.

Surgery is not necessarily the best option to treat some cancers, Brawley said. Prostate cancer is the most well-known example of this, but another is bladder cancer.

Doctors treating those cancers have been adjusting their language to make active surveillance a more palatable option for patients, he added.

The scoring method for prostate cancer has been altered to make low-risk tumors seem less frightening to patients, Brawley explained, and urologists and pathologists have removed the word "cancer" from some bladder pathologies.

"We have proven that what looks like cancer under the microscope is not necessarily cancer. It's something that may not grow, spread and kill," Brawley said.

"For the last 100 years, people have been taught if you find cancer, cut it out. We need to change that teaching and realize that certain cancers need to be treated less aggressively," Brawley said. "That would be my preference. I don't know if that's doable."

At this time, McCaffery wouldn't recommend that doctors omit the word "cancer" when discussing papillary thyroid cancer with patients, since doing so would not be medically ethical.

"We hope that our findings will add to the evidence on the impact that the cancer term may have on patients, which may help progress current international discussion and debate amongst cancer experts about the reclassification of these low-risk tumors," McCaffery said.

International experts have previously called for low-risk cancers like papillary thyroid cancer to be reclassified, with the term "cancer" removed because the tumors are not likely to spread or kill, she said.

"Our work adds further evidence to support this call for reclassification and the consideration of redefining what we call cancer," McCaffery said. "Important cancer organizations, cancer patient groups and citizens also need to be consulted on this topic and included in this debate."

The new study was published online Aug. 23 in the journal JAMA Otolaryngology--Head & Neck Surgery.

More information

The American Cancer Society has more about thyroid cancer.WEDNESDAY, Aug. 22, 2018 (American Heart Association) -- Three days after Christmas, Yolanda Thompson was at work when she got the call she hoped she would never receive. Her husband, Aaron, had suffered a massive heart attack.

"He was a large man and had already had one heart attack," she said. "We knew that if he had another, it would probably be the last one."

She'd been trying to encourage him to eat better and exercise, just as she had set out to do for herself, and was thrilled that he'd started enthusiastically working with a trainer. But the changes came too late.

The heart attack hit while he was driving, just minutes from their home in Wichita, Kansas.

"Seeing him in the middle of the street with all the paramedics working on him  that was the worst day of my life," she said.

Sadly, Aaron's death was not Yolanda's first experience losing a loved one to heart disease.

Almost a decade earlier, in 2008, a fun-filled road trip to Nashville with family ended abruptly with a call from her husband to say that her 34-year-old sister, Alisha, was in the hospital in critical condition.

"He said to leave the car and fly back to Wichita because my sister wasn't going to make it," she said. Although Yolanda was terrified of flying, she boarded the plane and prepared to face something even more terrifying.

At the hospital, she found her sister unconscious, with tubes everywhere. The doctors gathered the family to update them and to ask a critical question. Why had Alisha stopped taking her blood pressure medicine?

"That question still haunts us," Yolanda said. "We didn't know." Nine days later, Alisha's heart stopped, her death caused by heart disease and hypertension. Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women, and hypertension rates are especially high among African-Americans.

These days, Yolanda is taking the lessons she's learned from that one-two punch of heart-related deaths as motivation to improve her own lifestyle. But it hasn't come easy. Her struggle underscores the reality that many Americans face: the need and desire to maintain a healthy weight without the ability to always do so.

As she grieved Alisha's death, Yolanda was just going through the motions, still going to work and taking care of her husband and daughters, but not feeling like taking care of herself.

"When you lose a sibling or someone close like that suddenly, you either don't eat or you don't stop eating -- mine was the eating reaction," she said.

Her weight skyrocketed. She was diagnosed with hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol.

She masked her swirling emotions thanks to a coping mechanism she developed at a young age, when she was taunted and bullied for being overweight.

"At one point I thought, 'Hey, I'm better than this,' and that's been my attitude ever since," she said.

What she calls her "sexy attitude" keeps her going through tough times and inspires those around her as well.

"I tell myself that I'm strong and beautiful no matter what size I am," Yolanda said. "My husband always made me feel that way, even when I was a mess."

In 2015, a friend urged Yolanda to apply for the American Heart Association's BetterU Challenge, a 12-week program that showed women how to make small changes to their daily lives. It turned out to be just the nudge she needed.

"I was so excited to get accepted, but it was a bit overwhelming at first," she said.

She persevered by focusing on one thing: "The whole time, I had Alisha on my mind."

"I took water aerobics, went to Zumba and learned to read food labels. The best part was sharing experiences with the other women. It was like a sisterhood," Yolanda said.

She continued to exercise, even getting up at 4:30 a.m. to meet her friend Tamara Ammons at the gym. Soon, Yolanda saw results -- not just losing weight, but also getting her blood pressure under control enough to stop taking medicine.

Then life got in the way again.

Her mother-in-law went through a serious illness and died. That brought on a variety of family issues, which in turn led to less exercise and unhealthy eating.

"I kind of let myself take a back seat," she said.

Then came the death of her husband.

But this time, unlike after her sister died, she promised herself to get back on track. Yolanda has returned to healthy eating and losing weight, with her friend Ammons encouraging her to rejoin their workouts at the Y.

"I'm happy to see her eating better again," said Ammons, who is also Yolanda's co-worker and neighbor. "After Yolanda started exercising the last time, I saw her joy just come back -- she was full of life. I've seen her through ups and downs, and I told her, 'I'm not going to let you get where you were before.' "

Having gotten into great shape before, Yolanda knows she can do it again.

"Sometimes it's just overwhelming," she said. "But I'm really working on getting back to where I was because I want to be around for my daughters and grandson."THURSDAY, Aug. 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- HPV vaccination rates continue to climb in the United States, jumping a full 5 percentage points between 2016 and 2017, a new government report shows.

Nearly 66 percent of boys and girls aged 13 to 17 received the first dose in the vaccine series in 2017, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researchers. Further, nearly 49 percent of adolescents received all the recommended doses to complete the series.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) causes most cases of cervical cancer.

"Vaccination is the key to cervical cancer elimination," CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield said in a statement Thursday. "I'm pleased to see parents are taking advantage of this crucial public health tool and thank the clinicians who are working to ensure all children are protected from these cancers in the future."

But a second report released by the CDC shows there will be some lag time before the vaccine triggers a decrease in cancer rates.

The number of HPV-associated cancers increased from 30,000 to more than 43,000 annually between 1999 and 2015, mainly due to a rise oral and anal cancer among men and women, the second study found.

"We will not see the effect of the HPV vaccine regarding cancer for some time," said Dr. Stephanie Blank, director of gynecologic oncology for Mount Sinai Health System in New York City. "The vaccine is given before age 27, and cancers occur significantly later."

Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes nearly all cases of cervical cancer, and also is a leading cause of anal, oral, vaginal and penile cancers, the U.S. National Cancer Institute says. It is transmitted primarily through sexual contact.

Although doctors are encouraged by the increase in HPV vaccination rates, it's still not widespread enough to eliminate the virus as a cause of cancer.

"To really make the potential of cancers caused by HPV go away almost completely, we really want to get the coverage to 80 percent or more of boys and girls," said Dr. Howard Bailey, director of the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center.

Still, more awareness and better education regarding the vaccine has contributed to the increase in vaccination rates, Bailey said.

But vaccination rates are not even across the country. Fewer teenagers in rural areas, compared with youth in urban areas, are getting the HPV vaccine, the CDC said.

The number of adolescents who received the first dose of the HPV vaccine was 11 percentage points lower in rural areas compared to urban areas, the researchers found.

The vaccine has been available now since 2006. "That's 12 years, and we're still struggling. People don't think they're going to get cancer. That's the problem," said Dr. Larry Copeland, a gynecologic oncologist with the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center.

To get vaccination rates higher, doctors will need to come up with ways to counter parents' concerns, said Dr. Len Horovitz, an internist with Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

"Many people have a very warped idea of vaccines in general," Horovitz said. "This one, especially, because it's tied in their minds perhaps to permission to engage in sexual activity, is all the more vexing."

Copeland said he frequently asks younger cervical cancer patients why they didn't get the vaccine.

"I get a variety of answers. The most common probably is, well, Doctor, it wasn't recommended to me. I wasn't told to get it," Copeland said. "Clinicians are dropping the ball."

The second report also found that oropharyngeal cancer -- cancer of the back of the throat -- is the most common HPV-associated cancer in the United States.

Between 1999 and 2015, rates of oropharyngeal cancer increased in both men and women, about 2.7 percent per year in men and 0.8 percent per year in women.

The report also found that in 2015, roughly 43,000 men and women developed an HPV-associated cancer, or a cancer in the part of the body where HPV is often found. HPV causes 79 percent, or about 33,700 cases, of these cancers every year, the CDC says.

HPV vaccination could prevent 90 percent or 31,200 cases of cancers caused by HPV from developing in the United States each year, the CDC report concluded.

The two new studies appear in the Aug. 24 issue of the CDC publication Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

More information

The U.S. National Cancer Institute has more about HPV and cancer.Clashes and demonstrations continue in Mahendranagar

Clashes and demonstrations continued over the rape and murder case of 13-year-old Nirmala Panta in Mahendranagar, Kanchanpur, on Wednesday.According to recent report by Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), maximum number of cyber-attacks on official Indian websites are from China, US and Russia. The report was forwarded to National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) and other security agencies. It had analysed cyber-attacks from April-June 2018.

Key Highlights of report

China continues to intrude Indian cyberspace in significant way as cyber-attacks originating from China account for largest 35% of total number of cyber-attacks on official Indian websites followed by US (17%), Russia (15%), Pakistan (9%), Canada (7%) and Germany (5%).

Indian institutions attacked by these malicious activities on cyberspace include Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), National Informatics Centre (NIC), Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), Railways, Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) and some banks like Punjab National Bank (PNB), Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC), State Bank of India (SBI) and state data centres, particularly in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka. CERT-In has advised to take appropriate preventive action.

Pakistan malicious actors from Pakistan are possibly using German and Canadian cyberspace for intruding into Indian cyberspace and carrying out malicious activities. They are targeting by sending spear phishing emails with malware attachments. Phishing attacks are usually in form of email from trusted source where they ask for personal details such as bank details personal details, passwords.

Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In)

CERT-In is nodal agency for information technology (cyber) security under aegis of Department of Information Technology, Ministry of Electronics and IT. It was established in 2004. Its mandate is to protect Indian cyberspace and software infrastructure against destructive and hacking activities. It also responds to computer security incidents, report on vulnerabilities and promote effective IT security practices throughout country. It also issue guidelines, vulnerability notes, advisories and whitepapers regarding to information security practices, prevention.Sri Lanka: To produce high quality tuna fishing bait domestically

August 22,2018 | Source: Colombo Page

Necessary measures have been taken to locally produce high quality tuna fishing bait fishermen use for multi-day tuna fishing vessels. The State Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development and Rural Economy Dilip Wedaarachchi has said that plans are underway to start the batch production of the tuna fishing bait in Puttalam District.



The amount expected to be spent on this project is Rs. 26 million and Minister Wedaarachchi handed over a check worth Rs. 13 million to the Lihiniya Sea Foods, a fresh chilled seafood processor and exporter of Tuna and other seafood, to commence the first phase of the project. The State Minister presented the check for Rs. 13 million to the representative of Lihiniya Sea Foods on Monday at the 2018 investment forum held at Waters' Edge in Battaramulla to enlighten the local and foreign investors on investment opportunities in aquaculture development.



The National Aquaculture Development Authority stated that annually over Rs. 1.1 billion is spent for importing tuna fishing bait and the local production of the fishing bait will retain that money within the country. The first phase of the project to be commenced from Puttalam district targets to produce 135,000 kilogram of tuna bait annually.



National Aquaculture Development Authority Chairman Nuwan Prasanna Madavanarachchi, Director General Nimal Chandraratne and Director National Aquaculture Development Authority Ms. JM Asoka were also present.Sri Lanka: Navy assists to apprehend 28 persons engaged in illegal activities

August 22,2018 | Source: Navy LK

Sri Lanka Navy apprehended 28 persons engaged in illegal acts and a haul of Kerala Cannabis hidden for sale. Accordingly, a naval troop attached to the Eastern Naval Command apprehended a person with 2 banned nets at Lankapatuna and Kalladi areas, on last 13th August. The apprehended person along with the nets were handed over to the Office of the Fisheries Inspector-Verugal for onward legal action.



A Naval troop attached the Eastern Naval command held twenty seven (27) persons who were engaging in illegal fishing with banned nets in the seas 2.5 nautical miles off Nayaru beach on 14th August. Eight dinghies, 7 banned nets, 80 Kg of caught fish and other fishing gears were also taken into Naval custody. The apprehended persons, dinghies, the stock of fish and the fishing gears were handed over to the Assistant Director of Fisheries-Mullathivu for legal action.



Meanwhile, 8 banned nets were recovered by naval personnel of Eastern Naval Command on patrol in the lagoon area of Batticoloa, on 15th August and these recovered nets were handed over to Assistant Director of Fisheries-Batticoloa for further investigation.



On 17th August, a troop of Naval personnel attached to the North Central Naval Command on patrol, nabbed 1644 Kg of Kerala Cannabis hidden in the beach area of Kiranchi. It is suspected that this hoard of KG was hidden for sale later and it was handed over to Nachchikuda police for legal proceedings.Bangladesh: Safety of coastal fishermen

August 22,2018 | Source: The Financial Express

Over five million people in the coastal areas of Bangladesh are directly involved with catching marine fish for a living. The scope for catching marine fish has widened in the country following the resolution of the maritime boundary disputes with India and Myanmar in 2013-14. But fishermen lack the required preparations for utilisation of this expanded opportunity. Around 87 per cent of fish resources from the Bay of Bengal are still caught by fishermen by employing traditional methods. In the absence of modern fishing boats and necessary other facilities, fishermen suffer a lot. Added to this are the threats posed by pirates and their godfathers.



According to newspaper reports, the coastal fishermen of south-western Barguna district go on fishing expeditions by over 3,000 boats to the Bay of Bengal via the confluence of Payra, Bishkhali and Baleshwar rivers. But these boats lack 12 life-saving tools including buoys, life-jackets, radios and compasses. In fact, as reported in the media, 90 per cent of fishing trawlers in the coastal areas do not carry buoys and life-jackets, and 99 per cent do not have compasses.



The fishing trawlers in the region also remain mostly unregistered and bereft of fitness in the absence of proper monitoring. As a consequence of all these factors, lives are being lost on a regular basis. According to the trawler owners' association of Barguna, at least 3,500 fishermen have died and at least 10 thousand went missing in this region during the past 20 years due to sinking of trawlers.



The other perennial problem facing coastal fishermen is abduction for ransom by sea pirates. The fishing community has to spend a vast sum for releasing their boats, fishing equipment and even fishermen from these gangs of pirates. It has been observed that fish traders who fall prey to the pirates hesitate to seek help from law enforcers, as they feel the prospect of recovery becomes dimmer if the authorities are informed. However, counter-measures by law enforcers have been intensified in the recent past against the backdrop of an alarming rise in the incidence of piracy in the bay. Side by side, the government is offering pirates an opportunity to return to normal life if they surrender. As a result, many such gangs have surrendered to the law enforcers during the past few years.



The economic importance of the world's largest mangrove forest 'Sundarban' as well as the Bay of Bengal is enormous. The coastal belt is linked to the livelihoods of millions of Bangladeshis. Therefore, the area cannot and should not remain hostage to pirates and other hazards. With the resolution of the country's maritime disputes, the issue of security in sea has assumed even a greater importance because involved here is a marine territory that is almost equal to its own area. This has given rise to a huge potential in the shape of a blue economy.



Consequently, the marine resources of the country and those who remain engaged in their extraction should be accorded due protection from both lapses like lack of safety tools and security threats like pirates. The government should order mandatory use of safety equipment in fishing boats. Besides, technical and financial assistance may be provided to those fishermen who lack the capacity to procure those on their own. On the other hand, rehabilitation of pirates who surrendered should be geared up, so that others feel motivated to do the same. Most importantly, the godfathers of these gangs need to be identified and brought to book urgently.Maldives: Rules relaxed for boat captains to renew licenses

August 22,2018 | Source: Maldives Independent

President Abdulla Yameen has relaxed rules that required boat captains and crew to take classes and an exam for license renewal. Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed told media outlets Friday night that the president decided to review and temporarily suspend two provisions in the regulation on safety of sea vessels. A provision on the issuance of safety certificates that required documentation to show that a boat has been docked ashore for repairs was also suspended. The government listened to complaints from boat owners, Saeed said, noting the lack of enough slipways and dockyards in the country.



This is a big relief the president has provided, he was quoted as saying. Thousands of people have been travelling on ferries and speedboats from Male to outer islands ahead of a nine-day Eid holiday. On Friday morning, the fisheries minister announced that fines imposed over non-payment for engines and fishing vessels will be waived. The compassionate president will offer boat owners an opportunity to settle the payments in instalments over one or two years, Fisheries Minister Dr Mohamed Shainee tweeted with a campaign hashtag.



The presidential election is on September 23. Earlier this month, the economic development ministry abolished the annual fee for vessels smaller than nine metres and waived accrued fines. The announcement came a day after opposition candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih Ibu pledged to solve difficulties faced by boat owners due to new fees and fines. The oppositions pledges are self-fulfilling, Ibu joked the next day. Last month, the government was accused of trying to unfairly influence votes by waiving traffic fines and promising to free convicts. Traffic fines worth more than MVR7.8 million (MVR,506,255) have been written off and the prisons authority began releasing inmates to house arrest earlier this month.Tamil Nadu: Sri Lankan Navy arrests 8 Tamil Nadu fishermen near Kalpitti, charged for fishing in nation's waters

August 23,2018 | Source: First Post

Eight fishermen from Tamil Nadu were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy near Kalpitti on charges of fishing in the island nation's waters, a state Fisheries Department official said on Wednesday. The fishermen from Tuticorin were arrested late Tuesday night by Lankan Naval personnel who were patrolling the waters near Kalpitti, the official added.



The country boat used by the fishermen was also seized, the official said, adding they were handed over to the Sri Lankan Police at Pathalam. On 10 August, 27 fishermen from the state were arrested by the Lankan Navy on the charge of fishing in the island nation's waters. The Lankan Navy also impounded four country boats of the fishermen from nearby Nagapattinam, Thondi and Pudukottai.Energy Ministry looking for deal similar to GMR

Inspired by the path-breaking deal reached by GMR Upper Karnali Hydropower to export electricity generated by plants in Nepal to Bangladesh through Indian territory, the Energy Ministry wants to ask the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) to sign a similar pact to export power produced by two projects in the governments basket.Kerala: Ignored fishermen turn saviours in India floods

August 23,2018 | Source: Gulf Times

They carried their boats onto trucks to get there and braved the filthy, swirling waters before most other rescuers arrived. Now hundreds of fishermen are being hailed as the heroes of India's Kerala floods crisis. One man got on all fours with his face in the water so women could step on his back to board a rescue boat. Others had to suffer abuse from people angry because the official rescuers took so long.



India's Tourism Minister K.J Alphons has called the fishermen the "biggest heroes" of Kerala's disaster and state Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has announced a cash reward for each of them and a ceremony to pay tribute.



Robin Richard and other fishermen from ports like Kollam are suspicious. Their community is disparaged by many in Kerala. Now they just hope the authorities keep their promise to pay for damage to boats and the fuel they used to rescue several thousand people.



"When we suffered in a cyclone last year no one took notice of our plight but now everyone's attitude has suddenly changed," Richard, 42, told AFP.



Hundreds of traditional wood and fibre boats left Kollam, a tourist destination on the Kerala coast, after appeals for help were made on Wednesday last week, Richard said.



They were pressed into service in some of the worst flood zones of Kerala, where about 420 people overall have died in monsoon rain in recent weeks.



Praise and abuse



"At least 150 fishing crews were working non-stop here at the peak of rescue operations," an official in Alappuzha district, one of the worst-hit, told AFP.



Michael Solomon, 56, a Kollam fisherman for almost four decades, told how he and colleagues lifted their six-metre-long (20 feet) boats up onto a road to be loaded on trucks and taken to flood zones.



"We have been going into the real sea since we were children, so these waters were nothing," he said. But many boats suffered damage after hitting cars and other obstacles on flooded roads. Some crashed into houses.



"I hope the government keeps its word and gets the boats repaired. An operational boat is our only source of livelihood," he added.



Manoj Francis, 40, who works with Solomon at Kollam beach, said he had been shocked when he first saw the flooded houses.



"There was extensive damage. People were at the top of their houses and at many places entire buildings were under water," he told AFP.



The flooded villages and towns became a vast maze and the fishermen often operated alone for hours on end.



They have been widely hailed on social media. "We call them 'fisherman' but they are 'Supermen'," wrote Rajiv B. Menon on Twitter.



"Some of them travelled 120kms to Chengannur to save lives of people stranded, facing death, due to the deluge. Take a bow," he added. Many rescued families have told how the fishing flotilla reached them before any official help.



"They arrived like saviours. No local government officials came to us or gave us any warnings before that," said Ravindran Achary, the 62-year-old head of a nine-member family, now living with other flood refugees at the Union Christian College in Kochi.



He said the group, which includes five small grandchildren, only escaped their house because a fishing boat arrived out of the blue in their urban neighbourhood in Kochi. Despite the praise and attention, some fishermen said they were not universally welcomed.



"While most people were generally happy to see us some of them were understandably angry and agitated," Richard said.



"I think some of it was taken out on us. Some of us were abused, with people complaining why it took so long," he added.



Richard, Manoj and Solomon hope the government and Kerala's people do not forget their efforts as water levels fall and life slowly returns to normal.Andhra Pradesh: Funds released for fishing habour, announces MLA Bandaru Madhava Naidu

August 23,2018 | Source: The Hans India

The state government has issued an order for construction of fishing harbor at Biyyaputippa in West Godavari district, announced MLA Bandaru Madhava Naidu. Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, the MLA said that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had released Rs 13.58 crore towards first phase of funding for the harbor.



Stating that tender process would commence on Thursday itself, the MLA announced that Naidu would likely to attend stone-laying function to be held soon. The fishing harbor was a dream came true for the entire fisher community as they can store the catch and sell it when they get remunerative price. All arrangements necessary for fishers would be provided in the harbor.



Today is a red letter day for me as I have been working for this harbor for quite some time, the MLA said. Briefing on the harbor, the MLA explained that the harbor would come up in an extent of five acres. Boat parking, roads, cold storage, godowns, arrangements to keep their nets and other fishing equipment would be provided for the benefit of fishers.



The MLA announced that as part of Yeruvaka, the government sanctioned Rs 18 crore for construction of Nalli creek and two bridges in the constituency. The works would start shortly, he added.Kerala: Local boatmen become heroes during flood rescues in India's Kerala

August 23,2018 | Source: VOA News

Divya G. clung to a floating banana plant, then used a rope to pull herself to safety through neck-deep water as floods inundated her home in southern India. After more than a day camped with her family on the upper floor of her neighbor's two-story house, they were spotted by a fishing boat and rescued. "We saw a boat coming down our lane and all of us started screaming for help," said Divya, 32, from Chengannur, one of the areas hit hardest by flooding in Kerala state last week. "The boatmen helped us into the boats and brought us to the relief camps."



The worst floods in a century in Kerala have killed hundreds of people and left dozens missing and about a million sheltering in temporary camps. Thousands of army, navy and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams were deployed in the rescue efforts. More than a dozen rescue officials, flood victims and others who spoke to Reuters said the unsung heroes of the massive relief operation were fishermen and other local people with boats, who volunteered to help rescue tens of thousands of stranded people, often long before official rescue teams could arrive.



"They were in tears when we saved their lives. They treated us like God," said fisherman Stephen Pallithottam, one of hundreds of local boatmen who joined the rescue mission in the Chengannur area. "They touched our feet and said they will never forget us in their lives."



'Biggest heroes'



Mohamed Ansheed, whose family was rescued in Malappuram district, some 170 km (105 miles) from Kerala's financial hub Kochi, said he was deeply indebted to the fishermen. Ansheed also witnessed one rescue in which a local fisherman went on all fours in knee-deep waters, offering his back for women to step on to climb into a rescue boat. Images taken at the scene went viral on social media.



"I will never forget that day. They helped a lot of people," said Ansheed, adding that while NDRF teams had to halt their own rescue missions at sundown for safety reasons, local fishermen worked into the night with headlamps and rudimentary tools. Many survivors interviewed by Reuters at a Chengannur relief camp recounted harrowing tales of fast-rising floodwaters on the night of Aug. 15. "It was as if water levels were rising by a foot every five minutes. Even standing on tables or chairs was pointless," said M. Sneha, 20, who was rescued by boatmen that night.



Kerala, which markets itself to tourists as "God's Own Country" and is famed for its scenic lagoons, lakes and canals, has a lengthy coastline and is home to thousands of fishermen and boat tour operators. The role played by many of them in the rescue operation is now being lauded by both flood victims and politicians. "The biggest heroes are fishermen, they came in 600 boats and rescued people," said India's Tourism Minister K.J. Alphons, who hails from the state.



Lowest strata of society'



Kerala's Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the state would honor boatmen who participated in the rescue effort, reimburse them, and repair boats damaged in the operation. Shijin Jose Antony, a priest at a church in state capital Thiruvananthapuram, helped organize the deployment of 130 boats and some 500 fishermen in rescue operations in Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha districts.



"When the fishermen came forward to join the operation, we informed the government, which made arrangements to transport the boats and fishermen to areas where their help was required," he said.



Shiji Dency, a fisherman from Ernakulam district, joined the rescue operation at Aluva and, along with five fishermen from the area, helped rescue about 1,000 people over five days. Dency says there were no army, navy, or NDRF teams at the location when they arrived. "We were helped by the local people who were familiar with the area," said Dency, adding they navigated narrow, flooded lanes with cars floating by to reach some victims. "We are the people in the lowest strata of society," he said. "The people who were trapped in the flood were rich. We felt bad when they pleaded with folded hands to save their lives. It was a heart-rending scene."During those three months, he kept up appearances by pretending to be his wife on social media





A man in Shanghai has been sentenced to death after murdering his wife and hiding her body in a freezer in their home for the following three months while he assumed her identity on social media and in text messages with her family.





On October 18th, 2016, 30-year-old Zhu Xiaodong strangled his wife, Yang Liping, 30, to death over what was described in court as trivial domestic arguments.





Afterward, he wrapped Yangs body up in a quilt and hid it inside of their freezer. There her body stayed for the next 105 days.





During this time, Zhu assumed his wifes identity on WeChat, replying to text messages from her friends and parents who apparently didnt suspect a thing.





Meanwhile, he used money from Yangs bank accounts to take vacations and date other women, according to court documents.





Finally, on February 1st, Zhu was forced to turn himself in to police, knowing that he could no longer keep the charade going after Yangs father had asked the couple over for a birthday dinner that night.





Yangs family argued that Zhus murder of Yang was premeditated, noting how Zhu had purchased the freezer only two months before strangling her.





However, at his trial, Zhu claimed that the freezer was bought in order to store meat for his pet reptiles.





In the end, the Shanghai No 2 Intermediate Peoples Court decided that Zhus crime was indeed heinous enough to warrant the death penalty.





Zhu will now have 10 days to appeal the sentencing.

Court sentences man to death for murdering wife

A Shanghai court sentenced on Thursday a man to death for murdering his wife.





Zhu Xiaodong was accused of murdering his wife and freezing her corpse. The Shanghai No.2 Intermediate People's Court found him guilty of intentional homicide.





Despite his guilty plea, the court said it didn't give Zhu a lighter sentence because he showed no remorse.





Zhu concealed his wife's body while leading a lavish lifestyle, using the victim's money and ID card to travel and going out with other women.





The Shanghai Observer said Zhu appealed the verdict on Thursday afternoon.





"We feel relieved by the verdict," the victim's father, Yang Ganlian, told reporters.





In October 2016, he strangled his wife Yang Liping over a dispute at their home and hid her body in a refrigerator, during which time he posed as his wife on social media and texted messages to her parents and friends.





Zhu surrendered to the police in February 2017 accompanied by his parents.





Zhu and Yang married in December 2015 in Shanghai.





The death sentence is in line with legal boundaries and guidelines, Yu Xun, a deputy professor at East China University of Political and Law's Criminal Justice School, told the Global Times on Thursday.





"Though China has imposed restrictions on the use of capital punishment for certain crimes, it never said the death penalty would be abandoned. The death penalty still applies to extremely severe offenses, such as Zhu's case," Yu said.





"Each death penalty handed out by the lower court will be carefully reviewed by the Supreme People's Court," Yu noted.

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"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,

but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar WildeA 41-year-old Brownsville man scheduled to be executed by the State of Texas on Sept. 12 at 6 p.m. is asking a federal judge to stay his execution.





Ruben Gutierrez, who was sentenced to death in 1999 for the brutal slaying of 85-year-old Escolastica Harrison at the Harrison Mobile Home Park on Morningside Road in 1998, made the request on Aug. 10.





A Cameron County jury in the 107th state District Court convicted Gutierrez based on evidence that he befriended Harrison so he could rob her of some of the $600,000 in cash that she had hidden in her home.





According to police, Harrison didn't like banks and kept her money in a suitcase in her trailer home. An autopsy showed she had been stabbed 13 times with 2 different screwdrivers and was also beaten.





Lawyers for Gutierrez, who were appointed on Aug. 6 and 10, argue in the motion that they need time to introduce themselves to Gutierrez, his family and to familiarize themselves with the massive case record for the man who has been on death row for nearly 20 years.





"Through no fault of his own, Mr. Gutierrez is before this Court less than a month before his scheduled execution with counsel who were appointed to his case within the past 10 days," the motion for a stay of execution states. Gutierrez's previous attorney is no longer procedurally eligible to represent the man at the end stage of his appeals process, court records show.





Court documents also indicate that Gutierrez's new lawyers may be preparing for civil rights litigation against the State of Texas and want to apply for clemency, which, if granted, would convert Gutierrez's death sentence to life in prison without parole.





Gutierrez's attorneys also contend they need time to investigate what kind of efforts trial attorney's who represented Gutierrez put into DNA testing forensic evidence at the crime scene.





"Mr. Gutierrez has fought for nearly a decade to have the forensic evidence in his case DNA tested - including fingernail scrapings, blood stains, and hair evidence. To date, none of it has been tested," court documents show.





Gutierrez claims he played no role in the murder, though he admits to orchestrating the burglary, and continues to assert his innocence, alleging if the forensic evidence is tested it would corroborate his claims and render him ineligible for the death penalty, court documents indicate.





Cameron County District Attorney Luis V. Saenz said Gutierrez's DNA claim is bogus.





"The DNA claim is hogwash. He himself gave a statement and in the statement he declares that he participated in the murder. His coactor, co-defendant, testified in open court, under cross examination, that Gutierrez was an active member in the crime," Saenz said. "So the DNA is going to show that he was there and the DNA is nothing more than a dilatory movement at this point by a desperate man.To a certain extent, you can't blame him because he's facing death."





Alex Hernandez, Harrison's nephew, echoed Saenz's sentiment.





"I think, to me, he's just turning his wheels for the last time because there are no more options," Hernandez said. "He's prolonging something that's inevitable."





Saenz said both judge and jury rejected Gutierrez's claims that his confession was coerced and the DA again pointed to co-defendants who place Gutierrez at the scene and link him to the killing.





"I hope to overcome it," Saenz said of the motion for a stay of execution. "And hope that the sentence is carried out because that's what the jury decided, and the family has waited long enough for closure."





If Gutierrez is unsuccessful in postponing his execution, he will be the 9th death row inmate executed this year by the State of Texas.

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"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,

but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde

Brownsville Herald, August 22, 2018New Delhi: Cash-strapped Jet Airways will discuss ways to cut costs and turn its business around when its board of directors meets on August 27, the airline said on Wednesday. Jet had told staff this month it was running out of money, a source had told, but the airline had denied this and said it was confident of cutting costs and keeping planes flying.

Airline profits in the worlds fastest-growing aviation market are taking a hit due to rising fuel prices, a weaker rupee and a fare war.

On August 9, the airline's board of directors deferred announcement of unaudited financial results for the June quarter and the same would be taken up on August 27. While considering the unaudited financial results for the June quarter, the board would also "take up the matters in relation to the cost reduction initiatives and turnaround plan, for which the management had earlier sought time", the filing said.

The delay in announcement of financial results by the airline has already come under the regulatory scanner. The Corporate Affairs Ministry has sought clarifications from the auditors of Jet Airways and markets regulator is also looking into the deferment of the results, sources had said.

On August 9, Jet Airways CEO Vinay Dube said that the carrier has been working very diligently and has been implementing for some time a mission plan that looks at every element of structuring from cost perspective, and revenue perspective among others. We are looking at costs related to fuel, fleet, sales and distribution. And the return to profitability will come with the execution of these measures, he had told shareholders at the annual general meeting.

On the issue of pay cuts, Dube had said that the airline was looking at multiple elements of restructuring and payroll was one of them.

We are in deep dialogue with our staff and they are extremely supportive of our restructuring plans... In that we will make the best decision in the interest of the company and the employees, he had said.

On that day, Jet Airways founder chairman Naresh Goyal said that he felt "guilty and embarrassed" as a lot of shareholders have lost their money, amid the airline's shares plummeting on financial woes.

About reports that the Corporate Affairs Ministry has opened a preliminary probe into alleged diversion of funds at Jet Airways, the airline said on Tuesday that it has not received any communication from the ministry in this regard.

Separately, Jet has said it has not received any communication from corporate affairs ministry after media reports said the airline was being probed for allegations that it siphoned off funds.In March 1968, when Antonin Novotny resigned as the President of Czechoslovakia in the wake of a corruption scandal, a couple of months after he had been removed from the more important post of Communist Party first secretary, it fell upon his successor in the latter capacity, Alexander Dubcek, to pick a new head of state.

He went for the least popular option, Ludvik Svoboda, a former general who was considered least likely to displease Moscow. Students in Prague mounted a protest, and demanded to speak to Dubcek. He turned up to explain his choice. One student asked: What are the guarantees that the old days will not be back? The party leader responded: You yourselves are the guarantee. You, the young.

It was springtime in Prague, and by then Czechoslovakia had been in a creative turmoil for several months. The verities that had determined its trajectory since it became a one-party state 20 years earlier were crumbling under popular pressure and new thinking within the Communist Party. Slovakian party leader Dubceks ascendancy to the top job brought with it official intimations of socialism with a human face.

Soviet Communist Party leader Leonid Brezhnev had refused to intervene on behalf of Novotny when the latter sought Moscows assistance to stay in office. Dubcek had spent several of his formative years in the Soviet Union and was seen as a safe pair of hands.

Dubcek was keen not to aggravate the men in Moscow. There was little talk of Czechoslovakia distancing itself from the Soviet Union, let alone quitting the Warsaw Pact, as Hungary had been inclined to do a dozen years earlier, before it was invaded by its purported comrades to restore the status quo ante. Whats more, opinion polls from 1968 that around 90 per cent of Czechoslovak citizens favoured greater freedom within the socialist context rather than any reversion to capitalist orthodoxies or bourgeois democracy.

Notwithstanding Dubceks inclination towards gradualism, the freedom of expression and the indiscriminate right to travel abroad that Czechoslovakia had offered its citizens perturbed the party patriarchs in neighbouring states, not least Wladyslaw Gomulka in Poland and Walter Ulbricht in East Germany. The idea of essential freedoms within socialism was anathema to Moscow, too, even though it initially baulked at the idea of a military intervention  before eventually convincing itself that Warsaw Pact troops would be greeted with flowers, just as Red Army soldiers were in 1945.

Fifty years ago this week, on the night of August 20-21, after numerous efforts to verbally coerce the Czechoslovak party leadership failed to bear adequate fruit, Soviet tanks rolled in. Czechoslovakian youth greeted the invasion with Molotov cocktails rather than flowers. Even Svoboda refused to sanctify the violation of sovereignty, threatening to commit suicide instead. Most party leaders were imprisoned before they were produced at so-called negotiations in Moscow.

They, including a heavily sedated and possibly brutalised Dubcek, eventually caved in. On their return to Prague, a demoralised Dubcek sought to convey the impression that the hiatus was temporary. He was removed as party leader the following year, and temporarily became head of the federal parliament. When he returned to the latter post 20 years later, he was still a popular figure, but the possibility of socialism with a human face no longer existed. Today, the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia props up a right-wing, vaguely pro-Moscow government in the Czech Republic, long separated from Slovakia, which also veers to the right.

In his stint as party leader, Dubcek faced many of the same conservative and radical pressures that Mikhail Gorbachev encountered in the 1980s; it is probably no coincidence that Zdenek Mlynar, one of Gorbachevs closest friends at Moscow University, was, as central committee secretary, one of the leading lights of the Prague Spring. Perhaps the biggest fear in 1968 was that the Czechoslovak example would fire up similar ambitions elsewhere in Eastern Europe.

But the idea of democratic socialism also scared the capitalist powers, and criticism of the Soviet action was therefore somewhat muted in the West, even though many Communist parties  including those of France, Italy (both of which were then fairly formidable political forces), Romania, Yugoslavia and China  decried the subjugation of Czechoslovakia.

There can be little doubt that Eastern Europes trajectory  and that of the Soviet Union, which fell into a period of stagnation thereafter would have been very different had the Czechoslovak experiment been permitted to continue.

Thousands of miles away in Chicago the same week, police brutality against young protesters outside the Democratic Party convention, exemplified the fascist tendencies of the American state. The alternative is still struggling to be born.

By arrangement with DawnThe idea of holding simultaneous elections could be compared with the big elephant which has two kinds of teeth - one, the trunks, which are beautiful, a good showpiece to keep in drawing rooms, and the other, which are inside the mouth used for eating, which we don't see. The argument for holding simultaneous elections to save money, which draws large support from people, could be compared with the trunk of the elephant, which everyone likes. But we fail to analyse the fallout of holding simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies, just like while appreciating the trunk we fail to see the inner teeth of the elephant. There are dangers of India moving from a federal to a unitary form of government if elections are held simultaneously. The smaller regional parties will be at the receiving end. This is the inner teeth that we fail to see: simultaneous elections will definitely save some money but the price we might pay will be enormous -- losing the federal character of the country, an important feature for the development of different regions of India.

While the issue of holding simultaneous elections is yet to be debated carefully, I am happy to note that the proposal seems to have received a setback on the grounds of "feasibility", at least till the next Lok Sabha polls in mid-2019. Reacting to recent news reports about the possibility of holding elections in at least 11 states along with the Lok Sabha polls, chief election commissioner O.P. Rawat, citing constitutional, legal and logistical difficulties (such as VVPAT, EVMs, availability of police forces and polling personnel) has made it clear it may be extremely difficult to hold simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and 11 Assemblies in May 2019. He also spelt out that it would be impossible to hold these polls if the Lok Sabha elections due in 2019 is advanced to late 2018, to be held along with Assembly polls in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram, which are due by late December. Given the existing constitutional provisions, there is hardly any possibility of postponing the Assembly elections in the four states due in December 2018. At least the idea of simultaneous elections does not seem to be feasible till the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. At best, the Assembly elections in a few more states (Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Haryana) could be clubbed along some others (Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim and Telangana) which fall in the natural cycle of having simultaneous polls along with the Lok Sabha elections by advancing the Assembly elections in these states.

There is, of course, no harm in holding elections to state Assemblies along with the Lok Sabha polls if the election cycles are the same and even in clubbing a few states along with the parliamentary elections even if these were due in those states a few months later, but making it mandatory by law to hold elections for all Assemblies along with the Lok Sabha seems to be an idea which is neither desirable nor feasible. The argument against holding simultaneous elections on the ground of having its impact on the federal character is even stronger. There is clear evidence from past elections to prove that in many instances, voters tend to vote for the same party for the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies when the elections are held together. It's more a rule than an exception. Since the 1989 general elections, there have been 31 cases of simultaneous elections for state Assemblies and the Lok Sabha -- Andhra Pradesh (1989, 1999, 2004 and 2014), Odisha (2004, 2009 and 2014), Karnataka (1989, 1999 and 2004), Sikkim (2009 and 2014), Tamil Nadu (1989, 1991 and 1996), Maharashtra (1999), Assam (1991 and 1996), Haryana 1991 and 1996), Kerala (1989, 1991 and 1996), Uttar Pradesh (1989 and 1991), West Bengal (1991 and 1996), Arunachal Pradesh (2009 and 2014) and Telangana (2014). When elections were held the same day to elect MLAs and MPs, in 24 of these 31 elections, voters voted in more or less similar manner -- the dominant party polled more or less similar votes in both the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. Only in seven instances, the voters were able to make a clear distinction between the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, and voted differently. Voters were able to make such a distinction only in states where regional parties are very strong, such as Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Regional parties manage to get decent votes in the Assembly elections but not for the Lok Sabha. The fear is that if elections for the Assembly and Lok Sabha are held the same day, the regional parties may get further marginalised as a large number of voters might tend to vote for the same party in both the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. There is no denying the fact that holding simultaneous elections would reduce the government's expenses on the conduct of elections, but this would hardly help to reduce the expenses incurred by the candidates and political parties, which is the biggest part of election expenses. The logic of the government not being able to function properly due to frequent elections seems to be a weak argument as the model code of conduct is in operation only for a few months, and nothing prevents governments from carrying out development work for remaining part of their term.

India is one country, but we must recognise the existence of 29 states, with each having its own elected government, given the constitutional division of power. It gives the country a truly federal character. But simultaneous elections would slowly and gradually hurt these smaller regional parties, and we might see them disappearing from the political scene. The regional parties are the symbol of the expression of regional aspirations and issues relating to marginalised people, who have felt left out of the country's development process. Studies have indicated smaller regional parties get more votes from marginalised communities such as dalits, adivasis and OBCs, so the disappearance of the smaller parties would mean the virtual disenfranchisement of the marginalised sections of Indian voters.Images on state television showed President Hassan Rouhani sitting in the cockpit of the new 'Kowsar' fourth-generation fighter at the National Defence Industry exhibition in Tehran. (Photo: AFP)

Tehran: Iran unveiled its first domestic fighter jet on Tuesday, with President Hassan Rouhani insisting that Tehran's military strength was only designed to deter enemies and create "lasting peace".

Images on state television showed Rouhani sitting in the cockpit of the new "Kowsar" fourth-generation fighter at the National Defence Industry exhibition in Tehran.

State media said it had "advanced avionics" and multi-purpose radar, and that it was "100-percent indigenously made" for the first time.

Footage of the Kowsar's test flights was circulated by various official media.

But live footage of the plane taxiing along a runway at the defence show was cut before it could take off.

"When I speak of our readiness to defend, it means we seek lasting peace. If we lack readiness, we welcome war," Rouhani said in a televised speech shortly after.

"Some think when we increase our military power, this means we seek war. (But) this is peace-seeking because we don't want war to happen," he added.

"If we don't have a deterrent... it gives a green light for others to enter this country."

The plane was first publicly announced on Saturday by Defence Minister Amir Hatami, who had said it would be unveiled on Wednesday.

He gave few details of the project, focusing instead on Iran's efforts to upgrade its missile defences.

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," he said in a televised interview.

The US has sold hundreds of billions of dollars of weapons to Iran's regional rivals, but has demanded that Tehran curb its defence programmes, and is in the process of reimposing crippling sanctions in a bid to force its capitulation.

Rouhani said Iran must show restraint as well as deterrence, in an apparent swipe at his hardline opponents who seek to provoke the US with aggressive slogans.

"With a couple of sentences one can start a fight. With a couple of military moves one can enter confrontation. But then it will be costly," he said.

"The skill is to protect the country with minimum cost," he said

That mirrored a line from the defence minister, who said on Saturday: "Our resources are limited and we are committed to establishing security at a minimum cost."

Following the withdrawal of the United States from the 2015 nuclear deal in May, Iran has avoided an aggressive response and sought to maintain its good will with other international partners who oppose Washington's move.

Rouhani said US pressure was also a spur to action.

"Why does America impose economic sanctions on us? Why does it impose them on Turkey? Why does it drag China into an economic war? Because it feels each one of them has a weak point. We must fix our weak points."A militant wearing a suicide vest blew himself up just after midnight at Adnan al-Ganams house in the village of Asdira, Colonel Khalil al-Sahn, the police chief of surrounding Shirqat district, told Reuters. (Representational Image)

Iraq: A suicide attack on a former Iraqi lawmakers house killed at least six tribal militiamen and wounded seven others in a northern Sunni Muslim village early on Wednesday, police said.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack but Islamic State militants operate in the area.

A militant wearing a suicide vest blew himself up just after midnight at Adnan al-Ganams house in the village of Asdira, Colonel Khalil al-Sahn, the police chief of surrounding Shirqat district, told Reuters.

Those killed were members of the Tribal Mobilisation Forces, a network of Sunni militias that back the government in its fight against Islamic State, he said.

The village is north of Tikrit, the capital of Iraqs Salahuddin province.

Islamic State, which had seized control of much of northern Iraq in 2014, lost Shirqat to US-backed Iraqi security forces supported by Sunni tribal fighters in 2016.

A small number of militants are still operating in the area and are capable of launching sporadic attacks, security officials say.

Iraq declared victory over Islamic State in December but security officials say the militants are likely to wage an insurgency after their self-proclaimed caliphate collapsed and they were dislodged from all the territory they held.

Its fighters have kept up a campaign of kidnap and killing, mainly in the provinces of Kirkuk, Diyala and Salahuddin.Global insurers threaten to stop cover for tourists

International insurance companies have warned the government that they will stop issuing travel insurance policies for tourists visiting Nepal from September 1 if it does not move to eliminate insurance fraud hatched by brokers in trekking and mountaineering agencies.Vingroup, a real estate heavyweight, is venturing into manufacturing of automobiles and smartphones.

Realty and retail giant Vingroup sees itself becoming an international standard tech-industry-services powerhouse in ten years.

Nguyen Viet Quang, vice president and general director of Vingroup made this announcement Tuesday when signing a partnership deal with more than 50 universities in Hanoi.

Quang said that after 25 years of development, the group was qualified to enter the field of technology and industry.

Technology will bring us a major revenue stream, he said.

Vingroup will focus intensively on the technology sector with three major development directions - artificial intelligence (AI), comprehensive tech ecosystem and tech incubator.

The group is to establish VinTech company as a separate organization from the current VinSmart, which will work on AI, software production and generation of new materials.

It has already set up the Big Data Institute and the Vin Hi-Tech Institute of Advanced Technology.

For the tech ecosystem, it will build a VinTech City in Hanoi, modeled on the US Silicon Valley, a comprehensive ecosystem for IT startups with offices, restaurants, and associated support companies.

To build the tech incubator, the group is seeking cooperation opportunities.

In addition, VinTech will also establish a research and technology fund worth VND1 trillion ($44 million).

Vingroups cooperation with 50 leading universities in Vietnam is part of its tech push. It is committed to taking in 100,000 IT graduates over the next 10 years.

In the industrial segment, Vingroup will push up production of automobiles and smart appliances. It plans to launch its smartphones this year and export industrial products as soon as possible.

Vo Quang Hue, deputy general director of Vingroup, in charge of the VinFast Project to make top class cars in Vietnam, told a robotic technology-mechatronics seminar on Tuesday that the group would directly apply advantages of Industry 4.0.

Hue said the local automobile industry has not developed as expected because of small scale production and investment, so Vingroup was making big investments right at the very beginning.

They have chosen German technology, including the use of robots, for VinFast's factory, so as to ensure accuracy and flexibility, he said.

Hue said Vingroup has prepared for the transition period of the next 10 years. Accordingly, the service business will be part of the group, but not the most important part.

The group will focus on automobile, motorbike and smartphone industries and "many other products that I cannot reveal now, he added.

Currently, the leading realty and retail developer in Vietnam is valued at VND338.3 trillion ($14.7 billion) and is the largest company on the stock market.

Vingroup chairman Pham Nhat Vuong is Vietnams first billionaire, ranked 237 in the list of worlds billionaires by Forbes with assets worth $6.8 billion.

The groups share value has climbed over 37 per cent since the beginning of this year. The company is yet to release its second-quarter earnings. It posted after-tax profits of over VND1 trillion ($42.84 million) in the first three months of this year, a growth of 70 per cent against the same period last yearVietnams spending on higher education has increased in recent years but remains much lower than many other countries, a senior educationist says.

Dr Thai Ba Can, principal of Hong Bang International University in Ho Chi Minh City, told a recent conference on education that the country spent VND16.2 million ($700) last year per university student, a 42 percent increase against 2009.

But it is $1,400 in Indonesia, $9,800 in South Korea and over $16,200 in the U.S., he said citing Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) statistics in 2014.

This [big difference in spending] is the reason for the weakness of tertiary education in our country today.

The number needs to rise to at least VND37 million ($1,600), he said.

One way to increase spending per student is to reduce the number of students in public colleges and universities, he said.

Students in public facilities now account for 87 percent of the total number, and if this number is reduced by 20 percentage points, the goal of spending 50 percent of per capita GDP per student would be met, he said.

Other attendees at the conference said Vietnam needs to diversify its sources of funding for education.

The governments coffers and tuition fees take care of 90 percent of a public schools spending, according to Dang Thi Thanh Huyen, former head of the Research Institute of Education Management.

But in other countries the sources also include research services, consultancy, technology transfer, campus services, and donations, she added.

Prof Nguyen Trong Hoai, deputy principal of the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, agreed saying the dependence on a single source of income hinders the development of universities.

China, Japan and other countries in Asia have policies that allow schools to seek more sources, which helps reduce public spending on education, he said.

The government should allow schools to operate like a business and have more control over their finances, which in turn would improve education quality, he claimed.

Those policies will let schools borrow money from the financial market or invest in real estate.

Last year Vietnam had 235 tertiary education facilities, including 170 public schools, 60 private ones and five foreign-funded.Traditional taxi firms batten down the hatches in battle against Grab

A man passes a Grab signage in their office in Singapore. Photo by Reuters/Edgar Su

Three major taxi firms in Hanoi have recently joined forces to have their 3,000 vehicles operating under a single brand starting in October.

Thanh Cong, Ba Sao and Sao Ha Noi are set to become G7 Taxi in a bid to take on ride-hailing behemoth Grab.

In April representatives of top traditional taxi firms had sat down to discuss the idea of building one common ride-hailing app for all of them.

Nguyen Cong Hung, chairman of the Hanoi Taxi Association, said: Traditional taxis, each with their own app, are now trying to compete with Grab. But we are divided, therefore we need to unite.

The meeting came after logistics firm Phuong Trang announced it had invested $100 million in ride-hailing app Vato and leading taxi firm Mai Linh started offering benefits to attract drivers.

In March southern taxi firms ComfortDelgro Savico and Vinataxi had merged to take on Grab.

Vinataxi, the third largest taxi firm in HCMC, was confident the merger would increase its growth sixfold this year.

But Grab is also busy.

While the acquisition of Ubers Southeast Asian business last March has allowed Grab to become the dominant player in the ride-hailing business in Vietnam, it is working to improve its strategies to compete with local taxi firms.

The company introduced Grab for Business in Vietnam earlier this month, a service that helps a company track the trips its employees make to limit unnecessary trips and control expenses.

Following the recent entry of Indonesias Go-Jek as Go-Viet, Grab is deploying various strategies to attract drivers by offering bonuses and opening stops with free wifi and coffee.

Huge unfairness

The Hanoi Taxi Association earlier this month wrote to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc saying Grabs operation has created a huge unfairness in terms of business conditions which demolish traditional taxi businesses and cause instability in society.

It wanted GrabCar to be considered electronic to guarantee fairness and all GrabCar vehicles to carry the label electronic taxi.

The Ministry of Transport has labeled GrabCar as "electronic taxi" in then newest version of its bill on transport regulations, but does not require its vehicles to carry the legend.

In a report related to the bill, which is expected to be discussed at the next session of the National Assembly in October, the Central Institute for Economic Management says lawmakers should not use old standards to new business models.

It is a grave mistake to force Grab to operate as a traditional taxi, Nguyen Dinh Cung, chairman of the institute, told VnExpress.2 more arrested in crackdown on Vietnam's drug valley

Two months after a major shootout in a remote commune that killed two drug lords, police officers have arrested two more alleged traffickers there.

Trinh Minh Tuan, 35, was caught Monday allegedly transporting 700 grams of heroin and 280 ecstasy pills during a police raid of Tan Lap Village in Long Luong Commune.

Long Luong is 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the Laos border and a known drug haven in the northern Son La Province.

Trinh Minh Tuan (L) and Trang A Cua are held at a police station in the northern Son La Province for illegal transportation of heroin. Photo courtesy of Voice of Vietnam

As the raid continued, officers held another drug dealer and Tuans neighbor, Trang A Cua. They searched his house and found 5,200 ecstasy pills, a pistol and VND100 million ($4,284) in cash.

The two potentially face the death penalty for transporting narcotics.

Last June Long Luong came into the national limelight when two drug kingpins, Nguyen Thanh Tuan, 34, and Nguyen Van Thuan, 35, were shot dead during a four-day action involving more than 300 police officers.

2 more arrested in crackdown on Vietnam's drug valley Vietnam police gun down drug lords in jungle hideouts

Son La, seven hours west of Hanoi, has been notorious as a drug hotspot for many years, with around 1,000 cases busted and hundreds of kilograms of narcotics seized every year.

Many of the 5,200 residents of Long Luong, most of them ethnic HMong, have family in Laos.

According to the Ministry of Public Security, Long Luong is a hideout for more than 60 wanted criminals, 30 of them for drug-related crimes.

Vietnam is a key trafficking hub for narcotics around the Golden Triangle, an intersection of China, Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar and the world's second largest drug producing region.

It has some of the worlds toughest drug laws. Those convicted of possessing or smuggling more than 600 grams of heroin or more than 2.5 kilograms of methamphetamine face the death penalty.

The production or sale of 100 grams of heroin or 300 grams of other illegal narcotics is also punishable by death.

But though the laws have been strictly enforced with capital punishment handed down regularly, there is no sign that drug running has been deterred.Kanchanpur CDO, police chief transferred

The government on Thursday transferred the Chief District Officer (CDO) and district police chief of Kanchanpur district after tensions escalated in Bhimdutta Municipality, the headquarters of Kanchanpur district, due to the protests over the rape and murder of a teenage girl.Cao Duy Hai, 57, has been dismissed as general director of MobiFone. Photo by Vietnam News Agency

The CEO of state-owned mobile operator MobiFone has been fired for his role in the illegal acquisition of a TV firm in 2016.

Cao Duy Hai, 57, was also removed from the companys board after being found responsible for "serious violations" in the acquisition of private pay TV firm Audio Visual Global JSC (AVG), the Ministry of Information and Communications said on Tuesday.

The Central Inspection Commission of the Communist Party of Vietnam had said Hai personally worked with the MobiFone council on the acquisition and signed many documents in violation of laws to come up with a deal that caused a significant loss to the government.

MobiFone, the country's third largest telco, had made headlines early in 2016 when it announced it was breaking into the pay TV market with the acquisition of a 95 percent stake in AVG.

But the Government Inspectorate concluded the deal, which had not been approved by the prime minister, had violated investment laws and caused an estimated loss of around VND7 trillion ($307 million) to the government.

In a report on the deal last March, inspectors said MobiFone had committed multiple violations in proposing the deal and AVG's valuation.

Besides, the company had provided false and incomplete information and falsified AVG's financial status in its report to the information ministry on the deal, which resulted in MobiFone paying VND8.89 trillion for the stake instead of VND1.9 trillion.

Le Nam Tra, 57, Mobifones former chairman and general director, and Pham Dinh Trong, 48, head of the ministrys department of enterprise management, were arrested last month and face charges of "violating regulations on the management and use of public capital, causing serious consequences."

The biggest fall in the case was possibly Truong Minh Tuan, who also lost his position as Minister of Information and Communication last month. Tuan had signed a decision to approve the AVG acquisition while serving as deputy information minister.

His seat has been filled by Nguyen Manh Hung, CEO of military-owned telecom giant Viettel.Six people were sentenced between five months in probation and two years in prison for inciting SEZ law protest in the central province of Ninh Thuan. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Chau

Six more people have been punished for inciting and engaging in violence during recent protests against the SEZ draft law.

A court in the central province of Ninh Thuan sentenced six people on Wednesday to between five months in probation and two years in jail for disturbing public order during protests against Vietnams draft law on special economic zones (SEZ).

The defendants had incited and/or engaged in violence among protesters in the province on June 10, the court heard Wednesday.

It sentenced Nguyen Van Nghia, 31, to two years in prison for urging protestors to engage in violence, blocking traffic and throwing rocks at the local police station.

Three others facing the same charges were sentenced to between eight to 12 months in prison, while two minors were given five to eight months in probation.

All the defendants pleaded guilty.

The protest in Ninh Thuan was one of several that erupted in Vietnam in opposition of the draft law on SEZs, particularly a provision that would allow foreign investors to lease land for 99 years, while the maximum period under the current Land Law is 70 years.

Thousands of people took to the streets on the same day in Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City and several provinces, with banners and signs calling for the draft law to be scrapped. The bill which was scheduled to be passed in June has been postponed for further discussions in October.

Following the demonstrations, police detained hundreds of violent protesters and said theyd uncovered evidence that the protests were anti-state actions instigated by organizations based in other countries using false, distorted information about the law.

Last month, 16 protesters in the south central province of Binh Thuan were sentenced to up to three and a half years in prison for engaging in violence during the SEZ law protests.

Also last month, HCMC put a Vietnamese American protester on trial for inciting violence during the protests, but ended up deporting him, saying it was a first-time offense and he was repentant about his actions.

Despite several postponements, Vietnam is yet to pass a law on demonstrations, so organizing protests is deemed illegal.Monsanto launched its weed killers Roundup in 1976 and soon thereafter began genetically modifying plants, making some resistant to Roundup. Photo by AFP

Vietnam's Foreign Ministry has reiterated its demand that Monsanto and other U.S. firms compensate Vietnamese Agent Orange victims.

The call comes after a San Francisco jury on August 10 ordered Monsanto to pay nearly $290 million in punitive and compensatory damages to Dewayne Johnson, a cancer patient whose terminal illness was allegedly caused by glyphosate in the company's weed killer product.

"This case is a precedent that dismisses previous arguments that the herbicides supplied to the U.S. Military by Monsanto and other American chemical companies during the Vietnam War are not harmful to people's health," deputy Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nguyen Phuong Tra said Thursday.

"We believe Monsanto should be held responsible for compensating Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange for the damage caused by the company's herbicides," Tra said.

Founded in 1901 in St Louis, Missouri, Monsanto began producing agrochemicals in the 1940s. It was acquired by Bayer for more than $62 billion in June.

Monsanto was one of the producers of Agent Orange, a defoliant used by U.S. troops to strip Vietnamese forces of ground cover and food. Between 1961 and 1971 the U.S. Army sprayed some 80 million liters of Agent Orange over 30,000 square miles of southern Vietnam.

Dioxin, a highly toxic chemical in the defoliant, has been linked to many major health problems such as cancer, mental disabilities and birth defects.

Millions of Vietnamese over several generations have suffered from health problems due to exposure to Agent Orange, according to government data.

In 2004, Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange filed a class action lawsuit in a New York court against Monsanto, Dow Chemical and more than 30 manufacturers of the toxic defoliant. The case was however dismissed by the U.S. court citing lack of evidence.

On the other hand, Monsanto has multiple times been ordered by U.S. courts to pay compensation to American plaintiffs who suffered health issues from exposure to the company's chemicals.An aerial view of Southwest Cay, also known as Pugad Island, controlled by Vietnam and part of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, April 21, 2017. Photo by Reuters/Francis Malasig

Every country is obligated to maintain peace and stability in the East Sea, Vietnam has asserted.

Responding to U.S. warnings that China might bring floating nuclear power plants to the area, Nguyen Phuong Tra, deputy spokesperson of Vietnam's Foreign Ministry, said peace and stability in the waters are the common interest of every country in the world.

"Therefore all parties are obliged to contribute to this goal," Tra said at a press conference Thursday.

In the annual report submitted to the Congress, the U.S. Department of Defense warned that China might have plans to power islands and reefs in the South China Sea, which Vietnam calls the East Sea, with floating nuclear power stations.

Development of such projects could begin prior to 2020, the report said.

The spokesperson of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte also said that the Philippine government was worried about the possibility that foreign powers may bring nuclear warheads into the region, which has been declared a nuclear-free zone, according to The Philippine Star.

At the Thursday press conference, Vietnam's Foreign Ministry also slammed Taiwan's ongoing live-fire drills around Ba Binh (Itu Aba) Island in Vietnam's Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands.

"Taiwan's continued holding of live-fire drills around Ba Binh Island seriously violates Vietnam's sovereignty, threatens security, maritime and aviation safety, causes tension and complicates the situation in the region," Tra said.

The deputy spokesperson stressed that Vietnam has full legal basis and historical evidence to assert its sovereignty over the island. Vietnam therefore resolutely opposes the drill and demands Taiwan not to repeat any such exercises in the future.

Taiwan's Ocean Affairs Council last month announced that it would hold a live-fire drill around the island from August 22-24.

Ba Binh is the largest naturally occurring island in Vietnam's Truong Sa archipelago, but it is currently under Taiwanese occupation. The 0.5-square kilometer island is 1,600 kilometers southwest of Taiwan.A court has found two Vietnamese Americans and 10 Vietnamese citizens guilty of trying to "overthrow the peoples administration."

The Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Court on Wednesday sentenced Nguyen James Han, a 49-year-old man with dual American-Vietnamese citizenship, and Phan Angel, a 62-year-old American national of Vietnamese origin, to 14 years in prison followed by immediate deportation.

Phan Angel, a 62-year-old American national of Vietnamese origin. Photo by Huu Khoa

The court also sentenced the duo's 10 Vietnamese accomplices to 5-11 years in prison and 2-3 years of probation on the same charges.

The indictment said the defendants were members of the "Provisional National Government of Vietnam," an organization founded by Dao Minh Quan in the U.S., which aims to overthrow the Vietnamese government through violence and acts of terrorism.

Due to limited education, lack of legal knowledge and being exposed to bad information, the defendants had formed one-sided views and had blind faith in the organization's promises of titles and other recognitions, the court heard.

They distorted the Party and the State's policies, brought the organization's members to Vietnam and recruited locals to carry out activities aimed at overthrowing the people's administration, the indictment said.

It said that in February 2017, Phan and Nguyen returned to Vietnam with plans to sabotage the country's celebration of its Reunification Day on April 30 and the International Workers' Day on May 1.

Nguyen James Han, a 49-year-old man with dual American-Vietnamese citizenship. Photo by Huu Khoa

Phan was found to have contacted a number of the organization's members in Vietnam to carry out disruptive protests, preparing spray paints and 4,000 pamphlets for these events.

The group also allegedly planned to break into broadcasting stations to broadcast propaganda for Quan.

However, Vietnamese authorities successfully neutralized all of the organization's plans and arrested the 12 defendants between April 19 and May 17 2017.

In total, the group only managed to gather about 100 signatures in support of Quan, investigators said.

At the trial on Wednesday, 11 of the 12 defendants admitted to their crimes and asked for leniency, while Phan denied the charges.

The court concluded that the defendants' crimes were "especially serious" as they violated Vietnam's national security, political security, social order and safety and went against the country's national interests, meriting strict punishment.

Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security in January classified the "Provisional National Government of Vietnam" as a terrorist organization. It has been accused of being behind a petrol bomb attack that burnt 320 motorbikes at a police warehouse in Dong Nai Province in April 2017, as well as a failed terror attack on Tan Son Nhat Airport later that month.

The HCMC court had last December sentenced 15 Vietnamese to 5-16 years in prison for the two terror attacks.

Vietnamese authorities have also issued international arrest warrants against Quan and six others, all of whom are living in the U.S. or Canada.HCMC Photography Association is displaying Vietnam War photographs by late photojournalist Lam Tan Tai.

The exhibition has 55 black and white photographs featuring Vietnamese soldiers during the Mau Than Offensive (1968) and at the end of the war, during the spring of 1975.

Photo courtesy of HCMC Photography's Association

Among the photos on display is one of the last US military personnel, American airforce commander David Odell, leaving Tan Son Nhat Airport on March 29, 1973.

Photo courtesy of HCMC Photography's Association

Our exhibition is a part of the citys cultural activities to celebrate the 73rd National Day, September 2, Le Xuan Thang, deputy chairman of Vietnam Photographers Association told Vietnam News Agency.

It is also a tribute to photojournalist Lam Tan Tai, who was the first general chairman of the Vietnam Photographers' Association. The exhibition commemorates his 17th death anniversary.

Tai, originally from Ba Ria  Vung Tau Province, joined the revolution in 1947. After studying arts and photography at Lomonoxop, a university in Moscow, he returned in 1966 and started working as a photojournalist, capturing thousands of photos of many battles.

Works by photojournalist Tai are invaluable, Thang said.

Photo: courtesy of HCMC Photography's Association

The exhibition is being held at 122 Suong Nguyet Anh St, District 1, from August 19 to August 28. It opens everyday from 8:00  11:30 and 13:30  18:30. Entrance is free.The place is also called the wooden cathedral, for it is almost completely made of wood. The architect designed the resident halls in Roman style along with the stilt house structure of the Ba Na people. A tall wooden cross on top of the church adds to its majesty and beauty. The Ba Na are an ethnic group of Vietnam living primarily in the Central Highlands provinces of Gia Lai and Kon Tum, as well as the coastal provinces of Binh Dinh and Phu Yen.Even without any charges lodged against him yet, President Donald Trump faces narrowing options in confronting the ominous investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Photo by AFP

U.S. and Chinese trade negotiators on Wednesday opened talks aimed at averting further confrontations, with a new round of tariffs about to hit.

The Federal Reserve has warned that escalation poses a serious economic risk.

These are the first formal discussions with China since June on the spiraling and multifaceted trade war between the world's two largest economies.

Meanwhile, U.S. and Mexican officials this week are expected to wrap up weeks of discussions on the rewrite of the North American Free Trade Agreement that could pave the way for Canada to rejoin the talks and move to a final agreement.

President Donald Trump has pushed aggressive trade actions to lower the US trade deficit that he equates with stealing from Americans. But U.S. trading partners have retaliated aggressively, which is hurting American farmers, manufacturers and consumers.

U.S. businesses have become increasingly concerned about the tariffs that are raising prices for manufacturers and could hurt the economy, although the prospect of a negotiated solution buoyed Wall Street this week.

However, Federal Reserve officials warned that "an escalation in international trade disputes was a potentially consequential downside risk for real activity," according to the minutes of the July 31-August 1 policy meeting.

A large-scale and prolonged dispute likely would adversely impact business sentiment, investment spending and employment, the officials warned, and boost prices, which would "reduce the purchasing power of US households."

Even as the talks begin, another $16 billion in Chinese goods will face new U.S. tariffs starting Thursday at 12:01 a.m. (0401 GMT), completing the first round of $50 billion in products targeted in the dispute over what U.S. officials say is the rampant theft of American technology.

China has said it will react immediately with tariffs on the same amount of U.S. goods, targeting iconic products like Harley motorcycles, bourbon and orange juice, among hundreds of others.

And still pending are the possibility for new duties on another $200 billion in Chinese goods, which are the subject of public hearings this week, as well as Trump's proposed 25 percent taxes on all auto imports to protect the U.S. industry.

But Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said China will not be able to continue to retaliate at the same pace as the United States.

"Naturally they'll retaliate a little bit. But at the end of the day, we have many more bullets than they do. They know it," Ross said on CNBC. "We have a much stronger economy than they have, they know that too."

Trump, who has threatened to target all $500 billion in goods the US imports from China, has made that same point, noting that Beijing cannot continue to retaliate in kind since it imports less than $200 billion a year in American goods.

US business impact

U.S. Treasury's David Malpass, undersecretary for international affairs, is leading two days of talks with China's Vice Commerce Minister Wang Shouwen, and Chinese Vice Finance Minister Liao Min.

The talks are due to continue Thursday morning, but the Treasury has not specified what topics are being discussed.

Trump said earlier this week that he was not expecting much from the talks.

"We are a country that has been ripped off by anybody and we are not going to be ripped off anymore," Trump said at a campaign rally in West Virginia on Tuesday.

"It has to be a two-way street. We only have one-way streets not only with China but everybody."

Thousands of large and small companies and industry groups have urged the Trump administration to reconsider the tariffs which some say could put them out of business.

But so far the Trump administration has largely been deaf to the complaints, as only a handful of product lines have been shielded from the punitive duties.

The administration already was forced to announce a $12 billion aid program for farmers hurt by the trade wars, as US agricultural products, like soybeans, were an easy target for China and others.

NAFTA rewrite

Efforts to revise NAFTA seem a bit more hopeful, after U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer told Trump last week he hoped to get a breakthrough on the issues with Mexico.

Mexico's Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo said on Wednesday they could be finalized "in the next two hours or next two days," according to press reports.Nepali Congress party poised for epochal meet

As the Nepali Congress is set to call for a Mahasamiti meeting next month, a big churning is in the offing inside the party that is expected to gather momentum in coming days. As well as discussion on the partys future course, the meeting is expected to pave the way for its top brass to gear up for a new leadership.SBU carries out searches at HQ of OKKO filling station network

The company is accused of operating filling stations in the occupied territory and deriving profit from that.

If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+EnterUkraine's trade envoy resigns to study at Stanford University

First Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine Maksym Nefyodov will perform the trade envoy's duties.

If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+EnterIn Baku, Merkel will discuss energy issues, including improving the infrastructure to help transport gas from Azerbaijan to Europe via Turkey, officials said.

Castigated by U.S. President Donald Trump as relying too much on Russian gas supplies, German Chancellor Angela Merkel heads to Azerbaijan this week to discuss the development of a southern pipeline to deliver gas to Europe from the Caspian.

The visit underscores Merkels openness to finding alternative sources of affordable gas even as she remains committed to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which will carry gas directly from Russia under the Baltic Sea to Germany, according to Reuters.

We have a big interest in further developing the Southern Corridor, a senior German government official said.

This is part of the EUs diversification strategy of getting gas from other regions, not just Russia, to Europe.

Read alsoGermany-Russia gas links: Ukraine more concerned than Trump

In Baku, Merkel will discuss energy issues, including improving the infrastructure to help transport gas from Azerbaijan to Europe via Turkey, officials said.

Azerbaijan looks set to play a crucial role as it plans to launch the second stage of a gas pipeline from the vast Shah Deniz field to Europe. Shah Deniz II is expected to produce 16 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas a year from 2020, with 10 bcm earmarked for Europe and 6 bcm for Turkey and Georgia.

Later, gas could be brought from Turkmenistan, Iran and Iraq to Europe. In a sign of progress, Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan agreed in principle this month on how to divide the potentially huge oil and gas resources of the Caspian Sea.

However, the southern pipeline is dwarfed by Nord Stream 2, a Gazprom initiative that will double Russias export capacity to Europe to 110 bcm. That pipeline is welcomed by much of German industry, which wants as much cheap gas as possible.

Last month Trump, who is pressing Germany to buy more U.S. liquefied natural gas, lambasted Germany as being a captive of Russia due to its dependence on Russian energy, a charge Germany denies. Trump has called Nord Stream 2 horrific.

Read alsoMerkel briefs Poroshenko on outcome of her talks with Putin

Germany imported 39 percent of its gas from Russia in the first half of 2018, figures from state foreign trade authority BAFA showed.

Merkel discussed energy in talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin at a palace outside Berlin at the weekend. She is trying to assuage some Nord Stream 2 critics by ensuring Ukraine does not suffer from lower gas transit revenues.

Merkel also travels to Georgia and Armenia on her three-day trip, which starts on Thursday. She will hold talks with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev on Saturday.Ukrainian analyst mocks "European sanctions" against Russia, cite examples of continued cooperation

The plan allows Russians to create up to 15,000 new jobs and produce tens of thousands of additional motor vehicles annually (including for the purpose of supplying more trucks to the 1st and 2nd army groups of Russian occupation forces in Donbas), IR says.

If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+EnterRecently, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin stated that the European Union had for several months been discussing the issue of strengthening sanctions against the Russian Federation for the illegal construction of the Kerch Strait bridge toward the occupied Crimea. However, sanctions cannot be tied to any particular act.

The Russian side is already suffering losses from sanctions, which only intensify the economic crisis and force the Kremlin to make internal political decisions affecting their economy. For example, this is about recent changes in pension law, increase in VAT, and rising fuel prices, all of which triggered a wave of discontent among Russians...

Sanctions are an instrument of economic war. What Russia is doing today in the Sea of Azov, from the point of view of creating problems for our ports in Berdyansk and Mariupol, is also a manifestation of economic war

Sanctions are an instrument of economic war. What Russia is doing today in the Sea of Azov, from the point of view of creating problems for our ports in Berdyansk and Mariupol, is also a manifestation of economic war. After all, once they've built the Kerch Strait bridge, its side effect is the restrictions on the tonnage of vessels passsing under it. That is, Russia is now creating a situation where owners or users of cargo ships for think have to think twice, whether they should work with Ukrainian ports, because they have no guarantees that there will be no long delays in the sea, which, incidentally, are initiated by the Russian FSB. Of course, this means additional costs for them. This is also a kind of sanctions, it's only that they are not announced, but still applied as a result of the existing bilateral agreements on the joint use of the Azov Sea.

For its part, Ukraine and partner states should apply similar actions to the occupied ports in Crimea. For example, this could be a ban on the supply of goods, denied servicing to vessels leaving those ports, and denied access to cargo shipped from there.

These restrictions would be very useful to apply to Russian ports in the Azov and Black Seas, primarily to the ports of Novorossiysk and Port Caucasus, through which troops and military equipment had been deployed to Crimea.

It should be remembered that sanctions have a cumulative effect  it does not appear immediately after their adoption, although creating a risk zone for other spheres of the economy

The same applies to enterprises located in Russia's Southern Federal District, which has become the base for continuing military operations in Ukraine's eastern Luhansk and Donetsk regions and the continuation of the occupation of the Crimea. Accordingly, it is permissible to say that such enterprises could be deemed sanctioned - they should not be allowed to trade and products shall not be delivered to companies registered in the district, etc.

In addition, it should be remembered that sanctions have a cumulative effect  it does not appear immediately after their adoption, although creating a risk zone for other spheres of the economy. This applies to companies that are not under sanctions and neither are they directly related to what is happening. But due to the fact that the companies are Russia-based and, theoretically, too can be sanctioned, Western partners will start treating them with caution, fearing potential economic losses. However, imposition of sanctions does not mean that Russia will abandon its aggressive actions.

Ukraine should be the initiator of the application and expansion of sanctions, both sectoral and global, targeting certain legal entities and individuals, as well as territories, but for the time being we are lagging on the issue

Ukraine should be the initiator of the application and expansion of sanctions, both sectoral and global, targeting certain legal entities and individuals, as well as territories, but for the time being we are lagging on the issue because we are behind our Western partners in terms of the sanctions' volumes.

In this regard, the first step Ukraine should take is to pass necessary changes to the law on sanctions, taking into account the latest developments, to abolish the law on the free economic zone of Crimea, as it contradicts the economic opposition to the Russian Federation, to amend other laws that could give law enforcers tools to hold accountable any violators of sanctions.

Yuriy Smelyanskiy is an economic expert with the Maidan of Foreign Affairs FoundationIn the five years, the Armed Forces of Ukraine got eight types of combat armored vehicles, two types of anti-tank missile systems, seven types of upgraded aircraft and helicopters.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has announced that the country's defense industry has virtually gotten rid of dependence on the supply of components from Russia.

"The defense industry's efforts are now focused on the production of high-tech modern weapons, which fully meet world standards, and on the modernization of the existing types of armament," he said while opening an exhibition of modern military hardware in downtown Kyiv on August 23, the presidential press service said.

According to him, "the things that earlier took decades, now take a month for the defense industry of Ukraine." "It takes place on the basis of the import substitution strategy, in which we practically got rid of the dependence on the supply of components from Russia. Just imagine that in 2013 this dependence was from 40 to 70%," he said.

He recalled that in 2014, he set a task to organize a three-shift work of the enterprises of the defense industrial complex in order to fully provide the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other security units with the necessary force component.

Read alsoFirst photos posted of Ukraine's brand new Bohdana self-propelled gun

In his words, over the five years, the Armed Forces of Ukraine got eight types of combat armored vehicles, two types of anti-tank missile systems, seven types of upgraded aircraft and helicopters.

"By the end of this year it is planned to complete a project for the creation and modernization of more than 20 samples of weapons and military equipment. Among them is a mobile automated command post for the provision of anti-aircraft missile divisions, a complex of artillery control vehicles. The accuracy and efficiency of artillery operations will be greatly enhanced," the president said.

Also, new samples manufactured according to the NATO standards will be demonstrated at the parade on the Independence Day of Ukraine on August 24. Among them are: the "Yatagan" T-84-120 main battle tank, the "Sapsan" operative-tactical missile complex, the "Vilkha" and "Verba" missile systems, and the "Bohdana" self-propelled howitzer.

"By the way, the 'Yatagan' is the most adapted to the military-technical standards of NATO. We are aware that Ukraine's accession to the Alliance will become real only when we achieve the high compatibility of our weapons. We are already moving this way. That is why our armored vehicles are equipped with modern sighting units, fire control systems and secured digital communications. Today, all this corresponds to the highest world standards of security and defense," Poroshenko said.NRA approves five integrated settlement plans

The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has approved the preliminary plan for the development of integrated settlements at five sites in Sindhupalchok, Ramechhap and Kavre districts.Ara Babloyan addresses congratulatory message on 28th anniversary of Armenias Independence Declaration

Speaker of the Parliament Ara Babloyan addressed a congratulatory message on the 28th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of Armenia: Dear compatriots, Today we celebrate the 28th anniversary of entering to the restoration path of the Armenian independent statehood. On August 23, 1990, the Supreme Council of the 12th convocation of the Soviet Armenia ratified a fundamental document which was titled Declaration about the Independence of Armenia. Its twelve points seemed were just a small and brief Constitution of the yet not created Armenian independent and democratic statehood. And we need to preserve its all traditions since by this way we should protect everything for which we fought in 1998 aimed at declaring them priority values. 28 years later its even difficult to say whether Armenias Independence Declaration was the childhood of our political mind or the reflection of maturity of a legal mind. Obviously, it was the continuation of the November 24, 1988 session of the Supreme Council of 11th convocation of the Soviet Armenia when the parliament announced late at night that the laws approved by the Armenian SSR Supreme Council only operate in Armenia. The military equipment entered Armenias capital, but the parliament has already ratified the peoples expression of will. The August 23 Declaration was at the same time the most important milestone and starting point to the path leading to September 21, 1991. It was a Declaration, but none of its twelve points were of a declarative nature, it became a reality thanks to our fight and sacrifices. Dear compatriots, August 23 is mentioned in our calendar with golden letters and has became a symbol of will and determination to make the dream of several generations of Armenians a reality. Decades will follow each other, numerous laws will be re-edited, amendments will be made in the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia. However, both we and each upcoming generation have to preserve the democratic and national values enshrined in the Independence Declaration, the freedom of speech, press and conscience, the equality of legislative, executive and judicial powers which were declared as fundamental values on August 23, 1990. Good luck to us on this path.PM Pashinyan holds meeting with ARF Lebanese Central Committees delegation

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received the ARF Lebanese Central Committees delegation led by Lebanese MP Hagop Pakradouni. The delegation included Lebanese minister of tourism Avedis Guidanian and the ARF Lebanese Central Committee member Raffi Ashkarian. During the meeting the positive results of the Velvet revolution and the peoples expectations on this direction, as well the atmosphere among the Diaspora, especially the Lebanese-Armenian community and the determination to preserve it have been discussed. It was stated that it is necessary to preserve the national unity and partnership spirit to overcome all obstacles, difficulties and prevent any attempt that will hinder the success. The ARF delegation conveyed to the PM the readiness and determination of the Lebanese-Armenians to practically support the efforts on strengthening Artsakh and Armenia. They also expressed their readiness to boost the economic, partnering, political, cultural and tourism ties between Armenia and Lebanon. PM Nikol Pashinyan welcomed this meeting, stating that Lebanon, Armenians and youth of Lebanon have special significance for him, especially in the context of their support during the recent revolution. Pashinyan highlighted the need to continue the dialogue and partnership for the benefit of the success of the revolution.Province govt calls for restraint after protest escalates

The province government on Thursday called on all concerned sides to show restraint after the situation became violent following clashes between locals and security personnel in Kanchanpur.UNIGHT TO UNITE. UCOM CELEBRATED ITS REBIRTH

Ameriabank and HSBC Armenia to provide their customers access to each others ATMs without additional fees

Ameriabank. 62.5% Growth in Taxes YOY

Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans have provided 300 million AMD to overcome the infertility in Armenia

UCOM has officially launched the sale of IPHONE 13

Six servicemen were wounded by the attack of the Azerbaijani armed forces in Artsakh, two of them in critical condition

S&P Improved the Outlook on Ameriabank to Positive

Ararat Mirzoyan to visit to Minsk

Foreign Minister of India visits the Memorial of Armenian Genocide

1217 new cases

Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia

Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group

At UCOM only: Tv sets at 10% discount + 1 month free UMIX package + 4k tv channel

Ameriabanks Special Offer for New Clients of Hrazdan Branch

"Fall forward": Gurgen Khachatryan, the Co-Founder of the Galaxy Group of Companies, addressed a message to young people in Armenia

UCOM hosted interns of Russian CBOSS corporation for a month

Google Ad

The 20-episode Bloody bet thriller to be broadcast on Ucom's Armenia Premium TV channel

Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group

UCOM offers affordable gadgets at bigger discount

Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan will pay a working visit to New York

Governments preventing publication of Haykakan Zhamanak newspaper during state of emergency

UCOM prolongs the unlimited internet offer for the level up 4700 and level up 5500 subscribers

Ucom employees received recognition for their services to the homeland

Karen Vardanyan has allocated 105 million AMD to rescue the Yerevan Botanical Garden.

"The Power of One Dram" to overcome childhood cancer

Generation A 13  your chance to be the change

President of the Artsakh Republic Arayik Harutyunyan met with Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Igor Khovayev

"uDays" special offer at Ucom: discounts for all smartphones and accessories for 2 days only

For more than 3 hours, 50 or more Azerbaijani servicemen have blocked the interstate roadResidents of Noragavit district: They want to take our lands from our "hands," we are not republicans to buy those lands (video)

It was crowded in front of the government today. Residents of Noragavit district struggle for their lands. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the lands of the community were handed over to the residents for cultivation. The land contract with the residents was terminated in 2004. "Since 2004, they have not signed an agreement intentionally. There was an agreement in advance to seize lands and to transfer them to another organization. They seized 170 hectares with very small amounts; they paid 800 drams for one square meter of land. After purchasing them, they handed over the lands to Spayka," Spartak Grigoryan says. The villagers continue to cultivate 10 hectares of land, which is owned by 28 families. The villagers demand to extend the term of the land contract and to allow them to cultivate their lands. "They want to take our lands from our "hands," and we will fight for our 10 hectares of land. They tell us to come and buy the land, and for one square meter they will pay 2960 drams. We are not republicans to buy those lands," says Karapet Eghiazaryan. The retired military servicemen, who did not receive their apartments by the state, were in front of the government, too. Details are in the video.UNIGHT TO UNITE. UCOM CELEBRATED ITS REBIRTH

Ameriabank and HSBC Armenia to provide their customers access to each others ATMs without additional fees

Ameriabank. 62.5% Growth in Taxes YOY

Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans have provided 300 million AMD to overcome the infertility in Armenia

Google Ad

UCOM has officially launched the sale of IPHONE 13

Six servicemen were wounded by the attack of the Azerbaijani armed forces in Artsakh, two of them in critical condition

S&P Improved the Outlook on Ameriabank to Positive

Ararat Mirzoyan to visit to Minsk

Foreign Minister of India visits the Memorial of Armenian Genocide

1217 new cases

Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia

Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group

At UCOM only: Tv sets at 10% discount + 1 month free UMIX package + 4k tv channel

Ameriabanks Special Offer for New Clients of Hrazdan Branch

"Fall forward": Gurgen Khachatryan, the Co-Founder of the Galaxy Group of Companies, addressed a message to young people in Armenia

UCOM hosted interns of Russian CBOSS corporation for a month

Google Ad

The 20-episode Bloody bet thriller to be broadcast on Ucom's Armenia Premium TV channel

Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group

UCOM offers affordable gadgets at bigger discount

Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan will pay a working visit to New York

Governments preventing publication of Haykakan Zhamanak newspaper during state of emergency

UCOM prolongs the unlimited internet offer for the level up 4700 and level up 5500 subscribers

Ucom employees received recognition for their services to the homeland

Karen Vardanyan has allocated 105 million AMD to rescue the Yerevan Botanical Garden.

"The Power of One Dram" to overcome childhood cancer

Generation A 13  your chance to be the change

President of the Artsakh Republic Arayik Harutyunyan met with Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Igor Khovayev

"uDays" special offer at Ucom: discounts for all smartphones and accessories for 2 days only

For more than 3 hours, 50 or more Azerbaijani servicemen have blocked the interstate roadNJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine has not been buying natural gas under a contract with Russia's PJSC Gazprom for 1,000 days, since November 26, 2015, importing gas from the West.

As reported, inconsistent prices were behind Ukraine's refusal to buy gas on its eastern border at the end of 2015. Late in December 2017, the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce revised the contractual formula in a contract between Naftogaz and Gazprom. By arbitration decision, the price of gas for Naftogaz shall be equal to the price of gas in the hub in Germany, whereas previously it depended on the price of gas oil and fuel oil.

However, on March 1, 2018, Gazprom refused to resume gas supplies to Ukraine, having returned $127.624 million paid by Naftogaz in advance. Gazprom thus violated the Stockholm Arbitration ruling, which adjusted the pricing under the contract between the two companies.

According to Naftogaz, it overpaid a third of the price because of an emergency gas purchase from Europe in early March and will require respective compensation from Gazprom. Such actions on the part of Gazprom also made it impossible for Naftogaz to abide by a Stockholm arbitration ruling under which it should buy minimum annual volumes of contracted gas from Gazprom.The United States intends to provide Ukraine with $78 million in additional international technical assistance, reads a statement posted the website of Ukraine's Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MEDT).

"The Cabinet of Ministers on August 22 approved the signing of additional agreements to the September 14, 2014 agreement on the fulfillment of a task in the sphere of development between the governments of Ukraine and the United States of America on improving transparency of governance and stable economic development. The respective orders were prepared by the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade in connection with the intentions of the U.S. government to provide additional funds for the implementation of the goals envisaged by the agreement," the report says.

In particular, the U.S. government intends to allocate $54.4 million in additional international technical assistance to ensure the accessibility of investment activities to the middle class in Ukraine, strengthen the potential of the private sector of the economy and improve energy efficiency and energy security, the ministry said.

"Thus, the total amount of technical assistance for these goals under the agreement, taking into account additional funds, will exceed $139 million," the ministry added.

According to the report, the signing of additional agreements also provides for the provision of $23.6 million for governance reform. In particular, this includes bringing Ukrainian legislation into line with European standards, improving the functions of public oversight, as well as increasing the level of government accountability. For these purposes, the total amount of technical assistance, taking into account additional funds, will be $62 million, the press release reads.Ukraine recognizes its obligations to raise gas prices, Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman has said.

"The question of raising gas prices is very difficult. You know that there are obligations that gas prices will grow amidst the growth of the global gas prices. I have been holding back this situation for a year ... However, now there is a question of another increase," he said during a press briefing in Lutsk.

He noted that the increase in gas prices is the key to continuing raising funds in international markets.

"This requirement arose because we need to work with external borrowing," the prime minister explained.

As reported, since July 2017 Ukraine has been in a complicated negotiating process with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the gas issue. The IMF insists on raising the price of gas for the population, which, according to various estimates, may range from 30% to 60% due to rising prices in international markets, while the prime minister had previously pointed out the irrationality of such a sharp increase.The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has authorized Acting Finance Minister Oksana Markarova to sign non-negotiable non-interest bearing notes in the national currency in favor of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Corresponding order No. 565-r of August 22, 2018 has been posted on the government's website.

The document assumes the issue of securities for the amount of funds raised under the Stand-By Arrangement and the EFF program.

An explanatory note to the order says that within the framework of cooperation with the IMF, the state participating in the fund's program is given the opportunity to acquire special drawing rights (SDR) or the currency of other IMF member countries at the expense of its own currency or the issue of bills.

Such bills will be deposited with the National Bank of Ukraine.

As reported, the IMF mission for the fourth revision of the EFF program will arrive in Ukraine on September 6.Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko is receiving congratulatory telegrams from the leaders of foreign countries in connection with the 27th anniversary of Ukraine's independence, the presidential press service has reported.

"The heads of state wished prosperity and well-being to the friendly people of Ukraine, and also expressed a firm commitment to strengthening friendly ties and cooperation with Ukraine in favor of mutual development and prosperity," the presidential press service said on Wednesday evening.

The head of state and the people of Ukraine were congratulated by King of the Netherlands Willem-Alexander, King of Sweden Carl XVI Gustaf, and King of the Belgians Philippe.

The Ukrainian president also received Independence Day congratulations from Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis and Italian President Sergio Mattarella.

"On the occasion of the national holiday, I am happy to express warm wishes of peace and prosperity to the Ukrainian people on behalf of the Italians and on my own behalf. Peace, stability and prosperity in your country remain our sincere desire and a deed, which we faithfully support in the framework of the efforts made in this direction by the international community. The implementation of the Minsk Agreements is a goal that must be pursued in the interests of Ukraine and all of Europe in a true spirit of cooperation and political will," the Italian president said.

Governor General of Australia Peter Cosgrove, Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Bakir Izetbegovic, and Captains Regent of San Marino Stefano Palmieri and Matteo Ciacci also sent congratulations on Ukraine's Independence Day.

Pope Francis also sent congratulations to the Ukrainian people and the head of the Ukrainian state.

"On the occasion of the Independence Day of Ukraine, I convey my sincere congratulations to you, Your Excellency, and to citizens of Ukraine. I hope that the desire to find a solution for the benefit of peace, for which the people are aspiring, will bring positive results for the whole country, especially for residents of regions affected by the conflict," the letter of congratulations says.U.S. will always stand by Ukraine when it defends sovereignty, territorial integrity  Trump's congratulatory note for Ukraine's Independence Day

U.S. President Donald Trump has sent a congratulatory note on the occasion of Ukraine's 27th Independence Day, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's press service said on Thursday.

Trump said in the note that the government of the United States will continue to work with Ukraine and support efforts to strengthen democratic institutions and rule of law, as well as help fight corruption and stimulate economic growth.

The U.S. president said the United States will always stand by Ukraine in times when it is defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders, wishing the country a peaceful and productive year.Residents quiver as stray dogs go on snapping spree

Its only half past nine in the morning, but the line of the dog bite victims at the Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital in Teku is so long that it has reached up to its eastern gate from the ticket booth.A European Vega light launch vehicle, which has a Ukrainian-made engine, has successfully put the European Space Agency's Earth Explorer Aeolus satellite into orbit.

The Vega rocket lifted away at 00:20 Kyiv time on August 23 from the Guiana Space Centre to the northwest of Kourou in French Guiana, France (South America), the State Space Agency of Ukraine (SSAU) said on its website. It was the twelfth launch under the Vega program and the first one this year.

Built by the European concern Airbus, the Aeolus satellite weighs 1.35 tonnes and is designed for long-range wind-mapping, it will probe the atmosphere with pioneering ultraviolet laser pulses. It is the first satellite that is able to measure wind speeds, using a laser technology for creating dynamic 3D maps of the earth's surface winds. Aeolus is equipped with a Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) instrument called Aladin, which uses the Doppler effect for determining wind speeds at various altitudes. The satellite is to provide reliable information about global wind conditions. The information is necessary for meteorologists to make better forecasts and for climatologists to enhance the understanding of tropical dynamics and processes relevant to climate variability. The satellite will operate for three years.

The Vega launch vehicle was developed by ESA together the Italian Space Agency (ASI). It is designed to launch small payloads. The launcher is capable of delivering a reference payload mass of up to 1,500 kg into a circular sun-synchronous orbit of 700 km altitude.

The RD-848P engine for the fourth stage of the rocket was developed by Ukraine's state-owned Pivdenne Design Bureau (Dnipro) and manufactured by Dnipro-based state-owned Pivdenmash. The first successful launch was in February 2012. From May 2013, ESA began using a new launch vehicle on a commercial basis.

In July 2017, Ukrainian participants in the Vega program extended the contract signed in 2012 with the European subcontractor, Avio SpA, for deliveries of engines for the Vega launch vehicle through 2020.

Ukraine's government and ESA signed a cooperation agreement concerning space cooperation for peaceful purposes in 2008. Some 17 European countries are ESA members.

Ukraine is currently preparing to create an information hub in accordance with a contract signed in May 2018 with the EU on cooperation in the Copernicus Earth observation program.Four Ukrainian servicemen killed, seven more injured in five-hour battle in Donbas

Four Ukrainian servicemen have been killed and seven more wounded in the area of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) in Donbas as a result of a five-hour battle, Ukrainian Defense Ministry spokesman Dmytro Hutsuliak has said.

"Unfortunately, Ukraine suffered irreparable losses. Four Ukrainian servicemen were killed and seven more of our defenders sustained wounds of various degrees following a five-hour battle," the press center of the Defense Ministry quoted Hutsuliak as saying on Thursday.

This was confirmed by updated data from midnight to 13.00 on Thursday, August 23.

According to the Defense Ministry, at around 06.00 on Thursday, under the cover of artillery and mortar fire, militants approached the advanced positions of a mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the vicinity of the settlement of Krymske (Luhansk region) and made an attempt to seize observation posts along the Bakhmut route.

"To rebuff the attack, the command of the brigade used reserves and repulsed the enemy. The enemy's losses are being clarified," Hutsuliak said.

He said that during the clash, Russian occupation troops fired more than 30 122mm artillery mines, over 60 120mm mines and 60 82mm mines. The armament of infantry fighting vehicles and grenade launchers of various types were also used.

"Our defenders used IFV weapons and grenade launchers," Hutsuliak said.

According to him, from the beginning of the day as of 13.00, Ukraine recorded 12 ceasefire violations by the enemy.

From 05.25, for more than two hours, militants fired 35 120mm mines at Ukrainian units in the vicinity of Krymske.

"At the same time, 122mm artillery was fired at the defenders of Novotoshkivske (Luhansk region). The enemy made 11 shots. Later, at around 07.00, Russian invaders made another 20 shots from 122mm artillery near Novotoshkivske and fired several 120mm mines," Hutsuliak said.

In addition, he recalled that militants used grenade launchers and large-caliber machine guns to fire at the defenders of Pivnichne, Starohnativka, Vodiane, Lebedynske, Shyrokyne, Pisky, and Krasnohorivka.

"One more Ukrainian soldier was killed in this shelling," Hutsuliak said.First Deputy Head of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) Alexander Hug notes a decrease in the number of shelling and casualties among civilians after regular agreements on a ceasefire regime in Donbas, but stresses the short duration of such an effect.

Yesterday in Minsk we once again confirmed its devotion to the ceasefire regime, which is the fourth such confirmation this year, while the commitment to observe the ceasefire agreement, about which the parties agreed as early as 2014, has already been confirmed 13 times, Hug said at a briefing in Kyiv on Thursday.

He noted that immediately after the next ceasefire agreement there has been a significant reduction in the number of violations of the ceasefire regime, and, accordingly, a decrease in the number of civilian casualties. However, in fact, this effect is very short, the situation remains unpredictable, Hug added.

The first deputy head of the OSCE SMM stressed that soon after the ceasefire agreement the level of violations returned to previous indicators.

And when new obligations lose their force, we are left with even more ruined houses and lost lives, added Hug.Turkey will continue supporting Ukraine's independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in his congratulatory message to his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko and Ukrainians on the 27th anniversary of Ukraine's independence.

"Our relations with Ukraine's strategic partner are being strengthened in every industry, and the long-standing friendship between our peoples is growing every day. We are very pleased to observe the mutual will that we find to bring our cooperation to an even higher stage. Turkey will continue supporting independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine," the greeting says.

Erdogan invited Poroshenko to visit his country in order to hold the next meeting of the High-Level Strategic Council in the autumn months, and wished the Ukrainian people well-being and prosperity.Interfax-Ukraine to host press conference 'The Forecast of Prices for the 2018/2019 Oilseeds Season. Who Will Win?'

On Tuesday, August 28, at 11.00, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency will host a press conference entitled "The Forecast of Prices for the 2018/2019 Oilseeds Season. Who Will Win?" Participants include Director General of the UkrAgroConsult Consulting Agency, Ph.D. in Economics Sergey Feofilov and President of the World Commodity Analysis Corporation (the United States) Paul McAuliffe (8/5-A Reitarska Street). Accreditation of journalists by e-mail: press@ukragroconsult.org.Sixty members of the European Parliament have expressed deep concern over the prolonged detention of Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh and demanded her unconditional release in a letter to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on August 22.

The letter pointed out that Sotoudeh "was arrested in June of this year to serve a five-year prison sentence for previously unreleased charges, apparently solely because of her human rights work," adding, "Last week, it was revealed that Nasrin Sotoudeh is facing new charges, reportedly including charges of espionage, which is an extremely worrying development."

The European MPs called on Rouhani to ask the Iranian judiciary "to respect due process and disclose information about the charges that Nasrin Sotoudeh is facing."

They also called on Rouhani to do all within his power to ensure Sotoudeh's unconditional release.

The letter characterized Sotoudeh as "an immensely courageous and respected lawyer, who is an inspiration to many in Iran and all over the world."

Marietje Schaake, one of the signatories, broke the news about this letter on her Twitter page.

Sotoudeh, who was arrested on June 1, has been in jail under a temporary arrest warrant, according to her husband, Reza Khandan. Khandan says Sotoudeh was sentenced in absentia in 2016 to five years in jail.

Khandan said in an interview with Radio Farda that the conviction was made based on Article 510 of the Islamic Penal Code, which is about espionage, but the court never levied such a charge against her, adding that "the sentence does not correspond to the charges in the indictment."

Sotoudeh said in a letter from Tehran's Evin Prison on August 22 that she will not report to the court or respond to the accusation, stressing that her refusal to defend herself is a lawful act based on Article 48 of the Penal Code.

Elsewhere in the letter, Sotoudeh says she has been denied the right to have her own defense lawyer although she has introduced three lawyers to the court.

A well-known human rights lawyer and Sakharov award laureate, Sotoudeh has defended many political and civil activists in Iranian courts, and her latest detention was reportedly because she defended female activists who had protested against compulsory hijab in Iran.

Several international human rights watchdogs had also called for Sotoudeh's unconditional release in June.

Meanwhile, the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) reported on August 15 that the husband of prominent Iranian political prisoner Narges Mohammadi has called on Irans judiciary to release his ailing wife.

Mohammadi, who was sentenced to 16 years in prison for her membership in the Defenders of Human Rights Center, was rushed to a hospital in Tehran on August 13.

Narges should be free but, under the current circumstances, at the very least, she should be allowed to go home so that her illness can be controlled without any stress, her husband, Taghi Rahmani, told CHRI.

CHRI quoted the Defenders of Human Rights Center, where Mohammadi worked before she was arrested, as saying in an August 13 statement that she had lost more than 16 pounds and doctors had found a growth in her stomach but had not been given the chance to do further tests.Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned the extremely harsh sentences that a Tehran Revolution Court gave last week to six staffers of the Majzooban-i Noor (Enchanted By Light) website.

The website is the only direct source of news and information about the Sufi religious community of Gonabadi dervishes in Iran.

According to RSF, Two members of the websites editorial committee, Salehoddin Moradi and Reza Entessari, and the latters brother, Sina Entessari, a citizen-journalist who wrote for the site, were sentenced to seven years in prison.

Another citizen-journalist who reported for the site, Mohammad Sharifi Moghadam, and another member of its editorial committee, Kasra Nouri, were given 12-year terms. Mostafa Abdi, another member of the editorial staff, received the longest sentence of 26 years in prison.

Earlier, in an open letter from Tehrans notorious Evin prison, four of the defendants had vowed they would not attend court hearings until the way was paved for a just and open trial.

All six were also sentenced to 74 lashes each and, on completing their jail terms, to two years of internal exile and a simultaneous two-year ban on all civil society and journalistic activity, RSF said. The sentences were passed in absentia because the six refused to attend any of the hearings on the grounds that they had no legal representation and the trial was unfair.

On February 16, for the second time in less than two weeks, security and intelligence agents swarmed Pasdaran Avenue in northern Tehran, where Tabandehs residence is located.

Gonabadi dervishes rushed to the scene to force the agents to leave.

After 7 a.m. on February 19, clashes broke out between the supporters of Tabandeh and security and Basij (the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps militia) forces.

Police special units supported by plainclothesmen attacked the protesters and battered dozens of dervishes.

Hundreds were arrested. Footage of dervishes with head injuries and broken teeth and jaws was widely circulated on social media. Three policemen and a member of the Basij were also killed.

Farhad Nouri, the Sufi community's spokesperson, told the New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) on February 23 that Kasra Nouri received a blow to the head that broke his skull and sent him into a coma for a while, but did not offer more details.

Furthermore, according to RSF, three of Majzooban Noors female citizen-journalists, Sepideh Moradi, Avisha Jalaleddin and Shima Entessari, were also sentenced by another branch of Tehrans Revolutionary Court on July 10 to five years in prison on charges of meeting and plotting against national security.

Rather than judicial decisions, these sentences are examples of how the Iranian judicial authorities persecute independent providers of news and information, said Reza Moini, the head of RSFs Iran/Afghanistan desk.

The Iranian regime has been cracking down harder on independent news providers ever since a wave of street protests began late last December in the Shiite holiest city in Iran, Mashhad, and soon spread to more than 100 cities across the country.

We call on Javaid Rehman, the UNs new special rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran, to take action on behalf of journalists who have been arrested arbitrarily and given unfair trials. The regime must adhere to its obligations to respect international standards, Moini said.

RSF says the dervish citizen-journalists were tortured while being interrogated at Shapoor police station precinct and Evins Block 209.

Iran is ranked 164th out of 180 countries in RSF's 2018 World Press Freedom Index.Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 23

Trend:

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the occupation of Azerbaijans Fuzuli and Jabrayil districts by the Armenian armed forces, as part of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.



On August 23, 1993, some 51 villages and the center of the Fuzuli district were seized by Armenians, as a result of which over 55,000 residents left their native land.



The district covers a territory stretching from the southeastern slopes of the Karabakh mountain range to the Araz River. It borders with Azerbaijani districts of Khojavand, Jabrayil, Aghjabadi, Beylagan, as well as Iran along the Araz River.



The area of the Fuzuli district is 1,386 sq. km. Some 13 settlements and 20 villages are located in this districts territory, freed from the occupation. Twelve of the settlements, constructed after liberation, accommodate the internally displaced families.



Since 1988, the Fuzuli district has been facing constant Armenian attacks. As a result of the occupation, over 1,100 residents of Fuzuli became martyrs, 113 were taken hostages and 1,450 were left handicapped.



Azerbaijani Ecology and Natural Resources Ministrys Operative Center, which inspects the devastating impact of the occupation on environmental and natural resources of Azerbaijan, found out that Armenians destroyed natural resources in the Fuzuli district during the occupation period.



Armenians cut down virtually all the trees in the Dovlatyarli village, and destroyed green spaces along the roads in the Gochahmadli and Yaglivand villages.



After the occupation of the Jabrayil district, which has a territory of 1,050 sq. km, some 72 secondary schools, eight hospitals, five mosques, two museums, 129 historical monuments and 149 cultural centers were left in the occupation zone. Some 61,100 IDPs from the Jabrayil district were settled in over 2,000 settlements in 58 districts across Azerbaijan.

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. 23

Trend:

Armenia, grossly violating the obligations assumed under the Geneva Conventions, continues to commit unlawful acts such as changing geographical names in the Fuzuli and Jabrayil districts, looting property there and burning territories, said Hikmet Hajiyev, spokesman of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, in a statement on the 25th anniversary of the occupation of Fuzuli and Jabrayil.

"On Aug. 23, 1993, in the course of the military aggression of the Republic of Armenia against the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Fuzuli and Jabrayil districts, outside the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region of Azerbaijan, were occupied by the armed forces of Armenia. As a result of the occupation of the Fuzuli district, 657 of its inhabitants were killed, 400 became war disabled, and 181 were captured and are missing," said Hajiyev.

Among the residents of the Jabrayil district, about 400 people were killed, 177 became war disabled, and 91 were captured and disappeared without a trace. Residents of both regions faced mass ethnic cleansing, and state and private property were subjected to plundering. At present, out of 130.9 thousand inhabitants of the Fuzuli district, about 70 thousand live in its liberated areas, while the rest inhabit different regions of Azerbaijan as internally displaced persons. Most of the 79.9 thousand residents of the Jabrayil district still have to live in different parts of Azerbaijan as IDPs, he added.

As in other occupied territories, in the Fuzuli and Jabrayil districts as well Armenia carries out the policy to ruin, falsify, vandalize and alter original characteristics of Azerbaijani peoples cultural and historical heritage. In the territory of the Fuzuli district Garakopaktapa archaeological monuments of 3rd millennium BC, Mirali's mausoleum of 13-14th centuries in the village of Ashaghy Veysali, the mosque and caravanserai of the 17th century in the village of Garghabazar and others should be noted. In the Jabrayil district, the Khudafarin bridges over Araz River of 11-13th centuries, which are a monument of world importance, as well as the tomb of 13-14th centuries in the village of Dagh Tumas, medieval cemeteries and other monuments located near the city of Jabrayil, were destroyed and plundered.

The Republic of Armenia, grossly violating the obligations assumed under the Geneva Conventions, continues to commit such unlawful acts as the change of geographical names in the Fuzuli and Jabrayil districts, the looting of property there and the burning of territories. Especially in the Jabrayil district, illegal economic activities in agriculture are conducted and attempts are made to settle the persons of Armenian origin, including Armenians from Syria. The construction by Armenians of a church in the territory of the Jabrayil district, where they have never lived as community except for some individual cases, visibly demonstrates the ill intentions of Armenia to annex the occupied Azerbaijani territories and to give the conflict a religious character.

The United Nations Security Council resolution 884 strongly condemned the occupation of the city of Horadiz of the Republic of Azerbaijan and expressed serious concern over the humanitarian emergency on Azerbaijans southern frontier, including the city of Horadiz, and the expulsion of a large number of civilians from their places of permanent residence. The resolution demanded the withdrawal of the occupation forces unilaterally from the city of Horadiz and other occupied territories of Azerbaijan in accordance with the "Adjusted timetable of urgent steps to implement Security Council resolutions 822 (1993) and 853 (1993)". Although the UN Security Council resolutions contain an unequivocal demand for the withdrawal of the occupation forces, Armenia has not complied with these demands.

Only as a result of the counteroffensive operation carried out by the Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan since January 5, 1994, 22 settlements of the Fuzuli district and the village of Jojug Marjanly of the Jabrayil district were liberated from the occupation. After the liberation of Lalatapa hill near Jojug Marjanly in April 2016 and thus providing the necessary security conditions for residing in this village, the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan ensured demining of the territory, rebuilding houses, associated infrastructure and the return of internally displaced persons in dignity. The restoration work carried out by the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the liberated territories of Fuzuli district and in the village of Jojug Marjanly demonstrates Azerbaijan's firm willingness to liberate and restore the occupied territories, to ensure safe and dignified return of IDPs.

The occupation of Azerbaijani territories can never lead to political outcomes pursued by Armenia. Only the withdrawal of troops of Armenia from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan and the change of status quo of occupation can open the way for a political settlement of the conflict, comprehensive regional cooperation and contribute to ensuring sustainable peace.

The Azerbaijani side, supporting the intensification of international efforts for soonest resolution of the conflict, retains the inherent right to restore its territorial integrity and sovereignty within the internationally recognized borders and the violated rights of its citizens, said Hikmet Hajiyev.Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 23

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 23.

Armenian armed forces were using large-caliber machine guns.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.Smuggling of peppers thrives after betel nuts

As the government recently imposed a flat Rs45 per kg import duty on betel nuts, opportunist traders have stopped importing the product and have shifted their focus to importing pepper.Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 23

By Azad Hasanli  Trend:

Russia continues its mediation efforts on the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflicts settlement, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing Aug. 23.

We are in touch with the parties in various formats, she noted.

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.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @AzadHasanliBaku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 23

Trend:

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko.

On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I extend my sincere congratulations to you and all the people of your country on the occasion of Independence Day of Ukraine, Ilham Aliyev said in his letter.

Azerbaijan and Ukraine are bound together by ties of traditional friendship. The current high level of our interstate relations is a clear reflection of this tradition. I do believe that the development and deepening of our bilateral and multilateral cooperation will make new contributions to the prosperity of our countries and peoples.

On this remarkable day, I wish you robust health, success in your endeavors, and the friendly people of Ukraine peace and prosperity, the Azerbaijani president said.Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 23

Trend:

Being a parliamentarian does not give ground for violating the laws of other countries, the Spokesman of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Hikmet Hajiyev told Trend Aug. 23.

Hajiyev commented on the intention of the German parliamentarian to visit the occupied territories of Azerbaijan from the Azerbaijani side.

Hajiyev noted that if the German MP intends to visit the occupied territories of Azerbaijan from the Azerbaijani part of the line of contact, he must address with a written apology, express respect for the laws, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

Earlier, the member of German Parliament Albert Weiler was included in the list of "undesirable persons" for his illegal visits to the occupied territories of Azerbaijan in 2014 and 2016.

"He, as a representative of the legislative body, must respect the laws of the UN member states. Being a member of parliament does not give grounds to anyone to violate the laws of other countries. Everyone should know that such illegal visits serve to encourage the separatist regime created in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan as a result of military aggression and bloody ethnic cleansing and hinder the resolution of the conflict by peaceful means in accordance with international law," he said.

Hajiyev added that violation of the laws, that are identical in all UN member states, by the mentioned MP and the further attempt to justify this step is a big mistake.

"Also, it cannot be ruled out that such provocative steps pursue an unsuccessful goal specifically to harm the development of relations between Azerbaijan and Germany. Furthermore the Azerbaijani Embassy in Germany repeatedly made nonverbal warning about illegal trips to the occupied territories of Azerbaijan and the negative consequences of these trips. In any case, this person has been included in a list of "undesirable persons" for violating the laws of Azerbaijan," he said.

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. 23

By Anvar Mammadov - Trend:

At present, the intellectual property insurance in Azerbaijan has not gained the expected momentum, the expert in the field of insurance Vugar Huseynli believes.

The expert noted that this product, the sales of which started last year, has not yet gained popularity.

"The fact is that very few companies know about this product and face it only when preparing documents for the customs authorities in the framework of trademark registration in Azerbaijan and the fight against counterfeit products. Given the fact that the State Customs Committee requires this insurance as part of the registration of a trademark, the unpopularity of the product can be explained by the fact that companies do not exhibit activity in this matter," Huseynli told Trend.

The expert believes that currently the product may be of interest mainly to large foreign companies.

"Large foreign companies are seriously engaged in the fight against counterfeit products. Therefore, this product may arouse their interest. I know that some companies operating in the territory of Azerbaijan, for example, Unilever, have already purchased this insurance product. As for Azerbaijani companies, first of all, it is necessary to simplify the process of obtaining patents, which will increase the number of intellectual property in the country. And, afterwards, it will already become possible to think about its insurance," Huseynli said.

Azerbaijan has started to insure intellectual property since last year. The product is intended for international companies exporting various products to Azerbaijan.

The formation of insurance coverage and insurance premiums for this product depends on how popular a particular brand is and how often it is forged. The trade turnover of the company in Azerbaijan and the list of distributors of this company in the country are also considered. As for coverage, it also varies depending on the risks and ranges from5,000 to 5 million manats.Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 23

By Fikret Dolukhanov  Trend:

The capital of Uzbekistan will host the 6th meeting of the Uzbek-Belarusian intergovernmental commission for bilateral cooperation on August 23-24, the Uzbek media reported.

The meeting will be chaired by Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister Nodir Otajonov and Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Mikhail Rusyi.

The agenda of the meeting includes discussion of perspective directions of bilateral cooperation in engineering, agriculture, light and food industries, science and high technologies, education, medicine and tourism, the Embassy of Belarus in Tashkent said in a message.

The Belarusian government delegation will also visit a number of production facilities where joint Belarusian-Uzbek cooperation projects are being implemented and will take part in the solemn opening ceremony of the bust and street named after the peoples poet of Belarus Yakub Kolas in Tashkent city.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @FDolukhanovBaku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 23

By Matanat Nasibova - Trend:

The upcoming visit of German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Baku this week is primarily aimed at achieving certain agreements on energy projects being implemented by Azerbaijan, Murad Sadigzade, a well-known Russian expert, president of the Russian Middle East Association, told Trend.

Merkels visit to Baku is expected on August 25. This is the first visit of the German chancellor to the South Caucasus region, which starts on August 23 from Georgia.

The political analyst said the situation in international relations is changing so rapidly that it becomes impossible to predict the processes even for the next month.

However, there are always major trends that often go unnoticed among all events, Sadigzade said. The August 25 visit is among those that can change both regional and global agenda.

He noted that Germany and other EU members are actively trying to diversify their routes and sources of energy supply in order to ensure national security and not be dependent on any supplier. Therefore, the possibility of acquiring energy resources through new gas corridors of Azerbaijan will be discussed, the political analyst added.

I think all this is expected against the backdrop of the recent visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Berlin, during which the Nord Stream 2 project was discussed, he said.

He noted that taking into account the interest of the EU countries in ensuring the sustainable development of their economies, a new era of the Contract of the Century may begin for Azerbaijan, and this era will make it possible to increase economic power and ensure sustainable growth.

Presently, Azerbaijan, together with partners, is implementing the Southern Gas Corridor project, designed to deliver Azerbaijani gas from the Shah Deniz field to European markets. On May 29, Baku hosted the ceremony of launching the first stage of the Southern Gas Corridor project. The gas will be supplied via the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) to Turkey (about six billion cubic meters per year), and further via Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) to Europe (10 billion cubic meters). After the completion of the TAP construction, the gas will be delivered to Europe in around early 2020.

Even if energy issues are discussed in the first place, this in no way reduces the importance of other economic projects, especially for Baku, which seeks to increase revenues from the non-oil sector, Sadigzade said. I believe the transport corridors that will pass through the territory of Azerbaijan and connect the East with the West will be touched upon. In a successful scenario, the markets of the Persian Gulf and Asia will be opened for German products.

Political topics of the talks will include coordination of positions between Baku and Berlin regarding security issues in the region, as well as the situation around the Iranian nuclear program, he noted.

"Moreover, this issue will be watched actively not only in the two countries, but also in Washington, as the US saw certain unusual development as its allies didnt support new sanctions on Iran," he said. "I think this fact is remarkable here."

He added that if Baku confirms its commitment to continue full-fledged cooperation with Tehran, Azerbaijan and Germany will have one more point where their interests coincide.

I believe the upcoming visit of Angela Merkel will give a new impetus to the development of bilateral relations between Baku and Berlin, and will also serve as a positive step in strengthening relations between Russia and the EU, Sadigzade said.

He further noted that the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will be also discussed.

Germany, being one of the leading states of the EU, has always openly declared its adherence to the norms of international law and supported the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan in the Karabakh conflict, he said. Berlin realizes that the existing status quo doesnt suit Baku, because more than 20 percent of Azerbaijani lands are still under occupation.

He added that Berlin will advocate an exclusively peaceful settlement of the conflict and, possibly, will try to influence the new authorities in Yerevan.Russia plans to stop buying electronic devices and components from the United States that can be used for both civilian and military purposes regardless of new U.S. sanctions, Russian lawmaker Alexei Kondratiev was quoted as saying on Thursday.

The U.S. State Department announced new sanctions on Russia on Aug. 8 that would cover Russias access to sensitive U.S. national security-controlled goods, Reuters reported.

We will in any case reject all American components as this bell has sounded, Kondratiev, deputy head of the defense and security commission in Russias upper house of parliament, was quoted by RIA news agency as saying.

Third countries including China have analogous models of what we buy from the United States. The arms market is built on universal exchange so we will in any case find a way out, he was quoted as saying.Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 23

By Anvar Mammadov - Trend:

Tourist flow to Azerbaijan continues to grow, Chairman of the Azerbaijan Tourism Association Nahid Bagirov told Trend.

"According to the preliminary results of the summer tourism season, the flow of tourists to Azerbaijan has grown by 10 percent. But there has been a decline in a number of individual countries," Bagirov noted.

"As in 2017, the majority of tourists came from the Arab world, which is explained by the opening of new direct flights between Azerbaijan and Arab countries. There was a growth in the number of tourists from Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia. At the same time, a decline was recorded in the number of Emirati tourists," Bagirov said.

"Decline in the tourist flow from the UAE is due to the increased rivalry in the market. The rivalry for the Arab tourist market is very high and many countries - Kazakhstan, Georgia, Turkey, Russia and others - are constantly trying to create the best conditions for Arab tourists to attract them. Recently, Azerbaijan has simplified the visa regime for UAE residents, and I think this will allow us increase the number of Emirati tourists," Bagirov said.

"Along with the Arab countries, there was also an increase in the tourist flow from Russia, CIS and Israel," he added.

According to Bagirov, not only Baku, but also the regions of the country are very popular among the visitors.

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.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @Anvar_MammadovBaku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 23

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

Some 162,008 tourists from Iran visited Turkey in June 2018, which is 30.31 percent less than in the same month of 2017, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey told Trend.

The ministry noted that the share of Iranian citizens in the total number of foreigners who visited Turkey in June 2018 accounted for 3.6 percent.

For comparison, this figure was 6.37 percent in June 2017.

Some 5,091,496 tourists visited Turkey in June 2018, which is 28.49 percent more than in the same period of 2017.

The Turkish province of Antalya was visited by 1,933,899 tourists in June 2018, which accounted for 42.92 percent of the total number of tourists. Istanbul was visited by 1,100,389 people, which accounted for 24.42 percent of the total number of tourists who visited Turkey during the period.

Turkey was visited by 451,699 tourists from Germany, 306,647 tourists from the UK, 241,095 tourists from Ukraine, and 210,989 tourists from Bulgaria in June 2018.

Some 15,968,001 tourists visited Turkey during the first six months of 2018, which is 30.36 percent more than in the same period of 2017.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizogluAshgabat, Turkmenistan, Aug. 23

By Huseyn Hasanov  Trend:

President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sooronbay Jeenbekov arrived in Ashgabat on a state visit Aug. 23, the Turkmen Foreign Ministry said in a message.

During the visit, meetings are planned with President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

Development of cooperation and activation of political, trade-economic, transport, energy and cultural-humanitarian relations between the countries will be discussed during the meetings.

A number of documents are planned to be signed.Striking fuel tanker operators to face action

Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) said it will initiate action against petroleum tanker operators who obstructed the fuel supply in Bhairahawa on Tuesday and Wednesday.Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 23

Trend:

Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov as part of his state visit to Turkmenistan on Aug. 23 held talks with his Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in an expanded format, Kabar news agency reported.

The two presidents noted that they attach great importance to building mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries and are aimed at further expanding the multilateral ties of the two fraternal peoples.

Sooronbay Jeenbekov and Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov stressed that the talks took place in an atmosphere of friendship, mutual understanding and constructivism.

The state and prospects of bilateral relations, as well as issues on the regional and international agenda were discussed in detail. They included water-energy, transport, trade-economic, political, agricultural, industrial and cultural-humanitarian issues.

The presidents of Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan came to the opinion of the maximum use of mutual potential in all spheres of cooperation.

The parties expressed their readiness to further develop friendly and fraternal mutually beneficial relations.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that the Turkmen delegation will be sent to participate in the World Nomad Games in September 2018.

Sooronbay Jeenbekov invited the Turkmen president to visit Kyrgyzstan at any time.Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 23

By Fikret Dolukhanov - Trend:

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev will visit Turkmenistan on August 24, the press service of the Uzbek Foreign Ministry reported.

Mirziyoyev will visit Turkmenistan at the invitation of his Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and take part in the meeting of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) Council of the Founder States.

Cooperation of the Central Asian countries to improve the ecological state of the Aral Sea in the context of global climate change have been included to the agenda of the summit, which will be held in Turkmenbashi.

It is expected that, following the meeting, the Joint Communique of the Council of Heads of State will be adopted.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @FDolukhanovIt aims to create a reliable transport corridor for the smooth transport and transit of goods and services through Chabahar Port between Afghanistan, India, and Iran.

Chabahar is the closest and best access point of Iran to the Indian Ocean and Iran has devised serious plans to turn it into a transit hub for immediate access to markets in the northern part of the Indian Ocean and Central Asia.The head of Sistan-Baluchestan provinces Fisheries Organization said some 1,000 tons of shrimps were exported to four countries from Govater Bay in the Iranian city of Chabahar in the first five months of the current fiscal year (started March 21).In a statement published by the official website of the European Commission on Thursday, EU's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini announced the news and said, Since the renewal of the EU-Iran relations as a result of the Iran nuclear deal, cooperation has developed in many sectors. We are committed to sustain it and this new package will widen economic and sectoral relations in areas that are of direct benefit to our citizens.Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 23

Trend:

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has arrived in Georgia, Georgia Today reports.

Her plane landed in Tbilisi International Airport at 15:30 (GMT +4).

Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani and Georgian Ambassador to Germany Elguja Khokrishvili greeted the German Chancellor at the airport.

From the airport, Merkel is heading to the governmental administration where she will meet the Prime Minister of Georgia Mamuka Bakhtadze. The prime minister will hold a face-to-face meeting with the Chancellor and then hold an extended format meeting with the participation of the German and Georgian delegations.

After the face-to-face meeting, a press conference will take place and Merkel and Bakhtadze will answer the questions of the media.

After the governmental administration, the Chancellor will go to the Georgian president's administration where she will meet Giorgi Margvelashvili.

At the end of the day, the Chancellor of Germany, together with the foreign minister, will lay a wreath on the Heroes Square war memorial.

On August 24, German Chancellor will hold meetings with representatives of opposition parties at Tbilisi Marriott Hotel.

Merkel will also meet with Georgian students at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University. Afterwards, she will hold a meeting with the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) program.

Also, the Chancellor and the Prime Minister will meet on August 24 with German soldiers participating in the Noble Partner military drills at Tbilisi International Airport, where Merkel's visit to Georgia will end.Mexicos economy minister said on Thursday he was pushing for a quick deal with U.S. officials in the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), with a breakthrough on new rules for the auto industry still elusive, Reuters reported.

ince restarting last month, the talks have focused on settling differences between Mexico and the United States at the center of U.S. President Donald Trumps complaint that NAFTA has undercut U.S. manufacturing to Mexicos benefit.

Trump has threatened to withdraw from the 24-year-old trade pact between the United States, Mexico and Canada if it is not reworked to the advantage of the United States. He hopes to reduce the U.S. trade deficit with lower-cost Mexico and claw back jobs, particularly in the auto industry.

The idea is to do our best to finish this agreement as soon as possible, Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo told reporters as he entered the latest NAFTA talks at the offices of U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer in Washington.

Its better to have a good agreement than a fast (agreement), the minister added.

Mexico and the United States have said they are close to resolving remaining bilateral issues in the revamp of the trade pact. However, a day earlier Guajardo had said the two sides might be able to reach agreement in hours.

The tone has become more cautious since then.

Canada has been waiting for the Mexican and U.S. teams to reach common ground before rejoining the negotiations.

Much of the negotiation has focused on revising rules of origin for autos to try to bring more production to the region.

U.S. and Mexican officials say they will push for a deal that could open the door for Canada to return.

However, Canadas government reiterated on Thursday that it would need to be satisfied with any new rules of origin.

Updating the rules of origin has always been a very big, important and complicated effort, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland told reporters in British Colombia. Canada clearly has an interest in how those rules are updated and we clearly will need to look and agree to any final conclusion.

The Trump administration wants to be able to impose national security tariffs on future Mexican production from new auto assembly and parts plants, according to auto industry officials. That has caused friction at the talks.

The threat of 25 percent tariffs could discourage new automotive investment in Mexico to serve the U.S. market.

Asked whether tariff-related issues in the automotive sector were holding up progress at the talks, Guajardo said he was not going to comment on every single item.

Guajardo has said he hoped that a deal in principle would be possible in August. Asked whether that was still the plan, Guajardo said that it was a very efficient timeline.Increasing domestic pressure was put on Italian government on Wednesday, asking it to authorize the disembarkation of an Italian coast guard ship with migrants and refugees in Sicily, Xinhua reported.

The Diciotti vessel carrying 177 rescued people was let dock by the Infrastructure Ministry in the Sicilian port of Catania on Monday, ending an initial standoff with Malta.

Yet, the coast guard has not yet received permit by Interior Minister Matteo Salvini to let the migrants leave the ship.

The migrants have been confined aboard for a week since they were rescued by the Italian coast guard off the Libyan coasts last Wednesday.

Most of the migrants were from Somalia and Eritrea, according to volunteers, and at least 29 minors were among them, some of which travelling alone.

This appeared to increasingly concern Italian authorities protecting children's rights.

The public prosecutor at the Juvenile Court in Catania, Caterina Ajello, wrote to the ministries of Interior and Infrastructures, the immigration and civil liberties department, and the Catania prefecture, asking them to allow the non-accompanied minors to disembark.

In her letter on Wednesday, the magistrate said the children's rights were being evaded, "including the prohibition to be turned away, (the right) to be hosted in suitable facilities, have a guardian, apply for international protection, and be reunited with relatives legally residing in other European countries."

Earlier this week, Italy's national authority for children and adolescents had also appealed to the government over the fate of the minors on board of the Diciotti.

"According to the law... these children cannot be rejected," authority chief Filomena Albano said in a statement on Aug. 20.

"They are minors and -- regardless if they are migrants or foreigners -- they hold some rights: (the right) to life, to survive, to develop, and to receive protection and care," the official added.

Finally, Italy's national ombudsman for the rights of the detained people, Mauro Palma, announced on Wednesday he would take part in a delegation visiting the coast guard ship on Thursday.

Such decision was motivated by "the persisting stalemate concerning the ship, with 177 migrants on board that have been deprived of freedom without any legal basis and judicial protection for almost a week," Palma said in a statement.

As of Wednesday, such appeals received no official answer from Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte's government, which is based on a coalition between anti-immigration League and anti-establishment Five Star Movement.

Before the Diciotti was allowed to enter the Catania port without disembarkation, Interior Minister Salvini had said on Facebook that Europe should step in to provide the due support.

"After months of talk, we expect (EU authorities in) Brussels to move from words to deeds. Otherwise, we will deport the people rescued at sea back to a port in Libya," said Salvini.

After an official request was filed by the Italian Foreign Ministry, the EU Commission said it was working to redistribute the 177 migrants aboard the Diciotti ship among various member states, Ansa news agency reported earlier this week.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Commission further said it was "supporting Italy with an additional 9 million euros (10.4 million U.S. dollars) for health care in reception facilities for asylum seekers and refugees."

Such financial aid would reach over 42,000 people hosted in five Italian regions, according to the EU executive body.Marines seized 725 kilos of cocaine and arrested four men on a vessel in waters off the south Pacific Coast state of Guerrero, the Mexican Naval Ministry said on Wednesday, Xinhua reports.

In a press release, the ministry said marines made the arrests on Tuesday after air surveillance detected the boat 40 nautical miles (around 45 kilometers) southeast of Guerrero.

Seven boats and two aircraft were sent to intercept the vessel. On board, officers found 599 packets of cocaine with a combined weight of 725 kilos.

The Mexican Navy has increased its surveillance of the Pacific coast in the last two years due to the increase in drug smuggling via the coasts.The popularity of imprisoned former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silvas has grown strongly despite his corruption conviction, an election poll on Wednesday showed, a result that rattled markets and raised the possibility that Lulas running mate could ultimately become the next occupant of the countrys presidential palace, Reuters reported.

Investors reacted unfavorably to the poll, sending Brazils currency down 0.8 percent in late morning trading to 4.08 to the U.S. dollar, near an all-time low.

Lula, the candidate for Octobers presidential election for the Workers Party (PT), which he founded, is almost certain to be barred from running by an electoral court. Brazilian law forbids the candidacy of anyone whose conviction has been upheld on appeal, as is the case with the charismatic former president.

In a Datafolha poll published by the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper and Globo TV, Lula easily led all contenders when his name was included, winning the support of 39 percent of those surveyed. Far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro was in second place with 19 percent, while environmentalist Marina Silva took 8 percent.

If Lulas name is excluded, Bolsonaro leads with 22 percent and Marina Silva jumps to 16 percent.

Other polls this week had similar results.

The PTs strategy is to keep Lulas candidacy alive for as long as possible, then work to transfer his support to his running mate, former Sao Paulo mayor Fernando Haddad, who polled just 4 percent in the Datafolha survey.

The poll found that 31 percent of respondents said they would definitely vote for Lulas handpicked successor if Lula is barred from running, while another 18 percent said that perhaps they would vote for a Lula-backed candidate.

Lulas ability to transfer votes to Haddad is expected to grow as political ads begin to be aired at the end of this month. The PT is expected to pull out all stops to link Haddad to Lula in its ads.

A PT return to power would yank Brazils economic policies to the left, with investors fearing the return of a state-led economy and with no attempt to continue the economic reforms that deeply unpopular President Michel Temer has partially pushed through Congress.

In the Datafolha poll, business favorite center-right candidate Geraldo Alckmin remained stuck in single digits with 9 percent, up from 7 percent in June.

Under Brazils strict election campaign advertising rules, Alckmin will have more TV ad time than any other candidate because of his large coalition, but it remains to be seen if marketers can transform him into a viable candidate.

Bolsonaro, a former army captain who favors easing gun control laws to fight crime, has stirred controversy with comments denigrating women, gays, blacks and indigenous people.

Despite this, Bolsonaro has led the field from the outset when Lula is excluded, by tapping into voter anger over political corruption.

Center-left candidate Ciro Gomes, a former governor of Ceara state in Brazils poor Northeast, has held steady at 10 percent. Gomes has failed to draw the support of Lula voters he would need to become the new standard bearer of Brazils left.

Datafolha surveyed 8,433 voters across Brazil Aug. 20-21. The poll has a margin of error of two percentage points.Traffic jams resume as Kalanki subway closes

Nepals first 800-metre underpass between Khasi Bazaar and Bafal Chowk that opened for trials last week remains closed since Wednesday morning, creating long traffic snarls in the area.Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop will stand for leadership of the ruling Liberal party, local media reported on Thursday, after several ministers tendered their resignations and left Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull clinging to power, Reuters reports.

Turnbull narrowly won a leadership vote on Tuesday against the former home affairs minister, Peter Dutton, and on Thursday offered to hold a second vote on Friday if he received a letter signed by the majority of the Liberal party.

Treasurer Scott Morrison will also challenge for the top job in any leadership vote, local media reported earlier.There are problems in Belarus-Russia relations but they are not piling up, no new problems emerge either, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko stated as he met with President of Russia Vladimir Putin in Sochi on Aug. 22, BelTA has reported.

The Belarusian head of state said: We have indeed something to talk about. But I wouldn't say that problems are piling up. We have problems, which are dealt with swiftly or take a long time to resolve. But, fortunately, no new problems have been emerging recently as I see it. Nevertheless, these problems cannot be resolved without us. Some problems we happen to deal with are not ours. This is why we indeed have something to talk about. I'd be glad if you add to my knowledge with regard to international relations, your meetings, your impressions, and joint actions in the international scene.

Alexander Lukashenko thanked Vladimir Putin for the invitation to come and take his mind off everyday presidential problems a bit. I come here every year. It is a part of Belarus. At every opportunity I try to come here in order to get away from the problems, which always pile up, for 3-4 days. These problems are the same everywhere. You have them, too, only on a larger scale, noted the Belarusian head of state.

Vladimir Putin noted he was glad to meet with the Belarus president and discuss in private the matters concerning the advancement of bilateral cooperation and interaction in various integration formats, problems on the international agenda.

You and I meet with each other regularly, nevertheless, each meeting is significant and very important for us, he stressed.

After the negotiations ended, the heads of state exchanged gifts. Alexander Lukashenko presented a Guardian Angel icon to Vladimir Putin. In turn, the Russian head of state presented a painting on canvas made by Ural craftsmen to the Belarus president.The Belarusian army has signed a contract with a Russian concern for buying a radar station Sopka, representatives of the Belarusian Defense Ministry told BelTA.

The Belarusian delegation sent to the international defense technology expo Army 2018 has signed the contract with the Russian concern Almaz-Antey.

The Belarusian army will also get another batch of sniper rifles made by Kalashnikov Concern.

Negotiations were held with Uralvagonzavod Company to discuss further modernization of T-72 tanks up to the T-72B3 level. Negotiations were held with Russian Helicopters Company to discuss aftersales service for Mi-8MTV-5 helicopters.

BelTA reported earlier that the Army 2018 expo is taking place in the Patriot Expocenter in Kubinka, Moscow Oblast on August 21-26.The White House said on Wednesday that U.S. President Donald Trump earlier in the morning had spoken with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe over phone about the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and their meeting at the upcoming UN General Assembly, Xinhua reported.

White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders said in a press briefing that Trump and Abe said during their conversation that they committed to maintaining strong sanctions on the DPRK.

The two leaders said they look forward to seeing each other at the UN meeting and will "continue these important conversations with allies."

U.S. Department of the Treasury on Tuesday sanctioned two entities and six vessels for violating the UN and U.S. sanctions on the DPRK, accusing them of involvement in ship-to-ship transfer of refined petroleum products with DPRK-flagged vessels, an activity prohibited by the UN Security Council.

"Consequences for violating these sanctions will remain in place" until the final and fully verified denuclearization of the DPRK is achieved, said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

The actions came after Trump said on Monday that he would "most likely" meet with the top leader of the DPRK, Kim Jong Un.

He also said that he believes Pyongyang had taken specific steps toward denuclearization.

In the joint statement after the June 12 Trump-Kim meeting in Singapore, Trump committed to provide security guarantees to the DPRK, while Kim reaffirmed his firm and unwavering commitment to a complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

The two leaders also agreed to commit to establish new U.S.-DPRK relations, and to build a lasting and stable peace regime on the peninsula.US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced on Thursday that Ford Motor Company International Governmental Affairs Vice President Stephen Biegun will be the Department of States special representative for North Korea, Sputnik reported.

"Im excited to announce this morning that Steve Biegun is joining our team as the special representative for North Korea," Pompeo said. "Steve will direct US policy towards North Korea and lead our efforts to achieve President Trumps goal of a final, full and verified denuclearization of North Korea as agreed to by Chairman Kim Jong-un."

Pompeo said he and Biegun will travel to North Korea next week to make further diplomatic progress toward achieving denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.

Biegun emphasized US President Donald Trump has opened an opportunity to realize the vision of a peaceful future for the people of North Korea, though the issues will be tough to resolve.

The special representative said he will work with his State Department colleagues, US government agencies and international partners to achieve the shared goal of denuclearization.

On June 12, Trump and Kim met in Singapore where they reached an agreement that stipulates North Korea will denuclearize in exchange for a freeze of the US-South Korean military drills and potential sanctions relief. No concrete time frame was announced for achieving these goals.KYODO NEWS - Aug 23, 2018 - 20:09 | World, All

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen appealed Thursday for solidarity among the self-ruled island's people in the face of China's mounting military and diplomatic pressure.

Tsai made the appeal on her Facebook page to mark the 60th anniversary of mainland China's 44-day bombardment of some Taiwanese-controlled islands off the coast of mainland China, which commenced on Aug. 23, 1958.

(File photo)

In an implicit warning to China, she said that while the Taiwanese people cherish peace and seek to resolve differences through dialogue, they will never take Taiwan's security for granted.

She urged Taiwanese to demonstrate "solidarity, solidarity, solidarity" in the spirit epitomized by "823 Artillery Bombardment."

During the 1958 crisis, more than 470,000 artillery shells fell on the Kinmen islands, killing more than 450 soldiers and about 80 civilians, and injuring thousands more.

The fierce artillery duel also saw many casualties on the other side, as Taiwan was supplied by the United States with powerful artillery pieces to help it gain superiority.

Tsai said the successful defense of the military outposts -- the closest of which lies less than 2 kilometers off the coast of China's Fujian Province -- helped protect Taiwan proper from invasion.

It also sent the world a message that it is impossible for the Chinese Communists to undermine the Taiwanese people's will to protect their homeland, she said.

"They did not 60 years ago and they certainly will not 60 years later," she added.

In a separate Facebook post, Tsai, of the independence-minded Democratic Progressive Party, accused China of doing its utmost to suppress Taiwan, thereby impacting peace and stability in the wider region.

She said sticking to Taiwan's sovereignty stance, upholding its dignity, continuously strengthening its defense capabilities and defending its democratic way of life are "the bottom line of the entire Taiwanese people."

To mark the battle anniversary, the defense ministry held an annual ceremony on Kinmen on Thursday, which was attended by Tsai's predecessor Ma Ying-jeou of the China-friendly Nationalist Party, who also did so when he was president between 2008 and 2016.

Ma criticized Tsai's absence, saying her attendance would have given Taiwanese troops posted there a morale boost.

He expressed the hope to see better cross-strait relations, which have sharply deteriorated since Tsai took office in May 2016, mainly due to her refusal to heed Beijing's calls to accept the so-called "1992 consensus."

It refers to an understanding reached between Taiwanese and Chinese representatives in 1992 that there is "one China," but each side can have its own interpretation of what China stands for.

Taiwan still formally calls itself the Republic of China.

It and mainland China have been governed separately since they split amid civil war in 1949. Beijing regards the island as a renegade province awaiting reunification, by force if necessary.KYODO NEWS - Aug 23, 2018 - 22:38 | All, Feature, Japan

A powerful typhoon made landfall in western Japan on Thursday night, bringing downpours to a region already reeling from deadly flooding and landslides last month.

Typhoon Cimaron moved northward to hit the southern part of Tokushima Prefecture around 9 p.m. and is expected to cross the Japanese archipelago and reach the Sea of Japan by early Friday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

The weather agency warned of gusts, high waves and heavy rain even after the typhoon passes and airlines decided to cancel over 350 flights on Thursday as well as over 60 flights on Friday to and from airports in western Japan.

Railway operators also halted some services including shinkansen bullet trains on Thursday. Many companies based in western Japan allowed employees to go home early as a precautionary measure, while some department stores closed early.

On Wednesday morning, three university students went missing on the coast of the central Japan city of Shizuoka. Rescuers will continue searching the area, believing they may have been washed away by high waves.

(Aki, Kochi Prefecture)

Cimaron is the second typhoon to approach the Japanese archipelago this week. Combined with Typhoon Soulik, which passed near southwestern Japan earlier this week, total rainfall is expected to hit 1,000 millimeters in some areas, according to the weather agency.

As of 8 p.m., Cimaron was located around 50 kilometers south-southwest of Anan city in Tokushima and traveling at a speed of about 35 km per hour. It was packing winds of up to 198 kph at its center with an atmospheric pressure of 965 hectopascals.

"I want the government to take coordinated measures to prevent damage as much as possible such as through early evacuations," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told a meeting of the disaster response headquarters.

In the town of Saka in Hiroshima Prefecture, residents expressed concern about the approaching typhoon as they continued to remove mud from homes and roads brought by heavy rain and landslides that devastated western Japan in July.

"We have to proceed (with the recovery effort) by watching weather forecasts" carefully, a 73-year-old man said.

(Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture)

The weather agency is forecasting rain of up to 500 mm in the Shikoku and Kinki regions of western Japan in the 24-hour period through 6 p.m. Friday.

The heavy rain brought by the two typhoons has raised concern about landslides and swollen rivers. Since Monday, more than 400 mm of rain has been recorded in Kochi and Kagoshima prefectures, with the agency warning of landslides in the northern Kyushu region.

A number of typhoons have quickly developed this year. Between Aug. 12 and 16, typhoons formed for five days in a row for the first time, according to the weather agency.The students , who live at Sungam tribal colony at Parambikkulam near Kerala-TN border, undertook an arduous 350km journey to reach the school five-and-a-half hours before its reopening.Truth to power

The main duty of a free press is to uphold the peoples right to knowValue differing opinions

The new code has provisions that limit free expression and criminalise media lapsesBy harnessing repositories of satellite data, scientists have discovered that human settlements with low flood protection levels tend to resettle further away from rivers after catastrophic flood events compared to settlements with more protective infrastructure. The findings shed light on the various strategies that communities adapt to cope with flood risk, a key topic in an age when booming populations mean that more people live in flood-prone areas. Floods have often been some of the most destructive natural disasters in both ancient and modern times, causing over $1 trillion in economic damages and more than 226,000 casualties worldwide between 1980 and 2014. These costs have significantly increased compared to previous decades due to urbanization and population growth near flood-prone rivers, making it imperative to understand how people adapt and respond to the risk of flooding events. Here, a research team led by Johanna Mard examined satellite data on the distribution of artificial lighting in 16 countries from 1992-2013, and deduced how the distribution of human settlements changed in response to flooding events. The scientists also investigated in more detail four "hotspot areas" with differing hydrologic and socio-economic contexts, such as the Mekong River in Southeast Asia and the Brisbane River in Australia. The large-scale analysis showed that human proximity to rivers increased for most countries during the time period, and the increase in distance correlated with the number of flood fatalities; Mozambique, which experienced the most flood fatalities, had the largest proximity increase at around 1,000 meters. This relocation tendency was muted in countries such as the U.S. and The Netherlands that harbor more structural flood protections such as levees and reservoirs. Mard et al. say their research provides a framework for other scientists to improve simulations of flood risk and further characterize global patterns of flood response.

###Mon., Nov. 1, 7 p.m.

Free

Nature, Science & Environment

Learn about the world of falconry from licensed falconer, Audrey Sohikian. She will also have a live raptor present during her presentation! Audrey will be discussing the following topics: -What is falconry?-Raptors used for falconry and how they hunt-Rules and regulations-How to become a falconer-How to train a raptor for falconry-Ethics of falconry-Falconry's role in conservation This presentation will be on Zoom and can be viewed at home or in-person at the library. If you would like to attend on Zoom, please email Sarah at ssnyder@jaxpl.org for link. 217-243-5435Bitcoin McAfee

When it comes mining Bitcoin or any other digital currency, the goal is to keep operational and energy costs to a minimum to ensure maximum profitability.

Up until recently, that need for optimal energy costs has sent a good deal of mining to China, where electricity is subsidized and cheap. However, most of these facilities in China are powered by coal-fired stations which have been proven to be harmful to the environment.

While some suggest that we should seek to slow the growth of the blockchain revolution, the industry is creating so many beneficial technologies, and therefore should be encouraged to grow, in sustainable ways. As a decentralized technology, blockchain has the potential to solve countless security issues, increase fairness in markets, and reduce corruption all around the world.



The solution, then, isnt to curtail Bitcoin mining, but is to take advantage of green energy innovation.

The following five renewable energy technologies can (and should) be taken advantage of by the Blockchain mining industry to help drive sustainable growth:

Geothermal

Geothermal energy is a completely renewable source of energy because it comes from heat stored within the Earth. One of the things that makes Earth an ideal planet for life is our molten iron core. It provides a magnetosphere that protects us from harmful radiation and other space-borne threats, and it produces heat that we can convert into electricity.

Places like Iceland, where volcanic activity pushes that heat closer to the surface, allow us to tap into this power at an affordable rate and with almost no environmental impact. Of all the renewable energy technologies, geothermal power provides some of the most consistent power output because it doesnt rely on unpredictable aspects of mother nature, like wind or sunlight. Additionally, geothermal energy is plentiful, with a total worldwide capacity of 12,894 MW.

One major drawback of geothermal energy is that it has been limited to areas near tectonic plate boundaries. Consequently, drilling and exploration for geothermal energy is very expensive. However, recent advances in technology have expanded the range and size of viable geothermal resources. As a result, the cost of generating geothermal power has decreased by 25% in the past 20 years, with geothermal costs per kWh now ranging from 6 to 8 cents per kWh.

Story continues

Solar Power

Of all the renewable energy technologies, solar power is the most widely used. Photovoltaic panels use radiation from the sun to produce electricity, generating green energy wherever there is consistent sunlight.

The cost of solar power has decreased since 2013 by more than 60%, and has actually reached grid parity in many locations. Commercial solar costs are now $0.07 per kWh and utility grade solar is at $0.06 per kWh. In 2016, total global solar power installed capacity reached 302 GW, which is roughly 1.31.8% of total worldwide electricity demands. This figure is predicted to reach 500 GW by 2020. Experts predict that by 2050, solar power will be the largest source of electricity globally.

One reason solar power is so desirable is that it is easy to install and maintain. However, solar panel output is impacted by weather and pollution; if its cloudy outside, solar electricity output can decrease by 40% or more. Output also varies throughout the year as the suns path changes. Summer typically yields the most electricity.

Solar panel efficiency is measured by the portion of sunlight that Photovoltaic panels can convert into useful energy. In most cases, efficiency levels of solar power range from 14% to 23%.

Another drawback with solar power is that output stops at night. This challenge can be offset by feeding excess power into the grid during the day. Since this method offsets nighttime consumption, it has become known as a virtual power station. Solar providers and users who do this can receive financial incentives via a feed-in tariff, or they can be credited through net-metering.

Another solution is to store excess power generated during the day in energy storage systems that can then be used at night. Battery technology is still quite expensive, although major technological advances are being made in this space. It is likely that energy storage costs will start coming down in the next few years, as commercial production and competition increases.

Waste Energy

Waste energy uses various waste outputs as sources for recycled energy. This approach can be divided into two technology streams: thermal and non-thermal.

Thermal waste energy plants incinerate organic waste to produce heat. That heat is used to drive a steam turbine to produce electricity. Although this technology produces some CO2 emissions and other toxic gases, it tends to emit fewer CO2 emissions than other outdated non-renewable approaches, thanks to strict emission controls enforced by Europe and other energy-conscious markets.

The second type of waste-to-energy plant, non-thermal, uses bacteria to break down organic waste into methane gas. Methane gas is highly flammable, and is burnt to drive a generator that produces electricity. The CO2 emissions originating from the burning of methane gas are much lower than other fossil fuels. However, methane gas itself has a high Global Warming Potential (GWP), so measures need to be put in place to prevent methane gas from escaping into the atmosphere.

A waste-to-energy plant

At the end of 2015, the U.S. had 71 waste-to-energy generating plants with 2.3 GWs of installed capacity in 20 states. Waste-to-energy plants typically have an efficiency of 14 to 28%. In colder climates, the waste heat is usually recovered to provide local heating. This approach improves the overall efficiency of the plant. The efficiency of a WtE plant is measured by the amount of useful energy that can be extracted from the organic waste and turned into electricity.

A major advantage of waste-to-energy plants is that they reduce the number of landfill sites required for municipal waste. Unfortunately, they also divert waste from being recycled.

A major drawback of waste-to-energy plants is the need for a steady supply of organic waste. When utilizing waste-to-energy methods, long-term agreements with waste suppliers need to be put in place to secure consistent organic waste resources. Waste-to-energy plants also need to be located as close as possible to the waste supply to limit transport costs and subsequent greenhouse gas emissions.

Hydropower

Hydropower is one of the oldest types of renewable energy technologies; the first hydropower plant was installed in Niagara Falls in 1879. Hydropower takes mechanical energy from the flow of water and turns it into electrical energy.

Its also one of the cheapest and most consistent forms of renewable energy, as its power output can be maintained, as long as water is flowing. The efficiency of hydropower is also the highest out of all the renewables, at 90%. Compared to the most efficient fossil fuel-based power plant, which has 50% efficiency, hydropower is an incredibly desirable source of renewable energy.

Hydropower may be a cleaner source of energy with a low carbon footprint, but it is not without environmental issues. Hydropower can be destructive to the local environment. This form of energy generation requires the damming of rivers, which can harm local wildlife if not done careful. It is often necessary to conduct an environmental impact assessment to help prevent unforeseen complications.

Small-scale hydropower can be a good option if a facility is located close to a fast-moving river that flows consistently throughout the year.

Tidal Power

As a relatively new renewable energy technology, tidal power has not yet received widespread adoption. However, there is potential for growth. A form of hydropower, tidal power uses the kinetic energy of tidal movements in the sea to generate electrical energy.

The technology has traditionally suffered from high implementation costs, and there are a limited number of suitable sites with sufficient tidal ranges and velocities. However, recent advances have expanded the number of suitable sites. Implementation costs are also expected to come down as the technology scales.

The largest tidal generator is in South Korea and consists of 10 tidal wave generators with a total installed capacity of 254 MW.

The technology can be split into 4 different subtypes:

Tidal stream generator: Similar to wind turbines, but these turbines sit underwater and use the kinetic energy of water flow to drive the turbines.

Tidal barrage: Tidal barrages use the potential energy found in the difference between low and high tides to generate electricity.

Dynamic tidal power: Dynamic tidal is a relatively new and untested technology, but holds potential promise. It proposes that long dams be built out to sea from the coast without enclosing the area. This will introduce tidal phase differences, leading to a significant water-level differential and strong coast-parallel oscillating tidal currents in shallow coastal seas.

Tidal lagoon: Another new approach to using tidal power as a renewable energy source, tidal lagoon power, consists of constructing circular retaining walls embedded with turbines that can capture the potential energy of tides. The created reservoirs are similar to tidal barrages, except that the location is artificially created.

Tidal power is still in its infancy, and there are still a limited number of suitable sites across the globe. A fair amount of time, money, and effort is required to conduct feasibility studies to identify suitable sites. Still, the technology holds a lot of potential and will continue to mature over time.

Conclusion

The total energy consumption of the Bitcoin mining network has increased in recent years and to help maintain the pace of innovation it will be essential for the industry to consider green energy alternatives. Energy forecast models show energy consumption of the network increasing even more in the next year so looking into these new sources of power will help keep the mining industry running with a minimal impact on the environment.

In some countries, like China, most of the energy used for Blockchain mining originates from dirty fossil fuel power stations, which goes against the international communitys efforts to promote clean energy. Other more responsible mining companies are building facilities based on purely renewable energy and are making infrastructure investments that will help developing markets adopt green energy practices.

Its the responsibility of the Blockchain mining industry to support the uptake of sustainable energy, both for their facilities and also for larger infrastructures and markets. By seeking ways to increase energy efficiency and developing green energy infrastructure, mining companies will reduce their energy costs and decrease the impact that digital currency has on the environment. The result will be continued innovation in the blockchain sector and a more decentralized, environmentally-friendly future.

This guest post is written by Harry Pokrandt, CEO of public blockchain company HIVE Blockchain.



The post 5 Amazing Sources of Clean Energy the Blockchain Mining Industry Can (and Should) Use appeared first on CCN.

The Best Little Floorhouse in Texas Your choice for flooring in Central Texas! Your flooring is more than just the surface you walk on  it's an integral part of your home. With over 35 years of flooring experience, The Best Little Floorhouse in Texas has the resources and knowledApple Roundup: Berkshire, $2 Trillion, Teen Hacks, FaceTime Last week, Berkshire stocked up on Apple (AAPL) shares, a longtime analyst talked about the next trillion dollars in its valuation, an Aussie teen hacked in to its computer and more.

Last week, Berkshire stocked up on Apple AAPL shares, a long-time analyst talked about the next trillion dollars in its valuation, an Aussie teen hacked in to its computer and more.

Berkshire Gets More Apple

Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway added to its steadily growing position in Apple, as the consumer-focused technology company continues to move from strength to strength, making relatively fewer mistakes than many of its peers. Berkshires Apple holdings grew by 12 million shares and now constitute 24% of its holdings, giving him an ownership stake of 5% in Apple.

The funds policy is to keep holdings in any company at under 10% to avoid regulatory compulsions, so theres scope to add much more. Between the time that he first invested in Apple in 2016 to today, Apple stock has gone from $93 to $210, so investors would be pleased.

Quite the opposite is the case with Einhorns Greenlight Capital, which has been taking losses of late and seeing investors cash out. Einhorn recently cut its stake in Apple and some other stocks, possibly to raise capital to offset losses resulting from his bet on Bayer, which fell 10% following jury findings that its Monsanto unit failed to warn that its weed killers pose cancer risks.

Berkshires move speaks of the confidence in Apple shares, especially given escalating trade tensions with China, which remains a very important market for Apple, and to a much lesser extent, Turkish present Erdogans bombast about boycotting American electronics (especially from Apple) in response to President Donald Trumps attempt to meddle in its internal affairs.

Analyst Looks to $2 Trillion Valuation

Long-time Apple analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo, now at Hong Kong-based TF International Securities, has put out a note naming the next two genres that will take Apple to a $2 trillion valuation. In his words, "Services, AR and Apple Car will create Apple's next trillion-dollar market cap."

Story continues

As far as AR is concerned, the company has been dropping tantalizing hints of its progress, along with promises that its entire product line will someday have AR, introducing a new file format called USDZ to facilitate rendering for AR developers and launching ARKit 2. AR glasses including their own small displays and processors are also in the works for a tentative launch some time in 2020 if media rumors are to be believed.

A couple of years after that will come Apples own electric car. This is news because there have been an equal number of reports saying that Apple will just sell the technology for other peoples cars the way Alphabets GOOGL Waymo is doing, or at least that it was undecided on the issue. The return of high profile engineer Doug Field from Tesla TSLA, where he was in charge of vehicle engineering, is significant in this context.

Aussie Teen Hacks

A 16-year old Aussie fan of Apple, hacked the companys mainframe from his suburban home and accessed 90GB of data over the course of a year that he stored in a file called hacky hack hack and then boasted about it on WhatsApp.

Apple said that its security personnel discovered the unauthorised access, contained it, and reported the incident to law enforcement and said of its customers that at no point during this incident was their personal data compromised."

Apple contacted the U.S. FBI, which referred the case to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the above details were uncovered in court. So Apples assurance that personal data wasnt compromised doesnt make sense.

The teens identity is not being disclosed because of his age, but a sentence is due on September 20. Pity because his dream was to work at Apple.

Delays Group FaceTime

"Group FaceTime has been removed from the initial release of iOS 12 and will ship in a future software update later this fall," Apple said in its latest developer release of the software

There it is. Like it or not, and question it or not since it has been in testing for a while, this major feature upgrade that allows up to 32 people to video chat at the same time and supports Apple's Animoji, wont make it to iOS 12 when it launches with the new line of iPhones and iPads next month.

Pulls China Apps

Apple has reportedly removed 25,000 apps from its China App Store that the Chinese government didnt approve of. But since this is just 1.4% of the total apps available according to CCTV, it may not be such a big deal. Wagering apps are illegal in China, so a large number of these apps were removed.

Recommendation

Apple shares carry a zacks Rank #2 (Buy). For better options, consider Cypress Semiconductor CY, Xilinx XLNX or NetApp NTAP, or see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone!

It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market.

Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2020.

Click here for the 6 trades >>



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To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment ResearchAustralias prime minister looks set to face a second leadership challenge in less than a week

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull survived a leadership challenge by Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton on Tuesday.

Dutton, a conservative who has won the support of the powerful right wing of the Liberal Party, resigned from the Cabinet after losing the vote.

On Wednesday Dutton told Australian media that he is gauging support for a second attempt to topple Turnbull.

Australia may be on the verge of new political leadership.

Despite winning a leadership contest earlier this week, Malcolm Turnbull looks set to face a second challenge by former Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton.

Dutton resigned from his post after losing a cabinet vote 48 to 35 on Tuesday, at which he failed to persuade colleagues that he should be Australia's next leader.

Despite that loss, Dutton told Australian radio Wednesday that he intended to renew his bid to seize power of the Liberal Party of Australia and assume the role of prime minister.

"I'm speaking to colleagues. I'm not going to beat round the bush with that," he said.

Dutton had said earlier that he believed he was the best person to lead his party to the next election. Dutton, a former policeman, is building a platform based on cuts to immigration and tackling domestic energy costs.

In a sign that Dutton might gain the necessary support, four cabinet ministers and six more government ministers tendered resignations Wednesday morning. Turnbull has refused to accept most of these and claimed that those who had agreed to continue had offered "unequivocal support."

To shore up support, Turnbull has shelved a climate change policy unpopular with right-wing members of his party. He then appealed to a separate faction of lawmakers Wednesday by scrapping plans to reduce corporate taxes for large businesses.

At around 6 a.m. ET, the Australian dollar was roughly flat at 73.5 cents to its U.S. equivalent. By the close of trading Wednesday in Sydney, the ASX 200 share index had slipped 0.209 percent.

Story continues

Malcolm Turnbull is Australia's seventh prime minister in the last 11 years. No Australian leader has served a full term since John Howard between 2004 and 2007.





More From CNBC

(Adds project details, comment from company exec)

SAO PAULO, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Cargill Inc will invest 550 million reais ($140.59 million) to build a new plant in Brazil in 2019 to produce the food ingredient pectin, the company said on Thursday.

Cargill said it plans to export future pectin production in Brazil to several of its markets abroad. The ingredient, which is made from citric fruits, is a texturizer used in jams, beverages, dairy products and confectionery.

Global commodities traders and food processors such as Cargill and Archer Daniels Midland Co are looking to diversify to products with higher value, as profit margins on trading of basic foodstuffs decrease with higher competition.

Companies are also looking to increase production of natural ingredients, paying heed to rising consumer demand for such products.

"The pectin market has seen strong growth for several years, primarily driven by the acid dairy drink market, as well as the growing global consumer demand for label-friendly ingredients," Bruce McGoogan, Cargill's strategy and innovation head for starches, sweeteners and texturizers business, said in a statement.

He said the decision to install the plant in Brazil was made considering the abundant supplies of citrus fruit in the country. Brazil is the largest producer and exporter of orange juice.

($1 = 3.9122 reais) (Reporting by Roberto Samora and Marcelo Teixeira Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Susan Thomas)Days after shutting down several crypto media accounts on WeChat, Chinese regulators are seeking to block access to 124 overseas crypto exchanges.

Chinese regulators are moving to block more than 100 overseas crypto exchanges offering trading services to domestic investors.

Shanghai Securities Times, a mouthpiece of the Chinese financial authorities,A reported on Thursday that the China National Fintech Risk Rectification Office hasA so far identified 124 trading platforms with overseas IP addresses but that are still available in the country.

The office now plans to step up its efforts in monitoring the space and to block internet access to these trading platforms, the report said.

Venues Banned from Hosting Crypto Events in Beijing's Finance District

Authorized in 2016 by China's State Council, theA National Fintech Risk Rectification Office is a government agency that aims to protect against financial risk related to issues like peer-to-peer lending and cryptocurrency trading.

In September 2017, the People's Bank of China notably announced a rule banning initial coin offerings (ICOs) and, in effect, crypto trading platforms in the country. Following the notice, major exchanges based in China at the time moved their businesses overseas.

Currently, internet access to several major exchanges such as Binance, OKEx, and Bitfinex appears to be unavailable in China.

Today's report also said the agency will permanently shut down domestic websites and official accounts on the WeChat messaging app if they are found to be providing crypto trading and ICO services.

Coinbase Charts Course For Institutional Crypto Products

The agency is also in talks with third-party payments vendors that are required to scrutinize and halt accounts that are suspected of handling cryptocurrency transactions, the report added.

Just two days ago, several Chinese cryptocurrency media outlets were banned from operating on WeChat, as reported by CoinDesk.

WeChat's owner Tencent confirmed with news source CaixinA on Wednesday that the ban was instigated because the accounts were found to have provided crypto trading and ICO services. Some of them were ordered to shut down permanently, the report said.

Story continues

Barrier image via Shutterstock

Related Storieschina cryptocurrency

Chinas government will take steps to further block access to more than 120 offshore cryptocurrency exchanges whose websites are still accessible on the mainland.

Citing local financial news outlets, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reports that authorities associated with the Leading Group of Internet Financial Risks Remediation  which was founded in 2016 and run by top central bank officials  will begin blocking IP addresses belonging to 124 cryptocurrency trading platforms that still serve mainland residents, despite local prohibitions on these activities.

CCN first reported in February that the Peoples Bank of China (PBoC), the countrys central bank, was preparing new measures to stamp out the local cryptocurrency trading industry, which continues to thrive in defiance of bans first put in place during Sept. 2017.

The actions are the latest in what increasingly appears like a coordinated crackdown on the part of Chinese authorities. Last Friday, authorities in Beijings downtown Chaoyang district circulated an order barring public venues such as shopping malls and hotels from hosting cryptocurrency-related events.

Concurrently, China-based social media giant WeChat shut down accounts run by at least eight blockchain and cryptocurrency media outlets for allegedly violating regulations from official internet censors.

Some industry observers had said that, though these actions do not appear overly-serious when viewed in isolation, they likely foreshadow a broader clampdown timed for the one-year anniversary of Chinas initial coin offering (ICO) and cryptocurrency trading ban.

Last month, the PBoC reaffirmed its commitment to act with vigilance to prevent foreign ICOs, which are illegal in China, from marketing their tokens on the mainland.

Even so, ICO scams have managed to grift hundreds of millions of dollars from Chinese investors. Just this month, a company called Shenzhen Puyin Blockchain Group raised $60 million through three separate ICOs, only to pull what may be the largest-ever ICO exit scam.

Story continues

The cryptocurrency markets traded down on Thursday, though its not clear to what extent the decline stemmed from the news of Chinas reinvigorated trading ban. The bitcoin price declined approximately three percent for the day, while other large-cap coins saw pullbacks as large as six percent.

Featured Image from Shutterstock



The post China Tightens the Noose on 124 Offshore Cryptocurrency Exchanges appeared first on CCN.

Huawei has been a major beneficiary of Chinese state subsidies and grants (AFP Photo/aaron tam)

Chinese telecom giants Huawei and ZTE have effectively been banned from rolling out Australia's 5G network after Canberra warned of security risks with companies beholden to foreign governments, prompting Beijing to denounce "ideological biases".

Huawei -- one of the world's largest telecommunications equipment and services providers -- has been under scrutiny in some countries, including the United States and Australia, over its alleged close links to Beijing.

It was blocked from bidding for contracts on Australia's ambitious national broadband project in 2012, reportedly due to concerns about cyber-security.

The company has long disputed claims of any links to the Chinese government.

Canberra said in a statement that the "involvement of vendors who are likely to be subject to extrajudicial directions from a foreign government that conflict with Australian law" posed a security risk.

Acting Home Affairs Minister Scott Morrison and Communications Minister Mitch Fifield added that there was "no combination of technical security controls that sufficiently mitigate the risks".

In Beijing, foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said China was "gravely concerned", accusing Canberra of making "all types of excuses to create hurdles and taking discriminatory measures".

"We urge the Australian side to abandon ideological biases and create a sound environment for the fair competition of Chinese enterprises in Australia," Lu said.

Huawei Australia tweeted that the decision was an "extremely disappointing result for consumers".

"Huawei is a world leader in 5G. Has safely & securely delivered wireless technology in Aust for close to 15 yrs," the firm said.

The move came amid tensions between Beijing and Canberra that have seen Australia refocus its foreign aid programmes to win hearts and minds in the Pacific, where China has been flexing its muscles too.

Story continues

Beijing has extended loans to the impoverished nations in the region, with Canberra raising fears some might get trapped with unsustainable debts, handing China influence.

Australia in June said it would negotiate a security treaty with Vanuatu and also fund and build an undersea communications cable to the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.

The Solomons arrangement came after the Pacific nation was convinced to drop a contract with Huawei.1. Yes. If a city of 150,000 cant provide safe drinking water for 10 days, a probe is needed.

2. Yes. Not only should there be a state investigation, but customers should get a rebate.

3. No. The city will be working with TCEQ to develop an after-action plan. That will suffice.

4. No. The whole episode was just an annoyance. An outside investigaton is unnecessary.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say without knowing more details about the issue.

Vote

View ResultsFILE PHOTO: The headquarter of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is seen in London, Britain, November 22, Britain 2016. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth

By Marc Jones

LONDON (Reuters) - One of Turkey's biggest multilateral investors, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, has passed internal stress tests for a 40 percent drop by the lira, sources told Reuters, but the currency has weakened more than that this year.

The exercise, which was done in response to the lira's accelerating decline and relayed privately to the development bank's 67 government shareholders at a board meeting last month, concluded it could withstand such a slump, although it would suffer losses.

"It is rather serious, but it would not threaten the bank's financial position," the source said, referring to impact of the lira's crash. "We had some resilience built in."

Turkey has become the EBRD's largest country of operation since it stopped lending in Russia 2014. It has a combined 7.3 billion euros (6.5 billion pounds) of projects, loans and equity stakes there, and has pumped in 3.5 billion euros (3.1 billion pounds) over the past two years.

(GRAPHIC: EBRD has been spending heavily in Turkey - https://tmsnrt.rs/2MI1ooa)

The 40 percent drop in the Turkish currency was the most extreme of at least three scenarios modelled by the EBRD's economists and risk management department, which is overseen by one of its vice presidents, Betsy Nelson.

The view was that such a huge fall would be a once-in-a-century event. However, the currency is now down 45 percent this year (TRYUSD=R) and it has shed around 35 percent from the time the stress test was conducted.

An EBRD spokesman would not comment on the test's findings. He reiterated the bank's recent statement that it remained committed to investing in the Turkish economy.

Story continues

The issue is crucial because the EBRD has a prized triple-A rating and will not want to use up too much valuable capital or have to tap shareholder governments for additional cash.

One of the sources said the situation was almost certain to be scrutinised again when the bank's directors reconvene in early September.

It often works alongside Turkish banks, all of which have seen their share prices and bonds hammered by the collapse of the lira in recent weeks.

"I think if it (lira) goes into a freefall, we might have an emergency message," the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the confidentiality of the stress-test.

The picture for the EBRD in Turkey is also being complicated by troubled relations between the United States, the bank's biggest shareholder, and Ankara.

Late last month, a group of U.S. lawmakers introduced legislation that would curb lending in Turkey by the EBRD and other international finance institutions in Turkey

It is part of a bid to ramp up pressure on Ankara over the case of an American pastor jailed in Turkey.

"September will be very busy," the source said. "Turkey will be on everyone's radar."

(Reporting by Marc Jones, editing by Larry King)United Airlines Express Embraer E175

United

A federal air marshal was removed from a United Airlines subsidiary flight on Monday night after a flight attendant saw the gun he was carrying and issued an emergency alert, the Star Tribune reported.

The air marshal and another man were taken off the plane and handcuffed before being questioned by the FBI at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, the report said.

The Transportation Security Administration said the flight attendant mistook the air marshal for a passenger. But the Star Tribune reported that the air marshal showed the flight attendant his gun and that it was why an emergency was declared.

A federal air marshal was hauled off a United Airlines regional partner plane in handcuffs after a flight attendant saw the gun he was carrying and issued an emergency alert in concert with the crew, the Star Tribune reported on Tuesday.

The incident occurred late Monday on United Airlines Flight 3531, a nonstop flight from Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The flight was operated by Republic Airlines, an Indianapolis-based regional partner of United Airlines and other major carriers.

A representative for Republic Airlines, Jon Austin, told Business Insider in a statement: "The safety and security of our customers and employees is our top priority. We are aware of this incident and are working with investigators."

Neither the Transportation Security Administration nor United responded to Business Insider request for comment.

In a statement to the Star Tribune, the TSA said: "A Federal Air Marshal on official business onboard a flight was mistaken for a passenger by a flight attendant. Protocols for notification of law enforcement presence aboard an aircraft are in place to avoid an incident like this. TSA is working with the airline to determine the specific circumstances in this case."

According to CBS4 Minnesota, the flight landed in Minneapolis at 11:30 p.m. but did not make it to the gate. A woman on the flight told the Star Tribune that passengers were told the landing was delayed because of an occupied gate. She said that police cars surrounded the plane after it landed and that two men dressed in slacks and button-down shirts were removed from the plane and handcuffed.

Story continues

While the TSA indicated the flight attendant was to blame, it appears the air marshal may have violated protocol.

Citing recordings from Liveatc.net, the Star Tribune reported that it was confirmed rather quickly during the flight that the two men were air marshals and that one of them showed the flight attendant his gun. From there, the flight attendant alerted the cockpit.

"That is completely against SOP [standard operating procedure] for them to show their firearm," the pilot said in the recordings, according to the Star Tribune. "So that's the reason we declared an emergency."

Following their removal from the plane, the two men were questioned by the FBI at the airport, according to the Star Tribune. The publication said the TSA confirmed that both were federal air marshals.

CBS4 Minnesota reported that the FBI was investigating the incident.

NOW WATCH: Chase Cards CEO on the coveted Sapphire Reserve card and working with Jamie Dimon

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SEE ALSO: United Airlines will start charging more for some economy seats, and it's part of a costly trend that's plaguing the industry

FOLLOW US: on Facebook for more car and transportation content!Ford Motor Company F announced two safety recalls in North America. Of the two recalls, one is of roughly 50,000 120-volt convenience charge cords provided with selected 2012-15 Ford Focus Electric, 2013-15 Ford Fusion Energi and 2013-15 Ford C-MAX Energi vehicles.



When connected with a damaged, corroded or worn-out AC outlet, the 120-volt convenience cords may lead to increased temperature at the wall outlet, which might catch fire. The company is aware of a few such fire reports.



Approximately 50,524 vehicles in North America, accompanied by these charge cords, are defective. Out of the total, 49,197 vehicles are from the United States and its federalized territories, and 1,327 are from Canada.

Ford Motor Company Price and Consensus

Ford Motor Company Price and Consensus | Ford Motor Company Quote

All the defective charge cords will be replaced with the latest version of 120-volt convenience cord, enabled with a thermistor that will discontinue charging incase plug/outlet gets too hot. The cords will be replaced at Fords dealership without charging the customers any extra cost.



The other recall is of roughly 100 2018 Ford Edge, 2019 Ford Flex, 2018 Lincoln MKX and 2019 Lincoln MKT vehicles. Built at Oakville assembly plant on May 29, 2018, the affected vehicles dont have the power supply cable fastener appropriately secured to the alternator or to the starter motor. An inappropriately fastened power supply cable has the potential of an electrical surge, leading to a fire. The recall consists of 87 vehicles in the United States and seven in Canada.



In the last month, Ford issued a recall of approximately 550,000 units of the 2013-2016 Ford Fusion sedan and the 2013-2014 Ford Escape SUV due to chances of bushing detachment that is responsible for holding the shifter cable in the transmission.



Price Performance



Year to date, Ford has underperformed the industry it belongs to. During this period, the company recorded a 22.4% decrease in share price compared with 7.5% decline recorded by the industry.

Story continues





Zacks Rank & Key Picks



Ford currently carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell). A few better-ranked stocks in the auto space are Cummins Inc. CMI, Oshkosh Corporation OSK and PACCAR Inc. PCAR, each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.



Cummins has an expected long-term growth rate of 11.6%. The companys stock has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter 2018 earnings being revised 5.4% upward over the past 30 days.



Oshkosh has an expected long-term growth rate of 18.3%. The companys stock has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter fiscal 2018 earnings being revised 5.8% upward over the past 30 days.



PACCAR has an expected long-term growth rate of 10.8%. The companys stock has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter 2018 earnings being revised 5% upward over the past 30 days.



The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of All



Last year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early.



See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >>





Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report



Ford Motor Company (F) : Free Stock Analysis Report



PACCAR Inc. (PCAR) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Oshkosh Corporation (OSK) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Cummins Inc. (CMI) : Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment ResearchTwitter's mission has subtly shifted over the past several years. In 2014 , the company's mission easily fit within the old 140-character limit: "To give everyone the power to create and share ideas and information instantly, without barriers."

Just as the social media company's character limit has evolved, so has the company's mission. Today, Twitter says it's goal is "to power positive global change by fostering respectful conversations, creating deeper human connections and encouraging diverse interactions among individuals and teams, across our organization, and on the platform resulting in a more globally inclusive culture and more globally diverse workforce."

It's a mission that's weathered scrutiny  in recent months Twitter purged millions of fake accounts and faced criticism for its reluctance to condemn conspiracy theorist Alex Jones . But despite the controversy, Jim Cramer says Twitter is a smart company to invest in, and employees seem to agree.

"When I ask people why they joined Twitter, they always say is because they believe in the purpose that we serve," Steve Bonomo , Twitter's head of global talent acquisition and people analytics, tells CNBC Make It .

According to Bonomo, Twitter received more than 150,000 applications last year, and today, the company has over 450 open positions. Twitter, like the rest of the industry, is hungry for tech talent and actively searching for workers who can help the company achieve their mission.

Here's how you can land a job at Twitter.

Network

In order to compete for software engineers, data analysts and even non-technical workers, Twitter proactively networks with potential employees.

"I think any company that's going after software engineers will realize that the vast majority of your hires come through referrals and networking and proactive outbound communication," says Bonomo. "Most of the great software engineers and other great workers that are out there are happily employed. Their managers are trying to do everything to keep them there. We literally need to go out there and build relationships to get people."

Story continues

If you want to land a job at Twitter, focus on building one of these relationships. Leverage your existing network of friends, family members and coworkers, attend industry events and reach out to Twitter employees with careers you admire. Be sure to flex your networking muscles, because the people at Twitter may be actively looking for someone just like you.

Keep up

Once you've built a relationship with someone who can refer you, buckle up.

"It happens pretty quick," says Bonomo. "We do try to expedite the process, because we do know that most people are not just talking to one company and we need to move pretty fast."

The first step of the company's interview process is connecting with a recruiter, followed by a brief phone conversation in which Twitter can better explain the role and the applicant can discuss their interests and experiences. During this stage, and in all other stages, applicants should be prepared to discuss how their desires and expertise make them a great fit for Twitter.

Next, applicants will have a phone or video interview with a hiring manager. This step is aimed at determining whether a potential employee has the right background for the role. Some workers then face a technical interview that tests relevant skills like coding, data analysis and engineering.

Applicants who reach this stage are then invited to one of the Twitter offices to participate in a panel interview with potential coworkers and managers. The employees then compare several candidates, and eventually extend offers.

Bonomo says this entire process usually takes between one and two weeks, which means that applicants should get their interview practice in ahead of time. Prepare answers to common interview questions before your first interview so that you aren't struggling to fit in prep between stages.

Prove your passion

During the interview process, applicants need to clearly, precisely and passionately prove that they believe in Twitter's mission.

"Obviously we need somebody who has the skills and experience to do the job, but it goes beyond that," says Bonomo. "We really want to understand someone's motivations to be a part of Twitter. "

The importance of passion is instilled at all levels of the company, he says, and hiring people who are passionate about Twitter's work is good for the company's culture and for the bottom line.

"I firmly believe that if you align a person with something they're extremely passionate about, they will stay longer and perform at a higher level. If you can align a person's professional with their passion and purpose, you have a shot at doing incredible things."

Think about Twitter's mission and think about what your personal mission is  to land a job at Twitter, applicants need to express how they these two missions are a perfect match.

Like this story? Subscribe to CNBC Make It on YouTube!

How to land a job at EY

How to land a job at Amazon

How to land a job at Microsoft





More From CNBC

Tulsi Gabbard

AP/J. Scott Applewhite

US Representative Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii bought ethereum and litecoin in December 2017, a financial filing shows

Even if the Democrat bought the coins at their lowest prices of the month, she would still be well in the red today.

Watch ethereum and litecoin trade in real time here.

Another US congressperson has disclosed cryptocurrency holdings.

According to a financial filing released Wednesday, the Democrat from Hawaii's 2nd district bought between $1,001 and $15,000 of both ethereum and litecoin in December of 2017. And while it's not clear the exact amounts purchased or the dates, its highly improbable the representative made a profit.

Even if Gabbard bought the digital coins lowest prices of December  $414 for ethereum and $83 for litecoin  she would have been in the red as of the disclosure's August 14 filing date, given the coins' respective prices of $278 and $54.56 on that day. That's a 33% drop for both cryptocurrencies from their lowest prices of December.

Gabbard's office did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Bob Goodlatte, a Republican from Virginia, made headlines for being the first member to disclose crypto holdings last year.

The entire cryptocurrency market has gotten whacked since January, when the craze surrounding the nascent industry was nearing its peak. The flagship bitcoin has declined by 52% this year after hitting a peak of $19,843 shortly after the new year.

Ethereum price

Markets Insider

NOW WATCH: How a black cop infiltrated the KKK  the true story behind Spike Lee's 'BlacKkKlansman'

See Also:

SEE ALSO: This startup is giving away free bitcoin when you make online purchases  Here's how to get in on itFILE PHOTO: The logo of Dow Jones Industrial Average stock market index listed company Nike (NKE) is seen in Los Angeles, California, United States, April 12, 2016. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

(Contains offensive language in paragraph 3)

By Ed Stoddard

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Some Nike (NKE.N) stores were closed in South Africa on Wednesday after public outcry over a racist comment by a man that local media said had links to the sportswear company.

Nike declined to comment on the store closures, but issued a statement reiterating its "long-standing commitment to diversity, inclusion and respect", adding that the man seen in a video posted online was not a company employee.

In the video, taken at a beach resort, a white man with a South African accent says: "And not one kaffir in sight. Fucking heaven on earth."

The "K word" as it is known in South Africa is apartheid-era slang for a black person and is regarded as a deeply offensive slur on a par with the "N word" in America.

Times Live online news service said the man in the video was married to a merchandising director at Nike. A Nike spokeswoman in London declined to comment and Reuters was unable to independently verify the person's identity.

South African media reported Nike stores had closed their doors. Reuters witnesses confirmed that two were shut at a mall in the Sandton district of Johannesburg.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), a party known for its hard-left and African nationalist positions, said it would file a criminal complaint against the man in the video.

In January, protesters led by the EFF trashed six H&M stores (HMb.ST) over an ad by the retail chain which featured a black child modelling a sweatshirt with the slogan "coolest monkey in the jungle."

South Africa remains deeply scarred by its apartheid and colonial past, with the racial reconciliation embraced by the late president Nelson Mandela frequently marred by racist incidents.

(Additional reporting by Patricia Aruo; Editing by James Macharia and Robin Pomeroy)Saudi Arabias public prosecutor is seeking the death penalty for five activists, including Israa al-Ghomgham, the first woman to face such a sentence for human rights work, Al Jazeera reports. Ghomgham documented demonstrations against the Sunni-majority government between 2011 and 2015, when she and her husband were arrested in a night raid of their home.

According to the Human Rights Watch, the activists have been imprisoned for two years without legal representation. Their next court date is scheduled for October of this year.

Despite being tried in the countrys terrorism tribunal, the activists charges are nonviolent and do not resemble recognizable crimes, HRW reports. They include participating in protests in the Qatif region, incitement to protest, chanting slogans hostile to the regime, attempting to inflame public opinion, filming protests and publishing on social media, and providing moral support to rioters.

Any execution is appalling, but seeking the death penalty for activists like Israa al-Ghomgham, who are not even accused of violent behavior, is monstrous, said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch, in a statement. Every day, the Saudi monarchys unrestrained despotism makes it harder for its public relations teams to spin the fairy tale of reform to allies and international business.

The Middle Eastern nation has claimed to have become more progressive since Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman took power, most recently by removing the ban on women driving, allowing women to attend sporting events, and weakening the religious police.

Despite these assertions of progressiveness, at least 13 women activists have been arrested since May, Al Jazeera reports, and nine remain held without charge. According to NBC News, human rights groups worry a death sentence for Ghomgham will set a precedent for these other women activists being held.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also sparked a feud with Saudi Arabia recently, speaking out against the countrys treatment of womens rights activists.Why cant U.S. airlines make their Chinese flights work? Two U.S. carriers are ending flights to China, and it might have something to do with Chinas easing its one route, one airline policy for Chinese airlines, opening up long-haul international routes for more competition, Reuters says.

American Airlines aal is ending its direct Chicago-Shanghai service and 10 other unprofitable long-haul routes by early 2019. Hawaiian Airlines is also suspending its Honolulu-Beijing route, which had been flying three times a week since 2014, because demand wasnt growing as hoped. Service will end after Chinas Golden Week holiday in early October.

American Airlines had announced in May it was ending its direct Chicago-Beijing service in the face of increased competition. American will still offers daily flights to Beijing from its hubs in Los Angeles and Dallas, where it is focusing its long-haul operations.

Vasu Raja, vice president of network planning at American Airlines, said on a company podcast that and It doesnt mean that we dont like Chicago, nor that we dont like Asia. Far from it, Raja said. Chicago is a very profitable hub for us.  However, the two China routes, and to a lesser degree Tokyo, have been colossal loss makers for us.

Americans Chicago-China route will end in October, and the Chicago-Tokyo route will be reduced to three times a week as of December. American Airlines will also be cutting a Philadelphia-Munich flight. However, American is adding a direct flight to London Heathrow from Phoenix, and new direct flights from Chicago to Manchester, England, and Athens, Greece, next year.

American Airlines also said it plans to seek permission to fly into Beijings new international airport thats slated to open in 2019. A spokesperson told the Chicago Tribune that Chinese authorities required them to maintain daily schedules or lose the routes altogether.

Though these China cuts are in the works, other airlines will have to pick up the slack. The Boyd Group consultancy estimates the number of Chinese passengers arriving at U.S. airports will nearly triple from 4.3 million this year to 12.8 million in 2024. United Airlines ual already had the most Chinese flights of any U.S. carrier, and these cancellations by American and Hawaiian should give them an even better hold on the market.

U.S. airlines are at a severe disadvantage, Mike Boyd, group president for The Boyd Group, told Reuters. The majority of demand is China-generated, and that gives Chinese carriers the advantage.By Cate Cadell and Sayantani Ghosh BEIJING/SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi Inc's quarterly revenue soared due to strong demand in India and other emerging markets but doubts remained on whether it can sustain the fast pace of growth and its shares reversed early gains to end lower. Xiaomi, which toppled Samsung Electronics as the top smartphone seller in the price-conscious Indian market earlier this year, said on Wednesday in its first results as a listed firm that revenue from overseas markets for the quarter ended June 30 more than doubled from the year-ago period. The company started trading in July after a closely watched but disappointing initial public offering that valued it at almost half the $100 billion that industry analysts had initially estimated. "The overseas market opportunity is massive, which provides huge growth potential for Xiaomi on both hardware and software," Fubon Research analyst Dany Wu said in a broker note. "Despite the margin decline, we think this is a compromise for rapid expansion in its overall product lines." The company's gross margins dropped 2 percentage points to 12.5 percent as steady profits at its internet services business failed to offset declines in its hardware businesses, that includes smartphones and internet-connected devices such as smart TVs. Xiaomi, which has gained sizeable market share in India by taking on Samsung and Apple Inc, is scheduled to start selling a new phone in the South Asian nation called Poco F1 at the end of this month. The company will sell the device only in India at first, underscoring the market's importance to Xiaomi. The phone packs a punch for the price, according to reviews in technology websites. The cheapest version is expected to be sold at around $300 in India, more than double that of its popular Redmi 5 model. Xiaomi doesn't break out India sales. International revenue in the second quarter was 16.4 billion yuan, accounting for more than a third of total revenue. NOT JUST SMARTPHONES While Xiaomi still generates the bulk of its revenue from smartphones, it is also trying to turn itself into an internet services powerhouse. The company hopes that smartphone sales will drive traffic to its apps, boosting its software-driven business and advertising sales. But doubts remain that Xiaomi will be able to leverage its user base. "It will be challenging for Xiaomi to monetize its smartphone user base ... as Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent are already well positioned in China," said CK Lu, a research director at Gartner. And though the company shipped 32 million smartphones in the quarter, up 44 percent compared to the year-ago period, the growth rate slowed sharply from the 117 percent recorded in the first quarter. The slowdown echoes a broader one in the global smartphone market even as Xiaomi's Asian rivals including Huawei [HWT.UL], Vivo and Oppo step on the gas. Bearish investors have limited gains in Xiaomi's stock since it priced its IPO at HK$17 ($2.17). On Thursday, shares rose as much as 7.2 percent, taking the company's value to about $60 billion, before erasing the gains and closing down 1.4 percent. Xiaomi's shares trade at 37 times forward 12-month earnings, well above Apple's 18 times and Samsung's six. "We believe that the 2Q18 results did little to justify a valuation that already factors in generous premiums to global leaders," said Arun George, who publishes commentary on independent research platform Smartkarma. Xiaomi's revenue for the quarter rose to 45.24 billion yuan ($6.58 billion) from 26.88 billion yuan. It posted a net profit of 14.63 billion yuan for the period compared to a net loss of 11.97 billion yuan in the year-ago period. (Reporting by Catherine Cadell and Sayantani Ghosh; Additional reporting by Chandini Monnappa in Bengaluru; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)A young Afghan refugee in Austria has received a sentence of life in prison for stabbing his sister to death in a so-called "honor killing."

A court in Vienna issued the sentence on August 22 against the Afghan man, who said he stabbed his sister 28 times "because of culture" in order to protect what he said was his familys sense of honor.

Authorities have not released the name of the killer or his sister, who was 14 years old when she was bludgeoned to death on her way to school in September 2017.

The victim had moved into a crisis center in Vienna about a week before shed been killed, saying that she felt cornered and "pressured" by her family because she was not allowed to go out and meet with her girlfriends.

The court hear that when the killer confessed to police, he told authorities: "It is good that she is dead. She stained our familys honor."

The killer claimed that under Austria law, he should not receive a life sentence because he is now only 19 years old.

But the court rejected that claim after a panel of experts testified that he is 21 years old.

Based on reporting by dpa, Kronen Zeitung, and Die PresseA year after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a new strategy seeking an honorable and enduring outcome worthy of the tremendous sacrifices in Afghanistans war, Washington is still grappling with the longstanding problem of how to address neighboring Pakistans role in the conflict.

In August 2017, Trump reserved some of the toughest language in his new strategy speech for Islamabad. Pakistan has much to gain from partnering with our effort in Afghanistan. It has much to lose by continuing to harbor criminals and terrorists, he said. Trump also announced plans to strengthen his countrys strategic partnership with India, Pakistans regional archrival.

A year later, the war in Afghanistan is at a virtual stalemate, and Pakistan holds the key to whether the Taliban insurgents it has sheltered and supported for decades join the peace process or continue to fight for their avowed aim of forcing the United States to withdraw its troops.

Pakistan is key to the solution in Afghanistan, General John Nicholson, commander of the NATO-led Resolute Support mission, told journalists on August 23. The Taliban enjoy freedom of action there [in Pakistan]; they occasionally come from there, and casualties are taken back there. These are things we are concerned about.

This support has deteriorated Islamabads relations with Washington over the years. Relations between the two took a downturn after Trump announced his strategy and Washington suspended military assistance to Islamabad.

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 and deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools, Trump wrote on Twitter in January. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!

U.S. officials continue to prod Pakistan to change its approach toward Afghanistan. We have encouraged Pakistan to take stronger steps to ensure that the Taliban either come to the negotiating table or [are] expelled back into Afghanistan rather than enjoy a safe haven outside the country, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Alice Wells told journalists on August 20.

Despite a recent easing of tensions between Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Pakistans powerful military, the two neighbors are far from embarking on a sustainable path to resolving their problems. After this months botched Taliban attempt to overrun Ghazni, a strategic city in southeastern Afghanistan, Afghan officials blamed Islamabad for supporting the offensive.

"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, Ghani said of his recent telephone conversation with General Qamar Javed Bajwa, the head of the Pakistani military. I need answers now. ... Where did they come from, and why are they receiving treatment in your hospitals?"

Islamabad, however, rejects supporting the Taliban. A recent statement by the Pakistani military said Bajwa has reiterated there is no Pakistani support for any terrorist activity inside Afghanistan.

Pakistan continues to support all initiatives aimed at bringing peace in Afghanistan as there cannot be enduring peace in Pakistan and stability in the region if there is no peace in Afghanistan, the statement said.

In Washington, however, few buy such denials. Like previous administrations, Trumps is expected to continue highlighting Islamabads covert support and sanctuary for the Afghan Taliban as a top impediment to peace in Afghanistan.

Barnett Rubin, an academic and former U.S. State Department adviser, says Trumps strategy has not altered Pakistans behavior because of Washingtons constraints. The reality that the U.S. depends on Pakistan for logistics and access to Afghanistan has prevented the escalation of pressure on Islamabad, he said.

Rubin has spent decades researching Afghanistan and advised the late Richard Holbrooke, former U.S. President Barack Obamas special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan. He says the strategy has so far made no major strides in paving the way for ending the Afghan war through talks because of Washingtons relations with China, Russia, Iran, and Pakistan.

Without these countries cooperation, there can be no stabilization in Afghanistan, he said. The U.S.s pursuit of confrontational rather than cooperative policies with all of these countries is likely to make success in Afghanistan impossible.

Pakistan is joining Iran, China, and Central Asian countries in a meeting on Afghanistan in the Russian capital, Moscow, early next month. With the Taliban participating, Kabul and Washington are staying away from the event.

Washington, however, is expected to soon appoint Afghanistan-born former ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad as the new special envoy for Afghanistan. The 67-year-old has been involved in U.S. Afghan policy since the 1980s.

As a presidential envoy and the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan after the demise of the Taliban regime in late 2001, Khalilzad frequently criticized Islamabad for playing a double game by providing some assistance to the United States to pose as ally while harboring and supporting its enemies: militant groups such as the Taliban.

Years later, his views have not changed.

"The United States has arrived at what the Afghans have been saying for a long time -- which is that Pakistan's policy toward Afghanistan, terrorism, and the fight against terrorism is not genuine," he told Radio Free Afghanistan in January.

His main challenge now will be to steer Washingtons policy toward addressing Pakistans role in the Afghan conflict.The Nov. 6 show that Nicki Minaj and Future were scheduled to play at the Pepsi Center in Denver on their NickiHndrxx North American tour is no longer taking place as scheduled, according to Pepsi Center ticketing service, Altitude Tickets.

Refunds for the previously scheduled North American tour dates will be available "at the point of purchase," the Altitude Tickets website said.

In a post on her Instagram, Minaj said that her North American tour has not been cancelled, but it has been rescheduled. Her latest album was originally scheduled to be released in June, she said, but she was still writing and recording it until last week.

"I cant rehearse 4 WEEKS for a tour I originally planned on rehearsing 3 months for. I give my fans QUALITY," Minaj wrote on Instagram.

Minaj said that her European and Australian tour dates will remain the same, and that she will only be rescheduling her North American tour dates.By Franklin Draku.

Cyber security experts are set to meet in Kampala for the East African Cyber Defence conference.

James Saaka, the Executive Director, NITA-U says the 7th edition of the annual conference will focus on how the East African member states can prepare for cyber-attacks.

The two day conference that opens on September 6this expected to attract 150 cyber security professionals along with policy makers and representatives from critical infrastructure operators.

According to 2017 Cyber Security report, Uganda loses nearly $42m (about UGX. 158Bn) annually to cyber-attacks, though the losses are reported to be higher in neighboring countries.

The East Africa Cyber Defence 2018 conference will be addressing how organizations should effectively handle the cyber attack crises.A small problem sets the entrepreneurial wheel in Milan Kordestanis mind spinning into a colorful blur.

As a freshman at Colorado College last year, the teen from California thought it would have been really useful if he could have hired an older student who had taken similar classes to tutor him.

I could have asked, What is this specific professor like? What is this class like?  he said Monday from his home in California.

Having a fellow student make a copy of a research project, clean his room or deliver a midnight snack  for a nominal fee  also would have enhanced his college experience, Kordestani thought.

In January, he and high school friend Sabine Rizvi, who attends New York University, embarked on finding a 21st-century solution.

They came up with an application for college students to get basic tasks done, an app Kordestani thinks will revolutionize college life.

Although he didnt know anything about developing a smartphone application, Kordestani is as familiar with starting a business as he is with studying for a test.

The 19-year-old son of Twitter Executive Chairman Omid Kordestani has founded two other companies.

When he was a high school sophomore, he started Milan Farms, featuring a humane and organic system to raise poultry and grow pure saffron.

Kordestani also pioneered an independent record label, Guin Records, which produces, promotes and distributes music for emerging hip-hop and rhythm-and-blues artists.

His parents, who emigrated from Iran, instilled in him many valuable traits.

Both of my parents are advocates of: Success comes from what youre passionate in. And theyre supportive of my ventures, he said.

To see them having started from so little to where they are now  my mother a philanthropist, and my father in the technology sphere  and their dedication to what they love, its great to see that sort of motivation.

Dormzi will debut on the NYU campus in New York City on Saturday and next year expand to other colleges. In developing the app, Kordestani now is familiar with obtaining a patent and a trademark, researching and designing a product, then testing, reworking and launching it.

Heres how the free app for iOS and Androids works. NYU students will be able to sign up and either be a Dormzi or a Dormer. Dormzis are the worker bees, and Dormers are the students in need of services.

Students submit requests  Need my room vacuumed tomorrow or Looking for a physics tutor for one hour this afternoon  and other students respond to fill the need.

Feedback from students at CC and NYU helped Kordestani and Rizzi refine the function.

Users wanted a seamless transition between the work app and the use app, Kordestani said.

The same student who wants his bedroom cleaned also may want to be a tutor or run an errand for someone.

Scheduling an appeal ahead of time, such as I want my room cleaned at 2 a.m. because Im having a party the next day also emerged from suggestions from classmates.

The app connects students and includes a predetermined pricing system. Vacuuming a room might cost $5 to $10, for example, Rizvi said.

Kordestani and Rizvi take a small percentage of the fee as revenue.

The purpose of the design and the way weve intended it is we dont want to limit the student population or be an elitist app, Kordestani said.

Its more of a community of people helping out each other to have someone do a students laundry and that same student tutors you. Its a seamless action of organizing it and helping people out.

The app could come to the CC campus, where Kordestani likely will major in agricultural business, as early as next year. For safety purposes, its limited to only students living on a specific college or university campus.

Theres a lot of creativity and innovation at CC, he said. Students want to make the world a better place and are constantly coming up with ideas. Its been a great space to make this in; everyone wants to bounce ideas off of you.Cristhian Bahena Rivera is escorted into the Poweshiek County Courthouse for his initial court appearance, Wednesday in Montezuma, Iowa.From Los Angeles to the Canadian border, Colorado Springs airmen continue to battle wildfires that have blackened more than 2 million acres in the West in recent weeks.

Flying as many as seven missions a day, they have dropped retardant to slow advancing flames while dealing with roiling air and smoke so thick that it can ground their planes.

The hours are pretty long here, said Col. Jim DeVere, commander of the 302nd Airlift Wing, who is overseeing Air Force firefighting efforts this summer.

The 302nd, headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base, is a month into its West Coast firefighting mission. DeVere is working out of the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, to choreograph the efforts of his wing and three others that have firefighting crews and equipment for their C-130 cargo planes.

The amount of professionalism that our airmen have in this mission is outstanding, he said. They are ready to go, they are excited, they are motivated and they are well-trained.

It has been one of the busiest summers in years for the wings airmen, whove been battling wildfires since their outbreak in June in Colorado.

After monsoon rains helped extinguish large fires in the central Rockies, blazes exploded in drought-stricken California when temperatures soared, triggering a second call-up for the militarys aerial firefighters last month.

The crews from Colorado Springs have been working out of a base in Sacramento, and spent nearly two weeks tackling the largest of the Western blazes, the 410,482-acre Mendocino fire rear Clear Lake in northern California.

Repeated runs by the C-130s have helped hem in the massive fire, which was 74 percent contained Thursday.

I think theres a sense of pride in the mission, DeVere said. You have a good sense of accomplishment that you are helping people.

Fighting fires is one of the most difficult missions flown by the four-engine cargo planes that are so familiar in the skies around Colorado Springs.

Crews fly around the turbulent edges of fires, just over the treetops and at low speed to accurately deliver their loads of retardant. With the planes flying at just above stall speed  the point where gravity takes over  its a precision ballet with a 75-ton turbine-powered dancer.

The bigger challenge, where I would compare it to combat, is youre a lot lower to the ground and slower and youre heavy, DeVere said. We get into those situations in combat but its not every sortie.

Its tough work for flight crews, but could be tougher for the mechanics, who are keeping the 30-year-old planes in the air.

In one recent incident, ground crews replaced a faulty propeller on one of the transports  a heavy job that could normally take a couple of days.

They worked through the entire night to make sure the airplane was ready to go in the morning, DeVere said.

So far, the aircraft have been sent on 11 different wildfires. The only thing that has kept them on the ground is low visibility.

There are a few days we havent been able to fly because the smoke is so thick, Devere said.

Recent rains and higher humidity could calm things down in Washington state, forecasters say.

But DeVere isnt taking bets.

Next week it could be 110 degrees somewhere, and it all starts again, he said.Colorado Politics senior political reporter

Joey Bunch is the senior correspondent and deputy managing editor of Colorado Politics. His 32-year career includes the last 16 in Colorado. He was part of the Denver Post team that won the Pulitzer Prize in 2013 and he is a two-time finalist.The sun turned into an orangy ball as UCCS Womens' lacrosse players, Annie Berg and Alison Kobel (left to right) practiced on the first day of classes. The mountains were obscured on Monday by smoke from wildfires in the western states on Monday, August 20, 2018. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)Barry Fagin is Senior Fellow at the Independence Institute in Denver. His views are his alone. Viewers can write Dr. Fagin at barry@faginfamily.net.Re: Columnist: Some people argue that the government sh [ #permalink

3 KudosAsad wrote:

Bunuel wrote:





A. 200

B. 120

C. 100

D. 75

E. 60





From 2000 to 2003, the number of employees at a certain company increased by a factor of 1/4. From 2003 to 2006, the number of employees at this company decreased by a factor of 1/3. If there were 100 employees at the company in 2006, how many employees were there at the company in 2000 ?A. 200B. 120C. 100D. 75E. 60 NEW question from GMAT

(PS15957) (PS15957)

Hello Experts,

EMPOWERgmatRichC , VeritasKarishma , IanStewart , Bunuel , chetan2u , ArvindCrackVerbal , GMATGuruNY , AaronPond , GMATinsight

We can cancel choice D (75) because if 1/4 of 75 is not an integer-people has to be integer. Can we also cancel choice E (60) by this way?

Also, appreciating your help if you put an insight so that we can visually cancel the most choices.

Thanks__ Hello Experts,We can cancel choice D (75) because if 1/4 of 75 is not an integer-people has to be integer. Can we also cancel choice E (60) by this way?Also, appreciating your help if you put an insight so that we can visually cancel the most choices.Thanks__

Hello Asad,IMHO, you should never eliminate answer options based on how they look. Looks can be deceptive.What you should look at is to eliminate answer options based on your understanding of the constraints in the question, like how you have done with 75. The reason that you have provided to eliminate 75 is a sound one as well.However, theres much more to this question. You are increasing the value in 2000 by\(\frac{ 1}{4}\)th and then reducing the resultant value by \(\frac{1}{3}\)rd. This means that the resultant value should be a multiple of 3 and 4 both i.e. it should be a multiple of 12. This is a stronger constraint. Based on this, you can eliminate answer options A, C and D.Of the two options left i.e. B and E, 60 can be eliminated based on its magnitude  increasing 60 by\(\frac{ 1}{4}\)th takes us to 75 and reducing it by \(\frac{1}{3}\)rd takes us down to 50. Answer option E can be eliminated.The correct answer option has to be B.From the above, we see that after doing the two percentage change operations, we got 50. But, we are supposed to get 100 which is exactly double of 50. Therefore, double of 60 i.e. 120 should be our answer, which is indeed answer option B.Hope that helps!_________________nishantd88 wrote:

Hi folks,



I graduate from university in India which provides honors classification as per the British system. So First Class Honors is the highest, followed by Second class Upeer, Second Lower and so on.



The Kellogg form asks for Honors, but only has the US classification in the options. So theres Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, Summa CUm Laude and so on.



So my question is how do I map the British system to the US system? Is there a recommended procedure?



I was awarded a First Class Honors. So what do I select in the Kellogg form?

Minutes to Admission Weekly newsletter, were, in a 5-min video, we share admissions insights that help you stand out. To sign up for the FREE newsletter, register Join ournewsletter, were, in a 5-min video, we share admissions insights that help you stand out. To sign up for the FREE newsletter, register here . Or copy and paste the URL in your browser: https://www.siaadmissions.com/minutes-to-admission





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Contact us for a complimentary profile evaluation Susan BerishajSia Admissionsinfo@siaadmissions.com+1 (646) 690 - 9996website: http://www.SiaAdmissions.com Contact us for a Signature Read MoreHi HeySoulsister,Im glad you reached out, and Im happy to help. Since you are just starting out with the GMAT, you should first familiarize yourself with the GMAT and then take an official GMAT practice exam . Your experience taking that test will give you a good idea of what to expect on the GMAT, and the results will serve as a baseline GMAT score.After completing an initial practice test and determining how far off you are from your score goal, you will need to devise a solid preparation plan. A solid study plan will allow you to learn linearly, such that you can slowly build GMAT mastery of one topic prior to moving on to the next. Within each topic, begin with the foundations and progress toward more advanced concepts. Each time you strengthen your understanding of a topic and your skill in answering questions of a particular type, you increase your odds of hitting your score goal. You know that there are types of questions that you are happy to see and types that you would rather not see, and types of questions that you take a long time to answer correctly. Learn to more effectively answer the types of questions that you would rather not see, and make them into your favorite types. Learn to correctly answer in two minutes or less questions that you currently take five minutes to answer. By finding, say, a dozen weaker quant areas and turning them into strong areas, you will make great progress toward hitting your quant score goal. If a dozen areas turn out not to be enough, strengthen some more areas.For example, if you are learning about Number Properties, you should develop as much conceptual knowledge about Number Properties as possible. In other words, your goal will be to completely understand properties of factorials, perfect squares, quadratic patterns, LCM, GCF, units digit patterns, divisibility, and remainders, to name a few concepts. After carefully reviewing the conceptual underpinnings of how to answer Number Properties questions, practice by answering 50 or more questions just from Number Properties. When you do dozens of questions of the same type one after the other, you learn just what it takes to get questions of that type correct consistently. If you aren't getting close to 90 percent of questions of a certain type correct, go back and seek to better understand how that type of question works, and then do more questions of that type until you get to around at least 90 percent accuracy in your training. If you get 100 percent of some sets correct, even better. Number Properties is just one example; follow this process for all quant topics.When you are working on learning to answer questions of a particular type, start off taking your time, and then seek to speed up as you get more comfortable answering questions of that type. As you do such practice, do a thorough analysis of each question that you don't get right. If you got a remainder question wrong, ask yourself why. Did you make a careless mistake? Did you not properly apply the remainder formula? Was there a concept you did not understand in the question? By carefully analyzing your mistakes, you will be able to efficiently fix your weaknesses and in turn improve your GMAT quant skills.Follow a similar routine for verbal. For example, lets say you start by learning about Critical Reasoning. Your first goal is to fully master the individual Critical Reasoning topics: Strengthen the Argument, Weaken The Argument, Resolve the Paradox, etc. As you learn about each Critical Reasoning question type, do focused practice so that you can track your skill in answering each type of question. If, for example, you get a weakening question wrong, ask yourself why. Did you make a careless mistake? Did you not recognize the specific Critical Reasoning question type? Were you doing too much analysis in your head? Did you skip over a keyword in an answer choice? You must thoroughly analyze your mistakes and seek to turn weaknesses into strengths by focusing on the question types you dread seeing and the questions you take a long time to answer correctly.When practicing Reading Comprehension, you need to develop a reading strategy that is both efficient and thorough. Reading too fast and not understanding what you have read are equally as harmful as reading too slow and using up too much time. When attacking Reading Comprehension passages, you must have one clear goal in mind: to understand the context of what you are reading. However, you must do so efficiently, so you need to avoid getting bogged down in the details of each paragraph and instead focus on understanding the main point of each paragraph. That being said, do not fall into the trap of thinking that you can just read the intro and the conclusion and thereby comprehend the main idea of a paragraph. As you read a paragraph, consider how the context of the paragraph relates to previous paragraphs, so you can continue developing your overall understanding of the passage. Furthermore, as you practice Reading Comprehension, focus on the exact types of Reading Comprehension questions with which you struggle: Find the Main Idea, Inference, Authors Tone, etc. As with Critical Reasoning, analyze your incorrect Reading Comprehension answers to better determine why you tend to get a particular question type wrong, and then improve upon your weaknesses. Keep in mind that GMAT Reading Comprehension passages are not meant to be easy to read. So, to better prepare yourself to analyze such passages, read magazines with similar content and style, such as the Economist, Scientific American, and Smithsonian.Sentence Correction is a bit of a different animal compared to Reading Comprehension and Critical Reasoning. There are three aspects to getting correct answers to GMAT Sentence Correction questions: what you know, such as grammar rules, what you see, such as violations of grammar rules and the logic of sentence structure, and what you do, such as carefully considering each answer choice in the context of the non-underlined portion of the sentence. To drive up your Sentence Correction score, it is likely that you will have to work on all three of those aspects, and it is also likely that the reason that your Sentence Correction performance has not improved is that you have not been working on all three of those aspects. Let's discuss each of those aspects and how you can work on them.Regarding what you know, to be successful in Sentence Correction, first and foremost, you MUST know your grammar rules. Let's be clear, though: GMAT Sentence Correction is not really a test of knowledge of grammar rules. The reason for learning the grammar rules is so that you can determine what sentences convey and whether sentences are well-constructed. In fact, in many cases, incorrect answers to Sentence Correction questions are grammatically flawless. Thus, often your task is to use your knowledge of grammar rules to determine which answer choice creates the most logical sentence meaning and structure.This determination of whether sentences are well-constructed and logical is the second aspect of finding correct answers to Sentence Correction questions, what you see. Likely, the main reason that Sentence Correction has not "clicked" for you is that you have not put enough work into developing your skill in seeing what is going on in the various versions of the sentence that can be created with the answer choices. To develop this skill, you probably have to slow way down. You won't develop this skill by spending under two minutes per question. For a while, anyway, you have to spend time with each question, maybe even ten or fifteen minutes on one question sometimes, analyzing every answer choice until you see the details that you have to see in order to choose the correct answer. As you go through the answer choices, consider the meaning conveyed by each version of the sentence. Does the meaning make sense? Even if you can tell what the version is SUPPOSED to convey, does the version really convey that meaning? Is there a verb to go with the subject? Do all pronouns in the sentence clearly refer to nouns in the sentence? By slowing way down and looking for these details, you learn to see what you have to see in order to clearly understand which answer to a Sentence Correction question is correct.There is only one correct answer to any Sentence Correction question, there are clear reasons why that choice is correct and the others are not, and those reasons are not that the correct version simply "sounds right." In fact, the correct version often sounds a little off at first. That correct answers may sound a little off is not surprising. If the correct answer were always the one that sounded right, then most people most of the time would get Sentence Correction questions correct, without really knowing why the wrong answers were wrong and the correct answers were correct. So, you have to go beyond choosing what "sounds right" and learn to clearly see the logical reasons why one choice is better than all of the others.As for the third aspect of getting Sentence Correction questions correct, what you do, the main thing you have to do is be very careful. You have to make sure that you are truly considering the structures of sentences and the meanings conveyed rather than allowing yourself to be tricked into choosing trap answers that sound right but don't convey meanings that make sense. You also have to make sure that you put some real energy into finding the correct answers. Finding the correct answer to a Sentence Correction question may take bouncing from choice to choice repeatedly until you start to see the differences between the choices that make all choices wrong except for one. Often, when you first look at the choices in a Sentence Correction question, only one or two seem obviously incorrect. It may take time for you to see what you have to see. Getting the right answers takes a certain work ethic. You have to be determined to see the differences and to figure out the precise reasons that one choice is correct.To improve what you do when you answer Sentence Correction questions, seek to become aware of how you are going about answering them. For instance, are you being careful and looking for logic and details, or are you quickly eliminating choices that sound a little off, and then choosing the best of the rest? If you choose an incorrect answer, consider what you did that resulted in your arriving at that answer and what you could do differently in order to arrive at correct answers more consistently. Furthermore, see how many questions you can get correct in a row as you practice. If you break your streak by missing one, consider what you could have done differently that would have extended your streak.As with your Critical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension regimens, after learning a particular Sentence Correction topic, engage in focused practice with 30 questions or more that involve that topic. As your Sentence Correction skills improve, you will then want to practice with Sentence Correction questions that test you on skills from multiple Sentence Correction topics.In order to follow the path described above, you may consider using an online self-study course, so take a look at the GMAT Club reviews for the best quant and verbal courses You also may find my article with more information regarding how to score a 700+ on the GMAT helpful.Feel free to reach out with any further questions.Good luck!_________________Bunuel wrote:

Senator: Between 1950 and present, the number of women diagnosed with postpartum depression each year in the country of Heranita has increased by a factor of ten. We must improve our systems for supporting women after childbirth to stem this increase in the number of new mothers experiencing postpartum depression.



Which of the following, if true, would most call the argument above into question?





A. The amount of spending on womens health has increased since 1950.



B. Rates of postpartum depression are not included in official government statistics.



C. The minimum threshold of symptoms women experience before they can be diagnosed has increased since 1950.



D. Until 1970, most doctors were not specific in their diagnoses but instead grouped all types of depression together.



E. It is likely that cases of postpartum depression are underreported in Heranita.



Veritas Prep GMAT Instructor



Learn more about how Veritas Prep can help you achieve a great GMAT score by checking out their KarishmaVeritas Prep GMAT InstructorLearn more about how Veritas Prep can help you achieve a great GMAT score by checking out their GMAT Prep Options > Signature Read More

Between 1950 and present, the number of women diagnosed with PP depression each year has increased by a factor of ten. (So in 1950, if 200 women had PP depression, now 2000 do)We must improve our systems for supporting women after childbirth to stem this increase in the number of new mothers experiencing postpartum depression.What will call this argument into question?There are various ways:- If we can say that number of new mothers has increased by a factor of 20, then PP depression seems to have reduced percentage wise.- If we can say that it existed in similar numbers before but was just not diagnosed before, that will call our argument into question.- If we can say that it existed in similar numbers but was misdiagnosed as some other disease, that will serve the purpose too.etcA. The amount of spending on womens health has increased since 1950.IrrelevantB. Rates of postpartum depression are not included in official government statistics.IrrelevantC. The minimum threshold of symptoms women experience before they can be diagnosed has increased since 1950.This should have led to fewer cases, not more.D. Until 1970, most doctors were not specific in their diagnoses but instead grouped all types of depression together.So PP depression was not diagnosed as such by MOST doctors earlier. It was just called depression. Then it is possible that 2000 women had PP depression in 1950 also but for 1800 of them, it was just called depression. Only very few doctors identified PP depression and hence we got the number fo 200 in 1950.This weakens our argument.E. It is likely that cases of postpartum depression are underreported in Heranita.This means that there are even more cases than 2000 and perhaps there were more than 200 in 1950. Doesn't help.Answer (D)_________________MOSCOW, Idaho  The University of New Mexico volleyball team is set to open its 2018 season with a road tournament in Idaho this weekend, August 24-25. The Lobos will start with a single game Friday, followed by a Saturday doubleheader at the Idaho Volleyball Classic.

Fans will be able to follow live stats for all three matches by clicking HERE, and will also be able to watch live by clicking HERE. See below for schedule of matches, all times mountain.

Friday, Aug. 24  5:30 pm. vs GCU  LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO

Saturday, Aug. 25  11 a.m. vs Santa Clara  LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO

Saturday, Aug. 25  8 p.m. vs Idaho  LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO

The Lobos return nine players from 2017 including UNMs top three offensive threats Mariessa Carrasco, Victoria Spragg and Lauren Twitty. Twitty, a junior this season, lead the squad in kills in 2017 with 412, followed by Carrasco with 258 and Spragg with 243.

UNM opened competition this season with an exhibition match on Saturday, August 18 against Fort Lewis at home in Johnson Center. Twitty posted 12 kills on 18 attacks and led the team to a 3-0 victory. Spragg notched nine blocks during the match including one solo.

The Lobos will take on Grand Canyon, Santa Clara and Idaho this weekend in Moscow, Idaho. GCU, which went 8-18 last season, returns 10 players including sophomore standout outside hitter Teagan DeFalco who was named to the 2018 Preseason All-WAC Team. The Lopes also welcome newcomer Annabelle Kubinski, an Albuquerque native and La Cueva standout.

Idaho went 18-11 last season and has nine players returning, six of which are seniors. Santa Clara ended its 2017 campaign 15-15 overall, finishing at .500 much like the Lobos 16-16 record last season.Is a "city" to pass a bill banning the wearing of face coverings (such as the burka or niqab) in public? No, that's not accurate, but not for the reason you might think. An article with that headline has been circulating on various Moroccan-run fake news websites but the body of the text correctly mentions that it is about Quebec in Canada (which is a province, not a city) and that the legislation was in fact already passed. But it omits to say this happened in 2017.

The latest version of the story appeared in an article published on August 19, 2018 by a site named Awesome Things and was titled "City To Pass Bill Banning The Wearing Of Face Coverings In Public, Do You Support This?" (archived here) which opened:

Last Wednesday, the Quebec government passed legislation banning the wearing of face coverings for anyone receiving or giving a public service. This includes those who are riding the bus. Some call this a North American first. As to be expected, this new legislation is causing a whole lot of controversy. Members of the Islamic community are saying that it violates the fundamental rights of Muslim and doesn't allow them to express their religion. "This has been a debate that's been tearing Quebec apart for the past few years," Premier Philippe Couillard said. "We need to hail this exercise. We need to remind people we are the only jurisdiction in North America to have legislated on this issue."

However that legislation was already passed in October 2017:

Quebec passes law banning facial coverings in public The Canadian province of Quebec has passed a sweeping ban on face coverings - barring public workers from wearing the niqab or burqa and obliging citizens to unveil when riding public transit or receiving government services - ushering in a law believed to be the first of its kind in North America.

So saying today that it happened "last wednesday" or that it is a "city" it is definitely not correct.

The domain name of the website awesome-things.info was registered anonymously but it seems to be a copy of awesome-things.me and that site was registered to someone in Morocco:

Domain:awesome-things.me

Registrar:GoDaddy.com, LLC

Registration Date:2017-11-27

Expiration Date:2018-11-27

Updated Date:2018-01-26

Status:clientDeleteProhibited

clientRenewProhibited

clientTransferProhibited

clientUpdateProhibited

Name Servers:ns01.domaincontrol.com

ns02.domaincontrol.com

REGISTRANT CONTACT

State:Al Hoceima

Country:MA

Sites pushing the story are not trying to inform people, they are just trying to stir up things so people get angry enough to like and share the article without thinking so they can make money off the ads appearing on the website. Don't fall for it!When it comes to movie remakes, Ive been of the mind that perhaps only bad films should be redone, or those that could be retold to reflect modern societal issues. The former is never attempted as executives play it safe by choosing movies that were done well the first time around and are thus a known quantity. So it came as no surprise when the remake of Papillon was announced, as this seminal prison movie is a certified classic of the 1970s that contains a compelling story with mass appeal. As with most projects of this sort, I couldnt help but think this was a foolhardy exercise as the 1973 original starred Steve McQueen in one of his finest roles, and, under director Franklin J. Schaffners steady hand, could hardly be improved upon.



Danish director Micheal Noers take on the life of French forger Henri Charriere is equally gripping and, in many ways, measures up to its predecessor, striking a similar tone but going a bit further in showing the horrendous conditions that the title character and his fellow inmates had to endure after they were sent to a French penal colony. That the film succeeds is due in large part to Noers ability to cover a great deal of narrative ground in a brisk, engaging manner and the performances of its two leads.

Framed for murder, Charriere (Charlie Hunnam) is sent to French Guiana in South America to serve a life sentence. Living in squalor, forced to toil to the point of exhaustion on work details and slowly starving to death, he decides the only way he will survive is to escape, something the warden almost encourages as he knows conditions in the surrounding jungle will likely prove fatal to anyone foolish enough to flee. However, in order to procure a boat and other means, Charriere needs money, so he becomes the protector of convicted forger Louis Dega (Rami Malek), who has a small fortune on his person.These two fail upon their first escape attempt but forge a bond that survives being separated for years, as well as other foiled bids for freedom and inhumane conditions that threaten to break their spirits at every turn.The relationship between Charriere and Dega is the key to this film, as their relationship serves as a metaphor for the enduring hope that keeps both men alive. Hunnam and Malek take on the thankless task of following in McQueen and Dustin Hoffmans footsteps respectively and each accord themselves handsomely. They succeed in putting a distinct stamp on their roles, but, most importantly, their chemistry provides a sense of realism to the pairs friendship.Shooting in Malta and Serbia, Noer creates a distinctive sense of place that effectively drives home how horrendous the conditions were that these and other prisoners had to contend with. Peeling paint, cracked walls and rampant filth all contribute to the sense that these men were treated as if they were just so much trash that was discarded with no thought of rehabilitation. As shot by cinematographer Hagen Bogdanski, the film has a perpetually overcast look to it that effectively accentuates the oppressive nature of these mens existence.Ultimately, like the best prison movies, Papillon is a testament to the power of hope and the tenacity of those who can cling to it in the most deplorable conditions. An effective metaphor for our tyrannical times, the film powerfully reminds us that only through mutual support and personal fortitude can the oppressed ever hope to overcome those that would rob them of their human dignity.FERAL CATS AT UIS



Charles Coderko, associate chancellor for administrative affairs at University of Illinois Springfield, has decided to wage war on the feral cat colony at UIS and stop the small group of compassionate employees who, on their own time and with their own resources, have been helping them.

This colony has existed for 15 or more years and probably began when students moved out and left the cats to starve. These cats no longer trust humans and hide from them. Trapping and taking them to animal control is a death sentence for these abandoned animals. It takes more resources than animal control has to tame them. The employees had permission to help these animals. Mr. Coderko has threatened employees who continue to help them with possible termination and off-campus helpers with criminal charges.



Please send email, letters, phone calls or other internet communication telling UIS to allow the trap, neuter, release and feeding of these innocent animals.





Kathy Dehen

Springfield







LOCAL ELECTIONS MATTER



The April 2015 Consolidated General Election saw a mere 26.39 percent of the registered voters in Sangamon County weigh in at the polls. By April 2017, this figure had fallen to 13.82 percent, according to the Sangamon County election results website. Decisions made in these elections impact our cities, villages, libraries, parks, schools and other critical services.



If you are interested in one of the local, nonpartisan offices up for election in 2019 or simply want to know more about the process, please plan to attend one of the upcoming Election Information Nights. The first is from 6 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 27 in the community room inside Schnucks at 2801 Chatham Road in Springfield. The second is from 6 to 8 p.m. on Sept. 6 in the community room located at #1 Community Drive in Rochester.

Another facet of our democracy is the fact is that the people serving in these local offices are our relatives, friends and neighbors. It is not only first-rate citizenship to stay engaged and to weigh in, it is also neighborly, thoughtful and considerate to participate in choosing those who serve to represent us. This is, in large part, what weaves the fabric of our communities and binds us together as one.

Kathryn Dinardo

Diana Fairchild

Springfield





KIDS AND MARIJUANA



Senator Dick Durbin recently introduced a bill to crack down on flavored tobacco in e-cigarettes. He believes Big Tobacco is marketing to kids. But theres another industry targeting kids right under our adult noses  Big Marijuana.

Marijuana-infused sweets like gummy bears, jolly ranchers, cotton candy, cookies, and lollipops are attractive to young people. Candy and cookies have names like Twigz, Goober, Dab-A-Honey, Keef Kat, Buddahfinger, Double Pupp Oreo and Twixed.

One Colorado pot dispensary advertises 20 percent off everything with a student I.D. Others use colorful cartoon characters like Fred Flintstone and Cookie Monster. Vape pens are made to look like Hello Kitty and little alien robots.

Tobacco addiction is bad, but marijuana addiction is worse. Research confirms that regular use of marijuana has a neurotoxic effect on teenage brains  including permanent brain damage.

Teens are already using because they think marijuana is harmless, its medicine.

The million-dollar question is why would Illinois lawmakers even consider legalizing it for recreational use?



The answer is to bail themselves out of years of overspending at the expense of our kids.



Kathy Valente

Director of Operations

Illinois Family Institute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The number of Kazakhstans enterprises included into the register of products exporting to China increased by 12 units, the press service of the Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan informs.





According to the information of the authority, the right to export wheat bran to the Peoples Republic of China for four enterprises from Kostanay region and one enterprise from Astana and the North-Kazakhstan region is good news for our agricultural producers. In general, 9 Kazakhstan enterprises of exporters for wheat bran are registered in the register.





The right to export soybeans received six enterprises: Almaty region - 3, Kostanay region-1, Astana city -1 and Almaty city -1. It should be noted the Register includes seven producers of soybeans.





Besides, 14 Kazakhstans enterprises for the cultivation and processing of maize and barley, as well as grain storage and processing elevators will undergo inspection by General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China on September 3-14 this year.





The inspection will cover 4 enterprises of the Almaty region (maize), 3 enterprises of the East Kazakhstan region (1 barley enterprise, 2 grain storages), 2 enterprises of the Pavlodar region (1 barley and maize plant, 1 wheat storage), 3 enterprises in the Aktobe region (1 enterprise barley, 2 silos for wheat), 1 enterprise in Kostanay region (barely), 6 enterprises of the North Kazakhstan region (5 barley enterprises, 1 barley and corn enterprise).





Currently, the Chinese register includes 67 elevators, including Kostanay - 18, Akmola - 34 and North-Kazakhstan region  15.





Following the inspection five grain storages (East Kazakhstan, Pavlodar and Aktobe regions) will be included in the register. Taking into account the completion of the Chinese administrative reform (transfer of functions from government agencies to the General Administration of Customs) in August, the date of inspection of meat processing enterprises of Kazakhstan was postponed to the second half of September.





In general, 24 applications from 9 regions of Kazakhstan were submitted, but only 5-6 enterprises will be inspected, the authority informed.





Schedule of inspections for all applications received from enterprises of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as a mechanism for the inclusion of enterprises in the register of the PRC on the basis of the guarantee of the Republic of Kazakhstan, is under the development.





It should be noted the Chinese register has already included 60 fish processing and 5 lamb processing enterprises of Kazakhstan.





In total, 160 Kazakhstan enterprises are included in the register of China, 45 enterprises are expected to be included in the inspection results.







A national association of college professors is raising concerns about rules for faculty at the recently-created Purdue Global, and says the online university is limiting the free speech and work of its faculty through a nondisclosure agreement.

This year marks the first for students and faculty in the newly-rebranded Purdue Global  the online school that resulted from Purdue buying the for-profit Kaplan University. The move was met with heavy criticism from Purdue faculty, and members of the public.

But the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) says a nondisclosure agreement for Purdue Global employees crosses a line. It says employees cant share many class materials  even with other Purdue Global employees, including course information, school policies and marketing practices.

Vice President of Indianas AAUP conference and Purdue Northwest professor David Nalbone says it limits the way faculty share items as simple as a class syllabus.

And by extension its going to harm students, because if faculty are not free to do their job they might be delivering substandard academic quality, he says.

Deb Nichols, a Purdue professor who co-chairs a committee scrutinizing Purdue Global, says signing such a document is not a requirement for faculty on the West Lafayette campus or at any other school where shes taught.

Nalbone says its an unprecedented move for a public university.

[Nondisclosure agreements] generally as we seem them are a creature of private corporations, he says. And there are reasons why private corporations need to protect their secrets  theyre in a competitive marketplace and so on.

Nichols says she believes it sets up different requirements for Purdue faculty and for Global faculty as well, and raises questions about whether existing Purdue faculty can teach classes for global as Purdue President Mitch Daniels has indicated he wants to happen.

Nichols says her group will convene a series of meetings with Purdue Global leaders to discuss the issue.State and local groups working to address opioid addiction have a new tool. The state unveiled the Naloxone Administration Heatmap Thursday that updates each time time emergency responders administer the opioid overdose antidote, naloxone.

The online, interactive map, created in a partnership through the Indiana Department of Homeland Security and the Indiana Management Performance Hub, illustrates locational patterns in overdoses.

Indiana Department of Homeland Security EMS Medical Director Michael Kaufmann says often, when talking about opioids, the focus is on overdose deaths.

It highlights lives saved. The vast majority of time when EMS responds and naloxone is given, its in the effort to save a life, Kaufmann says. And most of the time theyre successful at doing that.

Now, Kaufmann says, that data is available for state and local groups across the state.

Use this data to see where were seeing increased densities of overdoses occurring, and then be proactive, Kaufmann says. Whether it be through a state agency, through a faith-based organization, or even a local grassroots community kind of effort to combat the opioid problem.

The map was tested through a pilot program with Indianapolis, Muncie, Columbus, Richmond and Evansville.While several Western governments have passed resolutions over the years condemning the massacre, there have been few practical steps taken to help bring the perpetrators before the International Criminal Court, which meant that the murders continue to go unpunished.

It should be a major priority for every democratic government that the Iranian Regime is punished for the mass murder of political prisoners.

The massacre

In 1988, Supreme Leader Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa for the extinction of the people his regime labelled hypocrites, more accurately known as the democratic opposition group, the Peoples Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK).

There were several thousand MEK members and supporters in Iranian jails for the crimes of reading the MEKs newsletter or attending a protest; many had actually already served their sentences and were awaiting release when the fatwa was ordered, but this didnt spare them.

The mullahs formed death commissions in various cities throughout the country to interrogate the political prisoners about their political affiliations and their views on the Regime. These so-called trials last less than a minute in most cases and those who refused to renounce their political beliefs were executed, including teenagers and the elderly. Their bodies were then hastily buried in mass graves.

The US Reaction

The US appears to be taking some serious action on the Iranian Regime already, with the formation of an Iran Action Group within the State Department that is designed to compel a change in the Regimes behaviour.

Ambassador Ken Blackwell wrote: That noble goal, which is a concrete step in the right direction under the leadership of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, cannot be accomplished as long as the people who are responsible for the very worst of that behaviour continue to occupy some of the most influential positions in Iranian government and society, including, shockingly, the position of Justice Minister. These individuals must be removed and brought to justice if there is to be any hope of change. And it should be clear from the past 30 years of impunity and from the complete collapse of President Hassan Rouhanis supposed reform initiative that the current institutions of Iranian government will never take action to remove them on their own.Many of the Regimes officials have even acknowledged that the economy is failing because of government corruption and mismanagement and cannot survive much longer, including secretary general of the Motalefeh party Mohammad Nabavi Habibi, and MPs Mohammad Aboutorabi Fard and Ghasem Mirzaei Nikoo. They report that the Regime has failed on several fronts and do not have a way out of the situation.

Even state-run Tadbir newspaper reported that the economic problems in Iran have become become exacerbated in recent months and they are affecting all of the people in its August 16 article.

The Regime officials, driven to despair over the fact that they cannot contain these protests, have confessed their fear over the true driving force behind this nationwide uprising: Iranian Resistance group, the Peoples Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK).

Mohammad Reza Khanzeli, a so-called expert in the Regime and one of the leaders of the Isfahan bassij, said that the MEK is influencing these protests at around the same time as the Regimes 40th anniversary in order to damage the Regime.

He said: The enemy has four possible plans: polarizing the society, creating a divide in the government, mental warfare against the government and creating an environment of despair in the people by highlighting the problems and describing the government as not being able to solve them.

Of course, he is right in that the MEK is organising these protests, something acknowledged by supreme leader Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani, but he is wrong about everything else. The leader of Friday prayers in Jiroft also accused that the MEK of trying to divide the nation, but this is not true.

The Regime is not able to solve these problems and the ordinary people know that, which means that the MEK isnt dividing society. All Iranians are united in calling for the overthrow of the Regime, even if the mullahs dont want to admit it. Thats why the people are out in the streets shouting Death to Khamenei Death to Rouhani and Mullahs, have shame and let go of the power.

The MEK is helping to embolden the people and organise the protests, but this is the will of the Iranian people. The Iranian people want a government led by the President-elect of the Iranian Resistance, Maryam Rajavi, who is committed to human rights and democracy for all.Maas suggestion for Germanys future strategy toward the US was published in Wednesdays edition of the daily Handelsblatt.

He explained that he envisioned Europe a balanced share of responsibility and acting as a counter to the US when it crosses red lines. He said that Europe should follow this approach when dealing with US sanctions, which came into force earlier this month.

But Merkel said that this article was not representative of Germanys foreign policy and reflected Maas personal opinion only.

She did agree with him that relations with the United States were changing, but stressed that it was important for Germany to maintain a good working relationship with Washington, especially in the area of security.

Merkel has repeatedly said that she no longer regards the US as a full partner and believes that Europe should assume more responsibility, but that the door should be left open for the US to return to international agreements that it has left.

She added that it is also necessary to continue the close partnership with the US in international payment systems.

US sanctions and Iran nuclear deal

The US sanctions on Iran were imposed following Donald Trumps withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, otherwise known as the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, in May.

Trump pulled out of the deal, which provided sanctions relief on Iran in exchange for supposed restrictions on their nuclear programme, citing evidence from the Iranian Resistance that Iran was cheating on the deal and continuing its nuclear programme in secret.

Trump also raised concerns about Irans other malign activity in the region, including funding terrorism and supporting the Bashar Assad regime.

The three European signatories to the deal  the UK, France, and Germany  have remained committed to the deal and instituted new rules for their companies to follow to evade US sanctions. Nevertheless, many European companies have already pulled out of Iran to avoid US sanctions.

The first round of sanctions targeted Irans purchase of US dollars and its auto industry, but the second round, which is due in November, will target Irans oil industry and central bank.Minister of Education and Science of Kazakhstan Yerlan Sagadiyev told about the readiness of the schools for a new academic year at the meeting of the Government.





350 thousand children will start school. There is no change in school uniforms," said Yerlan Sagadiyev.





Also, at the meeting the Minister told about the condition of pre-school institutions for 2018.





The republic has 10 301 pre-school institutions with a total student complement of 898.4 thousand, that is by 6% more that in the previous year. The share of private schools is 37%, that is by 6% more that a year ago. Of which, 6 727 are state-owned ones. Sits in the Balapan kindergartens and is others comply with the needs of the population, but other regions and rural areas have an imbalance, which is connected with migration, especially in large cities. Almaty and Astana have a lack," said the Kazakh Education and Science Minister.





As of today, repair works in pre-school institutions, according to the Minister, is completed by 85%. In total 1 billion 300 million tenges were allocated from the local budget. As for secondary education, then works continue in accordance with the schedule.





Repair works in 4 148 schools are planned, and 3 604 schools have already had repairs, that is 87%," said the Minister.





According to Yerlan Sagadiyev, all repair works will have been finished by September 1. The Governor of the regions were instructed to control this issue.





Also, as of today, the Ministry of Education and Science tests textbooks of the 4th, 9th, 10th forms. Teachers pass the relevant courses in schools.





As for the readiness of the teaching staff, there are total 285 996 teachers, there is the demand for 4952 teachers. In order to make work of teachers easy, the following measures are planned: teachers will not make home visits, ratings are canceled. Now, the Ministry has approved a list of textbooks, documents that should be filled by teachers, which include five documents," says the report.





In the present year, the wages of teachers have been increased by 30%. A new certification system is being introduced.





A new qualification category that provides for a wage increase is introduced. In May 36 thousand teachers have successfully obtained certification - that is 63% of the total number. From September 1, those teachers who have successfully obtained certification will get an extra charge," he said.





As he noted at the moment rooms of robotics and programming are being opened in the regions. And, in addition, all this will be free and available. In the schools that do not have access to the Internet will manually fill in textbooks and school records.







Muslims clash in Mahottari during Eid festival

Two Muslim groups clashed at Loharpatti Municipality in Mahottari district on Wednesday.Soldiers armed with the anti-tank guided missile launchers rode Ukraine's Varta armored vehicles.

At the dress rehearsal for the Independence Day parade, held in Kyiv on August 22, Ukrainian military, among other weapons, showcased U.S.-made anti-tank guided missile launchers "Javelin," supplied this spring after a long-sought green light from President Trump administration.

According to the Fakty newspaper, Kyiv's central street, Khreshchatyk, hosted troops from Ukrainian and foreign military forces, including UK, Georgia, Canada, and U.S.

Read alsoMore Javelins to be produced, including for Ukraine, Lithuania

Multiple rocket launcher systems Verba, Smerch, Uragan were also shown to the public, as well as self-propelled howitzers (including the brand new 155mm Bohdana), Pion, Hyacinth; a tactical missile system Tochka U, new Ukraine-made armored vehicles Cougar and Kozak.

But it was the soldiers who carried Javelins, riding Ukraine-made Varta armored vehicles for whom the crowd seemed to have cheered most.

The rehearsal was crowned with combat aircraft passing over Kreshchatyk in disciplined formations.Posted Thursday morning, August 23, 2018.

Goats and Monkeys: Sacha Baron Cohen in disguise as counterterrorism expert Capt. Erran Morad [right] tricks now former Georgia state legislator Jason Spencer into making a monkey of himself on Baron Cohen's comedy series for Showtime "Who is America?" Screenshot from Showtime's Youtube channel Sacha Baron Cohen in disguise as counterterrorism expert Capt. Erran Morad [right] tricks now former Georgia state legislator Jason Spencer into making a monkey of himself on Baron Cohen's comedy series for Showtime "Who is America?" Screenshot from Showtime's Youtube channel via Haaretz

Catching up on my TV viewing or, in this case, my not-viewing

Well, that was over in a hurry, wasnt it?

Just a few weeks ago I was reading how he was saving the Republic by disguising himself as a set of outrageous characters of varying degrees of implausibility on his comedy series for Showtime, Who Is America?, fooling all these Right Wingers into accepting the characters as real people, and tricking them into showing themselves up on TV as the lunatic bigots and racists they are, and now its as if it never happened. Hes not even done. Theres one more episode to come. Yet it seems that people, if they think of him, are thinking Oh, yeah, the Borat guy! You know what he was really good in? Madagascar! He did make monkeys of Roy Moore and Jan Brewer. Georgia state legislator Jason Spencer made such a monkey of himself he had to resign from his office in shame. Those are good things, but, considering what a mess were in, ultimately trivial achievements. Meanwhile, the Republic still reels and its still left to Robert Mueller to save it, with our help and support and and votes, of course.

But thats the way its always been with satirists. None have ever really changed things. Mark Twain wrote The Gilded Age and Congress remained our only native criminal class. He wrote To the Person Sitting in Darkness and the United States still became an empire and took the Philippines for our own. Molly Ivins wrote column after column and Shrub still became president. We still invaded Iraq, NOLA still drowned. Garry Trudeau drew thirty years worth of comic strips and still, when the time came, the political media treated Trump like a credible politician, respectable businessman, and worthy tribune of the People. Five nights a week Colbert and Kimmel and Meyers and Samantha Bee and Trevor Noah

You get the picture.

Did it work?

Depends on how you look at it. They showed themselves up. Doesnt appear to have made much of a difference towards saving the Republic. People didnt like what he was doing. Even liberals who were cheering him on at the start got tired of his act.

Emily Nussbaum, TV critic for the New Yorker, doesnt appear to have liked his act to begin with. She thinks of him as a skilled troll, whose work is fuelled by contempt She doesnt mention what she thought of his voice work in Madagascar but she was not taken with his act in Who Is America?

When his sketches get laughs, theyre barks of disgust, as when I found myself yelling, Are you fucking kidding me? during the now famous montage of prominent N.R.A. shills, including the former congressmen Trent Lott and Joe Walsh, plugging a program to train toddlers to shoot guns. The show uses nihilism as a stripping agent, sort of the way the Cat in the Hat touted Voom as the proper method to clean up the stain hed helped create. During its weaker segments, its juvenileand, in maddening, unexamined ways, misogynist. But during that Kinderguardian segment, which manages to nail the G.O.P., the N.R.A., and right-wing support for Israel, Baron Cohens method is like radiation: sickening, but better than cancer, unless it kills you first. Hes Tocqueville by way of Willy Wonka, a sadist whos certain he can separate bad eggs from good ones.

I like that. Especially the bit about Willy Wonka being a sadist. Even young readers of Roald Dahls book and fans of the movie starring Gene Wilder recognize that Willy Wonka is more demon than angel. Theres something sinister and malicious and borderline villainous about him but thats the first Ive seen anybody call him a sadist. And when you think about it, he never tests Charlie the way he does Veruka Salts and Mike Teevee and the others. Its as if he knows from the start Charlie is the only one whos deserving. He might as well have sent the other kids away right then but instead he invites them into the chocolate factory just to torture them. But Willy Wonka is an agent of the author. Dahl himself has already shown us how the life hes been handed has tested Charlie. The difference between Willy Wonka and what Baron Cohen is up to is that there are no Charlies in Baron Cohens chocolate factory. People are all Verukas, Mikes, Violet Beauregardes, Augustus Gloops---greedy, vain, self-centered, demanding, ill-tempered, lazy, self-indulgent brats who might as well be the things were greedy for most, deserving of the harsh judgments and punishments we wish upon others, an assortment of bad nuts to be taken out with the garbage.

Im not a fan of Baron Cohens brand of satire.

Satire that makes monkeys out of people to show that people are monkeys.

Instead of making his audiences want to be better, Baron Cohen makes them feel worse about themselves.

In Othello, Iago sees people as goats and monkeys, that is, as animals at the mercy of their appetites and desires. The success of his villainy is in his making Othello start to see people, including himself and Desdemona, as goats and monkeys. This actually seemed to me to be Baron Cohens object in Borat, to show people up as goats and monkeys, although without Iagos explicitly malicious intent, and Ive not been able to stomach his act since.

The best the best satirists manage to do is make individual readers and audiences think to themselves, I need to do better, I need to be better, and get some of them to follow through, if only for a while. Sacha Baron Cohen doesnt work that. He comes out of a long tradition of misanthropic and cynical humor that goes back to the Greeks. The satyr plays that closed out the theater festivals provided relief from the relentless ennobling of the tragedies, taking broken-hearted audiences on quick and remedial emotional vacations from the sublime to the ridiculous. Baron Cohen is a one-man satyr play. He degrades us in our own eyes. He degrades us in each others eyes. He makes us see our fellow human beings as gross, disgusting, and degenerate. There are three ways to deal with this.

Self-loathing and despair: God, Im disgusting.

Reveling in it like pigs in mud, admitting youre a pig in mud. Enjoying being a pig in mud. Letting yourself off the hook: If were all pigs in mud, might as well make the best of it and have some fun.

Or exempting yourself from the general contempt: Wow! Those people are gross and degenerate. Good thing Im not like them!

The effect of all three is alienation, either from yourself or from the community of your fellow citizens and human beings

But the the satyr plays counterbalanced the tragedies; the tragedies counterbalanced the satyr plays. One provided relief through engendering contempt and derision: the other lifted audiences above contempt and inspired sorrow and pity.

There are no tragedies in popular culture to counterbalance Cohen Barons act. Only the real thing.

__________________________________________________________________________________

To read all of Nussbaums column, follow the link to Pranks and Masculinity on Who Is America? and Nathan for You at the New Yorker.An Evening with the Stars

The stars were shining at the Ivie McNeill & Wyatt Hollywood Nights Client Appreciation party. IMW, Californias largest African American owned law firm, hosted their clients to an evening of fun, food, music and dance at the firms 4th annual client appreciation event. The guests filled the venue with laughter and good spirits as they were entertained and celebrated by the firm.

La Kwanza Dixon, the firms paralegal and event co-organizer, said that Each year the firm plans a different theme for the celebration. This years theme, Hollywood Nights, was designed to highlight the concept that IMWs clients are the stars of the firm. Rodney Diggs, an IMW director, stated that The event gives us the opportunity to say thank you to our clients and to let them know how important they are to IMW.

ADVERTISEMENTBetsy Devos $5 Billion Giveaway to For-Profit Colleges: Deregulation of Student Loans

Todays increasingly competitive global economy requires and recruits those who are highly-skilled and knowledgeable. People understand and accept that higher education is a means to become employable, marketable, and competitive.

It is equally true that the rising costs of higher education have now forced 44 million consumers to borrow $1.4 trillion in student loans to finance their educations. This debt was often viewed as more of an investment than a cost.

That rational works so long as institutions deliver what was promised: a quality education. No loan was ever incurred as a lifetime commitment to debt that worsened with every passing year.

ADVERTISEMENT

Not only are consumers incurring serious debts, they are also defaulting in disturbing numbers. Student loan defaults plummet credit scores, lowering them by as much as 50-90 points, according to the Urban Institute, a DC-based research organization. As credit scores drop, the cost of any future credit goes up, making it even harder for affected consumers to manage their personal finances.

While 250,000 federal direct student loan borrowers default every quarter, guess which consumers are most likely to default: people of color, veterans, and other low-income consumers. In 2018, the people who a decade ago were targeted for unsustainable, high-cost mortgage loans are now being targeted by for-profit colleges for career training that fails to deliver the skills and incomes that enable to repay student loans.

The Education Departments Gainful Employment rule, which was finalized in 2014 and took effect in 2015, requires that career and technical training programs lead to income levels that enable their students to afford their student loan repayments. It also followed the failures of for-profit institutions like Corinthian Colleges, Everest and ITT Tech that left student borrowers without degrees, credits that could not be transferred and losses to taxpayers who fund federal financial aid.

In recent days, however, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos announced plans to revoke this key rule and instead include additional data in the web-based resource called a College Scorecard that the Department claims is better than regulation.

Students deserve useful and relevant data when making important decisions about their education post-high school, said DeVos. Thats why instead of targeting schools simply by their tax status, this administration is working to ensure students have transparent, meaningful information about all colleges and all programs. Our new approach will aid students across all sectors of higher education and improve accountability.

As Tony Soprano might have said, Fuhgedda bout it!

ADVERTISEMENT

Information is not the equivalent of rules that protect consumers or enforcement actions that hold bad actors accountable. Last year, over 800 programs covered by the gainful employment rule failed to meet the rules established standard  most of these programs were at for-profit institutions.

For example, recent research by the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL), analyzed health care programs at for-profit institutions. Entitled, Bitter Pill: Gainful Employment and Credentialism in Health Care Support Fields, the report found that among the for-profit programs studied:

Tuition and fees for an 11-month program can cost as much as $17,000;

83 percent of programs leading to either a certificate or two-year associates degree scored poorly in the 2017 release of national gainful employment data;

Focus groups participating in the research confirmed the financial devastation wrought by enrolling in these programs, based on the high amounts of debt incurred.

Deleting the rule would be costly for both students and taxpayers, said James Kvaal, president of the independent and nonpartisan Institute for College Access & Success. A single round of Department of Education data showed that more than 350,000 students graduated from substandard programs with nearly $7.5 billion in unaffordable debt. The gainful employment rule is needed to prevent programs like these from bilking students and taxpayers.

Additionally, a recent national consumer poll found strong concerns among voters when it comes to student loans. Conducted by Lake Research Partners and released on August 8, a majority of likely voters agreed that the amount of student loan debt represents a crisis. This view held strong majorities whether the respondents were independents (67 percent agreement), Republicans (57 percent agreement), or Democrats (71 percent agreement).

Because of DeVos cozy relationship with this industry, noted Ashley Harrington, a policy counsel with the Center for Responsible Lending, low-performing programs will continue to operate and ensnare hopeful students into assuming large debt with little hope of repayment. This will cost students and taxpayers almost $5 billion over the next decade, profits that will land almost exclusively in the hands of the for-profit college sector.

Charlene Crowell is the Center for Responsible Lendings Communications Deputy Director. She can be reached at [email protected]Children on the Front Lines

I can make a difference! Every July thousands of students from Childrens Defense Fund (CDF) Freedom Schools sites across the country participate in the CDF Freedom Schools National Day of Social Action. This years action focused on the need to vote for children and the fact that every vote matters. Though children and teenagers in Freedom Schools are too young to vote themselves, they held rallies and marches urging adults to get registered and vote for leaders this election cycle and in every election who will stand for children. Young people are refusing to sit on the sidelines as they see even childrens most basic needs under assault by many in the Trump Administration and Congress.

I am so proud of the Freedom Schools scholars who have learned they are following in the footsteps of children and youths who were the foot soldiers and infantry of the Civil Rights Movement. Some of their stories from the Movement are well known: six-year-old Ruby Bridges in New Orleans walked through White mobs to attend schooleven praying for those jeering at her; the Little Rock Nine; the four little girls killed in the bombing of Birminghams 16th Street Baptist Church. Thousands of children were on the frontlines of history. Whether sung or unsung heroes, we owe all of them a debt of gratitude.

For example, in April 1951, Black students at Robert Russa Moton High School in Prince Edward County, Virginialed by 16-year-old Barbara Rose Johnswalked out of class to protest conditions at their segregated school. Moton was built for 180 students but had 450. Some classes were held in old farm buildings. Students lacked all the basics such as science labs, a gym, or a cafeteria found at all-White Farmville High, just a few blocks away. When Barbara Johns complained how unfair this was a teacher told her she should do something about it. She did, leading her fellow students in a strike. As she later said, It was time that Negroes were treated equally with Whites, time that they had a decent school, time for the students themselves to do something about it. There wasnt any fear. I just thoughtthis is your moment. Seize it! That strike was a critical push in the start of Americas desegregation movement.

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The Moton students demonstrations resulted in a court case ultimately bundled with four others before the U.S. Supreme Court as Brown v. Board of Education. The Brown case was named for lead plaintiff Oliver Brown, whose nine-year-old daughter Linda in 1950 was barred from attending all-White Sumner Elementary School near their Topeka, Kansas home with her White neighborhood playmates, and instead forced to enroll in an all-Black school miles away. The landmark victory in Brown overturned the separate, but equal doctrine established under Plessy v. Ferguson. Years later Linda Brown, who died in March of this year, engaged as a parent in a follow up suit in Topeka because the citys schools were still not fully integrated. She knew her case had sparked transforming change in our nation, but real change is slow.

For children in Prince Edward County, the Brown victory was shamefully delayed. The county eventually took Virginias policy of massive resistance to school desegregation to its full extreme. In 1959 it closed its entire public school system and created private schools to educate the countys White children using tuition grants from the state and tax credits from the county. No provision was made for educating the countys Black children, forcing them to move in with relatives in nearby communities or study in makeshift schools in church basements. Prince Edward public schools remained closed for five years while legal challenges bounced between courts, and about 1,700 Black and lower-income White students struggled to find schooling elsewhere or stayed home. It took another U.S. Supreme Court ruling to force Prince Edwards schools to finally reopen.

Remembering these past struggles and the price of progress to get non-White children an equal education makes recent threats and actions by the Trump Administration simply evilas they seek to halt or reverse course on civil rights, education and juvenile justice protections; school desegregation; housing discrimination; and affirmative action. On July 3rd, the Department of Justice announced it was repealing 24 federal guidance documents that all sought to clarify basic federal civil rights protections for children, older youths and young adults and the Department of Education announced it would delay, for two years, a requirement that states identify and address racial disparities in special education, including disparities in the ways children of color are disciplined. What a mean unjust slap in the face of our most vulnerable children.

We must continue to support and praise the action by todays children and youths standing up against injustice, gun violence, child poverty, and unequal education and let them know we stand with them, are determined not to go backwards, and will step forward with them on the front lines seeking justice.

Marian Wright Edelman is President of the Childrens Defense Fund whose Leave No Child Behind mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. For more information go to www.childrensdefense.org.Former Detective Garry McFadden Recounts Busting One of the Countrys Most Notorious Serial Killers, Bad Henry Louis Wallace

During the 1990s, Charlotte, North Carolina was hit with gang violence, racial tension, and to make matters worse, a crack epidemic. Unfortunately, the residents of Charlotte had no idea their entire city would be turned upside down due to killings from one of the countrys most notorious Black serial killers, Bad Henry Louis Wallace. In late July, former detective Garry McFadden (star of Investigative Discoverys I Am Homicide), revealed the story of Bad Henry on a two-hour special on Investigation Discovery (ID). Recently, McFadden spoke with the LA Sentinel to discuss more in-depth how he and his team brought justice to the city and apprehended a monstrous killer.

Over a period of two years, Bad Henry raped and strangled to death ten young Black women and is suspected in many murders across the country. This case was unique for many reasons; the first being that Bad Henry knew his victims. He preyed on co-workers, friends, and friends of his then girlfriend. The second thing that made this case so interesting was the fact that Bad Henry would attend the funerals of the victims families and give his condolences.

One of Bad Henrys victims, Carolina Love, happened to be his then girlfriends roommate. After Carolina Love went missing, Wallaces then girlfriend and her friend went down to the police station to file a missing persons report and Bad Henry decided to go with them to show his support.

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We believe Henry Wallace is the first known African American serial killer and we believe that he is the only serial killer that knew all of his victims, said McFadden.

During the course of his investigation, McFadden was faced with many obstacles. At one point the department was in the process of meeting about the case when Bad Henry struck again taking the life of another innocent woman.

Our department handled 322 murders, so you take 322 murders and you drop nine of the murders in that cycle of 22 and you only have six to eight homicide detectives. Within that three year period, we have about 1500, [non death related incidents] that families wanted us to investigate. In the middle of that we also had three officers to be shot and killed and we strangely enough had a very high clearance rate that was well above national average. All of that compiled into the nine murders that happened and everybody said, why didnt you see the connection and we said, we were extremely overworked.

Aside from the homicide department being understaffed and juggling many other investigations, the most daunting obstacle by far was trying to solve the case during a crack epidemic. This resulted in the police department receiving a high volume of missing person reports.

Everybody was missing because they got on crack and they didnt go to work and then they were later found in hotels. Preachers, pastors, police, doctors, lawyerseverybody was on crack, said McFadden.

The department became closer to solving the case after police obtained a surveillance photo of Bad Henry using one of his victims bank card. Although the photo didnt show his face, detectives were able to make out someone wearing a gold earring in the shape of a cross.

However, it was the murder of Brandi Henderson that allowed detectives to approach the investigation differently. For all ten murders, there was no sign of forced entry which showed that the victims knew their murder. Soon, the detectives brought in Hendersons boyfriend to question him about the murder of his girlfriend. Once they cleared him from being a possible suspect. They asked Hendersons boyfriend if there was anyone else she would let into the apartment. He gave three names, one of which was Henry Wallace.

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After detectives pulled a file on Wallace showing his criminal history they noticed the earring in the shape of a cross, which was identical to the earring in the photo of a man using one of the victims bank card. This gave them the lead they needed.

During this time another murder happened in the same vicinity, resulting in the death of Betty Baucom. After police found her car, they finger printed the outside of the vehicle and found a palm print on the rear of Baucoms car and that palm print belonged to Bad Henry. This gave detectives enough evidence to arrest him.

After the arrest of Bad Henry, the department caught a lot of heat from the community and the victims families. This combined with McFadden being the only African American on the squad at the time was anything but easy. He recalls feeling attacked and being blamed for the murders.

The communities of color, even though they want African American officers to help them, we are caught in the middle. We are caught between a community that looks like us, the community that we serve and the communities that dont look like us, said McFadden.

In the middle of this, I tried to educate my community on what really happened but they ate me alive. Many years later, some of them [the residents] saw my point but we still have that problem in our community and that was something that I wanted to address during the time of Bad Henry.

The story of Bad Henry is terrifying nonetheless, McFadden believes this was the most monumental case of his career. During his time as a detective and working on numerous investigations, McFadden never seen such a ruthless psychopathic killer.

It made me understand what I had to from this moment on, [the importance of] law enforcement and the community working together, said McFadden. Until we understand that it is going to take both law enforcement and communities to work together without being influenced by what I would called agitators from both sides, we are still going to be in that shape. Officer involved shootings the same thing.

One of the most important lessons McFadden took away from the case is the importance of the police department working together with the community, a lesson that he has taken with him as he embarked on a new journey. Recently, McFadden was elected sheriff of the same city where he solved the Bad Henry case, and he is eager to step into this position and continue fighting and protecting the people of Charlotte-Mecklenburg County in his new role.

Today, Bad Henry Louis Wallace is on death row awaiting execution. To watch the Bad Henry documentary please visit www.investigationdiscovery.com or log on to Investigative Discoverys streaming service, IDGO.Hyundais Road to Taste of Soul GPS Stops by New Image Emergency Shelter for the Homeless, Inc.,

New Image Emergency Shelter for the Homeless Inc., recently hosted the third phase of its Back-To-School Giveaway. Collectively, over all three phases, New Image provided backpacks, school supplies, books, and a gift bag of treats to 212 students, ages pre-school to 18 years. The event was held at one of the program sites, with representatives in attendance from the L.A. Sentinel Newspaper, and Hyundai Motor America, who presented New Image with a $2,500.00 donation.

New Image has been in operation for more than 29 years having, provided services to over 2.9 million homeless Individuals and families with children.

Hyundai has a huge heart for charity, the company has awarded more than $145 million in grants through there Hyundai Hope on Wheels program where their mission is to support research into new drugs and treatments and help children.

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The car company has big plans for this years Taste of Soul with a major car sweepstake, giving away a 2019 Hyundai Kona. The Hyundai Sound Stage will also return to 39th and Crenshaw at this years Taste of Soul with performances from some of the nations most popular R&B acts.L.A. City Council Approved $1.95 Million Settlement in Charly Africa Keunang Lawsuit

The Los Angeles City Council today approved a $1.95 million legal settlement stemming from the 2015 Skid Row shooting death of a mentally ill transient from Cameroon by police officers.

The shooting of Charly Africa Keunang received national attention after video posted on social media by a bystander went viral and when footage from body cameras worn by two of the officers was publicly released.

A federal jury found two of the Los Angeles Police Department officers involved in the shooting liable for financial damages in the deadly encounter, although the Board of Police Commissioners ruled in 2016 that all of the officers involved in the incident were justified in their actions, and the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office the same year declined to bring criminal charges against the officers who shot Keunang, finding that the shooting was an act of self-defense.

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Charly Africa Keunang

Keunang, 43, was killed outside his tent on a sidewalk on downtowns Skid Row on March 1, 2015. His family sued the city of Los Angeles and four officers, seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages on allegations of wrongful death, negligence and civil rights violations.

An eight-member jury in May unanimously determined that Officer Francisco Martinez deprived Charly Africa Keunang of his Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable force and that Sgt. Chand Syed breached his duty as a supervisor to intervene during the fatal encounter.

The jury cleared a third defendant, Officer Daniel Torres, while former Officer Joshua Volasgis  who was also named as a defendant  had been expected to face proceedings in state court, but the settlement effectively ends that case, Deputy City Attorney Christian R. Bojorquez said in May when the then-pending terms were announced.

During the trial, defense attorneys said police were initially called by another homeless person whose tent was next to Keunangs, who told police that Keunang had attacked him and dragged his tent into the street.

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Officer body camera video shows officers surrounding Keunang as he stood outside his tent, with Martinez repeatedly asking Keunang to stand up against a wall. After Martinez appears to use a Taser on him, Keunang appears to take swings at the officers or throw his arms about wildly.

In the video, Keunang falls to the ground before multiple officers try to subdue him, and Volasgis  a rookie officer at the time who is no longer employed by the LAPD  starts shouting Hes got my gun! just before the fatal shots are fired.

An autopsy report showed that Keunang was shot six times and had methamphetamine in his system at the time of his death.

Attorneys for Keunangs family alleged that officers disregarded their training and allowed the encounter to become violent almost immediately. Joshua Piovia-Scott, an attorney for the plaintiffs, alleged that Keunang did not, in fact, have his (Volasgis) gun, nor did he ever have his gun, and also said that an LAPD investigation found none of Keunangs DNA or fingerprints on any of Volasgis equipment.

Then-LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said at the time that Keunang was a robbery suspect and that evidence supported reports he had tried to grab Volasgis gun.

The settlement was initially approved on a 10-1 vote, with Councilman Joe Buscaino, a former LAPD officer, casting the dissenting vote. Later in the session, the council voted to reconsider the item and approved it on a vote of 12-2, with Councilman Mitchell Englander also opposing the payment.

Englander, a reserve officer with the LAPD, was not present during the first vote.

This was a tragic situation. We hope Mr. Keunangs family will find some solace in this resolution, said Rob Wilcox, a spokesman for City Attorney Mike Feuer.L.A. Philharmonic Brings Youth Orchestra Center to Inglewood

On Wednesday, August 15, the Los Angeles Philharmonic unveiled the architectural design by Gehry Partners, LLC, for its new Judith and Thomas L. Beckmen Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA) Center in Inglewood, CA. The center will serve as the first permanent, purpose-built facility for YOLA.

I can tell you that there is no prouder day than this morning, said Simon Woods CEO, Los Angeles Philharmonic. There is nothing which is more meaningful than what we are doing here, what were launching here in Inglewood.

Its a historic day for the L.A. Phil.

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The 25,000-square-foot, $14.5 million construction project will transform the former branch office of Security Pacific Bank located at 101 South La Brea Avenue, in the civic center of the city of Inglewood. Frank Gehry, the world-renowned architect who designed Walt Disney Concert Hall developed the design for the center in close collaboration with Gustavo Dudamel, music and artistic director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, creating a light-filled, flexible facility for rehearsals, classes, and performances.

We look forward to being your partner in raising the hopes, spirits and opportunities of your most precious resourceyour young people said Dudamel to the city of Inglewood.

Inviting us here with our new YOLA facility is a sign that your priorities align with ours and we promise to honor that trust every day in every way.

YOLA, the LA Phil and its community partners provide free instruments, intensive music training, and academic support to students from underserved neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles county, empowering them to become vital citizens, leaders, and agents of change.

The new YOLA Center in Inglewood is coming thanks to Judith and Thomas L. Beckmen dedication to change and youth. The LA Phil acquired the site from the city of Inglewood with the support of Mayor James T. Butts and the City Council, as well as the encouragement of Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas.

YOLA is part of a broader movement in the county to use the power of the arts to tackle challenging social problems to emphasize the values of inclusion, equity and make sure that they are reinforced in all that is undertaken, said Ridley-Thomas.

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With the completion of the YOLA center here in Inglewood, YOLA will advance its social mission to a much higher level.

Weve had some extraordinary days here in Inglewood of late and today is another one, said Butts. If we had a native bird here in Inglewood, it would be the Phoenix, rising from the ashes.

It really wasnt that long ago that the city was on the verge of bankruptcy. We had a crumbling infrastructure, record foreclosures, high crime rates and even higher unemployment.

Today, we have $31 million in reserves, not counting $15 million surplus projected for this year alone. We renewed our infrastructure from our water mains, to our streets, to our sidewalks and soon this city will be served by three light-rail stations.

And while others have mentioned all thats coming to Inglewood [sic] it is really the announcement of the L.A. Philharmonics Youth Orchestra Los Angeles establishing a home here in Inglewood that has me and so many others excited and especially proud.

Its a day when we plant the seeds for a big, beautiful tree that will grow leaves and fruit and provide an enormous amount of inspiration for many years to comewe hope for young people and this community, said Woods.

It is their vision and generosity [sic] that enables us to be here.

This dedicated space will enable YOLA to provide more advance musical training to more young musicians, said Ridley-Thomas.

In addition to education, training and skills acquired by the youth at this centerthis very special center, will open the door for each of them to a career in the creative economy.

Attendees were treated to live performances by YOLA alums Moses Aubrey, who performed on the bass, Dameon Williams, who performed on the clarinet and Edson Natareno, who also performed on the clarinet. Willaims and Natareno performed LAZARUS (arranged by Paul De Ville): Three Grand Concert Duets and Aubrey performed David Anderson: Capriccio No. 2.

The YOLA Center will serve as many as 500 students a year from Inglewood and surrounding communities. It will also provide a gathering place for students from existing and future YOLA sites and music educators from across the U.S. and around the world.

The Los Angeles Philharmonic expects to begin construction in spring 2019.

For more information on the Youth Orchestra Los Angeles Center, please visit www.laphil.com.Lamont Carey says, Keep Your Hustle, but Change Your Product

Lamont Carey has taken his past and created a new future in literature, spoken word, motivational speaking and criminal justice reform.

Growing up in Washington, D.C., Carey saw family members and loved-ones arrested and harassed by police officers. He became a target himself, when he started selling drugs at the age of 11. Police were an enemy for Carey and at 16-years-old, he was charged as an adult for armed robbery along with selling guns and drugs. He would go on to serve 11 years in prison.

I built up a dislike for police because every time I saw them, they were hurting or taking away someone that I love. What I didnt know as a kid was that the people who they were arresting were criminals, said Carey. I cant blame them because in all honesty, I was a drug dealer, gun slanger and armed robber; but at 16 to stack all of these charges on you and threaten you with a life sentence, I think its unfair.

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At the time, battle rap was popular and Carey would battle different inmates for fun. One of Careys inmates told him that he was a good story teller and challenged him to write a book. Carey took the challenge on and it became a turning point in his life. His first book, The Hill, was a hit in prison and when Carey was released, he thought about publishing it. However, with not much of a following, he couldnt find a publisher who was willing to give him a fair percentage of the sales.

Carey decided to put publishing the book on hold and got into spoken word poetry. At first Carey was just going to poetry clubs to listen, but after heckling a few of the hosts, he got called out to come to the stage and perform. Carey freestyled on the spot and got a great response from the audience. He decided to go back the next week with something written and not only did he get an applause, but an audience member asked for a copy of his poem on a CD. Once Carey started recording his poetry, he became popular on the poetry scene, so popular that he received a call from Russel Simmons, himself, to be on the television show, Def Poetry Jam. Spoken word poetry became Careys first major platform.

People wanted to hear my poetry in other countries and some of the countries, I couldnt even travel to because of my felony conviction, said Carey. A lot of my poetry is on criminal justice reform and mental health. The biggest problem I have with the criminal justice system is that I made mistakes in my past, but now I have been home over a decade and that criminal record still infringes on my rights to be able to thrive and move about.

Once Carey had a following, he decided to publish the book that he wrote in prison, The Hill, which became a three-part fiction series about life in prison. Carey also worked with a school district in Albany, N.Y. to publish a poetry book for students to use in class along with a book about using art to be an entrepreneur. His latest novel, Dead Before 18, guides young men in finding positive ways to handle anger and stay out of trouble.

Along with literature and poetry, Carey also does motivational speaking and runs two companies. One of his companies, LaCarey Enterprises, focuses on helping youth express themselves though art, literature and spoken word. His other company, Contact Visits, helps formerly incarcerated people transition back into society. One of Careys main goals is to improve the criminal justice system. While he has been fortunate with success, he realizes everything that is stacked against criminals, even after serving their time.

My felony conviction still impacts where I can live, employment opportunities, getting a loan from the bank, said Carey. It still impacts me being able to go as a chaperone on a school trip with my son. Even though I have completed my prison sentence and even though I have completed my parole and probation, at times it still feels like I have a life sentence.

Carey is dedicated to helping the formerly-incarcerated see their value and change their futures. He also works with youth regularly to keep them on the right path. For more information on Careys businesses, visit www.contactvisits.org and www.lacareyenterprises.com. You can also find Carey on all social media platforms @LamontCarey.Los Angeles NAACP Supports Ridley-Thomas African American Voter Efforts

At face value, the previous weeks headlines seemed disturbing: University of Southern California had referred a donation, made to the School of Social Work by LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, to federal officials for investigation.

USC said it turned the matter over to the feds because the School forwarded the donation to the United Ways of California, directing it be used for an African American voter research project run by his son, former California Assemblyman Sebastian Ridley-Thomas.

The article was consumed with innuendoes and veiled accusations. However, the factual element of the article was correct when it articulated, the Supervisor is working to engage one of the Countys premier universities to bring academic rigor and methodology to the issues around African American voting.

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For many Californians, it is no surprise that the Supervisor would be actively involved in efforts to bring attention and resources to the cause of Black voting rights. From his days as local director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Ridley-Thomas has shown singular dedication to reversing the systematic disenfranchisement of African Americans, who make up a plurality of his constituents.

He has championed this cause during his nearly three decades representing South Los Angeles on the Los Angeles City Council, in the state Legislature and now on the LA Board of Supervisors.

Undoubtedly, his extraordinary public service and his dedication to community progress have made him the most powerful African American elected official in the state.

Along the way he also founded the African American Voter Registration, Education and Participation Project, a PAC that under his leadership has done more to register Black voters than any organization in the state  and many in the country.

AAVREP raises hundreds of thousands of dollars from individuals, unions and private businesses to run workshops and voter registration drives. It is particularly focused on the up-coming Congressional elections and 2020.

Undisputed data show it is the black vote  in particular the votes of Black women  that fuels progressive elections. The black vote put Barack Obama in office and the Black vote will determine the election results of Donald Trump, whose racist leanings are well documented. AAVREP is a vital organization for the African American community. Political observers can readily conclude there is a powerful effort to disrupt AAVREPs progress and its critical mission.

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Around the country, state legislatures controlled by conservatives have gerrymandered districts to not just minimize the progressive vote, but specifically the Black vote.

Ridley-Thomas has relentlessly shaken academia lethargy in the areas of public policy and social issues affecting the African American community. Scholars and visionaries recognize, without the involvement of the academic community, the experience of African American voters remains, at best, anecdotal  and seriously undervalued.

Ridley-Thomas new initiative, the Policy Research & Practice Initiative, exists to correct this oversight by collecting hard data about black needs and voting patterns. He has made it no secret that this research will form the bedrock of serious academic treatment, informed public policy and the efficient deployment of social services.

It is understandable and reasonable that Ridley-Thomas would turn to the former Dean of Social Work, with whom he has worked successfully on a number of projects, to encourage USCs interest and foster a collaboration to produce that hard data.

Last month, I attended the 109th National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Annual Convention in San Antonio, TX. The delegates left the convention inspired and committed to register, educate and turn out voters across this nation. Thus, we are embarking on our national campaign, Turn Out 2018 Civic Engagement Movement. Our national campaign is synonymous to AAVREPs local goals. Moreover, PRPI is a relevant component to enhance our current 2018 movement and to advance the cause of the NAACP.

Unfortunately, this controversy over USCs handling of Ridley-Thomas donation will detract from the larger good. Consequently, if we fail to produce verifiable research into the lives and experiences of Black Californians, we will all be poorer for it.

I trust that Ridley-Thomas will press forward with the PRPI initiative with or without USC. I encourage him to use every tool within his power to increase and document the political participation of African Americans. The NAACPs mission compels us to pursue this civil rights issue with Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas.



Attorney Carl Henley is the President of the Los Angeles NAACP

[email protected]New Study Provides Critical Insights On Unique Health Needs Of African Americans

Americans express more motivation to pursue a healthier lifestyle than non-African Americans, yet are less likely to describe themselves as being in good health, according to recent findings from the African American Health Engagement Study (AAHES), a collaboration of Pfizer, the National Medical Association (NMA) and the National Black Nurses Association (NBNA). The AAHES study examines the health attitudes and behaviors of African Americans and reveals important health-related cultural differences compared to other non-African American respondent groups. Areas of focus in the study include spiritual health relative to other dimensions of health; awareness of and attitudes towards clinical trial participation; perception of state of health; and level of motivation to take action on health.

The AAHES research, which commenced in 2017, is designed to garner insights that could inform meaningful and effective actions to increase health equity in African American communities. According to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control, African Americans face a greater risk of death at almost every stage of life compared with other American racial and ethnic groups, and African Americans overall have a life expectancy more than three years shorter than that of non-African Americans.

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Our mission is to ensure access to the highest quality of healthcare for persons of color, said Eric J. Williams, DNP, RN, CNE, FAAN, President, National Black Nurses Association. Our participation in the study helps us better understand health attitudes and behaviors of African Americans. Through our partnership with Pfizer and the National Medical Association, we are working to develop a sustainable plan of action that will make an impact on critical disparities that affect the health of our community.

Key findings of the AAHES study include:

84% of African American study participants described themselves as highly motivated to improve overall health, compared with 76% of non-African American participants. Moreover, 75% of African American respondents claimed to be taking some action to stay healthy, compared to only 52% of non-African American respondents.

67% of African Americans surveyed agreed with the statement I will do better on my health tomorrow, compared with 53% of non-African Americans surveyed.

36% of all African American study participants ranked their overall health (including physical, mental/emotional, and spiritual health) as very good or excellent, compared to 43% of study participants in other groups.

79% of African American study participants viewed spiritual health as extremely or very important to overall health and wellness, compared to 59% of non-African American participants.45% of African Americans reported being satisfied with their body regardless of weight, compared to 36% of respondents in other groups.

87% of African American participants believe African Americans are not well-represented in clinical trials, but only 33% of African American women and 41% of African American men stated that they are willing to enroll in a trial if it means changing or starting medication.

When it comes to trusted sources of health and medical information, African American respondents said that they place their highest level of trust in medical organizations focused on African Americans. African Americans least trusted sources for health related information are widely used media channels, such as cable news and commercial broadcast networks.

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Doris Browne, M.D. President, National Medical Association, said, As the collective voice for African American physicians and the leading voice for parity and justice in medicine and increasing health equity, the National Medical Association, in alliance with the National Black Nurses Association and Pfizer, will work together to address the underlying causes of health inequity with greater creativity, innovation, and precision.

The death rates for African American women from heart disease

and breast cancer are far greater than that of other women in America (CDC Health, United States 2016 Report). African American men of all ages experience higher mortality than men of other races and ethnicities and have significantly higher rates of malignancies such as prostate cancer (CDC Health, United States 2016 Report).

We see our partnership with the National Black Nurses Association and the National Medical Association as a critical way to increase trust and communication and better meet the health needs of African Americans, said Freda Lewis-Hall, M.D., Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President, Pfizer. Certain medical conditions are more prevalent and devastating for African Americans and other populations of color; diversity in clinical trials is one critical approach to closing disparity gaps. African Americans account for 12 percent of the U.S. population but make up only five percent of clinical trial participants. When it comes to increasing African American participation in clinical trials, we cannot overstate the importance of trust and collaboration.

Beyond clinical trial awareness and recruiting, the AAHES provides insight into other areas where the organizations can work together to increase health equity , including increasing the capacity of African American health care provider organizations; facilitating more effective health-seeking behaviors in African Americans through health education and community initiatives; and defining and launching targeted initiatives to respond to specific health care needs in African American communities.Ready, Set, Enter To Win! Hyundai Motor America Announces Its 2018 Car Giveaway Contest

In 2017, Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) in partnership with Taste of Soul, created a contest to acknowledge the residents who are doing their part to make the city of Los Angeles a better place by awarding one winner with a brand new car! The contest was so successful that Hyundai returned with a new theme tilted, Reimagine Everything at Taste of Soul Los Angeles.

Part of Hyundais commitment as a brand, is to help the society and improve humankind, which is why the company is inviting Angelenos to join them in solving some of the issues that affect the Los Angeles community by encouraging people to enter to win a 2018 Kona (Limited).

Heres How It Works:

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Step 1: Download the free Taste of Soul Mobile App using a smart phone from either the Apple App Store, the Android Market, or Google Play

Step 2: Follow the in-App instructions to register, which includes providing the entrants name, age, email address, and city and state of residence

Step 3: Follow the instructions to visit HyundaiDiversity.com

After reading and accepting the rules, follow the instructions to upload an original video (no more than 90 seconds) explaining how you are working to make the city of Los Angeles a better place for all.

Hyundais mission and values coincide with their contest vision of reimagining a better Los Angeles, and it was only right to lead by example. Recently, the company launched, Hyundais Road to Taste of Soul, where they highlighted four local organizations to give back to. This year, Hyundai decided to focus on local organizations that were helping children.

One of the things that is unique about Hyundai is that we are a brand that likes to consider the possible and find new solutions to solving societal issues and any issues we have. We have done so from the history of our car company to our products and services and that extends to our commitment to society, said director of Corporate Social Responsibility and Diversity Inclusion at Hyundai Motor America, Zafar Brooks.

The first stop took place in early August at the 20th annual Mothers in Action Back To School Health & Family Festival. During the event Brooks, on behalf of Hyundai, presented the non-profit organization, Mothers in Action with a $2500.00 check. The second stop took place later this month at the New Image Emergency Shelter for the Homeless. While there, Hyundai presented a $2500.00 donation. The third stop will take place in early September at actress Wendy Raquel Robinsons Amazing Grace Conservatory. The final stop will take place at the 13th annual Taste of Soul where Brotherhood Crusade will receive a monetary donation.

We are asking people to be a part of this journey of solving problems that affect our communities, and work together in bringing new solutions, that will benefit people, the society, and the planet. That is what its really all about, said Brooks.

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The contest begins at 12:00 PM Pacific Time on August 21, 2018 and ends at 11:59:59 PM Pacific Time on November 5, 2018. Please note all videos must comply with all the video requirements and submission information. For a complete list of submission info, video restrictions, prize winner selection, and conditions of entry please visit tasteofsoul.org.Rep. Jim Clyburn Says the Black Press Is Essential to 2018 Midterms

While theres at least a perceived growing number of Democrats who say they want to replace California Rep. Nancy Pelosi as the Democratic leader in the House of Representatives, South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn has emerged as a favorite among his peers to become the first African American to hold that position.

In an exclusive interview with the NNPA Newswire, the 25-year congressman said that, while hes ready for the challenge, Democrats currently have much bigger fish to fry.

The first order of business is to win the [midterm] elections on November 6, Clyburn said. Thats what Ive been concentrating on.

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Clyburn and Congressional Black Caucus Chair Cedric Richmond each told the NNPA Newswire that theyve identified 37 districts across the country they believe can be won by Democrats this year, which would wrest control of the House from Republicans.

We feel, with the right kind of effort, we can win, Clyburn said.

Clyburn listed three keys to success this November.

The first key, Clyburn said, is to prioritize the Black vote; Democrats cant afford to take the African American vote for granted.

Second, the Democrats shouldnt rely on an anti-President Donald Trump wave to get out the vote. Finally, Clyburn said that candidates must advertise in the Black Press, if they want to win in November.

We are also talking about districts where Barack Obama won twice and where Hillary Clinton also won, but these voters dont turn out for the so-called off-year elections, Clyburn said. We cant let these voters feel like were taking them for granted.

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Clyburn, 78, said he was recently taken aback by one candidate, who said that he could win the Black vote by running on an anti-Trump platform.

Wait one second, Clyburn said that he told the individual. We cant just go around being Republican-light. We have to be out there putting forth an alternative message, for our base, and we have to reach out to Black voters and let them know were not taking them or any of our base for granted.

To that end, Clyburn said advertising campaigns must largely include the Black Press.

Its very, very importantChairman Richmond and I have had candidates in and weve been telling them that one of the best ways to demonstrate that youre not taking the Black vote for granted is to advertise in the Black Press, Clyburn said.

The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) is the oldest and largest trade group representing the Black Press, comprised of more than 200 Black-owned newspapers operating in the United States.

Ive been in [the Black Press]. My daughter and I ran a newspaper down South, so I know that candidates tend to take Black media for granted, Clyburn said. They tend to judge Black media the same way they do other media and you just cant do that, because the business model is totally different.

Each Sunday after attending Morris Brown A.M.E. Church in Charleston, S.C., Clyburn said he and other churchgoers habitually pick up the local Black-owned newspaper.

People tend to pay attention to the headlines, the stories and the ads in the Black Press so its vitally important that candidates know this, Clyburn said.

A former history teacher, Clyburn said Trumps obsession with dismantling Obamas legacy is reminiscent of tactics employed by Andrew Johnson to demean his predecessor, Abraham Lincoln.

Johnson, who was impeached by House, had a vision of America as a White mans government, according to historians.

If you remember, its the same kind of reaction Johnson had to Lincoln and I remember sitting alone once in the Oval Office with Obama and I told him that this would be the kind of reaction he could expect, Clyburn said.

[Obama] was never going to get the kind of respect for his presidency that was shown to presidents before him, Clyburn said. The narrative that exists in this country is that there are certain things that Black folks are not supposed to do and one of those things is becoming the president of the United States and [President Trump] and his administration, feel they have to do whatever they can to wipe out any semblance that Barack Obama was ever president of the United States.

Clyburn continued: [Trump] has a deep-seated hatred for people of color and it manifests itself every day.

Though he doesnt support or agree politically with former Trump aide Omarosa Manigault Newman, Clyburn said he was deeply troubled when Trump referred to her as a low life and a dog.

Im the father of three daughters and Im deeply insulted by the president of the United States referring to an African American women the way he referred to her, he said. Politics aside, Im insulted that the president of the United States would denigrate the office in this way.

Clyburn continued: The president asked an important question when he was running, What do we have to lose? Well, we have lost dignity and the respect of the presidency, because of his coarseness in the office. When you lose respect, youve lost about everything there is to lose.

While he still supports Pelosi, Clyburn said that if the Democrats take back the House, hes up for the job as speaker.

I have always supported her, but I have always remembered a sermon I heard my father give a number of times, Clyburn said. That sermon stayed with me and he said, keep your lamps trimmed and burning to be ready when the bridegroom comes. My point is, Ive never forgotten that sermon so I keep my lamp burning so Im ready.Report Illustrates Importance of Preventing Black Male School Suspension

A recently released report, conducted by three education professors at San Diego State University and UCLA, revealed disturbing data about black student suspension.

Most notably:

Among schools that suspend a disproportionate number of Black students, school size tends to correlate with suspension rates. The rates of suspensions for black students went up as the school size increased.

Suspension rates for black students tend to peak in middle school, then fall in high school.

Black students are more likely to be suspended when they attend segregated or racially isolated schools, than when they attend majority-White or mixed-race schools.

The significance of the report falls in line with Los Angeles Unified School Districts zero tolerance policies, which previous studies have shown unfairly target Black students, especially Black males. Those policies are said to have led to increased drop out rates and contributions to the school to prison pipeline.

From a very young age, far too many Black boys and young men are being told, in effect, to get out, and are excluded from the school and classroom, says Professor Tyrone Howard, the director of the Black Male Institute at UCLA.

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Its an unfair practice with serious consequences for learning and achievement and future success, and it needs to stop.

In 2016, article for the L.A. Times, reporter Skikivu Hutchinson wrote that Black students attending school in LAUSD are often confronted with teachers who view them as ticking time bombs, chronic screw-ups who are intellectually incapable of pursuing a college degree.

So much of the debate centers on whether schools are being too dismissive or overly punitive, and factors like school structure, which data show correlates to suspension rates, tends to get overlooked, said education policy expert Tom Loveless, who produced a 2017 report on California suspension rates for the Brookings Institution.

Loveless research suggests that nearly 43 percent of middle schools in California suspended blacks at a high rate. That figure drops to below 39 percent in high schools. In elementary schools, its the lowest, about 19 percent.

While the report doesnt indicate the exact reasons for the high middle school suspensions, Loveless suggests factors involved in physical and mental growth may have something to do with it .

[Middle school is] when kids get squirrely, he said.

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Its just a few minutes, but it gives kids time to get in trouble. Its also, of course, when students first experience a surge of hormones and have to navigate a complicated social maze toward adulthood. Data show suspension rates generally fall after 10th grade as students mature.

It could also be a function of school size. The data also suggested that larger schools tend to suspend students at higher rates, and some California middle schools serve between 2,000 and 3,000 students.

You put 3,000 13- to 14-year-olds together, there are bound to be problems. Big schools are tough to manage, Loveless said.

He found that small and mid-sized schools suspended Black students at below-average rates, while a larger share of big schools  those with 1,300 students or more  have above-average suspension rates.

But regardless of the reason, the problem remains urgent and in need of solutions.

Exclusionary discipline practices are unfairly and unnecessarily placing Black boys and young men at risk, said Frank Harris III, professor, San Diego State University.

Our hope is to focus the attention of educators and policymakers on the issue and offer specific suggestions that can help keep Black males in school.Sustaining Righteous Community Outrage

Yes, the high profile killing of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman followed by Michael Brown and other Black men senselessly killed by the police, including Ezell Ford in Los Angeles, were met with outrage in the Black community. The problem: The outrage has been mostly episodic, not sustainable. This pattern of temporary outrage must change. And hopefully, existing and emerging Black groups, including Black Lives Matter, will work together to increase widespread sustainable righteous community outrage.

Minimized and/or forgotten, but no less significant, are many other examples of Blacks internalized rather overt outrage over the years. They include: Unarmed Leonard Deadwyler, shot and killed by LAPD when rushing his expectant wife to the hospital; unarmed Eula Love, killed by LAPD; Rodney King, beaten mercilessly by LAPD; unarmed 13-year-old Devon Brown, killed by LAPD. Trayvon too was a fading memory before Ferguson. Additionally, strong dissatisfaction over public schools failure to educate Black children and widespread police abuse by LAPD and LA County Sheriff Department have, in most cases, been met with pervasive silence, not sustained outrage. Though unaccustomed and obviously extremely difficult to achieve, Black people must begin to demand sustainable outrage and greater leadership accountability.

Less eye catching, but no less important, was the fleeting outrage in the Black community over the US Supreme Court decision that gutted the Voting Rights Act (VRA). Lets briefly examine the Supreme Courts decision in the VRA and certain affirmative action cases. Reactions range from deeply disappointed (President Barack Obama) to outrage (Congresswoman Karen Bass). The gutted provisions of Section 4 and Section 5 are at the heart of the Courts Voting Rights Act ruling. Section 4 is the covered formula used by the federal government to determine which states and counties are subject to continued oversight. Chief Justice John Roberts said the formula was outdated and unworkable, and the Court agreed.

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Under Section 5, any changes in voting laws and procedures in the covered statesincluding much of the Southand even certain counties in California- had to be pre-cleared with Washington. But the court ruled Section 5 cannot be effectively enforced because it relies heavily on the covered formula, albeit the main tool for protecting Blacks and other people of color from state and local governments that set unfair and shifting barriers to the polls. Without Section 5, the very power and effect of the entire VRA will crumble.

VRA opponents argued, and the Supreme Court concurred in a 5-4 vote, that monitoring voting procedures under the law was overly burdensome and unwarranted. (This, despite Congress having re-authorized Sections 4 and 5 as recently as 2006.) It should also be noted that despite the pervasive bogus claim that America is a post-racial society, race was at the center of the VRA debate. Further, there is overwhelming evidence that Blacks, in particular, continue to encounter targeted discrimination at polling places throughout America.

Dissenting, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said Congress re-authorized the VRA-including Sections 4 and 5- ten years ago, with overwhelming bipartisan support, .and (since) that body is empowered to enforce civil rights amendments by appropriate legislation, it merits this courts utmost respect. (Justice Kennedy voted with the majority and is usually the No swing vote on civil rights, but the Yes swing vote in gay rights cases.)

Many conservative groups argue that ancient formulas are still being applied, not to reverse discrimination, but to benefit a particular political party. Liberals, citing strong evidence that Blacks and others of color face continuing barriers in and outside of the South, counter that Section 5 and federal oversight are being demonized by the right for political gain with the intent of continuing to divide Americans over race.

Depending on the particular opinion poll, Americans are sharply divided on affirmative action. Leading up to the Supreme Courts VRA decision, an opinion poll by ABC News and the Washington Post showed that 76% of Americans opposed affirmative action in college admission. But a poll conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute found that 68% of Americans favored the principles of affirmative action. Similar conflicting findings are shown in other polls about the role the government should play in trying to improve conditions for Blacks and other people of color. Polls, notwithstanding, Black people are still the most discriminated against and demonized.

The court punted on affirmative action, (Fisher v. University of Texas). It neither ruled nor gutted affirmative action but sent the case back to the Appellate Court for further hearing. Many contend in doing so, it reaffirmed the courts doctrine in the landmark, Grutter v. Bollinger, (2003). In that case, essentially, the court found that race, ethnicity and gender can be used in admissions decisions in colleges and universities as long as none is used as a primary or unilateral factor.

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Episodic outrage without substantial follow up action actually helps to perpetuate, not change barriers to social and economic justice. The examples of injustice mentioned above are only the tip of a huge jaundiced iceberg.

Righteous outrage must be sustainable.it is necessary to bring about the political pressure crucial for actual long range change. Of course, ultimately, it is the responsibility of the Black community itself to forge its own future which requires new mindsets and most important, new behavior. Developing sustainable righteous outrage is only one of other important tasks that collectively, we must undertake as part of a self-determined Black agenda.The Hyundai Soundstage Welcomes Roland Martin to Host & DJ B-Hen to Rock the Mic at the 13th Annual Taste of Soul

During the 2017 Taste of Soul Family Festival, Hyundai Motor America brought star power to the StarQuest Stage with sounds from R&B sensations Melanie Fiona and Brandy, rap icons Kool Moe Dee and Doug E. Fresh, and music from Candace Coles & The CJ Legacy Band, Raffia Ford and DJ B-Hen. This time, Hyundai has returned to the festival for the third year in a row with a new stage name and brand new artists for your enjoyment!

The Hyundai Soundstage (previously known as the StarQuest Stage), will be hosted by none other than author, journalist, and television host Roland Martin. During his career, Martin has had the opportunity to interview politicians, athletes and entertainers throughout various platforms including CNN. He is also the host and managing editor of TV One Cable Network and NewsOneNow. Recently Martin announced the launch of his daily digital show #RolandMartinUnfiltered, where viewers will see him travel across the country reporting on news event from remote locations. The show is set to air on September 4, 2018.

Whats a stage and performance without a DJ; just an okay show. Which is why Hyundai has welcomed back DJ to the stars, DJ B-Hen to rock the mic and turn the Hyundai Soundstage from just an okay show to an amazing concert.

Eight years ago, Brian Henry (DJ B-Hen) left his nine-to-five job to become an international party rocker and professional DJ. A dream that seemed crazy and extremely difficult has led him on the path to success. He has performed at backyard barbeques, local clubs, HBCU gigs, weddings and more. Although he is still young, it is safe to say, his memorable experience and career highlight has been performing for former First Lady Michelle Obama and other private events for the Obamas. DJ B-Hen has a passion for music and giving back and Taste of Soul is the perfect place to combine the two.

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Martin and DJ B-Hen are just the beginning of the many things that will take place on the Hyundai Soundstage. The stage will also feature the annual StarQuest Singing Competition where contestants will show off their vocal talent for a shot at stardom.

Check out the Hyundai Soundstage at the 13th annual Taste of Soul Family Festival on Saturday, October 20. Hyundai will announce new celebrity appearances and performers every week leading up to Taste of Soul. Dont miss out; download the Taste of Soul mobile app through Google Play or the Apple Store to get the latest updates on stage lineups, vendors and more.Toyota Establishes the John W. Mack Scholarship Fund Through the National Urban League

Automaker Celebrates Its 27-Year Partnership at NUL Annual Conference

Toyota returned this year as a title sponsor of the National Urban League (NUL) Annual Conference held August 1-4, 2018, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, OH. This year commemorated Toyotas 27-year partnership with the National Urban League. The conference theme, Save Our Cities  Powering the Digital Revolution featured numerous business, civic and community empowerment workshops, exhibits and career fair for conference attendees which included notable businesses, community and civil rights leaders, government officials and attendees from around the country.

To commemorate the passing of John Wesley Mack, former President of the Los Angeles Urban League, during the NUL Awards Gala, Toyota announced the newly established John W. Mack Scholarship Fund to be administered through the National Urban League. John Mack was a highly respected advocate for equal opportunities in education, law enforcement, and economic empowerment for African Americans and other minorities. He was known as a bridge builder across all racial, cultural, economic, gender and religious lines. He began his career in 1964 with the Urban League in Flint, Michigan, and was appointed executive director a year later. He served as president of the Los Angeles Urban League from August 1969 until his retirement in 2004. It was through John Macks leadership that Toyota, then headquartered in Los Angeles, became partners with the NUL.

Through this scholarship fund, Toyotas goal is to make it possible for many worthy students to attend college and earn a degree focusing on the fields of science, technology, engineering, arts and math, said Al Smith, group vice president and chief social innovation officer, Toyota Motor North America. Just like John Mack who inspired our executives by his visionary leadership, we want to help make dreams comes true and encourage students to start their impossible. We encourage others to support the fund.

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To wrap up the conference, Toyota reached out to the local community at the NUL Experience & Expo Community and Family Day by setting up an in-house barber shop for boys and a beauty salon for girls to get them ready for school. To add fun to the area, the Toyota Camry Carpool Karaoke was a hit as conference attendees and community guests raised their voices to their favorite tunes as the crowd cheered them on. As a takeaway, Toyota gave away an uplifting t-shirt where guests could select from various slogans, such as, Toyota I Representthe future, education, innovation, creativity or empowerment.

The National Urban League is a historic civil rights and urban advocacy organization dedicated to economic empowerment in historically underserved urban communities. During the event, the Columbus Urban League celebrated 100 years of service to the community.WATCH: The United Nations Mourns Former Secretary-General Kofi Annan

The United Nations is mourning the death of former Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who passed away peacefully after a short illness, on Saturday 18 August 2018. The renowned Ghanaian diplomat was 80 years old.



Mr. Annan was the seventh man to take the helm of the global organization and the first Secretary-General to emerge from the ranks of its staff.

The current UN chief, Antonio Guterres hailed him as a guiding force for good and a proud son of Africa who became a global champion for peace and all humanity.

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Like so many, I was proud to call Kofi Annan a good friend and mentor. I was deeply honored by his trust in selecting me to serve as UN High Commissioner for Refugees under his leadership. He remained someone I could always turn to for counsel and wisdom  and I know I was not alone, Mr. Guterres said in a statement.

He provided people everywhere with a space for dialogue, a place for problem-solving and a path to a better world. 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 us.

Kofi Annan was born in Kumasi, Ghana, on 8 April 1938.

He served as UN Secretary-General for two consecutive five-year terms, beginning in January 1997.

Mr. Annan joined the UN system in 1962 as an administrative and budget officer with the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, rising to hold senior-level posts in areas such as budget and finance, and peacekeeping.

As Mr. Guterres noted: 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.

Facebook is now rating users on how trustworthy they are in identifying and reporting real and false news.

The ratings system was first reported by The Washington Post. A Post reporter interviewed Facebook product manager Tessa Lyons, who leads the companys efforts to fight misinformation.

Lyons told the newspaper the system was developed and put into place over the past year.

In January, Facebook announced a similar system to produce ratings for the trustworthiness of news sources. At that time, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg said those ratings would be based on information provided by Facebook users.

Zuckerberg said news sources receiving higher trustworthy ratings from the community would be prioritized in the social media services News Feed.

The new ratings system is designed to predict how effective a user is at identifying and reporting false news stories. Every user is given a rating between zero and one, the Post reports.

Lyons told the newspaper such a system is necessary because some users are incorrectly reporting whether a story is true or false.

Its not uncommon for people to tell us something is false simply because they disagree with the premise of a story or theyre intentionally trying to target a particular publisher, Lyons said.

As an example, she said a users trustworthiness rating would go up if they previously reported a news story as false, and the story was later confirmed as false by an independent fact checker.

In addition to information from users, Facebook uses machine learning systems to choose stories to be checked for truthfulness. The company has a partnership with several major news and fact-checking organizations that examine news stories reported as possibly being false.

Lyons noted that the numbered rating is not the single measure Facebook uses to judge a users overall trustworthiness. She said the company also uses other signals to rate users, but did not provide further details.

Efforts to fight misinformation

In addition to taking steps to fight misinformation, Facebook has also sought to limit efforts by foreign organizations to influence the U.S. political process. Facebook previously found evidence that false accounts created in Russia and other nations were used to try to influence American voters in the 2016 election.

On Tuesday, Facebook said it had identified and removed hundreds of accounts linked to Russia and Iran. It said the accounts were part of separate disinformation campaigns on Facebook.

In announcing the findings, Facebook chief Zuckerberg said there was still a lot the company does not know about the operations. However, he described the campaigns as sophisticated and well-financed efforts that are likely to continue.

Youre going to see people try to abuse the services in every way possible... including now nation states, Zuckerberg said.

Spokesmen for both Iran and Russia denied any state involvement in the activities described by Facebook.

This week, American software maker Microsoft reported it had taken control of several websites created by hackers linked to Russias government. The company said the websites were made to look like they belonged to the U.S. Senate and conservative research groups. But they were actually false websites created in an effort to gather personal details of users.

Microsoft warned the hacking incidents were further evidence that Russia is expanding its attacks before U.S. congressional elections in November.

Im Bryan Lynn.

Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from the Associated Press, Reuters and other sources. Hai Do was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

_______________________________________________________________

Quiz - Facebook Now Rates Users on Trustworthiness Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

prioritize  n. place higher in importance above other things

premise  n. an idea used to support another theory or position

intentionally  adj. on purpose

account  n. an arrangement in which a person uses internet or service of a particular company

sophisticated  adj. a well-organized, advanced way of operating

hacker  n. person who secretly gets access to a computer system in order to get information, cause damage, etc.

Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh celebrated the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha on Wednesday. The refugees prayed for better lives and wondered if they will ever go back to their homes in Myanmar.

The calls to prayer came early in the large refugee camps. People lined up in temporary structures used as mosques. Children with newly washed clothes watched from a window.

The four-day holiday of Eid al-Adha celebrates the Prophet Ibrahim and his willingness to sacrifice his son. Muslims often kill sheep, cattle or goats on the holiday. Some of the meat is distributed to the poor. But the refugees in this camp are the poor and few gave such gifts.

The Muslim Rohingyas have faced generations of discrimination in largely Buddhist Myanmar. They are denied citizenship rights, attacked and sometimes not able to practice their religion.

"We could not pray during Eid in my village for years, we had to pray secretly," said refugee Nurul Alam. "I have freedom here, but I don't want it here."

"We don't belong here," he continued. "It's good that nobody is coming to kill us, but I want to go back where my parents' graves are located."

More than 700,000 Rohingyas entered Bangladesh last year. They are fleeing a campaign of destruction by the Myanmar military and Buddhist mobs. The campaign followed attacks by a Rohingya rebel group.

Thousands of people are believed to have been killed in the attacks by the Myanmar military. Rights activists believe it was the governments attempt to drive the Rohyngya from the country.

Many in Buddhist-majority Myanmar see the Muslim Rohingyas as illegal migrants from Bangladesh. They call them "Bengalis." Most have long lived in poverty in Myanmar's Rakhine state, next to Bangladesh.

The events of the past year have made for a sad Eid al-Adha.

"We are happy, but again we are not happy, said 60-year-old Shamsul Alam as he walked to a mosque for prayers. "I had my landHere I don't have any problem for food, but I don't have what I need."

"I am nobody here," he said.

Im Susan Shand.A new study published Tuesday has found increased support for charter schools and private school voucher programs. The study suggests that Republican Party support for these programs had a strong influence on the increase.

A charter school is a school that receives a special charter, or written rules, from a state government. These schools, a type of school choice, are publicly funded but operate independently from school districts.

School voucher programs permit public funds to pay for students to attend a private or religious school.

The findings by Education Next, were published by Harvard Universitys Kennedy School and Stanford University. They come as Education Secretary Betsy DeVos promotes alternatives to traditional public schools.

Growing charter support

The study found that 44 percent of respondents said they support the expansion of charter schools, compared to 39 percent in 2017. However, that number was at 51 percent in 2016.

The study found that 57 percent of Republicans included in the study support charter schools. Thirty-six percent of Democrats said the same. The number of Republicans who answered favorably in last year's study was 47 percent. The number among Democrats in 2017 was 34 percent.

Martin West of Harvard University is one of the reports writers. He said, Support is up among Republicans for various strategies to expand school choice, and the Trump administrations embrace of those policies is a likely explanation.

Nina Rees is president of the organization National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. She said the findings "demonstrate through the educational choices they make for children - families want higher quality charter school options for their kids.

Rees added, "Above all else, parents care that their child has access to an excellent school, and as education advocates, it is our job to ensure that wish becomes a reality."

Robin Lake is with the Center on Reinventing Public Education. Lake noted that the issue of charter schools has become extremely political. Lake said, "I don't think that an education policy that's designed to get better outcomes for kids should ever be a partisan issue."

Support also grew for publicly funded vouchers given to low-income families to help them pay for private schools. The study found that those in favor of such efforts rose from 37 percent in 2017 to 42 percent this year.

A low-income family is one that earns less than twice the federal poverty line.

More satisfied with police than schools

The report also found that Americans seem to be more satisfied with their local police and the post office than with their neighborhood school.

Fifty-one percent of respondents said they would give their local schools a grade of A or B. A grade of A or B means above average.

But 68 percent gave the local post office a similar grade. Sixty-nine percent gave a similar grade to the local police.

Patrick McGuinn, an education and political science professor at Drew University, said it makes sense that if only 51 percent of Americans are giving public schools a high grade, then support for other school choices would grow.

The Education Next report was based on interviews with 4,601 adults across the United States.

I'm Ashley Thompson.

Marina Danilova reported this story for the Associated Press. Phil Dierking adapted the story for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.

Do you think charter or public schools are better for students learning? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

embrace - v. to accept (something or someone) readily or gladly

promote - v. to help (something) happen, develop, or increase

alternative - n. something that can be chosen instead of something else: a choice

grade - n. a particular level of quality

journal - n. a magazine that reports on things of special interest to a particular group of people

partisan - adj. a person who strongly supports a particular leader, group, or cause

strategy - n. a careful plan or method for achieving a particular goal usually over a long period of time

voucher - n. a document that gives you the right to get something (such as a product or service) without paying for itWednesday, August 22, 2018

An order staying most discovery in the Delaware Court of Chancery (Vice Chancellor Glasscock) admonishes counsel

As I have tried to convey, unsuccessfully, litigation in this forum is bounded by rules, but those rules assume that norms of behavior, implicitly followed, will inform actions of counsel. Without the norms, the rules are impotent. One of the perhaps underappreciated keys to the success of Delaware as a litigation forum is the strength of the traditions of our bar, and the extent to which even hard-fought litigation is self-cabined by respect for these traditions and norms, and of counsel for one another.

I will not repeat here some of the picayune disputes in the competing scheduling orders, because there are legitimate differences between the parties that it was appropriate to submit to me, and which I deal with here. I granted expedition on the contract issues because it appeared to me that complete relief, should the Plaintiffs prevail, likely depended upon it. I declined to enter a stay of other discovery in the case, leaving it to the discretion of counsel to decide how to proceed on such non-expedited discovery in light of the demands of the impending November litigation, and in light of the benefits of avoiding duplicate discovery that a stay might compel. Again, this has proved unwise.

(Mike Frisch)

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2018/08/an-order-staying-discovery-in-the-delaware-court-of-chancery-glasscock-admonishes-counsel-as-i-have-tried-to-convey-unsuc.htmlPeter Dutton, the government lawmaker who has challenged Australias prime minister for his job, is publicly perceived as a hard man and a leading hard-right conservative. His face is associated with turning back asylum seekers boats, stripping citizenship from extremists and striving to increase the English-language standards for migrants who want to gain citizenship.

Dutton gave up the largest security portfolio in the government when he resigned as Minister for Home Affairs, who controls the newly created Department of Homeland Security designed to tackle the new security threats of a changing geo-political environment.

While highly regarded by the conservative Liberal Partys hard-right faction, his broader appeal has been questioned, particularly among ethnic minorities.

He has been criticized for saying the level of Lebanese Muslim immigration under a humanitarian program in the 1970s had been a mistake that Australia was now paying for through a rise in domestic extremism.

He also attracted accusations of racism through comments that white farmers under threat of violence in black-majority South Africa should be treated as refugees because they need help from a civilized country. He has angered many in the ethnic-African community by saying people in Victoria state were scared to go out to restaurants of a night time because of African gang violence.

Dutton, 47, is a former police drug squad detective from the politically and socially conservative state of Queensland.

He was first elected to Parliament in 2001 and quickly rose to the rank of minister three years later.

He became Minister for immigration and Border Protection in 2014, when he became responsible for Australias contentious policy of sending asylum seekers who attempt to reach Australia by boat to immigration camps paid for by his government on impoverished Pacific island nations for Papua New Guinea and Nauru. The Australian navy also turns asylum seekers boats back to Indonesia, which Jakarta regards as an affront to Indonesian sovereignty. APMacau and Shanghai signed four new agreements yesterday, including one for a thematic year of co-operation expected to expand ties between the two. The three other new memorandums of understanding signed cover the MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) industry, financial services and youth exchanges. The Chief Executive, Chui Sai On, and the Mayor of Shanghai, Ying Yong, witnessed the signing ceremony held at the government headquarters. In his signing ceremony speech, Chui said the memorandum of understanding on a thematic year of Macau-Shanghai co-operation was in line with President Xi Jinpings guiding principles regarding the integration of Macaus development with overall national development.

UM PhD student receives Lotfi Zadeh Best Paper Award

Shu Ting, a PhD student from the Department of Computer and Information, Faculty of Science and Technology (FST), University of Macau (UM), received the Lotfi Zadeh Best Paper Award for her medical biometrics systems on accurate diabetes diagnosis, at the 17th International Conference on Machine Learning and Cybernetics (ICMLC) and the 15th International Conference on Wavelet Analysis and Pattern Recognition (ICWAPR). The award is presented to the best overall paper from both conferences.

Airports new boarding gates in service

The Macau International Airport (MIA) opened new boarding gates in the North area of the passenger terminal yesterday. The airport has been undergoing a series of expansions and facility enhancements over the past few years in a bid to cope with an increased number of passengers. This year, over 8 million passengers are expected to use the facility. The North extension of the terminal was opened to passengers in 2018 and served as a major highlight of MIAs short-term expansion plan. To make the use of the new gates more intuitive during the introductory phase, starting yesterday, checked-in passengers will receive a flyer regarding the new boarding gate locations.

Driving license examiner attacked by failed candid ate

A driving test examiner was attacked on Tuesday by a candidate who had just failed the test. The examiner, who works for the Transport Bureau (DSAT), sustained injuries to his head. After medical treatment, the victim was in a stable condition. It is suspected that the candidate was unhappy with the test results, which prompted the attack. The case has been referred to the police for further investigation. The DSAT sent its regards to the victim and strongly condemned all acts of violence, emphasizing that nobody should resort to violence in order to solve problems.

Chinese Orchestras new concert season starts September

The opening concert of the Macao Chinese Orchestras 2018-19 concert season will be held on September 2. The concert, Glimpses of the National Wind, features specially invited erhu performers Yu Hongmei and Zhai Qinxi from the Central Conservatory of Music. The National Orchestra will play a new musical piece, Red Litchis, which is rich in Lingnan style. The concert also features the erhu concerto Amannisa, inspired by the Uighur artist Amannisa. Tickets for the orchestras concert season are on sale at the Macau Ticketing Network, with various discount packages available.

Qingmao port estimated to open at the end of 2019

Yesterday, Secretary for Security Wong Sio Chak said that the Qingmao port may possibly open by the end of 2019. The foundation work project for the Qingmao port has been approved for construction seven days a week. The port will be located 800 meters southeast of the Gongbei Border Gate and will feature a 400 meter long closed corridor connecting Zhuhai train station to Macaus Light Rapid Transit.Two Cambodian journalists who had worked for U.S.-funded Radio Free Asia and are charged with espionage were released on bail, a day after a pardon freed four land rights activists from prison.

Uon Chhin and Yeang Sothearin, who is better known by his professional name of Yeang Socheameta, were arrested last November and charged with undermining national security by supplying information to a foreign state. The two journalists were also later charged with producing pornography after police said they found pornographic images on their computers. They face possible prison terms of up to 15 years.

The pair were greeted by friends and family when they walked out of Prey Sar prison Tuesday evening.

Frankly speaking, we are not fully receiving our freedom because we must still present ourselves upon police request, Yeang Sothearin told journalists outside the prison. We are continuing to urge the court to drop all charges against us so that we can do our jobs, living our lives as other people do.

His colleague, Uon Chhin, vowed to stay in his profession. I love my job as a journalist, he said.

Their employer welcomed their release on bail while also calling for the charges against them to be dropped.

The targeting and intimidation of anyone who has worked as an independent journalist in Cambodia is a clear violation of press freedom, said Libby Liu, president of Washington, D.C.-based Radio Free Asia. With todays development, we hope all charges against them are dropped and their case is immediately dismissed.

Their arrests came during Cambodias crackdown on the media and political opponents before last months general election.

Prime Minister Hun Sens ruling party swept the results in a vote widely seen as not fair or credible. The official voter turnout was high even though a boycott had been called by the main opposition party that was dissolved last year by a court ruling seen as biased.

Hun Sen, who has been in office since 1985 and has held a tight grip on power since ousting a co-prime minister in a bloody 1997 coup, has a record of cracking down harshly when facing a serious challenge, then effecting reconciliation when he no longer feels threatened. The pattern keeps human rights groups and Western governments off balance and moderates their criticism.

On Monday, four women jailed for participating in Cambodias land rights movement were freed under a royal pardon requested by Hun Sen. One of those freed, Tep Vanny, had led protests against evictions from a lakeshore community in Phnom Penh where the government had granted concessions to develop a luxury residential and commercial community.

Last September, Radio Free Asia closed its office in Cambodia after operating for 20 years, citing unprecedented government intimidation of the media. By the end of last year, the government had closed more than a dozen radio stations, some of which had rebroadcast Radio Free Asias programs, and the English-language The Cambodia Daily newspaper was forced to shut down.

The two reporters were no longer working for RFA after their office closed, and police initially said they had been detained for running an unlicensed karaoke studio. But they were later accused of setting up a studio for RFA and charged with espionage.

A spokesman for the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, Ei Rin, said it ordered the release on bail as requested by the journalists lawyer.

After their release, the two journalists went to a Buddhist temple to get a monks blessings, a rite meant to get rid of bad luck.

Their detention had been sharply criticized by rights groups and journalists associations.

The Committee to Protect Journalists in a statement issued yesterday that they welcomed the journalists release on bail, but they never should have been detained in the first place.

Authorities should drop these bogus charges and stop harassing journalists with frivolous accusations, said Shawn Crispin, the New York-based groups representative in Southeast Asia. Sopheng Cheang, Phnom Penh, APCEM held a media briefing session at CEM building this week and gave an introduction on its measures for improving disaster resilience and power stability.

CEM has successively implemented flood prevention measures in low-lying areas, which is expected to improve Macaus disaster resilience.

Talking about the experience gained from previous typhoons, CEM has worked out solutions with the Office for the Development of the Energy Sector (GDSE) and mapped out flood prevention measures and solutions to reduce the risk of power equipment being exposed to flood waters and the consequent impact on the public.

These measures include optimizing the medium-voltage network and power equipment, as well as installing flood barriers, strengthening the sealing of cable inlets, installing flood alarm systems and sump pumps in customer substations.

Regarding long-term measures, CEM has revised the flood protection standards for electrical facilities in buildings, which in turn can improve the flood-resistant capacity of power facilities of new buildings in low-lying areas. CEM is planning to relocate some of the customer substations near Inner Harbor to higher ground.

This measure does not only address the flooding problems in the long run, but will also increase the power network capacity for the older part of the city.

After the briefing session, CEM invited the media to visit the Control Center of System Dispatch Center to learn about the operation of the flooding alarm system.

The group was also invited to inspect customer substations that have been equipped with flood control facilities.

During the introduction, Billy Chan, senior manager of CEM Transmission and Distribution Department, said that the GDSE has always maintained close links with CEM.

Chan also said that, in terms of preventing floods, CEM will focus increasingly on buildings which will be built in the future.

In the face of the long-standing flooding problem in Macau, CEM has discussed with GDSE how to improve the flood-resistant capacity of power facilities and has devised a number of measures to enhance the capacity at low-lying areas.

CEM has continued to invest in the construction of a transmission and distribution network, including a number of large-scale projects such as the 110kV Cotai Hospital Substation, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge Substation, Barra Substation, Macau Power Station Substation, the third 22kV Pac On Substation, the 220kV connection for Lotus Substation, Canal dos Patos Substation and Pac On Substation, as well as the third 7 km-long 220 kV interconnection with Guangdong Power Grid.

Another important infrastructure project that will help ensure a reliable power supply, is the new gas turbine generator units planned for the built in Coloane Power Station.

In view of the growing demand for electricity in Macau, CEM has suggested that the government replace some of the old power generation units with eco-friendly and efficient gas turbine generator units in a bid to solve the problem of aging legacy units. This would thus enhance local power supply capacity.

After preparatory work for the project gained approval from the government last year, CEM launched an international tendering process in December 2017 and stopped accepting tenders in April 2018.

Tender evaluation is currently being conducted. When the new gas turbine generator units are put into operation, local power generation will take up an average of 30 percent of the total power consumption, which can be increased to 50 percent in an emergency.

In addition, in order to enhance electrical engineers awareness of operation and maintenance techniques for medium-voltage equipment, CEM has organized workshops for personnel who are responsible for the construction, operation, handling and maintenance of medium-voltage power distribution equipment.

The workshops were hosted by CEM professionals who passed on their knowledge and demonstrated operations.Billionaire Pallonji Mistry has about 85 percent of his estimated USD19.9 billion fortune locked up in a legal battle with Indias largest conglomerate.

The conflict between Mistry and the Tata Group began with a boardroom coup in 2016, when the formers son was ousted as chairman of the latter. The 89-year-old Mistry is one of the largest shareholders in Tata Sons Ltd., which controls the $100 billion conglomerate, and his family has since filed numerous lawsuits against the holding companys board, alleging suppression of minority interests and governance lapses.

The courtroom battle has continued, most recently focused on a move by Tata Sons to restrict shareholders from freely selling their stake  a change recognized by the government this month. Mistry, who derives an estimated $16.9 billion of his fortune from his 18.4 percent equity in Tata Sons, can no longer sell those holdings without the approval of a board his family has been fighting for two years.

Mistrys Shapoorji Pallonji group didnt reply to an email seeking comment. A Tata Sons spokesman declined to comment.

While Tata Sons has always been a closely held private entity, it was considered a public limited company due to its size under an old legal provision. That allowed investors greater flexibility in transferring their shares, according to Daizy Chawla, a New Delhi-based senior partner at law firm Singh & Associates.

The law was altered some years back, allowing Tata Sonss shareholders to approve a change to its legal status last year, overriding objections from Mistrys son.

Being a private company there is now restriction on the free transfer of shares by its shareholder and the transfer needs to be done with the approval of the board of directors, Chawla said.

A New Delhi court last week heard arguments on a plea to put on hold government approval of Tata Sonss conversion. The dispute may eventually wend its way to Indias top court since the losing party will have the right to appeal.

The discord has battered a relationship that goes back almost a century. A Mistry company had financial links with Tata Sons from as early as 1927, though the family only began acquiring equity from the 1960s onward. Over time, purchases from Tata family members and a rights issue grew their holding to the present 18.4 percent.

Mistry inherited the stake from his father, who built the Tata Groups automobile factories and steel mills. His Shapoorji Pallonji group, founded in 1865, is also responsible for some of financial capital Mumbais most iconic structures including the Reserve Bank of India buildings and The Taj Mahal Palace hotel.

After earning a reputation for being reclusive, Mistry and his family were thrust into the spotlight in 2012, when his younger son was chosen to helm the Tata group. The bonhomie ended with his sons ouster in October 2016, which triggered one of Indias worst corporate showdowns.

Still, its the exposure to Tata companies thats helped bump up Pallonji Mistrys fortune by $2.5 billion this year as investors piled into Tata Consultancy Services Ltd., Asias largest software services provider. Mistry ranks 44th on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index and is among the richest men living in India.

Another point of contention thats emerged as the Tata-Mistry relationship soured is article 75 of Tata Sonss articles of association, which the board can use to force a shareholder to sell out. This provision is also being contested in court.

Combined with the decision to go private, the restriction puts Mistry in a tight spot. On the one hand, he can be forced to sell his stake while, on the other, he needs Tata Sons to sign off on a suitor he picks.

Tata Sons can choose to preempt any stake sale by enforcing article 75 in its articles of association and forcing an existing shareholder to sell out, said Sudip Mahapatra, a partner at law firm S&R Associates. Thats whats putting the Mistry family on a weak footing. BloombergThe commander of U.S. forces in South Korea said yesterday that hes cautiously optimistic nuclear diplomacy will work out with North Korea. But he also said Seoul and Washington must continue to apply pressure so that theres not a reason or even an ability for the North to back out.

Gen. Vincent Brooks told reporters that reports about continuing nuclear and missile development activities in North Korea show that Pyongyang currently lacks confidence that it can take real steps toward denuclearization and still be safe.

While I do seek to have empathy to understand why North Korea is doing what its doing and where its coming from, nevertheless, this is a condition North Korea created for itself, Brooks said at a news conference in Seoul. They will have to take the risk to move into the direction toward peace, given that they created the circumstances we are in.

Following a provocative year in weapons development, during which it tested a purported thermonuclear warhead and demonstrated potential capability to strike the U.S. mainland, the North has shifted to a diplomatic approach in 2018.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held a historic summit with President Donald Trump in June. They issued aspirations for a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula without describing when or how it would occur.

Post-summit talks aimed at mapping out a denuclearization process got off to a rocky start, with North Korea accusing a senior U.S. delegation led by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo of making unilateral demands for the country to relinquish its arsenal. North Korea has also been demanding that the United States fast-track discussions on a declaration to formally end the Korean War, which stopped with an armistice and not a peace treaty.

The amount of progress that has been made in the relationships among countries since this time last year is perhaps not something that could have been conceived of last year and yet it has happened, Brooks said. But we still have to see earnest action being taken on those matters of great concern like denuclearization. There is still a need for continued pressure so that theres not a reason or even an ability for North Korea to back up.

Nuclear diplomacy with North Korea has been littered with failures in past decades. But Brooks said the chances of success are better this time around because of the change of governments in Washington and Seoul and also because the threat posed by the Norths nuclear and long-range missile program is greater than ever.

For diplomatic efforts to succeed, it would be critical for the allies and North Korea to overcome distrust and misperception, where actions taken by one party are not understood the way they were intended to be by the actor when the receiver sees it, Brooks said. APMalaysian authorities may know the whereabouts of the wanted businessman Low Taek Jhow, also known as Jho Low, the countrys former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin revealed on Monday.

The government knows his whereabouts. Last time, he was in Macau. The government knows where he is, said Daim, as cited in Malaysian reports.

Authorities believed that Low left Macau for an unknown destination, escaping arrest in Hong Kong.

The fugitives Malaysian passport has already been revoked, although he has denied any wrongdoing.

Wanted for his role in the multi-billion-dollar scandal at Malaysian state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MBD), the fugitive said through his lawyers last week that he is not expecting to get a fair hearing anywhere, thus he will not present himself to any country where his guilt has been predetermined.

Malaysia has applied for an Interpol red notice to seek assistance from the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, India, Myanmar, China and Hong Kong to detain Low.

The top adviser also denied that he raised the matter of the fugitives whereabouts when he visited China last month to meet with the countrys top officials.

When I went to China, I did not negotiate for Jho Lows whereabouts, he said, declining to comment further on the matter.

Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal cited sources saying Low had been living freely in China despite the Interpol red notice.

In regards to his luxury yacht that was allegedly bought with stolen funds and which has since been transferred to Malaysia, the government is expecting to complete the yachts sale in a few months.Salvadoran authorities yesterday [Macau time] denied having asked Taiwan for money in exchange for maintaining diplomatic relations with the self-governing island, saying its decision to switch recognition to China was due to the enormous advantages of trading with the economic giant.

In an interview with state television, presidential spokesman Roberto Lorenzana called Taiwans allegations base and totally false, noting that other countries have opted to have diplomatic and commercial relations with Beijing.

We cannot turn our back on the world, ignore that China is the second largest power in the world and the leading export economy on the planet, Lorenzana said. It is key for our country.

President Salvador Sanchez Ceren announced earlier this week in a televised address that his country would break from more than 80 years of relations with Taipei and immediately switch to Beijing.

China considers Taiwan a renegade province, and the two have long competed with so-called dollar diplomacy  funding public works projects such as stadiums, for example  to secure recognition from other nations. With El Salvadors switch, 16 small countries plus the Vatican currently recognize Taiwan.

The move prompted the U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador, Jean Manes, to tweet this week that the decision is worrisome for many reasons and without doubt this will impact our relationship with the government.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio threatened to block funding for El Salvador, accusing it of being against the U.S. on everything.

Why should we keep sending them so much foreign aid? Today I will begin work to end that, Rubio said via Twitter.

The United States formally recognizes only China, but it maintains a de facto embassy known as the American Institute in Taiwan. Taipei has a similar quasi-diplomatic outpost in Washington.

El Salvadors decision also drew criticism from the domestic opposition.

The position from Taiwan is that the government of the FMLN (Sanchez Cerens political party) asked it for money to finance the campaign in 2019, said lawmaker Margarita Escobar of the conservative Arena party. That is called selling sovereignty and allowing another state to intervene in the internal affairs of El Salvador.

I do not support this erroneous decision, said Guillermo Gallegos of the Grand Alliance for National Unity. I would qualify it as sad and regrettable.

Sanchez Ceren said in his address that the decision came after a careful analysis and will bring great benefits for the country, and will open up extraordinary opportunities.

He said three high-ranking Salvadoran officials were in Beijing to sign an accord on establishing diplomatic relations.

Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu accused China of luring away Taiwans allies with promises of vast financial aid and investment.

Wu said Tuesday that El Salvador had repeatedly sought large amounts of funding from Taiwan for a port project that a Taiwanese team of engineers dispatched by the government thought wasnt economically feasible.

Norman Quijano, a legislator from the conservative Arena party and president of the countrys congress, called the move a betrayal of a friendly country.

In a statement, the party warned that it could have geopolitical consequences including with strategic allies such as the United States.

The U.S. is El Salvadors largest commercial partner and also home to an estimated 2 million Salvadoran migrants, including people in the country legally and illegally. In January the Trump administration announced an end to temporary protected immigration status for about 195,000 Salvadorans, and the Central American country has hoped for legislation that would allow them to stay beyond a September 2019 deadline to leave.

Panama switched recognition from Taiwan to China in 2017, and the Dominican Republic did the same earlier this year.

Taiwan split from mainland China amid civil war in 1949, and China considers the island its territory. Marcos Aleman, San Salvador, APIraqi leader Saddam Hussein has appeared on state television with western hostages, provoking a storm of outrage.

Saddam told the group of more than a dozen mainly British people they had been detained to prevent war and said Iraq wanted to see that they were safe.

They are among hundreds of foreigners being held in Iraq since its invasion of Kuwait at the beginning of August.

However, the Iraqi leader told them they were not being held as human shields saying Iraq was in a position to destroy any attacker.

Saddam singled out one young British boy  named only as Stuart  and ruffled the childs hair.

Speaking through an interpreter, he asked Stuart if he was getting his milk.

The Iraqi leader told the group: We hope your presence as guests here will not be for too long.

Your presence here, and in other places, is meant to prevent the scourge of war.

They would become heroes of peace, Saddam added.

The detainees, who looked strained and nervous, were promised tuition for their children and given permission to write to their families.

At the end of the 30-minute taped appearance, the Iraqi leader posed for photographs with the hostages before shaking each one by the hand.

A spokesman for the Gulf Support Group, set up by relatives of stranded Britons, said the interview made all of us feel sick.

The British Foreign Secretary, Douglas Hurd, also criticised the broadcast.

Mr Hurd said: I think the manipulation of children in that sort of way is contemptible.

The TV appearance has also been condemned by the US.

Courtesy BBC News

In context

Saddam made a second TV appearance with the hostages.

In early September the women and children, including five-year old Stuart Lockwood, were allowed to fly home.

The men were not allowed to leave until early December.

Stuart Lockwood returned with his family to Worcester, central England but suffered a personal loss in 2001 when his father, Derek, died of a heart attack.

The refusal of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein to withdraw his troops from Kuwait led to the UN-backed Operation Desert Storm in January 1991.

It would end in February with the defeat of the Iraqis and their subsequent forced departure from Kuwait.Paul Manafort, the longtime political operative who for months led Donald Trumps successful presidential campaign, was found guilty of eight financial crimes in the first trial victory of the special counsel investigation into the presidents associates.

A judge declared a mistrial yesterday [Macau time] on 10 other counts the jury could not agree on.

The verdict was part of a stunning one-two punch of bad news for the White House, coming as the presidents former lawyer, Michael Cohen, was pleading guilty in New York to campaign finance charges arising from hush money payments made to two women who say they had sexual relationships with Trump.

WHAT HAPPENED IN COURT?

The jury returned the decision after deliberating four days on tax and bank fraud charges against Manafort, who led Trumps election effort during a crucial stretch of 2016, including as he clinched the Republican nomination and during the partys convention.

Manafort, who appeared jovial earlier in the day amid signs the jury was struggling in its deliberations, focused intently on the jury as the clerk read off the charges. He stared blankly at the defense table, then looked up, expressionless, as the judge finished thanking the jury.

Mr. Manafort is disappointed of not getting acquittals all the way through or a complete hung jury on all counts, said defense lawyer Kevin Downing. He said Manafort was evaluating all his options.

The jury found Manafort guilty of five counts of filing false tax returns on tens of millions of dollars in Ukrainian political consulting income. He was also convicted of failing to report foreign bank accounts in 2012 and of two bank fraud charges that accused him of lying to obtain millions of dollars in loans after his consulting income dried up.

The jury couldnt reach a verdict on three other foreign bank account charges, and the remaining bank fraud and conspiracy counts.

WHATS NEXT FOR MANAFORT?

The outcome, though not the across-the-board guilty verdicts prosecutors sought, almost certainly guarantees years of prison for Manafort. It also appears to vindicate the ability of special counsel Robert Muellers team to secure convictions from a jury of average citizens despite months of partisan attacks, including from Trump, on the investigations integrity.

The verdict raised immediate questions of whether the president would seek to pardon Manafort, the lone American charged by Mueller to opt for trial instead of cooperate. The president has not revealed his thinking but spoke sympathetically throughout the trial of his onetime aide, at one point suggesting he had been treated worse than gangster Al Capone.

The president called the outcome a disgrace and said the case has nothing to do with Russia collusion.

The trial did not resolve the central question behind Muellers investigation  whether Trump associates coordinated with Russia to influence the election. Still, there were occasional references to Manaforts work on the campaign, including emails showing him lobbying Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner, on behalf of a banker who approved $16 million in loans because he wanted a job in the Trump administration.

Manafort urged Kushner to consider the banker, Stephen Calk, for secretary of the Army. Though Kushner responded to Manaforts email by saying, On it! Calk ultimately did not get an administration post. APThursday, August 23, 2018

The District of Columbia Court of Appeals imposed reciprocal disbarment of an attorney sanctioned in California.

To the extent respondent attempts to challenge the imposition of reciprocal discipline by requesting this court to conduct a hearing to permit her to relitigate the discipline imposed by the State of California, such a challenge is improper in reciprocal disciplinary proceedings, see In re Zdravkovich, 831 A.2d 964, 969 (D.C. 2003) (Put simply, reciprocal discipline proceedings are not a forum to reargue the foreign discipline.). Further, respondents response to this courts order merely recites the exceptions to be considered in rejecting the imposition of reciprocal discipline but she fails to provide any support that any of the exceptions apply; therefore, respondent has failed to rebut the presumption that reciprocal discipline will be imposed.

The web page of the California State Bar tells the tale

Patricia Joan Barry [#59116], 74, of Los Angeles, was disbarred June 28, 2017, and ordered to comply with rule 9.20 of the California Rules of Court following her third disciplinary proceeding.

Barry was privately reproved in 2005 for multiple contempt and sanctions orders and suspended in 2011 for pursuing frivolous litigation and failing to comply with the terms of her earlier private reproval.

Although a State Bar Court hearing judge recommended a six-month suspension in the most recent case involving four counts of misconduct in two matters, the court's Review Department concluded that Barry's misconduct over several years resulting in three discipline proceedings demonstrates that she is unable or unwilling to follow ethical rules and that no sanction short of disbarment will prevent future violations.

In 2005, Barry stipulated to failing to maintain respect due to the court and failing to obey court orders and received a private reproval with conditions. Among other acts of misconduct, Barry used a slur to refer to a superior court judge and a deputy district attorney on the record and added that the judge had "sold [her] soul to the devil."

In 2011, after acknowledging that she accepted employment that she knew or should have known presented a claim or defense not warranted under existing law, she was suspended for 60 days with conditions. That disciplinary event included Barry's stipulation to having failed to comply with conditions imposed in 2005, including not passing the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination by the deadline. Following the 2011 suspension, she again failed to comply with her disciplinary conditions, raising a defense of necessity and arguing that she put the safety of her domestic violence clients ahead of meeting State Bar probation deadlines. The Review Department rejected that argument, in part because Barry failed to prove that the purported "necessity" of representing her clients precluded her compliance with her probation conditions.

In the third matter that resulted in her disbarment, Barry in 2012 filed a legal malpractice and fraud lawsuit on behalf of a client against the client's former divorce lawyer. The case ended in a judgment of dismissal two years later following multiple sanctions against Barry for discovery violations and for failure to pay previous sanctions. She failed to report the sanctions to the State Bar. Without offering supporting evidence, Barry contended, among other things, that "she cannot afford to pay sanctions to a corrupt attorney."

The Review Department concluded that significant aggravation of Barry's conduct outweighs limited mitigation. The aggravation included her prior record of discipline, multiple acts of wrongdoing, lack of insight and attempts to shift blame to others. Two witnesses attested to Barry's good character and competence and characterized her as a champion of abused women. The court assigned nominal weight in mitigation to that evidence because it did not represent a broad spectrum of the legal and general communities and because one of the witnesses demonstrated a limited understanding of the most recent charges.

Effective Discipline Date: June 28, 2017

(Mike Frisch)

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2018/08/the-district-of-columbia-court-of-appeals-imposed-reciprocal-disbarment-of-an-attorney-sanctioned-in-california-the-web-pag-1.htmlLSU athletics director Scott Woodward in a hastily arranged news conference Sunday with ousted football coach Ed Orgeron said he hopes in the future to "hang out on the bayou" with his fellow Louisiana native.

Those good times eating crawfish jambalaya likely won't happen. Following news that the embattled Orgeron will step down after this season, reports of volatile animosity between him and the LSU administration kept coming, like tremors from an earthquake.

Woodward and Orgeron's awkward display of friendship didn't lessen the painful reality that Orgeron is leaving his dream job just 21 months after leading the Tigers to the 2019 national championship. As in previous seasons, turmoil had quickly swamped LSU's national success.

On the day after the Orgeron led his decimated LSU team to a 49-42 upset over Florida, LSU announced it had reached an agreement for the LaRose, La., native to leave after this season, taking a $17 million buyout.

Negotiations for Orgeron's ouster followed LSU's embarrassing blowout loss to Kentucky the week before the surprise victory over Florida. Earlier, LSU lost to UCLA and Auburn, crashing hopes that the Tigers would regain national prominence after a dismal 5-5 record in 2020.

Indefatigable Sports Illustrated reporter Ross Dellinger, who broke the news Sunday about Orgeron's deal with LSU, documented a series of angry outbursts by Orgeron, including a chair-throwing incident over a "hype video." Orgeron's bewildered players, and Woodward, reportedly witnessed Orgeron screaming in frustration in the locker room following the UCLA loss.

The Athletic's Brody Miller, also outshining the New Orleans-Baton Rouge Picayune-Advocate in reporting on the breakup deal, disclosed that Orgeron attempted to pick up a woman he encountered at a service station who turned out to be the pregnant wife of an LSU official. Orgeron's wolfish advances reached the administration.

After divorcing his wife of 23 years immediately after the championship, Orgeron brought girlfriends to the athletic department offices and allowed their children to participate in practices, WBRZ-TV reported. (My late father was the station's general manager for years).

Orgeron was also named in a Title IX lawsuit over rape cases involving former LSU running back Darius Guice. He also angered black players for expressing support for Donald Trump and not displaying empathy following the George Floyd slaying. The coach reportedly was unaware of a campus march by black and white team members in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Woodward stated at the news conference that LSU decided to change so soon after the national championship because of the Tigers' disappointing on-field performance.

After losing key coaches and players from the championship team including 2019 Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow, the Tigers struggled to a 5-5 record in the pandemic-shadowed 2020 season and opened this year with the loss to mediocre UCLA. After Hurricane Ida, the Tigers had to leave Baton Rouge to practice in Houston before traveling to Pasadena, Calif. for the game against the Bruins.

But Orgeron's vaunted team was also listless in wins over McNeese Sate and Central Michigan, and blew a fourth quarter lead to lose to Auburn at home for the first time in 20 years.

The devastating 42-21 loss at Kentucky pushed Woodward over the edge. While negotiations for Orgeron's leaving were in progress last week, Orgeron was somehow focused enough to engineer the win over Florida, although LSU had lost most of its 5-star recruits to injury or academic ineligibility.

For LSU fans, the bizarre end to the Orgeron era replayed the melodramatic finales of Nick Saban and Les Miles.

A couple of years after winning the national title, Saban abruptly left to coach the Miami Dolphins, quickly spurning the NFL team to find unprecedented success at Alabama, LSU's bitter rival. Pressure to compete with the Tide has dominated LSU football during the Miles and Orgeron eras.

Miles also won a national championship before alienating Tigers fans with his stone-age offense, nutty behavior and increasingly frequent losses. Former AD Joe Aleva unceremoniously fired Miles only four games into the 2016 season, replacing him with Orgeron, who quickly revitalized the team with a few speed bumps such as a loss to Troy and conflict with former offensive coordinator Matt Canada, now with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Like Miles before him, Orgeron will leave a wounded program, no matter how well the Tigers fare for the rest of his lame-duck season.

At the press conference, Baton Rouge native Woodward made no mention of Orgeron's off-field controversies that have blazed across LSU fans' message boards and social media platforms.

A photo surfaced last season of Orgeron in bed with a woman. But, as late Gov. Edwin noted when he said he would only lose a Louisiana election if found with a dead girl or live boy, Orgeron's womanizing wouldn't have led to his ouster if he had kept winning.

That's all that matters, Woodward made clear. After reaching a lucrative deal with gambling promoter Caesars Entertainment, Louisiana's flagship research institution will have ample money to buy out Orgeron, as well as pay millions to some big-time coach.

The "student athletes" Woodward mentioned in passing will have to make do with "NIL" agreements, or seek to transfer to schools elsewhere. Orgeron assured fans that he will still be recruiting players during his long farewell.

Prospective LSU coaches have been put on notice: winning will be judged above all else.Username: Password: or Register Thread Rating: 3 Vote(s) - 1 Average

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Sodom and Gomorrah Update: Californias Anti-Choice Must Stay Gay Bill Is Neari LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 420496

08-23-2018 02:57 AM











Post: #1 Sodom and Gomorrah Update: Californias Anti-Choice Must Stay Gay Bill Is Neari

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A groundswell of opposition from churches, pastors, and ordinary citizens in California may have delayed but ultimately could not prevent the passage of AB 2943 by the California Senate on Aug. 16.



The bill itself is a perfect storm of leftist political correctness that attacks free speech and freedom of religion while institutionalizing the sexual revolution. The states Assembly and Gov. Jerry Brown have one last chance to stop it from becoming law.



On its face, AB 2943 is Round 2 of the California Legislatures attack on sexual orientation change efforts, referred to by critics as conversion therapy. Sexual orientation change efforts is an umbrella term for talk therapies or counseling practices that assist people who experience unwanted same-sex sexual attractions in overcoming those feelings, or abstaining from homosexual behavior.



The first round of attack was a 2012 bill prohibiting licensed mental health providers from giving this therapy to clients who are minorsan approach since imitated in more than a dozen other states.



AB 2943 would significantly expand this restriction, applying it to clients of any age whatsoever. The bill, which would prohibit advertising or providing sexual orientation change efforts, would also apply to any counselor who is paid a fee for their services, regardless of whether they are state-licensed (including religious or pastoral counselors).



The bill has awakened many people to the threat that such therapy bans pose to core freedoms of speech and religion. The implications of these attacks extend well beyond the limited population of people with unwanted same-sex attractions and the compassionate therapists who seek to help them achieve their client-driven goals.



For example, a prohibition on pursuing a goal in therapy amounts to a restriction on what the therapist or counselor can say in that private setting. This is legally dubious, as shown by the Supreme Court in its recent decision in NIFLA v. Becerra, which struck down another radical California law. The state had essentially tried to force pro-life pregnancy centers to advertise for the states free abortion program, but the Supreme Court said such a requirement violated the centers free speech rights.





https://www.dailysignal.com/2018/08/22/c...-would-do/ Sodom and Gomorrah Update: Californias Anti-Choice Must Stay Gay Bill Is Nearing Passage by DemocratsA groundswell of opposition from churches, pastors, and ordinary citizens in California may have delayed but ultimately could not prevent the passage of AB 2943 by the California Senate on Aug. 16.The bill itself is a perfect storm of leftist political correctness that attacks free speech and freedom of religion while institutionalizing the sexual revolution. The states Assembly and Gov. Jerry Brown have one last chance to stop it from becoming law.On its face, AB 2943 is Round 2 of the California Legislatures attack on sexual orientation change efforts, referred to by critics as conversion therapy. Sexual orientation change efforts is an umbrella term for talk therapies or counseling practices that assist people who experience unwanted same-sex sexual attractions in overcoming those feelings, or abstaining from homosexual behavior.The first round of attack was a 2012 bill prohibiting licensed mental health providers from giving this therapy to clients who are minorsan approach since imitated in more than a dozen other states.AB 2943 would significantly expand this restriction, applying it to clients of any age whatsoever. The bill, which would prohibit advertising or providing sexual orientation change efforts, would also apply to any counselor who is paid a fee for their services, regardless of whether they are state-licensed (including religious or pastoral counselors).The bill has awakened many people to the threat that such therapy bans pose to core freedoms of speech and religion. The implications of these attacks extend well beyond the limited population of people with unwanted same-sex attractions and the compassionate therapists who seek to help them achieve their client-driven goals.For example, a prohibition on pursuing a goal in therapy amounts to a restriction on what the therapist or counselor can say in that private setting. This is legally dubious, as shown by the Supreme Court in its recent decision in NIFLA v. Becerra, which struck down another radical California law. The state had essentially tried to force pro-life pregnancy centers to advertise for the states free abortion program, but the Supreme Court said such a requirement violated the centers free speech rights. LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 458262

08-23-2018 12:06 PM











Post: #2 RE: Sodom and Gomorrah Update: Californias Anti-Choice Must Stay Gay Bill Is Neari

What is more important to people "in the moment instant sexual gratification" and that is all you aspire to, feeding YOUR sexual needs constantly. Or spiritual well being and inner happiness?



When people are just more concerned about sex and that side of life, the world will soon be swimming in sh*t, all of us , just so a few can live their debauched lives!!!!



I know what the replies will be , but there you go. Archangel

Michael

User ID: 441975

08-23-2018 01:14 PM



Posts: 14,103









Post: #3 RE: Sodom and Gomorrah Update: Californias Anti-Choice Must Stay Gay Bill Is Neari

Sexual interests temper and sometimes wane as we grow older, becoming less important.



That bill, and it may pass, will be one more law to be ignored if light in the loafer Governor Brown signs the bill. He truly hates people. I saw him saying that to a group of Earth Firsters at a rally where he was stumping for their votes. A more dangerous man could not be in office.



A leader, sworn to our best interests simultaneously hating us. How does that work out? LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 292344

08-23-2018 04:58 PM











Post: #4 RE: Sodom and Gomorrah Update: Californias Anti-Choice Must Stay Gay Bill Is Neari

AB 2943 declares that it is a false and deceptive practice for any paid counselors, pastors, or support groups to offer hope and support to these seekers who want to live in accord with biblical principles. As the bill states, claims that sexual orientation change efforts are effective in changing an individuals sexual orientation may constitute unlawful, unfair, or fraudulent business practices.



California legislators have offered assurances that this would not apply to free pastoral counseling





Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give .

Matthew 10:8



"Come, all of you who thirst, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk, without money and without cost !

Isaiah 55:1 LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 453797

08-23-2018 05:02 PM











Post: #5 RE: Sodom and Gomorrah Update: Californias Anti-Choice Must Stay Gay Bill Is Neari

Conversion therapy is torture. It should be illegal everywhere. LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 292344

08-23-2018 05:31 PM











Post: #6 RE: Sodom and Gomorrah Update: Californias Anti-Choice Must Stay Gay Bill Is Neari

LoP Guest Wrote: (08-23-2018 05:02 PM) Conversion therapy is torture. It should be illegal everywhere.

But supporting and encouraging someone to stay in a destructive and potentially deadly lifestyle is better. But supporting and encouraging someone to stay in a destructive and potentially deadly lifestyle is better.















Username: Password: or Register Thread Rating: 2 Vote(s) - 5 Average

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Page: 1 2 ESA launches wind-monitoring satellite 'Aelous' ALADIN

* weird wizard1*

User ID: 456668

08-23-2018 08:30 AM



Posts: 5,423









Post: #1 ESA launches wind-monitoring satellite 'Aelous'

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A rocket holding the Aeolus wind surveying satellite launched from Europe's spaceport Kourou, French Guyana on Wednesday, the European Space Agency (ESA) confirmed.



The launch took place at 6:20 p.m. local time (2120 UTC) and the flight was scheduled at just 55 minutes from liftoff to separation. The satellite will be placed at an altitude of 320 kilometers (200 miles) above the Earth.



The Aeolus satellite, named after the keeper of the winds in Greek mythology, is equipped with a Doppler wind lidar  an advanced laser system designed to measure global wind patterns from space. It has been described as the world's first space mission to acquire profiles of the Earth's wind on a global scale.



https://www.dw.com/en/wind-survey-satell...a-45189860



It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a ma s k on their nose and mouth ... ESA launches wind-monitoring satellite 'Aelous'A rocket holding the Aeolus wind surveying satellite launched from Europe's spaceport Kourou, French Guyana on Wednesday, the European Space Agency (ESA) confirmed.The launch took place at 6:20 p.m. local time (2120 UTC) and the flight was scheduled at just 55 minutes from liftoff to separation. The satellite will be placed at an altitude of 320 kilometers (200 miles) above the Earth.The Aeolus satellite, named after the keeper of the winds in Greek mythology, is equipped with a Doppler wind lidar  an advanced laser system designed to measure global wind patterns from space. It has been described as the world's first space mission to acquire profiles of the Earth's wind on a global scale. LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 390946

08-23-2018 08:38 AM











Post: #2 RE: ESA launches wind-monitoring satellite 'Aelous'

Lasers can be used to manipulate weather. ALADIN

* weird wizard1*

User ID: 456668

08-23-2018 08:45 AM



Posts: 5,423









Post: #3 RE: ESA launches wind-monitoring satellite 'Aelous'

LoP Guest Wrote: (08-23-2018 08:38 AM) Lasers can be used to manipulate weather.

>>equipped with a Doppler wind lidar  an advanced laser system designed to measure global wind patterns from space.<<



Development of the ALADIN instrument has been problematic. The ultraviolet laser was causing damage to the optical surfaces in a vacuum. ESA scientists asked NASA for support, however NASA has minimal experience with lidar of this design. Technology required for the satellite was pushing the technology envelope, therefore after problematic development ESA asked Airbus to perform additional full-model tests in a vacuum before continuing mission development. Overall complications involved in the instrument caused an estimated 50% final cost overrun; ESA has agreed to come with additional funding for the project.[8]



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADM-Aeolus >>equipped with a Doppler wind lidar  an advanced laser system designed to measure global wind patterns from space.<



It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a ma s k on their nose and mouth ... (This post was last modified: 08-23-2018 08:50 AM by ALADIN .) LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 390946

08-23-2018 08:50 AM











Post: #4 RE: ESA launches wind-monitoring satellite 'Aelous'

44575 Wrote: (08-23-2018 08:45 AM) LoP Guest Wrote: (08-23-2018 08:38 AM) Lasers can be used to manipulate weather.

>>equipped with a Doppler wind lidar  an advanced laser system designed to measure global wind patterns from space.<<



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADM-Aeolus

I know i read that part.



But what i said is true..









https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKoWgMAESUY



Always question the intentions and true use behind these things like "Aelous". I know i read that part.But what i said is true..Always question the intentions and true use behind these things like "Aelous". ALADIN

* weird wizard1*

User ID: 456668

08-23-2018 08:59 AM



Posts: 5,423









Post: #5 RE: ESA launches wind-monitoring satellite 'Aelous'

LoP Guest Wrote: (08-23-2018 08:50 AM) 44575 Wrote: (08-23-2018 08:45 AM) >>equipped with a Doppler wind lidar  an advanced laser system designed to measure global wind patterns from space.<<



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADM-Aeolus

I know i read that part.



But what i said is true..









https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKoWgMAESUY



Always question the intentions and true use behind these things like "Aelous".

"question the intentions" is okay ...



>> ... however NASA has minimal experience with lidar of this design.<<



btw. whats the video about ? (i cant watch videos) "question the intentions" is okay ...>> ... however NASA has minimal experience with lidar of this design.<



It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a ma s k on their nose and mouth ... LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 390946

08-23-2018 09:03 AM











Post: #6 RE: ESA launches wind-monitoring satellite 'Aelous'

ALADIN Wrote: (08-23-2018 08:59 AM) LoP Guest Wrote: (08-23-2018 08:50 AM) I know i read that part.



But what i said is true..









https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKoWgMAESUY



Always question the intentions and true use behind these things like "Aelous".

"question the intentions" is okay ...



>> ... however NASA has minimal experience with lidar of this design.<<



btw. whats the video about ? (i cant watch videos)

The famous Dr. Michio Kaku talks about lasers controlling weather on national tv in the video.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michio_Kaku The famous Dr. Michio Kaku talks about lasers controlling weather on national tv in the video. ALADIN

* weird wizard1*

User ID: 456668

08-23-2018 09:10 AM



Posts: 5,423









Post: #7 RE: ESA launches wind-monitoring satellite 'Aelous'

ah, Dr. Michio Kaku - thanks for clarifying



It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a ma s k on their nose and mouth ... LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 457743

08-23-2018 09:13 AM











Post: #8 RE: ESA launches wind-monitoring satellite 'Aelous'

ALADIN Wrote: (08-23-2018 08:45 AM) LoP Guest Wrote: (08-23-2018 08:38 AM) Lasers can be used to manipulate weather.

>>equipped with a Doppler wind lidar  an advanced laser system designed to measure global wind patterns from space.<<



Development of the ALADIN instrument has been problematic. The ultraviolet laser was causing damage to the optical surfaces in a vacuum. ESA scientists asked NASA for support, however NASA has minimal experience with lidar of this design. Technology required for the satellite was pushing the technology envelope, therefore after problematic development ESA asked Airbus to perform additional full-model tests in a vacuum before continuing mission development. Overall complications involved in the instrument caused an estimated 50% final cost overrun; ESA has agreed to come with additional funding for the project.[8]



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADM-Aeolus



Predominantly though it was designed and built in Britain who has the greatest expertise with earth monitoring... kinda makes the fall out from Brexit interesting.. Predominantly though it was designed and built in Britain who has the greatest expertise with earth monitoring... kinda makes the fall out from Brexit interesting.. ALADIN

* weird wizard1*

User ID: 456668

08-23-2018 09:27 AM



Posts: 5,423









Post: #9 RE: ESA launches wind-monitoring satellite 'Aelous'





...



https://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Obser...ves_vacuum This will be the first time that we will be able to directly measure profiles of the global wind field from space in cloud-free conditions. It has been a major challenge for us all  our ESA engineers, industry, our Member States  to overcome many technical and programmatic challenges....



It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a ma s k on their nose and mouth ... ALADIN

* weird wizard1*

User ID: 456668

08-23-2018 09:34 AM



Posts: 5,423









Post: #10 RE: ESA launches wind-monitoring satellite 'Aelous'





Aeolus carries one of the most sophisticated instruments ever to be put into orbit. A 12-day journey was undertaken to avoid potential damage caused by air re-pressurisation during descent had the satellite travelled by air  a quicker but decidedly riskier option.





Aeolus on the integration trolley



http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observ...lus_launch While almost all satellites travel by aircraft, Aeolus journey was rather different  it travelled all the way across the Atlantic from Saint Nazare, western France to the Port of Cayenne, French Guiana by ship.Aeolus carries one of the most sophisticated instruments ever to be put into orbit. A 12-day journey was undertaken to avoid potential damage caused by air re-pressurisation during descent had the satellite travelled by air  a quicker but decidedly riskier option.Aeolus on the integration trolley



It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a ma s k on their nose and mouth ... LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 457743

08-23-2018 09:41 AM











Post: #11 RE: ESA launches wind-monitoring satellite 'Aelous'

ALADIN Wrote: (08-23-2018 09:34 AM) While almost all satellites travel by aircraft, Aeolus journey was rather different  it travelled all the way across the Atlantic from Saint Nazare, western France to the Port of Cayenne, French Guiana by ship.



Aeolus carries one of the most sophisticated instruments ever to be put into orbit. A 12-day journey was undertaken to avoid potential damage caused by air re-pressurisation during descent had the satellite travelled by air  a quicker but decidedly riskier option.



link to image: http://www.esa.int/var/esa/storage/image...mage_2.jpg

Aeolus on the integration trolley



http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observ...lus_launch

Built in Stevenage in the UK, shipped to France for testing and then shipped to French Guyana that's one heck of a long journey..



Be interesting to see how the data starts to marry up, SSTL have started beaming GNSS wind and wave data from TDS1 to the NOC... and are planning on putting up and wind/wave constellation in near future now that the data from TDS1 has been proven accurate...



So we could see some real mapping taking shape... Built in Stevenage in the UK, shipped to France for testing and then shipped to French Guyana that's one heck of a long journey..Be interesting to see how the data starts to marry up, SSTL have started beaming GNSS wind and wave data from TDS1 to the NOC... and are planning on putting up and wind/wave constellation in near future now that the data from TDS1 has been proven accurate...So we could see some real mapping taking shape... LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 458244

08-23-2018 09:51 AM











Post: #12 RE: ESA launches wind-monitoring satellite 'Aelous'

lmao...tracking wind from space with lasers....crooked thieving filth ALADIN

* weird wizard1*

User ID: 456668

08-23-2018 09:56 AM



Posts: 5,423









Post: #13 RE: ESA launches wind-monitoring satellite 'Aelous'

LoP Guest Wrote: (08-23-2018 09:41 AM) ALADIN Wrote: (08-23-2018 09:34 AM) While almost all satellites travel by aircraft, Aeolus journey was rather different  it travelled all the way across the Atlantic from Saint Nazare, western France to the Port of Cayenne, French Guiana by ship.



Aeolus carries one of the most sophisticated instruments ever to be put into orbit. A 12-day journey was undertaken to avoid potential damage caused by air re-pressurisation during descent had the satellite travelled by air  a quicker but decidedly riskier option.



link to image: http://www.esa.int/var/esa/storage/image...mage_2.jpg

Aeolus on the integration trolley



http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observ...lus_launch

Built in Stevenage in the UK, shipped to France for testing and then shipped to French Guyana that's one heck of a long journey..



Be interesting to see how the data starts to marry up, SSTL have started beaming GNSS wind and wave data from TDS1 to the NOC... and are planning on putting up and wind/wave constellation in near future now that the data from TDS1 has been proven accurate...



So we could see some real mapping taking shape...

thanks for your input



SSTL GNSS TDS1 NOC ???



sorry - im not a specialist for abbrevations ... thanks for your inputSSTL GNSS TDS1 NOC ???sorry - im not a specialist for abbrevations ...



It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a ma s k on their nose and mouth ... LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 457743

08-23-2018 09:57 AM











Post: #14 RE: ESA launches wind-monitoring satellite 'Aelous'

LoP Guest Wrote: (08-23-2018 09:51 AM) lmao...tracking wind from space with lasers....crooked thieving filth

why, when you marry up the various technologies, SSTL have launched a GNSS wind/wave tracker that also read ground moisture levels, frost levels.. you have a wide array of data to get a better understanding of what happens instead of put a finger in the air and guess... SSTL have been keeping this element of TDS1 quiet for 3 years and users now have access to 3 years wind/wave data...



Now it has been proven accurate the next state is to put some constellations in orbit to get real time wind/wave data, ground moisture levels.... quiet exciting really when you think of this data marrying into other technologies being deployed to observe the earth.. why, when you marry up the various technologies, SSTL have launched a GNSS wind/wave tracker that also read ground moisture levels, frost levels.. you have a wide array of data to get a better understanding of what happens instead of put a finger in the air and guess... SSTL have been keeping this element of TDS1 quiet for 3 years and users now have access to 3 years wind/wave data...Now it has been proven accurate the next state is to put some constellations in orbit to get real time wind/wave data, ground moisture levels.... quiet exciting really when you think of this data marrying into other technologies being deployed to observe the earth.. LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 458244

08-23-2018 10:00 AM











Post: #15 RE: ESA launches wind-monitoring satellite 'Aelous'

LoP Guest Wrote: (08-23-2018 09:57 AM) LoP Guest Wrote: (08-23-2018 09:51 AM) lmao...tracking wind from space with lasers....crooked thieving filth

why, when you marry up the various technologies, SSTL have launched a GNSS wind/wave tracker that also read ground moisture levels, frost levels.. you have a wide array of data to get a better understanding of what happens instead of put a finger in the air and guess... SSTL have been keeping this element of TDS1 quiet for 3 years and users now have access to 3 years wind/wave data...



Now it has been proven accurate the next state is to put some constellations in orbit to get real time wind/wave data, ground moisture levels.... quiet exciting really when you think of this data marrying into other technologies being deployed to observe the earth..

they spit out pretty numbers have shiny lights...read me another bedtime story mommy they spit out pretty numbers have shiny lights...read me another bedtime story mommy Advertisement

















We use cookies to improve your experience on our site and to show you personalised advertising. To find out more, read our privacy policy and cookie policyCredit: CC0 Public Domain

Although black and Hispanic veterans with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are more likely than white patients to see a kidney specialista nephrologistthey are more likely to suffer disease progression from early stage to advanced kidney disease, reports a study published this month in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology from researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Although previous studies have indicated that access to nephrology care before kidney disease progresses to end stage is associated with better clinical outcomes, these results suggest that biologic and/or environmental factors may actually be central to racial disparities in CKD progression.

Previous research has found that while black and white patients experience similar rates of CKD, black patients were more likely to suffer from end stage renal disease. This led the authors to investigate whether limited access to a nephrologist could explain this rapid progression among black and Hispanic patients in a veteran patient population.

"Access to care is a major driver of disparities in many illnesses, but surprisingly, our findings show that may not be the case among veterans with CKD," said senior author Peter P. Reese, MD, MSCE, an associate professor of Medicine, Epidemiology in Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics, and Medical Ethics and Health Policy. "Our study could help researchers target efforts to prevent individuals with CKD from progressing to end stage kidney disease."

The study looked at a nationwide population of 56,767 patients in the Veterans Affairs healthcare system, most of whom were male (39,767 whites, 12,747 blacks, and 4,017 Hispanics) with stage 4 CKD, which is characterized by advanced kidney damage and a likely need for dialysis or a kidney transplant. Half of the non-Hispanic white patients visited a nephrologist, compared to 72 percent of blacks and 64 percent of Hispanics. Although fewer whites saw a nephrologist, only 14 percent of whites in the study progressed to stage 5 CKD, compared to 34 percent of blacks and 27 percent of Hispanics. These differences in risk of progression to stage 5 CKD persisted after accounting for important factors such as age, other illnesses, socioeconomic status, smoking history, and distance to the closest Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

"Now that we have evidence that limited access to care does not seem to influence disease progression in a population of veterans, researchers must delve into other potential contributing factors. Closer evaluation of other environmental exposures, like poor access to healthy fruits and vegetables, may help to pinpoint important catalysts for this disparity," said co-first author Jordana Cohen, MD, MSCE, an assistant professor of Epidemiology in Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics. "Our findings suggest that the main reason(s) for progression to end stage kidney disease is/are not something that nephrologists are treating."

The authors did not set out to evaluate the value of consulting with a nephrologist, and note that such appointments can help if a patient needs quicker referral for a kidney transplant or needs surgery in an arm to connect an artery to a vein in preparation for dialysis.

Other suspected causes of this disparity include genetic risks, such as APOL1 mutations, found almost exclusively among those of African ancestry. APOL1 mutations are known to increase the risk of many types of CKD, and have no known treatment options.

More information: Jonathan Suarez et al, Racial Disparities in Nephrology Consultation and Disease Progression among Veterans with CKD: An Observational Cohort Study, Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (2018). Journal information: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology Jonathan Suarez et al, Racial Disparities in Nephrology Consultation and Disease Progression among Veterans with CKD: An Observational Cohort Study,(2018). DOI: 10.1681/ASN.2018040344(HealthDay)As the U.S. opioid addiction epidemic widened, the federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) placed the prescription painkillers in a tougher-to-refill category.

Many states also mandated monitoring programs to spot overprescribing by doctors.

But two new studies suggest these steps, while well-intentioned, may have led to more opioidsnot fewerbeing given to patients by surgeons after routine operations.

In the case of the DEA's 2014 action to move opioid painkillers to a more restricted class, this "may inadvertently motivate surgeons to prescribe greater amounts to ensure adequate pain treatment," said Dr. Jennifer Waljee, lead author of one of the studies. She codirects the Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network.

Her team believes that once prescription refills became tougher under the new DEA rules, surgeons who worried about a patient's longer-term pain control simply ordered a larger number of pills so the patient had a "stockpile" of opioids to use at home.

Opioid use for postoperative pain control is thought to be a major "gateway" to addiction, experts note.

The findings made sense to one physician.

While more prescribing after a tightening of rules seems "counterintuitive," Dr. Joseph Conigliaro said he "agrees with the findings.

"In the case of someone having surgery, they are in acute pain, meaning it shouldn't last long," said Conigliaro, who is chief of internal medicine at Northwell Health in Lake Success, N.Y.

"But because there are limits on prescriptions postsurgery, sometimes physicians can prescribe someone twice to four times as much to ensure they will ultimately have what they need," explained Conigliaro, who wasn't involved in the new study.

In their research, Waljee and her colleagues tracked opioid prescription patterns before and after the DEA's new rule, which moved the opioid hydrocodone (Vicodin) from schedule III to the more restrictive schedule II.

The change meant that doctors could now only prescribe a 90-day supply, and couldn't prescribe over the telephone or by fax.

Data on nearly 22,000 privately insured patients in Michiganall of whom underwent common elective surgeriesfound that far from hydrocodone prescription rates dropping, the number of prescriptions actually rose after the new rule.

Although there was a reduction in the prescription refill rate, there was an overall average 7-tablet-per-patient rise in hydrocodone prescribing after the DEA change, Waljee's group noted.

Why the unexpected trend?

"Our main thought was that since surgeons were more limited in their ability to prescribe extra pain medications after the patient left the hospital, they prescribed more up front to avoid the risk of patients running out," said study co-author Dr. Joe Habbouche. He's a surgery resident at Michigan Medicine, the academic medical center at the University of Michigan.

In a second study, researchers at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., looked at changes in opioid prescribing after New Hampshire mandated "prescription drug monitoring programs." These programs exist in many states and track doctors' opioid prescribing patterns.

The New Hampshire program went into effect Jan. 1, 2017, and the Dartmouth team looked at opioid prescription patterns for more than 1,000 patients who'd undergone an elective surgery in the six months before or after the change.

Researchers led by the hospital's Dr. Richard Barth found that "the percentage of patients prescribed opioids after surgery did not decrease significantly" after the monitoring program came into effect.

In fact, the average number of opioid pills dispensed after surgery was already decreasing before the implementation of the new program, but that decline actually slowed "in the six months after the legislation," Barth's group reported.

Dr. Harshal Kirane directs addiction services at Staten Island University Hospital in New York City. Reading over both studies, he said they point out the hazards of well-intentioned policies implemented "in the absence of adequate physician and patient engagement."

There's no "one-size-fits-all" method to curbing excess opioid use, Kirane said.

"Physician prescribing practices are a major contributor to the ongoing opioid crisis," he said. "Yet, even the most well-intentioned prescriber is confronted by an increasingly complex calculus, in which the goals of pain management and patient satisfaction must be balanced with eliminating the risks of opioid misuse."

The real solution may lie in a more nuanced, "evidence-based" approach to opioid prescribing, and better education of doctors and patients alike, Kirane said.

Habbouche agreed.

"Different types of physicians and health professionals should be involved in the policymaking surrounding opioid prescribingespecially for prescribing in different settings," he said. "Our work suggests patient and physician education about opioids is critical."

Both studies were published online Aug. 22 in JAMA Surgery.

Explore further Physician education and guidelines lead to drop in opioids prescribed after hand surgery

More information: Joe Habbouche, M.D., surgery resident, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan; Jennifer Waljee, M.D., M.P.H., plastic surgeon, Michigan Medicine, and co-director, Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network; Harshal Kirane, M.D., director, addiction services, Staten Island University Hospital, New York City; Joseph Conigliaro, M.D., chief, internal medicine, Northwell Health, Lake Success, N.Y.; Aug. 22, 2018, JAMA Surgery, online. Joe Habbouche, M.D., surgery resident, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan; Jennifer Waljee, M.D., M.P.H., plastic surgeon, Michigan Medicine, and co-director, Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network; Harshal Kirane, M.D., director, addiction services, Staten Island University Hospital, New York City; Joseph Conigliaro, M.D., chief, internal medicine, Northwell Health, Lake Success, N.Y.; Aug. 22, 2018,, online. For more about opioids, visit the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse. Journal information: JAMA Surgery

Copyright  2018 HealthDay. All rights reserved.The need to help retirees make prudent spending decisions has led to the growth of a large industry of financial advisors, but a new article suggests that improved policy approaches may be more effective. Published in Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, the study reviews the psychology behind rapid spending decisions and presents five policy options that lead to the smarter self-management of assets.

Decisions regarding decumulation, or the spending of savings during retirement, are often greatly affected by psychological factors, include trade-offs between current and future income, and have long term implications. Impulse, loss aversion, and the desire for ownership are all psychological predictors that can lead retirees to manage their assets poorly and spend savings too rapidly or too slowly.

Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles and City, University of London built upon existing decumulation research in order to offer insight to public policy experts, financial industry regulators, and social program administrators. They proposed the following policy options to optimize retirement income solutions:

1. Financial Literacy: Financial training programs offered before complicated or risky investment decisions, similar to the training required to obtain a driver's license.

2. Safe Automatic Options: A low-cost option to protect a proportion of the individuals' total wealth, yet still allow discretion by the retiree for the remainder. Such an option could be built into an employee's retirement benefit program.

3. Precommitment: If individuals are at risk of future intellectual decline as a result of dementia or another similar disorder, commitment to financial decisions during younger working years could be especially useful. Options could include payments made over time.

4. Disclosures and Framing: Changes in language can also affect decumulation decisions. For example, reframing continued employment as an investment in future social security income may cause those considering retirement to feel more inclined to wait.

5. Customized Interventions: A financial robo-advisor that would perform an assessment of a retiree's key psychological drivers, biases, and inclinations before leading them through personalized solutions. Such interventions would provide policy makers with more insight to individual biases, preferences, and problem solving techniques, allowing them to work in tandem with individuals, rather than in opposition.

"Baby boomers are now retiring at the rate of almost 10,000 per day," wrote authors Suzanne and Stephen Shu. "These millions of retirees, and the families and providers who look out for their financial well-being are counting on a smarter approach to decumulation."

Explore further Focus on future to save more money

More information: "The Psychology of Decumulation Decisions During Retirement," Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 2018.Greg Van Stavern, MD, (seated) and Rajendra Apte, MD, PhD, examine Kathleen Eisterhold's eyes, using technology that one day may make it possible to screen patients for Alzheimer's disease during an eye exam. In a small study, the eye test was able to detect the presence of Alzheimer's damage in older patients with no symptoms of the disease. Credit: Matt Miller

It may be possible in the future to screen patients for Alzheimer's disease using an eye exam.

Using technology similar to what is found in many eye doctors' offices, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have detected evidence suggesting Alzheimer's in older patients who had no symptoms of the disease.

Their study, involving 30 patients, is published Aug. 23 in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology.

"This technique has great potential to become a screening tool that helps decide who should undergo more expensive and invasive testing for Alzheimer's disease prior to the appearance of clinical symptoms," said the study's first author, Bliss E. O'Bryhim, MD, Ph.D., a resident physician in the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences. "Our hope is to use this technique to understand who is accumulating abnormal proteins in the brain that may lead them to develop Alzheimer's."

Significant brain damage from Alzheimer's disease can occur years before any symptoms such as memory loss and cognitive decline appear. Scientists estimate that Alzheimer's-related plaques can build up in the brain two decades before the onset of symptoms, so researchers have been looking for ways to detect the disease sooner.

Physicians now use PET scans and lumbar punctures to help diagnose Alzheimer's, but they are expensive and invasive.

In previous studies, researchers examining the eyes of people who had died from Alzheimer's have reported that the eyes of such patients showed signs of thinning in the center of the retina and degradation of the optic nerve.

In the new study, the researchers used a noninvasive techniquecalled optical coherence tomography angiographyto examine the retinas in eyes of 30 study participants with an average age in the mid 70s, none of whom exhibited clinical symptoms of Alzheimer's.

Eimer's disease begins damaging the brain long before any symptoms appear, and researchers have developed a couple of ways to diagnose the disease earlier. Now, new research from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggests an eye test may one day be a useful diagnostic tool. Jim Dryden has more... Credit: Washington University BioMed Radio

Those participants were patients in The Memory and Aging Project at Washington University's Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. About half of those in the study had elevated levels of the Alzheimer's proteins amyloid or tau as revealed by PET scans or cerebrospinal fluid, suggesting that although they didn't have symptoms, they likely would develop Alzheimer's. In the other subjects, PET scans and cerebrospinal fluid analyses were normal.

"In the patients with elevated levels of amyloid or tau, we detected significant thinning in the center of the retina," said co-principal investigator Rajendra S. Apte, MD, Ph.D., the Paul A. Cibis Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. "All of us have a small area devoid of blood vessels in the center of our retinas that is responsible for our most precise vision. We found that this zone lacking blood vessels was significantly enlarged in people with preclinical Alzheimer's disease."

The eye test used in the study shines light into the eye, allowing a doctor to measure retinal thickness, as well as the thickness of fibers in the optic nerve. A form of that test often is available in ophthalmologist's offices.

For this study, however, the researchers added a new component to the more common test: angiography, which allows doctors to distinguish red blood cells from other tissue in the retina.

"The angiography component allows us to look at blood-flow patterns," said the other co-principal investigator, Gregory P. Van Stavern, MD, a professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences. "In the patients whose PET scans and cerebrospinal fluid showed preclinical Alzheimer's, the area at the center of the retina without blood vessels was significantly larger, suggesting less blood flow."

Added Apte: "The retina and central nervous system are so interconnected that changes in the brain could be reflected in cells in the retina."

Of the patients studied, 17 had abnormal PET scans and/or lumbar punctures, and all of them also had retinal thinning and significant areas without blood vessels in the centers of their retinas. The retinas appeared normal in the patients whose PET scans and lumbar punctures were within the typical range.

More studies in patients are needed to replicate the findings, Van Stavern said, but he noted that if changes detected with this eye test can be used as markers for Alzheimer's risk, it may be possible one day to screen people as young as their 40s or 50s to see whether they are at risk for the disease.

"We know the pathology of Alzheimer's disease starts to develop years before symptoms appear, but if we could use this eye test to notice when the pathology is beginning, it may be possible one day to start treatments sooner to delay further damage," he said.

Explore further New blood test useful to detect people at risk of developing Alzheimer's disease

More information: O'Bryhim BE, Apte RS, Kung N, Coble D, Van Stavern GP. Optical coherence tomography angiography findings in pre-clinical Alzheimer's disease. JAMA Ophthalmology, Aug. 23, 2018. Journal information: JAMA Ophthalmology O'Bryhim BE, Apte RS, Kung N, Coble D, Van Stavern GP. Optical coherence tomography angiography findings in pre-clinical Alzheimer's disease., Aug. 23, 2018. DOI: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2018.3556Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Social media bots and Russian trolls promoted discord and spread false information about vaccines on Twitter, according to new research led by the George Washington University. Using tactics similar to those at work during the 2016 United States presidential election, these Twitter accounts entered into vaccine debates months before election season was underway. The study, "Weaponized Health Communication: Twitter Bots and Russian Trolls Amplify the Vaccine Debate" was published today in the American Journal of Public Health.

The team, which also includes researchers from the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University, examined thousands of tweets sent between July 2014 and September 2017. It discovered several accounts, now known to belong to the same Russian trolls who interfered in the U.S. election, as well as marketing and malware bots, tweeted about vaccines and skewed online health communications.

"The vast majority of Americans believe vaccines are safe and effective, but looking at Twitter gives the impression that there is a lot of debate. It turns out that many anti-vaccine tweets come from accounts whose provenance is unclear. These might be bots, human users or 'cyborgs'hacked accounts that are sometimes taken over by bots. Although it's impossible to know exactly how many tweets were generated by bots and trolls, our findings suggest that a significant portion of the online discourse about vaccines may be generated by malicious actors with a range of hidden agendas," David Broniatowski, an assistant professor in GW's School of Engineering and Applied Science, said.

For example, the researchers found that "content polluters"bot accounts that distribute malware, unsolicited commercial content and disruptive materialsshared anti-vaccination messages 75 percent more than average Twitter users.

"Content polluters seem to use anti-vaccine messages as bait to entice their followers to click on advertisements and links to malicious websites. Ironically, content that promotes exposure to biological viruses may also promote exposure to computer viruses," Sandra Crouse Quinn, a research team member and professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Maryland, said.

Russian trolls and more sophisticated bot accounts used a different tactic, posting equal amounts of pro- and anti-vaccination tweets. Dr. Broniatowski's team reviewed more than 250 tweets about vaccination sent by accounts linked to the Internet Research Agency, a Russian government-backed company recently indicted by a U.S. grand jury because of its attempts to interfere in the 2016 U.S. elections. The researchers found the tweets used polarizing language linking vaccination to controversial issues in American society, such as racial and economic disparities.

"These trolls seem to be using vaccination as a wedge issue, promoting discord in American society," Mark Dredze, a team member and professor of computer science at Johns Hopkins, said. "However, by playing both sides, they erode public trust in vaccination, exposing us all to the risk of infectious diseases. Viruses don't respect national boundaries."

Explore further Twitter to confirm new accounts in spam fightE-liquid product is at left.

(HealthDay)Potentially poisonous e-cigarette liquid made by 17 different manufacturers comes in packaging that strongly resembles that of candies, cookies and other snacks popular with kids.

And after warnings sent to the companies in May, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned the products on Thursday.

The agency told the companies that labels and ads for the nicotine-containing e-liquids were false or misleading, and potentially dangerous. In addition, several of the companies were previously cited for illegally selling the products to minors, the FDA said.

"Removing these products from the market was a critical step toward protecting our kids," FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb said in an agency news release. "We can all agree no kid should ever start using any tobacco or nicotine-containing product, and companies that sell them have a responsibility to ensure they aren't enticing youth use."

Examples of the products targeted in the warning letters included: One Mad Hit Juice Box, which resembled children's apple juice boxes; Whip'd Strawberry, which resembled a dairy whipped topping; Twirly Pop, which resembled a Unicorn Pop lollipop and was shipped with one; and Unicorn Cakes, which included images of a strawberry beverage and unicorns eating pancakes, similar to those used by the My Little Pony television and toy franchise.

"When companies market these products using imagery that misleads a child into thinking they're things they've consumed before, like a juice box or candy, that can create an imminent risk of harm to a child who may confuse the product for something safe and familiar," Gottlieb warned.

The FDA said it expects some of the companies to continue selling the products, but with revised labeling. The agency said it plans to continue to monitor the situation.

"We're committed to holding industry accountable to ensure these products aren't being marketed to, sold to, or used by kids," Gottlieb said.

The rising popularity of e-cigarettes and related devices has coincided with an increase in calls to U.S. poison control centers and visits to emergency rooms related to e-liquid poisoning and other liquid nicotine exposure among children younger than 6, National Poison Data System figures show.

Small children who are exposed to or ingest e-liquids can suffer severe harm, including seizures, coma, respiratory arrest and death from cardiac arrest, according to the FDA.

The FDA also noted that more than 2 million middle and high school students in the United States were current users of e-cigarettes and similar products in 2016, and that availability of flavored-liquids is a major reason why youngsters use the devices.

There is evidence that nicotine affects a youngster's developing brain and may rewire it to be more susceptible to nicotine addiction later in life, the FDA said.

Gottlieb said his agency expects "to take additional, robust enforcement actions over the next few months that target those who we believe are allowing these products to get into the hands of children."

Explore further US warns liquid nicotine packets resemble juice boxes, candy

More information: The American Lung Association has more on The American Lung Association has more on e-cigarette dangers

Copyright  2018 HealthDay. All rights reserved.Credit: CC0 Public Domain

People with serious mental illness (SMI) have a reduced life expectancy of up to 25 years compared to the general population. Smoking is one of the primary reasons for this disparity. An estimated 53 percent of adults with SMI, including schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, and major depression, smoke cigarettes, whereas, only 18 percent of adults in the general population smoke. While studies have shown that most smokers with SMI want to quit, they are less likely to do soor to take advantage of available smoking cessation treatments. In order to better understand why quit rates were so low among this group, researchers from Dartmouth College and Harvard Medical School explored how social networks (defined as social interactions and personal relationships) influenced smoking outcomes among people with SMI who participated in smoking cessation programs.

The researchers asked 41 people with serious mental illness, who participated in smoking cessation treatment in community mental health centers throughout New Hampshire, to identify their social contacts and their relationships, including whom they spent the most time with during a typical week. They were also asked to name up to five people who have said or done anything to influence their smoking in the past year. In total, each person named up 10 friends, family members, roommates, romantic partners, coworkers or others who they spent the most time with and/or who had influenced their efforts to quit smoking. They then were asked to give information on the type and strength of the relationship; whether and how often they had smoked cigarettes with the contact in the past 12 months; if the contact was a current, former or never smoker; and if the contact had ever helped them quit or gotten in the way of them quitting. They also were asked whether they thought the contact would approve of them using cessation counseling or medications to quit smoking.

Among their findings from a study published in the July 17th issue of Translational Behavioral Medicine:

Study participants had an average age of 47; 49% were female; 42% had a psychiatric diagnosis of bipolar disorder; 32% had a diagnosis of major depressive disorder; 26% had a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.

Forty-four percent of the 243 contacts identified in the social network interviews were family members, with 12% identified as parents; friends comprised 45% of social networkswith coworkers, neighbors, peers at the mental health center, and members of a shared social group comprising the rest of the network.

Participants reported contacts' smoking status as 52% current smokers; 30% never smokers; and 18% former smokers.

Sixty-three percent of participants had smoked with a contact at least once per month during the past year.

Fifty-seven percent of contacts had helped a participant quit smoking within the past year, whereas 14% of contacts hindered a participants' efforts to quit smoking.

According to participant reporting, 90% of contacts approved of them using counseling to quit smoking, while 75% approved of using medications to quit.

The researchers say the strongest result they found was the association between contacts' smoking status and study participants' smoking statushaving contacts who were former smokers decreased the odds that participant was still a smoker following cessation treatment. They also found that having a highly connected friend group was associated with decreased odd that the participant was still smoking post-treatment. The researchers noted that having former smokers in one's network may be a valuable resource for quitting, particularly for vulnerable groups where there is a high prevalence and acceptability of smoking. They also suggested that future cessation treatments could teach smokers with SMI effective skills for seeking support for quitting from people in their social networks.

"The clustering of health behaviors and outcomes, such smoking and obesity, in social networks is well-documented," says lead author and Assistant Professor at The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice Kelly Aschbrenner. "As researchers and behavioral health specialists, it's important we investigate these social networks and their impact on our health, so we can design better public health programs and policies, particularly for vulnerable or disadvantaged groups like people with serious mental illness."

More information: Kelly A Aschbrenner et al, Egocentric social networks and smoking among adults with serious mental illness, Translational Behavioral Medicine (2018). Journal information: Translational Behavioral Medicine Kelly A Aschbrenner et al, Egocentric social networks and smoking among adults with serious mental illness,(2018). DOI: 10.1093/tbm/ibx014

Provided by The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy & Clinical PracticeLunaticoutpost.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program , anaffiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.Amazon, the Amazon logo, MYHABIT, and the MYHABIT logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.Don't be a pest to the forum.No profanity in thread-titles or usernamesNo excessive profanity in postsNo Racism, Antisemitism + HateNo calls for violence against anyone..This website exists for fun and discussion only. The reader is responsible for discerning the validity, factuality or implications of information posted here, be it fictional or based on real events. The content of posts on this site, including but not limited to links to other web sites, are the expressed opinion of the original poster and are in no way representative of or endorsed by the owners or administration of this website. The posts on this website are the opinion of the specific author and are not statements of advice, opinion, or factual information on behalf of the owner or administration of LunaticOutPost.Com. The owners or administration of this website can't be hold responsible for content hosted on sites that posters link to in; including, but not limited to, posts, signatures, private messages and such. This site may contain content not suitable for minors and if you feel you might be offended by such content, you should log off immediately.This site may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Users may make such material available in an effort to advance awareness and understanding of issues relating to civil rights, economics, individual rights, international affairs, liberty, science & technology, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material. The material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.In accordance with industry accepted best practices we ask that users limit their copy / paste of copyrighted material to the relevant portions of the article you wish to discuss (no more than 50% of the source material) provide a link back to the original articleIf you are a legal copyright holder or a designated agent for such and you believe a post on this website falls outside the boundaries of "Fair Use" and legitimately infringes on yours or your clients copyright please contact [email protected] This website is owned by :Marco ZwaneveldDrijfriemstraat 522516 XR The HagueNetherlands.I will not rent, sell, share or otherwise disclose your personal information to any third party.We might contact you from time to time regarding your purchases or the services (like forums and announcement lists) you have subscribed to.Some of the 3rd party advertisers on lunaticoutpost.com may use cookiesto track peformance and/or to serve relevant ads.If you wish to read more and/or opt out of such cookies, please visit: http://www.networkadvertising.org/choices/Juliette Di Francesco and colleagues testing pigs for JE. Credit: Di Francesco, et al (2018)

Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus, which causes acute encephalitis in Eastern and Southern Asia, is traditionally considered a rural disease. Now, researchers reporting in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases have shown that pigs in a peri-urban and a rural farm were infected by the virus at the same rate. This finding suggests vaccination efforts should be widened to encourage travelers to receive JE virus immunization.

JE is caused by a Flavivirus and transmitted mostly by mosquitos. Domestic pigs are considered major hosts, although the disease infects a wide range of vertebrates. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 68,000 human cases occur annually, of which 15,000mostly young childrendie of the virus. JE has long been considered a rural disease, with proximity to rice fields and pig farming known to be risk factors of the disease.

In their new work, Juliette Di Francesco, of the Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Cambodia, and colleagues started their work based on a series of previous studies of JE virus by the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD). Francesco and her colleagues followed 15 pigs in a rural farm and 15 pigs in a peri-urban farm. In both cases, they collected blood samples from the pigs every 8 to 11 days in 2015. Each sample was tested for the presence of JE virus antibodies and JE virus RNA.

In both groups, all the pigs tested positive for JE virus antibodies by the age of 6 months. The force of infection was similar in both farms, with a force of 0.61 and 0.69 per day in the peri-urban and the rural farm, respectively. The researchers detected six different strains of JE virus in the pigs. The pigs became infected later in the rural farm, which may be due to their later loss of maternal antibodies and to the larger amount of pigs in their proximity. Additional larger studies in other urban, peri-urban, and rural settings are needed to confirm these findings.

"These results demonstrate that Japanese encephalitis virus circulates intensely both in a rural and a peri-urban setting in Cambodia," the researchers note, "They suggest the importance of changing vaccination recommendations for travelers and of not focusing national immunization programs against Japanese encephalitis solely on rural areas," the researchers say.

Explore further China reports 4th outbreak this month of African swine fever

More information: Di Francesco J, Choeung R, Peng B, Pring L, Pang S, et al. (2018) Comparison of the dynamics of Japanese encephalitis virus circulation in sentinel pigs between a rural and a peri-urban setting in Cambodia. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 12(8): e0006644. Journal information: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Di Francesco J, Choeung R, Peng B, Pring L, Pang S, et al. (2018) Comparison of the dynamics of Japanese encephalitis virus circulation in sentinel pigs between a rural and a peri-urban setting in Cambodia.12(8): e0006644. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0006644CNS: Glioblastoma multiforme. As seen here by magnetic resonance imaging, the glioblastoma multiforme usually exhibits a "ring" or "ring-like" zone of contrast enhancement around a dark central area of necrosis. Credit: The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology

People diagnosed with the aggressive brain cancer glioblastoma face a grim prognosis. Half die within 14 months of diagnosis.

Even if initial treatment with surgery, radiation and chemotherapy is successful, such brain tumors typically recur, leaving patients with few options. Now, a research team at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has found that laser treatment designed to destroy the tumor can add an average of two months to a patient's life, compared with chemotherapy, the standard treatment for glioblastomas that have recurred. The increase is small but meaningful for people who have only months left to live.

"We're not able to cure these types of really nefarious tumors, but we keep on working on finding new treatments that give people just a little more time," said senior author Eric Leuthardt, MD, a professor of neurosurgery, of neuroscience, of biomedical engineering, and of mechanical engineering & applied science. "We're nibbling away at this disease, step by step, and cumulatively these small advances can add up to a real improvement for patients."

The study, published Aug. 22 in the journal Neurosurgery, gathered survival data by reviewing all laser treatments for glioblastoma from 2010 to 2016 at Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine. In that time, 54 patients received 58 laser treatments. Of those, 17 treatments were performed on inoperable tumors and 41 on tumors that had recurred after primary treatment.

Most people diagnosed with glioblastoma undergo surgery that involves removing part of the skull to cut out the tumor, followed by both chemotherapy and radiation. But the tumor inevitably comes back, and a repeat operation is considered too taxing for many patients.

"By the time patients present with a recurrence, they've already endured open brain surgery, radiation and chemotherapy," Leuthardt said. "They are more fragile than they were the first time around, and their wounds may not tolerate reoperation well. It can take four to eight weeks to recover from brain surgery. It's a lot to put them through again."

In addition, some tumors are located deep in the brain and cannot be removed surgically without risking serious brain damage.

Instead of surgery, doctors treat recurrent or inoperable tumors with chemotherapy or a heat therapy known as laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT). Neurosurgeons drill a tiny hole in the skull and insert a laser, guiding it through the brain to the tumor on a path designed to cause the least damage. Once inside the tumor, the laser emits pulses of heat that kill the surrounding tumor cells.

Leuthardt and first author and neurosurgery resident Ashwin Kamath, MD, found that patients with recurrent disease lived an average of 11.5 months after receiving laser therapy. Other studies have found that treatment with the chemotherapy drugs bevacizumab or temozolomide typically buys glioblastoma patients about nine months.

In addition, most people who received laser therapy were able to leave the hospital within a day or two.

"If you've only got four to nine months left, an extra two months matters," Leuthardt said. "Having a therapy that people can tolerate relatively well so they can go home after the procedure, while adding a few months to their lives, means a lot to these patients."

Explore further New tool 'cooks' cancer cells in inoperable brain tumors

More information: Ashwin A Kamath et al. Glioblastoma Treated With Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Guided Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy: Safety, Efficacy, and Outcomes, Neurosurgery (2018). Journal information: Neurosurgery Ashwin A Kamath et al. Glioblastoma Treated With Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Guided Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy: Safety, Efficacy, and Outcomes,(2018). DOI: 10.1093/neuros/nyy375Credit: CC0 Public Domain

People are falling into a trap of greater inactivity during middle age, according to new research from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), which calls for its findings to be considered in future national physical activity guidelines.

The study, published today in the American Journal of Epidemiology, is the first time age-related physical activity changes, from inactivity to vigorous exercise, have been examined at such a large scale across midlife. People in the study who were between the ages of 38 and 50 dropped their activity rates over the next decade by an average of a half an hour a day and replaced it with doing something sedentary.

"We know higher intensity physical activity tends to decline with age. But these findings show just how much even gentle forms of activity that are part of daily routines, like casual walking, slip in midlife, which doesn't bode at all well for future health and should serve as a wake-up call to us all," said first and corresponding author Kelley Pettee Gabriel, Ph.D., M.S., associate professor of epidemiology, human genetics and environmental sciences at the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living at the UTHealth School of Public Health Austin campus.

Investigators were able to draw the conclusions using data from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study, also known as CARDIA, which started following 5,115 participants between ages 18 to 30 more than 30 years ago, measuring their activity levels with an accelerometer, or activity monitor, that is similar to a pedometer.

These decreases of physical activity over a 10-year period in middle age were observed in both men and women. However, the decline was steepest among black men who typically started being the most active but reduced their activity levels by nearly one hour daily. Black women began as the least active, and continued to have the lowest physical activity levels 10 years later.

"Our next step is to determine what is causing these changes towards a more inactive daily routine. It could be that during midlife people become busy with their jobs and taking care of children and aging parents. Or, they may be experiencing more difficulty moving around because of aching joints, for instance," Gabriel said. "What's clear is that these trends are happening at a time when people face increased risk of disease and disability. Yet, compared to older adulthood, they're also potentially in a better position to introduce more physical activity back into their daily routine, particularly as they retire."

National guidelines recommend at least two and a half hours of moderate intensity activity per week, or an hour and 15 minutes of vigorous intensity activity per week, or an equivalent combination of moderate and vigorous intensity activity. They also discourage prolonged sedentary time.

Physical activity is advised to help manage conditions including obesity, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. There's also a growing body of evidence demonstrating the health benefits for older adults of undertaking light intensity physical activity, such as going for a gentle stroll or doing household chores. Such evidence led to the 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee recommendation that additional research is needed for further understanding.

"Given the findings of our study and others, the health consequences of age-related switches from time spent in light intensity physical activity to sedentary pursuits merit serious consideration and could pave the way for future physical activity guidelines to set targets in these important areas," said Gabriel. "Making relatively small lifestyle changes, and taking advantage of missed opportunities to be physically active could have a crucial bearing on how people are setting themselves up for being more resilient during older adulthood. Simple changes all add up, like walking to the corner coffee shop, parking further away from the store entrance or taking the stairs rather than the escalator."

Explore further Older adults who get physical can lower their heart disease risk

More information: Kelley Pettee Gabriel et al. Ten-Year Changes in Accelerometer-Based Physical Activity and Sedentary Time During Midlife, American Journal of Epidemiology (2018). Journal information: American Journal of Epidemiology Kelley Pettee Gabriel et al. Ten-Year Changes in Accelerometer-Based Physical Activity and Sedentary Time During Midlife,(2018). DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwy117Preparing the testing kit, including DNA sequencing, for fieldworld Credit: Nuno Faria

A pioneering Oxford University research collaboration into yellow fever virus (YFV) has shed new light on the exceptional recent outbreak in Brazil and how the virus spreads. The findings have implications for monitoring viral transmission and could potentially contribute to a strategy for eliminating YFV worldwide.

Published in Science, the international collaboration coordinated by scientists from Oxford University and FIOCRUZ Rio de Janeiro, uses modern genomic and epidemiology techniques to investigate in detail the mode of transmission of South America's largest yellow fever virus outbreak in recent history. Techniques such as portable DNA sequencing and computational analysis allowed the team to understand the virus's genetic make-up and analyse the age, sex and spatial distribution of human cases.

Yellow fever virus is transmitted by mosquitoes in one of two ways, via sylvatic (forest) or urban (city) transmission. Most recent cases of YFV in Brazil have been traced back to forest dwelling primates and mosquitosa pattern characteristic of sylvatic transmission. But historical outbreaks in Brazil, and a recent outbreak of the virus in Angola, Africa, arose from urban transmissiona mode of infection that could cause a great number infections in cities. Although a very effective vaccine for YFV exists, stocks are limited and it is not given to everyone in Brazil; until recently the vaccine was given only to people living bordering forest areas thought to be at 'high risk' of infection.

The 2016 yellow fever outbreak was the largest outbreak in Brazil for >100 years. There were concerns that the sheer scale of the outbreak could indicate that YFV had begun to spread via urban transmissionincreasing the likelihood of dangerous outbreaks in the megacites of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, where vaccination coverage is lower.

Analyses of YFV cases combined with genomic data, generated locally from affected states including Minas Gerais, revealed that the virus lineage had spread through a sylvatic cycle of transmission in primates, which grew unnoticed during 2016, before spilling over into human populations in early 2017.

Dr. Nuno Faria, Sir Henry Dale Research Fellow in the Department of Zoology at Oxford University, said: 'Ultimately, the combination of epidemiological and genomic data tells us that the YFV outbreak in Brazil was driven by sylvatic transmission. Although the conditions for urban transmission seem to be there, that fortunately didn't happen.'

Further analyses confirmed that 85% of both human and primate YFV cases were male and aged between 35-54 years olda tell-tale sign of sylvatic transmission and a technique that could be applied rapidly to evaluate transmission in YFV epidemics across the world.

Professor Oliver Pybus, Professor of Evolution & Infectious Disease in Oxford's Department of Zoology said: 'Yellow Fever virus has affected humanity for hundreds of years. It comes in waves from an animal reservoir, so we may never completely eliminate it. The problem is that we don't understand enough yet about the complex behaviour of the virus in animal populations. We need this information to control future outbreaks -to vaccinate the right people, in the right place, at the right time'.

Professor Luiz Alcantara, Senior Scientific Researcher of reference laboratory in Flavivirus of the Brazilian Ministry of Health in Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ-RJ), Brazil, said: 'In 48 hours we were able to generate the first genomes from the epicentre of the outbreak in Minas Gerais. As part of the ZiBRA project, in which we tracked the spread of the Zika virus using gene sequencing, have now trained dozens of researchers in Brazil. In just a couple of weeks, using new portable sequencing methods, we were able to triple the amount of yellow fever virus genomes from Brazil.'

Dr. Nuno Faria said: 'Despite being one of the most important pathogens in human history, yellow fever research has been under-funded compared to other pathogens so new techniques could bring fresh insights. Crucially, using a combination of genomic and epidemiological approaches we are now starting to understand the "hidden" dynamics of how the virus jumped from animal populations to people over space and time. The findings are testament to the benefits of emerging technologies, such as the MinION DNA sequencer, for modern medicine.'

The full paper citation is "Genomic and epidemiological monitoring of yellow fever virus transmission potential" published in Science.

Explore further Ongoing surveillance and vaccination are key to prevent yellow fever outbreak in humans

More information: N. Faria el al., "Genomic and epidemiological monitoring of yellow fever virus transmission potential," Science (2018). Journal information: Science N. Faria el al., "Genomic and epidemiological monitoring of yellow fever virus transmission potential,"(2018). science.sciencemag.org/cgi/doi  1126/science.aat7115Britain is preparing to airlift in medicines with a short shelf life if London cannot strike a Brexit deal with the EU, the government said Thursday.

London has plans to ensure a continued supply of medicines from the moment Britain leaves the European Union at the end of March, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said in an open letter.

It comes after NHS Providers, the group representing hospitals and ambulance services in England, warned Monday that a lack of contingency planning for a no-deal Brexit would be a risk to services.

Without national planning and coordination, "there could be both stockpiles and shortages of medicines and medical devices", said NHS Providers chief executive Chris Hopson, in a letter seen by the BBC.

Hancock's letter, spelled out what England's health system needed to consider in preparation for a no-deal Brexit.

"We will ensure the UK has an additional six weeks supply of medicines in case imports from the EU through certain routes are affected," he said.

Britain already keeps a three-month stockpile of medicines.

"Pharmaceutical companies should ensure therefore they have an additional six week supply of medicines in the UK on top of their own normal stock levels," said Hancock.

"The scheme also includes separate arrangements for the air freight of medicines with short shelf-lives, such as medical radioisotopes," he said.

The letter said hospitals, doctors and pharmacies and patients would not need to stockpile additional medicines, or doctors to write longer prescriptions.

"The government has plans in place to ensure a continued supply of medicines to patients from the moment we leave the EU."

Britain on Thursday outlined wider plans for managing the fallout in the "unlikely" scenario of Brexit talks collapsing, warning that businesses faced more customs red tape and consumers risked higher card payment charges.

Brexit Minister Dominic Raab also said Britain would adopt a series of EU rules in case of a no-deal to allow EU imports in and urged Brussels to do the same for British goods.

Raab said Britain would continue to recognise batch testing and EU certifications for medicine to avoid disruption.

Explore further UK group warns hospitals could run out of drugs post Brexit

 2018 AFPARCHIVED - King of Spains brother-in-law will receive exit permit from jail for Christmas 2019



Inaki Urdangarin is serving 5 years and 10 months in prison for misuse of public funds and tax evasion

50-year-old Inaki Urdangarin, the brother-in-law of King Felipe VI of Spain, who began serving a prison sentence of 5 years and 10 months in June after being found guilty of misuse of public funds, tax evasion and other offences, has been granted second degree prisoner status, meaning that if all goes well he will be allowed exit permits from the jail of Brieva late in 2019.

After Sr Urdangarin entered jail on 18th June this development was to be expected, and the convict continues in virtual solitary confinement as the only male prisoner in what is almost exclusively a female penitentiary. But the awarding of second degree status, which is standard procedure for non-conflictive inmates, means that exit permits can be awarded after a quarter of the jail term has been served: in the case of the former Duke of Palma this equates to just over 17 months, a period which will have elapsed at Christmas next year.

In this case, it appears, there is no question of special treatment being given to Inaki Urdangarin, who is allowed to receive visits from his wife, the Kings sister Princess Cristina.

Follow Murcia Today on Facebook to keep up to date with all the latest news, events and information in the Region of Murcia and the rest of Spain: https://www.facebook.com/MurciaToday/

-->Australia banned Chinas Huawei Technologies Co. and ZTE Corp. from supplying next-generation wireless equipment to the nations telecom operators, the latest blow in an escalating global battle over network security.

The government on Thursday gave carriers new security guidance for fifth-generation mobile technology and warned that using government-linked suppliers would risk breaching their obligations. The nature of 5G technology means security protocols governing earlier networks wont sufficiently protect against national security threats, according to a statement from Treasurer Scott Morrison and Communications Minister Mitch Fifield.

The statement didnt identify ZTE or Huawei, which Australias security agencies have recommended be barred from supplying 5G technology. Huaweis Australia operation later put out a statement making clear it wouldnt be able to compete as carriers prepare to spend billions on the new technology.

We have been informed by the Govt that Huawei & ZTE have been banned from providing 5G technology to Australia, the company said on Twitter. This is a extremely disappointing result for consumers. Huawei is a world leader in 5G. Has safely & securely delivered wireless technology in Aust for close to 15 yrs.

The Chinese equipment makers have also come under fire in the U.S., where regulators have proposed banning telecom companies from using federal subsidies to buy from companies like Huawei and ZTE that pose a national security risk. Huawei and ZTE have disputed they represent any such risk.

Huawei, Chinas largest maker of telecommunications equipment, already supplies Australian wireless carriers, including Vodafone Group Plc. It has been in talks with the government in an attempt to accommodate the domestic security requirements in order to win a share of Australias 5G equipment market.

But that effort appears to have fallen short. The ministers warned in their statement, involvement of vendors who are likely to be subject to extrajudicial directions from a foreign government that conflict with Australian law, may risk failure by the carrier to adequately protect a 5G network from unauthorized access or interference.

Huawei, founded in 1988 by former Chinese army officer Ren Zhengfei, and its rival ZTE, have come under increased scrutiny in the U.S. over fears their equipment could be used for spying.

Nevertheless, Huawei has said it has rolled out technology in the U.K., Canada, Germany and Spain without compromising national security.

Now read: Samsung Pay to support more South African banksOmar Sosa, an acclaimed pianist and composer and charismatic bandleader, whose work combines musical traditions of traditions of Africa and the Americas, makes his debut at Blue Note, on Sept. 6-8.

Sosa, who has been nominated for seven Grammy awards for his music that fuses an array of jazz, world music, hip-hop, and electronic elements with his AfroCuban roots. He will perform with his primary touring ensemble, Quarteto AfroCubano, made up of Cuban drummer Raul Pineda, Cuban saxophonist Leandro Saint-Hill, and Mozambican electric bassist Childo Tomas.

Sosas 2015 CD, Ile, which means home or earth in the Yoruba language of West Africa, returns to the Latin jazz roots of his native Cuba.

The New York Times writes, Sosas music is the unifying sort, yoking together Africa and jazz and Latin America and hip-hop. He makes it work, being one of those rare birds whose keyboard skills are near those of Chick Corea or Chucho Valdes.

American composer John Adams writes: Sosa is a deeply creative musician with an extraordinary harmonic sense. His piano playing is sui generis: it has obvious roots in Cuban music, but hes taken his approach to the keyboard into completely new regions.

Sosa received a lifetime achievement award from the Smithsonian in 2003 for his brilliant, joyous, and thoroughly contemporary global jazz idiom.

Sosa and the Quarteto AfroCubano will perform two shows each night at 7 and 9 p.m. Tickets are $29-$69.

Blue Note is at 1030 Main St., Napa. For more information, visit bluenotenapa.com or call 707-880-2300.FAIRFIELD -- The Solano County District Attorneys Office wants to charge a jail inmate with soliciting the murder of the juveniles he is accused of molesting.

Rodney Scott Thomas Jr., 44, was arrested by Vacaville police on June 19 on suspicion of committing lewd acts and continuous sexual assault of a minor under 14.

"It is alleged that after being arrested for child molestation charges that were investigated by the Fairfield Police Department, Rodney Thomas Jr. solicited multiple inmates inside the jail to murder the child victims," the District Attorney's Office said in a news release.

Solano County jail staff discovered a "murder for hire" plan and conducted an undercover operation in the jail, District Attorney Krishna Abrams said.

The Solano County Sheriff's Office, Fairfield Police Department and Solano County District Attorney's Office investigated the alleged murder for hire.

Based upon the investigation, prosecutors are seeking to add five charges of solicitation to commit murder to a criminal complaint against Thomas.

Thomas is being held without bail in the Solano County Jail.

A motion to amend the charges against him is scheduled to be heard by Solano County Superior Court Judge R. Michael Smith 8:30 a.m. Sept. 5.Roxas Holdings Inc., a sugar milling company majority owned by Hong Kongs First Pacific Co. Ltd., is selling its sugar milling and refining operations in Nasugbu, Batangas to Universal Robina Corp. of the Gokongwei Group. Roxas Holdings said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the group along with wholly-owned subsidiary Central Azucarera Don Pedro Inc. reached an agreement with URC to sell the sugar business in Batangas for an undisclosed amount. The deal is subject to approval by the Philippine Competition Commission. We are hopeful that we can get the necessary approvals before the start of the next crop year, Roxas Holdings chairman Pedro Roxas said. The PCC said its Mergers and Acquisitions Office launched the second phase of the review of the proposed transaction within the next 60 days. The agency said it would conduct a more detailed assessment of the proposed acquisition where URC would buy all the capital equipment, the land where the assets are located, and other assets necessary for the continuing operations of the refinery and milling plant in Batangay Lumbangan, Nasugbu. URC, a subsidiary of JG Summit Holdings, Inc., is engaged in a wide range of food-related businesses, including the production of packed foods and beverages, sugar, agro-industrial products and bioethanol. Roxas said the transaction will bring about significant improvements in the sugar industry in Batangas for the benefit of all stakeholders  farmers, community, employees and mill alike. Total raw sugar production in Batangas is around 3 million 50-kg bags, or roughly six percent of total annual national sugar output.Roxas Holdings president and chief executive Hubert Tubio said the sale of the Nasugbu sugar milling and refining facilities would allow the company to focus on operations in Negros. We have significantly improved and grown the operations of our sugar milling plant and two ethanol production plants in Negros over the last two crop years and we hope to further enhance our operations after the sale transaction, he said. Proceeds from the Batangas sugar milling and refining facilities will be used to reduce pare down debt, the company said. Roxas Holdings has about P10 billon in debt. URC said the acquisition would boost its sugar business. URC operates six sugar cane mills and three refineries nationwide, producing raw sugar, refined sugar and molasses. It also operates a 20-megawatt cogeneration plant, a 100,000-liter-per-day fuel ethanol plant. Together with URC-Balayan, we believe that URCs acquisition of the milling and refining assets of CADPI will create synergies in the sugar industry in Batangas that will benefit all stakeholders  sugarcane farmers, sugarcane workers and the communities, said URC chairman Lance Gokongwei. URC strongly believes in the long-term viability of the sugar cane industry in the Philippines and we shall always continue supporting the sugarcane farmers and workers, he said.Santa Clara County firefighters were dangerously hobbled by poor Internet service while they were helping battle the monstrous Mendocino Complex Fire in July because Verizon drastically slowed down the speed of its wireless data during the fire fight, the county's fire chief contends in a federal court filing.

Despite having paid for what it thought was an unlimited data plan, the Santa Clara County Central Fire Protection District saw its data flow "throttled" down to 1/200th of its usual speed as it fought the complex -- now the biggest wildfire in state history -- because Verizon officials said it had exceeded its plan limit, district Fire Chief Anthony Bowden wrote. This primarily hampered a specialized vehicle the department depends on to coordinate its machinery and staff in such emergencies, and Bowden said that put his battalions at risk.

Without full-speed service for the high-tech command and communications rig, which goes by the arcane name of OES 5262, Bowden wrote, "resources could be deployed to the wrong fire, the wrong part of a fire, or fail to be deployed at all. Even small delays in response translate into devastating effect, including loss of property, and, in some cases, loss of life."

The Mendocino Complex Fire, consisting of the Ranch and River fires, began July 27, is still burning and had by Tuesday evening charred 406,532 acres in Mendocino, Lake, Colusa and Glenn counties.

Bowden's filing indicates that, after arriving at the Mendocino Complex as a mutual aid contingent helping thousands of other firefighters, one of his captains wrote to Verizon on July 29 to complain that OES 5262's main communications device had been slowed so drastically that "it has no meaningful functionality." In a subsequent, terse email that night to Verizon, department IT Officer Daniel Farrelly demanded, "Remove any data throttling on OES 5262 immediately."

Verizon responded by suggesting the department upgrade its service by more than doubling its bill to $99.99 a month -- saying "they would only remove throttling after we contacted the Department that handles billing and switched to the new data plan," Bowden wrote.

Bowden made his contention in an addendum submitted Monday for a federal lawsuit filed by 21 states and the District of Columbia seeking to overturn the Federal Communication Commission's repeal of net neutrality rules. The repeal, which went into effect in June, cancels regulations enacted during President Barack Obama's administration that were meant to ensure internet service providers treat all Web traffic equally.

Verizon responded to Bowden's concerns by saying, "This situation has nothing to do with net neutrality or the current proceeding in court," but that mistakes were made in handling the issue during the fire fight.

Verizon spokeswoman Heidi Flato said in a statement that the Santa Clara County fire district's plan did have unlimited data, but that the speed was supposed to be reduced once a certain allotment was reached each month -- and "we made a mistake in how we communicated" the terms of that plan to the department.

As for the emergency situation while battling the Mendocino Complex Fire, "We should have lifted the speed restriction when our customer reached out to us," Flato wrote. "This was a customer support mistake.

"Regardless of the plan emergency responders choose, we have a practice to remove data speed restrictions when contacted in emergency situations," Flato wrote. She added that Verizon is "reviewing the situation and will fix any issues going forward."

The fire district did switch to a "new, more expensive plan," the chief wrote, and the throttling was lifted. It's unclear when this happened. However, he added that "in the interim, County Fire personnel ... were forced to use other agencies' Internet Service Providers and their own personal devices to provide the necessary connectivity and data transfer capability required by OES 5262."

According to the court filing, the fire district also grappled with Verizon over throttling of service to the command vehicle while fighting fires in June and in December 2017.

Bowden concluded his filing by saying: "In light of our experience, County Fire believes it is likely that Verizon will continue to use the exigent nature of public safety emergencies and catastrophic events to coerce public agencies into higher cost plans ultimately ... even if that means risking harm to public safety during negotiations."A 3-year-old boy and his 1-year-old brother were on their own  possibly for days  after surviving a single-vehicle crash that killed their mother in south Arkansas.

The older of the two boys was found Monday morning after authorities received a 911 call about a boy who was seen walking by himself in a rural area on a state highway near Camden, Arkansas, Ouachita County Detective Nathan Greeley told CNN.

The boy was covered in cuts and scrapes and appeared to have been outside for an extended period, Greeley said.

"You could tell he was extremely traumatized," Greeley said.

Officials gave the boy a bath, food and a change of clothes and distributed a description of him. A family member contacted the sheriff's office and told authorities that the boy's 1-year-old brother was likely nearby, Greeley said. The relative also said the children's mother had not been seen since going grocery shopping on Thursday.

After going door-to-door in the area where the 3-year-old was found, sheriff's deputies located a vehicle overturned deep in a ravine.

The car was on its side and not visible from the road. The 1-year-old was found inside the car still fastened into his car seat. Greeley told CNN the boy was found alert and responsive. He was removed from the vehicle and transported to a local hospital, Greeley said.

Nearby, deputies discovered the body of a woman who had been ejected from the car. CNN affiliate KARK identified the woman as 25-year-old Lisa Holliman.

"We're still trying to determine the timeline, but the mother was last seen Thursday, so they could have been out there two or three days," Greeley said. "This is one of the most remarkable things I've ever experienced in my 11 years at this department."

Greeley said conditions in the area, about 80 miles southwest of Little Rock, had been hot and humid during the time the children were likely along the roadside. He said a series of thunderstorms also had moved through the area.

"It's nothing short of a miracle," Greeley told CNN.

James Holliman, Lisa Holliman's father, told KARK the family found out at the hospital that she was four weeks pregnant.

"We lost two," James Holliman said.

Both boys suffered dehydration, according to KARK. The children have since been released to family members, Greeley told CNN.

The-CNN-Wire &  2018 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.Two of the Legislatures sneakiest procedures were on display last week as it began its annual sprint to adjournment.

They have names  suspense file and trailer bill  that may have little meaning to 40 million Californians outside the Capitol, but are critically important to those inside.

After bills go through the Legislatures policy committees, most are routinely sent to the appropriations committees of both houses and most of those are placed in a sort of limbo called the suspense file.

Then, as deadlines for final action approach, the committees meet and their chairpersons run down the list of suspense file bills, simply announcing which will be allowed to proceed to floor votes (and almost certain approval) and which will be held in committee, the euphemism for a death sentence.

There are no public discussions, no real votes, no explanations of why bills are given red or green lights  and no fingerprints on the carcasses of those that die. Last week, legislative leaders made decisions in secret on the fate of 635 measures.

Then there are trailer bills, measures that in theory are enacted to implement the state budget. They qualify for the fast-track parliamentary treatment accorded the budget itself and, therefore, are convenient vessels for making political policy that has nothing, really, to do with the budget.

A prime example occurred two months ago when one of the trailer bills was loaded up with a massive rewrite of the states criminal laws, allowing virtually anyone convicted of a felony, even rape or murder, to avoid prison if they are declared in need of psychiatric treatment and they receive it for two years.

Gov. Jerry Brown, who has made softening Californias criminal laws a hallmark of his final term, backed the change. But prosecutors howled that it was a get-out-of-jail card for vicious criminals and complained, with good reason, about the diversion language being buried in a massive trailer bill relating to social services rather than being openly debated and decided.

The backlash was so sharp, the Associated Press reported last week, that Brown now wants to modify psychiatric diversion, denying it to those charged with particularly vicious crimes and giving judges more leeway to apply it prudently.

While nothings perfect, this version right now solves a majority of the issues, Stanislaus County District Attorney Birgit Fladager, the new president of the California District Attorneys Association, told the AP after the revision was circulated.

The issue of mental health diversions aside, what happened is a shameful example of how the trailer bill process is being distorted to enact policies that probably could not make it if handled in the normal  and democratic  way.

However, theres no reason to believe that legislative leaders and governors wont continue the practice. In fact, even though the budget was enacted two months ago, 11 new trailer bills popped up last week, some truly relating to the budget but others new examples of expediency.

One provision, for example, would change state law affecting employees of one Kern County hospital; another would exempt Californias efforts on the 2020 census from state contract law; a third would affect San Diego Countys elections for county supervisor, and still another creates a new investigative unit to handle sexual harassment complaints in the Legislature.

Whatever else they may be, those and other pieces of the pending trailer bills have nothing to do with the budget and continue a distortion that becomes more egregious every year.

CALmatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how Californias state Capitol works and why it matters. For more stories by Dan Walters, go to calmatters.org/commentary.On behalf of St. Helena Drama, we would like to invite the community to attend our performing arts season opener of "12 Angry Jurors". This play will be in the Performing Arts Center of the high school (1401 Grayson).

The community has been so supportive of St. Helena Drama and all of the plays and musicals we perform with such enthusiasm and attendance. We are very grateful for this.

This production of "12 Angry Jurors" is unique in that it is completely student-driven: actors, producers and directors. It has been a great experience to work with our fellow students and bring this story to the stage. Our production is an adaptation of the famous Henry Fonda film, "12 Angry Men" and it tells the story of justice when a man's life is at stake.

Thanks to the St. Helena Performing Arts Boosters, this production will serve as a fundraiser for St. Helena Drama to travel to New York City in April to attend the Broadway Student Summit workshops and attend theatrical performances with our wonderful teacher Ms. Patti Coyle.

Please join us Thursday and Friday, Aug. 23 and 24 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door (cash only, please). We hope to see you there, and thank you again for your support of high school arts.

Sophia Osborne and Mia Pelosi

Directors, St. Helena DramaCroatian winemaking history began around 2200 B.C.; Californias winemaking history started in 1779. All of our vitis vinifera grapes in California came from somewhere else. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are from Burgundy, Cabernet Sauvignon from Bordeaux, Tempranillo and Albarino from Spain, Barbera and Nebbiolo from Piemonte. But when it came to Zinfandel, for years we thought Zinfandel was our grape.

Zinfandel did not have a European connection like the other grapes mentioned above. There were no grapes in Europe named Zinfandel. In the 1970s, Primitivo, from Southern Italy, was thought to be Zinfandel. But, a couple decades later when they finally had the tools to do a DNA test on grapes, it was found that while Zinfandel and Primitivo were genetically identical, Zinfandel did not come from Primitivo. In fact, Primitivo, it was found, was probably introduced to Italy 200 to 300 years ago. But, where did Zinfandel/Primitivo come from?

This is where the story gets interesting. We know the origin of Zinfandel because of the hard work of Dr. Carole Meredith, a grapevine geneticist. Today she makes Lagier Meredith wines on Mount Veeder, but for 22 years, she was a professor in the Department of Viticulture and Enology at the UC Davis.

During her tenure, she did ground-breaking research on the parentage of grape varieties. Using DNA typing, she and her team identified the lineage of Cabernet Sauvignon (Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc), Chardonnay (Pinot Noir and Gouais Blanc) and Syrah (Dureza and Mondeuse Blanche). And, of course, she determined the origins of Zinfandel.

Learning how grapes are related gives us information for deduction and enables us to dispel many myths, Meredith explained when I had the privilege to meet her on a recent trip to Napa where she shared the story of Zinfandel.

Zinfandel was thought of as the California grape, but that implied that it had no history, Meredith said. It was obviously a European grape but not from France, Italy, Germany, Spain or Portugal. It was from farther east in Europe.

She also noted that because of the large leaves of Zinfandel, it had to be from Southern European, because Northern Europe grapes have smaller leaves. From Puglia, Italy, where Primitivo is from, they looked across the Adriatic to the Dalmatian coast of Croatia.

Meredith wanted to apply the DNA tools she had to find the home of Zinfandel. But, she did not know anyone in Croatia. She reached out to winemaker and Croatian vintner Mike Grgich for help.

Grgich introduced Meredith to Plavic Mali, the predominant red grape grown on the Dalmatian Coast. Merediths research found that Plavic Mali and Zinfandel are similar but are not the same.

Then, serendipity stepped in. Out of the blue, in the fall of 1997, Ivan Pejic, a plant geneticist from the University of Zagreb in Croatia sent Meredith an email asking for her help. He and his colleague Edi Maletic were asking for her DNA tools to understand indigenous grapes of Croatia. They began to work together. In 2000 they discovered that Plavic Mali is the direct offspring of Zinfandel and Dobricic, an ancient variety from the Adriatic island of Solta.

Further research led them to a vineyard northwest of Split where they found, in one vineyard, nine vines out of 9,000 vines of Crljenak Kastelanski, also locally known as Kratosija and Pribidrag. The grape was almost extinct and only a handful of vines were left in the entire country.

They also found preserved grapevine leaves, called Tribidrag, in a museum in Split. From 1998-2001, they tried to get the DNA out of the dried Tribidrag but with no success. Ten years later, another group was able to get the DNA out of the dried leaves and prove the heritage of Zinfandel.

Tribidrag is the ancient name of Zinfandel. A historian traced the grapes history back to the 1300s where he found that it was one of the most prominent grapes in the entire Adriatic. Tribidrag/Zinfandel is more than 800 years old and, according to Meredith, it is a noble grape. We should treat it well.

Today, Zinfandel is the third-leading wine grape variety in California, with more than 44,400 acres planted, according to The Wine Institute. It is grown in 45 of Californias 58 counties. Meredith has Zinfandel planted on her property in Mount Veeder. But, to honor the history of the grape, her Zinfandel wine is called Tribidrag.

 Lagier Meredith 2014 Tribidrag, Mount Veeder, Napa Valley  The wine has floral aromas as well as notes of raspberry, cherry, pomegranate and bramble. There are also hints of white pepper, fresh sage and stony minerality. On the palate, the wine has soft, refined tannins and a long finish.

Allison Levine is owner of Please The Palate, a marketing and event-planning agency. A freelance writer, she contributes to numerous publications while eating and drinking her way around the world. Contact her at allison@pleasethepalate.comA study carried out by the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS) has predicted a depletion of 9,007.14 square km (2.94 per cent) of forests in parts of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh by 2028.

A report published in the The Telegraph stated that the study  Forest Cover Monitoring and Prediction in a Lesser Himalayan Elephant Landscape  published in the current issue of Current Science, says deforestation and loss of wildlife habitat in Upper Assam is likely to influence not only adjoining Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh but Lower Assam as well. The IIRS is under the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

The report further stated that scientists involved in the study said they monitored the depletion of forest cover in parts of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh over 42,375 square km in an elephant landscape falling in the Lesser Himalaya in the North East. The study, which covered a vast elephant landscape spread across West Bengal-Assam, Assam-Bhutan and Assam-Arunachal Pradesh borders in the lesser Himalayas, found a loss of about 7,590 square km (17.92 per cent) of forest cover from 1924 to 2009.

This was also found by US Army topographic maps (1924) and multi-date satellite images. The forest cover of 2028 was predicted using the 2000-2009 depletion of forests study and Cellular Automata Markov Model (CAMM). As elephants are long-ranging animals and are distributed across the landscape, it is important to carry out studies covering large areas to address the habitat status over time, which can be used for effective habitat conservation.

More districts of Assam than Arunachal Pradesh and more plains than hills faced deforestation. We have identified increasing human population and subsequent demand on land for cultivation as major reasons for forest cover depletion. With the highest rate of deforestation (in the Assam-Arunachal area) in India, the study area can also be addressed as the deforestation hotspot of India, the study says.

The annual rate of deforestation was found to be higher in Assam than Arunachal Pradesh primarily due to the latters inhospitable mountainous terrain. Among the districts in Assam, the highest deforestation was noticed in Barpeta, followed by Dhemaji, Tinsukia, Lakhimpur, Darrang, Dibrugarh and Sonitpur during the 85-year study period.

Area-wise, the largest amount of forest cover loss was noticed in Dhemaji (1,419.99 square km) followed by Sonitpur (825.85 square km), Lohit in Arunachal (820.61 square km), Tinsukia (662.28 square km) and Lakhimpur (635.15 square km).

Of the 9,000 square km forest cover loss prediction, Assam and Arunachal are predicted to lose around 670.55 square km of moist deciduous dense forest by 2028. If the same rate of deforestation continues, it is expected that moist deciduous open, sal dense, tropical semi-evergreen dense and tropical wet evergreen dense forests will further deplete by 251.43, 66.86, 94.78 and 82.99 square km respectively, the study says.

The recent studies made by IIRS clearly reveal the deterioration of forest canopy in the region. Planting trees are fine but we need to work towards revitalising the forest ecosystem. Lack of forest cover shall bring further chaos from food and water security point of view in Assam. Our Government must act to restore forest cover to avoid natural disasters. Political and social leaders need to act proactively to enable people to live in harmony with nature so that the natures ability to provide free oxygen and potable water is not disturbed, Bibhab Talukdar, CEO of Aaranyak and IRF Asia Coordinator, said.The activists of Asom Jatiyotabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) on Thursday staged a protest against National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Ltd demanding closure of 2000 MW Subansiri Lower Hydropower Project at Gerukhamukh.

The protest was organised by the Dhemaji district committee of AJYCP in association with Gogamukh Anchalik committee.

The protesters blocked National Highway -15 at Gogamukh Charali in Dhemaji district and burnt effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, States Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and NHPC.

They also shouted slogans against the Central and State governments for their forceful execution of the hydro projects and demanded to halt all construction works in Subansiri Lower Projects and other projects in Arunachal rivers.

The AJYCP leaders alleged that the state government during their tripartite talk with central and State government assured them to suspend construction works of the Subansiri Lower projects until the expert has assessed the probable downstream impact and formulate an effective mitigation policy.

But, the NHPC authority owing go ahead gesture of the central and state governments is continuing construction concealing the facts to the protesters.

The student leaders have cautioned the government not to play cats and mouse game with the sentiments of the people of Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Majuli and Jorhat districts and demanded immediate scrapping of the mega dam projects in Arunachal rivers.

Referring present disaster in Kerala, the protesters say that the water released by the mega dam constructed in Arunachal rivers will create deluge in downstream Assam.

It can be predicted that the mega hydro dams constructed in Arunachal rivers will create ecological catastrophe in downstream Assam and affect geography and demography in Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Majuli and Jorhat districts in near future.

We will continue our agitation in protest against such dam construction and the government will be responsible for any adverse situation for it, said Priyanku Pratim Chutiya, president of Dhemaji district AJYCP at protest ground.

Earlier too, AJYCP with support of various students unions and community organizations of Dhemaji and Lakhimpur districts staged protest against the Subansiri Lower project, which was ignored by the authorities in the pretext of talk with the protesting organization.

As per report, AJYCP staged similar protest in Lakhimpur, Sonitpur, Majuli districts today against execution of mega dam projects in Arunachal river to invite disaster in downstream Assam.Assams BJP leader and Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC) chairman Jayanta Malla Baruah on Thursday said that Hindu Bengalis are not threat to the identity of Assamese community but the Bangladesh origin Muslims are.

Baruah said this while speaking at a presentation on Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 in a programme in Guwahati.

Baruah, while displaying statistics on demography change on the basis of religion over few decades, said, Barpeta, Nagaon, Morigaon, Bongaigaon and Darrang districts have witnessed major demographic change from 1991 to 2011. According to 2011 census report, a total of 29.10 per cent were Hindu people while 70.74 per cent were Muslim population in Barpeta district. This is a sign of threat to the identity of the Assamese community, its languages and culture.

Talking on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, Baruah said, It is not the State Government but the Central Government to decide whom to be given Indian citizenship.

Around 90 per cent people in Assam havent studied or tried to understand the facts and the Bill. People have been protesting against the Bill without any cognizance. A section of people have been misleading the people of the State by making mischievous statements on the Bill. Agitations have hampered the economic growth of the State, Baruah said.

Being critical over the Assam agitation, Baruah said the Assam agitation pulled back the State for 20 years.

We havent achieved anything from the Assam agitation. One, who understands the Bill, probably wouldnt oppose it. The Bill would not hamper the demography of the State as spread by a section of people, said Baruah.

It may be mentioned that most of the political parties and organisations representing various ethnic groups have raised voice against the Central Governments move to grant Indian citizenship by implementing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.The Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) scheme is soon going to fly overseas too. The Government is planning to start its subsidised regional connectivity scheme and link Guwahati to Dhaka, Kathmandu, Kuala Lumpur, Yangon, Singapore and Bangkok.

A report published in the The Times of India stated that the Government plans to give subsidy between Rs 2,370 (for Dhaka) to Rs 7,880 for Singapore. This will enable cheaper fares and dramatically increase North East Indias connectivity to Southeast Asia.

The report further stated that for the subsidy, an International Air Connectivity Fund will be created through the contributions made by the State Government.

Such a fund can be created at the level of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) or the State Governments as per the notifications issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation from time to time. It shall be a dedicated fund for the provision of subsidy support under the scheme, a consultation paper released by the Aviation Ministry said on Tuesday.Cagayan de Oro CityFrom zero budget for resiliency programs to the most resilient city of 2018, this city is making sure the experience of Typhoon Sendong that struck this city in 2011 will not happen again. The city government started pouring in funds for resiliency only in 2013 when Mayor Oscar Moreno beat local political kingpin Vicente Emano. Five years later, under the leadership of Moreno, Cagayan de Oro won the Most Resilient Highly Urbanized City award in the 2018 National Competitiveness Council Cities and Municipalities Competitive Index and placed fifth overall as most competitive city in the Philippines. Moreno said winning the award goes beyond the accolade and recognition but is a sign that the city is investing in its future. The index is an annual ranking of Philippine cities and municipalities developed by the NCC through regional competitive committees with the assistance of the United States Agency for International Development. Last year, the city invested P756.5 million in disaster resiliency projects. The figure includes disaster risk reduction (DRR) and resiliency projects of the city halls different departments. The City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office employs 152 staff, all capable of responding to any kind of disaster. CdO also invested heavily in equipment and mechanisms to support the frontlines, along with rain and river gauges to monitor the water upstream. Moreno said that in 2017, the city invested more than 10 percent of its total P5-billion city budget. The law only requires 5% of the city budget to be allocated to resiliency, Moreno said. Given that what happened with Sendong, that Mindanao is no longer typhoon-free, resiliency means a lot us, and this is redemption for Cagayan de Oro, Moreno said.The rankings are based on the sum of their scores in four pillars: economic dynamism, government efficiency, infrastructure, and resiliency. Quezon City once again is the countrys most competitive city followed by Manila, Pasay, Davao City, Cagayan de Oro and Makati. After placing 22nd in 2017 in resiliency, the city made a huge turnaround, ranked no. 1 in the category this year. To be honest, I expected a better performance last year, unfortunately, somehow, there are data that got lost along the way, Moreno said. The mayor attributed CdOs success in resiliency after the city invested in projects that resulted in zero casualties during the onslaught of Typhoon Vinta in December 2017. Retired army colonel Mario Verner Monsanto, executive officer of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said the city invested time, patience and a lot of people development that started from the barangay up to the city level. It is not easy to train people and to change the paradigm of the people, we have a lot of challenges that we saw, Monsanto said. What we did in the first term (2013-2016) was that we created alliances with non government organizations and national agencies, and what we did first was our disaster prevention and mitigations plans; we addressed what we need to be done by the CDRRMO, Monsanto said that on the second term, the city invested in equipments and peoples training. The office ensures that the barangays are resilient so that the city will also be resilient, he added.IS Leader Vows "Dark Days" to Enemy, Incites for Lone-Wolf Attacks in West, and Muslims to Rise Up in Jordan and Saudi ArabiaDavao CityThis city bagged the Fourth Most Competitive City award in the highly urbanized category during the 2018 Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index Awards at the 6th Regional Competitiveness Summit held recently at the Philippine International Convention Center. Ivan Cortez, Officer-in-Charge of the City Planning and Development Office, said the award given by the Department of Trade and Industry was in recognition of different local government units in the country that show outstanding performance in Economic Dynamism, Government Efficiency, Infrastructure, and Resiliency. The award is the testament of all the efforts made by all of the departments of the City Government to bring development to Davao City. With this award, we can see that the government is unceasingly giving its best to continue to improve its services, said Cortez. Davao placed third in Economic Dynamism, considering factors like the size of the economy, sources of material, the structure of an economy, safety compliance of businesses, cost of living, financial deepening involving the number of financial institutions within the city, and a number of people employed. The city also placed third in the Infrastructure category, which includes roads, water, and power utilities, telecommunication, number of transport vehicles, education and health facilities, and financial technology capacity. Finally, Davao ranked second in Resilience, which includes land-use planning, disaster risk management plan, early warning systems and emergency infrastructures.Cortez added that Davao was ranked behind Quezon City, Pasay, and Manila. The selection was made involving 33 highly-urbanized cities. Davao City has consistently placed in the Top 5 of highly-urbanized cities since 2015. The competitiveness index measures a local government units competitiveness and presents an opportunity for local governments to better understand their performance against global standards. This also gives them an avenue for well-informed decisions towards becoming a more competitive LGU, DTI said in a statement.HIGH RICE PRICES. The price of commercial rice (shown in this photo at Paco Market) next month will be higher, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. Norman Cruz

The chairman of the House of Representatives committee on appropriations on Wednesday urged the National Food Authority to look into the alleged price manipulation by rice traders in Mindanao.Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles, the panels chairman, made the call following reports of what he described as abnormally high rice prices in Zamboanga City, where the prices of the staple grain ranges from P55 to P68 per kilo. Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, Nograles said the average retail price of a kilo of regular milled rice in the country is P42.26, while the average retail price of well-milled rice is P45.71 per kilo. Even accounting for less than optimal weather conditions, the discrepancy of the prices in the Zamboanga Peninsula is huge. Prices like these put a huge strain on the limited budgets of families who just want to have three square meals a day. The NFA should check if something illegal is going on, Nograles said. Nograles, a Mindanaoan, was in Zamboanga earlier this week to help facilitate the release and distribution of NFA rice in Zamboanga City. NFA rice is P27 a kilo and is the most affordable rice variety in the market. Some 120,000 bags or 6,000 metric tons of rice were allocated by the NFA for Region IX. This will help stabilize the soaring prices of local commercial rice since the consumers would have more choices of rice to choose from, said Nograles. The NFA said the current scarcity of rice in the country is due to the spate of bad weather which has affected both rice production and the shipment of the food staple, he said.What is worse, the information relayed to me is that unscrupulous traders are hoarding more rice, thereby driving up prices further. They are manipulating the market in their favor but this is making probinsyanos suffer. The NFA must find out if this practice occurs in Zamboanga City alone or in the entire Zamboanga Peninsula, Nograles said.Meanwhile, the NFA said that 133,000 sacks of rice were infested with rice weevils in the Subic Freeport Zone. The rice came from Thailand and arrived at the Freeport last Aug. 2, NFA said. The sacks of rice remain with the supplier which should bear the cost of fumigation, NFA said. It would take from 7 to 12 days to kill the weevils. NFA said it was natural for rice to be infested with weevils but the pests have to be killed first before the sacks could be transported from the warehouses.The Cebu Pacific Air on Thursday announced it had expanded its wings to the Clark International Airport with the introduction of two new routes to help improve its air connectivity and logistics between Central Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao. Beginning Nov. 9, 2018, CEB will mount daily commercial flights between its Clark and Davao hubs as well as between Clark and Tagbilaran (Bohol) once a day. Cebu Pacific Flight 5J 613, bound for Tagbilaran, departs Clark at 955 am daily and arrives at 11:20 am. The return flight, 5J 614, departs Tagbilaran at 11:50 am, and arrives Clark at 1:15 pm. On the other hand, Flight 5J 985 departs from Clark to Davao daily at 1:45 pm, with a scheduled arrival at the Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao at 3:40 pm. The return flight, 5J 986, departs Davao at 4:10 pm, with Estimate Time of Arrival at the Clark International Airport at 6:05 pm. The new Clark routes are on an introductory sale with a base fare of P599 up to Aug. 28, or until seats last. Travel period is from Nov. 9, 2018 to March 30, 2019. Lowest year-round base fare for the Clark-Tagbilaran route is at P888 and P1,088 for Clark-Davao. Cebu Pacific has been operating flights in and out of the Clark International Airport since 2006. Since our maiden Clark-Cebu route, we have not only expanded but consistently maintained our presence at the Clark airport. We remain committed to helping play a pivotal role in the growth of the Clark airport, said lawyer JR Mantaring, vice president for Corporate Affairs of Cebu Pacific. The Clark International Airport has served as the hub for North and Central Luzon of Cebu Pacific for the past 10 years.It has emerged as one of Asias fastest-growing airports, with passenger volume expected to breach two million in 2018. Cebu Pacific mounts direct flights from Clark to Cebu, Singapore, Macau and Hong Kong; and will resume direct flights to Caticlan (Boracay) by Oct. 28. On top of the new routes, Cebu Pacific will also add an additional daily flight between Clark and Cebu starting Oct. 28, 2019. From once daily, Cebu Pacific will fly between Clark and Cebu once in the morning and another in the afternoon. The expansion of our Clark route network and connecting this to our Davao hub will open opportunities for commerce, entrepreneurs and domestic investments for Central Luzon; while we anticipate that the Clark-Tagbilaran route will help boost trade and tourism. This, in turn, will help spur economic growth and provide travelers with more route options to get to their destinations, added Mantaring. Aside from its Clark and Davao hubs, Cebu Pacific operates flights out of five other strategically placed hubs in the Philippines: Manila, Kalibo, Iloilo, Cebu and Cagayan de Oro (Laguindingan). The carrier has maintained leadership in the domestic market with 37 destinations, 76 routes, and over 2,130 weekly flights. As of end-June 2018, Cebu Pacific flew 7.6 million passengers, comprising 73 percent of the 10.4 million passengers flown from January to June 2018.Tourist arrivals in the first seven months of the year increased by 9.74 percent to 4.3 million visitors compared to 3.92 million in the same period last year, the Department of Tourism reported Thursday. In July alone, visitors tallied 601,322, posting a growth rate of 5.86 percent from the 568,035 recorded in July 2017. This, despite the low-travel season and the temporary closure of Boracay, a major tourist draw for the Philippines. Data from DoT-Statistics, Economic Analysis, and Information Management Division show that South Korea remains the countrys top source market, followed by China, the United States, Japan and Australia. In data obtained by the Philippine News Agency, South Koreans totaled 937,227 from January to July 2018. Chinese nationals came in second with 764,094 tourists. China remains a fast-growing market with a 40.01 percent growth rate compared to its 545,725 tourists last year. On the other hand, visitors from the US and Japan reached 649,496 and 366,649, respectively. Australia, the fifth source market of the country, had a total of 161,077 tourists for the same period.Tourism Secretary Bernadette-Romulo Puyat described the steady increase as a positive reflection of the brighter future of the Philippine tourism industry. With the challenges and hurdles the industry is facing, maintaining the positive trajectory of visitor arrivals is not an easy feat, but the industry has kept itself afloat, Romulo-Puyat said in a statement. We only have our stakeholders and government partners to thank. But of course, this will not be possible without the dedicated men and women of the DoT, she added. She expressed optimism the agency would reach the governments target of 7.4 million arrivals for 2018. With the rollout of a comprehensive branding campaign in the coming months and the scheduled reopening of a better Boracay on Oct. 26, we are optimistic that we will hit, or better yet, surpass our target of 7.4 million for 2018, she said.Russia is willing to provide the Philippines with military hardware, including submarines, without political conditions or limitations, Philippine ambassador to Moscow Carlos Sorreta said Wednesday. Russia is willing to provide brand-new equipment, customized to the specific needs of the Philippines, at favorable financial terms with reasonable delivery times, full after-sales service, training and without political conditions or limitations, Sorreta said on his Facebook page. President Rodrigo Duterte accused the US of selling only hand-me-down weapons that he said endangered the lives of Filipino troops in a speech in Cebu Tuesday night. He cited the crash of three refurbished helicopters that killed Filipino soldiers. Duterte said he wanted to buy at least two submarines from the US just to lift the spirit, the soul of Filipino soldiers because we dont have any submarines. He said Thailand had about eight or six submarines, Indonesia about 10 and Malaysia six, and we are the only ones who have none. Now that I intend to purchase from Russia, here comes a statement from America saying dont do it, Duterte said. I do not have a quarrel with America, but America seems to be in a hypocritical stage always.In a post from the Philtizen Daily News, Sorreta said the Kremlin was willing to provide brand-new equipment that could better fit the Philippine Defense departments battle plans and tactics. Sorreta said Russias contribution would be preferable to second-hand equipment. By procuring new and customized equipment, our armed forces will be able to maximize their use since they can be made to fit into our battle plans and tactics, Sorreta said. Sorretas statement came as Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and other defense officials visited Russia to further develop the Philippines defense cooperation with Moscow. Sorreta said Lorenzana and his delegation attended the International Military-Technical Forum of ARMY 2018 and examined Russian military equipment with the pressing defense needs of the Philippines in mind. Lorenzana said the Defense Department will procure equipment that is most advantageous to the Armed Forces of the Philippines through the AFP Modernization Program.Washington Post caught in news cover-up, refuses to report on horrific work conditions of Amazon warehouse workers

Earlier this year, Forbes magazine announced that Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, is now officially the wealthiest billionaire on the planet. Reporting on its annual list of the worlds wealthiest people, the magazine noted:

Centi-billionaire Jeff Bezos secures the lists top spot for the first time, becoming the only person to appear in the Forbes ranks with a 12-figure fortune. Bezoss fortune leapt more than $39 billion, the lists biggest one-year gain ever. He moves ahead of Bill Gates, who is now number 2. It is the biggest gap between no. 1 and 2 since 2001.

Sadly, Bezos has secured this success on the backs of overworked and under-rewarded employees.

Amazon has a corporate culture that is unusual, to say the least. White-collar workers who having been subjected to its unrelenting pace and then hit the wall are advised to simply climb over it. Instead of encouraging co-operation and teamwork, employees are advised to inform on their co-workers and to tear into their ideas at meetings. Annual firings known as purposeful Darwinism are used to cull workers who have been ill, endured miscarriages or have had to battle other personal problems.

And as bad as the corporate culture at Amazon is, working as an Amazon warehouse worker is even worse, with one undercover reporter who worked there for a year describing it as a prison.

Understandably, the mainstream media has been tough on Bezos and on Amazon as a company, with one glaring omission: The Washington Post, which since 1877 has prided itself on shining a light on wrongdoing, has been ominously quiet when it comes to speaking out about the awful working conditions at Amazon. And that is hardly surprising, considering the fact that the paper was purchased by Bezos in 2013 for $250 million.

Democracy dies in darkness? So do human rights 

When the Post added the slogan Democracy Dies in Darkness to its masthead in 2017, there was an immediate backlash from the public, with some calling it ominous and heavy-handed.

Of course, any wrongdoing can only be perpetuated in the darkness, but that applies just as strongly to the blind-eye the Post is turning to the inhumane conditions at Amazon as it does in any political context. (Related: New online retailer set to rival Amazon with unprecedented corporate transparency.)

Concerning those conditions, James Bloodworth, who worked as a picker at an Amazon fulfillment center in England while researching his book, Hired: Six Months Undercover in Low-Wage Britain, told Business Insider:

The job itself is really bad. Ive worked in warehouses before, but this was nothing like I had experienced. You dont have proper breaks  by the time you get to the canteen, you only have 15 or 20 minutes for lunch, in a 10-1/2-hour working day. You dont have time to eat properly to get a drink.

You have to go through security when you leave the warehouse, and that adds five minutes. Its like an airport  belt off, watch off. The atmosphere is what I imagine a prison feels like. You felt like you were walking on eggshells.

Bloodworth also revealed that Amazon workers were under so much pressure that they felt unable even to take bathroom breaks and would pee in bottles to save time. (Related: When Amazon warehouse workers complained of sore feet from walking too much, the company simply replaced them with 30,000 robots  and counting.)

Working conditions like these are simply unacceptable and are exactly the type of injustice that the nations leading newspapers need to be shining a light on. With that in mind, we ask: Why so quiet Washington Post?

Learn more about the failings of the mainstream media at Journalism.news.

Sources for this article include:

Forbes.com

DailyCaller.com

BusinessInsider.com

WashingtonPost.com

NYTimes.comSenator Sherwin Gatchalian is pushing for the abolition of the National Food Authority to spare taxpayers from the burden of subsidizing the inefficient and unproductive agency following the rice crisis in Zamboanga City with grain prices soaring to as much as P70 per kilo. Senators Benigno Aquino IV and Francis Pangilinan likewise appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to fire all NFA officials, led by administrator Jason Aquino, for their failure to do their job and fulfill its 15-day buffer stock policy for almost one year now. Pangilinan said the rice crisis in Zamboanga City is a combination of both corruption and incompetence by NFA officials in cahoots with wealthy private players and cartels in the rice industry who have been raking in profits. For her part, Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said the rice situation in Zamboanga City, which has been placed under a state of calamity Wednesday, has eased with the arrival of shipments of commercial rice from India and Isabela province. Our situation, despite the declaration of a state of calamity, is slowly easing with the arrival of these commercial rice, she said. Gatchalian said the NFA has become a liability to the government with its shrinking revenue and ballooning losses.Taxpayers continue to shoulder the losses that NFA incurs despite its consistent failure to fulfill its mandate to stabilize the market price of rice so that every Filipino family will be able to put enough rice on their plates. Its time to abolish this unproductive agency and put taxpayers money to better use, he said. The Commission on Audit earlier flagged the decision of the NFA in using some P5.1-billion subsidy from the national government as payment for maturing loans instead of allocating the funds for the food security program of the agency. Government auditors said the amount was supposed to ensure there was sufficient food supply in the country. The procurement shortfall affected other programs of NFA, such as rice distribution and buffer stocking resulting in a higher price of rice, unavailability of NFA rice in the market and a lower inventory of rice in various NFA warehouses, CoA said.After nearly a seven-year absence, the goats will be racing again this Saturday at the goat-race birthplace, Speke Resort Munyonyo, on the shores of Lake Victoria.

According to the organisers, there will be seven different goat races with a silent disco hosted by socialite Sue Ochola. Never mind that the goats hardly do any racing.

Tickets will go for Shs 50,000. Like it was in the past races, the best dressed male and female, best dressed child, best dressed couple and best hat will all receive prizes.

Moving with the modern smartphone-selfie era, the best group selfie and best female pose at the glam cam area will also be awarded.

There has never been a perfect social event for Kampalas slay-queens who with no doubt would want to mingle with the citys A-listers.

Gates open from noon with the goat races starting at 1:30pm. Earlier Naiya Ruparelia, one of the lead organisers, disclosed that proceeds from this edition will go to charity and, in particular, the Totos Tag Rugby and Outreach Program to enable children learn the sport.

fkisakye@observer.ugKyadondo East legislator Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu and his Mityana municipality counterpart Francis Zzake are still in pain but out of danger, deputy speaker of parliament Jacob Oulanyah said.



Oulanyah today morning visited Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine at Makindye military barracks and Zaake at Rubaga hospital. Oulanyah told journalists that Bobi, was 'uniquely in humorous mood' but said that the legislator feels a lot of pain in the back. He noted that although Kyagulanyi is still in a lot of pain, he is out of danger.

"He was able to come and sit with me on the table..and we talked, we joked, we were laughing but he is in a lot of pain. But besides that there is no other complication that Bobi Wine. And should there be any, we would be the first to knowHon Bobi Wine is in uniquely humorous position." said Oulanyah.

Deputy speaker Jacob Oulanyah addressing journalists about the state of the MPs Bobi Wine and Francis Zaake

Following Oulanyah's visit, the army released an 8-second unclear video showing Bobi Wine dressed in red attire smiling.

Bobi's arrest and alleged torture sparked off almost daily protests all over the country and global condemnation from within East Africa, Africa, Europe and America. Oulanyah condemned the torture of the MPs and the level of violence in the country which he said is worrying.

"This situation should not have happened. Never should it ever happened. It is really sad, Hon Abiriga was brutally murdered and the campaigns to replace him in parliament has caused people this level of stress. It should not have happened, it was not necessary but it happened. What lessons do we draw from this?"



Both Bobi and Zaake were arrested together with several MPs and over 30 civilians for alleged treason when they alledgedly stoned President Yoweri Museveni's motorcade.

The president's security stormed Hotel Pacific in Arua town where they roughed up the legislators. Bobi's driver, Yasin Kawuma was shot dead in the fracas at the hotel. No suspect has been apprehended in connection to the shooting.Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine has been rearrested within minutes after he was freed by the General Court Martial.

Bobi was freed by the Army court after the state had withdrawn charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition slapped against the MP last week.

Bobi Wine who looked frail appeared before the Army court in Gulu. He was arrested last week alongside over 33 others on allegations of stoning President Yoweri Museveni's motorcade in Arua.

Bobi Wine was rearrested within two seconds after being freed by the Army court

Bobi, like Museveni were in Arua to campaign for their respective candidates. After being freed, Bobi was arrested on the orders of Crime Investigations and Intelligence Directorate (CIID) boss Grace Akullo who was also in the Army court in Gulu today.

Bobi was freed at around 11.21am but arrested shortly and driven with his wife, Barbie Kyagulanyi to Chief Magistrate's court in Gulu where he is facing treason charges.

He was flown last night from Makindye military barracks where he's been remanded since August 15. At Gulu Magistrate's court, prosecution asked court to remand Bobi to Gulu Main Prison like his co-accused as police is still carrying out investigations.

Bobi's lawyer, Medard Sseggona said they do not object to the suspect being remanded but he should be remanded in hospital so as to receive healthcare. Sseggona said they do not object to Bobi being guarded while in hospital so as to receive adequate medical care.

Sseggona argued that when the same court last week remanded the co-accused until August 30, the allegedly tortured suspects have not received treatment.

Bobi, he said has only received painkillers and massages to heal the swellings on his face while in detention in Makindye barracks. Bobi was remanded until August 30 but allowed to access healthcare at a facility of his choice.Dr Kizza Besigye, the former Forum for Democratic Change party president has been arrested from his home and and whisked off to Nagalama police station.

Officers from the Field Force Unit apprehended Besigye this morning when he stepped out of his home in Kasangati in Wakiso district to inquire what they were doing on his compound.

In a 'preventive arrest' move, police officers deployed early morning at homes of opposition politicians including Besigye, Ingrid Turinawe, the FDC Women League leader, Makindye West MP Allan Ssewanyana, Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago among others ahead of Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi trial in the Army court in Gulu.

Besigye before he was arrested

Shortly before he was arrested, Besigye told the media that Ugandans ought to 'wake up' and take on the struggle to liberate the country from what he called current dictatorship under President Yoweri Museveni. He said Ugandans are fond of leaving the struggle to the few politicians, choosing instead to comment about the political dynamics in the country from social media rather than take part in the struggle.

"Unless Museveni has capacity to barricade every home in Uganda, but whoever is not barricaded should do something...Now I have even seen some people on social media saying; why did you sleep in your home? You should know that it will be barricaded. You should sleep somewhere.' But, you, who's not barricaded, you should do something. This is not about anybody, struggle is for everybody that is what every Ugandan must wake up to." said Besigye.

Besigye was dragged into a waiting police known infamously known as the 'Besigye van' and driven to Naggalama police station. Besigye warned the state that arresting of a few opposition politicians will not silence the millions of disgruntled Ugandans out there.

"Cutting off 10 people cannot be cutting off 40 million people. So people wherever they they must be able to do what they can with what they have in every place where theyre. The struggle cannot depend on Besigye, Lord Mayor Lukwago, Ssewanyana, Ingrid Turinawe - I dont know who and the few homes that are being barricaded," Besigye said.

Luke Oweyesigire, the Kampala Metropolitan police spokesperson defended the deployment, saying they had received information that the said politicians were planning to cause violence in the city.

"We have got information that these leaders are planning to cause violence and we cannot allow this to happen again," said Oweyesigire.



Last evening, police issued a statement indicating that they had foiled a plan to set Kampala city ablaze when they impounded two trucks loaded with old car tyres.

Since the arrest and detention of Kyagulanyi in Makindye military barracks, sporadic protests broke out in the parts of the city and neighbouring districts - leading to the deaths of two people and the arrest of over 100.

Kyagulanyi was arrested in Arua following the shooting dead of his driver Yasin Kawuma. Kyagulanyi alongside 33 others were accused of stoning the convoy of President Museveni last week who was also in Arua for the by-election campaigns. He was then arrested on August 14, tried in the General Court Martial on August 14 on allegations illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. He was subsequently remanded to Makindye military barracks until August 23.

Today, the state dropped the charges of illegal possession of firearms and set him free. However within about less than a minute, Kyagulanyi was re-arrested and driven to the Chief Magistrate's court in Gulu to face charges of treason.

He was then remanded to Gulu prison until August 30. Last week, his co-accused who include three members of parliament, and about 30 civilians also appeared before the same court and were also charged with treason and remanded until August 30.

Meanwhile Kenyans today held protests in the capital, Nairobi over the continued detention of Kyagulanyi. The protests were organised by human rights activists.

The Law Society of Kenya advocacy group held a news conference demanding the politicians release.

We hereby call on the government of the Republic of Uganda to launch a thorough independent and impartial (investigation) including appropriate forensic investigations into how Yasin Kawuma was killed with a shot to his head. There must be accountability for this death. (There must be) an immediate and unconditional release of Kyagulanyi, otherwise known as Bobi Wine, from military incarceration, said Charles Kanjama of the Law Society of Kenya.

Kenyans held protests in Nairobi over Bobi Wine. Photo: @jameniwatu

The Law Society of Kenya called on its members to wear red ribbons in a weeklong campaign for solidarity with those in Uganda subjected to human rights violations.

We urge the government of the Republic of Uganda to respect the rule of law and recognize that all power belongs to the people, Kanjama said. The people of Uganda want peace and stability and the ongoing crackdown on opposition dissidents will do nothing but worsen the situation.

At Nairobis Pawa 254 organization, musicians, artists and right activists turned up for a free concert to support the detained politician.

Al Amin Kimathi is part of the organizing team.

We did not know the turnout would be this big, Kithmathi said. We didnt know the kind of traction that it would gain around the country. We are happy that it is gathering that traction around the country and we hope that the message is getting home that Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is getting the message from the young people of Kenya.

Additional reporting by VOAFigures from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) indicate a reduction in the daily entry of refugees from South Sudan to Uganda. But officials are not certain whether this is a result of the recently signed peace agreement.

However, unaccompanied children still populate Palabek refugee settlement. One of the children, Dominic Lokara, tearfully recounted to Arthur Matsiko the bloody episodes that forced him out of the worlds youngest republic.

At least 12 signposts for various non-government organisations, NGOs, welcome you to Palabek refugee settlement in the northern Uganda district of Lamwo. Various huge tents branded with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) logo are erected to accommodate the asylum seekers.

Established in April 2017, Palabek is home to at least 39,000 refugees, most of whom are children and women.

Inside the camp, hundreds of children play under the scorching sun. A truck carrying more refugees arrives. Some women disembark holding little children, others carry small suitcases, while more children walk barefoot; lonely and frightened. Majority have nothing except the torn clothes they are wearing. There are very few men.

A walk around the settlement leads one to an open space where more children are lining up under the blazing sun to receive relief items.

Overcome by impatience, they all scramble to the front of the three queues. In the crowd, one boy stands out. Unbothered, he looks on as his colleagues scramble for sandals, clothes, laundry soap, mattresses and sanitary pads, among other items.

As I approach, Lokara tries to ignore me but my insistence pays off. The 17-year-old is one of the 264 children, who arrived unaccompanied between May and August, 2018. His story is one of pain, right from birth.

One night at about 9pm, several gunshots tore apart Elizabeth Nabois chest. She was carrying her firstborn  Lokara  on her back to the hospital following a malaria attack.

I did not hear the rebels ask for anything. After killing her, they took all her money and ran away, says Lokara, rubbing both palms through his face. After she was shot, I knew it was my turn.

Lokara was left body soaked in the blood of his lifeless mother. Two hours later, police officers helped deliver him to a hospital in Chukudum province, Kapoeta state of South Sudan.

After returning home a week later, his young siblings first question was: Where is mummy?

He narrated the ordeal that sent them into weeping for their beloved mother whose body they never buried. This was in December 2013 when the vicious tribal fighting between the Dinkas allied to President Salvar Kiir and the Nuers allied to Vice President Riek Machar had broken out in the country.

When their father, Lino Nahuruhuchuk, returned home after learning of his wifes death a month later, he immediately joined the government forces. His single-minded intention was to take revenge against the rebels who he suspected killed the mother of his children.

He had always worked from distant towns fending for his family. Now he was fighting for them. Lino fought until 2015 when he, too, lost his life.

FLEEING FOR SAFETY

The time my father was killed, rebels were burning peoples houses every day and night. Me and my seven siblings ran away from home, and were taken to an orphanage owned by Amazing Grace Christian Ministry (AGCM), Lokara recounts.

Here, he stayed with fellow vulnerable children until early 2017 when the organisation sent them back to their villages. Lokara says AGCM officials said they had run out of funds.

This appeared like sending the 80 children to die at the hands of the rebels. The youngsters decided to leave the village and at least perish while escaping to safety. They survived a suspected rebel attack during their two-night walk through jungle.

After the scary attack by the rebels, we all scattered until May 2018 when we all coincidentally met at the border, he says. It was a joyful moment mixed with frustration. But at least we were alive; thats what mattered.

They were rescued by UNHCR officials at Kidepo border.

RISING NUMBERS

Uganda is said to be home to more than 1.4 million refugees, with majority coming from South Sudan. But according to Titus Jogo, a refugee desk officer in the OPM, less than 100 refugees from South Sudan are arriving daily. Before July, that number averaged 200 daily.

According to Greg Lavender, acting director for Plan International Uganda, the amount of humanitarian aid Uganda is able to deliver is increasingly falling short and, therefore, more is still needed to support the affected populations.

For instance, said Lavender, Ugandas refugee funding for all partners currently stands at only 8.2 per cent for 2018; and yet this is the country hosting the third highest refugee populations in the world.

Jogo said there is a funding challenge and asks for more government attention.

The appeal is also to the donors, they should continue to give us funds so that the refugees can at least feel at home as we wait for peace to return to their country, Jogo said.

Last week, Plan distributed non-food items in Palabek to meet immediate needs of refugee children.

Beneficiaries like 15-year-old Susan Napeyiok, said the aid was timely. She had run out of sanitary pads and soap.

We are living under complicated conditions because everything here is scarce, she said. I am now glad after receiving these items. I pray God blesses them so that they can keep bringing for us more.

PEACE DEAL

War erupted in South Sudan in December 2013 amid a power struggle between President Salva Kiir and his deputy Dr Riek Machar. Thousands have died in the fighting which also left scores displaced.

On August 5, 2018 Kiir and Machar signed yet another peace agreement. For Lokeri, who dropped out of school while in senior two, the agreement will not work because both Machar and Kiir feel they can be president.

The selfishness of these two people has cost us more than we shall ever recover, adds Lokeri, whose prayer is to return to school and study Theology.

Only God will stabilize our country, he says.

Napeyiok shares Lokeris sentiments, and believes Machars rebels and Kiirs government army seem to be dedicated to fighting forever.

OPM has arrangements of attaching the unaccompanied minors to foster families in Adjumani district to help them recover from the trauma they are suffering.

Although there are initiatives to establish child-friendly spaces in all settlements, Jogo says sustaining such spaces has been a challenge.

Most NGOs come and establish these spaces, but abandon them after some time. For now, we are looking at having few which can be sustainable, Jogo said.

For now, Lokara and colleagues have to make Uganda their home until peace is restored in South Sudan.

matsiko@observer.ug#SearchingMovie star @JohnTheCho shows a love for indie classics and one major gangster hit https://t.co/q3VcuPDUH2  Rotten Tomatoes (@RottenTomatoes) 22 augusti 2018





THE BIG LEBOWSKI (1998)

: When "The Dude" Lebowski is mistaken for a millionaire Lebowski, two thugs urinate on his rug to coerce him into paying a debt he knows nothing about. While attempting to gain recompense for the ruined rug from his wealthy counterpart, he accepts a one-time job with high pay-off. He enlists the help of his bowling buddy, Walter, a gun-toting Jewish-convert with anger issues. Deception leads to more trouble, and it soon seems that everyone from porn empire tycoons to nihilists want something from The Dude.





GOODFELLAS (1990)

: Henry Hill might be a small time gangster, who may have taken part in a robbery with Jimmy Conway and Tommy De Vito, two other gangsters who might have set their sights a bit higher. His two partners could kill off everyone else involved in the robbery, and slowly start to think about climbing up through the hierarchy of the Mob. Henry, however, might be badly affected by his partners' success, but will he consider stooping low enough to bring about the downfall of Jimmy and Tommy?





LOST IN TRANSLATION (2003)

: After making a striking directorial debut with her screen adaptation of The Virgin Suicides, Sofia Coppola offers a story of love and friendship blooming under unlikely circumstances in this comedy drama. Bob Harris is a well-known American actor whose career has gone into a tailspin; needing work, he takes a very large fee to appear in a commercial for Japanese whiskey to be shot in Tokyo. Feeling no small degree of culture shock in Japan, Bob spends most of his non-working hours at his hotel, where he meets Charlotte at the bar. Twentysomething Charlotte is married to John, a successful photographer who is in Tokyo on an assignment, leaving her to while away her time while he works. Beyond their shared bemusement and confusion with the sights and sounds of contemporary Tokyo, Bob and Charlotte share a similar dissatisfaction with their lives; the spark has gone out of Bob's marriage, and he's become disillusioned with his career. Meanwhile, Charlotte is puzzled with how much John has changed in their two years of marriage, while she's been unable to launch a creative career of her own. Bob and Charlotte become fast friends, and as they explore Tokyo, they begin to wonder if their sudden friendship might be growing into something more. What's your 5 favorite film??Oil and gas is proving to be a sticking point in the NAFTA renegotiations, with the incoming Mexican president hoping to exclude the chapter on energy from the trade deal.

To be sure there have been a series of issues that have divided the three countries. Many of them have been resolved but even at this late date some outstanding issues remain. The U.S. and Mexico are close to hammering out their differences on cars, which would allow Canada to rejoin the talks. The three countries have not agreed on dispute resolution mechanisms, and the U.S. wants the deal to sunset every five years, which would require them to periodically renew the trade pact, a provision that Canada and Mexico oppose because it would create uncertainty.

But oil and gas are also shaping up to be a point of tension, which is an unexpected development. Incoming President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (often referred to as AMLO), who takes office in December, opposes the energy chapter in NAFTA, even as the current administration supports it, according to the Wall Street Journal. Energy was not included in the original NAFTA deal ratified in the 1990s because Mexicos energy sector was under state control. That changed in 2013-2014 when President Enrique Pena Nieto succeeded in ending seven decades of government monopoly. Related: The Next Major Challenge For Norways Oil Industry

AMLO was opposed to those energy reforms when they passed, and while he has since softened his stance on the partial-privatization of oil, gas and electricity, his team is holding up the NAFTA negotiations over energy. The energy sector was on the table, but it wasnt a matter of concern. It was rather a technical issue on how to reflect Mexicos overhaul in the treaty, Carlos Vejar, a trade attorney at law firm Holland & Knight in Mexico City, told the Wall Street Journal. Excluding it could change the scope of the negotiation, given that this is the sector that currently has the highest investment volumes.

AMLO opposes the energy chapter because it would restrict his authority to intervene domestically into the oil and gas sector. Mexicos energy reforms have been solidified as part of constitutional changes, making them difficult for AMLO to scrap. But including energy reforms as part of NAFTA would subject them to international legal protections as well.

In theory, as part of the investor-state dispute settlement process, if the Mexican government under AMLO passed a law or regulation that disrupted the investment of an international oil company, the oil company could initiate a complaint under NAFTA and have it heard by an independent tribunal. Ultimately, the tribunal could decide against a state or federal law that negatively impacts the profits of a foreign oil company in Mexico. Some view this as providing investors certainty, a business-friendly legal protection that will open up Mexico to more investment. Others, particularly in AMLOs camp, view this as subverting state authority and elevating corporate power. Related: Venezuela Takes Unprecedented Action To Stabilize Currency

U.S. and Mexican trade negotiators are meeting this week, and are hoping to quickly wrap up talks before the end of the month, which would allow Canada to rejoin talks. There is pressure on them to approve the renegotiated trade deal before AMLO takes office in December.

However, even though AMLO has yet to take office, he is not without leverage. The NAFTA deal would need to be submitted for approval in the Mexican Senate, where AMLOs party, Morena, will soon control a majority. As such, Mexicos negotiators, even though they are Pena Nietos team, are having to consult with AMLOs advisers to make sure they are on board with the contents of the new NAFTA deal.

At this point, the U.S. and Mexico are very close to a breakthrough, and there are news reports that suggest a handshake agreement will be announced on Thursday. It seems unlikely that the energy chapter will hold up the enormous pressure and momentum to get a deal done.

The implications are profound. The U.S. and Mexico are becoming increasingly integrated on energy. A series of natural gas pipelines are under construction that will ferry higher volumes of gas from the Permian and the Eagle Ford to the Mexican electricity grid. Also, a growing number of American oil companies, as well as others from around the globe, are pouring billions of dollars into Mexicos offshore oil sector. AMLO opposed such a prospect several years ago, but fiscal pressures alone will likely keep his administration in line.

By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:The initial public offering of Saudi Arabias energy major Aramco is still a part of the Kingdoms plans, Oil Minister Khalid al-Falih said, following reports yesterday citing industry sources as saying that the IPO had been canceled.

Arab News quoted Al-Falih as saying, The Government remains committed to the IPO of Saudi Aramco at a time of its own choosing when conditions are optimum. This timing will depend on multiple factors, including favorable market conditions, and a downstream acquisition which the Company will pursue in the next few months, as directed by its Board of Directors.

Industry sources had told Reuters a day earlier that Aramco had disbanded its group of financial advisors and had turned its attention to another deal: the acquisition of a strategic stake in industrial conglomerate Sabic. Earlier reports said plans were for Aramco to buy 70 percent in Sabic, paying for it between US$50 and US$70 billion to the Saudi sovereign wealth fund. In other words, US$50-70 billion would come out of one Saudi state pocketAramcoand go into the other one that is the sovereign wealth fund, PIF.

When these reports first emerged, there were suggestions that the Aramco listing might be suspended due to the lack of what Al-Falih called optimum conditions. The listing that was initially supposed to be both at home and abroad has been delayed several times with Aramco slow to achieve the transparency levels required for a listing on any of the worlds largest bourses, and necessary to spark investor interest. Related: Energy Is A Breaking Point In NAFTA Deal

This investor interest, too, has been more reluctant than Riyadh may have expected, as people become more careful with the oil industry after the 2014 price collapse. Oil prices have also been a problem. Despite an improvement brought about by the production cut agreement from 2016, prices never stayed as high as Saudi Arabia needed them to in order to make the Aramco IPO a success, as large consumers such as India and the United States complained about prices at the pump, pressuring OPEC to do something about it.

Al-Falihs assurances that Aramco has completed its preparation for the listing may be true in part or wholly, but the fact remains that conditions are not optimum, and its anyones guess whenif everthey will become optimum for the IPO to take place.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:Saudi Arabia is still clearly in control of the oil market.

The narrative that decisively took hold over the oil market in August was one of cracks in emerging market demand, concerns over the health of the global economy and fears over the fallout from the U.S.-China trade war. Turkeys currency crisis set off a slide in emerging market currencies, which will likely undercut demand this year. The IMF warned earlier this summer that the downside risks to the economy were growing, a rather prescient prediction. On the supply side of the equation, outages from Iran loom large.

But when it comes to physical barrels on the market, Saudi Arabia is still in the drivers seat. While fears of trade wars will continue to influence sentiment and shape price outcomes, it is the recent shifts in OPEC, and particularly its dominant player Saudi Arabias, output policy which has had the biggest impact on physical balances, prices and the term structure to date, The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies (OIES) wrote in a new report.

For the first few months of this year, Saudi Arabia maintained that the oil market was moving towards rebalancing with inventories in steady decline, but that there was more work to do. Saudi officials repeatedly stuck with the line that the OPEC+ agreement would not be altered before the end of the year and that they would continue to focus on bringing down inventories.

But the Trump administrations withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and the return of sanctions raised fears of a huge disruption in Iranian supply. Suddenly, the market looked very tight. Coming just a few weeks before the June OPEC+ meeting, the U.S. policy change was decisive. Related: Irans Warning To OPEC: No One Can Overtake Our Oil Quota

Oil prices rose sharply in April and May, and after a brief hiatus in early June over fears of a wave of fresh OPEC+ supply, prices rose to a high point at the end of the month. The sharp rise in the oil price in April, the anxiety it created among key consuming countries, the change in the short-term supply outlook, Russias push to increase output, and US pressures on Saudi Arabia to act to put a cap on the oil price caused a revision in Saudi oil policy, OIES wrote in its report.

Saudi officials stopped talking about the need to keep up with the supply curbs in order to rebalance the market and instead began sending signals market participants that Saudi Arabia would do what is necessary to fill any supply gap leftover from Iran, Venezuela and Libya.

The policy shift in Riyadh had a major impact on the market. Saudi Arabia ramped up production well before the OPEC+ meeting. In June, Saudi output jumped to 10.5 million barrels per day (mb/d), up 0.5 mb/d from a month earlier. Much of that increase came before Saudi Arabia knew what the outcome of the OPEC+ meeting would be. Some Gulf State allies, such as the UAE and Kuwait, plus Russia, added production in July.

This increase in production from core GCC producers and Russia arrived at a time when the market

did not need additional supplies despite the rising concerns about outages, OIES concluded. Iran supply had not yet declined and Libya restored some disrupted production. U.S. exports of light sweet crude also rose sharply in June. Interestingly, Saudi Arabia offered extra cargoes of extra light oil whereas Asian refiners were looking for heavier crude mixes. The additional supplies overwhelmed the Atlantic basin, pushing Brent prices lower and flipping the term structure into contango, OIES wrote.

The sudden rush of supply helps explain Saudi Arabias retreat in July. Saudi output fell from 10.44 mb/d in June to 10.387 mb/d in July, a decline of 52,000 bpd. More importantly, there were earlier press reports that suggested that Saudi Arabias initial plan was to continue to ramp up production to between 10.8 and 11.0 mb/d in July, which makes the decision to curb output all the more notable. If Saudi Arabia were to have increased its output to 10.8 mb/d in July as indicated by various reports, the term structure would have weakened further andprices would have fallen below $70/barrel. Related: New Gulf Of Mexico Leases Raise Concerns

Some oil bulls thought that Saudi Arabias decision to cut output in July was a sign that it was aiming for higher prices, especially because the narrative about pending supply shortages was still making headlines. But OIES argues that rather than shooting for much higher prices, Saudi Arabia was merely defending the price floor by curbing production in July, recognizing that oil supply was much more robust than commonly thought.

The upshot is that as we sit here today, while demand fears have dragged Brent down into the low $70s and WTI into the mid-$60s, Saudi Arabia continues to exercise broad influence over the oil market. Saudi Arabia continues to calibrate its production levels so as to maintain price stability. More specifically, Riyadh seems to be aiming for a price range between $70 and $80 per barrel, OIES argues, and its output policy will continue to be the major factor shaping price outcomes in the next few months.

Saudi output will rise and fall depending on market developments. For all the talk about U.S. shale, Iran, the trade war, the currency crisis, or any other potential gamechanger, Saudi Arabia still exercises the most short-term control over oil prices.

By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:The European Union is looking favorably at a proposal by Germanys Foreign Minister Heiko Maas to set a SWIFT-like payment system between the union and Iran as a way of avoiding U.S. sanctions, Sputnik reports, quoting a source from the EU.

Various ideas [on the matter] are being voiced, and at present, one can say that it is an important contribution in terms of efforts to secure the Iran nuclear deal, the source, who was not named, said. Whether or not Maas proposal will be discussed officially by EU officials remains to be seen.

Europe is among Irans top oil destinations and has demonstrated its eagerness to keep the nuclear deal and continue buying Iranian crude. Earlier this year, after President Trump pulled the United States out of the deal, the EU enacted a blocking mechanism from the 1990s that will effectively oblige European companies doing business in Iran to not comply with the U.S. sanctions. The EU also granted the European Investment Bank an external lending mandate to protect these European companies.

Despite these EU assurances that European companies could continue doing business as usual with Iran, European refiners began reducing their intake of Iranian oil pretty much as soon as Trump announced the U.S. pullout of the nuclear deal in May. At the time, Reuters quoted an Italian refiner as saying, It is not clear yet what the U.S. administration can do but in practice we can get into trouble.

Reuters also quoted sources from the industry as saying that all the large European refiners from Eni and Total to Repsol and Cepsa, were preparing to stop buying oil from Iran. Total later pulled out of the South Pars gas project in Iran. This means that the French company is at risk for punitive action from the EU, which makes the whole situation begin to look like the theater of the absurd.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:The ongoing expansion of the U.S.-Mexico cross-border natural gas pipeline capacity provides an additional outlet for the constrained Permian production in West Texas, but delays in some projects on the Mexican side of the border have resulted in low utilization of cross-border pipeline capacity from West Texas, the EIA said in an analysis on Wednesday.

Thanks to the pipeline capacity expansion, U.S. natural gas pipeline exports to Mexico grew to 4.4 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) between January and May 2018. In 2017, U.S. piped natural gas exports averaged 4.2 (Bcf/d), according to the EIA.

The United States is sending via pipelines record volumes of natural gas to Mexico, and although U.S. pipeline capacity to Mexico and exports have jumped in recent years, delays at some pipelines in Mexican territory have slowed the rise in U.S. piped natural gas exports. According to Thomson Reuters data, U.S. exports to Mexico have been at 4.9 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) so far in August as demand for the power sector in Mexico rises.

The EIA estimates that by the end of this year, four out of six major Mexican pipelines identified as strategic are expected to start commercial operations. These pipelines are expected to carry U.S. natural gas farther into Mexicos central and southern regions and provide an additional outlet for the Permian gas production which has been rising together with the crude oil production, the EIA said.

Currently, about three-quarters of U.S. natural gas pipeline exports to Mexico flow from South Texasmostly from the Eagle Ford.

Yet, despite the jump in cross-border pipeline capacity in recent years, exports from West Texas have been limited.

Significant delays in construction of the connecting pipelines on the Mexican side of the border have led to relatively low utilization of cross-border pipeline capacity from western Texas. Some pipelines in Mexico have been delayed by more than a year from their original expected in-service dates, in part because of disputes contesting pipeline routes, said the EIA.

The pipelines put into service this year and expected to begin operations later in 2018 may displace some imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) at the Manzanillo LNG terminal and will serve markets in Guadalajara, Mexicos second-largest city. But until the pipelines that have been delayed to 2019 and 2020 start operations, the high-demand market around Mexico City is expected to continue to be served by existing pipeline infrastructure transporting natural gas from southern Texas, the EIA said.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:Bahrain has suspended issuance of entry visas for Qataris and will bar citizens of the tiny Gulf country to enter the kingdom as the diplomatic crisis in the region drags on.

Bahraini authorities have decided to expel Qatari students in the kingdom though they possess valid visas, reports say. Authorities will also stop issuing visas for nationals of the tiny gas-rich country wishing to visit the kingdom.

The decision was not taken because of Qatari nationals who share brotherly ties with Bahrainis, but as result of irresponsible acts of Qatari authorities that do not consider the rights of neighboring countries or the principles of international law, the Bahraini interior ministry said, according to state-run News Agency (BNA).

The decision comes as Qatars isolation by its neighbors namely Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain plus Egypt entered into its 14th month.

The four countries in June last year severed ties with Doha that they accuse of supporting terrorism and getting too cozy with regional arch enemy Iran.

Qatar has dismissed any wrongdoing and accused the quartet of a smear campaign in a move to bring down the regime.Rosneft has asked a U.S. federal court to establish a robust appraisal and sale process of Citgo shares following Canadian miner Crystallex win at court against the parent company of Citgo, PDVSA, Argus Media reports citing documents submitted by Rosneft to court.

"Such a course of action is particularly appropriate under the circumstances given the multitude of parties and interests potentially affected by a sale of PdVH," the documents said.

Crystallex was ruled the winner in a long-running case against Venezuela, which it has sued over the forced nationalization of its assets by the Hugo Chavez government. A U.S. federal judge last week awarded the miner the right to approach Venezuelas U.S. oil unit, Citgo, to seek its compensation of US$1.4 billion.

Yet the Russian state company has priority rights over 49.9 percent in Citgo. PDVSA used the stake as collateral for a US$1.5-billion loan provided by Rosneft in 2016. The move at the time sparked a lot of negative comments in the United States, with some legislators worried that Rosneft could at some point take control over the U.S. company. The rest of the Citgo stock has been pledged as collateral to a PDVSA bond issue that matures in two years, Argus Media notes.

Now Crystallex wants to take control over the refiner, which operates a refinery network with a daily capacity of 750,000 bpd, and then sell the stock on to another investor or investors to get its US$1.4 billion. The sum was awarded to the Canadian miner as compensation for the forced nationalization of its operations in Venezuela by the Hugo Chavez government.

At the time, the Associated Press noted that the ruling by Chief Judge Leonard P. Stark is unique: government assets such as Citgos parent, PDVSA, are as a rule protected from lawsuits targeting a state. Yet in Starks ruling, the judge said that Venezuela had blurred the lines between the government and the state oil firm, with a military official at the helm of PDVSA.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:Novak Djokovic is looking forward to possibly forming a doubles dream-team with Roger Federer as Europe prepares to take on the Rest of the World in the Laver Cup next month. Djokovic and Federer will spearhead the European challenge in the second staging of the tournament, which takes place in Chicago from September 21-23. Team Europe completed their roster for the event with Britain's Kyle Edmund being added to a strong team which also includes Germany's Alexander Zverev, Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov and Belgium's David Goffin. In last year's inaugural event, Federer teamed up with Rafael Nadal in the doubles for the first time. But with Nadal missing this year's tournament, Djokovic is now expected to form a partnership with Federer. "I am looking forward to it if it comes to that," said Djokovic, who was ruled out of the 2017 event through injury. Djokovic said the opportunity of spending time with fellow professionals in a team environment was too good to pass up. "I am looking forward to spending time with (Federer) and all the other players," he said. "Life on the tour is different. You have your team, and you have your support. The only team event we play is Davis Cup. And you don't get to mix up so much with your biggest rivals for obvious reasons. "Laver Cup is a competition which unites us all and it is very unusual to see that but also very nice that all the players were there backing and supporting the player which as performing on the court." The World team will be led by Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro and also includes Diego Schwartzman, Americans John Isner and Jack Sock, South Africa's Kevin Anderson and Australia's Nick Kyrgios.Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque and Peter Lim

MANILA, Philippines  Malacanang is calling on Cebu-based businessman Peter Lim to surrender and prove his innocence in court.

Were asking Peter Lim, please surrender. If you are innocent, prove your innocence in court. You will be given your day in court. Ive just asked him to surrender. No, Im just saying surrender. Im not appealing. Im just saying if you dont surrender, we will still get you. But if youre innocent, then, we guarantee that you will be given your day in court, said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque in a press briefing on Thursday (August 23).

Lim is suspected of drug trading along with self-confessed drug dealer Kerwin Espinosa.

He is being chased by authorities after the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 65 issued a warrant for his arrest over drug charges.  Rosalie Coz / Marje Pelayo

The post Malacanang calls on businessman Peter Lim to surrender appeared first on UNTV News.Mother of three-month-old girl who died in Hong Kong village arrested for manslaughter

A woman in her 20s was arrested on Thursday for suspected manslaughter after her three-month-old daughter was found dead at home in the New Territories.

Police meanwhile launched a search for the babys 40-year-old father.

The baby was believed to have been left on her own for over a day in a village house in Tung Chan Wai, off San Tin Tsuen Road in Lok Ma Chau, police said.

She was found face down in bed by her mother when she returned home shortly after noon on Thursday. The village is near the Lok Ma Chau immigration control point.

The baby girl was certified dead by paramedics at the scene, a police spokesman said. No injury marks were found on the girl. The case had initially been treated as one of child cruelty.

According to a police source, the babys father had been at home with her but had gone by the time his wife returned.

It is believed the mother left home on Tuesday night after a dispute with her husband.

Superintendent Jackson Mak Pui-yuen said on Thursday evening police were still looking for the babys father in connection with the case.

Mak said initial investigation showed the baby had been left unattended at home for more than 24 hours.

An autopsy will be performed to ascertain the cause of the babys death.

Mak said there had been no reports of domestic violence involving the family.

The case offers echoes of a similar case in Tung Chan Wai earlier this year. Police on May 8 arrested the 17-year-old mother of twin five-month-old boys after her sons were reportedly left unattended in her village house.

She told police she had gone to the neighbouring mainland city of Shenzhen to find her husband and had asked her mother-in-law to look after the twins.

But the 50-year-old mother-in-law called police, saying the teenager had left home before she arrived. No injuries were found on the boys.

Days later, officers arrested the mother-in-law on suspicion of filing a false police report.

Story continues

The grandmother told local media she had called police because she wanted to teach her son a lesson.

This article Mother of three-month-old girl who died in Hong Kong village arrested for manslaughter first appeared on South China Morning Post

For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018.US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday urged his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to "immediately release" jailed Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov, who has been on hunger strike for more than three months. Sentsov, a 42-year-old Kremlin opponent, was arrested in Crimea after Moscow's 2014 annexation of the peninsula and has been languishing in a Russian Artic prison with little hope of release. He announced the hunger strike in May demanding the release of all Ukrainian political prisoners being held in Russia. Pompeo "noted our concerns about Sentsov's health and urged Russia to immediately release Sentsov and all Ukrainian political prisoners," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a readout of the call. The case has garnered wide international attention. In the Czech Republic, filmmakers this week said they were launching a rotating hunger strike in solidarity with the director. And French newspaper Le Monde carried a plea signed by dozens of figures from the world of culture calling for his release, saying "Oleg Sentsov could die any minute." Sentsov was convicted of planning arson attacks on pro-Moscow party offices in Crimea after Russia annexed the peninsula from Ukraine in 2014. He had also taken part in the Maidan protests in Kiev during the winter of 2013-2014 that culminated in Moscow-backed president Viktor Yanukovych fleeing the country. Nauert said Pompeo and Lavrov had also discussed the situation in Syria, including military activities in Idlib province, which borders Turkey. President Bashar al-Assad has his sights set on retaking control of Idlib, currently held by rebels. Pompeo asked Lavrov "to support efforts in the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, as well as efforts to hold the Syrian regime accountable for its use of chemical weapons," Nauert said.Phuket, Thailand, 8 August 2018  Bancha Rakchart is the exciting new Pastry Chef at Phuket Marriott Resort and Spa, Nai Yang Beach, who is bringing fresh creativity to the resorts highly-skilled culinary team.

A Thai national from Nakhon Ratchasima, Chef Bancha has previously worked with a series of leading international hotel brands, including Six Senses, Hilton, Conrad and Swissotel. Throughout the course of his career, he has focused on producing the finest pastries and desserts by combining the classical skills of European cookery and the artistry of Asian cuisine.

Chef Bancha has a modern, innovative approach to pastry which blends the best elements of east and west. For example, one of his favorite dishes is mango cheesecake  a classic European dessert that harnesses the fresh flavor of ripe Thai mangoes and raspberry sorbet to create the perfect combination of sweet and sour. He loves to use fresh local ingredients, including young coconuts and lemongrass.

Chef Bancha will now bring his extensive expertise and experience to Phuket Marriott Resort and Spa, Nai Yang Beach. Guests can look forward to sampling his sweet and savory treats every day at The Andaman Kitchen and Big Fish Restaurant & Bar.Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Harmful algae isn't just a problem for high-profile bodies of waterit poses serious, toxic threats in small ponds and lakes as well, new research has found.

A team of researchers from The Ohio State University examined water samples from two dozen ponds and small lakes in rural Ohio and found plenty of cause for concern, with particularly high levels of toxins at one lake.

Toxins from algae can cause skin rashes, intestinal problems and damage to the liver and nervous system. Fertilizers common to agricultureincluding nitrogen and phosphorouscreate an environment in which harmful algae can flourish.

The researchers said that the way farmers manage runoff could play a significant role in creating water bodies that are ripe for harmful algal blooms. A primary concern is tile drainage, a widely used agricultural approach to removing excess water from the soil below the surface. That waterand the nutrients found in itare rerouted, often toward ponds on farm property, said study co-author Seungjun Lee, a postdoctoral researcher in environmental health sciences at Ohio State.

"A lot of people and government agencies are paying attention to larger lakes, including Lake Erie, but these smaller bodies of water are also used for recreation, fishing and irrigation," he said.

The study was published recently in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.

The research team, led by Ohio State's Jiyoung Lee, analyzed samples from the 24 bodies of water over a three-month period in late summer 2015.

Ten of the sites had detectable levels of microcystins, toxins produced by freshwater cyanobacteria during algal blooms.

One site had repeated instances of microcystin concentrations above recreational guidelines set by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, and so the research team paid particular attention to the samples from that site.

"Samples from this lake in early July were particularly concerning, as they contained four times the recommended amount of microcystin for recreational use and more than 800 times the recommended level for drinking," Seungjun Lee said.

A pond or lake with high toxin levels presents a risk to people, pets, farm animals, wildlife (including fish) and crops and could benefit from routine monitoring and work to lower the risk of algal blooms, he said. The researchers did not name the lake in question, because it is privately owned.

Jiyoung Lee said the impact of tile drainage may be elevated in small lakes and ponds, compared to larger lakes.

"Highly concentrated nutrients are being introduced into a smaller volume of water, making small lakes and ponds more sensitive to this influx of phosphorous, nitrogen and other nutrients," she said.

Nitrate and phosphorous are linked to the primary type of toxic microcystin found in the water. Judicious use of fertilizers could help control the algal blooms, as could measures to reduce animal waste contamination of ponds and lakes, Seungjun Lee said.

Though the study concentrated on Ohio agricultural areas, its findings likely apply to many areas throughout the U.S. and the world where agriculture and small lakes and ponds coexist, the researchers said.

Explore further Harmful algal blooms can become airborneContractor David Meyer pushes a plywood board into place over a window in preparation of the approaching strong winds of Hurricane Lane, Wednesday, August 22, 2018, in Honolulu. Hurricane Lane has weakened as it approaches Hawaii but was still expected to pack a wallop, forecasters said Wednesday. Hawaii residents prepared for the hurricane by buying water, flashlights, propane and other emergency supplies. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)

As emergency shelters opened, rain began to pour and cellphone alerts went out, the approaching hurricane started to feel real for Hawaii residents.

Hurricane Lane was forecast to continue its northwest turn into the islands Thursday, which would make it the most powerful storm to hit Hawaii since Hurricane Iniki in 1992.

"Everyone is starting to buckle down at this point," said Christyl Nagao of Kauai. "Our families are here. We have businesses and this and that. You just have to man your fort and hold on tight."

Officials opened shelters on the Big Island and on the islands of Maui, Molokai and Lanai on Wednesday. They urged those needing to use the Molokai shelter to get there soon because of concerns the main highway on the south coast of the island could become impassable.

On the island of Oahu, which was put on a hurricane warning late Wednesday, shelters were scheduled to open Thursday. Officials were also working to help Hawaii's sizeable homeless population, many of whom live near beaches and streams that could flood.

Hawaii Emergency Management Agency Administrator Tom Travis said there's not enough shelter space statewide and advised those who are not in flood zones to stay home.

Beach goers frolic on Waikiki Beach, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, in Honolulu. Hurricane Lane has weakened as it approaches Hawaii but was still expected to pack a wallop, forecasters said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)

Officials warned the limited shelter space should be a "last resort" and aren't designed to withstand winds greater than about 40 mph (64.3 kph).

"Whenever possible, the public should plan to shelter in place or stay with family or friends in homes outside of these hazard areas that were designed, built, or renovated to withstand anticipated conditions," the city and county of Honolulu said in a news release.

Hurricanes are ranked 1 to 5 according to what is known as the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Hurricane Lane is at category 4, which means winds from 130 to 156 mph (251 kph).

The Big Island was already starting to see Lane's first effects, Gov. David Ige said at a news conference Wednesday.

The hurricane's outer rain bands were bringing showers to some parts of the island, said Matt Foster, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

In this photo taken Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018, Jodi Nishida and Sam Delovio push along plyboard they purchased at a City Mill store before the arrival of a hurricane in Honolulu. Hurricane Lane has weakened as it approaches Hawaii but was still expected to pack a wallop, forecasters said Wednesday, as people hurried to buy water and other supplies and the Navy moved its ships to safety. (Craig T. Kojima/Honolulu Star-Advertiser via AP)

The eastern side of the island picked up nearly 3 inches (7.62 centimeters) of rain in three hours, Foster said.

Melanie Davis, who lives in a suburb outside Honolulu, said she was gathering canned food and baby formula.

"We're getting some bags of rice and of course, some Spam," she said of the canned lunch meat that's popular in Hawaii.

She was organizing important documents into a folderbirth and marriage certificates, Social Security cards, insurance paperworkand making sure her three children, all under 4, have flotation devices such as swimming vests"just in case."

Public schools were closed for the rest of the week and local government workers were told to stay home unless they're essential employees.

This NASA satellite natural-color image made at at 10:45 a.m. Hawaii Standard Time (20:45 GMT) on Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018, shows Hurricane Lane as a powerful category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 250 kilometers (155 miles) per hour. The Big Island of Hawaii is at upper left. Hurricane Lane has weakened as it approaches Hawaii but was still expected to pack a wallop, forecasters said Wednesday, Aug. 22, as people hurried to buy water and other supplies and the Navy moved its ships to safety. (NASA via AP)

Meteorologist Chevy Chevalier said Lane may drop to a Category 3 by Thursday afternoon but that would still be a major hurricane.

"We expect it to gradually weaken as it gets closer to the islands," Chevalier said. "That being said, on our current forecast, as of the afternoon on Thursday, we still have it as a major hurricane."

The central Pacific gets fewer hurricanes than other regions, with about only four or five named storms a year. Hawaii rarely gets hit. The last major storm to hit was Iniki in 1992. Others have come close in recent years.

"We're planning on boarding up all our windows and sliding doors," Napua Puaoi of Wailuku, Maui, said after buying plywood from Home Depot. "As soon as my husband comes homehe has all the power tools."

Puaoi was 12 when Iniki hit Hawaii.

In this photo taken Tuesday, August 21, 2018, lines form at a gas station before the arrival of a hurricane in Honolulu. Hurricane Lane has weakened as it approaches Hawaii but was still expected to pack a wallop, forecasters said Wednesday, as people hurried to buy water and other supplies and the Navy moved its ships to safety. (Craig T. Kojima/Honolulu Star-Advertiser via AP)

"When it did happen, I just remember, pandemonium, it was all out craziness," she said.

Unlike Florida or Texas, where residents can get in their cars and drive hundreds of miles to safety, people in Hawaii are confined to the islands.

Instead, they must stay put and make sure they have enough supplies to outlast prolonged power outages and other potential emergencies.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has several barges with food, water and supplies that it moved into the region ahead of Hurricane Hector, which skirted past the islands more than a week ago, according to FEMA Administrator Brock Long.

The U.S. Navy was moving its ships and submarines out of Hawaii. All vessels not currently undergoing maintenance were being positioned to help respond after the storm, if needed.

This satellite image provided by NOAA on Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018 shows Hurricane Lane south of Hawaii. The National Weather Service's Central Pacific Hurricane Center expects Lane to move very close to over Hawaii from Thursday through Saturday. Forecasters say even if Lane doesn't make landfall, the islands could be walloped with rain and wind. (NOAA via AP)

This image provided by NASA on Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018 shows Hurricane Lane as seen from the International Space Station. The National Weather Service says the hurricane will still pack a wallop for Hawaii on Thursday before gradually slowing over the next two days. Early Wednesday, the hurricane was 320 miles (515 kilometers) south of Hilo on Hawaii Island and moving northwest toward other islands. (NASA via AP)

Loren, right, and Ruby Aquino, of Honolulu, load water into their car ahead of Hurricane Lane, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018 in Honolulu. Hurricane Lane has weakened as it approaches Hawaii but was still expected to pack a wallop, forecasters said Wednesday. The National Weather Service said tropical-storm-force winds could begin as early as Wednesday afternoon on the Big Island. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones)

With several monitor displaying hurricane information in several different languages behind them, two women sit at a desk inside a Waikiki hotel, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, in Honolulu. Hurricane Lane has weakened as it approaches Hawaii but was still expected to pack a wallop, forecasters said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)

Rudy Kok, left, and Mary Kok pull their dingy out out of the harbor to secure to their sailing boat in preparation of Hurricane Lane, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, in Honolulu. Hurricane Lane has weakened as it approaches Hawaii but was still expected to pack a wallop, forecasters said Wednesday. The Koks double moored their boat hoping to keep it from sustaining any damage from the hurricane. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)

A man fills up his truck as other vehicles line up behind for gasoline at a Costco in preparation for Hurricane Lane, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, in Kapolei, Hawaii. (AP Photo/John Locher)

A woman fills up her car as other vehicles line up behind her for gasoline at a Costco in preparation for Hurricane Lane, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, in Kapolei, Hawaii. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Explore further Hawaii braces for major hurricane

 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.One of the rarest birds in the western hemisphere, the Bahama Nuthatch, has been rediscovered by research teams searching the island of Grand Bahama. The finding is particularly significant because the species had been feared extinct following the catastrophic damage caused by Hurricane Matthew in 2016, and had not been found in subsequent searches. But it is feared that there could only be two left -- placing the species on the verge of extinction and certainly among the world's most critically endangered birds. Credit: Matthew Gardner, University of East Anglia

One of the rarest birds in the western hemisphere, the Bahama Nuthatch, has been rediscovered by research teams searching the island of Grand Bahama.

The finding is particularly significant because the species had been feared extinct following the catastrophic damage caused by Hurricane Matthew in 2016, and had not been found in subsequent searches.

But it is feared that there could only be two leftplacing the species on the verge of extinction and certainly among the world's most critically endangered birds.

The Bahama Nuthatch is an endangered species, only known from a small area of native pine forest on Grand Bahama Island, which lies approximately 100 miles off Palm Beach, Florida.

University of East Anglia masters students Matthew Gardner and David Pereira set out on a three-month expedition to find this and other endemic Caribbean pine forest bird species.

They made their way through dense forest with thick 'poisonwood' understoreythe layer of vegetation growing beneath the main forest canopyin what is thought to be one of the most exhaustive searches of the island.

They worked in partnership with Nigel Collar and David Wege from Birdlife International and the Bahamas National Trust, the organisation which works to protect the habitats and species of The Bahama Islands.

Meanwhile a second team of Bahamian students, led by Zeko McKenzie of the University of The Bahamas-North and supported by the American Bird Conservancy, also searched for the bird.

The Bahama Nuthatch has a long bill, a distinctive high-pitched squeaky call, and nests only in mature pine trees. There had been a sharp decline in its population crashing from an estimated 1,800 in 2004 to just 23 being seen in a survey in 2007. The decline likely began in the 1950s due to habitat loss due to timber removal, and more recently due to hurricane damage, storm surges having killed large areas native forest.

Both teams made Nuthatch sightings in May, and the UEA team were lucky enough to capture the elusive bird on film.

Dr. Diana Bell, from UEA's School of Biological Sciences, said: "The Bahama Nuthatch is a critically endangered species, threatened by habitat destruction and degradation, invasive species, tourist developments, fires and hurricane damage.

"Our researchers looked for the bird across 464 survey points in 34,000 hectares of pine forest. It must have been like looking for a needle in a hay stack. They played out a recording of the bird's distinctive call in order to attract it.

"As well as searching for the elusive bird, they also collected environmental data to better understand its habitat preferences and surveyed the extent of hurricane and fire damage," she added."

Matthew Gardner said: "We were the first to undertake such an exhaustive search through 700km of forest on foot.

One of the rarest birds in the western hemisphere, the Bahama Nuthatch, has been rediscovered by research teams searching the island of Grand Bahama. The finding is particularly significant because the species had been feared extinct following the catastrophic damage caused by Hurricane Matthew in 2016, and had not been found in subsequent searches. But it is feared that there could only be two left -- placing the species on the verge of extinction and certainly among the world's most critically endangered birds. Credit: Matthew Gardner, University of East Anglia

"We had been scouring the forest for about six weeks, and had almost lost hope. At that point we'd walked about 400km. Then, I suddenly heard its distinctive call and saw the unmistakable shape of a Nuthatch descending towards me. I shouted with joy, I was ecstatic!"

The UEA team made six Nuthatch sightings in total, and McKenzie's team independently made five sightings, using different methods, in the same small area of forestincluding a sighting of what they believe to be two birds together.

Mr Gardner said: "During three months of intensive searching we made six Bahama Nuthatch sightings. Our search was extremely thorough but we never saw two birds together, so we had thought there might only be one left in existence."

"The other team have reported seeing two together so that is promising. However, these findings place the species on the verge of extinction and certainly amongst the world's most critically endangered birds."

"We also don't know the sex of the birds. In many cases when birds dwindle to such small numbers, any remaining birds are usually male."

"The photographs clearly show this distinctive species and cannot be anything else" said Michael Parr, President of American Bird Conservancy and a UEA alumnus.

"Fortunately this is not a hard bird to identify, but it was certainly a hard bird to find," he added.

The Nuthatch was spotted in a small area known as Lucaya Estates. During the research project, birds were seen and heard in three distinct but nearby locations within this area.

One of the rarest birds in the western hemisphere, the Bahama Nuthatch, has been rediscovered by research teams searching the island of Grand Bahama. The finding is particularly significant because the species had been feared extinct following the catastrophic damage caused by Hurricane Matthew in 2016, and had not been found in subsequent searches. But it is feared that there could only be two left -- placing the species on the verge of extinction and certainly among the world's most critically endangered birds. Credit: Matthew Gardner, University of East Anglia

Researcher Zeko McKenzie said: "Although the Bahama Nuthatch has declined precipitously, we are encouraged by the engagement of conservation scientists who are now looking for ways to save and recover the species."

The UEA team however are less optimistic as the exact drivers of the precipitous decline of the bird are still unclear.

Dr. Diana Bell said: "Sadly, we think that the chances of bringing this bird back from the brink of extinction are very slimdue to the very low numbers left, and because we are not sure of the precise drivers for its decline.

"But it is still absolutely crucial that conservation efforts in the native Caribbean pine forest do not lapse as it is such an important habitat for other endemic birds including the Bahama Swallow, Bahama Warbler and Bahama Yellowthroat.

"The habitat is also incredibly important for North American migrants including the Kirtlands Warbler," she added.

Ellsworth Weir, Grand Bahama Parks Manager at the Bahamas National Trust, said: "It has been a pleasure for The Bahamas National Trust to host both Matthew and David as they conducted this very important research on Grand Bahama."

"Their work has taken them across the length and breadth of the island in what was likely the most in depth search to be conducted. Their research, which was inclusive of bird and habitat surveys, has helped to answer questions that some residents have been asking for some time."

"Sadly, we realize now that we are faced with a very dire situation regarding the Bahama Nuthatch. We wouldn't have realized the extent of the issue without the persistent efforts of David and Matthew."

Explore further Long-term study reveals one invasive insect can change a forest bird communityThe hybrid of the lesser spotted eagle and the greater spotted eagle Credit: Urmas Sellis

Hybridization among bird species is a widespread phenomenon, which is best illustrated in Estonia by the lesser spotted eagle and the greater spotted eagle. However, due to the fact that the migration strategies of both bird species are completely different, studying their hybrid offspring helps ornithologists discover a lot about their migration secrets.

The lesser spotted eagle is an early leaving far traveler. The greater spotted eagle is a late leaving short- and middle-distance traveler. According to Ulo Vali, senior researcher at the chair of biological diversity and nature tourism of the Estonian University of Life Sciences, hybridization causes confusion among ornithologists, but it is worrying, because the rare greater spotted eagle may be endangered. At the same time, studying hybrids can reveal answers to ecological questions. "With their hybridization, birds offer scientists an excellent inter-breeding experiment from nature, which helps explain factors affecting the migration of birds."

Thus, for instance, it has been believed for a long time that the timing, direction and length of migration of passerines with a shorter lifespan is mostly determined by genetic factors, and for bigger birds with a longer life-span, it is more important to learn from their parents and others of the same species. It has previously only been possible to conduct experiments with small passerines in order to check these assumptions. The research of migration of big birds with a longer lifespan has been hampered by inadequate technical capacities.

In an international study managed by Vali, the results of which were recently published in an article in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, researchers examined the migration pattern of spotted eagle hybrids or bigger birds with a longer lifespan. To follow the migration, hybrid birds were fitted with GPS transmitters tracking their exact location in Estonia, Lithuania and Poland. The data was gathered for more than a decade, and to obtain a better overview, the researchers compiled a thorough migration database.

The hybrid of the lesser spotted eagle and the greater spotted eagle. Credit: Ulo Vali

The researchers report that hybrids most frequently depart as early as lesser spotted eagles; however, they don't fly as far, which could have been predicted based on the important role of social factors. Instead, the hybrids rather chose to overwinter at the latitudes more typical of greater spotted eagles.

In addition, the variety of their migration routes and the size of winter territories was more characteristic of the greater spotted eagle. These results show that although social and territorial factors can impact the migration strategies of birds with a longer lifespan, the role of genetic factors in these species is bigger than presumed.

Explore further Where do crows go in winter?

More information: Ulo Vali et al, Genetic determination of migration strategies in large soaring birds: evidence from hybrid eagles, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences (2018). Journal information: Proceedings of the Royal Society B Ulo Vali et al, Genetic determination of migration strategies in large soaring birds: evidence from hybrid eagles,(2018). DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.0855

Provided by Estonian Research CouncilSaudi Arabia has allowed its medical students in Canada to stay for three more weeks until late September before they are pulled out in line with the kingdoms set of measures made to denounce the North American countrys interference into its domestic affairs.

Five universities of Canada where medical students of the Gulf kingdom are enrolled have reportedly received instructions to let the students continue their studies until September 22, rather than end of August; date set by Riyadh to pull out all its citizens living in the north American country.

University of Toronto, University of British Columbia, Dalhouse University, McGill University and McMaster University reportedly received a call on the matter from the Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau. The Bureau is the kingdoms institution that places the Saudi students around the world.

Saudi students at University of British Columbia have been allowed to stay until the end of their exam scheduled for Sept. 26-27, an executive associate dean of the university told Reuters.

Riyadh this month cut off diplomatic ties with Canada over its called interference into its domestic affairs after Ottawa demanded the release of all civil rights activists languishing in prison in the kingdom.

Saudi authorities took a string of actions including uprooting all citizens, close to 7,000 people among whom 2,000 students reside in Canada.

Canada has regretted the decision and hopes the diplomatic row will quickly be defused so that the students who will be transferred to other locations around the world, can stay to finish their education programs.

We remain hopeful there can be a resolution in the end that allows our learners to stay, said Salvatore Spadafora, vice dean of post-MD education at the University of Toronto.This 1.5 tonne building block was produced as a demonstration of 3D printing techniques using lunar soil. The design is based on a hollow closed-cell structure  reminiscent of bird bones  to give a good combination of strength and weight. Credit: ESA

In the coming decades, many space agencies hope to conduct crewed missions to the moon and even establish outposts there. In fact, between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), Roscosmos, and the Indian and Chinese space agencies, there are no shortages of plans to construct lunar bases and settlements. These will not only establish a human presence on the moon, but facilitate missions to Mars and deeper into space.

For instance, the ESA is planning on building an "international lunar village" on the moon by the 2030s. As the spiritual successor to the International Space Station (ISS), this village would also allow for scientific research in a lunar environment. Currently, European researchers are planning how to go about constructing this village, which includes conducting experiments with lunar dust simulants to create bricks.

To put it simply, the entire surface of the moon is covered in dust (aka. regolith) that is composed of fine particles of rough silicate. This dust was formed over the course of billions of years by constant meteorite impacts which pounded the silicate mantle into fine particles. It has remained in a rough and fine state due to the fact that the lunar surface experiences no weathering or erosion (due to the lack of an atmosphere and liquid water).

Because it is so plentiful, reaching depths of 4-5 meters (13-16.5 feet) in some places  and up to 15 meters (49 feet) in the older highland areas  regolith is considered by many space agencies to be the building material of choice for lunar settlements. As Aidan Cowley, the ESA's science advisor and an expert when it comes to lunar soil, explained in a recent ESA press release:

"Moon bricks will be made of dust. You can create solid blocks out of it to build roads and launch pads, or habitats that protect your astronauts from the harsh lunar environment."

Artists concept for a multi-dome lunar base, which would be constructed by 3D-printing robots using lunar dust (regolith). Credit: ESA/Foster + Partners

In addition to taking advantage of a seemingly inexhaustible local resource, the ESA's plans to use lunar regolith to create this base and related infrastructure demonstrates their commitment to in-situ resource utilization. Basically, bases on the moon, Mars, and other locations in the Solar System will need to be as self-sufficient as possible to reduce reliance on Earth for regular shipments of supplies  which would both expensive and resource-exhaustive.

To test how lunar regolith would fare as a building material, ESA scientists have been using moon dust simulants harvested right here on Earth. As Aiden explained, regolith on both Earth and the moon are the product of volcanism and are basically basaltic material made up of silicates. "The moon and Earth share a common geological history," he said, "and it is not difficult to find material similar to that found on the moon in the remnants of lava flows."

The simulant were harvested from the region around Cologne, Germany, that were volcanically active about 45 million years ago. Using volcanic powder from these ancient lava flows, which was determined to be a good match for lunar dust, researchers from the European Astronaut Center (EAC) began using the powder (which they've named EAC-1) to fashioning prototypes of the bricks that would be used to created the lunar village.

Spaceship EAC, an ESA initiative designed to tackle the challenges of crewed spaceflight, is also working with EAC-1 to develop the technologies and concepts that will be needed to create a lunar outpost and for future missions to the moon. One of their projects centers on how to use the oxygen in lunar dust (which accounts for 40% of it) to help astronauts have extended stays on the moon.

But before the ESA can sign off on lunar dust as a building material, a number of tests still need to be conducted. These include recreating the behavior of lunar dust in a radiation environment to simulate their electrostatic behavior. For decades, scientists have known that lunar dust is electrically-charged because of the way it is constantly bombarded by solar and cosmic radiation.

ESAs 3D-printed lunar base concept, based on the design produced by the architectural design and engineering firm Foster+Partners. Credit: ESA/Foster + Partners

This is what causes it to lift off the surface and cling to anything it touches (which the Apollo 11 astronauts noticed upon returning to the Lunar Excursion Module). As Erin Transfield  a member of ESA's lunar dust topical team  indicated, scientists still do not fully understand lunar dust's electrostatic nature, which could pose a problem when it comes to using it as a building material.

What's more, the radiation-environment experiments have not produced any conclusive results yet. As a biologist who dreams of being the first woman on the moon, Transfield indicated that more research is necessary using actual lunar dust. "This gives us one more reason to go back to the moon," she said. "We need pristine samples from the surface exposed to the radiation environment."

Beyond establishing a human presence on the moon and allowing for deep-space missions, the construction of the ESA's proposed lunar village would also offer opportunities to leverage new technologies and forge partnerships between the public and private sector. For instance, the ESA has collaborated with the architectural design firm Foster + Partners to come up with the design for their lunar village, and other private companies have been recruited to help investigate other aspects of building it.

At present, the ESA plans to build their international lunar village in southern polar region, where plentiful water ice has been discovered. To investigate this, the ESA will be sending their Package for Resource Observation and in-Situ Prospecting for Exploration, Commercial exploitation and Transportation (PROSPECT) mission to the moon in 2020, which will be traveling as part of the Russian Luna-27 mission.

This mission, a joint effort between the ESA and Roscosmos, will involve a Russian-built lander setting down in the moon's South Pole-Aitken Basin, where the PROSPECT probe will deploy and drill into the surface to retrieve samples of ice. Going forward, the ESA's long-term plans also call for a series of missions to the moon beginning in the 2020s that would involve robot workers paving the way for human explorers to land later.

In the coming decades, the intentions of the world's leading space agencies are clear  not only are we going back to the moon, but we intend to stay there! To that end, considerable resources are being dedicated towards researching and developing the necessary technologies and concepts needed to make this happen. By the 2030s, we might just see astronauts (and even private citizens) coming and going from the moon with regular frequency.

Explore further The toxic side of the MoonCredit: Fauna & Flora International

Vietnam is famous for several reasons: it was a notorious theatre of war during an unspeakably horrific but generation-defining conflict; it has become an extremely popular 'new' tourism destination; and it boasts a world-conquering, some would say unparalleled, cuisine. What Vietnam is not famous for  outside the conservation community, at least  is its wildlife. And yet the country is one of the most biologically rich on the planet, harbouring 10 percent of all the world's known species  despite covering just 1 percent of the land area.

Vietnam has not only an incredible variety of wildlife, but also a vast array of so-called endemic species  those that are found nowhere else on the planet, in other words. Nowhere is this diversity and endemism more apparent than among the country's primates. Unbeknownst to almost everyone, Vietnam has a staggering 25 primate species. Five of these are endemic and all the rest  bar the lorises and macaque  occur only in Indochina. And even those species also found in Cambodia, Laos or China tend to be confined to areas close to the Vietnam border.

Sadly, the survival chances of these wonderful animals are diminishing by the day. What people also don't know about these primates is that 11 of them  all langurs (leaf-eating monkeys) and gibbons (small apes)  are listed as critically endangered, the highest level of threat category on the IUCN Red List. Many other species are officially endangered. In other words, we are perilously close to an unprecedented event in the history of the world  a human-induced mass extinction of primates.

Red-shanked douc langur, one of the critically endangered monkeys captured on film. Credit: Jeremy Holden/FFI

We still have a critical window of opportunity in which to prevent such a calamity, but that window is closing fast. Vietnam is changing: from the emerging green movement of the youth, to pioneering government legislation and commitments, we see change wherever we look. But unless there is a concerted effort, right here, right now, we will start to see primates disappear forever.

A crucial part of FFI's multifaceted approach to primate conservation is raising awareness. Government bureaucrats, donor agencies, local companies and the general population alike will not be able prioritise  let alone protect  primates, if they are not even aware of their existence. With this in mind, FFI has partnered with internationally acclaimed film-maker Ryan Deboodt to produce a series of stunning short films showcasing the threatened primates that form the spectacular centrepiece of Vietnam's unique and irreplaceable natural heritage.

Credit: Fauna & Flora International

This remarkable footage provides us with a privileged insight into the lives of monkeys and apes that are on the very brink of extinction. This may be the last we see of them, unless we act now.In this Dec. 19, 2014, photo, a worker digs in a fermentation bed at an organic pig farm in Handan in northern China's Hebei province. China, the world's largest producer of pork, is battling an African swine fever outbreak that could potentially devastate herds. Authorities say the disease, which is fatal only to pigs and wild boar, has been detected in multiple locations across the vast country. (Chinatopix via AP)

China on Thursday reported another outbreak of African swine fever that threatens the country's crucial pork industry, but officials say they have the situation under control.

The latest cases were reported in the eastern city of Wenzhou and resulted in 430 pigs being infected, of which 340 died, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said on its website.

That followed cases in at least three other locations this month resulting in the deaths or culling of thousands of pigs. The highly contagious viral disease only affects pigs and wild boar.

The Wenzhou outbreak was first reported on Aug. 17 and confirmed on Wednesday.

Ministry teams have been dispatched to establish a quarantine zone, cull infected pigs and disinfect others. It says the outbreak has been "effectively dealt with."

China is the world's largest pork producer, breeding as many as 600 million pigs annually. Pork is a staple of the Chinese diet, accounting for more than 60 percent of animal protein consumed, and price fluctuations are closely watched by the government.

The outbreaks, the first reported in China, came as the industry is moving from small farms to massive breeding operations similar to those in the U.S. and Europe.

Explore further China culls thousands of pigs as African swine fever spreads

 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.The solar protoplanetary nebula. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

A multi-institutional team of researchers has discovered silica mineral quartz in a primitive meteorite, comprising direct evidence of silica condensation within the solar protoplanetary disk, and offering new clues to understanding solar formation and evolution. Though previous infrared spectroscopic observations have suggested the existence of silica in young and newly formed T Tauri stars as well as in asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars in their last phase of life, no evidence of gas-solid condensation of silica had been found in other primitive meteorites from the early stages of the solar system.

The scientists studied the primitive meteorite Yamato-793261 (Y-793261), a carbonaceous chondrite collected from an ice field near the Yamato Mountains during the 20th Japan Antarctic Research Expedition in 1979.

"The degree of crystallinity of organic matter in Y-793261 shows that it did not undergo thermal metamorphism," explains Timothy Jay Fagan, professor of geochemistry at Waseda University. "This confirms that Y-793261 preserves minerals and textures of its nebular origin, providing us with records of the early solar system."

A major component of chondrites includes refractory inclusions, which form at high temperatures and are the oldest solar system solids dated. Refractory inclusions can be subdivided into calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions (CAIs) and amoeboid olivine aggregates (AOAs). The research team found an AOA in Y-793261 containing typical AOA minerals and ultra-refractory (very high temperature) scandium- and zirconium-bearing minerals, along with the quartz (which forms at comparatively lower temperature). "Such variety in minerals implies that the AOA condensed from nebular gas to solid over a wide temperature range from approximately 1500900C," Professor Fagan says.S "This aggregate is the first of its kind to be found in our solar system."

Primitive meteorite Y-793261. Credit: Waseda University

They also found that the quartz in the AOA has an oxygen isotopic composition close to the sun's. This isotopic composition is typical of refractory inclusions in general, which indicates that refractory inclusions formed close to the protosun (approximately 0.1 AU, or 1/10 of the distance from the Earth to the sun). The fact that the quartz in the Y-793261 shares this isotopic composition indicates that the quartz formed in the same setting in the solar nebula. However, silica condensation from solar nebula gas is hypothetically impossible if minerals and gas remain in equilibrium during condensation. This finding serves as evidence that the AOA formed from a rapidly cooling gas. As silica-poor minerals condensed from the gas, the gas changed composition, becoming more silica-rich, until the quartz became stable and crystallized.

Professor Fagan says that the origin of Y-793261 is most likely an astronomical object near 162173 Ryugu (commonly known as Ryugu), an asteroid named after a dragon's palace from an old Japanese folktale. Currently being investigated by the Japanese spacecraft Hayabusa 2, Ryugu may share the same properties as Y-793261 and potentially provide more records on the early solar system. "By combining ongoing research on meteorites with new results from Ryugu, we hope to better understand the thermal events and transfers of mass that occurred during the beginning stages of our solar system."

This study was published online in Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) on July 2, 2018 (EST).

Explore further A new mineral from the oldest solar system solids in meteorites

More information: Mutsumi Komatsu et al, First evidence for silica condensation within the solar protoplanetary disk, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2018). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Mutsumi Komatsu et al, First evidence for silica condensation within the solar protoplanetary disk,(2018). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1722265115Viking Burial Stones in Aalborg, Denmark. Credit: Eric Gross under CC BY 2.0 from Flickr

Insect remains have their own tale to tell in the mystery that surrounds the sknes Viking burial boat, as Eva Pangiotakopulu and colleagues investigate in their recent PLOS ONE study.

Over the years many Viking burial boats have been unearthed throughout Scandinavia providing us with valuable insights into the past. However, one boat unearthed in 1934 in north-eastern Norway has perhaps provided more questions than answers as no evidence of a body was ever found. For almost a century, researchers have wondered whether the boat ever housed a body or whether it was simply buried as an empty grave. To try to unravel the mystery Eva Pangiotakopulu from the University of Edinburgh, UK, teamed up with Stephen Wickler from University of Troms and independent researcher Paul Buckland, in the hopes of finding forensic evidence that might provide some more clues.

To begin their search, the team revisited the excavation results published by the lead archaeologist at the time, Gutorm Gjessing. The notes describe how the boat was originally found during road construction in ksnes in the remote Vesteralen Islands. Like many burials, the boat was found under a small mound of earth within a small stone circle or kerbing. Placed within the boat, Gjessing found several items including a small iron axe, some hair from fragments of animal hide and a mass of feathers with fragments of woollen textile which the archaeologist thought could have been pillow or duvet. All the clues and graves goods suggested that the site was indeed a burial ground, but the lack of a body was puzzling. At the time, Gjessing wondered whether the acidity of peat bog conditions found in ksnes had destroyed the body, but as the team today points out, bogs are notoriously good at preserving bodies  just look at the "bog body" of the Man of Rendswuhren found in Germany.

Luckily for Pangiotakopulu and the team, the feathers from the ksnes site had been well preserved at Troms University Museum and in two visits to the museum, the team were able to meticulously sift through a portion of the feather matter to look for insect remains. By comparing the insect fragments to the Osborne Collection of Coleoptera beetles housed at the University of Edinburgh and other published classification keys used to identify insect species, the researchers painstakingly set out to identify all the little bug fragments.

In total they found 16 different types of insects, including several species of beetle that are typically found in hay which may have been used in the ship to keep cargo in place. Intriguingly, they also found evidence of the raspberry beetle Byturus tormentosus which, as its common name suggests, feeds on the flowers of raspberry plants and lays eggs in the developing fruit. Pangiotakopulu and her colleagues speculate that raspberry flowers may have been used at the grave and indeed other burials have found evidence of flowers being used as part of the Viking funerary process. Knowing that the flowering season for raspberry plants in Norway tends to be towards late June or July the team suspect that the burial may have taken place in late summer.

Flea fragments

The first clue of human presence was the discovery of 35 fragments of the human flea, Pulex irritans, within the feathers. This was somewhat perplexing as human fleas, with their taste for blood, aren't known for their ability to survive away from the hosts for long periods of time. It's possible that the pillow used in the burial ground may have been present in the death bed of the deceased and the fleas fled their host upon death into the feathers with no escape route after the burial had taken place. However, the most interesting clues came from the presence (and absence) of some insects known to be associated with decaying bodies. In carefully sifting through all the fragments the three researchers found 12 remnants belonging to Protophormia terraenovae pupae. More commonly known as blow flies, P. terraenovae larvae enjoy feasting on dead flesh and adult flies can suss out animal and human corpses within minutes. As such, blow fly remnants are good forensic indicators of early decay and the fragments found are one of the strongest clues that a body was present in the burial grounds. Interestingly, the team didn't find evidence of insects usually associated with later stages of decay which suggests that the body was probably removed soon after burial.

Without a body, we may never know conclusively whether the site was a burial ground, but the forensic clues provide the first strong evidence that a body was buried towards the end of summer but very quickly removed for unknown reasons. So, whilst one mystery has been laid to rest, it seems that another unanswered question emerges from the ksnes boat burial.

Explore further Prehistoric mass graves may be linked to tsunamis, new research reveals

More information: Eva Panagiotakopulu et al. Is there anybody in there? Entomological evidence from a boat burial at ksnes in Vesteralen, northern Norway, PLOS ONE (2018). Journal information: PLoS ONE Eva Panagiotakopulu et al. Is there anybody in there? Entomological evidence from a boat burial at ksnes in Vesteralen, northern Norway,(2018). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0200545

This story is republished courtesy of PLOS Blogs: blogs.plos.org.Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Facebook users who say their personal data was misused, potentially to distort the last U.S. election, will have to wait to see if they can wring more information from Cambridge Analytica, the disappearing company that played a key role in the drama.

The political consulting firm is winding down both in the U.K., its home country, and in a New York Chapter 7 bankruptcy case. Some of the dozens of Facebook users who sued both Facebook and Cambridge Analytica in U.S. district court appeared in the bankruptcy as "data breach plaintiffs" to ask if they can gather more information about the defunct company's finances.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Sean Lane said in Manhattan court Tuesday that they'll have to wait until September to hear his answer, when more information will hopefully become clear. Meanwhile, he entered an order in their favor to preserve any records.

His back and forth with lawyers revealed how difficult it will be to get any financial compensationor even informationfrom the firm.

"I don't know some of the basic facts, which is a bit daunting," Lane said, in a hearing that ran through a laundry list of unknowns: whether Cambridge Analytica has indeed handed over all the information it collected; whether it has, or ever did have Facebook user data in its possession; what the role of board member Rebekah Mercer was in pre-bankruptcy transactions; and how Cambridge Analytica's lawyers can insist there is no one at the company to subpoena or answer such questions under oath, since someone must have hired them.

"You're here today, so you clearly have an attorney-client relationship with someone," Lane told Kristine Manoukian, a lawyer for Schulte Roth & Zabel who represents Cambridge Analytica. She told the court the law firm wouldn't accept subpoenas and had no company representatives to offer for testimony, and that it might withdraw as the firm's counsel.

Salvatore LaMonica, a trustee for the estate, said there are "minimal assets" which will be depleted quickly if more litigation ensues, and said the Facebook users are "way down the line" in terms of requests for information, after those from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and several U.S. Attorneys General.

Emerdata Transaction

At stake in the data breach plaintiff's pending request is whether there's any value to claim if they succeed in their lawsuits, which are still in early stages. One topic of interest, the data breach group says, is Emerdata Ltd., a company that bought 89.5 percent in Cambridge Analytica from Chief Executive Officer Alexander Nix and Cambridge Analytica affiliates just before the bankruptcy.

"In any case where a debtor engages in these kinds of transactions in advance of a Chapter 7 filing, it sparks interest," Michael Etkin, a lawyer for the data breach group, said in a phone interview. Etkin declined to comment on what types of claims they could make. But under bankruptcy law, assets transferred out of an estate just before a filing can sometimes be clawed back.

Emerdata, said to be under court administration, is also a figure of interest to British lawmakers, who last month recommended it be investigated amid concerns that Kremlin-backed groups used social media to influence elections.

Trump Re-election

While Emerdata may be winding down, another company, Data Propria, has hired some former Cambridge Analytica executives. It has brought in revenue for its parent company CloudCommerce Inc. since being formed in February 2018, according to CloudCommerce's regulatory filings. The Associated Press has reported that it is run by former Cambridge Analytica officials and is working on President Donald Trump's 2020 re-election campaign. CloudCommerce didn't return a message seeking comment.

The data breach group represents only some Facebook members who have sued. In around 25 similar cases that were recently consolidated in a California court, members allege Cambridge Analytica mounted a "massive data mining campaign" on 87 million Facebook users, and may have used the data when it worked on President Trump's campaign in 2016. The suits question Facebook's role and seek damages from either company for what they say were invasion of privacy and increased risk of theft and data breaches.

Cambridge Analytica, Facebook Inc. and a trustee overseeing the case all filed objections to the data breach group's requests in bankruptcy court.

Facebook users shot back in court filings that they've identified "numerous other causes for concern" since they first made their request. They cited a lack of clarity about the company's assets in the case so far and the statement made by Chief Executive Officer Julian Wheatland that he's unsure whether he or other representatives have continued access to web-based accounts, or whether a customer list exists. Also, they noted, Wheatland was directed not to answer questions when it came to whether the company had actual possession of user information.

Cambridge Analytica's backers have included the Mercer family. Its bankruptcy petition was signed by board members Rebekah Mercer and Jennifer Mercer, daughters of former New York hedge fund manager Robert Mercer. His family backed Donald Trump for president and helped reshape American conservative politics.

The bankruptcy case is Cambridge Analytica LLC, 18-11500, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan).

Explore further Report: SEC probes Facebook privacy issues

2018 Bloomberg News

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Fish lice could be early indicators for metal pollution in fresh water, say researchers. A Argulus japonicus, a fish louse,, is shown in this image. Water quality in rivers and dams is decaying all over the world, and metal pollution is a major reason. Meanwhile, water resources are very limited. University of Johannesburg scientists Prof Annemarie Avenant-Oldewage and Dr Beric Gilbert published their research in PLoS One. Credit: Prof Annemarie Avenant-Oldewage, Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg.

Everyone needs safe and clean water to drink. Yet industry, agriculture and urban activities threaten fresh water. In particular, metal pollution can be very hard to detect early. Because of this, scientists are always searching for sensitive indicators of water quality. Now, a fish louse shows great promise as an early indicator for monitoring pollution in rivers and dams.

Living creatures tell a more complete story

Water samples only tell the story of a river for a moment in time. So researchers studied fish, because fish accumulate pollutants such as metals over time. But it can be difficult to get a complete story from fish also, says Prof Annemarie Avenant-Oldewage. She heads the Department of Zoology at the University of Johannesburg.

"Fish have mechanisms to protect themselves. They can reduce the toxic effects from metal pollution inside their bodies. They move the metals they accumulate to organs or other body parts where it is less harmful to them. Because of this, we cannot detect very low levels of metals by analysing fish.

"Also, if the fish have parasites, the parasites can accumulate the metals better than the fish. Tapeworms are an example of such internal parasites.

"In a way, the parasites absorb the metals from the fish. The parasites can then end up with metals in much higher concentrations than those in the host. For some internal parasites, levels of metals have been found to be up to 2 500 times higher than in the host," says Prof Avenant-Oldewage.

"This means we can measure metals in them, long before it is possible to do that in fish or in water samples. So parasites can give us early warnings of pollution."

Early warnings without harming fish

In follow-up research, Prof Avenant-Oldewage and her team studied tape worms. Tape worms live inside the intestines of fish, but they are not ideal. The host fish they live in has to be killed to analyse for accumulated pollutants.

Added to that, the researchers found that tape worms also have a way to get rid of metals. An egg-bearing tapeworm can move metal pollutants in its body, into the egg shells it is about to release.

Researchers are looking for parasites that can be early indicators of metal pollutants. In this image, the head of a male Argulus japonicus fish louse shows a fluorescent signal. The louse accumulated more metals in the bright yellow areas. The University of Johannesburg scientists published their research in PLoS One. Credit: Dr Beric Gilbert, Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg

As an alternative, the researchers then considered external fish parasites. If these work, no fish would need to be killed.

Picky eater of threatened fish

Next, Prof Avenant-Oldewage's team studied an external parasite called Paradiplozoon. The parasite lives on the gills of fish.

"Like most parasites, Paradiplozoon are picky eaters. They will only live on two species of yellowfish. Those yellowfish are only found in the Vaal River. So they would not be versatile indicators for water quality.

"Yellowfish is prized as a fighting fish for angling competitions. But they are physiologically sensitive creatures. They go into shock if someone removes parasites from their gills."

Bloodsucking swimmer

This is where the fish louse, Argulus japonicus , enters the picture as a possible early indicator.

Argulus japonicus lives in many kinds of freshwater and marine environments. It is a crustacean, a cousin of shrimp. It lives on the skin of many species of fish, but is also able to swim in search of a host. Because it infects the skin of its host, researchers can remove it without injuring the fish. All these abilities make it a versatile option.

In their latest study, the researchers analysed Argulus lice from the Vaal River. They wanted to see what fish lice do with the metals they accumulate.

Researchers are looking for parasites to be early indicators of metal pollutants. Female fish lice have jelly-like substance surrounding their eggs. In this image, brighter green fluorescent areas show the Argulus japonicus louse has accumulated metals in the jelly. Credit: Dr Beric Gilbert, Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg

Fluorescing metals

Dr. Beric Gilbert caught mudfish and yellowfish in the Vaal Dam, close to Deneysville.

Then he removed Argulus lice from the fishes.

He froze the parasites, applied stains, and used a microscope with fluorescent functions. Then he could see areas in male and female lice that had higher concentrations of metals.

"Most of the metals were in the hard outer layer of the lice, also called the exoskeleton. There wasn't much difference in the amount of metals absorbed by male and female Argulus ," says Dr. Gilbert.

The more intense the fluorescent signal, or glow, produced by the microscope, the higher the amount of metals accumulated in those areas of the lice.

"Male lice seemed to concentrate more metals in the exoskeleton covering the underside of their bodies. This was visible as a brighter yellow signal, or intense glow, when studying the parasites with the microscope.

"But in egg-bearing females, a layer of jelly around the eggs produced a positive signal, indicating the presence of metals. The female uses the jelly to secure the eggs to surfaces in the environment, when she lays them," he says.

Next hoops to jump

Argulus fish lice do not qualify as good freshwater indicators yet, says Prof Avenant-Oldewage.

"Our next step is to find out what mechanisms the lice use to protect themselves from metals. We also need to find out how they absorb metals in the first place," she says.

"If Argulus japonicus fish lice succeed, they could become sensitive, living metal indicators in the future. That way, we could detect metal pollution long before fish are affected. There could still be time to do something about it."

More information: Beric M. Gilbert et al, Trace element biomineralisation in the carapace in male and female Argulus japonicus, PLOS ONE (2018). Journal information: PLoS ONE Beric M. Gilbert et al, Trace element biomineralisation in the carapace in male and female Argulus japonicus,(2018). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197804

Provided by University of JohannesburgGreat hammerhead sharks are considered overfished and are experiencing population declines in the subtropical Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. Credit: Neil Hammerschlag, Ph.D., University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science

A new analysis shows that the habitats of three shark species (great hammerhead, tiger, and bull sharks) are relatively well protected from longline fishing in federal waters off the southeastern United States, but that that some prime locations are still vulnerable to fishing.

The new study led by scientists at the University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science has important implications to further protect these at-risk species from unintentional fishing, known as bycatch, in U.S. federal waters.

Great hammerhead sharks are considered overfished and are experiencing population declines in the subtropical Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. Tiger and bull shark populations have experienced declines to a lesser extent in the region over the past several decades and their populations appear to be stabilizing at present.

The research team analyzed data from 96 tagged great hammerheads, tiger, and bull sharks to create habitat suitability models that reveal specific areas where these sharks are most likely to occur due to favorable environmental conditions. These 'highly suitable habitats' were then compared to areas where longline fishing gear is currently prohibited to determine what proportion of their habitats are protected from, and vulnerable to, longline fishing activity.

The analysis showed that highly suitable habitats overlapping with the longline fishing restricted areas varied by species and season. Highly suitable habitats of great hammerheads and tiger sharks were relatively well protected from pelagic longlines yet vulnerable to bottom longline fishing. In addition, both species were vulnerable to pelagic and bottom longline fishing off southwestern Florida. Accordingly, the researchers suggested that extending longline gear restrictions to this area may benefit both great hammerhead and tiger sharks species.

"This study highlights the importance of considering seasonal trends in habitat use and movement patterns as these can vary greatly throughout the year and may impact the effectiveness of management plans for these species," said the study's lead author Hannah Calich, a UM Rosenstiel School alumna and current Ph.D. student at the University of Western Australia.

"Given the wide ranging movements of many migratory marine animals, the extent to which management areas protect their key habitats is often unknown and certainly very challenging to determine," said Neil Hammerschlag, a Research Associate Professor at UM's Rosenstiel School and study co-author. "We hope our approach will be helpful to researchers working with other migratory species, such as billfish, turtles, whales, seals, and tunas, to better help address these conservation issues."

Explore further Study says marine protected areas can benefit large sharks

More information: H Calich et al, Overlap between habitat suitability and longline gear management areas reveals vulnerable and protected habitats for highly migratory sharks, Marine Ecology Progress Series (2018). Journal information: Marine Ecology Progress Series H Calich et al, Overlap between habitat suitability and longline gear management areas reveals vulnerable and protected habitats for highly migratory sharks,(2018). DOI: 10.3354/meps12671Jay Kitashima lashes down the roof of his tiny home in preparation for Hurricane Lane, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, along Ewa Beach in Honolulu. As emergency shelters opened, rain began to pour and cellphone alerts went out, the approaching hurricane started to feel real for Hawaii residents.(AP Photo/John Locher)

Hurricane Lane soaked Hawaii's Big Island on Thursday, dumping 12 inches of rain in as many hours as residents stocked up on supplies and tried to protect their homes ahead of the state's first hurricane since 1992.

The National Weather Service warned that some areas could see up to 30 inches (76 centimeters) before the system passes. Bands of rain extended 350 miles (566 kilometers) from the hurricane's center.

Lane was not projected to make direct hit on the islands, but officials warned that even a lesser blow could do significant harm.

"You do not need a direct strike to have major impacts from a hurricane this strong," said Steve Goldstein, a meteorologist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Washington.

The center of the Category 4 storm was predicted to move close to or over portions of the main islands later Thursday or Friday, bringing dangerous surf of 20 feet and a storm surge of up to 4 feet, forecasters said.

Tropical storm conditions, with winds of 73 mph (118 kph), were expected to reach the Big Island, Hawaii's easternmost major island, later Thursday, with hurricane conditions possible later in the day.

As of 8 a.m., the hurricane was 290 miles (466 kilometers) south of Honolulu and moving northwest at 7 mph. Maximum winds had weakened slightly to 130 mph, the National Weather Service said.

People, who declined to be named, fill up sand bags that will be used to help protect their home in preparation for Hurricane Lane, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, along Ewa Beach in Honolulu. As emergency shelters opened, rain began to pour and cellphone alerts went out, the approaching hurricane started to feel real for Hawaii residents.(AP Photo/John Locher)

After passing the islands, the system was likely to turn to the west Saturday and Sunday and accelerate, forecasters said.

The arrival of the storm's outer bands made the threat seem more real.

"Everyone is starting to buckle down at this point," said Christyl Nagao of Kauai. "Our families are here. We have businesses and this and that. You just have to man your fort and hold on tight."

Shelters opened Wednesday on the Big Island and on the islands of Maui, Molokai and Lanai. Officials urged those needing the Molokai shelter to get there soon because of concerns that the main highway on the island's south coast could become impassable.

On the island of Oahu, shelters were scheduled to open Thursday. Officials were also working to help Hawaii's sizeable homeless population, many of whom live near beaches and streams that could flood.

Kainalu Kitashima hands his father a piece of wood to help tie down their tiny home in preparation for Hurricane Lane, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, along Ewa Beach in Honolulu. As emergency shelters opened, rain began to pour and cellphone alerts went out, the approaching hurricane started to feel real for Hawaii residents.(AP Photo/John Locher)

Hawaii Emergency Management Agency Administrator Tom Travis said there's not enough shelter space statewide and advised people who were not in flood zones to stay home.

Authorities also warned that the shelters are not designed to withstand winds greater than about 40 mph (64 kph) and that for most people they should be a "last resort."

"Whenever possible, the public should plan to shelter in place or stay with family or friends in homes outside of these hazard areas that were designed, built or renovated to withstand anticipated conditions," the city and county of Honolulu said in a statement.

Melanie Davis, who lives in a Honolulu suburb, said she was gathering canned food and baby formula.

"We're getting some bags of rice and, of course, some Spam," she said of the canned lunchmeat that's popular in Hawaii.

A woman fills up her car as other vehicles line up behind her for gasoline at a Costco in preparation for Hurricane Lane, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, in Kapolei, Hawaii. (AP Photo/John Locher)

She was organizing important documents into a folderbirth and marriage certificates, Social Security cards, insurance paperworkand making sure her three children, all under 4, have flotation devices such as swimming vests "just in case."

Public schools were closed for the rest of the week, and local government workers were told to stay home unless they are essential employees.

The central Pacific gets fewer hurricanes than other regions, with about only four or five named storms a year. Hawaii rarely gets hit. The last major storm to hit was Iniki in 1992. Others have come close in recent years.

"We're planning on boarding up all our windows and sliding doors," Napua Puaoi of Wailuku, Maui, said after buying plywood from Home Depot. "As soon as my husband comes homehe has all the power tools."

Puaoi was 12 at the time of Hurricane Iniki.

With several monitor displaying hurricane information in several different languages behind them, two women sit at a desk inside a Waikiki hotel, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, in Honolulu. Hurricane Lane has weakened as it approaches Hawaii but was still expected to pack a wallop, forecasters said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)

"When it did happen, I just remember pandemonium. It was all-out craziness," she said.

Unlike Florida or Texas, where residents can get in their cars and drive hundreds of miles to safety, people in Hawaii are confined to the islands and must stay put. They have to make sure they have enough supplies to outlast prolonged power outages and other potential emergencies.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has several barges packed with food, water, generators and other supplies that it moved into the region ahead of Hurricane Hector, which skirted past the islands more than a week ago, according to FEMA Administrator Brock Long.

The U.S. Navy was moving ships and submarines out of Hawaii. All vessels not currently undergoing maintenance were being positioned to help respond after the storm, if needed.

Rudy Kok, left, and Mary Kok pull their dingy out out of the harbor to secure to their sailing boat in preparation of Hurricane Lane, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, in Honolulu. Hurricane Lane has weakened as it approaches Hawaii but was still expected to pack a wallop, forecasters said Wednesday. The Koks double moored their boat hoping to keep it from sustaining any damage from the hurricane. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)

A shopper walks past a monitor displaying hurricane information in several different languages inside a hotel Waikiki, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, in Honolulu. Hurricane Lane has weakened as it approaches Hawaii but was still expected to pack a wallop, forecasters said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)

Beach goers frolic on Waikiki Beach, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, in Honolulu. Hurricane Lane has weakened as it approaches Hawaii but was still expected to pack a wallop, forecasters said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)

Contractor David Meyer pushes a plywood board into place over a window in preparation of the approaching strong winds of Hurricane Lane, Wednesday, August 22, 2018, in Honolulu. Hurricane Lane has weakened as it approaches Hawaii but was still expected to pack a wallop, forecasters said Wednesday. Hawaii residents prepared for the hurricane by buying water, flashlights, propane and other emergency supplies. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)

Contractor David Meyer, bottom, pushes a plywood board to Alecia Cone, left, and Craig Maromoto as they cover a window in preparation of the approaching strong winds expected from Hurricane Lane, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, in Honolulu. Hurricane Lane has weakened as it approaches Hawaii but was still expected to pack a wallop, forecasters said Wednesday. Hawaii residents prepared for the hurricane by buying water, flashlights, propane and other emergency supplies. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)

This Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018 image provided by NOAA shows Hurricane Lane south of Hawaii. Hurricane Lane was forecast to continue its northwest turn into the islands Thursday. (NOAA via AP)

Explore further Big Island feels the effects of approaching hurricane

 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.Model of the perfect inversion of a magnetic or electric structure. The bottom layer contains the information on the structure. The intermediate layer can be switched with the applied field. The reversal is depicted from left to right. The top layer shows the distribution of magnetization or polarization in the material. Credit: ETH Zurich

Perfectly inverting complex structures is of great technical importance. Researchers at ETH have now succeeded in turning the magnetic and electric structure of materials into their opposites using a single magnetic field pulse.

In unpleasantly loud environments, active noise reduction has been used in earphones and luxury cars in recent years. A microphone picks up the disturbing noise, from which a computer chip calculates the appropriate countermeasures: sound waves whose phases are exactly opposite to those of the ambient sound. The interference between those waves effectively erases the noise. Physicists and engineers seek to apply this principle of perfect inversion to other technologiesfor instance, to the magnetic structure of materials. ETH professor Manfred Fiebig and his collaborators at the Department of Materials in Zurich have now succeeded in doing just that, with support from scientists in Europe, Japan and Russia. Their results are published this week in the scientific journal Nature.

Fiebig's team used so-called multiferroics for their experiments. Unlike many other materials that have either magnetic or electric order, multiferroics possess both: They are magnetically and, at the same time, electrically polarized and, as a consequence, align themselves both along magnetic and along electric fields. The physical mechanisms that bring about the magnetic and electric order inside the material are subtly coupled to each other. This makes it possible to influence the magnetization using electric fields rather than magnetic fields. "That's much more efficient, as one needs electric current to create magnetic fields, and that costs a lot of energy and creates annoying waste heat," explains Naemi Leo, a former Ph.D. student in Fiebig's laboratory. In computers, for instance, where data is constantly written on magnetic hard drives, multiferroics could be key materials for significant energy savings.

Inspiration from Tangram shapes

At ETH, which has been an international leader in multiferroics research for quite some time, scientists took this idea one step further. "A material that allows one to control its magnetization using electric fields must necessarily have a rather complex structure," says Fiebig.

He uses the Chinese Tangram puzzle to illustrate that principle: The more pieces availabletriangles, squares and parallelogramsthe more elaborate shapes are possible. In the case of multiferroics, the shapes correspond to the symmetries of the material, which determine its physical properties. The more complex those symmetries, the more varied are the so-called order parameters. They describe the direction in which the magnetization points inside a multiferroic, and how the magnetization is coupled to the electric order.

Distribution of regions with positive (bright) and negative (dark) magnetization in the rare-earth orthoferrite (Dy, Tb)FeO3. The reversal of magnetization in each region is obvious. The size of the sample is 0.5 mm. Credit: ETH Zurich

Unexpected properties

If the atoms inside a material are arranged in such a complicated way, it is also very likely that it has other properties that are not obvious at first sight. "That's why we didn't want to limit ourselves to the well-known phenomena that have been studied for a long time, but rather try to see what other useful things multiferroics can do," Fiebig says, and illustrates his research approach: "How can we recombine the pieces of the puzzlethat is, the order parametersin different ways than those already known, and thus obtain new and useful properties?"

This openness towards the unexpected has paid off. Fiebig and his co-workers eventually found a multiferroic in which the overall magnetization is not just evenly oriented by an applied field, as usual. Clearly, that would erase any magnetically stored informationthe distribution of positively and negatively magnetized regions inside the material. Rather, they used the field to invert the magnetization in each individual region of the material. Positively magnetized regions were, therefore, turned into negatively magnetized ones, and vice versa. The magnetic information contained in the arrangement of the regions, however, remained intact in the process. "That's as if we inverted every single bit on a hard disk in one go," Fiebig explains. "Normally, one would have to re-write each bit individually, but we can do it with a single magnetic field pulse."

Inversion in a single go

The researchers at ETH found this magnetic equivalent of active noise reduction in a multiferroic composed of cobalt, tellurium and oxygen. Owing to its complex crystal structure, not only can that material at once be magnetically and electrically polarized, but it can also have several order parameters describing its magnetization: one that determines the magnetic orientation of a single region, and another one that "remembers" the shape and arrangement of those regions inside the whole material.

Using a specialized imaging technique, whereby polarized laser light is sent through the crystal and changes its colour in the process, the researchers could directly make the inversion process spatially visible.

As if that was not enough, the physicists were also able to accomplish a similar feat with reversed roles. In a multiferroic containing atoms of manganese, germanium and oxygen, the magnetic field now inverted not the magnetization, but the electric polarization of the material. For the researchers, that is further proof that multiferroics still hold many surprises. "There is probably much more to be discovered that we can't even imagine today," Fiebig says.

Explore further Moving sector walls on the nano scale

More information: N. Leo et al. Magnetoelectric inversion of domain patterns, Nature (2018). Journal information: Nature N. Leo et al. Magnetoelectric inversion of domain patterns,(2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-018-0432-4Government to Regulate Gambling Business

By Vladimer Napetvaridze

The Government of Georgia is working on new amendments of the Gambling Business. Discussions about Gambling business regulations started years ago, but real changes have not been introduced yet. Part of the experts believes that the issue is artificially hindered because of the importance of this field on the state budget. Georgia is one of the countries in the Caucasus region, with the most liberal gambling policy and this leads to the growth and development of the business. In 2014, when business was at the developing stage, according to the Transparency International research, the total income from the gambling sector in the state budget was 1,4%- approximately 105 million GEL.Despite the fact, that gambling business can be beneficial for the state economy; it has adverse effects on society. According to various scientific researches, gambling causes the same level of addiction as drugs or alcohol. Accordingly, the gambling-addicted citizen can be a threat to himself and society.According to the research which was conducted in 2015, by the research center Alternative Georgia in collaboration with the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health-9 percent of the Georgian population once a month have played gambling games, and 87% of them said that it resulted in some financial problems.Some Government officials claim it is impossible to completely ban gambling business because it encourages the development of so-called gambling tourism. Since gambling is strictly regulated in Azerbaijan and Turkey, Georgia remains one of the best touristic destinations for Turkish and Azerbaijani gamblers. In Azerbaijan, sports-betting tables and lotteries are allowed, but casinos remain banned. The ban on gambling dates back to 1998. As for Turkey gambling is highly regulated. The state prohibited casinos in 1998, and it banned non-state online gambling in 2006. A state lottery and betting services exist, however, and some online gambling and illegal gambling continues to persist.Accordingly, the government has decided to regulate business in a way that it will affect the state budget, but on the other hand, new amendments will decrease the number of Georgian citizens involved in gambling.According to the draft of amendments, the unified registry will be created, where gamblers will be registered, and any family member of the player will have the right to appeal to the court to get a specific person out of the registry.All public servants before being employed in the public sector will have an obligation to enter the list of those who are banned from engaging in gambling.Restrictions will be imposed on socially vulnerable persons and besides, the government will consider increasing age restriction to 25.Member of Georgian Dream Levan Gogichaishvili in his interview with Kviris Palitra talked about restriction gambling business ads and hoped that the Public Broadcaster would refuse to circulate gambling business ad: " We are considering banning the circulation of gambling business ads till 12 pm like it is in case of tobacco and alcohol. Some companies may find it difficult from the financial point of view, but public interest is more important than the private interests of certain individuals. I hope the Public Broadcaster will refuse to circulate gambling business ads, Levan Gogichaishvilisaid.Discussions about the regulation of gambling business have started a long time ago, but there is no actual meaningful reform made yet. It is not known yet whether the parliament accepts the new draft of amendments to regulate one of the most economically beneficial business.Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Imagine meeting a potential roommate for coffee but instead of questions that gauge how compatible you both would be living together, you were asked about the ancestry of your parents' families. Though this situation seems ridiculous, it happens all the time in animal shelters where dogs are assigned breeds that are often just guessed from their physical appearance. These assigned breeds are then used to infer how the dogs might behave and also often impact the length of time a dog waits to be adopted.

The first step to understanding how breed labels might affect shelter dogs is to identify who shelter dogs actually are, and researchers at Arizona State University have done just that. The ASU scientists genotyped shelter dogs in Arizona and California and compared the genetic information to the breed labels assigned in shelters. The findings were published August 23 in PLOS ONE.

Canine cheek swabs

Who are shelter dogs? To answer this question, ASU's Canine Science Collaboratory researchers Lisa Gunter and Clive Wynne collected DNA from over 900 shelter dogs housed at the Arizona Animal Welfare League and Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (AAWL) in Phoenix, AZ, and the San Diego Humane Society and Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SDHS) in San Diego, CA.

For the genetic testing, the researchers used the Wisdom Panel Canine DNA Tests from Mars Veterinary, which is a commercially available product. A small brush was used to collect cells from the dog's cheeks and gums, and the samples were sent to a lab for processing. At the lab, DNA was extracted from the dog's cells and compared to over 300 sites in the canine genome that have been matched to specific breeds.

The three most common breeds at both the AAWL and SDHS were the same: the American Staffordshire Terrier, Chihuahua and Poodle. Yet, these three breeds accounted for less than half of the dogs in the two shelters.

"The level of genetic diversity in the shelter dogs exceeded our expectations: we found 125 distinct breeds," said Gunter, who is a Maddie's Research Fellow in the ASU Department of Psychology. "We also found that just 5% of the shelter dogs were purebred, even though it is commonly assumed that up to a quarter of dogs in shelters are purebred."

The genetic testing gave the researchers information about three generations of ancestors for each dog. On average, most dogs were comprised of three different breeds, with some dogs having up to five breed signatures identified at the great-grandparent level.

"Breed identification has quite an outsize role in people's perceptions of dogs," said Wynne, professor of psychology and head of the Canine Science Collaboratory. "'What breed is he?' is often the first question people ask about a dog, but the answer is often terribly inaccurate."

The accuracy and unintended consequences of a label

The genetic diversity among shelter dogs can make it difficult for shelter staff to assess the breed heritage of dogs. Gunter and Wynne partnered with ASU's Rebecca Barber, assistant clinical professor in the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, to compare the breed information from the genetic testing to the labels given to the dogs in the San Diego shelter. At the SDHS, shelter staff used the physical appearance of a dog and breed descriptions from the American Kennel Club Breed Identification Guides to identify a primary and secondary breed.

When the researchers looked at whether either the assigned primary or secondary breed matched the information from the genetic profile of a dog, they found the shelter staff accuracy was 67%. The accuracy fell to 10% when staff identified more than one breed.

Though breed labels are common in animal shelters, they can have unintended consequences. In a previous study also published in PLOS ONE, the researchers found that dogs labeled as pit bulls waited over three times as long to be adopted. In this study, the researchers found that dogs in the San Diego shelter with a pit bull-type ancestry waited more than three times as long as other dog breeds.

How a breed label impacts a shelter dog extends beyond identification. The relationship between behavior and breed is murky except for certain behaviors that are breed-specific, like pointing.

"The genetics of behavior is so complex that a dog who is a cross of two breeds might not behave much like the typical members of either of its parents' families," Wynne said. "Then you have a situation where breed-typing is worse than stereotyping members of our own species. Breed labels would be better dropped altogether."

Beyond breed labels to behavior

The behavioral diversity even within single breeds has led Gunter and Wynne to advocate for the importance of behavioral assessments instead of breed labels. What really matters is a dog's behavior and how it might fit into an adoptive family, Gunter said.

"Shelter dogs are interesting and complex genetically," Gunter said. "They really are individuals, and labeling them with a single breed can minimize their uniqueness."

An important goal of the Canine Science Collaboratory is to design and validate a behavioral assessment that would provide insight into how dog behavior in a shelter translates to behavior in a home. Such an assessment would be more informative than breed labels and might positively impact shelter dogs.

The AAWL in Phoenix recently stopped publicizing breed information on their website and on kennel cards, though the breed labels are available upon request. The shelter, which has a long-standing relationship with the Collaboratory, made the decision based on the findings from the previous study that showed how certain breed labels increased the length of stay in a shelter.

"Everything about the life experience of a dogwhere he was before coming to the shelter or any medical issues he might haveis what makes him who he is, not who his grandparents might have been," said Michael Morefield, director of marketing and communications for the AAWL. "When you adopt a dog, you are not adopting a bully, a German Shepherd or St. Bernard, you are adopting Jerry or Mo. When you love a dog, you don't love a German Shepherd. You love Jerry."

Explore further Pit bull label may triple length of stay in dog sheltersCredit: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services

The rapid increase of opioid overdose deaths in rural communities across the country has far outpaced the overdose rate in urban areas, and an Iowa State University-led research team wants to know why.

The researchers' goal is to identify prevention strategies and use big data to predict which communities may be at risk, said David Peters, an associate professor of rural sociology at Iowa State who is leading the five-year project. Andrew Hochstetler, a professor of sociology, and Eric Davis, an assistant professor of computer science, are working with Peters along with researchers from the University of Iowa and Syracuse University. The team received a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to fund the work.

Rural areas hit hardest by the opioid epidemic have often experienced some type of economic shock, Peters said. In many cases, manufacturing plants have closed or farms have consolidated, resulting in a loss of jobs. Peters says such hardship does not automatically put a community at risk for increased opioid use, but there appears to be a connection between how the community responds to economic decline and its risk.

"We think local action plays a role in why some of these communities are more resilient in the face of the opioid crisis and why others are not," Peters said. "The opioid epidemic seems to be centered in areas where it's not just economic decline, but there's a decline in everything  infrastructure, buildings, quality of life. The community is a withering place."

Learning from communities

There is limited research on the factors driving the opioid epidemic and no evidence-based strategies for how communities can minimize or prevent it, Peters said. Previous research of economically distressed communities shows residents tend to disengage and social networks start to break down. Hochstetler says residents may be less likely to monitor public spaces or work with police to reduce crime.

"With this level of disorganization we see a shift in cultural norms that makes a community less likely to condemn illicit behavior and prevent crime," Hochstetler said. "If communities are not proactive and that economic shock leads to higher poverty and crime rates, graffiti, trash and abandoned buildings  you're going to have more social problems."

Researchers will work directly with those affected by opioids to collect data and identify what has and hasn't worked in fighting the epidemic. They are developing an advisory panel, which will include law enforcement and court officials, public health experts, city and county leaders and medical professionals, as well as former addicts and family members, to help guide their research, Peters said.

The work will focus specifically on rural areas and micropolitan communities  populations between 10,000 and 50,000  in different regions of the country. Researchers expect to find differences in rural areas driven by farming, forestry and mining, and want to develop appropriate strategies based on those economic factors.

Predicting risk with big data

A concern for researchers and communities alike is the lag time for data on opioid arrests and deaths, Peters said. The data can help identify potential problems, but the most recent statistics are often two years old. Researchers want to eliminate this barrier by using big data to develop a real-time opioid risk indicator for communities.

"To predict a community's risk, we must understand the local dynamics, the community's connectivity to other areas and the risks there," Davis said. "We don't yet know how all the indicators for opioids are linked, but we're going to look at data on people, economic situations, previous risk in the area and potential trafficking patterns. All of this data combined should help form a picture of the local risk."

The ability to predict is what will set this risk indicator apart from other data sources. If researchers are successful, communities can use the tool to identify the risk and take action before it becomes a larger problem. Researchers will test the tool in 12 communities as part of the five-year project.Credit: CC0 Public Domain

The summer months when air conditioning is considered a necessity are winding down, but a Philadelphia start-up is working to offer improved window units to make it through next year's scorching heat.

Kapsul, a company that designed a smaller and quieter air conditioning window unit, raised $2.3 million on crowdfunding platforms Indiegogo and Kickstarter in June 2016, said Chris Myers, a Kapsul late-stage co-founder and the chief operating officer.

"It was pretty humbling because you saw the interest of people in the product and their belief that you could do something transformational. And it was real market validation," said Myers, who also is the managing director of the Philadelphia Development Group, which founds, funds, and advises start-ups. "If the interest had been less, the enthusiasm for changing the whole category would've been less."

A Kapsul air conditioning window unit is smaller than a traditional one, with handles built into the design and an accompanying window frame adapter for easy installation. Besides the control panel on the front of the units, they can connect to Wi-Fi so the temperature can be adjusted through a phone app. Myers said the most important difference between typical window units and a Kapsul productwhich costs $499 for pre-orders and $599 at retailwas the reduced sound from the air conditioner.

"When we did a lot of research, we found that the most common reason for low star ratings on Amazon, for instance, is that they're really loud," Myers said. "They're so loud that people turn them down to have conversations or to make phone calls, and that's not something you really want to live with."

Getting their air conditioner to be quieterMyers said the product is about half as loud as a typical onetook Kapsul eight redesigns of the engineering involved because the units are "based on technology that really hadn't changed since your grandfather bought an air conditioner. It's ancient technology."

The new design is what appealed to Anne Slater, a retired Bryn Mawr College librarian from Lancaster and one of the company's backers, because her air conditioners are "all heavy, I can't lift them, and they're all pretty noisy. I thought it was time to look for something better, and I was enticed by the smaller and quieter aspect of these machines."

Start-up expert Robert Moore, cofounder and CEO of intelligence platform Crossbeam and president of Philly Startup Leaders, said Kapsul is at the "intersection of the old and the new" by upgrading familiar technology. "People have cared about air conditioning for far, far longer than they've cared about internet," he said.

The company could benefit big-time from a warming planet.

And even now its success in crowdfunding is "rooted in there being real consumer demand," Moore said. "When you see something that does this well on Kickstarter, it's evidence that there's market demand out there of real significance beyond Kickstarter."

Kapsul's accomplishments on Indiegogo and Kickstarter are a "good way to show people that you can come up with something new and people will buy it," said Jason Sherman, a tech writer and entrepreneur from Philadelphia. "It shows that there are still innovative ways to improve daily lives in society."

Sherman said the future of Kapsul depended on whether the company can deliver its new units to backers by its spring of 2019 deadline and then scale up in the future.

That deadline has been moved back by about two years. When Kapsul first launched crowdfunding campaigns, the company was called Noira and it had a goal of raising $250,000 to complete the air conditioning units in time for summer of 2017.

Co-founders Kurt Swanson, Kapsul's chief executive and engineer, and chief technology officer Donald Pancoe started the company after working as design consultants at Likuma Labs, a product design and engineering consultancy in Philadelphia. Because of the multiple redesigns and amount of time it took to find manufacturing partners, the company had to readjust its expectations.

Since the air conditionerswhich will be manufactured in Chinawere not ready to go by this summer, Swanson said, Kapsul is now taking time before next summer to fine-tune the units. "Rather than rush it out and deliver air conditioners in the wintertime, we're focused on making sure the app is ready, making sure the user experience is great," he said.

Some backers were unhappy with the delays and started commenting on the company's crowdfunding pages, so Kapsul hired a new community manager for the nine-member operation to improve transparency and communication with the backers. Once they committed to the new timeline, only about 3 percent of the backers decided to withdraw support, Kapsul's Myers said.

In May, Swanson posted a letter to the company's backers on its Indiegogo page, apologizing and taking responsibility for the delays and emphasizing Kapsul's commitment to the new delivery date of April 2019. He also offered compensation to Kapsul's early backers in the form of a one-year extension to the product warranty (extending the total warranty to three years), 40 percent off the backer's next full-price Kapsul purchase, and 10 shares of equity in the company.

Ray Bunch, an early Kapsul funder from with a background in engineering, said he was "never concerned about the timeline" but he thinks others' complaints were legitimate and appreciates the increased efforts to communicate with consumers. "If it was a major corporation I was investing in for something new to be delivered, I would've expected something faster, but for it to be a ground-up new product, I don't think two or three years is unrealistic," Bunch said.

He said he was willing to wait for a product that showed significant innovation and can improve this part of people's lives.

"They've worked really diligently trying to overcome (problems) step-by-step without cheating on the whole innovation idea," he said.

2018 The Philadelphia Inquirer

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Credit: CC0 Public Domain

A rolling robot may be coming to a Dallas sidewalk near you.

Dallas officials are considering whether to green-light a pilot of autonomous delivery devices. The robots, which are powered by an electric battery, could deliver groceries, takeout, medicine or other items to customers' doorsteps. If it gets the City Council's blessing at a meeting later this month, the rolling robots could be deployed as early as November.

Delivery robots have become an appealing alternative for retailers and restaurants who are trying to keep up with consumers' changing habits. From meal deliveries to ride-hailing to same-day deliveries, customers have gotten used to ordering online or through an app and then getting what they want on-demand - or at least in a few hours.

Delivery by robot has already been tested in major cities, including Austin, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. The first of the rolling robots in Dallas could be from San Francisco-based robotics company Marble, according to Michael Rogers, director of the city's department of transportation. The robots - about the size of a motorized wheelchair - would travel at the maximum of 10 mph for 1 or 2 miles. They use sensors and cameras to detect and autonomously steer around obstacles like cyclists, dogs and fire hydrants. For the pilot, however, the number of devices would be limited and a human would walk behind the device to monitor its safety, he said.

Rogers gave a briefing on the autonomous delivery devices Aug. 20, to the city's Mobility Solutions, Infrastructure and Sustainability Committee. He said the pilot would have upsides for the city: It would reduce the number of delivery trucks congesting the roads, decrease emissions from vehicles and provide surveying data on the condition of the city's sidewalks.

Rogers said the robots would use sidewalks and crosswalks, but would not operate on trails or roadways. They would be required to obey traffic laws and yield to pedestrians, bicycles, skateboards and more. Each would be marked with the operating company's website address and contact information.

Rogers recommended setting a time limit for a pilot and requiring each company to pay an $808 permit fee and show proof of liability insurance. Each robot has a high price tag, so he said he wouldn't expect more than four or five per company.

On its website, Marble describes its autonomous delivery devices as "your friendly neighborhood robot." The company is in discussions with retailers to transport customers' purchases. It has not publicly announced any clients, said Jackie Erickson, Marble's director of communications and government relations, but many suggested Dallas as a test market.

The startup, founded by three Carnegie Mellon University graduates, is testing its robots about an hour east of San Francisco in Concord, Calif. It's begun mapping some streets in Arlington and is discussing a pilot with a city in Nevada, Erickson said. Last year, it ran a meal delivery pilot in San Francisco with Yelp 324, a food delivery business that the online review company acquired.

Erickson said Marble would like to have its robots in Dallas in the fall or winter. She said "robot ambassadors" would initially tag along with the deliveries. Customers open the robot by punching in a special code that they receive after their purchase.

At Monday's meeting in Dallas, the idea of the delivery robots was greeted with enthusiasm. Council member Lee Kleinman said Dallas could be a leader in the state for the delivery vehicles. He said he did not want the city to stand in the way of companies.

After watching a YouTube video of a Marble robot, council member Sandy Greyson said they looked "very cool, very hip." Even if it takes just a few cars off the road, she said, it would be an improvement. But she joked about whether the autonomous delivery devices would be able to detect potholes before they fall into them.

Explore further Delivery robots will need permits to roam San Francisco

2018 The Dallas Morning News

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Credit: University of Sheffield

A centuries-old mystery behind the shape of a bird's egg has been solved by scientists at the University of Sheffield as part of one of the longest-running scientific studies of its kind.

The study, led by Professor Tim Birkhead from the University's Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, has discovered the reason why guillemot eggs have such a peculiar shape  a mystery that has been puzzling biologists for hundreds of years.

Guillemots lay and incubate their single egg on bare cliff ledges close to the sea, which led scientists and nature enthusiasts to believe that the egg's pointed shape had evolved to help it roll in an arc  thus keeping it from the cliff edge should it become dislodged

However, Professor Birkhead, who has been studying the behaviour of guillemots, puffins and razorbills on Skomer Island in Wales for almost 50 years, has discovered that the egg's shape has evolved in order to keep the egg in place and prevent it from rolling away in the first place.

The guillemot egg is widely considered as one of the most beautiful and extraordinary eggs in the avian world. Historically, egg collectors, who at Bempton on the Yorkshire coast were known as climmers, used to scale Britain's cliffs in search of some of the most unusually coloured guillemot eggs and sell them onto museums and wealthy businessmen for their collections. Egg collecting is now banned in the UK.

This new study published in Auk: Ornithological Advances, dispels the widely held belief that the pointed shape of guillemot eggs has evolved to allow the egg to roll in an arc, and shows instead that guillemot eggs are inherently more stable on the sloping ledges that guillemots often breed on.

Professor Birkhead said: "Guillemots are one of the most fascinating species of birds that we have in the UK, however they are often overshadowed by their neighbour, the puffin. This is mostly because people love the way puffins look, but in terms of behaviour, guillemots are much more interesting for nature enthusiasts to watch.

Credit: University of Sheffield

"Apart from looking cute, Puffins don't really do much at the colony. In contrast, watching guillemots is like watching nature's very own soap opera: a never-ending mix of marital affection, infidelity and strife. And, in terms of keeping a health check on the oceans, you can't beat guillemots since we can survey their numbers, survival and breeding success more easily accurately than almost any other seabird.

"Guillemot eggs are a fascinating part of nature, so it's very exciting to feel that we might finally have figured out why guillemot eggs are the shape they are."

Aside from guillemot eggs, Professor Birkhead's studies on Skomer Island have revealed fascinating and unprecedented insights into the ecology and behaviour of the 300,000 pairs of nesting seabirds in the region, such as how their populations have been affected by climate change.

A recent study found that tens of thousands of birdsmainly guillemots and puffinshave been killed by the increasing number of storms to hit the area.

The Sheffield scientist, who has become one of the most renowned seabird experts in the UK, is due to retire later this year and is now looking to hand his 50-year research programme to the next generation of scientists in order to continue the vital monitoring of seabirds and how they are affected by climate change and other changes in the marine environment.

However, due to cuts by the Welsh Government to the project's funding, Professor Birkhead's 50 years of monitoring are in danger of being lost forever.

He added: "Across the world seabird populations are in decline due to plastic, over-fishing and climate change. The careful monitoring of seabird numbers is essential, not only for the birds but because it also provides a health-check on the oceans. It is vital."

A fundraising campaign has now been launched to help secure the future of the research so a new cohort of zoologists can lead the project.

Explore further Egg mythbusterwhy some eggs are pear shaped

More information: Tim R. Birkhead et al. The pyriform egg of the Common Murre (Uria aalge) is more stable on sloping surfaces, The Auk (2018). Tim R. Birkhead et al. The pyriform egg of the Common Murre (Uria aalge) is more stable on sloping surfaces,(2018). DOI: 10.1642/AUK-18-38.1In this image made from video, scientists examine the fossil of a horse in Yakutia, Russia, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. Russian scientists have found the carcass of an ancient foal perfectly preserved in Siberian permafrost. The fossil discovered in the region of Yakutia has its skin, hair, hooves and tail preserved. Scientists from Russia's Northeast Federal University said Thursday that the foal is estimated to be 30,000 to 40,000 years old. (AP Photo)

Russian scientists have found the carcass of an ancient foal perfectly preserved in the Siberian permafrost.

The fossil discovered in the region of Yakutia has its skin, hair, hooves and tail preserved. Yakutia is also famous having wooly mammoth fossils found in the permafrost.

Scientists from Russia's Northeast Federal University who presented the discovery Thursday said the foal is estimated to be 30,000 to 40,000 years old. They believe it was about two months old when it died.

Semyon Grigoryev, head of the Mammoth Museum in the regional capital of Yakutsk, was surprised to see the perfect state of the find. He noted it's the best-preserved ancient foal found to date.

The foal was discovered in the Batagaika crater, a huge 100-meter (328-foot) deep depression in the East Siberian taiga.

In this image made from video, scientists examine the fossil of a horse in Yakutia, Russia, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. Russian scientists have found the carcass of an ancient foal perfectly preserved in Siberian permafrost. The fossil discovered in the region of Yakutia has its skin, hair, hooves and tail preserved. Scientists from Russia's Northeast Federal University said Thursday that the foal is estimated to be 30,000 to 40,000 years old. (AP Photo)

Explore further Mammoth fragments from Siberia raise cloning hopes (Update)

 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.Siemens CEO Joe Kaeser sees potential to cut up to 20,000 jobs at the engineering giant as part of a major cost-cutting drive, a German magazine reported

German engineering giant Siemens sees potential for axing up to 20,000 jobs worldwide as part of a major cost-cutting drive, the monthly Manager Magazin reported on Thursday.

According to the online edition of the magazine, Siemens chief executive Joe Kaeser told an investors' roadshow earlier this month that 20,000 administrative jobs could become superfluous under the group's "Vision 2020+" strategy.

The cuts would only affect administration in Siemens' headquarters, not jobs at its production sites, the magazine said.

Siemens was not immediately available for comment when contacted by AFP.

The group, which makes gas turbines, trains, industrial robots and medical scanners, unveiled the planned revamp at the beginning of August, when it published a 14-percent drop in bottom-line earnings in the second quarter.

As part of the overhaul, Siemens plans to reduce the number of industrial units from five to three to make them more independent and better able to respond quickly to market demands.

Siemens currently employs a workforce of nearly 380,000 worldwide.

Explore further Siemens shares nosedive on overhaul plan, energy woes

 2018 AFPCredit: CC0 Public Domain

Flash floods occur with little warning. Earlier this year, a flash flood that struck Ellicott City, MD, demolished the main street, swept away parked cars, pummeled buildings and left one man dead.

A recent Tel Aviv University study suggests that weather patterns that lead to flash floods may one day be tracked and anticipated by our smartphones.

"The sensors in our smartphones are constantly monitoring our environment, including gravity, the earth's magnetic field, atmospheric pressure, light levels, humidity, temperatures, sound levels and more," said Prof. Colin Price of TAU's Porter School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, who led the research. "Vital atmospheric data exists today on some 3 to 4 billion smartphones worldwide. This data can improve our ability to accurately forecast the weather and other natural disasters that are taking so many lives every year."

Prof. Price collaborated with TAU master's student Ron Maor and TAU doctoral student Hofit Shachaf for the study, which was published in the Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics.

Smartphones measure raw data, such as atmospheric pressure, temperatures and humidity, to assess atmospheric conditions. To understand how the smartphone sensors work, the researchers placed four smartphones around TAU's expansive campus under controlled conditions and analyzed the data to detect phenomena such as "atmospheric tides," which are similar to ocean tides. They also analyzed data from a UK-based app called WeatherSignal.

"By 2020, there will be more than six billion smartphones in the world," Prof. Price said. "Compare this with the paltry 10,000 official weather stations that exist today. The amount of information we could be using to predict weather patterns, especially those that offer little to no warning, is staggering.

"In Africa, for example, there are millions of phones but only very basic meteorological infrastructures. Analyzing data from or 10 phones may be of little use, but analyzing data on millions of phones would be a game changer. Smartphones are getting cheaper, with better quality and more availability to people around the world."

The same smartphones may be used to provide real-time weather alerts through a feedback loop, Prof. Price said. The public can provide atmospheric data to the "cloud" via a smartphone application. This data would then be processed into real-time forecasts and returned to the users with a forecast or a warning to those in danger zones.

The study may lead to better monitoring and predictions of hard-to-predict flash floods. "We're observing a global increase in intense rainfall events and downpours, and some of these cause flash floods," Prof. Price said. "The frequency of these intense floods is increasing. We can't prevent these storms from happening, but soon we may be able to use the public's smartphone data to generate better forecasts and give these forecasts back to the public in real time via their phones."

Explore further The flash before the flood

More information: Colin Price et al, Using smartphones for monitoring atmospheric tides, Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics (2018). Colin Price et al, Using smartphones for monitoring atmospheric tides,(2018). DOI: 10.1016/j.jastp.2018.04.015The Irish no-frills airline was forced to scrap some 400 out of 2,400 scheduled European flights as pilots in Ireland, Germany, Belgium, Sweden and the Netherlands walked off the job

Ryanair on Thursday said it had "reached agreement" with an Irish union representing pilots, in a move that could end strike action that has resulted in cancelled flights across Europe.

"Ryanair today (Thursday) confirmed that overnight it had reached agreement with FORSA union and its Irish pilots committee on behalf of Republic of Ireland based pilots," the no-frills airline tweeted.

Reports said that the union has recommended that the pilots back the deal, of which no details were disclosed.

"Ryanair will take these proposals to its Board in due course after the Irish based pilots have voted on this signed agreement," the tweet added.

"The mediator... has asked both sides to refrain from further comment until the ballot has concluded and we will respect his wishes," Ryanair continued.

Earlier this month, Ryanair pilots across Europe staged a coordinated 24-hour strike to push their demands for better pay and conditions, plunging tens of thousands of passengers into transport chaos at the peak of the busy summer season.

The Irish no-frills airline was forced to scrap some 400 out of 2,400 scheduled European flights as pilots in Ireland, Germany, Belgium, Sweden and the Netherlands walked off the job.

Around 55,000 passengers were affected by the strikes, said Ryanair, which has offered customers refunds or the option of rebooking their journeys.

Ryanair slammed the stoppages as "unnecessary" but pilots counter that the carrier has refused to engage in meaningful dialogue about collective labour agreements since it began recognising unions in December 2017.

The airline meanwhile suffered a round of strikes by cockpit and cabin crew in July that disrupted 600 flights in Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain, affecting 100,000 travellers.

 2018 AFPAdvanced imaging provides clues to predicting fracture in metals. In this study, cracks in a nickel alloy embrittled by hydrogen were caught 'red handed' as they propagated along grain boundaries. Credit: Texas A&M University

In work that could help prevent the failure of everything from bridges to dental implants, a team led by a researcher at Texas A&M University has taken the first 3-D image of a microscopic crack propagating through a metal damaged by hydrogen.

"For the first time we were able to catch the crack red-handed," said Dr. Michael J. Demkowicz, associate professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Texas A&M.

Previously, the only way to analyze such a metal failure was to look at the separated pieces of a completely fractured component, which entails a certain amount of guesswork. The new research shows what is happening at the crack tip as a part begins to fracture.

"It's much better than arriving at the crime scene after the fact," said Demkowicz.

As a result, the team identified 10 microscopic structures that make metals stronger and less susceptible to a key environmental factorthe hydrogen around usthat can damage them.

Their work is published in Nature Communications. It was conducted using two powerful tools at Argonne National Laboratory's Advanced Photon Source (APS), and represents a milestone for one of those tools as the first experiment performed by researchers outside of the development team at Argonne and Carnegie Mellon University (CMU).

A Common Problem

Metals surround us in any number of structures and devices, but they can be negatively affected by the ubiquitous hydrogen around us, mostly from water.

"Hydrogen gets into the metal and causes it to fracture unexpectedly in a process called hydrogen embrittlement," said John P. Hanson, a reactor engineer at Oklo and first author of the paper.

One prominent example involves the Bay Bridge in San Francisco. As the bridge was being constructed in 2013, engineers discovered that 32 of the 96 huge bolts key to the structure had cracked due to hydrogen embrittlement. The problem was caught early so there was no catastrophe, but it delayed the opening of the bridge by a few years.

Scientists have studied hydrogen embrittlement for over 150 years, but it remains difficult to predict.

"That's largely because we don't have a complete understanding of the mechanisms behind it," said Hanson, who conducted the work while earning his doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

"As a result, engineers have to overdesign with additional material to cover any sudden failure and that costs a lot," said co-author Peter Kenesei of Argonne, who operates the instruments used in the work. "So a better understanding of this behavior could have a huge economic impact."

Making Progress

"You can make progress on old problems when you have new tools," said Demkowicz. The researchers employed two different synchrotron tools, high-energy diffraction microscopy and X-ray absorption tomography, to analyze the microscopic structure of a crack in a superalloy of nickel. The study represents the first time the microscopy technique was used by researchers not involved in its development. The combined experimental tool and analysis software are unique in the world.

A metal is composed of microscopic crystals, or grains. In nickel superalloys, the fractures brought on by hydrogen embrittlement travel along the boundaries between those grains. Hanson said the unique tools at the APS beamline 1-ID allow for the first time to not only look at the grain orientations around a crack in progress, but also the grain boundaries. From those observations, the team identified 10 grain boundaries that are more resistant to cracks.

"We were able to show not only which grain boundaries are stronger, but exactly what it is about them that improves their performance," Hanson said. This could ultimately allow engineers to build stronger metals by designing them with those characteristics.

In the nearer term, the Argonne tools could be used to image the microstructure of existing metal components to better predict their susceptibility to failure. Kenesei notes that the tools are already being used this way to study other engineering materials, such as those related to airplanes, batteries and nuclear reactors.

Extreme Challenges

The study took eight years to complete, primarily because it involved huge amounts of data that were difficult to analyze. The raw data for the work would fill almost 400 DVDs. Further, the data looks nothing like a 3-D model of the material.

"It's highly encrypted in the form of streaks and dots, or diffraction patterns, that must be analyzed by a supercomputer," said Robert M. Suter from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), an expert on the analysis.

To put the challenges in perspective, Demkowicz notes that the crack microstructure is actually much more complicated than the structure of DNA, which Watson and Crick determined through the same general process, but by hand.

More information: John P. Hanson et al, Crystallographic character of grain boundaries resistant to hydrogen-assisted fracture in Ni-base alloy 725, Nature Communications (2018). Journal information: Nature Communications John P. Hanson et al, Crystallographic character of grain boundaries resistant to hydrogen-assisted fracture in Ni-base alloy 725,(2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05549-yMinister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus V.Makei meets the Ambassador of Armenia

23-08-2018

On August 23, 2018 the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Vladimir Makei, met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to the Republic of Belarus, Oleg Esayan, on the occasion of the completion of his diplomatic mission in our country.

During the meeting, the sides discussed current state of the bilateral cooperation in the political, trade, economic and other spheres, noted an increase of trade turnover between the two countries.

V.Makei thanked O.Esayan for his contribution to the development of Belarusian- Armenian relations.

print versionPine Belt residents have an opportunity to attend a lecture about head, neck, and oral health Wednesday, September 19, from noon-1 p.m., and participants who qualify will receive a free screening immediately following the presentation at Forrest General Hospital. You must attend the lecture to qualify for the free screening.

The screening is helpful to call attention to potential problems and to identify early risk factors for dental disease, mouth and throat cancers as well as other health issues. A screening identifies problems that are visible to the naked eye and does not include a detailed exam or diagnoses. The screenings will be performed by licensed dental providers.

This meeting will take place in Forrest Generals Elm, Hickory, and Pine rooms located inside Forresters Cafeteria. Participants will receive a free oral care kit. Snacks and refreshments will be provided.

Space is limited, so register now for the event by visiting forrestgeneral.com/oralscreenings or by calling 601-288-4445.44 minutes ago

'Nothing else here:' Why it's so hard for world to quit coal

DHANBAD, India (AP)  Every day, Raju gets on his bicycle and unwillingly pedals the world a tiny bit closer to climate catastrophe. Every day, he straps half a dozen sacks of coal pilfered from mines  up to 200 kilograms, or 440 pounds  to the reinforced metal frame of his bike.

Read ArticleUgandan MP Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, has been left unable to stand after being beaten while in detention, his lawyer said.

We believe the ribs on the right side are crushed. He was beaten with a metal bar, Robert Amsterdam, one of Kyagulanyis attorneys told Reuters adding that: Hes unable to stand.

The Ugandan government, through its spokesman Ofwono Opondo has, however, dismissed the claims.

Thats rubbish, Opondo said. If (Amsterdam) is indeed Bobi Wines lawyer, let him go to the detention facility and apply to see him and establish for himself whether his ribs are crushed.

A spokesman for Amsterdam said he had not yet been able to travel to Kampala but that a member of his law firm had arrived and that he was in touch with the Kyagulanyi and the local legal team on an hourly basis.

The spokesman added that direct access to Bobi Wine had been severely restricted.

Meanwhile, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has said it will sue the Ugandan government at the East African Court of Justice for human rights violation in the detention of Bobi Wine.

We call upon the governments of East African states, including Kenya, to apply pressure on Uganda to comply with these demands and respect international human rights instruments, LSK Nairobi Chairman Charles Kanjama said.

In a Press briefing in Nairobi on Wednesday, LSK demanded that Uganda  immediately and unconditionally release from military detention.

We are also working with the East Africa Law Society, to also seek to engage in further legal action both in the courts in Uganda and East Africa Court of Justice and any other court, so that the truth of what has happened in Uganda can come to light and to show solidarity with people of Uganda, Kanjama added.

We also call on the Government of Uganda to ensure that Hon. Kyagulanyi receives adequate medical treatment as required by his state of health, by a doctor of the familys choosing, the LSK Chairman added.Nairobi boss Mike Sonko ha apologised for nominating political firebrand Miguna Miguna for the deputy governors post.

Speaking during an interview on Milele FM, Sonko confessed that he selected the controversial lawyer out of anger and bitterness.

I want to apologise because I selected Miguna Miguna out of anger and bitterness. There was a lot of pressure, intimidation, and blackmail and so I gave them Miguna, Sonko said.

Sonko, who has been without a deputy following the resignation of Polycarp Igathe on January 31, says he is ready to nominate a new deputy governor.

The County boss on Wednesday said he had trimmed down his list of 10 to four names and he is only waiting to consult with Jubilee Party leadership on who to pick.

He has now picked four women: former Starehe MP Margaret Wanjiru, corporate guru Agnes Kagure, lawyers Karen Nyamu and Jane Weru.

I prefer a woman for the position, he said in the interview with Milele FM.

I have four names in mind but I am waiting for consultations with top Jubilee party leadership who are my bosses to see who to choose.

Sonko further blamed the advisory committee for the delay following the rejection of Miguna by the assembly.

I respected the advisory opinion and nominated Miguna but he was rejected. However, the advisory opinion is silent on what to do next after a rejection, he said.

The front-runner for the coveted Deputy Governor position is reported to be Agnes Kagure, a gender activist and insurance executive who has been voted Agent of the Year for seven years by the Association of Kenya Insurers.

In 2011, she was featured among the Top 40 Women under 40 by the Business Daily.

Nyamu contested for Woman Representative in Nairobi on the Jubilee ticket but lost to Esther Passaris.

Weru is a lawyer with a masters degree in NGO management from the London School of Economics. She is currently an executive director of Akiba Mashinani Trust  an NGO.Rosemary Odinga, the second born child of Raila and Ida Odinga made her first public appearance on Saturday since she was taken ill in February last year.

She was joined by friends and family as she celebrated her 41st birthday at the Deeps EA Horse Riding School in Kitusuru.

Speaking to the Star, Rosemary said: My year has been great so far. I thank the Lord for all the blessings. My family and my friends have also been wonderful to me. I cant really complain. I take a day at a time.

On family, the mother of two said: My daughters are my source of joy and strength. I am grateful to have them.

Rosemary, who grew up in one of Kenyas most powerful political families, admitted it is not always easy.

Politics has been part of my life. It has its ups and downs. Good moments and trying times. she said.

When asked about the handshake between her father and President Uhuru, Rosemary said: I have not been active in politics for a while but I think any initiative that works to unite Kenyans and promote economic development is welcome.

She also shared some words of advice to young aspiring politicians saying: If you feel you have something to offer in terms of political leadership, go for it. Take the initiative and fight for what you believe in.

When asked if is she considering a political comeback in the next general election, the former Kibra MP aspirant said: There are more important things I am focused on right now. There is time for everything.

Rosemary, like most East Africans, has joined Ugandans online in the #FreeBobiWine campaign and her message is: I feel for him and his beautiful family. I join others in demanding his release.Apples co-founder Steve Wozniak has always been fan of cryptocurrencies but struggled with the broader blockchain trend, claiming it was just a bubble. But now there are signs that hes had a change of heart after gaining a better understanding of everything blockchain.

So, the question is this: If super genius Steve Wozniak didnt fully get blockchain at first, what are the rest of not getting? It was only two months ago that Wozniak was pushing his skepticism over blockchain hype, as skepticism that has quickly vanished.

Talking about his earlier belief that blockchain was nothing more than a fad, Wozniak told Nulltx.com this week: At first I kept hearing [about blockchain], and I didnt understand it. Its not something you understand in a day. You think about it, read more about it and how it works, and then you see how people actually start to use it, through the mining process and also the verification and, aha! It all adds up! said Wozniak, before reflecting on early conceptions of crypto.

In that same exclusive interview, Wozniak revealed his plans for the first time to get involved with a blockchain company called Equi Capital.

Its not phony, he said; rather its a share of stock in a real company, rather than a new currency. The company, Wozniak said, is doing investment by investors with huge track records in good investments in things like apartment buildings in Dubai.

He also hinted that the company might be launching in Malta, and mention one investor who has actually listed out an apartment building for bitcoin, which he still considers digital gold. Related: Stock Market Opens Flat But Bullish Signs Remain

So should we be running toward blockchain now that this tech prodigy has changed his mind?

Well, lets take a look at what we know about Equi so far, even if its not much to go on (but then again, in the crypto world, theres never enough to go on). Equi calls itself The Ultimate Disruptor to Traditional Venture Capital Investing.

But Equi Capitals Ethereum ICO was a bit of a controversial flop, and the company is a highly colorful outfit that one wouldwithout a stretchlink to someone like Wozniak. For starters, the company was founded by Baroness Michelle Mone (Lady Mone)a Scottish lingerie billionaire--and Doug Barrowman, her boyfriend.

Now, the ICO has ended, and its been anything but smooth. The ICO launched on March 1st and was to last for six weeks and hoped to raise $75 million. When it only made less than 10 percent of that four weeks into it, it moved to extend for another six weeks. It then had a major tiff with the marketing company it hired, leading to their exit as partners.

Trying to recover what was supposed to be an easy success, Equi launched a bounty campaign using bounty hunters compensated for advertising, pledging to give all participants 2 percent of all tokens, or 2 percent of the total value of $2.5 million. The ICO ended on June 30th, without meeting its target and refunded investors in July. Things got worse after that because the bounty hunters ended up getting a fraction of what they said they were promised in the deal.

Many will be glad to hear that Wozniak is beyond his bubble theory on blockchain, but just as many will be questioning his first choice of entry into this new world.

By Michael Kern for Safehaven.com

More Top Reads From Safehaven.comAn additional 25-percent tariff on $16 billion in Chinese imports covering 279 products came into effect today, in a move that has led to an immediate and equally harsh retaliatory tariff from Beijing.

The U.S. tariffs affect chemical products, semiconductors, motorcycles, speedometers, antennas, and railway cars, among other things, and China responded immediately with 25-percent tariffs on an equal amount of American goods, including chemical products, buses and diesel fuel.

Representatives from the U.S. motorcycle industry, electric bicycle makers, food equipment manufacturers, and chemical companies have voiced their opposition to this round of tariffs, in vain.

The U.S. is now officially charging a 25-percent tariff on a total list of $50 billion in Chinese goods after tariffs on $34 billion in Chinese goods went into effect in July.

Trump has also proposed another possible round of tariff hikes that would see 25-perent tariffs slapped on another $200 billion in Chinese goods, while Beijing has prepared a list of $60 billion in American goods that would be targeted in retaliation.

China has slightly less leverage in this battle because fewer goods are exported to China and Beijing has more to lose because it runs a trade surplus with the U.S.

In June, in a bid to avert a full-blown trade war, Beijing proposed the purchase of nearly $70 billion in American products, including a significant amount of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Washington rejected the proposal and Beijing threatened to include oil in its list of tariffs though that has not yet materialized. Related: Is This One Of The Most Exciting IPOs Of The Year?

Earlier this month, China proposed a 25-percent tariff on U.S. LNG imports as part of the next phase of trade war escalation.

China is expected to be the largest growth market for LNG for the foreseeable future, and several LNG exporters in the U.S. are eyeing China as their key market. Still, it is unclear how much of an impact tariffs will have since LNG cargoes can simply be rerouted elsewhere.

The U.S. goods trade deficit with China totaled $375.23 billion last year, nearly half the U.S. trade deficit globally, according to U.S. Commerce Department data.

The data released by the department showed that the U.S. trade deficit dropped in June to the lowest level in 19 months but the trade gap between the United States and China increased sharply, expanding 18.7 percent in June from the previous month to $33.19 billion.

The fresh increases came as envoys met in Washington for their first high-level talks in two months, but many are not expecting any form compromise soon. Previous negotiations failed to produce any lasting deals, and Trump has suggested the current talks may not be much different.

The skepticism is also shared by Moodys, which noted in a recent analysis note to investors that U.S. trade tensions with China are likely to worsen this year, weighing on global growth in 2019.

Most of the impact of the trade restrictions on economic growth will be felt in 2019, and any additional tariffs would be a material downside scenario, the report noted.

By Fred Dunkley for Safehaven.com

More Top Reads From Safehaven.comThank you for reading!

Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading.With more than 90 years as your local newspaper, today and every Thursday, to reminisce and honor the rich history of the Santa Ynez Valley, the Santa Ynez Valley News editors will reach into the archives to give you "Throwback Thursday," a.k.a. #tbtsyv.

If you would like to contribute your own piece of history, story, photo, etc., please email Lifestyle Editor, Lisa Andre at Landre@leecentralcoastnews.com.President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday said his famous handshake with Opposition leader Raila Odinga on the steps of Harambee House has a deeper understanding than some politicians think.

The President said the process leading to the meeting with the opposition leader was carefully thought out and fashioned with the ultimate aim of building a stronger, united and cohesive nation.

There is a much deeper understanding between myself and Raila Odinga; an understanding that is driven by the desire to ensure that we leave this country much stronger, more united and more focused than it has ever been, said President Kenyatta.

The Head of State spoke during the 40th-anniversary memorial service in remembrance of the founding father of the nation, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta held at the Holy Family Minor Basilica, Nairobi.

President Kenyatta said that the building bridges initiative is in keeping with the spirit of the nations founding fathers who held dreams of a united Kenya. He a time comes when leaders must let go of petty politics and come together for the fundamental issues that make Kenya a celebrated nation and in the process fostering national unity and progress.

Uhuru further cautioned some politicians to stop misinterpreting the handshake and its intentions but rather focus on its bigger agenda which will allow Kenyans to work together and compete without considerations of tribe or religion.

What we are aiming at, is that politics will never again drive our country to bloodshed, destruction of property and animosity, said President Kenyatta adding that in the future a Kenyan should be able to seek elective office in any part of the country.

On corruption, President Kenyatta called on all Kenyans to come together and hold hands against the vice. He noted Kenyans cannot access adequate health care and education if they do not completely eliminate graft.

We must work together and eliminate corruption so that our people can get the services that are due to them as citizens of this republic, added Kenyatta.

The President said the founding father of the nation had made many achievements to consolidate the young nation but also faced challenges that confront all human beings.

We are not here to glorify the man. He was human, and being human, there were great things he managed to achieve for this country and there were also issues that he was confronted with just like all of us.

He said there is need for Kenyans to learn from the mistakes of their forefathers, in their efforts to achieve the dreams enshrined in the national anthem about the unity of the nation, peace within its borders and harmony among its people.

President Kenyatta added that history can only remain relevant if it teaches people about the mistakes of the past and how to confront them, adding that history gives a nation its soul.

Uhuru said the country is yet to completely subdue the same challenges that faced our forefathers including education, health and alleviating poverty.

While Deputy President William Ruto described Mzee Kenyatta as the epitome of hard work, enterprise and wealth creation.

He consolidated the country into a nation. He left a legacy of hard work, enterprise and wealth creation, said the DP.

The memorial service-cum eucharistic celebration has been observed every year by sitting Presidents since Mzee Kenyattas death.Although the Serve Santa Maria event was rained out April 7, that didn't dampen organizer Pa

Santa Maria Police are investigating a Tuesday evening stabbing that occurred in northeaster

How to Serve

Those wishing to participate in Serve Santa Maria should arrive at the Abel Maldonado Community Center, 600 S. McClelland St., between 8:30 and 9 a.m. Saturday.

For more information, contact Serve Santa Maria at 805-922-6601 or servesantamariaca@gmail.com

Tax-deductible donations can be made to Serve Santa Maria at www.servesantamaria.com/giveSupply Chain Attack Hits South Korean Firms

Security researchers from Trend Micro have uncovered a supply chain attack, tracked as Operation Red Signature, against organizations in South Korea.

The Operation Red Signature aimed at delivering a remote access Trojan (RAT) used by attackers to steal sensitive information from the victims.

Threat actors compromised update server of a remote support solutions provider, using this attack scheme hackers infected the victims with the 9002 RAT backdoor.

Together with our colleagues at IssueMakersLab, we uncovered Operation Red Signature, an information theft-driven supply chain attack targeting organizations in South Korea. We discovered the attacks around the end of July, while the media reported the attack in South Korea on August 6. reads the analysis published by TrendMicro.

The malicious code delivered by the attackers was signed with a valid digital certificate that was stolen, attackers also changed the configuration of the update server to deliver the malware only to organizations within a specified range of IP addresses.

According to Trend Micro, the attackers likely stole the code signing certificate in April and used it to sign the malicious update files then uploaded them on their servers.

Then the hackers compromised the server used to deliver the update and configured it to retrieve an update.zip file from the server controlled by the attackers.

Researchers observed that the 9002 RAT was also used to deliver additional payloads, such as an exploit tool for Internet Information Services (IIS) 6 WebDav (exploiting CVE-2017-7269) and an SQL database password dumper.

Hackers used the tools to steal data stored in their targets web server and database.

The update.zip file contains an update.ini file, which has the malicious update configuration that specifies the remote support solution program to download file000.zip and file001.zip and extract them as rcview40u.dll and rcview.log to the installation folder. continues the analysis.

The program will then execute rcview40u.dll, signed with the stolen certificate, with Microsoft register server (regsvr32.exe). This dynamic-link library (DLL) is responsible for decrypting the encrypted rcview.log file and executing it in memory. 9002 RAT is the decrypted rcview.log payload, which connects to the command-and-control (C&C) server at 66[.]42[.]37[.]101.

The analysis of the 9002 RAT backdoor revealed it was compiled on July 17, 2018, and the configuration files inside update.zip were created on July 18. On July 18, the remote support programs update process started, experts noticed that the 9002 RAT used supply chain attack was set to be inactive in August.

The RAT can fetch a long list of hacking tools reported in the following table:

Heres a list of files that 9002 RAT retrieves and delivers to the affected system:

Filename Tool Purpose dsget.exe DsGet View active directory objects dsquery.exe DsQuery Search for active directory objects sharphound.exe SharpHound Collect active directory information aio.exe All In One (AIO) Publicly available hack tool ssms.exe SQL Password dumper Dump password from SQL database printdat.dll RAT (PlugX variant) Remote access tool w.exe IIS 6 WebDav Exploit Tool Exploit tool for CVE-2017-7269 (IIS 6) Web.exe WebBrowserPassView Recover password stored by browser smb.exe Scanner Scans the systems Windows version and computer name m.exe Custom Mimikatz (including 32bit / 64bit file) Verify computer password and active directory credentials

Supply chain attacks dont just affect users and businesses  they exploit the trust between vendors and its clients or customers. By trojanizing software/applications or manipulating the infrastructures or platforms that run them, supply chain attacks affects the integrity and security of the goods and services that organizations provide, Trend Micro concludes.

Pierluigi Paganini

( Security Affairs  supply chain attack, hacking)

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Share OnCheck Point reported that organizations worldwide have been targeted with the Ryuk ransomware that was developed by North Korea-linked threat actor.

Security experts from Check Point have uncovered a ransomware-based campaign aimed at organizations around the world conducted by North Korea-linked threat actor.

The campaign appears as targeted and well-planned, crooks targeted several enterprises and encrypted hundreds of PC, storage and data centers in each infected company.

Some organizations paid an exceptionally large ransom in order to retrieve the encrypted files, CheckPoint confirms that the ransom amount paid by the victims ranged between 15 BTC to 50 BTC.

At least three organizations in the United States and worldwide have been severely affected, the attackers are estimated to have already netted over $640,000 to date.

The malicious code used in the attack was tracked as Ryuk ransomware, it appears connected to Hermes malware that was associated with the notorious Lazarus APT group.

Curiously, our research lead us to connect the nature of Ryuks campaign and some of its inner-workings to the HERMES ransomware, a malware commonly attributed to the notorious North Korean APT Lazarus Group, which was also used in massive targeted attacks. reads the analysis published by Check Point.

This leads us to believe that the current wave of targeted attacks using Ryuk may either be the work of the HERMES operators, the allegedly North Korean group, or the work of an actor who has obtained the HERMES source code.

The HERMES ransomware was first spotted in October 2017 when it was involved in a targeted attack against the Far Eastern International Bank (FEIB) in Taiwan.

Of course, we cannot exclude that another attacker was in possession of the Hermes source code and used it to develop the Ryuk ransomware.

Experts highlighted that the encryption scheme of the Ryuk ransomware was built specifically for small-scale operations.

Unlike the common ransomware, systematically distributed via massive spam campaigns and exploit kits, Ryuk is used exclusively for tailored attacks. In fact, its encryption scheme is intentionally built for small-scale operations, such that only crucial assets and resources are infected in each targeted network with its infection and distribution carried out manually by the attackers. continues the report.

Experts found many similarities between the encryption logic implemented in the Ryuks code and the one used in the HERMES ransomware.

Continuing the analysis, the experts discovered that both ransomware uses a quite identical dropper.

When executed the Ryuk ransomware conducts a Sleep of several seconds, then it checks if it was executed with a specific argument and then kills more than 40 processes and over 180 services associated with to antivirus, database, backup and document editing software.

The ransomware destroys its encryption key and deletes shadow copies and various backup files from the disk in order to prevent victims from recovering their files.

It is interesting to note that almost all of the Ryuk ransomware samples analyzed by the experts were provided with a unique wallet. Once the victims have paid the ransom, the attackers divided the funds and transmitted them through multiple accounts.

From the exploitation phase through to the encryption process and up to the ransom demand itself, the carefully operated Ryuk campaign is targeting enterprises that are capable of paying a lot of money in order to get back on track. concludes CheckPoint.

Both the nature of the attack and the malwares own inner workings tie Ryuk to the HERMES ransomware and arouse curiosity regarding the identity of the group behind it and its connection to the Lazarus Group. Check Point says.

Pierluigi Paganini

( Security Affairs  Ryuk ransomware, North Korea)

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Share OnSpain on Thursday sent back to Morocco 116 migrants who had forced their way into the Spanish territory of Ceuta, in a mass expulsion condemned by human rights activists. "The 116 sub-Saharan migrants who entered Spain via the Ceuta border illegally yesterday (Wednesday) have been sent back to Morocco," the Ceuta prefecture said in a statement. The migrants made it into Ceuta after storming a barbed-wire border fence with Morocco and attacking police. The Walking Borders humanitarian group described the return of the migrants as a "huge violation of human rights by the Spanish government". However the Spanish interior ministry defended the "legality" of the expulsion. "Once Morocco indicated it would accept these people.... the national police went to look for them at the holding centre for foreigners and transferred them to the police station.... All of them had a lawyer, an interpreter and medical aid," a ministry spokesperson said. "All were told of the possibility of applying for asylum but they didn't do it," the spokesperson added, also saying that two minors in the group remained in Spain. Spanish territories Ceuta and Melilla have the European Union's only land borders with Africa, drawing migrants trying to reach the bloc. Every year sub-Saharan African migrants living illegally in Morocco try to enter Europe either by climbing over border fences or swimming along the coastline. Some 3,100 migrants have entered Ceuta and Melilla by land since the start of the year, according to the International Organization for Migration. And over 25,000 others have arrived in Spain by sea, making it the main entry point for migrants arriving in Europe, after Italy and Greece.Mining Like a Viking: How the Fjords of Norway Offer a Greener Alternative





Make sure to close the door behind you, Mathis Schultz, the CEO of Northern Bitcoin, said to me in a near shout. As we entered the backside of the shipping container, partitioned for the ASIC miners exhaust, Schultz wanted to make sure the heat emitted wouldnt mingle with the temperature-controlled front end of the shipping container.



The door opened, my senses, already ringing from the blaring of the ASICs mechanized grind, were ignited. Like stepping from one climate zone to the next, I was greeted by a wave of hot air, the collective, arid exhaust from the shipping containers 210 Antminer S9s.

The backside of the mining rigs emit a powerful exhaust.

All that heat and the cacophony came from just a fraction of the 3,250 miners Northern Bitcoin runs in 15 shipping containers. Situated in Lefdal mine  a data center located roughly 31 miles northwest of Sandane, Norway  the operation is certainly unique. Bridging two industries and centuries, the bitcoin mining farm sits in a defunct olivine mine from the 70s.

Even more serendipitous, the converted data center is powered by 100 percent renewable energy from hydroelectric plants built in the same decade. Fed by the fjords that punctuate Sandanes mountainous landscape, hydroelectric dams provide the data center with an abundance of clean energy.

For Northern Bitcoin, this means mitigating the biggest headache when it comes to scaling and operating a mining farm: electricity costs.

Northern Bitcoin

Northern Bitcoin was founded in 2015. In its infancy, it was the aspirational leap into a new and still uncertain industry for CEO and Founder Mathis Schultz. A former banker for such firms as LGT, Julius Baer and Elan Capital partners, Schultz decided to shelve his former career in the old financial mode to pursue what he considers the future of finance.

I have always been interested in finance, the nature of money and its impact on our society. When I first heard of bitcoin and began to deal with it, I was instantly fascinated: Bitcoin is a revolution of our financial system. Its technology will replace many of their services, especially global transactions, and I wanted to be part of it, Schultz told Bitcoin Magazine.

Story continues

Northern Bitcoin's core team who accompanied us in Norway, standing front of a shipping container: (from left to right) Dr. Hans Joachim Durr, Moritz Jager, Mathis Schultz, and Marieke Garrels.

Thus far in the companys young development, Schultzs gamble has been paying off. What started off as a single container operation of a handful of miners has scaled into the 3,000+ ASICs held in Lefdal today. From this growth, the company has taken its operations public. Traded on the Munich stock exchange, Northern Bitcoin is valued at $177 million. More impressive, its valuation has stayed relatively stable during the recent bear market, something that most crypto-related businesses have struggled with as prices continue to tread water.

Northern Bitcoins novel operations are no doubt integral to this success. Schultz expressed that Norway and the Lefdal mine formed a perfect match for all [the companys] criteria.

With access to the cheap, renewable energy  which the regions plants produce in surplus and the Norwegian government exports  the mine can operate with minimal costs and with neutral carbon emissions.

The region itself boasts up to 6.7 TWh of excess renewable energy. This puts the mines electricity costs somewhere between $0.0350.045/kWh, giving it a power usage efficiency value of 1.08  a more than favorable figure.

To put this into perspective, Mongolia provides Bitmain access to renewable forms of energy at an average of $0.080.09/kWh.

Northern Bitcoins energy costs are lowered still by the climate control measures Lefdal mine features by design. As if the Norwegian climate wasnt cool enough, the data center is situated some 656 feet below ground, so it maintains a constant temperature of 55 degrees Fahrenheit (~12.5 degrees Celsius).

On top of this, the center pumps water in from the surrounding fjords to cool its IT hardware, dumping it back into the fjords so as to ensure zero waste.

This process allows Northern Bitcoin to cool its rigs down from 86 degrees Fahrenheit to 64.4 degrees Fahrenheit when theyre operating at full capacity. The team claims that this reduces their operating costs by up to 40 percent.

The 15 containers in Lefdal have an electric power of about 4.6 MW and thus consume a little bit more than 110 MWh a day, CTO Moritz Jager told Bitcoin Magazine.

To increase the hardwares efficiency and cut operating costs further, Jager and his team have developed their own software for running the miners. This software, Jager claims, allows the miners to perform at a fuller capacity by cutting back on secondary functions.

... the factory software is not optimized for best performance. It is doing other things additionally to the hash computations, like communicating with different servers, rendering a web user interface and so on. Some of these functions can be turned off completely and others can be executed with lower priority to save CPU time for the actual hashing. It is also very restricted in its overclocking functionality.

The company has also developed its own proprietary monitoring software, Jager added, which makes managing the ASICs as easy as possible. This lets the team oversee their hardware and manage problems from back in Frankfurt, the most common problems needing only a reboot to resolve. Many of these issues, like when a machine has temporarily degraded performance, are automatically fixed with a reboot.

The team receives alerts for problems that cannot be solved automatically. For everything else such as maintenance that requires remote-hands, like replacing a power supply, the technical staff in the mine has been trained and knows what to do, Jager said.

The Mine: A Look Inside

Traversing the two-lane highways that weave in and around the mountainous landscape, we set out for the mine. Situated 111 miles from Bergen, Norways second-largest city, the trek took a good 30 minutes from our lodging in Sandane, and it included a 10-minute ferry ride across the fjords many vast channels.

Lefdal Mine Data Center, featured with a Northern Bitcoin shipping container

Arriving at the mine, we were greeted by Mats Andersson, the chief marketing officer of Lefdal mine data center. Eager to showcase the mines digs, he briefed us on a few dos and donts and, loading up in the van, we began our descent.

Established in the late 70s, the data center occupies what was originally an olivine mine. Maintaining cool, steady temperatures year-round thanks to its subterranean environs, the mine is ideal for housing IT hardware, which often require intensive cooling measures to prevent overheating and excessive electrical consumption.

As the mine was already hollowed-out from its previous incarnation, the data centers infrastructure was largely in place upon its inception. In total, the mines prior activity furnished the data mine with six levels to house equipment, a total surface area of 393,700 feet. Spiraling downward a total of 4,265 feet, a central avenue runs through each level, which branch out to numerous streets on either side, typically 328 feet in length, that house storage containers for the IT equipment. Of these six levels, three are currently operational as the mine builds out its cooling and electrical infrastructure.

Running through the mine's multiple levels, the avenue is flanked on either side by the streets that house IT equipment.

Northern Bitcoins operation sits on the second level of the facility. Stacked three units high, the shipping containers are equipped with power grids to monitor and manage their power consumption.

As an additional means for chilling to add to the mines naturally cool insulation, a series of pipes pump water from the fjord through each shipping container to refrigerate the 210 ASICs resting inside. Going in, the water averages a temperature of 46.4 degrees Fahrenheit, and it leaves the mine to reenter the fjord at temperatures upward of 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

This cooling effect resulted in the drastic temperature change we experienced as we moved from the front to the back of the storage container the Northern Bitcoin team showcased. The near frigid-climate of the frontend, fitting enough for a pullover or heavy cardigan, gave way to a circulation-parched, baking air on the backend, an atmosphere more suited for swimsuits and flip-flops than the mild winter gear we were sporting at the time.

On the front end, the ASIC miners hard at work in the temperature-controlled shipping container.

The temperature change was palpable and drastic, enough to give one the impression of how pivotal the mines natural and artificial cooling features are to making the operation sustainable  and profitable.

When asked by a German reporter how low bitcoin would need to drop to throw the operation into the red, Schultz gave a confident, if esoteric and pithy, reply.

Very low.

Scaling: A Look Forward

As Schultz put it, given its access to intrinsic cooling techniques and clean energy, right from the start the infrastructure for fast growth was in place. Having only operated in the Lefdal mine since May of 2018, Northern Bitcoin has harnessed the infrastructure and its unique setup and to an impressive and expedient effect. A single container turned 16-container operation, the company claims to invest 100 percent of its mining profits back into infrastructure to scale further.

One of three streets where Northern Bitcoin has parked their shipping containers.

At its current size, the farm averages a hash rate of 47,000 TH/s. Even still, this nets them just below 1 percent of the entire Bitcoin networks hashrate, a far cry behind AntPool, Slush Pool, BTC.com and BTC.top.

The difference here being that Northern Bitcoin does not operate as a mining pool. As the company continues to grow, however, it plans to expand its reach by establishing a pool for serious, larger-scale projects to join, giving special preference to those miners who tap into renewable energy.

The next step is the opening of our mining pool for miners worldwide at the end of August. As one of very few mining pools worldwide, we support Asic-Boost. We plan to promote miners who engage in green sustainable mining  to build a greener Bitcoin network to secure its future prosperity, Schultz said

In addition to opening up a pool, Schultz stated that Northern Bitcoin will provide different cloud mining services for individuals and entities that lack the technical knowledge and proficiency to engage in the practice themselves.

These mining services are the companys next target in what is proving to be a continuous period of growth. If it scales its operations in the future as well as it has in the past, itll likely be a boon for the companys investors, which included a handful of family offices and private equity firms, one of which, Singularity Capital, owns a hefty 60 percent of the company.

Taking Steps Toward A Greener Network

At the height of bitcoins run-up last year, price wasnt the only metric on peoples mind.

Media outlets, crypto and mainstream alike, published articles telling a grim story of Bitcoins electrical consumption. Some of the more alarmist voices framed this usage as one of the graver threats to our ecosystem. The way they spun it, youd think Bitcoin had upstaged other sources of carbon emissions as the focus of debates surrounding climate change.

Bitcoins power use certainly deserves attention in the worlds and the industrys conscious, and its important to remain critical and vigilant when examining the topic. That said, many reports and articles on the topic favored a sensationalized perspective over a comprehensive one, as they rarely delved into the means through which bitcoin can be mined through clean, renewable means.

As Katrina Kelly argues in a recently published piece for The Conversation, the bitcoin energy debate rarely looks into where the energy is sourced and how it is produced.

Not all types of energy generation are equal in their impact on the environment, nor does the world uniformly rely on the same types of generation across states and markets, she argues in the article. Not all energy production nets the same carbon emissions, Kellys argument goes, so not all mining operations are consuming electricity that is as detrimental to the environment as detractors claim.

Northern Bitcoins zero carbon emission mining is a testament to Kellys thesis. As with other companies dedicated to green mining, theyre reframing the debate on mining. If mining can be conducted in a responsible manner, as Northern Bitcoins operations demonstrate, this model challenges us to rethink how the network can scale in eco-friendly ways going forward.

Northern Bitcoins commitment to taking steps toward a greener future for Bitcoin includes an invitation to other renewable mining operations to join them with their mining pool. According to Jager, clean mining must be the future; with it, we can secure a sustainable future for Satoshi Nakamotos creation to reach its potential.

Bitcoin is a genius creation and the most valuable cryptocurrency for now. It is the most effective way to store value and participate in global trade for people living in countries with unstable currencies. We anticipate a bright future for Bitcoin and that it will impact the lives of billions of people. As it consumes a lot of energy, the future of Bitcoin has to be green. That is why we focus on green, sustainable mining of bitcoin.

This article originally appeared on Bitcoin Magazine.QUEZON CITY, Philippines  Authorities on Wednesday (August 22) arrested a Grade 9 student for selling illegal drugs through social media.

18-year-old John Eric del Mundo was caught in the act of transacting illegal substance to a poser-buyer at F. Manalo St., Barangay Nagkaisang Nayon in Quezon City last night.

His regular clients, authorities said, were his classmates and peers who trade online usually on Facebook.

Ito ang safest way siguro sa kanila. Sa karamihan ng online [transactions], [through] Facebook, sunod-sunod na operation natin, said PSupt. Louise Benjie Tremor, QCPD Station 10 Commander.

Arrested along with Del Mundo was his customer, Jonel Cajoles.

Superintendent Tremor said Del Mundo was previously detained in a juvenile delinquent rehabilitation center for involvement in illegal drugs.

Meanwhile, Cajoles has an existing police record for involvement in robbery-snatching incidents in the area.

Authorities seized from the suspects four sachets of dried marijuana, the marked money and a cellular phone.

They will face charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.  Marje Pelayo (with reports from Reynante Ponte)

The post 9th grader nabbed for online drug selling in Quezon City appeared first on UNTV News.Air France said it would axe its route to Tehran on September 18, blaming "poor commercial viability"

Air France and British Airways announced Thursday that they will halt flights to Tehran next month, citing low profitability as the US reimposes sanctions on Iran.

Air France, which had run connections to the Iranian capital via its low-cost operator Joon, said it would axe the route on September 18, blaming "poor commercial viability".

The French carrier had already cut down on its Paris to Tehran connections from three a week to just one earlier this month, its communications service said.

British Airways had announced shortly earlier that it was axeing its London to Tehran service as it was "currently not commercially viable".

The last outbound flight to Tehran will be on September 22, and the last inbound flight from Tehran will be on September 23, the British flag-carrier added.

British Airways said its decision was unrelated to US President Donald Trump's imposition of new sanctions on Iran, which has affected foreign businesses operating in the country, with many pulling out altogether.

Dutch carrier KLM said last month that it was also suspending Tehran flights due to "negative results and financial outlook".

The airline said it was in discussions with partner airlines to offer customers rebooking options, or would offer full refunds.An anaesthetist gassed his wife and daughter to death using a yoga ball filled with carbon monoxide, a Hong Kong court has heard. Prosecutors told the High Court that Khaw Kim-sun left the inflatable ball in the boot of a car where the gas leaked out and killed them, according to reports from court Wednesday. His wife and 16-year-old daughter were found on a roadside in a locked yellow Mini Cooper in 2015, in a case which initially baffled police. The pair were certified dead at the same hospital where Khaw worked and a post-mortem revealed they had died from inhaling carbon monoxide. Police found a deflated yoga ball in the back of the car. Khaw has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder. Prosecutors said Wednesday that Khaw, a 53-year-old Malaysian national, was having an affair with a student and his wife would not grant him a divorce. They accused him of hatching a deliberate plot to murder his wife, the South China Morning Post reported. Prosecutors said it was likely that Khaw had not intended to kill his daughter. The court heard that in a police interview Khaw had said he had urged his younger daughter to stay at home and finish her homework on the day of the deaths, according to Apple Daily. Khaw's had been seen filling two balls with carbon monoxide at Chinese University, where he was an associate professor, reports said. He told colleagues he planned to use the gas on rabbits but later told police that he had taken it to get rid of rats at home. The trial continues Thursday.Huawei Technologies and ZTE Corp, the two leading Chinese telecommunications equipment providers that have invested heavily on research and development of next-generation networks, have been excluded from building Australias 5G infrastructure after Canberra laid out new rules.

The government considers that the involvement of vendors who are likely to be subject to extrajudicial directions from a foreign government that conflict with Australian law, may risk failure by the carrier to adequately protect a 5G network from unauthorised access or interference, Canberra said in a 5G security guidance to Australian carriers on Thursday, without singling out Huawei and ZTE.

This is an extremely disappointing result for consumers. Huawei is a world leader in 5G. Has safely & securely delivered wireless technology in Australia for close to 15 year, Huawei Australia said in a post on social media.

Shenzhen-based Huawei works with all of Australias major telecoms network operators and more than 50 per cent of Australians use a device from the Chinese company for some part of their daily communications needs, according to a description on its Twitter account.

China expressed serious concern about the Australian governments action, according to a statement on Thursday from Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang.

Australia should not use various excuses to artificially set obstacles and adopt discriminatory practices, Lu said. China urges the Australian government to abandon ideological prejudice and provide a fair competitive environment for Chinese companies operating in Australia.

Huawei did not comment further beyond its statement on Twitter. ZTE declined to comment.

Huawei under spotlight in UK over use of US firms ageing software

Liang Hua, chairman at privately held Huawei, did comment on the recent Australian ban on the sidelines of the Smart China Expo in Chongqing on Thursday. He said in his conference speech that the company will ensure that it uses data legally, without making specific reference to Australia.

Story continues

Amid the escalating trade war between the United States and China, the US government has identified Huawei and ZTE as security threats because of alleged ties to the Chinese government.

In early July, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, an agency under the US Department of Commerce, also singled out China Mobile, saying the worlds largest wireless network operator by subscribers posed a security risk in its recommendation that the Federal Communications Commission deny its application to build its own infrastructure and provide consumer and corporate telecommunications services in the US.

Top Huawei executive calls on US lawmakers to safeguard academic freedom

Apart from the US, Huawei has also encountered security scrutiny in other developed economies including the UK and Australia.

Last month, Huawei scored an A$136 million contract to build and maintain the digital radio systems that deliver voice and data services across Perths rail network in Australia, in spite of security concerns raised by some Australian lawmakers.

The deal came less than a month after it refuted claims by some Australian lawmakers that it posed a security risk, calling the criticism ill-informed in an open letter in mid-June. It also occurred at a time when Huawei is lobbying the Australian government not to block it from supplying broadband equipment for Australias 5G mobile services roll-out.

Despite Huaweis track record in Australian 4G network development, Canberra said in the latest guidance that 5G requires a network architecture that is significantly different to previous mobile generations and the government has found no combination of technical security controls that sufficiently mitigate the risks.

China's Huawei is top sponsor of overseas trips by Australian politicians

Vodafone Australia, which tried out 5G equipment with Huawei, criticised the latest decision to ban Huawei from local 5G networks, with its chief strategy officer Dan Lloyd saying Vodafone has always said that national security is paramount, and the company always has and always will meet the obligations under Australian law.

This decision, which has been dropped on the eve of the 5G auction, creates uncertainty for carriers investment plan, said Lloyd, adding that the decision poses a significant change which fundamentally undermines Australias 5G future, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

Optus, another local telecom operator that has tested 5G gear from Huawei, said it shares the governments objectives of ensuring the security of Australias information, communications and critical infrastructure, which added that Optus has a mix of vendors in its mobile network and it remains well positioned to lead in the delivery of 5G services.

This article Australia blocks Chinas Huawei, ZTE from 5G development on security grounds first appeared on South China Morning Post

For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018.A satirical video thanking Donald Trump for kicking off a trade war with Beijing has been taken down by Chinas state-run broadcaster hours after it was published.

The move is in line with government censorship guidelines to tone down the escalating conflict and avoid personally attacking the US leader.

The nearly three-minute video from the English-language arm of China Global Television Network (CGTN), in which a host thanks Trump for making China stronger, was removed from official social media and YouTube accounts on Thursday, after its sarcastic tone spurred multiple media reports.

Its removal also came hours before Chinese and US business representatives were slated to discuss the escalating trade war in Washington, and ahead of the latest round of US$16 billion in tariffs from both sides going into effect.

Thanks, Mr Trump: Chinese state media mocks great US president

CGTN did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the removal.

Chinas tightly controlled media environment often sees articles or videos removed after they are published, if they draw the ire of propaganda authorities.

The South China Morning Post reported earlier that Chinese state media were told to refrain from using aggressive language to describe Trump and avoid over-reporting the trade war.

While the English-language state broadcaster has previously published videos criticising the US president, its latest clip took a particularly biting line.

US concern about impact of China trade war on jobs and prices growing

Alongside cartoonish animations, the video showed CGTN business anchor Cheng Lei mockingly reading out a thank-you letter to Trump for his shock therapy methods that helped the rest of the world bond and pushed forward Beijings economic reform policies, including ones to attract foreign investors such as Tesla.

On behalf of doctors, thank you for pointing out the need to wean off American goods like bourbon and bacon, she added, referencing Chinese retaliatory tariffs on US products.

Story continues

In another CGTN video published on August 7, the broadcaster railed against Trumps tariffs, calling him a septuagenarian who sits on his toilet at five in the morning, posting tweets that make you question his sanity.

The broadcaster, which airs in more than 100 countries from the United States to Kenya, was rebranded in 2016 as a news channel aiming to tell Chinas story to a foreign audience.

It maintains accounts on Western social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube  all of which are banned in mainland China.

This article Video mocking Donald Trump pulled by Chinese state media ... just hours before trade talks first appeared on South China Morning Post

For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018.

More from South China Morning Post:Chinese man sentenced to death for strangling wife and hiding body in freezer for three months

A Shanghai man has been sentenced to death for murdering his wife and hiding her body in a freezer for three months, local media reported on Thursday.

Zhu Xiaodong then impersonated his wife Yang Liping on social media, chatting to members of her family every day, before turning himself in, Thepaper.cn reported.

A court in the city found him guilty of murder in November last year and ruled that he had strangled her in October 2016 after a string of quarrels over trivial matters.

Prosecutors said that even though Zhu had confessed to his crime after handing himself over to police in the company of his parents in January last year, this was no mitigation for the vile nature of his offence.

They said he had shown no remorse for the murder and had used his wifes money to travel and date other women in the months after her death.

One of Zhus neighbours, a woman only identified by her surname Lu, told Thepaper during the trial that she struggled to believe that he had been capable of such a thing and had always found him to be friendly and willing to help those who needed it.

She added that the couple were relatively quiet and seldom had spoke to their neighbours.

The areas committee chairman, a man named Tao, told the Shanghai-based news portal last year that he remembered Zhu had continued to walk his dog around the neighbourhood after committing the murder.

He said police told him that Zhu had been using his wifes money to travel and was dating women he had met online.

He also claimed that although Yangs Weibo account had gone silent after her murder, he continued to exchange messages with his wifes family through other platforms and adopted a similar tone and writing style to his victim to avoid arousing suspicion.

In early 2017 Zhu confessed what he had done at the police station when he went to hand himself in on the same day that his wifes father was celebrating his birthday.

Story continues

Tao also told Thepaper that Zhus mother had claimed her son had attempted suicide the day before he surrendered to police.

The victims family expressed relief after the sentencing. Yang Ganlian, the dead womans father, said: We cant say we are happy, but we are comforted. My wife has had a bit of a meltdown  she has been suppressing her feelings for a long time.

Zhu now has 10 days to appeal against the sentence.

This article Chinese man sentenced to death for strangling wife and hiding body in freezer for three months first appeared on South China Morning Post

For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018.Members of Hong Kongs top engineering body have expressed fears that industry professionals could face criminal sanctions over revisions to project designs amid the fallout from a construction scandal at the citys rail operator.

The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) on Wednesday convened a special meeting to discuss the risk of procedures being tightened and criminal liability being spelled out for engineers seeking government approval for alterations. Experts said such a tightening could hit the industry hard.

The deliberations by the institutions governing council come in the wake of a shoddy work scandal at the MTR Corporation which has sent shock waves through the sector.

The body will decide on Friday whether to press the government to clarify procedures for revising project designs as well as the accompanying criminal liability. But some members have voiced concerns that such a change could slow the process significantly and deter engineers from requesting revisions.

The Buildings Ordinance says that for minor changes we dont have to submit the revised plans to the department, but there is a lack of a clear definition. This will be a disaster for the construction sector if we have to wait two to three months for every design change, warned Peter Wong, a former HKIE president.

The debate is just one of the damaging ripple effects from a construction fiasco to hit the MTR Corp over substandard work on its HK$97.1 billion (US$12.37 billion) Sha Tin-Central link, the citys most expensive railway project ever.

The series of motions up for debate by the engineering body included whether to accept the resignation of its incumbent president Philco Wong Nai-keung, who offered to quit on Tuesday after being forced to leave the MTR Corp as projects director early this month.

Another motion asked whether the professional body should ask various government departments to clarify the legal responsibilities involved in any failure to submit revised design plans for construction work.

Story continues

Peter Wong said some members were highly concerned about the legal implications of the MTR Corps misadventures, which have resulted in high-profile departures from the rail giant, including three general managers on the Sha Tin-Central link and early retirement for CEO Lincoln Leong Kwok-kuen.

Their exits came after the corporation submitted a false report to the government concealing key facts and unapproved changes in the design for diaphragm walls on a platform under construction at Hung Hom station  a project which was also plagued by the use of substandard steel bars and the disappearance of 2,000 couplers that connected those bars.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor called the failure to get Buildings Department approval for the redesign unacceptable. Police have even been called in to investigate.

Some members became caught up in fear that if they fail to get approval from the Buildings Department for any revised designs, they may face criminal liability. There are some grey areas in the regulations, Peter Wong said. Some construction firms have even had difficulties hiring project managers.

The institution had more than 34,000 members last year, with its council containing more than 40.

Wong said it was very common for engineers to change a design in the middle of the building process, after encountering the realities of the construction environment.

Under the buildings law, once we submit the first design of a project to the Buildings Department with a notice of possible modifications in future, if the changes are minor the contractor does not need to submit the revised plan every time to the department, he said.

The department would usually leave these changes to the professional expertise of the responsible engineer, who needed to ensure they conformed to safety standards, Wong added.

Only the final design for a construction project needed to be submitted to the department for approval, and failure to do so would result in denial of the relevant permits.

But now with the MTR fiasco, we dont know if we have to seek government approval for every change we make in the design. If this is the case, then it will take two to three months for every approval and, in fact, the Buildings Department doesnt have the manpower to cope with this workload, he said.

Wong added that if engineers or other authorised professionals who signed redesign plans needed to accept criminal liability, nobody would be willing to take on that burden.

On Philco Wongs resignation, Peter Wong said the council would take into account the views of all members before making a decision.

A group of more than 100 engineers have signed a petition saying the public perception of the engineering profession is in jeopardy due to the MTR scandal, but Peter Wong said there were also members in support of Philco Wong.

This article Criminal liability fears hit Hong Kong engineering sector after MTR construction scandal first appeared on South China Morning Post

For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018.Hong Kong courts were told by prosecutors today that a Malaysian anesthetist used a yoga ball filled with carbon monoxide to kill both his wife and daughter.

Khaw Kim-sun, 53 and having an affair with a student at Chinese University where he was an associate professor, was seeking to divorce his wife; however, she would not cooperate with any formal proceedings.

Both she, and their 16-year-old daughter, were found locked inside a Mini Cooper three years ago, with subsequent post-mortem reports revealing that they had died after inhaling carbon monoxide. Investigators found a deflated yoga ball in the back of the yellow car.

Accused of deliberately placing the poisoned ball in the car, South China Morning Post writes that prosecutors are alleging that while the suspect may have plotted to kill his wife, they conceded that he may not have counted on his daughter being in the vehicle as well: Apple Daily reports that on the day of their bodies were found, the doctor had urged his daughter to stay home and finish her schoolwork.

Jogging past the vehicle, a runner initially thought the pair were napping, and later raised the alarm after both bodies appeared motionless after she returned 45 minutes later.

Prosecutor Andrew Bruce SC told a nine-person jury that Khaws background as an anesthetist provided him with the knowledge of knowing the gass toxicity. Bruce also highlighted that the suspect was able to have access to the controlled gas via a flimsy research project that he had embarked on, assisted by the same student he was having an affair with.

Colleagues have reported that they had earlier spotted the suspect filling two yoga balls with the noxious gas. When asked as to what end was the gas to be used, he told them that he planned on using it to gas rabbits. When later asked by authorities, he told them it was to exterminate rats in his home.

Khaw has plead not guilty to two murder counts.

The post Malaysian anesthetist used poison-filled yoga ball to kill wife and daughter says prosecutor appeared first on Coconuts.Indonesian maid lifts lid on complicated life of Hong Kong family in yoga ball killings, as pathologists testimony reduces accused professor to tears

A former Chinese University professor, who is accused of murdering his wife and daughter using a gas-filled yoga ball, was living a separate life to his spouse, the couples former helper told a Hong Kong court on Thursday.

Khaw Kim-sun, a Malaysian national, who was having an affair with one of his students, is accused of murdering Wong Siew-fung, 47, and 16-year-old daughter Khaw Li-ling, on May 22, 2015.

On the second day of his trial, Khaw, 53, wept in the dock at the High Court as a forensic pathologist described the postmortem carried out on his daughters body.

His sudden outburst in the morning session prompted Judge Judianna Barnes Wai-ling to adjourn the trial and break for an early lunch.

The anaesthesiologist, who used to work at Prince of Wales Hospital in Sha Tin, wiped his eyes and nose with a tissue when he heard Dr Foo Ka-chung describe his examination of the girl.

In what prosecutors called a deliberate and calculated murder plot, Khaw ordered carbon monoxide through his university office, claiming it was for research purposes.

But prosecutors said he ended up using it to fill up a yoga ball, which he then unplugged and placed inside Wongs car. The two victims were found unconscious in the Mini Cooper at the Sai O Village bus stop in Ma On Shan. They were later declared dead by carbon monoxide poisoning at Prince of Wales Hospital.

The couples helper, Siti Maesaroh, gave evidence on Thursday that Khaw and Wong had been sleeping in separate rooms since she had started working for the couple and their four children.

Maam did the cooking for the children, the Indonesian maid said, adding that sir made it [his own meals] for himself.

Maesaroh also said that the couple only drove their own cars, Wong in the Mini Cooper, and Khaw Kim-sun a Toyota.

Just before the pair died, the helper said she did not see Wong carry a yoga ball to her car, when she and the daughter, who Maesaroh called Lily, got into the vehicle.

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Dr Foo, who examined the bodies, told the court he found no physical injuries on either victim.

He estimated they probably died between 12.45pm and 2.45pm that day, a time period consistent with what the prosecution had earlier told the court.

For Wong, Foo said a postmortem examination found a carbon monoxide level in her blood of 50 per cent, or 10 per cent above the lethal level. It was 41 per cent in the daughters body.

The court previously heard that the gas, if inhaled abundantly, could cause vision impairment and even death.

Foo also said he found traces of antidepressants in Wongs body, consistent with what he was told that she suffered from a mental illness.

The court previously heard that the wife knew about Khaws mistress, a student surnamed Lee, and had grown to accept it, but refused her husbands request for a divorce.

The trial continues.

This article Indonesian maid lifts lid on complicated life of Hong Kong family in yoga ball killings, as pathologists testimony reduces accused professor to tears first appeared on South China Morning Post

For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018.New permits could allow Hong Kong drivers to use own cars in Guangdong without mainland China number plates

Driving to mainland China from Hong Kong could be about to get a lot cheaper and easier for the citys residents.

A new proposal for a one-off permit allowing Hongkongers to take their cars on short trips into Guangdong province is being considered by authorities across the border.

Ip Kwok-him, a Hong Kong deputy to the National Peoples Congress, unveiled the details of the proposal on Thursday, days after he revealed that Beijing was considering giving Hongkongers better access to services across the country.

Ip said local drivers without mainland licence plates could apply for the permit online, and move around Guangdong for a short period of time by crossing the border through designated ports.

The number of mainland licence plates available to Hongkongers is strictly controlled, as such the cost of obtaining one has long been prohibitive for many. In the past the licences have been sold for upwards of one million yuan (HK$1.1 million) on the black market.

Speaking on a radio show, Ip said the plan would make it easier for Hongkongers with business interests on the mainland to take trips across the border, stimulate tourism by encouraging self-driving tours of the province, and boost the economy of the Greater Bay Area.

This is the kind of concept that will gradually break through the connection barriers [between Hong Kong and the mainland] and bring better convenience, he said.

However, Ip said the permits would only work one way, because Hong Kong could not cope with a large influx of cars from the mainland.

Ips comments came ahead of the scheduled opening of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge later this year.

Last month, mainland Chinese media reported that officials in Guangdong had been looking into the chance of allowing private cars from the city and Macau to enter the mainland via the bridge.

There was mixed reaction from city residents.

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Liberal Party lawmaker Frankie Yick Chi-ming, who represents the transport sector, noted the fact that mainland authorities were studying the scheme, one he welcomed because it would benefit local businessmen.

It is not easy to get a mainland licence plate, he said.

He expects the permit to not be expensive, and said it would be meaningless to charge drivers a high price.

Paco Wu, who owns an innovative technology firm and works across the border two or three days a week, said the scheme would save him time and money.

At the moment, the 45-year-old has to rent a car after passing through border control.

At least, I dont need to buy a plate that allows me to travel in both Hong Kong and China, he said. That would cost a few hundred thousand dollars.

The entrepreneur said he did not see there being any problems for Hongkongers driving on the mainland, despite the fact that traffic moves in the opposite direction.

There are some differences, but once you get used to it there should be no problem, he said.

Henry Lee Cheuk-hei, a 23-year-old who works for a local start-up, however, was less convinced and said safety concerns would stop him from taking self-driving tours across the border.

With people on the mainland driving on the right-hand side of the road, as opposed to on the left-hand side as they do in Hong Kong, he said he would stick to public transport.

The driving attitude [of the two places] is pretty different, he said.

Civic Party lawmaker Jeremy Tam Man-ho also expressed concerns over safety, and questioned how authorities would deal with local drivers who broke traffic laws on the other side of the border.

How would they chase that person? he asked.

During his radio interview Ip also revealed new details on the proposal to upgrade the home return permit for Hongkongers. The upgrade will make the permits more compatible with various digital systems on the mainland, while giving holders faster and more convenient access to public and private services.

The executive councillor said the move would allow those eligible to get a bank mortgage to buy property, provide transport discounts for the elderly and make it easier to apply for a mainland diving licence.

However, Hongkongers will not be forced to apply for the new card, and existing Hong Kong ID cards would remain in place.

If you say, I will not apply, this is your right, he said.

Ip suggested the arrangement could boost Hong Kong peoples sense of national identity and this kind of integration is a general trend, adding that identity verification in smart cities commonly relied on digital platforms.

Earlier this month, Beijing announced that Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan citizens could start applying for a residence permit from next month to enjoy access to 18 public services and facilities across the border.

Residence permit holders will be entitled to employment, as well as participation in social insurance and housing fund schemes. They will also get access to public services such as free education, basic medical care and legal aid.

This article New permits could allow Hong Kong drivers to use own cars in Guangdong without mainland China number plates first appeared on South China Morning Post

For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018.The Museo ng Pampangulong Sasakyan (Presidential Car Museum) opened its doors recently, in a structure built specifically for it located in the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City. Housed in a 3,000-square meter tract of land within the national park, the modernist exterior of the museum houses relics of the past, specifically 12 cars used by the Philippines former presidents, from Emilio Aguinaldo to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Upon entering the exhibit hall, a wall explains the significance of the vehicles on display. Immediately behind it is an interactive video wall which explains the details of each vehicle on display.

The museums centerpiece is the 1924 Packard Single 6 233 Series of Aguinaldo. Although the car itself was not used to convey Aguinaldo during his short-lived stint as the Philippines first president from 1899 to 1901, it did serve as his private vehicle until shortly before his death in 1964 when he donated it, along with his house in Kawit, Cavite to the national government. Along with the car, also on display are some of Aguinaldos personal artifacts, including a pair of boots and a shirt that he once used.

Right behind it are four vehicles that, though not used by a Philippine president save for one, are of historical value: a 1934 Cadillac V16 Transformable Town Cabriolet that was former president Manuel L. Quezons first presidential car from 1935 until it was turned over to then-General Douglas MacArthur in 1937 to be used as his vehicle as the Field Marshal of the Philippine Army; a kalesa that was used by Leon Apacible, one of the authors and cosignatories of the 1899 Malolos Constitution; a 1943 Willys MBor Jeep as it was known during World War IIthat was a gift of MacArthur to then-Secretary of National Defense Ramon Magsaysay during the term of then-President Elpidio Quirino; and a right-hand-drive 1960 Rolls-Royce Phantom V used by former First Lady Imelda Marcos, complete with storage for wine and champagne bottles at the back, a set of four crystal champagne flutes, and a built-in humidor for Cuban cigars.

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Spread around the centerpiece are the presidential cars themselves, led by the imposing 1937 Chrysler Airflow Custom CW used by Quezon from 1937 to 1941 to the 1993 Mercedes-Benz S600 Limousine V140 used by Macapagal-Arroyo from 1993 to 2001.

Conspicuously missing are the cars used by former presidents Carlos P. Garcia, which was supposedly not recovered, and Benign Aquino III, which is reportedly still in Malacanang. Although the actual 1959 Cadillac Sedan DeVille used by former president Diosdado Macapagal wasnt also recovered for the museum, a model similar to it was found and is now on display. Its also worth noting that during his term, President Sergio Osmena used the 1942 Packard Custom Super Eight: One-Eighty used by his predecessor, Jose P. Laurela gift by the Japanese administration which then governed the Philippines during World War 2as the country was still recovering from the ravages of war.

While taking in the entire vehicle collection as a whole, a noticeable disparity between the cars of former presidents Ferdinand E. Marcos and Corazon Aquino is obvious. While Marcoss 1980 Lincoln Continental Mark VI Signature Series looks stately with its long hood and lengthy wheelbaseand wife Imeldas Rolls-Royce borders on pretentiousnessAquinos 1986 Mercedes-Benz 500 SEL, donated by the German government, looks understated, even pedestrian.

All the vehicles on display in the Presidential Car Museum are under the care of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) and have been carefully repaired and restored by the agency since 2008.

Each car has its own historyreflecting the era from which it was manufactured and the personality of the president who used it in his/her official capacity, the NHCP said in a statement on display at the entrance of the exhibit hall itself. It is the aim of this museum to preserve these vintage and classic cars for posterity as each vehicle provides and alternative perspective not only to the Philippine presidency but also to the history of the country.

Directly across the doors to the exhibit hall is the souvenir shop where you can buy items that help to finance the museums upkeep, from t-shirts to commemorative stamps featuring the cars issued by the Philippine Postal Corporation on August 10.

The Quezon Memorial Circle is a sizable tract of land and your first instinct might be to go to the Quezon Memorial Shrine itself. The museum itself is actually behind where the row of food stalls are and near where the exit is, and its not hard to miss because of its dark gray, modernist design.

As we previously reported, the Presidential Car Museum is free to the public from 8 AM to 4 PM every Tuesday to Sunday.

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The post PHOTOS: The Cars in the Philippine Presidential Car Museum appeared first on Carmudi Philippines.A 97-year-old Auschwitz survivor hopes to take German public broadcaster ZDF to Europe's top court for calling Nazi camps "Polish", his lawyer said Wednesday. The announcement is the latest development in a dispute that started when ZDF -- while publicising a 2013 documentary -- erroneously described the Nazi-German death camps Auschwitz and Majdanek in occupied Poland as "Polish extermination camps". The issue is highly sensitive in Poland, which this year passed a law to penalise statements that ascribe "responsibility or co-responsibility to the Polish nation or state for crimes committed by the German Third Reich". After complaints from the Polish embassy, ZDF corrected the wording of its trailer and later repeatedly apologised, but a Krakow court in 2016 ruled that it must publish a specifically-worded apology on its website. Germany's Federal Court of Justice, however, on Tuesday said that the Polish ruling against ZDF had no legal force in Germany, adding that the "exercise of state coercion to publish the preformulated statement... would manifestly violate the defendant's right of freedom of expression". Now, in response to the German court's ruling, Polish citizen and camp survivor Karol Tendera plans to ask Poland's Supreme Court to request a preliminary ruling on the matter from the European Court of Justice. His lawyer Lech Obara said the German court's ruling was a "flagrant negation of the act of recognising and enforcing judicial rulings made in other EU countries," as quoted by the Polish news agency PAP. Polish law originally provided for punishment of up to three years in jail for ascribing responsibility for Nazi crimes to the country but Poland amended the law in June to remove criminal penalties following heavy criticism from Israel and Jewish communities Israel was concerned the original legislation could allow Holocaust survivors to be prosecuted for their testimony on the involvement of individual Poles in killing Jews or betraying them to the Germans. The main aim of the legislation was to prevent Nazi-German death camps in Poland, such as Auschwitz-Birkenau, from being described as Polish. Poland was occupied by Nazi Germany during World War II and lost six million of its citizens including three million Jews.SINGAPORE (Reuters) - A rush to tear down and redevelop buildings in Singapore has prompted calls to conserve aging properties that symbolize the country's recent history and economic rise. The land-starved island is known for its gleaming skyscrapers and contemporary architectural designs that punctuate its skyline like the Marina Bay Sands hotel, which looks like a surfboard perched atop three towers. While the city has preserved some buildings from its colonial past, the Singapore Heritage Society (SHS) said on Tuesday more needed to be done to preserve brutalist blocks built just after the city-state achieved independence in 1965. In a paper titled "Too Young to Die", the non-governmental society picked out some of the first high-rise buildings that helped transform Singapore from a British colonial backwater to the global trade and financial center it is today. Buildings mentioned include the horseshoe-shaped Pearl Bank Apartments, which was the tallest residential building in Singapore when it was completed in 1976, just outside the new financial district. It was sold this year for S$728 million ($531 million) to developer CapitaLand Ltd, which plans to build a new residential tower of 800 units in its place. The SHS said Pearl Bank, along with People's Park Complex, a hulking yellow and green edifice that towers over Chinatown, and the Golden Mile Complex, with its unique stepped-terrace design, were of great historical and architectural significance. Media has reported that People's Park and the Golden Mile Complex, which were also completed in the 1970s, are to be put up for sale. "It is timely for current land-use policies and regulatory frameworks to be reevaluated to facilitate the conservation of modernist structures for adaptive reuse, and for private owners and developers to plan for a longer building lifespan," the SHS said. Authorities have since the 1970s granted heritage status to more than 7,000 buildings in more 100 parts of Singapore, including colorful shophouses, so-called black-and-white bungalows, mosques and temples. But Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in a National Day Rally speech on Sunday that Singapore had to think about future generations. "We may keep a few blocks for historical or heritage value or sentimental reasons, or to remind people what the old days are like, but these should be the exception," Lee said. "For the others we can rebuild, newer, better, more liveable flats, blocks, townships more suited to what our grandchildren and great grandchildren will want to live in." (Reporting by Aradhana Aravindan and John Geddie; Editing by Robert Birsel)One of Thailands largest drug seizures occurred earlier this week, with police there reporting that the 14 million  yes 14 million  pills their busted were bound for Malaysia.

Three Thai nationals have been arrested after the haul of orange pills, known locally as yaba was found north of Bangkok in Ayutthaya province August 18.

Reuters is reporting that the drugs originated in Myanmar, in the northeast Shan state that is currently under the control of an ethnic Wa militia.

While you may be wondering just how thirsty Malaysians are for meth, rest (mildly) assured that officials believe that we were just a transit point to take the pills to other markets in Europe, America, Australia, Japan, Singapore and Korea.

Pretty much an entire season of Border Security and Locked Up Abroad, right there.

A United Nations commission on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has said that meth trafficking in Southeast Asia has reached an all-time high, with countries in the region experiencing record busts. Fingers have pointed to Myanmar, and in particular the lawless Shan state, where opium and heroin production have been rampant for years.

Recently, syndicates have branched out, and made meth part of their new business model.

The post Thai police seize 14 million meth pills on their way to Malaysia appeared first on Coconuts.Time magazine has released a list of the best museums, theme parks, bars, restaurants and hotels in a list it is calling "World's Greatest Places."

The list features 100 destinations that span 48 countries and was created with the help of the publication's editors and correspondents from around the world, along with the input of industry experts.

Entries, which are not ranked, were evaluated on factors like quality, originality, innovation, sustainability and influence.

The "World's Greatest Places" is also divided into a trio of larger themes: to visit, to stay and to eat and drink.

In the top places to visit category, Tianjin Binhai Library in Tianjin, China made the cut for its gleamingly white, terraced design that elevates the humble public lending library into an architectural marvel and travel destination. Since opening last October, the sprawling 363,000-square-foot space has attracted more than 1.8 million visitors.

For its underwater restaurant and its forthcoming underwater residence and villa set to open this fall, the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island in the Maldives got a nod in the top places to stay category.

And a small 45-seat restaurant in Freedom, Maine, The Lost Kitchen, was deemed one of the top places to eat and drink. Set in an old mill, demand for the restaurant's farmhouse dinners received 20,000 requests over two weeks.

Other honorees on the list include the recently opened Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi theme park; the luxury property Hotel Crillon in Paris; and interactive dining experience Ultraviolet in Shanghai.

Time is a latecomer to food and travel listicles: Fellow publications such as National Geographic Traveler, Lonely Planet, CN Traveler and Travel + Leisure among others have long been releasing annual guides spotlighting the trendiest destinations to visit every year.

Check out the full list at http://time.com/collection/worlds-greatest-places-2018/.A man stabbed his mother and sister to death and seriously injured another person in a town near Paris on Thursday before being shot dead by police. The 36-year-old had serious mental health problems and had been on a terror watch list since 2016, Interior Minister Gerard Collomb told reporters after visiting the scene in the town of Trappes. The motive for the violence remained unclear despite a claim by the Islamic State (IS) group that it was an attack by one of its fighters responding to the terror organisation's propaganda. Collomb said the attacker was "mentally unstable, rather than someone who was committed, who would respond to orders from a terrorist organisation". The Versailles public prosecutor, however, said in a statement late Thursday that the assailant had shouted "Allahu Akbar" (God is Greatest) and threatened police before he was shot. "Investigations are under way to determine the circumstances and the exact sequence of events as well as the motivation of the perpetrator, which is still uncertain at present," the statement added. Experts have urged caution about some recent IS claims taking responsibility for attacks around the world, as governments and experts have thrown several such declarations into doubt. The attacker's third victim, 66, was in a critical condition after being airlifted to hospital, officials said. - 'A guy who had lost it' - The attack happened around 9 am (0700 GMT) in Trappes, a poor town with a large Muslim population about 30 kilometres (20 miles) southwest of the capital. Armed police responded to reports of violence and were threatened by the man who had stabbed his 71-year-old mother to death in her home, Collomb added. The man's sister was aged 49. "He walked towards the police with his knife," he said. "Police then opened fire." The neighbourhood, a leafy area of detached homes close to high-rise concrete apartment blocks, remained partially sealed off by police Thursday afternoon. Locals said the killer, who has not yet been named, was separated from his wife and had not seen his children in a long time, adding that he had worked as a bus driver and was living with his mother. "I had coffee with him often but I hadn't seen him for a month," said one neighbour, a 59-year-old who gave his name as Pascal. "They're talking about terrorism but this wasn't a terrorist, it was a guy who had lost the plot," he added. The knifeman had been on the terror watch list since 2016 after expressing extremist views, a security source told AFP. BFM television reported that he had serious alcohol and drug problems. - 'People think it's Baghdad' - Just a short drive from the wealthy area of Versailles, home to the world-famous palace, Trappes is known for social problems linked to poverty, drugs and hardline interpretations of Islam. About 50 locals are suspected of having left France to fight for IS in Syria and Iraq. Residents expressed concern that the killings would reinforce the area's negative image, which persists despite the success of a few home-grown stars, including actors Omar Sy and Jamel Debbouze. "People think it's Baghdad around here -- my colleagues don't want to drop me off after work," said Anis Fillali, a 21-year-old salesman standing at the police cordon. France remains on high alert after a string of jihadist attacks since 2015 that have claimed the lives of 246 people. On its propaganda channel Amaq, IS claimed the Trappes killer "carried out the attack in response to calls to target subjects of the countries of the coalition" fighting the jihadists. The group claimed responsibility for a massacre in Las Vegas last year that saw a wealthy accountant kill 58 concert-goers in the deadliest mass shooting in recent US history. But US investigators concluded there was "no evidence of radicalisation or ideology to support any theory that (Stephen) Paddock supported or followed any hate group or any domestic or foreign terrorist organisation". French terror expert Jean-Charles Brisard, head of the Center for the Analysis of Terrorism (CAT), said it was "too soon to say" if IS had a hand in the violence in Trappes. "But remember that in 2017 we had three claims of responsibility that were outlandish by Islamic State... above all the massacre in Las Vegas," he told AFP. burs-adp-kjl/har/dlNazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian woman who has been in prison in Tehran for more than two years following a conviction for sedition, was freed for three days on Thursday. Zaghari-Ratcliffe was reunited with members of her family including her young daughter outside the Iranian capital after her surprise release. "Nazanin was released from Evin prison on furlough this morning. Initially the release is for three days -- her lawyer is hopeful this can be extended," her husband Richard Ratcliffe said in a statement. Ratcliffe said his wife, who has denied all charges filed against her in Iran, was currently with her parents and their four-year-old daughter Gabriella in Damavand, a mountain resort near Tehran. "I cried so much. I felt so overwhelmed," she said of the reunion, according to a statement released by The Free Nazanin campaign, which is run by her husband. Her husband voiced thanks to those in Tehran and London involved in making the release happen, including Britain's new Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt. "This was a very happy surprise after a number of false dawns recently, which had been increasingly unsettling," her husband said. Hunt, who met Ratcliffe in London earlier this month after he was appointed as Britain's top diplomat in July, called her temporary release "really good news" and paid tribute to the "tireless campaigning by husband Richard and her friends". "But being in prison AT ALL is gross injustice and she must be PERMANENTLY released for which every effort will continue," he wrote on Twitter. Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who works for the Thomson Reuters Foundation -- the media organisation's philanthropic arm -- was arrested at Tehran airport in April 2016. She is serving a five-year jail sentence for sedition -- a charge she has always contested. Hunt's predecessor Boris Johnson came under heavy criticism after appearing to jeopardise her defence last year by saying she was training journalists during her visit -- something her employer and family strongly deny. Johnson later clarified his remarks, saying it was clear that she was only on holiday. Ratcliffe and his supporters have held multiple protests and vigils in London to seek her release, attracting celebrity support from the likes of Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson. - 'Had to borrow a phone' - The Free Nazanin campaign said she was told on Thursday she had just 10 minutes to get ready because she was being released. Zaghari-Ratcliffe was not allowed to call her family and had to borrow a phone from someone outside the prison to call her brother, who lives in Tehran, to pick her up. She then called her husband and the British embassy and travelled to join the rest of her Iranian family, including her grandmother and daughter, in Damavand. "I wasn't expecting it at all when it was mentioned two weeks ago," she was quoted as saying by the campaign. "I didn't tell Gabriella or for a long time my mum -- so if it didn't happen I would be the only one to suffer." Zaghari-Ratcliffe was told she must return to prison on Sunday and the two conditions of her release are that she not give any media interviews or visit the grounds of any foreign embassy. Bail for her temporary release was set at one billion rials ($23,800, 20,600 euros), with her family's home in Tehran used as collateral, the campaign said. Zaghari-Ratcliffe's lawyers will on Saturday ask the authorities to extend her furlough, it added. "Nazanin has a number of cellmates who were released initially for three days, but who are still on furlough over a month later," the campaign statement said.One reboot falls, and another rises to take its place: Deadline reports that before Black-ish creator Kenya Barris left his overall deal at ABC for Netflix, he and Yamara Taylor sold the network a reboot of the sitcom Bewitched.

The original Bewitched aired from 1964 to 1972 and starred Elizabeth Montgomery as a nose-twitching witch-turned-suburban housewife. Barris and Taylors version will build on the same premise but will tweak the formula by putting an interracial couple at the center of the story. Heres the synopsis:

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Samantha, a hardworking black single mom who happens to be a witch, marries Darren, a white mortal who happens to be a bit of a slacker. They struggle to navigate their differences as she discovers that even when a black girl is literally magic, shes still not as powerful as a decently tall white man with a full head of hair in America.

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Lets hope ABC has better luck than other networks have had: Previous attempts to remake Bewitched at CBS and NBC both fell through. The show did inspire a Nora Ephrondirected romantic comedy in 2005, but it wasnt technically a reboot; instead, Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell play actors who were themselves starring in a Bewitched reboot, one of whom is an actual witch.

Remakes of Hocus Pocus, Charmed, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and now Bewitched are now all on the way, and sure, theyre all promisingly witchy properties, but where is that Practical Magic reboot we were promised?!Executive Time is Slates pop-up blog about bosses.

According to a 2017 report from the Brookings Institute, nearly 90 percent of good jobsdefined as jobs that have the potential to help workers without a four-year college degree earn enough to support themselves and begin to move toward the middle classrequire medium- or high-level familiarity with digital tools. The omnipresence of computers at work raises concerns for desk jockeys everywhere, the specter of surveillance not least among them. From key-tracking software to the panopticon technology of Slack to the prospect of actual microchip insertion, the shift of work to largely digital spaces provides more and more opportunity for workers to be tracked  or at least to wonder whos watching.

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To find out if my boss actually knows how often I check Twitter, I sat down with Slates IT admin and advice columnist Shasha Leonard.

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Rachelle Hampton: So what exactly can a boss track on your computer?

Shasha Leonard: It really depends on where you work, and the size of the company usually is a big factor. Some places only care about what you do on their network in the office. You take the computer home, you go on your home network, and they dont care what youre doing. If you accidentally download malware or something like that, sometimes there will be systems in place so that the minute you get back onto the office network, IT is pinged about it. Sometimes employers cannot remote into a work computer when its not on the company network, while other companies, if they feel like it, can totally do that. There is also GPS tracking for when computers are lost or stolen, and sometimes there might be software on the work computer that allows for a remote wipe, to protect the companys assets.

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Ultimately, the computer and the network are company property. If you quit your job, you can erase your data if you want. I understand why someone would do it, but it may also look a little suspicious. If your company uses an email system, the employer owns it and is allowed to go through it if they wish.

Do we know a lot of things about you? Yes. Could we find out more? Sure.  Shasha Leonard, Slate IT admin

So if I were to join a company that had the highest level of workplace surveillance, what could they do?

Anything you do on company property can be surveilled, and with the highest levels of security, we could easily enter Big Brother territory. You could Google something, and the network could be set up to ping IT for that criteria, whether thats porn or something specific to that company you shouldnt be looking up. Some places equip their computers with keylogging software, which means everything you type is recorded and can be reviewed. Basically, if its not your computer, theres probably surveillance and security software on it that you have no idea about because theyre hidden, and you wouldnt know where to look for them.

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Fascinating.

In addition to your email being company property, your phone calls can also be quietly monitored (unless you live in the state of California). I wouldnt do or text anything personal on a company-provided cellphone either.

So its a possibility that your boss can find out all the online stores you gave your email to for a 20-percent-off coupon?

Its totally a possibility.

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If you delete something in Slack, is it actually gone?

Depends on your companys retention policy in Slack. If the settings are made to retain edited and deleted messages, then whats Slacked is Slacked.

If not?

Its gone.

OK.

And contrary to popular belief, getting a transcript of your Slack DMs is not as easy as pressing a button. Technically your workspace admin will need to request a Corporate Export from Slack with legitimate reasons to back it up. That takes effort and time, so unless its a crazy scandal, I highly doubt that would happen. Theres no need to be paranoid.

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So what about personal email on a work computer? Can a boss see that?

If you left or were fired and your computer was returned to IT or HR and you had not logged out of your personal Gmail, its possible. For integritys sake, if someone elses personal email falls into another persons hands, that person should ideally log them out of their personal email on their work computers when that happens. It seems illegal for a company to go through your personal email, but I dont have a law degree.

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Good to know.

If its on your work computer and someone glances at it, thats not illegal though.

Can your boss tell how often youre on Twitter?

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I would say if they want to, probably. If youre on the companys network, it will most likely generate reports of where and how long exactly that bandwidth is being used.

So you can technically see how often Im online shopping?

No, I dont have time to police yall.

Is that just this company or all companies?

Theres more in-depth reporting, or application fingerprinting, that we could do, but yes, every company has its own prerogative. Youll find different companies are sensitive to different things and their networks will be restricted accordingly. A writer asked me why they couldnt access any video gaming websites, and it was because our firewall blocks that kind of content. But that was one of her beats, so we changed it accordingly. If you ever cant access a website at your workplace, dont blame the computer or your phone. Its probably because of the network youre on.

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And is that for security reasons?

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For the gaming example, thats for productivity. Im pretty sure we also block porn, but Ive never tried to search.

What other measures for productivity do you have?

Well, thats the thing. Because were a small company, but not the smallest, we dont spend all day auditing our users. We have other shit to do. When I worked at the Apple Store, people always asked, What do you do when you take my phone in the back? Do you go through all my shit? And its like, were so busy, we dont have time for that. Do we know a lot of things about you? Yes. Could we find out more? Sure, but Ive got a million other more important things to do. Its a pretty chill working environment here.

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So youre saying it depends on the company sizewould a bigger company do more or less?

I think a bigger company might have more stringent security protocols, especially older places still using Windows computers because all that stuff is super complex. (Im an Apple person.) Bigger companies may be stricter because they can be, and maybe because they have to be because they have a lot of employees. Bigger companies might definitely put keyloggers on your computer. If you have a doubt, or you feel guilty about anything you might be doing, dont do it. Or just do it on your phone or your personal computer.

Read more from Executive Time, Slates pop-up blog about bosses.Over the past 12 years, Mexico has suffered a tragedy of historic proportions. The governments all-out war against the drug cartels and the viciousness with which those cartels have fought each other for control of the countrys multibillion dollar drug trade has turned parts of Mexico into both a battlefield and a graveyard. Just in 2017, there were about 31,000 homicides in Mexico, the highest on record. If trends persist, this year will be even bloodier. Overall, 32,000 people have been reported missing and more than 234,000 confirmed killed in the country since the drug war began in 2006. Basic freedoms have been endangered as well, including that of the press: Criminals have killed dozens of journalists in the past few years, their cases unresolved, languishing in Mexicos sclerotic justice system. Its a painful picture, and its hardly surprising that many feel new thinking is needed. But President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obradors controversial proposal to shift course by offering amnesty to minor drug offenders, while innovative, doesnt seem to be the best way forward.

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Two successive presidential administrations before Lopez Obrador have tried but failed to contain the cartels. After coming to power in 2006, then-President Felipe Calderon began confronting organized crime in his home state of Michoacan, on Mexicos western coast, where the cartels had supplanted the government, collecting taxes, offering protection, and taking over other services. The confrontation eventually expanded, mostly to northern Mexico and the countrys Pacific coast. Calderons strategy was simple: capture or kill as many drug lords as possible and criminal structures would either crumble entirely or, once pulverized, become less of a threat. He succeeded in the former but failed in the latter: Many of the countrys most famous drug dealers were either caught or taken out in dramatic gunfights, but violence did not abate.

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Enrique Pena Nieto, who became president in 2012, has fared worse. Even though he initially promised a paradigm shift, he dutifully followed his predecessors blueprint. Pena Nieto did manage to strike at the very top of a few of the countrys main drug cartels, even capturing legendary drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman. But even that victory proved bittersweet, and not only because El Chapo escaped before being recaptured and sent to the U.S. for trial. New criminal organizations, more sophisticated and vicious than previous ones, have sprouted across the country. The homicide rate has also increased. When his term ends in December, more people will have been killed during Pena Nietos presidency than Calderons.

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What incentives can the next Mexican administration offer the cartels? And who exactly can the government sit across from?

Public frustration with Mexicos unrelenting violencealong with deep-seated anger with the countrys chronic corruption problemplayed a crucial role in the recent election of Lopez Obrador, who ran as a left-wing opponent of the political establishment. On security matters, Mexicos president-elect, who will be inaugurated on Dec. 1, ran on a controversial proposal to grant amnesty for certain, nonviolent drug crimes in an attempt to put Mexico on the path toward transitional justice, a system often used to help countries emerge from interior conflict and widespread human rights violations. On the surface, the idea makes sense: Mexican jails are filled with young people imprisoned for minor drug offenses. Many others have been recruited by the cartels under duress. Mexican farmers harvest illicit crops as the only way to escape abject poverty.

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Still, the next presidents plan has met resistance. The first problem has to do with the concept of transitional justice itself. Critics, like Alejandro Hope, Mexicos foremost security expert, point to the fact that Mexicos struggle has little to do with, say, the long struggle between the government and FARC guerillas and Colombia, where transitional justice is currently being applied. Transitional justice in Colombia, Hope recently wrote, has been limited to certain crimes, committed by specific offenders in a well-defined period of time [and has been directed to] groups that had some sort of political objective, even if they later veered toward overt criminality. The Colombian process, he adds, began once a certain stability has already been achieved. Hope adds that none of this is true in Mexico, where violence is not only still raging but reaching new, terrifying heights, and where cartels have no other objective but financial gain through ruthless means and surely do not harbor any overt political ambition. Finally, Hope raises a series of crucial questions: What incentives can the next Mexican administration offer the cartels, these hyperviolent, ascendant organizations, whose sole purpose is control of an expanding and lucrative business, to convince them to come to the table? And whom exactly can the government sit across from, when there might be at least 20 major criminal organizations in the country? The countrys next president doesnt seem to have clear answers.

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Another one of Lopez Obradors troubles is the evident unwillingness of many victims families to transition toward amnesty or forgiveness without first seeking, well, justice. In the past few weeks (even though hes still more than three months away from power) Lopez Obrador has hastily organized a series of highly publicized meetings with victims families, alongside local officials and members of his own team. The president-elect himself opened the discussion in the first gathering, held in Ciudad Juarez, which has experienced some of the countrys most heinous violence. In his remarks, Lopez Obrador called those present to consider clemency. We wont forgive nor forget! There cant be forgiveness without justice! someone in the audience interjected. Others echoed the concern. Most people rejected amnesty, or at least what they understood by it, writes journalist Marcela Turati, who was present in Juarez.

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This yearning for justice before any other attempt at resolution is even suggested seems warranted in a country like Mexico, where impunity is the norm. The figures are astounding: Victims report only 5 out of every 100 crimes committed in Mexico, and only 12 percent of those reach sentencing. This is why the road ahead for Lopez Obrador most likely lies not in promoting a rushed blanket amnesty but rather in the difficult and less politically rewarding task of strengthening the countrys flawed judicial system while tackling the social realities of Mexicos long war, fought by the state against a vast network of ruthless criminals.

Mexicos future president is right in seeking national reconciliation. But the countrys wounds cant be healed by a quasi-religious call for appeasement. It must begin with the most indispensable of humanitys moral tools: the dispensation of justice.This piece was originally published on Just Security, an online forum for analysis of U.S. national security law and policy.

This week, Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to eight crimessix counts of tax evasion and bank fraud, and two violations of campaign finance laws: (1) making an illegally large $130,000 campaign contribution and (2) causing an illegal $150,000 corporate campaign contribution. In the process of pleading guilty, Cohen directly implicated President Donald Trump in violations of campaign finance lawsviolations of the sort that led to an unsuccessful criminal prosecution of 2008 presidential candidate John Edwards. The case against Trump is much stronger than was the case against Edwards. Indeed, the case against Trump would turn the weaknesses in Edwards case into strengths.

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But first a little more about Cohen and the implications for Trump.

The Important Facts and How the Law Works

One of Cohens campaign finance violations relates to his use of his own money to make a $130,000 hush payment to adult-film actress Stephanie Clifford (aka Stormy Daniels) in October 2016. Cohens other campaign finance violation relates to his collaboration with tabloid publishing corporation American Media Inc. in its $150,000 catch and kill payment to former Playboy model Karen McDougal in August 2016. Both women claim to have had affairs with Trump a decade before receiving payments from Cohen and AMI.

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Cohens guilty plea didnt surprise me. I spotted these violations early this year, and on behalf of the nonpartisan group Common Cause, we filed complaints with the Department of Justice and Federal Election Commission in January regarding the Clifford payment, in February regarding the McDougal payment, and another one in March regarding the Clifford payment. These complaints included allegations that Cohen made an illegal $130,000 contribution and AMI made an illegal $150,000 contribution to the Trump campaign. Common Cause also alleged violations by Trump, the Trump campaign, and the Trump Organizationallegations that seem even more well-founded after the Cohen guilty plea.

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What did surprise me, however, were the statements Cohen made during his court appearance to enter his plea agreement. Cohen told the presiding judge under oath that the payments to Clifford and McDougal were made in coordination with and at the direction of a candidate for federal office, a clear reference to then-candidate Trump. Cohen stated further: I participated in this conduct  for the principal purpose of influencing the election for president in 2016. These sworn statements by Cohen directly implicate the president in at least four violations of federal campaign finance law, which are criminally enforced, and potentially other federal offences.

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Theres added reason to trust what Cohen said in the courthouse compared with what he may have previously told the press. He made these claims under penalty of perjury. He also made the statements pending sentencing. Lying to or even just misleading the judge in that situation could have dire consequences for the amount of time he spends in prison. Lastly, if prosecutors had reason to think Cohens statement was false, they were under an obligation to inform the judge immediately. They didnt.

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A violation of campaign finance law is a crime punishable by imprisonment, as opposed to a civil offense punishable only by fine, if an individuals violation of the restrictions was knowing and willful. As explained in the Department of Justice manual Federal Prosecution of Election Offenses, federal campaign finance law violations become potential crimes when they are committed knowingly and willfully, that is, by an offender who knew what the law forbade and violated it notwithstanding that knowledge. Thats an important qualification to keep in mind. It means that not having knowledge of the law is, in some sense, an excuse or get-out-of-jail-free card in this arena. And it is prosecutors who would have the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that a defendant acted with this state of mind.

The Prosecution of John Edwards Versus the Case Against Trump

Cohens statements in court this week, if true, establish that Trump was personally involved in multiple violations of federal law and also severely undermine the viability of what Ill call the Edwards defense, which Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani has already publicly asserted on Trumps behalf.

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Federal prosecutors charged 2008 Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards for allegedly orchestrating nearly $1 million in payments by two wealthy Edwards supporters to hide his pregnant mistress, Rielle Hunter, from public view in the latter half of 2007. The Department of Justice argued that the payments to Hunter constituted illegally large and unreported in-kind contributions to the Edwards campaign. Sound familiar? Edwards argued that the purpose of the payments was to hide his affair from his wife, who was battling cancer at the time, not to hide his affair from voters. In other words, Edwards claimed the reason for the payments was personal and not political.

Some commentators claim that Edwards was vindicated and that his case shows that his alleged activities would not amount to a crime. Thats wrong. The jury was unable to reach a unanimous conclusion on five of the six counts Edwards faced, and acquitted him on a count related to a payment made after he had dropped out of the presidential race. The law is still a strong one that regulates all federal elections. The failure of Edwards prosecution boils down to weaknesses in some of the claims the government made and evidence against him.

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Indeed, Common Cause has alleged very similar violations of law by Trump in our DOJ and FEC complaints. Specifically, we allege that Trump violated federal law by receiving illegal contributions from Cohen and AMI in the form of payments made to McDougal and Daniels, and by failing to report these contributions to the FEC.

These campaign finance laws apply only to payments made for the purpose of influencing an election, a phrase thats critical to the statutory definitions of contribution and expenditure. Several factual distinctions make the case against Trump stronger than was the case against Edwards, specifically with respect to any asserted personal not political defense.

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1. Fear of media exposure

First, in the Edwards prosecution, DOJ presented no evidence that Hunter was planning or threatening to speak to the press about her affair with Edwards. Edwards lawyers made a big deal out of this at trial, arguing that the payments were intended to keep news of Edwards affair from his very-ill wife, not from the voting public. By contrast, regarding the payments at issue in the Trump/Cohen matter, both McDougal and Clifford were in negotiation with national media outlets to sell the rights to their stories of affairs with Trump. McDougal and Clifford understood that the rapidly approaching presidential general election gave them leverage over Trump. These facts are highly relevant to the motive and purpose of the payments.

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2. Timing of payments and the election

Second, all but one of the payments made to Hunter on behalf of Edwards were made before a single primary ballot had been cast, in the calendar year preceding the election year. The one exception was a late January 2008 payment after Edwards had dropped out of the presidential racethe count on which he was acquitted. By contrast, the two payments related to Cohens guilty plea came in August (McDougal) and October (Clifford) of the election year, immediately before Americans voted in the general election. This timing is relevant to the likely purpose of the payments. (It may be useful to recall that Trumps own lawyer Giuliani admitted this was the purpose of the Daniels payments in discussing its timing.)

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3. Timing of the payments and the affairs

Third, the payments to Hunter on behalf of Edwards were made contemporaneously to the affair and the pregnancytiming that arguably makes sense if the true purpose was to keep knowledge of the affair from Edwards wife. By contrast, the payments to both McDougal and Clifford were made a decade after the alleged affairstiming that doesnt make much sense if the purpose was to keep knowledge of the affairs from Mrs. Trump but makes a lot of sense (combined with the proximity to the election) if the purpose was to keep the information from voters in order to influence the election.

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4. Witnesses

Finally, whereas the sources of allegedly illegal payments in the Edwards prosecution were unavailable to testify at trial regarding the purposes of their payments (Fred Baron died in 2008 and Rachel Bunny Mellon was 101 years old and unable to travel and testify), Michael Cohen, the source of one of the Trump-related payments, stated in court this week that his payment was for the principal purpose of influencing the election. Cohens plea documents indicate a host of other people were involved in the scheme. According to the Wall Street Journal, one of those individuals, the president of AMI has already provided prosecutors with details about payments  including Mr. Trumps knowledge of the deals.

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To be clear, I dont mean to imply that a criminal prosecution of President Trump for campaign finance violations would be an easy caseor that it could be done at all. Some of the sharpest legal minds in the nation disagree over whether a sitting president can be prosecuted for any crimes while he remains in office. And even if prosecution were possible, conviction would require proof that Trump knew his actions were forbidden by law and violated the law notwithstanding that knowledge.

Instead, I detail these factual distinctions between the Edwards and Trump matters to push back on the assumption that because Edwards wasnt convicted, Trumps actions didnt violate the law or that federal prosecutors would not have a formidable case against him. Trump may not be held accountable for his actions in a court of law, but that doesnt mean he didnt break laws getting elected in 2016. Thats a matter for the court of public opinion. And the case against Trump is strong.

More From Just Security:

Three Options for Prosecuting a Presidents OffensesPlus a Wild Card

Tech Companies Are Still Slow Walking Disclosures of Election Interference and Controlling Hate SpeechVanity Fair and the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that the head of the company that owns the National Enquirer, David Pecker, has been granted immunity in exchange for providing information about Michael Cohen and President Donald Trump.

From the Journal:

In exchange for immunity, Mr. Pecker, CEO of American Media, Inc., has met with prosecutors and shared details about payments Mr. Cohen arranged in an effort to silence two women who alleged sexual encounters with Mr. Trump, including Mr. Trumps knowledge of the deals, some of the [people familiar with the matter] said. Prosecutors have indicated that Mr. Pecker wont be criminally charged for his participation in the deals, the people said.

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Cohen pleaded guilty on Tuesday to bank fraud, tax fraud, and campaign finance violations. In open court, Cohen said that Trump had directed him to commit his campaign finance crimes, which involved working with American Media, Inc. to set up hush money payments during the 2016 campaign to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal, two women who claimed to have had affairs with Trump.

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Pecker had previously described himself as a friend of Trumps and equated an attack on the president as a personal attack on his company.

Vanity Fair published a similar account to the Journal, reporting that A.M.I.s chief content officer, Dylan Howard, had also been granted immunity so that the pair would describe Trumps involvement in Cohens payments. The Journal reported that prosecutors have indicated that Howard would not be charged.

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Vanity Fair further reported that the Enquirer was a strong booster of Trump during the 2016 Republican primary and presidential campaign, but no longer:

Peckers friendship with Trump now seems to be over. According to a source close to A.M.I., Pecker and Trump havent spoken in roughly eight months. Howard remains particularly angry at Trump, two people close to Howard told me. There is no love lost, one person familiar with Howards thinking said. Another person said Howard hates Trump and feels used and abused by him.

The New York Times and the Journal reported in June that prosecutors in the Southern District of New York had subpoenaed AMI executives in the spring. At the time of that report, AMI issued a statement saying that American Media Inc. has, and will continue to, comply with any and all requests that do not jeopardize or violate its protected sources or materials pursuant to our First Amendment rights.

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On Wednesday, the Journal reported that Pecker, American Media, and the Trump Organization had been served subpoenas around the time of the FBIs April 9 raid on Cohens office and hotel room.

Its unclear what criminal liability Pecker might have faced considering the First Amendments protections for journalists. The potential complexity in any case against Pecker and AMI might have motivated prosecutors to offer a relatively generous full immunity deal to Pecker rather than a harsher plea bargain. Prosecutors also might have hoped to rely upon Peckers information to help prove Cohens charges.

Going after AMI would have been complicated given that they are a media company, election law expert, University of CaliforniaIrvine School of Law professor, and occasional Slate contributor Richard Hasen told me. And they may have wanted Peckers corroboration before they charged Cohen or took his plea.A quick update on Americas plunge into gun-strapped dystopia.

The New York Times reported on Tuesday that the U.S. Department of Education was considering a plan that would allow schools to buy firearms for teachers using money from a federal grant program originally designed to support student enrichment, an unprecedented step that would turn an NRA fever dream into official public policy.

However, an anonymous administration official has now pushed back a bit, telling CNN on Thursday that the idea did not originate with the Department of Education or Secretary Betsy DeVos, and that the government was only evaluating a request from the Texas Department of Education. The federal department does not seem to have ruled the concept out entirely, however.

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Donald Trump broached the idea of arming teachers in order to prevent shootings after the Feb. 14 massacre in Parkland, Florida. The National Rifle Association has long advocated allowing educators carry weapons on campus, and several states already allow them. But the presidents comments thrust the issue into the middle of the national debate.

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According to the New York Times initial report, Congress typically bars schools from spending federal funding on guns. But the Department of Education has been examining whether districts could pay for weapons using Student Support and Academic Enrichment grants, which were created as part of the Every Student Succeeds Act in 2015. The $1 billion program is pretty much what it sounds like: The money is intended to help schools provide students with a well-rounded education, bring technology into classrooms, and create a healthy learning environment through comprehensive school mental health, drug and violence prevention. But theres nothing in the law that explicitly says the money cant be used for setting up English teachers with pistols, and the Department of Education has supposedly been trying to figure out whether that might fall under the rubric of improving school conditions.

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The administration is now telling CNN that it only began looking into the issue after it received a letter from the Texas Department of Education asking if the grants could be used that way, and that after researching the issue, it decided not to respond.

But the department doesnt seem to have quashed the idea entirely. Per CNN:

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The official added that DeVos thinks that Congress should take action to clarify whether or not using the grant funding to buy guns is permissible. Moreover, the Education Department believes the grant program is intentionally vague to give school districts flexibility, and the idea of purchasing firearms was likely not considered when it was written, according to the official. In response to the Times report, Education Department spokeswoman Liz Hill told CNN that the department is constantly considering and evaluating policy issues, particularly issues related to school safety. The secretary nor the department issues opinions on hypothetical scenarios.

It seems unlikely that Congress will pass a bill anytime soon explicitly saying that, yes, schools can use student enrichment grants to build up a weapons cache, so perhaps deflecting to Capitol Hill is just a way of punting on the issue. Or maybe not! Still, anybody who may have thought that arming teachers to prevent school shootings was just a plainly disingenuous talking point Republicans were lobbing out to counter calls for gun control after Parkland should think again. At least a few people are still taking it deadly seriously.Donald Trump suffered the worst day of his presidency on Tuesday, as his former campaign manager Paul Manafort was found guilty on tax and bank fraud charges and his former personal lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen pleading guilty to tax fraud and campaign finance violations. Moreover, Cohen all but implicated Trump himself as an unindicted coconspirator in a scheme to violate federal campaign finance law to influence the presidential election.

In any normal political universe, the prospect of the president himself conspiring to break the law to win an election would be the beginning of the endwed be talking seriously about the prospect of impeachment. But the Trump administration clearly intends to brazen it out, as it has done after the fiasco in Helsinki, the meltdown at NATO, and every other political shocker that would be eclipsed by the one to follow. The plan appears to be to stay the course of irrationally blaming Robert Mueller, insisting that there is still no proof of collusion and tweeting daily doses of rank stupidity. Rudy Giulianis full, existential poetry slam madness adds to the general theme that all criminality is in the eye of the beholder. Democrats, meanwhile, have started to call for delaying Brett Kavanaughs confirmation hearings, pointing out that a president who has been credibly implicated in a criminal conspiracy shouldnt be allowed to seat a Supreme Court justice. It certainly seems reasonable to argue that rushing to confirm Kavanaugh to a lifetime appointment is insane under the present circumstances. Trumps hand-picked justice will almost certainly someday cast deciding votes about Trump, and to confirm him without access to the full range of his writings on executive power now borders on the incomprehensible.

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But to make these arguments is to get the causation precisely wrong: Kavanaugh is being rushed through to confirmation, with writings vetted by a partisan Republican lawyer instead of the National Archives, precisely because having him seated before the Trump presidency collapses in upon itself is the priority. There is no point in reading the so-called McConnell rule back to Republicansthe maxim about how presidents in their final terms have no authority to seat justices and the people should decide. But there never was any McConnell rule. There was only an imperative that the court would be packed and that an Obama seat would be stolen.

Democrats hoping to embarrass GOP senators into standing down on Kavanaugh until the legitimacy of Trumps presidency can be established miss the point. Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch, and the Kavanaughs and Gorsuches that follow them, are the sole basis for Republicans claims that the Trump presidency is legitimate. The reason Republicans like Susan Collins wont break with Trump even over the stench of future criminal convictionsthere is no basis for delaying Kavanaughs hearings, Collins said on Wednesdayis that Trump is the lever by which packing the courts can continue.

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In November 2016, Trump was a grifter and a liar who would deliver on the courts. Today, he is a grifter and a liar now who will deliver on the courts.

Dont expect consistency here. In the broadest sense, consistency means that only Republican presidents get to fill court vacancies. The reason Obama was deemed an illegitimate president in his last year in office wasnt because anything was wrong with his presidency. That was a wholly made-up argument to block his nominee. And the fact that Trump may not be a legitimate presidentand certainly now acts under a palpable cloud of corruptionwill not be the basis for stalling a Kavanaugh hearing. It is, instead, the very reason for fast-tracking the confirmation. Judgesall judges, any judgesmust be seated, quickly and permanently, but only by Republicans. That is the only principle that matters. And in order to achieve that end, any bad acts by Donald Trump, up to and including alleged criminal conduct, will be minimized and swept aside.

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Nor will this rationalization end when Kavanaugh is seated. There are still dozens of lower-court vacancies to fill, and Republicans wont be satisfied with a mere majority at the Supreme Court. Not when Ruth Bader Ginsburgs seat shimmers tantalizingly on the horizon and Stephen Breyers glimmers in the mist behind it. If Republicans in the Senate were willing to sacrifice whatever dignity they possessed to support Trumps promise to pack the court, they arent going to shift course in the week before achieving the conservative majority they have fantasized about for decades. Trump could, one suspects, quite literally shoot a man on Fifth Avenue in the next two weeks and still preside over Kavanaughs successful confirmation. That is the whole point of Trump, and that is why the more tenuous the Trump presidency becomes, the more likely it is that Senate Republicans will support him.

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Nothing has changed since November 2016. Back then, Trump was a grifter and a liar who would deliver on the courts. Today, he is a grifter and a liar now who will deliver on the courts. Its just that today he needs to work faster because the walls are closing in. And why wont Republicans cut Trump loose and let Mike Pence continue the work of court-packing? In part because they are terrified of losing Trumps base. In part because the mayhem allows the relative normalcy of the court system appear alluring. And in part because nothing Trump does seems to cost them anything.

Yet.

What does that mean for Senate Democrats hoping to link Trumps putative criminality to the Kavanaugh hearings? For one thing, that appealing to consistency or principle or history is a waste of time. It means that if ever there were an argument for Democratic unity on the Kavanaugh vote, this is it: No president suspected of criminal conduct should be allowed to seat a Supreme Court justice. This is no longer a vote on Kavanaughs merits.

Its a message about the illegitimacy of the presidency. Kavanaugh himself is just elevator music now, as was Merrick Garland in 2016.

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It also means Democrats should question Kavanaugh on his newly revealed writings about Bill Clinton, whose behavior he condemned as immoral and revolting. As he wrote in 1998, when he was working for independent counsel Kenneth Starr, The President has disgraced his Office, the legal system, and the American people by having sex with a 22-year-old intern and turning her life into shamblescallous and disgusting behavior that has somehow gotten lost in the shuffle.

Its fair game, then, to ask Kavanaugh about the immoral and criminal behavior of the president, as well as his lying and predation. Does he believe that Michael Cohens claims about Trump make the president a criminal? Is he as solicitous of Trumps female victims as he was of Clintons? Let the presidents alleged criminal conspiracy to silence women be held up for debate.

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This issue needs to be at the forefront of the 2018 election conversation for Democrats seeking to retake the House and Senate. The Supreme Court matters so much to Republicans that they are willing to forgive an alleged criminal conspirator to protect it. Shouldnt Democrats at least care enough about the same court to go to the polls and vote?

For the Republican Party, Trump is now just a useful idiot who serves to pack the courts, and also to distract from his packing of the courts. Nothing the president says or does is likely to weaken Republican support for that project, and we thus wait for the Big Onethe final failing or misstep that will send him packingin vain. But Kavanaugh becomes the new But Gorsuch. And if that lesson was ever in doubt, it really shouldnt be after Tuesday.The biggest revelation from Michael Cohens guilty plea on Tuesday was the assertion that Donald Trump directed him to commit campaign finance felonies.

The implications of this allegation are that then-candidate Trump himself committed a number of crimes. The response to this newsthat the president is directly implicated in felonies that carry prison sentenceshas been met among Trumps staunchest allies with a typical shrug.

Some, though, have sought to at least attempt to craft a legal defense for the presidents seemingly illegal actions. These defenseswhich might or might not ever be necessaryare wildly unconvincing. They broke down into three variants:

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Defense One: Cohen didnt implicate Trump.

This initial position was tossed out in the immediate aftermath of the guilty plea by Trumps current attorney, Rudy Giuliani. There is no allegation of any wrongdoing against the President in the governments charges against Mr. Cohen, Giuliani stated Tuesday evening.

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Its true that the governments filings never say explicitly that Donald Trump committed a crime. Cohens criminal information filing describes him as having committed his campaign finance offenses on behalf of Individual-1. That is Donald Trump. It also says that Cohen coordinated with one or more members of the campaign to plot illegal payments to cover up alleged affairs, conducting meetings and phone calls, about the fact, nature, and timing of the payments. Again, the filing never says Trump was one of the individuals Cohen coordinated with.

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Cohen, though, himself implicated Trump personally in open court. Trumps former attorney swore under oath that he made a hush money payment in coordination with and at the direction of a candidate for federal office and for the principal purpose of influencing the election. Again, that candidate would be Donald Trump. Giuliani has confirmed as much, saying that Trump was aware of and reimbursed Cohen for the payment to Stormy Daniels, contrary to Trumps initial public claims. Trump was also secretly recorded during the campaign by Cohen discussing a possible payment to acquire the rights to Karen McDougals story about their alleged affair.

So to suggest that Trump was not implicated in wrongdoing by Tuesdays news, as Giuliani did, is untrue.

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Defense Two: It wasnt a crime.

The latest iteration of this argument was articulated by lawyer Alan Dershowitz on MSNBC on Wednesday morning.

Heres what he said:

The president is entitled to pay hush money to anyone he wants during a campaign. There are no restrictions on what a candidate can contribute to his own campaign. So if in fact the president instructed Cohen to do it as his lawyer, and was going to compensate him for it, the president committed no crime.

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This argument seems to be that if Trump was involved in the payment, then it would be a lawful donation because there are no limits on what a candidate can contribute to his own campaign. This ignores a number of things: First, Cohen was reimbursed for the campaign payments by the Trump Organization, not the candidate himself. This would be why Cohen pleaded guilty to facilitating an illegal corporate contribution. Trump as the head of the Trump Organization, would be implicated in that crime.

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Thats not all, though. If what Cohen said is true, then the candidate could also be guilty of engaging in a conspiracy with Cohen to make an illicit corporate donation and to circumvent reporting requirements.

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Defense Three: Obama did it too.

This was the one that Trump latched onto himself, first in a morning tweet.

Michael Cohen plead guilty to two counts of campaign finance violations that are not a crime. President Obama had a big campaign finance violation and it was easily settled!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 22, 2018

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Later, in an interview with Fox News, Trump repeated this argument. If you look at President Obama, he had a massive campaign violation, he said.

Yes, Obama did pay a fine of $375,000 to the Federal Election Commission for failure to meet reporting deadlines on more than $1.8 million in large donations received right before the election and for failure to meet deadlines to return some contributions that exceeded the legal limit. This was roughly comparable to a $100,000 fine Bob Dole paid for similar violations during his 1996 presidential campaign.

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As New York Times reporter Ken Vogel pointed out on Twitter, the difference between these types of fairly common infractions and what Cohen did is the difference between a hefty fine and a lengthy prison sentence. Cohen said that he knowingly and willfully made illegal contributions at Trumps direction and with the intention of hiding the purpose of the payments, which makes his offense criminal. Obama and Dole said that their violations were accidental bureaucratic mistakes, and so they were handed civil penalties. Trump himself had a similar apparent civil infraction for the 2016 campaign on $1.3 million in donations, but nobody is going to jail for that.

Ultimately, Trumps fate is likely to be decided not in a courtroom, but in the political arena. Until now, his supporters have shown a willingness to swallow any excuse and ignore any malfeasance. Its unclear that this will change, no matter what his defense is.For the past two years, it has often felt as though weve entered the darkest timeline, one in which neither facts nor long-held values seemed to matter one whit. The president of the United States could lie with abandon, or declare to the world that he trusts the word of a foreign dictator over that of his own intelligence services, without suffering any adverse consequences. So there is something deeply cathartic in seeing the legal system re-establishing the reign of cold hard facts.

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Despite his shady reputation, Paul Manafort rose to become the campaign manager of a major party presidential candidate. But all of his talent for sweet talk and manipulation could not save him from a verdict by 12 of his peers; unless he receives a pardon, he is likely to spend most of the rest of his life behind bars.

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Thanks to his utter shamelessness, Michael Cohen rose to become Donald Trumps fixer. But all of his devotion to the man he had served for the better part of his adult life could not buy his help or his compassion; faced with an only slightly shorter prison sentence, he struck a plea deal that deeply incriminates the sitting president.

It is, then, only natural that many of us have felt elated for the past few days. It turns out that some institutions still are holding up: Law enforcement agencies remain capable of bringing one of the presidents closest allies to justice. America is not yet so partisan that a jury is unwilling to let facts rather than political preferences guide its deliberations.

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For the millions of Americans who are overwhelmed and a little confused by the sheer volume of accusations against Trump, and are unsure whether to trust his vociferous detractors or his steadfast defenders, the convictions of Cohen and Manafort also provide a much-needed moment of moral clarity: One of the presidents closest allies has publicly accused him of committing a felony. On the very same day, a jury has unanimously found that another of the presidents closest allies has, over a span of decades, engaged in shockingly corrupt practices. Even Americans who are not all that interested in politics, and are no more inclined to trust MSNBC than they are to trust Fox News, should now be able to see that Robert Muellers investigation is anything but a witch hunt.

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It is only natural that many of us have felt elated for the past few days. It turns out that some institutions still are holding up.

And yet I fear that all of this jubilation is making us forget the underlying facts just as they are coming into view more and more clearly. Its not just that it is now obvious that Trump was likely elected president thanks to a series of grave felonies, something that will remain a black mark on the republic for decades. It is also that the real battle is yet to come.

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Muellers investigation into Trumps shady dealings has been advancing with remarkable speed and success. Big questions remain about just how complicit Trump was with Russian interference in the presidential election, and indeed about just how criminal his business practices have been. But with Cohen striking a deal with prosecutors, Manafort under growing pressure to cooperate with the investigation, and a wide range of other Trump associates in serious legal peril, it is now overwhelmingly likely that Mueller will be able to build a very serious case against the president.

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Trump, meanwhile, has made it amply evident that he does not consider any institution that might interfere with his interests to be legitimatenot the FBI, not the Department of Justice, and certainly not the probe by the special counsel. Thats why he is attacking these institutions on Twitter and TV virtually every day. And its also why he is testing ways he can subvert the separation of powers by getting his critics fired or revoking their security clearances.

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In other words, the two trains are now barreling toward each other at full speed. While it is certainly imaginable that one might suddenly break, or that some unlikely actor somehow finds a way of sending the other one down a different track, the collision feels practically inevitable.

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Who is likely to prevail?

The conventional wisdom still holds that any direct attempt by Trump to fire Mueller or pardon Cohen and Manafort would be the beginning of his end. But we should, by now, have learned that it is perilous to predict which blatantly immoral or unconstitutional acts will actually take a toll on this presidency. Justice has, for the time being, been served against Cohen and Manafort. But we have yet to see whether the rules that apply to the henchmen also apply to their boss.

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Indeed, the past few days have provided fresh evidence that the presidents loyalists will stand by him no matter what. Media outlets like Fox News have tried their best to downplay or ignore the verdicts, choosing to show live footage from Trumps rally in West Virginia. And despite the lurid nature of the allegations against the president, congressional Republicans have once again been conspicuous in their silence.

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There is a simple reason why Trump has, over the years, been able to cross one red line after another without suffering serious consequences: For all of the column inches written by commentators like me, and for all of the hours of cable television devoted to the latest findings of the Mueller investigation, the presidents opponents have not yet been able to elevate any particular outrage in such a way that average Americans truly understood what is at stake.

The impending clash between Trump and Mueller is likely to create the biggest opportunity to change that. But if we blow it, as well we might, the damage to our republic will be very severe.The United States Senate was unusually quiet on Wednesday, one day after the president of the United States was implicated in a guilty plea to a federal felony. No votes were scheduled, leaving reporters only one opportunity late in the afternoonbefore and after an all-senator classified briefingto harass senators with questions. The limited interaction with media was certainly convenient for Republican senators, who would prefer not to answer questions about Michael Cohens court admission that then-candidate Donald Trump had directed him to commit crimes.

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But it was also convenient for Democratic senators, who only have hazy, hedged responses about what the appropriate remedy for such a bombshell should be. Implication in a felony, for which the president may not have been indicted himself only because hes the president, seems like reasonable grounds for consideration of impeachment hearings in the House. Most Democrats on Wednesday, though, said that it still wasnt time.

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Multiple senators began with the most obvious dodge: that impeachment is a House procedure, so go bug them. (The House, unfortunately for senators who dont want to answer questions, is still on recess.) Follow-up questions elicited many words but few answers.

The Cohen revelations have accelerated discussions about, one, whatever the potential liability the president has and, two, how do you procedurally address that, Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed told me, unhelpfully.

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I think theres a lot of thought going on, California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, said. Thats all I can say right now.

New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez and Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy explained that theyd like to see the conclusion of the Mueller investigation before making any decisions. Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Senate Democrat, said he would not speculate on impeachment.

Most Democrats on Wednesday said that it still wasnt time.

In a press conference on Tuesday afternoon following his meeting with Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer touched only briefly on the still-unfolding news of Cohens plea and Paul Manaforts conviction. He warned the president, who was about to begin his West Virginia rally, that he better not talk about pardons for Michael Cohen or Paul Manafort tonight, or any time in the future. As of Wednesday afternoon, Trump hadnt talked about a pardon for eithercertainly not Michael Cohenbut did offer mafia-like praise to Manafort for not ratting to the feds.

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When a reporter asked Schumer what the consequences would be if Trump did pardon Cohen or Manafort, though, Schumer dismissed the question: Ive said what Im gonna say.

Even the one senior senator I spoke with on Wednesday who would draw a line couldnt bring himself to say the word itself.

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The question going forward, Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden told me, was whether the president would pardon Manafort, Cohen, or any of his other previous associates. If he does, I think that would be an assault on the rule of law and would constitute a high crime and misdemeanor, he said.

So, an impeachable offense? I asked him.

He said he stood by his previous characterization: the definition of an impeachable offense, without uttering the words it defines.

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Beyond issuing vaguely threatening statements about how concerned Tuesdays revelations made them, Senate Democrats tried on Wednesday to marry the Cohen news with Brett Kavanaughs Supreme Court nomination, the subject theyre actually trying to maintain public interest in. Schumer, in his opening floor remarks on Wednesday, announced that he had, regrettably, concluded that the Cohen revelation means the Kavanaugh confirmation hearings should be postponed.

At this moment in our nations history, Schumer said, the Senate should not confirm a man to the bench who believes that presidents are virtually beyond accountability. He also argued that it is unseemly for the president of the United States to be picking a Supreme Court justice who could soon be, effectively, a juror in a case involving the president himself.

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The Judiciary Committee chairman, Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley, confirmed a couple of hours later that the confirmation hearings would proceed as scheduled.

Numerous Senate Democrats who had, at best, zero intention of ever voting for Kavanaugh announced that they would no longer meet with him, so tainted had the process become. Kavanaugh will surely be wounded to learn that Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey, who announced his opposition to Kavanaugh the day he was nominated, no longer wishes to engage him in good-faith conversation.

The charge that the president is too tainted to exercise such constitutional powers as nominations to the Supreme Court doesnt really jibe with the attitude that its too soon to consider impeachment. As Kevin Mack, the lead strategist for Democratic billionaire Tom Steyers Need to Impeach group, told me Wednesday, If youre not willing to say that Donald Trump should be impeached, then you dont really have a lot of ground to stand on in saying his Supreme Court pick is illegitimate or merits indefinite postponement.

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Members of Congress keep moving the goal posts, Mack said.

I understand why they do, and its an uncomfortable position for them to be in. They dont want to pursueor mention!impeachment until theyre sure it has a chance to succeed. That means a majority in the House and two-thirds of the Senate. That means Democratic control of the House after the midterms and about one-third of Republicans on board in the Senate. And that means Trumps approval rating among Republicans falling underwater. Theres no sign that will ever happen, and so Democrats are stuck in this position of continually watching the evidence pile up and having nowhere to go.

But sure, maybe if he pardons Manafort. Maybe then.In his new book Temp: How American Work, American Business, and the American Dream Became Temporary, Louis Hyman looks at the reasons behind the temporary nature of so much of the American economy. Eschewing the thesis that companies like Uber are primarily responsible for people working jobs without proper benefits and protections, Hyman examines the changes in American corporate life after the 1950s and 1960s, and why the much-mythologized postwar years were less rosy than we think. At the same time, he explains that the postwar era did offer protections for workers that have lately become much sparser and posits that the challenge going forward is to ensure that Americans keep the flexibility they now seem to want, while simultaneously not being exploited by the companies they work for.

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Is this even possible? I recently spoke by phone with Hyman, who is an associate professor of history at the ILR School at Cornell University, to ask. During the course of our conversation, which has been edited and condensed for clarity, we discussed the racially blinkered view of 1950s America, the real reason workers find themselves with so little power today, and why technological advances are neither the panacea nor the root cause of what ails our economy.

Isaac Chotiner: Why did you want to write a book on this subject?

Louis Hyman: I was drawn to this topic both because I had seen the rising insecurity of work in America and I was struck by the fact that we constantly talk about normal work. I started this project in about 2011, and even after the financial crisis, there was this talk about going back to a normal economy, and I was like, What are we talking about here? The postwar period was only 25 years long. Weve lived in this state of stagnation, wage stagnation, rising inequality, for almost 50 years now, and I wanted to write the history, not of the decline of that older, good job, but the rise of the kinds of work that replaced it.

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What do you think the conventional wisdom is, and where do you think its correct or incorrect, about how we got into the situation you just laid out?

Its very easy, when you talk with people, to say, Oh, this is about artificial intelligence. Work is insecure because of artificial intelligence and its about apps and smartphones and Uber. And if you talk to economists, at least if you did in 2011, they would say things like, Oh, its all about transaction costs, which is the idea that the internet makes it easy for work to become more insecure, that people have become less attached to their jobs, just through their employers. And it just struck me as odd because, at least in my experience as a historian, technology doesnt really change things as often as it solves for existing kinds of social relationships.

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If I say, industrial revolution, you think steam engines and railroads and coal. Well, all those kinds of inventions are solving for the rearrangement of social relationships, people coming from the farm into the earliest factories. And, once they were there, they didnt use any different technology. It was just a rearrangement of human work. With temp labor, I was thinking about how this is not really about technology, or rather, what are the ways in which technology is important for the story and in what ways is this really about the changing organization of work, and especially the changing nature of the corporation?

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What about the changing nature of the corporation?

We think of the corporation as always being profit maximizing, and always about the stockholders. But in the postwar period, you have a very different kind of corporation. Its focused, through the 40s and 50s, on long-term stability. Its focused on long-term profits. And it worked so well, in fact, that through the 1960s, American capitalism just makes tons of money, but it begins to mutate. A lot of that money, instead of being spent on R&D or being given to the workers, because of anti-monopoly laws, because of new kinds of financial techniques like the leveraged buyout, you start to have companies begin to gobble up other companies and you have the first conglomerates. And these conglomerates were the darlings of Wall Street. Everybody was excited about them. They were the future and then, in 1969, they all fall apart. It turns out that, instead of bigger was better, instead of bigger making for more efficient firms, in fact, they just had gotten bigger but hadnt made any more money.

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And so theres this hangover in the 70 and 80s as people have to rethink how the corporation should be sized and how it should be operated, and they questioned everything. The most important people in my book for this are business gurus like Alvin Toffler, but also management consultants like the people of Boston Consulting Group and McKinsey & Company.

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But were there specific things that you can point to where you think our economy could be different today, or was it a confluence of forces?

Its frustrating how often people say, Well, if it wasnt for Uber. Well, the alternative is not a good paying union job. The alternative is slinging lattes at Starbucks.  Louis Hyman

I think its not about one particular policy or law or something like that, its really much more about a shift in how we understood what the purpose of the economy was. I think there was a sense, coming out of the Great Depression, that the purpose of the economy was to create the good life for everybody. And, coming out of the 1970s, it was to just maximize shareholder value and that this is all you could do.

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Theres an important caveat that runs through the book. When I say, The good life, sorry, its not actually for everybody, its for American white men. This question of exclusion is central to how that stability in the postwar is organized, so that the people left out of that, women, people of color, non-Americans, especially economic migrants, these people are actually living in an insecure, temporary economy in the postwar in a way that were all living in now, and its upon them that the rehearsal for todays world occurred. And so part of the book is about why that world of work displaced the secure world of work for white men. And, Isaac, if Im going on too long, please tell me.

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Dont worry. I would interrupt you if you were.

OK. I know how professors are.

This concept of flexibilitythat some of these jobs allow people to be entrepreneurial or take new riskshow do you weigh a factor like that, and how much does it make up for some of the negative trends you are writing about?

I think that flexibility is, of course, something that everybody wants in their life. Everybody wants to have choice over when they work. But its not just about when they work; its for how much. Its frustrating to me how often, when you see these debates, especially over Uber, where people say, Well, if it wasnt for Uber or that these are terrible jobs. Theyre flexible in some sense, but look how little theyre making. Well, the alternative is not a good paying union job in a factory or office or a good paying white-collar office job. The alternative is slinging lattes at Starbucks, where you may or may not get the shift that you need, you may or may not get the hours you need every week. And so I think, in the book, I write that Uber is the waste product of the service economy, and I think that this is the real alternative for working people. And the problem is not the flexibility of big labor, the problem is how the service economy has failed working Americans.

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I do think that there is this excitement about flexibility. When I started this book, it was going to be about the rise of terrible jobs. Just really focused on the insecurity. And, by the time I finished it, after talking with so many people who work these jobs and really reading the stories of these people, I was really touched, I was really swayed by this possibility, and it really made the postwar look very different to me. In the postwar, even if you had those good jobs, you traded autonomy for security, and I feel like theres a very core American value about independence and autonomy going back to Jefferson. And I think that Id love to figure out a way that we can make this independent work possible and sustainable for the millions of people who are a part of it and want that kind of flexibility so that work doesnt define every hour of their life.

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And, even for the jobs were all nostalgic for in the postwar, those jobs were repetitive and monotonous and soul-breaking and I think that, as we are in this crisis of thinking about what is the future of work, we have to keep track of how we can remake work using technology to make our jobs more humane.

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And I do think that technology plays an important role in this, that technology can  I dont think its driving these changes. I think its solving for problems. The Uber app is possible not because of technology, but because there are people who are so desperate for work to fill out their shifts, to fill out the rest of their hours in their week, theyre willing to do this and its better than the alternative. As we think about technology, we should be trying to figure out ways to liberate us from tedium and toil and get better paid, just like we did in some invention in the past, like the mechanical thresher or something like that. That is the reason we arent all in the fields every fall bringing in the harvest. To me, this is the optimistic part of the story.

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Many people have all this flexibility now, as you say, but something fundamentally seems to have gone amiss in the society, which is being expressed politically, and not just here, but around the western world. Im not saying the fact that people are working temp jobs is the reason that we have Donald Trump or Brexit or whatever else. But if does seem to me that theres a fundamental unhappiness with things right now and I do wonder how the changing nature of work plays into that.

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Yeah. Theres also the rise of inequality, which is part of the story, but its also a story of financialization, its a story of globalization. I think that the big crisis were confronting is: Can you have a true multiracial, multiethnic democracy? That postwar world was based on racial and gender exclusion. And part of what weve been contesting in this country since the 1960s is a more inclusive kind of capitalism and more inclusive kinds of democracy. And I think Europe is facing this, I think were facing this, and we have to posit some kind of inclusive story that makes us all part of it.

Its not just about a law to fix flexible labor. Its a change in cultural mindset that everybody counts who lives here.

Do you think that if were going to solve these problems of workers being in temp jobs without benefits, the solution is to change society so there are fewer jobs like this, somehow, or is it that we need to create a society with more of a social safety net because these jobs are inevitable and society needs to protect them?

I think we have to start with the reality. If you look at the work of the economist Alan Krueger, he found that 94 percent of the net new jobs between 2005 and 2015 were in these alternative work arrangements, [what] I call temp jobs in the book. And I think that this is the growth area of the economy and there are those who say its growing because you are not paying benefits, people are being underpaid, and the only reason its growing is because its an evasion of all the labor law that we have, the employment law. And theres those that say, Well, no, actually this is a place where people feel more free, they feel more autonomous. Theyre doing what they want. They want that flexibility. And the data, right now, is very muddled. The answer is yes and yes.

I think the best thing we can do is make sure that its not an evasion of labor law, so that we create systems like portable benefits, like EEOC, they make sure we have anti-discrimination laws as it applies to the gig economy in various ways and making sure that everybody who is in the economy counts, whether theyre working for one employer or contractors.Michael Cohens guilty pleas on Tuesday not only directly implicate President Donald Trump in campaign finance felonies. They also implicate the Supreme Court and Judge Brett Kavanaughs nomination.

No president in American history who faced direct, concrete evidence of high crimes has ever appointed a Supreme Court justice. The Senate should not endanger the Supreme Courts legitimacy by allowing Trump to appoint a justice under an undeniable cloud of impeachment, removal, and potential prosecution. On Wednesday, it became clear that Senate Democrats were at least beginning to understand the stakes here. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer again asked Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley to delay Supreme Court confirmation hearings on Kavanaugh. At least one Democratic senator cancelled a scheduled meeting with Kavanaugh and others said they would not meet with him. Senate Republicans like Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski have it in their power to delay the nomination process for the sake of court and the rule of law.

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First, lets note that Trump had been under this cloud for a while. There is ample evidence he obstructed justice in many ways, even if obstruction is a crime that requires proof of mens rea, or intent. There is circumstantial evidence he knew of the Trump Tower meeting on June 7, 2016, which would seem sufficient for a charge of conspiracy against the United States. Even prior to Tuesday, there was the reported evidence of campaign finance felonies involving his former personal attorney. But Cohens guilty pleas and statements in court turn a new corner legally.

These felonies raise increasingly overwhelming questions about the legitimacy of Trumps election. Now that the evidence is so inescapable, they raise inevitable questions about the legitimacy of his judicial appointments going forward.

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Lets review the history of presidents facing concrete evidence of high crimes. Andrew Johnson did not commit felonies, but his high political crimes or misdemeanors were violating statutes and defying Congress in trying to undermine Reconstruction. He was impeached and narrowly avoided removal. After pro-slavery Justice John Catron died during Johnsons presidency, Congress abolished his Supreme Court seat in 1866 rather than allow him to appoint a new justice.

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During Richard Nixons second term and Bill Clintons second term, there was direct evidence of high crimes and misdemeanors. The Supreme Court had been involved in these cases (U.S.

v. Nixon and Clinton v. Jones) and faced further potential involvement, and no justices retired.

Thus, neither president nominated a justice while under a cloud of impeachment.

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What about other scandals, such as Reagans Iran-Contra, or Clintons Whitewater allegations investigated during his first term, or Credit Mobilier under Ulysses S. Grant, or Teapot Dome under Warren G. Harding? All were serious scandals, but none produced direct and concrete evidence of the presidents criminal conduct, nor a clear high crime or misdemeanor. None raised a plausible specter of presidential removal.

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Supreme Court justices in the past have exercise wise judgment about the timing of their retirements to avoid illegitimacy crises. At an election night party in 2000, when it looked like Al Gore would win, Justice Sandra Day OConnor reportedly exclaimed, This is terrible. As Newsweek reported, her husband explained to partygoers that she was upset because they wanted to retire to Arizona, and a Gore win meant theyd have to wait another four years. But OConnor didnt retire until Bushs second term. After she cast the deciding vote in Bush v. Gore, her retirement after the 2000 election would have undermined the legitimacy of the court. OConnor likely understood this. She chose not to retire until after a new presidential election in 2004. For whatever reason, Justice Anthony Kennedy chose a different path this past summer, and it at least raises valid questions about his own legacy. The Senate, though, shouldnt overlook this legitimacy crisis either.

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Kavanaughs views on overturning Roe v. Wade and on creating unprecedented new presidential powers already raised valid questions for confirmation under any circumstances. Trumps criminal liability exacerbate these problems to a breaking point. Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is rushing the Kavanaugh confirmationwithout acquiring full access to Kavanaughs recordsprecisely because of Trumps legal and political problems. Anyone who supports a Trump nomination to the Supreme Court after Tuesday needs to grapple with the following: Other shoes will drop about Trumps criminal conspiracy, the confirmation vote will coincide with another Paul Manafort trial and perhaps a Cohen deal, and eventually more damaging documents about Kavanaugh, may come out after the vote. How will this confirmationessentially a form of court-packinglook in a year? How could Republicans have any coherent argument against the Democrats responding in kind should they retake the White House and the Senate after the 2020 election?

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There will be a legitimacy crisis if the Senate appoints a Trump nominee to the court in 2018. But there is no crisis if the court has eight justices for months, or even years. When Congress created the Supreme Court in 1789, they created six seats, and it remained at six for 18 years. The Supreme Court has had an even number of seats many times throughout its historyand it is often not a bug, but a featurea feature of consensus to build a majority, rather than an even split.

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Trumps judicial appointments already have a taint of illegitimacy. Justice Neil Gorsuch has multiple clouds over his appointment, including not only Trumps criminal liability but also the unprecedented stonewalling of Obama appointee Judge Merrick Garland that led to Gorsuchs elevation by a narrow Senate majority. But now, in the wake of Tuesdays news, if the Senate confirms a second Trump nominee to the Supreme Court, it will be fundamentally and inexorably undermining the courts legitimacy. Again, one might as well call it a brave new kind of court-packing. No matter how such a move is described, it would be yet another unprecedented violation of norms and a threat to the rule of law in America.

If Republicans want a legitimate Kavanaugh nomination, they can wait for the investigation to be complete. Perhaps a new president could make this appointment, and give the Senate a chance to review the full record then. But if the Republican Senate violates another previously standard Supreme Court confirmation practice, it will be utterly predictable that the pendulum will swing the other way when they are out of power. When it comes to the Supreme Court right now, eight is enough.As the specter of impeachment creeps into conversations about where President Donald Trumps scandals may be heading, its worth recalling the specific high crimes and misdemeanors that ousted Richard Nixon from office in 1974.

On July 27, the House Judiciary Committee approved, and voted to send the full House, three articles of impeachment, which charged Nixon with 15 separate acts of obstructing justice and abusing power. Thatalong with urgings from several Republican leaderspressured Nixon to step down not quite two weeks later, on Aug. 9, before Congress could vote on the matter. (Another crucial factor: Vice President Gerald Ford decided to pardon him for any crimes he may have committed, thus protecting Nixon from indictment and prosecution after leaving the White House.)

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It is indisputable that Trump has committed some of the same offenses that led to the impeachment articles against Nixon.

It is indisputable that Trump has committed some of the same offenses that led to the impeachment articles against Nixon. But its also clear that todays politics are very different. Most crucial, the Republicans control both houses of Congress (in 1974, the Democrats enjoyed overwhelming majorities), so whether Trump will actually be impeached, much less convicted, is another matter.

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The preface to all three articles of impeachment against Nixon is worth a careful read:

In the conduct of the office of President of the United States, Richard M. Nixon, [has been] in violation of his constitutional oath faithfully to execute the office of the President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in violation of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed.

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In the conduct of the office of President of the United States, Richard M. Nixon, [has been] in violation of his constitutional oath faithfully to execute the office of the President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in violation of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed.

These are the fundamental reasonsthe violations of his oath and his constitutional dutiesfor impeaching a president.

Article I (which was approved by all 21 of the committees Democrats and six of its 17 Republicans) stated that Nixon had prevented, obstructed, and impeded the administration of justice, mainly in the course of allowing and covering up the Watergate break-in. Among the nine specific counts, in summary, were these:

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1. Making false statements to investigators;

2. Withholding evidence and information from investigators;

3. Approving or condoning false testimony by his aides;

4. Interfering with investigations by the FBI, Department of Justice, special prosecutor, and congressional committees;

5. Approving or condoning the surreptitious payment of substantial sums of money for the purposes of obtaining the silence of witnesses or potential witnesses;

6. Attempting to abuse the CIA;

7. Giving aides material from the Justice Department to help them evade criminal charges;

8. Making false or misleading statements for the purpose of deceiving the people of the United States into believing that a full investigation of the Watergate scandal had been completed and that none of his aides or campaign staff had engaged in any misconduct; and

9. Leading defendants to believe that they would receive favorable treatment in exchange for silence or misleading testimony.

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Several of these counts could apply to Trumps activities. For example, it is significant that Trumps lawyers are urging him not to testify before special prosecutor Robert Mueller precisely to avoid a charge similar to Count 1 of the obstruction-of-justice article against Nixon. (Rudy Giuliani calls this the perjury trap.)

If Michael Cohens recent confession under oath is found to be true, Trump may also have violated Nixons Count 3, in the sense that, by criticizing Cohen for pleading guilty and implicating his complicity, Trump in effect admitted that hed been condoning Cohens previous lies.

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Trumps firing of three Justice Department officials for their roles in the Russia probe (FBI Director James Comey, Acting Attorney General Sally Yates, U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara) and his pressuring of at least five more (Mueller, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, FBI Director Christopher Wray, and Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe) would certainly make him guilty of Count 4.

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The payoff of porn star Stormy Daniels and at least one other woman, to keep them silent about his affairs with them, shortly before the 2016 election, meets the standard of Count 5.

Count 8 may be the most remarkable charge: [D]eceiving the people of the United States into believing that none of his aides had engaged in misconduct. Trump has repeatedly engaged in that category of obstruction.

Trumps messages to his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, (Stay strong) and former campaign manager Paul Manafort (praising him for having refused to break, under prosecutors pressure) may have led them to believe theyd be pardoned, and would thus put Trump in the glare of Count 9.

Article II of the impeachment resolution (approved by all 21 Democrats and seven of 17 Republicans) charged Nixon with five counts of abusing his powers and violating the constitutional rights of citizens:

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1. Trying to punish critics by subjecting them to IRS audits;

2. Directing FBI and Secret Service agents to conduct electronic surveillance of citizens for reasons unrelated to national security;

3. Establishing a secret investigative unit within the White House (the Plumbers), in part with campaign funds, to commit illegal acts (including the Watergate break-in and the burglary of Pentagon Papers leaker Daniel Ellsbergs psychiatrists office);

4. Condoning, or failing to act, when he knew that aides had tried to thwart or impede lawful investigations; and

5. Interfering with the FBI, the Justice Department, the special prosecutor, and the CIA, in violation of his duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed.

We dont know whether Trump has done anything to warrant charges on the first three counts. But encouraging aides to impede Mueller would come under Count 4; and his pressuring or firing of at least eight Justice Department officials resonates with Count 5.

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Article III charged Nixon with contempt of Congress for failing to give the House Judiciary Committee documents that it had lawfully subpoenaed. This article passed on a straight party vote: 21-17.*

Trump has also committed obstructions and abuses that go beyond Nixons catalog of high crimes and misdemeanors. His acceptance of foreign funds, as owner of Trump Organization hotels, is seen by many legal scholars and state attorneys general as a violation of Article IX of the Constitution (the Emoluments Clause). His disclosure of highly classified information to Russian officials inside the Oval Office is a clear abuse of power. His many statements demeaning federal judges and specific members of the armed forces could be said to contravene his duties as the governments chief executive and the militarys commander in chief.

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Does all this mean that Trump may face impeachment? If the Democrats regain control of the House in this years midterm elections, he might. But the congressional ouster of a president requires not only a majority of the House to vote for impeachment but also two-thirds of the Senate to vote for conviction.

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Back in 1974, the Democrats outnumbered Republicans in the House, 235182way more than the majority needed to impeach Nixon. Democrats held 57 Senate seats and could almost certainly have rallied the necessary 10 Republicans for a two-thirds vote on conviction.

Two leading GOP senators, Barry Goldwater and minority leader Hugh Scott, were among those who urged Nixon to resign; several others were on record as holding the same view.

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Even if the Democrats regained control of the Senate in this years midterms, they would hold only a slight majority. Short of an almost unimaginably stunning revelation or an equally dramatic shift in Republican senators slavish loyalty to Trump, it is unlikely that they would vote to convict him. And, given Trumps stubborn character, it is also hard to imagine that he would leave the White House voluntarilythough, then again, who knows what crazy twists and turns might happen tomorrow.

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One more thing worth noting: In 1974, the House Judiciary Committee issued a motion to impeach Nixon for abusing his power by secretly bombing Cambodia. That motion was voted down, 1226. So theres a lesson for politicians: Not even a partisan Congress is likely to impeach a president for conducting an illegal war, not evenas was the case in Cambodiaif that war hurls the bombed nation into chaos, bringing to power some of historys most demented monsters, the Khmer Rouge, who proceed to murder 2 million of their own citizens.

Challenges of presidential power, even back then, in more rebellious times on Capitol Hill, had their limits.A lone holdout on the Paul Manafort jury prevented it from returning convictions on 10 of the 18 counts of bank and tax fraud he facedand it wasnt the woman who called the Russia investigation a witch hunt and literally drove to court each day with a Make America Great Again hat in her backseat.

That juror, Paula Duncan, told Fox News that one personkept the verdict from being guilty on all 18 counts. Duncan, a self-described Trump supporter, described the case as a witch hunt to try to find Russian collusion, and that Manafort wouldnt have gotten caught if they werent after President Trump.

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She, however, was convinced by the overwhelming evidence against him. I did not want Paul Manafort to be guilty, but he was, and no one is above the law, she told Fox.

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Duncan said that the holdout juror was a woman and she wouldnt be convinced Manafort was guilty beyond reasonable doubt on the remaining 10 counts after four days of deliberation.

Duncan said fellow jurors had laid out the case against Manafort again and again. Duncan added that the holdout juror was the one who had sent a note asking the judge to define reasonable doubt. We felt a little foolish, actually, sending it, Duncan said, but thats the way the jury works.

Manafort could face a retrial on the remaining 10 counts, which may be more likely in light of how close prosecutors were to getting convictions on all 18. Manafort is also facing another trial next month in Washington, D.C., on charges that he obstructed justice, conspired to launder money, and failed to register as a foreign agent.The good news for Leah Vukmir keeps coming. The Wisconsin Republican won her Senate primary by 6 points over insurgent Kevin Nicholson last Tuesday. Soon after, Donald Trump, who had avoided taking sides in what was a nasty primary fight, endorsed the GOP establishment-approved Vukmir and volunteered to hit the stump on her behalf. Not long after that, Nicholson offered up his own support too. Then on Wednesday, a new poll found Vukmir in a statistical dead heat with Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin for the first time this year.

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Baldwin remains the favorite and Vukmir, a state lawmaker for the past 16 years, will need all the GOP support she can get. But this immediate display of post-primary party unity, paired with evidence the race is tightening, will also bring Vukmir an undeniably valuable advantage: cold hard cash.

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Senate Republicans, eager to mend fences after the primary fight, held a fundraiser for their newly minted nominee in Milwaukee on Friday. Co-hosting the big-dollar event was a pair of conservative megadonors who found themselves on opposites sides of the primary: Diane Hendricks, the owner of roofing distributor ABC Supply, who backed Vukmir; and Richard Uihlein, the owner of shipping wholesaler Uline, whose early investment turned Nicholson from a long shot into a serious contender in the race.

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The unity event had been on the books for more than a month, so there is at least some question as to whether the publicity-adverse Uihlein will go all-in on Vukmir, who days before the primary accused the Illinois billionaire of trying to buy a Senate seat in Wisconsin with the nearly $11 million he spent in support of Nicholson. But theres plenty of reasons to believe Uihlein will keep spending heavily in the state given how much a Baldwin defeat would cripple Democrats chance at reclaiming the Senate.

Uihlein (pronounced YOU-line) tends to prefer outlandish outsidersthink Roy Moore in Alabama or Jeanne Ives in Illinoisbut hes proved willing to support establishment-types like Vukmir before. Uihlein is also tight with Wisconsins GOP establishment, including Gov. Scott Walker and former White House chief of staff Reince Priebus, and he and his wife were major Trump donors in 2016. (Priebus endorsed Vukmir in the primary; Walker remained officially neutral, but his wife endorsed Vukmir, and his son works on Vukmirs campaign.)

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Between Hendricks, Uihlein, and the Koch networkwhich has already spent more than $1 million attacking BaldwinVukmir can expect plenty of big-dollar support in her bid to take down the incumbent. Indeed, this is exactly what Baldwin was talking about when she took the unusual step early last month of hyping the possibility that she could lose this fall. Baldwins fear is that Senate Democrats will spend too much time and money protecting those incumbents seen as more vulnerablesay Heidi Heitkamp in North Dakota or Joe Manchin in West Virginialeaving her to fend for herself against an onslaught of outside spending.

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You dont have to go far back in Wisconsin history to see where that fear comes from. In 2016, former Sen. Russ Feingold was up big in the polls and appeared destined to reclaim his seat that Novemberuntil a surge of late spending from conservative groups boosted Republican Ron Johnson to re-election. This year, Baldwin has held a comfortable lead from the get-go in RealClearPolitics rolling averageshes up an average of 11 points on Vukmirthough the newest poll, the first this month, found Baldwin with a within-the-margin-of-error 2-point lead, down 7 points from when those same Marquette University pollsters asked the question two months prior.

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Like Feingold, Baldwin is a proud progressive in a purple state. She has nodded to Trumps America First voters with her Buy American infrastructure proposal this year, but shes still the most liberal of any of the 10 Democrats up for re-election in states Trump won. She supports Medicare for All, shes campaigned with Bernie Sanders, and she voted against confirming Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court and was likewise quick to oppose Brett Kavanaugh. None of that makes her the radical that Republicans will paint her as, but it certainly gives conservative campaign ad makers plenty of grist to work with. The likes of Uihlein and Hendricks, meanwhile, will use their deep pockets to ensure those attacks find the biggest audience they can.On Tuesday, President Trump brushed aside questions about the conviction of his former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, and a guilty plea by Trumps former lawyer, Michael Cohen. The two cases didnt matter, said Trump, because they didnt prove the central charge against him. This has nothing to do with Russian collusion, Trump told reporters as he arrived in West Virginia. Later, at a campaign rally, he taunted the press for failing to prove that he had collaborated with Russia. Theyre still looking for collusion, he jeered. Where is the collusion?

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Ill tell you where the collusion is. Its right in front of us.

To escape the Cohen and Manafort stories, Trump is retreating into the Russia mystery. He cant be impeached, the theory goes, because he hasnt been caught betraying his country. But he has. Trump has bent over backward to defend Vladimir Putin at Americas expense, and the question is why. Journalists have explored the worst possibilities: Trump is a Russian agent, Trump conspired with Putin to tip the 2016 election, Putin is blackmailing Trump with a raunchy sex tape.

In this article, Im going to take the opposite approach. Ill assume none of that speculation is true. Ill stick to the public record. Ill set aside the question of collusion as most people understand ita conspiracy during the electionand I wont postulate any hidden motives. Ill present the minimum we know about Trump and Russia. The minimum is enough to merit impeachment: Trump is working with Putin to protect Russia and cripple the United States.

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This conclusion doesnt require any wild theories about kompromat or dual loyalty. Everything Trump has done can be explained by traits and motives he displays every day: narcissism, insecurity, ruthlessness, and spite. He enjoys the celebrity of meeting with well-armed dictators. Hes obtuse to moral distinctions between regimes or systems of government. He sees no difference between the national interest and his personal interests, or between getting campaign help from Americans and getting it from a foreign power. And hes obsessed with domestic enemies. Hes far more interested in using Putin to pummel Democrats than in working with Democrats to confront Putin.

These ingredients have been sufficient to turn Trump, in effect, against his own country. Putin didnt need to collude with him. All Putin had to do was praise Trump, signal his support for Trump in the election, offer him a prestigious geopolitical relationship, and come to his defense when U.S. intelligence agencies accused Russia of helping Trump win. That put the intelligence agencies on the wrong side of Trump, and it put Putin on the right side. And thats how we ended up where we are today: with a president who defends Putins crimes and persecutes former U.S. officials who exposed those crimes.

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Maybe youre skeptical that Trumps behavior can be explained without kompromat. Or maybe, in the absence of proof of collusion, you think its unfair to accuse him of betraying his country. But come along, and Ill show you how both can be true.

1. The Courtship

Trump and Putin didnt begin as friends. To Putin, Trump was just another businessman. To Trump, Putin was just a prop. In the years leading up to his presidential campaign, Trump sometimes tried to look important by pretending to know Putin. Other times, Trump tried to look tough by describing Putin as a menace. In Trumps mind, Putin was a character who could be used in the fight Trump really cared about: the competition for status at home. So when Trump spoke of Putin as an adversary, he meant that Putin was a standard by which to measure other politicianschiefly, President Barack Obamaas weak.

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Anyone watching from the Kremlin could see that Trump was exploitable.

When Putin invaded and annexed Crimea in 2014, Trump said the takeover exposed Obamas failed leadership. Republican hawks said the same thing, but they spoke of underlying concerns: sovereignty, freedom, human rights. To Trump, those concerns meant nothing. Trump was more interested in Putins poll numbers. Putin has become a big hero in Russia with an all time high popularity, Trump tweeted as Russia seized Ukrainian bases and vessels in Crimea. Obama, on the other hand, has fallen to his lowest ever numbers. SAD.

Trumps presidential candidacy and his rise in the polls caught Putins eye. On Dec. 17, 2015, in Putins annual year-end press conference, the Russian president called Trump very bright and talented. Trump loved it. The next day, on MSNBC, Trump beamed: When people call you brilliant, its always good, especially when the person heads up Russia.

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Now that Putin was praising him, Trump adjusted his angle. He could still use Putin as a standard for judging American politicians. But now that standard included chemistry. A lot of good things can happen with Russia if we get along well, Trump argued in the MSNBC interview. Putin does not respect our president, he warned, and our president does not like Putin.  I watch those two sitting in two chairs looking at each other  and I say, Wow, thats really bad chemistry. 

The interviewer, Joe Scarborough, pointed out that Putin kills journalists, political opponents, and invades countries. Trump brushed aside these quibbles. Our country does plenty of killing also, said Trump. At least hes a leader, you know, unlike we have in this country. Again, Trump marveled at Putins approval ratings, noting that they were in the 80s while Obamas in the 30s and low 40s.

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Anyone watching from the Kremlin could see that Trump was exploitable. He valued strength and popularity, not human rights or policing aggression. He admired Putin and was willing to praise him in public. And he was willing to make chemistry and good relationsin short, Putins satisfactionthe measure of American success.

2. Tests of Loyalty

As Trump stormed through the primaries, Russia collected material on his opponents. In March and April 2016, Russian hackers penetrated the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clintons presidential campaign. In June, an intermediary for a Russian oligarch sent Donald Trump Jr. an email offering sensitive information on Clinton as part of Russia and its governments support for Mr. Trump. Trump Jr. set up a meeting in Trump Tower to get the dirt, but the Russians didnt deliver. Not until July 22, three days after the GOP nominated Trump, did WikiLeaks release documents from the DNC hack.

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Putin was pitting his credibility against the U.S. governments credibility. Trump had to choose.

These moves tested Trumps allegiance. If he had been unwilling to conspire with Moscow, the email to his son might have led to nothing. At worst, Trumps campaign might have notified the FBI. Instead, Trump Jr. replied, If its what you say I love it. Manafort, Trumps then-campaign chairman, and Jared Kushner, Trumps son-in-law, also showed up to hear the offer. No FBI action seemed to follow. Apparently, Trumps campaign was open to cooperation.

In the quest to prove collusion between Trump and Russia, the Trump Tower meeting has become an obsession. But sometimes things said in public are more significant than things said in private. For that reason, Trumps comments in late July are worth revisiting. When WikiLeaks released its first trove of stolen emails, it provoked a public clash between the Kremlin and U.S. intelligence agencies. The agencies said Russia was behind the hack. Russia denied it. Putin was pitting his credibility against the U.S. governments credibility. Trump had to choose.

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Trump chose Putin. On July 27, at a press conference in Florida, he paraphrased Putins denial and rejected the judgment of the intelligence agencies. But if Russia was behind the hack, Trump mused, then it ought to get Clintons emails, too. Facing the cameras, Trump declared: Russia, if youre listening, I hope youre able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing.

Reporters were dismayed. One asked Trump: Do you have any pause about asking a foreign governmentRussia, China, anybodyto interfere, to hack into the system of anybody in this country.  Does that not give you pause? No, it gives me no pause, said Trump. If Russia or China or any other country has those emails, I mean, to be honest with you, Id love to see them.

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The press conference told Putin everything he needed to know: that Trump felt no bond with Clinton or the Democrats, that he put opportunism before patriotism, and that he was happy to seek Russias help in the campaign, including through espionage. But it also told Putin that Trump was willing to trust him over the U.S. intelligence communityand that Trump was willing to say all of this in public.

That night, Russian hackers targeted Clintons personal office and her campaign.

3. The War at Home

In the months that followed, WikiLeaks released more hacked documents, and Trump touted them on the campaign trail. Clinton tried to make Putins support of Trump an issue, but it didnt work. Trump won the election.

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Democratic leaders were horrified. They asked the public to unite behind Trump, but Trump didnt reciprocate. He was untransformed by victory. For weeks, he held rallies around the country, ridiculing Americans who had opposed him. He couldnt let go of the idea that Clinton and the Democrats, not foreign dictators, were his enemies.

This was a fatal character defect, and Putin exploited it. On Dec. 23, in his year-end press conference, the Russian president again reached out to Trump. A reporter asked Putin about American complaints of Russian interference in the election. Putin replied that Democrats were losing on all fronts and looking elsewhere for things to blame.

Trump pounced on Putins remark. He tweeted, Vladimir Putin said today about Hillary and Dems: In my opinion, it is humiliating. One must be able to lose with dignity. So true! This, too, sent a signal: Trump wasnt finished with his war at home. And he welcomed Putins help in waging it.

4. The Turn Against Intelligence

Two weeks before Trump took office, U.S. intelligence agencies tried to turn him away from Putin. They failed.

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On Jan. 6, 2017, the intelligence chiefs briefed Trump on their assessment of Russias role in the election. Their report concluded that Putin had ordered an influence campaign to undermine public faith in the US democratic process, to hurt Clinton, and to help President-elect Trumps election chances. The agencies also released their report to the public. That made it difficult for Trump to dismiss the reports conclusions. At a Jan. 11 press conference, Trump wavered between acknowledging Putins guilt (He shouldnt have done it) and disputing it (It could have been others also).

The briefing affected Trump. He seemed to have gotten the message that he should oppose foreign interference in American elections. But that message couldnt overcome his ego or his spite. At the press conference, he blamed Democrats for letting themselves be hacked. He insisted that the damning things they had written in their emails were more important than who had done the hacking. And he argued that intervention on his behalf by a foreign power, in any form, was good. If Putin likes Donald Trump, I consider that an asset, not a liability, he said.

Trumps drift toward the Kremlin, and away from his own government, was now self-perpetuating.

Trumps fixation on personal loyalty gave Putin a huge advantage over the intelligence agencies. The agencies were obliged to report the truth and serve the country, even if it made the president-elect uncomfortable. This created constant friction with Trump. At the briefing, FBI Director James Comey warned Trump about a dossier of Trump-Russia allegations, including a story that the Kremlin had a tape of Trump watching prostitutes urinate on a bed in Moscow. The point of the warning was to alert Trump to the dossier, which was already in the medias hands, and to defuse any blackmail threat from Russia. Instead, Trump took the warning as a threat from the intelligence agencies. Days later, when the dossier showed up in the press, Trump felt vindicated in his suspicion.

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Trumps drift toward the Kremlin, and away from his own government, was now self-perpetuating. The more the intelligence agencies looked into Russias relationship with Trump, the more Trump turned against them. Putin could accelerate the split just by defending Trump and opposing the agencies work. So when Trump, in the wake of the Jan. 6 report, called the focus on Russian interference a witch hunt, Putins spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, parroted him. Peskov dismissed the dossier as a complete fabrication and part of a witch hunt.

Trump, in turn, echoed Peskov. Russia just said the unverified report paid for by political opponents is A COMPLETE AND TOTAL FABRICATION,  he tweeted. Two days later, Trump added: Russia says nothing exists. Probably released by Intelligence even knowing there is no proof, and never will be. At his press conference, Trump thanked Putin for denouncing the dossier. In their joint defense against the intelligence agencies, Trump and Putin were beginning to coordinate a message.

5. Attacking the Investigation

On Jan. 20, Trump was sworn in as president. In a Fox News interview, he brushed aside Putins bloody history, asking, What, you think our countrys so innocent? Now that Trump had power, intelligence officials who threatened Trumps relationship with Putin wouldnt just face angry tweets. They could lose their jobs.

Six days after Trumps inauguration, U.S. intelligence officials sent an emissary to the White House to warn Trump that his national security adviser, Michael Flynn, had misled the FBI and Vice President Mike Pence about secret conversations with Russia. The conversations, which had taken place after the election, addressed the possibility of easing U.S. sanctions on Russia. The warning was meant to protect Pence. But Trump didnt turn against Flynn or Russia. He turned against the FBI.

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Trump kept Flynn on board until Feb. 13, when the Washington Post disclosed the warning. Under pressure, Trump accepted Flynns resignation. The next day, Trump cleared the Oval Office so he could speak to Comey alone. According to Comeys notes, Trump told the FBI director, I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go.

That night, the New York Times published another unwelcome story. It reported that American law enforcement and intelligence agencies had evidence of repeated contacts between Russia and Trump associates before the election. Trump raged at the leakers. Information is being illegally given to the failing @nytimes & @washingtonpost by the intelligence community (NSA and FBI?), he tweeted.

On Feb. 16, Trump held a long press conference to attack the Russia story. The whole Russian thing, he insisted, was a ruse, a fabricated deal to try and make up for the loss of the Democrats. Worse, said Trump, it was blocking a harmonious U.S.-Russia relationship. Several times, Trump speculated aloud that Putin was watching him, and he lamented that pressure from the Russia story was making it impossible for the two presidents to work together.

The pressure grew. On March 20, Comey confirmed that the FBI was investigating whether Trumps campaign had colluded with Russia. Trump began to argue that the real scandal was the investigation itself. On Twitter, the president demanded that the media start talking about the Obama SURVEILLANCE SCANDAL and stop with the Fake Trump/Russia story. Privately, Trump pressed Comey to lift the cloud of the investigation.

Comey failed to comply, and on May 9, Trump fired him. The next day, Trump met behind closed doors with Russias foreign minister and its U.S. ambassadorthe same ambassador whose secret talks with Flynn had prompted Flynn to mislead the FBI. I just fired the head of the FBI. He was crazy, a real nut job, Trump told the Russians, according to White House notes of the conversation. I faced great pressure because of Russia. Thats taken off. At the meeting, Trump alarmed his aides by sharing highly sensitive intelligence with the Russians. He seemed to think that the real interferencethe meddling of U.S. intelligence agencies in his relationship with Putinwas finally out of the way.

6. Embracing Putin

Trump was mistaken. Over the next year, the pressure of the Russia investigation would increase. To counter it, Trump would have to work harder to protect Putin. So he did.

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Trumps dismissal of Comey backfired. Notes from Trumps meeting with the Russians leaked to the press. So did Comeys records of Trumps attempts to corrupt him. That led to the appointment of a special counsel, Robert Mueller, to take over the investigation. And in early July, the Times reported the June 2016 meeting in Trump Tower.

Trump was unapologetic about the Trump Tower meeting and the email that led to it. He saw no difference between getting campaign help from the Russian government and getting campaign help from Americans. In a press conference and an interview with Reuters, he maintained that any candidate would have accepted the Russian offer. Thats very standard in politics, he said.

Meanwhile, Trump and Putin bonded. While the Times was reporting its story, the two presidents conferred at a G-20 meeting in Germany. They spoke privately for nearly an hour. Trump was impressed. Afterward, he tweeted that Putin vehemently denied having meddled in the election. Trump added his own skepticism, complaining that the FBI had never physically examined the hacked DNC server. (Trump didnt mention that the bureau had examined a copy of the servers contents, as is common in such investigations.) He belittled the U.S. intelligence report that implicated Putin, saying the report had been produced by only four agencies. And he announced that he and Putin were discussing the idea of working together on cybersecurity.

Under pressure from Congress, Trump accepted some policies Russia didnt like. But he did so grudgingly and with harsh words for anyone who caused such trouble. In August, facing a veto-proof majority in Congress, Trump signed a sanctions bill that included Russia. He criticized the bill, however, and resisted implementation of the sanctions. Our relationship with Russia is at an all-time & very dangerous low, Trump tweeted. You can thank Congress, the same people that cant even give us [health] care!

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The problem wasnt Putin, said Trump. It was the Democrats.

Trumps defenders argued that his attacks on the investigation werent intended to protect Russia. The presidents only beef, they insisted, was with the part of the investigation that posited collusion. But Trumps behavior defied that explanation. In September, when Facebook acknowledged that Russian agents had put ads on its platform during the election, Putins spokesman denied it, claiming that the Kremlin didnt even know how to place ads on Facebook. The next day, Trump denied it, too. The Russia hoax continues, now its ads on Facebook, he tweeted.

In November, Putin got another chance to speak with Trump, this time at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Vietnam. On the flight home, Trump told reporters how impressed he was by Putins sincere denials of election interference. Every time he sees me, he says, I didnt do that,  said Trump. I really believe that when he tells me that, he means it.  I think hes very insulted by it, if you want to know the truth.

The problem wasnt Putin, said Trump. It was the Democrats and their hit job on Trump and Russia. President Putin would be tremendously helpful, said Trump. But this artificial barrier gets in the way. I call it the artificial Democrat barrier.  Its a shame that something like that can destroy a very important potential relationship between two countries.

Trump dismissed the intelligence communitys report on Russian interference. He ridiculed Comey, former CIA Director John Brennan, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, and other officials involved in the report:

You hear its 17 agencies. Well, its three. And one is Brennan, and one is whatever. I mean, give me a break. Theyre political hacks.  You have Brennan, you have Clapper, and you have Comey. Comey is proven now to be a liar, and hes proven to be a leaker. So you look at that, and you have President Putin very strongly, vehemently says he had nothing to do with that.

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Trumps allegiance was increasingly overt. He trusted Putin over the intelligence chiefs, and he was proud to be Putins man. The Democrats wanted to have a good relationship with Russia, but they couldnt do it, because they didnt have the talent to do it, Trump told the reporters on Air Force One. They didnt have the chemistry to do it.

7. Denouncing America

In March, Putin won re-election to a fourth term. Trumps advisers asked him not to congratulate the Russian president. Trump, in a phone call, congratulated him anyway. On Twitter, Trump glowed over their affinity. Bush tried to get along, but didnt have the smarts,  Trump wrote. Obama and Clinton tried, but didnt have the energy or chemistry.

Moments of unpleasantnessa poisoning here, a chemical weapons attack thereoccasionally threatened Trumps bond with Putin. But Trump worked hard to preserve their relationship. In April, after the Syrian government gassed civilians, Trump warned Putin not to get in the way of U.S. missile strikes on Syrian forces. But two hours later, Trump blamed their spat on Democrats. Much of the bad blood with Russia is caused by the Fake & Corrupt Russia Investigation, headed up by the all Democrat loyalists, or people that worked for Obama, Trump tweeted.

In July, Trump and Putin met for a summit in Helsinki. Three days before, the Department of Justice released a grand jury indictment of 12 Russian intelligence officers for the election hacks. The indictment, drafted by Muellers team, presented extensive evidence of the officers guilt. But Trump blamed the United States. Our relationship with Russia has NEVER been worse, he tweeted, thanks to many years of U.S. foolishness and stupidity and now, the Rigged Witch Hunt!

Trump was trying to turn Americans against anyone who threatened Putin.

Trump insisted on meeting Putin alone. For two hours, the two presidents spoke behind closed doors, accompanied only by translators. Afterward, at a joint press conference, Trump again blamed his own country and refused a point-blank challenge to say that he held Russia accountable for anything. When a reporter asked Putin about the evidence that U.S. intelligence agencies have provided to prove Russian interference, Trump stepped in to dismiss the question. The whole concept of Russian interference, said Trump, had been concocted as a reason why the Democrats lost.

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A second reporter challenged Trump to denounce Russias interference and asked him whether he believed Putin or the intelligence agencies. In response, Trump attacked the agencies. Trump distinguished his own appointeesmy intelligence peoplefrom the intelligence chiefs who had issued the January 2017 report on Russian interference. He demanded to know why the FBI never took the server. And he concluded: President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today.

In a Fox News interview after the summit, Trump told Sean Hannity that the Russia investigation had driven a wedge between us and Russia. He quoted Putins remarks in their private meeting:

And President Putin said that. One of the early things he said when we started, he said: Its really a shame, because we could do so much good.  When he went in, he said, What a shame. He felt it was very hard for me to make a deal because of, you know, all of this nonsense.

Trump attacked the whole investigation, claiming that Flynn was innocent of lying to the FBI (Flynn had already pleaded guilty) and that Manafort was being unfairly prosecuted (in addition to his underlying financial charges, Manafort had been jailed for allegedly tampering with witnesses). In fact, said Trump, Muellers team was so rotten that it probably wouldnt accept Putins incredible offer to work with Russia in investigating the indicted Russian officers. Putin had generously said that Robert Muellers people could go with them, Trump told Hannity. But they probably wont want to. The 13 angry Democratsyou think theyre going to want to go? I dont think so.

Four times during the interview, Trump used the word wedge to describe how his enemies were dividing the United States from Russia. But Trumps accusation was itself a wedge. He was trying to turn Americans against anyoneprosecutors, reporters, intelligence officerswho threatened Putin. And he was casting the Russian president as the standard of truth and fairness. If Putin said the Russia investigation was nonsense, it was nonsense. If Muellers team refused to accept Putins terms for investigating the indicted Russian officers, then Muellers team was corrupt.

Helsinki made Trumps alliance with Putin too blatant to ignore. Trump was almost cartoonish in his efforts to protect Russia and vilify its accusers. The Fake News Media wants so badly to see a major confrontation with Russia, even a confrontation that could lead to war, Trump tweeted. The Summit with Russia was a great success, except with the real enemy of the people, the Fake News Media. On Fox News, Trumps supporters parroted this reverse McCarthyism. Jeanine Pirro asked: Is Mueller a greater threat than Putin to this country? Mark Levin declared: Robert Mueller is a greater threat to this republic and the Constitution than anything Vladimir Putin did during the campaign.

8. The Crisis That Will Not End

The past three years have made clear that Trump is mentally incapable of confronting Russias interference. Even Republicans in Congress acknowledge this. Trump views any sort of admission of Russian interference as admission of collusion, says Sen. Marco Rubio. And this inability to detach himself from Putin has grown into a cancerous union. If this theory is trueif Trump is working with Putin not because of a pee tape or a secret debt, but because the two men have found common causethats far more ominous. It means that Trumps motives to betray his country are internal and enduring.

Trump will continue to attack Putins critics and weaken the United States until hes stopped. Last week, Trump revoked Brennans security clearance, citing the former CIA directors role in the Russia investigation. The White House said Trump was considering similar moves against Comey and Clapper. These people led the rigged witch hunt, Trump told the Wall Street Journal. So I think its something that had to be done.

Something must be done, but not to men who have faithfully served this nation. The United States cant have a president who is mentally incapable of uniting our country, acknowledging an attack on it, putting its interests before his own, or distinguishing foreign from domestic influence. No one who is that morally defective can fulfill the oath of office.The old joke that war is Gods way of teaching Americans geography needs a Trump-era update: The presidents tweets are Gods way of teaching Americans comparative political economy.

Last night, out of the blue but apparently inspired by a segment on Tucker Carlsons Fox News show, Trump tweeted that he had asked Secretary of State @SecPompeo to closely study the South Africa land and farm seizures and expropriations and the large scale killing of farmers.

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The tweet parrots an inaccurate narrative pushed by far-right activists and white supremacists in both South Africa and the United States. There are not widespread farm seizures in South Africa, and the killing of farmers has significantly declined since the late 1990s. The State Department seemed to be caught unprepared by the tweet and its not clear if theres really going to be any follow-up on Trumps instruction to Pompeo. But Trump did highlight an ongoing issue thats much more complex and nuanced than how he portrayed it.

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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced earlier this summer that his ruling African National Congress would push forward with a controversial plan to amend the countrys constitution to allow for the expropriation of land without compensation. Land distribution has long been a central priority for the ANC. At the end of apartheid in 1994, 85 percent of South Africas farmland was owned by white farmers. Today, its 72 percent. (South Africas population is just 9 percent white.) The government thus far has adhered to a policy known as willing seller, willing buyer to redistribute property, but the process has clearly worked much slower than hoped, and there have been growing calls for more aggressive solutions.

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The call for expropriation without compensation was a surprise coming from Ramaphosa, whos generally considered part of his partys more moderate, pro-business wing. But with new national elections coming in 2019, Ramaphosa is under pressure from the left-wing Economic Freedom Fighters party led by Julius Malema, who wants the state to nationalize land and called on black supporters to occupy white-owned property.

Changing the constitution requires a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly, and the ANC doesnt currently have the votes. Neither the EFF, which wants more radical land distribution, nor the largely white Democratic Alliance, which opposes it altogether, are likely to back Ramaphosas amendment. Theres good reason to believe that the president is floating this proposal to head off a challenge from the left ahead of next years election and would be perfectly happy for it to languish in Parliament indefinitely.

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Still, the idea has spooked financial markets, and any talk of land seizure inevitably triggers comparisons to neighboring Zimbabwe, where thousands of white-owned farms have been seized sometimes violently and without compensation since 2000, resulting in the collapse of the countrys agriculture sector. With hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans having fled to South Africa as a result of their countrys economic distress and lawlessness, the lessons of that countrys experience are pretty clear. But the political contexts of the two countries are quite different: In contrast to former Zimbabwean Prime Minister Robert Mugabes dictatorship, South Africa is a democracy with much stronger rule of law. Even if the amendment were to pass, mass seizures of land on the Zimbabwe model are unlikely.

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Aninka Claassens, director of the Land and Accountability Research Centre at the University of Cape Town, says that the land in question is often misunderstood. Theres a great deal of land near urban areas thats either owned by government entities or barely used by its private owners. If you made those available, you could generate income, she says. As for rural areas, Its not as though all the farmland is being used by very productive white farmers. Theres a lot of land thats not being used.

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She also notes that for all the concern about property rights, land expropriation already happens regularly, for instance when the government grants mining rights to companies on land owned by private individuals, and that often the victims are poor and black, not rich and white.

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Still, there are reasons for concern. In a country as corrupt as South Africa, further erosion of property rights and state seizure of property are a recipe for abuse, particularly if the land were nationalized, as Malema proposes. Ramaphosa may only want to use this authority sparingly, if at all, but hes also raising the hopes of his supporters and may very well start a political process he cant control.

Its a very dangerous thing to do. People dont even realize that the Constitution cant be changed before the election, so people are going to feel very let down, Claassens says.  This rhetoric of expropriation without compensation, the idea that theres something wrong with the Constitution, provides a kind of silver bullet that removes responsibility for the problem from the government.

South Africas deep economic inequality and the lingering legacy of apartheid are serious endemic problems. Land expropriation as endorsed by Ramaphosa is not necessarily the best way to address them. Trumps endorsement of white supremacist paranoia isnt exactly a productive contribution to the debate.Is Arkansas the most sexist state in America? A new analysis from a team of economists that set out to create an index measuring sexist attitudes across the U.S. suggests so. (New Hampshire wins the least sexist crown.) The research teamKerwin Kofi Charles, Jonathan Guryan, and Jessica Panwanted to measure how the prevalence of sexist beliefs in the places where women grew up and in the places they worked as adults affected outcomes such as wages, workforce participation, and age at marriage and childbirth, according to the Washington Post.

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To accomplish this goal, the researchers analyzed multiple years of data from the General Social Survey, a biennial survey measuring Americans beliefs on a broad range of issues. The researchers focused on eight gender-related questions from the survey, dating back to the 1970s. Several of the questions focused on respondents perception of gender roles in politics, such as whether they believed that Women should take care of running their home and leave running the country up to men, if they would ever vote for a female president, or whether they believed men are better suited emotionally for politics. Other questions focused on respondents attitudes towards working mothers versus those who stay at home.

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The researchers compiled the responses to these questions and organized them by state. Their conclusion? Sexism is highest in the Southeast and least extreme in New England and the West, according to their paper. The states with the highest prevalence of sexist attitudes, in addition to Arkansas, were Utah, Alabama, and West Virginia, and the states with the lowest prevalence, in addition to New Hampshire, were Alaska, Wyoming, and Vermont.

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The research culminates in a map visualizing the findings, which the Washington Post organized by a scale ranging from Less Sexism to More Sexism. But ranking states this way just doesnt feel terribly useful. (What does less sexism even mean, practically?) The entire display strangely collapses sexism into a one-dimensional framework, making it seem as if you could move from Kentucky to Illinois and dramatically lower your sexism exposure.

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Sure, this kind of research might help us evaluate the institutional and interpersonal barriers to gender equality in the U.S., and researchers should keep doing it. But this is one of those situations where its critical to remember that averages deduced in population-level research are never really indicative of lived experience of individuals, and the general public doesnt have to pay much attention to them. And besides, the questions asked in this study only touch on a few facets of womens lives. They do not necessarily indicate how these attitudes impact women differently based on their race, class, sexual orientation, religion, or other identities.

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Ranking states based on such a broad topic risks obscuring a lot of meaningful nuance and context without actually telling us that much about how sexism operates in different places across the country. Moreover, it can unintentionally reinforce oversimplified ideas about social progress that tend to position the North and South as binary oppositesenlightened versus backwards. We should focus instead on comparisons of how state laws meaningfully affect the lives of women, in areas including, but not limited to, womens reproductive health care access, maternal mortality rates, reports of gender-based violence and sexual misconduct, gender parity in state legislatures, and the wage gap.This piece was originally published on Just Security, an online forum for analysis of U.S. national security law and policy.

Last week, the public learned of a major evolution in the handling of our national elections when news emerged that the Department of Homeland Security has been working with 36 states to install novel election security and monitoring hardware. The technology promises to provide cybersecurity and election experts in the federal government with a lens into the electoral process in these states. Its an encouraging developmentbut, these days, theres more to election security than just protecting the raw vote count. Theres also an imperative to address the use of digital disinformation to corrupt broader democratic dialogue and the electoral process.

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On that front, the latest in a series of social media bombshells exploded last month as Facebook disclosed its discovery of efforts to use its platform to interfere with the upcoming midterm elections and its corresponding removal of 32 offending Facebook pages. That was echoed this week with Facebooks disclosure of additional operations originating in Iran and Russia, though those dont appear to be targeting the midterms specifically. Adding an exclamation point to Facebooks disclosures was Microsofts announcement, also this week, that Russian hackers have been targeting the U.S. Senate and some conservative think tanks. Compared with the Russian disinformation campaign that infected Americas 2016 presidential campaignlargely via social mediaFacebooks and Microsofts disclosures are a notable step forward in the tech sectors fight against disinformation. Credit must be given where its due: The disclosures illustrate that parts of the industry are willing and able to detect certain forms of nefarious activity and proactively suppress it. But, in the context of our countrys overall recognition of and response to coordinated disinformation operations online, these revelations only scratch the surface. In the scheme of things, Facebooks actions arent a model for the future. Theyre too little, too late. And last months decision by Facebook and other leading tech companies to remove most content uploaded by hate speech purveyor Alex Jones reflects a similar dynamic in which the industry remains three steps behind on issues for which time is of the utmost importance.

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As a baseline, the fact that Facebook made these disclosures in such a proactive manner is a positive development. For the past year, the industrys modus operandi with respect to revealing knowledge of such activity has been to abstain from doing so until essentially compelled by the U.S. government (generally thats Congress) or by incensed public opinion. Facebooks revelations last month and again this week were apparently voluntary. That signals that the firm has decided that, at least when the company discovers some malicious incidents, its in the companys commercial interests to disclose it to the government and even the public. This novel territory indicates a win for the American public as a whole: It suggests that the electorate has raised the alarm and voiced its concerns clearly enough to compel the industry to make a change that better supports the public interest. And it underscores the need for the public to continue its research, investigations, and advocacy.

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At the same time, however, closely scrutinizing Facebooks disclosuresespecially last months disclosures on information operations specifically targeting the midterm electionsreveals worrisome signs. Heres what we learned from the company in this first-of-its-kind disclosure a little more than three months before the midterm elections: that Facebook took down 32 pages (and corresponding accounts) that it concluded were likely connected to Russian disinformation agents. Those 32 entities had an aggregate 290,000 followers and spent a total of $11,000 on paid advertising campaigns.

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But is the universe of midterm-related disinformation zipping around on Facebook limited to just 32 accounts? Almost certainly not, in light of the extensive testimony from intelligence community leaders as to just Russias activities intended to interfere with the midterm elections. And did Facebook only recently learn about these 32 accounts? Almost certainly not, given that the intelligence community testimony to Congress occurred six months ago. With now less than three months to go before the elections, and the warning signs publicly acknowledged six months earlier, it is, simply put, inconceivable that only 32 entities are responsible for all of the midterms-related disinformation present on Facebook today. In the scheme of things, 32 pages seem more like the work of a single person than that of a determined and resource-rich hostile actor like Russia, let alone all of the hostile actors who watched, learned from, and now are replicating (or leapfrogging) Russias information operations. (Similarly, Microsoft said it had been tracking the Russian government-backed hacking groups activities for two years, and close observers have noted that some of its findings were known back in January. So why did the company hold onto the information until this close to the midterms?)

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While Facebook has made strides, the evidence suggests it needs to take bigger onesand run rather than walk. Its possible that Facebooks ability to detect these sorts of disinformation campaigns is not particularly sophisticatedyet. In the face of public and congressional pressure, it seems likely that the company is continually refining its machine-learning algorithms designed to catch disinformation operators in action and bring them down. But the fact that the company was either unable or unwilling to act before even this limited set of nefarious accounts grew to 32 and amassed a sum total of 290,000 followers means that 290,000 internet usersand surely many more through shares and reshares of contentsaw deliberately malign content. Facebook, in its public announcement, noted that those responsible for the accountspresumably the Russians, though Facebook wouldnt specifyobscured the source of funds for the paid advertising by using third parties and also used virtual private networks, or VPNs, for their internet connections. But those are not particularly advanced tactics. A company with Facebooks level of sophistication and resourcing must be in a better position to catch such malicious actors more quickly in the future. This may necessitate a greater investment of resources and firm priority. Facebooks announcement this week suggested a possible trade-off familiar to those whove served in the intelligence community, namely between immediate disruption and continued intelligence gathering. At least when it comes to the fast-approaching midterm elections, the priority would seem clearly to favor disruption.

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That points to another striking takeaway from the disclosures: The tech industry continues to find it difficult to mobilize behind key decisions regarding disinformation. Thats a frustrating reality for the electorate. Last months and the more recent revelations illustrate at least three areas of reticence for these companies. First, given the followers that these 32 accounts amassed, it seems likely that Facebook became aware of them at least some weeks or even months ago, if still too slowly. Yet the company waited until last month to alert Congress and, a day later, the public. That may be because the company wanted to reach a very, very high level of confidence in its assessment of these accounts before stepping in and calling them out. Given the speed at which disinformation moves through Facebook and the broader internet, thats a level of patience we cannot afford. Second, one wonders about the information operations targeting non-American populaces. Here, Facebook acted because U.S. political and public pressure got too intense. But what about vulnerable internet users in countries where the political or public pressure hasnt reached that level or where the company does not face a significant financial cost for wrongdoing? These populations appear to remain at serious risk, as recent reporting on Facebooks impact in countries like Sri Lanka and Myanmar has made clear. Third, its telling that it took politicians, not Facebook, to attribute the malicious activity specifically to Russia. Naming names may be bad for business in other parts of the world; but, given the threat American democracy is facing, it seems overdue here. And, because this is not the first time that Facebook appears to have scrubbed its public disclosures of any direct reference to Russia, its even more alarming.

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The public disclosure was an important step for Facebook. But we must not draw the conclusion that the tech sector has caught up to this problem. To the contrary, it needs to start sprinting. Its a lesson reinforced by the even more recent decisionbelated, in our viewby Facebook, Apple, YouTube, and others (though not Twitter) to remove the hate-spewing content of Alex Jones and his Infowars. This was another positive development, but it came only after years of urging that the companies take this stepand only after years of Jones using these platforms to build a huge following (one of his Facebook pages had almost 1.7 million followers) that will now find other ways to consume his vile and anti-democratic output. Tech companies desire to be cautious, even certain, before making these sorts of decisions may be understandable given what uncharted territory it is for thembut that delay has a very real cost for the health of our democratic dialogue. Indeed, its a cost imposed on our citizenry as a whole that we seem less and less able to afford.

More from Just Security:

Three Options for Prosecuting a Presidents OffensesPlus a Wildcard

The Campaign Finance Case Against Donald Trump Is a Strong One: Just Ask John Edwards ProsecutorsOn Wednesday night President Trump, weathering what might be the worst news week of his presidency, tried to change the subject: He tweeted about the purported plight of white farmers in South Africa.

I have asked Secretary of State @SecPompeo to closely study the South Africa land and farm seizures and expropriations and the large scale killing of farmers. South African Government is now seizing land from white farmers. @TuckerCarlson @FoxNews  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 23, 2018

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The issue, and the language he used to describe it, mirrors a rallying cry of white supremacist groups, and Trump picked up on it after Fox News host Tucker Carlson reported on the murder of white farmers in South Africa and lambasted the South African governments policy of expropriating land without compensation, which it does to address some of the massive racial inequities that persist in the country decades after the end of Apartheid. While its true that white farmers have been the victims of some violence in South Africa over the years, the number of farm attacks has decreased to a third of what it was 20 years ago, according to the New Statesman. The site further reports that murder rates in predominantly black townships in South Africa are higher than in the white suburbs. The government of South Africa likewise shot down the accusation. But debunking the myth of widespread white farm violence in South Africa hasnt made the conspiracy theory any less believable to people whose agenda it serves.

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White supremacists noticed the presidents tweet immediately. Richard Spencer retweeted Trump. The Canadian fringe-right media personality Lauren Southern, who is making a documentary about white farmers and land expropriation in South Africa, quote-tweeted Trump and said, This is huge. The American neo-Nazi organization Identity Evropa replied to Trump to stress the importance of the presidents new concern. South Africa serves as a warning to people of European heritage all around the world, the group wrote in a tweet. Theres no light at the end of the multicultural tunnelonly ethnic strife, conflict, and tragedy. Famous far-right podcaster Mike Peinovich, who also goes by Mike Enoch, put the significance most plainly on Twitter: It may seem like a small thing, but this is how we slowly chip away at the all-consuming anti-white discourse. Lets hope this is followed with action. On Thursday, far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones live-broadcasted about the issue for hours.

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These corners of the far-right are excited because theyve been talking about the fairly niche topic of South African land policy for years. Now their talking point has the attention and endorsement of the president, who wrote in his tweet that hes asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to investigate whats happening, as if theres a human rights abuse urgently requiring U.S. intervention. The specter of white genocide has long been used as an indoctrination tactic in white supremacist circles on the internet, and in fact it was cited by Dylann Roof as part of his motivation for murdering nine black churchgoers in South Carolina in 2015. Over the past year, though, the subject of white farmers in South Africa has truly taken flight in online fringe-right communities as the president has validated racist and white supremacist thinking time and time again, with comments blaming violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, on both sides and his reported comment calling Haiti and African nations shithole countries.

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Anyone who spends time combing through online hate communities should be well aware of the fixation on South African land expropriation and white farmers. Breitbart has written about the issue extensively, and well-known far-right media personality Jared Taylor has taken it up on his podcast American Renaissance . Stroll over to Gab, the nearly-anything-goes social network thats become a safe space for hate, and youll find a string of popular posts from over the past year in which verified members discuss the issue. Take a peek at Stormfront, the oldest and largest community of neo-Nazis and white supremacists on the internet and youll find post after post of pro-white commenters debating what Trumps tweet means for the movement to uplift the white race. Lets see where this goes. at least he broke the silence, one contributor to Stormfront commented Wednesday evening.

These racists have a point, if only because a lot more people will be Googling about white farmers in South Africa today, and surely a few of them will be nudged closer in the direction of outright white supremacism as a result. Whatever happens in federal courtrooms to people like Paul Manafort and Michael Cohen, the president still exerts a powerful reality-distortion field, into which he has now drawn the bogeyman of white genocide. No wonder white supremacists are giddy.In December 2017, a pair of Warwick University post-docs, Karsten Muller and Carlo Schwarz, published an intriguing and clever attempt to measure whether there was any correlation between hate crime and social media usage in Germany.

Their place of publication was SSRN, probably the most glorious website in the economics professionan open platform where researchers can post and update their working papers without having to go through the time and rigor of peer review. Its fast, its vibrant, its free, and its always at the cutting edge of every interesting economic debate. Its also rather messy, with a signal-to-noise ratio much lower than that of most peer-reviewed journals. Anybody citing a paper found on SSRN does so in full knowledge that it carries a big flashing implicit caveat lector sign.

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The media first picked up on this SSRN paper in January 2018, when the Economist published a Daily chart under the headline In Germany, online hate speech has real-world consequences. The short article, citing the paper, explained that the research had shown that for every four additional Facebook posts critical of refugees, there was one additional anti-refugee incident, while taking pains to note that this correlation is of course no guarantee of causation. Notably, the Economist article only addressed the volume of right-wing anti-refugee posts, rather than the amount of Facebook use broadly.

The New York Times, by contrast, took a very different approach to the paper. Instead of simply reporting on the economists findings, the newspaper sent a reporter to Germany. On Tuesday, it ran a long, complex feature article of almost 3,000 words, by Amanda Taub and Max Fisher, examining the nexus of hate and social media usage in the country. The Times used the study as a jumping-off point for old-fashioned shoe-leather reporting: There were no quotes in the article from the papers authors, but many from local residents. The headline, too, was suitably hedgedFacebook Fueled Anti-Refugee Attacks in Germany, New Research Suggests.

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Still, the most explosive part of the article centered on the Warwick research. The Times referred to the paper as a landmark study, and spotlighted one showstopping finding in particular.

Their reams of data converged on a breathtaking statistic: Wherever per-person Facebook use rose to one standard deviation above the national average, attacks on refugees increased by about 50 percent.

Twitter, of course, jumped right onto this statistic. This tweet, for instance, racked up almost 5,000 retweets:

Landmark study in Germany scrutinized every anti-refugee attack in the country, 3,335 in 2 yrs, concluded that wherever per-person Facebook use rose to one standard deviation above the national average, attacks on refugees increased by about 50 percent.https://t.co/1AZJew6NWo  Justin Hendrix (@justinhendrix) August 21, 2018

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Immediately, journalists and economists around the world started downloading the paper to try and work out whether it was reliable, and whether it said what the Times said that it said. Neither task is easy: The paper is technically complicated, difficult to read and understand. Its results are hard to judge without replicating a lot of hard statistical work. And to make matters worse, my search for the breathtaking statistic revealed that it was never explicitly stated in the paper.

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Part of the problem comes from the fact that the researchers updated the paper on the SSRN site the very day the Times article ran. But even the old version of the paper doesnt say what the Times says it says.

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To grok the statistic lauded as the centerpiece of the study, you have to get there sideways. First, you need to look at the difference between Frankfurt and Dresden. The paper then explains:

As a case study, consider the cities of Frankfurt/Main and Dresden, which are about one standard deviation apart at the AfD users over population measure. The estimated effect of a typical number of AfD refugee posts in a city like Dresden are 0.043 attacks per 10,000 asylum seekers, while it is 0.029 for a city such as Frankfurt. This shift in the share of right-wing social media users implies around 50% more attacks on refugees.

This passage is far from easy to understand, but the gist is that in Dresden, which has one standard deviation more AfD users than Frankfurt, an anti-refugee Facebook post is 50 percent more likely to result in an attack on refugees. Its probably worth noting that Frankfurt is Germanys financial capital, the epitome of the rich and comfortable former West Germany. Dresden was in East Germany, has much more neo-Nazi activity, and much more support for the far-right Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) party. But this example is supposed to be illustrative of any two cities with a one standard deviation difference in Facebook use.

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The paper then continues:

We next replace the share of AfD users with the share of people active on the Nutella Facebook page The coefficients on the interaction term here are very similar, and still highly statistically significant.

The idea here is that by looking at how many people are active on the Nutella Facebook page, you can get a good indication of how active the broader population is on social media. (This may sound odd, but its actually a pretty clever way of estimating general use of the network activityyou dont need to be a neo-Nazi to enjoy a delicious chocolate-y spread.) And areas in the top third of Nutella activity on Facebook do seem to have more attacks on refugees.

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We can easily read off which effect local propagation of right-wing social media has: the coefficient of around 2.8 implies that, even within the same county, a municipality with many Facebook users has approximately 0.024 more refugee attacks (per 10,000 refugees) than a municipality with few users in a typical week. This corresponds to an increase of almost two-thirds of the mean of the dependent variable, a large effect.

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Finally, the paper concludes:

Overall, the findings we present in this section suggest that exposure to right-wing refugee salience on social media is a predictor of violent attacks on refugees. This is true both for municipalities with many right-wing Facebook users as well as those with high social media affinity that is unrelated to observable municipality characteristics.

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This is as close as the paper comes to the New York Times breathtaking statistic. The 50 percent number isnt there, and neither is the standard deviation of national Facebook use.

It makes intuitive sense that in areas of the country where Facebook usage is high, people will be more likely to see anti-refugee sentiment on Facebook. It arguably makes sense to then assume that these people would also be more likely to act on that sentiment by attacking refugees. What the Warwick paper suggests is that this intuition is empirically true.

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But in reality, the breathtaking statistic didnt come directly from the paper. Rather, it came from long phone conversations in which the papers authors walked the newspapers journalists through the data, and the methodology, and the results. The authors of the paper told Max Fisher that its possible to arrive at the statistic just by using the data in the paper; as Im not a statistics Ph.D., I havent confirmed that, and its not clear that anybody else has either. (Well update this post if someone does.)

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What is abundantly clear, however, is that the authors of the paper are more interested in presenting a methodology for trying to estimate these effects than they are in presenting the actual results. I can tell you, having spent a large amount of time reading two different versions of the paper, that in no way does it converge on a single breathtaking statistic. Neither, frankly, does it rise to the level of a landmark study. As it continues to be dissected in public, it seems the idea of using the Nutella Facebook page as a proxy for Facebook usage more generally, while clever, may well fail to stand up to scrutiny.

Thats all OK. The white paper was written by a pair of post-docs without any peer review, and theres no particular reason why it should have been ready for the the social-media klieg lights that suddenly got trained on it. Besides, its at pains to include a very strong version of the standard cover-your-ass social-science disclaimer:

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The results in this section should be interpreted as purely suggestive and do not allow for causal inference.

This means that even if there is extremely strong correlation between anti-refugee sentiment on Facebook and attacks in the real world, this study isnt designed to assess if one is causing the other.

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The Times breathtaking claim, then, is not on the authorsits on the New York Times, which should have been much more careful and circumspect in this case. When the Times uses words like landmark and breathtaking, it starts making claims that would be very difficult for any white paper to stand up to.

When a study becomes the focus of a big article in the paper of record, its going to undergo an immediate and discomfiting level of scrutiny. A lot of that is going to land at the feet of the authors, like the post-docs here. But frankly, the majority should be directed at the Timesespecially when it starts citing statistics and conclusions which even the authors of the paper dont seem to be comfortable including in their work.

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With hindsight, the Times should have avoided terms like landmark and breathtaking, and should probably have avoided mentioning specific results at all. The white paper is intriguing, and it was a great idea to use it as a jumping-off point for the newspapers shoe-leather reporting. The study was not, however, something to cite as a significant scientific advance. Facebook deliberately makes it extremely difficult for external researchers to quantify its effects on society, which means the best we can hope for is to piece together a jigsaw puzzle of suggestive evidence. (If the company would just make its data available, wed stop being forced to estimate via imperfect Nutella-proxies.) But as things currently stand, no one piece of research is going to be the kind of smoking gun that the Times tries to turn this one into.The first day I got Tinder, a month into my freshman year of college, I ran out of swipes. Sitting on our dorm room floor, my roommate and I sped through profile after profile, quickly analyzing each user as one would apples in a grocery store. Joe says hes an entrepreneur, which is Tinder code for unemployed. Swipe left. All of Toms pictures are with his fraternity brothers, so its impossible to tell who he is. Swipe left. Levi has a nicely written profile that explains he likes hiking and encourages you to message him with a pun. Swipe right?

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The addictive nature of Tinder swiping, coupled with gripes about its superficiality and purported promotion of hook-up culture on college campuses, have led critics to decry the loss of the simpler, more authentic days of dating in college. In 2015, Vanity Fair characterized this as the Dating Apocalypse.

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On Tuesday, Tinder stoked the fire of frustration over its supposed destruction of the good old days of college dating by announcing Tinder U, a version of the platform that is only available to college students. Harkening back to the Zuckerberg dorm-room days of Facebook, users will have to register with a .edu email address and have to be physically located on the college campus.

In response, some non-college student and/or non-Tinder users expressed bafflement as to why this would be necessary. U dont need an app to date in college!!!! the Verges Ashley Carman tweeted.

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Carman is right: College students dont need an app to date in college. But some of us want one.

In high school, my graduating class was about 20 people. So, when I enrolled in Arizona State University, one of the largest universities in the U.S., Tinder helped me find my way in an otherwise-overwhelming dating pool of more than 71,000 students across five campuses. (ASU is a partner with Slate and New America in Future Tense.) Sure, using Tinder came with some mildly negative and not-so-mildly awkward experiences. But freshman year, I also met my first college boyfriend on the app. Before I set off to meet him for coffee, I used my phone to share my location with my roommate and made an offhanded comment about what she should do if I didnt come back. We ended up dating for a year and a half. Because we were afraid people (read: our families) would judge us when we told them we met on Tinder, which is often generalized as an app just for hook-ups, we made up a lame story about meeting in the library through mutual friends. (Surprise, mom!)

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One of the biggest criticisms of Tinder, and one of the most resounding reasons people question its use, centers around the platforms superficiality. Its exhausting and weird to evaluate a human being so quickly and with such little information. And it also feels a little degrading knowing that youre being evaluated that way.

But, to be fair, this consumption-oriented, superficial college dating didnt begin with Tinder. Especially at large schools, its hard to get to know people in college. Deciding whether to sit next to someone in your econ lecture or whether to talk to a stranger by the cooler at a party also involves superficial judgement, and often with even fewer data points than one would have on Tinder. At least when you use an app, you might find that Jim studies biology and enjoys watching Netflix before even deciding to talk to him. And at least on most apps, theres an easy way to report Jim if you end up needing to. For those of us who feel lost in unfamiliar social situations, that can mean a lot.

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In its Tuesday announcement, Tinder U bills itself as the ticket to a study buddy, coffee date on the quad, or the coolest crowd on campus. These are lofty promises. But delivering users with a smaller pool of potential matches could help them find a partner with more shared experiences, and it could help weed out some of the swiping clutter: If you know you want to seek out someone from your school, youll spend less time mindlessly swiping through the hundreds of profiles in your geographic area that dont meet that requirement. Plus, verifying through a .edu email address and campus location that a user really does go to a particular university is a small but meaningful safeguard against users who, on the original platform, could easily lie about details like their school or job.

Of course, we should not defend Tinder blindly, nor wholeheartedly. The app and others like itBumble, Hinge, Grindrare cesspools for all of the vilest parts of college dating culture: harassment, objectification, discrimination, misogyny. But what if, rather than using these problems to bolster the argument that dating apps are the downfall of 21st-century social interaction, we instead made meaningful effortsboth on and offlineto try to address them?New rules for police chief election are a disappointment

The amendment to the law governing the Police Presidium gives it a slight face-lift but experts see it as a huge disappointment.

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Thousands of people who protested in the streets under the For a Decent Slovakia initiative asked, among other things, for an independent police head and for the separation of the Police Inspectorate from the Interior Ministry. The solution tabled by the new Interior Minister, Denisa Sakova of the ruling Smer party  who replaced Robert Kalinak  is however deemed harmful by experts.

Compared to the original version, the recent changes proposed in the draft amendment are less fundamental. The Police President will not be selected directly by the Interior Minister but in the first round they would be evaluated by a jury of seven appointed by the Minister, the General Prosecutor, the previous Police Chief and the rector of the Police Academy. In the second round, the Parliamentary Committee for Defence and Security, in which the coalition parties currently have a majority, would choose. Lawyer Kristina Babiakova of the Via Iuris civic association points out that this means the selection would have a more balanced composition. However she goes on to explain that Whether this concerns labour unions, the rector of the Police Academy or others  all these people are connected to the Police Corps, and thus also to the Interior Minister.

For example, the rector of the Police Academy is chosen directly by the Minister. He or she also cooperates closely with other officials who are supposed to select the committee members. Minister Sakova refused to give in to the initiative proposed by the civic organisation We Want to Believe.

The very existence of the committee is a step forward by the Minister but she failed to bring specific arguments as to why she had refused the proposal to make the committees composition well-balanced, Babiakova says.

The Interior Ministry has only agreed to stricter criteria for selecting the people who can sit on the committee. They should have ethical and professional qualities and the General Prosecutor cannot appoint a police officer to the committee.

Facts on selecting police head - they will be further on appointed by interior minister but only based on a selection procedure - from the group of applicants deemed apt by the committee, interior minister will recommend at least three to the Parliamentary Committee for Defence and Security - the committee will give recommendations to the minister who will ultimately select whom to appoint ultimately - ministers pick will have to be approved by a three-fifths majority of the committee members

Lucansky will not be allowed to stay

Even though Sakovas amendment does not involve a potential recall of the Police President, she failed to detail the reasons for such a step. The draft would also have to be passed by three-fifths of the defence-security committee and the former Police President Tibor Gaspar would very probably have been supported by the committee, for example. Chair of the committee, Anton Hrnko of the junior coalition party SNS, said after Gaspars voluntary resignation that he is not happy about this end result.

23. Aug 2018 at 10:09 | Peter KovacA recipe for scientists to return: create contacts

State scheme to lure academics back from abroad does not seem to be efficient. But there are other ways to intensify cooperation with them.

ERC Starting grants are designed to support outstanding researchers willing to start the development of their independent career. Even though there are also several Slovaks who have successfully applied for the grants, none of them is working at a Slovak university.

Even though cooperation with such scientists can benefit the schools, no Slovak universities has addressed Slovaks who have succeeded in receiving the grant, as one of them told To Da Rozum (Learning Makes Sense) non-governmental organisation in a questionnaire.

Read also:

Read also: Poll: Slovak scientists abroad are not keen on returning to Slovakia Read more

Similar collaborations can serve as one way of creating contacts between scientists abroad and Slovakia. The contacts between them and Slovak schools can later help create an opportunity for them to return to the country, the organisations representatives opine.

When there is already a contact, there is a much bigger potential for them to return in the future, said Stanislav Lukac of To Da Rozum.

Differences between generations

Most university teachers and scientists who are currently active abroad did not leave Slovakia with the intention of staying there, as stems from an extensive survey carried out by To Da Rozum between May and June 2018 on 197 respondents aged 24-66 years, who are currently active in 21 countries. The most respondents are in the Czech Republic, the US, the UK, Germany, and Austria.

23. Aug 2018 at 8:00 | Radka MinarechovaThe idea of the 13th salary misses goal for now

A minimum of companies paid the extra holiday salary, claims consultancy firm

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Only a minimum of companies used the opportunity to reward their employees with a 13th holiday salary, to be part of their June salary this year. The audit and tax consultant Grant Thornton Slovakia came to the conclusion based on its analysis.

Of all our clients operating in both the manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors, less than 5 percent were able to take advantage of this opportunity, said the tax partner of Grant Thornton, Silvia Hallova. I estimate that less than 3 percent of companies in Slovakia provided holiday pay as the 13th salary under the new system.

The bad setting of conditions is the main reason why the idea of 13th and 14th salaries do not work. These are benefits employees receive before the summer and Christmas holidays. Holiday and Christmas bonuses are exempt from the payment of health insurance levies only for now. This means that an employer may save only up to 16.20 when paying a 500 holiday salary.

Read also:

Read also: Workers will earn more for night shifts, weekends and holidays Read more

Holiday and Christmas bonuses will be exempt from income tax only as of 2019 and from social insurance levels as of 2021.

The introduction of the so-called entitlement to the 13th and 14th salary, therefore, proved to be a purely propagandistic step, said Hallova.

Wilfried Serles, managing partner at Grant Thornton Slovakia, points out that the burden of taxes and social insurance contributions in Slovakia is higher than in Austria, i.e. a country considered to be one with high taxes.

If the government really wants to increase the income of people, it has to reduce the burden of taxes and social insurance contributions, said Serles, managing partner at Grant Thornton Slovakia. Any other measure is only a show without a final effect.

23. Aug 2018 at 13:08 | Compiled by Spectator staffSlovak robot wins a jury award at the robot "Olympics"

Though they did not advance to the finals, the Slovak students caught the attention of the jury.

Aurel, a robot designed by five Slovak secondary school students, is not leaving this years robot Olympics with empty hands. It was granted the Judges Award  Technical, for the recognition of the merits of a teams unique efforts, performance or dynamics.

Slovakias representatives at the 2018 First Global Challenge competition held in Mexico City between August 15 and 18 had a chance to prove that the country has a young generation with great talent and potential.

Even though the Slovak students placed 62nd and did not make it to another round, their robot, named after scientist, engineer and constructor Aurel Stodola, received more points than 10 qualifiers, reads the official press release.

The special award granted by all members of the jury is a great success and an appreciation of the students work.

We are really grateful for this award and perceive it as an appreciation of our robots technical maturity and construction innovativeness, said Adam Kukla, mentor of the team, as quoted in a press release.

The main topic of this years First Global Challenge was Energy Impact, i.e. the impact of various types of energy production on the environment. The teams tried to produce energy while facing several restrictions. They could use wind turbines (with every alliance being able to activate only one), solar panels (which were hard to receive and install), and thermal power stations (where the sources could be quickly exhausted).

An important element was cooperation: the alliances could share with one another their possibilities for energy production and in case they could make a deal, achieve higher profit, the press release reads.

23. Aug 2018 at 13:11 | Compiled by Spectator staffIf there had been a really good coffee shop in the office building where I used to work, I may have never left the corporate world to come back to coffee. Well, thats not true; office jobs are a slow death. But having good coffee at my every beck and call would perhaps have made me forget my soul was leaving my body at an uncomfortable rate. In Burlington, Vermont, Kestrel Coffee Roasters is helping weary office workers fight the good fight with the opening of their brand new space in 1,200 employee office park.

Their full-time cafe is still in the works, but for the time being, Kestrel has being the white collar crowd caffeinated via a pop-up shop shop in the lobby of their future home. But soon enough, they will have a space all to themselves. Better get those timesheets approved early, that way you can spend a few extra but very necessary moments at the all new Kestrel Coffee Roasters in Burlington, Vermont.

As told to Sprudge by Charlotte Steverson.

For those who arent familiar, will you tell us about your company?

Kestrel Coffee Roasters just opened this year as a roaster, wholesaler, and retailer in South Burlington, Vermont.

Co-Owners Charlotte and Johnny Steverson each have years of experience in the coffee and hospitality industries. Johnny, a licensed Q Grader, has been roasting for over five years. Charlotte is an experienced event planner and has accompanied Johnny on various cuppings, events, and classes.

Kestrels are the smallest of the falcons; they are small but mighty, which is the trait we love most about Kestrel Coffee Roasters.

Can you tell us a bit about the new space?

We are located inside a six-acre building at a large office complex called Tech Park. There are about 15 businesses and over 1,200 employees as well as walking trails (with the well-known Whales Tails sculpture) and a gorgeous view of the Green Mountains.

The entrance to our space will be right off a large atrium with skylights and communal seating. Our roaster (Loring S15) will be featured near the cafe behind a glass wall. Well bring in fun colors and a mix of wood and metal finishes to create a warm, welcoming vibe.

In the meantime, we have been open since July 2 in the form of a coffee kiosk located in a high traffic hallway of the same building. We also have our roaster temporarily set up. Its been really amazing to get to know our neighbors and customers before the cafe even opens!

Whats your approach to coffee?

People have come to know us for sourcing really excellent coffees. Its easy to talk at length about water temperature, extraction rates, and grind size, but at the end of the day its about drinking a great cup of coffee made by someone who cares.

Our job is to get that across to our customers.

Any machines, coffees, special equipment lined up?

Our roaster is a Loring S15 Falcon. As far as brewing and grinding goes: La Marzocco Linea two-group, FETCO XTS, Mahlkonig EK-43 and Peak grinders and great people!

Whats your hopeful target opening date/month?

December 2018/January 2019.

Are you working with craftspeople, architects, and/or creatives that youd like to mention?

Our branding and design firm (Solidarity of Unbridled Labour, Burlington, VT) was unbelievably creative and, among other things, came up with an incredible color palette that we cant wait to showcase in the final space.

The architects (Scott + Partners, Essex, VT) have understood our vision from the start, and were just putting the finishing touches on the plans so construction can begin in September.

The counter/bar for our kiosk was designed and built by Construct Custom VT out of Montpelier, VT. Benjamin was so excited about this project and we couldnt be happier with the result!

Finally, our landlord and contractor, ReArch. They have been an amazing partner, and we are so excited to be joining the Tech Park community.

Thank you!

Thanks for giving us the opportunity to share our story!

The Build-Outs Of Summer is an annual series on Sprudge. Live the thrill of the build all summer long in our Build-Outs feature hub.If you were to ask me right now to pick my favorites to win the 2024 Brewers Cup, I would Aaron Bossett and Jamaica Myres. The two 13-year-old Seattle residents are the creators and sole proprietors of StayWoke Coffee, a coffee stand in the Columbia City area that is garnering some major attention.

As reported by Seattles Child, the project began as a home-schooling summer project to make some extra spending cash, but thanks to the teens dedication, StayWoke may just be here to stay. Their offer sheet is simplepour-overs are $4but their setup is serious. A brief perusal through their Instagram finds the duo brewing single origins from Empire Roasters using Baratza Fortes, Fellow Stagg kettles, and Kalita Waves (and a very smart denim apron). StayWoke even has a digital loyalty program where regulars can earn rewards.

The response thus far has been overwhelmingly positive. Thanks to their hard work, Bosset and Myres have been able to meet celebrities like Guy Fieri and former Seattle Seahawks cornerback Marcus Trufant, per the article. The response from the community has been equally enthusiastic, and the duo says they have long-term plans of securing funding to turn their stand into a full-blown cafe.

But for now, you can find StayWoke Coffee at the corner of South Alaska Street and 31st Avenue South near the Columbia City light rail station between 6:30am and 11:00am every weekday. Or follow them on Facebook and Instagram to see where they may be popping up next. Im telling you, the 2024 Brewers Cup is a wrap.

Zac Cadwalader is the news editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.

Top image by Amy Phung @amy.phung.Running Aces Tuesday night (Aug. 21) live program featured the tracks weekly $12,000 Mares Open Pace, which featured a solid field of seven distaffers.

Gold Star Mysti (driven by James Yoder) was looking for her third win in a row, and she was sent off as the 6-5 favourite from Post 7. Kiss On The Lips (Dean Magee) was well supported at 7-2 and was one of the fastest off the gate, as she hooked up in an early battle with Capitol Hill (Steve Wiseman).

Kiss On The Lips took control past the quarter, and then immediately faced pressure from Gold Star Mysti, who had floated off the gate to be fourth on the outside around the opening turn. From there, the two mares battled neck and neck and nose to nose, as they have done on so many occasions at Running Aces.

Kiss On The Lips maintained the slightest advantage throughout the battle, and held off a fierce late lunge at the wire to hold Gold star Mysti at bay and register a half-length victory in 1:53.3, which was also the fastest mile of the night. Whatitdo Babyboo (Rick Magee) closed from the back of the pack to finish third.

Kiss On The Lips ($9.20) is in the midst of a career-best year, with six wins to her credit and $57,444 in seasonal earnings. The win was the 35th of her career. She is owned by Peg Hoffman and trained by Gerald Longo.

(With files from Running Aces)The publicity department for the Grand Circuit has sent out its weekly recap and preview of Grand Circuit races.

This Week: Messenger eliminations, Yonkers Raceway, Yonkers, N.Y.; Nassagaweya, Eternal Camnation, Casual Breeze and Maple Leaf Trot eliminations, Woodbine Mohawk Park, Milton, Ontario; and W.N. Reynolds Memorial divisions, Tioga Downs, Nichols, N.Y.

Schedule of events: This Saturday (Aug. 25), Yonkers Raceway will host a pair of $40,000 eliminations in the Messenger Stakes for sophomore pacers, the second leg of the sports pacing Triple Crown. The top four horses in each elimination will return for the $500,000 final on Sept. 1.

Also on Saturday, Grand Circuit action at Woodbine Mohawk Park will feature three divisions in the $276,381 Nassagaweya for two-year-old pacing colts, three divisions in the $251,347 Eternal Camnation for two-year-old pacing fillies and a pair of $40,000 eliminations in the Maple Leaf Trot for older trotters. On Friday (Aug. 24) Woodbine Mohawk Park will host a single $136,000 division in the Casual Breeze for three-year-old filly trotters.

On Sunday (Aug. 26), Tioga Downs will card four sets of W.N. Reynolds Memorial events for freshman pacers and trotters of both sexes.

Last time: Mets Hall (Andy Miller) won an exciting $350,000 Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial Trot for three-year-olds at Vernon Downs on Friday (Aug. 17).

Mets Hall ($27.60) went straight to the lead from the eight hole. He took the first quarter in :26.4. Six Pack (Ake Svanstedt) followed in the pocket with Manchego (Yannick Gingras) following along in third.

Andy Miller slowed the second quarter to a crawl of :30.1 as Mets Hall hit the half in :57. Six Pack would pull the pocket just before the half. The two would then battle nose to nose and wheel to wheel all around the final turn. Neither horse would give an inch as they hit three-quarters in 1:25.2.

Manchego, who was the only filly in the race, sat in third watching the other two battle it out around the turn. She then went three-wide at the top of the stretch. In an amazing stretch drive, Mets Hall would dig in and get ready for the late charge from Manchego. In the end Mets Hall would win by a nose in a personal best time of 1:52. Magnificent as she was, Manchego had to settle for second best. The gutsy Six Pack would finish third.

Mets Hall is a three-year-old colt by Cantab Hall. Trained by Julie Miller for owners Stroy Inc. and Andy Miller Stable Inc., it was his second win in six starts this season. He now owns seven career victories.

Super Girl Riley (Marcus Miller) shocked the field in the $180,000 Zweig Memorial for three-year-old trotting fillies.

The big favourite Plunge Blue Chip (Ake Svanstedt) carved out all the early fractions (:28, :57.2, 1:26.3). Basquiat (Yannick Gingras) followed in the pocket before going on a break at the three-quarter pole. Perfect Summer K (David Miller) would then inherit second.

Super Girl Riley ($17.20) came first-over from third in the stretch. She ran down Plunge Blue Chip to win in a career best of 1:54.3. Plunge Blue Chip had to settle for second money. Perfect Summer K finished third.

Owned by Paymaq Racing, George Golemes, and Harvey Eisman and trained by Erv Miller, the three-year-old filly by Muscle Mass won for the second time in 2018. It was her sixth career victory.

Grand Circuit Standings: In 2018, the Grand Circuit leaders in three categories (driver, trainer and owner) will once again be tracked on a points system (20-10-5 for the top three finishers in divisions/finals and 10-5-2 for the top three finishers in eliminations/legs). Winbak Farms is the sponsor for the 2018 Grand Circuit awards.

Here are the leaders following the past weekend.

Drivers: 1. Tim Tetrick  703.5; 2. Yannick Gingras  693.5; 3. David Miller  374.5; 4. Jordan Stratton  288; 5. Corey Callahan  273.5.

Trainers: 1. Ron Burke  660.5; 2. Jimmy Takter  504; 3. Tony Alagna  271; 4. Erv Miller  220; 5. Jim Campbell  216.

Owners: 1. Burke Racing Stable  144.9; 2. Weaver Bruscemi  139.9; 3. Fashion Farms  129; 4. Vonknoblauch Stable - 117; 5. Robert Key  115.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will be taking place next week at Yonkers Raceway and Woodbine Mohawk Park. Yonkers will feature the Yonkers Trot, Messenger Stakes, Hudson Filly Trot and Lady Maud. Woodbine Mohawk will offer the Canadian Pacing Derby and Maple Leaf Trot, as well as Simcoe Stakes for three-year-old colt and filly trotters and Champlain Stakes for two-year-old colt and filly trotters.

(Grand Circuit)The Celebration of Life for late horseman Rob MacKay, 51, will be taking place this afternoon (Wednesday, Sept. 5).

The Celebration of Life will take place from 2-4 p.m. in the Conservation Room at the Mohawk Chophouse, which is located at 9230 Guelph Line in Campbellville, Ont.

For more information on the passing of Rob MacKay, or to leave messages of condolence, please click here.vivo is sure having a busy year, they have released a bunch of phones for China and overseas over the months and they aren't just stopping yet. We know the vivo V11 is coming soon to Malaysia, the X21 model was also released not too long ago and now in China, they are looking ahead to release the X23 and the V11 Pro in India officially.

Thanks to the teaser posters, vivo has confirmed that the X23 will come in two colours - Phantom Violet and Night Blue. Also, from the video advertisement, the phone will have a dual rear camera, a waterdrop notch and an in-display fingerprint sensor. There isn't much tech-spec information about it, including the cameras, but rumours say that it will have a Qualcomm Snapdragon 710, 6.4-inch FHD+ display, 8GB of RAM, 128GB worth of storage and a 3D Face Recognition technology.

The Phantom Violet and Night Blue X23

V11 Pro teasers

Meanwhile, there's also the V11 Pro and vivo India Twitter has been tweeting about this for a while now. Similarly to the V11 (and the X23 too), this will also come in a Halo FullView display, dual rear cameras, an in-display fingerprint sensor, and the waterdrop notch with a single camera lens as well. Actually, the V11 Pro and X23 are so similar that we are beginning to think they are both the same thing but a different name for different markets.

So what do you think? Is vivo releasing too many phones? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more vivo news at TechNave.com.















Myanmar is an incredible place to visit, we spend a month backpacking Myanmar and found it to be one of the most authentic and eye opening countries to visit in South East Asia. But many people also have concerns about travelling to Myanmar such as visas, border crossings, affordability, politics and safety. We have to admit that before we visited Myanmar we were a little bit apprehensive and didnt know what to expect. But what we found was an incredible country and such a rich and unspoilt culture and some incredible places to visit in Myanmar. So we decided to put together this Myanmar guide to prove that backpacking Myanmar is something every visitor to South East Asia could consider.

Backpacking Myanmar: Budget accommodation and travel

Many of the people I spoke to before visiting Burma expressed the opinion that Myanmar is an expensive place to visit for the region. It is fair to say it is more expensive than the rest of South East Asia but it is also cheap compared to many area of the world still. It is entirely possible to backpack Myanmar on $25 ( 29 / A$34) a day per person. So dont let money stopping you seeing all the amazing places to visit in Myanmar.

Presently Hostels are still not as common as in the rest of the region, but being one of the real off the beaten track places to visit in South East Asia its not surprising. But many more hostels are popping up, especially in the popular places to visit in Myanmar such as Bagan, Yangon, Inle and Mandalay. In many other places around the country guest houses and homestays are great options on a budget.

Other costs in Myanmar are very reasonable and more in line with the rest of South East Asia. Street food and local places are very cheap and the food in Myanmar is some of the best weve ever had. Imagine a combination of Thai and Indian! Bus travel is also very affordable, whereas internal flights can be very expensive.

How to be responsible when visiting Myanmar: Making a positive impact

The politics situation in Myanmar is complicated and changes from day to day. Many people have expressed the opinion that Myanmar should be boycotted due to the corruption within the government and accusations of genocide. I totally respect that opinion, however if you are responsible when you visit Myanmar you can make sure that you have a positive impact on the people of this wonderful country. By boycotting Myanmar you risk punishing the everyday people who rely on tourism for their income and plunging them into even more poverty whilst they are at the same time victims of the government regime. You will also miss out on the amazing places to visit in Myanmar too.

Some of the best tips for responsibly backpacking Myanmar are:

* Avoid expensive establishments such as hotels and restaurants which are usually government owned

* Be aware who your money is going to: Stay at local establishments, eat at privately owned places, buy at markets from local vendors.

* Be a force of good when backpacking Myanmar: Tourism here is having a great impact on the people of Myanmar, locals have more rights to trade privately and need support in order to make it work. Some hostels and guest houses might be a little rustic, but supporting local business is the best way for your visit to have a positive impact.

Money in Myanmar: Using ATMs, US dollars and Myanmar Kyat.

Myanmar might be one of the most off the beaten track places to visit in South East Asia and many people have concerns about managing your money and having access to money in Myanmar. However, after spending a month in Myanmar we had no trouble with money in Myanmar, but you should consider a few things:

* ATMs are a lot more commonplace in Burma than expected: In the most common places to visit in Myanmar such as Bagan, Yangon, Mandalay and Inle, there are plenty of places to withdraw cash. In more remote places you might struggle finding ATMs and should always carry cash. You should also be aware that fees for withdrawing from foreign accounts can be quite high so its best to get money out in larger chunks.

* The local currency in Myanmar is Kyat but also US dollars are common. In general you will pay less if you pay in $, but people expect the bills to be in pristine condition and even a fold might result in it being turned away. If you want to use Dollars you should try to get them before you arrive. However, we only used local currently and had no issues whatsoever.

* Some of the most incredible places to visit in Myanmar also come with an entrance fee for foreigners, prices are advertised in $ but can be paid in Kyat.

Myanmar travel guide: Visas, border crossings and airport arrivals

Travelling to Myanmar overland IS possible but the situation can change day to day and the border regions are some of the most unstable. You should inquire close to your travel time to see what the situation is.

Our advice for our Myanmar guide is to arrive in the country via one of the airports. Air travel across South East Asia is cheap and affordable especially from hubs such as Bangkok. Arriving into one of the main airports means you are much less likely to encounter any trouble entering or leaving the country.

Most countries require a visa for Myanmar and this should be done before you arrive. You can get an e-visa online from the government website and this costs $50 and lasts 28 days from your date of entry and is valid for 90 days after issue. With this visa you can enter via select airports or land borders from Thailand. The process is quick and easy, you will need to upload a photo and print off your confirmation once it goes through.

Myanmar travel guide: Using the local buses to get around the country

Backpacking Myanmar is easy with the local and affordable buses. Like must of South East Asia these can be uncomfortable and LONG, but they are also inexpensive and cover the most popular places to visit in Myanmar. Booking buses can be done direct at the bus stations or the tiny huts that are used as offices by the bus companies, but it is more common to book through your accommodation which often makes it a lot easier. Booking or finding timetables online before you arrive is not common so ask at your hostel or guest house for advice.

The buses in Myanmar are also often very cold, the locals love to ramp up the AC to prepare to bring some layers!

Book your transport for Myanmar and Asia here:

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Myanmar guide: Going off the beaten track in Myanmar and interacting with locals

Unfortunately getting truly off the beaten track in Myanmar is hard as many areas of the country are off limits and require extra permits that can be almost impossible to get. But on the other hand Myanmar itself is one of the most off the beaten track places to visit in South East Asia and just by being here you are guaranteed to experience some of the most authentic culture and genuine people in the region.

If you are looking for some great off the beaten track Myanmar destinations that are also quite easy to visit then places like Kyaikto (Golden Rock Pagoda), Hap-An, multi day trekking in Kalaw and Hsipaw. The trekking we did in Myanmar has to be one of the best experiences weve ever had whilst travelling, we walked from Kalaw to Lake Inle over 3 days, staying in small villages with local people, it is definitely one of the most incredible places to visit in Myanmar.







Backpacking Myanmar: Is it safe to visit Myanmar

Myanmar is often in the news and is portrayed as a war torn country. However if you stick to the regions that visitors are permitted then it is in fact one of the safest countries to visit in South East Asia. Myanmar gets far less visitors than the other countries in the region and as a result scams are also far less common. Its a refreshing attitude when often feel like you have a $ sign floating above your head in places like Thailand and Vietnam. Here the locals are much more interested in why you are visiting and want to show you the best of their country. But you should always be sure to have travel insurance wherever you visit.

The best time to visit Myanmar

Like the rest of the region Myanmar has a dry and a wet season and is also starting to get a high season too. The dry season runs from October to May. From March to June it can get very hot and dusty and the high season is between November and February. March is often considered to be the best time to backpacking Myanmar. After June the wet season starts and lasts until September.

Myanmar destinations: Places to visit in Myanmar

Some of the best Myanmar destinations are:

* Bagan: For the incredible temples

* Hsipaw: For beautiful trekking with local tribes

* Kalaw: For amazing trekking and local life

* Hpa-An: For the monasteries and local life

* Lake Inle: For the beautiful lake and incredible stilt houses and local fishermen

* Mandalay: For the incredible U Bein Bridge

* Yangon: The colonial former capital is home to the Shwedagon Pagoda and interesting local life

* Kyaikto: For the inspiring and breathtaking golden rock pagoda

Hey, youve got your Travel Insurance sorted havent you?

Travelling and especially backpacking is a wild adventure, but make sure you are covered just incase something goes wrong, which if youre living it up to the fullest its always a possibility!

Check travel insurance prices with World Nomads here!

Book your transport for Myanmar and Asia here:

Powered by 12Go Asia system

Have you visited Burma? What are your tips for backpacking Myanmar

See more from this country:

See more from our backpacking adventures:

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This post contains affiliate links. This doesnt cost you a thing but we get some commission to help us carry on travelling if you book or buy!Issues of concern to people who live in the west: property rights, water rights, endangered species, livestock grazing, energy production, wilderness and western agriculture. Plus a few items on western history, western literature and the sport of rodeo... Frank DuBois served as the NM Secretary of Agriculture from 1988 to 2003. DuBois is a former legislative assistant to a U.S. Senator, a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Interior, and is the founder of the DuBois Rodeo Scholarship.Mountain Shadows in Wayanad is just the place for a dreamy vacationThe small country of Suriname is not one of South America's better known tourist destinations, but the lush rain forest covering much of the country makes it an increasingly attractive destination as ecotourism gains popularity. Unfortunately, Suriname's sometimes lengthy visa process has been a hindrance to tourism growth, according to the U.S. Department of State. Although Suriname has taken steps in recent years to make entry easier, you still will need to complete the visa application process for several types of travel to the country.

Items you will need Passport

Computer with printer

Envelope

Stamp

Step 1 Review your travel plans to make sure you actually need to procure a visa. Suriname in 2011 introduced a "tourist card" that citizens of the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, France and several other countries can buy upon arrival at Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport. The card carries a fee, but it's much cheaper than a visa. You'll need to show your passport and your return flight information to get your card. The card is for one entry only, so if you plan to visit Suriname several times, the visa would be your better route. Additionally, you will need a visa if you are traveling to Suriname on business.

Step 2 Book your flight, hotel and any other travel plans. You will need to submit your travel itinerary as part of the visa application process.

Step 3 Obtain recent passport-size photos -- 2 inches by 2 inches -- for all travelers in your group. You can have these taken at U.S. post office location, the photo counter of large pharmacy chains or via an online provider such as ePassportPhoto.com.

Step 4 Print and fill out the visa application form available at the Suriname embassy website. This form asks basic personal information and details about your trip. You also will affix your passport-size photo to the form. Each traveler should fill out a form.

Step 5 Gather any extra items you might need for your visa application. If you are traveling on business, you will need a letter from your employer explaining the details of your trip. If any children younger than 18 are traveling with you, you will need a copy of their birth certificates and proof of custody. Children not traveling with both parents will need a letter of consent from the non-traveling parent or a death certificate if one or both parents are deceased.The Xiaomi Poco F1 flaunts a simplistic polycarbonate unibody design with a notch display and a slightly bigger chin. If you are not able to catch the updates live, you can be up-to-date with the latest announcements through the Mi India page on Twitter, as well as the Poco India page.

As we've seen in box and device leaks prior, this phone is meant to give even OnePlus a run for its money coming on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset equipped with LiquidCool thermal reduction for improved performance during high intensity tasks like gaming.

The Poco F1 also has 4000 mAh battery with Quick charge 3.0 and a 9V 2 Amp charger is included in the box. The front camera has a 20MP resolution, and AI Portrait features. The phone charges via USB Type-C. With popular Android smartphones like the OnePlus 6 and Asus Zenfone 5Z flaunting a notch display along flagship Snapdragon 845 processor being pricey for the masses, the Poco F1 aims to be a power packed budget alternative. The variant with a massive 8GB RAM and 256GB storage space will be priced at Rs. 28,999. They have also retained a 3.5mm headphone jack at the top of the device. The security options on the flagship product are likely to be carried out by the fingerprint sensor and face unlock.

The camera combination given on the POCO F1 is a dual-lens one on the back where a 12-megapixel primary sensor (Sony IMX 363 sensor) is assisted by a 5-megapixel one for the depth sensing.

According to Digivamp, Xiaomi is accepting orders for the Mi 8 from brick and mortar stores across the country. The smartphone also features real-time AI photography, something which Xiaomi introduced with the Mi 8.

A Xiaomi service center employee in Chandigarh has spoken to Digivamp and said We've been asked by the company to return older, unsold spares in order to make rooms for a new "iPhone screens", back bodies, glass screen, camera component, magnets and ribbon cables. Talking about the pricing, the 6GB RAM variant of POCO F1 with 64GB and 128GB of internal storage is priced at Rs 20,999 and Rs 23,999 respectively. There is MIUI for POCO with some differences from the actual MIUI, and here you get the POCO launcher with the App Drawer and customization options.

It will be available in Rosso Red, Steel Blue, and Graphite Black colors. The special armored edition of the Poco F1 that will ship with a Kevlar back, 8GB RAM and 256GB storage has meanwhile been launched in India for Rs 29,999.ABC has sent through some numbers on its audiences as events continue to unfold in Canberra.

Yesterday ABCs primary channel had a 12.2% share with ABC News at 2.7%. On Tuesday night ABC News won its timeslot.

Here is how ABC saw it:

ABC: ABC had a metro daytime share on Wednesday of 7.1% and a primetime share of 10.3%

ABC News Channel: With an average 24-hour reach of 5.1% of the metro population on Wednesday, the ABC News Channel is by far Australias leading source of 24-hour news coverage

ABC News Digital: Yesterday saw 1.6 million visitors to the ABC News website and 271,000 users of the ABC App  a record number of app users for the year to date.

Over the past two days, seven of the top 10 ABC News online articles have related to the leadership crisis. In total, related articles have generated over 3.8 million page views for ABC News

Source: Oztam Overnight 5 city metro (22nd August 2018); Webtrends (22-23 August 2018)

Todays coverage highlights:

ABC and simulcast on ABC NEWS channel: From 7pm AEST Leigh Sales will host a one-hour news special with the ABCs best political commentators, including Barrie Cassidy, Greg Jennett, Laura Tingle, Andrew Probyn and Antony Green, as well as special guests

ABC NEWS channel: Directly afterwards from 8pm AEST Stan Grant will host a Leadership Crisis special. There will also be special editions of The Drum and The Business.

Watch rolling coverage on the ABC NEWS livestream at abc.net.au/livestream

Follow the live blog at abc.net.au/news or download the ABC AppWhile the leadership battle ensues in Canberra Nines political editor Chris Uhlmann has taken aim at News Corp newspapers, including The Australian and the Daily Telegraph, SKY News evening commentators and radio 2GB as waging a war on Malcolm Turnbull.

Uhlmann, a former ABC reporter, told Today, Liberal Party sources had told him conservative media were working against them.

News Corporation, so we are talking about The Australian, Daily Telegraph and all of those tabloids newspapers around the country, 2GB in Sydney, led by Alan Jones and Ray Hadley, and SKY News in particular with its evening line-up, are waging a war against the Prime Minister of Australia.

Now, that is what they think. Thats just reporting the news. Apparently if you say that to them now, they get their nickers in a huge twist. Now, if they want to be players in this game, which is apparently what they are, and theyre working behind the scenes as well as in front of the scenes, if they are making phone calls to people, trying to push people over the line, then theyre part of this story.

So all Im saying is if they want to dish it out, they should be prepared to take it and theyre among the biggest bullies in the land and it is about time that people call them out for what they are. If they dont like that, then they can come after me.

But Daily Telegraph political editor Sharri Markson later told Today that News Corp has given straight, objective news reporting and described Uhlmanns broadside as a disgusting and outrageous attack.Officials say at least 11 hikers were killed when they were washed away over rocks by a raging white-water creek.

A total of six women and five men have died following flooding at the Raganello Gorge in southern Italy. "They ended up some three kilometres down the valley", said Carlo Tansi, head of the civil protection department in Calabria.

A general view shows the area after several people were killed in a mountain gorge flooding, in the municipality of Civita, Calabria, Italy on August 20, in this image obtained from video.

It was unclear how many people were missing.

Heavy rain flooded the deep gorge, which was filled with hikers at the time.

A helicopter was helping with a search and rescue operation, with powerful lights also brought in to help rescuers work under cover of darkness.

"A sudden avalanche of water came in. "We did not have time to do anything", a Dutch hiker was quoted by local media as saying.

According to Rai, rescuers are hopeful that some hikers may have found refuge from the floodwater on rocky ledges in the gorge.

Italy's Environment Minister Sergio Costa, who visited the area on Tuesday, said rescuers are now "99.9% sure" no one else is unaccounted for.

Prosecutor Eugenio Facciolla said authorities were investigating possible charges including manslaughter, causing bodily harm and official negligence, the news agency ANSA reported. The gorge is broken down into three sections, the upper, mid and lower canyons, with hikes averaging between 2  and 3  hours and varying in hard.

The Raganello creek, part of the Pollino National Park, runs through the narrow gorge, which is one kilometre (0.8 miles) deep with sheer rock walls that are only about four metres (13 ft) wide in some places.

Numerous hikers were on holiday from northern Italy, according to La Repubblica.PARIS (Reuters) - Newly appointed Air France-KLM Chief Executive Ben Smith held talks with French Transport Minister Elisabeth Borne, a government spokesman said on Wednesday, as the airline group's unions prepare to decide on further strike action over pay. The minister met Smith on Tuesday for a "a first discussion of the main issues" facing the group, the spokesman said. The former Air Canada executive was named last week as Air France's first non-French CEO, three months after his predecessor quit amid crippling wage strikes. Smith's own pay may further inflame tensions as he faces the challenge of striking new Air France union agreements on pay and productivity. His new compensation package amounts to a maximum 3.25 million euros ($3.72 million) in fixed and variable pay, with an additional 1 million euros awarded if specific turnaround goals are met, Air France-KLM said in a notice on its website, confirming earlier French press reports. Smith, 46, is due to take up the top job in late September. Unions that had backed earlier strikes will meet on Monday to decide whether to pursue further action, amid some signs that workers' representatives have softened their stance and may opt for a more conciliatory start to relations with their new CEO. "Beyond the economic and social context, it's not that shocking that the leader of a company like Air France-KLM should command a salary on a par with our main competitors," said one union official involved in the talks. Another influential pilots' union, SPAF, has withdrawn from the grouping and indicated on Wednesday that it would not back any immediate action before Smith's arrival. "We'll wait to meet him," SPAF President Gregoire Alpincourt said. (Reporting by Cyril Altmeyer; Writing by Laurence Frost; Editing by Geert De Clercq)Just recently, gaming company Zynga ZNGA and media giant Disney DIS signed a partnership deal for Zynga to develop video games based on the Star Wars franchise. Just today, the multi-year partnership has pushed ZNGA's stock upwards by 8%. The developer will initially start off with two free-to-play mobile games, which will be based off of the Star Wars: Commander game released in 2014.

Recent performances of the companies, as well as other factors, will help both Disney and Zynga earn attraction and user success.

Disneys Current Position

Overall, Disney saw a 21% increase year-over-year in revenue, whereas the Consumer Products & Interactive Media sector revenues decreased by 8%. As stated in their quarterly report, this is due to the fact that there was a decrease in operating income from licensing activities, driven by lower revenue from products based on Spider-Man and Cars.

Disney has seen a number of partnerships with different gaming companies in order to produce content. For example, it recently partnered with 21st Century Foxs FOXA video game division FoxNext. This past year has been quite big for Disney with its Marvel franchise. The most revenue came from that specific division and has been doing well with the video game sector as well. However, in order to gain more valuation, Disney will need to see a large push in its video game industry.

Zynga Trying to Find its Place in the Gaming Market

In 2014, Zynga's business didn't do so well, due to a decrease in its user base and lack of new game launches. Zynga sees very high competition with other developers in its market, but its partnership with Disney could potentially reel the company out of its slump. Zynga expects the partnership to boost users and its presence in the gaming market.

In its most recent quarterly report, the company saw a 4% increase in revenue, as well as a 12% increase in mobile DAU's and a 10% increase in mobile MAU's. As we all know, Disney is a huge media giant and one of the most popular in the industry. So this partnership, more so, would be benefiting Zynga in the long run.

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Mobile Video Game Popularity

Most people would think that a majority of video game users come from PCs, PlayStation or Xbox. However, in a recent study done by NewZoo, between mobile, PC and console games, mobile had the largest global games market at 51%, or $70 billion. According to Refinery29, mobile gaming seems to be more convenient and efficient, especially for people on the go. Although gaming on computers and consoles are still intact, users are seemingly taking the easier route, which in turn increases user demographics for mobile video games.

Bottom Line

Zyngas partnership will prove to be a beneficial one for both companies, respectively. If the developer creates a game which could spike user growth, especially from the Star Wars fan base, it could really help boost Zyngas presence in the market.

More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone!

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Zacks Investment ResearchDead Reindeer Norway

Havard Kjotvedt/SNO/Miljodirektoratet/NTB Scanpix via Reuters

In 2016, 323 reindeer in Norway were struck by lightning in the same spot and died.

Their heads were removed for research, but the carcasses were left in the mountainous area to decay.

A study published last week suggests that the reindeer carcasses are increasing plant diversity in the area.

The feces of scavengers coming to consume the dead animals contain many seeds that have the potential to grow and produce new plants.

Two years ago, 323 reindeer in southeast Norway were struck by lightning and died. Many of the animals were found on top of each other on a remote mountain plateau. Norwegian officials said they had never seen a case like it before.

Authorities flew in to remove the dead reindeer's heads for a study on diseases in deer and elk, and the carcasses were abandoned in the mountainous area to decay. These carcasses may end up boosting plant diversity in a "novel mechanism," as scavengers drop feces containing seeds near the dead animals, according to a Biology Letters study published last week.

Sam Steyaert  a researcher at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences and the University of South-Eastern Norway  and his team set up a field lab in the mountainous region, where they observed that the feces of birds and foxes were concentrated around the carcasses. The team also detected wolverines, golden eagles, and foxes; some were observed while others were caught on camera.

Hundreds of ravens and crows  the predominant scavengers  also left feces by the carcasses. Many of those droppings contained crowberry seeds, and the scientists found that these seeds could become seedlings.

Crowberry is a keystone species of the alpine tundra, which means it has a disproportionately large impact on biodiversity  partly because it is a significant source of food. Nutrient-dense and bare soil can help crowberry seedlings grow, and the reindeer carcasses produced the right conditions to make it happen.

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According to the study, the plant life closest to an animal carcass dies due to sudden shifts in the soil's acidity and nutrient concentrations. The patch of land becomes a "decomposition island," supporting plant life that could otherwise not grow in the area. This can have wide-ranging consequences for increasing the genetic diversity in the area.

Moving forward, Steyaert and his team predict that the area's plants will diversify as scavengers continue to drop feces filled with seeds around the decomposition island of reindeer.

NOW WATCH: Here's the incredible amount of work that goes into making an award-winning movie trailer

See Also:Firefighters tackled a blaze at a major UK oil refinery where all staff were evacuated.

The fire broke out at a Shell (LSE: RDSB.L - news) -owned chemical plant on the same site as the Stanlow refinery in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire.

Essar Oil UK, which operates the refinery and chemical plant, say that 900 employees and 500 contractors work on the site which supplies 16% of all road transport fuels.

All staff have been accounted for and the fire has now been extinguished.

Flames and a column of thick black smoke were seen after the blaze broke out on Wednesday afternoon.

Cheshire Fire Service, which was called at 2.16pm, said: "Firefighters have been called to reports of a fire at Stanlow oil refinery in Oil Site Road, Ellesmere Port.

"All staff have been accounted for and have been evacuated.

"Crews are working with onsite firefighters to extinguish the fire which is believed to be in a manufacturing building within the plant."

The force said the fire has been confined to the site and crews are using a ground monitor and handheld monitor to extinguish pockets of flame.

Brian Howell, 60, said he was relaxing in the Eastham Ferry area, around eight miles away, before he "heard a loud 'whoosh' type explosion".

He added: "I looked over to Stanlow and there was an aggressive fire and lots of black smoke."

The Shell Higher Olefins Plant (SHOP) is separated from the refinery by a road and rail tracks.

Essar said in a statement: "Earlier this afternoon a fire occurred at the SHOP chemical plant, close to the Manchester Ship Canal.

"Both Stanlow's own site Emergency Services Team and the Cheshire County Fire Service attended to deal with the incident. All personnel on the SHOP unit were quickly accounted for. The fire has now been extinguished.

"Operations and production of fuels and other products from Stanlow Refinery have not been affected.

"All supplies to customers are normal."

The Stanlow refinery has a team of 25 full-time staff to allow for immediate action to prevent potential catastrophes.

Six fire engines attended the scene in Oil Site Road.

Stanlow produces 4.4 billion litres of diesel and three billion litres of petrol annually, according to Essar Oil UK.A British couple have died while on a Thomas Cook holiday at a Red Sea resort in Egypt.

The couple, from Burnley, died while staying at the Hurghada resort, the tour operator said.

One of them was a long-serving employee of Thomas Cook.

Ingo Burmester, chief of Thomas Cook UK, said: "We are deeply saddened by the deaths of two of our customers while on holiday in Hurghada in Egypt, one of whom was a loyal and long-serving member of our Thomas Cook family.

"Our focus is on fully supporting their loved ones.

"We are urgently investigating with the hotel and supporting the local authorities."

The circumstances of their deaths have not been revealed and investigations are continuing.

Thomas Cook's head of customer welfare Carol Mackenzie flew out on Tuesday to provide support to the family, the operator confirmed to Sky News.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are supporting the family of a British couple who died in Hurghada, Egypt and we are in contact with the local tour operator."LONDON (Reuters) - A detained British-Iranian aid worker sentenced to five years in jail in Iran has been released from detention for three days, her supporters and Iran's envoy to Britain said on Thursday, in a move welcomed by Britain's foreign minister.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a project manager with the Thomson Reuters Foundation, was arrested in April 2016 at a Tehran airport as she was heading back to Britain with her two-year-old daughter after a family visit.

She was convicted of plotting to overthrow Iran's clerical establishment, a charge denied by her family and the Foundation, a charity organization that is independent of Thomson Reuters and operates independently of Reuters News.

"Mrs. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been granted a three-day release from prison in Iran to reunite with her family," Iran's ambassador to Britain, Hamid Baeidinejad, said on Twitter.

Iranian authorities could not immediately be reached for further comment.

The Free Nazanin group, which has campaigned for her release, said Zaghari-Ratcliffe was released from Evin prison on furlough on Thursday morning and was with her family in the city of Damavand in Tehran province.

In a statement, it quoted Zaghari-Ratcliffe as saying it would be "just awesome" for her daughter Gabriella, now four, to finally have her home.

Britain's foreign minister Jeremy Hunt wrote on Twitter that her release was "really good news", but added: "being in prison AT ALL is gross injustice and she must be PERMANENTLY released for which every effort will continue."

Thomson Reuters Foundation chief executive Monique Villa said Zaghari-Ratcliffe's release was a positive sign and said she hoped it would lead to her permanent release.

As a condition of the furlough, Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been barred from conducting any interviews with the media, cannot visit the grounds of any foreign embassy and may not attempt to leave the country, the statement from Free Nazanin said.

Her husband, Richard Ratcliffe, told BBC television that her release had come as a surprise and that her lawyer was confident she would be allowed to stay out for longer than three days.

(Reporting by Babak Dehghanpisheh; Writing by Paul Sandle; Editing by Andrew Roche and Nick Tattersall)The United States and China have imposed a fresh round of tariffs on an additional $16bn (12bn) of each other's goods.

The 25% levies took effect as officials from the economic superpowers met for talks in Washington over the escalating trade war.

They follow last month's first round of tariff increases of the same size by both sides on $34bn (26bn) of each other's imports - taking the total to $50bn (39bn).

The US was the first to impose the latest round of tariffs on goods including plastics and chemicals, which China vowed to "counter-attack" with levies on products such as steel, coal and medical equipment.

Beijing criticised the US increase as a violation of World Trade Organisation rules and said it would file a new complaint to the body.

US president Donald Trump has threatened to target all $500bn of Chinese imports unless Beijing agrees to sweeping changes to its intellectual property practices over what his administration alleges are unfair trade practices.

China denies the allegations and its state media has said Beijing will not be cowed by Washington's threats.

China exported goods worth $505.5bn to the US in 2007, compared with $129.9bn of American goods sent to China.

Mr Trump has also increased tariffs on imports from the EU and other countries including Canada and Mexico as he pushes ahead with his campaign pledge to protect American jobs. He has described trading relationships with his neighbours and allies as unfair.

The trade war risks significantly raising prices for consumers, while global stock markets, which have largely ignored Mr Trump's complaints as "bluster" and a negotiating ploy, are getting more jittery as nations retaliate.

The International Monetary Fund has warned the escalating trade dispute threatens to derail the global economic recovery and growth.

Mr Trump's tariffs and retaliation by trading partners could cut global economic output by 0.5% from projections for 2020.

That translates to almost $500bn in lost annual output.

"The risk that current trade tensions escalate further with adverse effects on confidence, asset prices and investment is the greatest near-term risk to global growth," IMF chief economist Maury Obstfeld told a news conference last month.

Still pending is the possibility of new duties on an additional $200bn worth of Chinese imports, which are the subject of public hearings in Washington this week.The scrubby hospital room in a former al-Qaeda stronghold in Yemen is filled by the tortured cries of a baby whose wizened face is drawn taught across his skull.

Mohamed is nearly three months old, but looks simultaneously like a premature newborn and a grandfather. Hunger has ravaged his tiny frame and given him a bulbous head: all tell tale signs of acute starvation.

He had just arrived at the hospital in Mukalla, south Yemen, after his mother had completed an arduous journey in the heat of summer from a remote village in Hajar. Behind her five other women, with equally skeletal children, sit cross legged waiting for treatment.

The tiny babies are among 500,000 children under the age of five who are so severely malnourished they are fighting for their lives. A further 1.8 million children are also starving, according to United Nations childrens agency, Unicef. The number of malnourished children increases every day.

My husband doesnt have a job. He works day by day to try to get money to feed his kids, but it is not regular, Hanan, a mother of three said, clutching the skeletal bundle.

She appeared embarrassed to admit she struggles to feed her family, and talked quietly of trying to find baby milk to feed Mohamed.

We just came in today. We cant stop his diarrhoea, she added, trailing off.

Abha Abdalla, director of the hospital, said it has had a flood of new cases since al-Qaeda was ousted from Mukalla by Gulf backed Yemeni forces in 2016. With the militants  and thus the battleground  corralled into the hills around central provinces like Marib and Al Bayda, many families here in Hadramawt province have finally felt it safe enough to move around.

Starvation definitely increased under al-Qaeda, because the area suffered massively from deteriorating economic conditions and a lack of aid during that period, said Dr Abdalla, who like many women was forced to give up work and go into hiding under the previous regime.

Story continues

Now we are seeing a rise in cases coming to us because people can finally get here. People were reluctant to get treatment because of the difficulty of movement when al-Qaeda was in control.

The hospital, one of the main medical centres for women and children in the area, is struggling to treat the flood of cases because it has six beds. The centre, which has limped through three years of war, was hit by Cyclone Chapala in 2015, which destroyed the childrens ward.

We are trying our best, but until very recently we could only take in 11 malnutrition cases a month, she added.

Yemen, the Gulfs poorest country, has been in the grip of a devastating civil conflict since 2015, when Saudi Arabia and its allies launched a bombing campaign and ground invasion to reinstate the recognised government, which had been ousted by Iranian backed Houthis.

Amid a total breakdown in security, al-Qaeda flourished, conquering a swathe of territory from near the border with Oman down to the southern port city of Aden.

Although the militants have been largely pushed back by UAE-trained and backed Yemeni forces, the battle against the militants continues.

There is also no sign of an end to the war with the Houthis, a conflict which has killed well over 10,000 people. Neither side of the conflict has much hope for UN hosted peace talks due on 6 September.

The fighting has sparked the largest humanitarian crisis in the world, according to the UN. The appalling statistics speak for themselves.

More than 8.4 million people are on the verge of famine. An additional 18 million are going hungry as they lack access to food.

Three-quarters of the population  22 million people  require humanitarian aid. Among that number are more than 11 million children, which Unicef says is almost every child in the country.

The famine has been partly blamed on the destruction of Yemens already poor infrastructure. The World Health Organisation has accused the US backed Saudi coalition of targeting water supplies and hospitals, a charge it has denied. The coalition has, however, blocked sea ports and airports, fearing they could be used by Houthis for weapons deliveries.

The Houthis, meanwhile, have been accused of intercepting and halting aid drops, as well as laying siege to pro government areas further north. The Gulf coalition says it has destroyed infrastructure by laying landmines and other explosive devices.

The conflict has decimated Yemens health system: nearly half of the countrys hospitals are not working and many medical professionals have not received salaries.

Yemenis like Hanan, who are trapped in rural areas, are often unable to reach health centres when their children become ill: a lot of the malnutrition cases stem from disease.

Yemen has witnessed the worlds worst outbreak of cholera which, since 2016, has claimed more than 2,300 lives.

Starvation definitely increased under al-Qaeda... We are trying our best but until very recently we could only take in 11 cases a month

Dr Abha Abdalla, director of a womens hospital in Mukalla

The UN warned this week the country was on the cusp of a third wave of cholera, particularly in the most war affected places, such as Hodeida, a town on the countrys east coast that is the frontline of the latest battle. Lise Grande, the UNs humanitarian coordinator on Yemen, said the Red Sea port town was one airstrike away from an unstoppable epidemic.

Despite the challenges, there are local initiatives supported by international agencies trying to move mobile clinics around the country, according to Dr Khalil Bamatraf.

A young female medic in Mukalla, Dr Bamatraf was forced to don a niqab and work in segregated hospitals under al-Qaeda. She was repeatedly threatened by militants for being critical of the group.

Two years on, and with limited funds, she tries to access the sick and starving in the most rural areas of Hadramawt, places like Hajar and Addis al-Sharqia, where the nearest hospital can be a five-hour journey away.

Dr Bamatraf described how some families she met were so desperate for food they lived off emergency medical pouches handed out for minors.

We had given pouches with nutrients to feed the children, but instead of feeding the children they used it as the main meal for themselves, she told The Independent.

I found an old woman in a village with five disabled children, they each had severe malnutrition. One of them just starved to death.

I found an old woman with five disabled children, they each had severe malnutrition. One of them just starved to death

Dr Khalil Bamatraf, Yemeni medic

She said the year of al-Qaeda had had a hidden impact on civilians, as it set aid deliveries back years and trapped people inside villages.

Al-Qaeda had a full database of everyone in Mukalla, so it was impossible to do anything or to fight them. Under their rule we didnt have budgets from international organisations. We hope now we can procure drugs, equipment and supplies and treat the cases, she added.

Back at the womens clinic, and accompanied by Emirati officials, Dr Abdalla talked about her plans to expand the centre. She hopes to build a new wing to service the province.

She attends to one woman, Hadija, whose one year old baby girl is so thin she looks half that age and cannot sit up.

Thanks to funding ... we are now able to give people 50 or 100 per cent discounts on treatment. Many patients can come here. The only problem is space, she said.

But things are looking up.

Read the first piece in Bel Trews series, One Week in Yemen, here: Inside the UAEs war on al-Qaeda in Yemen; the second piece, here: Mukalla: Life after al-Qaeda in Yemen and the third dispatch, here: Yemens hidden menace, the decades-long struggle ahead to clear the country of landminesA senior Iranian cleric used his sermon during Eid prayers in Tehran on Wednesday to warn the USA against attacking Iran, threatening that Israel and other American allies would be targeted if it did.

However, in a follow-up tweet, Gendelman wrote, "I immediately noticed that this is a very old American war plane (it was manufactured in the '50s)".

"The sanctions regime against Iran has effectively limited its ability to maintain its ageing fleet and increased its reliance on China and Russian Federation for parts", said Mr Steckler.

Building an advanced fighter jet would boost the ability of Iran's air force, which has been limited to few old Russian combat planes or ageing United States models.

"Americans say you should accept what we say in the talks", Khatami said.

Elsewhere in his address, the senior cleric called on the judiciary and the government to continue serious fight against corruption, while dismissing the claims that there is "systemic corruption" in Iran.

Tensions between the USA and the Middle East have rocketed amid a war-of-words between Iranian president Hassan Rouhani and his counterpart Donald Trump.

The US Department of State's electronic communication team refuted on its twitter account, Iran's "lie" about the new fighter jet it said it had recently produced.

State television showed Rohani briefly sitting in the plane's cockpit inside a hangar.

Iran already has US -made F-4, F-5 as well as F-14 fighter jets and also Russian-made Sukhoi aircraft in service.

US President Donald Trump withdrew the US in May from a 2015 accord between Iran and world powers that curbed Tehran's nuclear activity in exchange for sanctions relief.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards have said it could strike Israeli cities with missiles if it were threatened.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday Iran's military prowess was what deterred Washington from attacking it, and vowed to boost Iran's military might.

The new jet was unveiled, and also made a test flight, in a ceremony attended by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

Last week, Khamenei - who has the ultimate say on Iranian policy - said the United States would avoid outright conflict because of Iranian military might.

Iran is now under economic and diplomatic pressure from a raft of sanctions reimposed by the United States earlier this month, and the unveiling could be seen as a bid to show self-sufficiency and military might in the face of that pressure.

"The airframe appears to be an externally unaltered, two-seat F-5 tiger".

Irans air force has been limited to perhaps a few dozen strike aircraft using either Russian or ageing USA models acquired before the 1979 Iranian revolution.FILE PHOTO: Migrants rest as a policeman watches them near Hungary's border fence on the Serbian side of the border near Morahalom, Hungary, February 22, 2016. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungary must provide food to rejected asylum seekers held in detention camps on its border who are appealing the decision, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) said on Thursday.

Human rights groups said that Hungarian authorities had refused food to some asylum seekers held in the two border camps, which are open towards Serbia, while they await the outcome of their asylum appeals.

The Helsinki Committee, a rights group, said in an Aug. 17 statement it had asked the Strasbourg-based ECHR to intervene over what it described as "inhuman" treatment on the border.

It said Hungary's Immigration and Asylum Office had refused to provide food to migrants in the camps in order to dissuade them from pursuing court appeals and to return to Serbia.

The ECHR, responding to emailed questions from Reuters, said it had asked Hungary to provide food for applicants in four cases during their stay in the detention centres.

Late on Thursday, the Helsinki Committee said in a fresh statement posted on its website that all asylum seekers in the border camps had been provided with food.

"Today...all of the rejected asylum seekers were given meals," the group said. "We welcome the positive change in the authorities practice but without legislative changes, asylum seekers can still be deprived of food any time."

Hungary's parliament in June passed laws that criminalised giving some kinds of help to illegal immigrants. Hungary also said it would not accept asylum applications from migrants arriving via a country where they are deemed safe from persecution or harm, or where an adequate level of protection is provided.

As all the asylum seekers have come via Serbia, which is classed by Hungary as a safe country, their applications can now be rejected. The European Commission says the changes do not comply with EU law and has launched a procedure against Hungary.

Rightwing nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been one of the strongest opponents of the EU's migration policy.

Story continues

Most migrants entering Hungary moved on to wealthier western European countries anyway. But Orban views them as a threat to what he calls Europe's Christian civilisation and his anti-immigrant stance helped get him re-elected with a landslide in an April election.

The Immigration Office did not respond to emailed questions from Reuters. It was not immediately clear how many people were currently staying in the two detention centres.

Asked about the matter, the Hungarian government spokesman said the law stated that migrants whose asylum application has been rejected must leave the camps on the border.

(Reporting by Krisztina Than; Editing by Gareth Jones and Toby Chopra)ANKARA (Reuters) - Iran's top envoy to Britain said on Thursday a decision by British Airways to suspend flights to Tehran from September was regrettable.

"Considering the high demand ... the decision by the airliner is regrettable," Hamid Baeidinejad wrote on his official Twitter account.

In a statement, British Airways, owned by IAG, said it would suspend its flights between London and Tehran next month as the route "is currently not commercially viable".

The last outbound flight to Tehran will be on Sept. 22, and the last inbound flight from Tehran a day later, a British Airways spokesman said in an email.

(Writing by Parisa Hafezi; editing by Andrew Roche)really short via Flickr , CC BY-SA

Jamie Oliver is no stranger to controversy, as the failure of his 2004-5 Feed Me Better campaign to improve UK school dinners demonstrated. But he really has trouble in the kitchen now, after MPs and other celebrity cooks waded into a heated public debate about culinary authenticity and cultural appropriation over his latest line in convenience foods: Punchy Jerk Rice.

It is not just the alleged act of cultural appropriation that has caused disquiet, although many  including the shadow minister for equality, Dawn Butler, and Conservative MP Neil OBrien  have certainly interpreted it in this way. Oliver also appears to have misunderstood that the term jerk is a cultural tradition which is very specific, as Butler recognised when she questioned whether Oliver even knew what jerk was.

Crucially, jerk is not the same as barbecue, although the terms are often used interchangeably. Historically, jerk refers to the Afro-Caribbean practice of dry rubbing or wet marinating meat with citrus juice, allspice and scotch bonnet, then wrapping it in banana or plantain leaves and cooking it in a pit fire or hole fire over allspice branches, in a method designed to retain the distinct flavours.

Barbecue, by contrast, usually involves marinating meats and then cooking them above ground on a raised platform made from wicker, plant matter or newer stone or metal constructions. Jerk derives from charqui, a Spanish word of indigenous South American origin which means salted dried meat (linked to jerky). It denotes a specific method of marinating and cooking meat which is linked, historically, to the Maroons  or runaway slaves  of colonial Jamaica who are known to have traded their signature jerked wild meats to passing ships from the 1700s onwards.

Jerk is now most commonly associated with roadside cooks in Jamaica who have retained this popular technique. Its also one of Jamaicas most successful and iconic culinary exports.

Barbecue from the Spanish barbacoa has even older origins. It derives from a method of cooking known to have been used by the Amerindians, the Caribbeans first inhabitants. African slaves arriving in the Caribbean may well have known of similar methods of preserving and cooking meat, but they also clearly adopted and adapted the methods which they encountered in the Caribbean, a process called creolisation.

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In the light of this history, Olivers latest offering makes little sense. As Jamaican-born British celebrity cook, Rustie Lee points out "jerk rice is a non-starter, not just because it is culturally inaccurate  it does not contain the key jerk spices of allspice or scotch bonnet  but because you cannot actually jerk rice. The classic starch and protein combination of rice and peas (beans) on the other hand, is a dish which has been eaten for centuries across the Caribbean and the Americas. Its also widely enjoyed everywhere that there is a diasporan Caribbean population  but it is never called jerk.

Authenticity and identity

At the heart of the debate about cultural appropriation is the question of cultural  and especially culinary  authenticity. It is particularly important when it comes to food, which is one of the central ways in which particular ethnic, religion, caste, class, gendered or generational groups define themselves in relation to others.

Indeed, the use of the label of authentic in relation to food is so ubiquitous that we rarely stop to think about how problematic it is. So talk of authentic Indian curries in the UK are anything but. Not only do most Indian restaurants serve Bangladeshi food, but there is no such thing as Indian food  only local or regional cuisines, as any Indian cook will tell you.

The best-known example of an Indian dish in Britain, chicken tikka masala, is a good example of what historian Eric Hobsbawm famously called the invention of tradition  the dish was invented in Britain. In 2001 this celebrated Indian dish featured as the focal point in a particularly lively exchange about British cultural identity and multiculturalism between Labour MPs Robin Cook and Keith Vaz, following the then foreign secretarys speech to the Social Market Foundation in London. Cook argued that:

Chicken tikka masala is now a true British national dish, not only because it is the most popular, but because it is a perfect illustration of the way Britain absorbs and adapts external influences. Chicken tikka is an Indian dish. The masala sauce was added to satisfy the desire of British people to have their meat served in gravy.

Although in the ensuing debate, Vaz attempted to correct Cooks rather mangled account of the dish and its origins, Cook made an important point: that all traditions, culinary or otherwise, are constructed for particular means and that authenticity is neither stable not uncontested. Thus chicken tikka masala may not be authentically Indian but it does show how absorption and adaptation from external influences can be important processes in the emergent definition of a cultural practice or identity. Indeed, Cooks speech has been studied by students as a case study in debates on Britishness, cultural nationalism and multiculturalism as recently as 2013.

Jamaican cool

The problem with Olivers jerk rice is not so much that it involves an act of cultural appropriation, or that it absorbs and adapts external influences (which all cooks do and are free to do) but rather that it uses the term jerk as a kind of shorthand to evoke a range of attractive associations for his product.

Jerk is a term which carries the infinitely marketable associations of what might be termed Jamaican cool  a heady mix of spicy exotic food, reggae music, muscular masculinity (jerk cooking is a very male-dominated practice), endless sunshine and the apparent health benefits of cooking and eating outdoors. It implies a chilled, laid-back vibe with traces perhaps of the potent but rather lazy construction of Jamaica as a narcotic idyll and tourist paradise.

Oliver is certainly not the first, nor will he be the last, to draw on such associations in his adaption of Caribbean food, as my research on the idea of tradition and culinary authenticity in the cookery books of Jamaican-born celebrity cook, Levi Roots has shown. Twitter user Regina Holland aptly summed up the problem of Olivers jerk rice as one of an ongoing bastardisation of Jamaican food.

Olivers jerk rice is merely the latest in a series of recent debates on cultural appropriation in relation to culinary authenticity. Public controversy erupted over Marks & Spencers line of authentic curry kits, including a Bengali turmeric curry which Mallika Basu, author of Indian Cooking for Modern Living, tweeted was at best upsetting, and at worst, offensive and callous. In the US, accusations of cultural appropriation have been levelled at the use of the term aloha by restaurants selling trendy Hawaiian poke sushi bowls.

These debates shouldnt be reduced to a crudely binary divide between those who feel the need to police cultural traditions as pure, fixed entities and those who see the more complicated shifting story of absorption and adaptation as the real picture. We can show respect for the specific histories and cultural origins of the foods we cook and eat without losing sight of the notion that authenticity itself is a movable feast.

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

The Conversation

Sarah Lawson Welsh does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.LazyTown actor Stefan Karl Stefansson has passed away after a two-year battle with bile duct cancer, PEOPLE confirms. He was 43.

Stefansson, who starred as Robbie Rotten in the Nick Jr. series from 2002-14, died at 8:10 a.m. PT on Tuesday in Iceland.

My beloved, Stefan Karl Stefansson, 43, has passed away after battling aggressive bile duct cancer for two years, his wife, Steinunn, said in a statement to PEOPLE.

Per Stefans wishes, there will be no funeral. His earthly remains will be scattered in secrecy in a distant ocean, she continued. Stefans family wants to express their gratitude for the support and warmth received in recent years, and to express their deepest sympathy to the many friends and fans of Stefan Karl.

Stefan Karl Stefansson in LazyTown

Throughout his cancer battle, the actor shared multiple photos on Instagram captured during his hospital visits, including a thumbs up photo in November 2016.

Thank you for the support, he wrote.

Thank you for the support. A post shared by Stefan Karl Stefansson (@stefanssonkarl) on Nov 22, 2016 at 7:15pm PST

In February 2017, the father of four celebrated the end of his chemotherapy treatment, writing on Instagram, All done with chemo for now. #allover #happy #happyplantdad.

In his final Instagram post over a year ago, Stefansson thanked his fans for their support.

From the bottom of my heart I thank you for the support you provide me, wrote Stefansson, who is survived by his wife and children. You give me hope and you all move me.

TMZ first reported the news of his passing.Footage released by Medecins Sans Frontieres on August 22 offers a view of the conditions and scale of Bangladeshs Rohingya refugee camps.

One year ago, the Myanmar Army launched renewed clearance operations against the Rohingya, forcing more than 706,000 people to flee into Bangladesh.

MSF provided over 650,000 medical consultations to the Rohingya fleeing Myanmar, they said over half of their patients were treated for violence-related injuries. Others were treated for conditions that arose due to the unhygienic conditions in the overcrowded camps.

Ive lost my strength, my ability to work. I always have so many worries, worries about the future, says Abu Ahmad, a Rohingya father of eight. I think about food, clothes, peace and our suffering If I stay in this place for 10 years  or even for one month, I will have to suffer this pain. Credit: Medecins Sans Frontieres via StoryfulAn Islamic State attacker has killed his mother and sister and seriously injured another woman in a knife attack just west of Paris.

The unidentified knifeman, who was flagged by French authorities as a suspected radical, stabbed the women in Trappes, in the Yvelines region, hours after an IS leader urged followers to attack enemies everywhere by all means.

The third victim, a passer-by who was gravely injured in the attack, was also a woman, a French official said.

An Islamic State knife attacker killed his mother and sister in Trappes (AP)

French police secure a street after a man killed two people and injured an other in a knife attack in Trappes (Reuters)

Hooded police officers watch out while French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb answers reporters after a knife attack (AP)

Officials confirmed she was not a member of the family.

Authorities did not rule out a family dispute and prosecutors were not immediately treating the attack as a terrorism case.

Jean-Jacques Brot, the top government administrator in Yvelines, tweeted that the attacker in the town of Trappes was neutralised and had died.

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Islamic State, via its Aamaq news agency, claimed responsibility.

The agency said the attack in Trappes was motivated by calls from Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to attack civilians in countries at war with the extremist group.

Hours earlier, IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi urged followers to attack enemies everywhere by all means, including in knife attacks.

Police monitor the area near the attack in Trappes, west of Paris (Reuters)

The location of the attack in Trappes, France (AFP)

French police guard the scene of the knife in the town of Trappes (Reuters)

Police officials said the man was flagged in a government database of suspected religious and political extremists.

The French interior minister said the man had serious psychiatric problems.

Gerard Collomb said the attack is not being treated as a terrorist case for the moment, despite the claim of responsibility by IS.

Mr Collomb said police shot and killed the man after he came out of his mothers house wielding a knife and ignored their warnings.By Jonathan Drake CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (Reuters) - University of North Carolina police on Tuesday were reviewing video to find the protesters who toppled a statue of Confederate soldier on campus, part of a recent movement to dismantle U.S. Civil War symbols that critics say glorify the South's legacy of slavery. About 300 demonstrators gathered on Monday evening for a protest and march at the base of Silent Sam, a memorial erected in 1913 to soldiers of the pro-slavery Confederacy killed during the Civil War. Protesters pulled the statue down with rope, cheering as it lay face down in the mud, its head and back covered in dirt. The university system's board chair, Harry Smith, and president, Margaret Spellings, denounced the toppling of the statue in a joint statement. "The actions last evening were unacceptable, dangerous, and incomprehensible," they said. "We are a nation of laws and mob rule and the intentional destruction of public property will not be tolerated. Last year UNC students threatened to sue the school, alleging that the university violated federal anti-discrimination laws by allowing the statue to remain on campus. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, a Democrat, said in a statement he shared protesters "frustration" over statues but condemned the violent destruction of public property. Campus police arrested at least one person at the protest for wearing a mask and resisting arrest, according to Audrey Smith, a university spokeswoman. The efforts by civil rights groups and others to do away with Confederate monuments such as Silent Sam gained momentum three years ago after avowed white supremacist Dylann Roof murdered nine black people at a church in Charleston, South Carolina. The shooting rampage ultimately led to the removal of a Confederate flag from the statehouse in Columbia. Since then, more than 110 symbols of the Confederacy have been removed across the nation with more than 1,700 still standing, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, a civil rights group. Many of the monuments were erected in the early 20th century, decades after the Civil War's end in 1865. A statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee was vandalized and later removed by school officials last year at neighboring Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. Many Americans see such statues as symbols of racism and glorifications of the southern states' defense of slavery. Others view them as important symbols of American history. The head of the United Daughters of the Confederacy said on Tuesday the group denounced hate groups and asked people to leave Confederate monuments alone. "We are grieved that certain hate groups have taken the Confederate flag and other symbols as their own," the group's president, Patricia Bryson, said in a statement. (Reporting by Jonathan Drake; Additional reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee and Jonathan Allen and Gabriella Borter in New York; Editing by Frances Kerry and Lisa Shumaker)Spanish police announced on August 22 that they had dismantled Europes biggest illegal turtle farm, arresting three people in Mallorca and Barcelona.

More than 1,100 specimens from 62 different species of tortoise were seized, including up to 14 species considered critically endangered, police said.

The operation, which began in February, culminated with the arrest of two German men suspected of operating the farm from Llucmajor, on the island of Mallorca, and a Spanish man who owns an exotic pet store in Barcelona. Another three people remain under investigation. Credit: Guardia Civil via StoryfulIn late July, one day after three Israelis were stabbed by a Palestinian, one fatally, in the Adam settlement, Israel announced that it will build hundreds of new homes in the settlement.

Peace Now NGO, which closely monitors Israeli settlement building, said that almost 400 homes received final approval for construction to begin, while the rest await further bureaucratic approvals.

The plans approved by a defense ministry committee are at various stages in the process.

The worldwide community, along with the Palestinians, considers the settlements illegal and an impediment to peace.

His predecessor Barack Obama said they were incompatible with a two-state solution and did not veto a 2016 UN Security Council resolution declaring they had "no legal validity and constitute [d] a flagrant violation under global law".

Some 600,000 Israelis live in settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem - territories captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war and claimed by the Palestinians for a future state.

Since the inauguration of President Trump, the regime in Tel Aviv has stepped up its construction of settler units on occupied Palestinian land in a blatant violation of global law.

Israeli settlements are considered a violation of worldwide law and major stumbling blocks to peace efforts as they are built on land the Palestinians want for their future state including occupied East Jerusalem.

Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman had promised to build 400 units there in response to the attack.

"The President has made his position on the settlements clear, and we encourage all parties to continue to work towards peace", the State Department said.

Two weeks ago, US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman told Makor Rishon that President Trump "did not demand anything from Israel in return for American recognition of Jerusalem", suggesting Trump had recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel because "this was the right thing to do".TIKRIT, Iraq (Reuters) - A suicide attack on a former Iraqi lawmaker's house killed at least six tribal militiamen and wounded seven others in a northern Sunni Muslim village early on Wednesday, police said.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack but Islamic State militants operate in the area.

A militant wearing a suicide vest blew himself up just after midnight at Adnan al-Ganam's house in the village of Asdira, Colonel Khalil al-Sahn, the police chief of surrounding Shirqat district, told Reuters.

Those killed were members of the Tribal Mobilisation Forces, a network of Sunni militias that back the government in its fight against Islamic State, he said.

The village is north of Tikrit, the capital of Iraq's Salahuddin province.

Islamic State, which had seized control of much of northern Iraq in 2014, lost Shirqat to U.S.-backed Iraqi security forces supported by Sunni tribal fighters in 2016.

A small number of militants are still operating in the area and are capable of launching sporadic attacks, security officials say.

Iraq declared victory over Islamic State in December but security officials say the militants are likely to wage an insurgency after their self-proclaimed caliphate collapsed and they were dislodged from all the territory they held.

Its fighters have kept up a campaign of kidnap and killing, mainly in the provinces of Kirkuk, Diyala and Salahuddin.

(Reporting by Ghazwan Hassan; Writing by Ahmed Aboulenein; Editing by Andrew Heavens)

See Also:Photo credit: IBL/REX - Shutterstock

From Harper's BAZAAR

Princess Estelle of Sweden, the six-year-old daughter of Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel, had a big milestone Tuesday: her first day of school.

Her parents escorted her to Campus Manilla in Stockholm. They took her to a red-and-yellow tram, which took her off to school with classmates and a teacher. And Princess Estelle appeared to fit right in with her new classmates.

Photo credit: JESSICA GOW - Getty Images

Photo credit: JESSICA GOW - Getty Images

Photo credit: IBL/REX - Shutterstock

The Swedish royal family posted pictures of Estelle in class on their official Instagram page.

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According to The Local Sweden, Campus Manilla is a school funded by the Swedish government, but has become a go-to school for Stockholms super-rich. Over the summer, the school has dealt with some controversy, as the schools founder and headmistress resigned after conflicts with the board and parents.

Estelle, who is next in line for the throne after her mother, is starting at a preschool class there this year. "It's a decision the Crown Princess couple has taken," royal spokesperson Margareta Thorgren told Expressen in May. "Nobody in the royal family has gone there before, it's a relatively new school.

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Prior to her first day of school, Princess Estelle enjoyed an idyllic family vacation with her two-year-old brother, Prince Oscar, and their parents. Photos from their trip were released earlier this week.

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The images were taken in July at Solliden Palace in Oland, where the family of four often retreats for the summer, People reports. The sweet moments include hikes in the woods, boat rides, and walking through a field of flowers. One photo even features Oscar on a white horse-and he's really enjoying it.

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('You Might Also Like',)Zalmay Khalilzad, former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, Iraq and the United Nations, listens to speakers during a panel discussion on Afghanistan at the Conservative Political Action conference (CPAC) in Washington, February 12, 2011. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is expected to soon tap Zalmay Khalilzad, an Afghan-born former U.S. ambassador to Kabul and Baghdad, as his special envoy on Afghanistan, two U.S. officials said, the latest signal to the Taliban that Washington is serious about talks to end its longest war.

The decision to tap Khalilzad, a Republican and foreign policy veteran, follows a reported meeting last month between a U.S. diplomat and Taliban officials to explore possible negotiations.

(Reporting by Jonathan Landay; editing by Yara Bayoumy and G Crosse)FILE PHOTO: The cranes of Uljanik shipyard are painted with light during Visualia Festival in the Adriatic town of Pula, Croatia May 8, 2015. REUTERS/Antonio Bronic/File Photo

ZAGREB (Reuters) - Some 4,500 workers at Croatia's largest shipbuilding group Uljanik went on strike on Wednesday and called for management to step down in protest over late payment.

"The management has lost credibility in our eyes, the workers and suppliers have lost confidence," one union leader, Marina Cvitic, said.

Uljanik controls two docks in the northern Adriatic, in the cities of Pula and Rijeka.

The workers control less than 50 percent of the company, with the state also a minority shareholder. Its other owners include local banks and the country's top insurer, Croatia Osiguranje.

The workers gathered in front of the dock entrance calling for new management.

"It's not just about a salary, but about our future. We want new people who will be able to manage the company better," said Boris Cerovac, another union representative.

Last January the European Commission cleared Croatia's state guarantee for a loan worth 96 million euros ($109.80 million) to help the shipyard stay afloat. [LnB5N1JD02F]

Croatia's once prosperous shipbuilding industry has been struggling to survive in the last decades as it lost business to mostly Asian shipbuilders, such as South Korea.

Uljanik's problems are also a potential threat to state coffers as the government has extended guarantees worth several hundred million euros for loans to the shipbuilder.

The company's management said it was working on securing funds for July's salary, but could not guarantee the date of payment.

The government also said it was trying to find a solution. European Union rules do not allow state financial help.

Earlier this year Uljanik chose a local firm Kermas Energija as its strategic partner and submitted a restructuring plan which was forwarded to Brussels for approval, which is pending.

Kermas Energija owns another dock in Croatia, in the southern town of Trogir, where workers there have threatened to go on strike, but management has promised that the July salary will be paid by the end of this week.

Privatisation and restructuring of its docks was a key requirement for Croatia's accession to the EU in 2013 as the government had to stop providing subsidies and prepare its shipyards to survive on the market. In the past Croatia spent some 30 billion kuna to save its shipyards, some estimates say.

(Reporting by Igor Ilic, editing by Louise Heavens)Investors in D4T4 Solutions were reminded of the companys recent positive results on Thursday, including its 13.7% increase in organic top-line growth and the 22% increase in underlying profitability in its most recent financial report, as they gathered for the annual general meeting.

The AIM-traded firm said that outcome was a very satisfactory and solid performance, reflecting its ongoing focus on its higher-margin real-time customer data platform software, and its hybrid cloud data platform services business which it claimed had set the company in good stead to deliver year-on-year growth for the year ending March 2019.

Non-executive chairman Peter Simmonds said the board was already seeing encouraging returns from its business investment programme, including improvements to its CRM, accounting, management support and reporting systems.

We have also invested in our partner-based sales strategy and, during the year, we will continue to scale up these relationships which will deliver further rewards both this year and in the future, he explained.

Our pipeline of sales opportunities in the UK and internationally is growing and we are very excited by the many opportunities that are presenting themselves.

This was underpinned last week when we were delighted to update shareholders with news that in this first half, we had successfully won several new, and extensions to existing, data management and data collection contracts in our key vertical sectors - financial services and consumer organisations.

Simmonds said those multi-year projects had been on the back of demand for both D4T4s Celebrus software product set and its hybrid cloud data platform services, which had apparently seen good traction, particularly in the North American and EMEA markets.

He added that it also put the firm on track to return to more normalised levels of business weighting for the first half of the current financial year, against the comparable period last year.

In addition, the company announced in its final results statement released on 26 June that the debtor balance owing was 19.5m as at 31 March, due to the business weighting occurring late in the second half.

The company confirms that it has received payment of the 19.5m, and therefore now has a strengthened cash balance, providing the company significant flexibility to execute on corporate strategy."

Simmonds explained that the board believed that D4T4 had a clear strategy in place that would allow it to develop and deliver on the opportunities ahead, and that those would deliver sustainable growth and enable it to achieve its ambitious plans over the coming months and years.

In summary, the group remains committed to a progressive dividend policy based on the overall performance whilst also balancing its investments for future growth.

Our balance sheet is in good shape, with no debt and the company remains strongly cash generative.

Combine this with the people, skill set and the flexibility to keep moving forward; the board remains confident of delivering on its expectations for the year ahead.Natural resources investor Solo Oil provided investors with an update on the operational progress seen at its Tanzanian assets on Thursday.

Solo Oil, which holds a 25% beneficial interest in the Ruvuma well and a 7.55% interest in the Kiliwani North-1 site, told investors on Wednesday that Aminex, the operator of both projects, had been driving forward operations over its key assets.

At Ruvuma, the tendering process for a rig to drill Chikumbi-1 was now complete, with the company having already received numerous bids, which were set to be evaluated on their "technical and commercial merits".

Solo expects the well to delineate the Ntorya gas field in a "significantly thicker section" of the Cretaceous reservoir system and is also being planned to evaluate a potential deeper exploration target in the Jurassic formation.

If successful, CH-1 is expected to be produced into the existing Madimba Gas Processing Plant and ultimately integrated into a full field development programme.

Meanwhile, pressure at the Kiliwani North-1 well has sufficiently built up and both Solo and Aminex were looking to stimulate the reservoir as soon as possible.

Alastair Ferguson, Solo's chairman, said, "We are pleased to see operational progress being made by Aminex in operations in Tanzania. The rig tendering process is an important step towards the planning and execution of Chikumbi-1, a well designed to further unlock the potential resources in the Ruvuma PSA."

As of 1000 BST, Solo Oil shares had picked up 2.22% to 2.30p.Digital payment solutions provider ThinkSmart has sold 90% of the share capital of ClearPay to AfterPay Touch Group , a company listed on the ASX, it announced on Thursday.

The AIM-traded firm said ClearPay, a company which began trading in July last year and formally launched in March, allows retailers to offer their customers the ability at the point of sale to make purchases of up to 450 and spread the cost over three interest-free monthly payments.

Its subsidiary, ThinkSmart Europe, has sold 90% of the issued shares in ClearPay to AfterPay for 1,000,000 shares in the capital of AfterPay - currently valued at AUD 18.55m - to be issued to ThinkSmart Europe.

An initial tranche of 750,000 shares would be issued to ThinkSmart Europe at completion on 23 August, and a second tranche of 250,000 shares would be issued on 23 February 2019, being six months from completion.

AfterPay was acquiring the ClearPay corporate entity, including ClearPay's contracts with relevant service providers and key employees with local knowledge of the UK market and regulatory landscape.

ClearPay's existing retailers and customers currently transacting on ClearPay's system would be afforded the opportunity to transition to AfterPay's global platform on launch, expected to be within the next six months.

ThinkSmart explained that, utilising the local capabilities of the ClearPay entity and team, it would prepare to launch its globally scalable system into the UK within the next six months, and would immediately engage with relevant retailers with a local UK presence.

The company's subsidiary, RentSmart, entered into a business separation and transitional services agreement with ClearPay to support the transaction and facilitate the transition to AfterPay.

A proportion of the 10% shareholding in ClearPay retained by ThinkSmart Europe would be made available to employees of ClearPay under an employee share ownership plan, the board said.

After completion, ThinkSmart Europe would make available some of the shares in ClearPay held by it for the grant of options under the programme, up to 3.5% of the total share capital of ClearPay.

Any such options would only be exercisable on an ultimate exit event or at such time as ThinkSmart Europe no longer held shares in ClearPay.

ThinkSmart said it also had rights of pre-emption to subscribe for shares in ClearPay in any follow-on fundraise.

Afterpay had an option to acquire the remaining shares held by ThinkSmart Europe, and any shares forming part of the employee share ownership pln, exercisable any time after five years from completion based on agreed valuation principles.

If the option to purchase was not exercised by AfterPay within five years and six months from completion, then ThinkSmart Europe could exercise a put option to sell the remaining shares in ClearPay held by it and any shares forming part of the employee share ownership plan to AfterPay at a price calculated on agreed valuation principles.

The company said it was also a party to the sale-and-purchase agreement, and was guaranteeing the obligations of ThinkSmart Europe under that agreement.

For the 12 month period to 30 June, ClearPay incurred unaudited losses of 0.6m and as at 30 June had unaudited balance sheet net assets of 1.4m, excluding intercompany debt.

The group said it would continue to operate its existing core credit and leasing business, and to invest in its proprietary leading digital payments solution SmartCheck.

The board is pleased to crystallise a significant return on investment for shareholders with the sale of 90% of ClearPay, while still retaining an ongoing investment in what, in our view is the leading player in this sector globally, having recently successfully entered the US market, said ThinkSmart executive chairman Ned Montarello.

AfterPay's product, ongoing success and go to market strategy is compelling and we are delighted to now be a part of this story.

In a market three times the size of Australia the acquisition of ClearPay will assist AfterPay in becoming the dominant player in the UK market with the potential for significant growth over the next five years.Educational services group Wey Education updated the market on trading for its year ending 31 August on Thursday, reporting that it was anticipating group turnover to exceed market expectations of 4.1m.

The AIM-traded firm said it had made significant progress with the Academy 21 acquisition, made in December, which was now integrated into the group.

Underlying profit and loss was expected to be in line with market expectations, with cash balances to remain substantial and in excess of 4m, according to Weys board.

On the international front, Wey noted that it had established a Nigerian subsidiary during the year, and said its Chinese joint venture was in the final stages of negotiation, with first sales expected in September.

[We are] pleased with progress made in 2017/18, and [the] foundations built for further growth, the Wey Education board said in its statement.The USD 20 billion rail project was contracted with China's largest engineering firm, China Communications Construction Company, and mostly financed by a loan from the Export-Import Bank of China. "I believe China itself does not want to see Malaysia become a bankrupt country", he said on August 21, before departing for Kuala Lumpur.

Mahathir also told the press on Tuesday that he did not bring up Low Taek Jho, the Malaysian financier wanted for his role in the multi-billion-dollar scandal at state fund 1MDB, in his dialogue with the Chinese leaders, local reports said.

In an interview with CNN last month, Mahathir, who still voiced doubts over China's "spreading influence through money", said that Malaysia has to accept the reality of a dominant China in the region and can not go to war with Beijing over the South China Sea.

In an exclusive interview with Caixin on Monday, Mahathir said Malaysia is seeking to reach a mutually beneficial outcome with Beijing as Southeast Asia's third-largest economy plans to "postpone or scrap" some mega projects funded with money borrowed from China. Najib is now being investigated over charges that he looted billions of dollars from the state investment fund.

The Economic Times of India saluted Malaysia on Monday as "the front edge of a new phenomenon: a pushback against Beijing as nations fear becoming overly indebted for projects that are neither viable nor necessary, except in their strategic value to China or use in propping up friendly strongmen".

"With the Chinese government, they don't talk about the companies".

Mahathir made the comments while addressing the media in Beijing during his five-day trip to China.

According to data from Tourism Malaysia, Chinese tourists to Malaysia totaled 2.28 million in 2017, making up over 18 percent of Malaysia's total tourism for the year.

The centrepiece of China's Belt and Road infrastructure push in Malaysia is the ambitious $27 billion East Coast Rail Link project, work on which has been suspended pending discussions over pricing.

Li, in turn, said his government is willing to promote bilateral ties and economic cooperation with Malaysia.

Map showing the projects subsumed under the Belt and Road Initiative as of December 2015.

"With that debt, if we are not careful we can become bankrupt", he added.

"Mahathir is trying to find and demand fairer terms and deals with China, so that we won't be overdependent-we will not just simply close our door to anyone because we have some disagreements", he said.

"The Chinese investors felt anxious because I took over and people were saying I was anti-Chinese and all that. They must conform to the normal conditions of foreign investment".

Israa' said, "Mahathir has shown that although we're smaller, and we really have to depend on China's finance, we still have the position and ability to determine what is the best for us, and we should not just be subservient to what China wants".Under a no-deal scenario, goods that currently move freely between Britain and the EU would need customs declarations. The carrier of the goods would also have to make separate safety and security declarations. The EU would also require the declarations for goods coming into the EU from the UK.

Before importing goods from the EU under a no-deal departure, UK companies will need to register as a UK economic operator and make sure their contracts and terms of service reflect their new position as an importer. Companies may also need to use a customs broker, which will cost money. Companies may have to pay VAT upfront as well, unless the goods are stores in a customs or excise warehouse.

These are just some of the extra processes and complications exporters and importers are likely to face if the UK fails to agree terms with the EU by 29 March. The government published the details in one of 25 technical papers released on Thursday to prepare businesses and the public for a no-deal exit.

"If the UK left the EU [...] without a deal there would be immediate changes to the procedures that apply to businesses trading with the EU. It would mean that the free circulation of goods between the UK and EU would cease," the government said.

The government also said it had more than 7,000 people working on leaving the EU with funding agreed to hire another 9,000 civil servants  including nearly 6,500 operational staff.

The papers also said UK consumers may have to put up with slower, more expensive credit card payments when buying EU products and that British bank customers living in the EU "may lose the ability to access lending and deposit services, and insurance contracts."

Brexit secretary Dominic Raab said the papers were meant to stimulate a "sensible, responsible and realistic conversation about what a no deal situation really means." In a speech , he said 80% of the withdrawal agreement was in place and that a good deal was the most likely outcome of talks with the EU.

Trade secretary Liam Fox said earlier this month the chances of the UK leaving the EU with no deal had increased to 60:40 because of Brussels' intransigence.The UK government called on Thursday for an additional six weeks of drug stockpiles in order to be prepared in case of a 'no-deal' Brexit.

The government sent a letter to pharmaceutical companies asking them to ensure they have a minimum of six weeks' additional supply in the UK by 29 March 2019, with some firms having already responded that it might be a difficult target to reach.

There are still doubts around how exactly the pharmaceutical sector will function after the divorce amid a recent rise in concerns over potential drug shortages.

Westminster is looking into possible solutions, including by using products that have been licensed and tested in the EU.

Although the UK is still part of the European Medicine Agency, the drug regulator is already making preparations for life after Brexit and is in the process of moving its headquarters from London to Amsterdam.

The call from lawmakers followed the release of the first batch of technical discussion notes on Thursday covering what preparations businesses and consumers needed to make for a no-deal Brexit, with officials having gone as far as telling businesses to consider setting up warehouses to store the products which they might otherwise export to the EU.TalkTalk surged on Thursday as Barclays upped the stock to 'overweight' from 'equalweight', saying operating trends look set to improve.

In a broader note on European telecom services, the bank said: "After years of incumbents squeezing challengers and promoting network advantage, we believe the balance of power is now swinging back towards challengers. We see challengers increasingly having more effective tools with which to profitably fight back, jeopardising incumbent retail and wholesale businesses."

It said that while TalkTalk has suffered market share losses in the past few years, negative earnings momentum, and rising leverage, 12 months on from its strategy 'reset', Barclays sees a return to top-line growth with its and consensus earnings estimates appearing to have bottomed.

Barclays has a 150p price target on TalkTalk.

Back in July, the company posted a 4.1% jump in first-quarter revenue to 382m as it added 80,000 net broadband customers, taking the total to 4.22m. This was down from the 109,000 it added in the final quarter of the previous year but up from the 20,000 added in the same quarter of last year and TalkTalk said it was on track to add another 150,000 new customers this year.

Analysts at UBS slashed their target price for shares of Travis Perkins, pointing to the company's more mixed track record over the past years on market outperformance and cost discipline.

Among the main negatives in its equity story, they highlighted the lack of market share growth at its General Merchanting arm - which accounted for 50% of group EBITA - and the dramatic drop in profits at its home improvement arm, Wickes, starting in the back half of 2017.

The Plumbing and Heating business had also gone through a trying time between 2015 and 2017, they said.

UBS's Gregor Kuglitsch and Miguel Borrega conceded the shares had de-rated as a result and that at just 47% their EV/sales, they could turn out to be a contrarian value opportunity.

But due to the uncertainties around the company's macro and strategic direction, they decided to retain their 'neutral' recommendation on the stock.

They also lowered their target price from 1,515p to 1,240p, pointing out how weak consumer spending, together with pricing pressure, had led to a drop in profits in Wickes.

Operating earnings on an EBITDA basis at Wickes were seen falling from 81.0m in 2016 to 37.0m in 2018.

The Swiss broker also expressed doubts on the long-term fit of P&H and Wickes with the rest of the business, due to their volatile earnings structural attractiveness.

"We think the focus should be on growing General Merchanting, Contracts and Toolstation. Particularly finding an answer to the growth of fixed price merchants (of which Toolstation is one) and independents will be key, in our view."

With Bakkavor's free cash flow growth looking set to be limited for the rest of the year, analysts at Kepler Cheuvreux cut their target price on the firm by 2.5% to 195p.

Kepler believes that 2018 will be a year of little FCF generation for Bakkavor, amid higher-than-expected capital expenditures.

Indeed, the lion's share of Bakkavor's 100m capex identified for its three larger expansion projects in the UK, US and China will fall in 2018, had left the broker slightly concerned about the firm's free cash flow in the short term.

"New capacity in China and the US will come on stream, but we do not expect much benefit on the bottom line yet," the broker said while axing its price target from 200p to 195p and reiterating its 'hold' rating on the stock.

As well, Kepler forecast Bakkavor would report modest growth in the UK, but still opted to trim its EBITDA estimate for the full-year by 1%, based on the cold weather seen across Europe in the first quarter and lower margin expectations for the firm's international business in the near-term.

Nevertheless, while the broker said Bakkavor's first half would likely be "uninspiring", it expects management to confirm that sales and profit momentum are likely to improve over the course of the second half of the trading year.Analysts at UBS slashed their target price for shares of Travis Perkins , pointing to the company's more mixed track record over the past years on market outperformance and cost discipline.

Among the main negatives in its equity story, they highlighted the lack of market share growth at its General Merchanting arm - which accounted for 50% of group EBITA - and the dramatic drop in profits at its home improvement arm, Wickes, starting in the back half of 2017.

The Plumbing and Heating business had also gone through a trying time between 2015 and 2017, they said.

UBS's Gregor Kuglitsch and Miguel Borrega conceded the shares had de-rated as a result and that at just 47% their EV/sales, they could turn out to be a contrarian value opportunity.

But due to the uncertainties around the company's macro and strategic direction, they decided to retain their 'neutral' recommendation on the stock.

They also lowered their target price from 1,515p to 1,240p, pointing out how weak consumer spending, together with pricing pressure, had led to a drop in profits in Wickes.

Operating earnings on an EBITDA basis at Wickes were seen falling from 81.0m in 2016 to 37.0m in 2018.

The Swiss broker also expressed doubts on the long-term fit of P&H and Wickes with the rest of the business, due to their volatile earnings structural attractiveness.

"We think the focus should be on growing General Merchanting, Contracts and Toolstation. Particularly finding an answer to the growth of fixed price merchants (of which Toolstation is one) and independents will be key, in our view."

A strategy review was ongoing with its results due in December 2018.First thing on Friday morning, traders will be busy scanning for any headlines concerning China-US trade talks in Washington.

Assuming no surprises, positive or negative, the spotlight will quickly shift to the US central bank's annual Economic Symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, later in the day.

On Wednesday, the minutes of the Federal Reserve's last policy meeting surprised some observers, due to the breadth and depth of the topics discussed on that occasion, including the potential impact on the economy of heightened trade tensions, the implications of the flattening bond yield curve and how to proceed in the next downturn.

Hence, it was impossible to dismiss the potential for further surprises outright.

On the data front, a reading on durable goods orders in the States for the month of July was set to be published, at 1330 BST, and it could move markets.

The Belgian central bank's business confidence gauge for August will follow, at 1400 BST, and will also merit attention, to the extent that it sometimes anticipates movements in the better-known, and very widely-followed, business confidence index for Germany compiled each month by the IFO institute.

Of course, with the bank holiday around the corner, trading volumes in both equity and currency markets are likely to be lower than usual.

Meanwhile, and in the corporate patch, Computacenter is among the handful of companies that is set to release their results at the end of the week.

Following a positive update in July, in which the IT specialist said it was witnessing strong momentum, particularly in Germany, according to analysts markets are expecting a solid set of half-year figures.

Significantly, as those at UBS pointed out, sector peers Softcat and Bechtle had said much the same, indicating that Computacenter was benefiting from a broader trend.

Nevertheless, the Swiss broker was keen for an update on the firm's UK outsourcing business following slow growth in the firs three months of the year.

It was also hoping for news from the company of progress on its offshoring capabilities and on potential M&A transactions.

Results from Kingspan were also scheduled for Friday, with UBS predicting that the building materials supplier would post first half like-for-like sales growth of 4%, driven by M&A, the timing of Easter and easier comparables.

EBITA growth meanwhile was pegged at 8%, albeit alongside margins slipping by 0.2 percentage points to 9.9%.

According to analyst Gregor Kuglitsch, the market appeared to be pricing in some upside risk to the company's full-year EBITA.

Friday August 24

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Durable Goods Orders (US) (13:30)

Gross Domestic Product (GER) (07:00)

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

BBA Mortgage Lending Figures (09:30)

FINALS

Byotrol

INTERIMS

Computacenter, Henry Boot, Kingspan Group

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Independent Inv Trust, Microgen, Octopus Titan VCT

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

APQ Global Limited, Primary Health Properties, Tetragon Financial Group Limited

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Artemis Alpha Trust

EGMS

Infrastructure India, PJSC Lukoil ADR

AGMS

Naspers Ltd. ADR

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Bloomsbury Publishing, CMC Markets, Downing One VCT , GB Group, Latham (James), Micro Focus InternationalIn a boost for London's financial services sector , Goldman Sachs has opened a UK retail bank on Thursday, marking its first expansion overseas as the firm pushes into consumer banking, reported The Financial Times.

The lender said in a memo that there would be a wider roll-out in the coming weeks, in a move described as "an important milestone in the growth of Goldman Sachs's consumer business as well as diversification of the firms funding."

Richard Gnodde, head of the banks international branch told the Financial Times a few months back that it was planning on expanding the new program, named Marcus, to more countries in the EU, starting with Germany.

Marcus was launched in 2016 and has already accumulated over $20bn in deposits and lent out $3bn to clients.

The UK business will start by offering easy-access online savings accounts, lending products set to be introduced as soon as next year.

Recently, Goldman Sachs also agreed to sell and leaseback its new London headquarters, having chosen to remain despite Brexit.

Goldman is selling its Plumtree Court office to Koreas National Pension Service in a deal valued at 1.16bn. In theory, it will lease the building for 25 years.

The US bank has 6,000 employees in London based at three sites, although the 10-storey site at Plumtree can accommodate up to 8,000 people.Hormel Foods lost some ground in early trade on Thursday after the company revealed its third-quarter sales had fallen short of expectations on the Street, leading it to cut its outlook for the full year.

The Minnesota-based branded foods company saw net income rise 15% to $210.2m, or $0.39 per share, matching consensus estimates, and sales grew 7% to a record $2.36bn, which, while an all-time high, was still shy of analysts' estimates of $2.39bn.

Hormel's refrigerated foods sales jumped 10% to $1.20bn, again short of the consensus $1.24bn reading, while grocery products sales slipped 0.2% to $617.7 m, but beat expectations of $578.8m.

Hormel reaffirmed its 2018 earnings per share guidance of $1.81 to $1.95, but decided to drop its sales outlook for the full year to $9.4bn to $9.6bn from its previous estimate of $9.7bn to $10.1bn as a result of "volatility due to tariffs and broader industry dynamics."

The maker of Spam highlighted that increasing supplies of beef, chicken and pork supplies was weighing on meat companies' profit margins, forcing them to slash prices in order to prevent their stockpiles from rising.

As of 1500 BST, Hormel shares were down 3.80% to $37.06 each.America ramped-up its trade war with China overnight, with a second round of 25% tariffs, this time on $16bn-worth of Chinese products, having kicked into effect at the stroke of midnight.

As expected, the move triggered an immediate response from Beijing, which slapped retaliatory levies of the same value on US products.

China also said it planned to file a fresh complaint against the tariffs at the World Trade Organization (WTO), claiming that they were in breach of the organisation's rules. That was on top of another filed in July following the first round of tariffs imposed by the US.

The new tariffs came into force even as officials from both countries were holding talks in Washington this week.

According to remarks from the US president in July, the new $16bn-worth of levies were only a small part of the final amount of tariffs that might finally be levied. Together, the two giants had already slapped tariffs on a combined $100bn-worth of each others' products since early July with Donald Trump having said he was ready to tax all Chinese exports to the US, which were worth roughly $500bn.

To take note of, the US imported far more goods from China than it exported to it, leaving the Asian country at a bit of a disadvantage if it sought to equal Washington's moves, yuan for yuan.

Critically, it was feared that the impact of their actions would extend far and wide because of Chinese-based companies' use of integrated supply chains, which meant that China itself imported materials for assembly purchased from South East Asian countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia or even Japan.

The International Monetary Fund said last month that if the dispute continued to escalate it could trigger a 0.5% contraction in global growth by 2020.European stocks finished lower following a weaker-than-expected reading on euro area manufacturing, even as investors waited on the result of two days of trade talks between China and the US, although not much was expected in the way of progress.

Worth noting, according to some economists the above data was akin "to warning lights flashing". In the background meanwhile, the minutes of the US central bank's last policy meeting released overnight had also contained some slightly more mixed messages than on prior occasions.

Commenting on the current backdrop in markets, Michael Hewson at CMC Markets UK said preliminary talks between Washington and Beijing "look unlikely to yield too much in the way of progress [...] with the US President, given his current political difficulties, unlikely to want to concede any further ground."

On the subject of Wednesday night's Fed minutes, Hewson said: "the contents of the minutes do appear to suggest that officials are becoming concerned about the approach of a number of factors that might present risks to the US economy, including the current uncertainty about trade."

At the end of the session, the benchmark Stoxx 600 was standing 0.17% or 0.64 points lower at 383.38, alongside a dip of 0.16% or 20.12 points for the German Dax to 12,365.58, while the FTSE Mibtel was off by 0.44% or 91.19 points at 20,608.51.

In parallel, euro/dollar was drifting lower by 0.48% to 1.15402.

Weighing on the single-currency, IHS Markit's widely-followed factory sector Purchasing Managers' Index for the euro area retreated from a reading of 55.1 for July to 54.6 in August, missing the consensus forecast for a print of 55.1.

"Warning lights are flashing. [...] political worries, rising prices and a recent slowdown in order book growth have all contributed to the gloomiest outlook for almost two years, according to companies' expectations of their future output," said IHS Markit economist Chris Williamson.

"In manufacturing, optimism is down to its lowest for almost three years, as a near stalling of exports corroborated escalating trade war worries."

On that note, and from a sector standpoint, Autos&Parts stocks had skidded lower, with the corresponding Stoxx 600 sector gauge falling 1.55% to 525.51, with gains of 0.77% for Technology only acting as a partial offset.

Contributing to the selling perhaps, and also overnight, previously announced reciprocal tariffs of 25% on a combined $32.0bn-worth of goods had gone into effect between China and the US.

Over in corporate news, stock in Ryanair was a high-flyer following news that management had clinched a deal with its Irish pilots.

Swiss asset manager GAM meanwhile was again at the bottom of the pile on the Stoxx 600.

There were also some negative headlines swirling around Deutsche Bank and Austria's Raiffeisen Bank linked to their activities with Russian clients.European stocks are trading on a mixed note following a weaker-than-expected reading on euro area manufacturing, even as investors wait on the result of two days of trade talks between China and the US, although not much is expected in the way of progress.

Worth noting, according to some economists that data was akin "to warning lights flashing". In the background meanwhile, the minutes of the US central bank's last policy meeting released overnight had also contained some slightly more mixed messages than on prior occasions.

Commenting on the current backdrop in markets, Michael Hewson at CMC Markets UK said preliminary talks between Washington and Beijing "look unlikely to yield too much in the way of progress [...] with the US President, given his current political difficulties, unlikely to want to concede any further ground."

On the subject of Wednesday night's Fed minutes, Hewson said: "the contents of the minutes do appear to suggest that officials are becoming concerned about the approach of a number of factors that might present risks to the US economy, including the current uncertainty about trade."

As of 1154 BST, the benchmark Stoxx 600 was edging higher by 0.09% or 0.34 points to 384.36, albeit alongside a 0.15% or 18.01 point dip for the German Dax to 12,367.73, while the FTSE Mibtel was off by 0.33% or 68.99 points at 20,630.71.

In parallel, euro/dollar was drifting lower by 0.08% to 1.15874.

Weighing on the single-currency, IHS Markit's widely-followed factory sector Purchasing Managers' Index for the euro area retreated from a reading of 55.1 for July to 54.6 in August, missing the consensus forecast for a print of 55.1.

"Warning lights are flashing. [...] political worries, rising prices and a recent slowdown in order book growth have all contributed to the gloomiest outlook for almost two years, according to companies' expectations of their future output," said IHS Markit economist Chris Williamson.

"In manufacturing, optimism is down to its lowest for almost three years, as a near stalling of exports corroborated escalating trade war worries."

On that note, and from a sector standpoint, come midday Autos&Parts stocks had skidded further still, with the corresponding Stoxx 600 sector gauge falling 0.86% to 529.19, with gains of 0.87% for Technology acting as an offset.

Contributing to the selling perhaps, and also overnight, previously announced reciprocal tariffs of 25% on a combined $32.0bn-worth of goods had gone into effect between China and the US.

Still on the economic calendar for 1330 BST, the European Central Bank was set to publish the minutes from its own last policy meeting.

Over in corporate news, stock in Ryanair was a high-flyer following news that management had clinched a deal with its Irish pilots.

Swiss asset manager GAM meanwhile was again at the bottom of the pile on the Stoxx 600.

There were also some negative headlines swirling around Deutsche Bank and Austria's Raiffeisen Bank linked to their activities with Russian clients.Our struggle is to bring social, political, and economic justice to our nation. This is an effort of the Chicano/Mexican American Digital History Project. https://sites.google.com/site/chicanodigital/A hurricane warning has been issued for Hawaii and Maui Counties as Hurricane Lane continues to move towards the state as a powerful Category 4 storm.

Hurricane Lane was upgraded to a Category 5 storm and it neared the Hawaiian islands early Wednesday, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center said. "Regardless of the exact track of the center, major impacts are likely in some areas as the hurricane makes its closest approach". In this case, the watch means that at least tropical storm-force winds are expected within 48 hours.

Lane is forecast to move dangerously close to the main Hawaiian Islands later this week, potentially bringing damaging winds and life-threatening flash flooding from heavy rainfall anywhere in the state.

From the 5:36 a.m.

A swell generated by Lane could bring very large and rough surf and risky rip currents for south- and southeast-facing shores, the weather service said.

Officials with the Central Pacific Hurricane Center have issued Hurricane warnings for the islands of Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Kahoolawe and the Big Island.

Public schools on the Big Island and in Maui County closed Wednesday until further notice.

"Based on the current track of the storm, we made the decision to begin to sortie the Pearl Harbor-based ships", Fort said in a release. Just 4 percent of hurricanes and typhoons are annular, and they are known for their staying power, weakening more slowly under unfavorable conditions compared with conventional storms. And prevailing winds in the tropics flow west.

Deep tropical moisture associated with Lane will spread across all islands. Extreme moisture levels surrounding Lane will create an unstable environment with muggy and humid weather conditions along with frequent showers.

Intense rain and thunderstorms are also expected to reach the Big Island this morning. This raises concerns for flash flooding and mudslides into early next week.

Paul Akamine fills propane tanks for customers as Hurricane Lane approaches Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. August 22, 2018.

The hurricane was about 490 kilometers south of Kailua-Kona and moving northwest toward other islands. "I urge our residents and visitors to take this threat seriously and prepare for a significant impact". It's also important to expect future adjustments to the track and intensity forecast, particularly with the challenging recurvature forecast that Lane is presenting. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

There's uncertainty to Lane's path, according to meteorologist Gavin Shigesato.CRH reported a 5% increase in first-half profit as the building materials group benefited from recovering construction markets following a bout of severe winter weather.

Pre-tax profit from continuing operations at the FTSE 100 company rose to 497m (446m) from 475m in the six months to the end of June as revenue increased 1% to 11.9bn.

Like-for-like earnings rose 1% in Europe and 3% in the Americas but problems in the Philippines sent earnings down 59% in Asia.

The Dublin-based company's business was affected by the severe winter weather that hit Europe in March, causing a virtual shutdown of construction activity in many countries. Some markets had not fully recovered lost volumes by the end of the first half, CRH said.

In the Americas, activity recovered in the second quarter after bad weather earlier in the year and business was supported by the strong economy. In the Philippines, rising fuel and power costs drove profit down.

Chief executive Albert Manifold said: "We have had a good first half despite significant weather disruption in Europe and North America in the first quarter. Construction markets continued to recover and pricing gathered momentum in key European markets while there was solid volume and price growth against a positive economic backdrop in the Americas.

Manifold said he expected momentum to improve in Europe in the second half and for earnings to be higher than a year ago. Growing construction markets in the US and improvements to infrastructure will help drive further earnings growth in the Americas. Earnings in the Philippines will be similar in the second half to the first half, he said.Phoenix Group said it expected to beat the upper end of its cash generation target as the closed life funds company posted flat profits for the first half.

The FTSE 250 company said it generated 349m of cash in the six months to the end of June, down from 360m a year earlier. It said it would exceed the top end of its cash generation target of 1bn to 1.2bn for 2017 and 2018.

Operating profit for the first half was 216m, little changed from 215m a year earlier. The company set aside 68m to cap fees for unitised non-workplace pensions.

Phoenix agreed in February to buy Standard Life's insurance business for 2.9bn and has been working towards that deal since. It raised 950m in July to fund the acquisition, which is expected to complete at the end of August.

Clive Bannister, Phoenixs chief executive, said: "The group has delivered strong cash generation; and expects to exceed its 2017-2018. Our commitment to improving customer outcomes is evidenced by the introduction of fee caps on unitised non-workplace pensions following a similar move with workplace schemes in 2017.

"Having received enormous support from our investors I am delighted to announce that we anticipate completion of the acquisition of Standard Life Assurance on 31 August 2018."Playtech - which issued a profit warning back in July - posted a drop in interim earnings on Thursday but a rise in revenue as the gaming and casino software maker said Asian markets were increasingly competitive.

In the six months to 30 June, adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation were down 15% to 145m and adjusted net profit slid 34% to 83.3m, even as revenue increased 4% to 436.5m. The company held its dividend flat at 12.1 cents.

Playtech noted that an increase in new market entrants in China saw the development of a "highly competitive" pricing environment.

Although increased competition is set to remain in the region, the group does not believe the current pricing environment is sustainable in its current form. As a result, it has decided not to change its pricing levels in Asia and instead has focused its response on underlining the premium position of its content offering in the region. The group has launched a number of new games, focused on branded games content and increased the support given to partners in the region for them to offer progressive jackpots.

Playtech added that the challenges faced in China in the first half are unique to that region and there is no risk of contagion into the regulated part of the business.

Excluding Asia, organic B2B revenues were up 16%, driven by sport revenue and new licenses.

The company said its financials division, TradeTech, enjoyed strong growth, driven by organic growth and further acceleration delivered by acquisitions. Revenue and adjusted EBITDA grew 37% and 72% respectively on a reported basis.

Chairman Alan Jackson said: "Playtech has had an extremely busy first half of the year with important operational progress and new licensee wins in key strategic markets, the UK, Europe and Latin America. This continued progress is resulting in higher quality earnings for Playtech with group revenue now 69% regulated. Following headwinds in Asia and a full year contribution from the landmark Snaitech acquisition, regulated revenue at current run rate is expected to be circa 80% in 2018.

"This progress is marked against the disappointing market conditions in Asia. However, it should be noted the headwinds in the Asian market are not reflective of the core strength of the Playtech model as the regulated segment continues to report organic growth and encouraging momentum."

Playtech also provided an update on current trading, saying that positive momentum in TradeTech in the first half has continued into the second, with the B2B division continuing to deliver a strong performance in line with management's strategy.Ryanair shares flew higher on Thursday as the budget airline reached an agreement with the union representing its Irish pilots.

After 22 hours of discussions, the accord will now be put to a ballot of pilots, which Forsa is recommending they accept.

The talks centred on the issues of pay, annual leave, promotion and the company's ability to switch pilots between its bases.

CMC Markets analyst Michael Hewson said: "Hopefully this will bring to an end the huge disruption that passengers have experienced as a result of managements confrontational approach to staff relations.

"Whether it will be enough to repair the damage to the brand in the wake of the companys unsympathetic approach to stranding some of its passengers is another matter. A lot of people could well be reluctant to take a chance on travelling with Ryanair in the future given this years problems."

Neil Wilson, chief market analyst at Markets.com, said the agreement bodes well for management resolving the other labour disputes across Europe, with issues in Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden.

"The likelihood is that remaining pilot union concerns will be resolved fairly quickly following this agreement. We also note that cabin crew disputes may not be as easily resolved, although the implication is that Ryanair is willing to engage with third-party mediators to square away these kind of disagreements," Wilson said.

"Indeed it shows a new and not inconsiderable resolve by management to end the strikes, but it does not suggest the core thesis - that unionisation will result in higher labour costs and lower margins - is fundamentally wrong. It does though remove a significant overhang for investors."

At 0945 BST, the shares were up 6.5% to 14.00US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that stock markets would crash if he is impeached and commented on the Michael Cohen case, saying that cooperating with the government in exchange for a lighter sentence "almost ought to be illegal".

In an interview with the Fox News channel, Trump said: "If I ever got impeached, I think the market would crash. I think everybody would be very poor," adding that Americans would see economic "numbers that you wouldnt believe in reverse".

"I dont know how you can impeach somebody who's done a great job," he added. The president also gave his own presidency's performance so far an "A+" mark, claiming nobody had done what he had done before.

Former lawyer Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to a New York court on Tuesday to breaking campaign finance laws and said he had acted at the request of a federal candidate, in what was believed to be a reference to Trump.

Cohen has not agreed to cooperate with special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into the Russian meddling of the 2016 presidential election and the suspected collusion between Trump and Moscow. Nevertheless, he could still agree to share information with Mueller in exchange for a lighter sentence.

Trump accused Cohen of implicating him in order to get a better deal with prosecutors. He said Cohen was making up lies although the lawyer never used Trumps name in court and always referred to him as the "candidate".

"It's called flipping and it almost ought to be illegal," Trump said. "It's not a fair thing, but that's why he did it. He made a very good deal."

In a separate trial, also on Tuesday, Trumps former campaign chairman Paul Manafort was found guilty of multiple charges and could face up to 80 years in prison.Britain would take unilateral action in the event of a no-deal Brexit to keep trade and transport flowing freely, Dominic Raab will pledge. In a speech coinciding with the publication of the first batch of technical notices laying out the governments contingency plans for a no-deal scenario, the Brexit secretary will say that Britain would not risk triggering a tit-for-tat battle with Brussels by imposing new border checks or travel restrictions.  Guardian

A partial float of the Saudi oil giant Aramco  the biggest public listing in history  has been indefinitely postponed because of fears that its valuation would be much less than expected, according to senior regional sources. The decision was made earlier in the summer but has been kept under wraps by officials who were worried that shelving what was intended to be the centrepiece of Saudi Arabias economic transformation plan may dent investor confidence in the Kingdom, two financiers with knowledge of deliberations revealed.  Guardian

Theresa May must "believe in Britain" and "chuck Chequers", Jacob Rees-Mogg and more than 60 Tory Eurosceptics have said in a letter to grassroots Conservatives. Earlier this month the Prime Minister wrote a letter to all members of the Conservative Party defending her plan, saying that it "honours" the result of the referendum.  Telegraph

Uber has agreed to pay tens of thousands of dollars to dozens of current and former employees for its role in a sexual harassment scandal. The US transport app will pay a total of $1.9m (1.5m), or almost $34,000 per person, to 56 people who filed claims against the company, according to court documents filed in California this week. - TelegraphShare

Being told that J Sainsbury was planning to merge with Asda was, Adil Majid recalls, a surprise, a bit of an oh my god moment. The 33-year-old Sainsburys store manager runs the Charlton Riverside supermarket in south London - and previously worked at Asda. It is a background that gives him an unusually close perpective on the proposed unification of Britains second and third largest supermarket chains. Indeed, if cleared by competition regulators, the tie-up will lift the combined Sainsburys and Asda above Tesco as the countrys biggest grocer, boasting a market share of more than 25 per cent and revenues of 51 billion.  The Times

Jeremy Hunt has backed President Trumps criticism of the European Union over trade and has questioned the clear imbalance between European and American car tariffs. The foreign secretary said that he cant justify why the import tax set by Brussels of 10 per cent on American cars was four times higher than the US levy on European cars.  The TimesAustralian mining and metals company South32 's underlying earnings rose 16% in its last trading year, as strong demand for manganese and alumina products offset lower output from its Illawarra coal project.

South 32's underlying earnings jumped 15% to $1.33bn, printing just ahead of analysts' expectations of a $1.32bn reading.

Underlying operating earnings from the group's Worsley Alumina unit more than doubled to $422m despite a drop in production.

South32's manganese output rose 10% year-on-year and while that of coking coal fell, it beat estimates due to a ramp-up in production at the firm's Illawarra plant, where work had been put on hold in 2017 due to elevated gas levels at its Appin coal mine.

The dual-listed firm now expects 6.1m tonnes of production from the project in 2019 and a return to historical run rates of more than 8m tonnes per year by the second half of 2020.

South32 will pay a final dividend of 6.2 cents per share, a touch down from the 6.4 cents per share it paid out in 2017.

The group, which was once a part of mining giant BHP Billiton, expects production to climb by around 5% in fiscal 2019.

As of 1020 BST, South32 shares had picked up 4.36% to 196.30p.The Moon mission gets a boost with the discovery of water at both the north and south poles. This was detected by India's Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft and confirmed by NASA. The precious commodity is in the form of ice but it is not distributed in a uniform manner. At the south pole, most of it is concentrated in craters while at the north pole, it is sparse and scattered.

The BBC reports that the instrument aboard Chandrayaan-1 had zeroed on three specific signatures of water-ice at the lunar surface. These were the reflective properties associated with ice apart from the distinctive way of how its molecules absorbed infrared light.

These helped to differentiate between the three forms of water namely, liquid water, water vapor and solid ice.

NASA is upbeat about the water-ice

The possibilities of finding water in liquid form on the Moon are remote because of the daytime temperatures being in the region of 100C. However, due to the axial tilt, some areas at the poles remain invariably in the darkness where there are deposits of ice.

Scientists believe that temperatures in such areas are favorable for such deposits to remain stable for long periods. In case, the ice is close to the surface, it can be a treated as a positive sign for planning future missions to the Moon. It could be processed to generate water to meet the needs of astronauts or split into hydrogen and oxygen for use as rocket fuel.

Discuss this news on Eunomia

Of course, the decision will depend on the amount of water-ice available which can be established only after more dedicated missions.

Water-ice could sustain long-term Moon missions

According to NBC News, officials at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory have said that a definitive proof of the presence of water-ice on the Moon will pave the way "to explore and even stay on the moon." The ready availability of water will open the doors to a new line of thinking regarding the colonization of planets.

Details of the discovery have been recently published and the credit goes to a team of scientists at the University of Hawaii's Institute of Geophysics and Planetology. They had analyzed the data captured by an instrument that NASA had put onboard the Indian spacecraft Chandrayaan-1.

This discovery is expected to have far-reaching implications. It will not only help to sustain lunar missions but will also contribute to missions to the Red Planet Mars. In the opinion of Philip Metzger, a planetary scientist at the University of Central Florida "it will make Mars missions more affordable for SpaceX and for NASA.""We continue to discuss our Iran policy with Chinese counterparts and the implications of our reimposition of sanctions", the official said, responding to the Reuters report.

After pulling back from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (Iran Nuclear Deal 2015), the U.S. had asked all nations to cease all oil imports from Iran by November.

According to data from Thompson Reuters Eikon, all shipments of Iranian oil to China were carried by NITC in July, and the imports grew from the month before to 23.8 million barrels a day from 19.8 million.

"The shift started very recently, and it was nearly a simultaneous call from both sides", said one source, a senior Beijing-based oil executive, who asked not to be identified as he is not allowed to speak publicly about commercial deals. "Even Russia can't increase its oil production capacity to make up for the possible cutting of Iran's oil exports", he said.

Crude oil futures were mixed during mid-morning trade in Asia Tuesday, with the NYMEX WTI contract ticking up on expected USA crude stock draws while the ICE Brent contact edged lower on indications of supply increases elsewhere.

French President Emmanuel Macron has repeatedly called for safeguarding the Iranian nuclear deal and defended the interests of European Union companies in Iran.

Reports of faster supply increases from major global producers are also putting downward pressure on the market after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other oil producers led by Russian Federation agreed in June to ease production curbs to make up for lost supplies out of Libya, Venezuela and Iran.

The U.S. and China are in the midst of an escalating trade war, with both countries slapping billions of tariffs on exports from the other.

"Prices remain range-bound on the competing trends of demand fears and looming Iranian sanctions".

IHS Markit said that crude oil price could potentially reach US$100 (RM410) per barrel by year-end or early 2019 due to a significant reduction in Iranian output and lower spare capacity due to geopolitical risks.

The oil market will be watching the development of trade negotiation between China and the United States.

In an attempt to prevent prices from spiking because of the potential supply reduction, the United States on Monday offered 11 million barrels of crude from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) for delivery from October 1 to November 30.

EIA also reported a build of 3.57 million barrels in distillate fuel inventories, which was much higher than the market's expectation, and a draw of 740,000 barrels in total gasoline inventories, which was close to the market's expectation.

Sinopec declined to comment on the change in tankers.

NIOC did not respond to an email seeking comment.The Orion spacecraft will undertake an unmanned mission to a distance of 40,000 miles beyond the Moon and back. This will be NASAs first step for mans mission to Mars. The launch date of the three-week voyage is still under wraps and right now the exercise is to test the heat shield. Labeled as Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1), it will be launched by NASA's Space Launch System rocket.

Daily Mail UK reports that the heat shield installed on the spacecraft will have to withstand high temperatures of thousands of degrees fahrenheit during its re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere before it splashes into the Pacific Ocean.

The heat shield is made of carbon fiber material and is designed and manufactured by Lockheed Martin.

NASA's Orion Spacecraft Gets Heat Shield for Daring Test Flight to the Moon https://t.co/SUyRkCcEgt pic.twitter.com/br90bVGHtk  SPACE.com (@SPACEdotcom) August 21, 2018

History in the making by NASA

Engineers have been breaking their heads trying to evolve a material that can withstand the high temperatures generated while a rocket or a spaceship enters the atmosphere of the Earth. That problem appears to have been resolved by creating an ablative material that has been developed by Lockheed Martin. It is called Avcoat and blocks made out if this material have been attached to the surface of the heat shield.

These will burn away at the time of re-entry and remove the heat generated.

NASA engineers will monitor the behavior of various systems of the Orion spacecraft during its first Moon mission. They will have to ascertain its performance not only in deep space but also during its return journey to Earth. Orion has been identified as the exploration spacecraft that will ferry the astronauts.

Discuss this news on Eunomia

It will be fully equipped to cater to all the needs of space travelers who will be engaged in exploratory missions. The unmanned EM-1 is planned for launch next year and will be followed by the manned EM-2 in 2021.

Incidentally, Lockheed Martin has plans to set up a 'Mars base camp' which will orbit the red planet. It has a tentative launch timeframe of ten years, and once it materializes it will help astronauts to get closer to the Red Planet by using rovers and drones.

NASA moves towards its goal

According to The Space, NASAs Orion spacecraft will be the mode of transport to take humans to destinations like the Moon, Mars and beyond. It has got the heat shield installed and is getting ready to send the spacecraft on a test mission. This shield is 16.5 feet in diameter and is designed to withstand temperatures of nearly 5,000 degrees fahrenheit.

The protection will be provided by Avcoat. This is not a new material but has been used earlier on heat shields of even the manned Apollo moon missions of the 1960s and 1970s. However, for the current mission, the process is different. Engineers have attached blocks of the material to the shield instead of injecting it. The success of this mission will boost NASAs confidence level.Senator Mazie Hirono deaded for Hawaii to face Hurricane Lane alongside her family and constituents. The dangerous storm resulted in citizen alerts. Her announcement came shortly after NWS Honolulu posted about the impending hurricane on Twitter.

The Wednesday (August 22) news from NWS said, "#Lane is a category 4 storm this morning as it continues WNW toward the state. Maui County has been upgraded to a Hurricane Warning, and a Hurricane Watch has been issued for Kauai County."

Mazie Hirono heads for Hurricane Lane

Hawaii is where Mazie's heart lies and she's not about to sit out the troubles that threaten her constituency.

She's not the type of person get her family out of danger and then leave her constituents to weather the storm alone. She took to her Twitter to inform everyone that she's heading back home.

I am returning to Hawaii to be with my family and constituents as Hurricane Lane approaches the state. I encourage everyone to finalize their preparations for the storm and take its potential impact seriously. https://t.co/O7WH8Y2jn7  Senator Mazie Hirono (@maziehirono) August 22, 2018

People react on Twitter

Hurricane Lane is touted to be a dangerous storm and many people reacted to Mazie Hirono's tweet. Not all of the people were from Hawaii and the concern for the people was evident.

@kellybrannock wrote, "I have such admiration and respect for you, Senator!

The people of Hawaii chose wisely in electing both their Senators. Hoping for a light touch from Lane and an easy recovery to beautiful Hawaii." Others extended prayers and best wishes to everyone as they prepared for the storm.

@LaurieL78128058 responded with, "Aloha e @maziehirono. Safe travels to Hawaii Nei.

Discuss this news on Eunomia

My thoughts and prayers go out to kamaaina and visitors as they brace for #HurricaneLane."

Then there was this tweet from @Marq_LL:

Safe travels! I will keep beautiful Hawaii in my prayers and am ready to help our Hawaiian Ohana should they need it!  Laura (@Marq_LL) August 23, 2018

Hurricane Lane threatens the people of Hawaii

Vox News reported that Hurricane Lane is an unusual threat to the Islands.

This is because " high-pressure weather patterns over the central Pacific, and a lot of deep, cool water around the islands," means that "tropical storms usually steer clear."

While it's not certain that the hurricane will make landfall on Hawaii, or just track close to it, the National Weather Service described as a "dangerous" storm. It may weaken a bit but even so, it will still be massive. The Atlantic noted that this storm is set to one of the biggest to threaten Hawaii in over two decades. They cited David Ige, the Hawaii governor, as saying, Ive not seen such dramatic changes in the forecast track as Ive seen with this storm. I urge our residents and visitors to take this threat seriously and prepare for a significant impact.

Hawaiians prepare to weather the storm

After Hurricane Lane alerts were issued, Hawaiians hit the supermarkets to get in food and emergency supplies.

They are preparing to hunker down and weather out the storm. The storm is expected to start affecting the island on Thursday. In the meantime, prayers and hopes that all will be safe are coming in from across the USA. If the storm does bring danger to Hawaii, they won't be facing that danger alone as Senator Mazie Hirono will weather it with them.The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was the culmination of a fairytale romance between an American actress and a member of the British Royalty. Meghan succeeded in winning the hearts of the Royal Family and earned the love of all those who have come in contact with her on different occasions. After her marriage to Prince Harry, Meghan went on some royal outings and one of those was to the home of George and Amal Clooney in Lake Como, Italy. During meetings with high-profile people, she had to discard many old values and adapt to a new lifestyle but her past keeps coming back to haunt her.

Vanity Fair reports that her father, Thomas Markle, has given interviews to the media on a number of topics that embarrassed Meghan. Her half-sister Samantha also followed suit and these have added to Meghans problems. A source told the Daily Mail that she is now banking on her mother to find a way out. "It has just become so embarrassing for Meghan. Like the elephant in the room when she's with people she doesn't know very well,' the source allegedly said.

Meghan Markle visits her mother in the United States and she is thinking of meeting her father: https://t.co/l4aku6jCC9 qua @YouTube  Life For Weekly (@Life_For_Weekly) August 20, 2018

Duchess of Sussex heading to the US to meet Doria

Meghan Markle doesn't want to drag Doria Ragland into the problem she is facing with her father but she knows that her mother is the only one who can convince her father to put a stop to the attacks aimed at her.

Meghan complains that her father Thomas speaks more to the press than she does.

The Duchess of Sussex is believed to have plans to visit California to meet her friends and family at the end of the summer. That will be prior to a rumored official US visit along with Prince Harry. Doria Ragland has maintained a distance with Thomas after her divorce and Meghan may have to work out some method to get her involved.

Discuss this news on Eunomia

Meghans father appears to be unstoppable

It all probably goes back to the Royal wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle when Thomas Markle stepped down from being a part of the ceremony citing health issues. Meghan has already explained to her father that there are certain protocols to be maintained and one of these is not to talk to the press, especially about family matters.

However, he continues to ignore her messages which embarrass not only her but also the Royals.

According to The Express UK, the father and daughter had reportedly stopped speaking before the Royal wedding that took place in May. At that time, a number of his photos appeared in the media. They fell in the category of staged paparazzi photos. Meghans older half-sibling, Samantha has also followed in her fathers footsteps. She has given interviews to the press and has also taken to the social media to comment on Meghan Markle who, according to the Daily Mail source, is now hoping her mother can retrieve the situation.Yesterday was quite a day in the history of the Trump administration. Most of the attention has been given to Paul Manafort's conviction on eight counts of bank and tax fraud. But the real story might well turn out to be former Trump campaign treasurer Michael Cohen's guilty plea on charges of using campaign contributions to pay off former Trump mistresses in violation of Federal election laws.Specifically, Cohen stipulated thatIf that is true, the President of the United States is guilty of a felony, and of what is most certainly an impeachable offense.In essence, Mr. Trump is an unindicted co-conspirator with Cohen. He is unindicted for one reason:That's also the reason why Richard Nixon remained an unindicted co-conspirator in the Watergate affair. But unindicted or not, that status made Mr. Nixon's impeachment inevitable had he chosen to remain in office, and prompted his resignation.The difference is that the current Congress, like the Republican party in general, is in such absolute thrall to Mr. Trump that the man who once boasted that he could commit cold-blooded murder at high noon on Fifth Avenue in New York without losing any votes could probably get away with almost anything without being impeached. Whether that remains true under the next Congress remains to be seen.Now, here's the thing: the charges against Cohen weren't filed by Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller. They were filed by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. If the Mueller investigation is indeed a "witch hunt," that doesn't help Trump with regard to the use of campaign contributions to pay off his former girlfriends.Manafort's conviction does arise from the Mueller investigation. But neither have anything to do with Russia. Rather, the investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian intelligence in attempting to influence the 2016 election led to the charges against Manafort. An awful lot of former Trump campaign aides seem to be on their way to prison as a result of that "witch hunt." As someone said, rarely does a witch hunt turn up quite this many witches!Butthe investigation by a special prosecutor appointed by Mr. Trump's own attorney general a politically inspired "witch hunt?" Is Donald Trump really, as he claims (and tweets) so often, just a poor, picked-on victim? There is no question that many people- myself emphatically included- have been deeply suspicious of his personal fitness for the office he holds on several grounds from the moment he announced his candidacy. There were questions about his judgement, his psychological makeup, his knowledgeability about the subjects he'd have to deal with has the president, his tendency to make wild and unsubstantiated claims and charges and often absurd proposals, his penchant for responding to even mild and well-intentioned criticism or even disagreement with over-the-top personal attacks, and his competence as an executive given his consistent lack of success in running businesses. But always lurking in the background were suspicions about his personal honesty.Donald Trump has never had a reputation as someone who played by the rules. He is famous for refusing to honor contracts with vendors and others, pointing out to them that it would cost them more to sue him than to accept the loss. He has either been adjudged or pleaded guilty to illegal or unethical behavior over 250 times during his business career. This is the guy responsible for Trump University. If there is any other president in our history who, like Mr. Trump, had to pay out millions as a result of judgment in a civil RICO case, I don't know who that might be.When he was elected president, he declined to follow the example of every president in recent history and release his tax returns. Despite having massive investments- "disproportionate," I believe was the word Donald Trump, Jr. used to describe them- in Russia as well as in North Korea, Iran, and other problematic places, he declined after his election to divest himself of those investments, choosing rather to put them into a "blind trust-" administered by his own children!He has put together a tangled web of personal, charitable, and political financial dealings so complex that it would probably take years for a team of expert forensic accountants to untangle it. Whenever concerns about his behavior are raised, however mild, or he is criticized for anything at all, he becomes defensive and personally attacks his critic.In the interest of making our political discourse not only less vitriolic but a little saner, I, therefore, propose that the president and his supporters acknowledge that, whatever he may or may not be guilty of, this record and this pattern of behavior on the part of any president would cause reasonable concern in the media and provide ample ammunition for the kind of partisan attacks which- however out of hand they may have gotten on both sides- have been part and parcel of our American political landscape ever since Thomas Jefferson defeated John Adams.I would further suggest that, while both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton also did some very dubious things, neither of them has ever been convicted or pled guilty to breaking the law, served under the shadow of far fewer grounds for reasonable, non-partisan suspicion than does Mr. Trump, and are believed by far fewer rational people to have maybe ordered the murders of Vince Foster and a succession of other figures in the political career of the Clintons, operated a child sex ring, been either gay or a Muslim, or been born in Kenya than Mr. Trump is seen as guilty of not being exactly a straight shooter when it came to business ethics.Next, I would point out that although many Trump supporters seem not to have gotten the memo, the indictment of a large group of specific individuals including two known FSB agents also implicated in electronic interference with the parliamentary elections in several of our European allies has prompted President Trump to admit that Russia was, in fact, behind the hacking of the computers at the Democratic National Committee during the 2016 election campaign. He did that in spite of having repeatedly rejected that conclusion when arrived at by both the FBI and the CIA, and only days before having done so once again in the presence of Vladimir Putin when the latter denied any Russian involvement.Mr. Trump claimed to have "misspoken" after reversing himself, though the context of his remarks in response to Putin's denials makes that claim problematic.Mr. Trump and Putin have had a long-standing mutual and oft-expressed admiration for each other. In fact, Mr. Trump has often expressed admiration not only Putin but for such tyrants as Chinese President-for-Life (a title for which Mr. Trump, incredibly, expressed admiration! ) Xi Jinping, murderous Philippine strongman Rodrigo Duterte ("I just wanted to congratulate you because I am hearing of the unbelievable job on the drug problem, he told Duterte- who boasts of dealing with accused drug dealers by having them murdered without a trial), Turkey's tyrannical Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Egypt's Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. While calling him a "bad guy" for killing terrorists, Trump praised the late and unlamented Saddam Hussein by continuing, "He did that so good. He didn't read them the rights. They were terrorists. Over." He thinks Libya would be better off if the late Libyan dictator Moammar Gaddafi were still running things. He expressed admiration for the "strength" the Chinese Communist Party showed in crushing the uprising in Tiananmen Square and appeared to side with them against the protestors, calling the gathering "a riot."I'll come back to Mr. Trump's affinity for dictators in a moment. But for now, let's focus on his history with Russia.One of his advisors, and later his first National Security Advisor, Michael Flynn, held a meeting before Mr. Trump's inauguration in which he appears to have undermined the sitting president, Barack Obama, by giving assurances that sanctions Mr. Obama placed on Russia after the invasion against Ukraine would be removed once Mr. Trump took office. Gen. Flynn is a longtime admirer of Putin who attended at least one testimonial dinner for him in Moscow. Former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson seems to have behaved with patriotism and honor at every turn. But he had been decorated by Putin and was a personal friend of the Russian strongman. It is not without wonder that a president who had been the beneficiary of what seemed even then to have been Russian meddling in our election and had so often expressed admiration for Vladimir Putin was appointing such American friends of Putin to two of the most important foreign policy positions in his administration.We know for absolutely certain that during the campaign several representatives of the Trump campaign met with sources close to the Russian government who had offered to provide "dirt" against former Secretary of State Hillary ClintonFlynn has pled guilty of lying to the FBI about his Russian contacts during the campaign. So did former Trump campaign advisor George Papadopoulos.Former Trump Deputy Campaign Director Rick Gates pled guilty to conspiracy against the United States and lying to investigators.Alex Van der Zwann, the son-in-law of one of the richest men in Russia, pled guilty to lying to Federal investigators about his contacts with an official in Trump's campaign and was sentenced to 30 days in prison and a $20,000 fine.Konstantin Kilimnik, an associate of Manafort in Ukraine reputed to have ties with the Russian government, is facing charges of having tampered with witnesses concerning their past lobbying for the pro-Russian former government of Ukraine.Does any of this prove that Donald Trump or even the Trump campaign colluded with Russia's attempt to undermine the integrity of the 2016 election? Of course not.Does it pose a concerning pattern which an objective observer might think warranted an investigation if only to clear the air?Is it unreasonable that the media, the opposition, and a large part of the general public looked upon Mr. Trump with an unusual amount of suspicion where his ethics were concerned, and that talk of nearly inevitable impeachment was going around even before he took office?Not really.First, Mr. Trump's personal history and his pattern of behavior since his election would result in any president of either party being looked upon by the media, by the opposition, and by the American people with an unusual degree of suspicion. Where Mr. Trump's record and behavior don't plainly merit a certain degree of reasonable distrust, they invite it- and invite it in such a way that a savvy politician in his position who had nothing to hide would go to great lengths toinviting it.Secondly, an awful lot of people from Mr. Trump's campaign and administration are doing an awful lot of lying for some reason and going to jail for it. Perhaps, as some claim, they told their lies to protect themselves. But doesn't having hired so many people who have to lie to the FBI and other investigators to protect themselves in itself raise questions about Mr. Trump- not only about his judgment in hiring them but about his own possible involvement in so pervasive a pattern in his administration?. Some, like Flynn, are reported to be cooperating with the Mueller investigation, and their behavior would never have been discovered were it not for that investigation. The same is true of Manafort's fraud. Whether or not Mr. Trump is personally involved in their misdeeds, a great many laws have been broken by officials of his campaign and his administration, and the pattern is disturbing.Third, given the known facts about the Russian interference in the 2016 electionaboutthe existing relationships and the pattern of secretive meetings between Trump campaign officials and the Russians; aboutMr. Trump's anxiety to defend Putin and the Russiansand perhaps most of all about his own firing of James Comey when the then-director of the FBI refused to pledge his personal loyalty and to personally exonerate him on the spot; and about his ongoing attempts to discredit the Mueller investigation and even Mueller personally rather than to cooperate and establish the truth, it is simply not possible for any intellectually honest person not to believe, just as Attorney General Sessions saw long ago, that there are more than adequate grounds to pursue an investigation of the matter. Even if Mr. Trump is innocent of any wrongdoing whatsoever, his behavior in the face of perfectly reasonable questions would be an impression of a guilty man worthy of an Oscar.And it's hard not to notice that. Mr. Trump is acting like a guilty man, and his supporters are acting like people who believe, deep down, that hea guilty man. And it is simply not possible for any intellectually honest person to call the Mueller investigation a "witch hunt." It may not uncover anything more than unrelated misdeeds. But that in itself is a legitimate accomplishment, and in any case, there was more than sufficient reason for a special prosecutor to be appointed and an investigation conducted. Contrary to what the president's supporters claim, the pattern of clandestine meetings between Trump campaign official and the Russians,and then lying about it itself establishes perfectly reasonable grounds for this investigation, and the cry of "witch hunt" simply doesn't fool anybody who isn't not only willing buttofooled.Moreover, it bespeaks a contempt for the law and for due process which ill-befits a president, and especially one who through a career of cutting corners and refusing to be held accountable for anything has richly earned the healthy suspicion of any reasonable person to make such a claim, or for his supporters to agree. And this is especially the case as it relates to a president so full of admiration for dictators who take his solicitation of violence against demonstrators at his rallies a step further, and kill them in Tiananmen Square, or dispense with formalities like trials and due process before killing the accused, like Duterte and Saddam Hussein. Neither the man now the movement he led to power bespeaks a commitment to due process or the rule of law, and Mr. Trump's response to the Mueller investigation is perfectly in keeping with that pattern,We don't know what will eventually come of the Manafort case, as far as the fate of this administration is concerned. But let nobody say, in the wake of yesterday's developments in the Cohen case, that there are no grounds for impeaching Donald Trump. If Trump were not the president, Cohen's testimony alone would be enough to indict him, and if he hadn't turned the Republican party into a gaggle of mindless sycophants devoid of principle, a congressional investigation into Cohen's claim that Mr. Trump ordered the hush money to be paid to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal would already be underway, and articles of impeachment would already be in the process of being drafted.And you bet your MAGA hat that it's exactly what would have happened with this very Congress if Barack Obama were still president.Since the ascension to power of young Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia has embarked on social and economic reforms. At the time, she had been demonstrating to call for an end to anti-Shia discrimination in a majority-Sunni country.

Al-Ghomgham has been in custody since December 6, 2015 when police arrested her and her husband, Moussa al-Hashem, at their home in the middle of the night.

RIYADH - Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor is seeking the death penalty against five human rights activists from the kingdom's Eastern Province now on trial in a secretive terrorism court, groups including Human Rights Watch (HRW) said. She is now on trial at a secretive terrorism court where the charges against her include "incitement to protest" and "providing moral support to rioters", the charity Human Rights Watch has said.

Saudi Arabia is coming under severe criticism for seeking the death penalty for a woman because of her political activism, reports suggest.

Canada responded to news that Saudi Arabia is on the cusp of executing a female rights activist for the first time. Although bin Salman has been praised for his moderating influence in Saudi Arabia, the country is still considering the death penalty for a woman whose only crime was voicing opposition to the government.

The case "sets a risky precedent for other women activists now behind bars", Human Rights Watch said in a report it released Tuesday.

The European Saudi Organisation for Human Rights and ALQST, a London-based Saudi human rights group, have called on the authorities to drop the charges against Ms Ghomgham.

Saudi officials are seeking the death penalty against five activists in the kingdom's Eastern Province.

Al-Ghomgham is slated to appear in court on October 28, when a judge will confirm or reverse prosecutors' request for the death penalty, reports said.

Asked about Ghomgham's trial on Tuesday, the office of Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland told the Globe and Mail newspaper that "Canada is extremely concerned by the arrests of women's rights activists" and that these concerns have been raised with the Saudi government.

On 6 August, the Saudi public prosecutor recommended a death penalty for Ghomgham and five others, including her husband Moussa al-Hashem, after their first hearing before the Specialised Criminal Court (SCC) in the capital Riyadh.

At least 13 women have been arrested since May. Most of those detainees were released after reaching undisclosed financial settlements with the government. Most notably, women are now allowed to drive and to work outside the home. "Every day, the Saudi monarchy's unrestrained despotism makes it harder for its public relations teams to spin the fairy tale of "reform" to allies and worldwide business".In Western Kenya, a Colonial settler home slowly ages against low rolling hills. It is here that 72 years ago the 10th Duke of Manchester built a farmhouse for himself in Trans-Nzoia County.

It is late summer time in Western Kenya, a marked time as the end of the first rains confirm and complement farmers activities. Arterial marram roads through the surrounding farmlands show stamps of footprints and tire treads, showing the slow going vitality of rural Trans-Nzoia. Many people who live here plant long and short cycle produce at home. Living life here as an inhabitant, youre very likely to buy vegetables from a neighbor when the need arises.

Mois bridge, the nearest largest town, was once called Hoeys Bridge. It was first named after a renowned colonial settler in the region then became Mois Bridge, as it is now known, after Kenyas independence in 1964. The change in name was an act manifesting the sweeping change of attitude among indigenous Kenyans regarding their hard fought gained independence. This phenomenon is not unique to Kenya. There are also instances of this happening in others countries under colonial rule across Africa. The act of renaming is a common change in former Colonial states, including the Kingdom of eSwatini (formerly Swaziland).

Mois Bridge is a bustling town between Kitale and Eldoret in Trans-Nzoia County, Western Kenya. It hosts Kenyas largest Maize Depot, a seasonal destination for many farmers in Eastern Africa. Indeed, farming is an activity that supports rural livelihoods of people living in its environs.

The former Colonial Settlers estate is a group of single-story buildings that sit on a carved elevation on a hill. The axis of the main building sits north-south. Approaching from the East, a verandah opens onto an interior space. Inside, this space leads to a dining room adjacent to the living room, together making the largest space in the house. It is a brick-wall structure concealed in protective cement that has grown black-green with age.

Top image  Wikipedia. Bottom Image  Converse Africa

Hoeys Bridge was a part of a region called the White Highlands. According to a Wikipedia page, "this geographical locale covered 25% of Kenyas good (arable) land," was expropriated from the indigenous people, and given toward the cause of a British settler community that would survive through the means of an agriculture industry. This opportunity for the colonists was self-legitimized in 1905 when the East African Protectorate existed (1885-1920). To this end, "the British Immigration granted British European settlers 999-year leases to encourage further British colonization."

"The main influx of European Settlement in Trans-Nzoia came after 1918 when the discharged Soldier Settlement Scheme was implemented. Many of the new settlers were of British origin and hailed from lower middle class backgrounds. Most had no previous agricultural experience. Over the next few years as more land was brought under the plough and crop production increased, Trans-Nzoia became a major European farming district," according to a Master's Thesis by Joseph Nabwera.

The succeeding stage of colonism was the establishment of the Kenya Colony in 1920, by which time about 10,000 British people had settled in the White Highlands area. Up until Kenyas independence, the colonists economic, social and cultural policies systematically disadvantaged and abused the human rights of indigenous Kenyans. The majority had little choice but to live on African reserves or work as squatters on settler farms for survival.

Mentioned in a Wikipedia page, "Alexander Montagu moved to Kenya in 1946, and become the 10th Duke of Manchester in 1947," upon which he entered a political class known as the Peerage of Great Britain. "He had just left serving the Royal Navy after the Second World War had ended. In Kenya he farmed and estate of 10,000 acres." As a former serviceman of the Royal Navy, it is likely that the Duke acquired land as a part of the aforementioned British Immigration scheme. In the context of the 1918 Resident native Ordinance, Kenyans who chose to be squatters were effectively made peasants. It is likely that Mr. Montagu farmed by these means. Simultaneously as one mode of life imposed itself, several particular African cultures either adapted to or rebelled against the forceful change imposed on them.

The wide Eastern face of the building looks to the distant Cherangany hills. Every bright morning, rays of sunlight would have fallen on the house, washing it through with the aura of African Frontier, an sentiment that had currency with many settlers and may have considerably inspired the design. The frontier is an idea that captured the minds and hearts of the European Settlers in Kenya, including the author Karen Blixen.

The Duke of Manchester is one of the existing historic buildings within the white highlands creating what might be called a 'White Highlands Architecture.' These are places are where cultures collided and changed one another. As a reminder of our past, such places are in fact heritage assets that would benefit local Kenyans to take care of. Trans-Nzoia Countys future planning and development should take the potential of this building into consideration, as a part of the fabric of their unique built environment. The building is currently privately owned.

The conservation of our heritage is important because it is another way of knowing ourselves  and in the case of the built environment, how many people made a place come into being. In 2016, a publication entitled Conservation of Natural and Cultural Heritage in Kenya edited by Anne-Marie Deisser and Mugwima Njuguna detailed leading work done towards the conservation of heritage in Kenya. In the text, the contributing authors highlighted a definition of culture (from the Charter for African Cultural Renaissance) which states that: Culture should be regarded as the set of distinctive linguistic, spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features of the society or a social group, and that it encompasses, in addition to art and literature, lifestyles, ways of living together, value systems, traditions and beliefs; That all cultures emanate from the societies, communities, groups and individuals and that any African cultural policy should of necessity enable peoples to evolve for increased responsibility in its development. Indeed, the Duke of Manchester rests within Kenyas cultural history and should be conserved as a necessary part of Kenyas heritage.

The ways in which conservation link with technology continue to be explored as sustainable alternatives to heritage conservation. This year, the Museum of British Colonialism have embarked on a collaborative journey to retell the story of the Mau Mau Rebellion in an upcoming exhibition in Kenya. For the exhibition, the team of researchers are underway in creating a 3D model of the historical internment camps where Kenyans were violated and denied their human rights under British rule.

The work of preserving the Duke of Manchester is deeply important to reconstructing the history of the White Highlands. Narrating our own stories depends on the ability and willingness we possess to preserve our history. Creating spaces to live in that celebrate a shared history enable us to enjoy learning from history and to go beyond it.

All images courtesy of the author unless otherwise noted.By Namit Arora

(Why the Bhagavad Gita is an overrated text with a deplorable morality at its core. This is part one of a two-part critique. Part 1 is the appetizer with the Gitas historical and literary context. Part 2 is the main course with the textual critique.)

In mid-first millennium BCE, a great spiritual awakening was underway in areas around the middle Ganga. People were moving away from the old Vedic religionwhich revolved around rituals, animal sacrifices, and nature godsto more abstract, inner-directed, and contemplative ideas. They now asked about the nature of the self and consciousness, thought and perception. They asked if virtue and vice were absolute or mere social conventions. Personal spiritual quests, aided by meditation and renunciation of material gain, had slowly gathered pace. From this churn arose new ideas like karma and dharma, non-dualism, and the unity of an individuals soul (atman) with the universal soul (Brahman)all pivotal ideas in Brahmanical Hinduism.

Some of these innovations in thought soon made their way into the texts we now know as the Upanishads, setting them qualitatively apart from the earlier Vedas. All of this occurred in the context of great sociopolitical and economic changes, marked by the rise of cities, trade and commerce, social mobility, public debates, new institutions of state, and even some early republics. This was also the world of the Buddha, Mahavira, and Carvaka.

The Great War of Yore

By this time, versions of a Mahabharata story had been circulating for centuries. Perhaps inspired by a war that took place c. 950 BCE around modern Delhi (the date is tentative), the story, through oral transmission, took on a life of its own. In The Hindus: An Alternative History (2009), Wendy Doniger writes that the earliest bards who told the Mahabharata story came from a caste of charioteers, who served as drivers, confidantes, and bodyguards to the Kshatriya warrior-castes. While on military campaigns, they recited stories around campfires. (No wonder God is a charioteer in the epic! Even Karna is raised by a charioteer.) In later ages and in times of peace, many bards took their performance art to lay audiences in villages and folk festivals. The story also came to be recited during royal sacrifices, where the Brahmins gradually took over its delivery and evolution, eventually writing it down in Sanskrit. Its final form dates from 300 BCE-300 CE and ranges from 75K to 100K verses, seven to ten times the Iliad and the Odyssey combined. (Read an outline of the story here.)

The Mahabharata, writes Doniger, is so extremely fluid that there is no single Mahabharata; there are hundreds of Mahabharatas, hundreds of different manuscripts and innumerable oral versions (one reason why it is impossible to make an accurate calculation of the number of its verses). The Mahabharata is not contained in a text; the story is there to be picked up and found, salvaged as anonymous treasure from the ocean of story. While these versions share the same narrative corethe struggle between two branches of a royal family, the Pandavas and the Kauravas, for the control of the Kuru capital, Hastinapura, culminating in a great civil wararound it are piled high many volumes of lore and doctrine contributed by Indian thinkers and storytellers over centuries, writes Sheldon Pollock, author of The Language of the Gods in the World of Men. Frustrated by this situation, scholars at the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Pune, collated 1259 manuscripts from 1919-66 to produce a critical edition of the Mahabharata with 89K verses; it is this version that most scholars reference today.

The Mahabharata has been variously read as history, poetry, moral law, and scripture, though its central problematic, writes Pollock, is about power. The dilemma of powerin the starkest terms, the need to destroy in order to preserve, to kill in order to livebecomes most poignant when those whom one must kill are ones own kin. That is why the Mahabharata is the most harrowing of all premodern political narratives in the world: the Iliad, like the Ramayana, is about a war far from home, the Odyssey about a post-war journey home, and the Aeneid about a war for a home. The Mahabharata is about a war fought at home, one in which both sides end up losing (to be precise, one side scores a pyrrhic victory). Having read all of these epics, I think another point of departure for the Mahabharata is that the heroes in the other epics are much less reflective; they live by a received heroic code and are not too motivated as individuals to seek self-knowledge or worry about the right thing to do. Which other epic has a hero as introspective and truth-loving as Yudhisthira, or as prone to ethical doubt as Arjuna, or as magnanimous as Karna?

What the Mahabharata does share with the Homeric epics is that it, too, has been reworked so heavily at different times that it is hard to extract reliable historical or sociological data from it. For instance, in 950 BCE, the estimated time of the war that inspired the epic, Kuru society was clan-based; chieftainship was based on both kinship networks and personal qualities; the extent of the Kuru domain, over whose control the war was fought, was a small region of the Ganga-Yamuna Doab. But the bards later injected kings into the epic who went beyond clan chieftains; these kings ruled over bigger territories and practiced heredity succession. The bards even magnified the war to apparently include all of the peoples they knew of. John Keay, author of India: A History, notes that the epics royal palaces too were upgraded to those of later times, with pillared pavilions and marble halls, their interiors opulently furnished, polished and shiny floors, untold wealth, and so ondescriptions that legitimized the grandiose ambitions of later empire builders. That said, one aspect of the epic that likely goes way back is its view of the forest-dwelling clans of hunter-gatherers; the epics heroes encounter them in exile as rakshasas, or demons, some hostile and some who turn into alliesdepictions that seem in line with the presumed pattern of Aryan colonization and settlement.

Clearly, lots of people contributed to the Mahabharata. Accepting Vyasa as its author has more to do with our need to personalize storytelling. Doniger writes that non-Brahmins, people of low caste, were originally in charge of the care and feeding of the two great Sanskrit poems [the other being the Ramayana], which Brahmins took over only sometime later, one of many instances of the contributions of low-caste people to Sanskrit literature. The basis of caste was more fluid earlier, ranging from heredity to personal character, occupation, and even choice. Vyasa, himself a character in the story as the son of a ferrymans daughter, is a half-caste. All this might help explain the polyphony and plurality of views that have survived in the Mahabharatain its range of moral dilemmas, ideas of duty, flaws of character, conflicts of virtues and valuesand why it continues to have such popular appeal in India. As Doniger writes, the Mahabharata remains a contested text, a brilliantly orchestrated hybrid narrative with no single party line on any subject.

The Celestial Song of God

The Bhagavad Gita (The Gods Song), widely regarded as the philosophical core of the Mahabharata, was composed much later under the realities of a new age. It was merged into the epics later drafts, perhaps as late as first century CE. This means that the philosophy it espouses is often not in accord with the moral ambiguities of the larger epic. Presented as a Q&A style exchange between Lord Krishna and the warrior-prince Arjuna, the Gita channels certain ideas from the Upanishads and the newly ascendant Bhagavata sect (whose devotionalism, notably, is not prominent elsewhere in the Mahabharata). It attempts to render esoteric philosophy more accessible by making it weigh in on concrete dilemmas of war and peace. In doing so, it also strives to privilege certain ideas and values.

In the opening scene of the Gita, Arjunarepulsed by the thought of killing his kin and elderssuffers an emotional meltdown in the middle of the battlefield, right before the start of the Great War between the Pandavas and the Kauravas. Despite his relatively righteous cause, he cannot see enough moral justification for the war and refuses to fight. I do not see that any good can come from killing our relations in battle. (Some have compared this to Ashokas turning away from war, which likely preceded the composition of the Gita and may have inspired this framing.) The powerful immediacy of Arjunas crisis commands our attention. In about 700 verses that followusing a dazzling array of ideas and tactics, many of which inspire people even todayKrishna explains to Arjuna why he must fight. Arjunas questions are large indeed: How do I know where my duty lies? How can I see the reality that lies beyond my worldly illusions? How can the restless mind attain lasting peace?

The Gita ends with Arjuna regaining his resolve to fight and overcoming his ethical concerns about the war. Eighteen days later, the war ends catastrophically; nearly everyone is killed. If you knew this but havent read the Gita, you might suspect Krishnas wisdom and find more instinctive sympathy with Arjunas initial doubts about the war. Indeed, the arguments that Krishna employs to persuade Arjuna to fight often seem cold, too distant, manipulative, and even warmongeringunlike the rest of the Mahabharata which comes across as decidedly anti-war. Why then have so many thinkers waxed eloquent about the wisdom of the Gita, including Emerson, Thoreau, Gandhi, Nehru, Vivekananda, Radhakrishnan, Huxley, and Hesse? The Gita in fact occupies a place more exalted than most other religious texts in the world. Most Hindus, even today, accord it the cultural cachet of a work whose philosophical depth and profundity is taken for granted. What then is so great about the Gita?

As with other ancient religious textsperhaps more so than many othersone can weave a path through the Gita (while willfully avoiding others) that can make it seem deep, inspiring, and even wise. It has some soaring verses that hit just the right universal notes. They emphasize the equal spiritual status of all seekers of truth. They exhort everyone to see the journey as the reward, not the destination. They disparage priestly rituals, and privilege self-awareness as a means of penetrating our veils of illusionalso defining higher and lower states of self-awareness and attributes thereof. Various verses downgrade selfish desire, pride, lust, greed, and the pursuit of power and sensual pleasure. Modern cosmologists may find charming the advice to Seek That, the First Cause, from which the universe came long ago.

While not so novel in light of other South Asian philosophies of the day, especially Buddhism, such ideas would enhance any world religion. But they are not the whole story; the Gita in fact says a lot more. It promotes a specific ethical and metaphysical worldview, as it tries to answer the age-old question: how to live? To properly evaluate the Gita, this worldview is what we should look at, not isolated verses taken out of contextmany of which are flatly contradicted by other verses. What then are the dominant ethics of the Gita? What is the picture of reality that it promotes? Is the Gita as good a guide to everyday life (i.e., to our inner battlefield) as so many claim it is?

What Song Do the Hindus Hear?

Many Hindus, including Mahatma Gandhi, have done highly selective and allegorical readings of the Gita. Gandhi even made it stand for peace and nonviolence. The message of the Gita, he wrote, is that spiritual fulfillment comes from selfless work; we must cultivate non-attachment to the outcome of our actionwhich doesnt mean indifference to the outcome, only the lack of hankering after and brooding over it. If one follows this central teaching of the Gita, he added without explaining why, one is bound to follow truth and ahimsa [nonviolence]. Gandhi translated the Gita from Sanskrit to Gujarati; in his introduction, he writes, Krishna of the Gita is perfection and right knowledge personified. Shortly after though, he concedes that the Gitas stance seems opposed to ahimsa, but then offers a painfully convoluted apology for it, citing different standards back then and calling for poetic licensegoing as far as saying that we dont need to probe the mind of the author too much! This suggests that he had at least struggled with the Gita.

Gandhis case reminds us that what people take away from a scriptural text is inseparable from who they are and what they bring to it. Which makes me wonder about Swami Vivekananda who seems to have betrayed no struggle with the Gita, let alone the need for an apologia. Instead, with an almost thuggish glee, he coldly rubbished Arjunas doubt, calling it a case of fear, jitters, and unmanliness that Krishna promptly fixes by awakening his latent power. Radhakrishnan, beneath his scholarly veneer, is not much better; to him the pursuit of duty for dutys sake is the unequivocal call of reason, and Krishna is the voice of God echoing in every man (why not also the voice of Arjuna?).

Until a couple of centuries ago, only a tiny minority of Indians revered the Gitamostly Brahmins attached to institutions, the kind Al-Beruni must have interacted with in the 11th century. This changed after modern European scholars, under the auspices of the Honorable East India Company, began investigating Hinduism, mainly because a sound knowledge of Indian history, religions, and customs would help in governing the locals (an impetus that grew after the 1857 revolt), as well as help Christian missionaries identify vulnerabilities in the local religious edifice so they could device their strategies. These scholars, such as William Jones, James Mill, and Max Muller, began researching the past, translating ancient scriptures, and theorizing about Hinduism as a coherent religion they could relate to (Mill even wrote an influential history of India without ever setting foot on the Subcontinent). From their preconceived ideas of religion, class biases, reliance on elite Brahmins as native informants, focus on texts, and limited exposure to folk beliefs and lived practices, they began to elevate the Gita as the Hindu Bible. Not only were they drawn to the monism of the Upanishads, writes Doniger in On Hinduism:

Some Protestants within the British Raj tried to recast Hinduism as a monotheism, with a Bible: the Bhagavad Gita [which] had never had anything remotely approaching canonical status before this, though it had always been an important text. Other textsSanskrit texts like the Upanishads and vernacular texts such as the Hindi and Tamil version[s] of the Ramayana, and, most of all, oral traditionswere what most Hindus actually used in their worship. The British exclusionary focus on the Gita, and on Krishna/ Vishnu, amounted to mistaking kathenotheistic polytheism for monistic monotheism. (emphasis added)

In Castes of Mind, historian and anthropologist Nicholas B. Dirks has argued that Muller, who left a strong imprint on later scholarship and even on Gandhi, believed that textual authority should have pride of place in official knowledge about India. According to Dirks, Muller held that Indian problems were the result of degradation and corruption from the Vedic ideal. Dirks adds that many early- and mid-19th century Orientalists, led by their own dubious reasons to create a particular view of Indian society, and with little knowledge of the social and religious lives of ordinary Indians (unlike that of the elites), also accorded to the Laws of Manu (translated by Jones) an unprecedented status, a canonic importance, and a significance it could never have had before. They also generalized heavilythat Indians lacked a sense of history, took despotic rule as the norm, had no experience of political unity, felt no sense of nationhood, lacked any impulse for self-governance, and were too preoccupied with the next world to pay any attention to this one. Was there any doubt that the Indians needed the resolute sobriety of British rule?

This scholarship both influenced and upset a class of elite Bengali Brahmins like Ram Mohan Roy of the Brahmo Samaj, who came to be called reformist and progressive. These elites, schooled in western education and the English language, took up the work of forging a new Hinduism they could be proud of. Not surprisingly, they leaned towards a monotheistic framework based on a classical Hinduism and elevated a textual canonwhich only a tiny minority of Hindus had ever read or even heardwith a limited set of male gods and rituals over the degenerate polytheism of folk religion. While they challenged many European prejudices and pointed out errors, they also fostered an inflated, often mythologized, story of ancient India that began to shape the consciousness of a new elite and provided ideological ballast for a nascent Hindu nationalism. The Brahmo Samaj and other progressive elites saw caste, idolatory, and Sati as aberrant practices. Partly in order to recruit the authority of the scriptures in their fight against such practicesbut also out of their regard for these scriptures and defensiveness at smug European critiques of Hindu degeneracythey expended considerable energy on selective readings and establishing the loftiness of the Vedic corpus, the Hindoo religion, its tolerance, and the pure spirit of its dictates. This was the fountainhead of what later came to be called Hindutva and took on a life of its own in the closing decades of the 20th century. Ironically, for all their reformist idealism on caste, as Susan Bayly points out in Caste, Society and Politics in India, even the Brahmo Samaj later became an exclusive and largely endogamous community within Hinduism.

This helps explain why the Gita, as well as other scriptures, have attracted such little critical attention in modern IndiaI mean the kind that sacred books of many world religions have. In approaching the text, too few Indians have cut through the fog of reverence that surrounds it. Among them was the historian DD Kosambi (1907-66), who wasnt too impressed by the Gita. In Myth and Reality (1962), he observed that a slippery opportunism characterizes the whole book. BR Ambedkar (1891-1956) saw it as Brahmanisms response to the rising fortunes of Buddhism. In his essay, Krishna and His Gita, Ambedkar wrote, The philosophic defense offered by the Bhagavad Gita of the Kshatriyas duty to kill is, to say the least, puerile. The journalist and secular humanist VR Narla (1908-85) called its moral perspective retrograde. In The Truth About the Gita, Narla argued that the book condones violence and wholesale slaughter; Krishna was Machiavellian, who employed trickery, deceit, falsehood, intimidation, and blackmail to get Arjuna to overcome his moral qualms. More recently, in Who Wrote the Bhagvadgita, Meghnad Desai, economist and politician, declared the text unsuitable to modern India whose Constitution commits it to a world of social equity and democratic freedoms. The message of the Gita is casteist and misogynist and as such profoundly in opposition to the spirit of modern India. He suggests that some of the many hypocrisies we observe in Indian life today may have their origins in the way the message of the Gita can be read.

Written by mere mortals in a political setting but posturing as the voice of God, the Gita strives to imbue the reader with a host of ideas, beliefs, and values. Classics are ultimately defined by their ability to survive criticism. Critiques of the Gita, too, are necessary in every age, if only to know where we stand in relation to this pillar of cultural thought. My engagement with the Gita has persuaded me that it is an overrated text with a deplorable morality at its core, which should be confrontednot explained away or swept under the holy mat (admittedly, this is not as bad as sincerely trying to follow the morality of the Gita). Notably, its reflexive admirers even abound among the modern, educated Hindu upper crust, including those who live in the West.

In Part 2, Ill probe the Gita more closely and also revive a critique of it that existed over two millennia ago, in the thought of the Buddha and then Nagarjuna. I hope that this line of inquiry will also disarm those Hindu religionists who tend to be ultra sensitive about critiques of their sacred books from Western perspectives (some of which may well harbor Eurocentric biases). Meanwhile, for a quick refresher on the context and the themes of the Gita, watch this 10-minute clip from Peter Brooks brilliant 1989 adaptation of the Mahabharata.

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Part 2 of this essay will appear on 02 Jan 2012. More writing by Namit Arora?

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NOTE: During a recent site upgrade, comments on this post were lost. They've since been recovered from an archived copy. You can read them HERE and post additional comments below.

Park MacDougald in The Point:

In late 1979, V. S. Naipaul, then middle-aged and of some literary stature, traveled to the newly declared Islamic Republic of Iran for what would eventually become his travelogue Among the Believers. He hated the place, beginning with his guide, a man named Sadeq:

He was in his late twenties, small and carefully dressed, handsome, with a well-barbered head of hair. I didnt like him. I saw him as a man of simple origins, simply educated, but with a great sneering pride, deferential but resentful, not liking himself for what he was doing. He was the kind of man who, without political doctrine, only with resentments, had made the Iranian revolution.

Naipaul arrived when the country was still in flux: the revolution had been greeted with optimism, and Irans liberals and leftists still believed that the ascendancy of the mullahs was a passing phase. Yet the mood he caught was sinister. In Tehrans northern suburbs lay wide European boulevards, where the countrys rich and cultivated lived in between shopping trips to London, Paris and Milan. The children of these upper classeseducated, idealistic, English- and French-speakinghad played a key role in the early stages of the revolution and had become, for many in the West, the face of the new Iran. They had scribbled English graffiti on the streets of London (Down with fascist Shah) and appeared on American television programs, which Naipaul had watched, to explain their revolution in American terms: freedom realized, a tyrant overthrown.

More here.A South African commission charged with probing allegations of widespread corruption under the government of former President Jacob Zuma started its first public hearings on Monday in Johannesburg.

Former president Jacob Zuma's legal "dream team" - advocates Mike Hellens SC, Dawie Joubert SC, Muzi Sikhakane SC and Thabani Masuku SC - were in attendance.

Much of the probe is expected to focus on Zuma's relationship with the Guptas, a wealthy Indian business family accused of wielding undue political influence.

Zuma's successor as President, Cyril Ramaphosa, has vowed to crack down on government corruption, which he has admitted was a serious problem.

"We want to make it clear that we do not want to delay the process but what has really made it hard for us is that we have raised questions to obtain certain documents because we want to make a meaningful participation before the inquiry" said Sikhakhane.

He also said the public's response to his call to come forward with information relevant to the probe was "disappointing", given the high level of public interest in the corruption allegations against the former president, his inner circle, and the Gupta family.

Jonas is expected to be among the first witnesses to give evidence.

"Whistleblowers are still watching nervously to see how the political winds will blow", said Daryl Glaser, a political studies professor at the University of the Witwatersrand.

It is important that we find out who's the culprits and that the recommendations by the inquiry can be made and that we, in a year or two years' time, can put this state capture behind us.

Mr Zuma was ordered to set up the commission by the high court last December following a report by the public protector, South Africa's anti-graft body. Ajay Gupta, the family's patriarch, has denied the claim that he offered Jonas the promotion and the money.

The first witnesses to appear before the commission include a former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas, an ANC lawmaker Mabel Mentor and the former government spokesman Themba Maseko.

Hellens was also in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court on Friday, where he argued on behalf of the Gupta brothers' nephew Varun Gupta, Oakbay CEO Ronica Ragavan and former Sahara chief executive Ashu Chawla.

The exact whereabouts of the Guptas are not known.

The inquiry will in part establish whether official appointments were "disclosed to the Gupta family or any other unauthorised person before such appointments were formally made", said inquiry head Zondo.NSU football holds off late surge from MSU Moorhead to win 33-27 on the road

sportsFor the first time since the 1950s, old Santa Fe 2926 is letting off some steam.

About 100 people gathered in the gray, drizzling early morning on Wednesday to watch as, for the first time in decades, the boilers of the old locomotive were fired up in the Eighth Street work yard of the New Mexico Steam Locomotive & Railroad Historical Society.

Plumes of dark, hazy smoke climbed out of the locomotives smokestack at about 6:30 a.m., signaling a landmark moment in a renovation project thats been underway for more than 15 years.

We got a little more steam testing to do and then well put the pistons on it, an elated Michael Hartshorne, society president, said Wednesday morning. He said the organizations goal continues to be to get 2926 up and running on the rails again, perhaps making excursions to the Grand Canyon or the old New Mexico railroad town of Las Vegas.

Santa Fe 2926, a 1944 Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway steam engine, made its last run on Christmas Eve 1953. It was donated to the city of Albuquerque in 1956 and placed in Coronado Park, on Second Street just south of Interstate 40. It stayed in the park, savaged by the elements and used by the homeless as a shelter and toilet, until 2000 when the Steam Locomotive & Railroad Society, organized specifically to rescue Santa Fe 2926, bought the locomotive for $1 and moved it, first to side tracks at Second and Menaul and then, in 2002, to 1833 Eighth NW.

From 2002 up to this week, society members have put in 178,000 volunteer hours and taken in $3.1 million, almost all of it in donations, to restore the locomotive to the smoking wonder it was in the 1940s and early 50s. It is an undertaking more immense than the locomotive, which is 18 feet tall and weighs 510,150 pounds.

An average of 25 to 35 society members have turned out for twice-weekly work sessions over the years. Parts had to be tracked down in other countries. Parts that no longer existed had to be made. Sometimes, tools, such as huge wrenches, had to be made. Several sections of the boiler, which had worn thin, had to be replaced.

But now, theres smoke in the stack, fire in the belly of the beast and light at the end of the tunnel.

We are a bunch of guys and gals who have dumped a lot of time and effort into this and suffered a lot of frustrations, Hartshorne said. It feels great when you see it actually works.

For more info

Learn more about the New Mexico Steam Locomotive & Railroad Historical Society and its restoration project at Learn more about the New Mexico Steam Locomotive & Railroad Historical Society and its restoration project at www.nmslrhs.orgIts been a week and a half since 6-year-old Ariana Jade Romeo was found dead in a Rio Rancho home, with evidence suggesting she had been sexually assaulted and killed. Detectives and prosecutors say they are not ready to charge anyone.

Barbara Romo, deputy district attorney for the 13th Judicial District Attorneys Office, said she has two prosecutors working closely with Rio Rancho Police Department detectives as they examine evidence and interview the people who were in the home the morning of Aug. 11, when Ariana was found dead.

I think at any given time there were as many as seven people in the house, Romo said.

Police have said the little girl and her mother had not been living at the home in the 200 block of Moonstone NE, near Northern and N.M. 528, for very long and their relationship to the homeowners is unclear.

Arianas mother was at the scene when officers arrived and has been interviewed. RRPD spokesman Capt. Ron Vigil said detectives have not identified a suspect in the case.

I know it takes its toll not only on victims family and the community, but also on officers who are working diligently on the case, Vigil said. But were still working on this investigation.

A search warrant inventory lists childrens clothing, bedding, sex toys, electronics and rope found in the home but does not say if police found a potential murder weapon. Detectives are waiting for the Office of the Medical Investigator to determine how Ariana was killed, if drugs or alcohol were in her system and if DNA evidence is on her body.

Romo pointed to the small size of the police department  it is budgeted for 135 officers  and a busy past month as another factor affecting the investigation.

Its a tedious process; theres a lot to do, she said. Im not trying to make excuses for them, but they are a very small force and they have a lot on their plate right now.

The investigation into 10-year-old Victoria Martens death in Albuquerque two years ago proceeded much more quickly. In that case, police and prosecutors charged three suspects, including Victorias mother, less than 24 hours after the girl was discovered to have been raped and killed.

However, much of the case fell apart after additional evidence was discovered. Only one of the suspects is still charged with murder.

In response to questions about whether lessons learned in the Albuquerque case had any bearing on the Rio Rancho case, Romo said she thinks their investigators arent treating Arianas death any differently than any other case involving a child.

We have a set protocol of certain things we expect them to do before we have enough information to make a charging decision, Romo said. Certainly, we dont want the same thing to happen to any of our cases, and this one especially, that happened in the Victoria Martens case.An Albuquerque man already serving time in connection with two homicides was sentenced to an additional 30 years Tuesday for federal firearms convictions, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.

Christopher Blattner, 38, pleaded guilty in April 2015 to two counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, each connected to incidents in August 2012 which involved methamphetamine, the U.S. Attorneys Office said in a news release.

According to state court documents, Blattner pleaded no contest in 2014 to voluntary manslaughter in the August 2012 death of Katherine Pacquin, and to second-degree murder in the September 2007 death of George Orozco.

Under that agreement, he was sentenced to 28 years in prison. And U.S. District Judge James Browning on Tuesday ordered Blattners 30-year sentence to run consecutive to his state sentence.

Blattners wife, Brittany, was also charged in the federal case, and she pleaded in March 2015 to simple possession of methamphetamine. She was later sentenced to two years of probation.

According to the news release, Blattner has four previous drug trafficking convictions.

Blattner made headlines years ago when he was erroneously released three years early from the New Mexico Department of Corrections, according to previous Journal reporting. Months after his release, he killed Pacquin.Michael Cohen was a man in a bind.

For years, the longtime lawyer for Donald Trump had been taking out larger and larger loans, using his taxicab business as collateral even as it dropped in value  at least once using one loan to pay off another.

At the same time, he was pocketing money from various financial deals, such as sales of a property in Florida and a luxury Birkin handbag, and hiding the income from the IRS.

Federal prosecutors had collected more than a million documents about his financial dealings and his efforts to suppress negative stories about Trump and were threatening to charge him with crimes that could result in a decade or more in prison.

Meanwhile, Cohen felt he had been abandoned by the president for whom he had once promised to take a bullet.

So it was just a matter of weeks before Cohen signed on to a plea deal, with the agreement coming together unusually quickly, according to people familiar with the negotiations. They said it was the combination of financial pressures and concern for the impact of the investigation on his family that drove Cohen to agree to plead guilty Tuesday to eight felonies that carry a recommended sentence of four to five years in jail.

As he acknowledged his crimes under oath in federal court in Manhattan, Cohen directly implicated the president in his efforts to silence two women who alleged affairs with Trump.

His claims marked Cohens transformation from Trumps loyal guard dog to outspoken accuser  raising the prospect that he could leverage Trumps secrets to threaten the president, his family and his private company.

Rudy Giuliani, an attorney for Trump, dismissed the idea that Cohen could hurt the president, saying he is not a credible witness. The deputy U.S. attorney came out in a press conference and called him a liar, Giuliani said in an interview.

But Lanny Davis, an attorney and spokesman for Cohen, went on a media blitz in the wake of Cohens guilty plea, repeatedly floating the idea that Cohen is willing to be a witness against Trump and his associates in state and federal investigations, including the special counsel probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

New Yorks state tax-collecting agency took Davis up on that. On Wednesday, a spokesman for the agency said it had issued a subpoena to Cohen for information related to an investigation into Trumps charitable foundation.

Cohen immediately responded by personally calling the agency to see how he could help, according to an official in Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomos administration familiar with his call.

In June, New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood filed suit against Trump and his three eldest children, alleging persistently illegal conduct at the presidents personal charity. She also sent letters to the Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Election Commission in which she identified what she called possible violations of tax law and federal campaign law by Trumps foundation.

Cohen had no formal role at the foundation, but he had wide knowledge of the presidents and his familys affairs. He also played one known role in a Trump Foundation matter: arranging for a Ukranian steel magnate, Victor Pinchuk, to donate $150,000 to Trumps foundation in 2015.

Potentially more significant, Davis repeatedly said Cohen would be willing to assist special counsel Robert Mueller III in his investigation into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia to influence the election and suggested that Cohen may be able to tell Mueller that Trump had advance knowledge of the hacking of Democratic emails.

I believe that Mr. Cohen has direct knowledge that would be of interest to Mr. Mueller that suggests  Im not sure it proves  that Mr. Trump was aware of Russian government agents hacking illegally, committing computer crimes, to the detriment of the candidate who he was running against, Hillary Clinton, Davis told PBS NewsHour Wednesday.

However, a person familiar with Cohens testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee in October 2017 said Cohen was interviewed extensively about the Russian interference campaign but did not provide any information to suggest Trump had advance warning about hacking.

Muellers team has examined Cohens role in at least two episodes involving Russian interests, according to people familiar with that probe.

However, special counsel investigators have indicated to federal law enforcement officials that the office does not require Cohens cooperation for its inquiry, according to two people familiar with their work.

Cohens new willingness to expose the president comes as Trump and his company face a variety of legal challenges. In addition to the suit over Trumps private foundation, another accuses Trump and his company of violating the Constitution by continuing to do business with foreign governments.

Cohen has special insight into Trumps world in part because of the presidents decision to carry over a habit from private life  treating his businesses, his family and even his charity as parts of the same operation  into the more rigidly regulated worlds of campaigns and governing.

According to court documents, two Trump Organization executives and an employee of the company were involved with approving and disbursing $420,000 in payments to Cohen in 2017. The money included $130,000 to reimburse Cohen for paying off adult film actress Stormy Daniels and $50,000 for unspecified tech services that he solicited for the campaign, according to filings.

A person familiar with the Trump Organization said Cohen explained the $130,000 expense as a settlement of a personal nature.

Trump Organization officials signed off on the reimbursements and decided Cohen should be paid more than he sought, prosecutors said. The executives grossed up the total reimbursement for tax purposes to $360,000 and tacked on a $60,000 bonus, inaccurately accounting for the payments as legal expenses, according to court filings.

It is unclear how much knowledge company officials had about the expenditures.

Trump Organization officials declined to comment.

Stephen Spaulding, chief of strategy for the watchdog group Common Cause, said the invoices could pose legal jeopardy for the company and the executives involved.

You have to follow the money and figure out who was in on the decisions and who wasnt in on the decisions. We dont have the answers to that, he said. It sounds like it wasnt just Donald Trump and Michael Cohen sitting in a room together.

Legal experts noted that Cohens plea deal did not include language explicitly requiring him to cooperate in ongoing investigations or promising that prosecutors would credit his cooperation at his sentencing.

Nevertheless, his deal indicated that he may have already laid out key facts to which he would testify if called upon by the government, even without such a promise of leniency.

New York University law professor Stephen Gillers said the government probably has the ability to get what it needs from Cohen without a formal cooperation deal, including by issuing him a subpoena to testify and by reviewing audio and documents it has seized from him.

People familiar with Cohens thinking said the intensifying pressure in recent weeks made him feel he had to plead guilty, even without a clause promising him leniency in exchange for cooperation.

Cohens own actions may have also ratcheted up the investigation.

On July 24, Davis released a secret recording Cohen made of a conversation with then-candidate Trump.

In the September 2016 recording, Cohen can be heard discussing the need for Trump to purchase the rights to Playboy centerfold Karen McDougals story of an affair with Trump. In their conversation, Cohen told Trump he had discussed buying the rights to McDougals story with Allen Weisselberg, chief financial officer of the Trump Organization.

Shortly after the recordings release, federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York investigating Cohen subpoenaed Weisselberg to appear before a grand jury.

Cohens negotiations with prosecutors about a plea deal began sometime after that, according to people familiar with the case.

One possible pressure point on Cohen: the chance that prosecutors could seek to charge his wife, Laura, who has been involved with Cohens taxicab business.

Court documents note that the couple filed taxes jointly in each of the five years in which Cohen admitted that he had broken the law by underreporting his income. The documents show that they both signed forms affirming under penalties of perjury that the returns listed all of their income for the year.

Laura Cohen also signed an application for a home equity line of credit in December 2015 with her husband that Cohen has acknowledged included criminal false statements.

Cohen later used the $500,000 loan to pay hush money to Daniels the day before the election.Reading just about anything in the media these days is frustrating. The majority of opinion pieces are poorly researched, lack hard evidence and push a poorly disguised agenda that poorly attempts to conceal the authors political bias. I did not expect to find these Mickey Mouse mistakes in an (op-ed) written by Gregg Schmedes, a physician and former associate professor of surgery at the University of New Mexico, who is New Mexicos director for the American Academy of Medical Ethics.

I grew up on a ranch on the New Mexico/Arizona border, where my dad recently retired after practicing medicine for 40 years. He saw folks regardless of their ability to pay because, if he didnt, they very well might have died.

Ive treated a dozen patients from Western New Mexico who had been patients of my dads at one point or another. Many told me if not for him, they would probably not be alive because they had no insurance and no money at the time my dad treated them.

U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grishams father was a dentist. He set up a dental chair in their garage so he could see patients who could not afford to pay for their own care.

And Michelle, an attorney, spent her career turning down lucrative offers in private practice to pursue a career in public service, even when raising her two daughters as a single mom after the tragic death of her husband.

She believed so strongly in service that the sacrifice was worthwhile. I have spoken with New Mexico Republicans and Democrats whove known and worked with Michelle. All of them, regardless of party, described her in the following ways  yes, I took notes: honest, extraordinary work ethic, straightforward, I knew where I stood with her, ballsy, very committed, fun, down to earth, ethical.

Michelles patient advocacy company, Delta Consulting, was awarded the contract to manage the N.M. high risk insurance pool through a competitive bidding process. No other company would accept the reduced fees that Delta took. Other, almost exclusively out-of-state, consulting and management companies would have charged substantially more and possibly limited coverage or even put the pool out of business. I actually looked at public audits from the 29 states that operate or sponsor high-risk pools. Deltas management fees and operating costs are incomparably small compared to the other 28.

When you compare the line items of operating costs and review what, in fact, these pools paid for, it is not difficult to come to the conclusion those states management companies for the non-profit insurance pools make money by cutting their costs.

Reviewing the same information in New Mexico, its clear that our pool pays for a much more extensive array of needed studies, procedures and medications than all other 28 plans.

Over the years, I myself have treated numerous patients in the N.M. Medical Insurance Pool. For many of these patients, coverage through the pool was literally lifesaving, as no one else would have paid for treatment, drugs, or diagnostics. They were in the pool because they were too sick and thereby deemed uninsurable. And, in many cases, not even Affordable Care Act plans would provide coverage for the number of needed specialists, procedures, studies and medications. But under Deltas management, the pool did. A few years ago, I became a board member on the New Mexico Brain Injury Alliance. While often frustrated and sad that patients were unable to get the specialty care they needed, all of us at the Alliance noticed that patients with coverage through the N.M. high risk insurance pool were more likely to be covered for the care they so desperately needed.

More than anything, Im disappointed that Dr. Schmedes, who just recently moved to New Mexico, did not even make a cursory attempt to obtain and examine the facts when writing his partisan screed. His claim to support ethics is directly contradicted by his use of his office as a physician to mislead New Mexico voters.WASHINGTON  The breakthrough Hollywood film about the Asian experience, told from an Asian perspective, featuring an Asian cast, could have been about the cruel exploitation of Chinese workers in the building of the Transcontinental Railroad. It could have been about the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, which barred Chinese laborers from the U.S. for a decade and denied citizenship to Chinese already here. It could have been about the forced removal of more than 110,000 people of Japanese ancestry to internment camps during World War II.

It says something that Crazy Rich Asians  called a landmark and the Asian Black Panther  is a romantic comedy, concerned more with class than race. Its plot is closer to The Philadelphia Story than to the immigrant struggles of The Joy Luck Club. This has been a source of criticism in some quarters. But it is not a flaw but a feature.

The story of Crazy Rich Asians is propelled by the interaction of three ethnically Chinese groups. There are the overseas Chinese, who left China  often because of conflict and famine  in the 19th and 20th centuries and came to dominate the economies of Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and  the main setting for the movie  Singapore. By one estimate they comprise about 6 percent of the combined population of those countries and hold about 60 percent of their corporate wealth. Like in Renaissance Italy or 19th-century New York City, a few fabulously wealthy families constitute dynasties, setting the terms of social welcome or exclusion. The male lead, played by Henry Golding, is a scion of one of those families.

Then there is the nouveau riche, whose growth in wealth has far outstripped their growth in taste. This group provides the protagonists best friend, played by Awkwafina, who dominates every scene she enters with a manic glee.

Finally, there are the Asian-Americans, who are viewed with suspicion by the Chinese dynastic families, particularly for their tendency to prefer choice and self-expression to filial responsibilities. The American interloper, played charmingly by Constance Wu, was raised by a single mother, became an economics professor at NYU and innocently enters the buzz saw of Singaporean high society.

Without providing any spoilers, the product of the American immigrant experience proves every bit as tough and resourceful as the matriarch of the grand Chinese family and love prevails across the division of class  unlike in The Philadelphia Story, in which class ties win out.

No film can really encompass the Asian experience, in part because the term Asian is absurdly broad. Part of the context for Crazy Rich Asians is the cultural self-confidence of the overseas Chinese, captured at one point in the movie when a father urges a child to clear his plate with the admonition: Think of all the starving children in America. This is an ethnic group that fully expects to own the future.

The other context for the movie is a particular phenomenon  the extraordinary success of Chinese and other East Asian immigrants in America. The general outlook of this group is conditioned by the fact that the American dream worked as promised for many of them. The median family income of Asians in America is significantly higher than that of whites. One of their main concerns is the accusation that Harvard stoops to race-conscious admissions practices that artificially lower its number of Asian students.

Ive seen some of these trends at the micro level. My wife is Korean. She came to America through international adoption  an immigrant experience, not as a tolerated stranger, but as a much-loved member of a family. Growing up in a fundamentalist community, in a nearly all-white suburb, she can recall only two instances of prejudice. Our marriage did not cause controversy.

Intermarriage is in the process of scrambling a lot of simple ethnic stories. According to a Pew Research Center study, 29 percent of Asian-American newlyweds in 2015 married someone from a different race or ethnicity. My children  thanks to the low-cost proliferation of genetic testing  know their background is East Asian, West European, South European and European Jewish, with a hint of Irish, Scottish and Welsh.

People with this kind of background  and Asian-Americans more generally  are likely to be proud of their heritage, but not defined by its divisions and resentments. And they are seeing their story reflected, not in a tragedy, but in a brilliant comedy of class and manners.

Email address michaelgerson@washpost.com. (c) 2018, Washington Post Writers Group.Copyright  2018 Albuquerque Journal

A Deming man is charged with animal cruelty after 10 dogs under his care at an animal sanctuary died due to neglect.

Michael Muir, 63, is charged with 10 counts of cruelty to animals, a misdemeanor offense.

Muir was an employee of Rays Ruff Ruff Sanctuary and was tasked with caring for around 100 animals there.

According to the criminal complaint, a Luna County Sheriffs deputy was dispatched to the sanctuary on southeast Rockhound Road in Deming on July 7.

There, the deputy made contact with sanctuary owner Raymond Schmal, who reported that 10 dogs had died due to Muirs negligence.

Schmal told the deputy he was out of town when the animals died.

Monica Vasey, whose property is adjacent to the sanctuary, said she had spoken with Muir on a few occasions prior to the animals deaths and said he seemed overwhelmed by the job.

The last phone call I got from Mike, I was very concerned about it, she said.

That was June 25, and she said Muir told her then that he had found two dead dogs in a kennel and feared he would be blamed for their deaths.

According to court documents, Muir also called another man on June 25 to ask for help in dealing with the two carcasses. But in addition to the two dogs found in the trash, the man discovered the corpses of eight other dogs in kennels.

The two men then buried the dogs.

Schmal does not face any charges, but California records show he pleaded no contest to animal cruelty charges in Kern County in 2014, when 12 dogs and 40 cats were removed from his home due to inhumane conditions.

Two dogs died en route to a veterinarian and two had to be euthanized, according to the criminal complaint.

Schmal directed questions to his attorney, who did not return multiple requests for comment.

Capt. Michael Brown of the Luna County Sheriffs Office has sought the advice of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or ASPCA, since the incident. Brown said he is waiting on a report from the Deming-Luna County Humane Society, the nonprofit contracted for animal control services and which permitted Ruff Ruff.

I know a lot of people are concerned, said Humane Society board president Matt Robinson. I understand why theyre concerned, but were just trying to do the right thing and go through the correct process.

Dr. G. Clay Allred wrote to the Humane Society that while some of the dogs appeared on the thinner side and others had mange, all dogs looked to be in decent to great shape.

Around 75 dogs there were vaccinated by Allred, as well.Attorney General Hector Balderas indicted a convicted felon and registered sex offender on rape charges Wednesdayjust over five years after the suspect was convicted and sentenced on numerous sexual assault charges.

Edward Cebada, 27, is facing numerous charges including criminal sexual penetration of a minor, criminal sexual contact of a minor, child abuse, battery and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

The new indictment stems from a incident in April where police say Cebada raped a 16-year-old girl in a car outside Cottonwood Mall.

Its not Cebadas first time facing such charges and in July 2013 he was convicted of criminal sexual penetration of a minor, criminal sexual contact of a minor and child solicitation in separate cases out of Bernalillo and Sandoval counties.

As Attorney General, Im disgusted and angered that a convicted sex offender is alleged to have harmed another child in our community, Balderas said in a statement. I will aggressively prosecute this case, and all dangerous child predators that sexually exploit children in New Mexico.

Cebada was booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center on Monday and prosecutors have filed a preventative detention motion to keep him behind bars until trial.Turkey is now struggling with a severe currency crisis, triggered by escalating U.S. sanctions, which Washington ordered in retaliation for the detention of Evangelical Pastor Andrew Brunson, who is accused of taking part in a failed 2016 coup. "I think it's very sad what Turkey is doing", Trump told Reuters. "I'm not concerned. This is the proper thing to do".

But the U.S. said that discussions regarding the fines and other areas of dispute between the two countries were off the table until Brunson was released, a White House official told the Wall Street Journal.

Brunson denies wrongdoing, and Ankara has in the past suggested his fate could be linked to that of a US-based Turkish religious leader whom Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accuses of orchestrating the attempted putsch.

The US president claims he had agreed with his Turkish counterpart on the release of an American pastor held in Turkey for terror-related crimes in exchange for his help with securing the release of a Turkish citizen imprisoned in Israel.

"I got that person out for him".

"I like Turkey. I like the people of Turkey very much".

U.S. -Turkey business groups have warned that a political dispute between the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies was affecting investor confidence and had forced some firms to suspend investment plans. Until now I had a very good relationship as you know with the president. I had a very good relationship.

Another ratings agency, DBRS, said European banks with Turkey exposure face a manageable capital impact.

Trump drew a barrage of criticism at home and overseas after he stood side by side with Russian President Vladimir Putin at a July 16 summit in Helsinki and cast doubt on his own intelligence agencies' findings that Russia meddled in the 2016 US elections.

"While we were passing by the embassy building, I chose to shoot in that direction".

Turning to Iran, Trump showed little interest in meeting Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to discuss the dispute over Iran's nuclear program after earlier this month expressing a willingness to do so. The U.S.is far away, but we are neighbors.

TRT World spoke to Giles Gibson who weighed in on Trump's comments from Washington DC. "If they want to meet that's fine, and if they don't want to meet, I couldn't care less", he said. "It's certainly not helpful but we'll actually see what develops from their pledge", he said.

"The Turkish government has deprived this innocent man of his due process rights and liberty for too long, and it must completely release him", said Kristina Arriaga, USCIRF's vice chairman.Copyright  2018 Albuquerque Journal

Even after Army Air Forces Sgt. Alfonso O. Durans B-24 bomber was shot down over Yugoslavia in 1944, his mother, Maria, always held out hope that he was alive.

You know, I think mothers try to do that, said Stan Evans of Santa Fe, Durans nephew.

But she died without ever knowing what had become of her 22-year-old son, who enlisted in the Army during World War II, never to return to his home in El Rito.

On Wednesday, more than 70 years after his disappearance, Durans remains reached their final resting place in the Santa Fe National Cemetery.

Today, we lay to rest a patriot who honorably served our nation in the preservation of the heritage of freedom, said New Mexico National Guard chaplain Maj. Thi Truong, standing beside Durans flag-draped coffin. In life, we honor the flag, and in death, the flag will honor him.

Although Maria never received the closure of knowing her sons fate, perhaps she would have found some comfort in the fact that although he did perish in the crash, he was buried beside a church in a small village in what is now Slovenia.

A woman there has cared for his grave for years, surrounding it with stones and placing flowers on it.

It really touched our hearts that he was not forgotten, his niece, Patricia Duran, said after the burial service.

Enemy fire

On Feb. 25, 1944, Duran was serving as a nose gunner aboard a B-24 Liberator. The plane was struck by enemy fire, and its right wing was damaged, prompting the crew to bail out.

But for some reason, Duran didnt make it out.

While his crewmates and the U.S. Army did not know what became of Duran, nearby villagers had pulled his body from the wreckage and buried it, believing him to be an Australian airman.

Through research by local researchers there and the U.S. Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, it was determined in 2016 that the remains beside St. Stephens Church were likely his.

DNA was taken from Stan, his nephew, and it was officially announced on May 22 that the long lost sergeant had been found.

New Mexico National Guard Capt. Gabriel Peterman assisted the family in making final arrangements for their cousin and uncle.

This is something the Army takes very seriously, Peterman said. As a service member, its nice to know that we will not be forgotten.

Early life

There isnt much known about Duran himself, as family members described him as a quiet young man and those who knew him best have since passed on.

Growing up on a farm in El Rito, Duran loved horses and even traveled to California for a time to work as a groom at a racetrack.

His cousin Edmund Martinez said he was always charged with saddling up the horses when he came to visit so they could ride.

Both Stan and Patricia agreed  with smiles  that it always seemed that he was Marias favorite child.

When the news came that he was missing, his brother Gilbert was already in a Japanese POW camp in Manchuria, where he would remain for 3 years.

Two boys out of three, and you dont know where they are? Stan said. Thats got to be awful tough on a woman.

Patricia said her grandparents and his surviving siblings routinely told a couple of stories again and again about Duran, and then it would just get very quiet.

I think they were really heartbroken, she said.

According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, there are still nearly 73,000 Americans still unaccounted-for from World War II.

Were all very happy to have him back, Stan said. The only thing Im sorry about is that my mother and grandmother werent here to see this happen.HONOLULU  Hurricane Lane unleashed torrents of rain and landslides that blocked roads on Hawaiis mostly rural Big Island on Thursday as residents and tourists in the states biggest city braced for the dangerous storm to come their way.

Emergency workers rescued five people from a flooded house in Hilo after a nearby gulch overflowed, said Hawaii County Managing Director Wil Okabe. They werent injured and were taken to a shelter, he said.

On the states most populated island, which is about 200 miles (320 kilometers) north of the Big Island, employees of the Sheraton Waikiki resort filled sandbags to protect the Oahu oceanfront hotel from surging surf. Stores along Waikikis glitzy Kalakaua Avenue stacked sandbags along the bottom of their glass windows to prepare for heavy rain and flash flooding.

Hurricane Lane, which was still offshore, already lashed the Big Island with nearly 20 inches (50 centimeters) of rain in nearly 24 hours and was moving closer, putting it and Maui in the thick of the storm, National Weather Service meteorologist Melissa Dye said. The agency says the storm has weakened to a Category 3 but can still cause major damage.

The hurricane, which was packing maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (193 kph), was expected to move close to or over portions of the main islands later Thursday or Friday, bringing dangerous surf of 20 feet (6 meters), forecasters said.

Lane was not projected to make a direct hit on the islands, but officials warned that even a lesser blow could do significant harm. Some areas could see up to 30 inches (about 80 centimeters) of rain.

Rain has been nonstop for the last half hour or so, and winds are just starting to pick up, said Pablo Akira Beimler, who lives on the coast in Honokaa on the Big Island. Our usually quiet stream is raging right now.

Beimler, who posted videos of trees being blown sideways, said staying put is about the only choice he has. The road to Hilo was cut off due to landslides, he said.

United Airlines cancelled its Friday flights to and from Maui. The airline added two additional flights from Honolulu to San Francisco on Thursday to help transport people off the islands.

Hawaiian Airlines cancelled all Friday flights by its commuter carrier, Ohana by Hawaiian.

On Oahu, an island of nearly 1 million people, Elisabeth Brinson watching surfers earlier in the day from her balcony on the ninth floor of the Hawaiian Hilton Village in Waikiki. Later Thursday, police on loudspeakers in Waikiki told surfers and swimmers to get out of the water. They said the beach would be closed until further notice.

Hotel staff left a notice that the rooms will still have water and phone service, and a backup generator will power one elevator per building.

Brinson, a native of the United Kingdom now living in Denver, said many shops were closed, and those still open were frantic with people buying food, beer and water to take back to their rooms.

We knew it was coming, so I tried to just cram as much as I could into the last few days in anticipation so we could cross things off of our list, said Brinson, who is accustomed to hurricanes after living in Florida.

Hawaiis biggest hotels are confident they can keep their guests safe as long as they stay inside, said Mufi Hannemann, CEO of Hawaii Tourism and Lodging Association.

Members of his association, which include the states major hotels, are shifting into high gear with their emergency management plans, he said.

The Marriott Resort Waikiki Beach in Honolulu designated a ballroom on the third floor as a shelter for guests and began removing lounge chairs from around the pool and bar area.

The Queen Kapiolani Hotel brought construction equipment inside from a pool deck thats under renovation. The hotel will encourage guests to stay in their rooms if the weather worsens and evacuate to hallways if it becomes necessary to avoid windows.

The only concern is those that venture outside of the properties, that would like to hike on a day like this or who would like to still go into the ocean and see what its like to take a swim or surf in these kind of waters, Hannemann said.

Honolulu shopping malls and office buildings closed early on Thursday and planned to shut their doors Friday.

Shelters were open throughout the islands, with 350 people in them in Oahu. Aid agencies were also working to help Hawaiis sizable homeless population, many of whom live near beaches and streams that could flood.

Because theres not enough shelter space statewide, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency Administrator Tom Travis urged people who were not in flood zones to stay home.

The National Weather Service downgraded the Big Island to a tropical storm warning, meaning it expects sustained winds of 39 mph (62 kph) to 73 mph (117 kph) to reach the island instead of stronger hurricane force winds.

But a hurricane warning remains in effect for Oahu and Maui County.

The central Pacific gets fewer hurricanes than other regions, with about only four or five named storms a year. Hawaii rarely gets hit. The last major storm to hit was Iniki in 1992. Others have come close in recent years.

Because people in Hawaii are confined to the islands, they have to make sure they have enough supplies to outlast power outages and other potential emergencies.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency moved several barges packed with food, water, generators and other supplies into the region ahead of Hurricane Hector, which skirted past the islands more than a week ago, FEMA Administrator Brock Long said.

___

Associated Press writers Brian Skoloff and Audrey McAvoy in Honolulu, Mark Thiessen and Dan Joling in Anchorage, Alaska, Seth Borenstein in Washington and Annika Wolters in Phoenix contributed to this report.A former Carlsbad High School student alleged he was bullied, intimidated and threatened by the schools principal while organizing a student walkout in support of the Second Amendment.

Will Riley, who graduated from Carlsbad High in May, alleged the school principal Adam Garcia Amador went out of his way to disrupt the organization of the May 2 event.

I went to Amador so as not to disrupt the education process, Riley said. At every step of the way, including in this first meeting, he was immediately hostile and immediately attempted to intimate me.

The 16-minute walkout allowed students to stand in favor of the Second Amendment, as opposed to a previous national movement by students who asked for stricter gun laws.

Riley alleged that Amador threatened him with arrest, and arranged a meeting with the teenager where Carlsbad Police Department officers were present.

District officials declined to comment on the allegations.

More: Adam Garcia Amador named Carlsbad High School principal

In an Aug. 19 letter to the Carlsbad Municipal School Board, Rileys mother, Lisa Riley, suggested that Amador had also warned teaching staff against encouraging or participating in the Stand for the 2nd walkout.

Lisa Riley, who is also a District judge, told school board members Tuesday that she could not let the issue slide.

I know that the principal may deny some of these things that my son has stated tonight, and that are in my letter but many of them can be verified by teachers who have concerns and didnt want to risk appearing before the board, Lisa Riley said.

More: Carlsbad high school students walk out in protest against gun violence

We need to make clear that this type of discrimination, this type of behavior, will not be tolerated in our schools.

State Rep. Cathrynn Brown said a remedy for the allegations needs to be found.

Brown questioned whether school board members were aware of Amadors comments, whether the districts attorney had been consulted and if the high school principal was acting on his own authority during a public comment period before the school board Tuesday.

Im very concerned about what Ive read, Brown said of Lisa Rileys letter.

More: Hundreds of students gather for Stand for the Second walkout in Carlsbad

Among other things, Lisa Rileys letter states that while a student-organized movement in protest of gun violence was embraced by district administration, the event organized by Riley was met with hostility.

About 100 Carlsbad students participated in a 17-minute walkout March 15 as part of a national movement, following the shooting death of 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on Feb. 14.

This is discrimination, pure and simple, and it has no place in the public schools, Lisa Riley wrote.

You simply cannot roll out the red carpet for those on one side of an issue, and throw up roadblocks for those on the other side of that same issue. There can be no justification for such behavior.

Amador, previously an advanced education teacher in Las Cruces Public Schools, accepted the principal position at Carlsbad High School in December 2017.

Jessica Onsurez can be reached at 575-628-5531, jonsurez@currentargus.com or @JussGREAT on Twitter.

Related: Parkland Students Dont Speak for Me or My Generation



2018 the Carlsbad Current-Argus (Carlsbad, N.M.)

Visit the Carlsbad Current-Argus (Carlsbad, N.M.) at www.currentargus.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.WASHINGTON  The Senate Banking Committee on Thursday approved Kathy Kraninger as director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, as Republicans overlooked the protests of Democrats who said President Donald Trumps nominee is unqualified to lead the consumer watchdog.

Kraningers nomination received approval in a 13-12 party-line vote. The nomination now goes to the full Senate for a vote, where Senate Democrats like Elizabeth Warren, arguably Kraningers biggest critic, has vowed to block her nomination.

Kraninger, currently a mid-level executive in the Office of Management and Budget, was an unknown before Trumps nomination. She works directly under Mick Mulvaney, who is both Trumps budget director and has been acting director of the CFPB since late November.

Mulvaney has moved to roll back many of the rules and regulations established by the CFPB, which was formed in the wake of the financial crisis. Kraninger has given little guidance on how she plans to run the bureau, but shes expected to operate the bureau similarly to Mulvaney. She has never worked in financial services.

Will Kathy Kraninger stand up against powerful special interests and fight for service members, students and seniors that need a champion? Unfortunately, the answer is no, said Senator Catherine Cortez-Masto, D-Nevada.

Democrats tried to derail Kraningers nomination by focusing on her work in the White Houses budget office, where she handled the budgets for the Department of Homeland Security and several other large agencies. DHS is the department in charge of the policy to separate children from their parents at the border and the disaster recovery from Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, where thousands of Puerto Ricans died and many parts of the island went without electricity for months.

Kraninger dodged many questions regarding these two issues during her nomination hearing last month, and her written responses to Senators questions were equally evasive.

Shes refusing to describe her role in two very public management failures because she knows it would destroy the case for her nomination, Senator Warren said before the committees vote.

Republicans argued that Kraninger, as a mid-level bureaucrat, had little to do with those policy decisions and she should be instead judged on her ability as a manager.

The CFPB has been a source of political controversy since its creation. Republicans see the CFPB has an unaccountable federal agency that has too much independence and power and should be reined in, while Democrats say consumers need an agency that stands up to big banks and payday lenders and it must be independent in order to make tough decisions.

The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection was the most polarizing part of Dodd-Frank and it is not surprising that the confirmation votes of Richard Cordray and now Kathy Kraninger are contentious, said Senator Mike Crapo, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee.

If Kraninger is approved by the full Senate, she will serve a five-year term as CFPB director.

A far-less contentious nomination was Trumps choice to be president of the Export-Import Bank, Kimberly Reed. Her nomination received unanimous approval from the committee.

___

Ken Sweet covers banks, payday lenders and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for The Associated Press. Follow him on Twitter at @kensweet.Bayer officials are in town from Germany this week, able to meet with Monsanto employees and leaders as the companies come together at last.

Almost two full years after Bayers $63 billion acquisition of the Creve Coeur-based crop science company was first announced, the two businesses were finally cleared to begin functioning as one last week, after divestitures needed to satisfy regulators at the U.S. Department of Justice.

Already there are some signs of change  from the Bayer signage that now stands outside Monsantos longtime research campus in Chesterfield to the new Bayer email addresses for former Monsanto personnel.

Overall, though, it will take some time for more specific details to emerge about changes that await the combined company, and its presence in the St. Louis area.

In a meeting with news outlets Wednesday morning in Chesterfield, company executives reiterated strong verbal commitments to St. Louis.

People quickly told me, Please dont InBev us,' said Liam Condon, president of Bayers Crop Science Division, referring to the decade-old sale of the St. Louis brewing icon, Anheuser-Busch, to the Belgian company, InBev, and the ensuing erosion of local jobs and clout at the companys regional operations.

What we already said two years ago  and nothing has changed whatsoever related to this  the global headquarters for seeds and traits and the North American commercial headquarters are based here in St. Louis, Condon said.

Condon said there would be shifts of personnel between St. Louis and Bayers existing facilities in Germany and North Carolina  a process that he previously said may take about a year for any resolution.

This isnt a straight calculation. Theres going to be a lot of moving variables, he added. But this whole deal was built around the concept of innovation and growth, and nothing has changed on that front. So my personal belief is very firmly (that) long-term we will have more jobs here as opposed to less. Monsanto has 5,400 full-time employees in the St. Louis area and 20,000 globally.

Condon suggested that the companys local presence would not be concentrated exclusively around research positions in the future, saying that the expansive work done in the region would still require administrative support.

Company officials also expressed broad excitement Wednesday about opportunities for complementary research and product development spanning biotechnology and data and analytics.

Bayer said that controversies and legal issues surrounding glyphosate and dicamba were off the table for discussion Wednesday, and that the company would speak to the matters during a call with investors on Thursday.



2018 St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Visit the St. Louis Post-Dispatch at www.stltoday.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.TAOS  Lawyers for three of the defendants arrested at a remote Taos County compound earlier this month have filed motions to dismiss the child abuse charges against them, arguing that prosecutors missed a crucial deadline.

The dismissal motions were filed by lawyers for Lucas Morton, 40, Subhanah Wahhaj, 35, and Hujrah Wahhaj, 37. The lawyers say that prosecutors missed a 10-day deadline to hold preliminary hearings for the incarcerated defendants to determine if there is sufficient probable cause to proceed to trial, and that the child abuse charges therefore should be dismissed.

During the Aug. 3 raid of the ramshackle compound, officers found 11 children ages 1 to 15 who they say appeared to be malnourished. Each of five adults arrested after the raid faces 11 counts of felony child abuse.

The two other compound defendants, Siraj Ibn Wahhaj and Jany Leveille, both 35, have been in different legal situations. Leveille, a native of Haiti, was turned over to immigration authorities, who say she has lived in the U.S. illegally for 20 years. Siraj Ibn Wahhaj was being held under warrants out of Georgia for the alleged kidnapping of his 3-year-old son, Abdul-Ghani Wahhaj, in December.

Child remains found on the compound have been identified as those of the missing boy. The Taos district attorney is waiting on determination of cause of the death before filing any charges in the death.

Officials said Thursday that Georgia is no longer seeking extradition of Siraj Ibn Wahhaj. That means he now faces the same conditions of release as Morton, Subhanah Wahhaj and Hujrah Wahhaj. They can get out of jail if they have places to stay  under a controversial decision by District Court Judge Sarah Backus last week  but all of the defendants have remained in custody, because they cant find local accommodations.

In one of the motions to dismiss the child abuse charges because of prosecution delays, Megan Mitsunaga, attorney for Subhanah Wahhaj, wrote: Defendant has not caused delay in her case, as Defendant has requested no continuances and Defendant remains in jail. It is the States responsibility to transport Defendant for prosecution and timely (sic) to commence the hearing when she is in the custody of the State.

Tom Clark, Siraj Ibn Wahhajs attorney, said Thursday that he planned to file a similar motion to dismiss.

There was no comment from the District Attorneys Office.

In another development Thursday, a magistrate judge rescinded $5,000 cash-only bonds for Morton and Subhanah Wahhaj that had been imposed for criminal trespassing citations

Mitsunaga and Mortons attorney, Aleksander Kostich, argued that for a judge to set bail on a trespassing charge, the Taos County Sheriffs Office had to file a sworn affidavit that includes probable cause. Instead, the citations were issued on traffic tickets, but with Non-Traffic written on top by hand. The citations do say that the defendants had been asked to leave the compound site by the property owner.

You cant arrest someone on a criminal charge with a traffic citation, Kostich said in court. This is absolutely insufficient and fatally flawed under the law of New Mexico. Ortega changed the bond to a $5,000 unsecured appearance bond, meaning the two defendants have to pay only if they are found to have violated any conditions of release.

Prosecutors maintain the defendants are dangerous, partly based on statements from compound children who say they were being trained for armed attacks on corrupt educational and government institutions that would be identified by Siraj Ibn Wahhajs dead son when he was resurrected as Jesus. An appeal of Judge Backus decision to allow the defendants out of jail is expected.Established in 2008, Isobar today has morphed into a full service global digital marketing agency, driven by the purpose to deliver borderless ideas enabled by technology, to transform businesses and brands. By conceiving, designing and building innovative experiences for the worlds largest organisations, Isobar enables brand commerce by connecting powerful brand narratives with commercial interactions. Isobar has been relentlessly focussing on delivering Ideas without limits, and takes pride in helping clients transform business processes, disrupt industries and find new ways to connect with customers.

Part of the Dentsu Aegis Network, a wholly owned subsidiary of Dentsu Inc., Isobar has over 6,000 digital pioneers in more than 85 locations, across 45+ markets worldwide.

Over the years, Isobar has secured an impressive array of industry awards. The agency won over 250 awards in 2016, including 19 Agency of the Year titles, besides winning the Asia-Pacific Digital Network of the Year for the fifth time in the past six years. In 2017 and 2018 so far, Isobar has added to its awards tally with wins at Clio, Goafest Abbys and more.

Isobar is crossing another milestone as it completes 10 years in the industry on August 26, 2018. According to Shamsuddin Jasani, Group MD - South Asia, Isobar, the two pillars that would fuel Isobars growth in the coming years are  e-commerce and strategic consulting.

In this exclusive two-part interaction with Adgully, Shamsuddin Jasani shares the story of Isobar  how it came into being in India, expansion, business goals, what keeps the agency competitive, winning clients and much more.

How it all began

Back in 2008, I met Ashish Bhasin and I decided to join him. That time Aegis did not exist, it was just Carat. Ashish told me about all the big things that they have planned ahead. When we started, there were 65 people in Carat; today, we are 3,000 to 3,500 people strong.

August 26, 2008 was when we commenced our operations. A year later, Gopa Kumar (Executive Vice President, Isobar India) joined us. With Gopa on board, our Delhi operations were strengthened. We kicked off our Bangalore operations in 2011.

From Day 1 our ethos has been that we are a full service digital agency. I had worked as a media buyer in my first job in a media agency, while my second job was at a digital creative agency and I clearly saw that there was a gap. In digital you cannot really distinguish between a creative and a media agency, unlike in mainline advertising, where there is a clear distinction between the two. Thus, a brand manager or digital marketing manager ends up having to deal with 6 to 7 agencies, which include digital agency, creative agency, social media agency, programmatic agency, media agency, and search agency for a campaign.

With the advantages that we offer as a full service digital agency, we have clients like Reebok who have been around since Day 1 and are still with us after 10 years .There are a lot of clients who have been with us for the last 6 to 7 years.

When we started out in 2008, the digital landscape was not so evolved. There was hardly any social media, there was not much of Facebook at that time, no Amazon and no e-commerce, there were just the horizontals. Our focus was to go to the clients with creative-led media solutions, which gained traction with a lot of our clients. We were working with Ashish Bhasin and within the first year we were profitable and that has helped us get to where we are today.

A year after we started, the global financial crisis happened in 2009, when everyone started to cut their budgets. While most thought it was a bad time to start a business, for me it was an advantage because we got really great people on board who were not very happy in their organisations and more importantly, clients started experimenting with digital more and more, as advertising on television and print was becoming more expensive. Clients were happy experimenting with digital as it was less expensive. We started consolidating Isobar as a full service digital agency and saw a big jump both in terms of revenue and people  we went from a staff strength of 42 to 120 in a year and a half. We scaled up on the media as well as the creative part. We grew our team by getting Anish Varghese on board as National Creative Director and Shekar Mhaskar, who now heads creative services and technology verticals. Because of being a full service agency, we also have vertical strength like social, creative and media.

Given our expertise in digital, we are now going to take digital to a next level of evolution with our clients and working with them on digital transformation projects. The future really lies in how we can partner with brands and businesses to use digital beyond just marketing, to use digital intrinsic to their businesses and their products and take that forward or to build a new way for them to reach out to their consumers and make a new way of doing business with them. That is how we want to evolve in the next 10 years of Isobar in India.

Key milestones

Reebok has been one of the very important clients for us and, as I said earlier, has been with us since the day of our inception. 70 per cent of the awards that we have won are for Reebok, including the recent Clio Award. The most number of innovations we have done is with Reebok. That is one really important partnership for us.

The second milestone has been the concept of a full service agency, which did not exist at that point of time. We were the ones who spoke about both media and creative. There were always agencies that did both but scaled up only in one of them, and so that was something which was a first time for something like this.

Another important milestone was getting Gopa Kumar on board, who helped us in setting up the Delhi team.

Launching in Bangalore has also been an important development in Isobars journey. It was the third office after Mumbai and Delhi. When we launched in Bangalore, there were no full service digital agencies there, so we clearly saw an opportunity. We started with one person in 2011 and by 2017, the team had grown to 75 people, making it the largest agency in Bangalore.

The fifth milestone in our evolution was getting Maruti, which is the largest full service account at the moment in digital. This was a Rs 150-crore media account with 12 brands, which involved entire creative, social, large scale technology development. There was a 60-people team dedicated for this account.

The Delhi vision

I live by the ethos of making yourself redundant in the system; I need to grow by getting in people who are the best that are there. Since media was the biggest trend, I asked who is the best person when it comes to media? The answer was Gopa Kumar.

Our focus was thus to get the best media person on board, the best creative person on board (which is Anish) and the best business and creative technology person on board (which is Chandrashekar). The single-minded focus in all the 10 years of Isobar and the secret sauce to our or anyones success in the industry, are the people. Without these people, I wouldnt be in front of you talking about Isobar.

Tryst with start-up culture

I was personally contemplating something of my own in 2008 and that is when Ashish Bhasin came in. It was about something that we wanted to create which was big enough, but we never thought it would become this big even though we knew that digital was going to be a big part of that. I had the opportunity to create something along with someone who has a lot of standing in the industry and more experience and can give me direction and offer help whenever and wherever I needed it.

We always shared the passion and the commitment to create something big. All of us gained out of it, be it Isobar or Carat or Vizeum, because we worked collectively from the start. Instead of one person in Isobar, I would say I got 45 people and now each of us can go individually. Back then, even Carat wasnt how it is now, and so we had to sell a much bigger story than what we were. In the first four months since its inception, Isobar won 6 clients like Tourism Australia, Symantec, and UTI Mutual Fund with only two people on board.

Entrusted with setting up Isobars Delhi operations, Gopa Kumar, Executive Vice President, Isobar India, had a tough ask. Here, he recalls how he met Shamsuddin Jasani and how he was roped into Isobar.

I never met Shams for an interview, we just had a chat and he asked me if I was looking for a change. At that point of time I felt saturated at what I was doing. It took me all of two minutes to accept the Isobar offer. Since it was a start-up, it was an open canvas and it was up to me to build it the way I wanted to, which gave me full confidence. The thought of getting that independence to do things the way I wanted to, which at that point of time I was not getting where I was working, was really exciting. That was one key point for me to make the move. While I was moving, everyone at GroupM warned me that it was not a great move and that it would be career suicide. True, it was a challenge to build up an agency from scratch, but I wanted prove everyone wrong. The biggest ingredient in the agencys success have been its people.

The road to build the agency ground up

Gopa Kumar continues: Initially nobody knew about Isobar. We needed people who would understand our style of work. The people who came in were likeminded and shared our vision. The first task was to get the core team in place and then reach out to clients as a full service digital agency.

There was clearly a need gap for such an agency in the market. Digital was still coming to the forefront, even as social media was evolving and people were figuring out what to do with digital. At the same time marketing budgets were squeezed due to the global meltdown. Our service offering was clearly a distinguishing factor and when we started off with the pitching, it worked to our advantage. Reebok was our first big win.

Shamsuddin Jasani: If you attract the right talent, the outcome is always amazing. The same thing happened in Bangalore, we had an amazing leader who set up our office there. The result is there for all to see as year after year we have been winning some amazing awards. The culture is about getting the best even if there are some people who are better than you at what they do. Thats the whole idea and that is what the entire team is all about and hence, empowering them even though we are a part of a large network. We have always worked in a very entrepreneurial set-up, which is a distinguishing factor from most of the companies that are there  we allow our teams to have a look in and make some mistakes as well.

Building up the Delhi operations

Gopa Kumar: Delhi is one of our largest operations. Initially, relationship building and getting clients was tough, but I guess our work speaks out clearly and we are now one of the largest agencies operating out of Delhi  both in terms of size and scale. Two years after we commenced our Delhi operations, everything started to fall in place and we moved from strength to strength with regards to the kind of work that we are doing and the kind of people that we are able to attract. People and clients are the two things that are very important for us.

I was the first person to join the Delhi office in August 2009, the next person joined in December. It took us 6 to 7 months to build up the team and by April 2010, we had a decent team in place.

As far as account wins are concerned, Reebok was our first client and then we won Philips, Mother Dairy, Tetra Pak and so on. We worked for Nokia later in 2010. These were some key marquee clients. Our proposition was of full service offering, where we were able to give the client everything that is digital under one roof, and also most of the work was in-sourced; whereas most of the other agencies were working with one or the other party, which was again an issue with clients.

Shamsuddin Jasani: By 2010 we had the best rates. In the initial couple of years the rates were driven by relationships, which will be very difficult for a new agency to achieve today, and I am very thankful that we launched at a good time. By 2010, we had also won some of the best media pitches.

I had thought that when we become Agency of the Year, I would quit. In 2011, we won a Silver, but we wanted a Gold. For me that was one aim that we wanted to achieve. Year after year we have been winning all the major awards, and I am still here!

Moving forward the goal post

Shamsuddin Jasani: At that point of time we didnt have that much scale in digital to scare anyone; I came from companies which already had decently large set-ups. But in the last 10 years we have never been scared of going up against anyone. We went up against all of them in the very first year itself and we won. I think that gave us the confidence that we could do it in the very first year, which was amazing, and now we regularly compete. We always had a very strong proposition and believed in what the offering was; the clients believed in us and we delivered it. We never ever gave it a second thought that we might falter.

I would say I am very happy, but not satisfied and so we keep on moving forward the goal post and in the last nine years that we have worked together, we never ever talked about taking a step back.

Click here to read more related articles.Post the successful launch of Sacred Games, Netflix is all geared up for its second original series Ghoul. The series will be available on Netflix on 24 August.

Ghoul is a horror mini-series created by Patrick Graham. It stars Radhika Apte and Manav Kaul. In February 2018, Netflix acquired the film and turned it into a miniseries.

In order to promote the latest series, Netflix took an interesting yet innovative move wherein it has superimposed Ghoul symbol on the existing hoardings of Sacred Games.

Wavemaker worked on the campaign along with Kinetic as the OOH agency and Netflixs in-house creative team.

Talking about the whole idea behind designing such innovative campaign, Shekhar Banerjee, Managing Partner, Wavemaker, said, Ghoul was following the much acclaimed Sacred games launch with big Bollywood stars and we had a tall task to build cult for otherwise considered a niche genre content. Staying true to the Netflix brand our strategy was about Disruptive Storytelling. What you are witnessing is a continuous & connected experience across touch points driven by an ideal synergy between media and creative. Cheers to the agile yet rigorous pre-planning phase, we co-created the innovative comms solution vs fitting the ready creative across media vehicles.

Further sharing the brief that came from Netflix, he explained that the only thing that came from the client was to create awareness and intrigue for first of its kind horror thriller series Ghoul. This is first of its kind for India market and for Netflix in India.

Click here for more related news.Sodexo, the leader in digital employee benefit solutions has launched Indias first-ever limited-edition festive gift cards for employee gifting. The company has launched these cards in 3 unique designs  one each for Diwali, Durga Puja & Ayudha Puja. Enabling a unique festive experience, these cards are personalized with employee name and company name and come with an option to customize them further where the employers can write special messages on the envelopes, to add that extra touch of appreciation! The cards are designed to offer employees a seamless experience enabling corporates to drive better employee engagement.

Sodexo with its unique gifting solutions, is revolutionizing the employee gifting trend by addressing to the needs of the millennial workforce. Sodexo Premium Pass gift cards in partnership with IDFC Bank are accepted at 2 million retail outlets and 90,000+ online portals on the Rupay Network, offering a greater choice to employees. Sodexos 11,000+ corporate clients across India, can now enjoy one-touch ordering of the gift cards via the Sodexo Web Ordering System, SWOS. This makes employee gifting very simple and easy for organizations, right from order placement to issuance and delivery.

Sodexo believes in keeping its clients and consumers at the heart of everything the company does. To sweeten the nationwide festivities this year, there are exclusive deals worth Rs. 5,000/- as an instant joining bonus for all employees on opting for this most flexible and simple gifting solution.

Stephane Michelin, CEO, Sodexo BRS India said, This year, festival-specific gift cards are a new addition to our employee gifting basket. Sodexo has introduced these limited-edition cards with the aim to offer more personalised and meaningful gifting solutions to our clients and consumers. Customising cards for three distinct festivals should help leaders connect better with their employees; the joining bonus will add to the festivities for them.

The newest addition to Sodexos employee gifting range is the Sodexo Premium Pass Virtual Card. An ideal gifting solution for on-spot rewards and last-minute gifting. This revolution in employee gifting will deliver the cards on to employees mobile app within 24 hours where they can manage all their benefits on a single mobile app. Also, the employees will be eligible for tax savings on Rs. 5,000 per year with these cards along with a multitude of deals and discounts.Star India today announced it will increase its donation to Rs 5 crores for the CMs Distress Relief Fund for the relief and rehabilitation efforts in Kerala. Star India had previously announced a Rs 2 crore donation however seeing the scale of the disaster, Star India and its employees stepped up to increase the donation along with its parent company 21st Century Fox.



Star India along with employee contributions of employees of Star India network and matching contributions of Star and parent company 21st Century Fox, have donated a cumulative sum of Rs 5 crores to the Kerala Chief Ministers Disaster Relief Fund.



K Madhavan, MD  South, Star India, presented the cheque to Shri Pinarayi Vijayan, Honble Chief Minster of Kerala, today.

In addition, Stars #AllForKerala campaign supported by over 60 stars and celebrities in 8 languages across 50 channels and Hotstar is inspiring millions to join the relief efforts.



Uday Shankar, President 21st Century Fox - Asia, and Chairman and CEO  Star India, said, Our hearts go out to those affected by this tremendous natural disaster. But we are also heartened by the stories of communities helping each other through this difficult time. We believe we must do everything in our power to help along with leveraging the power of our platform to inform and inspire citizens to join the relief and rehabilitation process. I sincerely hope many other companies will be able to provide assistance to families and communities in need of help.

K Madhavan, MD  South, Star India, said, "Kerala is in a terrible state, and we have a huge responsibility, as a media house, to support the situation. We are exploring all the possibilities of how to give them the right support. We think the next phase would involve moving beyond the initial mobilisation and awareness to the longer term focus on rehabilitation and repair, which we shall remain committed to help make happen."According to charging documents, Doostdar entered the United States in about July 2017 allegedly to gather intelligence about targets considered enemies of the Tehran government, including Israeli and Jewish interests and the MEK, a dissident group that seeks regime change in Iran and that was listed by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist group from 1997 until 2012.

Two individuals were charged on Monday for allegedly spying on Americans on Iran's behalf, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). "With their arrest and these charges, we are seeking to hold the defendants accountable".

The two were arrested on August 9 but the charges were not unsealed by a Washington court until Monday.

USA officials working on the case said the Trump administration will not permit Iranian regime-backed agents to operate with impunity on American soil.

Last September, Ghorbani allegedly conducted surveillance at a rally in New York City led by Mojahedin-e Khalq, of the People's Mujahedin of Iran, a political-militant organization that advocates for the overthrow of the current regime in Iran, the complaint said.

In July 2017, Doostdar traveled to Chicago, where he took photos of the security features of the Rohr Chabad House.

The two Iranian individuals-identified as Ahmadreza Mohammadi-Doostdar, a dual U.S.

"This alleged activity demonstrates a continued interest in targeting the U.S., as well as potential opposition groups located in the U.S.", said Acting Executive Assistant Director Michael McGarrity in Monday's statement. The statement says that the photographs and a receipt were found in Doostdar's luggage as he traveled through a USA airport on his way back to Iran. In conversations between them recorded by the FBI, Ghorbani mentioned trying to "penetrate" the group, while Doostdar spoke of being directed by others to collect the information.

Mr Ghorbani is said to have made a trip to Iran in March 2018 to give an "in-person briefing" and receive instructions on infiltrating the MEK.

In May, Mr Ghorbani attended the MEK-supported Iran Freedom Convention for Human Rights in Washington as part of the California delegation, where he also took pictures of attendees, including while posing in front of the White House.

Both men face five years for conspiracy, ten years for acting as an agent of a foreign power and 20 years for violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.Vivo India has announced partnerships with Posterscope India and Laqshya Solutions to further strengthen their Out-Of-Home (OOH) engagement. The size of the account is said to be Rs 150-200 crore.

In partnership with Laqshya and Posterscope India, Vivo will apply its guiding philosophy of innovation to its OOH engagement activities as well. The new partnership will build on Vivo foundation of existing and unique OOH engagement & initiatives, the company said in a statement.

Commenting on the partnership, Jerome Chen, CMO, Vivo India, said, OOH has been an integral part of our marketing strategy right from the beginning of our journey in India. Through OOH media, we have been able to successfully establish and position Vivo as a premium brand in the Indian smartphone market. As we continue to grow stronger in India, we believe this partnership will enable us to reach out to a larger consumer base, in both a national and regional level.

Talking about the win, Haresh Nayak, Regional Director, Posterscope Asia Pacific and Group MD, Posterscope Group South East Asia, said, Were extremely proud to add such an iconic brand like Vivo to our client roster. Posterscope will create one of its unique offering which enables us to put data at the heart of our decision making, drive speed at a national, local and campaign level, and use our resources efficiently, We look forward to collaborating with the team on creating some industry/category firsts and setting some benchmarks in smartphone advertising.

Atul Shrivastava, Executive Director & CEO of Laqshya, said, We are absolutely delighted to be selected for the OOH media partnership with Vivo. It is a very special landmark for Laqshya. The 55-pages brief given for this pitch was one of the best in recent times, which inspired a challenge before us to excel on every parameter. Our Research and Strategy Teams worked very hard on every detail and extracted the data and findings, related to TG, congregation points and competition etc. At every stage of the pitch, we could sense and see client's seriousness on using the OOH media as a strategic media in the market.

Our approach therefore revolved around selecting and suggesting the plan and actions, which are most apt and work well, basis our 22-years of experience in the industry. I would like to thank Team Vivo for giving us this opportunity and Im sure that Team Laqshya will meet/ surpass the expectations from us, he said.London Stansted Airports support for serving and former military personnel and reservists has been recognised with the prestigious Armed Forces Employer Recognition Scheme Silver award.





The award comes just 13 months after Stansted became the first airport in England to pledge support for the Armed Forces community and their families by signing up to the UK Armed Forces Covenant.



Liz Austin, Stansted Airports HR Director, said: "We were very proud to be the first airport in England to sign up to the Covenant last year but to win the Silver award is a fantastic honour. We have strong links with the Armed Forces with many former service personnel and reservists working in various roles across the airport. Members of the armed services can bring real value to businesses like Stansted Airport and we recognise our duty to support those individuals who fulfil difficult roles across the world and return to civilian life."



Rt. Hon. Tobias Ellwood MP, Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans, said: "I am delighted to congratulate the recipients of this years Employer Recognition Scheme Silver awards. A Silver award recognises the fantastic efforts of employers throughout the UK who have both elevated their commitments under the Armed Forces Covenant and provided actual benefit to the Armed Forces community. The winners should all be proud of the life-changing impact and fresh opportunities they are providing to our reservists, veterans, wounded injured and sick and their families. Weve seen a record number of winners this year, which shows that the Armed Forces family talent pool is also providing tangible business benefit."



London Stansted is the biggest employment site in the region, employing over 12,000 people across 200 companies. With its close proximity to Colchester Garrison and Carver Barracks, near Saffron Walden, its workforce includes many veterans and serving reservists.



Jim Holland, Stansted Airports Head of Commercial, who served in the Royal Navy for 13 years, said: Spending time in the Royal Navy really prepped me for airport life, on many fronts. Working in a high security environment, no two days are the same, the challenges, the people, the camaraderie, and getting things done at a fast pace. Just like the forces, Stansted Airport really is a rewarding place to work, the culture aligns with both service values and beliefs and is a fantastic place to meet great people."



The airport will be presented the award in November at Emmanuel College, Cambridge.

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Please enable notifications in your browser and reload the page.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.

The interview coincided with the 65th anniversary of the US-British coup d'etat against Iran's Prime Minister, Mohamad Mosadeq.

European states have been scrambling to ensure Iran gets enough economic benefits to persuade it to stay in the deal since USA withdrawal from the deal, which Trump said was "deeply flawed".

The 1953 coup restored to power Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, who was later toppled in the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

"65 years ago today, the USA overthrew the popularly elected democratic government of Dr. Mossadegh, restoring the dictatorship & subjugating Iranians for the next 25 years".

On Thursday, the US State Department formed an Iran Action Group aimed at consolidating and intensifying the country's efforts targeting the Islamic Republic.

"Now an "Action Group" dreams of doing the same through pressure, misinformation and demagoguery".

Back in May, Washington withdrew from its multilateral nuclear agreement with Tehran, and said it would reintroduced the sanctions that had been lifted under the accord.

Ali Larijani, Iran's speaker of parliament, said on Sunday the 1953 coup was an indication that the United States can not be trusted. Decades of hostility eased somewhat with the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and then-U.S. President Barack Obama's administration and five other world powers.

"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.

Larijani said the USA has masqueraded its economic sanctions on Iran under the veneer of supporting freedoms and human rights, and maintaining regional and global security.

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 United States penalties.CAIRO  The residents and companies of Egypt's North Sinai governorate are running into difficulty as they seek to legalize their ownership of land acquired through the practice of "wad al-yad," or the possession of land without official documentation of ownership. The Egyptian government is certifying some residents' requests for documentation of ownership while denying others'. This selective legalization indicates government corruption, according to some experts, while other experts say that the state's discrimination is perfectly legal.

While illegal in Egypt, the practice of wad al-yad is still widespread in North Sinai, with more than 40,000 pieces of land inherited through the practice, according to a source in the General Directorate of the North Sinai governorate.

Requests for legal recognition of ownership must be submitted to the General Directorate of the North Sinai governorate by Jan. 8, 2019. All landowners failing to meet this deadline will be considered in violation of the law and illegally occupying state land. The state is then free to remove them from the land. This government policy will impact the 420,000 people living and working in North Sinai.

The wad al-yad system doesn't mean people stole or seized the land. The plots of land in question were either acquired by sale or passed on from generation to generation via inheritance, with no official title, deeds or other legal documents proving ownership. Most lands in Sinai and the border regions, such as Halayeb and Shalateen, Nubia or Marsa Matruh, were passed on through wad al-yad over the course of hundreds of years. This was the case throughout Egypt until 1805, when the Muhammad Ali Pasha dynasty started documenting land ownership  except in those border and marginalized areas. Even under Presidents Anwar Sadat and Hosni Mubarak, the state never documented land ownership in Sinai. Many believe this was because the state doubted Sinai residents' patriotism and feared they would sell the lands to investors from hostile countries such as Israel.

In February 2018, the North Sinai governorate imposed new requirements for legalizing property ownerships: For a Sinai resident to legalize their ownership of property, their land should have, before January 2012, been built up with houses or been used for agricultural purposes or for micro-projects  short-term, goal-specific efforts. Some Sinai residents have complained, however, that meeting the requirements hasn't guaranteed that the state will fulfill their requests.

The Supreme Administrative Court issued a ruling July 29 giving the Egyptian state absolute discretion and competence to determine and alter development policies related to lands acquired by individuals and private entities in the Sinai Peninsula.

The court also supported the states refusal to legalize the Canal International Land Reclamation Co.'s occupation of an area of 930 feddan (964 acres) in Sinai's Sharq al-Buhairat area. The company was planning a project for livestock and poultry development on land it had bought from Sinai residents. As is the case with most lands in the region, the owners have no legal documentation.

Ahmad Abdul Salam, a lawyer specializing in real estate and land ownership, told Al-Monitor that the court's ruling is faulty.

The ruling granting the state absolute freedom in determining its policies related to  the occupation of lands owned without a title deed in Sinai is unconstitutional and inconsistent with the principle of equal opportunity between individuals and entities," he said, citing a clause in the constitution that says the state ensures equal opportunity for all citizens without discrimination.

According to the ruling, the state has the right to regularize ownership of land [obtained through the wad al-yad system] for a given person and deny such regularization for another, even if they both meet the legalization requirements," he said. The ruling also applies to companies.

However, Mahmoud Kbeish, a legal and constitutional expert and the former dean of Cairo Universitys law faculty, disagreed with Abdul Salam, contending that "wad al-yad is illegal in the first place."

Kbeish said, "The state may use its right to legalize ownership selectively to preserve public interest. The state apparatuses are the ones determining the public interest and how to achieve development," according to the constitution.

Amin Shaarawy, leader of the Bili tribe in North Sinai, told Al-Monitor that Sinai residents were happy that the state started legalizing their land ownership, describing this as a serious step toward achieving development. But he noted that the state legalized the ownership of some lands but not others, whether owned by individuals or companies. This led people to grow suspicious of the states intentions; many felt the government was granting favors or acting on grudges.

He added that even if the state rightfully believes some lands would be more appropriately used for big investment projects, or if it favors certain strategic or security considerations  given the proximity of the land to Gaza or Israel  it still must make fair restitution. It must "make sure that individuals, or even companies, who had acquired these lands through the wad al-yad system receive fair compensation," he said.

Shaarawy asserted that the states move to take lands from companies with no compensation raises investors concerns over the stability of the Sinai land situation.

Commenting on Shaarawys statements, a source at the Ministry of Local Development, who requested anonymity, told Al-Monitor, "The state is legalizing the ownership of lands on which houses were built, to protect families from homelessness. The state is also legalizing the ownership of lands housing agricultural projects, because such projects expand agricultural areas, which benefits the Egyptian community in general. The ownership of lands where micro-projects are established is also being legalized. These micro-projects help people earn their income in light of the deteriorating economic situation in Sinai due to decades of marginalization and terrorism.

Specifically regarding the Canal International Land Reclamation Co., he said, "This was a livestock project on land that could be used for other purposes. As such, the project could be transferred to any other area while preserving the land [in question] for other purposes.

Still, some observers question the government's true intentions in denying legalization.

Mohammad Farouq, the former director of the Egyptian Center for Economic Studies, told Al-Monitor, The states policy in refusing to legalize ownership of some lands aims [in reality] to enable the state to put its hands on those lands, as a prelude to allotting them to large-business owners.

According to Farouq, the state will justify this form of corruption by invoking national security considerations or by warning of the dangers of legalizing the ownership of some lands by specific residents or companies, under the pretext of them having ties with Hamas or Israel, or because of some companies associations with the Muslim Brotherhood.

Farouq said one issue that will discourage investments and projects in Sinai is failing to distribute lands according to fair standards. A second issue, he added, is the state assigning some lands to businessmen or Gulf princes, such as when the state gave lands to the king of Bahrain, Hamad Bin Isa al-Khalifa.GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip  Flare-ups earlier this month between the Israeli army and Palestinian resistance factions in the Gaza Strip seemed likely to escalate into an expanded war were it not for the Egypt-brokered cease-fire in place. Instead, Hamas and Israel are close to reaching a genuine truce that could last for years, a high-ranking Hamas source told Al-Monitor.

A real truce, however, will require the PLO's blessing and the participation of various factions besides Hamas.

An Aug. 7-9 flare-up was ignited when the Israeli army killed two Hamas militants in the northern Gaza Strip. The next day, 16 Israeli settlers were wounded by shrapnel from rockets Hamas fired at settlements alongside the Gaza Strip. On Aug. 9, Israel retaliated with airstrikes that killed a girl and her mother who was nine months pregnant.

Yet a Hamas leadership delegation arrived Aug. 11 in Cairo to negotiate a truce with Israel.

Egypt and the UN are trying to mediate a long-term agreement between Israel and Hamas. The quest started July 26 with Nickolay Mladenov, the UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, visiting first the Gaza Strip to meet with Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh and then Israel, where he met with Israeli officials.

The senior Hamas source said, Despite the escalation, Mladenov and Egypt continue to deploy efforts and are in advanced stages" of talks.

A delegation representing exiled members of the Hamas political bureau, led by Saleh al-Arouri, arrived late Aug. 2 in Gaza to discuss the proposed truce with the Hamas leadership there. The truce was also the focus of the Palestinian National and Islamic Forces Committees meeting Aug. 5 in Gaza City, which the exiled Hamas leadership attended.

While the official parties have kept truce talks under wraps, Al-Monitor checked the minutes reports of the meetings between Hamas leadership in Gaza and the exiled Hamas leadership. Both call for Hamas to stop launching rockets and incendiary balloons and kites toward Israel, and to stop military activities against Israeli targets in exchange for Egypt, Israel and the UN implementing measures designed to ease Gazans' suffering. The measures include expanding Gazans' fishing zone, opening the Rafah border crossing, facilitating the entry of goods, cement and fuel, and paving the way for UN development projects in Gaza worth $1 billion in sectors such as health, electricity, water, sanitation and temporary employment.

Fatah suddenly said Aug. 5 that it had revived its membership in the Palestinian National and Islamic Forces Committee to participate in the meeting Hamas convened. This came two months after Fatah put its plans to join on hold in protest of Hamas arresting Fatah Secretary Ibrahim Abu Ali on June 2.

As Fatah reactivated its membership, it lashed out at Hamas in the media before the meeting, calling Hamas efforts for a truce with Israel to be a free gift to Israel and another coup against the people and the homeland.

Talal Abu Zarifa, a member of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) political bureau, told Al-Monitor, So far, Hamas has not suggested a thing regarding the truce talks to the factions.

Abu Zarifa, who attended that Aug. 5 meeting between the committee and exiled Hamas leaders, explained that the factions demand that Hamas disclose the proposals "for us to agree together on the red lines that should not be crossed in any truce agreement with Israel."

"Yet Hamas leadership contented itself with saying that no agreement shall be signed with Israel in the absence of a consensus among the factions," he added.

He indicated that US President Donald Trump's amorphous peace plan, which is said to favor Israel, and the separation between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank are the most notable red lines.

The Hamas source told Al-Monitor that Fatah reactivating its membership changed the course of the meeting between the factions and exiled Hamas leadership. With Fatah present, Hamas didn't put any truce proposals on the table, for fear Fatah might undermine the efforts.

Sarhan Dweikat, a member of Fatahs advisory council, told Al-Monitor, We don't oppose the truce. We definitely know that our people need peace. We are, however, against reaching a truce without the [PLO]. Fatah has reactivated its membership in the committee to counter what Hamas is trying to impose on the factions.

He added, We have information that communications between Hamas and Israel have been taking place under the table for a long time via regional mediators, to keep the Gaza Strip separated from the West Bank, thus well establishing the homelands fragmentation."

Commenting on Fatahs stance toward Egypt, Dweikat said, Egypt is committed not to conclude a truce unless we give our consent to its terms."

In an Aug. 8 interview with al-Mayadeen TV, Mohammed Hindi, a member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, said, We refuse to bring the resistance to an end in exchange for a yearslong truce. Bartering the sufferings for humanitarian enhancements is rejected.  Hamas isn't the only faction [involved] with the truce. All of the other factions are also concerned with it.

Mariam Abu Daqqa, a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) political bureau, told Al-Monitor, The PFLP does not welcome any truce with Israel as long as the latter continues to occupy the Palestinian territories. She added that her party will commit to a truce if all of the factions give their consent to it.

She continued, The truce agreement should not be concluded between Israel and a particular party. We are committed to the PLO as a political reference for our people, and no agreement shall be made outside the PLO.

Abu Zarifa pointed out, The DFLPs consent to any truce with Israel is conditional on a number of things. The West Bank is part of the homeland. Also, the truce should not be concluded in exchange for political concessions correlated with the Palestinian constants, such as Jerusalem, the prisoners and Palestinian refugees.

On Aug. 13, Cairo called on the factions that oppose a truce with Israel to visit Egypt for deliberations in the presence of Hamas and Fatah leadership in the upcoming days.Five-year-old Alireza Pourdad was scared, lying in a hospital bed in the burn ward between two adults who had been burned beyond recognition. Alireza had been injured in a blaze in his parents tent in a shantytown outside the Iranian capital in May 2012, and was in critical condition.

Alirezas parents are ethnic Balochs from Iran's southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan, near the border with Pakistan and Afghanistan. Like many others in Iran  most of them Balochs  who have no identity cards for legal and historical reasons, they had left their hometown 15 years earlier in search of work. As day laborers, the couple traveled between Tehran and Gorgan near the Caspian Sea throughout the year looking for seasonal work. Because they lacked the ID cards necessary to rent a home and access government services such as monthly cash subsidies and education, they were left living in deplorable conditions on Tehran's outskirts. To add to their misery, the police conducted raids there a few times a year in efforts to clear the area of stateless families, leaving tents burned and residents beaten.

Without ID cards, Alireza's parents, Maryam and Nader, had no way of proving that Alireza was their child, and so were refused entry to the hospital once he was admitted and they had returned from searching for work. The security guards reported the parents to the police, who arrested them promptly on suspicion of being illegal Afghan immigrants. It would take six months before they were released.

Zohreh Sayadi, a children's rights activist, spent time with Alireza at the hospital and read him stories. Sayadi, an ethnic Baloch herself, for the past two years had been commuting between Tehran and the shantytown, engaging with families and teaching children how to read and write.

One day as I was reading 'The Ugly Duckling' to Alireza, Sayadi said. He raised his head and said, I am tired, and then he died. In a photo given to Al-Monitor, Alireza is seen wearing a green sweater and looking into the camera holding a toy  a duckling. The photo is inscribed with the words: Date of death: 18/6/2012.

Like Alireza's family, the overwhelming majority of Balochs in Iran live in Sistan and Baluchestan province, but the ethnic group spans across international borders. Balochs can be found in great numbers in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran. In the early 20th century, when Iranian rulers tried to bring the vast country under the authority of the central government, many in the remote province resisted such efforts. In many poverty-stricken areas in the province, the central government was generally absent. People saw no reason to travel hundreds of miles, in some cases, from their villages to obtain identity cards, which back then provided no meaningful benefit. Rather, for local men, an ID card chiefly meant they would be conscripted for military service.

Balochs are very honest people and many saw no reason to hold a piece of paper to prove who they are, said Sayadi, who has worked with stateless Balochs for more than eight years. We have had this problem in the areas of Ahvaz [in southwestern Khuzestan province] and Kurdistan to a lesser extent, but their problems are almost resolved.

Since the 1980s, more than 1 million people have emigrated from Sistan and Baluchestan province due to a lack of government investment, trying to escape poverty as well as environmental disasters such as flash floods and dust storms.

There are two groups of people with identity [card] problems, said Habibollah Sarbazi, head of the Baloch Campaign, an organization that tracks human rights abuses in Sistan and Baluchestan. One group has no identity cards at all and the other group is made up of those who at one time had identity cards but whose cards were taken away by state institutions based on the suspicion that they are not Iranians. Many of those with disputed identities are deported to Afghanistan, according to Sarbazi and Sayadi.

Many stateless individuals have difficulty understanding the complex bureaucracy. Those who successfully apply for ID cards can end up waiting as long as 20 years before receiving a clearance from bureaucrats and security officials. Many applicants also complain that government bureaucrats who often come from other parts of the country have difficulty understanding the local linguistic and cultural intricacies. This lack of knowledge could change the trajectory of a familys life by labeling them as having a disputed identity, Sayadi noted. The process of proving your identity is also very costly. A simple DNA test in Tehran costs 700,000 tomans [about $166] and most stateless Balochs can't afford to pay this fee.

The head of the Sistan and Baluchestan registration office, Reza Rahat Dahmardeh, said in July 2017 that the issues faced by those without identity cards would be resolved in months. Dahmardeh noted the office reviewed the cases of 7,000 families and subsequently issued 23,000 identity cards. He said then that the office hoped to review the 2,000 remaining cases by March 2017. But activists and journalists say issues persist despite the governments efforts.

There are people whose identity as Iranians has been determined through DNA tests, but they [still] have no identity card, Ehsan Biazar Tehrani, head of the Association of Revolutionary Preachers, said Aug. 10 after a visit to the province. No solution has been sought for them. They have no medical insurance and receive no subsidies.

It is horrific to be labeled as having a disputed identity, said Sarbazi. It leads to the destruction of the family and their lives.

There is no accurate official data available on how many people from Sistan and Baluchestan province are stateless or have disputed identities. Sayadi said in this regard that the number is in the tens of thousands.

After Alirezas death, Sayadi and other activists intensified their efforts to assist the stateless children in the shantytown on the outskirts of Tehran. Two years ago, Maryam Pourdad gave birth to another son, and like Alireza, he is stateless, too.There are talks in Iraqi political circles about the withdrawal of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) from Sunni areas they helped liberate. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has reportedly committed to ensure the withdrawal of the PMU from these areas.

On Aug. 18, PMU factions withdrew from areas in the north of the Baiji district in the Salahuddin province, where they were positioned. This move comes days after Abadi ordered the head of the provincial council to remove the PMU from the area.

The withdrawal of the PMU was not limited to Baiji. On Aug. 19, PMU sources confirmed to Al-Monitor the withdrawal of PMU factions from al-Siniya city, west of the [Salahuddin] province.

Before Baiji, the PMU had retreated from the Ninevah province. Ahmed al-Jubouri, a member of parliament representing the province, considered the move a political decision that will not yield positive results on the general situation in the province.

On Aug. 12, the PMU issued a document calling on its members to withdraw from the Ninevah province. According to information Al-Monitor obtained from a PMU source, The Shiite factions of the PMU have withdrawn from the Ninevah province. The Turkmen Brigades have remained to secure the Turkmen areas, and so have the Yazidi units.

After the document was issued, dozens of civilians protested Aug. 14 in front of the Ninevah provincial council building in Mosul demanding that the PMU remain in the city. But the protests did not achieve any results, as the PMU retreated from the city.

The decision to withdraw the PMU was not only a security decision, but also a political one, as there are fears that clashes or tensions may arise between the PMU and the residents of the Sunni areas.

On Aug. 18, a motorcycle bomb exploded in Ninevah, killing three members of the PMU. It seems the attack was a message to the PMU in case they refused to withdraw.

The PMU had denied news about retreating. However, Abu Mousa al-Salmawi, the commander of PMU operations in the east in Ninevah, had asked Abadi and PMU Deputy Chief Abu Mahdi al-Mohandis to reconsider the decision to withdraw, proving that the talks are serious.

In this context, official PMU spokesman Ahmed al-Assadi told Al-Monitor, The PMU did not withdraw from Sunni areas, and specifically not from Ninevah. However, they redeployed in areas that fall under their responsibilities.

Assadi added, The PMU were deployed in most areas of the Ninevah province, which is why they were asked to return to the areas they were [originally] assigned to protect and leave other areas where the army and police are in charge.

For his part, a prominent PMU source disagreed with Assadi. He told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, The PMU leadership is aware that Abadi had promised the Americans and Sunnis to remove the PMU from Sunni areas.

The source added, Abadi also promised Americans and Sunnis over two years ago to withdraw from Sunni areas. But he will not be able to do so, because we are not a mere brigade or a small force, rather we are a government body that has its laws and its military and popular force.

The PMU leaders are well-aware that their presence in Sunni areas will not last long after eliminating the Islamic State (IS), as some citizens in those areas still reject the PMU.

The Anbar province is the only Sunni area where the PMU has yet to retreat. Eventually, though, the PMU will withdraw from there.

Ahmad al-Abyad, a former researcher at the Academic Research Center, said Abadi indeed decided to remove the PMU from Sunni areas because of foreign pressure.

Abyad told Al-Monitor, Abadi will not be prime minister if he does not withdraw the PMU from Sunni areas and force them to hand their weapons over to the army. Abadi agreed on this with the US and his foreign supporters.

He added, Iran will also agree to withdraw the PMU, which are loyal to it, from these areas as a result of international and local Iraqi pressure.

The PMU withdrawal may leave a security void in the areas they controlled, but their presence may also create more problems, as there are increasing talks about violations PMU members are committing against the citizens of Sunni areas. This has caused trust issues between the two parties.

The Iraqi government does not want the PMU to remain in the Sunni areas, while at the same time it wants them to stay close to these areas. In light of the new PMU positions, there are expectations that Camp Speicher in Salahuddin province will be the new base for the PMU after they retreat from the areas they once controlled.Baghdads small Christian community is up in arms about plans to raze a Catholic school for girls, Al-Aqeeda, which means faith, and in its place build a shopping mall.

This is [becoming] a trend, the targeting of Iraq's architectural heritage, not simply [its] Christian [heritage], Joseph Slewa, a Christian former member of parliament, warned in an Aug. 6 Rudaw interview.

The rumor that the school, built in 1921, will be demolished and replaced by a mall or some other commercial center has emerged as a hot topic on social media, with concerned citizens accusing the government and local authorities of failing to do their part in protecting Iraq's architectural heritage.

According to Baghdad municipality officials, the demolition request came not from public officials, but from the Christian association that owns the land on which the school, which has a chapel, sits.

Hakim Abdul Zahra, the municipality's deputy media director, confirmed that there has indeed been a proposal presented to demolish the school and that it was submitted by a Christian group, whose name he declined to provide.

[The petition] said that the Christian community has no more use for this obsolete chapel and school, as most Christians have left the area, and thus, there is no reason for maintaining them, Abdul Zahra said. He underscored, however, that the municipality has not granted permission to demolish the structure, as would be the case in regard to any historical or ancient sites in Baghdad.

The Baghdad-based Rahebat al-Taqdumma Association, which owns the building, confirmed to Al-Monitor that it had been the party requesting permission for tearing down the structure. Association officials said that they had leased the school to the Ministry of Education, but have not received rent for it since 2013. The school has become a hefty liability, said a spokesman for the association's management.

Shamkhi Jaber, a media figure and writer for the Iraqi Media Network, launched a media campaign on Facebook opposing demolition of the school, which counts Zaha Hadid, the internationally renowned architect, among its impressive alumni.

Jaber told Al-Monitor that despite conflicting reports about who had requested the church's destruction, the fact remains that there are investment offers [for the site]. He claimed that in light of the swift public opposition, those wanting to tear down the school are now trying to hide or evade responsibility.

Jaber sees the Al-Aqeeda episode as exposing the many and major violations against Baghdads cultural and historical landscape. He asserted, The disregard for this schools heritage began during the previous regime, when the schools historical name was changed to another one  Al-Aqeeda High School for Girls. The school was formerly the Madrisat al-Rahibat (School of Nuns).

Jaber remarked that the best policy would be for the state to buy the site so the school could be maintained and protected. He also expressed his pleasant surprise at the public response for preserving the school, given that in the past little had been done to protect historical buildings and sites.

In regard to the latter, he pointed to the Qashla area and Bab al-Moathams Wezarat al-Defa area, which have buildings and bazaars from the Ottoman era now mostly occupied by local tradesmen and small shop owners who do little to preserve the buildings. They hang signs damaging the building's architectural features and do little or nothing in terms of upkeep.

Further Jaber noted, Ancient buildings were razed in al-Rashid Street, and modern malls were constructed in their place, while ancient houses in the Bataween area, in Baghdad, have been turned into commercial warehouses and stores.

The civil engineer Qahtan Khyal al-Sultani told Al-Monitor that given the high cost of renovating historical buildings, some argue for the easier and more profitable approach of tearing them down and replacing them with modern structures, including malls, particularly if they are already in commercial areas.

Weve seen [this] in the Hayderkhana and Midan areas, both of which date from the Ottoman period, and in Adhamiya and Kadhimiya, which are even older, from the Abbasid era, Sultani remarked. All of those areas have a rich history.

Article 28 of the Iraqi Antiquities and Heritage Law prohibits the desecration of ancient buildings and neighborhoods, but this did not prevent the Baghdad municipality in 2016 from demolishing a house more than 100 years old that had belonged to Sassoon Eskell, who set up Iraq's financial system and was the country's first finance minister.

Such actions are not limited to Baghdad. In June, hundreds of people in the historical city of Kufa gathered to protest a project to construct a large building that would block the view of the Great Mosque, built more than 1,400 years ago, and alter access at the main entrance.

In the wake of street and online protests in Baghdad and Kufa, Maysoun al-Damlouji, a member of the Iraqi parliaments Cultural Committee, issued a warning against the greediness of [investors] undermining Iraqi cities cultural identity.

They just want to demolish ancient landmarks and replace them with commercial projects for personal gain, she told Al-Monitor.

Omran al-Ebidi, deputy media director and spokesperson for the Ministry of Culture, noted that once a building is designated a historical site by the ministry, the building cannot be altered or demolished.

Any procedure of this nature would be under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities, Ebidi said. There is a joint committee of the ministry and the municipality of Baghdad that is charged with preserving the identity of these buildings and cities.

He further explained, It is the Ministry of Cultures responsibility to provide technical oversight as to how to maintain these buildings. Those buildings are not necessarily owned by the ministry, as some are owned by the municipality of Baghdad while others are the property of third parties. The law holds anyone who renovates, demolishes, or removes those buildings accountable  if they are designated as historical  without the knowledge of the ministry.

Amid the unfortunate examples of cultural destruction like those cited above, there are some promising projects that aim to preserve Baghdad's heritage, such as the Ministry of Oils sponsorship and financing a project in Baghdads al-Mutanabbi Street.

The ministry is keen about taking on the project of developing the historical landmark of Bab al-Wastani in Baghdad to turn it into a tourist site, Asim Jehad, a spokesperson for the ministry told Al-Monitor. The Bab al-Wastani is the only gateway in Baghdad's old city wall. Even if this is not part of its domain, the ministry sees this effort as a step toward preserving heritage.The Norfolk Senior Center strives to help members of the community stay in their homes as age makes it increasingly difficult to do so. With a daily mix of social and wellness checks and its Meals on Wheels program that provides nutritional meals to those who need the assistance accessing foOn Aug. 15, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented the 2030 Security Concept to the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet. He had labored over this document for many long months, and according to Netanyahus close associates, he wrote it after conferring with past and present high-ranking security system experts.

This is only the third time that Israel defines the security concept of the state. The first to formulate it was Israels founder and first prime minister, David Ben Gurion. While Ben Gurion served as prime minister for many years, Netanyahu stands to overtake him as the person who served the longest in that capacity. The second time the concept was changed was in the previous decade, by a special committee headed by Minister Dan Meridor in 2006.

Netanyahus current document constitutes a dramatic change regarding the Israeli security concept, in total contradistinction to the policy that was reflected in the defense budgets of the past 70 years of the State. Just as Netanyahu completely changed Israeli policy vis-a-vis the Palestinians (as described in an earlier Al-Monitor article), now he comes to change prevailing conceptions by transforming basic defense concepts.

Till now, Israel aspired to lighten the burden of the defense budget on its gross national product (GNP); this was done at a snails pace, perhaps, but with determination. The ultimate goal was to develop a thriving, creative and free economy in which most of the GNP would not be gobbled up by defense needs. The continued weakening of the threats against Israel contributed to the process. Peace agreements with Egypt (1979) and Jordan (1994), the dismantling of the Syrian threat, and significant weakening of Iran in the Trump era were supposed to allow Israel to lower the defense burden even more and, instead, invest in economic growth, welfare and education.

Netanyahu, a pessimist who always needs external pressures and demons that comprise existential threats on the state, reads the situation differently than everyone else. According to the prime minister, the backlog of threats facing Israel is only growing and developing over the years. He has turned the equation upside down: Instead of lowering the defense budget in order to encourage economic growth, he raises the defense budget to give the economy safer conditions in which it can grow quickly. He believes that a bigger defense budget would neutralize the unstable defense situation. Thus, the economy would have better chances to grow. This is Netanyahus upside-down world.

Netanyahus 2030 Security Concept document was described by a defense source who was speaking on condition of anonymity as shallow, superficial and political. In contrast to another security concept document, recently prepared by Maj. Gen. Yair Golan at the request of Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, Netanyahus document does not present a clear concept of "building up the necessary force," nor clear principles for "operation of force." Instead, it is mainly a laundry list of threats and the budgets needed to confront them. An Israeli source with expertise in this sphere told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that Netanyahus document is one of the great bluffs in Israels security history.

Netanyahus associates said vaguely that he had consulted with past and present high-ranking security system experts. In fact, Netanyahu did not consult with his Cabinet members before writing the document; neither did he update Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot or engage in a thorough, preparatory study. The document he prepared caught the entire system by surprise and is perceived as a political statement more than a defense plan. Evidently, Netanyahu was affected by Finance Minister Moshe Kahlons recent statement that he would work to increase the defense budget by 30 billion shekels ($8.3 billion) in the next decade. (Afterward, Kahlon made sure to hang up large billboards throughout the country with the caption Kahlon, Your Security. So, if Kahlon adds 30 billion shekels to security, then Netanyahu will add 40 billion shekels [$11 billion]. This is the additional sum in Netanyahus document, to be added in phases until 2030.)

Theres more: Netanyahus efforts in trying to come to a security arrangement with Hamas are viewed by his electorate as a capitulation to terror and a violation of his own election promises. This, in turn, constitutes a real threat to the prime ministers carefully constructed image as the ultimate Mr. Security. Therefore, Netanyahu hastily prepared his own security concept. This is also why he was quick to announce that the new security concept represents his current coherent worldview  a different one (upside down in fact) than what everybody was accustomed to over the years.

Netanyahu proclaimed that from now on, the defense budget will be linked to Israels yearly GNP and constitute at least 6% of it. This linkage of the national product to defense expenditures is unprecedented. It is antithetical to the clear aim of trying to lower defense expenditures, relative to the national product. Netanyahu emphasizes that this new approach is what will lead to accelerated growth and continued economic development  and not lowering defense expenditures. This opinion runs counter to those of most economists, but Netanyahu likes being the underdog. At this point in time, when Netanyahu has reached an all-time high of hubris and is at the height of his popularity, criticism does not frighten him. The contrary is true; criticism builds him up. Everyone says that defense expenditures must be lowered for the benefit of education, welfare and development? The prime minister says that defense expenditures should be increased because only a powerful Iron Dome defense system can provide a stable foundation on which the economy can grow and develop.

How will Netanyahu use the surplus money for defense? He plans on using it for major power-level cyber capabilities and for turning Israel into a powerhouse in this sphere  defensive as well as offensive. Additional venues for investment are the completion of security fences and obstacles surrounding Israel; investing in anti-missile/anti-rocket defense and purchasing more missile-targeting systems; continued protective measures on the home front against rocket attacks and earthquakes; strengthening offensive capabilities (powerful rocket system); and sophisticated armament for the air force.

All this sounds wonderful. However, numerous defense experts say that Netanyahu has one simple goal in mind: He is interested in strengthening his own image as Mr. Security  not in strengthening Israels security. He is not afraid of the escalating threats against Israel (for the prosaic reason that the threats are weakening, not escalating); instead, the threats that worry him are the political threats clouding his good name.

Netanyahu has always boasted that he is the first to discern potential, existing threats  including the ones that dont exist. The 2030 Security Concept that he recently presented to the Cabinet strengthens this well-known ability and worries his political opponents.

Evidently, he intends to remain here till year 2030, at least, a political rival told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. The person didnt know whether to laugh or cry.Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas political bureau, delivered a sermon in Gaza City on Aug. 21 to mark Eid al-Adha, the Muslim Feast of Sacrifice, promising residents of the Strip they would soon be free of Israels 11-year siege. This is the result of your determined stand and your struggle, he told them, adding that Hamas would not pay any political price for the resulting humanitarian aid. His remarks are similar to the attitude of Israeli decision-makers about the emerging deal with Hamas, with both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman claiming Israel was not paying a heavy diplomatic price for what it euphemistically terms the arrangement with Hamas. Neither side is comfortable admitting to any agreement with the enemy, which by its very nature involves some form of concession.

As part of these concessions, Hamas is committed to obtaining the agreement of all the Palestinian factions in Gaza to a cessation of violence against Israel. While the deal does not entail formal Hamas recognition of the Jewish state, the organizations leaders will have to explain why they made a deal with the Zionists after years of boasting of their refusal to accept its existence, and why they agreed to abandon the path of jihad.

In his Gaza sermon, Haniyeh provided a diplomatic, somewhat ingenious explanation for the demand that all Gaza factions accept the terms of the agreement with Israel. To ensure appropriate guarantees of the aid promised to the Strip, all the Palestinian resistance organizations will maintain their status as the shield and defenders of the Palestinian people and the aid will be provided under national Palestinian consensus and the supervision of an Arab safety net, he said. Unwittingly and even before they accepted their role as shields, the factions found themselves united in Haniyehs vision under one umbrella as defenders of the Palestinian people.

But this rosy picture portrayed by Haniyeh does not reflect reality. Egypt, which has been mediating the Hamas-Israel deal, summoned the Palestinian factions from Gaza to Cairo Aug. 14 for the final stretch of negotiations, but was unable to reach an agreement with its guests. All of the sides returned to Gaza for the Eid al-Adha celebrations, promising to reconvene in Cairo next week. The Hamas leadership hopes to convince the Palestinian factions by then that the deal benefits them, too.

This does not mean that if the smaller Palestinian groups refuse to join the agreement, they would pose a significant threat to Hamas. However, the Hamas leadership cannot afford even an iota of opposition or criticism by any organization, small as it may be. It cannot afford having any factions claiming that Haniyeh and company, the self-professed leaders of the Islamist resistance, surrendered to Israel in order to remain in power. The honor, the arrogance, the desire to prove that they never give in or give up are deeply entrenched in the DNA of the Hamas leadership.

So which factions is Haniyeh trying to rope in as defenders of the Palestinian people?

Hamas has no problem with Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the second largest organization in Gaza. Iran foots the bill for the Islamic Jihads operations, and it also partially funds Hamas. Having a common benefactor ensured the Islamic Jihad independence even if it dared challenge Hamas and boast that it is the real leader of the jihad against the Zionists. Ever since the 2014 Israel-Gaza war known as Operation Protective Edge, the two organizations have grown closer and cooperated on military operations as evidenced by the rounds of fighting with Israel in recent months.

Hamas has virtually no contact with the fundamentalist Salafi groups in Gaza. Hamas does not see them as real threats and has thus far left their activists alone (not detained and not arrested) so as not to appear to be defending the Zionists against fundamentalist provocations. However, if leaders of the Hamas armed wing see these groups as a threat that could jeopardize the deal with Israel, they would have no qualms about taking them out in a matter of hours.

Opposition to the deal with Israel comes largely from the nonreligious factions  the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine and even the Popular Resistance Committees, whose power has waned recently but whose opinion, it seems, still counts.

At the Cairo talks, representatives of PFLP, acting on orders of political bureau member Rabah Mohanna, demanded that the Palestinian Ramallah leadership be included in any deal. There is no telling how long the PFLP will object to the deal if Hamas and Fatah do not reconcile. Still, representatives of the Fatah movement were invited to Cairo for this last round of talks in an additional, last-ditch effort to convince Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to sign onto the move.

The PFLPs position is not surprising. Following Operation Protective Edge in September 2014, the organizations leading activists met in the Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun and demanded that control of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt be handed over to Abbas in order to ease the Egyptian siege of the Strip. A senior official in the organization, Jamil Mazhar, said at the time from the podium erected on the rubble of the fighting that left thousands homeless that Fatah must be returned to Gaza for the sake of its people.

Activists of the PFLP are not concerned only by the plight of the population. One of the groups supporters told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that since Hamas took control of Gaza and ousted Fatah in 2007, it has imposed a totalitarian regime that limits the freedom of other factions. In particular, he said, Hamas has reined in the so-called secular organizations.

Nonetheless, Hamas is pressing for a national consensus in Gaza. Its leaders would like to declare that the Israeli and Egyptian sieges were lifted with no strings attached (no diplomatic compromise on Hamas part) and that Hamas had managed to unite all the factions to stand behind the deal. Hamas has no need to put into words what will befall anyone who refuses to go along.Its too soon to tell whether the ongoing negotiations with Hamas will yield an agreement, or rather an "arrangement," between Israel and the organization that features prominently on the Wests list of terrorist groups. For now, the Israel-Hamas (indirect) contacts have resulted in a rare agreement between the radical Israeli right headed by Naftali Bennett, the leader of HaBayit HaYehudi, and the head of the center-left opposition, Knesset member Tzipi Livni. Bennett warned, The terrorists will learn that terror pays, and Israels deterrence will be harmed. Livni said the one thing Israel must not do is send a message to Hamas indicating that we pay those using violence against us and shooting at us.

Ismail Haniyeh, head of the Hamas political bureau, bolstered the criticism by these polar opposites in a sermon he delivered Aug. 21 in the Gaza Strip. This is the result of your determined stand and your struggle, the Palestinian leader told the Palestinians regarding the emerging deal. He then pledged, The Palestinian resistance organizations will maintain their status as the shield and defenders of the Palestinian people. Haniyeh insisted that his organization was not paying a political price for the deal that would bring humanitarian aid to Gaza, and declared that the ultimate deal US President Donald Trump promised to make between Israel and the Palestinians was clinically dead.

He was probably referring to Trumps speech that same day in West Virginia, where Trump said that by recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel he had taken the explosive issue off the negotiating table with the Palestinians and upped the price that Israel would have to pay as part of the ultimate deal. His envoy Jason Greenblatt tweeted in the same vein last week  in Hebrew, Arabic and English  No one will be fully pleased with our proposal, but that is the way it must be if real peace is to be achieved. Peace can only succeed if it is based on realities."

Sadly, reality is such that true peace requires difficult ideological and political concessions, which neither the Palestinian resistance organizations nor the Israeli government are willing to make. To thwart a permanent, two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Muslim zealots (Hamas) are willing to forego a cease-fire with Israel, and even to accept partial reconciliation with their sworn rival Fatah. With that same goal in mind, the Netanyahu government invited its sworn enemies to the negotiating table in order to reach a short-term cease-fire.

Among the participants in the negotiations conducted in Cairo last week on the Israel-Hamas arrangement was the deputy secretary-general of (Gaza-based) Islamic Jihad, Ziad al-Nahala. The senior representative of Irans long arm in the Israeli-occupied territories announced Aug. 20 that the Palestinian factions reached an agreement with Egypt.

In fact, a communique issued in May 2016 after a meeting between Nahalas boss, Islamic Jihad leader Ramadan Abdullah Shalah, and Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said the two had discussed ways to strengthen the Palestinian awakening in the West Bank and Jerusalem and the steadfast stand of Gazas residents in the face of Israels siege. Shalah praised Iran for its support of the Palestinian people and for being an element of peace and stability in the region. He accused the Arab world of seeking economic and defense ties with Israel and of aligning itself with the Israelis in their confrontation with Iran.

The Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, a conservative think tank founded by former Netanyahu adviser Dore Gold, wrote at the time that Irans rapprochement with Islamic Jihad should be seen in the context of its efforts at growing involvement in the Palestinian territories.

The current negotiations on a deal with Hamas have indeed upgraded the status of Qatar, Irans ally, in its struggle against Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United Emirates. On the one hand, Israel is preaching for tougher sanctions on Iran to rein in its meddling in Syria and Lebanon. On the other hand, Israel is opening the gates of Gaza to Iran, which also has its eyes on the West Bank and Jerusalem.

According to an Aug. 16 report on Channel 10 News, which has not been denied, Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman met secretly with Qatari envoy Muhammad al-Amadi on June 22 in Cyprus to discuss a cease-fire with Gaza and the issue of the remains of Israeli civilians and soldiers held by Hamas. A year earlier, when leading Arab states severed ties with Qatar citing its support for terrorism in the region, that same Liberman said, There is no doubt this opens many possibilities for collaboration in the fight against terror. Also in June 2017, while on a visit to Moscow, Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani labeled Hamas a legitimate resistance movement.

Israels recent courtship of Qatar has paved the wealthy emirates way to Washington, which only a year ago took a stand at Saudi Arabias side against the Qataris. In June, a US delegation led by Trumps son-in-law and special envoy Jared Kushner visited Doha to ask the Qataris for financial help in rebuilding the Gaza Strip. UN envoy Nickolay Mladenov also took the trouble to fly to Doha to scrounge several hundred million dollars for humanitarian projects in Gaza and salaries for government officials there.

With one hand, Israels government cracks down on European-funded human rights groups and pushes the US president to abrogate his countrys nuclear deal with Iran. With the other hand, it draws up an agreement with terrorist organizations funded by Iran and Qatar that will sink all prospects for real peace with the Palestinians.

The arrows slung at the deal with Hamas missed their primary target. At this point, there is no telling how long this arrangement will last and provide a respite to Israels weary Gaza border communities and to the suffering residents of Gaza. What is clear is that negotiations on the Israel-Hamas deal have resulted in an arrangement solidifying the influence of the two biggest state sponsors of terrorism in the Middle East on the balance of power in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and perhaps the entire region.The government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received two pieces of bad news within hours on Aug. 22.

First, President Donald Trumps national security adviser, John Bolton, considered a Netanyahu champion and a hard-line standard-bearer in the administration, told Reuters that the United States had not changed its position on Israels unilateral annexation of the Golan Heights in 1980. That was all it took to sink the latest initiative by Israelis hoping to take advantage of Trumps move into the White House and his (alleged) basic ignorance of Middle Eastern affairs in order to obtain US recognition of the annexation.

Next, Trump himself appeared at a West Virginia political rally, boasting of his presidential achievements, among them his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital. The move, he said, had taken the issue of Jerusalem off the negotiating table with the Palestinians. How that was achieved is unclear, and it is not known whether Trump truly thinks that with the relocation of the US Embassy to Jerusalem, the Palestinians will drop their demand that East Jerusalem serve as their capital. Trump then dropped the other shoe, or the bomb as it were, announcing that going forward, the Palestinians would get something very good, whereas the Israelis will have to pay a high price in negotiations in return for the recognition of Jerusalem as their capital.

Trumps roller coaster has kept us dumfounded and guessing ever since he announced his bid for the presidency. Time after time, we have tried to understand what the man wants, what his plans are, only to realize, repeatedly, the limits of our understanding. He has taken almost every position imaginable on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Trump has promised to remain neutral so that both sides can accept him as an honest broker. He has said he supports Israels stand regarding a permanent arrangement with the Palestinians, and that as far as hes concerned, the solution could be either one state or two states, so long as both sides agree. He has also said that if they decide on one state for both Palestinians and Israelis, the prime minister would probably be someone named Mohammed, because Palestinians would be in the majority.

As a candidate, Trump pledged to move the US Embassy to Jerusalem if he won the election. As president, he explained that he had no choice but to ask Congress, twice, to postpone the move (like presidents before him who signed waivers blocking the move), because it would have repercussions for future Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. He then recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and said he would move the embassy there, although it would take a few years, because a new embassy would have to be built. Soon after that, he announced that he was moving the embassy almost immediately by upgrading the US Consulate in West Jerusalem.

He said the shift on Jerusalem would clearly exact a price from the Israelis vis-a-vis the Palestinians, only to then have his associates clarify that the recognition of Jerusalem had been an American gesture of friendship toward Israel with no quid pro quo expected. In West Virginia, it seems, his salesmans instincts got the better of him, and he reverted to his demand that Israel pay for the US gesture.

Did Trump's voters in West Virginia indeed hear the final version? Does that mean that when he addresses the UN General Assembly next month, he will unveil his administrations much-touted blueprint for peace in the Middle East, the ultimate deal as he dubbed it? There is no telling, but Trump has realized that peace is not usually delivered by a stork.

Trump also understands that eventually he will have to come up with something resembling the parameters for Israeli-Palestinian peace laid out by President Bill Clinton in 2000 or by the Arab Peace Initiative two years later or by the 2003 Geneva Initiative (which this writer had a hand in crafting). Thus, he will find himself facing a coalition of regional players with only one goal in mind: deferring the unveiling of the US peace plan for the longest time possible.

Netanyahu was expecting an American plan consisting of a so-called economic peace with the Palestinians that does not rule out any future options and does not demand any historic decisions for now. His vision is to perpetuate the 1993 Oslo Accords as a permanent, undeclared solution to the conflict so Israel can continue relying on security coordination with the Palestinian Authority (PA) and funding the ongoing Israeli occupation of the West Bank with the contributions of the PAs donor states. The Palestinians would obviously reject any such plan out of hand, at which point Netanyahu will easily paint Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as a serial refusenik when it comes to peace. Now that it turns out an economic peace will not be the American plan, Netanyahu would rather the proposal never see the light of day.

Abbas understands that he cannot hope for a feasible peace plan engineered by the current presidential advisers, some of whom, such as US Ambassador David Friedman, hold views to the right of Netanyahu. He will return to the negotiating table only if the American plan, even a delayed one, includes US recognition of East Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state based on Israels 1967 borders. He, however, has no delusions on this score. To avoid playing into Netanyahus hands as the recalcitrant party, he too is better off if the American plan is stillborn.

Meanwhile, the so-called Arab Quartet  Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates  fears finding itself pushed into an uncomfortable position squeezed between the United States, whose firm stand on Iran it backs, and the Palestinians, who have the backing of Arab public opinion. Many of them are cynical about the Palestinian leadership, failing to understand its stubbornness, but they only let loose on the subject behind closed doors. The heads of the quartet nations cannot back any US plan that excludes two states and Jerusalem as the site of two capitals. If this is not the plan, they too will ask for a postponement. According to leaked reports, Jordans King Abdullah has already asked Trump to postpone presenting the plan.

Trump could insist that Israeli-Palestinian peace would contribute greatly to the geostrategic interests of the United States, save Israel from losing its Jewish majority, grant independence to the Palestinian people and enable open and effective cooperation among the pragmatic states in the region against Islamic radicalism. At this point, he appears willing to deal with the coalition of procrastinators.ALEPPO, Syria  Works started Aug. 8 on a residential complex project in the Euphrates Shield area aimed at accommodating by 2019 around 1,500 families that have been mainly displaced from eastern Ghouta in the countryside of Damascus to camps scattered on the outskirts of al-Bab city.

The construction plan was signed Aug. 6 at the headquarters of the local council in al-Bab in the presence of Mohammed Othman, president of the council and a representative of Turkeys Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), and representatives of eastern Ghouta traders residing in al-Bab.

Ali Rajab, the director of the services office at the local council of al-Bab, told Al-Monitor, The council has offered a plot of public property land for the construction of the residential project. The required engineering plans have been finalized and the project will include a mosque and a school, among other services. The support that AFAD will provide for the project will include the construction sector. Merchants of eastern Ghouta based in al-Bab city are also contributing to this project, and we have yet to reach an estimated financial value for the project.

Rajab said that details of the construction project will be announced soon in order to reveal each partys contribution.

He noted, The apartments in the complex will measure 100 square meters [1,076 square foot] each, and each apartment will consist of two bedrooms, a bathroom and a kitchen. The local council  with the support of AFAD  will provide sanitation and roads.

This residential project will house families living in al-Sharqiya camp and Waqf al-Diyana camp on the outskirts of al-Bab. The committee in charge of the residential complex is to accept displaced people based on specific conditions as the project aims at sheltering those who are most in need of housing  namely orphans, people with disabilities and families who lost their breadwinner, Rajab said.

He added, The project will be implemented with the support of AFAD and traders from eastern Ghouta in cooperation with the local council of the city of al-Bab. Works started Aug. 8 to build this residential complex on a plot of land to the west of al-Bab. The construction work will take a full year and will be completed by Aug. 8, 2019.

The Euphrates Shield area in the countryside of Aleppo has attracted displaced people who either flocked from eastern Ghouta, the south of Damascus, the countryside of Homs or al-Waer neighborhood in Homs over the past months. Al-Bab is the biggest city in the Euphrates Shield area.

Ali Abdel Jabbar hails from Douma and was displaced months ago to the north of Syria. I live with my family of five in al-Sharqiya camp near the city of al-Bab in Aleppo. I got a tent, some equipment provided by AFAD, and we receive monthly assistance from other organizations. I do not have a job and I rely on the aid we receive to survive. The living conditions inside the tent are very difficult. We hope to get a unit in the residential complex that was recently announced near al-Bab, Abdel Jabbar told Al-Monitor.

He added, I cannot return to eastern Ghouta as I am afraid that the regime forces will arrest me there. I was fighting alongside the Free Syrian Army [FSA] when I was in Ghouta, so I cannot return there. I also believe that stability in the Aleppo countryside is better than returning and risking my life and my familys in Ghouta. Getting an apartment in the residential complex would be helpful as we would be better off living in a serviced apartment instead of in a tent."

Abdel Jabbar, who is a carpenter, arrived in al-Bab April 10. He would like to open his own carpentry shop, but he would need a large startup capital that he doesn't have. I need almost $2,000 to buy woodworking equipment and open my own shop in al-Bab, he said.

The Euphrates Shield area is witnessing rapid growth in the construction sector after the region witnessed a noticeable improvement in services. These have been provided by the local councils in the region, which are supported by the Turkish government. Also, the FSA-controlled Euphrates Shield area is relatively safe and stable, which has encouraged the housing construction sector to meet the needs of residents.

Mohammed Omar, the director of the services office at the local council of Azaz in the northern countryside of Aleppo, told Al-Monitor, The construction sector is witnessing a huge acceleration in its level of activity. This helps meet the housing needs of thousands of Syrians who have been flocking to the area over the past months from across Syria. The area is deemed one of the most secure and stable areas.MOSCOW  US national security adviser John Bolton and Russian National Security Council Secretary Nikolay Patrushev met in Geneva on Aug. 23 for the first high-level meeting of officials from the two countries since the US-Russia presidential summit in Helsinki on July 16. In between the two meeting, US President Donald Trump came under heavy criticism at home for the summit with President Vladimir Putin and because of Trump's remarks at the press conference with the Russian leader. The Helsinki meeting reignited the debate in the United States on dealing with Moscow. And a new round of US sanctions imposed following the Putin-Trump summit has helped the Russian currency, along with the overall bilateral relationship, plummet to new lows.

The Russian Foreign Ministry issued an immediate statement saying a policy of sanctions is a road to nowhere.

No matter how many waves of unilateral sanctions Washington sends (their total number stands at 55), they will never be legitimate. The reliance of US politicians on such restrictions is an attempt to conceal their futility, the statement read.

A day before the Bolton-Patrushev meeting, Putin called the new American sanctions pointless and said they dont have to do with President Trump but rather the so-called American establishment.

I hope that our American partners will realize that this policy has no future at some point and we can start cooperating in a normal way," Putin said.

Bolton was initially scheduled to go to Moscow for the talks with senior Russian officials. But the pushback in Washington against dealing with Russia caused the US national security adviser and his Russian counterpart seek a more neutral venue for the encounter.

To restore US-Russia relations we should first learn whether we have points of common ground at all and whether our counterparts have a desire [to seek them], Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

The Russians had been elaborating the agenda for the talks for more than a month. As a result, Moscow came up with a number of proposals on international security issues, including on Syria, that were to be given to Bolton in Geneva.

Well present quite a few proposals which, I assume, they will accept for consideration for cooperation, Patrushev said in the run-up to the talks.

Patrushev, 67, is a veteran of the Russian security establishment. He succeeded Putin as a director of the Federal Security Service (FSB) in 1999 and headed the organization until 2008, when he was appointed secretary of Russias NSC. Being one of the closest confidants of the Russian president, his mandate as a negotiator on the vital issues is strong. Earlier this year Patrushev was listed on one of the US sanctions lists but said it was not an impediment for him in any way to communicate with American officials.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov, who accompanied Patrushev in the Geneva talks, said one of the most critical items on the agenda was the Iranian presence in Syria. Prior to going to Geneva, Bolton traveled to Israel and discussed the issue with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. While in Israel, Bolton claimed Putin had told Trump that Russia could not compel the Iranians to leave Syria.

But he also told us that his interest and Irans were not exactly the same. So were obviously going to talk to him about what role they can play, Bolton said.

Were going see what we and others can agree in terms of resolving the conflict in Syria. But the one prerequisite there is the withdrawal of all Iranian forces back in Iran, he added.

Trumps national security adviser made it clear why the White House believes it has leverage over the Kremlin over Syria, saying, The Russians are stuck there [in Syria] at the moment  theyd like to find somebody else  to bear the cost of reconstructing Syria  which they may or may not succeed in doing.

The Kremlin snapped back shortly. It is not correct for anyone, let alone our counterparts in Washington, to claim that Russia is stuck someplace, Let us not forget that US military personnel are present on Syrian soil, too. This should be borne in mind," Peskov said.

Patrushev and Bolton sat together for five hours and did not issue a joint communique, which the Russians said had been originally under consideration.

"Americans wanted to include a point on interference from us in their elections that they believe [took place] and we deny. Its a weak topic for discussion. We, in exchange, suggested they include a point on the unacceptability of interference in other countries affairs but the Americans said they wouldnt sign such a document, Patrushev said after the talks.

Despite the thorny issues, Moscow assessed the talks in Geneva as constructive. Patrushev invited Bolton to Moscow or any other Russian city for the next round of consultations, the date for which has not been set. Patrushev gave Bolton a set of Russian proposals on further cooperation that he said Washington will take time to review.

On the Middle East track, the issue of Iran and Syria appears to have been the most contested. The United States waved off a Russian proposal on the pullback of Iranian forces in Syria in exchange for softening sanctions on Tehran.

The discussion wasnt much better on on the use of chemical weapons in Syria. The United States had said earlier that it is concerned about the situation in Idlib and promised a strong response if a chemical attack ordered by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad takes place. The Russians, for their part, fear this could be a pretext for yet another strike on Syria following a militant provocation.

Weve seen a similar pattern of American behavior in Syria. First they threaten to use force over such incident  and a few days after a chemical attack happens the West launches strikes  so we are very concerned that such a fragile situation such as in Idlib is now being discussed in this way, a senior Russian diplomat told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity.

Strong differences remain between us. But weve also made some progress on a range of issues such as arms control, where we started serious talks on the prolongation of the START III. The best deliverable this far is weve been able to go down the list of things we can work together on, where our respective agencies could be practially interacting, he said.

Dmitry Suslov, the Moscow-based deputy director at the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies at the Higher School of Economics, said the results of the meeting are not surprising. This includes a lack of progress on key issues and contradictions, but commitment to maintaining and even rebuilding dialogue.

The declared expansion of regular talks between defense ministries, expected continuation of national security council dialogues, as well as the scope of Geneva negotiations, which covered all the major aspects of the US-Russia relations agenda (strategic stability and arms control, Syria, Iran, Ukraine, etc.) mean that US-Russia relations are cautiously moving towards the 'manageable confrontation' model, overcoming the 'unmanageable confrontation state that prevailed' [the] last year and a half. If Republicans keep (at least partial) control over Congress after the forthcoming midterms, and Trumps political positions continue to strengthen, this 'manageable confrontation' model will consolidate itself for the next two years, he told Al-Monitor.

On Syria and Iran, Suslov said, the US approach remains hard-line.

[Washington] seems to expect Moscow to make unilateral concessions, which is unlikely to happen. Still, the sides commitment to stronger dialogue is a positive sign, he concluded.Bargaining between Russia and Turkey on a potential military operation at Idlib, Syria keeps getting bogged down in endless debate over distinguishing moderates" from "terrorists.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu hosted his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Ankara Aug. 13-14. He responded to the Russian persistence for an operation with We have to identify the terrorists and eliminate them. It will be a catastrophe to bomb schools and hospitals because there may be terrorists there. We must distinguish between the moderate opposition and terrorists.

As the Syrian army moves north toward Idlib after clearing opposition forces from Daraa and Quneitra, all eyes are now on Turkey, which has encircled Idlib with 12 observation posts. Idlib is the last stronghold of the Syrian rebels.

Based on leaks to the media and information learned on the ground, a comprehensive strategy is emerging: Turkey wants to give the appearance of having deterrent power with its own military assets and to set up a joint front with organizations that control parts of Idlib. Meanwhile, Turkey is reinforcing its observation posts with concrete walls and air defense weapons. Though concrete barriers are designed to deter threats from groups that frequently clash with each other, the air defenses can only be for use against Russia and Syria.

Turkey obviously has no plans to leave the areas it controls and is busy trying to consolidate the clashing groups under one roof. Ankaras goal is to free these groups from the terrorist label and prove that they have become reasonable interlocutors.

Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper reported in July that Turkey had submitted a proposed Syria road map to Russia. According to that plan, Turkey would organize a conference to bring together all opposition groups. These groups would join the National Liberation Front (NLF)  a coalition in Syria formed in May under Turkey's auspices  and hand over their heavy weapons to the Turkish army. As Russia would like to keep Turkey involved in the Astana peace process for Syria, Moscow might support this option.

A late-July meeting in Sochi, Russia produced another proposed formula. Russia reportedly asked Ankara to come up with a solution for Idlib before a Sept. 7 summit among Turkey, Russia, France and Germany. Turkey moved to bring all armed groups under one command in a national front.

Turkey asked Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS), which is considered by many a terrorist group, to join the NLF, but it did not. However, Ahrar al-Sham and Nour al-Din al-Zenki  two extreme Sunni groups that had left HTS  had formed the Syria Liberation Front (SLF) in February. The SLF subsequently, along with several other groups, including some affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, joined the NLF in August.

About a dozen groups that had tried to remain neutral agreed to join on May 28.

Then on Aug. 15, Ahrar al Shimal and its 12 subgroups also joined the NLF. With this alliance, Turkey presented itself as the director of an army of 85,000 to 100,000.

Is this impressive-sounding body truly unified, or is it just an image? What is it seeking?

For one thing, this structure, which is essentially a survival ploy by the factions to foil attempts to eliminate them, doesnt offer a path to a solution. NLF members won't necessarily do everything Turkey wants, and they won't take their cues from the Astana process. Most of them do feel they owe something to Turkey and can be pragmatic in their relations with Ankara, but they are basically outfits that have their own foreign connections and financial resources, dedicated to their own ideologies. Those who are more submissive to Turkey are those that participated in the Syrian National Army (SNA), a division of the Free Syrian Army that participated in Turkeys Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch operations in Syria.

Turkey ensures their loyalty by paying their salaries and providing ammunition and logistical support. While equipping and training these groups in the Euphrates Shield area of operations, the intention was to put all the groups in Idlib under Turkeys control. But they saw Turkeys targeting of Kurds seeking autonomy and the Astana process as deviating from the goals of the revolution, and they saw the SNA's spread over to Afrin, Jarablus, Azaz and al-Bab under the protection of the Turkish army. It didnt take long to understand that having the SNA and Turkish army in Idlib would provoke clashes with these groups, so the idea was abandoned, leaving the ground primarily to the NLF.

In short, these groups, although pretending to heed Turkey, still do what they want. NLF spokesman Capt. Naji Abu Hudeifa described the groups' goals as stopping the regime's expansion and defending the ground they control. They are now busy setting up joint operations rooms to prepare for the war.

What will happen with the many groups that didn't join NLF? These groups include radical outfits that find the HTS unacceptable because it's prone to make deals. HTS refused to terminate its operations and join the NLF, although some believe HTS may concede at the end. But even if it does, there is still significant jihadi-Salafi potential among groups that in the past operated with Jabhat al-Nusra and the Islamic State and today follow the global jihad line of al-Qaeda. These groups saw HTS cooperate with the secular Turkish state to set up army observation posts at Idlib, which deviates from jihadi principles. They reacted in February by setting up a coalition called Hurras al-Din that includes a dozen or so factions that could expand their presence even more by recruiting remnants of IS, which has lost its field domination.

These outfits include scores of foreigners in their command ranks and fighting cadres. Foreign jihadis that have opened branches in Syria have also settled in Idlib. There are Caucasian, Uzbek and Kyrgyz fighters. The Turkistan Islamic Party of Uighurs, which China is chasing in East Turkistan, is another capable group. Uighurs also control the city of Jisr al Shughour in Idlib province.

In such an ungovernable region of jihadi-Salafi rivalry, even among supposed allies, where there are constant breakups and new alliances and where scores are routinely settled by assassinations and bombings, Turkey is talking of distinguishing moderates from terrorists  but without explaining what it wants to achieve. Is Turkey concocting a bargaining chip it can put forth at talks in Astana or Geneva, or is it forming a front ready to fight? Is Ankara trying to find a way to eliminate those who haven't agreed to toe the Turkish line? If so, who will carry out that nasty, probably bloody, task  Russia, the Syrian army or rival groups? Firas Tlass, the son of former Defense Minister Mustafa Tlass who has joined the opposition, claims Turkey is planning to shift organizations like HTS and Jund al Aqsa to areas controlled by the Kurds, though Russia has rejected the idea.

Or are all these moves just ploys to gain time and promote the restructuring of Syria? The Turkey-Iran-Russia summit in Tehran at the end of the month and the Istanbul summit in September are likely to shape the Idlib strategy.

You dont need to be a prophet to predict that this fall will be a very hot one.Turkey continues to accuse the United States of waging an economic war amid the standoff between the NATO allies over an American pastor Washington calls a political hostage and Ankara a suspected terrorist and spy.

Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin repeated the claim on Aug. 22 that US sanctions on Turkey including stiffened trade tariffs, which have sent the Turkish currency into free-fall, are aimed at unraveling the countrys once vibrant economy. The Trump administration is targeting a NATO ally as part of an economic war, he told Reuters in a statement.

But as Turkey works to shift blame on the United States for the crisis, another narrative is taking hold: That the Trump administrations sudden interest in Andrew Brunson, who has remained in detention since Oct. 2016, has mainly to do with vote-grabbing in the run-up the midterm elections that are due to be held in the United States on Nov. 6. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence are using Brunson, a member of the conservative Evangelical Presbyterian Church of America, to shore up the Republicans evangelical base.

Turkeys foreign minister made the case most recently on Aug. 19 at a conference in the Mediterranean resort of Antalya. Mevlut Cavusoglu said he had told US officials, It seems you have no interest in solving [our] problems, that you are acting out of concern for your own domestic political needs, that you are exploiting [the Brunson case] to this end and will continue to do so until the elections."

Trump and Pences constant references to Brunson as a great Christian and an innocent man of faith have bolstered Turkeys claims that they are pandering to the evangelicals. Some Western analysts agree that these are not wide of the mark.

Jacob Parakilas, the deputy head of the US and Americas program at Chatham House, said, Evangelical voters are heavily concentrated in the Republican Party and are key to Trumps political strategy. He continued in emailed comments to Al-Monitor, Essentially, theres a (fairly cynical) deal in place: right-wing evangelicals are willing to look past his various personal indiscretions because he is working to enact conservative social policy.

Parakilas noted, Trumps generally good relationship with Erdogan up until now suggests that [the crisis] is not driven by animosity. Domestic politics does seem to be the driver.

And while Brunson isnt core to these voters the way the Supreme Court nomination is, Trump being willing to take unusually aggressive steps on his behalf is certainly a sweetener for them and might convince some marginal voters to come to the polls in November.

In the absence of any professional polling on the issue, however, it remains unclear whether evangelicals beyond Brunsons native North Carolina had even heard of the pastor until Trump began tweeting about him in May. The tweets grew markedly more ferocious after Trump personally intervened with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last month to secure the release of a Turkish activist for what he believed was a trade for Brunson. She flew home on July 16, but Brunson didnt. Pique rather than political calculations will have likely triggered Trumps ensuing threats to sanction Turkey.

Mike Khanjian, the senior pastor at the Chapelgate Presbyterian Church, an evangelical congregation in Marriotsville, MD, said in a telephone interview with Al-Monitor, I am on social media threads with fellow pastors and his case does come up online. Khanjian acknowledged, however, You dont hear about it in the broader public too much. The author's sister-in-law, Chapelgate worshiper Mary Pat Rallo, said Brunson had not been not mentioned during any of the sermons she attended.

A Washington-based analyst who studies Turkish-American relations told Al-Monitor, I dont think the majority of US evangelicals care much at all about foreign policy, even when it involves a Christian pastor. The analyst, who shared his views on the condition that he not be identified, further noted, Any evangelicals who are invested in this issue are probably already locked in as Trump supporters, GOP voters, and I think Trump and Pence know that. The Brunson conflict is just a flash point in a much broader decline in US-Turkish relations  a decline occurring due to the simple fact that our countries interests no longer really align with one another.

National Security Adviser John Bolton insisted in an Aug. 21 interview with Reuters that Turkey could end the crisis with the United States immediately if Brunson were freed. So far, the United States has frozen the US assets of Turkeys interior and justice ministers and doubled tariffs on Turkish aluminum and steel. Further sanctions are likely to hit the country unless Brunson is freed in the coming days, US officials warn.

The analyst noted, Its possible that the administration is indeed using Brunson  not as a tool to rally evangelicals, though, but as an excuse to pursue a long-overdue realist approach to Turkey.Air Force Space Command has awarded a $9.8 million to the Madison office of Tyonek Global Services.

Tyonek, a subsidiary of Tyonek Services Group, Inc. and Tyonek Native Corporation, will provide formal cyber operations training, course development and other services for the 39th Information Operations Squadron, the U.S. Air Force's information operations and cyber operations training unit.

The services will provide training for Air Force Space Command, Air Forces Cyber and U.S. Cyber Command. Tyonek employees will train approximately 1,200 students a year at Hurlburt Field, Fla. and Joint Base San Antonio, Texas.

Tyonek and a subcontractor, Booz Allen Hamilton, will employ 71 employees and will provide instructors, course developers, student mission training systems administrators, network system administrators and maintenance services.

TSG Vice President Doug Baker said preparing members of the military for cyber threats is one of Tyonek's core strengths "and we are proud of the work we are doing in support of the Air Force mission."A black-and-white photograph in a gold frame shows Cheryl Quinnelly's grandmother, Frances, as a young woman in the 1930s. She's standing next to the man she married, whose children she bore - and who would leave her in the 1950s to raise five children by herself.

The photo is on a shelf in Cheryl's elegant Black Door Studio, a shop in Mobile, between two displays of a delicate gold necklace with the words "Girl Be Brave." Frances wrote those three words on a letter that she left in the back of her Bible.

The simple but weighty phrase - three words meant for Cheryl's mother, the youngest of Frances's children and her only daughter - inspired Cheryl to create a brand, Girl Be Brave, which is emblazoned on some 30 products including T-shirts, hats, tote bags, water bottles and more.

Frances, her maternal grandmother, lived with Cheryl's family when she was growing up. "She was a huge influence on me," she says of her grandmother, who died in 1999. "I think Frances would be so tickled to see her face on the internet and her words on merchandise. It's still very surreal to me sometimes, too."

In less than a year, Girl Be Brave, which started in Cheryl's kitchen in April of 2017, went from 70 followers - all of whom were her friends, she jokes - to 100,000. "It just started growing," she says. "I don't even understand it. I think people are hungry for the encouragement."

Along with the products she offers, Cheryl dispenses daily doses of inspiration on the Girl Be Brave Facebook page through sharing her original quote graphics.

The first quote is one that came to her several years ago at a time in her life when she was "struggling," she says. One day, during her "quiet time," she heard the words, "You are not at the mercy of your inadequacies." She interpreted it as the voice of God speaking to her heart. She wrote the sentence down on a sticky note and kept it at her bedside for months.

"It helped me so much," she says, "and I thought it might help others."

When she posted it on the Girl Be Brave Facebook page, it was shared 40,000 times. She received emails from women who were going through their own trying experiences such as divorce or illness, telling her how much they appreciated her words.

From then on, she started sharing a quote every day "to encourage, motivate and make them feel better," she says. "I feel like it reaches them."

She has also stepped outside her comfort zone to post Facebook Live videos where she talks to followers of Girl Be Brave. "I felt like I needed to put a face and a personality out there," she says.

And she interacts with her customers by enclosing handwritten thank-you notes with each online purchase. The first 1,000 cards she sent out were hand-stamped; the next 1,000 are pre-printed with her designs. "It's a real Southern thing to send them," she says. It was her instinct when she filled her first order - to thank the customer for buying from her - and she's continued to do it ever since.

'It's my heart'

As Cheryl's family gathered together for Christmas in 2016, she got out her grandmother's bible and re-read the letter Frances wrote to her children. The last line, directed at her daughter, Cheryl's mom, read, "And girl, be brave." The words were especially meaningful at the time because Cheryl's mother was going through breast cancer treatment. (She's now cancer-free.)

Both of Cheryl's children had gone to college, and she was having a hard time dealing with the quiet at home. So this time when she read her grandmother's words, Cheryl decided she was going to do something with them.

The first thing she did was create a logo, with her favorite color - a minty green turquoise - as the background and the words "Girl Be Brave" written in the center of a gold circle. Her beautifully decorated office, located above her shop, is painted that same color.

Over the years, Cheryl has worked with her husband Jeff in his machinery business, Quinnelly Inc. The couple bought the lot where her building is now located, on South McGregor Avenue, about 10 years ago. She planned to eventually open an interior design studio there.

But when Girl Be Brave took off, she decided a building at that spot would be "a great way to showcase" the line. The Quinnellys built a two-story, 3,000-square-foot building close to North McGregor Avenue, in accordance with Village of Spring Hill codes, with on-street parking out front and a parking lot in the back. Downstairs is Black Door Studio, a light, welcoming space filled with home decor and gifts, as well as a Girl Be Brave section. Upstairs is her office, a meeting room, storage space and the shipping area where orders are filled from all over the country.

"A lot of people don't know Girl Be Brave is local," she says.

Hers is the first building in the new McGregor Springs shopping center, which will break ground in January of 2019. Spring Hill, named for the natural springs that still exist, once had a bottling company called McGregor Springs, Cheryl says. She and her husband are developing the project that will include six additional buildings.

Her shop is located about a mile from where Cheryl grew up with her grandmother as a constant presence. "She had a hard life," she says. Frances's mother died of malaria in downtown Mobile when Frances was only three years old. She went to live with her paternal grandmother in Baldwin County, where she worked in a mill, picking up needles off the floor.

When Frances urged her daughter to "be brave," she was "trying to prepare her," says Cheryl. "Sometimes life is hard, so you have to be brave."

Eventually, in honor of her grandmother, Cheryl hopes to be able to establish a scholarship for women.

So far, she has given 20 percent of the proceeds from Girl Be Brave to various local and national charities including Ronald McDonald House Charities of Mobile, the Child Advocacy Center and St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.

"I do this because I want to do something that matters," she says. "It's my heart. It's a piece of me now."A crew from BBC World Service recorded a program Thursday at Sixteenth Street Baptist Church that will air on Sept. 15, the anniversary of a bombing that killed four girls at the church in 1963.

A panel featuring civil rights activist Bernard Lafayette, who took part in the Freedom Rides in 1961, discussed the role of African-American churches in the fight against social and racial injustice.

"This is for an international audience," said Simon Pitts, arts and faith editor for BBC World Service. BBC is the British Broadcasting Corporation.

A recording of the panel discussion will be featured on the weekly radio program "Heart and Soul," which has about 79 million listeners worldwide and focuses on faith, he said.

"It sees religion through the prism of experience," said "Heart and Soul" editor Nicola Swords. "It's very universal."

The "Heart and Soul Gathering" panel included local ministers the Rev. Eva Melton and the Rev. Arthur Price, pastor of Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. A student member of the church, Justin Smith, also took part, along with rapper and activist Tef Poe of St. Louis.

"This is the cradle of the civil rights movement," said BBC producer Louise Clarke-Rowbotham. "How do they see it moving forward?"

About 50 people sat in the audience during the recording and asked questions.

"We're not going to pretend we're the experts," Swords said. "We wanted to hear from people here."A convicted sex offender has been charged in last month's armed carjacking of a teen girl at an eastern Jefferson County store.

Sheriff's officials on Thursday announced the arrest of 26-year-old Christopher Keith Terry. Terry had been arrested the day after the July 23 carjacking on an unrelated charge and has been in the Jefferson County Jail since then.

The crime happened on Monday, July 23, at the Guerrero Supermarket at 5114 Pinson Valley Parkway. Sheriff's Det. E. Scheirer provided this account of what happened:

It was about 5:30 p.m. that Monday when the teen victim pulled up to the store in her light green 2005 Lexus ES 300. Surveillance video showed that as the girl entered the store, a white male appeared from the parking lot of the nearby Citgo station and proceeded toward the victim's car, as if he had been watching her.

He followed her into the store and exited a short time later with the teen still inside. Other customers came and went during that time, but the suspect patiently waited for the teen, who was alone unlike other customers that had small children with them.

The teen victim looked out the window of the store. "She had an uneasy feeling about him already,'' Scheirer said. "She had seen him walking over from the Citgo."

Still, she exited and walked to her vehicle. He started talking to her and asked for a ride. When she declined and got into her vehicle, he moved to where he was between the victim and the door, and then brandished a knife. "I'll kill you with my knife,'' he told her.

The victim jumped out of her car and the suspect took off, recklessly backing up on Alabama 79. The teen was shaken but uninjured.

The detective believes the suspect was looking for a female victim and that the carjacking was a crime of opportunity. "I'm hoping his motive was just theft,'' she said, "because like I said, it could have gone a lot worse."

Crime Stoppers on Aug. 14 released surveillance footage of the suspect to the media. Chief Deputy Randy Christian said the sheriff's office began receiving tips on the identity of the suspect and ultimately identified him as Terry. He was positively identified by the victim and other witnesses as the teen's assailant.

They then learned he was already in the county lockup and obtained a search warrant for his personal items that had been catalogued when he was arrested on the unrelated charge. The clothing matched the description of the suspect's clothing on the day of the carjacking.

Terry was convicted in 2011 of second-degree rape and second-degree sodomy of a 13-year-old girl. He was released from prison in July 2017 and, since his release, has managed to rack up 11 new criminal charges. Those charges include violation of the state's Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, obstruction of justice, tampering with evidence, forgery, breaking and entering a vehicle, resisting arrest and possession of marijuana.

"I guess some people just don't have law abiding in their DNA,'' Christian said.

Terry is now charged with first-degree robbery in connection with the carjacking case. He is being held without bond in the Jefferson County Jail.A wanted southeast Alabama convicted sex offender was arrested in Michigan.

Jermaine O'Neal Phillips, 37, was sought by the Covington County Sheriff's Office for violation of the state's Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act and possession of marijuana.

Tony Garrett, executive director of Central Alabama Crime Stoppers, said a tip providing Phillips' whereabouts was received in his officer. The caller, he said, was afraid Phillips would do harm to a child in Detroit.

The tip was forwarded to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency's Special Victims Unit. Phillips was taken into custody at work by the Detroit's U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force.

Garrett said Phillips will be prosecuted out of the Eastern District of Michigan for under the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, a federal statute signed into law by President George W. Bush that organizes sex offenders into three tiers according to the crime committed and tracks their whereabouts with mandatory registration requirements.

Phillips was convicted in Covington County in 2010 on second-degree sodomy of a 12-year-old girl. He was sentenced to 15 years for that crime.

Garrett said Phillips will be released to Covington County after he completes the judicial process in Michigan.One of two teen brothers admitted to fatally shooting a woman during a Huntsville drug deal, but said he did it in self-defense, court testimony revealed.

Hassan Erskine, 17, and his 18-year-old brother Terran Burt are charged with capital murder in the shooting death of a Decatur woman.

Terran Burt and Hassan Erskine

Officers were called to the scene outside a vacant home at 3610 Williamsburg Drive on the evening of July 13. Charity Fennell, a 27-year-old from Decatur, died the next day at Huntsville Hospital.

New details about the killing were revealed during Erskine's bond hearing Wednesday.

Huntsville police Investigator Julian Johnson testified that once in custody, Erskine admitted firing the shots that killed Fennell.

"He said it was self-defense," the investigator told the court.

Erskine and Burt connected with Fennell via Facebook and arranged to buy marijuana from her, Johnson testified. Fennell and two friends drove over from Decatur to meet Erskine and Burt.

Outside the vacant house, Erskine climbed into Fennell's SUV while Burt stood outside the door. Fennell's friends told police that Burt pulled a gun and said "Give it up." When Fennell grabbed her own gun, Erskine took a gun from his waistband and shot the back of Fennell's head, Johnson testified.

Assistant District Attorney Bill Starnes said in court that Erskine is the only person who fired a gun that night. But Johnson testified that in addition to the head shot Fennell also suffered a gunshot wound to the chest. Defense Attorney Brian Clark questioned whether Erskine -- who was sitting behind Fennell in the car --could have fired both shots.

In total, four or five shots were fired inside the SUV that night, Johnson testified. Only Fennell was hit by a bullet.

Minimum bail

Johnson's brief testimony came during a hearing about whether Erskine could be released on bail. Since his arrest, Erskine has been held in the Madison County jail without bond, which is typical in capital murder cases.

But because of a mistake by prosecutors, Circuit Judge Chris Comer set Erskine's bail at $50,000, which is considered the minimum in capital cases.

The Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure require that inmates who are arrested without a warrant have an initial appearance within their first 48 hours in jail. In Erskine's case, he was arrested without a warrant during the early morning hours of July 14. At that time, Erskine was charged with robbery and assault because Fennell was still alive. She died later that day.

By the afternoon of July 16, Erskine still hadn't been taken for an initial appearance, Clark said. That afternoon, Johnson brought a capital murder warrant and served Erskine. Erskine was taken for an initial appearance the morning of July 18.

The state rules of criminal procedure say that any prisoner who doesn't receive an initial appearance on time is entitled to the minimum bond for the respective criminal charge. "The rules are the rules," Clark said.

Judge Comer turned to the prosecutor and said, "You missed it. You missed the 48 hours."

Comer said if Erskine posts the $50,000 bail, he will be required to wear an ankle monitor and live on house arrest. The judge also barred Erskine from having any contact with Fennell's family.

Erskine's case is heading to a grand jury for consideration of an indictment. He was scheduled for a preliminary hearing Wednesday but waived it after the judge's bond decision.

His brother Burt was scheduled for a hearing today, but it was continued. Lawyers said it will be rescheduled. Until then, Burt is held without bail in the Madison County jail.The Alabama Attorney General's office said in a brief filed with the state Supreme Court today that Montgomery police officer Aaron Cody Smith is not entitled to immunity, a change of venue or recusal of the judge in his upcoming murder trial.

A grand jury indicted Smith for murder for the fatal shooting of Gregory Gunn, 58, in February 2016. Smith's trial, which had been scheduled to start Aug. 13, was put on hold two weeks ago by the state Supreme Court.

Smith, who is white, encountered Gunn, a black man, while Smith was alone on patrol in Montgomery's Mobile Heights neighborhood shortly after 3 a.m. Gunn was walking through the neighborhood, where he lived.

Smith claimed immunity from the murder charge because he said he shot Gunn in his official capacity as a law enforcement officer and in self-defense after Gunn armed himself with a painting pole.

Montgomery County Circuit Judge Greg Griffin held a hearing on Smith's immunity claim in July. After hearing testimony from Smith and others, Griffin made a comment that Smith's lawyers said showed the judge could not be impartial, which prompted them to request recusal.

Griffin said he often held hearings where he weighed the word of a police officer against that of a defendant.

"And quite often, the officer is credible," Griffin said. "But I have to admit to you that I did not find the officer's testimony today to be credible, and, therefore, I do not feel that you have met your burden of proof that he's entitled to immunity."

Smith's lawyers argued that Griffin's statement, made in open court, implied Smith's guilt when he should be presumed innocent and influenced the jury pool because Griffin's comments were reported by the press. They said a transfer was needed for Smith to get a fair trial.

Griffin denied their motions and scheduled the trial to begin on Aug. 13. But Smith's lawyers appealed Griffin's decision, and the Alabama Supreme Court issued a stay on Aug. 8, putting the case on hold. The Supreme Court asked for responses from the attorney general's office and Judge Griffin, which were due today.

In today's brief, the attorney general's office argues that Smith's lawyers have not shown that Griffin ruled incorrectly in denying immunity.

"Absent a showing that the trial court's decision was plainly or palpably wrong -- and there has been no such showing here -- Smith cannot successfully ask this court to take the place of the factfinder, reweigh the evidence in his favor, and thereby grant him immunity from prosecution," the AG's office wrote. "Further, his attempt to show that the trial court possesses an actual bias against him and is thus required to recuse itself from his case is based on nothing more than its explanation of its reason for denying the motion for immunity, and cannot serve as a ground to require recusal."

Today's filing by the attorney general's office also gives an account of the encounter between Smith and Gunn from the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals.

It says Gunn became agitated when Smith was patting him down and slapped Smith's hand away from his waistband. It says Smith then unholstered his taser gun and threatened to use it.

"Gunn ran away when he heard Smith call for backup, and Smith states that Gunn put his hand in his hoodie near his waistband," the appeals court's account said. "Smith said because of this action he feared that Gunn was armed. Smith used or attempted to use the taser gun on Gunn several times during the chase with little or no effect. Smith then resorted to using his ASP baton -- a telescoping metallic baton -- striking Gunn on his arms and legs; this too was ineffective in subduing Gunn. Gunn then ran to his neighbor's porch, retreated to a dark area of the porch, and armed himself with a painting pole that was reinforced with steel. Smith, alleging that he feared for his life, unholstered his service weapon and fired in the direction of Gunn. Gunn was struck multiple times and subsequently died."

Gunn was walking home from a neighbor's house after playing cards when the encounter occurred, according to a wrongful death suit filed by Gunn's family.

One of Smith's attorneys, Mickey McDermott, told AL.com in 2016 that Smith did not intend to kill Gunn. He said that Smith was on patrol in a high-crime area and was in pursuit of a fleeing suspect when the shooting occurred. Smith used multiple levels of non-lethal force before having to resort to gunfire.

Smith's lawyers will have seven days to reply to today's filing by the AG's office.Moments after Robert Hollie shot his wife to death in February, he grabbed her body and dragged it down the path of her Three Mile Creek home in Mobile, along the sidewalk before placing it in the gutter. As her blood began to pool in the darkness, Hollie got in his car and went home.

Not long after Fonda Poellnitz, 58, was found by neighbors, police pieced together what had happened. SWAT teams began to descend on Hollie's home near Prichard.

After watching officers setting up a cordon on the edge of his property, Hollie, 72, opened his front door and began shooting. Mobile police officer Justin Billa was shot and later died in hospital. Hollie then shot himself with the same gun that he had used to kill his wife and Billa.

A double murder-suicide.

A man with psychotic mental health issues that finally snapped and killed his wife before turning the weapon on himself, or the ultimate culmination of domestic abuse? As is often the case with murder-suicides, also known as domestic homicides by advocates, there are no court proceedings to determine the facts. All involved are dead. There will be no grand jury, no trial, no sentencing.

The inquest in the aftermath of such tragedies is often carried out by friends, family and strangers in towns and cities around the state where dozens of these incidents have taken place thus far in 2018.

Many incorrectly attribute the violent acts to the tragic deterioration of mental health, according to experts, and seldom consider guns and the years of abuse that led up to the deadly moment.

"Mental Health is often the scapegoat," said Tonie-Ann Torrans, executive director of Penelope House, a Mobile-based organization that helps woman who are involved in intimate partner violence. "While it does have the ability to raise the risk factor, most mentally ill people are not dangerous. Jealousy, power, control, and guns are much more dangerous in these scenarios than people with mental illness."

So far in Alabama in 2018, there have been 18 murder-suicides resulting in the deaths of nearly 40 people. State-collected data on the phenomenon are non-existent, while incomplete national stats loosely suggest that there has been an increase.

Information and even opinion on murder-suicides is difficult to come by in Alabama.

In 2017, the state department of health launched a pilot program in 10 counties aimed at recording instances of murder-suicides, but that data, according to a department of health spokesperson may not be released until next year. Complete data for 2018 will be collected from a range of sources, including law enforcement, coroners and other statewide agencies, but will not readily be available until well into 2019.

The Violence Policy Center, a Washington DC-based non-profit gun control advocacy group, keeps limited records on murder-suicides for the first six months of each year it samples. The records generally come from media reports.

In the first six months of 2005, there were two murder suicides in Alabama resulting in the death of four people. In 2007, those figures doubled. By 2011, the figure had increased to 11 and 22, respectively, a possible by-product of Alabama's 10 percent unemployment average throughout that year.



Unemployment is listed in reports as a high-risk factor when coupled with a history of domestic abuse, according to a National Institute of Justice report from May 2010.



In 2014, the figures dropped to four murder-suicides and a total of eight deaths, and 2017 saw the figures increase to nine and 18.

In the first six months of this year, there have been nine murder-suicides resulting in the death of 24 people, according to AL.com and other media reports. There was also the Florida murder-suicide of recently divorced Alabama couple from Enterprise. Since then, there has been a further seven murder-suicides that have seen 16 more people killed up to the beginning of August.

Of six states that have a similar size population to Alabama, only Kentucky saw more murder-suicides in the first half of 2017 with 11, resulting in the death of 24 people. While Oklahoma had fewer murder-suicide with 7, it resulted in the death of 19 people, according to date from the Violence Policy Center.

The report noted that nine out of 10 of the 296 murder suicides in the country in the first half of 2017 were committed by a person using a gun, resulting in the death of around 660 people. Approximately 65 percent involved an intimate partner. Of that figure, 96 percent were women killed by men. More than 40 of the victims included children, according to the study.

The United States is the only country in the world where the primary means of suicide is guns.

In 2015, 22,018 Americans killed themselves with guns, according to a recent Center for Disease and Control study. That's nearly 10,000 more than homicides by guns, noted the same study. Historically, the states with the weakest gun-control laws have had substantially higher suicide rates than those with the strongest laws, according to a 20 year government study released in 2002.



"If you have immediate access to a gun you are more likely to use it on a partner or yourself," said David Adams, executive director of Emerge, a nationwide group that works with abusers to end violence in intimate relationships. "Whereas if you have limited access to a gun you have time to think and the thought may pass."



The Signs

"Possessive jealousy, threats to end the relationship, and dependency are some of the reasons as to why men kill their partners and then themselves," said Adams. "And while alcohol can drive their jealous ruminations it's not as big as factor as believed by many."

But Adams did agree with Torrens in that he felt the mental illness card was largely overplayed when investigating murder suicides.

"I don't think depression is rare in these cases but agree that it's not necessarily the driving force either. Sometimes the killer isn't depressed but decides to kill himself after he's already killed his partner and realizes that his life isn't very viable after that due to the criminal consequences. In these cases, suicide is an afterthought."

Some additional factors, said Adams, were the presence of a stepchild in the home, an age difference between the man and the woman, a history of domestic violence, and guns in the house.

In the case of Robert Hollie, he fit the mold almost perfectly. In March 2015, his wife obtained a protection order against him after he threw a can at her face and threatened to shoot her, according to Mobile court records. Along with physical violence, Hollie had expressed anger that his wife's grown son was still living at home. His wife, Fonda Poellnitz was 14 years younger than him. And lastly, he always had a gun on him, according to Poellnitz's daughter, Octavia Poellnitz.

"He was violent for as long as I knew him, and my mother tried to keep him away from all of us," said Octavia. "He was scary and always popped up back in our lives even though he was supposed to stay away."

The murder-suicide of Gary Sullivan and his wife Mel Ann was another example that rings true. After being forced in to early retirement as a school teacher, Sullivan's wife allegedly wanted to leave him, according to friends of hers that spoke with AL.com. He shot her in the back of the head while she sat on the porch preparing for church Sunday July 22. He then killed himself.

Washington County Sheriff Richard Stringer believed that Sullivan had had a psychotic episode that led to the murder-suicide. But Torrens believes that he was exhibiting classic abusive behavior based on the deterioration of the relationship.

"These things often happen just when the person is trying to leave the abusive relationship," said Torrens. "The man thinks he's losing his power and wants it back - and that includes killing his intimate partner."

"That's the ultimate control. I can take your life."Germaine Moore, the man jailed after videos depicting a child performing oral sex on an adult male were posted on Facebook in January, on Thursday pleaded guilty to three counts of production of child pornography, the U.S. Attorney's office announced Thursday.

Moore, 45, pleaded guilty before federal court in Tuscaloosa Thursday.

The investigation began on Jan. 31 when law enforcement received complaints about a Facebook video depicting a child performing oral sex on an adult male, officials said. Law enforcement traced the video to Moore.

Law enforcement interviewed three minor victims, who told officers Moore had sexually abused them and produced videos of the sexual abuse.

The Alabama State Bureau of Investigation executed search warrants at Moore's home in Millbrook and found child porn images on various devices seized from the home, officials said. Additional child porn images were found on various devices seized from an apartment he had access to in Prattville.

Investigators ultimately determined Moore possessed around 190 child porn videos on an SD card and 231 child porn images on an IBM hard drive.

Moore turned himself in to authorities in the early morning hours of Feb. 5. He was later indicted on three counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography, according to the indictment.

The indictment alleged that Moore employed, used, induced, enticed and coerced three minor victims to engage in sexually explicit conduct in order to produce child porn. The indictment didn't say when the alleged sexual conduct began, but said it continued until Feb. 6.

The indictment also alleges Moore knowingly possessed child porn from April 2011 until February 2018.

Moore faces a 15 to 30 years in prison for each of the three counts of production of child pornography, according to federal law. There is no parole in the federal court system.

Officials said he will remain in custody of the United State Marshals Service until his sentencing hearing, which has not yet been scheduled.

This case was investigated by the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, United States Marshal's Service, Michigan State Police, Detroit Police Department, Millbrook Police Department, Prattville Police Department, Tallapoosa County Sheriff's Office, Alexander City Police Department, and Montgomery Police Department.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hollie Worley Reed and Steven H. Lee of the Middle District of Alabama.Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (file photo)

Competing views emerged Wednesday in Alabama's governor's race over a state constitutional amendment on whether the Ten Commandments should be displayed in public venues.

Republican Gov. Kay Ivey says she thinks it's "fine to put the Ten Commandments" in public spaces, including schools. Her Democratic opponent, Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox, said he believes the constitutional amendment to be nothing more than a "political ploy."

The amendment shares the same statewide ballot as the governor's race on November 6.

Said Ivey: "Goodness knows we need to keep the good Lord and our God Almighty in the forefront of our lives (or) we'll never succeed."

Argued Maddox: "Let's make no mistake about this, it's not about our values and our faith. It's about a political ploy. It's going to ultimately end up in us spending hundreds of thousands of taxpayers' money."

Faith and values

The two candidates shared their opinions about the proposed constitutional amendment -- the only one of its kind on ballots in the U.S. this November -- after speaking Wednesday to the Association of County Commissions of Alabama's 90th convention at the Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach.

Walt Maddox (file photo)

Maddox said he believes religion and faith is best shared within the family, based on his own mother's values. His mom, he said, was a school teacher and a frequent church attendee.

"My mom felt she should be the one who teaches me about our faith," said Maddox. "I think that is where we need to leave it."

He added, "We have so many issues affecting everyday Alabamians and I think that is where our focus needs to be. What the politicians need to focus on are the problems in front of them."

Orange Beach resident Dean Young, who is heading up a political action committee to campaign for it, slammed Maddox for his statements.

Said Young: "It's because of people like him that our nation is spiraling out of control, morally. I'd like to congratulate him on at least telling the truth and letting the people of Alabama know where he stands and that he is in the corner of the ACLU and the Southern Poverty Law Center and all of the other people who don't want to acknowledge God and who have caused the deterioration of this nation."

Young said Maddox's position means that he "loses. It's over," regarding the election.

Young made a similar declaration in October 2017, during a news conference in Baldwin County, in which he said Democrat Doug Jones' campaign for the U.S. Senate "is finished" over his views on transgender rights and his pro-choice position on abortion.

Jones defeated Republican Roy Moore during the Dec. 12 general election to become the first Democrat to win a U.S. Senate race in Alabama since 1992.

Maddox is looking to become the first Democrat to win a governor's race since 1999.

"I will personally make sure the people of Alabama knows he doesn't believe the Ten Commandments do not belong in our schools," said Young.

This is the second time that Young has criticized a governor's candidate for not embracing the constitutional amendment.

In April, he criticized Republican governor hopeful and state Senator Bill Hightower of Mobile for a "lack of courage, leadership and convention" for claiming the amendment had "no teeth" to it. Hightower said the amendment doesn't allow state funds to defend it, and then said, "I am much more interested in the Ten Commandments being written on someone's heart, not on a wall."

Ivey, during the GOP primary campaign, acknowledged that the Ten Commandments is already on display inside the Alabama State Capitol. A copy is on display in the building's east wing next to other historic documents such as copies of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.

Ivey, in April, said she didn't believe challenges facing the state and nation can be tackled if "we continue to remove God from our culture."

Alabama is among the most Christian states in the U.S., with 86 percent of the population labeled as Christian and 82 percent with an absolute certainty believe in God, according to Pew Research Center's 2015 Religious Landscape Study. Those percentages are among the highest in the U.S.

Uncertain future

Political pundits believe the ballot initiative will pass, similar to previous socially conservative referendums in year's past including the 2006 "Alabama Sanctity of Marriage Amendment," which made it unconstitutional at the time for the state to recognize or perform same-sex marriages. That amendment struck down by a federal judge in 2015.

Amendment supporters, including Young, have said they are confident that unnamed third parties will emerge to defend the state in potential litigation that may occur with Ten Commandment displays. The amendment specifically says that no state money will be used to defend it during legal challenges.

It is also unclear how individual school districts may be legally represented if local school boards pursue a Ten Commandments display on public property.

Separation of church and state groups are hinting that legal challenges are inevitable.

"The Ten Commandments are a religious code of behavior that some, but not all, Americans accept," said Rob Boston, spokesman with the Americans United for Separation of Church and State based in Washington, D.C. "The proper place for them to be displayed is in our nation's houses of worship."

Boston said that a Ten Commandments display inside a public venue creates "two classes of citizens: those who are accept and venerate the commandments are insiders whose views are embraced by the government. Everyone else is a second-class citizen."

The Alabama Legislature, this spring, voted to add the amendment to the November ballot. During the legislative debate on the proposal, some Democrats questioned whether the measure was a ploy to lure Republicans to the polls in November.

Dean Young (file photo)

Young, during past interviews, has said he believes the amendment will generate interest among Christian conservatives as a time when national political pundits are predicting high turnout among Democrats nationwide.

Young said getting the Ten Commandments displayed has been quest of his for about 20 years. He is also a staunch ally of Roy Moore, and served as his campaign strategist during last year's Senate run.

Moore, a former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice, gained national recognition in the 1990s and early 2000s for his attempts to get the Ten Commandments displayed on public property. The most famous effort occurred in 2001, after he was elected as chief justice, when he had a 5,200-pound Ten Commandments monument installed inside the Heflin-Torbert Judicial Building in Montgomery. It was removed in 2004, following a federal lawsuit.A Sept. 8 Drag Queen Story Hour event in Mobile has generated a mix of outrage and support on social media, and a group of local pastors are expected to speak out against it during Monday's Mobile County Commission meeting.

But the one-hour event, in which a drag queen will read children's stories to kids ages 3-8, is not likely to be canceled or moved from the Ben May Main library.

In a statement Wednesday, the Mobile Public Library Board said it simply cannot exclude groups that meet the library's policies for utilizing public meeting rooms.

"Permission to use a library meeting room does not constitute library endorsement of any group's policies, objectives, goals or beliefs," the statement to AL.com reads. "If we exclude one group, we must exclude all."

'No direct control'

Mobile city officials are also hearing from both sides of the Drag Queen Story Hour debate. Among them is Mayor Sandy Stimpson.

His spokeswoman, Laura Byrne, said there is nothing the mayor can do about the library-hosted event.

"The Mobile Public Library is a separate organization from the city of Mobile, but the governing board of the library is appointed by the Mobile City Council," said Byrne. "The library employees are not city employees. The mayor's office has no direct control over the board or the operations of the library.

Byrne said that local government has little legal authority to cancel the event.

"The First Amendment grants all citizens the righto to the freedom of speech, freedom of expression and freedom of association," she said. "Libraries are public spaces especially when the city owns the building. The government cannot limit this right as long as citizens don't disobey the law."

The event is sponsored by Rainbow Mobile, a nonprofit group organized earlier this year to serve the LGBTQ community in Southeast Alabama. The group wants to promote awareness and acceptance of the LGBTQ community in Mobile.

Stories will be read by Wade Brasfield, whose drag queen persona is "Khloe Kash." The scheduled story time activities include a five-minute greeting followed by a reading of "Stella Brings the Family," and "Rainbow Fish." In between each reading is a five-minute break. The event concludes with 15 minutes of arts and crafts time.

'Approved programming'

Similar story time events have occurred in cities throughout the U.S., though not without controversy. The most recent issue concerns one of the readings in Lafayette, Louisiana, where the city's mayor-president recently announced on Facebook that he was looking to find a way to cancel or move to a private venue an Oct. 6 Drag Queen Story Hour reading in Acadiana.

"Our parish libraries are public spaces, with venues that any group or individual can reserve on a non-discriminatory basis, as required by law," said Joel Robideaux, mayor-president of the Lafayette Consolidate Government. "We have to be certain, however, that our internally approved programming is both appropriate and serves the needs of Lafayette Parish. That is the only way our library system will continue to enjoy the support from our community that it has historically received."

Supporters flocked to a Lafayette City-Parish Council meeting on Tuesday, according to a reporter from The Acadiana Advocate.

The Lafayette event is being sponsored by the University of Louisiana Lafayette's Delta Lambda Phi social fraternity, which is for gay, bisexual, transgender and progressive men.

'Equal terms'

In Mobile, the library has distanced itself from the event.

A library spokeswoman, on Monday, said that no tax dollars, library funds or Friends of the Library funds are being used for the event.

The board's statement on Wednesday continued, "The library welcomes the use of its meeting rooms by community businesses, groups and organizations. As an institution for education and free speech and in accordance with Article 6 of the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights, the library makes its meeting rooms available on equal terms to all groups regardless of beliefs and affiliations of their members."

The American Library Association, the world's oldest library association that claims over 57,000 members, has encouraged libraries to create programs that foster more equitable, diverse and inclusive societies.The nation's largest massage franchise is being sued by women who said they were sexually assaulted during massages.

Six California women are suing Massage Envy, including at least one who was a client of 28-year-old Brandon James Davis, a former massage therapist who last month was charged with more than a dozen counts of sexual battery related to his on-the-job conduct, EastBayTimes reported.

Davis is currently being held in the San Mateo County, California jail on $250,000 bail related to six felony counts of sexual battery by fraud and seven misdemeanor counts of battery involving 13 victims.

"This is happening everywhere," attorney Bobby Thompson told The Times. "This company is more concerned about its brand than it is about customer safety."

The lawsuit accused Massage Envy of negligence, premises liability, intentional infliction of emotional distress, sexual battery, gender violence, and fraud. The suit also alleges the chain does not require its franchisees to report sexual assault accusations to law enforcement or state boards and worked to conceal complaints, an "incomprehensible" policy designed to "protect the brand."

Last year, a BuzzFeed investigative report showed more than 180 people had sued Massage Envy for various sexual-assault charges, alleging their complaints were ignored and no warnings were issued to future potential victims.

Scottsdale, Arizona-based Massage Envy said while it can't comment on active litigation, the company remains "focused on our Commitment to Safety plan, which is further strengthening our existing policies. Safety is and will always be our priority and we will never stop working on it."The two greatest thing in life, never rat on your friends, and always keep your mouth shut. Photo: The Washington Post/The Washington Post/Getty Images

Last November, a person close to the Trump administration speaking to the Washington Post invoked a chilling metaphor. This investigation is a classic Gambino-style roll-up, the source said. You have to anticipate this roll-up will reach everyone in this administration. This turns out to be a perfectly apt and quite literal description not only of the investigation, but of Trumps own ethos and organizing principles.

The way a roll-up of the Gambino family, or any other crime organization, would work is that the FBI would first find evidence of crimes against lower-level figures, and then threaten them with lengthy prison sentences unless they provide evidence against higher-ranking figures in the organization. The roll-up moves from bottom to top. It would be extremely difficult to prosecute any organized crime if it were not possible to trade lenient sentences in return for cooperation.

In an interview with Fox News, President Trump offers his view that flipping is dishonorable, and is so unfair it almost ought to be outlawed.

Trump: I know all about flipping. It should almost be illegal. pic.twitter.com/jCZhwN7XxP  Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) August 23, 2018

Trump does add that a scenario in which Manafort cooperates with federal investigators would involve him making things up. And it is certainly true that rewarding cooperation can give witnesses an incentive to fabricate testimony. However, Trump has also made clear, in tweets over the weekend, that he is not only opposed to false testimony. He opposes flipping on the boss as a matter of principle. Here he is over the weekend denouncing President Nixons lawyer John 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

Dean famously testified about Nixons obstruction of justice. Nobody claims Dean lied about Nixon. The sin in Trumps eyes is that he flipped, violating the omerta. Trump even uses Mafia lingo, rat, to describe Deans cooperation with law enforcement. To gangsters, a rat is considered the worst kind of person because they pose the greatest danger to their ability to escape prosecution.

It is obviously quite rare to hear a high-ranking elected official openly embrace the terminology and moral logic of La Cosa Nostra. But Trump is not just a guy who has seen a lot of mob movies. He has worked closely with Mafia figures throughout his business career. I know all about flipping, for 30, 40 years Ive been watching flippers, he tells Fox News. Everythings wonderful, and then they get ten years in jail and they flip on whoever the next-highest one is, or as high as you can go.

Trumps claim of expertise in his area is not some idle boast. He hired Roy Cohn, by that point a mob lawyer, worked closely with figures linked to the Russian-American mafia, Felix Sater and Michael Cohen, and made money in his properties attracting money launderers.

Like a mobster, Trump takes an extremely cynical view of almost every moral principle in public life, assuming that everybody in politics is corrupt and hypocritical. (Hence his defense of Vladimir Putins murdering journalists: There are a lot of killers. You think our countrys so innocent?) He also follows mafia practice of surrounding himself with associates chosen on the basis of loyalty rather than traditional qualifications. Since the greatest threat to a mafia dons business is that subordinates will betray him, he typically surrounds himself with family members, even if they are not the smartest or best criminals. Trump has accordingly surrounded himself with his children, or demonstrated loyalists who would have trouble finding remotely comparable jobs at another business.

In the same interview, Trump casually admits that he selected Jeff Sessions as attorney general for precisely this reason  he assumed that, as one of the first members of Congress to endorse him, Sessions would show true loyalty. The only reason I gave him the job [is] I felt loyalty.

Trump hammers Jeff Sessions: "He took the job and then he said, 'I'm going to recuse myself' I said, 'what kind of a man is this?' And by the way, he was on the campaign. The only reason I gave him the job I felt loyalty." (via Fox) pic.twitter.com/r9KvpyX033  Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) August 23, 2018

Trump has internalized the mob ethos so deeply that he sees this as an indictment of Sessions. He gave the guy a job only because he assumed he was loyal, and here Sessions betrays the loyalty by recusing himself from the Russia investigation (because of a blatant conflict of interest). Trump cannot imagine that admitting he picked an attorney general solely out of the expectation of personal loyalty is a confession of an intent to corrupt law enforcement.President Donald Trump predicted in an interview broadcast Thursday that the stock market would crash and "everybody would be very poor" if he were to be impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives next year.

Trump was asked about the prospect during an interview on "Fox & Friends" by host Ainsley Earhardt, who noted that Democrats are vying to take control of the House in the November elections.

"You know, I guess it says something like 'high crimes' and all. . . . I don't know how you can impeach somebody who's done a great job," Trump said in the interview, which was recorded Wednesday.

"I'll tell you what, if I ever got impeached, I think the market would crash," he said. "I think everybody would be very poor because without this thinking, you would see numbers that you wouldn't believe."

He went on to tout the performance of the U.S. economy under his stewardship and suggest it would have fared far worse if Democrat Hillary Clinton had been elected in 2016.

Under the U.S. Constitution, presidents may be removed for "treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors."

Talk of possible impeachment of Trump has accelerated this week with the guilty plea of Trump's former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, in federal court in Manhattan, and the conviction of Trump's former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia.

Special counsel Robert Mueller is continuing to investigate possible coordination between Trump's campaign and Russia during the 2016 election and whether Trump has tried to obstruct that probe.By Amanda Scott, a 2018 Truman Scholar from Mobile and a senior at Georgetown University

The Alabama Medicaid Agency opened a new public comment period to solicit feedback on the state's proposal to impose work requirements on Medicaid recipients. Under the proposal, 74,000 Alabamians on Medicaid would be required to do 35 hours of work, job training, education, or community service each week.

These work requirements would only hurt the poorest and most vulnerable families and make Medicaid even less accessible to those who need it. Meanwhile, thousands of other families are already suffering from the state's refusal to expand Medicaid.

According to Alabama Arise Citizens' Policy Project, Medicaid covers about 1 million Alabamians or roughly one in every five people in the state. Children make up 66 percent of those covered by Medicaid in Alabama, and the remaining are senior citizens, people with disabilities, pregnant women and caretakers.

Alabama already has the strictest Medicaid eligibility requirements in the nation along with Texas. You can only qualify for Medicaid in Alabama if your income is above 18 percent of the poverty line, which is $3,740 a year for a family of three or about $312 a month.

But Alabama's leadership seeks to make Medicaid even less accessible through imposing unnecessary and burdensome work requirements. The only exceptions would be for parents of young children and children with disabilities. That means senior citizens, people with disabilities, pregnant women, and those who provide full time care for a family member would still be required to work to qualify for Medicaid.

A person working just 10 hours a week at minimum wage already earns too much to qualify for Medicaid in the state. Regardless of whether people on Medicaid work or don't work, they will lose their coverage, effectively creating a catch-22.

Nationally, six in ten working-age, able-bodied adults on Medicaid are already working, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Those who are not working report being unable to work due to illness or disability, caregiving responsibilities, or going to school.

Alabama is one of only 18 states that still refuses to accept Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care and Patient Protection Act, which has left more than 191,000 Alabamians without health insurance. Then-Governor Robert Bentley defied Medicaid expansion as a conservative political grandstand and my mother and I were among the thousands of Alabamians who suffered for it.

Our story is similar to the stories of many uninsured Alabamians and could happen to anyone. In 2014, my mom and I lost our health insurance when she had to leave her job at Wal-Mart after a long time of suffering from health problems. She was diagnosed with congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and diabetes, which left her unable to work.

While my mom had lost her income and received less than $7,000 a year in social security benefits, neither of us were eligible for Medicaid through the state because we fell in the "coverage gap." She was not eligible because she had not yet turned 65 or been approved for disability benefits. I was not eligible because I was a full-time student without dependent children.

We had to rely on the generosity of Franklin Primary Health Center and Ozanam Charitable Pharmacy in Mobile which serves low-income and uninsured patients in need of health services and prescription assistance. Franklin and Ozanam stepped in and saved my mother's life when the state left her with nowhere else to turn.

Being uninsured leads to deadly and devastating consequences. Uninsured Americans are less likely to visit the doctor and receive preventive health care, more likely to be diagnosed at advanced stages, and once diagnosed, receive less care, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

A 2009 article in the Academic Journal of Public Health found that the uninsured had a 40 percent greater risk of dying prematurely than their insured counterparts and nearly 45,000 deaths a year are linked to lack of health insurance.

Uninsured Americans are also at a higher risk of going into medical debt and bankruptcy than those with health insurance. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, medical debt contributes to over half of the debt collections that appear on consumer credit reports and results in almost half of bankruptcies in the country.

Having no health insurance and being in medical debt is worsened by the fact that employers in Alabama and most states require applicants to undergo credit checks and make hiring decisions in part based on an applicant's credit history. And they make no exceptions for medical debt.

No matter which way you look at it, Alabama leaders' refusal to expand Medicaid and its push for Medicaid work requirements keep Alabama's poorest families and children in a never-ending cycle of poverty. Tell the Alabama Medicaid Agency to withdraw its work requirement proposal, and call your state representatives to urge them to expand and protect Medicaid in Alabama.Mass eviction in low-income community in Ottawa is litmus test for Canadas promise to treat housing as a human right.

Ottawa, Canada  Margaret Allukers backyard is overrun by tall blades of grass. The landlord used to mow the lawn, but she says that since she was handed an eviction notice, the maintenance work has all but stopped.

Alluker is among more than 100 families in Heron Gate, a neighbourhood in the Canadian capital, Ottawa, who were told in May that they need to leave their modest townhouses by the end of September.

I had it in my mind that the eviction time is coming, and we dont know  what will happen next, Alluker told Al Jazeera earlier this month.

The mother of four said she hasnt found a new house yet. Like many of her neighbours, she wants her landlord, mega-real estate firm Timbercreek Communities, to give her more time.

But more than anything, Alluker said she doesnt want this situation to happen again.

We need the support of the government, especially to force the laws on landlords and have more affordable housing, said Alluker, who is also the secretary of the South Ottawa chapter of ACORN, a housing rights group active in low-income communities across Canada.

We need a long-term plan, [so] that next time something like that wont happen to any area of Ottawa.

More than 100 families were told in May they needed to move out of their homes by September 30 [Jillian Kestler-DAmours/Al Jazeera]

The financialisation of housing

Timbercreek announced plans in May to demolish about 150 units in Heron Gate, to make way for a massive development project in the neighbourhood. The company has followed the provincial laws that regulate tenant evictions.

{articleGUID}

In fact, it says its gone beyond the requirements of the law in providing relocation assistance to displaced residents by offering three months rent, as well as $1,530 ($2,000 Canadian) compensation and employing a relocation group to help tenants find other properties.

It also told Al Jazeera it continues to maintain Heron Gate units and quickly respond to repair requests.

But Leilani Farha, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on adequate housing, who is based in Ottawa, said every alternative to eviction must be pursued under international human rights law.

The community must also be consulted, and that simply did not happen in Heron Gate, she said, likening the evictions to a David and Goliath type of situation.

Its the little people against the behemoth, and its very deeply concerning, she told Al Jazeera.

Farha said the situation in Heron Gate isnt unique to Ottawa or even Canada, however.

It's the little people against the behemoth, and it's very deeply concerning. Leilani Farha, UN Special Rapporteur on adequate housing

Instead, it involves what she describes as the financialisation of housing  the growing trend of multi-billion-dollar firms owning and operating residential real estate for maximum profits  and its a pattern she said shes seeing around the world.

Farah said while shes not necessarily against profit-making, governments need to set clear directives for what is allowed in profit-making ventures.

We are living in a time where the actors in residential real estate are principally financial actors, and they have zero interest in people and a complete focus on maximising profits, she said.

While that may be OK with other commodities like gold and steel, it is not OK in the area of housing because unlike those other commodities, housing is a human right.

In that light, Heron Gate is almost like a litmus test for here and now housing issues.

Legislation coming this fall

Last November, the federal government unveiled a 10-year, $31bn ($40bn Canadian) National Housing Strategy  the first of its kind in Canada  to help ensure Canadians have access to affordable housing.

Among the programmes main families are cutting chronic homelessness by 50 percent, building 100,000 new housing units, repairing 300,000 others, and removing more than half a million households from the housing need category, which includes those living in inadequate or unaffordable housing.

The plan, which says it will take a human rights-based approach to housing, also seeks to provide 300,000 households with a subsidy known as the Canada Housing Benefit, to help offset housing costs for low-income families.

It also sets aside over $12bn ($15.9bn Canadian) to a National Housing Co-Investment Fund, to encourage property developers to build affordable housing, and pay for the upkeep of existing units. Over two-thirds of that money will be disbursed in the form of low-interest loans.

Michael Brewster, a spokesperson for Jean-Yves Duclos, the minister of families, children and social development, which includes housing, said the government is going further than any previous government has gone on the issue of housing rights.

In an email, Brewster told Al Jazeera the government would introduce legislation this fall that enshrines the rights-based approach to housing, and will ensure Canada maintains a national housing strategy in the future.

He didnt elaborate, however, on how Ottawa plans to enshrine those rights into law.

We will protect and promote the housing needs of Canadas most vulnerable people, reduce homelessness by 50 percent, and ensure that more Canadians have a place to call home, his statement read.

When asked by Al Jazeera to comment on the situation in Heron Gate, and whether what happens in the community will be a litmus test for Ottawas rights-based approach to housing, Brewster said the minister had nothing to add beyond the previous statement.

About than 150 units in Heron Gate are expected to be demolished [Jillian Kestler-DAmours/Al Jazeera]

On August 14, more than 170 organisations signed an open letter urging Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to guarantee the right to housing in law

The letter calls on Ottawa to make sure any legislation has accountability mechanisms in place, to allow homeless people and people living in inadequate housing to get recourse from the government.

It also demands that Ottawa address distinct barriers to housing that affect vulnerable people, such as Indigenous people, women and blacks.

Enforcement a lingering question

Indeed, enforcing the right to housing is easier said than done.

You can enforce a negative right  you cant do something, and if you do it, well stop you  but to enforce a positive right which says the government must ensure everybody has a right to housing, what does that mean? said Steve Pomeroy, a senior research fellow at the Centre for Urban Research and Education at Carleton University in Ottawa who specialises in housing policy.

He said the government must increase the funding it has earmarked for the plan if it wants it to succeed, as well as provide real incentives to entice developers to build affordable housing.

There isnt a lack of housing per se in Canada, Pomeroy said, but the housing thats being built doesnt meet the needs of many Canadians, especially families.

You can say to developers we want you to build two- or three-bedroom units. They say, well the economics dont make sense [and] Im not going to make any money, why would I bother?' he told Al Jazeera.

That really is the policy challenge. You can lead a horse to water, but you cant make him drink.

You Steve

Im not going to make any money, why would I bother?']

Pomeroy said he didnt expect the federal government to step in to prevent the evictions in Heron Gate. Doing so, he said, would be costly, and potentially stall new development.

That then challenges what they really mean by a human rights-based national strategy. So then theyve got egg on their face and its a very, very dicey situation, he added.

Daniel Tucker-Simmons, a lawyer representing some of the residents in Heron Gate, said he sent a request for accommodation to Timbercreeks lawyer and to Mayor Watson.

He is asking that if parts of the neighbourhood need to be demolished, that the current tenants receive more relocation assistance, and be guaranteed a right to return once the redevelopment is finished, to units with similar rents. It also asks that the existing units be preserved if they can be.

The request is currently being considered, Tucker-Simmons said, and the case could eventually be sent to the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal, if he doesnt receive a timely response.

What power do governments have?

While Canada has seen steady population growth in its major cities, very little is available for people on the lower half on the income spectrum, said Greg Suttor, a senior researcher at the Wellesley Institute focused on housing policy.

There is also a shortage of subsidised housing units.

In Toronto, the countrys largest city, more than 92,000 applicants were on the active waiting list for social housing last year. In Montreal, about 25,000 households are currently on the list to receive low-rent housing, but only 2,000 units are made available annually. About 10,500 families are currently on a waiting list for subsidised housing in Ottawa.

Commenting in general terms about the housing market in Canada, and not on Heron Gate specifically, Suttor said Canada is at a particular moment in time in its housing sector.

You would have to go back 30 years to find the equivalent price pressures and low vacancies and this extent of supply-demand squeeze in either the rental market or the home-owner market, he told Al Jazeera.

Over the years, blacks and new immigrants have been particularly vulnerable to discrimination in the rental sector.

People of African descent deal with many stereotypes when searching to rent a property, such as a belief among landlords that they are criminals or have too many children, according to a 2008 report on rental housing and human rights by the Ontario Human Rights Commission.

You would have to go back 30 years to find the equivalent price pressures and low vacancies and this extent of supply-demand squeeze in either the rental market or the home-owner market. Greg Suttor, Wellesley Institute

Based on testimonies made by individuals and non-profit groups, the report found that some blacks also said they faced discrimination when they eventually were able to rent a home.

Tenants stated that their requests for repairs and upkeep of the rental unit would be denied while those of non-racialised tenants would be met.

According to Farha, the UN Special Rapporteur, the Canadian government should be using the pending evictions in Heron Gate as a test to draft its right-to-housing legislation.

What can governments do in cases like this? What power do governments have  and at what levels  to make sure this predatory behaviour doesnt continue? she said.

In the meantime though, the tenants that remain in the community dont have much time. Youre thinking about it every single day, said Heron Gate resident Margaret Alluker.

You dont know what will happen tomorrow, so its not easy.At least 90 percent of the Rohingya population in Myanmars Rakhine state fled to neighbouring Bangladesh last year to escape a campaign of violence conducted by the Myanmar army and described by the United Nations as textbook ethnic cleansing.

Since August 25, 2017, some 700,000 people crossed the border, bringing with them stories of extreme violence, burned villages, murders and rape.

According to the UN, Bangladesh is hosting more than 960,000 Rohingya refugees, including those who arrived a year ago. But the Bangladeshi authorities say the number exceeds one million.

The vast majority of the latest arrivals are located in the densely-populated Kutupalong-Balukhali complex, known as the Mega Camp and home to more than 600,000 people.

Bangladeshi authorities have recently announced plans to relocate 100,000 Rohingya living in border camps to Bhasan Char, an uninhabited river island that emerged from the silt around 20 years ago in the Bay of Bengal.

The government says it will spend some $280m to build housing and infrastructure, suggesting that the island could be used by Bangladeshi people once the Rohingya population is repatriated.

But the plan has drawn criticism from human rights groups, with Human Rights Watch saying the island is unfit to build accommodation on because of its vulnerability to high waves, tides and extreme weather events.

One year into the latest Rohingya crisis, Aung San Suu Kyi has meanwhile defended her governments actions in Rakhine state and refused to recognise the atrocities committed by the Myanmar military.Lamia, Reem, Shaima and Dwlat are powerful Palestinian women just like Ahed, but their stories have been ignored.

Ahed Tamimi, the 17-year-old Palestinian activist from the village of Nabi Saleh in the West Bank, is an icon of a rebellious young generation of Palestinians which has demonstrated it has little tolerance for Israels persistent violations of their rights and freedoms. After spending eight months in jail for confronting Israeli occupation soldiers in her backyard, Ahed emerged even stronger and more determined to convey the pains and struggles of her people to the world.

The power is with the people, and the people will and can decide their destiny and decide the future, she said, addressing a crowd of supporters and journalists after her release.

Aheds story garnered a disproportionate amount of attention from international media outlets which have otherwise often ignored the courage and suffering of numerous Palestinian girls and women living under Israeli military occupation and siege for many years.

Recognising this fact, Aheds mother, Nariman said: Frankly it is probably Aheds looks that prompted this worldwide solidarity, and thats racist, by the way, because many Palestinian children are in Aheds position but werent treated in this way.

There is much truth to this assertion. When Palestinian women are not invisible in Western media coverage, they are seen as hapless victims of circumstances beyond their control  the military occupation of their land and the backwardness of their own patriarchal society. They are hardly seen as agents of change; at best, they are presented as trapped in a conflict in which they play no part.

The invisibility of Arab, Muslim women in Western media is rooted in a long history of colonialism, rife with racist misconceptions and misrepresentations. In the Palestinian case, such misrepresentations undermine the political and humanitarian urgency of the plight of Palestinian women and the Palestinian people as a whole.

In truth, Palestinian women are hardly bystanders in the collective victimisation and resistance of the Palestinians, and regardless of their political orientation, religion or residence, they deserve to be made visible and understood within the larger context of the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

What follows are the brief stories of four powerful women from Gaza who, despite their struggle and courage, remain invisible to the media. They are raising families, teaching music, protesting at the Gaza-Israel fence, suffering their own losses and injuries, and persevering in the face of a harsh life under the blockade.

I will join again the Great March of Return  Lamia Ahmed Hussein, 37, Khan Younis



When Lamias husband, Ghazi Abu Mustafa, was killed by an Israeli sniper on July 27 at the fence separating Gaza from Israel, she was serving in the field as a volunteer paramedic.

Lamia is the oldest of nine sisters and brothers. Her family, now residing in the city of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, is originally from the town of Bir Al-Sabaa in historical Palestine and, like millions of Palestinians in Gaza and elsewhere, is now permanently exiled.

Lamias belief in her right of return to her family home in Palestine was what motivated her to join the Great March of Return on March 30, which also marked Land Day.

Her decision was strongly supported by her husband Ghazi, 43, who also joined the march on its very first day. Lamia offered to volunteer as a paramedic, aiding hundreds of wounded Palestinians every Friday. She knew too well how critical her role could be for those brave fighters and for their families. In the past, her husband was wounded several times while confronting Israeli soldiers.

His first injury, which blinded his left eye, was sustained during the largely non-violent mobilisation against the Israeli occupation (1987-1993) known as the First Intifada. In the March of Return, he was repeatedly shot, and with Lamia by his side, he returned to the fence, limping, to stand in solidarity with his people.

Lamia and Ghazi faced their challenges together, raised a family in impoverished Gaza and protested side by side as the Gaza march galvanised the whole community, men and women alike, like never before.

In July, Ghazi was fatally shot. He died while Lamia was saving the life of another badly wounded protester, Nahid Qadeh.

Lamia was devastated but not broken. A life of hardship and pain taught her strength and resilience. A boat that is dedicated to helping others will never sink, Ghazi told her one day as they joined a large crowd of protesters at the fence.

The widowed mother of six has every intention to resume her work at the fence.

Nothing will shake my belief in my right of return, she says, a lesson she constantly teaches her children.

Although the future of Gaza remains bleak, Lamias resolve to achieve justice  for her family, her people and herself  remains unbreakable.

I will not stop singing  Reem Anbar, 28, Gaza City

Reem found her calling during the Israeli war on Gaza in the summer of 2014. She would carry her oud every day from her home to the Said Al-Mashal Cultural Centre, where she would spend hours playing music to frightened children and their families, who were taking shelter from Israels incessant bombing.

For years, Reem tried to leave Gaza in search of a place where she could pursue her love for music at a respected art institute. Yet, her request to leave was repeatedly denied by Israel. There are thousands of students like Reem who have not been able to pursue educational opportunities outside Gaza for the same reason.

Reem has played the oud since she was a little girl. It was her companion, especially during the long nights of the Israeli bombing campaigns. Whenever bombs began to drop, Reem would pick up her instrument and delve into a magical world where notes and rhythms would defeat the unmitigated chaos outside her window.

When Israel launched its 2014 assault on Gaza, Reem invited others into her musical world. She played to the traumatised children at the cultural centre, who sang along as Israeli bombs dropped on their homes. When the war ended, Reem continued her work, helping children who were injured and disabled during the war at the same centre and elsewhere. Along with other young artists, she composed musical plays for them and set up performances to help these children overcome trauma and promote their inclusion in society.

In late 2017, Reem finally managed to leave Gaza to pursue her higher education in Europe. On August 9, 2018, she heard with a heavy heart that Israel had bombed the Said Al-Mashal Cultural Centre and it had been completely destroyed.

Reem plans to return to Gaza when she is finished with her education. She intends to pursue a Masters degree in music therapy so that she can contribute to the healing of a generation of children scarred by war and siege.

They want to stop us singing, she says. But the opposite will happen. Palestine will always be a place of art, history and sumud  steadfastness. I swear, we will have our concerts in the street if we must.

I will defeat cancer  Shaima Tayseer Ibrahim al-Shamali, 19, Rafah



Shaima can hardly speak. Her brain tumour has affected her mobility and her ability to express herself. Yet, she is determined to pursue her degree in Basic Education at Al-Quds Open University in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip.

The pain that this 19-year-old is enduring is extraordinary even by the standards of poor, isolated Gaza. She is the oldest of five children in a family that fell into poverty following the Israeli siege. Her father is retired and the family has been struggling, but nevertheless, Shaima has been determined to get an education.

She was engaged to be married after her graduation from university. Hope still has a way of making it into the hearts of the Palestinians of Gaza and Shaima was hoping for a brighter future for herself and her family.

But March 12 changed all of that.

On that day, Shaima was diagnosed with an aggressive brain cancer. Just before her first surgery at Al-Makassed Hospital in Jerusalem on April 4, her fiance broke off the engagement.

The surgery left Shaima with partial paralysis. She speaks and moves with great difficulty. But there was more bad news; further tests in a Gaza hospital showed that the tumour was not fully removed and it must be quickly extracted before it spreads any further.

To make matters worse, on August 12, the Ministry of Health in Gaza announced that it would no longer be able to treat cancer patients in the Israel-besieged enclave.

Shaima is now fighting for her life as she awaits Israeli permission to cross the Beit Hanoun checkpoint (called the Erez crossing by Israel) to the West Bank, through Israel, for an urgent surgery.

Many Gazans have perished that way, waiting for pieces of paper, a permission, that never materialised. Shaima, however, remains hopeful, while her whole family constantly prays that their eldest daughter prevails in her fight against cancer and resumes her pursuit of a university degree.

I will defend my family and my people  Dwlat Fawzi Younis, 33, Beit Hanoun



Dwlat looks after a family of 11, including her nephews and her gravely ill father. She had to become the main breadwinner of her family when her father, 55, suffered kidney failure and was unable to work.

She would look after the entire family with the money she earned as a hairdresser. Her brothers and sisters are all unemployed. She used to help them, too, whenever she could.

Dwlat is a fighter; she has always been that way. Perhaps it was her experience on November 3, 2006, that strengthened her resolve. An Israeli soldier shot her while she was protesting with a group of women against the Israeli attack and destruction of the historic Umm Al-Nasr mosque in Beit Hanoun. Two women were killed that day. Dwlat was hit by a bullet in her pelvis, but she survived.

After months of treatment, she recovered and resumed her daily struggle. She also never missed a chance to raise her voice in solidarity with her people at protests.

On May 14, 2018, when the United States officially transferred its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, 60 Palestinian protesters were killed and nearly 3,000 were wounded at the Gaza-Israel fence. Dwlat was shot in her right thigh, the bullet penetrating the bone and cutting through the artery.

Her health has deteriorated quickly since then and she is now unable to work. But Israel still hasnt approved her application to be transferred to Al-Makassed Hospital in Jerusalem to receive treatment.

Yet, Dwlat insists she will continue to be an active and empowered member of the Gaza community  for the sake of her family and her people, even if it means joining the protests along the Gaza fence on crutches.

In truth, Ahed, Lamia, Reem, Shaima and Dwlat embody the remarkable spirit and courage of every Palestinian woman living under Israeli occupation and siege in the West Bank and Gaza. They endure and persist, despite the massive price they pay and continue the struggle of the generations of courageous Palestinian women who came before them.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.Malcolm Turnbull says leadership crisis is an internal insurgency to move the Liberal party to the far right.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull clung to power on Thursday as senior ministers deserted him.

Turnbull, who narrowly won a leadership vote on Tuesday against former home affairs minister Peter Dutton, said he would hold a second leadership vote on Friday if he received a letter signed by the majority of the ruling Liberal party.

Dutton and senior ministers on Thursday called for a second ballot.

Australians will be rightly appalled by what they are witnessing in their parliament, Turnbull told reporters in the capital, Canberra.

Key supporter Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said Turnbull no longer had majority party support and Dutton was now the best person to lead the conservative government to the next election, due by May 2019.

Several ministers tendered their resignations. The leadership crisis saw the government adjourn parliament on Thursday until September.

Turnbull said if he received a letter requesting a new vote with the signatures of 43 Liberal legislators he would call a party meeting for midday Friday (0200 GMT). If a leadership spill motion was then passed, he would not stand in the election.

Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop will stand for the leadership, local media reported. Treasurer Scott Morrison will also challenge for the top job.

No Australian prime minister in the past decade has lasted a full three-year term before being dumped by his or her own party.

Liberal split

Turnbull said the leadership crisis was an internal insurgency to move the Liberal party to the far right.

A minority in the party room, supported by others outside the parliament, has sought to bully, intimidate others into making this change of leadership, he said. Its been described by many people  as a form of madness.

Turnbull came to power in a party-room coup in September 2015. A social liberal and multi-millionaire former merchant banker, Turnbull has struggled to appeal to conservative voters and only narrowly won an election in 2016.

Weve heard from constitutional scholars that the case is a borderline case and that it would need to be resolved by the high court, Peter Hartcher, political editor at the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper, told Al Jazeera.

Effectively, the government would have to refer one of its own members  the challenger for the leadership, to the high court for a decision  a process which would probably take weeks or even longer.Dissatisfied with my chutzpah, in 2012 Saulep sent his private bodyguard to threaten me, which he did by waving a gun outside his car window. After a short car chase through the streets of Port Moresby, I was able to escape.

In 2012, for example, in my conflict with the then chancellor and his pro chancellor, the latter, Ralph Saulep, filed a criminal complaint to try to get me arrested. The police came to my hotel in Port Moresby but I was able to escape. (This same complaint was used again in 2018 to arrest me.) Much to his chagrin, I had successfully eliminated his creative use of university funds.

Another characteristic in PNG universities is that conflict, strife, threat and violence are seen as a normal state of affairs. Dialogue and negotiation to durably solve problems is diligently avoided.

For in PNG it is chancellors  ceremonial heads - who think they run the university and have no qualms in de-authorising and overruling vice chancellors, who are the actual appointed leaders.

VERONA - The latest episode in Papua New Guineas university crisis, where chancellors and council members colluded with lawyers and police to chase out two foreign vice-chancellors, is seen as bizarre from the outside but makes perfect sense from the inside.

Dr Albert Schram - 'PNG has good people to run its universities, but they are kept out by a political system which is corrupt and perceives them as threats'

In 2018, again, I was threatened with arrest and deportation by lawyer Sam Koim, a respected member of the university council, for no valid reason. Then in May, I was arrested on a trumped up charge of "false pretence", my passport unlawfully impounded and I was held hostage in PNG for over a month under great stress and, I might add, at great expense.

Officially, this case is not finished and I am living in my home place of Italy still on bail. We expect the case to be heard next month and duly dismissed for lack of any evidence that I have falsified anything, especially my PhD.

This story should now go back to 2009 when the PNG government, led by Michael Somare, and the Australian government of Kevin Rudd decided to review the PNG university system.

The independent review was conducted by Rabbie Namaliu (former prime minister and Unitech council member) and Ross Garnaut (eminent Australian economist, ambassador and advisor to various governments).

Their main conclusions were crystal clear: fix university governance; reduce councils from 30+ members to a more manageable size; and focus on improving academic quality instead of quantity. This report, plus a promised investment in higher education from then burgeoning resource revenues, were important drivers for me to accept the job at Unitech in 2012.

In the six years until my separation from the university in April 2018, I worked with seven different ministers of higher education, three chancellors and three deputy vice chancellors, and none drove this agenda. Policy meant nothing. They were mostly distracted by politics.

The Unitech council was heavily politicised. In the five years I was on campus there were four politically motivated attempts to dismiss me. At one stage I was expelled from PNG for 14 months and refused re-entry, although still employed as vice chancellor.

So, what had happened since June 2012 when the Namaliu-Garnaut report with its recommendations - and work plan with input from the vice chancellors - was approved by the government?

Well, the short story is that things very quickly changed.

The agenda was just too threatening to the existing power structures. It wasnt helped by students organising boycotts at which point it was decided the universities needed "strong medicine" for at least another 10 years to stop student revolts.

The Higher Education Act of 2014 encapsulates the change in policy. Apart from creating a department of higher education (instead of an autonomous commission), its purpose was to (unsuccessfully) control the university councils and management.

In fact, the only consequential amendments to the university act have been related to the appointment of chancellors and vice chancellors. The reformist law has been mostly about control and political patronage.

So, unfortunately for the government, this new higher education act did not do the job. While I was appointed under the old act directly by council, Prof John Warren was appointed under the new act as vice chancellor of the University of Natural Resources and Environment (UNRE). It didnt really matter much.

Because of the legacy of mismanagement, high level members of the university community were accustomed to a track record of stealing and general dishonesty. When outsiders like me and John Warren came in, calling a spade a spade and taking action, disgruntled staff went to the council and government and complained.

PNGs capital city, Port Moresby, is not just a typical policy bubble but an echo chamber of unverified and invalid information. Policy makers are gullible and seem to belief that anything written on letterhead must be proper by nature. They also believe lawyers are truthful. The system is driven by extreme clientelism (in PNG known as wantokism), where tribal loyalties and status are the main currencies.

I cannot say much about Prof Warren's case, which occurred after my own departure from PNG. As far as I know, like me, John Warren re-established a shared governance, committee based system - not an easy task; it can take a few years.

He implemented some common sense measures regarding the administration and assessment of academic programs and after two years was starting to get changes on the move. But politicians and the council began to get staff complaints, the chancellor was pursuing his own ambitions and this collection of ill-equipped would-be academic gurus decided they no longer liked his approach.

Albert with long-serving janitor Omas Omili on their last day together on campus: "My best friend on staff. He learned to make capuccinos and we called him the barista." The great majority of Papua New Guineans - who are considerate and generous hosts - get on extremely well with foreigners

Although Warren and I are Europeans and not Australians, the post-colonial hang-up in PNG played a role in this. When university councils get irritated and can agree on only one thing, getting rid of the expat is that one thing that seems to make sense.

The chancellor at Unitech, for example, seemed to me to take discriminatory decisions in council and privately made remarks which indicated a belief that many  if not most - white people are racists. Neither Prof Warren and I are such; with me its very evident as I am married to a feisty woman of Kenya.

In my case, there had developed powerful internal and external forces stacked against me which made it necessary for me to be gone. For the prime minister and ministers of higher education, national planning and foreign affairs it was all about control of the land on which universities were located, which it was thought the Chinese could develop with the usual 50% kick-back for construction.

Moreover, access to funds from development partners, those rather stupid foreign government who give the PNG government cash for infrastructure projects, is highly contested because government spending is so limited.

Other ministers dare not oppose such manoeuvres, embroiled as they are in their own get rich quick schemes. Conveniently, the nephew of the minister of health is now acting vice chancellor of Unitech, although in my view eminently unsuited for the role.

As to the internal forces, the improvement of academic quality and tighter financial management I instituted created great push-back. As chair of the academic board, I got a firm commitment to professional accreditation of the engineering programs, which meant, for example, all subjects had to have their own files. This was broadly resented by Papua New Guinean academic staff, used as they were to being accountable to nobody.

In addition, I got wind of the fact that almost all highland governors were selling university places (straight A high school results) for about $20,000 a pop. Highland politicians represent the largest share of the population and have dominated politics since the fall of Somare in 2011. There were many highlands students at Unitech.

As it happened, Unitech was the first university to demand an aptitude test which was administered by ACER (Australian Council for Educational Research) in Melbourne. This allowed us to weed out unsuitable students. But of course this significantly reduced the scope for political patronage by the provincial governors

But it was mainly tighter financial controls, fear of downsizing and losing allowances that made me extremely unpopular.

Efforts to rationalise and streamline the university administration, while it saved much money to be spent on academic work, ruffled feathers. For example, better financial controls led to savings of over $1 million in 2017, although it had taken some years to get there. Also in 2017, for the first time, Unitech obtained a clean (unqualified) audit for its 2015 accounts.

This turned out to be the easy bit.

Human resource management proved much trickier, in particular because in PNG there are few people competent in this area, and almost none in the public sector.

The need to downsize was evident, but no successful downsizing exercise of a government institution had ever been done. It usually led to the sacking of the CEO.

Unitech had four support staff members for each academic. The ratio in industrialised countries is one support to four academics, and even in our neighbour Fiji one to two. Unitech had more than 800 support staff and only 200 academics (of which 50 were expats in key positions).

With the approval of council, I commissioned various reports by consultants to get that ratio under control, but it was never done. Disdain and disobedience.

Then there was the matter of unapproved (and as it turned out) illegal allowances. Before my time, the personnel department had conceived a so-called institutional allowance for senior support staff. A study I ordered showed it to be illegal. At the time (2015), as there were only a handful of staff members affected, we decided to regularise matters through natural attrition, mostly retirement.

In my absence in 2013, another allowance was dreamed up - a 15% monetisation of travel entitlements for all PNG staff. Although, for transparency, I favour monetisation in principle, I did not like the way this was implemented.

For a professor, for example, 15% of base salary amounted to $5,000+ annually while for a driver it was $200. These equity musings of mine however were irrelevant because by 2017 we found that the allowance was illegal.

As to infrastructure, I successfully executed over 13 projects maintaining tight budget control, including the building of an earth station for the O3B communications satellite system, which provided reliable broadband internet to the university.

Although all telecommunications companies in the Pacific depend largely on internet connectivity, Unitech was the only university in the world to have this system. Providing all our students with internet access remains one of my proudest achievements.

Nobody who has lived in a developing country can faithfully report that the people truly believe their government  elected or not - governs for the good of the people. The level of greed and selfish obsession with staying in power of the government of PNGs prime minister Peter O'Neill, however, is hard to match.

For decades, there has been collusion between billionaire mine owners in Australia and elsewhere and PNG politicians to manipulate share prices, sign dubious deals and get richer in the process. As a result, O'Neill and his cronies would already have enough money to fund the 2022 elections just as they bought the 2017 poll. And, if they dont get the numbers they desire, they can always bribe opposition MPs to cross the aisle.

I heard from an Australian friend of ONeill that he likes to boast he is going to be the first Pacific billionaire. If true, this is an obscene brag. Perhaps theres a desire to emulate the billionaire leaders of resource rich dictatorships in Africa, Asia and elsewhere who channel their wealth straight into overseas private accounts.

Real universities can only thrive in true democracies with inclusive institutions.

In PNG, institutional autonomy and academic freedom have been eliminated.

We see a different university model emerging (perhaps a Chinese model?), where universities are regarded as an extension of government departments.

Expatriate academics, who do research and educate students to become active citizens and leaders, are fremdkorper (foreign bodies) and perceived as a threat to the power of the government.

While in PNG, there is hardly anyone with the experience and qualifications to be a vice chancellor, hiring a foreign vice chancellor will almost certainly lead to dismissal, deportation and perhaps arrest.

Unitech is now advertising for a vice chancellor having found that the current management seems unable cope appropriately or implement decisions. (Even I have been asked to apply for some of the vice chancellors positions, which I have regretfully declined.)

So what is the way forward?

I would say a process has to be put in place to establish small and independent university councils. Council members need to have a university degree, achievement as directors or managers and must undergo sound orientation in university matters.

Perhaps some general oversight and advice from a foreign chancellor, not necessarily from Australia, should also be instituted, so the council continuously evaluates its performance.

The tragedy of Papua New Guinea is that there are enough good people in the country to do this, but most of them are kept out of these roles by a political system which is utterly corrupt and perceives them as threats.Bob Menendez is in a close race in New Jersey and Bill Nelsons trailing in Florida. Photo: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images; Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images

In the discussion of Democratic prospects for retaking control of the Senate this year, the focus has mostly been on Democratic incumbents in states that Donald Trump carried by large margins in 2016: Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, Jon Tester of Montana, Claire McCaskill of Missouri, and Joe Donnelly of Indiana. Theres been considerable interest as well in potential Democratic wins in GOP-held seats in Arizona, Nevada, and Tennessee.

But as the Dog Days churn along, an unexpected soft underbelly of the Senate Democratic campaign has developed in two states that are considerably less problematic than West Virginia or North Dakota. In purple-state Florida, three-term incumbent Bill Nelson is already falling significantly behind Republican Governor Rick Scott. And in very blue New Jersey, two-term incumbent (and House veteran before that) Bob Menendez is not exactly putting away his underdog Republican opponent, retired pharmaceutical executive Bob Hugin. If Democrats manage to lose these two seats they could lose ground in the Senate even if all their Trump country incumbents survive.

Nelsons troubles have been steadily increasing in the course of the campaign. To begin with, Scott as governor has a significantly better job approval number (54 percent) than Nelson as senator (44 percent), according to Morning Consults July numbers. Hes also better known, even though Nelson won his first congressional race in 1978 and his first statewide office (insurance commissioner) in 1994. Much of that is due to the incumbent senators laid-back style, which has provided quite the contrast with the paripatetic governor, who has been campaigning frantically even as Nelson seems content to hold his fire (and his money) until late in the cycle, as the New York Times recently reported:

Mr. Nelsons plan has been to hold off running expensive television advertising until the fall, when it will matter the most, and to be ready to counter any last-minute spending by Mr. Scott, who poured $10 million of his own money into his gubernatorial campaign in the final days of the 2014 race.

Though polling in the race has mostly showed a close contest, there are some signs Scott may be pulling ahead. Hes up by 6 points in the latest poll from Florida Atlantic University. And hes undertaking a heavy investment in Hispanic voter outreach that could be an existential threat to any Democratic candidate, not just among the usually Republican-leaning Cuban-American population of South Florida, but in the crucial pro-Democratic voting block of Puerto Ricans, as the Washington Post has observed:

Scott has been blanketing Spanish-language broadcasters with spots boasting of his attention to the Latino community and documenting heavily-accented attempts at speaking Spanish.

He has started saying he will represent both Florida and the commonwealth of Puerto Rico if elected to the Senate, and has highlighted the efforts his administration undertook after the 2017 hurricane to make it easier for Puerto Ricans to relocate to Florida.

Along with Scotts conspicuous efforts to distinguish himself from Donald Trump on immigration issues, it seems to be working for him, as a July survey of Puerto Ricans in Florida showed:

More than seven in 10 of the 1,000 Puerto Ricans interviewed for the poll commissioned by Florida International University have a bad a very bad opinion of President Trump. By contrast, more than 55 percent have a good or very good opinion of Gov. Scott  a whopping 82 percent among those who moved to Florida since 2017 when Hurricane Maria devastated the island.

Nelsons patient strategy against Scotts aggressive approach has not earned him much admiration among national Democrats:

Nelson is running the single worst campaign of a Senate Dem incumbent anywhere in the country and its not even close. Complete malpractice not to have replaced him earlier with a stronger candidate, notwithstanding the difficulty navigating such a play. https://t.co/6PPC4avHiI  Neal Kwatra (@nealkwatra) August 22, 2018

Well see if his planned autumn counterattack works.

Meanwhile, Menendez remains a favorite for reelection, but Democrats are appropriately worried that an incumbent in a state as blue as New Jersey seems so vulnerable. Menendezs image, of course, took a battering during an extended federal corruption trial last year that involved allegations of bribery and influence-peddling. In November, though, a jury failed to reach a verdict in his trial, and subsequently a judge dismissed some of the charges and federal prosecutors decided in January of this year to drop the case.

Menendez did attract a primary challenger early on, but the end of the corruption case against him took the steam out of it, leading his challenger to drop out in March:

Michael Starr Hopkins said in a statement Friday afternoon that he would suspend his campaign after concluding he had been unable to raise enough money to mount a serious challenge to Menendez, who has the support of virtually all of the top Democrats in the state.

Still, Menendez was admonished by the Senate Ethics Committee in April for failing to report some of the gifts disclosed in the corruption trial, and as of July his approval ratio in New Jersey was at a dangerously low 33/41. And unfortunately, in Hugin he drew a Republican challenger with the money to make a real race of it despite New Jerseys partisan tilt.

As of the end of June, Hugin had out-raised Menendez by nearly a two-to-one margin, and with the challenger having to spend freely to make himself known, it appears the two candidates will be on a roughly even financial keel heading towards November, though a big variable is whether either national party or the outside groups that support them will invest in this race. Menendez has never trailed, but the most recent survey from Quinnipiac shows his lead shrinking to 43/37 with some internal findings that should be of concern to Democrats:

Voters give Menendez a negative 40 - 47 percent approval rating and a negative 29 - 47 percent favorability rating.

Hugin gets a slightly positive 24 - 20 percent favorability, but 54 percent of voters havent heard enough about him to form an opinion.

Ethics in government is the most important issue in deciding how they will vote for U.S. Senator, 25 percent of New Jersey voters say, as 21 percent list taxes; 19 percent cite health care, with 14 percent each for immigration and the economy.

As Sen. Robert Menendez sees his once dominant lead whittled down to single digits, New Jersey voters are sending a clear message. They are troubled by the ethics cloud hanging over him, said Mary Snow, polling analyst for the Quinnipiac Poll.

Granted, Hugins background as a pharmaceutical executive makes him vulnerable to ethics counterattacks, and it would be an odd year for New Jersey to elect a Republican senator. The big question is probably what happens with the fairly sizable undecided vote: Does it break against the relatively unpopular incumbent, as political science lore would suggest? Or is the race subsumed in a broader anti-Trump wave? Add this to the abundant Senate story-lines we will be watching in October.Brazil plans to relocate Venezuelan migrants after attacks

Attacks on Venezuelans in poor border state forces government to try to move migrants to other areas.British-Iranian dual citizen to appeal for extended release from prison during three-day reprieve, campaign group says.

A British-Iranian woman jailed in Tehran for more than two years for allegedly plotting to overthrow Irans government has been released for three days.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who has vehemently denied the allegations against her, was reunited with family members  including her four-year-old daughter  after being freed from the capitals Evin Prison.

The Free Nazanin campaign group, run by her husband Richard Ratcliffe, welcomed the temporary release but called for her permanent freedom.

Furlough is not full freedom  we want her home, not just on holiday from prison  but it is still such a good step. We will keep campaigning until she is home in the UK, the Free Nazanin group said in a statement on Facebook.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe was warned not to attempt to leave the country while on temporary release, or conduct interviews with local or international media, it added.

#FreeNazanin campaign is pleased to confirm Nazanin was released from Evin prison on furlough this morning. Initially the release is for 3days -her lawyer is hopeful this can be extended. She is currently with her family in Damavand. Thanks to everyone who has carried us this far pic.twitter.com/VLGeCr1v1q  Free Nazanin (@FreeNazanin) August 23, 2018

Her lawyer will request an extended release on Saturday, according to the statement, the day before she is currently expected to return to jail.

There was no immediate comment on the case from Iranian authorities, but the countrys ambassador to the UK, Hamid Baeidinejad, described a photo showing Zaghari-Ratcliffe reuniting with her daughter as lovely in a post on Twitter.

Prisoner of conscience

Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a 40-year-old Thomson Reuters Foundation employee, was jailed for five years in July 2016, three months after her initial arrest at Tehran airport as she was heading back to the UK.

She has frequently denied the sedition charge levelled against her, insisting she was in the country on a family visit with her daughter.

In May, Zaghari-Ratcliffe was summoned to court without a lawyer present under a new charge of spreading propaganda against the government.

During the hearing, she was reportedly warned of an additional conviction and an extended jail sentence.

In a statement on Thursday, Amnesty International called for Zaghari-Ratcliffes full and unconditional release, describing her as a prisoner of conscience who should never have been jailed in the first place.

The rights groups call was echoed by UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, who said in a post on Twitter that efforts to win a permanent release for Zaghari-Ratcliffe would continue.

Really good news that Nazanin has been released on furlough, credit to tireless campaigning by husband Richard and her friends. But being in prison AT ALL is gross injustice and she must be PERMANENTLY released for which every effort will continue @FreeNazanin  Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) August 23, 2018

Really good news that Nazanin has been released on furlough, credit to tireless campaigning by husband Richard and her friends. But being in prison at all is gross injustice, he said on Thursday.

Hunts predecessor Boris Johnson attracted criticism for appearing to jeopardise Zaghari-Ratcliffes case last year when he suggested at a parliamentary hearing in November 2017 she had been training journalists in Iran prior to her arrest.

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According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), Iran has arrested several dual nationals who have travelled to the country in recent years.

The jump in prosecutions of Iranian dual nationals appears to reflect efforts by government hard-liners to keep Iran isolated from the global community, HRWs Middle East Director Sarah Leah Whiston said in September 2016.

Individuals should not have to suffer unjust prison terms because of a countrys internal politics.Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi tells supporters not to worry about losing cities previously held by armed group in a rare speech.

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, leader of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), called on followers to keep fighting in his first purported message in a year.

In an audio recording released by ISILs media outlet al-Furqan Foundation on Wednesday, Baghdadi referred to events that took place this month in the Middle East and elsewhere, including Turkeys dispute with the United States over its detention of American pastor Andrew Brunson.

The audio was titled Give Glad Tidings to the Patient.

You have no choice. If you want to live in dignity, then you return to your religion and fighting your enemy, the Iraqi said, addressing followers in Syria.

It is not only about carrying weapons, but also  do not accept anything but sharia law and die in order to achieve this, he added in a 55-minute long message.

He also attacked the United States, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for supporting the fight against his armed group.

Supporters of the caliphate everywhere, in the media or in the field, we tell you the state is fine, Baghdadi said, telling supporters not to worry about losing the cities they controlled in Syria and Iraq.

America is going through the worst time in its entire existence, he said, adding Russia is competing with the US over regional influence and clout.

Al Jazeera could not independently verify the authenticity of the message.

He also criticised the surrenders of rebels in southern Syria to President Bashar al-Assads forces, calling them traitors.

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Baghdadis last speech was released in September 2017.

In 2014, he proclaimed a caliphate in Syria and neighbouring Iraq after his fighters rapidly routed government forces.

Absolutely eradicated

In recent months, ISIL has suffered military setbacks and lost most of its territory in Syria and Iraq, though fighters continue to control pockets in both countries.

Baghdadis whereabouts and actual fate remain unknown, with occasional reports suggesting he had been killed. He is believed to be hiding somewhere in the desert that stretches across the Syrian-Iraqi border region.

His son was reportedly killed while fighting Syrian and Russian troops in central Homs province in July.

US President Donald Trump recently said ISIL had been absolutely eradicated, but several reports suggest otherwise.

Despite the damage to bureaucratic structures of the so-called caliphate, the collective discipline of ISIL is intact, said a July 27 report commissioned by the UN Security Council. The general security and finance bureaus of ISIL are intact.

The Pentagon said in a recent report as many as 17,100 ISIL fighters remain in Iraq and 14,000 in Syria.

The UN estimated of 20,000 to 30,000 ISIL cadres are still in both countries.Nicaragua marks 38 years after end of national literacy crusade

Following the Sandinista revolution, thousands of Nicaraguans travelled into the countryside to teach in rural schools in a crusade to boost the literacy rate.More than 550 Yemeni asylum seekers are on South Koreas Jeju island, and local residents have mixed feelings.

Jeju, South Korea  More than 550 Yemeni nationals have arrived on South Koreas Jeju Island since April seeking asylum and refugee status.

Unlike mainland South Korea, Jeju offered visa-free arrival for various nationalities, including Yemenis, to boost tourism.

But the arrival of Yemenis, mostly from Malaysia  to which they fled from war-torn Yemen  sparked an online outcry and protests on the island, as well as the capital, Seoul.

The refugees are barred from leaving Jeju and entering mainland South Korea and are only permitted to work on farms, the sea or restaurants, often doing long hours of manual labour. Some complain of not being paid after working for more than a month.

More than 700,000 South Koreans filed an online petition urging the government to stop its visa-free policy for Yemen.

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Protesters demanded the government to refuse asylum and deport the Yemenis.

A recent survey of more than 500 Jeju residents revealed almost 90 percent felt insecure about going outside since the arrival of the Yemenis.

Al Jazeera spoke to Jeju residents to see how they felt about the asylum seekers and what the Korean governments next steps should be.

Ko Minja, 59, restaurant owner

People around me are sceptical about the visa-free policy. I think the government should accept refugees based on their nationalities and avoid people from countries that have terrorism issues. The fact that Jeju accepted these people is causing fear and anxiety among the residents.

Ko Minja has never met a Yemeni but says she is scared of them [Faras Ghani/Al Jazeera]

The Yemenis are scary. They will rape our women, take our jobs and take over the country.

Im scared of going to the areas where they are living. They are known for reckless behaviour. If I go to places where they are based, Im very scared. Employers are reluctant to hire them because they are scared, too.

Lots of people are telling me that this visa-free policy is a problem and might cause terrorism problems for Jeju island in the future.

(When asked, Minja said she has never met a Yemeni or been to the areas they are living in but she heard all those things from people around her).

Ko Tae-su, 62, store owner

As a Korean who knows about war, I believe the governments action to accept refugees is an understandable one and not a bad move. But we have no information about them. We dont know who they are.

I dont think they are all bad people. I think deporting them will be too harsh and not a good idea. I think there needs to be a conversation between the government and Jejus residents. They should start a dialogue to solve the issue. And I feel a lot of people around me have the same thoughts.

Joi Nok, 50, cafe owner

Joi Nok is proud of her Yemeni friend who designed a menu for her cafe [Faras Ghani/Al Jazeera]

Ive been on Jeju Island for about four months and have managed to make a Yemeni friend who visits my cafe daily.

Hes learning Korean and he practises it with me. And Im learning about Yemeni culture.

I think the government should educate these asylum seekers and tell them about Korean culture. A lot of women and children here are scared of these Yemenis because they walk around in groups. They should avoid that.

I finish work at 10pm and when I see them walk around in a group, I get scared too.

Also, they are Muslims and have a prayer culture. But they should make a bigger effort to learn about our culture so we can live together.

Gunwoo (name changed), 60, taxi driver

We need to learn from the Korean War  how other countries stepped in to help us out.

Based on that, we should accept these asylum seekers, but not everyone. I dont think we can accept everyone but we should sort this out quickly and accept some of them.

Park Won-jo, 38 advertiser

Park Won-jo blames fake news for the hatred towards these asylum seekers [Faras Ghani/Al Jazeera]

I think a lot of people and organisations here are overreacting to the issue because there is a lot of fake news around. People are worried and concerned because of that.

We should provide them with good conditions and shelter because they are from a country devastated by the war. I hope they can get their wounds healed here in Korea.

This is the first time Jeju residents are going through this situation, thats why they are a bit surprised. I havent come across any Yemenis yet but I get my information through social media. There is a lot of advertising going on to help these people.

Lee Jung-hoon, 65, pastor

I feel for these people. They need help. I went to the immigration centre and told them Im ready to help if someone needs it. I have given shelter to five Yemenis and Im also teaching them Korean because they need to interact with the community to allay those fears.

The bible tells us to take care of the vulnerable around you. And thats exactly what Im doing. These people now need jobs. The government has only allowed them three types of jobs  farming, fishing, restaurant [workers]  and banned them from working anywhere else because they think these people will steal the locals jobs.

Sang Woon-hyun, 28, retail staff

Sang Woon-hyun is worried about the island being crowded because of the asylum seekers arrival [Faras Ghani/Al Jazeera]

I dont have any bad feelings for these people but if I talk to people around me, they are quite against them because of the religion and their security fears.

I think the government should take time in evaluating these applications. We have seen whats happened in Europe with countries that have accepted refugees from these countries.

A lot of people on Jeju are very conservative and the local media is depicting these people in a negative way.

For me, the issue will be population growth, traffic jams and public facilities being put under strain because of an increase in the islands population.

Additional reporting by Hayeon KimUS president criticised after saying Washington will investigate land seizures and the large-scale killing of farmers.

South Africa rejected a tweet by Donald Trump about the countrys land reform policy and the large-scale killing of farmers saying the US president was misinformed.

Trump said on Wednesday he directed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to closely study the South Africa land and farm seizures.

The presidency has noted Trumps tweet, which is misinformed in our view, President Cyril Ramaphosas spokeswoman Khusela Diko said on Thursday.

South Africa totally rejects this narrow perception, which only seeks to divide our nation and reminds us of our colonial past, a tweet by the presidents office said.

South Africa will speed up the pace of land reform in a careful and inclusive manner that does not divide our nation.

Diko said South Africas foreign minister will ask the US ambassador for clarification.

A South African cabinet minister said Trumps message will not affect future relations between the two countries.

The tweet has not determined our approach to the United States on our current relationship and future relationship, communications minister Nomvula Mokonyane told reporters.

Large-scale killing?

Trumps tweet appeared to be a response to a Fox News report that focused on South Africas land issue and murders of white farmers.

I have asked Secretary of State @SecPompeo to closely study the South Africa land and farm seizures and expropriations and the large scale killing of farmers. South African Government is now seizing land from white farmers. @TuckerCarlson @FoxNews  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 23, 2018

Ramaphosa on August 1 announced the ruling African National Congress (ANC) is forging ahead with plans to change the constitution to allow the expropriation of land without compensation.

The plan aims to address racial disparities, as whites still own most of South Africas land more than two decades after the end of apartheid.

Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, author of The Land is Ours, told Al Jazeera there was consensus in the country that land reform needs to be carried out.

Donald Trumps comments display his ignorance about South Africa. There is no crisis about land reform. There is a crisis of landlessness. South Africans dont really wish to be lectured or monitored by the head of an imperial superpower, Ngcukaitobi said.

Seizing land

Ramaphosa has said the governments land reform policy will be undertaken in a way that does not threaten food security or economic growth.

South Africas state-owned Land Bank, however, said on Monday the plan to seize land without compensation could trigger defaults that could cost the government 41 billion rand ($2.8bn), if its rights as a creditor are not protected.

Critics of the land policy say instead of seizing farmland from whites, such households should be given title deeds, turning millions into property owners. They point to the case of neighbouring Zimbabwe, where the economy collapsed after land reform was carried out.

Agriculture accounts for less than three percent of national output but employs about 850,000 people, or five percent of South Africans workforce.

The South African government says the expropriation of land will address racial disparities [Reuters]

Land disputes

South Africa has a long history of colonial conquest and dispossession that pushed the black majority into crowded urban townships and rural reserves.

The 1913 Native Lands Act made it illegal for Africans to acquire land outside of these reserves, which became known as homelands.

The 17 million people who reside there, a third of the population, are mostly subsistence farmers working tiny plots on communal land.

While blacks account for 80 percent of South Africas population, the homelands comprise just 13 percent of its land. They are largely controlled by tribal authorities, rather than ordinary residents and farmers.

Since the end of apartheid in 1994, the ANC has followed a willing-seller, willing-buyer model, under which the government buys white-owned farms for redistribution to blacks.Typhoons Soulik and Cimaron strengthen as they bear down on Japan and South Korea.

Japan and South Korea are bracing for two typhoons expected to hit on Thursday.

The two storms, the 20th and 21st named storms of the West Pacific Typhoon Season, are still strengthening as they head north.

Typhoon Soulik is expected to reach the Korean Peninsula after skirting around Japans southern island of Kyushu.

When it makes landfall it is forecast to have winds gusting up to 200 kilometres per hour. Torrential rain is likely to cause flooding and a storm surge threatens to trigger coastal flooding.

Soulik will then begin to disintegrate as it heads across North Korea, a country with chronic economic problems that lacks the resources to cope with severe weather. It is likely North Korea will fare worse from this storm than its neighbour to the south.

Meanwhile, another storm named Cimaron has developed within the last 24 hours. Cimaron is currently a tropical storm with winds gusting to 90 km/h.

The storm is currently strengthening and by the time it makes landfall in Japans central Honshu it is expected a typhoon with winds gusting over 165 km/h.

The current forecast track would bring severe weather to the southern parts of Honshu.

There are also concerns the storm could bring flash flooding to the mountainous central region as it moves north across the island.Uganda pop star-turned-opposition leader Bobi Wine to face court

His arrest last week sparked violent demonstrations and battles with police and since then, his supporters say he has been tortured in custody.Brexit secretary releases documents advising companies and the public on how to prepare if no deal is reached with EU.

Consumers and businesses in the United Kingdom would have to pay more for goods and services in the event of a no-deal Brexit between the UK and the European Union, the British government has warned.

Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab on Thursday released 25 so-called technical notices that covered everything from financial services to nuclear materials, advising companies and the public on how to prepare for such a scenario.

He said he remained confident the two sides would reach a deal before March and that it was unlikely the talks would fail.

If the EU responds with the same level of ambition and pragmatism, we will strike a strong deal that benefits both sides. But we must be ready to consider the alternative, he said.

The UK is due to leave the EU on March 29, 2019, nearly three years after 52 percent of Britons voted in favour of ending the countrys 43-year membership of the bloc in a deeply divisive referendum in June 2016.





While the UK currently has customs-free trade with the 27 other EU countries, the notices said a no-deal Brexit would mean a much harder border.

For goods going to and coming from the EU, an import declaration will be required, customs checks may be arrived out and any customs duties must be paid, one of the documents said.

A financial services document warned that UK banks would likely lose access to EU payments systems and customers could face increased costs and slower processing times for euro transactions.

It added: The cost of card payments between the UK and EU will likely increase.

Meanwhile, businesses were warned that if the UK left without a deal, the free circulation of goods between the UK and EU would cease.

The documents also say Britain will allow EU financial services firms continued passporting rights to operate in the UK for up to three years, even if no agreement on such services is reached with the bloc -though it cannot guarantee that the EU will let British companies operate there. That could leave UK retirees in the EU unable to receive their pensions.

Britain will recognise EU standards for medicines  so drugs from the bloc will not need to be re-tested in the UK  and will continue to fund British research programmes and academic exchanges that currently receive funding from the EU.

The rest of the more than 70 documents are due to be released by the end of September.

D evastating for working people

The main opposition Labour party criticised the release of official guidance on what to do if the UK crashed out of the EU without a deal, saying it reflected a complete failure of the governments negotiating position.

A no-deal Brexit would be a real catastrophe, said Keir Starmer, Labours Brexit spokesperson.

Frances OGrady, the head of the Trades Union Congress, said the reports confirmed that no-deal was not a credible option.

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It would be devastating for working people, she said, adding: The government cannot allow us to crash out.

London and Brussels hope to strike a deal by October, to allow its ratification by the European and British parliaments before the UK leaves the bloc.

Our overarching aim is to facilitate the smooth, continued, functioning of business, transport, infrastructure, research, aid programmes and funding streams, said Raab.

If Prime Minister Theresa May fails to negotiate an agreement on the terms of Brexit before March 29, 2019, a no-deal scenario could mean the UK would start trading with the EU under World Trade Organization rules.

This would have uncertain consequences for Britons living in EU countries and EU citizens living in the UK.Yemenis shut down construction of Saudi military base

Locals are protesting against the base amid growing suspicions that new Saudi-funded infrastructure projects aim to boost Riyadhs tarnished image.DeVos. Photo: SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images

Federal funds currently designated for improving academic achievement and school conditions could be used to buy teachers guns under a new plan being considered by the Department of Education, the New York Times reports.

The plan would seemingly undermine congressional efforts to prevent federal funds from being used to buy firearms. In March, the House passed the STOP School Violence Act, which authorized $75 million in grants for schools to increase security and beef up safety measures. The act, which became law as a part of the omnibus spending bill, explicitly said none of the funds could be used to buy firearms or train people in the use of firearms.

But Education Secretary Betsy DeVos may have found a loophole. The $1 billion Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program provides grants for schools to spend on new and better courses, mental health services, and improved technology, among many other things. And while the program aims to create safe schools free of weapons, it does not explicitly ban using grant money to buy guns.

That omission would allow the education secretary, Betsy DeVos, to use her discretion to approve any state or district plans to use grant funding for firearms and firearm training, unless Congress clarifies the law or bans such funding through legislative action.

Education Department officials think purchasing guns could fall under the programs mandate to encourage safe and healthy students, the Times reports. Currently, that money is spent on programs that reduce dropout rates, prevent bullying, and encourage physical activity.

The Education Departments proposal has drawn a swift backlash. Among those voicing opposition are Connecticut senator Chris Murphy, who called it an insane idea. But maybe he should have seen this coming. Last year, during DeVoss confirmation hearing, he asked her whether guns have any place in or around schools. She responded by suggesting some schools might need guns to protect from potential grizzlies.A former US government contractor who pleaded guilty to mailing a classified report to a news organisation has been sentenced to more than five years in prison as part of a deal with prosecutors.

Reality Winner, 26, pleaded guilty in June to a single count of transmitting national security information.

The former Air Force translator worked as a contractor at a National Security Agency (NSA) office in Augusta, Georgia, when she printed a classified report and left the building with it. Winner told the FBI she mailed the document to an online news outlet.

In court on Thursday, Winner apologised and acknowledged that what she did was wrong, taking responsibility for an undeniable mistake that I made.

I would like to apologise profusely for my actions, she told the judge. My actions were a cruel betrayal of my nations trust in me.

Authorities never identified the news organisation.

The Justice Department announced Winners June 2017 arrest the same day The Intercept reported on a secret NSA document.

It detailed Russian government efforts to penetrate a Florida-based supplier of voting software and the accounts of election officials ahead of the 2016 US presidential election.

The NSA report was dated May 5, the same as the document Winner had leaked.

US intelligence agencies later confirmed Russian meddling.

Longest sentence ever imposed

The judges sentence was in line with a plea agreement between Winners defence team and prosecutors, who recommended she serve five years and three months behind bars.

Prosecutors said in a court filing that punishment would amount to the longest sentence served by a federal defendant for an unauthorised disclosure to the media.

Among other leak cases cited by prosecutors in court documents, the stiffest prior sentence was three years and seven months in prison given to former FBI explosives expert Donald Sachtleben.





Secret information he leaked included intelligence he gave to The Associated Press news agency for a story about a US operation in Yemen in 2012.

Winner spent a year in jail before reaching a plea agreement with prosecutors.

Her lawyers had argued for Winner to be released on bond, noting she had no criminal record and had served honourably in the military.

The judge sided with prosecutors who said Winner posed a potential flight risk and may have stolen other classified documents.

Prosecutors also used Winners own words against her, including a Facebook chat in which she once wrote to her sister: Look, I only say I hate America like 3 times a day.





Despite prosecutors warnings that Winner may have stolen other US secrets, she was never charged with any additional crimes.

Winner grew up in Kingsville, Texas, and enlisted in the Air Force after graduating from high school. Her parents said she became a linguist, speaking Arabic and Farsi, and spent four years assigned to the NSA at Fort Mead, Maryland. During that time, Winner provided real-time translation to Americans conducting field missions.

After leaving the military, Winner moved to Augusta to become a civilian contractor for the NSA.

Court records say Winner translated documents from Farsi to English for the agency.Justice minister alarmed after off-duty officer reports ZDF crew covering far-right rally to police who detained them.

A scandal about German police officers obstructing a TV crew at a far-right rally has escalated after it emerged that the protester at the centre of the incident was an off-duty police staff, raising further concerns about entrenched right-wing sympathies among the police and attacks on press freedom.

Authorities in Saxony confirmed on Wednesday that the police employee had attended a march by anti-Islam and anti-migrant group PEGIDA in the state capital, Dresden, on August 18 and had reported journalists covering the rally to police, who detained them for 45 minutes.

Video footage showed a well-built man in sunglasses and a hat in the colours of the German flag confronting the crew working for public broadcaster ZDF, waving his hands at the camera, telling them not to film and reporting them to the police.

The ZDF reporter, Arndt Ginzel, accused police of effectively acting as the executive arm of PEGIDA.

#Pegidawirkt  Sachsische Polizeibeamte machen sich zur Exekutive von #Pegida / #AfD -Anhangern und behindern TV-Team, das fur @ZDF @Frontal21 dreht. Hier ein Auszug, die polizeiliche Manahme dauerte ca. 45 min. Zeitungskollegen aus #Dresden berichten von ahnlichen Vorfallen. pic.twitter.com/m1erCDU9WJ  Arndt Ginzel (@GKDJournalisten) August 18, 2018

The incident took place at a rally against a visit to Dresden by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

But Merkels conservatives also faced accusations of ignoring the rise of far-right groups in Saxony, after state premier Michael Kretschmer, a senior member of the chancellors Christian Democratic Union (CDU), appeared to defend the police action, writing on Twitter: The only people who come across seriously in this video are policemen.

A deputy leader of the Social Democrats (SPD), who share power with the CDU in the federal German government, accused Merkels party of complacency about the growth of the far-right.

The CDU in Saxony has for decades denied or trivialised right-wing radical movements and violence, Ralf Stegner told Handelsblatt daily.

It has allowed right-wing thinking in Saxony not only to go unchallenged but also to be acceptable, he said.

Press freedom

German Justice Minister Katarina Barley, also from the SPD, said the events were very worrying and had to be quickly and comprehensively cleared up.

Press freedom is an important part of our society and our constitution, she said.





Kretschmer has since said he is a convinced defender of a free press and Die Welt newspaper quoted him on Thursday as saying, I am intent on assessing the situation calmly and in a factual manner.

Cornelia Hass, chief executive of the DJV union representing journalists, urged Germanys federal and state security officials to review the way police are trained in their dealings with reporters.

Safeguarding press freedom needs to be a major element in the training of security forces, she said.

Journalists covering demonstrations by PEGIDA are regularly spat at, verbally abused and threatened by protesters with little police intervention.

Rise of the far right

Merkels decision in 2015 to let in about one million refugees and migrants, many fleeing wars in the Middle East, has fuelled support for far-right groups such as PEGIDA and the Alternative for Germany (AfD), now the main opposition party in parliament.

Saxony, the cradle of the PEGIDA movement, is a stronghold for far-right sentiment. In last years federal election, the AfD was the strongest party in the state, pushing Merkels CDU into second place.

Kretschmer, who has criticised Merkels migration policy, faces a tough challenge in next years state election to hold Saxony for the CDU.

Neo-Nazis have a strong tradition in Saxony, especially in Dresden, where they gather every year on February 13 to mark the Allied firebombing of the city in World War II which killed 25,000 people and destroyed its baroque architecture.

Asked by broadcaster NDR about the off-duty police employee taking part in a PEGIDA rally, a Saxony police spokesman did not deny there might be supporters of the group in police ranks.

The police is a cross-section of society. We have all political views, he said.Rebels say the combing targeted a camp for IDPs in Duraihami, an area which has seen intense clashes in recent weeks.

Yemens Houthi rebels say at least 22 children and four women have been killed by air raids on a camp for internally displaced people in the flashpoint region of Hodeidah.

The Houthi-run Saba news agency reported on Thursday that fighter jets from the Saudi-UAE military alliance, which has been at war with the rebels since March 2015, targeted the IDP camp in Al-Kouai, Duraihami, which lies about 20km from the strategic Red Sea port city of Hodeidah.

Citing Abdulrahman Jarallah, the director of a health office in the province, Saba said doctors from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) were unable to enter the area and recover victims from the attacks.

[The victims were] dead children and women. [It was a] disgusting crime, Majed Dahfah, a witness to one of the air raids, told the Houthi-run Al Masirah TV network.

Hussein al-Bukhaiti, a pro-Houthi activist based in Sanaa, said the first strike targeted a village in Duraihami, killing five people and injuring another two, while the second killed 26 women and children who attempted to board a bus and flee.

[The] second strike targeted that bus, killing everyone, he told Al Jazeera.

Earlier on Thursday, the UAE state news agency WAM said the Houthis launched a ballistic missile in the same district, which resulted in the death of one child.

WAM said the missile attack in the recently recaptured village of al-Ghalifqa in Duraihami also wounded dozens of people, three of them seriously.

Neither sides claims could be independently verified.

Al Jazeeras Alan Fisher, reporting from neighbouring Djibouti, said the latest reports of civilian deaths will likely lead to calls for an investigation.

There are reports from a number of independent sources and journalists in Yemen that the Saudi-UAE alliance hit a number of vehicles, we dont know exactly what was being targeted, but in that attack, a number of children were killed.

According to some people, they were concerned the camp they were living in was being used to fire missiles so they decided to move, and when they did, their cars were hit by the air strike.

Videos uploaded to social media showed dead bodies and limbs being collected from the blast site [Courtesy of AnsarAllah Media Centre]

Ruinous war

The reported attack comes just two weeks after an air raid killed 40 schoolboys as they travelled on a school trip.

The August 9 bombardment sparked almost universal international condemnation with Geert Cappelaere, UNICEFs regional director in the Middle East and North Africa, tweeting NO EXCUSES ANYMORE!!

Does the world really need more innocent childrens lives to stop the cruel war on children in Yemen? he said.

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According to munitions experts, a US-made bomb was used in the attack, leading to further criticism over Washingtons role in the war in Yemen  described by the UN as the worlds worst humanitarian crisis.

If its proved again that in this instance it was a missile from the US fired by the Saudi-led coalition, that will lead to greater calls and questioning of the US intervention and involvement in Yemen, said Fisher.

Following 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 US military personnel liable under the war crimes act.

The US has been the biggest supplier of military equipment to Riyadh, with more than $90bn of sales recorded between 2010 and 2015.

Fighting between Houthi rebels and Yemeni government forces, backed by the Saudi-UAE coalition, has intensified in recent weeks along the eastern outskirts of Duraihami as the two Gulf nations look to seize control of the strategic province.

Hodeidah has been under the control of the Houthis since 2014, along with other west coast ports and much of northern Yemen.

The citys seaport was responsible for delivering 70 percent of Yemens imports  mostly humanitarian aid, food and fuel  before 2015.

Aid agencies have warned an assault on the port could shut down one of the last remaining lifelines for millions of hungry civilians.

More than eight million Yemenis  a number greater than the entire population of Switzerland  are just a step away from famine.Sri Lanka has drafted a new cybersecurity bill but experts warn country could be using political turmoil to pass laws.European champions Liverpool have advanced to the FIFA Club World Cup final, beating Mexican side Monterrey 2-1 in a tightly-contested match in the Qatari capital, Doha. A stoppage time goal by Brazillian forward Roberto Firmino sealed the win for the English Premier League leaders. Liverpool, who last reached of the competition the final in 2005, []For certain jobs, people have to access highly sensitive information, like data generated by spy satellites or agents the U.S. has in place in foreign countries, and a security clearance is the government saying that after investigating these people, we, the government, believe they are trustworthy.

A security clearance is like an office stapler; it's something your employer provides that you need to do your job.

In keeping with Reagan's adage of "trust but verify," people with clearances still have to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in which they agree that the government can have their firstborn male child  yes, Virginia, the government is sexist  and any of their organs that the notorious RBG might need to live until the next Democratic president is elected. Basically, it's a lot easier to sue someone for breach of an NDA than it is to convict him of espionage.

Each individual's security clearance is custom-tailored to what he needs to know for his job.

The "need to know" principle says that even if you have a clearance at the uber-super-nearly James Bond cool level, you can see only the information relevant to what you're doing at work.

For example, if you're an analyst looking into the Iranian nuclear weapon program, you have a need to know if a key spy in Russia says Russia is providing specialized materials to the Iranian program, but you don't have a need to know if that same Russian says Russia is developing a sneaky new anti-satellite weapon.

How does this all relate to the Brennan case? Many left-wing fanatics are saying that it's unconstitutional, dictatorial, etc. for Trump to have removed Brennan's clearance.

That's on par with saying it's unconstitutional, dictatorial, etc. for a company to say that when an employee leaves, or is fired, he can't take the office stapler with him.

Since Brennan is no longer working for the government, he no longer needs a clearance. In fact, a clearance is useless for him.

Even if he had a clearance, he certainly couldn't be told any new classified information, since he no longer has a need to know.

Further, a security clearance is a privilege, not a right. Good, honest people have been denied clearances for any number of reasons. Someone who has relatives who could be coerced by our enemies because the relatives live in China or Russia may be denied a clearance because the government rightly knows that if given a choice between having their parents tortured to death in the old country or betraying America, some people would betray America.

There are innumerable "reporters" who would be glad to demand a clearance if anyone really believed that a clearance is a right that can't be denied to people. Yet none of them has ever tried that approach, which is a fairly good indication that even the wackadoodles who pass as reporters in the fake news media don't believe that they have a constitutional right to a clearance or that it's dictatorial to deny them one.

People can lose their clearances, too. Sometimes it's just because they no longer need them, and sometimes it's because the government has lost faith in them.

If someone discloses classified information carelessly or intentionally, and he's not Hillary, he will generally quickly lose his clearance.

Any sign of significant untreatable mental illness can also lead to losing one's clearance.

While it's debatable if Brennan is clinically insane, what isn't is that he's been hinting about classified information, which is, in effect, revealing it  if someone says he has details about the latest Russian ICBM, he's disclosing the classified fact that the U.S. has that information even if he doesn't expose the actual numbers. By continually implying that he has deep classified knowledge about Trump colluding with Russia, Brennan is telling us one of two things: either he's illegally revealing the classified fact that the U.S. Intelligence Community has proof that Trump colluded or he's lying through his teeth.

If it's the former, then Brennan should lose his clearance for intentionally disclosing classified information. If it's the latter, he should lose his clearance because he's no longer trustworthy.

The bottom line is that Brennan has been acting as though he's still in a position of power by using his "secret" knowledge to try to nullify the 2016 election. He has no right to a clearance, and there is no reason why Trump should allow Brennan to keep getting classified information from his old cronies in order to attack the democratic process in America.

You can read more of Tom's rants at his blog, Conversations about the obvious, and feel free to follow him on Twitter.More Muslim Candidates for Political Office

According to an Associated Press report issued in July this year, close to 100 Muslims filed to run for federal or state offices in the current election cycle, and nearly half made it through to the primaries. Meanwhile, numerous other Muslim candidates are campaigning for seats on local planning commissions, school boards, library committees, and other positions of influence at the county and city levels. The proliferation of Muslim candidates may appear to some as positive and benign participation in American democracy by an emerging minority, but it cannot be denied that a Muslim plan to usurp American democracy has existed for decades. Careful scrutiny of this new wave of Muslim candidates yields a number with questionable backgrounds, motivations, and support groups, whose motives may be to implement the plan.

The plan to infiltrate and take over American democracy is explained in a 1987 strategic document, "An Explanatory Memorandum," written and approved by the Muslim Brotherhood, a political organization with ties to the fundamentalist terrorist organization Hamas. The Muslim Brotherhood has itself been designated a terrorist organization by seven nations, including Egypt, where the Brotherhood began in 1928. The memorandum calls for the elimination of the U.S. Constitution and its replacement with an Islamic government under sharia law. It spells out its "process of settlement" as a "Civilization-Jihadist Process" to eliminate and destroy Western civilization from within. It calls for the establishment of political organizations designed to train and promote the Muslim Brotherhood goal of establishing the Quran as the sole authority for the Muslim family, individual, community, and state. Several organizations  primed specifically to assist, support, and increase the number of U.S Muslim candidates for office  are affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood. They include the United States Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO), Project Mobilize, Jetpac Inc., and Emgage. The USCMO, a political party for Muslims and the first religion-based political party in U.S. history, formalized its commitment to Muslim candidates at its founding in 2014. Conspicuously absent from the USCMO website are references to U.S. laws or a pledge to uphold the Constitution. Instead, featured prominently is this statement: "The Council places premium importance on defining the common good based on the Quran and the model of the Prophet (P.B.U.H.), and coordinating a cooperative striving among Muslims and their institutions to implement that common good in American society." Further, the USCMO website explains that it will implement this mission by: "Promoting Islam's core universal principles to benefit American society,"

"Reviving Islamic scholarship that helps guide the American Muslim community through its tests and strivings[.]"

"Harnessing the imaginative energy of Muslims and their organizations, reconnecting it with our heritage of inspired knowledge and putting this to work with the good will of the Muslim community for the betterment of both our community and American society." Project Mobilize , a USCMO precursor, stated on its website, "And finally, the political climate is ripe for an organization that will pave the way for concentrated advocacy efforts in the name of the Muslim American community." It is dedicated to the political advancement of the Muslim-American community at the local, state, and federal levels. Jetpac, an organization "committed to empowering American Muslims in the democratic process," laments the "lack of political representation," "discriminatory policies," "Islamophobic rhetoric," and an alleged "600% increase in hate crimes against American Muslims since 2014." It provides a six-week political consultancy program on campaigning, mobilizing local support, countering Islamophobic attacks, and securing resources. Emgage's mission is to promote the political careers of "engaged Muslims." It was formerly known as Emerge USA, founded and led today by alumni from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), which has ties to Hamas. Emgage got its start raising campaign funds for former Democratic representative Keith Ellison, who supported racist and anti-Semite Louis Farrakhan, worked on behalf of Nation of Islam, and received political contributions by CAIR officials. Emgage has held events at terror-linked mosques and seeks to "create an infrastructure of Muslim, Arab, and South Asian Americans who are empowered and can directly impact public policy." These organizations are plainly dedicated not to American principles of democracy, but to Muslim ideals. Meanwhile, some of the recent Muslim candidates also hold questionable allegiances and motivations, specifically a Florida attorney general candidate and congressional candidates for Michigan and Minnesota. Amira Dajani, a GOP candidate running for Florida attorney general under the name "Amy Fox," was recently discovered to be part of a family with deep ties to the PLO, a terrorist group pledged to destroy Israel and led from 1969 to 2004 by Yasser Arafat, the father of modern terrorism. Dajani's father wrote an anti-Israel, anti-Jewish book and dedicated it to his daughter. He advocates Israel's destruction and, contrary to reality, accuses the Jewish State of using Arabs as human shields. The uncle of Dajani, AKA Fox, has served in high-level PLO leadership positions. Thus far, the candidate has been mum about the activities of her father and uncle. Dajani's background was revealed this month by her opponent, Gulf War veteran Chris Crowley, who objected to the media's failure to question Ms. Dajani about her family affiliations and her opinion of her father's writings. Crowley was subsequently arrested Aug. 6 and briefly incarcerated for an unwitting campaign violation  accepting $670 raised from a raffle, which is considered a lottery and is illegal. He accused Dajani of instigating the arrest in reprisal for his raising serious concerns about her background. In the Midwest, two Democratic congressional candidates have been endorsed by Emgage USA: Ilhan Omar, seeking Minnesota's 5th District seat, and Rashid Tlaib, running for Michigan's 13th District post. The two women have also been endorsed by sharia advocate and anti-American, anti-Israel Muslim Brotherhood operative Linda Sarsour , who has spoken in support of al-Qaeda, been instrumental in curtailing critical NYPD counter-terrorism measures, and called for a jihad against President Trump. Sarsour refers to Siraj Wahhaj, unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, as a mentor. Somali Muslim refugee Ilhan Omar, who verbally attacked America as a hateful, bigoted country, served in the Minnesota House of Representatives. During her term of office, she voted against a state bill to terminate insurance payments for individuals who commit or aid terrorist attacks against Americans. In addition, she opposed a state bill that would have made the Islamic practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) a felony and included provisions to penalize parents who perform the procedure on their children. Omar is vehemently anti-Israel ; supports the Hamas-inspired initiative to boycott, divest from, and sanction (BDS) Israel; and has referred to the Jewish State as an "apartheid regime." She has been a featured speaker at CAIR events and received honorariums from several of their state chapters. Although she has denied allegations that she committed bigamy and immigration fraud by marrying her brother, ample evidence exists that this is the case. She may also have committed perjury by attesting in family court in 2017 that she had not seen her second husband for six years, a statement belied by a personal Instagram photo, since removed from her account when her marital history became an issue. Rashida Tlaib, the Michigan congressional candidate, is the daughter of Arab-Palestinian immigrants. She recently called for a one-state solution and subsequently lost the endorsement last week of J Street, a radical, George Soros-funded organization highly critical of Israel. Tlaib supports the BDS movement and the cutting of U.S. military aid to Israel. Although she derides Israel for promoting injustice, she has remained mute on the issue of continuing aid to Muslim-majority countries that discriminate against Christians and Jews. In 2008, Tlaib was the first Muslim woman elected to the Michigan state legislature. She criticized Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) for meeting with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom Tlaib accused of "racism." In addition, she supported convicted Arab-Palestinian terrorist Rasmeah Odeh in her bid to fight deportation after Odeh lied to U.S. immigration officials about her involvement with Hamas. In 2014, Tlaib served on a panel, "The Outer Dimensions of Zakat," at the 51st annual Islamic Society of North America conference and was as a keynote speaker for CAIR Los Angeles on the topic of "Islamophobia." She plans to propose civil rights legislation to file punitive lawsuits based on disparate impact, without requiring proof of racial bias or ill intent. As can be seen by just this short review of only a handful of candidates, enough questions and doubts exist to compel close scrutiny of all Muslim candidates who are seeking to break through as American political "firsts." Without a close examination, our political process and systems could be infiltrated with increasing numbers of Muslim candidates of questionable background and motivation who will follow the insidious civilizational jihad according to plan and at a dizzying pace.The Socialist Party Platform Is Pathetic and Ignorant

The socialists in the U.S. have been attempting to reject capitalism and our constitutional system for over 100 years. They have never controlled the House or the Senate and never won the presidency. The most votes a Socialist Party candidate ever received was 6% of the popular vote in 1912, when Eugene V. Debs was the candidate. Nevertheless, the striking reality is that a large percentage of the Socialist Party platform of 1912 has been implemented, including the graduated income tax. Most of the implementation came during the New Deal under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Only in their program of "Collective Ownership" were the goals of the Socialist Party not met over time. The people of the U.S. decided on regulation instead of ownership. The socialists wanted ownership of all banks, all transportation, all mines, all means of communication, and all land. Now, the Socialist Party has updated its platform of 106 years ago. A century of monumental historical events has transpired since 1912, and we can see that while the rhetoric has changed, the contempt for and vilification of the USA are the fundamental premises of the socialists' 2018-2019 document.

No matter what an uninformed, inconsequential figurehead like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez or her mentor, the ever bloviating Bernie Sanders, may say, on one tiresome Marxist point, there is continuity from 100 years ago. Although they are running as democratic socialists within the Democratic Party, their emphasis on "socialism" warrants our looking at the platform of the Socialist Party 2018-2019. This latest platform states, "[W]e call for social ownership and democratic control of productive resources, for a guarantee to all of the right to participate in societal production, and to a fair share of society's product, in accordance with individual needs." That point expresses the desire for governmental ownership of the means of production, an axiom of Marxist theory. Further, the socialists designate who will have control over the wealth and means of production. It won't be the multinational corporations or the millions of smaller corporations and mom-and-pop businesses that still exist. No. They state, "Socialism will establish a new social and economic order in which workers and community members will take responsibility for and control of their interpersonal relationships, their neighborhoods, their local government, and the production and distribution of all goods and services." This is nothing less than a restatement of the Leninist-Stalinist idea of workers' councils ("soviets"), but it throws in the words "community" or "neighborhoods" to make the socialists' vision seem more America-friendly. They want their vision to sound less centralized than it really is. They want it to sound more "Christian," (sic) as though it somehow is consonant with "love your neighbor as yourself." All power to the people, folks! The idea of economic values that reward aptitude, talent, individual initiative, creativity, motivation, commitment, desire to meet unmet needs via productive enterprises, competition among parties to deliver the best goods and services at the most accessible prices, the search for technological breakthroughs, designing strategies for integrating quality and quantity, hard work, taking responsibility for one's actions, and looking to Almighty God for hope in our brief mortal walk on this Earth holds no sway with these communistic ideologues. In the 1912 document, many angry, negative words were used to describe capitalism in America. Phrases and terms included were "incompetent and corrupt," "exacts an annual tribute," "greedy," "plundered," "extortionate," "crushing the class of small business," "yoke of bondage," "poisonous conditions," "perils of life," "children of the working class are doomed," and "oppression." It vilifies the "capitalist class" (today, that would be the top 1%) and, using a classical Marxist frame of reference, declares that while there are many warring classes, the two main warring classes are the capitalist class and the working class. In the present policy document, there is instead a lengthy ultra-negative critique of sector after sector of American life. There is less name-calling (they leave that to the useful idiots of Antifa) than in the 1912 document, but a torrent of hate is expressed toward the supposed "villains" and inequities of modern life. This flood of dissatisfaction is expressed by the extent of their criticism. The present Socialist Party platform has 246 bullet points. They want to see this vast number of changes take place under governmental authority in the USA. Yet there is not one word about the Bill of Rights or the freedoms established by the Constitution, no mention of the foundational freedoms and legal rights of our society. Every single one of the 246 bullet points is for the dismantling of existing laws or institutions (for example, they call for an end to the War on Terrorism and the abolition of the Department of Homeland Security), but there is not one positive point made, such as saying "We want to keep and continue to build on the pillars of the rule of law and the freedoms that we enjoy as a republic." Their entire program is one of tearing down and radically altering the way of life we enjoy now. The document has no sense of proportion between more significant and less significant issues. On the one hand, it demands cancelation of all third-world debt. The same platform calls for spaying and neutering of pets. It calls for the disbanding of NATO and all overseas bases and in the next breath for the abolition of all unpaid student internships. The platform calls for lowering the voting age to 15, reparations for the slave trade, and opposition to merit pay for teachers. Every single gripe and grievance of the left can be found. There is no prioritization of concerns, no thoughtful presentation. Clearly, it is a scattershot approach intending to put something under each category that will resonate with some people somewhere who have a grievance against our society. The socialists' strategy, then, is to play on longstanding dissatisfactions of multiple constituencies in order to find a grievance-based program of support. The ability to do this is reinforced by the fact that some items on this list are openly supported by most Democrats and even some Republicans. Gripes and grievances, however, are not the basis for founding a better society. The list of oppressions in the Declaration of Independence that were deemed sufficient to warrant a break with Great Britain was not a random list compiled to appeal to some cranky citizens. Rather, it represented a deep-seated alienation from the Crown and Parliament that was not applying the rights to the colonists that they believed that they as Englishmen deserved. Additionally, the rights being affirmed were rights accorded by the Creator, who is the source of all our freedoms, rights, and responsibilities. In other words, existing rights in the home country were being denied those living in the colonies. They were complaining not because they were not accorded some hypothetical rights constructed by a dismal, antisocial individual writing in the British Museum. The Socialist Party platform is ill conceived philosophically, economically, and legally. This writer thinks perhaps three to five items might even be worth discussing. Overwhelmingly, the items are formulated by negative, lazy, and ignorant minds and should be dismissed out of hand.Trump wonders why strange man keeps tailing him at Republican National Convention. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call,Inc.

President Trump seemed eerily subdued on Wednesday, as the White House grappled with how to respond to the simultaneous blows of Paul Manaforts conviction and a guilty plea from Michael Cohen that implicated the president in a federal crime. The Washington Post reported that Trump had mostly resisted the urge to lash out publicly, and just seemed mopey:

Instead, Wednesday was a moment for calculation and conversation, a pause for a rattled administration, according to White House officials and outside advisers familiar with the discussions. Several advisers who spoke to Trump said he seemed more frustrated than furious, more sad than screaming.

But Trump may be regrouping, with help from the 20 percent of the media that he doesnt consider the enemy of the people. On Wednesday night he posted a tweet suggesting hed spend the following morning pontificating on Fox News for three hours.

I will be interviewed on @foxandfriends by @ainsleyearhardt tomorrow from 6:00 A.M. to 9:00 A.M. Enjoy!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 23, 2018

This did not seem entirely implausible in light of Trumps rambling, legally damning interview with Fox & Friends in April. But upon further investigation, it appears he meant that clips of his interview with Ainsley Earhardt, which was taped Wednesday, will be played throughout the program.

But, never fear: It sounds like the taped segments may still contain plenty of unhinged Trump musings. While plugging the interview on Hannity, Earhardt said Trump mentioned pardoning Manafort  not because the conviction of Trumps former campaign chairman reflects poorly on him, but because hes a swell guy.

I think he feels bad for Manafort, Earhardt said. They were friends, he didnt work for him for very long. He worked for him for basically a hundred days.

 Trump said he is considering a pardon for Paul Manafort, Fox's Ainsley Earhardt says after interview pic.twitter.com/q2JawuT4p6  Jon Passantino (@passantino) August 23, 2018

Legal experts have repeatedly cautioned that pardoning Cohen or Manafort would be a remarkably bad move on Trumps part. They could still be charged with state crimes, which Trump would have no way of thwarting. Also, it would increase the legal risk to Trump: Cohen and Manafort would not be able to plead the Fifth Amendment if called to testify, and the pardons themselves would bolster the argument that Trump is obstructing justice.

When asked about the possibility of Trump pardoning Manafort at Wednesdays press briefing, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said, I am not aware of any conversations regarding that at all. She also noted that in a recent interview, Trump said he hadnt been considering pardons. (I havent even thought about it, Trump said when the topic came up on Friday.)

The denial from Sanders means even less than usual, since the Trump team has repeatedly lied about the hush payments Cohen facilitated. While he didnt explicitly mention pardons, on Wednesday morning Trump attacked Cohen, while declaring his appreciation for Manaforts loyalty and declaring him a victim of the special counsels witch hunt.

If anyone is looking for a good lawyer, I would strongly suggest that you dont retain the services of Michael Cohen!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 22, 2018

I feel very badly for Paul Manafort and his wonderful family. Justice took a 12 year old tax case, among other things, applied tremendous pressure on him and, unlike Michael Cohen, he refused to break - make up stories in order to get a deal. Such respect for a brave man!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 22, 2018

A large number of counts, ten, could not even be decided in the Paul Manafort case. Witch Hunt!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 22, 2018

Is Trump just letting off steam, or is he testing the waters for a Manafort pardon? On Wednesday, several Senate Republicans warned Trump against using his powers to save Manafort.

It would be an enormous mistake and misuse of his power to pardon, said Senator Susan Collins.

Senator John Thune, the third-ranking member of the GOP leadership, said hes not aware of any circumstances related to Manaforts case that would warrant a pardon.

Pardons should be used sparingly and you have to have some awfully compelling circumstances I would think and I certainly dont know what those are in this case, he said. Pardons need to be earned.

Perhaps hell change his mind after seeing more Fox News reports on Trumps unselfish desire to help out a near-stranger being targeted by that fiend Robert Mueller.Commenting on the totally preventable murder of 20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts by an illegal alien who should have been thrown out years ago, the Massachusetts Democrat decided we were all making a big deal out of a nothingburger, so she would put it all in perspective for us :

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, brimming with big ambitions about being the "first female president" and currently the Democratic frontrunner for 2020, has really stepped in it for the coming kickoff in Iowa.

I'm so sorry for the family here and I know this is hard not only for the family but for the people in her community, the people throughout Iowa. But one of the things we have to remember is we need an immigration system that is effective, that focuses on where real problems are. Last month, I went down to the border and I saw where children had been taken away from their mothers. I met with those mothers who had been lied to, who didn't know where their children were, who hadn't had a chance to talk to their children. And there was no plan for how they would be reunified with their children. I think we need immigration laws that focus on people who pose a real threat and I don't think mamas and babies are the place we should be spending our resources. Separating a mama from a baby does not make this country safer.

Did she really think we'd all like to change the topic to family separations of illegals caught breaking into the country illegally and their inconveniences while we've got another callous, brutal illegal alien murder of an innocent college student in front of us? Did she really think we wanted more images of crying toddlers, feeling a little rough after just crossing 1,000 miles of Mexican badlands in the tender hands of human smuggling cartels? And American citizen Mollie Tibbetts  err, "a girl in Iowa"  is reduced to nothing but a "sorry, but"? Note that Warren thinks it's an issue of concern only to Iowa and not the rest of us, though that rather sticks out, given her presidential ambitions. Iowa, see, is just so unimportant and unworthy of comment, unlike the inconveniences of illegals crossing illegally.

Considering its leading role in the 2020 election, which makes Warren's remarks a little mind-boggling for their political stupidity, Iowa can do a lot of things to your dreams, Liz. Every politician out there has a weathervane for Iowa. Apparently not Liz Warren.

It not only shows how unsavvy she is about her own political interests, but also shows how callous the left is with regard to the concerns of ordinary Americans and their need for answers on why illegals are here.

For Warren, the Democrat narrative, not the sentiment of the people right now, even if they are in New Hampshire or Iowa, is most important. That narrative, about family separations, that they've made so much political hay on, is paramount. Never mind Mollie. Let's switch back to family separations so President Trump's Cabinet officials can be run out of restaurants and Time magazine can cook up more fake Photoshops for its covers. Nothing better for making Democrats happy.

Warren is not the only idiot on the left trying to change the topic. This Democratic strategist here is trying to change the topic to "toxic masculinity" (I think she means "machismo," but that would be racist.) An AP correspondent joked about Mollie's death as Trump rally fodder. This MSNBC commentator dismissed her death as unimportant because she was "a girl from Iowa" instead of a person with a name. Stephen King made a jackass of himself, too, saying that since some worse murderers have been American, illegal murderers deserve a pass. One free murder, or something.

They're all just trying to change the topic. Why is that? Because the reason we have 12 million or as many as 30 million illegals in this country is because of the Democrats' open borders and illegals-first policies, all in the name of building a loyal indigent voter base from the sort of people who vote Chavista back in their home countries.

They aren't interested in Mollie, who's nothing but an interruption to their narrative and agenda. They are trying to change the subject because Mollie is a problem for them.

Rest assured: if the 24-year-old murderer (brought here at age 8 by his family) who killed her had gotten separated from his family forever, as Warren laments, it would have been a good thing. Instead, Mollie Tibbetts got separated. So did Kate Steinle. So did all of these genuine Americans.

I don't see any apology from Warren yet on her Twitter feed, so I think she's going to let those disgusting comments stand. Rest assured: Iowa will remember them. Let's hope she's blown up her presidential prospects right there.

Image Credit: Phillio Publius via DeviantArt, CC BY-SA 2.0.Illegal alien-exporting El Salvador has decided to give China its very own port, one that U.S. officials have said could easily be converted to military applications to threaten us. According to the South China Morning Post :

China's military expansion around the Pacific is going great  on the east side , at least, not the west .

El Salvador might be a small nation, but the United States is worried it has something more to offer mainland China than diplomatic recognition: a port that could be used for military purposes. The Central American country officially cut ties with Taipei and established a formal alliance with Beijing on Tuesday, leaving Taiwan with just 17 nations that officially recognise its status. While Taipei has accused Beijing of luring its allies away with generous aid offers, Washington sees the latest switch as not just a case of piling more pressure on the self-ruled island, but a move to shore up mainland China's security and strategic planning in the region. Jean Manes, the US ambassador to El Salvador, tweeted on Tuesday that the United States was concerned about the Central American nation's decision to break ties with Taiwan. "Without a doubt, this will impact our relationship with the government. We continue supporting the Salvadoran people," she said.

The Post explains that the origins of this were skeevy: El Salvador tried to shake down Taiwan for development funds for the port, and Taiwan said it wouldn't get enough business to make the project sustainable. Taiwan would simply lose whatever billions it would take to get the thing up. Enter China, which doesn't really care if a project is economically sustainable; the Chinese are happy to pretend it is, because the object, of course, is military.

This is why U.S. officials are concerned.

For the rest of us, all we can do is ask, "How's that for gratitude?"

El Salvador is one of the leading exporters of illegal aliens to the U.S., housing one out of every five Salvadorans and more than a million people. Home of MS-13 gangs, it's gotten $4.4 billion in aid from the U.S. for gang control, tax collection, malaria eradication, land reform, disaster relief, think-tanks, and other stuff. What's more, its illegals have repeatedly been extended long stays in the U.S. after disasters. It also has free trade with the U.S. Have a problem? Gringo is right there. What's more, its illegals are among the lowest assimilated, lowest educated, and lowest English-speaking of all immigrants, meaning the U.S. pays billions that aren't counted in El Salvador's foreign aid package to house, educate, feed, clothe, jail, and medicate its illegals. We do it all, and their government gives us a China base to worry about.

Maybe it's time to cut off aid, scrap free trade, and start stepping up immigration enforcement against this rogue state and the nationals it dumps on us. Let China pick up the tab. China has a long history of cleaning up and profiting from costly American adventures (it got all the oil after we expended all the blood and treasure to clean out Iraq). We see the same pattern here. We pay, and China cleans up. So let China get a whiff of how costly it is to run an unsustainable military port. And let El Salvador learn the hard way that China involvement isn't quite as rosy as the Chinese say it is (the way Malaysia has learned), and the gringo gravy train is done.

President Trump needs to get tough on this one.Hypocrisy, thou art a jewel

Asia Argento accuses Harvey Weinstein of rape. Now it turns out that Argento herself raped a 17-year-boy a few years ago and paid him $380,000 to keep quiet about it. This kind of hypocrisy is rife throughout the MeToo movement, the giveaway of which is that it's exclusively Hollywood lefties involved  you know, casting couches and the like. What's more, everyone has known this since MeToo started.

The rape issue as it has evolved pits the left against itself. On the one hand are the MeToo people, who seem to date from the Catharine MacKinnon years, in which even voluntary sex between consenting adults was defined as rape. On the other hand is the traditional feminist screech of get-outta-my-bedroom free love. The clash has resulted in Byzantine campus rules, where each step of the seduction ritual requires verbal (and/or written) consent, effectively banishing romance between the sexes. This is hardly what the sixties feminists had in mind when they copulated in the open at Woodstock and elsewhere. We need to re-examine everything about rape laws. Forcible rape is one thing, as is abuse of authority and trust, but to my mind, voluntary sex isn't rape even at 14. It's an arbitrary line wherever we draw it, but this outbreak of rape shows the disutility of the age-18 consent line in this licentious age. I welcome a usable rationale for the age of consent but have yet to hear a convincing one for any age. Whatever issue there is with 14, 15, 16, or 17 also applies to 18. None of this is tied anymore to morality, so it's catch as catch can. The only powerful argument is the moral one based on religious stricture: reserve sex for marriage. Kids raised according to this moral code are less likely to encounter the statutory rape issue as victim or as perp, but this can't be codified in law because of the First Amendment. From what we've seen of non-Judeo-Christian mores, we can thank the 1A that we don't have laws reflecting them. A whole other perspective on the issue is that decent people don't generally run into this problem anyway and can leave it to Hollywooders and other trashy people to fight it out in the courts, making the lawyers rich as they shove client faces ever more deeply into the most banal of human depravity. Jack Rail regularly contributes to American Thinker. He welcomes your communications at caktusjakk@gmail.com.The following is a list of articles from major news outlets with short excerpts written about members of Congress paying "secret settlements" for everything from sexual harassment to who knows what else  because we really don't know "what else" they did. It's a secret.

For all those Democrats and the MSM seeking to use Michael Cohen's plea deal to implicate President Trump in the alleged crime confessed to by Cohen, don't forget to use the precedent set by the highly respected institution we call the Congress of the United States of America when you make arguments that Donald Trump was trying to influence an election with a payment to silence his accusers.

The secrecy, or can we say cover-up, is meant to protect the identity of the elected officials involved who need to silence their accusers. You know, just in case the information might become public and affect their positions in Congress or  wait for it  the outcomes of their next elections.

Sexual harassment fund exposes Congress

Under Congressional Accountability Act, taxpayers pay for secret settlements. Where's the accountability? When sexual harassers agree on confidential settlements with victims, at least the payments come out of the harassers' own pockets or from companies that choose to employ them. But not, as the nation has learned this month, when the harasser serves in Congress. Then, taxpayers foot the bill. And the entire episode remains hidden.

From USA Today (11/17/2017)

How Congress plays by different rules on sexual harassment and misconduct

Congress makes its own rules about the handling of sexual complaints against members and staff, passing laws exempting it from practices that apply to other employers. The result is a culture in which some lawmakers suspect harassment is rampant. Yet victims are unlikely to come forward, according to attorneys who represent them.

From The Washington Post (10/27/17)

Congress' sexual harassment system, decoded

It has all the makings of a serious scandal: more than $17 million in public money paid since 1997 to settle workplace disputes on Capitol Hill. But the reality of what critics lambaste as a sexual harassment "slush fund" is more complicated, like much about Congress' policy for handling harassment complaints. The money covers all sorts of settlements, just not for sexual harassment, and some lawmakers cut their own side deals with accusers.

From Politico (11/21/17)

Congress paid out $17 million in settlements. Here's why we know so little about that money.

Two things have become painfully clear on Capitol Hill this week: Lawmakers and staffers say sexual harassment is "rampant"  but even members of Congress have no idea just how widespread the problem is. The controversial and sensitive issue has taken center stage in Congress this week, with female lawmakers making fresh allegations of sexual harassment against unnamed members who are currently in office, and the unveiling of a new bill on Wednesday to change how sexual harassment complaints are reported and resolved. On Thursday, the Office of Compliance released additional information indicating that it has paid victims more than $17 million since its creation in the 1990s. That includes all settlements, not just related to sexual harassment, but also discrimination and other cases.

From CNN (11/16/17)

Record sexual harassment settlement exposes byzantine congressional process

Of all the secret deals cut on behalf of accused members of congress, the one that resulted in the largest settlement yet uncovered may be the most surprising. The details provide a window into a process so opaque, convoluted and confusing that even the accused congressman was left in the dark about exactly how and why his accuser ended up being paid $220,000 for her claim. With new harassment accusations being revealed on a nearly daily basis in Congress, documents obtained by NBC News from this one case shed light on how taxpayer money ends up being used to essentially sweep such incidents under a bureaucratic rug with little accountability.

From NBC News (12/17/17)

Congress details some payouts to sexual harassment accusers

The Congressional office that has been using taxpayer funds to secretly settle cases of sexual harassment on Capitol Hill lifted the veil on a sliver of data today, showing that between 2008 and 2012 it paid out $115,000 to staffers who had filed workplace sexual harassment complaints while employed by a member of the House of Representatives.

From ABC News (12/19/17)

Rep says Congress paid out $15M to silence sex harassment victims

Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) told MSNBC that the millions have been doled out to alleged victims of harassment from congressional members over the past decade. The US congresswoman who testified that current members of Congress are known sex harassers said Tuesday night that $15 million in hush money has been paid to accusers.

From New York Post (11/14/17)

Why Are Congressmen Using Taxpayer Funds to Buy Off Sex Abuse Claims?

Staffers who are the targets of unwanted sexual advances on Capitol Hill should not have to endure a lengthy mediation process and pay the legal bills as lawmakers secretly draw on a mysterious slush fund to settle the accusations against them, an advocate for taxpayers argues. In the event of a monetary settlement of sexual harassment complaints, members of Congress can draw on a taxpayer-funded account set up within the Treasury Department to cover their legal expenses and settle cases. The account has paid out $17 million in the past 10 years, public records show, although it is not clear how much of that was for cases of sexual harassment.

From Newsweek (11/29/17)

Congress Has A Sexual Harassment Problem

After weeks of stories detailing dozens of such sexual harassment incidents on Capitol Hill  most involving unnamed lawmakers  two things are clear: Congress has an abuse problem, and Congress is not sufficiently dealing with it.

From The Huffington Post (11/21/17)

Congressional watchdog demands names in $17M sex harassment payoffs

Frustrated with congressional stonewalling, an ethics watchdog group is going public with its demand that the list of lawmakers tied to $17 million in tax dollars used to pay off sexual harassment claims be released. "The public deserves to know," said the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust, or FACT. Congress' Office of Compliance has paid out $17 million in harassment cases and kept the names of members involved secret. Two current female members said that there are two sitting lawmakers involved.This is a report about the challenges facing independent journalists in Cuba:

We hear that Cuba is reforming, but please don't tell that to the brave journalists on the island. It's the "same old communist one-party state running a state newspaper Cuba" that we've known for years.

The accounts are similar: members of the Political Police and the National Revolutionary Police (PNR) search a journalist's house for a few hours. The journalist is taken away and detained for a couple hours, a day or two, and then released. A journalist arrives at the airport for a trip abroad, only to be told by immigration officials that they [sic] can't leave the country. Since Miguel Diaz-Canel became President of Cuba in April 2018, "repression against journalists is greater," Jose Antonio Fornaris, president of Cuba's Pro Press Freedom Association (APLP, for its initials in Spanish), told the Knight Center.

I have heard the same things from journalists in Cuba. I've heard similar stories from Latin American journalists who have visited the island.

Why is the communist regime continuing to act like this?

The first answer is that this is what communists do. They do not tolerate dissent or criticism.

The second answer is that we are watching the consequences of President Obama's "one-way" opening of relations with Cuba. Unfortunately, the Obama administration demanded nothing from Cuba in exchange for putting a U.S. embassy in Havana. We got nothing because we asked for nothing.

The biggest loser of the Obama Cuba policy is the Cuban people. Just ask the independent journalists on the island!

PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter.Michael Cohen, represented by Clinton lawyer Lanny Davis, negotiated a plea where Cohen pleaded guilty to eight counts of tax fraud, bank fraud, and campaign law violations. Cohen didn't pay income tax on over four million dollars from 2012 to 2016.

The Trump-haters, consisting of the Fake News Media-Democratic Party and NeverTrumps, are unhinged and hysterical in their delusion that President Trump committed a crime by paying two women before the election to silence them about his alleged affairs with them.

Attorneys not affiliated with the Trump-haters have criticized the Cohen deal negotiated by Clinton lawyer Lanny Davis. There was no violation of the campaign laws. The deal is that Mueller wanted language to damage Trump, and Davis and Cohen obliged Mueller by pleading to a nonexistent crime.

The plea seems to benefit Mueller and Trump-haters more than it benefits Cohen. The purpose is to damage Trump.

It is not a crime for Trump to use his own money to pay the women.

While the Clinton-Obama mob is howling that Trump paid two women to remain silent, which they obviously haven't, this same bunch had no problem with Bill and Hillary taking steps to silence women whom Bubba raped, harassed, groped, and had affairs with to protect the political viability of the Clintons.

Bill Clinton had his pals Vernon Jordan and Bill Richardson tried get jobs for Monica Lewinsky at the same time Lewinsky was preparing an affidavit that she did not have an affair with Clinton. Note that this involved Lewinsky lying about the affair during the same time Clinton was trying to get her a job.

The Clintons used a different approach to silence Juanita Broaddrick about Bubba raping her: Hillary Clinton threatened Juanita to remain silent.

The Clintons used another approach with Paula Jones. They had their attack dog, James Carville, attack and defame Paula as trailer trash by saying, "If you drag a hundred dollar bill through a trailer park, you never know what you'll find."

Carl Bernstein summarized Hillary's efforts:

According to Carl Bernstein's A Woman in Charge, as her husband prepared to run for president, she pushed to get sworn statements from women he'd been rumored to have been involved with, statements in which they were supposed to say they'd had no relationship with him. She even interviewed one of these women herself, at her law firm.

The Dems and the Fake News Media do not care about criminality and misconduct of the Clintons, such as using an unsecured email server, lying about Benghazi, selling 20% of our uranium to the Russians, and the cover-up of a rape. They care only to damage President Trump and to remove him from office. Cohen sold himself to Mueller to betray his client.The left is colluding with Russia

Russia's decades-long goal has been to destabilize American politics and thus America itself. It is to the Russians' strategic advantage to weaken an incoming U.S. president. At the times in our 2016 election during which Russia is accused of meddling, few thought Donald Trump had a chance of winning. Russia's goal would logically have been to weaken the presumptive winner, Hillary Clinton. By leaking emails, if it was in fact the Russians, what most of America already suspected was proven to be true. Hillary was corrupt, and so was the DNC itself. Russia would logically and strategically much have preferred Hillary as our president, since she could have been manipulated and blackmailed six ways to Sunday. It would have been a Russian free-for-all deciding what dirt to use and when. Trump's upset victory provided an unexpected opportunity to Russia. They had the chance to create far more chaos than they had ever dreamed when they were exposing Hillary. Putin is anything but stupid, and he could see that the American left had become unhinged, to put it mildly. Russia saw an opportunity to create massive chaos over the election and to damage our new president. To do this, the Russians needed to have someone willing to carry the ball for them. Enter the anti-Trumpers, a group so blinded by anger and hatred that damage to America wasn't even on their radar. Putin must have been smiling.

Whether the anti-Trumpers knowingly colluded with Russia to inject chaos into our electoral system and weaken our president, only they know...for now. Maybe they were just duped by the Russians, although the so-called elites would never admit to that. Be that as it may, the assistance to the Russians provided by the anti-Trumpers to further Russian interests has produced far more chaos and damage to America than Russian spies or their intel people ever could. It is thus the ultimate irony that those accusing Trump of colluding with the Russians are themselves the real colluders and on a far more massive scale than Trump ever could have done. Politics does indeed make strange bedfellows. American voters, take note.Taking a break from the president, Yahoo is focusing on First Lady Melania Trump. The reporters' breaking news of the day is whether her clothing is sending a subtle message to her husband: "Is Melania Trump trolling POTUS with her pss-bow blouse and speech on 'destructive' social media behavior?"

Yahoo can't seem to find any news these days. The outlet's reporters have nothing to say about the economy, low unemployment, and strong economic growth. Instead, they are waiting breathlessly for the Paul Manafort trial verdict, even though the alleged crimes have nothing to do with President Trump.

I admit that I'm not well versed in the nuances of women's fashion, so I had to research what a pussy-bow is. According to Wikipedia,

A pussycat bow is a style of neckwear often associated with women's and girls' blouses and bodices. It takes the form of a bow tied at the neck similar to those tied around the neck of kittens, cats, and the like.

This fashion style began in the 1800s, with the term "pussycat bow" popularized in 1934. According to Vogue, "the flamboyantly-knotted bow draws attention upwards to the face." Consider it a female version of a men's necktie, softening an otherwise more formal outfit. It's been worn by Grace Kelly, Nancy Reagan, Lady Diana, Margaret Thatcher, and now Melania Trump.

Leave it to Yahoo to create a story where one doesn't exist, a news feat usually left to CNN. Yahoo's reporters are convinced that the first lady wearing a pussy-bow is attempting to troll her husband, in reference to Trump's pussy-grabbing comment on the Billy Bush Access Hollywood tapes.

It couldn't be that Melania, a former fashion model, chose an appropriately fashionable ensemble for a public appearance promoting her cyber-bullying initiative. No, that would be too simple and commonsensical. There must be ulterior motives at play. Of course, Vogue shares Yahoo's analysis.

This is not a new conspiracy for the left-wing media. CBS News, in October 2016, was convinced that Mrs. Trump was trolling her husband, rather than simply dressing nicely for the evening's presidential debate. Here is the headline: "Melania wears pussy-bow to second debate" followed by "So, imagine fashion connoisseurs' surprise when they noticed that Melania Trump walked into the debate hall wearing Gucci's fuchsia pussy-bow blouse."

Vanity Fair reached the same conclusion, admitting its far-fetched theory: "Melania Trump probably thought she was picking a vibrant outfit for the debate. Unfortunately, she failed to see the irony in wearing a style of shirt with 'pussy' in the name."

I suspect that most of the debate-watchers also missed the irony that only a Trump Derangement Syndrome publication would catch.

It is not just U.S. newspapers suffering from this malady; the left-wing New Zealand Herald jumped in, too. It has an obsession with President Trump and bashing him, similar to CNN and MSNBC.

The Herald cites the recent pussy-bow as well as when Melania wore it to one of the presidential debates. The Herald also cites a tweet that Melania briefly liked, a white pantsuit she wore to the State of the Union address, a jacket she wore bearing the words "I really don't care. Do U?," and a solo Africa trip as evidence that Mrs. Trump is "[s]ecretly working to overthrow her husband through her not-so-subtle digs."

It's a good thing that the Trumps don't have a pet cat in the White House. Cats are sometimes called pussycats. Drop the "cat" portion, and what do you have left? Suppose she wore a cat lapel pin or necklace? The headlines could write themselves.

What if Melania wore a hat with a feather? Would the feather be a reference to the Twitter logo, a bird, trolling her husband for his use of Twitter to bypass the silly media? Are her hurricane relief efforts referencing a storm, as in Stormy Daniels? Are any of Melania's initiatives directed toward children a dig at her husband enforcing immigration law separating children from parents?

In the world of Trump Derangement Syndrome, symbolism is everywhere, and everything has a sinister ulterior meaning. Much like true psychosis, when people are hearing voices, Trump-haters have his and his wife's every word and move living rent-free in their heads.

So we are treated to Yahoo News, scraping the bottom of the barrel for a story, even one as nonsensical as the first lady's fashion choices somehow sending a political message to her husband.

Brian C Joondeph, M.D., MPS is a Denver-based physician and writer. Follow him on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.With friends like these. Photo: Getty Images

This chat ran in the Daily Intelligencer newsletter, which combines a digest of the stories you care about with exclusive political commentary that you wont find on the website. To subscribe to the newsletter, click here.

Im your humble host and editor Ezekiel Kweku, and today Im talking with three members of New Yorks politics team  Jonathan Chait, Ed Kilgore, and Eric Levitz  about the Manafort verdict and the Cohen deal, and what they augur for Donald Trump.

Ezekiel: Yesterday was very dramatic  but what actually changed?

Jon: 1) Manafort is guilty, and so he cant hold out for a chance to walk. Has to either be hoping for a pardon, or make a deal. 2) Cohen directly implicated Trump in a federal crime.

Ed: Yeah, on Cohens plea, Trumps enablers kept yelling what did it have to do with Russia? Its a felony we are talking about.

Eric: Yeah. If Trump were not president of the United States, he would be indicted for a campaign finance violation by now. Which means that  by refusing to investigate a crime for which there is clearly probable cause (and consider impeachment if an investigation confirms the available evidence)  congressional Republicans are now, officially, helping the president put himself above the law.

Ed: Re: Manafort, you could certainly interpret Trumps tweets about him as a thinly veiled promise of a pardon, and hence as obstruction of justice, right? I mean, its terrible to keep having to make this point, but what other president would go anywhere near proceedings like this, on the day of a jury verdict? Nixon wouldnt have done that.

Ezekiel: Im not an expert but I think the fact that he praised Manafort, essentially for telling the truth under pressure probably insulates him from that charge. that leads to another question  is it possible that Cohen (a known liar) is lying about Trump directing him? What are the incentives for him to falsely implicate Trump?

Ed: Anythings possible, but I dont believe hes any less guilty of a crime if he was directed to commit one.

Eric: My question would be: What are the incentives for him to unilaterally give hundreds of thousands of dollars to these porn stars?

Ezekiel: There are none, but there might be incentives for him to give the money with the expectation that hed get paid back later.

Jon: Also, Trump hasnt denied it, either.

Ezekiel: Well, he said in the interview that he didnt find out until afterwards, right?

Jon: Did he deny repaying him? We have no evidence theres a deal. More importantly, there is a tape of them discussing the payment.

Eric: Anyway, I agree that Cohens word isnt gospel. But Occams razor suggests that he didnt make these payments without looping in his boss.

Ezekiel: Well, I mean, thats my question, isnt it? If hes really a fixer half the job is to provide plausible deniability, right? Granted, hes terrible at his job.

Eric: Yeah. Generally speaking, but that would be a stupid thing to do is not an effective argument against any alleged action undertaken by Cohen or Trump.

Ed: Half the problem with being people who constantly skirt the law is that you do stuff that seems normal and it later blows up and puts everything you do under scrutiny. Im sure Cohen and Trump had no idea this would come back to haunt them.

Ezekiel: Anyway, to me it seems like the most likely scenario that Trump directed the payments, Im just wondering whether it really does put Trump in the jackpot. In any case, given that Trump is the president, this would seem like an opportune moment for some congressional oversight.

Ed: Very dry humor, Ezekiel.

Ezekiel: Haha. Eric argues in his piece that just went up, that in a less-polarized era, we might have gotten some. True?

Eric: My argument is, more specifically, that if we lived in a country where the principle of equality before the law was genuinely sacred  and the norm against elites flouting that principle was consistently enforced  congressional Republicans might have a harder time putting partisanship before the rule-of-law w/r/t Trump.

Ed: I dunno. Congress was controlled by the opposite party during Watergate and most of Iran-Contra.

Jon: Democrats certainly conducted oversight on Clinton in 1993-1994. Held hearings on Whitewater. But, yeah, few examples on unified government. I think Eric is right.

Ed: I would agree that this hyperaggressive cooking up of an entire alternative universe of deep state shenanigans is nothing weve seen before as a response to presidential malfeasance. Devin Nunes is way more Catholic than this particular pope.

Eric: But political and business elites have been getting away with blatant crimes for decades (often, ones far more severe than those Trump currently stands accused of), so the GOPs complicity is less surprising

Ed: Remember (no, I know you dont personally, young-uns, but do you remember reading about) Earl Landgrebe, Nixons last-ditch congressional supporter, who famously said: I will defend this president even if we both have to be taken out and shot! The entire House GOP Caucus is like that now.

Eric: Haha.

Ed: And theyve bought into such an extensive conspiracy theory that its hard to imagine evidence that would shake them.

Ezekiel: So it seems that yesterday means that Manafort and Cohen have greater incentive to flip for Mueller  how likely do you think it is that Trump tries to pardon one or both of them?

Jon: Manafort yes, Cohen no. Cohen seems to be gone, and is also clearly vulnerable to state charges. I thought Manafort was vulnerable on state charges too, but theres been no info on that for months.

Ed: And the president, of course, has no power to pardon people from state convictions.

Ezekiel: Did yesterday change the impeachment calculations for Republicans? Would a Manafort pardon?

Jon: No and no.

Ed: It might make them more likely (with reason) to charge that Democrats will impeach Trump if they get control of the House, which is a preferred rev up the base message anyway.

Eric: Maybe for individual Republican members of Congress, but not for the caucus.

Ezekiel: Does this get us any closer to getting to the bottom of Russia collusion? Do you think well definitely find out what Manafort and Cohen know about it or not?

Jon: I think we will find out what Cohen knows because hes cooperating. Manafort is a big mystery. I think hell get a pardon, and then how it plays out remains to be seen  can Mueller get some state prosecutorial leverage on him, or not? There are other collusion-y threads, of course. Roger Stone, Peter W. Smith (via Mike Flynn, who is cooperating).

Ed: The question a lot of people are asking today is how much longer is the Mueller investigation going to take? And not just End the Witch Hunt! shouters.

Eric: Im unclear about whether the show will go on hiatus for the midterms, and if so, when.

Ezekiel: I saw a chart a few months ago that showed that the investigation hasnt been going on that long compared to other investigations by special counsel, so we could be in for the long haul.

Eric: Generally speaking, Im pretty impressed with the way this scandal has unfolded. Didnt think it could live up to the expectations it set in the early going. But (while there have been some lulls and dispensable tangents) theyve found ways to keep things fresh and surprising, and Im excited to see where it goes next.Google, and to a greater extent Alphabet, have been looking to get back into the Chinese market. Its really the only market that the company is not a part of, and its the largest country  based on population numbers  on earth. Which makes it a country that is necessary for Alphabet to be included in. Google left the country back in 2010, but has recently been working on a few projects to get back into the country. Now, Alphabets self-driving car division, Waymo, has reportedly set up a subsidiary in the country.

According to the China National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System, Waymo has set up a Shanghai-based subsidiary named Huimo Business Consulting. It was established on May 22, and has a registered capital of around 3.5 million RMB. That equals about $508,854 USD. According to the listing, the business scope includes business consulting, logistics management consulting, supply chain consulting, autonomous driving parts and product design, testing and other related services. So it appears that Waymo isnt looking to actually start building vehicles and self-driving tech in China just yet. Instead, it is mostly doing consulting. Currently, Waymo is listed as Huimo Business Consultings largest shareholder and Waymos general counsel, Kevin Vosen is listed as its legal representative.

In recent months, Google has been looking to get back into China, with reports surfacing that it is looking to build a version of the Play Store and its search engine that meets the governments censorship criteria. As many likely know, China takes its internet censorship pretty seriously, and most websites that are used in the West are banned in China, including everything from Google and all other companies under the Alphabet umbrella. Which is the main reason Google left the country back in 2010, but it does still have a couple of offices in the country, as well as some websites that are still up and running.Facebook banned yet another app for compromising the privacy of its users and refusing to cooperate in a subsequent investigation of the matter, the company said Wednesday. The service in question is myPersonality, an online quiz with a Facebook login that harvested data on millions of individuals and had it publicly accessible for years with minimal checks meant to prevent abuse. While only a single leak was recorded during the nine years of the projects existence, Facebook said its clear select Cambridge University academics shared the mined information with a wide variety of entities.

The people behind the project are not associated with Cambridge Analytica, the company in the center of Facebooks largest privacy scandal of the year, although Aleksandr Kogan, the researcher involved in that debacle, was also given access to myPersonalitys data after requesting it, together with thousands of other data scientists and entities. The apps creators refused Facebooks audit request, with the company consequently opting to permanently ban the quiz. While the original report on the matter estimated some three million users have been compromised by the app, Facebook now believes roughly four million were affected and will be notifying them about the development. The social media giant currently doesnt have any evidence that the myPersonality team accessed data on any Facebook friends of users who signed up for the app.

The Menlo Park, California-based firm also provided an update on its aggressive app investigation efforts started following the Cambridge Analytica ordeal, revealing it banned over 400 apps for privacy violations to date, twice as much as it reported three months ago. Facebooks probe continues on the back of policy changes it introduced earlier this year with the goal of combating third-party data abuse within its ecosystem, including automatic timeouts for data-sharing privileges that revoke information access to apps that havent been used in three months.Google and Foxconn are investigating a stolen batch of Pixel 3 XL units that ended up on the black market earlier this month, 9to5Google reports, citing no particular sources. Images and hands-on videos of the upcoming Android flagship started leaking en masse on Wednesday, with most sightings being attributed to Russian sources. New information suggests the vast majority or all of those leaks depict units that have been sold by a Ukrainian black market dealer for $2,000 a piece. The dealer in question shipped the devices from London and offered them to a number of tech reviewers, including traditional journalists and YouTubers.

The circumstances that led to the Pixel 3 XL batch in question going missing are still unclear, but the fact that the leaked units feature Googles own G logo instead of a provisional rear marking imply the devices are pre-production models that were likely created as part of a trial manufacturing run by Foxconn. That possibility is even greater in light of the fact that the sources of the latest leaks also showed seemingly official retail packaging of the device, as well as its user manual, bundled earbuds, and other included accessories.

The said Ukrainian dealer was selling the units via Telegram, asking for payment via either PayPal or Bitcoin but preferring the latter due to extra expenses attached to international PayPal transfers. To date, Russian outlet Rozetked, Ukrainian blogger Luchkow, and Russian publication Wylsacom (associated with the same blogger) all shared dozens of images depicting a white Pixel 3 XL model. None of the sources suggested they bought their handsets but thats precisely what the newly emerged information indicates. Its presently unclear how close Google is to identifying the person or group responsible for the theft, though the very first leaked unit has already been remotely bricked after its source accidentally shared the serial number of their Android phablet.

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The image below found on the now-removed Telegram channel of the reseller by one Reddit user suggests that at one point they had in excess of 120 units, with a later communication obtained by 9to5Google indicating only three were left unsold earlier this week. Assuming all went for the same price, the source made some quarter of a million dollars on the stolen devices.A new report has surfaced claiming that the Motorola XT1942-1, which was rumored to be called Motorola One Power, will go official as Moto P30 Note, though it seems like that will happen only in some markets. Earlier this month, the handset had leaked in an official listing on Motorola Chinas website along with the Moto P30 and the Moto P30 Play Android smartphones, confirming the series expansion in the near future. TENAA recently certified three phones manufactured by Lenovos subsidiary bearing model numbers XT1941, XT1942, and XT1943, of these, the last one went official in China last week as the Moto P30, the first Motorola-branded smartphone to sport a display notch. The Moto P series will continue being exclusive to the Asian market, according to the report, with no details on its availability in other international markets.

The Motorola P30 Note is likely to borrow certain design elements from the recently announced Motorola P30, including that display cutout and its rear camera placement. A 6.2-inch FHD+ LCD display is rumored to sit on the front with a 19:9 aspect ratio, while its rear-facing dual-camera setup will boast a 16-megapixel and a 5-megapixel camera sensor. It is expected to come powered the mid-range Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor and will offer two RAM options  4GB and 6GB  that will be paired with either 32GB or 64GB of onboard storage along with an option to expand the memory. The Moto P30 Note is said to share most of its internals with the Moto P30, but in terms of battery, the former will fare better with its 4,850mAh battery against 3,000mAh of the latter.

Motorola officially announced the Moto P30 last week in China at a starting price of 1,999 yuan (~$290) for the base model with 64GB of internal memory and the higher-end model with 128GB of internal memory was priced at 2,399 yuan (~$349). It will go on sale by mid-September while there is still no official word on whether the handset will debut in other global markets or not. Interestingly, the Moto P30 comes running ZUI 4.0 based on Android 8.0, while the companys P series is rumored to be a part of the Android One program, at least for markets outside China. The Moto P30 Play with model number XT1941-2, on the other hand, will be the lowest end smartphone in the P series and will include a smaller 5.86-inch display with an HD+ resolution along with a battery of 3,000mAh.Paul LePage will do just about anything to deny additional health coverage to the people of his state. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

Voters in Maine approved a ballot initiative last November that made their state the 32nd to take advantage of the Medicaid expansion option created by the Affordable Care Act of 2010. It wasnt close: Expansion won by a 59-41 margin after a very extensive public debate. And the initiative was made necessary by the states famously paleolithic Republican governor Paul LePage, who vetoed legislation expanding Medicaid on five separate occasions.

But LePage didnt let the express instructions of the Maine electorate bother him. He chose the tack of fighting tooth and nail against appropriations to pay for the states small share of expanded Medicaid services (which would have been zero for several years had Maine expanded Medicaid when that step first became available), while exaggerating their actual cost.

In early June, a state judge ordered LePage to comply with the ballot initiative and send the feds a plan for a Medicaid expansion. He refused and appealed the decision. In early July, he vetoed legislation funding an expansion.

His defiance of the will of his constituents may finally be running out of time, though. The Maine Supreme Judicial Court sustained the lower court ruling that LePage had to begin implementing Medicaid expansion immediately:

Maines top court has ruled that the LePage administration must file a plan to expand Medicaid even as it fights implementation of the ballot initiative approved by voters last fall.

The ruling Thursday delivers a blow to the governor, who has steadfastly opposed efforts to extend the public health coverage to an estimated 70,000 additional adults in Maine.

This isnt absolutely the last ditch for LePage, because he can still challenge the funding and even the ballot initiative, although he can no longer drag his feet on implementation in the interim. He has said hed go to jail before cooperating in the Medicaid expansion. The open question now is whether he will get that opportunity to wear an orange jumpsuit before he leaves office in January.Our View: Recognition of the Sikh community is worthy of legislators time

Diversity is one of our great strengths; but outreach concerning our several cultures could be enhancedMarysville, CA (95901)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this evening. Increasing clouds with periods of showers late. Low 54F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening. Increasing clouds with periods of showers late. Low 54F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.Prepare for the final descent. Photo: The Washington Post/The Washington Post/Getty Images

Most weeks, New York Magazine writer-at-large Frank Rich speaks with contributor Alex Carp about the biggest stories in politics and culture. Today, the fallout for Trump from Michael Cohens guilty plea and Paul Manaforts conviction on multiple felonies.

When you looked back on Watergate last summer, you found that the scandal unraveled incredibly slowly until, in August 1974, Nixons presidency collapsed all at once. This week, Donald Trumps former campaign chairman Paul Manafort was convicted on multiple counts of fraud and Michael Cohen, his personal lawyer and fixer, pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations he says he committed at the direction of the candidate. Have we reached the August 1974 of the Trump presidency?

There have been so many times when Trump was doomed, dating at least as far back as his denigration of John McCains war heroism three summers ago, that it would be foolish to declare any new horror the final blow. But I do believe, as I wrote last summer, that Trumps path to a premature exit from the White House in disgrace is on a comparable timeline to Nixons. The tumult of August 2018 hasnt finished off his presidency, but the endgame looks closer by the day. We know weve reached a nadir when the presidents lawyer is reduced to claiming that truth isnt truth and even a lowlife crook like Michael Cohen can take the moral high road by professing hed rather go to prison than be dirtied by a Trump pardon.

It is important to remember that the unrelenting lockstep loyalty of the feckless GOP leadership and the partys base to Trump are not indicators of his fate. An occasional outlier in the Jeff Flake vein aside, Nixons party was wholly loyal to him too. Like todays Vichy Republicans, they remained loyal despite the indictments of Cabinet members and aides as close to Nixon as Manafort, Cohen, and Michael Flynn have been to Trump. They remained loyal after the nation was riveted by the devastating Watergate hearings of the summer of 1973, which portrayed all the presidents men as counterparts to the mobsters seen in the previous years Hollywood hit The Godfather. They remained loyal even that fall, when Nixons firing of the special prosecutor in the Saturday Night Massacre attempted to blowtorch the Constitution and the rule of law.

As a counsel to the House Judiciary Committee during the 1974 impeachment inquiry pointed out in a Times op-ed piece ten days ago, Nixons defenders routinely dismissed Watergate investigations as a political witch hunt intended to reverse the Democrats 1972 electoral defeat. As late as the end of July 1974  less than two weeks before Nixons August 9 helicopter departure from the White House lawn  most Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee voted against all articles of impeachment. Many Republicans on the committee continued to support him even after the August 5 release of the smoking gun tape revealing that Nixon had ordered a cover up of the Watergate crimes. Had the Democrats not controlled both houses of Congress  and had the eras Nixon-sympathizing conservative Southern Democrats not finally turned on him  Nixon might have held on until a few months more, until November 1974. But no longer than that. The Democrats gained 49 additional House seats and four Senate seats in the midterms. His doom was assured.

With all the debate about whether Trump could or should be impeached this very minute  a wholly theoretical debate as long as the GOP controls Congress  we tend to forget that Nixon was never tried for impeachment. He quit once he realized he didnt have the votes to survive such a trial and when he no doubt realized that he was in criminal jeopardy. (A fear that would only be alleviated when his successor, Gerald Ford, granted him a pardon.) Trump, unlike Nixon, is out of touch with reality. He doesnt know how to count votes, and he believes he can defy the law with impunity. (Nixon, a lawyer, could only lie to himself about his criminal exposure up to a point.) But, whether Trump recognizes it or not, the fact remains that his main and perhaps only hope for clinging to office is that Republicans hold the House in November. Polls  and the history of midterm elections inflicting damage against the party occupying the White House even during non-criminal presidencies  tell us that a blue wave is more likely.

What would happen then could be any combination of developments including impeachment. Nonstop congressional investigations will attempt to illuminate every dark corner of an administration in which the kleptocracy extends from the Trump family to most Cabinet departments. Those close to Trump, both in his family and in his immediate circle, will fear for their futures, both legally and financially. The GOP and the Trump Organization alike will be on the ropes, and in full panic. This is evident from the wrongdoing already apparent  indeed, already the subject of indictments and guilty pleas. Yet to be factored in, of course, are the unknown findings of the Robert Mueller investigation, which could include not only treasonous conspiracies with the Russians to steal an election but additional crimes that beggar the imagination.

If there is a shocking upset GOP victory in November, then all bets are off: America is in worse trouble than we already think and possibly in an existential fight for survival.

But the more plausible scenario is that Trump, even if he has to be pushed kicking-and-screaming by Ivanka and the possible jailbirds Donald Jr. and Jared, gets out of Dodge. As with Nixon, his administration is most likely not to end with impeachment but with a self-pitying and self-justifying resignation in which Trump lashes out against both Republicans and Democrats, declares another ersatz win, and flees.

Up until the ship of state hits the iceberg, the Vichy Republicans will not hit the lifeboats. Trumps loyal supporters will remain loyal even then, still chanting, as they did during the presidents West VIrginia rally this week, Lock her up! and Drain the swamp! (Polls found that a quarter of the country still supported Nixon even when he resigned.) The exact timing remains unknown, and a little more perseverance and patience in the face of the torrent of Trump indignities will be required. But when this White House collapses, it will happen fast. As the Washington reporter Elizabeth Drew, who covered Watergate for The New Yorker, would conclude, In retrospect, the denouement appeared inevitable, but it certainly didnt feel like that at the time.BarcelonaThe remains of Francisco Franco the general who staged a military coup against the legitimate government of Spains second Republic in 1936 and started a bloody Civil War that led to a long, dictatorial regime might finally leave the Valley of the Fallen, a publicly-funded mausoleum built in celebration of fascism. On Friday the Spanish government intends to issue a decree that in principle cannot be appealed by the dictators family or any related groups who could have otherwise argued that the state will be desecrating the dictators grave.

Spains Minister for Culture, Jose Guirao, unveiled the governments plan in an interview last Tuesday. Mr Guirao remarked that, for two months, the Spanish executive has been studying the best way to legally bulletproof the bodys exhumation. Spains ruling socialist party (PSOE) had pledged to remove the body as part of their election manifesto, a decision which has been delayed several times.

Spain did not wipe the slate clean with the political Transition that followed Francos death

Nevertheless, it remains to be seen whether this time they will be able to go ahead with their plan, as the decree first needs to be passed in parliament, where Ciudadanos and Partido Popular have announced that in principle they intend to abstain or oppose it. This means that the PSOE would need the parliamentary support of the rest of the opposition. So far ERC has stated it will only support the initiative if all the death sentences issued during the dictatorship are declared null, including that of Catalan president Lluis Companys. It would be ironic if that prevented the exhumation from going ahead, but political strategy sometimes makes strange bedfellows.

Because the decision was long expected, several groups who are nostalgic about Francoism have been spraying graffiti, holding meetings and writing statements including one where 180 military officers in the reserve praised the Spanish dictator against the exhumation. The Valley of the Fallen has seen an unprecedented spike in the number of visitors and a certain sociologic Francoism has raised its head again, after its existence became apparent in Catalonia before and after the independence referendum on October 1 last year.

The moment of truth has come and it will be interesting and important to see what happens eventually and what the reactions are. The political parties will have to show their true face in the parliamentary debate and the ensuing vote, thus clarifying their understanding of democracy and what it means to respect the outcome of a ballot. Francoists claim that the 1936 coup was in response to the wrong election result. To use this same argument in the 21st century and in a democratic Europe is more dubious.

Spain did not wipe the slate clean with the political Transition that followed Francos death and the remnants of the regime have thrived in many areas of political, financial and economic power. That explains a great deal about the situation that we must endure at present, and also about the reasons why a significant part of Spanish society struggles to come to terms with the cultural and ideological diversity of some regions.

The exhumation of Francos remains might be an opportunity to expose the ghosts. It wont be easy because Francos new and old supporters have got a second wind and there are still many unknowns. But it could be an act of historic, democratic reparation that might allow us to start turning a new page.The Aireon ALERT service will provide the last known position of an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B)-equipped aircraft that is in an apparent distress state or experiencing a loss in communication. The service is only available to aviation stakeholders and offers precise position reports, free of charge. The Aireon ALERT system is expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2019 and will be operated out of the IAA North Atlantic Communications Centre in Ballygirreen, County Clare, Ireland.

Enabled by Aireons space-based ADS-B service, Aireon ALERT will fill a critical need within the aviation industry. For the first time, ANSPs, Aircraft Operators, Regulators and Search and Rescue organizations will have access, on request, to exact position data for an aircraft in distress over the oceans, remote areas and anywhere else they may need aircraft position information in an emergency.

We are proud to host and operate the worlds first truly global aircraft locating and emergency response tracking facility, based on the AireonSM systems capabilities, said Peter Kearney, Chief Executive Officer of the IAA. Our facility will be providing Aireon ALERT services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. As long as an aircraft is broadcasting on 1090 MHz ADS-B, we will be able to locate it anywhere worldwide. This is a unique and secure cloud-based service, designed to the highest data protection standards.

Aireon is proud to support a much-needed solution to the aviation industry, said Don Thoma, CEO of Aireon. For the first time, the Aireon ALERT service will deliver the most precise location data for emergency and distress situations over the oceans and remote areas, typically void of ground-based infrastructure. We recognize that our system has unique capabilities, and with that comes a responsibility to help prevent future tragedies.The Lithuanian government presented a new agreement on defense policy for the upcoming decade to the country's parliamentary parties on Wednesday. The agreement is aimed at ensuring the continuity of Lithuania's defense policy throughout changeovers of the country's governments, said representatives of the government to local media.



(Credit: Lithuanian Ministry of Defense)

The cabinet has sent the draft version of the agreement to seven parliamentary parties for further discussions.

"This national agreement is valid until 2030 and will be implemented constantly by the state authorities, regardless of election cycles, political campaigns, results and changes of political powers," reads the draft agreement, as quoted by BNS news agency.

The agreement would also include the commitment to increase the country's defense spending to up to 2.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030.

In 2018, Lithuania's defense expenditures are 873 million euros (1.01 billion U.S. dollars), or 2.01 percent of the country's GDP.

The decision to increase defense spending would push it further above the NATO target of 2.0 percent.

The previous national agreement on defense policy was signed in 2014 when parliamentary parties agreed to increase defense spending to meet the NATO target.

The new agreement would also include strengthening various parts of the Lithuanian Army, BNS reported.

Lithuania, a small Baltic country with a population of less than three million and NATO's eastern-flank member, has been strengthening its defense capabilities since 2014.The Democratic base seems pretty fired up, without their leaders explicitly talking impeachment. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

In any other midterm election, if the president were implicated in a federal crime 77 days before voters head to the polls, youd likely hear plenty of impeachment talk from the opposition party. But after Michael Cohen pleaded guilty on Tuesday to campaign finance law violations that he says were directed by President Trump, Democrats are trying not to overplay their hand. Rather, its Republicans who are warning midterm voters about the rising threat of impeachment.

On Wednesday morning, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi downplayed the possibility that Democrats will impeach president Trump if they retake the House in November. Despite Cohens allegations, she told the AP that impeachment has to spring from something else; Democrats just want to conduct oversight of Trump and ensure that Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation can continue.

If and when the information emerges about that, well see, she continued. Its not a priority on the agenda going forward unless something else comes forward.

Pelosi underscored that message in a letter sent to caucus members on Wednesday, urging them to keep talking about the cesspool of self-enrichment, secret money and ethical blindness and how House Republicans are turning a blind eye to the corruption and criminality at the heart of President Trumps inner circle.

Corruption scandals have helped swing midterm elections in the past, and beyond Trumps legal troubles, this message was bolstered by recent corruption charges against Representatives Chris Collins and Duncan Hunter. But Pelosi emphasized that Democrats must also stay focused on delivering our strong economic message to hard-working families across America.

The Democratic midterm strategy is to have candidates focus on issues in their district, rather than railing against Trumps latest outrages. Some, like progressive billionaire donor Tom Steyer, think thats a huge mistake. But the assumption is that the Democratic base is already plenty fired up about Trump; talk of impeachment will only alienate independents who want Congress to make progress on issues they care about rather than wallowing in D.C. scandals.

Vox took a look at what the Democrats investigation of Cohens allegations might look like if they manage to retake the House, based on the latest moves from Representative Elijah Cummings, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee. It might please ardent Trump opponents, but wont inspire the average voter:

Democrats would have the purview to make the Trump administrations life a living hell by bombarding them with subpoena after subpoena, and call up administration officials and Trump associates to testify, keeping the presidents scandals endlessly in the news.

Thats why Republicans have stepped up their argument that Democrats are hell-bent on taking down Trump, but have no plan for governing. On Wednesday White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said impeachment is the Democrats only message heading into the midterms, and thats why voters should make sure Republicans remain in power.

I think that the biggest contrast you could possibly make is the message of the Democrats, which is nothing more than attacking the president and looking at cheap political stunts while this White House and Republicans in the House and Senate are focused on doing good things for the American people, she said.

Others went with a more fear-based spin, suggesting hysterical Democrats are targeting Trump for undemocratic reasons. Theyve never been happy with the outcome of the election in 2016, and I expect them to continue their campaign to reverse the election by whatever means possible, Senator John Cornyn told reporters on Wednesday.

Republicans are hoping that playing up the threat of impeachment will inspire Trumps base to come to his aid on November 6. Earlier this week, Republican operatives told Axios theyre worried that Trump has actually made his voters too complacent by assuring them that a red wave is coming.

You have Trump-MAGA loyalists, and their friends on Fox, who have reached a point of not believing polls and media people telling them things are going wrong, that I believe is actually causing the Republicans problems, said one strategist.

Not all Republicans are on board with this strategy. In what may be an early sign that the Cohen and Manafort developments are driving a wedge between Trump and his party, some GOP leaders urged their most at-risk incumbents to at least hold off on defending Trump until more information emerges.

Keep your powder dry and dont rush to attack or defend anybody because you just dont know enough to have a reaction that you can still defend three months from now, said Representative Tom Cole, a former House Republican campaign chairman.

Representative Carlos Curbelo, whos running in a district Hillary Clinton won easily, quickly followed that advice, calling Trumps latest scandals a sad chapter in our countrys politics and criticizing him for his attacks on Mueller.

Hes making a major mistake by attacking the Mueller probe in such a personal way, said Curbelo. The best thing for everyone, especially if the White House is so confident that the president will be absolved in this process, is to let the process continue.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Photo: courtesy of EXAU

Stand in front of the olive-oil section at any grocery store and youll start asking questions. Is this one better for cooking or finishing? Should I stick to Italian oils, or try Californian, Greek, or Spanish? Is there such a thing as a good and cheap olive oil? The fact that the industry is growing rapidly, with new options popping up on shelves all the time from both domestic producers and importers, tends to make things even more overwhelming.

Experts will tell you that buying olive oil (that is, extra-virgin olive oil) really comes down to personal preference, and finding your favorite is all about experimenting. Try enough oils and youll start to notice different flavor profiles  like piquant, peppery, mild, grassy, fiery  and which one you like best. Some of them are meant solely for cooking; theyre milder and wont lose too much flavor when they interact with heat. And there are bottles that are meant for drizzling on top of finished dishes; they taste best when served straight from the vessel. Many products on this list, though, can act as both.

No matter what you choose, there are still a few easy ground rules to follow: Look for dark or opaque bottles, because olive oil doesnt like light. (If you do find one that you like in a clear bottle, just be sure to store it in the cupboard instead of on the countertop.) Read the label to learn the country  or countries  of origin, and the harvest date. Richard Rea, the executive chef at the Butchers Daughter, also suggests looking for the certifications from either the NAOOA (North American Olive Oil Association) or its European counterpart, IOC (International Olive Council).

People like to compare olive oil to wine, but theres one massive difference: Olive oil does not benefit from age at all, says Nancy Harmon Jenkins, author of Virgin Territory: Exploring the World of Olive Oil. Olive oil only lasts for about 18 months. If youre worried that your oil has gone bad, food writer Kimberly Stewart has an easy test: Rancid oil smells like childrens Play-Doh, she says, or mouse urine. And on that note, we spoke to Jenkins, Stewart, and fifteen other chefs, importers, experts, and food writers about the best extra-virgin olive oils to use for any occasion. Here are their picks.

Best overall olive oil

California Olive Ranch Extra Virgin Olive Oil $10 Six of our EVOO experts mentioned this California Ranch olive oil as a go-to. Jenkins calls it a good beginner olive oil thats affordable, versatile, and available in three different flavors for everyday use. Stewart, the author of Eating Between the Lines, also uses California Olive Ranch often and noted that the producers manage to maintain the quality of the oil while keeping the price fairly low. Anna Hezel, senior editor at Taste and the author of Lasagna: A Baked Pasta Cookbook, calls it a dependable, mild olive oil to add richness to a tomato sauce or to fry some eggs in. Danielle Oron, author of Food You Love But Different, likes California Olive Ranch EVOO for roasting or grilling vegetables, broiling salmon, and making a quick vinaigrette. Oron says its a great option when she doesnt want the oil to overpower the flavor of the dressing. Matt Hyland, chef at Pizza Loves Emily in New York, thinks its distinct and tasty enough to pass as a finishing oil. He uses it for everything at the restaurant and likes that its one of the only domestic brands you can buy in bulk. He says it works just as well in a vinaigrette as it does drizzled on top of a sizzling pie straight from the oven. $10 at Walmart Buy

Best olive oil for finishing

Tenuta Di Capezzana Extra Virgin Olive Oil (2 Bottles) $80 If youre looking for an oil to drizzle over your food for added flavor, this one from Tuscany is your best bet. It came recommended by two of the experts we consulted  Jenkins and Erin Shambura, the owner and chef at Fausto in Brooklyn. Jenkins told us that Tuscan EVOO is the best oil in the world, and that Tenuta di Capezzana, which is produced outside Florence, is her go-to. Shambura describes it as having a buttery, mild flavor and a peppery finish. It has a nice balance of fruit and bitter with an earthy aroma, she says. Shambura recommends using this oil for roasted or grilled meat, and on hearty vegetables and mushroom dishes. Food artist Laila Gohar is another loyal fan of Tenuta Di Capezzana olive oil. Gohar tells us she is trying to support local shops as much as she can right now since many of them are struggling to survive closures due to the coronavirus, and luckily her favorite local shop is also online. Formaggio Kitchen in Essex Market is maybe my favorite shop for pantry items anywhere, Gohar says. $80 at Amazon Buy $39 at Market Hall Foods Buy

Best (less expensive) olive oil for finishing

Best non-California USA-made olive oil

Georgia Olive Farms, Extra Virgin Olive Oil $37 After California, Georgia is one of the largest U.S. producers of olive oil. This EVOO from the Southern state comes recommended by both Joey Ward, the executive chef and owner of Atlantas Southern Belle and Georgia Boy restaurants, and David Bancroft, the executive chef and partner of Acre restaurant in Auburn, Alabama. Ward recently visited the family-run farm where its made and pressed some himself. He says it has a very bright and peppery, robust flavor, and claims that it goes toe to toe with the Italian, Greek, and California oil producers. Bancroft, the 2017 winner of Food Networks Iron Chef Showdown, told us its his go-to at home and at work, saying he loves the bright aromatics from Georgia-grown arbequina olives. The flavor has a subtle hint of green banana. $37 at Amazon Buy

Best multi-use olive oil

Monini Extra Virgin Olive Oil $21 For daily use, Shambura recommends the medium-bodied Italian Monini Extra Virgin Olive Oil. It has a fruity, grassy flavor, and can be used for both drizzling and for cooking meats, vegetables, and sauces, making it super versatile. $21 at Amazon Buy

Best California olive oil for dipping

COBRAM ESTATE Extra Virgin Olive Oil From $13 From $13 To re-create the feeling of going out to eat at home Jessica Randhawa, chef and blogger at The Forked Spoon suggests picking up a bottle of this award-winning California olive oil thats local to her neck of the woods. Randhawa says their California Extra Virgin Olive Oil is an amazing oil for both dipping and cooking. If you can get your hands on it, she also recommends their limited-edition California First Harvest, calling it out of this world tasty, but also quite expensive at about $50. Plus, she warns, it sells out fast. From $13 at Cobram Estate Buy $18 at Target Buy

Best olive oil for snacking

Zoe Extra Virgin Olive Oil $25 for 2 Oron loves this EVOO, which is cold pressed from Spanish Cornicabra olives, giving it what she calls its rich and fruity flavor and the most beautiful color. Oron likes it so much she mostly uses it as a condiment for various snacks. She drizzles it on crudites and bowls of homemade hummus, and likes it for dipping torn pieces of baguette to enjoy while she cooks. Oron also told us she uses Partanna EVOO for the same purpose when she can find it. $25 for 2 at Amazon Buy $25 for 2 at Amazon Buy

Best flavored olive oil

Best olive oil for salads

Best statusy olive oil

Brightland 100% Extra Virgin Heirloom Olive Oil $37 According to Hezel, everyone in food media seems to be totally nuts for Brightland olive oil. The California company was started by Aishwarya Iyer, who left her venture capital job to create better olive oil made in small batches sustainably using nothing but olives  cold-pressed single origin heirloom olives. Each glass bottle (the design of which was inspired by Matisse cutouts) is UV-powder coated to protect the precious contents and marked with a harvest date so you know its fresh, something not all brands do. Plus its sold at a handful of status-y retailers including Food52, Nordstrom, Goop, and Terrain. Choose from one of two flavors: Awake, which is grassier and best used in soups, pastas, or roasted veggies; or Alive, which has a nutty flavor and is great for salads, marinades, and baking. $37 at Brightland Buy $38 at Food52 Buy

Best olive oil to buy in bulk

Kirkland Signature Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil $13 $13 Dont laugh, Oron told us when she mentioned Kirkland Signature Organic EVOO as one of her favorites. I go through a lot of EVOO. The company we like for its great basic white T-shirts is also a surprisingly solid purveyor of USDA organic olive oil, which is bottled in Italy with olives from Italy, Portugal, and Spain. $13 at Costco Buy

Best single-origin olive oil to buy in bulk

OLEO I Extra Virgin Olive Oil $31 $31 If youd rather use an olive oil that comes from one region and that you can also buy in bulk, go for Oleo. Its a high-quality Spanish olive oil made in Cordoba, Andalusia, using Hojiblanca and Picual olives. Nick Perkins  chef-partner at Harts, the Fly, and Cervos in New York City  calls it a workhorse in the kitchen. Its great for sofritos, roasting, marinating, and cooking vegetables, he says. Basically, we use it for all our hot cooking. Its also the bulk olive oil the restaurants sell at their weekly neighborhood market. $31 at Despana Buy

Best olive oil for frying

Bertolli Extra Light Olive Oil $12 $12 Sometimes you want an olive oil with strong flavors and a lot of personality. But other times when cooking something with its own unique aromas, you want one that wont overpower the food. Jess Calvo of Thai Farm Kitchen in the Kensington neighborhood of Brooklyn says he uses Bertolli Extra Light for dishes such as Phad Thai, Phad See Ew, or Drunken noodle because, though its the only one on this list that doesnt qualify as extra virgin olive oil, according to him its healthy, very good for frying, and wont compromise the aromas of Thai food, says Calvo. $12 at Target Buy

Best Italian olive oil (that isnt from Tuscany)

Pianogrillo Extra Virgin Olive Oil $38 $38 Italian olive oils are widely used around the world, and there are a lot of them, so we asked Beatrice Ughi, founder and president of high-quality Italian food importer Gustiamo, for her recommendations. She picked Pianogrillo, which comes from the Ragusa province in Sicily, known for its excellent quality of oils. Compared to Tuscan olive oil, Sicilian EVOO tends to deliver a more forward flavor with bite, and less of the grassy voluptuousness notes found in the former. Nick and Sarah Suarez, owners of Gaskins a restaurant in Germantown, NY that recently had to close temporarily due to coronavirus, are also partial to Pianogrillo and Gustiamo, the importer who delivers it. Nick says Its a workhorse that can be used for cooking, vinaigrettes or as a finishing for salads or roasted vegetables. We used it for everything at Gaskins. $38 at Gustiamo Buy

Best Spanish olive oil

O-Med Arbequina Extra Virgin Olive Oil $19 Alex Raij, the chef and owner of New York City Spanish restaurants El Quinto Pino, Txikito, and La Vara, specializes in cuisine from the Basque region of Spain. She prefers olive oils that are grassy and neutral, but not usually spicy, and recommends O-Meds 100 percent Arbequina olive oil with a low acidity. When trying out different olive oils, many experts suggest tasting the raw oil, but Raij has a different approach. The true test of olive oil is on food. Floating in a soup or on bread, with a little bit of sea salt, she says. $19 at O-Med Oil Buy

Best Spanish olive oil for roasting meat

Nunez De Prado Extra Virgin Olive Oil Tin $26 now 23% off $20 Nunez de Prado, which comes from the Andalusia region, is Waxmans recommendation for a Spanish oil. He uses this oil for roasting meat as well as for marinades. Zabars, which sells the olive oil in New York, describes it as bright and fruity with just a hint of pepper and a smooth, sweet finish. $20 at Amazon Buy $20 at Amazon Buy

Best Chilean olive oil

Olave Chilean Olive Oil $12 $12 Similar to California Olive Ranch, this is an olive oil suited to pretty much everything. Hyland used to buy the 100 percent Arbequina variety and called it drinkable. Unfortunately, that particular one has disappeared from the internet (and stores, too, as far as Hyland has found), but this blend should also be super-tasty and versatile. Id use it to finish pasta swirled in a pan and to toss over carrots once theyve been roasted, he says. I also like to poach garlic in canola oil and then transfer the cloves to this olive oil, he says. That way, the higher-quality stuff doesnt interact with heat, and you get two versions of delicious, aromatic garlic oil. $12 at Amazon Buy $12 at Amazon Buy

Best Greek olive oil

Gaea Fresh Olive Oil, Extra Virgin $20 Greek oils dont get as much attention as Italian or Spanish ones, but Howard says this is one of her favorite oils to use while cooking. At $18, its cheap enough to cook with, but also good enough to drizzle on as a finishing oil, she says. Its pressed within three hours of harvest, and importantly, features the harvest date on the label. Hyland uses the organic variety regularly at home, mostly for finishing. Its super-grassy, he says, like eating lawn clippings, which is honestly what I really like in olive oil. If green were a flavor, I would say it tastes green. $20 at Amazon Buy $20 at Amazon Buy

Best Greek olive oil to buy in bulk





Theros Extra Virgin Olive Oil $159 for 6 Jacob Sessoms, the executive chef at Cultura in Asheville, North Carolina, prepurchases 50 gallons of this olive oil for his restaurant. He likes that the oil is a family affair: Its produced by Spiro Theros, a friend of his, and Spiros son, Nikos. The father-son duo live in Asheville but make regular trips to Greece to press, package, and ship the oil from their familys plot. $159 for 6 at Theros Buy

Best Australian olive oil

Cobram Estate Extra Virgin Olive Oil Australia Select $9 $13 now 31% off $9 It took only one taste of this oil (the Australian counterpart to the Cobram Estate California varietal listed above) for Hyland to become a fan. Its well-priced and well-rounded, and he likes the idea of more olive oils being imported from Australia. As many people move beyond the generic grocery store-branded stuff, its nice to see different varieties coming out of different places, he says. Australia makes great wine, which also means they have the terrain to make great olive oil. $9 at Amazon Buy $9 at Amazon Buy

Best olive oil for gifting

Miraval Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil $58 Its not uncommon for wineries to get into the olive-oil business, and Miraval in Provence (which you might know as the winery bought by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, who still own it, even after their separation) makes a beautiful bottle. Howard, who recently gifted a bottle to friends, says its delicious enough that you can make a whole meal with just a bowl of this oil and some good bread. $58 at Amazon Buy

Best (less expensive) olive oil for gifting

EXAU Olive Oil $28 $28 According to chefs Elise Kornack and Anna Hieronimus, who ran the Michelin-starred restaurant Take Root, husband-and-wife team Guiseppe Morisani and Skyler Mapes (from Calabria and California, respectively) have made their business out of loving what they do  deeply. Their product is great, and theyre really transparent about how it gets made, a bonus in a market where thats not usually the case. Theyre producing olive oil with their interest and knowledge in nutrition, wine-making, and design, Kornack and Hieronimus say. $28 at EXAU Buy

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The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.

Every editorial product is independently selected. If you buy something through our links, New York may earn an affiliate commission."It is especially gratifying to have been involved in the Project since close to its inception and to have been able to assist during the strategic planning stages, said Ross-Smith. The Project has pioneered new approaches to engaging with industry and increasing Australian industry involvement, which are now being emulated by other major Defence projects. We look forward to assisting Defence with future phases of LAND 400 in the near future."

Cross border team assists with PE acquisition of Madison Pacific

Private equity firm and its portfolio company Tricor Group has acquired Asias leading specialised financial and corporate services firm Madison Pacific.

The private equity firm was advised by a cross-market team from Hogan Lovells, led by Hong Kong partner Steven Tran and including lawyers in China, UK, and Singapore.

The deal will enable Tricor to expand its corporate services to clients throughout Asia leveraging Madison Pacifics expertise.

ICC makes key move into Africa

The ICC International Court of Arbitration is planning to capitalize on its growing interest from Africa by establishing an African Commission.According to The Detroit Bureau , the production model will launch by late 2020 or 2021. Speaking to Kyung Soo Lee, the automakers chief executive officer in America said that we just had a meeting to look at the design. With the Honda Ridgeline around and the Ford Focus-based pickup truck in the pipeline, how does the Santa Cruz position itself?Similarly to the concept, the real deal targets urban adventurers who also happen to be on a budget. Hyundai is reportedly eyeing the Nissan Frontier as far as pricing is concerned, which means that the Santa Cruze could start in the neighborhood of $19,000.Expected to borrow the platform of a crossover, the Santa Cruz could adopt one of two possible engine options in the United States. The first contender is the 1.6-liter turbo that produces 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet in the Elantra Sport. As for the second, the Theta III scheduled to debut next year as a replacement to the Theta II in the Sonata (185 horsepower and 178 pound-feet) sounds alright for this application.But didnt the concept come with a 2.0-liter turbo diesel ? Rightly so, dear reader, but the U.S. customer would rather stick to gasoline than Satans Fuel. On the flip side, a diesel-powered Santa Cruz is just what the doctor ordered if Hyundai would sell the pickup truck in Europe as well.On an ending note, how should we look at the Santa Cruz? Based on what we know about the unibody pickup truck until now, its best to imagine the newcomer to arrive in the form of a sport utility truck-bodied Tucson. As curious as this guesstimate might sound, think about how many people would take the Santa Cruz over the TucsonSUV

HP

To be honest, we don't understand why the Koleos needs a facelift. The model went on sale in Europe in 2017. Of course, sales weren't all that great, since not many people want to pay top euro for a French car when the German brands are so well established.As far as facelifts are concerned, this isn't a bad one at all. The front end has received a lot of work, including new LED headlights, fog light surrounds and a narrower main grille. The overall effect is of a more serious "face" for theThe camouflage on the sides covers an area where the Koleos had some useless door trim, right under the mirror. We didn't like the fake Range Rover either. Meanwhile, around the back, designers have re-worked the taillights and lower bumper.It's too early to talk about the interior, especially as Renault isn't known for having the most cutting-edge systems in the business. But we could see the Koleos getting revisions to its seat and dashboard trim. Remember, this facelift was spotted a year into the model's life cycle, so don't expect big changes.What could be subject for revision is the engine range, especially as the EU is enforcing new emissions regulations as of this September. All cars, including the ones powered by gasoline, will have particle filters. You will also see emissions creeping upwards for all Koleos models, probably resulting in higher taxes in some countries.Right now, Europe only has two types of engine, a 1.6-liter diesel with 130 horsepower and a 2-liter with 175 horsepower. We've heard that a 1.7 dCi is being developed to replace the latter and is expected to produce up to 150. All should be revealed around the middle of 2019 when this facelift becomes available.Apple has removed 25K apps stating that they are against illegal apps even though companies have little choice but to comply with often biased local laws.

Apple has pulled thousands of illegal apps from its App Store in China, the Wall Street Journal reports.

State broadcaster CCTV criticized the USA company's management on Sunday for allowing gambling apps, which are banned in China. Apple had to shut down on virtual private network services apps available on its App Stores as well as "The New York Times" that was recently removed from China.

App stores run by other companies, including Baidu Inc (BIDU.O) and Tencent Holdings Ltd (0700.HK), are also required to remove banned foreign content and gambling apps. Government-controlled media in the country accused Apple of knowingly hosting a variety of gambling-themed titles, including fake lottery ticket apps. Its market position, however, has come under attack from a coterie of savvy domestic players from Huawei Technologies to Xiaomi, which offer users there more locally oriented services.

Suspect in Mollie Tibbetts disappearance was in U.S. illegally

The agency added that Rivera is an undocumented immigrant from Mexico. "The immigration laws are such a disgrace". She says she worries for the young women she sees running through the park late at night who aren't in a pair.

Apple, while it didn't cough on exact numbers, confirmed the move in a statement.

Apple has a history of routinely pulling apps from its online store for various reasons. CCTV reported that Apple didn't follow the rules it has laid down regarding its apps on its Apps Store. "These includes both real money gambling apps as well as apps that simulate a gambling experience". The standard state media line is that Apple doesn't do enough to combat illegal activity carried out through their platforms.

The US company has much at stake in China, its largest market after the US, as well as the main production base for the world's iPhones and iPads. Just previous year, Apple were forced to take down thousands of VPN apps, used by Chinese citizens to access websites blocked by the state. VPN apps allowed Chinese users to bypass the Great Firewall to get uncensored access to blocked websites.

Apple did not respond to a request for further details by iGamingBusiness.com.Hyundai has completed South Koreas first domestic highway journey with an autonomously navigated semi-trailer truck.

Hyundais Xcient truck drove approximately 40km on the highway between Uiwang and Incheon, carrying a large semi-trailer simulating cargo transportation.

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This successful demonstration proves that innovative autonomous driving technology can be used to transform the trade logistics industry, said Maik Ziegler, PhD, director of commercial vehicle R&D strategy group at Hyundai Motor Company.

At this stage, a human driver is still used to control the vehicle manually in certain situations, but I think we will achieve Level 4 automation soon as we are constantly upgrading our technological capability.

The demonstration, which took place on August 21, was conducted using Hyundais Xcient model truck, which has a maximum load capacity of 40 tons. This was semi-equipped with a SAE standard Level 3 autonomous driving system, enabling it to steer, accelerate or decelerate, and maneuver through traffic, all without human input. A human driver was on board to take over manual control when required.

The vehicle was equipped with innovative technology features, which enabled it to maintain and change lanes during the natural flow of traffic, detect lane changes made by vehicles in front of it, navigate through tunnels, and perform a complete halt or accelerate according to road traffic.

For the demonstration the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) issued a temporary autonomous driving license for the first time to a heavy-duty truck. Hyundai Motor, in cooperation with its trade subsidiary Hyundai Glovis, utilized this opportunity to test the application of autonomous driving for use in the trade logistics industry.

The test route is Hyundai Gloviss most frequently travelled section for vehicles heading to the Port of Incheon. This includes 40km in total of automobile highway. The truck successfully completed the journey, traveling 40km in one hour while adhering strictly to the expressway speed limit of 90km/h.

Hyundai Motor is planning to undertake further autonomous navigation technology tests in future in a variety of areas such as the coastal city of Busan, and plans to concentrate on its enterprise development capabilities with the aim of early commercialization of the technology.

Expressways headed toward the Port of Incheon carry heavy traffic even during the week, due to the high quantity of goods being exported. Therefore the vehicles autonomous technology and know-how had to be sufficient enough to adapt to unexpected situations throughout the journey.

In addition, the semi-trailer truck is approximately 3.5 times longer, 1.4 times wider, and 9.2 times heavier than the average compact sedan (when compared with an empty trucks weight). This requires an advanced and detailed autonomous navigation system.

Accordingly, Hyundai Motor equipped sensors similar to the ones featured in autonomous sedans, and additional sensors optimized for heavy-duty trucks, like a hitch angle sensor and trailer rear radar sensor.

The truck has 10 different sensors: three front and side-rear cameras, two frontal and rear radars, three lidars in the front and sides, and a hitch angle sensor in the trailer coupler that computes the change in angle between the truck and trailer in real time, allowing the truck to be safely stabilized upon sharp turns.

The data collected by each sensor collaborates with the HD map and sends information to the electronic control module for localization. The module makes accurate decisions for each situation, controlling the speed, steering, and breaking accordingly.

A new steering control system (Motor Assist Hydraulic Steering) developed by Hyundai Mobis was also implemented, providing a precise steering mechanism that controls the steering angle depending on the decision made by the electronic control unit. This minimizes the effort required to steer the vehicle, reducing driver fatigue.

The introduction of the autonomous truck to trade logistics is predicted to instigate groundbreaking change in the industry, which is shedding its traditional industrial image by integrating innovative technology like autonomous navigation, IoT and mobility technology to reform as a state-of-the-art technology industry.

Autonomous trucks maximize efficiency by maintaining the most efficient speed and velocity, which reduces fuel costs that make up one third of long distance delivery costs, thereby lowering the vehicles carbon footprint.

Hyundai Gloviss success in utilizing self-driving trucks as part of its delivery service proves that the self-driving technology is being utilized in actual logistics transport and can lead to mutual development, said Sang-Sok Suh, PhD, head of strategy and planning group at Hyundai Glovis. The company will be a leader in adopting future mobility technology like autonomous driving for the trade logistics industry.

In the distribution industry, when multiple trucks travel in a convoy all vehicles precisely follow the path of the leading vehicle. Hyundai is currently investing in truck platooning technology that will enable this process to continue with autonomous vehicles, and plans to complete this by the 2020s.Blue Cross Blue Shield plans have collected billions of dollars in profit in the first six months of this year, putting 2018 on track to be one of the most lucrative years for the Blues since the Affordable Care Act marketplaces went live in 2014.

The big picture: Premiums have vastly outpaced the claims that the health insurers had to pay out to hospitals and doctors. But the Blues also have benefited from the Republican law that cut corporate taxes  with several companies incurring no federal taxes or even getting rebates.

By the numbers: Axios reviewed the financial statements of 25 Blue Cross Blue Shield affiliates, which have a lot of negotiating and brand power in their respective states. Outside of Anthem and Highmark Health, the documents only factor in what the Blues companies made from fully insured health plans, and not what they made in administrative fees from self-insured employers.

Cumulatively, those Blues insurers made $8.6 billion in profit during the first six months of this year  a 42% increase from the same period in 2017.

The ACA's individual marketplaces remain profitable for nearly every Blues insurer.

Health Care Service Corp., the Chicago-based parent of Blue Cross Blue Shield insurers in five states, had the highest six-month net profit, at more than $2.9 billion.

HCSC did not incur any federal tax liability, and instead registered $833 million in tax credits as income since the start of this year. Update: The company said it "will/have receive(d) benefits as a result of the new tax laws" and argued the "seasonality in our business...causes earnings to be weighted toward the first half of the year."

Other Blues plans similarly paid either no corporate taxes or got refunds. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan recorded a $156 million tax gift in the first half of 2018 thanks to the tax law's repeal of the corporate alternative minimum tax. AMT credits "are being reported as statutory income and will be reported this way through 2021," a spokeswoman said.

Between the lines: These data suggest the Blues have raised premiums well beyond what they thought they'd ultimately pay to providers, and the tax law will be a boon for them for years to come.

The big question: Given their huge cash flows, how will Blues plans handle premiums for 2019?Actor Jimmy Bennett, who has accused Asia Argento of sexual abuse, told The New York Times that he was too "afraid and ashamed" to speak up at the time of the incident, saying there "was still a stigma to being in the situation as a male in our society."

The big picture: Bennett first notified Argento, who has been a leader of the #MeToo movement, of his intention to sue her in November, according to The Times. Bennett said he didn't speak out originally "because I chose to handle it in private. ... My trauma resurfaced as she came out as a victim herself."Michael Cohen told lawmakers last year, in sworn testimony, that he didn't know whether then-candidate Donald Trump had foreknowledge of the 2016 Trump Tower meeting with Russians, three sources with knowledge of Cohen's testimony tell Axios.

The big picture: And Cohen still doesn't know whether Trump knew about the infamous meeting, according to Cohen's lawyer, Lanny Davis. "Nothing has changed," he told Axios. News reports last month said Cohen was willing to assert to special counsel Robert Mueller that Trump did know about the meeting in advance.

Why it matters: Questions about Cohen's testimony about the meeting may earn him a return trip to Capitol Hill.

What's new: This information about what Cohen told Congress about Trump  reported here for the first time  colors in the gaps of a joint statement Tuesday by Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr and Vice Chair Sen. Mark Warner that got buried under the Cohen-Manafort news avalanche.

"[W]e recently re-engaged with Mr. Cohen and his team following press reports that suggested he had advance knowledge of the June 2016 meeting between campaign officials and Russian lawyers at Trump Tower," the statement says.

with Mr. Cohen and his team following press reports that suggested he had advance knowledge of the June 2016 meeting between campaign officials and Russian lawyers at Trump Tower," the statement says. "Mr. Cohen had testified before the Committee that he was not aware of the meeting prior to its disclosure in the press last summer."

had testified before the Committee that he was not aware of the meeting prior to its disclosure in the press last summer." "[T]he Committee inquired of Mr. Cohen's legal team as to whether Mr. Cohen stood by his testimony. They responded that he did stand by his testimony."

inquired of Mr. Cohen's legal team as to whether Mr. Cohen stood by his testimony. They responded that he did stand by his testimony." "We hope ... Mr. Cohens plea agreement will not preclude his appearance before our Committee as needed for our ongoing investigation.

The backstory: Last year, when questioned under oath by lawmakers on the House intelligence committee, Cohen not only said that he himself had no foreknowledge of the meeting but that he had no idea whether Trump did either, according to three sources with knowledge of his testimony.

A source briefed on Cohen's testimony said he repeated that testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee.

I asked Davis why he didn't shoot down last month's stories.

Davis, after a long day of TV hits defending Cohen, said: "It was painful. We were not the source, we could not confirm, and we could not correct. We had to be silent because of the sensitivity needed in the middle of a criminal investigation."

Get more stories like this by signing up for our daily morning newsletter, Axios AM.The Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission are investigating Microsoft's business practices of selling software in Hungary earlier this decade, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Why it matters: Aggressive sales tactics are common, but bribery schemes involving middlemen and kickbacks overseas are illegal under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Microsoft is being investigated for these practices in Hungary, as it previously was in five other countries, according to the Journal. Microsoft told the Journal it had conducted its own internal investigation of the matter that led to the firing of four employees, and it was cooperating with authorities.The arrest of a murder suspect this week, who police had said is an undocumented immigrant responsible for the killing of 20-year-old University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts, has reignited the debate about America's immigration policies.

Whats happening: On Wednesday, the legal status of 24-year-old suspect Cristhian Bahena Rivera came into question. Riveras attorney, Allan Richards, said in court filings that his client has been living in the country legally  contradicting what immigration authorities told the Associated Press.

The details: A spokesperson for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services told the AP that the agency found no records on Riveras legal status. Immigration authorities also reportedly said they have no record of granting Rivera legal entry into the U.S.

Rivera, who appeared in court on Wednesday, is facing a first-degree murder charge and life without parole.

His employer told the AP that he learned Rivera, who had been working on a dairy farm since 2014, has been using a false name after seeing reports of the arrest. Rivera had reportedly presented an out-of-state government ID and a matching Social Security card.

Rivera's attorney has confirmed that Rivera received his paycheck under a different name and that his immigration status is now uncertain, per the AP.

The big picture: At a campaign rally Tuesday night in Charleston, West Virginia President Trump sought to link the case to the country's immigration laws.

"You heard about today, with the illegal alien coming in from, very sadly, from Mexico. ... The laws are so bad. The immigration laws are a such a disgrace," he said.

The other side: Reuters reports that Iowa congressional Republicans and other candidates competing in competitive districts have avoided politicizing the case amid fears of voter backlash.President Trump weighed in on a surprising new issue in a tweet on Wednesday night, speaking out against the South African government seizing land "from white farmers."

The big picture: His tweet was spurred by Fox News host Tucker Carlson's criticism of the State Department's failure to address the situation. While South Africa's government is moving to expropriate land without compensation  a highly controversial move against the country's colonial, apartheid past  there is no evidence to support a "large scale killing of farmers," as Trump claimed in his tweet.

The backdrop

In 1913, the Natives Land Act kept black Africans from purchasing or renting land in "white South Africa," the BBC reports. In 1994, with the end of apartheid, the African National Congress said it would return 30% of land to its previous owners by 2014.

White South Africans make up 8% of the population, per the WSJ, but own 73% of agricultural land.

What's happening now

The ANC plans to change the constitution to "allow the expropriation of land without compensation in an effort to overcome deep inequalities in land ownership," the Wall Street Journal reports.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa "urged consideration of expropriation without compensation, so long...as the government's actions didn't threaten the economy or food security," the Washington Post reports.

Reform has so far "been led by voluntary sales by white farmers...at market prices," per the Journal. There have not yet been land seizures, according to CBS News.

Ramaphosa says he is aiming to "undo a grave historical injustice" against black South Africans during "colonialism and the apartheid era," per CBS.

Be smart: Land owners have the right to challenge government actions in court.

What to watch

Crimes like robbery and rape on farms have increased in the last two years, though the number of attacks (561) is "still far off" from the 2001/02 high (1,069), according to the WSJ.

There have been reports of violence against white South African farmers, though the number of farmers killed in the last 20 years has "declined...and reached a low of 47 people killed in 2017/18."

CBS' Debora Patta reported that the issue of crime against farmers, and land expropriation, are two separate issues. "There is no such thing" as a white genocide in South Africa  "[a] high murder rate has nothing to do with land seizures or anti-white sentiment."

Out of the 19,016 murders in the country between April 2016 and March 2017, 66 of those occurred on farms, the New York Times reports. Between 2001 and 2002, there were 140 recorded murders on farms.

What they're saying

Fox News' Tucker Carlson criticized Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday night for not addressing what's happening in South Africa, which he said "should be getting worldwide attention."

President Trump tweeted afterwards, quoting Carlson:

"I have asked Secretary of State @ SecPompeo to closely study the South Africa land and farm seizures and expropriations and the large scale killing of farmers. 'South African Government is now seizing land from white farmers.' @ TuckerCarlson @ FoxNews"

The South African government responded:The Armenian government has promised major tax cuts that will benefit most workers as well as some small businesses.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian said the government will initiate very serious changes in Armenias Tax Code in a Facebook video address aired late on Wednesday.I can now say that we will opt for a simplification of the tax legislation and a reduction in personal income tax, he said.

Pashinian declined to specify the extent of the new tax rates planned by the government, saying that several scenarios are still under consideration. He pledged to all but scrap the main tax levied some of the small businesses operating in the country.

Under Armenian law, companies with an annual turnover of up to 115 million drams ($237,000) are exempt from profit and value-added (VAT) taxes paid by larger businesses. They are only required to pay turnover tax equivalent to 2 percent of their revenue.

Pashinian promised to set a new and symbolic tax rate for small firms earning no more than 24 million drams annually. In essence, that will mean the near absence of [turnover] tax, he said.

Davit Ananian, the head of Armenias State Revenue Committee (SRC), was careful not to shed more light on the promised tax cuts when he spoke to reporters on Thursday. He said the government is still calculating budgetary losses that would result from lower taxes and is looking into ways of making up for them.

In September the government will formulate a common position [on the issue] and inform the public, Ananian said after a weekly cabinet meeting in Yerevan. The government hopes to push the amendments through the parliament before the end of this year, he said.

The Tax Code was already amended by Armenias previous government last year. The amendments raised from 26 percent to 28 percent the tax rate for monthly incomes ranging from 150,000 drams to 2 million drams ($310-$4,150). The rate for those who earn more was set at 36 percent. At the same time the tax rate for workers making up to 150,000 drams a month was cut from 24.4 percent to 23 percent.

Those changes, which took effect on January 1, met with strong resistance from opposition groups, notably Pashinians Yelk bloc. In February, the Armenian parliament voted down a Yelk bill that would repeal the higher tax rates.

But on April 12, Serzh Sarkisians government unexpectedly announced plans to lower income tax. The announcement came the day before Pashinian launched anti-government mass protests that eventually brought him to power.The first large group of Armenian interior troops joined army units in guarding Armenias border with Azerbaijan on Thursday as part of an unprecedented redeployment ordered by the new government.

They headed to some sections of the heavily militarized border immediately after an farewell ceremony in Yerevan attended by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and other senior officials.

The troops that are part of the national police service have until now been tasked with only ensuring internal security and dealing with violent unrest in the country. Pashinian ordered them to also protect the Armenian-Azerbaijani frontier on a rotating basis shortly after coming to power in May.

Speaking at the ceremony, Pashinian described their new mission as historic, saying that they will not only help the Armenian military but also improve their public image. Our objective is to ensure that Armenias citizens perceive the police and the police troops as protectors of their security, Armenian statehood and the constitution, he said.

The Armenian police chief, Valeri Osipian, said earlier this week that police personnel will serve at the border on two-week tours of duty and receive additional payments for that. They look forward to their new task, Osipian told reporters.

Daniel Ioannisian, a civic activist who sits on new government commissions formed by Pashinian, welcomed the redeployment. The public always wondered who the possible enemies of the police troops are, and this only deepened distrust between the public and the police, he said. That problem was somewhat addressed as soon as it was announced that the police troops will also be defending the countrys borders.By Rashid Shirinov

August 23 sees the 25th anniversary of the occupation of Azerbaijans two ancient and beautiful regions of Fuzuli and Jabrayil by the Armenian invasion troops.

The enemy forces occupied the entire Jabrayil region and over 90 percent of Fuzuli, leaving more than 116,000 residents displaced.

Fuzuli region was subjected to constant attacks by Armenian belligrant forces since 1988, when Armenia began its territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the occupation in August 1993, more than 1,100 residents of the region were martyred, 113 were taken hostage and 1,450 people were left disabled.

As in other invaded Azerbaijani territories, in Fuzuli Armenian armed forces pursued the campaign of ruining cultural and historical monuments in this ancient land after its occupation. Ancient historical monuments of world importance were left under occupation in Fuzuli and many of them are now destructed.

The most famous of Fuzuli monuments is the Azykh Cave. A Neanderthal-style jaw bone found there in 1968 is thought to be over 300,000 years old and thus one of the oldest proto-human remains found in this part of the world. Archaeological samples found in Azykh Paleolithic camp were shown at the Paris Museums exhibition The first inhabitants of Europe in 1981.

Now the Azykh cave as well as the Taghlar cave are under Armenian occupation.

The Fuzuli region had unusual flora and fauna, mineral springs and was also famous for its forests, which accommodated precious woods. After the occupation, Armenians ruthlessly cut down trees, destroying the nature and plundering the natural wealth.

The Jabrayil region was occupied on the same day. As a result of the regions seizure, more than 350 people were killed, 177 people were disabled and 91 were captured or went missing. Moreover, 72 secondary school buildings, eight hospitals, five mosques, two museums, 129 historical monuments and 149 cultural centers were left under occupation.

Jabrayil, spanning a territory of 1,050 square kilometers, had a population of over 60,000 people before the Armenian invasion. Such spheres as viticulture, livestock farming and cereals cultivation played a main role in the economy of the region.

Many historical and archaeological monuments as well as masterpieces of architecture such as the Khudafarin bridges of the 12-13th centuries, Sultan Majid bath-house, Maiden Tower in Diridag mountain, many burial mounds, tombs, mosques, hammams and turbehs existed in Jabrayil before its occupation.

The calculations showed that the region suffered $14 million damage because of the Armenian occupation. Some 61,100 internally displaced persons from the region now are obliged to live in more than 2,000 settlements in 58 regions of Azerbaijan.

Today the Jojug Marjanli village of Jabrayil region is under the full control of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, since it was fully liberated from the Armenian occupation in April 2016, when the Azerbaijani Army prevented an Armenian provocation on the contact line. Life has already returned to Jojug Marjanli, and all Azerbaijani IDPs believe that other villages and regions of Azerbaijan will be liberated eventually and they will return to the native lands.

Azerbaijan tries to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as soon as possible, while the aggressor Armenia does the opposite by making every effort to preserve the status quo in Nagorno-Karabakh. Currently, 20 percent of the Azerbaijani territories remain under Armenian occupation and over 1 million of refugees and IDPs have to live far away from their homes. Armenia yet ignores the UN Security Council's four resolutions on immediate withdrawal from the internationally recognized territory of Azerbaijan.

---

Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAzIn a joint statement amid turmoil over the Liberal leadership, acting Home Affairs Minister Scott Morrison and Communications Minister Mitch Fifield also said vendors that could not adequately protect the network from interference would be ruled out.

The U.S. government last week officially banned agencies from purchasing or using certain telecommunications and surveillance products from Chinese tech companies, like Huawei and ZTE.

Huawei has argued that with or without them being involved in the 5G rollout in Australia, the technology will be made in China, and banning it would "decimate" the industry, slowing the rollout and lowering competition.

CHINESE-owned telecommunications giant Huawei has been blocked from rolling out Australia's 5G network due to security concerns.

For several months, reports speculated Huawei could be banned from Australia's 5G network, with commentators awaiting a final announcement, despite the company's continual denial.

"This is a (sic) extremely disappointing result for consumers", it tweeted. A government official told Reuters that the ban was aimed at Huawei, in particular, probably because it already sent the country an offer to oversee its 5G development and to supply the network's equipment, including base stations and towers.

Huawei caught using a DSLR to fake smartphone selfies

Huawei is not the only smartphone brand whose desperation to claim superiority in the camera space has cost it its brand image. Back in 2016, Huawei used a DSLR to showcase the photo taking capabilities of its P9, for which it later apologized.

5G networks will start commercial services in Australia next year.

Huawei did not comment further beyond the Twitter statement.

Huawei - one of the world's largest telecommunications equipment and services providers - has been under scrutiny in some countries including the United States and Australia over its alleged close links to Beijing.

"This decision, which has been dropped on the eve of the 5G auction, creates uncertainty for carriers' investment plan", said Lloyd, adding that the decision poses a significant change which fundamentally undermines Australia's 5G future, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

"The security of 5G networks will have fundamental implications for all Australians, as well as the security of critical infrastructure, over the next decade", he said in a statement.By Trend

Azerbaijan eyes to increase the export of its products to Central European countries, namely Poland, till late 2018, trade representative of Azerbaijan in Poland Nemat Nagdaliyev told Trend.

"The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Poland amounted to $50.137 million in January-July 2018," he said. "At the same time, exports from Azerbaijan to Poland amounted to $4.435 million, while imports - $45.702 million."

Taking into account that for seven months of 2017 the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Poland amounted to $37.06 million, the trade turnover increased by 35.3 percent in 2018," Nagdaliyev said.

"The dynamics of trade turnover growth for the last five years is about at the same level, so trade turnover is not expected to increase greatly," he said. Of course, we are also working in this direction."

"To date, the main share in the export of Azerbaijani products to China and Central Europe accounts for alcoholic beverages, juices, compotes," Nagdaliyev said.

"In the future, Azerbaijan intends to focus on the development of cooperation with Poland in such areas as agriculture, transport, chemical industry, IT, tourism," he said.

"Today, there are all prerequisites for that. By the way, Azerbaijan was marked out by Polands Ministry of Economic Development as one of 22 most promising markets for Polish companies worldwide in 2017," Nagdaliyev said.

He said that in 2017 Poland became the fourth biggest trading partner of Azerbaijan.

To date, Russia, Italy, Turkey, Israel, Germany and China are the biggest trading partners of Azerbaijan.

Poland is the sixth biggest market in the EU with fast-growing economy. In 2017, the country's GDP grew by 4.6 percent, while the forecast for 2018 was 3.8 percent.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAzBy Rashid Shirinov

The ElectroGas Malta consortium sees great potential for growth in gas demand for electricity production at the gas power station in Malta, which is caused by an increase in tourist flow, the consortium told Trend on August 22.

It was commenting on the possibility of increasing the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) by SOCAR Trading to the gas power station in Malta.

The government of Malta is paying great attention to the growing tourism industry on the island and provides subsidies to local hotels to attract more tourists. This leads to a higher demand for electricity (for example, because of the additional use of air conditioners, etc.), the consortium said.

ElectroGas Malta noted that the additional LNG required for the gas power station will be supplied by SOCAR Trading.

The consortium, in which SOCAR is represented by its subsidiary SOCAR Trading owning a 20 percent stake in ElectroGas Malta, was created to implement the project of construction of a gas power station in Malta. The other shareholders are German Siemens Project Ventures and Maltese GEM Holdings.

SOCAR Trading is also represented in the project as a supplier of LNG (6-7 batches per year), a floating installation for its storage and equipment for processing.

The company with headquarters in Geneva was established by SOCAR at the end of 2007. Presently, SOCAR Trading sells the bulk of SOCARs crude oil exports from the Turkish port of Ceyhan, trades oil and oil products of other countries, and assists the parent company in connection with international investments. SOCAR Tradings field of activity covers the countries of Europe, Asia and America.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAzBy Sara Israfilbayova

Companies from Azerbaijan and Russia plan to establish joint ventures in the fields of industry, pharmaceuticals and construction.

Executive Director of the Russia-Azerbaijan Business Council Yuri Danilov told Trend that there are already projects that are in a high stage of readiness, approved by both sides.

In his opinion, metalworking, oil machine building, chemical industry, car building, production of building materials and processing of agricultural products can be considered spheres that are useful for cooperation and setting up joint ventures.

Today we see a great interest of Russian business in the work in the markets of Azerbaijan, he said, adding that, in particular, the board today includes 75 members.

Danilov went on to say that Russian-Azerbaijani cooperation is now entering a new level and there is a great interest of the business communities of the two countries to develop close trade relations.

I believe that today it is important to move towards simplification of trade and economic cooperation, creation of joint Russian-Azerbaijani productions in the territory of Azerbaijan, and it is also important to share the technologies and transit potential of the republic, he said.

The decision on the establishment of the Russian-Azerbaijani Business Council was made in 2015 within the framework of the 15th session of the intergovernmental commission, and the constituent session of the council was held in May 2016.

The main objective of the Russia-Azerbaijan Business Council is to expand and develop business contacts, mutually beneficial cooperation between Russian and Azerbaijani entrepreneurs, promote Russian business in the Azerbaijani market, organize a constructive dialogue between business circles of both countries, reveal opportunities for expansion and diversification of Russia-Azerbaijan interaction in the business sector, including joint investment projects being implemented in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan is one of the main economic partners of Russia among the CIS countries. Interregional cooperation plays an important role in the development of Russian-Azerbaijani trade and economic relations and the increase in trade turnover.

Russia has been included in the list of Azerbaijans five largest trade partners in January-June 2018 with the volume of trade turnover of $ 1.14 billion (8.54 percent of the total volume of trade turnover).

Azerbaijan invested more than $1 billion in the Russian economy, and Russia invested about $4 billion in the economy of Azerbaijan.

The products worth $349.23 million were exported from Azerbaijan to Russia from January to June 2018, which is 5.76 percent more than in the first half of the year. The volume of imports from Russia, in turn, amounted to $788.21 million, which is 0.29 percent more than in the first six months of 2017.

The trade turnover between the states amounted to $1.3 billion in January-July 2018, according to State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan. Russia accounts for 7.89 percent of the total foreign trade turnover of Azerbaijan.

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Sara Israfilbayova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Sara_999Is

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAzBy Laman Ismayilova

Every Friday, Azerbaijans favorite artists share their impressions of French films screened at the Landmark's outdoor terrace within the framework of the "Mon cinema francais" project.

The project is co-organized by the French Embassy in Azerbaijan and the French Institute and Landmark Hotel Baku in cooperation with the bright representatives of the artistic world of the country.

Azerbaijani photographer Rustam Huseynov attended the screening of the film "Breathless" by Jean-Luc Godard on August 17, Day.Az reported.

"Breathless" is a 1960 French New Wave crime drama film written and directed by Jean-Luc Godard about a wandering criminal (Jean-Paul Belmondo) and his American girlfriend (Jean Seberg). It was Godard's first feature-length work and represented Belmondo's breakthrough as an actor.

Breathless was one of the earliest, most influential examples of French New Wave (nouvelle vague) cinema. The film attracted much attention for its bold visual style, which included unconventional use of jump cuts.

A fully restored version of the film was released in the U.S. for its 50th anniversary in May 2010. When originally released in France, the film attracted over 2 million viewers.

The film screening was traditionally held in a cozy hall, but unlike previous sessions, the spectators who overflowed the venue also enjoyed an exhibition of monochrome photos taken by Rustam Huseynov.

Notably, the French films are presented to Baku movie lovers every Friday throughout August and September.

Another film of French director "My Life to Live" will be screened on August 24. Azerbaijani film director and producer Isa Jabbarov will join the film screening.

On August 31, the film director Teymur Hajiyev will present the film by Jean-Pierre Melville "The Red Circle". Famous philosopher, audiovisual artist Teymur Daimi will attend the screening of the film by Leos Carax" Holy Motors" on September 7.

The film by Louis Malle "Lacombe Lucien" will be showcased on September 14. Azerbaijani architect, designer, art critic Elchin Aliyev will attend the film screening.

Acclaimed national film director Ilgar Safat will present film lovers the film by Robert Bresson "Money" on September 21.

Famous national actor and movie director Bahram Bagirzade will surprise the audience with the film by Francis Veber "The Toy" on September 28.

Azerbaijani film lover have a chance to see some of the greatest French films with English subtitles for free.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAzBy Laman Ismayilova

A piano concert dedicated to 100th anniversary of an outstanding Azerbaijani composer Gara Garayev will be held in Russia.

The concert will take place at Tchaikovsky Concert Hall on September 22.

The Tchaikovsky State Academic Grand Symphony Orchestra conducted by People's Artist of Azerbaijan Rauf Abdullayev will perform at the concert. The soloist is Alena Baeva (violin).

The concert will bring great pleasure to all music lovers, admirers of the genius Azerbaijani composer Gara Garayev.

Music lovers will enjoy numerous works by national composer, including "Don Quixote" - symphonic engravings; Symphony No. 3; Concerto for violin and orchestra; "The path of thunder" - the 2nd suite from the music of the ballet. The concert starts at 7 pm.

This year marks the 100th birthday anniversary of a legendary national composer Gara Garayev.

Having synthesized Eastern and Western musical traditions, his works cover essentially all genres. The works by the legend are performed all over the world.

He knew Azerbaijani folk music very well and loved to sing.

In 1938, Garayev composed his first musical piece, a cantata "The Song of the Heart" to the poem by Rasul Rza. It was performed in Moscow's Bolshoi Theater in the same year. He was only 20 years old at the time.

Garayev returned to Baku in 1941. He began teaching students at Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Society.

In 1952, under the direction of the choreographer P. A. Gusev, Garayev's "Seven Beauties" ballet was staged at the Azerbaijani Theater of Opera and Ballet. Based on Nizami Ganjavi's famous poem, "Seven Beauties", it became the first Azerbaijani ballet and opened a new chapter in the history of classical music of Azerbaijan.

His ballet, "Path of Thunder", staged in 1958, was dedicated to racial conflicts in South Africa. In the same year, he wrote the score for the documentary film" A Story About the Oil Workers of the Caspian Sea", directed by Roman Karmen and set at the Oil Rocks.

Through his life, Garayev wrote nearly 110 musical pieces, including ballets, operas, symphonic and chamber pieces, solos for piano, cantatas, songs and marches, and rose to prominence not only in Azerbaijan, but also worldwide.

He brilliantly juxtaposed features of Mugham with jazz, blues, African music, European counterpoint styles, and developments related to the 20th century Western music such as the 12-tone technique.

Garayev died on May 13, 1982 in Moscow at the age of 64.

The composer leaved behind a legacy of music that will be felt for generations to come. The memory of great composer will always live in the hearts of Azerbaijani people.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAzBy Trend

President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon has recently held a governmental meeting, the Tajik news agency Avesta reported.

The fulfilment of the presidents instructions and the implementation of governmental decrees were discussed at the meeting.

The president summed up the results of his state visit to Uzbekistan. This visit with its effective results will be inscribed in the history of relations between the two neighbouring countries. One of the significant results is that Tajikistan and Uzbekistan reached the level of strategic partnership.

The Tajik and Uzbek peoples once again become closer as a result of state return visits of heads of state, signing of documents, holding of business forums, exhibitions of industrial products of countries, cultural programs and friendship event in both countries, opening of 16 border checkpoints between the republics, restoration of air communication, highways, significant activity of the Tajikistan-Uzbekistan Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation and other factors.

President Rahmon expressed sincere gratitude to industrialists, businessmen and

entrepreneurs for presenting the best samples of goods and products, industrial achievements of the country at the exhibition entitled "Made in Tajikistan", as well as cultural and art figures for organizing an interesting program at the event entitled "Friendship Event".

Taking into account the importance of the results of the visit and adoption of the necessary documents on cooperation, the president instructed the government of the Republic of Tajikistan, the board of the Uzbekistan-Tajikistan Intergovernmental Commission for the Development and Strengthening of Relations and the Uzbekistan-Tajikistan Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation to take concrete measures to implement the signed documents.

Other instructions were given in connection with comprehensive preparation for the nationwide celebration of the state independence of the Republic of Tajikistan.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAzBy Trend

The Russian-Kyrgyz Development Fund invites Russian and Kyrgyz companies to participate in the business forum, to be held in Bishkek on September 14, 2018, the Kyrgyz national news agency Kabar reported.

The event will be held with the support of the Russian embassy in the Kyrgyz Republic and the Trade Representative Office of the Russian Federation in the Kyrgyz Republic.

The main goal of the forum is to become the main economic platform for entrepreneurs of Kyrgyzstan and Russia within the cooperation in the EEU.

Round tables will be organized and B2B meetings will be held in key areas of the forum, namely, agriculture, engineering, light industry and tourism, to find joint business projects between entrepreneurs of Russia and Kyrgyzstan.

The event will be held with the participation of officials of the Russian Federation and the Kyrgyz Republic, employees of ministries and departments.

The Russian-Kyrgyz Development Fund was established upon an agreement between the governments of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Russian Federation. Since 2015 up till now, the Russian-Kyrgyz Development Fund has approved 1,451 projects worth $279 million. The main share of the loan portfolio consists of projects in the sphere of production and agriculture. The priority sectors for financing are agriculture, light industry, engineering, electronics, infrastructure of cities and settlements.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAzBy Trend

President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sooronbay Jeenbekov arrived in Ashgabat on a state visit Aug. 23, the Turkmen Foreign Ministry said in a message.

During the visit, meetings are planned with President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

Development of cooperation and activation of political, trade-economic, transport, energy and cultural-humanitarian relations between the countries will be discussed during the meetings.

A number of documents are planned to be signed.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAzBy Trend

Head of Sistan-Baluchestan's Ports and Maritime Organization Behrouz Aqaei described Irans strategic port of Chabahar as a unique opportunity for investors in Afghanistan and other neighboring nations to boost their trade activities.

The Chabahar port with a transport capacity of 8.5 million tons could create a unique opportunity for investors in neighboring countries, particularly Afghanistan, Aqaei told IRNA on August 23.By Trend

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev will visit Turkmenistan on August 24, the press service of the Uzbek Foreign Ministry reported.

Mirziyoyev will visit Turkmenistan at the invitation of his Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and take part in the meeting of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) Council of the Founder States.

Cooperation of the Central Asian countries to improve the ecological state of the Aral Sea in the context of global climate change have been included to the agenda of the summit, which will be held in Turkmenbashi.

It is expected that, following the meeting, the Joint Communique of the Council of Heads of State will be adopted.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAzThis story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.

U.S. District Judge Kimba Wood on Tuesday publicly filed an order that was signed Monday, ending attorney Michael Cohen's effort to bar as privileged some items seized by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in April raids on his dwellings.

Swiss drugmaker Novartis AG has said it had paid Cohen almost $1.2 million in a consulting deal; USA telecommunications company AT&T Inc. said it made payments of $600,000; and South Korea's Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. said it hired him for $150,000.

While charges had not been officially announced on Tuesday evening, the plea is related to payments Cohen made to women on behalf of Trump, The New York Times said. Cohen said in late July that he was willing to tell Special Counsel Robert Mueller about the knowledge of this meeting. Combined with his deteriorating relationship with the president, the attorney's legal quagmire could push him to cooperate with prosecutors any way he can.

"To the extent Cohen's claims that he acted at the direction of a candidate could be corroborated, this could be a big problem for Donald Trump", said Rick Hasen, an election-law expert and professor of law and political science at University of California-Irvine.

Cohen was part of Trump's inner circle for more than a decade, working as his personal attorney at the Trump Organization and continuing to advise the president after the election.

- Lanny Davis (@LannyDavis) August 21, 2018Today he stood up and testified under oath that Donald Trump directed him to commit a crime by making payments to two women for the principal goal of influencing an election.

Huawei caught using a DSLR to fake smartphone selfies

Huawei is not the only smartphone brand whose desperation to claim superiority in the camera space has cost it its brand image. Back in 2016, Huawei used a DSLR to showcase the photo taking capabilities of its P9, for which it later apologized.

Cohen was Trump's longtime personal lawyer until weeks ago.

Mr Trump did not mention Mr Cohen at a rally in West Virginia hours later.

Unnamed sources told NBC News that Mr. Cohen is discussing a potential deal with prosecutors over tax and banking fraud charges.

The Cohen investigation first burst into public view in April, when FBI agents searched his NY office, home and hotel room. But court records filed Tuesday also show investigators' interest swept far more broadly, and that the Federal Bureau of Investigation had mined deeply into Cohen's finances. They responded that he did stand by his testimony.

Randall Eliason, a former federal prosecutor who handled corruption cases, said the government's allegations against Cohen "certainly implicate other people, potentially in a conspiracy to commit the campaign violations".

It was unclear what, if any, cooperation Cohen might offer as a result of Tuesday's plea or what punishment he might finally face.The restoration of houses and facilities destroyed or damaged as a result of missile and artillery attacks from the Armenian armed forces during the 44-day Second Karabakh War [from late Sept. to early Nov.2020] in Azerbaijan is almost completed, the Karabakh bureau of Trend said.When a show opens with a song promising "something for everyone/comedy tonight," you know it could go one of two ways: a disappointing flop orThe federal government's civil war has reached fever pitch, with Malcolm Turnbull warning that he will leave the parliament if he loses the prime ministership, and daring his colleagues to put their names to paper if they intend to tear him down. Turnbull initiated the ballot in the hope of ending speculation that his government had lost faith in him in the face of poor opinion polling.

Australia's prime minister has said he will quit Parliament if his party wants a leadership ballot.

Deputy opposition leader Tanya Plibersek told Parliament said whoever emerged as prime minister should immediately call an election, an outcome that some analysts argue is probable.

Mr Turnbull is forcing his opponents to produce a petition with 43 signatures before he will agree to another leadership vote.

Mr Morrison has been a Turnbull supporter, but has reportedly long held ambitions on the prime ministership.

"I can not underline too much how important it is that anyone who seeks to be prime minister of Australia is eligible to be a member of parliament", Turnbull said.

"I was wanting to continue to support Malcolm Turnbull for years to come as leader of the Liberal Party".

Former minister Peter Dutton has announced his intentions of wanting to stand for election as prime minister.

"I was disappointed when I discovered that [Peter Dutton] had not supported the apology to the Stolen Generation", Mr Wyatt told 6PR radio today. You don't go into a ballot believing you can lose and if I believe that a majority of colleagues support me then I would consider my position.

Chinese 'projects will not go on': Mahathir blasts Najib's 'stupidity'

Last year, Sri Lanka was forced to hand over majority control of its Hambantota port to China after failing to repay its loans. Najib is now being investigated over charges that he looted billions of dollars from the state investment fund.

He asked the bulk of the Cabinet rebels, including Trade Minister Steven Ciobo and Health Minister Greg Hunt, to remain in their posts, Bishop said.

Mr Turnbull is clinging to a one-seat majority in the Australian parliament, propped up by minority coalition partners the Nationals.

The inquiry will look into allegations concerning the inappropriate exercise of ministerial powers and report by September 11.

"[If a spill motion] is carried and there is a new leader of the Liberal Party, that person will have to obviously satisfy the Governor-General that they can command a majority on the floor of the House of Representatives", he said.

Turnbull said he wanted the government's legal advice on Dutton's eligibility presented to Friday's meeting.

The treasurer, Scott Morrison, will run against Dutton with moderate backing, and Turnbull's refusal to call a party room meeting for Thursday afternoon is an effort to buy him time to build numbers. Some constitutional lawyers say there are areas of doubt.

Dutton wants the new vote on Thursday before Parliament takes a two-week break. Government lawyers are investigating the case. "No prime minister has lasted a full three-year term since".

Turnbull headed off that process and gained the advantage of surprise by declaring his own job open to nominations on Tuesday.

Australia's continued political instability has fueled anger and frustration among voters and hindered investment by the business sector.On this date in ...

1918: Charles Wandell and Bert McChesney of Ballston Spa were injured in a freight car while on the job with the Ballston Refrigerating Storage Company. An engine accidentally backed into the car, toppling over several cases of condensed milk, each weighing 60 pounds, onto the men, burying them until rescue workers could dig them out.

1968: Former State GOP chairman Carl Spad of Menands was to be named executive director of the Nixon for President campaign in New York state at an announcement at campaign headquarters in New York City. Governor Rockefeller, though bitter at the convention strategy utilized by the Nixon camp, had reconciled to the fact that the party did not accept his brand of liberalism and had selected Nixon, would personally take an active part in directing Nixon's drive in the state.

1993: Smartly attired, crisply articulate and seemingly at home in the cool office corridors at Picotte Cos. headquarters, Agniebzka Mena was a perfect example of a young executive on her way up the corporate ladder. But Mena, a native of Panama who asked people to call her Annie, wasn't quite there  yet. She was a college student working as an intern during the break between her junior and senior years at the University at Albany. Mena, 21, was one of a dozen college students working at Capital Region companies in a summer internship program founded 15 years ago and run now by the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Want to read more about the Capital Region's past? Have any memories or thoughts about how our history relates to today's events? See http://blog.timesunion.com/history/BROOKLYN, Iowa - Investigators continued Thursday to delve into the background of Cristhian Bahena Rivera - the 24-year-old they said killed Mollie Tibbetts, a college student who went missing last month - even as his relatives expressed shock and disbelief at what police said unfolded in this quiet stretch of Iowa.

Tibbetts went out for a jog on July 18 and never came home, setting off a weeks-long search in the area. Authorities charged Rivera, a Mexican national and farmworker, with killing her, and they said he is an undocumented immigrant, a revelation that thrust the case into the center of the country's knotted political debate.

Preliminary autopsy results released Thursday determined that Tibbetts's death was a "homicide resulting from multiple sharp force injuries." In court filings, police said Rivera confessed to pursuing her and admitted to dragging her body from his car to a cornfield, where it lay hidden for more than a month. People who knew Rivera in Iowa and Mexico were at a loss to explain the situation.

"I don't know what's going on," his uncle, Eustaquio "Capi" Bahena Radilla, said in an interview Thursday conducted through an interpreter at his trailer home in Brooklyn. "I don't know what's happening because honestly, I know he's a good person."

Rivera's father echoed this account, saying Thursday that he believed that his son was innocent, calling reports of his confession "pure lies."

"If he had done what they say he did, he would have come back here [to Mexico]," Eduardo Bahena Radilla, his father, said in a telephone interview from Guayabillo, a small town in Mexico. "But he's innocent, so he didn't run and hide."

Tibbetts was missing for a little more than a month, during which the search for answers increasingly agonized her family, who pleaded with the public for help in finding her.

According to Rivera's relatives and his employer, he gave off no indications of what police said he had done.

Rivera did not behave differently that month, his uncle said. Rivera's father, a 43-year-old farmer, said he last spoke to his eldest child on Friday, a few days before Rivera's arrest.

"He seemed calm," Bahena said. "I didn't sense anything was wrong."

Investigators, though suggested this calm demeanor belied a grim discovery. Law enforcement officials questioned Rivera this week, they wrote in an affidavit filed in court, and he told them he had parked his car and then run behind and alongside a woman running in Brooklyn. When she threatened to call the police, he "panicked and got mad," but does not remember what happened next, the affidavit states.

The next thing Rivera said he remembered, authorities said, was being back in his car and realizing she was in his trunk, with blood on the side of her head. He then dragged her to a cornfield, covered her body and left her there, police said. He guided law enforcement officials to the location, where they found Tibbetts's remains.

So far, authorities said they have not found anything indicating that Tibbetts and Rivera knew each other before the attack. But some people in the small city of Brooklyn - home to fewer than 1,400 people - were shocked to learn they were connected to both the woman who went missing and the man charged with killing her.

Chloe Reding, 19, was good friends with Tibbetts in junior high; they drifted apart in high school but became close since graduating, sometimes packing into a car to drive around.

Tibbetts was active in a group chat with Reding and some of their friends, but she went quiet while she was missing, which began to cause concern. When Reding turned on the televised news conference, she was shocked to realize she recognized the man arrested for the crime.

"I was watching it with my mom and I kind of freaked out," Reding, a nursing assistant, recalled of the moment she saw police identify the suspect as Rivera. "I was like, 'Oh my god, I know him. I'm pretty sure I'm friends with him on Facebook.' "

Reding said she "didn't personally know him" but added, "It's just small town Brooklyn, you now?"

Rivera had a quiet, if poor, childhood in Guayabillo, a dusty ranch town about 100 miles from Acapulco in the Mexican state of Guerrero, said Bahena, his father. He "never had any problems" and did not show signs of violence, his father added.

Around his 16th birthday, Rivera left Guayabillo to find work in the United States, his father said.

"There are no jobs here, so he left," Bahena said, adding that his son crossed the border illegally and was undocumented in the United States.

Rivera's immigration status has drawn more attention to the case, prompting repeated comments from President Trump, the White House and conservative commentators. In a break from how they it was too soon to discuss policy in the aftermath of mass shootings in Las Vegas and Sutherland Springs, Tex., last year, Trump and his White House have linked Tibbetts's death to his calls for stricter immigration policies.

During an interview on "Fox & Friends" broadcast Thursday morning, Trump responded to a question about Tibbetts by calling her "this beautiful young girl . . . killed by a horrible person that came in from Mexico, illegally here," and went on to refer to his proposed border wall and desire for new immigration laws.

Rivera's attorney, Allan M. Richards, wrote in a court filing that his client was in the country legally, adding that his employer had verified his status. Richards provided no evidence to back up his assertion and could not be reached for further comment. Rivera's employers, though, said he had used false documents to apply for his job nearly four years ago.

Rivera settled in Iowa because his uncle was already living there, Bahena said. He found work on a series of milk farms and often sent money back to his parents in Mexico.

"He said it was pretty" in Iowa, his father recalled. "I think he liked it."

This week, Rivera was charged with first-degree murder. His uncle, Eustaquio Bahena, said the 24-year-old is a responsible, hardworking and "simple" man who did not drink or do drugs.

Rivera has a three-year-old daughter with a woman he married and separated from earlier this year, Eustaquio Bahena said. When Rivera had time off work, his uncle said he would spend time with his daughter, bringing her to Eustaquio Bahena's house to jump on the trampoline with the other young children.

Eustaquio Bahena said he hasn't spoken to Rivera since the arrest. He said their family is devastated by what happened and deeply sad for Tibbetts' family. Other members of Rivera's family attended his first appearance in court on Wednesday, including an aunt and uncle that live in a neighboring town, Rivera's 3-year-old daughter and the child's mother.

Still, Rivera's uncle said that if he did it, he should be punished.

"I want justice to be done," he said. "It's clear to me that whoever committed that crime has to pay, whoever they are .. They have to pay for it, whoever they are, even if they are my family."

Tibbetts' family has released a statement asking to be "allowed the time to process our devastating loss and share our grief in private."

Her aunt, Billie Jo Calderwood, said: "Please remember, Evil comes in EVERY color."

Reding, Tibbetts' friend, said that she had seen outrage building online over claims that Rivera is undocumented, but that she hasn't focused on it.

"For some people, they do view it as him being illegal," she said. "For me, I just see it any race, any sexuality, any person could have done this. It doesn't matter if he's illegal or black or white. A lot of people are saying 'Build the wall' and all that, but I don't believe that's the problem necessarily. Bad people are just bad people."

- - -

Miller and Berman reported from Washington. The Washington Post's Alice Crites, Julie Tate and Cleve R. Wootson Jr. contributed to this report, which has been updated since it was first published.A conservative commentator who was lauded by President Donald Trump this week as "wonderful" and who has argued that past sexual indiscretions should have no bearing on Trump's presidency was fired from Arizona State University four years ago for making sexually explicit comments and gestures toward women, according to documents and a university official.

An internal investigation by the university concluded that Paris Dennard, a surrogate during the campaign and now a member of the President's Commission on White House Fellowships, told a recent college graduate who worked for him that he wanted to have sex with her. He "pretended to unzip his pants in her presence, tried to get her to sit on his lap, and made masturbatory gestures," according to a university report obtained by The Washington Post.

According to the 2014 report, Dennard did not dispute those claims but said he committed the acts jokingly. The investigation began after the woman and a second female employee told superiors Dennard's actions went too far and had made them uncomfortable.

Dennard, a CNN political commentator, opinion contributor to The Hill newspaper and regular guest on NPR's "Here & Now," was working at the time as events director for ASU's McCain Institute for International Leadership.

Dennard's firing from ASU has not been previously reported. An ASU official on Tuesday confirmed the authenticity of the report, which includes a summary of an interview that investigators conducted with Dennard.

Shortly after The Post published this article Wednesday night, a CNN spokeswoman said the network was suspending Dennard while it reviews the allegations.

In an email exchange with The Post, Dennard declined to answer specific questions about the investigation or his departure from the McCain Institute. He said he had not seen the full report and "was led to believe" it was "sealed and proprietary."

"I cannot comment on items I have never seen regarding allegations I still believe to be false," Dennard wrote. "This is sadly another politically motivated attempt to besmirch my character, and shame me into silence for my support of President Trump and the GOP."

The Post provided Dennard with excerpts of the report summarizing the university's allegations and findings. The report contains extensive responses from Dennard. It does not name the women involved.

On Monday, Dennard drew praise from Trump for a heated exchange on CNN with Philip Mudd, a former counterterrorism official with the CIA and the FBI. Mudd grew visibly angry during the exchange when Dennard accused officials such as him and former CIA director John Brennan of profiting from their security clearances after leaving government.

"Just watched former Intelligence Official Phillip Mudd become totally unglued and weird while debating wonderful @PARISDENNARD over Brennan's Security Clearance. Dennard destroyed him but Mudd is in no mental condition to have such a Clearance," Trump tweeted about the exchange, which first aired last week.

Dennard, 36, has been active in national Republican Party politics since 2000, when as a teenager he spoke at the Republican National Convention with then-vice presidential nominee Dick Cheney applauding in the audience.

In 2005, after graduating from college, he worked as an intern in the White House political affairs office and parlayed the spot into a full-time job. By 2007, according to a biography on his website, Dennard was working with the White House's advance team and had been named White House outreach director to the black community.

He then worked at the Republican National Committee as associate director of coalitions, according to his biography, before joining the McCain Institute in the fall of 2013.

Dennard was an early and outspoken supporter for Trump during the 2016 campaign. Combined, he has appeared on CNN and NPR over 100 times, often defending Trump on everything from his record of false statements to rolling back race-based admission policies to using a vulgar word to describe Haiti, El Salvador and African nations.

In December, Trump appointed Dennard to the commission on White House fellowships, which selects those who will work in the White House for one of the nation's premier public service programs.

ASU's 13-page investigative report describes a series of inappropriate incidents often initiated by Dennard with the two women in 2013 and 2014. The second woman said Dennard would sometimes throw things at her and that she caught Dennard looking at her breasts. When she tried to adjust her blouse, he said "Don't worry, I've already seen it." Dennard acknowledged making the comment, or something similar to it, according to the report.

Dennard also admitted to touching the first woman's "neck with his tongue," according to the report. In that instance, Dennard "came up behind EMPLOYEE 1 during another (McCain Institute) event and whispered in her ear that he wanted to 'f---' her."

The report says Dennard and one of the women socialized outside the office and engaged in "banter of a sexual nature."

Even so, it says, Dennard "engaged in much of this behavior in the workplace and/or during work events. Such conduct, of course, is inappropriate ... unprofessional and unbecoming of a university employee, and in violation of ASU policy."

The report concludes that Dennard was found to have engaged in "serious misconduct." He was placed on administrative leave at the outset of the investigation in fall 2014 and was "involuntarily separated" from his post in early 2015, according to a university official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a personnel matter.

The women are quoted in the report saying they did not want him to lose his job but feared him returning. "We all know what it's like to be on (Dennard's) bad side - he will make your life miserable," one said. "What if he comes back to the office? What if he comes to an event? Does he know where I live?"

Dennard's departure was announced internally at a McCain Institute meeting in 2015, according to two people who were there, but the reason for his departure was not made public and he went on to become an increasingly sought-after commentator.

In another sharp exchange on CNN earlier this year over Trump attorney Michael Cohen's then-alleged payments to porn actress Stormy Daniels, Republican strategist Rick Wilson blasted Dennard for saying the actions were irrelevant because they were from before Trump was president. "The fact that you're defending him," Wilson said, "speaks much more about your character and what low standards you have."

Dennard fired back: "You can dig up dirty laundry and I pray to God that nobody goes back in your past and picks up something that has nothing to do with your present time as sitting here as a commentator."A family is one step closer to finding out what happened to a loved one who disappeared more than 26 years ago in East Houston.

A human skull found near a garbage dump Feb. 1, 1992, by a motorist on Port Houston Street was identified as Patricia Ann Castillo using DNA evidence.

Castillo who was 21 at the time, vanished June 1, 1991. She was last seen on Delmar Street near her grandmother's home, said her sister Miranda Moreno.

Castillo's older sister Trina Flores, now 49, submitted a DNA sample to the National Institute of Justice in June of 2017 during the second annual Missing in Harris County Day held by the Harris County's Institute of Forensic Sciences. A little over a year later, the institute called Flores and said the remains belonged to her sister.

COLD CASE: Man charged in murder case that went cold under disgraced Houston detective

"I was just in total shock. I couldn't talk," Flores said."'My sister is dead?' I asked. I was so in shock."

Flores said the medical examiner told her the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head.

Moreno was just five years old when Castillo went missing. Now 32, she remembers her sister as a warm person who loved New Kids On The Block, Cyndi Lauper, and watching MTV. Castillo was lovingly called "Gordie," which is Spanish for chubby, a nickname she got when she was a child.

When their mother Yolanda wasn't able to care for Moreno when she got off the bus after school, Castillo would fill in. One of the most cherished memories Moreno has of her sister was when she took her to the Houston Zoo.

Castillo's disappearance shook her family. Moreno recalled canvassing her neighborhood and local washateria with fliers imploring people to call their home with any information. Moreno's aunt plastered her back windshield with the flier.

Castillo's family never held a funeral for her out of hope that she would come home. Moreno had a hard time believing her remains had been found.

"Never in a million years did I ever imagine that they would only find her skull. I want to know where the rest of her is and what happened," Moreno said. "It was surprising but it wasn't surprising. What was surprising was that the remains have been in Harris County the whole time. I can't understand how she's been there all this time and they couldn't put both stories together."

DNA was recovered from the skull and submitted into the FBI's Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) in 2004 with no results yielded, said Tricia Bentley, spokeswoman for Harris County's Institute of Forensic Sciences.

In April of 2018, the University of North Texas (UNT) notified the institute that their laboratory was able to extract a more complete genetic profile of the deceased individual, and the updated profile was consistent with a female, but there was no identification at that time, Bentley said. A second notification was received Aug. 13 from UNT that there were genetic similarities between the DNA extracted from the skull and from Castillo's sister that were sufficient to positively identify the remains, Bentley said.

DNA identification is not an instant process, said J. Todd Matthews, director of case management and communications for the National Missing & Unidentified Persons System, which is a National Institute of Justice program. It is not uncommon for delays to occur due to incomplete or missing records. Obtaining and analyzing DNA was also not a common law enforcement practice until after 1994, Matthews said.

Without the Castillo family DNA sample submission last summer, a match would likely never have happened, Matthews added.

The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences received and ruled out dozens of possible links between the skull and other missing persons during the years Castillo remained unidentified, Bentley said.

A request for comment has been placed with the Houston Police Department.

A Houston Chronicle article from Feb. 3, 1992, stated that Castillo's body may have been torn apart by animals, but a ground search uncovered no other parts.

Castillo's remains were interred in an unmarked grave in the Harris County Cemetery. Her family now plans on having Castillo exhumed and moved to Fulshear, Texas, where her father is buried.

Fernando Alfonso III covers everything from crime to weird internet trends. Read him on the breaking news site chron.com and the subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com. | fernando.alfonso@chron.comThe Rev. Basil John Hutsko remembers that the attacker was wearing gloves.

It was Monday morning, about 9 a.m., and he had just finishing praying at the altar at St. Michael Byzantine Catholic Church in Merrillville, Indiana, as his longtime friend and fellow clergy member, the Rev. Thomas J. Loya, told The Washington Post. Hutsko stepped inside the sacristy, the little room near the altar where religious supplies are stored. He thought he was alone.

But then he felt the hands. They tightened around his neck from behind, according to Merrillville Police Chief Joseph Petruch. And then, the attacker threw the 64-year-old priest onto the ground and "immediately starting slamming his head against the floor," Petruch told CBS Chicago.

Distinctly, Petruch said, before Hutsko blacked out, he remembered hearing: "This is for all the little kids."

Hutsko was left unconscious for 15 minutes inside his church, said Loya, who visited with him after the attack. Hutsko never saw the man's face.

Petruch told CBS Chicago he had enough information to call the attack a hate crime and has alerted the FBI. As of late Wednesday, no suspect was in custody. Police or the FBI could not immediately be reached for further comment.

The assault comes in the wake of the sweeping Pennsylvania grand jury report released last week describing alleged sexual abuse by more than 300 Catholic priests that had been concealed by church officials for decades. Hutsko was not among the priests identified in the report, and multiple priests, including Loya, say that he has never been accused of any wrongdoing.

Commander Jeff Rice, a spokesman for the Merrillville Police Department, confirmed to the Chicago Tribune that Hutsko's attacker referred to reports of clergy sex abuse during the assault. He said these comments led police to consider the attack a hate crime, but he declined to elaborate. Petruch told CBS Chicago that police are investigating the priest's past.

"As we have been saying, Father Basil is not guilty of any abuse or any accusations. He was just an innocent priest," said Loya, who added that he has known Hutsko for 40 years. The attacker, he said, "was apparently enraged by [the report], but why he chose Father Basil, we have no idea. We have not even a clue."

Hutsko could not be reached for comment late Wednesday.

The attack Monday coincided with the release of Pope Francis's 2,000-word letter acknowledging the child sex abuse, addressed to the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. As The Post reported, the unprecedented letter came as the Catholic Church faces mounting pressure to correct systemic problems within its hierarchy that have allowed clergy sex abuse to fester behind closed doors for decades.

"With shame and repentance," the pope wrote, "we acknowledge as an ecclesial community that we were not where we should have been, that we did not act in a timely manner, realizing the magnitude and gravity of the damage done to so many lives. We showed no care for the little ones; we abandoned them."

The Rev. Steven Koplinka of St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church in Munster, Indiana, told the Chicago Tribune "it's a shame" Hutsko ended up being targeted.

"It's just like they're targeting the wrong guys, you know?" he said. "The rest of us try our best to be good priests, and unfortunately, this happened."BROOKLYN, Iowa - Far from the courtrooms where President Donald Trump was battered this week by bad news, a slaying in small-town Iowa has given him ammunition to defend some of his most raw statements about illegal immigration.

A college student was found dead. A 24-year-old Mexican national is charged with murder.

The slaying of Mollie Tibbetts and the arrest of this week of farmworker Cristhian Rivera pulled attention away from the convictions of the president's former campaign chairman and personal attorney while providing an example of the kind of criminal fears that fueled Trump's rise to the White House.

Investigators have not said how Tibbetts was killed or what happened in the moments after she disappeared July 18 while jogging. But after confessing to her killing Monday, Rivera led police this week to her body in a field.

Tibbetts, 20, was a psychology student at the University of Iowa, and her disappearance sparked a month-long search.

Administration officials and Republican lawmakers have seized upon the case to rally support ahead of the November midterms while warning that a loss of congressional majorities would expose the president to possible impeachment. Trump has told supporters that Democrats represent "open borders" that would invite a flood of dangerous illegal immigration.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders highlighted Tibbetts' death at the beginning of her press briefing Wednesday before facing questions about the convictions of Trump personal attorney Michael Cohen and ex-campaign chairman Paul Manafort.

"Sadly, the individual believed to be responsible for the murder is an illegal immigrant," Sanders said, "making this an unfortunate reminder of why we need to strengthen our broken immigration laws."

While media coverage of the Manafort and Cohen cases dominated mainstream news outlets, Trump allies sought to refocus attention on Tibbetts' death and the suspect's immigration status.

Fox News led its website with a package on the case headlined, "Monster Down the Road," and Vice President Mike Pence and former Trump campaign aide Corey Lewandowski drew attention to her death on Twitter. "We MUST stop illegals from coming to our country and killing innocent people - this is non negotiable," Lewandowski wrote.

Republican pollster Chris Wilson, who is working on several battleground Senate races, said he expects more GOP candidates to hammer at the Tibbetts case.

"It gets to the basic point Republicans have been making" that the immigration system needs to get stricter, Wilson said. "Immigration as an issue is a winner for Republicans when we make it about security and crime."

Immigrants do not commit violent crimes at a higher rate than native-born Americans, according to federal and state crime statistics. A study published in February by the libertarian Cato Institute examining 2015 criminal data in Texas found native-born residents were much more likely to be convicted of a crime than immigrants in the country legally or illegally.

Investigators have not found anything indicating that Tibbetts and Rivera knew one another before the attack, Mitch Mortvedt, assistant director of Iowa's Division of Criminal Investigation, said in an interview Wednesday.

The area where Tibbetts went running is a narrow farm road leading out of town, Mortvedt said, and investigators are looking at whether her killer noticed her by chance or had seen her there on previous occasions. "It's not like a jogging path with benches or picnic tables. It's a city street that turns into county road, with corn fields on both sides," he said. "She was just running on the side of the road."

Rivera was taken into custody after agreeing to an interview with investigators, according to Mortvedt, who said state officials have been assisted by the FBI and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations division. Rivera is charged with first-degree murder, and a judge Wednesday set his bail at $5 million.

Rivera was in the country illegally and used a stolen identification to satisfy a federal background check at the farm where he worked, according to law enforcement officials and statements Wednesday by his former employer.

During a news conference Wednesday, Yarrabee Farms manager Dane Lang said Rivera provided a state-issued photo identification and a Social Security card when he applied for a job nearly four years ago.

But those documents were false, Lang said.

He said Yarrabee Farms did not use the government's E-Verify system to vet Rivera. Instead, the farm used a program connected to a Social Security Administration database, which didn't flag any problems.

Lang would not disclose the name that Rivera used to get a job.

"He came to work every day, was on time and got along with his co-workers," Lang said. "All of us are saddened by the tragic death of Mollie and the realization that one of our co-workers was involved.

"This is tragic. Mollie's death is tragic. Everyone in our community wishes this didn't happen. I believe we complied. I know we complied with the full extent of the law when we filled out the I-9," he added, referring to federal employment paperwork.

He said employees didn't notice a difference in Rivera's behavior after Tibbetts went missing.

"This guy stayed around for 35 days after he did this," he said. "Nobody noticed a difference."

In a motion asking for a gag order, Rivera's attorney, Allan M. Richards, claimed Wednesday that Rivera was in the country legally, saying that his employer had verified Rivera's status. Richards provided no evidence to back up his assertion in the motion and could not immediately be reached for comment.

In statements to investigators, Rivera said he spotted Tibbetts jogging and drove past her several times. The Chevrolet Malibu he was driving appeared in and out of surveillance footage from a camera aimed at the street.

"It seemed that he followed her and seemed to be drawn to her on that particular day," Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Agent Rick Rahn told reporters. "And for whatever reason, he chose to abduct her."

What happened next, Rivera told authorities, is blocked from his memory, something he said happens when he gets upset or angry. The next thing he recalled, he told investigators, was being inside the car and finding a headphone earpiece in his lap that did not belong to him. That prompted him to open the trunk, where he saw Tibbetts bleeding from the head.

Rivera told authorities he carried Tibbetts' body into an isolated cornfield, where he covered her with stalks and walked away.

A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement representative said that the agency lodged an immigration detainer on Rivera after his arrest, so if he is ever released, he would be deported to Mexico.

Within hours of the news conference announcing Rivera's arrest, Trump weighed in on the killing.

"You saw what happened to that incredible, beautiful woman (Mollie Tibbetts)," he said at a rally in West Virginia. "Should have never happened. ... The immigration laws are such a disgrace. We're getting them changed."

As lawmakers publicly debated what Tibbetts' death said about the nation's immigration system, her family, which had been vocal during the search for the college student, released a statement asking to be "allowed the time to process our devastating loss and share our grief in private."

---

The Washington Post's Philip Bump, Christopher Ingraham, Michael E. Miller, David Nakamura and Eli Rosenberg contributed to this report.

---

Video Embed Code

Video: Authorities announced they are charging Cristhian Bahena Rivera, 24, with first-degree murder in the death of Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts.(Allie Caren/The Washington Post)

Embed code:BAD AXE  Huron County officials are a little closer to allowing third-party testing for wind turbine sound complaints  which could cost between $12,000 and $25,000.

The Huron County Board of Commissioners reviewed a proposal Wednesday from ABD Engineering & Design of Grand Rapids to sound test on or near the property of three county residents who have lodged complaints against wind developers in recent years.

Robert Gaffke of Bloomfield Township and Rodney McLean of Harbor Beach have given verbal consent for testing on their property, according to Jeff Smith, county building and zoning director.

Dale Hass of Deerfield Township has not been responsive to Smith's phone calls or texts, Smith told the Tribune.

At the meeting, Commissioner Steve Vaughan suggested getting written consent from each complainant "so we do not get into a pissing match."

"We want to make sure (the test) is as legitimate as possible, and nondisputable," he said.

Smith and four commissioners  three were absent from Tuesday's committee meeting of the whole  discussed the best way for ABD do sound testing.

The testing should follow the methodology of the county's 2015 wind ordinance, Smith said, because unlike the 2010 ordinance, it spells out how testing should be carried out.

However, all of the turbines in question were built under the 2010 ordinance.

The 2015 ordinance requires that the testing station be manned. The 2010 ordinance does not.

The proposal from ABD suggested four phases, if necessary.

The first phase would consist of a two-hour manned test at each residence, data gathering and a report. That would cost of $12,000.

The funds would be taken from a special fund that is sponsored by wind developers and set aside for situations such as this, board Chairman Sami Khoury told the Tribune.

Phases two through four would be necessary only if the first phase shows that the sound is louder than allowed by the 2010 ordinance.

If the testing goes to phase 2, the total cost would be $17,500; the cost for going to phase three would be $20,000; and phase four would be $25,000.

It's also important to do the test in favorable weather conditions, Smith said.

Similar weather conditions would be required for subsequent phases.

The board agreed that ABD should be approached about doing two two-hour periods of manned testing during a two-week test that would not be manned the entire time.

The turbines could also be shut down for a period during that two weeks to measure ambient sound, as required by ordinance.

To satisfy his own curiosity, Vaughan said he drove out to some of the turbines in question.

"It's not a loud noise, but it is repetitive," he said.

Representatives from the Big Turtle and Deerfield wind parks were at the meeting, and said they were willing to cooperate with the testing requirements.

Blake Shroll, site manager for Big Turtle, said engineers are working on permanent fixes for the problem.

The Gaffke complaint is against the Big Turtle Phase II development and McLean's complaint is against the Big Turtle Phase I development. The Hass complaint is against Deerfield.

The Gaffke complaint has been going on since October of 2016.

Smith told the Tribune in an email he is prepared to allow tests on property that is adjacent to Hass's in the event he does not agree to ABD testing on his property.

In other business at the meeting:

 Commissioner John L. Bodis reported the Huron County Road Commission is discussing leasing the Bird Creek County Park to the village of Port Austin.

 Vaughan reported the Huron County Senior Center roof project is complete.

 Vaughan also reported on a recent Michigan Association of Counties conference in Frankenmuth.

"Huron County is in excellent shape," he said. "Huron County runs smoothly compared to some of these counties."

 Finally, Vaughan updated the board on recent developments in deer bait restrictions.He also visited Geely, which owns Geely Auto, one of China's biggest independent automakers.

Mahathir's remarks come as a growing number of global critics are accusing China of practicing "debt colonialism" through its trillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative, helping to build and finance massive infrastructure projects in developing countries which are then unable to actually support the oversized projects and fall into China's "debt trap" where they are forced to sell ownership to Chinese companies.

Mahathir has argued that the cost of these projects are inflated and that the terms are not favorable to Malaysia.

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, left, shakes hands with his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang at the end of a press conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Monday, Aug. 20, 2018.

CHINESE investors can help reduce the country's trade deficit with Malaysia, the South-east Asian nation's prime minister said in Beijing on Sunday at an event alongside Alibaba chairman Jack Ma.

"It is not about the Chinese, it is about the Malaysian government", he said.

China is seeking to rebuff U.S. criticism of its military activity within the South China Sea by completing a code of conduct with ASEAN that excludes so-called third parties such as the US.

Park reclaims No. 1 rank with playoff win in Indy

The South Korean star made sure it didn't happen again. "I was not nervous at all", Park said. Starting the final day in 17th place, Ko could only find one birdie on the front nine.

"Prime Minister Mahathir has always been known to say what others may be thinking but are afraid to say", said Malcolm Cook, a senior fellow at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore.

China is the top trading partner of Malaysia, which is home to a substantial ethnic Chinese minority. "It appears as if we are changing our approach to the South China Sea, that we are willing to give up our claims". "We are not against Chinese companies, but we are against borrowing money from outside and having projects which are not necessary and which are very costly".

Mahathir will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday night, and wrap up his China trip on Tuesday.

In a report by the Star Online, Dr Mahathir said Malaysians overseas should remember that they grew up here and were "fortunate enough to study because of this country".

Mahathir did not mention the projects in question but he vowed repeatedly before his China visit to discuss what he called "unfair" Chinese infrastructure deals authorized by former premier Najib Razak.

Zhou said the shift will not only consolidate trade between the two countries, but also stimulate mutual investment in more sectors, including finance, science and technology, and agriculture. "How do we benefit from their wealth and their power?"Saudi Arabia is also a signatory to the Arab Charter on Human Rights, which only permits the death penalty for "the most serious crimes", according to Article 10.

The Saudi government put at least 100 people to death past year, according to Amnesty International. She is now on trial at a secretive terrorism court where the charges against her include "incitement to protest" and "providing moral support to rioters", the charity Human Rights Watch has said.

Amnesty says at least 12 other leading human rights activists, including eight women, have been arrested in the kingdom since May - just before the kingdom ended its ban on women drivers.

The execution of a female activist would be a unsafe precedent, particularly since all the charges against her are related to her peaceful activism, they said.

Saudi Arabia has since recalled its ambassador, suspended trade and flights to and from Canada, and forced Saudi students and patients to leave, among other measures.

Israa al-Ghomgham, 29, would be the first woman to be killed in Saudi Arabia exclusively for her activism.

Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor has reportedly sought the death penalty for five activists, including the female rights defender Israa al-Ghomgham.

Chinese 'projects will not go on': Mahathir blasts Najib's 'stupidity'

Last year, Sri Lanka was forced to hand over majority control of its Hambantota port to China after failing to repay its loans. Najib is now being investigated over charges that he looted billions of dollars from the state investment fund.

Al-Ghomgham's case is the latest human rights related detention in Saudi Arabia to catch the attention of the Liberal government after Freeland called for the release of Samar Badawi in early August.

While the five activists are Shia, the Saudi government is Sunni Muslim.

Ms Al-Ghomgham was arrested along with her husband, Moussa al-Hashem, in December 2015 after they organised anti-government protests in the the country's eastern province of Qatif.

"As Minister Freeland has previously stated, Canada is extremely concerned by the arrests of women's rights activists", a foreign affairs spokesman said in a statement, according to the Globe and Mail. However, in cases such as this one where the Qu'ran does not outline potential punishments, the Saudi courts turn to the principle of ta'zir, which allows a judge to select the punishment based on his own discretion.

In September 2017, King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud signed a royal degree lifting the ban on women driving and greater participation in the public sphere was opened up to women. "Every day, the Saudi monarchy's unrestrained despotism makes it harder for its public relations teams to spin the fairy tale of "reform" to allies and global business".

Meanwhile, Canada has condemned Saudi Arabia's treatment of female political activists in recent weeks, including the country's treatment of Al-Ghomgham. She's been detained without access to a lawyer in the Dammam Mabahith prison, where prisoners are "tortured and ill-treated", according to the European Saudi Organization for Human Rights. They have been held for more than two years and are scheduled for a court date October 28.A suspected serial flasher in San Antonio is facing additional charges.

Last week, San Antonio police sought the public's help in finding Terrence Palumbo, 27, who was wanted for allegedly exposing himself to women on three different instances.

Palumbo was arrested by Texas Department of Public Safety troopers overnight Friday while they executed a search warrant at his home, where authorities said they also found several marijuana plants.

Since then, police have connected him to four additional incidents of indecent exposure, ranging from March to August, according to police spokesperson Jennifer Rodriguez.

RELATED: Records: Officer who fatally shot mentally ill woman handed suspension for protocol breaches

Palumbo kept his head down and stayed silent as reporters asked him questions Wednesday after he was arrested on the additional charges.

Rodriguez said Palumbo spoke to detectives about the charges against him, but would not reveal what he said due to the ongoing investigation.

"We're extremely grateful that our officers were able to arrest him without incident," Rodriguez said. "We consider him extremely dangerous because he could have exposed himself to children."

In one instance, Palumbo is accused of exposing himself while "driving aggressively" on a San Antonio highway.

In another incident, he allegedly flashed a restaurant employee at a drive thru.

Rodriguez is asking any other potential victims to call the San Antonio Special Victims Unit at 210-207-2313.

Fares Sabawi covers crime in San Antonio and Bexar County for mySA.com. Read more of his stories here. | fsabawi@mysa.com | Twitter: @FaresInSAThe Olean, N.Y., community is standing with recently dismissed anesthesia group Olean-based Southern Tier Anesthesiologists, the Olean Times Herald reports.

Here's what you should know:

1. Olean General Hospital recently made the decision to sever ties with Southern Tier Anesthesiologists after 24 years. The hospital is partnering with Buffalo, N.Y.-based Great Lakes Anesthesiology, who submitted a lower bid to provide anesthesia services.

2. Olean resident Gregory Eaton started a Facebook group called "I Support Southern Tier Anesthesiologists" Aug. 18. It now has more than 2,200 members and more than 130 posts from Olean community members. The stories relay the many ways the group's anesthesiologists supported the Olean community.

3. Supporters are considering several actions, including circulating an online petition, purchasing a billboard and picketing in front of the hospital.

4. No one from Southern Tier Anesthesiologists is affiliated with the Facebook group, but STA President Stephen Carlson, MD, said he and other physicians were aware of its existence. Dr. Carlson told the Olean Times Herald, "We're honored and we're flabbergasted by the support. We feel like we're blessed to have that, and w're just sort of stunned and honored by that."

5. Despite the community support behind STA, the hospital moving forward with its plans to switch providers. Olean-based Upper Allegheny Health System President and CEO Tim Finan said in a statement, "Making these types of decisions is not popular, but they are vital to the stability of the hospital."However, both China and Taiwan have engaged in chequebook diplomacy in the competition for official allies over the years, with Taipei offering generous aid and economic development packages, and once paying for a Taiwanese chef to cook for the King of Swaziland. "What China has been doing now globally - interfering in other countries' internal affairs and destroying the order of the worldwide market - have caused high levels of global instability", Tsai said.

Shortly ahead of this diplomatic reversal, US Senator Marco Rubio, Congress's top China-basher, tweeted that if El Salvador went ahead with its switching of ties, he "will have no choice but to immediately begin work to end their funding & remove them from #AllianceForProsperity plan", claiming that the US response will be different than when nations have ditched Taiwan in the past.

The news will come as a bitter blow to Wu, who personally visited El Salvador's capital, San Salvador, as recently as July this year.

At a press conference in Taipei, Taiwan's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Joseph Wu () said Taiwan would immediately evacuate its embassy and close diplomatic channels with its former ally.

According to the communique, the Government of the Republic of El Salvador severs "diplomatic relations" with Taiwan as of this day and undertakes not to have any more official relations or official exchanges with Taiwan.

China, which claims Taiwan as its territory, has ramped up military and diplomatic pressure in an attempt to assert Chinese sovereignty over the island, even as the United States government makes fresh overtures to it.

El Salvador's Foreign Minister Carlos Castaneda, left, and China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi shake hands at a signing ceremony to mark the establishment of diplomatic relations.

"El Salvador has now stood with the overwhelming majority of the countries in the world by resolutely deciding to recognize and make a commitment to abiding by the one-China principle, and to establish diplomatic ties with China without any preconditions", Wang said.

Trump Tells Fox News He Knew About Hush Money Payments Later On

Michael Cohen's lawyer was booed by Megyn Kelly's audience on Wednesday after he asked for donations to support his client. Cohen is referred to by the President as "the rat".

In Beijing, Castaneda said it was a strategic decision his government made to "create conditions to change the historical standing of our country and to really elevate the livelihood of our people".

The island's 23 million residents are strongly in favor of maintaining their de facto independent status, but Xi has previously warned a Taiwanese envoy that the issue of unification can not be put off indefinitely.

He said El Salvador had been continuously asking for "massive funding support" since a year ago for a port development, but Taiwan was unable to assist with the "unsuitable project" after assessment.

"It will give great benefits to the country and provide extraordinary opportunities on a personal level to each one of you", he said.

Tsai said Taiwan had knowledge of El Salvador's intention for some time and tries its best to maintain relations with global allies: "We hoped El Salvador would not become a battlefield of foreign affairs".

The administration of President Donald Trump has been boosting relations with Taiwan amid a brewing trade war with Beijing.

Wu urged the people of Taiwan to unite despite the pressure the island was facing diplomatically.

"Taiwan would not bow to pressure. Until next time!" Tsai tweeted upon her departure from a U.S. airport earlier on Monday, along with a photo of her holding hands with James F. Moriarty, chairman of the American Institute in Taiwan.The American Cancer Society lowered the recommended age to begin screening for colorectal cancer from 50 to 45, but Samir Gupta, MD, of UC San Diego Health, said the updated guideline should be implemented cautiously.

Here's what you should know:

1. Dr. Gupta's commentary was published in Gastroenterology. Dr. Gupta said diverting resources from the higher-risk, older population to the lower-risk young population could worsen CRC disparities.

2. He said he feels individuals with lower socioeconomic status are "less likely to benefit from new health interventions than individuals with more knowledge and money."

3. Dr. Gupta said all racial and ethnic groups should begin screening for CRC when they turn 50 and continue until they turn 75. He did note higher-risk populations should intensify their screening efforts.

4. CRC is declining in every age range, aside from an increase in the under-50 population.Since announcing its intent to build a second headquarters in the U.S. last September, Amazon has largely remained silent on the selection process, according to TIME Money.

In a recent analysis by CNBC, analysts speculated Texas has a decent shot at housing the company's new $5 billion facility, as two cities in the state  Dallas and Austin  are among the 20 finalists under consideration.



Analysts' speculation stems from pieces of information the retail giant has released on its ideal location, as well as data from CNBC's 12th annual America's Top State for Business study. Amazon has said it prefers metropolitan areas with more than 1 million people, areas with a "stable and business-friendly environment," urban or suburban locations with the potential to attract "strong technical talent," and communities ready to "think big and creatively when considering locations and real estate options," according to TIME.

"Texas seems to have many attributes that align well with Amazon's needs. No state has a better infrastructure, and the state's business climate is the picture of stability, thanks to the nation's best all-around state economy," CNBC analyst Scott Cohn said.

Amazon has stated it will name the finalist for the HQ2 project sometime this year. However, analysts speculate the company may narrow down the list of finalists as early as this month, according to CNBC.

The company's initial request for proposals drew bids from 238 cities across North America.

To access the CNBC analysis, click here.Epic clients: Prepare your camping gear and s'mores ingredients because Epic kicks off its 2018 Users Group Meeting Aug. 27 at its Verona, Wis.-based headquarters, and this year's theme is "The Great Outdoors."

The annual conference brings together Epic users for four days of sessions, workshops and other "cool stuff," the meeting's website states. For example, this year will feature a "Taste of Epic" activity in which attendees can dig into some of the EHR vendor's "tastiest eats and treats."

The company held its first annual meeting in 1980, one year after it was founded. About 8,000 attendees are expected to attend this year's meeting, which will feature 600 sessions. The attendees represent nearly all of Epic's 400 customers, including international clients from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.

This year, Epic is also planning its first conference for healthcare executives and strategic leaders who don't use Epic, but want to exchange health information with providers on Epic in their communities. Un-UGM is slated for Sept. 26, about one month after the Aug. 27 to Aug. 30 event.

But what have UGMs of old looked like? Becker's Hospital Review found out.

Here are 10 past themes of Epic's annual meeting, including this year's:

2018: "The Great Outdoors"

2017: "World of Wizards"

2016: "Adventures in Wonderland"

2015: "A Classic Episode"

2014: "Down on the Farm"

2013: "Deep Space"

2012: "Rock IT"

2011: "Once Upon a Time"

2010: "UGM: The Musical"

2009: "Wild Wild West"Through infrastructure improvements, Jena, La.-based LaSalle General Hospital estimates it will generate $200,000 in annual savings, according to The Environmental Leader.

Here are five things to know:

1. LaSalle General Hospital is replacing water fixtures, its water-heating system, air-handling units and steam boilers.

2. In addition, the hospital will upgrade its lighting system to include occupancy centers and a night energy management system.

3. Combined, the upgrades are expected to reduce overall water and energy use to cut operational costs by about $200,000 per year over the next 15 years.

4. The hospital contracted with Siemens to make the energy upgrades which are expected to cost about $2 million. The hospital received a grant of more than $630,000 from the state of Louisiana to help finance the improvements.

5. Water and energy-saving efforts are important as hospitals struggle to battle the rising costs of both.Several private equity firms are investing in primary care clinic operators, driven in part by greater employer pressure to lower medical costs, according to Bloomberg.

Here are three things to know:



1. Private investor New Enterprise Associates led a $165 million funding round for Paladina Health, a Denver-based primary care company. Paladina runs 53 primary care clinics in 10 states for employers. Earlier this year, NEA acquired Paladina for about $100 million from DaVita. Paladina plans to use the funds to expand its clinics, acquire other firms and look into caring for Medicare populations.



2. Private equity firm Carlyle Group is investing up to $350 million in One Medical, a national primary care clinic operator with offices in San Francisco and New York City. One Medical is working to sign up employer clients at its clinics, according to Bloomberg.



3. Boston-based primary care operator Iora Health, which serves Medicare beneficiaries, raised $100 million from investors this year. Companies like Iora are seeing higher funding rounds as investors focus on preventive care as a possible way to limit the cost of providing employees healthcare, the report states.



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Oklahoma hospital, Aetna accuse management company of billing fraud

6 latest hospital bankruptcies

UPMC sees net income dip 69% as operating margin improvesForbes recently published its 2018 ranking of America's Best Employers, and several health IT companies made the cut this year.

For the annual list, Forbes teamed up with research firm Statista to survey nearly 30,000 employees at companies with at least 1,000 people about their working conditions. Employees were also asked to determine, on a scale of zero to 10, how likely they would be to recommend their employer to someone else, and how they feel about the other employers in their respective industries.

In total, Forbes' recognized 1,000 employers on the list.

Here are nine health IT companies that earned a spot:

124. Philips Healthcare

222. Medtronic

283. Cerner

317. Epic

326. Cognizant

327. Leidos

352. IBM

431. Change Healthcare

500. Quest DiagnosticsLyft appointed Manish Gupta vice president of engineering, a newly created position. He will focus on developing the company's business platforms, including healthcare, TechCrunch reports.

Mr. Gupta previously worked at Google, serving in several roles since joining the tech giant in 2002. He most recently served as head of Google Ads' buy-side platform. He has also built AdSense for TV, video and display ads.

In his new role at Lyft, Mr. Gupta will work alongside Lyft's ride-share technology team lead, chief technology officer and vice president of design to build out the company's business portfolio, which includes partnerships with healthcare organizations. Lyft has already entered into partnerships with several organizations, including St. Louis-based Ascension and Denver Health. The company is focused on nonemergency medical transport.

Additionally, Lyft's enterprise unit has grown to include partnerships with several companies, such as Hewlett Packard Enterprise, JetBlue, Starbucks and Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Mr. Gupta will also oversee the payments, fraud prevention and privacy teams at Lyft, according to the report.Here are 10 recent news updates on health IT companies:

1. American Well appointed Keith Anderson as its CFO.

2. Athenahealth selected Persivia's e-clinical quality measure solution for its inpatient quality reporting program requirements.

3. Cerner will take over the IT department at Medical Center Health System in Odessa, Texas, under an agreement the Ector County Hospital District board of directors approved Aug. 16.

4. The radiology department at New York University School of Medicine in New York City joined forces with Facebook to launch fastMRI, a research project applying artificial intelligence to MRI scans.

5. Google is reportedly working on a health and fitness assistant to compete with the likes of Apple, Fitbit and Garmin.

6. Best Buy signed a definitive agreement to purchase GreatCall, a provider of connected health and personal emergency response services targeting the senior population, for $800 million in cash Aug. 15.

7. Nurx, a telemedicine platform, unveiled a new at-home laboratory testing kit for patients seeking PrEP, a medication that helps prevent HIV-negative people from becoming infected.

8. Australian digital health company ResApp Health partnered with Bethesda, Md.-based security and aerospace vendor Lockheed Martin to support the Defense Department's health monitoring program.

9. Salesforce, a cloud software company that's made a name for itself through customer relationship management products, is expanding its work in healthcare.

10. Acute telemedicine provider SOC Telemed acquired behavioral health telemedicine company JSA Health in a deal that makes SOC Telemed the nation's largest acute telepsychiatry provider.Salesforce, a cloud software company that's made a name for itself through customer relationship management products, is expanding its work in healthcare, the Politico Morning eHealth newsletter reports.

The San Francisco-based company's CRM software lets organizations track and contact individual customers. Now, Salesforce CMO Joshua Newman, MD, said the company is marketing its software not only as a tool to manage patient relationships, but also to improve patient health outcomes.

As an example, he said a provider might use Salesforce's software to alert a specific patient population about a new program related to their health condition. A provider or payer might also use the software to review socioeconomic markers of their patient population, such as zip code.

"Frankly those are things every one of our customers [across industry] are doing every single day," Dr. Newman told Politico. "[It's] the same as knowing what people's shopping experience is."

Salesforce was also one of the six tech giants to pledge to reduce interoperability barriers in healthcare during CMS' Blue Button 2.0 Developer Conference in early August, along with Google, Amazon, IBM, Microsoft and Oracle.

For Salesforce, the pledge was an "acknowledgement that our healthcare challenges as a society can't be solved by a single organization, can't be solved by a single technology," according to Dr. Newman. He added the pledge illustrated "non-traditional vendors realizing what a huge role they play in healthcare."The Singh brothers have finally broken their silence over how they lost Rs 22,500 crore, their flagships Fortis Healthcare and Religare Enterprises in less than a decade. Shivinder and Malvinder have blamed the then Religare CEO & MD Sunil Godhwani for orchestrating a series of transactions over a decade and leaving them with a debt load in 2016.

"Mr. Godhwani used his position to conceive and orchestrate a series of transactions over the better part of a decade that led to our Group's debt load by 2016. Regarding Mr. Godhwani, it is clear that he used our trust in him to exercise undue influence and has taken advantage of the faith bestowed by both families," Shivinder and Malvinder told BusinessToday.In.

Also read: The Baba, Singh Brothers and the Squandered Rs 225,00,00,00,000

The two brothers were loaded with Rs 9,576 crore in cash in 2008 after selling India's largest pharmaceutical firm Ranbaxy Laboratories to Japan's Daiichi Sankyo. Just 8 years later, in 2016, they were in debt of Rs 13,000 crore. But, where the Rs 22,500 crore disappeared has always remained a mystery. Such decimation of private wealth is unprecedented in India's corporate history.

The Singh brothers did not respond to specific questions regards loans to the firms owned by the family of Gurinder Singh Dhillon, who is better known as Babaji, the spiritual Guru of the Radha Soami Satsang Beas (RSSB). Nearly Rs 2,700 crore of Ranbaxy sale proceeds were transferred to firms owned by the Dhillon family and associates and senior functionaries of the RSSB sect.

"After our father Dr. Parvinder Singh passed away in 1999, we found an anchor and mentor in Mr. Dhillon. We remain deeply grateful for this relationship. Our relationship with Mr. Dhillon remains that of a spiritual Master and a disciple. That we have had close personal relations with Mr. Dhillon as the central father figure in our life, has always been and remains a singular privilege and honour," say Shivinder and Malvinder Singh.

"After the Ranbaxy sale closed, it was decided that Mr. Godhwani would lead our family office in addition to his role in Religare, and from end 2008, he had full management control of RHC Holding and its subsidiaries. Mr. Godhwani was expected to be a responsible trustee and steward of the family's resources and consequently our reputation," the brothers said. Sources close to Godhwani, however, say that the brothers knew of all transactions and had signed on the documents. That's a claim that is denied by the brothers.

Here's the full text of Singh brothers' response to Business Today:

After our father Dr. Parvinder Singh passed away in 1999, we found an anchor and mentor in Mr. Dhillon. We remain deeply grateful for this relationship. Our relationship with Mr. Dhillon remains that of a spiritual Master and a disciple. That we have had close personal relations with Mr. Dhillon as the central father figure in our life, has always been and remains a singular privilege and honour. Never have we felt this relationship being based on anything but love and genuine concern for our and our family's larger interest.

The Group's troubles today stem from the Group's association with Mr. Sunil Godhwani who had started his association in Religare as its CEO in 2001. By most accounts he had led the growth of the organization successfully till 2007 when it went public. He thereafter led and negotiated the Ranbaxy sale in 2008.

Thus, by late 2008, the promoters had basis to trust Mr. Godhwani given his performance in Religare and as a trusted senior of the Group.

After the Ranbaxy sale closed, it was decided that Mr. Godhwani would lead our family office in addition to his role in Religare, and from end 2008, he had full Management control of RHC Holding and its subsidiaries.

Mr. Godhwani was expected to be a responsible trustee and steward of the family's resources and consequently our reputation.

We are sure Mr. Dhillon and his family would have had a similar expectation from Mr. Godhwani regarding management of their resources.

Mr. Godhwani used his position to conceive and orchestrate a series of transactions over the better part of a decade that led to our Group's debt load by 2016.

Regarding Mr. Godhwani, it is clear that he used our trust in him to exercise undue influence and has taken advantage of the faith bestowed by both families.Randall L. O'Donnell, PhD, president and CEO of Children's Mercy Kansas City (Mo.), is retiring sooner than expected, stating that he has been "having some health challenges."

In July, the hospital appointed Paul Kempinski president and CEO, effective Nov. 2. However, now that Dr. O'Donnell plans to leave the position before November, the hospital selected Jo Stueve, executive vice president and COO, to serve as interim leader. Ms. Stueve has worked at Children's Mercy for more than 30 years.

Dr. O'Donnell said in a statement furnished by the hospital that he hasn't "bounced back as quickly as expected" from his health problems.

"I am grateful that the board has entrusted the position to Jo and that she is willing to step into this role for Childrens Mercy. I am looking forward to focusing on my health and getting myself back in the groove soon!" he said in the statement.

Dr. O'Donnell became president and CEO of the hospital in 1993. Since then, the hospital staff grew from 1,768 to 8,100-plus and net revenue increased from $167 million to $1.4 billion. He also spearheaded the construction of Children's Mercy Hospital Kansas in Overland Park.

"When [Dr. O'Donnell] arrived at Children's Mercy 25 years ago, the hospital was an oft-overlooked children's hospital," said Ms. Stueve in the statement. "Today, it is one of the top-rated pediatric medical centers in the nation and a crown jewel of our community."Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner signed a package of bills Aug. 22 aimed at improving mental healthcare throughout the state through telemedicine, according to WSIU.

The laws will allow providers to use telehealth services to connect with behavioral health patients in rural and underserved areas while also requiring insurers to provide mental health and addiction treatment at the same rate as traditional care.

"It's just a wonderful thing to see, especially in mental health, that those who need this the most will no longer be deprived of whats rightfully belonging to them," said state Rep. Sue Scherer, D-Decatur.New Orleans-based Ochsner Health System has ended partnership talks with Metairie, La.-based East Jefferson General Hospital less than two weeks after Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare dropped out of the running to partner with the hospital, according to WWL-TV.

New Orleans-based University Healthcare System, a partnership between Tulane University in New Orleans and HCA, signed a letter of intent to partner with East Jefferson General Hospital in 2017. However, HCA ended negotiations earlier this month.

Officials confirmed Aug. 22 that Ochsner also dropped out of partnership talks with the hospital.

Although HCA and Ochsner have ended negotiations, the hospital is still in discussions with New Orleans-based LCMC Health, according to the report.

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Sanford Health, Good Samaritan Society expedite merger

SSM Health to sell 3 hospitals

Shuttered Texas hospital strikes lease dealWorkers at Pottstown (Pa.) Hospital picketed Aug. 22 against the hospital's new owner, West Reading, Pa.-based Tower Health, according to a 69 News report.

The workers, which include nurses, maintenance, service and technical employees, claim Tower Health seeks to reduce their benefits and has unfair policies, the report states.

"The reason we came together and formed a union is because of safe staffing," Bernice Moser, RN, told 69 News. "Staffing levels were getting critical. I have to say since Tower has come they have improved. Have they improved because we're here and putting pressure on them? I can't answer that."

Tower Health acquired Pottstown Hospital, then Pottstown Memorial Medical Center, from Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems in 2017. A spokesperson for the hospital's new owner told 69 News Pottstown Hospital is committed to offering competitive employee benefits and will continue discussions with the union at the bargaining table.

More articles on human capital and risk:

Rhode Island nurses OK 5-year labor deal

ACMH Hospital workers set to strike Aug. 30

Rhode Island Hospital, union reach tentative labor dealThe union representing 2,400 nurses and allied health professionals at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence approved a new five-year contract agreement.

Members of United Nurses and Allied Professionals ratified the labor deal Aug. 22, days after reaching a tentative agreement.

The new contract includes across-the-board wage increases over five years, according to an update emailed to unionized hospital employees. Workers receive a 2.75 percent increase the first pay period after contract ratification; a 2.5 percent increase the first pay period after Sept. 30, 2019; a 2.5 percent increase the first pay period after Dec. 31, 2020; and a 2.75 increase the first pay period after March 31, 2022. According to the hospital's owner, Providence-based Lifespan, the contract also includes some modification to the union's health insurance plan regarding design and premium share, as well as the creation of a joint labor-management working group that will work with an outside facilitator to address issues such as staffing, supplies and equipment.

The ratification vote comes after a monthslong dispute between Lifespan and the union. Negotiations on a new contract began before the old contract expired June 30, and workers went on strike in July. In August, workers voted "no confidence" in leadership and picketed. Additionally, both sides filed separate federal labor complaints with the National Labor Relations Board.

Both sides were pleased a new contract was ultimately reached, the Providence Journal reported.

"I'm proud of all UNAP members who stood up and raised their voice to win a fair and competitive contract" Local 5098 President Frank Sims, RN, told the publication.

"The hospital greatly values and respects its UNAP represented employees and all Rhode Island Hospital employees and looks forward to continuing our work of providing the highest quality care for our patients," hospital officials stated in a news release.

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Hospitals and unions: 12 recent conflicts, agreements

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Allegheny Valley Hospital workers vote for option to strikeA couple is suing McAlester (Okla.) Regional Health Center for violating their adopted 1-year-old son's federal privacy rights after his 2016 drowning death, according to a News on 6 report.

Hospital employees allegedly called the boy's birth mother shortly after he died, who then called the adoptive parents  Denise and Wayne Russell  shortly after, screaming and making threats against the family. The Russells reportedly had to file a protective order, but they believe the problems could have been avoided had hospital employees followed policy.

The Russells had taken care of the boy since he was two weeks old, finalizing the adoption in July 2015 in which the birth mother terminated all parental rights. The boy was almost 2 years old when he drowned after a swimming pool gate was accidently left open, according to the Russells.

The hospital sent the Russells a letter in which it admitted to leaking information and apologized for the inconvenience. The Russells' attorney, Mark Edwards, claimed that the situation is a clear HIPAA violation in an interview with News on 6.

The boy's medical records were accessed by multiple people, including a cafeteria worker, according to News on 6. It's unclear whether the birth mother had a relationship with any hospital employees.The U.S. Department of Justice took three major actions Aug. 22 to combat the opioid epidemic as part of a crackdown prompted by President Donald Trump.

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the actions during a speech in Cleveland, noting all individuals targeted in the department's crackdown are innocent until proven guilty.

Here are the three actions:

1. The Justice Department filed temporary restraining orders against two Ohio physicians who allegedly overprescribed opioids. The restraining orders prohibit thephysicians from prescribing medications and represent the department's first ever civil injunction under the Control Substances Act against physicians allegedly prescribing opioids illegally. The physicians were identified with help from the department's newly created Prescription Interdiction & Litigation Task Force.

2. Mr. Sessions also announced a 43-count indictment against two Chinese residents who allegedly manufactured and shipped about 250 types of synthetic opioids and fentanyl to at least 25 countries and 37 states in the U.S. The indictment also alleges the drugs imported from China caused two fatal overdoses in Akron, Ohio.

3. In a joint operation with other agencies, the Justice Department targeted individuals and organizations selling fentanyl or other drugs on the dark net. Numerous arrests, charges and guilty pleas resulted from the federal operation. Among those arrested were a husband and wife in Ohio, who allegedly ran the most prolific dark net fentanyl vendor site in the U.S., called MH4Life.

"Today's announcements are a warning to every trafficker, every crooked doctor or pharmacist, and every drug company, every chairman and foreign national and company that puts greed before the lives and health of the American people: this Justice Department will use civil and criminal penalties alike and we will find you, put you in jail, or make you pay," Mr. Sessions said.

More articles on opioids:In a unanimous decision by the board of Fayetteville, Ark.-based Washington Regional Medical Center, inpatient pediatric care will end by Sept. 1, according to The Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette.

The board attributed its decision to declining inpatient demand. The 20-bed pediatric unit used to house about a dozen children per day, but that number had dwindled to one or none.

"We feel very confident that if we do close our door to inpatient pediatrics, the community's level of care will not suffer," David Ratcliff, MD, CMO of Washington Regional, told the board before the vote.

Washington Regional will still offer outpatient visits, neonatal intensive care and delivery services.

The hospital will transform its 20-bed pediatric unit into space for gynecology patients and other patients.

It is the second hospital in the region to scale back pediatric services since the opening of the state's specialized children's facility, Little Rock-based Arkansas Children's Northwest Hospital. Springdale, Ark.-based Northwest Health closed its eight-bed pediatric unit in May 2017.The nationwide EpiPen shortage is being felt, especially as children head back to school.

Back-to-school season is the most common time to restock EpiPens because schools often require students with serious allergies to have two EpiPens in the nurse's office in case of allergen exposure, and parents also want to have some at home.

But here's the issue: The pens have a short expiration date, and they are in short supply.

Here are six things to know about the EpiPen shortage:

1. When did it start? The FDA issued a supply shortage alert for EpiPen and other epinephrine auto-injectors May 9, after patients and pharmacists in 45 states reported it was difficult to find the lifesaving allergic reaction treatment. The supply shortage has worsened in recent weeks as demand for the pen spiked.

2. Why is there a shortage? Mylan, which markets and distributes EpiPen, attributed the supply shortage to manufacturing delays by its manufacturing partner, Pfizer. The two pharmaceutical companies say they are working with the FDA to find solutions to the shortage.

3. What other factors contribute to the shortage? EpiPens, which contain the notoriously unstable drug epinephrine, have a typical shelf life of about 18 months. If epinephrine is exposed to light, heat or air, the drug can disintegrate and turn rust-colored. This means consumers must restock about once a year. In addition, as demand increases during the back-to-school push, the shortage worsens.

4. What has been done to combat the shortage? To combat the shortage, the FDA extended the expiration date of some lots of EpiPen and its authorized generic by four months. The extension applies to 0.3 milligram doses of EpiPen and its generic with current expiration dates between April and December of this year. The decision to extend shelf life came after the FDA reviewed epinephrine stability data presented by Mylan.

5. What are Pzifer and Mylan doing to alleviate the shortage? Mylan said it is working closely with Pfizer to help stabilize supply. The company said in a news release it is "expediting shipments upon receipt from Pfizer" and staying "informed of anticipated shipments." Pfizer said it is "working tirelessly to increase production and expedite shipments as rapidly as possible."

6. What about the new generic? On Aug. 16, the FDA approved Teva's generic version of both EpiPen and EpiPen Jr.  the first generic competitor to Mylan's EpiPen. In 2016, Mylan introduced its own generic version of EpiPen after a public outcry over the branded version's price, which has jumped more than 450 percent since 2004. The generic version costs $300 for a two-pack, compared to the brand-name version which costs $600. While this generic version brings hope, it may not launch soon enough for the families urgently looking for supply now. Teva said it is applying "its full resources to this important launch in the coming months and is eager to begin supplying the market," but it didn't specify a launch date or price.Santa Fe, N.M.-based Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center is improving care for infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome through a project that cuts hospitalization time and required medication, Santa Fe New Mexican reports.

Neonatal abstinence syndrome occurs when babies withdraw from drugs they were exposed to in the womb.

At Christus St. Vincent, Jennifer Castaneda-Lovato, RN, and pediatrician Jennifer Achilles, MD, worked together in the hospital's Clinician-Directed Performance Improvement program, which encourages staff to improve hospital safety and patient outcomes.

Their project is one of 33 since 2015 that has reduced the time infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome were in the hospital by almost half. They also decreased medication to wean the infants off drugs.

The treatment involved giving the infants methadone to relieve withdrawal symptoms and then weaning them from the drug and tracking their condition according to a 21-point scoring system nurses use. The scoring system was "very complex, time-consuming and variable between nurses," Dr. Achilles said.

The protocol cut the average hospital stay for babies experiencing withdrawal from 18 to 9.8 days. The percentage of infants treated with morphine or methadone dropped from 31 percent to 22 percent.

Dr. Achilles credited Ms. Castaneda-Lovato with the idea. Their colleagues were initially skeptical, Dr. Achilles said.

"It's very hard to get doctors to change anything, even if it's a doctor trying to convince them," she said. "Now it's the accepted protocol. It's exciting to be in a small community hospital  doing innovative treatment for babies withdrawing from opioids. Really, in a few years, it will be the standard of care."Saudi Arabia has called off both the domestic and international stock listing of state oil giant Aramco, billed as the biggest such deal in history, four senior industry sources said on Wednesday. The financial advisors working on the proposed listing have been disbanded, as Saudi Arabia shifts its attention to a proposed acquisition of a "strategic stake" in local petrochemicals maker Saudi Basic Industries Corp 2010, two of the sources said.

"The decision to call off the IPO was taken some time ago, but no-one can disclose this, so statements are gradually going that way - first delay then calling off," a Saudi source familiar with the IPO plans said.

Saudi Arabia's energy minister denied that Aramco's initial public offering would be called off, in a statement issued early on Thursday.

"The government remains committed to the initial public offering of Saudi Aramco, in accordance with the appropriate circumstances and appropriate time chosen by the Government," Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said in the statement.

He said Riyadh had taken measures to prepare for the listing and that the timing would depend on factors including favorable market conditions, and a planned downstream acquisition in the next few months.

The proposed listing of the national champion was a central part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's reform drive aimed at restructuring the kingdom's economy and reducing its dependence on oil revenue.

The prince announced the plan to sell about 5 percent of Aramco in 2016 via a local and an international listing, predicting the sale would value the whole company at $2 trillion or more. Several industry experts however questioned whether a valuation that high was realistic, which hindered the process of preparing the IPO for the advisors.

Stock exchanges in financial centres including London, New York and Hong Kong have been vying to host the international tranche of the share sale.

An army of bankers and lawyers started to fiercely compete to win advisory roles in the IPO, seen as a gateway to a host of other deals they expected to flow from the kingdom's wide privatisation programme.

International banks JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley and HSBC, were working as global coordinators, boutique investment banks Moelis & Co and Evercore were chosen as independent advisors and law firm White & Case as legal adviser, sources had previously told Reuters.

More banks were expected to be named but no bookrunners were formally appointed despite banks pitching for the deal.

Lawyers, bankers and auditors are all essential in the drafting the prospectus, a formal document that provides essential details on the company.

"The message we have been given is that the IPO has been called off for the foreseeable future," said one of the sources, a senior financial advisor.

"Even the local float on the Tadawul Stock Exchange has been shelved," the source added.

Al Falih said in the company's 2017 annual report, released in August, that Aramco "continued to prepare itself for the listing of its shares, a landmark event the company and its board anticipate with excitement."

Aramco had a budget which it used to pay advisors until the end of June. This has not been renewed, one of sources said.

"The advisors have been put on standby," a third source, a senior oil industry official, said.

"The IPO has not been officially called off, but the likelihood of it not happening at all is greater than it being on."

Sources have previously told Reuters that in addition to the valuations, disagreements among Saudi officials and their advisers over which international listing venue to be chosen had slowed down the IPO preparations.Rather than issuing a recall, medical device managers rely on their physician-customers to screen out defective products and not use them on patients, a new behavioral study published in the Journal of Operations Management suggests.

For the study, researchers at Indiana University and the University of Minnesota interviewed 167 managers from a Fortune 500 medical device firm to uncover what influences voluntary product recall decisions. It was the first behavioral study that used actual industry managers. The study was then replicated with 614 subjects from Amazon Mechanical Turk.

Overall, the study found that managers were less likely to issue a recall when a physician could detect the defect prior to product use.

"Managers appear to trust physicians to screen out defects on behalf of the firm, meaning that when the defect is detectable to the physician, managers are less likely to recall, the study authors wrote. "This is because of a perception of increased patient safety when defects are detectable."

Researchers also found that some managers hesitate to recall a product until the root cause is determined. The authors suggested that waiting to understand the defect before issuing a recall may save the firm a hit to their reputation and bottom line.

"By uncovering behavioral factors and their mechanisms in the recall decision, this study offers important insights to both industry and regulators," study authors conclude.

Read the full study here.The proposed 51bn merger between Asda and Sainsbury's - one of the biggest ever in the supermarket industry - could see major suppliers asked to lower their prices, it has emerged.

But one small egg producer in Northern Ireland has said it hopes the deal could bring opportunities.

Asda and Sainsbury's, which have 17 and 14 stores here respectively, announced their plans to merge in April.

They said they will be asking their top suppliers to offer better buying power in a new 'price harmonisation' strategy.

According to a report in The Times, some suppliers are unhappy about fresh negotiations.

Martin Walker, UK equities fund manager at Invesco Perpetual and a major investor in Sainsbury's, has said it's in favour of the merger.

Co Fermanagh firm Cavanagh Free Range Eggs said the plans "wouldn't be a problem" for them and it hopes a merger could gain it a foothold into Sainsbury's.

Eileen Hall, director of Cavanagh Free Range Eggs, which has a turnover of 100,000 and already supplies Asda and Tesco, said: "We would be hoping to get a Sainsbury's listing. A lot of people are asking why we aren't supplying there. The demand is there but we tried before and Sainsbury's said that they had enough egg suppliers. If that changes it wouldn't be a problem to keep our prices the same. We have the same price for all our customers," she said.

A Sainsbury's spokesman said that if the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) approves an enquiry into the merger, it would see the new superpower grocery retailer "create synergies by equalising the cost prices that Sainsbury's, and Asda, pay these companies for the same product".

"If Asda is paying a supplier 98p for a product and Sainsbury's is paying 99p for it, or vice versa, then the combined business would aim to pay 98p for it."

An Asda spokesperson said the move was only at proposal stages.

He said: "There is nothing we can say concrete until the CMA gives the merger the green light."

Suppliers' reactions to the proposals have been mixed. One told The Times the move is "mythical" and said that the it would reduce choice.

Another supplier said the deal spells bad news for him and his peers, leaving them with "one less customer" especially if any closures are a result of the said merge.

But Asda said: "We have said since the proposed merger was announced that there are no planned store closures."

Katie Marks from the CMA said it could not comment on any proposals "while the evidence-gathering process has already begun".Liam Fox said the deal is worth 240 million over five years for the UK dairy industry (David Cheskin/PA)

China has approved imports of UK-made dairy products such as cream and yoghurt made using milk sourced from other countries, Liam Fox has announced.

The International Trade Secretary said the deal is worth 240 million over five years for the UK dairy industry and could provide a huge boost to the Northern Ireland dairy industry.

Announcing the deal, Dr Fox said: "It is very important for Northern Ireland where milk is often sourced from south of the border. We estimate this could be worth a quarter of a billion pounds for the first five years.

"Lakeland Dairies is a very large employer in Northern Ireland and will likely be the main beneficiary of this deal. It is very good news indeed."

The agreement is said to increase flexibility in the supply chain, meaning producers in Northern Ireland, for example, can export products made using milk from across the border.

Dr Fox announced the deal whilst in China, where he is attending a meeting of the UK-China Joint Economic and Trade Commission (JETCO) in Beijing.

This is my fourth visit to China this year and Im delighted to see the completion of this deal, bringing significant benefits to dairy producers across the UK at a time when British food and drink exports are at a record high, he said.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove added: Our world-class dairy producers already export 1.7 billion worth of produce per year.

This milestone will help to unlock the UK food and drink industrys full potential forging new trading relationships around the globe.

This step shows we can be a truly outward looking Britain outside the European Union.the volume of trade traffic at the Republic's Port of Cork and Bantry Port jumped 8.6% in 2017 to 10.3 million tonnes.

During the year the two ports reported a combined turnover of 31.5m, up from 29.6m the previous year, according to the Port of Cork.

Profit after tax was 5m and together the companies approved a dividend of 693,065 to the Exchequer, up 3% on 2016.

Port of Cork chairman John Mullins said: "Our results for 2017 are very positive and the increase in total traffic is a reflection of these figures."

During the year the company reported a number of successes including the granting of full planning permission for the altered first phase of the Ringaskiddy Port development project, as well as a new direct ferry service from Cork to Spain.

The port redevelopment, which is expected to cost 80m, has agreed a funding structure with the European Investment Bank, AIB, and the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund.

According to the port, the redevelopment will deliver "more efficient container handling facilities".

Brendan Keating, chief executive of the Port of Cork, said: "This redevelopment will create a real opportunity for Cork Dockland sites to be redeveloped in the near future."Declan Donnelly will not present Im A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! alone when it returns later this year.

A new co-host has been chosen to replace Ant McPartlin, ITVs director of television Kevin Lygo told the Edinburgh TV Festival, but he declined to reveal who it would be.

Donnellys long-time presenting partner will be taking the rest of the year off after stepping back from TV commitments and public appearances following a drink-driving conviction which saw him banned from the road for 20 months and fined 86,000.

The duo have presented the programme in the Australian jungle together since it began in 2002.

Hes doing really well and everything he needs to do to get better says Kevin Lygo on Ant McPartlin and adds someone is confirmed to join Dec in the jungle...although he wont reveal who just yet. #edtvfest #ImACeleb #ITV  Edinburgh TV Festival (@EdinburghTVFest) August 23, 2018

Lygo joked: Its going to be Piers Morgan. No, I dont know, it could be Jeremy Corbyn. I cant say.

Speaking about McPartlin, Lygo said: The good news is that hes doing really well, hes doing everything he should be doing to get better.

We collectively thought, lets give it a good amount of time off, this is a slow procedure, thats what weve decided to do.

The duos programme Saturday Night Takeaway will not air next year while McPartlin takes his break.

Lygo said: With Takeaway, its not coming back because we do an enormous amount of work for it now before it airs in February and March, and its a lot of work and I think it was important for Ant, from his point of view, to not worry about doing any work.

Theyre so amazing and honest and professional and fastidious about their shows.

Lygo reckoned Ant and Decs favourite show is Saturday Night Takeaway: Theyre so proud of it and they want it to be perfect and bigger and better.Kevin Spacey is under investigation in the US and UK (Tim Whitby/PA)

Prosecutors in California are reviewing a second sexual assault case against actor Kevin Spacey.

The Los Angeles County District Attorneys office said they received the case against the actor on Tuesday from the sheriffs department.

Greg Risling, spokesman for the DA, said in a statement: A sex assault case was presented yesterday to our office by the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department involving Kevin Spacey.

It remains under review.

The first US case was put forward to prosecutors in April.

Expand Close Kevin Spacey attending the Olivier Awards (Ian West/PA Images) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook

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The ex-House Of Cards actor, 59, is being investigated in the UK for six sexual assault claims over 22 years.

Actor Anthony Rapp was the first to make an allegation, claiming he was 14 when a 26-year-old Spacey made a sexual advance to him in 1986.

Spacey has faced a number of repercussions since allegations of sexual assault against him emerged, most recently clocking in a dire 126 US dollars (98) on the opening day of his film Billionaire Boys Club.

He was also sacked from Netflix show House Of Cards and erased from Sir Ridley Scotts All The Money In The World.

Spacey was artistic director at Londons The Old Vic theatre between 2004 and 2015.The number of tourists flocking to Northern Ireland is on the rise with nearly 5 million trips to the province in a year, figures reveal.

New Government statistics show between April 2017 and March 2018, 4.8m trips to Northern Ireland were recorded, an increase of 5% on the previous year.

Visitors to Northern Ireland during this period spent a total of almost 1billion (939,354,325), up 9% from the previous year.

There were almost 17m over night stays, up 8% on the 15.5m in the previous year.

Figures also show there was 8.5m air passengers arriving in Northern Ireland in the 12 months up to March 2018. A 3% increase on the previous 12 months.

The flow of passengers going through Belfast International Airport increased by 8% but decreased in George Best Belfast city Airport by 3%.

Meanwhile at Derry City Airport - which, it has been warned, faces closure over a funding shortfall - there was a 36% drop in passenger figures.Graham Keddie claims a total of 35 vehicles were subject to damage by the heavy rain at Belfast International Airport on July 28

The managing director of Belfast International Airport has rejected claims that up to 1,000 vehicles in one of its car parks were flooded in last month's torrential rain.

Writing in today's Belfast Telegraph, Graham Keddie said the actual number of vehicles affected by the deluge was 35.

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He confirmed that the customers concerned are being compensated by the airport and added that, where required, passengers were provided with transport home at no cost.

A total of 32 vehicles in the long stay car park were affected by a month's worth of rain in just a few hours, while a further three were damaged in the park & fly facility, he said.

Mr Keddie was responding to reports on BBC Radio Ulster's Nolan Show that the true figure could be well in excess of 100 cars.

Some customers said staff had told them that up to 1,000 vehicles could have been affected.

Mr Keddie apologised for what happened and pledged that "no one will be out one penny" because of the rain on July 28.

"We are sorry for what happened and are working hard to deliver outcomes that will go towards alleviating distress and disruption," Mr Keddie said.

Nolan was inundated with callers yesterday to say they were affected, adding that their insurance companies had written off their vehicles and increased premiums.

Ian Crowder from the AA urged those who believed their car had been flooded to take it to a garage as soon as possible.

One caller named Nick said he had been informed by his insurance company that his car is likely to be written off due to the damage.

He added that he had only heard from the airport's legal representatives.

"I have heard absolutely nothing else from the airport. I have had a couple of messages from the solicitors for me to give them my insurance details. Apart from that, nothing," he said.

He added that a salvage professional who came to take his car away for the insurance company told him in excess of 100 vehicles had been flooded.

He said: "I don't blame the airport for there being a flood.

"It was quite clearly an unprecedented amount of rain and there was flooding throughout Northern Ireland.

"It is the way the airport has subsequently decided to treat me as a customer.

"My car was there for 13 days after the flooding incident and they had my details.

"I'm not asking them to try and assess my car or to work out whether my car has been flooded or not.

"But I don't think it is beyond the duty of care to just inform me that there had been an incident and to make arrangements not to potentially drive an unsafe car home with my family in it."

Another caller, Emma, told of how she arrived back at the airport in the early hours after a holiday only to discover that her car had been deluged.

She said: "The car park was full and they put us into an overflow car park, which was actually a field.

"When the heavy rain happened on that particular Saturday my sister had sent us some pictures through WhatsApp of the terrible weather and I thought: 'Oh, my car is in a field in the airport, I am never going to get it out whenever I get it home next week'.

"I emailed the car park twice and left two messages for someone to call me back and they didn't. So I presumed everything was fine.

"I arrived home 3am, got into the car, wondered what the smell was, and then realised there was about a foot of water in it."

She said her car had now been written off.

She also claimed that when her husband returned to the car the next day to clear it out, a member of staff at Belfast International Airport told him nearly 1,000 vehicles had been affected.Since the failed disinvestment attempt in May, the Maharajah has been scrambling for cash. The buzz earlier was that Air India had asked for a Rs 30,000 crore fund infusion plan - after the Civil Aviation Ministry reportedly sought Rs 11,000-crore bailout package for the beleaguered airline. But post rejection from the government, at least on the former, the national carrier is now in dire straits and in urgent need of a cash infusion.

According to The Economic Times, Air India is on the brink of defaulting on bank loan repayments, so the aviation ministry has sought Rs 500 crore from the finance ministry on an urgent basis. "A letter has been sent (to FinMin) to release the money in the interim so that payments can be made to banks," an aviation ministry official told the daily. In the current financial year, the airline has already received an equity infusion of Rs 650 crore up to June.

In addition to this aid sought from the North Block, the airline is raising a Rs 1,500 crore short-term loan from the Bank of Baroda. According to Air India officials, a large chunk of this bank loan will go towards servicing the airline's international liabilities, which are on sovereign guarantee, as well as salaries and other expenditure. So there won't be enough left over to meet bank liabilities. After all, the airline boasts a total debt of over Rs 48,000 crore and reportedly has to pay around Rs 4,000-5,000 crore as outgo interest per year.

The good news is that bankers have not classified this loan as a non-productive asset, although the account is certainly showing some signs of stress. Some Air India loans are reportedly now in SMA1 and SMA2 categories but the asset has not seen any fresh deterioration.

According to RBI rules, defaults on loan accounts have to be classified as special mention accounts, or SMA. For instance, accounts with principal, interest or any payment overdue for a period between one and 30 days are classified under SMA-0 category. The account is put under SMA-1 category if payment is overdue for 31 to 60 days, and under SMA-2 category if the non-payment period is between 61-90 days.

Given that the airline continues to grapple with financial woes, including consecutive default on salary for the past five months and a delay in payment to vendors, ministry officials claim that the airline may actually need a bigger bailout plan. "After the divestment plan did not yield any result, Air India Specific Alternate Mechanism (AISAM) had decided to provide a bailout to Air India. The bailout plan is being discussed at various levels and no final decision has been taken yet," said another source.

According to him, current thinking favours debt reduction through sale of assets instead of creating a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to house debt and assets, as was proposed in the original divestment plan. "Shifting assets into an SPV would attract a lot of taxes and stamp duty. Hence, this plan was put on hold and we decided we will sell assets without shifting them to an SPV," he added.

But selling assets is easier said than done. On one hand, its loss-making engineering subsidiary is unlikely find takers, and on the other, selling its profit-making ground handling subsidiary would choke off a steady revenue source.

Meanwhile, Air India is managing to stay afloat on the Rs 30,000 crore bailout package extended by the previous UPA regime in 2012 for a decade. Of that, the airline has received Rs 27,195 crore so far.

With PTI inputs

Edited By Sushmita Choudhury AgarwalBelfast Trust has dismissed suggestions from a union the scandal hit Muckamore Abbey Hospital has stopped taking new admissions.

The Belfast branch of public sector union NIPSA said it had been told by its members the hospital, which provides inpatient facilities for vulnerable individuals with learning difficulties and mental health problems, had stopped admitting patients.

We're hearing Muckamore Abbey Hospital have stopped, on a temporary basis at least, taking new admissions. We can't confirm this however as there has been no discussion with trade unions. We've heard instead from members concerned about this development.  Nipsa730 (@nipsa730) August 23, 2018

Posting on social media, a NIPSA spokesperson said: "We're hearing Muckamore Abbey Hospital have stopped, on a temporary basis at least, taking new admissions. We can't confirm this however as there has been no discussion with trade unions.

"We've heard instead from members concerned about this development."

A spokeswoman for Belfast Trust said "no decision" had been taken to stop admissions at the hospital.

An investigation at Muckamore Abbey Hospital is under way after allegations of abuse by staff against vulnerable patients.

Since November 2017, 13 members of staff have been suspended after allegations of ill-treatment were made.Northern Ireland businesses have been told to start making preparations for a no-deal Brexit by contacting the Irish Government to discuss potential arrangements if the UK and the EU fails to broker a deal.

Firms that export and import from the EU may also have to apply for licences to continue to do so.

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The advice forms part of the nine-page Trading with the EU if theres no Brexit deal technical notice - one of a raft of documents published by the Brexit department advising businesses and the public on what they need to do to prepare for a no-deal scenario.

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Announcing the publication of the documents the Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab again reasserted the government's commitments to Northern Ireland and how they were committed to ensuring there was no hard border at the Irish border.

He said it was important people and organisations had "clear and practical advice and re-assurance" in the event of a no deal.

"We are trying to make sure people have the information they need, the lead time they need and some guidance about the practical way through some of the difficulties in the unlikely eventually of a no deal."

Mr Raab also said the government would do nothing to disrupt the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.

For those Northern Ireland businesses that trade with the Republic they are advised to contact the Irish government about preparations they may need to make as ministers there have indicated they would need to discuss arrangements in the event of a no-deal with the European Commission.

The document states: Businesses should now consider the impacts on them in a no-deal scenario, which would mean a requirement to apply the same customs and excise rules to goods traded with the EU that apply for goods traded outside of the EU, including the requirement to submit customs declarations.

Expand Close In Northern Ireland businesses that trade over land with the Republic have been told to contact the Irish government about preparations they may need to make (Brian Lawless/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp In Northern Ireland businesses that trade over land with the Republic have been told to contact the Irish government about preparations they may need to make (Brian Lawless/PA)

Businesses should consider whether it is appropriate for them to acquire software and or engage a customs broker, freight forwarder or logistics provider to support them with these new requirements.

The notice adds: Engaging a customs broker or acquiring the appropriate software and authorisations from HMRC will come at a cost.

On trade in Northern Ireland the technical paper states that the Government stands ready to engage constructively to act in the best interests of the people of Northern Ireland in the event of a no-deal.

However, the department urged businesses in Northern Ireland to contact the Irish government for advice, stating: The Irish government have indicated they would need to discuss arrangements in the event of a no deal with the European Commission and EU member states.

We would recommend that, if you trade across the land border you should consider whether you will need advice from the Irish government about preparations you need to make.

The document concludes by stating that the Government will provide further information on action to take to prepare for this scenario over the coming months.A Northern Ireland solicitor has said that bail terms issued to loyalist blogger Jamie Bryson were "arbitrary, oppressive and illogical".

Tony Caher was speaking on BBC Radio Ulster's Nolan show following the arrest of Mr Bryson last week in connection with an investigation into the activity of the east Belfast UVF.

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He was arrested last Thursday following Paramilitary Crime Task Force and Security Industry Authority (SIA) searches in Ards and North Down.

Mr Bryson was held on suspicion of unlawfully supplying door staff. He denies any wrongdoing.

Police said Mr Bryson was released on bail pending further investigation. However, Mr Bryson claims he did not agree to the bail conditions imposed on him by police and asked to be brought before a judge.

One of the conditions imposed by police was that Mr Bryson was to have no communication of any type about the case with anyone other than his solicitor.

Mr Bryson has since given interviews about his arrest and posted a video discussing it on YouTube.

While Mr Caher said the term was arbitrary, oppressive and illogical, he said that police were allowed to impose whatever conditions they felt neccesary.

"Police can impose bail conditions but they have to be proportionate, they have to be directed towards the issues of preventing further crime, protecting witnesses and ensuring someone will turn up at court if charged and to allow police to investigate further and make that person turn up at a further police interview," he said.

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"The custody sergeant in the police station decides what is reasonable after being briefed by the investigation team."

Mr Caher said that a condition not to tell anyone about the arrest could likely be legally challenged.

"On the face of it that is illogical, unreasonable and probably challengeable. You can see in certain circumstances that such conditions might be reasonable, if there was a widespread inquiry and the police did not want to alert anyone else it may appear reasonable.

"When police broadcast the facts of their investigation to then suggest that someone should not mention it to any other person seems to be illogical and unreasonable."

"Any person would regard it as disproportionate to impose such conditions when the facts of the investigation have been broadcast to the public."

Mr Caher said that colleagues had informed him of similar bail conditions being imposed in the past.

TUV leader and barrister Jim Allister also criticised police's handling of the Bryson case.

"I think the police were foolish to try and implement something which patently was incapable of being implemented and very questionable in the first place," the North Antrim MLA said.

"I think it's a preposterous proposal and the fact that it hasn't been capable of being implemented illustrates just how untenable it is.

"If someone wants to shout from the rooftops that they have been arrested then I think they are entitled to do that."

Good work by Paramilitary Crime Task Force in partnership with Security Industry Authority in tackling criminality of East Belfast UVF. #endingtheharm @SIAuk @NIOgov https://t.co/hQcOUmhw5D  Sir George Hamilton (@SirGHamilton) August 16, 2018

The TUV leader also criticised Chief Constable George Hamilton for his Tweet praising the "good work" of police on the case.

"It doesn't strike me as right or fair that the Chief Constable should be trumpeting the matter in the manner in which he did," Mr Allister said.

"The process has to be fair, it has to be right and in this case it seems to me that the police have lost the run of themselves.

"This has been lamentably handled and there needs to be lessons learned from this, police have left a lot of questions unanswered which maybe the Ombudsman will answer."

A PSNI spokesperson said people released on bail did not have to give consent to the conditions being imposed.

"Conditional bail allows officers to attach conditions to bail which can protect complainants or witnesses, preserve evidence and mitigate the risk of further offending and there is no requirement in legislation for an individual to consent to these conditions."A man behaving disorderly in Belfast told police "I'd love to kill you, I've killed two of youse already", a court heard on Thursday.

Seamus Logue was given 75 hours community service for his actions near the city centre last month.

Passing sentence, Judge Joe Rice warned the 52-year-old that any failure to comply would see him spend "a nice Christmas in Maghaberry (Prison)".

Logue, of Divis Tower in the city, was arrested at Francis Street on July 1.

Belfast Magistrates' Court heard a group of men had been spotted drinking, urinating and causing a nuisance in the area.

When police arrived and asked them to move on Logue was the only one who failed to do so.

A prosecution lawyer said he was drunk and abusive to officers in full view of passers-by - despite several warnings about his behaviour.

She told the court: "He shouted 'F*** off, have you nothing better to do. RUC scum, I'd love to kill you, I've killed two of youse already'."

Logue was then detained after making a V-sign gesture at police.

Imposing community service for the disorderly behaviour, Mr Rice told him: "You're getting too old for courtrooms."Business and politicians have reacted to the Government's proposed 'no-deal' Brexit plan, with concerns raised about the potential damage it could cause to trade and business in the province. (Brian Lawless/PA)

Businesses and politicians have reacted to the Government's proposed 'no-deal' Brexit plan, with concerns raised about the potential damage it could cause to trade and business in the province.

On Thursday, the Government released its 24 technical papers on the possibility of the United Kingdom exiting the European Union without an agreement in place.

Some of the most eye-catching points included UK citizens living in mainland Europe possibly losing their pensions and other financial services, and the cost of shopping potentially increasing with the removal of an EU ban on credit and debit card surcharges.

The main takeaway for businesses in Northern Ireland was advice to contact the Irish Government to discuss potential no-deal Brexit arrangements.

On Thursday, Northern Ireland businesses were told by Brexit secretary Dominic Raab to speak to the Irish government for advice in the case of a no deal Brexit.

Responding to the publication of the planning papers, chief executive of business representative body Retail NI Glyn Roberts said it was the "right course of action for the UK Government to publish these papers" but that his organisation was concerned "a no Brexit deal could result in higher food prices, increased delays and red tape at borders and a possible VAT hike for consumers and businesses".

A no deal would have huge negative impacts not just for Northern Ireland, but the UK economy as a whole, he added.

Expand Close Dominic Raab discusses plans for a no-deal Brexit (Peter Nicholls/PA) / Facebook

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Peter Legge, tax partner at leading business advisory firm Grant Thornton Northern Ireland, said: Should a business only plan for one scenario, it should plan for No Deal. It is the most disruptive and could be reality in less than eight months.

In addition to anticipating the economic impact and what any new tax and customs arrangements may be, businesses must prepare for the effect on their suppliers and supply chain, their people and workforce, as well as the legalities around data and other regulations."

Ann McGregor, chief executive of Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber), said: Todays [Thursday] Brexit papers have two key outcomes for Northern Ireland businesses  it confuses them more and increases their costs.

This, in tandem with the lack of key infrastructure decisions that can be made here, amplifies the need for an Executive to return to represent Northern Ireland at this critical time.

Ulster Unionist leader Robin Swann said he had spoken to Secretary of State Karen Bradley after the publication of the planning papers, and was seeking clarification on certain issues around trade - specifically in reference to the recommendation to consult the Irish government.

As Unionists we have always been acutely aware of the economic importance of access to the UKs internal market, but we also recognise and welcome the extent of cross border trade with the Republic of Ireland," he said.

"As we approach the endgame in terms of Brexit negotiations, it is essential that as much clarity and certainty as possible are reached with regard to trade between Northern Ireland and the Republic."

SDLP Brexit spokesperson Claire Hanna raised the lack of a 'backstop' agreement in Thursday's planning papers.

The absence of the backstop in any of todays [Thursday] publications is an extremely worrying development; though far from a panacea, it was the only protection given to us in the event of crashing out of the EU," she said.Police thanked the public for their help.

Missing Omagh girl Hannah McSorley has been found safe and well.

The 15-year-old went missing on Tuesday sparking an appeal.

Police on Thursday afternoon said she had been found safe and well, thanking the public for their support.PSNI attend the scene of a shooting in Barcroft Park, Newry. It's thought up to seven shots were fired at home. Credit: NewRayPics

Four adults have escaped injury after shots were fired through the front window of a Northern Ireland home.

It happened at a home in Barcroft Park in Newry at around 11.45pm on Wednesday.

Police said a number of shots were fired.

"Thankfully none of the four adults inside was hurt. Anyone with info, please call 101," said an officer in an appeal for information.

Those inside were said to be left "extreme shaken".

Police said they were working to establish a motive.

Newry SDLP Councillor Michael Savage branded those responsible as reckless with no regard for the lives of the people of our city.

Whatever the motivation for this attack, I condemn it in the strongest possible terms.

We could very easily be dealing with a murder this morning. There are young families and elderly residents living in this street and they could have been caught up in this. My thoughts are with the victims of the attack who are very badly shaken by what happened.

The people of Barcroft have worked very hard to build community spirit in recent times and there is a real sense of togetherness in the area and this incident is no reflection on life in Barcroft.

"This was a senseless and mindless attack that has no place on the streets of Barcroft or indeed our city.Flipkart has announced another sale just two weeks after the conclusion of its Big Freedom Sale. This will be the first sale after it launched Flipkart Plus, a loyalty program similar to Amazon's Prime. Plus members will get early access to the sale. The Superr Sale is scheduled to go live from August 25. However, Plus members will receive early bird access on August 24 at 9 pm.

Flipkart has promised impressive deals on popular smartphone brands. The Redmi 5A will also go on sale on August 25 at 12 pm. The company will also offer discounts on Television sets, laptops from brands like HP, Asus, Dell and Acer. The buyer will get extra Rs 2000 off on laptops.

Refrigerators and microwaves of best-selling brands like Samsung, LG and Whirlpool will get up to 30 per cent off. Flipkart has also paired up with HDFC to provide 10 per cent instant discount on products. The discount can also be applied on payments done via EMIs.

The sale will also provide discounts on furniture, and fashion. The company will conduct various flash sales on best-rated products.

To make the most of the sale, users can take up Flipkart's Plus program. Unlike Amazon Prime, Flipkart Plus does not charge on an annual or monthly basis. Instead, the company has opted for their own coins that can be earned on every rupee spent shopping on the website.

Apart from early access to sales, Flipkart Plus members get free fast delivery and priority customer support. The e-commerce giant offers one coin for every Rs 250 spent on its website. The member can use up to 10 coins in a single transaction to get discounts up to Rs 2,500. The company is also giving away various free offers to new Plus members. Offers include 6-month subscription to Gaana Plus, Rs 550 instant discount on flights booked on Ixigo, 3-month membership for Viu Premium offered for free and Rs 100 off on movie tickets booked via BookMyShow.

Edited by Danny D'cruzeThe Northern Ireland public is still battling with remembering the mountain of plastic bags in the boot of the car as new figures show almost 100million were used in the past year.

Although that is significantly down on the 300m estimated to be used in 2012 before the introduction of the 5p levy in 2013.

Government statistics show there was a 1.1% drop in the use of plastic bags in 2017/18 that was 1.1 million fewer bags.

The proceeds of the levy for 2017/18 totalled 4.9million, a reduction of 0.1million (2.0%) from the previous year.

The figures are based on data supplied by 2,575 retailers in Northern Ireland as notified to the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs by 30 June 2018.

Bags which are exempt from the levy, such as those used solely to contain unpackaged raw food or hot foods/hot drinks, are not included in the data.

The Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs explained that there is not a correlation between the amount of money generated and the bags used because of how the data is recorded and differences in timing.Legislation against the 'miserable' puppy farm trade has been stymied by the Stormont limbo

Belfast City Council says it is powerless to ban the sale of puppies and kittens by pet shops and other business sellers.

It comes after the Government announced a consultation on a ban on puppy farms and other third-party commercial dealers.

It would mean anyone buying or adopting a pet less than six months old will have to deal directly with the breeder or a rescue sanctuary.

But with Stormont in limbo and unable to introduce similar legislation in Northern Ireland, Green Party councillor Georgina Milne had called on the council to take action.

Ms Milne had hoped a council policy amendment could limit the lucrative trade, which forces illegally imported animals to endure harrowing journeys that can result in horrific injuries or death.

"Many puppy farms are associated with horrendous acts against vulnerable animals," she said.

"They include keeping pregnant dogs and puppies in filthy conditions, lack of food and water, denying the animals healthcare, and taking young pups from their mothers before they are ready.

"I will be raising this with Belfast City Council to ensure that this important law is adopted as council policy."

However, last night the council said such a move was not possible.

"There is no legislation in Northern Ireland to deal with third-party sales of pets and the council cannot implement any policy without appropriate legislation to underpin and regulate the activity," it said.

The effort to protect animals from unethical, profit-driven breeders comes on the back of the prominent 'Lucy's Law' campaign, which calls for an immediate halt to the sale of young pets by third-party commercial dealers.

A petition supporting Lucy's Law has been signed by nearly 150,000 people and was debated in Parliament in May.

Ms Milne praised Lucy's Law and said it will significantly restrict "a cruel way of breeding puppies" which are sold to unsuspecting owners throughout Britain.

UK Environment Secretary Michael Gove said the Government would back the ban to ensure no one profits from what he branded a "miserable" trade.

The Dogs Trust welcomed the move but said it also wanted to see the ban implemented here "alongside other measures" to ensure no loopholes exist.

However, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs said "legislation regarding animal welfare and the licensing of pet shops and dog breeding remains a devolved matter" and any decision would be for a minister to take.'While a number of Garda patrols were alerted, the court also heard that members of the Garda's armed Regional Support Unit in Ballyshannon were also tasked to take part in the search for the car' (stock photo)

A Co Armagh man accused of planting a lethal booby-trap bomb under an off-duty policeman's car in Londonderry was initially captured by police officers in the Republic following a high-speed chase in Donegal, the non-jury trial has heard.

Belfast Crown Court has already heard that although gardai detained Sean McVeigh and two others outside the Donegal village of Killygordon shortly after the device was planted, he was not arrested by the PSNI until nearly a year later.

The 37-year-old from Victoria Street, Lurgan, who denies attempting to murder police and possessing the under-car bomb on June 18, 2015, was eventually arrested by PSNI officers in May 2016 while travelling on a Lurgan-bound train.

The court was told yesterday that Garda in Letterkenny were initially asked for assistance by the PSNI in Strand Road, Derry after two vehicles failed to stop at a police checkpoint and were thought to be heading to Bridgend in Donegal.

It was also suspected they may have had something to do with the planting of the bomb.

While a number of Garda patrols were alerted, the court also heard that members of the Garda's armed Regional Support Unit in Ballyshannon were also tasked to take part in the search for the car.

It was a two-man patrol from this specialist unit which, while driving towards the border town of Lifford, first spotted one of the suspect vehicles, a black VW Passat, on the outskirts of Killygordon, and gave chase.

The driver said that although he switched on his siren and blue flashing vehicle lights, the Passat was "clearly ... evading any attempt by ourselves to stop it".

He also revealed that in the Donegal village, the Passat drove through a red light, even swerving onto the wrong side of the road to avoid a car already stopped at the lights.

Eventually, officers managed to block the Passat as it sped towards Ballybofey.

Once stopped, the Garda said that he and his sergeant "took necessary action" and, having drawn his "official issue pistol", told those in the Passat they were armed gardai and they were being stopped under Section 30 of Offences against the State Act.

He said that after first detaining and handcuffing the rear-seat passenger, he then detained and cuffed McVeigh, who was the front-seat passenger, while his sergeant arrested the driver.

Despite being asked for their names, the three men remained silent, he added.

Later in a follow-up search of the chase route, the Garda said that he found a black glove, turned inside out, lying on the ground. He remained with the find until it was photographed and placed in an envelope by a detective.

During cross examination, the Garda officers said they were "conscious" of the need to forensically protect the scene, and of the dangers of possible contamination.

However, they accepted that they had not been wearing gloves at the time, and had not put the men in forensic suits as they were not available.

They also said that the three suspects were only "patted down" to ensure they had nothing and that the Passat was given only a "cursory search as such", again to establish there was nothing which would or could have posed a danger.

But they maintained that there had been no "long search of the vehicle" and that while they may have looked inside the vehicle, they had not gotten into it, although it would have been possible for other gardai to enter the vehicle without their knowledge.

The trial continues today.A shopper passes a mannequin of the Pope at McPeake's on the Falls Road yesterday

Parts of nationalist Belfast are in the grip of Pope mania ahead of Francis' arrival in Ireland this weekend, with shops offering the faithful flags, bunting and even papal costumes.

Retailers say business is booming and they're selling out merchandise ahead of the first visit by a pontiff in nearly four decades, with some suppliers unable to replenish stock due to demand.

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The leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics will touch down in Dublin on Saturday, where he will pay a visit to Irish President Michael D Higgins.

Later he will travel through the city in a Pope Mobile, with up to 100,000 expected to line the route.

He will meet some homeless people before addressing the World Meeting of Families event at Croke Park that night.

On Sunday he will fly to Co Mayo to visit the Marian shrine at Knock before returning to Dublin for Mass in Phoenix Park, which up to 500,000 people are expected to attend.

During his two-day trip he will also meet victims of clerical sexual abuse.

The Pontiff will return to Rome on Sunday evening.

It will be the first papal visit since Pope John Paul II in 1979.

Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims, including many from Northern Ireland, are expected to flock to the events.

Capitalising on Pope Francis mania is McPeake's on the Falls Road, which has proven popular with selfie seekers after erecting a mannequin in papal costume outside.

The business, which has a year-round fancy dress section, also stocks flags and bunting, but it was the mitre-crowned figure complete with golden spectacles that drew everyone's attention yesterday.

Part-owner of McPeake's Daniella Campbell said: "We may not have the real thing, but we have a substitute. It's a talking point.

"You can't rent out the Pope's costume, we only sell that for 39. So far we have got more people taking photos with it!

"I suppose everybody is out to make a bit of money. Business is hard, you are getting people in, getting people talking, that's what it's all about.

"We have had people in to buy things every day this week and our stock is nearly finished."

Mary Lavery (52), who manages The Holy Shop in Chapel Lane, confirmed that trade had been "great this week", with people eager to get their hands on any Pope Francis-related memorabilia.

"This week it's candles, the wee water bottles, anything with Pope Francis on it," she said.

"We have also specially got in books, magnets, medals, pictures. We tried to re-order most of the stuff in again this morning but we can't get, it's even sold out of our suppliers. We had a young family come in last week and it will be the kid's birthday the day of Pope Francis in Croke Park, and he is giving up his party to go down and see the Pope. He must be only seven or eight years old.

"People are just thrilled to bits that he's coming here.

"I think that the audience will be as big as the one which went to see John Paul II 40 years ago."

She said local people were "quite disappointed" that Pope Francis will not cross the border, but believes that many will still make the effort to head south.

"The last time the Pope was here it was 1979 and there were the Troubles, but people still went," she said.

"I have worked here 20 years and I think Ireland is still a very religious country, nothing has changed. The Irish Catholic faith is amazing, it is alive and well, and I'm hoping that Pope Francis will reinvigorate it in Ireland."

In Castle Street the front window of the Innisfree newsagents is bedecked with papal flags, mugs and plates. Owner John Larkin (48) said that hundreds of flags had been sold, and trade had been "very busy".

"It helps business," he said.

"A lot of the people seem to be heading down on Sunday.

"A lot of people are excited."

Belfast woman Geraldine Morrison (31) is one of those heading to Phoenix Park on Sunday.

"I thought it would be a good experience and an opportunity to see the Pope in Ireland," she explained.

"Who knows when another Pope will come?. I hope we will see a papal visit to Northern Ireland in my lifetime."

And outside St Mary's Church in Chapel Lane, grandmother Elizabeth McCorry (80) revealed that she will be travelling to Croke Park with her entire family.

"There are seven of us from up here, and my daughter, who lives in Drogheda, will also be going with her husband and five children," she explained.

"I am travelling down on Sunday, we leave Belfast at 7am and don't expect to be home until midnight.

"I saw Pope John Paul II 40 years ago and the atmosphere was beautiful.

"I hope the crowds this time will be as big as before.

"I hope that the faith in Ireland will be revived.

"It has fallen by the wayside a bit.

"I would have loved him to come to Northern Ireland.

"I'm disappointed that he didn't."

In a video message released ahead of his arrival, Pope Francis expressed hope his visit to Ireland would help grow unity and reconciliation among Christians on the island.

"In a particular way, I pray that it may further the growth of unity and reconciliation among all Christ's followers, as a sign of that lasting peace which is God's dream for our whole human family," he said.Sinn Fein is the richest party in Northern Ireland and earned twice as much last year as the DUP, according to figures released by the Electoral Commission.

It boasted an income of just over 1m and was also the highest spending local party on 1,139,000.

The DUP was well behind as the second highest earning party on 510,000. Arlene Foster's party spent 461,000 in 2017.

The Ulster Unionists enjoyed an income of 458,000 but spent 552,000.

The Alliance Party had a healthy year financially, securing an income of 360,000 and spending 355,000.

The SDLP, which relied heavily on Westminster funding, has suffered since the loss of its three MPs in last year's general election.

The party earned significantly less than Alliance - just under 237,000 - and it spent almost 220,000 last year.

The SDLP's income in 2016 was 320,000. Its weakening financial position will make its widely predicted merger with Fianna Fail even more attractive to the leadership.

With both a Westminster and an Assembly election to fight last year, Northern Ireland's parties were placed under considerable financial pressure.

Earning as much as the DUP and Ulster Unionists combined put Sinn Fein in a very comfortable position.

The party's income included 437,000 in donations and 78,000 through fund-raising. Donations were down from 700,000 in 2016. But head office's contribution was up from 32,000 in 2016 to 112,000.

Sinn Fein received almost 289,000 in grants including 117,000 Assembly party allowance and 134,000 Westminster representative allowance.

Northern Ireland's four biggest political parties, in terms of their finance - Sinn Fein, the DUP, UUP and Alliance - spent a total of over 2.5m last year which was 839,000 down on their spending for 2016.

In Great Britain, legacies left by dead Tories to the national party were double the amount centrally collected from membership fees last year, according to official figures. Legacy payments totalled 1.69m to central headquarters while membership fees contributed 835,000, according to the party's 2017 accounts.

Conservative membership payments to the central party have halved from 1,459,000 a year earlier and legacies were more than five times higher, jumping from 301,000.

A party spokesman said the membership income figure declared in the accounts published yesterday included just the fees collected by the party centrally.

It did not take into account the 4.1m of membership fees collected by local associations, he said.

Of the total 45,947,000 party income for last year, around 36m came from donations.

Meanwhile, Labour hit a new fundraising record of nearly 56m including almost 1.8m more in membership fees compared to the previous year.

Labour saw membership payments rise from about 14.4m in 2016 to just over 16m in 2017.

Jeremy Corbyn's party also set a new record income of just over 4.5m more than its previous record of 51,153,000 in 2015.

Labour both raised and spent around 10m more than the Conservatives, with income of 55,793,000 and a spend of 54,342,000 in 2017.

A Labour spokesman said: "Unlike the Tories, who rely on a few super-rich donors to bankroll them, we're proud to be powered by small donations from hundreds of thousands of people across the country."

Accounts for Theresa May's party show it took in a much lower 45,947,000 and spent 44,867,000.

No other political party raised more than 10m, with the Liberal Democrats in third place, taking in 9,710,000 but spending 10,454,000.A woman who carried out a refund scam at a Marks & Spencer store while her daughter was there for a job interview has been given a three-month suspended jail sentence.

Belfast Magistrates' Court heard Linda McIntyre took a jacket from clothing rails in the shop, approached the till and asked for money back.

Referring to the 44-year-old's six previous convictions for theft, Judge Joe Rice said: "She's a very active amateur shoplifter."

McIntyre, of Millview Meadow in Coalisland, Co Tyrone, committed the fraud by false representation at a branch of Marks & Spencer in Belfast on June 29.

A prosecution lawyer said she took the 69.99 jacket off its hanger, went to the changing rooms and then headed to customer services to seek a refund.

Staff discovered a rip in the item, rendering it unfit for resale.

McIntyre made full admissions after being arrested and interviewed.

Defence counsel Luke Curran confirmed the fraud occurred while his client's daughter was at the store for a job interview.

There is no suggestion that McIntyre's daughter was in any way aware of the offence being committed.

Mr Curran stressed the incident had coincided with a low point in the defendant's life.

But the judge pointed out: "She has convictions for theft the length and breadth of the province - Omagh, Dungannon, Lisburn, Craigavon, Coleraine - and now Belfast."

He continued: "She took advantage of a situation where her daughter is going for a job interview, comes up from Tyrone and quite deliberately steals this article."

Telling McIntyre she has been given "chance upon chance", Mr Rice imposed a three-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

He also ordered her to pay the full 69.99 in compensation.Friends of a Co Tyrone car crash victim with "a loving, special smile" have said her tragic death has left a hole in their hearts.

Kyra McKinley died in hospital from injuries sustained in a two-vehicle collision on Deverney Road in her native Omagh on Saturday morning.

It is the second tragedy to bring heartache to the McKinleys in just 18 months, after Kyra's grandfather died on the family farm following a bull attack.

The 21-year-old had been undertaking a five-minute drive from her parents' home to her boyfriend's.

She was flown by Air Ambulance to the Royal Victoria Hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery, but later died surrounded by her family.

Les Sage, Ulster Project coordinator in Salt Lake City, America, in which Kyra participated six years ago, said she remembers her for her altruism.

"Everyone in Salt Lake City who knew Kyra now have a hole in our hearts," she said.

"When she came to us as a participant in the Ulster Project, she not only came physically, but she came emotionally.

"She was full of fun energy and she gave everyone she touched a silent hug and was always showing her loving, special smile."

Ms Sage said he remembers her "as being one of the teens who was not as much concerned with herself as she was with everyone else".

"She would come to me often with her big smile and say, 'I need to talk with you', before going on to tell me what another teen was feeling," she said.

"I remember Kyra always being one of the first to volunteer and to help those who didn't want to participate.

"The last thing she wrote to me was 'Les, three words, I LOVE YOU', and we all loved her, too."

Kyra's grandfather, Alex McKinley (75), from Gillygooley outside Omagh, died in March 2017 after being attacked by a bull on the family farm.

Now, almost 18 months on, her heartbroken parents, Raymond and Valerie, older sister Alex, younger brother Glenn, and boyfriend, Matthew, are preparing for her funeral. As a member of Omagh Community Youth Choir, Kyra performed at an event to mark the 20th anniversary of the Omagh bombing on August 12.

The Omagh Academy past pupil was an employee of Dickson & Co Insurance Brokers in the town and had just finished her one-year probation period.

Kyra's funeral service will take place at 2pm tomorrow at First Omagh Presbyterian Church. Mrs Bingham will lead Omagh Academy music department at the service and there will also be contributions from Omagh Community Youth Choir.

Rev Jane Nelson, who will officiate alongside Rev Robert Herron, described Kyra as a beautiful young girl, inside and out.

She added: "Kyra was a beloved member of the Gillygooley congregation and the community, whose prayers and thoughts are with the family."

The McKinley family have requested donations to the rescue team from Air Ambulance Northern Ireland, who helped them cherish their final moments with Kyra.The weapon recovered by the PSNI. Credit: PSNI

A west Belfast man was remanded in custody charged with possessing a pistol and ammunition with intent to endanger life.

Gerard Burleigh appeared before the city's magistrates court accused of having a Walther P99 and a quantity of 9mm rounds on Thursday.

The 32-year-old, of Rossnareen Avenue, also faces three other weapons-related charges in connection with an alleged incident on Tuesday.

They include possessing a Taser, pepper spray and an imitation firearm, namely a Glock pistol, with intent to cause any person to believe unlawful violence would be used.

Entering the dock in handcuffs, Burleigh did not respond when asked if he understood the allegations against him.

A detective constable confirmed she could connect him to the four charges.

No further details were disclosed, and no application for bail was made during the brief hearing.

Burleigh was instead remanded in custody to appear again by video-link on September 20.

As he was led back to the cells he exchanged waves with three men in the public gallery.An artist's impression of how the bridge might look

A bridge linking Northern Ireland and Scotland could unlock the Brexit border logjam and could be made possible by funding from around the world, according to a former head of the European Commission in Belfast.

Jane Morrice, a former Deputy Speaker in the Stormont Assembly, said the funding possibilities are "vast" and claimed the project might prove too tempting to turn down for Chinese private investors in particular.

In an article today she writes that it was a surprise when DUP leader Arlene Foster urged support for a campaign to build it.

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"The DUP could have come up with what might be seen as a stroke of genius," she claimed.

"The ingenious element is that a bridge between Northern Ireland and Scotland would literally override any 'border' in the Irish Sea.

"The political and symbolic importance of such a link can't be underestimated, and the economic, social and cultural advantages could be significant."

The cost has been estimated at 15 billion.

Ms Morrice says that various sources of investment could be explored.

"In terms of funding, the range of possibilities are vast. Apart from the obvious support from London and Dublin, EU sources could include the cross-border INTERREG programme, the European Investment Bank, the TransEuropean Network and HORIZON 2020. The EU PEACE programme could be another valuable source because the bridge would still respect the Good Friday Agreement by promoting peace and prosperity in the region. Private funds would also be a must, and China a clear contender. With Chinese interest in access to new markets, investment for the world's most prolific bridge-builders could prove irresistible." Former Economy Minister, Strangford DUP MLA Simon Hamilton, reaffirmed the party's position that a solid connection between Northern Ireland and Scotland could be a catalyst for economic growth between the two regions.

He said: "The DUP made the proposal of a feasibility study into a tunnel or enclosed bridge across the North Channel to the Scottish coastline in our 2015 manifesto.

"Some people are foolishly using Brexit to build a border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, a border which the Prime Minister stated she could not accept and which would damage the constitutional integrity of the UK.

"There is growing support for our manifesto proposal.

"It's time to be progressive and forward thinking."

Earlier this year Ards and North Down Borough Council agreed to engage with a Scottish Government feasibility study of the idea of a bridge, with Donaghadee mooted as a potential starting point on this side of the Irish Sea.An art installation has been erected in Dublins main tourist area as a distress signal to Pope Francis ahead of his visit to Ireland this weekend.

The Somebodys Child site at Exchange Street in Temple Bar had nine wooden panels erected on Thursday, with art and graphics detailing the stages of harm endured from child sexual abuse.

The work was installed by local politician Mannix Flynn, who was subjected to sexual and physical abuse by a priest from age 11, and says he wants the church to admit their guilt in a cover-up.

Expand Close Mannix Flynn who installed the art in Temple Bar on Thursday. PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook

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This is a continuation of the work which has been done on the site for the last 15 years.

This however, is directed solely at Pope Francis, with flags of the Vatican turned upside down, as an international distress call.

Many victims are asking him why he continues to cover up and protect the guilty.

The nine panels depict the impact of sexual abuse throughout their lifetime, from a child and follows them their whole life, and undermines them entirely.

Particularly those abused in institutions, who in adulthood are still traumatised.

His letter does not suffice, many of us have strong faith, and were not attacking the church, but we need the church to be held accountable.

Expand Close The art installed at the site in Temple Bar shows how child sexual abuse effects victims throughout their life / Facebook

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The Gardai should be interviewing the pope, and the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar should not simply wait until the Popes visit but ask questions constantly about the cover up of abuse.

The amount of clerics involved in mass abuse and torture of children, this is a hidden weapon of mass destruction.

This art is on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of victims of clerical abuse throughout the world.

Some of which are no longer with us.

The message is clear, the writings on the wall, its already drawn massive crowds.

The feature which is usually at the site, was installed by Mr Flynn in November 2015 to remember the children and infants who died in the States Mother and Baby Homes.

It lists the names of 796 children who died in the Tuam home for unwed mothers in Galway.

The site in Temple Bars main thoroughfare will be viewed by over a million people this week as Dublin prepares for the Popes visit on Saturday and Sunday.

Mr Flynn added: The Pope has accepted that there was a cover up and now people are less inclined to throw holy water on it, and more inclined to understand us.

However, we do not want prayers and fasting or sympathy, we want people arrested and those who covered it up at least held accountable in court.Toshiba Carrier Corporation and United Technologies Corporation have entered into a joint venture to establish a new company, Toshiba Carrier Air-Conditioning India Pvt Ltd, for expanding its footprint in the commercial air-conditioning segment in India.

Headquartered in Gurugram at Toshiba India premises, it allows Toshiba Carrier Air-Conditioning to plan, develop, manufacture and sell commercial air-conditioning products for the Indian market. The company will use the existing manufacturing facilities to produce products in India.

According to a statement issued by Toshiba Carrier Corporation, "The new joint venture was created to support strong demand for variable refrigerant flow (VRF) solutions. Driven by strong domestic demand from its population of approximately 1.3 billion, India is expected to continue a fast economic growth, as shown in its annual GDP growth at 7.4 per cent, as reported in World Economic Outlook (April 2018) by IMF." VRF is a form of commercial air-conditioning for applications such as office building and condominiums.

The establishment of the new joint venture is one of Toshiba Carrier's initiatives with regard to new overseas operations for its commercial air-conditioning business, based on the memorandum of understanding that was signed in March 2015 between Toshiba Corporation and United Technologies Corporation.

Toshiba Carrier Air-Conditioning India Private Ltd. has been set up with a registered capital of Rs 28.5 crore, of which Toshiba Carrier Corporation owns 51 per cent share and United Technologies South Asia Pacific PTE Ltd. owns 49 per cent.Monica McWilliams has called for an end to coercive behaviour by gangsters. Paul Faith/PA.

A Northern Ireland paramilitary monitor has said coercive behaviour by gangsters should stop.

Monica McWilliams said crime gang members were using their affiliations to dissident republicans or loyalists to threaten people.

The former Womens Coalition leader sits on the Independent Reporting Commission (IRC), which is a key element of a strategy in the 2015 Fresh Start Agreement at Stormont to end the criminal activity.

It will report annually to the UK and Irish governments on progress in tackling organised criminality, which remains more than 20 years after the Troubles.

Ms McWilliams said: We still have these sort of gangsters running around.

She said their coercive behaviour had to stop.

There is no time in Northern Ireland anymore for armed groups using their affiliation to threaten the rest of usMonica McWilliams

There is no time in Northern Ireland anymore for armed groups using their affiliation to threaten the rest of us.

She said the peace walls dividing communities primarily in Belfast and elsewhere had to come down and shared housing needed to work.

She expressed fury that people were put out of their homes on the Ravenhill road recently and that police served the eviction notices.

She added: Civil society should have stood up.

Ms McWilliams addressed an event discussing the legacy of the Good Friday Agreement at Queens University in Belfast.

The four IRC members are former US special envoy to Northern Ireland Mitchell Reiss, ex-human rights commissioner Ms McWilliams, solicitor John McBurney and Irish former diplomat Tim OConnor.

"2,400 people are actually alive today due to the work of the Good Friday Agreement." Father Gary Donegan #GlobalConflict2018 pic.twitter.com/LCdH18SkzG  Queen's University Belfast  (@QUBelfast) August 23, 2018

Fr Gary Donegan is a Catholic priest who has spent years working with communities at flashpoints in North Belfast.

He said 2,400 people were alive today due to the effect of the Good Friday Agreement, but expressed concern about the impact of Brexit on the border and the impasse at Stormont giving dissidents the oxygen and opportunity they needed.

He worried shots would be fired on a hard border then troops could be back on patrol.

This place is falling over with leaders, the problem is it is missing statesmanship and that is the differenceFr Gary Donegan

This place is falling over with leaders, the problem is it is missing statesmanship and that is the difference.

Methodist minister Harold Good, who helped witness the decommissioning of paramilitary arms, concurred complacency and indifference to the lack of devolved government could be dangerous.

There is always a danger, and it is a very real danger, that there are those who are all too anxious to fill that vacuum.George Mitchell addressed a conference on the Good Friday Agreement in Belfast (Queens University Belfast/PA)

It would be an immense tragedy if Northern Irelands peace process failed now, one of its architects said.

George Mitchell enshrined the commitment to non-violence and brokered the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which largely ended decades of bloodshed and paved the way for devolved powersharing.

Northern Ireland has been without a Stormont government for months now, but Mr Mitchell warned an audience in Belfast that despair fuelled instability as he challenged todays politicians to be brave.

?He said: I urge the current political leaders and the governments in Ireland and the UK to summon the courage and vision that their predecessors summoned in 1998.

Political leaders and the people of Northern Ireland have come too far to risk letting peace slip awayGeorge Mitchell

It would be an immense tragedy if the process were to fail now after 20 years.

Political leaders and the people of Northern Ireland have come too far to risk letting peace slip away.

Stormont has not sat since early last year amid a dispute between former coalition partners the Democratic Unionists and Sinn Fein over identity issues like the Irish language.

Former US senator Mr Mitchell later became ex-US president Barack Obamas special envoy to the Middle East, but said he would always feel a special bond with Northern Ireland.

He said: There is no such thing as a conflict that cannot be ended.

Conflicts are created and sustained by human beings and they can be ended by human beings.

He added: No matter how hate-filled, peace can prevail.

No matter how bleak the outlook, the search for peace must go on.

He received a standing ovation following his address at Queens University.

He said it was important for politicians to take risks.

There is now, in Northern Ireland, once again a stalemate  and once again strong courage and political leadership are necessary.

He added: Leaders must lead.

They must create an attitude of potential success, they must create the attitude that problems can be solved, that things can be better.Alex Salmond is taking the Scottish Government to court following complaints about his conduct during his time as first minister.

Mr Salmond said he had been denied the chance to properly challenge the complaints, which he denies.

The allegations relate to his behaviour towards a member of staff at his official Bute House residence in 2013, the Daily Record reported.

Statement from Alex Salmond pic.twitter.com/DUOTS7MriX  Alex Salmond (@AlexSalmond) August 23, 2018

In a statement, Mr Salmond said: The Permanent Secretary chose to deny me contact with any current civil servant, many of whom wished to give evidence on my behalf and access to documentation to allow me to properly challenge the complaints, all of which I refute and some of which were patently ridiculous.

The procedure as put into operation by the Permanent Secretary is grossly unfair and therefore inevitably will lead to prejudicial outcomes.

It is therefore with great reluctance that I have today launched a Judicial Review in the Court of Session which will decide the issue of the lawfulness of the procedure which has been used against me.

Mr Salmond could not be contacted for comment on the nature of the complaints against him.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: For legal reasons we are currently unable to comment.Edinburgh councillors have revoked the Freedom of the City granted to Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The honour, the highest in the city, was awarded to the Nobel Peace Prize winner in 2005 in recognition of her personal courage and relentless pursuit of justice.

Ms Suu Kyi, who lived under house arrest for years for her pro-democracy activism, has been accused of failing to speak out over violence against the Rohingya people in Burma in her role as state counsellor.

The 'Freedom of the City' is the highest honour we can bestow. It is granted rarely and only to those who are held in high esteem by the citizens of #Edinburgh. It is with a heavy heart Councillors have chosen to revoke the honour granted to Aung San Suu Kyi in 2005 #edinwebcast pic.twitter.com/QlWONaLETB  The City of Edinburgh Council (@Edinburgh_CC) August 23, 2018

A motion was lodged by Edinburgh Lord Provost Frank Ross at a meeting of the full council, calling for the honour to be removed.

It noted the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Northern Rakhine and in the refugee camps of neighbouring Bangladesh as well as calls from the United Nations, Amnesty International and international governments to stop the violence.

Mr Ross said: It has been 10 months since this chamber discussed the status of this award for Aung San Suu Kyi.

It did so in the light of the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar (Burma), which was and continues to be broadcast around the world.

At that time this chamber instructed me to write to Aung San Suu Kyi, making it very clear that as a recipient of the Freedom of our City, we urged her to use her powers to alleviate this human crisis.

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Mr Ross added: I did so and we have tried every route that we possibly have available to us to make contact, via our armed forces, through diplomatic means, by writing directly  yet we have seen the situation in Myanmar continue to deteriorate.

This award is granted rarely and only to those individuals who are held in the highest esteem by the citizens of Edinburgh. It was presented to Aung San Suu Kyi in recognition of her personal courage and relentless pursuit of justice.

I no longer believe her receipt of this award or the reasons it was presented are appropriate or accurate. It is not a decision we take lightly to revoke the honour granted to her in 2005.

Other cities including Oxford, Glasgow and Newcastle have also acted to strip Ms Suu Kyi of similar honours.British Airways is suspending its flights between London and Iran because they are not commercially viable.

The airline announced it will stop flying between Heathrow and Tehran next month.

It apologised for the disruption to passengers due to travel on later flights and is offering refunds or the option to bring their itineraries forward.

A number of foreign companies have announced plans to pull out of Iran since US president Donald Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal with the Middle Eastern country and reinstated sanctions.

He has accused Iran of supporting terrorism and undermining global financial systems.

The operation is currently not commercially viableBritish Airways

In August 2015, the British embassy in Tehran reopened after it was ransacked by a mob in 2011.

British Airways resumed London-Tehran flights after a gap of four years in September 2016. The service was suspended in October 2012 amid instability in Iran.

It currently operates five flights per week in each direction. The last outbound flight to Tehran will be on September 22, with the final inbound flight to London on the following day.

A spokesman for the carrier said: We are suspending our London to Tehran service as the operation is currently not commercially viable.

We are sorry for any disruption this may cause to our customers travel plans and we are in discussions with our partner airlines to offer customers rebooking options.

Alternatively, they will be offered a full refund or the opportunity to bring their flights forward.

Dutch carrier KLM announced last month that it will also suspend its Tehran flights in September due to negative results and financial outlook.The number of entries for GCSE French has fallen this year (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Entries for GCSE French continued to decline this year, but German has seen a slight rise, national exam results show.

While French continues to be the most popular modern foreign language, there were 3,759 fewer UK entries for the subject compared to last year.

Entries for the language have generally been falling since the start of the century.

There was a slight uptick in 2013, before numbers resumed their descent.

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Meanwhile, entries for German, which have also been dropping since 2000, increased this year, with 886 more taking the language.

Spanish saw another increase this year, with 4,040 more entries compared to 2017.

German and Spanish also saw a rise in entry numbers in 2013.

The rises in these three languages five years ago is likely to have been caused by the Governments introduction of the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) which recognises teenagers who take GCSEs in English, maths, science, history or geography and a language.

Students taking GCSEs in 2013 had not made their GCSE choices when the EBacc was announced, and may have picked, or been encouraged by schools to take courses that fitted with the Government measure.

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The latest figures also show that Chinese continues to increase in popularity, with 4,410 entries in total, up from 4,104 last year.

Arabic has also seen an increase in entries, while Italian has seen a fall.

Suzanne OFarrell, curriculum and assessment specialist at the Association of School and College Leaders, said there were indications the rise in German and Spanish may have been caused by pupils moving across from IGCSEs, which no longer count in school performance tables, to GCSE courses.

Mark Herbert, director of schools and skills at the British Council, said: The slight rise in pupils studying languages at GCSE is encouraging, particularly at a time when the UK is looking to establish a new position on the global stage.

Its vital we make language learning accessible for everyone, no matter their backgroundMark Herbert, British Council

Now more than ever our young people need to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to succeed in the internationally competitive economy.

A survey of schools we conducted earlier this year suggested that more rigorous GCSEs may already be improving students linguistic competency, but also that lower ability pupils now appear less likely to take a language in the first place  so its vital we make language learning accessible for everyone, no matter their background.

After a sustained period of decline German has had its first increase in years at GCSE, while Spanish continues to grow in popularity, to the extent it is likely to overtake French at GCSE in the next decade.

Our research shows Spanish and German will be among the most important languages post-Brexit, along with Mandarin, French and Arabic.

The popularity of Spanish may be accounted for by a perception its easier to pick up than other languages, along with the fact that Spain is the most popular holiday destination for Brits, so young people can imagine having the chance to put what they learn in the classroom into practice.A series of technical notices will ensure the "smooth, continued, functioning" of the UK economy in the event of a no-deal Brexit, Dominic Raab is expected to say today.

In a speech outlining the Government's planning for a possible no-deal the Brexit Secretary will say the Government would take "unilateral action" to maintain continuity if negotiations break down.

Mr Raab is expected to say the UK, in the event of a no-deal, would "continue to behave as responsible European neighbours".

His speech will coincide with the publication of the first batch in a series of technical notices advising businesses and the public on what they need to do to prepare for a no-deal scenario.

He is due to say: "I remain confident a good deal is within our sights, and that remains our top, and overriding, priority. If the EU responds with the level of ambition and pragmatism, we will strike a strong deal that benefits both sides.

"But, we must be ready to consider the alternative. We have a duty, as a responsible government, to plan for every eventuality.

"These technical notices - and the ones that will follow - are a sensible, measured,and proportionate approach to minimising the impact of no deal on British firms, citizens, charities and public bodies."

He will add: "They will provide information and guidance. Our overarching aim is to facilitate the smooth, continued, functioning of business, transport, infrastructure, research, aid programmes and funding streams.

"In some cases, it means taking unilateral action to maintain as much continuity as possible in the short term, in the event of no deal - irrespective of whether the EU reciprocates."

Mr Raab in his speech will say the UK, in the event of a no-deal, would "diverge when we are ready, on our terms" from the European Union.

The Brexit Secretary will explain there is already planning talks between the Bank of England and the European Central Bank for a no-deal scenario and called for talks to begin on data protection and between port authorities.

Shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer dismissed the documents as a distraction, saying a no-deal would be "catastrophic".

He said: "A no-deal Brexit would be a complete failure by the Government to negotiate for Britain. These documents should not distract us from that.

"No deal would be catastrophic for people's jobs, the economy and for the border in Northern Ireland. It is irresponsible for anyone to casualise no-deal."

Lib Dem Brexit spokesman Tom Brake called on ministers to give the public a final say on the deal, he said: "The choice between a catastrophic Brexit no-deal and the rejected Chequers plan is no choice at all.

"That's why the Liberal Democrats think the public deserves a vote on the final deal and a chance to exit from Brexit."

Under current plans, the reports will be published in batches, starting today and running through September. Reports suggest they include subjects including aviation safety, civilian nuclear power, medical drugs, the rights of British citizens living in the EU, road haulage and fishing rights.

Ann McGregor, chief executive of Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said businesses needed clarity urgently.

"Businesses have had an extremely long wait for answers to some basic questions around Brexit and they have been particularly frustrated by the lack of clear guidance on some of the issues that are within the UK Government's own control," she said.

"As 'no deal' preparations get under way with the publishing of the EU Exit Technical Notices (TNs), the UK Government must move quickly and give businesses as much detailed information as possible to avoid significant disruption in any scenario.

"The planned notices around areas such as company law, customs and borders, EU programmes, financial services, trade agreements continuity and VAT, for example, could be extremely useful.

"However in order to be deemed a success these notices must provide our members with the clarity they need so that they can continue to make decisions and conduct business both at home and across borders on March 30, 2019."Derrick Peters falsely claimed he had been staying in Grenfell Tower at the time of the tragic blaze (David Mirzoeff/PA)

A burglar swapped jail for a four-star hotel after lying to a judge about living in Grenfell Tower.

Derrick Peters, 58, was put up in the Park Grand hotel in Paddington, west London, after claiming to have lost his friend and all his possessions in the blaze on June 14 last year.

Police found items stolen from a couples west London flat in his 192-a-night room, where he ran up a 40,000 bill over six months for room service and accommodation.

He was arrested on August 10 but the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea continued to pay for his hotel for two months while he was held on remand in Wandsworth prison.

Peters does not have any links to the Grenfell Tower. He did not stay there.Prosecutor Ben Holt

Peters pleaded guilty to burglary but was freed when he was sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on October 16 last year after writing to the judge repeating his Grenfell lies.

At the time, Judge Simon Davis sentenced him to a 12-month community order and said: How on earth can one even begin to understand what it is like to lose a friend in a tragedy like Grenfell?

Peters returned to the hotel where he stayed until he was finally evicted on December 16.

He appeared at the same court on Thursday to plead guilty to one count of perverting the court of justice and two counts of fraud.

Prosecutor Ben Holt said Peters told officials on June 28 he had been living with his friend Steve Power at the time of the deadly blaze, which left 72 people dead.

Mr Power was a genuine Grenfell resident who died in the fire along with his three dogs, while his daughter Rebecca Ross escaped.

She told police Peters had never lived with them.

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Mr Holt said: The prosecutions case is founded on the fact that Peters does not have any links to the Grenfell Tower. He did not stay there. The representations he made, therefore, to receive accommodation and subsistence were false.

The mitigation was also false. It was designed to con the learned judge into passing a more lenient sentence than would have otherwise been the case. That plan was successfully executed; he received a community order.

The prosecutor read a statement from Edward Daffarn, a member of the Grenfell United survivors group, who said he was left sickened by what Peters has done.

He said: It is upsetting beyond words to know the tragedy of Grenfell Tower is being used by individuals so that they can exploit our misery for their own gain. It pours salt on the wounds of ex-residents.

Referring to the statement, Judge Robin Johnson described the publics horror at such offending, adding: I can hardly think of a fraud which would meet with greater revulsion.

The court heard Peters has 40 convictions for 90 offences, including 24 for fraud and 73 for theft.

His barrister Iona Nedelcu said he turned to drugs after losing his cousin in the early 1990s, adding: He is deeply ashamed.

CPS prosecutor Kate Mulholland, said: Derrick Peters lied about staying in Grenfell to benefit from aid and assistance meant for true survivors of the fire.

He then used the same lie to mislead a court and avoid a prison sentence, a serious offence in itself but which also allowed him to continue to defraud the taxpayer by claiming more accommodation.

Our prosecution was able to prove Peterss calculated dishonesty leading to the guilty pleas.

Peters will be sentenced on Friday.Here is a timeline of the key events since Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested and sentenced to five years in prison after being accused of spying.

 April 3 2016  The mother-of-one is detained by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard at Imam Khomeini airport after a holiday visit to Iran where she showed her daughter Gabriella to her parents.

 July 12 2016  Richard Ratcliffe, her husband, delivers letters to Downing Street for outgoing Prime Minister David Cameron and his replacement Theresa May on his wifes 100th day in custody. He says it is astonishing no British minister has publicly criticised Tehran for arresting Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe.

 August 9 2016  New Prime Minister Mrs May raised concerns about Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe during a phone call with President of Iran Hassan Rouhani.

Expand Close Theresa May raised concerns about Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe during a phone call with Hassan Rouhani (Christopher Furlong/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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 September 9 2016  Mr Ratcliffe says his wife has been jailed for five years following a conviction on unspecified national security-related offences- a sentence he describes as a punishment without a crime.

 November 13 2016  Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe begins a hunger strike which she ends after five days amid her familys fears for her health.

 January 2 2017  Mr Ratcliffe says Mrs May and her ministers could have publicly stood up for Nazanin more and should have called for her release. Mr Ratcliffe said: She raised those concerns in September. What happened after September? Nothing much, really.

 April 24 2017  The family of Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe say she has lost the final stage of her appeal against the sentence.

 November 6 2017  It is feared Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe may face a further period of imprisonment because of remarks made by Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson. Mr Johnson told a parliamentary committee the previous week that Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was working in Tehran training journalists at the time of her arrest in 2016. Four days later, she was summoned before an unscheduled court hearing, where

the Foreign Secretarys comments were cited as proof that she was engaged in propaganda against the regime.

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 November 7 2017  It is announced that Mr Johnson told his Iranian counterpart in a phone call that his comments to a Commons committee provide no justifiable basis for further legal action against Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe. A Foreign Office spokesman says Mr Johnson now accepts that he could have been clearer when he told the Foreign Affairs Committee that the British woman had been training journalists in Iran at the time of her arrest.

 November 12 2017  Mr Ratcliffe says his wife has seen a medical specialist after finding lumps on her breasts and is on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

 November 15 2017  Mr Ratcliffe describes an hour-long meeting with Mr Johnson as positive and constructive.

 December 12 2017  Mr Johnson said he and his Iranian counterpart spoke frankly regarding the case of Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, during talks in Tehran.

 Later in December 2017  Mr Ratcliffe said he believes there is still a chance his wife may be released in time for a dream Christmas together.

Expand Close Richard Ratcliffe said his wife was on the verge of a nervous breakdown after finding lumps in her breasts (Yui Mok/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Richard Ratcliffe said his wife was on the verge of a nervous breakdown after finding lumps in her breasts (Yui Mok/PA)

 December 28 2017  Mr Ratcliffe says he is in limbo waiting for news of his wifes release but has not given up hope, and describes the situation as a lot more positive than last year.

 April 14 2018  Iranian ambassador to the UK, Hamid Baeidinejad, says the Iranian government is doing its best to secure Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffes release, saying the judicial process was complicated but insisted we are trying our best.

 May 21 2018  Mr Ratcliffe says his wife has been told to expect another conviction after appearing in court over a new invented charge.

 August 3 2018  New Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt pledges to do everything possible to secure Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffes release, after talks with Mr Ratcliffe.

 August 21 2018  Mr Hunt says he is considering a request by Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffes husband to grant her diplomatic protection.

 August 23 2018  Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe is given temporary release from prison for three days and her husband says it feels like home is one step closer.New figures on net EU migration have been published (Steve Parsons/PA)

More migrants from eight eastern European countries are now leaving the UK than coming for the first time since the nations joined the EU in 2004, official figures show.

Estimated net long-term migration from the so-called EU8 states including Poland and Czech Republic has dropped sharply since the Brexit vote in 2016.

Now the measure  the difference between the numbers arriving and leaving the UK for at least 12 months  has registered a minus figure for the first time since the enlargement of the bloc 14 years ago.

A similar downward trend has occurred for other groups of EU states, bringing overall EU net migration to around 87,000, the lowest level for more than five years.

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While immigration data since the referendum have sparked claims of a Brexodus, figures for the rest of the world painted a contrasting picture, with net migration from outside the EU now higher than at any point since 2004.

Overall, the balance between immigration and emigration was 271,000.

This is below record levels seen around 2015 and 2016, but still almost three times the Governments net migration target of less than 100,000.

Nicola Rogers, of the Office for National Statistics, said the figures show net migration is continuing to add to the UKs population.

Looking at the underlying numbers we can see that EU net migration has fallen, as fewer EU citizens are arriving in the UK, and has now returned to the level last seen in 2012, she said.

We know there is more to do if we are to meet our aim of reducing net migration to sustainable levelsImmigration minister Caroline Nokes

Around 45,000 immigrants arrived from EU8 countries  Poland, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia and Latvia  in the year to the end of March.

At the same time, 47,000 departed  giving a net migration figure of minus 2,000.

While this was a non-statistically significant fall from plus 5,000 in the previous year, net EU8 migration has dropped from 42,000 since the 12 months to June 2016, when the referendum was held.

Net migration of citizens from 14 longer-term member states such as Germany, Italy, Spain and France has almost halved since the Brexit vote, standing at an estimated 45,000 in the year to March.

In the latest period, 38,000 more Romanians and Bulgarians arrived than left, down from 62,000 in the 12 months to June 2016.

Madeleine Sumption, director of the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford, said: The UK has clearly become a less attractive country for EU migrants since the referendum.

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The lower value of the pound means that workers coming here for higher wages are getting less than they were in the past, and economic conditions in many of the key EU countries of origin have improved a lot over the past few years. Uncertainty about the implications of Brexit may have played a role.

Matthew Fell, policy director at business group the CBI, said the fall in net EU migration will be a real concern for businesses that are already struggling to fill vacancies and plug skills gaps.

When the referendum was held, net migration from the EU and the rest of the world were around the same level.

But the latest figures indicate a gap has opened up between the two.

In 2017/18, net non-EU migration was estimated at 235,000, the highest since 2004.

The ONS said: Non-EU net migration has returned to a similar level to that seen in 2011, following an overall increase since the year ending December 2015.

There has been an increase in immigration of Asian, and particularly South Asian, citizens over the last year for work-related reasons, according to the report.

Year-on-year, overall net migration was up by just under 30,000, but statisticians attributed the rise to an anomaly in previous estimates of student immigration.

Lord Green of Deddington, chairman of Migration Watch UK, described the rise in net migration from outside the EU as extremely disappointing.

He said: The Government should have been able to reduce this inflow as they have long promised but, clearly, they have been asleep at the switch.

Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes said: These statistics make clear that we are continuing to increase our appeal to world-class talent to our universities and economy.

At the same time, the figures show that net migration has fallen from its peak levels. But we know there is more to do if we are to meet our aim of reducing net migration to sustainable levels.

Separate figures revealed that applications for British citizenship from EU nationals jumped by 47% to 42,037 in the year to June.

Another data set showed that 28.4% of live births in England and Wales in 2017 were to women born outside the UK, the highest percentage on record.Detectives fear that a mother missing for more than nine months may have come to harm.

Patricia Henry, 46, has not been seen by family or friends since November 13 last year.

The 46-year-old lived in Paisley, Renfrewshire, before relocating to Girvan in South Ayrshire in October.

Police investigating her disappearance are keen to trace a white van which may have been seen travelling between Glenburn in Paisley and Girvan, and in the area of Kirkwood Place in Girvan, on November 15 and 16.

Anyone who saw anything suspicious is being urged to contact police.

Ms Henry has been reported missing before and her family believed she may have travelled abroad, so she was not reported missing until March.

Expand Close Patricia Henry has been missing for more than nine months (Police Scotland/PA) / Facebook

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Detective Chief Inspector Suzanne Chow, of the major investigation team, said: The last independent sighting of Patricia was Monday November 13, 2017.

One line of enquiry that I now must consider is the possibility that Patricia may have come to some harm.

Its important that we keep an open mind to all lines of enquiry but the distinct lack of information about Patricia is concerning.

However, we cannot rule anything out at this point and officers will continue to follow up enquiries about where Patricia has been.

Since Patricia was reported missing, Police Scotland has been carrying out enquiries in both Renfrewshire and South Ayrshire, I am continuing to appeal to anyone who may have any information that can help find out what has happened to Patricia to get in touch.

Police have been speaking to local people in Girvan and Paisley this week in the the hope of jogging their memories as they investigate Ms Henrys disappearance.

They have also travelled on trains between Paisley and Girvan, which is a route the missing woman often used.

In May, Ms Henrys daughter Alannah McGrory, 18, appealed for anyone with information about her mother to contact police.

Expand Close Patricia Henrys cousin, Jacqueline McCarthy (left), her daughter Alannah McGrory (centre) and DCI Alan Sommerville at an appeal in May (Paul Ward/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Patricia Henrys cousin, Jacqueline McCarthy (left), her daughter Alannah McGrory (centre) and DCI Alan Sommerville at an appeal in May (Paul Ward/PA)

She said: My mum is known as Patty to some people and Im worried about her. She has never been so long without getting in touch.

If you have any idea where my mum could be or if youve seen her since she was last reported missing, please let the police know.

Mum, if you see this please let me know youre ok.

Ms Henry is described as 5ft 10ins, slim and with shoulder-length hair which is usually tied back.

She has a tattoo of a red rose and green stem with a cloud in the background and the name Patti on her right arm and a tattoo of a dolphin on her hip.

She usually wears a denim jacket.

Anyone with any information that can help the investigation is urged to contact the incident room in Kilmarnock on 01563 505172.

Information can also be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.(PERMISSION GRANTED FOR PICTURES OF STUDENTS ) Students sit their GCSE mock exams at Brighton College in Brighton, East Sussex.

Test yourself in GCSE science with these questions from this years OCR GCSE biology, physics and chemistry papers.Boulders known as hunger stones are reappearing in the Elbe River due to this summers drought in Central Europe.

The low water levels in the river that begins in the Czech Republic and crosses Germany into the North Sea have exposed stones on the river bed whose appearances in history used to warn people that hard times were coming.

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More than a dozen of the hunger stones, chosen to record low water levels, can now be seen in and near the northern Czech town of Decin, near the German border.

The oldest water mark visible dates to 1616.

That stone is considered the oldest hydrological landmark in Central Europe and bears a chiselled inscription in German that says: When you see me, cry.A man flagged by French authorities as a suspected radical has killed his mother and sister and seriously injured another woman in a knife attack that was quickly claimed by Islamic State.

Police shot and killed the man, whose motives were not immediately clear.

Authorities did not rule out a family dispute and prosecutors were not immediately treating the attack as a terrorism case.

Three French officials identified the two people killed in the attack in Trappes as the mother and sister of the attacker.

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The third victim, a passer-by who was gravely injured in the attack, was also a woman, one of the officials said.

IS, via its Aamaq news agency, claimed responsibility.

The agency said the attack in Trappes was motivated by calls from the IS leadership to attack civilians in countries at war with the extremist group.

Hours earlier, IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi urged followers to attack enemies everywhere by all means, including in knife attacks.

Police officials said the man was flagged in a government database of suspected religious and political extremists.

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Whatsapp French interior minister Gerard Collomb leaves the scene (Michel Euler/AP)

The French interior minister said the man had serious psychiatric problems.

Gerard Collomb said the attack is not being treated as a terrorist case for the moment, despite the claim of responsibility by IS.

The minister said a third person who was seriously injured was not a member of the family.

Mr Collomb said police shot and killed the man after he came out of his mothers house wielding a knife and ignored their warnings.A Ugandan pop star-turned-politician who opposes the longtime president has been charged with treason in a civilian court, minutes after a military court dropped weapons charges.

The new charge was bound to bring fresh outrage from Ugandans and global musicians after Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine, alleged he had been severely beaten while in detention, which the government denies.

Ssentamu has emerged as an influential critic of President Yoweri Museveni, especially among the young, after winning a parliament seat last year.

The 36-year-old had been charged last week with illegal possession of firearms for his alleged role in an incident in which Mr Musevenis motorcade was pelted with stones.

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A military court freed him on Thursday but minutes later the poltiician was re-arrested by police and taken to a magistrates court.

Ssentamu limped during his appearance in military court and appeared to cry as he rubbed his eyes.

A colleague wrapped the national flag about his shoulders.

He sat in the dock in the magistrates court, with his lawyers saying he is unable to stand on his own.

Lawyers for Ssentamu asked the magistrate to order his remand to a health facility.

The magistrate ruled that Ssentamu should be allowed access to his own doctors. He was remanded until August 30.

The politician had been arrested with four other opposition lawmakers, three of whom also face treason charges.

A fifth legislator has been taken hospital with injuries allegedly sustained during detention.

Ssentamus appearance on Thursday was the first time he had been seen in public since his detention.

He clenched his fists and greeted supporters.

In recent days Ugandas government has faced mounting pressure at home and abroad to free him.

Security forces have violently put down street protests demanding his release.

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On Thursday, other opposition figures expressed concern about being targeted by security forces.

Every way out of my home is barricaded since very early today, Kizza Besigye, a four-time presidential challenger who has been jailed many times, tweeted.

Ssentamus arrest came after he was campaigning in an election to choose a politician in the north-western town of Arua.

Mr Museveni was also in Arua at the time, campaigning for a rival candidate who eventually lost.

While the president was departing, authorities said, his motorcade was pelted with stones by people associated with Ssentamu and the candidate he backed, Kassiano Wadri.

Ssentamus driver was shot and killed, allegedly by security forces.

In a statement late on Wednesday, Mr Museveni accused unprincipled politicians of luring youth into rioting.

Responding to calls on social media to #FreeBobiWine, the president said he had no power to release Ssentamu.

Let us therefore wait for the courts and see what they decide, he said.

Mr Museveni, a US ally on regional security, took power by force in 1986 and has since been elected five times.

Although he has campaigned on his record of establishing peace and stability, some worry that those gains are being eroded the longer he stays in power.

The 74-year-old is now able to seek re-election in 2021 because parliament passed legislation last year removing a clause in the constitution that had prevented anyone over 75 from holding the presidency.

Ssentamu publicly opposed that decision.Some of the placards carried by marchers in 1968

The first march to be organised by the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association (NICRA) took place on Saturday, August 24, 1968 between Coalisland and Dungannon.

It wasnt the first civil rights march because the Connolly Association had already organised civil rights marches in England.

Neither was it the first time NICRA took to the streets because they had been out and about in Armagh in the spring of 1968 when they protested against the banning of a republican Easter Rising parade.

However, this was certainly the first civil rights march organised by NICRA.

It was interesting for a number of reasons, including the fact that it was marshalled by members of the IRA. It was also interesting for the incendiary speeches by some of the speakers, especially Gerry Fitt and Austin Currie.

Then too it was interesting for the fact that some of the NICRA marchers heckled Betty Sinclair, a member of the Communist Party and secretary of NICRA.

The hecklers shouted Czechoslovakia, Czechoslovakia because Sinclair and other Communists supported the brutal invasion of Czechoslovakia by the Russians.

The Communist Party, which was well represented in NICRA, was demanding civil rights in Northern Ireland but supported the Russians after they sent their tanks into Czechoslovakia to put down a civil rights movement there.

However, one of the other interesting aspects of the NICRA march was the placards that some of the marchers were carrying.

There are photographs and film footage of the march and some of the marchers were carrying placards with venomous slogans about Ulster-Scots.

This was drawn to my attention just a few years ago by an enthusiastic Ulster-Scot who had come across the film clip and the photographs on the internet.

But what was on those placards that were carried by the NICRA marchers in 1968, a full 50 years ago?

One of the placards had the message ULSTER-SCOT SIEG HIEL (sic). Another read BE WITH IT, BE ULSTER-SCOT, BE RACIALIST, BE UNIONIST. The marchers were therefore attempting to portray Ulster-Scots as Nazis and racialists.

Well so much for the claims that the civil rights movement was an inclusive movement that had only one agenda, a civil rights agenda.

This was exactly 50 years ago and it is significant because it demolishes the claim made by some republicans that no one ever heard the words Ulster-Scots until the last few years.

That is obviously untrue because the Ulster-Scots Language Society was formed in 1992, more than 25 years ago, and the Ulster-Scots Heritage Council was formed in 1995.

The placards, however, take us back another 25 years to 1968.

Moreover this wasnt the first time the term Ulster-Scots was used in the context of the broader civil rights movement. The previous year Gerry Fitt, then the firebrand Republican Labour MP for West Belfast, had addressed a conference in London.

The conference had been organised by the Connolly Association, a Communist Party front group that was the intellectual origin of NICRA. Gerry Fitts speech was then included in a booklet published by the Connolly Association and it was one of the first political booklets I ever bought.

Fitt told the conference that the trouble in Ireland was due to Britain and the plantation of Ulster and then added: They have been there quite a long time now. They have not been assimilated into the Irish race, though they do not call themselves English either. They call themselves Ulster-Scots.

That helps to explain the venomous placards carried on that first NICRA march.

It also confirms that the descendants of those who settled in Ulster in the 17th century call themselves Ulster-Scots and have not been assimilated into the Irish race. According to Fitt that was what they called themselves and that was how they viewed themselves and the wording on the NICRA placards serves to confirm that.

Now thats one part of the Coalisland march I have not heard mentioned at any of the commemorative events and as an Ulster-Scot, I just wonder why?In a surprise announcement during her visit to Scotland in June, the DUP leader Arlene Foster (below) called for support for the campaign to build a bridge between Northern Ireland and Scotland.

The proposal got mixed reviews at the time, but since appears to have floundered on the rugged rocks of Brexit. It nevertheless begs an important question.

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Why did the DUP choose to float such an extraordinarily ambitious idea at this crucial moment in the EU negotiations?

Just when decision-makers in the British Isles glare at each other across the Irish Sea desperately in search of the "imaginative and creative solution" to the Irish border requested by the EU, the DUP come up with what might be seen as a stroke of genius.

Indeed, genius is not a label that sits comfortably with a party whose critics associate more with 'prehistoric' than 'avant garde'.

Yet, a proposal which would build bridges rather than borders might help to rid these islands of the dire consequences of Brexit and break the Brussels logjam.

The EU is the greatest bridge-building project in modern history, so to suggest the Eurosceptic DUP is thinking 'European' may be far-fetched, but the proposal still merits consideration.

The biggest issue for the DUP is the potential for a border down the Irish Sea, which it claims would be created by the backstop proposal to keep Northern Ireland in the EU single market and customs union.

The ingenious element is that a bridge between Northern Ireland and Scotland would literally override any border in the Irish Sea and create a concrete connection tying the two islands into a permanent partnership forever.

The political and symbolic importance of such a link can't be underestimated and the economic, social and cultural advantages could be significant.

A bridge would not only allow the relatively free flow of trade between Ireland, Scotland and England, it would also cement the freedom of movement of people between these islands, which was operational well before EU membership. It could also create greater balance between Green, Orange, Ulster-Scots and other cultures sharing the Celtic fringe on the outskirts of the EU.

The main barrier to such a massive undertaking is the possible 15 billion price tag on what could be one of the longest bridges ever built in Europe.

But some argue the benefits for these isolated rural regions, stretching from Donegal to Dounreay, could outweigh the cost.

Quite apart from the potential investment to Northern Ireland, Scotland and Ireland, the construction would create employment, technological innovation and creative quality design not seen on these islands for many years.

It would also tap into those long-established, but dwindling, marine engineering skills for which this part of Europe was once renowned.

It could also include a pipeline providing ever-lasting access to Scottish energy resources and reducing dependence on the Irish grid.

Finally, a bridge over the troubled waters of Brexit, might serve to lift the spirits of those in Northern Ireland and Scotland who voted in the referendum to remain in the European Union.

In terms of funding, the range of possibilities are vast.

Apart from the obvious support from London and Dublin, EU sources could include the cross-border INTERREG programme, the European Investment Bank, the TransEuropean Network and HORIZON 2020.

The EU PEACE programme could be another valuable source because the bridge would still respect the Good Friday Agreement by promoting peace and prosperity in the region.

Private funds would also be a must, and China a clear contender. With Chinese interest in access to new markets, and the Confucius Centre in Coleraine, investment for the world's most prolific bridge-builders could prove irresistible. The bridge could also be tolled to ward off any challenge of unfair competition from the ferry companies, and the revenue, from freight traffic in particular, might allow it eventually to pay for itself.

The DUP must know that Brexit, and its backing of it, has brought the debate on a united Ireland closer to home than ever before.

The EU's offer of a unique backstop deal for Northern Ireland has the support of most of the party's political opponents, whose dire warnings of the damage, even dangers, of Brexit are loud and clear.

If Brussels was to take the proposal seriously, even by initially agreeing a feasibility study in return for DUP acceptance of the backstop, the bridge-building option could be the solution negotiators urgently need.

This would mean the EU secures a backstop, Britain delivers Brexit, Northern Ireland gets the best of both worlds, Scotland gets an EU land link and the British/Irish isles become reconnected in a way not seen since the Giant's Causeway was destroyed by the mythical Finn McCool.

Time is short. An offer to put Article 50 on ice, if suggested by the EU 27 in a gesture of understanding, could take the pressure off.

Northern Ireland will soon break the record for the longest-serving democracy without a government. We are a community desperately in need of bridge-builders.

If the Northern Ireland Executive could be re-established with all parties backing a vision which could raise our sights, solve our problems and one day line our children's pockets, Brexit or no Brexit, in a United Kingdom, a 'new Ireland' or a 21st century 'Dalriada', this bridge might be the giant step needed to create a causeway to a brighter future for all.Indonesian police stand guard outside the Australian embassy in Jakarta during an anti-Australia protest, March 5, 2015.

Updated at 5:06 p.m. ET on 2018-08-23

Australia warned that it obtained information about potential terrorist attacks targeting Indonesia and asked its diplomats to not attend a scheduled Thursday event in Surabaya, the second largest Indonesian city where suicide bombings occurred three months ago.

We continue to receive information indicating terrorists may be planning attacks in Indonesia, Australias Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in an advisory posted on its Smarttraveller website on Wednesday.

Due to heightened security concerns, staff at the Australian Consulate-General in Surabaya will not be attending an event at the Airlangga University in Surabaya on 23 August. Australian officials in Surabaya are currently adopting enhanced security measures and limiting their movements, the message said.

On Thursday, the American embassy in Jakarta followed up with its own alert about a security threat at Airlangga University. The embassy cited media reports indicating the potential threat of terrorist attacks in Surabaya and other parts of Indonesia, including the potential targeting of Western interests at Airlangga.

Out of an abundance of caution the U.S. Consulate General in Surabaya is closing its American Corner at Airlangga University on August 23, the embassy said in an advisory posted on its website.

A security analyst at the Indonesian Center for Radicalism and Deradicalism Studies (PAKAR), Adhe Bhakti, said the threat emerged in online chatter among supporters of the extremist group Islamic State (IS).

There was some kind of a call to conduct amaliah (code for a terror attack) in Surabaya with Australian officials who were scheduled to attend an event at a university there, Adhe told BenarNews, without giving details.

The Reuters news agency, citing two security sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, reported that Australias elevated security measures were linked to a posting circulating on social media that called on Indonesians in Surabaya and surrounding East Java province to harm Australian officials.

Earlier this month, Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop opened Australias first consulate-general in Surabaya.

In mid-May, suicide bombers attacked three churches and a police headquarters in the city. At least 12 people were killed as well as 10 members of two families who were blamed for carrying out the bombings that were linked with a pro-IS Indonesian militant network, Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD), according to police.

Since then, Indonesian authorities have arrested more than 300 suspected militants and killed 21 others across the country.

Meanwhile, a pro-IS group calling itself the Hacking Division of the Anshar Caliphate Army issued a one-minute audio message on social media in which it threatened to attack the Indonesian government. The message in English with Indonesian subtitles was read by a male voice that sounded computer-generated.

The message vowed to avenge actions taken by Indonesia against Anshars brothers, such as the blocking of their social media accounts.

We will reply to everything you have done. We will fight and terrorize you in the real world and the virtual world. We will attack and terrorize you in cyberspace.

The recordings authenticity could not be immediately verified.

On Thursday, Indonesian National Police spokesman Muhammad Iqbal declined to comment on the message, saying he had not heard it. Elsewhere, a spokesman for the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) could not be reached for comment.

Local supporters of IS, which was banned in Indonesia in 2014, have directed threats at the government in the past.

In April 2015, a pro-IS group threatened to storm Nusakambangan, a prison island off Central Java, to free the leader of JAD, Aman Abdurrahman, who was being held there, in an audio message posted on YouTube.

The threat never materialized.

Aman was freed from custody in August 2017 but was immediately rearrested for his involvement in a series of attacks in the country in recent years.

In June 2018, a Jakarta court sentenced him to death for masterminding terrorist strikes, including a gun and bomb attack in central Jakarta that killed four perpetrators and four bystanders in January 2016.

An expert on terrorism at Malikussaleh University in Aceh, Al Chaidar, said the latest threat could be just a bluff.

There have been many threats that did not materialize, he said.

But, he added, Indonesian security authorities should remain vigilant and not underestimate the threat.Indonesian woman Meiliana reacts to her conviction on a blasphemy charge in Medan, North Sumatra, Aug. 21, 2018.

Civil society groups in Indonesia, including at least one leading Muslim organization, on Thursday challenged a courts decision this week to sentence a woman for committing blasphemy by complaining about noise coming from a neighborhood mosque.

On Tuesday, the court in Medan, the capital of North Sumatra province, sentenced Meiliana, a 44-year-old Buddhist of Chinese descent, to 18 months in prison after finding her guilty of showing hostility to religion and blasphemy.

Jailing someone for 18 months for something trivial is a clear example of an increasingly arbitrary and repressive application of the law in this country, said Usman Hamid, director of Amnesty International Indonesia.

Usman called the verdict a blatant violation of freedom speech.

The High Court in North Sumatra must reverse this injustice by annulling the sentence and acquitting Meiliana without conditions, he said.

In 2016, Meiliana approached a neighbor in Tanjung Balai city and complained that the noise from calls to prayers blasted through mosque loudspeakers was hurting her ears, and asked that the volume be turned down.

Your mosque is deafening. I have no peace every day, she said, according to the indictment.

Meiliana has denied saying those words and her husband apologized.

Later, angry locals threw rocks at Meilianas house and mobs burned temples and other buildings owned by local ethnic Chinese. At least eight rioters have been sentenced to jail terms of between one and two months in prison.

Blow to the spirt of tolerance

The Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR) said the blasphemy law always had been used against minority groups.

The verdict has dealt a blow to the spirit of tolerance in society as well as to minority groups that should be protected, ICJR Executive Director Anggara Suwahju said.

Therefore revisions to the Criminal Code currently being debated in the House of Representatives should do away with this blasphemy provision,  he said.

In addition to the groups speaking out, a petition demanding Meiliana be released has garnered more than 71,000 signatures.

Robikin Emhas, a deputy chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama executive board, the countrys largest Muslim organization, said what Meiliana did does not constitute blasphemy in Islam.

Her criticism was constructive in a diverse society, he said.

Protesting a call to prayers which is too loud is not an expression of hostility. Besides, she did not say rude words, Robikin told BenarNews.

He said the blasphemy law was introduced to maintain harmony among followers of different religions in Indonesia and should not be used to muzzle differences in opinions.

What is needed is prudence in appling the law. Amicable discussion should be prioritized. The court is only a last resort, he said.

Abdulrahman Dahlan, the secretary of the fatwa commission at the Indonesian Council of Ulema, said criticism was not blasphemy. Despite that statement, he refused to blame a fatwa issued by the local ulema council chapter declaring Meilianas action blasphemous.

I didnt pay close attention to the case. But if its only criticism, I think its not blasphemy, he said.

Haedar Nasir, chairman of Muhammadiyah, the countrys second largest Islamic organization, said the case should serve as a lesson on the importance of tolerance, adding it should have been settled amicably out of court.

Not everything should be settled in court, he said.

Meanwhile, lawmaker Arsul Sani urged Meilinana to appeal to get justice.

I think we have to respect the process. There are still legal avenues such as appeals to the High Court and then the Supreme Court, he said.

He said lawmakers were open to public input on revisions to the criminal code.

I hope civil society can come forward and convey to us what their objections are, he said.Drugs valued at U.S. $6.3 million packed as tea from China is displayed for reporters in the northern state of Penang, Aug. 23, 2018.

Updated at 8:16 a.m. ET on 2018-08-24

Malaysian police on Thursday announced the nations largest drug bust this year after confiscating 500 kg (1,100 pounds) of suspected methamphetamine and ecstasy pills in anti-narcotics operations that took place days after authorities in neighboring Thailand made a similar major seizure.

The drugs valued at 26.1 million ringgit ($6.3 million) were targeted for delivery in Southeast Asian countries, including Thailand and Indonesia, according to Kang Chez Chiang, deputy director Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department.

Thanks to our counterparts in Thailand and other countries, we managed to cripple this syndicate and make the biggest bust this year, he said. Such strong cooperation is needed to ensure that our country does not become a drug haven or abused as a transit point.



Some of the drugs were disguised in packages labeled as tea from China, but Kang told reporters that many of the narcotics came from syndicates operating in the Golden Triangle, the area where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet at the confluence of the Mekong River.

Kang told BenarNews that four men, 35 to 59 years old and believed to be members of a drug-trafficking syndicate, were captured in raids in Bayan Baru, Jelutong and Gelugor in the northern state of Penang on Tuesday. Police also seized three vehicles, cash, jewelry and a watch valued at 147,000 ringgit ($35,778).

The four men had previous drug-related criminal records, Kang said.

Since January, Malaysian authorities have arrested 104,384 people for their suspected involvement in drugs and seized property valued at 47.62 million ringgit ($11.6 million) on suspicion that they were purchased with proceeds from drugs and other crimes, Kang said.

He told BenarNews that since early this year, officers have confiscated drugs valued at 127.8 million ringgit ($31 million).

Those arrested were from various backgrounds, with locals making the highest number of people arrested, followed by foreigners, he said.

Crime analyst Kamal Affendi Hashim lauded police for their successes, but said that as long as there is a demand for drugs someone will figure out how to supply.

It shows that the cops are serious in combating drug-related cases, but it wont end here, he said.

On Wednesday, Thai police reported seizing more than 14 million methamphetamine pills valued at 1.48 billion baht (184.68 million ringgit or $45 million) bound for Malaysia and other countries in what they called that nations largest-ever bust.

Thai police said they arrested three suspects and seized the drugs in Ayutthaya province, north of Bangkok, on Saturday.

In a report published in May, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime said the production and trafficking of meth in Southeast Asia has reached alarming levels. It said much of the meth produced in the region comes from lawless parts of Myanmar, in particular the Shan state.

Last week, a Thai court sentenced a Malaysian-born drug lord known as the Iceman to death after he was convicted of running a narcotics network.



Tun Hung Seong, who was arrested in April 2017, had hired a man to smuggle almost 300 kg (660 pounds) of crystal meth through the Deep South, according to media reports.

Wilawan Watcharasakwet from Bangkok contributed to this story.

Updated to correct an error on Tun Hung Seong's sentencing. Under Thai law, prisoners who have been sentenced to death can be executed by lethal injection.

Chinese structures and an airstrip on the man-made Subi Reef in the Spratly islands in the South China Sea are seen from a Philippine Air Force C-130 transport plane, April 21, 2017.

The Philippines on Thursday played down as speculation a U.S. report that China may be nuclearizing its outposts in the contested South China Sea region.

Still, a Philippine government spokesman expressed concern about the report on China, Manilas newfound benefactor under the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte, who has made it a point to repair bilateral ties with Beijing after an international arbitration courts ruling in 2016 rejected its sweeping territorial claims in favor of the Philippines.

We are not in a position to verify that and as you correctly said, it is even in the nature of speculation, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said. It is a possibility according to American sources. So we leave it at that.

Were concerned about the entry of any and all nuclear weapons into the Philippine territory because our Constitution provides that we are a nuclear-free zone, Roque said.

The 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc has an existing nuclear-free zone treaty, Roque said, and the Philippines, like its neighbors, is concerned that any foreign power be it American, Russian Chinese may bring nuclear war heads into our territory.

The important point to underscore is we have a nuclear-free policy and that should be applied to all countries including the Americans, because Americans have been using nuclear-powered [ships] and have been stationing warships with nuclear capability as well, Roque added.

In a report to the American Congress released last week and titled Military and Security Developments Involving the Peoples Republic of China, the U.S. Defense Department warned that Beijing may be moving to equip islands and reefs that it controls in the disputed sea region with floating nuclear power stations.

Chinas plans to power these islands may add a nuclear element to the territorial dispute. In 2017, China indicated development plans may be underway to power islands and reefs in the typhoon-prone South China Sea with floating nuclear power stations; development reportedly is to begin prior to 2020, the report said.

ASEAN countries Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam have overlapping claims in the mineral-rich sea region, as do China and rival Taiwan.

The overlapping claims are considered a flashpoint in the region and while claimants agreed to refrain from any actions that would complicate the matter, China has been expanding and militarizing territories it occupies.

During an annual meeting of ASEAN diplomats in Singapore earlier this month, officials announced that China had agreed to a draft of a code of conduct to govern actions in the area after three months of negotiations that ended in June.

The agreement was hailed as a breakthrough although diplomats and defense experts in the region expressed cautious optimism. A top U.S. State Department official who had visited Manila recently also said Washington would continue to assert its freedom of navigation over the disputed sea, amid concerns of frequent warnings from China on passing air and naval forces there.Troops from the Philippine Armys 6th Infantry Division launch artillery strikes against suspected Islamic State-linked militants in the southern Philippine town of Sultan sa Barongis in Maguindanao province, Aug. 20, 2018.

Updated at 11:24 a.m. ET on 2018-08-23

Philippine security forces killed seven pro-Islamic State militants on the eve of the observance of Eid-ul-Adha, the Islamic feast of sacrifice, on the insurgency-wracked southern island of Mindanao, a military official said Thursday.

Troops launched an artillery attack Monday in a marshy area near Sultan sa Barongis town in Maguindanao province, about 1,680 kilometers (1,050 miles) southeast of Manila, after authorities received information that forces of the militant group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) were hiding in the area, regional military spokesman Capt. Arvin John Encinas told BenarNews.

There was no ground encounter, he said. Based on the information provided to us by locals seven military died in our shelling that started in the afternoon until evening of Aug. 20.

The BIFF is a splinter group of the 12,000-strong Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the countrys main separatist force that signed a peace deal with Manila and is now helping the government battle IS-linked militants.

Encinas said they received information that BIFF commander Abu Turaife was among the enemy fighters in the area, prompting security forces to launch the attack. It was not immediately clear if Turaife was injured in the government offensive.

Turaifes faction had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, but did not join in the Marawi city siege last year.

About 1,200 people were killed, most of them militants, in five months of vicious fighting that began in May 2017 when Isnilon Hapilon, the acknowledged IS leader in the country, captured parts of Marawi. The gunbattles ended after the Philippine military killed Hapilon and several foreign and local pro-IS militants.

Encinas also reported a soldier was wounded Wednesday morning when suspects believed to be Turaifes men detonated a homemade bomb they planted along the road in the nearby town of Datu Hoffer.

Soldiers were patrolling when the bomb exploded, he said.

Abu Misri Mama, spokesman for the BIFF, confirmed their forces were in the village for the observance of Eid-ul-Adha when the military began firing mortars, but denied that they suffered casualties as reported by the government.

We only have one wounded. They immediately abandoned the area as soon as the military started their artillery fires, Mama said.

The assault was carried out on the eve of Eid-ul-Adha, an Islamic holiday that marks the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim, or Abraham to Christian and Jews, to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to Gods command. It also marks the culmination of the hajj, the annual pilgrimage of Muslims to Mecca.

Mark Navales from Cotabato City contributed to this report.

Updated to replace the main photograph.

Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, the loss of religion in America.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesFor Immediate Release, August 23, 2018 Contacts: Brian Segee, Center for Biological Diversity, (805) 750-8852, bsegee@biologicaldiversity.org

Rebecca Bullis, Defenders of Wildlife, (202) 772-0295, rbullis@defenders.org

Natalia Lima, Animal Legal Defense Fund, (201) 679-7088, nlima@aldf.org Petition Asks U.S. Supreme Court to Overturn Border Wall Decision WASHINGTON Three conservation groups filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court today asking for a review of a federal court ruling that allowed the Trump administration to waive dozens of environmental, health and safety laws to speed construction of border walls near San Diego, Calif. Todays petition says that a 2005 law allowing the Trump administration to ignore federal laws to build border walls, roads, lighting and other infrastructure without public input or analysis of environmental harms is unconstitutional. It was filed by Defenders of Wildlife, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Animal Legal Defense Fund. By waiving dozens of protections like the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act to build a border wall, the Trump administration is saying the health and wellbeing of humans and wildlife does not matter. The strength of our natural heritage and our environment is in jeopardy for the sake of building a wall. Species like the jaguar and Mexican gray wolf depend on borderland habitat for survival and cutting off access to migration routes would severely impact their chances of recovery. We will not stop fighting to protect wildlife and communities from the devastation this wall would bring, said Jason Rylander, a senior staff attorney at Defenders of Wildlife. These waivers are a blank check for environmental destruction in the borderlands, said Brian Segee, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. Trumps abuse of power and dangerous fixation with the border wall have to be reined in before it causes even more devastation. Trump cant wave a wand and ignore bedrock environmental and public-health laws. Hopefully the Supreme Court will take this case so these critical constitutional issues can be addressed. Construction of a wall will have devastating effects on wildlife, such as jaguars, Mexican gray wolves and ocelots, who call the border their home, said Animal Legal Defense Fund Executive Director Stephen Wells. In order to thrive, animals need the full range of their habitats. A border wall will separate animal families, disturb natural migration routes, and disrupt breeding patterns. The secretarys decision to waive crucial environmental laws could push dozens of species to extinction. The conservation groups and the state of California filed separate lawsuits last year in U.S. District Court challenging the Trump administrations use of the long-expired waiver to build replacement walls and prototypes in Otay Mesa. The lawsuits said a 2005 waiver under the REAL ID Act had expired and the new waivers represented an unconstitutional delegation in violation of the separation of powers. The cases were consolidated, and in March the judge ruled against the groups, saying the 2005 waiver authority was still valid. The parties are being represented by the law firm of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe. Background

The 2005 REAL ID Act gave the secretary of Homeland Security unprecedented power to waive any federal, state or local law to construct roads and barriers along the border. This waiver has been invoked five times to exempt the department from more than 35 laws that protect clean air, clean water, public lands and endangered wildlife, including the National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Antiquities Act and National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act. In addition to the significant harm to border communities, the waiver of environmental regulations could harm threatened and endangered species, including the Quino checkerspot butterfly and California gnatcatcher. There are signs that animals like the jaguar and Mexican gray wolf are making a comeback, but the construction of an impenetrable border wall would eliminate any possibility of their recovery in the United States. Trumps border wall would fragment vital ecosystems and landscapes protected by both countries, jeopardizing decades of binational conservation investment. The border wall puts binational conservation at risk by destroying vegetation and harming wildlife in the construction and maintenance of the wall and related infrastructure, as well as disrupting and altering wildlife behavior as animals avoid borders, lights, noise, patrols and other enforcement-related disturbances. Nearly 700 miles of the 1,953-mile U.S.-Mexico border are already blocked by walls, fences and other barricades, impeding the movement of wildlife in search of food and mates and cutting off migration routes.

For Immediate Release, August 23, 2018 Contacts: Tierra Curry, Center for Biological Diversity, (928) 522-3681, tcurry@biologicaldiversity.org

Tom Wheeler, Environmental Protection Information Center, (707) 822-7711, tom@wildcalifornia.org California Protects Humboldt Martens as Endangered ARCATA, Calif. In response to a petition from conservation groups, the California Fish and Game Commission voted today to protect the Humboldt marten under the state Endangered Species Act. The Environmental Protection Information Center and Center for Biological Diversity petitioned for the secretive carnivores protection in 2015. A relative of minks and otters that dwells in old-growth forests, fewer than 200 of the cat-like animals survive in California in Del Norte, Humboldt and Siskiyou counties. Humboldt martens have lost more than 95 percent of their historic habitat to logging. We celebrate the states decision to protect the marten and also plan to continue watchdogging unsustainable forest practices that the state could exempt from protection that would undermine the recovery of this special animal, said Tom Wheeler, executive director of the Environmental Protection Information Center. Humboldt martens are the wild heart of the Pacific Northwests ancient forests, so I hope state protection will be a first step toward their recovery, said Tierra Curry, a senior scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity. Losing these fierce, incredible little creatures to extinction would be unforgivable. Humboldt martens were once common in the coastal mountains from Sonoma County north to the Columbia River in Oregon, but trapping and logging decimated and separated populations. Today there are just four small surviving populations, two on national forest lands in Oregon and two in Northern California. The animal is so rare it was considered extinct until it was rediscovered in the redwoods in 1996. In California martens are threatened by ongoing logging of mature forests, loss of closed-canopy habitat to wildfires and rodent poison used in marijuana cultivation. They are at high risk of extinction because of small population size and isolation by unsuitable habitat as they are reluctant to cross open areas. Martens that try to cross clear cuts face high rates of predation from bobcats and coyotes that hunt in open areas. Humboldt martens are under review for federal Endangered Species Act protection, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is under a court order to publish a decision on their protection by Oct. 1. A slinky member of the mustelid family, martens weigh just a few pounds and grow to be 2 feet long with large, triangular ears and a long tail. They eat small mammals, birds, reptiles, insects and berries, and are eaten by larger mammals and raptors.For Immediate Release, August 23, 2018 Contact: Jenny Loda, Center for Biological Diversity, (510) 844-7136, jloda@biologicaldiversity.org

Evelyn Merz, Sierra Club, (713) 644-8228, elmerz@hal-pc.org Texas Bans Unsustainable Commercial Wild Turtle Trapping List of States Curbing Commercial Turtle Harvest Grows AUSTIN, Texas In response to a petition filed by the Center for Biological Diversity and several Texas-based conservation organizations, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission today voted unanimously to ban commercial collection of the states wild freshwater turtles, following a national trend of ending unsustainable turtle trapping. Were so grateful Texas has adopted these badly needed protections for the states native turtles, said Jenny Loda, a Center attorney and biologist who works to protect vulnerable reptiles and amphibians. This is a big victory for the health of the states wildlife and waterways. Texans showed overwhelming support for putting an end to commercial turtle trapping in the state  more than 98 percent of the comments received by the commission supported adoption of the proposed rule. Its the latest in a growing list of states  including Missouri, New York and Iowa  that have ended unlimited commercial collection of freshwater turtles. Neighboring Arkansas is currently considering restrictions on commercial collection. Before todays vote, unlimited collection of four native, freshwater turtle species was allowed on private property in Texas: common snapping turtles, red-eared sliders, smooth softshells and spiny softshells. Scientists have repeatedly documented that freshwater turtles cannot sustain any significant level of wild collection without leading to population declines. Populations cannot remain stable when high numbers of adults and older juveniles are steadily removed due to slow reproduction. This is great news for Texas freshwater turtles as commercial trapping is devastating to turtle populations that are already suffering from multiple other threats, including habitat loss, water pollution and vehicular collisions, said Evelyn Merz, conservation chair for the Sierra Clubs Lone Star Chapter. Its great to see the Parks and Wildlife Commission following through with protecting these animals as a vital part of our states ecosystems. The petition that spurred todays action was submitted last year by the Center for Biological Diversity, Sierra Club's Lone Star Chapter, Texas Rivers Protection Association and Texas Snake Initiative. Background

Millions of turtles classified as wild-caught are exported from the United States every year to supply food and medicinal markets in Asia, where native turtle populations have already been depleted by soaring consumption. Because turtles bioaccumulate toxins from prey and burrow in contaminated sediment, turtle meat is often laced with mercury, PCBs and pesticides, posing a health risk. Adult turtles are also taken from the wild to breed hatchlings for the international pet trade. As part of a campaign to protect turtles in the United States, the Center for Biological Diversity has been petitioning states that allow unrestricted commercial turtle collection to improve their regulations. Earlier this month, in response to a Center petition, the Missouri Department of Conservation banned commercial collection of the states wild freshwater turtles. In September of last year, Nevada created a statewide ban on the destructive commercial collection of all reptiles and New York halted all commercial terrapin turtle harvesting. Before that, in March 2017, Iowa adopted new regulations setting closed seasons and possession limits for commercial turtle trappers. In 2012 Georgia approved state rules regulating the commercial collection of turtles, and Alabama completely banned commercial collection. And in 2009 Florida responded by banning almost all commercial collection of freshwater turtles from public and private waters. The Center recently petitioned for a ban on unlimited commercial trapping in Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma, three states that share a border with Texas.Govt will make efforts to bring Aafia Siddique back to Pakistan: Shah Mahmood Qureshi

MULTAN: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that their government will make all possible efforts to bring Aafia Siddique back to Pakistan.



While speaking to the media in Multan, he said that he realizes that Aafias family is grief stricken and there are multiple legalities that counties cannot bypass but that the Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) led government will make all efforts to retrieve Aafia Siddique.



The Foreign Minister reasserted that PTIs candidate for presidential elections is Arif Alvi, stressing that since Alvi has a middle class background, he is ideal for the presidency.



He said that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has maintained its ideological position in nominating Aitzaz Ahsan for the presidency. He also alleged that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is pressuring the PPP to field another candidate and if the PPP does so, that will be the end of their ideology based politics.



Qureshi also said that that their government is seeking to better relations with India and will make a active effort to resolve the Kashmir dispute.



Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is pushing Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) to withdraw the name of Aitezaz Ahsan as the partys presidential candidate.



Qureshi supported Ahsans candidacy, remarking on the achievements of his long career. He went on to identify the risk of burying political ideologies if his name is withdrawn. Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insafs (PTI) presidential candidate is Arif Alvi who belongs to a middle class family, said Qureshi.President,PM messages on Eid

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan congratulated the nation on the celebration of Eidul Azha and urged his countrymen to remember the sacrifices made for the protection, reconstruction and development of Pakistan.



The prime minister also urged people not to forget those who are deprived in this hour of happiness.



Prime Minister Khan reminded the nation that sacrifice is a universal devotion without which no nation can progress.



In his Eidul Azha message, President Mamnoon Hussain said todays sacrifice commemorates the obedience and unparalleled examples set by the great prophets of Islam.



He said this Eid should remind Pakistanis to sacrifice their egos, which is the key factor behind numerous problems.



Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa also conveyed Eid wishes to the nation through the Inter-Services Public Relations, saying: May Allah Almighty bless our motherland [with] peace and prosperity.



Muslims across the world celebrate the annual festival of Eidul Azha, or the Festival of Sacrifice, which marks the end of the Haj pilgrimage to Makkah, and commemorates Prophet Ibrahim's readiness to sacrifice his son to show obedience to God.



The tradition of Eidul Azha enjoins all Muslims who can afford a sacrifice to do so. To this end, Muslims across the country purchase livestock such as cows, goats, sheep and camels to sacrifiReciba en su email: noticias de ultima hora, analisis tecnicos o el cierre de mercado

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Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman on Tuesday evening met Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and conveyed his wishes and support for the newly elected Pakistani government, the military's media wing said.



According to a tweet by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor on Wednesday, the crown prince had invited the army chief for a meeting, followed by dinner, in Mina.



"Both discussed wide-ranging issues of mutual interest including regional security," the tweet said.



Prince Salman expressed "strong optimism" about Pakistan's ability to defeat the challenges at hand, a second tweet said, without elaborating.



"[The] Crown prince also expressed his best wishes & support to the newly elected government."



According to the ISPR chief, Prince Salman also congratulated Gen Bajwa on performing Haj while the army chief thanked the former for his wishes and support for Pakistan.



The meeting comes days after Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud and the crown prince congratulated Prime Minister Imran Khan on his partys victory in last months general elections.



The Saudi king had conveyed to Khan best wishes from the kingdom and its people for the progress and prosperity of the people of Pakistan.



Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki was the first diplomat to have met Khan even when the poll results were still pouring in.



During his meeting with Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Mehdi Honardoost, the PTI chief had offered mediation between Iran and Saudi Arabia to resolve differences between the two countries.We have to bring change and itis not easy: Sardar Usman Buzdar

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar expressed his commitment to militantly combatting corruption in his government as he approaches a zero-tolerance policy.



Buzdar spent the first day of Eid ul-Azha at Dar-ul-Shafqat where he distributed gifts amongst orphans. Our [slogan] is to work, work and work. We have to bring change. Its not easy, he said.



Pakistanis celebrate Eidul Azha with great religious fervour to commemorate the supreme sacrifice of Prophet Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) who agreed to sacrifice his son Prophet Ismail (AS) upon Gods command.



The day dawned with special prayers in mosques for well-being of Muslims and safety and security of the country.



Eid congregations were held at mosques, eidgahs and open places in all cities, towns and villages across the country. In their sermons, clerics highlighted significance of the day and philosophy of the sacrifice.From Greg Swank, 12-4-2 You are about to read a list of 45 goals that found their way down the halls of our great Capitol back in 1963. As...A man who tampered with his ex-girlfriends car in the hope it would roll over and cause death to the victim when she drove it has been sentenced to fines and a lengthy probation.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/8/2018 (1165 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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A man who tampered with his ex-girlfriends car in the hope it would "roll over and cause death" to the victim when she drove it has been sentenced to fines and a lengthy probation.

The jointly recommended, non-custodial sentence was only agreed upon due to the mans severe cognitive deficits, Crown attorney Brett Rach told court last week, which affected his ability to fully comprehend the consequences of his actions.

Jordan Curtis Barker, 26, pleaded guilty to multiple charges in Brandon provincial court, including uttering threats and setting a trap likely to cause bodily harm.

On June 11, Barker let himself into the garage of his former girlfriend and loosened the lug nuts on all four wheels of her vehicle, according to a pre-sentence report, causing damage to the garage door and scratching the passenger side of the vehicle in the process.

Barker was caught on the property by the girls family, the report said, who yelled at him to leave.

As he was getting into his truck he made ominous comments about his exs vehicle, stating "she would have a fun drive back to town the next day."

Concerned by his comments, the victims family looked over the vehicle and found the lug nuts on the wheels loose to the touch, the report said.

The victim also disclosed to police that Barker had called her approximately a week prior stating he would kill two of her friends out of jealousy due to their recent breakup.

Barker was arrested and told police he expected the loose lug nuts on all four wheels would fall off while the vehicle was in motion, causing it to roll over and cause death.

While being interviewed for the pre sentence report, Barker said he didnt want that to really happen, and expressed that he shouldnt have done it.

When pressed about some of the potential consequences of his actions, he continuously responded, "I dont know."

"To what extent that stated intention could have actually occurred thankfully we do not know  the vehicle wasnt operated," Rach said.

However, the pre-sentence report as well as a psychiatric assessment found Barker to have "diminished cognitive functioning," with a significantly low level of understanding, Rach said, which lowers Barkers moral culpability.

"What were dealing with is an individual who was going through an emotional experience at the time due to the breakup of the relationship. His inability and lack of adaptive skills is essentially what made him respond the way he did. There is a direct correlation here as to his cognitive deficiencies to the direct conduct of the offences," Rach said. "We are suggesting rehabilitation is a primary focus to lessen his risk to recidivism."

Barker also has a minimal criminal record and has been following his court-ordered conditions  which include a curfew  for 14 months without any issues, defence lawyer Philip Sieklicki said.

He also co-operated with police and admitted his involvement and his actions, Sieklicki added.

"Obviously, the incident that were dealing with is extremely serious," Judge John Combs said in his decision. "It had the potential to have been tragic. Mr. Barker deliberately created a situation that could have resulted in someone being seriously injured. Fortunately, that didnt happen."

This type of offence typically warrants a custodial sentence, Combs said, however, it has to be balanced with Barkers "severely diminished" culpability due to cognitive challenges.

"His ability to reason and perhaps understand the consequences of his actions are greatly diminished and that has to be an important factor in considering an appropriate reaction and response of the justice system to this type of behaviour," Combs said.

Combs handed Barker approximately $1,200 in fines and sentenced him to 18 months of supervised probation.

 edebooy@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @erindebooyIrish HomeCare have announced they are to create 200 jobs around the country.

The new roles will include care workers, managers, nurses and administration staff.By Leslie Patton

Papa Johns founder, blocked from the pizza chains headquarters amid a deepening dispute with the rest of the board, is betting that franchisees and workers will have his back.

John Schnatter, who resigned as chairman last month, took out a full-page ad in the companys hometown paper, the Courier Journal in Kentucky, to direct employees to his newly launched website, SavePapaJohns.com.

Papa Johns has about 120,000 workers worldwide, including those at its franchises.

The board wants to silence me, writes Mr Schnatter on the website. So this is my website, and my way to talk to you.

The website is part of Mr Schnatters bid for new leadership at the chain, which is struggling with declining sales and controversies related to his comments.

The 56-year-old came under pressure after a July media report that he used a racial slur and descriptions of violence against minorities on a call with a media agency. He admitted to using the slur but said he was taken out of context.

Papa Johns said in a statement yesterday that it is not dependent on one person among its corporate and franchise team members. Investors support the companys actions to separate itself from Mr Schnatter, it said. We appreciate this support and are confident we are taking the right steps to move the company forward.

No matter what John does, he will not be able to distract from the inappropriate comments he made.

Months earlier, Mr Schnatter had exited as chief executive over critical comments about the NFLs national-anthem controversy. He has since said he regrets resigning.

Papa Johns is our lifes work and we will all get through this together somehow, some way, says Mr Schnatter in his online post to workers and franchisees.

I can only imagine how difficult this entire situation is on you, and Im very sorry you all have to go through this.

Earlier this month, after the chain reported weaker-than-expected quarterly earnings, Mr Schnatter published a blistering critique, including CEO Steve Ritchie.

The chain punched back, noting Mr Schnatters controversy is weighing down performance, with North American sales falling 10.5% in July. The chain has had to give financial assistance to franchisees hurt by Mr Schnatters statements to mitigate closings.

- BloombergBy Elisabeth OLeary

Scotlands large budget deficit shrank in the last financial year to its lowest since 2012 but remained far larger in percentage terms than that of the UK as a whole, Scottish government data showed.

The health of Scotlands economy, as the UK prepares to leave the EU in March 2019, is a key issue affecting Scottish voters appetite for independence. Opinion polls put support for independence at about 45%.

Data showed that Scotlands net fiscal deficit shrank to 13.4bn (14.9m) in the 2017-2018 tax year from 14.5bn the year before, helped by stronger North Sea oil and gas revenues.

As a percentage of GDP, the deficit fell to 7.9% from 8.9%  the lowest since 2011-2012 but higher than in the UK as a whole, where public sector net borrowing was 1.9% of GDP in 2017-2018.

Scotlands first minister Nicola Sturgeon described Brexit as a real and present danger for Scotland and Britains economy.

She said she was not opposed to the UK holding a second vote on EU membership  a cause championed by an increasing number of people opposed to Brexit.

But with a majority of voters in Scotland having already voted in the 2016 referendum on EU membership to stay in the EU, Ms Sturgeon said, the question for Scots now was whether they should continue to be part of a Britain heading for Brexit. In 2014, Scotland voted to stay in the UK by 55% to 45%.

British prime minister Theresa May has ruled out a second vote on EU membership and says it is not the time for another Scottish independence vote.

Per capita public spending in Scotland was 1,576 more than the UK average, supported by taxes from other parts of the UK.

- ReutersBy Therese Raphael

As negotiators from the UK and the EU meet in Brussels this week, Brexit is said to be entering its endgame.

This isnt an ordinary endgame though: All the major pieces are still on the board and pretty much the full range of potential outcomes  from no deal to no Brexit, and everything in between  remain live possibilities. Mapping the potential outcomes isnt easy.

Since the two-year countdown to Brexit ends on March 29 and any deal requires UK and EU parliamentary approvals, the window for a bargain effectively closes in the next few months.

Either Britain will leave the EU with a negotiated agreement or it will exit with no deal at all, upending a vast array of trading relationships and complicating future negotiations with the EU and other countries.

A new paper from the UKs Institute for Government helpfully lays out five scenarios that could unfold this autumn.

The upshot is that the risks of either a deliberate or an accidental no deal are quite high, given the apparent stalemate in the negotiations, the precariousness of the prime ministers parliamentary position and the defaults now incorporated in the system.

Of the five scenarios, only one envisions a relatively smooth route to an orderly Brexit: It posits a successfully negotiated withdrawal agreement and parliamentary approval. The other four carry a very high risk of a no-deal Brexit.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May could, for example, strike a deal that the UK parliament then rejects on the grounds that it leaves Britain a vassal state, as Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg put it.

Ms May could try to renegotiate, of course. But she might run out of time or get turned back by Brussels.

Although the bias in the UK parliament is clearly to have a deal, theres no agreement on what kind. And even if parliament did manage to nudge the government back to the negotiating table, its not clear that it would get an approvable option back.

What makes this particularly devilish is that the old Leave versus Remain division has effectively become a deal or no-deal division. There are many Leavers who dont like Ms Mays proposed deal, but who would still favour an agreement of some kind because they think parliament might reject a no-deal result, throwing Brexit itself into doubt.

Then there are Remainers who dont like Ms Mays proposal but who would support it as preferable to the cost and chaos of no deal at all.

Against that possible coalition of the disgruntled-but-willing is a potentially stronger force: Remainers who oppose Ms Mays deal because they find it too great a compromise and hope that they can cancel Brexit altogether; and Leavers like Rees-Mogg who oppose it as a sell-out.

If that isnt confusing enough, party affiliation is no guide here. There are Labour Party MPs whose main priority is ensuring Britain doesnt leave without a deal; and others whose chief interest is in overthrowing the government, whatever happens with Brexit. While the prime minister has won key votes with the help of some Labour Leavers, its unclear if shell be able to count on them.

Its the same, pretty much, on the Tory side: There are those who want to get over the line on Brexit with a deal of some sort, those who see Ms Mays proposed deal as an economy-killer, and others for whom only a total break with all EU structures is acceptable and who believe Ms May must be relieved of her position in the process.

The Conservative Party conference in September is likely to be a beauty parade of would-be prime ministers touting their alternative Brexit visions.

And yet even these scenarios dont account for the full range of possibilities. Say Ms May gets an agreement. The UK parliament must pass a motion to endorse it and then must pass the Withdrawal Agreement Bill for it to go into effect. But disgruntled members could at any point seek to wreck the deal.

Not enough scenarios? If the UK parliament rejects the deal, the government could seek to extend the Article 50 deadline, which requires unanimous EU approval, to allow more time to renegotiate. While unlikely, MPs could also try to force the UK government to call a second referendum.

And then theres EU approval: The European Council needs to obtain the European Parliaments approval by a simple majority before it can conclude the withdrawal agreement.

Expect a frenzy of activity from both deal and no-deal camps. Nigel Farage, the former leader of the UK Independence Party, has announced a grassroots tour to oppose Ms Mays Brexit plan. Another hardliner, Arron Banks, is encouraging Brexiteers to join the Tories in the hope of bouncing Ms May into a hardline Brexit or replacing her. On the other side, there will likely be more anti-Brexit protests and pleas from businesses to minimise the pain.

A Brexit soft landing, it seems, is as much a question of luck as negotiating skill at this point.

- BloombergPope Francis could be set to experience some of that classic Irish weather this weekend as he arrives on our shores for the World Meeting of Families.

According to Met Eireann, we can expect some sunny spells, heavy showers and even hail and thunder in the coming days.

The Pontiff arrives in Dublin on Saturday morning, where he'll be met by fine conditions with only a chance of intermittent showers throughout the day.

Rain will spread west overnight ahead of the Pope's visit to Knock on Sunday morning and 8 millimetres of rain is forecasted for 7am.

Looking towards the main event on Sunday when 500,000 people will attend mass in Phoenix Park, Met Eireann is predicting heavy rain.

7.4 millimetres of rain is expected to fall in the Park at 1pm but this will clear off in the afternoon, with temperatures set to reach the high teens.

As for today's weather, most areas can expect dry conditions in the afternoon, although scattered showers will continue for Connacht and southern and eastern Leinster.

There will be sunny spells for most tomorrow, although showers are expected in Connacht and Ulster, some of which will be heavy and possibly thundery. It will be dry with sunny spells in Leinster and dry in Munster.

Cloudy in parts of E & S at first this afternoon, with outbreaks of rain, but brightening up everywhere, with sunny spells developing. Scattered showers also some of them turning heavy in N & NW later, with a slight risk of thunder. Highs 14-18C in moderate to fresh W'ly winds pic.twitter.com/GB1HINAvEU  Met Eireann (@MetEireann) August 23, 2018

Digital DeskBy Tom Tuite

A youth accused of murdering a Japanese man in a stabbing in Dundalk is to face a fitness-to-plead hearing to determine whether he should stand trial, a court has heard.

Mohamed Morei, 18, has been held in custody since January 4 after he was charged with the murder of 24-year-old Yosuke Sasaki on the previous day at the Long Avenue, in Dundalk, Co. Louth.

He was unable to attend 11 subsequent hearings at Cloverhill District Court.

The accused has been receiving ongoing medical care in the Central Mental Hospital (CMH).

In June five additional charges were put to him.

He appeared again at Cloverhill District Court today when Judge Alan Mitchell was told the book of evidence was not ready.

Mr Morei, dressed in a tracksuit, listened to the proceedings with the help of an Arabic interpreter but did not address the court.

Defence solicitor Barry Callan asked for a two-week adjournment for a psychiatric report on his client to be completed. Earlier he had said he had concerns at Mr Moreis fitness to plead and he required the report.

He also had concerns at his clients capacity to give instructions, he had told the court at a previous hearing.

Today he said he wanted the report to be completed to determine my clients fitness to plead or otherwise".

He cited Section Four of the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006 saying Mr Morei would be sent forward to Central Criminal Court on that issue alone and that would determine whether or not there would be a trial.

A State solicitor said the book of evidence was not yet complete but in light of the issue being raised by the defence it will only be served on the accused if he was found fit to plead and stand trial.

The prosecution acknowledged that in those circumstances the defence application was appropriate.

The judge directed that a copy of the psychiatric report would be handed over to the defence.

Mr Callan said he expected it would be ready next week.

He confirmed to the judge that he was raising the point of fitness to plead.

Yosuke Sasaki

Judge Mitchell further remanded the accused in custody to appear again on September 6 next.

The section of the legislation cited in court states: any question as to whether that person is fit to be tried shall be determined by the court of trial to which the person would have been sent forward.

In addition to murder he has five other charges: assault causing harm to two named men at the Inner Relief Road and on Quay Street, in Dundalk on January 3; criminal damage to a car rear window at the Long Avenue, on the same date as well another for trespassing with intent to cause criminal damage at a property there between January 2 and January 3 last; the final charge was for obstruction of gardai at Dundalk station on January 3, 2018.

In June, Garda Damien Welby told the court the accused replied I dont remember any of this when the trespass charge was put to him and he said I dont remember anything in response to the criminal charge.

The Director of Public Prosecutions had directed that Mr Morei is to face trial on indictment in the Central Criminal Court on all charges.

Mr Sasaki, from Ebina, west of Tokyo, was fatally stabbed on The Long Avenue shortly before 9am on January 3 last.

He had worked at National Pen, a call centre in Dundalk, Co. Louth and had lived in Ireland for the past year.

Mr Morei was initially remanded in custody by Dundalk District Court on January 4 after he was charged with the murder of Mr Sasaki.Former President Mary McAleese has been accused of "hogging the airwaves" with her criticism of the Pope.

Independent TD Mattie Mc Grath said today that he is "sick and tired" of her "pontificating" on the problems with the Catholic Church.

Mrs McAleese has objected to the church's treatment of women and LGBT members.

She was banned from speaking at the Vatican in March and has since revealed that she has made a formal canonical complaint to Pope Francis about the matter.

She said that her banning from speaking at the Vatican in March was very much in keeping with the ethos of the World Meeting of Families to deny the voice of someone like her who has been very vocal in support of same-sex marriage and gay rights.

"It's always been essentially a right-wing rally...and it was designed for that purpose, to rally people to get them motivated to fight against the tide of same-sex marriage, rights for gays, abortion rights, contraceptive rights," she said.

However, Mr Mc Grath believes she has had her say, describing Mrs McAleese's actions as "a diatribe".

"It's relentless, day-in, day-out, and she's pontificating and using her position."

"She's no longer President, she had a good inning in her presidency...but all former Presidents, other than attending Council of State meetings, respected the dignity of retiring," he said.

Digital DeskThe owner of Supermacs has strongly refuted any suggestion that the company was behind dozens of faked letters submitted to a local authority in support of their planning application.

His comments come as it emerged that some letters supporting the fast food chain's planning application to Clare County Council for a service station were fake. In one case, it emerged that the named person died nearly 15 years ago.

"We the undersigned want to offer our full support to Mr Pat McDonagh for his recent planning submission for a motorway service station," began a letter which was signed by Clarecastle resident Paddy Russell, who passed away in 2003.

Mr Russell's daughter, Ann Marie, was upset when she learned of the use of her father's name and address and informed the local authority.

Supermacs owner Pat McDonagh

Clare County Council received 187 submissions, most from Clarecastle, in support of the proposed service station in the area. At least 40 people have since confirmed they did not send the letters.

Supermacs owner Pat McDonagh said he was "horrified" that letters were sent without the permission of those named on them.

"We are equally as horrified, shocked and annoyed as Ann Marie Russell that innocent, decent people, their names have been used on this application without our permission and without their permission," he told Drivetime on RTE Radio 1.

"Were quite annoyed over it. Its not right  its illegal to use peoples names without their permission."

Mr McDonagh emphasised that Supermacs had no part in the sending of the letters of support.

"Of course we were delighted that there was going to be local support because there were some local objections as well. How it turned out isnt how we would have liked it.

I want to assure you that we had no hand, act, or part in signing fraudulent letters in support of the letters in support of the application.

Mr McDonagh said the company was approached by local residents asking for their 20 application fees to be reimbursed, which it agreed to.

"Some weeks ago, we were offered support by locals for the application. We thought initially that it was a signed letter of support from everyone, but then they decided it was better to have individual observations."

"It would appear that whoever organised the petition realised that there was a fee payable of 20 for each observation.

The company was contacted and asked if the company would refund that fee, and believing that submissions were fully legitimate, the company agreed to pay the local authority the fee.

However no money has been paid by the company to date," he added.

Recently, nine businesses which are members of Ennis Chamber sent a letter to Clare County Council opposing the plans, which are part of the company's third application since 2011, fearing they would lead to job losses in Ennis.

Mr McDonagh said the company's agreeing to reimburse local residents' application fees was not questionable behaviour.

"I think in this situation that the people who contacted [the company] asked us were we prepared to pay the submission fee and they agreed to do so. We were delighted that we had such support from the locals that they were going to support the application that obviously we were going to help out in any way we could."

Listen in full here:Two Fianna Fail councillors and another from Fine Gael are set to ignore Micheal Martin and Leo Varadkar's calls to support Michael D Higgins' re-election campaign by publicly backing Sean Gallagher's presidential bid.

The Irish Examiner understands Fianna Fail councillors Niall Kelleher and Wayne Harding, from Kerry and Meath, and Fine Gael councillor John McCartin, from Leitrim, will officially announce their support for Mr Gallagher in the coming days.

They will be followed by at least four other Independent councillors - Tony Ward from Roscommon, Michael O'Brien from Westmeath, Ger Carthy from Wexford and James Kelly from Laois - who have also privately told Mr Gallagher's supporters they will back his Aras bid.

And, while the 2011 election runner-up has yet to formally enter the race, the fact seven councillors including three members of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are now backing his candidacy has been seen as a major boost to his potential campaign.

Although Mr Martin and Mr Varadkar have allowed Fianna Fail and Fine Gael party members a free vote on nominations, it had been expected that the majority of elected politicians would officially row in behind Mr Higgins' re-election campaign.

However, the decision by Mr Kelleher, Mr Harding and Mr McCartin to instead back Mr Gallagher has been seen as proof of a wider questioning of the re-election bid by grassroots party members.

As previously reported by the Irish Examiner on Wednesday, close associates of Mr Gallagher have been in regular contact with a "coalition of councillors" in recent weeks in order to ensure support for his now likely candidacy.

This, his supporters believe, is because focusing on key councils and councillors in those local authorities may prove crucial in obtaining the backing of four local authorities needed to become an official presidential candidate next month.

In the 2011 presidential race, Mr Gallagher was nominated by Cork city council, Clare county council, Leitrim county council and Meath county council, before asking other councils which had hinted at support to facilitate other candidates to contest the election.The EU commissioner who handed down a formal reprimand to Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy this week will today explain his actions to the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Irish MEP's, who are split on the issue, will be asking Pedro Solbes for more details on why he feels Ireland's economic policy is in breach of EU guidelines.Jonty Evans has made good progress but is not "out of the woods" yet more than two months after a heavy fall.

Evans suffered a significant brain injury in the incident at the Tattersalls International Horse Trials in Co. Meath on June 3.

Horse Sport Ireland have said, in the past four weeks he has made good progress with his continued physiotherapy and rehabilitation support at Connolly Hospital in Dublin.

On Monday Evans travelled to the UK to continue his rehabilitation at a specialist neuro unit where he has been advised to stay in a quiet and calm environment, and to keep visitors strictly to a minimum.

A statement from Horse Sport Ireland on behalf of Jonty and his family saying his recovery "will take a significant period of time but the long-term outlook is encouraging.

"Jonty and his family are extremely grateful for all the medical treatment and care he has received from all the wonderful Staff at the Beaumont and Connolly Hospitals, the support from the David Foster Injured Riders Fund, as well as the continued best wishes from all his friends, colleagues and supporters."

The 46-year-old Olympian said: I am humbled by all the support I have received and all the help I have been given by the staff at the Beaumont and Connolly Hospitals.

"I would especially like to mention Ciaran and Emily Glynn at Killossery, and my family Maggie Evans, Arthur Griffiths and Hannah Evans for their support.

"I am by no means out of the woods, but intend to keep trying.

- Digital DeskTeenagers who drink a lot of alcohol dramatically increase their risk of deadly prostate cancer later in life, research suggests.

A study found that 15 to 19-year-olds who consumed at least seven drinks per week tripled their chances of being diagnosed with "high-grade" aggressive prostate cancer.

The research was led by Dubliner Dr Emma Allott during her time at Gillings School of Global Public Health, in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the US.

Dr Allott said: "The prostate is an organ that grows rapidly during puberty, so it's potentially more susceptible to carcinogenic exposure during the adolescent years.

"For this reason, we wanted to investigate if heavy alcohol consumption in early life was associated with the aggressiveness of prostate cancer later."

Dr Allott's team recruited 650 ex-servicemen aged 49 to 89 undergoing biopsy tests for prostate cancer.

The men completed questionnaires which assessed their weekly alcohol consumption during each decade of life.

Heavy drinking at ages 15 to 19 had no effect on general prostate cancer risk.

But compared with non-drinkers, consumption of at least seven alcohol drinks per week over this age period tripled the likelihood of having high-grade prostate cancer.

A similar level of alcohol consumption between the ages of 40 to 49 led to a 3.64-fold greater chance of being diagnosed with the potentially deadly disease.

However there was no significant correlation between current alcohol consumption and high-grade cancer risk.

Over the course of a lifetime, men who drank the most alcohol were three times more likely to be diagnosed with high-grade prostate cancer.

While low-grade prostate cancer often causes little harm, aggressive versions of the disease known as "tigers" can quickly spread and prove fatal without radical treatment.

Dr Allott said: "Our results may explain why previous evidence linking alcohol intake and prostate cancer has been somewhat mixed.

"It's possible that the effect of alcohol comes from a lifetime intake, or from intake earlier in life, rather than alcohol patterns around the time of diagnosis of prostate cancer."

The authors pointed out that men who consumed a lot of alcohol early in life typically continued to drink heavily throughout life.

For this reason, it was difficult to separate the effects of cumulative exposure to alcohol and early-life drinking habits.

Dr Allott is the Irish Cancer Societys John Fitzpatrick Research Fellow at Trinity College, Dublin. The fellowship was established by the Irish Cancer Society, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health to fund an Irish scientist or clinician to undertake high-quality research into prostate cancer.

It is named in memory of Professor John Fitzpatrick, the former Head of Research at the Irish Cancer Society, marking his significant international contribution to prostate cancer research.Update - 11.55am: A man flagged by French authorities as a suspected radical has killed his mother and sister and seriously injured another woman in a knife attack that was quickly claimed by Islamic State.

Police shot and killed the man, whose motives were not immediately clear.

French police at the scene of a knife attack in the suburb of Trappes, west of Paris. Pic: AP

Authorities did not rule out a family dispute and prosecutors were not immediately treating the attack as a terrorism case.

Three French officials identified the two people killed in the attack in Trappes as the mother and sister of the attacker.

The third victim, a passer-by who was gravely injured in the attack, was also a woman, one of the officials said.

Police officials said the man was flagged in a government database of suspected religious and political extremists.

The French interior minister said the man had "serious psychiatric problems".

Gerard Collomb said the attack is not being treated as a terrorist case for the moment, despite the claim of responsibility by IS.

The minister said a third person who was seriously injured was not a member of the family.

Mr Collomb said police shot and killed the man after he came out of his mother's house wielding a knife and ignored their warnings.

Update - 10.45am: An attacker has killed two people before being killed by police in a town west of Paris, a senior French official said.

Jean-Jacques Brot, the top government administrator in the Yvelines region, tweeted that the attacker in the town of Trappes was "neutralised" and had died.

[# Trappes] Operation de police achevee

Le RAID n'a pas ete engage. Individu neutralise et decede.

Bilan humain s'agissant des victimes : 2 personnes decedees, 1 blesse grave. @Prefet78 remercie les fonctionnaires de @PoliceNat78 pour leur sang-froid et leur professionnalisme  Prefet des Yvelines (@Prefet78) August 23, 2018

The tweet also said that two of the attacker's victims were killed and another seriously injured.

Earlier, media reports said the attacker had used a knife on his victims before being shot by police.

Islamic State claimed responsibility for the knife attack through its Aamaq news agency in a post shared on social media channels.

The agency said the attack was motivated by calls from the IS leadership to attack civilians in countries at war with the extremist group.

Hours earlier, IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi urged followers to attack enemies everywhere by all means, including in knife attacks.

French police at the scene of a knife attack in the suburb of Trappes, west of Paris. Pic: AP

10.13am: One dead, two injured in knife attack west of Paris

A man armed with a knife has attacked passers-by, killing one and seriously injuring two others, before being shot by police west of Paris, reports said.

Police have tweeted that an operation is underway in Trappes, with a security perimeter in place.

BFM-TV reported that the man first sheltered in a house after attacking people before being shot by officers.Whats on August 25: At 5.30pm. Chris Hammer will be at Harry Hartog, Woden for a conversation and Q&A about his new crime novel, Scrublands. Free. August 26: At the Drill Hall Gallery at 3pm. Book launch: Sheer Caprice? The Journal of a Transatlantic Art Dealer: Rene Gimpel 1918-1939. Diana Kostyrko, with the director Terence Maloon, will discuss how her new book fits the Canberra Writers Festival theme, Power, Politics, Passion. August 27: At That Poetry Thing, tanka poet Michael Thorley and prizewinning poet Mark Tredinnick (both NSW) will read. $5 on the door, includes open mic. Smith's Alternative, 76 Alinga St Civic, 7-9pm.

August 29: At 6.30pm the 21st Dead Poets Dinner will be held at University House (Graduate Lounge). $45 for two-course meal and free glass of wine or soft drink. Forty bookings must be finalised by August 22. Bookings at gpage40@bigpond.net.au. Pay cash on the night. Room for about 35 people to read a poem or two by a favourite dead poet (in any language). Booking sheet available at door on arrival. September 1: Adrian dHage will sign copies of his most recent book, The Russian Affair, at Harry Hartog, Woden, from 11am. The Russian Affair is a gripping new international thriller, racing between the US, Russia, Israel and Australia. Free event, no RSVP necessary. September 2: Activism: Change through action. Protests, letter-writing, campaigns, hacktivism - activism to bring about social, and by default, political change, comes in many different forms. Join us as Siv Parker, Biff Ward and Jacob White, three campaigners for change, gather to discuss what activism means to them. Muse Canberra, from 3pm. September 3: That Poetry Thing: Kathy Kituai and Nicola Bowery (NSW). Smith's Alternative, 76 Alinga Street Civic, 7-9pm. $5 on the door, incl open mic. September 4: At 6pm in the Molonglo Theatre, Crawford Building, ANU, in a free ANU/Canberra Times Meet the Author event, Sisonke Msimang will be in conversation with Dr Andrew Leigh about her new book Always Another Country. Msimang is a bold new voice on feminism, race and politics - in her beloved South Africa, in Australia, and around the world. Bookings at anu.edu.au/events or 6125 4144.

September 6: Paul Hetheringtons Moonlight on Oleander: Prose Poems will be launched by Cassandra Atherton in the National Library Foyer at 6pm. Free (includes refreshments). RSVP: 6262 1424. September 9: Tim Dunlop: The future of everything. We are in the middle of the greatest technological revolution in history. Tim Dunlop spells out his ideas for reclaiming common ground systematically, arguing the case for more public ownership of essential assets, more public space, a transparent media system and an education that prepares us for the future, not the past. In conversation with Greg Jericho. Muse Canberra, 3pm. September 10: Special Poetry on the Move festival event: Multilingual Poetry, curated by Mother Tongue, MC Jacqui Malins features Hani Abdile and readings from Subhash Jaireths poetry in translation project. Smith's Alternative, 76 Alinga St Civic, 7-9pm. Free, no open mic. September 11: At 6pm in China in the World auditorium. ANU in a free ANU/Canberra Times Meet the Author event, Quentin Beresford will be in conversation with Jack Waterford on Beresfords new book, Adani and the War Over Coal. Bookings at anu.edu.au/events or 6125 4144. September 13: At 5.30 for 6pm at Manning Clark House, 11 Tasmania Circle Forrest, Paul Collins, the historian, broadcaster and commentator on Catholicism, will discuss his 2018 book, Absolute Power: How the Pope Became the Most Influential Man in the World.

September 17: A Poetry on the Move Festival Event at 6pm, Closing Night Nine poets: Mike Ladd, Paul Collis (Australia), then Not Very Quiet Women's Poetry Journal presents Nakamura Kazue, Masayo Koike, (both Japan), Moira Egan (Ireland), Evelyn Araluen, Dominique Hecq, Felicity Plunkett (Australia). Smith's Alternative, 76 Alinga St Civic, Free entry, no open mic. September 17: At 6pm in the China in the World Auditorium, ANU in a free ANU/Canberra Times Meet the Author event, Richard de Crespigny will be in conversation with Genevieve Jacobs on de Crespignys new book, Fly. Life Lessons from the Cockpit of QF 32. Bookings at anu.edu.au/events or 6125 4144. September 24: That Poetry Thing: Kit Kelen and Lachlan Brown (both NSW) will read. $5 on the door, includes open mic. Smith's Alternative, 76 Alinga St Civic, 7-9pm. September 26: At 6.30pm in the Molonglo Theatre, Crawford Building, ANU, in a free ANU/Canberra Times Meet the Author event, Peter Mares will be in conversation with Dr Andrew Leigh on Maress new book, No Place like Home: Repairing Australias Housing Crisis. Bookings at anu.edu.au/events or 6125 4144. September 30: Billy Griffiths: Deep time dreaming. Soon after Billy Griffiths joins his first archaeological dig as camp manager and cook, he is hooked. Deep Time Dreaming: Uncovering Ancient Australia is the passionate product of that first archaeological journey. It investigates a twin revolution: the reassertion of Aboriginal identity in the second half of the 20th century, and the uncovering of the traces of ancient Australia. Muse Canberra, 3pm.With the apparent combustion of the Turnbull government expected on Friday, the parallels with Emperor Nero supposedly playing his lyre as Rome blazed around him are unmistakable.

Having our federal political leaders consumed with the Liberal Party's infighting is precisely not what's needed for our country. Just ask agencies battling to prepare for real-life conflagrations that threaten the eastern seaboard in coming months.

Standing back and watching climate change is not going to be an option. Credit:AAP

It's certainly ironic Malcolm Turnbull's ditching of carbon emissions as a goal of the National Energy Guarantee last week precipitated the crisis that has almost certainly ended his time as Prime Minister.

What is especially disturbing is the risk his successor - whether it is Peter Dutton or Scott Morrison or Julie Bishop or whoever else - will downgrade climate action as a priority in order to secure right-wing MP support.Jennifer Hawkins has had plenty of time for reflection in the lead-up to her final catwalk as the "face of Myer".

Looking back ... Jennifer Hawkins ahead of her final series of runway events for Myer, which she is departing after 12 years. Credit:James Brickwood

But one thing she hasn't had time for is the supposed "feud" between her and her successor, 25-year-old model and The Block winner Elyse Knowles.

"I was overseas [when the story about her leaving broke], I never knew about that speculation ... and that's fine, that happens," she said. "People know what I am like and I would never do that intentionally, make drama with someone coming in. If anything, I would boost them up, particularly a young woman ... but that's probably boring for the papers, so I get it. I get it."Good morning, Canberra.

Happy Friday! You've made it to the last day of the working week (for most people - journos don't sleep ... especially this week with what's happening up the hill. You can get the latest here.)

It'll be a partly cloudy day to start the downhill run to the weekend, with areas of morning frost, possibly some fog too. We're in for a top of 15 degrees. Temperatures are going to stay similar on the weekend, but there will be a shower or two on both Saturday and Sunday.

Grab your hot beverage, here's what's making news.

Agencies in holding pattern after ministers abandon TurnbullPeter Dutton has never been so popular on social media - and we're not talking about Australia's possible new prime minister.

Peter Dutton, a 30-year-old African American who shares the same name as the former home affairs minister has been inundated with messages on Twitter. Credit:Twitter @PeterDutton5

A 30-year-old African American who shares the same name as the former home affairs minister has been inundated with messages - both supportive and hateful - on Twitter since the leadership move against Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull began.

"I wish the people of Australia would look at my profile and realize I'm a 30 yr old black man before sending me tweets and DMs," @PeterDutton5 posted on Thursday morning.When he committed his fourth murder, John Walsh was a 77-year-old prisoner serving life in NSW for slaying his wife and two grandchildren.

After using a sandwich press to bludgeon his cellmate to death, Walsh told police: "I wasn't in a temper, I never have been" and "I'm not bloody sorry because he's an arsehole."

No remorse: John Walsh leaves the Supreme Court after sentencing on Thursday. Credit:AAP

In imposing another life sentence on the now 79-year-old, Justice Lucy McCallum said the circumstances of the cold-blooded, calculated killing "bear an eerie similarity" to his three previous murders.

"He describes acts of murder as if he were explaining how to change a tyre," she said on Thursday.Queensland roads have claimed 15 more lives this year compared with the same period in 2017  six people have lost died in traffic crashes during the past 48 hours alone.

The road toll update comes ahead of the start of Queensland Road Safety Week next week, an annual multi-agency campaign to reduce the number of lives lost on the state's roads.

On Tuesday, a fuel tanker and two cars collided on the Bruce Highway in north Queensland at about 2.20pm. A 34-year-old man, and a man and a woman aged in their 70s died in the crash.

The scene in north Queensland after a fuel tanker and two cars crashed on Tuesday. Credit:Nine News Queensland

The tanker was carrying 11,000 litres of fuel when the crash happened and fuel spilled across the highway just north of Bowen, closing the road until the following morning.A disgraced policeman will spend a year in jail after punching a teenage boy and then perverting the course of justice by having the teen falsely charged with assaulting police and resisting arrest.

County Court Judge Jeanette Morrish said the conduct of Senior Constable Simon Mareangareu was "disgraceful and utterly abhorrent" but conceded she had "agonised'' over her decision to impose a custodial sentence.

Senior Constable Simon Mareangareu. Credit:Eddie Jim

Judge Morrish said Mareangareu had "meted out summary justice" to Kyan Foster, then 16, and then prepared a brief of evidence to have the teen charged with offences he had not committed.

Mr Foster told The Age that the case was "mostly about an abuse of power and then attempts to legitimise those false accusations against myself and my friend".The House of Representatives has been adjourned by the government amid a battle over the Liberal leadership, with Bill Shorten arguing the Coalition is "irreparably split" and should hang their heads in shame.

Malcolm Turnbull has been told he no longer has majority support in the Liberal party room, with Peter Dutton and Scott Morrison expected to put their hand up for the leadership once a meeting of MPs can be convened.

So far 13 ministers have resigned, stepping up pressure on the Prime Minister to quit.

Mr Shorten said adjourning the lower house was a clear admission of failure and the Coalition should hang their heads in shame.And the reason for this crisis? Dutton offers no compelling message to Australian voters about the need for halting the government, adjourning the Parliament and toppling a prime minister. I want to make sure we can keep Bill Shorten from ever being prime minister of this country, said Dutton on Tuesday, soon after losing the first ballot. It was nothing more than a confidence play: trust me to win. Duttons claim to the leadership has no compelling message about how he can turn the tables on the Opposition Leader. There is no new attack line against Shorten, no hint at what this new leader could do that Turnbull could not. What Peter Dutton will offer as leader is a mystery. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen It is true that Liberals within the party room have spent the week going over the choice between the two leaders and Dutton has obvious support as a political fighter who can take on Shorten.

It is also true that Turnbulls flaws have been discussed privately among MPs for months: his sluggish response to every political challenge, his talent for alienating his former supporters, his weak vision when trying to identify future dangers. But this is not a message to voters about what matters to them. Millions of Australians are fortunate in living a long way from the snake pit of Parliament House and they need a better reason to pay attention to Dutton than his dubious claim that he can beat Shorten. What Dutton offers is a mystery. His agenda is a blank sheet of paper with some dot points, one of them about immigration and another about building more infrastructure  a standard aspiration from any politician. Julie Bishop, Scott Morrison and Peter Dutton in May. Credit:Andrew Meares The first hint of a policy idea came on Wednesday morning and it was underwhelming. Dutton raised the idea of removing GST from electricity bills, a populist move that would cost federal or state budgets $7.5 billion over four years.

Duttons pitch as a conservative leader was the revival of a pledge from Labor leader Kim Beazley in 2001. With Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Treasurer Scott Morrison also in the running, the leadership field is wide open if Turnbull loses the first ballot on Friday to decide if his position is declared vacant. Loading Dutton seeks the leadership with immediate challenges. He claims to be clear of any legal doubt over his eligibility to sit in Parliament, but this is contested. Watch him move as quickly as possible to divest his beneficial interest in his familys childcare centres. Whether he is leader or not, he cannot go to an election until this is done. Conservatives want a new direction for the government but cannot set out exactly what that means. Asked about the agenda on Thursday morning, former minister Eric Abetz said Dutton wanted to lower energy bills, reduce immigration, fix the funding dispute with Catholic schools, prevent changes to superannuation and elevate the importance of small business.

There is nothing new on that list. It may be that Dutton can negotiate with Catholic leaders more smoothly than Turnbull but school funding is an issue where giving one camp more money only inflames a dispute with another. Dutton was already cutting migration through tighter controls as minister. What use are these new talking points when Australians have just seen the government drop its company tax cuts with no clear alternative economic plan and abandon any attempt to put in place any mechanism to reduce greenhouse gas emissions? Loading This paltry agenda highlights the emptiness of this spill. This change has been driven by the hatreds within the Liberal Party more than any persuasive ideas about where to take the government. The hatreds will not end. Spills only deepen the enmities within a party unless those who nurse old grudges leave the Parliament. Labor has thrived without Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard. The Liberals are a long way from that resolution.Peter Dutton has released new legal advice stating he is unequivocally entitled to sit in Parliament, paving the way for the ex-policeman to make a second tilt at the Liberal leadership in a three-way contest that he is favourite to win over Treasurer Scott Morrison and deputy leader Julie Bishop.

Greg Hunt and Steve Ciobo confirmed their candidacy for the deputy leadership and Josh Frydenberg is also considering nominating for the number two position.

In a series of tweets published just before midnight, Mr Dutton set out the additional advice provided by former solicitor-general David Bennett, AC QC, who has previously provided advice relating to section 44 to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.Mr Turnbull has blamed conservative enemies for leading an insurgency against his government, and has warned he will quit Parliament to trigger a byelection if a leadership vote is forced at a meeting set for noon on Friday. Mr Turnbull raised the stakes in his leadership contest with Mr Dutton by emphasising the constitutional cloud over his rival, warning of a shift to the right after a leadership change and blaming Mr Dutton for the government's decision to adjourn Parliament on Thursday. Putting the onus on Mr Dutton to justify a new meeting on the leadership, Mr Turnbull said he wanted to see 43 names on a letter from his Liberal colleagues asking for the meeting before it could go ahead. Mr Duttons supporters are confident they can secure enough names on the letter to force the new ballot, given the powerful shift in support to their side from cabinet ministers since they lost a leadership ballot on Tuesday by 35 votes to 48. But Mr Turnbulls tactics raise hurdles for the Dutton camp and his decision to delay a meeting until Friday gives others time to prepare votes for an alternative leader such as Mr Morrison.

The Prime Minister insisted his government had been successful when it was able to govern without internal disruption. "I think what we're witnessing - what we have witnessed - at the moment is a very deliberate effort to pull the Liberal Party further to the right," Mr Turnbull said. Mr Turnbull said he wanted to see the names on the letter seeking a spill against him because it was important to have accountability for all MPs. This has immediately raised concerns for Liberal MPs who fear their public support for a spill, once their names were leaked, would trigger questions from voters in their electorates.

But Mr Turnbulls tactics raise hurdles for the Dutton camp and his decision to delay a meeting until Friday gives others time to prepare votes for an alternative leader such as Treasurer Scott Morrison. Mr Turnbull said he wanted advice from the Commonwealth Solicitor-General on the constitutional cloud hanging over Mr Dutton before Liberal MPs voted on the leadership on Friday. Mr Turnbull speaks says he will quit Parliament if he's dumped as Prime Minister. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer This is a reference to questions over whether Mr Duttons pecuniary interest in childcare centres breaches section 44 of the constitution because the centres receive payments from the Commonwealth, an issue that forced Family First senator Bob Day out of the upper house.

I cannot underline too much how important it is that anyone who seeks to be prime minister of Australia is eligible to be a member of parliament, Mr Turnbull said. Mr Turnbull said he would call a spill motion at the Friday meeting and would not stand as leader if the spill motion was carried. Asked if he would leave Parliament before the election if he lost the leadership, Mr Turnbull indicated he would. Ive made it very clear that believe that former prime ministers are best out of the parliament, he said. In an apparent reference to former prime minister Tony Abbott, who has helped fuel the leadership challenge, Mr Turnbull added: I dont think theres much evidence to suggest that that conclusion is not correct.

This sets up a byelection in the Sydney electorate of Wentworth in the event of a leadership change, a concern for the next leader even though it is a safe Liberal seat. Asked why he would not call an election immediately, Mr Turnbull acknowledged the case for the government to go to the people. The public will be crying out for that, clearly, he said. It may that the spill motion is not carried and I remain Prime Minister and we can try to restore some stability, but assuming it is carried and assuming there is a new leader of the Liberal Party, that person will have to obviously satisfy the Governor-General that they can command a majority on the floor of the House of Representatives. And in the case of Mr Dutton, he will have to establish that he is eligible to sit in Parliament.

The risks to the government on the floor of parliament include the withdrawal of support from independent MP Cathy McGowan, who said on Thursday that she would consider her position on support for the government. Until such time as the Liberal leader is determined, I am not in a position to make a decision on confidence, Ms McGowan said in a statement. Centre Alliance MP Rebekha Sharkie told Fairfax Media she had to consider her position after offering support on confidence and supply to the Turnbull government after the last election. If there was a Dutton government I would need to speak to my community and my Senate colleagues [in Centre Alliance] about whether that support should continue, she said. My community has just been through an election, I know they dont want another one.Scott Morrison has been put on notice by some conservative media commentators who had been backing leadership contender Peter Dutton, warning the Prime Minister needs to mend bridges with the right of the party and make immediate changes on issues of energy, climate change and immigration.

Speaking to Fairfax Media, 2GB morning host Ray Hadley made clear that Mr Morrison would be expected to behave differently under the new order, calling for a return to the ScoMo of years gone by.

"If he's to reconnect to the conservative electorate, the old Scott has to return," Hadley said.

"He'll need to show he's completely different to Malcolm on three major issues: power supply and cost - i.e. ditch the Paris agreement - and he'll need to reduce immigration almost immediately."

Equally critical, the 2GB host continued, would be the composition of Mr Morrison's cabinet.

"He needs strong people around him, and he needs to sideline the poor performers ... Those three steps could just see him make it a contest of it with [Bill] Shorten."

Read more here.The battle for the Liberal leadership is on after senior ministers Mathias Cormann, Michaelia Cash and Mitch Fifield abandoned Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, informing him that they believe he no longer holds majority support in the Liberal party room.

The trio joined a string of other ministers, including cabinet members Steve Ciobo, Greg Hunt and junior ministers Angus Taylor and Alan Tudge in quitting the frontbench.

The resignations pave the way for Peter Dutton and Scott Morrison to battle it out for the leadership, at a meeting that could be held as late as Monday, if Malcolm Turnbull decides to step aside.

The trio of ministers sealed the Prime Minister's fate at a press conference on Thursday morning after visiting Mr Turnbull to inform him they believe he needs to call a meeting of Liberal MPs to resolve the matter "swiftly".

Their decision means a change is imminent with two former immigration ministers - Mr Dutton and Mr Morrison - confirmed candidates.The federal government has banned Chinese telecommunication companies Huawei and ZTE from providing 5G technology to Australia, Fairfax Media understands, after laying out new rules in a security guidance statement to vendors and telcos building the next-generation mobile infrastructure.

A joint statement from Treasurer Scott Morrison and Communications Minister Mitch Fifield heavily implies that the involvement of Chinese companies would pose too high a security risk, although it does not single out any specific companies and does not name China.

Huawei, however, said via Twitter that the government had been in touch to explicitly ban it and ZTE from providing the technology to Australia. Fairfax Media has confirmed this is the case.

Huawei has been angling to build 5G infrastructure in Australia. Credit:AP

It comes after strong concerns from government that companies such as Huawei and ZTE may be compelled by the Chinese government to compromise the security of 5G infrastructure in Australia.Beijing: China has refused to renew the journalist visa for an American correspondent for BuzzFeed News in what appears to be punishment for her reporting on topics considered sensitive by the authorities.

Megha Rajagopalan, Buzzfeed News. Credit:Twitter/Meghara

Megha Rajagopalan tweeted on Wednesday that the Foreign Ministry had declined to issue her a new visa in May and she would now be leaving the country. She said the ministry indicated it was a procedural issue and that it was unclear why.

Asked about Rajagopalan's case, the ministry responded with a statement saying only that it handled such matters "according to laws and regulations."Samjiyon lies at the foot of Mount Paektu, which is closely linked to the Kim family and is considered the spiritual centre of the North Korean revolution. Steam rollers and other heavy equipment are rare, so roadwork is particularly labour-intensive. Work crews spreading out nearly 20 kilometres from the city limits fill potholes with dirt and flatten surfaces with wooden tools. The work has transformed Samjiyon from a relatively sleepy provincial centre surrounded by potato farms into a buzzing hub of activity the likes of which would be hard to find anywhere else. The government says it is to be the model for future development projects nationwide. The Associated Press was allowed to view the city on the same day Kim visited, but was not allowed to shoot photos. A police man directs traffic on a street lined with apartment buildings in Pyongyang. Credit:AP One important aspect of the current building boom is that much of the work is being done outside of Pyongyang. Under three generations of Kim leadership, the capital has gotten the bulk of funding and is far more developed than the rest of the country, creating a glaring - and potentially destabilising - gap between the capital and the provinces.

Wonsan has gotten a new airport that officials hope will attract international visitors in the near future. Along with Samjiyon, major construction projects are underway in several other cities - including 20-storey highrise apartments in the eastern port city of Chongjin and extensive infrastructure and tourism-related facilities in Wonsan, another port on the country's eastern coast. Under Kim, Wonsan has gotten a new airport that officials hope will attract international visitors in the near future. More than a dozen resort hotels are being built near its coastline. The construction campaign is all the more ambitious considering that it comes at a very sensitive time for Kim, who has held a series of summits over the past several months with China, South Korea and the United States in an attempt to undermine international support for sanctions and establish his position on the global stage as the head of a nuclear power. His diplomatic gambit appears to be paying off in many ways. Chinese tourists take in the sight from a viewing platform overlooking the caldera of Mount Paektu near Samjiyon in North Korea. Credit:AP

Chinese businesspeople and tourists are once again flowing over the borders - several large tourist groups were in Samjiyon last week - and South Korean officials are seriously considering ways to help the North improve its roads and railways. But doubts are growing over whether Kim has any real intention to meet Washington's main demand and unilaterally abandon the nuclear weapons he worked so hard to develop over the past five years. That rift with Washington could significantly complicate Kim's rapprochement with his neighbours and stifle his efforts to woo the trade and investment he needs to fund his development projects. A crucial indicator of where Kim stands will come soon after the anniversary when he is scheduled to hold another summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, this time in Pyongyang. Kim Jong-un, left, and Moon Jae-in embrace after their meeting on May 26. Credit:AP Moon, who has been playing a middleman role between Pyongyang and Washington, is under a great deal of pressure to broker progress toward denuclearisation. Without tangible progress, he will be hard-pressed to justify going against Washington's "maximum pressure" policy and easing sanctions any further.

Wednesday's announcement that South Korea is pressing ahead with a diplomatic "liaison office" in North Korea indicates dialogue between the neighbours is progressing. The joint-liaison office in the North Korean border town of Kaesong - a potential first step toward building formal diplomatic missions  was discussed between Moon and Kim when they met in April. In a speech last Wednesday, Moon said the opening of the office was imminent. "In a few days," he said, "an era in which the two Koreas communicate with each other around the clock will commence." In any event, it appears Kim is ready to forge ahead with his economic plan. Though many improvements will be completed by September 9, it is clear from the construction in Samjiyon that his plans go much further into the future than that. Dozens of buildings are still in the skeletal stages and will likely require several more months to finish. In the meantime, scenes of Kim giving his on-the-spot "guidance" to senior officials feverishly taking down his every word in their notebooks has dominated the TV news in the North each day since his visit to Samjiyon.Latest News Westpac announces 138% profit rise CEO Peter King happy with results, but says that Big Four bank still has some way to go

Only 7% of people have refinanced, says Aussie Home Loans research New research suggests that only 7% of mortgage holders have refinanced, with hundreds of thousands left on the table

A non-bank has said Australia has a great opportunity to adapt to comprehensive credit reporting (CCR).

In New Zealand CCR went live in circa 2012 with minimal lender take up. The clear learning from the NZ roll out was that there was minimal communication to the broker market and the general public; this created an environment of uncertainty for anyone engaging in credit consumption.

Alternative lender Pepper Money is providing tools and educational materials to make sure they play their part to protect Australians from a repeat of the NZ rollout.

CEO Mario Rehayem said, If theres one learning that we really need to embrace, its early adoption by way of communication and education.

I think brokers need to ramp up their knowledge and understanding of CCR and how thats going to change the discussions and the preliminary assessment they carry out with their customer.

For brokers who are unsure how CCR affects them and their relationship with their customers, Mario explains what the opportunity is and how to embrace it.

He said, First and foremost brokers should get their own credit report and understand the mechanics behind it, what influences it, and really educate themselves because this is going to be part of their everyday interaction with their customer.

Once the brokers have a much better understanding of what makes up a credit report, they can share this knowledge with their customers. This is a golden opportunity for brokers to position themselves as an expert in this field and be in a position to add value to their customers which can play a huge part in setting up their customers for financial success.

"I would proactively approach my trail book or my customer base and start to prepare them for the CCR roll out. I see this as a way of adding real value and differentiation to whats available from others in the industry.

Its an easy thing to do, its a cost effective thing to do. At the same time, thats what brokers are there for, to add value to their customers, not just to originate a loan. So this is a great opportunity for brokers to highlight how important a mortgage broker is to this ecosystem.

The introduction of CCR will allow for a swapset effect, where those who may have been approved for mainstream lending in the past may now be declined, and those who may have been declined in the past may now be approved.

This is because the lenders will have much more comprehensive information to base their decision on.

For brokers, this means many of their customers who are expecting a mainstream loan may now require an alternative solution through an alternative lender.

Rehayem said brokers play an important role in managing those expectations and helping those customers.

He said, Theres this big myth that non-conforming is hard to write. However, its not difficult at all - the actual origination process of the loan is identical. The hard part is managing that customers expectation, they may have been blindsided and may not have known that they were a higher risk than what the banks wanted.

Its different overseas. You speak to people in the US and in the UK and they all know their score and what that does is it takes the pressure off the broker to manage customers expectations because the customer already knows their score, so they know what to expect.

More brokers will be presented with the opportunity to offer an alternative product but under CCR, the conversation becomes a little easier to have with the customer because theres an independent reference point to start from. That reference point is their CCR score, Rehayem concluded.Sign up for our PoliticsNY newsletter for the latest coverage and to stay informed about the 2021 elections in your district and across NYC

They finally closed the deal.

A private builder is now the official owner of Dyker Heightss sprawling Angel Guardian home after he and the Sisters of Mercy closed the $37.5-million deal on the property on Aug. 15, he said.

Developer Scott Barone told this newspaper that he stands by his plans to build market-rate, affordable, and senior housing on the property, along with a school, which he said will help make the century-old orphanage a cornerstone of the community again.

I think it has the potential to have a greater impact on the community than it has had in nearly a generation. There havent been orphans in there for years. Everybody knows what it was and where it is, but it really hasnt had an active role for anybody in that community for a very long time, said Barone, the founder and president of his eponymous management company, which has previously developed hotels, luxury apartments, and office and commercial buildings across the city. Its going to breathe a lot of fresh life into the property, and its going to give a lot of people in the neighborhood the chance to have something to do with that property.

Barone said more than half of the city blocksized property  bound by 63rd and 64th streets and 12th and 13th avenues  will feature about 115 market-rate studio, one-, and two-bedroom condos, along with private outdoor space for residents. A small portion of the property will feature about 35 so-called affordable rental units, subsidized through the states Affordable New York Housing Program.

The remainder of the property will include a school with up to 800 seats, and between 120 and 150 assisted-living units in a skilled nursing-care facility  which Barone termed luxury senior living. He also pledged to build an underground parking lot for residents, with about 100 spaces.

The developer will not need any zoning change to carry out his plans, since the site is zoned for three-story row houses and mixed used buildings.

Barone also promised to heed locals concerns by keeping the main building  and all of the green space in front of it  which residents had previously pushed the city to landmark in a bid to save it from demolition. He added that he wanted to preserve at least part of the propertys impressive, historic architecture, saying that it would make a good home for either the school or the senior-housing component.

We are still keeping that building, 100 percent, Barone said. Its a beautiful building, and its in really good shape. Theres detailed crown molding inside, youve got 14-foot ceilings on the ground floor, the former chapel has 25-foot ceilings, the brickwork on the exterior of the building is old-world masonry  you cant duplicate that anymore.

And Barone added that he has offered the Catholic Charities Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens a 10-year-lease for the Narrows Senior Center  which remained on the property until this past spring  so that the seniors could return to their old stomping grounds.

Catholic Charities did not respond to a request for comment by press time.

The nuns first put the property up for sale in 2016, and found a buyer last December. Barone finally revealed his plans for the property with this paper in April, when his confidentiality agreement with the nuns loosened enough for him to discuss details about his intentions for the site. But the months of secrecy surrounding the deal drove rumors and led locals to fear the worst, prompting protests and outrage that surprised the nuns and influenced Barones plans for the site, he said, adding that he had not thought about adding senior housing before reading that residents wanted it.

The reality of it is if the community hadnt spoken out the way they did, I think it wouldve been a bunch of residential [units]. We would not have done as much homework if the neighborhood hadnt spoken up, Barone said. I had never considered [senior housing], but the community pointed out that it was needed, we took a very hard look at it, and the community was right: there is an aging population in certain sections of the neighborhood that wants to stay within the neighborhood that theyve lived.

But an organizer of one of the outspoken community groups, the Guardians of the Guardian, pointed out that locals were specifically asking for affordable senior housing, not the luxury senior living Barone envisions.

We want senior housing that would be available for everyone  some affordable and some for those that are middle-income people, said Fran Vella-Marrone.

She added that her group wishes Barone would nix the school in favor of affordable senior housing.

Its not that were against schools, but we felt that a school at that location wasnt appropriate, she said. The school is not something that we were looking to have there because we wanted to maximize the space for senior housing.

But Barone said the school district  which is the citys most overcrowded  badly needs another school, and that seniors could apply to live in the affordable housing component, but that it would lack the amenities that the units specifically set aside for seniors would offer.

There is nothing they need there more than school. Its the most overtaxed school district in New York City, he said. A person whos spry in their 70s could by all means live in an affordable apartment under the Affordable New York Housing Program, but thats not going to have any of the stepped-up level of services that people going into senior housing are going to need.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Education said the agency works with families, community members, and elected officials to identify suitable locations for new school buildings and seats, but did not respond to an inquiry about whether or not the citys School Construction Authority was considering building a new school on the site.

Barone said crews will start selective demolition of various small buildings and garages on the property by the end of this year, and that the development will likely be finished in about three years, though he wishes it would be sooner.

If it was up to me, Id break ground tomorrow, he said.

The Sisters of Mercy did not respond to a request for comment by press time.



Guwahati, August 23 : Amid tightened security, voting is underway for by-elections to the South Tura and Ranikor assembly constituencies in Meghalaya.





Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Meghalaya Frederick Kharkongor informed that, about 67 percent voters were cast in the first four hours in the by-polls to both assembly constituencies and the voting would pick up by afternoon till the end at 5 pm.





In South Tura, around 65.5 percent turnout recorded till 1 pm, while 69 percent in Ranikor assembly constituency.





The by-election to the South Tura constituency will decide fate of Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma also the chief of Meghalayas ruling party National Peoples Party (NPP), is contesting from the South Tura seat in West Garo Hills district to elect to the Meghalaya legislative assembly.





The by-poll to South Tura assembly constituency has been necessitated following the resignation of NPP legislator Agatha Sangma to pave away her brother and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma to contest from the constituency and being elected to the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly to continue in the role of the Chief Minister.





Agatha Sangma had submitted her resignation letter on July 2.





The six months period for Conrad K Sangma, son of former Lok Sabha Speaker and Chief Minister Purno Sangma to occupy the Chief Minister post will expire on September 6 next.





After cast his vote, Meghalaya CM Conrad K Sangma said that, he is confident to win the by-poll.





I am very confident to win this election. Every election is tough. We are confident that, the people of Tura will repose their faith in NPP. All coalition partners also supported us," Conrad K Sangma said.





On the other hand, by-poll to Ranikor assembly constituency in South West Khasi Hills district has been necessitated after five-time Congress MLA Martin M Danggo resigned from the assembly on June 21.





The South Tura assembly constituency has around 30,230 voters spread across 36 polling stations, while the Ranikor assembly constituency has 65 polling stations with around 29,685 voters.





In South Tura, the largest polling station is Matchakolgre with 1,337 voters and the smallest is Leper Colony with 151 voters.





On the other hand, in Ranikor, the largest booth is Rangthong with 817 voters,while Nongbahjynrin-Mawthabah with only 12 voters is the smallest booth.





In South Tura, Conrad K Sangma is pitted against Congresss Charlotte W Momin, Chris Kabul A Sangma and John Leslee K Sangma (Independent candidates).





On the other hand, in Ranikor, NPPs Martin M Danggo is pitted United Democratic Party (UDP)s Pius Marwein, People's Democratic Front (PDF)s PN Syiem and Congresss Jackiush Sangma.



Sign up for our PoliticsNY newsletter for the latest coverage and to stay informed about the 2021 elections in your district and across NYC

Flames injured five of New Yorks Bravest as they battled a blaze that tore through an auto shop on the ground floor of a Kensington apartment building early on Wednesday morning.

Firefighters hurried to quench the four-alarm inferno burning in the mixed-use building on Coney Island Avenue near Church Avenue after being called to the scene at 3:32 am, according to a Fire Department spokesman, who said more than 168 first responders, including some paramedics, rushed to the site.

The battalion fought the flames for roughly three hours before it was under control around 6:56 am, the spokesman said, and its cause is under investigation.

And the five injured firefighters sought treatment at Maimonides Medical Center following the incident, the spokesman said.

Do-gooders with the Red Cross came to the aid of 11 locals whose units sustained damage from the fire, providing temporary housing and emergency funds, according to a rep for the organization, who said any other residents displaced by the blaze should contact the disaster-relief group for assistance.

Victims seeking help can call the Red Cross at (877) REDCROSS.

Reach reporter Kevin Duggan at (718) 2602511 or by e-mail at kdugg an@cn gloca l.com . Follow him on Twitter @kduggan16.Kanchanpur, Nepal: At least eight people including two police personnel injured in a scuffle erupted after open fire against the protesters in Kanchanpur on Thursday.





As demonstrations turned violent mode, police opened fire targeting the protesters. The local people of the Kanchanpur district have been protesting for three days demanding arrest of the culprit involved in the rape and murder case of Nirmala Panta.





According to the reports, the injured have been identified as Arjun Bhandari, Tej Bhatta, Krita Paneru, Manoj Budha and Santosh Kathariya.





Among the injured, Bhandari has received a bullet in his left leg while others have also sustained shrapnel injuries. Injured demonstrators have been receiving treatment at Seti Zonal hospital.





Likewise, police head constable Harka Bahadur Pal and Constable Mahesh Bhatta have also been injured in the scuffle.





Kanchapur locals have been demonstrating for the last three days alleging the administration for dillydallying to arrest of the culprit involved in the raping and killing of 13 year old Nirmala Panta of Bhimdatta municipality-2, Kanchanpur.



With commanding 52.54 per cent market share of mass passenger vehicles, some of its shareholders want the company to think bigger and enter the luxury segment, but it is happy to concentrate on its strength.

During the 37th Annual General Meeting of the company held on Thursday, one of the shareholders pointed out to the management that it was time for to consider competing with the likes of Mercedes-Benz, and

The logic behind the suggestion was that MSI already has over 50 per cent market share in the mass segment and it was time to move up the value chain.

Responding to the suggestion, MSI Chairman said the company's effort would be to provide features that are found in luxury cars in the company's affordable products.

"Today we have the new Ciaz, which has a lot of the features that you find in the 'premium sector' cars and at a much lower cost," he said.

Bhargava further said, "Please remember that India is a country where people are very price sensitive (and) affordability is a factor."



He also said that selling high-priced and small volume products did not fit into the company's strategy.

"Maruti's strength is bulk manufacturing in large scale, Bhargava said, adding, "and small volume sales, what some of the premium manufacturers do, just does not fit into our business model".

He said, however, it doesn't mean that the company's customers would be deprived of the premium features.

"We will keep improving our cars and we will keep improving what value we give to our customer but this decision of what cars should we make, I request you to kindly let the board decide," Bhargava said.

In the April-June period of the ongoing financial year, MSI's market share in passenger vehicles market increased to 52.54 per cent from 50.43 per cent in the year-ago period.

The company sold 4,58,967 units of PVs in the April-June period as against 3,67,386 units in the year-ago period, a growth of 24.93 per cent.

For the total industry, domestic PV sales in the first quarter of the current financial year grew 19.91 per cent to 8,73,501 units as against 7,28,483 units.

Addressing a concern over "stagnating margins" raised by another shareholder, Bhargava said operating margins were not entirely in the hands of the company as many extraneous factors such as foreign exchange rate commodity prices and global trade issues also played a role.

Despite that, he said MSI's operating margins "were higher than any other automobile company in India" and among the best in the world.

Earlier, addressing the shareholders, Bhargava said the potential trade war between the USA and China could lead to other countries also being drawn into this unfortunate course of events.

"Oil prices, and the Iran problem, create a great deal of uncertainty about energy costs this year. Both these events could lead to offsetting some of the benefits of the positive factors," he added.

Bhargava pointed out healthy growth of the economy, good monsoon and tax compliance under GST enabling businessmen larger investments for modernisation and growth of their companies as major positive factors.Dear Reader,

Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance.

We, however, have a request.



As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed.



Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard.



Digital EditorThe board of confectionary major on Thursday approved share split in 1:2 ratio to make the stock more affordable for the small retail investors and increase liquidity.

The Kolkata-based company will split the shares with a face value of Rs 2 into two equity shares of Re 1 each.

The company said in a regulatory filing that the division would be subject to the approval of the members and authorities as applicable.

"There had been a significant rise in the market price of the equity shares of the Company over a period of last one year," it said.

"In order to improve the liquidity of the company's equity shares in the stock and to make them more affordable for the small retail investors, it is proposed to sub-divide equity shares of face value of Rs 2 each into 2 Equity Shares of the face value of Re 1 each," it added.

Britannia has authorised share capital of Rs 500 million of 250 million shares. Besides it has 120 million equity shares of Rs two each.

Post-split, it would be "Rs 500 million divided into 500 million equity shares of the face value of Re 1 each," it said. Similarly, it would have 240 million equity shares of Re 1 each.

The company expects it to complete within "3-4 months from the date of Board approval".

has also amendment its Articles of Association and all other applicable provisions regarding it.

stock closed 0.43 per cent up at Rs 6,883.75 on BSE.Sanjeev Gupta, executive chairman of UK-headquartered Liberty House that is getting ready to have a strong base in the country, is of the view that India treats new investors with suspicion. We are used to going to places like Australia, the US and, recently, France, where we were received with a lot of enthusiasm and excitement. India, however, is very cautious and sceptical. Everything is looked at with a great deal of suspicion here.

Thats the culture. We have to get used to it, the India-born British businessman told Business Standard. The firm recently ...The country's second largest IT services company, Infosys, has opened a new technology and innovation hub at Raleigh in North Carolina in the United States as part of its effort to boost innovation in this key market apart from driving localisation.

The company said it has also hired 4,700 local Americans since March 2017, including nearly 500 in North Carolina, as part of its effort to hire 10,000 locals in the country. The IT firm had launched its first innovation centre in Indianapolis in March this year as part of its plan to set up four such centres in the US ...Sagarmatha Network Pvt. Ltd. is the organization dedicated in the field of printing, publishing service since 2001. As part of media, we've been publishing Review Nepal, an English medium weekly registered at District Administration Office (DAO) Kathmandu with registration number 130-162-163 and reviewnepal.com as an online digital newspaper, with registration number 849-075-076 at Department of Informational and Broadcasting (DIB) from Kathmandu, Nepal since 2003.After firming up its exports across Asia, Africa and North America, Orient Electric, part of the diversified Rs 126-billion CK Birla Group, is planning to start export of electric fans to the US, Europe and other destinations. "We are currently increasing the depth of our exports in the countries we are present in and looking at new countries to export to.

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Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi Inc's quarterly revenue soared due to strong demand in India and other emerging markets but doubts remained on whether it can sustain the fast pace of growth and its shares reversed early gains to end lower. Xiaomi, which toppled Samsung Electronics as the top smartphone seller in the price-conscious Indian market earlier this year, said on Wednesday in its first results as a listed firm that revenue from overseas markets for the quarter ended June 30 more than doubled from the year-ago period. The company started trading in July after a ...Pakistan has "solid evidence" against Indian and is hopeful of winning the case against him at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the country's new Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Thursday.

Jadhav, 47, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on spying charges in April 2017. India moved the ICJ in May the same year against the verdict. The world court has halted Jadhav's execution on India's appeal pending the final verdict by it.

Both India and Pakistan have already submitted their detailed pleas and responses in the world court.

"We have solid evidence against Jadhav and are hopeful we will win the case in the ICJ," Qureshi told the media in his home city of Multan in southern Punjab.

"We will try our best to present our stance in an effective manner before the ICJ," he said.

On Wednesday, the Geo TV citing sources had said that the world court will hear the case daily for a week in February next year.

Pakistan says its security forces arrested Jadhav from Balochistan province in March 2016 after he reportedly entered the country from Iran.

In its submission to the ICJ, Pakistan had stated that Jadhav is not an ordinary person as he had entered the country with the intent of spying and carrying out sabotage activities.

India denies all the charges and maintains that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Navy and that he has no links with the government.

On Indo-Pak talks, Qureshi said Pakistan wants to resolve the core issue of Kashmir in a peaceful manner through dialogue with India.

He hoped that India would reciprocate Pakistan's offer for talks.Kanchanpur, Nepal: Responding to the violence in Kanchanpur district, the government has formed a probe panel under the leadership of Joint Secretary Hari Prasad Mainal on Thursday.





Similarly, the government has also transferred Chief District Office (CDO) Kumar Bahadur Khadka. Taranath Ghimire has been appointed as CDO of the Kanchanpur district.



 US Sentencing Commission finalizes its priorities for coming year | Main | Prez Trump reportedly has decided he will not support federal criminal justice bill before mid-term election 

In this post a few months ago, I wondered about how Reality Winner, the former Air Force linguist prosecuted for leaking classified information, came to an agreement with federal prosecutors that fixed her federal sentence at 63 months in prison." This local article, headlined "Reality Winner receives record-setting prison sentence," reports on the sentencing promised in this plea agreement becoming a reality. Here are some details:

Reality Winner on Thursday received a record-setting prison sentence  five years and three months behind bars  for leaking a top-secret government report about Russian meddling in the 2016 election. I sincerely apologize and take full responsibility for my actions, the former National Security Agency contractor told Chief U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall in a federal court in Augusta. In particular, I want to apologize to my family.

Bobby Christine, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, told reporters after the sentence hearing that the government had determined Winners actions caused exceptionally grave damage to U.S. national security.

That harm, he said, included but was not limited to impairing the ability of the United States to acquire foreign intelligence information similar to the information disclosed.

Make no mistake, this was not a victimless crime, he also said. Winners purposeful violation put our nations security at risk, not in a speculative way or hypothetical way but in a very real way, a very direct way.

Like the judge in the case, Christine said Winners sentence is meant to serve as a deterrent. Winner will serve a term of incarceration that will give pause to others who are entrusted with our countrys sensitive national security information and would consider compromising it, he said. Anyone else who may think of committing such an egregious and damaging wrong should think both of the prison sentence imposed today and the very real damage done.

Winner faced up to 10 years in prison for her crime. But her plea deal with prosecutors called for her to serve five years and three months behind bars. That is longer than anyone else has been sentenced for an unauthorized disclosure to the media, federal prosecutors said in a court filing this month. Both Winners attorneys and the prosecutors urged Hall to agree to the sentence spelled out in her plea deal.

The government advises the court that despite the agreed-upon sentence being below the applicable guidelines range, it would be the longest sentence served by a federal defendant for an unauthorized disclosure to the media, the prosecutors said in their court filing.

The prosecutors added avoiding a trial would prevent them from having to reveal sensitive government information in court. The agreement reflects a fair resolution of the defendants criminal culpability, especially when balanced against the further harm to the national security that would likely result from a trial, the prosecutors said.

The prosecutors also cited several other similar federal cases in which defendants received shorter prison sentences. In 2013, former FBI bomb technician Donald Sachtleben was sentenced to 43 months in prison for leaking classified information to the Associated Press about a foiled bomb plot in Yemen. That same year, former CIA officer John Kiriakou was given a 30-month sentence for revealing to a freelance journalist the identity of an undercover CIA agent. Two years later, former CIA officer Jeffrey Sterling got a 42-month sentence for leaking to The New York Times classified information about a secret operation to disrupt Irans nuclear weapons program.

Winner, 26, the prosecutors said, mailed a copy of a NSA document to The Intercept, an online publication. The Intercept published an article based on the report, saying Russian military intelligence sent spear-phishing emails to more than 100 local election officials and launched a cyberattack against a Florida-based voting software supplier that contracts in eight states.

The Press Freedom Defense Fund, which provides legal support to journalists and whistleblowers and is a program of The Intercepts parent company, called Winners sentence completely unjust. Demonstrating her passion for her country, she heroically  at great personal risk  alerted fellow Americans to vital information that Russia had tampered with the 2016 U.S. elections, said the Press Freedom Defense Fund, which helped with the appeal of whistleblower Chelsea Manning, a former soldier convicted of violating the Espionage Act. Her selfless act makes her a true patriot, not a criminal.Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Data of the CPCA shows that sales of China's passenger vehicles (excl. minivans) plunged by 5.7% year on year (YoY) to 1.57 mn units (shown in Chart 1), and slid down 14.66% month-on-month(MoM) from 1.83 mn units in June. PV sales posted a YoY growth of 4.2% up to 13.12 mn units in YTD terms, but a continuous cool-down from Q1 2018. A poor sales performance definitely resulted in a weak production output. The figure of PV production (excl. minivans) in this July hit at 1.69 mn units with a surprising YoY decline of 3.7%. As we warned in last month, the market is being unable to against pressures from consumer recession, trade tensions with the U.S. and extreme high inventory.





Chart 1: Monthly China PV Sales from CPCA

In retail sector, the sales of July 2018 kept low profile and reached 1.66 mn units. Although the retail sales suffered a drop of 4.77% YoY, it was still satisfactory because it exceeded wholesale of this July. The bounce of retail activity was also reflected in the decline of inventory index, which was improved to 1.79 months from 1.91 months (shown as Chart 3) in June. It seems that unfavorable gap between wholesale and retail is turning to be rebalanced, but the year-to-date inventory (wholesale  retail) reached up to 1.4 mn units and annual one is expected to maintain around 1.5 mn units, much higher than last two years. The stubbornly high inventory has been a common failing for most automakers this year. Dealers of some particular brands have to protest against high inventory under a chilling market climate.

Chart 2: PV Inventory





Chart 3: Inventory Index by CADA

Weak demand resulted in negative year-over-year growth over car, MPV,and SUV segments. In July, sales of car segment had a slight YoY decline hitting at 818,785 units, but, fortunately, the year-to-date growth rate kept around 4.6%. SUV suffered sales drop again after this June with 641K units delivered in July, which declined by 8.2% compared with July 2017. The hard landing also slowed the annual growth rate from June's 10.2% to July's 7.8%. However, SUV is still the strategic focus of many OEMs, especially the international carmakers. Gasgoo thinks that these carmakers will still carry out their plan of product expansion mainly relying on SUV launches sales plunge of MPV has been a normality. Unsurprisingly YoY change was 21.7% and YTD change was -14.3%. Two-child policy and aged tendency of population didn't release huge demands on MPV products. The renovation of MPV products is in process, and will be the key point that leads the segment return to uptrend channel. Minivan enjoyed a big rise in sales volume in July, but it still could not rescue the big failure in a wide view (YTD growth was -23.2%). China's plug-in electric cars kept strong momentum. Monthly sales hit at 74.9K units incluing 51.6K all-electric vehicles and 23.3 plug-in hybrids, which offered YoY increases of 60.6% and 142.7% respectively.

Table 1: PV & NEV Sales by Vehicle Types

Fuel consumption is changing the structure of passenger vehicles

As mentioned above, the market of this year is affected by many factors like weak consumption, economy and international relations, etc. In addition, the market structure occurred weird changes that MPV is losing grounds and SUV is flaming out. The impact by fuel economy is being a popular topic in China auto industry as well as in global market. Since the industy entered into 4th phase of fuel consumption limit, passenger car makers have struggled to lower their CAFC (Corporate Average Fuel Consumption) accroding to related regulations. Furthermore, as we know, China's government set rigorous Dual-Credit System requiring high thresholds for production of plug-in EVs (PEVs), and took into effect from this April. On the one hand, most OEMs are not only facing an increasingly tight deadline in terms of PEVs roll-out, but also being given lower and lower fuel consumption limits.

Most companies have troubles in meeting short-term (2018-2019) rigid targets with no or poor EV sales. A feasible solution for the difficulty is to use structure adjustment of good emission compliance as the leverage to control the results.

In current CAFC regulation, a single model has a particular emission target according to its curb mass (GB27999-2014). On account of this rule, we calculated FC (fuel economy) satisfaction rate of on-sale domestic passenger vehicles, and found that cCar is closer to the target line than SUV and MPV whose average satisfaction rates are 83.67%, 77.19%, and 74.16% respectively. The findings can give one of the reasons that why the output of Car turned upward from 2nd quarter. Chart 4-6 shows the detail FCSR landscapes of Car, SUV,and MPV (excl. BEV models). The advantages of cars can be summarized by main points, lighter curb masses and more penertration of electrification, which have also been two cogent trends of the industry.

The MIIT (Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People's Republic China) announced the final results of 2017 CAFC in this April. 37 manufacturers of domestic production and 16 international manufacturers of import failed in fuel consumption assessment. Thanks to pressures from more rigious CAFC targets and Dual-Credit System, more OEMs are facing risks of failure in regulations or penalty in coming two years. Any feasible and manipulative methods will be used by OEMs to couple with mandatory requirements.

Chart 4 Fuel consumption satisfaction rate of SUV - w/o BEV

Chart 5 Fuel consumption satisfaction rate of Car  w/o BEV

Chart 6: Fuel consumption satisfaction rate of MPV - w/o BEV

Note (Chart 4 - 6):

horizontal axis  Curb mass

Vertical axis  Satisfaction rate (Target fuel consumption/actual fuel consumption)

Red circle  High density of model distribution

Green circle  PHEV/EREV

Grey circle  HEVThis year's event will focus on expanding major markets, including North American, Europe and ASEAN, making a breakthrough in the city's tourism promotion in the 2018-2010 period.



The 2018 International Travel Expo- ITE HCMC features around 375 display booths of hundreds of local and foreign enterprises from 40 countries and territories worldwide, such as Brunei, Cambodia, Germany, India, Japan, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan (China),Holland, Russia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and others.

Various activities will be held during the festival, such as introduction of Vietnams destinations of Ha Noi, Quang Ninh, Quang Binh, Da Nang, HCM City, Kien Giang; Vietnam-China tourism cooperation conference; seminars on Japanese market, ASEAN Tourism Awards, ITE HCMC Awards, travel vouchers lottery

Travel companies and airlines will also offer travel vouchers lotteries, discounts on tours and cheap airfares during the event.

Highlights of the festival are a seminar on development of Vietnamese tourism, strengthening awareness and developing smart tourism, applying advanced technology and installing travel apps on smartphones which help tourists choose travel destinations and services and make their trip easier.

There will be nights of Laotian and Cambodian tourism that are organized by the Laotian Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism and the Cambodia Ministry of Tourism.

The organizers hope to attract around 30,000 visitors during the three-day event.

Started in 2005, the ITE has become one of the leading travel events in Vietnam and the region with expanded scale and diversified activities, such as exhibition, meeting between Buyer and Seller and others, promotional programs.

The event is an opportunity for travel agents, hotels and representatives from tourism promotion agencies to publicize their brands and offer tourist products to local and international travelers.

The annual event is co-organized by the HCM City Peoples Committee, the municipal Department of Tourism, Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), Vietnam National Trade Fair and Advertising Company (VINEXAD) and Informa Exhibitions.





By Kim KhanhThe trade fair is co-organized by the Vietnam Ministry of Industry and Trade and Central Group, in cooperation with the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.



Attending at the opening ceremony of the event were Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai and Thailand's Minister of Commerce Sontirat Sontijirawong.

The event themed A Bridge For Vietnam Enterprises To Penetrate Into Thailand Distribution Network aims to promote and introduce Vietnamese goods to Thai customers and ASEAN market.

About 50 Vietnamese businesses participated in the event with more than 50 display booths covering on an area of over 1,000 square meters. Exhibited goods include items with high export potential, such as processed fruits, coffee, instant noodles, cashew nuts, handicraft products and more.

Many famous tour operators and airlines and hotels also attended the event, including Vietjet, Air Asia, Thai Airways, Centara Hotels & Resorts, Accor Group, Asia Holidays by Phoenix Vogage, Asiana Travel. 

According to representative of Central Group, in order to enter the Thai market, Vietnamese enterprises must focus on improving their restrictions on preservation, marketing and price competition.

In 2017, Vietnamese goods worth US$60 million were exported to Thailand through Central Groups retail system.

Central Group Vietnam (CGV) is a member of Central Group, which was established in Vietnam in July 2011. The group's business activities in Vietnam range from electronics, sports, fashion, shopping centers and hotels to e-commerce and supermarkets.

The group has invested US$5.5 billion in Vietnam in three years. The company plans to invest US$500 million in expanding its retail network and opening more new stores in Vietnam over the next five years.





By THUY HAI  Translated by Kim KhanhDeputy Director of Blood Transfusion Center of Cho Ray Hospital Dr. Le Hoang Oanh said the center uses 300-500 blood units - blood group O for transfusing to patients in Cho Ray, in addition to supplying infirmaries in the South East.



At present, the center has around 4,300 units of different blood groups; of which the center has 2,000 units of blood group O. Blood in the center is supplemented everyday; therefore, there is no reason to worry about shortage of blood, Dr. Oanh said.

Director of the Blood Transfusion Hematology Hospital in HCMC Dr. Phu Chi Dung said 45 percent of blood type among Vietnamese people is type O-positive; accordingly, demand of the blood type is higher than other groups.

Moreover, someone of all blood group can receive blood from a donor of group O; subsequently, for some cases, especially for emergency cases, doctors will use blood group O to save people of various blood groups.

That explains why infirmaries are usually short of blood group O, said Dr. Dung. However, he added since early year, the hospital had planned to reserve blood for the whole year by coordinating with clubs or organizations of those who donate blood on a voluntary basis regularly to ensure availability of sufficient quantity of safe blood in the hospitals blood bank.

In response to the lack of blood group O nationwide, Chairman of blood donation club Hanh Trinh Do (Red Journey) Huynh Van Hieu called for volunteers to donate blood so as to supply blood to medical clinics for treating people in emergencies.

The blood donation campaign on July 18 collected nearly 300 different blood units.

The Red Journey Club in coordination with the Humanity Blood Donation center in HCMC will organize a festival named  I belong to blood group O to give blood on August 24 and 25 aiming to appeal and encourage city dwellers to donate their blood for saving patients, said Huynh Van Hieu.

By THANH AN  Translated by UYEN PHUONGHe made the remarks while receiving Kawamura Takeo, Chairperson of the Japanese House of Representatives Committee on Budget, who is on a visit to Vietnam, in Hanoi on August 22.



Vietnam and Japan are enjoying booming relations in all fields with increasing high-level exchange and political trust, he said.



The PM described Japan as Vietnams top economic partner as it is the largest provider of ODA and the second biggest investor in Vietnam. The government of Vietnam highly appreciates Japanese ODA; and has put great efforts into fulfilling commitments on ODA-funded projects agreed by the two countries and making effective use of the ODA, he noted.



Phuc also spoke highly of the Vietnam  Japan University, a key project between the two countries, saying the Vietnamese government will provide all possible conditions for the universitys operation.



To take the two countries strategic partnership to a new height, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked his guest to back the expansion of the bilateral economic ties and FDI flow from Japan to Vietnam as well as support the continued provision of ODA to the Southeast Asian country, particularly in projects in infrastructure, high-quality human resources training and response to climate change.



He affirmed that his government has consistently worked to facilitate Japanese investors doing business in Vietnam.



The PM also suggested that the two countries continue fostering cooperation in education and workforce training. He welcomed the pilot implementation of Japans KOSEN vocational training model in Vietnam and proposed Japan to accept more Vietnamese trainees.



The two countries also need to accelerate exchanges between their people and localities, especially when they are celebrating the 45th anniversary of the diplomatic ties this year, to deepen mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.



Kawamura Takeo, for his part, conveyed thanks from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Vietnam for the support for the Japanese people at a time when they suffered from natural disasters recently.



He went on to say that the Japanese PM backed the view of promoting a close cooperation with Vietnam on bilateral and multilateral issues.



The Japanese House of Representatives Committee on Budget looks forward to tightening partnership with Vietnam at large and the Vietnamese National Assembly and the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Parliamentary Alliance in particular, said Takeo, who also serves as Vice Chairman of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance.



He appreciated the Vietnamese governments policy on facilitating the Vietnam  Japan Universitys operation, noting he is happy to see Japanese language widely taught in Vietnam. He also unveiled that Japan is seeking more Vietnamese trainees.



Japan is looking forward to PM Nguyen Xuan Phucs visit to Japan for the upcoming Mekong-Japan Summit, the Japanese parliamentarian said.

VietnamplusHosting the Governments regular meeting on August 22, PM Phuc required all sub-committees to make use of the experiences gained through the organisation of APEC 2017, the sixth Greater Mekong Sub-Region (GMS-6) Summit, and the 10th Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Summit.The Government leader stressed that improvement to Vietnams business climate should be manifested through the preparation to connect WEF investors with Vietnamese firms.He asked the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, in collaboration with the Hanoi Peoples Committee, to enhance the popularisation of Vietnams image and position as well as provide support for international reporters to cover the event.Alongside breakthrough initiatives, the careful preparation of content is crucial for the success of the event, he underlined, asking relevant ministries and branches to do their utmost to prove Vietnams ability as a forum co-host.According to the Foreign Ministrys report, Vietnam and the WEF have already agreed on the main content of the forum. The event will take place in Hanoi from September 11-13 under the theme ASEAN 4.0: Entrepreneurship and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The agenda has been built with 60 sessions, many of which will be broadcast on the WEF websites, as well as prestigious news agencies worldwide.This is one of Vietnams biggest foreign events this year, attracting more than 1,000 domestic and international delegates.The presidents and prime ministers of eight countries have confirmed their attendance at the event. The forum will see the participation of 50 ministerial-level representatives, 800 heads of regional- and world-leading corporations, as well as some 120 reporters from world and regional media outlets to cover the event.The WEF was established in 1971 as a non-profit foundation and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The forum engages the foremost political, business, and other leaders of society to shape global, regional, and industry agendas.Founded in 1967, the ASEAN groups together Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Vietnamplus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.It was the yes vote by the Planning and Zoning Board for a proposed LGBT-friendly affordable housing project for seniors that sent the room into a tizzy.

Already known as the second gayest city in the U.S., Wilton Manors was suddenly one step closer to distinguishing itself again: the one-of-a-kind project in Broward County was moving forward.

Its a very strong statement to the rest of the country for the City of Wilton Manors to do this, said an elated Robert Boo, CEO of the Pride Center at Equality Park, on Monday. This is something weve been working on for six years and to see it come to fruition is very fulfilling.

A crowd of more than 50 residents at the Hagen Park Community Center erupted in applause. LGBT residents wearing stickers that read, I Support Seniors hugged and kissed.

This will be one of Wilton Manors crown jewels and give us national prominence and attention, said Bob Poster, 69, an 11-year city resident and retired Army officer who spoke in favor of the project. Im delighted.

The nearly $15 million complex is slated for construction at 2040 N. Dixie Highway, where it will adjoin The Pride Center at Equality Park. The project must still be approved by the Wilton Manors City Commission.

We can be the butterfly that starts flapping its wings and makes incredible change, said Father Richard Vitale, associate pastor at Holy Angels National Catholic Church in Wilton Manors, after giving an impassioned speech at the meeting.

The complex, to be built by Carrfour Supportive Housing Inc., will include low income housing tax credits from Florida Housing Finance Corporation, already secured by Carrfour.

The citys Planning and Zoning Board recommended approval for the 48-unit project after agreeing that their concerns about aesthetics and parking had been adequately addressed. In July, board chairman Nicholas Berry likened the projects appearance to a jail while others voiced concern about parking. The board sent it back for revisions.

I think your development team went above and beyond in satisfying some of the boards comments, Berry said at the meeting. "I think you did a fantastic job.

One resident worried that there is only one entrance and exit to the property. Another continued to voice concern about parking.

Its certain if this project goes forward cars are going to be spilling out into the neighborhood, said Ed Slough, who uses the Pride Center services weekly and said parking is already inadequate. I find it kind of shocking.

The modified site plan presented on Monday included the following improvements:

Significant design modifications to the facade

30 reserved parking spots designated for residential units

Two additional handicapped parking spots

Pet area added with pet waste stations

Indoor cycle storage room

If city commissioners approve the project, Carrfours affiliate Crossroads Management LLC will manage the building and have a presence on-site. The property would be leased from the Pride Center under a 65-year, long-term lease and must be maintained as affordable housing for 50 years.

Under the proposal, 34 of the 48 units would be set aside as housing for disabled seniors. All units would be available to adults age 55 or older, said attorney David J. Coviello.

Carrfour has been building affordable housing in Florida since 1993 and currently oversees more than 1,700 housing units in Miami-Dade County. The proposed project at the Pride Center would be its first in Broward County.



The project is planned for 5.16 acres on the northwest corner of the property

Units would include a mix of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments of varying sizes

The complex will include a club room, a library/computer room, a gym, laundry and an administrative officeThe TransInclusive group presents its second annual LGBT Prom Aug. 25 at 7 p.m. This year the event will be held at The Venue Fort Lauderdale, which is in the heart of Wilton Manors.

This years theme is Masquerade, and will give you a chance to dust off those extravagant masks, dress in your finest formal attire, and dance until your feet turn blue.

Last year's prom was filled with so many gems. Guests were treated to delicious food, elegant decor, danceable music, and genuine fellowship. There was also a Whitney Houston tribute last year that got everybody talking.

Who knows what kind of tribute we will get this year, especially since we lost our ultimate Queen, Aretha Franklin. Speaking of royalty, there was also crowning of prom King and Queen.

But wait theres more.

We will have King, Queen and Supreme, which is our new category, said Carson Graham of the TransInclusive Group. This will allow non binary and gender non-conforming individuals to be apart of it. Overall its amazing, so far we have over 10 nominees running this year!

There will also be a special celebrity guest stopping by. Anticipate seeing actor and Transman Marquise Vilson fresh from his appearance on Law and Order SVU. Music for the night will be provided by DJ Terry of Miami, while red carpet hosting duties will be handled by Champagne T. Bordeaux and Radjee Narinesingh.

Make sure you dress to impress, because there will be interviews and tons of red carpet selfies for Instagram. Not to mention, a unique photo booth that posts pics straight to your social media accounts.

Our Prom is a safe space where we can be visible and free with people that live like us or just want to support us, said Graham.

TransInclusive, is a Trans Led Action Support Group whose goal is to minimize dispartites in Healthcare, Education, Housing and Employment opportunities; Lift discrimination and focusing on social equality for the LGB(T)Q community.

If you would like to become involved with the TransInclusive Group, visit its Facebook page.

The event is free to attend but donations are accepted. Visit https://bit.ly/2weulRD for more information.Pride Fort Lauderdale presented $15,000 in community grants to 15 South Florida organizations, funded from proceeds of the 2018 festival held on Fort Lauderdale Beach at an awards reception in June.

Each of the recipients is a non-profit organization that offers outreach or services to the local LGBT community. Twelve were first-time recipients.

The grants will fund projects ranging from HIV/AIDS awareness/prevention and health care to legal services, education, arts and culture and youth.

Recipients include:

Deliver the Dream: will develop two HIV/AIDS components for the organizations retreat program that enables families experiencing serious illness or crisis to regain strength, mend spirits and just be families again.

High Impacto: will utilize the funds for its HIV/AIDS education and prevention programs for men-having-sex-with-men in Broward Countys Latinx community.

Health Awareness for Life: will use the funds to subsidize the production costs of 12 episodes of the organizations radio show, Mas Alla de Tu Nariz, focusing on health, education, immigration and family topics.

Pet Project for Pets: will provide food, supplies and medication for pets serving as companions to patients with terminal illnesses or disabilities, senior citizens and owners in financial need.

Safe Schools South Florida: will fund its Youth Speaker Program,

Stonewall National Museum & Archives: will use the funds to underwrite special exhibitions and film screenings.

SunServe: will direct the funds toward reaching LGBT families and those wishing to start families.

Broward Navy Days: will use the grant to hold a reception for LGBT military service members visiting South Florida during Fleet Week Port Everglades in 2019.

Five of the 15 grants were earmarked specifically for projects within the transgender community and were funded from sponsorships and beverage sales at the first South Florida Trans Pride celebration. Recipients of 2018 South Florida Trans Pride Grants include:

Ariannas Center: will use its funds for its monthly Goddesses of Florida parties and other outreach programs to the Latinx trans community.

Legal Aid Service of Broward County: will provide legal services.

Poverello: will assemble and distribute 80 healthy food packs to members of the local trans community in need.

The South Florida Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence: will fund and distribute HIV-education and social outreach materials with a focus on the local trans community.

Unity Coalition: will use the funds to produce its fifth annual TransArt exhibition and conference in January 2019.

Next years Pride Fort Lauderdale will take plaFeb. 21-24. Visit PrideFortLauderdale.org for more information.(CNN) Christine Hallquist's bid to become the country's first transgender governor will clear an historic hurdle on Tuesday.

Hallquist won the Democratic primary in Vermont, becoming the first transgender gubernatorial nominee for a major political party, a breakthrough of both substantial and symbolic importance for LGBT Americans, in particular the trans community, which has for so long been shut out of the highest levels of elected office.

In an interview with CNN's Don Lemon, Hallquist said the result didn't surprise her and noted Vermont's progressive record on civil rights issues. But like so many Democrats in 2018, she also pointed to Washington, DC, and President Donald Trump as her reason for jumping into a political campaign for the first time.

"There's a systematic attack and it's going to start with the most marginalized of the communities, so the fact that our President has gone after the transgender community is no surprise and I think everybody should be afraid," Hallquist told Lemon.

She also cast the current upheaval as an opportunity for new voices to emerge and reshape the conversation.

"People like myself and who normally wouldn't be in politics are rising up all over [pin response to Trump's election] and I think that's what healthy democracy looks like," she said. "I'm hoping that years from now we can look back and say, 'Isn't American democracy wonderful: we survived a death spot.'"

A former energy company executive, Hallquist had established herself as a trailblazer before entering politics. She transitioned publicly during her time as leader of one of the state's largest utilities, becoming the first CEO to do so while in the job, according to the Victory Fund, a political action committee backing Hallquist and "dedicated to electing openly LGBTQ people" up and down the ballot.

"My path to being my authentic self was certainly not easy," she said upon announcing her entry into the race earlier this year. "However, it's always been important to me to live openly and honestly. I chose to transition in a very public way because I felt I owed it to those at Vermont Electric Cooperative who put their trust in me."

Hallquist campaigned on a promise to build up renewable energy and boost the state's rural economy by expanding broadband access. Backed by the Justice Democrats, the same group that helped launch Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's campaign in New York, along with the Working Families Party and Trans United Fund, Hallquist supports "Medicare for all," raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour and has pledged to address racial disparities in the state's criminal justice system.

But as she told CNN in June, it was the public response to her transition that gave her the confidence to hit the campaign trail.

"I was sure I was going to lose my job. I was sure I was going to lose respect. But that didn't happen," Hallquist said. "So this describes the beauty of Vermont. Now I'm at this point where I can't do enough to give back to Vermont."

After outlasting a field of four Democratic hopefuls, one of them a teenage boy, she will now take on Republican Gov. Phil Scott. Scott regularly ranked among the most popular governors in the country early on in his two-year term, but his standing has taken a hit recently, particularly among conservatives, following his April decision to sign a bill tightening gun restrictions.

The race to unseat Scott mostly played out under the radar -- nationally and even within the state. A survey from Vermont Public Radio and Vermont PBS found voters saying as recently as a few weeks ago that they were unfamiliar with the incumbent's Democratic challengers. Hallquist, though, had the best name recognition numbers of the bunch, at 41%, 12 percentage points ahead of fellow Democrat Brenda Siegel.

Hallquist is one of more than 400 LGBT candidates running in this cycle, a record according to the Victory Institute. This past weekend, Hawaii's Kim Coco Iwamoto fell short in her bid for the lieutenant governor nomination in the state's Democratic primary. Another trans candidate, Democrat Alexandra Chandler, is running in a crowded primary field for the chance to replace Rep. Niki Tsongas in Massachusetts' 3rd Congressional District. In 2017, Democrat Danica Roem made history with her election to the Virginia House of Delegates, becoming its first transgender member.

The campaign ahead in Vermont figures to be an interesting one, especially given that Hallquist has said she voted for Scott -- a "nice guy," as she put it in an interview with VTDigger -- in 2016. But like so many other Democrats this year, she came out of the gates framing her bid as a moral imperative: part of a broader effort to push back against President Donald Trump.

"This is not a time in American history to sit back and be apathetic," Hallquist said at her campaign kickoff. "We must be bold in the face of the headwinds from Washington, we must be bold in the face of continuing unpredictability from Congress, and we must be bold in the face of the chaos from the White House."

CNN's Maegan Vazquez contributed to this reportThe Colorado baker who became a national figure after he refused to bake a custom cake to celebrate the marriage of a same-sex couple due to a religious objection and won at the Supreme Court is wading into another legal battle.

In a lawsuit against Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper filed on Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, Masterpiece Cakeshop owner Jack Phillips claims that the state "has been on a crusade to crush" him because state officials "despise what he believes and how he practices his faith."

"This lawsuit is necessary to stop Colorado's continuing persecution of Phillips," it says.

The complaint alleges that not long after Phillips' Supreme Court victory, the state of Colorado informed the baker that he had violated state law by refusing to create a cake with a blue and pink design requested by a Colorado attorney to "celebrate a gender transition."

In addition to suing Hickenlooper, Phillips is suing the director of the Colorado Civil Rights Division, members of the Colorado Civil Rights Commission and the state's attorney general.

The lawsuit says Phillips "serves all people, but will not create cakes that express messages or celebrate events contrary to his religious beliefs."

"The state's continuing efforts to target Phillips do not just violate the Constitution; they cross the line into bad faith. This Court should put a stop to Colorado's unconstitutional bullying," the lawsuit further says.

In June, the Supreme Court held that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission had showed hostility toward Phillips based on his religious beliefs. The ruling was a win for the baker, who had cited his beliefs as a Christian, but it left unsettled broader constitutional questions on religious liberty.

According to the new lawsuit, "Phillips declined to create the cake ... because it would have celebrated messages contrary to his religious belief that sex -- the status of being male or female -- is given by God, is biologically determined, is not determined by perceptions or feelings, and cannot be chosen or changed."

It goes on to say, "It is now clear that Colorado will not rest until Phillips either closes Masterpiece Cakeshop or agrees to violate his religious beliefs."

Phillips is asking the court for relief, including "an award of punitive damages" totaling $100,000 against the director of the Colorado Civil Rights Division for what the lawsuit describes as the defendant's alleged "unconstitutional actions."

CNN has reached out to Phillips, his attorney and Hickenlooper for comment.

The Colorado Attorney General's Office declined to comment to CNN on the lawsuit.

Rebecca Laurie, the spokesperson for the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, told CNN that the Colorado Civil Rights Division and the Colorado Civil Rights Commission are unable to comment regarding pending or active litigation.

CNN's Ariane de Vogue contributed to this report.(CNN) A rural Oklahoma school system closed for two days earlier this week after a group of adults made threatening Facebook comments about a 12-year-old transgender girl, Achille Public Schools Superintendent Rick Beene said.

The incident began after the student used the middle school girl's bathroom this year at Achille school system in southern Oklahoma, Beene said. In previous years at the district elementary school, she had used the staff bathroom.

Two district parents complained about her use of the girl's bathroom in a private Facebook group called "Achille ISD Parents Group," which is not officially affiliated with the school, according to Beene.

The threats escalated in severity and number when someone made the Facebook group public, Beene said, and some of the Facebook threats have been traced to other parts of Oklahoma and Texas.

According to CNN affiliate KXII, Facebook commenters called the seventh grader, "it" and "thing." One Facebook poster suggested it was open hunting season for transgender people, and others advocated for the 12-year-old to be stabbed or beaten up.

"That's scary," Brandy Rose, the girl's mother, told KXII. "These are adults making threats to a child. I don't understand it."

The Facebook page appears to have since been deleted. Still, Rose said the comments had scared her daughter.

"She's just an awesome kid. To see any kind of fear in her like that, because other people, especially adults, I can't explain how bad that hurts me," she said.

Decision to close school

School system officials met Sunday night with members of the local police and fire departments, as well as Bryan County Sheriff Johnny Christian, who ultimately requested the school close for two days, according to Beene.

"This was never an issue with any of our kids or school staff, just with this group of adults," Beene said. "Some of whom aren't even in this school district or town."

LGBTQ supporters held a small peaceful rally outside the school, and Beene said the decision to close was made in part to keep them safe if counterprotesters showed up.

"We just weren't sure where some of these threats were coming from," Beene said.

Beene said district officials have met with the transgender student and her mother, and Achille Public Schools resumed classes Wednesday morning.

"We had a great visit with the student and her mom this morning, and she is back in class today," according to Beene.

The student's mother has also filed a protective order against one of the district parents who made Facebook comments about her daughter, Beene said.

CNN has also reached out to Christian, the sherriff, but did not receive a response.

PFLAG Oklahoma City Board of Directors, a group made up of the families and allies of LGBTQ individuals, posted an open letter to the Achille ISD saying group members were "heartbroken, angered and dismayed" by the Facebook posts.

The letter called on the school administration to publicly denounce the Facebook comments and their violent threats.

"The Achille ISD community MUST show that they stand by their stated values by actively and publicly supporting and protecting this family," the letter said. "This should include not just the child but also her parents, who we imagine are also heartsick, angry and terrified for their child's safety.

"That's not hyperbole. That is the reality too many families in the LGBTQ community face on a daily basis."We can't seem to find the page you are looking for.

You may have typed the address incorrectly or you may have used an outdated link.'One God - One Day - One Africa' May 2020

Contact: (ST) Rev. Siegfried Tomazsewski, C.E.O., One God  One Day  One Africa, Inc. , 321-682-5196, info@1GDA.org KISSIMMEE, Fla., Aug. 23, 2018 / Standard Newswire / -- Renowned evangelist and author, Ms. Jennifer Wilde along with former Christ for all Nations European Director and Pastor, Mr. Siegfried Tomazsewski (President of Calling Ministry) are calling out ministries and churches to come and participate in a mass gospel campaign for an evangelistic outreach all over the continent of Africa. Their aim is to join with the churches and ministries and reach out all across Africa through mega events, to accomplish the vision "One God  One Day  One Africa (1GDA)."Ms. Jennifer Wilde has recently heard from God that "Now is the time to act on" to achieve the vision of 1GDA. It was 37 years ago that she envisioned about reaching the multitudes through the gospel campaigns. Hence the idea of "One God  One Day  One Africa (1GDA)" was born as a ministry to fulfill God's desire. Mr. Siegfried Tomazsewski is spearheading the operation as C.E.O. and has worked over 18 years alongside evangelist Mr. Reinhard Bonnke.Also extending a support to Ms. Jennifer Wilde is Mr. Russell Abbot, African director based in Rwanda who has been organizing gospel campaigns in Africa since many years of mass-crusades. Ministries like Christ for All Nations, Iris Global, King Ministries, Luis Palau Ministry, African Enterprise, aLn, Global Outreach Day and many others have already partnered with 1GDA to accomplish this task in Africa in May 2020. Christians, ministries and churches are called and invited to join as prayer warriors, hosts, supporters and partners.Dr. Heidi Baker, CEO of Iris Global, said, "Jennifer Wilde is a woman of passion, integrity, and vision. Even as her name, she is wild for God and will do anything to see his kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven. One God  One Day  One Africa is an evangelistic event focused on unity, mobilization, and lasting fruit."The first stage outreach of 1GDA will start in November 2018 in 3 African countries (Tanzania, Ethiopia and Cameroon) simultaneously. For more details, join by signing up on www.1gda.org/join . You could also visit and like the Facebook Page fb.me/1GDA.org For Further information please contact:(ST) Rev. Siegfried Tomazsewski, C.E.O.One God  One Day  One Africa, Inc.Contact Number: (ST) +1 321 682 5196E-mail: info@1GDA.orgShanghai (Gasgoo)- Chongqing Sokon Industry Group Stock Co., Ltd (Sokon) announced on Aug. 21 that the board of directors approved the proposal on carrying out equity incentive for senior executives in its subsidiary, Jinkang New Energy Automotive Co., Ltd. (Jinkang New Energy).

According to the announcement, Jinkang New Energy will conduct equity incentive among senior executives. Being the major implementer of Sokon's NEV strategy and the construction of pure electric passenger vehicle project, Jinkang New Energy had its registered capital increased from RMB 300 million to RMB 1 billion in April, 2017. This July, Sokon added capital in Jinkang New Energy once again, whose registered capital was increased from RMB 1 billion to RMB 4 billion.

SF Motors, an EV startup wholly owned by Sokon, held its global brand-releasing conference on Mar. 28 in Silicon Valley. Besides, its three intelligent electric SUV models also made their debut at the conference.

In the meantime, the "customer-oriented" developing idea and designing language will also be presented at the conference. It is noteworthy that SF Motors also showcased its achievements in electrically-driven technologies and intelligent driving technologies, including high-efficient and reliable battery technologies as well as technologies of high-performance serial electric motor and electronic control.

On July 25, SF Motors announced Jinguo (Chinese character ) as its official Chinese name in Beijing. Meanwhile, the SF 5, the first electric SUV model under this EV brand, also made its China debut. Moreover, the model's Chinese name was also revealed as Jinguo EV.

In September, Jinguo EV plant will finish the modulation and adjustment of facilities and start to carry out trial production. In the following October, Jinguo EV will commence to test its model products' reliability and endurance.

It is said that Jinkang New Energy plans to have an annual NEV PV production capacity of 50,000 units and designed to achieve an annual production capacity of 600,000-set electric motor and battery systems.American Martyrs Catholic Church officials arrived at the place of worship for Sunday morning Mass earlier this month and discovered an exterior wall and a sidewalk on the building's north side had been defaced with the hateful messages written in spray paint, police say.This Page

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Redirection provided by Blogger to WordPress Migration ServiceGiants reliever Derek Holland went on MLB Networks Intentional Talk yesterday afternoon, wearing a wig and a Bob Ross cutoff t-shirt. If that was the extent of Hollands comedic efforts, it would have been unfunny, but generally fine.

Unfortunately, that wasnt all. Holland brought along Giants massage therapist Haro Ogawa, whose entire job was to essentially stand there and play along with whatever Holland did. Which, again, whatever, except for that Holland included a weird series of bows while saying Much respect, as well as this gem of an Asian accent at the end of the segment:

derek holland brought his hype man onto an intentional talk interview. the hype man spends the entire interview silent except when addressed. holland then impersonates a strong asian accent to play for laughs. thats the entire joke. that holland uses an asian accent. come on. pic.twitter.com/N3qhoYncro  Joon Lee (@joonlee) August 22, 2018

Thatsvery bad, even if (in the best case scenario) it just comes from a misguided sense of whats funny.

Getting the sense that some people think I'm defending what he did. Just the opposite. It was trash. But I wasn't exactly surprised, that's all.  Grant Brisbee (@GrantBrisbee) August 23, 2018

The interview made its way to MLB.com, although the version there had the more offensive portions cut out. (Though at around the 5:40 mark you do still get a bow.)



Of course, the creative editing does also spare Kevin Millar, who opened the interview with a loud Konnichiwa!, which manages to be offensive on multiple levels.

All in all, this sucked to the point that Holland had to apologize for it:

Derek Holland apologized for yesterdays appearance on MLB network, said he has apologized to Haro and Taira, two team employees who are Japanese. Said it was a bit that went too far and was embarrassing.  Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) August 23, 2018

Youd think it wouldnt be that hard to avoid incidents like this, but here we are.

[h/t Deadspin]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.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 eyes to increase the export of its products to Central European countries, namely Poland, till late 2018, trade representative of Azerbaijan in Poland Nemat Nagdaliyev told Trend.

"The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Poland amounted to $50.137 million in January-July 2018," he said. "At the same time, exports from Azerbaijan to Poland amounted to $4.435 million, while imports - $45.702 million."

Taking into account that for seven months of 2017 the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Poland amounted to $37.06 million, the trade turnover increased by 35.3 percent in 2018," Nagdaliyev said.

"The dynamics of trade turnover growth for the last five years is about at the same level, so trade turnover is not expected to increase greatly," he said. Of course, we are also working in this direction."

"To date, the main share in the export of Azerbaijani products to China and Central Europe accounts for alcoholic beverages, juices, compotes," Nagdaliyev said.

"In the future, Azerbaijan intends to focus on the development of cooperation with Poland in such areas as agriculture, transport, chemical industry, IT, tourism," he said.

"Today, there are all prerequisites for that. By the way, Azerbaijan was marked out by Polands Ministry of Economic Development as one of 22 most promising markets for Polish companies worldwide in 2017," Nagdaliyev said.

He said that in 2017 Poland became the fourth biggest trading partner of Azerbaijan.

To date, Russia, Italy, Turkey, Israel, Germany and China are the biggest trading partners of Azerbaijan.

Poland is the sixth biggest market in the EU with fast-growing economy. In 2017, the country's GDP grew by 4.6 percent, while the forecast for 2018 was 3.8 percent.By Trend





President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon has recently held a governmental meeting, the Tajik news agency Avesta reported.

The fulfilment of the presidents instructions and the implementation of governmental decrees were discussed at the meeting.

The president summed up the results of his state visit to Uzbekistan. This visit with its effective results will be inscribed in the history of relations between the two neighbouring countries. One of the significant results is that Tajikistan and Uzbekistan reached the level of strategic partnership.

The Tajik and Uzbek peoples once again become closer as a result of state return visits of heads of state, signing of documents, holding of business forums, exhibitions of industrial products of countries, cultural programs and friendship event in both countries, opening of 16 border checkpoints between the republics, restoration of air communication, highways, significant activity of the Tajikistan-Uzbekistan Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation and other factors.

President Rahmon expressed sincere gratitude to industrialists, businessmen and

entrepreneurs for presenting the best samples of goods and products, industrial achievements of the country at the exhibition entitled "Made in Tajikistan", as well as cultural and art figures for organizing an interesting program at the event entitled "Friendship Event".

Taking into account the importance of the results of the visit and adoption of the necessary documents on cooperation, the president instructed the government of the Republic of Tajikistan, the board of the Uzbekistan-Tajikistan Intergovernmental Commission for the Development and Strengthening of Relations and the Uzbekistan-Tajikistan Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation to take concrete measures to implement the signed documents.

Other instructions were given in connection with comprehensive preparation for the nationwide celebration of the state independence of the Republic of Tajikistan.By Trend





President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sooronbay Jeenbekov arrived in Ashgabat on a state visit Aug. 23, the Turkmen Foreign Ministry said in a message.

During the visit, meetings are planned with President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

Development of cooperation and activation of political, trade-economic, transport, energy and cultural-humanitarian relations between the countries will be discussed during the meetings.

A number of documents are planned to be signed.By Trend





Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev will visit Turkmenistan on August 24, the press service of the Uzbek Foreign Ministry reported.

Mirziyoyev will visit Turkmenistan at the invitation of his Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and take part in the meeting of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) Council of the Founder States.

Cooperation of the Central Asian countries to improve the ecological state of the Aral Sea in the context of global climate change have been included to the agenda of the summit, which will be held in Turkmenbashi.

It is expected that, following the meeting, the Joint Communique of the Council of Heads of State will be adopted.MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, a global leader in transportation and logistics based in Geneva, Switzerland, said it has won an order from US group SeaCube Containers to lease 2,000 containers chilled by Carrier Transicold's innovative, natural refrigerant-based NaturaLine refrigeration system.



Carrier Transicold is a key player in container refrigeration innovation and a part of United Technologies Corpoartion, a leading provider to the aerospace and building systems industries worldwide.



A first-of-its-kind, NaturaLine unit solves the problem of how to use refrigerants effectively and efficiently - to transport valuable items such as perishable food and pharmaceuticals - while helping to protect the environment.



The system utilises repurposed carbon dioxide (CO2), the refrigerant with the lowest global warming potential (GWP) among all container refrigerants currently in use.



MSC's new refrigerated containers  all 40-ft high-cube models  are being leased from SeaCube Containers.



"The NaturaLine unit's innovative use of CO2 is the first of its kind available on the reefer market," remarked Giuseppe Prudente, chief logistics officer, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company.



"By providing higher level of performance in the minus 40 degrees Celsius deep-frozen range, we can add new capabilities for our growing customer base, particularly for seafood and other high-value frozen commodities," noted Prudente.



"Moreover, shipping is already one of the most environmentally sustainable forms of cargo transportation, and we are pleased to continue to improve our environmental performance by equipping our fleet with the latest green technologies," he added.



David Appel, president, Carrier Transicold & Refrigeration Systems, lauded MSC and SeaCube for their investment in environmentally sustainable refrigeration equipment.



"The NaturaLINE unit, with CO2 refrigerant, takes users directly to an end state by guarding against regulations, environmental taxes and phase outs that other refrigerants will be subject to during their operational lifespan. In addition, CO2 is non-ozone depleting, widely available, relatively inexpensive and nonflammable," noted Appel.



Carrier Transicold recognized the need for refrigeration technology that would neutralize concerns over GWP  in much the same way that it led the industry away from ozone-depleting refrigerants ahead of Montreal Protocol deadlines 25 years ago.



SeaCube CEO Robert Sappio said: "In taking leadership to provide a natural-refrigerant solution, Carrier Transicold created what is perhaps the most sound investment a leasing company and shipping line can make - a refrigerated container that will not become obsolete in its lifetime due to pressures from environmental legislation."



"By fulfilling the NaturaLine unit's first order of this magnitude, SeaCube is pleased to be part of this important development for the shipping industry," he added.-TradeArabia News ServiceAs a result of increased automation in health care services, the medical transcription market is anticipated to grow at a compound rate of 6.36 per cent between 2018  2022, a report said.



The need for automated transcription services is driven by the need for local governments to reduce their spending on healthcare, yet simultaneously maintain accuracy and use the latest technologies in their practices, explained Go Transcript, a specialist in human-powered transcriptions.



Go Transcript will help local governments cut their healthcare spending and improve the quality of their medical transcriptions by offering fast, accurate, medical transcriptions delivered by an international network of more than 2,000 human transcribers, at prices up to 60 per cent lower than other similar service providers.



The medical transcription market is divided into four regional segments: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Africa. By 2022, the Asia-Pacific market is set to experience the largest rate of growth as a result of countries India, the Philippines, and Singapore receiving the biggest amount investments from leading medical industry players as they explore potential opportunities in the region.



Go Transcript is well-positioned to assist industry players seeking to invest in these regions thanks to its translation services, a company statement said.



Its dedicated team of native speaker transcribers translate in 22 target languages and will turn around the translation within 72 days of receipt. Moreover, its translation and transcription teams have a proven accuracy rate of over 99 per cent.



With the medical transcription market expected to grow significantly over the next four years, we expect Go Transcript to be the forefront of this trend, said Go Transcript CEO Peter Trebek.



Transcription services are not just related to the medical sector. In recent years, the BBC, Netflix, the University of Cambridge, plus popular brands such as Samsung, Omega, and Bose have all used Go Transcript since its foundation in 2006.  TradeArabia News ServiceAnantara Hotels & Resorts in UAE invites guests to celebrate Eid Al-Adha with an array of different offers and culinary delights to create the ideal getaway.



This Eid, guests can choose from Anantaras collection of distinct, thoughtfully designed luxury hotels and resorts across the Emirates to make the most of the long weekend.



With Eid Al-Adha right around the corner, Anantara has put together some tailor-made deals for GCC travellers:



Eastern Mangroves Hotel and Spa by Anantara

Located in Sheikh Zayed Street just minutes from downtown Abu Dhabi, Anantara Eastern Mangroves is set in the citys protected mangroves. Best seen from the resorts signature infinity pool and sun terrace, this tranquil backdrop is one of the many unique selling points of the stunning five-star resort.



This Eid-Al-Adha, there is a selection of stays to suit every need, starting with the Short Breaks Special. Designed for those booking a two-day or more stay and starting from Dh900 ($244.9) per night, guests will receive daily complimentary breakfast, 25 per cent off dining, 20 per cent off selected spa treatments throughout the stay and a complimentary room upgrade subject to availability.



For spa junkies looking to unwind over the long Eid weekend, Anantara Eastern Mangroves has created a Spa Essence package including daily complimentary breakfast and a signature 45-minute spa experience for two.



Rates start from Dh650 ($176.9).



Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Yamm Villa Resort

Set on the sandy shores of Sir Bani Yas Island, Al Yamm Villa Resort is an eco-friendly resort delivering a one-off luxury beach experience on the edge of a nature reserve. Reminiscent of an old fishermens village, 30 spacious villas boast ocean and mangrove views.



UAE residents wanting to add exciting exploration to their Eid-Al-Adha staycations will love the Wild Adventure Special. Including a private villa stay, daily breakfast, two island activities and return boat transfers, rates start from Dh1,900 ($517) per room, per night.



Guests planning ahead can also enjoy the Advance Purchase Special from Dh1,640 ($446.4) per night, with exclusive savings of up to 30 per cent on rooms, as well as a delicious breakfast for two every day. Aimed at parents, the Family Island Getaway includes accommodation in a Deluxe Sea View Room for two adults and up to two children, complimentary daily breakfast, lunch and dinner plus a choice of one activity including Archery, Lagoon Kayaking and a Wildlife Drive.



Rates start from Dh1,450 ($394.6).



Desert Islands Resort and Spa by Anantara

Desert Islands Resort is the perfect resort where guests can surrender to the fascination of nature in a desert island sanctuary; the resort offers a perfect getaway for families with up to two children, enjoying full board dining and a choice of unforgettable activities.



Rates start from Dh1,450 ($394.6).



Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara

Located in the legendary RubAl Khali, the largest uninterrupted sand desert in the world, and with only a two-hour drive from Abu Dhabi, Qasr Al Sarab offers palatial luxury in the heart of the Empty Quarter. For Eid-Al-Adha guests can indulge in a luxurious Anantara Pool Villa including daily breakfast starting from Dh1,999 ($544). One of the true highlights of the resort is exploring its surrounding golden dunes, with the Desert Discovery. This includes two desert activities and complimentary breakfast for those staying two nights or more with rates starting from Dh1,390 ($378.3).



Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort

Ideally located for a Dubai staycation, Thai-Inspired beach haven Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort has a great offer for a family-friendly Eid-Al-Adha. Guests can have the pick of a beach pool villa with private swimming pool and direct access to the beach or a beautiful overwater villa, with those booking through the resort website receiving a credit for up to Dh300 ($81.6) per stay to be used on food, drinks or pampering at Anantara Spa. The resort features three chilled, giant lagoon pools that flow throughout the resort as well as a large infinity pool and a pristine beachfront. - TradeArabia News Service

Travelport, a leading travel commerce platform, is part of a consortium picked by the European Travel Commission (ETC) to deliver a major new campaign designed to attract tens of thousands of tourists from China to Europe in 2018 and 2019.



In addition to Travelport, the winning consortium includes Eurail Group and National Geographic and will work in close cooperation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural organization (UNESCO).



The project was initiated as part of 2018 EU-China Tourism Year, which is being led by the European Commission and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Peoples Republic of China in collaboration with the European Travel Commission (ETC). It is supported by member countries of the European Union and the ETC.



The scope of the project is to promote the World Heritage Journeys of the European Union platform by rail, which features unique itineraries and experiences developed by UNESCO and National Geographic. The platform is co-funded by the European Union and promotes sustainable travel to some of the most remarkable World Heritage sites in Europe.



China is a key source market for the initiative, and the Journeys have been designed to reflect four themes: Ancient, Romantic, Royal and Underground Europe. All these Journeys are fully accessible using the Eurail Pass, a single Pass that allows travel between over 40,000 railway stations across 10,000 destinations in 28 different countries in Europe.



Travelports role in the project is to deliver a programmatic media solution, which utilizes the companys partnerships in mainland China to promote campaign content to over 6 million people in the country that fit the desired audience profile.



As part of the campaign, National Geographic will create a short form campaign video showcasing the sites and heritage journeys by rail, which will be shared on National Geographic social platforms in China.



Eduardo Santander, CEO at the ETC said: We felt the approach that Eurail Group, UNESCO, Travelport and National Geographic put forward was unique, innovative and more than capable of convincing tens of thousands of tourists from China to come to Europe and immerse themselves in our culture and heritage. We are looking forward to working with the team to make the 2018 EU-China Tourism Year an initiative to remember.



Anna Au-Yeung, global head of Destination Marketing at Travelport, added: We are proud to have been selected by the European Travel Commission, along with our partners, to deliver a project of this scale and importance. We believe this reflects the value our team, technology, and partnerships provide in reaching targeted audiences in China. We look forward to working with all those involved to set a new benchmark for transnational destination marketing.



Carlo Boselli, general manager for Eurail Group, the company behind the Eurail Pass, said: Together with our consortium members, we are truly committed to this new and exciting project to engage Chinese travellers in experiential, cultural travel. Synonymous with borderless rail travel throughout Europe, Eurail has become the passport to the geographical, historical, and cultural richness of Europe, through one of the most environmentally sustainable ways to explore it  rail.



Frank Biasi, director of Digital Development and Travel, Maps Division at National Geographic, said: National Geographic strives to take its audience deeper into the culture and history of the places we visit. Our audience is curious and wants to go further, exploring the world in new and surprising ways that reveal the richness and diversity of our amazing planet. Through these rail journeys, Chinese travellers can experience Europes World Heritage easily and sustainably, through the EUs exceptional transnational rail network. Were thrilled to share these new World Heritage Journeys with the growing Chinese travel market.  TradeArabia News Service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.



According to the video, in the very start of the military operation, Russia deployed 50 aircraft in its Khmeimim Air Base in Syria. This number included 34 warplanes (12  Su24, 10  Su-25SM, 4  Su-30SM, 4  Su-34, 2  Su-25UB, 1  An-30, 1  Il20) and 16 helicopters (12  Mi-24, 4  Mi-8M).

The video says that on September 30, 2015 the Damascus government was in control of 8% of Syrian territory. According to the report, as a result of the operation 1,411 settlements, villages and towns have been liberated.

The video also says that now, government forces and volunteers are now in control of 96.5% of the country and the Idlib de-escaltion zone is 3.5% of the country. However, the number provided is not precise. The Damascus government cannot control 96.5% of the country:

the northern and northwestern part of Aleppo province is controlled by the Turkish Armed Forces and Turkish-backed militant groups;

the area of at-Tanf [50km zone around it] in southeastern Syria is occupied by the US-led coalition;

the entire northeastern part of Syria is controlled by the US-led coalition and the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces.

The Russian Defense Ministry video also says that 63,012 servicemen, including 434 generals and 25,738 officers have gained combat expirience during the conflict in Syria. This number includes 4,319 servicemen of rocket and artillery forces, 87% crews of operational-tactical aviation, 91%  army aviation, 97% military transport aviation, 60%  strategic aviation.

The video further says that Russian military advisers have assisted in creating the 5th Assault Corps, the most combat effective unit in the Syrian Army. While its a fact that the 5th Assault Corps is one of the most combat effective units in government forces, its hard to say that its the most combat effective. The Tiger Forces and the 4th Armoured Division also have a high level of the combat effectiveness.

1,245 Syrian mine clearance specialists have been trained by servicemen of the Russian International Mine Action Center. Meanwhile, Russian combat engineers have demined 6553.2 hectares of Syrian territory, including 2339.1 hectares in Palmyra, 2956.1 hectares in Aleppo and 1238 hectares in Deir Ezzor.

The video added that Russian forces have employed 231 type of its modern and modernized weapons and weapon systems, including guided munitions and cruise missiles.

Aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces have carried out over 39,000 combat sorties. During the most intense part of the combat operation, the Russian air group was carrying about 100 combat sorties per day. Then, every warplane was carrying out 3-4 combat sorties per day.

The Russian Navy has carried out 189 combat cruises, which have involved 14 sumbarines, 86 warships and 83 vessels. An air group of the Russian heavy aircraft-carrying missile cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov has carried out 120 combat sorties destroying 1252 terrorist targets.

UAVs of the Russian military have carried out over 25,000 sorties dececting 47,522 terrroist targets.

Additionally, the Russian military has used 100 naval cruise missiles and 66 air-launched cruise missiles. Tu-22M3 strategic bombers have carried out 47 group strikes on ISIS targets.

According to the video report, the Russian military has destroyed 121,466 terrroist objects and eliminated over 86,000 terrorists, including 830 commanders.

Russian forces have also assisted the Syrian Army in the restoration of its military equipment: 4,710 units of weapon systems and military equipment. The Russians have also supplied 1,590,000 t of cargo to Syria via air and sea. Infrastructure of Khmeimim Air Base and Tartus naval facility were also expanded.

The video noted the work of the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria. 234 armed units and 2,518 settlements have joined the ceasefire regime thanks to the Centers activity. The video says that the total population of the settlements, which joined the ceasefire, is 11,400,000 people. [This number is also unclear. According to Syrian sources, the general population of the government-held area is about 11,000,000-13,000,000 people] Over 1,500,000 refugees have returned to Syria since the start of the operation. The Center has carried out 1,902 humanitarian actions delivering 6,077 t of food and assisting to 304 aid convoys of the UN and other organizations.

Moreover, Russia has employed 10 medical units that have provided medical assistance to 88,318 Syrians.

Russian Military Campaign in Syria 2015-2018:

Related NewsOn the eve of August 22, when the United States planned to introduce a new package of sanctions against Russia, Russian experts discussed goals that President Donald Trump is pursuing by exposing Moscow to unprecedented pressure.

Head of the Department of International Organizations and World Political Processes of the Moscow State University, Andrey Sidorov, believes that Trump competes in sanctions race with the Congress: "In this case, Trump protects himself, and overall sanctions policy that the Congress is pursuing is clear - sanctions' main goal is to change Russia's behavior, which is directly associated with leadership of today's Russia, with President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. Sanctions will continue to exist as long as Vladimir Putin remains in power in Russia. Trump is currently responding to the latest forecasts for November elections, according to which, Democrats will become a majority in the House of Representatives. Trump needs to do everything to neutralize this negative trend in the elections. He's playing the Russia card by insisting on change of leadership. Washington believes that Russia should "give up" on helping Bashar Assad, leave Syria, return Crimea, "stop the violence" in Donbass. It's unlikely that the Russian Federation will agree to such conditions."

Ivan Timofeyev, the Ruissna International Affairs Council program director, recalls that sanctions are imposed on the basis of the 1991 Act on the Destruction of Chemical and Biological Weapons: "This act was adopted in completely different conditions and has a completely different meaning, but Americans can formally use it. According to this document, there are 90 days to hold so-called consultations with the country, individuals and legal entities of which are suspected of using such weapons. If after these consultations this country doesn't accept certain conditions, then Americans can impose sanctions.

Since the late 1990s, Americans have been actively imposing financial sanctions, possessing tools to monitor financial system, taking advantage of their leadership in the global financial system. The point is that American financial institutions and banks may be prohibited from providing lending to Russia or Russian banks.

National carriers' access to the US may be restricted. I'm talking about Aeroflot. Many of these sanctions have already been introduced, especially in the field of defense cooperation. As for financial sanctions, sanctions on lending, Russia isn't a large borrower, so it won't hurt us that much."

Speaking about the European Union's reaction to anti-Russian sanctions, Timofeyev called her cautious: "It looks quite reasonable and pragmatic. Investigation into the Skripal case hasn't ended yet. There's a lot of inconsistent information on the Novichok agent. I think that Brussels wants to see some more serious facts concerning the use of chemical weapons. Although the US congressmen also focus on the fact that Russia allegedly hinders investigation into the use of chemical weapons in Syria."

Vladimir Batyuk, head of the Center for Regional Aspects of US Military Policy under the Russian Academy of Science, noted that there were serious changes in the US foreign and defense policy: "New National Security Strategy approved in December of 2017 directly states that Russia, China, Iran and North Korea are America's main opponents in the international arena. Under Obama, international terrorism, followed by Ebola, were the main threats. Everything changed when Trump came to power. The National Security Strategy and the National Defense Strategy come to conclusion that America is facing serious challenges in international arena due to other great powers, including nuclear powers, and America must be prepared to face these challenges."

Batyuk recalled that defense budget, which was approved by Trump, envisages an increase in spendings on strategic nuclear modernization, combat training of the US forces, aimed at going against regular armies, rather than terrorists: "This requires additional costs. Defense budget also envisages an increase in number of American aircrafts. It also differs from what we saw under Obama, when the US military was reduced quite significantly. In the next fiscal year, the number of US Armed Forces' soldiers will increase by 15600. There are also some internal political aspects. Right now Trump can only rely on the military in Washington. The State Department, as well as other American structures, intelligence community, they all hate Trump, so he can only rely on support of the Pentagon, and it's not cheap. That's why Trump desires to satisfy almost all demands of the US military. Under Obama, and even under George W. Bush, the Pentagon didn't have such influence on the US leader. Almost all requests of the military department are immediately complied with."Special Representative of the Russian president for humanitarian and economic cooperation with the Caspian countries, former head of Dagestan Ramazan Abdulatipov told Vestnik Kavkaza about the significance of the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea, adopted on August 12, for the Russian regions and their cooperation with neighbors in the Caspian.

- Ramazan Gadzhimuradovich, how will the Convention on the status of the Caspian Sea change lives of Russia's Caspian littoral regions?

- First of all, the Convention worked out, specified and fixed national interests, legal norms and mutual relations - and it will be determined by the Russian federal authorities what Dagestan, Kalmykia and Astrakhan region will get. For the time being, unfortunately, the importance of the Russian Federation's subjects is insignificant, all our Caspian regions are not sufficiently connected to cooperation with the Caspian states. The Astrakhan region is more or less engaged in this direction, for many years its governor Alexander Zhilkin has established good contacts with Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran. When I met with Vladimir Putin and we discussed the Caspian Sea, I noted that very little effort is made by the federal authorities for the development, preservation and protection of the Caspian, which at the same time do not allow the Caspian regions to do this work.

For example, there is a sea trading port in Dagestan with a workload of 25-27%, it is owned by the Russian Ministry of Transport, but the republic's development interests are not taken into account in this case. There is also the Dagestan fishing port next to, it is owned by the fisheries agency. A large fish processing enterprise worked there in Soviet times, they produced more than 45 million cans of sprat in tomato sauce per year - and now nobody knows what happened to its property, including ships. Moscow is far away from there, and on the site no one has any rights, therefore, as a rule, the weakest enterprises in the region are enterprises that are in federal property. Now, I think, the federal authorities should clarify, demark the powers with the regional authorities on a number of areas of economic development of the Caspian regions, ecology and cooperation with the Caspian states, giving more powers to the local authorities. While we, together with presidential aide Igor Levitin and the leaders of the Caspian regions, were preparing to submit this issue to the presidium of the State Council, we have even addressed this issues more commonly: not just the Caspian region, but the Volga-Caspian or Volga-Caucasian region. The fact is that the Caspian's interests and opportunities should be wider, the key task is to raise the level of economic development of the Caspian, which has been very low so far.

- How do you assess the environmental activity in the Caspian?

- They also do not pay much attention to the ecological system which is on the brink of a crisis. The Tehran Convention, which was signed several years ago, is not efficient. It includes very soft law, but no obligations, no mechanisms appropriate for monitoring the Caspian ecology. It has not been discussed until now. These issues are posed by Russia and Iran, in general, by all countries, but monitoring of the Caspian region in accordance with the Tehran Convention is, in fact, not being conducted. We have a beautiful sea, excellent relations between the leaders of the states, vast oil, gas and fish resources, great opportunities and good science. The Academy of Sciences has many outstanding developments on the Caspian, its ecology, use and protection of the sea. But it has not been compiled, integrated, but finding a curator who would deal with this issue is really difficult. The status of the president's special representative is quite formal, I can write a note to the president, but nobody regulates these issues anyway. If we calculate the damage in the Caspian, both environmental and economic, then I think it would amount to several billion, but we could send this money to the budget of the country and the Caspian regions.

Therefore, I believe that the signing of the Convention is to make us work more effectively and cooperate more fully on the Caspian in the people's interests. There are people with rich traditional cultures living in the region, and we do not use this humanitarian and cultural potential sufficiently. After signing of the Convention, we must become more active in the Caspian in a good way.

- Has the issue of integration structure of the organization of the Caspian cooperation become more relevant?

- That's a very good question, because when we analyze the situation, it turns out that we have well developed bilateral relations in the Caspian, but very poorly developed relations between all five parties. We have a huge integration potential that is not used. In 1995, I tried to create an interparliamentary assembly of the Caspian states, even held a meeting in Makhachkala with the participation of MPs from the five countries, deputies from Georgia also arrived, but since then nobody has been engaged in it for more than 20 years. Similarly, we should establish economic cooperation organizations, as well as a certain version of the Caspian UNESCO due to the enormous humanitarian potential of our countries. Nobody prevents us from doing it, we are all friends and associates in the Caspian region, and all our positive slogans should be translated into concrete programs. In a note I wrote for the president, we proposed the development of a special integrated program for the development of the Caspian region and cooperation with the Caspian states, which should be developed by the government of the Russian Federation. A coordinator from the government is required in order to implement this program. Such long-term efforts are ahead after the signing of the Convention.The number of Georgian citizens seeking asylum in Germany has been decreased, - German Chancellor Angela Merkel said at a joint news conference with Prime Minister of Georgia Mamuka Bakhtadze in Tbilisi on Thursday, InterPressNews reported.

"I would like to emphasize that in the context of the implementation of visa liberalization really very soon many asylum seekers arrived from Georgia. Then the number has decreased. The Prime Minister of Georgia once again emphasized that the number of such persons will be reduced further, "Angela Merkel said.The United States National Security Advisor John Bolton is holding a press conference in Geneva on Thursday, August 23 after a meeting with the head of Russia's Security Council Nikolai Patrushev. This is the first meeting between US and Russian officials since the Trump-Putin summit in Helsinki, Sputnik reports.

Commenting on the upcoming meeting, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev and US National Security Adviser John Bolton should try to find topics, during their meeting, on which Washington has at least some willingness to engage in dialogue

"The expectation is that there will be an opportunity to once again discuss all the issues that are well known on our agenda, try to find the topics where there will be at least some willingness on the part of our colleagues to conduct a dialogue. For now, we observe a certain lack of such a desire," Peskov told reporters.

He added that Moscow does not consider Bolton's trip to Kiev after meeting with Patrushev a priority issue, because there are many pressing problems on the agenda.

Patrushev and Bolton met in Geneva on Thursday. They plan to discuss a number of urgent issues on the international agenda, as well as prospects for Russian-US security interaction.British Airways and Air France have announced that they will stop flying to Iran next month, BBC reported.

Both airlines said that the route was "not commercially viable."

BA restarted the service to Tehran two years ago after a four-year gap. The last flight will be on 22 September, returning the next day.

The airline apologised to travellers planning to travel to Iran and said it was offering refunds for affected customers or a possible rerouting through other airlines.

Air France, which had transferred its connections with Tehran to its low-cost airline Joon, had reduced the frequency of the flights from three to one a week since the beginning of this month. It will stop all flights on 18 September.One of Switzerlands largest banks, Credit Suisse denied freezing Russian assets, explaining that it has reclassified assets of some Russian clients.

The bank said that it works with international regulators wherever it does business to ensure compliance, including sanctions involving Russia.

"Following recent US sanctions and given US regulatory restrictions, Credit Suisse reclassified certain impacted assets from Assets under Management to Assets under Custody," RT cited the statement as saying.

"This reclassification does not represent a freezing of the assets. In addition, non-sanctioned clients were not affected by the re-classification. Neither did this result in any financial loss or provision," the bank added.

Credit Suisse says it remains highly committed to Russia and continues to monitor developments.

Earlier it was reported that Credit Suisse has suspended 5.1 billion francs ($5 billion) in assets linked to Russia as a result of the U.S. sanctions against the country.The European Commission adopted a support package for Iran. The package includes 18 million euros worth of projects (8-million-euro assistance to the private sector).

"The Commission today adopted a first package of 18 million for projects in support of sustainable economic and social development in the Islamic Republic of Iran, including 8 million assistance to the private sector," the European Commission's statement says.

According to the EUs portal news, today's projects are the first of a wider package of 50 million for Iran.

On August 7, 2018, the European Union issued an updated Blocking Regulation  aiming to counter the effects of these re-imposed US sanctions on EU companies.Russian top diplomat Sergey Lavrov will hold talks with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu in Moscow on August 24, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing.

"On August 24, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will hold talks with the Turkish top diplomat who will briefly visit Moscow," she said. "At their sixth meeting this year, the two top diplomats will focus of efforts to resolve the Syrian conflict," TASS cited her as saying.

"They will also consider ways to coordinate steps to fight terrorism and facilitate the search for a political solution to the Syrian conflict," Zakharova added.

The spokeswoman noted that the Russian and Turkish foreign ministers will also discuss political, trade and economic projects, strategically important for both countries.

"In addition, they will exchange views on some bilateral issues of mutual interest," Zakharova added.

Earlier on Thursday, Turkeys TRT TV channel said Lavrov and Cavusoglu planned to hold talks particularly to discuss the situation in Syrias Idlib province.German Chancellor Angela Merkel will arrive in Tbilisi today at 15:30 local time (14:30 MSK) as part of her South Caucasus tour.

Georgia's Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani and the Ambassador of Georgia to Germany Elguja Khokrishvili will meet her at the airport and she will hold her first meeting with Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze.

The meeting will be followed by a joint press conference of Merkel and Bakhtadze.

"The visit of the German chancellor has high significance for us. We want to improve our bilateral cooperation with Germany and move it into a new format. Germany, as a leading country of the EU which supports Georgias Euro-Atlantic integration, has a very important role in this process," Agenda.ge cited Khokrishvili as saying.

The envoy added that the German government has a new policy towards countries in the region and the chancellor is going to discuss very important issues during her visit to Georgia.

Merkel will also meet the President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili today.President of the Kyrgyzstan Sooronbay Jeenbekov arrived in Ashgabat on a state visit today, the Turkmen Foreign Ministry said in a message.

During the visit, he will meet with President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

Development of cooperation and activation of political, trade-economic, transport, energy and cultural-humanitarian relations between the countries will be discussed during the meetings.

A number of documents are planned to be signed.Russian President Vladimir Putin has laid flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which is part of the Battle of Kursk memorial complex.

Putin approached the monument in the company of several dozen World War II veterans and members of the patriotic movement Youth Army, TASS reports.

Soldiers from the Guard of Honor placed a wreath adorned with ribbons the color of the Russian flag with the inscription From the President of the Russian Federation. Putin came up to the wreath, fixed the ribbons and paused for a moment of silence.

After the ceremony Putin shook hands with the veterans and had a brief talk. He congratulated them upon the 75th anniversary of the victory in the Battle of Kursk and wished them good health. As he walked along the parks alley, Putin greeted a group of some 300 local residents attending the ceremony.

Putin also visited two other sites at the memorial complex - a monument to Marshal Georgy Zhukov and the memorable sign Kursk - a City of Military Glory, where he laid flowers, too.Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will hold talks with his Saudi counterpart Adel al-Jubeir in Moscow on August 29, the Russian Foreign ministry's spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing.

"We consider the upcoming meeting between the two foreign ministers as part of regular and trust-based dialogue with our Saudi partners, which concerns a wide range of issues of mutual interest. There will be a thorough discussion of the relevant aspects of Russia-Saudi relations and the implementation of agreements made during Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Sauds visit to Moscow in October 2017," TASS cited her as saying.

"There will also be an exchange of views on the current situation in the Middle East and North Africa, the focus will be on the need to resolve issues facing this strategically important region through political and diplomatic means, including dialogue based on mutual respect, taking in consideration the interests and concerns of all the parties involved," the spokesperson said.

"The meetings agenda includes the situations in Syria, Yemen, Libya and the Persian Gulf area, as well as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," she said, adding that the two foreign ministers would also discuss "the prospects for joint activities in relation to strategic dialogue between Russia and the Persian Gulf states."

According to Zakharova, much attention will be paid "to trade, which has been growing steadily." "In 2017, trade doubled to $915.2 bln compared to 2016," Zakharova added.A meeting between Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev and U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton has kicked off in Geneva, a source close to the negotiations said.

The meeting is supposed to last three to four hours. The situation in Syria, the Ukrainian conflict, strategic stability and the prospects for ending the current impasse in bilateral relations are expected to top the agenda, TASS reported.

According to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, the parties will also discuss Irans presence in Syria.Moscow expects that the U.S. side will show readiness for a substantive discussion at talks between Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev and US National Security Adviser John Bolton, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said.

"We dont think we will manage to reverse this tendency soon and put relations on an even keel and some normal track, but we will be pursuing this. From this point of view, tomorrows meeting has substantial significance," the senior diplomat said.

"We expect from the American side at least readiness to hold a substantive discussion and not just repeat their own arguments without listening to what the Russian side says to this respect and how it reacts, if not a constructive response," TASS cited Ryabkov as saying.

Patrushev and Bolton will meet in Geneva on August 23. They are expected to discuss strategic stability, regional security, the situation in Syria and Ukraine, as well as bilateral relations.Displaced apartment dwellers at Wellesley Community Centre/Mark Carcasole @MarkCarcGlobal Fire chief, Mayor Tory/TFS Twitter Exhausted fire fighters/Matthew Pegg@ChiefPeggTFS Watching drama/Tony Fera @tonyfera1 Rainbow over fire vehicles at scene of 650 Parliament/Kevin Young@KevinYounge

Hundreds of apartment dwellers from fire ravaged 650 Parliament  perhaps as many as 1,500  have been made homeless by the smoky, six-alarm fire at the building on Tuesday. Mayor Tory said Canadian Red Cross officials are working to find accommodations for more than 1,000 people. The remaining residents made arrangements to stay with family or friends. The mayor appealed to hotel operators, Airbnb hosts and others with spare accommodations to email gtaresponse@redcross.ca to assist with temporarily housing those with nowhere else to go. Fire Chief Matthew Pegg says the fire has been extinguished but is uninhabitable. TFS and others were called to the address south of Bloor St. E. at 12:51 p.m. The fire was originally deemed a two-alarm blaze but was steadily upgraded throughout the afternoon. At one point, Chief Pegg said extra alarms were rung just to get more men on the ground for the exhausting job of evacuating residents. Officials said crews found heavy black smoke coming out of the basement and moving up the building. Toronto police said an electrical box was the source of the fire, but fire officials said it was too early for investigators to identify the cause. During an update late Tuesday evening, Pegg said there has been significant damage to the building.

With local Councillor @LucyTroisi outside 650 Parliament St. speaking to residents about City support services available following the fire. pic.twitter.com/hpm1H4ohVS  John Tory (@TorontosMayor) August 22, 2018Three UAVs launched from the territory controlled by militants were destroyed on August 21 in the south of Syrias Idlib province, the head of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Warring Parties, Major General Alexei Tsygankov said.

"On August 21, military of the Syrian Armed Forces spotted three combat drones approaching positions of the government troops on the western outskirts of the settlement of Abu Dali in the south of Idlib province, from the side of the territories controlled by illegal armed units," the general said.

"The drones had been destroyed with the use of the aircraft defense cannon ZU-23 and small arms. No Syrian military were injured," TASS cited Tsygankov as saying.Russian top diplomat Sergey Lavrov will hold talks with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu in Moscow on Friday, August 24, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing.

"On August 24, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will hold talks with the Turkish top diplomat who will briefly visit Moscow," she said. "At their sixth meeting this year, the two top diplomats will focus of efforts to resolve the Syrian conflict. They will also consider ways to coordinate steps to fight terrorism and facilitate the search for a political solution to the Syrian conflict," Zakharova added.

The Russian and Turkish foreign ministers will also discuss political, trade and economic projects, strategically important for both countries, the spokeswoman added.

"In addition, they will exchange views on some bilateral issues of mutual interest," she said.Moscow will give a tit-for-tat response to the expansion of US blacklists of Russian companies and individuals, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said.

"We have been watching the US lists expand. They currently contain about 450 Russian economic entities. In fact, all the major financial, energy and defense companies have been sanctioned, as well as a great many other big and small entities and a significant number of state officials," TASS cited the deputy minister as saying.

"In this case, we will definitely give tit-for-tat responses," Ryabklov stressed.Almost 500 units of small arms and 500 kilograms of munitions were surrendered by ex-militants in the southwest of Syria, the head of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Warring Parties, Major General Alexei Tsygankov said.

"Illegal armed units in the southwest of Syria have surrendered during the day one infantry fighting vehicle as well as 489 units of small arms and 500 kilograms of munitions of different type and caliber," TASS cited the general as saying.

Tsygankov also said that representatives of the Russian reconciliation center together with the Center for the Reception, Allocation and Accommodation of Refugees in Syria control the return of civilians from the Idlib de-escalation zone through the humanitarian corridor Abu al-Duhur. "A total of 416 people, including 224 children have left in the past 24 hours," he said.PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- When Todd Harrell, already in jail on weapons and domestic violence charges, had drugs mailed to him in jail earlier this month, Jackson County Sheriff Mike Ezell said investigators were working to determine who mailed the drugs to Harrell.

Now they know.

Robin Harrell, wife of the former 3 Doors Down member, has been charged with introducing a controlled substance into a correctional facility. She was arrested Wednesday by the South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team, which investigated the case in conjunction with Jackson County investigators and the U.S. Postal Service.

In June, 46-year-old Todd Harrell was arrested at his St. Martin home after his wife reported a physical confrontation between the two.

Once on the scene, deputies spotted guns and drugs in the home and SMMET obtained a search warrant. Todd Harrell was charged with three felony counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and domestic violence/simple assault, a misdemeanor. An initial charge of possession of a controlled substance was apparently dropped, according to ADC records.

Todd Harrell remains in the ADC on a hold from the Tennessee Department of Corrections for parole violations.

Then, earlier this month, officials at the Jackson County Adult Detention Center discovered a package mailed to Todd Harrell contained Suboxone -- a drug used to treat opiate addiction.

Harrell was an original member of 3 Doors Down, which formed in 1996 in the Escatawpa community north of Moss Point.

In 2013, however, Harrell was charged with vehicular manslaughter after a crash in Tennessee which killed the driver of the other vehicle. Harrell was found to have alprazolam and oxycodone in his system at the time of the crash.

While awaiting trial on that charge, Harrell was arrested again on a DUI charge for driving under the influence of drugs -- a charge which led to his firing from 3 Doors Down.

Ultimately, Harrell was sentenced in 2015 to two years in a Tennessee state prison, followed by six years of probation. His sentence began Dec. 28, 2015 and, with credit for good behavior, he served roughly a year, according to multiple Tennessee media reports.

As part of his post-release probation, Harrell was ordered speak to students at least six times a year on the dangers of drug use.

Robin Harrell, also 46, was booked into the ADC Wednesday and was released after posting $2,500 bond set by Jackson County Judge T. Larry Wilson.By West Kentucky Star Staff Aug. 22, 2018 | 07:28 AM | MCCRACKEN COUNTY

A McCracken County couple was arrested Monday on drug and stolen property charges.

The McCracken County Sheriff's Office says detectives conducted an investigation that revealed that the couple was involved with illegal drugs. During the investigation, detectives obtained a search warrant for their home located in the 3000 block of Hardmoney Road.

Fifty-three-year-old Jeffrey Conkwright and 49-year-old Krisa Conkwright were arrested during a traffic stop after detectives saw them leave the home. Detectives reportedly found methamphetamine and smoking pipes during the stop.

During a search of the home, detectives allegedly found additional items of drug paraphernalia and a large commercial pressure washer that had been reported stolen earlier this month in McCracken County. The pressure washer is valued at approximately $4,000.

Both Jeffrey and Krisa Conkwright were arrested and lodged in the McCracken County Regional Jail. Jeffrey Conkwright is charged with trafficking in methamphetamine, receiving stolen property over $500 and possession of drug paraphernalia. Krisa Conkwright is charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos might let school districts use a relatively new federal program as a funding source for buying guns.

DeVos is mulling the idea that school districts could purchase firearms and firearms training through a grant program in the Every Student Succeeds Act, the main federal education law. If she were to allow such a move, it would be her most controversial step yet to address school safety in the wake of two mass shootings in high schools this year. Such a move would also allow her to let local districts take the lead, in keeping with her support for a limited federal role in schools.

Education advocates are already pushing back hard on the idea. And arming teachers and other school staff is not broadly supported among teachers and other K-12 eduacation leaders.

News that DeVos was contemplating this approach was first reported in the New York Times .

The money for firearms purchases would come from the Student Support and Academic Enrichment grants, which receive $1.1 billion under ESSA. The grants, which are controlled at the district level, are intended to support a well-rounded education and student health and wellness, but does not contain an explicit prohibition on using the money to purchase firearms.

Liz Hill, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Education, said in a statement Thursday that, The NY Times piece is getting blown way out of proportion. The department is constantly considering and evaluating policy issues, particularly issues related to school safety. The secretary nor the department issues opinions on hypothetical scenarios.

A senior Trump administration official said that the question of using Title IV money for gun purchases was first raised in a letter from Texas officials who inquired whether the grants could be used in this way. (Under Texas law, school districts are allowed to arm school staff under certain conditions.)

Department officials have been researching the issue, like they do with every issue, in response to this Texas letter, the official said, noting that there have been discussions but no decisions yet from DeVos.

In its two budget proposals for fiscal 2018 and fiscal 2019, the Trump administration sought to eliminate these Title IV grants. Instead, for fiscal 2018, Congress approved a $700 million increase for the program up to $1.1 billion. Lawmakers havent agreed on a final spending figure for the grants for fiscal 2019, but neither the House nor Senate wants to eliminate it. Lawmakers created the Student Support and Academic Enrichment grants when they passed ESSA in 2015, and funding for it was first authorized for fiscal 2017.

Under Title IV Part A of ESSA, individual districts have discretion over how the money is spent, although a district that receives $30,000 is required to spend certain portions of the money on specific priorities.

Supporters of funding for Title IV grants quickly expressed opposition to the idea of using them for firearms purchases.

It is way outside the scope of what Congress intended for this program, said Ally Bernstein, the executive director of the Title IV-A Coalition. In our conversations with the department, we were never made aware that they were considering this.

The National Association of Secondary School Principals condemned the idea , as did Sasha Pudelski, the assistant director for policy and advocacy at AASA, the School Superintendents Association:

Super disturbed by this report that Secretary DeVos is weighing opening up Title IV funds for the purchase of weapons. @AASAHQ absolutely opposes using federal funds meant to support the health and well-being of children for arming teachers. https://t.co/3n67DtSTK7  Sasha Pudelski AASA (@SPudelski) August 23, 2018

DeVos leads the Federal School Safety Commision that was formed after the Parkland murders, and which has heard arguments about the merits of having armed school staff protect students. The secretary has told Congress that her commission is not examining the role of guns in school violence.

Photo: Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 .By The Associated Press Aug. 21, 2018 | 06:12 PM | FRANKFORT

President Donald Trump plans to campaign in Kentucky ahead of the midterm elections.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports the White House announced Tuesday that Trump plans to visit Kentucky sometime in the next six weeks. Officials did not say who the president would campaign with or where he would appear. But Kentucky is home to one of the most closely watched congressional races in the country.

Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Barr is running for re-election against Democrat Amy McGrath, a retired fighter pilot. The race has attracted national attention as Democrats have targeted the seat as key to their efforts to win back control of the House of Representatives.

In a news release, McGrath said Trump's visit is an effort to save Barr's "unpopular re-election campaign."WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA  Joseph Harrison, of Pine Grove, W.Va., has admitted to a firearms charge, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.

Harrison, age 48, pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Harrison, having previously been convicted of a felony, is accused of having a .22 caliber revolver, and rounds of ammunition for the firearm in October 2017 in Wetzel County.

Harrison faces up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorneys Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Perri is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Wetzel County Sheriffs Office investigated.

U.S. Magistrate Judge James E. Seibert presided.Aug 23, 2018

A man has been given a suspended jail sentence in Wales after being caught with a knuckle duster made on a 3D printer.

Adrian Grey, 40, claimed the weapon was a toy after Welsh police found him concealing it in his coat pocket during the search on 5 December 2017.

The white plastic knuckle duster was allegedly made by Greys friend using a 3D printer, which is itself prohibited in the UK.

But Grey, from St Michael Street, Brecon, Powys, Wales, was charged by police with having an offensive weapon, despite saying he was only using the knuckle duster as a reference for a tattoo. The father-of-one also pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled drug after he was also found with a small quantity of cannabis and a cannabis grinder.

Adrian Greys 3D-printed knuckle duster (CPS).

Grey admitted possession of a controlled drug, but was set for a trial at Merthyr Crown Court on the weapons charge until he pleaded guilty on its first day.

Grey was given a three-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and to pay 250 in costs.

After his sentencing Alex Scott, CPS senior crown prosecutor, said: This was an unusual case. Adrian Grey claimed this 3D-printed knuckle duster was just a toy because it was plastic.

The CPS presented evidence to the court, including the weapon itself, and showed it could cause serious harm if used maliciously.

This conviction demonstrates offensive weapons now come in many forms.

Posted in 3D Printing Application

Maybe you also like:









Wealthy Texan wrote at 8/28/2018 7:39:47 PM:Really "Richard"? I think it is quite awesome too! I have 47 HP printers and lots of money to throw around! Can you contact me so I can make you rich?Eight wrote at 8/24/2018 12:17:10 PM:"...made by Greys friend using a 3D printer, which is itself prohibited in the UK." Can this statement be clarified? because i don't think owning a 3D printer in the UK is prohibited. The act of creating an offensive weapon (by 3d printer or other traditional manufacturing methods) is however prohibited.



What matters most is providing students with learning environments that foster high levels of learning and engagement for all students. By bringing students into the PLC conversation, we can truly give students the ability to take concrete and measurable steps to increase their learning." -- Personalized Learning in a PLC at Work

T im Stuart is a big fan of professional learning communities (PLC). As a teacher leader, hes used them to improve schools in New Mexico, Jakarta, Singapore and Ethiopia.

Popularized by Rick DuFour, the four critical questions of a PLC include:



What do we want all students to know and be able to do?

How will we know if they learn it?

How will we respond when some students do not learn?

How will we extend the learning for students who are already proficient?



While leading innovation at the Singapore American School (see case study ), Stuart had the chance to visit more than 100 of the best schools in the world. The schools that had excellent outcomes and progressive design shared three characteristics:

They all have characteristics of high functioning PLC (even if they dont use that term)



They focus on essential disciplinary knowledge: incorporate transdisciplinary, future-ready skills; and cultivate student-agency behaviors.



They teach students how to personalize their learning process.



Along the way, he had a hunch. What if PLC could move beyond promoting teacher effectiveness and engage students in the process? What if students owned their own learning and asked themselves the four questions? The PLC 2.0 questions include:

What do I want to know, understand, and be able to do?

How will I demonstrate that I have learned it?

What will I do when Im not learning?

What will I do when I have already learned it?



Along the journey, Stuart connected with international educator Sascha Heckmann (head of school in Mozambique) and Response to Intervention (RTI) experts Mike Mattos and Austin Buffum . The four of them found that by asking students to engage in the PLC process, it boosts student agency and invites co-construction of personalized journeys.

Combining the two-way power of PLCs and the proven benefits of RTI, the four education leaders outlined a proven pathway to transformation in their new book, Personalized Learning in a PLC at Work: Student Agency Through the Four Critical Questions .

The practical guide, published by Solution Tree , includes a magic chart that shows how the key concepts come together combining personalized learning and a focus on essential skills.

The authors identified three organizational shift schools must make:



From traditional classrooms to learning hubs with access to collaborating teachers, tools and resources;



From lockstep curriculum to personalized pathways so students can co-construct learning journeys; and



From a set pace to personalized progressions through cycles of inquiry.



The book profiles the journey of Singapore American School, NuVu (Boston), Hobsonville Point and Stonefields School (New Zealand), Futures Academy (Beijing), and i-LEARN (Ecuador).

As head of school in Addis Ababa , Ethiopia, Stuart and his new colleagues have used PLC to to make learning more personalized. The last five weeks of the next school will be used for personalized learning time. A teacher team with some release time is visiting schools and developing plans. The goal is to not only be the best school in Africa but to be the best school with Africa.

For more, see:



Stay in-the-know with all things EdTech and innovations in learning by signing up to receive the weekly Smart Update . This post includes mentions of a Getting Smart partner. For a full list of partners, affiliate organizations and all other disclosures, please see our Partner page .

Drilling Commences at Braeside High Grade Zn Pb Ag Targets

Perth, Aug 23, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Rumble Resources Ltd ( ASX:RTR ) ("Rumble" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that the RC drilling program at the Braeside Project (E45/2032), located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, has commenced. The RC drilling programme will consist of approximately 4,000m. Rumble has the capacity to extend the drill program, depending on results. Drilling is expected to take 4-5 weeks with assays to follow.Braeside E45/2032 - Drill Targets- Drilling has commenced targeting high-grade base metal sulphide deposits.Target types include:o Zn rich porphyry high-grade vein/breccia pipes.o Disseminated Zn dominant sediment hosted deposits.o High level "epithermal" Ag - Pb - In - Zn veins.o Massive sulphide mineralisation associated with barium alteration zones - VMS Potential.- RC drilling consists of approximately 4000m and will target 12 prospects (many with multiple targets) that are associated with very high-grade in situ grab sampling. Drill targets include:o Devon Cut Prospect - single RC drill-hole returned 5m @ 8.0% Zn, 0.35% Pb from 32m inc. 1m @ 21% Zn and 0.97% Pb from 34m (inaugural drilling programme conducted by Rumble in November 2017).-- Six (6) breccia pipes identified over a strike of 2.2km.-- Multiple high-grade base metals results include Zn to 48.7%, Pb to 58.53% and Cu to 10.5%.o Lightning Ridge - "epithermal" Ag-Pb-In-Zn veining returned:-- Ag to 1108 g/t, In (indium) to 515 g/t and Pb to 38.6%o Boom Boom Mancini - Gossan East Zone - Multiple targets over 5.4km structure with high-grade grab samples including 11.28% Zn and 33.1% Pb.o Mt Brockman 2 Area - Multiple targets including sediment hosted disseminated Zn. High-grade grab sampling including 31.24% Zn, 43.43% Pb and 20.38% Cu.o Barium Ridge - Large barium system with disseminated base metals. Recent grab sampling has highlight zones over 100m in width with BaO to 11.53%.o Ragged Hill - Main historic mine has not been drill tested at depth. Targeting Zn rich hanging wall zones. Grab sampling includes 7.09% Zn and 5.49% ZnNew Braeside Drill Targets Identified- Ongoing geochemical exploration has discovered new zones including significant extensions to the Devon Cut Prospect.o Grab sampling returned up to 10.62% Zn - 1.2km zone (Manassa Mauler) open to northwest - offset to Devon Cut.o New zone north of Gossan East - extends the mineralised strike of the Boom Boom Mancini - Gossan East Zone to 7.5km with grab sampling results including 11.28% Zn, 7.23% Zn and 33.1% Pb.The drilling programme is the culmination of intense geochemical exploration conducted by Rumble since April this year that has delineated a multitude of high-grade in situ base metal first order drill targets. Twelve targets have been identified as having potential to deliver high-grade Zn dominant breccia pipes and sediment hosted disseminated Zn mineralisation styles. Large scale barium - base metal systems will also be tested as there is potential to discover economic VMS mineralisation.Ongoing geochemical exploration has defined further high-grade mineralisation along major structures and offsets. Although very significant, the mineralisation is not part of the current RC drilling programme.Exploration and Targeting (June 2017 to present)Rumble has now completed (since June 2017) the following exploration statistics on the Braeside Project.- 2181 soil samples (regional and infill).- 462 grab samples.- 3004 (in situ) XRF soil samples (gridded).- VTEM survey - 449 line-km - includes aeromagnetic infill on previous magnetic survey.- Ground moving loop transient electromagnetic (MLTEM) survey - 11 lines.- 19 RC drill-holes for 2004m.o Spectral data collected on RC chips.The inaugural RC drilling programme completed in November 2017 led to the discovery of zinc rich mineralisation associated with major highly altered fracture zones with potential high-grade breccia pipes (Devon Cut Prospect - 5m @ 8.0% Zn, 0.35% Pb from 32m inc. 1m @ 21% Zn and 0.97% Pb from 34m).Rumble has now defined six (6) mineralisation styles. Four mineralisation styles are associated with porphyritic rhyolite (distal) and are primary targets. Two styles are related to overprinting mineralisation.Primary Target - Porphyry related mineralisation includes:1. Highly altered fractures/feeders associated with distal porphyritic rhyolites. Main target.o Strike extensive - 34 km of mineralised strike - multiple fractures within a 5 km wide corridor.o Strong dissemination of Zn with massive sphalerite and subordinate Pb.o Strong wall-rock chlorite alteration to feeders.o Target is multiple high-grade Zn rich breccia pipes - e.g. Devon Cut Prospect-- Target size is multiple 1 to 5 Mt deposits2. High level "epithermal" Ag - Pb - In - Zn veins.o Structurally controlled silica veins with significant Ag (to 1108 g/t), In (to 515 g/t) and Pb (to 38.6%)o Target is small to medium scale very high-grade epithermal Ag veins - Lightning Ridge Prospect.3. Disseminated Zn in volcanic siltstone. Syn-deposition/replacement proximal to feeders and pipes.o Zincian smectite (sauconite) occurs as low-grade disseminations (to 2.29% Zn) over wide surface widths adjacent to fractures and feeder zones.o Target size is large low grade disseminated Zn deposits hosted in sediments.4. Large scale (80m wide) alteration with dominant barium feldspar (celsian - hyalophane group of rare alkalic feldspar) with consistent elevated Pb.o The occurrence of barium with base metals (upper greenschist metamorphism) in feldspar potentially indicates the highly altered fractures/feeders are relatively high level (close to seawater).Overprinting mineralisation is common throughout the project area. Two styles are recognised. Rumble considers the overprint mineralisation as low priority.Overprint Mineralisation includes:1. Early porphyry style mineralisation overprinted by large scale pervasive shearing (mesothermal).o Pb and Zn mineralisation modified with strong increase in Cd, As and occasionally W.o Mineralisation forms very high grade Pb pods - these were historically mined.2. Late cross-cutting to layer parallel epigenetic quartz veining.o Epigenetic (overprint) veining is very common and where veins traverse the early porphyry related alteration structures, high grade Pb pods are developed - historically mined.Braeside Drill Targets August 2018Twelve prospects will be tested by the current drilling programme. Targets are predominantly very high-grade in-situ Zn and Pb mineralised structures that potentially represent breccia pipes. A number of prospects have multiple targets over considerable strike length (up to 5.4km).Devon Cut Prospect (see images 3 & 4 in link below)Six (6) potential high-grade Zn breccia pipes (including the discovery zone) will be targeted.Discovery Zone (80m strike)Grab sampling returned up to 14.56% Zn, 29.47% Pb and 3.29% V2O5 above the high-grade RC drill intercept (BRRC018) of 5m @ 8% Zn, 0.35% Pb from 32m.Target A (200m strike)Grab sampling of virgin outcrop returned Zn to 9.47%, Pb to 21.65%, Ag to 43 g/t and Au to 0.26 g/tTarget B (100m strike)Grab sampling of virgin outcrop returned Zn to 38.4%, Cu to 10.5%, Pb to 3.18%, Ag to 76 g/t and Au to 0.11 g/t.Target C (120m strike)Grab sampling of virgin outcrop returned Zn to 48%, Pb to 57.37%, Ag to 184 g/t and Au to 0.58 g/tTarget D (80m strike)Grab sampling of virgin outcrop returned Zn to 48.7% and Pb to 2.65%.Target E (200m strike)Grab sampling of virgin outcrop returned Zn to 35.43%, Pb to 1.4% and Au to 0.57 g/tLightning Ridge Prospect (see images 3 & 5 in link below)The mineralisation style is inferred to be high level epithermal/epizonal Ag-Pb-In-Zn veining over a strike of 250m (structurally bound by north trending faults). The high-grade silver (up to 1108 g/t) is consistent with grab samples returning 100 - 200 g/t Ag on average. The indium is also very high (up to 515 ppm) along with very high-grade Pb (up to 38.6%).Gossan East - Boom Boom Mancini Prospects (see image 5 in link below)Recent grab sampling (see section below) has confirmed high grade Zn and Pb in situ mineralisation over 5.4km of strike. Drilling will test the Gossan East (north and south) which returned high-grade grab sampling with Pb to 34.96% and Zn to 5.06% in association with 5 to 10m wide altered zones. The Gossan East targets have very strong chloritized wall rocks.The Boom Boom Mancini Prospect trends over a strike of 1.5km with grab sampling returning up to 11.28% Zn, 18.71% Pb and 3.22% Cu.Recent grab sampling has extended the Gossan East - Boom Boom Mancini strike to 7.5km. The current programme will be first drill test of this very fertile structure.Mt Brockman 2 Area Prospects (see image 6 in link below)Three prospects will be targeted. At the Mt Brockman 2 Central Zn prospect, widespread disseminated Zn in sediments occur along 400m of strike. The Zn is associated with sauconite (zincian smectite) with grab sampling returning up to 2.29% Zn.Very high-grade Pb (to 43.43%) with Zn to 3.59%, copper to 20.38% and Ag to 102 g/t is associated with a 5m wide intensely altered structure at the Mt Brockman 2 prospect. A potential breccia pipe with Zn to 31.24%, Pb to 11.83% and Cu to 6.34% will be targeted at the Mt Brockman 2 South Prospect.Other Drill Targets (see image 3 in link below)As part of the current drilling programme, other targets that will be tested include Bakers Dozen, Barkers Well, Sugar Ramos, Barium Ridge and Ragged Hills. For a detail review of these targets, refer to ASX announcement dated 26 June 2018 - New High-Grade Drill Targets and Porphyry Model Confirmed.Ongoing Geochemistry Programme and Results.Ongoing exploration has discovered new high-grade mineralisation. A total of seventy-four (74) grab samples have been completed. See Table 1 (see link below) for location and results. New mineralisation includes the following areas:- Approximately 1km to the northwest of the north end of the Devon Cut mineralised structure, high-grade in-situ Zn (results include up to 10.61% Zn) is associated with very strong alteration over a strike of 1.2km and is open to the northwest. The new area (named Manassa Mauler - see image 3 in link below for location) is a faulted offset to the Devon Cut mineralised structure. The mineralisation trends towards the Barium Ridge Prospect.- Some 2.6km north of the Gossan East (see image 3 in link below), high-grade grab sampling results include Zn to 7.23% and Pb to 11.64%.- Infill grab sampling along the Boom Boom Mancini trend and further north has returned Pb to 33.1% and Zn to 11.28%.To view images and tables, please visit:About Rumble Resources Ltd

Rumble Resources Limited (ASX:RTR) (FRA:20Z) is an Australian based exploration company, officially admitted to the ASX on the 1st July 2011. Rumble was established with the aim of adding significant value to its current gold and base metal assets and will continue to look at mineral acquisition opportunities both in Australia and abroad.

First Assays Highlight Misima's Exploration Potential

Sydney, Aug 23, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Kingston Resources Limited ( ASX:KSN ) (Kingston or the Company) is pleased to report assay results from the first two diamond holes at the Company's flagship 2.8Moz Misima Gold Project in Papua New Guinea. The assays are the first results from an extensive exploration drilling campaign, the first undertaken at the project in almost 20 years.Highlights- Assays received for first two diamond holes, results include:o 27m @ 1.08g/t Au and 4.09g/t Ag in GDD008o 5m @ 2.38g/t Au and 8.16g/t Ag in GDD007- Further assays to be released progressively -next results in September- Drilling ongoing into 2019Results include:- 4m @ 2.32g/t Au, 3.30g/t Ag from 33m; and- 5m @ 2.38g/t Au, 8.16g/t Ag from 136m in GDD007- 3m @ 1.44g/t Au, 9.03g/t Ag from 115m; and- 27m @ 1.08g/t Au, 4.09g/t Ag from 129m in GDD008, including- 4m @ 2.11g/t Au and 2.60g/t Ag from 130m; and- 8m @ 2.04g/t Au and 6.50g/t Ag from 148m.The holes were drilled in an area known as North Kulumalia (see Figure 1 in link below), targeting down-dip extensions of the southern end of the main Umuna Shear beneath the existing 2.8Moz Au resource. The program is ongoing, with the rig currently working its way north towards the Central Umuna area, beneath the Stage 6 Umuna pit (see Figure 3 in link below).Drilling is now advancing along the west side of the Umuna Shear, targeting a variety of extensional and infill positions around the Inferred mineral resource. Kingston is currently drilling hole GDD012 (see Figure 1 in link below).As previously advised, Kingston's assaying process involves sample preparation and gold fire assays in Lae, PNG followed by multi-element assays in Townsville. The Company will update the market with additional drill results once final assays are available.Kingston is also advancing regional exploration prospects at Ginamwamwa and Misima North to grow its regional exploration project pipeline. Kingston will delineate prospective targets with a view to drilling these areas in 2019.Kingston Resources Limited Managing Director, Mr Andrew Corbett said:"These initial assays are most encouraging and an excellent start to our extensive exploration program at Misima. The project is shaping up to become a great asset with significant upside. As the program advances, we are learning a great deal more about the deposit and ways in which we can increase Misima's current 2.8Moz resource.Drilling at Misima is ongoing and we look forward to communicating a steady stream of results as they are finalised. The expenditure associated with this exploration program is also expected to trigger Kingston's increase in ownership to 70% of the project."To view tables and figures, please visit:About Kingston Resources Limited

Kingston (ASX:KSN) is a metals exploration company. Currently the Company's priority is the world-class Misima Gold Project in PNG, which contains a JORC resource of 2.8Moz Au, a production history of over 3.7Moz and outstanding potential for additional resource growth through exploration success. Kingston currently owns 70% of the Misima Gold Project.

In addition, Kingston owns 75% of the Livingstone Gold Project, WA which holds a 50koz resource and is the site of ongoing exploration and a number of high-grade historic intersections.

Santos Acquires Quadrant Energy

Perth, Aug 23, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Carnarvon Petroleum Limited ("Carnarvon") ( ASX:CVN ) ( OTCMKTS:CVONF ) notes the ASX announcement released by Santos Limited ("Santos") ( ASX:STO ) on 22 August 2018 in relation to the potential acquisition of Quadrant Energy ("Quadrant").Carnarvon and Quadrant are currently joint venture partners in the Phoenix Project comprising the Dorado, Roc and Phoenix South discoveries. Carnarvon holds a 20-30% interest in the four associated permits that comprise the Phoenix Project, being WA-435-P (20%), WA-436-P (30%), WA-437-P (20%) and WA-438-P (30%).Carnarvon welcomes news of the potential acquisition and the incoming joint venture partner Santos, a highly experienced oil and gas exploration and production company. Carnarvon has good relations with Santos and looks forward to progressing the Phoenix Project together.Under the deal, Santos will acquire 100% of Quadrant (including Quadrant's 70-80% interest in the Phoenix Project) for cash consideration of US$2.15 billion plus contingent payments and royalties. Carnarvon notes that Santos has not stated what proportion of the upfront consideration was applied to the Phoenix Project area. Accordingly, it is not possible to ascertain the consideration applicable and therefore the look through value associated with the Phoenix Project. Carnarvon shares the enthusiasm shown by Santos in relation to the Phoenix Project and the willingness to quickly commercialise the recent discoveries including Dorado.Carnarvon refers to its recent contingent resources announcement of 20 August 2018, which stated that "171 million barrels of oil discovered in Dorado is one of the largest oil resource ever found on the North West Shelf."The following chart was prepared and authorised for publication by leading oil and gas consultancy firm Wood Mackenzie. It confirms the Dorado 2C contingent oil resource is the third largest discovery in the history of the North West Shelf.Carnarvon notes that very few junior ASX listed oil and gas companies have participated in a discovery of this magnitude.Carnarvon intends to shortly provide the market with further details on prospects identified by the play concept now proven at Dorado, that we believe have the potential to also contain oil resources.To view figures, please visit:About Carnarvon Petroleum Limited

Carnarvon Petroleum Limited is an oil and gas exploration company, listed on the Australian stock exchange (ASX:CVN), Frankfurt (FRA:CJB) and US OTC (OTCMKTS:CVONF). Carnarvon has an extensive acreage position in the North West Shelf of Western Australia that is designed to offer investors high alpha leverage to the energy sector. The company's near term focus is on maturing oil, gas and condensate discovered in its Phoenix project, with partner Quadrant Energy, and on bringing into production oil from the Buffalo field.

JCB Now Live with ISXPAY(R) in the European Economic Area

Melbourne, Aug 23, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Australian Securities Exchange and Frankfurt Stock Exchange cross listed iSignthis Ltd ( ASX:ISX ) ( FRA:TA8 ), the leading payment and identity technology company, is pleased to announce it has achieved certification for its JCB Card acquiring service across the European Economic Area (EEA).The Company was granted an Acquiring license by JCB on the 5th of June 2017, and has since developed and certified its Tier 1 connection using its own inhouse team of software developers.A number of contracted merchants are ready to switch on JCB acceptance, with the Company now actively marketing JCB acceptance to new and existing merchants.The already contracted merchants will be going progressively live over the next 2-6 weeks, with an initial GPTV in excess of $50m. The GPTV contribution by JCB acquiring will increase the Company's total processed GPTV to more than $650m, once the balance of its Tier 1 facilities are live.About JCBJCB is a major global payment brand and a leading payment card issuer and acquirer in Japan. JCB launched its card business in Japan in 1961 and began expanding worldwide in 1981. As part of its international growth strategy, JCB has formed alliances with hundreds of leading banks and financial institutions globally to increase merchant coverage and card member base. As a comprehensive payment solution provider, JCB commits to provide responsive and high-quality service and products to all customers worldwide.For more information, please visit: www.global.jcb/en/ or www.jcbeurope.euAbout iSignthis Ltd

iSignthis Ltd (ASX:ISX) (FRA:TA8) is a hybrid monetary financial institution and also a RegTech leader in remote identity verification, payment authentication with deposit taking, transactional banking and payment processing capability. iSignthis provides an end-to-end on-boarding service for merchants, with a unified payment, electronic money and identity service via our Paydentity(TM) and ISXPay(R) solutions.

By converging payments and identity, iSignthis delivers regulatory compliance to an enhanced customer due diligence standard, offering global reach to any of the world's 4.2Bn 'bank verified' card or account holders, that can be remotely on-boarded to meet the Customer Due Diligence requirements of AML regulated merchants in as little as 3 to 5 minutes. Paydentity(TM) has now onboarded and verified more than 1.5m persons to an AML KYC standard.

iSignthis Paydentity(TM) service is the trusted back office solution for regulated entities, allowing merchants to stay ahead of the regulatory curve, and focus on growing their core business. iSignthis' subsidiary, iSignthis eMoney Ltd, trades as ISXPay(R), and is an EEA authorised eMoney Monetary Financial Institution, offering card acquiring in the EEA, and Australia.

ISXPay(R) is a principal member of Mastercard Inc, Diners, Discover, (China) Union Pay International and JCB International, an American Express aggregator, and provides merchants with access to payments via alternative methods including SEPA, Poli Payments, Sofort, PRZ24 and others.

Probanx Solutions Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of iSignthis Ltd, provides API based access to CORE Banking solutions, SEPA Core, SEPA Instant and SEPA business scheme, for neobanks, banks, credit unions and emoney institutions, and provides a bridge to the Eurosystem's Central Bank of Lithuania's CENTROLink service.

Podcast of Interview with Proactive Investors

Ballarat, Aug 23, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - White Rock Minerals Ltd ( ASX:WRM ) ("White Rock") wishes to advise that the podcast of an interview between its MD and CEO, Matt Gill and Proactive Investors is now available on its website.This podcast can be found via:About White Rock Minerals Ltd

White Rock Minerals Ltd (ASX:WRM) (OTCMKTS:WRMCF) is a diversified explorer and near-stage producer, headquartered in Ballarat, Victoria. The Company's flagship exploration project is Red Mountain in central Alaska. At Red Mountain, there are already two high grade zinc - silver - gold - lead VMS deposits, with an Inferred Mineral Resource of 9.1 million tonnes @ 609g/t AgEq / 13% ZnEq. The Company is also exploring its recently discovered large intrusion related gold anomaly at Last Chance, also located in the Tintina gold belt of Alaska, home to multi-million gold ounce deposits like Pogo, Fort Knox and the Donlin Project. The Company also has the Mt Carrington project, located near Drake, in Northern NSW, which is a near-production precious metals asset with a resource of 341,000 ounces of gold and 23.2 million ounces of silver on an approved mining lease, and with a Gold First PFS and JORC Reserve.





By guest blogger Lisa Stark

It may seem odd to talk about sex education and kindergarten in the same breath, but advocates of comprehensive sexuality education say thats when this instruction should start. At that age its a discussion of empathy, personal space, and understanding emotions. As students get older, the curriculum grows more sophisticated, focusing on subjects such as anatomy, personal safety, contraception and sexually transmitted diseases.

Groups that support comprehensive sexuality education have developed the National Sexuality Education Standards , which they say provide guidance for districts on essential content. But a 2016 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found most districts arent offering all-inclusive sexuality education. The CDC found that just 38 percent of high school students and 14 percent of middle school students are getting sex education that covers 19 topics the CDC considers important.

In some areas of the country, the focus is on abstinence-only education. And some parents feel sex education should be discussed at home, not in the classroom.

Shafia Zaloom is a health educator who has been teaching comprehensive sexuality education for 25 years. She says she wholeheartedly believes parents should be the primary sexuality educator in a childs life, but that they cant be the only one.

She says parents can communicate family values, while teachers can provide medically accurate information.

Zaloom, who is based in San Francisco, but teaches around the country, says schools are also a good place for teens to discuss social dynamics and healthy relationships.

Students have an opportunity in a school setting to talk about these issues and learn about them with the very people who they may be exploring those things with, she says.

This subject has taken on added significance in the wake of the #MeToo movement, which has some states and school districts rethinking their curriclum , debating whether to add instruction on sexual harassment, preventing violence and ensuring consent.

Zaloom welcomes the discussion, saying it reinforces the importance of comprehensive sexuality education.

I think it really highlighted for people how important it is, and its not just sex information, she says, but how you apply that information to the complexities of human relationships.

We caught up with Zaloom at Washingtons Georgetown Day High School, where she outlined what this looks likefrom the earliest years through high school.

Related Reading:Cardinal has completed the final legal and formal documentation allowing it to enter into a transaction for US$25 million with Canadian based Sprott Private Resource Lending.



Successfully Finalises US$25M Sprott Facility

Perth, Aug 23, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Cardinal Resources Limited ( ASX:CDV ) ( TSE:CDV ) ( OTCMKTS:CRDNF ) ("Cardinal" or "the Company") is pleased to advise that all legal and formal documentation with Sprott Private Resource Lending (Collector), L.P. ("Sprott") to provide a US$25 million (A$32 million) senior secured credit facility ("Facility") has been successfully completed.The US$25 million Facility will provide working capital and funding to complete the Preliminary and Definitive Feasibility Studies for Namdini.Archie Koimtsidis, CEO and Managing Director of Cardinal, stated:"We would like to thank both Sprott and Cardinal legal teams in Ghana, Australia and Canada who have worked tirelessly to bring about a successful outcome."This 30-month Facility provides Cardinal with the ability to continue to fast-track Namdini towards completion of a Definitive Feasibility Study, anticipated in Q3 2019, while also maximizing shareholder value by avoiding unnecessary dilution."ABOUT SPROTTSprott is an alternative asset manager and a global leader in precious metal and real asset investments. Through its subsidiaries in Canada, the US and Asia, the Corporation is dedicated to providing investors with best-in-class investment strategies that include Exchange Listed Products, Alternative Asset Management and Private Resource Investments. The Corporation also operates Merchant Banking and Brokerage businesses in both Canada and the US. Sprott is based in Toronto with offices in New York, Carlsbad and Vancouver and its common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol ( TSE:SII ). For more information, please visit www.sprott.com.About Cardinal Resources Ltd

Cardinal Resources Ltd (ASX:CDV) (TSE:CDV) (OTCMKTS:CRDNF) is a West African gold exploration and development Company that holds interests in tenements within Ghana, West Africa.

The Company is focused on the development of the Namdini Project with a gold Ore Reserve of 5.1Moz (0.4 Moz Proved and 4.7 Moz Probable) and a soon to be completed Feasibility Study.

Exploration programmes are also underway at the Company's Bolgatanga (Northern Ghana) and Subranum (Southern Ghana) Projects.

Cardinal confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in its announcement of the Ore Reserve of 3 April 2019. All material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning this estimate continue to apply and have not materially changed.

Completes $1.75M Placement to Enable TCC4 Drilling

Brisbane, Aug 23, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Alligator Energy Limited ( ASX:AGE ) (Alligator or the Company) is pleased to advise that it has today completed the placement of $1.75M of shares to institutional and high net worth clients of BW Equities Pty Ltd (BW Equities) through the allotment of 250M ordinary shares and 125M Listed Options (AGEO).HighlightsThe placement was approved by Shareholders at an EGM held on 16 August 2018. Shareholders also approved the grant of 20M AGEO listed options to BW Equities as part of the compensation arrangements associated with the placement.The placement will now be used to fund the drilling program at the Company's TCC4 Prospect in the Northern Territory (see ASX Announcement: 21 August 2018).The key elements of the capital raising are as follows:- A capital raising of $1.75M through a placement of up to 250M fully paid ordinary shares at $0.007, with a 1:2 attaching AGEO listed option; and- Funds of up to $1.5M to be allocated to restart exploration work and undertake drilling at the TCC4 ProspectAlligator's Acting CEO Greg Hall commented; "the timing of this placement coincides with renewed interest in the sector and it is pleasing to be in a position to concentrate on the drilling of our advanced stage uranium prospect at TCC4."Other important matters:(a) Appendix 3BThe Company released an Appendix 3B in relation to this placement on 29 June 2018 noting that the allotment was subject to Shareholder approval. The Company confirms that the approval obtained from Shareholders was consistent with the Class and Number of Securities outlined in this release (copy attached) (see link below).(b) Section 708A - Cleansing NoticeThe Company confirms that it has complied with the relevant provisions of Chapter 2M of the Corporations Act as they apply to the Company and Section 674 of the Corporations Act and will issue a separate Cleansing Notice in this regard.To view figures, please visit:About Alligator Energy Ltd

Alligator Energy Ltd (ASX:AGE) is an Australian, ASX-listed, exploration company focused on uranium and energy related minerals, principally cobalt-nickel.

Alligator's Directors have significant experience in the exploration, development and operations of both uranium and nickel projects (both laterites and sulphides).Here's a look at Ukraine, the second-largest European country in area after Russia. It borders Moldova, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Belarus, Russia and the Black Sea in Eastern Europe.

About Ukraine:

(from the CIA World Factbook)

Area: 603,550 sq km (slightly smaller than Texas)

Armed forces Arrests Arseniy Yatsenyuk Crime, law enforcement and corrections Crimea Eastern Europe Elections and campaigns Energy and utilities Europe European Union Heads of state Kiev Law enforcement Legislative bodies Military Military operations Natural gas North America Oil and gas industry Oleksandr Turchinov Politics Prime ministers Protests and demonstrations Referendums Russia Ukraine United States Unrest, conflicts and war Viktor Yanukovych Viktor Yushchenko Vladimir Putin Voters and voting Yulia Tymoshenko Yuriy Sergeyev Petro Poroshenko Criminal law Law and legal system Government and public administration Government bodies and offices International relations and national security National security Political Figures - Intl Fast Facts Business and industry sectors Business, economy and trade Electric power industry Utilities industry International relations Territorial and national borders Accidents Accidents, disasters and safety Aircraft accidents Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 Military weapons Weapons and arms Treaties and agreements Continents and regions Heads of government The Americas

Population: 43,952,299 (July 2018 est.)

Median age: 40.8 years

Capital: Kiev (Kyiv)

Ethnic Groups: Ukrainian 77.8%, Russian 17.3%, Belarusian 0.6%, Moldovan 0.5%, Crimean Tatar 0.5%, Bulgarian 0.4%, Hungarian 0.3%, Romanian 0.3%, Polish 0.3%, Jewish 0.2%, and other 1.8% (2001 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity): $369.6 billion (2017 est.)

GDP per capita: $8,800 (2017 est.)

Unemployment: 9.2% (2017 est.)

Other Facts:

Prior to the 20th century, Ukrainian territories were controlled at different times by Russia, Poland, Lithuania, Mongols, Cossacks and others.

From the 18th to 20th centuries, Russia and the Soviet Union carried out a program of Russification to discourage Ukrainian national identity.

Timeline:

1917-1920 - Following the 1917 Russian Revolution and toward the end of World War I, Ukraine is briefly an independent nation.

1920s - Ukraine becomes part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

1921-1922 - A famine kills more than one million people.

1932-1933 - Soviet leader Joseph Stalin's policy of collectivization leads to the Great Famine (Holodomor) in which millions of Ukrainians die of starvation.

1941 - During World War II, Germany invades Ukraine. More than six million Ukrainians, the great majority of them civilians, die in the war.

1944 - The Soviet Union regains control of Ukraine and expands its borders to include territory taken from Romania, Poland and Czechoslovakia.

April 26, 1986 - Reactor 4 explodes at the Chernobyl, Ukraine, nuclear power plant, releasing large amounts of radiation into the atmosphere. More than 30 people died, and countless others later died from radiation symptoms. The government evacuates some 135,000 people from the area, and the 19-mile exclusion zone around the plant remains uninhabitable.

July 16, 1990 - Ukraine declares sovereignty.

August 24, 1991 - The Ukrainian Parliament declares independence, pending a referendum on December 1.

December 1, 1991 - The referendum for independence passes with 90% approval.

December 8, 1991 - Ukraine joins the new Commonwealth of Independent States, along with Russia and Belarus.

2004 - President Leonid Kuchma declines to run for a third term and endorses Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych. Russian President Vladimir Putin also supports Yanukovych's campaign.

September 2004 - Opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko develops a mysterious illness which leaves his face pock-marked. Medical tests later show he is suffering from dioxin poisoning.

October 31, 2004 - In the first round of presidential elections, Yanukovych and Yushchenko both receive about 40% of the vote.

November 21, 2004 - Preliminary exit polls from the run-off election give Yushchenko a lead of 52% to Yanukovych's 43%, but Yanukovych is officially declared the winner. Independent election monitors allege fraud.

November 22, 2004 - Mass protests sweep the country, with demonstrators wearing orange, Yushchenko's campaign color. Activist Yulia Tymoshenko becomes a prominent figure of the pro-Western Orange Revolution.

December 3, 2004 - Ukraine's Supreme Court rules the previous run-off election invalid and orders a new run-off.

December 26, 2004 - Yushchenko wins the election with about 52% of the vote and is sworn in as president a month later.

January 2005 - Yushchenko names Tymoshenko as prime minister.

September 2005 - Yushchenko fires his entire cabinet, including Tymoshenko.

January 2006 - Russian energy monopoly Gazprom briefly cuts off natural gas supplies to Ukraine.

December 18, 2007 - Tymoshenko returns as prime minister.

January 2009 - Gazprom again cuts off supplies of natural gas to Ukraine over a payment dispute.

January 17, 2010 - Presidential elections are held. Yushchenko receives only 5% of the vote. Yanukovych receives 35% and Tymoshenko receives 25%, necessitating a run-off.

February 14, 2010 - In the presidential run-off, Yanukovych wins 48.95% of the vote to Tymoshenko's 45.47%. Tymoshenko alleges fraud and is openly critical of Yanukovych. She loses her position as prime minister in March.

June 2010 - Ukraine's parliament abandons plans to join NATO.

August 2011 - A court motion calls for Tymoshenko's arrest. The arrest is in connection to a 2009 gas contract negotiated when she was prime minister. Tymoshenko brushes off all charges against her as political, calling the trial a "farce."

October 2011 - Tymoshenko is found guilty of criminally "abusing her office" over the 2009 gas deal with Gazprom. She is sentenced to seven years in prison.

November 21, 2013 - President Yanukovych backs out of a trade deal with the European Union due to pressure from Russia. Street protests begin in Kiev.

December 17, 2013 - Putin agrees to buy $15 billion of Ukraine's debt and reduce the price of natural gas supplied to the country.

January 16, 2014 - Yanukovych signs laws restricting the right to protest. This leads to large numbers of protesters in Kiev and clashes with police. The law is repealed on January 28.

February 21, 2014 - Negotiations lead to a deal which reduces Yanukovych's powers as president and rolls back parts of the Constitution.

February 22, 2014 - Parliament votes to remove Yanukovych from office. On the same day, former Prime Minister Tymoshenko is released from prison.

February 24, 2014 - An arrest warrant is issued for Yanukovych.

February 28, 2014 - Andrii Parubii, the Ukrainian chief of national security and defense, says the country's military and police forces have stopped Russian military forces from seizing two airports in Crimea.

March 1, 2014 - The upper house of the Russian parliament votes to send troops into Crimea on the same day the pro-Russian leader of Crimea, Sergey Aksyonov, asks Putin for help in maintaining peace.

March 2, 2014 - Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk says of Russian troops in the Crimean peninsula, "This is a red alert. This is not a threat. This is actually a declaration of war to my country."

March 3, 2014 - Ukrainian Ambassador Yuriy Sergeyev tells an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council that Russia has used planes, boats and helicopters to flood Crimea with 16,000 troops in the past week.

March 4, 2014 - US Secretary of State John Kerry visits Ukraine and announces the United States will give Ukraine's new government a $1 billion loan guarantee. Senior US administration officials tell CNN this will help insulate the Ukrainian economy from the effects of reduced energy subsidies from Russia.

March 6, 2014 - Crimea's parliament votes to hold a referendum on leaving Ukraine and becoming part of Russia.

March 16, 2014 - In the Crimean referendum, 96.7% vote in favor of leaving Ukraine and being annexed by Russia.

March 17, 2014 - United States and European Union officials announce sanctions on more than two dozen Russian officials and their allies in Crimea. Crimea's regional parliament applies to join with Russia, and in Moscow, Putin signs a decree that recognizes the independence and sovereignty of the Republic of Crimea.

March 18, 2014 - In Moscow, Putin signs an annexation pact with the prime minister of Crimea and the mayor of the city of Sevastopol.

March 18, 2014 - In response to masked gunmen killing a member of Ukraine's military, wounding another and placing the rest of the staff of a base in Crimea under arrest, the Defense Ministry authorizes its forces in Crimea to use weapons "to protect and preserve the life of Ukrainian soldiers."

March 21, 2014 - Yatsenyuk, in Brussels, signs the political elements of a trade pact with the European Union.

March 22, 2014 - In Crimea, Russian special forces take control of Belbek Airbase, and pro-Russian self-defense forces take control of Novofederoskoe military base and a Ukrainian ship, the Slavutych.

March 27, 2014 - The International Monetary Fund agrees to allow Ukraine to borrow up to $18 billion over the next two years. The UN General Assembly approves a resolution stating Crimea's succession referendum from Ukraine is not valid; the resolution's vote is 100-11, with 58 abstentions.

April 15, 2014 - Acting President Turchynov tells the country's Parliament an "anti-terrorist operation" is under way in Ukraine's restive eastern Donetsk region. Tensions have soared in recent days in eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russian rebels have seized government and police buildings in as many as 10 towns and cities.

May 25, 2014 - Petro Poroshenko declares victory in Ukraine's presidential election, following preliminary exit polls that suggested he got 56% of the vote.

May 27, 2014 - Authorities announce that a battle between pro-Russian rebels and government forces at Donetsk airport has claimed 40 lives.

June 7, 2014 - Poroshenko is sworn in as Ukraine's new president.

June 27, 2014 - Ukraine signs a trade deal with the European Union, the same agreement that Yanukovych backed out of in 2013.

July 17, 2014 - Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in eastern Ukraine after being shot down by a surface-to-air missile, according to the United States. All 298 people aboard are killed.

July 24, 2014 - Yatsenyuk and his cabinet announce their resignation. A week later, parliament rejects his resignation.

September 20, 2014 - Ukraine and pro-Russian separatists agree to a ceasefire.

October 26, 2014 - Ukrainians vote in parliamentary elections. Ukrainian citizens in Russia-annexed Crimea and the eastern areas controlled by pro-Russian separatists do not participate in the elections because of ongoing violence. Poroshenko hails exit poll results and says the projected outcome gives "a powerful and irreversible backing to Ukraine's path to Europe."

January 26, 2015 - Poroshenko announces the Ukraine will ask The Hague tribunal to investigate alleged "crimes against humanity" in the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

February 5, 2015 - With Kerry by his side, Yatsenyuk says the Russian military is on the ground in the country.

February 11, 2015 - French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Poroshenko and Putin meet in Minsk, Belarus, for peace talks.

February 12, 2015 - Peace talks end in a breakthrough: A ceasefire and an agreement for both sides to pull back heavy weapons. In March, heavy weapons are pulled back from the front lines, but the violence continues.

April 10, 2016 - Yatsenyuk announces he will resign.

September 28, 2016 - The Joint Investigation Team, a Dutch-led group of prosecutors gathering evidence for a potential criminal trial, says that it has concluded that Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was downed over eastern Ukraine by a Buk missile brought in from Russia to a pro-Russian area of eastern Ukraine.

October 16, 2016 - Pro-Russian separatist commander Arsen Pavlov, known by the nickname "Motorola," is killed in the city of Donetsk, in eastern Ukraine.

February 20, 2017 - A ceasefire aimed at ending the bloody fight between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists begins. The ceasefire is a renewed attempt to enforce the Minsk peace protocol -- an agreement that has repeatedly failed since it was first partially implemented in 2015.

March 23, 2017 - Denis Voronenkov, a onetime Communist member of Russia's lower house of parliament, dies after being shot outside a hotel in Kiev. Poroshenko calls the shooting a "Russian state terrorist act." Voronenkov, who fled to Ukraine in 2016, is the latest in a string of Putin and Russia's critics who were killed or injured under mysterious circumstances.

July 20, 2018 - The Pentagon releases $200 million in security assistance to the Ukraine. The funds were contingent on Ukraine passing a series of defense reforms to help bring the country's defense practices into line with modern standards. Ukraine's passage of a new national security law, signed by Poroshenko on July 5, met the requirements enshrined in the US legislation, thereby allowing the Pentagon to release the funds.

November 25, 2018 - The Ukrainian military says Russian boats opened fire on and seized three of its ships near Crimea, detaining 23 of its sailors and wounding at least three. The ships were planning to enter the Kerch Strait, a shared waterway of strategic importance for both countries. Russia claims the vessels illegally entered Russia's territorial waters and were carrying out dangerous maneuvers, according to Russian state news agency TASS.

November 26, 2018 - Ukrainian lawmakers vote to introduce martial law in the border areas with Russia. It will be introduced on November 28 and will last 30 days.Here's a look at the country of Iraq which borders Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Iran and the Persian Gulf.

About Iraq:

(from the CIA World Factbook)

Area: 438,317 sq km

Ayad Allawi Baghdad Biological and chemical weapons Bombings Elections and campaigns George W. Bush International relations Iraq Iraq War Jalal Talabani Kuwait Legislative bodies Middle East Middle East and North Africa Military Military operations Military weapons Minority and ethnic groups Nuri al-Maliki Politics Rebellions and insurgencies Saddam Hussein The Kurds Treaties and agreements United Nations Unrest, conflicts and war Weapons and arms Weapons of mass destruction ISIS National security Terrorism Government and public administration Government bodies and offices International relations and national security Political Figures - Intl Political Figures - US Society Terrorism and counter-terrorism Fast Facts Civil unrest Muslim people Population and demographics Territorial and national borders Armed forces US Department of Defense US federal departments and agencies Mosul United Nations Security Council Conflicts and wars Continents and regions Demographic groups Government organizations - Intl ISIS airstrikes Misc organizations

Population: 39,192,111 (July 2017 est.)

Median age: 20 years

Capital: Baghdad

Ethnic Groups: Arab 75%-80%, Kurdish 15%-20%, Turkman, Assyrian, or other 5%

Religion: Muslim (official) 95%-98% (Shia 64%-69%, Sunni 29%-34%), Christian 1%, Other 1-4%

GDP (purchasing power parity): $658.8 billion (2017 est.)

GDP per capita: $17,000 (2017 est.)

Unemployment: 16% (2012 est.)

Other Facts:

In ancient times, the area comprising Iraq was known as Mesopotamia and gave rise to some of the world's first civilizations.

One of the religious minorities in Iraq is the Yazidi. Throughout the Middle East, Yazidi number between 200,000 and one million. Per the US State Department, between 350,000 and 400,000 live in Iraq, mostly in the north. Their beliefs draw from aspects of Judaism, Christianity and Zoroastrianism.

Timeline:

1921 - After the defeat of the Ottoman Empire during World War I, Great Britain gains control of the area. It sets up a government in Mesopotamia and renames the country Iraq.

1924 - The new Constitutional Assembly of Iraq meets to consider the Anglo-Iraq treaty. The treaty would compel Iraq to honor all agreements made by Great Britain previously, including oil concessions. In order to compel Iraq to accept the treaty, Great Britain threatens to withdraw and leave Iraq vulnerable to Saudi Arabia or Turkey. The treaty is ratified.

October 3, 1932 - Iraq becomes an independent nation with Baghdad as its capital, and is admitted to the League of Nations.

1943-1945 - Kurdish leader Mustafa Barzani leads an uprising, gaining control of areas of Erbil and Badinan. When the uprising is defeated, Barzani and his forces retreat to Kurdish areas in Iran and align with nationalist fighters under the leadership of Qazi Muhammad.

March 22, 1945 - Iraq becomes a founding member of the Arab League.

December 21, 1945 - Iraq becomes a member of the United Nations.

July 14, 1958 - King Faisal is killed in a coup led by Abdul Karim Kassem.

October 1959 - A group, including Saddam Hussein, attacks the motorcade of Kassem. The assassination attempt fails and most of the attackers are killed. Hussein escapes and flees to Syria and later to Egypt.

February 1963 - Kassem is overthrown and executed. The Baath Party assumes control of the government. Hussein returns from Cairo. The new Baath government is overthrown before the end of the year.

July 17, 1968 - In a coup, Major General Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr of the Baath party becomes Iraq's new president. Hussein becomes the secretary and acting deputy chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council.

October 1973 - Iraq fights Israel in the Yom Kippur war.

March 6, 1975 - Hussein and Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi of Iran meet to discuss a treaty. The Algiers Accord is signed by both countries later in the year.

October 1978 - At the Shah's insistence, Hussein expels Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini from Iraq, where he has been in exile for 13 years.

February 1979 - The Ayatollah returns to Iran to lead the country, after the ouster of the Shah in January.

July 16, 1979 - Hussein takes over as president of Iraq.

1979 - In response to the Ayatollah's call for the overthrow of the Baathist regime, comprised mostly of Sunni Muslims, President Hussein expels 40,000 Shiite Muslims. Hussein also orders the execution of Ayatollah Mohammed al-Bakr Sadr, an ally of Ayatollah Khomeini.

September 22, 1980 - Iraq launches an air attack against Iran, beginning the Iran-Iraq war. In 1984 and 1986 Iraq is accused of using mustard gas and other chemical weapons against Iran. The war ends in a stalemate in 1988.

March 16, 1988 - Iraq uses poison gas against the Kurdish people in Halabja in Northern Iraq. Thousands of people are believed to have died in the attack.

August 2, 1990 - Iraq invades Kuwait.

January 17, 1991 - Operation Desert Storm begins.

February 28, 1991 - A ceasefire in the Gulf War takes effect.

March 1991 - After the coalition expels Iraq from Kuwait, the US encourages the Kurds to rebel. However, Iraq crushes the rebellion and one million Kurds flee to Turkey.

April 3, 1991 - The UN passes Security Council Resolution 687. It establishes UNSCOM.

April 6, 1991 - Iraq accepts SCR 687.

April 18, 1991 - Under the terms of SCR 687, Iraq gives a detailed account of its weapons inventory. It states that it has no biological weapons program.

April 14, 1995 - The UN Security Council adopts Resolution 986 establishing the "oil-for-food" program, providing Iraq with the opportunity to sell oil to finance the purchase of humanitarian goods. Iraq does not accept the plan.

December 16, 1998 - Great Britain and the United States launch air strikes against Iraq. The attack, called Operation Desert Fox, is in response to Iraq's refusal to cooperate with UN weapons inspectors.

January 29, 2002 - US President George W. Bush says in his State of the Union address that Iraq, Iran and North Korea constitute an "axis of evil'' that threatens the United States.

September 16, 2002 - Facing the threat of US air strikes, Iraq unconditionally agrees to the return of United Nations inspectors.

September 19, 2002 - Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri sends a letter to the UN from Hussein stating that Iraq has no chemical, nuclear or biological weapons.

November 8, 2002 - The UN Security Council unanimously adopts Resolution 1441, outlining strict new weapons inspections and threatening "serious consequences" if Iraq fails to comply.

November 13, 2002 - Iraq agrees to comply with UN Resolution 1441.

November 27, 2002 - UN inspectors begin working in Iraq.

December 7, 2002 - Iraq submits a 12,000-page declaration of former weapons programs and civilian industries with military applications to the United Nations.

January 27, 2003 - Chief inspectors Mohammad ElBaradei and Hans Blix brief the UN Security Council on Iraqi compliance with inspections.

March 7, 2003 - ElBaradei and Blix submit their final reports to the UN Security Council.

March 19, 2003 - Bush announces that US and coalition forces have begun military action against Iraq. (This means that military action began the morning of March 20 in Iraq.)

March 20, 2003 - Hussein speaks on Iraqi TV. He calls the US-led coalition attacks "shameful crimes against Iraq and humanity."

April 9, 2003 - Coalition forces take Baghdad.

May 1, 2003 - Speaking on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, Bush declares that "major combat operations" in the Iraq war are over, despite some continued fighting.

May 22, 2003 - The United Nations Security Council approves Resolution 1483, lifting sanctions and reaffirming the "sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq." It also acknowledges the US and Great Britain's right to occupy Iraq. The resolution sets up a UN support system to work with the United States and Great Britain to facilitate the transition to a government elected by the people of Iraq.

November 21, 2003 - The oil-for-food program ends. The Coalition Provisional Authority takes responsibility for supplying humanitarian aid to the Iraqi people.

December 13, 2003 - Hussein is captured in a "spider hole" near a hut in Tikrit. His capture is not confirmed until December 14 by the US Defense Department.

June 1, 2004 - The Iraqi interim government takes over from the US-backed Iraqi Governing Council (the IGC dissolves itself). The new interim government will be in charge of the country after sovereignty is handed over and until national elections for a transitional government are held by the end of January.

June 28, 2004 - The handover of sovereignty to the interim Iraqi government takes place at 10:26 a.m. local time, two days before the June 30 deadline previously announced by the US-led coalition.

June 28, 2004 - Ayad Allawi is sworn in as the interim prime minister of Iraq. He is the first ruler other than Hussein to lead the country in more than three decades. He steps down in April 2005.

June 30, 2004 - The Coalition turns over legal control of Hussein and 11 other former top Iraqi officials to the interim Iraqi government. They remain, however, in the physical custody of the United States for security reasons.

July 1, 2004 - Hussein makes his first appearance in court. A judge charges him with a variety of crimes that marked his reign, including the invasion of Kuwait and the gassing of the Kurds.

August 2004 - US and Iraqi forces battle insurgents in Najaf. Many insurgents there are followers of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

September 23, 2004 - Allawi, interim leader of Iraq, speaks before a joint session of Congress while he is in Washington for meetings with President Bush.

November 2004 - US and Iraqi forces battle insurgents in Falluja. About 2,000 insurgents are killed. On November 14, 2004, the United States declares Falluja "liberated."

January 30, 2005 - Millions of Iraqis cast ballots in the nation's first free election in half a century. Iraqi expatriates in Australia, the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Iran, Jordan, the Netherlands, Sweden, Syria, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates also participate.

April 6-7, 2005 - Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani is selected the country's president by the transitional national assembly. The next day he and two vice presidents are sworn in.

May 3, 2005 - Ibrahim al-Jaafari is sworn in as Iraq's interim Prime Minister.

December 15, 2005 - Millions of Iraqis participate in an election to choose a 275-seat Parliament that will serve a four-year term.

February 10, 2006 - The results of the December 2005 election are certified. The United Iraqi Alliance wins 128 seats, the Kurdistan Alliance Party wins 53 seats, the Iraqi Accord Party wins 44 seats and the final 50 seats are split between five other parties.

April 22, 2006 - Talabani names Nuri al-Maliki prime minister-designate.

May 20, 2006 - The Iraqi Parliament approves Prime Minister Maliki's choices for the Iraqi national unity government. There are 37 cabinet ministers, comprised of representatives from all major parties and all major ethnic and secular groups.

November 5, 2006 - The Iraqi High Tribunal reaches a verdict in the Dujail case. Eight defendants are charged with crimes relating to the murder of 148 Iraqi men in 1982. Hussein is found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging, pending appeal.

December 30, 2006 - Former Iraqi President Hussein is hanged a few minutes after 6 a.m. Baghdad time.

March 27, 2007 - A suicide truck, packed with 4,000 pounds (1,814 kilograms) of explosives, detonates in the northern Iraqi city of Tal Afar, killing 152.

January 1, 2009 - The US military hands over control of Baghdad's "Green Zone" to Iraqi authorities.

June 30, 2009 - US troops pull back from Iraqi cities and towns, and Iraqi troops take over the responsibility for security operations. However, US troops remain in the country to continue combat operations and patrols in rural areas.

March 7, 2010 - Iraqi legislative elections are held. The results are announced on March 26. The Iraqiya coalition, led by former interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, wins the most seats in Parliament.

August 19, 2010 - The last US combat brigade leaves Iraq. Approximately 52,000 US troops remain in the country.

September 1, 2010 - Operation Iraqi Freedom is renamed Operation New Dawn, to reflect the reduced role US troops will play in securing the country.

November 25, 2010 - Maliki is named to a second term as prime minister by Talabani in a televised ceremony.

December 15, 2010 - The UN Security Council votes to free Iraq from sanctions that started during the Saddam Hussein era.

October 21, 2011 - US President Barack Obama announces that virtually all US troops will come home from Iraq by the end of the year. According to a US official, about 150 of the 39,000 troops currently in Iraq will remain to assist in arms sales. The rest will be out of Iraq by December 31.

December 15, 2011 - US troops lower the flag of command that flies over Baghdad, officially ending the US military mission in Iraq.

September 9, 2012 - Fugitive Iraqi vice-president Tariq al-Hashimi is sentenced to death after being found guilty of running a death squad.

January 2014 - Violence erupts in Anbar province with Iraqi security forces, Sunni tribesmen and al Qaeda-linked groups battling for control of the cities of Falluja and Ramadi.

April 30, 2014 - Iraqis vote in parliamentary elections to elect members of the Council of Representatives. Maliki's party wins 92 seats in parliamentary elections, short of the 165 seats needed for a majority.

June 10, 2014 - Al Qaeda splinter group ISIS seizes the province of Nineveh and its capital Mosul.

June 11, 2014 - ISIS takes control of Tikrit.

July 24, 2014 - Fouad Massoum succeeds Talabani as president.

August 8, 2014 - Two US F/A-18 jet fighters bomb Sunni Islamic extremists in Iraq. US President Obama has authorized "targeted airstrikes" if needed to protect US personnel from ISIS militants. The US military also could use airstrikes to prevent what officials warn could be a genocide of minority groups by the ISIS fighters.

August 14, 2014 - In a televised address, Maliki withdraws his candidacy for a third term and endorses Haider al-Abadi as his replacement.

April 1, 2015 - Iraqi forces, working with Shiite militiamen, retake the city of Tikrit from ISIS.

July 17, 2015 - As Iraqi civilians celebrate Eid al-Fitr, a holiday marking the end of the fast for Ramadan, ISIS detonates an ice truck in a crowded marketplace in Khan Bani Saad, killing at least 120 people and wounding at least 140 more.

March 17, 2016 - Secretary of State John Kerry announces that the United States has determined that ISIS' action against the Yazidis and other minority groups in Iraq and Syria constitutes genocide.

June 26, 2016 - Lt. General Abdul Wahab al-Saadi says on state TV that Iraqi troops retook the key city of Falluja from ISIS.

July 3, 2016 - A suicide car bomb detonates in a busy shopping district in Baghdad, killing at least 292 people and injuring another 200. It is the deadliest single attack in Iraq since 2003. ISIS claims responsibility for the attack.

October 17, 2016 - Abadi makes a televised statement announcing the start of the mission to retake the key city of Mosul from ISIS control. A diverse coalition of about 100,000 troops will play a role in the operation, mostly made up of Iraqi government troops and Kurdish Peshmerga fighters. US military officials have estimated up to 5,000 ISIS fighters are in Mosul, but the terror group's supporters say there are 7,000.

March 7, 2017 - Iraqi forces take control of key government buildings and a bridge in western Mosul as part of their push to retake the city from ISIS. The Tigris river divides Mosul into east and west. The east was liberated in January and the second phase, to clear militants from the west, was launched on February 19.

July 10, 2017 - Abadi announces that Mosul has been recaptured from ISIS.

October 3, 2017 - Talabani, Iraq's first non-Arab president, dies at the age of 83.

October 5, 2017 - Iraqi forces retake the city center of Hawiji, one of the last major ISIS strongholds in Iraq.

December 9, 2017 - The Iraqi military says in a statement it has "fully liberated" all of Iraq's territory of "ISIS terrorist gangs" and retaken full control of the Iraqi-Syrian border.

May 12, 2018 - The first parliamentary elections since the defeat of ISIS take place.

May 18, 2018 - The elections commission announces that the Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's political coalition, the Saeroon Alliance, has won the parliamentary election, garnering 54 of the 328 seats, the most of any coalition.

June 6, 2018 - Parliament orders a recount of all ballots in the May 12 election amid accusations of fraud.

August 19, 2018 - Iraq's highest court ratifies the results of the May elections.

October 2, 2018 - Barham Salih is elected president and appoints Adil Abd al-Mahdi as prime minister-designate.Happy Halloween!!! Tonight we dont expect too many frights from mother nature! A Partly to mostly cloudy evening is expected for Trick-Or-Treating with temperatures in the upper 50s to low 60s.

Severe Radar TemperaturesCannabis sales are still a no-go in chico, but local business owners are now looking for answers on how to adjust workplace policies for employees in light of Proposition 64, which legalized the use of recreational marijuana.

Mark Pierce, President of North Valley Ag Services is sensitive to the issues that face his farm supply business.

"There's a lot of uncertainty, as far as employers go, what the law is, what they can do in terms of drug testing," he said.

Legal cannabis sales are still stonewalled in the city of Chico, but recreational use is permitted, since the passage of Prop 64. On Wednesday, Chico's Chamber of Commerce held a panel to address the growing number of questions by the local business community.

"There are high risk jobs out there," said Loretta Weber of the Valley Contractors Exchange, "how do you measure that as an employer to make sure that they keep that person safe as well as others?"

Holden Law Group, a Chico law firm spoke to the legal impact of Prop 64. Among them -- Prop 64 did not create new employee rights, or prohibit discrimination against employees who use marijuana. Employers can continue to ban pot possession or use on workplace property.

The chamber of commerce recommends that all employers review and clearly communicate their drug and alcohol policies to employees. Employers should enforce company policies consistently to avoid liability and educate staff on how to recognize drug and alcohol abuse.

So while the ban on cannabis sales remains in the city of Chico, it's clear that business owners aren't taking any chances.

"Everyone recognizes that [sales in Chico] is a potential in the future, and local businesses want to be armed with the knowledge of the issue," Mark Pierce said.

Chico business owners who are seeking more information about how to navigate workplace policies under Prop 64 are encouraged to reach out to the chamber of commerce.Chico, Calif.-- Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey said on February 21st, 2018,22-year-oldd Dravenn Brannon-Thompson, fired multiple rounds from a handgun off Walnut and West 6th Streets when he spotted a man also driving in the area.

Ramsey said the victim was not hit.

As for the assault charge, that occurred when Brannon-Thompson was in custody at the Butte County Jail.

Ramsey said his admitted charges constitute two "strikes" under California's three-strikes law and the judge imposed the lengthiest possible term to serve in state prison.CHICO, Calif. - Chico State University began moving-in incoming students to the dorms today.

Chico State University closed off Legion Ave. for move-in day.

The university had over 600 voulnteers that were faculty, staff and students to welcome their new "Wildcats." Students were nervous about being away from home, but were mostly excited about their new-found independence.

"Honestly I think I'll be okay," Sophia Pavlik, Fremont resident. "I'll miss my mom and my grandma and my dad, but I'm excited to 'kinda' be a little independent and be on my own for a little bit."

The Executive Director of University Housing, Connie Huyck, said first semester freshmen and transfer students will be filling the dorms of the University Village, as well as 100 returning students.

Huyck said living on campus gives students the opportunity to meet each other, and develop a sense of community and belonging in the residence halls.

For Arroyo Grande resident, Zoe Paulsen, there wasn't much concern about distance from home, but for her father, and with Zoe being the only daughter, it's bittersweet.

"I think it's a good distance, it's not like out of state it's not like close, it's a good medium," Zoe said.

"I'm excited about it we always, we'd like to keep her at home but I think this is the right place for her," said Zoe's father, Aaron Paulsen.

Some students even followed in their parents footsteps and came to Chico State as a college legacy.

A student from San Francisco, said her decision was mostly unitentional, but was lucky enough to move in alongside her older brother who transferred to Chico State this year.

"I'm excited I mean I know he's kinda gonna do his own thing, but at the end of the day it's pretty cool... Chico family - my mom went to Chico too," said San Francisco resident, Elise Stewart.

Huyck encourages students and parents to be patient and to know, for some, it's going to be an emotional time.

She shared some words of advice for the incoming students, "It's just about getting involved and putting yourself out there and getting involved in the programs that we have available to students for them to get to know each ther and to feel more like home here."

Huyck said, instead of moving in 2,000 students in one day, the university decided to split it up into two days.

After the amount of traffic that affected the community last year, the housing department said they are excited about this possibility.This post is by Dez-Ann Romain, Principal of Brooklyn Democracy Academy , a transfer high school in Brooklyn, NY.

Todays post is the practitioner perspective on Mondays post: Persisting Students Pathways and Experiences Through High School

While New York City has seen a large rise in graduation rates over the last decade, there is still a sizeable percentage of students who do not graduate on time. According to analysis from the Research Alliance for New York City Schools , there are about 12,000 persisting students per entering classor about one in fivewho fall behind and end up persisting into a fifth or sixth year of high school. Transfer schools serve these students and others who are considered high needs for a variety of reasons. These schools are one of the myriad of ways the NYC Department of Education works to address hurdles often associated with race, equity, diversity, and access throughout the educational system.

Transfer schools create individualized plans to support persisting students on their journey to graduation and beyond. While there are a number of specific models, transfer schools are typically a small community by design, with about 150 to 220 students, small classroom sizes, tailored instruction, college and career exploration, onsite Community Based Organization (CBO) supports, and paid Learn to Work internships. My school, Brooklyn Democracy Academy , is a transfer high school that serves a population of 212 persisting students. These students, who generally fall in the age range of 17-21, are referred to the program by staff members in their high school, family members, peers, and/or the NYC enrollment offices. Our CBO assists with interviewing every potential student and guardian during our intake process. It is during this process that the initial bonds or relationships are developed between transfer school staff, students, and families so we can assess a students fit for the program and communicate the importance of perseverance once they are enrolled.

For those of us working in transfer schools every day, it is important to have research that explores our students needs, emphasizes promising strategies, and creates suggestions for improving the work and systems of transfer schools and other alternative programs.

Use of Research Findings in Practice

The Research Alliances recent persisting students study  discussed in Mondays blog post  reinforced the importance of many of the strategies we use with our students. To understand the nature of a transfer school, its helpful to take a look inside. At our school, as you walk through the hallways at the start of the school day, there is a sense of calm that hangs in the air. Students walk past their teachers and say good morning as they go to the cafeteria to select their breakfast. They gather around, looking at the options provided, and discussing whether breakfast was better than the day before. Down the hall, you can hear students asking for a cup for water, a plate, a fork or a spoon, which gives staff time to bond with them through laughter. Throughout the day, the sense of calm crescendos into an excited buzz that reflects an innumerable amount of emotions from our students. Not one student will walk through this hallway unknown, for they arent just students. Indeed, they are family.

As educators and school leaders, it is our job to utilize these moments to connect with students with a simple word, a smile, a hug, a conversation, a look. These moments, though seemingly informal, can be the difference between a student attending school or not, going to class regularly or not, and ultimately whether they graduate from high school, are gainfully employed, and/or attend college. It is imperative to consistently communicate to students how important they are by routinely making decisions that are based on their needs.

The Research Alliances research underscores why this work is so importantand challenging. Researchers noted that persisting students are often chronically absent early in their high school career and struggle academically in middle school. Persisting students are also likely to be living in poverty and struggle to maintain relationships with school staff prior to transfer school enrollment. Transfer schools work with students dealing with a host of challenges, and it is our job to continuously find ways to create interventions that help students achieve social-emotional and academic success. Many of us who work with these students rely on rigorous research to inform our strategies, and weve learned that relationships, consistency, and innovation make a difference for persisting students.

At the system level, this research can help illuminate how students and their families are being identified, educated, and referred to transfer programs, as each program is as different as the students that are enrolled. Furthermore, research highlighting the work that is done in transfer schools and the experiences of persisting studentsconsidering the challenges that both parties faceis critical to inform policymakers ongoing discussions around accountability measures that encompass qualitative, quantitative, traditional, and non-traditional data.

Future Work

As educators move forward and research continues to tell us more about persisting students and which practices serve them most effectively, there are several questions that researchers, policymakers, and practitioners should explore. These include:



How can we advance a system that helps identify, educate, and refer persisting students to promising alternative high school programs? What are the best accountability measures policymakers can establish to measure the work of alternative programs like transfer schools? What role do transfer schools play in addressing some of the race, equity, and access barriers of NYC education system?

All of these questions are important guiding inquiries that can inform those seeking to effectively serve persisting students.

Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Democracy AcademyUPDATE 4:31 p.m. Thursday, August 23, 2018 - Police have identified the decedent as Burl William Hall II, 32, of Shasta Lake.

Hall suffered from a traumatic gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene.

---

REDDING, Calif. - A man shot and killed another man yesterday in Redding after the victim was allegedly attacking him and an infant baby he was holding.

Travis William Hutchinson, 31, of Tehama County, was helping a girlfriend's cousin study for a math test when a man already at the residence got into a fight with several other individuals that were at the house.

The men fighting left the house after the homeowner threatened to call police and continued to fight outside.

Hutchinson stepped out onto the porch to try to convince the men to stop fighting, but it made one of the men angry and he then started to attack Hutchinson. He charged Hutchinson and began striking him in the head and face while he was holding an infant.

During the attack, the infant slipped out of his hands, but he was able to catch the baby before it struck the concrete porch in front of the residence. Hutchinson continued to be attacked by the man.

Hutchinson - who was armed with a concealed handgun and is a lawful concealed weapons holder - fired one round at the man, stopping the attack.

The decedent was struck in the chest and pronounced dead at the scene. Police noted later that the decedent has a lengthy criminal history and was a registered sex offender.

Hutchinson gave a statement to the police that was consistent with the information provided by witnesses of the shooting and was ultimately released.

Hutchinson received minor injuries and the infant was not injured.OROVILLE, Calif. -- On Tuesday night, an open house in Oroville is breaking down the plans for a project that will improve road safety on Highway 70, just south of Oroville.

Tuesday's open house is another important step in potentially saving lives on this dangerous stretch of road.

This expansion has been a long time coming, 30 years to be exact.

Highway 70 has seen 35 deaths since 2010 between Oroville and Marysville.

About $147 million will go towards widening the highway to five lanes for 11 miles between Oroville and the Yuba County line.

Caltrans and Butte County Association of Governments employees are answering any questions the public might have at the Southside Oroville Community Center.

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Twitter: @LauraEngNewsWith the Carr Fire nearing containment, its effects will be felt long after the flames are extinguished.

And while some people lost everything, the fire is also taking its toll on small businesses especially those that depend on the outdoors to make a living.

Miles of the river trail are closed indefinitely, which is expected to adversely affect businesses that cater to cyclists on the trails.

Those that have mountain bike sales that's the heart of their business really concerned about what the future will hold for them, Chamber of Commerce president Jake Mangas said.

Another industry that has been hit hard is the fishing and tourism industry.

Outfitters at the Fly Shop in Redding say they've been vetting calls almost everyday from people concerned about how the fire will affect their upcoming fishing trips.

In regards to our business, you know it's mainly the smoke, assistant outfitter Zachary Miller said. We've had quite the reduction in business in the last couple of weeks due to the fire which has been devastating to us.

Miller says they've had some people cancel their trips, but a good majority of them have been understanding and are rescheduling for a later date.

But, for anglers counting on those trips for their livelihood, they're taking a hit.

Still, Miller says he thinks they'll see a boom once the smoke clears.

But right now, it's looking like it's going to be a good fall for fishing and whatnot and just overall recreation, he said. So I think we're in the clear for that.

And while many businesses will have a tough time recovering, Mangas says others will flourish.

On the flipside, there is a lot of insurance money that will be flowing through into this community, circulating in this community in certain industries certainly related to recovery and reconstruction, he said.

Mangas says as the the smoke clears, hopefully people will slowly start to come back to the area to recreate.UPDATE 4:10 p.m. Thursday, August 23, 2018 - The Shasta County Sheriff's Office have positively identified the victim in the homicide as Anna Louise Coker, 50, of Shingletown.

---

SHASTA COUNTY, Calif. - A Shingletown man was arrested on suspicion of killing his girlfriend and burning her body in Lassen National Forest.

On Thursday, August 16th, detectives with the Shasta County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to an area west of Battle Breek Reservoir in Lassen National Forest for a possible homicide associated to a wildland fire.

Detectives found the burnt body of an apparent adult female located in a rock crevice in the same area as the wildland fire.

Due to extensive burns, she has not been positively identified, however, detectives believe they know the decedents identity based upon facts, evidence and statements that they obtained during the investigation.

The detectives have been in contact with family members of the believed decedent. The family members provided Action News Now with a photo of Anna Coker, who they believe is the victim.

On Saturday, August 18, Frank Alexander Berry, 48, of Shingletown, was arrested in connection to the crime as detectives believe he has been in contact with the decedent over the past several weeks in a dating relationship.

Upon contact with Berry, detectives found him wearing a hat, glasses, fake mustache and had colored his eyebrows with a felt marker in an apparent attempt to disguise his identity as he was made aware that detectives were looking for him throughout the day.

Berry was also armed when detectives arrested him.

Stay with KHSL CBS Channel 12 and actionnewsnow.com for all of the latest updates as they become available.







The South China Morning Post has reported that a Chinese drug company produced nearly 500,000 substandard vaccines for babies, roughly double an earlier estimate by authorities investigating a safety scandal. Chinas drug regulator in July accused Changchun Changsheng Bio-technology of selling 252,600 doses of ineffective DPT vaccines to inoculate children against diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus. Further investigations found that the company had produced an additional substandard batch of DPT vaccines, raising the total to 499,800 doses, says thereport.

The vaccine maker in question, Changchun Changsheng Bio-technology, after an official investigation, wasalso found to have been forging production data for more than four years. An investigation team, set up by the Chinese government had found that the vaccine maker had mixed some batches of its rabies vaccines with expired products and had not recorded incorrect dates or batch numbers and kept improper records since April 2014. It had also made about 252,600 ineffective vaccines for diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus that were given to hundreds of thousands of babies  some as young as three months old.

Reports say China has already begun a recall on the faulty batches, it had even notified countries that imported the questionable vaccines. It was reported that India had even banned importation of rabies vaccine from the company, owing to the scandal.Dozens of parents who said their children had been affected by theshots protested outside the National Health Commission in Beijing last week, asking for compensation for their childrens medical bills and access to quality vaccines.

China's President Xi Jinping decried the situation, assuring a thorough investigation on the matter, but that seems to be medicine after death as some parents say they have no more faith in the system. In addition, Naturalnews.com reports that the government of China is currently being criticized for being more concerned about saving face than making things right with the children who were subjected to the faulty vaccines. Quoting Yanzhong Huang writing for the Nikkei Asian Review, it says:

Officials have reportedly restricted news coverage and censors have swiftly scrubbed away widely shared essays and posts criticizing the government or spreading bad news. Even news reports from state-owned publications, such as an investigation into Wuhan Institutes substandard vaccines by the newspaper Economic Observer, have been taken down.

The state media has been accused of not putting priority in the reportage of the issue, rather they accuse groups of blowing the issue out of proportion and the government has also reportedly banned coverage of the vaccines.

Scmp.com reports that Fu King-wa, an assistant professor who heads a project, monitoring censorship on Weibo (Chinas version of twitter), reports that the rate at which posts related to the scandal were being screened peaked on Sunday. For every 10,000 posts made across the 120,000 accounts monitored, an average of 63 were blocked, he said.

One post that was removed by the censors said: People from the drug and vaccine regulator should resign immediately, this is shameful!















PLEASE NOTE: The following article doesn't reflect the views of The Canadian or its writers





Are you an average guy who likes to abuse his wife?





After all, I'm Jamaican. I can't help myself.





Let me tell you about a great experience I had with an Ottawa cop who helped me abuse my wife and kept my meddling son from stopping me.





His name is Detective Robert Griffin of the Ottawa Police.





Back in 2015, I thought that I was in trouble when social service workers wanted to check and see how my wife was doing.





The social service workers were going to testify against me with my son in Court about how I been keeping basic medicine and other stuff they wanted to deliver to my wife.





That's when Detective Robert Griffin saved the day.





He marched down there like any guy who shares my views on the right of a man to do what he wants in his home, and told those social service workers to back off.





Too bad that my wife can no longer walk, talk or write. Hey, it's not my fault she can't take some action.





She kept crying to see her son.Give me a brake!! But thanks to the moral support of Detective Robert Griffin and his friends down at the Ottawa Police that will never happen.















Ontario's new Premier Ford wants his government will deliver on its pledge to create a regional transportation system, but will first consult with Toronto and other municipalities in the area. Ford says it would be a benefit to Toronto if the province took over the city's transit system, something Premier Doug Ford promised to do during the spring election campaign.



Ford's idea to create an integrate a regional transit system sounds good. Sure, in theory, the idea of commuters being able to travel from Mississauga to Newmarket to Oshawa and back into Toronto sounds like a very forward thinking concept. But Ford's idea of basically destroying and replacing the extremely experienced and North American award-winning Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) with a far less experienced and comparatively incompetent Government of Ontario owed system would be a horrific idea.



I used to live in Thornhill and in Richmond Hill and have travelled on the provincial owned GO system for years. Have you been on a system owned by the Government of Ontario? Horrible and disorganized service - Queen's Park bureaucrats don't know what they're doing.

I wouldn't be surprised if Ford's real agenda is to sell the TTC to one of his friends who then tears up the street cars and then cuts service, and then slap the name of "Ontario Government" on this capitalist venture so Ford can make it look like he fulfilled a campaign promise.



I have a much better idea than Ford's. Tell me what you think.

The TTC has already been forward-thinking enough to extend the subway into Vaughan which is in York Region. If Ford was actually smart and not trying to pull the wool over Greater Toronto Area residents, why not ask the TTC to take over and run a regional transportation system.

Let's replace the "GO Train" and the "GO Bus" which are pathetically inconvenient, along with all those horrible transit systems in Brampton, Mississauga, York Region and in Durham Region. The TTC could create separate departmental structures for each part of the region ie TTC York Region, TTC Mississauga and Peel Region, and TTC Pickering, Durham Region and Oshawa. Each of these regions would benefit from the TTC's many years of experience which would create a regional system which works for everyone in the GTA.















Are you in Ottawa and seek to get your toe in the book self-publishing industry?



Are you self-motivated and have a passion for the world of book publishing?



Do you have a very friendly yet very professional demeanour?



Are you great at closing deals with clients?



Are you a great writer who can prepare excellent emails that will grab the attention of clients?



AgoraPublishing.com is seeking freelancers who can close deals with writers in Ottawa and elsewhere as Virtual Assistants (Freelancers).



Virtual Assistants would mostly close deals via email. But if the writer is in Ottawa, they might elect to meet that writer at a local cafe to expedite the closing of a deal.

Are you in Ottawa and seek to get your toe in the book self-publishing industry?



Are you self-motivated and have a passion for the world of book publishing?



Do you have a very friendly yet very professional demeanour?



Are you great at closing deals with clients?



Are you a great writer who can prepare excellent emails that will grab the attention of clients?



AgoraPublishing.com is seeking freelancers who can close deals with writers in Ottawa and elsewhere as Virtual Assistants (Freelancers).



Virtual Assistants would mostly close deals via email. But if the writer is in Ottawa, they might elect to meet that writer at a local cafe to expedite the closing of a deal.The Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) took delivery of the first of two new "Air Force One", a modified Boeing 777-300ER jet airliner which will be used by the country's government for VIP transport, the service announced on August 17 on its Facebook page.

Japan's first Boeing 777-300ER dedicated to VIP transport landed at Chitose Airbase on August 17

(Credit; JASDF)

The aircraft will not enter service within the Special Airlift Squadron, at Chitose Airbase, before next fiscal year, the JASDF said. Interior outfitting of the aircraft, including necessary modifications for installing VIP cabin, administrative office and meeting rooms was completed by Jet Aviation in Basel, Switzerland. The second aircraft will be delivered in December.



Japan launched the acquisition process for two Boeing 777-300ER in 2014 to replace a pair of 747-400s in service since 1991. All Nippon Airways (ANA) will provide maintenance service for the aircraft, the government then announced.



The Japanese government reportedly favored the 777 instead of the Airbus A350 because due to its capabilities being closer to those of the 747. The 777-300ER ("ER" for Extended Range) features a higher MTOW and increased fuel capacity which permits a maximum range of 13,650 km.Ministry of Defence of Latvia is currently looking into possibility of signing an intergovernmental agreement with the US for purchase of four new medium-lift utility helicopters UH-60M Black Hawk worth around 175 million (US$ 202 million). Black Hawks would replace the existing helicopters and boost the combat capabilities of National Armed Forces.

US Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters carrying distinguished visitors arrive for Army Day 2018, Feb. 9, 2018, Kuwait Naval Base, Kuwait

(Credit: U.S. Army photo/Sgt. 1st Class Ty McNeeley)

Replacement of helicopters is crucial. Rotorcraft will not only be used for different military purposes, it will also be utilised during civilian operations, serving the public needs, underlines Defence Minister Raimonds Bergmanis.



After the signing of intergovernmental agreement, National Armed Forces will receive rotorcraft, associated equipment and installation services, training of pilots, crew members and technical personnel, spare parts and maintenance, full technical documentation and software licenses. The deal will possibly be co-financed by the US from its support programmes.



After evaluating available types of medium-lift utility helicopters, it was concluded that UH-60M Black Hawk match the identified Latvian National Armed Force military and civilian requirements. The key advantage of UH-60M Black Hawk is its build and life cycle. The primary purpose of Black Hawk is military crisis. Acquisition of such rotorcraft would ensure compatibility with the US forces stationed in the region and would allow to continue the existing joint training programmes between military units.



Purchase of UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters would ensure rapid response and lift capabilities, enabling armed forces to reach its identified operational goals. It would also ensure capability to provide troop and equipment lift, crisis support, medical evacuation, search and rescue, and other support missions, including aerial firefighting, in all weather conditions. UH-60M Black Hawk can be equipped with necessary combat weapons systems.



According to plans, National Armed Forces will receive its first UH-60M Black Hawks in 2021. The total amount of contract would reach around 175 million, VAT included.



The US government will provide crucial long-term assistance, helping National Armed Forces learn how to operate the rotorcraft, maintain and use the associated equipment. US Armed Force Black Hawk helicopter units are already rotating to Lielvarde Air Base since 2015, which will ensure that the introduction and operation of rotorcraft by Latvian military will be a lot smoother.



Latvia will continue to close collaborate with the US military and Michigan National Guard on training of helicopter pilots and technical staff. Both sides will also continue joint tactical exercise to ensure the appropriate return from acquisition of rotorcraft. Due to these factors, and the fact that Black Hawk would enable NAF to meet its goals in the best possible way, the signing of the intergovernmental agreement for purchase of UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters would be the most appropriate decision.



Lt Gen Leonids Kalnins, Chief of the Defence Staff, made a working visit to USA on 11-17 August. While in the US, Lt Gen Kalnins visited Grand Ledge Aviation Base in Michigan to discuss with his US colleagues the capabilities, maintenance, pilot training and logistics support for acquisition of UH-60M Black Hawk.



UH-60M is the third generation Black Hawk helicopter introduced by the US Armed Forces 11 years ago. US Armed Forces are currently gradually implementing full transition to the new type of Black Hawk helicopters. In comparison with previous generation rotorcraft UH-60L, UH-60M has more powerful engine, better seats and improved survivability. Instruments are fully digitalised and flight planning and control has been simplified. UH-60M has new, composite blades and integrated control system, which gives constant updates on helicopters performance.The other day when I was travelling through Paniar, a small town in Punjab, I learned that this town, and the whole area around it, used to be one of the largest refugee camps in the state. This would have been decades ago, at the time of the independence in 1947. The elderly still remember the heartrending stories of the refugees, who took shelter themselves or were brought there by state agencies. Even the Prime Minister at the time visited this refugee camp. Locals often supported and helped those in the camp. Today, however, we read the stories of the refugees, in one country or the other, living lives of misery and utter neglect.

Refugee  the word itself describes pain, agony, hopelessness, uncertainty and darkness. A refugee is someone who has been forced to flee his or her home because of persecution, war or violence. There is a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group. Refugees are vulnerable, having lost all their belongings and livelihood. They need help regaining their voice, becoming self-reliant and rebuilding their lives. They are scared to return home in any circumstances.

According to different reports two-thirds of all refugees worldwide come from just five countries: Syria, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Myanmar and Somalia. By the end of year 2017, 68.5 million individuals had been forcibly displaced worldwide as a result of persecution, conflict, violence or human rights violations. Each day war and violence force thousands of families to flee their homes in search of safety.

Across the globe, 1 person in every 110 is an asylum-seeker, an internally displaced person or a refugee. Nearly 3 million more people fled their countries in 2017 compared to 2016  the greatest year increase ever seen. More than half of all refugees are women and children. When forced to flee, women and children are among the most vulnerable to sexual and gender-based violence.

Reports say that India is home to over 3 lakh refugees from more than 30 countries. Over 1.1 million Rohingya Muslims live here after being forced to flee Myanmar following the brutal campaign of violence by the Myanmar army, followed by Afghan asylum-seekers, who continued to arrive in increasing numbers.

In the Bible, Moses was a refugee, who fled from Egypt because the locals threatened to kill him. Moses was not an Egyptian. He was forced to flee for his life but God sent him back to deliver the people of Israel from slavery and lead across the Red Sea. That day the LORD saved Israel from the power of Egypt.

In the book of Exodus, it is written, Dont oppress an immigrant..... and Leviticus 19:33-34 says, When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.

God is always with those suffering from disasters and He wants us also to help those in such need. They are worthy of respect and dignity. We need to recognise this strong biblical mandate to love, welcome and advocate on behalf of asylum seekers, refugees and migrants.

The Church needs to respond to this crisis openheartedly with the love and care. Let the whole world know that everyone, even refugees, deserve to live with peace, security, and dignity. The cries of refugees need to be heard.

-Alwan Masih, General Secretary for the Church of North India Synod(ANSA) - Rome, August 23 - Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said Thursday all 150 migrants on board the coast guard ship Diciotti were illegals and that he responded to the Italian people as he pursued an Australian-style immigration policy.

"My objective is the Australian No Way (policy)," he said.

"They are all illegal immigrants on the Dicotti." "Italy is no longer Europe's refugee camp".

With my authorisation on the Diciotti, no one gets off".

Salvini said he responded to a mandate given by Italians in the March general election amid the row over the 148 migrants he is keeping aboard the Diciotti until the EU agrees to redistribute them.

"I respond to the mandate which the Italians gave me on March 4," said the leader of the anti-migrant Euroskeptic League party.

"They are asking me for more security".

Salvini has faced off against House Speaker Roberto Fico, of his ruling partner the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S), who says the migrants should be let off the boat and then EU agreement sought.

Salvini said Thursday Fico has done the "opposite" of the M5S in urging migrants aboard a coast guard ship to be allowed to land.

"I'm working very well with (M5S leader) Luigi Di Maio," said Salvini.

"Others have a lot of time to speak, I'm thinking of the House Speaker, who every so often says and does the exact opposite of other M5S exponents.

"It's a problem that they will resolve".

Salvini also said he was not afraid of intervention by President Sergio Mattarella in the case.

The minister said "I'm absolutely not afraid of anything" when asked if Mattarella might intervene as he did some weeks ago.

"My conscience is more than clear.

"Yesterday I spoke to Premier (Giuseppe) Conte, who is someone I'm working very well with and with whom we have been in perfect harmony for two and a half months." An Agrigento prosecutor is probing the case for alleged abduction.

The migrants have been aboard the Diciotti for a week and in Catania harbour for three days.

Some 27 migrant children were allowed to disembark on Wednesday night. Australia pushes back migrant boats from Asia to islands north of Australia. Salvini said in an interview with RTL that he aimed to bring in a policy modelled on the Australian stance.

"No migrant rescued at sea sets foot in Australia," he said in commenting on the issue of allowing ships carrying migrants to dock in Italian ports. There will be no more migrant-landing standoffs like that involving the Diciotti if the EU's Dublin regulation is reformed, European Parliament President Antonio Tajani said Thursday.

"If member States had followed the EP's proposal to reform Dublin the Diciotti problem would already be resolved," he said.

"This is the key to the solution," Tajani said, because "it envisages the immediate resettlement of the migrants".

The Visegrad Group - Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia - who are against the reform "must take on the problem...or be sanctioned," Tajani said.

"I will continue to wage this battle at the next EU summit", he told ANSA.

The migrants were fed and clothed by Maltese ships after being located in Maltese waters August 15 before being led into Italian waters.

A German interior ministry spokesman told ANSA Thursday that Berlin had yet to decide on taking in any of the 150 migrants aboard the Diciotti.

"A decision on reception has yet to be taken," he said.

"Fundamentally Germany is up for its humanitarian responsibility in the framework of European solidarity.

"But we are waiting for other member States to also take part in the action of reception".

He said "solidarity cannot be a one-way street".

A dinghy carrying members of Italy's Anti-racism Network tried to reach the Diciotti on Thursday.

The dinghy was stopped by police.

A delegation from Italy's guarantor of personal rights office on Thursday boarded the Diciotti to inspect the conditions of the migrants.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) on Thursday urged the Italian government to let the 150 migrants land.

In a statement, the two bodies said they "urge the Italian government to allow the refugees and migrants rescued on board the Italian coast guard ship Diciotti to disembark".

(ANSA) - Florence, August 22 - An Austrian couple on their honeymoon in the Tuscan capital were caught by local police at 1:45 PM on Wednesday writing on the historic Ponte Vecchio.

A report has been filed against them. The 39-year-old woman and 46-year-old man had used a marker to write their names in a heart on a wall of the bridge. They were caught in flagrante, however, and now will be subject to up to a year in jail and a fine of up to 3,000 euros.

The newlyweds said that they thought it was simply a romantic gesture.

(ANSA) - Rome, August 22 - Libya will refuse "all initiatives aimed at repatriating migrants to its territory", Foreign Minister Muhammad Sayala said Wednesday.

Sayala, a member of the national unity government, told the LANA news agency that "Libya will in no way accept what is being reported by some news outlets regarding the repatriation of illegal migrants towards the North African countries they have come from".

Interior Minister Matteo Salvini has said Italy will send back 177 migrants to Libya unless the EU agrees to redistribute them.

They are currently at Catania but have been prevented from landing pending the EU's response.

(ANSA) - Rome, August 23 - Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said Thursday all 150 migrants on board the coast guard ship Diciotti were illegals and that he answered to the Italian people as he pursued an Australian-style immigration policy.

"My objective is the Australian No Way (policy)," he said.

"They are all illegal immigrants on the Diciotti." "Italy is no longer Europe's refugee camp".

With my authorisation on the Diciotti, no one gets off".

Salvini said he responded to a mandate given by Italians in the March general election amid the row over the 148 migrants he is keeping aboard the Diciotti until the EU agrees to redistribute them.

"I respond to the mandate which the Italians gave me on March 4," said the leader of the anti-migrant Euroskeptic League party.

"They are asking me for more security".

Salvini has faced off against House Speaker Roberto Fico, of his ruling partner the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S), who says the migrants should be let off the boat and then EU agreement sought.

Salvini said Thursday Fico has done the "opposite" of the M5S in urging migrants aboard a coast guard ship to be allowed to land.

"I'm working very well with (M5S leader) Luigi Di Maio," said Salvini.

"Others have a lot of time to speak, I'm thinking of the House Speaker, who every so often says and does the exact opposite of other M5S exponents.

"It's a problem that they will resolve".

Salvini also said he was not afraid of intervention by President Sergio Mattarella in the case.

The minister said "I'm absolutely not afraid of anything" when asked if Mattarella might intervene as he did some weeks ago.

"My conscience is more than clear.

"Yesterday I spoke to Premier (Giuseppe) Conte, who is someone I'm working very well with and with whom we have been in perfect harmony for two and a half months." An Agrigento prosecutor is probing the case for alleged abduction.

Other prosecutors are also investigating in Plermo and Catania.

The migrants have been aboard the Diciotti for a week and in Catania harbour for three days.

Some 27 migrant children were allowed to disembark on Wednesday night.

"We picked up 27 skeletons," rescuers said.

"The skinniest weighed 30 kilos," they said.

"One of them couldn't see very well, he had dilated pupils, he told me he had been detained for a year," said MSF psychologist Nathalie Leiba. Australia pushes back all sea-borne migrants to Pacific islands north of Australia: Nauru and the Manu Islands in Papua New Guinea.

Salvini said in an interview with RTL that he aimed to bring in a policy modelled on the Australian stance.

"No migrant rescued at sea sets foot in Australia," he said in commenting on the issue of allowing ships carrying migrants to dock in Italian ports. There will be no more migrant-landing standoffs like that involving the Diciotti if the EU's Dublin regulation is reformed, European Parliament President Antonio Tajani said Thursday.

"If member States had followed the EP's proposal to reform Dublin the Diciotti problem would already be resolved," he said.

"This is the key to the solution," Tajani said, because "it envisages the immediate resettlement of the migrants".

The Visegrad Group - Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia - who are against the reform "must take on the problem...or be sanctioned," Tajani said.

"I will continue to wage this battle at the next EU summit", he told ANSA.

The migrants were fed and clothed by Maltese ships after being located in Maltese waters August 15 before being led into Italian waters.

A German interior ministry spokesman told ANSA Thursday that Berlin had yet to decide on taking in any of the 150 migrants aboard the Diciotti.

"A decision on reception has yet to be taken," he said.

"Fundamentally Germany is up for its humanitarian responsibility in the framework of European solidarity.

"But we are waiting for other member States to also take part in the action of reception".

He said "solidarity cannot be a one-way street".

A dinghy carrying members of Italy's Anti-racism Network tried to reach the Diciotti on Thursday.

The dinghy was stopped by police.

A delegation from Italy's guarantor of personal rights office on Thursday boarded the Diciotti to inspect the conditions of the migrants.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) on Thursday urged the Italian government to let the 150 migrants land.

In a statement, the two bodies said they "urge the Italian government to allow the refugees and migrants rescued on board the Italian coast guard ship Diciotti to disembark".

(ANSA) - Rome, August 23 - Police units working to protect Rome historical monuments over the night between Tuesday and Wednesday fined a 29-year-old Egyptian tourist who had dipped her feet in the Trevi Fountain.

She was fined 450 euros. Shortly afterwards those near the Spanish Steps found a 20-year-old Rome resident originally from Sri Lanka who had decided to make a toast with champagne on the steps. Local police stopped and fined him.

(ANSA) - Rome, August 23 - Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said in an interview with RTL that he aimed to bring in a policy modelled on the Australian 'No Way' stance. "No migrant rescued at sea sets foot in Australia," he said in commenting on the issue of allowing ships carrying migrants to dock in Italian ports.

ROME - Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said Thursday all 148 migrants on board the coast guard ship Diciotti were illegals and that he responded to the Italian people as he pursued an Australian-style immigration policy.

"My objective is the Australian No Way (policy)," he said.

"They are all illegal immigrants on the Dicotti." "Italy is no longer Europe's refugee camp".

With my authorisation on the Diciotti, no one gets off".

Salvini said he responded to a mandate given by Italians in the March general election amid the row over the 148 migrants he is keeping aboard the Diciotti until the EU agrees to redistribute them.

"I respond to the mandate which the Italians gave me on March 4," said the leader of the anti-migrant Euroskeptic League party.

"They are asking me for more security".

Salvini has faced off against House Speaker Roberto Fico, of his ruling partner the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S), who says the migrants should be let off the boat and then EU agreement sought.

Salvini said Thursday Fico has done the "opposite" of the M5S in urging migrants aboard a coast guard ship to be allowed to land.

"I'm working very well with (M5S leader) Luigi Di Maio," said Salvini.

"Others have a lot of time to speak, I'm thinking of the House Speaker, who every so often says and does the exact opposite of other M5S exponents.

"It's a problem that they will resolve".

Salvini also said he was not afraid of intervention by President Sergio Mattarella in the case.

The minister said "I'm absolutely not afraid of anything" when asked if Mattarella might intervene as he did some weeks ago.

"My conscience is more than clear.

"yesterday I spoke to Premier (Giuseppe) Conte, who is someone I'm working very well with and with whom we have been in perfect harmony for two and a half months." An Agrigento prosecutor is probing the case for alleged abduction.

The migrants have been aboard the Diciotti for a week and in Catania harbour for three days.

Some 29 migrant children were allowed to disembark on Wednesday night. Australia pushes back migrant boats from Asia to islands north of Australia. Salvini said in an interview with RTL that he aimed to bring in a policy modelled on the Australian stance.

"No migrant rescued at sea sets foot in Australia," he said in commenting on the issue of allowing ships carrying migrants to dock in Italian ports. There will be no more migrant-landing standoffs like that involving the Diciotti if the EU's Dublin regulation is reformed, European Parliament President Antonio Tajani said Thursday.

"If member States had followed the EP's proposal to reform Dublin the Diciotti problem would already be resolved," he said.

"This is the key to the solution," Tajani said, because "it envisages the immediate resettlement of the migrants".

The Visegrad Group - Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia - who are against the reform "must take on the problem...or be sanctioned," Tajani said.

"I will continue to wage this battle at the next EU summit", he told ANSA.

The migrants were fed and clothed by Maltese ships after being located in Maltese waters August 15 before being led into Italian waters.Israel greenlights 1,000 West Bank settler homes, NGO 382 get final approval, initial plans for 620

(ANSAmed) - TEL AVIV, AUGUST 23 - The Israeli National Building Commission has approved plans for the building of 1,004 new homes in Jewish settlements in the West Bank, 96% of which in isolated areas.



Reports were from an Israeli NGO. According to the figures provided by The Times of Israel, about 382 of them have been granted final authorization and the other 620 are still at an initial phase. Among the latter are 370 in a settlement named Adam, where last month an Israeli man was killed in a Palestinian attack. Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman had said that he would push forward on the plan for building the settler homes after the attack. (ANSAmed).



(by Patrizia Antonini)

BRUSSELS - The European Commission will be holding a mini-summit on Friday, August 24, to discuss solutions concerning ports where migrants rescued in the Mediterranean Sea could be disembarked. The EU is working on the Diciotti case, it said, but noted that ad hoc measures were not enough and that there is the need for ''structural'' solutions. The Migration and Home Affairs Directorate-General is holding the meeting, to which the advisors for European Affairs of 12 countries known as the 'axis of the willing' have been invited: Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Spain, Portugal, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium, Malta, Greece and Ireland. Several cases seen in recent weeks - such as those of the Aquarius, Protector and Monte Sperone ships - required help from the EU on the request of Italian prime minister Giuseppe Conte.

Thus, some sort of at least temporary solution is needed to deal with further ones that may arise, to stop dealing with each as simply an emergency case. The discussion on regional platforms for landings - one of the pillars of the 28-member structural solution - has only just started after a meeting in Geneva in late July. There does not seem to be much desire to work on talks to reform the Dublin Regulations - another pillar - which have been stalled for over two and a half years despite repeated attempts by the various six-month rotating presidencies of the European Council. Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Malta, Estonia, and Bulgaria have all tried to advance the talks on reforming the regulations and now it is Austria's turn under Chancellor Sebastian Kurz.

Kurz is known for not being a fan of the migrant relocation plan set forth in the reform discussed by the EU Commission but will be the one discussing the issue at the EU 28 summit in Salzburg on September 20. The management of migration flows, Migration Commission Dimitris Avramopoulos has stressed, is not the responsibility of one or only a few countries and is instead that of the European Union in its entirety.

Following Nehrus visit, Bhutan launched its first Five Year Plan in 1961, which, along with the second, was financed by India.

Thimphu: Describing Buddhism as one of Indias greatest gifts to Bhutan, the Himalayan nations queen mother said on Thursday that the ancient religion is the unchanging constant in the deep bond between the two neighbours.

It is a matter of immense satisfaction and happiness for the people of Bhutan and India that our two countries enjoy excellent and exemplary friendship - a friendship that is anchored in unwavering trust, goodwill, understanding, and mutually beneficial cooperation, Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk said.

She was delivering the opening address at the ninth edition of the Mountain Echoes Literary Festival that is celebrating 50 years of the establishment of formal diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Following the arrival of Buddhism, great Buddhist masters from India, most notably Guru Padmasambhava, travelled to Bhutan. The teachings of Lord Buddha and Guru Padmasambhava continue to influence the lives of every Bhutanese, she said. It is my belief that Buddhism  our shared spiritual heritage  is the unchanging constant in our age-old relationship, the Queen Mother said.

She added that the relationship between India and Bhutan draws it strength from the rich tapestry of shared cultural and historical heritages.

She recalled the time when the Third King of Bhutan and Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru laid the foundation of India-Bhutan relations.

Following Nehrus visit, Bhutan launched its first Five Year Plan in 1961, which, along with the second, was financed by India. It was during this period that the first motorable roads, schools and hospitals were built in Bhutan, she said.

The Queen Mother also credited India for Bhutans admission to the United Nations as a member on September 21, 1971. India had sponsored the membership.

Subsequently, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, followed in the footsteps of his predecessor, and forged friendships with successive Indian leaders. Achievements during this period include the commissioning of a series of hydropower projects in Bhutan, the first being the Chhukha Hydropower Project. His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo envisioned hydropower as the backbone of Bhutanese economy. And, India continued to be our largest development partner and their aid almost doubled every five year plan, the Queen Mother said.

In 2003, the two countries faced a threat from militants who entered Bhutan. In a departure from all norms, His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo led a small group of Bhutanese army from the front to flush out the militants from the Bhutanese soil as the last option. It is a reflection of the commitment of highest order to the friendship towards the people of India by His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, the Queen Mother said.The company had announced that it will hire about 10,000 locals and establish multiple technology and innovation hubs across the US.

India's second largest IT services firm Infosys has hired over 4,700 locals in the US since last year, including nearly 500 people for its technology hub in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo: AFP)

New Delhi: India's second largest IT services firm Infosys has hired over 4,700 locals in the US since last year, including nearly 500 people for its technology hub in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Last year, the company had announced that it will hire about 10,000 locals and establish multiple technology and innovation hubs across the US with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), user experience, emerging digital technologies, cloud, and big data.

These hubs have been set up in Indiana, Connecticut and Rhode Island. The latest one to open is in Raleigh, North Carolina. "Infosys announced that it has hired more than 4,700 Americans since Spring 2017, including nearly 500 in North Carolina, as part of the company's campaign to hire 10,000 Americans and accelerate the pace of innovation for American industry," the Bengaluru-based firm said in a statement.

The North Carolina Hub will help Infosys work more closely with clients in the region to develop cross-functional solutions to business challenges in areas like ML and AI among others, it added. The Hub will also train, upskill and reskill Infosys and client employees in the technologies required to help American businesses accelerate their digital transformations, the statement said.

Infosys Foundation USA is also providing multiple grants for classroom technology and computer science training to teachers and schools. To date, these grants have reached 3,938 students, 102 teachers and 94 schools across the state, it said.

"Supported by academic institutions in North Carolina and around the country, the Hub allows us to co-locate, co-innovate and co-create alongside our clients and build on our passion for creating the next generation of top US technology talent through world-class education and training," Infosys CEO Salil Parekh said.

Infosys, like many of its peers, has been ramping local hiring in key markets like the US, the UK and Australia to tackle increasing scrutiny around work visas by various governments.

This is also part of Infosys' three-pronged strategy of focussing on stabilising the company's business in 2018-19, build momentum the next year, followed by acceleration in 2020-21.He further said that pending the report Kochhar remains the CEO of ICICI Bank.

ICICI Bank Chairman GC Chaturvedi said on Thursday that the decision on continuance of managing director and CEO Chanda Kochhar will be taken after the Justice B N Srikrishna panel report -- probing certain allegations against her -- is finalised, which is likely in two-and-a-half months.

New Delhi: ICICI Bank Chairman GC Chaturvedi said on Thursday that the decision on continuance of managing director and CEO Chanda Kochhar will be taken after the Justice B N Srikrishna panel report -- probing certain allegations against her -- is finalised, which is likely in two-and-a-half months.

The former Supreme Court Judge is heading the panel which is probing the allegations of quid pro quo by Kochhar in sanctioning of a loan by ICICI Bank. He further said that pending the report Kochhar remains the CEO of ICICI Bank. Kochhar, however, is on indefinite leave following the conflict-of-interest allegations.

"The bank is yet to reply on Videocon notice by Sebi as we are waiting for Srikrishna panel report. We expect the Report in 2-2.5 months," he said on the sidelines of an event here.

On the latest quarterly losses posted by the bank, he said that they were due to RBI norms. The Reserve Bank of India should be open to reconsidering the one day default norms. Posting its first quarterly loss, ICICI Bank reported a net loss of Rs 119.5 crore for the three months to June due to higher provisioning for bad loans.

It had posted a net profit of Rs 2,049 crore in the year-ago period. However, on a consolidated basis, ICICI Group posted a meagre profit of Rs 4.93 crore, compared to Rs 2,604.73 crore a year ago. Kochhar and her family members are facing allegations of quid pro quo and conflict of interest with respect to a loan extended to certain entities, including the Videocon group.

Multiple agencies, including CBI and markets regulator Sebi, are already probing the alleged lapses involving Kochhar and her family members. The current tenure of Kochhar, who has been at the helm since 2009, ends next March.But no matter how tough the shoot may have been, Pankaj Kapurs thrilled to have been a part of it.

Director Ketan Mehta has made a short film based on Sadat Hasan Mantos story Toba Tek Singh, and hes got veteran actor Pankaj Kapur to play the iconic character of Bishen Singh.

Talking about the project, Mehta says, Its an hour-long film, and we shot it in 10 days. Budgets were non-existent and we were filming for virtually 24 hours a day. When I thought of Bishen Singhs character, I could only think of Pankaj Kapur. With his long beard, he looks like a mad man in the film.

But no matter how tough the shoot may have been, Pankaj Kapurs thrilled to have been a part of it. Based on what Ive read so far, there is no bigger story about the partition than Toba Tek Singh. The story has been close to my heart for years, and when Ketan came to me with the idea of making a film on it, I had to be a part of it, the actor says.

The story is based a couple of years post-partition when the Indian and Pakistani governments decided to exchange some Muslim, Sikh and Hindu lunatics. It focuses on Bishan Singh, a Sikh inmate of an asylum in Lahore and a native of the town of Toba Tek Singh. Bishan is sent with police escorts to India, but when hes told that his hometown lies in Pakistan, he refuses to leave.

Mehta has also introduced Manto himself as one of the characters in the story, and that character is played by Vinay Pathak. The film will soon be released on a digital platform.

 Sanskriti MediaReports from the state show that rakhis with pictures of Narendra Modi and Mamata Banerjee have flooded markets across West Bengal.

New Delhi: A fierce tug of war has begun between the BJP and the Trinamul Congress to woo the Hindu votebank in West Bengal. After competing against each other with rallies during Ram Navami, the political rivals have now locked horns over the coming Hindu festivals of Janmashtami and Raksha Bandhan. BJP MP Roopa Ganguly, meanwhile, claimed Wednesday that West Bengal was intended to be a state for Hindus and that India was divided to keep Muslims in Pakistan and Bangladesh.

On festivals, while the VHP had already announced it will organise Janmashtami celebrations on a massive scale across West Bengal on September 2, the Trinamul Congress will also celebrate Lord Krishnas birth. Reports from the state show that rakhis with pictures of Narendra Modi and Mamata Banerjee have flooded markets across West Bengal.

Speaking to this newspaper from Kolkata, Trinamul MLA Nirmal Majhi made it clear that the TMC has been celebrating Rakhi even before the party came to power in the state in 2011. On Janmashtami, he said he didnt find anything wrong in participating in the festival. He also pointed out that the BJP had never celebrated Janmashtami in West Bengal. Its a recent development to polarise votebanks. But it will not succeed, he said.

Theres no move to polarise the votebank, BJP state executive member Shishir Bajoria told this newspaper. Muslims celebrate Id, Christians celebrate Christmas, Sikhs celebrate Guru Nanaks birthday, so whats wrong if we celebrate Janmashtami, he asked, adding: The Leftists are atheists, but they also celebrate the birth anniversary of Karl Marx. Mr Bajoria said India is a free country, and people are free to celebrate the festivals of their faith. Theres no politics there. Earlier, speaking to the media, state minister Subrata Mukherjee made it clear that the Trinamul Congress reveres both Ram and Rahim. Giving the example of the TMCs involvement in Durga Puja, he said theres nothing wrong in participating in any religious function.

Speaking to the media on the National Register of Citizens issue, Ms Ganguly claimed: Partition was done so that Pakistan becomes a Muslim nation. Bangladesh is also mainly for Muslims. The Indian part of Bengal was for Hindus who returned from Bangladesh.

With the BJP slowly increasing its vote percentage in West Bengal, a worried Trinamul Congress has begun to borrow elements of the saffron agenda. The party, which earlier confined itself to promoting and being involved with Durga Puja, not merely organised rallies on Ram Navami, but also celebrated Hanuman Jayanti. A party leader said the TMC had taken out processions and held Hanuman Puja in various parts of the state, where party leaders and ministers had joined in the celebrations.China welcomed the positive remarks of PM Modi and his new Pak counterpart Imran Khan on improving bilateral relations.

China hopes the two countries can jointly stay committed to regional peace and development, Lu said.

Beijing: China said on Wednesday it is willing to play a positive and constructive role in easing relations between India and Pakistan as it welcomed the positive remarks of PM Narendra Modi and his new Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan on improving bilateral ties.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said the improvement and development of relations between India and Pakistan are important to regional peace, stability and prosperity.

We have noted relevant reports and we welcome the positive remarks made by the Indian and Pakistani leaders on improving bilateral relations, Mr Lu said while replying to a question on the statements made by the two leaders soon after Khan assumed office as Pakistans 22nd Prime Minister on August 18.

Both Pakistan and India are important countries in South Asia. As a common neighbour to Pakistan and India, China firmly supports the two sides to enhance dialogue, increase mutual trust, properly handle and solve their differences, Mr Lu said, according to the official transcript of the briefing issued by the ministry of foreign affairs.

China hopes the two countries can jointly stay committed to regional peace and development, he said.

China is willing to play a constructive role in this aspect, he said.

Asked what he meant by China playing a constructive role, the spokesman said, We are very pleased to see that the leaders of Pakistan and India have recently made positive remarks on improving bilateral relations.

It is of course a good thing for both sides to continuously improve relations and jointly work together for regional peace and stability, he said.The RFP aimed at creating an entity that could ensure a 360-degree view of people who are creating buzz across various topics.

The plan to strengthen the New Media Wing comes as the government scrapped the move for a Social Media Communications Hub, after widespread allegations by the Opposition that it would be used for snooping. (Photo: Pixabay)

New Delhi: With the Lok Sabha polls just months away, the Narendra Modi government is all set to strengthen its social media and Internet outreach by improving the operations of the New Media Wing, that was set up by the UPA in 2013. The wing will now monitor and aggressively publicise the governments achievements and public welfare schemes.

The plan to strengthen the New Media Wing comes as the government scrapped the move for a Social Media Communications Hub, after widespread allegations by the Opposition that it would be used for snooping.

In order to strengthen it, it is learnt that the New Media Wing will be given more staff and better infrastructure to create awareness about public welfare measures initiated by the Modi government. It is believed that as the New Media Wing is already operational and was established by the Manmohan Singh government, it will not trigger any controversy over snooping or pushing a set narrative by the government on the Internet, sources said.

As part of the strengthening measures, the information and broadcasting ministry will integrate communications tools horizontally and vertically through various social media platforms to position the government on platforms like YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. The New Media Wing is headed by a joint secretary-level officer.

Earlier this month, the government told the Supreme Court that it had withdrawn the Request For Proposal (RFP) inviting tenders to supply software tools to set up the Media Hub and was reviewing the entire programme. The court was hearing a petition by Trinamul Congress legislator Mahua Moitra, who claimed the project was intended to monitor social media content. The government has, however, always said the hub was to gauge the public mood on different government policies. The RFP aimed at creating an entity that could ensure a 360-degree view of people who are creating buzz across various topics. The withdrawal document on Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Ltd (Becil), a public sector unit attached to the I&B ministry, said the RFP issued on April 25 is hereby cancelled and withdrawn with immediate effect.Torrential rains in last 72 hours have caused floods in major rivers in Madhya Pradesh.

Bhopal: At least 12 people, including two children, were killed in various rain-related incidents in different parts of Madhya Pradesh in the past 48 hours, official reports reaching here on Wednesday said.

While rain-related incidents claimed ten lives in Bhopal district, four people were killed in Mandsaur district and two others died in Raisen district, an official spokesman here said.

While three children died when the wall in their house here collapsed late on Tuesday night, three youths drowned in a flooded canal on the outskirts of Bhopal early on Wednesday morning.

Similarly, four people, all employees of a local private company, were washed away when the car they were travelling swept away in a flooded river in Mandsaur district late on Tuesday evening. The car with bodies of all the four people stuck inside it was found half a km away.

In another incident, two people were washed away in a flooded river while crossing a bridge in Gopalpur village in Raisen district on Wednesday. Torrential rains in last 72 hours have caused floods in major rivers in Madhya Pradesh.

Scores of villages have been marooned in districts of Vidisha and Mandsaur following incessant rains witnessed in last three days. Met office here on Wednesday forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in 21 of 52 districts in MP in coming 24 hours.In his address, Gandhi traced creation of ISIS to warn against similar situation at home if people are excluded from development process.

New Delhi: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday claimed that the incidents of lynching in India were due to anger emanating from joblessness and "destruction" of small businesses due to demonetization and the "poorly implemented" GST by the ruling BJP.

In his address in Hamburg, Germany, Gandhi traced the creation of ISIS to warn against a similar situation at home if people are excluded from the development process.

"It is very dangerous in the 21st century to exclude people. If you don't give people a vision in the 21st century somebody else will give them one. And that's the real risk of excluding large number of people from our development processes," he said, accusing the BJP government of excluding tribals, Dalits and minorities from the development process.

Asserting that the transformation taking place in the world requires certain protection for people, he accused the current dispensation in India of taking these protections away from them and hitting the informal economy through demonetisation and GST, causing anger which is leading to lynching incidents.

"They (the BJP government) feel that tribal communities, poor farmers, lower caste people, minorities shouldn't get the same benefits as the elite," the Congress president alleged.

Gandhi claimed that the other thing the BJP has done is that they have started attacking the support structures created to help certain groups of people.

"That is not the only damage they've done. There is something much more dangerous," he said.

There is a huge amount of violence against women in India. India needs to change the way the Indian men view Indian women. Men have to start viewing women as an equal and with respect. I am sorry to say that men do not: Congress President Rahul Gandhi in Germany's Hamburg pic.twitter.com/Z3vz5BVZh2  ANI (@ANI) August 22, 2018

He alleged that a couple of years back Prime Minister Narendra Modi "demonetised the Indian economy and destroyed the cash flow" of all small and medium businesses rendering millions jobless.

"They imposed a badly conceptualised GST which complicated lives further," Gandhi said.

"Large numbers of people who worked in small businesses were forced back to the villages and these three things that the government has done has made India angry. And that's what you get to read in the newspapers.

When you hear about lynchings, when you hear about attacks on Dalits in India, when you hear about attacks on minorities in India, that's the reason for it," Gandhi said.

Gandhi also said there is a big job problem in India but the prime minister refuses to see it.

"You have to (first) accept the problem, to fix it," he said.

Gandhi also spoke about India and its progress over the last 70 years.

Referring to his famous hug, after a no-holds-barred attack during a Parliament debate last month, Gandhi said, "When I hugged PM Modi in Parliament, some within my party did not like it.

Read: Some from my party didn't like me hugging PM Modi: Rahul Gandhi

"The Congress president also talked about his father, former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's assailants.

"My father was killed by a terrorist in 1991. When the same terrorist died few years later, I wasn't happy. I saw myself in his children," he said.

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) chief Velupillai Prabhakaran, responsible for the killing of Rajiv Gandhi, was shot dead by Sri Lankan troops in 2009.MEA says, 'Contributions to PM, CM relief fund from NRIs, PIOs, international entities such as foundations would be welcome.'

New Delhi: India has denied accepting any help from foreign governments that are pledging financial assistance to flood-hit Kerala.

A number of countries including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar and Maldives extended aid for Kerala and have announced their willingness help rebuild the state that has been devastated due to floods triggered by torrential rains.

While declining to accept international assistance, the Ministry of External Affairs in its statement on Wednesday conveyed that the Government of India deeply appreciates offers from foreign nations to assist in relief and rehabilitation efforts after the tragic floods in Kerala.

"In line with existing policy, the government of India is committed to meeting the requirements for relief and rehabilitation through domestic efforts," the foreign ministry said in the statement.

"Contributions to PM relief fund and CM relief fund from NRIs, PIOs and international entities such as foundations would be welcome," the statement said.

The UAE has offered Rs 700 crore, Qatar has pledged Rs 35 crore and Maldives has announced a donation of Rs 35 lakh.

According to official data, three million Indians live and work in the UAE, out of which 80 per cent are from Kerala.

The government in Kerala is understood to be unhappy over the Centre's decision not to accept donations from foreign governments for flood relief operations in the state.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday said the state government would approach Prime Minister Narendra Modi to clear the hurdles in receiving the aid being offered by the UAE.

In a tweet on Tuesday, Thailand's ambassador to India Chutintorn Sam Gongsakdi said the Centre has informed his country that it will not accept overseas donations. "Informally informed with regret that GOI is not accepting overseas donations for Kerala flood relief. Our hearts are with you the people of Bharat," the Thai envoy tweeted.

Read: India not accepting foreign aid for Kerala, confirms Thailand envoy

The Centre is telling foreign governments that it was carrying out a comprehensive assessment of the damage caused by the floods in Kerala and is capable of meeting the requirements on its own.

The floods in Kerala, the worst in a century, have killed over 237 since August 8.Kerala govt said that in wake of prior alerts it had requested Tamil Nadu controlled release of water from the Mullaperiyar Dam.

The Kerala government also sought the constitution of a Management committee to manage the day-to-day operations of the Mullaperiyar Dam. (Photo: File)

New Delhi: The sudden release of water from the Mullaperiyar Dam by the Tamil Nadu government was one of the reasons for the devastating deluge in Kerala, the state government told the Supreme Court on Thursday.

It said that out of a total population of about 3.48 crore, more than 54 lakh or one-sixth of the population of Kerala, had been directly affected by the floods.

The Pinarayi Vijayan government said that in the wake of prior alerts by its engineers, Kerala's Water Resources Secretary had written to her counterpart in Tamil Nadu government and the Chairman of the Supervisory Committee on Mullaperiyar dam, requesting controlled release of water without waiting for the water level in the reservoir to reach its full level.

"Accordingly, the Tamil Nadu Government was requested to gradually release water at least by 139 feet...But no positive assurance in this regard was received from Tamil Nadu even after repeated requests... "But the sudden release from the Mullaperiyar dam, third largest reservoir in the Periyar Basin, forced us to release more water from Idukki reservoir, downstream of Mullaperiyar, which is one of the causes of this deluge," the affidavit said.

The Mullaperiyar Dam is located on the Western Ghats near Thekkady in Idukki district of Kerala on the Periyar river. The state government said that to avoid a repeat of such situations, the Supervisory Committee be headed by the Chairman of the Central Water Commission with Secretaries of both the states as members.

This panel should be empowered to take decisions by a majority opinion regarding operations during flood or any similar crisis, it said.

The Kerala government also sought the constitution of a Management committee to manage the day-to-day operations of the Mullaperiyar Dam.

"We propose that this committee be headed by a Chief Engineer/Superintending Engineer of the CWC with both Chief Engineers/Superintending Engineers of the two states," the state government said.

The affidavit was filed in pursuance to August 18 direction of the apex court which had asked the Kerala Chief Secretary to show the steps they have been taken to meet the needs of disaster management, rescue operations and rehabilitation.

Kerala resident Russel Roy had filed a plea seeking, among other things, a direction to Tamil Nadu to manage the water level in the dam as the floods in Kerala have created a havoc.

The top court had earlier ordered the disaster management panel of the Mullaperiyar Dam to urgently decide on lowering the water level.

The direction to consider reducing the water level up to 139 feet from the existing 142 feet had come in the backdrop of Kerala Chief Minister writing to his Tamil Nadu counterpart E K Palaniswami seeking lowering of the water-level in the Mullaperiyar dam in the interest of its safety.

The top court had said the committee may suggest measures before releasing water in the downstream areas to handle the disaster so that the people are not hit by "the catastrophe of the flood".

Tamil Nadu government had opposed the plea with regard to bringing down the water level in the dam, saying the current inflow of water into the dam was 20,000 cusecs and due to rains, it may not be possible to reduce water level immediately.The bench said criminal proceedings are not normally interdicted by us at the interlocutory stage unless there is an abuse of process of a Court.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has cautioned the courts from proceeding with the trial when the police had roped in all the relatives of husband as accused in dowry harassment cases.

Giving this ruling on Tuesday, a bench of Justi-ces S.A. Bobde and L. Nag-eswara Rao said the cou-rts should be careful in proceeding against the distant relatives in crimes pertaining to matrimonial disputes and dowry deaths.

Writing the judgment, Justice Rao said the relatives of the husband should not be roped in on the basis of omnibus allegations unless specific instances of their involvement in crime are made out.

In this case, the wife of K. Subba Rao of Telangana was married in 2008 and they were residing in USA. After a few years of marriage, the wife returned to India and filed a complaint alleging harassment by her husband and his family members, including the maternal uncles of her husband. She also complained of the kidnapping of her son by the husband.

The police filed charges-heet against the husband and the relatives. Their plea for quashing the FIR was rejected by the Hyderabad HC for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and their present appeal is against this judgment.

Allowing the appeal, the bench pointed out that except the statement that the appellants supported the husband who was harassing the wife for dowry and that they conspired with him for taking away his child to the US, nothing else indicating their involvement in the crime was mentioned.

The bench said criminal proceedings are not normally interdicted by us at the interlocutory stage unless there is an abuse of process of a Court. This Court, at the same time, does not hesitate to interfere to secure the ends of justice. The Courts should be careful in proceeding against the distant relatives in crimes pertaining to matrimonial disputes and dowry deaths. The relatives of the husband should not be roped in on the basis of omnibus allegations unless specific instances of their involvement in the crime are made out.

On an overall consideration of the contents of the charge sheet, supplementary charge sheet and the submissions made on behalf of the appellants we are of the opinion that a prima facie case has not been made out against the Appellants for proceeding against them under Sections 498 IPC and quashed the proceedings.Over 60 countries had reportedly rendered assistance in earthquake relief efforts.

New Delhi: In the wake of a massive controversy raging following the Centres refusal to accept financial assistance from foreign governments for Kerala flood relief, Union minister K.J. Alphons late on Thursday evening appealed to his own government for a one-time exception to a 14-year convention that bars using foreign funds for rehabilitation of victims of natural tragedies.

Mr Alphons, who hails from Kerala, is keen for paving the way for Kerala government to use Rs 700 crore aid offered by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and assistance promised by other countries. Apart from UAEs offer, Qatar has pledged around Rs 35 crore, Maldives has announced a donation of Rs 35 lakh and Pakistans new Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday said that his country is ready to provide humanitarian assistance to flood-ravaged Kerala.

The Union minister has been touring the state extensively to assess damage caused by the worst floods in a century that have left 237 people dead since August 8 and displaced over 14 lakh.

Mr Alphons had, earlier in the day, defended the NDA governments decision to follow a 14-year convention it inherited from previous governments of not accepting financial assistance for relief work.

He said that this was a policy that was followed by the current government from the time the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (UPA-1) had refused financial aid from foreign countries in 2004 during the devastating Tsunami.

However, with the Opposition mounting attack on the Central government for allegedly blocking foreign aid for Kerala, Mr Alphons, in an apparent turnaround, made a personal appeal to the Central government in the evening to review its stand.

Kerala has contributed huge amounts of foreign exchange through remittance in the last 50 years. In fact in the last year itself, it had brought Rs 75,000 crore... For these reasons, as a junior minister I am appealing to my senior colleagues to make a special consideration for the state. I appeal to them to make a one-time exception to the policy, he said.

His appeal to the Central government followed Kerala finance minister Thomas Isaacs criticism of the Modi government for disallowing the state from using aid offered by the UAE.

We make no request to any foreign government but UAE government voluntarily offered Rs 700 crore. No, says Union government, it is below our dignity to accept foreign aid. This is a dog in the manger policy (sic), Mr Isaac had written on Twitter.

He also criticised the Modi government saying that the flood-hit state had asked the Centre for a financial support of Rs 2,200 crore, but was granted only Rs 600 crore.

Meanwhile, a former government official who served as a senior bureaucrat during the early 2000s told this newspaper on condition of anonymity that the Bhuj earthquake of January 2001 in Gujarat during the NDA-I tenure of Atal Behari Vajpayee was the last major natural disaster during which India accepted assistance from foreign nations. Over 60 countries had reportedly rendered assistance in earthquake relief efforts.

He said during the Tsunami in December 2004, the UPA-1 government headed by Manmohan Singh reportedly did not accept financial assistance from foreign governments.

According to news agency reports, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) had in 2016 suggested that foreign assistance offered as a goodwill gesture (in case of a natural disaster) may be accepted by India.PM handed over urns to partys state unit chiefs on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays tribute to the ashes of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, before their distribution to all BJP state presidents for immersion. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will organise Asthi Kalash Yatra of Bharat Ratna awardee and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, in all the states across the country, in an effort to strengthen the legacy of late BJP patriarch, who passed away last week.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah on Wednesday handed over urns containing ashes of the late party patriarch to the partys state unit chiefs for leading Asthi Kalash Yatra in their states. Vajpayees adopted daughter Namita Bhattacharya was also present on the occasion at the partys old headquarters.

The life and message of Atal Ji will always motivate us to serve the people of India and create the India of Atal Jis dreams, tweeted the Mr Modi.

Union home minister Rajnath Singh and External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj also joined Mr Modi and Mr Shah in handing over the urns at a ceremony at the partys old headquarter, 11, Ashoka Road. The party had earlier said that ashes of the former Prime Minister will be immersed in over 100 rivers across the country following a procession in which people could offer tributes to Vajpayee. These yatras will pass through all district and blocks of states.

BJP governments across the country have already undertaken a number of measures to cement the legacy of the leader, whose popular appeal and affable manners won it support of the masses and also new allies.

Some states have announced memorials, while some like Chhattisgarh named a city after him. Maharashtra has decided to set up chairs in Vajpayees name in universities.

The late BJP patriarch had passed away on August 16 after a prolonged illness and the party organised a number of events, including a ceremony for immersing of his ashes in Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar on August 19.

Mr Shah along with the Union home minister, chief minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath and his Uttarakhand counterpart Trivendra Singh Rawat and other senior leaders were present on the occasion.

An all-party prayer meeting was also organised on August 20, which was attended by leaders of all major political outfits.Shah had also written to the Law Commission in favour of holding simultaneous polls.

New Delhi: Amid a country-wide debate on the benefits of holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies, the Election Commission on Thursday ruled out any such possibility, saying no legal framework exists to make it happen.

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah have made a strong pitch for holding simultaneous polls, the Opposition has rallied against such a move. Mr Shah had also written to the Law Commission in favour of holding simultaneous polls.

The Congress party had, on the other hand, said that simultaneous polls are not possible without a constitutional amendment and the present government had no mandate for that.

On Thursday at a press meet in Aurangabad, chief election commissioner O.P. Rawat emphatically ruled out the possibility of simultaneous elections. Mr Rawat said that a legal framework is needed to be in place for holding simultaneous polls.

Koi chance nahi (no chance at all), the CEC said when asked if it was feasible to hold simultaneous Lok Sabha and state Assembly elections in the near future.

The lawmakers will take at least a year to frame a law that can be enforceable. This process takes time. As soon as the bill to amend the Constitution is ready, we (the Election Commission) will know that things are now moving), Mr Rawat said.

There has been some speculation in the recent weeks that Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Mizoram that are due this year-end may be deferred and held simultaneously along with the Lok Sabha elections in April next year.

The term of the Mizoram Assembly ends on December 15, while the terms of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan assemblies end on January 5, January 7 and January 20, 2019, respectively.

Congress sources had earlier indicated that the party would go to court if the three were put under Presidents Rule when the term of their Assemblies were over and polls were held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha elections.

Explaining the process, Mr Rawat said the EC commences preparations for the Lok Sabha elections 14 months before the scheduled timeframe of polling.

The Commission has a staff strength of just 400 but deploys 1.11 crore people on poll duty during elections, Mr Rawat said.Ashutosh, who had announced his decision to quit AAP on Independence Day, was also eyeing a ticket to the upper house.

New Delhi: Disgruntled leaders Ashutosh and Ashish Khetan, who have parted their ways with the Aam Aadmi Party, have reportedly been in talks with senior Congress leadership for quite some time. Sources said that the two have been upset over being denied Rajya Sabha tickets by AAP and had taken a break from active politics, before making a formal announcement to quit the party.

Mr Khetan, who had resigned as the vice chairman of the Delhi Dialogue Commission, an advisory body, in April this year, has not been involved in the active politics since then. Mr Khetan had quit the DDC citing frustration due to the tussle between the Centre and the AAP-led government. He had joined the Bar and has been practicing law. Mr Khetan has been mulling to quit AAP for quite some time and had been in talks with the senior Congress brass. He has been practicing law with former AAP leader Prashant Bhushan, a source said.

He added that Mr Khetan, a former journalist, had been vying for a Rajya Sabha ticket, but the party leadership chose to nominate Narain Dass Gupta and Sushil Kumar Gupta as its candidates. The AAPs decision to field the two had plunged the party into dissidence. Mr Khetan denied the reports suggesting that his decision to quit the party was linked to his desire for getting a ticket in the upcoming LS polls.

Taking a jibe on the AAP on Mr Khetans resignation, Mr Bhushan, who was expelled from the party tweeted, The list of those who founded AAP or joined it with great idealism, but left, bitterly disillusioned, is long, very long.

It was a movement of great hope. All destroyed by the unscrupulous ambition and lack of vision of 1 man. A case study of how an org or movement can be destroyed.

Ashutosh, who had announced his decision to quit AAP on Independence Day, was also eyeing a ticket to the upper house. The leader, who was on a vacation to Himachal Pradesh recently, had said that he has chosen to take a sabbatical from politics to write.The accused were arrested after a brief shootout at around 4 am on Wednesday.

One of the accused, Sahil alias Chintu (22), worked as a delivery boy in a five-star hotel and was well aware of the area, police said, adding the other were identified as Ashwani and Anil. (Representational image)

New Delhi: Three men were arrested for allegedly being involved in incidents of robbery and snatching in Dwarka following a shootout in the early hours of Wednesday, the police said.

On August 20, Mukul Verma, an Army Captain posted in Siachin, informed police that his Nisaan Micra Car and ATM cards etc were robbed by six motorcycle-borne men in Dwarka Sector 5. The criminals also withdrew Rs 40,000 from the ATM card.

In another incident the same day, complainant Budh Prakash, a head constable in the CISF, reported that he was attacked with knife by four motorcycle-borne men near Dwarka Sector 14 metro station and robbed off Rs 4,000, they added.

The Nissan Micra car robbed from the Army captain was left by the robbers near Mehram Nagar after it got punctured. They stole a Maruti Ritz car from there immediately after leaving the Micra car unattended. They moved towards west district and robbed a Swift Dzire car in Madipur area after leaving the Ritz car. The Swift Dzire car was chased but the accused somehow managed to flee after abandoning it. The accused were finally arrested after a brief shootout at around 4 am on Wednesday.

One of the accused, Sahil alias Chintu (22), worked as a delivery boy in a five-star hotel and was well aware of the area, they said, adding the other were identified as Ashwani and Anil.The family didnt approach police even after the girl informed them about the accused.

Mumbai: A 16-year-old girl committed suicide by consuming poison after she was allegedly sexually harassed in Baramati near Pune. The deceased was a student of class XI and resided at Songaon Village. Officials said that the accused youth is also a resident of the same village.

The family didnt approach police even after the girl informed them about the accused who would harass her while she would go to and return from her college. After she informed her parents, her brother had reprimanded the accused, however, he continued targeting the girl.

On August 11 she consumed chemical for controlling ticks among cattle. She was rushed to Baramati hospital where she was undergoing treatment and finally succumbed on Wednesday, the officials said.

The police has now taken cognisance in the incident and have booked the accused in a case based on the complaint of the girls family. The officials added that there was no suicide note pertaining to the ordeal that she allegedly went through. The case has been registered under section 306 (abetment of suicide) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and under the relevant sections of the stringent Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO). The police will seek his custody for questioning him to ascertain if more persons were involved in the act and what led to the victim take the extreme step. Further investigation is underway.The developer Abdul Razzaq Supariwala was remanded in police custody till August 27 on Thursday.

Mumbai: A day after a fire killed four persons in Hindmata, the Bhoiwada police has begun investigation to ascertain individual roles apart from that of the arrested developer. The police said that more persons, who need to be identified, are likely to be involved in the incident. The developer Abdul Razzaq Supariwala was remanded in police custody till August 27 on Thursday.

The investigation into the case will be focused on what led to the two blunders of electricity duct kept open on every floor that ultimately led to smoke and four people dying due to asphyxia in the process. The investigators said that the incident was due to gross negligence.

We are investigating the case further with arrest of the developer, said N. Ambika, deputy commissioner of police, zone 4.

The officials produced Supariwala before the Bhoiwada court on Thursday. It needs to ascertain how the builder handed over possession of the flats to the residents without having Occupation Certificate in place, police said.

If discrepancies that led to fire were brought to the notice of the developer and still not rectified, then that would lead to criminal negligence, said a Bhoiwada police officer.

The police will also record statements of committee members of the housing society in a bid to get further clarity. The court was informed that the police may need the developers custody to investigate these facts.

Four people, including an elderly woman, were killed and 21 were injured in Crystal Tower located opposite Hindmata Cinema. The fire broke out on the 12th floor and soon spread to other parts of the building. The building didnt have occupation certificate (OC) and has now been declared unsafe by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

The firemen rushed the injured people to the KEM hospital. However, four peopleShubhada Shelke (62), Bablu Sheikh (36), Ashok Sampat and Sanjeev Nair were declared dead by hospital.

A case has been registered under sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 336 (endangering life and personal safety of others) and other sections of the Indian Penal Code along with relevant sections of the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Act.Teacher feels school can serve as example of how different communities can co-exist peacefully in Muslim majority nation.

Anum runs a school inside the temple in the Basti Guru area of the southern port city. The school is situated in the middle of an informal Hindu settlement which is facing constant threats from land grabbers. (Photo: Facebook Screengrab/ Anum Agha)

New Delhi/Karachi: Inside a Hindu temple in a shanty area in Pakistan's Karachi city, Anum Agha wearing the traditional Muslim Hijab greets her students with salaam and gets a loud Jai Shri Ram in response.

Anum runs a school inside the temple in the Basti Guru area of the southern port city. The school is situated in the middle of an informal Hindu settlement which is facing constant threats from land grabbers.

But Anum is determined to impart knowledge about education, health and basic rights to the children of the minority community.

In the settlement, 80 to 90 Hindu families live in a close cluster of wooden huts and some semi-constructed houses.

One can see Anum holding discussions with children of the settlement after her classes are over.

"Everyone is surprised when I tell them about our school inside this temple but we had no other place to hold our classes when I first started coming here last year," she told PTI.

The classes are conducted in the main area of the temple. The walls of the temple are plastered with posters of Hindu deities and statues of Hindu Gods placed up on a higher perch.

The lack of basic facilities is noticeable as one moves around the settlement located in Rehman Colony near Mahmoodabad but for land grabbers, it is not an ordinary piece of land.

"There have been at least two incidents in the last four years when some huts were set on fire and the Hindu families were threatened and told to get out of the area," Shiva Dharni, a community leader, said.

Recently authorities also cut electricity and water connections to the Basti, which was set up in the 60s when the Hindu families migrated from Ghotki in interior Sindh to Karachi.

The area witnessed tensions a few years ago when a Muslim resident apparently started propagating an idea that a mosque should be constructed over the land.

"These land grabbers try to persuade the Muslim clerics that having a settlement of lower caste Hindu in the center of a proper Muslim neighbourhood is unacceptable," Arif Habib, who heads the non-governmental Initiator Human Development Foundation which has brought Anum to run the school in the temple, said.

"These are vulnerable communities and they are under threat from non-state actors, I mean land grabbers who want them to evacuate the plot where this settlement is located," he said.

Anum reluctantly admits that some of the Muslim residents living around the settlement don't like her involvement with the scheduled caste Hindu families and her holding classes.

"But I do it because these people are not even aware of their basic rights. Their children want to gain knowledge and education. Some of them attended other schools in the area but faced social and religious issues," Anum said.

She said that the Hindu elders were very happy that their children, specially the girls, don't have to leave the settlement for education.

Asked whether she has faced difficulties as a Muslim teacher, Anum said she did face challenges.

"But I never talk about religion and avoid hurting their sensitivities. I try to keep them focused on different subjects and religion is not one of them," she said.

"I respect them as human beings and they respect me back. That is how we work. We celebrate religious festivals together. I say salaam to them and they respond with Jai Shri Ram."

She feels the school can serve as an example of how different communities can co-exist peacefully in the Muslim majority nation while respecting each other.Flooded Kerala has shown us what resilience means and what a joint rescue effort by officials and the people can achieve.

The worst floods in a century in Kerala have left hundreds of people dead, many missing and lakhs taking shelter in relief camps. The state will take years to recover. But watching the images and listening to stories from thousands of miles away, another thing has also become clear  goodness has gone viral. And it is not just the official agencies from the Centre and the state government, tasked to rescue and provide relief. Ordinary people are rising above adversity and lending a helping hand.

Some images and stories will be hard to forget. Like the one of a fisherman who voluntarily kneeled down with his face barely above the flood waters, offering his back for women and children to step on and climb onto rescue boats.

Or that of the doctor from Kerala who postponed his marriage and moved to a relief camp to treat flood victims. Or the elderly woman who was rescued in a cooking vessel after her home was flooded in Thrissur. In Aluva district, the Indian Navy airlifted a pregnant woman paralysed from the waist down and flew her to safety. A college-going girl from Thrissur, who had faced vicious online trolling when the media reported that she travelled long distances to sell fish for a living, has contributed Rs 1.5 lakh to the Kerala chief ministers disaster relief fund. The Indian Police Service Association tweeted a picture of a policeman rescuing a newborn baby. An eight-year-old girl in neighbouring Tamil Nadu donated all the money she had been saving for four years to buy a bicycle to help the disaster relief effort.

The arc of generosity stretches far and wide. Even as one writes this column, there are reports of Tibetans from Kodaikanal driving to Kerala with food, sweaters and other supplies; and Kashmiri volunteers leaving for Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram to join the relief effort in the flood-battered state.

I heard more uplifting tales of everyday heroism in flood-ravaged Kerala from Unni Karunakara, former international president of Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF, or Doctors Without Borders) and well-known global health advocate. Karunakara, who was in Allepey district recently for a family wedding, spoke about the amazing civic response. The fishermen, the electricity workers, transport workers etc. kept things going. Our village was not affected though water levels were rising. Thats why people were moved there. MSF is in Wayanad district, rather remote and more devastated.

The wedding was to be in Guruvayoor temple and no one could get there, so my mother managed to get it all moved to Ambalapuzha temple, down the road from us, in two days.

On his Facebook page, a tax official hailing from Kerala lauded the spirit of the fishermen who voluntarily and spontaneously came with their boats to rescue stranded people. I heard one of them saying that he had left his wife and kids who were having fever, to rescue the stranded. I would not have done it so selflessly! Hats off. The massive rescue carried out by the fishermen of Kerala reminded me of Dunkirk. Here is a good example of how to manage disasters. The local community in the forefront supported by the forces of the government.

Even as the disaster takes its toll, and severe challenges loom ahead, people are getting married, giving birth, grieving, coping, helping. Simultaneously. This is the genius of India. We dont compartmentalise. People who have lost all can think of others even in their hour of sorrow.

Kerala is not the only state to be hit by the current floods. Kodagu, in neighbouring Karnataka, has been badly hit as well. Many roads have cracked open, many residents forced into shelters and the coffee plantations  the backbone of the local economy  may take years to recover.

In the middle of this, and at a time when India seems increasingly polarised, Suntikoppa, a small town in Karnataka, offers a healing image of communal harmony. The town has turned its church, temple and madrasa into relief camps to help provide shelter to flood victims in Kodagu district. Food for everyone is being cooked in the madrasa and carried to the temple and church.

It is tempting to get carried away by this upsurge of goodness. And yet, as numerous stories filtering in show, the disaster has also brought the bigots crawling out of the woodwork. It has brought out the worst in many people who seek to sharpen the various divides  political, religious, geographical  that exist in the country. Some are spreading malicious rumours, fake news, pitting Indians against other Indians, by viewing them as Hindus, Christians, Muslims, trying to rank those who are helping. An Indian-origin academic sitting in the United States advises his followers on the social media to donate only to Hindus from Kerala. Some other worthies tried to publicly insinuate that Kerala may be facing the wrath of Lord Ayyappa due to efforts to let menstruating women enter the Sabarimala temple. Yet others have chosen to vent bile by insinuating that the calamity was spurred on by Malayalees who ate beef.

The good news is that such poison has been ignored by most people in Kerala.

Flooded Kerala has shown us what resilience means and what a joint rescue effort by officials and the people can achieve. Now it is time to move to the next step in disaster management  relief, and that includes proactively tackling the health problems likely to arise as the floodwaters recede. By all accounts, Kerala is pulling out all stops to prevent disease outbreaks, especially of infectious diseases caused by unclean and stagnant water  diarrhoea, malaria, dengue, chikunguniya and so on. Medical teams are working round the clock at all relief camps and the health department has issued advisories to help prevent infections.

The people of Kerala have already shown they will not let the bigots win. There is every reason for confidence that together they will win through the next stages too.Europes new data privacy law has put a small army of tech firms that track people online in jeopardy.

Europes new data privacy law has put a small army of tech firms that track people online in jeopardy and is strengthening the hand of giants such as Google and Facebook in the $200 billion global digital advertising industry.

The General Data Protection Regulation brought in by the European Union in May is designed to protect personal information in the age of the internet and requires websites to seek consent to use personal data, among other measures.

The ability to track internet users has attracted hundreds of companies that harvest and crunch user data from websites - with or without the consent of the site owner  to form very specific individual consumer profiles.

GDPR poses a challenge to those groups because they all need consent to use the data. While sites often request consent on behalf of the ad tech firms they use directly, uncertainty over whether every link in the supply chain is GDPR-compliant is pushing some to leave Europe altogether.

Concerns about GDPR should, however, benefit Alphabets Google and Facebook as their loyal customers are more likely to give consent to carry on using sites, allowing the US giants to keep amassing and analysing vast amounts of GDPR-compliant data that advertisers will pay to use.

Big publishers such as national newspapers are also likely to keep their readers and believe they can benefit by eventually charging advertisers more for online slots in the knowledge they are compliant with the new EU rules.

Its challenging for the digital ecosystem, said Mark Read, joint boss at the worlds biggest ad agency, WPP.

But if consumers feel confident that their data is being protected and they understand how it is being used and its done with permission, ultimately that should be a good thing for clients and for us, he told Reuters.

TANGLED WEB

From a standing start nearly 30 years ago, the internet has become the largest advertising medium in the world because it allows firms to target consumers with ads based on anything from their browsing history, comments, spending power to location.

Within the tangled ecosystem are multiple firms that help brands and ad agencies connect to sites that fund content with targeted ads. For every dollar spent by an advertiser, about half may go to ad tech groups, according to industry estimates.

When an internet user pulls up a page multiple bid requests are sent into the advertising ecosystem touting facts about the person such as demographics and interests, as well as the nature of the site they are viewing.

That personal data can then pass through a dozen or more ad tech firms before a company or ad agency bids at an auction for space on the website and an advert is loaded. It is that spread of personal data that risks breaking the new EU privacy law.

For example, a firm that provides ads for a website viewed on a mobile phone may use other partners not included in the compliance chain to provide information about a users location.

That doubt about compliance is threatening the myriad ad tech middlemen and is also prompting advertisers and publishers to rethink how they share their user data.

In a world where we are putting the consumer first, there are only going to be so many opportunities for the very colourful ecosystem of companies to obtain consent, said Andrew Casale, head of ad group Index Exchange.

UNCERTAIN TIMES

In the midst of the disruption, some ad tech groups are pulling out of Europe. Harry Kargman, founder of mobile ad firm Kargo, told Reuters the company had withdrawn for now because it did not know how GDPR would be applied.

There is too much uncertainty, he said. And I dont think (that will change) until they apply it in specific cases.

Verve, a company that helps advertisers target consumers on mobiles based on location, and Drawbridge, a cross-device user data firm, have both stopped operating ad businesses in Europe.HMD Global confirmed the latest Android update will also reach other Android One phones before the end of this year.

When it comes to rolling out the latest Android updates, HMD Globals Nokia is usually the one of the first brands after Google to make their phones taste the newest flavour of Android. The company also does it for the monthly security patches, rolling out before anyone else. For the Android Pie update, HMD Global has given a heads-up as to when their customers will be getting the Pie update.

At the launch event for the Nokia 6.1 Plus, HMD Global announced that their premium midranger, the Nokia 7 Plus, will get the latest Android 9 Pie update in September. The 7 Plus is presently on the Android 8.1 Oreo platform for stable users; however, Android beta testers have been enjoying several beta builds of Android Pie over the past few months. The handset is currently running on the Beta 4 build of Android P and will be updated to the stable build of Android Pie in the coming weeks.

The Nokia 7 Plus is built around Qualcomms Snapdragon 660 platform and falls under the Android One programme, which ensures timely software updates from Google. At close to Rs 25,000, the 7 Plus has set the benchmark for midrange Android devices and has encouraged similarly priced rivals from other manufacturers with a stock Android OS.

(source)China welcomed the 'positive' remarks of PM Modi and his new Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan on improving bilateral ties.

China hopes the two countries can jointly stay committed to regional peace and development. (Representational Image)

Beijing: China on Wednesday said it was willing to play a constructive role in easing relations between India and Pakistan as it welcomed the positive remarks of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his new Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan on improving bilateral ties.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said the improvement and development of relations between India and Pakistan are quite important to regional peace, stability and prosperity.

We have noted relevant reports and we welcome the positive remarks made by the Indian and Pakistani leaders on improving bilateral relations, Lu said while replying to a question on the statements made by the two leaders soon after Khan assumed office on August 18.

Both Pakistan and India are important countries in South Asia. As a common neighbour to Pakistan and India, China firmly supports the two sides to enhance dialogue increase mutual trust, properly handle and solve their differences, Lu said.

China hopes the two countries can jointly stay committed to regional peace and development, he said.

China is willing to play a constructive role in this aspect, he added.

Asked what he meant by China playing a constructive role, Lu said, I said we are glad to see the positive remarks made by the India and Pakistan on improving their bilateral relations and all their efforts that are conducive to the improvement of the relations and the peace and stability in the region. We welcome that. We will play a constructive role in that aspect.

Pressed further whether he meant that China wants to mediate between India and Pakistan, the spokesman said, I cannot give you a prejudgement or in what aspect and what area we will do. I cannot give you such prejudgement.

On August 20, Prime Minister Modi had sent a letter to Khan, conveying that New Delhi was looking for constructive and meaningful engagement with Islamabad.

Khan in a tweet on Tuesday expressed Pakistans willingness to re-start the stalled India-Pakistan peace process and said the two countries must engage in dialogue to resolve their differences, including on the Kashmir issue, and start trade.

In June, the Chinese Ambassador to India, Luo Zhaohui, was quoted in the media as saying that Sino-Indian ties cannot take the strain of another Doklam standoff. According to the reports, he had mooted a trilateral China-India-Pakistan dialogue on the sidelines of a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) conference to resolve regional issues and maintain peace.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar at that time had said that India has not received any such suggestion from the Chinese government.

India has been maintaining that it is ready to talk to Pakistan only bilaterally without the intervention of any other nation, including China.The man was later shot and killed by police, a local government official said.

It was unclear if the violence was terror-related. (Representational Image)

Paris: A man armed with a knife killed two people and seriously injured another on Thursday morning in a town about 30 kilometres (20 miles) southwest of Paris, officials said. The knife attack has been claimed by ISIS.

The man was later shot and killed by police, a local government official said.

It was unclear if the violence was terror-related amid reports the violence might be linked to a family dispute.

"My first thoughts go to the victims and their loved ones," Interior Minister Gerard Collomb wrote on Twitter. "I want to commend the security forces for their exemplary reaction and mobilisation."

Trappes has a population of around 30,000 and is part of the far suburbs of the greater Paris area.

Only a short drive from the wealthy area of Versailles, home to the world-famous Versailles Palace, the town is known for its social problems linked to poverty, gangs and hardline interpretations of Islam.

It has a large Muslim population and about 50 locals are suspected of having left France to fight for the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq, French security sources have previously told AFP.The offending image appeared on a Facebook group earlier this month and has been shared more than 2,500 times.

The Communist-led government headed by Oli has shown increasing intolerance of dissent since it took power at the beginning of the year. (Photo: PTI)

Kathmandu: A man in Nepal was arrested for sharing a doctored image on Facebook showing Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's head superimposed on a monkey's body, police said Wednesday.

Homnath Sigdel, 44, was taken into custody on Tuesday for "sharing indecent photos that targeted the prime minister", senior police officer Narendra Prasad Uprety told AFP.

The offending image appeared on a Facebook group earlier this month and has been shared more than 2,500 times. Police said Sigdel had also posted a second photo of Oli's head on a naked human body.

Sigdel could face up to five years in jail and a 100,000 rupee (USD 900) fine if found guilty under a provision in the Electronic Transactions Act.

The arrest comes days after Nepal introduced a new criminal code that includes draconian laws that activists have warned could be used to silence critics of the government.

The Communist-led government headed by Oli has shown increasing intolerance of dissent since it took power at the beginning of the year.

In June it became embroiled in a standoff with a popular activist doctor who was on hunger strike to protest against political interference in the medical sector.

In 2016, a Canadian working in Nepal was deported over a series of tweets deemed to "incite conflict" related to the country's constitution.by Vladimir Rozanskij

The initiative, now in its fourth session, is part of a series of study exchanges that in May saw an Orthodox delegation in Rome. The program also includes a visit to the most significant places of Russian Orthodoxy.

Moscow (AsiaNews) - A training course for representatives of the Catholic Church opens in Moscow on August 24. They will attend a program prepared for them by the Moscow Patriarchate until 2 September.

This was announced by the press service of the Department for external ecclesiastical affairs of the Patriarchate, recalling that it is the fourth appointment of this kind.

After some years of frosty relations, starting 2016 the Russian Orthodox Church began to share several initiatives with the Catholic Church, such as these study exchanges that the Orthodox themselves took advantage of last May, sending their own delegation to Rome.

The Patriarchate specified that the course that opens in Moscow fits "into the context of strengthening the academic and humanitarian collaboration between the Patriarchate of Moscow and the Holy See, with the financial support of the Mondo Russo Foundation and the Catholic charitable foundation Urbi et Orbi ".

The Catholic delegation, composed of about fifteen priests and students, will be led by the bishop of the city of Saint Die 'des Vosges in France, Msgr. Didier Berthet, president of the Council for Christian Unity of the French Episcopal Conference. According to the patriarchal representatives, the purpose of the course is "to deepen one's knowledge of Orthodox Christianity and contemporary Russian culture. The central theme of this course will be dedicated to the defense of Christians and the preservation of traditional Christian values in today's society ".

The program also includes contact and direct knowledge of the work of the various Synodal departments of the Patriarchate, the visit to the shrines and the most significant places in Moscow, Sergiev Posad (where the monastery of the Holy Trinity of St. Sergiy of Radonezh is located) ), of Novgorod and St. Petersburg, together with various meetings with the protagonists of Russian ecclesial, cultural and social life.

The highlight of the visit will be the meeting with the Patriarch of Moscow Kirill (Gundjaev), who has just returned from a long pastoral visit to the "great north" of Russia. The head of the Russian Orthodox has proposed a great pastoral program for the lost places beyond the Arctic Circle, such as Vologda, Velikij Ustjug and Novaja Zemlja, and above all for the famous archipelago of the Solovki islands, the historical site of Russian monasticism and the memory of the martyrs of the twentieth century.The Central American country asked money for political campaigns and port development. President Tsai Ing-wen is worried about the end of diplomatic relations. For Taiwans Ministry of Foreign Affairs, It would be irresponsible to engage in dollar diplomacy to compete with China for allies, or even make illegal political donations.

Taipei (AsiaNews/Agencies)  El Salvador demanded more than US$ 20 billion from Taiwan to maintain diplomatic ties, this according to ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmaker Tsai Shih-Ying.

The Central American nation wanted at least US$ 10 million in political campaign contributions, as well as four billion dollars' worth of investment in port development, as well as funding of US$ 20 billion for the surrounding special development district in the future," Tsai Shih-Ying said.

The day after El Salvador broke diplomatic relations, Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen attacked China and its expansionist economic policy.

"China's actions around the world [. . .] have already caused serious global instability," Tsai said at Taoyuan airport on her way back from a visit to the United States.

"China's government has been unrelenting and repeatedly exerted pressure, using the severance of diplomatic relations with El Salvador to crush the will of the Taiwanese people to embrace the world," she added.

El Salvador's switch of recognition to Beijing came after Taipei denied repeated requests for massive injections of funding for its Port La Union project, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

"It would be irresponsible to engage in dollar diplomacy to compete with China for allies, or even make illegal political donations," the Ministry said in a statement. "The government of Taiwan will not and cannot go down this path."The pontiff notes that two opposing ideologies threaten religious freedom and conscience: secular relativism and religious radicalism  in reality pseudo-religious radicalism. For him, the real anger is fighting extremism and intolerance with as much extremism and intolerance, in attitudes as well as words.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  Pope Francis met with members of the International Catholic Legislators Network (ICLN) who are meeting for their annual conference.

In his address, the Holy Father said that the situation has tragically worsened for Christians and other religious minorities in regions affected by fundamentalism," which is opposed to religious freedom.

During yesterdays audience, the Pope said that believers must consciously deal with two, equally menacing, opposing ideologies: secular relativism and religious radicalism  in reality pseudo-religious radicalism.

At the same time, the real anger is fighting extremism and intolerance with as much extremism and intolerance, in attitudes as well as words.

The pontiff told ICLN members that Christian politicians are, first and foremost, called upon to try to be a witness and competently propose bills based on the Christian view of humanity and society.

In particular, those who are committed to promoting the common good "can and must also contribute to the crucial issue of freedom of religion".

Noting that this year's ICLN conference is centred on religious freedom and conscience, Francis turned to the conciliar declaration Dignitatis humanae, noting that whilst some regimes have "constitutions that recognise freedom of religious worship, they try to turn their citizens away from the practice of religion and make the life of religious communities very difficult and dangerous".

In today's world, "the situation has tragically worsened for Christians and other religious minorities in places affected by the growth and deepening of "intolerant, aggressive and violent positions" that have provoked and still feed "discrimination, harassment and real persecution that are not always adequately dealt with by the established authorities.In preparation for the extraordinary missionary month of October 2019, the superiors of the missionary institutes ad gentes met in Nepi (Viterbo) to reflect on the current value of their vocation.

Rome (AsiaNews) - "If the whole Church is missionary, what is the role of the Congregations specifically ad gentes? If dialogue is necessary, what does preaching become? If religions contain elements of salvation, what is the reason for going out? ": These are some of the questions raised by superiors of missionary institutes born in Italy, meeting in Nepi (Viterbo) from August 5 to 12.

The superiors of the ad gentes institutes discussed what seems to be almost a "suspicion of the missionary vocation" that tends towards meeting other peoples, cultures and religions, since - as they often say - "mission is here too ".

And yet - as Pope Francis said in Evangelii Gaudium, mission and proclamation are the "paradigm" of all of the Churches efforts (No. 15), but in the end we prefer to ignore these elements to remain attached to the "gray daily pragmatism" .

The Nepi meeting is in preparation for October 2019, an extraordinary missionary month that the Pope wanted to dedicate precisely to the rediscovery of the mission ad gentes.

Below the final communique of the meeting.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As members of the General Administrations of the eight male and female exclusively missionary Institutes founded in Italy  Consolata, PIME, Xaverians, Comboni  we met on August 5-12 at the house of the Consolata Sisters in Nepi, to pray and reflect together on the mission ad gentes. Forty-three missionaries attended. We reserved the first five days for a retreat moderated by Xaverian Sister Teresina Caffi, while the remaining two days, August 11-12, were given to formation and a discussion on Mission ad gentes  our identity as missionaries, with the help of a reflection by Fr. Felicien Ntambwe, CICM, a Scheut Missionary from Congo-Kinshasa.

During the retreat, meditating on passages from the first 16 chapters of the Acts of the Apostles, we immersed ourselves in the first steps of the mission that Jesus had given to his apostles: You will be my witnesses (AA 1:8) to understand the enduring values and recognize the dynamism the Holy Spirit implanted in the Church from the very beginning.

The Spirit of truth will guide you to the whole truth, (John 16:13) had been the promise of Jesus. The Acts describe how the apostles and evangelizers progressively understood the salvation brought by Jesus. It is a gratuitous gift that the Spirit is eager to offer to all, destroying a series of barriers, degrees, priorities that an old mentality had left within the proclaimers. God gave them the same gift he gave us, (AA11:17) repeats incessantly the author of the Acts, and he adds, we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will, (AA 15:11) to mean that the gratuity of the gift given to the world reveals to the old followers of the LAW that it is by pure grace that they, themselves, were saved. In the Acts, Luke repeatedly gives us a model of how to open ourselves to the New Spirit: it entails the firm choice to live, in the city, in the upper room of prayer (see AA 1:13), to be passionately attentive to history and to direct and sincere exchanges within the communities of believers, in order to read the signs. How do we stack up to the urgent demands of the Spirit arising in current history?

The remaining two days were given to ongoing formation. It was an unplanned initiative, a time of study and sharing on the mission ad gentes. The occasion was given by Pope Francis convocation of a special Missionary October for 2019 in order to better revive the awareness of the mission ad gentes and to resume with enthusiasm the missionary transformation of life and of pastoral activity. (Letter of the Holy Father, October 22, 2017)

In the morning of August 11, the eight Institutes shared experiences and reflections on what should qualify the service ad gentes: fields of activity, conversion, formation.

In the choice of fields of activity the most commonly mentioned were situations of first evangelization, the choice of groups historically far away from the Gospel or where the Christian community is still in its infancy, contexts of grave conflict and social injustice. Consecration for life is essential, together with an ever more intense connection to the One who calls to mission, and the charismatic connection to ones Institute.

Substance and method go hand in hand. We shared the desire to promote entities with less structure, with nimble and fraternal communities, living in a humble style, with poor means, but rich in human relations. Being sensitive to the community and working in ministerial cooperation are elements that are more and more given space and attention.

Another element of particular importance is the process of inter-culturality both within the individual Institutes and in relation to other cultures. The challenge of the encounter with a people, its history and culture, requires extended time to learn and delve in depth, and this clashes at times with the temporary condition of our missionary assignments.

In the afternoon, Fr. Felicien Ntambwe developed the theme: Ad gentes: charism and mission, problems, relevance and future. Charism and mission, said Fr. Felicien, are the two sides of the same coin and must remain so. Beyond any territorial definition, ad gentes means outside our faith community.

The missionary needs an adequate formation and a particularly solid spirituality, being outside of the known context of faith. To take on more fully our charism ad gentes demands: a personal encounter with Christ; the feeling of having been saved by him and, therefore, thanksgiving; compassion for the world and total selflessness, the disowning of ones own life, which belongs to Christ.

He then pointed out some of the questions arising by current thinking, and by theological reflection on the concept of mission and of being a missionary ad gentes.

If the entire Church is missionary, what is the specific role of the Congregations specifically ad gentes? If dialogue is necessary, what does the preaching become? If religions are salvific elements, what is the meaning of going out? A certain disaffection and even suspicion towards mission have arisen from these uncertainties.

what is the specific role of the Congregations specifically ad gentes? If dialogue is necessary, what does the preaching become? If religions are salvific elements, what is the meaning of going out? A certain disaffection and even suspicion towards mission have arisen from these uncertainties. Globalization has taken over from colonization, the world is a mixture, borders are more human than geographic. If the gentes are all over, what is the meaning of ad extra?

what is the meaning of ad extra? Missionaries change as well: What changes will derive from the fact that in a short time the majority of missionaries will be coming from the South of the world?

Fr. Felicien then moved on to describe the characteristics of todays world: Globalization,

migration, post-modernity and ecology. Even the current crisis of faith questions mission. Global mission is not only ad gentes, but also inter gentes. We are called to move to borders that are not only geographic but human, to move from planting the Church to being Church.

He also shared the experience of his Congregation with interculturality as a process involving suffering, its financial management, uniting general solidarity and local self-sufficiency, and finally the ad extra understood as a total availability to global mission. Especially at the onset, it shapes up as a going beyond frontiers.

On August 12, through group work and assembly debate, we tried to come up with concrete proposals for a more intense and lasting cooperation among the Institutes. The wish was expressed that cooperation take place locally in the countries where various Institutes are present.

An important part of the discussion centered on how we can be a common and strong voice when it is useful to speak out, which channel and methods to use to make it effective.

We have also reflected on how to offer a qualified promotion in view of October 2019.

The superior generals agreed to meet on October 12 to elaborate conclusions on the proposals that emerged from the days of formation.

This, dear brothers and sisters, is the essence of our exchanges and above all the indication of our spirit of fraternity and cooperation we are called to help grow among our missionary families in order to be better able to answer to the needs of todays proclamation ad gentes.

Nepi, August 13, 2018

The Mens and Womens General Administrations of

Consolata Missionaries,

PIME,

Comboni Missionaries,

Xaverian MissionariesJapans Defence Minister donates two naval patrol boats worth US$ 11 million. Sri Lanka is part of Chinas "One belt, One road" strategy. Japanese representative visits the port of Hambantota, which Colombo has leased to a Chinese company for 99 years.

Colombo (AsiaNews/Agencies)  Japan is committed to boosting Sri Lankas maritime security, this according to Japans Defence Minister, Itsunori Onodera, who is in Colombo on an official visit. The goal is to counter Chinas pre-eminence in the Indian Ocean.

Mr Onodera, whose agenda includes two Sri Lankan ports, donated two coastguard patrol boats, worth US$ 11 million.

Attention has been drawn to further strengthening maritime security cooperation between Japan and Sri Lanka, a statement from President Maithripala Sirisenas office said.

The minister yesterday visited the port of Hambantota, in the south of the country, which Colombo leased to a Chinese company for 99 years.

The port is a key component of Beijings "One belt, One road" plan, which involves building a series of ports, motorways and railways in South and Central Asia to deliver Chinese goods to Europe.

The Japanese minister also visited Trincomalee, a natural harbour on the northeastern coast that was targeted by Japanese planes during the Second World War.

Japans activism follows Indias. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has in fact tried to counter Chinese expansionism, signing agreements with both Sri Lanka and the Seychelles.Vietnams Ministry of Public Security accused the 12 of engaging in anti-state activities on behalf of the Provisional National Government of Vietnam (PNGV), a "terrorist" organisation loyal to the former South Vietnam regime. James Nguyen Han and Phan Thi Dao were given "counter-revolutionary missions" such as spreading propaganda, organising protests and insulting the image of Ho Chi Minh.

Hanoi (AsiaNews/Agencies)  The People's Court in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) convicted two US citizens, in connection with a plan to carry out bomb attacks.

At the end of a two-day trial, the court sentenced James Nguyen Han and Phan Thi Dao (aka Angel Phan) to 14 years in prison for " attempting to overthrow the state. Ten other people were also convicted and give sentences ranging from five to 11 years.

The authorities accused the defendants of printing 4,000 leaflets, plotting to broadcast anti-government propaganda on local radio stations, and organise anti-regime protests on 30 April, Reunification Day, the day when the Vietnam War ended in 1975 with the victory of Communist North Vietnam.

According to Vietnams Ministry of Public Security, the 12 people involved belong to the California-based Provisional National Government of Vietnam (PNGV), an organisation founded in 1990 and loyal to the former South Vietnam regime.

The PNGV allegedly sent Phan and Nguyen to Vietnam in February 2017 to carry out counter-revolutionary missions during national holidays. These involved carrying out anti-government propaganda, organising protests and insulting the image of the late Ho Chi Minh.

In June, a court in Ho Chi Minh City upheld the prison sentences imposed on 15 members of the group convicted of planting bombs in the international terminal of Tan Son Nhat airport in April 2017.

Last month, police said it had arrested seven PNGV members over the bombing of a Ho Chi Minh City police station.

The incident, in which two small explosive devices were detonated, injured three people in what police said was a "terrorist case against the people's government".

A police warehouse, where confiscated vehicles, mostly motorbikes, were stored, was also blown up.By Michelle Langley, ARC DECRA Research Fellow, Griffith University

from www.shutterstock.com

A new ancient DNA study published in Nature today reports the first known person to have had parents of two different species. The studied remains belonged to a girl who had a Neanderthal mother and a Denisovan father.

Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis) lived throughout Europe and Western Asia until around 30,000 years ago. This species lived in several different ecological zones, survived three glacial periods, and were excellent hunters and tool-makers.

Denisovans (Homo sapiens denisova), on the other hand, we know very little about. Thus far they have only been found in Denisova Cave in Sibera as tiny bone fragments. We dont yet know what they looked like  nor exactly what they were capable of.

Neanderthal, Denisovans, and modern humans all shared a common ancestor more than 400,000 years ago.









from www.shutterstock.com









Read more:

Why the Neanderthals may have been more sophisticated hunters than we thought  new study





Found in Denisova Cave, this child  known as Denisova 11  was at least 13 years of age at the time of her death. Analysis of a piece of her bone found that the girl died around 90,000 years ago.









Google Earth





This discovery occurred through ancient DNA analysis, whereby a small piece of the teenagers bone was pulverised, the DNA extracted, and then sequenced. The sequence was then compared to previously analysed samples from Neanderthals, modern humans, and Denisovans. Her genetic traits could only be explained if her mother was a Neanderthal and her father was a Denisovan.

Denisova 11 was a first generation Neanderthal-Denisovan woman  perhaps we could call her a Neandersovan?

Neighbours of modern humans

Neanderthals and Denisovans inhabited Eurasia until about 40,000 years ago when they were replaced by modern humans (Homo sapiens).

But before this replacement occurred, there appears to have been a fair bit of mingling going on whenever the different groups met.









Bence Viola





Indeed, the ancestors of modern-day Oceanians and Asians contain Denisovan DNA, while present-day non-Africans contain 2-4% Neanderthal DNA.





Read more:

Neanderthals didn't give us red hair but they certainly changed the way we sleep





More mobile than we thought

The DNA of this girl  Denisova 11  also suggests that there was some quite significant movement of Neanderthal groups between Western Europe and the East. Analysis of her DNA found that rather than being more closely related to a Neanderthal who lived in her home cave sometime prior to her birth, she instead showed more connections to those recovered in Western Europe.

This finding is interesting because most archaeological evidence indicates that Neanderthals  unlike modern humans  were not interested in long-distance movement. They dont seem to have moved much beyond relatively constrained territories which provided everything they needed for day-to-day life.





Read more:

Neanderthals cared for each other and survived into old age  new research





Denisova 11 suggests that at least some major movement of ancient humans occurred between west and east. But when? And why?

And how did a Neanderthal woman meet a Denisovan man? How did their respective communities interact? These are questions that now must be asked and investigated.









Bence Viola





Mystery girl

While this young girl has told us so much about her ancestors, we know very little about her.

Because it was only a small piece of one of her long bones found, we dont know how she died. We cant know if she suffered any serious illness in her short life, nor if she ever broke a bone.

We only know that she lived.

Michelle Langley is an Australian Research Council DECRA Research Fellow in the Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution at Griffith University.

Originally published in The Conversation.By John Foden, Professor, University of Adelaide

My favourite gem is an occasional series in which we ask a scientist to share the fascinating geological and social features of a beautiful rock.

Theyre made of carbon  but theres something almost supernatural about diamonds.

Just the word diamond invokes luxury, desirability and toughness. Yet when we think of the element carbon we are more likely to think of charcoal; soft, black, opaque, earthy, light-weight.









from www.shutterstock.com





Its fascinating to see how the crystalline arrangement of carbon atoms transform when subjected to pressures greater than about 40 kilobars (the equivalent of 40,000 Earth atmospheres). These conditions are experienced at depths in the earth from about 120km down.

And some diamonds come from way, way deeper  more than 650km (about the distance from Canberra to Melbourne) into the Earth. Tiny imperfections in such diamonds give us clues about whats happening in the Earths hidden geological layers.





Read more:

What is a gem? And why painite from Myanmar can fetch US$60,000 per carat





In contrast with carbon in its low pressure form as charcoal or graphite, carbon atoms in diamond are fixed together in a strong, three dimensional network. This leads to unique physical properties: diamond is a clear, extremely hard, often colourless mineral with a very high density.

Diamonds sparkle and have internal fire because of their very high refractive index. This means light is caught inside the crystal and re-reflected off the internal surfaces. Faces and facets made by gem cutters accentuate this property.

Violently erupted to the surface

Although diamonds have been prized as valuable gems for a long time, until the early 1700s virtually all traded diamonds came from river gravels (known as alluvial deposits) in India.

Then in the early eighteenth century diamonds were discovered in Brazil, and from 1866 onwards were mined in South Africa. It was in this country that diamonds major, violently erupted, volcanic source rock known as kimberlite was identified for the first time.

This recognition fundamentally changed the diamond exploration and mining industry, and quickly led to vastly increased production and to the high demand from the modern jewellery industry.

Supply of diamonds to the market has long been tightly controlled by a small number of major producers  examples include De Beers (South Africa-Botswana), Al Rosa (Russia), Rio Tinto (Argyle Mine Australia and Canadian mines) and Lucara Diamond Corporation (Karowe Mine, Botswana).









John Foden, Author provided





The value of diamonds

Unlike other mined commodities such as copper, gold, oil or coal, diamond has no spot market. Its value is variable and highly subjective, assessed using the 4C system: colour, clarity, cut and carat (5 carat = 1 gram).

Per carat, uncut diamond values typically vary from around $US10 to $US3000. Very large (sometimes very historical) gem-quality diamonds however may command price orders of magnitude beyond this.

The intensely blue 45.5 carat Hope Diamond started its traded history in India in the early 1600s, and is valued at more than US$200 million. Other recent high-priced diamond sales include the Pink Star (59.6 carats, $US71 million) and the Oppenheimer Blue (14.6 carats, $US57.5 million).

The largest diamond recently sold is the uncut Botswanan 1,109 carat diamond, the Lesedi La Rona. This sold for $US53 million.

Clues about diamond origins

Many diamonds contain inclusions of other minerals, which are captured samples from the deep Earth rocks in which the diamond grew. These provide important information for geologists.

For example, inclusions of the minerals olivine, pyroxene and garnet tell us their host diamonds grew at depths between about 120 and 300km, in a layer of the Earth known as the sub-continental lithospheric mantle.

This layer is part of the Earths continental tectonic plates, and lies below the oldest regions of Earths continental crust known as cratons. Cratons are up to four billion years old - examples include the Australian Pilbara, the South African Kaapvaal, the Canadian Slave and the Russian Siberian craton.

Blue diamonds deep, deep down

Although the sub-continental lithospheric mantle is the most common source of diamonds, some come from much deeper layers in the Earth.

These are called sub-lithospheric diamonds, and identified by mineral inclusions consistent with being exposed to much higher pressures found at depths of more than 650km.

A recent study looked at a type of rare blue diamond like the Hope Diamond. The researchers consistently detected very high pressure mineral inclusions indicating their diamond hosts grew at depths of at least 660km. These diamonds are blue because of the presence of trace amounts of the element boron.









Smithsonian National Museum of National History





The question of how boron ended up at great depths in the Earths mantle is a fascinating one. Boron is an element that on Earth is highly concentrated in the upper continental crust (less than 20km deep) and in ocean water. Its concentration in deeper mantle rocks is typically extremely low.

Boron then must have been re-introduced to the deep layers where the diamonds grew.

This would likely have happened through a process called deep subduction, where the boundary of an oceanic tectonic plate (about 100km thick) fails, and the plate then collapses into the deep earths mantle. This moves boron and other materials from the shallow layers of the Earth down into depths of over 700 km.

Kimberlite eruptions then bring the diamonds up towards the surface.









John Foden, Author provided





A window into deep Earth

In addition to the boron example above, evidence from other diamond mine sites also supports the idea that Earth elements move from relatively shallow to deeper into the Earth through the process of subduction.

This has been detected by tracking different forms of carbon in diamonds from the South African Cullinan mine, and in my own research on mineral inclusions in South Australian diamonds.









John Foden, Author provided





Deep parts of the Earth still have a physical connection with layers closer to the surface.

So yes diamonds are valuable due to being beautiful, hardy and relatively rare  but they also provide a fantastic window into the structure and the history of our Earth.

John Foden receives funding from Australian Research Council.

Originally published in The Conversation.Here we reproduce news and opinion articles in the print and electronic media since October 8, 2008, about each of our 58 county grand juries. Most are about grand jury reports. Our posting of these articles does not purport to reflect the opinions of CGJA or our members. We hope that this feature is a resource to grand juries, grand jury advisors, CGJA chapters, the media, and the public. Sponsored by the California Grand Jurors' Association, www.cgja.org/



As I write this  a couple of weeks ago  it was one month after my wife and I were just arriving in Rome for our 12-day group tour of Italy, and one week since I was getting prepared for a heart valve replacement. I remember looking ahead to both of these events, along with the wedding of our granddaughter in Ohio several weeks earlier. Now, all three have come and gone, with new things to anticipate. And our lives go on.

Time is a funny thing. Science tells us its constant, that a minute is always a minute long, that a day is always 24 hours, and a year is always 365 days  except for leap year, when its 366. But have you ever had the thought, This has been the longest day! and then heard someone say the same thing? Conversely, occasionally we say, This day has flown by, and another person responds, It sure has! So, is time really all that constant?



My purpose is not to debate or conjecture the space-time continuum. I prefer to stick with things I know about. But what do we have thats more precious than time? We might say its money, but for most of us, there are always ways of making or generating more money, whether its working more or selling stuff. However, we cant generate more time  and we cant really save it. You cant put it into a safety deposit box, or stash it into a self-storage unit. It comes and goes, whether were ready for it or not. Today turns into yesterday in a flash, and tomorrow transforms into today before we know it.



When I was young, I remember summer vacations seemed to go on forever. But as I got older, those idyllic breaks in the educational process started moving faster and faster, until the summer seemed little more than a eyes blink. As they say, time takes wings when youre having fun.



As an adult in the business world, I attended classes on time management. If theres ever been anything less accurately named, I cant think of it. Because we cant manage time. We can only use it as it comes and try not to waste the moments before they flee.



Not that we must squeeze every possible ounce of activity and productivity out of every minute. In Italy, it was interesting to see many shops and even restaurants close during the midday to give workers a couple of hours to rest. The Spanish call it a siesta. As Ive written before, we Americans can become enslaved to the tyranny of the urgent.



At the same time, the Scriptures admonish us to redeem the time for the days are evil (Ephesians 5:16). In other words, missed opportunities wont return to give us a second shot at them. Sometimes this means working in earnest to meet an important deadline; sometimes it means savoring the opportunity to enjoy the company of loved ones and friends, even when speaking words isnt necessary.



As Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 reminds us, There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproota time to tear down and a time to builda time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refraina time to be silent and a time to speak.



Theres one other time reference that immediately comes to mind when I consider the Scriptures. Its when God gives us time to interact with others about eternal, spiritual truths. As Colossians 4:5 states, Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Is there a moment when you can encourage another believer in his or her spiritual pilgrimage? Do it now. Do you encounter a non-believer who seems receptive to talking about Jesus? Speak with them now.



And if God presents you with a situation where you can demonstrate His love and kindness to someone else, dont hesitate: Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers (Galatians 6:10). Remember, time flies!



- - - -



Robert J. Tamasy is a veteran journalist, former newspaper editor and magazine editor. Bob has written hundreds of magazine articles, and authored, co-authored and edited more than 15 books. These include the newly re-published, Business At Its Best, Tufting Legacies, The Heart of Mentoring, and Pursuing Life With a Shepherds Heart. He edits a weekly business meditation, Monday Manna, which is translated into more than 20 languages and distributed via email around the world by CBMC International. To read more of Bob Tamasys writings, you can visit his blog, www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com, or his website (now being completed), www.bobtamasy-readywriterink.com. He can be emailed at btamasy@comcast.net.Huichol Bead Mosaic Sets New Guinness World Record

Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico - The 81-square-meter (882-square-foot) bead mosaic that members of the indigenous Wixarika community in San Sebastian Teponahuaxtlan, Jalisco, created in an attempt to earn a spot in the Guinness Book of Records for the world's largest mural - has done just that.

The Wixaritari, known in Spanish as Huichol, are an indigenous group from western Mexico, mainly from the states of Jalisco and Nayarit, famous for their colorful crafts.

The mosaic was built by Wixaritari artist Maurilio Renteria Guzman and a team of 15 dedicated artisans, who painstakingly created the mural by hand-glueing small plastic beads, known as chaquiras, to 32 wooden boards, which were later joined together to create a single piece.

The resulting mosaic, which took just over two and-a-half months to assemble, depicts a woman wearing a typical dress from Jalisco and a man dressed as a Charro, a suit that is popular with mariachi musicians, surrounded by flowers and multicolored shapes.

The mosaic was presented during the 25th International Mariachi and Charro Festival currently being held in Guadalajara, where Guinness World Records personnel verified that no gaps were left between the 32 panels that make up the mural. This was crucial to consider the end product a single piece, according to the official adjudicator of the Guinness organization in Latin America, Carlos Tapia.

"The goal was to surpass a 71.33-square-meter mosaic created in New Orleans, but that was not made out of chaquiras, this is a new category... But this mosaic [made by the Wixaritari] is currently the world's largest" he told the news agency EFE.

With this achievement, Jalisco now has 31 Guinness World records, bringing Mexico's total number of records to 204, more than any other Spanish-speaking country.

"The Mexican people have great strength... when they set out to do something, they accomplish it. They come together and always want to share this kind of handicraft with the world," Tapia said.

Xavier Orendain, President of the Guadalajara Chamber of Commerce and organizer of the International Mariachi Festival, said that, weather permitting, the Wixaritari mosaic will be on exhibit at Guadalajara's Plaza Liberacion through September 2.

Once the festival has ended, the record-breaking mural will be auctioned off with the intention of raising funds for the construction of an elementary school in the indigenous community of Mezquitic, in the mountains of Jalisco.Mexico's Bomberos are Battling Wildfires in Canada

Mexico continues to help battle Canadian wildfires in the biggest-ever international deployment of Mexican firefighters.

The National Forestry Commission says a record 434 professional firefighters have been sent to Canada so far this year under a bilateral support agreement. The previous record was set just last year when 270 helped fight Canadian forest fires.

Canada has called for help to battle fires in Ontario, where 39 were still burning on Tuesday but were under control, and British Columbia, where more than 500 fires are still burning and a province-wide state of emergency has been declared.

Eighty-five Mexican firefighters are currently working in the central community of Fraser Lake, where three huge, raging wildfires were racing across the region earlier this week, CBC News reported.

"It's dire here right now," an official said.

Some of the Mexicans who were sent to Canada earlier have since returned home. One group, who fought fires near Renfrew, Ontario, returned with a sweet gift: hundreds of bottles of maple syrup, each one with a neck tag bearing a handwritten message saying, "Muchas gracias."



Student academic growth in Hamilton County Schools showed a significant improvement according to the Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System for 2018. The overall composite score for student academic growth in Hamilton County Schools improved to Level 3 from Level 1 last year. The state reports TVAAS results for districts and schools using a range from Level 1 to Level 5. Hamilton County Schools is honoring the 25 schools in the district listed at Level 5 in the state report. The schools will be recognized with an academic growth championship banner to celebrate the schools accomplishment. Board members and administrators will present the banners to the Level 5 schools over the next three weeks.In the Harrison Bay Learning Community, Bess T.Shepherd Elementary, Brown Middle School, Harrison Elementary, Hunter Middle, Wolftever Creek Elementary, and Ooltewah Middle were Level 5 performers. For the Missionary Ridge Learning Community, Apison Elementary, East Ridge Middle, Hamilton County Collegiate High at Chattanooga State, Tyner Academy, Tyner Middle Academy, and Westview Elementary were Level 5 schools. In the North River Learning Community, Allen Elementary, McConnell Elementary, Loftis Middle, Hixson Elementary, Soddy Elementary, and Soddy-Daisy Middle were Level 5 performers. East Lake Academy of Fine Arts was a Level 5 school in the Opportunity Zone. For the Rock Point Learning Community, Normal Park Museum Magnet, Chattanooga School for Arts and Sciences Lower, Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences Upper, Lookout Valley Middle/High and Red Bank High performed at Level 5. Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy Charter was also a Level 5 charter school performer.We see schools hang banners for athletic accomplishments and that is good, but it is time for our schools to take equal pleasure in academic accomplishments, said Dr. Bryan Johnson, superintendent of Hamilton County Schools. Schools can hang these banners with pride as a result of their academic accomplishment and share the joy of the success of the students and staff with parents and the community."The Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System measures student growth from one school year to the next. Growth assessments determine how effective teachers and schools were in helping students gain a years worth of learning while taking into consideration the students academic history. Growth is a good determining factor in school and teachers effectiveness because it measures how much a student has progressed in the year regardless of if the student started behind or did not reach grade-level by the end of the year. In determining a TVAAS score, a students performance is compared relative to the performance of peers who have performed similarly on past assessments. The 2018 results are the first time since 2014 that the districts overall TVAAS composite across all subjects showed students meeting growth expectations."The Future Ready 2023 district action plan and individual school plans are already working to continue progress and accelerate results in our schools in 2019 and beyond. Teaching and learning have been reorganized to maximize effectiveness in schools and add social studies lead teachers. The district implemented clear learning targets for each classroom so that students and teachers understand the learning goal each day. The new Teacher Academy to prepare new teachers for success, instructional coaches in schools, and professional development for teachers are improving instruction in the classroom. Future Ready Institutes are making learning relevant to the lives of teens at the high school level. Middle schools have been re-imagined with Future Ready Preps and a laptop for each student. Teachers also worked hard during the summer to produce curriculum guides to align curriculum in the classroom with standards and what is tested by the state," officials said.More than 1,000 local dignitaries, community members, corporate and nonprofit partners attended the United Way of Greater Chattanooga Campaign Kickoff today. Rotary and Kiwanis offered a shared stage for United Way to focus on community and officially begin the 2018 campaign season.Larry Stone, president of Kiwanis, opened the meeting. Dr. Ternae Jordan, pastor at Mt. Canaan Baptist Church, delivered the invocation. The program continued with comments from Michael Mathis, campaign chairman of the 2018 Chattanooga Campaign Committee and Regions Bank market president.As a board, we knew it was time for United Way to take a hard look at our strategic vision when we were provided with statistics about our community that made us face a harsh reality, Mr.Mathis said. The pace of need requires more from the nonprofit community, and United Way has the strategy in place to create change.Mr. Mathis officially announced the 2018 Chattanooga Campaign goal: $11.5 million. With some fundraising underway during Pacesetter campaigns, the official campaign season will continue throughout 2018. The 2018 actual total will be announced in spring 2019.United Way of Greater Chattanooga President and CEO Lesley Scearce added comments about community needs over individual issues. She introduced a panel discussion, facilitated by Matt Busby from The Camp House, highlighting real experiences of community leaders on-the-ground helping others in need.Panelists Troy Rogers, City of Chattanooga employee, Karen Nichols, Building Stable Lives coach, and Robby Holt, pastor at Northshore Fellowship, offered thoughts on their experiences around community.Ms. Scearce, Mr. Mathis and Superintendent Bryan Johnson made a collective challenge to the audience to raise funds live to place 2-1-1 kiosks in opportunity zone schools. More than 260 donors raised $12,000 toward this goal.This is a great example of what happens when you bring people together around a common cause, Ms. Scearce said. We believe this is just the beginning of whats to come during this campaign season and long into the future.Special guests Jermaine Purifory and students from the Chattanooga Center for Creative Arts performed a song for the audience before concluding the event.To contribute toward 2-1-1 kiosk placement, go online to http://www.unitedwaycha.org/kios k.The 2018 Chattanooga Campaign Kickoff was sponsored by Bridge Innovate, Soundforce and Atomic Films.Chattanooga's largest annual community dog walk, the 16th annual Paws in the Park, will be held at Ross's Landing Park on Saturday, Oct. 20. T

Hundreds of animal lovers will be gathering to raise money for the animals at the Humane Educational Society. The dog walk is a way to support the shelter's mission to provide education and outreach to the community, medical services for needy animals, humane investigation, shelter for homeless animals, and adoption programs. All dog walk participants will receive an event T-shirt.

There will be a dog and human costume contest after the walk. Prizes will be handed out for best dog and kid costume, best dog costume, and best adult and dog costume. The costume contest is free to participate.

Guests may also enjoy animal demos, vendors, food trucks, adoptable pets, and more.

Shelter pets will be available to rent for the day for those without a furry friend.

Registration is underway and available here.Daily Maverick associate editor Ferial Haffajee was joined by Ann Crotty, a veteran financial journalist now at Tiso Blackstar, Mzwanele Manyi, chairman of Afrotone Media Holdings and Steven Nathan, CEO of 10X Investments on stage at The Gathering: Media Edition at the CTICC on Wednesday, 15 August to discuss the business of the media.

Ferial Haffajee, Ann Crotty, Mzwanele Manyi, Steven Nathan on the panel at #10XDMGathering.  Daily Maverick website

Government supporting black business

Big business not being a good citizen

More politicians or more independent media?

Big players set the rules

Anne Crotty: @MzwaneleManyi is right. Gvt ad spend should support black media outlets but they should be supported by readership.

Jimmy: this argument works for the big players who can get huge ad spend, while newer players aren't able to compete straight away. #10XDMGathering  SECTION27 (@SECTION27news) August 15, 2018

Black people need to succeed in all facets of our lives

Journalists need resources and training

Great question @ferialhaffajee asks if our media cover corporate malfeasance as well as public? @anncrotty says no. Yep. Would agree. #10XDMGathering  William Bird (@Billbobbird) August 15, 2018

Haffajee started the panel discussion by saying that for her the new dawn feels that it almost hasn't broken yet, but, she said, imagine where we would be without the truth tellers, without our journalists, the muckrakers and without our civil society who often work from the work of investigative journalists, and of course without our wonderful judiciary."Our story of state capture is very discrepant with the biggest names in the corporate world. KPMG, Bell Pottinger, McKinsey, I could go on and on," she said and jumped right into asking Manyi if he thought his company was ever going to survive without the funnel from state enterprise treasuries straight into his own. In other words, she said, "Was theand ANN7 channel (that now trades as Afrotone Media Holdings) ever anything than a PR wing for the Gupta family?"Manyi responded and said: "We at Afrotone Media Holdings do not apologise for government business. And by the way, we are not the only ones." He mentioned that bothandnewspapers would shut down if government weren't supporting them. "So this notion that when the government is supporting black business, then there is something underhand is wrong," he said.Haffejee then addressed Nathan and said that she thinks the media is in real trouble and feels that it will have to be philanthropically funded and by things like crowdfunding. She said that, in a recent interview, she heard Nathan say that it was vital that the media survives because it played such an important role in the past, but also in the present in pushing back against state capture. She asked him if he thought that companies should be consciously taking away their advertising spend, which is increasingly going to Facebook and Google, to fund local media.Nathan responded by saying that business exists to make a profit and that it is quite difficult to say where business should and should not be spending. "I think Google and the Internet are probably good places for them to spend." But, what concerns him is that business is not being a good citizen in South Africa, and by that, he referred to how much money business gives to fund political campaigns.Now whether the funding is good or bad, that's not the debate, but what they give proportionally to the media. "They give next to nothing, and if you look at the important role the media plays in South Africa, it's huge," he said.Nathan continued and asked, "What is better for South Africa, more politicians or more independent media?" He said the problem is a global problem; the fact that there is a concentration of power. There's a concentration of economic power and vested interest of driving agendas, and that's why we need the truth to come out, because these vested interests like Facebook and others, they can almost control the truth and invent the truth. So, the more vested interests supporting each other, the less free a society we're going to have, and we can't make good decisions unless we have the truth.Manyi added that big business isn't helping the same cause. "Big business is also having a symbiotic relationship with a particular mainstream media narrative."Crotty joined the conversation and said she thinks it's really important for government to back black business. "But, as far as I can make out, it's reasonable to put ads in theand thebecause both those publications have readership to justify the ads," she said. Before ANN7 and, they didn't have any readership, she continued, adding that she didn't think that they could ever justify that kind of advertising.Manyi responded by saying that he thinks the big players set the rules. He said that they agree that in order for the rate card worth so much, you must have so much security. He said that it is all good and well if you are like thewho have been in business for so long, but new players that are measured with the same scale as veterans in this space is just an inherently unfair system. So, he argues, government can't dispense equal treatment on all. "It is incorrect. There has to be a transformation element," he said.Nathan added to the conversation that he thinks the vast amount of South Africans want South Africans to succeed. "Now in order for South Africa to succeed, the population has got to succeed. So, we can't live in South Africa and not want black people to succeed in all facets of our lives." He said that if we look at what government has done in terms of government policy, in terms of equality, equity, ownership, etc, there is an enormous amount of policy that favours black people."So if you look at South Africa, this is a huge economy. Government spends about R1.5tn per year. There is a lot of money going around, and it has to be a common cause to want black business people to succeed," he continued, and questioned whether business is being allocated on a fair and transparent basis.Manyi responded, saying that employment equity is about the profitable distribution of human resources. What it seeks to do is to ensure that in this country 10% is white and so, therefore, all positions should somehow reflect that.Haffajee then stated that before the Steinhof scandal broke last December, she saw acres and acres of copy that covered it as a brilliant, globalising South African company and acres of copy that covered Marcus Jooste (Steinhoff ex-CEO) as if he was the next best thing. She then asked if the financial media and the media in general are as good a watchdog over corporate malfeasance as they are over watching the public realm?Crotty doesn't think so. "When you talk about the truth, there are so many truths. I'm told that Marcus Jooste does not believe that he did anything wrong. So his truth is I cant begin to understand how his mind works. It is a really disturbing reality or thought, she said.She said that journalists need much more resources to be able to cover stories and lots more training. She continued and said there are a lot of stories that require journalists to interrogate issues. As a result, the easier thing to do is to accept what they are told by companies, and by doing that the journalists are only serving the companies by accepting their version of the truth.Manyi commented and said that most of these companies that the competition commission reports about that commit the scariest things in terms of governance and ethics are big advertisers. He said that the media is conflicted because they don't want to write 'bad things' about their customers because they are interested in advertising revenues.Haffajee pushed back and said that on many occasions, when advertisers have threatened to pull their advertising if a story is not killed, she has seen many editors stand their ground for the stories to go ahead even if that ad is pulled.Nathan said that before each business deal, you should do an ethics test and ask yourself, "Would you be happy to have that published on the front page?"Well, would you?Protect your reputation before it is attacked

The vast majority of the value of companies today is in their reputational goodwill. The risk of losing this value is now acknowledged as the "risk of all risks".

My good friend and former communications head at Woolworths, Neeron Naidoo, who now runs a successful reputation management consultancy (www.hewers.co.za) told me that while a solid and sustainable reputation is todays foremost competitive advantage, most boards struggle with putting in place reliable processes to identify, assess and proactively manage reputational risk.



I could not agree more. And still to this day I cannot understand why boards of directors cant get their heads around protecting their most valuable asset proactively, instead of waiting for a calamity that has them running around like headless chickens.



Neeran Naidoo believes that easy access to information through the internet and instantaneous dissemination of opinions through social media have significantly amplified the opportunities and risks associated with reputation. Most boards seem to live in the vain hope that scandals wont happen to the companies they are entrusted with. In the case of reputational disasters, this is particularly negligent as the response to such a crisis often matters more than the event that caused the crisis.



Nothing is more difficult than keeping a clear head when a crisis hits and the company is unprepared.



Without a solid reputation, the company will lose its customers, be shunned as an employer, be alienated by investors, be avoided by suppliers and meet hostility wherever it turns.



Scandinavian wine consumers recently removed South African wines off the shelves of selected stores after a documentary called Bitter Grapes highlighted the social conditions on some wine farms. Wine drinkers made a clear ethical choice to choose wines whose producers they trust, he said.



Naidoo says good overall reputation has become the premier competitive advantage.



Reputational risk is different from other risks as it cannot be transferred. If a company faces the risk of an accident, insurance can be bought to hand this risk to an insurance company. No such products exist for the risk of suffering reputational damage. Companies are stuck with those risks and therefore have no choice but to take full responsibility for them and manage them themselves.



If reputational risk is not at the top of a companys risk register, it amounts to an admission that it has no real way of identifying, understanding and managing it. By implication, the company also doesnt understand the opportunities that lie in its reputation.



This is surprising, as reputational risks are actually highly predictable.



Reputational risks materialise when values are infringed, fundamental trust is broken and material expectations are betrayed. Sophisticated reputation analytics are now able to pinpoint areas of reputational risks for companies with a high degree of reliability.



To identify and understand reputational risks one needs to have a firm grasp of the expectations of stakeholders about the company, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, assess the ability of the company to meet those expectations and continuously earn the trust people have in the company.



Owners of small businesses typically know this intuitively and manage it all the time. It is also easier for them to be close to the internal capabilities of their companies and have regular direct exchanges with their stakeholders. For larger companies, this would require an exceptionally engaged board or a formal process that takes care of things.



As a national example, early in 2017 SA had an international reputation of having an ethical government, but living in SA it was easy to see that this trust, and the expectations that went with it, was not backed up by realities on the ground. The difference between external perceptions and internal reality was so significant that it was predictable that something had to give.



Naidoo told me that while it was not easily predictable that this risk would start to materialise with the exposure of the unethical shenanigans of Bell Pottinger, it was highly predictable that there would be an event that would expose this misperception about SA to the international community.



Being prepared to deal with reputational risks and crises is critical, as the response to a reputational crisis cannot only mitigate the negative effects but lead to an improvement in the companys reputation.



Well-managed crises are opportunities to reiterate your values, reinforce what you stand for and give customers and other interest groups a reason to trust you.



There is hardly a better illustration of commitment to values than Woolworths chairman Simon Susmans "repatriation" of a live frog in a customers lettuce from Cape Town back to its home in Mpumalanga.



Of course, the best way to handle a risk is to succeed in preventing a crisis from happening in the first instance. When crisis hits, however, companies need to be prepared. For both it is essential that the board has a firm grasp of the impending reputational risks.



SPARK Media, members of the Ehrenberg-Bass Institute (EBI), will be welcoming Dr Virginia Beal, Senior Marketing Scientist, to our shores next month.

We are really looking forward to this highly anticipated annual event, says SPARK Medias Joint CEO, Gill Randall.The topic for this years seminar isVirginia will discuss the essentials of media consumer behaviour, unpacking how marketers can optimise their media scheduling budgets, based on empirical evidence, Gill explains.As members of the Ehrenberg-Bass Institute for the last 16 years, weve had unbelievable access to a wealth of research on consumer and media behaviour, says Gill. Its through this valuable membership that were able to share contemporary global and local insights with our clients and partners.The seminars will be held on 11 September in Durban, 13 September in Cape Town and 18 September in Johannesburg. Regretfully by invitation only.For more on SPARK Media visit our website www.sparkmedia.co.za or follow us on social media @sparkmediasa.Established in 2015, SPARK Media, a division of CTP Ltd, are experts in retail and location-based marketing solutions. The company owns and represents a myriad of print and digital products that deliver locally relevant, effective audiences for advertising clients. SPARK Media are Strategic Partners in Audience Research and Knowledge and offer Insights that Ignite.8 red flags to watch out for when investing

South Africa has been rocked by a series of corporate scandals in recent years that have sent the share prices of former blue-chip companies like Steinhoff and EOH plummeting from their previous stratospheric highs. Investors who bought shares in both since January 2017 would have lost roughly 98% and 80% of their money respectively. One of the biggest questions on the minds of the public is: How on earth did this happen?The Jewish Federation of Greater Chattanooga invites the Chattanooga community to its eleventh annual First Amendment Dinner on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Jewish Cultural Center, 5461 North Terrace Road.

This event educates about First Amendment rights and honors local veterans for their military service.

The keynote speaker will be former Congressman Zach Wamp, who will speak on politics and the First Amendment.

The cost for this annual event is $14 for both veterans and non-veterans. RSVP to 493-0270, rsvp@jewishchattanooga.com or visit www.jewishchattanooga.com. Space is limited.

The First Amendment Dinner was started 11 years ago as a way to honor veterans as well as military personnel and to inform the public of First Amendment Rights. Past speakers have included Tennessee Senator Bob Corker, Morris Dees co-founder of the Southern Poverty Law Center, Hedy Weinberg of the ACLU, Pulitzer Prize winning political cartoonist Clay Bennett, among others.

It is increasingly important for the public to understand the importance of keeping the freedoms we have grown to enjoy and to respect those who serve our country in order to keep these freedoms. said Michael Dzik, Jewish Federation executive director.

Mr. Wamp served 16 years in the U.S. Congress as U.S. Representative for Tennessee's 3rd Congressional District from 1995 to 2011. Known as one of the last in a generation of bipartisans more interested in solutions than taking the credit, Mr. Wamp was a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee. Mr. Wamp served on the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development and was co-chairman of the House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus. Vigorously supporting the Tennessee Valley Authority, he also worked to secure funding for the decaying lock at the Chickamauga Dam. He was founder and co-chairman of the Congressional Fitness Caucus. Mr. Wamp served as Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies. He secured a $4 million appropriation for a methamphetamine task force.

The Jewish Cultural Center, funded by the Jewish Federation of Greater Chattanooga, offers programs, classes, and exhibits; social services; and a preschoolall rooted in Jewish values. The facility enables the Jewish community to raise its visibility, foster relationships, and strengthen its identity in the Chattanooga area. Located at 5461 North Terrace, the Center and its programs are open to everyone regardless of religious affiliation.





#WomensMonth: Be brave, be bold, don't let anyone push you around

Kathryn Main is a single mom of three boys, former sales manager of Sawubona magazine, and founder of Mainmultimedia and Money Savvy Kids (MSK). She explains why working for herself was not an option but a necessity, her personal financial education journey and why she doesn't want the next generation to go through what she went through.

Kathryn Main, founder of Money Savvy Kids and Mainmultimedia.



Behind every successful entrepreneur, youll find the determination to solve one of the worlds problems. Main is proof of this, with her own business driven by a need to change the fact that SA consumers are drowning in debt, with a scary snowball effect.



In fact, she quotes the Economist as reporting just this year that more people have loans than jobs. How are those loans going to be paid off, without an income? Thats one of the reasons Main says we need to curb the instant gratification, spend-now, pay-later mentality in our children from an early age, rather than having it pass from generation to generation.



Because theres no denying that entrepreneurship is strong in South Africa.



Back to the drawing board on unemployment eradication

But a recent study highlighted the effect that poor education has on those aspiring entrepreneurs, who now need to make responsible decisions to grow a business.



Thats the inspiration behind her Money Savvy Kids platform, which partners with corporates like FNB and the Womens Development Bank (WDB) to offer custom financial literacy content  tailored to some as young as four-years-old  all developed by Mains full-service advertising agency, Mainmultimedia.



Here, she shares the aspects of SA business that need a shake-up, particularly where diversity is concerned; as well as tips for young female entrepreneurs looking to follow in her footsteps below



Lets start with an overview of your career highlights so far. Lets start with an overview of your career highlights so far. Behind every successful entrepreneur, youll find the determination to solve one of the worlds problems. Main is proof of this, with her own business driven by a need to change the fact that SA consumers are drowning in debt, with a scary snowball effect.In fact, she quotes theas reporting just this year that more people have loans than jobs. How are those loans going to be paid off, without an income? Thats one of the reasons Main says we need to curb the instant gratification, spend-now, pay-later mentality in our children from an early age, rather than having it pass from generation to generation.Because theres no denying that entrepreneurship is strong in South Africa.But a recent study highlighted the effect that poor education has on those aspiring entrepreneurs, who now need to make responsible decisions to grow a business.Thats the inspiration behind her Money Savvy Kids platform, which partners with corporates like FNB and the Womens Development Bank (WDB) to offer custom financial literacy content  tailored to some as young as four-years-old  all developed by Mains full-service advertising agency, Mainmultimedia.Here, she shares the aspects of SA business that need a shake-up, particularly where diversity is concerned; as well as tips for young female entrepreneurs looking to follow in her footsteps below

Thats fantastic. Based on your experiences, share a few of the aspects of SA business that need a shake-up. Thats fantastic. Based on your experiences, share a few of the aspects of SA business that need a shake-up.

We are not teaching it in our schools. Our parents dont talk to us about it, and the lenders make debt look sexy. Getting into debt is made easy. Why do corporates refuse to spend 100K creating a financial literacy video on the pitfalls of debt, but will spend millions on university road shows, getting youth into debt?

Youre described as having an instinctual understanding of what makes a winning campaign  can you share the secret with us? Youre described as having an instinctual understanding of what makes a winning campaign  can you share the secret with us?

Explain the context of what led you to create Main Multimedia and Money Savvy Kids respectively. Explain the context of what led you to create Main Multimedia and Money Savvy Kids respectively.

Images supplied. Images supplied. Images supplied. Images supplied.

As a woman who came from nothing lost everything and then rebuilt my life at 30 through my own financial education, I knew that financial literacy was going to become my passion.

So powerful. Share a few tips for young female entrepreneurs looking to follow in your footsteps. So powerful. Share a few tips for young female entrepreneurs looking to follow in your footsteps.

Be brave, be bold and not let people push you around. Dont wait for the right client, enough money or the big retainers. Just start. Once you start, things will start to flow.

Do what you say you are going to do. If you promise to deliver by a certain date, deliver on time and on budget.

Relationships are key to business success. Build solid relationships with your clients. Dont collect money from clients. Get an external bookkeeper. Asking for money ruins relationships.

Plan, plan plan and execute. Make sure you make time for exercise, rest and time off. You cant afford to burn out.

Last piece of advice  never give up. On the days where everything is going wrong and you feel like nothing is going right, take the day off and regroup. Look at what actions bought you to this point, and what actions you can take to rectify the issues.

Leigh Andrews' articles About Leigh Andrews Leigh Andrews AKA the



Leigh Andrews AKA the #MilkshakeQueen , is former Editor-in-Chief: Marketing & Media at Bizcommunity.com, with a passion for issues of diversity, inclusion and equality, and of course, gourmet food and drinks! She can be reached on Twitter at @Leigh_Andrews

As with any career, there have been successes and failures. I like to think of my failures as highlights too though, as that is how we learn and grow. In October, Ill be a finalist in the Margaret Hirsch business woman of the year competition and will share the stage with some phenomenal female entrepreneurs, so thats another highlight.Winning awards and garnering recognition for the work you do helps keep me moving forward in a positive way, so I enter as many competitions as I can. The valuable feedback helps mould and change the business where needed.Amongst my highlights: I get to call myself an author as I wrote my first book,in 2016. I never thought that would happen as I only have a grade 9 education and writing was never a strength of mine.In 2015, I was also chosen as one of the Mondato Summit Africa finalists, which rocketed my career and business in a way I did not expect, and last year, I was chosen to be part of the first Lioness of Africa acceleration program.Also, a big corporate wanted to buy my business, which didnt end well. I learned many hard lessons but also realised I have a business someone would want to buy, so that makes me proud.As a female entrepreneur, Im most proud of the fact that Im still in business after almost 10 years. Working for yourself comes with many challenges and its hard out there, but I have built up a great portfolio of happy clients who refer me and keep working with me year after year.Financial literacy is definitely one of those.Im also a firm believer in having aThat way, the creative juices are always flowing. So many different points of view and perspective are key to successful marketing campaigns. I wish more businesses would take on interns from diverse backgrounds.I listen to my clients needs and objectives, and then craft campaigns to suit their objectives and target market. We narrow down the target markets and make sure we only serve ads to the correct audiences.Being in the media and sales industry for over 15 years and working in all areas of media has given me a birds eye view of what works on what platform in each market. Experience speaks volumes. As with anything in life, you learn from your failures and mistakes. I have made many mistakes in the past  I learned the hard lessons and took the hard knocks.As a single mom to three boys, being a full-time employee never worked for me. My kids needed me when they were younger, and that meant many hours off work and leaving early. Employers never liked that, so working for myself was not an option it was a necessity.Ive always been good at identifying opportunities and gaps in the market. My marketing know-how has given me an edge over other entrepreneurs, as I understand how to build and launch a brand into the marketplace.Advertising was an industry I loved the minute I started in it. I loved the fast-paced life, the hectic deadlines and long, boozy lunches. I knew this was the industry I wanted to be in from day one.Money Savvy Kids is my passion project.Im so passionate about teaching good financial habits. I dont want the next generation to go through what I went through. Blacklisted for eight years, with no access to finance and credit and a poor credit score for a decade could have all been avoided. Youth financial literacy is crucial for their success in this ever-changing world.My best advice is:Egyptian national security prosecutors ordered four more journalists to be detained as part of a case in which more than a dozen journalists, along with academics and activists, are charged with belonging to a banned group and with spreading false news.

 skantgarg via 123RF

Human rights

The Committee to Protect Journalists called on authorities to immediately release the journalists and end their crackdown on the press.Since August 14, prosecutors have ordered Al-Shaab news website photojournalist Mervet al-Hosiny, Veto news website photojournalist Islam Gomaa, satirical blogger Islam al-Refai, known as Khorm, andfreelance photojournalist Zeinab Abu Ouna, to be detained for 15 days each, according to the local press freedom groups the Arab Network for Human Rights Information and the Association of Freedom of Thought and Expression, and news Khorm was due to be released on bail in a separate case when new charges were brought, according to the reports."Even when the hand of justice finally reaches for a journalist, Egypt's national security prosecutors bat it away and put forward a new excuse to keep the journalist in jail," said CPJ Middle East and North Africa program coordinator Sherif Mansour. "We call on authorities to immediately free all journalists who were arrested arbitrarily."Khorm, who ran a satirical Twitter account with 75,000 followers, was due to be released after nine months' detention in a separate case when he was detained on the new charges, the independent news website Mada Masr reported A Giza Criminal Court on August 16 had upheld a decision to release Khorm on bail of 2,000 Egyptian pounds (US$112) in the earlier case in which he was charged with belonging to a banned group and spreading false news, despite the prosecution's appeal , the Association of Freedom of Thought and Expression reported Fatma Serag, a lawyer for Association of Freedom of Thought and Expression who is representing Khorm, told Mada Masr that a national security investigation alleged that the journalist communicated with Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, which were described as "hostile" to Egypt. The journalist denied the allegation, according to Serag. The lawyer told Mada Masr it was the first time the prosecution defined those two organisations as being anti-state and classed communication with them as a crime.Ouna, who most recently covered medical stories for the pro-government daily, Al-Watan, was arrested on August 17 at Cairo's international airport as she was about to board a flight to Lebanon, Serag told Mada Masr. The lawyer said that she only learned of the journalist's detention order on August 19, when she attended a hearing for Khorm as part of the same trialNour Fahmy, a lawyer for Gomaa, told the local news website Katib that on August 14, Cairo's national security prosecutor ordered the journalist's detention to be renewed for 15 days. Gomaa, who covered public funerals for Veto, was arrested on June 29 and appeared in front of the prosecutor for the first time on August 7, his lawyer said.Prosecutors on August 18 extended the detention period for al-Hosiny, who covered protests and was arrested at her Cairo home on July 5, her outlet reported . The journalist's lawyer, Amr Mohamed, told Katib she was taken to the hospital on August 19 after her health deteriorated following the prosecutor's decision.The prosecutor general's office did not immediately respond to CPJ's email requesting comment.Black Business Council calls for media diversity, competition acceleration in SA

The Black Business Council (BBC) is calling on the government and the regulator to accelerate the introduction of media diversity and competition in the country after noticing a lack of urgency in developments within the communications and media industry.



BBC will meet with Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa), the Department of Communications, the Department of Telecommunications, and Postal Services to discuss ways of unlocking the release of the radio frequency spectrum, digital migration, convergence, media diversity, and competition.



In order to build the economic and cultural base that reflects all South Africans and informs the psyche of what it means to be a South African, BBC contends that diversity in ownership, management, and, content creation is needed.PODCAST The highs and lows of the history of Riverside Park

In peeling back the many layers to Riverside Park, upper Manhattans premier ribbon park, running along the west side from the Upper West Side to Washington Heights, you will find a wealth of history that takes you back to Manhattans most rugged days.

The windswept bluffs overlooking the Hudson River were home to only desolate mansions and farmhouses, its rock outcroppings appealing to tortured poets such as Edgar Allan Poe. But the railroad cleaved the peace when it laid its tracks along the waterfront in the 1840s.

To encourage development, the city planned Riverside Park as a respite with commanding views of the river and a swanky carriage way for afternoon excursions. But the original plan by Central Park designer Frederick Law Olmsted only went so far  right up to those pesky train tracks.

In the 20th century, residents along the newly chic Riverside Drive tired of the smoky mess. It would take the master builder himself  Robert Moses  to finally conceal those tracks and create a new spot for recreational facilities. In doing so, he threaded his new park with a new noisemaker  the Henry Hudson Parkway.

We give you the grand overview history of this extraordinary park THEN we visit the park itself to give you the full dynamic sound experience, reviewing Riversides most spectacular attractions.

PLUS: The strange story of two great monuments at 125th Street, the final resting place for a great military leader and a five year old boy, whose tragic story has inspired generations of poets.

FEATURING: George and Ira Gershwin, Charles Schwab, Joan of Arc, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump (in non political capacities!)

Listen Now: Riverside Park New York Podcast

To download this episode and subscribe to our show for free, visit iTunes or other podcasting services or get it straight from our satellite site.

You can also listen to the show on Overcast, Google Music and Stitcher streaming radio.

Or listen to it straight from here:

________________________________________________________

The Bowery Boys: New York City History podcast is brought to you . by you!

We are now producing a new Bowery Boys podcast every other week. Were also looking to improve the show in other ways and expand in other ways as well  through publishing, social media, live events and other forms of media. But we can only do this with your help!

We are now a member of Patreon, a patronage platform where you can support your favorite content creators for as little as a $1 a month.

Please visit our page on Patreon and watch a short video of us recording the show and talking about our expansion plans. If youd like to help out, there are five different pledge levels (and with clever names too  Mannahatta, New Amsterdam, Five Points, Gilded Age, Jazz Age and Empire State). Check them out and consider being a sponsor.

We greatly appreciate our listeners and readers and thank you for joining us on this journey so far.

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From an 1855 map of Manhattan, showing the still-rugged terrain of the area west of Central Park

1896, Museum of the City of New York

Detroit Publishing Co.,Created / Published between 1910 and 1920 / Library of Congress

In the early 1900s, the park was extended further north. This depicts the scene near 148th Street, near a bathing beach that couldnt have been very pleasant to visit during construction.

MCNY

Riverside Park and Drive in the 1920s  the park stops at the tracks.

Another image from 1910, showing the exposed tracks and the waterfront.

Photograph shows the unveiling of the Joan of Arc statue, Riverside Park, New York City on Dec. 6, 1915. (Source: Flickr Commons project, 2013)

The original tomb of Ulysses S. Grant, circa 1886.

Library of Congress

Replaced by his more famous resting place in 1897, in Olmsteds carriage loop. (Olmsted was no longer associated with Riverside Park or else he might have taken issue with its placement.)

1901/Library of Congress

The fabulous Claremont Inn which drew thousands of weary New Yorkers after a long stroll in Riverside Park.

Detroit Publishing Co., 1900/ Library of Congress

A view of Grants Tomb, Claremont Inn, the Manhattan Valley Viaduct and a glorious pier structure.

1906/Library of Congress

New York Public Library

The Soldiers and Sailors Monument. (Read more about it here.)

New York Public Library

The Rice residence at West 89th Street and Riverside Drive

Wurts Brothers/MCNY

The Firemens Memorial, pictured here in 1929

MCNY

The tomb of the Amiable Child, 1900 and 1925

MCNY

The Henry Hudson Parkway and the Boat Basin, 1975

New York Times/MCNY

A portion of Riverside Park South, developed by Donald Trump.

A glorious little marina sits in front of the Boat Basin.

The Hamilton Fountain, at West 76th Street, named for the man who bequeathed it to the city  Robert Ray Hamilton, the great-grandson of Alexander Hamilton and Eliza Schuyler Hamilton.

Up the hill and through the trees, you will find the contemplation spot for one of Americas most famous writers.

The Warsaw Ghetto Memorial  or rather, where a memorial should be.

Just west of the peacefulness of Warsaw Ghetto Memorial Plaza:

The Soldiers and Sailors Monument, completed in 1902.

A message of thanks from the ASPCA.

The Amiable Child monument today..

just steps away from Grants Tomb.

All hail Joan!

FURTHER LISTENING

After listening to this story of Riverside Park, check out these related Bowery Boys podcasts 

For more information on Upper West Side development:

For more information on the westside railroad:

Listen to the podcasts

Looking for the latest episode of our podcasts? Listen now on iTunes to The Bowery Boys and The First.

Find recent podcast episodes here, and click to read more about listening options here.

Read the book

Our first-ever Bowery Boys book, Adventures in Old New York is now out in bookstores! A time-traveling journey into a past that lives simultaneously besides the modern city.

Bowery Boys Walking ToursThe Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce announced new staff members who have joined iys team in the past several months, as well as several promotions.

It takes a dynamic, top-level professional team to promote our regions economic growth and exceed business member needs, said Christy Gillenwater, Chattanooga Chamber president and CEO. Our staffs work with our volunteer leaders and community business professionals makes it possible for us to deliver high quality member services, promote regional economic growth and propel talent development, equity and inclusion and other crucial initiatives.

New team members:

Ben Cairns, Account Executive: Mr. Cairns has lived in Chattanooga for 21 years and holds a bachelors degree from The University of Tennessee and a masters degree from The University of Georgia. As an account representative at the Chamber, Mr. Cairns engages companies that will benefit and grow through their Chamber memberships.

Austin Corcoran, Member Services Coordinator: A native Texan, Mr. Corcoran joins the Chamber staff after three years with SunTrust Bank. An alumnus of Bryan College, he serves as the liaison between the Chamber and 170 volunteers involved with the Chambers 12 area Councils.

Josselyn Nielsen, Executive Assistant: Ms. Nielsen is a relative newcomer to the Chattanooga area. She previously served in the United States Navy, attended Utah Valley University and has significant community-based volunteer experience. She serves as assistant to Chamber President and CEO Christy Gillenwater.

Brandon Pingry, Director of Membership: Pingry recently moved to Chattanooga from Raleigh, North Carolina. He attended the University of Alabama and has more than 10 years of business development and sales experience. He will support companies interested in Chamber membership as well as manage account executives and retention efforts.

Amanda Stewart, Business Intelligence Specialist: Stewart hails from Dalton, Ga., and studied business at Dalton State. After working in the power industry for over 15 years, she recently relocated to Chattanooga from Atlanta. As Business Intelligence Specialist, she coordinates data analysis to support business decision making.

Promotions:

Sandra Brewer, Vice President of Membership and Investor Relations: A longtime Chattanooga resident and graduate of Covenant College, Ms. Brewer was a Chamber volunteer for 10 years prior to joining the Chamber team over six years ago. Ms. Brewer now splits her time between the Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber Foundation, focusing on revenue growth and engaging top investors. Brewer continues to lead and direct the activities of the Membership Department.

Kerry Beth Carico, Events Manager: Ms. Carico handles all major annual events, AM/After Hours networking and the Chamber Champions sponsorship program. A Nashville native, she served as lead assistant to a well-known music artist prior to joining the Chamber, managing album release events, private parties and a global tour. She attended the University of Virginias College at Wise.

Amanda Ellis, Marketing & Communications Manager: A Chamber team member for five years, Ms. Ellis is a Belmont University (Nashville) grad and Chattanooga native. She manages the Chambers communications internship program, serves as copywriter and managing editor of Business Trend magazine and assists with media relations locally and beyond as her team promotes our region.

Jeremy Henderson, Creative Director: Mr. Henderson has worked with the Chattanooga Chamber for more than a decade. An expert graphic designer, hes a native of Cohutta, Georgia and a graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design. In his new role as Creative Director, Mr. Henderson will continue to advance marketing communications strategies to promote our region and manage two Chamber marketing team members.

Eric Lisica, Interactive Content Designer: Mr. Lisicas Chamber tenure is seven years. As Interactive Content Designer, he creates digital content including video and the Chambers Chattanooga Works podcast, in addition to leading email marketing and website updates.

Cameron Lusk, Sales Executive: After supporting the Chamber as a runner and assistant for two years, Mr. Lusk will now focus part-time on EXPO and other sponsorship sales as well as ancillary products. Mr. Lusk is from Nashville and attended the University of Tennessee Chattanooga.

Meredith Rivers, Director of Member & Investor Relations: Rivers is now responsible for directing programs and services that benefit members, including the Chambers 12 Councils, Chamber Ambassadors, non-dues revenue and front office operations. Ms. Rivers will soon celebrate seven years with the Chamber. Shes from Chattanooga, graduated from the University of Tennessee Knoxville and has previous nonprofit development experience.

Lori Slatton, Executive Assistant: Ms. Slatton has served the Chamber for nearly 25 years, and now transitions to supporting investor relations activities.

Other recent hires include Molly Blankenship, Vice President of Talent Initiatives, and Chris Gobble, Senior Director of Public Policy.Looks more and more likely that some sort of "fight" is up around the corner. I don't really recall anything like I'm seeing today with kids knocking down statues trying to erase history, masked thugs beating people who are brought together by a common cause, school buildings being destroyed, religious statues being destroyed, and politicians saying no simply because they hate one from the other party.

Illegal immigration has been with us my entire life, thought Reagan had it under control, but that's history now. Back in the 70's we thought 3,000,000 was a lot and I personally lost a job because of it, a progressive California legislator thought it would be wonderful to put "undocumented workers" into the local judicial system! Didn't work then and it certainly shouldn't work now but that's a whole different post.

The anti-war demonstrators were tame compared to the lengths Antifa goes to in order to get on TV. Those protesters were able to assist in bringing the troops home, this new "protester" is merely making the public madder than a hatter. Any educated person will tell you no matter how hard you try you cannot erase history and remembering the worst times enables us to not repeat them.

If a statue upsets you that much then I suggest you get some mental help because you've been programmed to believe you can change the past rather than learn from it. If the flag upsets you merely by its appearance may I respectfully suggest you look around to the north or south of us and find yourself a place where you would be more comfortable, not free but yep...you'll be more comfortable having a whole new list of rights to oppose (good luck with that). If my religious beliefs upset you, get over it because only myself will be held accountable for them. If my pro-life stand upsets you, get over it because only you will be held accountable for your actions.

You don't like your President's past? Well show me one politician who doesn't have some bones buried in their backyard. Some of you think Corker is a hero, I can remember a time when he was a zero and that past doesn't automatically get erased because he's suddenly "seen the light". The previous governor of our great state? He's got a few bones of his own if you'll remember correctly. Your hatred for the President merely makes you one of those that has forgotten your own moral compass and that resentment that you've allowed to fester and grow has blinded you when it comes to pure policy issues. Now, thanks to a very few who would love to see America turn into Greece, or worse...Russia, our students who are supposed to be educated can't tell the difference between capitalism and socialism...make you wonder what the heck they're teaching doesn't it? In my day that was the first thing that was tackled in a high school freshman's civics class.

I happen to love this country, respect my law enforcement officers, want a border wall, want immigration reform, want to see industry come back to my area, want lower power bills, want the right to speak openly without the threat of getting assaulted, love my flag and respect the history of my country. The big news? I'm not alone, I'm part of the silent majority who will do whatever it takes to protect my rights. Saying "she got the most votes" is ridiculous, she got the most votes from a state that is as full of nuts as the left coast is. The silent majority is set in stone and they're not going to let you take away their rights without one huge fight and I know exactly who will win. Stop this nonsense now and work together to make this country free again, politicians who have become millionaires on a job that pays less than $200,000 per year should get your attention. They have been bought and paid for by those that only want to control you, the people...the people that are supposed to be in charge. As someone once said "what have you got to lose"?

Sue WhiteTheres a new group in town called Center for Urban Informatics and Progress. It has spun off from UTCs SimCenter and will be handling all the Smart City work that UTC is involved in.

UTCs Mina Sartipi, who has been central to Smart City, is director of CUIP.

There will be an informational seminar on Friday, Sept. 7, from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in the UTC Librarys Southern Writers Room.The 15 persons who will participate in the 2018 Tennessee Elk Hunts were announced Thursday during the August meeting of the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission held at the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Region II Ray Bell Building.

A total of 8,450 persons registered for the opportunity to participate in this years hunt. Tennessee began its elk hunt in 2009 with the participants selected from a computer draw. TWRA Elk Program Leader Brad Miller announced this years participants at the meeting.

Selected to participate in the archery-only hunt Sept. 29-Oct. 5 are Charles A. Hall (Chattanooga), Darrell Clark Beeler (Corryton), Mason A. King (Harriman), Luke S. Dunham (Cookeville), Adam A. Miller (Jamestown), Hunter E. Munck (Cleveland), and Marcus B. Tilson (Oakdale).

The gun, muzzleloader, or archery equipment hunt will be held Oct. 13-19. Selected to participate were Taylor M. Moody (Knoxville), Mark A. Vines (Jonesborough), Henry Barrett Cothron (Bethpage), Gary K. Bivens (Tellico Plains), Denise A. Potter (Maryville), and David W. Pruitt (Jackson).

The seventh permit was presented to a non-governmental organizational, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation. In previous years, the permit was auctioned to the high bidder. This year, a raffle was held with tickets sold for $10 each. Scott Thomas (Cleveland) is the winner. A total of 22,484 tickets were sold. Fund-raising proceeds from the auctioned tag are designated for the elk restoration program.

The youth tag permit winner is Porter A. Neubauer (Belvidere). This will be the seventh year for the tag which is designated for youth ages 13-16. The TFWC voted in 2017 to allow a full week for the youth participant, rather than a two-day weekend hunt. It will be held Oct. 6-12.

All hunt permits are valid on the North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area and can also be used on private lands (with landowner permission) within the Elk Restoration Zone in Anderson, Campbell, Claiborne, Morgan and Scott counties.

Since the historic first managed hunt in 2009, 41 elk have been legally harvested. Three elk were harvest in the archery only hunt last year. Four were harvested in the gun, muzzleloader, and archery hunt and the youth hunter, Reed Johnson (Manchester) took an elk on the first day of his hunt.

The elk participants were the first items of business to open the TFWC meeting. The two day meeting concludes Friday.The Tennessee Supreme Court has determined that a statute allowing the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to collect a fee when an individual is convicted of certain drug and alcohol offenses does not deprive defendants of the right to a fair and impartial trial under both the Tennessee and U.S. constitutions. The ruling reverses a decision from the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals.

The Hamilton County case involved a challenge to the constitutionality of a statute that imposes a $250 blood and alcohol drug concentration test (BADT) fee on every person convicted of certain offenses, including driving under the influence, if samples from the offender were sent to the TBI forensic lab. The fees are deposited in a TBI toxicology unit intoxicant testing fund and can be used to fund staff positions and buy equipment in the labs.



In 2012, the defendant, Rosemary L. DeCosimo, was charged with five driving offenses, including DUI. At her arrest, she provided a blood sample that was sent to the TBI forensic lab and showed a blood alcohol content at 0.16 percent, twice the legal limit. In 2014, she, and 22 other defendants from Hamilton County, filed a motion to have the test results dismissed, challenging the constitutionality of the BADT fee. The defendants argued the BADT fee incentivized TBI forensic scientists to generate test results that produce convictions and, therefore, improve the finances of the agency. A panel of three criminal court judges held a joint hearing on these challenges. The defendants acknowledged there were no actual allegations of unfair or inappropriate treatment and their challenge was based on the appearance of impropriety. The judges reviewed financial data, training protocols, and legislative testimony from TBI and rejected the defendants argument. Ms. DeCosimo renewed her motion again during her own case, and the trial judge, after reviewing the evidence presented at the hearing as well as new evidence, ruled against her. She eventually pled nolo contendere to DUI per se and certified the question of the constitutionality of the BADT statute for appeal.



The Court of Criminal Appeals found the BADT statute violates due process principles. While it agreed that precedent concluding that judges cannot have a direct or indirect financial interest in a case did not apply because TBI forensic scientists do not have a judicial or quasi-judicial function, it stated it could not ignore the fact TBI only receives the fee after a conviction. It concluded the TBI scientists have a financial interest in the fees in the form of continued employment, salaries, equipment, and training. The Supreme Court granted the states appeal and reversed the Court of Criminal Appeals.



In its decision, the Supreme Court concluded TBI forensic scientists do not exercise judicial authority and have no control over procuring evidence, making arrests, or initiating prosecutions. They simply perform scientific tests on evidence samples submitted to them and the BADT fee is collected months or years later, if at all. The Court concluded the alleged financial interest is too remote to trigger a due process challenge even under the strictest requirements. The Court also rejected the argument that the BADT fee was similar to paying an expert witness a fee only if the case is won. The Court found that TBI forensic scientists are salaried employees who risk immediate termination and large agency costs if even inadvertent mistakes are made in the testing process. The Court reinstated the decision of the trial court in Ms. DeCosimos case.

Tennessee Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III is pleased with the outcome of the decision. He said, This ruling reverses the judgment of the Court of Criminal Appeals and upholds the constitutionality of a Tennessee law that imposed fees on individuals convicted of DUI and removes any uncertainty over past DUI convictions. In addition, the court pointed out that any financial incentive created by the law is far too remote to constitute a possible temptation for TBI forensic agents to falsify test results and generate fees.



To read the unanimous opinion in State of Tennessee v. Rosemary L. DeCosimo, authored by Justice Cornelia A. Clark, go to the opinions section of TNCourts.gov.

Eligible builders' merchants should move quickly to capitalise on the benefits of London's new 10 million Cleaner Heat Cashback Scheme, according to an industry spokesman.

Pete Mills, Technical Operations Manager at Bosch Commercial and Industrial, (pictured) says that the Scheme will greatly benefit Londons pollution reduction efforts and eligible merchants who could benefit from improved boiler efficiency and reduced operating costs.

He said: Businesses should act fast to apply for their cashback as the scrappage scheme is time- and money-limited, running until 2020, or until the 10 million has been claimed.

Opportunities for SMEs to invest in energy-saving commercial boiler systems at a substantially reduced cost do not come along often. This scheme provides businesses with the possibility to increase their boiler efficiency while simultaneously reducing their energy bills. This combination will be particularly beneficial to London businesses, whose overheads tend to be disproportionately high."

The scheme has been designed to encourage SMEs - including merchants - to replace their older boilers with more efficient heating systems, offering 30%-40% cashback. The old boiler must be in working condition and, if it is fuelled by gas, oil or LPG, must be at least ten years old. It can be of any age if it is powered by coal or biomass.

It was launched in July by Mayor Sadiq Khan, as part of a programme of measures designed to improve the capital's air quality.

Mills added: Now is an opportune moment for these businesses to upgrade to an energy-efficient boiler system, at a substantially reduced cost.

The time-limited nature of the scheme means that those looking to apply for the cashback should make use of established products on the market that are optimised for replacement and installations and offer an energy-efficient alternative to their existing boiler system."Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge students at Highbridges King Alfred School are celebrating a superb set of impressive GCSE results today (Thursday, August 23rd).

Over 190 nervous students headed to the school to open their all-important results envelopes to discover how theyd done.

The GCSEs were graded on a numerical basis, with 9 being the top grade and 1 being the lowest grade.

Overall students achieving a Grade 5 strong pass in English and Maths was 38%, a fantastic 8% increase on this figure last year.

Some 59% of students who attended the King Alfred School achieved a Grade 4 standard pass in English and maths GCSE, a 2% increase compared to summer 2017.

Nearly one in five of the grades achieved by the students at the school were grades 9  7 and 66% of the grades achieved by the students were grades 9  4. Some 53% of the students achieved five GCSE grades 9-4 including English and Maths.

Denise Hurr, Headteacher, said: We are very proud of the results achieved by our students.

They have worked incredibly hard and been supported and challenged by their families and the school to make themselves proud.

There were many outstanding individual performances, these include;

Kirsty Atwell  nine Grade 9s and 2 A* grades

Eleanor Bartlett  six Grade 9s, two Grade 8s, one Grade 7

Heidi Reynolds  five Grade 9s, two Grade 8s, two Grade 7s, 1 A and 1 A*

Jack Murphy  four Grade 9s, 4 Grade 8s, 2 Grade As and a double distinction *

Charles Valentine  two Grade 9s, four Grade 8s, one Grade 7, one Grade 5, 1 A and 1 B

Joseph Strong  three Grade 8s, two Grade 7s, one Grade 6, two grade 5s, 1 A* and 1B.

Nathan Jenkins, new Principal, said: Im thrilled to see that so many students have achieved fantastic results this year. It really is a measure of just how hard both the students and staff at the school have worked.

The King Alfred School is one that is making rapid progress and I am excited and privileged to be able to continue this work in the coming year.

Burnham-On-Sea.com spoke to several of the students to get their reaction to the results.

Abbi Milburn is heading to Richard Huish sixth-form college after doing really well in her exams. She will be studying maths, physics and biology. Its a big relief, she said.

Jody Lynham added that she is really pleased with her results, which included an A in further maths. Shes going on to Weston College to study physics, maths and further maths.

Katie-Bea Robinson is very happy after achieving a great set of results that will result in her studying at King Alfred Schools Sixth Form. She will studying history, chemistry and maths.

Shannon Hawkes added that shes really relieved with her GCSE results and is still deciding where she will go to study A-levels.

Bailey Warren added: I have done better than I thought  I got some good results in maths and science and am looking forward to studying at Weston College.

Harry Chave said: Im really pleased  the results, including three 7s, exceeded my expectations. He will be moving to King Alfred Schools sixth form. Its close to where I live and more convenient than Weston or Bridgwater College, he said.On June 11, 2018, Azerbaijani state media reported the conclusion of a Belarus-Azerbaijan arms deal, displaying the procured battery-size Polonez Multiple Rocket-Launch systems (MRLS) produced by a Belarus-Chinese military industry company. Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev inspected the equipment at the new brigade site near Perekeshkul, north-west of Baku. At least five launch vehicles were showcased, each equipped with eight 301mm A200-type high-precision rockets, with a firing range of about 200 kilometers. The new artillery brigade is also equipped with LORA (Long-Range Artillery System) all-weather capability precision ballistic missile systems, with a maximum firing range of 300 kilometers, manufactured by Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI). The systems were subsequently showcased during a military parade in Baku on June 26.

BACKGROUND: Until recently, Azerbaijan has not prioritized substantial strategic ballistic missile capabilities given the assumption that the enemy  Armenia  possessed limited military-strategic stationary targets such as airports, large warehouses, and plants. Therefore, instead of boosting its ballistic missile arsenal, Azerbaijan chiefly focused on enhancing ballistic missile defense (BMD) in order to neutralize the corresponding threat emanating from Armenia.

In 2011, Azerbaijan signed an agreement with Israel for the delivery of two EL/M-2080 Green Pine radar systems and nine Barak-8 missile defense and air defense systems, a deal worth US$ 700 million. Green Pine is produced by Elta, a subsidiary of IAI. If the mobile radars are deployed in southeast Azerbaijan, they could provide advanced warning of long-range missiles fired from Iran and could also track Iranian missile test launches. Although the exact locations of the Green Pine radars and Barak-8 missiles remain unclear, they clearly form part of a BMD system and counter-balance Armenia's Tochka, Scud-B and Iskander-E short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) systems.

In addition, Azerbaijan already has two divisions (16 units) of S-300PMU-2 systems supplied by Russia since 2011. While these systems were reportedly deployed around Baku in 2012, their actual state of readiness is unclear since Azerbaijani crews are not known to have test-fired the systems either in-country or in Russia. Azerbaijans almost simultaneous purchase of the Israeli systems reflects a degree of distrust in the Russian systems and the imperative to diversify its supply of arms.

In contrast, Armenia until recently enjoyed an obvious strategic and technical advantage, possessing a solid arsenal of precision-guided rocket equipment. In addition to its already substantial ballistic missile fleet, including successfully upgraded Soviet Scud-B and Tochka, Yerevan has extensively reinforced its capabilities by obtaining at least one battalion of advanced Iskander-E SRBM, with a maximum range of 280 kilometers, from Russia  its closest strategic ally. The systems were first showcased during a military parade dedicated to the anniversary of Armenias independence in September 2016. The demonstration was particularly symbolic given the public resentment in Armenia after the loss of territory and servicemen during the unprecedented escalation of tensions in April that year.

Armenias grand strategy in the context of its missile capabilities is straightforward: the ballistic missile component of the Joint Armenian Armed Forces (JAAF), comprising Armenias regular army and Artsakh (Karabakh) defense forces, is on the one hand intended to deter Azerbaijan from resuming war against Karabakh and Armenia. On the other hand, it is a critical element of Armenias global conventional strike strategy, designed to wipe out the adversarys strategic military infrastructure in a pre-emptive strike, in the event of an anticipated large-scale Azerbaijani attack.

IMPLICATIONS: Increasingly concerned over Armenias acquisition of Russia-manufactured Iskander-E systems in 2016, Azerbaijan has sought to balance the ballistic missile asymmetry and even to outnumber its opponents capabilities in this specific field. Baku has solved its missile dilemma by acquiring Israeli LORA operative-tactical ballistic missiles and Polonez multiple-rocket launch systems, while at the same time keeping the options with Russia, Pakistan and Ukraine negotiable. Nevertheless, the Azerbaijan-Belarus arms deal has been fraught with both political and technical difficulties.

In late 2017, Belorussian and Azerbaijani press relying on sources close to the Defense Ministries, reported that Baku had closed an arms deal with Minsk worth US$ 170 million aimed at purchasing the systems. They argued that the Belarus-Chinese Polonez M20 operative-tactical missiles could effectively mitigate Azerbaijans deficiency in ballistic missile capabilities and balance those of Armenia.

While concluding the deal, the Chinese side hesitated to approve the export of M20 ballistic missiles, hence Minsk subsequently attempted to amend the contract when Azerbaijans Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov visited Minsk in October 2017. Minsk likely offered Baku Polonez MRLS armed with A200 rockets, instead of M20 precision-guided ballistic missiles. This seemingly caused additional delays and as Russias Kommersant newspaper leaked in April, Azerbaijan first ordered two battery-size (more than 10 erector launchers) packages with A200 artillery rockets, which are already supplied, and another with M20 munition expected to be delivered by the end of 2018.

In anticipation of this outcome, Armenia negotiated with Russia to purchase TOR-M2 surface-to-air missile systems, intended to engage precision-guided munition. Additionally, facing Azerbaijans LORA and Polonez SRBM systems, Yerevan will likely respond asymmetrically by reinforcing its air force with a squadron of Su-30SM aircraft. This enhancement of JAAFs capacity for offensive operations complies with Armenias pre-emptive strike doctrine as an option in the case of an Azerbaijani offensive against Karabakh or against Armenia from Nakhichevan.

Politically, the Belarus-Azerbaijani arms deal will almost certainly exacerbate relations between Armenia and Belarus, despite their formal collective defense and security commitments under the CSTO. The political and military rapprochement between Minsk and Baku is not new, and its development in certain aspects damages Yerevans security interests by neglecting the treaty commitments and undermining the spirit of alliance.

During the escalation of tensions between local Armenian and Azerbaijani armed forces throughout the Line of Contact in Karabakh in April 2016, Minsk unequivocally backed Bakus posture against Armenia. Prior to this, Belarus supplied 11 Sukhoi Su-25 aircraft to Azerbaijan. In 20052011, Baku also acquired 12 self-propelled Pion howitzers, about 150 T-72B main battle tanks, up to 60 BTR-70 armored personnel carriers and over 90 122-millimeter D-30 howitzers from Belarus. Moreover, in 2014 Azerbaijan procured at least two battalions of 9K37M Buk-MB (SA-17 Grizzly) surface-to-air missile systems as well as radio-electronic warfare means from Belarus.

Belarus relations with Azerbaijan and Armenia increasingly favor the former, ignoring Belarus formal commitments to Yerevan. The recent purchases have increased the gap in military capabilities, already fueled by Russian arms sales to Azerbaijan worth US$ 5 billion since 2011. The ongoing militarization of Azerbaijan and Armenia has irreversibly shifted the security environment in the South Caucasus, incentivizing both sides to view the Karabakh problem thought the lens of political realism. With a zero-sum logic prevailing in Yerevan and Baku, both have become preoccupied with military build-up as the only means of survival at the expense of the adversarys security.

CONCLUSIONS: Azerbaijans endeavor to acquire smart warfare capabilities, combined with militaristic rhetoric and constant military drills, indicates a readiness to wage war against Armenia. However, the potential repercussions for Azerbaijan remain uncertain, not least given the new leadership in Armenia. Azerbaijan is seemingly utilizing a brinkmanship strategy to test the reactions of Armenias new political elite.

If the Armenian leadership starts to question the credibility of the countrys defense capabilities as a deterrent, Armenia could take steps in line with the logic of pre-emptive military action in the face of an anticipated imminent threat from Azerbaijan. A resumed conflict would compel Yerevan to either recognize Karabakh as an independent state, or to proclaim Karabakh a part of Armenia  deliberately seeking to embroil the CSTO in the conflict.

Azerbaijans missile deals will definitely affect Armenias military planning, making it more focused on a pre-emptive strike concept. Armenias overall strategy is shifting towards threat prevention, displacing a soviet-style conventional deterrence and defense logic with capacity for pre-emptive punitive measures in order to reduce casualties and strategic losses.

AUTHORS BIOS: Eduard Abrahamyan is a regional security analyst with emphasis on the Black Sea, South Caucasus and Central Asia. He is a CACI Spring 2017 Rumsfeld Fellow and a PhD Candidate at University of Leicester, UK.

Image source: By: Public Domain via Wikimedia accessed on 8.22. 2018| BY Ricki Green |

Cox Inall Change and BWM Dentsu have taken out Round 2 of the Siren Awards with an ad for Bowel Cancer Australia featuring UK comedian Bill Bailey as a talking bowel to raise awareness about Australias second deadliest cancer.

The ad Billy Bowelly, which urges Australians to give a crap about your bowel, was created by John Skaro, Phil van Bruchem, Rachel Blacklaws and Alex Walding.

The creative team said the ad was unique in featuring a talking bowel delivering a comedy routine about cancer, with the success of the ad down to having something interesting to say and someone brilliant to say it.

We had a world-class comedic talent performing it in Bill Bailey. Bills own mum died of bowel cancer, and he brought passion and poignancy to the job. The recording session with Bailey  he was 10,000 miles away in a little recording studio in Swansea, Wales  was hilarious, inspiring and moving.

The ad was judged winner of the single category and overall winner of Round 2 by the Siren Creative Council, a a panel of industry experts made up of creative directors from leading ad agencies.

The winner of the campaign category (three ads or more) was Clemenger BBDO Sydney for Ducking Autocorrect for Dry July, created by Celia Mortlock and Ben Clare. The ads urge people to go alcohol-free during July to avoid the embarrassment caused by autocorrect and drunk texting when you send messages to your boss or your mum while under the influence.

Sound studio Pitchfork was named winner of the craft category for one of the ads in the campaign, Ducking Autocorrect  Ducking Seriously?. The sound engineer was Robbie Balatincz.

Three ads in the Dry July campaign were high commended in the single category: Ducking Autocorrect  Ducking Seriously? by Celia Mortlock; Ducking Autocorrect  William Shark Pear by Celia Mortlock and Ben Clare and Ducking Autocorrect  Right as Drain by Celia Mortlock and Ben Clare.

Highly commended in the campaign category were: Face Your Waste by Face Your Waste creative team Matt Wilson, Hayden Griffiths, Lauren Regolini and Alida Henson; Out of Nowhere by Patrick OReilly and Joshua Newnes from KWP! Advertising for the Motor Accident Commission and Not Waiting in a Waiting Room by Marianne OBrien and Christie Luxton from Clemenger BBDO Brisbane for The Wesley and St Andrews Private Hospitals.

Three ads were highly commended in the craft category: Astbury Studio sound engineer Justin Astbury for the ads Master and Kid for the Motor Accident Commission; and sound engineer Liam Annert from Risk Sound for Billy Bowelly for Bowel Cancer Australia.

Says Joan Warner, CEO, Commercial Radio Australia: The Siren Awards recognise the radio ads that have an ability to cut-through the noise with a compelling story.

The Siren Awards, run by Commercial Radio Australia, celebrate the best in radio advertising and are judged over five rounds throughout the year.

The 2019 Gold Siren winner will be announced in May 2019 and wins a trip to the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. The client of the winning 2019 Gold Siren Award also wins a ticket to Cannes. Silver Sirens are awarded in each of the three categories: single, campaign and craft. There is also a client-voted award, a $5000 cash prize, presented to the writers of the ad voted the best, by a panel of clients.

Round 3 of the 2019 Siren Awards is now open. Entries close 8 September 2019.| BY Ricki Green |

The Northern Territory Government has unveiled a master brand strategy via The Royals, to entice people to invest, do business, live and work in the NT.

A new Northern Territory master brand is challenging outdated perceptions of Australias northern-most territory by presenting the reality of the opportunity, ingenuity and lifestyle on offer for those willing to make the move.

Titled The Territory, Boundless Possible, the new brand strategy aims to attract investment, business and people to the region by challenging perceptions of the Territory as isolated, tough and lacking in opportunities. The first phase of the rollout encourages local Territorians to hear and tell their story and includes a long-form narrative, logo, short film, press and radio. Phase 2 scheduled for later in the year starts broadcast to audiences outside The Territory.

The campaign will target 2.8 million Australians identified by research as being open to living, working and investing in the Territory. Referred to as Committed Opportunists, this group is aged between 25 and 45, is career-minded, single or with young families and feeling frustrated with life in large capital cities.

Says Andrew Siwka, managing partner, The Royals: Shifting entrenched perceptions of an entire region is not an easy task and the sort of project The Royals revel in. The Territory, Boundless Possible perfectly describes the Territory as a place where anything is possible and were confident it will have the desired impact of attracting people, jobs and economic growth to the region over the next two years and beyond.

Says Michael Gunner, chief minister: We want to show the world that the Territory is a land of opportunity, but to unlock the full potential of Northern Australia  to create jobs and attract people  we need to put the modern Territory story forward. The Territory, Boundless Possible is like no other brand historically used to reposition the Territory. The story behind it is about changing perceptions, not only in living rooms around Australia, but in the halls of Federal Parliament, in offices, in boardrooms  from Sydney to Singapore.| BY Lynchy |

Creative tech agency AliveNow has partnered with Kingdom Digital to build one of Malaysias first interactive Facebook augmented reality camera filters for top Korean makeup brand, Laneige. This is the first ever makeup-based Facebook AR filter in Malaysia as a part of Laneiges campaign promoting their Sparkle My Way limited edition collection. The Sparkle My Way Facebook AR Filter lets users try on three different types of eye makeup, lipstick and blush from Laneiges new product range. Users can mix and match their selection and see which combinations they like the most and share their pictures and videos to get a chance to win these brand-new products from Laneige.To the editor:

As a conservative Republican voter, I will support Chris Crowley in the contentious primary contest for State Attorney. Chris is the best qualified candidate with 15 years experience as a prosecutor, a Gulf War Veteran with 20 years in the Army Reserve and current rank of Lieutenant Colonel. His tough on crime attitude is badly needed in the prosecutors office which currently has a reputation for only prosecuting low hanging fruit -what should be slam dunk convictions which still often elude the current office.

Crowley will prosecute the illegal slaughter houses in East Lee County, something his opponent has refused to do. Her campaign is well financed with several $1,000 donations from local criminal defense attorneys. I wonder why? Are they concerned about a change in the rather relaxed prosecution they have become accustomed to?

Please wade through the negative campaigning and recent actions of his opponent, and join me in supporting Chris.

Eli Zonana

Lehigh AcresMetro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 23)  The government has released the latest draft rules for the selection of the next major telecommunications player.

In a public consultation on Thursday, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) laid down three major criteria in choosing the third company that will compete with Globe and PLDT. These are national population coverage (40%), annual capital and operational expenditure (40%), and minimum average broadband speed (20%).

Several local and international firms have expressed interest to join the bidding process.

In a recent interview with CNN Philippines, Information and Communications Technology Secretary Eliseo Rio said the list of possible bidders include Filipino companies PT&T, Converge, Now, Easy Call, and Trans-pacific Broadband and international firms China telecom, KT Corp. and LG Uplus from South Korea, Viettel from Vietnam, and Telenor from Norway.

READ: Exclusive: 10 local, foreign firms vie for third telco spot

The winner will be selected based on widest service area, internet speed, and amount of investment.

Bidders will have to present how much of the deliverables they can commit in five years. The company that can commit the most and with greatest efficiency will win the process.

They will also be given three months to come up with their position papers and bid documents.

During the public consultation, Rio said the government will no longer wait for companies that will submit beyond the target date. The government aims to name a winner by December.

"So kung mayroon na talagang pwedeng makipagcompete sa Globe and Smart, why not go ahead no? Bakit maghihintay pa tayo nung mga iba na maybe kasing-husay din but yung mga nagawa na homework nila ay more serious than those who came lately," he said.

For consumer group Better Broadband Alliance, the standards imposed on the third telco should also be applied to current telco service providers.

"Because we'd like to have a level playing field so if you have a standard 2 mega bits per second for new player, papano naman yung existing subs ng incumbent telcos. So will that mean that they will experience service that is not at par," Grace Santos, group lead convenor, said.

CNN Philippines' correspondent Rex Remitio and digital producer Robert Vergara contributed to this report.After more than two dozen speakers asked Lee County commissioners to weigh in against a staff-tendered plan to modify the Conservation 20/20 land acquisition process, the elected board approved a change to how lands are evaluated for purchase while postponing its decision on when parcels may be submitted into the consideration queue.

The Lee County Board of County Commissioners voted 4-1 on Aug. 21 to update the review criteria to more heavily weigh parcels that could result in water quality improvements.

The commission postponed a decision that would coincide land acquisition proposals with the budget process.

This is the most important project Lee County has had or has ever had, said Frank Mann, District 5 commissioner.

The Conservation 20/20 program was signed into action in 1996, and in 2016, supported with 84 percent of voters saying they support the taxpayer-funded initiative.

The program is designed for Lee County to buy and preserve wild lands that are home to many different kinds of wildlife and natural landscapes.

Since its inception, through Conservation 20/20, the county has acquired 28,978 acres on 130 properties and miles of shorelines arose the county.

Some major acquisitions include Edison Farms Preserve and Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve.

The postponement of potential adopted criteria for these land submissions will include future workshopping of new ideas on how to improve the process.

District 3 Commissioner Larry Kiker said he wants county staff to improve on the policy aspect of the proposal, as he believes the plan highlights operation aspects.

We all want to make this work. Whats key is if we can find the proper way to evaluate them and decide whether to buy them or not, he told the staff.

The major components of the new changes would be to adopt a formal process for applications in an annual cycle to be evaluated and ranked by the county staff, not the Conservation Land Acquisition and Stewardship Advisory Committee, which currently reviews parcels.

The commissioners agreed to a 100-point system to determine desirability, with 50 points available to parcels that have water resources in some fashion.

County staff explained the purpose of the changes is to find a way to better leverage acquisition funds and to respond to requests more efficiently  especially for the sellers who are waiting to hear whether the county wishes to obtain their land.

These changes would not effect 20/20s funding or parcels, it is simply an evaluation and criteria change for applicants, proponents said.

A major turn-off for the commissioners was the idea of only reviewing nominations once a year, as opposed to the rolling cycle instituted presently.

All of the commissioners were vocal about their support of Conservation 20/20.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, residents urged no changes to the current structural components of the program and championed for an increase in funding.

Though water quality is a major issue currently across Lee County, the 50 points granted to all land involving water may result in unbalanced scales, especially for wildlife, such as burrowing owls, which may not live in aquatic conditions.

I havent had one email saying We need to change this because 20/20 is running amuck,' said Mann. What were contemplating could put the brakes on the program.

We have to review the process and make changes to line up with the economy and Lee County, Kiker added.

County modifies Conservation 20/20 land acquisition criteria By Staff | Aug 22, 2018



After more than two dozen speakers asked Lee County commissioners to weigh in against a staff-tendered plan to modify the Conservation 20/20 land acquisition process, the elected board approved a change to how lands are evaluated for purchase while postponing its decision on when parcels may be submitted into the consideration queue. The Lee County Board of County Commissioners voted 4-1 Tuesday to update the review criteria to more heavily weigh parcels that could result in water quality improvements. The commission postponed a decision that would coincide land acquisition proposals with the budget process. This is the most important project Lee County has had or has ever had, said Frank Mann, District 5 commissioner. The Conservation 20/20 program was signed into action in 1996, and in 2016, supported with 84 percent of voters saying they support the taxpayer-funded initiative. The program is designed for Lee County to buy and preserve wild lands that are home to many different kinds of wildlife and natural landscapes. Since its inception, through Conservation 20/20, the county has acquired 28,978 acres on 130 properties and miles of shorelines arose the county. Some major acquisitions include Edison Farms Preserve and Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve. The postponement of potential adopted criteria for these land submissions will include future workshopping of new ideas on how to improve the process. District 3 Commissioner Larry Kiker said he wants county staff to improve on the policy aspect of the proposal, as he believes the plan highlights operation aspects. We all want to make this work. Whats key is if we can find the proper way to evaluate them and decide whether to buy them or not, he told the staff. The major components of the new changes would be to adopt a formal process for applications in an annual cycle to be evaluated and ranked by the county staff, not the Conservation Land Acquisition and Stewardship Advisory Committee, which currently reviews parcels. The commissioners agreed to a 100-point system to determine desirability, with 50 points available to parcels that have water resources in some fashion. County staff explained the purpose of the changes is to find a way to better leverage acquisition funds and to respond to requests more efficiently  especially for the sellers who are waiting to hear whether the county wishes to obtain their land. These changes would not effect 20/20s funding or parcels, it is simply an evaluation and criteria change for applicants, proponents said. A major turn-off for the commissioners was the idea of only reviewing nominations once a year, as opposed to the rolling cycle instituted presently. All of the commissioners were vocal about their support of Conservation 20/20. During the public comment portion of the meeting, residents urged no changes to the current structural components of the program and championed for an increase in funding. Though water quality is a major issue currently across Lee County, the 50 points granted to all land involving water may result in unbalanced scales, especially for wildlife, such as burrowing owls, which may not live in aquatic conditions. I havent had one email saying We need to change this because 20/20 is running amuck,' said Mann. What were contemplating could put the brakes on the program. We have to review the process and make changes to line up with the economy and Lee County, Kiker added. Connect with this reporter on Twitter: @haddad_cj Editors note: This story replaces the original post to correct and clarify the Commissions actions. News from around the region FWC virtual meeting open to the public The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will meet virtually Feb. 25-26 beginning at 9 a.m. each day. ... County BOCC approves agreement for water quality project The Lee County Board of County Commissioners voted on Feb. 16 to approve an agreement with the city of Fort Myers ... Save money on overdue traffic tickets, court fees For those with overdue traffic tickets or court fees in Lee County that are affecting their driver's license ...



With the summer wet season in full swing, it is the perfect time of year to strap on hiking shoes  or water boots  and head outdoors for a look at the lush plant life in Southwest Floridas forests and swamps.

One of the most fascinating plants to see is the resurrection fern. The unique plant possesses the ability to withstand a significant amount of water loss during long dry periods, only to resurrect when it comes back into contact with water.

When its water reserves are nearly depleted, the leaves of the resurrection fern will shrivel up and turn brown, giving the plant the appearance that it is dead. In Florida, it typically occurs during the dry season months of January through May. However, once the fern receives water, generally after a period of rainfall, its shriveled leaves will unfurl and become green again.

As an epiphyte, or air plant, the resurrection fern requires a host plant upon which to grow. Oak trees and cabbage palms are among the most common host plants for the resurrection fern. Although the fern uses the host plant to absorb nutrients, the relationship between the two plants is not parasitic. To survive, the fern simply collects nutrients and water on the outer surface of the host plant.

The resurrection fern also reproduces using spores instead of seeds. The spores of the plant appear in small circular clusters on the underside of its leaves, also called fronds, where they are stored until they are released.

Several Conservation 20/20 preserves in Lee County include critical upland habitat to support the resurrection fern.

One of the best places to see a high concentration of the plant is the Hickory Swamp Preserve in Fort Myers. The Conservation 20/20 land includes more than 60 acres of oak hammock and pine flatwoods, providing optimal habitat to observe the plant species. A 1.2-mile marked hiking trail is also available to the public

Visitors should bring plenty water and pack a camera. No plants are permitted to be collected from any Conservation 20/20 preserve; regulations are strictly enforced.

Hickory Swamp Preserve is at 13320 Peace Road. It is open daily during daylight hours; parking and entrance is free. The preserve does not include a restroom.

For more information or to access a trail map, visit www.Conservation2020.org.

Bo Cherry is a Conservation 20/20 intern with the Lee County Department of Parks and Recreation.Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 23)  President Rodrigo Duterte is now asking the public to send their feedback on the administration's proposed federal constitution, following apprehensions expressed by the country's economic managers.

"The President will consider the comments of the people and can improve the draft accordingly before officially transmitting it to Congress," Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque announced in a press briefing Thursday.

He said the Palace still considers the proposed constitutional change that allows for a shift to a federal form of government as "a very good draft." It was submitted by the 22-member Consultative Committee (ConCom) created by the President himself.

Roque added that Duterte was "fully satisfied" with the proposal, but doubts cast by some Cabinet members led the President to consider the public's thoughts about it.

"To be candid about it, it started when his own members of the Cabinet expressed apprehensions over the economic aspect of the proposed draft. So that's what prompted the President to be open to suggestions and criticisms on the proposed revisions as submitted by the Consultative Committee," Roque said.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez and Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia previously said the Philippines was not economically ready for the shift to federalism. Roque said officials may soon discuss this in a Cabinet meeting.

READ: Even the Finance Chief is 'confused' with shift to federalism

How to send your feedback

The Palace offered various ways for the public to make their voices heard.

"They can send their feedback either through the Office of the Spokesperson or through the Presidential Communications Office or just to the Office of the President. It can be in writing, it can be by e-mail or they can come personally if they want," Roque said.

He added that the Department of Interior and Local Government is also spearheading the conduct of roadshows to disseminate information on federalism and ask for the people's feedback.

This, however, does not mean the Palace is opting for a people's initiative in introducing changes to the Constitution, instead of the Congress, Roque said. The present Constitution states amendments may "be directly proposed by the people through initiative upon a petition of at least twelve per centum of the total number of registered voters." Roque said no Cabinet member has expressed preference for such mode of changing the charter.

Duterte 'fully committed' to campaign promise

Roque said the President remains "fully committed" to federalism, a promise Duterte made during his 2016 presidential campaign. Duterte believes it would pave the way for more equitable distribution of wealth and political power throughout the regions and bring lasting peace in Mindanao.

Roque stressed there is no timeline set for the shift to a federal form of government, although the President has said he would step down in 2019 if the federal charter is passed.

While members of the House of Representatives have expressed support for federalism, some senators said charter change is "good as dead" at the Senate. Roque, however, said the Senate as an institution has not made its final decision.Photo: Richard Frederick

Could this be the cure to some of downtown Kelowna's recent issues?

You've heard of the RCMP/bylaw bike teams? City of Kelowna Park Ambassadors? The Downtown Kelowna Association ambassadors?

Well, how about Batman?

A caped crusader decided to dress up in a realistic-looking costume and give people tips about the downtown area this week.

With recent incidents in the downtown area, including a stabbing, sex and drug use in City Park, the City of Kelowna has been looking for ways to clean up the streets.

Batman's goal was to clean the streets of Gotham after his parents were murdered in an alley (according to DC Comics).

Batman is, of course, a fictional comic book superhero and the subject of Christopher Nolan's acclaimed Dark Knight trilogy. We don't know the identity of this do-gooder, but he appears to be dressed as Christian Bale's Dark Knight or perhaps George Clooney's version.

We recognize that there has been an increase in concerning issues, including around City Park and Leon Avenue, says Joe Creron, deputy city manager. The situation in downtown Kelowna is not unique and is seen across Canada. Were continuing to invest in resources to ensure that our downtown continues to offer a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.

From July to September, four joint RCMP/bylaw bike teams are patrolling the downtown and surrounding areas.

The 2018 city budget also added four new RCMP members and four new bylaw officers to provide an enhanced security presence in the downtown area.

The incidents that have occurred in City Park and the downtown area in the past are being actively investigated and dealt with, says Cpl. Jesse ODonaghey, spokesperson for the Kelowna Regional RCMP. We are committed to reducing crime and recognize that in order to succeed in making Kelowna safe, we need to continue to work with community partners to develop ongoing strategies in prevention, education and treatment.Photo: Alanna Kelly

Air quality across the Okanagan has improved in recent days, but smoky conditions are going to make a return.

Residents can expect to wake up Friday to ash and hazy conditions.

According to the Air Quality Healthy Index, Kelownas air was at a six on Wednesday, or a moderate health risk. Tonight, it is expected to jump back up to a very high health risk of 10-plus.

Environment Canada meteorologist Matt MacDonald said Thursday will be similar, but Friday will be the worst.

Weve been stuck under this ridge of high pressure for it seems like forever the last few weeks, and it is finally breaking down in a trough that is going to swing through tomorrow, said MacDonald.

With the swing through this trough we are going to see some southwest winds overnight tonight and through the day tomorrow, which isnt so-so bad, but then those winds are going to shift to the northwest by Friday."

Smoke from wildfires burning in the Central Interior is going to push down into the Okanagan on Friday.

Come Friday morning, I think youll wake up to quite an obscure and smoke-filled valley again, said MacDonald.

Conditions will be similar to Aug. 18, when thick smoke forced dozens of flights and two triathlons to be cancelled.

Coastal communities will start to gradually see improved air quality as Pacific air moves onshore. With this will also come a chance of rain showers, but not in any amounts significant enough to affect the wildfires.

Unfortunately, the amounts that we are expecting are not going to do much to reduce these huge wildfires, he said.

Smoky, hazy conditions are expected to persist for well into next week.Re: BC deserves more support for invasive species

Conservative MPs Dan Albas, Todd Doherty and Mel Arnold clearly missed the point of the recent announcement by Liberal Kelowna-Lake Country MP Stephen Fuhr regarding funding of $500,000 to prevent the spread of invasive zebra and quagga mussels to the Okanagan.

This funding is for the Okanagan region and is only one part of the Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) National Program initiated by the federal government. The funds are being invested in research, education and outreach and will couple with efforts being deployed by the province and other partners in the Okanagan Basin.

Efforts like this are vital to the Okanagan and our province.

Given the Conservatives dismal record on slashing environmental protections, funding for science, and muzzling scientists, I find it ironic they would choose this moment to attack the support announced by Fuhr as not enough.

What substantive actions did they take when they were in office to help with conservation and environmental protections? Sadly, not much. They had their chance and blew it.

Need we remind them the Conservative Party  including Albas, Doherty, and Arnold  did not support Budget 2017? This budget put forward by the Liberal government allocated new funding to expand aquatic invasive species activities. This included the creation of the AIS National Program.

The program and the funding being accessed through it will enable British Columbia and the Okanagan to be better prepared in case of the spread of invasives.

Fuhr has clearly made this issue a priority for Kelowna-Lake Country, recognizing how we heavily rely on the economic benefits of tourism and the health of our lakes. His support to fight the spread of invasives demonstrates that he understands prevention  using the best scientific methods available, outreach and education. These are some of the greatest steps we can take right now to prevent mussels from entering Okanagan Lake.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada has made incredible progress limiting the impacts of AIS in Canada by investigating pathways for invasion, conducting impact and risk assessments, evaluating detection tools and technologies, and mapping invasion hotspots. At the heart of this strategy is supporting scientists and conservationists while operationalizing their scientific knowledge to ensure AIS are prevented or stopped.

Funny how the Conservatives forget their lack of action when they held the reigns of power for three successive terms and have the audacity to complain when action is taken to make a difference.

Nicole Rustad, KelownaChantelle Deacon

You may remember Cassandra Vance DeSanti, mostly because just weeks ago a video of her went viral.

DeSanti, who is from Calgary, was hopped up on pain medication at the Vernon Jubilee Hospital after breaking her foot in a boating incident on the Shuswap Lake in July.

She opted out of going home to Calgary to get surgery on her foot and chose to get it done in Vernon instead so that she could carry on with her Okanagan vacation.

After getting out of surgery her father decided to prank her and tell her that her 'good' foot was the one that she just had surgery on.

From there the video gets funnier and funnier as she praises Canadian healthcare for her 'brand spanking new' foot.

The video has almost 330,000 views on YouTube, with mostly hilarious comments. Although, some believe DeSanti was just putting on a performance.

"I've heard that some people think it's not true and all I can think of is how I was getting wheeled into the OR worried about my body odour," she said. "If I was going to fake a video I would have showered and brushed my hair. I was a greasy, hideous mess."

Since the video went viral The Ellen Show has even reached out to DeSanti.

For the full video see below:

Contributed